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You are now entering the world of my thoughts.

This blog is my diary of works in progress. The only way a writer can improve upon her skill is to practice, practice and practice some more. Here, in this place of quiet peace, I pen to paper my thoughts and creativity. Welcome to my world.

Copyright © 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 SN Taylor, All Rights Reserved

Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year Giveaway Hop: 1/1/13-1/8/13


Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Babs Book Bistro January 1st - 7th 2013

A wish and a prayer

Another Year Has Passed,
Another Year Has Come.
In All Things,
God's Will Be Done.
With Every New Year,
Comes Greater Challenges And Obstacles In Life.
I Wish You Courage And Determination,
I Pray You Hope And Faith
To Overcome All The Hurdles You Face.
May God Pour Love And Care,
Patience And Wisdom On You.
May You Have A Great Year
And A Wonderful Time Ahead.
God Bless You.


 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu



Author: Marie Lu
Published: Nov 2011
Publisher: Putnam 
4 ****

This was a good and easy to read story. I read it in one night.  

I liked Day's personality and character although I was a bit disappointed in the way some of his story/situation turned out. I thought that for a guy who was good at staying under the radar, he got captured way too easily. 

June was my favorite character. Her growth and awareness about the true nature of her 'government' felt realistic to me. Her transition from hate to like/understanding was actually endearing. The author did a really good job showing June's growth and learning. 

The world building was neat and clean. Sometimes I feel like many authors don't spend much time on creating a believable world or else they spend too much time, boring me silly with mundane details. 

My favorite thing about the book in general, little to no romance, ie, sex. There was one scene where Day and June kiss but that was it. So it is one that I would actually recommend. There is however quite a bit of violence so maybe only recommend it to a mature teen.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Best of 2012 Blog Hop and Giveaway


Best of 2012 blog hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer from the 27th to the 31st. 

As with all the blog hops I participate in, please feel free to jump to the other blogs to check out their prizes :)

For my prize, I am giving away a collection of bookmarks that I have received from some really awesome authors as well as some fun bookmarks that I have collected over time. Hopefully these bookmarks will happily keep your place in your favorite books of the coming year of 2013 :)

Here is a short list of the best books I read this year :)

Tea Cakes for Tosh by Kelly Starling Lyons (Picture Book)

Tankborn by Karen Sandler (Young Adult)

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton (Young Adult)

Dark Life by Kat Falls (Middle Grade)

The Inventions of Cabret by Brian Selznik (Middle Grade)

Ellen's Broom by Kelly Starling Lyons (Picture Book)

Allah to Z by Sam'n Iqbal (Picture Book)

The Silent Sea by Clive Cussler (Adult)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, December 17, 2012

