All The Books Around The World.. ..A journey In Writing...Part Two

All The Books Around The World.. ..A journey In Writing...Part Two

In writing this blog I could tell you all about the books, and I am doing that, but I want to do more than that. I have always loved to write and wanted one day to see my stories as books that I could hold in my hands. I enjoy working to create the characters and try to make them real enough the reader might feel they know them, can relate to them or even empathize with the situations and story and all of those involved.

As I begin this part of the blog I come to the hardest book I have ever written and I will also explain why I wrote it. I did not want to write it. I never intended to write it. I felt compelled to write it.

When you think of a book title, the shorter the better. The title to this book is way too much. The title was one that was what the book really is. I Will Not Give Up...Not Today...Life Is A Journey.

I may have loved to write but knew nothing about computers, internet and most of today’s technologies. I did not know how to copy and paste and at the beginning did not even know how to turn on and off the computer. If you want to stop and turn it off for the day, on the computer I had you had to go to start to stop. For an old gal like me that was a contradiction but start to turn off the computer I learned. I had to learn a lot of new things. I wanted to be traditionally published and learned how to do many things and began to attempt that route. It can be a long process and the doctors found cancer that was in a bad location and every beat of my heart brought me closer to being inoperable. I already had enough health issues we feared there would be few tomorrows with or with out the surgery. I wanted just once to hold one of my books in my hands before.......

That was Life Goes On. When I had to decide if I only had time enough for one book it was a hard choice. I love Journey Home so much too but I believed the story and the issues in Life Goes On might be something others might not only relate to but find an insight into some of the problems some families are facing in life, children, teenagers and how much of an influence others can have on them and their actions and much more. I want the things that I write to entertain but also reach deeper. I hope in some way my art, writing and what little I am able to do might make a difference even if it is only to one.

                              I Will Not Give Up....Not Today....Life Is A Journey

 

The reason I tell all of this is because what I had been writing, were stories and characters that I created. I love to write and create. I Will Not Give Up...Not Today...Life Is A Journey is not fiction that I was able to control and create. It is my own story but not written or told to tell about me. It is my story to share the idea in the title. We can not give up. We may have to be willing to work and work really hard in life. We can not look at life as one thing. Life is constantly changing and really is a Journey. It is something we have to continue onward in living. Life is over when we give up. We can be alive but never really living life.

I did not write it to show how I did not give up or an example of courage. There are so many times fear almost overwhelms me. There are times it takes a lot of work to not only look for the beauty in life but to feel it in my heart. When I wrote the book, it is sharing from my heart as I have worked with these books and the adventure of them all and hope it might reach out beyond the pages and share the idea...to never give up.

I did not plan the book, work the book, write and rewrite the book editing to make it a work worthy of being published for the reader to be able to have a finished developed book. I wish that I could, but that is not what this is. This is a book I never wanted to write and found it painful and even at times so distressing that I cried. I had to stop typing as I could no longer see through the tears.

For many years there were small parts of my life I could not remember no matter how hard I tried. I felt distressed that there were missing parts my mind could not retrieve. The doctors seemed pleased and said I would be better off if I never remembered those little bits and pieces. When my face and head hit the windshield the nightmare of a head on collision began and it was a fight for life. Much of that I could not remember. It was all bits and pieces. As I was writing this book, in the middle of typing, after all of these years it came back. It came back with a vengeance....not as a memory but as if it was happening right then. This may sound crazy and maybe it is. I am a pretty crazy old woman, but it was as if I was reliving it so much I could not breathe. The blood was choking and blocking my throat. I heard the paramedic saying he thought he had a bleed out and they were doing their best. The glass gouging and scraping my face as my body was tossed like a rag doll and smashed repeatedly into the glass. My foot pinned by the motor of the car anchored me from going out onto the pavement. I was not remembering these thing but feeling it again.

Even as I am writing this about the book I was going to go back and glance through it so that I could discuss different parts and tell more but I can not. I felt as if for what ever reason, I was supposed to write this book and I did as honestly and from the heart as I could, but I can not go back and read my own book. I can not get that close and feel those things again. The book is not a sad and recount of misery and pain. It is about many things and some very happy times and seeing my dreams of my books become a reality. Life is not always a happy every after adventure of joy and success so it is as real as I could make it with each and every word typed and told straight from the heart. It was not planned or perfected.

I would apologize for that but will not. This book if real. It is not worked and created. It is not written for me or even for me to deal with difficult issues. It is something I felt was needed for me to write. I was in the middle of the book Danny. I feel that is not only a book that will hold the readers interests but a powerful book about an abused and neglected child. I could hardly wait to get into every aspect of the book Danny but even that had to stop until I Will Not Give Up... Not Today...Life Is A Journey was done.

When it came time for the cover of the book I wanted it to be special. Every one of my books have covers that are my own art. They may not be professional and it could be a marketing mistake but what I am doing and trying to do is more than market and sell books. I am trying to create something special, it makes me happy and the responses and messages I am receiving from readers makes me smile and feel hope this adventure in writing is worth while to more than myself.

