I applied for a job editing children’s books, but I didn’t get it. However, I was one of fifty-seven applicants, and I made it to the top five. My editing sample was well-received!
This tells me that my work is paying off. I wanted to share that success story with my readers today. I hope everyone has an equally successful week.
Happy Monday!
Review coming soon!
Elizabeth is a small-town Kansas girl who has grown up under her domineering father’s shadow. When she finds out that her father has denied her hand in marriage to the town’s most eligible bachelor–a man she’s long secretly desired–she snaps. Her father punches her for the last time. She realizes she has no future and with stories of suffragettes, women’s rights, and voting in her head, vows to be free.
She escapes to New York City where she meets Margaret. Margaret believes in the right to vote for women and engages Elizabeth to join in the National Women’s Party activities.
Operation: Opera House is underway. In a month’s time, President Wilson is due at the Metropolitan Opera House to give a speech. The NWP hopes that a peaceful protest will convince the president to gather congress in order to ratify the 19th Amendment.
As they prepare and plan, Margaret shows Elizabeth how to live and love. Under Margaret’s sensual touch, Elizabeth begins to heal from numerous emotional wounds. But on March 4th, 1919, their “peaceful protest” becomes a riot on the streets of New York.
A riot ensues in Elizabeth’s heart as well when her former flame shows up in the city.
About the Author
Tara Chevrestt is a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, writer, and an editor. She is most passionate about planes, motorcycles, dogs, and above all, reading. That led to her love of writing. Between her writing and her editing, which allows her to be home with her little canine kids, she believes she has the greatest job in the world. She is very happily married.
Tara also writes as Sonia Hightower. Sonia writes the racy stuff and argues that she was here first. She just wasn’t allowed to be unleashed until the last year.
While Tara and Sonia continue to fight over the laptop and debate who writes the next book, you can find buy links, blurbs, and other fun bits on their website, or their Facebook page.
Buy Votes for Vixens on Amazon today. This book is wonderful! There will be a review posted soon– keep checking back!
Review coming soon!
Love, obsession, and betrayal, the most powerful human emotions, are spun together in this gothic novel.
Tandie Harrison is a police medium who has just suffered a divorce after losing both her psychic visions and her daughter in a car accident. When she leaves New York City to start a new life near her hometown, she moves into the alluring plantation house, Chelby Rose, and falls for its charismatic caretaker, Eric Fontalvo. Their burgeoning affair ignites a centuries old curse, ensnaring them in a web of danger, deceit, and intrigue. Soon Tandie learns that in placid Bolivia, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected.
Hacienda Moon is a seductive tale of one woman’s journey to confront the demons of her past and find the courage to face her future. It is a mesmerizing novel that explores the deepest depths of human nature, and the characters will hold and haunt you long after you have read the final chapter.
About the Author
KaSonndra Leigh was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She now lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. Her two sons, aka the X-Men, have made her promise to write a boy book next.
She holds the MFA in creative writing, and loves to play CLUE, Monopoly (the Indiana Jones version), and Pandora’s Box (good writer’s block therapy). She lives in an L-shaped house with a garden dedicated to her grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, Venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass.
Visit KaSonndra:
Her website | Facebook | Twitter | Get Hacienda Moon on Amazon and through other booksellers
“Mom always says the angels walk among us. She forgot to tell me that sometimes they’re not all fluffy and nice.”
Seventeen-year-old Caleb Wood has seen people he calls the walkers since he was a baby. It didn’t take long for him to realize something…no one can see these strangers but him. They never stuck around or tried to touch him. And they never said a word. That was until one day on the first day of class in his senior year when an incredibly gorgeous girl strolls into his life…and things are never the same again.
Soon Caleb realizes he has stepped into the middle of a growing conflict between two celestial races. And his ability to see the invisible ones, the half-breeds that want to modify the human race, just might be the only hope both he and the mysterious, but infuriating Gia have of making it out alive.
