Congratulations to Abigail Pierre from The University School. She is one of two winners of the Shop Stress contest that was an activity at the #TriniKidsCanWrite contest launch.
Abigail won a Mario’s Family Lime, a Selima and the Merfolk book and a t-shirt.
Congratulations to Jervon Lashley from ROSEC Private School. He is one of two winners of the Shop Stress contest that was an activity at the #TriniKidsCanWrite contest launch.
Jervon won a Mario’s Family Lime, a Selima and the Merfolk book and a t-shirt.
This was an easy one 🙂
Have you ever felt like your flag is flying at half-mast? I swear that has been me for the past few months. True, I have and have had a lot going on but who doesn’t? I wake okay (late); once I have my coffee I’m good for a couple of hours. Then comes 1 pm. You see that dog in the picture? throw some long black hair on her and that’s pretty much me for the rest of the day. Don’t get me wrong, give me a remote and a comfy couch and I’m in heaven. Lazing around is one of my favourite pastimes. However, when you have a life and a busy one at that, chilaxin‘ all the time is a big no no. Actually, it’s not chilaxin‘ because all I do is worry about all the things I am not doing or not doing well enough. Never mind other people’s standards; I like to be fabulous at whatever I do.
In my efforts to ‘pull myself together’, I had a long talk with my maker. One of the things I wanted to revive was my diary posts. Writing is something I love to do but I’m always too tired or I can’t concentrate or I’ll use the most common phrase used by all my fellow procrastinators – ‘I’ll do it just now’.
I had a slight improvement this week, nothing to talk about because I still have a lot of outstanding work. It is Friday night as I write (I’ll most likely edit this tomorrow). I’ve done my laundry, tidied my house and now, I’m writing my diary post which I’ll be posting every Saturday. Not bad. I’ve also been reading a hilarious book, The Duppy by Anthony C. Winkler. I literally laugh as I read. My mission is to finish it on Saturday while I’m under the dryer. Maybe I’ll pick it up tonight again if my eyes stay open past 10 pm. Slowly but surely I’ll be the ole Vanessa again. It will take some repetition and scheduling but a girl’s gotta to do what a girl’s gotta do.
Today I start writing book two of Selima and the Merfolk. Tentatively, I have named it Corallian, you will see why when I release the cover. I have signed up to Camp NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) which is a challenge designed for participants to write a specific amount of word in one month (July). Your account allows you to create a project, tracks your progress and join camps/groups for support if you like. My goal is 30,000 words which should bring me to about half of book two.
I am using these beautiful chests that Moruga RC Primary School gave me to organize my desk. For me, order is paramount for productivity.
I tried the November challenge before and got nowhere. This time I am more determined to challenge myself. For the past few months, I have been fortunate to visit many schools and get feedback from several persons who have read Selima and the Merfolk. Everyone asks if I’ve started writing the sequel. Since I have a little experience under my belt I hope to get this book published faster than the last. However, I will not rush because at end of the day my primary goals are to write a quality book that I would enjoy and remember forever, even if I was not the writer.
Wish me luck!
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I feel so lucky, every time I visit a school I have such a great time. In that hour, it’s like I’m awake in a dream that I orchestrated because everything I want to happen happens.
The standard four boys of Belmont Boys’ RC Primary School were as entertaining as I expected them to be. They were familiar with Selima and the Merfolk because a few of them won books at my book launch and their teacher, Mr. Monsegue recently started reading it with the class. The boys were very enthusiastic, they asked me questions that I have never been asked before, like:
“Miss are you a mermaid?”
“Where is your tail?”
“Can we wet your legs?”
“What would you do if you saw other mermaids?”
“Can we come see you in the river?”
Some of the boys seemed genuinely serious and wanted a straight answer while others appeared to be playful and in their glee to be free to explore their imagination without judgment. I of course, love to talk about mermaids and other folklore characters, so I was all to happy to indulge them.
I did my usual reading and though they took a while to settle down, they were as quiet as can be while I read. Honestly, I didn’t mind the initial over-zealousness of the class; they were excited and there isn’t anything wrong with that.
Five boys won Mario’s pizza vouchers and one boy won a Selima and the Merfolk T-shirt. Something tells me those vouchers will be redeemed very soon.
These boys were great. I had a wonderful visit. I can’t wait to read their messages and reviews on my blog and their short stories for the competition in September/October.
Thank you standard four boys of Belmont Boys’ RC School, you made my week!
Congratulations to another successful graduating class from Melville Memorial Girls’ Anglican School.
I had the great pleasure of attending their graduation last Tuesday. It was so refreshing to witness that Melville still produces talented, intelligent young LADIES. I also had the pleasure of spending time with several of my past teachers.
Keep it up Melville princesses and thanks for inviting me !!!!!
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Visiting Moruga AC Primary School was the finale to a perfect day. Principal Floyd and I were acquainted; he attended my book launch last month and he was a distinguished guest at Moruga RC Primary School graduation.
Moruga AC Primary School also received donations of books and pizza vouchers from Mario’s Pizzeria. The children were as fascinated and familiar with folklore as students from previous schools I visited.
Our intention is to include all the schools we visit in a competition Mario’s and I will jointly host in September/October. Moruga AC is one of the schools that we expect active participation.
I have an affinity for respectful and well-behaved children and I most certainly met some at this and the other Moruga schools; even the infants who I expected to be more rambunctious.
By nature I am a shy person, so interacting with pleasant, open and welcoming people is a great comfort to me. I hope I left them with the same warmth because I enjoyed my time with them immensely.
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