Lieve Snellings's Blog, page 6

Groundhog Secrets Nominated TopShelf Book Award 2020!

Can you imagine how happy I was when I got the message:

” Congratulations on your TopShelf Book Awards 2020 nomination! Attached please find your official nomination letter and award badge.”

This means that TopShelf Magazine has picked ‘GROUNDHOG SECRETS, Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Woodchucks’ from the crowd and nominated my book for the TopShelf Book Award 2020.

This made my day!

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Meet Your Next Favorite Author: K.B. Carr

And the animal-photo-book-joy goes on! I am happy to present you another author-photographer of children’s books: K.B. Carr. ‘Amazing images’ and ‘humor’, that are the keywords when I think of her. She makes this direct clear in the way how she presents herself at her Amazon Author Page:

‘K.B. Carr is an animal enthusiast, not an animal expert. They both start with the letter “e”, but shouldn’t be confused. One of them requires much larger student loans.

Her mother wanted to know why she asked so many questions all the time.  “Curiosity killed the cat”, her mother would say. “But, satisfaction brought her back”, K.B. would reply.

Do you also want to hear more about her? Let’s give her the word …

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Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?

My name Is K.B.Carr. I grew up in Muskegon, MI and graduated from Mona Shores High School, but I’ve lived in Texas, Florida, and California. I came back home to Michigan in 2005 to be close to my family.

     2. Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

I’m a huge Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly nerd!

     3. Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?

I’m kind and I’m passionate about the planet.

     4. Identity Card

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     5. Do you remember the first book you read?

No, but it was probably about an animal! As a child, I loved Misty of Chincoteague, and all those types of books. My Aunt was a voracious reader and gave me all her books, so I read Cherry Ames, Vicky Barr, and Nancy Drew.

     6. What makes you laugh/cry?

The last time I cried was while watching an interview with Paige Winter, the 17 year old who survived the shark attack in North Carolina. What an inspiration that girls is to us all! If many if her generation are like her, I have no doubt the planet will be in good hands.

     7. In which genre do you write?

Kids non-fiction nature for 8 to 12 year olds.

     8. What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?

I think of myself as an “edutainer”, someone who educates, hopefully, in an entertaining fashion. I write children’s non-fiction and facts can be very dry and boring, so I try to make it funny and fun where possible. I think of myself as Carrot Cake: yes, there’s vegetables in it, but it’s cake, so you’re still gonna eat it. Sneaky, very sneaky.

     9. How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?

I don’t have a ritual, other than knowing what I’m going to be writing about when I sit down, and having a goal for what I’m going to get done in the amount of time I’m sitting there. I’m definitely a plotter.

     10. What inspired you to write your first book?

I think I’ve always written little things here and there, starting in middle school, but I’d toyed with the idea of the Weird & Wacky series since my daughter was in first grade. She’s 30 now, so that was some time ago! She was classified as a “reluctant reader” and it was a challenge to find subjects that she had enough interest in to get her to sit down and read about. She was always interested in animals, especially the strange ones, and she enjoyed weird animal facts. She loves animals so much, that for a long time, she wanted to become a veterinarian when she grew up.

     11. How did you come up with the title for your first book?

Oh, that was the easy part. Everything I read about publishing a book says to make your title as close to the subject as possible. “Weird & Wacky Creatures” seemed like a perfect fit for Book 1, then “Weird & Wacky Endangered Creatures”, etc., with the whole series named “Weird & Wacky Planet” was a no-brainer!

     12. If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?

Maybe Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. I always found her to be a curious and intrepid character, kinda like me, I think!

     13. Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?

Oh, absolutely. Throughout the first and all the way to the last, the theme is conservation: of animals, of plants, of nature in general. Kids are the future custodians of Earth. They need to know what that entails, and do a better job of it than my generation has.

     14. What are your top 3 books of all time?

Just 3? To Kill a Mockingbird, Desiree, and Outlander, if I can only pick 3.

     15. How important is marketing and social media for you?

I’ve recently discovered Instagram and am enjoying that. Social media is not my favorite thing, really. I’ve started to learn Amazon Ads, so we’ll see how that goes. My genre is not a hot niche that people are searching for using keywords, etc. I really think that my sales will come from finding my tribe of the conservation-minded and driving readers to my books with my message. To that end, my daughter and I will be launching a science and nature Podcast for kids and a streaming science and nature TV channel for kids, hopefully by the end of the year.

     16. Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?

I do read them, but I’m unsure yet what impact they will have on sales.

