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November 9th 2015

Hi, it’s Christina –

Good Morning!

I will admit to not recognizing
Jen's dad until he took off his
sunglasses. He made my day!

Just a quick post today. As I’m sure you heard, last weekend I was at Apple Festival at Peddler’s Village, and although the crowds were massive, folks just didn’t seem to be in the romance book buying mood. That’s okay though, because I got to experience something I was blown away by – SEVERAL folks stopped by my table looking for any new releases because they’ve already read all of my books. Talk about Rock Star moment! I guess I need to get busy and finish up the books I’m working on now don’t I?

I also wanted to tell you about an omission from my previous post. (In my defense, I did not know Gregg was going to be there on Sunday.) Gregg Love, a grade school teacher from South Jersey, wrote a wonderful children’s book called The One Who Threw from Kalamazoo: The 1st Inning (Kalamazoo Baseball Series). In small town Kalamazoo, Michigan, a young boy and a star pitcher grow a special bond that will change their lives forever. They each learn many great life lessons from each other. Each book, there are ten in the series, teaches an important moral and life lesson. This book series makes a great complement to any school's Character Education or Anti-Bullying curriculum.

If I wasn’t a dinglehopper and hadn’t forgotten both my phone and camera yesterday, I would have new photos for you. Oh well, let me boogie so I can get my marketing stuff out of the was so I can have a productive day writing.

Until next time – I hope you have a WONDERFUL day & Happy Writing!

November 4th 2015

Hi, it’s Christina –

I see books in your future.

Good Morning!

I hope all of you had a SPOOKTACULAR Halloween! I actually dressed up this year. I was seriously debating going to my book signing in costume, but then I said, “What the heck.” Initially I was going to go as Mrs. Claus and change over my Halloween display to my Christmas display early. Unfortunately, when I went down the basement to get the dress, I realized it was one of the items which did not survive Hurricane Irene. It’s amazing, three years later and I’m still being reminded. On the other hand, I haven’t looked for it in over three years, so did I really need it anymore? Obviously not.

So, in going with the theme of my newest book, Spirited Tales, an anthology of short spooky stories where I’m one of eight authors, which has a crystal ball on the cover, I decided to be a fortune teller. When my girlfriend Dina moved, she gave me an authentic Indian outfit. It’s lovely, however I don’t exactly have a place to use it. Hopefully, I did not offend anyone by using the outfit as a costume.

So the reason behind this blog post today is to tell you about this weekend. It’s Apple Festival at Peddlers Village, and it is probably the biggest festival of the year. It runs from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm both days. (I’ll be there from 10-4.) There will be bands playing music, face painters, balloon artists, crafters, pony rides, food, food, food and more food (apples, apple cider, apple pie, apple donuts, apple fritters, apple dumplings, apple sauce, apple butter, etc …) I think you get my point.

There will also be six, that’s right SIX, authors there signing their books, and I wanted to introduce you to them and their work(s).

As always, I will have A Second Chance and Taking Chances with me. These are the first two books in my Bradford Series. The Bradfords are members of the British Secret Service in the early 1800s, so you have mystery, intrigue, suspense, as well as romance. From barroom brawls to Regency balls, they have it all.

I will also have Corporate Blues, which is a contemporary romance, however, FBI & local police are involved, so again you have some mystery, intrigue and suspense thrown in with the romance. Finally, I will have copies of Spirited Tales. My contribution to the anthology is a spooky Scottish Lore.

The first author I would like to introduce you to is Rev. Janet Stafford. Like me, Janet writes both historical and contemporary award winning novels and will have four books with her at the signing.

SAINT MAGGIE – is the story of Maggie Blaine, a widow with two teenage daughters, runs a rooming house smack dab on the town square. In 1860 this makes her a social outcast. Boarding houses are only semi-respectable and hers has a collection of eclectic boarders – an aging writer, an undertaker’s apprentice, a struggling young lawyer, and an old Irishman. In addition, she has a friendship with Emily and Nate, the African-American couple with whom she shares her home and chores. Lucky thing the town doesn’t know that Maggie, Nate, Emily, and Eli Smith (the free-thinking editor of the weekly newspaper) are involved in the Underground Railroad. When she is asked to house handsome, gifted Jeremiah Madison, the new Methodist minister, Maggie hopes that he will both revive the little church she attends and provide her boarding house with a bit of badly-needed respectability. But Jeremiah comes with dark secrets that challenge Maggie’s resolve to love and respect all people. As the town’s people reel from a series of shocking events, the compassionate, faithful Maggie searches for the truth as she struggles to forgive. (Based on a historical event.)

