​Here are the events, interviews and podcasts that launched Zoe. I like to keep them together in one post. It makes it easier to go back and find interviews and photographs. It all started back in February of 2021.
 
1.  A Video Interview and a Book Reading – This was my first event, from February 2nd. Kala Williams from The Author’s Voice interviewed me. The best part – teachers across the pond in the UK could listen in, to my writing journey, and to a page from my book. It was fantastic!

You can still listen in. Here’s the link for my book talk:
             Read Aloud & Book Talk with Rinda Beach - YouTube

Want to skip the interview and go straight to the Read Aloud? Here’s the illustration for the page I picked. Now take a Cheeky Jump, like the kids and teachers in the UK do:
              Read Aloud & Book Talk with Rinda Beach - YouTube
​ 

​
​ 2. A Presale & Author Event – Zoe and I went to one of our favorite places – Riverside Art Center. It was February 12th, Galentine’s Day.

Melissa welcomed us in and took a couple pictures so we could remember our day. If you look at the 1st picture, at the top right corner, really carefully, you’ll see my copy of Zoe. Back in February, it was the only copy.

​

3.  An Online Interview with Angelika On the Move – Read this interview to learn a variety of things about me as a writer. It went live on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, but it’s still available online.

4. An Online Interview with Helen H. Wu – Check out this interview and its illustrations. I shared the details that got ZOE’S SCAVENGER HUNT FUN ready for readers like you. It went live on February 24th, but you can still open it  with this link: Interview with #Kidlit Author, Rinda Beach - Helen H. Wu


​​
​5. An Online Interview with June McCrary Jacobs – Check out this interview and a couple illustrations. One of them is Zoe’s Scavenger Hunt – the real one – from the book! I know! FREE! You don’t have to buy the book, BUT, you can use my ideas as is, OR as an inspiration to design your own hunt.

​Would you like to listen in? Brooke asked a couple of questions about publishing and writing. Then I got to do my favorite part – read to you, my audience. Click this link and you can hear the whole first chapter, FREE! Link: Facebook

Did you like what you heard? Order a book from me. The cost includes shipping, BUT you’ll get an autographed book. I’ll email you so I can personalize it to your family.

 Teachers, buy a book, and I’ll do a zoom call with you and your class. I’ll read a chapter AND answer a few questions. Interested? Click my buy link Zoe's Scavenger Hunt Fun - Rinda Beach. You can also contact me, and I’d be glad to work with you to set this up.
              Link: Rinda Beach - Contact Me - Rinda Beach



​7. Zoe’s In-Person Launch – Zoe and I celebrated at Riverside Art Center. They welcomed us in, introduced us to lots of new people. I pasted in some photos for you. This is my favorite – I signed a book for a lake-loving family! If you find yourself in Wapak, stop into Riverside. They sell my books, and lots of other great things too!

8. A Podcast With Connie B. Dow – If you missed the podcast on St. Patrick’s Day when it went live, I have the link below, and it still works! This was my 3rd interview with Connie, and we chatted about my third book and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. If you’re curious about publishing, or you’ve thought about writing, click on Connie’s links. I hope I can help you!
​
Link: http://bookechoes.com/2021/03/17/episode-94-lessons-from-3-books-with-rinda-beach/
​

​
​9. The Books on rindabeach.com 

To the right of the book, I have the description, and REVIEWERS SAY. Below it is a small part of the Readers’ Favorite Review. The full review is too long to post (about 300 words).  I got ZOE’s review in 11 days. Neil’s took almost 3 months, and I gave up on one for LAKE FUN.

Two fun facts – 1. Emily-Jane Hills Orford reviewed both books. I didn’t notice it until I saw the reviews on my web site. 2. I got a surprise review on LAKE FUN a month after I got Zoe’s, 9 months after I submitted it.
​​
Below the review is a yellow PayPal button. Order your book here, and PayPal will notify me. Then I’ll email and ask how I can personalize it for you.

​My bookmark has a small scavenger hunt on the back. The journal page is straight out of my book, and they’re both free for you to download and enjoy.

