A number of years ago, as my grandson's first birthday approached, I thought about what to give a one-year-old. There are a million things that will be played with for a short while then either broken or ignored. I wanted to give something special, something lasting, something that even when older he might still enjoy. Then it struck me, since he likes the silly little stories I tell him, that maybe I could write a cute little short story for him. Of course with a moral as well, just for him (and any of my other grandchildren as well when shared).
That's all it took to get me started. Since then each year I write a little story that somehow relates to something in his life. When another grandchild came along he also was added to the list of recipients of original stories. Then I got to thinking about it. I decided there might be other grandparents that would like to spend time with their grandchild reading a little story. After a few more years I had enough for a book. So herein I offer my readers a chance to share the joy of time spent reading to a child. That is why my stories were written in the first place.
Children go through phases. With my grandchildren, there were the dinosaurs, whales, (especially the blue whale), hedgehogs, puppies, and goldfish. I'm sure you get my drift. All of these fed my imagination. They helped to produce stories that have a connection that the child and the reader can relate to.
These stories are not written for children to read to themselves, though they can. They were written for a loving adult to sit down with the child on their lap (or side by side) on a sofa and be read to. I recommend using funny voices, lots of emphases and maybe a tickle or two at just the right moment to add flavor and a garnish to each story. The giggles, like sparklers on the 4th of July, will shower joy in all directions. They will warm the heart of the one reading the story and anyone else close by. There is a message in each story that I hope will be evident and be a talking point about life, going beyond the simple story shared.
Shank, Ronald L.: - I Started writing in the 60's, in high school mostly poetry. I was greatly influenced by the writings of Robert Frost, John Steinbeck and Mark Train. I had a few poems published in educational publications and was commissioned for a few pieces. My Poems covered a wide range of topics from personal to humorous, to political commentary to spiritual. Most poetry is non-rhyming and simple. In the early 90's my son joined the marines and while in basic training I wrote him a series of humorous letters to cheer him up. Once in the writing mode the Lord supplied inspiration and I started writing an annual Christmas story and later some Thanksgiving and Easter stories. In the later part of the 90's with involvement in church I got involved in a church newsletter and provided editorial and inspirational articles. After much encouragement and badgering to publish my stories I finally gave in and have compiled a sampling of stories to warm the hearts of those who like short stories with a little pathos.
