Monday, July 27, 2009

Worst Day Of The Year

...Well it was for me. First I woke up at like two in the morning and I could get to sleep until six, so I only go five hours of sleep. Then I couldn't get my usual fix of the internet because I had to quickly finish writing a letter to my grandpa. I got a really bad hair day. Then when I was getting dressed I realised that I forgot to put my school pants in the wash on Friday, so I had to go to school with paint-splattered pants. As soon as I came through the school gates a basketball hit me on the head. I have to write an article for the school newspaper and I just realised the deadline is Wednesday. My friends were acting grumpy. I got pretty much every single sum wrong in math. I led the whole team down in Sport. I embarrassed myself by falling over in front of like, everyone. The most annoying boy in school chose me as his victim today. I couldn't sign into my Neopets account. And when I got home I realised I forgot my key on the kitchen table, and I sat there in the cold for two hours before getting the sense to go and check if any of the back doors were open, and realising that one was, and I could've just walked in and settle myself in front of the heater all this time. There.

Sorry to be such a grumpy blogger, but I had to just let it all out. You know what would make me feel better? If you told me about YOUR worst day. Please comment.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Hello! Just doing a little catch-up post:

Okay, first, reminding you about Anna's and mine new blog, Cherry Banana Split, which reviews Australian books. I still haven't put up a review, but I promise I will after school.

And...oh, I have tasted tacos for the first time ever yesterday, and, yeah, they were nice.

Our class is also doing a school newspaper! Right now we're figuring out who'll do which job, and I really want to be editor, interviewer or book reviewing person. Fingers crossed!

Last but most definitely not least - Sara, from Dragonfly Book Reviews, is having a challenge to celebrate her blog being 1 year old! Wooop!

Rules and stuff are here.

The books you're meant to read are here.

Have lots and lots of fun! You might even win a special prize! I'll try to take part, but I am very busy so I can't promise anything!


Cherry blossom wishes,

CherryDiva

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Pssssst, I Have A Secret.....

There's actually a few. Want me to spill? Okay....

I haven't read/watched 'Twilight', I don't have Twitter, MSN, facebook or Windows Live Messenger, the only Lisa Clark book I've read is 'Think Pink', I haven't read/seen any of the 'Harry Potter' stories, I haven't watched the 'Hannah Montana Movie', I've never even watched 'Toy Story' when I was little and before the 'Twilight' craze I didn't have a clue who Robert Patterson is, however you spell his last name. So yeah. I'm pretty old fashioned. Anyone else like me? I'm gonna improve soon. At least I have a blog. TWO now, actually....

If you haven't heard already, Anna (from Anna Banana) and I have started out own book blog! We'll be mainly focusing on Australian books, but we'll review others if their really good. Huge thanks to Beanie for thinking up our name, 'Chery Banana Split', and for everyone else for drawing our attention to it. You rock!

Check out our blog here. PLEASE check it out! We're just starting out so there isn't many posts, but give us time and we'll be bursting with reviews. There might also be a competition on soon........

Super Pledge


HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! How's everyone? Good? Bad? Cold? I know I am. Those people in the Northern Hemisphere..........I envy you!

So, anyway. If you've been reading Anna Banana's blog, you'll most likely know about the 'Hands And Words Are Not For Hurting' project. If you don't, well no panicking because I'm here an I'll tell you ALL about it.


So. The HAWANFH project is like a pledge that you take to help stop abuse, which gives me the creepies. I, personally think it's a FABULOUS idea and everyone who's heart isn't made of steel, or who doesn't have little siblings, should do it!


I've copied the instructions from Anna's blog:


'this involves taking the pledge(saying it or you could write it on your piece of paper) and either tracing round you hand in purple texta or dipping your hand in paint printing it. we make purple hands because purple is the we use to honor and remember victims of violence, people to afraid to get help and those who have died. it is also considered the colour of feminism. the read heart symbolises when you get hurt or when you hurt someone else that it hurts deeply. the open hand (the shape you trance) means stop, think before you make the decision on your actions. finally when taking the pledge you say it with one hand raise like if in court and you really mean, their is no point taking the pledge if you don't mean it. you them write your name and age and stick it up somewhere important. the pledge is:


"I will not use my hands or words to hurt others or myself."'


Ooooooooooooookayyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Hope you all take the pledge!


To get more info, go to http://www.handsproject.org/home/. Or read 'Call Me Hope', which is obviously a book.



See ya!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Cathy Cassidy Interview!

THIS is the REALLY exciting thing that I mentioned in my posts! Eeeeek! An interview with my favourite author, Cathy Cassidy! I hope you enjoy!


1. Hi Cathy! Thanks so much for doing this interview! So is there someone or something that inspired you to start writing?
I've always wanted to be a writer... I loved daydreaming, and writing the dreams down was just the next step forward! If one person was an inspiration, I'd have to say my lovely Dad, who sadly died recently... he gave me a love of stories, the courage to dream big and the enthusiasm and determination to make the dreams happen. When someone you love really believes in you, you truly can do anything.