There was no one in the classroom besides the two of us. To admit this girl made me feel a little shaky sounded weak. I put on a manly face, squared my shoulders, and sat in the desk behind her. The little kid in me still wanted to run away like a baby, though.
And then she laughed.
It was a high-pitched giggle, a normal girl’s sound. That wasn’t right. I don’t remember any of the other spirits laughing before.
“So you wanna run from me, huh? Go ahead. I’ll just find you like I always do, Caleb,” she said, still facing the chalk board in the front of the classroom. Her voice was smooth like a musical instrument, maybe a flute. Nah. It was more like a harp. I could listen to it all day.
But even her sexy pipes didn’t change the fact that she just read my mind. How did she do that?
“Are you going to run, or stay? I need a quick answer, because I have a lot to do today.” She turned her head to the side a bit.
“I don’t run from anything,” I said, trying to ignore the prickle in my underarms. Good thing I used my dad’s deodorant this morning. That old-timers stuff was strong enough to knock out anything.
She didn’t scare me as much as some of the other walkers, my nickname for them. But I wasn’t ready to get her digits either. As a baby, I remembered talking to a few of them. That ability disappeared sometime around my thirteenth birthday. This was the first time I spoke to one in four years.
“What are you people: angels, ghosts, or zombies?” I asked, my voice squeaking on the last syllable. What a dork.
“Can’t you be a little more creative?” She turned around in her seat to face me, an amused expression on her ridiculously gorgeous face. I sucked my breath. Her strange amber-hazel eyes pierced through me. The word beautiful didn’t do enough for this walker-girl.
“I thought I was pretty creative,” I said.
“Nope. Your ideas suck,” she said with a smug face.
“Nice. Thanks,” I said, getting annoyed.
“And I don’t sparkle in the sun, either. So scratch that one off your list too.”
I frowned. “Then tell me the right answer. And you can go ahead and explain how I won the honor of being stalked?”
“I’m a creative mix of many things. Feel better now?” She tilted her head. Blue-black hair flowed around her face as if it were made of silky thread. “So others have come before me?” She seemed to be talking to herself rather than asking me.
“Maybe,” I said. Why should I tell her everything? One thing I did know. At this rate, I was probably going to be committed to the loony ward on the first day of school.
“I’m going to need your help soon, Caleb. You have to be ready,” she whispered, her face suddenly serious. Right then, I knew my world was about to change . . . forever.
About the Author
KaSonndra Leigh was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She now lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. Her two sons, aka the X-Men, have made her promise to write a boy book next.
She holds the MFA in creative writing, and loves to play CLUE, Monopoly (the Indiana Jones version), and Pandora’s Box (good writer’s block therapy). She lives in an L-shaped house with a garden dedicated to her grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, Venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass.
Visit KaSonndra Leigh:
In a series of terrifying events, otherworldly beings intervene to save innocent lives. The world community reacts with relief as they realize that angels may in fact exist, and they are diligently protecting us.
But there are those who would seek to stop what they feel is a threat against their livelihoods. How far will some go to battle the Guardians? Is the fairy tale over before it even begins?
Guardian Angels is a powerful and compelling story about the catalyst that has the power to unite society in the hope for a better future. The spark of hope is fragile—can it last?
Welcome, Andy! Please tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in a little town called Bearwood in the UK. As the name suggests, it was an area of forests and woodlands and was all that remained of the once huge Forest of Arden of Middle-Ages fame. (Part of THAT was Nottingham Forest) . . . and we all knew who lived there. Ha-ha.
My family was 5th generation military– Royal Navy –and with that kind of heritage, it was a foregone conclusion which way my life would unfold. Despite being an avid sportsperson and also quite academic, I joined the Royal Marines. Life was “interesting” to say the least and I ended up serving in a number of specialist units. Just under nine years later, I joined the Police Service in the South West of the UK, and went on to serve in such diverse roles as a high speed pursuit driver, motorcyclist, and then later within Crime Intelligence.