WALK BY FAITH is the second book in the Saint Maggie Series. No one thought the Second Street boarding house would be destroyed by arsonists. No one wanted to believe that Nate would be beaten simply because of his race, but things have gotten ugly in Blaineton, New Jersey. It is in the middle of the Civil War, and the abolitionist sympathies of the people in Maggie’s boarding house have made them a target for racist and Copperhead forces. When the violence threatens to escalate, Maggie’s husband Eli has a proposal for them: his two sisters need help aiding fugitive slaves evade the Confederate Army and find freedom in the north.  However,  first they must relocate to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

A TIME TO HEAL - The third book in the Saint Maggie Series, is set in the months immediately after the Battle of Gettysburg, continues the story of Maggie and Eli Smith and their diverse family. Maggie’s daughters and friends are struggling to care for a houseful of wounded soldiers in the town of Gettysburg. Meanwhile, Maggie and Emily, after suffering terrible trauma, have moved with their husbands to a quieter location. Everyone hopes and prays for healing and a return to normal life. But an act of compassion mistaken as civil disobedience threatens the family and forces them to stand up for their beliefs.

HEART SOUL & ROCK 'N 'ROLL – Here Janet leaves the nineteenth century and dives into a contemporary story located at the Jersey shore.

Forty-year-old Lindsay Mitchell is an assistant minister at a central New Jersey church, a place where she’s always been happy. But a sudden case of midlife crisis finds her missing her old college band. “I just want to rock one more time before I die,” she moans to friends Sue and Patti. When Patti invites her to vacation at Point Pleasant Beach, Lins meets Neil Gardner, front man for a bar band called the Grim Reapers. The two definitely have musical and personal chemistry. But does Lins really want a whirlwind romance with a broke, agnostic musician who lives over a music store? Is that really what God has in mind?

The next author is Karen Hluchan, and since she is a dear friend of mine, you’ve already been “introduced” to her several times. However, I will recap for you. Karen’s participation at the event is two-pronged. Yes she will have copies of her book, HOW HAVE YOU LOVED? with her, but Karen is not just an author, she is a spirit medium, and she will be doing FREE readings, both days, at 12, 2 & 4. Karen also holds a drawing for a FREE one-on-one reading – a $60 value.

HOW HAVE YOU LOVED? - Have you ever wondered why you are here on this earth and what you are supposed to accomplish in your lifetime?

Spirit medium Karen T. Hluchan shines her light on the mysteries of heaven and earth that have been revealed to her through her connection with spirit.

How Have You Loved? is a journey about

♥ exploring how your thoughts determine your destiny;

♥ discovering the love within your heart;

♥ understanding the gifts of mediumship and our connection in spirit with one another;

♥ sharing the love within your heart; and

♥ appreciating the role that nature plays in the development of your soul plan.

The elements of each chapter are designed to help you make the most of your life here on earth and to prepare you to answer the most important question you will ever be asked when you cross over into heaven: How Have You Loved?

Next I would like to introduce you to Larry Deibert. I met Larry a little over a year ago and we hit it off like a house-on-fire. He is a wonderful person, and a Vietnam Veteran who was nice enough to sit down and chat with me for over three hours so I could pick his brain for an upcoming book (working title: from TEXAS with LOVE).

Larry has written so many books, I’ve actually lost track, and I have no clue which ones, if not all, he’ll be bringing with him. He is an eclectic writer – meaning he has not pigeonholed himself into a genre. If his characters take a paranormal route, so be it. Romance, Intrigue, Contemporary, Historical, Time Travel, up he’s got them covered as well. Heck, he’s even got a vampire or two popping up. I have chosen a random sampling for you (in no particular order of preference).

Combat Boots Dainty Feet - In 1969, Greg Taylor, an overweight 21 year old man is drafted in the army. After 17 weeks of basic and MP training, Greg comes home 79 pounds lighter only to hear from his girlfriend, Terry that she doesn't want to see him again. He is sent to Vietnam, where on his first night out on the road, his partner is killed in front of his eyes. A few weeks later, Greg is once again nearly killed by a knife-wielding prisoner. After the incident, he is reunited with a nurse he knew back in “The World”. Sharon Andrews and Greg begin a stormy, illicit relationship. Fraternization between enlisted personnel and officers is illegal in the eyes of the army.

Fathoms: A Novel Of The Paranormal - Seventy years after her husband, Al, goes missing from his battleship, the North Carolina, Eleanor Pederson flies to Wilmington to join her grandson, Brandon, and his wife, JoAnne, as they attempt to find out what really happened to him. Several spirits help guide them to the answers they seek.

