Patricia Stoltey

Author

A to Z Challenge: W is for Writing (and Natasha Wing and “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame)

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Three more days. Do I sound anxious? I am pretty eager to get a few hours a week back for working on a new novel. But I haven’t even made a dent in that list of blog challenge participants. I’m going to try a bunch of new bloggers to close out the challenge with a bang.

Featured Author: Natasha Wing

Natasha is one of my favorite go-to authors for kid books when I’m ready to buy something new for my very young granddaughters. She has a series of “The Night Before” stores that are precious plus a few other titles as well.

 In addition, Natasha just re-released her A Slice of Humboldt Pie, a delightful combination of history, human interest stories, and pies. Lots of pies.

Natasha is a Coloradoan now, although she used to live in that other big “C” state on the west coast. Her newest “Night Before” book, The Night Before Hanukkah, will be out in October.

I’m featuring Natasha’s book covers instead of her author photo just so you can get your mouth watering for pie and so you can see the cover art for her latest kids’ book.

Featured Book:  The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

I picked this book because it’s the only one I’ve read three times. I have a new copy in my bookcase, just in case I want to read it again soon.

This book was first published in 1908, even before my time. I know, hard to believe. I probably read it for the first time around 1950. Rat, Toad, Mole, and Badger have been with me every since.

If you haven’t read this classic, I recommend you give it a try. We need more stories like this in our lives.

Word of the Day:  Writing

As in writing contests.  Did you get the word that submissions are now open for the Colorado Gold Writing Contest (for unpublished writers) from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers?

Pull out that novel manuscript, polish up those first pages, and give it a shot. Everything you wanted to know (including the judges for each category) is on the RMFW website at the contest page.

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Comments

  1. Welcome, Fanny! If you have photos of quilts, I’ll scroll through all your posts. I’ve never tried quilting myself, but I love to go to quilt shows and admire others’ work.

    Medeia, you’ll like Wind in the Willows if you have a great imagination (and I’m pretty sure you do).

  3. Hi Patricia – it’s good to meet you through the A-Z. It’s certainly not easy to make a dent in this list!
    I, too, can’t wait to get back to writing. Especially since I feel that I did not choose a sensible theme – patchwork and quilting.

  4. LD, go for it. RMFW is a great organization that sees a lot of its members get published. The contest is a good place to start.

    You’ll enjoy the books so much, Mason (I assume you’ll read them before you give them away–I always do).

    Joyce, I hate to break my streak with the A to Z — I’ve done it since year one. And that contest is for any unpublished writer, no matter where they live. Jump in!

    Crystal, there’s going to be a lot of that high-fiving going on. I think you did better than I on visiting new bloggers. I kept hopping to my commenters first, and sometimes ran out of steam before I got back to the list to try new blogs.

  5. Contests are the only way to go when you’re unpublished.

    Goodness, I know what you mean about being ready to open those hours to drafting. I’ve got a deadline 2 weeks into May, and it’s going to be a nail-biter. It’s been such a crazy year, but I think I’ve made it to between 400 and 500 different blogs during the challenge. That’s good, right? Either way, I’m ready to cross the finish line and call it quits–then we can high-five each other and marvel at how amazingly awesome we are. =D

    True Heroes from A to Z

  8. I haven’t thought of Wind in the Willows for year. A wonderful classic.

    And now I’m thinking about putting together a synopsis and entering the RMFW contest. Might be good practice. Thanks for the information.

  11. Hi Patricia,

    Natasha’s book is food for thought. Quite the combination in her book, Icing on the cake, um pie. I quite like a tart, but that’s another story….

    Wind in Willows It’s just like where I live. Indeed, a classic book.

    “W” is for “Writing.” A passion, like you, I hold dear to my heart.

    A peaceful Sunday to you, Patricia.

    Gary

  12. Thanks, Gillian! That’s a wonderful quote. Heading over to watch the clip.

    Hi Dean! Oh, we all think that about our work, especially after we’ve read and revised about a hundred times. Keep the faith!

    Susan, it’s such a charming book. I want everyone to read it.

    Hi Natasha! I suspect we have. I’ve even been considering making a homemade pie….with a homemade crust. Sure haven’t done that in a long time.

  17. Alex, Natasha is very versatile…and she’s a really nice person, too. I just wish she’d bake me a pie. Peach would be good. Or cherry.

    Hi Margot. We’re spreading the word about the contest to hopefully get more submissions earlier. They tend to come in a rush just before the deadline.

    Trisha, if you’re young at heart, you’ll love the book.

    Hi Jemi! The night before books really are a great series. Natasha even as one called “The Night Before the Night Before Christmas” which I think was a wonderful idea.