Cover Reveal: Free Souls by Susan Kaye Quinn

Free Souls by Susan Kaye Quinn
(Book Three of the Mindjack Trilogy) Now Available!
When your mind is a weapon, freedom comes at a price.
Four months have passed since Kira left home to join Julian’s Jacker Freedom Alliance, but the hole in her heart still whistles empty where her boyfriend Raf used to be. She fills it with weapons training, JFA patrols, and an obsessive hunt for FBI agent Kestrel, ignoring Julian’s worries about her safety and repeated attempts to recruit her for his revolutionary chat-casts. When anti-jacker politician Vellus surrounds Jackertown with the National Guard, Kira discovers there’s more to Julian’s concerns than she knew, but she’s forced to take on a mission that neither want and that might be her last: assassinating Senator Vellus before he can snuff out Julian’s revolution and the jackers she’s come to love.
All of the Mindjack stories are available on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, and iTunes (Note Free Souls is not yet available on Kobo or iTunes)
Early Praise for Free Souls
“Quinn paints a picture of a not-too-distant America where politicians inflame the hatred of one section of the populace for another—all for their own gain—and you worry that her world is not so far off from our own.”
Dianne Salerni, author of We Hear the Dead, The Caged Graves, and the forthcoming The Eighth Day
"Free Souls starts with a bang and doesn't let up. Like a mash-up of all your favorite science-fiction adventures from Star Wars to The Legend of Korra, it blends nonstop action, nail-biting escapes, and great romance. I absolutely loved it! A great series conclusion—a must-read."
Leigh Talbert Moore, author of Rouge and The Truth About Faking
“Susan did it again. Free Souls was WOW! I expected Kira to step up to her role as heroine but not like this. Surprises kept coming until the very end which tied up more loose ends than I knew existed. Warning: Don't start reading until you have time to finish. I didn't want to put Free Souls down for a second. It's that kind of book.”
Sher A. Hart, Goodreads Review
Interview Susan's over at Amy Saunder's blog today (12.14.12), answering questions about how she came up with the mages' abilities, what kind of mage she would be, and all about her future works. Digital Box Set Since Free Souls is out, there is now a Digital Box Set of the Mindjack Trilogy for those of you who want the whole series!
Available on AmazonBarnes&Noble
Mindjack Origins Collection Want more Julian? Wondering how Sasha's ability really works? Looking for EXCLUSIVE DELETED SCENES from Free Souls? This collection of novellas, scenes, and other goodies is for those craving a bit more of the characters and drama of the Mindjack series.
Includes: Mindjack Novellas Mind Games (Raf's story) The Handler (Julian's story) The Scribe (Sasha's story) TWO EXCLUSIVE DELETED SCENES from Free Souls (published nowhere else!) PLUS Mindjack flash fiction, an (imaginary) conversation between Raf and Julian, and other goodies for readers who want just a little bit more of Kira, Julian, Raf, and the Mindjack crew.
Available on AmazonBarnes&Noble
ENTER TO WIN one of FIVE ecopies of the Mindjack Origins Collection
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, December 14, 2012

Book Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Author: Kristin Cashore
Published: Oct 2008
Publisher: Harcourt

My Review:

I heard a lot of good things about Graceling and for the most part is was a good story but I was not completely taken by the characters. There were too many aspects of the story I did not like.

Katsa is a Graceling, a person with amazing powers of strength and survival. That much is very well written in the story. However, her character changed quite drastically for my taste from a cautious, easily angered killer/torturer to someone totally taken by a strange guy, who is also a graceling, she only just met.

Her relationships were intense. The only ones that felt real to me were her relationship with her uncle and cousin. Her uncle she hated, her cousin she loved. I did not get her relationship with Po. I get that she liked Po because he was cute and truly her equal when it came to fighting but I did not get the relevance of their relationship as lovers in the story, for me it did not serve a purpose to move the story along. In the end what got Po to push himself to survive after a failed attempt against King Leck was not the thought of Katsa but his enemy, Leck.
Even the issue with the ring did not (in my opinion) did not require her becoming sexually intimate with Po. But, I got through the laborous love scenes in the forest and once that happened the story itself actually picked up and was really good.

Katsa reminded a little bit of Katniss in The Hunger Games in that she is a strong young woman coming into her own powers when she has to protect Bitterblue and Po but then she also at times reminded me of Tris in Insurgent very erratic and emotionally immature.

I did have my favorite characters and scenes though, I loved Bitterblue and Katsa's cousin, Raffin. And the scene where she learns how to call Po using her mind, PRICELESS! I laughed for days :D

While this was not my favorite book, if you liked The Hunger Games and Divergent/Insurgent, I think you will like Graceling

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Author Interview: Tameka Fryer Brown



Happy Thursday everyone!

It has been a while but I'm finally catching up :D Here is a wonderful author I would love to introduce to you all! Tameka Fryer Brown! I fell in love with her first picture book, Around My Way On Neighbors' Day, a rhythmic tale that celebrates the diversity of a close knit community. Her second picture book, My Cold Plum, Lemon Pie, Bluesy Mood, will be published in March 2013!  

So here she is friends.......... Tameka Fryer Brown

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

    Well, I am--and have been--a lot of things: I'm a wife and mother of three, a children's book author, and an active Montessori parent and volunteer. I have been a medical supplies sales representative, a Montessori teacher's assistant, and a bible school teacher. I'd like to be an illustrator, a singer, and an actress. But for now, those things are just dreams. I haven't yet committed to a plan of action that would turn any of them into goals.
2. When and why did you begin writing?

