Gangnam!

Yep! My husband is a dancing fool! Check him out here!

Thinking About Christmas?

It'll soon be here! If you're looking for a kids' book about this special time of year, consider Celebrate the Season! Twelve Short Stories for Advent and Christmas available at Pauline Books. This collection (which includes some of my stories) evokes the joy and meaning of the season. Kids 8-12 years old enjoy the stories, and teachers and parents find the book useful since each story is follow by "Questions to Think and Talk About." Would it make a nice gift for someone on your Christmas list?

Another Pic from Books by the Banks

Thanks to Mary Kay Carson, great kids' writer and fellow BBTB participant,  for this photo!

Books by the Banks

I had a great time at Books by the Banks this past Saturday! It was wonderful to meet other authors, talk about my work with people of all ages, and autograph my books. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table!

See you there?

If you're in the Cincinnati area this Saturday, check out Books by the Banks. It's a great FREE book festival being held in the Duke Energy Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can meet hundreds of authors there, chat with them, buy their books (if you wish!), and get their autographs. I'll be there with my book Saints of Note: The Comic Collection. Please stop by my table!

My Books by the Banks Book

 

Saints of Note: The Comic Collection will be my featured book at Books by the Banks this weekend. Come by and take a look or check it out on this website. This comic collection takes young readers on a journey with time-travelers Paul and Cecilia as they go to the past to meet saints from around the world and throughout history. Their exciting adventures bring the saints to life and make them meaningful for children today. Saints of Note is packed with biographical information, facts, quotes, and more!

Great new book!

Kerrie Logan Hollihan brings the women's suffrage movement to life in the informative and inspiring Rightfully Ours – How Women Won the Vote. Throughout the book, Hollihan weaves a clear and fascinating picture of the times, culture, and historical events behind the struggle. Against this context, she tells the stories of the heroic women who fought the battle for equality: Lucy Stone, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, and many others. These surprisingly intimate portraits make the women of the movement real and relevant for today's young readers. A wealth of illustrations and photographs supplement the text. The book also includes a good mix of appealing activities designed to help kids understand the times and relate to the suffragists. Highly recommended! You can get it from Amazon.  

I'm waiting....

…for somebody to make a Cats in Trouble movie. Or even better…a television series. I love the characters in these books – human, feline, and canine! (Check out the latest book in the series here.)  The mysteries are always intriguing and fun. There's plenty of action as well as lots of quieter "real" moments of emotion and personal interaction. And Mercy, South Carolina is a setting I'd like to see brought to life. I guess until someone realizes the potential of these books, I'll just have to wait…for the next one!

Intriguing Mystery and More!

The Carousel Ghost is a compelling mystery and ghost tale as well as a relatable and realistic story about friendship. Young readers will enjoy the amusement park setting, the great characters (both live and…well…not), the creepiness, and the twists and turns of this well-constructed mystery. Ms. Pelleschi keeps the story moving along so well that it's hard to put down – even for an adult reader. The main character's efforts to deal with changing relationships in her life are authentic and moving. Highly recommended!

Jajeminicze znaki - 10 opowiadan o sakramentach

Two of my books are now being sold in Poland! The title above is Polish for Goodness Graces! Ten Short Stories About the Sacraments. The other book now available in Poland is Dziesiaty poziom -12 opawiaden o przyjazni or Friend 2 Friend - Twelve Short Stories (which includes several of my stories). I hope the kids over there enjoy the books -- I can't read anything but my name!

Dear Story,

Fight me all you want, but resistance is futile. No matter how many rewrites it takes...no matter how long I have to sit in front of the computer...no matter WHAT it takes...I am going to wrestle you into submission. So why don't you just give up now? Please? Pretty please with sugar on top?

Your frustrated friend,

Diana

Love to read?

Then mark your calendar for the 6th annual Books by the Banks Festival in downtown Cincinnati! At this free event you can meet authors, buy their books, listen to various talks and panels, etc. My book Saints of Note: The Comic Collection was accepted for the festival so I'll be there! Come join me on October 20 between 10:00 and 4:00 at the Duke Energy Center.

Author Kidnapped by Aliens!!!!

Unbelievable? Well, how else can I explain why I haven't blogged in so long? Hey, I had to bore my guard to death with knock-knock jokes so I could escape my cell and find a computer to send this message. Now if I can just figure out how to get back to earth before they

Going gaga!

What drives you gaga? Writing can make ME nuts! Read my poem/parody "Gaga Over Writing" in EXTRA INNINGS. This is a fun and informative newsletter about writing created and edited by Marshall J. Cook. My poem is on page 4, but be sure to check out the rest of the newsletter, too.

Goodness Graces!

Here's a new review of my book Goodness Graces - Ten Short Stories about the Sacraments:

A Sacrament Book That Kids Can Relate To

By

Sherry Ellis

Goodness Graces is a collection of short stories that takes a look at the sacraments in a way that's relevant to kids. Read more....

Thanks, Sherry!

A World Where Everyone Can Read!

 At least 793 million people worldwide are illiterate! Celebrate the power of words and support the right to read on World Read Aloud Day, March 7. You can do this by simply reading aloud to someone in your life or you can plan a special activity like a book swap, a classroom visit, a donation to a literacy organization, etc. Check out LitWorld for information. The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is participating. Members can go to their website for more ideas about how to participate. Read on!

Writing Plays for Kids

If you write for children, don't limit yourself to traditional fiction. Use your story-telling skills to create plays kids will love. For suggestions about how to do that, see my article "6 Tips on Writing Plays for Kids" on the Guide to Literary Agents Blog. For information about potential markets for your plays, check out the "Play Markets" tab on my website. Good luck, playwrights!

Catholic Mom Interview

Many thanks to Lisa Hendey for interviewing me for her wonderful blog -- Catholic Mom. Read the interview here. And be sure to check out the rest of Lisa's blog, too. You'll find all kinds of inspiring and interesting posts!

Resolutions I'm Going to Keep (Really!)

1.) Behave like a paragon of virtue.
2.) Keep my home spotless
3.) Cook gourmet meals
4.) Lose lots of weight anyway.
5.) Write a bestselling series of kids' books that appeal to children and adults alike and leave Harry Potter in the dust.
6.) Stick to projects until they are