Hello Hello!
OK, show of hands. Who here is familiar with Chase Community Giving? Nobody? Well, neither was I until a couple of days ago. I think it's an American thing.
The HP Alliance is in the running for a HUGE grant from them. $250,000US.
What?
Oh, you didn't hear me? I'll speak louder.
$250,000US.
But Cheryl, what will the Harry Potter Alliance do with so much money?
I'm so glad you asked!
Well, you know all of the awesome and amazing things we've already done? Like the Accio Books campaign, which provided much needed reading materials to children and adults in the Mississippi Delta? And Helping Haiti Heal, which raised $123,000US, enough to send five planes full of life saving supplies to Haiti? Well, with $250,000US, we could do things like that and a WHOLE LOT more!
So, if you're my friend at all, you'll click the link below and vote for the Harry Potter Alliance. It's what all the cool kids are doing. :-)
http://bit.ly/hpaFTW
Showing posts with label Accio Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Accio Books. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Haven't I Read This Before?
I just finished reading a book called "The Hunger Games," by Suzanne Collins. I can't praise it enough. Even though the writing style seemed a little odd to me (it's written in first person, present tense...I kind of prefer third person, past tense), the story is so captivating that I couldn't put it down.
And to think I nearly didn't buy it because the cover had a stupid shiny sticker with a recommendation from Stephanie Meyer on it! The last book I bought that she recommended was awful. I didn't even finish reading it. Not to mention that Stephanie's own work is pretty brutal itself.
Anyway, The Hunger Games was fantastic, but it occurred to me that this is a story that has been told before. As a matter of fact, Stephen King told it twice before. The first time he published a story like this, it was called The Long Walk. It's not exactly the same as The Hunger Games, but the premise is extraordinarily similar. Then, a few years later old Steve published a book called The Running Man, and that one is nearly identical to The Hunger Games. Both were published under his Richard Bachman pseudonym.
It's odd that I can enjoy a book so much when I know that the idea isn't the least bit original. It's well known that most ideas are reused, reinvented, and reworked, but this is an extreme case. Even Stephen King enjoyed it, and wrote an article recommending it in his EW column. Didn't he recognize it? Was he so drugged up in the 80's that he can't remember what he wrote back then? Or did he enjoy the book so much that he doesn't care about the close similarity?
Regardless, it's a fascinating story and I've enjoyed reading a new version of it. I can't wait to read the second book in the series. Everyone should pick up a copy, and while you're at it, read The Long Walk, and The Running Man too.
And to think I nearly didn't buy it because the cover had a stupid shiny sticker with a recommendation from Stephanie Meyer on it! The last book I bought that she recommended was awful. I didn't even finish reading it. Not to mention that Stephanie's own work is pretty brutal itself.
Anyway, The Hunger Games was fantastic, but it occurred to me that this is a story that has been told before. As a matter of fact, Stephen King told it twice before. The first time he published a story like this, it was called The Long Walk. It's not exactly the same as The Hunger Games, but the premise is extraordinarily similar. Then, a few years later old Steve published a book called The Running Man, and that one is nearly identical to The Hunger Games. Both were published under his Richard Bachman pseudonym.
It's odd that I can enjoy a book so much when I know that the idea isn't the least bit original. It's well known that most ideas are reused, reinvented, and reworked, but this is an extreme case. Even Stephen King enjoyed it, and wrote an article recommending it in his EW column. Didn't he recognize it? Was he so drugged up in the 80's that he can't remember what he wrote back then? Or did he enjoy the book so much that he doesn't care about the close similarity?
Regardless, it's a fascinating story and I've enjoyed reading a new version of it. I can't wait to read the second book in the series. Everyone should pick up a copy, and while you're at it, read The Long Walk, and The Running Man too.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Bits of my Life
I've been so busy lately, and I feel like I have nothing to write about. That doesn't make sense. Everything I've been doing is really interesting!
I've been busting my ass to pass the exams for my fight class. One of my partners is...someone who has been very difficult for me to work with, but I've been working extra hard to compensate. Yeah, this is stressful, but it's almost over.
Back to improv this past week, which is super fun. Ohhh, I have a story to tell here. I started taking improv classes at one of the other theatres in town. I did this because they have some advanced stuff that I really want to get into, but they have a policy that everyone involved at their theatre has to start at the very beginning with their 101 class. So, I'm in this class with people who have never done improv before. Let me tell you, this is doing AMAZING things for my ego. I look brilliant next to these people! Saturday we were doing an exercise where we had to establish the "who," "where," and "what" in three sentences. When I delivered my last line the entire class, including the two instructors, all said "Niiiccceeee." It was cool. Not that I'm especially genius or anything, I'm just being compared to people who are inexperienced.
I started the Comedy Writing program too. I was given homework, which was awesome. I had to write a story inspired by a photo I was given in class. It really got me writing again.
Accio Books is still going on! We're half way through now, and the Slytherin team is in second place! This is really more awesome than it sounds, because Slytherin usually holds steady in a distant last place. I've been organizing livestream events to promote the whole thing. I've been talking to awesome people in awesome bands!
Vicky is playing Mario Kart, one of the levels where you pick up the coins, and she's singing "Money, Money, Money," be ABBA. It's hilarious.
I've been busting my ass to pass the exams for my fight class. One of my partners is...someone who has been very difficult for me to work with, but I've been working extra hard to compensate. Yeah, this is stressful, but it's almost over.
