STEAMPUNK MONKEY #11

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is – OK, just realized that I wrote something entirely different for #5 than I thought I did. So…this is going to be where the story SHOULD have gone. If you don’t mind, ignore #6 above!

Clementine knew she would sneeze.

She sneezed at dogs and cats. She wheezed at birds and fish. Frogs were no good. Turtles were bad.

She said, “Ah...”

The bird’s eyes got big, the cat held its breath, the fish stopped its moving around.

The frog froze in place, the turtle lay in the sun. The steam monkey’s nose shot steam into the warm, sunny air .

Image:  http://hoocher.com/Eastman_Johnson/Girl_and_Pets_1856.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #10

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is – OK, just realized that I wrote something entirely different for #5 than I thought I did. So…this is going to be where the story SHOULD have gone. If you don’t mind, ignore #6 above!

Wet Clementine looked at the bird in her hand and let it go.

The steam monkey laughed harder and pointed at her.

A calico cat of orange, white and black, walked down the street and stopped.

Wet Clementine bent and patted the cat. A dog wagged his tail, a fish flipped in its bowl, a frog croaked out loud, and the turtle sat in the sun.

Clementine wrinkled her nose. Something tickled inside.

Image:  http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_552/1288592265jP6rz5.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #10

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is – OK, just realized that I wrote something entirely different for #5 than I thought I did. So…this is going to be where the story SHOULD have gone. If you don’t mind, ignore #6 above!

Wet Clementine looked at the bird in her hand and let it go.

The steam monkey laughed harder and pointed at her.

A calico cat of orange, white and black, walked down the street and stopped.

Wet Clementine bent and patted the cat; and she didn’t sneeze again!

Image:  http://www.matthewmeyer.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/012-nureonago-600x783.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #9

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is – OK, just realized that I wrote something entirely different for #5 than I thought I did. So…this is going to be where the story SHOULD have gone. If you don’t mind, ignore #6 above!

Clementine shouted, “You come back here!”

A pigeon landed on her foot, but Clementine didn’t sneeze.

Up on a stone wall, the steam monkey laughed at her.

She picked up the bird to throw it at the monkey and she still didn’t sneeze.

Image:  http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/vitorta/vitorta0901/vitorta090100019/4175886-silhouette-girl-with-doves-isolated-on-yellow-background.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #8

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is – OK, just realized that I wrote something entirely different for #5 than I thought I did. So…this is going to be where the story SHOULD have gone. If you don’t mind, ignore #6 above!

…then jumped from the tub and ran after the steam powered monkey.

The monkey ran down the street and turned a corner. “You come back!” Clementine cried.

She ran after the monkey. When she turned the corner, a flock of pigeons leaped into the air. Feathers flew everywhere!

Clementine did not sneeze, and did not sneeze, and did not sneeze. She was way too mad!

Image: http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/rapidcityjournal.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/c7/0c747079-de70-5b63-aaf4-7d752b3c9ccf/4f2c6b7e05482.preview-300.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #7

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is – OK, just realized that I wrote something entirely different for #5 than I thought I did. So…this is going to be where the story SHOULD have gone. If you don’t mind, ignore #6 above!

It was a good thing Clementine covered her mouth.

If she had not, it would have been open as she fell into the rain water tub!

She might have drowned. Instead she was dripping wet.

Hanging from a tree with one hand, the steam monkey laughed, then hurried out of the courtyard and into the street.

Clementine waited a moment…

Image: http://static2.bigstockphoto.com/thumbs/7/5/2/large2/25715849.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #6

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is –

While the monkey climbed down the railing of the balcony, Clementine ran down the stairs.

“Where are you going, Sweet Pea?” Daddy called.

“I’m going out to play!” she called back.

“Good! Don’t stay out too long. Don’t pet any animals or look at any fish or play with any lizards!”

Clementine laughed as she closed the door. She didn’t need a real pet any more. She had the monkey. She stopped and looked. “Where are you monkey?”

Image: http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/181/5/6/Robot_Monkey_Concept_Art_by_Ocean_Flisch.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #5

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is –

The steam monkey ran out the window and on to the ledge like a metal and leather cat.

“Wait for me, monkey! Wait!”

The monkey sat for a moment, then whistled hard and jumped from the porch to the bushes below.

Clementine was up on the rail before she knew it. She stopped for a moment, then followed the monkey over the edge, covering her mouth with both hands as she fell!

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTpE5EAHVPu6oIS8mXge0LmHCLFQY9Z_W8U0YSgvLig7slnlWDmww6bgfIc1g8UotdXqGfXeJyOjHO7u2FGHyeE5TKusDdfJS6lSAIKtawH884JExCZEuy9xoV_Y0vKLEq6ZiOunFvh7S/s320/17963_403556870482_878320482_10445429_3640475_n.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #4

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is –

The monkey rocked back and forth, then waddled down the  hall.

Clementine followed. She said, “Where are we going, Monkey?”

The monkey climbed back up the stairs, but it was slow.

Clementine picked it up and ran back to her room. She put the monkey on her toy chest and said, “Now what, Monkey?”

The monkey waited, steam fogging its leather ears. Clementine cried, “You want me to get dressed!”

The monkey whistled a happy song as Clementine dressed quickly. This would be a busy day!

Image: http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/224/c/4/steam_monkey__macaco_a_vapor__by_placitte2012-d5auj15.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #3

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is –

Clementine was up and out of bed in a flash! She ran to thank her mom and dad. Dad was cooking lunch. “Dad! Thank you so much for the metal monkey!”

Dad waved his hand, “Later, Sweet Pea! I am busy.”

“Where is Mom?”

“She’s gone to work. We can talk later, Sweet Pea.”

Clementine was sad. She left the kitchen. Sitting in the hallways was the monkey, steam softly puffing from his ears!

She went to her knees, she leaned down and hugged the monkey. “Oh, monkey, you’re the only one who cares!”

Image: http://img2-ec.etsystatic.com/000/0/5303521/il_170x135.290530982.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #2

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is – it will shortly replace my last picture book manuscript, SNAPPER XING…

Clementine did not sneeze! And did not sneeze. And did not sneeze.

She said, “Hello, Monkey.”

Monkey’s ears shot steam into the cold morning air. It hopped on her bed. Tipping back and forth, back and forth, it walked to her knees.

It sat down, bright eyes looked at her, and its metal mouth smiled as it whistled softly in greeting.

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipliQozgC0lg-9vzs7vBD4XvXZkNxLuUo6PJRMLtTL9u457jj_3BiuoY5JiNK1fZOEaBPhn-ZeAI7Wws81eFwbjhcf5Oe9Od0b3UgRKW6BSWWHT06gzNZEfRy6FKeZkSwA-PToKBfbobo/s1600/anime+girl+in+bed.jpg

STEAMPUNK MONKEY #1

The idea for this starts with a story I tried to write about a thieving monkey who took keys and used them to unlock its cage. That was it. The story was called BRIGHT FLASH THE MONKEY’S PAWS. It was my third or fourth attempt at writing a picture book – and it was really bad. With the advent of the genre of steampunk, I started rethinking the story. Here it is – it will shortly replace my last picture book manuscript, SNAPPER XING…

Clementine sneezed at dogs and cats. She wheezed at birds and fish. Frogs were no good. Turtles were bad.

Clementine could have NO PETS!

One day when she woke, at the end of her bed was a metal monkey. It had no fur. It had no scales. It had no feathers or slime.

image: http://thisisrusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/steampunkmonkey.jpg