Author Archives

mudpilewoodhttps://mudpilewood.wordpress.comI am a mum, wife, writer, dog person, and general jack of all trades who loves to dream in-between doing the important stuff of living life. You can check out what I get up to with the dogs on: https://decidinglybob.wordpress.com a site which still exists despite Bob sitting on the golden rainbow.

Stories for children

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Since this blog started as a joint venture, it trundled along nicely. Now, however, with one half of the partnership gone missing, the question sits heavy with me, do I leave the site as it is, or continue to use it as a sounding board for children’s story ideas? Or do I delete it?

With the world in an uproar, it seems that the age of reading to children might return. This indeed could be hope for us who like to let our childish imaginations roam free.

Perhaps some of the many children’s authors who visited these pages once might look in on this site soon and drop me a comment.

Stay safe and well,  MariaSally and dad planes

 

 

Sticky Toffee Surprise: A story retold

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Lovisma was planning a big surprise for Halloween night.

Last year Breeze spoiled her surprise, this year she was being careful.

“He won’t ruin my Halloween night.” She muttered. She sat on a fat mushroom watching her spoon do laps of the pot as it stirred the thick bubbling mixture.  “Hmm vanilla toffee apples who can resist them?” She giggled.

On hearing a twig snap she looked up, then relaxed as one of the Muppet Bunnies dashed past her. He was carrying a carrot and intent on getting back home.

“Nothing will spoil this surprise. I am safe here as that stupid Ogre is helping Elegant and the Fairies make bobbing marshmallows.” She said.

Breeze was standing a short distance away disguised as a giant pumpkin.  He got the idea from Bob (click here to see him as a pumpkin.)  Breeze wished to prevent another Halloween disaster created by the tiny witch.  Everyone knew Lovisma hates pumpkins.

Sometime later the wood was filled with the silence, as everyone was preparing by dressing as either their favourite witch or ghost, Lovisma placed buckets of her special toffee apples around the party tables. The apples sparkled and glowed. “What child or ogre could resist these twinkling smiling apples?” she muttered.

Meanwhile, Breeze was holding a meeting with the adults. “I am not sure what will happen when you take a bite so I took one from her basket.” He stared at the Fairies and Elves who were busy shaking their heads as they muttered things like, “well you would have to be mad to take a bite”.

He held an apple in his hand and stared at it.

Tulip said, “Well we won’t know until you take a bite from it.”

Breeze didn’t want anyone to think he was afraid. He closed his eyes and took a bite. Hmm, it tastes lovely. Then as he watched the toffee ran off the apple like a river and lay around his feet. He made an important discovery. I am stuck. He groaned.

Elegant said, “I bet she plans on taking all of the children’s treats while they are stuck to the ground. I am sure it will wear off soon Breeze.”

“How soon? I don’t want to miss the best party ever.”

He sounded so sad that the fairies and elves started working on a spell to free his feet. Once he was free. Breeze said, “I think you should create a special spell for Lovisma.”

The party was great. The children loved the bobbing marshmallows that looked like giant spiders. They laughed when Matt tried to eat a real spider thinking it would taste of marshmallow. The spider was not happy as he scuttled away into the dark night.

The children turned their attention on the toffee apples. Lovisma held her breath and waited.

Matt grabbed an apple. He took a bite. She flew upwards impatient to see his distress when his feet became stuck. However, once he broke the skin, the apple fizzled and sparkled sending bolts of dancing lights into the night sky.

Lisbeth, Lillian and Daisy-Lyah’s apples played a musical tune the minute they held them.  Children were grabbing apples and dancing and laughing with delight as each apple revealed a treat.

Lovisma was angry. Her face was bright red. Something was not right.

“Give me one!” She grabbed an apple and instantly the ground beneath her feet began to shake. Everyone ran for cover as two tall scarecrows appeared carrying pumpkins. They placed the pumpkins on the ground and rolled them at Lovisma.

She was knocked off her feet to land on a huge pumkin. It seemed to swallow her then with a soft, pop, her feet and arms and head appeared.

Lovisma screamed.”I’m Trapped. Help. I’m not a pumpkin.I don’t even like pumpkins.”

Hisilicon K3

Hisilicon K3

She waddled off into the wood crying, “I bet you did this Breeze.  I will get out and then you had better watch out.”

Lisbeth was sitting beside Breeze shivering. “I hope she doesn’t get out. She is nasty.  But why do you look happy? You should be worried Mr. Breeze.”

