Thank you Ray Bradbury...

If ever there was a Master of writing (during my life thus far), Ray Bradbury would win the award. June 5th, will mark a year of his passing, and though I am saddened new words and stories will not come from his pen, I am delighted by the multitude of pure treasures he left for I, You, and coming generations to discover.

Recently, I picked up Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing, and I find it fitting to discuss his inspiring words here. Any writer needs encouragement from time to time. If you write, you know it is a lonely business. A lonely business filled with the chatter of many characters, each urging you to tell their story. As a writer, we sometimes feel as though there is a need to create something new, something never told, but the genius behind Bradbury's work is how effortlessly he knew the observations of daily human life and experience was what readers wanted to hear. Whether on Mars, the future world of Earth, or the long ago days of Waukegan, Illinois--Bradbury achieved the ability to make readers comprehend human longing, desire, fear, and wonder.

Within the books essays to writers, I found it fitting Bradbury urges those trying to perfect their skills of the pen to remember youth. Remember the days of fascination and don't let anyone tell you are wrong in what you love. His essay, "On the Shoulder of Giants," reiterates this concept by speaking of how youth, the child, will continually be pushing the boundaries of literature.

"For the first time in history of art and teaching, the children have become the teachers." (p.98)

The young will be pushing the adult to discover new concepts, and through their rebellion, the adults mind will be saved and shown new light. Bradbury was discussing how recently teachers and librarians
finally accepted the genre of fantasy and science fiction to have substance. But I would argue, his concept works for all genres of literature. And I say thank you to Bradbury for always remembering the boy within. I thank him for always writing as a human being versus a scholar above others. Bradbury's mastery of writing still makes me think I need to try Dandelion Wine, and it makes me look at the merry-go-round in new light anytime I'm near a carnival. But it also makes me want to tell my stories of early morning canoe rides through the Logan marshes, moments of laughter on roof tops in a foreign country sipping Dandelion Mead, and most importantly the moments with family and the spontaneous laughter that comes from small memories spoken. Bradbury--I thank you and I shall always remember your words:

"Let us remain chidlike and not childish in our 20-20 vision, borrowing such telescopes, rockets, or magic carpets as may be needed to hurry us along to miracles of physics as well as dream." (p.106)

Bradbury, Ray. 1992: Zen in the Art of Writing: Batnam Edition: New York.

Children's Literature and the Child

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When studying "children's literature," there is a very important aspect within the genre that must be examined: The reader. Furthermore, there must be an understanding towards the cultural and societal implications that are placed on the reader. In other words, to understand the evolution of the mass genre that is "children's literature," a scholar must take on the daunting task of researching the cultural view of "child" as well as the books.

For anyone passionate about children's literature, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of: Children's Literature: A Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter by Seth Lerer. His approach to researching the development of the genre is a valuable resource. Lerer approaches the genre through historical perspectives of "child" while giving representations of the evolutionary progression within the genre from its antiquity to modern day (i.e. the times of the early Greek to the phenomenon that was/is Harry Potter). With interesting highlights, Lerer presents a book about books that not only educates, but entertains as well. His writing will grasp the minds and hearts of all avid readers out there.

As Lerer states in his epilogue, "The history of children's literature is a history of image as well as word. It is a history, too, of artifacts: of books as valued things, crafted and held, lived with and loved." (p. 322)

For anyone who had a book shape their life early on; this is a must read.

D.dot's Cookie Conundrum

D.dot's Cookie Conundrum

I am a firm believer bed-time stories teach us all we need to know in life. For me, I had the luxury to fall asleep to my Dad's stories. He presented versions of the Twilight Zone, as well as my all time favorite (and most requested) "The Biggest Bear" by Lynd Ward. At the time, I had no idea these stories weren't solely my Dad's. He never had a book in front of him, or the T.V. playing, when he told me his stories. He passed them along in his voice, his words. It was later in life I realized the stories derived from another teller. Isn't that the beauty of story telling, the methods it gets passed down.

Sometimes, we're lucky enough to have the person who told us those stories early on in life, inspire a new story. This month, I entered the realm of e-publishing with my book D.dot's Cookie Conundrum (available through any of Amazon's Kindle platforms). And I'm happy to announce the story is about my Dad and I. Or at least it comes from an early memory of him teaching my Brownie troupe how to bake his infamous oatmeal cookies. D.dot has become a very integral character in my life. She's the spunky kid that still lingers with me and loves to create whether through writing or baking. I truly hope you will share the story with your family and pass it along.

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