tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38392933157989940982024-03-18T08:31:26.898+01:00Mayra's Secret BookcaseMayra Calvani, multi-genre author Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.comBlogger643125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-27932014277403234142017-12-11T22:14:00.004+01:002017-12-11T22:14:53.034+01:00My new release: Mama Graciela's Secret... PLUS Goodreads Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi all,</div>
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I'm thrilled to announce the release of my latest picture book, <i>Mama Graciela's Secret</i>...</div>
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Do you like cats? How about 1,000 cats?</div>
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The book teaches compassion for animals, decision-making and ethnicity, and is available in dyslexic font.</div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Join Mama Graciela in a beautiful Puerto Rican backdrop as she sells codfish fritters, unexpectedly collects cats, and has to face an angry inspector threatening to close her restaurant down. Can she save the cats and her restaurant?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxPfaixl1HR3EAGYUQptnSwE4vnaFLkesrmIJ5gqz6kDf5ahkYvmmXvTkMknifHRoWpBeswx31YVxi5rkn2GDDxU0w5uqziXmyOC51hmEmm1PXQIleGZzXjmzfRNXQQB9k_KyfH93Nt4r/s1600/MamaGraciela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxPfaixl1HR3EAGYUQptnSwE4vnaFLkesrmIJ5gqz6kDf5ahkYvmmXvTkMknifHRoWpBeswx31YVxi5rkn2GDDxU0w5uqziXmyOC51hmEmm1PXQIleGZzXjmzfRNXQQB9k_KyfH93Nt4r/s1600/MamaGraciela.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; font-size: 21.0pt;">Mamá Graciela’s Secret</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Publication date: October
10, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Written by Mayra Calvani<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Illustrated by Sheila
Fein</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">MacLaren-</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Cochrane
Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">36 pages, 3-7 year olds<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Reading guide at: </span></b><a href="http://www.mayrassecretbookcase.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Description:</span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mamá Graciela’s
TENDER, CRUNCHY, SPICY bacalaítos fritos are the best in town... </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Local customers
(including stray cats!) come from all over the island to enjoy her secret
recipe. But when the Inspector discovers that Mamá secretly caters to so many
cats and he threatens to close her tiny restaurant, Mamá must come up with a
plan to save it—and all of the animals she loves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxqPWRNnT-5EJrjtI3RPenf0IB0mOKC1P3D6EGvIesnxhSKF2QEaoYr9OjwcdU0C2Hx4CJI9QleQpMhUL-jBvMhhoijE8Yb6E8f6DonXjXzyUecmImnqBQKQbUq-CIGGu_q6K6UTWDd9v/s1600/Mayra+and+Ramses.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxqPWRNnT-5EJrjtI3RPenf0IB0mOKC1P3D6EGvIesnxhSKF2QEaoYr9OjwcdU0C2Hx4CJI9QleQpMhUL-jBvMhhoijE8Yb6E8f6DonXjXzyUecmImnqBQKQbUq-CIGGu_q6K6UTWDd9v/s1600/Mayra+and+Ramses.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About
the author:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";">Mayra
Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored
over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her children's picture book,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Frederico the Mouse Violinist </i>was a
finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards; her anthology <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Latina Authors and Their Muses</i> was a
First Place winner at the 2016 International Latino Book Awards; her nonfiction
book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing</i>,
was a Foreword Best Book of the Year winner. Her stories, reviews, interviews
and articles have appeared on numerous publications like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Writer, Writer's Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review</i>,
and others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";">She
lives in Belgium with her husband of 30+ years, two wonderful kids, and her
three beloved pets. When she's not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she
enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. </span><a href="http://www.mayrassecretbookcase.com/"><span style="background: white; font-family: "bookman old style";">www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";">Connect with the
author:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Author-Mayra-Calvani-162383023775888/"><span style="background: white; font-family: "bookman old style";">https://www.facebook.com/Author-Mayra-Calvani-162383023775888/</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/mcalvani"><span style="background: white; font-family: "bookman old style";">https://twitter.com/mcalvani</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mayracalvani"><span style="background: white; font-family: "bookman old style";">https://www.instagram.com/mayracalvani</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQ9QhR6yMg1ImpN1jNPBs2wz3UiI5AR_2Pboen8nYpIKk1EzO7wynFj5LXIbuiOzPEShtfrZBuhnjQNQLw_20A5tg8QqoTPdWrZiy0cUbuqHj-XtHvGXE17Xftr8dweN4zFV9eYQbnsKd/s1600/Sheila-in-Studio-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="500" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQ9QhR6yMg1ImpN1jNPBs2wz3UiI5AR_2Pboen8nYpIKk1EzO7wynFj5LXIbuiOzPEShtfrZBuhnjQNQLw_20A5tg8QqoTPdWrZiy0cUbuqHj-XtHvGXE17Xftr8dweN4zFV9eYQbnsKd/s320/Sheila-in-Studio-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";">About the
illustrator:</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "bookman old style";"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Born in Queens, New York and living in Los
Angeles since 1987, Sheila Fein has always been inspired by the changing world
around her. Earning her BA in Design from Buffalo State College of New York,
her concentration was on drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography.
Sheila's education as an artist has taken her everywhere from Fleisher Art
Memorial in Philadelphia to Bath University in England. Today, Sheila Fein runs
two figurative workshops, Imaginings Sketch in LA and People Sketchers in
Thousand Oaks. She has been featured in numerous collections, magazines, books,
solo and group exhibitions. Her paintings and drawings reside in public and
private collections. Sheila loves to make the imagination of others a reality
and has done so through her commissioned Fein Fantasy Portraits and Interactive
Paintings. In addition to being a fine artist Sheila works as an illustrator.
She just completed the book "Mama Graciela's Secret" for
Maclaren-Cochrane Publishing.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book
info:</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISBN:</span><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "ms mincho"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> </span><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HC </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">978-1-365-86153-6 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #242424; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SC </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">978-1-365-86155-0
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #242424; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISBN Dyslexic Font Version: </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #242424; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DY HC
</span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">978-1-365-86154-3
</span><span style="color: #242424; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DY SC </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">978-1-365-86156-7 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">**This book also has version
printed in the Dyslexic font, the typeface for people with dyslexia. Go to <span style="color: blue;">www.dyslexiefont.com </span>to find out more about the
typeface. </span></b><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suggested
Retail Price - 17.99 Hardcover & 13.99 Softcover 40 % Discounted Price –
10.80 Hardcover & 8.40 Softcover </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Available
through - </span><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ingram - Discount 40% </span><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Returnable – </span><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Yes </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">MacLaren-</span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Cochrane Publishing – Discount 40% - <span style="color: blue;">Orders@maclaren-cochranepublishing.com </span></span><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Returnable – </span><span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Yes </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Publishing
company Contact Info: MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing 1024 Iron Point Rd 100-1478
Folsom CA 95630 </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f242d; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">916-897-1670
</span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tannya@Maclaren-cochranepublishing.com
www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing
620 Buchanan Way, Folsom, CA 95630 916-897-1670 <span style="color: blue;">www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35970017" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Mama Graciela's Secret by Mayra Calvani" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1512421542l/35970017.jpg" title="Mama Graciela's Secret by Mayra Calvani" width="100" /></a>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/272703.Mayra_Calvani" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">Mayra Calvani</a>
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Giveaway ends December 31, 2017.
<br />
See the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/269256" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
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<script charset="utf-8" src="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/269256" type="text/javascript"></script>Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-15991384766957571762016-06-25T15:49:00.001+02:002016-06-25T15:49:25.549+02:00The Writing Life with Children's Author Michelle Nott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji03N5LDJMg93rmdjQ3XfYCHfPw9s7wM5yRMJMkYQFbhFxoUvzcZKRFrPd8DR1jWh7CcW9epwpg6Oi5OhSO0P963feZOKdSUm12Z57KGU-Uhd4TQHL80DL83JfOtA_z_s4-Sso-E8KlJs/s1600/Press+photo+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji03N5LDJMg93rmdjQ3XfYCHfPw9s7wM5yRMJMkYQFbhFxoUvzcZKRFrPd8DR1jWh7CcW9epwpg6Oi5OhSO0P963feZOKdSUm12Z57KGU-Uhd4TQHL80DL83JfOtA_z_s4-Sso-E8KlJs/s320/Press+photo+%25282%2529.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Before becoming an author, Michelle Nott enjoyed
being a French teacher (pre-K to university levels) in the U.S., working for a
French company in Paris and an art gallery in NYC. She has also edited and
written articles for numerous on-line and print magazines in the American and
European markets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In 2004, Michelle moved to Belgium. When she
noticed that her daughters' book collection included more French titles than
English ones, she decided to put her creative writing degree to use. Many of
these early stories can be found on her blog </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.gn-st.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Good Night, Sleep Tight</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> where she also reflects on raising Third Culture
Kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In 2015, Michelle and her family returned to the
U.S. But with American and French citizenship, they travel to Europe regularly.
Their favorite places include the French Alps, the Belgian countryside, and the
Cornish coast in the UK. Her family's life and adventures prove great
inspirations for her stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Freddy, Hoppie and the Eyeglasses is Michelle's
first book for children. Her future children's books are represented by Essie
White at Storm Literary Agency. She is a member of SCBWI, Children's Book
Insider and Houston Writer's Guild.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Connect with Michelle on the web:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.authormichellenott.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">www.authormichellenott.com</span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.gn-st.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">www.gn-st.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">@MimiLRN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">What’s inside the mind of a picture book/early reader author? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Children! Their daily lives. New experiences.
Scary experiences. Loving experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">What is so great about being an author? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One of the best parts of being an author is
having an excuse to write every day, to dream every day, to invent people and
places and other worlds. As an author, I also love interacting with my readers
and the adults in their lives. I really enjoy book signings. And as I used to
be a teacher, I am thrilled get back in the classroom for what I loved most
about teaching – the interaction and excitement that comes from working with
students.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When do you hate it? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Hate being an author?? This question perplexes
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">What is a regular writing day like for you? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A regular day is irregular. I try to get up at
5:30 and write before breakfast, go for a bike ride or a swim, come back and
write for at least four more hours, take a break when my daughters come home
from school, and then write more or read in the evening. When my day pans out
like this, I feel like a superhero. But, there are days when life puts a wrench
in the plan or I may have interviews, school visits, or social media or other
networking opportunities planned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcbZ0hzy0JdaChyc8UfZBxxyLKlFs18McAxHBs05jGnyTPEL_8iqhCOH4TEJdd6Nf0STmnUuNYUe2v9nT9GM9-vaxz7jxyyuW5GlKj-3li-DMKSTAlkSVyvNYr8VHc85m8wtyti9z5tE/s1600/Freddy+and+Hoppie+Cover+Art+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcbZ0hzy0JdaChyc8UfZBxxyLKlFs18McAxHBs05jGnyTPEL_8iqhCOH4TEJdd6Nf0STmnUuNYUe2v9nT9GM9-vaxz7jxyyuW5GlKj-3li-DMKSTAlkSVyvNYr8VHc85m8wtyti9z5tE/s320/Freddy+and+Hoppie+Cover+Art+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Do you think authors have big egos? Do you? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I think some people have big egos and some don't.
I don't think authors would have any bigger ego than anyone else. As far as the
writers I know, I think we all understand that writing is a tough business and
whether or not someone is published yet does not make them the better person.
Everyone's writing journey is different. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">So no, I don 't think I have a big ego either.
There is so much more I can learn and do to improve my craft. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">How do you handle negative reviews? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Publishing is a very subjective business. And
readers each have their preferences when it comes to literature. As there are
lots of published books out on the shelves that I do not particularly
appreciate, I keep that in mind if someone happens to not like my book. It's
just part of life. You can't please everyone all of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">How do you handle positive reviews?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It always makes me smile when I read positive
remarks about my books. I'm always very flattered when people take the time to
say something nice about my work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that
you’re an author?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Most people find it intriguing and mention how
they plan on writing a book once they retire or ask what kind of books I write.
When I say I write for children, the reactions are mixed. Most people find it
very admirable, while others may say it's “adorable” and not think any more
about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force
it or take a break?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I do really try to sit and write no matter how I
feel. But if nothing is coming, then I go outside. Usually a swim, a bike ride
or a walk does the trick and then I rush home to write down all my ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Any writing quirks? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I try to put myself in the atmosphere of the
world in which I'm writing. For example, when working on a MG fantasy that
takes place under water, I put out seashells and a sea-salt scented candle on
my desk while listening to beach sounds. While working on a MG magical realism
story that takes place in Brussels in the 1930s, I surrounded myself with
images of particular places in Brussels and listened to French music of the
era.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing
seriously or see it as a hobby?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Probably at first, on the inside, I'd be fuming. But
then I'd calm down and remind myself that they just don't understand. They may
never have been so overtaken by a sunset, or the scent of an unexpected plant
in the forest, or the feel of a child's cheek on his to want to write it down
so to never forget it, and to incorporate it into a story for other people to
experience as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">People who see writing as a hobby may not realize
how touched their lives have been by a good book, or a beautiful phrase. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They may not realize that writing is the same as
any profession. A certain amount of inner talent does play a role, but so does
a lot of perseverance, discipline and hard work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you
relate? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I love it. Always. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Do you think success as an author must be linked to money? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Absolutely not. Sure, it would be nice if all
writers could actually make a decent living from their words. But I knew from
the start what a high expectation that is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">For me, success is when families, librarians, and
teachers are enjoying my books and using them to send a positive message to
children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">What had writing taught you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Writing has taught me
that many, if not all, of my life experiences have served some purpose. Even
though many years went by before jumping into children's writing, all those
years were valuable and rich with emotions and adventures that I can use in my
current stories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>////////////////////////////////////</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>Title</b>: FREDDY, HOPPIE AND THE EYEGLASSES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>Genre</b>: Early Reader<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>Author</b>: Michelle Nott<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>Website</b>: www.authormichellenott.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>Publisher</b>: Guardian Angel Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Purchase link: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/freddy-hoppie.htm"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/freddy-hoppie.htm</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>About the Book:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT; mso-fareast-font-family: ArialMT;">Freddy and his
imaginary frog Hoppie jump into each day. But numbers smudge, words blur, and
classmates snicker. By the end of the week, there is no more spring in their
step. Freddy knows he should tell his mom about the trouble they are having,
but how?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-88887186330690260002016-05-09T19:40:00.001+02:002016-05-09T19:40:23.333+02:00Discount of the day: Daughter of the Sun (Cult of the Cat series, Book 1) only $.99!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83gS_3zswZR_xn5S6SpknolXwSxCVqdUvmhBzWEgL5W-9XqAlT-n5Dmr-A4URNzO5Mi-6RSsneHIyw-z8fj3neCwSXe_BGFjXBUWHuYqcuUtGNGwdkzp27HBK0JnfJ4u4_rjWWPnV2dsd/s1600/DaughteroftheSun_1_2thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: cyan; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83gS_3zswZR_xn5S6SpknolXwSxCVqdUvmhBzWEgL5W-9XqAlT-n5Dmr-A4URNzO5Mi-6RSsneHIyw-z8fj3neCwSXe_BGFjXBUWHuYqcuUtGNGwdkzp27HBK0JnfJ4u4_rjWWPnV2dsd/s320/DaughteroftheSun_1_2thumbnail.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Daughter of the Sun (Cult of the Cat series, Book 1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Author</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Zoe Kalo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Genre</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">: YA mythological fantasy/paranormal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Word count</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">: 93,000 words / 330 pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Official Launch</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">: May 1, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amazon purchase link:</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Sun-Cult-Cat-Book-ebook/dp/B01DRDUQW8" style="color: #00f2ff; text-decoration: none;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Sun-Cult-Cat-Book-ebook/dp/B01DRDUQW8</span></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;">Only $.99 until Wednesday May 11<sup>th</sup>(regular price $4.99)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;">Get your copy on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Sun-Cult-Cat-Book-ebook/dp/B01DRDUQW8" style="color: #00f2ff; text-decoration: none;">Kindle</a> today!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Daughter of the Sun, Book 1 - blurb<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sixteen-year-old Trinity was born during a solar eclipse and left at the doorsteps of a convent along with a torn piece of papyrus covered with ancient symbols. Raised by nuns in the English countryside, she leads a quiet life until she’s whisked away to the Island of Cats and a grandmother she never knew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But before they can get to know each other, her grandmother dies. All that Trinity has left is a mysterious eye-shaped ring. And a thousand grieving cats. As Trinity tries to solve the enigma of the torn papyrus, she discovers a world of bloody sacrifices and evil curses, and a prophecy that points to her and her new feline abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Unwilling to believe that any of the Egyptian gods could still be alive, Trinity turns to eighteen-year-old Seth and is instantly pulled into a vortex of sensations that forces her to confront her true self—and a horrifying destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What readers are saying….<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“This was an amazing story!” –Hot Off the Shelves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Wow- this book was a stunning, magnificent adventure! Very well written and full of intricate details, I was immediately drawn in and just absolutely did not want to put this one down... The intrigue just leaves you racing through the pages to find out what will happen next! I absolutely, completely enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens in the next one!” –The Recipe Fairy<span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The way [Zoe Kalo] writes cats into the book is astounding. Every little quirk, mew and lick is incredibly authentic. I love it when a writer is skilled at writing about the animals in the character’s story, it makes it more warm and fuzzy, no pun intended.” –Samantha Writes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em>“Daughter of the Sun</em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is an intriguing young adult mythology read full of mystery, magic, action, and history… [it] kept me flipping pages like an addict.” –Fishing for Books<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh my God. This is definitely a ‘something.’ This concept and the plot is soooo unique and weird and fascinating that I did not want to put this down. I literally breezed through this one…. This book was an overdose of kitty love.” –Grape Fruit Books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“If you are looking for a Young Adult Fantasy book that is different from the norm, then look no further. <i>Daughter of the Sun</i> is full of Egyptian mythology, with layer upon layer of mystery just waiting to be uncovered.” –Archaeolibrarian</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">About the Author<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13.91px; margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">A certified bookworm, Zoe Kalo has always been obsessed with books and reading. Reading led to writing—compulsively. No surprise that at 16, she wrote her first novel, which her classmates read and passed around secretly. The pleasure of writing and sharing her fantasy worlds has stayed with her, so now she wants to pass her stories to you with no secrecy—but with lots of mystery…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13.91px; margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">A daughter of adventurous expats, she’s had the good fortune of living on 3 continents, learning 4 languages, and experiencing a multicultural life. Currently, she’s working on a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature, which she balances between writing, taking care of her clowder of cats, and searching for the perfect bottle of pinot noir.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Connect with Zoe Kalo on the web: </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.zoekalo.com/" style="color: #00f2ff; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">www.ZoeKalo.com</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> /</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Zoe-Kalo-206262253053039/" style="color: #00f2ff; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Facebook</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> / </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://twitter.com/zoekalowriter" style="color: #00f2ff; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Twitter</span></a></span></div>
<br />Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com119tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-38503042956784512822016-04-08T11:27:00.003+02:002016-04-08T11:27:54.158+02:00Interview with Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell, author of 'The Daffodils Still Grow: A Book for Grieving Daughters'<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYyghcI3NsltA2ZSGnMcWhWK9w7Wu0suNSQVipuFmT156p3j0Si1FDfB_CFRVwQWN3vz0Fe5hUiEwB1oPsb0srNva_EiLs8htDhzBmxD8wEp6VZzCLCrgCiXwfX_17SkZ3MF1iENp7nE/s1600/The+Daffodils+Still+Grow+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYyghcI3NsltA2ZSGnMcWhWK9w7Wu0suNSQVipuFmT156p3j0Si1FDfB_CFRVwQWN3vz0Fe5hUiEwB1oPsb0srNva_EiLs8htDhzBmxD8wEp6VZzCLCrgCiXwfX_17SkZ3MF1iENp7nE/s320/The+Daffodils+Still+Grow+banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span lang="EN"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daffodils-Still-Grow-Sherri-Tidwell/dp/1631771892">The
Daffodils Still Grow</a> </span></i><span lang="EN">was inspired by diary entries of the author/illustrator, Sherri Elizabeth
Tidwell, after the death of her mother when she was 14. “<span class="textexposedshow">My mother committed suicide when I was 14, and after
nearly a year of crying and hurting, I was surprised -- almost shocked -- to
see the daffodils she planted right before her death still bloom again. It was
a big wake-up call to me that, even though she was gone, I could still carry on
without her FOR her. Somehow, our loved ones still find a way of communicating
with us when we need it the most." Sherri Elizabeth now attends Seton Hill
University’s MFA program in Writing Popular Fiction. She has a BA in both
communications and studio arts from Austin Peay State University. </span>She
hopes that every parent will know how irreplaceable and loved they are to their
children and that every child who has lost a parent will know they are not alone.
