Edith Wharton had a vivid imagination. As a child, she loved to play a game she called “Making up” which involved inventing stories as, book in hand, she walked around feverishly chanting as if in a trance. This caused her parents much consternation. When friends came to play, she asked her mother to entertain them … More Edith’s Vivid Imagination
We’ve had a busy few days up in the Berkshires, mixing book business with fun. Our primary purpose was to check with the places carrying my children’s books to see if they needed more copies. And on Tuesday, I was scheduled to read with families at The Mount, home of the writer Edith Wharton. (But … More I Visited Utopia Today
I’ve been thinking about last Tuesday and the fun I had reading with third graders in Connecticut. I’m convinced that third graders are the sharpest people on the face of the earth. They are incredibly enthusiastic about everything. Their faces literally shine with unabashed anticipation. They volunteer for anything. They sit on the floor with … More Sharp As Tacks!
“I was raised to be charming, not sincere,” This is one of my favorite quotes from Stephen Sondheim’s musical Into the Woods. It’s Prince Charming’s rational explanation to Cinderella when she finds out he’s a cad. Ah, the fairy tales of my youth! So many subtle messages sent to guide me on my way through life; through … More On Expecting Princes To Be Charming
I came across and interesting graphic on another blogger’s site. Rachel Poli writes reviews and blogs about the importance of reading and literature. You should check in at http://rachelpoli.wordpress.com when you get a chance. She found this graphic on Pinterest. ( I might add that I’m just learning the ins and outs of Pinterest myself, although … More Trying to Reblog and Screwing It Up
Within the ten stories of A Berkshire Tale, ZuZu is constantly amazed by the world around her. During her first year, the tiny tabby encounters many new people on her adventures with her buddy, Nick. Sometimes, she can be a bit overwhelmed and can’t seem to decide if it’s the worst day or the best … More Worst Day, Best Day Ever!
I’ve been on a bit of a recess during the month of July. Right up until the end of June I’d been reading in classrooms,sending out emails, making phone calls, meeting with independent book store managers and gift shops to place A Berkshire Tale into Rhode Island stores. I wasn’t sure of its reception because RI … More Getting Back into the Swing of Things
Reading with children is one of the best investments anyone can make. The returns are gratifying on so many levels; not the least of which is bonding. Every Saturday morning, I Skype with a friend, Shengdong and his daughter, Biyun Lin. They live in China. Sometimes, if it is a holiday, his wife Mary will … More Skyping With Milanda
During the past few weeks since my book was published, I’ve been visiting classrooms and reading sections of A Berkshire Tale to students. Let me share some of the things ‘I’ve learned so far: Don’t be afraid to ask elementary school students how old you are. It can be an uplifting experience because they tend to guess … More Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
My husband Charley and I traveled from our home in Southern Rhode Island to the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont in early April. For almost four hours I sang along to tunes from the sixties on Fx Radio. I was totally amazed. I knew the lyrics to every single song! At some point in our … More Musings As I Begin This Blog
Around ZuZu's Barn 