Author Elaine A Powers – Lyric Power Publishing

Posted on December 4, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

Saving the World’s Fauna and Flora by Elaine a. Powers, Author

Once a year I travel to an “exotic” location–not to play, but to work with the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, for iguana conservation. The IUCN is a democratic union comprised of influential organizations, both governmental and public, and top conservation experts, in a combined effort to conserve nature and enable sustainable development. There are more than 1300 member organizations and more than 15,000 experts. These members make the IUCN the global authority on the status of the natural world and what is needed to protect it.

I am thrilled to be part of this organization and hope I contribute in my own small way to the important work they do. Their website: https://www.iucn.org/.

Another important organization for the worldwide protection of wildlife is CITES, The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES publishes a voluntary international agreement that provides a framework for the parties to adopt their own domestic national legislation. So far, 183 parties have joined together. More information is available at: https://www.cites.org/eng/.

Thirty fun pages all about iguanas!

NOTE: Iguanas are among my very favorite animals because of their intelligence, strength, and when domesticated, their affection toward their caretakers. Their personalities are fascinating and unique, and sometimes I think they can read minds! To learn more about these amazing reptiles, please enjoy our comprehensive workbook and activity sheets, My Unit Study on Iguanas.

To see all of Lyric Power Publishing’s fun, educational workbooks, go to the Our Workbooks tab.

Posted on December 2, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

Today I’m Dreaming of Brumating by Elaine A. Powers, Author

A brown shelled tortoise tucked away, brumating — **Like Cantata here, I may just decide to brumate.**

You know how they say people resemble their pets? Well, in my case, it’s true. I like the hot summer weather that brings out the reptiles of the Sonoran Desert. And today, as the morning temperatures have dropped into the “It’s cold out there” range, I’m dreaming of brumating. I’d like to find a nice warm den, crawl in and wait until the temperatures reach the level of comfy. Tolerable cold just won’t do.

Yes, I know, you’re thinking I’ve made a mistake and should be dreaming of hibernating, which is what warm-blooded animals do. Brumation is the hibernation-like state that cold-blooded animals like reptiles use to survive cold weather. When cold, they tuck themselves away, but on warm winter days, brumating reptiles will move about and drink water. Hibernating animals stay in a deep sleep and don’t move until spring.

Since I am willing to move on warm winter days, I consider myself a brumation wannabe. If you don’t see me about for a while, don’t worry. Like Cantata here, I’m tucked away in a nook or cranny, brumating.

Lyric Power Publishing is proud to offer comprehensive and fun workbooks that chase away the winter blues. Stuck indoors? Why not download an LPP workbook filled with activity sheets to color and complete, and learn along the way?

44 pages of tortoise fun for the little ones!

38 pages of turtle fun for grades 2-4!

Posted on November 27, 2019November 27, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving from Lyric Power Publishing!

graphic with photo of woman reading a book to a tortoise

Posted on November 25, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

Do Birds Flitter or Flutter? By Elaine A. Powers, Author

a yellow bird with brown and white wings landing on the side of a cactus — **Image courtesy of B Wills from Pixabay**

I like to write about word use and finding more interesting, active verbs for more exciting writing. For instance, did the lizard skitter or scurry? In writing about a bananaquit, a small bird that flies rapidly from spot to spot, the question came up: Is the bird flittering or fluttering? The same question could be asked of butterflies. Do they flitter or flutter? English is such an interesting language.

Flitter and flutter can both be used as verbs. Even though they are only one letter different, they do describe different motions. Flittering suggests movement in a quick and seemingly random manner. Fluttering, in contrast, suggests the winged creature is flying unsteadily or irregularly. So, even though both words indicate flapping (another similar-sounding word) of wings, fluttering means wobbly motion, while flittering means flying nimbly. So, in the case of my bananaquit, she is flittering from branch to branch.

You’ll get to meet this bananquit in the upcoming book, Curtis Curly-tail Goes to the Doctor. In the meantime, please enjoy the previous books in the series.

a children's book cover, blue and white, with several curly-tail lizards on the cover — Captured by poachers, Curtis Curly-tail finds himself on a boat full of native animals being smuggled out of The Bahamas. As he struggles to help the other animals escape, he realizes he may not be able to save himself.

Color eight different birds in this workbook, including the Bananaquit!

Posted on November 22, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

Nov. 23rd is National Adoption Day by Elaine A. Powers, Author

young child on train station bench near suitcases Image courtesy of Виктория Бородинова from Pixabay

Although National Adoption Day was created to encourage the adoption of children, adoption is also important for animals. Too many animals are waiting in adoption facilities for a forever home.

When you adopt, you receive information about your new companion animal, such as its likes and dislikes, and its personality. I have found that adopted animals are grateful for their new human companions and they show it.