Remember, the daffodils still grow!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaahdP-aWlXKTLcjaVDOhq0-HHNoeqI-2Rny9djsS9FAEY_EOff1fl-dCr4FQTYBi-jceGjoNFSNnfSudniaz0CZvV0LHJlIsvimrOlXVjeyDvSPDJIPYKKTtfn2oJshaRz0YqX3kP8yQ/s1600/Sherri+Elizabeth+Tidwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaahdP-aWlXKTLcjaVDOhq0-HHNoeqI-2Rny9djsS9FAEY_EOff1fl-dCr4FQTYBi-jceGjoNFSNnfSudniaz0CZvV0LHJlIsvimrOlXVjeyDvSPDJIPYKKTtfn2oJshaRz0YqX3kP8yQ/s320/Sherri+Elizabeth+Tidwell.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN"><b>What was your experience in looking for a publisher?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">After a frustrating experience with another
publishing company, I called the CEO of Mascot Books, Naren Aryal, and spoke to
him about <i>The Daffodils Still Grow. </i>I
emailed him a link to a narration I did of the book on YouTube, which he
watched while we were talking on the phone, and we decided to work together.
Mascot Books is a hybrid between self-publishing and traditional publishing. I
was very happy with the result. It allowed me to have control over the finished
product but I also was able to seek out advice and support when I needed it.
The quality of the book turned out beautiful, as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>What type of book promotion works for you? Any special strategies you’d like
to share?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I would approach it
with a giving spirit. If you can find people who are in need of the story
you’re telling, <i>give </i>them your story.
They will pay you back in feedback and in doing their own marketing for your
book, because they’ll be that excited and that pleased.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>What advice would you offer aspiring writers?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Read <i>If You Want to Write </i>by Brenda Euland
(1891-1985). She was so encouraging of writers and was such an inspiration that
it just leaves you with less resistance to writing and helps you get more done.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>What is the best advice on writing you've ever received?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I simply go by the old advice, “Write what
you know.” I think that by doing so, the writing comes from an authentic place
and has the ability to connect with others on a deeper, more personal level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>Is there anything
else you’d like to say to our readers?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">W</span><span lang="EN-US">ho a person is, I think,
should always be entangled into who they are as a writer – or as an artist, or
a creator of any kind. Writing (creating) runs deeper than jobs that are done
for dollars, and it has the power to bridge gaps, to touch people’s hearts and
to heal. Being vulnerable and brave enough to put your heart out there as an
artist and as a person is the one decision that will usually make what you are
creating worthwhile and make it matter. It will be the one reason why it
connects to those who see it or read it. So, be vulnerable. Be open. Be brave
and be you.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtdtK7y_kj6dlDV91F8zc82TzWGiZjGYHm0mGFDmxogPPlPag55R-N3Yb8PAFqVPPlhtZ9bQpVBuJ3ekuUoQMluTHp2EMJGr3ok9v0x4wUb-czmlXq8fP7h09x1CpBcCxGQ51ulasyTc/s1600/The+Daffodils+Still+Grow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtdtK7y_kj6dlDV91F8zc82TzWGiZjGYHm0mGFDmxogPPlPag55R-N3Yb8PAFqVPPlhtZ9bQpVBuJ3ekuUoQMluTHp2EMJGr3ok9v0x4wUb-czmlXq8fP7h09x1CpBcCxGQ51ulasyTc/s1600/The+Daffodils+Still+Grow.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN"> </span><b><span lang="EN-US">For More Information</span></b></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Visit
Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell’s <a href="http://www.sherrielizabethtidwell.com/">website</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Connect
with Sherri on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thedaffodilsstillgrow">Facebook</a>
and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/daffodilsgrow">Twitter</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
</ul>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">About the Book:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Title</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: The Daffodils Still Grow: A Book
for Grieving Daughters<br />
<b>Author</b>: Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Mascot Books<br />
<b>Pages</b>: 38<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Children’s Picture Book <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The Daffodils Still Grow is a full-color
illustrated book that portrays life after a loved one dies as seen from the
observations of a motherless child. “Beautiful and inspiring.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">For More
Information<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><em><span lang="EN-US">The
Daffodils Still Grow is available at </span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daffodils-Still-Grow-Sherri-Tidwell/dp/1631771892"><i>Amazon</i></a></span><span lang="EN-US">.<o:p></o:p></span></em></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><em><span lang="EN-US">Pick
up your copy at </span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-daffodils-still-grow-sherri-tidwell/1121714577"><i>Barnes
& Noble</i></a></span><span lang="EN-US">.<o:p></o:p></span></em></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><em><span lang="EN-US">Watch
a narrated video of the book at </span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://youtu.be/N-W_ok28nI4"><i>YouTube</i></a></span><span lang="EN-US">.</span></em><i><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US">Discuss
this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/17954591-the-daffodils-still-grow-by-sherri-elizabeth-tidwell">Goodreads</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
</ul>
<h2 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">Sherri Elizabeth
Tidwell is giving away a The Daffodils Still Grow T-shirt!<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-53064029682987061412016-03-16T20:22:00.000+01:002016-03-16T20:22:02.132+01:00Chapter reveal: Trish's Team by Dawn Brotherton<br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Title</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: TRISH’S TEAM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Genre</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: Tween Fiction (Middle Grade Fiction) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Author</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: Dawn Brotherton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Website</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: <a href="http://www.blue-dragon-publishing.com/" style="color: #006677; text-decoration: none;">www.blue-dragon-publishing.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Publisher</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: Blue Dragon Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Purchase on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trishs-Team-Lady-Tigers-Book-ebook/dp/B0188DCFVW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456939958&sr=8-1&keywords=trish%27s+team" style="color: #006677; text-decoration: none;">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The debut release in Dawn Brotherton’s Lady Tigers series, <i>Trish’s Team </i>is a terrific new young adult tale featuring Trish Murphy. A member of the Blue Birds, a recreational fastpitch softball team for 11 and 12 year old girls, Trish Murphy longs to be a member of the Lady Tigers, the elite travel team comprised of the best of the best players in the area. When she is presented with the opportunity to try out for the team, Trish jumps at the chance. There’s just one small problem—it seems Trish’s parents don’t understand her love of the game. Chances are they’ll be even less understanding and when they find out that team practice conflicts with Trish’s orchestra practice…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">But being part of the Lady Tigers—and nurturing newfound friendships with the other team members—is Trish’s top priority. When she tries to pull a fast one to get what she wants without considering the consequences, Trish puts everything in jeopardy. Trish’s decision could ultimately affect more than just the game: it could affect her friends. Along the way, Trish discovers that being a part of the Lady Tigers is about much more than playing fastpitch softball: it’s about being a part of a team. But Trish may have to learn a painful lesson. After all, it really isn’t if you win or lose, but it’s how you play the game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Chapter 1</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="firstParaChar"><span lang="EN-US">Trish Murphy stood in center field and brushed her brown bangs off her forehead with the back of her right hand. Frowning in concentration, she waited for the next pitch. In front of her, Ashley stepped onto the pitcher’s mound, hesitated only briefly, and then spun her right arm in a clockwise motion to deliver a good-looking pitch. <i>Smack</i>. The ball sailed toward center field. Racing forward, Trish got under it, just like the coach had shown her. <i>Plop.</i> It landed snugly in her glove for an</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> easy out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Nice catch, Trish!” Coach Tim called from the dugout. She smiled and threw the ball to the infield. It was a beautiful throw, yet it bounced out of the second baseman’s glove and rolled to the pitcher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Rolling her eyes in frustration, Trish hurried back to her spot in the outfield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Two outs, one to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trish watched as, on the mound, Ashley took the signal from the catcher. Nodding, Ashley positioned the ball inside her glove, stood tall on her wind up, and fired the ball to the exact low-inside location the catcher had indicated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Strike one,” the umpire called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Shifting her stance to the right slightly so she could look around the pitcher’s back, Trish waited to see where the next pitch would cross the plate. She was betting it would be low and outside this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Strike two!” she heard across the plush grass that lay before her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US">Yep, low and outside</span></i><span lang="EN-US">, she thought, grinning. Ashley was a pretty good pitcher, and with Alisha catching for her, they were a great team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trish knew the next pitch would be a change-up, high and inside. She smiled as the batter was caught off guard, swinging before the ball had even reached the plate. “Strike three! Batter’s out!” the ump called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Yes!” the team cheered as they raced for the dugout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Coach Tim met them as they ran off the field, holding his hand out for high-fives. “Come on, girls, gather around. Nice catch out there, Trish. Beautiful strike-outs, Ashley. We’re behind by one run. Let’s swing some sticks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The Blue Birds was a recreational fast-pitch softball team for 11- and 12-year-old girls that only played 10 games a summer. The coaches were volunteers and mostly dads of the girls on the team. Trish felt lucky that she was on Coach Tim’s team. Some of the dads didn’t even know how to play softball, let alone teach the girls to play. Coach Tim was different. He had played baseball in college, so at least he knew the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trish glanced around the softball complex hoping her mom might be there. She didn’t really expect to see her, but she was disappointed anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">She heard a loud cheer come from the field behind where the Blue Birds were playing. She saw the orange and black uniforms of the Lady Tigers. Trish sighed. She would love to play for the Tigers. The coaches only picked the best-of-the-best players for the travel softball team. They played ball almost every weekend in long tournaments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Head in the game, Trish,” Coach Tim said, refocusing her attention on her own team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Come on, Becky, you can do it!” Trish yelled to the leadoff batter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trish turned to read the lineup hanging on the fence. It was the top of the line-up. Trish grabbed her helmet and bat. She was batting fourth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Hearing the crack of the bat, she looked up in time to see Becky hit a short pop-up to the third baseman. The player tried to catch it, but the ball dropped in front of her, and Becky beat out the throw to first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Batter up!” The umpire seemed in a hurry to keep the game moving. Clara quickly stepped inside the chalk-outlined rectangle of the batter’s box. The pitch came quickly on the inside corner. “Strike one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Clara stepped out and took a few practice swings. She settled into the box again. It turned into a long wait as the pitcher threw four balls in a row. Clara jogged to first; Becky went to second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trish watched in anticipation as Samantha moved toward home plate for her turn at bat. Trish put on a helmet and stepped out of the dugout to take a few practice swings, getting her timing down for the pitches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Samantha stepped into the box. She was tall so the outfielders backed up, anticipating that she would hit the ball far. <i>Crack</i>. The ball flew over the third baseman’s head, landing in the grass. The left fielder raced in and scooped up the ball, preventing the runners from scoring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Bases loaded. No outs. Trish stepped into the box. She knew she didn’t look very impressive. At only four-foot-six, she hadn’t reached her full height by a long shot. Her legs were long, slender, and solid muscle. She was used to people underestimating her, but she liked it that way. It usually worked to her advantage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trish settled in as the pitcher began her wind up. The pitch came in. Way inside. Trish leaped out of the way. The next pitch was outside, and the catcher missed it. Becky raced past Trish to cross the plate as the fans cheered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Just a base hit, Trish,” her coach called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“You can do it, Trish!” The fans were all cheering her on. She kept her concentration on the ball leaving the pitcher’s hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The pitch was coming in perfect, right down the middle, ideal height. It was slow, so Trish looked at it again. It had a weird spin. She didn’t swing. Right before the plate, it dropped. “Ball three.” Trish was thankful for the many hours of extra batting practice Coach Tim had spent with her. He had shown her how to truly watch the ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The next pitch was almost the same, but it didn’t appear to be spinning. <i>Smack</i>. It went over the second baseman, missing the right fielder’s glove and rolled all the way to the fence for a triple. Clara and Samantha scored as Trish rounded the bases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The fans were cheering. The score now read, “Blue Birds: 9; Redhawks: 7.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Nice hit, Trish,” Coach Tim said, smiling broadly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trish’s grin lit up her face. She clapped her hands and cheered on the next batter from third base.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Alisha hit a nice single to left center field that allowed Trish to score. The girls lined up to high-five her as she came into the dugout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Ashley hit a fly ball to right field that cost them an out, but moved Alisha to third. Amber grounded out on a hit to second base, leaving Alisha in place. Ton-Lou flew out to left field to end the inning. The girls were in high spirits because they were winning, and the other team only had one more chance to bat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Good inning, ladies; let’s hit the field. Hold them for three more outs,” the coach said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The first Redhawk hit the ball to Lexi on second base who easily picked it up and threw her out at first. Trish was a little nervous when the other team’s number four batter stepped to the plate. She was tall for a 12-year-old and had already hit it to the fence once this game. She took a few steps back and angled toward left field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Ashley delivered the pitch low and inside. The batter got under the ball, and it went high into foul territory on the left field side. Much to Trish’s surprise, Ashley put the next pitch in the same place. This time the batter swung and missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trish smiled. She knew the coaches called the pitches from the dugout. She would have to ask Coach Tim why he called two in a row the same way. That wasn’t very common. She liked to learn as much as she could about the strategy of softball, not just the technique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The third and final pitch stayed low but to the outside corner. The batter swung but didn’t even come close. Two outs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The number five batter had hit the ball to center field twice already in previous innings so Trish was ready. The batter let the first pitch go by but got ahold of the second. It was a long fly ball to deep center field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trish immediately turned her body and began to run toward the fence. She ran full out, praying her left fielder would be there to back her up if she missed it. At the last possible second, Trish dove at where she predicted the ball would be, capturing it in her glove as she hit the ground. That ended the game; final score was 10-7, Blue Birds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The girls cheered enthusiastically. Trish couldn’t stop smiling as the coach and other girls clapped her on the back as they lined up to shake hands with the Redhawks. Even some of the opposing team members congratulated her on such a great catch. It felt wonderful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">She looked around at the crowd waiting outside the fence, but there was no sign of her parents. Trish wished that they had been there to witness her final catch.</span></div>
Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-90606377099126337952016-03-10T19:41:00.001+01:002016-03-10T19:41:41.109+01:00Chapter reveal: ON EDGE, by Gin Price<br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Title</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: ON EDGE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Genre</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: Mystery/YA Mystery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Author</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: Gin Price<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Website</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: <a href="http://www.thepoisonedpencil.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">www.thepoisonedpencil.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Publisher</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: Poisoned Pencil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Find out more on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1929345208?keywords=on%20edge%20gin%20price&qid=1456162018&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">About the Book:<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">When a serial-killing graffiti artist starts painting your picture all over town…it puts a girl on edge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Emanuella "LL" Harvey puts her gymnastic skills to good use as a member of her brother's Parkour group. Freerunning, jumping, and climbing over their corner of the city like it's an obstacle course gives them something to take pride in and keeps them out of trouble—sort of. But trouble finds LL when she runs into Haze, a talented graffiti artist whose sister Heather was murdered two years before. Freerunner and Writer promptly fall in love, but they decide to hide their relationship till they're sure it's the real thing—and until they can find a way to placate LL's hotheaded brother, who has it in for Haze and his gang. But when portraits of LL—done in Haze's distinctive style—start popping up on city walls, all hell breaks loose. LL's brother threatens a gang war, which LL tries to avert by identifying the Writer who is really responsible for the paintings. But when another teen is murdered, it looks bad for Haze, especially when LL discovers that Heather's killer and her portrait-painter are one and the same.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16pt;">ON EDGE</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gin Price</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chapter One</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I wasn’t going to make it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I had a stitch in my side as widespread as the distance between the Pizza Pie Pagoda and the apartment roof we ran across, so the chances I’d screw up and smack my head against the concrete waiting below were pretty good. The waist of my yoga pants began to unroll, the fabric sliding down with every pump of my aching legs and I had to waste precious energy to pull them up. But if I didn’t, and I stepped on a hem, I’d stumble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Stumbling would be bad—like lose a tooth on the balance beam the day before prom bad. Already I could feel the quiver of fatigue in my knees signaling my eventual burn out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “He’s going to catch me, he’s going to catch me,” I chanted between panted breaths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I spoke more to myself than my companion, but he answered anyway. “Nah, Baby-girl, you got this. Forearm, shoulder, booty, then knee up and walk away. Daily cake.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I grunted. Easy for him to say. This fiasco made it five consecutive hours of balls-out athletics for me while he was on hour two and only slightly less out of breath than I.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Get back here!” The voice behind bellowed, growing closer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I threw off my rhythm a fraction to look behind me. “Damn, he’s on us. How’d he get up here so fast?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “You realize I had you this time, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Appalled at my friend Surge’s attempt to claim a victory when the game had clearly been called due to weather conditions—it was raining cops—I ran faster, pushing myself beyond my limits toward the roof’s edge. I didn’t care if my pants fell around my ankles mid-flight; I was going to win our little game today—and moon the state of Michigan doing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But first, I had to stay out of jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Whoa! Come back.” The cop yelled. He sounded more concerned now than angry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Too late. There was no coming back once we’d made the decision to run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Boosh!” Surge yelled as we both hopped the lip of the roof and leapt across the expanse between the buildings, sprawled out and reaching through the air like action heroes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Unlike the movies, nothing happened slow enough for me to process the danger of a jump. I committed to the plunge and depended on ingrained knowledge to take over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Pizza Pie Pagoda building came up fast. I bent my legs to absorb the shock and let my exhausted body fall forward and to the side. The remaining energy of the landing pushed me over in a Side-Roll, taking the impact from thigh to shoulder until the momentum brought me up to my feet again. Hurray incoming bruise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Surge’s Roll was swankier than mine, but for once he didn’t gloat. Probably because we didn’t have time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “You kids all right?” The cop called from the building over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We didn’t take the time to answer him verbally. We just waved off his concern and continued to ignore his command to give ourselves up. Surge grabbed my elbow and helped me to the side of the pizza place where we were able to hang off the side of the roof and drop down into the alley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “How you doing?” Surge asked me, once we were making distance between us and the cop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Well, I worked my butt off in gymnastics practice, ran around the mall only to get kicked out because of your food court tabletop trick—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “You’ve got to admit that was swank,” he interrupted. “How was I supposed to know they were going to call in the real blue?