In honor of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), I'll be devoting several hours of the day writing without worrying about editing. I'll be working on a completely new project. I'm looking forward to taking risks, immersing myself in free writing, and having fun. My goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. 

Blue jeans, t-shirts, fitted-suits, and leather are all symbolic of American fashion. Did you know blue jeans were considered work clothes in the 1850s?

But how does fashion reflect diversity in the United States today? Have you noticed how styles, particularly those of immigrants, have intermingled in mainstream America? American fashion is definitley eclectic. Let's take a look at the merging of Indian clothing and Western wear.

Last week, I wandered over to the Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum in Seattle. The glass exhibits were vibrant with color. I must admit to being mesmerized by the variety of sculptures created by the talented Dale Chihuly. It was like strolling through a lush garden of glass.

With summer just around the corner, people are scouring virtual and store book shelves for the perfect read to take to their favorite vacation spots. Whether you're flying or taking a road trip, why not pass the time with a book. We all want a good story that will pull us in and keep us turning the pages.

In a recent NY Times article, Why Afghan Women Risk Death to Write Poetry, that I read, a women’s literary society based in Kabul has to meet in secret in order to freely express their deepest emotions and desires. Being involved in a literary group such as this goes against the rules of their society.

After learning about Maurice Sendak's passing yesterday, it made me think about how much he changed the way children read. (May he rest in peace.)

In the past, children's and young adult stories were always simple, without much chaos, and safe. Perhaps a little too perfect. Books of our youth have evolved since the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and even in the early 2000s. Today, books for children, tweens, and young adults stand out more because authors have broken away from the traditional storyline to give readers a deeper look into the real world.

Is the fantasy genre intended just for boys? What about girls? Why is there an implication that girls don't read fantasy or won't enjoy movies with fantasy elements? It's true science fiction and fantasy are not the most female-friendly of genres. The prototypical reader is often male. How did this stigma come about?

How do we instill and enable creativity in children with modern technology? How can we create stories in a digital format that will capture the interest of a child? How can we show children how to use technology in order to tell their own stories?  

"Censorship" derives from the Latin word, cēnseō, meaning "to give an opinion, to decree; to judge." So, what is censorship? It can be the suppression of ideas, or in schools, the removal of curriculum or books by certain groups or government officials who find materials to be offensive.