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Spring 2020 is Different, But We’re Still Going!

May 1, 2020 / rosieadmin / 14 Comments

What a different start to spring we’ve had, right? I hope you all are well and enjoying the great out doors.

Bleeding hearts from Pixabay. — “Bleeding Hearts” from Pixabay

Topics you will see in this First Friday GR8Blog post:

*Happy 6 Years to Books by Rose

*Mother’s Day

*Honoring Our Mother and Crafts to Make

*Fun Crafting Things for Our Little Free Library

*Update on Book With Cat Michaels

Happy 6 Years to Books by Rose

It’s hard to believe 6 years ago I started Books by Rose.

I have learned so much along the way. I’m so thankful to all those that have supported my journey. With nine titles published, I’m looking forward to more to come.

Mother’s Day

A salute to all the mother’s out there. Mother’s Day can mean a lot of different things to different people. On this day, you may celebrate with your own children, your mother, your mother-in-law, aunts, grandmothers, or the mother figures in your life.

Our sons make me forever grateful to be called their mom. I hope this Mother’s Day I will be able to spend time with them and our Littles. We miss them so much!

Our sons at Field of Dreams. — Me with our sons

Honoring Our Mom and Crafts to Make

With our own mother, we honor her in many ways, remembering her in everything she was.

Our mom's trio in the 1930's. — Margaret, Irene, and Mary

One way I keep her memory alive, I include her in some of my stories. For those that have followed along, you know the story about how she was a singer in her younger days. Her trio was called, “Margret, Irene, and Mary.” Sound a tiny bit familiar? Yes, my triplet books and the“name of their titles” were fashioned as close to the name of her group as I could get. “Merrie” in the story is after our mom. Our niece spells her name the same way. I thought it was a perfect fit.

Last fall, I release the triplet’s final book of my, “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie” series. The art project in the story has been a huge hit. Our mom would have loved this one, as she was big into crafts of every kind.

Maggie, Millie, and Merrie's Mystery Mail — Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail

I recently made the art project for our neighbor for Easter. Here’s a sneak peek of part of it. It was fun to make. The possibilities for this project are endless.

Project made from, "Maggie, Millie, and Merrie's Mystery Mail." — Card made from, “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail.”

If you are interested in a copy of this story, check it out on Amazon.

Fun Crafting Things for Our Little Free Library

Two years ago, my husband surprised me with the plans to make a “Little Free Library.” He’d work on it in the garage as weather permitted. He finished it a month ago around the time the world shut down. We plan to put it out soon, but want to do a weather proof run before adding books. We’ll have to wait to see how things go in the news so everyone is safe.

I had the pleasure of decorating the top part. Since I love dollhouses, this was a perfect time for me to play! Solar Lights were added to the little living room so it will be lit at night. (Fingers crossed.)

I spent very little money on the items for the room and used recycled materials. See photo below.

We are so excited to put it out and share books with our community.

The living room in the Little Free Library. — Living Room for our Little Free Library

This past few months have been trying for many. Keeping busy has saved me. I made sure to take part in a few free classes offered online. I hope you all found some great things to enjoy, as well.

Update on Book With Cat Michaels

I’m also looking forward to finishing up the book Cat Michaels and I have written. It’s finished! We are going through the revision process. (Thank you, Cat for all you’re doing with that!) We are so excited to share our story with all of you this coming year.

In case you missed it, our story is about:

Horse with book description. — Image Credit: Pixabay

How are you doing? How have you occupied your time these past few months? We’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Keep watching this coming week, as I will share my other author friend’s, “First Friday GR8Blog” posts. Have a great week, everyone!

Stay safe and stay well.

As always, Happy Reading!

~Rosie

*If you want to see more updates, sign up to subscribe to my page. We’d love to have you on board.*

Ideas on How to Cope in a Coronavirus World

March 21, 2020 / rosieadmin / 16 Comments

Our GR8Blog author friends have decided to get together and create some ideas and suggestions on how to cope for the coming days and weeks ahead.

With everything feeling unsure in the world right now, it’s important to encourage each other and be there for one another more than ever before.

The other day, my thoughts were on how lucky I am to have such a supportive group of family and friends. Being isolated is not bothering me as it may bother others. Well, I should say, not yet. With our cold, snowy winters, I’m used to being homebound in the winter. The positive side is, it’s now spring and we can all get outside. Although, not getting together with our sons and their family will take its toll on me if this does go on too long, though. I’m so thankful for facetime!

Many will have disappointments for canceled events. Some events may be delayed down the road. I’ve mentioned this before, “things are what we make them.” We’ve had to change the dates for holidays and birthdays. When that has happened, they have been just as much fun.

Ways You Can Help Others.

The people out there that will suffer huge losses with their businesses are the ones that concerns me. This is where we all can help and support them.

Pixabay Image Share — Image Credit: Pixabay

If you know of a business in your area or your favorite place that is during curbside service, share the link to their business to your family and friends. Even if they get a few more customers a day, it will help them out a lot.

Reach Out to Those that Need that Extra Support.

Active Listening — Image Credit: Pixabay

Pick up the phone or write an email to those having a hard time dealing with this. Have a listening ear without discounting their feelings. I know it’s hard not to add our opinions, but sometimes people just need to vent and get it all out. Isn’t that how we all feel? We want to be heard as we process our way through this. Enlighten each other with pleasant news and other events.

**Make it Your Purpose to Help Others**

I’m currently reading a book called, “The Miracle Morning,” written by Hal Elrod. This book was recently suggested to me by our GR8Blog friend, Chris Gorges. (Thanks Chris.)

Reach out to others. — Image Credit: Pixabay

The first part of this book talks about having a purpose to get up every morning. Having a purpose is the key element in forging ahead and being successful in one’s life. Reach out to others. You may be working from home now, but what a better time to take part in helping others cope as they get through this day by day. It will also help you and it will leave you with a good feeling to know when you go to bed at night, you made someone’s day a little brighter.

Stay Positive

Enjoy the little things. — Image Credit: Pixabay

Last, but not least, stay positive and stay busy with things you enjoy. Let this be a time you and your family can look back on with good memories. You and your family can watch movies, have a read aloud time, do puzzles, or work on projects together. This is the perfect time to do so. Not only will it be fun, but it will relieve stress for everyone.

My Favorite Quote I Heard this Week

I heard a quote the other day that was passed on by author and illustrator, A. J. Cosmo. (Just for the record, some think Maya Angelou quoted this, but after doing some research she said she wished she had wrote it. It’s actually a song written and sung by Gary Allan.

Here’s the quote:

“Every storm runs out of rain.”

Isn’t that the truth? We all will have to find our “new normal” in the days ahead. It will get better and it will be okay. Take care and be safe.

Please take a look and click on the links at the bottom of this post to find more ideas and inspirations from my #Gr8Blogs partners.

Don’t forget to write a note to let us know how you are coping and add any helpful suggestions you may have.

As always, I’m here if you need a listening ear.

Rosie

Cat Michaels – I Refuse to Waste Away in Coronaville

Julie Gorges – Ten Things Baby Boomers Can Do if Self-Quarantined

Chris Gorges – 7 Ways to Cope with Coronavirus Fatigue

James Milson – It’s Here — Coping With The Coronavirus Challenge Now

Rebecca Lyndsey – Coping in Coronaville

Sandra Bennett – Staying Grateful in a Coronavirus World

Auden Johnson – QUARANTINE LIFE: WAYS TO COPE IN A CORONAVIRUS WORLD

Carmela Dutra – How to Stay Positive in a Coronavirus World

We’re Leaping and Hopping for Leap Year 2020

February 23, 2020 / rosieadmin / 18 Comments

Welcome to our Leap Year 2020 #Gr8BlogHop. My author friends and I are writing about how we will celebrate this day. Some will share how they will spend their extra day. Others, will have more interesting adventures. I’m picking…

Leaping Forward and Backwards for Leap Year 2020

Let’s talk about what trends we might see in 2020. Read to the end to see what I will do with these ideas and how we will find out if they hold true for Leap Year, 2024.

I posted this image on my Facebook and Twitter pages and ask what trends everyone thought would be popular for 2020. Thanks to all of those that gave me the best answers ever.

Fashion and Home Decor Colors

Mustard color was mentioned for home decor and fashion. Another popular one is classic Blue.

Check out “Pantone’s” Facebook page to follow more color trends coming this year. Click here to find more. ► Pantone

We had one person tell us that they think Bell Bottoms were going to make a comeback, only this time they would be called, “Wide Leg Cut.” I looked this up and found it to be true. Sounds fun and reminds me of the 70’s. 🙂

Sports

A Twitter viewer posted the popularity in women’s sports is growing. I have to agree. I hear girls wrestling is popular in the middle and high schools age groups now.

This viewer was also glad to hear WNBA and CT Sun women’s basketball teams were getting more respected and more visibility. I hope so, too!

Food

Pop Up Dinners and Restaurants. Honesty, I had to look this up. I have not heard of these but found them interesting. According to Wikipedia, a “Pop Up Dinner” is, “A restaurant that is a temporary restaurant. These restaurants often operate from a private home, former factory, or similar space, and during festivals. There are rules to these that should be followed like all restaurants.”

“One must:

Create a business plan.
Choose a location.
Apply for insurance, permits, and licenses.
Set up a mobile kitchen.
Set up a temporary dining room.
Write & price a pop-up menu.
Get the right technology.
Follow a marketing and PR plan.”

Another big trend is, “Dinner Meal Kits Delivery.” We did this for a month or so and it was nice having all the ingredients in one box. Ours came with meat, vegetables, spices, and the full recipe to make the meal. They were really good. I also found new recipes to try and new ways to prepare our meals I hadn’t thought about before.

I found this page and it pretty much tells you all you need to know from “To 5 Meal Delivery Services” from their Facebook page.

Personal Growth and Self Care

This has been on the rise and will continue being a trend for many years. Being more present with yourself and others is so important. I’ve always felt if we take time to take care of ourselves, we are better equipped to take care of others.

Personal growth can come in many ways.

Surround yourself with kind people and rid yourself of negative people.

Don’t compare yourself with other people, especially on social media.

Meet new, interesting people that you share the same interests.

Find ways to laugh and be happy.

De-clutter your home or anything that overwhelms you.

Personal Care and Personal Growth — Image Credit: Pixabay

Audio Books

I’ve heard there will be a growth in audio books for 2020. They are great for so many reasons. They used to be mainly for the visually impaired, which they still are. More and more people are listening to them in exercise programs and running. How about just relaxing with an audio book, too? They are very good for those learning to read and struggling readers, as well.

Sign Language

Sign language courses are on the rise, according to The New York Times. Let’s hope for more of these interpreters to be present in our schools and workforce.

An author friend and teacher of this GR8BlogHop group, would be glad to share more of this with you. Feel free to write, Chris Gorges, for more questions.

Art

Art has always, always, been a fun trend over the years. Painted Rocks are a big one right now. The idea is to paint a rock to hide or give a way to brightens one day. Just painting them and keeping them is fun, too!

Remember, “Pet Rocks,” in 1975? Now, that was a big fad. 🙂

Who has heard of Painting Classes or Paint Parties? I’ve yet to go to one but plan to someday. Look for one to go to in your town.

If you run a painting class or party, write me a note and I’d be happy to feature you on my page.

The fun painting instructions I had growing up were the “Paint by Number” landscapes. They were so much fun. Who remembers those?

TV

Renting DVD’s will always be popular but streaming TV shows are hugely popular these days. If you have Cable, you have access to millions of shows. I’m not a big TV person, but I have to admit, it’s fun to be able to find anything to watch at any given time.

