Saturday, October 20, 2012

Author Barbara Bockman, on her Award Winning Title - Fantastic Flight



HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING? I began taking courses in children's writing over twenty years ago. It took me a few years to get up the courage to start submitting [my work to publishers].

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN WRITING? I was inspired to write by my love of reading and also by my love of the English language. In school, I was one of the few students who enjoyed parsing sentences and diagramming them. From Dick and Jane onward, I became an avid reader. One of my greatest joys in life is reading a well-written passage. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Library Science (my first was in English), I realized as much as I love physical books and handling them, I love the stories even more.

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE, Fantastic Flight ? Fantastic Flight was inspired by an incident involving my husband and our granddaughter. He was kidding around with her and pretended her balloon was carrying him away. They were having such fun; and it became the germ for my story.



WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS
My first published book is a middle grade e-novel, Wounds, published by MuseItUp Publishing.

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? My work in progress is another middle grade novel, with the working title of RANIL AND THE BABY ELEPHANT, set in Sri Lanka. I can’t say when it will be available; it’s requiring a lot of research. I also have three other books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF: I grew up in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina and I still love to visit there from my home in Florida. I married an Army Officer and we lived in various places in the US, Europe, and Japan. I have four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. After my husband retired from the Army and we moved to Florida, I obtained my Masters Degree in English and taught at Pensacola Junior College.  I love to travel with my grandchildren. I took four of them to Alaska, three of them to Europe, two others to the UK and Ireland. When my granddaughter was an undergraduate, I went with her and her class to China one year and to Italy and Greece the next year. My head is still spinning.

WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME? My favorite hobby is raising butterflies. I grow the flowers that attract the females. The caterpillars eat those plants, so I supply other nectar flowers for the adult butterflies. The green chrysalis of the monarch, with its flecks of gold, is one of the most beautiful sights in nature. The butterflies most common in this part of Florida are monarchs, gulf fritillaries, zebra longwings, and various swallowtails.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SHOW? I like both Masterpiece Classics and Masterpiece Mystery and also dramas that do not involve forensics, such as White Collar. I suppose I’m a bit squeamish.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE AS AN AUTHOR? My biggest challenge is procrastination. With so many projects to choose from, sometimes it’s hard to decide which to work on, so I put it off.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS? My advice to other aspiring authors is to write the kind of books you like to read, learn the craft, get to know your genre, join a critique group, and have faith in yourself.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY TIPS ON GETTING PUBLISHED? An author should study the market and make sure she is submitting her finest work to the right publishers.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? I feel that writing for children is a moral responsibility [for me]. My hope is that all of my writing will be uplifting to my readers.

LITERARY CLASSICS Book Reviews & Awards http://literaryclassicsreviews.com

Monday, October 15, 2012

Author Richie Frieman on his award winning book, Terple Always Dream Bigger





HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING? Children’s books, 5 years. Writing in general for 10.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN WRITING? I’ve always loved children’s books and always promised myself one day I’d not only write but illustrate my own original book. Finally, the concept and passion met at the same point and I did it.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND Terple - Always Dream Bigger? I’m a father of two and take my role as a parent incredibly seriously, especially when it comes to reminding kids to stay true to the dreams and never give up. I never settle for making my dreams come true, so it’s one thing to just dream, another to just dream BIG but I want my kids to aspire to always dream BIGGER!



IS THIS YOUR FIRST BOOK? [This is] My second children’s picture book. My first was called, Terple - The Sky Is Just The Start.

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?  I’m also a manners and etiquette writer known as Modern Manners Guy. My new book Quick and Dirty Tips for Life After College (Macmillan Publishing) is now available in eBook on iTunes, Kindle and Nook!

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF: I’m 33 years old, a columnist, writer, entrepreneur, children’s clothing line owner and designer (Charm City Babies) and a former professional wrestler! Bet you weren’t expecting that. But it’s true.