This is what I have said about the book and you can read it on the back of the book or descriptions...

Life is a journey. There are times that the path is smooth and well traveled and others it seems steep and difficult…but if we do not give up, there is so much more that awaits us. I love to paint paths that lead to ?... I hope they will lead to where we need to go in life. I hope there is love, hope, happiness, and wonderful new things that await us at the end.

I want to look for and find the beauty in life and find love and hope. This book is not just the wonderful moments to show only the smiling, happy, marvelous and inspirational times…I am trying to make it real and share a piece of my heart, life, thoughts, feelings and so much of who and what I am.

This may be my story, but I hope in sharing it you will find meaning, hope and knowledge that we will not give up…Not today. This book is shared from the heart.

When I painted the watercolor painting I used for the cover I began to feel it was the right thing for this book. I mixed in florescence into the pigment of the paint allowing the to do the sunset so that with a black light it softly lights up and glows as the evening sky would just before the darkness of night descends.

I had to use a template for the paperback so you will see two different versions of the book and the original painting .

I also love to use my art combined with thoughts and words shared. One day I want to make a picture book of words and art.  I used this painting for one of those too.

A Tale To Tell

I love this small book as not only stories but fun in the telling and sharing. There may be a ghostly presence in each but there is more if you look closely. More Than Just A Story In
A Book may be the name of this blog but it is something I want to do in my writing too. One of the stories The Legend Lives On is one if find fun. When I wrote it I wanted the reader to be a part of the story as much as the characters that a fiction in the story its self. I would love to talk about it and tell about it but it would be more fun for you to be able to read it as it is written.

The Midnight Hour may be a ghostly tale of what a young man finds in the cemetery at the midnight hour but it is more than that. Pier pressure can have a great impact on young people and the urge to be accepted can influence any of us at any age. What would you do to be accepted? What could be the consequences especially in that place at that time?

More Than The Eye Can See is one that makes me sad as I wrote it. What if a little old lady could feel and see from the past and what she finds brings sadness to her very heart. Things can seem so perfect for others in life and we may never really know their pain, insecurities or how devastating depression can be even on young people who have their who lives ahead of them. Finding a way to reach out to one another and share love and understanding is not always an easy thing to accomplish. What did this little old woman see? Was it real?

Watch What You Wish For is a completely fictional story, but they say a writer should draw on their own life experiences and things they know in their writing. What would it feel like to die? What if all the body had stopped its functions and yet the person could still hear every word said in the room? What if they could quote conversations held as the doctors desperately worked to bring the patient back? What if you could use such an experience in a story helping to make it feel more real? Many years ago I had a severe reaction during a surgery and ended up, after they were able to bring me back when I no longer had a respiratory response and machines were keeping me alive, on life support. I could remember and do to this day what a comfort and peaceful feeling I had of what was just ahead. There are many times I think to die would be easy, it is living that is hard …. but it is in life we find the most beauty and things that warm the heart and make me smile at times too. It is in life I can strive to do what is required....I never understood what was required. Maybe it is just trying to do the best that we can each day in the life that we lead.

I Watch You All The Time is a short story that I think is very powerful. I do not want to ruin the read by telling too much but I will say that this story inspired a novel that I am working on now. I can hardly wait to see it as a book but I have to take things slowly and want to take my time and make it the very best that I can make it . It is coming and if you read this short story you may have some idea of the feel for the novel even though the stories are different the inspiration for the novel came from this story.

This is what it tells about that book.......

It is fun to gather around a bonfire or sitting in camp and tell stories. These are several that I have shared and will share that are more than a tale to tell.

Some of these stories tell more than a story. It may be a story to share in camp or when the hour is a little spooky but it also can bring many things to mind. Being young is so wonderful. Everything usually works with our bodies not yet worn and old, arthritic or broken and sick. We can be filled with the enthusiasm of youth.

There are also so many pressures to learn from, grow with, understand and overcome or be influenced for good or bad and often pushed to do things we know we should not do. Peer pressure can be brutal and some with cruel intents can do more harm than we dream. Youth can be a bright and shining adventure but it can also become overcast and even deadly oppressed.

If we are unable to find ways to understand and deal with life we can suffer so many consequences. There are times a little help from a friend can go a long way or what we thought was a friend can hurt us to the core giving a lesson learned the hard way.

Even as the years pass we can find situations in life that are difficult or impossible to fully explain to another. There by compassion and love may we find others less judgmental and more inclined to reach out with understanding and lend a helping hand. We can hope to find such a thing but need to be prepared to find our own path if we need to go forth. Abuse or situations so oppressive we find we can loose our way.

The last story is one that may be disturbing. It is fiction as are all of these stories but deals with emotions and problems that do not have a happy ending. Life does not always end “Happily Ever After”. In this story there are many things happening and some that may never end. It may be more haunting than haunted.