Back to improv this past week, which is super fun. Ohhh, I have a story to tell here. I started taking improv classes at one of the other theatres in town. I did this because they have some advanced stuff that I really want to get into, but they have a policy that everyone involved at their theatre has to start at the very beginning with their 101 class. So, I'm in this class with people who have never done improv before. Let me tell you, this is doing AMAZING things for my ego. I look brilliant next to these people! Saturday we were doing an exercise where we had to establish the "who," "where," and "what" in three sentences. When I delivered my last line the entire class, including the two instructors, all said "Niiiccceeee." It was cool. Not that I'm especially genius or anything, I'm just being compared to people who are inexperienced.
I started the Comedy Writing program too. I was given homework, which was awesome. I had to write a story inspired by a photo I was given in class. It really got me writing again.
Accio Books is still going on! We're half way through now, and the Slytherin team is in second place! This is really more awesome than it sounds, because Slytherin usually holds steady in a distant last place. I've been organizing livestream events to promote the whole thing. I've been talking to awesome people in awesome bands!
Vicky is playing Mario Kart, one of the levels where you pick up the coins, and she's singing "Money, Money, Money," be ABBA. It's hilarious.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Cheryl, Queen of the Fairy Geeks!
For the first time ever, right here on my blog, I'm going to reveal the true extent of my geekdom. I'm not ashamed. I'm a dork. Deal.
I think by now most of my friends know that I work with an organization called the HP Alliance. The idea of the organization is to help children to understand and get passionate about important world issues by using themes from Harry Potter. Trust me, this method works. The organization managed to raise a fortune for Haiti last month. I can't remember what the final count was, but it was over a hundred thousand dollars. Even as I type it, I can't believe it. This is truly an incredible organization, lead by a guy who is talented, and knows what he's doing.
I'm currently co-leading a book drive for the HP Alliance. The project is called Accio Books! (In the near future I'll be hitting everyone I know up for a book donation, so you might as well start going through your closets and shelves now.) The books collected will benefit the Mississippi Delta. The campaign is set up like a contest. Four teams: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, all competing for the House Cup. Each team has a Head of House. Each Head of House is a celebrity - three of them are from bands, one is a famous author.
As part of this, I'm trying to put together a series of four livestream shows. Each show will have a "House Theme." For example, our head of Slytherin is Brian, on his show he will talk about why Slytherins are the AWESOMEST, and why they will, of course, win the House Cup. Same goes for the other four Heads.
The head of Hufflepuff is a young woman named Lauren Fairweather, and when I was told that she had agreed to participate, I had to admit that I didn't know who she was. Everyone I spoke to about her was SUPER enthusiastic and excited that she was jumping on board with us.
So, of course, I googled her, and I found tons of info online. She's from a band called The Moaning Myrtles, and she also is part of a video blogging project called Five Awesome Girls. Check her out.
http://www.youtube.com/fiveawesomegirls#p/u/2/ZNhjFShZ0rY
laurenfairweather.com
I spoke to her on the phone tonight, and she was very sweet and accommodating. I've spent a fair amount of time on her website, and I'm becoming a fan. Please support her, if you can.
On a side note, one of the other Heads is someone who I'm a massive fan of. Seriously massive fan. Actually, Vicky is a massive fan, too.
Excitement!
Oh, and BTW,
http://www.thehpalliance.org/
I think by now most of my friends know that I work with an organization called the HP Alliance. The idea of the organization is to help children to understand and get passionate about important world issues by using themes from Harry Potter. Trust me, this method works. The organization managed to raise a fortune for Haiti last month. I can't remember what the final count was, but it was over a hundred thousand dollars. Even as I type it, I can't believe it. This is truly an incredible organization, lead by a guy who is talented, and knows what he's doing.
I'm currently co-leading a book drive for the HP Alliance. The project is called Accio Books! (In the near future I'll be hitting everyone I know up for a book donation, so you might as well start going through your closets and shelves now.) The books collected will benefit the Mississippi Delta. The campaign is set up like a contest. Four teams: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, all competing for the House Cup. Each team has a Head of House. Each Head of House is a celebrity - three of them are from bands, one is a famous author.
As part of this, I'm trying to put together a series of four livestream shows. Each show will have a "House Theme." For example, our head of Slytherin is Brian, on his show he will talk about why Slytherins are the AWESOMEST, and why they will, of course, win the House Cup. Same goes for the other four Heads.
The head of Hufflepuff is a young woman named Lauren Fairweather, and when I was told that she had agreed to participate, I had to admit that I didn't know who she was. Everyone I spoke to about her was SUPER enthusiastic and excited that she was jumping on board with us.
So, of course, I googled her, and I found tons of info online. She's from a band called The Moaning Myrtles, and she also is part of a video blogging project called Five Awesome Girls. Check her out.
http://www.youtube.com/fiveawesomegirls#p/u/2/ZNhjFShZ0rY
laurenfairweather.com
I spoke to her on the phone tonight, and she was very sweet and accommodating. I've spent a fair amount of time on her website, and I'm becoming a fan. Please support her, if you can.
On a side note, one of the other Heads is someone who I'm a massive fan of. Seriously massive fan. Actually, Vicky is a massive fan, too.
Excitement!
Oh, and BTW,
http://www.thehpalliance.org/
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