tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80600406894578909912024-03-05T01:34:58.187-08:00Literary ClassicsLiterary Classics is an organization dedicated to promoting excellence in literature. Through our AWARDS, BOOK REVIEWS, and SEAL OF APPROVAL PROGRAM, we help you sort through the many books in circulation today. It is our goal to help you select the finest books available. Additionally, our programs offer opportunities for publishers, authors and illustrators to receive recognition for providing excellence in literature.Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.comBlogger813125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-69261810306189277622020-09-14T16:35:00.001-07:002020-09-14T16:36:28.591-07:00Top Honors Author, Kena Sosa, on her Award-Winning Book, The Unhuggables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfYQYQBawsE/X1_8zbIWjWI/AAAAAAAA7vA/O3w3CEDGwcgkFc9jc8OlvN7W3oPJY6G_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/The%2BUnhuggables%2BEQ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfYQYQBawsE/X1_8zbIWjWI/AAAAAAAA7vA/O3w3CEDGwcgkFc9jc8OlvN7W3oPJY6G_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/The%2BUnhuggables%2BEQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?<br />I don't think I can name one particular person who inspired me to become a writer. I am soft-spoken in general, but apparently my inner voice is quite boisterous. It has to come out and speak its mind, so it does in my writing. <br /><br />DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY OR FUN WRITING HABITS?<br />I keep a raggedy spiral notebook where I jot down the ideas that come to me unexpectedly. It is a complete mess of scribbles, notes, drawings, many of which are not related and with no page numbers. It's like prehistoric cloud storage for my thoughts. When they piece together in my head, I reference the notebook to use the ideas I've been saving. <br /><br />HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? <br />One day I was getting my son, Lucca, out of the bath when he randomly asked me what would happen if you hugged a porcupine. I laughed and then said, I guess it would hurt." We both laughed for a minute and then thought for a while on other animals you probably shouldn't hug. We talked about rhinos and bees and scorpions. At first, this was the idea for a story, Five Animals You Don't Want to Hug. After a while, I thought about how sometimes people don't want to be hugged either and how we feel when we're unhuggable. That's where the boy in the story came in. His name was Matthias at first, but eventually he became Oliver. So, really, this story is all the fault of my curious, very huggable son!<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />"It was hard work saying no to hugs." I feel this line is truly profound. Rejection can be hard to take but it is even harder to feel down. Pushing those who love you away is just as difficult as being pushed away, it is painful. However, with patience and understanding we can get through those tough times. Love cures all.<br /><br />WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? <br />That during our most unhuggable or difficult moments, there are people who love us enough to endure them. Cherish those people. <br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TIP FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS?<br />Edit, edit, edit! Make sure you have not only edited a draft before submission, but that you have edited enough to make it the best story it can be. This will greatly increase your chances at publishing and success.<br /><br />CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?<br />Get out there in person and meet your readers! The best way to sell is to put a face to the name and tell the story behind the story. If you can't meet them in person, do interviews through Skype or the radio or any means necessary, but reaching out to readers is key. <br /><br />WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? <br />I would say getting 3 books published is a great accomplishment, however, that is outshined by the more recent awards I've received: Children's Literary Classics Award 2018 for historical fiction in middle grade books for Kindertransport-a child's journey and now the Enchanted Page Book Award in 2019 for The Unhuggables!<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zx3Lic2m3VM/X1_9czeTbLI/AAAAAAAA7vI/r4LRNBDOQhQdgpYo-AbUkVDudIpv0itdACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sosa5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zx3Lic2m3VM/X1_9czeTbLI/AAAAAAAA7vI/r4LRNBDOQhQdgpYo-AbUkVDudIpv0itdACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sosa5.jpg" /></a><br /><br />WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?<br />I would like to write full-time eventually. As a single parent being able to cut ties with a regular paycheck is intimidating. Making my living through my craft would be a dream. <br /><br />WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? </div><div><br /><b><i>Kindertransport-a child's journey</i></b><br />(middle grade chapter book)<br />4RV Publishing<br /><br /><i>Just before the outbreak of World War II, the Nazis pushed Jewish families to do something they never imagined they would. They sent their children away on a train to faraway places to live with strangers so that they would be safe until the danger passed. As she gets onboard the Kindertransport, a train to hope, ten-year-old Helen will never be the same.</i><br /><br /><b><i>Rey Antonio and Rey Feo</i></b><br />(bilingual picture book)<br />4RV Publishing<br /><br /><i>Turning seven years old will give Rey something he's been waiting for all his life, to attend Fiesta in San Antonio like his big brother. When he gets there, he finds colorful food, music, and fun, until Antonio names himself King Antonio, the leader of the river parade, and calls his little brother, Rey Feo, or the ugly King of Fiesta. Their rivalry can only be squelched by the royal wave of Miss Antonio as she floats down the river. Which brother will be King Antonio, royal leader of the city? The story is written in both English and in Spanish.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4rvpublishingcatalog.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C472da51fd8454dffd4a208d79ed618c6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637152514682321674&sdata=%2Bw5%2FMgD2sCJm95z1IMueTK7wkP0OH3XAEnh%2Fl8hySF4%3D&reserved=0">4RV Publishing Catalog</a><br /><br /><br /><br />LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org<div><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div>Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-3342570142825236552020-08-28T11:59:00.001-07:002020-08-28T12:12:21.107-07:00Author C. R. Stewart on his Award-Winning Book, Britfield & the Lost Crown<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWmDN8g6Uxk/X0lC8n0SIQI/AAAAAAAA7s0/MJxm7A_j2j49pFVlsqD-UaToaTJSXk6jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/thumbnail_C.R.%2BStewart%2BColor%2BAuthor%2BPortrait%2B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWmDN8g6Uxk/X0lC8n0SIQI/AAAAAAAA7s0/MJxm7A_j2j49pFVlsqD-UaToaTJSXk6jQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/thumbnail_C.R.%2BStewart%2BColor%2BAuthor%2BPortrait%2B.jpg" title="Author C. R. Stewart" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.britfield.com/store/"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HRVlB5uo5zQ/X0lDJpoi98I/AAAAAAAA7s4/DEN6DcnzVEI8zEI84-m6DoztWdrOjhR3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Britfield%2Band%2Bthe%2BLost%2BCrown%2BGOLD.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?</p><p>I loved reading, movies, and storytelling as a child, so all these areas had a huge influence on my life. Some of my favorite books growing up were <i>The Mouse and the Motorcycle</i>, by Beverly Cleary; <i>James and the Giant Peach</i> and <i>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</i>, by Roald Dahl; and the <i>Hardy Boys</i> series.</p><p></p><p>As I grew older, I enjoyed Charles Dickens and his ability to take a Shakespearean cast of characters and seamlessly weave them through his stories (<i>Oliver Twist, David Copperfield</i>, and <i>Great Expectations</i>). I was heavily influenced by C. S. Lewis, with his amazing depth and creativity as an author. Jane Austen captured the aristocracy, the intrigue, the forced etiquette, and the psychological games and hypocrisies of the upper classes. The Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne wrote mysterious, romantic gothic novels that are powerful, moving, and deep, such as <i>Jane Eyre</i> and <i>Wuthering Heights</i>. Thomas Hardy took simple characters living in a rural setting and created complex, multilayered stories, and Daphne du Maurier, with her epic novel <i>Rebecca</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY OR FUN WRITING HABITS?</p><p>Not really, although everyone is different and whatever works for you—do it. I like to get up early and begin writing or editing around 7:00 AM. On a good day, I can go for about eight hours. I take breaks, have lunch, work-out or walk and then wrap up around 5:00 or 6:00 PM. I do like to walk around the room when I am brainstorming and creating a scene—movement helps me think and frees the mind. When I am doing my final rounds of editing, I will print 2-3 pages at a time, relax on the couch with a pen and a highlighter, and start reading through. The printed work reads very differently from the computer screen—very differently.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?</p><p>I was working at an investment bank in Boston and was at a boring weekend seminar in Providence, R.I. I started to drift so I began to doodle. I simply drew an image of a circle (balloon), three lines, and a basket with a boy and a girl. The idea for <i>Britfield</i> suddenly hit me—two orphans living at a horrible orphanage (Weatherly) in Yorkshire, England escape the awful conditions, commandeer a hot-air balloon, and head towards London. However, they are relentlessly chased by the illustrious Detective Gowerstone, who is renowned for finding missing children and runaway orphans. Four years and 2,500 hours later <i>Britfield & the Lost Crown</i> was completed. From conception to finally launching the first in the 7-book series (15 August 2019), it took ten dedicated years of patience and discipline.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p>WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY?</p><p>“Tom knew too well that talking violated the sacred Weatherly Rule Book, a seventy-five-page document of laws and regulations all orphans had to memorize when they arrived. Any violation of these rules resulted in punishment, the penalties varying in length and severity. However, some rules were made to be broken; it was the orphans’ only way to survive here. <i>They did what they were told and got away with what they could</i>.”</p><p></p><p>I had to set up this last line (Italic) with the paragraph, but I always loved this quote. I think it connects with many children (rules and regulations) and transcends into our adult life: doing what you are told and often getting away with what you can—perhaps it’s the small, rebellious nature in us all.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?</p><p>While <i>Britfield & the Lost Crown</i> is a fast-paced, fun adventure novel, it’s about family and friendship. What does it mean to be an orphan (you could teach an entire college semester on this)? What does family mean? Could you imagine not knowing your parents or having any brothers and sisters? However, <i>family</i> can mean many things—a connection, an understanding, and a bond with others who you can always count on. That is what the Weatherly orphans are all about—looking out for one another. They are family, perhaps not by birth or blood, but by something stronger. They shared a special bond that nothing could ever break.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>IF YOU WERE STARTING YOUR JOURNEY AS AN AUTHOR TODAY, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?</p><p>I would spend more time outlining my story before writing it. Often, we jump in and start writing something, which is great to get moving and write. But I have learned that by spending more time at the beginning working on the story, the structure, the plot, the twists and the characters, that when you begin to write your story, it moves faster, more smoothly and you have already navigated many details, problems, and questions. When I am writing a movie script (first draft), I will spend three weeks on the structure and outline, which is usually 2-3 pages of bullet points (each bullet point representing a 1-3 minute scene); then I will spend three weeks and produce 117 pages of work. This is the power of planning and outlining.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TIP FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS?</p><p>The process is long and difficult. Everything from finding a proper literary agent, to finally getting a publisher. The little secret that no one tells you is that publishers do relatively nothing to help authors sell their book (it’s all up to you), an archaic publishing model fast becoming extinct. It becomes a full-time job if you want success, such as marketing, media, book signings, and events.</p><p></p><p>I have heard three important things about writing: Write about what you know, write about what you love, and WRITE! I believe that for every final, published page, it will take an author around 4-5 hours to complete. This means a 100-page book will take between 400-500 hours to complete. Also, writing is 10% writing and 90% rewriting (editing). If you asked most writers what is the one thing that they most need, it’s uninterrupted time.</p><p></p><p>Story is everything. It can be simple or complex, but it must be interesting and well told. Find a unique story and start writing. First create your structure: beginning, middle, and end. It’s easier when you think about the story in chapters: where’s the book going, what happens next and how will it end? Develop your characters and know them well—give them depth and obstacles that they must overcome. Do your research and master the subject you’re writing about. Also, read. Enjoy reading and understand what’s out in the market. Find writers you like and learn from them: how they tell a story, the way they structure or pace their narrative, how they describe things. Analyze these books and figure out what makes them interesting or compelling—why they’re successful or why they work as a novel.</p><p></p><p>Remember, nothing happens overnight. It takes commitment, discipline, and endurance to produce an engaging and inspiring novel. To write and finish a book, you must first begin and spend time with it. Don’t worry about your first draft; just get your ideas and words onto paper (or the computer). Challenge yourself each day to produce a certain amount, perhaps two or three new pages. If you’re stuck on the next chapter, but you know what happens in another section, then jump to that scene. Just keep writing. If you can’t think of anything new, then start editing what you’ve already written, but just keep writing.</p><p></p><p>This is the discipline and commitment needed to finish a book. However, it’s one thing to create your story, structure, characters, and a compelling narrative; it’s another to edit. The more you edit, the better your story becomes; the more you edit, the more polished your writing becomes. Nevertheless, there is a time when you must finish and let it go, so you can move onto your next story. Most importantly, have fun. Write because you enjoy it.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?</p><p>It is a full-time job, period. Not many have the luxury of dedicating this amount of time, but it is what is truly needed. Here are a few basics:</p><p>· You need to put together a marketing plan and strategy. Find someone with business savvy who can help you. Put together at least a 1-year plan, with goals and objectives.</p><p>· Create your own story and continue to tell it: Why this book and what does it mean to you?</p><p>· Apply for book awards: this is a great way to achieve recognition and exposure.</p><p>· Set up a dynamic website that tells your story and captures emails/comments</p><p>· Create a blog that you can share with other authors: tips, promotions, insight</p><p>· Set up your Amazon platform and learn all the tricks about exposure and rankings</p><p>· Do as much media: social media, radio, and television as you can (email contacts, networks, and other platforms). What is your hook? Why would they like to interview you?</p><p>· Try to do book presentations (or readings), not just at bookstores but also organizations and schools.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?</p><p>I believe <i>Britfield & the Lost Crown</i>. It took four years and 2,500 hours to write, finish, and polish. It represents ten hard years of work and dedication: from concept 2009 to national launch 2019. Many other books will follow. I finished <i>Britfield & the Rise of the Lion</i>, Book II last year (3,000 hours to complete). However, the first book in the series means the most.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?</p><p>To complete the seven-book <i>Britfield</i> series.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p>DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?</p><p>I will soon begin writing <i>Britfield & the Return of the Prince</i>, Book III</p><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div>LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-61177792893551527252020-08-19T09:03:00.004-07:002020-08-19T09:15:35.071-07:00Author Barbara Freeman on her Award-Winning Picture Book<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdnDe8VgNYM/Xz1OZDqlHyI/AAAAAAAA7rs/YAIWjALOjSkX5KM2ruYRSEcifzA2lLQqACLcBGAsYHQ/s720/18301061_1418527618167476_1525310786335035268_n%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdnDe8VgNYM/Xz1OZDqlHyI/AAAAAAAA7rs/YAIWjALOjSkX5KM2ruYRSEcifzA2lLQqACLcBGAsYHQ/w410-h410/18301061_1418527618167476_1525310786335035268_n%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />WHAT/WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?<br />I was a second-grade teacher and read many stories to my students and I loved watching the expressions on their faces when it came to exciting parts of the story or discovering the main plot of the story. I often thought I would like to write children's books. After retiring from the field of education it became my goal to write my first children's book. <br /><br /><br />DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY OR FUN WRITING HABITS?<br />I like to write early in the mornings when most people are sleeping. I feel the clarity in my thoughts are especially clear in the morning. <br /><br /><br />HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?<br />It is my feeling that many times people of color are not often seen in commercials, television, and magazine ads. Young people of color do not see themselves as beautiful or strong leaders because they are left out of the media. People of color should feel relevant and should appear frequently in current media. Children need to see images of people that resemble themselves. Diverse media helps to elevate the self-esteem of young people of color.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Barbara-J-Freeman/dp/1564924858/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=mirror%2C+mirror+barbara+freeman&qid=1579639660&sr=8-1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f2nMd9awju4/Xz1BAFtH6FI/AAAAAAAA7rc/2GqdIHL10hQxejYpuKTIFwyuay99eiIwQCLcBGAsYHQ/w482-h640/Mirror%2BMirror%2BSILVER.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />When the character Tina Thomas truly felt positive about her beauty, "--her dark eyes are filled with mystery. They shine with pride and knowledge of her own history!" I like this quote because she discovers a deep appreciation from learning about people of color. She learns that people of color throughout history were brave, creative, and filled with courage.<br /><br /><br />WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? <br />I hope young readers will learn that beauty comes in all colors. Readers will recognize that beauty is not only the image we reflect outwards; but, also the respect and kindness that comes from one's heart. Tina, the main character, along with young readers learns to recognize that brown skin is just as beautiful as the many other shades of skin. All young people need to feel positive, beautiful, and confident.<br /><br /><br />IF YOU WERE STARTING YOUR JOURNEY AS AN AUTHOR TODAY, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?<br />If I was starting my journey as an author today I would learn as much as possible about marketing my book.<br /><br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TIP FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS?<br />Aspiring authors should write of things they're passionate about. My first book was about my Pitt Bull, Sugar. I wanted to share my personal experience about the Pitt Bull breed. I found my family Pitt Bull to be loving, family-oriented and a very intelligent dog. <div> <br />My other personal passion is for young people of color to be fairly represented in media. People of color should be depicted as beautiful, leaders, and competent individuals. People of color should be equally as visible in movies, television commercials and in a variety of magazine ads.<br /><br /><br />CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?<br />I would advise writers to submit their books for reviews, enter book award contests and be willing to be available for book readings.<br /><br /><br />WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?<br />My greatest literary accomplishment is having my book Mirror, Mirror declared a Literary Classics award-winning book.<br /><br />WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?<br />One of my greatest literary goals is to have one of my books win the Coretta Scott King book award. <br /><br /><br />WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? <br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Princess-Bull-Finds-Family/dp/1564924025/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sugar+a+princess+pitbull&qid=1579642055&sr=8-1">Sugar, A Princess Pit Bull, Finds Her Family</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Super-Smart-Sugar-Barbara-Freeman/dp/1564924149/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=super+smart+sugar&qid=1579642133&sr=8-1">Super Smart Sugar</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.Barbarafreemanbooks.com">BarbaraFreemanBooks.com</a><br /><br /><br />...also available at Barnes and Noble book stores<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div></div>Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-82976034137536922002020-04-22T19:50:00.000-07:002020-04-23T10:57:31.487-07:00Susan Signe Morrison on her Words on Wings Award-Winning Book, Home Front Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="614" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpQhhdX-Amk/XqD-XIsO2TI/AAAAAAAA7Us/86jdjmyyDBoj_lCQT1zFhbDHHX8cDrvMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Home_Front_Girl_WOW.jpg" width="206" /><span id="goog_2099934974"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_2099934975"></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Joan Wehlen Morrison and Susan Signe Morrison</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Home-Front-Girl-Literature-Growing/dp/0912777869/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1579382452&sr=8-4">Home Front Girl: A Diary of Love, Literature, and Growing Up in Wartime America</a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? Both my parents inspired me as they were professional writers. My dad wrote an Organic Chemistry textbook that was the standard for decades. My mother, Joan Wehlen Morrison, was an oral historian who wrote two books.<br />
