Hellooooooo Baaaaabyyyyyy!!!

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Yeah, this is the Big Bopper Speak’n.  Well, not really, but kinda.  Good morning everybody.  I know it’s been a while since my last post, but I’ve been busy with various projects including trying out for, and getting, the role of the Big Bopper in “Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story”.

I’ve got two children’s book projects in the works, ”Watch Where You Step” and “Practice In The Cactus”.  The writing for both is complete and I’m illustrating WWYS while working with an illustrator for PITC.

Like most of you, I am trying to figure out how to feed my family, make house and car payments, keep a job all while trying to keep a full tank of gas in my car.  Fuel costs have become the biggest source of pain for most American families and the rising costs at the pump will only continue to harm not just the American economy, but the global economy.

America’s health insurance woes, pending tax increases and continued drop in global popularity has led me to aim a lot of sour thoughts and under-my-breath grumbles toward various politicians…Democrats and Republicans alike. Out of my own personal disappointment in the direction this Country has taken in the areas of politics, entertainment and common sense, there has arisen a new character/cartoon that will poke fun at all things I consider…well…stupid.  His name is “Sticky Tudamann”…and he’s on his way to defend the average Joes.  Coming to a blog, website, newspaper near you…be on the lookout.

~Mitch

Random Artwork

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Random Artwork

David, Goliath, and the rock Pastel on Paper (c) 2012 Mitch Fairchild

Random Artwork

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Random Artwork

Gasosaur Pastel on Paper (c) 2012 Mitch Fairchild

Random Artwork

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Random Artwork

Triadinal Imagery  Pastel on Paper   (c) 2012 Mitch Fairchild

The Print Version Of Buzzz, Buzzz Hits Stores Today! Get Your Copy Now!

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Buzzz, Buzzz has finally hit stores and is available for purchase as of right now.  Get your copy today at Amazon.com. While you’re there, be sure to click the “Like” button.  It’s a great book for any child…and/or adult.  Click on the picture below to be directed to the amazon.com page.

The Perfect Gift For Kids Who Got A Kindle Or Nook For Christmas

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Both Feet and Buzzz, Buzzz are available in ebook format for the Kindle and the Nook.  Both would be a great addition to any child’s Kindle or Nook library.  Click the links below to get your copies for 99 cents each.

 

Here’s To A Great New Year!

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Christmas is gone : (   But the New Year is just around the corner : )  So what are your New Year’s Resolutions?  Mine are simple:  1)  Make a Million Dollars; 2) Lose 150 Pounds; and 3) Complete The Children’s Poetry Series I Started In 2011.  I also want to write more as to hone my skilllzzzz.  So look out various writing contests…Mitch is on the prowl.

Seriously though, I pray blessings on all my friends in 2012.  May all your wishes come true and your days be full of love, peace and joy.

HERE’S TO A GREAT NEW YEAR!

See You In 2012!

~Mitch

 

Don’t forget to get your print copy of FEET on Amazon.  Click Here To Get Your Copy! 

Get Your Copy Of Feet In Print Today!!!

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Finally, after an extensive editing process, Feet is available in PRINT…woohoo!!!  It will be available on amazon.com and various other bookstores in about a week to two weeks, but you can get your copy via my online bookstore now.  To get your copy, click the image below.

I’m Back!!!

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Sorry I haven’t been posting as of late…I’ve been extremely busy with school and writing.  The Paperback versions of “Feet” and “Buzzz, Buzzz” should hit online bookstores (and hopefully a few brick and mortar stores) Next Week…Woot, Woot!  Just in time for Christmas!  Today I’m reformatting the ebook versions to match the layout of the print copies.  Hoping “Watch Where You Step” drops in ebook format before Christmas so all of the kids who get a Kindle Fire and/or a Nook can read it in color.

Latest Book Review For FEET

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Below is the link to my latest book review for FEET.  Go check it out!!!

http://teddyree-theeclecticreader.blogspot.com/2011/12/feet-by-mitch-fairchild-review-giveaway.html

Self Worth

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I wrote these words a few months ago during a period of stress and turmoil and I fall back on them today.  May this be your encouoragement and comfort as you start a new work week.

To truly know one’s self in the midst of anguish and turmoil

Is to understand the very fabric of one’s self worth.

                                                                                                     ~Mitch

NaNoWriMo and Feet

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Behind on the writing of my NaNoWriMo project, but ahead in the editing of Feet for print.

If you want a copy of Feet before it comes out in paperback, click on one of the links to the right to get the ebook version.

Have a great day everyone!!!

Saturday’s Selection: Low Flying Rabbits Ahead

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This week’s video for Saturday’s Selection come to us by way of the UK.  Roger Stevens writes and performs for children at schools, libraries and festivals all around the UK and Europe.  If you want to learn more about Roger and his poetry, check out his youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/RogerStevensPoet              Low Flying Rabbits is the title poem from the book of the same name…Enjoy!

A Petition To Bring Back Naptime

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Remember Naptime?  I do.  I loved knowing that no matter where we were or what activity we were working on as a class, when the time came, we all stopped and took a much needed nap.

I miss those days.  Now that I’m in my forties, I can see where naptime would be a great addition to daily life.

Think about it, you are in a meeting with management.  It is getting stressful and heated.  The eyes of your co-workers are rolling back inside their head from boredom.  And you didn’t get much sleep last night because you watched a DVRed episode of “Keeping Up With The Kardasians” (Oh how I hope that’s not what you DVRed).  How can you possibly make it through the rest of the day let alone this particular meeting?  Naptime

Everyone busts out their pillows and blankies and break for a much needed hour nap.  Oh how much more productive the rest of the day would be.

While we’re bringing back valuable aspects of our youth, let’s put milk break back on the day’s agenda.  Lord knows we need the protein and vitamin D at our age.

And let’s not forget recess.  Nothing can help rejuvenate the heart, and a person’s work ethic, like taking a break to play hide and go seek with the rest of the 30, 40 and 50 year olds at your place of work.

It’s true…you really don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone.  Man I miss the good old days.

~Mitch

41 Isn’t Much Different Than 40 To Be Honest

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So today I turned 41.  To be totally honest, it doesn’t feel much different from 40.  I still ache in all the same places, my wife and kids are still the same age as they were yesterday, caffeine is still my drug of choice and I’m still many years away from retirement.

But I have to say…this year, I received the coolest B~Day gift.  Yesterday, I received in the mail, my first proof of the print version of FEET.  Now that is a gift unlike any other I’ve ever received.  To hold an “unofficial” copy of your book in your hands is an awesome thing.  It gives a sense of legitimacy to all of the work you’ve done over the years to get to this point.  I can now say that I look forward to receiving more of these type gifts in the future.  As a gift to myself, I’m taking the day off…and reading my paperback over and over and over and over again.