     17. What advice do you have for other writers?

Just do it. Sit down and start writing. Write about what you’re going to write about, how you’re going to write about it, who’s going to read it, how you feel about what you’ll write about. You’d be surprised at how helpful streaming thought is. I have notebooks full of thoughts that I go back and pick gems out of.

The other thing I find invaluable (besides Google) is to have a outline of the book before I start. That way, I always know where I am in the process and I’m never at a loss as to what I should be doing next. It’s quite a time saver.

     18. Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)

Books

The Weird & Wacky Planet Series

Do strange-looking critters put a smile on your child’s face? Ever wonder what animals do when we’re not watching? Do your junior biologists want to help save endangered species? Wildlife advocate and mother of two K. B. Carr has made it her mission to explore the most curious creatures on the planet. Now she’s here to share her wildest, strangest, and creepy-crawliest facts from the animal kingdom.

Weird & Wacky Creatures

Hook: “If Jack Hanna and Steve Irwin had written books together, it would have been just [image error]like the Weird & Wacky Planet series!”.

Blurb: Does your kid love learning about the world’s weirdest animals? Discover close encounters with Earth species that look like they’re from outer space.

Do strange-looking critters put a smile on your child’s face? Ever wonder what animals do when we’re not watching? Do your junior biologists want to help save endangered species? Wildlife advocate and mother of two K. B. Carr has made it her mission to explore the most curious creatures on the planet. Now she’s here to share her wildest, strangest, and creepy-crawliest facts from the animal kingdom.

Weird & Wacky Planet Series are intuitively structured reference books for children ages 8-12. If you and your child like fun adventures in nature, crazy critters, and one-of-a-kind biology, then you’ll love K. B. Carr’s educational guide.

Asin (Amazon): B07SXR2MQS

ISBN: 978-0996837514

Age: 8-12

Weird & Wacky Endangered Creatures

[image error]All the amimals in this book are Endangered Creatures, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t Weird & Wacky!

You’ll find all the same facts you need to write a report on these critters, as well as the Weird & Wacky part you’ve come to expect from this series. There is an added paragraph about why each of these animals are endangered, as well as what conservation efforts may or may not be in place for them. Who knows? Maybe YOU will be part of the conservation efforts, someday!

New in this book are the Field Activity sections, with different activities for each animal. You can help a University by counting birds, or make your own fossils, or an Ocean in a Jar. That’s my favorite one!

ISBN: 978-0996837521

Age: 8-12

Weird & Wacky Endangered Creatures 2

[image error]Have you ever seen an animal wearing pink armor and a white tutu? How about an underwater cutie with pink hair and blue fingernail polish? Or a deer with a gas mask? Do you think they don’t exist? They do, and I have the pictures to prove it!

In this third book of Weird & Wacky Creatures, you will meet these animals and others just as strange. All of these animals are on the Endangered Species list. Each chapter includes a special section about why they are endangered and what’s being done about it. There are crazy pictures and fun activities you can do at home. There is also a Glossary of Terms, so you can learn big, scientific words to stun and amaze your family and friends. Who doesn’t love doing that, right?

ISBN: 978-0996837538

Age: 8-12

Weird & Wacky Creatures 2

[image error]Ever heard of a Flying Monkey? What about tree-climbing Dogs who wash their food before they eat it? Or, super-tiny Elephants or naked Rodents who snack on the unthinkable? Sounds impossible, but, I wouldn’t tell you it was true without having pictures to back it up!

You’ll be introduced to these animals and more in this new book of Weird & Wacky Creatures 2. There are fun activities you can do at home, and of course, the glossary of huge, scientific words you can use to stupefy your parents at the dinner table. Yes, that’s my favorite part, and when you see the look on their faces, it will become yours, too…

ISBN: 978-0996837569

Age: 8-12

Website:

WeirdandWackyPlanet.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weirdandwackyplanet/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weirdandwackyplanet/

     19. QUICK  POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)

Snow or sun: both

Soccer or (ice) hockey: neither

Dogs or cats: dogs

Ice-cream or fruit: fruit

Fact or fiction: both

Music or silence: both

Sport or reading: reading

Sea or mountains: both

Groundhogs or squirrels: both

Books or movies: books

E-book or print:  print. But, I read more ebooks now, than print.

     20. Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?

Yes. Reading is important. I could pull out all kinds of statistics about the whys of that, but I think we all know it’s true. If your child (or you) doesn’t really care to read, find subjects that are interesting to the individual and start there. You never know where that will take you.

