Monday, April 20, 2020

Author Interview with Lisa Schmid


The DMS was lucky enough to interview Lisa Schmid . Lizzy reviewed her book Ollie Oxley and the Ghost, and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We're excited to learn a little more about her story. So, without further ado... take it away, Lisa!

What inspired you to write Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold?

Growing up, I moved around a lot. As a result, I didn't have lasting friendships, so books became my constant companions. I wanted to write a story that might help someone else get through a difficult time. So many authors gave that gift to me. I wanted to pay it forward. 

How long did it take you to write Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold?

It took me six years. I'd never written anything before I began working on Ollie Oxley. One day, I decided to write a book, and I just sat down at my computer and started pounding away. I learned how to write as I went along. I joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, got critique partners, and started attending conferences and workshops. It was a long process, but I never gave up. I was committed to writing this book and getting it published.   

What is your writing process like? Do you listen to music? Write in a special place? Edit as you go or write and then edit? 

My process has not changed much over the years. I tend to work at home. No music, I like it quiet. When I started writing Ollie Oxley, I only knew how the story would begin and end. It took me a while to figure out everything in between. Moving forward, I plan to be more of a plotter than a  pantser. I have just started working on a new middle-grade book. It took a while to get Ollie Oxley out of my head, but I have finally found my new characters, and they are starting to come to life. And yes . . . I am one of those tedious writers who edit as I go. I hope to break that horrible habit while writing this next book. Wish me luck! 

What are some of your favorite books from childhood? Were there any specific authors who inspired you?

I love, love, love The Chronicles of Narnia. To this day, I read the series at least once a year. I've also read all of the Oz books, starting with, of course, The Wizard of Oz. I am a massive fan of Roald Dahl. Danny, The Champion of The World, was my favorite. But I think the book that resonated with me the most was The Velvet Room by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. It was about the daughter of a migrant worker. I related to her hopes, fears, and dreams on so many levels. 

If you could live during any time period in history, when would it be? Why?

I am going to get really specific. I would love to live during the 1950s in a Cotswold village. I am obsessed with all things British. I love the show, Father Brown. If I am not reading or writing, I am probably watching something on BBC. 

If you could befriend a character from your book, who would you befriend? Why?

I love Teddy—the ghost. He's loyal, funny, kind, brave, and mischievous. All the qualities I look for in a friend. 

Is there anything you've learned along your path to publication that you would like to share with new writers?

I became a better writer when I involved others in my process. I joined SCBWI, met other writers, and found my critique group. I've learned so much about writing from the people who have critiqued my work. But I have also learned a great deal by critiquing theirs in return.  I am fortunate that some of my best friends are writers. They are my support system. Writing can be such a solitary experience, but it doesn't have to be. 
 


Where can we buy your book?

Monday, April 13, 2020

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday #MMGM Book Review: Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold by Lisa Schmid

12-year-old Ollie Oxley and his younger sister, DeeDee, are moving again. Ever since their dad left there’s been a lot of moving. Each place turns out to be about the same- Ollie doesn’t make any friends and he gets in a bit of trouble. He also knows he’s not at any school long enough that it will make a difference. But now their mom has a new job, a permanent job, at a theater in Granite City, CA. When they get to their new home Ollie is less than happy about the color of it, and inside seems a little spooky. Then, for the first time ever Ollie connects right away with a boy named, Teddy. Maybe this town will be okay. Unfortunately, it isn’t long before Ollie has a run-in with the school bully, Aubrey. Finding out that Teddy is a ghost only makes Ollie more nervous that he’s going to be targeted. He doesn’t want to be the weird kid who talks to a ghost, but he also likes Teddy’s company and sense of humor. Being friends with a ghost who lived during the California Gold Rush does have some perks, like the possibility of a buried treasure that could change the course of Ollie’s life. If only Teddy knew where the treasure was, but he can’t even remember where he lived in the town when he was alive. Is there really a buried treasure? Will Ollie and Teddy be able to find it if it exists? Is there any way to get Aubrey to stop bothering him? Pick up this fast paced book to find out!

