See What's New at Guilty Treasure!
My sister Lisa is a jewelry designer. She has created a multitude of beautiful pendants at artsylis.etsy.com Each pendant has an original design which is sanded, painted, and glazed by hand and only costs between $5 and $8!

She is offering a special for the month of May: Any purchase that's made from the Guilty Treasure etsy shop will entitle the buyer to a free custom pendant of his or her choice. Simply let Lisa know what color, style, word, name, plant, or symbol you have in mind. Silly, classy, whatever you'd like, she can create! If you're completely stumped, simply tell her the kind of things you like, and she will come up with something.

Here are a few samples. Click on the images for additional details and ordering information.



( View additional pendants... )

If you would like a custom-made pendant, please email artsylis (at) comcast (dot) net

To view other collections and order ready-made or custom necklaces, bracelets, earrings, keychains, and more, please visit GuiltyTreasure.com

My Last Best Friend, Julie Bowe's debut novel, focuses on a fourth grader named Ida May. Her best friend moved away and didn't keep in touch. Feeling lonely and left behind, Ida decides that she'll never have another best friend.

When a new girl named Stacey comes to school, the popular crowd snatches her right up. ( Read more... )

Author Julie Bowe now shares some stories from her childhood.

Who was your first best friend?

My best childhood friend was my cousin, Elisebeth. When we were grade-school age, I only saw her during the summer when her family stayed at a small cottage across the meadow from my house. I remember how sad I felt when she had to leave at the end of each summer, and how excited I was each June when she returned. ( Read more... )

Visit Julie Bowe at her domain and at her LiveJournal.

Karen Day has known since the fourth grade that she wanted to be a writer. That year, one of her stories was praised by her teacher, then rejected by Highlights magazine. As she journeyed from childhood to adulthood, she continued to write stories with kids as the main characters. Karen recently made the journey to Bildungsroman to talk about honesty and intentions.

In your story, Meg tries to keep her family troubles secret. If kids that Meg's story hits close to home for them, who should they tell?

Wow, this is a really difficult question to answer. My hope is that kids who recognize themselves and their families in my book will take note of what happens to Meg when she finally talks about the problem. People can help. ( Read more... )

Karen's official stomping ground is klday.com

Read my reviews of Tall Tales and No Cream Puffs.

Many kids lie about their families to impress classmates and make new friends. However, the motives behind the lies are as different as those that tell them. Some kids want popularity or bragging rights, while others are hiding the fact that they have serious problems at home.

Tall Tales by Karen Day begins with an honest wish: "I want to make a friend." The narrator is Meg, who, along with her mother, brother, and father, has moved yet again. She wants to stay in one place. She wants to fit in. She wants to protect her family's secrets.

Meg's father is an alcoholic. The word is heavy and not spoken in the house. The other family members walk on eggshells to make sure they don't disturb or upset him. Meg thinks her dad is an okay guy when he's not drinking. She wants to believe that he can get better.

Meg's classmates are naturally curious about the new girl, who really doesn't want any of them - especially her new friend Grace - to find out about her dad. Grace shares Meg's love for reading and writing, and the two girls start writing a story together.

Meg tries to dodge their questions whenever possible, but sometimes she simply can't. She begins to tell stories about her famous (fake) relatives. One little fib leads to another, and another, and another, and before she knows it, she's trapped in the web of lies she's spun.

During all of this, Meg is fully aware of her exaggerations and big lies. She is likable and vulnerable without being naive. Readers will want someone to find out the truth and help her family. Hopefully, those who relate to her story will be inspired to confide in trustworthy friends and adults so that they can get the help they need as well.

Related Posts: Interview: Karen Day, Book Review: No Cream Puffs by Karen Day

The topic of the day seems to be accidental liars. Next up: a review of Lost It by Kristen Tracy. Stay tuned.