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Yesterday we went to Nashville and picked up 50 cases of books for our organization that serves special needs and will be delivering them tomorrow at our basketball signups.

This is going to be such an amazing thing for these special children and I can’t wait to see the smiles on their faces when they get an early Christmas present of these wonderful books.

Rick Ryan
Challenged Athletes Playing Equally (C.A.P.E.)
Murfreesboro, TN
www.capetn.org

I just can’t believe all the books I got this morning!!!  I do believe I got everything I asked for and more. We know that doesn’t often happen in this game of life.   I’ve gotten books before, but never like  this.  I thank you for offering this opportunity and look forward to some great book clubs and organizing a book give away with our kids at Warner.  We’d love to have you back in Nashville anytime!

On behalf of the students and teachers at Warner….thanks so much!
 
Mona Bruey
Library Media Specialist
Warner Enhanced Option School
Nashville, Tenn.

One of the ways First Book gets new books into the hands of children from low-income families is through the National Book Bank. Publishers donate new books to First Book, and we distribute them to schools and programs around the country.

Our publishing partners have been even more generous than usual lately, so our National Book Bank team is working overtime, traveling to donated warehouse spaces from coast to coast.

Book distributions are one of our favorite things – we get to meet the teachers and program leaders, hear about the kids they work with, and load up their cars (and trucks and school-buses and even horse trailers) with boxes of new books.

But they are exhausting – a week of 12-hour days spent moving more boxes than you can imagine. Our staff and volunteers give it their all, especially our National Book Bank managers, Katie and Anna, who are in Nashville and St. Joseph, Mo. this week, and traveling (without so much as a day off) to St. Louis and Casa Grande, Ariz.

So thank you to all the amazing local volunteers that show up at warehouses to help get these books to where they need to go, and thank you to all the hard-working educators and community leaders who make sure every book gets into the hands of a child who will take it home and read it again and again.

PS – If you’re on Twitter, drop Anna (@AnnaInTheCity) and Katie (@IAmNotNancy) a note and tell them to keep up the good work!

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I'd seen a number of watercolor studies of feathers online recently and had a bit of an itch to do one myself. Fortuitously, I stumbled across this bluejay feather and thought it would be the perfect specimen:These little nature studies are really fun to do and much quicker to finish than my usual work. I hope to do more of these in the future. This one's available here in my Etsy Shop.

I didn't find any feathers... but hopefully our most recent excursion outdoors will give some inspiration for further studies. We just came back from our annual trip to St. Louis to visit my family, where we all set out on a short side-trip together. We clambered about on huge rocks at Elephant Rocks State Park:
Visited an abandoned lead mine at the Missouri Mines State Historic Site which was excellent reference for my husband in his video game work:

Took a boat tour through an old flooded mine at Bonne Terre Mine:

And circled back to St. Louis where we got to be kids again at the incredible playgrounds of City Museum:
0 Comments on Feather Study & a Visit to Missouri as of 1/1/1900

We are hearing a lot about the damage, injuries and life lost in Haiti because of a major earthquake. I am sure many children have been made fearful by the news coverage. We need to give them information to take away their fear. I would advise parents to allow their children to participate in efforts to help the people of Haiti. When we are helping others we are less worried about our own well-being. Susan Berger has written a wonderful book about earthquakes so I asked her to share some of her knowledge with the rest of us.

SHARI: Susan, if I’m not mistaken you live in Southern California, a place known for some major earthquakes, have you ever been in an earthquake? Can tell us about it?

SUSAN: We are well known as Earthquake country. However the only quakes we need to worry about are the big quakes. That would be an earthquake measuring over 6.2 on the Richter scale. The lesser quakes are scary, but rarely do significant damage. A 5.5 to 6.1 is considered “Very Strong” according to the USGS chart. Any quake over 5.5 can cause your electricity to snap off and may cause damage to a building. .

Oddly enough I do not think Sacramento gets earthquakes. But the coastal cities certainly do. Northern California had a 6.5 two weeks ago. The last major quake in Los Angeles was in 1994. We are overdue for another one.

SHARI: I use to live in Southern California myself, but I was fortunate to be away when big quakes struck. I did experience some less intense quakes. I think the largest was a 3.6 in the San Fernando Valley in 1963. I recall waves in the swimming pool and light fixtures swinging back and forth, but I don’t think there was any damage. Earthquakes are not exclusive to California and Haiti. Where else do they occur?

SUSAN: Here is a map from FEMA showing earthquake probability in the United States. As you can see, activity is fairly wide spread. There are only four states which have not had an earthquake. However most of them are too small to be noticed. Humans rarely feel an earthquake lower than a 3.0

This is a map from FEMA showing Earthquake probabilities.