I ran an iguana rescue for many years. I placed many wonderful green iguanas into knowledgeable homes–homes I knew were ready for their new family member.

a directory listing for Powers IGuana Rescue New Jersey in 2000 — **An image of an old listing for my Iguana Rescue in New Jersey**

In all adoptions, whether children or animals, it is important to do your homework in advance. Impulse buys of animals are never good and often end in heartache for everyone involved. I waited many years before I adopted my first animal. Do your research (after all, we do have the Internet) and then get out there and adopt.

#adoptdontbuy

Green Iguana, Algae, on an enclosure. — **Algae, a green iguana I rescued**

a book cover of a nature preserve, where seeds are cultivated. Seeds are drawn as cute characters — **A Lyric Power Publishing book about seeds longing for a home. Yes, all of life longs to find its own special place to belong!**

Posted on November 20, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

Keeping It Real–Very Real by Elaine A. Powers, Author

a tangle of mangrove tree roots — **Mangrove tree roots image courtesy of M W from Pixabay**

Even though I primarily write children’s books, I wrote a book called Silent Rocks about the declining population of Rock Iguanas on the Cayman Islands, and another about the Sonoran Desert’s Night-Blooming Cereus.

cover of book "Silent Rocks." white background, rock iguana pictured in natural habitat on island Cayman Brac — The population of the endemic Sister Island Rock Iguana (Cyclura nubila caymanensis) on Cayman Brac is in serious decline. These vegetarian lizards are an important part of the island’s ecosystem. The reduction in population is the result of human activity on their habitat and the threats can only be eliminated by human action.

I also write murder mysteries and one is set in south Florida in a small coastal town. A lot of the action takes place in the mangroves. In fact, one scene regards a resort hotel being built within the mangroves. I thought I had included sufficient details with the tangle of roots and the wildlife flitting in and out. Recently, I had the opportunity to stay in a hotel actually built within the mangrove trees.

Who was it that thought this was a good idea?

Besides the senseless destruction of the protective trees, there are the people-consuming insects that consider the insect repellent to be seasoning. Guests slog through the muck to get to the steps of the hotel. The salt air seems to corrode everything metal instantaneously. The nesting and resting birds squabble day and night. And then there’s the smell–the omnipresent odor of hydrogen sulfide, which can be compared to odor of rotten eggs.

It’s time for me to edit the landscape descriptions in my story and really bring the location to life. In the case of a very strong setting like this one, it takes on importance equal to the characters. This has taught me to be certain to use all the senses when writing the location. My new motto: Get the details rights!

Posted on November 18, 2019November 18, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

Claiming Who I Am by Elaine A. Powers, Author

Lyric Power Publishing represents three authors at this time, though my books make up the largest quantity of LPP’s published works. Perhaps the parents and grandparents reading this will consider giving one or two of our wonderful children’s books (that are enjoyed by adults, too) this Christmas. With these books, kids learn that science is fun!~~EAP

I recently traveled to a foreign country (a pretty common event for me). On the immigration form, countries often ask for your profession. During my life’s work, I put biologist. I was a laboratory researcher. On one trip to Africa, I think that admission got me thoroughly searched. Upon my return, I declared I had purchased some sine wood carvings. Every item and the suitcases themselves were thoroughly searched. They suspected I had brought back some illegal samples of something. Nope, just a few nice carvings done by a local craftsman.

After I took early retirement, I put down “retired” as my profession, even though I was actively writing and trying to build my book business.

The author Elaine A. Powers head shot against a green background — **(Made by the author’s proud website staff for her. She is also a wonderful employer.)**

So, for the first time, on this last trip, I put down “Author” as my profession. I don’t know why it’s been so hard for me to consider myself a professional writer. I have always loved science, and I recently realized that the enjoyment I get from writing and sharing about science has made my book business into a real business. I really, truly am an author.

Come join me in my adventure. Share your thoughts with me in a comment below and on Facebook here and here and here. Read my books that weave science into poetry and adventure tales, making science fun. Science should be fun! Check out Lyric Power Publishing’s workbooks, which tie into LPP’s books, and are so well made by a teacher’s teacher. We are very proud of them here. They are extensive, multi-subject with a focus–like iguanas! We say, “Why not do math counting iguanas?

For educators and homeschooling parents, LPP offers a 30-page workbook called My Unit Study on Iguanas designed for students in grades 2-4. It’s filled with fun and educational pages and puzzles, all about the iguana.

a light brown book cover with green lettering: Queen of the Night: Night Blooming Cereus, with illustration of a white flower — Biologist and Author Elaine A. Powers includes both scientific facts and the magic of this Southwestern Desert plant in her book, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT: THE NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS. Powers says being a musician helped her to weave into poetry the plant parts, the blooming cycle, the plant’s growing conditions, and its pollinators. This wonderful book about a very special plant in the Sonoran Desert is for all ages.