It’s much different when I was growing up. We only had three channels. You had to adjust the antennas, (we called them rabbit ears,) just right or the reception was not good. Oh my. 🙂

That’s all I could find for now and looking forward to how these trends fan out. Do you hear of any fun trends you would like to share? Please leave a comment the section below.

Oh, and how will we know if these trends stay strong or not? I thought it would be fun to write them all down and save them in a container. I’m burying them in our backyard to save to open in 2024. Do I have to do it this way? No, but it’s a fun way to do a “Time Capsule,” which I’ve never done before. I’ll report the results back to you in four years.

Included in this photo are the things I hand wrote in this blog plus a rock I painted. What other tangible items could I include to this before I bury it on the 29th of February?

It’s fun to see the unique ways people enjoy spending time. What will YOU do with your extra day? Please share in the comment section. But before you go… click over to more #Gr8Blogs for smiles and inspiration for your gift of time.

At the bottom of this post, you’ll find more inspiration and smiles from my favorite #Gr8Blogs about how they’ll celebrate a year with an extra day on 29 February.

Thanks for stopping by!

As always, Happy Reading!

Rosie

#Gr8BlogHop

Now, click on these great stories for more Leap Year fun!

James Milson – Happy Leap Year Day! What Will You Do With Your Extra Time?

Chris Gorges – A Rare Gift

Julie Gorges – How Baby Boomers Can Make Leap Day Count

Rebecca Lyndsey – Very Superstitious…

Cat Michaels – Five Easy Things You Can Do with Your Extra 24 Hours on Leap Day

Sandra Bennett – What Will You Do With an Extra Day?

Auden Johnson – How Will You Spend Your Extra Day?

Carmela Dutra – How to Take a Leap on Leap Year

Julie Schooler – 3 Easy Ways to Make February 29th Your Best Leap Day Ever

Give the Gift of Reading for Valentine’s Day 2020

February 7, 2020 / rosieadmin / 4 Comments

Valentine’s Day 2020 is coming! If you have young readers, here’s a list of my books for a special treat for Valentine’s Day. There are many to choose from for all ages.

Click on the titles to find out more. These title links will take you to Amazon. If you would like to purchase them at Barnes and Noble, or Rainy Day Books, they are available there, as well. If you live in the U.S.A and would like a signed copy, write me a note at: booksbyrose4u@gmail.com

Enjoy!

First up,

“Avi and Jackson Best Friends”

This is my first book, which is near and dear to my heart. It’s based on our sons growing up. They are best friends to this day.

Join Avi and Jackson to see all the fun things they like to do.
Can you find the special item that is their favorite thing to play with?

Available in paperback and kindle.

“Beasley’s Journey.”

If you haven’t met Beasley yet, you’re in for a real treat.

Everybody loves Beasley!

"Beasley's Journey." — “Beasley’s Journey”

Beasley goes on an unexpected journey. He meets many friends along the way. Will he make it to his destination? Come along to find out!! ( A portion of the profits sold goes to animals in need.)

This early reader is available in paperback and kindle.

“Beasley and Friends to the Rescue”

Readers will laugh as Lola Duck has big news she wants to share with Beasley. What will they find in Farmer Bill’s barn?

Beasley loves living in the country! He spends his days chasing butterflies, digging for treasures, and playing hide and seek with his bunny friend. Just as he settles in for his afternoon nap, his friend Lola Duck comes squawking from down the road. She says there’s a terrible racket going on over at Farmer Bill’s Barn. Beasley and Lola Duck gather their friends and off they go to solve the problem. What will Beasley, Lola Duck and their friends find when they get there? Come along and follow their adventurous day. This tale will leave readers with laughs, giggles, and will warm the hearts of young and old. (A portion of the profits book sold will go to animals in need.)

“A Search and Find of Every Kind with Jake and his dog named Cain”

Enjoy looking for over a hundred items in this search and find about Jake and his dog named Cain. Picture finds for those not yet reading, word finds for those that are. Continue the fun at home with extra search and find ideas that are included at the end of this book. (A portion of the profits sold will be donated to animals in need.)

This book is available in paperback and kindle.

“Sherman the Shopping Cart: A Search and Find”

Meet Sherman the Shopping Cart! Join him as he guides you on this journey of his life as a shopping cart. Have fun searching for over a hundred items. He has picture finds for non-readers and word finds for readers. Enjoy the fun activities in the back of this book. ( A portion of the profits book sold will go to children in need of art supplies.)

“What an absolutely delightful book. Loved the illustrations, the clever and imaginative idea of the life of a shopping cart, the humor, and all the learning activities that don’t feel like learning at all.” Author of “Just Call Me Goody-Two-Shoes” – Julie Gorges, Blogger, and Freelance Writer.

This book is available in paperback and kindle.

“Maggie, Millie and Merrie’s Magical Adventure”

These next three books you’ll see is a series about the triplets. They are for readers that are a little more advance but still enjoy pictures books. (Grades level 3rd-5th grade, depending on their reading level.) Available in paperback and kindle.

The triplets are more than excited to move in the very same home that their mother had grown up in, on Whimsical Avenue. Come along and join Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s, Magical Adventure! Enjoy the fun art project included at the end of the book. (A portion of the profits sold will be donated to students in need of art supplies.)

“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Coins”

This is book two from “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Adventure.” The triplets enjoy a fun visit with Grandmother when she returns from Florida. As they are helping her go through the attic, they find a wooden box. Inside, there are three bright shiny coins. Grandmother tells them they are magical. What do the magical coins hold? Readers will enjoy many fun activities as this story unfolds. (A portion of the profits sold will go to children in need of art supplies.)

“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail”

The triplets are back, and my, have they grown.The Midwest winter strikes them with a vengeance of snow. Stuck in the house with too many snow days, they turn grumpy with nothing to do. That is, until a mysterious package is delivered. Will the trio be pulled from their boredom as mail arrives each day? (A portion of the profits sold will be donated to students in need of art supplies.)

“A beautifully-illustrated snowy day tale, with added instructions for kids to make a craft and recipe from the story. Fun boredom-busting entertainment.” – Melinda Kinsman, Children’s Book Author and Illustrator

This new release is available in paperback and kindle.

“Moonshadow Mae”

Mae is a happy girl and loves many things.

One thing she adores the most is the moon.

She is in awe of the glowing shine and the shadows left behind.

Come along and enjoy this rhyming tale as Mae explores the wonders of the atmosphere above.

Enclosed are fun facts, a special craft, and a yummy recipe in the back of this book.

This book is available in hardcover and paperback.

That’s it for now. Look for more books to come.

Author Cat Michaels and I are working hard to finish up an exciting chapter book for Middle Grade readers. Keep watching!

Happy reading everyone and I’ll see you back at the end of the month. My GR8Blog friends and I have some fun posts to share with you.

I Like the Sound of 2020!

January 10, 2020 / rosieadmin / 8 Comments

"Happy New Years 2020 poster from Pixabay.

It’s hard to believe its 2020, right? I like the sound and looks of it.

I’ve seen fun posts already relating to the title of this year.

“Welcome to the Roaring 20’s.”

“I’ve Got 20/20 Vision for the New Year.”

We’ll just have to remember to write down 2020. That will be the tricky part for a while.

Now, for a short post on what changes I’d like to see for myself for the upcoming year.

Before I move forward…

I wanted to give a big shout out to those that purchased my children’s books for their young readers over the holidays. Please let me know your thoughts. If you could kindly leave a review on Amazon, it would be greatly appreciated.

"Thank You" poster from Pixabay. — Image Credit: Pixabay

What’s Really Important?

Well, my last day of the year in 2019, ended me in the hospital with a surprise surgery. I didn’t need my appendix anyway, right? I was back home on New Year’s Eve, but needless to say, it was an uneventful celebration. That’s okay, we never go out on that night and rarely make it to midnight, so no loss there.

"Important" poster from Pixabay. — Image Credit: Pixabay

My whole experience last week, put things in a different perspective and reminded me how much I’ve taken my days of “feeling well” for granted. We get busy, going through life, working at things that we think are just so important to get this done and that done. When I felt well enough to get back to my, somewhat normal routine, I found the things I was so fixated on before, didn’t bring me the same significance of importance. Have you ever had that feeling?

Family, friends, and doing the things you love and enjoy is really all that matters in the end. Sure, I work hard on my job every day, which I love! However, I will be looking at it in a whole new way, picking out what’s the most important thing to focus on and spend my time doing that. Again, that talk to self is, not everything has to be done in one day. More on that in a minute.

What’s to Come for 2020?

"What's Next" poster from Pixabay. — Image Credit: Pixabay

I’m not a fan of making resolutions, but a fan of thinking of things I would like to see happen more for myself and improving situations around me.

I do have a lot of things I’m looking forward to in 2020.

As I’ve said in many of my other posts, I’m Co-Writing a MG book with Cat Michaels. We are halfway there. Even though we still see lots of changes in the story from our first ideas, I feel like we are making it better than originally planned. Cat is awesome to work with and we are having a great time.

Also, as you know, I have a Picture Book that I would like to finish after our MG book. I’m looking at the end of 2020 for that to be done. This book is written so all I have to do is the fun part. Illustrating it. Again, I want to accomplish this with joy and not rush it. It’s a darling story.

Personal Projects

Since I’ve always loved crafts, I plan to emerge myself more in making crafty items, for personal use, and for family and friends. What better way for me to get away from the computer and take a break, right? I hope you will try this as well. It’s refreshing and clears your mind better more than anything I have found so far. Not a crafty person? How about photography? Pick up an music instrument and play a song? Plant a flower garden? Refinish a piece of furniture? There are unlimited ideas out there. Pinterest and YouTube are great places to start.

I believe, giving yourself permission to do something you enjoy makes your mind more clear and more focused.

Other Personal Project. Walking!

Walking on Treadmill poster from Pixabay. — Image Credit: Pixabay

My husband gets on me all the time because I’ve slowed down with my walking habits. Again, it’s that thing about sitting at the computer thinking I have to get everything done in one day. I’ve clearly realized, that breaking tasks up into different parts of the day will be much healthier for me. This is especially hard for me when I’m illustrating a book. I literally can sit here all day, enthralled in all the tiny details. I love it so much, I never want to stop.

So, I hope to get back to our treadmill, even if it’s for short breaks every day. I’d rather walk outside, but I will have to wait for warmer days to come for that.

Do you have any special visions or plans for this New Year?

Vision Poster from Pixabay — Image Credit: Pixabay

What goals do you have set for yourself? Write a note in the comment section, I’d love to hear from you.

Have a safe and happy 2020 with many blessings and good health.

Thanks for stopping by.

As always…Happy Reading!

Rosie

Click here to check out my Picture Books for your young readers. There’s a little something here for everyone. Enjoy!

I’m a proud member of GR8Blogs. Watch for posts on Facebook and Twitter this next week as I share what my author friends from this group have been up to. See you then…

My Ups and Downs and In-Betweens on the 2019 Writing Road

December 8, 2019 / rosieadmin / 6 Comments

If you are a writer, what big project have you been working in 2019? Have you faced any challenges? What obstacles have you had to jump? Has your writing road in 2019 been a smooth one?

I’ve had an exciting year and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

This past year, I worked on writing and illustrating my latest book, “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail.” It was a fun book to make and I hope readers are enjoying the art project in this story.

In October, I released my ninth book! I had a book launch in November, giving away lots of fun prizes.

“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail”

If you are thinking of gifting this book, you can read the Kindle Version for the low price of $1.99. (Limited Time Only.)

