Summer School 2014: Building Character

This summer I am going to summer school!
That's right, Summer School 2014: Building Character with Nerdy Chicks Write.
I need this challenge to reboot my writing and honing my craft. Thanks Nerdy Chicks Write!!!!!

Originally posted by Sudiptabq

Welcome to Summer School 2014: Building Character
Are you looking for a way to keep writing through the dog days of summer?
Do you want to be inspired by some of the best writers in children’s literature?
Join a fun and fabulous community of  people who are as passionate about kidlit as you are!

Enroll in Summer School now! (It’s free!)

What is Summer School?
Summer school is defined as a school or a program that provides lessons during summer vacation. Studies have shown that participation in summer school has substantial beneficial effects on its participants. 

Kidlit Summer School is a four week writer’s workshop that will run from July 21 through August 15. Because we (Kami and Sudipta) both enjoy teaching writing classes, we wanted to find a way to offer craft-based writing advice on a particular topic each summer. Our 2014 course is going to focus on writing great characters.

Read more and register here. I did!!! So what are you doing this summer!

Book Review: The Muslimah Speaks: Her Voice, Her Spirit

The Muslimah Speaks: Her Voice, Her Spirit by Janette Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Muslimah Speaks is a diverse collection of poetry filled strong and powerful voices of women largely unseen and ignored.

There is so much emotion and soul written into the lines of each poem that it was really hard for me to choose which one I liked the best but there were a few that really touched me because I was able to connect personally with the emotion and experience of the poem.

With such a wide range of themes and topics, there is something for everyone. I don't thin anyone will be able to walk away from this collection without at least one poem touching their heart and soul.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Infinity Program by Richard H. Hardy

The Infinity Program

Jon Graeme and Harry Sale are unlikely friends. Harry is a world-class programmer, but his abrasive personality alienates co-workers. In contrast, Jon is a handsome and easy-going technical writer, the low man on the IT totem pole.

Sharing a love of nature, the men set out together, planning to go their separate ways--Jon on a hike and Harry, fly fishing. Three days later, Jon arrives at the rendezvous point, but his friend is nowhere in sight. When Jon finds Harry unconscious on the floor of a cave, Harry claims to have been lying there the entire time. But he is neither cold nor hungry. What Jon doesn't know is that Harry fell into an underground cavern, where he came into contact with an alien quantum computer.

Back at work, Harry jettisons his regular tasks and concentrates exclusively on inventing new operating language to access the alien system. In the process he crashes his office's Super Computer and is fired. Jon convinces the company to give Harry a second chance, arguing that the system he has invented will make them millions.

Jon has no idea what havoc Harry is about to unleash.

 

My Review

 

What I liked: The story was intriguing. I love the idea of using science and technology (an ancient alien one at that ) to fix our environmental problems. Some of the world incidents were kind of funny. I found the characters interesting. Jon I felt was the most fleshed out. While I don't get why he became such good friends with Harry, he was definitely a loyal friend. And I find that honorable. Harry was very mysterious, would have loved to know a little more about him. Lettie was a little harder to connect with. There was an element of romance between Jon and Lettie, but I was happy the author did not focus on it too much. A lot of it was relayed in flashbacks. The ending was brilliant! I did NOT see it coming! :)

 

What I didn't like: There was a lot that went over my head because of the technical jargon used throughout the story. Since I know next to nothing about hyper-computers and its technology, I often found myself skipping over it. At times, it felt like the story moved slowly before something major and interesting happened. Lettie's character was the only one that I could not connect with. It seemed like she was there but played no major role in the story. She was the token female character. There were quite a few typos and grammar mistakes throughout the books, more than I would have like to see in a book.

 

I give it 2 1/2 stars (Goodreads)

We Need Diverse Books

I am joining the campaign and spreading the word! We need diverse books. And we need them NOW! You can join to by visiting http://weneeddiversebooks.tumblr.com/ Let the publishing industry know it is time to diversify the bookshelves!

Of Thoughts & Words www.worddiaries.blogspot.com



Of Thoughts & Words  www.worddiaries.blogspot.com

 

 

 

And the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Digital Gold Award goes to........

And the gold goes to...... 

A Troop is a Group of Monkeys written by Julie Hedlund!!!!!

Congratulations Julie!!!!!!!!!

