December

Sarah MacLean: "As winter approaches - bringing cold weather and family drama - we crave page-turners, books made for long nights."


The days of December may be shorter in sunlight but the to-do lists just get longer. Clean. Decorate. Bake. Shovel. Wrap. Celebrate. Visit. Be sure to set some time aside each evening to read. Brew a cup of hot tea or pour a glass of wine. Gaze out the window and watch the snow fall and slowly accumulate. Or, if you're lucky enough to be in the South, sit out on your porch and enjoy the twinkling stars through a canopy of palm trees. Wherever December finds you, read and rejuvenate.

Readers needing to stockpile books for the long winter ahead will be happy to find new releases by James Lee Burke, Jayne Ann Krentz, Stephanie Laurens, James Rollins, Danielle Steel, Terry Brooks, Martha Stewart, Christopher Buckley, Bee Wilson and Dean Koontz. Watch for Pablo Hidalgo's Star Wars: The Force Awakens The Visual Dictionary. And the annual favorite - World Almanac and Book of Facts 2016.


                                December Days 
                         

1     - Rosa Parks Day

2      - Birth of Ann Patchett, 1963. Bel Canto

4     - National Cookie Day

5     - Birth of Calvin Trillin, 1935. Alice, Let's Eat

6     - St. Nicholas Day

8     - Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day

9     - Birth of John Milton, 1608. Paradise Lost

10    -Birth of Emily Dickinson, 1830. Poems

14    - Birth of Shirley Jackson, 1916. The Lottery

17    - Wright Brothers Day. Read David McCullough's The Wright Brothers

20    - Poet Laureate Day. Who is the poet laureate of your state?

22    - First Day of Winter

23    - Birth of Norman MacLean, 1902. A River Runs Through It

24    - Egg Nog Day

26    - National Thank You Note Day

28    - Birth of Stan Lee, 1922. Spider-Man

31    - Make Up Your Mind Day; Universal Hour of Peace Day 


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                        Random Word


Eugene Ionesco: "A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing, or thinking about writing." 


Coda: \Koh-duh\noun\Italian/Latin 1745-55\ The concluding part of a literary work, especially a summary at the end of a novel. Also, in music and ballet - at the end of a composition or final part of pas de deux. Random House Dictionary 


Congratulations to everyone who participated in National Novel Writing Month, National Memoir Writing Month, or endeavored to write every day in November. Keep writing and reading and thinking!



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                     And away we go...


Roberto Saviano (Italian journalist): "Every hour seems pointless, wasted, if you don't dedicate your energies to discovering, flushing out, telling."      


We're halfway through November - the month of novel writing (or essays or picture books or memoir). And today is I Love to Write Day. 

Are you busy writing every day? Dreaming of impeccable nouns and verbs? Pleased when one perfect sentence is finally written? 

Or are you regretting that story idea, ripping up the first draft, and cursing the idea that you ever thought you could write?

Welcome to the world of staring at blank pages and missed deadlines. But there's also the world of that aforementioned perfect sentence or impeccable noun.

If you're stuck or even on a glorious roll, try one of these three exercises from Now Write! Nonfiction, edited by Sherry Ellis.

*In 15 minutes, write about the first 15 years of your life. Don't edit or sabotage - just WRITE. Use a timer.

*Finish this sentence: "I'm the kind of person who _____________ but ______________.

*Find a street corner or a park; sit with eyes closed, and listen to the passing voices. Form an image of what someone looks like...open your eyes. Does your expectation meet what you see?

If you're really stuck, rewrite another writer's essay or chapter - would you finish "The Grapes of Wrath" in the same way? Or, go to an art museum and sit in front of a painting...write what is going on just beyond the frame, to the left (or right!) of the painting. For example, in Renoir's Dance at Bougival, what music is playing? Are other couples dancing? What conversation could be overheard? 

There are almost countless books about writing...check your library (shelf 808) or book store. A few ideas:

* Now Write series - fiction, nonfiction, mysteries
* Writing Down the Bones - Natalie Goldberg
*The Writing Life (compilation of essays from National Book Award winners and finalists.
*The Art of Description - Mark Doty
*On Writing Well - William Zinsser
*Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott
*We Wanted to be Writers - Eric Olsen & Glenn Schaeffer
*Write Away - Elizabeth George
*Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction - Patricia Highsmith
*On Writing - Stephen King
*A Field Guide for Immersion Writing: Memoir, Journalism, Travel - Robin Hemley
*The Discovery of Poetry - Frances Mayes

It's not too late to grab a pencil, take a deep breath and begin to write your story. 


