Cat's Corner
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Today’s guest blogger, Corrina Holyoake, illustrator and soon-to-be author, injects humor and optimism as she writes about every day challenges in Venturing Into the Unknown. This mother of two school-aged children, who also works outside the home, builds family time and overcomes writers’ challenges with wit and energy. Find out how Corrina succeeds and Uses Children in her Creative Process  Corrina Holyoake and friends: "Children love being part of the creative process, and they have the best imaginations in the world." Please join the conversation in the comment section. How do you overcome writers' block? How have you involved children in your creative process? Don’t miss a post. Click below to receive this blog by RSS feed or email.  Subscribe below to updates about my books and receive a free downloadable tale I penned that’s very special to me -- just for grown ups who are forever young at heart.
Driving Down to Dillon: A Very Short Story of Love and New Beginnings
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My part of the world near the southeastern US coast finally got its first real taste of winter last week with an Arctic blast and nasty ice storm. I know, I know! We’ve been luckier than other parts of the world enduring record-breaking wintry weather. Part of me was rooting for a stay-at-home kind of snow day; the other part dreading a possible loss of electricity that so often accompanies ice storms in the south.  Ice storms often cause power outages in the American southeast Adding to my distress: I just finished reading Emily St. John Mandel’s luminous 2014 National Book Award Finalist novel, Station Eleven, which takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where electricity and modern conveniences are wiped out. I was already imagining how hard it would be to live like her characters, without electronics and climate-controlling devices, when this real-life weather threat appeared. Luckily, we dodged the bullet on this storm. Never lost lights or heat. I worked away on my laptop through wife-connected, cloud-storaged files. However, our winter storm and Station Eleven got me thinking of a time when I didn’t have tablet, laptop, smartphone, ad infinitum, all connected to the great server in the sky. Hard to imagine how I wrote without them. But I did. My first stories, starting in fourth grade and continuing through middle school, were all lovingly handwritten. Sharpened pencil was preferred because it was easy to erase and edit. I penned romantic sagas about the old west, or handsome rogues sailing the high seas, before scribbling about adolescent angst in the privacy of my diary. I still have the yellowed and dog-eared pages. When I re-read those long-ago passages, I see hints of the adult I am today taking shape. They’re a treasure of childhood memories, the minutiae of my every day life, that could’ve been lost had I not taken time to put pencil to paper.  Handwritten stories from elementary, middle school Fast-forward to high school. Did you take typing class? I did because I wanted to learn how to keyboard. Also, Mama was lightening fast at it, and I wanted to be just like her. However, the guys avoided it like the plague because typing was a ‘girl thing.’ Instead, most of them took ‘manly’ courses, like shop or woodworking. I hated those clunky, manual typewriters. In college, I typed my thesis on one, using whiteout to fix my many errors. Correcting footnotes sent me screaming and pulling out my hair. Each evening, I placed the latest draft of my paper in the refrigerator, so my research wouldn’t be lost in case of fire. Don’t laugh. It could happen, and then I’d be completely hosed. These were days before copy machines were commonplace affordable for a cash-strapped student.  IBM Selectric typewriter, font ball After college and a stint as a special educator, I worked for an international telecom company as a training and communications manager. I happily wrote away on my then state-of-the art IBM Selectric (with its annoying little font ball) in my office adrift in a sea of cubicles. We heard rumors about upgrading from Selectrics, but I didn’t pay attention. Then one morning I arrived to see, plunked on my desk, a teeny screen peeking out of a tan box attached to a keyboard and something called a mouse. No instructions from anyone on how to use it. We knew it was an Apple product, and it could’ve been a Macintosh Lisa computer that offered Apple’s first graphical user interface, but I can’t say for certain.  Cat Michaels meets her first computer (a 'Mac') back in the day Once I figured out how to use the Mac, as we called it, life was sweet. It was a huge learning curve made easier since everyone was trying to figure it out. We even came up with phrases like, “Let’s Mac it up,” to indicate composing on computer and printing out lovely formatted documents. I was thankful for my high-school typing class and felt a bit smug as my male colleagues, who struggled with hunt-and-peck keyboarding, finally admitted there was value for all in knowing to manage the keys.  Cat's office today After loving my Mac for writing articles and designing workshops, my firm switched to a Windows operating system, the prevalent business standard even today. I learned a whole new writing platform. But life has a way of coming full circle. Two years ago when I decided to jump off the 9-5 grind and write Kid Lit, I chucked my PC for a MacBook, and life is sweet again. Be it Apple or Microsoft, I would never go back to writing stories by hand. I even scribble notes on a tablet or smart phone when I’m out, and then upload them to my laptop. (Although I admit I’m addicted to those yellow sticky notes.) How lucky we are to live in an age where writers can serve up blogs, dash out chapters, and edit with a few keystrokes. I’m grateful to a novel about a traveling symphony in a world without electricity, and a late season ice storm, for reminding me of just that. Please join the conversation in the comment section. Authors, do you write your tales by hand? Compose on a computer? Readers, do you prefer keyboarding or handwriting for general use? Don’t miss a post. Click below to receive this blog by RSS feed or email. Subscribe below to updates about my books and receive a free downloadable tale I penned that’s very special to me -- just for grown ups who are forever young at heart.
