tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86771735451029851762024-03-18T23:45:40.373-04:00Bonnie Blogs GreenBonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-89768523024383051022012-07-08T14:38:00.000-04:002012-07-08T14:38:14.800-04:00Wangari Maathai Environmental Award Nominations<span style="color: #6aa84f;">In a moment of serendipity a few weeks ago, I made an instant friend in the person of Purity Ruchango, founder of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1428726699"></span>Sister2Sister International Outreach Ministry, Inc<span id="goog_1428726700"></span></a>. While training as a volunteer gallery sitter for Red Dog Gallery, home of the 501c <a href="http://www.theafasgroup.com/aboutafas.aspx" target="_blank">Art for Arts Sake </a>(AFAS) group in Winston-Salem, NC.<span style="background-color: white;">, an artist <span style="font-family: inherit;">recommended</span> that I visit another new 501c business down the street, <b>Umoja </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b>African Crafts.</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span><span style="background-color: white;">(</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Umoja is </span><span style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kiswahili</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> for "unity".)</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Tribute to Wangari Maathai</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="background-color: white;">You will hear a great deal more about the remarkable Purity from me in the future, but today I want to share a bit about </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">Nobel peace laureate </span><a href="http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2004/maathai-bio.html" target="_blank"><strong style="line-height: 15px;">Wangari</strong><span style="line-height: 15px;"> </span><strong style="line-height: 15px;">Maathai</strong></a>.<span style="background-color: white;"> Though I was aware of the <a href="http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/" target="_blank">Greenbelt Movement</a>, I had little knowledge of the extraordinary woman behind it. My new friend, Purity, is a native of the same region of Kenya as Wangari Maathai. During a recent visit with Purity, I noticed she was reading </span></span><b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unbowed-Memoir-Vintage-Wangari-Maathai/dp/0307275205/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341768756&sr=1-1&keywords=unbowed" target="_blank">Unbowed</a>, </b><span style="background-color: white;">Dr. Maathai's autobiography. Purity said it was her second reading,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">in part as tribute to Dr. Maathai's passing in September of 2011. Because Dr. Mathaai inspired Purity to establish <b>Sister2Sister International</b>, I was motivated to read <i><b>Unbowed</b></i>. I finished reading it<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">today. But considering </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f;">how Dr. Maathai's words and struggles tug at my heart and lift my soul, her story will stay with me forever.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In her autobiography Dr. Maathai said, "the Nobel Committee made a [connection] between peace, sustainable management of resources, and good governance. This was the first time such a linkage had been forged by the Nobel Committee and it was the first time that the committee had decided to </span>recognize<span style="font-family: inherit;"> its importance by awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to someone who had worked in these areas for over three decades. As we had said for many years, humanity needs to rethink peace and security and work toward cultures of peace by governing itself more democratically, respecting the rule of law and human rights, deliberately and consciously promoting justice and equity, and managing resources more responsibly and accountably--not only for the present but also for the future generations."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Just hours ago I learned of a new environmental award, the <a href="http://www.cpfweb.org/77034/en/" target="_blank">Wangari Mathaai Award</a>, <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">from the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) that commemorates renowned environmentalist, the late Wangari Maathai. It is in the amount of 20,000 US dollars and will be presented this September </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">in recognition of outstanding contributions made by an individual to preserve, restore and sustainably manage forests and to communicate the key role forests play in rural livelihoods and the environment across generations. </span><b>The deadline for nominations is </b></span></span><strong style="color: #231f20; font-family: Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Friday, 20 July 2012. </strong><br />
<strong style="color: #231f20; font-family: Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></strong><br />
<strong style="color: #231f20; font-family: Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Please spread the news of this new award. To have her mission perpetuated in such a manner is an honor Dr. Mathaai could never have imagined when she began her journey so long ago. I believe she was correct in saying, "Heaven is green."</strong><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> . </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">Until I can next get out of the garden, as always I can be found at:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.BonnieDoerrBooks.com</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">novelchick1@gmail.com</span></span>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-856211850790792412012-07-03T11:41:00.001-04:002012-07-03T11:41:44.614-04:00Companion PlantingsA quick share of a most helpful chart via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/GrowingOrganicEatingOrganic">http://www.facebook.com/GrowingOrganicEatingOrganic</a> . Tis the season. If it's too late for you to plant, plan for next season, be it this fall or next spring. Happy gardening. Green is good for you! (Click on the image for a full view. Save and print.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RM-UVlhfeaHHkR9WK-ko-dtf_kSoY8vUWtJUMEjNjxSO2H3Vu5ApYNmr1Pjz4lhNiPM9hxD_n6hyvoE4feRYJYhtZwqRrSJkTpohl5g6u3hjffDqnTrqiMo4qxfvBVOUtQcJ-LkrvdDl/s1600/companion+plantings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RM-UVlhfeaHHkR9WK-ko-dtf_kSoY8vUWtJUMEjNjxSO2H3Vu5ApYNmr1Pjz4lhNiPM9hxD_n6hyvoE4feRYJYhtZwqRrSJkTpohl5g6u3hjffDqnTrqiMo4qxfvBVOUtQcJ-LkrvdDl/s640/companion+plantings.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-71925408732916929782012-06-14T12:33:00.000-04:002012-06-14T15:42:37.106-04:00Meaningful Gifts for Your Caring Dad<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorCTiMj0L2vfSocQneATmRfU-eXW5VIrZAPxktGQJFTIM91j53LZiYWUyg0GVZ1zVNhdr1VPcTlWAFib15z7MIQUUjsF_VqymCRjfQq9utjQ2-qDJdow5KNZAy4_-D-9Rm6HrnCYdwDVI/s1600/Dad+and+Itchy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorCTiMj0L2vfSocQneATmRfU-eXW5VIrZAPxktGQJFTIM91j53LZiYWUyg0GVZ1zVNhdr1VPcTlWAFib15z7MIQUUjsF_VqymCRjfQq9utjQ2-qDJdow5KNZAy4_-D-9Rm6HrnCYdwDVI/s200/Dad+and+Itchy2.jpg" width="173" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and Itchy</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f;">Do you have a thoughtful, loving, protective dad? A dad for whom material things are just that--<i>things</i>. A dad who doesn't need more stuff? That was my father and how I wish I could worry about what to give him for Father's Day. He was all about taking care of others. If he were on earth today, I'd give him something that honored his spirit. I'd adopt an animal in his name. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f;">Dad had a soft heart for all creatures and loved my adopted dog so much he frequently teased me about his plan to dog-nap Itchy. I credit Dad with inspiring me to write <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Bonnie+J.+Doerr" target="_blank">stories </a>about teens who take dangerous risks to save wildlife from dastardly criminals.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Did your dad ever take you to the zoo? Or the aquarium? For many of us, those trips created memories of a lifetime. Why not remind your father how much you appreciated those trips? For $25 and a few clicks on the computer, you can thank him by adopting an animal from the <a href="http://www.seewinter.com/get-involved/support-the-mission/adopt-an-animal?utm_source=Donor+List&utm_campaign=7e66c5f708-FathersDay_20126_12_2012&utm_medium=email&mc_cid=7e66c5f708&mc_eid=8a88c7bdd1" target="_blank">Clearwater Marine Aquarium. </a></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Your gift helps provide the best daily care possible for the resident animals as well as needed medical attention.</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Clearwater Aquarium is more than an entertaining and educational facility. It also rescues, cares for</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">, and releases injured and ill wildlife. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">But not all rescued animals will recover well enough to be released into the wild. You may recognize Clearwater Marine Aquarium as the home of <a href="http://www.seewinter.com/winter" target="_blank">Winter</a>, from <i>A Dolphin Tale</i>. Winter was rescued from certain death, and after being fitted with</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> a prosthetic tail, she </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">happily resides at this aquarium. Winter played herself in the movie and "today serves as a symbol of courage, perseverance, and hope to millions of people--both able and disabled--who have been touched by her remarkable story of recovery and rehabilitation."</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoK8KDBtRewQS0eqZRbB33OFqErYT6MIhKsRKw1dhD4Hi0F_T4H_1zzF7Puna9YL5MMarF15Dsn1G9Ni519qoR6hEcBNAHBkds-hjpM-OWNs1vJnsjaQV9S4ge-hBu4bjfZqiNo0KGeajQ/s1600/Irene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoK8KDBtRewQS0eqZRbB33OFqErYT6MIhKsRKw1dhD4Hi0F_T4H_1zzF7Puna9YL5MMarF15Dsn1G9Ni519qoR6hEcBNAHBkds-hjpM-OWNs1vJnsjaQV9S4ge-hBu4bjfZqiNo0KGeajQ/s200/Irene.jpg" width="145" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f;">While I have zoos and fathers in mind, I must tell you to watch for the release of a delightful book about young Whit who sleeps, eats, and even attends home-school at a zoo. Just one of the perks of having a father who's the head elephant keeper. I bet you know someone who'd enjoy <b><i>Don't Feed The Boy</i></b>, by <a href="http://irenelatham.com/novels.html" target="_blank">Irene Latham</a>, coming October 16, 2012 from Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">I guarantee you that Whit would recommend you adopt an animal to honor your father!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; line-height: 1.5;">If you're a home-schooler or interested in endangered animals, wildlife, tropical island life, sea turtles, or environmental issues in general, check out my own <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Bonnie+J.+Doerr" target="_blank">books </a>and the <a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/Teachers.htm" target="_blank">teacher page</a> on my </span><a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/" style="line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">website</a><span style="color: #6aa84f; line-height: 1.5;">. </span></span><br />
<br />Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-85478497344173031232012-05-16T10:59:00.001-04:002012-05-26T09:37:29.832-04:00The Filmmaker and The Author<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Some
writers are born entertainers, not only in print, but also on film. I'm not one
of them. Put a camera in my face and all I think about
is how I wish I could recreate the images and impressions </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">recorded</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> by</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> a </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">video camera </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">the way I can
edit pictures and perceptions formed by words on a page. </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">What I wouldn't give to transform the me in the</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> video lens into a younger, wiser, more fascinating version. Love being behind the camera. Hate being in front of it.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dHmnewS5XE9Ad8gwP-eCEB62Nb1EAtgBmYI_4PkUqA2TUEHsSNKSqZ3fptJZmQUcuLYlWLY1Dhnfdj9k2q8K35NWf52oIp5Dcrly8G3xoPGI4apoda8m7mvuMAWd9GJ2qi_gzP3nmD_V/s1600/kenzie+bike+fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dHmnewS5XE9Ad8gwP-eCEB62Nb1EAtgBmYI_4PkUqA2TUEHsSNKSqZ3fptJZmQUcuLYlWLY1Dhnfdj9k2q8K35NWf52oIp5Dcrly8G3xoPGI4apoda8m7mvuMAWd9GJ2qi_gzP3nmD_V/s200/kenzie+bike+fall.jpg" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <i>Island Sting</i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Recently, I was reminded of my relationship with the camera when, as part of a larger project, I was asked to videotape myself. The
video would then be used to introduce me, the author, to readers. <i>Someone wanted me to video myself
talking about myself? </i>Groan. <i>I'm</i> not
interesting. It’s my characters that are appealing. I write about teens that live in exotic locales, rescue endangered animals, solve
mysteries, jump into treacherous and exciting adventures, deceive their parents, and
create havoc for criminals. Why would anyone want to know about my quiet, ordinary
world when they could dive into that intriguing one?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">I'd accepted the fact that I was going to create
a pathetic product when my thoughtful husband reminded me that we live in
the <a href="http://www.wsbusinessinc.com/play/city-of-the-arts.html">City
of the Arts</a>, home of the renown and highly acclaimed
<a href="http://www.uncsa.edu/" target="_blank">University of North Carolina School of the Arts</a>. We’re surrounded by young cinematographers,
directors, editors, producers, and
screenwriters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UTPLibfWDCdLhrpGWmRJWaE3R3JZtqlJaAIF3OHAPpPzVkBJEw_nfWHy7NG_c-xyEwY_DiXAug_8Nge0OWtKNCcDRU2C9OeAMxZGsAgqHcgtVDOFNnqQ5DEuVtMuPcWI4RUQGSbjBv1L/s1600/Zach+Strum2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UTPLibfWDCdLhrpGWmRJWaE3R3JZtqlJaAIF3OHAPpPzVkBJEw_nfWHy7NG_c-xyEwY_DiXAug_8Nge0OWtKNCcDRU2C9OeAMxZGsAgqHcgtVDOFNnqQ5DEuVtMuPcWI4RUQGSbjBv1L/s200/Zach+Strum2.jpg" width="125" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zach filming through<br />
a magnifying glass</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Enter talented <a href="mailto:strumzach@gmail.com" target="_blank">Zachary Strum</a>, class of </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">2012, </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">UNCSA</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">'s <a href="http://www.uncsa.edu/filmmaking/" target="_blank">School of Filmmaking</a>. Poor Zach. I fought his HD camera every step of the way. (Did you catch that? </span><i style="color: #6aa84f;">HD camera</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">. Every pore, wrinkle, smudge,
every-</span><i style="color: #6aa84f;">everything</i><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> would show!) I
didn't simply turn away from that camera, I ran away from it. When that didn’t
work, I tried to blink it away from me. Don't believe me? Watch the video.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">I may not have liked the camera,
but the photographer behind it was delightful. In spite of the challenge my discomfort presented, Zach produced
an informative, entertaining, and spot-on accurate film. When I didn't play well
with the camera, Zach simply worked around me. He shot in late winter when our yard
and gardens—once nothing but a woodland jungle—were brown and dormant, but he envisioned how spring and summer would transform the property. That vision inspired his entire production.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">In addition to keen vision, Zach has sensitive hearing. Corners
inside my home and sites beyond its walls spoke to him. Old files, photos, and papers
told him more than my nervous words could. I’m pretty sure he’s a dog
whisperer, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Zach wove hours of film plus old and
new stills into three minutes of video, then set it to music performed by <a href="http://www.whistlingtom.com/" target="_blank">Whistling Tom Bryant</a>, a world class performer, who inspired a character in my 2011 EPIC winning novel, <i>Island Sting</i>. It took much more
than precision of craft to produce this video, a creation that honestly
and vividly introduced this author, <a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/" target="_blank">Bonnie J. Doerr</a> (a most reluctant subject), to the world. It took intuition, sensitivity, insight, ingenuity,
persistence, patience, and kindness. </span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">If the film appears jerky as you view it, it's only because Zach jam-packed it with those tiny, magical digital thingies that hold incredible amounts of information. It's smooth as silk when viewed in a studio. If only I had a studio. Then maybe I could convert the images into a younger, wiser, more fascinating me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">This film is as much about Zachary Strum, filmmaker, as it is about Bonnie
J. Doerr, author. Watch for his name at the end. I'm betting you'll see it on the end of a major movie one day.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-32350523603985815232012-04-28T14:02:00.000-04:002012-04-28T14:02:25.145-04:00Technology Trouble and Green Guilt<br />
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This blog was first posted by and at the invitation of <a href="http://preciseproofing.com/" target="_blank">Precise Proofing.</a> .</div>
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As an author of eco-mystery adventures, it’s a treat to be Precise
Proofing’s guest blogger in celebration of Earth Day. Even though blogs began
appearing in the 1990s, a period that seems like yesterday, I only entered the
blogosphere recently. It seems time, technology, and celebrations wait for no
one. According to Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day, the first Earth
Day celebration in the USA was held in 1970. And—<i>boom</i>—a heartbeat later, we’re marking the 42nd annual Earth Day
which has now stretched into a month-long celebration. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Every Earth Day involves much consideration of trees: thanking trees, planting
trees, saving trees. Remember when we were told technology would reduce our
paper load and save trees? How has this prediction played out in your business?
Glad I didn’t bet on that one coming true. In my work, I have more paper than
ever to deal with. There are two main reasons for my massive paper collection. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The first reason I’m not
reducing my paper load. has to do with my research methods. When I’m not
involved in primary research with wildlife in the Florida Keys, much of my
research involves reading news accounts and research articles. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Truth is, I’m much better at organizing and processing articles I can
touch and spread out all over the floor than dealing with information that
miraculously appears on my computer screen. Half the time I can’t even figure out how I found the
articles. If I do manage to overcome the data’s mysterious appearance, I save
it. How? The same way you save yours—by hiding it in a tiny picture of a folder
that also wickedly disappears somewhere in my machine never to be found again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But I know how to deal with this crazy-making situation. Can you guess
where I’m going? Of course you can. I print out the good stuff. File it in a
tangible manila folder, then put it in a heavy, walnut, file cabinet that holds
a heck of a lot of paper. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh, the guilt. I’m not saving trees at all. All I can do is hope someone
is replenishing the forests. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The second reason for my paper piles is that to find errors I need to
see my text on hardcopy. My eyes can only handle reading a screen for a short
time. So I print out my draft. I find pesky punctuation and grammar errors, those
<i>ugh!-that-reads-like-crapola</i> parts,
and get back to work on the computer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then, I print it again. Of course, there are additional pesky errors I
missed the first time, plus new ones, and <i>Yes,
that’s brilliant</i>! moments when I get a new and better idea for a scene. So
I hit the keyboard again and improve the manuscript for the second time. You
know where I’m going with this. <o:p></o:p></div>
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More printing, more editing, more insights, and with each change more
opportunities for errors. But, no worries, it’s easy to make changes and print
another copy. If I had to do all this by hand...well, I wouldn’t. But I keep producing
mounds of paper because it’s so confounded easy, and it helps make my novels
the best they can be. More guilt. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why all this guilt? I confess.
