Sharpen Your Pencils

by Mark Gatchell

The weather is beginning to warm, and the days are getting longer, which means March has arrived. As we continue to bring you your favorite events like bingo, JINDO, trivia nights, and various grab-and-go events, we are mixing things up a bit in March by bringing you Reading Rainbow Month!

March is all about books here at Toscana. Have you ever dreamed of being an author and being number one on the New York Times bestsellers list? Do you have a story or tale you have written that the world should see? Many websites can help you get published. Selfpublishing.com is a great start, and if your goal is to sell your book on Amazon, start at bookbaby.com. Each site can help guide you to becoming that author you have wanted to be! Of course, if you want to publish your stories on a smaller scale, you can always enter into our two writing contests featured in March!

Tell us a story in honor of National Write Your Story Day. We are inviting Toscana residents to submit a family-friendly story or tale of their own by March 15 for a chance to be featured in the next Toscana Living Magazine and win a gift card! Maybe you are a silent poet just wanting to unleash your creativity, in haiku as we which case you can show off your best celebrate National Poetry Day. All Haiku entries can be submitted up through March 22nd and should also be family-friendly. Your Haiku should contain three lines and follow the standard rules of 5, 7, 5 syllables.

To this day, my favorite author is Stephen King. I have spent many nights glued to his books, staying awake well into the night, forgetting I have to be up early the next day. The Shining kept me up many nights, as sounds I would typically hear at night, such as the wind blowing through a cracked window or creaking of the steps leading up to my front door, were amplified the deeper I got into each of his books. So, I'm excited to see how well each of you can bring me into your world through your stories and poems!

Keep your eyes peeled for lots of fun events and contests for March. Be sure to sign up for my Tuesday Lifestyle eBlast, so you don't miss out on all the fun, and of course, check our Toscana Facebook page for additional information as well!

Put on your creativity hats and submit your Haiku and/or story today!