***The art project will keep your reader busy for hours and hours on those snowy days, or anytime.***

Setting Up and Co-Writing with Cat Michaels – Writer

The first few months of this year were spent setting up and writing a story with Cat Michaels for a MG chapter book released next year.

Of course, we wanted to get right to the story, but, we had to decide on some business issues first. We plugged right in, getting started and paved the way to how this was going to work out.

Writing with a Co-Writer

Here are just a few things we had to consider. We had to decide on the technical issues. How were we going to write a book together living so far away from each other? What responsibilities did each one carry? How often would we touch base to discuss updates?

Technical Issues Credit: Pixabay — Technical Issues

(Cat and I will hopefully explain this better for you down the road. For now, here are a few critical things we had to discuss before starting.)

Objective
Target Audience
Desired Results
Roles (How to divide the work.)
Budget
Royalties (How will they be managed and split?)

And so much more.

Building Timelines and Character Boards

Timeline and Character Boads — Timeline and Character Boards

For the writing part, we built a timeline and character boards. These were not made all in one day. After our characters evolved over time and more ideas kept popping up, we changed things many times. It was interesting when a situation took a whole new route and one we weren’t expecting. Writing is funny that way.

Research

Many times in our story, we run across things that need to be researched. This takes time away from our writing, but it’s been worth its weight in gold.

Horses

There has been so much that we didn’t know about horses. Luckily, we have found some great people and resources on where to get our answers. Thanks to all that contributed to this. Cat even took this research to the next level on her travels.

Check out one of her trips here.

Food

Another research item you may all remember, was a dinner meal the characters eat in the story. Our story is set in the Midwest and this well-known food is popular in this area. It’s Country Fried Steak. Or, is it Chicken Fried Steak? Since Cat was not familiar with this food, we thought we’d run a survey to our followers. Country Fried Steak won! That post made us all hungry.

Psssst. There will be a recipe at the back of this book for you all to try out. Yum!

Life Happens

Cat and I both have many things we do in our personal lives. She went on a few trips. I had a few times where family situations came up and had to put writing on the back burner. Knowing these busy times were going to happen, I planned accordingly and wrote as much as I could. I was lucky for the most part. When I’d sit down to write a chapter or two, the ideas flowed like magic most days. A few times though, I’d find myself stuck and have to take a break.

***Taking breaks is highly recommended, by the way.***

Now to the Story

The story we started is very different than the one we originally wrote.

Here’s the image that started it all back in a story prompt Cat posted on February 27, 2015. Wow, that was almost 5 years ago!

Cat's post from 2015 — Cat’s Post from 2015

Our older version did involve a horse, but the situation was much different. Also, a mysterious older lady befriended our main character. I won’t tell you too much, because someday, I think the story can actually work in another genre. After looking it over and discussing it, the topic in the main plot was not one a MG reader would enjoy or find interesting. That would not work, right? We have to entertain the reader.

We did keep the setting, the family, and the horse. That was about it.

A best friend was developed for our main character. (I happen to love this character and I can’t wait for you all to meet her.)

Another character we added, is a “mean girl.” It’s probably been the hardest part of the story for me to write.

How We Pulled this All Together

We decided, I would write the chapters and Cat would go in and do her magic. If you have not seen Cat’s work yet, you will see what I mean. She can take a boring ole’ sentence and make it fly off the page.

Cat has a wonderful critique group in her hometown to look it over and add their awesome advice. So far, this system has worked well for us. (Thank you N.C. Critique Group!)

My Dream for December and the New Year

Finishing our story and getting it out into the world to all of you! We still have a long way to go, but I feel we are on track to where we want to be.

I’m also going to work on gathering image ideas for a new Picture Book for Early Readers. That will hopefully come out late next year.

Share your Dreams for December and this Next Year?

Are you a writer in the middle of a story that you can’t wait to finish?

What big projects are you excited about?

Please share in the comment section. Oh, and before you go, find more smiles and inspirational recollections at these #Gr8blogs below.

Happy Reading!

Rosie

Cat Michaels
My Ups, Downs and In Betweens on the 2019 Writing Road

Rebecca Lyndsey

Holiday Traditions that Ring in the Season

Julie Gorges

Baby Boomer Writer’s Ups, Downs & In-Betweens in 2019

James Milson

Christmas Peanuts & Linus’s Inspirational Message For Us All

Julie Schooler

3 Writing Wins and Lessons in 2019

Sandra Bennett

December Dreaming – 5 Ways Looking Back Can Help You Look Forward

Who Inspired the Title, “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie” Series?

December 2, 2019 / rosieadmin / 4 Comments

As most of you’ve seen, I’ve had the first two books to my, “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie” series, FREE for the past few days. Just one more day to snag a *FREE* copy of Book 1 and 2.

Here’s a little background about how these books came about.

Singers from the 1930's — “Margaret, Irene, and Mary”

These lovely ladies are, Margaret, Irene, and Mary. They were singers in the Kansas City, MO area in the 1930’s. They sang on stage at the Brush Creek Follies, and even had a chance to sing with Roy Rogers.

Why is this so special to me? The lady you see at the end is our mother. Her name is Mary. When I thought of names for the triplets, I thought of our mother’s singing group.

Margaret was changed to Maggie. Irene was changed to Millie. We have a niece named after our mom, her name is Merrie. I thought how special it would be to use her name.

The triplets were also inspired from our sister, Robin and a childhood friend, Cindy. My, did we have fun growing up! We did many things together as you see in the books. I’m forever thankful I’ve had them both in my life to grow and learn from over the years.

When we were young, we used our imaginations everyday, creating fun things to make and do. That is also why you see so many fun projects in all the books.

Maggie, Millie, and Merrie Series Book 1 and 2 — Book 1 and 2
“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s” Series

If you want to read more about them and the adventures they go on, click on the titles. ***FREE** today, December 02, 2019, until midnight.

“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Adventure”

“Maggie, Millie and Merrie’s Magical Coins”

My New Book

This Kindle Version is $1.99 For A Limited Time Only

“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail”

Enjoy and Happy Reading!

Rosie

PS. Don’t forget to subscribe to my page for more updates. We’d love to have you along on our fun journey.

Free Books from Books by Rose

November 29, 2019 / rosieadmin / 2 Comments

Happy day after Thanksgiving! I hope you all enjoyed your holiday.

I know many are out shopping today, as it’s the biggest day of the year to get great deals. Some are staying home and shopping online.

As most of you know, I just released my new book, “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail.” My book launch was a great success and the items have been shipped off to the winners. Thank you all for showing up and supporting my new story.

The reviews for this book are building everyday. Here are a few of them for now…

Snow Day Fun

Snow days can be so much fun! Especially when a mysterious package is delivered. Join Maggie, Millie and Merrie on their snow day, which turns into days and boredom kicks in. That is until a mysterious package arrives that has special instructions for each girl. Boredom is no longer an issue.
Beautifully written and illustrated. Great addition to this wonderful series.
Also includes instructions for your own craft and recipes from the story.

Who Doesn’t Love Snow Days, Mystery Surprise Packages, and Fun Project

Rosie Russell captures the excitement of snow days and receiving surprise packages in this delightful children’s story. She adds a bit of whimsy and mystery along with a fun craft project perfect for snowy – or rainy – days. Children will learn all about creating “widget boxes” which can be turned into a school project, a card for a loved one, or even a dollhouse. As someone who spent hours making miniature houses and cardboard furniture out of shoe boxes, I loved this idea. And if all that creating makes kids hungry, Russell even adds a yummy recipe. Beautifully illustrated, this third installment of a series revolving around triplets Maggie, Millie and Merrie is sure to please.

Interview with Cat Michaels – Writer

In a recent interview with, Cat Michaels – Writer, she asked this question about my new story.

Cat: Can children read your book as a standalone, or do they need to read the other two books in this series first?
Rosie: This book can be read as a standalone. I made sure to include instructions and ideas from the other two stories. I think readers will enjoy it even more once they read the first two books.

So, those first two books in my Maggie, Millie, and Merrie Series?

**They are FREE today!**

Not only today, this promotion will run until, Monday at midnight.

Click on these titles to receive your free Kindle Editions:

“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Adventure”

“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Coins”

Once you’ve read them, please leave a review and let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy the fun adventures the triplets go on.

If you would like to give the gift of reading to your young readers this holiday season, here’s the link to my Amazon Author page.

For non-readers, check out my “Search and Finds.” They include hundreds of word finds and picture finds.

For new updates to come, subscribe to my page. Just fill out the links at the top right or bottom of this page.

Happy Reading!

Rosie

Celebrating “Wintertime Bliss” at Books by Rose with Blog Hop Author Friends

November 1, 2019 / rosieadmin / 7 Comments

Enjoy my blog and my #GR8BlogHop author friends posts, as we celebrate how we find our “Wintertime Bliss.”

Each of us will give you our take on what “Wintertime Bliss” brings to each of us. I hope you will click on their links at the bottom of this page to join in. Don’t forget to share with us what wintertime means to you and yours.

Book Launch!

First up in November, is my book launch for Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail.” I hope you will stop by on my “Books by Rose” Facebook page on November 07, 2019 at 9 am CST.

Thanksgiving

Next up, is Thanksgiving!

I wish everyone the best from A-Z for a wonderful November and Thanksgiving Day.

If you live outside of North America, you may celebrate a different holiday. Write us a note and tell us all about it.

Now on to the Rest of My Wintertime Bliss

December!

We celebrate Christmas at our home. We have so much fun exchanging gifts and eating a traditional Christmas Eve dinner each year. Our special meal is called, “Velveeta Chicken.” I usually make it along with a Sweet Potato Casserole, our favorite veggies, and rolls. Morning is spent opening presents and visiting with family and friends late into the evening.

Share with us on how you celebrate this holiday or your special holiday.

New Years!

It’s been pretty quiet around our house these past years on New Years Eve. When our sons were home, we’d eat snacks, watch the ball drop on T.V. and play board games.

How do you celebrate the upcoming New Year at your house?

Winter Reading

I plan to make sure I have a stack of books on hold from our library for those snowy days. There’s nothing better than relaxing and reading. It’s fun to get a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books. I usually have many going on at the same time. It depends on my mood that day.

Are you a “one book at a time reader” or do you read like I do? Oh, and if you have any great books to suggest, please leave the titles in the comments below.

Winter Shows

Outside of all the holiday movies to get through, my husband and I have been binge watching a bunch of shows. We are currently watching “Heartland.” Have you seen it? It’s a show based out of Canada and it’s really good. I’m learning lots of facts about horses which leads me to my next subject…Winter Writing

Winter Writing

Now that my Picture Book, “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail” is finished and out into the world, I’m giving my full attention to the MG story I’m co-writing with Cat Michaels Writer.

We are having so much fun with this book. Here’s a snippet of our story to come.

Our protagonist, Olivia, and her friend, Isabella,
introduce new girl Candace to Olivia’s horse, Lucky.

“There now, boy,” Olivia crooned, moving to Lucky and stroking him gently alongside his neck.  “Candace is just trying to be friendly.”

“Your horse doesn’t like me,” Candace blurted. “He’s mean.”

“He’s just not used to you.  It’ll take time for him to know you, that’s all,” Olivia said.

“Yeah, right.”

“Try a friendly horse handshake like this, Candace.” Olivia suggested. She stuck out her hand with fingers held down and slightly bent.  “Hold your hand like this near Lucky’s nose. That way, he can smell your hand and get to know you.”

Unconvinced, Candace kept her distance, hands clasped securely behind her back.