 

 

About the Book:
A surfeit of skunks, a troop of monkeys, a clutter of spiders.... These colorful and poetic words for animal groups are called collective nouns and children will learn all about them in this rhyming picture book by Julie Hedlund. With beautiful painted illustrations by Pamela Baron, each animal group is brought to life in color-splashed environments sure to fascinate any child. The magnificent illustrations and playful use of language make it perfect for design-savvy parents and inspired gift givers. First published as a series of interactive book apps for the iPad, A Troop is a Group of Monkeys has received much industry praise and was included in the Top 50 Apps for Kids in 2013.

About the Author:
Julie Hedlund is the author of "A Troop is Group of Monkeys," "A Shiver of Sharks" and the upcoming bedtime story "My Love for You is the Sun." Her website, juliehedlund.com, is an incredible resource for writers and her blog posts and resources have helped many an aspiring kidlit writer reach their goals. Julie is the founder of 12 x 12, a forum for authors to kick-start their manuscript writing over the course of 12 months.

About the Award
The Benjamin Franklin Digital Awards honors innovation in electronic book publishing by individuals and organizations of all sizes, including publishers, software developers, designers, manufacturers, institutions, and technology leaders. The definition of “book” continues to expand, and the Independent Book Publishers Association wishes to honor and encourage the field’s innovators with a unique awards program.

Book Blast: The Infinity Program by Richard H. Hardy

The Infinity Program
by Richard H. Hardy 

Jon Graeme and Harry Sale are unlikely friends. Harry is a world-class programmer, but his abrasive personality alienates co-workers. In contrast, Jon is a handsome and easy-going technical writer, the low man on the IT totem pole. Sharing a love of nature, the men set out together, planning to go their separate ways--Jon on a hike and Harry, fly fishing. Three days later, Jon arrives at the rendezvous point, but his friend is nowhere in sight. When Jon finds Harry unconscious on the floor of a cave, Harry claims to have been lying there the entire time. But he is neither cold nor hungry. What Jon doesn't know is that Harry fell into an underground cavern, where he came into contact with an alien quantum computer.

Back at work, Harry jettisons his regular tasks and concentrates exclusively on inventing new operating language to access the alien system. In the process he crashes his office's Super Computer and is fired. Jon convinces the company to give Harry a second chance, arguing that the system he has invented will make them millions. Jon has no idea what havoc Harry is about to unleash.

Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY HTML embed code ($25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash): a Rafflecopter giveaway

Richard H. Hardy's Bio:

  Richard H. Hardy was born in Glasgow, Scotland, during a week of relentless bombing raids just before the close of World War II. The day he was born an incendiary bomb fell on the church across the street from where he lived, so he is fond of saying that he entered the world with a big adrenaline rush. His family later moved to England and then on to America. After college Richard bounced through a series of temporary jobs as he traveled around the country, wanting nothing more than to write fiction. A job driving a library van allowed him free time to write several short stories and work on a novel. He and his wife moved to New Hampshire, where he took an entry level job at a software company. He was soon promoted to the technical writing department and ended up producing over 500,000 words of online documentation. After a few years he was promoted to the programming department and ended up as the Senior EDI Programmer, creating EDI maps and writing UNIX scripts and troubleshooting on AIX systems throughout the U.S. and Canada. After he retired, he started writing fiction again. The Infinity Program is his first published novel.

Format/Price: Paperback ($13.95)
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 250
Release: April 1, 2014
Publisher: Camel Press
ISBN: 9781603819336
Amazon buy link - $13.95

The Infinity Program GoodReads page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20794011-the-infinity-program
Richard H. Hardy's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.hardy.31924

Richard H. Hardy's Twitter: https://twitter.com/rhfh944

Richard H. Hardy's GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7844267.