2. How do you come up with such unique characters and names? Are they ever based on anyone you know?
I collect interesting or unusual names from readers who email me or whom I meet at book festivals and on school visits... cool! Then I weave a character around the name... I also get inspiration from readers at book events! If someone looks interesting, they may spark off the beginnings of a character!
3. Do people ever come up to you on the streets screaming 'Omg, it's CATHY CASSIDY!!! Eeeeek! Can I have an autograph?!" If so, does it annoy you?
No. Authors are very rarely THAT famous... unless you are JK Rowling!!! I do sometimes get spotted at book festivals or in my local supermarket, but it's always very sweet and polite!

4. If you HAD to, which ones of your books would you write a sequel to?
My book Lucky Star is a 'kind of' sequel to Dizzy, all about Mouse when he is 14 years old. You'll find out what happened to some of your other fave characters, too! Check it out... I think you'll like it! That is the closest to sequel I have done.

5. Were you surprised when you found out how good your first book, Dizzy was selling?
Yes... I was just happy to have had a book published, but to find kids were connecting with it so much was brilliant!

6. Why did you decide to start writing books for younger readers like Shine on Daizy Star?
My publishers asked if I'd have a go... and I thought it might be fun!

7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be?
I would probably still be an art teacher or an agony aunt for a teen mag, jobs I still did until recently... they were fab!

8. Can you give us a little clue on what your next book will be about?
Will it be for older or younger readers?
The very next book out in Australia will be called 'Letters To Cathy'. 'Letters To Cathy' is a non-fiction book answering some of the questions readers send me on growing up, friendship, family, school, boys... and much, much more. It will be out in November. I think you'll like it!!!! The 'Cathy Cassidy Dreams & Doodles Daybook' will also be available in Australia then. Next Spring, the second 'younger' book, 'Daizy Star & The Pink Guitar' will be on sale (ages 7-11).Then, in the autumn, there will be the first in a new series for my usual age group... it's still top secret, so keep an eye on my website cathycassidy.com for more details once I start writing!

9. If you had to live on the moon with only one book, which would it be?
I'd pick a big blank-paged notebook so I could draw and write my own stories.... then I'd never get bored!

10. Would you rather live in Antarctica or Africa?
Either place would be a real struggle for me. It'd have to be Antarctica with a centrally heated house, or Africa with a house that has air conditioning! I'd probably go for Africa if I had to choose... it's an amazing continent!

11. Thanks so much for doing this interview! The last question is: If you were the Queen for a day, what would you do?
Wow! I would create a new teen or pre-teen parliament to help young people with THEIR problems... put daydreaming onto the school timetable of every school in the land... and free cake & smoothies at breaktime, too! I'd also make National Best Friends Day (4th July) into INTERNATIONAL best friends day, so kids around the world could celebrate it. And I would ask everyone to sign up to the FRIENDSHIP CHARTER on my website cathycassidy.com - actually, I'll ask anyway! Please sign up if you can, and say NO to bullying and YES to the power of friendship. Yay!!! Thanks Stacey... fab questions!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Notebooks and......Oh Just Stuff!

Helloooooooooooooooooo my faithful readers! Wassup?! The other day my Mum bought me these REALLY cool notebooks from Smiggle! This one:








In which I'll keep short stories, poems, story starters and MORE!



And a gold one in which I'll keep interesting bits and pieces that I can later work into a story.

So..... holidays have started! Actually they started on Friday but you know. Both Mum AND Dad are working so I have to stay home mostly, but that means I'll be bloggin' a lot! Yesterday my lil' bro was just watching TV and I was on the computer 'cause it was really windy outside and we were bored. So then EVERYTHING turned off. Because of all the wind, a tree fell over and hit the power line! So we started collecting candles so we wouldn't have to find them when it's dark, and thank goodness I have a mobile phone 'cause otherwise no one would've been able to get through to check we were all right!


My phone:












last time we had a windy day like this a whirl-wind thingy came and took our trampoline and took it out to we the golf course! We live like, really close to the golf course! So it got caught in a tree then fell down and absolutely got totally bent. Scary yet seriously true!

Oh and about a week ago I told my Mom's and Dad's friend about the 101 tasks in 1001 days thingy and he said he'd do it! So today I was just sitting on the sofa, writing in my new notebook when my Dad comes in and goes, 'There's a letter for you. From the USA!'. I got like totally confused 'cause no one I know lives in the USA or is on holiday there right now. So I open it up and realise it's a postcard from that very friend! He said one of his goals was to visit Los Angeles/California and he'd done it! I'm like, 'NO WAY!!!' I mean, I sent someone to Los Angeles! Really! Talk about exciting!

Thanks to everyone, especially Beanie, for giving us an idea for our blog name. Now we're stuck-Cherry Banana Twist or Cherry Banana Split? Comment!

OK, now I should go but before I do I'll warn you that something REALLY exciting is going to appear on this blog SOON....................