My Other World

by CJ Heck

There's another
world I visit
in my sleep
when the day's
constraints
are unbuttoned
and unzipped,
cast off to
crowd the laundry
in the hamper.
My pillow, like
a giant sponge,
sops up the
stress and worry,
spilling from an ear
or from my
cluttered mind.
There, life
is always fair
and good guys
finish first,
so my number
nearly always
wins the prize.
I fly on dragons,
a super hero,
or take magic carpet
rides, reading minds
and casting spells,
solving problems,
even mine.
Asleep, I'm safe,
and time
stands still.
Wrinkles are gone,
varicose veins
now beauty marks.
Mirrors are kind.
They say
I'm the fairest
in the land
and never
show me silver
in my hair,
while tiny genies
in my lamp
grant every wish.
That world
is a haven,
where I can live
in fairy tales,
or Peter Pan
in Neverland,
and watch as
angels weave
magic into love
and happy endings.

School Visit Article: THE DAILY PRESS

'Barking Spiders' Author, CJ Heck, Shares Poetry with Students
The Daily Press, St. Mary's, PA
by Amy Cherry

Poet and children's author,
C.J. Heck, of DuBois, PA,
recently met with Fox Twp.
Elementary School students
during a series of presentations,
sharing her children's poetry
with K thru 5th grade students.




Fox Township Elementary School students recently enjoyed a visit by children's poet, C.J Heck, of DuBois.  As the author of the children's poetry book, "Barking Spiders and Other Such Stuff," Heck was invited to speak to students about her work.  Christine Kuhar, Fox Twp. Elementary principal, said the book is very popular among the school's students.

During her interactive presentations, Heck read from her book of poems, as well as selections from the soon-to-be published "Barking Spiders, Too" and "Me, Too, Preschool Poetry" books.  In addition, CJ discussed the background for some of the poems and told some of the classes where her inspiration for the poems comes from and why she writes from a child's point of view.

She also taught the students a tongue twister, which she learned from her mother at a young age.  Students were very entertained as they attempted a difficult tongue twister -- here is only one part from it: "Could ya, would ya, honey please, will ya, won't ya, can't ya, don't ya wanna? Gee ya said ya would ..."

In concluding her presentations, Heck always leaves time for questions from inquisitive students. According to Heck's answers to some of the questions, she wrote her first poem in the fourth grade, stating that her teacher made the experience very exciting. She has been actively writing since 1975.  Much of the content of her work was inspired by things her siblings said or did while they were growing up in Coshocton, Ohio, and later, her three daughters inspired her further. Now at 61 (I know, because one of the students asked her how old she is), Heck gets her inspiration from her nine grandchildren, and she told the students she even tests her newest poems out on them.

When one student questioned Heck as to why she wanted to become an author, Heck replied that she didn't start out wanting to be an author.  "I just liked writing poems. My middle daughter encouraged me to do something with all the poems I had written," Heck said.  She also encouraged the students: "You can all be authors. Just work at it and don't ever give up.  If it's what you want, be persistent.  When you have an idea, write it down right away. I have written ideas on napkins, menus, church bulletins and even on my hand."

Heck interacts with youth of all ages during her numerous school visits with preschool up to eighth grade students. She also conducts poetry workshops and participates in book fairs, library visits and programs for adult audiences.

This year, Heck hopes to get two or three more books published, including a preschool poetry book entitled, "Me Too, Preschool Poetry" and the aforementioned "Barking Spiders, Too."  Her current book was published by SterlingHouse in 2000, and it's still available at all of the major online retailers, her website store,  and The Book Nook in Punxsutawney, PA. People interested in her work or having her visit their school may also visit her website Barking Spiders Poetry for Children.

Children & School Visits

Children are so Forgiving if you Goof Up

Want to know what my favorite part is about doing an author school visit?

EVERYthing!  I love every part of it.