Posted on November 15, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

Take a Hike! It’s Almost Nov. 17th by Elaine A. Powers, Author

Southern Arizona desert with mountains in background — **Hiking in Catalina State Park, Southern Arizona**

When I came across this national day, I confess two different things came to my mind. The first and most obvious meaning is to go outside and walk in a patch or expanse of nature. That is, in fact, the purpose of November 17 as a national holiday. You can take a short hike around your neighborhood, a day hike through a local wooded area, or enjoy a challenging hike, such as traversing to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Hiking doesn’t have to be fast. I think hiking is better as a stroll. This allows getting in touch with plants and wild animals. Even seeing a little squirrel brings peace to a person’s mind. Nature is often referred to Vitamin N. Richard Louv wrote a book about it.

Of course, there is also the figurative use of the phrase. When two people have a disagreement, one might say, “Take a hike!”, meaning go away, leave, get out of here. Maybe this use wouldn’t happen as much if we got out in nature and took more hikes. Get your Vitamin N!

Posted on November 13, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

What is it About the Ocean? by Elaine A. Powers, Author

turquoise and white ocean waves against an orange sunset — **Image courtesy of Ruben Eduardo Ortiz Morales from Pixabay**

What is it about the ocean that stimulates my muse? Sure, I can write at home in the desert, but I feel so much more creative with salty waves lapping at the shore, or crashing on the rocks. Maybe it’s the salty air blowing the cobwebs and dust of the mental doldrums from my mind. I have been noticing this more and more. I go to the ocean and I can’t write fast enough. There are times at home in Arizona where I have to fight for every word and then I throw most of it away.

Don’t get me wrong–I do love my desert home. Yet, somewhere in my soul, I need the ocean stimulus periodically. I shouldn’t be surprised by this, since my first book was inspired on an island while on a cruise. Curtis the curly-tail lizard of Warderick Wells climbed onto my sneaker and stayed there for a couple of hours! I don’t know if his adventure tale really happened to him, or if it was his dream, but when I got back to my cabin, his story poured out of me.

I am a biologist who now has 23 books in print! Children’s books based in science–even the fun rhyming books, and adventure tales, and especially, my pleas to save endangered species. It’s been a wonderful adventure so far, and I’m looking forward to wherever the waves of the muse take me, because I never know who I’ll meet that will inspire my next story.

What fun!

Here is Curtis’ second adventure tale. His new friendship is tested when his home island’s ecosystem is threatened.

A book cover with a Curly-tail lizard riding on the back of a Hutia, a rodent — Curtis Curly-tail and Horace Hutia become friends after the declining hutia population are brought to Warderick Wells Cay. But when the hutia damage the cay’s ecosystem, what will the scientists do? It’s a very difficult situation for the friends and the island. The reader puts him or herself in the shoes of the scientists and chooses the ending to the story.

Posted on November 11, 2019November 11, 2019 by lyricpowerpub — Leave a comment

Does a Dead Scorpion Glow? by Elaine A. Powers, Author

image of a dead scorpion glowing in moonlight
Photo by Terry. Incredibly, even fossilized scorpions glow under UV light!

I was asked if dead scorpions glow by a friend who found a dead scorpion on his patio. I confess, I didn’t know. My guess was that the scorpion wouldn’t glow after death because, I hypothesized, the fluorescent chemicals were actively produced by the living animal.

The part of the scorpion’s body that glows is located in the exoskeleton, the hard, protective covering. Within the cuticle of the exoskeleton is the hyaline layer, which reacts to black light or moonlight. Interestingly, scorpions don’t glow right after molting. The cuticle must harden first. So, is the glowing material part of the hardening process; or is it incorporated into the cuticle during the hardening?

Not much is known about the glowing material.

What is it made of?

Why do scorpions have it?

Several hypotheses have been put forth:

Detection of UV light and visible light, so they know when and where to hide.
Sunblock.
Prey attraction and confusion so they are easier to catch.
Communication with other scorpions.

But, back to that original question: Does a dead scorpion glow? Surprisingly, it does!

Lyric Power Publishing is proud of its comprehensive, educational and fun workbooks, like the one below, My Book About the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, a fellow desert dweller of the scorpion;

Activity sheets and coloring pages include the rattlesnake description, lifecycle, parts, facts, traits, and diet; cut and paste, compare and contrast, learning about graphs and charts, word search, and a crossword puzzle. It’s a jam-packed rattlesnake workbook!

and it’s science-based children’s books written in rhyme. Learn everything you need to know about rattlesnakes in this fun-to-read book with vibrant, exciting illustrations.

People fear rattlesnakes because they don’t understand them. Come inside and learn about these amazing snakes, how they help people, and why the rattlesnake should be respected, not exterminated.