CAROLYN AND CORALINE: THE BOOK SELFIE PROJECT

"Its Carolyn not Caroline!"

Just like Coraline Jones, the protagonist of Neil Gaiman's dark fantasy novella, I find myself relentlessly reminding people of my name. When I bent back the cover again in 2016, I remembered how it felt to be a young girl, determined to discover the world and explore the darkest nooks and crannies. Today, Coraline perpetuates my creativity as I use it to inspire my own middle-grade fiction novel and it awakens my notion of what it really means to be brave.

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What is Coraline About? 

Coraline Jones is a young girl with a perilous taste for adventure. Despite warnings from musical field mice and talking black cats, her curiosity catapults her into a dystopian alternate-reality where her 'other mother' wants her to live forever. To make things right, Coraline sets out on a quest of bravery where she must win a malefic game to avoid a terrible fate.

My Favorite Quote:

"Being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared. Being brave means you are scared, really scared, badly scared, and you do the right thing anyway."

Why Did I Choose Coraline?
Coraline, in a way, chose me. Growing up, I was always more of a well dressed tom-boy who would rather catch bugs and salamanders in the pond than play with Barbies. I'll never forget when one of the neighborhood girls tattled on me because I refused to play dolls with her. When my mother asked me why, I told her "I like being a little girl. Why would I want to pretend to be a grown up?"

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Like Coraline, I have always felt an overwhelming sense of wonder and thrive off pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. Having a courageous female lead who explores her independence, curiosity, and whimsy empowers me and reminds me to let my imagination run wild. 

SAVE YOUR WRITING FROM BEING BURIED ALIVE!

Writing killer content but your blog posts are dying in internet purgatory?

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Here are 5 tips on how to write posts your audience will love to read.

5. Add quality images, but sparingly.

I'm a firm believer in adding interesting and pertinent images to my blog posts. Too many images can flood the reader, working against you, and not enough images can be boring. Pictures give the article flare and keep the reader interested. Don't forget to cite your images, if you are borrowing from the internet. I use a small link and caption to cite mine.

4. Break up the content.

Blog posts are essentially flash-non-fiction: we want something quick to read that gets to the point. Long sentences and paragraphs are overwhelming. Instead of structuring your post as mounds of information, split up the content and write shorter sentences. Breaking up your long paragraphs into short blips will almost guarantee reading success.

3. Provide bold headings.

In addition to short sections, give your article bold headings. Bold headings are visually appealing and draw-in the readers eye. Don't have time to read the whole post? Readers should be able to take away the basic information by simply reading the headings. 

2. Write creative titles.

Which article would you be more apt to click on, "Writing 101- How to write a good blog post" or "SAVE YOUR WRITING FROM BEING BURIED ALIVE!"? Ok, the all-caps might be a bit much, but I write all of my titles that way- it demands attention. A catchy title will save your post from never being clicked on in the first place. Get your creative juices flowing and write something that allures or stuns. 

1. Understand your audience.

I previously wrote an adult horror blog that reviewed movies and events. Today, I write a blog surrounding my middle-grade horror book. Never in a million years would I use the same voice, language, or content for both blogs. Kids and working-moms don't want to hear about how many times a limb got chopped off in the latest scary movie. Remember if you plan on publicizing your blog, write for your reader.

In addition to these tips be sure to write quality content and edit before publishing. Good luck!

BOOST YOUR IQ BY DAILY JOURNALING

Good morning to all of my twelfth-grade students and readers out there (Hi, Mom!).

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Today, we are beginning a project where over the course of a semester we will maintain a daily journal on our blogs. When I say 'we', I mean both me and my students. While I have never attempted an online journal before, the benefits, like stretching your IQ and boosting comprehension, are imminent and undeniable. Check out the full list by the Huffington Post here.

As a newcomer to the virtual diary, I searched the internet for help. Day One, a website that hosts a smartphone journal ap, provided me with the criteria for our content. After all, any good blog is ruled by structure and powerful posts. Thanks Day One for the assistance.

For our online journals, each day of the week will provide a different topic for us to examine. This way, we will never get lost in the black-hole of writer's block. The entries must be a minimum of one paragraph (5 sentences) per day and will be used to chronicle our thoughts and growth over the next few months.