<br />
<br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY OR FUN WRITING HABITS?<br />
Well, when I write at home, my little corgi Gwen barks to be let in and out all the time. It gives me lots of exercise!<br />
<br />
<br />
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?<br />
After the death of my mother—Joan Wehlen Morrison—I found her diaries and poetry from when she was a teenager in the late 1930s and early 1940s. I edited these documents to create <i>Home Front Girl</i>. It started out as a family project, but I soon knew it was important historically and sought out a publisher. Her writing is beautiful and lyrical, leavened by moments of self-irony and humor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxgl6l_Rl8I/XqEAxaUGsQI/AAAAAAAA7VQ/V_Oieu0ewpozMSGYxY_XPAVjku0a0MKgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxgl6l_Rl8I/XqEAxaUGsQI/AAAAAAAA7VQ/V_Oieu0ewpozMSGYxY_XPAVjku0a0MKgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Age 16, Joan on the first day of WWII September 1, 1939 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at summer camp—before she had heard the news!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />
<br />
In 1939, when Joan is 16, she has a conversation with her classmate, Fraser, about heaven and hell and what they want to have done with their bodies after they die.<br />
<br />
He: “I saw a cremation once!”<br />
Me: “Oh—what was it like?” (I wanted to ask how it smelled, but he thinks I’m crude as it is.)<br />
He: “Oh, it was behind a glass wall and it shriveled up and . . .”<br />
I: “Oh—Oh!” (thinking rotting in the cool sweet earth is more natural)<br />
He: “And then . . . etc., etc.”<br />
And so we reached the locker room and I staggered to Modern Dance.<br />
I love this passage because it is just what a 16 would think about and say: death, bodies, and worrying what Fraser will think. And, of course, that final punch line about staggering to Modern Dance class. I also adore performing this section at book readings. My husband, Jim, personifies Fraser and his earnest demeanor so thoroughly that the audience is in stitches (we are, too!). If my husband can’t come to a reading with me, I always enlist the help of someone in the audience and we have a fun time.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSp2iKaCHxA/XqEAEr_KV1I/AAAAAAAA7U8/jmJ7Z6kSP1w3RVVSNXsSfUfXXSPeBAkkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2.Joan%2527s%2Bengagement%2Bphoto%2B1943%2Bat%2Bage%2B20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1142" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSp2iKaCHxA/XqEAEr_KV1I/AAAAAAAA7U8/jmJ7Z6kSP1w3RVVSNXsSfUfXXSPeBAkkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2.Joan%2527s%2Bengagement%2Bphoto%2B1943%2Bat%2Bage%2B20.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Joan's engagement photo 1943 at age 20</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPUOxr6ROg0/XqEAC_-1JGI/AAAAAAAA7U4/9mmFBzbm57AGTlAYnF95HhcwI-9Qi5ItwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1.%2B%2BSusan%2Band%2BJoan%2B2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="500" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPUOxr6ROg0/XqEAC_-1JGI/AAAAAAAA7U4/9mmFBzbm57AGTlAYnF95HhcwI-9Qi5ItwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1.%2B%2BSusan%2Band%2BJoan%2B2005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Susan Signe Morrison (on right) with her mother, Joan Wehlen Morrison (on left) 2005</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhdtmTT9uQU/XqEAIrX_OUI/AAAAAAAA7VA/YG8pqNcEr-ocy1oCH4XieOkgznCSFHfbACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/4.%2BSusan%2BSigne%2BMorrison.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhdtmTT9uQU/XqEAIrX_OUI/AAAAAAAA7VA/YG8pqNcEr-ocy1oCH4XieOkgznCSFHfbACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4.%2BSusan%2BSigne%2BMorrison.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Susan Signe Morrison (photo credit: Mary Rath)</div>
<br />
<br />
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?<br />
We should show compassion, even to our so-called enemies.<br />
<br />
<br />
IF YOU WERE STARTING YOUR JOURNEY AS AN AUTHOR TODAY, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?<br />
Sometimes I think one’s writing journey goes the way it must at the time we experience it. Try not to regret what you didn’t do and celebrate what you do accomplish or make progress on.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TIP FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS?<br />
Never give up. My novel, <i>Grendel’s Mother: The Saga of the Wyrd-Wife</i>, won the Words on Wings Book Award for young adult fiction in 2016. It took me seventeen years to complete!<br />
<br />
<br />
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?<br />
In addition to maintaining a lively blog and social media presence, do contact your local bookstore, library, and/or school. Personal contacts are often the best way to get your work out there.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?<br />
I love having written a novel (see above), but working on my mother’s diaries is the greatest joy my writing has given me!<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?<br />
To pay for college tuition with the proceeds. No, seriously, to affect the hearts and minds of my readers.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?<br />
<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1785350099/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1">Grendel's Mother: The Saga of the Wyrd Wife</a></i></b> Winchester, England: Top Hat Books, 2015.<br />
· Winner: Words on Wings Book Award for young adult fiction, a Literary Classics Top Honors Award 2016. Literary Classics Seal of Approval<br />
· Finalist in Adult Fiction: 2016 Wishing Shelf Book Award<br />
· Finalist: 2014-2015 Sarton Literary Award for Historical Fiction<br />
· Finalist: Foreward Reviews' 2015 Indiefab Book of the Year Award: Historical (Adult Fiction)<br />
<br />
<i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1785700790/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0">A Medieval Woman’s Companion: Women’s Lives in the European Middle Ages</a></b></i> Oxford: Oxbow Books, 2016.<br />
· Winner: Gold Medal in College Nonfiction from Literary Classics<br />
· Winner: 2016 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award: Bronze Medal in Women’s Studies; Honorable Mention in 2 categories: Adult Nonfiction and Young Adult Nonfiction.<br />
<br />
<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Literature-Waste-Material-Ecopoetics-Ethical-dp-113740566X/dp/113740566X/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1579383134">The Literature of Waste: Material Ecopoetics and Ethical Matter</a></i></b> NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.<br />
<br />
<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Excrement-Late-Middle-Ages-Fecopoetics-dp-1349540161/dp/1349540161/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1579383113">Excrement in the Late Middle Ages: Sacred Filth and Chaucer's Fecopoetics</a></i></b> The New Middle Ages Series. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.<br />
<br />
<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Medieval-England-Routledge-Research-dp-1138007463/dp/1138007463/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1579383081">Women Pilgrims in Late Medieval England: Private Piety as Public Performance</a></i></b> London: Routledge, 2000.<br />
<br />
<br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?<br />
Yes! Joan’s poetry is coming as a chapbook with the title <b><i>Another Troy</i></b> by Finishing Line Press in 2020. Also, having taught in the former East Germany in the 1980s, I am currently working on a book about my Stasi (secret police) file which has some unusual (and false) assertions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-63782199136057077672020-03-20T11:42:00.000-07:002020-03-20T11:42:28.921-07:00Author Spotlight, Courtney Leigh Pahlke on her Award-Winning Book<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVlFVQJxYuE/XnUJU9LYpTI/AAAAAAAA7K8/s6QvDtOUev4uV3ws4eBSKLFEGwM7-SNjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/C%2BPahlke.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVlFVQJxYuE/XnUJU9LYpTI/AAAAAAAA7K8/s6QvDtOUev4uV3ws4eBSKLFEGwM7-SNjACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/C%2BPahlke.jpeg" /></a><br />
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? <div>
I always wanted to write a novel one day but didn’t know what I’d be writing until I was on bedrest for nearly two years from a distracted driver. June of 2016 I was rear-ended at 55mph while I was at a dead stop, suffering serious neck and back injuries. My previous normal routine after work would have been running long distance, rock climbing, and volleyball to list a few. Sometimes I’d do two of the three in one day, so it was difficult for me to face bedrest for an extended period. Several months in my depression was swallowing me whole and I was willing to try anything that would help with inflammation so I could get back to life. One of my best friends suggested trying the “blood-type diet.” I found my blood type on one of my hospital forms but when I google searched it, I saw pages upon pages of creepy conspiracy theories claiming I had “alien blood” along with other bizarre websites. I spent close to a year researching the topic and saw there were not really a lot of books on the topic of the RH-negative bloodline. My brother suggested I start writing as an outlet. I had back surgery April of 2017 and when I got home, I started pouring everything into my first novel; <i>Life Force Preserve; Anna and the Resurgent of the Precious Blood</i>. I was in a very dark place in my life and after so much pain and time continued to pass, I didn’t know when or if I’d ever get back to life. Therefore, I daydreamed about a series that would allow me to help others through relatable traumatic life events as well as allow me to research locations and settings from around the world— places that would keep my mind occupied and potentially visit when I was healthy again. <i>The Life Force Preserve</i> series will have eight “character books”, where my readers are inside the minds of each character and in each country. Each novel takes place at the same moment in time from the various countries. Once the character series are complete, the characters from each novel will be brought together for the main, three-part series. I’m hoping to have an interactive audience where I’d like to poll them on which country the next character will be from, among other ideas, which I’d like to implement interactively with my readers. It’s important for me to get readers involved through my writing process as I grow as an author—they’re important to me and including them in the book development phase will be fun! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY OR FUN WRITING HABITS? Not sure my publisher would want me sharing this, because I may sound like a weirdo and we laugh at this. But, I have a bizarre way of writing. I’m sure a lot of authors prefer sitting somewhere with a view and I’m as opposite as one can get from a scenic view. I’ve tried it recently and I knew it wasn’t my thing. First, I must be sitting in complete darkness and I’ll light a candle or two. I have to wear earplugs and will play a scary movie in the background—which I keep muted. Not sure why I have to have a scary movie on because it’s not like I’m watching it and not sure why I wear earplugs, because the movie is always muted. I think I like the dark, so I can build a colorful scene around me and see it without distractions around the room. I’m a pantser and this is the best way for me to develop a scene. As for the scary movie, I tend to gravitate towards Stephen King’s films and other books that have turned to film, so I believe I do this as a motivator. If I slow down, I’ll look up and see the hard work of another dedicated writer which inspires me to keep going, especially during the later chapters of the book.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY? I’m not sure why, but I remember laughing so hard when writing this line... the Shrek part of this sentence from Chapter 4. I had a post-op herniation in my lower back and had to take a break from writing this scene because laughing hurt my back so badly. I guess it’s the first line that comes to my head. Leading up to my back surgery, my nerves on both sides were severely compressed where I was unable to walk without applying pressure to the bottom of both butt cheeks and this is how I felt I looked when I’d have to be in public. "To an onlooker, I’m sure I stand out. Most women in their early twenties wouldn’t be out in freezing climates, staggering down a sidewalk, unless they’re coming home from a crazy all-nighter. I’m walking down the sidewalk like Shrek after eating a jar of bath salts. The sun’s barely up, and I’ve scared a pedestrian—good for you, Anna." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? Aside from the relatability when it comes to grieving through different hurdles in life, there may be more to blood types than we think. Not many people even know what their own blood type is. Scientists discovered there being an RH-positive (85% of the world) and RH-negative blood (15% of world) as recent as the 1930s, after patients would get sick from blood transfusions. We may have only scratched the surface with what the proteins in varying blood types are capable of. The month my book went into production, the New Nork Times released an article on blood proteins and HIV cures, which I actually used as an example in my book. Note: <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ccr5-delta-32-the-rare-mutation-thatcould-help-stop-hiv-5612792/%20https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/05/health/hiv-aids-cure.html">the Delta 32 gene is the same as the CCR5</a>. What I wrote: “My colleagues and I were working on serums derived from the CCR5 Delta protein found in an Interhybrid’s blood. My division specifically worked on a treatment and cure for the HIV virus. Individual departments are created at headquarters for virus-specific strains, and I was assigned to the HIV virus.” “There’s a cure for the HIV virus?” “Yes, it’s in the middle stages of testing for approval.” Cindy hands me a plate. “How on earth did you link blood types to virus cures?” </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
IF YOU WERE STARTING YOUR JOURNEY AS AN AUTHOR TODAY, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY? I would have started marketing from the very beginning. It’s another hat to wear while writing a draft, but it’s an important one. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TIP FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS? Don’t give up. Write everyday. Network, encourage, and spend time with fellow authors, as they can relate to the different stages of writing. Also, I’m not sure I believe in writer’s block. I believe if I’m stuck, it means I’m not happy or bored with what I last wrote and may need to go back and throw a twist instead. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? It sounds strange but start promoting your book from the early stages. It will help you stay on course. Take advantage of having free sources such as social media. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? As a new author, I would say completing my first novel and publishing it. I accomplished one of my life goals. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? To be able to write full time and to turn my series into film. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? I write a column for a national automotive magazine which allows me to incorporate my passion for writing with my <a href="http://www.topcoveragenorth.com/">family business</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? I do. I’m almost finished with <i>Life Force Preserve; West End William</i> (series book 2). I’m hoping to have the book out soon. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /><br />LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org</div>
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-66005695675308500692020-03-09T08:22:00.003-07:002020-03-20T11:16:30.168-07:00Author Jackie Minniti on her Award-Winning Book, One Small Spark<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div dir="ltr" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: calibri, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s41lBJItUUQ/XmZe3fHwM7I/AAAAAAAA7Jg/hEJ7fDFq-fw4Auwnd_IE95Szj5pUdiwiQCEwYBhgL/s1600/mom%2B062%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1221" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s41lBJItUUQ/XmZe3fHwM7I/AAAAAAAA7Jg/hEJ7fDFq-fw4Auwnd_IE95Szj5pUdiwiQCEwYBhgL/s320/mom%2B062%2B2.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?</span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> I've wanted to be a writer since I was a child. As an avid reader, I wanted to be able to create characters and stories that would capture the imagination the way my favorite books captured mine. Reading was such a joy for me, I wanted to share that joy with others.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<div style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY OR FUN WRITING HABITS?</span></div>
<span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;">I like to listen to Gregorian chants while I write. It puts me into the zone and makes it easier for me to screen out distractions.</span></div>
</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"> I was reading a book about the American Revolution called <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Legends and Lies: The Patriots,</span> and I came across a chapter that told about the Christopher Seider incident. Even though I considered myself fairly knowledgeable about history, I'd never heard of this boy and the influence he had on the Revolution. I tried to find a book about him and was surprised to discover that, although he was mentioned in a few places, no one had written his story. I thought it was sad that someone so pivotal to the course of our nation was all but lost to history. <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Since I had just written <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jacqueline, </span>a middle-grade historical fiction(and another Literary Classics gold medal winner!), I thought that 11-year-old Christopher would make a perfect protagonist for another middle-grade novel.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22PTyxAYtFk/XmZfF9ipajI/AAAAAAAA7Jk/N05Sv7JqsHMEGT8GwykZooGMLP1jFHiqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/One_Small_Spark_EQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22PTyxAYtFk/XmZfF9ipajI/AAAAAAAA7Jk/N05Sv7JqsHMEGT8GwykZooGMLP1jFHiqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/One_Small_Spark_EQ.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY?</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;">"What good's everythin' else if you don't have liberty?" (Spoken by Christopher Seider) This is my favorite line because it sums up the theme of the novel and the feeling of the patriots who were willing to give their all for liberty.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;">I'm someone who believes that what we don't learn from history, we're doomed to repeat. As a former teacher, I'm disturbed by the lack of knowledge about American history that seems so prevalent today. I hope that <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One Small Spark</span> will "spark" an interest in history among young readers and help them understand and appreciate the sacrifice that was made by so many to give them the freedom they now enjoy.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IF YOU WERE STARTING YOUR JOURNEY AS AN AUTHOR TODAY, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;">I'd probably start sooner! I waited until I retired before embarking on my new career, and I regret that it took me so long.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TIP FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS?<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;">Find yourself a good editor - not your mom or a friend who teaches English, but a real, impartial and brutally honest professional who will be that extra pair of eyes every writer needs. It will make all the difference!</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;">That's probably the most difficult aspect of being a writer because it takes time away from writing. I've found that giving presentations at schools, libraries, and book clubs is a good way to sell books. And don't forget social media. If done correctly, you can get the word out to a large audience with very little time and money.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;">My proudest moment was when I put the first copy of my book, <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jacqueline,</span> in my father's hands on his 99th birthday. <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jacqueline </span>was based on an experience he had while stationed in France shortly after D-day. It was the only war story he was willing to share and he really wanted me to write a book about it. He was so happy the day I gave that book to him! He passed away six months later, and I feel blessed that I finished it in time for him to read it.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PzJ9lai3h9M/XmZfLL11m1I/AAAAAAAA7Jo/MqQdHduS3DojI8JwvSCaT46IJ6A_ROVVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/JacquelineCLC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PzJ9lai3h9M/XmZfLL11m1I/AAAAAAAA7Jo/MqQdHduS3DojI8JwvSCaT46IJ6A_ROVVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/JacquelineCLC.jpg" width="211" /></span></a></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;">I want to inspire a love of reading in young people so they can experience the joy that only a good book can give.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? </div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
