Review of The Apron by Guy Kelm

Quote of the Day:  Poem by Guy Kelm, author of The Apron
I am but a simple reminder
Of the life lived
By one who has given much.

Within my folds
I carry memories
To be told
By those who hold me.



The Apron written by Guy Kelm, illustrated by Brady Bussler

 

The Apron written by Guy Kelm and illustrated by Brady Bussler is a picture book of memories and stories about a mom and her big family, growing up on the farm, told from the perspective of the Apron that was there for the flour dusted days of bread baking to the bloody knee days of spills and heart break. The illustrations are also from the Apron's perspective, a charming compliment to the stories.

Here's a link to a video of Guy Kelm discussing his book.

This book is both delightful and sentimental. It gives you insight into times past, when living and working on a farm were hard work, yet filled with love and wonder. Many people who read it tell the author how it evokes memories of their own growing up years and mothers.

Guy Kelm teaches second grade at Riverside Elementary in the Brainerd school district. He is a writer and lover of words. He is also my friend who appeared in my play, Coffee Shop Confessions, where he also shared his amazing skills as a director.

The Apron can be purchased locally at a few stores in downtown Brainerd: The Olde Open Window, Fancy Pants Chocolates, and Cat Tales Book Store. Or, visit Guy's website, Green Kite Publishing. Guy and I will be teaching a summer camp session at the Franklin Arts Center called Kids and the Art of Writing, June 17-21, for 8-12 year olds who want to write their own books!

Guy and the illustrator, Brady, are great examples of following your dream, building your art, and sending it out into the world.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Write about your mom or a childhood memory.



Cookie Exchange with Angela Felstad

Quote of the Day: Book trailer for Chaste by Angela Felstad

When he steps into his physics class on the first day of senior year, Quinn Walker is too exhausted from staying up all night with his three-month-old nephew to deal with moral dilemmas. As a devout Mormon who has vowed to wait until marriage for sex, the last thing he needs is a very hot and very sexy Katarina Jackson as his physics partner. Regrettably, he has no choice.

Kat feels invisible in her mansion of a home six months after losing her older brother in a fatal car crash and will do anything to get her parents’ attention. Since her pastor father has no love for Quinn’s “fake” religion and her ex-boyfriend refuses to leave her alone, she makes an impulsive bet with her friends to seduce her holier-than-thou lab partner by Christmas.

Angela Felstad is on a blog tour promoting her YA novel, Chaste. I just started reading it, and I'm already hooked. Angela is an excellent author. I've enjoyed reading her blog for a couple years and find her writing to be thought-provoking and daring. She does a great job of creating sexual tension from the start of the novel. Her characters are well defined and interesting, and the pacing of the story keeps you turning pages.

As a unique way to promote her book and spread holiday cheer, Angela is having us do a virtual cookie exchange. She's asked that reviewers and book promoters include a favorite cookie recipe in their posts.  I chose The Forgotten Kiss. It's such a fitting cookie for this story and the tardiness of my post. I had intended to get this one ready yesterday, but life got in the way, and here it is, afternoon, Midwestern time. I didn't forget, I just got side-tracked! Also, with the theme of this novel, seduction, sexual purity, and desire, what better cookie to represent it?!

Forgotten Kisses (an Aalgaard favorite)
2 egg whites (or three if smaller eggs) beat well on high
add 3/4 cups of sugar, gradually, to eggs and beat about 12 minutes.
Part way through the beating, add a tsp of vanilla, green food coloring, and a pinch of salt.
Mix in mint chocolate chips and drop onto cookie sheet.
Heat oven to 200 degrees. Place cookies in oven and turn off the heat, leave overnight (forget about it until morning), and you should have crisp, but not sugary, mint drop cookies. It's a tricky recipe. Sometimes, they turn out a little chewy. I'm sure weather and ovens make a difference on how they turn out. Our mom leaves the heat on a little while before she turns it off. You'll have to experiment. Like in relationships, you need the right amount of sugar, heat, and cooling off.

You can get more information from Angela's blog. You can order her book through most book sites.

Go. Create. Inspire!
And, find some great books to read in 2013!

Journaling Prompt:  Have you ever paired food with your reading? Or other art? Seems like a delicious relationship.

With a Name Like Love, book review

Quote of the Day:  Courting new patrons is like licking honey off a thorn - you have to go real slow and be extra gentle. Tess Hilmo, author of With a Name Like Love, published by Margaret Ferguson Books, an imprint of Farrar Straus Giroux, August 2011. (It's still warm off the presses.)

I won my copy of With a Name Like Love by reading and commenting on Tess Hilmo's blog. I connected with her early on when I started blogging. She left an interesting comment on another blog, I clicked over to her, saw that we both love A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, and the rest is history. Shortly after I joined her blog, she announced that her book had been accepted for publication - her first middle grade novel, and a historical mystery at that. I knew it was one that I'd want to read.

From the opening lines, I was emotionally involved with Olivene (Ollie) Love and her traveling family. I knew her longings. I felt the anguish of the small town they had just pulled into. Her father, the Reverend Everlasting Love, comes from a long line of tent preachers whose mission it is to bring the love of God to rural communities throughout the south.  It doesn't hurt that the good reverend has been blessed with a deep and soulful singing voice that melts even the iciest of hearts.  The story takes place in 1957, post World War II, yet, a sense of the lingering Depression. Times are hard. People are damaged and hurt. Families are in distress.

Ollie has made her first friend, a boy who is in a world of hurt. His father is dead and his mama in in jail. The mystery behind his death is tearing the community apart. What's a 13-year-old girl and her family of traveling ministers supposed to do?

Reading this book evoked similar feelings and images from when I read Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, and a lovely picture book, I Wonder as I Wander, by Minnesota author Gwenyth Swain. Tears of tenderness sprang to my eyes during a scene about birthdays and cake, and I felt fear and anxiety wondering what would happen to Jimmy.

I've already recommended this book to a mother-daughter reading group. I'd give it to any preteen girl who likes history and mystery, and I hope my traveling friends, The Anderson's, at Hair in the Air blog, will get a copy. They will definitely relate to the life on the road and the longing for friendship.

The best place to order the books is either at your local bookstore, or go to Tess Hilmo's blog, watch her amazing book trailer, and order it from her independent bookstore for an autographed copy.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Do you have longings to sell all your possessions and hit the road? What would it take to unburden yourself and be adventurous?