Monday, July 9, 2012

Splash into Summer: Day #1 and Giveaway

So, I've been waiting for this week for a little while now, I'm looking forward to reading reviews, and have already entered several giveaways for mermaid books and swag.

I have always loved mermaids.

          Let's talk about mermaids for a minute...if I wanted to get really embarrassed I'd show you pictures I drew when I was in elementary and junior high. I'm not going to do that, ever! I would like you to know that my deep love of all things mermaid started with the Sea Wees. We'd get a set of these toys everytime we'd go to Wal-Mart. They were perfect for bathtime play as they were mermaids who came with floaty sponges and their tails make excellent razors for fake leg shaving. I wish I had some...I guess I know what I'll be doing for a diversion today!
          And, there are so many good mermaid movies! I was totally enchanted with Splash as a kid (it wasn't until later I even recognized that this movie may not have been appropriate for a 7 year old...it had a friggin' mermaid, come on!), my niece and I just had a delightful discussion about Aquamarine, such a good movie about a teen mermaid, and I just watched for the first time Fishtales with Billy Zane, then there's the under-rated Lady in the Water. And, don't even get me started about The Little Mermaid, even if it is a "Disney-fide no one dies" version. I even like it when mermaids aren't so nice like in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Peter Pan!


Feel free to watch these Disney's Silly Symphonies...two of my favorite mermaid cartoons.



Tera Lynn Childs has also given me a great idea for a school project! More information can be found at: Books, Boys, Buzz

Character collages

Collage. I do this for every book. Because I'm a visual learner, I find it invaluable to have a pictorial compilation of my characters. Lots of writers do collages, but here's my method. You'll need some printer paper, scissors, a glue stick, and some magazines.
  • Step One: Flip through as many magazines as possible. I like TeenVogue, CosmoGirl, InStyle, and Lucky the best. I tear out anything that reminds me of any of the characters in this book. I do collages for all of the main characters and most of the secondary ones, so as I tear stuff out I divide into piles by character. The more I have to choose from the better. At a minimum I need something that will make a good background, a headshot or two of and actor or model who looks like the character, and some clothing and accessories they would own.
  • Step Two: Build the collage. Start by gluing down a background image that fills up most of the page (this way you won't end up with whitespace left over at the end). Then select a few of the headshot and clothing images, trim them to just the desired element, and arrange them over the background. I always lay these out before I glue so I make sure they all fit. Then snip out the small pictures and accessories and stick them wherever they fit.
  • Step Three: Finalize the collage with words. This usually requires flipping back through the magazines looking for two things. 1) Words that resonate with your characters. 2) Ransom-note-type letters that you can cut out and use to form your character's name. Sometimes I even outline the letters of the name in a silver Sharpie to make it stand out more.
Splash into Summer
[Here's the linky if you are participating or want to read other mermaid posts]
“I have seen them riding seaward on the waves 
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back 
When the wind blows the water white and black. 
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea 
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown 
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.” 


If you, too, love mermaids, might I suggest going to distance and following the MerBooks blog. It can be found:



BLOG
TWITTER
GOODREADS

and join the reading challenge on Goodreads...here.

What mermaid books are you looking forward to reading or have read this year? Who is your favorite mermaid?

Teen Text Talk
July 9th     Introduction, Giveaway
July 10th   Review: Sea Change
July 11th   Review: Everblue
July 12th   Review: The Lure of Shapinsay
July 13th   Recap of Splash of Summer: favorite post, links and Giveaway winner announced Monday

Finally, come check out our giveaway...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's a list of YA mermaid book to choose from:

1. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
2. Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
3. Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper
4. Everblue by Brenda Pandos
5. Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau
6. Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson
7. The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova
8. The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson
9. Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
10. The Mermaid's Mirror by LK Madigan

3 comments:

  1. I would love to win The Mermaid's Mirror. It looks interesting! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd like to win The Vicious Deep! I've started it, but would love to own the book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Emily you are the winner. I'll email you so I can get your personal information and stuff, congrats!!! :D

      Delete

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