No Secrets. No Lies. Part One

Photo taken from this site

Life in a Telepathic Society

What would life be like in a society where your thoughts and feelings were an open book for all to read? Where nothing is kept secret and concealing was a sin beyond any forgiveness? Would you feel free, safe, hindered or confined? What kind of laws would govern such a society, where lies are unheard of and crimes are but few and frivolous? Would there even be a need for laws? I would say yes, wouldn't you? You see every society needs laws to govern it, to run smoothly, to maintain order and stability and to avoid civil unrest and anarchy. Even the most ideal and utopian worlds would crumble without defined rules and regulations.

Take the sky communities of Naqaba. Their cities are high in the sky protected by atmospheric cloud fields. They are home to the Naqabashi clans; tribes of bold, fearless winged female warriors who were once members of the traveling nomads who crashed onto the planet many centuries ago. A severe mutation from the Naqaban atmosphere caused them to transform into the creatures they are today. Though they appear alien to their Naqaban land dwelling relatives, they still have unique humanoid features that allow them to still inter-marry and interbreed with the male dwellers. Twice the size of an average female, they stand over seven and half feet with a wing span of over four feet. The Naqabashi are vicious when provoked. Five sharp talons grace each hand strong enough to rip through flesh and crush the skull of any beast or man. They are the Amazonian warriors of their galaxy, feared and for the most part, avoided at all cost. Brutality wasn't the only thing the Naqabashi acquired from their mutation; they inherited telepathic abilities. Telepathy allows a telepathist to communicate to one another by means other than speaking with their mouths or hands. They are also capable of reading and interpreting the thoughts and feelings of other telepathists and non-telepathists. This alone gives the Naqabashi a greater advantage over their enemies.

Despite their brute size and fierce nature, they run a highly efficient and self-sustaining community. Their cities are filled with peace, harmony and vibrancy. While every Naqabashi is considered equal to one another, a well-defined hierarchy of authority is observed . A queen warrior is counseled by a group of elder Naqabashi warrior priestesses from each sky community. Naqabashi elite guards protect the cities and train future warriors. Newly crowned Naqabashi guard the low grounds and serve as apprentices to elite guards. Young Naqabashi grow the food and tend to the livestock while injured or pregnant Naqabashi produce the weapons used by the Naqabashi warriors. The elderly Naqabashi who can no longer fight or fly spend their final days in peace, teaching and grooming the young. Every Naqabashi has a role in her society. The laws of their world are instilled at birth. Every Naqabashi toddler can recite the laws by heart when her babbling thoughts become coherent and intelligible. While they have many laws and rules to regulate their society, one motto stands above all else, "NO SECRETS. NO LIES." This motto alone will prove why even in utopian societies, every one needs some sort of rule or regulation to retain law and order.

Next week, we will rendezvous with Nusa, a Naqabashi warrior currently traveling aboard the ship, Hablas. She will enlighten us more on what life is really like in a telepathic society.

Until then......... What kind of laws do you think govern a telepathic society?

Copyright © 2011 SN Taylor, All Rights Reserved

SCBWI Conference Treasures

Here is a peak at one of my many treasures acquired at the SCBWI conference! :D This cute rendition of the "Wheels on the Bus," is authored by a local Seattlite! I am going to love reading this to my little ones as the song is their favorite circle time song! Check out her website here.

Why write? Why publish?

I recently attended the best conference ever! The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference was held in Redmond Wa, this year. I learned so much over the course of the weekend. So much that I am still digesting it all! I seriously had a headache the following Monday! LOL But the conference was everything I could ever imagine it to be. Everyone was so nice, helpful and supportive of each other. The keynote speakers were for the most part all very talented and very motivating. One of the speakers was the creator of the cartoon, The Replacements! One of my favorite cartoons of all times! (Yes, I still watch cartoons <.<. don't judge me :p) Dan Santat's story along with Deborah Wiles' story proved that with hard work, dedication and true love for what you believe in, you will succeed.

One of the speakers posed a question, why do you write and said that if the only reason you are writing is to simply get published, then you are writing for the wrong reason. That struck a chord in my heart. Why do I write. Honestly, I really don't care whether I get published or not. Fame and fortune are not a high priority for me. Truthfully, I love my day job. I love working with young children. I love that I am a part of shaping the lives and early education of these young children. So why do I write. Why do I want to be a published author of children's books? I write so that my stories can touch the lives of children everywhere. As much as I would love to meet every child, love every child, care for every child and educate every child, I physically can not do it. But if my stories can enter their homes, schools, childcare centers or libraries, then I feel like my role as a loving teacher and caregiver will be fulfilled.

So why do YOU write? What is your motivation for being a published author?

Favorite Poem #3

This fun poem was read at one of sessions at the SCBWI conference I attended this past weekend. It is by George Ella Lyon, Where I'm From. Enjoy! One of these days, I will try my hand at a 'where I'm from' poem. :D

Where I'm From

I am from clothespins,

from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride.

I am from the dirt under the back porch.

(Black, glistening,

it tasted like beets.)

I am from the forsythia bush

the Dutch elm

whose long-gone limbs I remember

as if they were my own.

