7 Random Questions with Jean Reagan

Jean has written an adorable picture book that my family can't get enough of. My five-year-old loves the humor and the silly artwork (illustrated by Lee Wildish). We can't wait for Poppy to visit so we can share this wonderful book.

To learn more about Jean, check out her website. http://www.jeanreagan.com/

 7 Random Questions with Jean Reagan

1-What’s the last book you bought?

And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Erin E. Stead.  I bought it for my daughter's 25th birthday 'cause I always give her a picture book in addition to something more "age appropriate!"

2-If you had to dedicate your book to a thing (and not a person), what would that thing be?

A canoe.  Each summer I serve as a wilderness volunteer ranger in Grand Teton National Park and I patrol by hiking and by canoeing. 
 

3-What’s an interesting tidbit readers might not know about you or your books?

There's a photo on my website of Katherine Paterson reading to my sister and me when I was about three (over 50 years ago!). 

4-If you could have any career, what would it be? (And it can’t be “author”.)

A full-time, year-round national park ranger.  How cool would that be?
 

5-Do you prefer the sunrise or the sunset?

In theory I prefer a sunrise, but in reality I enjoy sunsets much more frequently than I do sunrises.  

6-What is the name of the protagonist in your work-in-progress?

Sparky.  The story is about a dog who's afraid of the water.

7-What’s your favorite word?

Besides, "chocolate," my favorite word is "discombobulated."  Sadly, I haven't yet figured out how to work it into a story. 

 

Literary Dads - The Best and The Worst

Since I did a post for Mother's Day, my daughter insists I create a similar one for Father's Day. Equality is big in our house. If the kids are forced to share a doughnut rulers are involved in for precise cutting.

On with the list...

Best Game of Thrones Dad -- Walder Frey Vs. Ned Stark

 

You'd think that Ned Stark is the obvious winner. He loved his family, including his b@stard son, and they loved him. But Walter Frey slaughtered hundreds, including a would-be-king, all to preserve the honor of his ugly daughters.

Worst Game of Thrones Dad -- Tywin Lannister

 All his children hate him. He's managed to keep the family in power but Thanksgiving dinner is going to be very tense. (All conclusions based on Seasons 1, 2, 3 of HBO series. I haven't read the books yet.) 

 

Most Gullible Father --  Charlie Swan

A teenage boy is regularly sneaking into his daughter's room and he has no idea. He also doesn't know her best friend is a werewolf--a boy he's known his entire life. The flea collar the boy wore as a baby should have been a clue.  

 

Technically Not A Dad, But Still a Good Dad -- Ivan

Ivan, the silver back gorilla, really steps up when it counts. He puts a baby elephant's needs before his own. Like good dads do every day.

 

Most Inconsistent Dad -- Rick Grimes

Sure, it's a difficult situation but he goes off the dead end when his son and baby need him. Luckily for Rick, it takes a village and he has one. At least for now.

Worst Dad Ever -- Jack Torrance

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy -- and a murderous father.

Here's Johnny!

 

Best Dad Ever -- Atticus Finch

A true hero of a father. And his kids have really cool names.

My 100 THING TO DO THIS SUMMER List

1.   Read Game of Thrones

2.   Read Game of Thrones

3.   Read Game of Thrones

4.   Read Game of Thrones

5.   Read Game of Thrones (There are five books in the series.)

(only 4 shown)

6.   Write George R.R. Martin fan mail/hate mail

7.   Don’t send letter to George R.R. Martin (unless he hurts Jon Snow)

8.   Watch Breaking Bad

9.   Watch Breaking Bad

10. Watch Breaking Bad

11. Watch Breaking Bad

12.  Watch Breaking Bad (There are five seasons.)

13.  Finish the first draft of my next YA novel. Tentatively called “Casualty.”

14.  Blog

15.  Attend a wedding

16.  Stick to the Special K diet for longer than 48 hours

17.  Find a diet that only lasts 36 hours

18.  Find an exercise plan that shows results in 36 hours

19.  Take the kids to the pool (Repeat)

20.  Put away our winter clothes and boots

21.  Go camping

22.  Eat s’mores

23.  Throw a Frisbee

24.  Cast a line

25.  Watch True Blood

26.  Watch The Killing

27.  Go to the beach

28.  Go to the library

29.  Teach 5-year-old to tie shoes

30.  Visit 2 states I’ve never visited

31.  Dig for dinosaur bones

 

32.  Hike

33.  Go to the farmers market

34.  Read 100 picture books that I haven’t read before

35.  Make a marketing plan for Dear Santasaurus

36.  Create a countdown to first day of school

37.  Wear sunblock

38.  Cook on the grill

39.  Clean out attic

40.  Take dogs for a walk (probably more than once)

41.  Actually try a recipe that I’ve Pinned

42.  Bunco Beach Week End!

43.  Write a non-fiction picture book

44.  Complain that it’s too hot

45.  Limit how much Disney TV the kids can watch

46.  See Despicable Me 2

47.  Step away from the computer (and the iPhone)

48.  Visit family

49.  Go to an amusement park

 

50.  Cheer at swim meets

51.  Learn how to use all the functions on my camera

52.  Make the girls practice multiplication facts

53.  Teach the kids how to do laundry

54.  Eat out less

55.  Watch Dexter

56.  Watch Dexter

57.  Watch Dexter (I think I’m only 3 seasons behind)

58.  Buy books

59.  Go to church

60.  Keep goldfish alive (how long do they live?)

61.  Try not to feed kids PB&J every day for lunch

62.  Avoid the annual July cold/flu

63.  Pack

64.  Unpack

65.  Laundry

66.  Repeat 63-65

67.  Repeat 66

68.  And repeat 66 one more time

69.  After I drop kids at Girl Scout camp, don’t let them see me do the happy dance as I walk to car

70.  Remember to send care packages to Girl Scout camp

71.  Have a picnic

72.  Go to the park early in the day before the slides get too hot

73.  Make time for date night with hubby

74.  Plan a girls night out

75.  Limit my Mocha Cookie Fraps intake (only 5 per week)

 

76.  Limit my Skinny Girl Margarita intake (one 1 per night)

77.  Try not to cry as I miss SCBWI conference in LA

78.  Give dogs a bath

79.  Give van a bath

80.  Arrange playdates (at other people’s houses)

81.  Meet all the new neighbors

82.  Watch new episodes of Phineas and Ferb

83.  Steal a day to write in silence (or at a crowded Starbucks—just out of the house)

84.  Put a few thousand miles on the van

85.  Buy new sunglasses

86.  Celebrate my birthday

87.  Celebrate my anniversary

88.  De-clutter (I’m thinking a drawer, nothing too taxing.)

89.  Maintain my high scores on Just Dance

90.  Stalk my favorite authors on twitter

91.  Go to a baseball game

92.  Watch fireworks

 

93.  Run through a sprinkler (in someone else’s yard)

94.  Eat fresh tomatoes

95.  Go Paleo (per husband’s request)

96.  Break in new flip-flops

97.  Finish last summer’s projects

98.  Teach kids that “bored” is a curse word in my world

99.   Eat ice-cream for dinner at least once

100. Enjoy the freedom of a slower schedule