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “And now I’ve spent the last ten minutes upgrading from a trespassing ticket to an arrest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Only if we got caught, which we didn’t. So you owe me five bucks.” He grinned at me and I couldn’t help but return it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “We aren’t off main, yet.” I slapped his extended palm away. “When I’m home and couching you’ll get your five.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I tugged off my black hoodie as we walked, stuffing it behind a dumpster to come back for later. We knew the drill. You didn’t walk around wearing the same colored clothes after a cop was running you down. The next corner you turned would probably have you stuffed in a squad car before the first lie left your mouth. Changing shirts wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. Besides, with my hoodie on, most cops mistakenly took me for a guy. I guess they thought girls had better things to do than monkey around the cityscape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Damn, there’s the cop,” Surge said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I looked down the block from where we stood and frowned. He didn’t seem to notice us any more than the other pedestrians, but to be safe, I tugged Surge into The Slow Drip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The few tables the coffee-shop had inside were up front with a window view, while racks and racks of tee shirts and other gift items created an aisle to the registers in the back. Outside, a few more two-seater tables were full of the loitering public, making blending in a little easier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “I guess we take a time-out for refreshments,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Surge paced, looking out the store front with his lips pursed. “He’s going to keep circling and look in here eventually. Not sure stopping was a good idea this time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Hey Surge,” a girl called out from behind us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I turned and nodded a greeting at Ramona as she chatted Surge up. Dressed in her coffee-pot-shaped apron and teardrop visor-hat, she was clearly working the counter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wenda, her best friend and my gymnastics nemesis, walked up and stood next to her. We were all on the same team but no one would know it the way they acted—except Wenda and I were both wearing our Kennedy Gymnastics Team tee shirts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Hey guys,” I said, trying to be a beacon of polite through the thick fog of seething hatred. Ramona tried to smile but settled on a grimace. Wenda didn’t even try to hide her nostril-flare face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Ramona-girl, you think you could get us out the back of this place?” Surge asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Standing on her tiptoes, Wenda leaned up to whisper something in Ramona’s ear while staring at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Subtle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “I can take one of you through,” Ramona started to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Surge snorted. “Forget it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “No, no.” I knew this was a good opportunity to draw less attention to ourselves. “Surge, you go out the back and I’ll go out the front.” I smiled my second best smile at Wenda, while talking to him. “We’ll meet up at the library and finish what we started earlier.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> His glare at the two girls melted when he turned to me, and I suspected he did that on purpose to show anti-bitchery support. “Ooo. I accept your challenge! I’ll even beat you there.” He winked and then turned to Ramona. “Lead the way, mama.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> With Ramona taking Surge out the back door, Wenda and I were left standing there. “Guess I’ll see you next practice.” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Oh didn’t you hear? We’re going to do individual practices until coach returns from her vacation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Odd. I hadn’t heard, but I wasn’t exactly surprised. Since Regionals and even at practice earlier, I suspected some of the girls were mad at me. Now I had my suspicions confirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Well, then. See ya at school.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Whatever.” She did the hand brush-off and turned her back on me, cutting me down without saying another word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shaking my head, I turned and left the coffee shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">No one had ever looked at me with such hatred before, and I couldn’t figure out where it came from. I knew gymnastics competition pitted us against each other a lot, and I’d definitely ridden the group hard at Regionals at the end of last season, but it seemed like there was more to her attitude than just rivalry, but whatever. I couldn’t puzzle through her bullshit when I still needed to get a few blocks away to avoid a tour of the city jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Losing my concern for Wenda was easy once I was Freerunning again on my way to the Library. No troubles or stressful thoughts stood a chance against the heart-pumping adrenaline rush that was Parkour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I raced down streets using the objects in my way to increase my pace instead of slow me down. I swung under a metal railing and leaped over its parallel twin. I jumped over a fire hydrant and the three bikes locked on the rack right next to it, all without choking up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">My seamless movements cancelled out Surge’s head start, and as I rounded the corner on the last block to the library, I caught sight of my friend a block to my right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the same time, he noticed me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I heard his laugh across the distance and the challenge within it spurred me on. “Oh you are so getting<i>shown</i>,” I promised quietly, forcing my legs into motion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">So close, so close! If I could get to the lion statue first, I’d get the prize, but Surge wasn’t going to make it easy on me. We both ran full speed, coming closer to each other and to our destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I vaulted over one wide stone railing, Kong-style, with my feet straight out in front, ready to catch me for my landing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I didn’t expect anyone to be standing there.</span></div>
Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-63774333247993455682015-12-21T16:27:00.000+01:002015-12-21T16:27:03.291+01:00In the Spotlight: Mimi's Adventures in Baking, by Alyssa Gangeri<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>SYNOPSIS</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">Embark on a baking adventure with Mimi where she will measure, mix, and bake her way to the perfect batch of gingerbread men. If Mimi can do it, so can you!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">Mimi's Adventures in Baking Gingerbread Men is the third book in the Mimis Adventures in Baking series.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mimis-Adventures-Baking-Gingerbread-Men/dp/1631773747/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mimis-adventures-in-baking-gingerbread-men-alyssa-gangeri/1122664030?ean=9781631773747" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">THE AUTHOR</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Alyssa’s</strong> <a href="http://www.mimisadventuresinbaking.com/" style="color: #30bdbe; text-decoration: none; transition: all 200ms linear;" target="_blank" title="">Website</a> / <a href="http://twitter.com/allygan" style="color: #30bdbe; text-decoration: none; transition: all 200ms linear;" target="_blank" title="">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mimisadventuresinbaking" style="color: #30bdbe; text-decoration: none; transition: all 200ms linear;" target="_blank" title="">Facebook</a></span><br />
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Chef Alyssa has been baking since she was a little girl in her grandmother's kitchen. Since graduating from the Culinary Institute of America she has worked for famous chefs and elite companies such as the Ritz Carlton, Tom Colicchio, Norman Van Aken and Gray Kunz. She currently is the Executive Chef at Riverwalk Bar and Grill on the Historic nook of New York City, Roosevelt Island. She also has a boutique custom cake company called AllyCakesNYC where she creates cakes to appease the imagination. Through her journey of baking she developed Mimi, her very own miniature version of herself.<br />
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As a child she loved baking and everything that came with it. As an adult and food lover she realized there was something missing when she frequented bookstores. A interactive children's cookbook. And we are not talking about a boring old cookbook for kids with lots and lots of recipes, and some pictures. Children these days have just as much interest in the kitchen as there parents do, but the ordinary cookbook is just not going to cut it. She created <em style="position: relative;">Mimi's Adventures in Baking </em>to give children and adults a way to get into the kitchen and allow the child to become the chef and the adult the assistant. With each book has one recipe and an interactive storyline the child can read, and at the end go into the kitchen and do what Mimi did! And for the "non-baking" parent, these elite pastry chef recipes are tested and ready for even the most inexperienced baker! Impress other moms with Mimi's creations!<br />
<em style="position: relative;"><br />Mimi's Adventures in Baking </em>will also teach children how to measure, mix and bake their way through the kitchen while also giving safety tips along the way. No more boring cookbooks! Now there is a fun, exciting and educational way to learn how to bake!</div>
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<b style="line-height: 1.75;">Brought to you by <a href="http://worldwindvirtualbooktours.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Worldwind Virtual Book Tours</a></b></div>
Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-54458664020459685942015-12-14T12:33:00.000+01:002015-12-14T12:36:06.296+01:00Review: 'Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters' by Donna McDine<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Genre</b>: children’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Author</b>: Donna McDine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Website</b>: <a href="http://www.donnamcdine.com/" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">www.donnamcdine.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Purchase link</b>: <a href="http://www.donnamcdine.com/" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">www.donnamcdine.com</a> and Guardian Angel Publishing and Amazon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 18.2px;">About the Book:</b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 18.2px;"> The anxiety of finding one’s own place and friends in kindergarten without the comfort of having her fraternal twin sister nearby at first overwhelms Dee until she realizes even without her fraternal twin sister, Dee and her classmates for the most part are in the same boat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">This is a super cute picture book about two twin sisters, Dee and Deb, who go to kindergarden for the very first time. The story focuses on Dee. She's anxious about being separated from Deb, as they go on their separate classrooms. However, Dee soon finds out that mostly all of the other kids in her class have the same worries she has, and she ends up making a very good friend, soon realizing that she can have other friends besides her twin sister Deb. The little girls are adorable. This is a very simple story written for ages 3-6. If you have twins in your family who are soon attending school, this is the perfect book to read to them and discuss first day jitters and separating issues. Recommended!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>About the Author:</b> <span class="posttablealtnutxt1">Multi award-winning children’s author, Donna McDine’s creative side laid dormant for many years until her desire to write sparked in 2007. Her latest release </span><i>Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters</i><span class="posttablealtnutxt1"> joins the four early reader children’s picture books, <i>A Sandy Grave</i>(January 2014), <i>Powder Monkey</i> (May 2013), <i>Hockey Agony</i> (January 2013) and <i>The Golden Pathway</i> (August 2010) all with Guardian Angel Publishing. Join McDine as her adventures continue as she ignites the curiosity of children through reading. She writes and moms from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Connect with Donna on the Web!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.donnamcdine.com/" style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 18.2px; text-decoration: none;">www.donnamcdine.com</a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DonnaMcDineAuthor" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DonnaMcDineAuthor</a>, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/dmcdine" style="color: red; font-family: 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 18.2px; text-decoration: none;">https://twitter.com/dmcdine</a></div>
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-45757388997023514292015-12-04T10:43:00.000+01:002015-12-04T16:44:26.072+01:00Review: A Christmas Kindness, by Cheryl C. Malandrinos <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Eight-year-old Robert is eager to share his wish list with Santa at the mall on Christmas Eve. When he meets Glenn, who has only one request for Santa, Robert is confused over what he should do. Can he cast aside what he wants and ask Santa to bring his new friend a special gift?<br />
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<strong>Excerpt:</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcF9NQGj1xjpq4OaXSfxw2iSlGfYWlviuNFdBO35OAgtkf5NKaod17FwGzTzUNRGy1rVpvS08PKCNQRmhLUmKPh7W5OjKHcCC6yL88CG3CyEbc1p_MC-6xKBBgYDvks_vkNM1IhUYXFQ/s1600/A-Christmas-Kindness-digital-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcF9NQGj1xjpq4OaXSfxw2iSlGfYWlviuNFdBO35OAgtkf5NKaod17FwGzTzUNRGy1rVpvS08PKCNQRmhLUmKPh7W5OjKHcCC6yL88CG3CyEbc1p_MC-6xKBBgYDvks_vkNM1IhUYXFQ/s320/A-Christmas-Kindness-digital-cover.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
Inside the mall, Christmas music and the tinkling of jingle bells tickled Robert’s ears. With his mother, Robert weaved through the crowd of shoppers. He smelled fried food from Burger Mart. The sweet scent of warm chocolate chip cookies from the bakery made his mouth water.<br />
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<strong>My review:</strong><br />
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This sweet, heartwarming story was a delight to read. It is the perfect book to read by the fire with your kids during the holidays.<br />
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<em>A Christmas Kindness</em> is the story of a little boy who learns the true meaning of Christmas by doing a selfless act for another child who is less fortunate than him. Even though it is a short book, I found myself drawn into the world of the characters and feeling their emotions. The language flows beautifully and the illustrations have a soft, sweet quality to them that nicely complement the tale.<br />
Recommended!<br />
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<strong>Purchase information:</strong><br />
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<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/cheryl-c-malandrinos-or-cc-gevry.php" href="http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/cheryl-c-malandrinos-or-cc-gevry.php" target="_blank"><strong>4RV Publishing</strong></a></div>
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<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Christmas-Kindness-C-C-Gevry/dp/0985266147/" href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Christmas-Kindness-C-C-Gevry/dp/0985266147/" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon</strong></a></div>
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<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Kindness-Cheryl-C-Malandrinos-ebook/dp/B00G09WXLE/" href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Kindness-Cheryl-C-Malandrinos-ebook/dp/B00G09WXLE/" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon Kindle</strong></a></div>
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<a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-christmas-kindness-cc-gevry/1113984669" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-christmas-kindness-cc-gevry/1113984669" target="_blank"><strong>Barnes and Noble</strong></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvW-tUyxDq8" target="_blank"><strong>Watch the trailer</strong><strong> </strong></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq1rgtft3SA148NdHghEdzGkzwO1DmQ1dc_5YliShYZD9dYIX-3Mkt2z5VfAovrTP9ZYFDmbWph1MbV4me0sORd_4G7erIALurqp9vNGtWq_zJj1h9MixlCMv93dFO4g2PIMl-49b4LQ/s1600/Cheryl+Malandrinos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq1rgtft3SA148NdHghEdzGkzwO1DmQ1dc_5YliShYZD9dYIX-3Mkt2z5VfAovrTP9ZYFDmbWph1MbV4me0sORd_4G7erIALurqp9vNGtWq_zJj1h9MixlCMv93dFO4g2PIMl-49b4LQ/s1600/Cheryl+Malandrinos.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong>About the author:</strong><br />
<em><b>Cheryl C. Malandrinos</b> is a children’s author from Western Massachusetts. <em>A Christmas Kindness</em></em> <em>is her first book with 4RV Publishing. She is also a member of the SCBWI. Ms. Gevry is married with two young children and a son who is married. </em><br />
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-32386215027003990222015-12-03T08:30:00.000+01:002015-12-03T14:29:04.328+01:00Review of Little Shepherd, by Cheryl G. Malandrinos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXjJq6ed1kqaRfV9q9-YT6iS-pKeh1964jkeAgf0-q934JacUBZLM3p83nwHxuMPbtrm2VzjZ_2rX7ZKHlj15bA0DWhyphenhyphenB6hp1GwXjAnDQIeb2LxsPna4xv_uAQnxtwbPZ799xD-1cnto/s1600/Little+Shepherd.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538004610166153010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXjJq6ed1kqaRfV9q9-YT6iS-pKeh1964jkeAgf0-q934JacUBZLM3p83nwHxuMPbtrm2VzjZ_2rX7ZKHlj15bA0DWhyphenhyphenB6hp1GwXjAnDQIeb2LxsPna4xv_uAQnxtwbPZ799xD-1cnto/s400/Little+Shepherd.jpeg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
I love reviewing Christmas children's books during this time of year, and it is my great pleasure to showcase <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Shepherd</span> on my blog today.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">My review</span><br />
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On a cold night outside of Bethlehem, a little shepherd named Obed watches over his sheep. Now five, Obed has his own flock to guard. He's proud that his father has entrusted him with such responsibility. After all, his family depends on the sheep for food and clothing. But little Obed is also worried about the wolves and so he keeps a sharp eye on his flock.<br />
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Then one night, a bright light shimmers in the star-filled night. Angels come with a message, a message of good things to come for everyone on earth.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">“Do not be afraid,” the angel said, “I bring you good news of great</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David, a Savior h</span><span style="font-style: italic;">as been</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”</span></div>
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Obed's father decides they must go to Bethlehem to find this newborn babe. Obed, however, is terrified. How can they even consider leaving the flock alone at the mercy of the starving wolves? His father tells him not to be afraid, but Obed is doubtful. Will his flock be safe in his absence? That will require a miracle!<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">The Little Shepherd</span> is a 'cozy' picture book to read by the fire with the family this holiday season, especially on Christmas night. The author's prose flows beautifully, with just the right balance of narration, description and dialogue. It is a sweet tale about the power of faith and the good things that come with it. The story has a quiet, magical, slightly suspenseful tone and looks at the birth of Jesus from a different angle. I also enjoyed the colorful illustrations by Eugene E. Ruble. They do have a distinctive style and add a splash of color on the pages and help transport the reader to a different time and place. In short, <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Shepherd</span> will make a lovely gift to any child this Christmas. It will also be a worthy addition to any library or classroom shelf. I look forward to this talented author's next book.<br />
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<strong><em>Little Shepherd</em></strong> is available from:</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Shepherd-Cheryl-C-Malandrinos/dp/1616330856"><span style="color: rgb(77 , 70 , 156);">Amazon</span></a></div>
<a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/9781616330859"><span style="color: rgb(77 , 70 , 156);">Barnes and Noble</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/little-shepherd.htm"><span style="color: rgb(77 , 70 , 156);">Guardian Angel Publishing</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781616330859"><span style="color: rgb(77 , 70 , 156);">Indiebound.org</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">About the author</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip40B9Iy7t_CceofEhjoTK1CNCsWQavl8oSbxWX0kb6pUdMTctiWUmk8llDirfgn3voGv8j8yCjINTzRLRJMSPVGsvepEh1tU48_G3LL1xZzr6nlsEGOlCq1CSQmFMW_NQCFpbqn-TgXc/s1600/Cheryl+M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538004680673240338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip40B9Iy7t_CceofEhjoTK1CNCsWQavl8oSbxWX0kb6pUdMTctiWUmk8llDirfgn3voGv8j8yCjINTzRLRJMSPVGsvepEh1tU48_G3LL1xZzr6nlsEGOlCq1CSQmFMW_NQCFpbqn-TgXc/s400/Cheryl+M.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 146px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 161px;" /></a><br />
<i><a href="http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/little-shepherd.htm">Little Shepherd</a></i> is Cheryl Malandrino’s first children’s book. In addition to being an author, she's also a publicist, freelance writer, founding member of <a href="http://musingourchildren.tripod.com/">Musing Our Children</a>, Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Tour Coordinator for <a href="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/">Pump Up Your Book</a>, and book reviewer. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two young daughters.<br />
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Connect with the author via <a href="http://twitter.com/ccmalandrinos">Twitter </a>and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Cheryl-Malandrinos/1110037692#%21/profile.php?id=1110037692">Facebook</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">About the illustrator</span><br />
