Let me explain …

I have basically been confined to the house for the last year and a half because while I had my leukemia and lymphoma in remission, it slipped back into an active state. While active, my immune system is compromised, and the targeted therapy course I am on to stabilize the cancer also suppresses the immune system. In other words, any little bug floating around that wasn’t enough to keep the kid home from school, could potentially put me in the hospital because I have no resources to fight sickness. My blood values on the cancer have been stable for several months, so we decided the Career Day was a good opportunity to test the immune system boosters I’ve been going through for the past five months — properly protected, of course.

Many of the kids who came to my table were at first confused by what jobs I was there representing. I expected them to be. As I cannot go out in a public setting without wearing a face mask and (if potential for contact is present) gloves, I decided to dress to theme and wear scrubs. So some kids thought I was a doctor or a nurse while others thought I might be a vet because I had Sergio with me — which was the goal. Why? So when they questioned what job I had, or made an assumption, it reminded me to talk about the leukemia and how they should follow their dreams/passions no matter the obstacle. It was also a subtle reminder to them not to “judge a book by its cover.”

Here are a few of my observations/remembrances from the day and some of the questions I was asked:

• All the kids I spoke with were fantastic. They had a “passport” to collect stamps from each of the presenter tables they went to. They quickly learned the question of “stamp my paper?” would be declined until we had talked a bit.
• If you give me a marker in the morning, by the day’s end I will have marker on my face.
• The event was well organized and flowed smoothly.
• Is it real? (while pointing at Sergio, my stuffed sloth) was one of the most frequently asked questions of the day.
• Some of the other questions were:
  • How many books have you written? (10 with about 20 in the pipeline)
  • What is the favorite book you’ve written? (Tough question as I love all my work, but Speak No Evil (2019 Young Adult) because I love the concept of communicating through music instead of words)
  • What is 7th Grade Revolution about? (Synopsis here)
  • Where do you get your ideas? (Twitter — for 7th Grade Revolution and The Star Warriors and the Secret of the Red Key (Homeless Myths Series), dreams — Misfit McCabe series, characters popping up and talking to me — The Journal of Angela Ashby (Fall 2018) and Speak No Evil, life experience.)
  • Why do you like writing? and Why do you write? (Because getting lost in the worlds of my characters consumes me and the characters in my head won’t let me be until I write their stories.)
  • How much schooling did it take for your job? (For me? I didn’t have any specific schooling for the jobs I have. I took college courses to be a teacher. But for the System Analyst job there is a Bachelor of Science degree (4 years) most companies want, and for writing there is a Masters of Fine Arts degree(5-6 years). I have taken creative writing courses through adult education and studied my craft through books and articles on the internet for writing. Ultimately, by following your passions and learning as much as you can about them, the jobs will find you.)
  • What is a System Analyst or Process Analyst? (I look at what the people in my company do, how they are doing it, review our system capabilities and identify the gaps, then make recommendations for bridging the gaps and/or build a tool to bridge the gap for the immediate term)
  • Is it contagious? on learning I have leukemia (No, it is a cancer of the blood and cannot be shared)
  • Do you get writer’s block and how do you get rid of it? (Not very often, but when I do it’s because I’m missing something. Ways to combat it are to go for a walk, listen to music, and spend time with my characters.)
  • What inspired you to write? (Reading, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, and the stories won’t leave me alone until I write them.)
  • How long have you been doing your job? (System Analyst/Process Efficiency Expert – 23 years, Writing … since I was 9 — when I began a terrible book — but finished my first novel at age 23, which went on to win a teen choice award in Toronto.)
  • Can I touch it? meaning Sergio (Yes)
• The energy of the event carried me through the day. I love talking about what I do. And seeing the kids eyes light up when I described what happens in 7th Grade Revolution or how the Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin books bring awareness to endangered species as well social issues kept me going.
• My voice managed to hold up throughout all the sessions, although today I’m croaking like a frog.

Even though tired by the end of the event, I was able to make the drive home fueled by the energy from the kids. And I cannot wait to go back for their book fair in April. On the way home, Sergio decided my mask makes a better hat.

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A burning forest in Apui, Brazil. Credit Bruno Kelly/Reuters

Deforestation is one of the largest contributors to the decline of wildlife species — whether the forest land is burned or is cut down for commercial use, or to create farms and roads. In the 80s ecologist Thomas Lovejoy conducted an experiment in Brazil’s Amazon rain forest by asking the loggers to leave patches of untouched forest for the animals to live in. The problem was that the smaller isolated patches didn’t prevent decline of the species. Animals in the isolated patches are more prone to disease and are unable to handle the climate fluctuations as well. Some ecologists have decided to put Lovejoy’s experiment in reverse and instead of creating the patches of forest, plant wildlife corridors connecting the patches together.