You can find my entries under the 'Journal' tab on my homepage
or by clicking HERE.


Here is what each day entails:

Monday
Write about a little moments of joy.
"Sometimes there are just some moments in your life—a hug, a kiss, a goodbye—that while at a glance may seem irrelevant, have a long-lasting importance for you. Writing a bit about the moment, or even taking a picture of it, eternalizes it for you."


Tuesday
Write about the goals you wish to achieve.
"This is about setting long-term personal goals like learning a language or improving a certain aspect of my behavior. This makes my journal an incredibly useful tool that empowers me to review my goals and objectives from a more critical standpoint, given I can see how my objectives change throughout my life."


Wednesday
Write about things that inspire you.
"Sometimes you read a quote or article, and hear about an idea of philosophy that you relate to; your journal is an ideal place for you to reflect upon these. Because, truth be told, most of the times the important component is not the quote or article itself, but what impact that particular things had in your life."



Thursday
Write about your impressions on movies, books, or music.
"You’ll be impressed how much more you take away from albums, movies, and books once you sit down to write about it. It blew my mind the first time I sat down to really think about a movie."



Friday
Write about your innermost thoughts and feelings.
"Jot down feelings of joy and anger, hope and despair, excitement and depression, love and sadness. If I feel that what currently is on my mind is of some sort of importance to me as a person, I write it down. This enables me to look back and understand how I evolved and developed as a person."


I am tickled to start this project and observe how we both grow over the course of the semester. Being more cognizant about our thoughts will lead us to self-discovery and self-awareness, ultimately making us more successful. Think I'm kidding? Take the journey with us and see how you transform! Let us know about your daily journal in the comment section below.

ART IS AS GOOD AS WORDS

Today in 12th grade English class, I asked 55 young bright minds to create a coat of arms to serve as an introduction to Old English Literature.

For their project, they were to pick one animal, one symbol, one color, one motto, and two wild-card items that they felt best represented them.

Once they selected their items, I asked my students to fill out a shield template and create a blog post (due Friday!) explaining what each item meant to them. 

This year my motto has been 'lead by example', so to my English 4 class- here is my coat of arms.

Animal of choice:

SNAKE 

The snake represents ambition.
I chose this animal because this year I've never felt more determined and enthusiastic about my career. With a novel in the works, a blog to keep up with, coaching the JV cheerleading squad, and trying to put together a senior class volunteer project, I have my hands full. It all fills my heart up!

Symbol of choice:

FIRE

The fire represents zealousness.
This quality accompanies my reference to my writing career. For years, I put my writing on hold. Finally after making some big changes, I decided to chase a dream of mine and take my hobby off the back burner. I look forward to sharing it with you all in the future.

Wild-card choice:
VAMPIRE BATI selected a vampire bat to represent my heritage. As an ancestor of Vlad the Impaler, I wanted my students to know that I am proud of my dark Transylvanian roots. In conjunction, the bat was a heraldic symbol that derived from a flying dragon. The word dragon, or Dracul (which also means devil), is how Dracula's name came in to fruition. I suppose this is how the symbol of the bat became associated with the popular Gothic monster.  

Motto choice:
DIU DRACO

This phrase means long live the dragon.
To me, this phrase emits a hope for my family-line to live a long and prosperous life.

Wild-card choice:
STAR-BURSTS

 The five star-bursts represent the wonderful family I have surrounding me: my mother Celeste, my father Bill (he likes to be called Diz though), my brother John, his wife Amy, and my best-friend/boyfriend Luke. I colored the stars a shade of yellow because it represents generosity. Each member of my family gives selflessly and I am so fortunate to be surrounded by them. Thank you for all that you do.

 

 Color choice:

BLACK

I chose to color the fire black to represent constancy.
I believe I need stability in my personal and professional life to move forward with poise and grace.

To all of my students, I hope this project has taught you that art is as good as words and it has reminded you of all of the wonderful qualities you possess. 

Check out our wall of heraldry below!

