I see my mind as a tapestry woven through with memories, dreams and thoughts.

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Monday 27 February 2012

Monday Musing

Here is a small beginning; the first paragraph of the second book in the 'Violet Jelly Trilogy' - 'Violet and Lavender' - plus the opening illustration:






'“.... 2.....3.....4..................7..8 odd buttons.” Pansy Soup is sorting through her large pockets. She is organising all her bits and pieces into rows on her bedcover, in her bedroom in Virtual Reality.
“Ow-ow-ow!”
The sound echoes from her pocket. She has grabbed invisible -2 by mistake. Pansy Soup discovered -2 stowed away in her pocket when she returned from an adventure in Cyberspace.
“Sorry!” she apologises.'


Would you be enticed into turning the page?

Friday 24 February 2012

Violet Jelly Trilogy




This post is to announce that the first two books in the 'Violet Jelly Trilogy' are now available on amazon in kindle version.

They cost $1.17, 77p, and €0,89

Although I prefer an actual book, I see this as a way in which my books are affordable. They can be bought for use in a library or for use in a classroom, without each child having to purchase the book. I like this idea.

When I have done library talks and work shops, generally, the children do not have the money to purchase the paperback version as often they are using the library because they do not have the resources to buy from a book shop. I really wanted to give away books to each of the children, but this was not practical (they had cost quite a bit for me to buy in and I did not have sufficient copies).

My desire is that these books are read and enjoyed. They are fun, can be read on different levels ... and even enjoyed by adults. The target age is 8-10 years.


The illustrated paperback version (which could be bought as a treat) costs $15.95 and is available only on amazon.com.

The unillustrated paperback version is availble from between $5-$7, around €5 and 5 pounds sterling.






I am not promoting myself as a fantastic writer, but my books as something to read that is slightly different. If you know of anyone in the right age range, please tell them to look on amazon.com (where there is a 'look inside' feature)and direct them to my web site:
www.annsharples.com
where they can see some of the characters and read the reviews.

Also, there are free downloads on the web site; one is a book for children of 3-5 years old called 'Atchoo!' and is about a giant with a cold; another is a way in which to learn number bonds from 1-20, and there are bookmarks and a calendar to download and print onto card, or thick paper.


The third book 'Discovering Jasmine T' will be finished and available next year and paperback versions of 'Violet and Lavender' will be on amazon soon.

Thank you for reading!

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Tuesday Taster

Continuing the poetry theme ... here is a snippet from 'The Adventures of Tom Bombadil' by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The rhythm of this sings to me. How about you? Would you want to read on?


Errantry

There was a merry passenger,
a messenger, a mariner:
he built a gilded gondola
to wander in, and had in her
a load of yellow oranges
and porridge for his provender;
he perfumed her with marjoram
and cardamom and lavender.

Sunday 19 February 2012

Sunday Snippet

I am in the mood for Spanish poetry this weekend, so this is my snippet. It is a love poem by Pablo Neruda and is so very beautiful. Even if you don't read Spanish, you can savour the words and the rhythm.:


Ah vastedad de pinos, rumor de olas quebrándose,
lento juego de luces, campana solitaria,
crepúsculo cayendo en tus ojos, muñeca,
caracola terrestre, en ti la tierra canta!

En ti los ríos cantan y mi alma en ellos huye
como tú lo desees y hacia donde tú quieras.
Márcame mi camino en tu arco de esperanza
y soltaré en delirio mi bandada de flechas.

En torno a mí estoy viendo tu cintura de niebla
y tu silencio acosa mis horas perseguidas,
y eres tú con tus brazos de piedra transparente
donde mis besos anclan y mi húmeda ansia anida.

Ah tu voz misteriosa que amor tiñe y dobla
en el atardecer resonante y musiendo!
Así en horas profundas sobre los campos he visto
doblarse las espigas en la boca del viento.


Pablo Neruda

Friday 17 February 2012

Flying High on Friday!






I want to thank you all for continuing to look at my posts even though I have been unable to comment on yours. I do so appreciate this .... and will be back to commenting in the next few days as it is becoming warm enough for me to stay down in the 'underbuild'

xx

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Tuesday Taster




I have just read this beautiful and amazing book.

Here is the opening paragraph;

'Although it is nearly midnight, an unusual light slips through a crack in the wool, brushing her arm like the feathers of a wing. In the next room her parents sleep, and the darkened village is silent, but she has lain awake all these hours and now she climbs out of bed, the floorboards rough against her feet. For weeks people have talked of nothing but the comet, how the earth will pass through clouds of poison vapours in its tail, how the world could end. She is fifteen, and all day she and her brother helped seal the house - windows, doors, even the chimney - with thick black wool, hammers tapping everywhere as their neighbours did the same.'

Sunday 5 February 2012

Sunday Snippet

This snippet is taken from:

'The Florida Manatee
Biology and Conservation'
By
Roger L. Reep and Robert K. Bondie


Here is an excerpt from a truly amazing book that is an indepth study of the Florida manantee. As the title reports, it is factual and informative ..... but I love the intimacy of the first paragraph .......

'On a clear cold winter morning the silence in the water is broken by the sound of an approaching motor boat. It grows louder as it approaches a group of sleeping manatees. Such noise is becoming more and more common these days. One manatee, Piety, briefly takes note, but continues resting in the warm spring waters of the sanctuary with her young calf. She is old and used to this habitual activity, now part of the manatee life. Her calf, however, does not understand and curiosity arouses his attention. He wants to investigate, and mom wants to sleep.'