Mom I Want a Pony is the story of a young girl and her love for a pony. It was written with the hope that any child who has ever said those words – and any parent who has ever heard them – will read it and understand not only what is involved in this relationship, but also what is necessary to make it a safe and rewarding experience for all concerned.
BLURB: ‘A brilliant, supportive, challenging workbook, highly recommend.’ Jamie Sands You, too, can become the writer you’ve always wanted to be! The 52 Weeks of Writing Author Journal and Planner: • makes you plan, track, reflect on, and improve your progress and goals for an entire year long; • invites you to dig deep through thought-provoking prompts and exercises; and • helps you unravel the truth about why you aren’t where you want to be. Two years after publishing the first volume of 52 Weeks of Writing, writing coach and writer Mariëlle S. Smith brings you the updated third volume. Similar in style but reflecting the tweaks made to her coaching practice during the pandemic, 52 Weeks of Writing Vol. III is even better equipped to help you get out of your own way and on to the path towards success. Ready to start living your writing dream? Order your copy now.
EXCERPT
Each writing prompt is optional. If, for whatever reason, it does not speak to you, let it be. Who
knows? It might make more sense to do the prompt later in the process.
Take a moment to reflect on all the writing goals you've set for this year. Now,
grab a piece of paper and write down the following words:
I give myself permission to create.
Once you're done, stick it in a place where you'll see it daily.
AUTHOR Bio and Links: Mariëlle S. Smith is a writer, writing coach, and editor. She lives in Cyprus, where she organises private writer’s retreats, is inspired 24/7, and feeds more stray cats than she can count.
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. There was a time, when I was very young, when I wasn’t afraid to say so when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. I think it was my mother who said: ‘Good luck earning any money with that.’ Then there were others, telling me writing doesn’t bring home the bacon.
Of course, none of these people knew I’d become a vegan eventually. And neither, I think, were they aware of the impact their words had on me. How their casual comments made me lie about what I wanted to become and embarrassed about all those words I kept writing, in secret, afraid of being found out and told I was wasting my time pursuing something I really shouldn’t.
And then one of my uncles brought home a girlfriend. He didn’t just ‘bring her home’; she was from the United States, where he had worked for a couple of years, and she was moving to the Netherlands to be with him.
This girlfriend wasn’t only terribly smart—she was a lawyer who had just won a big case—and kind and funny and pretty and cool because she was from the United States, she loved books the way I did and let me borrow anything I wanted. I had never let anyone read my writing—it was all done in secret, after all—but she was the one I eventually trusted with a couple of pages, the start of a novel.
I remember the scene so vividly. We were out together, having a drink in a little bakery after visiting a fair, when I told her about this story I was writing. I had printed the pages when no one was looking and had put them in my bag in case I would somehow find the courage to show them to her.
I still have those pages and they were bad. Not just in terms of craft—I was fourteen or so—but the start of that story was so clearly based on the last series we’d been reading together… It was painful. Reading those words now, it was so very painful.
Now, over twenty years later, I can’t remember whether she said anything about those pages. The only thing I remember is that she didn’t say anything bad about them. In fact, she asked me about the rest of the story and I spent the entire afternoon telling her about all the ideas I had.
In that little bakery, I gave her the power to wreck me and she didn’t. I was steeling myself to hear about all the bacon I wouldn’t be bringing home, the harsh, penniless life I wanted to willingly sign up for, but she gave me none of that. And it has made all the difference.
Writing still wasn’t something I talked about with anyone else and it took me another fourteen years to tell another soul that I wrote stories and let them read my work, but that terrible fear of anyone finding out lost its hold on me. I no longer hid it from my direct family—I even bought myself a typewriter because the thought of having one alone made me feel more like a writer—and soon it was just something I spent a lot of time doing. If any more discouraging comments were made, I must have been too high on the support I’d received to not register them.