“I was explaining the best way to pet a horse,” Isabella said, “but before I could finish, Candace reached over and petted Lucky in that small blind spot in front of his face. It startled him, so he bucked sideways.”
Check out Cat’s photos here, as she visited a farm for our research. Sounds exciting, huh? Keep watching!

Anticipating

I’m looking forward to what 2020 brings. I will start another Picture book later next year. It has been written for some time now but has been put on the back burner to work on my past projects. I’m excited to get started with it. This story will melt your heart. It’s already melting mine.

Illustrating

Not only will I have the cover to finish for the book I’m writing with Cat Michaels, I’m excited to use some new techniques I found for my new Picture Book. I draw with a Wacom Drawing Pad to create digital art. What do you use?

If any of you want to begin illustrating or want to create art, please visit YouTube. It’s amazing the free lessons you’ll find. Don’t forget to follow your favorite artists. They will welcome you and love to have you on board to follow them in their journey.

What’s your Wintertime Bliss?

Please leave us a note in the comment section below. Don’t forget to subscribe to my page at the top right corner or the bottom of this page for more updates on what’s to come.

Click on the links below for more Winter Time Bliss.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Winter!

And, always, Happy Reading!

Rosie

Author and Illustrator Carmela Dutra – Click on Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 1 .

Part 2

Author Sandra Bennett

October 2019 Brings New Title Reveal at Books by Rose

October 4, 2019 / rosieadmin / 6 Comments

Welcome October 2019!

The weather is cool, crisp, and beautiful. Our fall days in the Midwest can run a gamut of temperatures. Our autumn days are mostly filled with warm and sunny days, along with cool evenings.

My Favorite Reason for October!

October will forever remind me of one of the most important things in my life, my husband. We started dating in October 1972 and married 6 years later to the day. The joy he has brought me with our two sons cannot be put into words. It’s been an amazing ride and I’m looking forward to more to come.

My New Book Cover Reveal and Title

Remember last month, I said I’d reveal more about my new book coming in November? If you watched my video on October 1st, then you already saw a sneak peek of it’s announcement.

“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail”

What’s This Book About?

The triplets are back, and my, have they grown.

The Midwest winter strikes them with a vengeance of snow. Stuck in the house with too many snow days, they turn grumpy with nothing to do. That is, until a mysterious package is delivered.

Will the trio be pulled from their boredom as mail arrives each day?

Thanks for all my Beta Readers for looking it over with your wonderful insights.

This new book can be read as a standalone, although, I think readers will it enjoy it more if they have read the first two books. It’s not require. I made sure to include some back story for those that have not.

If you have not read their first two books, you can check them out here.

Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Adventure

Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Coins

What’s Coming in November?

My book launch! You won’t want to miss this one. We will have a day of fun with my online “Mystery Fun Game.”

Clean out your computer or laptop cookies so you can search the internet for answers to my nine questions throughout the day.

There will be nine prizes to win! (Are you noticing that pattern with the number nine?) The answer to that will be revealed at my book launch on Thursday, November 07, 2019. My launch will be at Books by Rose on Facebook at 9 am and will run until 6 pm. (CST.) Come join the fun.

Before I Go…

I’d like to thank Readers’ Favorite for this lovely review and seal for, “Moonshadow Mae.” We are over the moon happy with these kind words from Emily-Jane Hills Orford.

Click here to read more. ► Readers’ Favorite

Readers' Favorite Review and Seal — Readers’ Favorite Review

What are your plans for October? Do you have any fun events planned for this month? How about a new project in the works? Leave a comment in the section below. We’d love to hear from you!

As always,

Happy Reading!

Rosie

September Word Game, Coming News, and Fall Recipe

September 6, 2019 / rosieadmin / 12 Comments

September 2019 First Friday

Join me on this first Friday of September. Come sit and let’s visit.

Bench at a park in the fall — Welcome!
(Image: Pixabay)

These months are flying by faster and faster.

School has begun, for most. Wishing you all a wonderful and successful school year.

September Fun

When my sister and I were growing up, we loved playing word games. One of them, we called, “How Many Words Can You Find?” After putting on a timer for 5 minutes, we’d start and write as many as we could. We’d tally up our words and the one that came up with the most, won the game. It was fun to find long words to use. The longer the better.

If you play this game, adjust your time, according to ages.

What words can you find in “September?”

Here are a few I found.

pet

best

Let’s play this game together. Write a few words you see in the comment section below.

Exciting News

Remember last month, I wrote about my third “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie” story coming soon? If you missed it, you can read more here.

It’s finished!

It’s currently going through my Beta Readers. For those that may not know, Beta Readers are those that have agreed to read this story to help mark errors and suggest improvements. I call these wonderful people, my Street Team. Their advise and time is valuable and appreciated.

So, don’t forget to come back the first part of October to see the…

Cover reveal of new release coming in October — Cover Reveal
(Image: Pixabay)

When Will This Book Be Released?

I’m looking at the first part of November. Keep watching for my Book Launch with lots of prizes.

Don’t forget, to subscribe to my blog at the top right or at the bottom of this page for further updates.

Want to catch up on the triplets first two books? They are available in Kindle and paperback here.

In other news…

If you follow me on Facebook, at Books by Rose, then you saw this poster I made of a book I’m co-writing with Cat Michaels – Writer.

We asked our viewers if they were working on a WIP, and to share five words about their upcoming story. We had a great response and we are looking forward to all the wonderful books coming the rest of this year and in 2020.

Here’s five words on what Cat and I are writing about. It’s a MG tale and it’s coming together nicely. We are looking to release it in 2020.

Many people ask us how we write a book together when we live 725 miles away from each other?

We do this by working in Google Docs, emails, and many conference calls. I like to call them my “Chat with Cat” calls. Sometimes, our calls can go from one hour to close to three. We are getting better about keeping these calls shorter by organizing what we will discuss ahead of time. When this is all said and done, we may even write a piece on this for those out there working with a co-writer.

Do you have a WIP (Work in process) coming this year or 2020? Please let us know all about it or leave five words in the comment section below.

Before I leave, I want to share this recipe that I’ve had tucked away in my recipe box for years. I made this many times over the summer months. It was a big hit. With the fall months ahead, this dessert would be great for entertaining or after dinner dessert.

Apple Crisp Dessert

You can use any canned or fresh pie ingredients.

1 can of any pie filling

¾ cup instant Oatmeal

¾ cup flour

¾ cup brown sugar

¼ teaspoon soda

¼ teaspoon baking powder

½ cup of melted butter (1 stick)

Mix all of the ingredients above, except the pie filling, until crumbly.

Put half of the mixture in a greased 8 x 8 inch pan. You can use a regular size pie pan, as well.

Add your pie filling.

Sprinkle the other half of the mixture over the top.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 – 30 minutes, until golden brown.

Don’t forget to try different pie fillings, like cherry, blueberry, or strawberry. It’s great hot or cold. Some like it plain, and some like it with and dollop of whip cream or ice cream.

What are you looking forward to in September?

Please write us a note and tell us about your plans.

Don’t forget to play the “September” word game and leave a word in the comment section below.

I wish you all a fantastic September.

Happy Reading!

Rosie

Find out what my GR8Blog author friends have in store for this First Friday.

More GR8Blogs posts coming soon!

Book Lovers’ Day

August 4, 2019 / rosieadmin / 16 Comments

Book with rose and heart shaped pages. — Image: Pixabay

In honor of Book Lovers’ Day on August 09, 2019, my writerly pals and I are sharing all the ways we adore reading with the #BookLuvHop

We all chose different ways to celebrate this day. Don’t forget to visit the awesome bloggers listed at the end of this post. I hope you’ll find find more ways to share your bookish passions.

Book Art

For this day, I’m choosing Book Art. Being a lover of reading and art, why not combine the two?

Looking online for sources of book art, I came across many ideas. Painted book pages. Decoupage book pages. As an result, deciding which one to pick, was hard.

blue bird painted on a book page — Image: Pixabay

After taking a break from the thought, I found one right under my nose. It’s an art activity that was created by me in my first Maggie, Millie, and Merrie series.

These books have been close to my heart lately. See more below.

If you have read “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Adventure,” you know what the special art activity is in this book. Widget Boxes! I’ve read this story and shared this activity in classrooms many times and children loved making them. Adults have told me it’s one of their favorite projects to make, too.

Now For The Fun Part

Here’s some boxes I made from the pages of their book. The triplets story comes with instructions in the back of the book. You can make boxes with or without lids. If you make ones without lids, add a pipe cleaner or a stiff ribbon for handles. What a perfect gift to leave a little surprise for someone. They make great table decorations, too.

As in the story, the funny little gnome explains, “you can make them as small as a coin or big enough to sit in them.”

Widget boxes from "Maggie, Millie, and Merrie's Magical Adventure." — Widget Boxes

Would I recommend for readers to use any old book they see? No, we better not do that. I made these from books that were proofs. Proofs are books authors order to see their work in print. It’s a must, by the way, if you are starting out as an author. There’s something about seeing the words on actual pages. It’s a great way to catch errors or if you want to make changes. Authors revise their books many times. Proofs cannot be sold and throwing them away is hard to do.

Other Books

If you see any books out there that are ARC (Advance Reader Copies) or proofs, try and think of a way to recycle them. Sometimes, books have been damaged and are no longer readable. These would be perfect to use. See what fun “Book Art” you can find on Youtube, Pinterest, and the Web. You will be glad you did and our Mother Earth will thank you, too.

FYI

You can use any kind of paper, cardboard, or card stock. I’ve even used cereal boxes. Practice making them first with thinner paper. It’s much easier.

What to put in your boxes? Treats and other small items is an idea. Make them larger for all sorts of gifts and treasures.

Why Has Maggie, Millie, Merrie’s Books Been on My Heart Lately?

I’ve been working hard to release their third book in late fall. I’ll hold off telling you the title for now.

I can tell you this much.

The triplets have grown up a bit.

Something magical happens to them.

Readers will be introduced to a new fun art activity. A yummy recipe will be included, too.

If you would like to get caught up on their past two books, and want to learn how to make Widget Boxes, check out their first book, here.

Available in paperback and kindle.

"Maggie, Millie, and Merrie's Magical Adventure" book. — “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Adventure”

Amazon Barnes and Noble Rainy Day Books

Book 2, “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Coins.

This book includes another exciting magical story with activities that will keep readers busy for hours.

"Maggie, Millie, and Merrie's Magical Coins" book. — “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Coins”

Amazon Barnes and Noble Rainy Day Books

*If you are already a subscriber to Books by Rose, write me a note to receive instructions on how to make, “Widget Boxes.”

*Subscribe to Books by Rose in the top right hand corner to receive free instructions. We are excited to have you on board for future updates, new books, with more fun activities.

An Extra Surprise

I received a nice surprise. My author friend, Rebecca Lyndsey, sent me her book art project.

Check out Author Rebecca Lyndsey’s wonderful Book Art project.

Author Rebecca Lyndsey's Book Art. — Author Rebecca Lyndsey’s Book Art

Rebecca said this wasn’t hard to make and it took her about 45 minutes. She found the template online. There are many out there. Youtube has a ton of different ones to make. She said it was easy, just a bit time consuming. The book she used here, took 40 pages and 80 folds.

Rebecca’s latest release is called, “Into the Ocean.” It’s full of facts, humor, and lots of fun. You can find more about Rebecca Lyndsey and her books ► here.