                                                               Part 1 – High Hopes - Sung by Frank Sinatra                              Written 2/28/21
If you’re my age, you might know this song. If you’re young, like my kids in their 20/30’s, or even younger, you’ll have to click on this search link:       high hopes song frank sinatra - Bing
​

I didn’t realize Frank recorded it the day after I was born, May 8th, 1959. It came out a month later. I was about a month old too.

This screenshot is from the 1959 movie ‘A Hole in the Head.’ And no, I’ve never seen it. The kid with Frank is Eddie Hodges. He was born in 1947 so he’s 12 years older than me. If you want to figure out our ages . . . do the math!

I remember loving this song as a kid. I can’t copy the lyrics, but it’s basically about when life is tough, bring out your inner ant. Then the lyrics go on to sing about that ant wanting to move a rubber tree plant. I have no idea why, but the point of the song is that ant CAN! Why? Because he has high hopes.
​
The composer, Jimmy Van Heusen certainly did. So did the lyricist, Sammy Cahn. They got Frank Sinatra to sing their song, and it won the Oscar for the best original song at the 32nd Academy Awards. And this song, was also John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s presidential campaign song back in 1960. No wonder so many people were inspired by that little old ant! 

Source: High Hopes (Frank Sinatra song) - Wikipedia
 
Tomorrow – more recent High Hopes – do you know which group sang it?

​I planned to write this tomorrow – That should have been March 1st, but it took me 18 tomorrows to return to this post. Instead I was busy launching my 3rd book,  ZOE’S SCAVENGER HUNT FUN.

I had high hopes, and I’m happy with Zoe’s launch. I learned so much! But now it’s time to return to old habits – writing my blog, revising manuscripts, or looking for a new story to write.
​
So now the answer – who sang the newest version of High Hopes?
​

​Part 2 – High Hopes - Sung by Panic! At the Disco
I love their name, and their version of the song! Do you remember it? It wasn’t long ago, back in 2018. Here’s the link if you’d like to hear it again:       high hopes panic at the disco - Bing
​

It peaked at #4, but it was one of the few songs to stay on the charts for a whole year.  It also won 5 awards that are listed below. Congratulations to the team – Jake Sinclair, Jonas Jeberg, Brendon Urie, Jenny Owen Youngs, Lauren Pritchard, Sam Hollander, William Lobban-Bean, Taylor Parks, Ilsey Juber, and Jonny Coffer. They were the village who wrote this song!

High Hopes was also part of the presidential campaign in 2020. Several Democrats used it at campaign events, without problems. President Trump used it once, and Brendon Urie replied with a rude tweet, and a cease-and-desist order. I’m disappointed. It makes me wonder if I want to listen, or switch the station the next time it comes on the radio. 

Source: High Hopes (Panic! at the Disco song) - Wikipedia

​Part 3 – Compare and Contrast The Two Songs
Here’s what I thought of.  I was hoping for more similarities, but I found lots of  differences.

​
​What’s the same? Think . . .
1. Title
2. Theme
3. Awards*
4. Politics*

​ What’s Different? Think . . .
1. Artists
2. Songwriters
3. Verses
4. Chorus
5. Awards*
6. Politics*
* Look for the astericks. They mark categories where you can find both similarities and differences.

​Tonight I have a Guest Writer, Stephanie Haywood from My Life Boost. We had an email conversation that turned into this post. 

​Staying healthy is important any old time, but it’s undoubtedly crucial at this moment, with COVID-19 threatening everyone’s health and sanity. Sadly, it can be hard to maintain healthy routines with gyms and fitness centers closed or at limited capacity. Moreover, even the once-inane task of buying fresh food can present various dangers, now that social distancing is the norm. Thankfully, it’s far from being a catch-22 as there are some foolproof ways to stay healthy that are still at your disposal even in these uncertain times. Author, speaker and teacher Rinda Beach invites you to try out the following tips. 

Part 1 – Healthy Movement
Keeping up with your fitness routine is a must. Regular exercise benefits you physically and mentally, and it can help keep your immune system in fighting condition. You can still stay fit even if you’re unable to hit the gym by creating an exercise space at home and streaming workout videos.

