Growth And Growing Up -In Children’s Stories

Also see https://eileenmoynihan.wordpress.com/kids-and-teens-fan-club/ Trying to stretch upwards I know we usually talk about growth at spring time but in my part of the world it is autumn/ fall, ( but of course you might be reading this in Australia or New Zealand and it will be spring for you). Anyway, the idea of growth came…

Is It Safe To Come Out Yet? The easing of Covid restrictions brings its own conflicts.

This last week, I attended two social events for the first time in a very long time. They were both for the Cruthú Arts Festival in Longford. This festival usually takes place in August but because of Covid restrictions it wasn't on last year. I wrote a piece about this at the time...https://eileenmoynihan.wordpress.com/2020/08/09/festival-fever-flattened/ Recently Covid…

Paths 3- What Ifs, In Characters And Plots For Writers

Consequences When I was young I used to enjoy playing the game of Consequences. 'Each player is given a sheet of paper, and all are told to write down a word or phrase to fit a description ("an animal"), optionally with some extra words to make the story. Each player then folds the paper over…

Paths Leading To Where 2 – In Children’s books – Skills That Can Be Learnt

https://www.penuliscilik.com/ Maze Puzzles Maze puzzles are great fun for children but parents/guardians and teacher like them too for teaching children very important skills. According to Amanda Mathews of North Shore Pediatric Therapy USA there are many skills to be learnt: Problem solving:  Mazes help your child to work on his executive functioning skills, such as planning and…

Paths – Leading To Where?

Also see https://eileenmoynihan.wordpress.com/kids-and-teens-fan-club/ “You have brains in your head.You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourselfany direction you choose.You're on your own. And you know what you know.And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go...Dr Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go! The Road Not Taken BY ROBERT FROST Two roads diverged in a…

Interview With John Wilmott: A Man Of Many Parts … Born Storyteller… One With Nature … A Fascinating Life

1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? e.g. Where you grew up, work experience, why you came to Ireland... I was born in Ilkley, Yorkshire, and my family lived in a place called The Glen between Baildon and Ilkley. At that time The Glen was a pretty lowland of native woodland and a highland…

Reviewing The Situation: Authors Reviewing Authors

Is it ethical for authors to review other authors? Writers know it. Readers know it. Traditional publishers know it. Good reviews sell books.https://writersrelief.medium.com/authors-make-the-most-of-your-book-review-quotes-and-endorsements-c618d93278c4 Possible reader's point of view: Can authors be objective reviewing other authors? Aren't they just giving good reviews to get one back and push up their ratings on Amazon and Goodreads? Possible…

Beginnings – The Excitement Of The Unknown

“Here is a story that’s stranger than strange.Before we begin you may want to arrange:a blanket, a cushion, a comfortable seat,and maybe some cocoa and something to eat. I’ll warn you, of course, before we commence,my story is eerie and full of suspense,brimming with danger and narrow escapes,and creatures of many remarkable shapes. Dragons and…

Open Sesame! Down The Rabbit Hole… Magic Doorways Into Other worlds

Also see https://eileenmoynihan.wordpress.com/kids-and-teens-fan-club/ Books, in and of themselves, are magical doorways. Opening a book is as simple as opening a door in the real world, but often much more rewarding! Doorways within books are something special. A character who passes through a magical doorway into a world of adventure mirrors the adventure of the reader themselves. https://www.quirkbooks.com/post/most-magical-doorways-literature…

Olympics: Tokyo 2020/2021-Irish Medal Winners Capture The Heart Of The Nation

Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated the members of Team Ireland as their hugely successful Tokyo Olympics campaign ended today. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "As the Tokyo Olympics draws to a close, the whole country is so proud of every member of Team Ireland. "Sport is such an important and essential aspect of Irish life. "We have…