by Chrysa Smith So here we go. I’m unstuck–at least a little. I’ve got a manuscript. It’s on the right track and far better than the first two attempts at an eighth book. It continues as a Dory Oslo Adventure—the baseball-playing gardener from The Upside-Down Gardener. The story line is close enough to be…
Detailsby Chrysa Smith Well, shops and restaurants aren’t the only things shut down this past year. So is my creativity. With the desire for another book looming, all inspiration has seemingly dried up. And here’s what I learned. Since 2007, I’ve been able to pump out children’s books about every two years. It was…
DetailsMadonna sang “We are living in a material world and I am a material girl.” That song, or rather, the melody keeps spinning in my head. I’m living in a virtual world and I’m gonna be a virtual girl–or author. Or both. That’s my song this year, and no doubt, the start of another school…
DetailsWhen I work with young children, I often experience two ends of the spectrum. There’s the one group who writes diligently, taking off on a topic. They even ask if they can ‘write more’ than what’s suggested. Good for them. But then there are those who stare blankly at the paper, waiting for inspiration to…
DetailsA pandemic. Political feuds. Killer Hornets. When William Wordsworth said, “The world is too much with us” could he have possibly been speaking of 2020? Usually during troubling times, small comforts run large. And right now, nothing is luring me more than the great outdoors. No, I’m not talking about hiking and swimming—that’s for a…
DetailsWhen Pat Achilles agreed to illustrate The Upside-Down Gardener, I was thrilled and honored. Her whimsical style was right on for the project. And while I’ve written many a post about my inspiration and how my ideas came together, I thought it might be interesting to see inside the mind of an illustrator. So after…
DetailsWhat a wonderful breed! Not only does their non-shed coat keep your house looking great, but they’re pretty adept at swimming as well—though you wouldn’t know it from my land lubber guys. Originally bred in Germany, the name poodle comes from the German word which means water dog. And yes, they’ve made good retrievers, but…
DetailsIt’s my favorite time of year—the time to pack up the gear and head down the shore. But even this sun worshipper knows you can only do it for so long. So what to do with the kids after a long, tiring day in the sun? Keep up the literary skills and read a story…
Detailsby Chrysa Smith I know. You’ve seen them. You’ve read them. You know about my passion for all things poodle—and the posse books. But guess what? I didn’t stop there. Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to pen a few pieces for Pet Lifestyles Magazine up in NYC. Right up my alley, huh? Absolutely.…
DetailsGrowing up in a NYC apartment, gardening was not an obvious pastime. Yet my mother managed to dig up some gardening tools and take both them and me downstairs to play in the dirt in front of our landscaped building. There, she could get lost for hours, while me? Well, not so much. Fast forward…
Details