Of Thoughts and Words

Catch Fire Blog Party!!! Join the Fun!!!

2012-02-28T01:00:00.003-08:00

Today is the Catch Fire Blog Party, celebrating the release of CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar.

There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour starting Feb 27th till Mar 9th. Twitterbugs can join in the fun on twitter using the hashtag #CatchFire. See Alex’s site for details.

And now, Alex shares with us a few fun facts about himself and his book! :)

So Alex, what inspired the titles of your book?

I really have no idea where the title for CassaStar originated! And yes, it is the original title. (My publisher selected the title for CassaFire, so that was no flash of brilliance on my part.) Cassa is Byron’s home world, but not sure why I placed the word star after it. Could be something as lame as copying Battlestar Galactica!

Who is your favorite character in the book? Why?

It would have to be Byron, or I wouldn’t continue to follow him in the stories. He was rough at first, but he grew on me. Although there will always something special about Bassa. The incidents surrounding that character were the hardest to write.

Who is your all-time sf hero? why?

Always liked John Sheppard from Stargate: Atlantis. He’s brave, looks after his people, and has a great sense of humor. Really like Mal Reynolds from Firefly as well.

CassaFire
by Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

Barnes and Noble -
Amazon -
Amazon Kindle -

Check out the trailer for CassaFire:

Picture Book Friday: Around Our Way On Neighbors' Day

2012-02-24T01:11:00.003-08:00

Title: Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day

Author: Tameka Fryer Brown

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 08/01/2010

Suitable for: ages 4 – 8 years

Themes/Topics: neighborhood appreciation, neighbors, friendship, multicultural, diversity

Opening:

“Blue sky, no clouds, Summer heat, side street, Whirling, whizzing feet. Everyone is out to play Today, around our way…”

Synopsis:

Neighbors gather on a hot summer day for a joyful block party: Kids play double Dutch; men debate at the barber shop and play chess; mothers and aunts cook up oxtail stew, collard greens, and other delicious treats; and friends dance and sway as jazz floats through the streets.

A rhythmic tale that celebrates the diversity of a close-knit community, Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day will excite readers and prompt them to discover the magic of their own special surroundings.

Links to resources:

Activity Guide for the Book.

Classroom Applications

Worksheets

Why I like this book:

It is so nice to see a book that shows a positive image of a diverse urban neighborhood. Ms Brown really did a wonderful job making this a fun and rhythmic story. The words danced and bounced on the page right along with the illustrations. I really liked how I was introduced to everyone on the block and allowed to partake in the different activities! I cracked up when all was fine and dandy until mama’s kitchen mishap! I guess the book reminded me of the good ole days when community was everything. Everyone came together to share in good times. Another great thing about this book is, it can be used in the classroom year round! Its applications are diverse. It can be used to study poetry, foster or enhance a discussion on diversity, encourage community both in and outside the classroom, types of art, and so much more.

For a complete list of books with resources that engage, educate and entertain, visit the blog of author Susanna L Hill.

Author Interview + Book Giveaway: Open Minds by Susan

2012-02-23T00:08:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone! Happy Thursday! Time for another great interview and introduction. I would love for you all to meet Susan Kaye Quinn!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a former rocket scientist and engineer, but now I write middle grade and young adult novels because I love writing even more than shiny tech gadgets. Which is saying something. I’m the author of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) and Life, Liberty, and Pursuit (a teen love story), as well as a couple short stories in anthologies.

What were your earliest memories of writing?

I remember writing a rather disturbing story about a soldier from the Vietnam War in 6^th grade. Lucky for me, my teachers handed me more paper, rather than making an appointment with the school psychologist. J

Were you encouraged to write or was it something that came natural?

Writing stories was natural, and I’m sure my mom encouraged me, but my brother was really the writing talent in the family (I was the geek following in my father’s engineering footsteps).

What was the inspiration behind Open Minds?

The idea really came in a flash image of a girl sitting in a room filled with mindreaders, only she couldn’t read minds and was painfully isolated. Originally, I had no idea the story was about mindjackers! But that eventually grew out of that initial scene.

What was the most difficult part of writing this story?

The first draft was completely organic … which is to say that the structure of the story was very, well, saggy. It took many revisions (and some complete rewriting) to get it structurally sound.

Did you have a particular scene that you enjoyed writing the most?

I fall in love with the turning point scenes – where the tension and drama are highest. I literally have dreams about those scenes! In Open Minds, the warehouse scene was one of those. And that one scene in the desert (if you’ve read it, you know what I mean; if you haven’t, I won’t spoil it for you).

What has been your most rewarding experience since being published?

The best part, by far, is people telling me that they’ve enjoyed the story – that they’ve dreamed about the characters! Or created fan art! Or just written a really amazing, three-paragraph review. There’s a saying that the writing experience isn’t complete until someone reads the work. That’s very true for me, and it’s endlessly fascinating to me to hear all the different ways that the story resonates with people.

What do you do when you’re not writing or promoting your books?

Reading. Momming. Wife-ing. Yup, that’s about it.

How do you react to a bad review and have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

I strongly believe reviews are for readers, not writers, and help people find stories they will enjoy. Which isn’t to say that I don’t read them! J But I know that my story won’t be to everyone’s taste, and that’s fine with me. It’s part of all the different ways that people relate to the story. As for writer’s block, I don’t get it. The closest I come is when I’m wrestling with a plot point, but I usually just pound away at it until it surrenders. And then write on. J

What author inspires you the most and why?

I just finished Goliath (the third book in the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld). Westerfeld is some kind of writer genius. His descriptions are concise and gorgeous, his characters wildly compelling, his inventions and creativity are crazy awesome. Someday, when I grow up, I want to be him. Never mind that he’s an over-six-foot, slightly red-haired part-time Australian male (part-time Australian, not part-time male). Somehow, I’m going to make that happen.

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding writing schedules, goals, etc.?

I write when my three boys are in school, and I’m very strict about that. I don’t get together with other stay-at-home moms for tea (during that time). I don’t shop. I don’t do chores. That’s my working time, and if I’m not focused on writing, I’m losing precious moments, because the rest of my day is very family focused.

What advice you would give to new writers?

Just write. Write every day. Write a LOT. Crank out words. Then study (hard!) the bestselling authors that you love. Tear those books apart into pieces and put them back together until you understand how they worked their magic. And never stop pushing your craft forward.

Thank you so much for doing this for me Susan!

Thank you for having me!

Would you like a chance to read this highly recommended book? Win an e-copy of Open Minds! Fill out the form below. Don't forget to visit Susan's website for more info about her and her books!!

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RAK Giveaway Winner!!!

2012-02-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

And the winner of the giveaway hop is .................

Kayla Black and The Providence House!

Thank you Kayla. will be donated to The Providence House. Providence House works to help homeless families with children shed the bonds of extreme poverty and homelessness. For more information about the organization check out their website here. I love the quote on their website:

"You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." ~John Bunyan

I hope we all one day be able to say we have truly lived! :) Have a great week everyone!

Teaser Tuesday (12) Wonder Struck by Brian Selznick

2012-02-21T22:11:00.000-08:00

This week's teaser will be from a book I am reading, Wonder Struck by Brian Selznick. I read his first book, The Invention of Hugo Caberet and loved it. A friend loaned me both books. the illustrations in the books are just amazing. I have never read a novel that was filled with illustrations that complimented the story the way his does and in the manner that it does!

Ben hadn't realized how tightly he'd been gripping the seashell turtle until he felt it digging into his skin. He almost cried out, but he caught himself, not wanting to wake up Robby again.

That's when Ben noticed something very strange. In the black silhouette of his house, eighty-three steps away, a light had come on. The curtains in his mom's room glowed a bright yellow.

Ben stared in disbelief.

Monday Muse: hate falling behind!!

2012-02-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!! How are you this fine Monday morning? I love having the day off :) There is so much I need to get done today that I have to carry around a to-do list with me just to stay on track! Needless to say, I am way behind on checking of all the things that need to get done today! :( I hate being behind on schedules! :/

So, first things first! I would like to announce the winner of the Rukhsana Khan author + book giveaway!

............................. and the winner is .............................

!!!!!! Marybelle !!!!!

Congratulations Marybelle. I will be contacting you soon for your mailing address so I can get your book to you :)

Next on the agenda. It's a book party!!! On Feb 28th, we are going to Catch Fire!!! Alex J Cavanaugh is celebrating the release of his newest book CassaFire with a blog party. Starting on the 22nd join the blog tour as CassaFire makes its way through the blogosphere! Be sure to stop by and learn some fun facts about Alex's book title, his favorite character in his book and his favorite sf hero!

Lastly, I can seriously use some insight on how to keep my writing on time!!! What do you do stick to writing schedules and deadline?

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Moon Watchers by Reza Jalali

2012-02-17T01:21:00.000-08:00

Title: Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle

Author: Reza Jalali

Publisher: Tilbury House, May 11. 2010

Suitable for: 6 and up

Themes/Topics: Cultures, Family traditions, Religious holidays, Sibling rivalry, Fasting, Ramadan, Making ethical decisions.

Opening: I lean up against my father as the sky gets darker around us. Way above our heads, tiny stars start to appear. We search for the new moon.

Synopsis: Looking through the tall trees in their backyard in Maine, Shirin and her dad search for a glimpse of the new moon, the sign that the month of Ramadan has begun. Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the world pray, fast, and pay special attention to doing good deeds. Shirin is nine and thinks she should be able to fast like her older brother Ali, but her parents feel she is still too young to go without food and water all day. When Shirin catches Ali sneaking food after school, she wonders: Should she tattle or is this an opportunity for a good deed? Shirin feels left out when the others break their fasts to have their own meals after dark and in the early morning, before it is light again. But then her grandmother tells a story that shows her a way she can feel more a part of Ramadan and the traditions and closeness her family enjoys during this special month of the year. Her good deeds result in a surprise for everyone!

Links to resources:

The publisher offers a wonderful lesson plan with resources to go along with Moon Watchers. Some activities include: How to make one of Shirin’s favorite dish, Persian rice, Make a Ramadan Mosaic Sun Catcher, Moon watching, lots of discussion related topics and more.

Why I like this book:

Muslims around the globe observe Ramadan, from Africa, Asia, the Americas and across Europe and Australia. Moon Watchers is the story of an Iranian family and how they observe the month in their home in the US. It reflects Iranian culture beautifully and accurately. Growing up I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a couple of Ramadans with an Iranian family during their stay here. The family had children the same ages as my two younger sisters and me. This story brought back quite of few good memories of sleepovers and Iftars (the dinner meal) and grand Eids (End of Ramadan festival) and gifts.

Shirin is your average Muslim child in every Muslim household during the month of Ramadan. She wants to partake in the holiday and fast with the rest of the family. Her problem? She is too young. Most families restrict their young children from fasting until they are old enough to understand what fasting is. But like every little Muslim child I know, Shirin doesn’t think that is hardly any ‘real’ reason why she can’t fast like all the big people, including her older brother, Ali. The story touches on something EVERY child goes through, wanting to partake in family traditions and rituals. It doesn’t matter whether its Ramadan, Christmas, Deepavali or Hanukah, children want to be a part of the festivities. Another universal theme of the book is sibling rivalry. What child has NOT had to deal with that! I have two younger sisters and two older brothers!! :D I love that the story ends with Ali, Shirin’s older brother being nice to her and that she keeps his secret. The story begins with sighting the moon, which is very important to Muslims. The new moon signals the beginning and end of the month. I love that the moon remains a part of the story. The illustrations beautifully capture the feel and warmth of the family and their traditions. From their prayer rugs, traditional dishes and religious artifacts and my favorite, the picture of the “hundreds of tiny silvery pieces.” There aren’t hundreds of pieces but the illustration is beautiful!!! J

The story also highlights the many aspects of Ramadan, fasting and doing good deeds, something I feel is lacking in many religious holidays where consumerism is pushed rather than the more spiritual aspect of the holiday like being and doing good for others, family and community. Shirin learns that doing good things for others is just as important and apart of Ramadan as is the fasting. I also found that it accurately reflected the physical state of most people who fast, tiredness, the caffeine withdrawal for the coffee and tea drinkers, jitters for smokers, and more. Personally, I am a habitual snacker. If it is in the house, I snack. During the first week of Ramadan I almost always have to catch myself from just popping something in my mouth because it is there!

For kids just starting out fasting, cheating is natural. They are not used to the hunger. I don’t know of any person who fasted as a kid and did not grab something while no one was looking!!! LOL! I love that Ali is not scolded in the story. Not even by his little sister gets on him about cheating during the fast. I remember once when I was around eleven or twelve, we were at a park and I told my mom I was hot and wanted to put some water on my face! Ha, water on my face indeed! (In my defense, it WAS a hot day :D) but I know my mom knew better as I went many, many times to that water fountain. But you know, that is how kids learn, over the years, I fought that urge and at age 15 fasting was no longer hard for me. So, don’t worry Ali, you will get there one day!! ;)

Random Acts of Kindness Day Giveaway

2012-02-16T22:51:00.000-08:00

Friday, February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day.