Despite my gruff exterior, I love poetry, dancing and go all gooey with animals– but especially cats. An accident at work ended my career a little earlier than intended, but that gave me time to devote myself to the writing I’d wanted to do for quite a number of years.
Your background is really impressive! I’m sure you get a lot of ideas from it. What was the main inspiration behind Guardian Angels?
Bitter life experience. During my time in the military and my twenty-three years in the Police Service, I lost count of the incidents I had to deal with where someone’s life was changed forever by unexpected tragedy! Life is a very fragile thing, and “out of the blue” such things can strike when people least expect it, bringing untold calamity and suffering.
Attending those incidents often made me think, “What would have happened if we had got here sooner? Or if we had the resources or training to undo all this suffering and damage?”
That’s how the Guardian concept was born. The one accident that inspired me to actually put my thoughts together into a more structured form involved the death of a young boy on his way home at the end of a school day. Rush hour traffic is dangerous at the best of times. The scene was horrendous, as were the terrible sobs of the woman driving the vehicle he ran in front of. She was a mother herself, and her anguish was heart wrenching, even though there was nothing she could have done to avoid him. That’s why the opening chapter of Guardian Angels involves a young boy stepping out into the path of a truck. It describes what ALL the Emergency Service personnel there that day wish could have happened, had someone like a Guardian Angel been there to help. It describes what we’ve ALWAYS yearned to see for the people we serve. Can you imagine what it would be like if they were real?
What genre do you most enjoy writing?
I’ve always loved science fiction. I could read by the age of four and used to devour all the science fiction books in the library, so it’s inevitable I would gravitate towards that. However, now I’m getting my toe in the door, I’m discovering a bit of a “nose” for paranormal action / thrillers.
What is the easiest and most difficult thing about your genre? The easiest thing about those genres is the fact my warped and fragile mind is overflowing with ideas I want to get down in writing. The most difficult thing is to keep those ideas fresh. There’s a lot out there. I’m determined to make my stories different and appealing.
Who is your favorite character in your book, and what do you like most about him or her?
Commander Yasin. She’s based on my lovely wife. No-nonsense, stern, but with a quirky sense of humor. AT LAST I can get to tell her what to do! (Oooh, I’m gonna get it now!)
Do you get many of your ideas from your own life, or is your work mostly fictional?
While the concepts might be fictional– or a weird application of what I’ve experienced –I try to put as much of myself and what I know into the stories to add that anchor of realism. If it’s believable, people tend to relate to it more.
The science fiction of today is very often the science fact of tomorrow.
That is so true! How did you get started in publishing?
It took six months of research and preparation to get ready to start writing. Once I’d done it, I polished it, tweaked it– got it nearer to what you see now, and then submitted it to three publishers who didn’t mind multiple submissions. I got accepted almost instantly by two.
That’s a rare thing– congratulations! If you could share a tip for my readers about writing or publishing, what would it be?
Work with your editors closely! We are all influenced by life experience and can pick up habits that have become ingrained in us over the years. Our editors are there to take our little parcels of magic, and refine them into something cosmic. I have a tendency to wax lyrical. Thankfully, my editors have slapped my wrists and helped me begin to cut out the crap! I’m improving and so has the standard of my work. That can only benefit me and my stories in the future.
Thank you for visiting my blog, Andy!
Guardian Angels is available wherever books are sold, in both paperback and digital format. Buy direct from the publisher, or check it out on Amazon! It is a wonderful read.
Visit Andrew P Weston:
When Catalina Rodriguez is attacked by a would-be rapist and rescued by the dashing Ricardo Garcia, she not only becomes more aware of the handsome man, but also vows that she’ll never be a damsel in distress again. Using the timeless method of blackmail, she convinces her uncle to teach her to fight and becomes a masked crusader in the night, saving other damsels from robbers and rough handling.