After my grade Skyped with Lisa Schmid for World Read Aloud Day I knew I needed to checkout her debut book from my school library. I was hooked as soon as she talked about the writing process and the fact that she lives in a town where the Gold Rush began. Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold looks like a spooky book, but it's a story filled with a lot of humor. Ollie and DeeDee have a typical sibling relationship. They fight, but they get along too. I loved that Ollie made a friend, but I also worried that kids wouldn’t be kind if they thought he was talking to himself or a ghost. Teddy likes to crack jokes, so I think he is a great friend for Ollie, plus he helps push Ollie out of his comfort zone. I was really intrigued by the buried treasure. I know I am always up for a mystery and searching for buried gold- sounds like a lot of fun to me. I got to discover the clues with Ollie and Teddy, and it was exciting trying to piece together the puzzle. I would recommend this book to anyone ages eight and up who likes to laugh and enjoys a good mystery. Now I am hoping there will be more adventures for Ollie and Teddy in the future! I bet their town has a lot more to discover!

Has anyone else read Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold by Lisa Schmid? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Stop back on Monday for our interview with the author. 

Happy Reading!
~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog

Friday, April 10, 2020

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Buried Secrets...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Next week we're going to be hunting for buried treasure. Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Gold in mind on hand.
Exciting to find the loot.
Mark the spot with X. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Treasure!
Bonus points: The riddle is a haiku poem



Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations

Monday, April 6, 2020

Fairday's Riddle: To Be Found...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme?—bonus points if you can also guess the type of poem. More word play. 😀~ F

Gold in mind on hand.
Exciting to find the loot.
Mark the spot with X. 

What am I referring to? Stop by Friday for the answer.
Bonus points if you can guess the type of poem

The picture is the clue! (the answer is in this picture)

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Time For...


Imagine. You don't need anything except your brain to conjure up a bit of fun. Our ability to dream up stories is amazing, and extremely entertaining. Go with the flow of your ideas, and allow the play. Enjoy being yourself!


Go with the flow~~~
"Feeling bored? Don't know what to do? Look around, you'll find a clue."


If you're a voracious bookworm on the hunt for a good books to devour, this is the perfect spot to find the delicious words you're craving. Lizzy and Fairday have reviewed tons of books and interviewed many authors. You'll get some great ideas for your next read and find out the story behind the story from its creator! 

Go get your fill. 
Drawing is brilliant. You can go anywhere in your mind and bring the scene to life on paper. Nothing whisks me away like dreaming up scenes in pencil. If you love to draw and create, visit the post for ideas and inspiration. 
Me drawing myself, drawing myself

Pick up a pencil.

Love to write? Constantly creating stories? If you're looking for writing tips and information about how to pursue publishing a book traditionally or indie, visit the post for articles about our journey writing the Secret Files of Fairday Morrow and Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library. Writing is a wild ride!
Put on your writing pants.


Take A Trip To Imagination
Short stories/ creative sojourns





Looking for something fun to do?
Try a helping of Bookworm Stew!

The recipe calls for the following things: a bowl, some letters, and a bell that rings. A spoon and a sparkle are needed as well. When stirred up right, they'll cast their spell. *Whatever you use will work out fine, as long as you follow along each line.  

In a pot, pour some water
Add in any flavor color 
Stir three times, then once more 
Go back again- this time four 
Now, get your letters and toss them in
Set your thoughts on a whistling wind
Watch the brew spin round and round
Then ring a bell to add in sound 
Now just wait, and you shall see
What the story is bound to be 

     ✭✭✭  

Did words appear? What do they say? 
String them together, and it's the soup of the day! 

*Stir again whenever you wish, but remember, you never know what's in this dish!


