THE NIM STORIES: Wendy Orr's Next Big Thing

You know what I love? A can-do book about a can-do girl. For me, Wendy Orr's NIM'S ISLAND stood out as a book that empowered young girls - rare in a market filled with books about the girl needing rescue. Or the girl helpless to some idiot's charms. Nim is a fantastic character. Driven and inspirational, she redefines girl power and expands on expectations of the young female hero.




Coming in April to Australia is Wendy's THE NIM STORIES, which includes both NIM'S ISLAND and NIM AT SEA in one volume. Both books were given the Hollywood treatment and star Jodie Foster and Bindi Irwin, respectively.



If you've got a young girl, give it to her and watch her horizon expand. If you've got a young boy, give it to him so that his definition of what it means to be a girl isn't limited to the pop culture cliche. If you can't get the bound together version, just get both books! They're fantastic.

Wendy tagged me in this blog tour, so next week, after you've bought and read THE NIM STORIES, I'll tell you a little bit about how I got on this journey.

Thanks, Wendy!

Here's her NEXT BIG THING INTERVIEW:
author journal: Nim Stories in the Next Big Thing blog tag: My lovely friend, and brilliant artist and author Lauren Stringer tagged me for “The Next Big Thing,” and so after a bit o...

Disney's Paperman - The Beauty of Art in Animated Form

Sometimes, the beauty in the art is so apparent, it speaks for itself. You owe it to yourself to watch this.

Inner Nerd: THE HOBBIT

Anyone see The Hobbit? I thought it was fantastic and very respectful of its source material. I love a good journey adventure, as you'll see in 2014 with my debut. One of the best moments of the film was a song that breaks out in Bilbo's home, sung by the Dwarves. It's a sad moment that underscores the wrong these little fellows intent to right. So, in that theme, I give you this little piece of awesome I found on the interwebs. Enjoy!

THE NEW YEAR!

Oh, man. Was 2012 crazy, or what?

There's no way 2013 can top it. BUT! We're going to try. My resolution is to have two books sell to publishers by the end of the year? One is neeeeearly ready. And the other is nearing a draft completion. It should shape up to be a fun year, with cover reveals and possibly a few galleys to give away.

So here's to the coming year! May it always get better!

And just to keep with the cool things coming this year, these guys are visiting Birmingham on January 17. I'm totally there. Maybe being an author can be like being a rockstar. Well, at least for these folks.

Unchained from Matt Perry on Vimeo.

Because I Love You: 2012's Worst Words by The Atlantic Wire

So I mentioned in an earlier post that December has become all about the Best Thing of 2012. Well, I happened across the best I've found yet. The Atlantic has compiled a list of the words that are 2012's worst. In reading it, I can assure you some of these are recognizable as fingernails-on-chalkboard annoying. Some of the more obvious are Epic, Actually, and Literally. And then there are some real gems that evoke a pickle-sour a-hah moment when you recognize them on the list. I won't spoil the fun, so check it out at the link below!



An A-to-Z Guide to 2012's Worst Words - Entertainment - The Atlantic Wire

The horror.

I think I've stared at this screen a hundred times, trying to use this keyboard to achieve some kind of catharsis with regard to these feelings I have about those twenty babies stolen from this world. What I realized is, there really isn't anything that can be said that will make it make sense.

Evil is senseless.

Every day I look at my nine-month-old child and fear for him growing up in this world. And now that a few days have passed since the tragedy, political lines are being drawn, and I see people digging in their heels to defend the need for more guns.

More guns.

I just...I don't understand. Sometimes I feel like I don't know this country at all. As far as I know, the modern interpretation of the Second Amendment has never protected us from any foreign entity. Yet, we're killing each other or ourselves to the tune of twelve thousand deaths a year. I'm fairly certain the intent of adopting the Second Amendment wasn't so that we could wage war against fellow citizens.

More guns.

I don't know. I'm so sad, so angry for what those children had to experience in their last moments.

I hope the world changes for the better because of this. It's what those kids deserve. It's what we all deserve.

You're the Best...Around

The Karate Kid had such awesomely terrible music. I love it.

So it's Christmastime again.  Apparently, according to Fox News and The Daily Show, there's a war being waged against the holiday. Though, with most of my local radio channels having been dedicated to Christmas music since the day after Thanksgiving, I think Christmas is winning. I wonder if Roman Pagans thought there was a war on their Winter Solstice holiday when Constantine gave December 25th to the Christians?

But never mind all of that. I think I've discovered the true meaning of the holidays: Best of the Year Lists! If you've turned on a TV or a computer or read a newspaper you might have noticed The New Years Creep that began slipping into your life sometime at end of November with special year-in-review episodes, or Best of Lists. Oh, my. Are there ever lists. Lists of the year's best books, video games, fashions, restaurants, etc., etc. December is saturated in them. And why not? Thanksgiving did it to Halloween with early announcement of Black Friday specials. Christmas did it to Thanksgiving. Black Thursday anyone? I think it's only fair that the New Year get its due.

Of all these lists the one that gets me is the Best Books of 2012, put out by most literati publications. These lists inevitably make me feel like some illiterate ape. Usually, I only recognize about ten percent of what's even on them. But with editing and writing my on stuff, I run about a year behind, catching up on must reads. At least, that's my excuse.

Below, I've compiled the list of lists. A Best of List of 2012 of the Best Books of 2012...er, List!! (Say that three times fast.)

1. The New York Times Best of 2012

2. Publishers Weekly Best Books 2012

3. Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2012

4. Goodreads Choice Awards 2012

5. NPR Best Books of 2012

6. Vogue Magazine Best Books of 2012

7. Huffington Post Best Books of 2012

8. Washington Post Best Books of 2012

9. Slate.com Best Books of 2012

10. Entertainment Weekly / Amazon Best Books of 2012