However, scandalous rumors and dwindling funds force Ricardo and Catalina to marry. Not immune to each other’s charms, their marriage starts fiery, but when one of Catalina’s nightly escapades results in dire consequences, she is forced to spurn her husband’s amorous advances . . . or reveal a secret that could turn him away from her forever.
Enjoy a short excerpt . . .
Ricardo’s not a man to be cuckolded or left in the dark. Is his wife having an affair with El Capitan, the masked savior? If so . . . they will both pay.
She tore her gaze away from the mare and said firmly, “Cinco pesos. And only because this yegua has fire, not because of your terms. Selena, pay him.”
Selena’s hand shook, but the pesos were transferred to the dirty palm. The man laughed with glee, the crowd dispersed, and Catalina was left with a dirty, starving horse.
“We shall get you fed and cleaned up.” She patted the mare’s neck. A cloud of dirt rose in the air, and Catalina struggled not to cough. “I shall call you La Reina, because once in my establo, I shall treat you like a queen. Your body may be beaten, but your spirit is not broken.”
“Catalina?” Her maid’s voice was tentative as it interrupted her quiet chattering. “Whatever possessed you—”
“Fetch me a mozo,” Catalina interrupted her. “Take the remaining pesos and fetch me a groom. La Reina is going to her castle.” She wasn’t offering more explanation than that. She didn’t owe anyone an explanation. She’d done what was right.
As her maid turned to comply, heading toward the livery, a loud pffffht rent the air. Catalina stared at her new acquisition in surprise.
Selena froze and swung around to admonish her charge. “Señorita! Your behavior has been questionable enough this day. Mind yourself.” She shook her head and her finger both before turning back to the task at hand.
Catalina heard her muttering as she sashayed away. She was too surprised and too tired to defend herself, but the breeze picked up, and a waft of foul air assaulted her. Catalina immediately tugged a delicate, lace handkerchief from her sleeve and placed it over her nose as she glared at the horse.
La Reina snorted and pawed the ground. Catalina could swear the mare was laughing at her. She merely shook her head. “Dios mío, and you let me take the blame for that?”
Pffffhht. Pfffht.
La Reina whinnied and bared her teeth as though she were smiling.
About the Author
Tara Chevrestt is a deaf woman, former aviation mechanic, writer, and an editor. She is most passionate about planes, motorcycles, dogs, and above all, reading. That led to her love of writing. Between her writing and her editing, which allows her to be home with her little canine kids, she believes she has the greatest job in the world. She is very happily married.
Tara also writes as Sonia Hightower. Sonia writes the racy stuff and argues that she was here first. She just wasn’t allowed to be unleashed until the last year. While Tara and Sonia continue to fight over the laptop and debate who writes the next book, you can find buy links, blurbs, and other fun bits on their website.
Hoping to outpace her grief in the wake of her father’s suicide, Marina has come to the small, rural Japanese town of Shika to teach English for a year. But in Japan, as she soon discovers, you can never really throw away your past . . . or anything else, for that matter.
If You Follow Me is at once a fish-out-of-water tale, a dark comedy of manners, and a strange kind of love story. Alive with vibrant and unforgettable characters—from an ambitious town matchmaker to a high school student-cum-rap artist wannabe with an addiction to self-tanning lotion—it guides readers over cultural bridges even as it celebrates the awkward, unlikely triumph of the human spirit.
This is one of the most delightful books I have ever read. I found it on the shelf at the library and could hardly put it down. Malena Watrous weaves a tale that we can all relate to. I was extremely touched by Marina’s journey after the death of her father, and her attempts to deal with her grief.
Divine messages come from the most unlikely of places. I often find that when I am dealing with something particularly trying, I happen upon a book that leaves me speechless and helps me to deal with whatever I am going through. If You Follow Me was one such book.
This past February, my father died. I am much too young to have lost my father. Although Marina lost her father to suicide, the death of one’s parent is still traumatic . . . especially since I only had three years to get to know my father. In many ways, Marina’s journey was my own. I am still dealing with the grief, and there are times when I break down.