I’m a tree hugger. I can’t help it. You can blame my parents. They’ll never
know. But I’m proud to be wild about trees. Heck, we wouldn’t be alive if it
weren’t for their <a href="http://chemistry.about.com/od/environmentalchemistry/f/oxygen-produced-by-trees.htm">life-sustaining oxygen</a>. I need their green. Every shade of it. I could
never live on a desert, at a height above the treeline, or at either of Earth’s
poles. Yes, my favorite color is green.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I do my best to make up for using so much paper. I buy <a href="http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=recycled+copy+paper&qpvt=recycled+copy+paper&FORM=HURE#x0y0">recycled reams</a>. (Do you know they make <a href="http://www.enviroindustries.com.au/products/9-Paper-Products/26-Frogprint-A4-Bamboo-Copy-Paper/">bamboo paper stock</a>. Great idea. Bamboo is one rapidly growing
tree—almost Internet fast). I use both sides of every sheet. I recycle used
paper. I’ve even mulched with it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Almost as an apology for my excess, I nurture the trees on our
property. I move trees from crowded places to locations where they’ll thrive,
relieve them of invasive vines, and weep when they die. And I plant new trees.
Not only on Earth Day. If you, or anyone you know, question the importance of
trees, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/the-importance-of-trees_b_1437176.html">Maria Rodale</a> has some answers for you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you haven’t planted a tree lately, consider doing so. If you don’t have
an outdoor space, plant one in a pot. Walk in the woods. Listen to the breeze
whisper through branches. Savor the symphony of birdsong. Revel in the variety
of foliage shapes and shades. Sway to the windy dance of mighty trunks,
graceful limbs, and flittering leaves. Get up close and personal. Go ahead. Breathe
deeply. Hug a tree. You might just relax and lose whatever guilt lurks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bonnie J. Doerr, a nature lover and lifetime educator, has taught
students from kindergarten to college in eight states. Her acclaimed
contemporary-realistic novels celebrate crime-fighting, fearless teens who take
action with attitude and a touch of romance. Originally from western Maryland,
Ms. Doerr lives in a North Carolina log cabin and spends weeks each year
researching and writing in the Florida Keys. Ms. Doerr’s work has been
described as a “mashup of Jean Craighead George and Carl Hiaasen” by some and
by others “what would happen if Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Lassie teamed
up to crack a case.” She is the author of eco-adventure/mystery novels, Island
Sting, Leap Books 2010 (2011 EPIC eBook Outstanding Children’s Book award),
Stakeout, Leap Books 2011, (finalist 2012 Green Earth YA Book award) and the
forthcoming Busted, Leap Books 2013. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Bonnie is also featured this month by the <a href="http://studio.girlscouts.org/authors/bonnie-doerr/">Girl Scouts of the USA</a>, <a href="http://aurorareviewsarchives.blogspot.com/2012/04/interview-bonnie-j-doerr.html?m=1">Aurora Reviews</a>, <a href="http://tbrtheblog.blogspot.com/p/tbr-featured-author.html?m=1">TBR</a>, and <a href="http://leapbks.blogspot.com/2012/04/celebrate-earth-day-with-us.html">Leap Books Publishing</a> where her books are on sale this month. You
can read more about her and her work at <a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/">www.BonnieDoerrBooks.com</a> and <a href="http://bonnieblogsgreen.blogspot.com/">http://bonnieblogsgreen.blogspot.com/</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-80059237063608723432012-04-25T17:30:00.000-04:002012-04-25T17:41:32.763-04:00Ask and You Shall Receive<br />
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<span style="color: green;"><i>This essay was first posted on <a href="http://lje1.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/what-are-you-doing-to-help-mother-earth/" target="_blank">Laurie J. Edwards, Author, Artist, Dreamer</a>. By request, I share it here.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: green;">During Earth Week I’m reminded more than ever about why my writing took off in the direction it did. A deep appreciation of nature and the need to be immersed in the outdoors on a regular basis has defined my mental health for as long as I remember. I’ve been astounded to learn how many people are missing the gene that connects them to nature. In recent years my astonishment has turned into alarm. This dissociation from nature, I believe, is in many ways at the core of our environmental crisis.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOWa-HMRtPW46Yy7PeDebnpR4mK3oPEcBOUfsFVxjb1POCcE3XjZ1plq3psqr3_opA9BcNu30WHUMXu1Atd2dnDrpPKCDcUYRhu6QIgWc-8aDMgydLlpnvk-FwXfXBviY8OK3HYVbhXv9/s1600/100_1567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOWa-HMRtPW46Yy7PeDebnpR4mK3oPEcBOUfsFVxjb1POCcE3XjZ1plq3psqr3_opA9BcNu30WHUMXu1Atd2dnDrpPKCDcUYRhu6QIgWc-8aDMgydLlpnvk-FwXfXBviY8OK3HYVbhXv9/s200/100_1567.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="color: green;">Richard Louv, author of <a href="http://richardlouv.com/books/last-child/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><em>Last Child in the Woods</em></span> </a>(Algonquin, 2005), defines this as Nature Deficit Disorder. As a result of a lifetime indoors, children have limited respect for their immediate natural surroundings. According to Louv, “An increasing pace in the last three decades, approximately, of a rapid disengagement between children and direct experiences in nature… has profound implications, not only for the health of future generations but for the health of the Earth itself.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: green;">Watch the wonder and delight on a young child’s face when first observing a nest of eggs hatching, a tadpole growing into a frog, or a bean sprouting and reaching for the </span><span style="color: green;">sky</span>,<span style="color: green;"> and you know how much joy children naturally find in nature. We are wired to appreciate nature’s gifts. To nurture that appreciation, before it is lost to modern day society, can be soul saving.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVGlYE4Y6r_6Wqzfe-3Hmt3ChRNgS_omib54aQ6NV5J2WFzBxYViwQVrIzjtXp5hKWp2qV6I9c8oUpPDcAbA741Ti8ScNkiXlc1aZpzl3hRedSTTpSet359qEi8PFI3cHkqivNmuit_xR/s1600/100_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVGlYE4Y6r_6Wqzfe-3Hmt3ChRNgS_omib54aQ6NV5J2WFzBxYViwQVrIzjtXp5hKWp2qV6I9c8oUpPDcAbA741Ti8ScNkiXlc1aZpzl3hRedSTTpSet359qEi8PFI3cHkqivNmuit_xR/s200/100_1511.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: green;">Without first having experienced something, how can we come to care for it? So it seems tragically understandable that a lack of association with the natural environment leads to ecological abuse, or at the very least, taking our natural environment for granted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: green;">I began to write poetry first, then short stories. But by the time I drafted my first novel, the die was cast. Each piece of writing had brought me closer and closer to natural settings, to crimes against the environment, and finally to where I am now—writing ecological mystery/adventures. I realize not every child can visit a wilderness, or explore a National Refuge, but every child can feel like they have when immersed in my novels. Teens can learn how much fun it is to be outdoors, how sensitive the environment is, and how they can set a good example for the adults in their world. They can virtually join other teens as they work to improve the Earth and save its creatures. It’s one small thing I can do to inspire environmental stewardship.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white;">In celebration of Earth Month, Leap Books is offering my books at a reduced price the rest of this month. Forty percent off the paperbacks:</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://leapbks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=6" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: silver; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #515151; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Stakeout for sale for $7.79"><span style="color: green;">Stakeout is only $7.79</span></a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">and</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 60, 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://leapbks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=2" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 60, 0); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Island Sting paperback for $7.19"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Island Sting is only $7.19</span></a></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: green;">(The accompanying photos show the natural beauty that feeds my friends and family--body and soul.)</span>
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<span style="color: green;"><br /></span></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-23356027551712341792011-10-01T13:26:00.010-04:002012-04-25T17:30:24.300-04:00Stepping Away for Now.<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbbUW9cJihA4Ez5eWOe4Fj1wt-b8FZkyu3Han8AHj2ROG4jzRrgBgUy8u2z9QRa2g4wFDzCB3G5gY0W98_4zi8JSnNFcwzU54yha_gyBa2eYNBS5RXn_wyDVndDcpx9WboAxendCg02bz/s1600/Bon+and+EPIC+award+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px; height: 200px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659270460140213282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbbUW9cJihA4Ez5eWOe4Fj1wt-b8FZkyu3Han8AHj2ROG4jzRrgBgUy8u2z9QRa2g4wFDzCB3G5gY0W98_4zi8JSnNFcwzU54yha_gyBa2eYNBS5RXn_wyDVndDcpx9WboAxendCg02bz/s200/Bon+and+EPIC+award+2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><font style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Dear friends,</font></div><div><font style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"></font> </div><div><font style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">If you stumble upon my humble blog, know that I've decided to bow out of the over-saturated blogosphere for now. I had a blast while there was time and space in your world for me, but now it's time to take a break. </font></div><div><font style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br />I will continue to champion green teens, endangered and threatened species, and all things beautiful on fragile Mother Earth.</font></div><font style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><div><font style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3W6drBYOzCW1Pr9jzbFFgRY_1RebmY644nP6VQiEgpfRZqeBpNvNtvKEm9Od0K2xL4GARC6Am56JRlQ-JlYZqDKmT-inebAPxF9EbAlG4FP_TkB9yWn0OIEIeIR1OKadKkvoTNQdyIWbY/s1600/Bon+and+EPIC+award+2.jpg"></a></font> </div></font><div><font style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br />Happy trails to all until we meet again.<br /></font> <font style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br />Bonnie</font> </div><div><a href="http://www.BonnieDoerrBooks.com">www.BonnieDoerrBooks.com</a></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-36822030191078887372011-03-19T14:10:00.006-04:002011-03-19T15:03:54.632-04:00Great News for Environmental Fiction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVNMMM_9R-sLfocOrv1X5TliPEnNozlTQg7DN7ZaPK5GKStBCSa21ITtMJJ4-h6zxNTepgoL0RZ948oPUgRboM4jz6LAaVDawyIS4vq60ZlIrcEipuxtD04a4ZMD-Y1MyEJ3Hgo3IJDnz/s1600/Island+sting+new+cover.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 124px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585861110684726242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVNMMM_9R-sLfocOrv1X5TliPEnNozlTQg7DN7ZaPK5GKStBCSa21ITtMJJ4-h6zxNTepgoL0RZ948oPUgRboM4jz6LAaVDawyIS4vq60ZlIrcEipuxtD04a4ZMD-Y1MyEJ3Hgo3IJDnz/s200/Island+sting+new+cover.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWnFKcdTT7m63gGM8qXCNygTr17U7f88aVvBB2ghn-pfwFJ4CPUVlwkPYN3MAMu6PSJpJtDFAOz3cPCJ2091qxo7sS8NwBmUb0dJIVY8nUi8L3UPLs_tFnkdjtH-il-fMCGByEpPsZKej/s1600/EPIC+finalist.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 122px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585857653047221234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWnFKcdTT7m63gGM8qXCNygTr17U7f88aVvBB2ghn-pfwFJ4CPUVlwkPYN3MAMu6PSJpJtDFAOz3cPCJ2091qxo7sS8NwBmUb0dJIVY8nUi8L3UPLs_tFnkdjtH-il-fMCGByEpPsZKej/s200/EPIC+finalist.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">Oh my gosh. Do I have news! </span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">Confession time here. I continue to be haunted by one reviewer who panned <strong><em>Island Sting's</em></strong> underlying environmental message. This in spite of the many positive reviews the book has received and the ever-increasing number of young readers who've told me how much they enjoyed <em><strong>Island Sting</strong></em> and can't wait to read <em><strong>Stakeout</strong></em>. Now it's clear quite a few adult readers approve of it as well. </span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">On the evening of March 12th, I received an email from a talented author of captivating romance, <a href="http://www.keenakincaid.com/"><span style="color:#33cc00;">Keena Kincaid</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">. While attending the awards banquet at EPICon in Willimsburg, Virginia, she shot me this message: "Bonnie, you just won the children's fiction/nonfiction EPIC award for <strong><em>Island Sting!"</em></strong> </span><br /></span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><span style="color:#33cc00;"><div><br />Wow! I'd hoped to attend EPICon, but because I presented two sessions at the North Carolina Reading Association conference in Raleigh that same weekend, I couldn't swing it. Receiving an EPIC was a huge thrill. And learning it as it happened was too cool. YAY for smart phones! Though texting is something I'm still resisting. I just happened to check my email at the right time. </div><div></div><div></div><div><br />I figured I'd found out before my editor, Kat O'Shea, had. Quick dial. <em>Please be available. Please.</em> <em>This is not please-leave-a-message material. This is scream-into-my-editor's-ear breaking news.</em> I'm happy to say Kat answered. No worries. I didn't break her ear drum. But it sure was a fun phone call. Always good to show Kat how talented she is at her job. </div><div></div><div><br />As one of my favorite fans Doug (Zeus Fedora Kapinos) described it, the whole experience was, well...EPIC.</span></div></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-38289790813949689252011-02-11T12:11:00.021-05:002011-02-11T13:42:44.451-05:00A Model School for Green Living<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJQ4Ar2dBWoAgUUMU5YMjIwkkD525jcqJb1T3H7aVNl8-ySChdYw22rkfflyZNBIr-uY4DqlODRP8Y1bYmFr-NNSPewYZLhlZKlhivvjdl7G1oigCzz8Ddp5Lfc1RY5GBerMp51HUNYnv/s1600/100_3171.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572497877096977986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJQ4Ar2dBWoAgUUMU5YMjIwkkD525jcqJb1T3H7aVNl8-ySChdYw22rkfflyZNBIr-uY4DqlODRP8Y1bYmFr-NNSPewYZLhlZKlhivvjdl7G1oigCzz8Ddp5Lfc1RY5GBerMp51HUNYnv/s200/100_3171.JPG" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">Finally, time to check in while on the road. I recently returned to the Florida Keys (after a long road trip) for more research and inspiration. But I must share the story of a wonderful school visit along the way.<br /><br />January 31st I visited the third and fifth grade classes at St. Stephens Episcopal Day School in charming Coconut Grove, Florida. (</span><a href="http://www.sseds.org/"><span style="color:#33cc00;">http://www.sseds.org/</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">) For an author whose mission is not only to entertain and educate, but also to encourage environmental stewardship, visiting St. Stephens was a rare treat. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">As part of its mission, the school engages in green education by developing and implementing programs that focus on:<br /><br />• Teaching children about the environment while encouraging good stewardship of our earth…Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.<br />• Practicing sustainability of resources such as energy, supplies and food.<br />• Creating a green and healthy space to work, learn, eat and play. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">By way of modeling its mission, St. Stephens' newest office and classroom building is LEED certified. LEED stands for ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’, the nation’s benchmark for 3rd Party verified, Green and Sustainable buildings.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#33cc00;"><em>Planning A Picture Book</em> was the program requested by Mrs. Booth and Mrs. Silva for their third grade cl</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWIB30LI0aCUOidK7JdC1LPyaZfU15ulBxS47g65ZLgWd9APu0MeP2sqvW9MQZCmFcBUXuU02cV_V_qcEZh4V7D1LrA5IklNKg_MpD_TAHiynHF0XVbyuVy6Wg7Twa25ad2UfvOzn9nK4/s1600/fifth+grade+st.+Stephens.jpg"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572483119837748162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWIB30LI0aCUOidK7JdC1LPyaZfU15ulBxS47g65ZLgWd9APu0MeP2sqvW9MQZCmFcBUXuU02cV_V_qcEZh4V7D1LrA5IklNKg_MpD_TAHiynHF0XVbyuVy6Wg7Twa25ad2UfvOzn9nK4/s200/fifth+grade+st.+Stephens.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">asses. These enthusiastic students had previously analyzed and summarized picture books and were now ready to create their own. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">It was a pleasure to learn that this spring fifth graders in Mrs. Basáñez’s and Mrs. Bernal’s classes will visit Sea Camp </span><a href="http://www.seacamp.org/"><span style="color:#33cc00;">http://www.seacamp.org/</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> on Big Pine Key, Florida, the very island on which both <em><strong>Island Sting</strong></em> and <em><strong>Stakeout</strong></em> are set. As a preview of wildlife they may encounter when they study at Sea Camp’s Newfound Harbor Marine Institute (</span><a href="http://www.nhmi.org/"><span style="color:#33cc00;">http://www.nhmi.org/</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">), I shared a collection of photographs documenting the research that inspired and informed my writing. The slide show is one part of another author program, <em>A Writer’s Story</em>.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Librarian Ellen Bulkley describes <em><strong>Island Sting</strong></em> as not only a fun read, but a perfect extension to the Sea Camp curriculum.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Arriving as the entire student body congregated outdoors in the courtyard, I listened, uplifted by the sincere voices pledging allegiance to faith and flag, and then came the unexpected final words: </span><span style="color:#33cc00;"><em>I promise to care for the Earth as my home and to respect it at all times, by recycling, conserving energy, and saving water. I promise to encourage my friends and family to care for the Earth in the same way.</em> Honestly, the experience gave me chills.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">These children are leaders of today and tomorrow. Thank you, St. Stephens. I'm resting easier these days.