100 Blog Buddies! -- Bloody Jack Giveaway

"Whatcha gonna do when you hit 100 followers?"

"I don't know. I could give away a favorite book."

"Sounds good. Do it!"

And that's what I"m going to do! I just got done reading Bloody Jack by L. A. Meyer and it was AWESOME. I love adventure and this packs a punch. Plus the author's use of dialog and dialect is  amazing. It puts the reader right there with poor Mary "Jacky" Faber, orphan, beggar, ship's boy. Yes, I said ship's boy! Intrigued? I know I was. 

So, if you'd like to win Bloody Jack, either in hardback or paperback (I am willing to part with either gently-used copy), and you live in the U.S. (for shipping), answer the questions below in the Comment Section. I will pick my favorite top three answers, then put the names in a hat and draw a winner.

Make up what Mary "Jacky" Faber, age 11, might say next based on this one passage from Bloody Jack. 

Background: The ship's officer is choosing new ship boys to come aboard to work for the Royal Navy. Jacky is pretending to be a boy.

     "Awright," calls out the evil one with the knotted rope to the mob of us, "what kin any of yiz do?"

     Do? I wonders. What do we do? We all look around at each other. What does he think, we're all bloody runaway apprentices with trades? Missin' sons of royal houses? What we do is scavenge, beg, and steal--ain't it plain?...

     "Sir, I can splice a line!" shouts a thin-faced boy, and he's motioned aboard...

     "...Then another boy calls out, "I'm strong fer me size, Sir, take me!"

Your turn!

1. What would you have Jacky Faber yell out to try to get a spot as ship's boy?

2. Would you like hardback or paperback?

I'll draw a winner on July 31, 2011.

Liar

This was inspired by Writercise's 100 Word Liar Exercise.

Writing Exercise: Write a short story with/about the word "liar". My response is below (approx. 200 words)


I don't have a title for this. Can you suggest one?
by Dawn M. Hamsher


Who told him?

"Brady Coons is a big fat liar!" I screamed across the lunch room. The stoplight on the wall was a yellow from the loud lunchroom noise, but with my announcemnt, the room fell silent and the light turned green.

With all eyes on me, I stalked over to Brady.

"Take it back!" I shouted.

"No way!"

"You will take it back or else."

The lunch lady, Mrs. Grubmacher was starting to make her way over. I'd have to do this quick.

"Or else what?"

I did the only thing I could think of that would really irk him. I kissed him full on the lips. He sputtered and began a sort of flailing dance to try to get the cootie girl germs off him. His friends had backed up. None of them wanted to be near him and risk Cooties.

Then to seal the deal forever I repeated the dreaded words, "Circle Circle Knife Knife, Now you got them all your life."

"No!"

***
I sat waiting outside Principal Jergin's office and smiled on the inside. How much trouble could I really be in? I didn't hit him after all. I just kissed him. And it was worth it. Now, no one would ever think that I "liked" Brady. My secret was safe; It was a brilliant plan.

See Photo Write Challenge - Who Will Visit Me Today?

Last night, our writing group got together and we wrote for 17 minutes on the Indian photo posted on 1st Writes. This is the second time I did this one, but I'm going to post it anyway.

If you are looking for a Writing Exercise, I invite you to try this photo writing prompt! It was challenging for us. 

All you have to do is click the link below, view the photo, then write a post about it on your blog and linky it to the 1st Write's Post.

Indian Swing Set Photo on 1st Writes

 

Here is my response to this photo prompt:

 

Who will visit me today?
by Dawn M. Hamsher

"Who will visit me today?" Lone Swaying Brave said to Great Mother Earth. No one answered, but that did not deter him. His smile was permanently afixed to his face. No one had ever been able to break his spirit or change his smile. 

Well, they tried to add to it...There had been a few boys over the years that climbed Lone Swaying Brave's solid body to peer directly into his eyes and then added a marker mustache and buck teeth, but those features had faded with the years (and he hadn't really minded the attention...it was sort of humorous).

Now, the yard is empty and the old school is closed for good. Only the occasional runner or walker passes by now. No children come to visit Lone Swaying Brave, but he is still eternally optimistic. He repeats, this time to the wind, "Who will visit me today?"

See Photo Write Challenge - Indian Dreams of Freedom

1st Writes now has a photo writing prompt, called "See Photo Write" every Monday! You can join in the fun by writing to the prompt, posting it to your blog, and then linking it!  For this week's photo click here! 

Here is my response to this photo prompt:

Indian Dreams of Freedom

by Dawn M. Hamsher

What am I doing here?

I've asked myself this question for 20 years.

I'm a warrior. I'm meant to ride free.

Yet, I'm here. Captured in cement in a schoolyard.

Children swing from my powerful arms.

Rust gnaws on my body and I waste away.

On my face is painted a silly grin, but I'm not happy.

If only I could break out.

I'd climb across one of those ponies I see passing by.

They have wheels, instead of legs, but no matter.

They'd work for a getaway.

And I'd whoop and declare my freedom.

That's what I'd do.

Bring History to Life!

Writing Exercise: Choose a character from history. Do a little research and then write a personal narrative as that figure. Bring the character to life! My response is below.

Ben Franklin, age 16

by Dawn M. Hamsher

Photo Source

My brother James is very irksome and tiresome. At every chance, he tries to squelch any attempt at wittiness or advance out of me. He refuses to let me write for the paper, though he knows my writing is good. He only publishes the opinions of his friends. I am merely a type-setter and I shall be nothing more, if I continue to work for him.

I will have his goat though! I have anonymously submitted several articles under the pen name Silence Dogood (excellent name don't you think?) and I have to stifle my laughter every time he finds one of "her" submissions, for he and his friends are wild about them. They have published every one of them and the town is mad to find out who this woman is. 

I fabricated a whole life for my dear Ms. Dogood and have had her poke fun at most everything from hoop skirts to Harvard. Perhaps one day, I'll confess to James that I am the writer. I secretly hope that he would approve and accept my writing as mine, but knowing his countenance, I fear he would be very cross. For now though, I'll have my fun.

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Along this same line on historical characters, you might also like to read Pocketful of Playdough's Bible Blogger Series, which features characters and what their blogs might be like (the 26 characters were a part of the A-Z Challenge).
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What historical character would you like to write about?