Today I became a Grandmother for the third time! Life just doesn't get any better than this. I've spoke often about my own Grandmother, who is now 96 years old, and about my two Granddaughters, Eva & Takeda, well today we welcome my first Grandson, little Johnnie. There is just something about Grandchildren that make life complete. At least for me they do.
Maybe it's because I have such fond memories of time spent with my Grandparents when I was young. Fishing in the creek with Grandpa and picking peas in his garden. Making Grandma's special Christmas cookies every year with her, or staying up late playing gin rummy with her, when my sister and I stayed overnight. Life was good at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I want to be that special place where my Grandchildren can come, when they need a break from everyday life. When they're older and homework is too hard, and daily chores are tiring, I want to be the place where they can come to unwind, pull up a chair at the kitchen table, play cards and make cookies into the night. I want them to eat the peas from my garden before I get a chance to cook them, take them fishing at the pond down the road, and throw all the fish back and watch them swim away. I want to help them find the wild berries in the yard, and hope we still have some in the quart when we get back to the house.
Yes, I love being a mother too, but lets face it, motherhood is harder, parenthood is harder. Mother's and Father's have the weight of the world on their shoulders with the day to day responsibilities. I love that I can take some of the load off my daughter and her husband's shoulders every now and then, and have the kids come stay with Grandma, for a night or two.
Becoming a Grandmother came a little sooner in my life than I thought it would, but the way I see it, I get all these extra years of loving! Who couldn't use a little more of that? ;)
Happy Birthday little Johnnie, you have been added to my list of people to write books for! I love you!
Author Niki Alling - books, designs and poetry for all ages.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Happy Birthday Eva & Dr. Seuss!
Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved Dr. Seuss books. Who doesn't? I think my love of poetry began by reading his books. It is not much of a surprise to me that I've spent most of my life writing poetry myself, and now writing my own children's books, because of Dr. Seuss.
I've written poetry on every subject I can think of, even some that I'll never publish, and some I publish under pen names. But writing for children is near and dear to my heart. Most of my children's books are dedicated to my grandchildren and the children I've known over the years in the schools I've worked in.
But on the day my first Granddaughter, Evangeline (Eva), was born, I knew I was on the right track, because she was born on Dr. Seuss's Birthday. To me it made perfect sense that she was born this day. I took it as a sign to stay the course and to never give up writing and continuing to pursue my dreams.
Being a grandmother, has given me the greatest joy and has shown me what love can really be. Of course I love my own children and being a mother, but being a grandmother is a new level of love, I didn't know existed. It's hard to explain, but other friends of mine who are also grandparents, understand. We give each other that knowing nod and smile, and have entered into a new phase in our lives, with the little ones at our feet. Eva is 3 today, she is a joy as well as her sister Takeda. The hugs I get from those girls last for days on end. And then I can go back for more.
So Happy Birthday little Eva, and to Dr. Seuss - thank you for filling my life with wonderful stories and poetry, there will never be another quite like you. You are my inspiration. And if my own books can touch even one child in a positive way, it will be because your inspiration is shining through.
I've written poetry on every subject I can think of, even some that I'll never publish, and some I publish under pen names. But writing for children is near and dear to my heart. Most of my children's books are dedicated to my grandchildren and the children I've known over the years in the schools I've worked in.
But on the day my first Granddaughter, Evangeline (Eva), was born, I knew I was on the right track, because she was born on Dr. Seuss's Birthday. To me it made perfect sense that she was born this day. I took it as a sign to stay the course and to never give up writing and continuing to pursue my dreams.
Being a grandmother, has given me the greatest joy and has shown me what love can really be. Of course I love my own children and being a mother, but being a grandmother is a new level of love, I didn't know existed. It's hard to explain, but other friends of mine who are also grandparents, understand. We give each other that knowing nod and smile, and have entered into a new phase in our lives, with the little ones at our feet. Eva is 3 today, she is a joy as well as her sister Takeda. The hugs I get from those girls last for days on end. And then I can go back for more.
So Happy Birthday little Eva, and to Dr. Seuss - thank you for filling my life with wonderful stories and poetry, there will never be another quite like you. You are my inspiration. And if my own books can touch even one child in a positive way, it will be because your inspiration is shining through.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
2 Giveaways!!
I'm running two Giveaways through Goodreads, to win autographed paperback copies of my books - Hearts Are For Loving & The Roots of My Family Tree.
These children's picture books are two different subjects. Hearts Are For Loving, is a fun concept book about shapes. And The Roots of My Family Tree, is a celebration book for multicultural children everywhere. Both are written in rhyme, and have colorful illustrations. Giveaways start on 2/15/13 and run for one week till 2/22/13. There will be two winners, one for each book. Good Luck!!
Enter to win
Enter to win
These children's picture books are two different subjects. Hearts Are For Loving, is a fun concept book about shapes. And The Roots of My Family Tree, is a celebration book for multicultural children everywhere. Both are written in rhyme, and have colorful illustrations. Giveaways start on 2/15/13 and run for one week till 2/22/13. There will be two winners, one for each book. Good Luck!!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Hearts Are For Loving
by Niki Alling
Giveaway ends February 22, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Roots of My Family Tree
by Niki Alling
Giveaway ends February 22, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
New Release!
New Release - Hearts Are For Loving
Shapes are all around us. This fun, colorful book shows children that
shapes can be for many things. It’s designed to spark the imagination
and have children thinking about shapes in ways they might not have
before. This book can be for Valentine's Day or any time of year.
(Click the picture to take you to Amazon's book page.)
(Click the picture to take you to Amazon's book page.)
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
New Children's book coming soon....
Hi all,
Things are looking up for my latest picture book. I have two more spreads to finish and some detail work. I'm hoping to release it by Valentine's Day. This book is a basic concept book about shapes and some fun things they do! It's been great fun to write and illustrate. I even got some great ideas from the Pre-K kids at school, which have been included in the book. They are great helpers!
It should be a fun one for children to enjoy and discover. And as with all of my children's books so far...it's written in rhyme.
Stay tuned for a giveaway contest with this new release ... and also don't forget there is still time to enter my current giveaway contest on GoodReads for my book Your Mother's Love!
Open till January 18, 2013. Good Luck!
Things are looking up for my latest picture book. I have two more spreads to finish and some detail work. I'm hoping to release it by Valentine's Day. This book is a basic concept book about shapes and some fun things they do! It's been great fun to write and illustrate. I even got some great ideas from the Pre-K kids at school, which have been included in the book. They are great helpers!
It should be a fun one for children to enjoy and discover. And as with all of my children's books so far...it's written in rhyme.
Stay tuned for a giveaway contest with this new release ... and also don't forget there is still time to enter my current giveaway contest on GoodReads for my book Your Mother's Love!
Open till January 18, 2013. Good Luck!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Free ebook this weekend 1/12/13 - 1/13/13
Free ebook on Amazon 1/12/13 - 1/13/13
The Roots of My Family Tree by Niki Alling, is a celebration book for children, families and educators to use as an enjoyable springboard for conversations about family heritage. Bright, colorful, full illustrations, written in rhyme.
Countries around the world she travels to:
USA
Australia
Africa
Scotland
England
Poland
Italy
France
Spain
Buy The Roots of My Family Tree from Amazon for Kindle & Paperback
Buy The Roots of My Family Tree from Barnes & Noble in Paperback
Buy The Roots of My Family Tree from CreateSpace in Paperback
Book Trailer for
The Roots of My Family Tree - by Niki Alling
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