Looking Ahead -- With Nostalgia by Betsy Ashton

Certain times of the year are causes for nostalgic thoughts. Fall is one of those special times, when one thing ends and something else begins. No, not the augment of all things pumpkin. Not the first leaves that drop to the deck, to pile up on the driveway. Not the first hint of color when the days grow shorter and nights grow longer. No, fall brings memories of going back to school.

I loved the beginning of school each year. New dresses, all starched and pretty. Brightly polished Mary Janes. A tiny book bag with new supplies I received at school. Elementary schools in those days didn't send out lists of things parents had to purchase. Oh, there were some, like new boxes of crayons and #2 pencils smelling so sweet when we sharpened them. I didn't know they were made of cedar. I didn't care. They were new, as were their erasers.

When my friends and I said good-bye to summer, to long days spent in the sun as free-range children, and settled indoors in classrooms, we had to relearn not to squirm in our seats or whisper that really great thing we just had to tell our best friend sitting next to us. We had to wait through 50-minute periods until we had a brief recess where we could run and shout and expend some of our pent-up energy. We learned that blackboards were really green, and that chalk was dusty. We learned to read and write cursive. We learned that things we took for granted might not be as welcome in a classroom as they were at home.

My grandmother read aloud to me beginning when I was a year old. By age three, I was reading along with her. I started kindergarten with a third-grade reading level. And that was something my teacher couldn't tolerate. She tried to order my tiny grandmother to stop teaching me to read. That genii had left the lamp long before Miss Whatever-Her-Name-Was tried to intervene. My grandmother taught school for 45 years. She taught phonics. This new style of teaching sight reading was something she wouldn't allow. And so I always read ahead of my classes. Tough.

Today, parents are sent lists of what to buy at the local office stores. Elementary school kids look forward to their first Chromebooks as early as first or second grade, depending on the school district. My grandsons will begin kindergarten and second grade this year. They spend a lot of time with screens already. I hope their teachers also cursive writing, use an erasable board, and help them use pencils. No matter what anyone says about pencils being old-school, out of date, whatever. They may be analog, but they can't be hacked.

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Betsy Ashton is the author of the Mad Max mystery series, Unintended Consequences, Uncharted Territory, and Unsafe Haven. She also wrote a dark psychological suspense novel, Eyes Without A Face, about a female serial killer, who unpacks her life and career in first person.###

#Amwriting AND Doing My #Research by Margo Hoornstra

Can you believe it? School starts around here in less than a month.

As an empty nester, the approach of that annual event doesn’t affect me quite so much now. No collections of school clothes to buy. (With four children, that was always quite the monumental undertaking.) No before and after child care to line up. (As a working mom, always an end of summer priority.)

Remember that Staples commercial – maybe it will be on again – with the gleeful parent pushing a shopping cart while clicking their heels and singing ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year…’ I used to love that ad. Sang that song to my own children all the time too.

But, that’s not what I meant to talk about.

On The Make, Book 3 in the Brothers in Blue series is my current work in progress.

She no longer believes in heroes, or happily ever after. He's determined to prove her wrong.

The book features a recently widowed, single mom raising two adolescent boys, one who is in a particularly difficult stage of rebellion. Having raised the aforementioned four kids, I’m calling up memories of some of our more trying times to help get my creative juices flowing.

Not that any of my offspring were necessarily out and out rebellious, but we did have our moments. And thank goodness I wasn’t a single mom, but had a strong, supportive partner to navigate the sometimes choppy child raising waters with me. Such as:

1.       Those first days, weeks, months with a new driver’s license

2.       The friends they coveted who weren’t necessarily the best choice

3.       Those ‘everyone else gets to, why can’t I?’ discussions

4.       The ‘make your bed and clean your room’ requests that seem to be unheard

5.       The ‘there’s nothing to eat’ wails after a mega trip to the grocery store

6.       The eye rolls. For no particular offense, except for simply being…parental

I could go on, but you get the idea.

Again, as an empty nester, there’s a bonus in here too.  While those recollections are helpful, I get to do some real time, here and now research as well. As I watch two of those four I told you about before navigate the same issues with their offspring.

Plus, I have to say…paybacks really are very, very sweet.

How about you? What’s in your research arsenal and how do you use it?

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my  WEBSITE

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Back to School, Back to Work! by Alison Henderson

All right, everyone, it's the day after Labor Day--the first official day of fall according to my internal calendar. And what does fall mean, besides putting your white shoes away until next year? Back to school, of course! The fact that many schools now start in August hasn't altered my clock one bit. School never started before September when I was a student. When my daughter was in school we lived in Minnesota, where by law the school year started the day after Labor Day. It's a shame that's no longer the case. 