I know my dad is here, watching out for me. In If You Follow Me, Marina sees her father in the strangest of places:
I don’t know how long I’ve been staring at the swarm of blue and white dots on the TV screen before they rearrange themselves into my father’s face, only that I’m not surprised when it happens. It’s like I’ve been waiting for this. “How did you find me?” I whisper, and the image flickers, disappears, then reappears.
Malena Watrous writes with a beautiful simplicity. Her writing found its way easily into my heart, reminding me of my own struggles. It’s funny how things come to us when we need them the most. In this case, it was this book. As a fiction writer, I know that I often wonder if anyone really “gets” anything meaningful out of my books. The thing is, you never really know when the words you write will be the words that someone else needs to hear. Thank you, Malena, for writing such a lovely book.
I would like to welcome Linda Andrews to my blog. Hi, Linda! It’s great to have you here today. Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a scientist who writes paranormal romance. Yep, I have a secret personality just like a superhero. Okay, I don’t have superpowers, but my characters do. The heroine of Brianna can learn things by touching objects, that’s called psychometry. She also has a cat that is the incarnation of an Egyptian goddess. I too learn things by picking up objects–like that’s hot, or soft or squishy and my cats (ordinary felines that they are) think I should worship them like they are gods/goddesses. As you can tell, I use my writing to escape my rather mundane everyday life.
I have cats, too. I think they secretly are gods and goddesses! Ha-ha. What genre do you most enjoy writing?
Oddly enough I enjoy writing in all the genres I write–sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, and horror. But I will say fantasy and paranormal allow me to stretch my imagination far beyond the boundaries of the box of the science and horror.
I think that’s great. I personally enjoy a story that mixes a bit of both. What is the easiest and most difficult thing about your genres?
The writing is the hardest thing. Writing is work, hard work. I’m always amazed at the images people get from simple words. Pinning down the right words to get the reader to see what you want is a lot like pulling an ace of spade out of a deck of cards. You could do it, but I’m not sure that there isn’t a bit of magic involved. Of course, I love the challenge and so I keep writing.
The easiest thing about paranormal romance is creating the worlds and coming up with unique twists. Anything goes and I love it.
Well put! Who is your favorite character in your book, and what do you like most about him or her?
My favorite character in Brianna is the hero. He’s an alpha kind of guy but Brianna doesn’t play by his rules and is more set on rescuing him than allowing him to rescue her. She also doesn’t know these rules, he keeps trying to foist on her. She’s spunky and daring–matching him in everything and he’s man enough to appreciate it, even though it’s driving him nuts.
Do you get many of your ideas from your own life, or is your work mostly fictional?
A little of both. Brianna is recovered from consumption (aka tuberculosis) and had spent most of her life undergoing medical treatments and trying to ignore the social stigma associated with the disease in the Victorian era. Having spent the first ten years of my life with a medical handicap, I completely understand why her character is so set on living as well as forsaking those social conventions that get in her way.
That’s a fascinating plot line; I can’t wait to read this. I have mentioned consumption in conversation before, and people either knew what I was talking about or had no idea. You’re tackling a very interesting subject. What was the main inspiration behind your current novel?
I love the Victorian era and Egypt, especially mummies. I did want to be an Egyptologist when I was younger, then I realized my claustrophobia made it impossible. But those things don’t apply to writing, so I sent Brianna to Egypt to protect the tomb of the only Egyptian mortal to become a god, Imhotep.
I think I would be too claustrophobic, too, but it’s wonderful that you’re writing about it. How did you get started in publishing, and what did you find most difficult?
I got my first break from Zumaya Publications when they bought the story of Brianna’s parents back in 2001. I’d been writing for 4 years at the time and had my share of rejections. Brianna is my 9th book published with them. The most difficult aspect was not getting discouraged by the rejections. Being stubborn by nature and having writer friends through RWA has helped tremendously.
