Sometimes you just have to find the right place to write.  On a sunny beach. In a remote Colorado lake.  

Anywhere that inspires and doesn't get cell service!  Where's YOUR place?

Sometimes we just need a little HELP!

This picture reminds me of what kind of a kid I was.  It seems apt because my post is relating to some of the building blocks of my personality that were brought back to me because of a great book and movie called THE HELP which brought out many feelings and sorrows and joys for me.  My hope is this is a reflection of something important and a reminder to go back to those touch points in our life that made you who you are today!

Having grown up in the sixties/seventies with an uncle who was African American myself, it was a real treat to observe inbred prejudice in my own neighborhood (sarcasm intended). Most kids were just extremely curious (some in the white bread neighborhood I grew up in) had simply never been up close with a person with dark skin and someone so "different". But I got into my first real fist fight when one of the boys called my uncle the N word and related a comment his parents had passed on about us "letting him stay in our house", WHAT IGNORANCE! When I won that fight I felt in some ways as though I had lost. My uncle pulled me aside and told me he was both very proud and very ashamed of me. He was raised in Alabama and saw too much fighting over racial issues, thus moved to Europe to a more tolerant atmosphere. I never raised a fist against racial prejudice afterwards, but I NEVER remained silent when someone was subject to racial bullying and never will.

The next summer however I got into another fist fight when one of the kids made fun of my VERY overweight auntie who was visiting. She was JUST PROUD of me.

Having been raised with "dark features" myself and having been an adopted child with little heritage to draw from, I was called names because of my very easily tanned skin.

I was very, very fortunate to be raised by parents who "loved all" regardless of color, political bent or even sexual orientation. I say even because in those days there was VERY little tolerance for this, but it was my mother who invited those college students into my childhood home and I am richer for having known so many different people.

I LOVE SKEETER and pray that I am just a tad bit like her. The Hilly's of the world are always going to be there, but if we each raise our children to simply "LOVE ALL GOD'S PEOPLE" the world will be better for it AND THAT INCLUDES the accepted prejudice against Muslims that so many are now embracing.

COME ON FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS, let's just get rid of the scapegoats and start to find our own security so we don't have to subject others to the PUSH DOWN that makes some feel bigger... temporarily.

How do reading and writing correlate?

So, where do you get the ideas for your books? An oft asked question always seems to turn the conversation to reading and writing and how they work together...

"A good writer is a great reader and a great writer is a VORACIOUS reader!" and you can quote me on that!

Gabe is at it again...

Good day/night Blog Reader, I really appreciate the fact that you are here.  Book 5 (in my six book GB series) is well underway and for those of you familiar with Gabe you will know he and most of his crew are heading into Middle School! (queue the eerie music... BOM BOM BOM...)

 Having spent time working with middle schoolers lately, I have been mulling over some of the issues they deal with and Gabe is going to "represent".  I am interested to hear from anyone in middle school, teaching middle school or having vivid memories of middle school to hear what you think Gabe and his crew should encounter.  

 

I have the book outlined and about ten chapters written.  Much of their time is going to be spent at camp during the summer, but when back in school is what I am particularly interested in hearing about.

The awesomely talented David Schiedt is designing and illustrating the series and I would love for him to have some great challenges to bring Gabe and his adventures to life!    That's him ------->

Don't BUG me... I'm riding!

 

Awesome!

THIS IS BETTER THAN A GROUPON!

Please pass this article on to your teacher friends, your eager readers and mostly your reluctant readers.  

I have tried to pack my poetry books full of subject matter which will get the most reluctant reader chuckling, engaged and on the road to enjoying more and more reading and poetry!

http://highlandsranch.macaronikid.com/article/273139/book-review-theres-a-fly-on-my-toast

It is officially National Poetry Month and there is a new review and a great book deal associated with it.  Three books and a performed CD of poetry to enjoy in the car for the low price of two books, a whopping discount and a money back guarantee that your reader/listener will enjoy what he or she hears.  

ALSO, if you indicate on your order to whom they should be signed, I will gladly do that.  

http://justinmatott.com/JUSTIN_MATOTT_AUTHOR/MACARONI_KID.html

Why pay five to six times the price, when...

You can get this book signed on my website for list price or you can get it on ebay for this price... You decide.  

This is a current ebay listing, just not right!

BASEBALL SEASON DREAMS!

IF I COULD

If I could pitch a ball,
and strike out every guy,
I’d throw the ball so hard,
you couldn‘t see it fly!

I’d shut out all the players
when they addressed the plate.
I’d pitch and pitch and pitch and pitch!
Someday I’d be so great!

And then when I stepped up,
right behind home plate
to hit the ball out there,
that would seal my fate!

I’d swing and hit the ball.
It’d fly over the big fence.
The folks would stand and cheer,
and my baseball fame commence.

I LOVE "kid art"!

I think it would be great to have a bunch of kids illustrate a book, each page representing an different view, different angle of the story.  What do you think about that?

National Poetry Month!

April is National Poetry Month and to celebrate we are offering in conjunction with Macaroni Kids a special to keep your kids reading this summer and beyond!  Please visit my website http://www.justinmatott.com/JUSTIN_MATOTT_AUTHOR/MACARONI_KIDS.html and hit the MACARONI KID link to find out about a great deal for YOUR reader!