Even my inner child loves doing school visits -- it gives her a chance to get out, stretch her legs, exercise her sense of humor, and be among people her own age for a little while.

Of course, I have to rein her in every now and then -- she takes such liberties, at times -- tsk tsk, you know how children can be ...

What surprises me is how many children's authors I've met who have no interest in doing an author school visit. They don't know the fun they're missing. For me, it's the icing on the cake. It's the best part about being a children's author.

Writing the book was the hard part; finding a publisher was right up there with hard, but more of a pain in the butt than anything else. School visits are the best part of being published.

In talking with some authors, it comes down to speaking to a group, any group. Doesn't matter how old the group is, they don't want to do it. I guess I have to respect that ... to each his own. What they don't seem to realize is, children are so honest and trusting. They hold you in awe and high regard because you "wrote a book" -- jeepers, they don't even care what kind of book! They only know that you wrote it, so they trust that you must be 'pretty special'.

Children are also very forgiving if you goof up. As long as you still own the ability to laugh at yourself, goofing up isn't a problem, it's actually a positive, and can be an ice-breaker, if the ice hasn't already been broken by the time you goof up.

School Visit, Worcester, MA

I don't know how many times over the years I've screwed up a line from one of my own poems. Solution: make a silly face, say the line the way it should be said, and say something like: "Oh man, I sure screwed that up, didn't I? I don't even know my own poem! Sorry 'bout that." And then laugh -- they'll laugh right along with you.

Bada-Bing-Bada-BOOM.  Forgiven.

So, if you're a children's author who doesn't yet do school visits, please reconsider. Send me an email if you need more information, or call me and I'll give you a pep talk. (The number is on here somewhere).

It's fun signing autographs between presentations. It's wonderful getting hugs at the end of a long day, and it feels really good to walk down the hall and have children smile, wave, or call out your name ...


"A writer soon learns that easy to read is hard to write." ~CJ Heck

My Inner Child: A School Visit Morning

My Children's Books

On an author school visit day, I set the alarm for 5:00 a.m.

Then I say to myself what Ron White always says, "It's gonna be a good day today, Tater."

Most mornings start out pretty much the same at our house.

Robert and I have coffee together first, then we write our blogs and post them; then I post one of the veteran's articles on Memoirs From Nam, answer emails, approve comments, answer them, and then I'm ready to settle in and write, or edit, while Robert heads off to work.

On mornings when I have a school visit, there's so much more to do. I need a good hour with my coffee, check the internet for a few minutes, answer emails, and then I have to get busy.

I have to put my contacts in, take a shower, get dressed, pack up the car ... but before I do any of that, I have to do something else, first ...

I have to wake up my inner child.  I never do a school visit without her. She's not far away, though -- she's down inside, patiently waiting for the wake up call.

I have to give credit where credit is due. She's the one who really loves doing the school visits and she does most of the work, too, although we each have our jobs to do in the presentations. But, she's the one who gets the adrenalin pumping -- I'm just happy she lets me share the fun.

I also have to set aside some time to make sure I have everything else that goes with me (us):

• books (weeks before, I take a pre-order from schools and their students) 
• brochures 
• book marks 
• doorknob signs
• spider treasure boxes
• stickers

A few years ago, one librarian at a school visit presented me with a HUGE paper mache spider.  He looks exactly like the comical, colorful spider on my book.

She painted his body blue, his head red, the long legs are white, and to finish him, she glued on these large "google eyes". She even fashioned the web he "hangs" from, out of a piece of wire.

He's adorable and I treasure him. Now he comes with me (us) on every school visit, like a mascot.  My inner child and the kids at the schools adore him.

So, once the check list is done, I remind myself once again, "Yep, it's gonna be a good day today, Tater ..."

Happy School Visiting!
CJ


"A writer soon learns that easy to read is hard to write." ~CJ Heck

Winter and Snow

Anyone else tired of snow? I don't know, I guess my bones are just getting too, well, not old exactly, just plenty tired of the cold and winter weather. When bones graduate to the senior division, that seems to be when they get ... tired.  At least for me.