    I've always loved to write. As a youth, I remember winning a blue ribbon from the Dade County Youth Fair for a poem I wrote, and I also had an open letter published in a local newspaper. But as for the decision to make writing a career choice, that happened in 2005. I was a stay-at-home mom and had been looking for a just-for-me, cerebral type activity to fill a void that had been growing inside me. The idea came to me while reading a picture book to my youngest daughter. I thought to myself, "I can TOTALLY write these." Took a bit longer than I thought to write something worth publishing, but ultimately, my gut instinct was right ,

3. What inspired you to write "Around Our Way On Neighbors Day"?

    This is always a weird question for me to answer, because really, the first draft of this story came to me in that twilight state one enters just before waking up. Before I opened my eyes, I had the rhyme scheme and the first verse worked out. By the end of the day, I had a complete first draft.  The story that ended up being published has a totally different rhyme scheme than the original (which was an ABC book), but the essence remains the same: a rhythmic love story between a young girl and her close-knit, diverse community. 
    But I do think there was a deeper inspiration for this story.
I think my subconscious reached into my childhood memories and brought forth a story inspired by them.
 

4. What are some of your most fondest memories of your neighborhood growing up?

    My fondest neighborhood memories actually come from my Bigmama's (my great-grandmother's) neighborhood. She used to watch me during the day when I was pre-school age, and then after school once I started.  I remember kickball games and jump-roping; learning cheers and forming singing groups that performed for the neighbors; buying frozen cups from the Frozen Cup Lady, as well as Lemon Heads and hot sausages; hoping my Bigmama would give my cousin and I some money for the ice cream truck that had just pulled up outside, and hoping it wouldn't take off before we were able to race down the apartment stairs and get back to it.  I remember respecting adults who I didn't know personally, but who told us to stop doing wrong when we were doing it. I remember everybody in the neighborhood--young and old--calling my Bigmama "Bigmama" too. 

    I think the love and sense of community I experienced at my Bigmama's house provided the emotional blueprint for Around Our Way on Neighbors' Day.

   
5. Can you share with us your publishing journey? What were some of your greatest challenges and how did you overcome them?

    I think the greatest challenge was hanging in there. Although the time that lapsed from my joining SCBWI to selling my fist book was only 3 years (which isn't that long according to many), when you are a perfectionist who can be borderline compulsive, three years full of rejections and almosts can be excruciating.
    I seriously considered ending my publication journey twice in those three years, and both times God sent me a signal that it wasn't time to quit yet.  The first time I was about to stop, I received an offer of representation from Jennifer Rofe at ABLA. The second time, I received a first place award in the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Contest AND got my first book deal, both within a few months of each other. I took the hint.


6. What do you think is one of the biggest mistakes a new writer/author can make and how do we avoid it?

    Not seeking out or listening to professional feedback on one's work is a major mistake. No matter how talented you may be, it is almost impossible to catch all of the issues that exist in your own work. Join up with a critique group that either has some experienced writers, or one where everyone is totally dedicated to growing in their craft. If you write for children, it's best to be in a group that writes for children as well. If it's a genre specific group, that's even better.  Professional paid critiques are options, too. It's a great investment in your craft. Ask around for recommendations, or analyze the service provider's stated criteria and testimonials to find the critique service that best suits you.

    Raw talent only gets you so far in this business. Those who succeed are those who are willing to study and perfect their craft.

7. As a teacher, I am always looking for books to enrich my classroom, how can your book be used in the classroom?

    Around Our Way on Neighbors' Day can be used to foster conversations about community, diversity, and poetry.  The beautiful, expressionist-inspired illustrations by Charlotte Riley-Webb can also be used in a study of art and various artistic styles. There is also a little-known holiday called Good Neighbor's Day (September 28) and AOW would be a great educational companion for informing students about that.   There is also a comprehensive study guide, created by Debbie Gonzales, that provides wonderful discussion questions and great extension activities that is perfect for both teachers and parents.

8. Is there anything you wish you had known when you first started out on your publishing journey?

        I wish I had had a more realistic picture of the marketing aspect of publishing. I think I had a larger expectation of the marketing dollars a publisher would invest in a new author's title than turned out to be realistic. They certainly invest a huge amount to get the book published, but the unknown, unproven author still has a lot of hustling to do to try to get it on the radar of purchasers.