</span> </div><div><br /> </div><span style="color:#000000;"></span><div><a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/pdf/Speaking%20brochure.pdf">Click for a complete description of author presentations.</a></div><div><br />Soon to come: A preview of <em>Stakeout</em>.<br /><a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/">http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/</a></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-72776548478670307222010-11-22T10:55:00.026-05:002010-11-23T20:13:45.318-05:00Giving Thanks for Unexpected<div align="left"><span style="color:#33cc00;">Proving that environmental stewardship is alive and well in the young adult book world (one of a gazillion things for which I'm thankful), I share my latest literary news.</span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxBffJE01BR6z16nlbDiEqVeW7iCwuPcjTeLqL-Tx05-FRyt7eoih19i8UyB6KdlDkIxu2cCsdtFSE_x5Y6qxpzQhpKxpvCpauPViTuSTdmaazsX8SeLKhpYE16o9AuPfDrcrUnaaI_zv/s1600/Eppie.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGV3E9oGbAQqRsaHvRN-8bWdclKFpCp0kPfF3Bn423L9UNgiU3GIp3MEXigikqV0KlYXZDinWBlfsRuAje2VOG1I7P1o2hWS0xPpUMbIcdojXJvgT7t3rXVJ80wxrt8EXSBKswzlOGY2q/s1600/EPIC2011Finalist.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 117px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 105px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542918059562012994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGV3E9oGbAQqRsaHvRN-8bWdclKFpCp0kPfF3Bn423L9UNgiU3GIp3MEXigikqV0KlYXZDinWBlfsRuAje2VOG1I7P1o2hWS0xPpUMbIcdojXJvgT7t3rXVJ80wxrt8EXSBKswzlOGY2q/s200/EPIC2011Finalist.jpg" /></a>Island Sting</em>, received more accolades in recent weeks. First,I received notice that <em>Island Sting</em> is a finalist for an EPIC award from the Electronically Published Internet Coalition. Yes, it's on Kindle.</span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Second, <em>Island Sting</em> was recognized as one of 2010's Best Books with Crossover Charm </span><span style="color:#33cc00;">by the <em>Winston-Salem, Journal</em>. <a href="http://www2.journalnow.com/entertainment/2010/nov/21/crossover-charm-adults-often-enjoy-these-books-wri-ar-551711/">http://</a><a href="http://www2.journalnow.com/entertainment/2010/nov/21/crossover-charm-adults-often-enjoy-these-books-wri-ar-551711/">www2.journalnow.com/entertainment/2010/nov/21/crossover-charm-adults-o</a><a href="http://www2.journalnow.com/entertainment/2010/nov/21/crossover-charm-adults-often-enjoy-these-books-wri-ar-551711/">ften-enjoy-these-books-wri-ar-551711/</a></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr3k5OfjBxmeNo0pEJx0enUA56Ag3BZbIzJhDPaQDoAxLPuEC1qZ7MRLgSG9lQC0vgzFhWhnu1dxR_5Zbwo6JNwmSuuzKcMdforYT6FJlS26MQyf9q8gpblidkrMOhxeePsIwr1N909PE/s1600/green+bloggers.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 95px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542425438629386226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr3k5OfjBxmeNo0pEJx0enUA56Ag3BZbIzJhDPaQDoAxLPuEC1qZ7MRLgSG9lQC0vgzFhWhnu1dxR_5Zbwo6JNwmSuuzKcMdforYT6FJlS26MQyf9q8gpblidkrMOhxeePsIwr1N909PE/s200/green+bloggers.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">And of many kind reviews, the following cannot go unnoticed on BonnieBlogsGreen: <em>Island Sting</em> received a super review from members of the green book campaign. </span><a href="http://curlingupbythefire.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-island-sting-by-bonnie-j-doerr.html">http://curlingupbythefire.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-island-sting-by-bonnie-j-doerr.html</a><a href="http://curlingupbythefire.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-island-sting-by-bonnie-j-doerr.html">island-sting-by-bonnie-j-doerr.html</a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong><u>Now on to even better news in the green world.<br /></div></u></strong></span><span style="color:#33cc00;"><br /><br />I'm grateful there is a grassroots effort for sustainable manufacturing in my own state<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Hk_qeacRJbBeBPOKTyYln1W2Yn7GIYK8UdU8n5gbkn3TjayKioN4rBBX5yGogiwBs_VZZDqMg6WEejazDMYE9gL5RnpLUZ71IAJRfsgRCvJje_b9oNWTmn12lW6nahKu9OkVP153yE2V/s1600/dirttoshirt2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542410130063764962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Hk_qeacRJbBeBPOKTyYln1W2Yn7GIYK8UdU8n5gbkn3TjayKioN4rBBX5yGogiwBs_VZZDqMg6WEejazDMYE9gL5RnpLUZ71IAJRfsgRCvJje_b9oNWTmn12lW6nahKu9OkVP153yE2V/s200/dirttoshirt2.jpg" /></a>.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#33cc00;">When our November/December <em>Farm Bureau</em> magazine arrived I was thrilled to find inspiration for BonnieBlogsGreen. Inside was another addition to a long list of reasons to love North Carolina. I learned about a collaboration of farmers and manufacturers across the Carolinas dedicated to growing, manufacturing, and selling a quality product right here at home in the Carolinas.<br /><br />Who isn't in favor of creating jobs while lessening our carbon footprint? Since most clothing sold in the USA is now manufactured in other countries, I had few ways to reduce my fashion footprint beyond shopping at resale shops. But now, I can buy at least one article of clothing produced from <em>dirt to shirt</em> here in North Carolina. <em>Dirt to Shirt</em>--a catchy green phrase that is part of the slogan on a Cotton of the Carolinas T-shirt. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Cotton of the Carolinas focuses on three main objectives:<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><span style="color:#33cc00;">- Support of Local Economies<br />- Low Transportation Footprint<br />- Complete Product Transparency </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">They make high quality T-shirts, too! You can even have your own design printed on a CoC shirt. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#33cc00;">Take a quick tour CoC production and then visit their website for more green industry information; <a href="http://www.cottonofthecarolinas.com/aboutus.html">http://www.cottonofthecarolinas.com/aboutus.html</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/13bPoycDPJE?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/13bPoycDPJE?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp29S-DkQy-1Zq9h41tGRlHA00FZmqby1yu2BWfQ6c8LoBMkzPS0FPzvRuaEr1ht6CUAY3KuFPDlO3rlw_B8WH2Gh5oKnjrtTHvx9HwjgHLmMR8YRbI7e_0sw3MXZotWS34hHm9nBRAn6K/s1600/Easter+turkey+at+feeder.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 109px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 141px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542448047297203042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp29S-DkQy-1Zq9h41tGRlHA00FZmqby1yu2BWfQ6c8LoBMkzPS0FPzvRuaEr1ht6CUAY3KuFPDlO3rlw_B8WH2Gh5oKnjrtTHvx9HwjgHLmMR8YRbI7e_0sw3MXZotWS34hHm9nBRAn6K/s200/Easter+turkey+at+feeder.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Happy Thanksgiving. I leave you with this photo of the only turkey at our house this Thanksgiving. She's welcome every year. </span></div></span>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-59052397449336433472010-10-31T10:58:00.021-04:002010-10-31T13:32:37.968-04:00Mother Nature on a Rampage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhir_sLr8gfdUr7HHRkgI0XGlwbcJqzHR9B6ZvDkfB36_ASidezeaI4E84hC_0Uh5eHcRzhcSmsWofXm84ZjX-8B5jjJbP84HxpHO9ggfjLq-yIqztO4nmQwTWD03-TVamFpFvFkDxP-oy6/s1600/100_2926.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534231503876280034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhir_sLr8gfdUr7HHRkgI0XGlwbcJqzHR9B6ZvDkfB36_ASidezeaI4E84hC_0Uh5eHcRzhcSmsWofXm84ZjX-8B5jjJbP84HxpHO9ggfjLq-yIqztO4nmQwTWD03-TVamFpFvFkDxP-oy6/s200/100_2926.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">It's a gorgeous sunny day here in NC, but that wasn't the case in many parts of the country just a few days ago. The massive storm system that plowed across the United States the last weeks of October hit us on the 26th and 27th. There was nothing we could do but stay out of the way of Mother Nature's rage. The day before what had been a lovely, peaceful scene--and also the bridge entrance to our driveway--turned into a furious nightmare.</span></div><br /><p><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><span style="color:#009900;"><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx9XlVl8lhKTArLc73uO6Jc6iRvdMsyCSAj0hN8ukWpiDk_dsjYg-St5pBVjG3FJ220QnSxHWOwlW-9Gc0erQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#009900;">How interesting that this storm swept the country a week before midterm elections. The writer in me couldn't help but see more than one metaphor in the phenomena. But I'll leave speculation to the political pundits.</span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">We've had water over our bridge before. In fact, the experience inspired my first blog post in June of 2009 </span><span style="color:#3333ff;">(</span><a href="http://bonnieblogsgreen.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://bonnieblogsgreen.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html</span></a><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="color:#3333ff;">).</span> I rescued Mr. GP, a frequent subject of earlier posts, from the debris that was left on the bridge. And though we had to clear the bridge twice with this October storm--and how blessed we are to still have a bridge to clear--only natural debris was left behind by the water this time.</span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">For the la<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVRKm2zwKI9QYFKKBbH77tq2Un-zI5W3Htm1tr3jYoZxkM4NyN9FDjxQiB47GmJgDoU2tKIRQ-5TpBvcQ6YcdMK2G1hglG5uKihMeaAAxZlerdqykE8Pr-uPtLUqmpyhAN1qXl-eMHPQo/s1600/100_2941.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534245042355419954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVRKm2zwKI9QYFKKBbH77tq2Un-zI5W3Htm1tr3jYoZxkM4NyN9FDjxQiB47GmJgDoU2tKIRQ-5TpBvcQ6YcdMK2G1hglG5uKihMeaAAxZlerdqykE8Pr-uPtLUqmpyhAN1qXl-eMHPQo/s200/100_2941.JPG" /></a>ck of human trash, we can thank Cub Scout Pack 752 from Lewisville, NC, their families, and friends. Among the green teens filling countless trash bags were several Crosby Scholars. When speaking with these amazing (and muddy) folks I learned about Scoutings Venturing Program and immediately became a huge fan.</span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;"><em></em></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;"><em>Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America</em></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBkmc622nJiNyAVc4LxHZkrb_yi0CLcH5tlLQ7B3hcd1qcwj58aUWX5rC2-mnm6dNfZQmxkIxMf1uPcYD9GiX4U0RrQIIRP1UGlRIkv-azU7w7UB_RWr1KNx-ht57ni9nJr7z98BdtmZN/s1600/100_2947.JPG"><span style="color:#009900;"><em><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534241681695802594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBkmc622nJiNyAVc4LxHZkrb_yi0CLcH5tlLQ7B3hcd1qcwj58aUWX5rC2-mnm6dNfZQmxkIxMf1uPcYD9GiX4U0RrQIIRP1UGlRIkv-azU7w7UB_RWr1KNx-ht57ni9nJr7z98BdtmZN/s200/100_2947.JPG" /></em></span></a><span style="color:#009900;"><em> for young men and women who are 14 years of age OR 13 years of age and have completed the eighth grade and are under 21 years of age. Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.</span></em></p><br /><br /><p><em><span style="color:#009900;"></span></em></p><p><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">The students who participated in the Clean Sweep of creeks and streams may have been earning points toward badges or scholarhips, but I'm betting many of them would have gotten their feet wet for the internal reward practicing environmental stewardship alone.</span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">Mr. GP wanted readers to know he's had a great life since his rescue from the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer2oG9_RsI3WzYC1A2qfuW-iVLv2VDrP2KT0BJ1d_glgIecpSo9fCmGo1NBhQ3sUPCgij7O_4ChKAlhCBZeuU_RYZiSN6voxjxMpdRq7-lH4fYZ9k4uT0zjpySVhfz-6GoWpQy_dCt9Mi/s1600/Mr+GP+goes+trick+or+treating.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 129px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534247111480567922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer2oG9_RsI3WzYC1A2qfuW-iVLv2VDrP2KT0BJ1d_glgIecpSo9fCmGo1NBhQ3sUPCgij7O_4ChKAlhCBZeuU_RYZiSN6voxjxMpdRq7-lH4fYZ9k4uT0zjpySVhfz-6GoWpQy_dCt9Mi/s200/Mr+GP+goes+trick+or+treating.jpg" /></a> flood of 2009. He still worries about all the trash tossed along roadsides, but he knows he was lucky to have been one of the rescued and reycled discards. And he's looking forward to trick-or-treating. </span></p><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="color:#009900;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;">As always, if you know of any green teens who deserve recognition, please let me know. You can contact me at <a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/">http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/</a>. </span></p>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-74341098009929144152010-10-11T10:43:00.011-04:002010-10-11T11:32:46.131-04:00230 book giveaway for bookclubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_1grlNvpwU1j2Bwy5e3BoBYdBGqH_O41r05cSjNj7lPL2krLtoCyfy4CWMLwVh6zdU_ljsp8RrMNH_IWk8m68JYMgIoQiZZxiSmU1ffp6K6_1b_KJtAzwaZEGRvad00tEh_cK3VSGb0Y/s1600/2k10+logo+webopt_thumbnail.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 79px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526809967460993554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_1grlNvpwU1j2Bwy5e3BoBYdBGqH_O41r05cSjNj7lPL2krLtoCyfy4CWMLwVh6zdU_ljsp8RrMNH_IWk8m68JYMgIoQiZZxiSmU1ffp6K6_1b_KJtAzwaZEGRvad00tEh_cK3VSGb0Y/s200/2k10+logo+webopt_thumbnail.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br />Now here's a fabulous way to celebrate 10-10-10, a supposedly fortuitous day. The amazing author class of 2k10 (In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm a bit prejudice about this group) is ending our debut year with a bang. We're giving away a slew of books to worthy bookclubs. (Could any prize be dearer to a former reading teacher?) If you know of a tween/teen bookclub that needs assistance with procuring books, please pass the word along!<br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>Announcing the Class of 2K10 230-Book Giveaway! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45msi1Xgp9GmmNKsnAoj3kmtpSssTHUVL_qP-9O-cnPSliF4FIHj7ZB9ZhjqopZypV7a1aifYUuuMKMG1IBkcPgcDmwNISDBsK0QQU4-_ECONfsj0kZbKnT18mS94f5-rNMtY-xW7qFer/s1600/blue+class+of+2k10.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526810379201422610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45msi1Xgp9GmmNKsnAoj3kmtpSssTHUVL_qP-9O-cnPSliF4FIHj7ZB9ZhjqopZypV7a1aifYUuuMKMG1IBkcPgcDmwNISDBsK0QQU4-_ECONfsj0kZbKnT18mS94f5-rNMtY-xW7qFer/s200/blue+class+of+2k10.jpg" /></a><br />Oct. 10th, 2010 at 9:33 AM<br /></strong></span><br />Inspired by this post by author Teri Brown, the Classof2K10 is ending off the year with a massive book club giveaway.<br /><br />Five book clubs around the country can win a prize pack of three to six sets of books written by the authors from the Class of 2K10. Each pack includes TEN (seriously <strong><span style="color:#33cc00;"><em><u>TEN</u></em></span></strong>) copies of each book, and in some packs one of the books will be signed by the author.<br /><br />For cover images go to <a href="http://bit.ly/cgVnCt">http://bit.ly/cgVnCt</a> .<br /><br />The contest is open to all book clubs associated with a nonprofit institution, a school, or a library. To enter, just comment on this entry, specifying which of the prize packs you are interested in and which nonprofit you are affiliated with. The giveaway will end on November 11, 2010.<br /><br />If there are any additional questions, please contact Leah Cypess at LCypess@gmail.com.<br /><br />The prize packs are:<br /><br />MID-GRADE FANTASY PACK:<br /><br />The Carnival of Lost Souls by Laura Quimby<br />Under the Green Hill by Laura L. Sullivan<br />The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter<br /><br /><br />MID-GRADE CONTEMPORARY PACK:<br /><br />Fairview Felines: A Newspaper Mystery by Michele Corriel<br />Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr<br />Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham<br />The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman<br />Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai<br /><br /><br />YA FANTASY/PARANORMAL PACK<br /><br />13 To Life by Shannon Delany<br />Freaksville by Kitty Keswick<br />Mistwood by Leah Cypess<br />Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen<br />Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready<br />Under My Skin by Judith Graves<br /><br /><br />YA CONTEMPORARY PACK 1<br /><br />Change of Heart by Shari Maurer<br />Faithful by Janet Fox<br />Losing Faith by Denise Jaden<br />The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride<br /><br /><br />YA CONTEMPORARY PACK 2<br /><br />Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz<br />Party by Tom Leveen<br />Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards<br />The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard<br />Split by Swati Avasthi<br /><br />Rules:<br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">You must be a book club affiliated with a nonprofit, school, or library, and located in the continental United States.</span><br /><br />To enter:<br /><br />Leave a comment on the 2k10 blog <a href="http://bit.ly/cgVnCt">http://bit.ly/cgVnCt</a> . <em>(<u>Commenting here is always welcome, but unfortunately it doesn't help you win!)</u></em></div><div><u></li></u><br /></div><li>Specify which of the prize packs you are interested in – you may choose from only one, to all five, as we will be holding 5 separate drawings. (However, no club will win more than one prize pack.) </li><div><br /><br /></div><li>Leave an email address where you can be reached should you win. </li><div><br /><br /></div><li>If the email address is a not an institution address, please specify which nonprofit, school, or library you are affiliated with. </li><div><br /><br /></div><li>If you are not sure whether you qualify, just leave the relevant information in the comment.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ehttp://bit.ly/cgVnCt%3C/a%3E"></a>Good luck!<br /></li><ul></ul><a href="http://bit.ly/cgVnCt"></a>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-45283402017057040332010-07-10T12:24:00.000-04:002010-07-11T14:01:26.282-04:00KIDS DO CARE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8dgSF-RPRe1u2gJVYqyQ6mZx5tMoVUP6Iij8hWFxnlDOw1qf2fQlWSek8Tww0cnvcz14IhsVv5zm-Hz9xJ5zaOvbCzLAZRFd5GesPfhpZe6LNMu3CtT9Zp7woW_ZMn2aVQIXJ_o8pZHU/s1600/100_2749%5B1%5D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492340722159493058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8dgSF-RPRe1u2gJVYqyQ6mZx5tMoVUP6Iij8hWFxnlDOw1qf2fQlWSek8Tww0cnvcz14IhsVv5zm-Hz9xJ5zaOvbCzLAZRFd5GesPfhpZe6LNMu3CtT9Zp7woW_ZMn2aVQIXJ_o8pZHU/s200/100_2749%5B1%5D" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#000000;"><em>Continue reading to learn how you can win this shirt.