Requiem for a Vampire - Chained to a wall in an abandoned warehouse, twenty-one year old Lani Jorgenson, the daughter of a minister becomes a vampire. Her creator, Marcus Bronson, lies dead on the floor, his head severed from his body. Lani breaks her bonds and seeks her first victim. With his blood, she gathers the strength she will need to begin her new life. She reads Marcus's journals and finds out many things, he, once known as Marcellus Bratius, learned in his two thousand years as an immortal.

The Other Side of the Ridge - Transported to the past through a weather anomaly, retired Brigadier General Daniel Rodin is captured by Confederate soldiers. He is taken to their camp where he meets and is questioned by General Robert E. Lee himself! Despite evidence proving he comes from the future, Lee deems Rodin a prisoner of war and has him placed under guard, but not everyone is happy with a black man being treated as cordially as Rodin has been. And a plot to hang him starts among the soldiers. Two Time Inspectors from the future, his brother and a long-time friend all travel back in time to try to save him, but without being able to reveal the future, or risk the outcome of the Civil war, can they free Dan before his hanging and get him back home before permanent damage is done to the timeline?

The next author is our youngest author – I know, many are younger than me ‘cause I’m an oldfart, but Riley Morton’s REALLY young. We’re talking FIFTEEN here, and she doesn’t have only one novel, she has two! I wish I would have had her confidence at her age, heck, I’d probably have fifty novels finished by now. Her novels are YA (young adult) and I would describe them as Percy Jackson meets Harry Potter.

Sorcerers - One day when Castor Gemini was almost 14 he received a ring from his mother; passed down through generations of Gemini's — this ring would unlock Castor's sorcery powers. The very same day, after school, Castor's best friend Vela is presented with a lamp from her mother that unlocks her special genie powers. Together, they are sent away to live with the Protectors; a group whose sole mission is to teach young sorcerers and genies like Castor & Vela how to develop their powers so that they can one day help defeat the forces of evil in the world. Once their training is complete, Castor and Vela join a group of other young sorcerers and genies to confront the evil forces of Medusa and Hades, who are plotting to destroy the world. Utilizing their new found powers, this army of sorcerers and genies get into deadly battles in an attempt to save the world. Will these battles be the end of Castor or just the beginning?

Discovered - In a sequel to Riley Morton’s first book Sorcerers, the adventure continues. Castor and his friends are back, and still on the run. They thought they were finally finished with their problems, after their big battle with the evil forces of the world. But they were wrong… Now they are against new enemies, but this time there isn't much help. The team is small and the beasts are big. The group is finding new friends, and losing others. Castor, Pollux, Vela, Puppis, and Epsilon, are still trying to find a safe zone. But is there a safe zone? They don’t know if there is a way out of this madness. The barriers keep getting bigger and block the way to success. Will they make it through the tough times in their lives, or will they fail trying?

Finally we have Samuel Knight, who, like Karen, you’ve been introduced to him before, but in case you’ve forgotten, Sam is the author of MONTY a Christmas Story. Sam teases that I am his “weekend wife” because we spend so many weekends together at book signings. Luckily his girlfriend knows I adore her and Paulie knows I couldn’t handle more than one husband. LOL

MONTY a Christmas Story - Monty was born with ears too long, and his feet were stubby and lame. But love knows no boundaries when a little girl and her father discover Basset hound pups one Christmas Eve. Sadly, little Andrea's father doesn't allow Monty to stay. And thus begins the journey for young Monty as he is sent from place to place, without a family, and longing for a home. If you believe in the true Spirit of Christmas, then Monty, A Christmas Story is the timeless tale that you will want to share with your family this special holiday season and every Christmas for generations to come.

Bucks County, Pennsylvania author Samuel L. Knight and renowned Canadian illustrator Romi Caron have teamed up to bring you Monty, A Christmas Story. With its beautiful poetic verses and thirty-eight original water color paintings, every parent will want to make Monty, A Christmas Story a part of their child's holiday reading collection. MONTY BOOKS CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED STRAIGHT FROM THE AUTHOR, so don't miss your chance at getting this wonderful Christmas book.

Karen, Sam, Wayne (the owner of
Canterbury Tales Forever Book
Shoppe) and me at a previous signing.

PHEW! That’s a lot of good stuff! Plenty of variety to choose from, for sure. So, if you have some spare time this Saturday or Sunday, please come on out to Canterbury Tales Forever Book Shoppe, in Peddlers Village, Lahaska, PA – dance a little jig, gorge on apple everything, and pick up some signed first edition books to add to your collection or to give as unique holiday gifts.