More Fun With Book Art with

“What’s In My Wonderland“

Georgia is a passionate writer, photographer and aspiring author, she writes for her blog whatsinmywonderland, which was created in Jan 2018. Her blog covers many topics ranging from her lifestyle, to her mental health journey as well as anything and everything book related. Georgia enjoys to be creative and aims to inspire others to chase their dreams. She also sells handmade vegan scented candles on her website.

Check out Georgia’s cute Book Art project.

► Hedgehog Book Art

You can find more about Georgia here:

Website Facebook Pinterest Twitter Instagram Youtube

How will you celebrate “Book Lovers’ Day?” We hope to hear from you in the comment section below. Don’t forget, if you blog, add your feedback and share your family-friendly blog link in our comment section, and we’ll spread blog love your way!

Thanks for visiting.

Tap on the names below for more ways to enjoy, “Book Lovers’ Day.”

As always,

Happy Reading!

Rosie

Cat Michaels – Book Lovers’ Day and Bibliophiles Everywhere with My R*A*P, Really Awful Poem, to Bookishness

Rebecca Lyndsey has a list of great books to share for Book Lovers’ Day.

James Milson – Happy Book Lovers’ Day – Why Lifetime Reading is Important

Sandra Bennett – 5 Reasons to Support Independent Bookstores

Auden Johnson – #BOOKLOVERS’ DAY HOP: BEST FANTASY BOOK TROPES (IN MY HUMBLE OPINION)

Summertime, Nature Finds, with Books by Rose

July 5, 2019 / rosieadmin / 6 Comments

Here are some fun activities you and your family can do together. Have fun getting out while the weather is warm. Don’t forget to take along a pencil, notebook, or clipboard to record your findings. Take a paper bag on your journey. You never know what nature treasures you will find. Include a magnify glass on your search for the following suggestions.

Magnifying glass for search and finds. — Search and Find

Write it Down

Create a list of things you expect to find or make a list of things you come across.

Write it Down

Now, let’s get started…

Feel the Great Outdoors

Touch the different leaves and plants. Are they smooth? Rough? Brittle?

This is also a great time to talk to your kids about plants in your area that are not safe or risky to touch such as, poison ivy.

If you see a plant like this with three clusters of leaves…

Smell the Great Outdoors

Do the morning hours smell different than the evening hours?

Stop and sniff different flowers and plants. Record your findings.

(Remember, be careful to make sure those plants are safe.)

Listen to the Great Outdoors

In the morning, do you hear different sounds than in the evening? How are they the same? How are they different?

Do you hear more birds in the morning than in the evening?

Look for All Shapes of Leaves

Summer and fall are great times to explore the leaves and their many shapes and colors.

Look for Leaves — Look for Different Leaves

Collect different leaves and trace them on a piece of paper to color later.

Do the old fun trick of rubbing a crayon on a piece of paper with the leaf underneath.

Cut them out to make a fun display or decoration.

Look for Critter Tracks

Look for animal tracks in your backyard, the woods, or a nearby park.

Can you guess which animal left them?

Look for Insects

Snap a photo of them if you can, so you can do more research on them later. For those that love to draw, make a sketch of them.

Explore Ponds and Lakes

Can you find different types of fish? How about looking for toads or frogs? Do the ponds or lakes attract different kinds of insects?

What activities would you suggest for exploring nature in the summertime? Write us a note to tell us of your discoveries. We’d love to hear from you.

If you like search and find books, don’t forget to check out my two titles. There’s over a hundred items to find in each book, along with a fun story and extra activities.

Click on the photos below to find out more on these stories.

Magnifying glass with book "Search and Find with Jake and his dog named Cain" — A Search and Find of Every Kind with Jake and his Dog Named Cain

magnifying glass with book, "Sherman the Shopping Cart: A Search and Find" — **“Sherman the Shopping Cart: A Search and Find”**

Happy Searching and Reading!

Rosie

CURRENTLY – Summer 2019 Blog Hop: Ready, Set, Jump into Summer!

June 17, 2019 / rosieadmin / 21 Comments

Sunscreen. Kids playing “Marco Polo” in the pool. Family road trips. Summer is in the air! My writerly pals and I are sharing our summer dreams and inspiration in the C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y – Summer Blog Hop. For more summertime fun, click over to meet the awesome #Gr8Blogs bloggers listed at the end of this post.

Here are a few things I’m looking forward to this summer:

*Loving – The Warmer Weather!

I feel like a broken record when I say I can’t wait for the nice, sunny days of summer. No, not much of a fan of the heat, but after this winter, I will have to catch myself not to complain.

Our team started playing softball this year on March 17th. I don’t think we had one game above 50 degrees. We had so many rain outs, they had to end the season before finishing the playoffs. Hopefully we will be off to a better start next spring.

* Reading – Every MG Book I Can Find

As you all know by now, I’m co-authoring a MG (Middle Grade) novel with author Cat Michaels. I’ve written and illustrated eight children’s books, so for me, writing a MG book is much different. I’ve been reading as many of them as I can find. It’s helped me get a feel on what readers enjoy and how larger plots come together. Our book also, involves a horse in our tale. Since neither one of us grew up around horses, much research has taken place and it’s been lots of fun.

We are at a place in our story, where a very big problem happens and things are getting exciting. Keep watching for more details to come.

Pssst. Don’t forget to check on Cat Michaels’s site from time to time, so you don’t miss anything.

* Thinking About – Summer Cleaning and Decorating

We have a breakfast nook that we are redoing. We’re bringing our washer and dryer up from the basement. This is has been a huge undertaking for my husband, as he’s had to redo wiring, plumbing, and lots of construction.

I get to do the fun part. (Not really) Years ago, we had the big idea to turn our breakfast nook into a “collective room.” You know the style, like they have at Applebees. We thought, what a cute idea!! (Chuckling now.) Well, it looked really great at first, but, as our sons grew, everything special they ever did, which was a lot, ended up on those walls. Baseball Jerseys, baseball hats, the list goes on and on. The task of cleaning this room after awhile, became so overwhelming. Needless to say, much of it is going to be packed away. We will still have many fun items to display, just not nearly as much.

* Anticipating – Party of the Year with Friends and Birthday Day Parties.

Summer holds lots of birthdays in our family, so we have many fun gatherings and celebrations to look forward to.

Every June, the friends that my husband and I grew up with, has a annual party to celebrate each other, and those no longer with us. It was around ten years ago, we all kept seeing each other at funerals. After that, our friend decided to put on a gathering with friends, food, and music. This event have grown and has become very big in the past years. It’s much different than a class reunion, as these friends all grew up in the same neighborhood or surrounding areas. I encourage all groups to try to reunite and have a party with those you knew back in the day and celebrate your time together.

By the way, our party was a giant success! We had perfect weather. The food was outstanding, along with the band. “The Instamatics,” were a huge hit for all that attended. Their 60’s and 70’s music was a perfect fit for our crowd.

* Making Me Happy – Summer Dinners

With all the gatherings, it’s the best time to fire up the grill and cook some of your favorite summer meals.

After roasting our vegetables in the oven all winter, I’m looking forward to cooking them outside for that smoky flavor. We love just about all meats grilled out, but a few of our favorites are, BBQ Pork Steaks, and Pineapple Bratwursts. Our store here sells them already made, but if you go online, you will find how to make them yourself.

Another meat we really enjoy cooking out is, “Flat Iron Steaks.” Most people we’ve talked to, have never heard of these. Many stores don’t have them, but ask to check to see if they will carry them. They are always tender, cooked on the grill, or as a roast.

So, what are some fun things you are looking forward to this summer? Write us a note, we’d love to here from you!

Don’t forget to check out our author friends to see what they have in store for this summer. You never know, you may hear about a new adventure you never tried before.

Happy Summer, and as always, Happy Reading!

Rosie

Cat Michaels on Cat’s Corner

Rebecca Lyndsey

Julie Gorges at Baby Boomer Bliss

Sandra Bennett

James Milson “Writing & Things”

Carmela Dutra

Mackenzie Flohr

Auden Johnson

May Celebrations 2019

May 3, 2019 / rosieadmin / 6 Comments

Things you’ll find in this months post:

*Honoring Mom for Mother’s Day

*Sneak Peek to a New Release this Fall/Winter and Update on MG Tale

*Interview Feature

*Happy 5 years “Books By Rose!”

*Celebration Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

*Fun and Easy Bookmark To Make

Honoring Mom for Mother’s Day

Our sons make me feel forever grateful to be called their mom.

With my own mother, we honor her in many ways, remembering her in everything she was. It’s hard to believe if she were still living, she would turn 100 years old this year.

One way I keep her memory alive, I include her in some of my stories. For those that have followed along, you know the story about how she was a singer in her younger days. The ten years before becoming our mother, she was in a trio called, “Margret, Irene, and Mary.” Sound a tiny bit familiar? Yes, my triplet books and the “name of their titles” were fashioned as close to the name of her group as I could get. “Merrie” in the story is after our mom. Our niece also spells her name the same way, so I thought it was a perfect fit.

One of these days, I’d like to come up with a music theme for the triplets. Feel free to share any “magical” ideas you have. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Here’s some recent news about the triplets. I feel it’s safe to let you know I’m starting on the illustration of page 19 in my next book about them. I hope to release it in the late fall or early winter.

Here’s a sneak peek of Maggie. If you have read this series, you will remember, she’s the happy go lucky one. She sure is giggling about something that’s going on here. I can’t wait to share this cute story with you. It’s filled with fun ideas for your readers to enjoy. Okay, I better move on, before I tell more. Keep watching!

Progress on MG tale with co-author Cat Michaels

Cat and I are working hard on our MG (Middle Grade) tale coming next year.

When researching on how to get our story started, we found making a visual map helped us put our story in action. Having an image to refer to where our characters lived, what their entertainment sites looked like, and an overall reference to the town where they reside, puts this all in perspective for us. Stay tune for more fun facts about our book.

Interview Feature

A few weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed by author and librarian, Lauri Fortino. I hope you will visit her page to meet new authors and learn of new children’s books she features on her “Frog On A (B)log” page. Click here to learn more on my thoughts when “Writing Children’s Books Young Readers Will Love.”

Happy 5 Years, “Books by Rose!”

Hard to believe it’s been 5 years for Books by Rose! What a learning curve this all has been and I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ve had to teach myself how to illustrate the images, which has been so much fun! Learning how to craft stories that readers will enjoy has been a huge task. The best part, is getting books in the hands of readers.

I could not have done this without all my fans, family, and friend’s support. Thank you all so much!
🌷❤️🌷❤️🌷 ❤️🌷❤️🌷❤️🌷

Click below to watch my celebration video.

Happy_5_Years “Books by Rose!”Download

Celebration Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Let’s celebrate by making this easy homemade ice cream. You want to know the best part? You don’t even have to have an ice cream maker, just a few ingredients and some patience for waiting.

I made this recently and it turned out soooo good and creamy. Have fun coming up with different flavors.

All you need is:

2 cups heavy whipping cream

Chilled, 1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk,

Chilled, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon or more of Mint extract, or other flavors that you like. Taste as you mix.

Chilled, 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or soft candies of your choice. You can add more, it’s up to you.

Directions and Tips:

Place two cups whipping cream in a metal bowl. Using a mixer, choose your “whip” setting and mix until it becomes the consistency of store bought whipped cream. (It takes awhile, but keep mixing. The first time I tried this recipe, I didn’t whip it enough and the ice cream came out too hard.)

Add chilled sweetened condensed milk and extracts. Mix to combine.

Place in the freezer for three hours.