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Eugene E. Ruble’s 40 years of art encompasses: graphic art and design, freelance illustration, and cartooning, working with publishers, corporations and individual clients. Ruble teaches caricature art, cartooning, painting and basic drawing classes at St. Louis community centers, public schools, YMCAs and colleges. He also illustrates children’s books. Look for his books at Guardian Angel Publishing. Eugene is a 30-year Distinguished Member of the St. Louis Artists’ Guild.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Watch the Trailer</span><br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rA2KStzoCPo?fs=1&hl=en_GB"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rA2KStzoCPo?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-36178369872220203812015-12-01T11:48:00.002+01:002015-12-01T11:55:26.257+01:00On the Spotlight: 'Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters' by Donna McDine<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hjHQViL8EME" width="560"></iframe>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Donna McDine's<b> </b>latest children's picture book is a charming, fun tale about first day jitters. Be sure to check it out for the kids in your family who will be going to school soon!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Title</b>: Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Genre</b>: children’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Author</b>: Donna McDine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Website</b>: <a href="http://www.donnamcdine.com/" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">www.donnamcdine.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Publisher</b>: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Purchase link</b>: <a href="http://www.donnamcdine.com/" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">www.donnamcdine.com</a> and Guardian Angel Publishing and Amazon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>About the Book:</b> The anxiety of finding one’s own place and friends in kindergarten without the comfort of having her fraternal twin sister nearby at first overwhelms Dee until she realizes even without her fraternal twin sister, Dee and her classmates for the most part are in the same boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>About the Author:</b> <span class="posttablealtnutxt1">Multi award-winning children’s author, Donna McDine’s creative side laid dormant for many years until her desire to write sparked in 2007. Her latest release </span><i>Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters</i><span class="posttablealtnutxt1"> joins the four early reader children’s picture books, <i>A Sandy Grave</i>(January 2014), <i>Powder Monkey</i> (May 2013), <i>Hockey Agony</i> (January 2013) and <i>The Golden Pathway</i> (August 2010) all with Guardian Angel Publishing. Join McDine as her adventures continue as she ignites the curiosity of children through reading. She writes and moms from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Connect with Donna on the Web!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.donnamcdine.com/" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">www.donnamcdine.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DonnaMcDineAuthor" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/DonnaMcDineAuthor</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/dmcdine" style="color: red; text-decoration: none;">https://twitter.com/dmcdine</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-53024236291771436262015-10-06T06:00:00.000+02:002015-10-06T06:00:09.194+02:00Interview with Jen K. Blom, author of 'New Pony Day!' <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Jen
K Blom is an international award-winning author living in Berlin, Germany with
her daughter, husband and hairless cat Yoda. Visit <a href="http://www.pony101.de/">www.pony101.de</a> to get all sorts of great
updates and activity sheets featuring Josie, Floki and Pasta!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Her
latest book is the children’s picture book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Pony-Day-PONY101-Book-ebook/dp/B011AGQDIK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441906740&sr=8-1&keywords=new+pony+day!">New
Pony Day<span style="font-style: normal;">!</span></a></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">For More
Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Visit Jen K.
Blom’s <a href="http://www.pony101.de/">website</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Connect with
Jen on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pony101.series">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jenkblom">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Welcome to Mayra's Secret Bookcase, Jen! Did you always want to be a writer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqiWlHqE_nezwOVVGEnT-1p4fKIoxHLefUvJNkSIrNaDrZGL4u2__kTJ_b_hyw7VWPneEIvQ9UinbNBmVwFvjN5jEJAe1XqhZCHo8Y0TWstrsAwE4IbCg28wrDr8Ro6quC8rjwQDGwks/s1600/Jen+K+Blom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqiWlHqE_nezwOVVGEnT-1p4fKIoxHLefUvJNkSIrNaDrZGL4u2__kTJ_b_hyw7VWPneEIvQ9UinbNBmVwFvjN5jEJAe1XqhZCHo8Y0TWstrsAwE4IbCg28wrDr8Ro6quC8rjwQDGwks/s320/Jen+K+Blom.jpg" width="208" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Always did!
Wrote my first poem at 5, and carried on from there. Took a long time to get to
this point but definitely, definitely worth it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tell us about your recent release.
What was your inspiration for it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My recent
release is NEW PONY DAY, a picture book about a little girl and her quest to
find the perfect pony – who was there all along * spoiler! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My daughter is
the inspiration for this series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The process
began over two years ago with a glimmer of an idea for my daughter (who was
then 3). She <b>adores</b> horses, but had problems understanding certain
things about them. Josie (then Heba) and her pony Floki (then Nosy) popped in
my head, but it took a visit to the Sharjah Children’s Book Festival as a
featured author to make me realize: I could make this book myself. Now, for
her. While she was young. And so it happened!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It took awhile
to decide on the format, whether I would submit to trad pubs or not, but in the
end I had a shiny new book. It was definitely one of the more satisfying
experiences of my life – and not only because I recently read her the final
version with pics and she <i>loved </i>it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tell us about your children's books.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The PONY101
series is my first picture book series, and is targeted towards horse-crazy
kids that also want to learn great facts about horses. It fills a great gaping
hole in the marketplace, as well: there is no real series about a horse and a
kid out there – especially not one that covers the theatrical (ALIEN VS PONY)
as well as the more mundane (IT’S GROOMING DAY – coming soon). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I am a hybrid
author, which means I have been published traditionally (POSSUM SUMMER and OUT
OF THE WILD, with an agent for my middle grade books) as well as indie for the
picture books. So far, I’m really enjoying my indie experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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readers may learn more about you and your works?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I do! <a href="http://www.pony101.de/">www.pony101.de</a> is a combined blog/website with
lots of interesting facts, a blog, and activity sheets. I’m working on a
special site there just for kids that read the books, but that might take a bit
to finish. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;">J</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I am presently working on the second book’s illustrations in the series, ALIEN
VS PONY. We had a vote to see which would come first (I was all for the
grooming one, but was overruled. Because aliens!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">/////////////////////////////</span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> </span><b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">About the Book:</span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Title</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">: New
Pony Day!</span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Author</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">: Jen K. Blom</span></div>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Publisher</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">: Jen K. Blom</span></div>
</b>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pages</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">: 28</span></div>
</b>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Genre</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">: Children’s Picture Book</span></div>
</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Today’s
the day Josie gets her new pony – if she can find him, that is! Her cat Pasta’s
along for the ride, too, but there’s no telling if he’ll help or not – he’s a
cat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">For
More Information</span><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></h3>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">New Pony Day!
is available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Pony-Day-PONY101-Book-ebook/dp/B011AGQDIK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441906740&sr=8-1&keywords=new+pony+day!"><span style="font-style: normal;">Amazon</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></em></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Pick up your
copy at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/new-pony-day-jen-k-blom/1122295855?ean=2940152028553"><span style="font-style: normal;">Barnes & Noble</span></a>.</span></em><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Discuss this
book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/17444224-new-pony-day-by-jen-k-blom">Goodreads</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Book
Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My name is Josie and I'm happy as I can be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My kitty Pasta and I have a job just our size, you see. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Today’s the day I choose my
pony. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">All mine. Only for me me ME!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I’ll know him when I see him! </span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I KNOW I will. Only…</span></div>
</span></span>Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-31413668179024078532015-10-01T18:57:00.001+02:002015-10-01T18:57:58.624+02:00On the Spotlight: 'The Secret Lives of Animals,' by Stacy Tornio<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Secret Lives of Animals<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vz9EV17Dlb91leAMhRt-U3cmd6ldyB3UKx0I4Xi3Ir1XLmce5_N2Fppk-UOFJVbWOj0EtYcYK9t1yPljpWR0qsRimtKYW7pPy879q4nkhB1CoNPy8LkXmxzh9DUdZ-iGT7Z8FPHzkRQ/s1600/secret+lives+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vz9EV17Dlb91leAMhRt-U3cmd6ldyB3UKx0I4Xi3Ir1XLmce5_N2Fppk-UOFJVbWOj0EtYcYK9t1yPljpWR0qsRimtKYW7pPy879q4nkhB1CoNPy8LkXmxzh9DUdZ-iGT7Z8FPHzkRQ/s320/secret+lives+banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">SYNOPSIS</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEe8hZXEpDHYpzHKb3M6kdaUBWOPFrkIckfBYEKxG2gFUpuQ9SpN0pWGlTU56aS8V8XKJ_faFlA6KS4Z8JJfULINUwv3aIb4-adJi6qlZG-001j6DdU-1Hemm78ttMspgf37kTz30f5Y/s1600/secret+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEe8hZXEpDHYpzHKb3M6kdaUBWOPFrkIckfBYEKxG2gFUpuQ9SpN0pWGlTU56aS8V8XKJ_faFlA6KS4Z8JJfULINUwv3aIb4-adJi6qlZG-001j6DdU-1Hemm78ttMspgf37kTz30f5Y/s320/secret+life.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">The Secret Lives
of Animals</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">is the perfect mix of field guide know-how and
armchair entertainment. In addition to the standard field guide notes and range
maps, the meat of the book will offer up “spark moments” in nature—something
fascinating or memorable that catches your attention and sets you on a path of
lifelong learning.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i>The Secret Lives of Animals<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>will feature more than 100 North American animals and over
1,000 tidbits in a fun, colorful, illustrated format.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">PURCHASE</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Lives-Animals-Oddities-Americas/dp/149301191X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1443231698&sr=8-4&keywords=the+secret+life+of+animals">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-lives-of-animals-stacy-tornio/1120139354?ean=9781493011919">Barnes
& Noble</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781493011919-0">Powell’s</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781493011919">IndieBound</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Secret-Lives-Animals/Stacy-Tornio/9781493011919?id=6432321378650">Books-a-Million</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.falcon.com/books/secret-lives-animals">Falcon Guides</a><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #548235; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">GIVEAWAY</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: large;">WIN A FREE BOOK AND A PAIR OF KEEN
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">ABOUT THE
AUTHORS</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Stacy Tornio is an Oklahoma girl at heart, though she’s lived in
Wisconsin for the last 10 years. As editor of Birds & Blooms Magazine,
Stacy is able to share her love of backyard nature. Her first book, Cathy’s
Animal Garden, takes readers on a picture journey into the neighbor’s scary
backyard in search of a homerun baseball. Project Garden, her recent book, is a
monthly guide filled with activities to keep the whole family gardening all
year long. Along with her husband, Steve, Stacy enjoys watching her two
children explore nature in their Milwaukee backyard and on trips up north.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Ken Keffer was born and raised in Wyoming. A vagabond
naturalist, he’s done a little bit of everything, from monitoring mice and vole
populations and picking up carnivore scat in Grand Teton National Park to
researching flying squirrels in the Tongass National Forest of southeast
Alaska, and monitoring Bactrian camels in Mongolia’s Great Gobi Strictly
Protected Area. He’s also worked as an environmental educator in Wyoming,
northern New Mexico, coastal Maryland, and along the shores of Lake Erie in
Ohio. Ken enjoys birding, floating on lazy rivers, and fly fishing in the
mountains out west.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brought to you by <a href="http://worldwindvirtualbooktours.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Worldwind Virtual Book Tours</a></span></div>
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-69617363920252044482015-09-18T12:02:00.001+02:002015-09-18T12:02:49.133+02:00Interview with Christopher Nuttall, YA Fantasy Author of ‘Trial By Fire’<br />
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<a href="http://blogcritics.org/wp-content/uploads/bcimages/2015/07/nuttall_pix_med-1.jpg" style="border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img alt="nuttall_pix_med (1)" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5439668" height="300" src="http://blogcritics.org/wp-content/uploads/bcimages/2015/07/nuttall_pix_med-1-225x300.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(203, 205, 204); display: inline; float: left; height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 2px 8px 3px 3px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 4px;" width="225" /></a>Christopher Nuttall was born in Edinburgh, studied in Manchester, married in Malaysia and currently living in Scotland, United Kingdom, with his wife and baby son. He is the author of 20 novels from various publishers and thirty-nine self-published novels. More than 100,000 ebooks in the <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Schooled in Magic</em> series have sold since March 2014.</div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sample Chapter</strong> <a href="http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/TrialByFire_ch1.html" style="color: #19196a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">HERE</a>.</div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Purchase on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011JPQQSY/" style="color: #19196a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.omnilit.com/product-trialbyfire-1851553-237.html" style="color: #19196a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">OmniLit</a></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Congratulations on the release of your latest book, <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Trial By Fire,</em> Book 7 in your <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Schooled in Magic</em> series. When did you start writing and what got you into fantasy?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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Well, I started writing seriously around 2004-2005 and … well, I write the sort of books I like to read. I began with a military thriller, then went through alternate history and alien invasion before starting to experiment with fantasy. Frankly, I’m still fond of all four genres, although military science-fiction is probably my favorite.<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What is your book about?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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Oh, a <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">hard </em>question.</div>
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The <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Schooled in Magic </em>series follows the adventures of Emily, a teenage girl from our world who is accidentally kidnapped by a necromancer and swept into an alternate world where magic is real, dragons fly through the sky and young magicians are sent to boarding schools to learn magic. But it’s also a series about the introduction of new ideas into a static society and just what happens when those ideas are developed, then start to mutate.</div>
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<em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Trial By Fire </em>follows Emily as the repercussions of her actions in earlier books finally come back to haunt her, putting her at the center of a deadly plot that will force her to fight for her life – or die at the hands of a relentless enemy.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What type of challenges did you face while writing this book?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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Making it convincing, alas.</div>
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Ok, that sounds absurd; fantasy is not, by definition, convincing. A world where someone can be turned into a toad with a snap of a witch’s fingers isn’t our world. However, it does have to follow its own logic – and, if that logic is violated, people tend to protest. (They also protest if humans don’t act like humans, although creatures like Elves get a free pass – they’re not human.)</div>
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<a href="http://blogcritics.org/wp-content/uploads/bcimages/2015/07/TrialByFire_med1.jpg" style="border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img alt="TrialByFire_med1" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5439669" height="300" src="http://blogcritics.org/wp-content/uploads/bcimages/2015/07/TrialByFire_med1-203x300.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(203, 205, 204); display: inline; float: right; height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 2px 3px 3px 8px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 4px;" width="203" /></a>One very notable example comes from <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Harry Potter</em> (I use this because most of my readers will probably be familiar with the series.) In <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Goblet of Fire</em>, Harry is forced to compete in a deadly contest that could easily leave him dead … apparently because having his name put in the titular Goblet creates a magically-binding contract that enforces participation. But we know Harry<em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">didn’t </em>put his name in the Goblet … which raises questions about how the contract was binding in the first place. (And why, if you can create a contract binding someone, they don’t use it on the Dark Lord.)</div>
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(Personally, I tend to think that Dumbledore was the one under contract; he’d sworn to make sure anyone whose name came out of the Goblet had to compete, which would have included Harry as well as the other guy. And it would be perfectly in character for Dumbledore to keep mum about this and push Harry forward.)</div>
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In <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Trial By Fire</em>, I worked hard to put together a trap for Emily that <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">wouldn’t</em>have a thinking fan banging his head off the wall. I hope I succeeded.<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What do you hope readers will get from your book?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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Well, I hope they will have an enjoyable story.</div>
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Let’s be honest here. I’m not trying to write something that will echo down the ages, something with the staying power of the <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Foundation </em>series. I’m writing so my readers will have fun reading the books. If they learn something about the importance of technology, the spread of ideas and just what can happen when whole new approaches are explored … well, that’s a bonus.<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Did your book require a lot of research?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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The series absorbed a great deal of research <grin>. I actually spent years reading about the Middle Ages, just to flavor my work. The Allied Lands themselves have a great deal in common with Europe, particularly in the Reformation era. I studied how those societies worked, what drove them, how their people thought and what weakened them in the face of stronger enemies.</grin></div>
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Of course, there are differences – the presence of functional magic, for a start.<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Many writers experience a vague anxiety before they sit down to right. Can you relate to this?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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Sometimes. Oddly, I feel it while crafting the next installment in a successful series.</div>
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<em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Trial By Fire </em>was originally intended to serve as the end of the first arc of novels set within the <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Schooled in Magic</em>universe. I knew it had to be spectacular, the moment when Emily steps up and takes firm control of her life, and so I was nervous about actually having her do it. I hope it lives up to its purpose.<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Do you have a writing schedule? Are you disciplined?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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Very disciplined. Truthfully, you don’t get anywhere in writing unless you’re disciplined.</div>
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I get up, eat breakfast and drink coffee, then get to work. I set myself a goal of three chapters a day, except for the first day; that generally takes around five hours. Then there’s the task of checking the beta reader comments and editing the manuscript. Between drafts, I generally try to move to something different or edit completed manuscripts.<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">How do you define success?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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Success comes in the form of people buying my books and writing good (and thoughtful reviews). I know; I probably won’t win any major awards. (I did win the Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards for <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Bookworm</em>.) However, I’m happy with being paid and being told I did a good job.<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What do you love most about the writer’s life?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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I get to work from home, set my own hours and generally be my own boss. And then there’s the fact I get to meet fans, even if I am a little shy.<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Do you have a website or blog where readers can find out more about your work?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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I have a website, a blog, a mailing list and a Facebook fan page. <grin></grin></div>
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The website contains free samples – I try to give away at least a couple of chapters, sometimes as many as ten – and a number of older books that are completely free. They’re really ones I wrote during my first period as a writer; not good enough to be published, perhaps, but people liked them. A couple have even been rewritten for later publication.</div>
