Look what arrived in the mail yesterday–the certificate for the latest Gift of Education donation I made on behalf of readers of Where the Butterflies Go and Leap. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and wishes for a 2011 filled with love, laughter and good surprises for all my other readers. Thanks so much to those of you who have bought my books–you’ve just helped make an entire school of young children happy.
May I ask one more thing of you? My latest poem, “Words,” with themes of anti cyber-bullying and anti gay-bashing, is, to my surprise, taking on a life of its own–over 50 comments, and readers are posting it on their own blogs, Facebooks, and even tweeting about it. I’m thrilled, because you never know who it might be able to help–and with the holidays here and so many kids off school, I’m sure cyber-bullying will be at its height. So, please do continue to pass it on (just link back to here okay? ) Thanks again for reading.
Cheers
Heather
Our December 2010 Gift of Education Through sales of WTBG and Leap, we gave a simple yet necessary gift: pencils to a whole school.
Share this! REALLY, it's ok! :) And don't forget to sign up on the landing page to join the HGS BookClub.
I started A Children’s Poetry Place a few months back, but haven’t been able to devote as much time to it as Where the Butterflies Go. Watch for more children’s poetry there in 2011. You can subscribe to the feed, or even follow the blog on Networked Blogs.
To end the year in style there, here are some Haiku. Don’t miss the delightful Murkles either. Thanks for reading! If you can, please let others know about this new blog, and of course, spend some time there with your children.
Thanks so much for visiting from all over the world, for your comments, and for your friendships. Let’s keep our love of poetry alive & well in 2011 and beyond.
Happy Holidays,
Heather
'Santa, Please Stop Here' by Heather Grace Stewart
Share this! REALLY, it's ok! :) And don't forget to sign up on the landing page to join the HGS BookClub.
I have found a second home here in the blogosphere, with too many benefits to mention.
I started my blog a little over two years ago, but I didn’t get really involved with the blogging community until my book Leap came out in February 2010. I had posted a few of the poems from my 2008 collection Where the Butterflies Go, but I hadn’t tried a poetry rally yet, or done an interview with any other blogger. I hadn’t hung out with you guys yet. Now I have, and I’m hooked. Plus, I’ve had people from 84 different countries visit me in the last three weeks (actual page-view visits of more than five minutes)–how cool is that?
Getting feedback on my work, reading your lovely comments about my poems and photos, checking out your posts–that would be enough for me to keep doing this forever, but wait, there’s more.
Publishers have found me through my blog and bought the rights to my photographs and poems. Young writers have found me through my blog and asked for some advice. It’s very rewarding to be able to help them out as best I can, and I’m looking forward to watching their careers unfold.
I’ve sold more books thanks to my blogging than I have at any public reading (a lot of swapping, not buying, goes on at readings) and best of all, through sales of both books, I’ve been able to donate to Unicef’s Gift of Education project three times. That’s three children who have received an education they may not have otherwise received, thanks to you readers!
Today, as a Christmas gift to thank you for visiting, commenting, giving me special awards, buying my books, and for your friendship, I’ve donated to Unicef (Canada) again. The $18 just bought 900 pencils for an entire school. Can you believe how much just $18 can do? Please do look at the Unicef link if you still have hard-to-shop-for people on your list.
My hopes for my 2011 blogging year? New friends, new projects, and more book sales so I have can get a fourth ($75) education for a child in need–or, perhaps–and this is a big reach but it’s a dream–a $500 water pump for an entire community.
I said it in 2009 to some most excellent friends (who later got me a t shirt saying I can’t rap), and I’ll say it again: I’ll be the very model of a modern networked blogger, yo!
My blogging "Mews" Sam
Share this! REALLY, it's ok! :) And don't forget to sign up on the landing page to join the HGS BookClub.
The latest entry for my “By Leaps and Bounds Photo Contest” is titled “Poetry Rocks!” It was taken May 29th at Curl Curl Beach, Sydney, Australia, by Meg Laufer.
Writes Meg, “My friend Mel was engrossed in the poetry, and I was busy with the photography. Suddenly, we both looked up and realised how close the huge waves were to
the ‘dry spot’ where we’d left our bags. Some squealing, scrambling and much laughing ensued.”
Thanks for your efforts ladies! I love that you two would take such a leap for this contest, and that I’ve made a new reader friend in Mel out of this your photo shoot. In the future, contestants, let’s try to stay dry, or if not dry, at least no broken bones or hospital visits, okay? Think: “Leap –with a Life Jacket” like the cover! (Unless you’re planning on sky-diving with the book, in which case, must admit I’d love to see that, so, Leap, with a parachute!)
That said, I am thrilled with all of these original, fun entries, and really do encourage you to keep thinking outside the box. Can’t wait to see what else you wonderful readers come up with. Never stop leaping!
Rules for this contest are posted here in this previous blog entry. Please don’t forget to vote on your favorite entry so far here at my Facebook group.
'Poetry Rocks!' by Meg Laufer, Sydney, Australia
Share this! REALLY, it's ok! :) And don't forget to sign up on the landing page to join the HGS BookClub.
This is about the only time I’d ever say that–as the author of a book titled, ‘Leap,’ I’d say I’m a pretty big fan of jumping in and going for it. But “Don’t Leap!” is definitely the appropriate title for the latest entry in my “By Leaps and Bounds” Photo Contest. This photo was taken by Tony Jurado on May 6, 2010, from the observation deck on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building in New York City, NY, USA. You can vote for this and other photos in the contest on my Facebook Author Page, and enter your own photo by following the rules in my previous blog post “By Leaps and Bounds Photo Contest”. Keep on leaping, everyone–I can’t wait to see what else you come up with for this contest!
Share this! REALLY, it's ok! :) And don't forget to sign up on the landing page to join the HGS BookClub.
Heather Grace Stewart 