​
I love Mrs. Frizzle! Her outfits are so much fun! They focus attention on whatever she’s teaching, from her earrings down to her shoes.
​
I can never match her style, but it’s fun to try! Take a look at how I dress for my weekend videos. Can you match them together? Good luck!
​

​Part 2; Matching Holidays: Here are two screenshots from two holiday read-aloud videos. One is the scary holiday children love to celebrate. The second is all about hearts and love. It’s another childhood favorite. Can you match the holiday to my outfit? Look closely, and you’ll find a few clues! 

​​
​These two screenshots are from the same holiday. Christmas, of course! But the read-alouds are different. One’s about Santa. The other’s about Baby Jesus. Which outfit matches their read-aloud?

The first screenshot, Baby Jesus. Did you see the star and the wise man? This is my Christmas Day read-aloud.                 The Book Title- The Christmas Story.                                                           The Link: Facebook 

And the second, Santa! Did you see him in his sleigh with the reindeer? It’s my Christmas Eve read-aloud.                             The Book Title- A World of Cookies for Santa.                                        The Link: Facebook  

                                           Tomorrow – A few more outfits, with videos about places   

I love Mrs. Frizzle! Her outfits are so much fun! They focus attention on whatever she’s teaching, from her earrings down to her shoes.
​
I can never match her style, but it’s fun to try! Take a look at how I dress for my weekend videos. Can you match them together? Good luck!
​

Part 1; Matching People: Here are three screenshots from three videos. Two are about famous people. Match my outfit in screenshot 1, 2, and 3 to the people I was talking about.
​

One is about how we can all follow our dreams, like Dr. King did. A second is about Vice President, J.D. Vance. And the third is about Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself. Can you match the people I talked about to my outfit? Look closely for clues! 
​​
​

Following dreams, that’s Photo #2. White clouds on a navy shirt made me think dreams, and clouds are in the video too.

​The Title: Following Your Dreams.                               
The Link: (1) Facebook    

​

​Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is Photo #3. My black turtleneck, sweater vest, and cross necklace helped me read his most famous speech. 

Book Title– I Have a Dream.
​The Link: (1) Facebook​
 
​             

​Part 2; Matching Holidays: Here are two screenshots from two holiday read-aloud videos. One is the scary holiday children love to celebrate. The second is all about hearts and love. It’s another childhood favorite. Can you match the holiday to my outfit? Look closely, and you’ll find a few clues! 
​

The first holiday photo, Halloween. That’s when children dress up in costumes. Some, are scary! Usually I wear orange and black, but this sweater features a few webs and spiders too. SCARY!
                        The Book Title- Dino-Halloween.                                    The Link: Facebook 

And the second, Valentine’s Day. Did you notice my heart necklace and the rose-colored sweater?
                        The Book Title- Valensteins.                                               The Link: Facebook   

​
​These two screenshots are from the same holiday. Christmas, of course! But the read-alouds are different. One’s about Santa. The other’s about Baby Jesus. Which outfit matches their read-aloud?

The first screenshot, Baby Jesus. Did you see the star and the wise man? This is my Christmas Day read-aloud.                 The Book Title- The Christmas Story.                                                           The Link: Facebook 

And the second, Santa! Did you see him in his sleigh with the reindeer? It’s my Christmas Eve read-aloud.                             The Book Title- A World of Cookies for Santa.                                        The Link: Facebook  

                                           Tomorrow – A few more outfits, with videos about places   

Part 3 – My Morning Meditation: It’s one of my favorite things. I discovered them when I was still teaching. I’ve never been a morning person, but calendars gave me a quick read and food for thought. It set my head and heart in a good place, and if I was running late, no problem! I read it later in the day.

Last year, in May of 2024, I bought my first eBook of devotions. The title, Strength For Each Day. Like other devotionals, it begins with a Bible passage, goes into a page to explain/apply it, and ends with a prayer. The best part, each devotion brings me a little closer to my faith. A little closer to God, very good things.