We will see. This short story inspired a novel that will soon be released. It gave me an idea for the first novel but it finds heart and takes off for the novel I Watch You All The Time.


I hope these stories will entertain, I hope they will find meaning and new thoughts. I hope you enjoy and find a Tale To Tell……

This is my water color painting I used for the cover of A Tale To Tell

In that painting I also have combined the paint pigment so that the sky will light up with a black light and glow the colors of a setting sun.

I did another version of it for the art and words

DANNY

If you love a story with a paranormal twist this is the book. This is a fictional story that could bring more than just a story of a young abused and neglected boy but also of the realities involved and consequences such things in life can have. It is more than just a tale about abuse. It is a story I think will live long in memory but I do not want to spoil the read.

This is what it tells about the book......

A young child trapped in a nightmare life had a special friend. His friend said, “You can call me Danny.” Danny was his only friend. Feeling alone, abused, isolated and lost, a young child needed someone. No one but Steven could see or hear Danny. Was Danny imagination, a friendly ghost there protecting, or was there more to this entity than anyone might suspect? Steven began to think Danny might be a Guardian Angel but angel or evil…only time would tell….. because Steven would tell no one and betray his friend and that friend was there to stay.
Tragedy and chaos, murder and an end to life as Steven had known, erupted in his household in the dark of night.
Three young boys fled and that night would change their lives forever. It was filled with death and disaster. If it was a new beginning or a new nightmare of a different kind, only time would tell….and we can not forget Danny.
This is a story you will not soon forget.
Danny is a story of a young child living a nightmare life of abuse and neglect. The pain of abuse at any age, is one that has consequences. There are those who are stronger and live lives determined to never repeat the horrors they endured but there are others who survive in other ways. Feeling alone and vulnerable allows a person to be victimized even more in many instances.
Danny is a story of all that and more. There may come a day we suspect a person is being abused and want to help, finding it is more difficult that we dreamed. If we dare to care and not give up, one by one we might make a difference. If we make a difference for even one person, it may mean the world to that one soul.
The idea that there might be more things in this world than meet the eye or that we might be able to see and understand, can give insight to a story that will take you beyond the abuse into the world lived by this child. This is more than a story of abuse and survival. This is a story that may haunt you in memory but remind us of what there can be in this world. I hope it reminds us to find heart, hope and tolerance to those who suffer or need help. I hope we have the courage to look and see, trying to make a difference. This is a story you will know this child and feel from the depths of his inner-being instead of hearing his story.
There may be a cold chill travel your spine as you begin to understand even more of this tale. We can call him Danny, but can we say who he really is?

I can hardly wait to tell you about my most recent two books that are actually with my grandson. Down The Path is his own story he created and worked for over a year and a half developing. It was so much fun as he began not only writing the story but learning and working to make the characters as real as possible. I would ask such things as.... Well that all will be in the next blog. The things we did to enable an 8 year old child to write a book I think adults would find things in as well as children would enjoy I documented in a book similar to a journal and it is our other book called An Adventure In Writing. Those two will be the next of this 3 part blog. I guess my own story will be the first part of a series too since I am not dead yet and not giving up.... not today.

I close to day and am getting ready to lie down and take a rest but wish each and every one of you a happy day, happy reading and wonderful things in the years to come. Thank you for taking the time to share this adventure I am undertaking in life and writing and taking the time to visit a bit with me here..... I almost said visit a spell, but that is a local thing you would have to hear the Arkansas accent to appreciate. Y'all have a wonderful day.

This is a list of the countries I will provide links for through Amazon.....

US United States            UK United Kingdom            IN India

DE Germany                  FR France                         ES Spain

IT Italy                           JP Japan                           BR Brazil

CA Canada                    CN China                          MX Mexico

AU Austrailia

I have author pages in the US at http://www.amazon.com/Linda-Nance/e/B004PVDVR4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 and the UK  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linda-Nance/e/B004PVDVR4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1393520462&sr=1-2-ent

 

There are many other place I often go and have sites such a linkedin, goodreads, twitter and many others. For today would share the links to each country for each book but the truth is I am getting tired and even this has taken such a long time I am ready to rest a bit.  If you go to your country page and look for the book title and author name I hope you find me and if you do not please let me know and I will try to help.

I Can Do It Continues Part 2

I Can Do It Continues Part 2

It has been quite a challenge to not only work to create a book that truly is written by both my grandson and myself but also the process of teaching writing to a child of this age. I know of others who listen to the ideas and then write the story. That would be the process of writing with a coauthor but I wanted it to be more.

I feel if I hurry to write the story I might miss the opportunity to be a part of an experience in learning that could carry on later in life. I have no idea what Zander wants to do when he grows up, but firmly believe that learning all that we can is never a waste. A friend of mine marvels at his enthusiasm saying it is because he is his grandma's boy and grew up watching me writing, typing, discussing, and shares my passion, feeling a part of it. That is probably true but I believe it is also in his own heart and his own desires no matter where it originates. Helping a child to enjoy learning is like an adventure for me. We have fun.

