Friends:

Since I have been back in my office, things have been hopping! My website was hacked over the summer, causing numerous problems you won’t even believe. Thankfully, after a lot of work, Heidi, my fabulous web designer, got to the bottom of the problem and fixed things, including my blog. So now, I can blog again. Yay!

I have been working on numerous book projects. The Story Biz Handbook: How to Manage Your Storytelling Career from the Desk to the Stage has been sent to the printer. It will be out by the end of September, early October. It is 30 chapters on everything you wanted to know about being a professional storyteller. You can order a copy from Libraries Unlimited (http://www.lu.com) or from any major online retailer. This is what the book looks like:

The Story Biz Handbook

I am now working on the final proofing of Tangram Tales: Story Theater Using the Ancient Chinese Puzzle. I am really excited about this book. It bring stories and story theater to life in a whole new way, using Tangrams. As far as I know, it’s the first book of its kind. Tangram Tales should be out by the end of the year, if all goes well with production.

Tangram Tales

I also just finished with the final proofing of my first picture book, The Cajun Cornbread Boy, a spicy twist on The Gingerbread Man folktale. The illustrator, Marita Gentry, did a fantastic job and I am soooo excited about this book. It has been my dream since I was a child to publish a picture book. Special thanks to my editor, Nina, who made the book shine. I hope there will be many more picture books to come! There is something so magical about a picture book. Even as an adult, I am mesmerized by both the words and the illustrations in a fantastic picture book. Check out the book’s phenomenal cover…

The Cajun Cornbread Boy

I will be working on more book projects in the upcoming months, including writing Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle and Thrill, which is due in December.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Jurassic Mardi Gras
By Dianne de Las Casas
© 2005

Note from Dianne: This story was inspired by the Jurassic Mardi Gras float I created with my brother, Gary, and his son, Jourdan.

Around the corner and down the street
The dinos move to the mambo beat
All the abominable beasts are out
Getting ready for the parade route
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

On Napoleon and Claiborne
Camarasaurus blows her horn
Diplodocus counts each doubloon
As Gallimimus yells, “We’re rolling soon!”
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Down Napoleon roll the big beasts
On sweet King Cake, Janenschia feasts
Brachiosaurus throws his beads
As Riojaurus sits back and reads
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Turning on St. Charles, the huge crowd roars
To see Rex, King of Carnivores
Dimorphodon swoops into the crowd
They all cheer and yell so loud
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Around Lee Circle they boom and bop
Then in front of the Grand Stand the dinos stop
The mayor toasts and cheers the King dinosaur
And Rex roars as the crowd cheers some more
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Moving and grooving to the carnival sound
The dinosaurs are the hippest beasts around
The mega monsters turn on Canal Street
And Wannanosaurus wiggles to the marching band beat
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Styracosaurus balances bundles of throws
Baryonyx boogies while he’s on the go
Pterodactylus spins and soars around
The crazy creatures love to party downtown
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Zigongosaurus is dancing zydeco
Velociraptor takes a Lucky Dog to go
Singing his catchy Mardi Gras tunes
The great Notoceratops swings and swoons
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Passing Magazine and nearing the end
Mamenchisaurus looks down and makes a friend
Triceratops stops and sings the blues
As Apatosaurus dances in her blue suede shoes
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Tchoupitoulas is where the procession ends
In the Crescent City, where the river bends
A jazz band plays a super cool groove
All the dinosaurs get up and bust a move
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

Spectators gather in awe of the view
Beads fly from the floats of this motley krewe
“Throw me something, mister,” the dino crowd roars
Everyone hails the King of Dinosaurs
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

King Rex waves goodbye until next year
The crowd romps and stomps and chomps and cheers
It’s a jumping Jurassic Mardi Gras
Hooray for all the jaws and claws
Jurassic Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras
Down in New Orleans

ROAR!!!