Driving Down to Dillon: A Very Short Story of Love and New Beginnings. A lovely gift came my way last week: Carmela Dutra, of A Blog for Your Thoughts, nominated me for a Very Inspiring Blogger (VIB) Award. This award recognizes bloggers who work hard to keep the blogosphere a beautiful place. Thanks for the nod, Carmela. You made my day, week AND month! In addition to blogging, Carmela is an illustrator, photographer, and author of The Lorenzo the Bear Series. She volunteers with primary-grade students, manages several social media sites, and co-administers the 3.K-member Kid Literature Facebook community.  Very Inspiring Blogger Award As part of the VIB tradition, I was asked to do two things: reveal seven things about myself and pay it forward by nominating other bloggers who inspire me. ABOUT CAT MICHAELS Work Between blogging, writing children's books and being a writing coach, I was a communications and staff development manager for a global high-tech company Eat Could yum down pizza and salad, with low-fat ice cream for dessert, at every meal Read Devour two books at the same time: zipping through my e-reader at night; burning up audio-books during the day Exercise Walk every day. Hit the gym twice weekly, Start mornings with 15 minutes on my weighted hula hoop while watching the CBS Morning News….love Charlie, Norah and Gayle! Sing I've sung in choral groups all my life. Alto 1. Usually on the first row because I am a petite 5-feet, two-inches tall.  Gardening, photography make for a happy Cat Snap Love taking pictures and experimenting with photo editing apps. Get happily lost on Pinterest and playing with Canva's graphic design app (see my garden, photo & design left). Dig Design pocket gardens full of color and art for our small suburban yard. I was a tour guide at the North Carolina State University 9-acre Raulston Arboretum. NOMINATIONS FOR VERY INSPIRED BLOGGER AWARD Auden Johnson Dark Treasury Auden is a Dark Fantasy writer who blogs about her love of the written word and sprinkles photography in her posts that will keep you coming back for more. Corrina Holyoke Venturing into the Unknown This illustrator and picture book author writes with wit and energy while holding down an office job and juggling her full-time duties as a mom of two elementary-schoolers. Eiry Reese Thomas Eiry Reese Thomas Eiry writes educational apps and books for children in her Wales homeland, publishing in both Welsh and English, and blogs about her journey to help children learn in a bilingual culture. Lisa Cullen akk9agencyclub Lisa writes with passion about handicapable kids and accepting differences. Julie Gorges Baby Boomer Bliss Julie, a former journalist, can ink a mean blog about any subject, but her Baby Boomer Bliss, especially her personal story about caring for an aging parent, will have you laughing and crying. Julie Gribble Kid Lit TV Julie Gribble and her team behind Kid Lit TV support and educate children’s writers and illustrators about video, book craft and business buzz. In addition to live TV streams, their vibrant Facebook community is a great place to learn, get help and be inspired. Kim Sentek Kimberly Sentex Kim's children's stories starring two feisty pups are based on her own pets. Her blog reflects her wry observations about every day life. Leigh Shearin Leigh Shearin This Lid Lit author and blogger, who lives on a family farm in upstate New York, is also a chef and a photographer, so her blog is filled with delicious things to read, eat, and see. Mari Barnes Stone Soup Mari writes for kids and adults, specializing in books that families can share. Her blog features author interviews, food, social justice, and the pain and triumph of aging. PJ Larue PJ Larue PJ has written a book a marriage map for adults and the Mystic Princess Series for children. She blogs about her passions for authenticity in relationships and bullying prevention. Renee Cormier Mother Daughter Book Review MDBR provides invaluable support and service to authors and readers with book reviews, blog tours, and giveaways. Stanley & Katrina Stanley & Katrina Stanley and Katrina's Word of the Week (WOW) and Write Chat book review video series is spearheaded by a middle-schoolers and her adult 'assistants.' WOW features weekly guests who discuss their assigned vocabulary word and encourage kids to read. WOW, indeed! Tracey M. Cox A Writer’s Blog I always learn something new and feel refreshed afterTracey’s blog and comprehensive tips for Kid Lit authors.  