​This is the first year I’ve done two devotions each morning. I didn’t plan it that way. I saw the author of The Daily Stoic on Fox News talking about his book. That usually doesn’t tempt me, but there was something about his description that did. I bought it that night, and I’ve been reading it since August, 2024. I’m glad I did.

I’ve heard of stoics, but that’s it. Reading this book lets me peek into their philosophy.  It’s based on knowing and accepting responsibility for the things I can control, and letting go of the things I can’t. Christians have similar beliefs. We believe the things outside our command are in God’s hands. Reading both devotionals helps me focus on the things I can do. It lets me entrust the rest to God..  
​      
This is where I am now. I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow, next week, or next year, but I’m willing to follow the path God has put me on.

​As I grow older, my faith grounds me in a way it didn’t when I was younger. It helps me take adversity in stride. It helps me navigate the highs and lows of life, but most of all, I have a sense of peace I didn’t have when I was younger.
​

​Part 2 – A Prayer Change : It all started for me when Olivia Newton John died. That was back in August of 2022. I read that she started saying the Lord’s Prayer each night during her final bout with cancer. She hoped it’d bring her closer to her daughter, and I read it worked.
​

​I thought if Olivia could pray the Lord’s Prayer, I could too. Now I pray it every night before I go to sleep. Three years later, it’s changed the way I pray. 

​

#1 – I began to start with gratitude; then I’d end with the Lord’s Prayer. I never planned it. Gratitude just bubbled up in me each night, and I started thanking God for the blessings He sent my way. Big things, little ones. It didn’t matter. What did – expressing my attitude of gratitude to Him.

#2 – Over the years I stopped asking God for the things I need or want. They haven’t changed in years so I trusted God knew about them. That He’d grant them if/when it was time. Then a year ago, I read that we need to keep asking for those things. It gives me peace to know they’ll be granted in His time.

So now as I lay in bed, I begin my nightly prayers with gratitude, then my wish list. I end them with the Lord’s Prayer. Most nights I’m asleep in 10-15 minutes, and that’s a wonderful thing for someone who’s struggled with sleep issues.

                                                             Tomorrow – how I begin my days with prayer

​As I grow older, my faith grounds me in a way it didn’t when I was younger. It helps me take adversity in stride. It helps me navigate the highs and lows of life, but most of all, I have a sense of peace I didn’t have when I was younger.

​Part1 – The Faith of a Few Buckeyes: I was surprised to find this link a few days after  the Cotton Bowl. Ohio State players kneel in prayer on field before Cotton Bowl victory

Faith is a private thing for me. I usually don’t talk about mine, but I’m happy when people share theirs on TV. This article had links for three videos of OSU football players demonstrating their faith. I picked two of them to share.

1 – This image came from the first link in the article (second paragraph). I stopped the video and did a screen shot. It’s the moment when nearly every Ohio State player was on the field. They knelt and prayed before the Cotton Bowl pregame started.
​
I love my Buckeyes, and I think this is one of their finest moments. Win or lose, to focus your head and heart in prayer before the first play of a big game, that’s a very good thing.
​

#2 – This is the second link (paragraph six). I didn’t see this video until I read the article. This is another screen shot, but it was taken after THE game, the one with that team up north. Yes, Michigan won, and some Wolverines tried to plant their flag in the middle of the stadium, the Shoe.

This shot took place during the middle of that post-game chaos. Would you believe two Buckeyes and one Wolverine knelt in prayer? It’s one of the loveliest examples of faith I’ve ever seen.

​

​ Part 2 – A Prayer Change : It all started for me when Olivia Newton John died. That was back in August of 2022. I read that she started saying the Lord’s Prayer each night during her final bout with cancer. She hoped it’d bring her closer to her daughter, and I read it worked.

​I thought if Olivia could pray the Lord’s Prayer, I could too. Now I pray it every night before I go to sleep. Three years later, it’s changed the way I pray. 

​

#1 – I began to start with gratitude; then I’d end with the Lord’s Prayer. I never planned it. Gratitude just bubbled up in me each night, and I started thanking God for the blessings He sent my way. Big things, little ones. It didn’t matter. What did – expressing my attitude of gratitude to Him.