Richard_H_Hardy Richard H. Hardy's blog: http://richard-hardy.com/blog/

Richard H. Hardy's website: http://richard-hardy.com/

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

The Infinity Program book blast site: http://theinfinityprogram.blogspot.com/

Book Review: A Taste Fur Murder by Dixie Lyle

Book Description:

Introducing an animal-loving Gal Friday with a telepathic cat, a shapeshifting dog, and a ghost of a chance of solving supernatural crime…

Meet Deirdre “Foxtrot” Lancaster. Trusted employee of eccentric zillionairess Zelda Zoransky, Foxtrot manages a mansion, a private zoo, and anything else that strikes her boss’s fancy. Her job title is Administrative Assistant, but chaos handler would be more accurate. Especially after she glimpses a giant ghost-beast in Zelda’s pet cemetery. For some strange reason, Foxtrot is seeing animal spirits. And, ready or not, in this mystery from Dixie Lyle, the fur’s about to hit the fan…
Still reeling, Foxtrot comes home to find her cat Tango—her dead cat Tango—alive and well and communicating telepathically. But that’s not all: There’s an ectoplasmic dog named Tiny who changes breeds with a shake of his tail…and can sniff out a clue like nobody’s business. So when a coworker drops dead while organizing closets, Tiny is on the case. Can Foxtrot and her new companions ferret out the killer among a menagerie of suspects—human and otherwise—before death takes another bite?

My Review

Dixie Lyle is my new favorite detective author! Whiskey, Tango & Foxtrot will be taking shelf space right next to my Cat in the Stacks mystery series.

Foxtrot is an outstanding assistant, cool, calm and collected when chaos knocks on her door. That includes talking dead animals. Foxtrot is called upon to save a graveyard that is more special than she can imagine, and the life of her boss from someone who would do anything to get their hands on the land that the graveyard sits on, that includes murder. With the help of her dead cat, Tango, and shape-shifting ghostly dog, Tiny (aka, Whiskey) you are in for the  supernatural experience of your life! Nothing scary here though! My favorite scene *spoiler alert* is the exchange between Foxtrot and the badger! I laughed so hard I cried! I wont be able to hear the word MUMBLE for a while without cracking up!

Blog Tour: Children of the Knight

Children of the Knight Book Summary:

According to legend, King Arthur is supposed to return when Britain needs him most. So why does a man claiming to be the once and future king suddenly appear in modern-day Los Angeles?

This charismatic young Arthur creates a new Camelot within the City of Angels to lead a crusade of unwanted kids against an adult society that discards and ignores them. Under his banner of equality, every needy child is welcome, regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, or gang affiliation.

With the help of his amazing First Knight, homeless fourteen-year-old Lance, Arthur transforms this ragtag band of rejected children and teens into a well-trained army—the Children of the Knight––where even gay boys and gangsters work side by side. Through his intervention, they win the hearts and minds of the populace at large, and gain a truer understanding of themselves and their worth to society. But seeking more rights for kids pits Arthur and his children squarely against the rich, the influential, and the self-satisfied politicians who want nothing more than to maintain the status quo.

Can right truly overcome might? Arthur’s hopeful young knights are about to find out, and the City of Angels will never be the same.

The Knight Cycle begins . . .

 

 

Michael J. Bowler's Bio:

Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author of three novels - A Boy and His Dragon, A Matter of Time, and Children of the Knight - who grew up in San Rafael, California.

He majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University and earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and another master's in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills.

He partnered with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several ultra-low-budget horror films, including “Fatal Images,” “Club Dead,” and “Things II,” the reviews of which are much more fun than the actual movies.

He taught high school in Hawthorne, California for twenty-five years, both in general education and to students with learning disabilities, in subjects ranging from English and Strength Training to Algebra, Biology, and Yearbook.

He has also been a volunteer Big Brother to seven different boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a thirty-year volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, something that is sorely lacking in this state. He has been honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, California Big Brother of the Year, and 2000 National Big Brother of the Year. The “National” honor allowed he and three of his Little Brothers to visit the White House and meet the president in the Oval Office.

He has already completed the two continuations of Children of the Knight that complete the trilogy - Running Through A Dark Place & And The Children Shall Lead. Both will likely be released in 2014.

 

My Review:

 

I was a little disappointed in this book because it was not what I had anticipated based on the book description.  There was far too much about sex (gender and relationships) and children exploring sexuality for my taste of reading. To be honest, I did not begin to enjoy the story/characters until the very end when there was actually a problem and the children pulled together to face that problem. I was sad at the outcome and even cried for Lance though he annoyed me to bits in the first part of the book.

 

I understand some of the issues the book tried to address, my mom worked as a social worker for years as well as a peace-officer in the juvenile detenction center in our county. So I understand that some children have it really hard and some of the worst things happen to them, so I am not knocking the subject content of the story.

