My Version of the 12 Days of Christmas

No questions for this post, just Christmas book suggestions for my favorite writers. Each one helped me on my writing journey, so I’d like to say thank you by recommending their books as Christmas gifts. And there’s still time to get them! Happy shopping! If you’d like to listen while you read, copy and paste this link:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyEyMjdD2uk​

On the first day of Christmas
My best friend sent to me:
 An eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Blues Bones by Rick Starkey is the perfect book for middle grade boys. Whenever I sub in 3rd and 4th grade, kids pick up this book. Some even write down Rick’s name. Blues Bones is about a boy who wants to play his guitar in front of an audience. Somehow they get the idea that a real finger bone, from a famous guitarist, will do the trick. Read to find out what happens.

I met Rick because of the Sevierville writing group. He has a great eye and helps me improve my work! Thanks, Rick!
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On the second day of Christmas
  My best friend sent to me:
  Two Lucy’s Labs
And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Lucy’s Lab by Michelle Houts is a pair of books about a girl named Lucy who discovers she loves science thanks to her 2nd grade teacher. In book 1, Nuts about Science, Lucy figures out how to help some homeless squirrels after their oak tree dies. In book 2 Solids, Liquids, Who’s Got Gas, Lucy understands solids and liquids, but can’t figure out gas. “Yuck” will clue you in on how she does it.

I met Michelle through Northern Ohio SCBWI conferences (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and through her classes. She’s looked at my work and given me great advice (Post- 1/31/17) . I couldn’t ask for a better writing friend/teacher!
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On the third day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Three pet books
  Two Lucy’s Labs
And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Darcy Pattison has a trio of books to help kids read and write. In I Want a Dog, cousins Dennis and Mellie get to choose the dog breed that fits their family. They’re family, but different, and

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so are the dog breeds they choose. In I Want a Cat, the cousins pick the perfect cat. And in My Crazy Dog, Dennis is assigned a narrative. He’s lucky…his dog gives him plenty of material.
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I met Darcy at the Midsouth SCBWI conference. She reviewed the first 10 pages of a book and gave me such great advice I took 2 more weekend classes. One was on shrunken manuscripts (Post- 5/19/17), and the 2nd was on using strong words. Thanks to Darcy, I’m moving closer to getting that first book published.​

​On the fourth day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Four animal rescues
Three pet books
  Two Lucy’s Labs
​And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Dandi Daley Mackall has a quartet of books about the “Starlight Animal Rescue where problem horses are trained and loved, where abandoned dogs become heroes, where stray cats become loyal companions. And where people with nowhere to fit in find a place to belong.

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​In #1, Runaway, 16-year-old Dakota Brown and Blackfire help each other find home. #2, Mad Dog, Rex works to rescue Wes Willams, age 14, before anger makes it too late. #3, Wild Cat, has Kat, AKA Katherine, tries to prove her worth as a “cat shrink” and find a home. And finally  #4, Dark Horse, has 18-year-old Hank working to save ​​.

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Starlight Animal Rescue. This is a great series for teens, tweens, and animal lovers

I met Dandi at an SCBWI Conference when she reviewed the first 10 pages of my ant book. I remember her kindness. She autographed a book for me, writing inside that she expected to see me and my published book at the next SCBWI conference.. It meant the world to me, and now 5 years later, it still gives me hope, which is a great thing!​

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​On the fifth day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Five cowboy books
Four animal rescues
Three pet books
  Two Lucy’s Labs
And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Here’s a quintuple of  cowboy books by Laurie Knowleton. Why Cowboys Sleep with their Boots On pits Slim Jim Watkins against some hornery animals. In Why Cowboys Need a Brand, Slim Jim is looking for a brand or ranch of his own. When Jim discovers ranching is lonely, he finds a solution in Why Cowboys Need a Pardner. 

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In Why Cowgirls are Such Sweet Talkers Cowgirl Gabby proves that honey is better than vinegar, and so is girl power! Finally the Cowgirl Alphabet gives girls, and boys, the ABC’s of roping and riding. ​​

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I met Laurie 6 years ago when I took her writing class. She critiqued my ant story and became my dear friend and writing mentor. She’s always been there to read my work and to tell me what’s good and what to push. She’s the best!
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On the sixth day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Six barnyard animals
Five cowboy books
Four animal rescues
Three pet books
  Two Lucy’s Labs
And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Leslie Helakoski has a half-dozen barnyard animal adventures. In Hoot and Honk, 2 eggs are misplaced and find their way home. In Big Chickens Go to Town, the 

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chickens are stranded and find adventures in town. Next those Big Chickens Fly the Coop and face farmyard fears. Would you believe Big Pigs is about a big pig contest? In Big Chickens, 

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they face the danger this time taking a walk through the woods. Woolbur is about a sheep who marches to his own beat.

I met Leslie at the 2013 Northern Ohio SCBWI conference when she read my dog story. She was so kind and gave me great advice. I ran into her last June at a Highlights class. Leslie’s still wonderful! 
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On the seventh day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Seven Clark the Shark books
Six barnyard animals
Five cowboy books
Four animal rescues
Three pet books
  Two Lucy’s Labs
And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Bruce Hale has a septet of Clark the Shark books. Loves Christmas has Clark trying to uncover who  his Secret Santa 

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is. Lost and Found happens on a field trip. Tooth Trouble has Clark at the dentist. In Afraid of the Dark, Clark’s at a sleepover, outside, in the dark. In the 

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original Clark the Shark, even sharks have school trouble. Dares to Share has Clark learning how to co classroom sharing. In Takes Heart, Clark likes a girl, Angela Angelfish.

