IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE: Healthy Twist Talkabook Summer Giveaway Zahra's Earth-Friendly Tip My Personal Gossip My Books |
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HEALTHY TWIST If you're garden isn't bursting with tomatoes, you probably know someone who has plenty of the summer staple. The first thing I think of when I see a juicy, fresh, vine-ripened tomato is tomato sandwich. My last physical has me thinking twice before slapping mayo on white bread and layering in sweet slices of the delicious fruit. Or vegetable depending on which narrative you prefer. |
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Please don't hate me (especially my southern peeps), but Ive changed it up this year. I use sprout bread, which is lower in carbs and sugar, but higher in fiber. Then I smear on a thin layer of hummus. Next, of course, come slices of tomato. Or, for an equally delicious summer taste, I use thinly sliced cucumbers from our garden. We have plenty of both this year. |
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My healthy hummus and tomato (or cucumber) sandwiches are tasty, filling, and guilt free. At least, that's what I tell myself when I see everyone else's mayo and white bread sandwich posts. |
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TALKABOOK SUMMER GIVEAWAY |
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Register today to win a free virtual author visit through Talkabook during their summer giveaway event! During July and August, Talkabook is giving away free visits with children's book authors from around the country. Winners may select any author on Talkabook.com. | | |
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ZAHRA'S EARTH-FRIENDLY TIP |
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Zahra, the main character in my middle grade works-in-progress, lives in the Uwharrie Mountains in central North Carolina. July is the rainiest month for the state, so Zahra has a tip for rain water. She urges humans to use rain barrels, like the one pictured by Upcycle 55, to collect rain water. |
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Once the rain fills your barrel, you can use the water for your outdoor vegetable and herb gardens and your indoor plants. Zahra is not a fan of big yards of manicured lawns or cars and trucks, but if you do have such things, you could use your rain barrel water to water the grass or wash your vehicle. Also, Zahra also has a little gossip of her own this month. Danni, her best friend (a human), is going to let Zahra use her phone to start an Instagram account. Zahra will share the details in August! |
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Hubby and I had the most extraordinary experience. We were cast as Leaf's parents in our local professional—yes, it was a paid gig and we worked with folks who do this for a living—theater company RhinoLeap Production's summer musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling bee. |
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The production was produced in collaboration with our local community theater (RSVP) and youth theater (RYTC) companies. The musical ran from July 10 through July 25. I can't brag enough about the amazing cast we humbly stood next to on stage. Six of the most talented young people playing the spellers (including our "son" Leaf) earned standing ovations night after night as they stole our hearts and the hearts of theater patrons. It would not surprise me to see all six make it big in the arts and entertainment world. The adults in the cast were just as amazing. From some local notables to a few who traveled to central North Carolina for this production, sharing dressing rooms, learning from them, and laughing together backstage was magical. We had a blast just being a small part of this incredible production. We learned a lot, made lifelong friendships, deepened existing friendships, and created memories that will last a lifetime. What does theater have to do with writing? It's all storytelling. And being involved in the theater nourishes my soul as much as reading a great book—or writing one. |
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LEFT: The CALLBOARD was where we checked in when we reported to the theater each day. RIGHT: A balloon animal from the song "Six Languages" during the second act. |
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