Have a wonderful November 10th, and God bless you all.

~Mitch

Keep It Sane

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Let’s see…I’ve got to finish illustrating my latest children’s book, Watch Where You Step; finish two classes for the semester (master’s program); finish writing a 50,000 word novel; finish my Christmas shopping; get through Thanksgiving without gaining any weight; get back on task with my fitness program; and oh yeah…raise a family.  Let’s face it, November is brutal…and December looks to be much the same.  Pray for me.

~Mitch

 

Revised Copy Of FEET Available At Amazon.com & Barnesandnoble.com…Get Your Copy

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While editing FEET, in an effort to get it ready for print, I found a few minor typos and grammer ooopsies which have now been fixed.  Pick up your ebook copy today for only 99 centes while you wait for the print copy which should hit stores in December…just in time for Christmas.

~Mitch

Don’t Waste Gas Using The Blinker

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One of the best parts of working in a public school is hearing the crazy (yet funny) things the kids say.  Case in point…the other day, I’m driving the afternoon bus route (one of my many duties) and a girl on the bus realizes we’ve been at the stop light for quite some time.  She then proceeds to say, “Turn the blinker off Mr. Mitch cause it wastes too much gas.”

Now at this point I can laugh hysterically (I really, really, really had to hold back y’all), which might embarrass the girl to death, or I could explain how the use of the blinker has no relation to the amount of fuel we use, which might make her feel like an idiot and embarrass her still.

So in an effort not to hurt her feelings, I simply said, “good point Sarah.” (not her real name), and turned the blinker off…I was in a turn lane…everyone knew where I was going anyway.

The point of this story is two-fold.  1) Unless it is your own son or daughter and you’re having some wholesome fun…don’t embarrass a child.  Unfortunately, at that age, there are too many people waiting in line to do that.  2) From the mouth’s of babes come great ideas for children’s books.  Did I tell you about my latest book project?  It’s entitled ”Don’t Waste Gas Using The Blinker”.  I love kids…they say the darndest things.

~Mitch

The Late Edition: Saturday’s Selection

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Sorry I’ve been away for 3 days…I’ve been busy writing.  I want to share a children’s poetry video, and since I misses Saturday, I thought I’d kick the work week off with a classic.  So without further ado, I present one of our family favorites, Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too by Shel Silverstein…

For more poems and fun from Shel Silverstein, visit: www.shelsilverstein.com

What Kids Hear vs. What Parents Say

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As a parent, I’ve noticed that there are things I say to my children that they interpret slightly differently from the original context.  In other words, we parents say one thing, and our children hear something completely different.  Here are a few examples:

1) Parent says, “Put your dishes away after you eat.”  Parent means: Rinse the dishes off so the food doesn’t get hard and the dishes can go straight into the dishwasher.  Child hears: “Simply put your plate on the counter, let the food get crusty and as hard as a rock so that mom or dad can deal with scraping the food off tomorrow.”

2) Parent says, “Make sure all the lights are off before you leave for school.”  Parent means: We need to save electicity because money doesn’t grow on trees…so turn off all the lights before you leave for school.  Child hears: “Turn off the light in your room…but make sure the rest of the lights in the house are on so the dogs don’t get scared while we’re away at school.”

3) Parent says, “Take these folded towels upstairs and put them in your bathroom closet.”  Parent mean: take these towel upstairs and put them in your bathroom closet.  Child hears: “Here are some nicely folded towels.  Can you take them, wad them up and throw them on the counter of your bathroom…please?”

Kids…Gotta Love’em!

~Mitch

What Were They Thinking Wednesday

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Below is today’s “What were they thinking” picture of the week.  Take a look at it and post what you think is going through their minds.

 

Bring It On NaNoWriMo

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Today is November 1st which means it is officially National Novel Writing Month.  As such, I have accepted the challenge to write a 50,000+ word novel over the course of the month.  This means I will be exceptionally busy as I am also taking 2 classes for my Masters in Education…one of them being school law.  So, what does this mean?  Well, I will be blogging less frequently perhaps…or at least posting shorter entries.  My “authoring” schedule will consist of writing for my book from 5am-6:15am then again from 6pm-7pm on the weekdays and my weekends will be spent writing whenever I get a chance…between family events (Family First!).

I look forward to sharing my progress with you…see you all on the other side.

~Mitch

F.O.R.G.O.T.

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It has recently come to my attention that there is a
secret society that exists in the US that we all should be made aware of. Its
sole purpose is to cause confusion and chaos in an attempt to rob us of our
sanity.

They speak not a word, yet their actions speak volumes.
Yes, their very actions can send even the calmest and laid back person into an
uncontrollable rage and even to the brink of insanity.

These evil doers are known to society as of the Fraternal
Order of Righteous and Grand Oblivious Turners or F.O.R.G.O.T.

They can be noticed a mile away (depending on traffic,
weather and cleanliness of your windshield). They are the ones who never turn
off their blinker.

These men and women find pleasure in making their victims
believe one thing is going to happen while secretly planning to do just the
opposite.

They use their one weapon, the blinker, with such skill
and cunning that even the most accomplished high performance race car drivers
cannot avoid their traps.

You need only be driving down the road minding your own
business.

Out of nowhere you will notice a car driving in the lane
to the right of you. They are enough ahead of you that you can see their right
blinker is on as if the direction they want to go is to the right somewhere in
the near future.

Assuming they are about to merge or turn right you pay
them little attention. After all, the right blinker is flashing away like a
wicked strobe light from a 70’s disco club and you are to their left.

Just then, they whip in front of you with no warning.

You first hit your breaks to avoid collision and then
double check to make sure the smell you now notice is from the week old tuna
sandwich which your child left under the seat or perhaps an odor that was emitted
from you the very second your body tightened up to brace for the impact you
just avoided.

“You really bad driver” you shout, hurting the eardrums
of the coworkers riding with you causing them to stop concentrating on where
the rotten tuna smell is coming from in your vehicle and start concentrating on
whether or not the preexisting tuna smell is covering up the smell they too
emitted when they tensed up in expectation of impact .

“You really bad driver” is but one phrase that you could
use to express your opinion of the driver’s ability though there are several
others that have been recorded throughout the years.

Over the next mile or so, you realize that the driver of
the vehicle in front of you has not turned off his or her right signal
indicator.

You also realize that he or she has had several
opportunities by this time to merge or turn right as their blinker indicates,
but they instead remain constantly in front of you.

Your blood begins to boil as you turn your cruise control
off because the once constant set speed is no longer attainable due to the
ridiculous fluctuations in speed (anywhere from 35 to 66mph) of the car in
front of you that is quickly becoming a thorn in your side.

