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Good, entry-level app

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jan-ziff/meet-heckerty/

Kirkus Review – Meet Heckerty

Good, entry-level app!

An elemental story of a forgetful witch. Heckerty is a frightful witch. Not in terms of behavior but…let us be honest, it’s her face. All those spots and warts, and her Brillo-pad hair doesn’t help. Today, however, she has to have a photo taken for her passport, and she is in close consultation with her cat, Zanzibar, about a spell to make her presentable. Her spell book has gone missing, so she has to wing it, which is a big mistake. But really, what’s wrong with a green face full of spots and warts when Heckerty is such a sympathetic creature? Not to mention that readers can paint her face blue, purple or a dozen other colors, along with her hands, coat, shoes or socks. Kids can read along or alone or use the book simply for coloring purposes. The vocabulary sometimes outruns the target group—“Zanzibar,” for one, and “lizard” and “cauldron”—but those are good words for children to look forward to. The joy here is in the interaction. The colors are saturated, and there are many little creatures to let loose and run about, plus wiggling ears, rolling eyes and floppy heads. There is enough variety here to give the story some lasting power, but not great quantities of it.A good, entry-level app, gratifyingly easy if also easy to move beyond. (iPad storybook app. 3-5)

 

Good, entry-level app

The Shorty Interview with Heckerty

Read my interview with the Shorty Awards!!

 

Then VOTE, VOTEVOTE, VOTE for me!!!

 

What’s your best tweet?

“Wanna be a frog? Just keep annoying me!”

What are six things you could never do without?

Zanzibar my cat, my spellbook, cauldron, broomstick, sense of humor and a venti chai tea latte from Starbucks, extra hot, no H2O, no foam.

How do you use Twitter in your professional life?

I want all the world to learn about me @LoveHeckerty one tweet at a time!

What’s your favorite Twitter app?

Bufferapp

Twitter or Facebook?

Both, together, sometimes one or the other.

What was the funniest trend you’ve seen?

Mini skirts! You have to have terrific legs and I don’t!

What feature should Twitter add?

Not audio. Maybe smell?

Who do you wish had a Twitter feed but doesn’t?

King Richard III. Now he has a body and a face he should get a twitter feed.

What are some words or phrases you refuse to shorten for brevity?

Flunkadee, Hoadlisquatnic, Dratted Tadpoles – all important Heckerty words.

Is there someone you want to follow you who doesn’t already? If so, who?

@RichardBranson@PaulMcCartney

Have you ever unfollowed someone? Who and why?

Only when they are rude, unpleasant or vulgar! Witches love funny, but not vulgar!

Why should we vote for you?

Whoever heard of a 409-year old green-faced, upside down on her broomstick witch winning a Shorty? I’d be the first, truly uniquely unique.

Terms you wish would start trending on Twitter right now?

#VoteHeckerty4shortyaward,  #HeckertyisCool,  #BeLikeHeckerty,  #Heckertyumakemelaugh

What’s the most interesting connection you’ve made through Twitter?

The best is yet to come!!

Hashtag you created that you wish everyone used?

#Heckertysays

How do you make your tweets unique?

They are all naturally unique. Like me.

What inspires you to tweet?

As my dear friend Phyllis Diller said, a smile is a curve that puts everything straight. I want the world to smile.

Ever get called out for tweeting too much?

Never. My cat tweets too. I think he thinks he’s talking to birds.

140 characters of advice for a new user?

Keep it short, simple and clear. Less is more. Leave room for retweets.

How long can you go without a tweet?

Maybe a day — not much longer. And I love to read other peoples tweets.

What question are we not asking here that we should?

The one that gets the answer I haven’t thought of yet.

How do you imagine Twitter changing?

For the better it will evolve while forcing phones to add more # to keyboard. For the worse, if it’s bought by Google or Apple.

Who do you admire most for his or her use of Twitter?

Me, myself and I do rather well. But if not me, then @jeffreyhayzlett really has this figured out.

Who is the funniest person on Twitter that you follow?

My very best friend in the world @MsMonaDarling. She always makes me laugh.

What is one of the biggest misconceptions of Twitter?

That it’s a waste of time. It’s not. It’s very valuable.

Why should people follow you?

I’m funny and my adventures make kids worldwide laugh as they learn to read. I make people smile. What’s not to like?

Can you name some one-of-a-kind Twitter accounts that you follow?

Mine.

How do you decide what to tweet?

Spells – I chant a twitter spell – 140 characters or less – every morning! From there come the tweets.

How do you use social media to motivate yourself or others to live a healthier life?

Cautionary tales about what not to do. Especially, of course flying upside down.

How has social media helped bring your family closer together and #keepgoodgoing?

Most witches don’t have family, but I have dozens of cousins. I don’t think they’re on much social media, other than when they’re on my blog.

Why’d you start tweeting?

I want kids to know learning can be funny & reading can make you laugh out loud. There’s so much to share that makes you smile.

Has Twitter changed your life? If yes, how?

Yes – and no. My cat says I’ve been twittering for years.

What do you wish people would do more of on Twitter?

Speak better English and stop swearing. I unfollow people who swear for no reason. Witches don’t like swearing.

How will the world change in the next year?

It will be the Year of the Green-Faced Witch and more and more people will know and love Heckerty!

What are some big Twitter faux pas?

Relying on links, shouting, using words you regret, not leaving enough space to retweet.

What will the world be like 10 years from now?

Kids will read better and laugh more because of my stories!

Grand Magazine — Reviews Meet Heckerty

http://www.grandmagazine.com/news/2012/10/cool-halloween-app-for-the-grandkids-meet-heckerty/

Celebrate Halloween With A Cool Reading App For The Grandkids « Grand Magazine

Meet Heckerty” the first in Broomstick Productions’ Love From Heckerty series of apps, is a beautifully told interactive story that immerses children in the world of Heckerty, a hilarious green-faced witch, her cat Zanzibar and all the other inhabitants of a magical children’s destination — Spellbound. As kids enjoy playing with the app, Heckerty teaches them to read, increases their vocabulary and develops their learning skills. It has won rave reviews and  is free up through Heckerty’s birthday on Halloween.

 Celebrate Halloween With A Cool Reading App For The Grandkids « Grand Magazine (smaller)