#2 – Over the years I stopped asking God for the things I need or want. They haven’t changed in years so I trusted God knew about them. That He’d grant them if/when it was time. Then a year ago, I read that we need to keep asking for those things. It gives me peace to know they’ll be granted in His time.

So now as I lay in bed, I begin my nightly prayers with gratitude, then my wish list. I end them with the Lord’s Prayer. Most nights I’m asleep in 10-15 minutes, and that’s a wonderful thing for someone who’s struggled with sleep issues.

  
​

​In 2023, I stopped on Day 3, and I let my writing guide me. This year I finished Day 11 and a new Word Power poster.

This is the title I’ve used since 2018. Come along with me, and I’ll show you where I was in 2023 and where I’m heading now that it’s 2025. 
​
​

​Part 1 – Things to Keep​: Up first, the things I'm keeping, the programs and tools that work for me. Look down below to see three things that powered me through 2022-2023.

Underneath, my new set. Did you notice I kept two things for 2025? The first, 12 x 12. It’s a community of writers, and I can take three video classes a month from the comfort of my living room in Wapakoneta, Ohio or Lafollette, Tennessee.

The second, my website. I love putting up posts and book reviews for you! I’m planning on updating it this year and giving it a tweak. I haven’t done that since it debuted in 2016. Now that it’s 2025, the time feels right!
​

​Did you notice the last box changed? Writing Magic ended sometime in 2022 or 2023. I replaced it with the Courage to Create Community. I miss Writing Magic, but I found a new home at Courage to Create.

​

​Part 2 – Two More Things I’m Keeping: If you look at the first row below, those are the things I kept from the 12 Days of Christmas in 2022-2023. The second row, those are the things I kept from Christmas 2024. 
 
If you look at both rows, the pictures on the left are the same. They’re about marketing; about searching for new ideas to promote my three published books. That’s something I’ll do forever, for every single book I publish. I hope there are a few more in my future!
​

​One is about Neil Armstrong and his Wind Tunnel Dream. The other two are about my favorite place, the lake. Lake Fun is a picture book, and Zoe is a chapter book. Both of them have stories about the things my kids did on lake vacations. They both have journals that let readers draw and write about their own lake experiences.

The paragraph I just wrote, and this one too, that’s marketing! It’s about getting your product or service in front of people. Then convincing them they HAVE to buy it. If you’re interested in checking out my books, just take a look at my book link on rindabeach.com. It has a drop-down menu with all three titles.
​

The pictures on the right are about my search for an agent. In 2022-2024, I was querying agents with my zoo book. The main character, that blue poison dart frog. Would you believe he was playing hide and seek at the zoo?

I stopped querying in 2024 because I’ve been super- focused on writing a middle grade novel about the founding fathers, the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. This is the third year I’ve been revising and editing it, but it’s still not done. It’s getting closer, and I hope to send it out to agents sometime this year. Here’s to hope . . . I hear it springs eternal 😊

​​

​Part 3 – The New Things I’m Writing: Look below, and you’ll see my new story ideas from Christmas 2022. Back then I had six ideas. Three new; three old. I fleshed out community helpers, but I got stuck; I planned to get back to it, but . . . the Founding Fathers took over. 

​I spent the first three weeks trying to find my way into Chapter 1. I needed a ribbon, a thread that would weave its way through all 57 chapters. After three tries, I found it – in the last man standing, the last one to die.

That man – Charles Carroll of Carrollton; Charley to me, has become a friend. By June of 2023, I’d written 38 chapters, and that’s when I hit another snag . . . I thought one founder signed the Declaration of Independence late – it turned out to be seven. Yikes!

​
​That’s when I changed my goal from writing all 57 chapters in one novel, to breaking it into a middle grade series. It will make it easier for kids to read, to wrap their minds around. The first ten chapters, the first book. The timeline – from the Declaration of Independence to Yorktown. The 12 Days of Christmas 2024 helped me put it on paper.