The next 5 miles are miserable as you are forced to look
at the steadily blinking turn signal as it seems to yell out “prepare for me to
veer right, I’m going to turn right, I need to turn right, right…” but never
does.

Only once you’ve reached a mental state that would be
found worthy of an overnight stay at a mental institution do you decide to make
your move.

At the first opportunity, you merge into the right hand
lane.

There is just enough space to get past the annoying
vehicle and you break free. As you pass you express to the driver how
disappointed you are in their driving style, either verbally, via an ever so
slight bump on the hooter or by using the international hand symbol for “you’re
a bad driver” that you learned from your uncle while looking for a parking
place at a college football game in 1981.

This is when they typically begin what is known as “The
Big Act”. They act as if they are surprised, even frightened by your
accusations and slow down as if to escape a deranged mad man.

The looks on their faces are priceless.

They honestly appear afraid of you and pretend that the
whole ritual they just put you through was not intentional at all and that you
are the aggressor not them.

They now execute to perfection their escape by pretending
to be so afraid of you and the things you’ve been uncontrollably shouting at
them that all they want to do is put more cars between you and them.

The blinker is now being used properly in an effort to
exit stage right, or in this case exit from the road to the right as soon as
possible, probably to go plan their next attack on some poor unsuspecting
victim.

You have just come in contact with a member of
F.O.R.G.O.T.

These tactics have been used since the Fraternal Order of
the Righteous and Grand Old Turners was established in the early 1900’s by
small town farmers and ranchers who thought farm to market roads were created
specifically for them, and that “city folk” should stay off.

The initial members of F.O.R.G.O.T. soon learned that
their wives could cause just as much, if not more, frustration and confusion
and women were soon allowed into the Fraternal Order of Righteous and Grand
Oblivious Turners.

Let this be a warning. The next time you see a car ahead
of you and its blinker does not turn off (left, right doesn’t matter), find an
alternate path to your destination. It might very well save your sanity.

Saturday’s Selections: Kenn Nesbitt

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Today’s Saturday Selections post spotlights a poem from children’s poet Kenn Nesbitt titled “My Parents Sent Me To The Store”.  To learn more about Kenn and his children’s books, visit his website at: www.poetry4kids.com

Stay At Home Moms ROCK!!!

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You Might Be A Stay At Home Mom If:

…your definition of a “staycation” is a 45 second trip to the bathroom.

…while in said bathroom, you hear your name called from the other side of the door at least 15 times during the 45 seconds you are “doing your business

…you’ve ever mopped the floor with the bubbles that flow out of the dishwasher caused by your using diswashing soap because you were out of dishwashing detergent (stay at home moms are resourceful)

…your idea of a successful family night out is when your husband takes the kids and they go out…while you stay home and rest.

…you hear the term “extreme sports” and it reminds you of a time when you changed a diaper and shaved your armpits while being hooked up to a breast pump.

Thursday’s Thought For The Day

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Children will soon forget your presents, but they will always remember your presence.

All too often we parents get it set in our minds that if we give our children what they ask for, we will be viewed as “the cool mom or dad” that the child will love forever.  The fact is we could give our children all of the video games, dolls, action figures, cell phones and pizza in the entire world, and that still wouldn’t match the value we add to their lives when we simply make ourselves available to them.

Every moment of every day, including times of pain and sorrow, anger and resentment, joy and laughter,  children need to know they are loved and accepted.  They need to feel the presence of a loving father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, Sunday school teacher and even the teacher at the school they attend.

As parents, we must invest in the lives of our children while they are young so that they will grow to become all God wants them to be and so they will have an impact on the world around them.

If children aren’t getting positive reinforcement from us, there is a good chance they are gaining negative reinforcement someplace else.

~Mitch

Sometimes You Just Know You’re Doing It Wrong

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Check Out This Picture.  What Do You Think Was Happening When This Picture Was Taken?  Leave A Comment & Let Me Know.

Be Careful Where You Pick Your Nose

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I’ve been reminded multiple times this month of a story that took place when my oldest daughter, now 13, was 3 years old.  It has to do with a trip to the Speech Therapist (ST) that I’d like to share with you today.

It takes place on the campus of Texas State University on a beautiful Spring day.  We were in the office of the ST who also happened to be a professor at the University.  Joining him was a very nice assistant, around 22 years old, who was very sweet and connected well with my daughter.  She wasn’t only the assistant, she was one of his students.  OK…I’ve set the scene…now the story.

While the ST, his assistant and my wife were talking with my daughter, I had crusty (that’s a booger that attaches itself to the inside of the nose and irritates the fire out of you) that I needed to get out.  In the room where we were was a huge mirror that spanned the entire length and width of one of the walls in said room.  The mirrored wall was adjacent to where the interview process was taking place, so I walked over to it and began to get the bothersome booger out of my nose.  Once finished, I then flared my nostrals to make sure there wasn’t anything else in there.  Once finished, I rejoined the interview that was wrapping up.

After the ST, his assistant, my wife and I had finished talking to and about my daughter, he asked that we leave so his assistant could interview and work with my daughter on a more personal level.

He then proceeded to lead us out of the room and down the hallway to an observation room.  We opened the door and there sat 31 students from his college class observing our daughter’s ST appointment as part of a class assignment.  The kicker…they were observing through the mirror where I had just finished “cleaning” out my nose.  The poor kids had just witnessed me rooting out my snout and now they had to try to act like everything was all good and cool.

Bless their hearts, they tried not to laugh…but they snickered the whole time we were there.  Upon leaving, my wife made a comment about how she thought the students had been making fun of us because they kept looking back at us and laughing amongst themselves.  When I told her what had actually transpired, she proceeded to punch my arm…then laugh her head off.  We laughed the whole way home.  Needless to say…we never went back.

~Mitch

Cover Art For “Watch Where You Step”

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I’m almost done with the illustrating of “Watch Where You Step” but I stopped long enough this weekend to create the cover art.  What do you think?

NaNoWriMo…Let’s Do This!

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I’m getting some final notes and ideas together for National Novel Writing Month.  I can’t wait…I’m so excited…and scared.  Let’s Do This!

Saturday’s Selection: Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton

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Here are Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, reading a poem from their book, Julie Andrews: A Collection of Songs, Poems and Lullabies.  For more information on their book, click HERE.

Txt Typ = Bd Spllng

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It cam 2 my attntn ystrdy as I wuz rdng a txt frm my oldst chld. Whn kdz txt, thy use vry few vwls.  And we wndr wy the grds on thr spllng tsts R so bd.