Thanks to I am a reader, not a writer and Read for you Future for hosting this wonderful blog hop. Here on Of Thoughts and Words we will donate one book of your choice to any children's organization that promotes education, reading and a safe haven for children in need. We will also send a monetary donation of $10 dollars to the organization on your behalf. Please fill out the form below.
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Be sure to hop along to all of the participating blogs. :) Happy Hopping!!! :)

Monday Muse: Cavalia!!!

2012-02-13T01:01:00.000-08:00

Cavalia was AMAZING!!!!! I was floored by the performance.

I loved horses. And I love the fact that the horses really were the stars of the show. They were beautiful and majestic. I am so sad we could not take pics during the performance. :(

I loved the music. The music was awesome, they had a live band to perform to :)

I loved performances. There were horse tricks and fancy horse riding like roman riding. There were acrobatics that were really nice, cute, and very talented. However, the performances I loved the most were the ones where the horses got to be free on the stage performing along side their human partners. I learned quite a few facts about the show and horses. For one, they only use male horses in their shows. The horses are well cared for and treated like rock stars. They get vacations between shows, massages, and so much more.

I loved that after the show, I got to go see the horses in their stables. :D Most of them were pretty busy eating to care for all their fans but it was fun watching them and their trainers care for them.

This here is one of two of the newest and youngest horses they have added to the show. At the beginning and end of the show, they let this young colt and his playmate out to play and entertain us for a little bit.

This is the only mini horse they had. He had all of one minute in the end of the show when all the horse came out riding pass us at lightning speed.

Poor horse, he was sleeping as his fans gathered around to look at him. The show must have worn him out.

These horses did not let a few spectators disturb their meal time!!! :D

FOOD!!! But look at the braiding on this horse :)

Another one with great hair. I think the trainers braid their hair at night because it was not like this during the show.

Horse getting his hair done. I'm so jealous!

FINALLY!!! I got one to notice me and look at my camera! Another thing I was sad about, they would let us touch the horses :( I so wanted to pet him.

Yay, another horse noticed me and looked at my camera. :D

Horse and trainer.

Some photo canvases they had on display

More photos of the horses.

One of the stable tents.

Stable tents. I could not get the big top because of all the bright lights.

will try to upload the video later :(

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Wangari's Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter

2012-02-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

Title: Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa

Author: Jeanette Winter

Publisher: Harcourt, Inc, September 21, 2008

Suitable for: (ages) 3 and up

Themes/Topics: Nature, Environmentalism, Women History, Women Empowerment

Opening:

Wangari lives under an umbrella of green trees in the shadow of Mount Kenya Africa.

Brief synopsis:

As a young girl growing up in Kenya, Wangari was surrounded by trees. But years later when she returns home, she is shocked to see whole forests being cut down, and she knows that soon all the trees will be destroyed. So Wangari decides to do something. She starts with nine seedlings in her backyard. As her trees grow, so do her plans……

Links to resources:

Discussion Questions can be found here.

Interview of Wangari of why trees are important:

This is a very simple Smart Board lesson on parts of a tree. Go to the site, then scroll

down to K-2 Templates, Parts of a Tree.

Trees are Terrific....Travels with Pierre

This site is presented in animated format and designed to help young children (5–8 years of age) gain an appreciation of trees, observe trees in their everyday lives and develop an interest in learning more about trees.

National Geographic Kids

Colorful site with facts and photos of Kenya

Teach Using Wangari's Trees of Peace

Look here for lesson ideas and links to use with this book.

Activities for all ages that explore issues related to environmental preservation and sustainability.

Why I like this book: This is a true story about Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. She inspired great change in her native country by bringing back the native trees to Kenya. She is an excellent example of inspiration for children today. They will learn that with hard work, dedication and strong will, even one person can inspire change, they can make a difference. The illustrations are very simple but reflect well the text and story as they follow Wangari from her childhood living “under an umbrella of green trees,” and observing her environment as she helps her mother harvest their crop. When she gets older, she goes to study in America. When she returns, the green land she left was no more. No more trees, birds, or green remained due to deforestation. Wangari decides to replace the trees that were cut down. She faced great opposition from the government and was even jailed for her attempts to bring change. She enlisted the help of other village women to plant the seedlings she grew telling them, “We are planting the seeds of hope.” Through her Green Belt Movement, Wangari brought environmental change not just to Kenya but to thirty other countries in Africa. Her story and life is truly an inspiration and this book is great to help children understand her great efforts and success. It saddens me to learn she recently passed away. Her dedication and love for the environment and women’s empowerment will be remembered.

For a complete list of recommended picture books and resources that engage, educate, and entertain go to Perfect Picture Books at Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.

Author Interview + Book Giveaway: The Roses in My Carpet by Rukhsana Khan

2012-02-09T01:04:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. Happy Thursday!!! I would love to introduce you to another amazing writer today. Meet Rukhsana Khan. She is an award-winning author and storyteller. Mrs. Khan has authored 11 books so far with more contracted. She has appeared on television and radio numerous times, has been featured at international conferences in Denmark, Mexico, Singapore, Italy, and South Africa, and has presented all across Canada and the U.S. Rukhsana Khan is also a member of SCBWI, The Writers Union of Canada, CANSCAIP, and Storytelling Toronto. Without further ado....... Mrs Khan.

Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born in Lahore, Pakistan and my father decided to come to Canada to give me and his other children better educational opportunities.

We arrived in 1965 and moved to a very white town in Southern Ontario. Growing up was very difficult and books turned out to be my lifeline.

Stories provided me an escape from the difficulties of my life. I never dreamed of becoming an author till my grade eight teacher said I should pursue it. He said I was a poet, and I should grow up to be a writer. He was the first person in my life who ever opened that possibility up to me. I wrote a couple of rough works in my teens and then gave up, thinking that being an author wasn’t possible for someone like me, from an ethnic minority. It wasn’t till fourteen years later, when I was twenty-seven that I decided to seriously go for my dreams. It took eight years for my first book to get published. Now I have eleven books published. The Roses in My Carpets is my second book and the book of mine that has been in print the longest.

What are some themes and topics that are addressed in The Roses in My Carpet?

There are so many themes addressed in The Roses in My Carpets. While workshopping the story with some teens we counted no less than three problems the protagonist faces. It’s very unusual for a short story to have three problems in it! The first problem the protagonist faces is that he’s haunted by dreams of the war, of jets flying and bombing him and his family. The second problem deals with his resentment towards his mother and sister for holding him back, weighing him down. At the beginning of the story you can tell he feels this way because in his dream they’re pulling at him, and he feels he could run faster and get to safety if they weren’t holding him back. By the end of the story he has realized how much he needs them too and they’re all running together. And the third problem in the story is the boy’s attitude towards being sponsored. He feels that he has disappointed his father by accepting help. This story really is about a boy who needs help but is too proud at first, to accept it.

What inspired you to write this story?

.............. My husband and I decided to sponsor a child refugee. When I got the picture of Kareem (my foster child) I was astonished to see that he had blonde hair, blue eyes and freckles--he was white. How ironic. Here I was sending money across the world to help him and his family, yet he had the one thing that would have made my growing up easier--white skin.

I wanted to meet him. See what kind of boy he was. In January 1992 I got a chance to go to Pakistan. I was born there but had never been back. I travelled up to Peshawar, where the refugee camps were, and stayed with a friend of mine, Maha, and her husband Ahmad. They were working for the relief organization, Human Concern International, through which I’d sponsored Kareem.... Please click the link to read the rest of Mrs Khan's touching story here:

The presentation on what inspired me to write the story takes me an hour and is my most popular presentation for students from grade 3-12.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? How did you deal with it?

The worst thing anyone can say about my writing is that it’s didactic. Preachy, teachy. Yes, I always try to have a message in my stories. Something the reader can get from them, but the story is supposed to come first. If there’s no good story then any message will be lost. When people have said a piece was didactic, I either threw the story out, or I went back over it and fixed it. A story is usually didactic because I got carried away with the message and forced the characters into behavior that wasn’t consistent and believable. That’s a great no-no. So what I’ll do is go back and see what the character would really do in those circumstances. That really helps!

As a writer, who are your main influences?

Do you mean other writers?

 I don’t really work like that. I have a LOT of favourite books and authors but I wouldn’t exactly say they’ve ‘influenced’ me. When I write I try to stay true to the voice that’s expressing itself in the characters. I often literally hear a voice in my head relaying a story, and I try to transcribe the story as authentically as I can.

Where do you do most of your writing?

In bed. First thing, when I wake up.

When I’m working on a project, I’ll write two pages before I brush my teeth, have my breakfast or do anything other work.

Who is your favorite author?

I have many! You can find lists of some of my favourite books here:

What is one book every writer, new or seasoned, should read?

Lord of the Rings.

Let’s talk multiculturalism. What is it and why is it important in children’s literature?

‘Multicultural’ basically refers to books that are set in ‘foreign’ cultures. Books that take readers into a different cultural experience. But more often than not, they’re books that showcase another culture. Multiculturalism is the process that promotes such books in the hopes that these types of books expand the horizon of the readers and enables them to understand other cultures and think ‘outside their box’.

Multiculturalism is important because of the idea that it does help children understand other cultures and different ways of thinking in the hopes that they can question their own thinking and improve themselves. It also gives children a foundation from which to approach people of other cultures.

In this increasingly globalized world, our children are bound to meet and work with people from other cultures. If they can learn to understand them and appreciate their differences and focus on the similarities they share with them, the world can become a more tolerant and peaceful place.

Can you share with us a list of some really fabulous multicultural children’s books?

Some of the books on my list of favourite reads are multicultural books I’d highly recommend: Shadow of a Bull is set in Spanish culture. Monster is set in African American culture, Watership Down is set in a mythical rabbit culture. But to be perfectly honest, I never look at whether a book is multicultural to see if I like it. I always look at whether it’s a good story!

And for our final question, what advice do you have for new and aspiring authors?

Read, read, read then write, write, write! And the best way to know if you’ve written something worthwhile is asking yourself the question (honestly) ‘If I hadn’t written this, would I want to read it?’

Thank you so much Mrs. Khan for doing this interview with us today. Find our more about Mrs. Khan at her website. For those of you who are interested in reading this remarkable book, leave a comment below with a way I can contact you if you are the winner of the book giveaway. Winner will be chosen using Random.org.

It's time again to Choose Your Own Adventure!!!!!

2012-02-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for an adventure? Then stop by Kerri's blog to sign up for the next Choose Your Own Adventure Blog Hop. Sign-ups for the Choose Your Own Adventure Bloghop begins and will run until we reach 15-20 bloggers.

In celebration of Chinese New Year and the year of the dragon, our theme will involve a mighty dragon.

You must be a follower of Kerri's blog to join, be able to write a small piece to the adventure, and use Google Docs. You must be available the night before it goes live to give the other writers your permanent URL, and lastly go crazy and have fun. It will go live sometime in March, and there will be a vote as to the specific date the bloghop will take place.

This is a great way to connect and get to know other bloggers. The last two bloghops were awesomely fun and I've made great bloggy friends. Looking forward to the next adventure!

To see what a Choose Your Own Adventure Bloghop is CLICK HERE.

Teaser Tuesday (11)

2012-02-07T02:57:00.000-08:00

Ready for another Teaser Tuesday? Today I will do another from my WIP "The Protected Bloodlines," as I have yet to start another book yet. The last book I read was "The Magician" by Michael Scott. It was pretty good though the unawakened twin, Josh, was starting to get on my nerves a bit. My next tbr book is Void by Rhiannon Lassiter.

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Nusa walked into the common food court. It was empty except for a few changelings sitting in a circle. Nusa eyed them then moved to the far end of the large room. She perched on the ledge looking out a massive window. She watched the colors of FTL pass by. She closed her eyes and opened her mind to the occupants in the room. Nusa tightened her eyes as she merely felt whispers and life forces. She grimaced. It upset her that she could not easily read the changelings as she could other humanoid life forms. She loosened her tense shoulders and relaxed her wings. Nusa returned her gaze to the fluidic movement of light and space outside the window. She heard the doors of the food court open. The light, rhythmic steps had an ever-slight bounce but were firm and focused.

“Could not sleep, Uma,” Nusa asked without turning around.

The steps stopped abruptly.

“How did you know it was me?”

12x Feb draft completed!!!!

2012-02-05T17:54:00.000-08:00

Yay!! I completed the first draft for February. It is called Little Fish though I am thinking of changing the title. Will wait and see once I send the story to my critique group and get feedback from them. My inspiration for the story came from Alison Hertz's Story Starter post #9 The Grass is Greener. Well, while the story of little fish takes place in water and not much greenery in the text, I would imagine there being green on the pages :D as little fish travels in search of a place that is better than his current home. Now I'm off to get some reading done.