Please visit these Very Inspired Bloggers and leave a 'like' and a comment. They'll appreciate your stopping by. And you’ll feel as if you made new friends and opened a roomful of presents as you discover each of these awesome folk. Please join the conversation in the comment section. What qualities do you look for in a blogger? What keeps you coming back to read a blog? Don’t miss a post. Click below to receive this blog by RSS feed or email. Subscribe to updates about my books and receive a free downloadable tale I penned that’s very special to me -- written just for grown ups who are forever young at heart.
Driving Down to Dillon: A Very Short Story of Love and New Beginnings. Ready for a cozy getaway for Valentine’s Day? Where you can curl up in a quaint seaside inn, explore legends and dive into living history? Join guest blogger Tara, or Sweet T as she is sometimes called, from my book, Sweet T and the North Wind. T is popping out of the pages to whisk you away on a virtual visit to the Outer Banks of North Carolina (southeastern US coast).  Life IS better in flip flops! People don’t think about going to the beach in winter, but the Outer Banks, or OBX as locals say, is great place for grown-ups and kids to visit in the off-season. Room rates and crowds are low. Plus, it rarely gets very cold in Carolina, so you only need to bring a light jacket to stay warm. Visitors from cold northern climates even wear shorts to the beach! People who live on the OBX have the right attitude about life. Life is slower here. More relaxed. Friendlier, too Connecting to the Mainland To reach the Outer Banks’ 125-mile-long stretch of barrier island by car, we’ll hop across four tiny islands connected by mile-long bridges.  One of many bridges connecting the Outer Banks Food and Lodging There are lots of choices for lodgings, from big hotels to cozy cabin rentals. Let’s stay in a cute, old-timey Inn from the 1930s. Cat likes it because it has lots of happy places for reading and writing stories. The Inn has bikes to borrow, so we can pedal along the shore and be back in time for afternoon dessert. You can have wine or coffee with your snack; I’ll stay with sweet tea….of course! Speaking of food, have you tried hushpuppies? They’re deep-fried cornmeal treats served a lot in restaurants in the southern US. SOOOOO good! I can eat a million of them. Hushpuppy got its name from when people threw bits of fried cornmeal to ‘hush the puppies’ and keep their dogs from barking. I don’t know if that’s true, but it makes for a funny legend.  Hushpuppies: deep-fried cornmeal deliciousness You’ll never be far from the Atlantic Ocean, wherever you stay on the OBX. The sea is just across the road and over a sand dune from our inn. Though it’s too chilly for swimming, we can roll up our jeans and wade in the shallows. It’s even fun walking along the sandy beach and chasing seagulls. If you like fishing from the shore, we can do that, too. I’ll bait your hook!  Photo: outerbanks.org - You're never far from the ocean OBX Light Stations  Hatteras Light Station The OBX has four light stations used in olden days to warn sailors of dangerous currents and shoals along the coast. People call the OBX the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Nearly 600 ships, including WWII-era German U-boats, sank off its coast since recordings began in the 1500s. If we drive an hour along Highway 12, the only way to get from one part of the OBX to the other, we can visit the Cape Hatteras Light Station (I call it a lighthouse!). In summer, you can climb to the top of this tallest brick light station in the USA for a bird’s eye view. But it’s closed for our winter visit. But we can walk around the grounds and stop in the