R U going 2 th dnce ths wknd

txtd my sistr Sue

She wz stndng rit nxt 2 me so I trnd and sed

“Yes, how about you?”

Outfox My Socks

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I started the day with only one objective in mind…to outfox my socks.  Today I wouldn’t let them get the best of me.  No longer would I stand for wearing a miss-matched pair of socks.  My plan was to wear matching sock no matter what lengths I had to go through to accomplish that task.

My adventure started in the sock drawer where, although full, only had one of every sock.  There were blue ones, black ones, navy ones and of course white ones.  There were long ones, short ones, thick ones and thin ones.  Some were soft and some were really rough.

There were various types of white ones.  Some with red stripes, some with blue stripes and even one with leopard print…that one belonged to my wife…not sure why it was in my sock drawer, but if I had found its match, I’d have worn them.

After I had come to the realization that the sock drawer had no matching socks, I made my way to the drier.  In the dryer I found a green sock, a burgundy sock, a black sock with holes where the toes used to be.

There were two baby booties which I thought was odd…seeing as how both of my children are over 10 years old.

After a futile attempt to find matching socks in the dryer, I began looking under seat cushions, under beds and behind dressers.  I looked in the back of closets, in window sills and behind the piano.  I looked under rugs and on top of the refrigerator.  In the garage and outside in the yard.  The more I looked the more I began to realize…my socks were outfoxing me.

So defeated, I went back to where I began my search.  From my sock drawer I pulled out a white sock with two blue stripes and a white sock with one navy stripe.  I put them on my feet and then pushed them down around my ankles hoping that they would look more like matching socks if they were less visible to the public.

Now I sit in my livingroom writing about my morning’s adventure wearing to separate socks that are pushed down to the point of my ankle where the shoe begins.  You can barely see a blue stripe or a navy stripe.  I’ve done a good job of camouflaging the fact that they don’t match, and hiding the fact that I was outfoxed by my socks.

But still I am left wondering…wear are all of the single socks that match all of the socks that I presently have?  Oh well, tomorrow is another day, and another opportunity to find a pair of socks that match.  Perhaps tomorrow I will outfox my socks.

~Mitch

Practice In The Cactus

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I just finished writing my latest project titled “Practice in the Cactus”.  Unlike “Feet”, “Buzzz, Buzzz” and my remaining children’s poetry books which are a collection of short poems, “Practice in the Cactus” is a complete story…simply written in verse.

The story is about a baseball team that must find a place to practice for the “big game” but the only place they can find that is the right size to have practice is a vacant lot full of cactus.  You can imagine the “sticky” situations the team members, and coach, get themselves into.  It is sure to please children and parents alike.

Look for “Practice in the Cactus” to be released once my final 3 children’s poetry books,  ”Watch Where You Step”, “The Spaghetti Is Ready” and “Sour Milk”, are released.

~Mitch

Every Writer Should Have A Blog

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I am a firm believer that every writer, be it children’s author, mystery writer, romance novelist or columnist, should have their own blog.  There are two reasons I think this way.

First, readers want to know the who, what, when, where and why of the writers they follow.  Nothing gets a reader more familiar with the writer like a blog.  Unlike the book they wrote, the author can write more personally on a blog about a great number of topics which allows the reader to become more familiar with the writer as a person.  It is a great way for author and writer to connect on a more personal level.

By allowing the reader to become invested in the writer on more personal level, the writer is building a bit of a bond…a friendship if you will, with his/her readers thus building a stronger and more loyal fan base.

Second, it is a great way to hone your skills.  It is a proven fact, the more you write, the better writer you become.  Writers who blog about various topics become more rounded in their writing.  Writing 3, 4 even 7 days a week on topics such as family, a trip to the grocery store, a past memory or the pizza they just ate will allow writers to become more versatile, which makes them more likable, well-rounded and even more marketable.

Readers want to read so as writers, we should give them what they want as often as we can.  It is better for us…and better for them.

~Mitch

Weekends Are For Family & Fun

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As a young lad, I can remember the thankfulness my mom and dad had for Fridays.  They had spent the week at their respective jobs giving 110%.  And on top of that, they had to ferry my sister and I to baseball practice, guitar lessons, dance lessons (for my sister…not me), swimming lessons, etc.

My dad was my baseball coach so any time he might have had off was spent teaching little kids how to play the Great American Past Time.  My mom worked at the High School so our family was expected to go to all football, volleyball, baseball and basketball games…and we did.

So when Friday’s rolled around (and there was no Friday night football game) my mom and dad would enter the house and you could almost feel the sigh of relief as they plopped in their favorite chair to relax after a stressful and active week.  Generally my sister and I would sit in the living room with them and we’d all discuss the week we had just experienced and its low points…and high points.

The last thing me and my sister wanted to do was upset mom or dad.  Unfortunately we were siblings…who argued…and fought…typical sibling stuff.  When we did something we weren’t supposed to, mom simply had to give “that look” and we both knew to straighten up and fly right or else.

Fridays at our house growing up were made for recharging.  A time to relax and prepare for the fun weekend ahead.  Because at our house growing up, weekends were made for family and fun.  We’d typically end up going to the beach, a festival or some college or professional sports venue.  Weekends were made for family and fun…and we needed that Friday to get rested up for the fun which we were to experience.

Now that I’m grown with two children of my own, I can see the value in recharging on Friday afternoon after a long weeks’ worth of labor.  It is a time that my wife, children and I have to come together and discuss the important things that happend throughout the week and the lessons we learned through the week’s experiences.

But once Saturday rolls around we are fully rested and ready to for a weekend of family and fun.

End Of A Long Week

Mom reads in her rocker

Dad sleeps in his chair

Me and my sister lay on the couch

Where we fight over the blanket we share

 

Mom says, “That’ll be quite enough,”

“We’ve all had a really long week.”

She says that if we don’t behave

We’ll find ourselves up a creek

*Poem “End Of A Long Week” From Mitch’s Book “Buzzz, Buzzz”

 

Saturday’s Selections: Carrie Heyes (October 15, 2011)

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About Carrie Heyes: Carrie has been writing children’s poetry for 7 years.  Carrie’s favorite children’s poet is Dennis Lee.  Carrie has a teaching degree from Canada (yep, she’s Canadian).  Carrie has a bunny named Lucy.  Carrie is currently learning to play the piano.  And yes! Most of Carries poems are based on true stories from her childhood!

If you would like to know more about Carrie Heyes and her children’s poetry books, go to http://www.carrieheyes.com

Carrie’s Poetry Books:
duck… duck… moose! (2011)
Doodads (2009)

Saturday’s Selections: A New Saturday Morning Blog Post Series

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Starting today, all Saturday morning posts will be of various videos from children’s authors and illustrators.  They are chosen because they bring insight into the world of children’s book writing and /or because they are simply fun for children and adults alike.  If you have any suggestions of authors that have videos that you think should be included in “Saturday’s Selections”, please let me know.  Happy Watching!