I'll admit, I'm an autumn kind of girl. As a child, I loved school and was excited to see my friends and dive back into classes after a long, hot Kansas summer spent largely in the company of my mother and siblings. (Not that they weren't fun, but...well, you know.) I loved the shorter days and dropping temperatures. The fact that my birthday is in early October only added to the appeal.

Even though it's been more than a decade since I participated in back-to-school activities--either as a student or a parent--the seasonal rhythm has never left me. Since I first developed a concept of time as a young child, I've always visualized the year as a circle--a circle that begins in September, not January. Autumn invigorates me, physically and mentally. There's so much to accomplish before the next big break around the holidays. 

So what does this mean for me as a writer? This year, I hope it means an influx of energy and enthusiasm to make real progress on my WIP. I'm about 40% done with the first draft and would love to finish it before I forget why I thought this story was a good idea in the first place. I'll also make time to squeeze in my ROP Christmas story. They always put me in a good mood!

What does fall mean to you? Do you feel energized like me, or sad to see summer end?

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com 

Back to School by Christine DePetrillo

It's Labor Day and I've been back to laboring in the classroom for about a week now.  Funny how in the middle of July I can't even picture myself sharing office space with twenty-five small humans, but after a few days back at it, it's like I never left.

Sure, it's a new set of students with a new medley of needs and talents, but the essence of the job doesn't change.

Unless you dig deep and make it change.

That's my goal this year. This is my nineteenth year teaching and I've been growing ever more dissatisfied with what the profession has become. When I think back to when I first started, I remember all the... what's the word?

Umm... rhymes with sun...

Generally brings smiles...

Leads to true learning...

Oh! I remember! The word is FUN!

We used to embark upon learning adventures that stimulated our minds and made the days pass quickly. Sometimes too quickly! No one was over-stressed. No one was anxious. No one was moving at warp speed because there was just too damn much to cover in 180 days.

And math... oh, sweet, math used to be such a delight to teach because 2 x 2 always equaled 4 and you didn't have to show you knew that six different ways with sketches and charts and essays and Google slideshows and puppets. Now I look at math instruction and wonder where it all got off track. I used to get fifth graders who could tell you their multiplication facts faster than they could tell you their names. Now they stare at the ceiling as their fingers spring into action to COUNT by seven, eight times, to get fifty-six.

Half the time they don't even get fifty-six!

Ugh.

Anyway, this year I've vowed to get back to my original teaching philosophies. The ones that used to inspire children to do well, have confidence without being a snob, and be generally nice people. I've read a few professional books over the summer, all of which have talked about growth mindset. I've also encountered quite a few mentions of helping students find their genius.

"Find your genius."

Yes, that's become our fifth grade motto for this year, because as the great Jane Goodall said, "Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." If we help students find what they are good at, what they are passionate about, what makes them truly happy, we aren't only doing them an incredible service, we are also creating potential world leaders.

And I think we can all agree that we are in desperate (like apocalyptic-level) need of that.

I want to be chilling on my couch, watching the news, and hear stories of people doing fabulous things to make this blue marble a better place. I want to know some of those people. I want to have had a hand in raising those people.

I want to teach the future's superheroes.

So that's what I'm going to do.

Are students back to school where you live? What are your hopes for these young minds?

Toodles,
Chris
Go check out my books at www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com. I dare you.
 

End of Summer by Diane Burton

First, my heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Texas ravaged by Harvey and it's aftermath. I can't fathom what you're going through.

Summer

OMG where did it go? Our electric bill shows we had summer. Hot, sticky, muggy Michigan weather with nary a break. This was the summer of family events. A wedding shower for my niece kicked off the season, followed by a baby shower for another niece, and after that was the wedding--outdoors, 90° with 90% humidity. Right now, we're eagerly awaiting word on the niece who's pregnant. That baby is coming any day. My sister's first grandchild. I'm almost as excited for her as I am for our son's twins coming in November. Or October. Or . . .

Although the Great American Total Solar Eclipse passed south of us, we got our special glasses and watched from our deck. I don't remember ever seeing even a partial eclipse before. Considering their cost, I'm saving those glasses for the next eclipse in seven years.

my first selfie

I can’t believe it’s been two months since the no-longer-Arizona family moved in with us. Yesterday they officially moved into their new home. Son and Hubs spent several days building stuff for the new house. Daughter and Daughter-in-law cleaned and painted. The movers brought everything from storage. Tonight, they’ll sleep in their own beds.