 

The writing and dialogue threw me for a loop until I got the hang of it but it was hard to connect with it. If this had been a non-fiction piece, I could have seen it for what it was, an eye opening awareness of how are current system is unfair and neglectful of children on the streets or already in the system. But the fact that this was fiction, I could not get into the story.

 

I do however, appreciate the author's attempt at exposing the truths of the streets for young disadvantaged children and the lack of empathy from the authorities and society at large.

Book Review: Fireborn: A Dragonborn Novel by Toby Forward

Fireborn: A Dragonborn Novel by Toby Forward
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This story follows the adventures of Cabbage, an apprentice to Wizard Flaxfield, Perry, a roffle, from the Deep World, and Bee, a young girl whose powerful magic is stolen and creates a wild kind of magic that goes on a destructive path that threatens to kill everyone, including her. When the wizard, Flaxfield loses his magic, it is up to Cabbage and Perry to help Bee and stop Slowin and his hungry beetle army and return balance to the world.

When I first began reading Fireborn, I almost did not finish it. The beginning felt disjointed with the different story lines of Bee and Cabbage, it was hard to tell where the story was going. However, once I had a sense of the story arc and plot, I was able put the pieces together and enjoy the story. This was unlike any story about magic that I have ever read, which is great because I don't normally like to read about magic and sorcery.

I can see preteens liking the characters, Cabbage and Perry. They are brave, adventurous, loyal, witty and funny. They are boys from two different worlds, that would rather keep them apart, but they forge a friendship despite the rules in place to separate them. They are the reason I kept reading and cheering for their success. I was a little disappointed in Bee's character and the lack of her presence and journey in the book. I wanted to see more of her the way I experienced Cabbage and Perry.

View all my reviews

Book Blog Tour: Ruby Heart by Christelle Comby

Ruby Heart

When elderly client Doris Hargrave informs private investigator Alexandra Neve that her beloved antique ruby heart necklace has gone missing for the second time in a period of over sixty years, Alexandra knows this is no ordinary jewellery theft. The ruby heart is a family heirloom and the only thing that connects an ailing Mrs Hargrave to her parents, who were murdered during the Holocaust. To solve the case, Alexandra and her business partner, blind history professor Ashford Egan, must sift through obscure Holocaust documents to find out the truth. It’s that way that they learn of a secret World War II-era love affair which could hold the key to all the answers they are looking for. Meanwhile, Egan is under immense pressure from the university to quit his private investigating business, and Alexandra is afraid that a man she trusts will leave her. Again. When Alexandra begins to receive anonymous threats and her flat is vandalized, this all becomes personal. Knowing that there is someone out there to hurt her, Alexandra vows to find that elusive ruby heart if it’s the last thing she ever does.

My  Review:

Alexandra is a struggling PI with a blind university professor as her assistant. Most of her cases range from missing pets to cheating spouses. All of which barely pays her bills. She longs for a real case. She gets it in the form of an elderly woman who's heirloom, a ruby heart necklace is stolen, for the second time in a period of sixty years. This necklace is no ordinary piece of jewelry. It has a historical connection to the holocaust era. In order to solve the case of the stolen necklace, Alexandra and her partner, Ashford, delve into the past to figure out who stole it the first time. Her investigation lands her in a lot of trouble. When her home is sacked, her family threatened, and the only evidence she has linking the past thief to the recent one, Alexandra knows she is close to the truth.

Ruby Heart is the second book in the Neve and Egan series. Having not read the first book in the series, I was afraid I would miss a lot but I was pleasantly surprised that while sometimes references were made to incidents in the first book, they did not confuse or hamper the story line in Ruby Heart. I love a good detective story and this one has been added to my list. I have to admit, I was worried how a blind character could possibly be of any use to a PI but I loved Ash in the story, he certainly can pull his weight if he needs too (and he does :D)

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About the Author:

Cristelle Comby was born and raised in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, in Greater Geneva, where she still resides. Thanks to her insatiable thirst for American and British action films and television dramas, her English is fluent. She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting. Ruby Heart is her second new-adult novel, and she’s hard at work on the next titles in the Neve & Egan series.