Happy Writing & Reading everyone!!!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Shades of Black by Sandra L. Pinkney

2012-02-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

Title: Shades of Black

Author: Sandra L. Pinkney

Publisher, date published, genre: Scholastic Inc, 11/1/2000, PB Non-fiction - Photo Essay

Suitable for: 4 and up - grades PreK – Grade 2

Themes/Topics: Multicultural, African-American, Self-Esteem

Opening: “I am Black. I am Unique. I am the creamy white frost in vanilla ice cream and the milky smooth brown in a chocolate bar.”

Synopsis: From chocolate brown to midnight blue, from cottony puffs of hair to hair like a rope's corkscrew, these photographs show the many ways to be black and proud.

Using poetic language and stunning photographs, the Pinkneys create a remarkable affirmation of the beauty and diversity of African-American children.

Links to resources: Shades of Black Lesson Plan

Why I like this book: I really could have used this book when I taught English in Sudan. I was raised loving my self and my heritage. Being ‘black’ was never an issue growing up for me. Being black was not about the color of our skin. It represented our culture and heritage. We were African-Americans. When I went to Sudan, I took that attitude with me, that no matter what ‘shade’ you were, you were black. * Shakes Head * Big mistake! I learned right away that many Sudanese did not like being called black, because it was considered a color, a color that had negative connotations. Which brings me back to just how wonderfully written this book is and how beautifully illustrated it is with rich and diverse photographs that show positive images of African American children of every shade and hue. The author uses the most beautiful and perfectly fitted similes that match the photos of each child. This book celebrates children. It celebrates African American children. I personally think every classroom should have a copy of this book. Shades of Black invites readers of all ages and cultures to explore and embrace the diversity of the African American.

For more books with resources please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books!

Teaser Tuesday (10)

2012-01-31T01:28:00.000-08:00

Here is another Teaser Tuesday from my WIP "The Protected Bloodlines" Enjoy!!! :)

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The boys laughed as they applauded Yuli’s reenactment of Batu saving his stampeding herd. Yuli bowed then laughed.

“But what is truly amazing is that he actually forgot his shantel. I did not know you ever took it off,” Yuli said.

“Well, that’s just it,” Batu said shaking his head, “I don’t remember taking it off. Lately though, I have had this feeling of…” he paused as two changeling guards walked by.

“What’s wrong,” Yuli asked becoming more serious.

“I just feel that I’m being watched,” Batu answered.

Baseet and Unis smiled.

“But you are being watched,” Baseet said. He passed his and over Batu’s shantel. It responded to the young Mat’hool’s touch. “It is the job of your guardian to always watch over you.”

“I know, Batu said, “but this feeling is different, I can’t explain it. Neither can I explain why I wasn’t wearing it when I left.”

Perfect Picture Book Friday: One of Us by Peggy Moss

2012-01-27T20:55:00.000-08:00

Title: One of Us

Author: Peggy Moss

Publisher: Tilbury House

Theme/Topic: Identity, Being Yourself, Cliques

Grade: 2-6

Summary:

"You are one of us," Carmen tells Roberta on her first day at a new school.

Roberta gladly sits with the rest of the straight-up-hair girls-until she hears they don't play on the monkey bars. Roberta loves the monkey bars and leaps at the chance to swing with the monkey-bar posse, until she hears they don't carry flowered lunch boxes like she does. Roberta moves from group to group, just trying to be herself, until it seems she doesn't fit in anywhere. Then Roberta discovers some kids just like her-everyone's different and they like it that way!

In a society plagued by the need to fit in at all costs, One of Us features a plucky youngster with the courage to be who she is and the charisma to help others assert their individuality.

Resources:

These activities can be found at the publisher website:

Activity: What Cliques Do You Know?

Activity: Who Are You/What Are You?

Activity: Ideal Community

Activity: Rodney's Flowers

Why I Like This Book:

I really liked this book because I was once just like Roberta, new kid at a new school. Fitting in was very important to me because I was different. I was the only Muslim kid in my small town school. This book is full of humor but effectively touches on the subject of peer pressure and just what can be lost when we try to fit in and shut others out. This book is PERFECT for use at home and in the classroom. Children can easily identify with Roberta. I also love that the illustrations captures a diverse range of children, children of different ethnicities, and physical abilities.

Author Interview and Book Giveaway: Dark Life by Kat Falls

2012-01-26T04:23:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday everyone!! Welcome to another author interview. Today I would like to introduce Kat Falls, author of Dark Life and Rip Tide. I read this book recently and just fell in love with it. It is a middle grade novel that is highly entertaining :) I am excited that Ms Falls is here today to tell us more about her book, Dark Life.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Evanston, Illinois with my husband and three kids. We have a dog, two cats, a guinea pig and a snake. (I love animals and have a hard time saying no every time one of my kids wants another pet.) I grew up in Maryland, lived in New York State for a while – the Albany area for college and then NYC after I graduated. I moved to Evanston to go to grad school at Northwestern and fell in love with Chicago so I decided to stay here. I love to grow vegetables in my garden and love books & movies. My favorite TV shows are Supernatural, True Blood, Mad Men, and Project Runway.

How long did it take you to write Dark Life?

About 18 months, including all the revisions. Once it sold to Scholastic, however, I worked on it another six months with my editor.

Who is you favorite character in Dark Life? Personally, I love Zoe. She is such an electrifying little character ;) not to mention a little spunky! She reminds me of my little sister :D

I truly do love them all, but the dangerous characters are the most fun for me to write – namely Shade, Pretty and Zoe. Oh, and I loved writing Hewitt. Getting into his perspective always made me laugh.

What was the research stage of your novel like? What was the most interesting/odd thing you found out during your research?

I had to cut myself off on a regular basis. I’d get on the Internet to find the answer to one small question and two hours would zip by without my noticing. There’s just so much to learn about the ocean! I read up on everything from marine life and subsea geography to future technology. Every creature mentioned in Dark Life and Rip Tide is real and can be found in the ocean today.

When I was working on Rip Tide, I was appalled to learn about the giant trash gyre in the Pacific, which is as big as Texas. That sent shudders down my spine and I knew I had to find a way to work it into the story. Also, learning how many offshore oilrigs there are along America’s coasts was an eye-opener. I had fun thinking up what we could do with those oil platforms if we stopped drilling for oil.

How did you come up with the title, "Dark Life"?

I came across that phrase when I was doing research on deep-sea creatures. It’s what scientists call bacteria that can live without sunlight. I figured it would work as a derogative term for Topsiders to call the subsea settlers. It wasn’t until I finished the manuscript that I realized it would make a good book title. The title for Rip Tide also got pulled from the manuscript after I was finished writing.

You mentioned you wrote with your children in mind, have they read Dark Life? And, what do they think about it?

All 3 of my kids have read both books. My oldest son, Declan, read them as first drafts and made notes in the margins, which was very helpful. I just read your question aloud to my other two, Vivienne and Connor, and their response was that they like Rip Tide better… so there you go.

Are you currently working on a project?

I’m working on a new book right now. It’s called The Fetch and is the first book in a YA scifi-adventure trilogy, which will come out January 2013.

How do you market your book(s)?

My publisher does a lot of the marketing. I also have my website, http://www.katfalls.com, Facebook and Twitter. In addition, I go to schools and libraries to do readings and to answer questions about my books.

What books have influenced you most?

When I was young I loved books by Ira Levin (Boys from Brazil, Rosemary’s Baby) and Jack Finney (Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Time and Again) and admired their lean writing styles, which serviced the story, not the other way around. I tried to keep my writing as simple and clear for the same reason, to keep the story front and center.

What new author has grasped your interest?

I’ve read a lot of good books this year, but I have to say my absolute favorite was “Under the Never Sky” by debut author Veronica Rossi.

Writing Prompt: Dark Prison

2012-01-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

Write a 200 word description of a place. You can use any and all sensory descriptions but sight: you can describe what it feels like, sounds like, smells like and even tastes like. Try to write the description in such a way that people will not miss the visual details.

Here is what I got:

My head hurts. I can't see. I realize my eyes are closed. I open them; but I'm still shrouded in darkness. Fear sweeps across me. I try to sit up but fall back, my head dizzy and throbbing. I take a deep breath then cough. The air's thick, moist, and warm. It smells of grass and earth. I turn over. My face rests on a soft, fuzzy surface. The scent's even stronger. I can almost taste it. I grope with my hands. Just as I thought, damp, compacted dirt and patches of moss? God, I hope it's moss - not mold! I push up onto my hands and knees and groan. My voice comes back to my ears quick and solid. I feel around and soon find a wall. It's soft and spongy like a cork. I walk the circumference of the room, twenty paces. No door. My heart pounds in my chest. I close my eyes pressing my back against the wall, breathing, calming a panic attack. My ears pick up a sound. The wind howls just outside. A faint breeze touches my cheeks - brief relief from the dank air. Where there's a breeze, there's a way out!

Tuesday Tunes: The Memory of Trees by Enya

2012-01-24T02:29:00.000-08:00

Giveaway Winners!!!!!

2012-01-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

This post will celebrate a couple of giveaways that I have held recently and have just now been able to address.

and the winners are........................

1. Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop: $10 Amazon Gift Card

Brittney House

2. Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Being Human by Patricia Lynne

Lisa Walker

3. A New Kind of Cookbook: Serving Up Faith with recipes by yours truly included:)

Karlene
&
Karen Strong

Congratulations to all the winners. Please look for an email from me :)

Picture Book Friday: My Name Is Sangoel

2012-01-20T01:44:00.000-08:00

Title: My Name is Sangoel

Author: Karen Lynn Williams, Khadra Mohammed

Age: 7 – 9 years

Publisher: Eerdmans: June 1, 2009

Theme/Topics: self-identity and belonging, refugee, new home/country, making new friends, loss/loneliness.

Opening:

Don’t worry, the wise one said as Sangoel prepared to the leave the refugee camp. “You carry a Dinka name. It is the name of your father and of your ancestors before him.

The wise man hugged him and Sangoel could feel his bones in his thin arms. “Remember, you will always be a Dinka. You will be Sangoel. Even in America.”

Synopsis:

Sangoel is a refugee. Leaving behind his homeland of Sudan, where his father died in the war, he has little to call his own other than his name, a Dinka name handed down proudly from his father and grandfather before him.

When Sangoel and his mother and sister arrive in the United States, everything seems very strange and unlike home. In this busy, noisy place, with its escalators and television sets and traffic and snow, Sangoel quietly endures the fact that no one is able to pronounce his name. Lonely and homesick, he finally comes up with an ingenious solution to this problem, and in the process he at last begins to feel at home.

Resources:

Teacher Guide for the book: http://www.karenlynnwilliams.com/files/sangoel_guide.pdf

Why I like this book: I love books where the main character, the child, can identify their problem and then solve their problem. Most times I think adults do not give children the credit they deserve and opportunity to shine. In this story, Sangoel does just that. He shines. A Dinka refugee from Sudan, Sangoel has nothing but his mother, sister and his name. A name he is proud of. But it is also a name no one can pronounce correctly. Most immigrants I know change their names to something easy, more American. But not Sangoel. He finds a fun and creative way to keep his Dinka name and pride while teaching others how to say his name correctly. In fact, I was not pronouncing his name right as I read the book until I got to the end and say OOOOOHHHHH! That’s how you say it!!! J

Author Interview and Book Giveaway: Patricia Lynne: Being Human

2012-01-19T00:47:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. Welcome to Thursday Author Interviews. I have moved the interviews to Thursday so that they don't clash or get overshadowed by Perfect Picture Book Fridays. Today I would like to introduce you all to Patricia Lynne. Some of you may remember, she was one of the winners of the New Author Blog Hop held last year. So without further ado.... Here is Patricia Lynne, and her debut novel, Being Human.

Summary:

For Tommy, there is only one thing he needs to do: survive.

Only surviving isn't that easy. The hunt for blood can be tricky when humans know to fear the night. Desire sits on the edge of his mind, urging him to become the monster humans think he is. Vampire Forces, a special branch of police, is determined to turn every vampire to ash. Tommy included.

The only human Tommy can trust is his twin brother. A bond connects them, and with Danny's help, Tommy starts to understand the human world he struggles to survive in. He'll learn what friendships means and feel the sting of betrayal, find that sometimes the worst monsters are very human, and come to understand that family means more than blood.

Thank you for joining us today! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your book, "Being Human"?

I can tell you I never thought I'd be an author. When I was in school, I was all about art. English wasn't even my favorite subject. When I was in college, my English prof. assigned us to write a story and I got a D! Managed to bring it up to a B, but yeah, I thought writing wasn't for me. So when I started writing down some of the ideas in my head, it was just for fun. Until I got to Being Human. That one just struck me as one I wanted to share with the world. I started googling and researching writing. Needless to say, I don't think I'd get any more Ds in a college writing course.

Being Human is a story about a young vampire named Tommy who is trying to figure out how to survive in a human world he no longer remembers.

What inspired you to write this story?

Another book inspiring Being Human. I was reading Thirsty by M.T. Anderson and the ending isn't very happily ever after. It kept me thinking what would happen next. Then Tommy pretty much popped in my head and told me he knew what happened next. The kind of vampires got changed up, and neither story really connects anymore, but that was the initial spark that gave birth to Being Human.