Until next time – I hope you have a WONDERFUL day & Happy Writing!

October 28th 2015

Hi, it’s Christina –

Kindle
Paperback

Good Afternoon! I had planned on making this blog post yesterday, but Kieren & Logan wouldn’t let me, and since you’ve waited for Faerie Tale Queen for so long, I thought it best to oblige them.

Mary Ann Cavallaro

I have two things to tell you about today. Tonight, on Facebook, we are doing a launch party for AnnieAcorn’s 2015 Spirited Tales. If you haven’t heard, I am one of 8 authors in this new book of spooky short stories, and tonight, Susan Ricci, Juliette Hill & I will be hosting an online party to launch its release. There will be chatting with the authors, games, and give-aways, so if you’re around tonight between 7 – 9 Eastern Daylight Time, then pop on in and have some fun.

K. Edwin Fritz

The other thing I wanted to tell you about was, last Saturday, I attended the Princeton Public Library’sAuthors’ Day. The morning started off with two workshops, and since I firmly believe if I don’t have something nice to say, I should shut up, I will only tell you about the first workshop. It was hosted by author and motivational speaker Ed Tseng, and he was FABULOUS!

Ed Tseng

Although I am generally a positive person – overly so if you ask some folks – there were several points Ed hit on which resonated with me, and I’d like to share with you.

James Hockenberry

How many of you have ever had a bad dream? When you wake up from the dream, is all right with your world again? Do you realize it was only a dream and not an actual threat to your wellbeing? 

Chances are you said “yes” to all of these questions (precognition aside). Well, thoughts should be handled just like dreams. The little voice which says “you’re not good enough” or “you can’t” is just a dream, it’s not real. So squash it and forge on. You ARE good enough, and you CAN!

Frank Haggerty

The next tidbit which stuck with me is “It’s the start that stops most people”. How many times have you said, “Someday, I’ll_____” (you fill in the blank). Why does it have to be “someday”? Why can’t someday be today? If I had a nickel for every person who told me that someday they’d like to write a book, I’d have a whole lot of shiny nickels. Infallibly I tell them, “Then just do it.” and ask, “What’s stopping you?” and infallibly they present me with a list of excuses.

Chris Illuminati

Just this weekend, one “author” was complaining he wanted to write another book, but he just doesn’t have the time. I suggested he wake up fifteen minutes earlier to write, but he had a list of excuses why he couldn’t. I’m sorry, but anyone could find a measly fifteen minutes in a day. My guess is he really didn’t want to write or he would find the time, and although I’m probably wrong, it made me question the quality of what he’s already written. Perhaps I am just bias and tend to be repelled by negative people.

Debbie Lorynski
Sarada Chiruvolli

Pretty much on that same note, Ed had one piece of advice – “Even if you don’t want to do something, commit to it for fifteen minutes, then you can stop.” Provided we are not talking about holding your breath, fifteen minutes isn’t going to kill you, and you’d be amazed at how much you can actually accomplish in fifteen minutes.

Cheryl Filipak

Can I let you in on a little secret? I’m not the most diligent when it comes to housework. My nose gets a bit bent out of shape when everyone else in the house expects me to clean up their messes, so I’ve been known to go on strike – a lot. Just because I don’t physically leave the house, does not mean I’m not working, and therefore should be the maid, chef and chauffeur.

Nicole Avena
(and her adorable daughter Stella)

Well, for the past few days, I have been taking Ed’s advice, and committing fifteen minutes. Every hour or so, when I need to get up and move around or my back will protest, I tackle one task for fifteen minutes. Guess what? The house is almost clean, and I’m not grumbling under my breath while I’m doing it. I also have a real sense of accomplishment. It’s amazing what fifteen minutes can do for your soul.

Stephen Jankiewicz
Mary Fan

Okay, I have rambled on enough for one day. I hope you enjoy the photos from the Princeton Public Library Author’s Day, and I hope you check out some of the authors I have featured in this post.

Until next time – I hope you have a WONDERFUL day & Happy Writing!

October 14th 2015

Hi, it’s Christina –

Good Afternoon!

Sorry for the delay, I couldn't get the event photos to load, but as promised, below are the responses and pictures from last Friday night’s SheTalks event. Everything is EXACTLY the way the writer wrote it – I did not edit anything. With the exception of a few adults who were at the event and participated in the exercise, all of the authors range from 8 – 14 years old. I think they did an AMAZING job, and I think you’ll be able to find a few budding authors in the group. REMEMBER, they only had 10 minutes to complete this assignment.

Without further ado …

Yugi L. – ?? Grade

This is the picture Yugi drew to go
along with her story.