I think having fun in learning is especially important to the young. As we grow older we know there are assignments or things we need to do and learn and may do it because that is what we need to do. A young child might not feel the need or understand the advantage and their attention might wander to other things they find more fun and appealing. It is exciting to see them want to do and learn because they can not wait to do and learn more. Seeing them filled with pride and confidence in the new things they understand and now can use is only a start. Seeing them with a desire to continue and learn more is more than I can resist.

That is the reason I am working to write a book that will take others through the processes we are doing to learn and write our book. I plan to share things here too but am actually doing this second book in the same manner I use when I teach Zander or speak with school children or any others wanting to learn. It will not be a work book although it will have spelling words, learning definitions, concepts and hopefully a new way to think and see things as we work creating something special.

Zander has a pretty good understanding of many things relating to writing but I am going to try to relate some of them here and in the book. When I have tried to teach him some things especially if they are things he might not run across in everyday conversations with his friends I try to make it either fun or challenging. Often it is like a puzzle if he can figure out how it works.

One of the first things we discussed is what it takes to make a story. I asked him if he knew. He frowned not knowing what answer I was looking for. I explained that it takes a beginning, middle and end. If we tell all about someone and where they are, maybe even what they are doing but that is all, there is no end. “Sam was a big boy with brown hair ran swiftly. He ran in the race and was one of the fastest runners of all in the race.”

He waited for me to continue explaining. “We know that Sam is a big boy and has brown hair. We know he was fast when he ran and that he was running in a race. Did he win? Did something happen? Who else was in the race? What things do we need to know to make it a story instead of just telling me about Sam?”

A big smile came across his face. “Sam was only one of the kids in the race. There were a bunch of kids and one of them was mean and tripped him. When he fell he lost the race.” He laughed and asked it that was the end or did I want to know more?

That was the beginning of understanding for what we were about to begin. I want him to understand how important words are. We use words to write our stories. We use words to communicate with each other. We use words in many ways. We need to understand the words we use and the meanings.

I asked if he knew what a protagonist is and he gave me one of his special looks. He did not know and was not sure he cared but it was a challenge between us. I waited for him to ask what it was and was not disappointed. My momentary silence was soon filled with him wanting me to tell.

We have made such good progress since my last blog but I will try to bring us up to date and get ready for next week.

Spelling Words and definitions

Protagonist : the principal character in a literary work (as a drama or story) The chief character in a play, novel, or story

a leading actor, character, or participant in a literary work or real event

“I guess we could say that the protagonist is who or what the story is about.”

Zander smiled with understanding, “I know now. It is the person the whole story is really about.”

I love to create a bit of a challenge to think a little deeper. “It could be a person, but what if the story is about a talking dog, or a pumpkin that comes to life or even a ghost or an alien? Those are not just people. One reason we have words to have better understanding of what we are trying to say. If I just said the person the story is about that might not be good enough depending on our story. The words protagonist tells us all of that with one word and we know who or what in the story we are talking about.

Antagonist one that opposes another. “Who or what is causing the problem? If we know who the protagonist is and we know what is going on then what is the problem or thing that is happening in the story? What is keeping the protagonist from doing what he is trying to do? He smiled and said, “In the little story, it is the mean boy that tripped Sam.”

I was thrilled. At that moment he had learned two words I have never heard an 8 year old use before, but as we continued to talk and discuss ideas for stories and examples of things involving the protagonist and antagonist I could see him growing more accustomed to hearing and using his new words. I did not want to give him words so that he could learn the definitions and memorize them, but own them by knowing and understanding them in his own discussions and use. We continued to talk of many things but I found ways to use the new words as we did enjoying his responses when he too used the words. At first he seemed hesitant but soon seemed proud.

I mentioned since he knew what a protagonist was then he understood it was about the main character of the story. When we say character it could mean more than one thing. Some words have different meanings depending on how you use them.

We know that just as the protagonist is the main person or character of our story...the character is what? The character is a person or something that is one of the actors or participants in the story. You may have many characters.

The boy who was a fast runner is the protagonist that is the main character. They boy that tripped him is also a character but not the protagonist, or one the story is about. You could have other characters in the story such as “When Sam fell, two other runners stopped to try to help him up and see if he was hurt. All of the other runners ran right by and did not seem to care.” There may be many characters.

He had to think on that one for a bit. A smile came across his face and he was ready for more.

I told him what about this? “Look at that little dog chase his own tail. He runs in circles. He is such a cute little character.”

He looked confused. So I tried a different example. “The little old man could tell such funny stories and made us all laugh. He is such a funny character.”

What was it about the old man that made him such a character? Was it because he did something different or odd compared to others? Was the little dog doing something odd, different or funny? Was the old man doing something different that caught their attention with his stories?

