Hi Eric! I hope you're still speaking to me after my long absense. I've been visiting my grandaughter in Nashville, Tennessee, then was nose to the grindstone working on my fifth Madison Taylor book. Finished it, finally, and now am working with my illustrator for the layout on the first book. You i... more

Hi Eric! I hope you're still speaking to me after my long absense. I've been visiting my grandaughter in Nashville, Tennessee, then was nose to the grindstone working on my fifth Madison Taylor book. Finished it, finally, and now am working with my illustrator for the layout on the first book. You illustrators are simply amazing. Mine, Belinda Bright from Greenville, SC, is bring my book to life! Fantasy critters and she captured Maddy to a tee!

I also want to share an article written by John Tierney I read in the latest Reader's Digest titled "It's a Wonderful Life."

He started with this blurb: "Tired of doom-and-gloom headlines? Here are ten reasons to be thankful for the times we live in."

Well, I for one am REALLY tired of reading about nothing but hard times, disasters, and war, so that captured my attention right away. Following is an excerpt from the article which brought joy to my heart. It is number 4 called "The reader's revolution, and reads:

In 1970 barely half the people in the world were literate, and manhy of them could afford only a few books. Middle-class people needed installment plans to afford an encyclopedia. Local libraries offered a limited selection of books; new titles went on sale in bookstores but soon disappeared unless they were bestsellers.

Today, more than 80 percent of the world's people can read, and 22 percent have access to the greatest library in history. The Web provides classic books and reference works like Wikipedia free of charge, and the online network of booksellers means that no book ever really goes out of print. Whatever it is, old or new, someone somewhere will sell it to you, often at a bargain price."

I LOVE this! I was brought up surrounded by books which my mom and dad read to me from the time I opened my eyes and let out a howl! lol I read to my son and now, of course, to my grandaughter hoping to instill the love of words to her as my parents did me. What greater thrill can there be than opening a book and being transported to another world?

Well, I'd better get busy, but before I sign off I'd like to mention a book from a fellow JacketFlapper - can that be right??? lol - Deborah Diesen titled The Pout-Pout Fish, illustrated by Dan Hanna. It's absolutely adorable. I've read it to my great nieces and my grandaughter. She was captivated by the pictures but is still too young to appreciate the wonderful story. Check it out if you get a chance!

Be well and laugh every day!

Marcia