                             Tomorrow – a new idea to try, and a few old ones I want to save, just in case.
​

​​
Part 4 – The New Things I’m Trying: Look below, and you’ll see a combination of something new, and three ideas I want to save. Leveling my blogs, a Teacher Pay Teacher account, and a private Facebook group are things I don’t want to lose track of. The time to implement them hasn’t come yet. So I’ll keep them on the back burner for another year.
​

My newest idea – to read aloud on Fridays. I found a 4th grade teacher who’s willing to welcome me into her room, and I’m excited about the opportunity. Once a month I hope I find books that resonate with her, her curriculum, and her kids.

I hope I can show them things about reading and writing that I’ve learned. I try my best on every sentence and paragraph I write, and so do teachers and kids. If opportunities arise, I’d love to expand this idea. But I’m going to take my time and let it develop. I’ll let this idea take me where it wants me to go.
​

​Thank you for the sixth time to Julie Hedlund. Each year her program helps me to see growth, especially when I feel like I’m spinning my wheels. But I also appreciate looking at why I’ve fallen short, and what I could do differently in the new year.

Meet The Imagination Library – You’ve probably heard of Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library. Did you know she gives books away to kids from zero to age five? Each child gets twelve specially selected books a year, without ever paying a dime, thanks to Dolly and her local partners.
​
Dolly’s photo was taken in 1983. Did you know the imagination library started in 1995? Her inspiration came from her father. He couldn’t read or write so Dolly started with preschoolers from her home in Sevier County, Tennessee. Did you know Dolly sends books to kids in five countries today, including the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Republic of Ireland?

Did you know Dolly gives over two million books away each month? When she was growing up, she believed in dreams. Kids are still dreaming, and books have the seeds to help them grow.

Did you know according to their website Dolly registered 3,197,250 kids and counting? Or that she has given away 260,942,488 books so far? Impressive, and Dolly’s not done. Not yet!
​
                   To learn more, check out: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library | USA, UK, IE, CA, AU
  
​

​
How This Post Came to Be – A year ago I saw a post online from the Imagination Library with reading tips for families. I saved it because those tips, they were great.

They’re not just about literacy. They’re also about building oral language and vocabulary skills for preschoolers. If you’re curious about the kind of books Dolly and the Imagination Library picked, click on this link: United States Book List - Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. And now the link has been updated . . .  for babies arriving in 2025!   

​                                                                                           And now, those tips . . .

​Pointing, naming, talking, playing games – they’re so natural. I’m glad Dolly highlighted them.
​
They’re what my kids did, what my grandkids do now.
They’re also great tips to use beyond the book, in everyday life around the house. 

And now, two book picks . . .​
Note – These titles stayed the same in 2025.

I picked Good Morning because it had a + sign beside it. That means it has bilingual text
or Hispanic content. So does another book from Richard Scarry. I hope I found the
right covers for you; I only had the titles to go on.

I picked Madeline’s 1 2 3 because it had a dot, like an asterisk. That means it’s a new book.
Madeline has been around forever, but 1 2 3 is a new title. There are two other new ones on the list. Writers like me hope that someday . . . Dolly will pick one of our stories too.

The titles include shapes, homes, family, animals, body parts, and nursery rhymes.
You and your child will have lots of pages to turn, things to name, and questions to answer.
​Enjoy! Time flies!

Ask questions. Talk about words and pictures. Pick books. Set goals and rewards.

Your preschooler is growing into a reader! Just look at the skills they’re learning
​and the kinds of books they get from the Imagination Library.

And now, those book picks . . . 
Note – These titles stayed the same in 2025.

K is for Kindness, is about being nice. That’s a social skill. It’s also
 an ABC book; a literary skill, and littles need both.

Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night is more than a truck book. It’s also a bedtime story
with rhyming text and great illustrations. Plus, it’s a series of stories . . . with steam trains,
jet planes, and speed boats who need sleep too.

Animal stories are still in the library, along with a variety of others. Here’s the link if
​you’d like to check them out . . . United States Book List - Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
​And now the link has been updated . . .  for babies arriving in 2025!