Buy Link:
Cristelle Comby's Amazon page

Learn more about the author:
Cristelle Comby's Web Site:
http://cristelle-comby.com/

Cristelle Comby's Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/cristelle.comby
Cristelle Comby's Twitter:https://twitter.com/Cristelle

Cristelle Comby's Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/CristelleComby

Ruby Heart blog tour site:
http://rubyheartblogtour.blogspot.com/

Once Upon A Pitch

So, you find yourself in a conversation with an old friend, co-worker, random stranger and it comes up that you are writing a story. "Oh, what's your story about?" they ask. If you are anything like me, then this dreaded question sends you into shudders, stammers and hyperventilation.

Pitching my work in progress is the hardest thing for me to do. One would think I should be able to pitch my own story but actually, it is hard to give a description of a story without rambling and giving it all away. Well, it is hard for me.

I have joined quite a few groups, blogs and forums, looking for ways to develop the art of pitching books. I get a lot of practice reading other pitches over on Susanna Hill's blog. She has a wonderful weekly blog post called Would You Read It, where writers post a pitch of their work in progress. Readers are given the opportunity to say why they would or would not read a book based on the given pitch. The exercise gives the writer help in tightening their pitches. It is also great for people like me to learn just what makes a good pitch.

But I was even more thrilled a few days ago to find a really super and simple way to pitch a story plot. This wonderful example comes from Mandy over at Picture Book Academy. Her post, Plotting Your Picture Book with a logline or pitch is quite informative. She begins with the basic elements of a character based/plot driven picture book. Then Mandy gives an example of a generic pitch.

Character wants to do something but can’t because there are obstacles. But when something drastic changes or happens, the character is able to do something and solves the problem.

_________________________ wants to _______________________ but can’t because _____________________ .But when _____________________, he/she is able to_________________ and __________ .

Visit Mandy's blog post and download her awesome worksheet that outlines the basic structure of a story pitch.

Happy Pitching!!!
 

30 ideas in 30 days!

Better late than never!!!! :D

 

I did it!!!!

 

 

Yep, November ended with a whopping 30 picture book ideas, 2 of which have been fleshed out to really rough drafts!!

 

My goal for next year? Write, write, write!!! :D

 

Taking a Stroll Down Inspiration Lane

Inspiration is a key ingredient of writers.

We find inspiration in every moment, in every word, and in every feeling. Writers can find inspiration for their stories just about any and everywhere. If you ask any writer or author where they get their inspiration, you will get a whole host of fun and interesting ideas.

Some ideas include:

Take a walk: Nature provides an unlimited source of inspiration. My poem, Autumn Song was inspired by a picture I took on a walk with some friends along Point Defiance Park a few years back. Wind Journey was inspired as I walked around my sister’s university campus.

Take a trip: to the zoo, the park, the beach, (Hawaii) anywhere there are lots of sights, sounds and smells (yes, I said smells. J )

The Coffee Shop: You will find lots of fun and unique characters in a coffee shop. Tully's has a delightful Macha Green Tea Latte, so my sisters and I often go. Next to our table I noticed an older gentleman sketching in a notepad from a fashion magazine. Then I saw him look around then begin to sketch the environment of the coffee shop. It was really neat to watch. I also got a poem out of it! 

Magazines and newspapers: Magazines usually have a lot of beautiful pictures that inspire the writer’s soul. Newspapers are a fun way to create a story out of headlines and want adds J

Other books and authors: are also a great source of inspiration.

Daily life/events: What’s the saying, ‘write what you know’ who knows your life, your family, your kids, your friends, co-workers better than you do? Some of my poems and stories were inspired things children said or did in my classroom or things other teachers said happened in their classrooms. 'When Baby Has A Bad Day,' was inspired by, yes a baby in my classroom who was having a really bad day!

Pictures: Old photos, paintings, illustrations, doodles and more offer a wonderful source of inspiration for writers. My flash fiction piece, ‘The Dark Side’ was inspired by a picture of the moon I took some years ago.

Inspiration is everywhere for the taking and for the giving J What will inspire you today?

PiBoIdMo is here!

I love November! So much happens in this month for writers.

1. National Novel Writing Month
2. National Picture Book Month
3. Picture Book Idea Month
4. Thanksgiving with the family! :D (had to add that one in or my family would never forgive me!)

This year I have been slacking on my writing and I look forward to the challenge of creating 30 picture book ideas this month as well as writing a picture book draft (12x12 challenge). On my Family-Ship Experience blog, I will feature awesome picture books both new and old to celebrate National Picture Book Month.

