Over to You, Izzy Elves! (Giveaway Day 3)

 So the Izzies feel so strongly about disassociating themselves from the so-called "elf on the shelf" that they asked me to put another one of their posts on my blog.

As I feel pretty strongly about it, too, I agreed.

Here it is:

 * * *

This is day three of the Kindle giveaway of Tizzy's story, Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf. Here's the Magic Link:

Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf, Santa's Izzy Elves #1
 
  It suddenly occurred to us Izzy Elves, however, that some of you might think this book has something to do with the Elf on the Shelf stuff.

We hasten to assure you that it does not. Yes, there are some shelves involved. Tizzy story is about how he was packed away inside a bookcase by mistake (by Whizzy, as it turns out) and ended up stranded in the living room of two naughty little boys. (They have to figure out how to help him get home to the Pole by using the power of their own imaginations.)

However, we would like to assure you that Tizzy and the rest other of us Izzy Elves would never SPY on any children and rat them out to Santa Claus!

In fact, in the original version of Blizzy, the Worrywart Elf, Bizzy talks about this (and obviously disapproves of it):

I’ve heard that some other elves spy on bad kids
But that’s way too creepy—that Santa forbids!

In the interest of Full Disclosure, we must tell you that Deedy (that's Dorothea Jensen to you) wrote Tizzy's story down many years ago, she did, in fact, call it The Elf on the Shelf.  By the time it was published, however, she found that someone else had used that title.  To avoid confusion, she re-named it Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf.

Therefore, a few people might be disappointed when they read this because nobody is a spy, but most are delighted!

And now you can find out what your reaction would be for free!

Here's the Magic Link again:

Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf, Santa's Izzy Elves #1

Love,
Santa's Izzy Elves


 Whizzy         Bizzy

 Dizzy            Tizzy

 Blizzy            Fizzy

 Frizzy            Quizzy

Second Day of Giveaway!

This is the second day of the GIVEAWAY of the Kindle edition of TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF, the first of the Santa's Izzy Elves stories. Get yours today!  Here's the link:
Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf, Santa's Izzy Elves #1
 

Here is one of my favorite reviews of this story, by Rene@MotherDaughterBookReviews.com.

 

Tizzy, The Christmas Shelf Elf is a lovely rhyming book begging to be read aloud in the tradition of the classic poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas”, more commonly known as “Twas The Night Before Christmas” penned by Clement Clarke Moore. In this version, “Twas the morning of Christmas and way before dawn…” and two brothers, Alex and Owen, tiptoe down the stairs to get a sneak peek at their presents. While they desperately are hoping for video games, they are disheartened to discover that they instead were gifted … books! *gasp*

They are even more surprised to discover a tiny elf, Tizzy – one of S.C.’s (i.e., Santa Claus) elves – who was accidentally packed into a present. Alex and Owen try a number of ways to return Tizzy to his home, but they soon discover that there is magic deep within the pages of books. The boys must hurry though, as they hear their parents coming down the stairs, and they are about to unknowingly place Tizzy in grave danger.

What I love the most about Tizzy, The Christmas Shelf Elf is that it is a true “read-aloud” story. While the book is indeed illustrated beautifully by Michelle Alfonso. I think children will be totally captivated by the story. There are some funny passages such as when the boys mistake Tizzy for a mouse and Tizzy gets chased by characters in the video game. The author also provides some tension to the story such as when the parents throw the packing fluff into the fire and the boys are afraid that this spells the end for Tizzy. All in all, this rhyming book is perfect for reading aloud to children of varying ages. . .

My Bottom Line:

Tizzy, The Christmas Shelf Elf is a clever read-aloud story featuring two excited siblings who sneak down early Christmas morning and discover a very special surprise. Only through their discovery of the magic of books do they find a way to send Tizzy back home. Kudos to the author for highlighting the importance of books! I recommend this book to be read aloud to children ages 5 and older.

I just never know how those Izzies will react! (Free giveaway starts today!)

 

 Once in awhile, Santa's Izzy Elves allow me to put one of my posts on their blog, at  izzyelfblog.blogspot.com. Today I decided to allow them to put one of their posts on mine.

I learn a lot about the Izzies by reading their blog. Who would have thought that Tizzy's feelings would be hurt by my giving away Kindle copies of his story? 

Sometimes it's hard to understand Elves.

Almost as hard as understanding offspring.

Sometimes.

 Cheers, Deedy (aka Dorothea Jensen)

* * *

GET A FREE KINDLE COPY OF TIZZY'S STORY: GIVEAWAY STARTS TODAY!

We Izzy Elves are not QUITE sure why, but starting today, Deedy (that's Dorothea Jensen to you) is giving away Kindle e-books of our Tizzy's story FOR FREE!

Here's the magic link:

TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF

Tizzy has mixed feelings about this, to say the least.  He wonders why the other three stories, Blizzy, the Worrywart Elf; Dizzy, the Stowaway Elf; and Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf, are not free, too.

He worries that Somebody thinks his story isn't worth anything. We explained that whenever Somebody gives a book away as a gift, that means Somebody thinks it is EXTRA valuable.

We also told him that his story will only be given away as a gift until Monday. After that people will have to pay to buy it again. That made him feel better.  We think.