​Part 2 - Healthy Homes
Spending more time at home can feel suffocating for sure, but it doesn’t have to be that way. As your retreat and safe haven, it’s important to find ways to maintain a healthy environment. When your home is germ-free and decluttered, you’ll notice a boost in your family’s physical and mental wellness.

Some Links for You:
House Cleansing: A Checklist for Clearing Bad Energy from Your Home
7 Absolutely Free Ways To Make Your Home Healthier
8 Tips to Revamp Your Kitchen for a Healthy Well-Being
How to Elevate Home Wellnes

​Part 3: Healthy Eats
Nutrition is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. To keep your immune system strong and to ensure you’re eating a well-balanced diet, make a point to always include fresh fruits and vegetables as well as lean proteins. Many people struggle with knowing exactly what to eat to be their healthiest selves, but these resources can help — they include tips on what to shop for at the grocery store, easy plant-based recipes, and more.

Some Links for You:
A Healthy Quarantine
Your Healthy Quarantine Grocery List
15 Superfoods to Eat While You're in Quarantine
30 Easy Vegan Recipes for Quarantine Using Pantry Staples
Keep Food Fresh and Healthy with Costco Delivery
Can Supplements Help Boost Your Immune System?
​

​​ 
Part 4: Final Thoughts
Simply put, staying healthy at this time should be your priority, and yes, it can be done even in quarantine. Indeed, there’s no better time for self-care than now. And the best part is, you now have the time for it.

​ I debated for a month if I wanted to do this post. I pick the books I want to read for My Reads based on topic, not by when I read them. I started keeping a reading journal when I got serious about becoming a writer.

I started my website in 2016. My 1st  My Reads review was FANDANGO STEW. It was the 91st  picture book I put in my reading journal. Now I’m up to 314 picture books. My second review was THE EXTINCTS, the 48th chapter/middle grade book I read. I just finished my 118th book. I’ve read 432 books altogether. That’s a lot of reading!

This post won’t tell you what I’ve read in the past. It will only show you what I’m reading now. I’m sharing these books as screenshots from my local library. I only read new books. It’s how I stay current with what publishers are looking for. So, no reviews or opinions. Just screenshots. Here’s my first set of library books for 2021.

​Picture book
1. Dusk Explorers

​Picture Book
2. Do Not Eat the Game

Picture Book
3. Telling Time

Picture Book
​4. Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog

Picture Book
5. ​Attack of the Underwear Dragon

Middle Grade
​6. The List of Things that Will Not Change

Middle Grade
7. ​History Smashers: Women's Right to Vote

Chapter Book
8. ​Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion (The Questioneers)

Picture Book
9. ​Just a Story

Picture Book
​10. My Brother the Duck

Picture Book
​11. Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away

Picture Book
12. ​In a Garden

My Top 10 List of Ways  . . . How to Have Fun at the Lake:
#10 – Make Your Own Scavenger Hunt. Or, use Zoe’s!
​Then get out and have fun exploring the lake.
​

​#9 – Go Fishing! Early morning or late at night!
On the shore or in a boat! Here’s to the catch of the day!
​​

#8 – Cannonball, anyone? Go traditional, with a BIG splash!
Be creative – leap like a dog and land on all fours!
Or, be graceful, with ballerina-style.
But most of all – have fun!
​​

#7 – Go kayaking! Get out in a boat, and paddle the lake.
Go early in the morning or late in the day.
That’s when the big boats return to the dock,
​and the waves shrink back to kayak-size!

#6 – Meet the Local Wildlife – LEAPING LIZARDS!
I’ve met deer, a snake skin (minus the snake), a skink (lizard),
frogs, turtles, and some teeny-tiny fish. All at the lake!
​​

#5 – Tubing, anyone? When my husband drove, the kids would play
‘Crack the Whip,’ with the boat! It would fly this way, then that.
Eventually the kids went flying too, but they’d clamber back aboard.
Ready to go tubing again!
​

#4 – Wake Boarding! Think skiing, on water.
And, more and more people do it on one board, just like skiing.
Imagine flying across the water, but be careful when you cross the wake.
​That’s the ripple behind the boat, and it’s hard on new skiers.