9. What advice do you have for writers who are plagued with writer's block?

    Immerse yourself in the things, people, places that inspire your creativity. And when all else fails, give yourself permission to sit down and write crap. That's hard for me--the perfectionist--to do. Intellectually, though, I totally believe that the mere act of writing is the most creative boon in and of itself.
10. Last but not least, can you tell us three fun facts about yourself? :)
        I love Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, but I am coveting the Maple Glazed, Bacon Doughnut. I've never had one. I want one!
        My outfit of choice is jeans and a t-shirt. Actually, it's my pajamas, but I can't run errands in those, so....
    I don't watch much TV these days, but the one show I make it my business to see is Once Upon A Time.  I got suckered in by a marathon ABC showed one night and now I'm hooked.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

12x12x12 Blog Partay!!!!!!





It is here, the month of December, the finale, the end of the year! For the past 12 months I have put myself to the challenge of writing 12 picture book manuscripts starting from the beginning of the year until December. A manuscript a month!

I am sooooooooooooooo happy to say..........

I DID IT!!!!!


I completed the challenge, though it was a little touch and go. As you can see from my 12x12x12 list, there were a couple of months that I came up empty handed. Thanks to a wonderful, supportive group, the 12x12ers on facebook, I did not let that keep me down. I picked myself up, brushed myself off and pushed on. My favorite month has to be DECEMBER! Again, if you look at my list, I wrote 4 manuscripts this month, the last three all on the same day (the inspiration behind the last three stories are actually quite funny. :D)

To celebrate my triumph, I am gifting a cute notebook/journal for the upcoming....... 12x12 in the year 2013!! So if you are planning on joining the fun, check out Julie Hedlund's blog and don't forget to fill out the rafflecopter!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, December 10, 2012

Giftcard Giveaway Hop 12/11/12 - 12/17/12

Welcome to the Gift Card Giveaway Hop. Big thanks to I am a reader, not a writer and Sweeping Me for hosting this fun-tastic giveaway. a Rafflecopter giveaway As always, this is a hop! So hop along for more exciting giveaways!

Friday, December 7, 2012

PiBoIdMo 2012 in Review



I did it!!!! 

30 picture book ideas in 30 days!!

I can't believe it but it took me close to week to finally realize that I actually did it!

30 ideas in 30 days!

Honestly, it was a lot harder than I thought it would be, I mean really, we did not have to write a draft or complete story, only ideas. Last year, I did not complete the challenge coming out with less than 20 picture book ideas!

What was so different about this year than last?

* I got out more. A few of my ideas made their appearances while I was out walking or driving (I hated the ones that came about during driving because I had no way of writing them down!) Fresh air, nature, and sometimes light rain makes for great creative stimulation, especially on my way to get something to eat :D

* I listened more. Many of my ideas sparked from conversations I either had with folks or overheard (honest, I was not eavesdropping :D) from children, adults, and even teacher's in the resource room talking about the latest hilarious or not so hilarious happenings in their classroom.

* I rested more. Yes, believe it or not, resting all nice and comfy in my bed produces story ideas. But it is only when I'm thiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close to falling asleep. This November was kind of chilly this year so it made snuggling in bed with some quiet music quite easy!

Oh, and all the wonderful motivation, inspiration and encouragement from other PiBoIdMo participants was a HUGE factor in my completing the challenge by the skin of my nose (the last four story ideas came rushing in on the 30th!)

So now I have 30 picture book ideas...... now what?

Stay tuned :D

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Thankful for Books Giveaway Winner!

I would like to congratulate and announce the winner of the Thankful for Books  Blog hop and Giveaway

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

Leanna Hiner

The organization she choose to receive the mystery box of books is VEAP Food Shelf.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Gratitude Giveaway 11/15/12 - 11/25/12


This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. For this hop, I am giving away a ten dollar Amazon Gift Card to say thank you for visiting and following this blog. I have made many friends through my blog and learned so much from everyone who has shared, commented, responded and participated in my many blog posts. Thank you, thank you and thank you :) 

Rule: 
Leave your name, email and how you follow this blog (via email, GFC or twitter)





Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Writers' Charity Auction for the Victims of Hurricane Sandy



What I love most about the writing community is how quickly they set time aside to help others out. Seriously! These wonderful people have come through with their awesome talents and services to raise money to help those affected by some of the worse disasters to date!