</em></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><u><span style="color:#000000;">Exemplifying this month's tag line:</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#000000;"><strong>Intrigue: </strong></span><span style="color:#000000;">What really went wrong with the gulf oil rig?</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Treachery</strong> : “Our op</span><span style="color:#000000;">erations failed to meet our own standards and the requirements of the law,” BP said in 2007 before pledging to improve its “risk management.” </span>(<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/business/09bp.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/business/09bp.html</a>)<br /><br /><p><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Intrepid Teens: </span></strong><span style="color:#000000;">Young Olivia Bouler</span></p><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Since the Gulf Coast oil disaster first broke, I've been mentally paralyzed. How could I post an installment on Bonnie Blogs Green when all I could see was black? My beloved gulf waters were poisoned, creatures by the thousands--members of every major animal class--were dying, good men had been killed in the disaster, and life for hundreds, maybe thousands, of people had been destroyed for a generation or more. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">It didn't help the wall of depression when a book blogger wrote a review claiming that kids at her school would never pick up ISLAND STING, a book featuring an environmental club. How much of an adventure/mystery could that be? </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><em>Saving the environment? Not an adventurous mystery? On what planet?</em></span><em><br /></em><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Fast forward to a message from ISLAND STING readers who'd been inspired to start an environmental club at their school, then another and another of the same. And yesterday I received a letter from a reader stating, "I also love ISLAND STING because it really shows what a big environmental problem we have to deal with and how kids can help."</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">And now, in case there are more people like me whose tears have blinded them to any good news, I offer the story of young Olivia Bouler's amazing efforts to save Mother Earth. It just may be my favorite green tween story to date. After you enjoy the video interview, please visit Olivia's Facebook page: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Gulf-Olivias-Bird-Illustrations/102196836492763"><span style="color:#009900;">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Gulf-Olivias-Bird-Illustrations/102196836492763</span></a><span style="color:#009900;"> You can help no matter your age.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Thank you, Olivia. A wise person once said, "And a little child shall lead them." </span><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JeAO5hJknfE&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JeAO5hJknfE&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">I probably should end with an uplifting quote from one of ISLAND STING'S many positive reviews: </span><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#33cc00;">Much of the charm of this book is author Doerr's extensive research on the Keys and the deer, which she weaves seamlessly into an action-packed, engaging story. Any residents, visitors, or fans of the Florida Keys will be delighted by the setting, which is almost a character in itself. Doerr masters the "Green Teen" genre by mixing romance, suspense, and humor with current ecological issues. Her upcoming book, STAKEOUT, is sure to follow in this tradition.</span><br /></em><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">In a final bit of good news, ISLAND STING has been chosen as Forsyth County, NC 's online middle school book club read for the month of September. Love it! Encouraging green teens one </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDIW3ewi_i6uZZRQ7f8TdVq3QQI9fj8puNIjPIrhtu-lz1AfWqZdolJm6VFkGs-evTYvkmJEPXthZk2V7opbfoprbJW5tT6Rf5ve8d67O-B7lo0OGDci4wlNC0q_PxhLLY2hLBZWJAwS6/s1600/Carmine's+gang.jpg"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492337120794024946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDIW3ewi_i6uZZRQ7f8TdVq3QQI9fj8puNIjPIrhtu-lz1AfWqZdolJm6VFkGs-evTYvkmJEPXthZk2V7opbfoprbJW5tT6Rf5ve8d67O-B7lo0OGDci4wlNC0q_PxhLLY2hLBZWJAwS6/s200/Carmine's+gang.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">region at a time. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><u>And now, a giveaway. YAY!!</u></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">In celebration of good book news, I'm giving away a class of 2k10 t-shirt (size L) from our debut middle grade and young adult author class trip to BEA (BookExpo America) in New York City. No worries--it's never been worn! Simply enter a comment below for your chance to win the shirt along with a 2k10 bookmark and postcard. Include in your comment the link to a this blog on your Facebook page or Twitter and earn a second chance to win. If no more than 20 comments are made following this post (because lots of folks are on vacation) the contest will roll over to next month. Remember, if you're the lucky winner, I'll have to email you, so if I can't click your comment to find you, please email your address to me. And if at first your comment doesn't post, click the word <u><em>post</em></u> a second time.</span><br /><br />Remember you can always learn more about ISLAND STING and the Florida Keys at <a href="http://bonniedoerrbooks.com/">http://bonniedoerrbooks.com/</a> .<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-45601002990317051992010-06-17T13:36:00.000-04:002010-06-19T09:45:12.899-04:00Father's Day, Recycled Earrings, and a Garden Guest<span style="color:#33cc00;">Father's Day has never brought me the sadness that Mother's Day has. (See May post.) Unlike Mother, Dad lived a long and productive life, helping others with his time and labor well into his late eighties until he was no longer physically able. During his last hours, when he was blind,</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYSJM-_M9syi_27H9WFpIWQSNuo3Yfa4Uv7RFT640UDOD4AvFWTEiNcAAZUfsHMR960jLFmFJnlyjQC1WAmU0iVLMayR3Yo9CrKihgjDAcvyvFBDZBEdrN2QDsGDGgaYFZgmNmIWKd9mk/s1600/Boy+Scout+Dad.jpg"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 114px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483855656259235010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYSJM-_M9syi_27H9WFpIWQSNuo3Yfa4Uv7RFT640UDOD4AvFWTEiNcAAZUfsHMR960jLFmFJnlyjQC1WAmU0iVLMayR3Yo9CrKihgjDAcvyvFBDZBEdrN2QDsGDGgaYFZgmNmIWKd9mk/s200/Boy+Scout+Dad.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> unresponsive to the earthbound, and verbally working out issues only he understood, he cried out the same apology again and again, "I'm so sorry. I just can't help anymore. So sorry." Did he learn that ethic from being raised in an orphanage I wonder? </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">I chose this photo of Dad in his Boy Scout uniform for BonnieBlogsGreen because Dad instilled my love of everything green. The need to teach a population to recycle as well as reduce consumption and waste would have baffled him. What happened to common sense? he would say. He was a tireless Boy Scout leader who won many national awards. Dad lived off and on with me in his final years, providing me the opportunity to tell him again and again how much I loved him. I'm rarely without a sense of my father being beside me. I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.<br /><br />Dad was living with me when my first piece of writing was published. He was so proud. I was thrilled he lived to see his support of my education begin to pay off. Not in money, mind you. Our family never strived for financial riches. Guess that's why my teaching career was a good fit for me. I hope he's aware of the attention <em>Island Sting</em> has been receiving. As an avid reader, he would have loved knowing <em>Island Sting</em> has been nominated for </span><a href="http://bit.ly/cYvfMi"><span style="color:#33cc00;">YALSA's (Young Adult Library Services Association--a division of American Library Association)</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> 2011 paperback list.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Speaking of <em>Island Sting and</em> recycling, during my most recent visit to the National Key Deer Refuge (the setting for <em>Island Sting</em>), I discovered one of my favorite recycled products of all time. You see, I have a teensy little issue with jewelry: I find it incredibly challenging to pass up affordable, unique earrings. I'd been looking hard and long for a pair of deer-themed earrings to wear for school visits. Imagine trying to find earrings featuring deer that </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4k01l6PTgp61C7rG1k7HCGRpx3FJXQhNxz4HKEAeP6NQ0yVdbThQ0QTfgWIczWtSYNMV3kBg2GiC6Zg3mwTDC8xSXP_gL4fpMHPkk5jFTlB4Vm5yueh15SmWUNpKAwmZWvNUrXj9uChp1/s1600/recycled+earrings+1.jpg"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484143761950719378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4k01l6PTgp61C7rG1k7HCGRpx3FJXQhNxz4HKEAeP6NQ0yVdbThQ0QTfgWIczWtSYNMV3kBg2GiC6Zg3mwTDC8xSXP_gL4fpMHPkk5jFTlB4Vm5yueh15SmWUNpKAwmZWvNUrXj9uChp1/s200/recycled+earrings+1.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">aren't sporting festive red noses and/or a Christmas wreath around their neck. You guessed it--I found a pair I couldn't resist. Where? At the refuge welcome center gift shop. Seriously! The perfect pair. Not only designed specifically with endangered Key deer images, but set against the backdrop of mangrove trees, their favorite food! Even better, the earrings are made from recycled cereal box cardboard. Plus, they're adorable, well made, and well-designed. Visit </span><a href="http://www.jabebo.com/"><span style="color:#33cc00;">Jabebo Earrings</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> to see the Abbott's entire selection. Kevin and Mary Abbott are fascinating folks (Of course they are. They're teachers!) whose children are blessed to have such parents. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHkhFRovdXPzims-V7In2kWg0UbW_K1SUF8aBtfW57MwSIfA135FuJKxhyKl33YMzyT6zze9iljjJjk0FV14_yA0dQmuehaaf5_qWr1auogJa5dXJl7PCmccqvUUMqlqN291_q6j-MG2v/s1600/april+garden+2010.JPG"><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Progress in Bonnie's green garden this season seems to have moved at warp speed, as evidenced by the two photos of the same location below taken in mid April and mid June. Our first ripe tomato can almost be seen in the second picture. I foiled the goldfinches this year by covering my Swiss chard. It no longer looks like Swiss chesse. But I've missed Mr. GP's company throughout these weeks. If you read my first posts you'll remember he was the inspiration for BonnieBlogsGreen, and that he spent many days with me as I worked in last year's garden. But he was so angry when I left to </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn-xxNMYhgX8kZHbi5HtlHDrNSgmP11l0ruLKkPGm1k6T2JDQBXWTSCJqDwgNkI1xejzXL3noeUhQmFigzP-N-Q7tRVX5BrB7ErWq6ndCqaZs4DVwG2GHEqMCWUr0vvg0WtKR-EYXMLW1/s1600/mid+June+garden+2010.JPG"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484163910035202914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn-xxNMYhgX8kZHbi5HtlHDrNSgmP11l0ruLKkPGm1k6T2JDQBXWTSCJqDwgNkI1xejzXL3noeUhQmFigzP-N-Q7tRVX5BrB7ErWq6ndCqaZs4DVwG2GHEqMCWUr0vvg0WtKR-EYXMLW1/s200/mid+June+garden+2010.JPG" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">research in Florida without h</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHkhFRovdXPzims-V7In2kWg0UbW_K1SUF8aBtfW57MwSIfA135FuJKxhyKl33YMzyT6zze9iljjJjk0FV14_yA0dQmuehaaf5_qWr1auogJa5dXJl7PCmccqvUUMqlqN291_q6j-MG2v/s1600/april+garden+2010.JPG"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484163476351766178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHkhFRovdXPzims-V7In2kWg0UbW_K1SUF8aBtfW57MwSIfA135FuJKxhyKl33YMzyT6zze9iljjJjk0FV14_yA0dQmuehaaf5_qWr1auogJa5dXJl7PCmccqvUUMqlqN291_q6j-MG2v/s200/april+garden+2010.JPG" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">im, that he ran away. I only recently heard from him. He promises to return home soon with his own stories to tell. Just in time for the initial harvest. Apparently he is food motivated. Or perhaps he was waiting to be sure the snapping turtle that labored long and hard from<br /></span><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484166622354996946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd6yxrouBTU04mjt2piVv7Rv_s6F8kLEHFly0iRGFYf92ObIyfTF9ZP5o34PW6X_ZKXX_sf9M0Tt4Qwm-1w5bq1WWImVk2OviKdWjxXyZkuwWwR7m2P_celuDbU2JlQm_IZ7HLeUGSf5Z/s200/snapper+laying+eggs+2010.JPG" />the creek up our steep hill to again deposit eggs in our garden had left the premises. If you recall, he is a bit of a wimp.</span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Thanks for visiting.<br /><br />If you're curious about learning more about my writing for tweens please visit <a href="http://www.authorsnow.com/author-spotlight-bonnie-j-doerr-island-sting-giveaway-alert-now-%e2%80%93-062210/">AuthorsNow! Spotlight</a>. </span><div></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-64156179667409416762010-05-08T10:42:00.000-04:002010-05-08T18:41:08.828-04:00Finally Facing Mother's Day With Gratitude<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbT_qNsFHqtSybY3vtl8dtS9ITArYFDWxzGGcySxkN1R_VLksAemFKYxKjuR3o_y-ejMcF-iTH6mDeUPWJ2PRYEjwXQXI3fvJSzKOxF833ZXkJW7By4J1e8lCzICK7Cveecu4zKCNX5n8/s1600/Mother.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468916785170080530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbT_qNsFHqtSybY3vtl8dtS9ITArYFDWxzGGcySxkN1R_VLksAemFKYxKjuR3o_y-ejMcF-iTH6mDeUPWJ2PRYEjwXQXI3fvJSzKOxF833ZXkJW7By4J1e8lCzICK7Cveecu4zKCNX5n8/s200/Mother.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">May is a busy month for me. I traveled to a writers' retreat in Texas, will appear at Flyleaf Bookstore in Chapel Hill for Children's Book Week, will read at the NYC Public Library and appear at two bookstores there during <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">BookExpo</span> America, and I learned that <em>Island Sting</em> will be featured at Bookmarks Festival in Winston-Salem, NC. All exciting stuff that I intended to prattle on about, in addition to sharing spring gardening adventures. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">That plan changed when my brother phoned. He has been writing little memoir chapters for his children and grandchildren, and this month he honored our mother with his words. This year marks 50 years of our being motherless. Since 1960 I have found Mothers' Day to be the most difficult day of the year. But for some reason, my brother's words have started to ease my pain. I've always been grateful for the near perfect childhood Mother gave us, but it's also been a battle to believe the mantra I've chanted for fifty years, "Mom accomplished 90 years of work in a short 45 years. It was time for her to rest with God."</span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Here are the healing words of my brother, Frederick E. Miller. A short addendum of my memories follows.</span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br />May 7, 2010<br />As Mother’s Day approaches, I have been thinking about Mom. As I look back, I really appreciate all the things that she accomplished in her “too short” life. I don’t know how she managed to accomplish all that she did.<br /><br /></div><div>She cared for me while Dad was re-drafted into WW II. After the war, we moved into the same home with her parents. She help Dad start his plumbing & heating business in 1948, while she was pregnant & gave life to Bonnie. She managed the phone, was the accountant, purchasing agent, payroll clerk & many other things for the business.<br /><br /></div><div>At the same time, she did all the duties of a mother, wife & housewife. Washing was done with an old ringer style machine, & clothes hung out on lines. Most clothes had to be ironed.<br /><br />Grandma & Granddad were also employed full time. We had a large vegetable garden which needed lots of attention. Mom & Grandma picked, cleaned, & canned for hours at a time. The shelves of the cold cellar were filled with jars of food.<br /></div><div><br />As time passed, the garden shrank, a freezer was bought, an automatic washer, dryer, & a cylinder type ironing machine appeared. Some clothes were still hung out, there was still a garden, and canning & freezing were still done. On holidays hours, if not days, were spent preparing feasts.<br /><br /></div><div>Mom & Dad did a good job of raising us. We were taught respect, values & faith. Were shown love & responsibility. We did things together as a family. We traveled & saw many places together. </div><div><br /><br />She nursed me through a long recovery from polio, & what now seems to have been more than an average amount of childhood injuries.<br /></div><div><br />When Dad had spinal surgery & was in a cast from his armpits to his thighs for months, she continued with all the usual business & home duties. He was unable to bend his spine so he either had to stand, or lay flat. She had to take him everywhere, including to job sites. The business was sold because Dad could no longer do the heavy work.<br /><br /></div><div>She eventually started a job as an assistant at the special education school and took in ironing work for extra income. My opinion has always been that she did it because of the significant drop in income after business was sold. This was at the same time I was starting college.<br /></div><div><br />During all this time, Mom continued to participate in church & community activities several evenings every week. She had a selfless attitude in which she felt that we all had a responsibility to help others.<br /><br /></div><div>She was human. She could lose her temper (often justified by us family members). I can’t believe that she <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">didn</span>’t lose her patience more frequently with all she did. </div><div><br /><br />The week before Thanksgiving of November of 1960 she was walking up the back yard, coming home from work. She suffered a serious stroke. She never made it home. She’d been exhausted for weeks with unexplained bruise-like discolorations appearing on her body. In hospital she was diagnosed with idiopathic <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">thrombocytopenic</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">purpura</span> (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">ITP</span>), a low platelet count of no known cause. She suffered more strokes & passed away on Sunday after Thanksgiving.<br /><br /></div><div>I was an 18 year old sophomore in college. Bonnie was 12. Mom was 45.<br />She lived far too short a life.<br /></div><div><br />Even though she enjoyed life, I can’t help but think that she worked way too hard.<br />Love you Mom!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">I remember all the beautiful clothes Mom made. One time she made burgundy corduroy suits for the whole family. We wore them to a state fair, and they were displayed in a local store window. She must have stayed up very late at night to sew. She had no other time. </span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"><br />She could dress like a fashion queen or a tomboy. She often wore a baseball cap, unusual for her time. And how she loved to drive and fuss at other drivers for their incompetence! Never curse, just tell them off with feeling! She was bold and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">independent</span>.