#3 – Marinas! They’re the perfect place for a bite to eat, or something cold and sweet.
My kids always went for ice cream, and the souvenirs!! 

#2 – Wake Surfing! Surf’s up, Dude! Can you imagine –
surfing on a board, a couple of feet behind the motor?
You hold tight to a rope as the boat pulls you out of the water.
Then when you’re ready, you throw it away. WAHOO!

#1 – Read ZOE’S SCAVENGER HUNT FUN.
Then head out on a scavenger hunt of your lake.
Record your results on the activity pages at the back of the book.
By the end of vacation, you’ll have a story, and a souvenir.
​

#ZERO! It’s time for some R&R at your lake.
Rest and Relax! Enjoy the view, and a lake family vacation! 
​

Started 2/22/21                                                    Finished 3/2/21
I saw Chloe King on TV back in 2011. It was a fun series, at least in the beginning, so I bought the set – The Fallen, The Stolen, and The Chosen. The books  were way better than the series, as expected.
I still like it because it’s a fun, coming of age story. Think Twilight with a dash of Romeo &  Juliet, a side order of Cats for good measure. I’m on Book 2, chapter 24, the Stolen. Girls, no matter their age, still love to have fun!
 
Amazon’s Description:
Chloe King is a seemingly normal girl. She goes to class (most of the time), fights with her mom, and crushes on a boy…or two. But around her sixteenth birthday, Chloe finds that perhaps she isn’t so normal after all. There’s the heightened night vision, the superfast reflexes—oh, and the claws.

As Chloe discovers who she is—and where she comes from—it is clear she is not alone. Someone is trying to get her. And they will stop at nothing until they do. Chloe has nine lives…but will nine be enough?

First released as a trilogy in 2004, this bind-up edition arrives just as the new ABC Family original series The Nine Lives of Chloe King, based closely on the original novels, premieres in June 2011.
​

Started 2/17/21                                                Finished 2/21/21
I was looking for fun and fantasy, and I remembered picking this up in 2019. The plot is a mix of mystery and romance, ghosts and second sight. It was a fun read then, and now! This time –  4 days from start to finish!
PS – It appealed to me because the first story I wrote had the ghost of Herman the German and 3 missing Roman legions. No one knew where the battle took place until the 1990’s. That’s when retired British Major Tony Clun found it, armed with a metal detector. 

​Amazon’s Description:
Archaeologist Verity Grey has been drawn to the dark legends of the Scottish Borderlands in search of the truth buried in a rocky field by the sea, in this darkly romantic novel of historical fiction by bestselling author Susanna Kearsley.
The invincible ninth Roman Legion marches from York to fight the Northern tribes, and then vanishes from the pages of history. When Verity Grey goes looking for them in modern-day Scotland, she may find more than she bargained for.
Her eccentric boss has spent his whole life searching for the resting place of the lost Ninth Roman Legion and is convinced he's finally found it—not because of any scientific evidence, but because a local boy has "seen" a Roman soldier walking in the fields, a ghostly sentinel who guards the bodies of his long-dead comrades.
Here on the windswept Scottish shores, Verity may find the answer to one of the great unsolved mysteries of the historical record. Or she may uncover secrets from the romantic past that were buried for a reason.
 

Started 2/11/21                                      Finished 2/17/21 
I bought and read this book when it came out in 2017. It’s not my normal read, but I saw Ken on Tucker Carlson. He talked about being a longtime Democrat, and he decided to write about the other side of the aisle.

Back then it gave me hope that Democrats and Republicans could work together. I picked it up again this month, looking for that hope again. It still has great insights, tells a few good stories, and has statistics that make sense to me and my point of view. They also helped me understand the other side.

​The first 4 chapters made me sad. Nothing’s changed since 2017. In fact it’s worse. I feel like there is never going to be a way for Biden  and Trump voters to look at , or listen to each other, with respect or even kindness. I hope I’m wrong, that I won’t be attacked, and that someone will read my words and pick up this book. I guess hope springs eternal.
​
Keep reading, especially if you’re a conservative like me. You’ll find some things that make you feel better about yourself and the future of this country.