Do you have a tip for my readers, or something you’d like to share?
If you love a story or an author send them an email and let them know. Writers are modern day hermits. We do so much alone and get lots of feedback about how to fix the things that are wrong in our manuscripts that it’ll make someone’s day to hear how they got it right. Actually, I’d apply that to everything in life. Take the time to appreciate the little things that someone does for you and thank them–even if it’s their job!
Great advice, Linda. Thank you so much for sharing, and for being here today. Good luck with your writing!
Love, lies, and an ancient Egyptian curse. Brianna Grey holds the key to mankind’s destruction and someone is willing to kill for it. Having spent most of her life dying of consumption, one man’s kiss has resurrected her desire to live. For US Treasury Agent, Duncan Stuart, love means death. He works alone, lives alone and plans to die alone until he meets Brianna again. Under the harsh Egyptian sun, Duncan will break all his rules to save her but will it be enough to overcome the secrets that could get them both killed?
Get acquainted with Linda Andrews’s writing by downloading the FREE Paranormal Romance The Love Lottery today.
Linda Andrews’s Ghost of a Chance is on sale now on Amazon. Check it out! Brianna is not yet available, but it will be soon . . . .
After watching his love leave on a colony ship, James Wilfred must save those left behind from a planetary apocalypse. Their salvation lies in an unfinished ship tucked away in a secret government base, and only James can break in and pilot him and his people to freedom on a nearby space station.
Skye O’Connor’s boyfriend never returns after his gang attempts an assassination of the Governor, and the State Building is destroyed. Worse, crazed moonshiners addicted to the chemical Morpheus have stormed the city, and she must find a safe place for her and her boyfriend’s daughter. When a heroic man saves her, Skye asks to accompany him on his quest to find the last colony ship left on Earth.
As the city falls around them, James and Skye must work together to build a new future, all the while rediscovering their ability to love, before the apocalypse claims them both.
Welcome, Aubrie! Please share a little bit about yourself with my readers.
Thank you for having me on your blog! I’m a professional flutist by day and a writer by night. I teach music at a local community music school and a university, and I play at weddings and in orchestras. I got into writing because my flute students urged me to write down the stories I used to make up in their lessons to go with the music, and here I am today!
That’s so cool! What genre do you most enjoy writing?
Fantasy. But, my science fiction has been selling much better than my fantasy, so I’ve gone in that direction for now.
What do you find easiest and most difficult about writing in these genres?
With fantasy, it’s finding something new and fresh to write about, because so much has been done before . . . with Lord of the Rings and all the spin-offs of that. For science fiction, I feel like I have to include a good deal of science in my world and root it in the real world, which is sometimes hard for me because science wasn’t my strongest subject!
I’m sure you do quite well anyway! A Hero Rising looks fantastic. Who is your favorite character in your book, and what do you like most about him or her?
I love all my characters. They are all extensions of myself– even the bad ones! It’s hard for me to see them struggle, but that’s what makes a good story, and that’s how they grow.
You mentioned your characters are extensions of yourself. Do you get many of your ideas from your own life, or is your work mostly fictional?
Right now I’m writing a contemporary romance based on an orchestra, so that is definitely from my own life! But, a lot of it I just made up– because I’ve never rode on a space ship, explored new planets, or met any aliens. Yet.
Ha-ha– that’s coming soon, I’m sure! What was the main inspiration behind A Hero Rising?
I wanted to explore James’s story because I’d left him in such a sorry state in Tundra 37. I felt as though he needed to find his own happy ever after.
You’re making me curious– I can’t wait to read it! How did you get started in publishing, and what was the most difficult aspect of “breaking in” to the field?
The rejection is the most difficult. It took me four books to get the attention of an agent. I’m still trying to break into the bigger publishers, and I’m on my eighth book. You can imagine how many hundreds of rejections I’ve faced so far. But, I just keep writing because I enjoy it.
That’s wonderful, Aubrie. Keep at it, and I’m sure you will reach your goal. If you could share a tip with my readers about writing or publishing, what would it be?