</span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></div></span><div></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"><br />I love you too, Mom. And I honor you this Mother's Day with more gratitude than pain, finally.</span></div><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-4595990686521868202010-04-14T10:38:00.000-04:002010-04-19T11:57:28.289-04:00Award winning blogs. Sunshine and Books--The perfect combination.<span style="color:#009900;">This post is going to be unique for me. Though I've been engaged in my usual spring green activities: preparing gardens to plant, depleting local garden shop shelves, and collecting green news, this month I'm posting award news, and book-related events instead. Sometimes I forget that I'm writing a monthly blog because, well, I'm a <em>writer</em>. I know, that sounds nuts, but that's what I am. Nuts I mean. Yes, a nutty writer/reader.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7ZD73IyeceGizABlO5MVKvIjJ-kMPTQW_zChfOVkYjZrZ1k9ZLim8rffVo3SNdhdZeLXdSDKbnX8DfO09Iroh70Kig0JPzm4typ7FC0zGf_3UMly-KMHbAzs6X6roEfU_MCZq90miS9R/s1600/sunshine-award.jpg"><span style="color:#009900;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460008559537594370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7ZD73IyeceGizABlO5MVKvIjJ-kMPTQW_zChfOVkYjZrZ1k9ZLim8rffVo3SNdhdZeLXdSDKbnX8DfO09Iroh70Kig0JPzm4typ7FC0zGf_3UMly-KMHbAzs6X6roEfU_MCZq90miS9R/s200/sunshine-award.jpg" /></span></a> <span style="color:#009900;">BUT...There has been lots of sunshine lately inviting in the spring green. So I'll start with the Sunshine Award. Last month I was surprised and delighted to receive a sunshine award from the Word Press blog of Laurie J. Edwards, </span><a href="http://lje1.wordpress.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://lje1.wordpress.com/</span></a><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="color:#3366ff;"> <span style="color:#009900;">an awesome writer</span>.</span> I promised to pass it along. But what I didn't promise was to suggest to the twelve bloggers receiving the Sunshine Award from Bonnie Blogs Green that they must pass it on. It's spring. It's a busy time. No one needs to feel pressured to do more than the season demands. No bad karma will creep up on the following bloggers if they simply bask in the sunshine and sigh in contentment. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">It was painful to choose only twelve blogs because I read so many and none as often as I wish. That time crunch issue again. So much good stuff in the world to keep up with. It makes me wonder why scads of people dwell on the negative. <em>Wait.</em> I need to get back on track here. Dwelling on negativity is too huge a topic for me to handle. Back to sunshine. Here are the twelve blogs that receive extra sunshine this spring. These blogs and their contributors entertain, educate, inspire, and sometimes accomplish all three at once. I hope to tell them they've recieved this award soon. Maybe you'll beat me to it!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Warm Sunshine Awards go to:</span><br /><br /><ol><br /><li><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="color:#009900;">The Turtle Hospital </span><a href="http://www.turtlehospital.org/blog/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://www.turtlehospital.org/blog/</span></a></span><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">Inkygirl <a href="http://www.inkygirl.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://www.inkygirl.com/</span></a></span><br /></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">The Florida Keys </span><a href="http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://www.n-the-florida-keys.com/Florida-Keys-blog.html</span></a></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">Eco Maids </span><a href="http://ecomaidsofla.com/blog/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://ecomaidsofla.com/blog/</span></a></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">The Nature Conservancy </span><a href="http://blog.nature.org/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://blog.nature.org/</span></a><span style="color:#3366ff;"> </span></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">The Planet Esme Plan <a href="http://planetesme.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://planetesme.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">One Potato Ten </span><a href="http://onepotatoten.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://onepotatoten.blogspot.com/</span></a></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">Swati Avasthi <a href="http://swatiavasthi.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://swatiavasthi.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">Irene Latham </span><a href="http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://irenelatham.blogspot.com/</span></a></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">Gratz Industries </span><a href="http://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/</span></a></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">Janet Fox </span><a href="http://kidswriterjfox.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://kidswriterjfox.blogspot.com/</span></a></li><li><span style="color:#009900;">Jacqueline Houtman <a href="http://jjhoutman.livejournal.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://jjhoutman.livejournal.com/</span></a></span></li></ol><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Another way to spread sunshine is to participate is Operation Teen Book Drop s</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQArTTHTqzk021YHAVwIU4uPiIGNoOKg3b-fR5KLCyIoERoRYL_jVlq29bIjLvRnhW9Yjp43_pMv5YDAfizTV8zU4BZQTTp_j2GECjCwwi66jhdCgmTsnSHeukIAfzkB2A_wSXW92-EJAh/s1600/TBD+book+plate.jpg"><span style="color:#009900;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 169px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460074513348834130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQArTTHTqzk021YHAVwIU4uPiIGNoOKg3b-fR5KLCyIoERoRYL_jVlq29bIjLvRnhW9Yjp43_pMv5YDAfizTV8zU4BZQTTp_j2GECjCwwi66jhdCgmTsnSHeukIAfzkB2A_wSXW92-EJAh/s200/TBD+book+plate.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#009900;">ponsored by four other amazing blogs. And that's just what I'm doing tomorrow (April 15, 2010). I'm dropping off a book at my local pet supply store. A book that will simply be lying out in the open like a lost puppy waiting for someone to pick it up, take it home, and love it. These great sponsoring groups are</span> <a href="http://www.readergirlz.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://www.readergirlz.com/</span></a>; <a href="http://www.guyslitwire.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://www.guyslitwire.com/</span></a><a href="http://www.guyslitwire.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">/</span></a>; <span style="color:#33cc00;">and</span> <a href="http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/</span></a><a href="http://www.ala.org/yalsa.">.</a> <span style="color:#33cc00;">I've already downloaded this snazzy bookplate to put on the cover.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">The last event I'm participating in this week is National Library Week (April 11-17) . I'd hoped to support a blog compaign kicked off by my friend Jennifer R. Hubbard , the incredibly talented author of <em>The Secret Year</em>. She gets major kudos for her efforts to support our local libraries. For each comment on her blog</span> <a href="http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/</span></a> <span style="color:#33cc00;">she donated money to her library and encouraged other bloggers to take up her cause. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Because I only blog once a month and couldn't expect to gather enough comments to actually raise funds for my library, I'm donating five new novels for young readers (<em>The Last Newspaper Boy in America</em>, by Sue Corbett; <em>When You Wish</em>, by Kristen Harmel; <em>Heck Superhero</em>, byMartine Leavitt; <em>When the Whistle Blows</em>, by Fran Cannon Slayton, and <em>Forget-Her-Nots</em>, by Amy Brecount White) plus a supplemental cash gift of $25 to my local library. I enjoyed each of these books and want to pass along the reading pleasure. Even so, this is a supreme sacrifice for me because I consider three of these authors my friends (wish I knew all five) and hate to part with their children. But I know they will understand.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Yikes. I nearly forgot to add my own title, <em>Island Sting,</em> by me, Bonnie J. Doerr, to the stack of donations. That makes six new books! Told you I'm a nutty writer. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">You'll probably miss the Teen Book Drop date or even National Library Week, but you can still participate. Whenever and wherever you want, leave a book of your own with a personal note in it for an unsuspecting reader of any age. In light of how many libraries across the country are being forced to cut staff, curtail purchases, limit hours of operation, or worse--shut their doors, I encourage you to donate to your own local library <em>any</em> time. </span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">So that's it for this month. A departure from the usual Bonnie Blogs Green, but it's all related. Sunshine brings Green. Books teach us how to live green. And libraries need green, lots of it! </span><br /><br /><br /><p>Be sure to check out the latest spots on the web where you can find me and Island Sting at <a href="http://bonniedoerrbooks.com/AboutMe.htm"><span style="color:#3366ff;">http://bonniedoerrbooks.com/AboutMe.htm</span></a></p><p>Island Sting is available for special school and retail rates. Contact Cathleen Cartwright <a href="mailto:marketing@leapbks.com"><span style="color:#3366ff;">marketing@leapbks.com</span></a><span style="color:#3366ff;">.</span> Ask for it at your local bookstore or online <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">http://www.amazon.com/</a> or <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/</a>.</p>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-1055014503573879182010-03-10T11:05:00.000-05:002010-03-11T14:16:14.623-05:00Transitioning from the Florida Keys to the Piedmont of NC<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZbSV6bATz4SaJWq6hsCko20DZJA30MD6dMyo7pHwiFOsfS1O09UKDCTm-EOEmN2WGRpikeRj5O5JIB9N8Hr4dwLuIXSObgBsKw5mm8eNIW8c02898orK16KJty4kcYR2SYPvSreuVJNk/s1600-h/100_2313.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447043753746446082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZbSV6bATz4SaJWq6hsCko20DZJA30MD6dMyo7pHwiFOsfS1O09UKDCTm-EOEmN2WGRpikeRj5O5JIB9N8Hr4dwLuIXSObgBsKw5mm8eNIW8c02898orK16KJty4kcYR2SYPvSreuVJNk/s200/100_2313.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#009900;">One of the last wildlife visits I made while still in in the Keys was to my favorite tourist attraction--the Key West Aquarium. With quaint charm like no other aquarium I know (it was built by the Works Project Administration of the federal government during the depression in the early 1930s), it is a not-to-be-missed destination for any tourist. <a href="http://www.keywestaquarium.com/">http://www.keywestaquarium.com/</a> The wall murals and architecture are reason enough t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dnpkJKvr7Yh3nUXkRb7fguhfg8Z01Edzw2iGuxqVNdWKDD6IJlo2rL0hryCb1LQnOjbiiFhKzEehoNS2U9R-qN5A9nlXkUiXCOHlfeVnBXH8Ij4zQbh3CVcHqZJapP9zAjzFta1Cwgo9/s1600-h/100_2323.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447042106504632130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dnpkJKvr7Yh3nUXkRb7fguhfg8Z01Edzw2iGuxqVNdWKDD6IJlo2rL0hryCb1LQnOjbiiFhKzEehoNS2U9R-qN5A9nlXkUiXCOHlfeVnBXH8Ij4zQbh3CVcHqZJapP9zAjzFta1Cwgo9/s200/100_2323.JPG" /></a>o visit, but for such a small facility the collection of aquatic life is also remarkable. The aquarium's size allows visitors a personal experience. Patti, the enthusiastic and knowlegeable interpretor, makes certain the experience is a memorable one for all. On this cold February day, Patti wanted no visitor to miss the chance to interact with an alligator. So she walked around the aquarium speaking to her guests, carrying baby gator Chris (who wears a jacket in the cold because alligators cannot regulate their body temperature). </span><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 231px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447045988521427970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt2C6tbV_-ygGwZfXTJeT41i4wzoZTfuv_p0_gLGZtQjeq47BiLS2YTMxOarP7RVc2IkBrRZJmUyMR-sPpWirD44Q-LpDYHbtKnr2_HBM9cz7LaOKXGVtIICjHHcoRd-shz1y-Xkf1sdL/s200/turtles+under+blankets.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(Remember in most cases you can click the photos to enlarge them.)</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">The Keys, like the rest of the country, experienced extreme temperatures this winter resulting in the death of countless fish, turtles, and even coral. Birds suffered also, especially pelicans. Fortunately, many cold-stunned animals were rescued and saved through super-human efforts. These fortunate sea turtles were kept warm in kiddie pools under blankets or heat lamps at the Marathon Turtle Hospital . <a href="http://www.turtlehospital.org/">http://www.turtlehospital.org/</a></span><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdRwTrUDFigGXvC9wR2kILgJcZPLX6Dgx-h3ETQDWIib79WShQWiuAxOHum-h02gM_Le1UVUl1L_Dn17mp_MA-n7J280POfxnbtkui0IQLvhtp4XX2tDbwvlNWGh6yPGI8ubdpRIvWD-q/s1600-h/cold+keys+night.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447050894661825106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdRwTrUDFigGXvC9wR2kILgJcZPLX6Dgx-h3ETQDWIib79WShQWiuAxOHum-h02gM_Le1UVUl1L_Dn17mp_MA-n7J280POfxnbtkui0IQLvhtp4XX2tDbwvlNWGh6yPGI8ubdpRIvWD-q/s200/cold+keys+night.jpg" /></a> <span style="color:#009900;">In addition to mining the brains of naturalists and environmentalists, I visited with readers interested in <em>Island Sting</em> at many venues while I traveled. One super cold night I spoke with folks during outdoor movie night at the National Key Deer Refuge. All of us were bundled up in down coats. Unbeliev<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXWiba42-4NeCTr0R6aOvH_WO7JjNYiLDwdMP-U1ydLNRWwimjsFfRuVJtQ0AP25KVuePBZX6E1HL1P1AS-J-A8eWpVteY4okpmr3I_VVS_TkUZhxVxOi_us4Ew07nibe5y-_x2LItodr/s1600-h/Jack+Watson.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 183px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447053473324575778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXWiba42-4NeCTr0R6aOvH_WO7JjNYiLDwdMP-U1ydLNRWwimjsFfRuVJtQ0AP25KVuePBZX6E1HL1P1AS-J-A8eWpVteY4okpmr3I_VVS_TkUZhxVxOi_us4Ew07nibe5y-_x2LItodr/s200/Jack+Watson.JPG" /></a>able! Still, I received a warm reception as we ate popcorn, schmoozed, and enjoyed every image on the old fashioned folding screen while it buckled and flapped in the oh-so-un-Keysy bitter wind. It was the first time I'd seen film footage of the heroic Jack Watson, a determined cowboy-spirited ranger credited with saving the toy deer from extinction in the 1950s. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNByS58gBsmJh7ptxPmPnqLVFWU0qPioqNeJqtz_6in46N1V4XQ7t8814QMuEIDJrGA3BOCsvgycAwb16DpZ2XdZTvSglt1iXSsc-RePLEhMlVfIk5qRd12qltR-ODEWcO1pe_K-BYJKk/s1600-h/100_2361.JPG"></a></span><br /><br /></p><p><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 177px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447056851222214914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwGGbq4MI2mb3mRulFI_Mc8Bp14pCampa1pcxxJwXg7F98T3uMofK-GQ1B72GK-NatzzlW0w74pT1U3ck4ejUv6dPIn5qu49Yb9jL-UAWJ_T50_B6gY9IEhZnqrtxcLV5R8uedeKce_ea/s200/key+west+library+IS+presentation.JPG" />I also enjoyed visiting Florida Keys Community College and the Key West Public Library. Thanks to all the enthusiastic readers out there! When I reached the mainland, I met fellow author Alexandra Diaz (<em>Of All the Stupid Things</em>, Egmont, 2010) . What<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT71shhIW6H2da_LeKAV9ovt2pIdzdcm8vOk0yDfvI3_8nn-HK98cG0zb-u1SBGnO0IF1IGxcanHTnTif8jqyEejq8hiOch_AiCt1VmejlCZvZRJpa8O6GtWk2B_7iH990AES_BwnX-T-6/s1600-h/Alexandra+and+Bonnie.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 184px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447117535179025666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT71shhIW6H2da_LeKAV9ovt2pIdzdcm8vOk0yDfvI3_8nn-HK98cG0zb-u1SBGnO0IF1IGxcanHTnTif8jqyEejq8hiOch_AiCt1VmejlCZvZRJpa8O6GtWk2B_7iH990AES_BwnX-T-6/s200/Alexandra+and+Bonnie.JPG" /></a> a lovely lady! We read and signed at one of my favorite independent bookstores, Books & Books, in Coral Gables, FL.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">While I was in Coral Gables, I visited the cana<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUimTUwE9xMYuzf9gromL9P3ekqRfrt52hClDoSXomXnAFj2jvg69N2d11GWanzXEtPd4zoRHRNRHPQ6mNPtONifiOEVnjq6N-_KZ3PXWewd-bVSHKtFvn3JR9IgAnO00PLlQ4RUqBFQv-/s1600-h/manatees+by+the+dozens.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447084058103353234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUimTUwE9xMYuzf9gromL9P3ekqRfrt52hClDoSXomXnAFj2jvg69N2d11GWanzXEtPd4zoRHRNRHPQ6mNPtONifiOEVnjq6N-_KZ3PXWewd-bVSHKtFvn3JR9IgAnO00PLlQ4RUqBFQv-/s200/manatees+by+the+dozens.JPG" /></a>l where each winter the manatees congregate to wait out cold spells. During their winter migration to warm water, they are protected by enforcing lower speed limits on boats and in some cases, by banning boat traffic completely. When I arrived at this annual manatee hangout in the midst of one of the coldest winters on record, I witnessed an amazing sight--more manatees than I'd ever s<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztwZmhnVh3trufKleIE-L3fusD3NdtlaiPWjkZKwGWLB-000jH6KLM0njihaplVQ7dVvszblW20g9qBTFoG96tMnAejHX22XZcxv8dQJPARKqCPD1q2VnLcmBv0DrteRJ1-mxw_K3xWdf/s1600-h/trash+on+manatee.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447084655913092402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztwZmhnVh3trufKleIE-L3fusD3NdtlaiPWjkZKwGWLB-000jH6KLM0njihaplVQ7dVvszblW20g9qBTFoG96tMnAejHX22XZcxv8dQJPARKqCPD1q2VnLcmBv0DrteRJ1-mxw_K3xWdf/s200/trash+on+manatee.JPG" /></a>een in one place before. It's a surprise to learn that such large marine mammals do not have the body fat that whales and seals have to protect them from the cold. In addition to all the other marine life that perished this season, the harsh winter of 2010 resulted in the death of many Florida manatees. But this herd was doing well in a canal warmed by groundwater seepage. Sadly, even in this lovely canal, trash found its way on top of one of these gentle creatures.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">I'm home now in NC as the first signs of spring are popping. You must search for them, but the tips of daffodils and tulips are poking above ground. My sad, brown garden depresses me until I remember my visit to the community gardens in Key W<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o6vCYy52TeT5VsHWicQn9foFRQImFVhzre-Sok652MJsYSLsqAP6ZDE2wKIgxzTHOmMahOcZ87bJt8LI6IvclQFZHBLSws-oOCoMjjjStH7pR45c9WzamYSJ2BiAChHvPTPr8FXp59SW/s1600-h/100_2341.