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The <a href="http://www.chrishanger.net/" style="border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;">blog</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ChristopherGNuttall" style="border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Facebook </a>page cover everything from my musings to fan comments and suchlike, allowing a degree of fan participation. All are welcome. The mailing list, however, is only for new releases – I believe in trying to avoid spamming people where possible.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Where is your book available?</strong></div>
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The ebook version of <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Trial By Fire</em> is available for purchase from Amazon Kindle, Apple iBookstore, BN Nook, Kobo Books, OmniLit, etc.</div>
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The print version of <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Trial By Fire</em> will be available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble Bookstores, Brodart, Coutts, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Emery-Pratt, Follett, Ingram, The Book Despository, The Book House, etc.</div>
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Purchase links will be available <a href="http://www.twilighttimesbooks.com/TrialByFire_ch1.html" style="border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">on the chapter excerpt page</a>:</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What is your advice for aspiring authors?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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I think I’ve said this before, time and time again, but the best advice I can give is work hard, work hard and work hard. Writing is 10% inspiration and 90% hard work. It is very rare to get a first novel published, unless you have VERY strong connections with the publishing industry or a name you can exploit (and those books tend to be terrible). Eric Flint said you really need to write at least a million words before you have something worth reading and I tend to think he was right.</div>
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Once you have a manuscript, get a few readers to look at it and give you honest feedback. If they said “this sucks, because [insert reason here]” listen to them. They may be wrong, which is possible, or you may have failed to explain something properly. Either way, they should make you think about it … which is better than having a review that boils down to “this author is an idiot.”</div>
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And grow a thick skin. You’ll need it.<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Anything else you’d like to tell my readers?</strong><strong style="border: 0px none; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"> </strong></div>
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I offer cameos for anyone who reads a book and reports an error to me. All (again) welcome.</div>
Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-65660272464365017652015-09-03T01:00:00.000+02:002015-09-03T01:00:00.303+02:00Interview with Fiona Ingram, author of 'The Search for the Stone of Excalibur'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US">Fiona Ingram was born and educated in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
and has worked as a full-time journalist and editor. Her interest in ancient
history, mystery, and legends, and her enjoyment of travel has resulted in the
multi award winning <i>The Secret of the Sacred Scarab</i>, the first in her
exciting children’s adventure series—Chronicles of the Stone. Fiona has just
published the second book entitled <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Search-Stone-Excalibur-Book-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00O97QG94/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid">The
Search for the Stone of Excalibur</a></i>, a treat for young King Arthur fans.
She is busy with Book 3 entitled The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Do you consider yourself to be a born
writer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN">I
think so. I have always scribbled something, either plays for the family,
stories to entertain my young brothers, poetry to amuse family members, and
then later writing a book just came naturally. Being an avid reader also helps!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Tell us about your recent release.
What was your inspiration for it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span lang="EN">The Search for the Stone of Excalibur</span></i><span lang="EN"> is the second book in my
Middle Grade adventure series <i>The
Chronicles of the Stone</i>. Book 1 began the adventure after my mother took me
and my two young nephews on a family trip to Egypt. I came back and penned <i>The Secret of the Sacred Scarab</i> right
away and, when I reached the end of the book, I realised my young heroes hadn’t
saved the world yet; they needed more books! The second adventure takes the
heroes to Britain, where King Arthur’s sword has been discovered and there is a
powerful stone embedded in the hilt. Could this be the source of Excalibur’s
legendary powers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Tell us about your children's books.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN">I
never imagine that one book, which began as a short story filled with anecdotes
about our trip to Egypt, would end up as a book, and then a book series. The
series is extremely gripping: young heroes Adam and Justin have to locate seven
ancient Stones of Power scattered throughout the known world of several
thousand years ago. Adam has a special connection with the stones. United, the
stones enable someone to read the legendary Egyptian <i>Book of Thoth</i>, the most powerful book in the world, and thus learn
the secrets of ultimate knowledge, achieve immortality, and control time,
eternity, and the creatures of the land, sea and air. Of course there are
baddies who also want these stones, and they pursue our heroes as they travel
the globe in search of these powerful objects. Each book takes the kids to a
new country, exploring ancient history, geography, culture, mythology, legends,
and archaeology within each story. It’s an amazing adventure for the heroes as
they meet people who help or hinder them on their quest.</span> </div>
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<b><span lang="EN">What are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN">Book
3: <i>The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper</i>
is non-stop adventure! </span>Continuing the adventure
that ended in Britain just a short while ago, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair,
with their friend Kim Maleka, are now hunting for the third Stone of Power, one
of seven mysterious stones lost centuries ago. This stone might be located in
an ancient city, hidden in the depths of the Mexican jungle. When their small
plane crashes in the jungle, Adam, Justin, Kim, and James – their archaeologist
friend - are rescued by an uncontacted tribe. James, who is wounded, must stay
behind as the kids, with only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, make their
way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the city. Raft riding on a
crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous
task. Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids
press on in search of the lost city of stone gods. But he is not the worst of
their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the
persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient
tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball
game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the
jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuy45idugquSCvFGzuhPsagT98j9W_0VvuxYyAcAcMYmbJcWKcGxmTbng9uNqjtx_rI1RuAnq2EW261DUmIm8ljtbf1TCQTw4lUPVv4NBhKMDcVn7SABOA2j4370amzTatE1AzbpYLpQ/s1600/The+Search+for+the+Stone+at+Excalibur+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuy45idugquSCvFGzuhPsagT98j9W_0VvuxYyAcAcMYmbJcWKcGxmTbng9uNqjtx_rI1RuAnq2EW261DUmIm8ljtbf1TCQTw4lUPVv4NBhKMDcVn7SABOA2j4370amzTatE1AzbpYLpQ/s320/The+Search+for+the+Stone+at+Excalibur+2.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">What type of book promotion works for
you? Any special strategies you’d like to share?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN">It’s an understatement to say
I have tried everything because I have. I work very hard at marketing my books.
Some options have been a waste of money; others have yielded mediocre results.
However, a hugely successful strategy for me is what I am doing right now;
going on a blog tour. It is organised; the hosts are keen to have you; their
readers are interested in the genre you write; you can tell potential readers
things that maybe you don’t get an opportunity to do otherwise; and also you have
a chance to offer readers something special as a thank you, and to encourage
them to read further. You can also get reviews from hosts interested enough to
read your book/s and give their opinion. It’s also a way of creating a
following of people who will continue to read your books and will look out for
them in the future. Another very successful strategy is entering book awards
because that tells people your book is of a high quality. I was fortunate that
my first MG adventure, <i>The Secret of the
Sacred Scarab</i>, won a bunch of awards, and that certainly influenced my getting
international publishing contracts.</span> </div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Is there anything else you’d like to
say to our readers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN">If you are a parent or have young relatives just getting into reading, the
greatest gift you can give them is to instil a love of reading. Enjoying
reading is a learned process, and a young child associates the pleasure of
reading with a parent or beloved relative with the pleasure of reading as they
grow older. Literacy is priceless, and reading and loving books will set that
child’s feet firmly on the path to a successful future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"> </span><b><span lang="EN-US">For More Information</span></b></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Visit
Fiona Ingram’s <a href="http://www.fionaingram.com/">website</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Connect
with Fiona on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/fiona.robyn.ingram">Facebook</a>
and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/FionaRobyn">Twitter</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Find
out more about Fiona at <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/fiona_ingram">Goodreads</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Visit
Fiona’s <a href="http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/">blog</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
</ul>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">About the Book:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Title</span></b><span lang="EN-US">: The Search for the Stone of
Excalibur</span></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Author</b>: Fiona Ingram</div>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Publisher</b>: Biblio Publishing</div>
</b>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Pages</b>: 376</div>
</b>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Genre</b>: Juvenile Fiction</div>
</b>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Format</b>: Paperback/Kindle/Nook</div>
</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Continuing the adventure that began in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> a few
months prior in The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, cousins Adam and Justin
Sinclair are hot on the trail of the second Stone of Power, one of seven
ancient stones lost centuries ago. This stone might be embedded in the hilt of
a newly discovered sword that archaeologists believe belonged to King Arthur:
Excalibur. However, their long-standing enemy, Dr. Khalid, is following them as
they travel to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region>
to investigate an old castle. Little do they know there is another deadly
force, the Eaters of Poison, who have their own mission to complete. Time is
running out as the confluence of the planets draws closer. Can Justin and Adam
find the second Stone of Power and survive? And why did Aunt Isabel send a girl
with them? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Join Justin and Adam as they search not only for the second Stone of Power, but
also for the Scroll of the Ancients, a mysterious document that holds important
clues to the Seven Stones of Power. As their adventure unfolds, they learn many
things and face dangers that make even their perils in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> look
tame. And how annoying for them that their tag-along companion, Kim, seems to
have such good ideas when they are stumped. Book extras include some historical
background on King Arthur, the Dark Ages, warfare and weaponry during Arthur’s
time, and details on Excalibur. A fascinating peek into the life and times of
the real King Arthur, perfect for young time travelers and budding
archaeologists.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-28797879025829377752015-07-31T16:51:00.001+02:002015-07-31T16:51:57.388+02:00On the Spotlight: The Aqua Lie, by L.L. Hunter<br />
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<a href="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/44044-the2baqua2blie2bbanner.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="228" originalh="228" originalw="640" scale="1" src-orig="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/44044-the2baqua2blie2bbanner.png?w=640&h=228" src="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/44044-the2baqua2blie2bbanner.png?w=783&h=294" style="background: url(https://s2.wp.com/wp-content/themes/pub/mistylook/img/shadow.gif) 100% 100% no-repeat; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-width: 1px; border-style: solid none none solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-width: 1px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 4px 10px 10px 4px;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Title: The Aqua Lie</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Series: The Aqua Saga book 2</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author: L.L. Hunter</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genre: YA Dystopian</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cover Designer: <a href="http://www.maeidesign.com/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Regina Wamba of Mae I Design and Photography</a></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Release Date: July 31st</span></div>
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<a href="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/1d02b-the2baqua2blie.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="400" originalh="400" originalw="266" scale="1" src-orig="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/1d02b-the2baqua2blie.jpg?w=266&h=400" src="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/1d02b-the2baqua2blie.jpg?w=280&h=413" style="background: url(https://s2.wp.com/wp-content/themes/pub/mistylook/img/shadow.gif) 100% 100% no-repeat; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-width: 1px; border-style: solid none none solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-width: 1px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 4px 10px 10px 4px;" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ever since being told he had to work for General Maddox in order to see Pym, Rush has had more than enough time to contemplate how to get out of this deal. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When he is invited to play a high stakes poker game with the General and his father, he is a little suspicious of the General’s motives.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When he discovers just what he is playing for, it has Rush seeing red.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The prize: Pym’s heart.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But if he loses, he will have to watch his friend Troy take Pym to the annual General’s Masquerade Ball while he sits on the sidelines.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the hardest part of it all – trying to keep his secret from Pym.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the much anticipated sequel to The Aqua Secret,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will Rush be able to keep up the facade, or will it all be unraveled by midnight?</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17790612-the-aqua-lie" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter" height="41" originalw="500" scale="1" src="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/d6561-addtogoodreads.png?w=500" style="background: url(https://s2.wp.com/wp-content/themes/pub/mistylook/img/shadow.gif) 100% 100% no-repeat; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-width: 1px; border-style: solid none none solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-width: 1px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 4px 10px 10px 4px;" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purchase </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Aqua Lie</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: </span><a href="http://amzn.com/B00ZHTGLF2" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17.333333333333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://amzn.com/B00ZHTGLF2</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iBooks: </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-aqua-lie/id961199430?mt=11" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-aqua-lie/id961199430?mt=11</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B&N: </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-aqua-lie-ll-hunter/1121107639?ean=2940046532791" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-aqua-lie-ll-hunter/1121107639?ean=2940046532791</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kobo: </span><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-aqua-lie" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-aqua-lie</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purchase </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Aqua Secret</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: </span><a href="http://amzn.com/B00JD17QKY" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17.333333333333px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://amzn.com/B00JD17QKY</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iBooks: </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-aqua-secret/id839578505?mt=11" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/the-aqua-secret/id839578505?mt=11</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kobo: </span><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-aqua-secret" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-aqua-secret</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #262626; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B&N: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-aqua-secret-ll-hunter/1118909186?ean=2940045761673&itm=1&usri=the+aqua+secret" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-aqua-secret-ll-hunter/1118909186?ean=2940045761673&itm=1&usri=the+aqua+secret</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/e6851-amberauthorbio.png" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" class=" aligncenter" height="62" originalh="62" originalw="320" scale="1" src-orig="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/e6851-amberauthorbio.png?w=320&h=62" src="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/e6851-amberauthorbio.png?w=501&h=116" style="background: url(https://s2.wp.com/wp-content/themes/pub/mistylook/img/shadow.gif) 100% 100% no-repeat; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-width: 1px; border-style: solid none none solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-width: 1px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 4px 10px 10px 4px;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/b2b01-ll2bhunter.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; clear: right; color: #265e15; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" originalh="200" originalw="150" scale="1" src-orig="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/b2b01-ll2bhunter.jpg?w=150&h=200" src="https://thedarkphantom.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/b2b01-ll2bhunter.jpg?w=164&h=214" style="background: url(https://s2.wp.com/wp-content/themes/pub/mistylook/img/shadow.gif) 100% 100% no-repeat; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-width: 1px; border-style: solid none none solid; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-width: 1px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 4px 10px 10px 4px;" width="150" /></a>L.L. Hunter is the author of over 20 published works, including The Legend of the Archangel Series and The Eden Chronicles. She has studied everything from veterinary nursing, forensic science, and dramatic arts, but has always known her true calling was to be an author. She has been writing since her teens – everything from fan fiction, to song lyrics, to plays and musicals. When not working on her next paranormal romance, she can be found at home in Australia, reading somewhere comfortable with one or both of her “fur babies.”<div style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-top: 0.7em; padding: 0px;">
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-9aea26e5-df55-dac8-3cd8-572c9d8da578" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook Author page: </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/LL-Hunter/110104129132865" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/LL-Hunter/110104129132865</a></span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-9aea26e5-df55-dac8-3cd8-572c9d8da578" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #131313; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/LLHunterbooks" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://twitter.com/LLHunterbooks</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #131313; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/L.L.-Hunter/e/B00B2B701I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1379386637&sr=8-1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.amazon.com/L.L.-Hunter/e/B00B2B701I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1379386637&sr=8-1</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #131313; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodreads: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6559537.L_L_Hunter" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6559537.L_L_Hunter</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #131313; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blog: </span><a href="http://llhunter.blogspot.com.au/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://llhunter.blogspot.com.au</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram: @llhunter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Website: </span><a href="http://llhunterauthor.wordpress.com/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 102, 51); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #265e15; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://llhunterauthor.wordpress.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Google +: google.com/+LLHunter</span></div>
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-28174133426357233372015-06-01T22:48:00.000+02:002015-06-01T22:48:11.341+02:00Interview with Michelle Beber, author of 'Angels, Angels, Everywhere'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9TFoaFXnefueMKdYWrJ46JiYx3oUQEmXjCwgeLBelRO-cjJhtvqICHAdhaCxttNzZsCYHE3IZlZbBj92IeLU99TdIARN3Hv3L4vBFP6HD88WeKZFbscANrhr21rBvC_xrb8gY_OVk4A/s1600/Michelle+Beber.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9TFoaFXnefueMKdYWrJ46JiYx3oUQEmXjCwgeLBelRO-cjJhtvqICHAdhaCxttNzZsCYHE3IZlZbBj92IeLU99TdIARN3Hv3L4vBFP6HD88WeKZFbscANrhr21rBvC_xrb8gY_OVk4A/s320/Michelle+Beber.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Michelle
Beber has certifications as an Angel Intuitive and Angel Oracle Card Reader
from renowned "angel lady," Doreen Virtue, as well as certifications
as a Spiritual Teacher and Archangel Life Coach from Doreen's son, Charles
Virtue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">In
2008, Michelle's life changed when she attended a spiritual retreat and learned
about angels and how they communicate through repetitive number sequences known
as "angel numbers." Little did she know that this insight would lead
her on an amazing spiritual journey that would directly connect her with angels
and result in the discovery of her life purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Always
grateful for the spiritual guidance she has received, Michelle looks forward to
sharing the knowledge she has gained to inspire others, especially children.
