Cathy C. Hall Writes

Have you seen David Zinn’s adorkable art? I do so love his characters–they make my heart smile. And as I flitted among his pictures, I began to think what great prompts they could be for a picture book or chapter book or even a middle grade book.

Or maybe just a poem.

The point is that if I had one of the Junior Halls with me and we came across one of Mr. Zinn’s brilliant chalk art pieces along the sidewalk, we’d spend the whole rest of the day, making up a story about it.

Need a little inspiration? Grab one of your juniors and take a walk through David Zinn’s website. Or maybe just take a solitary stroll through his street gallery. You’ll be telling stories in no time!

(P.S. He’s working on a book of his chalk art–successfully crowd-funded–to come out soon! Keep your eyes peeled for flying pigs near you.)

I seem to be a bit obsessed with perspective lately, and I’m not sure why. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something?

Anyway, the universe (also known as the Tub Where I Get Ideas) told me to share my thoughts on Neil Gaiman and perspective over at the Muffin and so I did. If you’re feeling a wee bit overwhelmed by everything you need to do, marketing-wise, I hope you’ll take a look see.

To be honest, in the summer, I’m always struck with just the tiniest bit of ennui (which is just a high falootin’ word for my laziness, but still, it sounds so much better, right?). It’s not that I don’t want to write, per se…it’s just that I want to sit outside and read more. And so I needed inspiration and bless Neil Gaiman, he came through for me.

By the by, the book I mentioned in the Muffin post, The Ocean At the End of the Lane, is great summer reading (or anytime reading). And of course, Mr. Gaiman has a new book out, Trigger Warning, (Because he always has a new book out) and I have to read that, and naturally, when I was perusing his website and such (for research), I noticed a book or two I hadn’t yet read and I think the summer is the best time to catch up on Neil, don’t you?

Which is, I’m quite sure, the universe telling me that it’s okay to slow down a bit and read when there are wonderful books out there, waiting. So how about you, my writing friends? What books are on your Summer Reading List?