Zagreb, Milan, Nice, and Barcelona

I just finished reading the latest book from Croatian author Maya Berger.  It is the stand-alone sequel to Girls with No Plans titled Zagreb, Milan, Nice, Barcelona:  The Summer of Heartache and Fickleness.  Not only does it make me crave a European adventure, but it also serves as a reminder of the drama and loyalty that young people have in their friendships.

Maya, Una, and their friends are traveling by vans with an end destination of Barcelona.  That is where Maya's boyfriend is studying.  For those who are in college or recently out of college, they can easily relate to the struggles of long-distance relationships and wondering about its longevity.  But what I also found true and satisfying is how European young adults meet up with others on their vacations.  They may not always be looking for a hookup, but they know how to socialize and make the best of their time together.  They may become lifelong acquaintances or international romances.

Of course there is always conflict, and nothing can bring conflict into a circle of friends than a couple who fight on the trip.  Their choices change all organized plans, but also allow them to see these wonderful cities in the most sporadic ways.  For me, it is those unexpected moments that make a trip more memorable and so difficult to duplicate.

Maya has fiction and nonfiction books available on Amazon. She has a strong Croatian voice but still breaks it down for international, English-language readers so they can understand the differences of culture and traditions.  You can link to her author page on Amazon here.

Disclaimer:  I received this book in exchange for my honest review.  All of these statements are my own.

The Foundation of Reading

I have always had a love for children's books.  From picture books to juvenile literature, I have devoured many books in my lifetime. 

It is more than just Dr. Seuss that has molded my life.  I remember when I was in third grade that my goal was to read every Nancy Drew mystery the school library had.  I ended up rereading them as well.  My mother would keep boxes of comic books in our van on road trips.  We read everything from Archie to Garfield and still looked up from time to time to see what state we were in.

I have always been older than the targeted reading audience when it comes to some forms of kid lit.  I was in college when Harry Potter came out.  There was no hesitation when I would pre-order the next book in the series for me, not my kids.  But I am not alone.  Do you remember the Twilight series?  Adult women were talking about where they were at in the book and lining up for girl's night in the theater.  If you ever go into the young adult section of a book store, do a quick guess on the age of the shoppers contemplating the selection on the shelves. 

Whether you are reading a book to someone younger or writing a book for a younger audience, the words that you put on that page are the ones that impact them.  Maybe your story will be the foundation of their reading future.  Maybe it will be a book that expands their mind for a brief moment before they pass it on to the next reader.  Maybe you will touch the adult that is reading it for the first time.  It's ok if they are not the target audience.  All you wanted to do is have your words touch your reader.  And it will.

A good book is one that has an impact on you.  Sometimes those books go beyond age, race, gender, and time.  Whether the foundation of your reading interests started with Hop on Pop or The Invention of Hugo Cabret, don't make excuses for the books you want to read today or the stories you want to write for tomorrow. 


Take a look in a book
and the wonders you see,
your mind's eye will wander
to what was, can, and will be

A Blogger's Welcome

Welcome to my blog!  If we have never had the opportunity to meet in person, allow me to introduce myself.

I have always had a passion for writing.  When I was in grade school, I was writing stories whenever I could get my homework done.  Much of it would qualify today as "fan fiction" of some of my favorite shows like Voltron:  Defender of the Universe.  Other stories were mysteries starring a number of my classmates (strange how the boys were always the criminals of these cases...).  Since high school, I have published poems and short stories.

I followed my dream to be a teacher.  I was motivated by Laura Ingalls Wilder to teach in a one-room school house, but my first classroom was in a rural school district far south of Chicago, Illinois.  My room was full of children's books because I always wanted a book in every child's hands.  It was easy to acquire books from yard sales and book swaps.  However, after ten years in the education system and after the birth of my second child, I stepped away from teaching to focus on my own little readers.  I have no regrets.

My world opened up to the occupation of "freelance writer".  Those years of writing for fun led to projects with new clients from around the world.  To date, I have published book reviews, blog articles, and book collaborations.  This blog will share many of the books and stories I have discovered over the years and introduce you to my latest and greatest creations.  If it was not a waste of my time, I will be excited to bring it to your attention.

There is more to come,
so much to read and write;
So take a seat, take a sip
And explore with great delight.