The first snowfall of the season ... that's okay. That's truly beautiful. I can stand at the window and watch the first snowfall all day long. It kinda looks like a post card out there and it's joyfully nostalgic. When it becomes all black with dirt and turns to slush, that's when it can go bye bye for the rest of the winter, for all I care ... (where's my ticket to the Keys?)  As I always say, I can visit snow if I miss it.  I have two daughters up in New England and grandchildren there I can play in the snow with ... on a visit.

When I was a child, it was different. I could hardly wait for winter and snow -- the more it snowed, the happier I was. It didn't matter if it snowed every day, all winter long, I was ready for it -- sledding, snow angels, snow balls, snowmen, igloos, skiing, and always hot chocolate and a big bowl of chili, after any of them. There was always fun to be had in snow ... not to mention, school was usually closed for the day, IF it was a BIG snowfall.

I think when I moved from New Hampshire three years ago, I thought I was leaving the really big snow storms behind ... huh uh, no such luck. I didn't realize I was moving to what's called the Allegheny Mountain Region here in Pennsylvania. It was sorta like going from the frying pan into the fire. Here, it snows almost every day all winter long.

Oh well (sigh) ... wanna make a snowman with me?

One Light Bulb ...

This came to me in an email this morning from Robert's sister, Cindy.  I was shocked!  How could I have missed something as important as this?  How many other Americans have also innocently had their heads in the sand?  Thank you, Cindy!

A high school physics teacher once told his students that one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train, but a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following:

This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets.  In the light bulb aisle, right next to the GE brand I normally buy, was an off-brand labeled "Everyday Value".  I picked up both packages of bulbs and compared the stats -- they were identical except for the price. The GE bulbs cost more than the value brand, but the thing that surprised me was that the GE bulbs were made in Mexico and the value brand was made in the USA in Cleveland, Ohio.  I put the GE bulbs back on the shelf.

Then I went to another aisle to get Bounce Dryer Sheets.  The Bounce dryer sheets cost a lot more and I noticed it's made in Canada.  The value brand again cost less and it's made in the USA.  I did laundry yesterday and I can tell you, the off-brand dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce that I've been using for years -- and at almost half the price!

The other day I went to Lowe's to look at hose attachments. Every one of them was made in China. The next day I went to Ace Hardware and checked the hose attachments there. They were all made in the USA. Start looking at things yourself and you'll see.  In our current economic situation, every single thing we buy or do affects someone else -- even their job.

My family likes Hershey's candy. I noticed that now it's marked "Made in Mexico".   I don't buy Hershey's any more.  My favorite toothpaste, Colgate, is even made in Mexico, so now I've switched to Crest.  We now have to read the labels on everything we buy!

My challenge to you:  Start reading the labels on everything you buy when you shop.  See what you can find that's made in the USA-- the job you save may be your own or your neighbor's!  

We should have awakened a decade ago!  If you accept the challenge, pass this on to everyone you know so we can all start buying American again.  Let's boycott the products that are made overseas.  We've got to get back with the program and help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create even more jobs here in the USA ... even if we have to do it one light bulb at a time ... 

“I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.” ~Everett Hale

WE the PEOPLE

These days, I can't help getting fed up with how the government runs things. No increase for Social Security for my dad and all the other seniors who rely on SS to live, and yet Congress voted themselves a $3,000 a month pay increase. Good Lord, that's $36,000 a year for each of them! What's wrong with this picture? That's a year's pay for some who are struggling to raise a family in this country, and for Congress, it's just a raise.

I got the following as an email the other day from Lt. James McCraney, who served in Vietnam with Doug in '69. This is something I believe in and I think you will, too. I've sent it out to my entire email list. Please read and copy and paste to everyone on your email list, and send to your Representatives. Things have to change! Let's do our part to change them!