(PLEASE PROVIDE LINKS FOR PURCHASE IF APPLICABLE):</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Project-June-Bug-Jackie-Minniti/dp/059545528X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=project+june+bug+by+jackie+minniti&qid=1579378377&s=books&sr=1-1">Project June Bug </a> </span></span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jacqueline-Jackie-Minniti/dp/0996329080/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1579378277&sr=1-1">Jacqueline</a> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: x-small;">I've completed an outline for another middle-grade historical novel, but I had to put that on hold because I was asked to head a project creating a K-8 English/Language Arts curriculum for homeschoolers. It's quite an undertaking, but I plan to get busy on that novel as soon as I finish!</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif, serif, emojifont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-12814150331723291682020-02-13T11:52:00.002-08:002020-03-20T11:17:23.993-07:00Author Spotlight - Dr. Bon Blossman on her award-winning book, Behind the Mirror (Book One)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7ItIOVnYsc/XkWkLzbOxFI/AAAAAAAA6_g/D_ROFEkCf7kgBVhzXTV7nEs4qHOZvamxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bon%2Bblossman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="747" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7ItIOVnYsc/XkWkLzbOxFI/AAAAAAAA6_g/D_ROFEkCf7kgBVhzXTV7nEs4qHOZvamxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/bon%2Bblossman.png" width="226" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
WHAT/WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? My father was a surgeon who wrote poetry as a hobby. He ventured on to writing a novel, and I was amazed by the process and learned from him. <br />
<br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY OR FUN WRITING HABITS? I still use a spiral notebook to get started with my outline. I am old-school! <br />
<br />
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? I wrote a murder mystery game called <i>Murder Behind the Mirror</i> for my murder mystery game company. I was so interested while writing that game, new ideas spawned from the game to the premise of the book series. The game was only a seed of an idea, and the book series is entirely different. <br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />
"I lost my balance and tumbled toward the mirror, but as my hand connected with the glass, it pushed through the surface into a colder, electrically charged space."<br />
<br />
This is the moment that Ella, while chaos ensues around her, discovers the world on the other side of the mirror. <br />
<br />
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? <br />
I hope young teens can get inspiration from the book series and learn from Ella's courageous decisions to take on and embrace the challenging quests ahead of her. <br />
<br />
IF YOU WERE STARTING YOUR JOURNEY AS AN AUTHOR TODAY, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?<br />
I would not. I realize you need many years of learning and growing as an author before you find yourself, so I wouldn't.<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TIP FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS? Write every day. Write because you love to write.<br />
<br />
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? Social media is your best bet. Grow an audience, engage with them, and do free giveaways and promotions on occasion to keep them on their toes. <br />
<br />
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? I have made it to the first 'best-selling' page of various search terms on Amazon for different books, and that always feels amazing. Also, being recognized by organizations such as Literary Classics for my work is my greatest literary accomplishment. I feel honored and proud each time I win an award, as it gives me the confidence to press on with my next book.<br />
<br />
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? To keep doing what I'm doing because I enjoy it. If someone likes the story - that's even better!<br />
<br />
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? <br />
<br />
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wormhole-Behind-Mirror-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B082QR2XBT">Wormhole (Behind the Mirror Trilogy, Book 2) </a></i><br />
<div>
<i><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Noxhelm-Murders-Dr-Bon-Blossman/dp/0996524851">The Noxhelm Murders</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.mymysteryparty.com/escape-from-dregs-island/">Dregs Island (written with Zakk Myer)</a><br /><br />Books in The Fiona Frost series: </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /><a href="https://www.bonblossman.com/blooddolls"> Blood Dolls (Volume 5)</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.bonblossman.com/shillingstonewitch"> Shillingstone Witch (Volume 4) </a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.bonblossman.com/fatalsouvenirs"> Fatal Souvenirs (Volume 3) </a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985036354/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i4">Order of the Black Moon (Volume 2) </a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985036303/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1">Foster Manor (Volume 1)</a></i><br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?<br />
Yes, my son (Zakk Myer) and I are currently working on a creepy collection of short stories. After that, I plan to finish the <i>Behind the Mirror Series</i>. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org</div>
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-89541464838755257612020-01-31T11:11:00.000-08:002020-01-31T11:11:32.913-08:00Author Spotlight, D. A. Brittain on her award-winning book, Judah’s Scepter and the Sacred Stone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WsDtLYyPFFY/XjR4XAPqhTI/AAAAAAAA694/RTuR417E7tYTqpZjA6cq6krUMbBpgXi4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Judahs_Scepter_and_the_Sacred_Stone_goldLCA.jpg" width="207" /></div>
<br />
<b>How did you get the idea for your award-winning book?</b><br />
Initially, I envisioned my first novel as a young adult fantasy. But over time as I studied the Bible, I was drawn to write an adventure and love story which would entertain like a good fantasy that also included an inspirational story of faith. Specifically, I was intrigued by the Bible’s narrative of Israel’s patriarch Jacob, and the stone that he used as a pillow when he dreamed of a ladder rising into heaven and heard the voice of God. Over the years I read many legends and myths surrounding this sacred stone that some believe traveled with a prophet and a princess from Israel to Ireland. My interest in the Bible and the ancient legends became the inspiration for my story.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What is your favorite line from your award-winning book and why?</b><br />
That’s an easy question to answer. “The archbishop placed a purple-velvet-bound Bible in the king’s fingers, then prayed: ‘Our gracious King, we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom. This is the royal law. These are the lively Oracles of God.” This is my favorite because I do believe that the Bible is the word of God that can transform lives as it brings its reader into a relationship with their Creator. This line from my book’s epilogue comes from a scaled-down version I wrote of the United Kingdom’s coronation ceremony that’s conducted in present times, almost exactly as it has been for the past 900 years.<br />
<br />
<b>Which of your characters from your award-winning title do you believe is most like you and why?</b><br />
Parts of me are most like Teia, my main character. Some of what I wrote at the time about her, what she felt and said was based on my feelings and words. Teia also has dreams and desires for her life but sets them aside to follow the plans that God has for her, regardless of what she may suffer or lose along the way. But then, in the end, she realizes that no matter what trials she’s faced, she never needed to doubt that God was with her and would always be guiding her path.<br />
<br />
<b>What message do you hope readers will glean from your award-winning book?</b><br />
Well, I hope while reading a heart-pounding adventure, and sweet love story, readers will also take to heart the story of faith that might give them hope and comfort in knowing that there is a God who loves them and there is a purpose for their life.<br />
<br />
<b>What inspired you to become a writer?</b><br />
I guess it began with my life-long love of reading. I’m grateful for all the great stories I’ve read since I was a little girl up until now, so to be able to give someone else that kind of enjoyment from a story I’ve created, well, that’s a dream come true. I’ve had stories in my head since I was fourteen when I first started writing poetry and then short stories, but I always dreamed of writing a novel.<br />
<br />
<b>Who has had the greatest influence on your writing style?</b><br />
I honestly don’t know. I don’t think there’s been anyone that’s influenced my style. For me, it may have come more from the fairy tales I read when young. I still love the words, “Once upon a time.” I don’t have a favorite fiction author. Although, I do read a large amount of biblically-based fiction, some mainstream YA and adult fantasy, and occasionally YA and adult Sci-Fi. I enjoy escaping into a good story that takes me to a far-away time or to make-believe worlds. I think that’s why I wrote a story with a bit of a fairytale feel to it.<br />
<br />
<b>Tell us something about your experience as a writer:</b><br />
While writing <i>Judah’s Scepter</i>, there was a time when I was being told (in my head) to make one of my characters evil. I liked this character and wanted them left as a moral person. However, the voice in my head kept telling me that person was heartless and I needed to write them that way. I began to argue with myself! I finally gave in and changed the character and modified some of the storylines. And because I did, the overall story became much better.<br />
<br />
<b>Tell us a little about your writing process:</b><br />
I don’t make an elaborate outline or create detailed character descriptions before I begin to write. A general overall idea comes to mind before I start, and then when I write, I see the setting and characters in my head and hear them speak. I become immersed in their world. As I continue to write, more characters arrive on scene as the story takes on various twists and turns and new plotlines emerge. Often, I’m unaware of what will happen to some of the characters. I usually know my ending, but what happens in-between can even be a surprise to me!<br />
<br />
Also, because I write historical fiction, I spend a significant amount of time on research. I spend months reading books, studying maps and perusing information found on official historical websites.<br />
<br />
<b>What is your greatest challenge as a writer?</b><br />
That’s easy to answer; Finding enough time to write. The desire to write is always there. However, like most people, I have a busy life with many commitments to family, friends and church activities. All of which are very important to me, but often leave little free time for me to write. But I do my best to write as often as I can.<br />
<br />
<b>If you could be compared to a well-known author, who would you most want this to be?</b><br />
That’s a hard one for me to answer. I’ve never thought in those terms. William Goldman wrote <i>The Princess Bride</i>, which was a book I really liked, as well as loving the movie. However, he wasn’t a writer of religious fiction, as I am. I honestly can’t think of anyone to compare myself to. I’ll leave that for the readers to decide. Publishers Weekly chose Connilyn Cossette’s <i>Out of Egypt</i> series as similar to my book. I thought that was a nice comparison.<br />
<br />
<b>How did you get published?</b><br />
After waiting seven months and hearing nothing from a traditional publisher who had my manuscript, followed by another publisher informing me that I had to change a lot of what I wrote, or they wouldn’t publish my book, I decided to go it alone and self-publish. It was a lot of work, but in the end, with the help of a wonderful editor and creative cover designer, I was very pleased to have my story published the way I wrote it and envisioned it in print.<br />
<br />
<b>Can you offer any advice for writers on how best to promote their book?</b><br />
It seems like everything keeps changing, so if you don’t have a publicist and are going it alone, for now, I’d advise writers to set up an author’s page on Goodreads, which is owned by Amazon. There, they can run giveaway contests and advertise their book to Goodread's millions of members. Also entering, and hopefully winning respected contests, like Literary Classics, is an excellent way to receive recognition and promotion for your book!<br />
<br />
And finally, acquiring good editorial reviews from leading industry organizations like Publisher’s Weekly can provide creditability for the professional quality of your book. Editorial reviews can be included on your book cover, website, Amazon and any other retail sites and social media sites an author might have.<br />
<br />
<b>What has been your greatest literary accomplishment?</b><br />
The commercial part for me would be, that as a first-time author, having Publisher’s Weekly select my book for review and then to receive a good review still feels a little unbelievable. I’m also very grateful for the awards my book has received. But what really means a lot to me are the thoughtful and positive reviews and emails I’ve received from readers who have enjoyed my book. Bringing joy to someone else through my writing feels like a wonderful accomplishment.<br />
<br />
<b>What are your greatest literary aspirations?</b><br />
For now, it would be to complete the second and third book in the <i>Judah’s Scepter</i> series. Through my stories of adventure and romance that I hope entertain, I also hope and pray that the readers will find themselves drawing closer to God. That’s why I write.<br />
<br />
<b>Tell us something people may not know about you that they might find interesting:</b><br />
Hmm. I’m not sure what they would find interesting. One thing I could share is that I’m an introvert at heart. I’m more comfortable sitting alone and writing in my home office; more than I would ever be speaking in public! I’m okay in small or medium-size groups but speaking before a large crowd … that’s not for me. Sounds terrifying! But I’m learning to step out of my comfort zone to do whatever I’m called to do.<br />
<br />
<b>Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?</b><br />
I guess I would like to tell them how much authors appreciate hearing from them. After what might be years of putting your heart into a story, and the long road to seeing it published, it’s always nice to know that someone else has enjoyed what you’ve created. So, when a reader takes the time to rate a book, write a review, or send a short email to an author, it’s always greatly appreciated.<br />
Do you have any new books in the works? If so, tell us a little about your next book, when it will be available, where it can be purchased.<br />
<br />
Yes, I’ve almost completed the first draft of the second book in the <i>Judah's Scepter</i> series. This story takes place mostly in thirteenth-century England and the Holy Land. It’s another adventure and story of faith with a sweet romance between a Jewish maiden and a Christian knight. The final crusade to the Holy Land also plays a part in this story. The sacred stone will return as I follow the historical records and write about England’s King Edward I, bringing the stone from Scotland to England and commissioning a chair, a throne to hold the stone that was used then as it is now, to crown the British monarchs. If all goes as planned, editing and the cover design will take place with publishing by early to mid-2020.<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-83205293549486282542020-01-20T14:46:00.003-08:002020-01-20T14:47:16.380-08:00Author Spotlight - Daniela I. Norris on her award-winning book, Premonitions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUUgB3yy8rY/XiYseLRIiiI/AAAAAAAA68w/pf5amKg9yeIna71lLyJWQ6KmHAHs4kNAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Daniela%2BNorris%2Bimage%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUUgB3yy8rY/XiYseLRIiiI/AAAAAAAA68w/pf5amKg9yeIna71lLyJWQ6KmHAHs4kNAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Daniela%2BNorris%2Bimage%2B2.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? I always knew I wanted to be a writer, ever since I learned to read at the age of five. However, I also knew that I needed to live and gain experiences that I could write about. My inspiration came from magical realism and inspirational authors, such as Paulo Coelho, Hruki Murakami and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.<br />
<br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUIRKY WRITING HABITS? I love writing first thing in the morning (sometimes as early as 4am) in my pyjamas. Once the day starts and everyone is awake and life goes on outside, it's never the same!<br />
<br />
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? I experienced a past-life-regression and later trained as a past-life-regression therapist; not because I believed in past lives, but because I wanted to explore the connection between generations, life lessons and the possibly pre-determined role some people have in our lives!<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY? I don't have one favorite line - it's like asking me to choose my favorite child! Impossible.<br />
<br />
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? I would love my readers to keep an open mind and to enjoy the story that includes different lifetimes in different eras, but to consider that perhaps this life is not everything there is!<br />
<br />
IF YOU WERE STARTING YOUR JOURNEY AS AN AUTHOR TODAY, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY? I don't believe in regrets. We each have our journeys for a reason, they make us who we are.<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST TIP FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS? If writing flows out of your fingertips onto the keyboard and the computer screen, or into a notebook, let it flow, make time for it. If it doesn't, show up anyway, and wait until it does!<br />
<br />
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? Attend writing events, meet readers (and other writers, and support them), become part of a writing and book-loving community. I believe in personal contact, although of course social media has its place. But not instead of meeting readers, and other writers, and engaging with them in events!<br />
<br />
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? Finishing five books. I still can't believe I've done that! <br />
<br />
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? I'd love to write books that can help people who are lost on their life-journey, or are going through a difficult time in their lives, find their way. If my books can inspire and help readers through difficult times, then my mission would be accomplished. <br />
<br />
WHAT (IF ANY) OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Recognitions-Daniela-I-Norris/dp/1785351974/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3F9EMGRKIICHE&keywords=recognitions+daniela+norris&qid=1579293308&sprefix=recognitions+da%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-1%20)"><i>Recognitions</i> </a>(prequel to <i>Premonitions</i>)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Collecting-Feathers-Tales-Other-Side/dp/1782796711/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=collecting+feathers&qid=1579293421&sr=8-1"><i>Collecting Feathers</i>: tales from the Other Side</a> a collection of short stories <br />
<br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?<br />
Yes! I am currently working on the third novel in the<i> Recognitions</i> series, titled <i>Precognitions</i>. It will wrap up the story started in <i>Recognitions</i> and continued in <i>Premonitions</i>, but is also a stand-alone novel.<br />
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org</div>
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-11577395098642624572020-01-10T13:39:00.000-08:002020-01-10T13:39:19.171-08:00Author Spotlight - Krysten Lindsay Hager on her award-winning book, Landry in Like<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ueeeEPSCJs/XhjrGa0SoDI/AAAAAAAA67s/jmaXxb6RO4UXKFa_5c5r1pIbKJ6WkR4pwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bfest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ueeeEPSCJs/XhjrGa0SoDI/AAAAAAAA67s/jmaXxb6RO4UXKFa_5c5r1pIbKJ6WkR4pwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/bfest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />I have taken ideas from my own life growing up for the Landry character. In this book I wanted Landry to go through the struggles of speaking up for herself, dealing with friendships and how to handle outgrowing a friend. Landry has grown a lot throughout the series and she wants to stay friends with her longtime best friend who hurt her feelings, but there’s not just a mistrust there, but the fact that as the two girls have grown, they’ve also grown apart. I wanted to show that you can evolve as a person without leaving anyone behind, but also without holding yourself back. That was a theme I never saw in books when I was growing up; I believed drifting apart didn’t mean moving on, but rather meant losing a relationship.<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />It would be the line Landry says about going to the pool, because there’s an age where swimming goes from having fun in the pool to feeling awkward about being seen in a bathing suit and feeling judged. I shared this line on social media and had so many comments and messages over it from women and girls of all ages who have felt this way. “When did that all change? I remember being so excited to go to the pool. Swimming and having fun. When did it get all awkward and become about what we look like in bathing suits or with our hair wet?”<br /><br />WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU?<br />Landry is most like me because she has gone through many of the same situations I did and she has my sense of humor. She’s a bookworm who overthinks and she keeps her sense of humor in even the most anxious moments in life.<br /><br />WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?<br />I’d like my readers to see how important it is to stay true to yourself and your values and to appreciate what makes you unique. Growing up I often wanted to be more like other people because I felt different--even my interests were different. I wanted to fit in more than anything and I now realize it’s what makes you different that makes you special.<br /><br />WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?<br />I loved to read growing up and I always thought it would be amazing to impact someone’s life the way my favorite authors impacted mine.<br /><br />WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?<br />I would say Judy Blume, as she really gets to the way tweens and teens feel. While reading her books I could see she felt what her characters were feeling.<br /><br />TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:<br />I had an experience where I was on a talk show and was asked if I had gone through an experience like Landry where I felt insecure and left out. I was on live TV and realized I was about to expose a side of myself that had been difficult for me, but I knew I needed to so the readers would know I had experienced these issues firsthand. It was awkward and uncomfortable, but ever since I have shared experiences like that I find more and more people reach out to me to share their own experiences.<br /><br />TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:<br />I don’t outline, but if I’m working on a series then I have an idea where I’m going with the story. I make playlists for all the stories I work on to inspire me and use notebooks to jot down ideas and dialogue. I also keep a Pinterest board for each story I work on and then make it public when the book is released.<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?<br />Probably marketing. I think most writers would just like to focus on writing as the business side of things is not what we prefer to work on, but it’s part of the business.<br /><br />HAS YOUR WORK BEEN COMPARED TO ANY WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS ?<br />I had a review compare me to Ann M. Martin and one say my work reminded her of Melody Carlson, and that meant a lot since I respect their work so much.<br /><br />HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?<br />I was in a group for freelance writers and two of the women were writing fiction as well and shared that they were happy with their publisher and I filed that name away for down the road.<br /><br />CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?<br />I think being yourself is best so people know what to expect from your writing. Sometimes I see someone online and their persona is so different from what they write and it throws me. It’s like when an actor who is known for being funny and lighthearted on a show goes on a talk show and is serious and so unlike their character that you feel taken aback.<br /><br />WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?<br />I think when I had my first sequel published and I could say I had a series. That had always been a dream, but it was one I never thought would come true.<br /><br />WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?<br />To reach more readers and to keep putting books out that people want to read.<br /><br />TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:<br />I do tons of research for my rockstar romance series, <i>The Cecily Taylor Series</i>, and I have watched and read tons of music biographies. I’ve learned so much and discovered a lot of singers from the past that I’m a big fan of now.<br /><br />IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?<br />I write upper middle-grade books as well as clean young adult fiction. I’m also working on writing women’s fiction as well. I love reading (and watching) mysteries even though I don’t write them, but Landry loves them as well. In fact I have a Nancy Drew-type series she’s obsessed with in the books that’s also a video game.<br /><br />WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?<br />Middle grade: <div>