After three hours, remove and give it a stir. Add your chilled candies. (Important note: Your candies should be chilled. Otherwise, they will melt in the ice cream, even at room temperature. Also, for safety reasons, stick to small, soft chewy candies. Hard, round candies can be a choking hazard.)

Add your ice cream to the container you want your ice cream stored in, with a air tight lid, and place back in the freezer for three more hours. Your ice cream takes a total of six hours or more to set.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Fun and Easy Bookmark To Make

Last, here is a fun, fast, easy step by step bookmark to make for yourself or give away for as a gift.

This triangle shape slides right onto the page you want to save.

I started with a 6 x 6 inch square, but you can experiment with different sizes.

How will you spend this month of May? Weddings? Graduations? We love to hear from you.

Here’s some more “May First Friday” posts from my author pals to follow:

Sandra Bennett – Where Do You Find Ideas For Stories?

Julie Gorges – 10 Super Foods for Baby Boomers

Rebecca Lyndsey – Great Sale!!

Auden Johnson – WHEN YOU’RE TOLD YOU CAN’T MAKE A LIVING AS AN AUTHOR?

Cat Michaels – 9 TIPS TO HELP YOU BUILD YOUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

James Milson – Happy Hummer Season! Welcoming, Helping, and Attracting Hummingbirds In Your Neighborhood

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy May and Happy Reading!

Rosie

April Showers Bring May Flowers…Please!

April 4, 2019 / rosieadmin / 10 Comments

In this blog for April, a few things you will see:

April – Welcome April 2019!

Paperback books with authors Melinda Kinsman and Julie Gorges.

Ribs, cooked to perfection!

I love you to pieces. (A spring or Easter puzzle card craft.)

Lake Elsinore’s Poppy Paradise with author Julie Gorges

Welcome April 2019!

What a cold and icy winter we had in the Midwest this year. The schools were closed more days than I could count. Poor kids will have to go well into June if we have any more. Snow in April? It’s happened before.

My winter was spent going to the library to stock up on books, then to the store to stock up on food. Stuck home again, until the next decent day to get out to repeat all over again.

So, lots of reading happened this winter. If you are an author or thinking about writing in the future, I have to tell you about one of the best books I came across in the years I’ve been writing. This book has step by step how to get started from beginning to end.

It’s called, “Writing Children’s Books” by Anthony Fredericks.

Here is my 5 star review:

“Writing Children’s Books” by Anthony Fredericks is a must have for all authors writing fiction and non-fiction books. This is one of the best books I’ve seen on the market for how to get started from the beginning to end. Believe me, I think I’ve read them all. Be prepare to do some work as this book walks you through on coming up with ideas, how to put them in place, and detailed pages on how to submit your work to agents and publishers.
Each chapter is filled with easy to follow and practical advice on how to apply techniques.
(I picked up this book at our local library in the new release section.)
Thank you Mr. Fredericks for writing and sharing your wonderful book.

Paperback books

Here in the Midwest, spring can bring beautiful weather, but it also can bring big thunderstorms, and sometimes, tornadoes.

Our author friend, Melinda Kinsman wrote this adorable book, along with an important message to those little ones that fear the storms.

Here is my 5 star review for “Molly Mouse Moves House.”

“What an adorable story author and illustrator, Melinda Kinsman has made for young readers. The illustrations and rhyming text are engaging, bringing a sense of friendship and healing for those that have been through troubled times. Ms. Kinsman has also included further fun and learning on the back pages of this book.”

To find this book and more of Melinda Kinsman’s cute stories, click on the links below.

Ebook

UK Site

US English Print Edition

British English Print Edition

Ribs

With warmer weather, we always look forward to grilling out. As I was preparing this blog for you, it snowed, so we had to move to plan B.

In the oven these went. They were delicious.

4 lbs pork ribs, membrane removed (I used St. Louis Style Ribs)
1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar (I used the full amount.)
2 teaspoons of Liquid Smoke (Divided)
1 heaping tablespoon of Paprika
1 heaping tablespoon of Garlic Powder
2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce
Garlic Salt and Pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil, shiny side out. Spray with cooking spray.
Peel off tough membrane that covers the bony side of the ribs. (Good luck. I always have a hard time with this.)
Lightly season the ribs on both sides with garlic salt and pepper. Rub a teaspoon of liquid smoke on one side, turn and rub the other teaspoon.
In a medium bowl, combine the light brown sugar, paprika and garlic powder. Apply the rub to both sides of the ribs.
Lay the ribs on the foil, bone side down. Add a large piece of foil to the top of the ribs, leaving a tented space for the ribs to steam. Crimp edges together.
Bake in the oven for 2-2 1/2 hours or until meat is starting to shrink away from the ends of the bone. (Mine were done at 2 1/2 hours.)
When done, remove from oven and brush on sauce.
Broil for 1 or 2 minutes until sauce is cooked on and bubbly

I love you to pieces Spring or Easter card craft

This is such a simple card to make. You could use any shape you want, but I chose an oval shape to represent an egg for Easter.

If using markers, cut a heavy piece of card stock in the shape of an oval. A heart shape for a Valentine’s Day card? How cute would that be?
Write your message on the back side.
Cut in random pieces.
Stick in an envelope with a note to surprise your friend or loved one.

I think the note I’ll write will be something like this:

“Oh no, it looks like my card broke in the delivery. I hope it won’t be too “puzzling” to mend it back together to receive this special message.”

Have fun using your imagination.

And last, but not least:

Lake Elsinore’s Poppy Paradise

One day as I was scrolling through Facebook, I saw our author friend, Julie Gorges’s post and it took my breath away. Look at what Julie was lucky to see in her home state, Southern California!

Julie had more to say about her awesome experience:

Julie – “They say it never rains in Southern California – but this year it did in a big way with record-setting rainfall. The result? A “super bloom” with an eye-popping explosion of flowers on hillsides and even in the normally arid desert. These photos were taken in Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore where a poppy paradise drew massive crowds. Tourists from around the world could be seen on the trails enjoying the spectacular sight.”

I’m so glad Julie had this beautiful experience! She has worked so hard these past many years. Her new book about her mother and the trials they went through has touched the hearts of many around the world.

Here is my review on Amazon for “I’m Your Daughter, Julie: Caring for a Parent with Dementia”

5 Stars: An important book for those taking care of patients with Lewy Body Dementia.

“I’m Your Daughter, Julie: Caring for a Parent with Dementia,” written by author Julie Gorges is a gripping story on what it’s like to be the caretaker of her mother that suffered from Lewy Body Dementia.
I highly recommend this book for those that have someone in your life dealing with this terrible disease. You’ll benefit by learning more about this story and will know you are not alone.
Thank you author Julie Gorges for writing this to help guide others through your personal account of what it was like to go this with your mother. Thank you also for offering resources throughout this book to explain this disease further.

To follow more of Julie and her stories, here are her links:

Website

Amazon

Goodreads

I hope your April is off to a great start! What plans do you have this spring? Write in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you.

Here are some more “First Friday” #Gr8Blogs for April. I will add more awesome authors and links to their pages as they are posted.

So far we have:

Sandra Bennett

Julie Gorges

Rebecca Lyndsey

James Milson

Carmela Dutra

Cat Michaels

Auden Johnson

Oh, and before I go, don’t forget, books are a fun addition to those Easter baskets and spring reading. Here is the link to my books on Amazon.

As always,

Happy Reading!

Rosie

Welcome March 2019!

March 1, 2019 / rosieadmin / 12 Comments

What a busy time it’s been! This last month, I’ve been working on another children’s book for 2019.

I just finished an illustration on page 11. When I get closer to getting it completed, I’ll reveal more soon.

I also have some more very exciting news to share with you. I’ll get to that after we salute this month of March 2019.

Let’s get started by celebrating in threes for 03/01/2019.

In this blog, you’ll find:

*3 Fun Facts about St. Patrick’s Day and March

*3 Fun Activities to Make

*3 Yummy Recipes

Okay, first with the facts.

Did you know?

The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was not in Ireland.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade “recorded” was not in Ireland but was held in New York City in 1762. In the mid19^th century, there was a massive increase of Irish immigrants to the United States. This is when the March 17^th celebration became widespread.

There’s No Corn in that Corned Beef.

Corned Beef and cabbage, is a traditional Saint Patrick’s Day staple. “Corned” Beef doesn’t have anything to do with the grain corn. Instead, it comes from “grains of salt” that are used to cure the meat. Corned Beef gets its name “corn” from an old English word for grain. Who knew?

March is National Craft Month.

If you have followed my blogs, you know I love all crafts! This month I’m looking forward to seeing fun projects to make for the spring and summer months.

Speaking of crafts, here are three crafts to make for St. Patrick’s Day.

Let’s start off by making this very easy card. Use card stock, paint, markers, or crayons to decorate.

I like tracing out two heart shapes and cutting to form a shamrock.

How about making a “Pot of Gold” filled with candy ?

Here are step by step instructions to make one. Adjust to the size of paper plates you use and to your liking.

Puppet Craft or Treat Bag

This was made from a brown paper bag. Cut green paper to fit for the shirt and hat. Add black strips for the hat and belt. Cut out two yellow squares. Fold, and cut out the middle of the squares. Add a strip of orange paper for the beard. Cut 1/2 inch strips, stopping at 1 inch of the top of your paper. (Before I glued it down, I curled the cut strips with a pencil.) Draw eyes, nose, and mouth. Cut two long thin strips and do accordion folds. Glue. Add hands.

I’m going to fill my Leprechaun Bag with cookies.

(See Cookie Recipe at the end of this post.)

Yummy Recipes for March

Corn beef and Corn beef Sandwiches are staple foods for St. Patrick’s Day.

Our favorite Corn beef sandwiches are made with Rye Bread. Some prefer theirs on Pumpernickel bread.

Everyone probably knows how to make these, but we found a little trick to ours.

Set it up like you are making a grilled cheese.

(Tip we learned: If you use mayonnaise, instead of butter on the outside of your bread, you will make a nice crusty sandwich. It’s the eggs and oil in the mayo that toasts it up to a golden brown.)

Add a layer Thousand Island dressing inside your bread.

Add Swiss cheese.

Add Sour Kraut, and Corned Beef. Grill your sandwich on med high until till toasty. Flip and brown the other side.

This next recipe isn’t necessarily a St. Patrick’s meal, but for some reason I always end up making this recipe in March. We have been known to be creatures of habit.

Ham Gravy and Biscuits.

(One could make this for breakfast, but we usually have it as a dinner meal served with a vegetable. ) It is soooo good!

Directions:

Make a batch of biscuits from a store bought biscuit mix. If you add a ½ cup of grated cheese to the mix, it makes for extra yummy cheesy biscuits.

For the gravy you’ll need:

¼ cup butter

3 T chopped green onion

6 T Flour

1-1/4 cups milk

1 Can of Cream of Celery Soup

2 cups chopped ham

1 T lemon juice

Directions:

Cover and melt ¼ cup butter in the microwave.

Add 3 T chopped green onion to the butter. Cover and cook in the microwave 3 minutes.

Stir in 6 T flour to the butter and stir to make a paste, removing lumps.

Slowly add 1-1/4 cups milk. Stir to mix.

Stir in 1 can of Cream of Celery Soup

Add 2 cups of chopped cooked ham

Add 1 T lemon Juice

Cover and cook 6- 8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes until thickened.

Cut biscuits in half and serve gravy over biscuits.

For leftovers, I find it helpful to add a splash of milk to the gravy before reheating. It makes for an easier pour over the reheated biscuits.

Now for that Cookie Recipe.

I’m saving to make these to fill in my Leprechaun Bag for St. Patrick’s Day.

I found out the coolest thing last week when going through some old recipes.

Did you know, you can make ANY kind of cookies with a box of cake mix, 2 eggs, chopped nuts, (if you wish) and anywhere from a 1/2 cup of Crisco to 3/4 cups?The trick to remember is to use just enough Crisco to have the batter thick enough to roll into balls. (I’m going to start with a 1/2 of cup of Crisco and add as needed.)

Add all ingredients into a bowl, using enough Crisco to form a stiff dough. Mix by hand.

Form into little balls, place on a baking sheet 2 inches apart. Flatten the balls, and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, till puffy, and just barely golden around the edges. (They do spread while baking).

As soon as they come out of the oven, add candy, such as M&Ms.

UPDATE: I made these on St. Patrick’s Day and they turned out awesome. I used a 1/2 cup Crisco and it was the perfect amount for this cake mix. Also, this recipe yielded 20 cookies.

I hope you enjoyed this March blog. Let us know what fun things you have planned for this month.

Okay, here is the very exciting news I wanted to share with you. Click on this link to read more from Cat Michaels here.

Happy Reading!

Rosie

In case you missed my February blog, click here.

Want to visit some other First Friday March Blogs?

Check out these awesome authors:

Author Julie Gorges and her exciting news! She is having her book launch today on her Facebook Page. Read more about her new book here.

Author and Illustrator, Carmela Dutra has her fun post on her recent school visits for “Read Across America” here.

Great post by writer James Milson.

Happy Valentine’s Day 2019

February 14, 2019 / rosieadmin / 3 Comments

Happy Valentine’s day everyone! I hope you enjoy this day with family and friends celebrating with flowers, chocolates, dinners, special cards or letters.

A big thanks to those that approved their stories to add to my blog for my “Valentine’s Day Writing Contest.”

Up first is:

My Valentine’s Day Story

By Janiece E. Adam

I think I might be the shyist girl in school. I don’t want to talk to anyone, because I’m just too scared. I guess that’s because if I talk to anyone I think I might say something stupid.

Oh, you are probably wondering who “I” am. Well my name is Catherine Synthia, but my dad calls me Candy. That’s probably because I love candy, mostly chocolate though. Oh, and did I tell you that Valentine’s Day is coming up, AND my school is doing a party in honor of it? The only problem is since I’m so shy, and don’t know anyone, no one asked me to it.

Someone should show kindness in asking me. That would be sweet, but I guess not. The weird thing is when I got home from school I found these big red and pink roses mixed in with other flowers on my porch. I figured maybe a neighbor was being nice to my mom, but when I read who it was for it said, “To Candy.”

There was a card and everything. I went inside my house to read it. My heart was pounding as I opened it up. This is what it said:

Dear Candy,

I’m sorry I’ve never said anything to you, but I guess I was just nervous, so I wrote you this note. It would really be nice if we could go to the dance together. You’re probably wondering who I am. Well I’ll meet you at school tomorrow and wait by the entrance.

Sincerely,

Your Friend

I am REALLY excited now. I can NOT wait for school tomorrow. I know that’s hard to believe, but I just CAN’T WAIT!

When I got off the bus the next morning I looked around. Behind me a boy named Richard who seems shy, like me, was following me, it seemed. I turned around and said, “Why are you following me?” I am very surprised I said that since I am normally shy.

He replied, “Because I’m the one who sent the flowers.” I just stared at him then. “So do you want to go to the dance with me?” he asked shyly.

“Okay I guess,” I said a little nervously. So in the end I ended up going to the dance after all! I guess I’m not as shy as I thought. This is going to be so much fun!!

The Way of Valentine’s Day

By Janelle M. Adams

Hi, I am Maggie and I love Valentine’s Day, but last year was the best Valentine’s Day ever. Let me tell you about it.

Once upon a time there was a girl who hated everything about Valentine’s Day (and yes that was me, Maggie). I mainly hated the love and mushy cards and mushy chocolate (okay fine I LOVE CHOCOLATE). It is true, I used to hate this holiday. I just thought it was a waste of time and money. The love is gross but, worst of all is the Valentine’s Day dance at my school.

I walked into my classroom. I could smell that there was Valentine’s Day love. I hate it. I hate it.

“Wait up,” called someone behind me. It was my best friend Abby. She always makes me feel better.

We walked into the classroom and sat down. As I started to sit down there was a tap on my shoulder. It was Jack. He is in my classes and I don’t pay attention to him that much. I do notice that he stares at me in class (for some reason I think he likes me). This is why I hate this holiday. Love…… it’s just too much.

“Hi Maggie,” he started to say. “I was u..m I mean if you want to u..m go to the Valentine’s Day dance with me?” he asked in a shy way and hoping I would answer.

I was surprised that he noticed me at all. He never really talked to me. Then I remembered, I don’t like the love and flowers and sweet candy or the mushy hearts. I was letting this cute boy make me forget that I hate it.

“Do you mind if I think about it?” I said hoping he wouldn’t be sad. I mean what was I supposed to say? I just don’t want to have a broken heart or fall in love. Besides, I am only 13 and my parents don’t want me to have a boyfriend until I’m like sixteen.

I opened my eyes to a nice Saturday morning. I still remembered what happened yesterday with Jack. It kept repeating it in my mind. If I go I might get a broken heart. If I don’t go I will miss out on an opportunity. I walked downstairs and heard the doorbell ring and went to open it. I found flowers that were roses. I love roses. Ugh, I did it again. There was a red and pink note with a blue heart inside saying: Did you make up your mind yet? I will be waiting -Jack.

How could I not go? I mean it’s worth a shot. I went to the park to see if he was there and sure enough he was. I was still questioning why I am letting a boy into my life? I got scared when I was next to him. Come on get it together I thought. This is your only chance.

“Um, Jack,” I said hesitating, “I want to go to the dance with you.”

So in the end we went to the dance together and ever since my life has been filled with love, kindness, and flowers and what happened at the dance, well, that’s a story I’ll never tell.

Thank you both for submitting your cute stories and using the Valentine’s words in my contest. I randomly picked a winner and it’s…….Janelle. I will contact you soon for you to pick out a book. You both did an awesome job!!

Happy Valentine’s Day, and as always, happy reading and writing.

Rosie

Share with us how you will spend this day. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

UPDATE: Janelle’s name was randomly picked for a FREE book. She picked, “Avi Jackson Best Friends.” Read more about this story here.

Thank you again for entering my “Valentine’s Day Writing Contest!”

Writing Contest For Valentine’s Day

February 10, 2019 / rosieadmin / 0 Comments

Just a few more days to enter your stories or poems for a chance to win a free paperback book from Books by Rose. Those outside of the USA will receive a $10.00 gift card from Amazon.

Friendly Reminders:

*I have your full permission to add your story or poem. In other words, if I don’t have your approval in writing, I will not be able to add to them to my blog.

Write me: booksbyrose4u@gmail.com

*Remember, this is your time to shine. I will not be able to edit your work. Have your polished story or poem ready for the whole world to see.

*Family friendly stories and poems only.

Writing Contest Valentine’s Day 2019

February 1, 2019 / rosieadmin / 12 Comments

Happy February 2019 everyone!

Let’s have fun writing to kick off this wonderful month.

Are you ready?

Write a short story using the ten words below. Subscribe to my page for your story to appear on my “Kid Lit Blog by Rosie” page.

(Fill out the form at the top right side or the bottom of this page.)

With your permission, your stories will be posted on February 14, 2019.

If you prefer not to join the contest, but want to subscribe to my page for future updates, that’s awesome as well.

***Please have your story to me by February 12, 2019.***

**Which paperback book will the winner choose?**

Here are the instructions for this contest.

Your story does not have to be long, it can even be a paragraph. You can write a poem if you wish. The only requirement, is to remember to use the TEN words below in your story, and as always, your post is family friendly.

Each story entered, will be included in a drawing for a free paperback copy of your choice from Books by Rose. (Those outside of the USA will receive a $10.00 gift card from Amazon.)

If you use the bonus word, your name will be entered twice.

***Feel free to send an image along with your story.***

An example of a quick story I wrote:

When Jake’s teacher announced their writing assignment was a Valentine’s poem, he was not happy one bit. Blah, Valentine’s Day, Jake thought.

He ran home after school to play catch with his dog named Cain. He wished more than ever he could live the life as his pup right now.

“Dogs don’t have to go to school and write poems about flowers, roses, and words about love,” Jake grumbled.

Jake decided right then and there, he was going to write a poem about his best friend.

My Best Friend

Valentine’s Day is here again,

an assignment is due today.

Writing of things such as flowers and hearts,

is really just never my way.

Gooey dark chocolate, it’s great,

red, white and pink candy, the rage.

I’d rather spend time with my sweet friend and mate,

than be in this blazing red craze.

This story idea and poem was inspired by one of my books called:

“A Search and Find of Every Kind with Jake and his dog named Cain.”

The inspiration for this book came from our youngest son Jake and his dog.

By the way, he and his brother were always okay with Valentine’s Day and gave straight from their hearts every time.

Good luck on the contest and….

Happy Writing!

Rosie

In case you missed my last post, click below for my plans for 2019.

“What I Want to Accomplish in 2019 Even if I Don’t Win the Lottery.”

“What I Want to Accomplish in 2019 Even if I Don’t Win the Lottery.”

“What I Want to Accomplish in 2019 Even if I Don’t Win the Lottery.”

January 10, 2019 / rosieadmin / 16 Comments

The start of a new year is like a blank slate, and we don’t know what will be written upon it. Even if we don’t hold that winning lottery ticket, there are loads of things we can engrave upon it.

My writing pals and I are sharing our hopes on the writing road and in our family life – for 2019 in our #Gr8Blog hop: “What I Want to Accomplish in 2019 Even if I Don’t Win the Lottery.”

Please have a read, and then visit the other #Gr8Blogs linked at the end of this post for more smiles and inspiration.

Whew, what an exciting year 2018 was, huh? We were busy with family activities and the making of “Moonshadow Mae.” Not only is it in hardcover, but we were able to make it in paperback December 11^th.

Written and illustrated by Rosie Russell

So as 2019 begins, it’s time to set goals in action and plan for what is next. Reviewing a few things I’ve learned this past year has helped me paved the way to new beginnings.

I learned more on marketing and the technical side on how to put my books together.

As you know by now, I should be an expert on how to contact website providers and worked through the issues that arose this past year, but I can’t say that’s true. The learning curve will be forever there for me on that topic.

In April, I will approach five years as a writer and illustrator. What a wonderful learning experience it‘s been along the way.

I must remind myself:

*Not to rush and slow down to learn the steps before releasing a title. Patience is a word I say to myself often.

*Have many extra eyes read the content and evaluate my illustrations. Speaking of illustrations, studying a lot more on the technicalities on digital drawing, has helped. I can’t wait to see how much more to learn in the years to come.

*I learned to join a “street team” of friends to turn to for help, when needed. It’s a must in this writing journey. Bouncing ideas around and working through problems has been beneficial to us all.

*I learned to stay true to my heart. Just because a particular topic is hot on the market for children’s books doesn’t mean that subject is one I should write. If I were to make something out of a book not from my heart, it wouldn’t work, and definitely would not be not fair to the readers.

What’s coming for this next year?

This last fall, ideas came for new stories. I won’t go into it right now so I don’t reveal too much, but it’s something that will please readers with these next ones.

I can tell you, one will be very interactive with readers. I can add, this picture book will be for older readers. The reading level will be easy for 3^rd graders, but the project is for those that can follow written directions. Not to say younger ones will not enjoy this story. With the help of an adult, it‘s a fun activity for both to enjoy Let’s say, I tried this out with a few children younger than 3^rd grade and we had a blast.