The 26th amendment (granting 18-year olds the right to vote) took only 3 months and 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The People demanded it. That was back in 1971 before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land. This was because of public pressure.

I'm asking each of you to forward this as an email to a minimum of twenty people on your address list; in turn, please ask each of them to do likewise. I did.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea, a viable solution, that should be passed on to our Representatives.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011:

1. Term Limits:

12 years only, with one of the possible options below:

A. Two Six-year Senate terms, or
B. Six Two-year House terms, or
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure/No Pension.

A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present and future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all of these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home as citizens again and back to work.

If each person reading this contacts a minimum of twenty people, then it should only take about three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message.

It's time. This is how you fix Congress! If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not ... well, I feel sorry for you ... Please get the word out -- and please do it NOW!


“I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. The something I ought to do, I can do. And by the grace of God, I will.” ~Everett Hale

What's a Barking Spider?

Since it was first released eleven years ago, I've had many people ask me where I got the name for my first children's book, "Barking Spiders (and Other Such Stuff)". Some have even taken the name literally and asked what kind of a spider a barking spider is. Do you find them in Africa, or are they Australian or maybe from South America? Do they make noise like a dog? How big is a barking spider? Are they hard to kill? Are they poisonous?

Before I tell them, I make a few quick jokes first, teasing just a little bit.

Q: What kind of a spider is a barking spider?
A: Oh, you would know one, if you heard one. It's nearly impossible not to hear them.
Q: Where do you find barking spiders?
A: Oh my, you mean you don't have any barking spiders at your house? They're not limited to any particular country or even region. They're everywhere! I would venture to say everyone has them sometimes.
Q: Do they make noise like a dog?
A: (giggle) I suppose some do, or at least some can.
Q: How big is a barking spider"
A: Some are so big that you send your child (or your husband) to his room.
Q: Are they hard to kill?
A: Not at all, but it takes a lot of personal control. Sometimes you're forced to just leave the room.
Q: Are they poisonous?
A: Oh God, yes! Some are so bad, you think you'll die!

When I do an author school visit, I routinely ask the children if they know what a barking spider is. Almost always, there is one little girl or boy whose hand goes up, down, then up again. That's what I'm looking for ... of course I always call on them.

Me: "Do you know what a barking spider is?"

Child: "Well-l-l-l, I know what my dad says it is ... but it CAN'T be THAT!"

I suppose there are some of you reading this who still don't know what a barking spider really is yet. I think I'll tell you the story behind it as a way of explaining it.

When my three daughters were small, we had driven from New Hampshire to Ohio to visit family. While we were there, we went to see my youngest brother, Chip, and his wife, Sue, at their home.

Chip, the girls and I were all sitting on the floor playing Chutes and Ladders, a children's board game. About midway through the game, my oldest daughter, who was about seven, passed some gas. She was embarrassed and immediately put her hands over her eyes and apologized. I was about to tell her it was all right, when my brother jumped up and yelled to Sue in the kitchen, "Sue! Grab the can of Raid under the sink! Hurry! We've got a barking spider hiding in here somewhere!"

The girls and I looked at each other and started to laugh -- that big gut-wrenching laughter -- I mean to tell you, complete and total hilarity broke out in that room! The kind of laughing where you're almost done and just thinking about it makes it start all over again! The kind of uncontrollable laughter where you have to hold your sides because they hurt so bad!

Okay, I told you that, so I could tell you this. That happened in about 1981. Years later, when Chip turned forty, Sue had a surprise over-the-hill birthday party for him. I wasn't able to get to his party from New Hampshire, so I wrote "Barking Spiders" as a gag gift for Chip. I told Sue to please have Chip read the poem out loud to all of the attendees ... I know, I can be a real booger ... but I'm his oldest sister and he loves me (giggle).

... now do you know what a barking spider is? Awww, I guess you'll have to wait for the sequel, "Barking Spiders Too."