Tomorrow – Reading tips for toddlers ages 3-4 and 4-5

Point to letters and numbers. Find a story in the illustrations.
Talk about plot and characters. THESE are the skills that prepare kids to read!
 
And now, two more book picks . . .
Note – Both titles are gone in 2025.

Corduroy is a book my kids loved, at home and at school.
It’s the story of a teddy bear who only wants a home.

I got The Snowy Day in second grade. I was excited to see both books
on Dolly’s 2024 list. And so disappointed to see them leave.

But don’t worry! There are still twelve great titles to help your
child learn about the world around them.

Tell the story. Write and draw responses. Talk about words and story meaning.
It’s almost time for Kindergarten!

And now, two more book picks . . .

Note – These titles stayed the same in 2025.

Danbi’s Favorite Day comes from her home in Korea – Children’s Day. Kids
the world over will love how she finds a way to celebrate.

Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! This is the custom book every child
gets when they turn five. Its job – to make them feel confident and excited about starting school.

And the other ten, they include titles about books, folk tales, and school.
One even started as a song, Dolly’s Coat of Many Colors.

No more tips. This used to be the last set of books for kids born in 2019. Now it’s for kids born in 2020.
And the last two books . . .
Note – These titles stayed the same in 2025.​

​Can you ever have too much snow? The animals in Rabbit’s Snow Dance
think so. . . especially in the summertime!

Are you ever as busy as a bee? Find out what they really do in You Are a Honey Bee.
It’s the first in a STEM nonfiction picture book series for young readers.

And the other titles, they’re as diverse as these two!

Part 1 – Map Quest: This is a map of six continents. Let’s go continent exploring to find New Zealand. We’ll skip Antarctica – it’s not on the map. Start on the top left. Can you find North America? Go southeast, and you’re in South America. Two continents – check!

Did you find Australia in yellow? And New Zealand? It’s the big green island to the east.
​
A dear friend from Wapakoneta just moved there. Melissa does it all, from Art to Therapy. She’s exploring New Zealand and sharing photos with her friends in Ohio, like me

​

​ Part 2 – The Essence of Estuaries: They’re found all over the world wherever freshwater from rivers runs into the salty sea. They’re home to unique plants and animals who have adapted to the brackish mix of fresh and salt water.

Some estuaries form when lake and river water come together. The chemical and physical composition from the two sources is completely different. You’ll find a few estuaries around the Great Lakes, and in other places across the country and around the world. Source: What is an estuary?

​There are paved paths for bikes and people to enjoy. There’s even a wooden path that runs right through the middle of the Ahuriri Estuary.
 
   
​                                               

​Part 3 – A Few Plants: The paths along the Ahuriri Estuary are lined with Spanish broom bushes and sweet pea. 

Part 4 – Signs of Life #1: These three bird photos, below, were taken of the Bar-Tailed Godwit. My friend, Melissa, took the last one, the big one.

If you’re having trouble reading the sign, me too. I blew it up so I could read it. Its two images show the Bar-Tailed Godwit feeding and flying. Here are some of the things I learned from it and from a New Zealand bird site.

- The Maori, New Zealand’s original people, called godwits Kuaka or birds of mystery. They didn’t nest on the islands, and they disappeared each winter. So they’d ask each other, “Kua kite te kohanga kuaka?” Translation – “Who has seen the nest of the kuaka?” The Maori thought godwits hung out with the spirits of the dead.

- Godwits are endangered because they’re losing the habitats along their flight path. They’re protected in New Zealand where feeding grounds are safe from pollution, construction, and predators. But they’re not safe in other places.

Sorry, I couldn’t read the Fast Facts.
But if you want to learn more about godwits, check out these websites.

Bar-tailed godwit | Kuaka | New Zealand Birds Online….
My other source, and it includes bird calls!