Character an odd or peculiar person
a person in a story, novel, or play

We could also talk about what kind of character a person might have that made them trustworthy and honest. Are they of good character? Would the word character then describe something about a person?
Character can be moral excellence

We went on discussing different ideas for stories using the new words and he seemed to delight in one idea after another using his new words.

Ever so often as we used the words protagonist and antagonist I would spell it. Casually as we talked he was learning new words and how to spell them.

PLOT is another word that can mean more than one thing depending on what we are saying and how we use the word.

Plot and mean the main story (as of a book or movie) I like to use the word and give an example as we talk. You notice I did not say teach, because I am teaching by including him in the conversations or allowing him to crave an understanding, knowing he can figure out the puzzle or answer with it in the end.

“As I read the story it was so interesting I could hardly wait to see how it ends.” You could think of the plot of the story like a guide of how the story goes from beginning to end.

What about other ways to use the same word? If we are talking about a ghost story it would be a paranormal story. That is something that is not normal or out of the ordinary and normal. We could say “I was afraid to go near the plot of the old man who is supposed to haunt the cemetery.” We know the plot is a small piece of ground where the old man is buried.

a small area of ground : <a cemetery plot>

If I told you to be careful because I think some of the characters in the story will plot mean things for the protagonist, what do you think?

Zander laughed and said “That is easy. The main character had better look out because there is some bad stuff ahead.”

“That is right. We might say they have an evil or unlawful scheme of plan that is what they are plotting to do.

We continued talking and using the new words we had learned. I mentioned the original children's story The Pumpkin Field. He had heard it so many times he almost knows it by heart. Through the years he never seems to tired of it as he looks for other meanings for the same phrases. I wrote it hoping it would be something to stimulate thought as well as tell a story. I mentioned if we wanted to write the rest of the story as he had thought we could actually use the words from the first story in the second and develop it into a new story with the other story included.

US

http://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-Field-Linda-Nance/dp/1461044812/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373168927&sr=1-6

UK       

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Pumpkin-Field-ebook/dp/B00DIQUBIE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373169032&sr=8-1&keywords=linda+nance

Canada

http://www.amazon.ca/The-Pumpkin-Field-ebook/dp/B00DIQUBIE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1373169091&sr=8-4&keywords=linda+nance

Germany

http://www.amazon.de/The-Pumpkin-Field-Linda-Nance/dp/1461044812/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373169140&sr=8-3&keywords=linda+nance

Spain

http://www.amazon.es/The-Pumpkin-Field-Linda-Nance/dp/1461044812/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1373169188&sr=8-5&keywords=linda+nance

France

http://www.amazon.fr/The-Pumpkin-Field-ebook/dp/B00DIQUBIE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373169239&sr=8-1&keywords=linda+nance

I got out a copy of the book and he smiled as he read and looked at each page. “You will have to do some pictures for our book too. I know we have mostly words and the story but I still like the pumpkins.....and the witch....and the cat.... Well I like them all.” He remembered watching me as I did each of the original pictures. The pages are full size art works with the words included in the art.  I was amazed when I saw the first book at how exact the print quality was. I could see it just like the ones I have in a folder.

It would be a challenge, but so was creating a story that did not have characters he so loves such as Iron Man or Spider Man. We had to learn to create our own characters from our own imaginations and not use what other people had created. That was a bit of a discussion before he understood and accepted that he could not use any character or story from the television.

It was exciting as day by day we learned new words and worked to develop what the new story would be. He wants it to be for older children. He loves the pictures of the story book I wrote and illustrated but he said there is so much more to this story he wants to tell. He wants it to be one that he and his friends could read.

We began to actually put a story together. He chose the characters and names. We had to work to find solutions to problems early in the story. I loved watching the expressions on his face as he thought and would propose one idea after another until we could find on that might work. Sentence by sentence we made a small beginning. I know it will be written and rewritten many times before we are satisfied but that is part of learning to write a book. I want him to understand and question even his own writing. “Is what I have written easy to understand? Did I describe the characters well enough the reader knows what the look like and what they are like as people? How do they work out their problems? What are their problems? What are they wanting to do? Why?” These were only some of the many things we talked about and tried different things.

After we came up with the first part I typed out what he thought the story should be. We have his ideas, his characters, his story and me putting it together. I asked many questions leading him to analyze the story and develop it as we went along. When I asked a question challenging something the would do or wanted to do he would think and come up with what he thought it should be . This is the first bit we did.........

Beyond The Pumpkin Field

Several years ago, I decided to see if the rumors I had heard about a haunted pumpkin field were true. It was almost Halloween and many whispered about the spooky field down the old gravel road, not too far from my house. It was a night I will never forget. I was afraid to tell others about it, fearing they would never believe what I had seen and heard.

