Month: June 2021

A Few of my Favorite Books – Summer Read Along

Posted on by miriamjonesbradley_jd26km

My sister called the other day to tell me that the used bookstore in Rapid City, SD, has several of the Meg Mysteries by Holly Beth Walker. This caused an instant rush of adrenaline and spawned an hour-long phone call in which we discussed, researched, and discovered how many Meg Mysteries there were, how many I have, and how many we have read.

  
 This led to a discussion of other books from our childhood that we loved and would like to find again, which led to a search for one in particular. Cheryl not only persevered, but discovered the book originally had a different title, which—while artsy—was not particularly a good drawing card for the book, so it was changed.

Books from our childhood. They are so powerful.

I was asked on social media which book from my childhood I read and re-read. Instantly I thought of Trixie Belden. It wasn’t just one book though; it was a series. (You might see a pattern here.)

Yes, I was drawn to, and devoured, series that I could relate to, especially mysteries. However, as my sister and I bemoaned, I couldn’t completely relate to them. Why? Because, while the characters in these books seemed to find a mystery everywhere they went, we—tragically—never had One. Single. Mystery.

So, it is no surprise that I write children’s mystery series. Ones in which mysteries appear around every corner!

Cheryl and I used to make a weekly pilgrimage to our local library to get more books. Summer was crammed full with playing outside and reading inside. I don’t know which I liked better.

To celebrate the beginning of summer, starting June 21st  I am hosting a three week read-along on my Double Cousins Mysteries (Ages 7-13) Facebook Page. I have a private group there, Double Cousins Read-Along, where we will be reading the second Double Cousins book—The Mystery of the Torn Map. I will post educational videos exploring different elements of the story’s location and plot, vocabulary words and games, fun puzzles, prize drawings, and more!

Do you have a child in your life that might enjoy this unique opportunity? If so, please share this post with them and encourage them to click this link to be added to the Double Cousins Read Along Group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/596660531061891/

 

 

What was your “I can read this over and over” book when you were young? Share in the comments below!

As Time Goes By-Of Stuffed Animals and Weddings

Posted on by miriamjonesbradley_jd26km

Somewhere, buried in Mom’s photo albums is a picture.

Vonda, my little sister, was good at entertaining herself. She would line up her stuffed animals—and her cat if she was in a tolerant mood—and she would lead them in Sunday School songs, followed by a lesson.

Mom’s picture is of one of these “Sunday School lessons.” A dozen stuffed animals attentively listen from their perch on the couch as Vonda diligently taught her “lesson.”

It seems, not so long ago that Vonda was that little five year old, but yet, we have another generation already grown and getting married.

I teased my niece, Megan, at her wedding a couple of weeks ago, that she might be married, but she was still eight in my mind. That she always would be.

But, as I watched her stand under the lovely trellis with her groom, absolutely princess-level beautiful in her wedding dress; I didn’t see an eight-year-old after all. I saw a woman, and I teared up. Joy? Or sadness?

A bit of both, I guess.

But wait! Maybe one of these days there will be more great-niblings from some of these eight year old brides and grooms.

Possibly a little girl or boy teaching their stuffed animals or pets about Jesus.

Maybe a little girl with three pigtails running with her arms rotating like a windmill “to make her go faster.”

Or, several, gathering around the new books they received from Great-Aunt Miriam.

And, in three blinks, there will be another group of weddings. That’s how life goes, isn’t it?

 

 

For more on the below opportunity follow Double Cousins Mysteries (Ages 7-13) on Facebook!