Blue Boy

Feeling blue?

My son Monkey went on a youth activity two days ago. When he came home, he was so blue that you couldn't even see through the bathwater!

He went to a race where he and other bystanders threw food-colored cornstarch on the racers as they ran past.

(It looks like they missed.)

I think I'd rather swim across a vat of chocolate pudding, but that's just me.

In writing, make sure your characters have a variety of hobbies they like to do, even if they aren't hobbies you would choose. It would be a good idea to go out and try doing the hobby you gave your character. It could be fun!

For example, when I had a required geology/astronomy college class, I left it for last. (I'm the type of person who eats dessert first.) TO MY SURPRISE, I actually liked studying rocks and identifying constellations! I relished a wonderful sense of accomplishment while identifying and labeling rock specimens spread out on a table for my final test. I recognized igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, and I also knew how they were made. I could tell the difference!

So give it a try. Do something new. Who knows? Maybe you'll like being blue!

WHAT? A FR*EE J. Lloyd Morgan BOOK? For REAL?

I saw this note from J. Lloyd Morgan, and was so excited, I HAD TO SHARE before the deadline runs out on Tuesday, April 30!

To help celebrate the release of my third book in the Bariwon Chronicles, "The Zealous Star," I'm making the first book, "The Hidden Sun" available for FREE on Kindle for the next 5 days. CLICK HERE TO GET IT NOW! 
(Then you'll have it to read later!)

Original Paint Job

I wasn't fast enough to snap a picture of the cartoon car with so much luggage straining against the ropes trying to hold it on the roof that it looked like it would turn over at a breath, but I did manage to capture this most original paint job on a car driving down the road. (I have to wonder if this car is the designated nursery carpool car? Or maybe the nursery school kids painted it themselves.)

Whatever it's purpose, it made me a smile. That's good enough.

Another good feature is that it would be hard to lose in a parking lot. None of this click-the-unlock-clicker-and-see-which-headlights-flash business.

Putting quirky things in your stories can help create touch points for readers to remember. This helps them keep the storyline firmly in their minds. That's good. If readers remember your storyline, then they can tell everyone about your book. And that's very good.

What kind of unusual things have you seen lately? 

Have you ever seen a pineapple smile?

I'm off on a new adventure!

Okay, okay, so I got kicked out of HAPPINESS 101 class for being too lively..but I won't let that stop me! I'm off on a new adventure in cyber space, and it would mean the world to me if you would please help me out and click "LIKE" my new author FACEBOOK page. Thank you ever so much! https://www.facebook.com/ShirleyBahlmannAuthor?fref=ts

Location, location

In the town where I was born is a little Island Market. Now the big question is, where do you think I was born? (Go ahead, make a guess before reading further!)

(How did you know?)

It's LOGAN, UTAH.

So what's with the Island Market in cold norther Utah?

I don't really know, but I have a guess.

 The only thing that makes sense to me is that it's on a little spot of land which could perhaps be considered an island if you can image the roads as water. It's at the intersection of a four way stop, ie., the four winds or four nautical directions. It's a go-to place for locals, a little-bit-of-everything convenience store built before there were such things as 7-11's. (Check out the cool entry doors on the corner! The only thing that could make them better is if they were flanked by palm trees.)

When you write a story, be sure to include a setting or landmark that piques the reader's interest. This is a great way to make your tale unforgettable. 

What quirky establishments or landmarks do you see in your area?

Great Books to Help a Great Kid

After years of helping others, Dave Wolverton, a.k.a. Farland, now has desperate need of our help. 

Not only have his books won multiple awards, but he's widely known as a mentor to many prominent authors, such as Brandon Sanderson, Stephenie Meyer, and Brandon Mull. His son, Ben Wolverton, age 16, was in a tragic long-boarding accident on Wednesday April 4th, 2013. He suffers from severe brain trauma, a cracked skull, broken pelvis and tail bone, burnt knees, bruised lungs, broken ear drums, road rash, pneumonia, and is currently in a coma. His family has no insurance. 

By participating in a BOOK BOMB, you can treat yourself to the great titles below (or others) and help out someone who has already "paid it forward." 

PLEASE CLICK HERE for further details and photos of Ben.  

Thank you for your compassion.

 

How to Slide on Carpet

Whatcha got there? Skis? (YOUR FEET ARE BIG ENOUGH to be skis, hardy har!)

Oh, I see. Carpet's not a good sliding place in dress shoes, but with sheets of paper stapled to your feet, it's a different story... 

...for as long as the paper lasts.

Now ask yourself - when you have a problem, either in life or in your manuscript, do you think outside the carpet?

What is it?

I was walking along, minding my own business when what did I see? A something in the back of a truck. (Does it look humanoid to you?)

Is this an elaborate April Fool's joke? If someone were to lift the tarp, would the object in question jump high enough to scare the daylights out of you and shout, "Boo"?

Is it a dresser with a round mirror on top?

Is it a corpse?

Is it some kind of equipment, like a saw?

Is it a tree?

Ooo, the stories this photo could generate just make me want to open a Word document and start writing!

(What do YOU think it is?)

What's the best April Fool's joke you've played, or else had played on you? Come on, do tell. The world wants to know!