Tuesday, October 18, 2011

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT


AUTHOR'S NAME:  K.C. Hilton

TITLE OF AWARD WINNING BOOK:  The Magic of Finkleton

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?
I’ve had a journal since I was a little girl although I officially started writing about three years ago.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN WRITING?
Typically I would have a dream and write it down in my journal. But one dream kept nagging at me and I didn’t know what I was supposed to do about it. I ended up at my computer and wrote it in more detail. What I had written was a 50 page draft. When I write, I see everything like a movie playing in my head and all I need to do is describe it. That was the beginning of my writing.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE The Magic of Finkleton?
-The idea of the hourglasses came to me in a dream and I woke up confused about them. Hourglasses show how much time has passed and they do not control the weather. It was unusual. Why would I dream about them anyway? I thought it was different and I loved the idea of magical hourglasses. It was a wonderful dream. I now have an hourglass sitting on my desk.
-I visited England three times and Bath, England was my favorite.  The little shops were adorable and I have tons of photos.
-When I was in grade school, I met a girl with the last name Finkle. I thought her last name was pretty awesome and it styed with me. Also, my another one of my childhood friend's name was Elizabeth. And she preferred to be called Lizzy. Lizzy also had blonde curly hair, just like Elizabeth (Lizzy) Finkle.

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR?
When I was a teenager I loved S.E. Hinton. The Outsiders was my favorite book because I could relate to the East and West side growing up in Aurora, Illinois. As an adult I love so many more authors, but I would have to say Diana Gabaldon. I love her Outlander series. It’s based on time travel, history and romance. Her research is impeccable.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK?
I’m going to say two books:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Who wouldn’t love to travel back in time?
Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren. Again, who wouldn’t love to travel back in time?

HAVE YOU PUBLISHED ANY OTHER BOOKS?
90 Miles to Freedom
90 Miles to Freedom is Contemporary Adult Fiction. The main character is older than required for Young Adult Fiction, although that was the intended audience when I wrote it.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF:
I help my husband with the family business, which is a full time job, six days a week. I have my photography and I’m also a Master Barber. Sometimes people are amazed when they discover the many things I love to do. I sum them all up as being Artistic.

DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS?
Return to Finkleton is the next book in the Finkleton series. I’m currently writing it and I have also written the first chapter in the third book. I couldn’t wait! It’s just so exciting living in the world of Finkleton. It’s due to be released in the spring of 2012 and will be available through most online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The cover has already been designed and can be seen on my website, blog and Goodreads.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE AS AN AUTHOR?
Finding the time to write has to be the toughest challenge for me. When I work six days a week, take care of the home and family; finding time to write can be hard. So I tend to stay up late at night, when everyone (including the dog) is asleep. Sometimes I'll write until 6am. When I write, time has no meaning and I ignore the clock.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS?
When driving alone, turn the radio off and just think. You’d be surprised with the ideas that just pop into your mind. When you're not writing you should read, read and read. Reading helps me with grammar and and puncuation. It also helps my editor, lol.

DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM WRITER'S BLOCK?
No. The only thing that blocks me from writing is my adorable dog, Roxy. When I sit at my desk, all she wants to do is play with her favorite ball and she cries if I don't play with her. I have to wait until she's exhausted enough to go to sleep, then I can write.

CAN YOU OFFER ANY TIPS ON HOW TO GET PUBLISHED?
I’m still working on that myself. The Magic of Finkleton is self-published. I sent out about 25 query letters to different Literary Agents, only to receive the normal rejections. I did some research and thought long and hard before I made the decision. I’m still hoping the Finkleton series will be picked up by a publisher. Fingers crossed!

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?
The audio book teaser is currently on my website and blog. Anyone can listen to the Prologue and First Chapter.  And of course the narrator for Finkleton had to have a British accent. You will also find the book trailer for your viewing pleasure.


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

Friday, October 14, 2011

Literary Classics Award Winning Books Announced


Literary Classics Announces Youth Media Top Book Award Winners

RAPID CITY, SD - Literary Classics announced its 2011 selection of top books for children and young adults today.  Award recipients were selected from entries received throughout the world.  The Literary Classics selection committee is proud to recognize the following titles in children's and young adult literature which exemplify the criteria set forth by the Literary Classics Awards committee.
A list of the 2011 award recipients follows:


Best First Picture Book

            The Adventures of Bella and Harry: Let's Visit Paris!
            Written by Lisa Manzione, illustrated by Kristine Lucco

Best Illustrator

            Stripey Follows His Dream
            Written by Gail Melville Shumway,  illustrated by Gail Melville Shumway

Picture Book - Preschool

- Gold Award Recipient
            Feed Your Fish!
            Written by Michael Madlener, illustrated by Patrick Reeves

Picture Book - Early Reader

- Gold Award Recipient
            Wacky Jacky: The True Story of An Unlikely Beauty Queen
            Written by Jaclyn Stapp, illustrated by Kristine Lucco

- Silver Award Recipient
            The Golden Pathway
            Written by Donna M. McDine,  illustrated by K.C. Snider

Special Interest, Activity Book

- Gold Award Recipient
            Monster Removal Guide
            Written by Garett Gruber, illustrated by Patrick Carlson

Special Interest, Cultural Issues

- Gold Award Recipient
            Dave Learns Spanish
            Written by Evelyn Rothstein

Special Interest, Educational

- Gold Award Recipient
            My Body is Special and Belongs to Me
            Written by Sally Berenzweig, MEd, MA & Cherie Benjoseph, LCSA     Illustrated by Lilah Cohen

Special Interest - Female Audience

- Gold Award Recipient
            The Ruby Red Slippers
            Written by DeeDee Fox, illustrated by DeeDee Fox

Special Interest, Self Esteem

- Gold Award Recipient
            Daria Rose and The Day She Chose
            Written by Yvonne Capitelli,  illustrated by Sherri Forrester Baldy

Fiction, Pre-Teen

- Gold Award Recipient
            The Magic of Finkleton
            Written by K.C. Hilton,

- Silver Award Recipient
            Ivy, Homeless in San Francisco
            Written by Summer Brenner

Mystery Pre-Teen

- Gold Award Recipient
            The Secret of the Sacred Scarab
            Written by Fiona Ingram

Faith Based, Young Adult

- Gold Award Recipient
            Muted Grey
            Written by Dianna L. Young



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

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

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