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Denton FarmPark
Newsletter
Volume 3 / February 2024
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What is a frog’s favourite year?
Leap Year!
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We are so excited to have guest writer
Gila Green!
Bio
Canadian Gila Green is an Israel-based author of six novels (With A Good Eye pre-released and The Inheritance (2025)) and dozens of short works in literary magazines and anthologies. A freelance writer, editor, writing coach and EFL college teacher, Gila lives with her two teenage daughters, her husband and her dog.
Visit Gila .
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The Rise of Up-lit: On Trend for 2024
By: Gila Green
In a world often fraught with challenges and uncertainties, the literary landscape is witnessing a notable shift towards a genre that seeks to provide solace and inspiration. The rise of up-lit, short for uplifting literature, has become a breath of fresh air for readers seeking narratives that offer hope and humor in the face of life's complexities.
What is Up-lit?
Up-lit, at its core, is a genre that places emphasis on positive, hopeful, and often humorous storytelling. Unlike the gloomy landscapes of dystopian fiction or the intense drama of tragic tales, up-lit books aim to lift the spirits of readers and leave them with a sense of optimism.
In an era marked by increased stress, wars, and a constant barrage of negative news, the need for literature that provides an escape and a source of comfort has grown exponentially. Up-lit books fill this void by offering narratives that not only entertain but also instill a sense of hope, making them a powerful antidote to the demands of modern life.
Notable Up-lit Authors and Books:
Authors embracing the up-lit genre have gained recognition for their ability to craft stories that resonate with readers on a deeply emotional level. The works of writers like Gail Honeyman with "Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" and Fredrik Backman's "A Man Called Ove" have become synonymous with the uplifting literature movement, receiving widespread acclaim for their ability to blend heartwarming narratives with humor. The Impact on Readers: Research suggests that reading up-lit books can have a positive impact on mental well-being. The themes of resilience, kindness, and the triumph of the human spirit found in these books provide readers with a sense of comfort and reassurance. Many readers report feeling uplifted and inspired after immersing themselves in the pages of up-lit novels.
Up-lit in Different Genres:
The beauty of up-lit lies in its versatility, transcending traditional genre boundaries. From romance novels infused with humor to science fiction stories exploring themes of hope in futuristic settings, up-lit has found its way into various literary landscapes. Authors across genres are embracing the challenge of weaving uplifting narratives into their storytelling.
Challenges and Criticisms:
While the up-lit trend has garnered widespread praise, it is not without its critics. Some argue that the genre risks oversimplification and falling into clichés. However, proponents of up-lit maintain that the genre's ability to tackle serious subjects with a light touch is precisely what makes it a valuable and unique contribution to modern literature.
On a personal level, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I should do to get the word out about my new novel With A Good Eye, which will soon be followed by The Inheritance (2025 release) and without realizing it, I had jumped on the up-lit bandwagon. Instead of my usual concentration on podcasts and guest posts (though I've not abandoned them), I decided to do something to give potential readers an uplifting distraction: food. That one word says it all. Who isn't interested in food? And With A Good Eye has strong food themes. The family owns a corner store & grill and then a restaurant. There is a Greek chef, a girlfriend who uses food to bring her boyfriend closer and a best friend who uses
food as comfort. There is my heroine Luna Levi who opens the fridge when she's overwhelmed with longing for her missing father. What is she doing there? Seeking out his favorite foods, of course. There's Hanukkah food, Passover food and romance sparked
in a donut shop. Yes, food was the up-lift I was looking for. I began a cooking IG and TikTok page and though I'm still building my following (follow me so I can get to my first 100! ), I've received a lot of positive and cheerful feedback and I've already been
featured on another site. Without realizing it I was part of the Up-Lit trend. So, think out of the box, you can be a part of this trend in your own creative way, people need all of the positivity they can get these days and don't limit yourself to imitating what's already out there.
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What triples in price in February?
Roses on Valentine’s Day.
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Lets put 9 back on the line!
We are Raising money for our 1942 50 Ton Class BSI Porter Steam Locomotive – AKA #9.
She needs a new boiler and firebox and we would like to see if anyone is interested in donating for her repairs!
Go to the Train Station when you are here and donate to help us restore #9.
We plan to Start phase one soon and will release a date once we locate #9's drawings.
We plan on keeping everyone updated on this journey but the restoration time line can only go as quickly as the donations/funds will allow. For example, we can have her ready within a year or 5 years.
Mail a donation to:
Handy Dandy Railroad INC.
1072 Cranford Rd, Denton, NC 27239
Please Donate Today!
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Make sure you stop in the General Store and see what all we have! | |
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I am easy to lift, but hard to throw. What am I?
A feather.
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We want to thank Christina Frost for writing for us for a little over a year! We always enjoyed her work and hope to hear from her again!
We have a writer this month who is from South Africa! She writes short stories, won a few contests, and is an editor for her own company!
I hope you all enjoy a short read from our new friend!
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Love is in the Air
By: Vanessa von Mollendorf
The name, February has historically been linked to the Roman festival of purification, Februa, during which people were ritually washed. During this process they would be freed of uncleanliness, especially prior to worshipping a deity.
I really love the idea behind this. As we step into the second month of 2024, we are able to leave the hustle and bustle, financial strain and anxiety of Januworry (a South African term) behind, and reflect on what the new year has in store for us. Where I live, summer is gearing down and we will be welcoming autumn soon.
February heralds cooler evenings, a more leisurely pace and the added enticement of an entire extra day. Twenty-four hours, that only comes around once every four years, but which is in turn feared by many cultures around the world. Superstitions that abound around the 29th stem from the fear of starting anything new during this time. It’s part of the human condition to fear change.
Scouring the internet led me to some fun facts about leap years:
- During leap years, January, April and July all start on the same day
- Believe it or not, there is an official leap year cocktail, containing gin, sweet vermouth and a brandy-based orange Grand Marnier.
- Leap seconds, which are added to align our calendars won’t exist from 2035
- People born on 29 February are called ‘leaplings’ or ‘leapers’. Hmm anyone feel like writing a fantasy book with this as a premise?
- Women are allowed to propose to men on the 29th. Apparently, an Irish nun, Brigid of Kildare pleaded with St Patrick to allow women the chance to propose to shy suitors on this day.
- Some ancient calendars purportedly had entire leap months.
- Only Swedes and Hobbits celebrate the 30th of February. In 1712, Sweden and Finland added a once-off extra leap day to their outdated Julian calendar to align it with the new Gregorian calendar. Strange, but true.
- Anthony, a little town in Texas is the self-proclaimed Leap Year Capital of the World. The town holds a birthday celebration for all leap year babies. The festival lasts for four days and people travel from abroad and across America to take part in the parades.
On February 14th, Cupid is also allowed free reign. Chocolates, roses are bought for the special people in our lives. We proclaim our love and red hearts abound in stores. Love has been commercialised. Businesses see the opportunity to market their products and services to a larger audience. Being a quintessential dreamer, I wish we could remember to love everyone during every day of the year and forget about setting specified dates to remind us of this fact.
I overheard a partial conversation while working in my yarn store this week. Two teenagers were strolling past…
‘Love is in the air,” the taller one said.
“Time to dig out my gas mask,” the other answered.
I wish you love and peace in February.
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Isaiah 41:10
“' Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
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Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter!
*If there is a topic you would like our writers to talk about, please email us and let us know what you would be interested in reading!
Newsletter Written by Heather Russell
Event Coordinator
Denton FarmPark
336-859-2755
dentonfarmparkoffice@gmail.com
www.dentonfarmpark.com
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