It was the dark of night but the moon shone bright, casting shadows on things below. I was younger then and those shadows looked spooky. I was afraid but did not want the others to know how afraid I really was. I should never have gone without telling my parents, but knew they would say no or think it was silly. We did not think it was silly and I really wanted to know the truth. I had heard many times that there was nothing in the dark that was not there in the daylight, but it sure looked like there might be anything hiding there in the dark.

As the years passed I began to wonder if even in time, we might never know what was the cause and the reason for it all. I just know what I saw, or thought I saw. I know it was true but then again, could it have been a dream? Those were things that I thought about from time to time.

When I think back to that night it was as if some kind of eerie spell had crept in and strange things were all around. The only way for a person to know for sure what was really going on, would be for them to go and see.

In the day it was a field that looked so peaceful with all of the plants the farmer had planted. When I went there before that night in the daylight the field was full of pumpkins the farmer had grown and corn stalks bundled here and there. The scarecrow hung limply on his perch looking old and worn with hay peeking out here and there. His blue shirt was faded with age and his hat hung down low on the head full of hay.

The moon had a silvery light and almost blue in the shadows. I felt a chill in the air and I began to shiver. I remembered the stories I had heard and the rumors of how haunted the place was.

I had also heard about the spell the old witch they told tales about was said to have cast on the land. There were many stories about her too. They say she used to own that land, but the farmer took it away from her. She was so angry she moved far back in the woods, casting spells and haunting anyone she ran across. The other children said a single look from her could turn you to stone or some other equally bad spell she might cast. There were other stories about her too. Each time they were told, the stories became more fearsome.

I have to admit that I was afraid. I was so afraid that night that I could hardly walk. I am still afraid. I have only told a few people about that night but none of them think it was real. Some people think that I just fell asleep because it was late and I had a bad dream. Some told me they thought I was telling lies. Some just laugh and think I am making it all up to scare them. When I think about it, I see no way it could be real. I wonder myself how it could have happened like I remembered. To this day I remember it all.

I walked up to the pumpkin field down a long road lined with big trees and bushes. I expected for one of my friends to jump out and try to scare me any time but it seemed like I was all alone. I could hear the frogs singing their night song not far away in a pond near the field. There were lightening bug or fireflies that flickered in the dark. I had a flashlight but was afraid if I used it, someone might come to see who was there and tell my mom and dad I had been sneaking around in the dark of night. I did not want to get into trouble.

I did not realize that if I got hurt, no one would know I was there. Any bad thing could have happened. It was really not a smart thing to do but here I was thinking about doing it again. Since no one believed my story I began to wonder about it myself. It all seemed so real but I could see no way that it could be real.

Now that I am a teenager you would think I would have figured it out, but I just have more questions. I decided I would have to go back. I might have to go back more than once. No matter what it took, I would have to figure out if it was real or only a dream. I had a plan to take a friend or two this time. I was going to have a witness if there was anything special to see.

This time it would be more than just me that saw things in the dark of night that sent a shiver down your spine. The next day at school we were eating lunch with everyone laughing and talking. I decided to confide in my two closest friends about my plan and hoped they might decide to join in too.

Matt could come and stay with me on the weekend. We would be able to sneak out together and be back home before daylight. I did not like to sneak but that night haunted my memory for all they years after it had happened.

Mary was friends with my older sister. Her name is Amie and she is only a year older than I, but thinks she has the right to always boss me around and treat me like I am only a little kid. The only way I could think of for Mary to be able to come with us, would be for her to stay overnight with my sister. My sister might tell on us and then none of us could go. She also might think it would be a lot of fun or another chance to show how stupid I am. It was a risk I would have to take and hope that Mary could convince her that it would be fun.

When I first began to explain what I had in mind, they both laughed and asked me if I was serious.

“I remember when you first told me all of that and can not believe you are serious. Are you telling me after all this time you still think you saw all those things and that place is haunted with an old wicked witch waiting to catch people?” Matt laughed and I worried others might start to wonder what we were talking about.

“Keep it quiet. You two are the only ones I trust with this. The last thing I need, is for everyone to find out and start telling the whole world. I would be in a lot of trouble if my mom and dad found out. I don't want to listen to some of those bullies teasing me or making fun of me either. I know it sounds crazy but maybe you are just too afraid to come and investigate with me. There are all kinds of groups that investigate things like this that are haunted. They call them paranormal investigators. We would be like them, doing an investigation.” I waited for them to think it over and hoped they would not think it was silly too.

A big smile came across Matt's face. “Have you got a plan on how we can all get there in the middle of the night? The more I think about this the more I think it would be fun. We could be the official Pumpkin Field Ghost Chaser Team.” He broke out in peals of laughter.

“I don't think this is funny. I am serious and hope you will be too. You could come and stay the night with me this weekend and Mary could stay with my sister. They are both in the choir together and I think still friends. Sometimes I wonder how anybody could be friends with my sister as bossy as she is.” I waited to see if I would have company or have to make the investigation on my own.

