A Collection of Stories

Ebram's Story: The Haunting, Book 1, is more than Ebram's story.  In fact, there are several stories in the book, some short, others long.  His family's baby-sitter tells the kids a story about the family who used to live in their new house. Ebram's dad tells a story about getting lost after Ebram has trouble finding his classes at his new middle school. His neighbors, the Robleses, tell a story about their deceased brother/husband and another about the orphanage once built in their subdivision.  Finally, there are Grandfather Lito's stories.  

In my original manuscript, Lito tells eight stories.  To keep The Haunting focused on the main story line, however, five were deleted. Still in the book are the stories he tells about the Day of the Dead, the Farmer and his Burros, and Christmas around the world.  I hope to have the rest published into short picture books, with titles such as: Tik-tok-li and the Origin of Chocolate, Ria's Rocks, Flight of the Monarch Butterflies, A Mexican Pinata, and An Immigrant's Story. 

Ebram's Story: The Haunting, Book 1

       When eleven-year-old Ebram Casas-Treski learns his family is moving, leaving his friends and familiar way of life behind is only the beginning of what lies ahead. Sixth grade is part of the middle school—not the elementary school—and his new house appears to be haunted!

       But ice from the tap and in the toilet pales in comparison to the bullies and cliques of middle school. His solution? Join an “uncool” group of tweens and teens in peculiar outfits. Grounded in faith and family, Ebram sees past their appearance to the good works they do and performs his own good deed to inject some childhood fun into his school.

      Along the way he learns that things aren’t always what they seem—especially regarding the truth about his house!

SA Reads Partnership

Thanks to Literacy San Antonio and SA Reads, I'll be at Firstmark Credit Union in August for some book signings!

Firstmark Credit Union is a Literacy San Antonio/SA Reads sponsor and drop-off site for new and used books. While I'm there, you can also donate money to this organization to further their literacy goals.  For more information, please visit their website at http://literacysa.com/content/about-us. This is my Giftigami Box in support of this event. 

Celebrating Independence Day

With July 4th only a couple of days away, I want to take this opportunity to thank all service members and vets who are serving or have served this great country.  A special thanks to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy.

Here's a link to send your thanks to the troops: http://www.ourmilitary.mil/Message.aspx?SectionID=5. 

Here's a link to a non-profit organization helping disabled vets: http://www.dav.org/. 

Happy Father's Day!

A Giftigami Box for someone special in your life.

June News

School's out and for some students, this means graduation! For Sarah, it's time to move on to ninth grade in high school where Matt will be a junior next year.  For mom and dad, this means only ONE school to deal with.

I saw some stickers with "2010", "We Made It", "Congrats", etc. and of diplomas and mortarboards at the grocery store that I thought would make great decorations for a Giftigami Box.  It was hard not to buy them!

Father's Day is June 20th, and one of my favorite craft stores has scrapbook stickers with "#1 Father", "my HERO", "father's love", etc. that I bought to decorate my next Giftigami Box with. I haven't made it yet, but it's coming soon!

Playground Giftigami Box

In The Haunting, Ebram and his pals enjoy spending time at the neighborhood park.  There's a swimming pool, tennis courts, picnic areas, hiking and biking trails, a duck pond, and of course, a playground at the Wildflower Haven subdivision where he lives.

School will be out soon, and people of all ages will be pursuing various summer activities, including some at the park.  Perhaps your community is accepting donations for a new or updated playground.  Here's a Giftigami Box with a playground theme.