Enrich Your Imagination at "Why Is Mud?"

Marin Mommies presents a sponsored article from Marin writer Elise Holland and her interactive storytelling website Why Is Mud?

Calling all young readers! Enrich your imagination, have fun, and win prizes at Why Is Mud?, the interactive storytelling website from Marin writer Elise Holland. Read online and follow the adventures of Meylyne as she journeys through the enchanted land of Glendoch where she and her friends unravel the mystery of the Thorn Queen. Why Is Mud? is perfect for young readers ages 7 to 12.

Readers will get a new chapter of The Thorn Queen each week, and can then submit answers to questions about what they read. Those who answer correctly will win prizes, and can even have their answers written into the extra chapters for the book!

There will be other opportunities for readers to win prizes throughout the site as they read. Kids can also send in their questions, opinions, and ideas for the author. In addition to The Thorn Queen, there are Extra Chapters that give a glimpse into what is going on behind the scenes, as well as an Alternate Beginning created with input from readers.

The beautiful artwork that accompanies The Thorn Queen are by a illustrator called Elisabeth Alba, and each new chapter comes with its own illustration. There’s also a map of Glendoch, ideal for helping readers orient themselves with this work and also to follow Meylyne's journey.

Elise Holland lives in Marin with her husband, daughter, and dog. By day she works for a tech start-up and by night she writes, combining her storytelling with what she learned from volunteering at the popular literacy program, Reading Partners.

Born in England, Elise moved to Michigan when she was 14. Everything was new and very, very cold. It was during that first winter that the glacial world of Glendoch took form in her imagination. She is often asked, “Why the name, Why Is Mud?” She spent most of her childhood reading and playing in the rain. There was a lot of mud. As children do, she questioned everything but when she asked her parents, “why is mud?” they just laughed and she was left to come up with her own, myriad reasons for mud’s existence. She chose this name for her storytelling site as a symbol of a child’s boundless imagination.

Through this site and this story, Elise hopes to bring children as much enjoyment as she got from her favorite childhood stories. Visit Why Is Mud? at www.whyismud.com.