While I’m happy they (and we) will have their own space again, I’m a tiny bit sad. Toddler Girl and I have bonded this summer. Snuggles and kisses and storytime with her curled up on my lap. We’ve watched too many episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. I can sing the theme songs. So can she. 

With Labor Day around the corner, kids are getting ready for school. (In Michigan, most schools don’t start until the day after Labor Day.) My other grandchildren (going into 2^nd & 5^th grades) are excited, now that they know who their teachers are. When they weren’t at camp this summer, they hung out here a lot. Sometimes overnight, sometimes for a couple of hours. They’ve had fun playing with their little cousin. 

I love having them all here. Sure, it’s tiring. I feel my age more when they’re around. But I’m building memories for them. Good memories, I hope, that will stay with them long after I’m gone. Now that all the grandkiddies are close, I’m taking advantage of any time I can get with them.

Between Scouts, flag football, dance, karate, more dance, I think the older kids are booked almost every night—and Saturdays. It tires me out just thinking about their parents running them to all their activities. When my two were young, we wanted them to have a variety of experiences. So I understand why their parents are offering the kids different opportunities. What it also means is we don’t see them too often. Maybe a Friday overnight so the parents can have “date night.” In school, a couple of years ago, our granddaughter had to write a persuasive paragraph. So she wrote one encouraging her parents to have date night more often so they could have an overnight at Nana and Papa’s. Boy, did that ever make my day.

Toddler Girl isn’t ready for all those activities. Yet. With both parents working, we agreed to help out by taking care of her one day a week. Looks like I’ll still get those snuggles and kisses. 😊 Just not as often.

We haven’t seen the end of summer. We’ll have hot days and those that hit a high of 60°. Beach days will be few, and most of the tourists will leave—except for weekends. I always feel a bit sad when summer comes to an end. As much as I love Fall, I know what’s right behind it. Winter.

Maybe I should just enjoy each day as it comes. Captain Sundae's is still open. We'll get to enjoy a few more visits before they close for the winter.

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction, and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense, and the Alex O’Hara PI mysteries. She blogs here on the 30th of each month, on Paranormal Romantics on the 13th, and on her own blog on Mondays.

Beginnings and Endings by Diane Burton

 Last Monday, I wrote about the end of summer. So it seems appropriate that I write about beginnings. School starts today in Michigan. The beginning of another school year. Even though I don’t need to follow that calendar, I’m so aware of it. Who isn’t with all the back-to-school ads?

My daughter takes pictures of the kiddies on the first day of school every year. They each hold a sign proclaiming “1^st day of ___ grade” or in grandson’s case for previous years the class he was in at preschool. This year he starts kindergarten. Daughter is very happy since both kids are in the same school now. She also takes their pictures at the end of the school year—same place, different sign.

Beginning and endings. Isn’t that something we all experience? Whether it’s in our personal lives or in our careers, endings happen. As writers, we all know about rejection. The ending of that story with that publisher. Do we cry and never send that story out again? Nope. We begin again.

I saw this on Facebook and thought how appropriate to my topic.

On to new beginnings.


Diane Burton writes romantic adventure . . . stories that take place on Earth and beyond. She blogs here on the 8th and 30th of each month and on Mondays on her own site: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/

End of Summer by Diane Burton

The end of August reminds me that summer is ending. Kids will go back (or start) school in another week. Here in Michigan, it’s the law—I’m not kidding—that schools cannot start until after Labor Day. Tourism might suffer. My granddaughter is anxiously looking forward to starting third grade, while my grandson is just anxious. After five years of daycare and preschool, he starts kindergarten. My daughter is singing “Halleluia” that both kids are now in the same school.

I remember when my life revolved around the school year. First as a student, then as a teacher, and finally as a parent. What a relief when both kids were on their own so Hubs and I could take vacations whenever we wanted. I love traveling in the fall. The colors are phenomenal and well worth trips Up North.

When we moved to our new house almost two years ago, it was to be close to our grandkids. This summer, we've seen more of them than ever. Daylong visits and overnights, together and sometimes separately. Hubs let grandson help build an HO model train car. Bo-ring, according to g'son. This from the kid who assembled a Lego Death Star that had a 92-page instruction manual. Building a birdhouse to take home was more fun. I'm teaching g'daughter to sew clothes for her American Girl doll. At least it isn't a Barbie. I don't know how my mom had the patience to sew Barbie clothes for my sister. 