The Bar-tailed Godwit’s Annual Migration Is Utterly Astounding | Audubon
Bar-tailed Godwit Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
​
​The sign includes: www.hbtrails.nz.... www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz.... www.doc.govt.nz

​
​Part 5 – Signs of Life #2: I love this sign, and I thought I could use it like the first one. NOT! I tried reading my blown-up version, but I still had to go find information and pictures online.
​

That’s where I hit the next snag. I couldn’t find the exact plant or animal I wanted. I found relatives, and I still wanted to share this sign. It goes into the estuary ecosystem and the plants and animals who live there.

So Plan B . . . I’d find the closes relative and share its link. I also found a great online encyclopedia from New Zealand. Most of the information matched up. Some of it was new, but I decided to share it anyway because I trust it.

BTW, if you want a plant or animal’s exact image, or you want to learn more about them, google their name. Add New Zealand; then search. I can’t share those images . . . think copyright. So, here’s Plan B. Fingers crossed!
​
At the upper reaches of the estuary where there’s fresh water and less salt, you’ll find these plants and animals. First up, dense beds of sedge and raupo. 

​​

​Sedges, or Cyperaceae, are a family of grass-like plants. Flowers are often the only way to identify which sedge is which. Photo: Cyperaceae - Wikipedia
​
And the encyclopedia said there are as many as 60 different kinds of sedges in New Zealand’s wetlands. I guess, an estuary is one kind of wetland. My source was a specific kind of sedge: Tussock sedge – Wetlands – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

​
​

This is a relative of raupo. I think it looks like the cat tails in Ohio. Its name – typha orientalis. You could also call it bulrush, cumbungi, or raupo. It’s found in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, China, and Russia’s far east.  Photo: Typha orientalis - Wikipedia
​
And the encyclopedia said it grows in fertile swamps with high water tables. The one species from New Zealand is also native to Australia and south-east Asia. It dies down in the winter and comes back in the spring.  Raupō – Wetlands – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

I couldn’t find a marsh crab, but after looking at the New Zealand Encyclopedia, I found this name – Hemigrapsus crenulatus. Wikipedia said it’s also called the hairy-handed crab and papka huruhuru, the same two names in the encyclopedia. It also said they’re a marine crab native to New Zealand’s coastline.  Photo: Hemigrapsus crenulatus - Wikipedia
​
The Te Ara Encyclopedia said the crabs are found in the intertidal zone. They hide under rocks or in the soft sands and mud. Melissa’s sign said marsh crabs live in the upper reaches of the estuary, and that they hide in the plants too. I hate when I’m not sure if the words match, so I shared both. Just in case.  Small animals of the estuary – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

 
​

​Check out this bittern hunting for prey in the wetlands of New Zealand.  Photo: Australasian bittern - Wikipedia
​
The Australasian bittern or matukuh have long necks and legs. They’re mottled brown with creamy throats. Notice the posture – neck stretched up to blend into the reeds, AND their eyes, they can still look down to spot tasty fish, frogs, and eels. YUM!   Australasian bittern – Wetland birds – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand



In the salty lower reaches of the estuary, you’ll find these plants and animals. First up, sea lettuce, glassworts, rushes, and reeds. 

​You’ll also find glassworts in this part of the estuary. There was nothing in Te Ara about them, but Wikipedia said they’re succulent plants that thrive in the saltwater of sea coasts and marshes. This photo came from the Greenfields Wetlands in Dry Creek. That’s in South Australia. Photo: Glasswort - Wikipedia


​

​
Sheltered estuaries like the one at Ahuriri in New Zealand provide rich feeding grounds for birds like golden plovers, the bar-tailed godwits, and many others. Larger animals of the estuary – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
​
Photo: Pacific golden plover - Wikipedia


​

​Birds like godwits probe the mud for shellfish, marine worms, and insect larvae. They push their beaks down deep into the sediments to find them.   Larger animals of the estuary – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
​
Did you notice the bird in the center? It’s red and looks nothing like the bar-tailed godwits in sign #1. That’s because it’s a male. Many males in the animal kingdom are better looking. It helps them attract females. Photo: Bar-tailed godwit - Wikipedia

When you query an agent or publisher, you pitch your manuscript to them. Comp titles are part of that letter. Comps are books published in the last three years. They’re similar to your manuscript, and they give the agent/publisher an idea where your story could fit into the marketplace.