Michelle is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
(SCBWI). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Her latest book is the juvenile fiction/children’s picture book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Everywhere-Michelle-Beber/dp/1452518947">Angels,
Angels, Everywhere</a></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Do you consider yourself to be a born
writer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Yes. I believe
each of us comes into this world with innate talents that are meant to be used
to make the world a better place. Some
of us realize those talents earlier in life and others, like me, find our
purpose later in life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Did you always want to be a writer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I’ve always had
a love of writing, but I didn’t have a career plan to be an author or
journalist. I enjoyed creative writing
as a child and wrote poetry as a teen.
When I got to college, I chose Radio-TV-Film as my major with a desire
to work in television production, but I also took many journalism classes and
absolutely loved it! That led to an
internship in the NBC-TV Press and Publicity Department which included writing
press releases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I had hoped to
find a job in publicity, but since those jobs were hard to come by, I ended up
in the business and legal area of the entertainment industry. Ironically, that knowledge has proven
invaluable as I have moved into my career as an author. I believe everyone learns what they need to
know as they work toward their particular life purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Everything I’ve
learned in my life has prepared me to do what I’m doing. Not only was I was blessed with the passion
and ability to write, but also I have a keen aptitude for research. I learned everything I could about copyright,
the steps necessary to self-publish a book, the importance of branding and having
an online presence, and how to market and promote your finished product.</span><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdtU4Im_BQjaa7hyphenhyphenG4IhJGyN8oNn4SEVTatV_VXnKbftu3jg1s4eDrzBDZZqGFjtkVvsJaDpjWmqx_OuIUZMUhr8gMQGdC33yZxh_eXgRLFOzpPUJwKwp5ZbLqqcqjWwixY6_GouXXIM/s1600/Angels+Angels+Everywhere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdtU4Im_BQjaa7hyphenhyphenG4IhJGyN8oNn4SEVTatV_VXnKbftu3jg1s4eDrzBDZZqGFjtkVvsJaDpjWmqx_OuIUZMUhr8gMQGdC33yZxh_eXgRLFOzpPUJwKwp5ZbLqqcqjWwixY6_GouXXIM/s320/Angels+Angels+Everywhere.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tell us about your recent release.
What was your inspiration for it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My debut children’s
picture book, <i>Angels, Angels, Everywhere,</i>
was literally Divinely inspired. I’m an
“angel intuitive” which means that I’m able to “connect” with the angelic
realm. I’m also what’s known as a
“lightworker” who’s working with Archangel Michael to bring God’s healing love
and light to the world, especially to children.
I receive messages from angels, and some of those messages evolved into children’s
picture book manuscripts.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tell us about your children's books.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">With every book that
I put into the marketplace, I hope to teach, touch, and entertain each
reader. That’s my “brand,” and I’ve trademarked
the slogan: To Teach, To Touch, To
Entertain™.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Do you have a website/blog where
readers may learn more about you and your works?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Yes. My website is <a href="http://www.michellebeber.com/">www.michellebeber.com</a>, and my blog is called
<a href="http://www.heartofalightworker.com/">www.heartofalightworker.com</a>.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Where are your books available?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My soft-cover
book and e-book are available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">www.amazon.com</a>,
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/">www.barnesandnoble.com</a>, and in the
bookstore at www.balboapress.com.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What type of book promotion works for
you? Any special strategies you’d like to share?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I love social
media, and I highly recommend it! I never
thought I’d ever say that because I used to think it was a ridiculous waste of
time, but I’ve met so many wonderful, inspirational people who are genuinely
interested in what I have to say and my work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My Twitter
presence led to an appearance on a blog talk radio show where I was interviewed
and able to read my book. You never know
where or when an opportunity may arise, so be open to all possibilities. You must have an online presence and connect
with your target audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What advice would you offer aspiring
writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The internet is
filled with tons of information on traditional and self-publishing. Do plenty of research on the different
avenues available to you, and follow the path that is best suited to your
particular circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Don’t feel
pressured to get your book out there.
It’s not a competition. What’s
meant for you will be yours because it’s part of your life purpose. There’s room for everyone because we each
bring our own unique flair to our creations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">If you’re
passionate about writing, and you have ideas coming to you that you love, go
for it! Don’t let anything stop you from
achieving your dream. It’s what you were
meant to do. Stay positive, work hard, and
have patience. It can take a long time
to put your book into the marketplace, but once you do, it’s the most
gratifying feeling you’ll ever have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We hear again and again that picture
books are incredibly difficult to write. Why is that?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I’ve heard that
too, but for some reason, they come very easily to me. My opinion is if it’s difficult for you, then
it’s probably not what you’re meant to be doing. Writing shouldn’t be a chore. It should flow naturally. Of course, there will be an occasional
“writer’s block,” but overall, the process should move along smoothly, and it
should be enjoyable!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">How do you see the future of
children’s picture books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I’m hoping my
books will inspire other writers to contribute to the rapidly growing
children’s self-help category. There are
lots of great books out there that are fun to read, but I think books that
empower children are also just as important, and they can be done in an
entertaining way as well.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">If you know in your heart and soul
that writing is your passion, go for it!
Have confidence in your abilities, and don’t let anyone else’s opinions
stop you from pursuing your dream. Keep your
thoughts positive, and you’ll manifest a positive outcome. Stay true to who you are, and learn to have
patience. Great things take time.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-75765710709739041972015-05-25T01:03:00.001+02:002015-05-25T01:03:40.603+02:00Interview with Anne Sawyer-Aitch, author of 'Nalah Goes to Mad Mouse City'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-I06g50rPkadzxkVBrtzCLZoIRvWwNqPHlgY9CqUQLJO9buKpcZeJ3puq1eldjySoGRr2lJV-cpRAsjvOSdOhCtUkwucULh5wckALXBSJU8IqUxUuBmXYitlhHacF71VEbkeRtFMkbY/s1600/Nalah+Goes+to+Mad+Mouse+City+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-I06g50rPkadzxkVBrtzCLZoIRvWwNqPHlgY9CqUQLJO9buKpcZeJ3puq1eldjySoGRr2lJV-cpRAsjvOSdOhCtUkwucULh5wckALXBSJU8IqUxUuBmXYitlhHacF71VEbkeRtFMkbY/s320/Nalah+Goes+to+Mad+Mouse+City+banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Anne Sawyer-Aitch (pronounced like the letter
“H”) is a puppeteer and stilt-walker. When she decided to create her first
book, <i>Nalah and the Pink Tiger</i>, she began experimenting with different
styles of illustration, and finally discovered a technique that uses her skills
as a maker of color shadow puppets. She calls it “Illuminated Illustration”,
and it involves cut-away designs, layering, and backlighting. In her capacity
as a puppeteer, Anne creates puppet pieces of all kinds: parade floats, giant
stilt puppets, and intricate color shadow shows. She is a MN State Arts Board
Roster Artist, teaching puppetry all over the state, and has been touring
around with her first book & her <i>Nalah
and the Pink Tiger show</i> for the last two years. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nalah-Goes-Mad-Mouse-City/dp/0692342958/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425354328&sr=8-1&keywords=nalah+goes+to+mad+mouse+city">Nalah
Goes to Mad Mouse City</a> </i>is her second book. She lives in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Minneapolis</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:state></st1:place>.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yk1FBBrtn0mT0CJQh-ZMOyjRvXix4TXEIMWOAGSHVdhEkYOm0GIDww_O-BBflhgZX-WYuM8wOK0sb8yIBBORCkbvsSC5Ch930Ut4dCGzJEyXXK_osSf1xpD-Yw9DtAyqXyEzR_A6r3U/s1600/Anne+Sawyer-Aitch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yk1FBBrtn0mT0CJQh-ZMOyjRvXix4TXEIMWOAGSHVdhEkYOm0GIDww_O-BBflhgZX-WYuM8wOK0sb8yIBBORCkbvsSC5Ch930Ut4dCGzJEyXXK_osSf1xpD-Yw9DtAyqXyEzR_A6r3U/s1600/Anne+Sawyer-Aitch.jpeg" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">For More Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN">
</span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US">Visit
Anne Sawyer-Aitch’s <a href="http://www.nalahandthepinktiger.com/">website</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US">Connect
with Anne on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anne.sawyer.aitch">Facebook</a>
(author) and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NalahandthePinkTiger">Facebook</a>
(book)<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US">Find
out more about Anne at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24073321-nalah-goes-to-mad-mouse-city">Goodreads</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://nalahandthepinktiger.com/contact/">Contact</a> Anne.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
</ul>
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<span lang="EN"><b>Tell us about your recent
release. What was your inspiration for it?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In my newest book, Nalah Goes to Mad Mouse
City, the adventures of Nalah continue! One day Nalah finds herself bored and
lonesome because all of her imaginary friends have gone away on vacation. But
wait – not all. Mad Tooth, the little mouse who lives in her sock drawer, is
still busy munching away on her knee-highs. When she finds out why Nalah is
sad, she offers to take her down through the sock drawer into a mouse
metropolis. The result is a tale of wild dancing, cousins and mice, taffy and a
sock monster. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This book was inspired by my little niece,
Nalah. She is a very lively girl who is always getting into mischief. She
sparked the first story, Nalah and the Pink Tiger. The series has taken on a
life of its own since then.</span> </div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>Tell us about your children's
books.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There are the two Nalah books mentioned above. I have
illustrated a book for the MN Humanities Commission as well called The
Imaginary Day. My next projects include a third Nalah book (Nalah in Piggy Wig
Paris) and a book about animals in winter. The latter is something I started
developing when I began painting small creaures sleeping: hedgehogs, squirrels,
dormice, sleeping. I want to make a little board book for toddlers that parents
can read to them at bedtime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>Describe your working
environment.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">Ha! I’m a puppeteer as well as
an author/illustrator, and that means I save everything. I work in all sorts of
mediums, from fabric to clay to paint and paper cutting. I’m always
re-configuring my dining room table based on the project at hand.</span> </div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>Do you have a website/blog
where readers may learn more about you and your works?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.annesawyerpuppets.com/">www.annesawyerpuppets.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.nalahandthepinktiger.com/">www.nalahandthepinktiger.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24073321-nalah-goes-to-mad-mouse-city">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24073321-nalah-goes-to-mad-mouse-city</a></span> </div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>What are you working on now?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Aside from the books I mentioned before,
I’ll be developing some new puppet pieces, including the Spanish version of
Nalah Goes to Mad Mouse City, and a Mexican folk tale in toy theatre
style. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>Where are your books available?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0692342958/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&sr=8-1&qid=1426436843" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>What was your experience in
working with an illustrator author?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I illustrated both of my books. I think both in words
and in pictures, so I enjoy doing it that way. I use a lot of speech bubbles in
my books. Probably because I grew up reading my Mom’s old Donald Duck comics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>What type of book promotion
works for you? Any special strategies you’d like to share?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Because I’m a professional puppeteer, I
have a puppet show that goes with the book. I’ve been performing that at
various sites and selling books that way. But also through social media,
Amazon, Good Reads, and shops that support local artists.</span> </div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>What advice would you offer
aspiring writers?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t worry about how you are going to publish it.
There are lots of ways to do that. You don’t need anybody else’s permission.
Focus on making something you enjoy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b>Who are your favorite authors?</b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In children’s
ficiton, I love Maud Hart Lovelace, the D’Aulaires, Wanda Gag, William Steig.