Who is your favorite character in your book? Why?

I have to think about that because I love all the characters one way or another. I'd probably say Mackenzie. She was so fun to write when she was a toddler, and when she got older, she was so perky and innocent. I loved some of her lines. Crack me up everytime.

What was your road to publication like?

At first I was going to query agents and traditional publishers. But as I looked into it more and more, I realized going that route didn't look very appealing to me. I would be query a vampire book and those were on the way out. There was little chance I'd get picked up. Plus, I really enjoyed the idea of being in complete control and self publishing gave that.

Is there anything you know know about the publishing industry that wish you had known before starting your journey?

That promotion and marking is the root of all that is evil. LOL Kidding, but it is the toughest part. I knew it would be difficult, but it's way more tricky than I thought. It's caused me to hate my book a few times.

Who do you think influence your writing the most?

Heather Brewer, author of The Vladimir Tod series is a big inspiration to me. Not sure if she influences my writing, but I totally look up to her as one of the reasons I decided to publish my story.

Are you currently working on a project now?

Yes, I am working on the sequel to Being Human. It's called Being Vampire and it follows a boy named Drew, who is a vampire, but doesn't know it. It's not a direct sequel, as in you have to read Being Human, but they are connected and Tommy will appear in it. I also have a short werewolf story that I'm working on editing called Fixing Ben that I think will be my next published story.

When did you feel like you were an author?

When I got my paperback copy of Being Human. I was in awe. I literally was jumping for joy (which hubby did not share my same enthusiasm when I showed him. LOL)

Are there any new authors who have grasped your interest recently? Why?

I have met a bunch of new authors thanks to twitter. A few whose books I know I have to buy are M.R. Merrick, M.B. Mulhall, Vicktor Alexander, and Daniel A. Kaine. I talk to them all, and I just fell head over heels in love w/ the stories they written and constantly bug them to write faster.

Finally, do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Relax. Sometimes, as writers, we get so stressed about getting those words down, about getting the book done, that we forget to give ourselves a moment to relax. Write as much as you can, but if you have an off day, don't feel too guilty about setting your story aside and doing something mindless like watch a movie. Your muse needs a break too and when you get back to it, you'll feel nice and refreshed.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with us Patricia. But we are not done yet! Fill in the form below for a chance to win a copy of Patricia's first novel, Being Human.

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Introducing a New Kind of Cookbook & Book Giveaway

2012-01-18T11:14:00.000-08:00

Good morning to everyone on this snowed in day! Yep, Seattle is getting her fair share of the snow dump to my dismay. I have a wedding to get to this evening and I am on set duty around noon, not sure if I will even be able to make it :(

But that is not what I am here to talk about on this snow covered day. As the pic above says, there is a new cookbook in town!!!! And, yours truly has a couple of family recipes and food related stories included! :D I'm so excited to share some of my mom's fun cooking with the world and some of the stories that lead to said recipes. For example, you will find out why for a good 10+ years my family became vegetarians and tuna became the main meat staple in the house :D Try out a variety of recipes from various cultures around the world.

Serving Up Faith is on sale now but I am giving away two copies! Fill out the form below for a chance to win a print copy of Serving Up Faith!

Serving Up Faith
Islamic Writers Alliance
ISBN: 978-0-9819770-7-2
Paperback
242 pages
Price: $14.95

Buy direct from the publisher here or from Amazon here

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Ellen's Broom Blog Tour Winner!

2012-01-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

The winner of Kelly Starling Lyons' Ellen's Broom is................

Olivia Mitchell

Congratulations Olivia!!!!

Teaser Tuesday (9)

2012-01-17T02:18:00.000-08:00

Time for another teaser Tuesday from my story: The Protected Bloodlines :) Enjoy!

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Batu opened the door and the lights came on. A man sat in the center of the room on a crate with his back to the door. He continued to sing, his hands and arms moving slowly around an object. Batu could not see what it was nor did he recognize the person, so, he approached him slowly. When Batu got close enough to reach out and grab the unsuspecting man's shoulder, he turned around and stared Batu straight in the face. It was Zanthar, one of the people Shayhu rescued from the dark void. In his hands he held a piece of metal. The metal was almost like a ball of hot, red clay, assuming forms of his choice. Zanthar smiled at Batu and continued shaping his metal and singing, his eyes completely white. He finally finished and handed the object to Batu. Batu passed the object around in his hands and even tried to bend and mash it in his massive hands, but it was solid and shiny as metal and cold as the room they sat in, nothing like what he saw only seconds ago.

“How did you do that?” Batu asked his eyes lit up as they peered into Zanthar’s face. But Zanthar looked passed him, his eyes wandering, never locking with Batu's. He was blind. Zanthar grinned and leaned toward Batu.
“I will tell you my secret if you do me a favor first,” he said. Zanthar reached his hand out in front of him, searching for Batu’s hand. Batu grabbed hold of him and helped him down off of the container.

“Sure, what do you need help with?” Batu asked. He could not possibly need help getting down off the container, after all, he got up there on his on.

“Will you take me to see my sister?” he asked, “I have been confined for far too long now and have lost my sight.”

Batu had to restrain a chuckle. Lucky for him, Zanthar could not see his amused and shocked expression. He had never heard of a person losing his sight because he was confined. But he agreed to help Zanthar find his sister, Zuri.

Tuesday Tunes: Phineas and Ferb

2012-01-17T01:43:00.000-08:00

This week's Tuesday Tunes will cater to my inner child! :D I will admit that I still love to watch cartoons :D One of my all time favorites is Phineas and Ferb. Here are my favorite clips from the show :D Enjoy!!!

Monday Muse: Monday Morning Sparks and No Snow Days!

2012-01-16T20:40:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Welcome to another fabulous Monday!!! Over at Susanna's blog she is doing a fun Monday Morning Spark where the writer chooses five words to create a piece. Here are my five words, a pic from yesterday and my short piece using the five words. :)

snow

white

cold

work

play

I woke up this morning to a white covered world. Snow blanketed the roads, trees, pathways and rooftops. As cold as it was, I jumped out of bed to check and see if school would be closed for snow-day. But would you know, no snow day. Instead we were opening up late but not so late that I get a few extra hours. No, we opened at 8:30 just when my shift started. Well, I got to work, ready to play (and learn) with my toddler classroom, all of them! That's right, we were open on MLK day and while many of the parent's had the day off, kids still arrived on time. So, the day went on as usual. We had breakfast, read books, played with musical instruments, learned and matched cut out felt shapes. Outside time was a blast. The little ones had a ball playing out in the white snow despite the cold. Even brought some snow inside to put in our sensory table to play with later. So, even though it was a cold, no snow day, full classroom, kind of work day, I had an awesome day with my toddlers!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: My First Ramadan by Karen Katz

2012-01-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

Title: My First Ramadan

Author: Karen Katz

Suitable for ages: 3-8 years

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. August 7^th 2007

Theme/Topic: Culture, Muslim Holiday, Ramadan, Muslim Festival, Family

Opening:

Look! There is the new moon in the sky. Now we will begin our holiday called Ramadan……

Synopsis: It is time for Ramadan. Follow along with one young boy as he observes the Muslim holiday with his family. This year, he wants to try to fast like the grown-ups do, and even the youngest readers will be interested as he shares his experiences of this special holiday.

Resources:

A Ramadan Collage: http://amuslimchildisborn.blogspot.com/2010/08/ramadan-collage.html

Ramadan themed stamps: http://amuslimchildisborn.blogspot.com/2009/08/ramadan-craft-5-easy-ramadan-stamps.html

Information about Ramadan: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/islam/ramadan.shtml

Phases of the Moon Project: http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/moon/mphases.htm

Online Word Search: http://www.islamicplayground.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=60

More books about Ramadan for children: http://islam.about.com/od/ramadan/tp/ramadanbooks-kids.htm

Ramadan Preparations and Children’s Activities: http://www.happymuslimah.com/2009/08/ramadan-preparation-and-activities-for.html

More Ramadan Resources:

http://tj-ramadan.tripod.com/ramadanlearning.htm

http://tjramadan.blogspot.com/

http://www.firstschoolyears.com/re/islam/ramadan.htm

Online Games and Activities: http://primarygames.com/holidays/ramadan/ramadan.htm

A Ramadan Alphabet: http://tj-ramadan.tripod.com/aramadanalphabet.htm

Why I like this book:

My First Ramadan is meant to introduce young children to the month of Ramadan, the fasting month for Muslims worldwide and many practices and traditions that happen through out the month. Karen Katz does a wonderful job illustrating and creating a super cute Muslim boy to share his excitement of the month and coming holiday, Eid-ul-Fitr. With all of her books, I just love her illustrations! Little bodies and big round heads. They remind me of a few of my little ones I care for in my toddler classroom! J The text is simple and straightforward. She includes a pronunciation guide for Arabic words through out the book. Like every holiday, Ramadan celebrates traditions, family, friends and the community. It encourages good deeds and virtues, prayer and charity.

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

Once again, I thank the lovely Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for co-hosting this fun giveaway with Martha's Bookshelf.

I have long list of books I am DYING to get my hands on! I dream about them all the time hoping I can either buy them or at least find them in my local library during these tough economic times. So, I thought, instead of picking a book to giveaway, why not let my fabulous followers pick their own book from their wish list! So, up for grabs is a ten dollar gift card from Amazon :D that way you can get the book you've been dreaming of. There is only one rule, fill out the form below then hop on to the next blog for a chance to win more fun prizes! :D Happy Hopping and Dreaming!! :D

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Ellen's Broom Blog Tour

2012-01-12T01:06:00.000-08:00

Welcome to day 8 of Ellen's Broom Blog tour.

I have the honor today to welcome Kelly Starling Lyons back to Of Thoughts and Words to share with us her latest picture book released just this month. Check out my review of Ellen's Broom here. Kelly is an amazing author and I feel blessed to be able to share in her excitement of her newest book! This book is about a young girl who braves a new future without losing her love and pride in her family's heritage. The story is set in the reconstruction era and Ellen teaches us all that some traditions are worth preserving! :)

As part of the blog tour, anyone who leaves a comment on any of Kelly's tour stops will be entered in a drawing for the grand prize - a signed poster of the Ellen's Broom cover and a decorated wedding broom from Stuart's Creations (www.stuartscreations.com). The winner will be drawn on January 16. So make a comment!!! Win that broom!

Now on to the interview!!! Kelly gives us insight into how her book, Ellen's Broom!!!

So Kelly, what inspired you to write Ellen’s Broom?

While researching family history in a North Carolina library, I came across a record that opened a new world to me. That document was the 1866 Cohabitation Register of Henry County, VA. In it, formerly enslaved couples listed their antebellum marriages and the names and ages of their children. I was moved deeply.

So many families were torn apart by slavery. Slave holders sold enslaved people - husbands and wives, parents and children -- away from each at will. After slavery ended, some people searched heartbroken for loved ones. But some, like the families in the register, finally saw the law reflect what they knew in their hearts: Their marriages mattered too.

Back then, I didn't know that document contained the seed of a picture book. But later, I shared that story with an editor at the Writers Workshop at Chautauqua. He told me I had a children's book in there. I went back to my room that evening and started imagining a girl growing up at that time.

I saw Ellen, a child whose parents jumped the broom to become husband and wife during slavery and then finally got a chance to celebrate that marriage being legally recognized during Reconstruction. I asked myself what that would mean to Ellen and her family. That's how Ellen's Broom came to be.

How important is keeping or passing on history and traditions?

It's essential. Without passing on history and traditions, they can be forgotten.

How exactly did you research the topic for your picture book?

After finding the cohabitation register and beginning the story, I realized I had a lot of work to do. I needed to learn more about the historical period in which the registration took place and the families living then. I read Freedmen's Bureau letters where officers described the way freedmen and women responded to the news that their marriages would be registered. I read slave narratives, especially those that referenced marriage. I also read a wonderful article by African American geneaology specialist, Reginald Washington, that talked about cohabitation registers. You can check it out here: http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/spring/freedman-marriage-recs.html?template

Finally, after my story was completed, I shared the draft with historians to make sure it hit the mark.

What is the most important thing you would like your readers to gain from reading Ellen’s Broom?

I would like them to gain an appreciation for the love and faith that carried families like Ellen's through slavery and into the future. Daniel Minter did a beautiful job interpreting the story through his illustrations. You can see in their faces what having the opportunity to register their marriages meant to the couples and their children. I want readers to leave feeling inspired.

If Ellen were here with us today, what encouraging advice would she share?

She would say, "Never forget where you came from. That's part of what makes us who we are." You can't appreciate what you have without knowing what you came through to get it. She would encourage us to learn our history and pass it on.
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Isn't Kelly just amaaaaaaaaaaazing!!?? And isn't Ellen just adorable!? :D I bet you all thought that was the end of the post :D
Well, guess what! There is a book giveaway to giveaway :D enter to win a copy of "Ellen's Broom," from Of Thoughts and Words!!!

