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September, 2008

Proud Grandma and web site updates

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

After dinner last night my husband informed me that both grandchildren had soccer games this morning. We were up at about 8 am and the teenager growl at me when I asked her if she wanted to go with us. We left her sleeping and headed on down to game #1 – the grandson’s team played first at the AmVets field on the southern side of town.

We stopped at the Coffee Cabin (the closest thing to a Starbucks in the area) on the way and got hot coffees and cocoa. While the drinks where being prepared the Jefferson County Fire Engine Parade streamed past. Horns going, bells ringing and assorted hoopla. Some fine old engines went north toward Herky. Some folks were even lining the side of the road to watch! We got our coffee, paid and by the time we left the parking lot it was over. So we got to see it, and not get snarled in traffic. How cool is that?

The game was already started when we pulled up. It always amazes me at how different in shape and size children of the same age can be. My husband commented that if our grandson got any skinnier he’d only have one side. That boy is sure compact, and all legs and neck.

His team played like a well oiled machine. They won 5-0. His mom said they were the “hard” team to beat, too. Totally awesome! We then packed up and headed across town the the park for the granddaughter’s game.

These kids were 5 & 6 year olds. Still totally adorable, but at an age where they are starting to “get” the rules of the game. Our granddaughter devised a game plan that worked really well for her. She’d hang back from the “herd” and wait for the ball to be kicked free. Then she’d get it and speed down the field to the goal. She did this with amazing regularity. Unfortunately, she and her team couldn’t seem to score. She was pretty pleased with her part in the action though, so the score wasn’t an issue.

Of course, we forgot the camera, so no pictures of any of it.

After the game we came home, the teenager was still in bed. It was nearly 1:30 when we arrived back at the house. I got myself some lunch and promptly fell asleep on the couch for two hours. *shrug* oh well, it’s Saturday. I deserve a day off. After I woke u I decided to be productive. Since that book keeping program is on the DH’s computer and he was using it, I moved onto a different project. Probably just as well as I still haven’t located the 2007 records. I decided to fix the pages on my writer’s web site. It’s been festering since April, and I’ve been too busy to do anything about it. So I have now fixed all the pages that are there. I still have to create a few pages of content that I have accumulated since April, but that will be a piece of cake once I sit down to do it.

My husband left for the track while I was working and after her returned, I was still at it. He asked if I’d even moved from the computer. Silly man, I’d washed a sink full of dishes and made dinner, which was cooking in the oven. We actually had dinner all together sitting at the dining room table like civilized people. And nobody complained. There was pleasant conversation and amiable laughter. It’s the only time we saw the teenager all day.

I did some research on the bone spurs in my feet. It seems it’s a form of osteoarthritis. So I am now taking a calcium/magnesium supplement. And rolling a tennis ball around with my foot. I still hobble around like an 80 year old woman. These things are incredibly painful. Standing aggravates them, sitting does as well. The doctor says they’ll go away eventually, and not to wear shoes that tie or press on the top of my foot. Yeah, right. EVERY shoe I own puts pressure on that part of my foot. I guess I may have to break down and do some shoe shopping for myself next week. The last 5 times I went to the shoe store, I got shoes for the teenager!

It seems like the day has got away from me again. It’s nearly 11 pm and I still have a half a dozen things I want to get done today. *blink*

Read for the Record

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record is a campaign designed to bring attention to the importance of early education. By encouraging hundreds of thousands of children and adults to read the same book on the same day, Jumpstart aims to break a world record and to make early education a national priority.

Children and adults will read together at events nationwide on October 2, in schools, libraries, stores, hotels, playgrounds, offices, and homes. This year’s book is Corduroy, by Don Freeman.

Proceeds from the sales of the book will benefit Jumpstart, a mentoring program that helps at-risk preschool children build vital literacy, social, and emotional skills. Jumpstart delivers a research-based, best practice curriculum to nearly 13,000 preschoolers in close to 70 communities across 20 states in America.

Learn more at http://www.readfortherecord.org

Rabbit’s Song hits youtube!

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

My new book, Rabbit’s Song has a book trailer. That awesome voice on the sound track you hear is one of the authors –S.J. Tucker.

I am truly excited about this project. It was so wonderful to be able to work with such talented and extraordinary ladies.

Magical Child News Update

Thursday, September 18th, 2008

Mabon Greetings All!
Thanks so much for your continued interest in my books and career, I feel like I have quite the cheering squad at this point. So I am especially thrilled to share my latest news with you – I have just finished the art for my first collaborative picture book. Written by SJ Tucker and Trudy Herring, “Rabbit’s Song” is an engaging tale of mythical proportions. Trickster God comes to Earth to find animals to teach His lessons to man. Based on SJ Tucker’s wildly popular ballad by the same name off of her CD “Blessings,” this picture book the work of several years of intensive conversations between the three of us.
This book is truly a dream come true for each of us. For me, working with such talented and loving people has been a wonderful blessing. The combination of each of our talents has pushed me to create what I consider some of my best illustration work so far.

Meanwhile, the demand for An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child has been astounding. I realized when my child was born in 1994 there was a need for Pagan children’s books in America, a need that is only just beginning to be met. When An Ordinary Girl was first released in 2005, there were hardly any books for the young Pagans. I receive frequent emails from parents thanking me for giving them a tool to help explain their Paths to their children. I am happy to report that there are now several more Pagan children’s books available. I hope that this small trickle will increase to fill this niche with quality books for our youth.

AN ORDINARY GIRL, A MAGICAL CHILD
Written and illustrated by W. Lyon Martin
Magical Child Books — Trade Picture Book – Available NOW!!!

An Ordinary Girl follows Rabbit, a young Pagan child through the wheel of the Year. Readers follow along with her as she celebrates Wiccan holidays, rituals and spells.

The next book in the series “Aidan’s First Full Moon Circle,” is an interactive picture book. With hidden pictures in the main story, children get to help a friendly squirrel gather acorns for the coming winter, all the while learning the basics of a Wiccan nighttime Full Moon gathering.

And don’t forget my latest book:
Based on a poem by Kelley Magee, “Watchers” is a bedtime story filled with subtle Pagan symbols in the illustrations. The hero, Thomas, is worried about the eyes watching him in the dark. He hatches a plan to capture them only to find out what he fears is really there to protect him.

All books are available on the publisher’s web site: http://magicalchildbooks.com , amazon and other online book stores or your favorite book seller.

At Magical Child Books you can see inside pages of the books, read reviews and even find teaching guides.

Plus, as a special bonus for people placing pre-orders for Rabbit’s Song, you will receive a MP3 file of Trudy and SJ reading the story. This is a limited time offer and is only available for those placing pre-orders for the book.

Freebies:
Remember the monthly coloring pages are archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/magicalchildnews/ . Now that the art for Rabbit’s Song has been delivered to the publisher, I’ll be sending out the next ABC Lesser Known Goddess in the series.

Visits:
To invite me to speak at your school or event, learn more at http://magicalchild.handcraftedpagan.com/workshops/ or email me at lyon@handcraftedpagan.com.
To view my current schedule of events, go to http://magicalchild.handcraftedpagan.com/bio/appearances/ .

Bright Blessings,
Lyon

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Copyright © 1992 - 2009 All rights reserved. Wendy Martin illustration.
Member of: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Graphic Artist Guild and St. Louis Watercolor Society.
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