August 2009: "A 25 cent investment creates Friday night tradition..."
July 2009: "Homemakers Unit' marks a half century of service"
June 2009: "Tireless volunteer honored with Irene Hart Award"
May 2009: "Twentieth Century Club celebrates 110th anniversary"
April 2009: "Car lover turns his passion into retirement business"
March 2009: "Gerda Weissmann Klein: A message of hope and inspiration"
February 2009: "Elaine Thomas passionate about promoting downtown Augusta"
January 2009: "Triathlon training puts former athlete in best shape ever"
October 2008: "Caring volunteers held Ronald McDonald family room reach milestone"
September 2008: "Medical missions inspire local artist to create coloring book"
August 2008: "It's not just the youngsters going back to school" and "Local playwright draws on Kansas roots for stories"
July 2008: "Yoga more than just fitness for long-time practitioner"
June 2008: "Volunteer curator pieces together 'Common Threads'"
May 2008: "Lifetime love of music leads to new venture for Wichitan"
April 2008: "Mom, mentor were comfortable roles for longtime Derby resident"
March 2008: "At 71, semi-retired psychologist is flying high - literally"
February 2008: "At 86, Peg Morrison isn't through learning"
August 2009: Unplugged at Home; Unplugged on Vacation
July 2009: Swing Shift
June 2009: Prostate Cancer, A Wake Up Call
April 2009: Saint by Sarah Jane, A Creative Family Business
March 2009: Gerda Weissmann Klein, Author, Historian, Survivor and Inspiration
January 2009: Charlie Houlik" and "Working Out at Home
December 2008: Managing Holiday Stress
November 2008: Catherine Northrup: Her Story
October 2008: Reducng the Effects of Aging: Breast Enhancement
September 2008: Reducing the Affects of Aging: Tummy Tuck; Holiday Galleria; Jackie Stiles
August 2008: Reducing the Affects of Aging: Varicose Veins, Creative & Effective Teaching w/Storytelling & Puppetry
July 2008: Reducing the Affects of Aging: Botox
June 2008: Take the Pressure Off, Summer Guerrero Fighting Fires at Home and Abroad
May 2008: Life with Mom
April 2008: Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Marilyn Pauly
March 2008:
Not Just No Nonsense Nola (Foulston)
Joan Lunden and her Hometown Heroes
Living with MS
February 2008:
Forget Me Not: Sara Paretsky
Making a Difference in the Community: Sandra Rankin, Wilma Moore Black, Dr. Chinyere Okafore
For the Love of Dance: Diane Gans
January 2008:
Forget Me Not: Shakila Saiffulah
December 2007:
Lexi's Lambs, Gone But Not Forgotten
Weather Carrier: Cathy Carrier
Share the Love of Reading
November 2007:
Donna Tucker, Right as Rain
Inspiring Words from Local Writers
October 2007:
Breast Cancer, Aware & Alive
Forget me not Gal: Kaci Tucker
September 2007:
Forget me not Gal: Misty Maynard
Comfort & Care, From the Prairie Quilt Guild
August 2007:
Coach Albright is All Right
Local Teachers that excel!
July 2007: Forget Me Not, Courtney Ruthven, Ph.D.
June 2007: Rainbows United
May 2007: Junior League of Wichita
April 2007: Autism 101
by B.D. Tharp
This delightful book tells the story of the boy who wanted to be a magician. Sid Fleischman grew up in the Depression and decided in grade school to learn slight of hand. After high school he traveled the United States in vaudeville and with a midnight ghost-and-goblin show doing magic tricks and observing others.
While on the road he met people from all walks of life and some down on their luck. Their names and situations stimulated his imagination and stories began to form. When he discovered that reading books was not only a worthwhile endeavor, but writing them could become a way to make a living, he began to pen stories. His first non-fiction book of magic tricks, Between Cocktails, remained in print for fifty years. It was published when he was nineteen.
During his life Sid tried his hand at newspaper reporter, adult mystery novels, and then became a Hollywood screenwriter for the likes of John Wayne in Blood Alley. As his family grew he began writing stories for and about his children and this was the beginning of his successful journey of creating children’s literature. You may recognize some of his works, By the Great Horned Spoon, Jim Ugly, The Ghost in the Noonday Sun, The 13th Floor.
The descriptions in this book are filled with wit and charm as he introduces you to the adventures and people that inspired his characters. His books have been translated into sixteen languages and garnered the Newbery Medal, the Mark Twain and Lewis Carroll awards. He’s been a National Book Awards finalist and the U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award.
I found his story inspiring to my inner writer. It has appeal for not only the children’s writer, but those who write novels and memoirs as well. While Sid won’t explain his magic tricks, he isn’t adverse to sharing his writing secrets. A very enjoyable read.