<i>True Colors</i></div>
<div>
<div>
<i>Best Friends...Forever?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Landry in Like</i><br /><br />Young adult: </div>
<div>
<i>Next Door to a Star</i></div>
<div>
<i>Competing with the Star</i></div>
<div>
<i>Dating the It Guy</i></div>
<div>
<i>Can Dreams Come True</i></div>
<div>
<i>In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety</i><br /><br />AVAILABLE AT: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Krysten-Lindsay-Hager/e/B00L2JC9P2">AMAZON</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Krysten+Lindsay+Hager">BARNES AND NOBLE</a>, <a href="https://bit.ly/2ZuKQun">BOOK DEPOSITORY</a>, <a href="https://bit.ly/30QsSPu">WALMART</a>, AND <a href="https://bit.ly/2Yt5t4S">INDIEBOUND</a></div>
<div>
<br />DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?<br />Yes, I’m working on the next book in my clean teen romantic comedy series, The Cecily Taylor Series, about a teen who gets the chance to be in her favorite singer’s music video and they begin dating. I’m also working on some women’s fiction.<br /><br />IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?<br /><i>In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety</i>, hit number one on Amazon’s Hot New Releases for young adult humor books. It’s the second book in my rom-com series and in this one Cecily gets the opportunity to model in New York and see her teen rock star boyfriend, but it’s hard being in high school and dealing with keeping their relationship secret and reading about all the girls who want to date him online—not to mention the relationship gossip! It’s a fun take on what it’d be like to date your dream crush.<br /><br /><br />LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org</div>
</div>
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-23723645986357950762020-01-10T13:16:00.000-08:002020-01-10T13:16:22.948-08:00Author Spotlight - Claire Fullerton on her Top Honors Award Winning Book, Mourning Dove<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiMlPUAQ-r8/Xhjh7ique2I/AAAAAAAA67g/0yFiqNkTtgEQXLLQ_-jmpyAjIBNCCW7pACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Mourning_Dove_-_Words_on_Wings_Award_Recipient.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiMlPUAQ-r8/Xhjh7ique2I/AAAAAAAA67g/0yFiqNkTtgEQXLLQ_-jmpyAjIBNCCW7pACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Mourning_Dove_-_Words_on_Wings_Award_Recipient.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br /><br />HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? From growing up in the South! I grew up in Memphis, and wanted to write about that particular side of the South that I rarely see written of, which is to name the manicured, genteel side of the South with its nuances and social mores that are now a bit out of fashion, as Memphis has grown and the times have changed. I also wanted to write about the binds that tie between siblings and how they impact the rest of our lives. <br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? "If one knew with certainty that life's defining moments came wrapped in a bow in the arms of good fortune, one would fundamentally trust the life process and go skipping out to greet each day in the blind faith that no matter what, all things work together for good." I like this line because it is the first in a paragraph that muses upon the ambiguity of life, in all its variations. <div>
<br />WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? Millie Crossan, who is the narrator of <i>Mourning Dove</i>. She is in awe of her charismatic brother, Finley. I grew up in awe of my brother, Haines. <br /><br />WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? The message is a big one. <i>Mourning Dove</i>'s themes are a search for place, a search for identity, and a search for God. Its message concerns the question of who is in charge in the shaping of a life. <br /><br />WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? I never aspired to being a writer, I simply got in touch with the fact that I am one! <br /><br />WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE? - PLEASE ELABORATE: I love the work of the author Pat Conroy, whom I had the pleasure of meeting. Conroy's gift for lyrical, descriptive prose inspires me because it is language at its loftiest. I think language is important. <br /><br />TELL US SOMETHING RANDOM/INTERESTING/FUNNY ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER: I saw the actor Sam Elliott at a party and just so happened to have <i>Mourning Dove</i> with me. When I gave it to him, he gave me a kiss!<br /><br />TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS: I write on Microsoft Word and when I'm involved in the writing of a book, I write every day as much as I can. I keep this pace until the book is finished, then I show the manuscript to my agent, Julie Gwinn, of the Seymour Literary Agency. <br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER? I don't feel challenged by anything having to do with writing. I write in scenes, and the only thing I can report is that I sometimes take my time pondering what the next scene should be. <br /><br />IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY? Pat Conroy, because of his use of language. <br /><br />HOW DID YOU FIND AN AGENT? Firefly Southern Fiction brought me to the attention of my agent, Julie Gwinn. It was a backwards process, because I mistakenly submitted without an agent. Eva Marie Everson, Firefly's acquisition editor, liked my book so much, she brought me to the attention of Julie Gwinn. Julie read the first three chapters of Mourning Dove and offered me representation. She was instrumental in getting my following book signed. <br /><br />CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? I think doing as much in person as you possibly can goes a long way. Bookstore events, book festivals, literary conferences, and always enter contests. Everyone knows how to work social media, so this is a given. But meeting readers face-to-face goes a long way.<br /><br />WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? The four awards Mourning Dove has won. I'm very proud of the Words on Wings Award by Literary Classics, as it is one of them!<br /><br />WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? To continue to live the life I am living now and hoping my career will grow as I reach more readers. <br /><br />TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOU PEOPLE MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: I am a ballet teacher. I taught a ballet/Pilates mat class in Malibu for ages and a few celebrities came regularly. I also had a nine year career in music radio. </div>
<div>
<br />IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Yes. I narrated the audiobook of <i>Mourning Dove</i> and loved every minute of it. I have a Memphis accent, and since <i>Mourning Dove </i>is set in Memphis, it was a perfect fit! If you want to hear a real, old-world Delta accent, listen to <i>Mourning Dove</i>'s audiobook. Also, because I have to mention them: I have two German shepherds-- one male, one female, who run the show of our Malibu home! <br /><br />WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? </div>
<div>
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Portal-Time-Claire-Fullerton/dp/1544962029/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=A+Portal+in+Time&qid=1578689879&sr=8-4">A Portal in Time</a></i></div>
<div>
<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Irish-Reel-Claire-Fullerton-ebook/dp/B00UCOZJXM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dancing+to+an+Irish+Reel&qid=1578689856&sr=8-1">Dancing to an Irish Reel</a></i> ( which is set in rural Ireland, where I once lived.) </div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mourning-Dove-Claire-Fullerton/dp/1946016527/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3KESL97F1NU80&keywords=mourning+dove+by+claire+fullerton&qid=1556918515&s=gateway&sprefix=mourning+Dove%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-2"><i>Mourning Dove</i></a> is my third novel, and I have another release in May 2020<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org</div>
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-16310412251105634172020-01-10T12:31:00.000-08:002020-01-10T12:31:12.755-08:00Author Spotlight - Stacie Haas on her award-winning book, Freedom for Me: A Chinese Yankee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8wp8URB4cI/XhjdgXnz9OI/AAAAAAAA67M/BXn0qdH0OUEytYkoX0ZffIf7dLkkl4bpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Freedomforme.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1003" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8wp8URB4cI/XhjdgXnz9OI/AAAAAAAA67M/BXn0qdH0OUEytYkoX0ZffIf7dLkkl4bpACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Freedomforme.jpg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cC-ZXO6YgrE/XhjdnIIMqqI/AAAAAAAA67Q/48JOIesMFBYCm35lzKrap6Vz086ECFSkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/14%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="504" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cC-ZXO6YgrE/XhjdnIIMqqI/AAAAAAAA67Q/48JOIesMFBYCm35lzKrap6Vz086ECFSkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/14%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />Many years ago, a friend of my father’s gifted me an old stack of his Civil War magazines. He’d known I was a Civil War buff and thought I’d enjoy them. On the back of one of them was an article titled, “An Oriental Yankee Soldier,” and it introduced me to Cpl. Joseph Pierce, a Chinese soldier who served in the Fourteenth Connecticut infantry in the American Civil War. I was surprised and excited to learn about him as I hadn’t known there were any Chinese Civil War soldiers. I have Chinese heritage, so I was excited by that representation. Years later, after taking several courses with the Institute of Children’s Literature, I decided to write his story for young readers. <br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />"You’re too young, and besides, there ain’t no such thing as a Chinese Yankee.” This line is spoken by Robert, the protagonist’s older brother, early on and it sets up the entire premise of the book. Can a Chinese Yankee find his place in an America embroiled in a war fighting over the issue of slavery and the meaning of freedom?<br /><br />WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY?<br />The protagonist, Thomas, is most like me. I relied upon many of my own experiences as a person of color to write the more personal, emotional aspects of his growth journey. <br /><br />WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />I hope they understand that America, even in the midst of a great battle for freedom, is the land of opportunity for all people.<br /><br />WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?<br />It wasn’t a person so much as the process of writing itself. From a very young age, I wrote things down to figure things out. I often couldn’t wrestle with a problem or understand how I felt about something until I formed my thoughts into the written word. When I later discovered that I could tell stories in a compelling way, I was hooked. It’s challenging, but there’s nothing like the feeling I get when I’ve done it successfully. <br /><br />WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE? - PLEASE ELABORATE:<br />Every book I read influences me in one way or another. I love reading books of all genres, but especially books that I’d consider “page turners.” I often ask, ‘how did the author do that?’ I’m always learning from the wisdom of other authors. <br /><br />TELL US SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:<br />I don’t know how interesting it is, but I often write with my youngest strapped to me in a baby carrier while standing up at my kitchen island. It’s a bit like sausage-making; it’s not always the prettiest process, but it’s what works for me in this stage of life! <br /><br />TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:<br />I start with an idea. I am always eager to jump right into the writing, but I find that I benefit from a little time spent plotting as well. I like ‘loose’ plots, where I am free to take the story where it naturally goes during the writing, but also a plot in which I know the climax I’m working toward. <br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?<br />My greatest challenge is finding the right kind of time. I’m a wife and mom to four kids, ages 14 to 1, and I also have a job in the communications field for a Fortune 500 Company. I work hard to carve time into my day (and nights), but it’s not always possible. I try to make every second count. I also carry a notebook around with me so I can jot down inspiration for new stories wherever I am.<br /><br />IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY?<br />That’s an incredibly tough question. There are so many fantastic authors out there and I don’t know that I can be compared to any of them yet. Doesn’t everyone want to be the next Kate DiCamillo?<br /><br />HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?<br />I participated in a Twitter #pitmad event in which I had to pitch my book in 140 characters or less to attract agents and publishers. I was fortunate to get several likes from both. That led to my first two requests for full manuscripts and eventually led to my contract with Melody Press, the kids and teens imprint of 50/50 Press, Inc. <br /><br />Before that, however, I had to write the best book I could. I did multiple edits—and got professional feedback. The key to my contract, I think, was nailing the first chapter. I’d struggled with it from the very beginning and I think it contributed to my early rejections. Once I “fixed” it, that’s when I finally started to see interest. <br /><br />CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?<br />I’m still figuring this one out. I’m finding that the upper middle grade market is a tough one from a sales perspective. My publisher is a wonderful small, independent publisher but it doesn’t have the reach of the big six that get near-automatic ins to bookstores and the school market. I’m also in a part of the country that heavily relies on the use of Accelerated Reader quizzes for book recommendations, but neither I nor my publisher was initially aware of how to get a book considered for AR quizzes. Hint, it has to be done pre-publication.<br /><br />I’ve run some Facebook ads and gotten what I feel is a good amount of good publicity in local papers and such. I’ve also entered my book into award competitions like Literary Classics’s, believing that recognition would be helpful in selling my book. I’ve been most successful in reaching out directly to teachers and administrators in schools.<br /><br />WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?<br />Winning the Literary Classics Gold Medal for Coming of Age Upper Middle Grade fiction and the Silver for Upper Middle Grade Historical Fiction! What an honor. Beyond that, finding a publisher to bring my story to the world. I work with a collaborative, author-centric publisher in 50/50 Press, Inc. and I’m grateful to co-owners for seeing promise in my work.<br /><br />WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?<br />To write books that both entertain and educate readers. I’d love to write a best-seller someday and find a way to write creatively full-time, but until then, I am happy to share stories from the heart and have the opportunity to inspire people.<br /><br />TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:<br />I love cheering on the sports-teams of my hometown. My favorite two teams are the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals. I’m a long-suffering fan, to say the least!<br /><br />DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?<br />Yes. I’m working on a young adult book and another middle grade story—both inspired by my life and that of my kids. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.orgAuthor.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-24135156265735185942020-01-10T12:18:00.001-08:002020-01-10T12:18:42.638-08:00Author Spotlight - Regan W. H. Macaulay on her award-winning book Tamara Turtle’s Life So Far<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JEc5Tubi4U/XhjY-bwFOFI/AAAAAAAA67A/tnAvKUinpY8WTala1g1wP63hmJfSTw2IwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/TamaraCover3Awards.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JEc5Tubi4U/XhjY-bwFOFI/AAAAAAAA67A/tnAvKUinpY8WTala1g1wP63hmJfSTw2IwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/TamaraCover3Awards.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? I volunteer with the Toronto Humane Society, and when I was working to enrich the animals in the Special Species Department, I noticed that all the turtles (and they were all Red-eared Sliders at the time) had a great deal of trouble getting adopted. Some had already been there for a year or more (there are some there still since the book was published), and though THS has created wonderful habitats for them to thrive in during their stay there, it’s not the same as having a permanent home. I wanted to create a story that would teach kids and their parents about the responsibility and commitment involved in caring for a pet like this, and if they determine they can properly look after a turtle its whole life, to adopt one that really needs a home.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY? I like when one of my Painted turtle characters explains the following to Tamara when she finds herself in Painted turtle territory: “When the wrong kind of animal is in the wrong place, it throws everything off. Painted turtles could disappear, and too many Red-eared Sliders would take their place.” I think this is a good way of introducing the idea of invasive species and the problems they cause to young children who may not have thought about that kind of thing before.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? Well, I will go ahead and choose one of the human characters, since I am not a turtle (and I don’t face the same challenges pet turtles do), and that would be the Herpetologist who adopts Tamara and her Red-eared Slider friend Apple. I am not a professional Herpetologist, but if I wasn’t a writer and had to choose another career, Herpetology would be high on my list!</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? For parents (and children, once they’ve reached an age where they can make the decision to adopt their own pets) to realize that Red-eared Slider turtles, and really any pet turtle or pet reptile, is a high maintenance, high commitment pet. They need to do their research before adopting this kind of animal (and adoption is often more helpful than shopping—it’s not just for cats and dogs!) and make an informed decision based on their lifestyle, and the costs and effort involved. A turtle should never be an impulse purchase. They need a well-equipped forever home.</div>
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? I’ve been writing ever since I was six years old, but meeting Emily Hearn, when she came to my public school as a guest instructor while I was in 6th Grade, was probably my biggest inspiration, particularly with respect to picture books. I wrote and illustrated a picture book I called “Down, Out and Around for Beverley” as my assignment for that class, and a many times revised version of this book later became my first published picture storybook “Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese.” </div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE? E. B. White, A. A. Milne, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling and dozens of others have had an influence on my writing, but I feel that I’m finding my own voice. All the styles I’ve read over my lifetime have influenced my writing. It’s all those authors in one great big globule! </div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS: Sometimes I sit down with a notebook to brainstorm, other times I have to go on a long walk to get the ideas flowing. For the first draft, I try to let the ideas flow freely, without judging—I save that for the revisions later. I’ll often create a schedule for myself, setting up a certain number of chapters on certain days (usually every other day, so I have breaks in between).</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER? Perhaps learning the business end of things—sustaining writing as a career, whether it’s part-time or full-time, the marketing and promotion involved, all that stuff. There are plenty of creative challenges, but getting myself out there and making a real go of it is what I’m personally finding to be the biggest challenge. Writing and revising the stories is the fun and more natural part of it for me. There’s a big learning curve on the business end of it, as far as I’m concerned.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE? I would love to be compared to any of the authors who have influenced and inspired me. One reader mentioned they were reminded of "The Hobbit”and "Lord of the Rings" with one of my picture books (“Sloth the Lazy Dragon”), so that’s obviously very cool!</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED? I kept submitting (to publishers). With the advent of print-on-demand, giving independent and smaller publishers a chance to flourish, I was able to find homes for my books with publishers willing to take a chance on me. </div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? I recommend promoting any awards with the use of award-seals. Use them on your cover and on your promotional material. Not only does having a publisher or agent give you a bit of an edge or cache, so will award-seals.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? So far, getting my first book published. I think there’s much more to come. I really feel like I’m still in the beginning chapters of my writing career.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? I hope to continue winning awards and getting reviews from various prestigious sources (including Literary Classics, of course!), but I also want to grow a big ol’ wide readership in both my children’s writing and my genre literature for adult readers. It would be wonderful to get something adapted to the screen (big or small), particularly the middle-grade chapter book series I’m working on. Most of all, I would like to be able to earn a part-time income (minimum) and keep on writing until I’m dead! </div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: I am also a Certified Canine and Feline Massage Therapist—I run a small mobile business called Kuri K9 Massage.</div>