TAKE A PIC WITH YOUR FAVORITE LIT: THE BOOK SELFIE PROJECT

Good afternoon to my 12th grade English class!
My blog post today is centered on my first assignment for English 4: take a selfie with your favorite book and report back to us why you love it.
To help my students get a better understanding of the assignment and what I'm looking for I made my own book-selfie. For my project,I chose a book that is near and dear to my heart and I am incredibly excited to teach it this year-
Cue the thunder and lightening and ominous music...
my book-selfie is on 

BRAM STOKER'S 
DRACULA

Written in 1897
Genre- Gothic Fiction

What's this book about?
Stoker's Gothic masterpiece takes us on a journey from the Carpatheian Mountains to the city of London where he demonstrates the lengths people will go for true love. Count Dracula, a Transylvanian aristocrat with a thirst for human blood, preys upon the weak. While entertaining a business transaction, Dracula sets his sights on Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor looking to finalize a real-estate deal. Harker, initially blinded by Dracula's refinement and charm, quickly realizes he has become a prisoner in the Count's castle. After barely escaping a gruesome fate, Harker with the help of his colleagues, sets out to warn his loved ones about the evil vampire.

Why I recommend it:
I love this book because it amalgamates romance with horror. If you have a soft spot or a dark side like me, you'll love Dracula. In addition to the great blend of genres, the epistolary form in which the book is written takes the reader on a beautifully descriptive adventure. It  shows us places like crumbling castles and lush green gardens. The imagery becomes so descriptive at times, I believe I can hear the wind blow or see the glow of the moonlight. If you ever wondered where the man, the myth, and legend came from and thought Twilight was wimpy, check out Bram Stoker's Dracula. I can't wait to share it with you all!
My favorite quote from Dracula:

 "Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!"

Book Recommendations:
In college, I took a course called "Vampires and Other Blood Suckers". During this time, my professor introduced me to a collection of novels and short stories based around the legend of the vampire. Three of my favorites that spawned from reading Stoker are The Vampyre by John Polidori (which we will read in class), The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, and Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. Thank you to Dr. Verdun for being an inspiration.
For some more great vampire lit check out:
Salem's Lot by Stephen King,
Let the Right One In by John A. Lindqvist,
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson,
and Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu
You read the book and loved it, but now you want to see the movie. Is there one?
You bet!
Francis Ford Coppola directed "Bram Stoker's Dracula" which debuted in 1992.

Is it as good as the book?
You be the judge, but in my opinion the movie is rarely as good as the book. While Coppola's version does a superb job translating the book's vivid imagery and complex story-line, my vote still lies with the paper and ink.
Where did you take your selfie and why?

My book-selfie was taken in my office by the bookshelf. To the left on my bookshelf sits a modern gramophone and centered in the middle is my favorite piece of artwork- a colorful array of framed butterflies gifted to me by my boyfriend, Luke. I chose this location because these things always seem to inspire me and make me feel at peace. 

What does choosing Dracula say about me?
  Very much like my own personality, Dracula encompasses a juxtaposition between the joy of being in love and the gloom of the Gothic. Things that are unusual and strange, eerie, and dark and dreadful continue to excite me and shape my life daily. Psychologists claim that people who love horror are those that feel the most alive. As someone who has been following the genre for nearly three decades, I can tell you first hand that I feel more alive than ever. Grab yourself a scary book and feel the blood pulse through your veins.
Its exhilarating! 

Note to my 12th grade students:
 I can't wait to see what some of your favorite books are and I'm delighted for you to join the Blogger community.

Good luck,
Miss D

CHILL YOUR BONES THIS SUMMER WITH THESE HORRIFYING GOOSEBUMPS CLASSICS!

My Poolside Goodies

My last few weeks of summer vacation have been filled with writing, re-writing, editing, reading, and of course as a resident of Charleston, going the pool.There's nothing better than having a good book to sink my teeth into while I dip my toes in the saltwater.

I decided to make my relaxation time pertinent by doing a little light research on the kid-lit horror genre. After a visit to Amazon and waiting a few days for a delivery, I got in touch with my inner 10 year old horror fan. 

With a Lemon La Croix in one hand and a Goosebumps book in the other, I soaked up the hot summer sun and enjoyed a frigid shiver provided by R.L. Stine. 

For anyone looking for spine-tingling fun (no matter the season), here are a 5 of my favorite Goosebump Books.

