Kyra Dawson ~ Eclectic Writer & Hopeful Philosopher Who Loves Movies, Reading & Exploring All Things Creative & Entertaining! “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” ~ Goethe
Salquin to the Rescue by Rosie Reay with illustrations by Candice McMullan
Stop the presses! The wait is over! Salquin to the Rescue has just been released as an EBook at Foden Press! The 2nd book in the popular The Chimona Chronicles series is written by children’s author Rosie Reay and illustrated by Candice McMullan. The story takes us back to the Okanagan Lakeside Resort in beautiful British Columbia, Canada to see all our friends from the 1st book in the series, How Kelvyn Got His Name, and to meet some new friends.
The story begins with a Thunder storm rolling in over the Okanagan Lake. It’s getting dark and all the boaters are starting to come in and return the boats they’ve rented for the day. Everyone is accounted for except a vacationing family from Scotland, and this sparks a brave plan to try and rescue them — if they can find them in the dark during a storm! But Chimona and Kelvyn are on the scene, and so is their new Blue Raven friend Salquin, a young First Nations boy with a knack for tracking and a trusty canoe. In addition to the search and rescue, a mystery is afoot. Another boat is missing, and no one can figure out who took it or where it could possibly be! Will the OLKs be able to find the family in time? And will the mystery of the missing boat ever be solved? And who do you think will solve the mystery?
This is a lovable story about furry, feathered, finned and human friends who all live around the lakeside community coming together to help a lost family. Kids will love reading about the intrepid Chimona, Kelvyn and Salquin and their adventures and mystery solving techniques. Great for travel reading and capturing the imaginations of the young reader and grandparents alike, Salquin to the Rescue is sure to please and entertain! Kids will enjoy gazing at the beautiful illustrations by talented artist Candice McMullan and will enjoy the bonus, full length poem Firelogs Burning. This original poem is also written by Rosie Reay, and poems are a unique trademark in The Chimona Chronicles series of books. Want to learn more about your favorite characters? It’s simple! Just visit the official website of Rosie Reay and The Chimona Chronicles series at www.Chimona.com and explore until your heart’s content!
So pick up a copy of Salquin to the Rescue today, and enjoy hours of reading and learning fun for the whole family! You can connect with Rosie Reay on Facebook and Twitter. Connect with Candice McMullan on Facebook. Just click on the links above!
Celebration of Light Grand Finale Fireworks_photo credit Tom Wiebe on Flickr_via Miss 604 dot com!
while listening to beautiful music, (this happens to be one of my most favorite pieces of music and one of my most favorite movies, A.I. . This was part of Spain’s music for the fireworks display. Click on the music link above to hear another favorite piece of music of mine that was also part of the display! And yes, you have seen the movie that made this piece of music famous — again. Nice pick for trailer music!)
suffered through a heat wave (we’re still suffering by the way!)
Said the Youngling to Me_Hey Mom we are roasting like a couple of chickens right?
— and let me tell you, Vancouver could be renamed Hades if it wasn’t so much fun — and visited the many spray and splash parks in Vancouver.
and tried to enjoy the now and quiet my busy, frazzled mind.
This is not a good look.
And now I am back.
Happiness is writing and it is who I am.
I hope you had a wonderful time while I was away, and if you haven’t manged to take a break, try and take one — even if it is a wee one — I know you deserve it!
Right out of the gate this book creeped me out. Being a brunette myself, the title alone was enough to scare me! This was a seriously good book.
Words like unhinged, grotesque, shocking, intriguing, and macabre were spinning through my head as I read the stunning and suspenseful pages. In this book, the lines between profiler and killer severely blur constantly. Cristyn West keeps you guessing, “Just WHO is the killer?” And just when you think you’ve figured it out, she takes you through to another labyrinthine twist.
I found myself wondering, “Just who is watching you?” This was a creepy, gritty, horrifying and shocking ride. Right until the last page I found myself exclaiming, “No way!” This book will make you jumpy, especially if you’re a brunette. You’ll find yourself checking your doors and windows, and looking over your shoulder. You’ll catch yourself watching everyone around you, wondering……
The suspense is drawn out to the last drop, right up until you discover the shocking truth! To catch a killer, just how far would you go? Read Plain Jane: Brunettes Beware and you will discover that there’s a fine line between madness and genius!
You know how they say the Universe conspires to bring you the things you desire? (The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho) I believe this to be true. (My Youngling is the most precious and beloved gift I have ever wished for and received.)
I believe that family may agree to disagree, love you flaws and all, and be your biggest fans and supporters. Family believes in you even when you don’t believe in yourself, and are there to pick you up off the cobblestones when you can’t walk anymore. (Did I ever tell my sisters just how fabulous they really are? What would I ever do without you? You, dear sisters, have been my rock and know my heart best.)
I also believe that true and dear friends (who I also consider my family) come into your life to help you grow and broaden your horizons. They perform unexpected acts of service that come from the heart with no desire or expectation for recompense. They may even help you to sprout wings you didn’t know you had and fly. (Thank you friends for being the extended family I always hoped for but never dared to dream I could have.) They also share great books with you. (Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and Connected Parenting by Jennifer Kolari)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I also believe that there are people who touch your life only briefly but have profound meaning and messages to share. Today someone I will always remember, though I may never see them again said something to me that changed my life. (In regards to how my Youngling feels about me: “You are the love of her life.” Thank you for that, because I never thought of it that way. You are an amazing teacher.)