To our readers, we hope you are safe and well. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us. 
We love to hear from you! 💗
~ Jess, Stephanie, and the whole gang 


Cozy up with our mysteries!
The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow (book 1)



Publish date: 12/1/15
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Illustrator: Roman Muradov
Ages: 8 and up
Grade Level: 3-6
Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book


FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED.
Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library (book 2)


Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library (book 2)
Publish date: 10/23/17
Publisher: Willow Press
Illustrator: David SanAngelo
Ages: 8 and up
Grade level: 3-6
Available: Hardcover, E-book


ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE. 






Friday, March 27, 2020

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Stay and Play!

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! A tricky riddle, but fun to write. Tune in next week, we're in the mood to play. 😃See you all around the book block. ~ F


Imagination flicker spark
Scenes act out to ignite the dark
Mind in matter will heed a lark

Tea party style at pool bottom
Matchbox rides if you’ve got 'em
Awakened eyes shall make a mark 

Endless depth to that which is real
Head, heart, hands like to think and feel
Charging chattel to jump, dance, squeal
See flowers grow, and touch tree bark

Hide and seek under pillow fort
Bouncing balls do dribble in court
Entangled bits seize the strange quark

This is that and that could go there
Being light, as free with no care
Turning the time inside your lair 
Seasons do shift, green lush to stark

***

Below are the A lines brought together with a personal flare. :)

Mind in matter will heed a lark 
~Awakened eyes shall make a mark  
See flowers grow, and touch tree bark 
~ Entangled bits seize the strange quark
Seasons do shift, green lush to stark

What am I referring to? Answer: Play!
A zejel poem is an old Spanish poetic form. Below is is a layout template to use if you feel like playing with words. It's a challenge to write a zejel poem! Each line has to be 8 syllables. You can write about any topic and change it up a bit, like in the "Play" poem. I alternated making two of the stanzas two lines with a A line at the end, instead of three.

-First stanza is a tercet (3-line stanza) with an AAA rhyme scheme

-All other stanzas are quatrains (4-line stanzas) with a XXXA rhyme scheme, so the second stanza would be BBBA, third CCCA, fourth DDDA, and so on to the end of the poem

-Lines are usually 8 syllables long

A- rhyme- beginning
A- rhyme- middle
A- rhyme- end

B- rhyme- add to story/ beginning
B- rhyme- add to story/ beginning
B- rhyme- add to story/ beginning
A- rhymes with the A lines- match context with beginning A line

C- rhyme- add to story/ middle
C- rhyme- add to story/ middle
C- rhyme- add to story/ middle
A- rhymes with the A lines- match context with middle A line

D- rhyme- add to story/ end
D- rhyme- add to story/ end
D- rhyme- add to story/ end
A- rhymes with the A lines- match context with end A line

And so on... (bring the A lines together when your poem is finished to see how they read.)

Here are a couple more zejel poems I wrote to exercise my imagination with word play. 😀


NIGHT GARDEN

Oh! Queen of Night, stepping in now
Dragonfly diamond sparkle bough
Whimsy tips brushing soft pink brow

Hum wing buzz in shadow moonlight
Breath of air on rose sunset flight
Water babbling betwixt in sight
Pungent colors pique mortal wow 

Zig-zag fury on ancient vine 
Buzzing blissful in circle line 
Changing ways a mere passing sign  
Rise to fall upon croaking row

Bashful frizz passing eyes alight   
Fear the tender tercet reads right 
Heart is frothing to take a bite
Arise! Awake! Whispered secret vow


MIRROR IN THE MIDDLE

Skim a flat stone and ripple space 
Flip light switch upon flesh face
Here is now, in the middle place

They work for all-—each in their turn
One for the other they will learn
Right this way, free spirits shall yearn
Reflections spot your inner trace

I will know myself— how eye roll 
None for the other takes a toll 
Left in the dust, lost laggers loll 
Circle by time at your own pace 

Slice a straight line through our dark heart
Everything breathes in one whole part 
Each must shoot its own poison dart
It takes two to run a mad race



Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations