et ceteras
Welcome to et ceteras, a blog featuring posts about Joann, animals, childhood, The Mollys B. (her latest book coming out soon!), and writing in general. An insight to her writing, Joann shares thoughts on topics regarding her inspiration, ethics, companionship with animals, and imagination. Check back often, or subscribe to receive the latest updates by email!
The Sinking & the Finding of the RMS TITANIC
Dubbed "unsinkable," April 14th marks the 113th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in the North Atlantic Ocean. Truly "unsinkable" was Margaret Tobin Brown (aka Molly), probably the most famous survivor of the disaster, who went on to live a full life as an influential philanthropist.
The Illustration of a Picture Book
They say, "A picture is worth a thousand words." The illustration process from concept sketches to the final published book is so fascinating! I love to see how illustrators interpret a story and let their imaginations run free, often embellishing the text in ways that surprise even the author.
The Things We “Think” We Want To Do Part 1
To be human. Sometimes we get these ideas in our heads, by-products of observing the world around us, that we then convince ourselves we want to make happen. Vicariously driven, we adopt them as our own invention; “I’ve always wanted to taste oysters on the half shell!” Right? Sometimes that’s as far as it gets, though - just an idea that we fantasize about. But sometimes we’re motivated enough to push through whatever’s holding us back to bring the dream into the world of reality. Sometimes that plan of action turns out okay and other times . . .
What Would Writers Do Without Erasers?
Erasers! What a magical tool for writers, not to mention composers, bookkeepers, and crossword puzzle aficionados. They’ve always existed in some form, but the rubber eraser as we know it today didn’t really come into fashion until the early 1800s when Charles Goodyear of tire fame, figured out the process for stabilizing it called “vulcanization.”
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Research shows that the love of reading starts early for children who have books in their lives and adults to share them with. It also shows that those children often grow into more successful adults themselves. Beyond supporting language, cognitive, and emotional development in young learners, the skill of reading fosters creativity and imagination and exposes children to diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives.
Winnie-the-Pooh
November was National Picture Month – thirty days of celebrating that magical art form. One of my favorites is “Finding Winnie” by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. It’s the true story of the bear that served as the model for the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, the first written in the 1924 by A. A. Milne.
The Value of Fairy Tales Part 3
Where do fairy tales come from and what has been their importance in the scheme of anthropology. Do fairy tales have relevance in today's society?
The Value of Fairy Tales Part 2
Beginning with the ancient tradition of oral storytelling, fairy tales have been around for centuries. But they didn't become a genre of their own until a fellow named Aesop started using them as moral guidelines for adults, not children. It wasn't until roughly the 19th and 20th centuries that fairy tales started to be written for children initiated by authors like Hans Christian Andersen.
Winning FIRST PLACE in the Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Competition
Winning First Place in the Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Competition for my book SOMETIMES has unveiled some interesting emotions: I am unabashedly proud! I'm also gratified that people are beginning to see its merit. My intention was to help children living in difficult situations. I hoped to give them courage & permission to speak up - this award has validated that intention.
The Value of Fairy Tales Part 1
Is the faculty of wonder and imagination alive and well – are young readers able to discern the difference between the fantasy worlds of fairy tales and realty? Have we lost faith that they can detect the boundaries? Felicita Sala, author and illustrator, addresses these questions in her keynote speech for The Society of Children’s Writer’s and Illustrators annual summer conference.
A Gracious Audience
Ironically, reading to farm animals is not dissimilar to reading to 7-year-olds. Both audiences listen politely, adopt curious expressions, show interest in the pictures, and laugh in all the right places. Best of all they treat me like a rockstar.
Margaret Tobin Brown - The Suffragist
The one and only “Unsinkable Molly Brown" was born in 1867 in Hannibal, Missouri. In addition to surviving the sinking of the RMS Titanic, Margaret was also a suffragist fighting alongside a multitude of women in their attempts to change laws so that women in the USA would be afforded the right to vote. Their efforts didn't come to fruition until 1920. As women today, can we truly recognize how lucky we are because of those brave women?
Keeping Hope Alive in the Face of Disappointment Part 3
Are hope and optimism related? I believe they are. I think optimists find their way to feeling hopeful quicker than pessimists. There’s a springiness to their thinking that helps them more readily bounce back from disappointments, whether by virtue of natural disposition or nurtured encouragement. That blend of nature and nurture exists for pessimists, too – they just have to work harder at it.
Keeping Hope Alive in the Face of Disappointment Part 2
If animals are capable of feeling negative emotions like fear and aggression and positive emotions like trust and love, isn’t it also possible that they can feel hope? Not in a “planning for the future” kind-of-way, but in a “positive outlook” kind-of-way. We’ve all seen the dog who brings his leash to his owner – isn’t he hoping to go for a walk?
Keeping Hope Alive in the Face of Disappointment Part 1
The balance between disappointment and hope: An individual who lived two hundred years ago and was consistently challenged to renew his relationship with hope was poet and short story writer, Edgar Allan Poe. He suffered devastating disappointments during his lifetime, yet he remained inherently hopeful that aspects of his life would improve. How did he keep hope alive? And is the ability to feel hope an emotion relegated only to humans?
I Have a Dream . . .
Being raised in a small rural town in Montana afforded me limited opportunities to experience the arts – theater, music, ballet, museums. And the fine art I was exposed to fell short of my definition of “real” art. I was in my thirties before I got to visit a museum that housed the classical paintings and sculpture of the European artists I had been longing to see. From that first encounter, my passion blossomed into the lifetime engagement of an armchair art historian.
Making Friends
My work at the farm animal sanctuary is completely self-serving. I’m there for those sweet animals and there is no bigger thrill than when one of them initiates contact with me. At first, they didn’t exactly ignore me, but regarded me with indifference. Slowly that’s been changing – probably because of the apples I bring. I adore them all, but Thistle, the mini mule, having already claimed my heart, cemented my affection for him when he extended his friendship.
REMEMBER THE SMELL OF BRAND-NEW CRAYONS?
Not too long ago I talked about a few of my favorite fiction picture books. Today I want to talk about a non-fiction favorite: “THE CRAYON MAN The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons” written by Natascha Biebow and illustrated by Steven Salerno. It’s the story of Edwin Binney, who with his cousin, C. Harold Smith, invented the Crayola crayon in 1903. Besides being gorgeously illustrated, it’s a super cool biography full of fun facts and leaves readers asking, “Where would we be today without crayons?”
Larva I Have Loved
Three times in my life I have had the extraordinary experience of coming across a Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Larva. In street language? A caterpillar. Always in a place of risk and danger – on a walking path, in a parking lot, on the metal frame of a hot screen door. “Where are they going?”