Once a tiger escaped from the zoo at Tennessee. On 10-23-2001, the tiger stole a 

ball! He tossed the ball about. He threw it back to the zoo. Then he got caught. He just wanted a ball. THE END

Our Hostess Tara with her friend, and fellow
Girl Scout, Shefali

Ami G. – 4^th Grade

Once I went to Tennesse and saw a giant tiger than ever. Tossing it some food he ate a lot of food. We were just going on a hike. We had plenty of food so I didn’t care how much it ate. By the way, he or she was really fat. After a little while it was getting dark so we gave the tiger some more food and when it went to sleep we started home. When we got home I dreamed that the tiger was my pet. The next morning, I saw the same tiger wandering around. It ran over to me at first I thought it was going to bite me but instead she tried hugging me. So she became my pet forever. The End

The girls fought a crazy thunderstorm to get to the event.

Charlotte M. – 4^th Grade

One sunny day, I was at a zoo in Tennessee. First, we looked at the monkeys.

“Oooh, Oooh, Aahh, Ahh” they went. They were so loud, we had to cover our ears. Next, we visited the tiger. He was so beautiful, with black and orange fur. I looked like like he was playing basket ball, because he kept tossing the the ball in one direction.

Tara started off by explaining what SheTalks was all about.

Hailey B. – 4^th Grade (Birthday Girl - Tennessee)

I’m in Tennessee and I am going to the zoo. My favorite animal is the tiger. I love when they roar. But today I am not going to see the tigers I am going to be tossing fish to feed the pangwins. My dad works there so I get to go every day from now on to feed the pangwins. I really can’t wait! The End

Isabella J. – 4^th Grade

I started with a PowerPoint explaining who I was.
The slide in the background is "I'm a Wife"

Once there was a family going to Tennessee. They landed and went to there very new house. There was a zoo right around the corner so the family decided to go to the zoo. “I want to see the tigers” a little girl said to her mom. They walked down to tiger village. “I want a cookie!” demanded the little girl. They got a cookie and the little girl saw this really pretty tiger and went close to it the tiger tossed her cookie and poof! Split it into pieces. “Waaaaaa.” The little girl went. Suddenly the family went back to there new home.

There were two SheTalks events, and each of the 4 speakers
had a topic she was to theme her speech around.

Olivia A. – 4^th Grade

One day my family said “Lets all go to the Tennessee Zoo!” I was as happy as a monkey with a banana! So my family and I paked up and got ready to go. On the way to Tennessee I got a little bored so I pulled out my ipod and listened to some music. After what seemed forever we pulled into the zoo parking lot. All of a sudden I saw a tiger roaming the parking lot! I was amazed. Then some circus men came into the parking lot tossing balls of fire! It turned out we did not have to go to the zoo after all, we already had it in the parking lot!

My topic was "Courage".  I told the girls
my birthday was April Fools Day, then
I asked whose birthday was coming up.

Ella H. – 5^th Grade

Ted the Tiger was in Tennessee tossing Turtle into his mouth.

Elom A. – 5^th Grade

One day I went outside and saw a massive tiger on my front lawn! “What are you doing”? The boy asked the tiger. “Oh hi, I’m just picking up my babies from Tennessee, and just tossing a pickup truck from one side to another.” The tiger said. “Wait you can talk.” “Well yes.” So the tiger went to make some new friends.

3 girls' birthdays were coming up. This is Katie, my victim.
I had her stand, face the girls, and then I asked her to sing
Happy Birthday to them in front of the whole room.

Isabella J. – 5^th Grade

One day I went to the zoo in Tennessee. There, I saw a tiger tossing potatoes ant turtles up and cout them in his mouth. Then he ate them. The End!

Katie B. – 5^th Grade

Once upon a time there was a pink and blue tiger in Tennessee. He was eat fish and cookies with milk. He went to go shirts the super market. He had to stock up on and hats. Then it went home and slept on a marshmellow. He called his friend the lion to start tossing balls and fish. Later they went to the zoo to see the people in the cages and not the animals. Then they saw a pig eating bacon. So they went home to have a sleep over with the turtle and the ant. They lived happily ever after.

These are Charlotte & Mia, two of our birthday girls.

Meilin F. – 5^th Grade

Once upon a time their was a tiger that lived in Tennessee. He wanted to explore the new world. So he went to the Tennessee zoo and he saw a penguin and tryed to eat him but he noticed a kid tossing his cookies so he went up and ate the boys cookies the boy ran away to the penguin home and flew away with the penguin, as for the tiger he lived happy with the other penguins at the zoo.

