Guinness World Book of Records

Hello and Happy Easter to you! I am currently writing The Gabriel World Book of Records and have the characters doing crazy things to try to get into the famous Guinness book (a favorite of mine when I was a boy and one I still enjoy reading). I am curious to know what you, the reader would want to do to get into the Guinness book. Perhaps if you have a creative idea I haven't thought of I might use it.

Also, thanks to the cub and boy scouts who have emailed me with ideas about Gabe's scout troup!

Take care and please feel free to write to me at justin@justinmatott.com

Akeelah and the Bee

Akeelah quote

After watching Akeelah and the bee I thought the words used in a quote were just too important to pass up. These words are affirming and especially for someone who wants to "live" his or her art I think it is relevant.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." BY MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

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The reason I started writing books for kiddoes

Hi again, I have been receiving many emails lately telling me that my blog is nice, but it is mostly school and book business and it would be nice for me to talk about other stuff, like family, hobbies, sports and other "stuff". SO, I am going to do that every so often. I have been doing numerous evening events, wherein I share stories about the importance of reading and storytelling in your family... so it got me to thinking about what I could blog...

Pictured here from right to left is my family (and my son's girlfriend, Madeline). The lovely blond is my wife, who many times handed my two boys over at night to tell stories and read so she could have a bit of downtime. Those times generally ended up in laughter or scary stories which made my son's eyes grow so wide, I could tell I had found my first real audience for my story about a crazy little old lady who became the subject of my first picture book, Ol' Lady Grizelda. There was something magical about watching my boy's eyes growing wider and wider as the suspense built and then knocking them off the bed with a surprise that would send them into giggle fits or send them hiding under the bed because of the scary subject I was showing in my bedtime story.

Next to her is my incredibly talented and big hearted boy, Jay J. He is a rock and roll musician writing music and lyrics and going to college. Centered is yours truly. Next to me is my funny, awesome and very smart youngest son, Ethan. Ethan was living the life at University of San Diego when he realized Colorado is where is home, friends and heart is, so this is move in day at CU. He will soon be on television, likely on ESPN or FOX SPORTS and writing for Sports Illustrated. Next to him is the lovely Madeline, who likely is one of the biggest reasons Ethan wanted to return to his native state.

I hope you enjoyed meeting my family, of course our family isn't complete without our crazy animals, but I have already included them in previous blogs.

Enjoy great times with YOUR family, because time moves quickly and soon enough they aren't crawling eagerly into bed with you to be told a story... but the trust built then brings them back to tell you theirs!

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GABE! More Stories From the Upper Bunk is almost done!

Hello my friends and readers. I am getting A LOT of pressure from teachers, librarians, moms and kids to get the next installment of the series out. I am done, my editor is done, the illustrator and designer are working toward being done, SO, soon you will see the next book in the series. Meanwhile, if you like my style of chapter books, try The Tails Tales Of Mr. Murphy and The Sky Is Falling - Little Chicken Charlie. Here is the opening image to the new book. As you can see the adventures were just beginning in the first book!!! The first five chapters are titled:


CHAPTER 1 BLUE STREAKS
CHAPTER 2 HORACIOUS?
CHAPTER 3 THE BATWOMEN
CHAPTER 4 MOVIE STAR GABE
CHAPTER 5 NEW KID


IF you are a teacher or librarian and you would like to preview a few of the chapters to share with the readers of Go Ask Mom, all I ask is that you go to amazon.com and post reviews of Go Ask Mom, first name and name of school and then send me an email at justin@justinmatott.com to let me know you have. The first ten teachers/librarians who do so with a minimum of 10 reviews will receive a signed first edition copy of the new book just as it is hot off the press! Provided said email includes a school name and address to the send the book to. I hope you will enjoy the new installment of Gabriel Peters' stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them. I am almost done with the 3rd book, titled; The Gabriel World Book Of Records and have written chapters for the 4th book, working title: Gabe and The Secret Brotherhood of Boys!

If you would like to see more of the images from the new book, please look at the internet links on the right side of my blog page and hit the link to the illustrious illustrator of Go Ask Mom's website!

Cheers to reading, writing and storytelling!