The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Before I begin today's post I want to share fabulous news. Two exciting events happened this week!!  The first. Sylvia's Secret is now in the library. Our local library has a cooperation with libraries throughout my state, which means, anyone in the state can now check out this book.  Sylvia's Secret, A Christmas Story and Mary's other books The second. The Selah writing competition announced the list of finalists My book, Fire and Thorn, a middle grade novel is a finalist. The winners will be announced the end of may at the writing convention. Here is the link if you would like more information about this story. Fire and Thorn, a Middle Grade Fantasy and Mary's other books Needless to say this has been a pretty exciting week! On to today's story: Mom was a seamstress. A natural. She never used a pattern or a tool to measure lengths or widths of fabric. She’d lay the large piece of rectangular material across the ping pon...

Student created Fantasy Map Photo by Mary Vee Last week I drove 40 hours on a book tour. While on my book tour, I was invited to speak to 6 classes. Rather than lecture the students, I chose to engage them in an activity. A map making activity. Most fantasy novels have a map in the beginning pages of the book. The purpose is to acquaint the reader with the fictional land where the story takes place.  After hours of studying the fantasy mapmakers on Instagram and practicing the techniques, I had a good grasp of the concept and made the map found in the beginning pages of my new fantasy book, Fire and Thorn . Here is the how to Make a Medieval/Fantasy map in a nutshell. Photo by Mary - Fantasy Maps 1. Make a border along the four edges of your paper. Many old maps, like treasure maps, end up with torn or yellowed edges. To protect the vital parts of the map, the border is drawn. Make it about 1/2" thick. Photo by Mary Vee Students creating F...

Road Trip! I'm excited to take you with me. This destination is 18+ hours. We'll cross most of the United States. Although, today being only two days after the Shri Lanka church bombings, I wish I could go and help. For this cross country drive, the bags are packed. My sister, who is going with me. will arrive soon. I am so thankful for her company and help. My broken arm is still mending, (I am on a no weight restriction)...BUT  the arm is slowly getting better. The purpose of this trip is a book tour. At the destination, I will teach classes on how to write a story about a quest and sign books already purchased by students. This is going to be so much fun. THEN, after the work, my three sisters and I will drive down to Waco and have a fun sister day. I hear there is much to see in Waco. Have you been to Texas? What should we see there? The book I am taking is my new release. A fantasy. If you are looking for a story like Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia,...

Photo by Mary Vee Look what my family discovered! A bookstore for rare books across the alley from... Photo by Mary Vee A bookstore for used books. Field Trip!! No need to ask if we bought books. The paper bag ripped from the page turning contents only moments after we stepped outside the bookstore for used books! Creaky floors.  Quiet. Comfy, worn chairs. Lower level loaded with shelves and more books. (Be sure to duck, low clearance.) We barely scratched the surface during this visit. This is a definite repeat. So when did you last visit a bookstore of any kind? Would you like to hear the sounds?  Here is a very short video.  CLICK TO WATCH Speaking of books, I have news. My latest book is now available!! The day the king of Aerlis heroically dies and his lovely queen is viciously carried off to the dark north, dragons invade the land. Crops and homes near the border burn to the ground. Prince Gilbert m...

The sky may have been gray, but the temperatures were a delicious Spring 57 with no chill in the slight breeze. Photo by Mary Vee Look what will be here soon!! Green. Lots of green! Sleeping Bear Dune scenic drive, Traverse City I opened the windows and cleansed the winter closed-up smell. THEN Yes, I went for a walk and soaked in the scents, marveled at the buds on the trees, the grass green after a refreshing snow melt, spring flowers poking through the earth's surface. And, at this moment anyway, no bugs.  Win-win!!  Nature is waking. Easter is on its way.  The days are longer. We should take a walk together. That's what I will plan for next week's post. In the meantime, I want to share with you And am so excited to tell you About the release of my new book, Fire and Thorn, a Fantasy.  It a perfect gift for Easter. What better gift to give than a book? Geared for the young adult audience, but also ...

Once upon a time.... Most stories with this beginning take place in a setting from long, long ago.  Dragons. Knights. Castle. Secret passages. Quest Today's rules of writing prevents authors from using this fabulous opener. This doesn't mean these stories can't be written, they just can't start with those words. And so I would like you to meet my new fantasy novel very much about a once upon a time but without the opening words. Fire and Thorn is scheduled to release sometime between April 4 and 10. Perfect for an Easter gift especially for young adult readers. Available in paperback and ebook. Here is what the story is about: The day the king of Aerlis heroically dies and his lovely queen is viciously carried off to the dark north, dragons invade the land. Crops and homes near the border burn to the ground. Prince, Gilbert must give up what he wants most to save his father’s kingdom and himself.  The Keeper of the Kingdom advises Gilbert ...