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT (IF ANY) OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? </div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
(PLEASE PROVIDE LINKS FOR PURCHASE IF APPLICABLE): <span class="x_Apple-tab-span" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
</span>“<a href="https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/beverlee-beaz-the-brown-burmese-picture-book?utm_campaign=Kit_2019-Mar-04_14%3A14%3A30&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=latest_1697006878783">Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese</a>”</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="x_Apple-tab-span" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span>“<a href="https://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/sloth.htm">Sloth the Lazy Dragon</a>” (a Literary Classics Seal of Approval Honoree)</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="x_Apple-tab-span" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span>“<a href="https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/products/mixter-twizzles-breakfast-childrens-picture-book?utm_campaign=Kit_WINGLESS_2018-Jul-17_16%3A50%3A49&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=carousel_post&utm_content=1330991071295">Mixter Twizzle’s Breakfast</a>”</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="x_Apple-tab-span" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span>“<a href="https://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/merry-myrrh.htm">Merry Myrrh, the Christmas Bat</a>”</div>
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? Yes. I expect to publish another picture book next year called “Libby the Lobivia Jajoiana” with Mirror World Publishing (this one is co-written with my husband, Kevin Risk, and we have Gordon Bagshaw on board as our absolutely AMAZING illustrator). I am also working on a series of middle-grade chapters books, which I am currently finding a home for. And future picture books and novels are rattling around in my mind, naturally.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
You’ll find “Libby the Lobivia Jajoiana” on Mirror World Publishing’s website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all the usual places probably around the Fall of 2020. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-41565794959273435362020-01-10T11:59:00.000-08:002020-01-10T12:01:14.600-08:00Author Spotlight - Shanalee Sharboneau on her award-winning books<br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHLTc0NXrtI/XhjTK0-ZVyI/AAAAAAAA66s/JtX9zLjPJ5Apu0-umVyDlinJQOTtAHHKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Safari%2BSocial%2BMedia%2B-%2BCopy.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHLTc0NXrtI/XhjTK0-ZVyI/AAAAAAAA66s/JtX9zLjPJ5Apu0-umVyDlinJQOTtAHHKACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Safari%2BSocial%2BMedia%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaYb6m20eYU/XhjTMjXgO8I/AAAAAAAA66w/XmwJfB0Vlkk0deWlSMIa71ve0nR0wjp6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Shanalee%2Band%2BBraydon.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaYb6m20eYU/XhjTMjXgO8I/AAAAAAAA66w/XmwJfB0Vlkk0deWlSMIa71ve0nR0wjp6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Shanalee%2Band%2BBraydon.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK TITLES - My Mama Loves Me: I’m Her Little Boy, My Mama Loves Me: I’m Her Little Girl, My Daddy Loves Me: I’m His Little Girl, My Daddy Loves Me: I’m His Little Boy? When my son was born, he had severe reflux. We almost lost him twice. For six months, my husband and I stayed awake 24/7 fighting to keep him alive. In my complete desperation, in the middle of the night, I began to hum a tune. Over time, I would begin to put words to this tune, words that begged him to stay alive and all the things I would do with him if he fought too. The books are literally the song, tailored for each parent and child. <br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY? “My mama loves me, My mama loves me, My mama loves me all life long.” There is nothing stronger than the love for a child. It is completely unconditional. Sometimes, I believe God gives you your children so you can understand how much He loves you. I reflect on this often, particularly when my son is challenging my unconditional love. <br /><br />WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? The Mom character of the first book, My Mama Loves Me: I’m Her Little Boy, is actually me with my son traveling the world together. It is a true depiction, I am very adventurous. The places you see in the book are either the places I’ve been or the places I dream to go. In the Egyptian scene, there is a secret that most readers will not catch. It was always my dream to become an archeologist, yet I allowed a professor to challenge this dream. The good news, is I did not listen to my 10th grade English teacher. Out of deserved frustration one day, she said to me “don’t ever earn your living writing, or anything dealing in English.” I wonder often what ever happened to Mrs. Eckvall.<br /><br />WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? The one thing that ties us all together, without debate or harsh words, is the love for our children. When discussing our children, the playing field levels and we act with great sportsmanship. It is why I believe the book is accepted and cherished all over the world, it is a commonality that binds us no matter when we began or where we end. If we can start there, agreeing on our mission and love for our children, and stay in that moment, we may actually bring about a better world today. <br /><br />WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? After my son became well, I wrote down the song I sang to him over and over in his time of need. After a while, I started to wonder if it would become a good children’s book. One week, my life coach ordered me to start living life to the fullest, that day. Begrudgingly, I called the man who had a connection to my now publisher, all because my life coach demanded it. I can say, once you learn that lesson the hard way, you never forget it. I strive to live life to the fullest every day, with that great example reminding me how different my life would be today without just one phone call. <br /><br />WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING? Obviously all good credit goes to Mom. When she read my book for the first time, with tears in her eyes, she said “You actually got it”. Of course, she is proud of all of her children, even the middle one. The best thing I can do as a Mom myself, is give the credit to all the parents who came before me and made me the person I am today.<br /><br />TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER: <br />A good friend’s sister had a friend who was struggling with her newborn. The baby was fussy and appearing to deteriorate rapidly. My friend’s sister called me one day and said “send her a book, please”. I sent the book and forgot about the story. Six months later, I was at a book signing in South Padre Island, Texas, and a woman walked in with her young son. She explained that her son was struggling to thrive as a newborn, and had a friend who requested that I send her a book. Upon reading my bio and my son’s reflux, she went directly to a skilled pediatrician and had him properly diagnosed. In her words, my story saved her son. You can’t get any better than this.<br /><br />TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:<br />Since each book is very focused on the beauty of a parent and child relationship, I watch these relationships out in public. You may catch me staring while at a Chinese restaurant, or a grocery store or ice cream shop. First I attempt to capture or understand a relationship. For example, I am currently working on the book “My Grandma Loves Me: I’m Her Little Girl.” Once I feel like I’ve captured the relationship, I then ask a trusted individual serving in that role. I ask them all one question, “What is the most important thing you would like to teach your granddaughter, and what wisdom would you like to leave with them after they are grown?” Between the sense of the relationship, and the lessons forwarded through that beautiful relationship, I now take on the challenge to show this in my books and illustrations as I work with my talented illustrator, Israel Dilean. Pictures can say 1,000 words . . . and we work diligently to capture and communicate each word carefully.<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER? Capturing the relationship of each parent to their child, whether it is a son or a daughter. You see, I am only a mom to a son, and have been a daughter to my parents . . . I have no understanding or comprehension of being a mom to a daughter, a father or a grandparent. When working on these books, it is a task to understand these precious relationships and show the strength of each and everyone, while never having experienced them personally. <br /><br />IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE? Many readers of my work say the same thing, it is very similar to “Love You, Forever” by Robert Munsch. Though I was unaware of this book when the compliments first happened, I was truly honored by the expression when each reader compared the series to this book. This book is a legend and loved by many adults who had their mother read this book to them. It’s quite a compliment. <br /><br />HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?<br />At a business conference, I met a man whose sister company would eventually become my publisher. I reached out to this gentleman, requesting he put me in contact with the right person within the publishing company. He did so, with the caveat that very few writers ever make it. I understood his valid point and thanked him for the information. I reached out and was contracted with 24 hours. It was a great phone call for me to make a year later when reaching out to my original contact and explaining to him what his information had done for my life. I, of course, thanked him again. <br /><br />CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? Know it’s all up to you, and do not rely on anyone else to do it for you. You are the person who knows what to do, how to do it, and how to get it done. Do not leave this in any other hands but your own. <br /><br />After first publishing my book, whenever I would see a crying baby, and virtually tearful mother, I would run out to my car and get a book, sign it, run back into the store and hand it to the child. The child would stop crying immediately, mom would sigh, and I would walk off quickly. I still enjoy doing this today, although I do not do this as much as when the book first came out. These opportunities have brought me great joy, and I believe excellent promotion, though my intentions were pure. <br /><br />WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? For generation after generation to read these books to their children, as they were read to them by their loved ones, long after I am gone. <br /><br />TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY FIND INTERESTING ABOUT YOU: The degree I acquired in college was a Bachelor's in Science in Mathematics and Statistics. As you can tell, I had no plans to become a writer. <br /><br />IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Always know you are multi-talented. You are never only one thing, you are many things, many talents, all wrapped up into one human being. Search for them, enjoy discovering them, and find how you can push yourself into being good in many areas.<br /><br />DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? The Grandma series. “My Grandma Loves Me: I’m Her Little Girl”, and “My Grandma Loves Me: I’m Her Little Boy”.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.orgAuthor.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-24542012626263692742020-01-07T13:47:00.000-08:002020-01-07T13:53:50.659-08:00Author Spotlight - A.T. Balsara on her award-winning book, THE GREAT & THE SMALL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1434" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7KBG0AtqbU/XhT3ZCzWIMI/AAAAAAAA66Q/Pp4iOPMGe1MxPyY1zwccooB-qgWM-JykACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Fin%2Binjured%2Band%2BScratch.jpg" width="286" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UI9g5cVDa7s/XhT7JGPNVTI/AAAAAAAA66c/e0QLkkeiOKULa0ZFbEQQe-4u0EfxbFcmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Ananda%2Bcrouched%2Bover%2BFin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1312" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UI9g5cVDa7s/XhT7JGPNVTI/AAAAAAAA66c/e0QLkkeiOKULa0ZFbEQQe-4u0EfxbFcmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Ananda%2Bcrouched%2Bover%2BFin.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: How did you get the idea for your award-winning book?<br />
A: One of my favorite books growing up was <i>Watership Down</i>, a story of a warren of rabbits searching for a new home. I loved how by the end of the book, I felt as if I'd lived as a rabbit.<br />
<br />
When I wanted to explore the question of what "makes" someone evil, what makes a Hitler or Stalin versus a Mandela or a Gandhi, I wanted to tell the story from an unusual perspective. Rats are creatures who still send a collective chill down the spine of humanity, given their likely involvement as plague vectors in “The Black Death” of the 1400s when half of Europe was wiped out by the bubonic plague.<br />
<br />
Unlike the <i>Watership Down</i> rabbits, rats would actually have a shot at taking down humanity…if they were able to organize. Smart, able to chew through concrete and take down your average housecat, rats are formidable opponents. In a fictionalized world, rats would also have the most lethal biological weapon of all time: the bubonic plague. In <i>The Great & the Small</i>, the rats rise up under their charismatic leader, The Beloved Chairman, to declare war upon humanity using death squads of plague rats. As human deaths mount, victory against the “two-legs” seems certain, until Fin, the scrawny nephew of the chairman and lead henchman, gets caught in a rat trap. He is saved from<br />
certain death by a teenage girl, Ananda. Ananda secretly nurses Fin back to health, and over the weeks it takes for him to heal, he realizes to his horror that he has learned to love her. Now Fin must choose: follow his beloved uncle, and continue killing the “two-legs,” including the one that he loves, or do the unthinkable…rebel.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: What is your favorite line from your award-winning book and why?<br />
A: When the old and blind rat Balthazar cries out, “Truth! Seek truth!” before the assembled rat colony. Without giving away what will happen next, his heartfelt cry is at the heart of what <i>The Great & the Small </i>is about.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: Which of your characters from your award-winning title do you believe is most like you, and why?<br />
A: I would have to say Fin. He is constantly battling self-doubt, and following blindly when he should be listening to his own moral compass. He tries to act righteously, but is easily swayed by those he admires, and goes down a dark road. His one saving grace is his earnest desire to do what is right.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: What message do you hope readers will glean from your award-winning book?<br />
A: To seek truth. To think critically about the messages you hear from those in power, whether from political, religious, or social leaders. To develop your own moral compass so that when the next charismatic leader steps onto the stage, with all the accompanying smoke and mirrors, you will see through the showmanship and stagecraft to see the truth.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: What inspired you to be a writer?<br />
A: My sister, <a href="https://www.micheletorrey.com/">Michele Torrey</a>, who is an award-winning writer. I had always seen myself as an illustrator and kept bothering Michele to write a picture book manuscript that I could illustrate (newbies that we were, we didn’t know that publishing houses find their own illustrators for manuscripts!). Finally, she got fed up with me asking and told me to learn to write my own. So, I did! To my surprise, I realized that I loved it, and loved it AS MUCH as illustrating. I also found that I had a million stories to tell, and for different ages. Among other stories, I have a picture book about a determined, yet hopelessly innocent guinea pig who dreams of becoming a pirate (<i><a href="http://www.greenbeardthepiratepig.ca/">Greenbeard the Pirate Pig</a></i>) and now, with <i>The Great & the Small</i>, a dark story for young adults about seeking truth. They all come from my heart, but from different places within it.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: Who has had the greatest influence on your writing style?<br />
A: Probably the books I devoured when I was younger. I loved <i>The Lord of the Rings </i>trilogy, and took to heart the idea that life is a heroic quest for doing the right thing. I loved<i> To Kill a Mockingbird</i>, and how the author immersed us into a small town and showed us truths about ourselves without ever beating us over the head with her message. I loved <i>Watership Down</i>, and its richly layered story told through the eyes of animals. There are many, many other books which have touched me, and changed me. We are all a product of all who have gone before, and my writing is a product of the writers who have gone before me.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: Tell us a little about your writing process.<br />
A: I have to let ideas simmer a while, so I have dozens of files with story ideas. As an idea comes to me, I jot it down and throw it in the file. As I’m doing other things, I’m often “writing” or trying to figure out aspects of a particular story. At the moment, I’m “writing” another young adult novel. I’ve got the file set up with its categories, and am puzzling out what will happen, who the characters are, and what I want to explore. I don’t expect to be ready to write for another year. In the meantime, I have another picture book to illustrate, and other stories in the pipeline waiting to be edited.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: What is your greatest challenge as a writer?<br />
A: Time management. Once you’ve published something, you have to promote it, and these days you also need a social media presence. Because I also illustrate, any project I do takes me at least double the time. Time management becomes the biggest hurdle, as other things in life don’t stop just because I want to write or draw. The dogs still need to be let out, the cat litter scooped, dinners shopped for and made, not to mention exercising and getting out of the house occasionally! One of my new year’s resolutions is to practice patience. To let go of watching the clock and demanding I finish something by a certain time. I have a little blue heart carved from stone sitting on my desk (it’s in front of me now, while I type) that has carved in it, “Patience.” I’m learning!<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: If you could be compared to a well-known author who would you most want this to be and why?<br />
A: Because I loved <i>Watership Down</i> so much, and because <i>The Great & the Small</i> has that same sort of feeling, I hope I would be compared to Richard Adams.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: How did you get published?<br />
A: I had been told that my book was not commercial enough, that young adults don’t want stories told through the eyes of animals. I did it anyway, but finding an agent proved to be impossible. Most agents want a safe bet, and I was writing outside the norms of the genre. The larger publishers were also unwilling to take a chance, so I turned to small, niche publishers. A new press had opened, called Common Deer Press, and they sounded perfect. I had my manuscript, cover letter, and synopsis professionally edited, and put together the best submission package I could possibly muster. I was either going to hit a home run or die trying. Within a few weeks, I got an email from CDP saying that they were going to publish it. They were (and are) wonderful partners in this journey, and love the book as much as I do.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: What has been your greatest literary accomplishment?<br />
A: Putting <i>The Great & the Small </i>on paper. It was a story that had haunted my thoughts for years, with the reasons behind writing the story with me for far longer, since I was 10 years-old. It was a story that I needed to tell, and I wasn’t sure I could get what was in my heart onto paper. The resulting book is everything I’d ever dreamed it could be, and more. The cover design and layout that CDP did added to the story.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: What are your literary aspirations?<br />
A: I want to first and foremost express what is in my heart, and share that. I hope that by sharing my stories, I can make a difference in the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: Tell us something that people may not know about you that they might find interesting.<br />
A: I’m an amateur naturalist, and have planted a pollinator garden in our backyard, and only use eco-friendly products. I admit I can be a bit zealous in my environmental views, and have written countless letters to politicians and signed a million petitions to protect our environment…after all, if we trash this planet, there’s no Planet B! Until recently, I was also a beekeeper until a bad reaction to multiple bee stings forced me to give it up. The bees were fascinating to study and watch. One of my future writing projects is to put my love of the environment and animals into a chapter book series for children.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?<br />