I love the idea of the connecting corridors, which will be approximately six-tenths of a mile wide, and researchers have already identified where 20 such corridors can be built. When I think of it from a bird’s eye view (a very high flying bird) it would be like looking down at a maze. The corridors won’t stave off extinction of the species, but they may slow the demise enough for larger areas of forest to be repopulated. The golden lion tamarins have already started using the corridor created in the Atlantic Forest north of Rio de Janeiro.

My character Timmy would absolutely love this project, and he and Rin would want to fly off to Rio de Janeiro to help with the planting. Timmy would be planting industriously while Rin ran down the corridor giggling and calling out to all his new friends.

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On the face of it, Cryptozoologists* and wildlife conservation scientists** don't have much in common. Cryptozoology is widely considered a pseudoscience because its enthusiasts don't follow conventional scientific methods while searching for monsters and mythological creatures, like Nessie and Bigfoot, which are also known as cryptids. Most conservation scientists don't want to be associated with monsters and monster-hunting, but are they really all that far apart? The aim of the conservationist is to preserve and protect the species we know about, but is that enough? There are over 400 new mammals which have been identified since 1993. How many other species have we yet to identify and describe?

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Monster Loch Ness Scotland, Nessie MaxPixel

For years, there have been sightings of the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland, and while some of those sightings, including the most famous of them, have been proven as hoaxes, there are enough sightings to at least consider there may be an "unknown" species hanging out in Loch Ness. And scientists have considered whether the monster could be a descendant of the plesiosaur, a discarded theory, but enough to open the door for consideration of a species like it. I'm rather partial to the myth of Nessie because a monster of that ilk becomes part of the mythological fabric in my upcoming Homeless Myths series.

One creature we didn't know about as a separate species until 2001 is the pygmy three-toed sloth. Sergio, a character in the Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin series, is the endangered animal who befriends Luna and helps her deal with her problems. I was fascinated when researching sloths to learn the reason the pygmy sloths are smaller than other types of sloths is because they had to adapt to their environment. The pygmy three-toed sloth is only found in a 4 square kilometer (~2.5 square miles) mangrove forest off of Panama on the Isla Escudo de Veraguas. Deforestation has put the pygmy three-toed sloth on the critically endangered species list and measures are now being taken to build up rather than destroy their habitat.

Without people like the monster-hunting Cryptozoologists who are always searching for hidden animals, would we even know of the existence of the pygmy three-toed sloth? Would it have perished before we were aware it lived at all? Something to think about.

* Cryptozoology is the study of hidden animals with the aim to prove the existence of entities from folklore.
** Conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitats. The goal of wildlife conservation is to ensure that nature will be around for future generations to enjoy and also to recognize the importance of wildlife and wilderness for humans and other species alike. Wikipedia

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Outside of the health benefits and the satisfaction having a piece of chocolate brings, one chocolate company is having a beneficial impact on endangered species. Madécasse, a Brooklyn based company, works directly with the farmers in Madagascar — home of the mouse lemur. The mouse lemur population has been decreasing in Madagascar due to deforestation. Madécasse is helping farmers by planting more cacao trees. The farmers don’t mind the critters in the trees because they help distribute the seeds and keep the insect population down.

The second book in the Guardian Angel Animal Series, A CinderElla Tail, features a baby mouse lemur named Ella. In the story, Ella must help Allison resolve her family issues because Allison’s dad has remarried and she now has to put up with the terrible twins whose mission is to make Allison’s life miserable. The story will have plenty of Timmy and his lovable Golden Lion Tamarin, Rin, because Timmy and Rin want to help as many people as they can.

Who could resist a chance to help a cute little animal like the mouse lemur? Especially when you can do it by eating chocolate.

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(Image: Gerald Kuchling/Turtle Survival Alliance)

The Madushan Monster is actually a Chinese Giant Softshell Turtle and the death of Lonesome George, the sole Pinta Island Giant Tortoise, the Chinese Giant Softshell Turtle is the most endangered of all turtles. There are 3 known turtles left. Two in the Suzhou Zoo, that are 90 and 110-years-old, and a solitary (probably) male in a Vietnam reservoir. The zoo has made several attempts to have their turtles procreate, but due to some damage to the male, they have not been successful.

But then rumors from fishermen arose about the possibility of two turtles living in the Madushan reservoir, so hope remains, though faint, that the turtles can be found and saved from extinction. The search for the turtles has been likened to searching for the Loch Ness Monster (a link to another of my projects: Homeless Myths series aka The Star Warriors) And the hunt continues.