Today is not different. I learned via Rach Writes that a group of writers have banded together to raise money to send to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which is helping the survivors of Hurricane Sandy and the long rode ahead of them as they clean up the city and get the people back on the rode to recovery and healing. Visit Jen Malone Writes to learn more about the auction she has organized and check out all the cool things up for bid. :)



Here's how it will work:
Choose any (or all) auctions below to bid on, using the comment box.   If you would like to bid, check the highest bid in the comment box and bid a higher dollar amount along with your contact information (either email, Twitter or Facebook info will work).  The auction will close on Wednesday November 7th at 5 pm EST and bids coming in after this date and time will be voided. Winners will be notified when the auction ends and should be prepared at that time to donate the bid amount directly to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.  Forward your receipt to me and I will put you in touch with the person who donated the service. It will be up to you and the donating party to determine a reasonable timeline in which to redeem your prize if it is a service such as a critique.

So let's all do our part and give to this wonderful cause! Even if you don't win a bid, please consider donating to the Red Cross or any organization that is on the ground helping our East coast neighbors.



Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop! 11/8 -11/13


It's a Book Giveaway Hop!


I have so much to be grateful for. For this hop, I will give away two mystery book prizes, one to the winner and the other will be donated to a non-profit organization, that caters to the care and welfare of children, of the winner's choice.
To be eligible, there is one rule,
 leave a comment below with your name, email and which organization you would like to send a book prize to should you win.
As always, this is a hop so hop along and see what treasures can be found from over one hundred participating blogs. :)
Happy Hopping!
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Thursday, November 1, 2012

Book Review: The Faerie Ring Kiki Hamilton

Title: The Faerie Ring

Author: Kiki Hamilton

Genre:Paranormal/Historical, Young Adult 

Series: The Faerie Ring #1

Hardcover: 343 pages


Publication: September 27th 2011 by Tor Teen / Macmillan 

Buy the book

SUMMARY:
The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…

Review:
I actually like this story and I'm not one who is into the faeries and paranormal type stories. It was a little slow at times due to the fact that the same information was repeated over and over again throughout the story. At one point I started to skim over it. BUT I loved the different twists in the story. Just when I thought I knew who the bad guy was, things turned upside down! I enjoyed the characters Tiki and Rieker. I actually liked Leo as well. But Rieker was a very intriguing character who was very well developed. I wished there was a little more about Tiki and her tattoo :) The author did a really good job in my opinion developing the setting of the story and making it feel authentic as I read it. I felt like I was in London during the 1800's.  I appreciate the lack of 'love interest or triangles' in the story. I have noticed that most if not all YA stories focus so much on the romance angle of a story. I'm action orientated and there was lots of it! Yes, Tiki likes Rieker and he confesses he loves her but that is at the very end of the story. I hope it continues that way in the next book. I have quite a few questions left unanswered which I hope will be answered in book 2: The Torn Wing :)

Monday, October 22, 2012

Monday Muse: Lay vs Lie


Is it just me or does anyone else ever get a little nervous when having to write the word lay vs lie? I usually don't think twice when I'm on the computer because of word check that picks up the grammar mistakes for me. It's when I'm writing for others, like the daily notes I send home to families about their children's day, that I kinda get nervous. The first thing I do is try to remember the rules, is it lay or lie. Is it laid or lie or lay .... and you get my point. I often just reword it so that I don't have to use that verb.

*Sigh*

Well, folks, I'm done. I am going to get this if it is the last thing I do! You know what they say, practice makes perfect! But until then, here is a simple chart with the two verbs in their different forms. :)



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Look into My Eyes

I am happy that my writing group has started up again. I missed the last session and probably would have missed this week's session had it not been for technology (Go Skype!) I was able to attend via skype. Our writing exercise this week was to write about a part of the body. I chose the eye. Below is what I did for the exercise.  Let's just say it was an 'eye-opener' for me!


Pic from here (labeled for reuse)
Look into My Eyes

They say that 'the eye is the window to your soul.'
But can you really know my secrets 
by looking into my eyes?

