Dear Readers,
Because Tracey’s so busy with the other blog and writing new stories, I’ve decided to make her life easier by moving over to Knitting with Pencils, where Tracey posts topics on writing, education, and occasionally, knitting.
So I’m still here, just not actually Here but There.
You know what I mean.
Love,
Grace
Let’s talk about hair.
Mine in ANGEL’S GRACE is a source of constant consternation. My sister Sally’s hair is pitch black and always neat. Mine is red and always a mess.
Have you ever put your hair in a braid and ten minutes later strands are sproinging all over the place?
It happens to me ALL THE TIME!
Look at the author’s hair! She’s had bugs caught in hers. When she was little, everyone called her “fat plaits!” Her daughter’s hair is nearly as unruly as mine.
But we do all love our hair! Every bendy, bouncy, coily, curly, curvy, puffy, spirally, swirly, twirly, wind-y strand of it!
If you have afro puffs say YEAH!
Check out this video from Sesame Street where a little muppet rocks the curls, braids, and cornrows.
Tonight, Tracey will be at Watchung Booksellers along with three other authors, Sussanna Reich, Troy CLE and Crystal Velasquez, talking about the business of children’s book publishing.
It’s going to be an interesting one!
Here’s all the info.
See you there!
Posted in Books
So, Tracey has her kids at soccer camp all morning and is working in the afternoons, and there’s certainly been no time for me! So the blog is suffering once again.
Sigh.
Posted in Uncategorized
(That’s “live” as in “exist” not “live” as in “in person.”)
Yesterday I wrote about all the wierd creatures in Tracey’s story, and today, I’m here to tell you that these creatures really might exist. Like. For real. Know why? Scientists in Italy found a unicorn. No kidding! Well, sort of. It’s not a horse unicorn, it’s a deer unicorn.
His name is Unicorno
The baby deer was born in 2007 with one horn right in the middle of its head. That is crazy weird, right? And yet it makes you think that maybe at some point there were horses with horns in the middle of their heads… and if there were unicorns, there might have been dragons… or douens… or cookie-baking grandmas who burst into flames and suck out all your blood…
Aaaaaaahhhh!!!
Posted in Books
Tagged deer unicorn, deer with one horn, douens, dragons, soucouyant, unicorn
One thing I really like about Tracey growing up on a Caribbean island, is that they have the CREEPIEST stories! There are some really crazy characters crawling about the woods all over the island, hiding behind leaves as big as grown men, and watching you from under some prehistoric-looking ferns.
Well, Tracey finally decided to write a book that features all of these crazy characters, and know what? Her agent likes it so much, that she has decided to send it out to publishers!
I hope it gets published. Those creatures will give you some SERIOUS GOOSEBUMPS! Here are a few that show up:
The Douen. This looks like a sweet innocent baby, but it has its feet turned backwards!
The La Diabless (pronounced: LAH jah bless). This beautiful woman has one cow hoof for a foot and lures men into the woods and kills them!
The Soucouyant. If you think vampires are the scariest things out there, you’d be wrong. A Soucouyant starts out looking like your sweet old grandma until she takes her skin off and bursts into a ball of flame and sucks all your blood out.
The Ligahoo. This poor guy is part werewolf, part ghost. He’s dead already, and he’s forced to carry around his coffin because it’s chained to his body. Scrooge might have been burdened with chains, but he didn’t also have to carry around his coffin and worry about wet fur!
Posted in Books
Tagged caribbean folk tales, douen, la diables, ligahoo, soucouyant
With students at a recent school visit
Hello friends!
I realize there are some folks still visiting Grace’s blog and wondering… where are all the posts?
Well, I have been extremely busy, and I have been concentrating on writing a new book, and posting to my other blog.
I am very happy that you have come to Grace’s blog to check out her most recent antics, and I hope you’re not too disappointed that there hasn’t been anything new in a while.
However, you can check out my other blog. There is plenty going on there, including a crazy run-in with a groundhog!
Posted in Books, school visits
In December I travelled to the home of another fan. Here are some pictures and a terrific journal that my host, Bria, would like to share. I had a great time. Thanks for having me over, Bria!
Grace and Bria’s Journal
Grace arrived at my house on Monday, December 7 – my granddad’s birthday. When I walked in with my mom after school from the bus stop I couldn’t wait to open the package!! I loved the card from Ms. Baptiste with the pretty blue and white dress on it. Grace and I had fun watching television, telling secrets and we ate then talked on the phone. But before all of that I introduced her to the other Groovy Girl dolls in my collection and we took pictures. She had a sleeping buddy named Gigi who is my favorite stuffed giraffe, and also my sleeping buddy. I came up with the idea to let her spend the day one on one with each of my Groovy Girl dolls while I was away for the day at school learning.