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Tuesday Tunes: Child of the Library

2012-01-10T01:22:00.000-08:00

Are you a child of the library? I was practically raised in the library. It was literally my second home. I was there so much, the head librarian use to let me check in/out books for other patrons. I was officially an unofficial assistant librarian (since I was too young to be one officially :D) Please enjoy this song and the message it gives shares. It certainly brought up some wonderful memories of my own childhood library days!

Keep libraries open!! Support your local library.

Teaser Tuesday (8) Dark Life by Kat Falls

2012-01-10T00:09:00.000-08:00

Here is one of the latest books I am reading. It is a middle grade novel that caught my eye because of the striking book cover! I should never stroll through a bookstore while I'm still reading. *shakes head* At the time, I was reading Medusa by Clive Cussler and had a stack of other books to be read that all included sea life/ocean themes and as I walked down the aisles to kill my one hour lunch break, this jumped out at me. The very title, Dark Life, and subtitle, BEWARE THE DEEP (not seen on this pic), pulled me over to the display like a moth to a flame! Well, I finally got done with my to be read stack and pulled this off my bookshelf.

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I should have seen them coming, even this deep. I should have known the squid had squirted its radiant goo to divert a predator. And now my helmet's crown lights served as an even brighter beacon. With a jab to my wrist screen, I snapped them off, but it was too late - I couldn't unring that dinner bell.

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Monday Muse: A quote to start the week!

2012-01-09T00:14:00.000-08:00

Is this true or is this true! All the books (and I have a ton of them!) and writing tips in the world will not get me published unless I learn the craft and implement everything I learn. But there is so much out there, it feels daunting, and at times, confusing. Especially when sometimes those tips contradict other instruction, tips and techniques. Not to mention all the technological advances in the publishing industry. So, instead of ripping my hair out, I'm taking every resource I have, books, web links, author and blogger friends, writing buddies, critique partners and writing conferences and I'm starting at the beginning. I am going to build my foundations first. Get the craft, write, write, write, read, read, read, revise, revise, revise and write some. And one day, I will turn those sticks of resources into a strong and sturdy ladder that will get me over the hurdles and into the world of publishing AND keep my sanity and sense of humor. :D

How about you writer friends, how do you make your resources work for you, not overwhelm you?

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Ellen's Broom by Kelly Starling Lyons

2012-01-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

I know this is late but please bear with me :/ been one of those weeks!

Title: Ellen’s Broom

Author: Kelly Starling Lyons

Publisher: G.P. Putnam Jan 5, 2011

Ages: 5-8 Grades: K and up

Theme/Topic: family, traditions, history, slavery, reconstruction era

Opening and Synopsis:

…..Sunday morning, Ellen sat on the front pew with her family. She wiggled on the wooden seat, trying to get comfortable. But she knew not to say a word. Her people no longer had to worship at the back of the master’s church or sneak to the woods for prayer meetings. Slavery days were over….

Ellen always knew the broom resting above the hearth was special. But after it’s announced in church that the marriages of former slaves will be registered, she hears more about why it matters so much. For her mama and papa, who could be sold away at a master's whim and whose union had no legal protection, jumping the broom was to a way show their commitment to being husband and wife. Now, as the whole family travels to the courthouse dressed in their best, Ellen carries the broom with them. With love, ingenuity and pride, she finds a way to celebrate her parents' right to be legally married and remember their past.

Resources: Companion Craft and Discussion Guide ( http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com/books/onemillion/documents/EllensBroomDiscussionActivityGuide.pdf ) Jumping the Broom Coloring Page ( http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com/books/onemillion/documents/jumping.pdf ) Parade Coloring Page ( http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com/books/onemillion/documents/parade.pdf ) Word Search ( http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com/books/onemillion/documents/EllensBroomwordsearch.pdf ) and more ( http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com/books/onemillion/EllensBroom.html )

Why I like this book: This is a wonderful story about family and the meaning of freedom. Ellen’s Broom is told through the voice of Ellen, a young girl, as she witnesses her parents become legally husband and wife. She has always heard the story about the broom above her fireplace but when she realizes the importance as she watches married ex-slave couples get marriage certificates, including her mother and father, she decides it is only right that her parents jump the broom again to celebrate. But her father thinks the tradition is from the past and that it should stay there now that they are free. But Ellen reminds him how important the broom is and vows she will “jump the broom” when she grows up and gets married too. Kelly did an amazing job creating the lovable character Ellen, a character children can easily connect with. With Ellen, children and their parents are taken on a historical journey through a page in our history. The artwork in the book is very striking. The illustrator, Daniel Minter, used block-printing method for his illustrations. It is the first time I have seen such a technique and it is simply beautiful.

Monday Muse: 2012, I'm Ready for You!!

2012-01-02T10:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years from Seattle, Wa!!!
Here is wishing everyone peace, happiness, joy and prosperity in 2012 :)

Happy New Year everyone!! I am so pumped for this new year. God-willing, 2012 will be a good year for us all. I have a lot on my plate for this year and I am looking forward to trying my best to accomplish it ALL. What is in store for this year?

Well for starters, a new cookbook will be released this month and I have a few family recipes and stories that are included in it!!!! :D This cookbook includes traditional and family recipes from around the world. It also has cooking tips, inspirational stories and healthy cooking and eating articles.

Last year (so odd saying that when it has only been two days! :D) I participated in the PiBoIdMo and came up with some wonderful picture book ideas. This year, it is my goal to turn those ideas into picture book manuscripts (first drafts of course) So far to date, I have one completed draft!!! One down and 11 more to go!!! :D

I will continue to participate in Susanna L. Hill's wonderful project of collecting picture books that not only entertain children's imagination but engage and educate as well. This list of picture books is unique in that it provides educational resources and activities parents, home schoolers and teachers can use in the classroom and at home. You may find the complete list here at Just Right Books

I have a feeling 2012 will see the emergence of some really awesome new book titles, self and traditionally published. I hope to continue to offer interviews of newly published authors to help support the cause of introducing new books and authors to the reading community. If you are a new author or have a new book releasing this year, send me your contact info and I will get back to you to set up an interview to publish here on Of Thoughts and Words. :)

Also coming this way are book reviews, writing prompts, giveaways, teasers and more!!

Here is to a fabulous new year!!!!

God bless each and everyone of us

and keep us all happy and healthy!!

Superstar Blogger Award!!

2011-12-29T21:33:00.000-08:00

I would like to give this award to the following bloggers that I have come to enjoy following. 2011 has been an amazing year for me. I have met so many fellow writers that have really inspired me and pushed my work forward. Thank you all and I hope you accept this award. The only rule, should you choose to accept this award, it pay it forward. Find at least five blogs that you have found over the past year and show them some love! :)

and the winners of this award goes to........ drum roll please ...........

1. Susanna L Hill
2. The Write Soil
3. Something to Write About
4. Juliana Brandt
5. Muslim Spirit by Fida

Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop Winner!!!!!!

2011-12-29T19:01:00.000-08:00

I would like to announce the winner of the Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop Giveaway!!!

And the $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card goes to.......

Drum Roll Please.........

Katie W

Congratulations Katie!!!!!! :)

Teaser Tuesday (7) short story

2011-12-27T22:21:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, another Teaser Tuesday here. Today I decided to post one of my short Nano stories I drafted during the month. It is part of a collection of stories about a ship and its inhabitants on a journey through space on their way to a new home.

10) The Runaway

He sat in the tightest and darkest corner of the belly drinking synthesized tea from an old woman’s shop. The belly was the term the lottery population gave to the central pavilion designated for their eating area, market place, entertaining, and other activities. Surrounding the ‘belly’ the population were allowed to have essential shops like tailors, tea makers, tutors, and etc. The center of the pavilion was considerably lower than the leveled terraces that held tables and benches. The center had a stage where poets, speakers, singers, storytellers and other entertainers stood and gave performances or speeches.

A woman and child walked pass him. Her face was pale, and covered with a dark blue bruise. The child she carried was pale and lifeless and red scar going down his face. He gasped in horror. The woman stopped and stared at him. “Is something wrong?” she asked him. He looked at her again to find it was only an illusion. Her tan skin and frightened olive eyes stared at him. She held her fidgeting baby who did not like the look of him. “Sorry,” he said dropping his head. A man walked onto the stage and began reciting poetry. “The man without a past, is a man with an unknown future,” the poet said in a far-east country dialect. The man sat with his eyes down and ears alert. He was a man without a past. At least, it was a past he desperately wanted no one to know about.

He boarded the Najad under the name of Ali Makhtoom. He was careful to avoid the identification scanners. Passing through one would have given him away immediately to the guards posted to check each passenger. Ali Makhtoom had been a loner ever since he stepped out of his ASE pod. The only contact he made was with the teashop owner, an older woman and her grandson. She was kind and did not ask him questions, unlike the others who seemed to be forming friendships and allies. He knew some of these people; in fact, he knew most of them. Some directly and others only in passing. Ali Makhtoom could not afford to expose himself, especially to these unfortunate souls. Neither could he expose himself to the elite class in the upper levels of the Najad. His life depended on his careful preservation of his past. He took a final sip from his tea just as the man left the stage to a soft applause.

Ali Makhtoom walked up the steps of the ‘belly’ his eyes lowered avoiding eye contact with anyone. He walked with a stealth and quick determination. I need to get to my pod. I will be safe in my pod. A stranger walked by brushing his shoulder and knocking his hood from his head exposing it. Ali Makhtoom snatched it back up and over his head, shielding his eyes. Ali Makhtoom had very unique eyes. One hazel and one gray. He tried everything to change them but nothing worked. Not even contact lenses worked to even the color. They were deep in color, rich and vibrant. And large. The stranger looked at Ali Makhtoom. “I am so sorry,” he said touching Ali’s shoulder. Ali jerked away. “Never mind,” he said in a soft hoarse voice. The stranger raised his eyebrow. Something was very familiar about him but he continued on his way looking over his shoulder at Ali Makhtoom. Ali exhaled deeply and continued on to his automated sleeping environment pod. His five-minute journey felt like hours passing by neighbors and strangers alike, each time pulling his hood over his head more.

He made it to his pod. Ali usually convulsed whenever he saw series of numbers and letters. But 268AMK6d never looked so better. The ASE pod quarter was empty. His quarter had six pods. He shared the sleeping quarter with five other men, all single and traveling alone to the new world. Some raised as orphans, others who lost their entire families in the wars, droughts and famines in the poorest cities and villages Earth Alliance nations. Ali Makhtoom took another breath. His quarter neighbors were very nosy. They asked more question than an elderly woman with nothing to do. They all wanted to know about his eyes, why they were so different but yet seemed so familiar, why he was traveling alone, what happened to his family, was he Alliance or Opposition. All these questions he could not answer. Once he did and immediately regretted it. Ali could never lie with out giving himself away. Something always slipped and his lie would fall apart. He vowed to keep quiet to protect his secret. Ali jumped into his pod, laid down and watched the glass dome close over him. He heard the hiss of the pod environment turn on and soon his worries stopped. But his rest was only momentary.

A loud scream penetrated his sleep and caused his heart monitor to jump. It was so erratic; the pod automatically sent a message to the ship’s doctor on call that evening, Dr. Shuaib. Ali’s body jerked in the pod. It was their faces again, those horrifying images of his past. Images that haunted his dreams and caused him to hallucinate when he was awake. He heard a hiss again and was soon rescued from his nightmare. Ali Makhtoom opened his eyes. Dr. Shuaib stared down at him. “As Salaamu Alaikum,” he said, helping him sit up in the pod. “How long has this been happening?” he asked Ali. Ali shrugged his shoulder. “Not for a while,” he lied. No sooner had he spoke, Dr. Shuaib checked the computer screen then raised his eyebrows then looked back at Ali. “That is not what your sleep history says,” he said sternly. “Why have you not come to see a doctor sooner,” he asked taking out a stethoscope and light tool to check his eyes. His heart rate was back to normal but Dr. Shuaib stood in front of him a very long time staring him in the eyes.

He once knew a research doctor who had unique eyes just like Ali Makhtoom. This doctor worked in the field of Germ and Biological Warfare in the Alliance. The doctor helped other scientists create diseases that would attack their enemies and take down cities and armies in a manner of days. The Earth Alliance turned a blind eye when the doctor and other scientists used enemy combatants from other nations and the opposition rebels within the Earth Alliance nations. Sometimes, they even used poor unfortunate souls of the impoverished city slums as their subjects while testing their different military grade agents. Dr. Shuaib shook his head. This could not be the same person. That doctor was a woman. Dr. Muna Rashid went missing. Some say the doctor had killed so many innocent poor women, elderly and children, Dr. Muna went crazy, turned on the other scientists and the Alliance guards protecting the lab. Then the doctor disappeared. “Come with me to the medical lab,” Dr. Shuaib, “I will need to do some blood work on you and perhaps keep you over….,” “No. I am fine,” Ali Makhtoom said jumping down from his sleeping pod. “I am okay, really. It was just a bad dream.” It took a minute for the doctor to regain his composure but finally found his voice. “I really should see you in my lab. This could be very serious.” Ali looked down, “Please doctor, let me be. I am fine. Truly I am.”