Amazon’s Description:
Ken Stern watched the increasing polarization of our country with growing concern. As a longtime partisan Democrat himself, he felt forced to acknowledge that his own views were too parochial, too absent of any exposure to the “other side.” In fact, his urban neighborhood is so liberal, he couldn’t find a single Republican--even by asking around.
So for one year, he crossed the aisle to spend time listening, talking, and praying with Republicans of all stripes. With his mind open and his dial tuned to the right, he went to evangelical churches, shot a hog in Texas, stood in pit row at a NASCAR race, hung out at Tea Party meetings and sat in on Steve Bannon’s radio show. He also read up on conservative wonkery and consulted with the smartest people the right has to offer.
What happens when a liberal sets out to look at issues from a conservative perspective? Some of his dearly cherished assumptions about the right slipped away. Republican Like Me reveals what lead him to change his mind, and his view of an increasingly polarized America.

Started 2/7/21                                             Finished 2/11/21 
I wanted to find out what happened to Lou from ME BEFORE YOU. I’m already 8 chapters in. If I hadn’t bought the book, I might have quit. The first chapter threw me. Lou didn’t appear till page 3 or 4., but it got better!

Done! JoJo added in two new characters. They kept me guessing on where the plot was going, till the very end. And yes, I’ll DEFINITELY go onto book 3.

Amazon’s Description:
How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?
Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.
Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .
For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

Started 1/30/21                                                  Finished 2/6/21
This is the Pride & Prejudice variation I thought I had last time. It made an impression on me. It all starts when Elizabeth received those 2 letters from Jane, but Lydia didn’t run away with Wickham this time. She died in an accident. It deepens into a mystery as Elizabeth learns about Lydia’s last days. This version struck a chord with me because of the way Elizabeth grows as a character. She remembers Lydia’s flaws, but she also finds a value in her that hasn’t been acknowlged in any other book.
 
Amazon’s Description:
Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice is readapted in this regency tale of love in the face of tragedy. Mr. Darcy is thwarted in his attempt to propose to Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford when he encounters her minutes after she receives the sad news from Longbourn of her sister’s death. His gallantry and compassion as he escorts her back to Hertfordshire begins to unravel the many threads of her discontent with him. While her family heals from their loss, Darcy must search London for answers – answers that might bring justice, but might also just mark the end of his own hopes with Elizabeth. Is it true that nothing can be lost that love cannot find?
​

Part 1 – Trivia Question:  What was the name of the group of University of Munich  students who used pamphlets to resist Hitler and the Third Reich?
White Rose        People X       Black Charcoal      Black Sky
 
​
Answer: The White Rose (German: Weiße Rose)
Source: More Info: en.wikipedia.org
What was the name of a non-violent... | Trivia Answers | QuizzClub

​​​Part 3 – How Did the White Rose Operate?
​This is the Monument to the White Rose in front of the University of Munich.  It is a perfect tribute – do you see the leaflets?

Hans Scholl and Alexander Morell had to do something after serving on the Russian front. They wrote the first four leaflets, starting at the end of June, then stopping mid-July of 1942. They left them in telephone booths or mailed them to professors and students. They sent some by courier to other students at other universities for distribution there too.
​

​Here are the 1st three leaflets:
Isn't it true that every honest German is ashamed of his government these days? Who among us has any conception of the dimensions of shame that will befall us and our children when one day the veil has fallen from our eyes and the most horrible of crimes—crimes that infinitely outdistance every human measure—reach the light of day? 
                                       — 1st leaflet of the White Rose

Since the conquest of Poland, 300,000 Jews have been murdered in this country in the most bestial way ... The German people slumber on in dull, stupid sleep and encourage the fascist criminals. Each wants to be exonerated of guilt, each one continues on his way with the most placid, calm conscience. But he cannot be exonerated; he is guilty, guilty, guilty!                                                                                                                                    — 2nd leaflet of the White Rose.