On Tuesday she spent the day with Solana. They did some cool things while I was at school. You can ask her what they did. Then later when I came home, she helped me finish my homework. Then she helped me design and write my birthday party invitations. We had so much fun. I also read a storybook to her and the other Groovy Girls in my bedroom. Then we went for a ride in the car to the post office and Grace helped me put my birthday invitations in the mail box. Then we stopped by the gas station with my mom to pick up a few snacks and went to the dollar store. Then Grace, Gigi and I went to bed.
On Wednesday Grace played with Bindi and when I came home from school we did homework, went on the computer, ate and then watched some television. Later while Grace and Gigi were falling asleep I read them a bedtime story. Then I fell asleep also. P.s. We also took a shower (Grace was in my robe pocket) before going to bed.
On Thursday Grace and Kendra played together. I don’t know what they did, so ask her. We had fun doing homework when I returned home. Then we ate and went on the computer. We had a snack before dinner time, and then Grace, Kendra and I went for a ride to the library twice. When we came back home we put our pajamas on and pulled our hair up. We watched a little television and then went to bed.
On Friday Grace played with her new BFF Shayla all day. You can ask Grace what they did because I was at school. After school I had a play date with one of my BFF’s Maya. She came over to my house and I introduced her to Grace. My mom was making apple bread while we played. Later my dad, mom, older brother, Deven, Maya, Grace, Shayla and I went over to my neighbor’s house for dinner. My dad ordered food from the Star Tavern in Orange, NJ. We had pizza, pasta and salad!! YUM!! Maya and I made necklaces and bracelets. I made a necklace for Grace and Maya made some jewelry for herself and her mom. Then we took a picture. Then we took Maya home and re-joined the rest of my family at our neighbor’s house. My brother Deven and I watched a movie and played a board game. After my family and I left our neighbors house, my brother and I put our pajamas on, watched a little television and then went to bed. P.s. We stayed up until 12 midnight!!! It was the weekend.
On Saturday We ate breakfast, got dressed and then watched television. Grace played with her sleeping buddy Gigi all day. And guess what?? It SNOWED!!! My brother, Grace and I later worked on a school Christmas project called The Giving Tree, where we had to create homemade cards and attach them to our unwrapped Christmas gifts for some children in Haiti. My mom bought them puzzles. We provided gifts and cards for 5 children and in total the other children at my school (Watchung Elementary) were able to provide gifts and cards for 264 children in Haiti. They attend Watchung’s sister school in Haiti that was founded by one of the Watchung parents. Check out edeyo.org for more information on the project. We had a lot of fun working on it. Later we watched television and put on our pajamas. We decorated our new Christmas tree and Grace helped. We also took some more pictures. We also watched an educational show on the computer. We later relaxed on the couch and ate some clementines. Then we went to bed.
On Sunday Grace played with all of her Groovy Girl friends and Gigi all day. Grace and Gigi also went to church we me and my family on Sunday morning. Then we took a ride to David’s Bridal to order my flower girl dress and my mom’s bride’s maid dress for my godmother’s wedding that is coming up on January 17 – can’t wait!! Then we went to the dollar store and K-Mart. We ate lunch at Taco Bell. YUM!! Then we went home and had some company over. We watched television, put on our pajamas, and ate dinner. Before we went to bed we packed up Grace who was wearing the scrunchy and the new necklace that I gave her. We also packed in some apple bread for Ms. Baptiste and her family to enjoy. She said she enjoyed it! I’m glad she liked it. Everyone said goodbye to Grace. We miss her very much!! Maybe we’ll see her again one day.
Love & Thanks!
Bria
Yesterday, I came back home from visiting with Bria in New Jersey. We had a great time! I arrived with my hair done in a scrunchie and a beautiful necklace that Bria made as well as some yummy treats for Tracey. Apple bread! Tracey started eating it right away.
Below is a picture of the apple bread before Tracey started eating it. 
Here’s the letter from Bria. We’ll hear more from Bria in coming days.
Thanks for having me over, Bria!
Tracey and I visited with the ladies at the Mother/Daughter book club in Montclair yesterday and it was a fantastic visit! Tracey read, I sat and looked pretty, and then I was invited to someone’s house to hang out! I hope they have PBS! It’s my favorite channel!
Tracey was invited back to do a lecture and I’m going to go too. I better work on my speaking-int0-the-mic skills.
Is this thing on?
