Hello there, I am writing the 3rd and 4th book in the Gabriel Peters series, which began with GO ASK MOM - STORIES FROM THE UPPER BUNK. In the 3rd book Gabriel and his buddies join the Cub Scouts. It has been a long time since I have been a cub scout and I need a few young experts to make sure I am getting it right. Please email me at justin@justinmatott.com if you can assist me. There just might be a signed first edition of the book and who knows, if I get a lot of help, I just might use the helper's name in the scout troup. Thanks, Justin Matott
www.justinmatott.com
justin@justinmatott.com
February 26, 2008
February 25, 2008
A recent letter from an eight year old
I got one letter from a boy who said a lot, but my favorite line was: "Mr. Matott, you ought to know that you are my 8th favorite writer in the whole world." Makes me want to see the list.
February 18, 2008
SEE ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE NEW GO ASK MOM BOOK!
PLEASE NOTICE the illustrator edit. The original image for the book was simply the diary (shown lower). THEN, Mr. Matott remembered what kind of trouble a young boy (him) could get into with friends and siblings if he carried it that way, hence the change. What do you think of that?
Hi there, I thought readers of GO ASK MOM - STORIES FROM THE UPPER BUNK, might want to see some of the very cool visuals in the new book. Lisa Tarr, who illustrated the first book is hard at work finishing up the illustrations for the second book titled, THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GABE. Please see some of the illustrations at Lisa Tarr's website ; http://www.tarrart.com/chapterbooks.html
Also, I would love to hear from you. I am spending a good amount of time on keeping this blog site and hope someone out there is reading it. I have no way of knowing. Please send me an email if you enjoy reading this. I need some encouragement to continue doing this. Thanks, Justin Matott, email address: justin@justinmatott.com
Hi there, I thought readers of GO ASK MOM - STORIES FROM THE UPPER BUNK, might want to see some of the very cool visuals in the new book. Lisa Tarr, who illustrated the first book is hard at work finishing up the illustrations for the second book titled, THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GABE. Please see some of the illustrations at Lisa Tarr's website ; http://www.tarrart.com/chapterbooks.html
Also, I would love to hear from you. I am spending a good amount of time on keeping this blog site and hope someone out there is reading it. I have no way of knowing. Please send me an email if you enjoy reading this. I need some encouragement to continue doing this. Thanks, Justin Matott, email address: justin@justinmatott.com
February 16, 2008
SEND ME YOUR POOCH PICS!
Hi there, I am working on several dog books right now. A Colorado History time traveling canine host, a mix and match book and a picture book along with many poems for my POOCHIFIED Poetry book. I am looking for inspiration from my readers, SO, if you have a special pooch in your life, or any pet that you would like to see immortalized in the pages of a book, please send me your pet's pic, name a few things about her or him that would make them interesting as characters in the books. You may send this information to me at justin@justinmatott.com. IF I use your pooch, I will their likeness, name or characteristics and will make mention of that on the thank you page as well as sending you and your special pooch a signed copy of the book when it comes out, so be sure to include your address.
This pretty pooch is my Tootsie Roll, aka TOOTS or strangely DUDITZ (they somehow grow into nicknames, don't they?). She was dressed as a mouse for Halloween. She is a wonderful "blue" Italian greyhound and my constant canine companion. She runs with me, goes along with me on mountain bike rides and often is curled at my feet as I write. DOGS ARE THE BEST! The beauty holding her is my wife, Andy.
February 13, 2008
Letters from my readers!
Hi, I am going to start including some of the letters I get from readers, mostly because some are just TOO GOOD to keep to myself!
FIRST from a teacher who wrote to me after I visited her school:
Year after year I tell my students that good writers have power. Being able to express thought, persuade masses, and touch emotions is more valuable than being a good reader. Your presentation this morning supported my theory...
