More from the drafts folder. This one, created back in March I think, was nothing but a link. I think at the time I was reposting from my old Books Bygone blog. I’ll have to re-visit it. There was some good stuff there. Fly me to the moon Here’s the beginning. I really do love
From July 2022. More shameless self-promotion. I need to rededicate myself to promoting Miss Missy’s School. To that end I’m going to re-post a few things about the book. Your mentions, re-posts, shares and so on would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! [Update on James Robert Peery. Still working on things. Waiting to hear back
This is an age of easy and lucrative authorship. The reading public is steadily growing, and books for children are in demand. To-day, anyone who has a facile pen and a vivid imagination, may, if he wishes, turn his attention to the writing of “juveniles” and turn out series books by the dozen that will
This is a re-post from July 2021 (seems like yesterday). I left it as originally written but I’ll add a bit. I was skimming through The Cambridge Guide to Children’s Books in English (Victor Watson, ed., Cambridge University Press 2001) yesterday and read the entry on Randall Jarrell (1914-1965). Jarrell was a brilliant poet–he was
From a series of newspaper articles I wrote in 2014. Cross posted to The Old Books Blog. Books Bygone: What does history mean to you? “What does history mean to you? Is it alive, or is it dead and buried in the past? Is it a list of dry happenings with drier dates, or is
We begin with “Organized Innocents: MacDonald, Lewis, and Literature ‘For the Childlike’” by Daniel Gabelman in Informing the Inklings: George MacDonald and the Victorian Roots of Modern Fantasy (George MacDonald Society, 2018) which sets the stage by quoting a bunch of C.S. Lewis which I’ve read many times over, and some things that Locke had
For those who enjoyed reading What Are the Odds? and clicked to read more about Missy’s Epic Novel, I packaged the entire tale–edited and with added scenes–into a single, very funny short story (PDF). See the description below. Use coupon code epic! to take 20% off at checkout. Just click here or on the image.
Cross-posted from the Kid Blog at Miss Missy’s School, the website for my children’s chapter book, Miss Missy’s School: A Pack of Farm Dogs Starts a School. At the Kid Blog I talk with kids (and their grownups) about reading and writing. Please click on over–I’d welcome your comments. Original illustrations by Richard Doyle (published 1869) Princess Nobody
Click on over to Miss Missy’s School to download the short story, “Missy’s Epic Novel.” Discover why and how Missy came write write her best-selling Epic Novel. (You’ll have some sympathy for Rocky before it’s over.) Use coupon epic! at checkout to take 20% off–that’s only $1.99!
Well, sure. Why not? It has an index, too. I mean, how are you supposed to remember where that quote from Abigail Adams is without an index? Likewise, how do you appreciate the humor in Charles*–the Leader of the Prairie Voles–argument that the name of the school should be changed, if you don’t know a
Dear Readers and Bloggers, We’re having recurring difficulties over at Miss Missy’s School. Posts aren’t showing up in the WP Reader again. If you’ve enjoyed the occasional re-posts from the Kid Blog, where the author of this family-friendly book (that’s me) talks with kids about reading and writing, the Grownup Blog, where I discuss what
Dear Readers and their grownups, A lot of pretty exciting things happened back in the days before Missy and her pack rescued the nameless, homeless hound and her pup, and eventually realized they needed a school for all of the animals living on or near Farther Along Farm. The Times Before Miss Missy’s School is a collection
“Wholly charmed by Miss Missy, I was caught unawares by a book unique in many dimensions. Not just a child’s book, though children will indeed love it for the dogs’ adventures, surprisingly it is also…
He is quite the character! And believe-you-me, Mr. Turkey is well acquainted with the particulars of Early American History. These family reading ‘gift’ posts are cross-posted from the Kid Blog at Miss Missy’s School, the website for my book, Miss Missy’s School Book I: A Pack of Farm Dogs Starts a School. Here’s what one
Well, sure. Why not? It has an index, too. I mean, how are you supposed to remember where that quote from Abigail Adams is without an index? Likewise, how do you appreciate the humor in Charles*–the Leader of the Prairie Voles–argument that the name of the school should be changed, if you don’t know a
Yay! Another re-post from the Kid Blog at Miss Missy’s School, the website for my middle-grade, young adult kids’s book, Miss Missy’s School Book I: A Pack of Farm Dogs Starts a School (on sale now at many many online book sellers). “It’s Parliamentary, Sir” | A Gift from Chapter XII of Miss Missy’s School
Dear Readers and Their Grownups, We’re continuing on with short story gifts from Miss Missy’s School Book I: A Pack of Farm Dogs Starts a School. We’ll be posting these family reading excerpts–from almost the whole book!–now until Christmas. We started by sharing our idea for these family reading night gifts, and the letter Missy wrote to readers
Dear Readers and Their Grownups, We’re continuing on with short story gifts from Miss Missy’s School Book I: A Pack of Farm Dogs Starts a School. We’ll be posting these family reading excerpts–from almost the whole book!–from now until Christmas. Learn more about these gifts here. Last night in the story Missy and her Dear Friend Rocky discovered
Dear Readers, Writers, and Their Grownups, Yesterday we shared the news that Miss Missy’s School is going to be giving you free gifts from now until Christmas. And we showed you the letter Missy wrote for the back of the book blurb. From now on, our gifts to you will be sneak-peeks of chapters from Miss Missy’s
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_modal","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":1000,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Whats-happening-copy-4-1.jpg","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"All current contributions go toward redesigning the cover, and publishing an eBook of Miss Missy's School.","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Tip!","payment_request_label":"Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life","form_subtitle":"All contributions go toward cover redesign and eBook publication of Miss Missy's School: Book I A Pack of Farm Dogs Starts a School","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for your help and encouragement!","payment_confirmation_title":"Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}