                             * * * * *

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                         November

Ray Bradbury: "You must write every single day of your life. You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff the books like perfume and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads...may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world." 


Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles) may have been a fan of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The idea is fairly simple: write a novel in 30 days. Remember, I said the IDEA was fairly simple, not the action itself! If you've ever sat staring at a blank page or screen while your brain screams for the right verb or adjective, you know that "The Grapes of Wrath" or "The Metamorphosis" weren't penned over a weekend. Maybe a decade of weekends.

Writers write. Writers edit. Writers cry. Writers rewrite. Writers whine. Writers read. Writers write again. And sometimes the idea of not writing is even scarier than the blank page. 

If you believe you have a story to tell, tell it. Maybe it's a novel or a poem, a picture book or an epic essay. Maybe it's a story about your family or your college years or the cute puppy that understands the true meaning of friendship. 

This month is all about writing. Grab a pencil, take a deep breath and start at the beginning. Write your story. 

Beatrix Potter: "There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you." 


                                      * * * * *

Readers will be thankful to find new books by Michael Connelly, David Balducci, Janet Evanovich, Stephen King, John Irving, Carly Simon, Jeff Kinney, Marissa Meyer, Giada De Laurentiis, Neil Gaiman, Mitch Albom, Rick Steves, Nora Roberts, James Patterson, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, Shonda Rhimes, Mary Higgins Clark, and Isabel Allende.



November is National Memoir Writing Month, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), Family Stories Month, National Family Caregivers Month, Picture Book Month, National Family Literacy Month. 



                                        November Days

1      -  National Authors Day

1-7   -  World Communication Week

5      -  National Love Your Red Hair Day

9-15 -  World Kindness Week

10    -  Sesame Street Day

14    -  World Pickle Day

15    -  I Love to Write Day

16-20- National Book Awards Week

19     - Rocky & Bullwinkle Day

21     - Guinness World Record Day

22     - Mother Goose Day

24     - Dr. Who Day

27     - National Day of Listening

30     - National Math Awareness Day


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October, or turning over a new leaf

Thomas Merton: "October is a fine and dangerous season in America...a wonderful time to begin anything at all."

Every year on my birthday and, again, on January 1, I set goals and list any changes I need/want to make. Sometimes I'm successful in my changes, other times not so much. After watching the leaves begin to turn from green to red or gold, I am reminded that change can come at any time, not just on a birthday or the start of a new year. This is the beginning of a new year, of sorts. Since spring, I've enjoyed watching the first appearance of tiny buds, slowly growing into full leaves which provided shade all summer. Now, they're giving me one last burst of color. And a lesson on turning over a new leaf.

                                        * * * * * 

Readers will be happy to find new books by Adiana Trigiani. Sophie Kinsella, John Grisham, Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks, Vince Flynn, Rainbow Rowell and Jane Smiley.

October is National Book Month, National Reading Group Month, Computer Learning Month, National Pizza Month, Children's Magazine Month, Photographer's Appreciation Month.  

October Days

1      -  International Music Day

2-4   - National Storytelling weekend

4-10 - Mystery Series Week

          Great Books Week

13    - Silly Sayings Day

14    - national lowercase day

16    - National Dictionary Day

18-24 -Teens Read Week

19      - Evaluate Your Life Day

20      - Information Overload Day

24      - Make a Difference Day

25      - World Pasta Day

30      - Checklist Day (Rory Gilmores of the world, unite!)

31      - National KnockKnock Joke Day

            Happy Halloween

                         September

Jane Penderwick: "Good-bye...summer and magic and adventure and all that's wonderful in life."   from Jeanne Birdsall's The Penderwicks


Another summer is fading fast in the rear view mirror. We said goodbye to Jon Stewart and Dave Letterman. We said hello to state fairs, summer reading programs, and the hottest month (July) on record according to NOAA. And did you walk into any store or stroll down a city sidewalk without hearing Walk the Moon's "Shut Up and Dance With Me"? Settled back in classrooms, students are asked to share what they did on their summer vacations. Adults will focus on autumn to-do lists. This is a new beginning of sorts, not quite the start of a new year, but still a fresh season filled with promise and hope. And cooler air?