He smiled and said, “I am not, because Elegant added her forgetful potion to the spell so Lovisma will escape from the pumpkin but she will have forgotten everything and we will have a great party.”

Daisy-lyah and Lillian were kind Fairies and they filled a basket full of treats for the naughty witch.

Ronald Craig at Meet Your Next Favorite Author — FotoBoek Lieve Snellings

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It was in the BookGoSocial Children’s Book FB Group that I First found out about Ronald Craig. He had published a book ‘The Little Witch And The Lost Boy’. As a witch or a witch lover myself, I had to buy that book and I have not regretted. I loved the storyline and the characters, […]

via Ronald Craig at Meet Your Next Favorite Author — FotoBoek Lieve Snellings

Barbara Roman on Meet Your Next Favorite Author

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A great interview with a fantasy author that children of all ages will love

FotoBoek Lieve Snellings

I met Barbara Roman first in the BookGoSocial Children’s Book Group. That’s how I read her kids’ book ‘Hubert in Heaven’. I loved the message in the story, telling kids that there are no limits to what you can and what you may do in heaven. And that heaven can be here on earth, in this life we live.

Thanks to the social media I connected to Barbara, who is always very supportive of other Indie Authors as myself. I must tell you that after this interview, I have added more ‘want to read’ books on my bookshelf. After reading the blurbs of her books, wow, I’m in!  Somewhere, her words found a way directly to my inner child and the 500-year old soul in myself.

crystal van Barbara - 400 dpi

  1. Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?

My name is Barbara Roman and I also write as B. Roman. …

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Pancake Day in the Wood.

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Breeze, the snooziest ogre in the whole universe, woke to the sound of slip-slap, slip-slap. His nose twitched because the air was full of the scent of lemon. This was unusual because the wood always smelt of trees, leaves, flowers and those that lived in it but this afternoon the only thing he could smell was lemon.

…lemon …. and blueberries.

He slid down the tree trunk, raced across the wood and stopped in the clearing. It was dreadful,  instead of seeing neat plates piled with pancakes

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All he could see was bits of pancakes flying from pans to the floor, or getting stuck on trees, leaves, grass,  even the pancake flippers had bits stuck to them.

This won’t do at all, he muttered and began to race around the clearing. Ten minutes later he had to stop, he was stuffed, he couldn’t eat another pancake and worse his feet were sore from running.

Lilbeth came over to sit beside him. “That was a very nice thing you did Mr. Breeze.”

He opened one eye and looked at her. She nodded.

“Why do you say that Lilbeth?”

“Because now we don’t have to tidy up. And maybe we will get better at flipping pancakes for tomorrow.”

She left him sitting there with his mouth wide open. He didn’t know if he should cry or laugh. He would have to do it all again tomorrow!

 

 

Princess Cora and the Crocodile

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Reblogged this on Mudpilewood, where some visitors have children and grandchildren

Chapter Book Chat

cora cover

Princess Cora and the Crocodile

By Laura Amy Schlitz, Illustrated by Brian Floca

 

Published by: Candlewick (March 28, 2017)

Available in: hardcover, audible

At the time of this review this was a standalone book.

 

Disguised.

Princess Cora and the Crocodile is a lovely chapter book that masquerades as an elegant, long picture book. Truly, it could work as either, with the end result being children who are utterly delighted.

Newberry Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz writes a contemporary tale based on historical fantasy and fairy tales. The text is deft, spare, hilarious, and told with a firmly modern sensibility that keeps it from feeling like a tired old story. To wit: “The crocodile peered out from behind his claws. ‘This is what I’m telling you,’ he said.”

Like fairy tales of old, the story powers through actions and words that are usually considered too violent or inappropriate. Which…

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Free Kid lit Chapter book on Amazon

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runaway_schoolhouse_cover_Latest_151031I re blogged this on Mudpilewood for children and their parents to read and review.

decidinglybob

I am searching for reviews and have in the past given away 25 copies of my first book in the hope that reviews, good or bad would be given on Goodreads or Amazon or even here. I have received 10 from UK readers, thank you all very much and 9 from those in the USA, again thank you.

So I have put the book on Kindle for free for the next few days in the hope that more people will read and review.

The links are for Uk:

and for USA 

And here is a recent review from an Amazon customer

5*  ByAmazonianon June 29, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
What a terrific children’s chapter book! A fun and unique storyline, accompanied by interesting, funny, endearing characters. I loved the tale of Clearie, the sweet schoolhouse yearning to venture to France. I also loved the characters…

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