This is how much I love my wife!

(Cleaning bathroom)

Anika's Odyssey

Well, the pirate game didn't work out. Sorry. So instead, we uploaded a classic that I'm sure you'll find entertaining.

   The name of the game is Anika's Odyssey, and it was designed by Trickysheep productions. I'm not a big gamer, but I can honestly say that this game grabbed and kept my attention. Not only did I find the game extremely fun, but I was also amazed at the beautiful artwork. The designers clearly put a lot of effort into making the game.

   Anika's Odyssey is a magical adventure deep into a lush and enchanted land. Break away from reality to enter a mystical world inspired by Aotearoa, New Zealand, as you meet the curious spirits and exotic creatures that inhabit this wondrous wilderness.

    Anika's Odyssey is an enchanting point-and-click adventure game, full of surprises and charm. Help Anika explore her colorful landscape as she journeys to reclaim her beloved friend.

   The game was nominated 3rd best adventure game in 2007.

   I hope you enjoy! (To play Anika's Odyssey, click on the picture below.)

Interview- Jesse Wilson, author of "The Night the Moon Ate my Room!"

Jesse is the author of The Night the Moon Ate my Room!, an exciting new children's book that is designed for young readers to experience the joy of self-discovery, valuable life lessons, and the adventure of turning their greatest dreams into reality. I recently invited Jesse to do an interview for my blog. Enjoy!



1. Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that (story, angle, idea)?

Answer: I've been performing theater for nearly my entire life, and a number of years ago I began branching out into the "solo performance" form. Writing a show and a book that could both entertain and education children, was a departure from the rest of the body of work that I've created in the past, and that decision opened up a very big door of newfound creativity for me.

2. How did you get interested in writing children's books?

Answer: I've always loved children's books, even when I was an angry, rebellious teenager doing angry, rebellious "teenagery-things." Deep down, I think I've always wanted to write children's books. They're what I feel most connected in terms of what I read. I grew up exposed to great children's books. They were intimately connected to my childhood. They have my mother's voice in them. Finally, when I became a professional teacher, I realized that not only was I interested in really diving in and writing children's books, but I saw how large of a need there was to write them, and share them, for kids. The funny thing is, I still never think of children's books as books necessarily for children. The best children's books are universal, applicable to everyone, no matter what age.

3. What kind of research did you do for this book?

Answer: During the last few years, I've spent a large amount of time working closely with elementary students on the nature of fear and dreams in writing performing workshops and the classroom environment. I'm fascinated with what happens to students when their dreams are threatened because of stage fright, comparison to others, peer pressure, bullying, etc and I'm also equally fascinated when students "go through the fire" to find their dreams again.

4. What's a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?

Answer: I spend the majority of my day teaching kids, on an elementary, junior high, and high school level. I gave up the idea of a structured writing life years ago, and find that as long as I can put in a good five hours a week wherever and whenever I can get it, then anything beyond that is a bonus.

5. What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Answer: Fatigue.

6. What’s the best thing about being an author?

Answer: I love the secretive feeling of walking around in the world, knowing that something right at the edge of my fingertips is about to be carved out and given to the world.

7. What are you working on now?

Answer: Promoting both the children's book and the show of "The Night the Moon Ate My Room!" as well as my other solo show and book for high school and colleges, "Face the City."

8. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Answer: Shock yourself. Move yourself. Look deeper. Do it with one hundred percent commitment to the truth. Ditch cleverness.

9. Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?

Answer: Many. One my favorite children's books is Maurice Sendak's "Outside Over There," and for young adults Salinger's "The Catcher In the Rye." Both books underscore the celebration of aloneness like no other books I've read.

10. What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Answer:"If you could go back in time to any day in history what would it be?" Years ago, I might've answered "listening to the premier of Beethoven's 9th" or "when Van Gogh cut off his ear," but now I think I'd say I'd go back to the happiest day of my father's childhood because I'm pretty sure my dreams (or delusions) are so much tied in with his, and I think it would give me so much more insight into my own dreams(or delusions) which is a major theme in the next novel that's currently being edited.

