That Was Then... This Is Now

I was privileged to visit the delightfully treed, copiously gardened, wonderfully architectured, hidden away gem called CA (Colorado Academy) for two days this week to meet, greet and teach kiddoes from itty bitty Pre-K's (My gosh tiny human beings are cute!) up to fifth graders.

The first day was full of assemblies, storytelling and workshops and the second day was full of creative writing workshops with excited, involved, engaged and FUN students!

I love the energy children bring to writing! It is SO much fun to work with their ideas of WHO, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and WHAT and to mold it into a fun picture book stories while they buzz about the room coming up with VERBS that will activate the sentences and story!  There is nothing more refreshing that seeing something appear out of a child's imagination and then to see it bloom and flourish into a story someone might actually want to read in a book!  Magical this job of mine!

FIVE years ago I visited CA for the first time and wished I could go back to school.

It was a beautiful Autumn day and we all decided to do some pictures.  I took a picture with the little children pictured and was presented with a great photograph to remember the day by.  

As I was going through my bulging school files over the summer I came across this picture and thought it would be fun for the folks at CA to see the kids as they were "back in the day" and my host, the AWESOME Allison Peters (librarian), set out to find them to take another picture.  Only one was not at the school any longer.  
 

SO, that was then... 

This is NOW! 

I would say for the first time in a photograph in a long time, I am the least changed of all.  That is a nice thing when the days, weeks, months and years seem to slip by.

Perhaps I'll catch up with them again in five years when they are in their last year at CA.  Now that will be some picture, huh?

Denver Chalk Art Festival

It rained on Saturday, but that didn't bother most of the chalk artists in downtown Denver. They went back at it to reconstruct their "temporary" works of art.  A hazard of this type of endeavor, to be sure.  

http://www.denverchalkart.org/festival_info/index.php

 

It was fun to see the original artwork on an 8 x 12 piece of paper being transformed into a much larger piece that brought smiles, curious looks and general fun to the crowd gathered on Market Street.  From the classic portrait style that you might otherwise find in an art gallery to sublime pieces  nods to Star Trek, the Avengers and much more.

 

 I've stood in the Louvre looking at the original, but this version put a bigger smile on my face and was a lot bigger than the famous Mona Lisa!

    More than any other, we wanted to see the finished piece, after all it was Where's Waldo and they hadn't put him in when we were there.   

 

 

 This was my favorite.  I got the artist's card after she told me illustrating children's books is her dream.  She went on to tell me "words don't matter, it is the images"... careful now... if we end up working together we might have to happily disagree.

Some seemed to have simply walked away, leaving smeared squares of chalk, but many were at work in the evening bringing their previous day's work back to life.  


Others covered it up to ensure the hours and hours and hours of work were protected and the detail in this one was literally spectacular.  I wanted to talk to her, but the line was too long.  Simply artistic genius!

My party agreed this wonderful blue fox was an overall favorite. 

     I really wanted to stary to see how this would turn out.  The use  of black and white was awesome!

         

Mother Mary 

holding baby John Elway? 

    

I was disappointed to have missed seeing the Gargoyle my latest novel is based on washed out.  I'd really like to see what he looked like before the rain took him. 

     Best story of the night.  This man was recreating a picture of his grandfather during WW1, with his head coming out of the airplane he flew in the war.  A picture was found in an attic that told the story he grandfather never spoke of.  A true American hero.  The artist bragged, "His friends called him Curly. I have his curly hair!"  A huge smile crossed his face and ours too!.  Thank you for your service Curly!

http://www.readtomelv.com/current-books/when-i-was-a-girl-i-dreamed/

This is very cool.  Rising pop star; Jordan Pruitt reads When I Was A Girl... I Dreamed!

Upcoming book SUMMER 2012!

http://www.justinmatott.com/JUSTIN_MATOTT_AUTHOR/COMING_SOON%21.html

Just announced on my website, my new book due out this summer! 


The GP series is in FULL swing, books 1-3 illustrated and designed by David Schiedt and I am DONE writing book FOUR!  


Looking forward to the entire six book series!


What would YOU like to see happen in books five and six?

THEAC.ORG

My son, Ethan and his 'brothers' Doug and Ryan Wekenman did some fantastic work in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and now are in Belize working with a youth group from California on an orphanage.  Please check out their website www.theac.org and please help spread the word of what these fine young men are doing to make this world a more loving and great place!

Facebookers, please join their Facebook group for updates and information https://www.facebook.com/groups/122104614558045/

The AC Project is underway!

Be encouraged! The youth surrounding us are doing some pretty terrific things to change the world!