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And the surprise was this FABULOUS cover for the chapter book series I’ve been working on with creator Luke Matthews and co-author Olivia Claire. The illustrations were done by Marie Beschorner who absolutely knocks me out with her fantastic talent.

A while back, I had worked on the draft for the second book in the Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin chapter book series called A CinderElla Tail. While it still needs a little polishing, we are happy with the way the story developed. The scene Marie captured for the cover is when Allison meets Ella, her guardian angel animal for the first time. I couldn’t be happier with it. And yes, I have been sitting and staring at it with shiny eyes.

And here is the back. While we don’t yet have the wording finalized, I wanted to share because it is so pretty. What is A CinderElla Tail about? Here is the premise:

Timmy’s best friend Allison needs a miracle. After her mom dies in a terrible accident that she blames herself for, Allison’s dad remarries and now she must live with a mean stepmother named Victoria and two equally mean and spoiled step-sisters, Savannah and Bethany. Feeling left out and alone, Allison confides her unhappiness in her friend Timmy. Soon, an answered prayer brings a miracle into Allison’s life in the form of a tiny and delightful Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur that appears in the house one night. Allison names the Mouse Lemur, which only she can see, Ella, after her favorite Disney story, “Cinderella,” and soon Ella is helping Allison cope with living in a house that feels cold and unwelcoming. Before long, Ella even helps the girl find a way to confront her new step-family and learn that sometimes fear is all that stands in the way of an open heart.

And now, I’m going to sit here and stare at the beautiful cover a little longer.

To keep up with what is going on with the Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin series, visit: www.timmyandrin.com

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When I brought Sergio upstairs to my writing office the day he arrived, he immediately claimed the spot on the corner of my laptop as his place. From the moment he has been there, he has been whispering ideas to me. Let’s just say I will not be lacking for story fodder for The Adventures of Sergio and Luna. His presence ignites my imagination.

Just the sight of him brings a smile to my face and creative energy starts flowing. He helps me to harness the imagination of a child, where all things are possible and adventure is around every corner.

Although I still have to finish another book for Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin before I work on Sergio and Luna’s story, he will patiently wait … he says sloths are great at waiting.

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Photo credit: Michael Marschall

I’ve been going a little crazy with sloth pictures of late, so this post ISN’T about sloths, but about another adorable animal — the Golden Lion Tamarin. A new baby was born at the Adelaide Zoo on October 13th to parents Aurora and Rio. The little baby tamarin is the seventh child of Aurora, so joins its six siblings, who will help to care for the newest member of the family.

Since Golden Lion Tamarins are on the endangered species list and among the rarest animals on the Earth, the birth of any of these small new world monkeys is something to be celebrated. The little monkey born in Adelaide will be named once the gender has been determined, a few months from now as it must cling tight to its mother at present. And will have a name of South American origin starting with ‘A’ if a girl and ‘R’ if a boy after its parents.

The little tyke is just starting to open its eyes and is about 10cm in length and weighs about 100g. The yellow coloring to its fur makes it unique from its siblings as their hair is the more traditional reddish-orange. I imagine our little Rin, from Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin was just as adorable at this age.

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Last week I received a package in the mail, and imagine my delight when Sergio, the pygmy three-toed sloth, popped out of the box. We bonded instantly. What makes Sergio so special?? Well, aside from being an adorable ball of fuzz with the ability to give excellent hugs, Sergio is a character from the Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin Guardian Angel Animal series, and has inspired a spin-off series called The Adventures of Sergio and Luna.

Sergio comes into the Timmy and Rin books as the guardian angel animal to help out Luna, a seven-year-old girl with autism who is having difficulty adjusting to the changes in her life. When co-author Olivia Claire and I were discussing the series and the story lines for each of the books, we knew we wanted to have a book dealing with autism, but had no idea about anything else. Once I realized the animal should be something able to give great hugs, the long arms of a sloth immediately came to mind. And once Sergio filled my mind, the ideas have not stopped since.

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As I was getting ready to dive into my writing cave and block all else out, I ran across an article that intrigued and impressed me. It caught my attention because an 8-year-old girl, the same age as my protagonist, Timmy, has developed an anti-bullying bracelet. This I had to see … because I love the way kids minds work, AND bullying is the major theme in Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin. What I found was not one child who had followed the trail of what ifs to an amazing conclusion, but FOUR contest winners in the Make the Future contest. Plus, the bonus for me were the 18-year-olds who had won previously and knowing what they had developed. Some truly amazing stuff. Please check out the video below to see the kids and their inventions.