11. If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?

Answer: Everything I write, even if its made up, is really about my life! A teacher I once worked with said it perfectly: "You can't escape your story." Maybe that would be the title!

 

 

 

 

About Jesse Wilson:

 

A life-long involvement with theatre and film as both performer and writer began early, growing up in Hollywood, CA, where he performed in plays, TV shows and commercials. A graduate of the LA High School for the Performing Arts, Jesse traveled east to attain a BFA for theatre in the prestigious Juilliard School. Remaining in New York, and later Philadelphia, he developed material for his one-man shows, performed throughout the region. His most recent production, “Face the City,” written for high school and college audiences, combines visual and animation projections in a multimedia presentation of the artist's journey to find themselves in the "real world." “The Night the Moon Ate My Room!” written and performed with music for young audiences to experience self-discovery, is created with the support of The Kennedy Center’s Imagination Celebration and Pikes Peak Library District. Jesse teaches theatre and music at Academy for Advanced & Creative Learning, and The Colorado Springs Conservatory.

 

 

About "The Night the Moon Ate my Room!":

 

The moon was bright and full that night, bigger than I could ever even remember it.
Maybe because it was moving towards me...

After giving the worst violin recital of his life, and being laughed at by the entire school, the boy vows to never play music again. Later that night, when the moon swallows up his bedroom, it shares the secrets of being a true artist, helping the boy re-claim his self-confidence, overcome the pitfalls of perfectionism, and believe in his own dream.

Each of the five stories in The Night the Moon Ate My Room! is designed for young readers to experience the joy of self-discovery, valuable life lessons, and the adventure of turning their greatest dreams into reality.

"In lyrical prose Jesse Wilson explores fundamental childhood issues: overcoming adversity, discovering your courage, and the power of dreams."

   -Laurel Schmidt, author of Seven Times Smarter: 50 Activities, Games, and Projects to Develop the Seven Intelligences of Your Child.

 

 

To learn more about Jesse, and to purchase his new book, visit his website: http://jessewilsonproductions.com/

 

New review!

"Upon starting this book I found it to be a magical adventure of bravery, intelligence and team work. The characters are life like and seem to come out of the pages. The story is very well written and imaginative. The Land of Everafter Draws you in and doesn't want to let you go. In My opinion 'Reign of the Night Creatures' is a must read for all young readers." -Melissa Steele, avid reader

(Not Official Book Cover)

Book Trailer- Reign of the Night Creatures

Please visit the official "Coming Soon" book trailer for my upcoming book. Don't forget to like/comment/share! (Click on picture below to access the video on YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIkWZSx0EuQ

Interesting and unique ways to market your book online

With the release of my new book just around the corner, I have been on the lookout for interesting and unique ways to market my book and to start a buzz. Here is a list of websites that I have stumbled across during my search. Perhaps you, too, can use these tools to your advantage.

   Think your book has what it takes to be a Reader's Favorite Award Winner? Also a great source to obtain quality book reviews/critiques. http://readersfavorite.com/

   Interested in conducting a virtual book tour? This site is awesome! http://www.shindigevents.com/#

   Want to start an online raffle to get people excited about your book? http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/instructions-tweetlink/

   This seems to be a good source to obtain book reviews. Small organization, but growing.  http://www.getbookreviews.com/services.html

   Market your book through Goodreads. Organize a book giveaway to generate pre-launch buzz. http://www.goodreads.com/author/program

   Looking to host, or to be featured on, a book tour? This website links authors with bloggers. http://www.blogtour.org/

BONUS:

   This new website allows you to easily upload and store files online. Great for sending large files on e-mail. http://www.ge.tt/


I hope this list helps you to discover new ways to market your book(s). If you know of any other great websites, please share in the comment section below!

CSH

What Right Looks Like

Just found out that I will be one of the stars in an Army "What Right Looks Like" commercial. The project is headed by LTG Hertling. We will begin shooting the commercial tomorrow. Look for the commercial on your local AFN channel!