Finding Kids Who Love Writing

I’m already smiling, just writing the title of this post!

I had such a lovely time when I visited a group of home-schooled students who meet regularly to share their writing. One of the coordinators, Debra Mayhew, is a fellow writer friend of mine, and asked if I’d come and share my puppet play with the kids. And I said, “Wheeee!” (That’s Yes! in Cathy C. Hall language.)

Deb made wonderful puppets for the play, and I had help from several students who did a wonderful job playing their parts in “Oh, Dear! Oh, Deer!” Since the play is all about homonyms, we chatted a bit about words that sound alike but are spelled differently (and I told my all-time favorite knock-knock joke. Always a plus when I can find a way to fit that in!). And they shared their pictures of homonyms (there may be a few budding artists in the bunch, too).

I rambled a bit about my road to publication and brought some of the books where my writing shows up (but honestly, they just wanted to read Uncle John’s Facts to Annoy Your Teachers Bathroom Reader. I don’t blame ’em. That book rocks!), and then students shared their writing. It was such a pleasure to spend time with these kids. Because here’s the thing. Here was a group of kids who were eager to share their words and ideas! They clearly enjoy writing and write all the time.

And all I can say about that is Wheeeee! Wheeeee! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Wednesday WINNERS!

I’m SO excited to share the winners of the Big Bang B & N Followers Contest with you! And I have the names right…um, had the names here, just a minute ago.

Hmmmm…Not to worry, I know they’re here somewhere. Let me just move this HUGE book and Cathy-on-a-Stick, and Eureka!

But before I post the winners (and you know your eyes just dropped down to scan the names), I want to say thank you to everyone who signed on as a new follower. I hope you’ll come back and visit often. Especially because you may win sometime in the future. I have another contest coming up soon, and you’re going to love the prize! Okay, okay, moving on…

The winning NEW follower (who shall receive a $20 gift card from Barnes and Noble)…Jodi!

Now, as it happens, Jodi signed up after I posted an announcement about the contest on the Premium Green boards. So, technically, she was sent by, um, me. It didn’t seem too sporting to win my own contest, so I threw the names into random.org again and came up with the next new follower.

The winning blogger who sent that follower my way (and who shall also receive a $20 gift card from Barnes and Noble)…Stacy!

But then, I spun the names of all those folks who graciously wrote a blog post, promoting my contest. I SO appreciated all y’all (as we say in the South) taking the time to help me meet my goal (and honestly, anything over 90 was gravy!). There were TEN bloggers mixing it up on random.org, by the way. THANK YOU!

The winning blogger who posted about the contest (who shall receive a $10 gift card from Barnes and Noble)…Madeline!

So, Jodi, Stacy and Madeline, I’ll need your address in order to send you a gift card. And I’ll send the gift cards right out. Um, as soon as I find them.