Katie & Kimble Blog

Katie & Kimble Kids' Corner: Katrina, 8, speaks her mind!

Linda Thieman — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:25:48 -0500

Katie & Kimble Kids' Corner: Katrina, 8, speaks her mind!

Today, I'd like to introduce our first guest blogger here at Katie & Kimble Kids' Corner. Her name is Katrina, she's from Virginia, and she's 8!

Katie & Kimble is a very honest book with a lot of friendship and truth. I thought it was a really great book, one of my top favorites. It was a very sweet, loving book. There are some parts that I wasn’t expecting, but I liked the whole thing. I think it would be cool to meet a ghost like Kimble and to live in that type of house. Katie didn’t really have any friends and I think Kimble made a smart choice of showing her feelings so Katie would like her.

I wish that I had a friend like Katie or Kimble or even both. I think Katie & Kimble is a book I would enjoy reading again and I look forward to reading more about Katie and Kimble’s adventures. I also liked the pictures in the book. I think Mrs. Russell made a smart choice about trusting that Kimble was real and I was surprised that she believed in the end.

I [was] 8 on April 8, 2008. I am homeschooled. I like playing piano. And I recently built a volcano for my first science fair and I received a really good score for it. (See some pictures here!) I like to make people happy and to make new friends.

Thank you, Katrina! I appreciate your sending in your post! Well done!

Katie & Kimble Books Now Just $5.95 in Paperback!

Linda Thieman — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:00:00 -0500

Katie & Kimble Books Now Just $5.95 in Paperback!

I am pleased to announce that the Katie & Kimble books are now available in paperback for just $5.95 each! We can thank the new system over at CreateSpace for finally making print-on-demand so affordable. CreateSpace is an Amazon company, so in addition to being available in our own e-store, the first two Katie & Kimble books will soon be available through Amazon.com (in about 3 weeks). This will also mean that bloggers who wish to put the Katie & Kimble books up on their websites will be able to score a commission as an Amazon affiliate.

The new paperback versions of the Katie & Kimble books are available here.

The instant download versions are still available at Lulu.com.

Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!

Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:

Paperback version: $5.95

Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!

Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!

Instant download version: $2.48

Click here to order the instant download editions.

[Reading Level 3, for ages 7-10]

Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble, the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to Kimble's mother.

Please visit us here (http://katieandkimbleblog.com) for updates.

© 2008 by Linda Thieman

KidsBookshelf.com Recommends Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!

Linda Thieman — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:58:26 -0500

KidsBookshelf.com Recommends Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!

KidsBookshelf.com, a website that "brings children and books together," has recently added Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story to their list of recommended books. The reviewer and site owner, Christina Lewis, calls the book "a fun and easy read kids will enjoy!"

Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story is a chapter book for ages 7-10. The book is also suitable for reading aloud to six year olds. The story is funny and exciting, but not fear-based and not too intense for the six through ten set. However, it has a very high interest level and is quite a sophisticated story, one that will keep the older kids engrossed, as well.

Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story is the first book in a chapter book series. The second book, Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish, is available here.

Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!

Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available at Lulu.com:

Paperback version: $5.95

Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!

Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!

Instant download version: $2.48

Click here to order the instant download editions.

Please visit us here (http://katieandkimbleblog.com) for updates.

© 2007-2008 by Linda Thieman

Katie & Kimble: Why Twinkle is a Great, Big Dog!

Linda Thieman — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:12:23 -0500

Katie & Kimble: Why Twinkle is a Great, Big Dog!

Our Katie & Kimble readers know that Katie has a dog named Twinkle. Katie named him Twinkle because he was silver, the color of the stars. She thought that in the sunlight, he twinkled like a star.

Twinkle is a great, big dog. He is an Old English sheepdog. When I was first writing Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story, I needed to decide what kind of dog Twinkle was going to be. I really needed a dog that would protect Katie. If you have read Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story, you'll know why! Katie has a lot of adventures and gets into a lot of trouble! It's a good thing Twinkle is there to protect her!

For hundreds of years, sheepdogs have been trained to protect sheep. That is why they are so good with children. They make sure the child is safe, too.

Sheepdogs have long hair that needs to be brushed a lot. Several years ago, I worked with a woman who had a sheepdog. When she brushed his hair, she saved the hair. Then later, she made the hair into a sweater and wore it to work! Yeah, that really grossed me out, I must say.

Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes to hear Twinkle barking!

Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available at Lulu.com:

Instant download version: $2.48
Paperback version: $8.95

Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!

Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!

[Reading Level 3, for ages 7-10]

Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look normal. But the Russells don't know they are living with Kimble, the ghost of a 10-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to Kimble's mother.

© 2008 by Linda Thieman

Katie & Kimble: Ask the Author a Question!

Linda Thieman — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:57:44 -0500

Katie & Kimble: Ask the Author a Question!

Wouldn't it be fun to read a book and then ask the author a question?

Well, you can do that right here on the Katie & Kimble blog! We have quite a conversation going on already, thanks to our friend and reader, Marissa! Just look at the great questions she's asked and the wonderful comments she has shared.

You don't need to sign in to ask a question and you don't need to give us your email address.

You can ask questions, give your opinions or talk about anything you want. Just two rules: 1) be polite, and 2) don't give your last name! First names only, please! Please don't give your address or phone number, either. Never give that kind of information online. That's because we want this blog to be safe for all kids!

See the comments and questions our readers are posting!

Click here to post your questions!

Once you get to the comments page, click on Post a Comment.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Linda
Author of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story

Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2) is available here!

Katie & Kimble: Does Katie Have a Song?

Linda Thieman — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:26:11 -0500

Katie & Kimble: Does Katie Have a Song?

Recently, a Katie & Kimble reader named Marissa has been posting some questions and comments here on the Katie & Kimble Blog. She’s really got me thinking, too! For example, Marissa and I have discussed Kimble’s song, Mr. Russell’s song, and even Twinkle’s song (sort of). So, Marissa asked me if Katie has a song.

Well, there is a song that I think of when I think of Katie. It’s not really “Katie’s Song.” But for people who have read Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story, I think you’ll know why I think of Katie when I hear this song.

The song is called “Down by the Old Mill Stream.” It was written in 1910, and so it was popular when Kimble was a child. There is a line in the song that goes like this:

Down by the old mill stream
(not the river but the stream)...

If you have read the first Katie & Kimble book (Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story), I think you can see Kimble’s sense of humor in this song (and you know which chapter I’m talking about!)

It’s sort of an “inside joke.” That means that only Katie & Kimble readers will know what the joke means! I thought that was kind of funny!

So, thanks, Marissa! What do you think of “Katie’s Song”? I found a free sample of the part I wanted you to hear over on iTunes. Listen to it here!

Down by the Old Mill Stream

Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!