A: That everyone’s voice is needed, and to not compare yourself with others, but find your own unique voice. Being who you really are is an act of courage. We need courageous people if we are going to turn around the direction our world and earth is heading in.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: What other books have you published?<br />
A: I have a list of books on my website, but I have published several for the educational market, including another young adult novel called, <i>The Present</i>. I am the illustrator for the <i>Happy the Pocket Mouse</i> picture book series by Philip Roy, currently on book 4. I wrote and illustrated my picture book, <i>Greenbeard the Pirate Pig</i>, which I already mentioned. Most recently, my picture book, <i>The Nightingale’s Song</i>, was published, a story about a child who dreams throughout one night that they have different skin colors. It’s a book about cherishing the beauty of every child, of every ethnicity, about the power of unity in diversity. All of my books are available on my <a href="http://www.torreybalsara.com/">website</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
Q: Do you have any new books in the works?<br />
A: I am currently illustrating the second book in the <i>Greenbeard the Pirate Pig </i>series. I am also researching a new picture book about modern-day slavery, as well as gathering research for a new young adult novel. <i>Greenbeard the Pirate Pig and the Isle of Lost </i>should be released soon, through FriesenPress. The book will be available through my website, as well as on Amazon and FriesenPress.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-34907663890501185552020-01-07T13:02:00.000-08:002020-01-07T13:02:14.455-08:00Author Spotlight- Dayle Dabney on her award-winning book, Corinne’s Fin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lh4byt3HNxY/XhTxs6DCCtI/AAAAAAAA66E/PUPNMgxA_e8oQ5Mi3ExKPUczFGnCpk8gACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Corinne%2Bkiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lh4byt3HNxY/XhTxs6DCCtI/AAAAAAAA66E/PUPNMgxA_e8oQ5Mi3ExKPUczFGnCpk8gACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Corinne%2Bkiss.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? </span><br />
I always loved the name Corinne and saved it in my mind as a name if I ever had a 4th daughter….<br />
Erin, Shannon, Meghan, and Corinne?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? </span><br />
I identify with Corinne in several ways in that I have had challenges to face and adapt accordingly.<br />
I hope that readers will adapt to whatever they may view as a loss and rise above it, change their thinking, and move forward!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? </span><br />
My favorite sentence of the book is the final one. “Corinne was FREE, free to be her new self from fin to fin!”<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px;">TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER: </span><br />
I was a teacher of young children for 50 years. The children in my class loved stories and I learned to create stories of my own in various ways just by being with them day by day.<br />
<br />
As a child, I always loved books with a profound message like <i>The Little Engine that Could</i>. I also admired stories full of creativity like<i> the Bee Tree</i> by Patricia Polacco.<br />
<br />
Little by little, Corinne has become very alive to me as we have traveled from one book event to another. I feel as if a true friend, Corinne, is with me in the car and at the book table.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:</span><br />
As a writer, I often write the first draft in a busy place, like a café or library. I am able to block out all the surrounding noise or activity and focus on the story at hand. Revisions are usually done at home on my computer during a quiet setting.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?</span><br />
My challenge as a writer is to leave room for the illustrator for I often SEE all the illustrations in my mind and will specify the details in indirect ways.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?</span><br />
Watty Piper inspired me as a child with <i>The Little Engine That Could</i> and still does, for he inspires children to continue to believe even though it may be hard to do so. My stories are intended to leave a lasting message for children long after the book is closed.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?</span><br />
I was connected to Cathy Teets of Headline Books for many years as members of the red clay tennis courts in Mountain Lake Maryland and a local real estate company. Years later I contacted her with my story called, <i>Corinne’s Fin</i>, and fortunately at that time she had an experienced illustrator, Ashley Teets. The beautiful illustrations in <i>Corinne’s Fin</i> speak for themselves in vivid color.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?</span><br />
My advice would be to connect with your characters at various levels. Your character then becomes part of you which enables you to be passionate during book events; for you are speaking from the heart.<br />
<br />
Awards are important in that they tend to bring recognition to your characters and your story. I was thrilled to win various awards: Literary Classics, Mom’s Choice, President’s Award, London Book Festival and others for <i>Corinne’s Fin</i>. Hopefully, the sequel, <i>Coach Corinne</i>, will continue to carry forth an inspiring message to young children.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?</span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><br />
I have several picture books with an inspiring message for young children that I hope will be visible in print with accompanying illustrations in the near future.<br />
<br />
I love calendars and planning for future fun and adventure. I can hardly contain my interest in many areas: grandchildren, writing, tennis, golf, gospel choir, nature, book clubs, learning, dinner clubs, birds, and the list goes on and on. <i>Corinne’s Fin</i> is also available on my <a href="http://www.dayledabney.com/">website</a> in addition to Headline Books. I have several picture books ready for submission. The future looks exciting!<br />
<i>Coach Corinne</i> may be on the market by the summer of 2019!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-69875698250803682802020-01-07T12:46:00.000-08:002020-01-07T12:46:05.340-08:00Author Spotlight - Laurie Germaine on her Award-Winning Book, Tinsel in a Tangle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2t3c1uuet8/XhTs8wyrFgI/AAAAAAAA654/U_kZcMHx24IOPH84HfB5aVc0G0wzfDdrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Germaine2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2t3c1uuet8/XhTs8wyrFgI/AAAAAAAA654/U_kZcMHx24IOPH84HfB5aVc0G0wzfDdrACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Germaine2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br /><br />HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? I got inspiration from two sources: the portrait Gaye Francis Willard had done of Santa kneeling at the manger, and a puzzle my mom had given me over a decade ago, depicting Dept 56’s North Pole series. I mashed them together with my love for the German language and Tinsel’s story began to take shape.<br /><br />WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? How about the one who is most unlike me? Which would be my main character, Tinsel. And I did that on purpose, for I was coming out of a season of depression and needed to immerse myself in a character who tries to stay positive and optimistic despite the mistakes she makes along the way.<br /><br />WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK? No matter your circumstances, no matter what you hear, you’re not an accident, or a random happenstance, or a mistake. You were created on purpose, with purpose, and for a purpose.<br /><br />WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE? Janette Rallison, Kasie West, and Kristin Rae. I’ve been reading Rallison’s books for years and have always enjoyed her clean, light-hearted style. I discovered West & Rae more recently and around the same time, shortly before I buckled down to start on <i>Tinsel</i>. It’s their characters’ banter and wit that influenced Tinsel’s voice and how my own characters interacted with each other.<br /><br />TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS: I borrow teaching from Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method, combine it with the Mirror Moment and 14 “signposts scenes” from James Scott Bell’s <i>Write Your Novel From the Middle</i>, and throw in a detailed character interview on the side. Thus, before I ever start the actual writing, I have an idea as to who my characters are, their backstory, the lie they believe, and several key scenes. I know where I’m headed and have a decent idea how to get there, but I’ve left plenty of wiggle room for new discoveries along the way.<br /><br />WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER? Comparing myself to other writers. My journey to publication took far longer than many others, and I’m not one of those people who can churn a book out in a matter of months. I have to remind myself that just because I don’t write like so-and-so, and just because it takes me longer to finish a story than big-name authors doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with me as a writer or that I should find another vocation.<br /><br />HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED? I queried over thirty agents and small publishers, and after a nibble here and there, I got a request for a full from one publisher and an offer from another. The former didn’t pan out, so I was thankful the latter was willing to take the chance on an unknown writer pitching a Christmas fantasy as a debut novel.<br /><br />TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: I’m an avid knitter. It’s a passion that rivals writing at times. Typically, if my writing hits a slump, my knitting takes off. There are many times I’ve questioned if I should be giving that part of my creativity more attention, but so far, writing has always won out.<br /><br />DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? I’m currently working on a sequel to <i>Tinsel in a Tangle</i>, the sloppy first draft of which took me over a year to complete, so no release date yet. But here’s a pitch-in-progress: Someone’s out to destroy Christmas, starting with the reindeer. From opposite sides of the world, two BFFs, along with Santa’s grandsons, must battle the cunning schemes of an ancient power before it sabotages the elf clans and takes out the Kringles, one by one.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org</div>
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-36613352740143255902020-01-07T12:27:00.000-08:002020-01-07T12:34:52.378-08:00Author Spotlight - Tayyaba Syed on her award-winning book, The Blessed Bananas<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PaUlfYaByxo/XhTkysoglSI/AAAAAAAA65s/fn-NBPVhfBsMHIbCzQFv09ibHkhgnk-AACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC_2835.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PaUlfYaByxo/XhTkysoglSI/AAAAAAAA65s/fn-NBPVhfBsMHIbCzQFv09ibHkhgnk-AACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DSC_2835.jpg" /></a><br />
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />
It was a simple bedtime story I told to my kids.<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />
"The more bananas Rico gave away, the more bananas his plant bore." - This is a very valuable lesson for all of us: the more you give the more you get.<br />
<br />
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU?<br />
Tucana because of her forgiving nature.<br />
<br />
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />
Sharing and kindness are universal qualities we all should embody.<br />
<br />
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?<br />
The fact that I didn't see myself in the books I read when I was growing up and even now as a mother.<br />
<br />
TELL US SOMETHING FUN ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:<br />
I went into professional writing as an introvert, and now I do so much public-speaking and trainings as a published writer.<br />
<br />
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:<br />
I like to do brain dumps and just free-hand whatever concepts and ideas come to me. I love working with outlines and character-building platforms. If I face a writers' block, I like to look at nature and step away from the mundane for a while.<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?<br />
Getting over my insecurities.<br />
<br />
IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY?<br />
I'd like to be compared to Roald Dahl, because he wrote from the heart and with authenticity.<br />
<br />
HOW DID YOU FIND AN AGENT / GET PUBLISHED?<br />
I met a publisher at a college where I was teaching a writing-intensive.<br />
<br />
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?<br />
Believe in yourself and your work and be passionate about it. Be willing to take risks and step out of your comfort zone.<br />
<br />
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?<br />
Being selected as a panelist for <i>Writing Women's Lives Conference</i> at Georgetown University.<br />
<br />
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?<br />
I'd like to write books for all different ages, especially non-fiction books.<br />
<br />
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:<br />
I enjoy weightlifting.<br />
<br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?<br />
<i>Hafsa's Kisses </i>It's a baby board book about the types of kisses a toddler gives. It will be available through Prolance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.orgAuthor.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-32060710242418018952019-12-13T13:31:00.005-08:002019-12-13T13:31:49.882-08:00Author Spotlight - Adam Leitman Bailey on his award-winning book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-63YxFaKtVhI/XfQBkRC4_4I/AAAAAAAA64M/0T-azuQSAMkxEJzDc96EJ9-iYANwDfeJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="369" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-63YxFaKtVhI/XfQBkRC4_4I/AAAAAAAA64M/0T-azuQSAMkxEJzDc96EJ9-iYANwDfeJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Home.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />
<i>Home</i> came from the combination of the birth of my sons and the memories of my childhood, moving cross-country on the journey to find a new home.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />
I cannot write it here as it will give away the ending. But here is part of it: “So the boy ran into his apartment and hugged his parents, knowing that in the entire world...”<br />
<br />
<br />
Although the book is active, lively, and full of items to discuss with your kids about the journey the boy takes, it is also a heart-warming story. On my reading tour, I have learned from the children many lessons from the book that I never conceived, especially from those readers who have been forced to move or have reasons to really want to move or simply love their current homes. Sometimes the book also reminds readers of their different homes or friends’ homes. No matter how rich or poor, all of the children appreciate the love a caregiver provides. Ergo the explanation for my favorite line.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU?<br />
When I read Home to my 4-year-old, Benjamin, and I say “the boy,” he immediately looks at me and says “Benjamin.” So if it fits your child’s demeanor, substitute his or her name. Or if reading to a female say “the girl” instead of “the boy.” The book is for your children and is no longer my baby.<br />
<br />
On a much deeper, maybe Freudian level, the boy in the book is a happier version of myself.<i> Home</i> mirrors my childhood in a fun, exciting, adventurous way. At the age of 5, I may have been on a journey searching for a home, but for my unemployed teacher parents moving from New York City to California, these were not good times.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?<br />
I am so flattered and amazed at each school where I read the book by the excitement in the children’s voices and movements and hand waving. And I highly recommend that parents be active readers – I included so many things to discuss on each page so parents can ask questions or point out details like the billy goat on top of the small barn house on the farm. But the story is about the love of family over all else, no matter how small one’s home is or how few toys there are to play with.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?<br />
I am not sure I was a very good writer at a very young age but I had the biggest fan, my mother. She kept telling me how good a writer I was, and I believed her and developed a love for writing. She believed in me and I developed the confidence to believe in myself, and I never looked back.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?<br />
I am a student and my writing style is the product of literature of the greatest American authors pre-1960. Yet both my award-winning books followed the formats of a variety of books – <i>Finding the Uncommon Deal </i>was based more off self-help books like Dale Carnegie’s <i>How To Win Friends and Influence People</i> and <i>Home</i> was based on children’s books from the 60s and 70s, like <i>Where the Wild Things Are</i> and <i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i>. The first allowed it to be an easy-to-use book with a lot of information and the latter provided beautiful landscapes with interesting stories.<br />
<br />
<br />
IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE?<br />
I cherish the writings of so many greats who have written classics that may live on for centuries—from Homer, to Shakespeare, to Dickens, to Fitzgerald to Faulkner, to Clemens to Hemingway, to Truman Capote to Harper Lee. At this point, I do not even have the courage to reach their heights but I do believe that somewhere inside me is that book that may take years to write and be crushingly painful to finish but completely satisfying to publish. At this time, I can only dream and think of the plot.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?<br />
I have been blessed to have the means to have donated <i>Home</i> to a few thousand (and counting) underserved communities and children, and have seen the impact pictures and words can have on these communities. My first book, <i>Finding the Uncommon Deal</i>, has taught thousands of first-time homebuyers how to be better educated on buying homes and has provided a vehicle for television appearances and giving speeches on the subject.<br />
<br />
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?<br />
Someone needs to write our generation’s Great American Novel and right now I can only dream about being able to put together the story and then writing it.<br />
<br />
<br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?<br />
I am acting as the editor of and co-writing a definitive real estate primer that I hope will be a must-read for every real estate lawyer in New York.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-46407004721845314912019-12-13T13:20:00.000-08:002019-12-13T13:20:10.255-08:00Author Spotlight - Diane Mae Robinson on her award-winning book, The Dragon Grammar Book<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qlj7ZU67Ck/XfP-sfTdUOI/AAAAAAAA64A/x_AmFTDmZksdqD4XtG4YVh_HgD5yw4vmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Author%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3qlj7ZU67Ck/XfP-sfTdUOI/AAAAAAAA64A/x_AmFTDmZksdqD4XtG4YVh_HgD5yw4vmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Author%2Bphoto.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Even as a writer, when I had to look up a particular grammar rule, I often found grammar books or grammar site explanations hard to follow. The thought occurred to me that I’m probably not the only one. I decided that grammar needed to be explained in simpler terms, starting with the basics. To make the book more fun, I incorporated the zany fantasy characters from my multi-award-winning children’s series The </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Pen Pieyu</i></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Adventures to be in the example sentences. The book is fun and has cool illustrations too. I’m glad that kids, and adults alike, are appreciating the book and that the book is helping them to learn grammar with its easy-to-understand lessons and examples.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Learning can be fun!<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Many authors have inspired me, ever since I first learned to read, but the person who inspired me the most is my mother—she taught me that I could be whatever I wanted to be in life, and I wanted to be a writer.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lemony Snicket and his series A Series of Unfortunate Events. The author has an incredible sense of humor that kids understand. No matter the tale, he flawlessly suspends disbelief through excellence of building characters and writing style. I greatly admire that.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TELL US AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My first book was rejected 29 times before being accepted by a traditional publisher—about the same amount of times as Dr. Seuss’ first book was rejected. </span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> My creativity comes and goes in waves, and I never push it. When the creativity wave hits me, I’m often up at two or three in the morning and write for twelve hours straight, for days on end.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> It takes me a long time to produce a book because I’m extremely particular and I don’t write when I’m not feeling creative. I’ve tried to take the advice of many well-known authors and write every day, but it just doesn’t work for me and it’s frustrating.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> C.S. Lewis because I think it’s important to incorporate good values in characters and stories while creating a believable world.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> For several years I was with a traditional publisher, which was very hard to find: 29 rejections later, my first book was published with a traditional publisher. In 2017, I decided to become my own publisher, got back my rights, learned the self-publishing business, and never looked back.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> From my experience, publishing my own books has allowed me more access to promoting and putting my books on sale without the restrictions of a traditional publisher.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Winning a Gold Award and a Lumen Award in 2018 from Literary Classics for The Dragon Grammar Book.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> To always write the best books I can and have the reader enjoy the books.<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> I’m an artist but I don’t illustrate my own books.