Matt and Mary both started to smile but it was Mary that spoke first. “You can count me in. I would not miss this for the world. I think we will have to change the name a little. I will go for the Pumpkin Field Ghost Hunters but have to leave the chasing to you guys. If I find a ghost I will be busy runny away.” They all three laughed at her new name for their little expedition.

We have a long way to go and I am considering changing it to third person point of view. For right now we have had fun with him acting as if he was the protagonist and telling his own story. We will wait and see what develops. We have had such a good time and the hours flew by as we talked back and forth about, what if this or what if that? They could have done this but what if that? Questions and answers and before long it is as if we know them.

When I finished typing it he read it allowed and said, “I think we got it Mamaw. This is really going to be cool. I think we have enough ideas we will have to write at least 20 or 30 books. I know we can do it.” I had to laugh. He has told me that several times and his mother and grandpa too. We can do it. We are doing it. What a summer adventure.

We began making a list of things about our story........

STORY DETAILS

CHARACTERS

Jimmy main character Protagonist

Matt his best friend Character

Mary another friend Character

Amie Sister... 1 year older Character

I Can Do It A Summer Adventure In Writing

It has been an amazing day. My grandson and I plan to write a book together. He has some fantastic ideas and actually complex story lines and characters. I want it to be more. I want this to be our little adventure with writing and learning. I think one of the most important aspects of learning is the ability to learn to think. We can memorize many things. We can read and we can listen. We can learn. We also need to think about all of those things. To be able to use the things we learn, to do something we desire to do or accomplish that something special that has alluded us, is bringing learning into a new light of utilization of acquired skills and knowledge. We need to expand from accepting all we hear, to thinking about what we hear and learning from life.

Much of this day has been discussing. He agrees with me and wants to learn as much as possible and make the book we do together, something special. We can only do that by work. We will have to work to learn many things. We will have to work with ideas and learn to develop them.We will have to think and create.

We discussed his school, teachers, and classes. Whenever I read the little book I wrote called The Pumpkin Field, we always end up talking about many things. We discuss their thoughts, ideas and it goes on from there. Some tell of the their fears such as the fear of darkness and we see how the story helps us to understand those things. We almost always talk about writing. When they ask me about writing the book I see such excitement and enthusiasm. We talked about writing and the last class did a whole class project with them writing their own stories.

As we talk there and at home, one point I ask is about when they learn their spelling words, their definitions of words and what words really are? “You may think that you study your spelling words to get a good grade and that is correct but there is another reason you may not know yet.... you will one day.”

They always ask what it is that they do not know about their own spelling words and at times the teacher looks curious about what I might be getting to in the discussion. “What you learn here in school is wonderful and we all need good grades but there is more. What you learn here is a gift that will last a life time. Your teachers are doing more than teaching you the words, they are helping you how to learn. Teachers give you the gift that lasts all of your lives. The things you learn now will be with you forever.”

We discuss many other things and always have such a good time. Today with my grandson, we reviewed somethings we had already learned and discussed new ideas. We talked about what kind of stories we want to write. We talked about characters and also not using other people's ideas and characters. He does love Iron Man. I even explained copyright about what we write and create including what you see on television. Our story will have to come entirely from our own imagination.

I told him anything worth doing is worth doing well and also worth working as hard as we can. He agreed we will spend this time not only doing a book but learning about books, words and many things we can use to write.

I am not going to go into every detail here but thought about keeping a journal of the study pages, discussions, topics and ideas as we go. I think I will see if I can work it into book form to help other children learn to write or just have a joy and being able to create with words.

I still plan to have a small group of children who are interested in writing with a group of their own. We can have our writers group and the junior group too at different times. I thought about doing a workshop with them if there ever was such an interest. Right now I am excited about what we are doing together, grandson and grandma. He calls me MaMaw.

As I discussed all of this with him he frowned and mentioned it might be nice to have a book so that other kids could make their books too. “Can you teach them and help them with a book?”

“I guess I could, but it would take a lot of work.” He smiled at me as I smiled in return, thinking of how I might be able to do this and him at the same time.

With that big grin on his face he told me we needed a cover for our notebook. It could be the cover for the book to learn to write and then we will have to do our book.

I reviewed some of the vocabulary I wanted him to remember. I asked him if he remembered what a protagonist was. “Sure I do. That’s the one the story is about.”

I then mentioned that the main character would be the protagonist and asked if he remembered how to spell protagonist. He thought for a moment and I could see his little lips move as he silently sounded it out and spelled it perfectly. We did a few other words and definitions including talking about how he could use these things. He asked me why he could just not call them people instead of protagonists. I explained the story might have a main character that was an animal or maybe even an alien. By using the proper term we can more easily understand each other. We lean new things all the time and in school they are always learning new words. Think how limited life would be if we only learned a little and never learned any more. Words can open a whole world and echo through the ages of time.