TELL US SOMETHING INTERESTING THAT OUR READERS MIGHT FIND FASCINATING ABOUT YOU: Well, the fact that I was a professional wrestler, yes, like the kind of TV (my ring name was Buster Maccabi) for 8 and a half years and now writing/illustrating children’s books is pretty different I think.

WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME? My family comes first, so every free minute is devoted to my wife Jamie, daughter Maddy (4 years old) and newborn son, Cole (4 months old).

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW/MOVIE? My favorite movie of all time is “Goonies”. I have it memorized. And as for TV, I love “Walking Dead”, “Hell on Wheels”, “Newsroom”, “Daily Show”, and “Parenthood”.

HAS YOUR BOOK RECEIVED ANY OTHER AWARDS?  “Terple - Always Dream Bigger” won the 2012 Gelett Burgess Award for best Poetry and Rhyming Children’s Book.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE AS AN AUTHOR? Making sure you are able to get your book out there is the hardest part. I want children and parents to enjoy my work and [I] work hard every day to make more people aware of Terple.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS? Never stop. Never, ever, ever stop writing and trying. Nothing worth anything ever happens over night. This is a tough job to have but it’s a job of passion, so always keep trying.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY TIPS ON GETTING PUBLISHED? Make yourself visible. Join writing groups, network, and just do what you can to reach out to people.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? I hope to bring attention to children’s books, especially picture books. I want people to be aware of the importance of childhood literacy and early education. Also, always feel free to reach out to me! Tweet me @RichieFrieman



LITERARY CLASSICS Book Reviews & Awards http://literaryclassicsreviews.com

The 2012 Literary Classics Children's Book Awards have been announced






 

Literary Classics Announces Youth Media Top Book Winners

SOUTH DAKOTA - Literary Classics announced its 2012 selection of top books for children and young adults today.  Award recipients were selected from entries received throughout the world.  The Literary Classics selection committee is proud to recognize the following titles in children's and young adult literature which exemplify the criteria set forth by the Literary Classics Awards committee.
A list of the 2012 recipients follows:

Best First Picture Book, PreSchool, A Box Story by Kenneth Kit Lamug
Best First Picture Book, Early Reader, Terple Always Dream Bigger by Richie Frieman
Best Illustrator, Bella & Harry, Let's Visit Athens, Illustrated by Kristine Lucco
Best Series, The Bella & Harry Book Series by Lisa Manzione
Best First Chapter Book, Shelby & Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes by PHC Marchesi
Gold - Picture Book, Preschooler,  Fantastic Flight by Barbara Bockman
Silver - Picture Book, Preschooler, Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep by Kathy Stemke
Gold - Picture Book, Early Reader, Bella & Harry Let's Visit London by Lisa Manzione, Illustrated by Kristine Lucco
Silver - Picture Book, Early Reader, Bella & Harry Let's Visit Cairo by Lisa Manzione, Illustrated by Kristine Lucco
Gold - Educational, Early Reader, The Great Divide, Suzanne Slade
Silver - Educational, Early Reader, Animal Animalogies by Marianne Berkes
Gold - Environmental Issues, Early Reader, Sea Turtle Summer by Nancy Stewart
Silver - Environmental Issues, Early Reader, One Pelican at a Time by Nancy Stewart
Gold - Non Fiction Preteen, Clara's Great War by Evelyn Rothstein
Gold - General Preteen, the Casting by Joyce Shor Johnson
Silver - General Preteen, Return to Finkleton by KC Hilton
Gold - Fiction Preteen, the Reinvention of Moxie Roosevelt by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Silver - Fiction Preteen, Walking Through Walls by Karen Cioffi
Gold - Fantasy Preteen, Shelby & Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes by PHC Marchesi
Silver - Fantasy Preteen, Shield Maiden by Richard Denning