I'm from fudge and eyeglasses,

from Imogene and Alafair.

I'm from the know-it-alls

and the pass-it-ons,

from Perk up! and Pipe down!

I'm from He restoreth my soul

with a cottonball lamb

and ten verses I can say myself.

I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch,

fried corn and strong coffee.

From the finger my grandfather lost

to the auger,

the eye my father shut to keep his sight.

Under my bed was a dress box

spilling old pictures,

a sift of lost faces

to drift beneath my dreams.

I am from those moments--

snapped before I budded --

leaf-fall from the family tree.

Listen to the poem read by George Ella Lyon, here.

Favorite Poem #2

Have you ever wondered what things might have been if you had made certain choices that were different from the ones you made in the past? I often wonder where would I be now, what would I be doing now, how different would my life be IF I HAD TAKEN THAT OTHER ROAD? This poem really hit home and got me to thinking. Growing up, I wanted to explore the ocean floor, then I wanted to be a computer scientist and at one point, I wanted to be an astronomer and work for NASA. Don't get me wrong, I love where my life has taken me, the things I have done, the places I have visited and the friendships I have made. But I do still wonder about the road not taken.....

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Taken from http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/robert_frost/poems/528

Great Motto to Live by.....

Cherish yesterday, Dream tomorrow. Live today.

I found some really great post today surfing my usual channels, twitter, favorite blogs and websites.

With internet and social media becoming a big target of bullying and abuse of young children, tweens and teens, it is so important that parents train their children to be better digital citizens. Check out Annie Fox's blog as she encourages parent's to pledge to raise a responsible digital citizen. Follwer Annie Fox on twitter and via her blog, lots of great stuff there. :)

I have always found a lot of great tweets from @editorialdept and today read a really nice and fun article on editing and becoming an editor. Go over to their website to read, "So....you wanna be an editor?" Pt 1 I personally would like to become better at editing my own work before submitting for professional editing. This post gave me lots of hope and optimism. :)

I only recently found the website and blog of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in Western Washington. I found out about the upcoming conference they are having here in Washington and now I follow them on twitter and check out their blog post daily. I love it that they are slowly introducing us to the speakers and faculty of the upcoming conference. Today I read a Q&A about Tina Wexler it was fun a fun read. For more updates and info on all the exciting happenings and events in Western Washington, go to Chinook Update blog.

Here is a new website I found that is super awesome and chock full of tidbits, morsels and down right mouthfuls of info for aspiring authors, like myself! It is the website of Cynthia Leitich Smith and YA Literature Resources.

It's Spring!

You know its spring

when little birds sing,

and the morning dew is new.

Spring is here

when blossoms appear,

and the rising sun brings cheer.

Spring has definitely arrived

when bees buzz in their hive,

and winter's frost is all but lost.

Copyright © 2011 SN Taylor, All Rights Reserved

*Inspired by a little bird chirping at my window :)

Favorite Poem #1

Here is a poem by a fabulous poetess Maya Angelou, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." I love her poems. They are strong and full of emotion. As I read this poem something in me clicked. I connected right away to it. There are days, when I am at my lowest that I am that caged bird.

I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps on the back

Of the wind and floats downstream

Till the current ends and dips his wing

In the orange suns rays

And dares to claim the sky.

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage

Can seldom see through his bars of rage

His wings are clipped and his feet are tied

So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill

Of things unknown but longed for still

And his tune is heard on the distant hill for

The caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

And the trade winds soft through

The sighing trees

And the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright

Lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged BIRD stands on the grave of dreams

His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

His wings are clipped and his feet are tied

So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with

A fearful trill of things unknown

But longed for still and his

Tune is heard on the distant hill

For the caged bird sings of freedom.

taken from Famous Poets and Poems . com

Little Bird

pic taken from Bird Clipart.com

A little bird sat on my tree branch.

It ruffled its feather and fluttered its wings,

It lifted its head and began to sing.

Night is done and the sun is arise,

Wake up, wake up, rub your sleepy eyes.

(c) April 2011

Birthday Blog Bash!!!!!

Break out the streamers, pop open the fun.... Let's all give my amazing blogger buddy and inspiration, Karen Strong, a GREAT BIG.....

Hope you have an awesome weekend of celebrations Karen!!! :D

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”

~Sophia Loren

April Showers bring May flowers.

Though April Showers may come your way, they bring the flowers that bloom in May,

So if it's raining have no regrets; it isn't raining rain you know, it's raining violets...

Al Jolsen, April Showers

How true this poem rings, especial in the region where I live. It feels like it rains almost everyday. As I work in childcare, going outside is a MUST for the health and well-being of the children and teachers. But when it's soggy and wet outside it means 15 minutes putting on rain gear and 25 minutes taking them off and possibly changing into dry clothes. But then I have to remember, it is the rain that we are blessed with which makes the Northwest region so pretty and green. Spring out here is so beautiful with it's variety of colors and blooms. So yes, Al Jolsen, it is not just raining water (the very life source of all things living), it is raining violets, pansies, roses, tulips, daffodils, daisies, lilies and more!