Blog Schedule

I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Curse of the Double Digits


Today I'm happy to feature Lynn Kelley who has the humorous blog Random Acts of Weirdness.

About Lynn:

Children’s author Lynn Kelley worked as a court reporter for 25 years while she and her husband, George, raised their four children. Her first chapter book, Curse of the Double Digits, for ages 7 to 10, debuted on October 10, 2012. She also coauthors the spooky, fun Monster Moon mystery series for ages 8 to 12 under the pen name BBH McChiller. The highlight of her life are days spent with her grandchildren. Most of her time involves books: either writing books, reading books, or making altered art books. She tries her best to keep her overactive imagination in check.



I have read her book, Curse of the Double Digits, and found it a most enjoyable and fun read. It's something I think both adults and children can identify with. I mean, haven't we all had at least one bad hair day?

About the book:

The whole class is invited to her party, including Chad, the cutest boy in the fifth grade. So is Darlenie-the-Meanie. 

Becky wants to look cute for her big day, but all her plans go wrong. Really wrong. The magic of turning ten disappears before she even has a chance to blow out her birthday candles.

Things get so bad, she refuses to go to her own party. Becky wonders if the Curse of the Double Digits will jinx her forever.


And now, heeeeeeeeere's Lynn!

***

Thanks so much for inviting me to guest post, Bish.

Today I thought I’d talk about one of my favorite memories while working on Curse of the Double Digits.

I wanted to test the story on real kids and see how they reacted. Would they laugh at the appropriate places? Would they like the characters and the story? I read the entire book in two 45-minute sessions to Mariann Kyle’s second grade class at Cypress Elementary School in San Bernardino, California in February of 2008.

It was a great experiment and the kids reacted the way I’d hoped they would. They giggled when Becky, the main character, talked about her crush, Chad.  In another chapter, Becky runs to the bathroom and grabs her dad’s electric razor.  I read the line, “Then she looked at me like I had flushed my brain down the toilet,” and they busted up. That confirmed that kids that age still think any mention of a toilet is funny. Yep, toilets and underwear humor amuses them. Go figure!  


After the second session when I finished the book, Mrs. Kyle surprised me by having the children draw a picture of their favorite character, except for one.  “I don’t like Booger the Clown,” she said. “He’s not nice. Do not draw him.”

Maybe little Isaac wasn’t listening. Maybe it was too much temptation, knowing he shouldn’t draw that character, or maybe he really liked Booger. I’ll never know, but I got a kick out of his pictures. Not only did he draw the bad clown, but he drew him on each side of his paper! I love the way he drew the eyes!





After a Q & A session, Mrs. Kyle put all the drawings in a plastic bag and gave them to me. What a cool keepsake.  I love children’s drawings. Each one is unique, just like the child who drew it.


Knowing that children, their parents, and teachers all over the world are reading my story is ultra exciting.  I’m looking forward to reading it to my grandchildren when they’re old enough. That will be the icing on the cake for this children’s author!

***
Thanks for coming by, Lynn, and sharing these wonderful pictures!

Curse of the Double Digits is available at the following places. Pick it up for a youngster near you. It would be a great stocking stuffer. (Hint, hint!)

Smashwords (formats for all eReaders)


17 comments:

  1. Hi Bish and Lynn .. love the sound of the book - and what a wonderful test read ... that must have chuffed you to bits getting the kids reaction ..

    But I do think you've gone too far in your post .. when you use the phrase "Go Figure!" ... that's what we're trying to do - that Curse of the Double Digits got to you ..

    Cheers Hilary

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  2. Hilary - Yes, it was a great experience reading to the kids. And, yes, the Curse of the Double Digits, did get to me a few times and I wondered if Becky's bad luck was contagious. Yep, go figure! Haha! Thanks for stopping by.

    Bish - Thank you so much for this opportunity to guest post here on Random Thoughts. We'll have to cut into that cake and let everyone dig in!

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  3. Yay for lovely Lynn and her amazing book!! Glad Booger the Clown got to be drawn by this kiddy! LOL!

    Take care
    x

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  4. I L'edOL at Booger the Clown! This book was so funny! So glad to read that the kids thought so, too. :)

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  5. Old Kitty - Thank you! I've missed you!

    Jennette - Thank you! I'm so glad Booger made you laugh out loud! And hearing the kids laugh at those parts cracked me up!

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  6. Congratulations, Lynne! It sounds like a wonderful time. And what's better than hearing readers laugh just where you intended them too! Yay!

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  7. That's really cool the kids enjoyed it so much they drew pictures for you!

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  8. The drawings are a lovely keepsake, Lynn. Your story sounds like a fun read for a kid and with toilet humor, where could you go wrong? :-P

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  9. Ruth - Yes, it was a wonderful time. Thankfully, they liked it!

    Alex - The pictures were a super nice surprise!

    Misha - LOL! Yep, can't go wrong with toilet humor for that age group!

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  10. Those drawings are so special! I love the interpretation of Becky's hair.. and the cuteness of that clown. Such fun :)

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  11. This sounds like a great book. I love stories like that. The pictures are really sweet too.

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  12. Alarna - I know, the kids' drawings are gems. And I love Becky's hair, too. Two of the kids drew it that way!

    Rena and Denny - Thank you! I agree that the pictures are sweet. I don't think I'll ever grow tired of looking at children's artwork!

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  13. Diane - Glad you enjoyed the drawings!

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  14. How fortunate that she was able to read it to the perfect test group!

    And I still giggle over toilet humor. :)

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  15. I love that you got to do this Lynn--what a gift for the kids, and for you!

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  16. What wonderful pictures! That is so very cool. And this was such an awesome idea. Loved the book, Lynn! :-)

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!