If you are looking for a fun writing challenge this month, check out Tara Lazar's PiBoIdMo challenge if you write picture books or the NaNoWriMo site if you write novel length stories.

Author Interview: Fatimah Ashaela Moore Ibrahim, The Azurean Trilogy

Every once in a while you come across a book that is really different from all the rest. I would like to introduce a wonderful new series written by Fatimah Ashaela Moore Ibrahim called, The Azurean Trilogy. I love scifi and the fact that this was a spiritual fiction, put the icing on the cake. It is unique, fresh and has all the fun and adventure I like in science fiction/fantasy. The Azurean Trilogy follows the adventure of five gifted teens as they train to save their planet from an evil that is oppressing them and sending their new found home into the same chaos and destruction that planet Earth went through. Today, I am happy to introduce the author of this exciting new series as she shares her publishing journey.

I would love to know a little bit about your writing and publishing journey of The Azurean Trilogy (Books 1&2).

My writing and publishing journey for "The Azurean Trilogy" (Essentia and Burgeon) has been a really awesome experience. I had the basic ideas for the story in my heart for a long time; exploring, showing the power of faith, Earth conservation, world peace, healthcare, and caring about each other on a human level regardless of color, religion, etc. were at the top of the list. But every time I tried to think of the actual story-- it just wouldn't come. Then, one day, I sat down and said to myself, "Let me just start writing, see what happens, and then go from there." And the characters and storyline just flowed out! From then on, I wrote everywhere I could. I have three children, so writing was often done late at night. I found this great site (Wattpad.com) where you could post chapters of your story up to build an audience and get feedback, and seeing all of the people who read my book motivated me to finish it. Once I was done, I found another great site, Createspace.com, which allows authors to self-publish their book in paperback and Kindle, and sell it on Amazon.com--all without an upfront cost. They were very user-friendly with great customer service for any questions I had. The whole experience was a blessing.

How long did it take?

It took about 1 year to write, edit and publish Books 1&2. Looking back, I can't believe it took that long...the time just flew by. But I enjoyed every moment of it. 

Was it difficult balancing family life and making time for writing?

It was definitely a challenge. It can be really tough to balance home, work, family and staying on top of your prayers too. And then to have a passion to do something in addition to it all can be overwhelming. But staying focused and prayerful was invaluable. 

What challenges did you face?

The biggest challenge for me was finding the actual (quiet) time to write. The things God has given me in my life as responsibilities are my priority. But it was also a priority to nourish the passion I had for this project. I have such a strong desire to use my talents and gifts to bless others and bring more light and love into this world. I may sound like a hippie, lol, but I truly do. 

Which part of your publishing journey was your favorite? Which was your worst?

I actually have two favorites: Writing and doing the graphic design. I am also a Visual Artist, so I really enjoyed writing the actual story as well as creating the graphics for the cover and promotional materials. The worst was the editing!!! I literally read through the story about 10 times once it was done trying to catch errors....my eyes were crossing by the 5th read through! But I have to say, each time I finished, I was like, "Even if this was a story I hadn't written myself, I would really enjoy it." That's what makes me the most excited about it. 

 

Why did you choose to self-publish your work?

I chose to self-publish because there was a shorter wait for when my book could be available to the public. I didn't like the idea of sending my manuscript off and waiting months to see if someone would read it. It just seemed like it would take so long, lol. And then, the genre (Spiritual Science Fiction, or Spi-Fi) is still working to carve out a real niche for itself....so there aren't a lot of publishers looking for books in this relatively new genre. 

What sets your story apart from other books about human survival after the death of our planet?

The difference with my story is that it really explores the power of faith-- it just takes it to a new and exciting level...and in a way that I have never read before. 

 

Tell us a little bit about your story, The Azurean Trilogy (Essential and Burgeon)?

The Azurean Trilogy is an adventure that takes a look at where we have been, and what can be if we all work really hard not to repeat the mistakes of our past. All of this is done within a framework of characters who are God-conscious. I don't want to give away anything, lol...in essence, it is an adventure that feeds your faith. 

What inspired you to write your story?

A desire to see a reality where we truly have world peace inspired me to write this book. I wanted people to be hopeful and empowered when they look out at the state of things on this planet of ours. I wanted to write a story that is entertaining, fulfilling and healing. I wanted people to be excited about being believers. 