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447061816382991826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o6vCYy52TeT5VsHWicQn9foFRQImFVhzre-Sok652MJsYSLsqAP6ZDE2wKIgxzTHOmMahOcZ87bJt8LI6IvclQFZHBLSws-oOCoMjjjStH7pR45c9WzamYSJ2BiAChHvPTPr8FXp59SW/s200/100_2341.JPG" /></a>est on my last island day. In the archives of BonnieBlogsGreen (August, 2009, <a href="http://bit.ly/9qPbmP">http://bit.ly/9qPbmP</a>) I posted about green teens who work in community gardens across the country. Was I ever thrilled to find one such amazing new garden in Key West! Please visit their Wicki for an inspirational video about building the garden. <a href="http://cgkw.pbworks.com/">http://cgkw.pbworks.com/</a> </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLi95qtA-Nb-nwJAadI93atQJqaqLs2YBKsv4uf_MWrSbHdzdQkR6r0UtcpJs0i3IkfREEFKP3bblCRZARJ4CY2OAJ-Kxz0lHXyyB7tUGN9C3IXO8hq6397sHXzzB_TBE6LQFC9ZQFtUq/s1600-h/100_2349.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447100694745215938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLi95qtA-Nb-nwJAadI93atQJqaqLs2YBKsv4uf_MWrSbHdzdQkR6r0UtcpJs0i3IkfREEFKP3bblCRZARJ4CY2OAJ-Kxz0lHXyyB7tUGN9C3IXO8hq6397sHXzzB_TBE6LQFC9ZQFtUq/s200/100_2349.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">This garden is an admirable example of how government and individuals young and old can work together to improve the lives and health of a community. In the photo, Jody Smith Williams prepares palm fronds for the garden's chipper. The fronds become one of many components in the compost gardeners use to grow organic food. You can learn much more about this wonderful project at <a href="http://bit.ly/93223d">http://bit.ly/93223d</a>.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Today, as I stare out my window at brown grass and browner garden plots, I have two reasons to smile. While the gardens in Key West wind down, mine are ready to be prepared for the bounty to come. And </span><span style="color:#009900;">I was blessed to have interacted with so many environmental champions while traveling to launch my novel <em>Island Sting</em> and research the next. There are many more hands caring for Mother Earth than we will ever know. They are too super-busy to tell their own stories. I'm super happy to do it for them.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">May your spring be productive and green.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/">http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/</a>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-3453179730685471582010-02-18T11:26:00.000-05:002010-02-19T09:59:57.037-05:00Going Green in Key West<span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ws-LnUHWx-AkPknL0_an2-LF15mmAWSO3gWFMS4NDElwQO5pIRzWoTTJ87nMGxCNIp03je7Ioo2ZBbRRMfxmnvqL-bgTA7ILpyX8dn7HhFAFowneOYTbI1rew2XggS9aYZTgt4ibVuYa/s1600-h/go+green+auto.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439636326773704802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ws-LnUHWx-AkPknL0_an2-LF15mmAWSO3gWFMS4NDElwQO5pIRzWoTTJ87nMGxCNIp03je7Ioo2ZBbRRMfxmnvqL-bgTA7ILpyX8dn7HhFAFowneOYTbI1rew2XggS9aYZTgt4ibVuYa/s200/go+green+auto.jpg" /></a> <span style="color:#33cc00;">Just truckin' about Key West... The go green message gets around.<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNixHxt3uf4MJuNlOnW3uFhEUQWIeJYBZq2SvUGAA1a3eVbrzeLrnL0fAvFk3LYct5dd_EGP0zqS1kfM0rKm3rgc7Yf_2z22Kj8y6VVuyBDhA9ZgTHHbyc4KjBabhzxkJ_k5o-kQsaS6su/s1600-h/Me+and+Key+Deer+1.jpg"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 179px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 159px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439623792798971026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNixHxt3uf4MJuNlOnW3uFhEUQWIeJYBZq2SvUGAA1a3eVbrzeLrnL0fAvFk3LYct5dd_EGP0zqS1kfM0rKm3rgc7Yf_2z22Kj8y6VVuyBDhA9ZgTHHbyc4KjBabhzxkJ_k5o-kQsaS6su/s200/Me+and+Key+Deer+1.jpg" /></span></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">It's difficult to decide what to include on this p</span><span style="color:#33cc00;">ost. I've been in the Florida Keys launching <em>Island Sting</em> while connecting with scores of other "greenies" for the past several weeks. I don't know how to prioritize the exciting experiences I've had and photos </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoOKGnjAarqxEQHudK5i68UPUmUi35AZ7bLxydfuhLRzCWvNzZ2aq5c_IjtjCNUqBwC44NlLKl2i6Zt-3Y5HF6jor8-V0JAS6LiatMbiyxyIouHt9YLNuF1UtIO4Bz-kNt5VBywXvWEu3/s1600-h/key+deer+fawn+taxidermy.jpg"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439622921725942130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoOKGnjAarqxEQHudK5i68UPUmUi35AZ7bLxydfuhLRzCWvNzZ2aq5c_IjtjCNUqBwC44NlLKl2i6Zt-3Y5HF6jor8-V0JAS6LiatMbiyxyIouHt9YLNuF1UtIO4Bz-kNt5VBywXvWEu3/s200/key+deer+fawn+taxidermy.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">I've taken. But I'll give it my best shot.</span></div></div><div></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">I kicked things off at the National Key Deer Refuge Visitor's Center <a href="http://bit.ly/96IlRa"><span style="color:#6600cc;">http://bit.ly/96IlRa</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> on Big Pine Key. A wonderful chance to see old friends and make new ones. The taxidermy specimen behind me on the left is a much larger buck than average, but the tiny fawn in the case is normal size. If you click on the photo you can enlarge it and just make out its head. Look closely to find the little Key deer in the photo on the right. He's wearing cammo. I promise you there is NO food in my hand. He could be the very deer that caused Kenzie to wreck her bike in chapter 8 of <em>Island Sting</em>. Alison Higgins, (Friends and Volunteers of the Refuges--FAVOR, Nature Conservancy, and Green Living and Energy Education, guru) arranged for the Visitor Center to provide <em>Island Sting</em> for tween and teen readers.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">Next I co-sponsored a fundraiser at the Key West Wildlife Center </span><a href="http://www.keywestwildlifecenter.org/"><span style="color:#6600cc;">http://www.keywestwildlifecenter.org/</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> a wild bird rescue, rehab, release program connected to a lovely natural growth park. Michelle Anderson, the director, and I became fast friend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzJXc2OOReBLpQDHsRnFvt3yUd5e0ZmavoSThXx0SVwQkvtty8QaUSWPvwC569CxRPv4D7vK7-NOqqXbuO1M_3i_lQBPFvKchOCrgp1Mgv0M4N5Oljb6Y58KMruSUcBn-ELXk565_k2cE/s1600-h/raven+and+aj+BPK+winners.JPG"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439624841550654626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzJXc2OOReBLpQDHsRnFvt3yUd5e0ZmavoSThXx0SVwQkvtty8QaUSWPvwC569CxRPv4D7vK7-NOqqXbuO1M_3i_lQBPFvKchOCrgp1Mgv0M4N5Oljb6Y58KMruSUcBn-ELXk565_k2cE/s200/raven+and+aj+BPK+winners.JPG" /></span></a>s. We held a children's environmental art contest and gave cop</span><span style="color:#33cc00;">ies of <em>Island Sting</em> to winners and to their schools. I awarded two of the winners, AJ and Raven, their books at movie night on a cold, cold Keys evening in the heart of the Key deer refuge. Join the Key West Wildlife's Facebook fan page </span><a href="http://bit.ly/aTwXBF"><span style="color:#6600cc;">http://bit.ly/aTwXBF</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> .</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKouX1NCS2kE9uDnGx46Ae1XPj3-7DXJyj541guvi_9O4pZIk5ynvQzcqM913GWstRTL59-4bR1sKoiB0H9RuffjN2pCANTYp9RBFOtfAvsqrmsPGACrfSkuEhicybNur6kFyO-yqnvYn/s1600-h/100_2172.JPG"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439626372495965026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKouX1NCS2kE9uDnGx46Ae1XPj3-7DXJyj541guvi_9O4pZIk5ynvQzcqM913GWstRTL59-4bR1sKoiB0H9RuffjN2pCANTYp9RBFOtfAvsqrmsPGACrfSkuEhicybNur6kFyO-yqnvYn/s200/100_2172.JPG" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> I learned far too many tragic tales of pelican deaths, but happily joined in a pelican release after the center was able to nurse six of the birds back to health. I've also been observing a new re</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunNFXk5YKKNRU6nuACZ2IeXY4IbCTIAUiJLDOSP1aVgSELovxLFsJaJeBSuiX1485O4VNobn_8FEoUd2Pjyv2Fw51qtwnxxGQezekgQlaWX-tAtfw-JAztRuOIqrT6JXsQwAgm2dRZcDJ/s1600-h/short+tailed+hawk.JPG"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439627310373913202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunNFXk5YKKNRU6nuACZ2IeXY4IbCTIAUiJLDOSP1aVgSELovxLFsJaJeBSuiX1485O4VNobn_8FEoUd2Pjyv2Fw51qtwnxxGQezekgQlaWX-tAtfw-JAztRuOIqrT6JXsQwAgm2dRZcDJ/s200/short+tailed+hawk.JPG" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">sident, a rare, white-phased, juvenile short tail hawk, from the day it was brought in by a local family. It was injured and traumatized, but now it is eating and strong enough to be feisty and threatening. Isn't she gorgeous? She's puffing up to scare me away!<br /></div></span><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">I traveled to the Marathon Sea Turtle Hospital, </span><a href="http://www.turtlehospital.org/"><span style="color:#6600cc;">http://www.turtlehospital.org/</span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">another of my favorite rehab, rescue, release wildlife hospitals to update my research for Stakeout. Richie Moretti and Ryan Butts generously spent time with me to share their tale</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFPYginGaZDXeMnmA2kQNrVe9TWBSoAz0kVvfFGo-wVwM0zQzULHC34k8Le0D9tTA617_QSB14r1Y9bov22Aio-rIWDIRlJrak5L9ETBbRPCFhz44CGIAtGcjkMh6wrBEtlBUkKueMBBG/s1600-h/waving+to+turtle.jpg"><span style="color:#33cc00;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 190px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439630489999819890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFPYginGaZDXeMnmA2kQNrVe9TWBSoAz0kVvfFGo-wVwM0zQzULHC34k8Le0D9tTA617_QSB14r1Y9bov22Aio-rIWDIRlJrak5L9ETBbRPCFhz44CGIAtGcjkMh6wrBEtlBUkKueMBBG/s200/waving+to+turtle.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#33cc00;">s of triumph and tragedy, many of which you can read in <em>Stakeout</em> when it publishes January, 2011. Scooter, a young loggerhead, is one of their education turtles. Scooter washed ashore in a storm, but will be released when he reaches around 20 inches in length. He's waving to you! </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">I hope to share more stories of my adventures in the Florida Keys where I continue to collect stories and data for my green teen eco-mysteries. Thanks for reading, and please support your local wildlife rehab organizations. If you don't have one nearby, KWWC, FAVOR, and Marathon Turtle Hospital always need donations.</span></div><div><br />Don't forget, you can always find me at <a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/">http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/</a>. I'll be at the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville in March <a href="http://www.vabook.org/index.html/">http://www.vabook.org/index.html/</a> and I'll be joining other members of the Debut Authors' Class of 2k10 at many May events in NYC during BEA as well.<br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"></span>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-90070217992621176832010-01-12T15:28:00.000-05:002010-01-14T14:35:53.374-05:00Island Sting Enters the Kidlit World<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYiGvMWSnx9HTK3ebzx5CcuSRBEeXo2ZoaoSFiafGW0alIUizEK2lhH5sdAmJ4AX2ExYsiAued-EhAtd9GB7kjrBJPIfHXiDFxbUo5XJkGQypio_e5XVh6O5iy0YgMf62VIgWT-FOcQ5Y/s1600-h/First+ARCs!+Island+Sting.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 96px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425953326982705714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYiGvMWSnx9HTK3ebzx5CcuSRBEeXo2ZoaoSFiafGW0alIUizEK2lhH5sdAmJ4AX2ExYsiAued-EhAtd9GB7kjrBJPIfHXiDFxbUo5XJkGQypio_e5XVh6O5iy0YgMf62VIgWT-FOcQ5Y/s200/First+ARCs!+Island+Sting.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"><br />Usually my posts cover at least one specific green topic. I struggled with a topic for this month's post (my brain was frozen along with the rest of me). My book's launch didn't seem an appropriate subject. But wait. It's all about green teens! See what Louise Hawes, award-winning author of <em>Black Pearls</em>, <em>Waiting for Christopher</em>, and <em>Rosey in the Present Tense</em> had to say about <em>Island Sting</em> </span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><strong>"Impetuous Kenzie, dashing Angelo, and a fascinating cast of four-legged characters make green go down easy in this fast-paced eco-mystery."</strong><br /></em><br />Look at that. <em>Island Sting</em> is not just green, it's go-down-easy green! BonnieBlogsGreen is the <strong><em>perfect</em></strong> location to launch <em>Island Sting</em> after all. So raise your glasses high (yep, your eye glasses count) and wish the new baby smooth seas and fair winds, or as Angelo might say, "Wish her tight lines to hook schools of readers."<br /><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">Those books at the top were the advanced reader copies that arrived weeks ago. No art or graphics in them yet.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTIVNRbUINq2zz6G1Mc1NtnPXtVp3lkuIwdaqRKCNIkEEWjCUuEsVznIwEE-L3qGFAa4q7UW0nK_pgtuiEOWEUy-3DlzKFCoHRW-9plWuCcLrxk4gJIKMeyThZImPzQyMGcF4QzxiRv3u/s1600-h/kenzie+bike+fall.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 84px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425955008562669906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTIVNRbUINq2zz6G1Mc1NtnPXtVp3lkuIwdaqRKCNIkEEWjCUuEsVznIwEE-L3qGFAa4q7UW0nK_pgtuiEOWEUy-3DlzKFCoHRW-9plWuCcLrxk4gJIKMeyThZImPzQyMGcF4QzxiRv3u/s200/kenzie+bike+fall.jpg" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF_0TKYN01uCsJKZlCAHtjXF1f_vwjPm_mOxJViqPR1i11Idwak_UUY4q2uswZHCTiMmBvyZX403Cl3zyB3rdY1M2hZcV-hcaDjMqPM01aL7zeIpNgklB2MRsLsshLmThKd1AgvUHbuMT/s1600-h/the+bard.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 93px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 153px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425955374892156962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF_0TKYN01uCsJKZlCAHtjXF1f_vwjPm_mOxJViqPR1i11Idwak_UUY4q2uswZHCTiMmBvyZX403Cl3zyB3rdY1M2hZcV-hcaDjMqPM01aL7zeIpNgklB2MRsLsshLmThKd1AgvUHbuMT/s200/the+bard.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 203px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425953938728584370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEL_Tsd01OO6oAS3mEd8VPZiNxN33AdKQgKU-FKxa9brkIcRoWUbHhAXvef5enNL58KsilQrQkL0nl31m76S3PRwD3ZXoHdJ0mUs3xuFE1mXFe3QjY3U_3FggdDNfOoD1bmRy1Zc0Or_Vr/s200/Laurie's+map+fl+keys.jpg" /></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">But these images give you a sneak peek at Joanna Britt's drawings and Laurie J. Edwards' maps inside the published <em>Island Sting</em>. See what you have to look forward to?</span></div><div align="center"></div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">I'll be a busy camper in the coming weeks sharing the news with one and all. I start celebrating with an artist friend, Lauren Patton and her critique group, in Asheville on Saturday, January 16. We have many things to celebrate: Lauren's graduation, the launch of Leap Books publishing company, and the launch of my debut novel, <em>Island Sting</em>. The festivities begin at one of my favorite bookstores, Malaprop's Books and Cafe, around 2:30 pm.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">After that celebration I pack and begin my migration south to the Florida Keys, and I don't stop for long until I reach mile marker zero. That's when the fun begins. So, if you're in the Southern Most City or nearby, you can find me reading, writing, or raising a glass. Stay tuned, the schedule keeps changing. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">February 4:KONK AM "Eco-centric View" with Erika Biddle 2 - 3pm, Key West</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">February 5: National Key Deer Visitor Center, Big Pine Key--Walk on Winn Dixie 7-9 pm</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">February 7: Key West Wildlife Center, 1801 White Street, Key West, Family Fun Fundraiser, 1-4 pm</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">February 9: Florida Keys Community College, College Road, Stock Island-- "Manuscript Makeover/What Not to Dare"-5:30</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">February 11: Key West Public Library, 700 Fleming St., "Evolution of a Novel/Survival of the Determined"</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">March 2: Books &Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida, 7pm Program TBA</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">Okay, I get it. You'd love to be in the Keys or Coral Gables this time of year. But, no way. No problem. If you want to learn more about <em>Island Sting</em> you can find me in lots of places on the web.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">Let the fun begin!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#009900;">Order <em>Island Sting</em> from the publisher <a href="http://leapbks.com/">http://leapbks.com/</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=island+sting&sprefix=Island+Sting">Amazon.com</a>; <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=Island+sting&box=Island%20sting&pos=-1">Barnes & Noble.com</a>, or your local bookstore.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;"></span>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-77837719764874385342009-12-09T11:26:00.000-05:002009-12-09T13:10:27.392-05:00Greening it up in Florida with Books & Books Indie, Greg Mortenson, and S. Terrell French<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnhD2spKN6oEZLpogxZKFRXL-QDDalg2vvmENFn69bLn0SyhsUqHcnzZca0ypU586fubvz1GiSUqNx2UX_qSTbs_wPdGN47pMsGpJa91aZ0NLr_a_-dRfv6m6qx7h8skhD7z59CxRRxRw/s1600-h/heron+at+Clyde+Butcher+Gallery.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnhD2spKN6oEZLpogxZKFRXL-QDDalg2vvmENFn69bLn0SyhsUqHcnzZca0ypU586fubvz1GiSUqNx2UX_qSTbs_wPdGN47pMsGpJa91aZ0NLr_a_-dRfv6m6qx7h8skhD7z59CxRRxRw/s200/heron+at+Clyde+Butcher+Gallery.JPG" ps="true" /></a><span style="color:#38761d;">Just yesterday I returned from Florida where green is definitely the prevailing color and conservation is literally a hot topic. (I photographed this white heron beside <a href="http://clydebutcher.com/clyde-butcher-galleries.cfm">Clyde Butcher's Gallery </a>in the heart of the Everglades.) </span><br /><br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="color:#38761d;">In Coral Gables, Florida, </span><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc_7SYJCYdM1f0g7IZWzJdlbFEzgNO_OE5ROnUWCZgEVShO8rddOUmGrJojFZYS2bbNOMgpYVMWKVDiJr7BpxqELY59_fkO5Rk2Sugm0Ub-ZlGlPmjPKjRUR8zrsszgCziXU-OZxJTu5A/s1600-h/books+%26+Books+storefront+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img style="WIDTH: 211px; HEIGHT: 117px" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc_7SYJCYdM1f0g7IZWzJdlbFEzgNO_OE5ROnUWCZgEVShO8rddOUmGrJojFZYS2bbNOMgpYVMWKVDiJr7BpxqELY59_fkO5Rk2Sugm0Ub-ZlGlPmjPKjRUR8zrsszgCziXU-OZxJTu5A/s200/books+%26+Books+storefront+cropped.jpg" width="189" height="107" ps="true" /></a><span style="color:#38761d;">I visited one of the most outstanding independent bookstores in the country, <a href="http://booksandbooks.