Part 1 - Why This Title? My middle grade novel is about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. The first ten chapters follow them to the end of the American Revolution. One Dead Spy is a graphic novel about Nathan Hale. It starts when he joins the Continental Army, and it ends with his death, September 22, 1776.
​
My manuscript and this spy novel are both works of middle grade historical fiction. They’re both set during the Revolution. Charles Carroll of Carrollton is my main character, and you’ll meet the first nine dead signers through his eyes. Nathan Hale, the spy, tells his story to a British officer, and the hangman.
​

Part 2 - The Real Nathan Hale: No, not the author/illustrator of this book. I’m talking the REAL dead spy. The one who died almost two months after the founders signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776. And no, only John Hancock and Congress’s secretary signed on the Fourth of July.

I couldn’t find a painting of the real Nathan Hale, but I found his statue from City Hall Park in New York City. I also found a sketch from the day the British hung him. That’s where my comp title begins, with the hanging. Now, the facts from a link attributed to the CIA . . .
​
Nathan came from a prominent Connecticut family. He attended and graduated with honors from Yale in 1773. He got a job right away teaching in New London, Connecticut. When the War began in 1775, pre-Declaration, he immediately joined the militia. Within five months he was promoted to First Lieutenant. That’s how far Nathan goes to tell his real back story. It goes into his bad luck, which I didn’t find, but remember, my source was a CIA file. Maybe it’s still top secret, LOL!
​

Part 3: Who Was Henry Knox? I’ve heard of Fort Knox in Kentucky and Knoxville in Tennessee, but lately I’ve wondered how they got their names. Then I read One Dead Spy, and they were named after Henry Knox.

So who was he? One Dead Spy said he owned a bookstore, and that he was in charge of artillery during the American Revolution. Bookstore and artillery, they just don’t match, so I looked him up. His story is fascinating!

Henry’s dad died when he was nine, so he worked as a clerk in a bookstore to support the family. The owner inspired his love of books and learning. Between shifts, Henry taught himself French, philosophy, and math. Would you believe he even studied the wars of ancient Greece and Rome? 
​

Knox didn’t just read about war. He joined a Boston street gang and learned to fight. Then a local artillery company. He turned his knowledge and experience against the British.

By 1771 Knox owned his own shop. Its titles included books about military history and strategy. He loved chatting with the soldiers who stopped by. A year later he started the Boston Grenadier Corps and joined the local Sons of Liberty. He was on guard duty for the Boston Tea Party and joined the militia in time for the Battle of Bunker Hill. He set up the fortifications and directed his cannons at the British.

The battle turned into a siege. That’s when Knox got a brilliant, but crazy idea. He’d make the 300-mile trek to Fort Ticonderoga, New York, then return with the cannons and supplies the Americans captured. The crazy part – Knox reached the Fort on December 5 and returned with 60 tons of cannon, plus other munitions. For bonus points, he hauled them through the icy Berkshire Mountains and across a frozen lake. Knox delivered them on January 27, 1776. After his cannons started firing, the British army and navy decided to retreat to Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Knox continued on as the artillery chief for the New York and New Jersey campaigns. By the winter of 1778-79, he had a new job, head of the first artillery and officer training school. He drilled over 1000 soldiers during that horrible winter. His school inspired the military academy at West Point.

In 1780 he served on the military tribunal that sentenced John Andre to death by hanging. Andre was the spy who got Benedict Arnold to turn traitor. A year later Knox and his French counterpart helped end the war. They positioned the cannons at Yorktown. BTW, this is a portrait of Henry painted in 1806, long after the American Revolution ended.