Gold - Science Fiction Preteen, Shelby & Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes by PHC Marchesi
Silver - Science Fiction - Preteen, The Crystal Ship by CJ Carter-Stephenson
Gold - Mystery Preteen, the Stone Child by Dan Poblocki
Gold - General Young Adult, Runaway Twins by Pete Palamountain
Silver - General Young Adult, Young, Funny & Unbalanced by David Smithyman
Gold - Fiction Young Adult, Caves, Cannons & Crinolines by Beverly Stowe McClure
Silver - Fiction Young Adult, Young Knights of the Round Table The King's Ransom by Cheryl Carpinello
Gold - Non-Fiction Young Adult, Black & White by Larry Dane Brimner
Gold - Fantasy Fiction Young Adult, Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut
Silver - Fantasy Fiction Young Adult, Drawn by Marie Lamba
Gold - Science Fiction Young Adult, the Limit by Kristen Landon
Silver - Science Fiction Young Adult, the Orphan Ship by Sterling R. Walker
Gold - Mystery Young Adult, Stalked by Kristiana Gregory
Cultural Issues, Clara's Great War by Evelyn Rothstein
Holiday, Santa & The Little Teddy Bear by Peter John Lucking
Self Esteem, Beautiful Wild Rose Girl by B. Magnolia
Female Audience, My Sister is my Best Friend by Nicole Weaver
Mature Issues, In Memory of Dad by Maranda Russell

Literary Classics, an organization dedicated to furthering excellence in literature, takes great pride in its role to help promote classic literature which appeals to youth, while educating and encouraging positive values in the impressionable young minds of future generations.  Judging is based upon the criteria set forth by Literary Classics' highly selective awards committee which honors books promoting character, vision, creativity and learning, through content which possesses key elements found in well-crafted literature.

The Literary Classics judging committee consists of experts with backgrounds in publishing, writing, editing, design, illustration, and book reviewing.   To learn more about Literary Classics, visit their website at www.literaryclassicsawards.com.
 




LITERARY CLASSICS Book Reviews & Awards http://literaryclassicsreviews.com

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Author Spotlight, Kristiana Gregory

 
 
AUTHOR'S NAME: Kristiana Gregory

TITLE OF AWARD WINNING BOOK: Stalked

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?: My first historical novel, Jenny of the Tetons, was published in 1989 by Harcourt, but before that I was a book reviewer and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and a newspaper reporter.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN WRITING?: At age ten I loved to make up whoppers, but my parents helped me channel that imagination into story-telling. My first rejection was at age eleven from Whitman Publishing Company for my poem, "Valentine's Day," which had been pencilled on notebook paper during math class. Now that I look back on it, hoping to get published was pretty brave for a kid! I had no idea it was to be the first of many hundreds of rejections. 

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE, STALKED?:     When I learned that my Danish great-grandfather spent much of his life in an insane asylum in Wisconsin, my mind raced. How did this young man hoping for a new beginning in America end up "criminally insane?" What was he like when he stepped off the ship from Copenhagen and how did he get by the strict medical examiners on Ellis Island?
  
After visits to this Island of Tears and several years of research and writing, my story is finished. This young adult novel didn't turn out as I had originally planned.  --Fellow writers, I know you understand this!  --But it was birthed by those questions of how and why. Coupled with family lore that my great-grandmother worked in the Danish royal palace before immigrating to America, well, here we are! The setting is 1912, in the Lower East Side tenements of New York City. Cover art and interior illustrations are by my son, Cody Rutty




HAVE YOU PUBLISHED ANY OTHER BOOKS ?
Yes, thirty-plus titles are listed here

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?
I'm finishing #7 of the Cabin Creek Mysteries series, for readers ages 7-10. The Phantom of Hidden Horse Ranch will be available early 2013. Details will be on my Amazon author site.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF: I grew up in Manhattan Beach, California two blocks from the ocean but have lived in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and now Idaho, so you could say I'm a Western girl. My husband I have been married 31 years and we have two adult sons, two golden retrievers, and a ton of books! Every morning I read the Bible in French. My website with more info is:  www.kgregorybooks.com

TELL US SOMETHING FUN THAT OUR READERS MIGHT FIND FASCINATING ABOUT YOU: When I was a ski bum in Mammoth Lakes, California, early 1970s, I was an extra in the movie, "The Other Side of the Mountain," which was being filmed in part on the sunny ski slopes there. My girlfriend and I were eating dinner in a restaurant bragging to a nice man about how we were in the movie and blablablabla. He bought us some drinks and listened to our boasts. The next morning when she and I showed up on the set, we saw this gentleman talking to the film crew. He was the star, Beau Bridges!

WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?  Hanging out with family and friends, walking our big furry dogs, reading, daydreaming. I'm a swimmer, too.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW OR MOVIE?: Favorite movies: "Amadeus," "Dave." TV series: "West Wing," "Doc Martin."

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE AS AN AUTHOR?: Loneliness and discouragement. Now and then I muse about life as an author here.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER ASPIRING AUTHORS?: Every person has a unique story that only s/he can tell. If it's in your heart, write it down and don't give up.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?: Writing every day is like a musician practicing scales. The daily effort hones the craft, ultimately--and hopefully--creating a work of beauty.


LITERARY CLASSICS Book Reviews & Awards http://literaryclassicsreviews.com

Monday, October 1, 2012

Literary Classics announces youth media award winners



Literary Classics announced its 2012 selection of top book finalists for children and young adults today.  The list includes finalists from entries received all over the world.   

The Literary Classics selection committee is proud to recognize the following titles in children's and young adult literature which exemplify the criteria set forth by the Literary Classics Awards committee.

A list of the 2012 award finalists follows:

Animalogy: Animalogy Analogies, Marianne Berkes
Fantastic Flight, Barbara Bockman
Black & White, Larry Dane Brimner
The King's Ransom, Cheryl Carpinello
Walking Through Walls, Karen Cioffi
Shield Maiden, Richard Denning
Terple Always Dream Bigger, Richie Frieman
Stalked, Kristiana Gregory
Return to Finkleton, KC Hilton
The Casting, Joyce Shor Johnson
Griffin Rising, Darby Karchut
The Reinvention of Moxie Roosevelt, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Drawn, Marie Lamba
A Box Story, Kenneth Kit Lamug
The Limit, Kristen Landon
Santa & The Little Teddy Bear, Peter John Lucking
Beautiful Wild Rose Girl, B. Magnolia
Bella & Harry Let's Visit Athens!  Lisa Manzione
Bella & Harry Let's Visit Cairo!  Lisa Manzione
Bella & Harry Let's Visit London!  Lisa Manzione
Shelby & Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes, PHC Marchesi
Caves, Cannons and Crinolines, Beverly Stowe McClure
Runaway Twins, Pete Palamountain
The Stone Child, Dan Poblocki
Clara's Great War, Evelyn Rothstein
In Memory of Dad, Maranda Russell
Young Funny and Unbalanced, David Smithyman
Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep, Kathy Stemke
The Crystal Ship, CJ Carter-Stephenson
The Great Divide, Suzanne Slade
One Pelican at a Time, Nancy Stewart
Sea Turtle Summer, Nancy Stewart
The Orphan Ship, Sterling R. Walker

My Sister is my Best Friend, by Nicole Weaver

All final award levels and categories will be announced October 15, 2012. 

Literary Classics, an organization dedicated to furthering excellence in literature, takes great pride in its role to help promote classic children's literature which appeals to youth, while educating and encouraging positive values in the impressionable young minds of future generations.  Judging is based upon the criteria set forth by Literary Classics' highly selective awards committee which honors books promoting character, vision, creativity and learning, through content which possesses the key elements found in well-crafted literature.

The Literary Classics judging committee consists of experts with backgrounds in publishing, writing, editing, design, illustration, and book reviewing.   To learn more about Literary Classics, visit their website at www.literaryclassicsawards.com.
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Reviews & Awards http://literaryclassicsreviews.com