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp">Books & Books </a>. While in town, I was inspired by guest speaker <a href="http://gregmortenson.com/">Greg Mortenson</a> (<em>Three Cups of Tea, Listen to the Wind, Stones into Schools</em>), whose visit to Miami was sponsered by the store. All this literary saturation reminded me that I have not spent much blogging time on my primary passion, children's literature. </span><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KdIuBtKdn3r0gG9e2RgAHC6W-2x_k2UqOjS3LzsibN0wvvVi9klov37BS6RaBZ5d34NXn2WMXRsV-MCuKcFtJOjHGBUX4c2KVJXoCGe5WLyMstKviD6ZJbbWv-aq1V84uY0mEW4KA-j2/s1600-h/Redwoods+1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color:#38761d;"></span></a><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KdIuBtKdn3r0gG9e2RgAHC6W-2x_k2UqOjS3LzsibN0wvvVi9klov37BS6RaBZ5d34NXn2WMXRsV-MCuKcFtJOjHGBUX4c2KVJXoCGe5WLyMstKviD6ZJbbWv-aq1V84uY0mEW4KA-j2/s1600/Redwoods+1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KdIuBtKdn3r0gG9e2RgAHC6W-2x_k2UqOjS3LzsibN0wvvVi9klov37BS6RaBZ5d34NXn2WMXRsV-MCuKcFtJOjHGBUX4c2KVJXoCGe5WLyMstKviD6ZJbbWv-aq1V84uY0mEW4KA-j2/s200/Redwoods+1.JPG" ps="true" /></a><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnab-1iUsfyyJsPUGj_8AzaWATv8TBv6NvSrDTWQUQS2ZX7EaCrtmFQ0B3PaFFRRT9R0Gvh8jokX_7Dmdp-Gxy_LhaFIR8yziWPq0NEKuAnVj-fnx2WPiCokars8MveMDt4lKffD6oI0l/s1600-h/s.+terrell+french+portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="color:#38761d;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnab-1iUsfyyJsPUGj_8AzaWATv8TBv6NvSrDTWQUQS2ZX7EaCrtmFQ0B3PaFFRRT9R0Gvh8jokX_7Dmdp-Gxy_LhaFIR8yziWPq0NEKuAnVj-fnx2WPiCokars8MveMDt4lKffD6oI0l/s200/s.+terrell+french+portrait.jpg" ps="true" /></span></a><span style="color:#38761d;">So today, I present to you S. Terrell French, fabulous author of an exciting eco-adventure. Her book, <em>Operation Redwood</em>, has made it from her west coast home to bookstore shelves everywhere. I was thrilled to see it featured face out on the shelf of Books & Books, a store about as far away from her California home as one can travel and still be in the continental United States. </span><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="color:#38761d;"><strong>Welcome Susannah! </strong></span><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">Tell us some of the most interesting things you learned about redwoods while researching Operation Redwood.</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><em><span style="color:#38761d;">My pleasure. Redwood trees not only are among the longest-living trees on the planet, they've also been around a very long time. A species very similar to the modern redwood was widespread during the Jurassic period! Redwoods also create their own weather; in the summer, they essentially suck fog out of the air and into the redwood ecosystem.</span></em><br /></div></div><strong><span style="color:#38761d;"><br />• Amazing! Many children spend very little time interacting with nature in any form. How important do you think it is for children to explore the outdoors?</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><em><span style="color:#38761d;">I think kids gain a lot by spending time away from man-made spaces, where they can see the natural world and experience a sense of freedom in their play. At the same time, it can be hard for urban and even suburban parents to find these opportunities for their kids. I struggle with that myself raising a family in San Francisco, though we're fortunate to have lots of fairly wild spaces nearby. But even weekend camping, summer camp, and day trips do, I think, leave a lasting impression on kids. </span></em><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">• What do you think people would take away from a visit to the Redwood Forest National Park and Muir Woods? Do you think they might be changed by the experience? </span></strong><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><em><span style="color:#38761d;">Redwoods give you a sense of a time scale entirely different from the human time scale. Redwoods can live more than 2,000 years, so some of the trees in an old-growth forest were ancient even before the first Europeans arrived in California. Redwood forests are also wonderfully quiet and beautiful; they invite contemplation.</span></em><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">• I know you enjoy visiting schools. Have you been surprised by any of your school experiences?</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><em><span style="color:#38761d;">Most kids in the San Francisco Bay Area have been to redwood forests with their family or on school trips. They are really quite knowledgeable and many have even kissed a banana slug (which, for some reason, is a popular redwood activity out here!). Everywhere I go, the kids are so attentive and polite and I'm always impressed by how much they love to read.</span></em><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">• Is <em>Operation Redwood</em> the first and last title considered for your book?<br /></span></strong><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><em><span style="color:#38761d;">It was always my title. My publisher considered changing it, but couldn't come up with anything they liked better.</span></em><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">• You're better at titles than I! My books have gone through many title changes. Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about Operation Redwood?</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><em><span style="color:#38761d;">It's a good book for kids who might be intrigued by living in a tree house!</span></em><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQOKXjEp4XWJUxq8CZFKRkkc_RkNqJVagHMb7q7_xxdDd_3zHkN5Qrh3WjLgLqQ83gn4VGZ_ggMdveR9EJV4NMRnY2gS8ML-1zDmROyWP9G-QREhOO8rPdQVkfJHxOIVGx7LCZ47810fO/s1600/OperationRedwood83540JL.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQOKXjEp4XWJUxq8CZFKRkkc_RkNqJVagHMb7q7_xxdDd_3zHkN5Qrh3WjLgLqQ83gn4VGZ_ggMdveR9EJV4NMRnY2gS8ML-1zDmROyWP9G-QREhOO8rPdQVkfJHxOIVGx7LCZ47810fO/s200/OperationRedwood83540JL.JPG" ps="true" /></a><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">And now, since Julian from <em>Operation Redwood</em> has appeared, I'd like to ask him a few questions.</span></strong><br /></div><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">Julian, I understand that your uncle planned to cut down the redwoods. Where did you get the courage to defy your uncle?</span></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#38761d;">Well, I never really set out to defy my Uncle Sibley. But in the end, I couldn't let Robin down. And pretty much anything we would do to try to save Big Tree Grove was going to make him angry. Unless Sibley just changed his mind about the logging. Which it didn't seem like he was going to do. </span></em><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">• How do you feel when you’re in a redwood forest?</span></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#38761d;">I like being there at night -- looking up at the stars. And during the day, it's quiet. And beautiful. It's not at all like San Francisco with concrete and buildings everywhere.</span></em><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">• Julian, why was it important for you to save these trees in particular?</span></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#38761d;">Robin's redwoods are special because nobody else is around. You're in the middle of nowhere, without tourists or fences or snack bars. You realize Big Tree Grove has probably been the same for thousands and thousands of years.</span></em><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">• What advice would you give to other kids who want to protect the environment?</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><em><span style="color:#38761d;">That's hard. There's all the usual stuff they teach you in school -- ride your bike, recycle, turn out the lights. If somebody can make a lot of money by cutting down a forest or filling up a wild space with roads or buildings, the only people who are going to do something about it are the people who really care about that place.</span></em><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">• Do you think you have anything in common with S. Terrell French's own children?</span></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#38761d;">We all grew up in San Francisco. We like to go to Green Apple Books and the Toy Boat Dessert Cafe.</span></em><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#38761d;">• What would you like us to know about S. Terrell French?</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><em><span style="color:#38761d;">She put together a cool website <a href="http://www.operationredwood.com/"><span style="color:#38761d;">http://www.operationredwood.com/</span></a> ; You can get a link to a real canopy scientist climbing the world' tallest tree, Hyperion. </span></em><br /><span style="color:#38761d;"><br /></span><span style="color:#38761d;"><strong>Julian, thanks for taking a break from school to answer these questions.</strong> <strong>And Susannah, I appreciate your allowing me to interrupt your tight schedule also.</strong></span><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#38761d;">Thanks for this opportunity, Bonnie, and I hope we meet on an eco panel some day!</span></em><br /><br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>I hope you enjoyed meeting S. Terrell French as much as I did. Remember, for a young reader's holiday gift list :</strong> <em>Operation Redwood.</em><br /></span></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxVa_uvgmsIEAe19mlg-u5Oczcji2bzwRrFDiQ8ZSp8B4_pUKXJHk3ywcOEcIcmv7V1LEaBka0oJG3CSeC_OSUIG58WpFQfke9d6PDQjjrHJxXuL0DcP8l6TosdiV5weD7RZIjYcjyH1r/s1600-h/JCG+pocket+guide.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="color:#000000;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxVa_uvgmsIEAe19mlg-u5Oczcji2bzwRrFDiQ8ZSp8B4_pUKXJHk3ywcOEcIcmv7V1LEaBka0oJG3CSeC_OSUIG58WpFQfke9d6PDQjjrHJxXuL0DcP8l6TosdiV5weD7RZIjYcjyH1r/s200/JCG+pocket+guide.jpg" ps="true" /></span></a><span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>One more book I highly recommend</strong> for a holiday gift is brand-spanking new from the amazing Jean Craighead George:<em> Pocket Guide to the Outdoors: Based on My Side of the Mountain.</em><br /></span></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>And if you wish to give to the cause of peace and literacy</strong> this holiday season, please consider </span><a href="http://penniesforpeace.org/"><span style="color:#33cc00;">Pennies for Peace</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">, an international service-learning program, inspired by Greg Mortensen and energized by school children.</span></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="color:#000000;">Happy reading and the best of holidays to you and your loved ones. </span></div></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-4679072122348568412009-11-12T17:34:00.000-05:002009-11-12T19:27:28.758-05:00Orange to Green Decor- Seasonal Sense<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdN-FxlqChZGydsy427llJVNHm7awiErWn13AwTz5qQInQNmAxlgre_eKPnZjUnbHyIzAmljAiFSoWwRGShMwwOvMR4EjnfDfbG3DhgjJrrJZp8-Y1saBuC0oWkksXnG-QIUPLbQWfy6B/s1600-h/100_1950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #38761d;"><strong><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdN-FxlqChZGydsy427llJVNHm7awiErWn13AwTz5qQInQNmAxlgre_eKPnZjUnbHyIzAmljAiFSoWwRGShMwwOvMR4EjnfDfbG3DhgjJrrJZp8-Y1saBuC0oWkksXnG-QIUPLbQWfy6B/s200/100_1950.JPG" /></strong></span></a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>As I watched the progress of hurricane Ida in the Gulf of Mexico, it was difficult to believe it was the middle of November. My mandevilla vine is still blooming on the lamp post, the hanging baskets and potted begonias blaze with pink, red, and white blossoms. But when the remnants of Ida arrived at our cabin in North Carolina 48 hours ago, bringing chilly winds and over six inches of rain, the remaining leaves abandoned our trees in frantic swarms and the flowers ducked their heads in fear. We built daily fires and finally accepted the date on our calendar. Jack-o-lanterns--gone. Ghosts and witches--packed. Turkey and pilgrims--out of storage. While shoppers are already assaulted by the <em>Ho Ho Ho</em> of the next holiday.</strong></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>I’ve accepted the nasty weather heralding the change, but poor Mr. GP. The constant pounding of rain reactivated his PTSD. To ease him out of the memory of being slam-dunked in the raging creek, I bundled him up and walked him with my dog, Itchy, on the soggy, but safe and soft forest path. At first Itchy's sniffing and leg lifting unnerved Mr. GP who kept retreating to the safety of rocks and crevices, but as I began to comment on which evergreen trees might one day serve as Christmas trees, Mr. GP slid into a comfortable gardening discussion. And so began the distraction of holiday planning .</strong></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8qWReZHa2A_7SO5PcKrF7zuglzzQzshotKzx4BkclJnIJmp9NUrH5OcdGZ-fI_GcsbIjnhvYIQVUOu93Hr-rKYiWsJRj24y8ZZ6QJHgHDKrZLqiF96sNeAHszKsI5gwocqWhv-Ijic54/s1600-h/fraser+fir+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8qWReZHa2A_7SO5PcKrF7zuglzzQzshotKzx4BkclJnIJmp9NUrH5OcdGZ-fI_GcsbIjnhvYIQVUOu93Hr-rKYiWsJRj24y8ZZ6QJHgHDKrZLqiF96sNeAHszKsI5gwocqWhv-Ijic54/s200/fraser+fir+2.jpg" /></strong></span></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>I often brag about NC Christmas trees. NC Fraser Firs are the most beautiful I’ve ever had in my home. In fact, North Carolina has provided </strong></span><a href="http://ncchristmastrees.com/white_house_trees.htm"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>The White House with a Fraser Christmas</strong></span></a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong> tree eleven times. More than any other state. But I was saddened to read in the December 2009 O magazine that 5.8 pounds of pesticides are sprayed on an acre of Christmas trees each year in our state. But perhaps you can find an organically grown tree near you by searching </strong></span><a href="http://www.greenpromise.com/resources/organic-christmas-trees.php"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>http://www.greenpromise.com/resources/organic-christmas-trees.php</strong></span></a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>.</strong></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>Organic or not, there are still reasons a live tree is a better decision than an artificial one (beyond the obvious joy of the festive scent). As reported by Nina Shen Rastogi in O magazine:</strong></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>• A typical artificial plastic tree contains 7.3 pounds of PVC. According to </strong></span><a href="http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/186/1/PVC-and-the-environment.html"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>Green Living Tips</strong></span></a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong> the production of PVC produces dioxin, a poison that stays in the body, substances called phthalates are added to PVC that may cause cancer, kidney and reproductive system damage.</strong></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>• It takes 20 years of reuse before an artificial tree has a lower carbon footprint than a real tree.</strong></span><br />
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</div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>• Enjoying homegrown trees may cut down on the artificial tree imported to the U. S. (Over 8.9 million in 2008.)</strong></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>• Your natural tree can be recycled for compost and wood chips. Or even used as fish habitat in lakes and ponds. Visit </strong></span><a href="http://earth911.com/"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>earth911.com</strong></span></a><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong> to find a tree recycling center near you.</strong></span><br />
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</div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>If you celebrate the December holiday season with a tree of any kind, switch from incandescent tree lights to longer-lasting LEDs and you use close to 90 percent less energy. Nearly 600,000 U. S. homes could be powered for a year with the energy decorative lights use every holiday season. A simple switch could make a difference. Until the end of February, 2010 see how you can recycle your old holiday lights at </strong></span><a href="http://www.holidayleds.com/holidayledscom_christmas_light_recycling_program"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #38761d;"><strong>holidayleds.com.</strong></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>A growing trend that provides the best green for your bucks is a kind of rent-a-tree program. If you're fortunate, you can enjoy a holiday tree and then allow it to continue caring for the Earth by absorbing 1 ton of carbon over 60 years. Here's how to learn more: In Portland, OR visit </strong></span><a href="http://livingchristmastrees.org/"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>livingchristmastrees.org</strong></span></a><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong> a site that can also send you to living tree providers in other locations, in San Diego, </strong></span><a href="http://adoptachristmastree.com/"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>adoptachristmastree.com</strong></span></a><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>, and in San Francisco, </strong></span><a href="http://sfenvironment.org/greenchristmas"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>sfenvironment.org/greenchristmas</strong></span></a><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>. What could be greener than a gift for Mother Earth?</strong></span>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-55136492749311752822009-10-25T14:57:00.000-04:002009-10-25T14:57:55.638-04:00A Green and Orange Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUk9-SEORc9v52h2pyGKaA52EySN8e6dJCT3vduWG-p9mAm3xPByhWYCku2EJbgsbnYu9ja4gvRQjBGzcsiE39Pml81OVrHMVzcsmqA4-A94jUHNyZbW54tb2TjX9mHm9m8iIvClNSv8A/s1600-h/Mr.+GP+and+friend.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUk9-SEORc9v52h2pyGKaA52EySN8e6dJCT3vduWG-p9mAm3xPByhWYCku2EJbgsbnYu9ja4gvRQjBGzcsiE39Pml81OVrHMVzcsmqA4-A94jUHNyZbW54tb2TjX9mHm9m8iIvClNSv8A/s200/Mr.+GP+and+friend.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFQj8kcOx9gEiU82WbzzO6bvdJlsJXIuMZ_ZGDsM2kXr_8ORT0i2IRLBnIxFpOElhpp4hFWjEW8c0BTjeakU46K7wbewaRvi2Tbdf8evCPVcSBYWcp04VYesPHSqPaWiuWcICyAv3g9Cn/s1600-h/Jenna,+Jessica+Mr.+GP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 158px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 109px;"><span style="color: #33cc00;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFQj8kcOx9gEiU82WbzzO6bvdJlsJXIuMZ_ZGDsM2kXr_8ORT0i2IRLBnIxFpOElhpp4hFWjEW8c0BTjeakU46K7wbewaRvi2Tbdf8evCPVcSBYWcp04VYesPHSqPaWiuWcICyAv3g9Cn/s200/Jenna,+Jessica+Mr.