Here is a global map for Earthquake probability. As you can see, China, Japan and a great part of Europe are Marked in red as is the entire North and South American coast

SHARI: Are some places better equipped to deal with earthquakes than others? Why?

SUSAN: Yes. California, Alaska, Oregon and Japan know they will have earthquakes. They spent a lot of time and money preparing for earthquakes. The seismic building code is frequently updated.

Some parts of the world such as Haiti, and Italy, Czechoslovakia and Mexico rarely see devastating quakes. Many of the building structures are very old and no one thought of upgrading the structure to make them safe for earthquakes. In our own country there was an earthquake in New Madrid Missouri which was probably an 8. something in 1811. (Of course we were not measuring them at that time) This series of quakes caused the ground to shake for eight days and caused the Mississippi to run backward. There is a strong possibility that Missouri might have another large quake. I am not sure that buildings in that area have been retrofitted to with

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It's always so interesting to learn about writers, 

such as where they come from, how they 

became involved with  writing,  and what

 motivates them. Well, we'll learn about author 

and editor, Heidi Thomas,  and her young 

adult novel, Cowgirl Dreams.

Heidi is a longtime writer, a journalist and a 

pre-published novelist. In addition to writing 

for herself, she edits manuscripts for others and 

teaches classes in Memoir and Beginning Fiction 

Writing. 

Raised on a ranch in isolated eastern Montana, Heidi Thomas has had 

a penchant for reading and writing since she was a child. Armed with a 

degree in journalism from the University of Montana, she worked for 

the Daily Missoulian newspaper, and has had numerous magazine articles

 published.

A tidbit of family history, that her grandmother rode steers in rodeos 

during the 1920s, spurred Heidi to write  a novel based on that 

grandmother’s life.

Cowgirl Dream

18 Comments on Heidi Thomas, Author and Editor, last added: 12/4/2009
 
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Darcía Helle said, on 12/1/2009 6:54:00 AM
Terrific post, Karen!
I love that Heidi's female character is strong and independent. Nettie sounds like the perfect role model for young girls everywhere.
Nancy Famolari said, on 12/1/2009 7:05:00 AM
I love horse stories. This sounds like a terrific read and a true story to boot. Great post Karen!
Jane Kennedy Sutton said, on 12/1/2009 7:07:00 AM
What a great role model your grandmother must have been. I have this book on my 'want-to-read' list.
Katie Hines said, on 12/1/2009 7:13:00 AM
Hmm. Went to post (obviously, since I'm commenting) and about what I consider a third is overlapped by the right hand column. This is in Firefox.
Katie Hines said, on 12/1/2009 7:14:00 AM
Belay my last! Was a problem on my end that I fixed.

Great interview, and always nice to learn about new authors and their books.
kathy stemke said, on 12/1/2009 7:46:00 AM
Thanks for sharing your Grandmother's story with the world.  I love her spunk and determination!  Way to go!

Karen, your post is EXCELLENT!  You always honor your authors with a caring and thorough post.  Thanks!
Karen and Robyn - Writing for Children said, on 12/1/2009 8:00:00 AM
Thanks for stopping by, All,
Heidi's book does look like an excellent read for young adults.

It is wonderful to have those experiences of your grandmother in a book. What a treasure.

My little guy is taking a nap, so I'll try to squeeze a few sites in.:)

Karen
Debra Eckerling said, on 12/1/2009 8:33:00 AM
Strong women rock! Thanks for sharing, will check it out!
The Old Silly said, on 12/1/2009 11:31:00 AM
Very nicely done feature post, Karen and Robyn. Always enjoy learning more about Heidi and her writing and this post did not disappoint!

Marvin D Wilson
Mayra Calvani said, on 12/1/2009 11:41:00 AM
Sounds like a very nice story for girls. Good luck with the book!
Heidiwriter said, on 12/1/2009 11:50:00 AM
Thank you, Karen, for hosting me today and doing such a nice job!

Thanks to all of you who have visited and commented. I enjoy hearing your take on the subject. 

I come from a line of strong, independent Montana women, which will be reflected in my series. 

BTW, I'm no longer a "pre-published" novelist, but a "published one!" Hooray! My sequel, Follow the Dream will be released in 2010.

Thanks, All!
Heidi
Connie Arnold said, on 12/1/2009 12:33:00 PM
Thanks for sharing the great interview, Karen. Your book sounds very enjoyable, Heidi, and congratulations on your upcoming sequel!
Helena Harper said, on 12/1/2009 1:44:00 PM
A really interesting post, Karen. 