Obviously Katie wasn't going to sing in front of the whole
group (don't worry, I prepped her to what I was going to do),
so then I asked ALL the girls to stand up and help Katie.

Michelle T. – 5^th Grade

I saw a tiger dancing on a rainbow in Tennessee tossing a cookie.

Preeta J. – 6^th Grade

Once, there was a little girl that went to the park on her birthday. It was in northern Tennessee. Her brother saw a tiger in the far corner, and asked his sister if he could go pet a “cat”!, and went to see the tiger. He saw that the tiger was holding Ritz® Crackers in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. He was also holding a newspaper. He put the newspaper down and saw my brother looking at him, and tossed his coffee and Ritz® all over my brother! My brother came back to me, soaking wet. He said a tiger was a cat and started crying and turning red

(Preeta actually put the ® after Ritz on her paper. Love it!)

Bekah L. – 7^th Grade

The moral of the exercise was things aren't so scary when
you have others around you, to support and encourage you.
It's a lot easier to have courage when you know you're
not alone.

One time I was living in Tennessee. When I was at a baking contest inside of a zoo, I baked cookies hoping that I would win the prize money. The prize money was $2,000. I got there and wanted to go look at all of the animals because I arrived early. I put my cookies inside of a locker so they wouldn’t drop on the ground, plus I had a container I just didn’t want to have the sun beaming down on them. I started at the tigers. I started at the tigers. They said there was supposed to be 3 tigers but there were only 2, apparently one was at a contest. Later in the day I got my cookies and headed for the cookie competition. When I got there I saw where the other tiger was, the other tiger was a judge for the competition! Everyone else got judged for their cookies and then if it didn’t like them the tiger tossed the cookies in the pond. The tiger came to my plate and it roared in my face after it tried mine, apparently it met it liked mine!! I WON THE COMPETITION!!!

I was thrilled with this group of girls. I did not just stand at
the front of the room and talk at them; they interacted with
very little prompting, if any. We all had fun, and I was quite
impressed, and inspired by them.

Charlotte C. – 7^th Grade (Birthday Girl - Toss)

Running down the dark, musty, hallway, Oz ran for his life. Hearing the shouts behind him, he ducked into a hidden corner. Oz had been living peacefully in Tennessee until his best friend returned. Sasha had disappeared five years prior, and no one had heard from her since. Then, she reappeared, with news about the mysterious gone-missing animals, including the Sala Tiger, the last of its kind. Seeing an air duct, Oz shimmied his way up it, soot darkened his golden hair. When he emerged from the underground, Sasha was waiting for him.

“Took you long enough.” She called, next to the beat up van, aka the getaway limo. Tossing her the keys, he got into the passenger seat.

“Where to next?” He was getting tired of running around the world, hunting down hidden clues, and hiding from danger.

Grace M. – 7^th Grade

This is Ingrid, Tara's other assistant for the evening.

Monday morning dawned on the city of Tennessee. Me and my class at school were going to the new zoo. Apparently there was this amazing new tiger there. The second I walked into our class there was a change in atmosphere. The class was buzzing with excitement. We boarded the busses that would take is to and from the zoo. The moment we pulled in the driveway it was amazing. The first thing that my teacher Ms. Wang decided that we would see was the new amazing and exotic tiger.

When we were looking at the exibit, a kid in my class Max had goldfish crackers in an open bag and was eating them. Then, it happened. The tiger roared so loud that Ma tossed the bag of goldfish because he was so scared. The crackers flew everywhere. When the tiger roared Max had also screamed at the top of his lungs. My whole class looked in his direction. It turned out to be a weird trip because the goldfish flying everywhere.

This is Thuy An, and her theme was Advocacy.  Part of
being a good advocate for a cause is being able to articulate
your passion effectively. Thuy An  has held several positions
within our local government.

Julia H. – 7^th Grade

“NO!” I cried. My tiger has escaped. Last time I saw him we were tossing a football in the front yard. I bought my tiger in Maine, but now we live in New York. I can’t believe I let him go. The best tigers are from Maine. So, I went to Grandpa’s vacation home there and bought one. We stayed at his house because picking a tiger takes a while to do. That’s what Stan, my friend from Tennesse told me. He is super wise. Anyway, mom says I get distracted a lot. Did you know dog years count by 7s? Hey, I’m in 7^th grade? Does that mean I have 7 lives? Wait what was I writing about? Hmm, I think I want to buy a tiger. My friend Stan has one. Maybe I should write a pursuasive paper on why to get a tiger. I will call grandpa in Maine, he can help me write it.