Of course, his story is also on Kindle Select for awhile, so some people will be able to read it for free, but the rest of us Izzies decided not to tell Tizzy that until we know how to explain it better.

Anyway, here is the magic link again.  Just in case.

TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF


Love,

Blizzy, Dizzy, Frizzy, Quizzy, Whizzy, Fizzy, and Bizzy

(Yes, we know that we didn't include Tizzy in our sign-off. That's because he doesn't know about this post. Shhh!)

Bublish Celebration!

So I hate to be a braggart, but take a look at this number:

This is the total - as of late today - number of "hits" on my Bublish account, that I began writing in late July. I have no idea who the people are who read my "Bubbles", or why they like to read them, but I would like to say "thanks" to all of you who have done so.

I have been having a wonderful time writing "background information" and "author insights" on Bublish for a couple of my Izzy Elf stories, as well as for my classic historical novel, The Riddle of Penncroft Farm. (I am SO looking forward to writing about my new historical novel for young readers, A Buss from Lafayette, which is coming out April 22, 2016.)

I really had no idea how to do this when I started Bublishing exactly four months ago.  I found, however, that it was terrific fun to revisit my stories, sometimes many years after writing them (30+ years, in the case of Riddle). I can't believe how easily I recall how I came up with ideas. Especially at my age.

In any case, I ended up simply writing stuff to entertain myself.

I am delighted that my Bubbling is apparently entertaining for others as well.

Here's the link if anyone out there might like to take a peek at my Bublish stuff.

My Bublish Account

Hope you like it!

Cheers,

Dorothea Jensen

GIVEAWAY 11/26-11/30

Ok, I know that I said this blog would not be about anyone with pointy ears, but I'm violating that promise today.  But for a good reason!

The Kindle edition of my first Izzy Elf story, Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf, will be available for FREE beginning Thanksgiving day and ending Monday, November 30. Just follow the link below on those days and start your holiday season with Tizzy's adventures!

Free download of TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF

Colonial Day Revisited!

Son Nate at his 4th (?) grade Colonial Day

Just before we moved from Wayne, Pennsylvania to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1981, my older son's school held a "Colonial Day".  Nate was in 4th grade or so, and I believe they had been studying life in colonial America.

Parents were asked to help out, and I ended up demonstrating "finger weaving" with yarn, something I knew nothing about, so I must have had a crash course. I cobbled together a costume of sorts to look vaguely "colonial", but the only antique-looking hat I owned was a lace one I had brought back with me from Holland (where we lived in the mid-1970s). Oddly enough, 30 years later I learned that the first of my ancestors who came here as colonists actually were from the Netherlands. (These were the Yerxas, who 3 or 4 generations later were Loyalists and moved to Canada at the beginning of the American Revolution.) So as it turns out, my head was actually authentically garbed for my own family tree.

Anyway, several years later when I started to write The Riddle of Penncroft Farm, I remembered the Wayne Elementary School Colonial Day festivities and ended up using such a setting for the Big Finish of the story.  Here's the beginning of that scene. . .

"Winning so many of the colonial competitions helped a lot. So did the colonial name tag I had pinned on my waistcoat. With secret satisfaction I looked down at it and read it to myself. There, in my best calligraphy, was the name Geordie.

My mother came hustling up to me, with Dad trailing along in her wake. “Good grief, Lars, that’s the third blue ribbon you’ve won today!” she exclaimed. “How did you learn to be so good at old stuff like that game with the funny name—huzzlecap? You got every penny—pardon me, I mean farthing, in that three-cornered hat,” Mom exclaimed.

“Beginner’s luck,” I said, thinking of the time I had spent pitching coins into Geordie’s tricorne.

   Dad looked around at the mob of children and parents nearby spinning wool, making butter
and paper, smithing tin. “This Colonial Day is certainly a good idea for you kids. I’m even
learning a thing or two myself—like about that cider press. Will Hargreaves said he’d show me
how to build one.”

   Mom clapped her hands. “Won’t it be fun to make some apple cider at Penncroft just like they used to?”

  “Or perry,” I said, hastily adding, “That is, er, very . . . very fun.” -The Riddle of Penncroft Farm © 1989 by Dorothea Jensen

Showing Contempt for America, 1777-8

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

  “The only things outnumbering redcoats are black flies,” I muttered to myself as I came to the
Pennsylvania State House. I peered up at the soaring tower to see the great bell that had been
rung to summon folk to hear the Declaration of Independence.
   The tower was empty. Mystified, my eyes fell to the second-story windows that fronted the
Long Gallery—site of elegant state dinners. But Congress had long since fled the city, and no
elegant diners peered down from the Long Gallery today. Instead, I spied a crowd of gaunt,
ragged men, eyes huge in their skeletal faces.   

- The Riddle of Penncroft Farm ©1989 by Dorothea Jensen

 

What is now known as Independence Hall was originally the Pennsylvania State House. Building was begun in 1832 but was not finished until 1853. It was here that the Continental Congress met and the Declaration of Independence was adopted. (It was also here that the Consitution was debated and signed in 1787.)

 

The British forces used it to house American prisoners of war during their occupation of Philadelphia during the winter of 1777-8. What better way to show contempt for the momentous events that happened within its walls?