                                     * * * * *

It's bonus time for readers with so many new books in the coming months. Check the shelves for these new books by Joyce Carol Oates, Elizabeth Gilbert, Erica Jong, Terry Pratchett, Jan Karon, Jonathan Franzen, Lee Child, Danielle Steel, Hilary Mantel, Mindy Kaling, Jenny Lawson, Ransom Riggs, Camilla Lackberg, Christopher J. Yates, Margaret Atwood and the Old Farmer's Almanac. 

September is Be Kind to Writers and Editors Month, International Women's Friendship Month, Library Card Sign-Up Month, Self-improvement Month, National Potato and Rice Month.


                              September Days

3   - Birth of Malcolm Gladwell, 1963. Outliers

4   - Birth of Richard Wright, 1908. Native Son

6   - National Read a Book Day

7   - Labor Day

8   - International Literacy Day
       National Grandparents Day

11  - Birth of Andre Dubus III, 1959. The House of Sand and Fog

15  - Birth of Agatha Christie, 1890. The Body in the Library  

19  - International Talk Like a Pirate Day

20  - Birth of George R.R. Martin, 1948. A Game of Thrones

21  - World Gratitude Day
        Birth of Stephen King, 1947. The Shining

22  - Dear Diary Day

23  - First Day of Autumn

24  - National Punctuation Day. What is your favorite punctuation mark?!,";
        Birth of F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1896. The Great Gatsby

25  - National Comic Book Day
        Birth of William Faulkner, 1897. A Light in August

26  - Birth of T.S. Eliot, 1888. The Waste Land

28  - National Museum Day. Many museums in the United States will be offering free or reduced admission today. Check out a museum in your community.

29  - Birth of Miguel de Cervantes, 1547. Don Quixote

30  - Anniversary of Little Women, 1868.

                                      * * * * * 
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                             August


Mark Twain: "Warm summer sun, shine kindly here. Warm southern wind, blow softly here...Good night, dear heart. Good night, good night."


Who hit the fast forward button? As August days rush by, we watch as summer hastens to an end. In my house, panic is settling in as we look around at projects started but unfinished. Promised but still undone. There are closets to be cleaned, shutters to hang, and a basement to be organized and tidied.

There are also books to be read out on the porch as daylight fades. Included in my leaning tower of books: the children's book by Jeanne Birdsall, "The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy;" "Disclaimer," a thriller by Renee Knight; and Dean Bakopoulos' novel that examines adulthood, "Summerlong." 

Readers will be happy to find new books by Sue Grafton, Philippa Gregory, Jennifer Weiner, Christopher Moore, Drew Daywalt, Haruki Murakami, James Patterson, Margaret Maron, Meg Waite Clayton, Leslie Meier, Peter Robinson, Sophie Hannah and Louise Penny. 

August is American Adventures Month & National Read-a-Romance Month.

                      
                                  August Days

1-5   -  National Scrabble Week 

4      -  Birth of Dennis Lehane, 1965. Mystic River

7       - Birth of Garrison Keillor, 1942. Lake Wobegon Days

10     - Birth of Suzanne Collins, 1962. The Hunger Games

12    -  Vinyl Record Day
            Birth of Ann Martin, 1955. A Corner of the Universe; Babysitters Club

14    -  Birth of Gary Larson, 1950. The Far Side

18    -  Bad Poetry Day (The choice is yours)

20     -  Birth of H. P. Lovecraft, 1890. At the Mountains of Madness

21    -   Poet's Day (When you recover from all the bad poetry)

22    -  International Tongue Twister Day (Riley Weber: Fresh fried fish, fish fried fresh)

24    -  Birth of John Green, 1977. The Fault in our Stars

26    -  Birth of Barbara Ehrenreich, 1941. Bright-sided; Nickel and Dimed

30   -   Birth of Mary Shelley, 1797. Frankenstein


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July

Paul Engle: "Our small ears never had such a workout as on the Fourth of July, hearing not only our own bursting crackers but also those of our friends, and often the boom of homemade cannons shot off by daring boys."


It has been a long time since I've been double-dog dared, but it happened recently in my library. In the lobby. On a Monday morning.

In Cedar Rapids, the summer reading program dares library patrons of all ages to explore, imagine, change, learn and read. One question from Imagine It week, June 21-27, was if you could have one super power, what would it be? For the week including the Fourth of July, we're encouraged to make someone laugh, tell family and friends what we love about them, and make a list of things we do well. A future dare is to read a book but before reading the last chapter, write our own ending. How would you have ended The Girl on the Train or The Husband's Secret or Queen of the Tearling? Later this summer we'll write our bucket lists, start a journal, share a book or movie recommendation with friends, and learn a new word every day for one week. The library staff has dared us to read 300 minutes between June 1 and August 22. We've been double-dog dared to read 650 minutes; triple-dog dared to read 850 minutes.    

