It's A Sentence!

A sentence is a group of words expressing a complete thought.

I found this information online today when I was browsing after finishing some work. It reminded me about how I was taught in school.

This is the most satisfying definition I've yet to come across. Some sources go further with simple, complex, and compound sentences, but they're all variations on the main theme, which is:

A sentence is a group of words expressing a complete thought.

I jot it down again because it seems like not everybody understands the concept. A complete thought doesn't have to be deep and meaningful. It could simply be:

Get lost!

That's a complete thought, right? Or how about:

Jesus wept.

That's a complete thought, too. All you need is a subject (or an implied subject in the case of Get lost!) and a predicate (think verb). And you're good.

Which one of these is a sentence?

A. The long and winding road

B. That road is long and winding.

If you said B, have a cookie. Example A is just an phrase. No action going on. Not a complete thought because nothing happens to the road and nobody seems to be on or near it.

Ain't words brilliant? Especially in combination...

Nearly Famous Author!

On the books at Chapters!

On Saturday (Jan 23rd) I was in the Chapters book store in Moncton. I wandered over to the children's books but naturally never expected to find my books there. However...

They have kiosks set up at various points around the store. You can enter what you're looking for into the computerized system and it'll tell you:

• If they stock it
• If it's available in the store
• How to order a copy if it's not in the store

I looked for both of my children's books, Flutter Bunnies and The Legend of Lumpus and Ogols. And guess what?

They were both listed!

Sure, you have to order them, but I still thought it was pretty cool. Some day I hope to see them and other books of mine on the shelves.

Lumpus Books Arrive!

They're here!

I'm quite excited about this book, because my step-son David did the artwork for it. His pictures capture the mood of the story perfectly. I only wish the book was bigger so you could see them more clearly...

Still, you can see them clearly enough if you buy a copy :)

If you're interested, go to Amazon.com and search for The Legend of Lumpus and Ogols. Or simply follow this link.

Get it from Amazon.ca here, from Chapters Indigo here, from Amazon.co.uk here or from Barnes & Noble here.

It's nice when a batch of new books turns up in a delivery van. Takes some of the harshness out of these Canadian winters...

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping that 2010 brings you all that you desire in your writing career and your life in general.

Thanks for reading...