I spoke to Powell Middle Schoolers this morning about heroism, character and making a difference in the world. Several of them suggested I blog about my son's journey, because they were impressed with the idea of young men traveling the world to make a positive change, so here it is!

We talked about how you can make a positive change on the street corners of Denver (or any city, town or hamlet), by handing out sweaters, coats, gloves and food to the folks who are down on their luck. No reason to wait!

The morning at Powell Middle School was made possible by one student, LUCY, who is already a hero, a champion of others, a student of the NON MEism movement. A girl who puts her faith into action! A girl who already knows she wants to go to Africa to make a difference for orphaned children! I am very proud to know her and after meeting her parents realized the "apple didn't fall far from the tree". It was exciting to see how her desire to change the world infected the others to want to do something similar. WAY TO GO LUCY!

Ethan Matott, Doug and Ryan Wekenman left LAX this week and landed safely in Haiti where they will start this year long mission trip. There is a facebook page set up to follow them as well as their website: http://theac.org/ Matt Fons will join them in June when he is done at with his last semester in college and then the four of them will continue on the trip.

Take some time to read about what four guys who met at Colorado University in Boulder are doing to make this a better world. When they get back they will be showing their video journalism and setting up the foundation where other people can get involved and make a difference too. It is also exciting for me to think that Matt Fons, the WRITER, will be possibly bringing out a book about their travels.

Watch THE AC PROJECT in 90 SECONDS
http://vimeo.com/31881334

If you are on twitter, please follow their twitter feed for more information. https://twitter.com/?iid=am-114225476113257957525153798&nid=23+sender&uid=23076800&utm_content=profile#!/The_AC_Project


If you are on facebook, please LIKE their facebook page for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/122104614558045/

School Assemblies and Workshops at the beginning of the year!

Today I begin my Fall school year! I am excited to once again tell stories and inspire others to share his or her story. With a writer's notebook, a sharp pencil and the freedom to write about whatever interests them most, the writing becomes easier and more fun to do. It is human nature to want to "be known" and when a student is able to chronicle daily those things they want the world to know it becomes more of a habit to do so and not just pulling teeth for a test score.

Part of my reason for visiting schools is to encourage teachers to share personal narratives which will make a difference in a student's life. Often, we tell them what to think, but when we share a story with them that it is relevant to what they are going through, whether it be a funny story about a pet, and experience with test anxiety or a time when the bullies were looming large in every corner of the school, they are able to discern the lesson and set on a course to change what is wrong and share what is right. I hope YOU are taking time to share your stories. They make such a difference!

IF you are interested in a school visit, please see all the details about booking etc at my blog set up just for that: http://justinmatottatyourskul.blogspot.com/2011/08/school-assemblies-and-workshops-at.html

Aliens All Mixed Up and Cowboys and Aliens All Mixed Up on iTunes!

Aliens All Mixed Up is available on itunes now for only $2.99. This week Cowboys and Aliens All Mixed Up will be coming out for only $2.99. That is 1728 different combinations in each book. That is only $.000173032 per alien!

A Picture is worth a THOUSAND WORDS!

Recently I have been speaking to A LOT of teachers about basic gender differences and how boy and girls learn differently.

This may seem easy to understand, but figuring out how to get those reluctant boys to read and write is a passion of mine.

These picture demonstrate just how different males and female are...

EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING!

Times are a changin' in the Matott forecast. I have been working hard to establish my platforms of Anti-bullying and Motivating reluctant readers, for over a decade and the work has begun to pay off in some significant ways!

My first and second iPad book release is imminent. I have a feeling we are going to make a big mark on the world of electronic books! A rule changer! A set-the-tone kind of technological leap that just six months ago couldn't be imagined!

I would love to tell you more about it, the only thing I can say right now is the first book is going to be my Aliens - All Mixed Up .


This icon (drawn by Justin Matott Jr. and featured as my author photo in The Tails Tails of Mr. Murphy) is the new branding image for my 'COMING SOON BRAND NEW WEBSITE'! The icon will also appear on my twitter account, my email account, my facebook fan page, letter head, cards and all other item published by yours truly. I am BRANDED at last! Please visit my website and throw in your opinion on what you would like to see on the new one. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!




My new web designer is very good at what he does and I would recommend you look at his website if you have any needs for web design, graphic design, t-shirts and swag design etc... Find him at http://danielevangarza.com/






Also, I have a new assistant who will be handling much of my day to day items, which are keeping me from writing the novels and fun fractured fairytale books and other projects that feel like lead deadlines over my head presently.

Please meet Tara Barlean and contact her at tara@justinmatott.com for information on school visits, special events and general information that you don't currently find on my website (trust me, all answers will be on the website very soon).