As summer settles in and the temperature rises, explore your hometown library. Find a new author to read or try a different genre. If you've never read science fiction or mysteries, now is the time. If you've always wondered how to grill a pizza (cookbooks/641.8248), now is the time. If you've been meaning to volunteer, now is the time. You've been double-dog dared!! 

                           * * * * *
New books on the shelves: Stuart Woods, Catherine Coulter, Brad Thor, Leah Stewart, A. J. Rich, Julia Pierpont, Robin Kirman, Paula McLain, Harper Lee, and Dr. Seuss. It's true - amid great controversy is the publication of Harper Lee's Go Set A Watchman. And the estate of Dr. Seuss will release What Pet Should I Get? 

July is National Make a Difference to Children Month.

 John F. Kennedy Library

              July Days

1   -  International Joke Day
        Second Half of the New Year Day

2-5 - National Tom Sawyer Days

4   -  United States of America, 1776
        Birth of Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804), The Scarlet Letter

8  -   Birth of Anna Quindlen (1952, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake 

10 - Teddy Bear Picnic Day
       Clerihew Day...Feeling silly? Write a four line poem with a rhyming scheme of AABB and make it biographical. Or, read Lost Clerihews of Paul Ingram. 

11  - Bowdler's Day. In honor of Dr. Thomas Bowdler who "cleaned up" William Shakespeare's writing. History can decide if Dr. Bowdler was a prude.

15  - Take Your Favorite Poet to Work Day. The poet's photo will be just fine!

20  - Birth of Cormac McCarthy (1933), The Road

22  - Spoonerism Day. In honor of Rev. William Spooner who had a habit of making verbal gaffes such as fighting a liar instead of lighting a fire.

23-26 - Hemingway Look-alike Days

24   - Tell an Old Joke Day..."A horse walks into a bar and the bartender asks, 'Why the long face?' "  

26  - Birth of George Bernard Shaw (1856), Man and Superman

30  - Paperback Book Day 

31  - Birth of J.K. Rowling (1965), Harry Potter series 

                                        
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                       Random Word

Jose Saramago: "Human vocabulary is still not capable, and probably never will be, of knowing, recognizing, and communicating everything that can be humanly experienced and felt."

Facile - FASS -ul\ adjective\ late 15th century. Having a superficial or simplistic knowledge or approach. Easily achieved; effortless. Acting or done in a quick, fluent and easy manner. Concise Oxford American Dictionary. 


Synonyms: adroit, tractable  - Roget's Thesaurus of Words for Writers 

"It's a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but I'd say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder." from commencement speech (and book), "Congratulations, By the Way" by George Saunders


                                                         * * * * *

                            June

*Mary Chapin Carpenter: "I saw my life this morning lying at the bottom of a drawer. All this stuff I'm saving...what the hell were all the reasons for holding on for such dear life? Here's where I let go."  from "Almost Home" 


I confess - I'm a bit of a magazine hoarder. For some reason, I found it necessary to keep back issues (let's just say many back issues) of Real Simple. And one day when I asked myself why I had to keep these magazines, there was only silence. And so, our recycle bin carted off many pounds of paper and a whole lot of guilt.  

Family members would argue that I also have difficulty getting rid of (empty) boxes, would-be craft items and kitchen utensils. My defense is usually "I may need that someday." Occasionally that someday arrives and I rejoice that I have the perfect box, bowl or scrapbooking embellishment. Usually, though, the stuff piles up until a menopausal mood swing strikes, and I find myself using one of those empty boxes to toss in little-used spatulas, clothes, note cards, etc... for a trip to Goodwill. And I feel better. Briefly.

Did I mention vases? You name the flower, I have the perfect vase. Two large shelves of perfect vases.

I was thrilled the day I found out that a Container Store was coming to my hometown of Kansas City. Now I'd be able to visit my family AND wander the aisles of this organizing wonderland while dreaming of my orderly home. Not so fast, said Gretchen Rubin, author of "The Happiness Project." According to Rubin, we don't have messy houses simply because we're disorganized. The messiness is because we have too much stuff.

So it's a two-pronged problem. I have too much stuff and it's not very organized. In my defense, I'm not alone. Apparently Americans tend to hoard and, yet, desire tidier houses because we keep Marie Kondo's "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" on the bestseller list. It's a great book, but I don't think I could ever live up to her exacting standards.