I believe I have been truly, truly blessed and fortunate in my life. So today I wanted to share one of my favorite quotes with you, dear reader. A quote from one of the people on the list of things I believe in. May it be as profound for you as it was for me, and make as much of a difference for you in your journey as it has made for me today.
“Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
I believe that today was truly a wonderful day. What do you believe in?
Early Sketch for Kyra Dawson's First Children's Chapter Book
So, my very first children’s chapter book is due out this year — very soon as a matter of fact. First as an E-Book, of course, before we get to actual lovely pages! It’s currently in the illustration phase. I’m so excited! Here’s an early image. Enjoy!
This week it’s a double whammy! The Youngling recommends How To Train Your Dragon the movie and the books! She really liked them both. The movie was really engaging, funny and heartwarming. It really captured my Youngling’s imagination. Ever since she saw the movie, she can’t stop drawing, painting and pretending to be a “baby” dragon. Her favorite dragon was of course Toothless, the Night Fury.
The I Can Readseries of books from Harper are great for kids. My Youngling was very eager to get the book after seeing the movie.
They say a writer is tortured when they are not writing. I believe that to be true. That being said, more writing is coming and very soon. I have a very cool interview with Daniel Henshaw arriving very, very soon. Also, there will be some changes happening with The Scribe’s Desk. Not too sure yet exactly what or how, but rest assured, change is inevitable!
Also, exciting news on an upcoming book release! I am very stoked about that one!
So I was revisiting Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life the other day, a flick where Angelina Jolie searches for the legendary Pandora’s Box, and something tickled my brain and gave me pause. I found it interesting that both in the age of antiquity and in the minds of modern man, women are the vehicles responsible for the fall of man. Of course we all know the original sin story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden and the snake and apple. It is probably the most famous of all women are the root of all evil stories. I think there is even a creation movie lost somewhere in the Hollywood archives depicting this cataclysmic moment in time.
In the Pandora myth, the story goes that Pandora was the first woman on Earth, created by Hephaestus in answer to Zeus’ command. Many talents were bestowed upon her by the gods like beauty from Aphrodite, a talent for music from Apollo, and the handy gift of persuasion from the generous Hermes. She was also possessed of a great curiosity and which god or goddess gave her that escapes me at the moment. When Prometheus stole fire from the gods, Zeus’ vengeance came in the form of Pandora. (But Prometheus did not escape unscathed. He too suffered the wrath of Zeus in his own separate punishment tailor made especially for him by Zeus himself.
Prometheus having his liver eaten out by Jacob Jordaens circa 1640
Prometheus is later rescued by Hercules himself, ultimately escaping punishment, but that is another story.) Now Zeus placed in Pandora’s keeping a jar (which over time has become a box for some reason) with strict instructions not to open it, but of course she couldn’t restrain herself and she did indeed open it, to the ruin of all. All the evils of the world came pouring out of this box once opened and despite Pandora’s efforts to reseal it, it was too late. The only thing left in the box was Hope, which I find to be ironic since hope can be the most elusive of all emotions. But I ask, if Pandora was flawed, didn’t a dude create her based on the decree of another dude? So who really was responsible for the orchestration of man’s downfall? Can you blame Frankenstein for being Frankenstein? Or does the blame really lie with the mad doctor who created him? Hello, Zeus. It seems to me that Zeus had it out for mankind from the get go. Diabolical if you ask me.
Well, at any rate I do find it interesting that women seem to be responsible for everything that has gone wrong with the world. I once had a friend back in university days who was very interested in feminine studies. She firmly believed that all these women being responsible for original sin myths and fables are the direct result of man’s fear and envy for the many gifts and talents of women. One of them being the miraculous power to give life.
Pandora by John William Waterhouse 1896
Anyhoo, a wise man once said, “When you point the finger of blame there are always three fingers pointing right back at you.” Funny how that works don’t you think? And the root of all evil question needs to be reexamined. Anyone can see that the fight started between Zeus and Prometheus , even if you refer back to Hesiod’s Theogony . BTW, is it just me who thinks Hesiod really seemed to have it out for Pandora? One can presume that Hesiod did not seem to hold women in very high esteem. In the Greek Tragedy Prometheus Bound it is deduced that Prometheus does seem to be responsible for man’s plight, but that tidbit seems to have been overlooked. Blaming Pandora seems to be much more intriguing. What’s your take on the original sin theory and the fall of man? Who do you think is at fault? Do you know any other original sin myths?
The world’s attention is focused on the horribly, devastating earthquake in Haiti. Please don’t forget to donate, and there are many reputable organizations to send help through like the Red Cross. George Clooney is having a telethon to raise money to help the people of Haiti aptly named Hope For Haiti. Bono, Justin Timberlake, Sting, Christina Aguilera, and Alicia Keys are some of the names that will be performing at this worldwide concert event.
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean will be cohosting this event and the goal is to reassure Haiti that the whole world is paying attention to their dire need. With almost 40 stars rumored to be participating, I’m sure that a lot of people will pay attention. Remember every dollar counts, so give anything you can. Tune in Friday, January 22 at 8pm EST on MTV, CNN, NBC, HBO, ABC, CBS, FOX, BET, CW, VH1, CMT as well as internationally.
I want to wish all of you fab readers a joyously prosperous New Year! Thanks for reading and I look forward to more writing and more of your welcome comments in 2010! Here’s to more great movies, more great reading and more great entertainment! Make 2010 the year of doing all the things you’ve ever dreamed of doing!
~P.S.~ My favorite movie of the year was Avatar. What was yours? Can’t wait for the sequel. Can you?
