“Bozarth’s tale is a beguiling mix of magic, adventure and eco-awareness, and her message of girl-power and positive change will resonate with tween readers. This promising series is part of a multiplatform endeavor involving web-based games and social networking.”
Dear Dreamers:
I am thrilled that the Kirkus reviewer likes Kerka’s Book! I know there are many girls like Kerka out there waiting to read her story. You have only had a small taste of Kerka from Birdie’s story, but you know she is a completely differnet kind of girl.
I wrote about Kerka from my memories of being a dancer at that same age (13). I created Kalis, a martial art/dance that uses colorful bejeweled sticks and has steps like the X Sweep and the Zephyr. In my mind it is more dance than fighting, but I also wanted girls to be able to do their own fighting with Aventurine “powers” when they needed it.
Another fun secret in Kerka’s book is the idea that every girl has an animal spirit called a Spirikin. Do you have an animal spirit? (You can have more than one.) Maybe you like cats a lot or you have a certain animal picture or stuffed animals around your room? Leave a comment to this post – tell me about your Spirikin and how you figured it out.
See you in Aventurine!
Jan
ps: You can read the Kirkus review and a chapter from the upcoming Kerka’s Book online!
Fairy Godmother Academy was featured in an Austin American Statesman full-length Sunday Feature.
Jan Bozarth has always been a dreamer.
Now she’s going to help our next generation of women dream, too.
Welcome to “The Fairy Godmother Academy,” where girls on the cusp of their teenage years go on adventures that take them deep into the wilds of their own abilities. The academy launched in August with the publication of “Birdie’s Book,” the first of a planned eight-volume series from Random House. The story continues online with games, activities, social communities and music. It’s a concept Bozarth has been honing for years, one informed by her decades of working with media for tween girls.
Read it all online in the Austin American Statesman.
Hello Dreamers:
Today is Halloween in the year 2009. There will only be one of this particular day in my life and so I try to pay attention to details. The Texas Book Festival show is tomorrow and a big article about the Fairy Godmother Academy will be in tomorrow morning’s paper. The air is sparkly blue like the sky. I look for something to wear that is this color of blue so I will sparkle too. The leaves on the bush by my door are my favorite color- chartreuse. I want to wear the day the way the plants and sky do. People get ready to play music in Austin where Halloween is a gigantic party. I want to immerse myself in it so I dance around the house to the songs on the radio and write a song too. I am aware of my happiness.
My Knowledge: I know it is Halloween.
My Understanding: This is the only Halloween in 2009 and the only day of my life that will have these things in just this way.
My Wisdom: Knowing when “good” cannot be better.
Join with friends to make your own Fairy Godmother Local Lineage and act together to save the planet. Then send me a message to let me know what you’re up to. I’ll feature the most active Lineages here on my blog!
Your first act is to form a Green Squad just like the one I joined at the International School. Then go for it and start protecting the green world right away.
Best of luck! I can’t wait to hear all about it.
xo
BirdieBright
The Fairy Godmother Academy will be appearing at the Texas Book Festival in Austin, Texas on Sunday, November 1st. This event will take place rain or shine from 3 to 4pm in the Children’s Demonstration and Activity Tent. We’ll have music, a fashion show, hands-on craft projects, a talk by Jan, and some other cool surprises. Come out and join us for all the fun! Continue reading
Fairy Godmother Academy author Jan Bozarth interviewed Thursday, Oct 22, 2009 on MyFoxAustin’s morning show. If you are in Austin on Nov 1st, make sure to check out the Fairy Godmother Academy activities at the Texas Book Festival.