The doctor knew all about secrets. This man was hiding something, something he wanted to leave back on their dying world. He was looking for a new start a new future. Dr. Shuaib knew a lot about new starts and how it saved his future. He nodded his head; picked up his things and left. Ali Makhtoom shuddered. Close, much too close. A blood test would have ruined him! Ali could not sleep, he feared his nightmares would return with the hiss of the ASE pod. So, he went back to the ‘belly’. Most of the shops were closed but the teashop was still open. The belly was ghostly empty tonight. He went to get a cup of tea from the kind old lady. She was not there; her grandson was there clearing away for the night. But Ali was a loyal customer so he made a cup of tea for him to sip on quietly in the empty ‘belly’.

Ali sat for a while then the old woman came and sat by him with a cup of tea. She smiled sympathetically at him. Wide eyed he stared at her. Even a woman of her age would never come sit with a strange man. His heart began to pound as she looked at him with a knowing gaze. She slowly pulled up her sleeve and showed him an old bruised scar. Just above the scar was something burned into her skin. Letters and numbers. She smiled but her eyes hid a sadness that he could never wash away. “It is okay, Dr. Muna,” she said covering her arms again. “Because of you, my grandson and I along with many other children escaped that awful research lab. I will forever keep your secret.”

Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Oasis For YA for hosting this blog hop!!! Up for grabs is a $10 dollar Barnes and Noble gift card. Fill out the form below then check out the over two hundred + blogs who are participating in this hop.

Happy Hopping!!!

Tuesday Tunes: What are Words- Chris Medina

2011-12-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know, I LOVE Ahmir and the variety of covers they do of different songs. I happened to hear a song they did of Chris Medina's "What are Words." AWESOME! They told a little bit about his story but not much so I googled it. Oh. My. Goodness! What a touching story it was. Chris Medina's fiance was injured in a car accident but he stood by her side and sang this really nice song. I started to post their video but when I found this one of Chris Medina singing it, I teared up. :) I think you all will enjoy it! :)

If you would like to listen to Ahmir's cover and tribute, go here.

Donate to the Juliana Recovery Fund here:
http://www.laurusfoundation.org/help-juliana-ramos.php

Purchase Chris Medina's "What Are Words" on iTunes to help support Juliana too! Produced and written by Rodney Jerkins:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-are-words-single/id422369478

Monday Muse: Winner of the Spruce Knoll for Endangered Species Giveaway!!

2011-12-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

Last week, Heather McCorkle took her special edition of The Secret of Spruce Knoll, a Channeler novel on tour. Along with an added chapter and deleted scenes, what makes the book so special is that proceeds from the sales of the book will go to a charity that protects and preserves endangered species. If you visited my blog while she was here, you would have seen that I chose the polar bear (which we are learning about this week in my toddler classroom :D Tune in later this week for some toddler polar bear art :D) You would also know that I hosted a book giveaway in honor of this fabulous and talented author and her wonderful book. Well, today I announce the winner of the book giveaway!!!!!!!!! [sorry it took so long :( ]

And the winner is .........................

Patricia J O'Brien

Congratulations Patricia!! Thank you for your participation and support. Polar Bears everywhere thank you too :)

Perfect Picture Book Friday: In the Garden with Dr. Carver

2011-12-16T20:52:00.000-08:00

Title: In the Garden with Dr. Carver

Author: Susan Grigsby

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company; Sept 1, 2010

Suitable for: 7-9, Grades: 2-4

Theme/Topics: non-fiction, history, biography, botany, science.

Summary: Sally is a young girl living in rural Alabama in the early 1900s, a time when people were struggling to grow food in soil that had been depleted by years of cotton production. One day, Dr. George Washington Carver shows up to help the grownups with their farms and the children with their school garden. He teaches them how to restore the soil and respect the balance of nature. He even prepares a delicious lunch made of plants, including "chicken" made from peanuts. And Sally never forgets the lessons this wise man leaves in her heart and mind. Susan Grigsby's warm story shines new light on an African American scientist who was ahead of his time.

Links to resources:

In the Garden with Dr. Carver Coloring Pages;

In the Garden with Dr. Carver Teaching Guide.

Why I like this book: Engaging, entertaining and education. I love the watercolor illustrations and the abundant depiction of nature in the story. The illustrations also tell a story of their own that are great for discussions after story time. The story is great to teach children the importance of how we treat and care for nature. It promotes love for science and botany. “Listen to the plants, they will tell you what they need.”

Find more perfect picture books here.

Gift Card Giveaway Winner

2011-12-14T23:01:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce the winner of the Gift Card Giveaway Winner

Throuthehaze

Congratulations!!!!!!

Teaser Tuesday (6)

2011-12-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday!! I am here again with another teaser from the story, "The Protected Bloodlines." Enjoy!

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The Mat’hool beasts shape-shifted into humanoid form, all except for Batu’s guardian, he dropped to the ground breathing heavily.

“What is wrong with him?” Batu asked jumping to his feet and rushing to his guardian’s side.

“He is badly injured,” Unis said, “to change into a humanoid form now would kill him.

Batu fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around his guardian’s massive neck. He knew there was nothing in his medicine bag that could help his Mat’hool.

“Allah give you strength; I will not leave you here to die.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, only the short, heavy breathing of Batu’s guarding echoed in the silent cold cavern.

Siham stood up, “On the Taharan home world, I told you that I was not convinced of you and your people, but that is not the case now. You have all proven yourselves worthy by devoting your lives to your mission and to each other.”

Siham walked over to the largest of the cave beasts, he passed his hand over its large bent head then called into the tunnel. Another cave beast came out. The Mat’hool stood up. Something about this beast was different. Nusa sensed it too. In fact, she could not sense this beast’s hakana at all. The feeling vaguely reminded her of another creature whom she could not sense. The cave beast walked over to Batu’s guarding. It sniffed Batu’s hand then touched his guardian. Immediately, it turned into a white luminescent fluid. It absorbed Batu’s guardian. The two beasts that joined the attack late also joined the fluidic ball growing in size. Aidil, Tajeej and Unis stepped up to the ball then turned into their liquid state and joined as well.

“They are Mat’hool?” Yuli asked.

Siham smiled, “Yes. They are. But these,” he said patting the beast beside him, ”are the cave beasts of Senora."

Tuesday Tunes: I Believe Maher Zain and Irfan Makki

2011-12-13T07:56:00.000-08:00

I love Maher Zain!! He came to Seattle and did a little concert for our local mosque. It was really nice. He sang all my favorite songs. While searching for one his newest songs he sang for us that night, I found this one and found another really nice artist, Irfan Makki. This song does have a more religious tone to it but I think the words and theme of the song are very uplifting. :) Should you decide to listen to it, I hope you enjoy it. It's really pretty.

Monday Muse: Cavalia!!!

2011-12-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

Coming in January to Seattle! I so want to see this. With the tickets so expensive (for my current budget) I am actually saving up for a nice close seat :D I love horses. I had one growing up and I miss riding and caring for them.

Cavalia at a glance: Cavalia is a mix of equestrian and performing arts, multimedia and special effects. It is often labeled an equestrian ballet, Cavalia is a spectacular and moving tribute to the relationship between men and horses throughout history, a dream of freedom, cooperation and harmony. In a fairy tale setting filled with poetry and emotion, the show innovatively integrates acrobatics, dance, aerial stunts, live music and equestrian arts.

I am really looking forward to it. I'm curious, has anyone seen the show? What did you think about it? Was it as magical as it looked like in the commercials? :D

Spruce Knoll for Endangered Species: A Book Tour

2011-12-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today, I have the honor to have a really wonderful author visit and promote her book here on Of Thoughts and Words. Heather McCorkle. Words cannot describe just how wonderful a person and writer Heather is.

A special edition of Heather McCorkle’s The Secret Of Spruce Knoll is releasing from Compass Press this month and she’s doing a special tour to go along with it. The special part, a percentage of the proceeds from every special edition sold (in every format) between its release date and 12-12-2012, will go toward Heather’s favorite charity that protects endangered species. Her goal is to make at least $10,000 for the charity.

Here is a fun interview with Heather for the release of her special edition.

Saba: Heather, in your story, do the channelers consider themselves an endangered species?

Heather: Sadly, they do. Fewer and fewer children are born to channelers each year. Even though the ability is something everyone has within them, those who have nurtured the gift over the centuries are slowly dying out.

Saba: Since they are connected to the Earth, what would happen if the channelers became extinct?

Heather: You're throwing out the tough ones, love it. Channelers will die out completely when the earth itself dies, which in this alternate (future) reality, is getting closer and closer.

Saba: What is Erin’s favorite endangered animal?

Heather: You mean besides Aiden? ;) Eren loves sea turtles, which you'll get to see in book 3.

Saba: How about Fane, my fave character! J What endangered animal would he choose?

Heather: Ah, Fane is my favorite too! Love him. His is the black jaguar.

Saba: What can we do to help the channeler race and other earth species survive extinction?

Heather: What a wonderful question. Of course you can always donate to your favorite charity that specializes in protecting endangered species. There are some fantastic ones out there. Even the tiniest amount can make a huge difference. Or you can buy a copy of the Compass Press edition of The Secret Of Spruce Knollbecause a portion of the proceeds from each sale between it's release and 12-12-12 will go toward my favorite charity that helps save endangered species.

For the tour, Heather asked each blog host to pick their favorite endangered species and she will tell us a fun or interesting fact about that animal. It was hard choosing just one but I finally chose the Polar Bear.

Heather: Polar bears are the largest land predator at nearly 1500 pounds, though ironically, they do most of their hunting in the water at the edge of the sea ice. With the sea ice retreating more and more each year this adds a challenge to their hunting that has landed them on the endangered list.

Help Heather help my endangered friends. You can purchase the special edition of The Secret of Spruce Knoll a Channeler Novel from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Of course there are PRIZES during the tour which goes from December 1^st through the 17^th. Prizes include a symbolic endangered species adoption of the winner’s choice (a $50 donation by Heather to the charity for the endangered species of the winner’s choice, and cute stuffed animal for the winner!), signed copies of her novels and great swag. For full details, and to enter, go here.

AND THERE IS MORE!!!

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Perfect Picture Book - Sailing Off to Sleep

2011-12-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

Sailing Off to Sleep

Author: Linda Ashman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster May 2010

Ages: 2-6 Grade: P-1

Theme: bedtime; arctic region and animals; imagination

Opening and Synopsis:

It's night time my little one.
Climb into bed.

I don't want to sleep --
I'll go sailing instead.

There's only one problem:
your ship has no sail.

I'm tying my boat
to the tail of a whale.

Bedtime for a little one brings an imaginary journey to the North Pole to cuddle and play with the many animals there.

Resources: I did not find any thing from the publisher or author websites but I did find some wonderful sites with a lot of information and activities that would make Sailing Off to Sleep the perfect nightcap at the end of the day.

First-School has lots of preschool activities like alphabets, animal science and facts, fables, crafts and coloring pages for various arctic animals. ( I actually like to use this site to find curriculum ideas.)

Perfectly Preschool has a nice and detailed lesson plan that include day to day arctic activities, suggested books, songs and crafts.

Kidsparkz has a really nice printable arctic animal flash card set

Why I like this: this is a very nice tale to curl up with your little one as they settle down for bed. The little girl in this story is not ready to call it quits at the end of the day and decides a journey to the arctic is much better than bedtime. In an innocent voice and encouraged by her mother she sets sail meeting creatures of every kind that live in the wonderful icy white wonderland of the arctic. The illustrations are beautiful and soft, not very busy and rousing. The rhymes are nice and short and move effortlessly from animal to animal. But my favorite part of the story is the end; when the mother says she can go on her journey, the little girl decides she is ready for bed and snuggles up with all the animals she visited in the arctic! :)http://www.kidsparkz.citymax.com/f/Arctic_Animals_flashcards.pdf

Please click here to see the complete list of books with resources Perfect Picture Books

Gift Card Giveaway Hop

2011-12-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

Time for another blog hop giveaway!! Thanks to I am a reader, not a writer and attack of the book for hosting this hop! My rules are easy, all you have to do is be a follower of my blog and live in the US or Canada to win a $20 gift card of your choice :) Well, you also have to fill out the form below! :D
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Now hop along to these other blogs to join their giveaways! :)

Tuesday Tunes: When I Look At You - cover by Ahmir

2011-12-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

I really like the way Ahmir sing this song. It was one of my Nano songs :D

Monday Muse: Getting Ready for 2012!

2011-12-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

November was NOT my greatest month this year. :( I guess I put way too much on my plate that I could handle! But I must say, I did not do too bad either. I participated in two different challenges last month, NaNoWriMo and PiBoIdMo

My idea for Nanowrimo was to make a collection of stories about the crew and passengers of a spaceship heading to a new world. So far, I have 17+ short stories giving me a word count of 30,000. While I would have liked to have at least thirty, I am still happy with the 17 or more that I have. It's 17+ I did not have at the beginning of November (or this year!) :D

This year was the first time I participated in the Picture Book Idea Month. the idea was to come up with a picture book idea each day of the month. I managed at least twelve ideas, six of them I think are solid. So again, I feel like i didn't really fail because I completed something, even if only six stories come out of the 12 ideas.