Also the Harry Potter books. They are so Dickensian. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-64813862674398363642015-04-08T08:45:00.005+02:002015-04-08T08:45:51.955+02:00Guest Post by Melissa Abramovitz, author of 'Helping Herbie Hedgehog'<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>It's a pleasure to have Melissa Abramovitz on my blog today! In this guest post, she talks about the story behind her latest children's picture book, <i>Helping Herbie Hedgehog, </i>which she is promoting at the moment with The National Writing for Children Center. Let's give her warm welcome! </b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>/////</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Long before I started writing
professionally, I recognized the fact that I, and other people, learn much
faster when someone – a teacher, parent, or others – makes the learning fun. Later,
as the mother of two boys, I found that using humor or downright silliness made
it so much easier to engage my children in doing chores or other things that
they did not particularly want to do, like taking a bath. I also found that the
childrens’ books they, and I, most enjoyed often contained humor. And I found
that one thing toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary school-aged
children get a kick out of is being right and correcting other peoples’ silly
mistakes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most of the books, poems, and magazine
articles I write are educational in some way, and while they are not all funny,
I always try to make them fun, in line with my observations about what I and my
children most enjoyed reading. Many years ago, I got the idea to write a series
of funny poems about animal characters that need to figure out how to get
places and go about other activities. Knowing how much small children enjoy
being right, I decided to engage young readers in helping the characters decide
what to do. For instance, if the character was traveling to the moon, should he
ride a bicycle? The first character I devised was a lion named Laffy Lion. For
the next poem I used a character named Klutz Kangaroo. I came up with several
more characters to use in other similar poems about different jobs, sports,
household appliances, and types of furniture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One thing I think many people who
include humor in their writing experience is uncertainty about whether anyone
else will find the humor funny. I know I often wonder about this! The fact that
my own kids, other family members, and friends laughed at these poems was
encouraging, and this gave me the courage to decide to incorporate all these
poems into a children’s book. I decided to make it an early chapter
book/picture book, with each chapter devoted to different activities and
concepts. But I realized I should use only one main animal character to unify
the story. I knew my character had to be clueless, but I also wanted him to be
lovable so children would want to help him out. I could have made the character
any one of a number of species, but in the end, I decided on a hedgehog because
they’re cute despite their prickles. The name Herbie just seemed to fit with
“hedgehog.” My original title was “Can You Help Herbie Hedgehog?” to emphasize
the interactive nature of the book.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Melissa Abramovitz
has been a freelance writer/author for 30 years. She’s the author of hundreds
of magazine articles for all age groups, from preschoolers through adults; more
than 40 educational books for children and teenagers; numerous poems and short
stories; the children’s picture books <i>ABCs
of Health and Safety</i> and <i>Helping
Herbie Hedgehog</i>; and a book for writers titled <i>A Treasure Trove of Opportunity: How to Write and Sell Articles for
Children’s Magazines</i>. Melissa graduated from the University of California
San Diego with a degree in psychology and is also a graduate of the Institute
of Children’s Literature. She is a member of SCBWI, NABE, and The Working
Writer’s Club. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>About the Book</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Herbie has places to
go and things to do. But he needs some help ‘cause he hasn’t a clue! If you’ll
help Herbie decide what’s right and wrong, he’ll be busy and happy the whole
day long! Herbie the clueless hedgehog needs help
figuring out how to get places and go about his day. Amusing delightful rhymes
invite kids to give helpful advice while learning about everyday things in this
early chapter book/picture book. Should Herbie ride his bicycle to visit his
cousin who lives across the ocean? Will his TV set cook a meal? He really needs
these kids’ help! Recommended for ages 2-7.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Title</b>:
Helping Herbie Hedgehog<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Genre</b>:
Children’s picture book/early chapter book<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Author:
Melissa Abramovitz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Website</b>:
<a href="http://www.melissaabramovitz.com/">www.melissaabramovitz.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Publisher</b>:
Guardian Angel Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Purchase
link:</b> <a href="http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/herbie-hedgehog.htm">www.guardianangelpublishing.com/herbie-hedgehog.htm</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Helping-Herbie-Hedgehog-Melissa-Abramovitz/">www.amazon.com/Helping-Herbie-Hedgehog-Melissa-Abramovitz/</a></span></span></div>
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-46452592191578980392015-04-06T01:00:00.000+02:002015-04-06T01:00:00.538+02:00Interview with Whitney Stewart, author of 'Meditation is an Open Sky: Mindfulness for Kids'<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 10.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Whitney Stewart grew up
in New England and graduated from Brown University. She published her first
award-winning, young adult biography after interviewing the 14th Dalai Lama of
Tibet, the subject of two of her books. She trekked with Sir Edmund Hillary in
the Everest region of Nepal; interviewed Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu
Kyi in Rangoon, Burma; and traveled extensively in Asia to research the lives
of Deng Xiaoping, Mao Zedong, and Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. She is the
author of three middle-grade novels and multiple middle-grade nonfiction books,
including an unknown tale of Abraham Lincoln and artist Francis Bicknell
Carpenter. Her newest picture books include <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Catfish-Tale-Whitney-Stewart-ebook/dp/B00IS9B35Q/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423173309&sr=1-5">A
Catfish Tale</a></i></b>, a bayou retelling of the Grimm brothers’ <i>Fisherman
and his Wife</i>, and <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Open-Sky-Mindfulness-Kids/dp/0807549088/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422388844&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=meditaiton+is+an+open+sky">M<i>editation
is an Open Sky: Mindfulness for Kids</i></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Welcome to Mayra's Secret Bookcase, Whitney! Tell us, do you consider yourself to be a born writer?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I was born with deep intuition, curiosity about people,
and a love of story and language. Those are my innate qualities. So, in that
sense, yes, I am a born writer. But writing takes talent, discipline, study of
the craft, imagination, and patience. I have developed those over the years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Did you always want to be a writer?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes. I started to love writing stories in 4<sup>th</sup>
grade, and submitting to publishers in 10<sup>th</sup> grade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Tell us about your recent release. What was your
inspiration for it?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I have been meditating since high school. I traveled to
Tibet and India when I was in my twenties and learned meditation from Tibetan
Buddhist monks. I came home and wanted to teach kids the basics of meditation
without religious affilitation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">My new picture book, <i>Meditation is an Open Sky:
Mindfulness for Kids,</i> is nondenominational book of simple meditations easy
enough for preschoolers and sophisticated enough for adults.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Tell us about your children's books.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I began by publishing young adult biographies of Nobel
laureates and adventurers (the Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi, Sir Edmund Hillary
and more). Then I branched out into writing middle grade nonfiction on such
subjects as shipwrecks and Abraham Lincoln. Now I am publishing picture books
(fiction and nonfiction) for the youngest readers. Last year I published <i>A
Catfish Tale</i>, a silly retelling of Grimms’ <i>The Fisherman and His Wife</i>,
set in the Louisiana bayou. I am now working on a middle grade novel set in New
Orleans and a middle grade nonfiction book about the hunt for a missing German
WWII soldier.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? If yes, how
did you ‘cure’ it?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, I suffered from a creative block after Hurricane
Katrina hit New Orleans where I live. I was evacuated by helicopter from a
rooftop after waiting five days in a flooded building. I had to move away from
home for 4 ½ months and spent most of my time filing FEMA papers and insurance
claims. After I returned to New Orleans, I could not settle easily into my
writing routine. I took a private drawing class for a few months to experiment
with another creative outlet. I am not a natural artist, but I loved this class
nonetheless. I did charcoal portraits of faces. Then I imagined them in
stories, which helped me start writing again. After the class ended, I then
wrote and published a children’s novel and two shipwreck books.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Some writers go on long walks, others keep a journal,
write at a café, or listen to music. What do you do for inspiration and
unleashing your creativity?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I take long walks or a bike ride almost every day. And I
travel and research the history of the places where I go. I write nonfiction,
so I turn my travels into writing projects. I used to journal when I traveled,
but I don’t often do that now. I’m not sure why. However, during my three most
recent research journeys, I published an online, eight-part travel series of my
adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Describe your working environment.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I work at home in my office library. I am surrounded by
windows. I love my office except it has be very noisy when my neighbors on both
sides renovated their houses, or when my neighbor’s landscape crew comes
through every Monday with leaf-blowers and loud machinery.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Are you a disciplined writer? What is your working
style? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, very disciplined. I work every weekday from about
9am or 10am (after exercising) until 5pm or 6pm. I don’t usually write on
weekends unless my family is out of town and I have a deadline. I don’t write
at night either. I am a morning person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Do you like to outline and plot ahead, or are you more of
a stream-of-consciousness writer?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I wish I did outlines or worked on plot first. I am not
good at that. I just plunge right into my story and craft the fiction plot or
nonfiction chapter sequence later. I often attempt to plot in advance but give
up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Do you have a website/blog where readers may learn more
about you and your works?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://whitneystewart.com/">http://whitneystewart.com/</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>What are you working on now?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I spent three years on an international hunt for a German
WWII soldier (my husband’s uncle) who disappeared from the Russian front after
he wrote his last two letters home on January 12, 1945. I was always curious
about this man and could not accept that he faded from life without a trace.
After Hurricane Katrina, I discovered a box of his war letters in an attic of a
flooded house. I went to Germany and Poland three times to follow his last
known days. I even worked with a Polish metal detector expert to dig up
shrapnel and bones in a former WWII battlefield where my soldier fought. I have
learned from the soldier’s letters that he never wanted to fight for the Nazi
government and wanted both sides to put down their guns and let the world leaders
negotiate peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I am now writing a middle grade book that weaves together
the soldier’s story with my story to find him. It will be illustrated with
drawings, old photographs, and war documents. When I have a solid draft, I will
pitch it to publishers.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Where are your books available? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">At online and indie bookstores. I did publish a few
museum press books that are only available now from these museum stores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>What was your experience in looking for a publisher?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">This is always a challenge. It take time, energy,
research, and patience. I used to do all of my own submitting. Now I have a
literary agent who submits my work to publishers. I recommend having a agent in
today’s publishing climate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>What was your experience in working with an illustrator?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">Normally, children’s book writers do not get to choose
their illustrator. The publisher does that. In those situations, I am often
consulted on early drafts of illustrations. I have contributed comments when I
see an inaccurancy in a drawing or when something does not match my text. One
time an illustrator drew a left-handed guitar player, but my character was
right-handed. I caught the mistake that I knew kids would also discover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I have also sent photos of a setting if the illustrator
does not have access to such.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I have been lucky to work with a few friends on
illustrations. I did not tell them how or what to draw. But, if they asked for
my feedback, I exchanged ideas with them. Illustrators rock! I have deep
admiration for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>What type of book promotion works for you? Any special
strategies you’d like to share?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">Marketing is not my strong suit. I am shy about promoting
my books unless I am invited to give a talk. That’s when I have fun because I
love to connect with my readers of any age. I am comfortable talking in public
and prepare well for each talk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I also promote my books on social media, but I prefer to
give talks and let my connection with people help sell my books.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>What advice would you offer aspiring writers?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">Have a thick skin and don’t take things personally. Keep
moving forward. Every rejection is only a challenge to revise your story and
find another publisher. Also, develop a writing habit and discipline, even if
you can only write for an hour a day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">And finally, READ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Who are your favorite authors?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">That’s a tought question, which I answer differently
depending on what I have been reading lately. Some of my favorite children’s
book writers (not complete list) are: Suzanne Fisher Staples, Sally Rippin,
Laurie Halse Anderson, Shaun Tan, Peter Sis, Allen Say, James Cross Giblin,
Marcus Zusak, and Susan Campbell Bartoletti.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>What was your favorite book as a child?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"> and <i>From
the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>What’s your favorite children’s book of all time?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">Impossible question. Sorry. That said, <i>The Book Thief</i> and <i>Owl Moon</i> are definitely at the top
of my list.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>What is the best advice on writing you've ever received?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">Revise. Revise. Revise.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>We hear again and again that picture books are incredibly
difficult to write. Why is that?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I love writing them. But every single word counts,
especially now when word counts are way down for picture books. Finding the
right pacing, element of humor or poignancy, and plot line is very tricky in 14
double-page spread.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>How do you see the future of children’s picture books?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I just read an article, reported by the great Harold
Underdown (<a href="http://www.underdown.org/"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.underdown.org/</span></a>)
who has his finger on the pulse of children’s book publishing, that sales for
children’s books are on the rise and outdid that of adult books in the last
quarter. I think the field will survive the digital age. However, nonfiction
books seem to be more and more limited. That’s a challenge for me because I
love writing nonfiction. I need to rethink the way I write nonfiction so that I
can continue to connect with young readers.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Is there
anything else you’d like to say to our readers?</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">I love
communicating with you. Send me questions and book ideas on my website. Invite
me to your schools and libraries so we can meet. Find me at @whitneystewart2 or
at <a href="http://whitneystewart.com/"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://whitneystewart.com/</span></a>. Or read my
travel series about the hunt for a missing German soldier at <a href="http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/finding-reiner-disaster-to-discovery"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/finding-reiner-disaster-to-discovery</span></a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;">And thanks
for loving books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-14912696620825164852015-03-27T10:35:00.001+01:002015-03-27T10:35:28.081+01:00Book Review: Green Gooey Goop, by Anna C. Morrison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEnrzIq8c_wAcWmhZGJD6smvOuEVhwlnouQjfYmnFKRT9OlpHyeJPLAtRZAZGHandJrQ65rxsNK0ZuBR-kevY0X8QvoPPhsqJOuloeaWymTeTL78aGbRXzUvjJ6Xwhjz6KjKZYBUGRbw/s1600/Green+Gooey+Goop+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEnrzIq8c_wAcWmhZGJD6smvOuEVhwlnouQjfYmnFKRT9OlpHyeJPLAtRZAZGHandJrQ65rxsNK0ZuBR-kevY0X8QvoPPhsqJOuloeaWymTeTL78aGbRXzUvjJ6Xwhjz6KjKZYBUGRbw/s1600/Green+Gooey+Goop+banner.jpg" height="158" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Title</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: Green Gooey Goop</span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Author</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: Anna C. Morrison</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Publisher</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>: </b>Green Gooey Goop</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Pages</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>:</b>16</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Genre</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>: </b>Children’s Picture Book</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Format</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>: </b>Paperback/Kindle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Find out more on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Gooey-Goop-Anna-Morrison/dp/1616335432" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Book Description:</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A little girl is
presented with a different sort of a meal when her mom serves her green gooey
goop. Interesting and icky ingredients appear one by one as the little girl
decides what's in this noxious-smelling concoction. The little girl creates a
flood, and her dog's fur turns green. Suggested age range for readers: 0-8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>My thoughts...</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I know from experience that young children laugh at icky, smelly, disgusting things...and for this reason they'll enjoy <i>Green Gooey Goop, </i>especially if the parent or other adult reads it to them in a funny voice and with the right beat. The verses have a nice rhythm and the pictures are humorous and quite green, of course! In general, I think this is a cute picture book. The only thing I found disappointing is that it finishes quite abruptly. From an adult's perspective, I was expecting the story to continue and reach some sort of conclusion, but it just ended. From a kid's perspective, I suspect they'll enjoy what happens to the girl's dog. Recommended for a fun read aloud time with kids.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Anna C. Morrison is
an author of children’s books, including <i>Silly Moments</i> and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Gooey-Goop-Anna-Morrison/dp/1616335432/ref=la_B00PRL2TXI_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420329732&sr=1-1">Green
Gooey Goop</a></i>, with many more to follow.
She is also an adjunct professor for multiple colleges and universities,
both face-to-face and online. While she
instructs various levels of English composition, she also teaches classes on
literature, film, feature writing, and technical writing, among others. In addition, she has worked with Adapt
Courseware as a writing consultant on three video course projects, including
college skills and composition. Anna
received her MFA in Writing from Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky,
and her BA in English, Creative Writing, from California State University, San
Bernardino. Anna is an active member of
SCBWI and is available for book signings.
She lives in <st1:place w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place> with
her family and pets.</span><span lang="EN-US">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For More Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Visit Anna C. Morrison’s <a href="http://www.annacmorrison.com/">website</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Connect with Anna on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorannacmorrison">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/annacmorrison">Twitter</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Find out more about Anna
at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9385634-anna">Goodreads</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li>
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-64742781227106135212015-03-16T14:16:00.001+01:002015-03-16T14:16:40.392+01:00Guest post: "The Importance of Believing in Yourself" by Irene S. Roth, author of 'Seasons of Empowerment for Adolescent Girls'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dGAiUsQhfV1n0qfE-M77e5QF68R9K86Or1lYVDNh0bhLeij3wPtk4KnuOwu5un5WB0h1bqA4akNgfd6wJ7BYHYIUFB1XCtLjldgKdzV0e_uMQOmnKMYikLCEGt4kZ4VSuvwZ-PSkHpg/s1600/Seasons+of+Adolescents.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dGAiUsQhfV1n0qfE-M77e5QF68R9K86Or1lYVDNh0bhLeij3wPtk4KnuOwu5un5WB0h1bqA4akNgfd6wJ7BYHYIUFB1XCtLjldgKdzV0e_uMQOmnKMYikLCEGt4kZ4VSuvwZ-PSkHpg/s1600/Seasons+of+Adolescents.png" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Following-through and being diligent can help a writer be a
lot more in control of their writing career and projects. Are you plagued by fears when you write? Are
you always wondering whether you are working on the right project or performing
at your optimal level? Do you always
second-guess yourself to the point where you stop to write and answer email or
do anything but write?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> If you answered any
of these questions in the affirmative, you are probably a fearful writer. I believe that writers who are fearful lack
self-confidence, and when they build up their self-confidence, they will be
much more fearless. It is hard to be productive and enjoy writing when you are
constantly harassed by negative thoughts and feelings about your ability. What you need is to become tranquil and
peaceful in order to do your best writing. And you can do this with a bit of
practise and a change of mindset. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> One of the best
ways to assuage your fears as a writer is to not let them overwhelm you during
your scheduled writing time. Yes, I know this is easier said than done, but
here are a few relatively easy things that you can do to change your mindset. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Know which project you want to work on before you sit down to
write. This way you won’t have to keep guessing what you have to do. Try to
complete all of your goals for the day as you scheduled them. This will give
you the self-confidence that you need to develop self-confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Have a long range plan and vision for your writing
career. After a few of the writers in my
local critique group reflected on their vision and wrote it down they have had
very few fears since when they sit down to write. Sometimes knowing where you
are going in your writing career and having goals, both short and long-term,
can make such a huge difference for your self-confidence as a writer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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all distractions, such as phones and cell phones as well as the internet if
possible. If your computer is connected to the internet, turn it off until <i>after you have done your writing!</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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connect with your center by closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths.