I would also like to point out that we haven’t done such a great job of encouraging our girls to go into the sciences as a career choice. Do we really want them to be more interested in the Kardashians? This is a serious detriment to us all. Girls have so much to bring to the table, INCLUDING nurturing hearts and compassionate spirits-something that is badly needed. Which leads me to this:

I’d like kids to know how important conservation is and that one day, they’ll be in charge of this planet. How many species of plants and animals will be permanently gone by then? And, how many more will be gone in their lifetime? In their children’s lifetime? It’s a heavy responsibility that we leave them, and we haven’t been such good custodians, ourselves. My REAL goal here is to leave the next generation better educated and prepared to take on the task.

Thank you so much K.B., it was an honor to have you as guest at Meet Your Next Favorite Author!

Meet Your Next Favorite Author: Geert Weggen

For a long time, I searched for other picture books incorporating nature photography. You remember how happy I felt when I could present you Andi Cann, an author who also incorporated animal photos in her picture books.

Can you imagine how excited I was when I met Geert Weggen online? I think I can say he is THE ‘MASTER’ of squirrel photography in the world. He is a real inspiration for me, and I follow his work on Facebook and Instagram. Geert is now living in Sweden but lived before in the Netherlands. For all my Dutch speaking friends, I will add in the interview also his books who are in Dutch.

Enough talking from me, let us give the word to Your Next Favorite Author/Photographer: Geert Weggen.

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Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?

My name is Geert Weggen. Fourteen years ago I left Holland, where I was born. I bought a little sailing boat and sailed to Sweden and bought a small house in an isolated area of this beautiful country. I changed my education in carpenter and mason and 6 years ago I became a photographer.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

Once I woke up with a voice saying that I had to go to a place with islands called Murtak. I looked it up in a world atlas online and there was a place called Murtak in Uzbekistan. I knew I had to go there. And I went 2 years later to see the place. I cried when arriving. After being there for only 10 minutes, I was carried away by the police. There was no Murtak anymore. An old man, who was a professor in history, explained to me that it had been there hundreds of years ago and now was renamed. But it is the road of my journey that counts, and after the finishing line, that road continues. It was hard to except for me. When I did find the place after years of preparation, I wanted to stay there for weeks. It was hard for me to accept that I was forced to leave after no longer than 10 minutes. It took me a long time to make peace with this.

Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?

Always follow my heart and do what I promise.

Identity Card

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Do you remember the first book you read?

Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This touched me and it still does by just thinking about it.

What makes you laugh/cry?

I can laugh about my own stupidity and cry about suffering and loss

In which genre do you write?

Fantasy.

What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?

There are not many writers and photographers in my genre who work with squirrel photos. Although I have written several books which are not available anymore, the last books are written by others.

How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?

Mostly I try to get stories in my photos without words. It is fulfilling when I capture the pose or moment where the squirrel tells the story I had in mind.

What inspired you to write your first book? 

Probably it was via social media friends who ask for a book,. After that, I kept on writing many books. It was fun to create something with my photos.

How did you come up with the title?

My photos in the book are squirrels, therefore I named the first book after them.

If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?

Probably Arya from the Game of Thrones. An anti-hero, a lonely soul with mystique and magic. She does what she wants and she is direct.

Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?

That magic exists. My photos are realistic but often looks like they are not, more surrealistic, and that is where the magic is born.

What are your top 3 books of all time?

Lord of the rings, Inspector Canardo, Schninkel,

How important is marketing and social media for you?

Enormously important. I life isolated and stopped selling via stock markets. That is why I need to do the marketing myself and a big part is done via Social Media.

Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?

Yes, I read them and I love it that a book gets a highlight.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Only create a book of what you love. For me, it works out better to work together with publishers. They have a much more successful product than I can make. I am a dreamer. I see stories, but it is not my strength to put them into words and do all the marketing.

Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)

How the squirrels saved Christmas

[image error]Hook: A squirrel Christmas

Blurb: A Christmas story with squirrel photos in the winter. Jack has lost his power to create snow needed for Christmas. In this Story, Santa and his squirrel helpers need to help Jack, to find his back power.

Written By Joanne Cavanagh

Available in Nov 2019 . There are still some numbered and signed books available as a pre order. Probably we publish the book self in a very low quantity

Age: 8+

Eekhoorn Wijsheid – Squirrel Wisdom, this book is in the Dutch language.