The next idea for a book will melt the heart of readers. You know how I love including family and friends into my stories so I will look for characters soon. Watch for a shout out when the time comes.

I plan to reach out for more interviews and author visits. I’m waiting back to hear from an event coming in May. I’ll keep you posted.

What are your plans for this next year? As you think about your goals, read these inspiring posts below from my author friends. They have many aspirations and theirs may even spark a few new ideas for you.

Thanks for stopping by! What do you want to kick off your bucket list this year? Please share in the comment section.

If you blog and want to join us on this hop, just add the family-friendly link to your blog post in the comment section. We’ll visit and give you some blog love.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2019!

Happy Reading,

Rosie

Have fun visiting these author’s sites and goals for 2019:

The Ups, Downs and In Between Times on our 2018 Writing Road.

December 4, 2018 / rosieadmin / 10 Comments

Was 2018 a crazy roller coaster ride for you? Smooth sailing? Milestone events?

My author pals and I are remembering the happy moments as well as lessons we learned from challenges this past year in our blog hop: The Ups, Downs and In Between Times on our 2018 Writing Road.” Check out our personal reveals, then visit the other #Gr8Blogs linked at the end of this post for more shared recollections and lessons learned along the way. We hope you’ll be inspired to dive into your own special memories of 2018!

January 2018 through the summer months were busy times here at “Books by Rose.” In August, I released my 8^th children’s book, “Moonshadow Mae.” Leading up to that, I had to work on setting up an all new website. Whew! It took me five weeks to figure it out, but with the help of all my tech savvy friends, I made it! This is my third time transiting websites. The first and second time, I painstakingly replaced everything. This time, I started fresh and new. Did it bother me that I lost all my content? Yes it did! The only thing that got me through was looking back and realizing all my posts would of required updates on those I interviewed and posts I created that had changed. So, as sparse as it may look at the moment, I hope to fill it fast with all new content in the coming months.

Getting back to “Moonshadow Mae.” This is my first hardcover and our goals are to see this sweet story in bookstores and libraries across the USA and then some. It’s full of wonder as Mae loves the moon and the glowing shine it leaves behind. Fun facts, a recipe, and a really cool craft is in the back of her book. I hope you will share it with your friends in your hometown. Click on this link to see her 5 star reviews: Amazon

Rosie Russell

Summer was filled with birthday parties, BBQ’s, reunions with friends and, of course, BASEBALL. If you have followed me by now, you know we are a huge baseball family and love supporting our home team and our little league teams.

In November, I was ready for a fair I signed up for. Lots and lots of work went into making crafts to go along with my books. I would also like to add, the work involved turned out to be a good thing, as it got me away from the computer with hands on activities. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was the healthiest thing I could have done for myself. I really have a hard time not working on writing and illustrating more books. Since the crafts all pertain to my stories, it was the perfect time for me to give myself permission to take a break. I really recommend this for all you writers and illustrators to take breaks from time to time. It’s so good for the soul. In the long run, it will make you more productive.

If you would like to see some of the crafts I made, check out my November blog post here.

Now friends, are you ready to see what our other author friends have been up to in 2018? I hope you will click on their links below to read their stories. You may find some new authors you have not heard of or known before. You are in for a treat when you see all their wonderful books and blogs.

Don’t forget to leave a comment letting us all know how 2018 went for you. We would love to hear from you!

If for some reason a reply form does not show up on your side, please go to the top of this page and click on comment under the title of this post. Thank you for your patience as I’m still learning this new website. 🙂

Happy Holidays!

Rosie

Cat Michaels Writer

Sandra Bennett

Julie Gorges

Rebecca Lyndsey

Auden Johnson

Carmela Dutra

Corrina Holyoake

Shana Gorian

Happy October 2018!

October 4, 2018 / rosieadmin / 16 Comments

Happy October 2018!

Fall is here! Our temperatures have not been reflecting the cooler weather quite yet, but we know what’s on the way, so we’ll take it.

As the days turn cooler and get shorter, we’ll be spending more time indoors.

Everyone loves warm soups on those chilly evenings. If you are a football fan, you will want to look over this recipe to see it will fit into your next gathering. This recipe makes a lot!

My brother-in-law, who is a retired Captain from his fire department, made this for his crew and it was a big hit!

All the credit goes to my sister-in-law Karen, for making this soup at an event years ago. As we talked about this recipe last week, we decided to call it, “It’s Not A Diet Soup!” Once you see the ingredients, you’ll know why. Also, this isn’t one of those regular type of recipes you normally find. It’s little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Potato Soup Pexels CCO License

Potato Soup

10 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

Cover the potatoes with water and add 1-2 Chicken Bouillon cubes for flavoring or season as desired.

Cook until tender.

Drain the water off of the potatoes.

Add a stick of butter. (Salted or unsalted.)

Once the butter is melted, add enough milk to almost cover the potatoes.

Add 1 Tablespoon of regular mustard and stir.

As the soup heats up, add up to 2 squares of Cream Cheese, if desired. Stir until melted.

Add more milk if desired. It depends on what consistency you like. If it becomes thinner than you expected, add a couple teaspoons of cornstarch to a small warm glass of water. Stir to dissolve and add to soup.

Here’s what we have added to this soup to make it even more delicious Slivered Deli Ham. Sometimes we’ve added cooked crumbled bacon. Many times we’ve topped it off with shredded cheese.

Want to really send this soup over the top? My sister-in-law has even added a few tablespoons of Sour Cream, oh and yes her favorite, Ranch Dressing. She also suggested shredded carrots for a little color. You can add those when boiling your potatoes.

Once you make this soup, you may have some other ideas. Let us know and we’d love to hear from you.

P.S. This soup goes great with any sandwiches, especially BLT’s.

Last week, I made a post on Facebook about a big fad going on right now, and that’s rock painting. If you go online or on Pinterest, type in “Rock Painting” you will find a ton of ideas on how to do this. Basically, you need acrylic paints, acrylic markers, and something to seal your rocks with. (Waterbase products will not work for outdoors.) Why worry about the outdoors? The painting groups I have found and joined online, paint their rocks and hide them for others to find. It’s a nice way to give someone out there in the world, a smile for their day, as they find your treasure. They can keep the rock or pay it forward by hiding it for others to find.

Here are a few I’ve made so far.

Find a group near you to join if you and your family are interested in this activity. Many of these groups have hashtags and the name of their groups. Each group will have their own rules, but almost always, they have these rules.

1. Safety first and always. Online safety, but also, make sure you don’t hide your rock that could put someone in danger by retrieving it.

2. Never hide your rock outside or in a business. Parks are a perfect place.

3. Never hide your rock where someone could possibility mow over it. Hide it in plain site or somewhat easy to find.

4. Finally, use rocks from natural resources or purchase your own rocks. Never take rocks from businesses or homes where people have used for landscaping. Remember, they bought those rocks.

If you have little ones and it’s too cold or wet to go outside, have a hide and seek game for the rocks in your home. Talk about the kids having fun! They love this game!

One last thing, here’s an indoor activity to make. Cards!

If you have followed my page for a while now, you know I love making cards or anything out of paper.

Here is one Pop-Up card I made awhile back. I actually found many sites online on how to put these together. Let me know and I’ll send you the links.

Here’s another one I did using Stickers. A lot less cutting for this one.

This next card is one I’m REALLY excited to tell you about! I won’t be able to reveal what’s inside quite yet though. I have a fair coming up in November. I’ll have this card at my booth to show those visiting, how I made this. I’ll give you a hint. It has something to do with two of my books, “Maggie, Merrie, and Millie’s Magical Adventure” and “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Magical Coins.”

I hope you have enjoyed these ideas.

Happy October everyone!

Rosie

PS. Don’t forget to take a look at my “Shop Here” page. For full descriptions on all my books, visit my author page on Amazon.

As always, Happy Reading!

My Last Five Weeks Building A New Website

September 24, 2018 / rosieadmin / 3 Comments

Have you ever had to switch to a new software and build a new website?

There were lots of technical issues for this one.

With this one being my third time changing, I’ve learned a lot about how websites work. I’m still learning more every day.

The second time I had to rebuild, I painstakingly tried to replace all my posts from my first website. Talk about a lot of work.

When looking back, many of those posts were outdated so I’ve decided to start fresh and new.

First you’ll see the landing page, Welcome to Books by Rose.

Next is a Kidlit Blogs by Rosie page. This is where things might look a little different. I will have blogs for news and will also include interviews with authors, artists, and more. (Before I had a separate page for that.)

Last, I’ll still have my Shop Here page. I plan to add more in time.

Before I go any further, I’d like to thank James Milson – Writer for helping me figure out how WordPress works and talking me through the “Hemingway” theme.

If you haven’t met James by now, he too is a Missouri author and has a favorite book of mine out there called, “The Adventures of Little Red Bear: The First Holler.” Talk about a fun, family friendly book for a read-a-loud in the classrooms and at home.

Here is my five star review for James’s book:

I’m excited to have my website back to bring you more fun posts that I hope you will enjoy.

Always feel free to contact me at booksbyrose4u@gmail.com or leave a comment. Scroll back to the top of this post and click on comment.

Now, off to learn more about this website.

As always, “Happy Reading!”

Rosie

Topics you will see in this First Friday GR8Blog post:

Happy 6 Years to Books by Rose

Mother’s Day

Honoring Our Mom and Crafts to Make

Fun Crafting Things for Our Little Free Library

Update on Book With Cat Michaels

Ways You Can Help Others.

Reach Out to Those that Need that Extra Support.

Make it Your Purpose to Help Others

Stay Positive

My Favorite Quote I Heard this Week

Leaping Forward and Backwards for Leap Year 2020

Fashion and Home Decor Colors

Sports

Food

Personal Growth and Self Care

Audio Books

Sign Language

Art

TV

#Gr8BlogHop

Before I move forward…

What’s Really Important?

What’s to Come for 2020?

Personal Projects

Other Personal Project. Walking!

Do you have any special visions or plans for this New Year?

Setting Up and Co-Writing with Cat Michaels – Writer

Writing with a Co-Writer

Building Timelines and Character Boards

Research

Horses

Food

Life Happens

Now to the Story

How We Pulled this All Together

My Dream for December and the New Year

Share your Dreams for December and this Next Year?

My New Book

** This Kindle Version is $1.99 For A Limited Time Only**

Interview with Cat Michaels – Writer

They are *FREE* today!

Book Launch!

Thanksgiving

Now on to the Rest of My Wintertime Bliss

New Years!

Winter Reading

Winter Shows

Winter Writing

Anticipating

Illustrating

What’s your Wintertime Bliss?

Welcome October 2019!

My Favorite Reason for October!

My New Book Cover Reveal and Title

“Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail”

What’s This Book About?

What’s Coming in November?

Before I Go…

September 2019 First Friday

September Fun

Exciting News

When Will This Book Be Released?

In other news…

Apple Crisp Dessert

What are you looking forward to in September?

Book Art

Now For The Fun Part

Other Books

FYI

Why Has Maggie, Millie, Merrie’s Books Been on My Heart Lately?

An Extra Surprise

More Fun With Book Art with

Write it Down

Feel the Great Outdoors

Smell the Great Outdoors

Listen to the Great Outdoors

Look for All Shapes of Leaves

Look for Critter Tracks

Look for Insects

**Make it Your Purpose to Help Others**

This Kindle Version is $1.99 For A Limited Time Only

**They are FREE today!**