~Mitch

Kids Love Boogers & Dog Poop!

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OK…so some of my poems include such topics as boogers, dog poop and passing gas. Along the way, I’ve had adults ask me if I thought such subjects are ones that children will want to read. My answer is a resounding YES. As a parent, I been able to watch the trends in children’s books over the years and I’ve noticed that the topics like burping, flatulence and dog poop are well represented.

As an employee at a public school, I am blessed to get to interact with elementary aged students.  And because I do, I can attest that not only do children like books with such topics, their conversations throughout the day include such topics.

You can get a group of two or more boys (and yes…girls) together and they can discuss not only how loud little Timmy’s toot was in class, but how much louder their toot was last night at the dinner table.  And this conversation can go on FOREVER.

I once heard a group of elementary girls (yes girls) discuss, in detail, the color of snot that came from a fellow student’s nose when she sneezed in P.E.  It was this very conversation that gave me the idea for “Tammy’s Snout” (Buzzz, Buzzz 2011).

After I had written enough poems for three books, I began to notice that writing was being influenced by such discussions and that I had indeed included many poems with topics like doggy poop, snotty noses, students tooting in class and belching.  This worried me.  I didn’t want to be a disgusting author…I just wanted to make kids laugh.  I tested the poems out on the students and they laughed so I kept the poems all the while wondering if I was some kind of sick, twisted freak.  I mean seriously…who writes about this stuff with the intent to publish it for children to read?

I had to seek validation.  Was I crazy to publish this stuff?  Other authors had, but I wasn’t “other authors”, I was me…am me.  Honestly, I felt a little weird writing poems that dealt with bodily functions.  So I polled our elementary teaching staff.  My question was twofold.  A) Will kids read this stuff?  And B) Why?

The feedback told me this: Students love reading about gross things…that’s just how it is.  They like reading about things they understand and have experienced…it draws them into the story because they can relate.  Let’s face it, most elementary aged kids really haven’t experienced a lot of things.  But tooting and picking your nose are things that all elementary aged students have experience…they relate.

So as a children’s author do I advise that you write stories about boogers, farts and burps when the urge hits you?  ABSOLUTLY!

~Mitch

Mitch Fairchild is a children’s poet and authorof two children’s poetry books: FEET and BUZZZ, BUZZZ

The Best Editors/Critics An Independent Author’s Money Can Buy

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I’ve heard it said many times that, “Using family members
and friends for editors/critics is the worst possible idea ever.”  Well…I have to disagree.

Before I even got the idea to start writing books, I shared
my poetry with my children, their friends and the students at the school where
I work.  It wasn’t until I started
getting major laughter from  them that I
even considered writing a children’s poetry book.

Now, fast forward to the current “book writing” stage of my
life.

Throughout the whole process of writing children’s poetry
books, I’ve let the children be the judge of what goes, and what does not.  Each day at the end of school, I read silly
little poems I’ve written to any and all children I can find at the school
where I work.  If they laugh…it goes into
the books.  If they sit and stare at me
as if to say, “What the heck did I just listen to and how can I get back the
15-30 seconds of my life that I just wasted listening to that poem? , then I
know that poem goes into the waste basket…or goes in for a major overhaul.

Likewise, at home, I’ll have my youngest daughter and her
friends sit and read what I’ve written and look at the illustrations I’ve
created.  If they laugh…Winner.  If they don’t laugh…I throw it out.

If you are like me, an independent writer with little money
and even less time to hire and use an editor…family and friends can come in
handy.

“You can’t use a family member because they will show favor
for your work dude!”  I don’t buy
that.  If your family members (and
friends) are like mine, they don’t want to be embarrassed by your failure so
they are more likely to edit your work well…or at least as well as they can.  When approaching a family member with the
intent to ask them to edit your work, you might want to point this out.  “Dude, can you edit this?  I need to make sure that my work doesn’t embarrass
the family.”  This will put added
pressure on them to “do the job right”.

In the same way, friends (real friends) will be supportive,
but they will be honest and tell you your work sucks if they think it falls
short.  Again, let them know before they
start editing that you need an honest opinion and edit of your work because the
last thing you want to do is embarrass yourself.

So feel free to use family and friends for editing and
critiquing your work.  Just make sure
they understand the weight of what they are doing and how it will affect your
life…and theirs.

~Mitch

Writing: The Rarest Of Art Forms

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Painters paint, singers sing and writers write.  Each has their own skill set and each has a
passion for what they do.

Painters are able to take obscure visions and bring them to
life in a way that brings joy to the individual who looks upon their work of
art.

The singer is able to bring melody, tempo and sound together
in a way that pleases the ears of the individual who listens.

Then there is the writer.
They bring a whole new set of skills to the table.  They are able to take the reader to different
worlds, introduce them to various creatures and even root for the bad guy on
occasion.  Painting and singing can’t do
that.

I’m not knocking painters and singers.  I’m a huge fan of Degas and Nat King
Cole.  Degas and Cole are tops in their respective
genres.

Degas’ brilliant use
of color and imagery when painting ballerinas and race horses has the power to
take my breath away each time I look upon his work.  Hence the reason I have so many Degas prints
throughout my home.

And who can sing better than Nat King Cole?  Answer: Nobody!  Unforgettable, Route 66 and Nature Boy are
beautiful to listen to as is all of the songs he sings.  Hence the reason I own every album he ever recorded.  (Under Nat King Cole and The King Cole Trio).

But let’s be honest, anyone can pick-up some paint and make
a “painting”.  Picasso painted the
weirdest looking portraits…we call it art.

And anyone can sing a song.
William Hung has made quite a bit of money since singing “She Bangs” on
American Idol…worst singing ever.

The same can’t be said about writing though.

If you write bad, then you stink.  As a children’s writer, no one will laugh at my
poems, or give meprops for bad writing.
The same goes for, mysteries writers, steampunk authors or whatever genre
you choose to write.

The bottom line…not everyone can write.  As writers, we have to be able to take the
reader someplace they’ve never been.  Or
at least make them see something they never saw before in the places that they’ve
been.  We must illuminate the minds of
children, teens, young adults and grown-ups in a way that will leave them
wanting for more.

Writing is an art form all its own.  It takes a special type of person to put
their thoughts down on a piece of paper and then make the reader laugh, cry,
and get emotionally involved in the plot.
Few people can do it.

Today’s post goes out to all of my writer friends out
there.  Keep up the good work.  Keep taking us to places we’ve never been and
introducing us to people we’ve never met and could never live without.  Your thoughts on paper inspire us, and help
us to escape the stress of everyday life…if even for a few minutes.  And for that, we thank you.