Blurb: In dit boek worden foto’s van eekhoorns gecombineerd met gedichten. De [image error]eekhoorns tonen zich op een bijzondere manier, die u niet vaak gezien zult hebben. De gedichten zijn reflectief, bedoeld om over na te denken, te filosoferen. Dit boek kan gelezen worden als een fotoboek/poëziebundel, maar kan ook gebruikt worden als inzichtenboek. Het boek kan dan op een willekeurige pagina opengeslagen worden, het gedicht en foto op die bladzij kan gebruikt worden als meditatie van de dag of als startpunt voor reflectief schrijven.

ISBN: 978-94-0223-957-7 / 9789402239577

[image error]Samen met de eekhoorns het alfabet leren

Het leren van het alfabet is nu nog leuker dankzij de eekhoorns. Ze zijn met allerlei voorwerpen op de foto gegaan om jou de 26 letters te leren. Én ze hebben raadseltjes voor je waarbij jij de ontbrekende letters van het woord kunt invullen. Sla het boek snel open en leer de letters van het alfabet.

ISBN: 978-94-0222-868-7 / 9789402228687

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Weihnachten bei den Eichhörnchen: Fröhliches Fest!

Hook: A squirrel Christmas book in the German language

Blurb: Short phrases with squirrel photos in the winter.

It will be available in a second luxe print  edition this year 2019

Written by publisher Coppenrath

Asin (Amazon): 3649631237

ISBN: 978-3-649-63123-1

Age: 5+

Gettin’ squirrelly

[image error]Hook: A day in the life of nature’s most curious creatures

Blurb: The book has more than 150 squirrel photos and takes the reader through the 4 seasons of the squirrel

Written By publisher Willowcreek

Available in at Amazon in July 2019

Age: 8+

Allt om ekorren

[image error]Hook: Everything to know about squirrels in the Swedish language

Blurb: Emma Holmgren who is a writer and has a small publisher company https://parusforlag.se contacted me and asked if I wanted to deliver photos for the whole squirrel children book about squirrels. The book will be available in 2019.

Written Emma Holmgren

Available in Aug. 2019

Age: 8+

[image error]Calendar Gettin’ squirrelly 2020

Hook: For 4 years I have been providing photos for the calendars from publisher Willowcreek

Blurb: Funny photos of squirrels with mainly using props

The Calendar will be available in 2019.

Publisher Willowcreek

Available in July 2019

Gettin’ Squirrelly, a day in the life of nature’s most curious creatures

Publisher: Willowcreek

Available: July 2019 at Amazon

Website https://geertweggen.com/

Email: geertweggen@yahoo.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geertweggen/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geertweggen/  

Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hardeko/ 

Products: https://geertweggen.com/products 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/geertweggen1

At Facebook: Video about Geert Weggen’s work

QUICK  POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)

Snow or sun: I missed the beautiful snow when living in Holland. The winters were gone. Now I have snow 6 months a year. It would be perfect to have the other 6 months sunny days.

Soccer or (ice) hockey: Ice-hockey is like a dance on the ice. Gliding its way through thin air.

Dogs or cats: I love them, but I prefer to have animals in the wild. Cats are not welcome anymore, because they hunt the birds and squirrels.

Ice-cream or fruit: Both are sweet and good.

Fact or fiction: I prefer fiction. It brings the world of magic closer to the world of facts, to balance it.

Music or silence: Silence is a way to go deeply within and music a way to release it.

Sport or reading: I am not practicing both anymore.

Sea or mountains: There was a time that I had enough of the sea, because of the experiences living on my sailing boat for almost 1 year. The 9-meter ravine in my backyard keeps me grounded like mountains do for me.

Groundhogs or squirrels: squirrels are my closest friends. I meet them daily and we are silent most of the time.

Books or movies: Watching series and movies, besides photography and sleeping is mostly what I do the whole year around.

E-book or print: Prints are touchable a result of imagination and an e-book is still thin air.

Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?

Although I sell prints. It is mostly that people buy the file and self want to do the printing and decide the size them self.

I give people a possibility to get photos of squirrels with props they sent me, in exchange for a photo of it, which allows them to use for a print for themselves.

I am daily looking for new props and have thousands of them. This part of squirrel photography is a difficult one. Always hard to find beautiful props in the right size and price.

Press Release Readers’ Favorite

[image error]For immediate release:

Author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.

Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Children – Picture Book book “Margot Gets an Unexpected Visit” by Lieve Snellings, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E0FL2HK.

Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

“Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Margot Gets An Unexpected Visit is a charming work of nature storytelling and photography composed and compiled by author-photographer Lieve Snellings. In this story of nature in Quebec, aimed at ages 5 to 9 years old, the central character Margot is a groundhog. Also known as woodchucks, these typically solitary creatures may sometimes surprise you, and this is just the story which the author has captured and recorded for her tale. When Margot the groundhog meets two human girls with a passion for nature, an interesting and heart-warming story develops between them. Filled with real-life photos of their little adventure together, the book sends a message of how nature and humans can live in harmony together.

Author-photographer Lieve Snellings does a great job staging and capturing fantastic images to convey her story, and bringing other woodland creatures into the tale to enrich the educational value of the work. Marie and Lowieske are adorable sisters who clearly respect and are excited by interacting with nature, which is really inspiring for other youngsters reading this book to see. There’s also plenty of cultural quality and the humor of Canada present in the work, as well as European influences which again make the overall reading experience all the richer for learners. I can see this book being utilized in schools for the many lessons it can teach, as well as its high entertainment value. Overall, Margot Gets An Unexpected Visit is a recommended read for anyone with youngsters curious about the natural world.”

You can learn more about Lieve Snellings and “Margot Gets an Unexpected Visit” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/margot-gets-an-unexpected-visit where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Readers’ Favorite LLC

Media Relations

Louisville, KY 40202

800-RF-REVIEW

support@readersfavorite.com

https://readersfavorite.com

Meet your next favorite author: Lieve Snellings

In this second year of author interviews, I will start by answering myself all those questions I asked all these 25 amazing authors last year.

Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?

My name is Lieve Snellings. I live in Leuven, Belgium.  I am a graduate social worker. I have worked 38 years as a dispatcher at the Emergency Department of Gasthuisberg in Leuven. Now I am retired and I have to say that I love that too. At the age of 40, I started a professional five-year school/training photography and worked for twelve years as a freelance photographer besides my job in the clinic.

For 11 years I live in a (very) long distance relationship and started living about 5 months a year in Quebec. Monique, my partner, opened also my passion for nature photography (before I was more a documentary photographer). Watching all these little (and a bit bigger) creatures that visit our backyard and in parks is so relaxing, feed for imagination and fun. Apparently, it seems I have a lot of patience for this nature observation.

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Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

I have a special, real witches laugh. Who knows what other witches craft is inside me, hahahaaaa…

Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?

I love to live and I when I go for something, I GO for something.

Identity Card

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Do you remember the first book you read?

[image error]After two or three months in my first grade, I was sick and couldn’t go to school. My mom gave me a picture book ‘Het Hemelhuis’ (I would translate it into ‘the house of our dreams’) from the series ‘Jommeke’. As I had to spell letter by letter to form a word, it took me the whole week to finish the book. But I was so proud, I read it all by myself.

What makes you laugh/cry?

Humor can make me laugh, or a funny situation. And when I feel a strong emotion my tears can appear quickly. This can be caused by sadness or suffering, but also by the kindness and love I see around me.

In which genre do you write?

Children’s books, more precise picture books in which the illustrations are my own nature photos.

What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?

What makes my books unique is that I am coloring outside the lines, it seems I am not able to rest in one closet. My picture books are illustrated with my own nature photography. The stories are told through the eye of Margot the groundhog. And in both my books there is a nice blending between fiction and non-fiction. You can see that the children’s fiction ‘Margot Gets An Unexpected Visit‘ contains also info on wildlife, and the nonfiction book ‘Groundhog Secrets‘ has a storyline.

And presented as a simple matter-of-fact and without any justification or explanation, Margot Gets An Unexpected Visit, talks in a sideline about diversity.

How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?

I think that most (if not almost all) writers start their books with idea’s, fantasies which they turn into words and afterward look for illustrations. For me, it was the contrary. In fact, I became an author because I am a  photographer. I believe that sharing these images can also help reveal the beauty of nature to kids. As I couldn’t find picture books based on real photos, I decided that I would do this genre, but mine would be different from others because I work with my own nature photography.

I don’t have a special ritual. But I mostly work in silence. For my published two books, I first selected my photos, then sat outside with a coffee and wrote a part of the story, then going back to my computer to fit in the photo illustrations and then repeat this again and again till the book was finished.

When I started my third book, on which I am working now, I first wrote the storyline, then I looked for the images to create the illustrations in photoshop. The text and photo illustrations keep also now going hand in hand, but this time guided by the storyline.