Why do you allow these men who are in power to rob you step by step, openly and in secret, of one domain of your rights after another, until one day nothing, nothing at all will be left but a mechanised state system presided over by criminals and drunks? Is your spirit already so crushed by abuse that you forget it is your right—or rather, your moral duty—to eliminate this system?                              
                                                                                                                                                                   — 3rd leaflet of the White Rose
​

Willi, Hans, and Alex were sent back to the Russian front from July 23 to October 30th of 1942. The leaflets stopped, until they returned.
​
Sophie discovered during the fall of 1942 what her brother Hans was up to, and she joined in. They continued to spread their leaflets until February 18, 1943. That’s when the Stolls got caught. They brought a suitcase full of letters to the University’s main building. They dropped stacks in the empty hallways for students to find when they came out of class. ​
​

The Stolls should have stopped when they were ahead. They didn’t. They spotted some leftover letters so they went to the top floor and threw the extras down to the atrium. The maintenance man spotted them and called the Gestapo, the German police. You may think American police are bad, but they are nothing, NOTHING like the Gestapo. They were PURE evil. This is the Atrium, where the Stolls were arrested.
​
Sophie got rid of her evidence. Hans had one last leaflet, their seventh. He tried to swallow it, but the Gestapo stopped him. They identified the handwriting in the letter, Christoph’s. He was arrested, along with Hans. Sophie could have gotten away. The police thought she was innocent at first, until she confessed . . . Sophie was trying to protect the other members of the White Rose.
 
​
Part 4 – The Trials and their Results
​Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were tried 4 days later, on February 22, 1943, in the Volksgerichtshof. The court was known for being unfair, and for its frequent death sentences.
​

​This is where this post should end, with the final resting place of Hans, Sophie, and Christoph. It’s next door to the prison where they died. My hope – that they rest in peace, knowing they stood up for what was right, and they did it peacefully.

​


​German Democratic Republic stamp from 1961.
2,000,000 went into circulation.

Photo Sources
-Hans Scholl – By stadtarchiv-crailsheim.de, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58900954
​
-Alex Schmorell – By Angelika Knoop-Probst, Nicoasc (talk · contribs) - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18328905

-Christoph Probst – By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58916181
​
-Willi Graf – By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58900161

-The Atrium – By No machine-readable author provided. Cfaerber assumed (based on copyright claims).

-The Courtroom - By Richard Huber - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526257
​
-The Grave Site - By Rufus46 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2870213
​

Part 1: What’s a Golden Hour?   ​

I googled, and Wikipedia said, “In photography, the golden hour is the period of daytime shortly before sunrise, or before sunset, during which daylight is softer than when the sun is higher in the sky.

Cinematographers call it the magic hour, but it’s really only 20 – 30 minutes before sunrise, and, before sunset.

​Source: Golden hour (photography) - Wikipedia
​

​Part 2: What is My Golden Hour?   Mine is much longer than 30 minutes! Thank goodness because it’s my ‘primetime for writing.” It’s when I’m at my best, when my brain is in top form.

I don’t get up at sunrise . . .  more like 10:30ish! I read and eat breakfast Then I look at my emails and Facebook. I take my pills.  THEN it’s . . . the Golden Hour!

I write until I’m hungry for lunch. I stop, eat, and get back to work. I usually don’t stop until dinner. I’m so glad I have hours, not minutes! That’s when I do my manuscript writing. That’s when I work on those stories I want to publish.
​
Lately it’s been the 4 manuscripts for the agent audition challenge. I won’t finish in time for February, but I’ve been given as much extra time as I need. 
​

SAFETY POWER SUPER STARS is almost ready. It’s the farthest along, even though it’s only been through 4 rounds of critiques. Lynne Marie, the Picture Book Mechanic, is the toughest critiquer I’ve met, but her suggestions have moved my stories farther than anyone else. I trust her judgement!
​
She said it’s time to send if off to Rate Your Story. The last time SAFETY POWER got a 6, not so good. She thinks it will get a much higher score this time. My fingers are crossed!
​

My duck story has changed titles since I started the audition challenge. It used to be PEACE AT THE DOCK. Now it’s DUCKS AT THE DOCK. The main character’s name changed too, from Drake to Liam. They’re small changes, but small changes add up!
​
The ducks have been through 5 rounds of editing. They’re closer. The bones are good, but they still need a little fine tuning . . . so I’ll keep editing and revising.