Write a little every day. If you write 1k a day, which takes maybe an hour, you’ll have 4-6 novels a year!
Great advice, but as we all know, easier said than done! Do you do any research for your writing? If so, how do you go about it? What kind of research do you do?
Oh yes! I love to Google things or go on Wikipedia. I also ask the people around me. My brother is a software engineer, and my sister is a nurse, so they have a lot of experience with things I know nothing about.
A huge congratulations to Aubrie Dionne for the publication of A Hero Rising– Here’s to many more! Thank you for visiting my blog, Aubrie, and good luck.
Aubrie Dionne is an author and flutist in New England. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. She recently signed her YA sci-fi novel with Inkspell Publishing titled: Colonization: Paradise Reclaimed, which will release in October 2012. When she’s not writing, Aubrie teaches flute and plays in orchestras. She’s a big Star Trek TNG fan, as well as Star Wars and Serenity.
August 20 – September 14 Book Tour by Shades of Rose Marketing
I will be the first to admit that I don’t know very much about children. The extent of my knowledge comes from interacting with my little sisters, and observing the children who come into the library. For those of you who don’t know, I work in a library. (I am a mechanic disguised as a librarian—teehee.) All manner of children come into the library. Some of them are shy, some are rambunctious, and some would be better suited for a zoo. Many of them are glued to cell phones, or they just come in to play games on the computers. It is always refreshing to see a child who loves to read. The readers remind me of me when I was little. I grew up around books and always preferred reading over doing anything else. Here I am reading a newspaper:
Some of the parents have to argue with their children to get them to read. They seem to spend a lot of time convincing their child that a certain book is worth their time, or that it’s better than television. These parents seem disappointed when they leave, probably because they know their child won’t actually read the book when they get home.
Some kids come in of their own volition, pick up huge stacks of books, read them in less than a week, and return to find more. One small child was known to cry and throw a fit when she had to give up her books, her mother all the while attempting to explain the act of borrowing, and the fact that there were always more she could read and take home with her.
Some children know the library very well. They are quiet, they know exactly what they’re looking for, and they’re excited when they find it. Admittedly, these children are few and far between.
In the midst of my observations, I saw something that irked me.
As a child, I was encouraged to read everything. I spent most of my time in my grandmother’s living room, reading her books. She had James Michener, Shakespeare, the Collette series, and a number of classics. I loved these books. Many of them were old, and they had that “old book smell” that I adore. I loved cuddling up with them and drifting off into other worlds. I especially loved Shakespeare, even when I was little.
I suppose that’s why it bothers me when I see a parent tell their child, “You can’t read that. It’s too long. It doesn’t have enough pictures. It’s not your reading level. You’re not old enough.” I saw a little girl grab a chapter book in the Junior Fiction section, and her mother immediately snatched it away from her. “You can’t read that. You’re too young.” The material had nothing to do with it; it was like any other Junior Fiction chapter book. The girl’s mother thought it was too long.
That’s fine—maybe it was. Maybe the girl would have grown disinterested and wanted to read something else. Whether or not she would have lost interest wasn’t what had bothered me. What had bothered me was that her mother had said, “You can’t.”
I grew up around books, but most kids are growing up around televisions and video games. Reading isn’t important to them. But when I see that spark of excitement in a child’s face—“Wow! I want to read this book!”—and it is quickly extinguished by a parent who quite possibly doesn’t realize how impactful the word “can’t” is, I am a little discouraged.
“Can’t” is a powerful word. “You can’t do that” is something that a child takes to heart.
“You can’t have a cookie before bedtime.”
“You can’t run in the house.”
“You can’t wear that outfit today.”
“You can’t read that book.”
There are many “you can’t” that a parent tells their child, most of them perfectly understandable. But if you tell a child that she can’t read a book—well, she just might apply that to any book. Tell a child she “can’t”—and she may well believe you.