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? </span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sir Princess Petra – The Pen Pieyu Adventures</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sir Princess Petra’s Talent – The Pen Pieyu Adventures</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sir Princess Petra’s Mission – The Pen Pieyu Adventures</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sir Princess Petra Coloring Book</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Forest Painter</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">All can be found on my Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Diane-Mae-Robinson/e/B007DKO8SK/">Author Page</a></span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> I’m working on another grammar book, with the same fun </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Pen Pieyu</i></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> characters giving the grammar lessons, that will elaborate on grammar terminology. The book will be available on Amazon and with most online book distributors, and on my website: <a data-auth="Verified" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dragonsbook.com&data=02%7C01%7C%7C8ed4b1f769e5496410e608d683c99b77%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636841299257027008&sdata=PJrS3Eu4a01EkwAdp8ZPpO8XxpAJXMY4CnBynHuNDyY%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="http://www.dragonsbook.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="eRFFCkTEnJ4PfCeEYGHEhzjFyOo+RGOyA21HoSu5VZiF82K1tH9QG1w/7VGvga65ax4a+2+ASbfrT/N2mkC54BFB4M4p5Gr0y4rK3Be0mmF0LohWszPeZoInCehT3Q0TFHVHhepv5t+QtGBGcwa3eL6EgDk15PRcGZhNmf44jj0=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: purple; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Protected by Outlook: http://www.dragonsbook.com. Click or tap to follow the link.">www.dragonsbook.com</a><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-20311154930717782412019-12-13T12:50:00.001-08:002019-12-13T13:07:09.299-08:00Author Spotlight - Sandra L. Rostirolla on her award-winning book, Cecilia<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5RjDprak6-c/XfP6O2q7OsI/AAAAAAAA630/0xVwRSkCldcE01AeTkfhdU8TR697HKhdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/3dBook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1016" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5RjDprak6-c/XfP6O2q7OsI/AAAAAAAA630/0xVwRSkCldcE01AeTkfhdU8TR697HKhdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/3dBook.png" width="313" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont";">The story was initially written for a ballet that I was working on with my husband, composer Kurt Oldman. We knew the story would center around good vs evil and that there would be an </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">underlying love story. Using </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leonardo da Vinci artwork to inspire the Characters (e.g. </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Annunciation - </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Siersha appearing to Cecilia; </span><span class="" style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Five Studies Of Grotesque Faces - </span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont";">The Senators), Kurt came up with five-titles for the five-act ballet (e.g. Cecilia in Plockton, Cecilia and Amalardh’s Journey, Cecilia Inspires the People). Using each title as inspiration, I built the story, world and mythology. The rest just </span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont";">kind of fell into place. As the world I built continued to grow my 12-page ballet story blossomed into 90 pages. At that point, Kurt’s schedule ballooned and he could no longer commit to his side of the deal - writing the music. With a printout of my voluminous ballet story in hand, I marched into his studio and said, “What am I supposed to do with this?” “Write the novel,” was his reply. So, I did. </span></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont";">"The challenge in life is not to force oneself to change. The challenge is to know one’s real self and have the courage to be that person.” This advice was given to Cecilia by one of her village elders. I love this line because I can relate to feeling pressured to conform with expectations of others. Growing up, I was an academic student who was expected by teachers and friends to follow an academic career path - which I did. The entire time, I never felt comfortable in my own skin. I kept toying with the idea of writing but was too scared. It took me some time to truly know my real self and a bunch of courage to actually walk away from my career and pursue my dream.</span></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The feisty, stubborn side of Cecilia is most definitely like me. All her insecurities are basically my own and her belief that life is for living; we are not simply existing for the betterment of others, is extremely close at heart with myself.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD-WINNING BOOK?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My main message for my readers is really a question: Are you more willing to play it safe and accept the status quo, even if that means living an oppressed life; or are you prepared to take a stand, fight for the truth, even if that means death. Death, of course, does not necessarily mean a literal death. What I mean is, are you willing to risk losing your job, friends and/or social standing? I work in the entertainment industry and know of many abuses, from those we hear about in the media related to the #MeToo movement, to personal experiences of people taking credit for other’s creative work. Standing up to someone in a position of power is scary and emotionally challenging, especially when they are surrounded and supported by other high powered enablers (i.e. agents, managers, etc.). I hope that if any of my readers find themselves in a position where they must either take it up the you know what or fight, they choose to fight. I hope they can find their own inner Cecilia to help them through their tough times. </div>
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
From as far back as I can remember, I always thought that I would like to write but since English (the subject at school, not the language) was not my strong suit, I never attempted to do so. Teachers placed me on an academic track and there I stayed. My biggest champion is my husband. He first noticed me through my lyrics, which were basically a collection of poems I wrote for my own enjoyment. He encouraged me to continue writing and fully supported my Cecilia journey. I can honestly say that <i>Cecilia</i> would not exist if not for him.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE? - PLEASE ELABORATE:</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Not meaning to be cliche but the truth is: Stephen King. And I don’t mean his novels, I mean him. One of the biggest roadblocks I gave myself when it came to writing a novel was telling myself that I can’t (or rather shouldn’t) write because I'm not a literary genius. I didn’t study Creative Writing at University. I struggle with grammar. And as someone with a math and science background, I told myself that I had no business writing, of all things, a fantasy novel. Stephen King’s ‘Toolbox’ Chapter in “On Writing” evoked a simple and effective message in me, which was basically: Don’t be afraid of the tools you currently have, and don’t try to use tools that you are not proficient in. One can always expand their toolbox over time. A wooden box crafted from a handsaw can be just as exquisite and precise as one built with power tools. After reading “On Writing” I threw my insecurities to the wind and gave myself permission to formulate a whole bunch of words on a page.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="" style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of my young readers (a 12 y.o. girl) was applying to be a judge for the Inky Awards. Part of the application involved answering the question: “What is the best young adult book you have read and why?” Her answer: "</span><span class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #212121; font-family: , "segoe ui" , "segoe wp" , "tahoma" , "arial" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont";">For me, the book that takes the cake is<i> Cecilia </i>by Sandra L. Rostirolla. This book is my favourite young adult novel for two reasons. Firstly, it pulls in the reader - not one page of the book is even slightly boring, it keeps their attention. Secondly, the way the book is written makes the reader put themselves in Cecilia’s shoes, the use of vocabulary really drives home just how persistent she is on saving her town.” #TheBestWriterMomentEver.</span></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I went to a seminar once and one of the speakers said: “Don’t fixate on trying to come up with a story. Come up with interesting characters and they will tell you their story.” I usually have a basic idea about what the story (i.e. what the plot might be) but I can never start writing it until I’m clear on the main characters. When I am actually writing, I try to do so everyday. My ideal would be to lock myself in a cabin for 6 weeks with no interruptions (take this to also mean that someone is doing all the cooking and cleaning). Once I have started writing, I plow forward. If I don’t know how to finish an idea or need to research something, I make a note and move on. There is a time and place for research and that time and place is never when one is in the throes of story inspiration. I try to set myself a goal of writing ‘x’ amount of words a day. This really helps when I find myself wanting to procrastinate. During my first draft, I don’t try to make things perfect and I don’t worry about word count. I let the characters be who they need to be and edit them at a later date.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My greatest challenge is finding time for marketing. Setting up reads and book signings is labor-intensive and I know I probably don’t do as much promotion for my work as I probably should. When it comes to my writing, however, I am disciplined and pretty much stick to my deadlines.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Jane Austen because she is known for being a game-changer of her time. She bucked social convention and did her own thing. She wrote about complex relationships and infused much comedy into her stories. She understood her characters, all of which leap of the page. Her books are used for school curriculums and have been made into film and TV shows. If I could go down in history as someone with her level of respect and admiration then that would be pretty all right by me.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I self-published Cecilia. Thankfully, I have a bunch of friends who had also self-published and they were able to help me navigate the daunting process.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I like using Amazon Marketing Service for targeted Amazon Ads. I briefly tried Facebook ads but the experience was confusing and nowhere near as transparent as Amazon. I used to love Goodreads Giveaways but they changed their model and now their giveaways are cost-prohibitive. Entering into competitions is a fabulous way to promote one’s book and I will most certainly enter Literary Classics again. I recommend finding like-minded writers who you can share experiences with. I have a writer friend who also self-published around the same time as me. We Skype once a month to talk about our marketing experiences, what’s working, what isn’t. If you do decide to self-publish, don’t go it alone. Save your precious marketing time and money by learning from other people’s experiences.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Winning my two Literary Classics Awards for Cecilia. Gold for Best, YA/Adventure and Silver for Best YA/Fantasy.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My husband has been immensely supportive of my career, as such, I want to be able to show him that his support has not been in vain. I want my writing to be my career, one that will support me financially and one that will earn the admiration of my peers. </div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I once ate caustic soda and lived to talk about it. In Australia, we have a chocolate powder (similar to Quik) called Milo. One rainy day, Mum left the grocery bags on the kitchen floor to take the clothes off the line. Rummaging the bags for goodies, I happened across a tin with similar size and shape to Milo. With the lid opening the same way as Milo (i.e. stick a spoon under the rim and pry it open) and contents sealed behind a layer of foil, my four-year-old brain thought it was Milo. The white crystalline contents did not deter. In fact, upon seeing them I was even more excited as I thought Mum had bought some white chocolate Milo (as an FYI, white chocolate Milo does not exist). Grabbing a spoon, I dug in. I don’t remember too much else. I can’t imagine the panic Mum must have felt, coming in to find an open tin of crystalline poison and her daughter lying in bed. I must have spat out most of the powder as nothing went down my gullet. I do have some telltale scars on my tongue though.</div>
</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I really want to thank my readers for their support. The fact that many decided to click on an Amazon Ad and take a chance on an unknown author is amazing.</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /></div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?</div>
<div class="" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: wf_segoe-ui_normal, "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I have a YA/Coming of Age that I hope to release soon. I don’t have any set date as I’m still working with my editor. A common answer to a writer’s question, “What should I write about?” is “Write what you know.” Sadly, I know more than I care to about suicide and mental health issues. When a friend of mine was dealing with suicide in her family, she told me that the worst was when her daughters asked her, “Why did Daddy do it?” At that moment, I knew I had to write a story that spoke to young adults about this very topic. I’m not sure anyone can ever fully understand the “why” but I’m hoping my story will give teenagers (or anyone) an understanding of “how” such an awful thing can come to pass and ways to hopefully prevent it. My story is called “Making Friends With Monsters” and centers around twelve-year-old Sam and his struggle to understand the Monster that he is beginning to see in his older brother. When a tragic accident brings Sam’s own Monster front and center, he must figure out how to deal with it before the hungry creature opens its enormous mouth and swallows him whole. In the telling of this story, I’ve made a conscious effort not to use the word, “Suicide”.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-78458760023062265822019-12-12T13:17:00.001-08:002019-12-12T13:24:11.849-08:00Author Spotlight - Nelda LaTeef on her Award-Winning Book, Animal Village<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Village-Nelda-LaTeef-author/dp/9988647468"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A05mXtWMDf0/XfJ517MsBxI/AAAAAAAA63k/pPUVgjrMu54kjzake1eAfgGGt1HAlsKaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Nelda%2BLaTeef%2Bat%2BSmithsonian%2BAfrican%2BArt%2BMuseum%2Bgift%2Bshop.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />
As an undergraduate at Harvard, concentrating in Anthropology, I was awarded a grant to do field research for my senior honors thesis in Senegal. After completing my research, I traveled to Niamey, Niger, to visit friends. We would often travel into the bush to enjoy the sight of giraffes roaming free in the savanna as they grazed on thorny acacia trees. On the return trip, we would often stop at a small Zarma village to visit an elderly woman who was the village griot. Soon, there would be dozens of children and a few adults gathered and she would tell stories in her native Zarma language. On the way back, my friend, who spoke Zarma, would give me a recap of the stories in French—a language we shared—and I would take notes in my little blue notebook. Years later, when I became an aunt, I always loved reading bedtime stories with my nephews and niece.<br />
<br />
One day, cleaning out a closet, I came across my old blue notebook. This notebook has been the source and inspiration for two award-winning children’s books: <i>Animal Village</i> (Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2018) and <i>The Hunter and The Ebony Tree</i> (Moon Mountain Publishing, 2002). The idea of gathering threads from an old story from West African oral tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation and then weaving the threads into a new tapestry relatable to my audience is very exciting. Always take notes. You never know when they will come in handy!<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />
“The moon moves slowly, but it crosses the sky. Everything is possible, by and by.”<br />
<br />
I find the visual aspects of this line inspirational. It is sung throughout the story by the main character and captures the essence of the book: how a tortoise, through sheer will and perseverance saves her village from the ravages of drought with wisdom passed down from an “old story.”<br />
<br />
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY?<br />
I share with my main character, a tortoise named Timba: patience, stubborn perseverance and utter confidence in the merit of my story. Like Timba, who was certain water could be found by digging deep in the earth, I, too, was certain stars would align and a publisher for <i>Animal Village</i> would emerge.<br />
<br />
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />
The message I would most like readers to glean from Animal Village is that with determination and the power of perseverance you can accomplish anything.<br />
<br />
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?<br />
The question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” inspired me to write my first book interviewing outstanding female achievers entitled, <i>Working Women for the 21st Century: 50 Women Reveal their Pathways to Success</i>. This was an exciting book to work on because I had the opportunity to meet and interview so many extraordinary women who forged careers in a wide range of professions such as Geraldine Ferraro (politician), Debbi Fields (entrepreneur), Wendy Wasserstein (playwright), Joan Goody (architect), Jeana Yeager (pilot), Jacqueline Barton (chemist), Cathy Guisewite (cartoonist), Judith Jamison (dancer/choreographer), Susan Seidelman (film director), Ellen Goodman (journalist), Alice Rivlin (economist), Kay Unger (fashion designer), Diana Walker (photojournalist), and Anita Flynn (scientist). I sought their advice on how best to pursue and to prepare for a career in their particular profession and they were generous in sharing their knowledge and wisdom. Researching and writing this book, I discovered my calling as a writer! The book, published in hardcover and paperback, was recommended by the New York Public Library as one of the best career books for teens and those interested in second careers.<br />
<div>
<br />
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?<br />
Freshman year in college my expository writing teacher returned one of the first assignments I submitted with a sobering message scrawled on the top of the page in red ink: “Nelda, more women are ruined by Roget’s thesaurus than by drink.”<br />
<br />
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:<br />
Quotes taped to the wall next to my computer that I glance at for comfort as I am working include:<br />
“Easy reading is damn hard writing.” –Nathaniel Hawthorne<br />
“I spent all morning taking out a comma and all afternoon putting it back.” –Oscar Wilde<br />
<br />
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:<br />
Writing is easy; editing is the hard part! When I am done writing my children’s story, I read the story over and over again and always out loud to hear how it sounds. Each time I read the story it amazes me how much I delete. When I think there is nothing more I can add or delete I like to set the story aside. After a couple of weeks, I pick the story up again and read it anew with fresh eyes for yet another round of edits. With each new round of edits, the wonder is seeing the story evolve.<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?<br />
Being ruthless with a red pen and the delete key! Not so much for deleting words and sentences but for deleting whole paragraphs and entire pages that I have grown attached to having invested time and effort.<br />
<br />
HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?<br />
The mantra “persistence pays off” and Winston Churchill’s exhortation: “Never, never, never give up!” both apply to my getting published. I was persistent. I believed in my work. And I was unwilling to give up.<br />
<br />
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?<br />
My advice to writers is the same exhortation directed my way by my wonderful editor Bob Holzman (and yes, this is taped on my hallowed wall): “Book sales will depend on your efforts. Ask friends for reviews. Get on social media and talk it up. Send copies to friends in the media. Solicit signing and reading opportunities, etc.” <br />
<br />
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?<br />
After receiving a starred review by Kirkus Reviews, <i>Animal Village</i> was selected by the editors of Kirkus Reviews as one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Indie Books of 2018. Also, a Spanish edition has just been printed by a Chilean publisher who will be distributing the book not only in Chile but in Mexico where the government will be purchasing <i>Animal Village</i> for inclusion in their public school curriculum and for their public libraries.<br />
<br />
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?<br />
To keep writing and continue to get my works published and recognized!<br />
<br />
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:<br />
When I write children’s picture books I am both the author and the illustrator.<br />
<br />
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Ebony-Tree-Nelda-LaTeef/product-reviews/0967792991">The Hunter and the Ebony Tree</a> (Moon Mountain Publishing, 2002)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Working-Women-21st-Century-Pathways/dp/0913589667">Working Women for the 21st Century: Fifty Women Reveal their Pathways to Success</a> (Williamson Publishers, 1992)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Women-Lebanon-Interviews-Champions-Peace/dp/0786472790">Women of Lebanon: Interviews with Champions for Peace</a> (McFarland & Company, 2012)<br />
<br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?<br />
Yes! Always!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org</div>