​My Nativity story has been through 5 rounds of revision. Lynne Marie did the last 2 so I’m making major changes. It’s good, but it’s also a struggle.

We did a zoom call when the ducks gave me fits. It helped. I looked at her Nativity comments and knew it was time to zoom again. I took notes, then left them in the computer while I finished work on another manuscript.
​
I gave yesterday/today’s golden hours to the Nativity. Both days I doubted my revisions. Funny, but when I reread yesterday’s changes, I felt better. I hope it will be true tomorrow too.
​

​
My dog story has also been through 5 rounds of revision. I have a feeling I didn’t go far enough with Lynne Marie’s suggestions. I tried. I did the ones I felt comfortable with. I pushed them as far as I could with my golden hours last week.
​
I sent it off tonight. Now it will sit in the computer and wait to see what Lynne Marie thinks. In the meantime, the Nativity and the ducks will bask in my golden hours.



​

Poor Blue! He’s a poison dart frog, and he’s gotten very little golden time. He’s part of the sequel I’m planning for Zoe. Her lake scavenger hunt is coming out March 9th. I hope next spring the zoo scavenger hunt will come out too.
​
For now, the other 4 stories come first, but I managed to work on the zoo, during non-golden hours. I roughed out the outline, researched my animals, and wrote the first chapter. It’s a start, but there’s so much more to do.


​

​Poor ants! They’re part of my middle grade chapter book. They haven’t been touched for the last 3 months. They’re on the back burner for now, but I have a plan. It’s waiting for the end of the agent audition challenge. Then those ants will get the golden hour attention they deserve. 

​Part 1 – The Two Hardest Ones
There are two things that are super hard for me to write – first drafts and the business posts on my blog.

First drafts are easy to explain. Duh! It’s hard to figure out what to write on a blank page. I started thinking about the Zoo Scavenger Hunt in December. Last week I  finally wrote the first words.

What was I doing for 2 months? Figuring out what to write! I had the idea, but I needed more. I had to design a plot with a problem, 3 tries, and a happy ending. That doesn’t sound so hard, but it is!

I also spent time researching the zoo. I googled information and watched videos. I even went to the zoo, and I took tons of pictures. Some were of the animals, but I made sure I took lots of pictures of their homes. I need to be able to picture both to write this story.
​
I did all that . . . Then I could finally write chapter 1. I haven’t started chapter 2 – I need to figure out what the inciting incident will be and how to head toward the first try. Stayed tuned!
​

​​Business posts for my blog are also hard, unless I have a book coming out. Then I have lots to say. I’m doing events and reporting them to you. That’s easy!

But when there’s no book, it’s HARD! I have to think of something. There’s nothing worse than a blank page.

I have to stop, go back, and  think about what I’m doing to move forward as a writer. It also has to be something new. Duh! I can’t write the same thing over and over again!

​

​This is one of the worst ones . . . Ideas can be like eggs. Do you see the chick inside? It has to fight its way out one peck at a time. It’s hard work! Chicks look exhausted when they’re done. Sometimes I do too.
​
​With a post, I start with images, but I struggle with how to explain them. It’s like taking peck after peck at that shell, but it won’t crack. It’s frustrating! I keep pecking, trying to find that daylight. Eventually I do. I tap and tap until I find the way out.
​

​​Have you ever started with an idea, rejected it, and thrown it away? This is how people used to do it, by crumbling up paper. It is so satisfying!

It’s almost the same on the computer.  I write something, delete it, and try, try again. It’s frustrating to be stuck, unable to move forward.
​I’ve learned to stop deleting. Now I add space between the obstacle and what I want to delete.