~Mitch

“Like” A Brother Out

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One way you can help us promote both FEET and Buzzz, Buzzz (aside from purchasing copies) is to click on the book links (on the right hand side of this blog —->) of both books and click the “Like” button on their respective homepage.  The more people the better.  Thanks for your support!

~Mitch

My Second Ebook, “Buzzz, Buzzz”, Hits Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com Tomorrow

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After two weeks of editing and illustrating, my second ebook, “Buzzz, Buzzz”, will drop in the Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com stores tomorrow.  It was a wild and crazy ride, but with a waste basket full of art, and hundreds of editing changes I’m pleased with the end product.  Buzzz, Buzzz is the second of 5 children’s poetry books that I intend to release before Christmas.

The writing is all finished, which leaves only the editing and illustrating.  Once these 5 children’s poetry books are finished and published, I can start on my YA science fiction/thriller “The School Bus Driver”.

The School Bus Driver is cross between Doctor Who and Jack The Ripper which will leave readers on the edge of their seat.  But first things first, I have to finish “Watch Where You Step”, “The Spaghetti Is Ready”, and “Sour Milk”.  Watch for them to drop over the next few months.

You can get your copy of Buzzz, Buzzz now for only $ .99 by following the link in the right column ——->

~Mitch

The Postman (with artwork)

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Did you hear about the postman

Who once saw a ghost and

Ran down the street

To get Sheriff Pete

 

Little did they know

It was me and my brother Joe

Playing a little prank

On our new postman Frank

 

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Buzzz, Buzzz”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

 

I Love…

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Too much to do. I should be editing and illustrating, but instead
I find myself without motivation. I’ve been locked up in my house for almost 2
weeks on a writer’s binge that has been extremely productive and rewarding, but
now I simply feel the need to chill. I’ve got my computer in my lap and big
glass of ice tea. In the background can be heard the melodies of jazz’s past as
I’ve pulled up jazzradio.com on my laptop and am now immersed in the sounds of
ragtime.

I sit in my big comfy chair and I’ve got my feet propped up on the
big comfy footstool. The light, graying dull amber, is coming through the living
room window. From here I can see the leaves that look as if they are ready to
start turning into their annual fall tan/brown. The trampoline and the picnic
table stand all alone as if waiting for me or my daughters to come flying out
the back door and join them for a play date.

Across the room is the rocker where my wife sits when she comes
home for the day. It is where I serve her a nice relaxing drink, one she deserves
after a hard day of work. I love my wife.

Next to the rocker is a long leather couch with royal red and gold
pillows tossed about. The couch is where my daughters do their homework in the
afternoon when they arrive home from school. I love my daughters.

In the back yard I hear the barking and see the running of my
three dogs. The neighbors are probably tired of their constant running, playing
and barking, but I don’t care because my dogs are happy. I love my dogs.

My two week retreat is almost finished. It has been very productive
as I said, but no doubt I will miss it. I love my vacation.

~Mitch

 

Why So Cheap?

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So I just received my first bit of “hate mail” from a “fellow author” who is convinced that by pricing my ebook at $.99, I’m killing the market for authors who want to sell their books at a higher price.

Well…OK…I can see an argument there…I guess.  But here is the thing.  I’m not really in this for the money.  I have desire to see children laugh (see last post).  I want them to get a little joy from reading my books so whether or not I get paid for that…I really couldnt’ care less.

It is my opinion that ebooks are the future of the publishing industry.  The books will sell at $ .99 and they will sell at $10.99.  I think that children’s books don’t have the “power” of a science fiction novel or mystery series. These types of books can charge higher prices and it be OK…after all, the plots are typically more intricate and we’re talking 200 pages versus the 30-50 pages of a children’s ebook.

Children’s ebooks are written, illustrated and designed to be more simple and fun…thus, we can afford to price them lower with hopes of getting more of them out to the children.  I’m not saying that children’s ebooks are of lesser quality, after all, they have pictures and the occasional clever rhyme.  I’m simply stating the fact that as an ebook author/illustrator I want my audience (Children) to be able to get my ebooks.  And parent are more likely to spend $.99 on their child before they spend $6.99…which is what they will end up spending on a romance ebook for themselves.

So to all those who think that my pricing is going to “kill” epublishing, I say lighten up.  We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of epublishing.  The possibilities that lie ahead are literally unimaginable.  Go ahead and price your books how you want…I won’t be offended.

 

~Mitch

 

Wisdom From The Dr.

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Dr. Seuss once said, “You make’m, I amuse’em”.  When it comes to bringing joy to the lives of children, this quote pretty much sums it up for me.  One of the greatest gifts from God is that of the infections laughter of children.  As a parent, I make it a point to produce a smile, chuckle, giggle, or full-out gut-busting laugh in the life of my children at least once each and every day.

Laughter is the medicine that heals cuts, scrapes, scratches and even broken hearts.  If we, as adults, make it a priority to bring a smile to the face of the children who cross our paths, then I believe we add value to the life of those children.

It is my opinion that to be truly successful, we must go through life adding value to the situations we are in and to the lives of the people we meet.   Brining laughter to a child’s life can help to restore confidence, chase away sorrow, and shape the child’s character in a positive way.  Afterall, once laughter has been shared with a child, that child will in turn share it with someone else…before long, sharing laughter is part of the child’s character…and a grand character trait to be sure.

Yesterday, I was reminded why I chose to finish and publish my children’s poetry books.  My youngest daughter had a friend over for a play date and she wanted to let her read FEET.  We pulled it up on the Kindle and the two sat on the couch reading, out loud, the various poems.  As they read, they laughed and chuckled.  They had a full-out discussion about “Barney’s Little Present” which culminated in an uncontrolable gigglefest.

Then and there I knew that my first book, would not be my last.  And that even if my youngest daughter and her friend are the only ones who ever read my books, I would be happy.  Why?  Because I was able to “amuse’em”.  And hopefully in those few sparse minutes of laughter, I was able to add value to their lives through a few simple, short, silly poems.

 

~Mitch

Tammy’s Snout

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Tammy has a real long snout

Snot runs out of it like water from a spout

 

She blows into hankies and she blows into tissue

But that never seems to fix Tammy’s little issue

 

One day I told Tammy she should sew it shut

That’s the day Tammy socked me square in the gut

 

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Buzzz, Buzzz”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

The Cover Art For Buzzz, Buzzz

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Here is the final revision of the cover art for my second children’s book, Buzzz, Buzzz, which should hit ebook stores the first of October…possibly even as soon as next week.

