A Writer’s Stress

Hey, Kids,

Has a teacher ever assigned you a HUGE writing project? Maybe it was a term paper or something you had to create alone or in a group.

Perhaps the teacher then handed out page after page of project instructions that left your eyes crossed and your brain doing flip-flops. You might have said to yourself, “How will I ever figure out all these details? How will I know where to start? Can I actually create a project I will be proud to hand in?”

Well, guess what? That’s what happened to me yesterday! My “teacher” publishers at Acorn Publishing sent me almost thirty pages of timelines and process summaries about all the things I need to do to get Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets into your hands and hearts by next February. Whew!!!

Yes, my eyes crossed, and my brain did flip-flops. So here’s what I did to calm my fears. I stopped, took a deep breath, and said, “If I ask questions and don’t panic, I can do this! One baby step at a time.” Then, I said, “It’s absolutely worth doing and doing well.”

So, kids, the next time you’re faced with a challenge–a writing project, an oral presentation, or a tennis tournament or softball game–remember: Stop, relax, take a deep breath, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your teachers and coaches are there to help you. And tell yourself as I did, “I can do this!”

So get a clue, Readers and Writers. Know that I wish the best for you in all that you do. You CAN do it!

I Appear in the Acorn Publishing March Newsletter!

Dear Readers,
I’m excited to announce that my photo, bio, and book blurb for Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets appear in the Acorn Publishing March Newsletter!  Such an honor. You can find the announcement at the link provided:

https://www.acornpublishingllc.com/single-post/2019/03/29/NEW-AUTHOR—Sherrill-Sherrill Joseph
(Once at the site, scroll down on the right. Click on NEW AUTHOR SHERRILL JOSEPH, March 29, 2019.)

Also, please like my FB author page at Sherrill Joseph Author. You can also access the page on the floating FB icon on each page of my website. See it in the right-hand corner down there?

So get a clue, Readers. Please check here in the News tab each Thursday for my Blog. Thanks for your support.

Who Named the Botanic Hill Detectives???

The simple answer to the question is THE AUTHOR, of course!
The better question is how did the detectives end up with their names? Well . . .

Lanny Wyatt’s real first name is Lanyon. I chose Lanyon because it was my great-grandparents’ last name: John Lanyon and Annie Sherrill Lanyon. (Notice the “Sherrill” part? That’s how I got my first name!) Wyatt? Oh, it just popped into my head.

Lexi Wyatt is really Alexia Wyatt. I was grocery shopping one day and saw a bag of waffle-cut fries in the frozen food section that said “Alexia” on it. I liked the name and brought it–but not the fries–home for my writing.

Moki Kalani has a Hawaiian name since he was born in Hawaii. I met a friendly boy named Moki on an island vacation. (You never know whom you might inspire by being nice!) And Kalani means “the sky or the heavens.” I thought that was beautiful.

Finally, Rani Kumar. She’s from India, so I googled Indian girl names. Rani means “the queen.” I liked that! And Kumar is the last name of someone I know.

Watch for these characters to appear in Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets, Book 1 of the Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries. Release date:  February 1, 2020.

So Readers, get a clue! Come back soon for more information about the detectives, their mysteries, and where they live.

Acorn Publishing to Release Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets

Dear Kids and all Readers,

Big news! Today I began my publishing journey with Acorn Publishing.

Please look for the first book in my Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series, Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets, to be ready for your hands and hearts in paperback, hardcover, and eBook, on February 1, 2020.

In the meantime, Readers, get a clue and keep checking this space!