If your goal was to get organized this year, the first half of 2015 will be over in 29 days. No need to panic. Peter Walsh, Oprah's organizing guru, has the solution. Or so he claims, and I'm willing to try. June can be the first step to a leaner and cleaner house. Walsh's idea: Every day this month, organize one area of your house/office. It's OK to keep it small, even as small as a sock drawer. Organize and discard. When the discarding part gets tough, ask the same question that Mary Chapin Carpenter asked: "why am I holding on to this?" 

Good luck!

                                     * * * * * 


Readers, rejoice! The shelves will be stocked with new books by these authors: Judy Blume, Elin Hilderbrand, Mary Higgins Clark, Jeff Shaara, Dorothea Benton Frank, Danielle Steel, Stephen King, Laurell K. Hamilton, Janet Evanovich, Mary Balogh, Diana Gabaldon, Terry Pratchett, Barbara Delinsky, Neal Stephenson, Daniel Silva, Mo Willems, Mary Pope Osborne, and Kathy Reichs.


June is Audiobook Appreciation Month, Effective Communication Month, Great Outdoors Month, National Zoo and Aquarium Month, National Iced Tea Month, and National Rivers Month. 


                                  June Days

2   - Birth of Thomas Hardy (1840), Jude the Obscure

5   - Birth of Richard Scarry (1919), Please and Thank You

6   - National Yo yo Day

8   - Birth of Frank Lloyd Wright (1867). Read two authors' views of Wright - T.C. Boyle's The Women and Nancy Horan's Loving Frank.

10  - Ballpoint pen patented, 1943
10  - Birth of Maurice Sendak (1928), Where the Wild Things Are

11  - Birth of William Styron (1925), The Confessions of Nat Turner

12-14 - National Lemonade Days

14  - Birth of John Bartlett (1820), Bartlett's Familiar Quotations 

15  - Nature Photography Day

16  - Bloomsday anniversary (1904), as written in James Joyce's Ulysses

20  - Birth of Lillian Hellman (1905), The Children's Hour

21  - First day of summer

25  - Birth of George Orwell (1903), Animal Farm 



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*"Almost Home" was written by Annie Roboff & Beth Nielsen Chapman

                       Furry Friends 

Anatole France: "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."


Are you a cat or a dog person?

I'm one of those annoying people who claims to like cats more, always quickly adding that I also like dogs. Maybe a 60/40 split? Is that allowed? 

A dog is a great companion because they're goofy, patient, hardworking and kind. I love that about them. A cat is a fun addition to the household because they're demanding, clever, playful yet sometimes aloof. I love that about them.

If you live in the United States, odds are that you have at least one cat or dog. According to the American Pet Products Association, 65% of US households own a pet. It's estimated more than 85 million cats are pets; 77 million dogs are pets.

Do we love and pamper our pets? You bet we do. APPA estimates that $60 billion will be spent on American pets in 2015. Of that astounding total, $23 billion will be spent on food alone. That's a lot of kibble and tuna treats! Apparently we want our pets to look as adorable as possible - this year we'll spend upwards of $5 billion on grooming and boarding. 

Infoplease reports that the most popular dog names in 2014 were Bella, Bailey and Max. In the same year, we named our cats Bella, Max and Chloe. And, our birds were called Coco, Mango or Thumper(huh?).

Americans love Labrador retrievers, German shepherds and golden retrievers according to the American Kennel Club. The most sought after cat breeds are Persians, exotics, and Maine coons, said the Cat Fanciers' Association.

Apparently, time spent walking our pets, feeding and playing with them just isn't enough. We want to read about cats and dogs, too. In your library, check out 636.7 and 636.8 for books chock full of information on dog and cat breeds, how to choose a pet, and memoirs about traveling through life with a furry or feathered companion. Be prepared for an occasional lump in your throat, wild laughter or wrenching sobs.

        Terry Pratchett: "In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this."       


                                    Fiction

Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein. A sweet and poignant story told from the view of Enzo the dog. Keep the tissue box close by.

The Cat Who... (mystery series) - Lillian Jackson Braun. Jim, a human, and Koko, a cat, find themselves knee deep in mysteries throughout this series of more than 25 books. 

Old Yeller - Fred Gipson. A Newbery Honor classic...you've seen the movie, now read the book!

Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls. Another classic that'll bring you back to the fourth grade when your teacher read it aloud (and wept along with the students).