+GP.jpg" style="height: 146px; width: 116px;" vr="true" width="116" /></span></a><span style="color: #33cc00;">I’d planned this month's main blog to focus on autumn harvest, but my green teen friends, Jenna and Jessica, and Mr. GP convinced me otherwise. Mr. GP enjoyed dressing up as Mr. Potato Head so much, he became excited when his teen friends offered to make him a Halloween costume and refused to discuss the harvest until next month. To placate the gardener in me, the girls designed a pumpkin/tuxedo costume. Both Mr. GP and I were blown away by their work. The best thing about his dapper costume is that it hides the perpetual scowl he wears as a sign of his anger over the state of our planet. For a few days, at least, he has been enjoying happier thoughts. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #33cc00;">Mr. GP's costume, like those other green revelers created this year, is made of natural fibers and totally biodegradable. There are many ideas for eco-oriented costumes like Captain Recycle, Baby Bin, and other recycle characters I found at:</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.oureverydayearth.com/2009/10/07/top-10-green-halloween-costumes/"><span style="color: #993399;">http://www.oureverydayearth.com/2009/10/07/top-10-green-halloween-costumes/</span></a><span style="color: #993399;"> and</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #993399;">3http://inventorspot.com/articles/7_easy_diy3644</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwz-qfVv2bl4FE9ac71aE3dXMwkhYIxpmR0WKdm9w6fsp0qHVDJqSgNf8LpnIgwYyhqgep4FLLgV9G91pbtwGorSJTK11o0FvX1k0kbGDXF6UlY_rXSkxKoiWRemayiM5V_nD2yzRjRCk/s200/captain_recycle_halloween_costume.jpg" vr="true" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6YvI9u6K28DeyaohbzBXRcKy2JBqIZYDTTsfbMEXh_fWE5LpiejgmE-Q0E3Lw6sozFV1M4nW3ij76DaAc0aOcpZMBdVD7aoWQuWCivEVDqqMNbJqbYJRbpsiy-kBVnnNWbJZgMh6qW5r/s1600-h/baby+recycle+bin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwz-qfVv2bl4FE9ac71aE3dXMwkhYIxpmR0WKdm9w6fsp0qHVDJqSgNf8LpnIgwYyhqgep4FLLgV9G91pbtwGorSJTK11o0FvX1k0kbGDXF6UlY_rXSkxKoiWRemayiM5V_nD2yzRjRCk/s1600-h/captain_recycle_halloween_costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_RX7nUAiR_cJqJVZbm1vezP13BgLZU59uB1xNi6wuz66D5dFdYsKqSbTe0u_Civt1SYUnXJEZkezoNz2-PmQ1ItK6DX7ojvZsiQmXnAS7NWVsZyKSEG6AczjvJ030NNQa3bdkqKPj40a/s1600-h/recycling_bin_halloween_costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #33cc00;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_RX7nUAiR_cJqJVZbm1vezP13BgLZU59uB1xNi6wuz66D5dFdYsKqSbTe0u_Civt1SYUnXJEZkezoNz2-PmQ1ItK6DX7ojvZsiQmXnAS7NWVsZyKSEG6AczjvJ030NNQa3bdkqKPj40a/s200/recycling_bin_halloween_costume.jpg" vr="true" width="178" /></span></a><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6YvI9u6K28DeyaohbzBXRcKy2JBqIZYDTTsfbMEXh_fWE5LpiejgmE-Q0E3Lw6sozFV1M4nW3ij76DaAc0aOcpZMBdVD7aoWQuWCivEVDqqMNbJqbYJRbpsiy-kBVnnNWbJZgMh6qW5r/s200/baby+recycle+bin.jpg" vr="true" width="120" /><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #33cc00;">For a more green than orange holiday, this year party hosts are using recyclable and biodegradable decorations--holiday decor they can add to the compost bin when the party’s over--like cardboard and paper cutouts or cotton-ball ghosts. As always, the trusty jack-o-lantern makes rich compost, perhaps offering a surprise next year: home-grown pumpkins. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #33cc00;">Many hosts create or purchase decorations to last year after year. This is a super way to reduce the waste stream. Another way is to choose pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows, fall leaves and other decorations to carry decor through Thanksgiving.</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #33cc00;">To eliminat<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396592545880843330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j7mpLo4EEer6r2RpMNI9DDkwHQaY_YWK5opIwSHXjUfmk-6a2N10PUU6U4i3uE21GcTRDgDj8atp9EZBA24Pm1G25lNqZ66CUQpslwiXiwuP3TfY-PYBi5fbUDRD7_3ziUyrLT7_8ama/s200/trash+and+trash+can.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 134px;" />e purchasing over-packaged snacks creating party trash depicted by the costumes at the left, green hostesses make their own party food and serve one drink for all guests--apple cider. Cider can be jazzed up or toned down to meet the taste needs of guests no matter their age. </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #33cc00;">To include guests (whom you've invited with paperless invitations, of course) in the fun, ask them to bring eco-friendly, homemade decorations. Enjoy the surprise creativity and camaraderie as your home is decorated for you. Then hold a contest for the most original use of recyclables, best eco-message with a Halloween theme, most likely to enrich the compost bin, and other such categories. Don't forget to make all prizes more green than orange.</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEymSP4PssCdCVpf3aAkCbtuYsFpOHivFRlLEWbumERruucn80UgTTlbMxefKRfo7vnXzE1IctWG4Gf-WDlkkkYFjZv_rY_lYPqhQNIik0zoZ5CR5SRHiDKgjeuCcuW6QMw-X0kz_EbWK/s1600-h/Mr+GP+goes+trick+or+treating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEymSP4PssCdCVpf3aAkCbtuYsFpOHivFRlLEWbumERruucn80UgTTlbMxefKRfo7vnXzE1IctWG4Gf-WDlkkkYFjZv_rY_lYPqhQNIik0zoZ5CR5SRHiDKgjeuCcuW6QMw-X0kz_EbWK/s320/Mr+GP+goes+trick+or+treating.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: #33cc00;">Mr. GP reminds us, when trick-or-treating, as always, "Take no more than you need and leave no litter on the ground." It doesn't matter how it got there, he says, "Pick it up." After all, where would he be if I'd left him where I saw him just because I hadn't been the one to toss him away?</span><br />
</div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-22551378089401421772009-10-14T10:17:00.000-04:002009-10-14T11:04:02.716-04:00Green Teens' work ignored?<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 198px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392468938197001282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnl1W2Eid0e4ia-v2omxK43Y_YhldFExMAgYYSqD9QKF1M8yQ5lAmPtPD6_VBtYcGNpNMa37rJvF5aOtq0HBDYvUWkrWPmYjVe5A1prY-nE5Ics519rc-cImpm3rmvzaBr7Faxjjl5Hdz/s200/wind+turbine.jpg" /><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">I wasn't ready to post another blog, but when I read this letter in the Key West newspaper, <em>The Citizen,</em> on October 14th I had to share. This news should be headlined, along with other positive environmental news in the Keys such as rescuing wildlife, protecting lobster traps, and releasing rehabilitated sea turtles.<br /></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;">Let's applaud, let's support, let's encourage a new generation of environmentalists. Let's not ignore them. Here is a teen who... Well, read his letter to the editor for yourself. </span></div><div><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">I'm doing what little I can to get the word out, Heindreck.</span></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong>Nobody wants to print a positive news story</strong><br /><br />I am a student currently enrolled in Key West High School's alternative energies program. We recently got a grant to build two wind turbines on campus, which I have started a student movement to name after comedian Stephen Colbert in an attempt to draw attention to our program. We will be the first public high school campus in the country to have wind turbines.<br /><br /><br />I wish I could say that is the point of my letter; sadly it is not. This past Friday, I spent my entire lunch period collecting signatures for my "student interest form." I ended up getting over half the student body and more than half of the staff. This is despite the problems I have encountered with everybody in the media.<br /><br /><br />In order to help publicize this event I talked to the teacher in charge of The Snapper, who promised me it would be in the paper. I submitted two tips to The Citizen about our program before that.<br /><br /><br />It never got in either paper. After the school newspaper came out without my promised article, I submitted yet another news tip to this newspaper and yet again got no reply of any kind. I practically wrote the article for them.<br /><br /><br />I'm not sure that this should surprise me. After all, an enterprising young high school student trying to gain national attention to his school has nothing to do with sex, drugs, death, a scandal, or "anybody who disagrees with Obama is a racist." No, my story is simply one of those feel-good stories that might catch somebody's interest and make them feel good at the same time. Sorry if this bored you; perhaps I should just let you get back to your depressive stories.<br /><br /><br />Heindrek Allen<br /><br />Cudjoe Key </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-48457193702230925332009-10-03T17:39:00.000-04:002009-10-03T18:41:13.337-04:00And the Cover Is.... Ta Da!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPm_rm2nsPKWZMp-uTQrDmwxBSgG79m3y9tSfH5QY9Blxtr1_f8gtGXBj7j-GUfcSay7PW6MCm-8du_I4niT3QX3M3-EczC0dRdmlbYX1xjUzR-nLR-zf6IlTojzXotj_zW1dta1HEURJ/s1600-h/Island+sting+new+cover.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 470px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388502596154881970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPm_rm2nsPKWZMp-uTQrDmwxBSgG79m3y9tSfH5QY9Blxtr1_f8gtGXBj7j-GUfcSay7PW6MCm-8du_I4niT3QX3M3-EczC0dRdmlbYX1xjUzR-nLR-zf6IlTojzXotj_zW1dta1HEURJ/s400/Island+sting+new+cover.jpg" /></a><br /><div>There are some amazingly insightful marketers out there. Twenty three BonnieBlogsGreen readers agreed with the design and marketing departments at <a href="http://leapbks.com/">Leap Books</a>. You may have already known which one was chosen if you perused this blog or my website: <a href="http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/">http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/</a>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Most readers agreed with Leap Books. These comments were pulled from emails that don't show up in the comment section below the <em>Five Covers, One Book, You Pick</em> post. You know who you are.</div><br /><ul><br /><li>Black against yellow is the most contrast you can get.</li><br /><li>I like the understated type. </li><br /><li>It seems to visually communicate more than the others.</li><br /><li>It would draw me to pick it from a shelf filled with hundreds of other books.</li><br /><li>The bullet holes in what looks like a road sign and the skid marks ...convey a sense of mystery and danger, with shooting definitely involved. The cover promises to put the reader in the middle of the action.</li><br /><li>It is the one that stays in my mind long after I leave your blog.</li><br /><li>I like the close up of the caution sign.</li><br /><li>It pulls me right into the suspense.</li><br /><li>It is the most graphic of the pitch.</li><br /><li>[It is the] most eye-catching and evocative of the pitch.</li></ul><br /><ul><li>The entire decision process was shared by one reader (paraphrasing here) who reasoned that the style of two covers resembled a vanity press, one was of a pretty scene, but didn't tell anything about the story, one looked like an adult mystery or romance instead of being geared for youth, leaving the favorite, which was eye-catching, clever, understated and would make one want to know what was inside. </li></ul><br /><p>Oh, gadzooks, I almost forgot. You want to know the count for the other covers. Sixteen people preferred number four and twelve people preferred number five. </p><p><br />And me? I'm super lucky. I agreed with Leap Books, too.<br /><br /></p><p><strong>PS To the caffein-starved reader out there: I know it's difficult to tell in a small image, but no, those are not coffee beans on the cover. </strong></p><p><br />Coming soon, <span style="color:#33cc00;">Mr GP returns to the fall garden.</span></p><p></p>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677173545102985176.post-18770463271261177582009-09-14T12:17:00.000-04:002009-09-19T14:35:46.529-04:00Five Covers, One Book, You Pick<span style="color:#000000;">Usually I post one green blog a month. This month I couldn't resist a bonus blog, and it isn't green. It's black and white--at least in overall effect. Here's why: it's about the book publishing industry--where business decisions are rarely black and white even though the pages often are.<br /><br />Did you ever wonder what goes on in an editorial/marketing brainstorming session? Especially a session in which book cover art is chosen? Stick with me here. I'm taking you behind the scene at a publishing company. We're going to see the cover art that was discussed for my soon to be published novel, <em>Island Sting.</em> I peeked in on a secret session and I'm sharing!<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Ordinarily, an author is not privy to cover art brainstorming sessions, but </span><a href="http://www.leapbks.com/"><span style="color:#000000;">Leap Books</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">, is no ordinary publisher. The company is leaping into production with bold innovative steps. One of the braver steps Leap took was in not kicking me out when I was busted as I eavesdropped on their meeting.<br /><br />You wouldn't believe the cover ideas that bounced around. I'm going to share the images I managed to grab in whatever format I could as I split from the very stressful meeting. Well, it was stressful to me. I mean, I know what my plot is about and would recognize any of my characters on the street. I've practically lived in their environment for what feels like centuries. What were these people thinking? The ones I show below, at least, were offered by designers with insight. For a while I worried that <em>Island Sting, </em>a mystery about an authentic endangered species in an actual location (on Earth)<em>,</em> might wind up with a casket full of endangered vampires, or maybe werewolves, on the cover... Hey, I love paranormal fiction: vampires, werewolves, and fun fantasy. But you'd be hard pressed to find those elements in <em>Island Sting</em>. Just got an idea though for the next book. Maybe the <em>real</em> reason the marsh rabbit is endangered in the Florida Keys is-- Whoa, back to the subject.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><br />Some of these cover images are very rough, done in low resolution on a whim, others a bit more polished, and most use sample only stock images for illustrating design ideas. One suggested cover even included a title change. I was not able to make the images any larger or clearer than you see. I <em>was</em> sneaking them out of the building, you know. I could hardly ask, "Hey, do you have a better copy of this?" Actually, it's a minor miracle they aren't covered with pizza stains.<br /><br />So, what do you think of the choices? As an author, which would you pick to wrap your baby in? As a reader, which would entice you to pick up the book and read the blurb? What factors influenced your thinking? Better yet---grab a teen or tween and ask for an opinion. That would be way cool.<br /><br />Ta da! Here they are:<br /><br /><br /><strong>Number 1 (</strong>The sign reads <strong><em>Caution Endangered Species Area</em>.)</strong><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382933727550411954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_NwgVXuBvS1mR_yLX9TNzSwOxAkfScc7h-TUhlVxTEapQ3gXSG0GXs9cqXO5qrWTOKYj61TW51wZXTdNRHJbULphk6PaqGFw6xQB05PXsCkL3SFUdvVMA0vL65CTJE-JhyphenhyphenhVOoccRcU1/s200/kitty's+sign+cover.jpg" /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Number 2<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 160px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382945874612049074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0-VuOUnjDlrwhyphenhyphenkzODDcQ-gc6kCwW5pE3OyUJoMFXpLhbDG4fDFwck3jYoLhphNLXz1mHMYzIzzx0MhRjFPiIk_VjQ07DpAiSCAc4LkQvd_V5qOu6ZUF8uusogkOZg54R47gZ1w-qQtG/s200/new+IslandSting_300.jpg" /></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><p align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuW2xKKX9ByvhnHKrJa5PCU0WGFm7tYmVXYMg8nk5hOsxHuCtH_TIfGihZ6qE53RZtj0LqhSyfgeH0gUbZ6uuxR3sNYG-VlzxpxDgrjqcpEUnvJDNGL0rP2al57D9tFzfrOXKp_Lt8fQA/s1600-h/kittys+t-shirt+image.jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 258px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382934608222762146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuW2xKKX9ByvhnHKrJa5PCU0WGFm7tYmVXYMg8nk5hOsxHuCtH_TIfGihZ6qE53RZtj0LqhSyfgeH0gUbZ6uuxR3sNYG-VlzxpxDgrjqcpEUnvJDNGL0rP2al57D9tFzfrOXKp_Lt8fQA/s200/kittys+t-shirt+image.jpg" /></span></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Number 3</span></strong> <p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso_ORyjm2KOKjHRRsa-G7p4ytsYv0lYBhU3D4OPFTEn8YTZvkosBUp5XjmXo_dFpipAsikMsW8hkRfRmKsTbGhwuMOez7uysDAMpMMNpnJjo5C8FbMmn58An9rg1tr0owYyGnFeywBgW9/s1600-h/nicola's+cover+jpg.jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 183px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381358175414555090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso_ORyjm2KOKjHRRsa-G7p4ytsYv0lYBhU3D4OPFTEn8YTZvkosBUp5XjmXo_dFpipAsikMsW8hkRfRmKsTbGhwuMOez7uysDAMpMMNpnJjo5C8FbMmn58An9rg1tr0owYyGnFeywBgW9/s200/nicola's+cover+jpg.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div align="right"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">Number 4 (The dude in the image is pointing a gun.)</span></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIN5NMX0xzq9XSbHhb71uc2jdZ_K2iWVaTtIXww1M-HzSlqAsGtJUJICOr1NydbJ8hqPbTqKxDdrYG4zwrJ3mSJeromq1to-FTkDfX1V5bFMv27ur528CtQsTQ4bSaWKcaaQJSuuMSNh8T/s1600-h/IslandSting_w2661_300.jpg"><strong><span style="color:#000000;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382939004508203042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIN5NMX0xzq9XSbHhb71uc2jdZ_K2iWVaTtIXww1M-HzSlqAsGtJUJICOr1NydbJ8hqPbTqKxDdrYG4zwrJ3mSJeromq1to-FTkDfX1V5bFMv27ur528CtQsTQ4bSaWKcaaQJSuuMSNh8T/s200/IslandSting_w2661_300.jpg" /></span></strong></a><span style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#000000;"></span></p><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Number 5</strong><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Now that you have a preliminary idea, here's the flash blurb for Island Sting.<br /></span><br /><br /><p><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#33cc00;"><strong>Kenzie didn’t expect her first summer in the Florida Keys to be murder. Cute guys, awesome boats, endangered species, gun-toting thugs... In Angelo's up and down world, Kenzie needed a life jacket and Dramamine.</strong></span></em></p><span style="color:#000000;">Still like the first one you picked best?<br /><br />Please comment. Let me know your thoughts. If you can't or choose not to leave a comment,</span> <span style="color:#33cc00;"><a href="mailto:novelchick1@gmail.com">contact me.</a> </span><span style="color:#000000;">I'll compile and summarize all comments and thoughts for you next month.<br /><br />You know what? Now that I think about it, this <em>is</em> actually a green post. Not a single piece of paper was used to create even one of these images. Yet...</span>Bonnie J. Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03637054576978455953noreply@blogger.com14