Now it’s time for me to go into stealth mode, become the writing hermit, and knock out another book for our Guardian Angel Animal series. I cannot wait until we can share these books with the world. I’ve put on my armor and I’m ready to dive in.

For photo credit go to Worth1000.com

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So what are my goals? I have picked 3 big goals to strive toward, and they are interconnected.

I’ll bet you were thinking you’d see a list of writing related goals, right? I look at my list, and that IS exactly what I see.

2014 was a roller-coaster year for me and because things were so up and down and sometimes upside-down, I fretted over things. I’m not much of a worrier … never have been … but 2014 threw me off balance and I fretted about things I couldn’t control as well as things I could. This is my number one goal to achieve because I don’t like chafing against life. When I’m busy fussing about things, I don’t have my full concentration focused on what I need to — which is the writing. Especially when what I’m fretting about IS the writing. While undergoing chemo this past year, I didn’t create any story from scratch. I worked on edits and rewrites, but didn’t create anything new. I didn’t have it in me. So when it came time to pick up a new work, I had twisted myself into knots because I didn’t know whether I had anything inside to give to the writing process. I had been away from creation for too long. Had I lost my ability? Thankfully I have found that is not the case, but for a while, I managed to spiral to a point where I was locked up.

So how will I fret less? By focusing on improving my health (see goal 3). Regular exercise helps to burn up some of the nervous energy I was using to fret and fuss, and it also helps to stimulate the writing brain and unlocks the answers I need to keep the work flowing. Improving my eating habits will make me feel better overall, and when I’m feeling well, I whine less. And, even though I hate to admit this one, working on better sleep habits will help to reduce stress levels, and will allow me to cope better with both the things I cannot control as well as the ones I can.

Another linchpin to fretting less is engaging more (see goal 2). Throughout the bulk of 2014 I was, necessarily through my circumstances, a hermit. My life scope narrowed to life inside the four walls of my home. My commute was across the landing from the bedroom to my office. Some of my social muscles atrophied during this period of my life because I simply didn’t have the energy. Which was fine for then, but not moving forward. The narrowness of life meant my attention was not occupied with outside issues, but only with my own. Not a mentally healthy way to be. I’d rather focus on what I can do for others than on my own situation … so I need to get back to that. Truthfully, I need to expand my circle. I know quite a few people, and it is easy to get complacent, but it is time to open up and engage with others beyond my own little sphere — stimulate my mind — and through expanding my horizons, I will have less time and energy to focus on self and fretting about what I should/should not have done.

One additional thing that will help me stop fretting — writing itself. When I sit down, open the WIP (Work In Progress), and my fingers fly trying to keep up with how I’m receiving a scene, I’m at my best and happiest. The best way I can describe it is to say it is like breathing … when everything is right, there is no effort, you don’t think about the mechanics of taking a breath, you simply do and refresh your body with oxygen. But when you can’t breathe well because you have pneumonia, getting enough oxygen is a problem, you have to focus on getting enough air, and the process is labored. Then when it clears, you have a new appreciation for the ability to breathe without effort. When everything is going right with the writing, I relax, take a deep breath, and create.

I have already put things in motion to help me achieve my 2015 goals. For example, with my day job working with a lot of computer work, doing some programming type of functions, and writing well into the night, I found I was sitting far too much. My back was paying the price. And when my back is not happy, my ability to exercise is less, which makes everything get caught in a vicious cycle. So, I have already implemented an adjustable desk at the work place so I can stand, which I do most of the day, and sit when I need to. 2015 will see a change to my home office writing setup to include the same type of thing. My plan is to take things one little hurdle at a time and by building on each successive achievement, by the end of 2015 I will have met my larger goals.

So it is time to say good-bye to 2014. In many ways, though there have been significant challenges, 2014 was a good year. I ushered in the year by signing with the fabulous Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin Literary Management, to manage my career. I finished 6 months worth of chemo and remain in full remission. Italia gave me the opportunity to pair up with Luke Matthews to coauthor a children’s chapter book, Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin which sold to True North Publishing for release in 2015. So despite the challenges I faced, 2014 has set the bar high for good things to come. Now, as with every year, I face the new year with anticipation. The seeds sown in 2014 are going to bloom in 2015 and I am ready to do the reaping.

2014 was a wild ride. And I see 2015 lurking around the corner ready to leap into action and push me to my limits. 2015 is the steep mountain I climbed throughout 2014 and the only way forward is to fly. All I have to say is “Bring it, 2015. I got this.”

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