Kayla P. – 7^th Grade

Thuy An taught the group how to prepare a speech and after
they did, they were encouraged to present their "cause". Out of
over 30 girls, only 2 elected not to speak, however, they did get
up in front of the room to lend support to their friends. See, I
told you I was impressed.
Btw - our 3rd birthday girl is the young lady with the flower
in her hair.

The trouble maker tiger just earned his wings! He was so excited, the tiger has been waiting his whole life for his wings to grow in. He knew exactly what to do first. The tiger flew high into the sky with a water balloon. He looked down at tenessee and waited for the perfect moment. Then, when the time was right he tossed the balloon down onto another tiger! The wet tiger was flabbergasted! He had no idea where the water balloon came from… until he looked up. The trouble maker tiger was caught! His parents took away his flying privliges for a whole week! But he learned his lesson, with great power comes great responsibility.

Here's a picture of most of the group. A few had to leave
early, so they do not appear in the photo.

Maura S. – 7^th Grade

It was a sunny day in Tennessee. The birds were singing and the paperboy was throwing the newspapers. At the zoo, there was anything but piece and quiet. The lions were roaring, the monkeys were uh uh and ah ahing. But in the corner of the jungle exhibit, was just trying to get a nap. Until he heard a loud beep. The door to his cage swung open. It was feeding time! But Mr. Tiger wasn’t very hungry, so when the zookeeper gave him his daily breakfast, the tiger picked it up and threw it right back to the zookeeper. “What did you do that for?” zookeeper said, covered in chocolate protein pudding. The pudding was surprisingly warm, and the zookeeper realized, it wasn’t the tigers daily chocolate protein pudding. The tiger smirked and laughed onto his back. The zookeeper closed the door and went to the bathroom to clean up.

The Girl Scouts
So much more than just
yummy cookies!

Mia C. – 7^th Grade (Birthday Girl - Tiger)

The waxing moon cast pale shadows onto the three figures slipping through the trees. Like ninjas they crept quickly but silently, for their task required utmost skill and concentration. Simultaneously, the trio leapt at an inhuman speed and gracefully landed, perching themselves on the branches of an oak tree.

“Ready?” One of the figures asked the others.

“On three,” the closest one replied, and within those three seconds, the figures tossed themselves into the dark Tennessee sky. What landed on the dry, prickly grass was not the human forms that had taken to the trees, though. There, huge against the distant moon, stood three massive tigers.

Sophia N. - 7^th Grade

The graceful Persion tiger strutted across the walkway behind the gate. Anastasia the tiger was familiar to all of the attention. At the Nashville Zoo, in Tennessee, Anastasia was the main attraction. She was advertised all over Tennessee, as new admirers piled in, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious beauty. Her snow white fur shone brighter than the sun as customers filed in. Next to the fluttering flamingos, one could find savory cookies to toss to Anastasia. She gulped the delacacies, mouth full, as more cookies flew her way. A scraney girl came her way, tears rolling down her cheeks, fright in her eyes. Anastasia purred, trying to calm the nervous girl down.

As I said, this was a two day event. Here's some shots from
the first SheTalks...

Taylor W. – 7^th Grade

I never ending adventar

One day in tennessee a little girl and her family decied to go out And explore. But only her two brothers came. So they just started to walk into the middle of no wear. Soon her brothers wanted to go home beacuse in the dark the tigers and wolf and ciyodes start to come out. She said to her brothers Im not ready yet so she kept on walk and soon her brothers stoped standing around and walked. Soon after that all they heared was a loud roar. Then they saw a tiger walking out from behind a rock with a dead anial in his teeth her brothers both tossed there mothers home made pizza. So they ran all the way back home. By the time they got home it was dark and their mother yelled so much that South decoda could hear her. So they all got sent to there rooms the end.

Jayne spoke about passion, and how if you are passionate
about what you do, it will never feel like "work". Jayne is
the owner of our local ice cream shop & the creator of
absolutely beautiful ice cream cakes.

Gabriella D. – 8^th Grade

Once upon a time, there was a tiger named Lily. She lived with her trainer, John Murray, in Tennessee. She felt like a princess, for she was always the center of attention at her training center. Although she was only a year old, Lily felt like a know it all.

One day, John came in her cage to see her. A smile was plastered on his face and his eyes had crinkles on the corners.

“What’s happening?” Lily asked after giving him a big tiger hug?

“You’re going to be with your mother for the first time.” Lily didn’t even know she had a mom. She leapt with joy as John pulled her collar to meet her mother, who was in the zoo.