This will center you and allow you to do your best writing. In addition, you
will feel a lot more fearless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By taking these steps, you can become a much more fearless
and self-confident writer. And once you become a more self-confident writer,
you will be very productive and happy. And you will also look forward to your
writing time. All you need is a change of mindset from passive to proactive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Following-through
is making sure that you believe in yourself. And believing in yourself can be
made quite easy. All of you have to do is take the steps that I have outlined
above. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://thestorybehindthebook.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/roth.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #117bb8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: dotted thin; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Roth" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2719" height="300" src="https://thestorybehindthebook.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/roth.jpg?w=225&h=300" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 20px auto; max-width: 100%;" width="225" /></a></strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR</strong><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
Irene S. Roth is an academic and freelance writer for teens, tweens and kids. She has written over 500 book reviews and 1,000 online articles on different topics for teens, tweens, and about the craft of writing. She also teaches workshops on writing and craft at Savvy Authors. She lives in Stratford, Ontario with her husband and cat. Visit her at <a href="https://irenesroth.wordpress.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #117bb8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://irenesroth.wordpress.com/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ABOUT HER BOOK</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
In <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Seasons of Empowerment for Adolescent Girls</em>, Ms. Roth argues that there are four seasons of empowerment for adolescent girls. Sadly no adolescent girl can simply wake up one day, snap her fingers, and be empowered to tackle the world and all the forces that exist inside and outside. Becoming empowered to be who we are can be truly difficult. This book consists of a step-by-step guide to help adolescent girls achieve self-improvement.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Purchase at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seasons-Empowerment-Adolescent-Girls-Irene/dp/161244122X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426016861&sr=1-1&keywords=seasons+of+empowerment+for+adolescent+girls" style="border: 0px; color: #117bb8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amazon</a></strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-36632187457890070962015-02-22T13:58:00.001+01:002015-02-22T13:58:37.325+01:00Book Review: Olive and the Great Flood, by Connie Arnold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvqtq9FxVBvu29Lh0-EzAHlaNb4NP2MMbIq1Y8Vv5oDUzjn_06QdETpk5WwxOHR9cS9aT5QemGBjo_AaEXMGMwfTxQCkM-M4fu97GKsFcUm7canJzHtHC8RH2tw5JwRyOgq-qv9Bt7QM/s1600/Olive+and+the+Great+Flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvqtq9FxVBvu29Lh0-EzAHlaNb4NP2MMbIq1Y8Vv5oDUzjn_06QdETpk5WwxOHR9cS9aT5QemGBjo_AaEXMGMwfTxQCkM-M4fu97GKsFcUm7canJzHtHC8RH2tw5JwRyOgq-qv9Bt7QM/s1600/Olive+and+the+Great+Flood.jpg" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
<b>Book description:</b><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><i>Olive is a gentle, friendly dove who wants to help her friend Noah, his family and the other animals with her on the ark. She tries to soothe them during the rain and has an important assignment, to discover when it's safe to venture from the ark after the flood. Suggested age range for readers: 4-8</i></span><br />
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<b>My thoughts...</b><br />
<br />
This is a lovely picture book to read and enjoy. In her simple, lyrical language, most appropriate for young children, talented children's author Connie Arnold tells the story of Noah, his Ark, and the Flood. At the heart of it is Olive, the beautiful dove, who has a most important job to do in this already most important tale. The tone is calming and peaceful, making this book not only educational but also perfect as a bedtime story. I really enjoyed the colorful illustrations by Kathleen Bullock. They really fit and suit the story. Children will have fun pointing out all the animals both in the Arc and under the seas. I truly recommend this delightful picture book for young children!<br />
<br />
Purchase from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Olive-Great-Flood-Connie-Arnold/dp/1616335920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423524873&sr=8-1&keywords=olive+and+the+great+flood+connie+arnold" target="_blank">Amazon </a>and <a href="http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/olive.htm" target="_blank">Guardian Angel Publishing</a><br />
<br />
Visit the author's website at: <a href="http://childrenbooks.webs.com/" target="_blank">http://childrenbooks.webs.com </a>Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-88323157812061179572015-02-16T09:25:00.001+01:002015-02-16T09:25:38.627+01:00Excerpt and Cover Reveal: 'Super Bad' by Kai Strand <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Watch out. Things are about to get really bad</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Excerpt from <b><i>Super Bad</i></b>:</div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">The classroom door opened and Sandra glanced toward it, along with
the thirty other kids in the room. She snickered and raised her eyebrows at
Lexa when a young man wearing a Hermes costume, complete with wings fluttering
on his heels, floated in.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">“I’m not gonna lie,” Lexa leaned over to whisper. “I hope a draft
lifts his skirt so we can see what’s underneath.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Sandra giggled. “My guess is bun huggers. Gold lame to match his
shiny winged cap.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Lexa waggled her eyebrows. “Shiny gold buns. I like.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">The teacher frowned at the young man. “Can I help you?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">“I have a delivery for Sandra Tohler.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Sandra gulped. This couldn’t be anything besides embarrassing. A
tidal wave of heads turned toward her causing her cheeks to flush with heat.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Seeing where everyone’s attention settled, the Hermes guy floated
between the rows of desks and came to rest near hers. “Sandra Tohler?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Reluctantly, she nodded.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">He cleared his throat before delivering a soliloquy in a clear,
resonating voice that Sandra was sure the students in classrooms across campus
would hear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 21.55pt;">“Sandra, oh Sandra, my lovely, stormy vixen,
hear my humble plea. Your essence has absorbed into my every thought and now I
wonder how I will sit for my exams. Will I answer essay questions by describing
the intense sable color of your hair, or the enticing moss of your eyes that
makes me imagine us lying in each others arms in a fairy forest?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">Sandra’s forehead hit her desk with a loud thunk, her voice a mumble
against the surface. “Please stop. Go away.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">But the Hermes guy continued in his orator’s voice. “I’ve relived
our kiss uncountable times. Your lips were velvet soft, but demanding.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 21.55pt;">A chorus of “Ooo,” erupted through the room.</span></div>
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<b><i>SUPER BAD</i></b><i> The unexpected conclusion to the
Super Villain Academy series.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNYrNMRAJcnpQgiFYSmaGy1b0ezF78lx-p7Rl-TcQ1Ntte00ysvQM1OsHaQwkZK33g3mTLIdOJrBnJKI8MZoF4_WuGjp-dufpUcM1HVPc7A0luYdtNOr-HHyLpRi4I7XaOQp2wEio_nWi/s1600/SuperBadcover-FinalA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNYrNMRAJcnpQgiFYSmaGy1b0ezF78lx-p7Rl-TcQ1Ntte00ysvQM1OsHaQwkZK33g3mTLIdOJrBnJKI8MZoF4_WuGjp-dufpUcM1HVPc7A0luYdtNOr-HHyLpRi4I7XaOQp2wEio_nWi/s1600/SuperBadcover-FinalA.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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The world is in chaos. Violence and thievery reign. And with
the supers still balanced, it’s only getting worse. Without good versus evil,
the supers care less and less. In order to restore purpose, the world needs its
super heroes and its super villains, but the one who balanced them in the first
place is missing.</div>
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Sandra’s concern over finding her brother, Jeff, isn’t her
only problem. Her pathetic excuse for super powers has left her needing a new
ankle. And though she’s still very much committed to her boyfriend, Source,
she’s growing unreasonably attracted to Set, the boy who double crossed Jeff by
stealing his girlfriend. </div>
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When Sandra is taken and held as bait by kids who want to
unbalance the super world, it becomes the inciting event that changes things
for supers everywhere and forces them to answer the question, “Hero or
villain?”</div>
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***</div>
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Super Bad is scheduled for release in June, but there have been whispers
of it releasing sooner. Don’t miss out. Subscribe to Kai’s <a href="http://eepurl.com/n8lCT" target="_blank">mailing list</a> and be
among the first to know. </div>
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***</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvvVM4On7RxTiQHJyuxmjNtrplcaB0MH7RlJC1Tc_QdhwNcAp9OAK1N-YTOA5OAW9n2A_VFXXuiXYz4oBFRa_W2IkzgAMdpqs5JjnOmL-euOXO2MS7T2SxHvZo8foITCzQm3RVs_6D_lo/s1600/SVA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvvVM4On7RxTiQHJyuxmjNtrplcaB0MH7RlJC1Tc_QdhwNcAp9OAK1N-YTOA5OAW9n2A_VFXXuiXYz4oBFRa_W2IkzgAMdpqs5JjnOmL-euOXO2MS7T2SxHvZo8foITCzQm3RVs_6D_lo/s1600/SVA.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQGA6MW/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1N5D669JWJ92YG79QJ78&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846" target="_blank">King of Bad</a> - </span><span lang="EN-AU">Jeff Mean would rather set fires than follow rules. He wears his bad
boy image like a favorite old hoodie; until he learns he has superpowers and is
recruited by Super Villain Academy – where you learn to be good at being bad.
Is Jeff bad enough for SVA?</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Minngs"; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Opposites-Super-Villain-Academy-ebook/dp/B00KPLR2PK/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401978357&sr=1-5&keywords=polar+opposites" target="_blank">Polar Opposites</a> - Heroes and villains are balanced.
After Oceanus is kidnapped, Jeff learns the supers are so balanced, they no
longer care to get involved. Ironically Jeff’s superpowers are spiraling out of
control. Will they find Oci before he looses it completely, and will they find
her alive?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">***</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Win a $10 Amazon gift card or an ecopy of either King
of Bad or Polar Opposites. Plenty of chances to win. Open internationally. Enter
here:</span><br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="e650cb7718" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e650cb7718/" id="rcwidget_19rj628q" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQxPAAvSlqZinoMPMfBQxMk3Xg-RuGqiVLGKC6AMHmXznsU7ARXlEajJDtRSc42UIgHiL3B2OksGGExkSUvLTJVT79vzjMoMJiJ7e6i-v8_DCfXUCBQAYBD7zys-B2x7P6-_KNTEDIJTM/s1600/Kai+Strand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQxPAAvSlqZinoMPMfBQxMk3Xg-RuGqiVLGKC6AMHmXznsU7ARXlEajJDtRSc42UIgHiL3B2OksGGExkSUvLTJVT79vzjMoMJiJ7e6i-v8_DCfXUCBQAYBD7zys-B2x7P6-_KNTEDIJTM/s1600/Kai+Strand.JPG" height="200" width="165" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">About the author:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">When
her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her
family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her
boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died. The end.” Now an
award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to
provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for
young adult and middle grade readers and short stories for the younger ones,
Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults. Learn more about Kai and
her books on her website, <a href="http://www.kaistrand.com/">www.kaistrand.com</a>.</span>Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839293315798994098.post-70897868388628014642015-02-10T19:14:00.002+01:002015-02-10T19:14:47.567+01:00Interview with Alinka Rutkowska, Author of ‘Cinderella’s Secret Slipper’<br />
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://blogcritics.org/wp-content/uploads/bcimages/2015/02/alinka_cartoon_low-Version-2.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img alt="alinka_cartoon_low - Version 2" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5428095" height="300" scale="0" src="http://blogcritics.org/wp-content/uploads/bcimages/2015/02/alinka_cartoon_low-Version-2-292x300.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(203, 205, 204); display: inline; float: left; height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 2px 8px 3px 3px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 4px;" width="292" /></a></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://alinkarutkowska.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;">Alinka Rutkowska</a> is an award-winning and best-selling author and coach who’s been featured </span>on Fox Business Network, the Examiner, She Knows, She Writes, Blog Talk Radio, The Writer’s Life and many more. She’s here today to talk about her latest children’s picture book, <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Cinderella’s Secret Slipper</em>.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Welcome to Blogcritics, Alinka! Congratulations on the release of your latest picture book,<em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Cinderella’s Secret Slipper</em>. When did you start writing and what got you into children’s books? </strong></div>
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Thank you. I’ve been writing since I remember. One of my most notable achievements as a school girl was founding the second school newspaper. There already was one, but I thought it needed some healthy competition. That got me into the writing and publishing world very early on, and I have loved it ever since.</div>
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I’ve always loved children’s books, but I only wrote my first one when I took a break from the corporate world to travel around the world. I then had more time to get in touch with myself and to understand what I really wanted to do in life – and that’s to have the privilege to shape young readers’ minds through my stories.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Tell us a bit about <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Cinderella’s Secret Slipper</em>. </strong></div>
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<em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Cinderella’s Secret Slipper</em> tells the story of our favorite princess while she’s living her “happily ever after.” She’s a mom and has some real-life problems like her son smashing one of her favorite glass slippers against the wall. Since it’s the only glass pair she has and she’s very nostalgic about it (after all she was wearing it when she first met her husband!), she’s on a quest of putting the slipper back together again, which turns out to be quite challenging.</div>
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The early reviewers really appreciated the “real-life” aspect of the story and very much enjoyed the humor.</div>
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Writing the story was challenging, as it’s completely different from my “Maya & Filippo” series, which focuses on world-travel and profound messages. <em style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Cinderella’s Secret Slipper</em> is shorter, lighter and funnier. It’s main aim is to entertain, but the insightful reader will find a profound message in it as well, it’s just very subtle.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What was your inspiration for it? </strong></div>
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I love classic fairy tales, and I know that when they end with “and they lived happily ever after,” they don’t really end. There’s so much more to tell and I’m fascinated by it!</div>
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I also got much more tuned into what my audience wants and this seemed to be a perfect fit. Now that the pre-release reviews are out, it makes me very happy to see that my readers are delighted with this story.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What is your writing process like? </strong></div>
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I usually come up with an idea and write it down in my “drafts” folder. Then I let it marinate in my head for a while. At a certain point I feel like I have to let it out and pour it all onto paper. Then I read it, change a few things and move on to something else.</div>
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After a while I read it again and again and again… change a lot of things and send it off to my critique group. If it comes back with positive feedback and<a href="http://blogcritics.org/wp-content/uploads/bcimages/2015/02/Cinderella-Cover.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;"><img alt="Cinderella Cover" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5428096" height="300" scale="0" src="http://blogcritics.org/wp-content/uploads/bcimages/2015/02/Cinderella-Cover-300x300.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(203, 205, 204); display: inline; float: right; height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 2px 3px 3px 8px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 4px;" width="300" /></a>some minor improvement suggestions (as opposed to “flush it down the toilet”), I edit the story again and if I’m satisfied, I send it to my editor. We toss it to each other back and forth, and then the illustrator gets the manuscript.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">How was your experience working with an illustrator?</strong></div>
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I’ve been working with the same illustrator since book one, and he’s created the artwork for 15 of my titles. It was love at first sight. He liked the idea of my books when we first talked about it, created a few drafts, which I loved and we’ve been working happily ever after.</div>
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I usually just send him the story, and when he sends it back the illustrations are perfect 95% of the time. If I want a change, there’s never a problem.</div>
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My readers have paid me many compliments for the artwork, which makes me very happy. I have had offers from other illustrators, but when they came back with their drafts I just couldn’t imagine having those illustrations in my book. I wouldn’t feel like the book is “mine” anymore.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What was your publishing process like? </strong></div>
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I publish all my books independently. I really enjoy the speed of the process and the control I have over all aspects. I’ve also learnt a lot about publishing and feel like I don’t need a traditional publisher. However, I have a lot of respect for traditional publishers and have sold rights to 16 of my titles to traditional publishers abroad.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What has writing for children taught you? </strong></div>
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Writing picture books is very different from writing any other fiction. Since the expected word count is around 600, writing for children taught me brevity. I learnt to hook the reader from the very first sentence, create a compelling story that draws the reader in, have him on the edge of his seat wondering if the main character will ever solve his problem and then create a climax and often a surprising ending.</div>
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This has to be done in around 600 words, which is less than half of this interview, so it’s quite challenging. I learnt to weigh every word for its life and cut off anything that doesn’t move the story forward.</div>
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Writing for children is both an art and a science!</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What do you know now that you didn’t know when you published your first book?</strong></div>
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So much! I’ve always been a nerd with my nose in books, and that hasn’t changed much, only now my nose is also in online articles and courses, so I learn new things every single day.</div>
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I’ve learnt plenty about book marketing, optimizing my books’ metadata for online sales, getting reviews, selling in bulk, foreign publishing deals and much more. This has allowed me to create a business helping other authors.</div>
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I’ve also attended several events for authors and made connections that led to opportunities I haven’t even dreamt of.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What do you find most challenging about book marketing? </strong></div>
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I graduated in management and marketing but that’s very different from book marketing online! My degree did give me the confidence that I should be able to do this though <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" scale="0" src="http://blogcritics.org/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" style="border: 0px none; height: auto; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /> But it’s the confidence that allows me to move on, not the degree.</div>
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Book marketing is such a broad subject, and the landscape keeps changing so quickly that the most challenging thing is to keep up and to be able to identify the things that work for you. That’s why it’s important to test and understand where most of your results are coming from.</div>
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There are many avenues to success and also success means different things for different people but the important thing is to focus on those marketing strategies that bring you what you want to achieve.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">How do you celebrate the completion of a book? </strong></div>
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Ha! I don’t think I do because it’s never really complete. When I’m done with the first draft, there are many edits to come. When I have the final manuscript, it needs to be illustrated. When I have the illustrations, the book needs to be put together. When it’s ready, I wait for the proof to come.</div>
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When I see the physical proof I get really excited, and I always carry it around with me because I love to look at it. While I keep admiring my proof, I prepare the launch of my book. While the book is being launched, I’m already thinking about other promotional campaigns and about other books.</div>
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So I guess the only time I really celebrate is when I go to one of those award ceremonies and get a medal. While it’s hanging on my neck and gently swaying as I move around the room and make new connections, I feel really blissful but I’m not sure if that beats what I feel when that first proof comes in the envelope.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What do you love most about the writer’s life? </strong></div>
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The freedom. I worked in big multinational companies before, and while I had great positions and a lot of visibility I was just one little part of a huge machine. And in the end, I had to do what was expected of me.</div>
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With book writing and publishing I have much more control, flexibility, I make my own decisions and I do it when I want to. The difference is huge.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">What is your advice for aspiring children’s authors? </strong></div>
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Just do it. I know that at the beginning you will be very focused on the writing and you will have no author platform and no marketing experience, but that’s just how it works. We all had to start, and you will eventually learn to do many of the things you need to know to succeed.</div>
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Experience comes with practice, and if you are passionate about what you’re doing, that passion will take you places.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Anything else you’d like to tell my readers? </strong></div>
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I’d like to give them some presents! If you enjoy children’s picture books, I’d like to give you a free copy from my award-winning collection – go grab it here: <a href="http://alinkarutkowska.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;">http://alinkarutkowska.com</a>.</div>
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I have something special for authors as well, it’s my “200 Book Marketing Tips” ebook, which you can download for free at <a href="http://alinkarutkowska.com/authors-home/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px none; color: #940a0a; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;">http://alinkarutkowska.com/authors-home/</a>.</div>
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Thank you!</div>
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<i>My interview with the author originally appeared in <a href="http://blogcritics.org/interview-alinka-rutkowska-author-of-cinderellas-secret-slipper/" target="_blank">Blogcritics Magazine</a>.</i></div>
Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com2