As I write this blog I am sure now that I will make a book/workbook about writing for young people. Zander is 8 years old and he constantly amazes me. We never know what we can do until we try and then keep trying and learning. As we work to learn and write our story I can also share that experience. It is an exciting time for me and Zander. He has always said that one day he was going to write his own story in his own book with his MaMaw, and the time is right.  We can do it.

DANNY IS HERE….NOW… I May be gone soon but will be back

        

  I have been so determined to get the novel Danny released by April 10.  It is here now or will be by morning.  If you want a book you can hold in your hands it is here now at CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/4219992

          The book is available also on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Danny-Linda-Nance/dp/1483950530/ref=la_B004PVDVR4_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364778853&sr=1-2

The ebook is here too http://www.amazon.com/Danny-ebook/dp/B00C4K3EFW/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364821468&sr=1-2&keywords=danny+by+linda+nance  

For a short time only to introduce this book and celebrate it's arrival it will be priced at $2.99 for the Kindle edition.

          I appreciate all of the input when I worked to do the cover.  When I started I had seen some storm clouds overhead and thought how powerful the emotion was looking at them knowing what those storms can do.  The wind came up quickly sweeping my hair back and cooling rapidly.  I felt a shiver as a chill ran through me right before the drops of rain started.

          I had continued to work with the idea of clouds and something looking down from them.  In the book and the story Danny there is more than a person might think that is looking.  It is watching.  It is there waiting. 

          I thought of the idea of a child reaching out.  If we felt so alone and lost, helpless and abused, what would we accept as we reached out for help. There is darkness beyond the hand of the child.  There is light above and behind but a darkness swirling around that could consume or carry a person away.

I had to decide on a color.  Color can make such a change in the mood of a picture.   I think it can create emotion.  Blue is not only the color of the ribbon for child abuse and this month is Child Abuse Awareness Month, but it has a cold look to it in the cover.  I hope you like it.

          I think this is a story you will not soon forget.  I believe it is one that will also bring to mind the consequences often overlooked or not thought of.  It is a story of fiction but one hauntingly real in heart and feel.

           A young child trapped in a nightmare life had a special friend. His friend said, “You can call me Danny.” Danny was his only friend. Feeling alone, abused, isolated and lost, a young child needed someone. No one but Steven could see or hear Danny. Was Danny imagination, a friendly ghost there protecting, or was there more to this entity than anyone might suspect? Steven began to think Danny might be a Guardian Angel but angel or evil…only time would tell….. because Steven would tell no one and betray his friend and that friend was there to stay. 
Tragedy and chaos, murder and an end to life as Steven had known, erupted in his household in the dark of night.  

                                                 This is a story you will not soon forget. 

           Danny is a story of a young child living a nightmare life of abuse and neglect. The pain of abuse at any age is one that has consequences. There are those who are stronger and live lives determined to never repeat the horrors they endured but there are others who survive in other ways. Feeling alone and vulnerable allows a person to be victimized even more in many instances. 
           Danny is a story of all that and more. There may come a day we suspect a person is being abused and want to help, finding it is more difficult than we dreamed.  If we dare to care and not give up, one by one we might make a difference. If we make a difference for even one person, it may mean the world to that one soul. 
             The idea that there might be more things in this world than meet the eye or that we might be able to see and understand, can give insight to a story that will take you beyond the abuse into the world lived by this child. This is more than a story of abuse and survival. This is a story that may haunt you in memory but remind us of what there can be in this world.  In this story you will know this child and feel from the depths of his inner-being instead of hearing his story. There may be a cold chill travel your spine as you begin to understand even more of this tale. We can call him Danny, but can we say who and what he really is? 

          I am so relieved to know that Danny is here and the book is a real book.  I hope to be able to share the news but know that my time to be online will be limited as we are enduring some very difficult times after my husband’s accident.  With no income we will have to wait…. But we will be back.  We are not giving up.  There have been a few times in this past month and some in the months before that seemed so impossible.  I try to look for the bright side and keep hope but there are times it is very hard.  In those times I heard from so many of you.  You helped share my news and sent messages of hope, good will, prayers and cares and touched my heart.  You all have helped more than you will ever know.

          These are things I do not say lightly and will remember always.

          I thank you.  I thank you all.  I may soon be gone from here, but will return.  While I am off line I will write…… Who knows what I will come up with next?  I will probably be here for another two weeks and hope to be able to tell all about this book I am so proud of.    I still get tired easily.  I am unable to sit here at the computer for long and having trouble with fluids.  It will get better and I will just take breaks and come back as often as I can.  I think I have been doing pretty good for the shape I am in and with all that life has presented.   There is no way I could give up with so many wonderful people reaching out to us.  Thank you.  We both thank you.

We had such a good time at my first book signing.

I read my children's book to my grandson's class.  I love the enthusiasm and interested in the young ones.  I think I had as much fun as they did.

This is Albert and I hope he will soon feel well again and we can visit with the children and grandchildren.  We can laugh and play and each day be brighter than the one before.