I pull that passage back up  again and again, or I retype it. Eventually I find the right way over the obstacle, or a new and better idea comes through. There’s something about that  space that helps me push through.
​​

Sometimes, I just get lost in ideas. I lose my bearings, and I feel like I can’t write my way out of a paper bag.

One of the best ways to find your way is to retrace your steps. Go backwards in time, step by step. Usually you find your way.
​
When I’m writing, I go back and read over what I’ve written. Usually I can pick up the thread and find my way into the next sentence. If that doesn’t work, I jot down ideas for what might come next. That works too.
​

Sometimes I just take a break. This is me at the lake. I always sit in a comfy chair, in a room with a view. When I get stuck, I look out the window. Other times I need to get up and do something else. Taking a break helps me move on.
​
My best advice – don’t let the obstacles throw you. Listen to your words and to yourself. You’ll figure out how to move past those blocks. 

​​Part 1: The Back Story Behind this Post

This is me, teaching during a school visit. I miss it! With Covid I sheltered in place because of my age and Type 2 Diabetes. I hope my Covid vaccine is coming soon . . . I want to get back out there again.

I didn’t write this post – Janet Campbell from Elderspark did. She said it’s not what she usually writes,. It’s also very different from her last post when she wrote about how long distance health caregivers can keep tabs on their loved ones.
​
Janet picked this because she thought it would be a good fit for me. It is! I was called to teach. I still am, whether I’m subbing or writing. I’m always first and last, a teacher.

​Part 2 – Janet’s Campbell’s Call to Teach
If you’re looking for a career where you make a significant difference in thousands of lives, teaching might be the right path for you. Teachers help children, teens, and young adults learn information, yes, but they also teach them kindness, perseverance, and self-confidence. It’s a career that comes with a lot of responsibility, as well as the potential to change more lives than you may ever fully realize.
​

With 33 years of teaching experience, Rinda Beach knows just how deeply rewarding this career can be. However, many people who consider teaching aren’t entirely sure what the process is or how to get started. This guide is designed to help you figure out your first steps and get started on the path toward teaching. Here’s all the information you need to begin your journey. 
​

​​Part 3 - Learning to Teach 
For the vast majority of people, your first step is going to be earning some sort of teaching degree. Different states have different requirements, and all require a bachelor’s degree and a teaching license in order to be a full-time teacher. In many, you may even need to earn a master’s degree, as well.
​

When it comes to earning your master’s degree, you should search for a school that can meet your educational needs with respect to your daily life. For example, many schools offer evening classes in order to make studying possible for people with full-time jobs. Online degree programs, particularly asynchronous ones, are also a great fit for those with already-busy schedules since they allow you to study on your own time. This can also open up your options if you don’t happen to live near a university that offers the degree you’re pursuing. 
​

You can also test the waters by volunteering as an after-school tutor. Many schools have programs designed to help underachieving students bridge the gap and learn how to excel in the classroom. Not only will this type of work give you practice teaching, but it will also help you develop the skills necessary to help when students are struggling. This can be a difficult challenge for teachers who are just starting off, so if you have this experience under your belt beforehand, you’ll have a distinct advantage. ​
​

​​Part 5: Finding Work 
Once you have your degree, you’ll need to look toward finding work. Although there are almost always teaching opportunities out there, you’ll find that some age ranges and subjects are trickier to place than others. For example, a general middle school teacher is likely to have an easier time finding a job than a high school classics teacher.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t pick a specific subject if that’s what you’re interested in, but you should know the pros and cons. For example, although those jobs can be a little harder to find, you can also potentially navigate for a better salary when those roles do appear. ​

​Regardless of your subject or age range, the easiest way to find a role as a teacher is to be open to opportunities, even if they aren’t your ideal role. For example, many teachers are resistant to working in rural or underprivileged communities. However, these areas are often the most in need of good teachers, so if you rule that out, you might be ruling out some of your best bets for a job.

Stay open, and remember — if it’s not the right fit, you can always look for something else. With time, you’ll find the perfect fit and have the teaching career you’ve been dreaming of!

                     For more insights on teaching, writing, books, and more, visit Rinda Beach’s blog.