Whatchamacallit? Thingamajig? and Snicklefritz?

final coverkindlehalfcoverI get so busy promoting my Fuchsia Minnesota and Brilliant Minnesota Series books that I have neglected my children’s series that I self-published. There is a little bit of a story behind these books. Whatchamacallit Thingamajig was actually the first book I wrote with my grandchildren when they were younger. I wanted to leave them something to remember me by, and what better than a mystery involving them and giving them a little glimpse into Grandma’s life when she was young.

Although I call it a children’s book it also is a great short book for adults to remember their youth, and promote showing their grandchildren who they were before the wrinkles.

As an adult and a grandmother we strive to be good role models for our grandchildren. We are not perfect and we had a life before children and grandchildren. We had fun, we made mistakes, and they all shaped us into who we are today. Much of the time we only share that which we feel will make us look good in our grandchildren’s eyes. We don’t share the fact that we almost burned down the barn because we were playing with matches in the hayloft. I had simple activities in my youth that children in this era don’t have. I also wanted to share that with my grandchildren.

I wanted to remind our adult self to keep the child inside of  us and let it out once in  awhile so life doesn’t get too heavy for us. Are these my best written books, absolutely not. They were my first, but they are meaningful to me because the kids played out the mystery acting out the pictures giving me feedback and ideas throughout the way.

Read them if you like, give them as a gift or don’t. I wanted you to know they are out there, they were written with heart and I am proud of them and my grandchildren. They are available in both Kindle and paperback.  And starting on September 2, they are both .99 as a Kindle download.

Maggie interviewr

 

 

 

Gratitude Partners? Find one?

sidewalkthankfulsplatsGood Morning. Today I have thoughts of gratitude and peace in my mind and heart, by that I mean contentment. It is hard when we are always reaching for tomorrow and then worry sets in. I have a speaking engagement today and I always hope what I have to say can touch someones life in a positive way. I do have a little bit of advice for you today. Each night before I go to bed, I and Andrea and Heather, better known as the author Barbara Jean, exchange messages of five things we are grateful for each day. I am grateful that these two women take the time to share with me as every night before I go to bed I am reminded that i have something to be grateful for though I must admit during trying times it is occasionally hard to see the grateful between the tears. So today I would encourage you to find someone you can exchange five things or more that you are grateful for each day, whether it be in person or by text. It can be someone you have never met but are close to on Facebook. Gratitude does makes a difference and if you do it, let us know if it changes your life.

Color Me Crazy!

imageI am addicted. I am addicted to coloring. My addiction began when I joined my Red Hat group for a coloring evening at a library.

I was hoping for a coloring book for Christmas but our Christmas was late and I couldn’t wait. Shopping in downtown Northfield I met the most amazing artist. Her name is Shona Brooks and she is part owner of the Eclectic Goat.  I love the store but what I didn’t know when I was drooling over the coloring designs was that Shona designed and drew the coloring pages.

I was in awe and of course I had to buy some pages.  Shona is a self taught artist and has her coloring books for sale on Mindware.com along with Etsy and other venues.

I have never been a color in the lines type of person but I try. I bought the poster size and I am currently turning them into placemats for my table for the spring.

Make sure you visit Shona and the store. They have lots of great gifts and crafts. And don’t forget to add her artwork to your coloring list. The Eclectic Goat

image