101 Dalmatians - Dodie Smith. Yes, before it was a Disney movie, this tale was a novel.

Good Dog, Carl (series) - Alexandra Day. Wonderful picture books about a gentle Rottweiler. 

Pete the Cat - James Dean. As Pete saunters through each book, little ones will learn all about life, from strawberries to backhoes to making a mess!

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake - Laura Numeroff & Felicia Bond. Read it to find out what really happens...

The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Seuss. Beware of a large cat in a hat showing up at your door on a rainy day at home!

Have You Seen My Cat? - Eric Carle. Cats of all sizes help tell the story of a lost feline.


                                  Nonfiction

Amazing Gracie - Mark Beckloff & Dan Dye. Meet Gracie and learn about the start of the now famous Three Dog Bakery.

Marley and Me - John Grogan. Was Marley a stereotypical Lab? He certainly was the life of any and every party.

Travels with Charley - John Steinbeck. The book has come under scrutiny - is it fiction or nonfiction? Regardless, Steinbeck weaves a gentle tale of traveling with his poodle, Charley.

Dewey the Library Cat - Vicky Myron. A cat in the library...maybe not everyone's idea of fun, but Americans loved the idea enough to catapault this book to a bestseller.

Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair - Laurie Perry. I laughed my way through this book with that aforementioned occasional lump in my throat. 

Rin Tin Tin - Susan Orlean. Yes, the hero has his own biography!

Good Dog. Stay. - Anna Quindlen. A love letter to a Lab named Beau. Read with tissues ready. 

Big New Yorker Book of Cats. The perfect gift for the cat lover...artwork, poems and cartoons, featuring writers such as T.C. Boyle, Margaret Atwood and James Thurber.

Grumpy Cat - Grumpy Cat, author. I'll admit that I became hooked on this book after surgery this past year. Maybe it was the drugs (or not, since I'm still laughing six months later) but I am under the spell of this really grumpy cat. If you need to grumble after a tough day, this is the cat to join you on the couch.  

            Edith Wharton: "My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet."

                                    
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                       Random Word


Abigail Adams: "We have too many high sounding words and too few actions that correspond with them."


Ebullient -  eh-BULL-yuhnt \adjective\ (1599): feeling joy and positive emotions at an extreme level; the state of being wildly enthusiastic about something. Roget's Thesaurus of Words for Writers.

Synonyms - agitated, effervescent, vivacious, enthusiastic, excited. Webster's New World Thesaurus
                                      
"According to all of them, Heidi, fewer than twenty-four hours from being murdered in her home, had been her usual ebullient self." from The Stranger by Harlan Coben, 2015.

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                                May


Charlotte Bronte: "Spring drew on...and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps." from Jane Eyre


Welcome to glorious, beautiful May. Suddenly the landscape is alive with a riot of pink, white, yellow and purple blooms. The sky is blue; grass is green. Enjoy the soft, fresh air as we ease into a new month that is filled with the promise of longer and brighter days.     

Look for new books by Nelson DeMille, Lincoln Child, Nancy Thayer, John Lescroat, Chuck Palahniuk, Linda Lael Miller, Kate Atkinson, Rita Mae Brown, Carolyn Hart, Terry Goodkind, Brian Jacques, Sarah Dessen, Steven Levitt, and James Patterson. 

May is Creative Beginnings Month, Get Caught Reading Month, National Bicycle Month, National Meditation Month, and National Pet Month. 




                                                         May Days


1         Batman Day; Mother Goose Day

2         National Scrapbooking Day

3         World Press Freedom Day; Hug Your Cat Day

3-9      National Post Card Week ** For just .35 postage, you can make someone smile with a silly post card.

4-10    Children's Book Week ** Enjoy a classic picture book by Eric Carle, Lois Ehlert, Shel Silverstein or Robert McCloskey.

5         Cartoonist Day; National Teacher Day

9         Mother Ocean Day

10       Mother's Day
  
10-16  Reading Is Fun Week

11-15  National Etiquette Week  

12        Limerick Day ** "There once was a poor boy named Sid, who thought he knew more than he did..." (thanks to limericks for children)

15       O. Henry Pun Off Day **  "To write with a broken pencil is pointless." (thanks to pun of the day)

16       Biographer's Day

Spring cleaning at Denver Art Museum

17-23  National New Friends, Old Friends Week 

19       National Museum Day 
                      >>>>>

25       Memorial Day









                                     



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