When she got there, she saw an old tiger who was tossing her other cubs in the air, and instantly joined them. Lily was finally reunited with her mom and they lived happily ever after.

Courtney spoke on Community. Courtney is active with
several charities in our area - I'm pretty sure she has even
started a few charities on her own.

Gracie C. – 8^th Grade

From The Eyes Of A Red Panda

There’s a tiger here now. His eyes are a sickly yellow and have daggers in them. I watch him daily from my lonely habitat.

There’s other red pandas here with me, of course. But they don’t really do anything, or share my obsession about the tiger.

I wonder about him, his story. How did he get all the way here to this run-down zoo in Tennessee? I worry about him slightly. He always tosses and turns in his sleep. I’m sure that’s normal for tigers, but once the moon reveals itself, and the pale light shines upon him, I can’t help but let my curiosity get the best of me.

Things are rather dull here, in the Zoo of Tennessee, but this creature has brought some interest here.

I wonder.

Several of the girls who attended the 1st event came to the 2nd

Graciela C. – 8^th Grade

They was the greatest specticle in Tennessee. Lots of people were angry that the many sleepless nights, and billions of dollars that went into the project was being used by a circus. The more reasonable among them acknowledged the fact that this was a test run to see if this technology could work for the better. They chose the state and town at random. That’s where they got Tennessee. Then they chose an animal. Something endangered so if the species died during the experiment they would have gone out with a bang and left the earth doing something that was supposed to better the human race. They started training them in these labs. This made the animal activists nearly mad because of the cold, steril, and unstimulating nature of the small rooms. And a short amount of time there they were tossing bowling pins in a circus for all the world to see. What was the intention you ask. They manipulated the genetics of these tigers to have apposable thumbs.

Angela Z – Adult

Story: One night I heard a tiger roaring in my backyard. I was scared to death. I tried to toss a stone toward it through my window on the second floor to scare it away but it was not moving at all. So I called the police and told them about the tiger. So I called the police and told them about the tiger. I said I live in the urban area tiger shouldn’t appear it at all! The police told me that there’s a tiger escaped from a zoo in Tennessee! Is it the tiger that has made all the way to NJ? That’s unbelievable!

Hum, it must be my garden that attracts it to stay!

I have no idea what this activity was, but it sure looks like
the girls were having a blast.

Anonymous – Adult

It was a dark and stormy Friday evening. The wind was blowing all of the freshly fallen autumn leaves all over the town of Hillsborough. A courageous girl scout was working on a project called “She Talks.” As she stood in front of a group of engaged girl scouts, she gave them a list of words and an activity. The words were, “tiger,” “Tennessee,” and “tossing,” and the girls had to include these words in a story…

Anonymous – Adult

The turn out for the 1st event was impressive as well.

Tricia the terrific tiger took the slow train to Nashville Tennessee. She was on her way to try her talents to the country music stage. On her way the train was tossing and swaying with a rhymthic click, clonk & clang along the rails. On the way there was Leo the Lion, George the giraffe, and Ollie the Otter. With the rhyms of the rails they each found their own group song.

Cristen H. – Adult

“Tiger”! I yelled when I spotted those eyes in the bush. My first trip out of Tennessee and I’m going to be eaten by a tiger! I knew I had mere seconds to decide what to do. I tossed ideas through my head, every episode of national geographic flashed in front of me. Thoughts races, those eyes got lower, lower: this is it, that tiger is going to pounce! Ugh! – I am not cat food, I can do this! I told myself. I looked up, down, left, then right… Nothing, no options – what do I do? How do I escape? I close my eyes, breathe in deep and exhale. Tossing the biggest rock I could find, to my left, I ran to my right as fast as I could. I heard a fierce sound come from that tiger and the wind lifted me to speeds I’ve never felt before. All of a sudden – BAM! Oh, it hurts. What happened?

Kathy G. – Adult

We crept quietly along the bank of the darkest river I ever drifted down. Deep in the hills of Back Water, Tennessee you find the best places to go frogging. At first it sounds like folks are tossing rocks in the water, but, after closer examination and a really bright spot light, you realize that the frogs are plopping themselves into the murkey waters. This may sound scary to you but, alot happens after you catch them all is more frightening than being chased by a wild tiger. “Dinner” calls the cook master and right there on your plate are the biggest, freshest, tastiest frog legs you will ever eat!

See, didn’t I tell you they did a great job? There was quite a bit of imagination flying around the room on Friday. Perhaps it was from the raging thunderstorm going on outside at the time. Who knows, I’m just pleased as punch they did such a superb job and seemed to have fun doing it.

Until next time – I hope you have a WONDERFUL day & Happy Writing!