What do my eyes tell you
when they are filled with tears?

Is it sadness you see,
pent up frustrations, or fears?

What do my eyes tell you
when they rage with fire?

Is it anger you see,
my strong will, passions or desire?

What do my eyes tell you
when they are filled with light?

Is it happiness you see,
or a faith that leads to a path that's right?

My eyes may say many things 
but unless you have the key,
my soul remains locked
for only God and me. 

Copyright © 2012 SN Taylor, All Rights Reserved 



Now, it is your turn. Choose a part of the body and write. :)

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Tweet Nuggets

Check out these tweet nuggets I found.

Updates & Publicity Opportunity for YA Authors 





Just blogged: From the archives — The Fine Art of Reading Aloud, 3b, Picture Books for Emerging ... 





“The Beauty of Small Publishers” 





Monday, October 15, 2012

In the News: IWA IF Stories Contest


I am seriously considering submitting this year. I have been really busy the last few times this contest was offered but this just may push me to actually SIT down and WRITE :D

Anyone up for a serious challenge? :D


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Hashtag Alert: Picture Book #bedtimepicks

Hey everyone, here is a fantastic resource for parents out there who are looking for great bedtime books to read with their children and to also share their great picks with others. This fabtabulous idea comes from Tara Lazar who has been using the hashtag #bedtimepicks to share the books she reads with her children at night.

So, what great #bedtimepicks are YOU reading tonight?



Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Tips from the Pros: 10 ways to improve your writing.....

........ by self-editing

Pic from here

As you all know, editing is not one of my strong points. So, I am always on the look out for books and articles on editing, anything that will help me become a better writer and editor of my own work. I friend passed on this link to an article written by Susan Harkins at Tech Republic. 10+ ways to improve your writing by self-editing. There are about thirteen tips which are quite simple to start me off on my journey to improvement.

The first step I have done: Putting time between me and my work. It has been a few weeks since I typed up my mss on the computer. Putting time between me and my work will allow me to see the work with fresher eyes and therefore able to spot the big and little mistakes.

The second step I am still working on: Read like a reader not and editor. Really? But isn't that what the second + drafts are for? But reading on, I guess I get it. Reading like a reader will first allow me to see if my points in the story were made. If my plot is clear and defined. Story line and arc flows. I get it now. While I will see some errors, it is not so important to put a lot of labor into them at this stage of the editing process.

The third step which is where I am at right now: Simple/Limited Editing. I am going through looking for spelling and grammar mistakes. I am slow with rhymes (my story is in rhyme) so I know this will be something I have to work on in a big way. I may even have to rewrite it in prose to see if it works better. But taking the advice of Susan Harkins, I will stick to limiting my edits until step four. I have made some notes though about changes that I'd like to make :D

to be continued......

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Book Buzz: What Does a Muslim Look Like?

What does a Muslim look like? Do you know? If you walked down your street or through the mall, could you tell if you saw a Muslim? Chances are, you probably wouldn't know if you saw a Muslim.

That is because Muslims come from many different countries and speak many different languages. Muslims wear a variety of ethnic and cultural fashions as well as Western fashions. They enjoy all kinds of sports, participate in a wide range of hobbies and work in every kind of occupational industries from scientists, doctors, professors, chefs, teachers, artists, naturalist, business owners and more!

So what exactly does a Muslim look like? Join Jack and Jane as they find out!


When Jack and Jane make new friends at school, they are surprised to learn that they are Muslim. Their curiosity leads them to discover that Muslims come in all colors and hail from various backgrounds from around the world. Beautifully illustrated by Abdullah Badawy and written with fun rhymes, this book is for children of all ages who want to learn about diversity.

Check out the site for more information about the book.
Also, you may find the book at Amazon and Barnes and Nobles.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tweet Nuggets

Tweet Nuggets to share. Sorry there is not much. I did not have much time this week to come the twitterverse.



Patricia AKA  wants to interview self-published fiction writers.  via  


What To Tell Yourself When You Get a Bad Review via  (A thoughtful post)


The Secrets to Getting More Book Reviews (even if your book is already out)  via 



Member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators