Utopia
Helen Keller with her teacher and companion, Annie Sullivan.
“Literature is my utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the sense shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourses of my book friends. They talk to me without embarrassment of awkwardness.”
–Helen Keller
Curious City Besties Honors Deadly Wish!
Proud to have Deadly Wish honored as a Curious City Bestie! My tale of ninjas, monsters, friendship, and betrayal garnered a spot on the list for “Best Stalking by Giant Deadly House Cat.”
The Curious City Besties are selected by Kirsten Cappy, who knows more about kids’ books than pretty much anyone I know.
Here’s the full list–if you need books for kids on your holiday list or just appreciate a fabulously told story, this is the place to go!
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Holiday Mingle at Print Bookstore!
Don’t miss this chance–signed book for all the people on your gift list, plus chance to support a great local business and chat with Maine authors and illustrators! Merry merry!
Print Bookstore is at 273 Congress Street in Portland. See you there!
Read MoreVictory Over Adobe!
One of the photos I very nearly paid $142 for.
I needed some good-quality images to use in a presentation, so naturally, Adobe Stock Photos was the place to go. I was irritated to find out that I had to sign up for a monthly membership in order to download ten or fifteen photos–this seems to be more and more of a trend these days, doesn’t it, companies trying to hook you into a long-term relationship when you just want a date? Er, I mean, a single commercial transaction? (I’m looking at you, Microsoft.) But the site said I could cancel at will, so I went ahead and signed up.
Of course, I forgot to cancel. As one does. A thirty-dollar charge showed up on my credit card. Rats. Oh well, lesson learned. I went to the site to cancel my membership.
Only to learn that I’d be charged $142 for cancelling before the end of the year.
Now, I may have missed some fine print, but I swear I didn’t know I was locking myself into a twelve-month membership with significant penalties for opting out. I stared at the screen in dismay. It’s nearly December and I’m a freelancer. December is an expensive month for most people, and even more so if you pay your own health insurance (HSA contribution!) and manage your own retirement funds (Roth IRA!) I’ve got a lot of use for $142. But I figured it was probably my fault. I’d made a mistake, I hadn’t read the information carefully enough, I’d suck it up and pay the fee.
Wait. No I wouldn’t.
Read MoreSarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Thomson focuses on newfound connection, magic, and suspense to conjure a fast-paced, heartwarming mystery. Thomson’s world is populated by resourceful protagonists, fanciful creatures, and quirky supporting characters.”
—Publishers Weekly