​                                                     Source: National Museum of the United States Army
​
                              PS – Nathan Hale, the real dead spy, made the trip to Fort Ticonderoga
                                                  and back with 60 tons of artillery, in the dead of winter 
​

​
Part 4: Meet The Ohio Digital Library: It’s where I find the books for Saturday Reads. But I picked it for One Dead Spy because I can read it online, on my computer screen. That means I can make the page bigger. Much, Much BIGGER than my kindle screen. And that’s an amazing tool when you’re trying to read the cartoons in a graphic novel!
​

​                                                                           The Ohio Library’s Description:

​Experience the New York Times bestselling graphic novel—now as a deluxe, oversized edition featuring 15 brand-new pages of mini-comics

The Bigger & Badder editions of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales continues! Nathan Hale (the author's namesake) was America's first spy, a Revolutionary War hero who famously said "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" before being hanged by the British. In Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, author Hale channels his historical döppelganger to present history's roughest, toughest, strangest stories. This book tackles the story of Nathan Hale himself, who was an officer for the American rebels in the Revolutionary War and was eventually hanged for spying. This special edition of One Dead Spy features a larger trim size, a deluxe package, and 16 pages of bonus material, including research photos, sketches, and mini-comics from the author.

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales are graphic novels that tell the thrilling, shocking, gruesome, and TRUE stories of American history. Read them all—if you dare!

Hello from the Findlay Hancock County Library! That was me back on November 1, when I was there for Author Fest night.
​
If you didn’t make it and would like to meet some of the local and not-so-local authors who were, click on this link:  Newsletter - Findlay-Hancock County Public Library
​

​Part 1 – Meeting People: One of the best things about an author event – meeting people – like readers and other authors. There’s nothing like it, and if you know me . . . I love to talk!

When I talk to readers, we talk books. My favorites. Theirs. I also love to talk about what makes my books special; then show them. With Neil, it’s obviously him. I’m blessed that I met him, by writing about him. When I finished my last edit, I felt like I was saying goodbye to a best friend, and it turns out I was. I don’t see another Neil book in my future. Except . . . I do have an idea, but I haven’t pursued it yet. Maybe . . .

With other writers, I love to talk to them. To find out what makes them tick, where they find their ideas, or writing/marketing tricks they can teach me. Nothing’s better than finding a new/better way to do something. But most of all . . . I love hearing their stories!
​​


​Part 2 – Meeting the Authors Next-Door: Hello to my neighbors, from the tables beside me. They’re the writers I talked to the most. When there was a lull in the action, we had fun chatting and  talking books.

​At the table to my left was Theresa Konwinski. She’s written poetry since childhood. Now she writes stories about life. She finds her words in her experiences as a nurse, wife, mother, and now in retirement. You can find her three published novels and five short stories on her website.

At Author Fest she was excited about meeting people who want to write. People who are just beginning. Theresa loved talking to them, encouraging them to keep going, to keep writing. Listening to her reminded me how much joy I feel when the right words find their way into a story😊

                        If you’d like to meet Theresa Konwinski and her stories, check out her website:
                                                              theresakonwinski.online – Stories about life…
​

Meet Jean Mueller and Audrea Mancinotti at the table to my right. They’re a team in lots of ways. Jean does the writing, and Audrea does the illustrations. They’re also related. Jean is the aunt, and Audrea is her niece. They’re both educators. Jean is a school librarian, and Audrea teaches sixth grade. Best of all they work together creating children’s books.

Their adventure started when Jean dreamed of writing a picture book about her father’s woods. It came true when she asked Audrea to do the illustrations. That first book came out last June, and their second one is brand-new.

             To read more about them and their books, check out their website: AudreaJean Books



Part 3 – Meeting New Books: There’s nothing better than meeting a new book, except . . . discovering someone has a copy of your old one.

​​
And that was Jean! She stopped over when I was setting up my table. Picked up my old copy of Neil Armstrong’s Wind Tunnel Dream. Then told me she had a copy in her school library. She’d even read it to her students. Jean’s story made my week, and I’m glad I have a photo to remember it.

Snow Day, their second book, is brand new! If you ask teachers and kids across Ohio about their favorite kind of day, they’ll tell you it’s got to have snow. Who doesn’t like a day off?!
​

​If you’re looking for a snowy adventure, and there’s not a flake in sight, cuddle up with this book. Want to peek inside the cover? Click on their Facebook link and scan down the page.   (2) Facebook. ​