visitors’ center. All light stations have educational programs and museums, where you can learn about their history and talk to park rangers about what life was like back then. The museums have oodles of books for adults and kids about lighthouses and shipwrecks. Ooooo!!! I must buy Cat that souvenir lighthouse magnet for her refrigerator magnet collection before we head back. Want a Lighthouse t-shirt? Highway 12 and a Fragile Barrier Island  Photo: Outerbanks.org - Highway 12 connects the OBX The island is very narrow, especially along Highway 12 near Hatteras. We can walk across some parts in just a minute. Storms often wash away the highway and toss sand from the big dunes, so nobody can drive the road. What’s the word--- impassable! Scientists say the Outer Banks are in danger, too. The barrier island faces a 12-inch sea-level rise over the next three decades. Locals say that they drive over salt water on Highway 12 along Hatteras every day. Want to stop in Rodanthe, a town on one the skinniest parts of the OBX, to see the home where North Carolina author Nicholas Sparks set one of his lovey-dovey novels? Have you read that book? Cat says I need to be older to read it. Rodanthe is a small isolated town, but it’s a great place to to get away. Pirates and Flying Machines Did you know that Blackbeard the pirate roamed the waters off the Outer Banks? His flagship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, went down in nearby Beaufort Inlet in June of 1718. Legends claim his ghost can be seen wandering around the OBX. I hope we bump into him!  First Flight Simulation -- Park Service Flight Room Cat’s Spouse and Editor Extraordinaire, JM, is a historian, so he tells us all sorts of interesting stuff like that. He says we must visit the Wright Brothers National Historic Site at Kill Devil Hills. I wasn't excited about a boring old historical site until I learned it had a full-sized model of the Wright Brother's airplane in a huge building, the Flight Room. National Park Service Rangers tell you about the plane and show how Orville had to lie down on his tummy in this teeny seat to pilot the plane. Wow, he was really brave. Best of all is climbing to the top of Kill Devil Hill, where the plane launched, and walking 852 feet down to the spot where that first flight ended after 59 seconds. Talk about walking in the footsteps of history …  Photo: National Park Service - Path of the First Flight Mystery of the Lost Colony  Photo: Wiki Commons PD - The Lost Colony Up for more history and a touch of mystery? Let’s cross back over the Sound to Roanoke Island, site of the first colony in North America that was settled in the late 1500s. It’s kinda spooky. All of those settlers disappeared without a trace when the colonial governor returned to check on them in 1590. To this day, nobody knows what happened to the first citizens of Roanoke. The only clue they left was the word 'Croatoan' carved onto a wooden post. And nobody knows what that word means or where the colonists disappeared to. That's a 400-year-old mystery.  Photo: outerbanks.org There's lots more to see and do on the OBX, but it’s time for me to get back to my Sweet T Tales. Cat says our trip helped her find ideas for her next book. Inspiration and setting, she calls it. I wonder what she'll write about. Maybe a beach-y theme? I hope so! I want to be in her story again, too, so please let her know if you enjoyed our OBX trip. Thanks for keeping me company on the Outer Banks. Please join me on another journey soon. And have a lovely Valentine’s Day Please join the conversation in the comment section below. What's your idea of a perfect getaway? Don’t miss a post. Click below to receive this blog by RSS feed or email. Subscribe below to updates about my books and receive a FREE downloadable tale I penned that’s very special to me -- just for grown ups who are forever young at heart.
Driving Down to Dillon: A Very Short Story of Love and New Beginnings. |
 Cat MichaelsBlogging about books, writing, family life, travel and more good stuff. Meet Cat
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