What is the significance of using both Qur'anic and Biblical references in your book?

My original draft used references from the Qur'an, Bible and Torah, but I wasn't able to find a public domain source for the Torah scripture- so I ended up using Qur'an, and then Old Testament and New Testament from the Bible. I used them to unite people in their similarities rather than divide them with their differences. I wanted people of different faiths to not see each other as so different and foreign to each other.

Why do you call your work 'spiritual' fiction as oppose to 'Islamic or Muslim' fiction since your main character is a Muslim?

My main character is a Muslim, but the story, like life, includes many different people. I chose to put it under the genre of Spiritual Fiction because it is a story that can be enjoyed by people of many different faiths, because it focuses on our spirituality. For me, spirituality is a person's understanding that there is something greater than them that created them and all that they see. We all choose a different practice/religions to cultivate that. 

 

I'm curious, why was Yaya chosen to be the narrator? How different would the story be if one of the other Gifted Five narrated it? Or maybe even one of the Guardians?

The moment I sat down to write the story, Yaya was narrator. It felt most natural to tell the story through her eyes, probably because she is most like me: A female and a Muslimah. I think the story could have been just as good through the eyes of one of the other characters...but for me, it just felt easy and most natural. 

Do you have plans to write more spiritual fiction?

Absolutely!!! I have already begun writing an outline for Book 3, Manifest. I also have two other stories in the wings... but am giving all of the attention to completing The Azurean Trilogy and making it as full and exciting as I can first! My prayer while writing it is that it would inspire people to get a closer relationship with the Creator. If I accomplish that through anything I write, then that is the greatest gift to me. 

Guest Post: Tens List by Dani Pettrey author of Stranded

Dani Pettrey's Top Ten Editing/Revising Tips

1.     Take time off. When you first complete your manuscript, it’s a good idea to take a week or two off and let your story sit. You’ll have fresh eyes when you return to it. 

2.     Read through your entire manuscript in one sitting if possible. This helps you see the book as an entirety and really helps you get a feel for pacing. 

3.     Keep a notebook or sticky notes handy. Have something nearby to take notes with. You’re going to want to jot down your thoughts as you go. 

4.     Highlight sections you want to return to. Flag sections you know you’re going to need to return to. I use different color highlights for different areas. For example, if I need to do further research on a particular section, I highlight it in green. 

5.     Formulate a plan. Once you’ve read your manuscript, review your notes and figure out a plan of how you will tackle the changes. Will you go through linearly or will you work on one thread at a time? 

  

6.     Set a Deadline. Decide how much you need to do each day. Looking at what needs to be done, come up with a schedule for finishing your work by deadline. Earlier if possible. 

7.     Keep your inspiration fresh. It’s important to keep your love for the story fresh while rewriting. I enjoy listening to my story soundtrack while rewriting. It helps to keep the emotions at the surface.

8.     Take breaks. Revisions can be daunting. Be sure to get up to stretch, take a walk, or grab a coffee break. You’ll come back renewed. 

9.     Treat yourself. Set goals and when you meet them, treat yourself. Dark chocolate or iced mochas are my treat of choice. 

10. Trust your editors. Once you finish your revisions, trust your editors to do what they do best and let go. 

      About the Author:

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one’s faith and plenty of romance. She’s a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

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Book Blast: Little Red Writing by Joan Holub

Little Red Writing by Joan Holub Acclaimed writer Joan Holub and Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet team up in this hilarious and exuberant retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, in which a brave, little red pencil finds her way through the many perils of writing a story, faces a ravenous pencil sharpener (the Wolf 3000)... and saves the day. Joan Holub has hundreds of pencils. Some are red. Others are glittery, sporty, or full of holiday cheer. They are all super sharp and good at writing books. They’ve helped Joan write more than 130 books, including Zero the Hero and Knuckleheads. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Melissa Sweet has illustrated nearly 100 children’s books, including the Caldecott Honor–winning River of Words and the Sibert Medal–winning Balloons Over Broadway. When not in her studio, Melissa loves to ride her bicycle and hike with her two dogs, Rufus and Nellie. She lives in Rockport, Maine.