I want my students to have great confidence in their voices on paper. Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring them to share their personal stories. 3rd Grade teacher
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS. IT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE CONNECTING WITH YOUR AUDIENCE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS TEACHER TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE TO ME TO SHARE HER FEELINGS AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY TEACHERS LIKE HER SHARING HER PASSION WITH HER STUDENTS. WHAT A DIFFERENCE ONE LIFE CAN MAKE ON SO MANY!
FIRST from a teacher who wrote to me after I visited her school:
Year after year I tell my students that good writers have power. Being able to express thought, persuade masses, and touch emotions is more valuable than being a good reader. Your presentation this morning supported my theory...
I want my students to have great confidence in their voices on paper. Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring them to share their personal stories. 3rd Grade teacher
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS. IT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE CONNECTING WITH YOUR AUDIENCE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS TEACHER TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE TO ME TO SHARE HER FEELINGS AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY TEACHERS LIKE HER SHARING HER PASSION WITH HER STUDENTS. WHAT A DIFFERENCE ONE LIFE CAN MAKE ON SO MANY!
February 12, 2008
First chapter start in 2nd book in the Go Ask Mom series...,
CHAPTER ONE
BLUE STREAKS?
†
I always thought that if Sister Mary Claire, my meanest teacher ever, weren’t married to Jesus, she would have cussed me out every day at school. Good thing I only have a little while left before I have to deal with her again!
She doesn’t like me that much, for some reason. The truth is, she doesn’t seem to like any of the boys in my class. She is always ignoring us when we raise our hands to answer questions and almost always favors the girls: “BOYS, SIT STILL! BOYS, BE QUIET! BOYS, BE NICE!” Just once I’d like to hear her call the girls down.
I bet she is a secret cusser when she isn’t around kids, just like Old Man Stoltz, who lives down the street. He doesn’t like any of us kids in the neighborhood.
Old Man Stoltz is this funny old guy with a back bent like a comma. He has nasty gray hairs growing out of his ears and nose, and these funny, huge black glasses that cover half of his face. It’s just too bad they don’t cover his mouth. He spits when he talks, so you have to stand there with these tiny globs of Old-Man-Stoltz spit on your face because you don’t want to embarrass him by wiping it away.
He’s always mad at any kid who goes near his house, and especially if someone goes on his lawn, even if it is just to chase a ball that someone kicked too hard on accident. He’s always cussing up a blue streak at us “troublemakers.” “You BLANK kids stay the BLANKETY-BLANK off of my BLANKING lawn or I will call every one of your BLANKETY-BLANKING moms and pull your BLANKETY-BLANK ears off of every one of your stupid BLANKETY-BLANK heads!”
BLUE STREAKS?
†
I always thought that if Sister Mary Claire, my meanest teacher ever, weren’t married to Jesus, she would have cussed me out every day at school. Good thing I only have a little while left before I have to deal with her again!
She doesn’t like me that much, for some reason. The truth is, she doesn’t seem to like any of the boys in my class. She is always ignoring us when we raise our hands to answer questions and almost always favors the girls: “BOYS, SIT STILL! BOYS, BE QUIET! BOYS, BE NICE!” Just once I’d like to hear her call the girls down.
I bet she is a secret cusser when she isn’t around kids, just like Old Man Stoltz, who lives down the street. He doesn’t like any of us kids in the neighborhood.
Old Man Stoltz is this funny old guy with a back bent like a comma. He has nasty gray hairs growing out of his ears and nose, and these funny, huge black glasses that cover half of his face. It’s just too bad they don’t cover his mouth. He spits when he talks, so you have to stand there with these tiny globs of Old-Man-Stoltz spit on your face because you don’t want to embarrass him by wiping it away.
He’s always mad at any kid who goes near his house, and especially if someone goes on his lawn, even if it is just to chase a ball that someone kicked too hard on accident. He’s always cussing up a blue streak at us “troublemakers.” “You BLANK kids stay the BLANKETY-BLANK off of my BLANKING lawn or I will call every one of your BLANKETY-BLANKING moms and pull your BLANKETY-BLANK ears off of every one of your stupid BLANKETY-BLANK heads!”
