Last week we discussed the book and craft expo at the Enid Public Library. I saw lots of old friends and talked to the public who attended. But the best part of the book signing was the little book that was gifted to me.
The public library has many missions besides just checking out books. They have projects for teenagers and children—there are even crafts for adults. But I’ve volunteered with the Teen Authors before and truly enjoy working with them.
One day I met with them to discuss writing a story. I was unsure of the ages of these kids and when I got there, they were much older and wiser than I originally thought. My prepared speech was not going to do what we needed it to do. So, I winged it. We began by brainstorming ideas for a story. Each student spoke up and they came up with a main character and his goals and motivation. One of the students took notes as they threw out ideas and over a two-hour period they developed a story.
I never knew what happened to that idea. But at the book and craft sale the Teen Authors had a table of their own. They had printed their book with illustrations and gifted me a copy. There was an acknowledgement in the front thanking me for my help. I was so excited! 
I came home with the book of Slippy’s Escape and it has the place of honor on my bookshelf. You never know how you can affect someone with your actions. Kids are such a sponge absorbing everything around them. They did a wonderful job, used their imaginations, and crafted a book of adventures. I hope they write more. I can’t wait to work with them again.
What are you reading this week?
The Public Library of Enid and Garfield County hosted a Friends of the Library Book, Bake, & Craft Expo yesterday. There were 20 authors, a baker and some crafts made from books. Lovely! I attended and met up with some old friends. 
Some seemed surprised when they just walked in the door to return a book and found the entire downstairs filled with books for sale. 
(Did I fall asleep talking to Sheldon Russell?) With the pandemic, there have been fewer get togethers than the past. I hope we can continue to do such things. I sold some books and bought some books (I always do) and talked literature with like minds. I’d love to do it again soon.
It’s Christmas and what better time to give the gift of books. If you have a child on your Christmas list, give them the gift of living a life outside themselves. Books can transport you to places you might never go.
This week we transitioned from Thanksgiving to Christmas. We have less than a month to decorate, eat to excess, and buy all those gifts for under the tree. 
It’s Thanksgiving this week, a time to think of family.
I’ve published one comic book, Stone of Thor, for Okie Comics 
You can get a copy there is you’re interested. I wrote it based on my two books, Glome’s Valley 
and Return to Glome’s Valley 
We just ended Daylight Savings Time—again. I was really tired of the dark mornings, but this evening, I’ll be tired of the early dark evening. Sigh. I am a sun worshiper. You can tell by my sun damaged skin. And if I had my way we would have more sun than dark. Twelve hours of daylight followed by twelve hours of dark is not enough light. But the universe doesn’t ask me.
I took a little fall vacation last week and my husband and I and our cousins traveled to Corpus Christi. I am drawn to water like a magnet. When I was a kid my favorite TV show was Flipper. I dreamed of having a dolphin friend instead of a dog and living on the beach. I didn’t. But I have been able to visit the beach a few times in my life. I could live there. If for some unknown reason I missed my ride back home, I know I could survive on the beach.
We drove into Corpus Christi along the beach until the road ended at the Naval Air Station and saw the sea wall and downtown murals around La Retama Park. I know they have First Friday Art Walks there, but we didn’t make it on the correct weekend. I wrote about the art festival in Secrets of Sandhill Island and wanted to see it. I was on a mission to research for another book. 
Literature was my very favorite class in school. I loved reading. I was often told I was “out picking daisies” when I wasn’t listening in class. My mother said I was “telling stories” when she suspected what I said wasn’t exactly the truth. I come by this writing thing naturally.