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  Praise for Little Red Writing

 "A very funny picture book that, I guarantee you, lots of savvy teachers will be eagerly sharing with students as part of the process of teaching creative writing." -- Richie Partington MLIS, Richie's Picks

"What a CLEVER, CLEVER story!" -- I Love to Read and Write Reviews

"This clever adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood has so many levels of creativity and learning... Every elementary teacher should have this book to begin their writing units." -- Play on Words

"Style, humor, and solid writing advice." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

 "So rich in words and wry humor-written and visual-that one reading just isn't enough." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Every writers' group should start with this story." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Every elementary teacher should have this book to begin their writing units." -- Play on Words

"An easy, winning prompt for beginning writers to abandon their fears and take up pencils of their own." --Booklist    

Author Joan Holub I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children’s books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job. I illustrated my first published children’s book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts — Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee! Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children’s books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.  

Twitter * Website * Blog

 

   

BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/15/13   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Book Review: Orleans by Sherri L Smith

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Orleans is the best read yet for 2013! I loved the voice of the main character, Fen. It is so nice to see a strong female character that has not been turned into some overly sexy 'laura croft' weapon wielding type of heroine. Fen was a real hero. She was a fighter, protector and most of all she was a woman of her word. Everything she did was to protect her tribe, her leader and Baby Girl. When Fen's tribe is attacked and her leader killed, she vows to get Baby Girl, Lydia's newborn baby, over the wall that separates the quarantined city of Orleans from the rest of the United States. A scientist named Daniel is close to creating a virus that will attack the Delta Fever virus that caused the quarantining of New Orleans. He enters the city to find a research lab in the hopes of completing the cure using any research the scientists who stayed behind after the walls were sealed. He thinks the city is long dead but finds a thriving albeit struggling to survive city divided not by race but blood type. Fen meets Daniel and they work together to get Daniel the information he needs as well as get Baby Girl to safety beyond the walls before her blood becomes tainted with the Delta Fever virus.

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Book Tour: From A to Z Poetry by Fida Islaih

From A to Z is 100 poems about being Muslim, handling emotions and the beauty of nature. There is a bit of sadness and humor in the collection. From doodling to any kind of sport to colors. In a way the poems may help you improve yourself and your outlook on life.

the poems may help you improve yourself and your outlook on life. ~from the author, Fida Islaih

 

 

My review:

 

From A to Z Poetry is a collection of short poems written by a talented young artist with great potential and a bright future ahead of her.

 

Fida's poems are sincere, candid, genuine and down to earth because she writes from her heart. Because her poems reflect life, love and living, readers will relate to her earnest expressions and impressions as she writes about life, school, relationships, emotions and faith. Get to know this poet through her writings and learn a little something about yourself along the way.

 

I really enjoyed the following poems as they gave me a sense of who Fida, the poet, is. Cannot Lie tells me so much of her character. Certain or Not, her faith. Life and I Come To You, her beliefs. Brokenhearted, her strength. Emotions, her passion. And, If You Give A Pen, her aspirations. 

 

Learn more about the author and her debut boo by visiting her website:

 

Fida Islaih

Blogger, Poet, Author

A TO Z POETRY (Sept, 2013)

fida-islaih.blogspot.com

Book Tour: CassaStorm by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Alex J Cavanaugh, author of the best-selling Cassa series, is here today as part of his book tour to answer a buring question of mine :) Alex's lastest book, Cassa Storm, will release on September 17, 2013.

Question: If you could change and re-do one aspect of your writing career, what would it be and why?

AJC:

I would’ve planned beyond that first book and been working on both sequels much, much sooner. Although it’s still difficult for me to work on more than one project at a time, I know that would’ve placed me in a better spot.

CassaStorm

By Alex J Cavanaugh From the Amazon Best Selling Series! A storm gathers across the galaxy… Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans. After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind. Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

“…mesmerizing story of survival, personal sacrifice, tolerance, and compassion. It’s a rare jewel that successfully utilizes both character and plot to tell a story of such immense scope and intimate passion…” - Nancy S. Thompson, author of The Mistaken

“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse

  "Cavanaugh makes world building on the galactic scale look easy. The stakes affect the entire known universe and yet Cavanaugh makes it intensely personal for our hero. The final installment of this series will break your heart and put it back together." - Charity Bradford, science fantasy author of The Magic Wakes

$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera Print ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019 $4.99 EBook available in all formats

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Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

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