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-11878717699121695652019-12-12T09:12:00.000-08:002019-12-12T09:41:41.866-08:00Author Spotlight - Lisa Anne Novelline on her Award-Winning Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i4Jgzp2o-i8/XfJzUP1YZgI/AAAAAAAA63Q/9lVVsavoszI1XIW1JE1gABAaAYkBfZvbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Lisa%2BAnne%2BNovelline%2BAppearance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="960" height="176" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i4Jgzp2o-i8/XfJzUP1YZgI/AAAAAAAA63Q/9lVVsavoszI1XIW1JE1gABAaAYkBfZvbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Lisa%2BAnne%2BNovelline%2BAppearance.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OnGHapR9L-g/XfJzawK9EoI/AAAAAAAA63U/lUHMU0ZyUCE5hxshmEVE4GKqsVUtfL_vACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WBReading.png" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="871" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OnGHapR9L-g/XfJzawK9EoI/AAAAAAAA63U/lUHMU0ZyUCE5hxshmEVE4GKqsVUtfL_vACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/WBReading.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><a href="https://www.lisaannenovelline.com/shop/piccadilly-and-the-jolly-raindrops-hardcover-book">Piccadilly and the Jolly Raindrops</a></i></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? Each of the books in this book series takes place during one of the seasons. Even though it may be read in any season, each book usually integrates the environment into the story to encourage young readers in this technological society to stay connected with the outdoors. For <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Piccadilly and the Jolly Raindrops</i>, the target season was spring. Developing the story around the rain followed very naturally. Integrating the deeper metaphor of rain as representing adversity and offering reframing suggestions to strengthen resiliency again followed naturally. Situating these themes into Piccadilly’s magical world to empower the young readers while also helping them play with possibility and continue to strengthen their fantastic imaginations was truly the final impetus that led to this story.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Nobody will believe us,” said Otis.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> “They don’t have to.” Piccadilly smiled.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I love this line because it supports the aura of safety so necessary to encourage young children to explore and create, the idea that caregivers love and support them even when they don’t necessarily understand them. This deceptively simple but powerful concept helps to encourage emerging young problem solvers to take intellectual risks without fear of judgment.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? I think there is a bit of me in all of my characters. </span><span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? I want them to feel safe and supported and then to let their super, duper imaginations soar! If they also gain insight into strategies to increase resiliency that would be marvelous.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? I loved to write as a very small child. I began writing poetry and keeping a journal at the age of six. I never lost my love of writing even throughout other pursuits. Returning to this passion full-time was a very natural circling back for me.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE? As a children’s book author, I have been most influenced by Beatrix Potter, Margaret Wise Brown, Maurice Sendak, Madeleine L’Engle, and Shel Silverstein. I think Potter helped me to feel comfortable with trusting young readers with sophisticated and often witty language. Wise Brown helped me focus on the importance of the small special moment. Sendak helped me to giggle and keep it imaginative and fun! L’Engle helped me to stretch my mind and integrate the power of possibility. And Silverstein helped to strengthen my resolve to cherish the beauty, elegance, and poetry of the actual words. Beyond children’s books, my writing is probably most heavily influenced by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Robert Frost, and Shirley Jackson.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER: Besides actually creating new stories, the most fun I have as a writer often comes from meeting my readers and their families. For example, last year a family told me that her daughter recreated Piccadilly’s outfit from <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Piccadilly and the Waltzing Wind</i> and wore it so she could “play Piccadilly.” Another young reader asked me at the end of a school visit what I was doing for the rest of the day, and if maybe I could stay at the school with his class instead. These are the moments that mean everything. These are the types of joys that keep me going, not necessarily “haha” funny, but as Piccadilly and her brother Sam would say, “funny as in unexpected!” (<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Piccadilly and the Fairy Polka</i>)</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS: I generally write my first drafts very quickly, within one week. Then I rewrite and edit and rewrite and edit and rewrite and edit… you get the idea! With both of the last two of my books, I threw the working drafts away after months of work and rewrote the entire stories, reusing some key elements but discarding the rest. I did this because of the tendency to defend and hold onto phrases. I wanted sweeping tonal changes, so I challenged myself to relook from the beginning, having already immersed myself in the stories. After that, rewriting and editing began again. Finally, when I thought I had taken it as far as I could, I hired a very seasoned professional children’s book editor and started the process again, incorporating her experience and helpful suggestions. Each of my books took about a year to get to the stage where I felt ready to publish, and then I moved to the next steps: working with the illustrators, editing the images, formatting the pages, working with the printers, etc. Two years of diligent work preceded the publishing of each of my first three books.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER? I think being a self-published author is so filled with challenges that they are almost impossible to list. Tenacity is the key.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR, WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY? I appreciate kind comparisons to any admired author. But I also know only too well that I can never outshine someone within their distinct arena and using their parameters, so I cherish the notion that I have created my unique style as well, and perhaps in this small way, I, too, cannot be surpassed.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED? I only sought an agent/publisher for my first manuscript and even then only queried a few. I became enamored with the degree of control I could have over my finished product, and once used to it, was tremendously reluctant to relinquish it. I have been approached since then by several publishers. Perhaps one of these days I will agree, but it is probably more likely I will enter into a distribution arrangement and maintain control over my words, illustrations, print quality, intellectual property, length of time in-print, etc.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? I believe in social media, not as a panacea or a guaranteed way to make sales, but as a means of developing relationships with readers who understand and appreciate one’s work. Additionally, I think mailing lists are very important. They correlate more directly to sales.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? I am not sure how to qualitatively compare those accomplishments of which I am most proud. I think the completion of each of the three books, after two years of diligent effort per title, being able to see and hold each of the finished products topped most anything else.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? I will finish the “Piccadilly and Her Magical World” Book Series with at least one more book. I am also writing a young adult novel, but beyond that, I plan to keep writing. I do suspect a spooky tale or two to be in my future!</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: If you look around my writing room you will see I surround myself with books, small felted animals, puzzles, statues, etc., things that inspire me, but what you might not expect to find is Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z! I love his character design. I keep him right in front of me on my desk. The determination on his face inspires me to press on through adversity.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? I want to thank anyone who invested the time and energy into reading this and other author interviews. There is so much wonderful literature being self-published these days, and yet there remains an unfair stigma that being self-published is second-rate. I think the mainstream industry is less willing to take risks on unknown, innovative artists, in favor of playing it safe with what they know will sell. The self-publishing book scene seems somewhat comparable to indie music and indie movies, offering fresh voices and points of view to those willing to look a little deeper.<b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"></b></span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? </span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.lisaannenovelline.com/shop/piccadilly-and-the-fairy-polka-hardcover-book">Piccadilly and the Fairy Polka</a></span></i></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.lisaannenovelline.com/shop/piccadilly-and-the-waltzing-wind-hardcover-book">Piccadilly and the Waltzing Wind</a></span></i></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.lisaannenovelline.com/shop/piccadilly-and-the-jolly-raindrops-hardcover-book">Piccadilly and the Jolly Raindrops</a></span></i></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? At the moment I am focusing on promoting <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Piccadilly and the Jolly Raindrops</i>, as it just came out. I am also brainstorming Piccadilly’s next adventure, and continuing work on my novel.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-9621157534632004242019-12-12T09:00:00.000-08:002019-12-12T09:00:01.879-08:00Author Spotlight - Cynthia T. Toney on her Award-Winning Book, The Other Side of Freedom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ck0vkR_EGL0/XfJwPXcweqI/AAAAAAAA628/xdnVD9ewab4_52GSbBvTX09lXDZSWXsDACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Toney%252C%2BCynthia.3x5.BW.ret2.crop.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ck0vkR_EGL0/XfJwPXcweqI/AAAAAAAA628/xdnVD9ewab4_52GSbBvTX09lXDZSWXsDACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Toney%252C%2BCynthia.3x5.BW.ret2.crop.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cwq9rZ1PX9M/XfJwxXcOH3I/AAAAAAAA63E/I0xmD7yB88ApS9MQXJo5XB3EHggaURo-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/The%2BOther%2BSide%2Bof%2BFreedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cwq9rZ1PX9M/XfJwxXcOH3I/AAAAAAAA63E/I0xmD7yB88ApS9MQXJo5XB3EHggaURo-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/The%2BOther%2BSide%2Bof%2BFreedom.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Other-Side-Freedom-Cynthia-Toney-ebook/dp/B075DHXRKF/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">The Other Side of Freedom</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />
I was inspired by the Italian-immigrant farming communities in the southern U.S. and the lesser-known criminal activity of mafia-like criminals that plagued those areas.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY?<br />
<i>"Her expression scared him. It was defiant. Same as when she took a whack from Sister Mary Theresa’s ruler rather than snitch on Sal for throwing a pecan at her."</i><br />
I like that description because it epitomizes the character Antonina’s personality and her loyalty toward her best friend, Sal.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY?<br />
No one particular character in <i>The Other Side of Freedom</i> is very much like me. However, I share characteristics with a number of them: Antonina’s stubbornness and persistence, Sal’s tendency to weigh both sides of an issue (but still worry), Uncle Enzo’s temper when witnessing injustice toward loved ones, and Mama’s faith.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK?<br />
That freedom often requires sacrifice, and doing the right thing does not always bring personal reward.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?<br />
Every person who implied—or said outright—that I couldn’t write. Any time someone says I shouldn’t or can’t do something, that makes me try even harder to prove them wrong.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE?<br />
<br />
Betsy Byars and her <i>Bingo Brown</i> series for humor. Judy Blume for dealing with controversial topics. Wendelyn van Draanen for her handling of mystery, young romance, and struggles for acceptance. All three authors create relatable, memorable characters and write to evoke the emotions.<br />
<br />
<br />
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER:<br />
To gain experience writing, I wrote non-fiction for free. Articles for newsletters, for example.<br />
<br />
<br />
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS:<br />
It starts with a spark from a small thing. Then I think about how I’d use that for the opening scene of a story. From there I progress to how I’d want a story based on that incident to end. Then I try to figure out what would make an exciting middle.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER?<br />
My writing starts out succinct but too brief. I have to work hard to fill it out.<br />
<br />
<br />
IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE?<br />
I’d want to be compared to Wendelyn van Draanen.<br />
<br />
<br />
HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED?<br />
I never could find an agent who was very interested! I received recommendations from other authors for my first publisher and my current one.<br />
<br />
<br />
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK?<br />
If you have a small publisher, the marketing will be like a full-time job.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT?<br />
<i>The Other Side of Freedom</i> has been honored with numerous awards, but I am even more pleased when I learn that the book has been selected for use in a classroom.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS?<br />
I’d like for any child or parent to be able to walk into a library and find at least one of my books.<br />
<br />
<br />
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING:<br />
I salvaged building materials to help my husband construct a man-cave building on the cheap!<br />
<br />
<br />
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?<br />
Teach your children kindness to animals and how to care for them. If they learn, they will treat their fellow human beings better.<br />
<br />
<br />
WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014RC09K2/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">8 Notes to a Nobody</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014RC07HW/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">10 Steps to Girlfriend Status </a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXUMV8K/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">6 Dates to Disaster</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JBQZF8J/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">3 Things to Forget</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?<br />
I have been working on an idea for a combination prequel/sequel to The Other Side of Freedom.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060040689457890991.post-37049720860349269612019-12-12T08:47:00.001-08:002019-12-12T08:47:31.298-08:00Author Spotlight - D.E. Partridge on her Award-Winning Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJxh6e76jeA/XfJs_bVsL1I/AAAAAAAA62w/TiwBY4Tcjl8qSDWAyMXzO2oQWjt5g4fGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DEPandbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJxh6e76jeA/XfJs_bVsL1I/AAAAAAAA62w/TiwBY4Tcjl8qSDWAyMXzO2oQWjt5g4fGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/DEPandbook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/CLAIMED-Dimension-Chronicles-Book-One/dp/1976709644">The CLAIMED</a></i><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">(</span><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">The Dimension Chronicles – Book One</i><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">)</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? Years ago, I began writing a story about a girl in an orphanage in New York who was taken away by a mysterious woman named Jerra. Like most stories that I have not planned out, this story snippet went on my shelf and was forgotten – until one day, when I was cleaning off my shelf, just before I turned thirteen. I found the little notebook, and, intrigued by the beginning of the story, brainstormed for ideas as to where I could take it. <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The CLAIMED</i>, as well as the books that follow in my series, are a result of my brainstorming.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK AND WHY? “‘Magic…’ Hazel’s voice sounded dazed. ‘I would say you’re crazy—that’s an absolutely ridiculous answer.’” (From “Chapter 21: The Last CLAIMED”.) Hazel’s bewildered statement encompasses much of the emotion felt by the characters throughout book one. In this book, many of the CLAIMED are yanked away from everything they’ve ever known into another Dimension, where they become part of things they could never have imagined. This often makes them confused and/or doubtful.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE IS MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? All of the characters, to some degree, are based on me (otherwise it would have been impossible for me to write them). This said, the character most like me is probably Grace.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? Throughout the book (and the series), Grace is often plagued with things she does not understand. In spite of her intense desire to know what is going on, she rarely discovers the answers immediately – and some answers are never given to her. Even though the book is centered around Grace, she doesn’t know what everything is pointing to until quite a ways into the story. This is the way it is with us, too. The Lord has a plan for our lives. We may not know where He is taking us all of the time, but everything in His plan is working together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? I have always loved to read, so writing came naturally to me. I attempted to write my first “book” when I was six, waiting for our vehicle to be fixed at a car repair shop. Ever since, I have been writing, but <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The CLAIMED</i> was my first published title.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR WRITING STYLE? Probably K.B. Hoyle. She is an author that not everyone knows about, but ever since I first read her series, <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The Gateway Chronicles</i>, she has been my favorite author. I have read all of her books multiple times, often in a row, so my style has gained some similarities to hers.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER: All of the pictures on the covers of my books were taken at my house by my father. We then uploaded them to the computer, where we used Photoshop to turn them into book covers.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS: I begin every story with a three-part outline. The first part contains the setting and characters, the second part contains the main problem of the story, and the third part contains the resolution. Only after I have figured out these three main points do I fill in the details and then write my story.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WRITER? I have found that it is much easier to begin a story than to wrap one up – especially a series. However, I do use an outline, something I was very thankful for when finishing <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The Dimension Chronicles</i>.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY? C.S. Lewis. I love his work (especially <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The Chronicles of Narnia</i>, which I have read countless times), and his writing style has heavily influenced mine.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED? I am self-published through Kindle Direct Publishing. When I was looking into ways to get published, KDP was what I needed at the time.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? Promotion is one of the hardest parts of being an author (especially a young author, like me), but I have found that talking to people face to face can be a lot more powerful than connecting on social media. Talk to people about your books!</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? Publishing my entire trilogy in one year was definitely a big accomplishment. Each of the books took at least one year from the time I first put pen to paper until the publication date, but I was able to overlap the process of writing each book, so that while book one was being edited, I was writing book two. In this way, I was able to publish them all in the same year.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? I want my books to do well (as every author does), but I would rather have the few who read my books enjoy them than have innumerable people read them and </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">think them dull<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. Because of this, I put a great deal of energy into my writing and editing, trying to make my stories as captivating as I possibly can.</span></span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: In addition to writing, I love ballet and crocheting. I may spend up to twenty-two hours in the ballet studio a week working on my technique and artistry.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? My books are written for a middle school/early high school audience, but if you have an advanced younger reader, there is nothing in my series that is inappropriate for a younger audience.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED? <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The CLAIMED</i> is book one in my trilogy, <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">The Dimension Chronicles</i>. Books two and three (<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Script-Dimension-Chronicles-Book/dp/198064733X">The Lost Script</a></i> and <i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Dimension-Chronicles-Book-Three/dp/1723821489">The Destiny</a></i>) are now also available on Amazon.</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #212121; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? I am currently working on a historical fiction novella set before and during World War One. The book is written as a series of letters between several girls over the course of eight years (1910-1918).</span></div>
<div class="x_MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews
International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval
http://www.clcawards.org
Author.Pubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11547797315751964697noreply@blogger.com0