Pearl’s Midweek GraciePress Newsletter for Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025

And Just As We Might Have Predicted…Oops! We Did It Again!

Yes! Pearl and I did it again! We played with our readers’ hearts. (But my last name is NOT pronounced like “Spears.” It’s more like “SPĪ-ers” which is like “inspires,” and that’s what we want to do!)

Can Pearl Rock a Slick Red Jumpsuit ?!?

You know she can! And better than Britney Spears! Nobody does fashion and entertainment like My Girl Pearl!

Pearl won’t let it go until all the rooster boys crow!

Britney never said that! But you can!

And if you’re wondering what all of this is leading up to…

Now, Brace Yourself for Another Shift!

We did another shift in our story by adjusting the seven-chapter plot structure to copy a more memorably ancient structure: The Chiastic Structure. (This is the same structure used by one of the oldest stories ever told and written, the story of Job from The Ancient Words. The Chiastic Structure moves in towards the most significant portion in the center section and then moves back out again (Rather than holding it for the ending).

While working up a sample story to get “the feeling” of this structure, it occurred to us that we should not only have a young Lucille of about third-grade age for younger readers but also need to have a teen Lucy of sixth-grade age for older readers. Both could benefit from assistance provided by Ernest, The Ginger Cat.

Here is Third Grade Lucille as The Brat and as The Writer in SEPIA and FULL COLOR:

Here is Sixth Grade Lucy as The Leader and as The Writer in SEPIA and FULL COLOR:

You will notice that her name has changed from “Lucille” to “Lucy” as a signal that something about her has changed, just as it does of all great story characters like Abraham. (Though her wild and untamable golden ringlets of hair have not changed, and her always-busy writing instrument still has a point at both ends to always be ready to record clues and solve mysteries though it may change to a feather ink pen as a nod to Detective Pearlie Drew.

Please stay tuned to our GraciePress Newsletter for the next issues when we will share parts of Lucy’s first mystery titled “The Case of the Cracked Teacup.”

And just to tempt your desire to sleuth along with a real mystery, here is the visual outline with Chiastic Structure in FULL COLOR for that story all laid out for you to explore and perhaps solve before Lucy and Ernest!!!

You see, we’d like for “Lucy and Ernest Mystery Stories” to be enjoyed by both younger and older readers. Therefore, we are designing the illustrations to tell the story for any reader of any age who may only be able to “read pictures” without being able to “read words” (just like my Little Buddy, Ernest who appears as Lucy’s assistant throughout the story!)

In Closing…

No poll for this newsletter. Instead, we would appreciate your written comments and responses. Although Pearl can read your comments for herself, Ernest can’t. Please share whatever is on your mind and on your heart. Those of us here in our writing studio under the camellias are excited about the story possibilities of Lucy and Ernest!

Thanks for Reading,

Pearl and John and Everyone’s Best Little Buddy, Ernest!