Maureen Bush

Contest Time

It’s time to wrap up the spring contest on howweirdcanyouget.com. Kids were asked to submit magical ideas for Griffith the wizard to develop for his shop. We received wonderful entries from kids and even a few adults. It was difficult to choose, but here’s the list:

The Winner: Matthew, age 10

Shoes to Glue – the soles of your runners are sticky so you can walk on walls and ceilings.

(Simple magic with great usefulness is ideal, and rare, in magical design.  This is perfect.  ­– Griffith)

In development:

Griffith will also be experimenting with

Jessica’s spell that makes you transport to the other side of the world and back (tricky, but enormously useful);

Kelsi’s spell to duplicate yourself and be at however many places you want to be at, but you must be careful. You can get in trouble from using this spell. You just say “make me be at all places with a few suitcases” (very tricky, but remarkably useful);

Daniel’s spell to make a video game come to life (this could be tricky, but it’s appealing because of how much trouble it could cause.)

I was intrigued by the story potential in many of the ideas, including:

from Kailee: a mythical monster in the office because he got in trouble. (Wouldn’t that be a great scene in a school?)

Abigayle suggested a story in which a brother and sister move into a new house, find a door and fall into a magical world. And their mother thought they were just in their rooms unpacking. (I love inattentive parents!)

from Will: You say “hulaboo” and it turns cardboard into cows. (Imagine the chaos!)

and for pure creepiness, from Masooma:

Once there was an evil witch who wanted to cast a spell on the fairies so she could drain their magic and make them work for her. Here is the spell:

make it do

make it new

cast a spell on these fairies

and make them into evil witch’s stew!!!!!!!

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered. It was wonderful reading all your ideas.

Maureen

PS: Evil hackers are attacking the host for my website, so they’ve taken precautions, like not allowing any access from outside the US. Therefore, we’ll be delayed in posting this at maureenbush.com.

Feather Brain Nomination

Feather Brain has been nominated for the 2010-2011 Red Cedar Award (BC’s Reader’s Choice Award). Check out the other nominees at http://www.redcedaraward.ca/index.php?s=10

Maureen

Crow Boy launch

Crow Boy is now out in the world. We launched it on Saturday at Monkeyshines, always a great place to hang out. There were lots of family members (I married into a clan), family friends and writer friends, and some people who didn’t know me but like my books. Imagine that!

There was much visiting and shopping afterwards, as guests left with bags full of books, delighted at Monkeyshines’ collection. Including, of course, signed copies of Crow Boy.

As Leonard Nimoy was in town for the Calgary Comic Expo, I’ll make a Vulcan wish for my baby. To Crow Boy: Live long and prosper.

Maureen

They’re Here!

Crow Boy has arrived. I received a very heavy box today, holding my free copies of Crow Boy, all the extras for my family, and the stack I need to sign and send back. But I’m not unpacking it yet. I want to trip over the box a few times and remember, “Oh, yeah. They’re here!”

The book launch is on Saturday, April 24 at 1:00, at Monkeyshines Children’s Books, in Calgary.

Maureen

Crow Boy Cover

Here’s the cover for Crow Boy. I love that crow!

Maureen