Which brings me to my next challenge! 12x12 in 2012 The challenge you ask? Twelve complete picture book drafts. Twelve months. 2012. Thanks to Julie Hedlund for coming up with the idea. It is just what I need to keep me focused on WRITING :D Julie has even set up a facebook page and haven for the 12x12 in 2012 participants for support and accountability! Again, just what I need :)

I am really excited for the coming year. So writer friends, what is your 2012 pre-new year's writers resolution? :D

Organization Spot Light: I Inspire Inc

2011-12-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

I Inspire is a non-profit organization that uses the motivational power of the arts with interactive technologies and educational tools to bring comfort to the sick, promote volunteerism and inspire local communities to come together for positive change.

One of their programs that I love is the Bedtime Stories Reading program. In this program, they go to hospitals and read to children who are sick. Read more about the program here and watch the video of their volunteers in action! :)

New Author Blog Hop! Winners!!!!

2011-12-01T22:20:00.000-08:00

This hop has been a blast! I have found some books that I am definitely interested in :D :D I want to thank everyone for participating in my first time hosting a hop. I want to congratulate all the new authors on the list!!!! *YAY* I also want to thank Michelle for co-hosting the hop!

Now, here are the winners of the hop!

The winner of either Heather McCorkle's The Secret of Spruce Knoll or Stephanie Worlton's Hope's Journey.

Claire Hennessy

The winner of the Author Interview on Of Thoughts and Words:

Patricia Lynne and her book Being Human.

The winner of one free book from the New Author Blog Hop list:

Komal Kant

Congrats to the winners!!!! :D

Gratitude Hop Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-28T22:42:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Gratitude Giveaway is ......................... (in my opinion you are all winners. I have been introduced to so many wonderful charities that are helping children and families because of all of your support and participation in this giveaway. so that you all from the bottom of my heart :)

And the winner is.......

Maureen!!!!!

She chose the EASTER SEALS for her prize of $25 to be given to. :)

Congratulations Maureen and thank you so much!!

New Author Blog Hop! 11/23/11-11/30/11

2011-11-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the New Author Blog Hop!

For the next week, hop along to the following new authors and get to know more about them and their newly published books. Below is the link to the requirements I posted on the initial post. Also, I would like to thank Michelle over at http://flickspicks1.blogspot.com/ (check out her blog!) for co-hosting the blog hop!

Rules: http://worddiaries.blogspot.com/2011/10/calling-new-authors-and-book-lovers.html

And wait, there is more!

I will be checking out all the blogs participating. At the end of the hop, two authors will win one of two prizes :)

A) an interview and book giveaway hosted by Of Thoughts and Words :)

B) their choice of one book from the list of participant authors! Yes, after hopping through all the blogs, if you find a new author/book you really like, it will be yours!

I have not read many *NEW* authors this year. However the one that stands out the most for me because I absolutely loved it was The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle. One word everyone, Uh-Mazing!!!! :D

Book Blurb: It’s hard enough being a teenager under normal circumstances; imagine being orphaned, sent to live with an unfamiliar aunt—and learning that there really is magic in the world. Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with her aunt. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with “channelers”—a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands.

Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they~and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Now, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, who shows her being a channeler isn’t all bad; in fact, it’s kind of cool.

As Eren and Aiden’s relationship blooms, so too does a mystery in Spruce Knoll. The town holds many secrets—and many enemies. It soon becomes apparent that the untimely death of Eren’s parents was no accident and that her life might be in danger, too. Only time will tell if young, inexperienced Eren has the power to protect the people she has come to love.

Another author I would like to give a shout out to is Stephanie Worlton and her book Hope's Journey.

Cover blurb:
A couple since their sophomore year, Sydney and Alex are looking forward to graduation and a bright future together. Sydney is straight-A student trying to decide between college scholarships and Alex is a quiet jock preparing to serve a mission. Both active members of the LDS Church, their hopes and dreams painfully fade when they learn that Sydney is pregnant. The very foundations of their faith are shaken, as is their relationship. Separately, they venture through confusion, self-doubt, and failure as they learn the value of forgiveness and try to piece their broken lives back together.

get the InLinkz code

Book Giveaway Winner: Master of the Jinn by Irving Karchmar

2011-11-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to

Patricia Tilton!!!!

You have won a copy of Irving Karchmar's novel: Master of the Jinn

Monday's Muse: Book Buzz!!

2011-11-21T18:52:00.000-08:00

Last week I had the honor of reviewing a really wonderful book that is soon to be release. Ellen's Broom by Kelly Starling Lyons. This book was right on time. We have so much to be grateful for as a nation. We have come a very long way. Some of you may remember I interviewed Kelly and her book, "One Million Men and Me." Well, her newest book will be released on January 5th 2011 but you can pre-order it on Amazon here. her newest picture book set in the reconstruction era. Before I post my review let me just tell you, I LOVE it!! I can't wait to have Kelly stop by during her book tour of Ellen's Broom which will be on the 12th of January!!!! My review is below the summary :)

Summary of Ellen's Broom

Ellen always knew the broom resting above the hearth was special. But after it's announced in church that the marriages of former slaves will be registered and made legal, she hears more about why it matters so much. For her mama and papa, who could be sold away at a master's whim and whose union had no legal protection, jumping the broom was a way to show their commitment to being husband and wife. Now, as the whole family travels to the courthouse dressed in their best, Ellen carries the broom with them. With love, ingenuity and pride, she finds a way to celebrate her parents' right to be legally married and remember their past.

History and Traditions: Ellen’s Broom by Kelly Staring Lyons

Traditions are a wonderful way to remember history and how far we have come as a community and a nation. In Ellen’s Broom, one such tradition is portrayed. In the old days when many African Americans were slaves and at the mercy of their white slave masters, the sanctity of marriage was not protected or even viewed as legal. Slave husbands and wives could be torn apart and their families separated. One tradition some were allowed to have during a wedding ceremony was “jumping the broom.” That was a way an enslaved couple could prove their commitment to one another. Of course that was no proof in the eyes off the law.

When slavery ended, many married couples went to the courts and finally got marriage certificates to prove they were married. But there is something very sweet and endearing about the tradition of jumping the broom. The slaves did not let the law stop them for doing what they saw was their God given right, to marry. While there is no need for the tradition as a means of proving the validity of our marriages, the history behind the tradition shows a people’s strength against very hard odds. As an African-American, I’d love to see such traditions carry on. Ellen’s Broom beautifully illustrates how this tradition began and how important such traditions are to respect and protect.

Ellen’s Broom is told through the voice of Ellen, a young girl, as she witnesses her parents become legally husband and wife. She has always heard the story about the broom above her fireplace but when she realizes the importance as she watches married ex-slave couples get marriage certificates, including her mother and father, she decides it is only right that her parents jump the broom again to celebrate. But her father thinks the tradition is from the past and that it should stay there now that they are free. But Ellen reminds him how important the broom is and vows she will “jump the broom” when she grows up and gets married too.

I’m with Ellen; some traditions are worth keeping! J

The Gratitude Blog Hop and Giveaway!

2011-11-17T08:28:00.000-08:00

I would like to thank Iamareadernotawriter and all-consuming books for hosting this giveaway. I have so much to be grateful for and sometimes, I don't think I always show it. But I praise God for all His wonderful blessings on me and my family. I praise Him for all the wonderful friends He has sent my way through good times and difficult times. I thank Him for my health, my wealth and my life.

For this giveaway, I will donate 25 dollars to the winner's favorite charity. I only ask that the charity deals with either children and families of abuse/addiction, homelessness, poverty or children's education.

I will also send a children's book to a child in need on the winner's behalf. Winner may choose where the book should be sent to, ie to a shelter, library or to them so they can give it to a child in need.

Please leave a comment below with name and contact info so that I may contact you if you are the winner :)

Warm Fuzzies: Weeks Four: Why I Write!

2011-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Warm fuzzies blogfest

This is the last week of the Warm Fuzzies Blogfest. I know, I’m sad too. It has been a lot of fun celebrating writing and writers and our passion for the craft. J The past weeks we talked about how tough it can be being a writer. But this week we will talk about why it’s worth it. So why do we write? Why do we put up with the difficulties, the anguish, the fear and the rejections?

Well, I for one write because I love it. Writing makes me happy. I love penning my thoughts and ideas on paper. I love creating worlds and characters that are nothing like me (and some that are. J) I also like sharing my stories with others. I know I still have a long way to go before I’m publishing ready, but I still get warm fuzzies when I read my stories and when others read them and like them too!

So tell me, why do YOU write? What makes it worthwhile?

Here’s a short piece from a story called, “The Cave of Crystals.”

Muna adjusted her breathing mask. It was getting harder and harder to breathe as the exploration party climbed deeper into the cave. At first, the climb was a rather gentle slope, then, after about six miles, they came to a steep climb.

“Hurry up, Muna” her brother shouted down at her. “I don’t want you getting lost or left behind.”

Muna took a few more breaths, deep and slow and then continued the climb. She grabbed on to the rope and began hammering spikes into the rock. Each pound echoed in the dark cave.

“Muna!” he shouted.

“I heard you, I’m fine. I just needed to take a breather.”

She looked up. Her brother’s helmet light was beginning to get dimmer and dimmer. She had to keep up. She had to push on. Muna needed to prove she was capable of taking care of herself. Though she was an excellent scientist and geologist, her father had forbidden her to go on the search for the legendary cave of crystals, and since it was his money funding the project, she had to abide by his request. With the help of her mother and brother, Rashid, however, she was able to convince her father that her being present would best serve the success of the project. Muna stopped thinking about her father and continued to climb, one step after the next.

“Clink, clink,” the metal to rock echoed around her. It was getting hotter in the cave. She wiped a trickle of sweat from her brow and loosened her scarf a bit. She checked her thermometer. It was reaching 53 degrees Celsius, humidity 100%. She had six more hours of air coolant and her suit still had over 75 % of its ice cubes sealed in the lining of her suit to help keep her cool. She needed to reach the site in less than 2 hours, if she was going to get accurate testing results and samples of the legendary Butah Crystals.

Just as Muna lifted her spike to hammer in another nail, she felt a slight tremor. The rope swayed a bit and a few small rocks loosened sending specks of dirt falling onto her head and arms. Moments after the tremor, she heard a low rumble. A moment later, another tremor rocked the cave. This time, one of the spikes came a loose sending Muna swinging along the face of the stone rocky cavern. She banged against the rock face a couple of times until she caught hold of a protruding rock. She clung to the rock, breathing heavily, gasping for air.

“Muna!” she heard her brother call. “Muna.”

She could not see anything and she was beginning to loose air in her suit. She could hear a low hissing sound as the air seeped out of as a result of crashing into the ragged rocks. She felt a tug on her rope. She was moving, upward.

“Hurry, Rashid,” she barely whispered.

Her eyes slowly closed as the air in her suit hissed. The last thing she saw was a dim light approaching her.

Teaser Tuesday (5)

2011-11-15T21:11:00.000-08:00

Here's another little teaser from "The Protected Bloodlines."

Batu and Yuli sat in the food court watching a few Mat’hool interacting. They spoke in low, garbled voiced, barely intelligible. Batu sat back in his chair and watched them, he then turned and looked at Yuli. He had always grown up quite sheltered, he never traveled with the Shanti war parties or interacted with other races. The furthest he ever went was sailing to the other side of the great sea in search for wild wilder beast to breed into his herd and even still, he ran into other Shanti from other clans and tribes. But Yuli had grown up on a trading post, where he met a diverse amount of people and cultures from the far reaches of his galaxy and beyond. He even learned to pick up words from the different languages that his many customers spoke. The boys sat and tried to listen to the Mat’hool.

“Anything?” he asked Yuli.
Yuli shook his head, “Nothing. I got nothing. I don’t think I have ever met a changeling before until I got to Sumatra.”
“I wonder….” he said cocking his head, “nah, probably not.”
“What?” Yuli asked.
“Well, I wonder if they have children and what a young Mat’hool looks like.”
“I do not know, maybe just a smaller blob of goo?” Yuli guessed.
“I wonder if they would think I am being rude if I asked.”
“I think so,” a voice said nearby. The boys jumped. Startled, they looked around and behind them.
“No, over here,” another voice said.

This time, Batu’s chair turned into a thick fluid. Batu yelled as he started to sink into the chair. He struggled to get out be was stuck. Yuli jumped up and tried to pull him out but the table they sat at swallowed him whole.

Monday's Muse: I'm an emotional wreck!

2011-11-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

Yes. This dang cold and sore throat has got me in a pretty emotional state, which is making it really hard to concentrate on writing! It didn't help that I've been listening to a couple of songs that really got me thinking about my mom, especially this last song I listened to. She passed away four years ago losing a battle against cancer. Well, it's probably a good thing I didn't go in to work today! Before a break down into another ball of tears, here are the songs: I'm Already There by Lonestar and "You Can Let Go Now, Daddy" by Crystal Shawanda. I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday and work week. Happy Writing!