Besides all the visits from the kiddies (planned and impromptu), it's been a busy summer. Busy but enjoyable. I’m glad August is almost over. We started the month preparing for a visit from the Arizona contingency (son, his wife, & their precious new daughter). My daughter and I (mostly her) made sure they had everything they needed for an infant but didn’t have to bring on an airplane. Their visit was great. First time all the grandkids were together. I loved it! 

After a week, we all decided the visit was too short. Too bad they needed to get back to their jobs.

On the writing front, I had two week-long blog tours set up by Novel Book Tours for The Protector and The Case of the Bygone Brother. I learned the hard way never to do back-to-back tours. Especially when trying to get another book ready for my editor. As soon as it goes off (supposed to have it to her tomorrow), I have to work on my short story for this year’s Roses of Prose Holiday Stories. This will be my third year. I’ve really enjoyed writing short, which is difficult for someone whose books normally run over 100k words. Challenging but fun.

I think I need a break. LOL A trip to Traverse City sounds great.

How about you? Has your summer been laid back or crazy busy?

Cha... Cha... Cha... Cha Changes by Jannine Gallant

Life rolls on, whether we like it or not. Going-back-to-school season is fast approaching. But this year is going to be a little different for us. My oldest is heading off to college at UC Berkeley on Sunday. Granted, she'll only be 200 miles away and could come home once in a while for weekends if she wants. Whether or not she'll want remains to be seen... But it's going to be odd around the house without Tara. Kristen (2 years younger) is already feeling the pressure. I heard her tell her sister, "Oh my God, you can't leave me alone with THEM. All their focus will be on me, now." I had to laugh. Yep, The Times They Are A-Changin'...

I've been pretty calm about this whole transition. We've bought the giant must-have-for-the-dorm-room list. Deposits have been paid. Tara is on top of everything because that's the kind of kid she is. When my friends ask if I'm freaking out, I tell them, "Not yet." I guess we'll see how Sunday goes. Wish me luck!

So, how much have we changed? Well, here's a picture of me and Tara back when she was my cute little baby...

And here's Tara's senior portrait. They sure do grow up fast!

Since we now have college tuition to pay, feel free to check out all my books on my website and maybe even buy a couple! LOL See, I can still make jokes. I'm holding it together. Honest, I am...

THE SCHOOL YEAR GOVERNS OUR LIVES FOREVER!

The topic for September is “Feeling Nostalgic…kids going back to school…sharing our roots, families and Fall traditions.”

I want to talk about September as a boater, which is intricately tied to the ‘back to school’ calendar.  Turns out, no matter how old we are, we’re forever dependent on the ding-danged school calendar!

Not only was I a student in the public school system and attending college when September was ‘a beginning,’ but I also taught high school English, followed by several years as a high school principal.  The last week in August and the first week in September always signaled a time for hard work, angst, excitement and tension. 

You would think that after I retired from my principalship, I’d be happily ignorant of school starts.  I wish!

For the last fourteen years, the beginning of September means my husband and I, aboard our forty-five foot trawler, Intrepid, turn our boat south and make way to our marina slot in Anacortes, Washington.  On purpose, we hold back in British Columbia, waiting for the ‘get-ready-for-school’ boaters to head back to the U.S./Canadian mainlands.   You should know that both countries share the labor day weekend holiday, so the majority of boaters cruise south BEFORE that weekend. 

Parents, grandparents and students alike, want to reach home a good week before school starts.  That means the oceans are ours the last week in August.  So we plan carefully around the boat stampede.  For instance, we hit the gorgeous boating haven called Desolation Sound the last week of August when the crowds have left.  Next we putt through the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands, gleeful not to to dodge boats and their wakes.  Once we’ve slid into our slip in Anacortes, we’re smiling about a stressless, traffic- free three month sojourn to the hinterlands of B.C. and back.

So our Fall tradition, given the lovely temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest in September, is to let the school-focused crowds empty our ocean playgrounds so we can enjoy a pleasant trip south.

Have you noticed this phenomena?  Have you tapped into it like we have?  Are resorts, cruise ships and other touristy venues empty by the last week in August?  If so, are prices down and opportunities abounding?  Curious minds want to know!

Happy Fall, everyone.  Let’s hope the pace is slower for you in the Fall as it is for those of us who are boaters!   Rolynn