Your book sounds like one great read, Heidi. And I love the title for the second one - is that based on your grandmother as well?

Helena
Heidiwriter said, on 12/1/2009 2:54:00 PM
Yes, the sequel will take up where Cowgirl Dreams leaves off. The 3rd in the series, which I'm starting now, will also be about the same character and based somewhat on my grandmother, but even more fictionalized than the first two.
Karen and Robyn - Writing for Children said, on 12/1/2009 2:58:00 PM
Thanks All for stopping by. And, Heidi it's been a pleasure hosting you today. Congratulations on the upcoming book - I wish you much success!

Karen
Heidiwriter said, on 12/1/2009 8:46:00 PM
This has been fun! Hope you all had a great day on your blogs!
Heidi
10 COLORADO said, on 12/2/2009 7:28:00 PM
Fantastic, thanks!!!
Karen and Robyn - Writing for Children said, on 12/3/2009 5:29:00 AM
Thanks for stopping by 10 Colorado!
Karen
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We are proud to announce a new addition to the First Book family—First Book-MOKAN! Established in August,  the Advisory Board will serve recipient groups in the urban core and surrounding suburbs of the Kansas City, MO area.  Please join us in welcoming First Book-MOKAN to the First Book Advisory Board network!

If you would like to join or start a First Book Advisory Board in your community, please see the In Your Community section of the First Book Web site.

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I feel pretty certain that the answer is the Mississippi River but apparently it is not as simple as that, as some very reliable sources disagree and say it is the Missouri River.

According to Encyclopædia Britannica I am correct and it is the Mississippi (see here & here), but…

…the US Geological Survey (USGS) say I am wrong and hand it to the Missouri by a clear 200 miles! I feel you have to believe the USGS but Britannica is also a very reputable and normally reliable source.

The figures quoted are as follows:

Encyclopædia Britannica list the Mississippi at 2350 miles whereas the USGS says 2340 miles and Britannica has the Missouri at 2315 miles while the USGS say 2540 miles.

So, bearing in mind the simplicity of the question - i.e. “What is the longest river in the U.S.A.?” - what is the definitive answer?

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Image via Wikipedia

I feel pretty certain that the answer is the Mississippi River but apparently it is not as simple as that, as some very reliable sources disagree and say it is the Missouri River.

According to Encyclopædia Britannica I am correct and it is the Mississippi (see here & here), but…

…the US Geological Survey (USGS) say I am wrong and hand it to the Missouri by a clear 200 miles! I feel you have to believe the USGS but Britannica is also a very reputable and normally reliable source.

The figures quoted are as follows:

Encyclopædia Britannica list the Mississippi at 2350 miles whereas the USGS says 2340 miles and Britannica has the Missouri at 2315 miles while the USGS say 2540 miles.

So, bearing in mind the simplicity of the question - i.e. “What is the longest river in the U.S.A.?” - what is the definitive answer?

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I just came back from a short trip to St. Louis to visit my parents. Much to the surprise of our family, my Mom had decided to participate in the Ms. Senior Missouri pageant, so I joined her cheering section for the show. Did she ever wow the audience with her dancing and amazing baton-twirling skills!

While Mom was busy with day-long rehearsals, my Dad and I went on a long bike-ride around Creve Coeur Lake. He took me to some wetlands along one portion of the trail. The water lilies were in full bloom and blanketed a huge portion of the water. I'd so love to take a little boat out on the water and paddle my way gently through the lilies:


















Tall grass prevented me from getting closer to the water's edge, so this was the best 'close-up' I could take:

I've had an idea for a painting nagging at me for some time that just so happens to feature water-lilies. I'm not sure when I'll get around to actually painting it, but at least I'll have handy reference when I do.

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At Insideadog, the Australian website of the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library Victoria (Australia), voting is underway for the Inkys awards for best Australian and international books of the year. The site, designed especially for young readers, solicits voting from 12-18-year-olds. Shaun Tan’s The Arrival is shortlisted for Golden Inky (best YA Australian book) and Looking for Alaska by John Green for the international Silver Inky award. Every week until the contest ends November 9, kids can click “Win Stuff” and answer an opinion question to enter a drawing for one of the shortlisted books. There are lots of other goodies at Insideadog, including guest authors who blog for a month, teen book reviews and discussions, and more book giveaways, plus audio downloads and first chapters to read online. Check it out and send the link to a Australian teen bibliophile!

Annie Donwerth Chikamatsu of Here and There Japan reports on a similar (and different) process for the Sakura Medal Awards. Her report for the SCWBI Tokyo newsletter (scroll down to page 11) provides more details about this great Japanese students’ choice award.

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