This song really moves me, well, actually a few my characters who are having to come to grip that they have to now fly alone to a new home world leaving behind some family and friends behind on a dying planet Earth.

This is such an emotional song. I am grateful I still have my daddy though it did make me cry for my mom. Those were the last words she said to her mother on her death bed and it was the last words we said to her on hers (that and the kalamatan. It is a Muslim tradition that on the death bed of a Muslim to repeat with or for them the Kalamatan which are I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His messenger.) There must be something soothing in those words for a parent on the thresh hold of moving on, knowing that there children will be alright without them, leaving their children in God's trusting hands.

Giveaway Hop Winner!!!!

2011-11-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

Yay!! The winner of the $25 Barnes & Noble gift card is...................

!!!!!!Kelsey O!!!

Congratulations Kelsey!

Happy Reading :D

Author Interview and Book Giveaway: Irving Karchmar: Master of the Jinn

2011-11-11T14:10:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! It is an honor and pleasure to introduce to you another wonderful author, Irving Karchmar, author of Master of the Jinn, a Sufi novel.

Without further ado, welcom Bro Irving! Can please tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am the son of Holocaust survivors who came to America in 1948. I was actually born in newly built American Army Hospital of a DP Camp, a Displaced Persons Camp in Germany just after WWII. In fact, I use that as a scene in Master of the Jinn. I have also been a writer, editor and magazine publisher most of my working life, and dabble in poetry :) In 1992, I was initiated as a darvish of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order, and began writing Master of the Jinn six months later.

What inspired you to write Master of the Jinn?

I was participating in majlis, our twice weekly meeting, saying my zekr in a meditation circle, and the idea came to me without my thinking about it. Of course, I had read about King Solomon and his ring, which according to legend controlled the men and Jinn, birds and animals. But it was at that moment that I thought a modern day story of searching for the original ring of power, would make a good novel, especially from a Sufi point of view.

Please explain the term, Sufi?

A Sufi is dervish, or darvish in Persian, who practices a mysticism that we believe is the heart of Islam, and involves spiritual poverty, that is, not being attached to anything, loving-kindness, honesty, generosity, charity,etc, in other words, all the legendary qualities of the Prophet (SAW). Rumi, Attar, Junayd, Hallaj and Bayazid were famous Sufis of the past, as were, ibn Arabi and Al-Ghazzali.

Can you give us a little description of your novel, Master of the Jinn?

From the book’s back cover: Master of the Jinn is a tale set on the Path of the Heart, a mystical adventure wherein a modern-day Sufi master sends seven companions on a quest for the greatest treasure of the ancient world - King Solomon's ring. It is the very same seal ring of a hundred legends, given to King Solomon by God to command the Jinn, those terrifying demons of living fire.

By sea and across deserts, they are led by a strange faqir guide of many names. Through the mightiest of storms and into a lost city, the travelers come at last to the gateway of the Subtle Realm, the land of the Jinn.

But the quest has a strange effect on everyone chosen to go: visions enter their dreams, remembrances and tears fill their hearts, and mysteries abound; unearthly storms and unending night, the Gates of Heaven open at last, and invincible demons of smokeless fire.

It is a tale woven of ancient legends found in the Old Testament, the Talmud, and the Koran, and although it is set in the present, the search for the truth of the ring leads them into a circle of ageless destiny, where the companions discover not only the fate of the Jinn, but also the Path of Love and the infinite Mercy of God.

What are the main themes one will find in Master of the Jinn?

The main theme is taken from the loving kindness of the Sufi path, and I try to show what life is like in a khaniqah, a Sufi house. Another theme is the adab, or good manners and courtesy we show to each other and our guests, and the states and stations of love that are inculcated into the heart as one progresses on the path. Of course, the quest, and the mystery of the Jinn are a great part of the overarching theme, but underlying it all is the infinite mercy of God. Readers find many themes in the book, and upon rereading it, I have been told, find even more :)

Was it difficult researching the topic of your novel?

Yes, there is really not much material on the Jinn, though I researched it for a long time, and tried to incorporate the legends I found in various sources. There was more information on the archeological aspect of the tale, as well as Tuareg tribal life in the Sahara, The rest came from my fertile and overactive imagination :)

While you researched topics for Master of the Jinn, did you ever get into any type of situations, be it funny, embarrassing or even a misunderstanding?

Not while I researched topics, but since publishing Master of the Jinn, I do get inquiries every once in a while that might be considered a misunderstanding, like asking if I am the Master of the Jinn, or if I have King Solomon’s ring, or if I can contact the Jinn to help them with their love life. When I tell them the story came mostly from my imagination, they think I am just keeping the secret for myself. Also, some orthodox Muslims consider all fiction just another word for writing lies, so I have had some comments like that also.

What was your favorite chapter to write? Why?

I think my favorite chapters were the first and the last, which I wrote right after getting the idea for the book. I knew immediately how it would begin and end, I have no idea how, except to say that it came fully formed into my head, as if sent from above.

Can you share with us your road to writing and publishing Master of the Jinn?

Writing Master of the Jinn took 12 year in total. The first five years were devoted to writing the first draft, which is really misleading, since I wrote it on a word processor and rewrote each sentence about a hundred times. There were also long periods of time between chapters, when I had no idea what came next. Finally I had a first draft, then it took another few years of sending it out, having it rejected, re-editing it, sending it out again, etc, until technology caught up with my intention and I could publish it myself inexpensively.

Master of the Jinn has been translated into many languages; just how many languages has the novel been translated into so far?

Master of the Jinn has been translated into six languages so far, including Russian (Povelitel dzhinnov), Turkish (Cinlerin Efendisi), Indonesian (Sang Raja Jin, German (Meister der Jinn), Croatian (Gospodar demona) and Spanish (El Maestro de los Jinn).

It is also being translated into Malayalam, the language of the Kerala state of India, Urdu, Bengali, and Malay.

Who has been the most influential in your life and writing?

The most influential in my life would be my father and mother, my children and grandchildren, and the Master of the Sufi Order I belong to. All good work is for them and because of them. I try to follow the admonition to keep the thought of everything you love in everything you do, which I think came from the elves in Lord of the Rings, but is also a mystical proverb. As for my writing, Tolkien, Frank Herbert, who wrote the Dune series, Idris Shah’s Tales of the Dervishes and other works, and countless works of fantasy and sci-fi. What I really like in writing is a truly unique style that works in the story being told. I wrote Master of the Jinn in a modernized “adab” style, which is the flowery poetic style of the original Arabian Nights and much ancient Muslim literature.

Are you currently working on anything now? Will there be a sequel to Master of the Jinn?

InshAllah, there will be sequel to Master of the Jinn, entitled Tale of the Jinn, but it is a very slow process. I might never be allowed to finish it. Like all things in a Sufi’s life, it is up to Allah.

What is something you wish you had known about the publishing industry before you became a published author?

I wish I had fully realized the relentless commercialism of modern publishing. Of course I was sending a manuscript to literary agents and book publishers about engaging and heroic Muslim character just after 9/11, so my timing could have been better lol. But the paradigm is changing with self-publishing so readily available, and Ebooks growing by leaps and bounds. It is a new day in publishing, or at least the first light of dawn of a new day :)

What advice would you give for those who wish to self-publish?

I would tell anyone who wants to self-publish to try the difficult path first, that is, send the manuscripts to literary agents that you have researched and know they handle your kind of book. It is much easier to find a good agent and let them do the legwork. And if you do self-publish, build a good website, and use social media and/or a blog to promote your work. It is a long journey, and you have to believe in your book to take it on.

Thanks so much for taking time out of your schedule and sharing your journey with us! I look forward to your next book! :D For more information about his book, check out his website and his blog called Darvish. And now everyone, on to the book giveaway. Fill out the form below for a chance to win a copy of Irving Karchmar's novel, Master of the Jinn!
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Tuesday Tunes: StarGaze - Hubble's View of The Universe

2011-11-08T23:47:00.000-08:00

I have been using this video and a few others in this series for inspiration for my current Nano project :) Enjoy!

Warm Fuzzies: Weeks 3 Character Arc

2011-11-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

It's week three of the Warm Fuzzies Blog Fest hosted by Juliana L Brandt. This week's challenge is about character arcs. Here is the challenge in her own words:

Take a moment to look at the trouble you get your MC into. How do you kick them while they’re down? Without revealing too many secrets about your WIP- take us through your MC’s arch. Visit as many blogs as you can and based on their exert/summary, come up with a title for their WIP. Your title can be funny or serious, whatever you’d like.

So here is one of my WIP. It's a children's picture story :)

Meet Meepo. He loves to play space ball, just like his older brother Ashee. His brother Ashee plays very well. Meepo does not. In fact, when he tried out for the school team, he played so bad the coach sent him away, “Why don’t you find another sport to play,” the coach barked. Meepo’s father and brother suggest he goes to a Space Ball Camp. Meepo hesitates. But once there, he finds that there are some kids who play better than him and some who are just as bad as him. Meepo met a few friends and many more bullies who teased him when he gave up. On a walk he comes across a famous ex-space ball player who makes a potion that will make Meepo a great player. The old player warns that the potion is dangerous and will only solve his problem temporarily. But Meepo only thinks about being a strong and fast player. He takes the potion and finds that his new ability is not what he expected or wants!

So, can you guess the name of this story? :D

This week's giveaway is a nice little book of inspirational quotes: Random Acts of Kindness - An Illustrated Celebration

Giveaway Hop!!!

2011-11-07T23:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome to The November Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Co-hosted by Tristi Pinkston.

This hop runs from Tuesday, November 8th through Friday, November 11th.

200 blogs are each hosting a giveaway for something a reader, author or blogger would enjoy, so be sure to check them out!

Giveaway Closed!

Warm Fuzzies: Weeks one and two WINNERS! :D

2011-11-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

Sorry I'm getting a late start on this. BUT Here are the winners of the last two weeks of the Warm Fuzzies Blog Fest, a month long celebration of writers and writing.

Week One: You're A Writer?!? (best/worst/most unique response you've received)

   Winner:

   Susanna Leonard Hill

Week Two: Guess My WIP

This week there was a tie :D

   Winners are:

   Deana and Tasha Seegmiller

So ladies!!! Go ahead and pick from my bookshelf the book of your choice. :)

Teaser Tuesday (4)

2011-11-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

Teaser Time!! So last week I did not post a teaser due to a blog hop I was a part of. So this week, I will post a longer tease to read through :) Enjoy!

*********************************************

Shayhu grabbed his communicator, “Engineering, you have forty minutes to get the thrusters back online

before we head straight into a ......”

Before he could complete his demand, the ship jerked violently throwing everyone to the floor. The ship

came to a halt. Shayhu climbed back into his chair.

“What was that?” he said.

Shumee checked his console as he sat back down in his chair.

“A tractor beam,” he said,” something has caught hold of us and pulling us out of the asteroid belt.”

“On screen,” Shayhu said.

Two large ships on both sides of the Hablas had tractor beams locked on them. Once safely outside the

belt the ships unlocked their tractor beams. For a moment no one moved.

“What do you think,” Yuli asked looking back at Shayhu, “friend or foe.”

Static came over the ship’s communication.

“Hablas. You have one of our people on your ship. Lower your weapons and prepare to be boarded.”

Before Shayhu could stand up, six armed beings appeared before them on the bridge. Their pale faces looked like polished stone. The smallest being easily stood two heads above Batu. The Mat’hool guards pulled out their weapons to fire them, but their weapons did not work; they seemed jammed.

“Lower your weapons, Mat’hools. We are not here to harm the Sahabeeyeen or the Hablas crew. We merely wish to reclaim the daughter of our leader.”

“How do you know who we are?” Yuli asked.

The beings looked at him. “We have been watching each and everyone of you from the moment Shayhu entered our part of the universe. We have been waiting a long time for the coming of the seekers.”

“Seekers?” Yuli asked.

“Yes, the pious seekers who would join the protected bloodlines and gather the Sahabeeyeen from the four corners of the eastern universe.”

“We meant you no offense if we have taken someone who belongs to you. Please accept our apologies,” Shayhu said extending his arm.

“Your apologies are acceptable. Where is Nusa?” dismissing the gesture.

Everyone stopped and looked at the large wingless beings.

“Nusa is a Naqabashi, how does she belong to your people?” Shumee asked suspiciously.

Tuesday Tunes: Live Like You Were Dying

2011-11-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

This song really touches my heart because it encourages people to really think about what living life really means. As someone who is religious I believe we are all living on borrowed time and that one day we will all return to our creator. I was raised to live my life in a way that was not just beneficial for me but for others as well. While I may work to pay my bills, enjoy the good things life has to offer but to also share my wealth, knowledge talents and time with others. I think the biggest thing I would do if I had a chance to do it all over again would definitely be to become a better friend, a better sibling, a better teacher and a daughter and a better believer.

What would you do with the last precious moments of your life?