Thank you all for your posts, emails and words of encouragement in reference to my first release, Feet.  It means a lot to me and my family…we love you all.

 

If you haven’t got your copy of Feet yet, simply click on the links on the right. ———->

 

Remember, if you don’t have a Kindle, Nook or iPad, you can download the free apps to your iPhone or Android mobile phone.  You can also download the free Kindle app for your laptop or desktop computers.

 

Is There A Place In Society For Children’s Ebooks?

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About a year ago I was encouraged to write a children’s book using the hundreds of poems that I had written over the years.  As I began to pick and choose which poems would be book worthy and which would not, I soon realized that I had enough poems for 5 children’s books.  While illustrating the books, I was made aware of the whole ebook concept and started to research the ins and outs of ebook publishing.

I quickly realized, and fell in love with, the amount of creative control an indie writer could have if he/she went the ebook rout.  As a result, I decided to write my children’s books with the strategy of publishing them strictly online via Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and the iStore.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Feet-ebook/dp/B005P5JIZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317235273&sr=8-1#_

I’ve just released FEET, the first ebook of the five ebook series, and now I have to listen to a handful of naysayers tell me that there just isn’t a market for children’s ebooks.  Many have told me that there will never be a place for children’s ebooks because children don’t own Kindles, Nooks or iPads.

I disagree.  It is my belief that parents will soon see that having a children’s library on some kind of ebook device will take up less space in the home and make the children’s books more readily available. After all, what mom or dad wants to go looking through closets, under beds and out in the back yard for their child’s favorite book?  I believe there are endless possibilities when it comes to children’s ebooks.

Probably the biggest factor in purchasing a children’s ebook versus a print book is cost.  A parent can purchase a quality children’s ebook for an average cost of $2.99…compare that to buying the same quality print book in a local book store for $10.99 and up.

The second biggest factor for parents and children to take into account is the “instant gratification” factor.  If a child wants a poetry book, short story, tween novel or biography, all the parent has to do is search for a title or author on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or the iStore, purchase the ebook and upload it instantly.  No more running to the book store or waiting for an ordered book to arrive.  The entire purchasing and receiving of a book takes place in the amount of time it takes for a person to get up out of their chair, grab a handful of cookies and a glass of milk and then sit back down.

With the release of the Kindle Fire and the already existing Nook Color and iPad (which is color…duh) the opportunities for children’s authors to publish their books with colorful illustrations now exist in each of the major ebook markets.  I think now is the perfect time for the writers of children’s ebooks to hit these distributers hard and get those children’s ebooks cranked out.

Ride the wave of this new medium into the future and put smiles on the faces of children, and parents, around the world.  Once parents, and children, discover how convenient the ebook concept is, they will quickly realize the value it adds to their everyday lives.

~Mitch

 

FEET Has Been Released As An Ebook!!!

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Good Day All,

I wanted to take a little time to announce that I have written, and  released, a children’s ebook titled FEET.  FEET is a collection of funny, silly and zany poems. It is the first ebook in a 5 book series.   Writing children’s short stories and poetry has been a hobby of mine which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed for years.  About a year ago, I decided to take the words and add illustrations to them and publish what I had created.   To my surprise, I had 5 books worth of poems.  I wanted to share all of the silliness that oozes out of my head with families everywhere.

 

And now the sales pitch (AWWW man!  Not a sales pitch)…I would like to invite each of you to go and purchase your copy (for a whopping $ .99) today and then read it with your child(ren).  FEET is available at both Amazon.com (for the Kindle) and Barnes and Noble.com (for the Nook).  If you own an iPad, you can download a version for that device at Smashwords.com.  If you don’t own a Kindle, Nook or iPad, but have an iPhone or Android smart phone, you can add the Kindle or Nook apps to your phone (free of charge) and read ebooks, like FEET, wherever and whenever you please.  Although I will admit, FEET on the phone is pretty small and the layout is a bit strange…still a good read.

To get your copy of Feet today, simply go to any of the above websites (amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, smashwords.com) and type in Mitch Fairchild Feet.  Next, click on the book’s cover.  Doing this will take you directly to the ebook’s webpage where you can order your copy.  I don’t believe in charging a high fee for people to partake in this little hobby of mine, so the ebook is priced at $ .99 …which is the lowest price that can be charged for an ebook at any of the 3 online stores.

 

Feet can also be purchased using links on my blogsite: http://mitchellfairchild.wordpress.com

 

It is my hope and prayer that you and your family enjoy reading these books as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them.

 

~Mitch

Any Time Now… The Release Of “Feet”

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Thanks to our Apple distributer, Smashwords, it looks like all three major consumer readers (iPad, Kindle & Nook) will offer “Feet” in their online stores within the next 48 hours. The ebook publication process has been interesting. Both the Nook and the iPad will have the artwork in color and the Kindle, which uses e-ink, will have the illustrations in 15 various shades of grey. Rumor has it that Amazon is going to announce their plans to sell a color pad to compete with Apple in the next few weeks…we’ll see. In the meantime, Android, iPhones and the iPad have apps for the Nook and Kindle which will allow you to view the books in color on your mobile device.

What Was Your Favorite Children’s Book When You Were A Kid?

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Hello Friends

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Please take a while to look through and read the poems (& watch the videos) then comment on them. Your input will go a long way in helping me to create the best children’s book serirs I can. Thanks

~Mitch

The Groom

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Once at a wedding

My little sister made a friend

She was being really nice

That wasn’t her usual trend

 
Things were going well

Until her friend pulled out a blanket

The blanket caught my sister’s eye

And then I saw her yank it

 
She ran past the buffet

With the blue blanket in tow

She ran out on the dance floor

Where the bride and groom danced slow
 

The groom asked my sister

“Does this blanket belong to you?”

My sister said, “No I took it!”

Then turned to leave his view

 
The groom told my sister

“I think you better stay put.”

She turned and looked up at the groom

And then she stomped his foot
 

The moral of this story

From the viewpoint of the groom

Avoid little girls with blankets

‘Cause they’ll make you limp around the room
 

*From Mitch’s forthcoming book “Sour Milk”.