Creep Factor provided by:
GLAMOUR MAGAZINE.

Welcome to Dead House

Book Number 1

The Creep Factor:

The first R.L. Stine masterpiece lived up to its title, and sent chills down our spines with the story of the Benson family and their new home in Dark Falls.

 Come to find out, everyone in their new town is a zombie—and that every year they require new blood. That fresh blood comes from tricking families into moving into the so-called "dead house" and then murdering them.

This Goosebumps tale was our first prep for a zombie apocalypse, long before The Walking Dead came around.

One Day At Horrorland

Book Number 16

Creep Factor:

Stine damn near ruined amusement parks for us with his tale of Horrorland—where, if the rides don't kill you (like the horrifyingly titled Coffin Cruise), the horror monsters will.

The Curse of Camp Cold Lake

Book Number 56

Creep Factor:

Imagine Mean Girls meets The Sixth Sense, and you get the terrifying Curse at Camp Cold Lake. 

When camper Sarah is sick of falling victim to the camp's mean girls, she decides to make them feel bad for her by pretending to drown in the lake (morbid much?). 

But her plan gets foiled when the ghosts of Camp Cold Lake try to make her their "buddy" for eternity—plus, the twist ending is bone-chilling. 

The Haunted Mask

Book Number 11

The Creep Factor: 

Remember the parental saying "if you keep making that face, it will stick that way?" Stine upped the ante by creating a horrifying mask that takes over your face and your spirit, making you evil. 

The kicker? You can't get it off—which made us very hesitant to try on Halloween masks. 

The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight

Book Number 20

The Creep Factor: This book always feels extra scary at this time of year, thanks to the abundance of corn mazes and scarecrows everywhere. 

It tells the story of Jodie and Mark as they go to visit their grandparents' farm—where a spell has made the scarecrows come to life and turn on the humans. 

HORROR IS THE WHEATIES OF CHILDHOOD LITERATURE

Yes, you read the title correctly- horror is the Wheaties of kid-lit. The popular cereal and literary genre share many of the same qualities like building strength and creating tough young champions. Provided below is a list detailing why you should encourage your little sapling to read from the horror genre. From bonding to resilience, you'll find it scarily true. In addition, I have included a few of my favorite scary children's stories, some of which inspired my current project!



5. NO KID WANTS TO BE THE WEAK LINK
"No kid wants to be the one at the sleepover who can’t handle the scary movie. From a purely practical perspective, introducing a little horror in a safe environment with a parent on hand to discuss and/or comfort goes a long way." SOURCE


"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman

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4. IT GIVES CHILDREN COPING SKILLS
"Experts believe that frightening stories can help kids through key developmental stages. Nothing is scarier than the thought of getting separated from your parents or having your parents die, says Lawrence Sipe, PhD. Rather than instilling these fears in children, scary stories actually help kids face the fears they already have -- and vanquish them." SOURCE


"Bony Legs" by Joanna Cole

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3. IT ENCOURAGES YOUNGSTERS TO EXPLORE
"We enjoy horror because it suggests that there is more to life than what appears on the surface. If you’re reading a ghost story there’s another message there too, isn’t there? It says that after this life, there is more. There’s another adventure beyond the veil." SOURCE


"The Witches" by Roald Dahl

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2. SHARING SCARY STORIES BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER
"How many times have I seen a group of kids discover to their excessive delight that they have all read and loved the same Goosebumps book? A LOT. The first thing they do is compare and rank the scariest parts and laugh at how they jumped out of their bed when the cat came for a pat on the head, or stayed up all night staring at the half open closet." SOURCE



"The Haunted Mask" by R.L. Stine

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1. IT GETS KIDS EXCITED ABOUT READING
"There was a sense that I was pushing the boundaries, exploring new territory, doing something that bordered on naughty… it was a little scary and a lot of fun! If your child gravitates towards dark story lines, I’m all for nurturing that love of reading in any way possible." SOURCE


"The Halloween Tree" by Ray Bradbury

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Give the tiny person in your life a head start by introducing them to horror at an early age. Watch how it cultivates their confidence, encourages their curiosity, and creates a thirst for reading.



Do you have a favorite horror book from you childhood? I'd love to hear about it.