Grumpadinkles or Grrumpadinkles?

Posted on October 13, 2015 by russtowne

Grumpadinkles-Page15 Grumpadinkles-Page19-Rev1 Grumpadinkles-Page20-Sample Grumpadinkles-Page27-Rev1 Grumpadinkles-Page24-Rev1

My book The Grumpadinkles remains on schedule to be released this month. A few minutes ago I received a message where someone had accidentally spelled Grumpadinkles with two “r’s.” At first I laughed because they are supposed to be grumpy and the story is about a puppy who turns their house, lives, and frowns upside down. Some people and most dogs make the GRR sound when angry. Then it occurred to me, perhaps the title should be changed to “The  Grrumpadinkles.”

What do you think? Is that too much/over the top? Or does it enhance the book? Please let me know.

Here is an excerpt from the story:

They clattered and shattered all over the floor.

He pulled milk and eggs from a fridge door

and two dozen spoons from a big drawer.

It all mixed together in a mess on the floor!

There were so many messes.

There were messes galore!

Too many messes for them to ignore.

Grumbly tried to grab him but missed him instead.

He slipped on some water and fell on his head.

While he lay quite dazed on the floor,

with a bumped head that was really sore,

the pup dumped white flour on the clothes Grumbly wore!

—

(C) Copyright 2015 Russ Towne

All Rights Reserved

Written by Russ Towne

Illustrated by Christina Cartwright

With Love,

Russ

Posted in My Written Works Misc., Writing, Writing Project Updates | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments

What If Bald-Headed Eagles Liked to Wear Wigs?

Posted on October 10, 2015 by russtowne

I thought that title might get your attention. I seek some volunteer beta readers for one of the children’s book projects on which I’m working titled A Day in the Shade of a Tickletoe Tree. An excerpt of a draft of it is below, followed by info regarding ways you can be one of the first to be able to see the whole early draft of this book.

A Day in the Shade

Of a Tickletoe Tree

By Russ Towne

One day in the shade of a Tickletoe Tree

Clyde and I slurped Burzleberry Tea

and thought how funny the world would be

if a snail had a tail that curled like a pig,

and Bald-Headed Eagles liked to wear wigs?

Or if hippos had unicorn horns?

would they be called hippocorns?

What if books had no words

but flew around like humming birds?

Or if the words “please”

made us sneeze?

Would “thank you” and “bless you” be the same,

or would they stay different names?

(End of excerpt.)

—

(C) Copyright 2015 Russ Towne

All Rights Reserved

—

The Beta Reader(s) would read one or more draft of this story and provide honest critiques of various aspects of it, such as:

I loved these parts just as they are…

These parts don’t work for me, for these reasons (specify). I recommend you change/eliminate/replace them…

Too long/or short…

I think it would work best for this (specify) age range…

Etc.

While I always enjoy positive feedback, Beta Readers also provide important additional information that can help me to improve my stories. That means helping me to identify the weaker aspects of the story.

I may even dedicate this book to the most helpful Beta Readers.

Anyway, hopefully you get the idea. Please let me know if you are interested in being a Beta Reader for this story and I’ll be happy to send a full draft of it to you. (Don’t worry, it’s currently only 408 words long.)

Thank you!

With Love,

Russ

Posted in Beta Readers, Writing, Writing Project Updates | Tagged | 15 Comments

Wholeheartedly

Posted on October 7, 2015 by russtowne

I love the word wholeheartedly. It is how I attempt to love and to live my life.
With Love,
Russ

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“If you give your life as a wholehearted response to love, then love will wholeheartedly respond to you.” – Marianne Williamson

If one word describes how we should live, wholeheartedly sums it up. Not merely dipping our toe in the water tentatively, but rushing into the ebb and flow of living.

Word for the day and for each day going forward that will guarantee insight, direction, confusion, joy, disappointment, laughter, tears, fulfillment, wonder, awe, exhaustion and all that makes us become who we are meant to be – wholeheartedly.

No holding back. Risk it completely. Anything less is not enough.

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Eyes on the Prize

Posted on October 5, 2015 by russtowne

Eyes on the Prize

Our three year-old grandson Thomas was at a birthday party where nearly all of the guests were girls. A piñata in the shape of a butterfly was hung up, and the guests were told they’d take turns hitting it with a stick. The girls were horrified at the prospect, shouting, “Don’t hurt the butterfly!” and “Don’t hit the poor butterfly!”