All Rights Reserved.   Mitch Fairchild.   2011

Frogs

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My clothes were too dressy

To chase frogs with Jesse

But I did it anyway

Now my clothes are muddy

And so is my buddy

But we caught 10 frogs today

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Watch Where You Step”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

The Chocolate Pie Video

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The Feet Video

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The Postman

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Did you hear about the postman

Who once saw a ghost and

Ran down the street

To get Sheriff Pete

 

Little did they know

It was me and my brother Joe

Playing a little prank

On our new postman Frank

 

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Buzzz, Buzzz”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

Little Jimmy Robbins

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Little Jimmy Robbins was the team bat boy

Compared to all the players, he looked like a little toy

Little Jimmy Robbins brought the Yanks good luck

So much so that each team player gave Jimmy one whole buck

 

Little Jimmy Robbins missed a game one day

And no matter how hard they tried, the Yankees couldn’t play

Little Jimmy Robbins never missed another game

The Yanks went on to be World Champs, and Jimmy got the fame

 

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “The Spaghetti Is Ready”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

Mr. Stortz

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This summer I saw Mr. Stortz
He was dressed kind of funny
He wore bright red and purple shorts
On his shirt was a picture of a bunny

On his left foot he wore a bright green sock
On his right foot he wore pink
Wherever he went, the people would gawk
They didn’t quite know what to think

The shoes he wore were bright yellow
The kind you’d wear to play sports
My mom asked, “Do you know this fellow?”
I said, “Of course! He’s my teacher Mr. Stortz.”

*From Mitch’s forthcoming book “The Spaghetti Is Ready”
Copyright 2011 Mitch Fairchild All Rights Reserved

Amanda The Panda

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Amanda the panda is the cutest of bears

She likes to go to carnivals and festivals and fairs

She really loves funnel cakes and thinks corndogs are dandy

But what Amanda loves the most is grape cotton candy

It sticks to her whiskers and stick to her paws

It tickles her tongue, her teeth and her jaws

It tastes so sweet and so fluffy and yummy

It’s a taste that’s good from her mouth to her tummy

When the day is done she heads back to the zoo

And tells her friends about the festival and the cotton candy too

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Feet”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

My Dog Bo

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I wonder what it would be like
If my dog Bo could talk
Oh the discussions we could have
Each time we took a walk

We’d discuss the moon and the stars
And all of our favorite foods
We’d talk about my sister Kate
And all of her crazy moods

But mostly we’d discuss baseball
From the strike zone to the balk
We’d talk about the Mighty Cubs
If my dog Bo could talk

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “The Spaghetti Is Ready”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

My Brother Smells Funny

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My brother smells funny

He doesn’t smell sweet

He smells like tuna fish

Mixed with stinky feet

I know he takes baths

Cause Mom makes him do it

Or at least I hope he does

There’s really nothing to it

If smelling weird were a job

He would make lots of money

I know this because

My brother smells funny

 

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “The Spaghetti Is Ready”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

Pressing On

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So…I’ve been looking into the idea of publishing the first three books via ebooks. I have to say, the concept has attracted my attention. I am left wondering how many parents would actually purchase a children’s poetry book for their Kindle so that they could read it with their children. Ebook sales has surpassed paperback sales on Amazon which is a good sign for ebook authors, but how many of those sales are children’s books? More research is needed, but I do like the fact that I can self publish and get the books into the hands of the children quicker and cheaper…yet with a high standard of quality.

~Mitch

Mom’s Vase

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I broke my mom’s favorite vase

And didn’t know what to do

I was sliding down our long staircase

And knocked it off with my shoe

 

 

I know I’ll be in trouble

If she ever does find out

My punishment will be double

In that I have no doubt

 

 

She’s told me many times

Not to swoosh down like that

And that stairs are made to climb

Not slide down like a rat

 

 

I’ll just have to grin and bear it

And try to plead my case

And tell her how a wild ferret

Snuck in and broke her vase

 

 

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Watch Where You Step”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

The Nifty Gift

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Today was my teacher’s birthday
So I made her something nifty
A great big card that said “I love you,
Even though you’re over fifty!”

 

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Buzzz, Buzzz”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

Dad’s Remote

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One day my dad

Lost the TV remote

He searched in the cushions

And the pocket of his coat

He looked on the table

Next to his drink

My dad even looked

Inside the kitchen sink

Searching high and low he never did find

That little black remote

Of the channel changing kind

It wasn’t under the couch

Or even in the attic

So from that day on

All we did was watch static

*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Watch Where You Step”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

My Flower

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I went outside and planted a seed

Then came inside and chose a book to read

Chapters one and two I read with much haste

Chapters three and four I felt were a waste

I looked out the window hoping to see a sprout

But there I saw nothing so I began to pout

Chapters five and six seemed to me such a bore

Seven and eight had me wanting for more

Out the window I glanced wanting to see a flower

But I saw only dirt and so passed another hour

Chapters nine and ten I thought were funny

Eleven and twelve were about a pink bunny

Through the window I stared to see if it had grown

But I saw no growth and this caused me to groan

Chapters thirteen and fourteen were a bit of a drag

Fifteen and sixteen told of a game of tag

One last glance out the window I took

But alas I saw nothing so I continued by book

Chapters seventeen and eighteen were joyous and fun

And nineteen and twenty were the last and I was done

As I closed the book something outside caught my eye

My flower had grown a whole one inch high


*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “FEET”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

Detention

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My friend Bobby called me a clown

So to pay him back I pushed him down

Now the both of us are serving time in detention

Thanks to our teacher and principal Hinson


*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Buzzz, Buzzz”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.


String Benders

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One person plays the violin

And another plays the fiddle

Both instruments look the same

It’s really quite a riddle

One you play with a bow

The other you do too

You tuck the violin under your chin

The fiddle is placed there too

The only difference I can see

Are the instrument’s string benders

One wears a bow tie and coat with tails

The other wears suspenders


*From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Buzzz, Buzzz”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

Feet

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Feet can be really big

Or feet can be real small

Some people’s feet are shorter than short

And some feet are taller than tall

Feet come in different sizes

And different colors too

Feet can take you to the park

Or can take you to the zoo

Some feet smell like roses

While some feet smell real funky

You can find feet on a dog

And even on a monkey

Feet can march and stomp real loudly

Or lightly feet can tread

But at the end of the day what feet do best

Is take you to your bed


*Title Poem From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “FEET”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

The House And The Mouse

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Said the big old house

To the wee little mouse

“How is to have a tail?”

Said the wee little mouse

To the big old house

“It’s actually very swell.”


* From Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “FEET”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

Little Timmy

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“Are there any questions?”

Asked Mrs. Gigi

From the back of the classroom

Timmy yelled out “Me! Me!”

“Why do you sound so urgent?”

Asked she, asked she

Timmy answered,

“’Cause I really, really, really gotta go wee-wee!”


*A Poem Form Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “FEET”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.

Ith Looth! Ith Looth!

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“Ith Looth! Ith Looth!”

Said my friend Ruth

But I didn’t know what she was saying

When next I saw Ruth

She had lost her front tooth

Now I know what Ruth was thaying


*A Poem Form Mitch’s Forthcoming Book “Buzzz, Buzzz”

Copyright 2011. Mitch Fairchild. All Rights Reserved.