I met Bruce only once, but he has a special place in my heart, and in my writing journey. He was the first author to say my work was good enough. Bruce read my ant book at the Northern Ohio SCBWI conference. He said “fine tune and finish.” I couldn’t believe it! I was so excited! It’s 6 years later, and I’m still fine-tuning, but, I’ve had a ball learning to do it! Someday, I hope my ants are published! 

On the eighth day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Eight birds a-reading
Seven Clark the Shark books
Six barnyard animals
Five cowboy books
Four animal rescues
Three pet books
  Two Lucy’s Labs
           And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.​

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Lisa Amstutz has an octet of bird books: Cardinals, Robins, House Sparrows, 

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 Gold Finches, Blue Jays, American Crows, Mourning Doves, and ​

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Hummingbirds. Read to learn where they live, what they eat, and how to identify each bird and their eggs.
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​​The summer of 2016 I was ready to build a web site, but needed help. I found Lisa, and I couldn’t have found a better guide! Thanks to her, this site went live November 2016. She’s been my friend and advisor since then.

On the ninth day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Nine Bailey Kid Jrs.
Eight birds a-reading
Seven Clark the Shark books
Six barnyard animals
Five cowboy books
Four animal rescues
Three pet books
  Two Lucy’s Labs
And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Read Debbie Dadey’s nonet of Bailey Kid Jr. books. The titles will give you an idea what the book’s about. They include: Ghosts DO Splash in Puddles, ​

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Reindeer DO Wear Striped Underwear, Cupid DOES Eat Chocolate-Covered Snails (YUM?),  Pirates DO Ride 

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Scooters, Dragons DO Eat Homework, Wizards DO Roast Turkeys, Vampires Do Hunt Marshmallow Bunnies, Cavemen DO Drive School Buses, and Snow Monsters Do Drink Hot Chocolate.

I met Debbie at an SCBWI conference and found my way to her house and the Sevierville writing group. I can’t believe someone who’s published 170 books is willing to look at 0-published me, and give me a helping hand. Who could ask for anything more!

On the tenth day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Ten Dino sport books
Nine Bailey Kid Jrs.
Eight birds a-reading
Seven Clark the Shark books
Six barnyard animals
Five cowboy books
Four animal rescues
Three pet books
  Two Lucy’s Labs    
And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.  ​

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Here’s Lisa Wheeler’s ten Dino sports books. he titles include: Dino- Baseball, Dino-Basketball, Dino-Boarding, Dino-Dancing, Dino-Football, Dino-Hockey, Dino-Racing, Dino-Soccer, Dino-Swimming, and Dino-Wrestling.

I met Lisa at the same SCBWI conference as Leslie Helakoski. They both reviewed my dog book. I saw Lisa the next day and said I thought it was ready for an agent. She agreed and asked if I’d stayed up editing. I didn’t. I didn’t even think about it. I was so surprised, to have a well-known author believe in my story, and to do it before me. It was a wonderful moment! That was 3 years later, and I’m still fine-tuning that dog book. Getting an agent is hard work!

On the eleventh day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Eleven Chet Gecko mysteries
Ten Dino sport books
Nine Bailey Kid Jrs.
Eight birds a-reading
Seven Clark the Shark books
Six barnyard animals
Five cowboy books
Four animal rescues
Three pet books
  Two Lucy’s Labs
And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Bruce Hale has 11 Chet Gecko titles, really 13. They include: The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse, The Mystery of Mr. Nice, Farewell My Lunchbag, The Big Nap, The Hamster of the Baskervilles, This Gum for Hire, The Malted Falcon, Trouble is my Beeswax, Give my Regrets to Broadway, Murder My Tweet, and From Russia with Lunch. The extra  2 are:  Dial M for Mongoose and a Detective Handbook (and Cookbook).

I contacted Bruce this year, for an autograph. The year after I met him, I started a collection of books from authors who’ve critiqued my work. I have a Bruce book, but no autograph. I saw him on a Facebook group and contacted him. He was kind of enough to send an autograph. Now my collection is complete!​

On the twelth day of Christmas
 My best friend sent to me:
Twelve mermaid tales
Eleven Chet Gecko mysteries
Ten Dino sport books
Nine Bailey Kid Jrs.
Eight birds a-reading
Seven Clark the Shark books
Six barnyard animals
Five cowboy books
Four animal rescues
Three pet books
                                                                                                                                                        Two Lucy’s Labs
                                                                                                                            And an eBook loaded with Blues Bones.

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Debbie Dadey actually has 17 Mermaid Tales. Here’s the first dozen: #1 Trouble at Trident Academy, #2 Battle of the Best Friends, #3 A Whale of a Tale, #4 Danger in the Deep Blue Sea, #5 The Lost Princess, #6 The Secret Seahorse, #7 Dream of the Blue Turtle, #8 Treasure in Trident City, #9 A Royal Tea, #10 A Tale of Two Sisters, #11 The Polar Bear Express, and #12 Twist and Shout. And, here are 5 more: #13 The Crook and the Crown, #14 Twist and Shout, #15 Books vs Looks, #16 Flower Girl Dreams, and #17 Ready, Set, Goal.

I am so grateful to Debbie and to the Sevierville writing group. I have searched for a group for over 6 years. If you want to write better, you need feedback. Knowing what’s good, gives me hope. But it’s more important to discover where I’m off. It helps me improve. In the years with no group, I still had SCBWI where I could find great readers, but that was only once a year. Meeting once a month gives me a community, I’m not alone. I’m with people who think the way I do, who do what I do. I can’t thank the Sevierville group enough for giving me a writing home. You’re the best!