Thomas also loves living butterflies but has been to parties with piñatas before and knew what was inside them. He had a different message for everyone, “Kill the butterfly!”

With Love,

Russ

Posted in Children, Humor | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

You

Posted on October 4, 2015 by russtowne

You

Seemingly from out of nowhere

Thoughts of you drift gently into my mind.

They linger for moments then fade away

As dew on a sunny day.

Leaving a small and wistful smile in their wake.

The journey from heart and mind

And back again

In an instant and a lifetime.

–Russ Towne

Posted in Loss, Love, Memories, My Written Works Misc., Poetry, Poetry I Wrote | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

A Two-fer!

Posted on October 4, 2015 by russtowne

 

Zach and the Toad Who Rode a Bull

http://smile.amazon.com/V-G-Dexter-Dufflebee-Russ-Towne/dp/151687417X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1443922269&sr=8-2&keywords=Russ+Townevg_cover

V.G. and Dexter Dufflebee

Amazon.com has just released two of my children’s books, Zach and the Toad Who Rode a Bull, and V.G. and Dexter Dufflebee.

I’d love to read your reviews of them on Amazon.com! I’d be honored.

With Love,

Russ

 

 

 

Posted in Abundance, Children's Stories/Poems I Wrote, My Written Works Misc., Writing, Writing Project Updates | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

Way to Go, Canada!

Posted on October 4, 2015 by russtowne

Way to go, Canada! We in the U.S. are blessed to have you as our northern neighbors!

 

http://www.quirkyfeeds.com/canadians-sing-u-s-national-anthem/

Way to Go. Canada!

With Love,

Russ

 

Posted in Friendship, Making the World a Better Place, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

It’s Here!

Posted on September 27, 2015 by russtowne

TOUCHED - 2000

Touched on Amazon!

The second edition of Touched was just released on Amazon.com.

Terror, love, chills, hope, magic, thrills, action, science fiction, and fantasy await you. Come inside and be Touched! These stories will inspire, haunt, amaze, and delight readers who love to experience the wide array of speculative and flash fiction genres. Journey from inner hearts to outer space, utopias to dystopias, and many worlds in between. Experience the hope, strength, perseverance, despair, and heroism of ordinary people as they face breathtaking odds with their lives and, sometimes, the fate of whole worlds hanging in the balance. Touched is a celebration of life!

I hope you love it as much as I loved writing it.

With Love,

Russ

Posted in Action, Adventure, Adversity, Challenges, Courage, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Heroes, Love, My Beliefs, My Written Works Misc., Short Stories, speculative fiction, Story Writing Adventures, Strength, Suspense, Thriller, Writing, Writing Project Updates | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Feather Light

Posted on September 22, 2015 by russtowne

I believe there is much truth and wisdom in this post. I find such reminders helpful in living the life I choose to live.
Russ

cast-light.com's avatarCast Light

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.” – Saint Francis de Sales

“Where hast thou wandered, gentle gale, to find the perfumes thou dost bring?” – William C. Bryant “Where hast thou wandered, gentle gale, to find the perfumes thou dost bring?” – William C. Bryant

Soft and gentle;
Strong and supple;
Grounded while reaching for the sky.

Signs of how to live surround us in quiet wandering;
Steeped in the moment;
Grateful for the beauty that is ever-present.

May you walk easy through this world, in grace, fully aware and awake.
Feather light.

“A gentle heart is tied with an easy thread.” – George Herbert

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Sunday Song lyric: Better get to living!

Posted on September 20, 2015 by russtowne

I love this message and this clip is so much fun I’m reblogging it. Thank you, Willow.
Russ

willowdot21's avatarwillowdot21

As much  as  it grieves  me  I  have  to  say  Dolly  Parton  writes  some  brilliant  songs  with so  much meaning! Well I fell in  love  with  this  little  ditty  then I  accidentally  found  this  young  man’s  version of  the  words! His interpretation  has  inspired  me on  and off  over  the  years  since I  found  it! so  please  enjoy!

“Better Get To Livin'”

People always comin’ up to me and askin’
“Dolly, what’s your secret?
With all you do, your attitude
Just seems to be so good
How do you keep it?”
Well, I’m not the Dalai Lama, but I’ll try
To offer up a few words of advice.

You better get to livin’, givin’
Don’t forget to throw in a little forgivin’
And lovin’ on the way
You better get to knowin’, showin’
A little bit more concerned about where you’re goin’
Just a word unto the wise
You better…

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