February 11, 2008
Transforming power of COLOR!
The ideas percolate in the writer's head, then the illustrator reads the words and the ideas percolate in his or her head. Then suddenly the illustrator HAS to draw, then the colors begin to form and then PRESTO after many hours, revisions and ideas you have what you see here!
review my books and win prizes!
Hi, To the left is an early picture from what is going to be my next mix and match book. It will be dogs and cats and this crazy canine is one of the early ideas. What do you think?
Also, I am starting this contest thing with some schools and hopefully it will be posted on my website soon, but YOU can get a jump on it by reading this blog. IF you go to amazon.com and review any of my books, good or bad reviews, just honest, then you have a chance to get some freebies. Just type in your name and the school you represent. If you have your classroom do it, it gives them a great computer lab experience, gets them published with THIER impressions of books etc and wins books for the classroom. Simply have them put their first name and school name and email me at justin@justinmatott.com to indicate you have done so. Please make sure to include the school address/classroom to receive the books and DON'T be surprised if rather than the postman the author shows up to deliver the books (depending on geography and availability). Cheers, Justin Matott
February 9, 2008
PLEASE WATCH THIS UTUBE VIDEO
There is an awesome dog story, and like all good dog stories it is heartwarming and yes... sad too. The link to The Amazing Skidboot can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?vP2BfzUlBy9A
BULLIES BEWARE! THIS BOOK IS HAVING A GREAT IMPACT!
GO ASK MOM
Hi, I have had several people ask me to post a description of GO ASK MOM!, so here it is! The book is receiving some great attention and the second volume in the series will be out in 2008!
Please check out Lisa Tarr's website at www.tarrart.com. She is a great illustrator and a friend now.
If you would like to order a signed copy of Go Ask Mom! by both myself and Lisa Tarr, please go to my website at www.justinmatott.com and make sure to note at paypal how you would like it personalized. These orders come directly to me, so I can customize a gift or a book for you, as well as any of my other books!
In this wonderfully illustrated "chapter book" readers young and older will enjoy the adventures of Gabriel Peters. We meet him at the end of his fourth grade year, when he confronts his toughest bullies, Ronnie, on the playground and Carl, his brother, in their shared bunk beds. Soon the underdog will take control and win over the bullies as well as your heart. This book should be read aloud in classrooms and at bedtimes. Mr. Matott has been sharing stories from this book prior to publishing in auditoriums across the country to delighted response. Stay tuned, there is so much more to come from Gabriel Peters!
Gabriel Peters, a misfit fourth grader with an eye patch, a bad leg, and hair that looks like he stapled a ferret to his head, is the subject of this work of "faction." Partly true because many of the ideas and instances reflect some of the author's own boyhood experiences. Over the summer, after a horrendous school year of dealing with a mean bully on the playground or the one in his own bedroom, stealing all of his older brother's underwear in a prank that backfires, running from the infamous Mean Mrs. Rickles, searching for the "dead dog in the lake", fishing, camping and other adventures, Gabriel Peters will grow up just a bit. A great read aloud book for the classroom or at home.
If you don't believe it...
Go Ask Mom...
Recent visit to Windsor Colorado a total blast!
Last week I visited all of the elementary schools (4) in Windsor, Colorado and spoke at an evening event sponsored by the local IRA chapter. It was a total blast to spend time with such a great group of students and teachers and to be a part of their community for the week. A wonderful article was done by the local paper which can be found at www.mywindsornow.com/article/20080201/SCHOOLS/490718026. One of my favorite parts of being an author is the time spent with my readers! The kiddoes are excited when I walk in the door and even moreso when I walk out. I have so much fun, they can't help but have fun too.
I am still open to book for the spring, check out my website and calendar on the website for dates and program information. www.justinmatott.com
February 5, 2008
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