UP!: Q&A with “Neighbor Girl” Felicia Maziarz

Q&A-LighterSideUp_WriterSideUp.com_byDonnaMarie

 Felicia A “Lighter Side Up” Q & A:

Getting to Know

Felicia Maziarz

 

When I first became more active on social media by getting more involved on Twitter and following Kidlit-related blogs, an unknown and somewhat unexpected world opened up for me. What I totally did NOT expect was to find accomplished “kid” authors! Not only was I more than impressed, but witnessing this kind of creativity, passion and drive for something so worthwhile—which also takes perseverance to complete—filled me with a sense of hope.

For such a young author, Felicia Maziarz has a very distinct writing voice, and a sturdy grasp on her clearly fleshed-out characters. Writing “funny” is not an easy thing to accomplish, but Continue reading

UP!–The PHOENIX: No Ordinary Bird…

Cover - Phoenix(NOTE: while this post is current, scroll on the sidebar —in a separate tab or window—to click to listen to Hedwig’s Theme while reading 😀)

When I first began reading the Harry Potter series, back in the summer of 2001, the only rule I’d set for myself was that I wanted to be sure to read each book prior to its corresponding movie release. I couldn’t easily be buying them all in hardcover, so I had waited ’til each one was released in paperback, that is UNTIL—I read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! When I finished that book I knew that as soon as Book 6 was released my greedy, anxious little hands would be on that hardcover before it hit the shelves!

Many people have described Harry’s snappy, irritable behavior in “Phoenix” as “teenage angst.” Honestly, I’ve never seen it that way. I mean, really—after, at the end of his 5th year at Hogwarts, having witnessed Cedric Diggory die at the hands of Voldemort, then narrowly escaping death himself, to then be kept in the dark for most of the summer by everyone including his friends, he had good reason to feel more than resentful. Add to that an attack by two Continue reading

UP!–Will You “Book” My Valentine?

BookGiving - heart  BookGiving - cupid

OK, so let’s pretend we’re in a parallel dimension in which I actually like Valentine’s Day.

 

(I heard some of you gasp. Don’t deny it!) Sorry, but I don’t particularly care for forced expressions of love, etc.; I’m simply not that kinda gal. Spontaneous and unexpected “just because” is what’s romantic in my book (pun totally intended), but I digress…

Continue reading

UP!—Burned by the GOBLET OF FIRE

Cover-Goblet(NOTE: while this post is current, scroll on the sidebar —in a separate tab or window—to click to listen to Hedwig’s Theme while reading 😀)

One would expect a wooden goblet to burn to ashes had it been filled with fire. But when the fire is that of enchanted flames, it is no ordinary goblet—it is the legendary Goblet of Fire! Its blue-white flames flicker with the glow of wonder and anticipation, holding within itself the power to judge which three worthy opponents from the three largest European wizarding schools will compete in none other than The Triwizard Tournament.

In Harry’s 4th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school played host to this exciting and dangerous event, along with the visiting students from the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang schools who would participate. One representative from each school would be chosen to compete, with only students of age (17 years old and above) allowed to submit their names, having written them on paper then dropped into the famed goblet. Harry was relieved that, as a 14-year-old, he couldn’t qualify; he wouldn’t be expected to enter his name. He had no desire to risk life and limb in a contest, so on the night the winners were announced, the goblet having just chosen the three competitors, when its flame flashed red unexpectedly spewing forth a 4th scorched parchment, no one was more shocked than he when Dumbledore uttered, “Harry Potter.” Continue reading

UP!–Library Love <3

BookStack_WriterSideUp.com_byDonnaMarie  Research_WriterSideUp.com_byDonnaMarie Periodicals_WriterSideUp.com_byDonnaMarie

I LOVE LIBRARIES!

Entrance - red frame

Seriously—can you imagine what it would be like without them? And in this day and age, libraries are not solely for the housing and sharing of printed material. Along with owning video and audio libraries, many serve as the sole source for computer and internet activity for a lot of people. In many cases local libraries are the hub of community activity! Continue reading