I might have never stopped writing, no matter what my uncle’s then girlfriend had said on that faithful day, but her treating it as something that was OK to be spending my time on, as a dream I was allowed to have and an interest worth pursuing? It did make a difference. She eventually moved back to the United States when I was seventeen, but I will never forget that day and I will never stop being grateful for all the things she didn’t say, all the hurt she didn’t inflict, and all the hope and joy and love for writing she handed back to me in that little bakery.
Great things come from small beginnings, and GREAT you are indeed.
About The Author
Stephanie Trachier Laskoskie was born and raised in Texas. She is a proud mother of four, author of the international best seller “My Baby is a Superhero!” and runs a NICU support organization called From Small Beginnings.
In 2016, her life was turned upside down when her twins were born at 23 weeks 2 days gestation. Thanks to the incredible care received, her twins beat all odds and were able to come home together after 151 days in the NICU.
Her parents were both educators and books, specifically children’s books, were always a huge part of her life. This experience with her own children fueled her passion to write children’s books that were tailored to the NICU experience, not just for the baby but for the siblings and family. Proceeds from her books have been used to create NICU sibling care packages that have supported thousands of NICU families during their most difficult days.
Everyone in the village is scared of the deadly elephants that roam nearby. Everyone except for Yaley. So when King Norman takes her brother along with all the other men in the village as prisoners, Yaley sets out with the elephants and the women of the village to get them back. But how can a small girl triumph against an empire?
A tale of courage, bravery, and the power of love.
Imagine if everything happening in your imagination also happens in real life. This is exactly what happens one day in the life of a curious, sweet, and intelligent girl named Johana. Under the colors of a beautiful ladybug, Johana discovers all the mysteries and beauties hiding in her own garden!
If you love Book Tours, Book Reviews, and Giveaways, you’ll want to subscribe to the Lisa’s Reading Newsletter. The sign-up form is on the right sidebar.
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Idle Time Press.Affiliate link included, which costs you nothing, but can help me earn a small commission.
Publisher: Idle Time Press | ISBN-13: 9781732925847
Publisher’s Synopsis: On his thirteenth birthday, Max Mead wakes up battered and bruised in the villa of his grandfather, a famous antiquities expert, in Cairo. He has a hard time remembering how he got there, but slowly details of his quest to locate his missing grandfather begin to emerge. But the Lieutenant, leader of a ruthless antiquities trafficking gang, has left Max with more than a few nasty bruises.
Cynthia C. Huijgens writes for children of all ages, including children’s picture books. She holds a BA in Art and Design, Masters in Education, and is a certified K-12 Art Teacher. Cynthia graduated from Simon Fraser University’s The Writer’s Studio.
Friday, December 17, 2021icefairy’s Treasure Chest A book review of Boy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector
Monday, December 20, 2021Lisa’s Reading A book review of Boy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector
My Review
Max Mead is a British boy celebrating his 13th birthday with his family in Egypt. He has found his missing grandfather and is enjoying spending time with him there. He sees his future there learning more about the magical cabinet. But, his family wants to go back to England so his sister can try for a gold medal in fencing. Through the magical cabinet and other Egyptian artifacts, Max is trying to learn the secrets that Harold left behind in his notebook. Max finds the ability to travel in time comes through the ring of King Tutankhamen. Max is the novice collector of missing Egyptian treasures and longs to be a competent.
There are mysteries to solve and the evil Lieutenant to stop. With the help of Grandad, Youssef, and Kiki, Max finds the courage to aim for the “gold”. Max has struggles to overcome, because of his fear and the successful big sister that always seems to get the most attention from his parents. This book is beautifully written and is full of adventure. The book leaves you waiting for the next installment of adventures with Max.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a Boy Between Worlds prize pack!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
An autographed copy of Boy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector
Two (2) 100% pashminas purchased from a vendor in the Khan el Kahlili, Cairo
A custom bookmark
An Idle Time Press t-shirt
Three (3) winners receive:
An autographed copy of Boy Between Worlds: The Novice Collector