What inspired you to write your first book?

 I wanted to make a sort of picture book with Eufrazie, the little American Red Squirrel and my godchild’s daughters as main characters. I had a vague storyline in mind and wanted to start with my pictures. So I opened my photo library and choose images I could use. But at that moment snow was melting and Margot the groundhog woke up out [image error]of her hibernation. For me, that is always an exciting moment. Suddenly she looked me in the eye and she told me ‘NO, your book will not be about Eufrazie. It is about me, Margot the groundhog, you have to tell my story.’ I don’t know how she did this, but the result was that I started to select my groundhog photos.

And so my books were born, page by page, image by image, and with the photos came the story. Margot is the main character in both of my books. Little Eufrazie, her cousins the black and gray squirrels Germaine and Philomene, and Fiston the little chipmunk get, a small supporting role.

How did you come up with the title for your first book?

Of course, I did some research on woodchucks before starting to write about a groundhog. There I learned that a groundhog is a solitary animal. So bring a groundhog in contact with two little girls is an unexpected storyline. The curiosity that Margot on one hand, and Lowieske and Marie on the other hand, have for each other, make a connection so we can talk about an unexpected visit.

If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?

I like Pipi Langkous/ Pippi Longstocking because she is so funny and full of energy, coloring outside the lines and every problem is a challenge for her.

Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?

Both my books help to reveal the beauty of nature to all kids, small and big ones. And showing them close-up photos of these animals and birds they see around them daily, will help them to get a better image of these creatures they maybe see often in the distance. It probably will help them to see more of this beauty when they are playing outside.

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In ‘Margot gets an unexpected visit’ is also a subtle message on the richness of diversity in all its forms and the importance of friendship.

What are your top 3 books of all time?

‘Het meisje met het rode haar’ -The girl with the red hair- by Theun de Vries (1956). I [image error]don’t know if this book is translated into English. The story of the book is based on the life of Hannie Schaft. She was a member of the armed resistance during WO II. There were not many women in the armed resistance and the book tells the story of how Hannie Schaft and her female comrade took care not to kill innocent people. They have killed some SS chiefs and I had somehow the idea (for however this could be possible) they killed out of love, to protect. But then at a certain moment, Hannie Schaft’s lover was killed and as a reader, I could feel this was a big shift, a break in her motivation and action. Hannie Schaft continued to do the same thing as she did before her partner died, but it wasn’t any more out of love. What this book made so visible to me was that the line of using violence to get your goal is so very thin. When you do this for a start, where is the shifting point? It definitely was an important book that convinced me in my support of non-violence.

[image error]‘Possessing the Secret of Joy’ by Alice Walker. It was a difficult choice which book of hers to choose. In any case, I can say that Alice Walker’s books have played an enormous role in my personal development. Something I never forgot out of one of her books is, it might that these are not the exact words, but it was about ‘In theory, every point is fixed, while in a fictional story, everything is open after reading and in evolution.‘[image error]

‘From where we stand – war, women’s activism & feminist analysis’ by Cynthia Cockburn. This is an enlightening book that shows global perspectives on women’s politics and activism for peace. An analysis is built on ‘from where you stand’. And I think this is an important basic attitude, always to look ‘from where we stand’, I think this could help how to communicate in the world.

How important is marketing and social media for you?

Marketing and social media are very important. Once my book is published, of course, I want as many children and adults as possible to see and read it. But as a Self Publisher, you have to do all the marketing for your book yourself. If you don’t promote, well people just will not know that it exists.

When I started, I didn’t know anything about marketing. I read whatever I could find online, followed webinars and workshops on Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, and marketing. First in my mother tongue Dutch. Then I studied in English. I learned a lot, but there is still so much that I still need to learn, and it is always changing.

You have to be active on so many different places and levels that sometimes it is too much and I just wanted to quit. In the meantime, I learned that different authors regularly are dealing with this feeling. It’s important to find ways to take a break and keep going on.

I am so glad to be part of the BookGoSocial Children’s Book and other Author Groups on Facebook. It is so good to hear other authors struggling the same problems, recognize what you are coping with, experienced it themselves, but went on anyway too. I think I couldn’t have done it without these Author FB groups. It is incredible how much support authors give each other.

Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?

Oh yes, I love to read them. Positive reviews give me, of course, a boost, it’s like the fire of passion in myself gets some extra air and grows. The not so positive reviews are maybe at first a bit difficult to take, but then I let them lay down a bit and after a while, I can see what I can learn from it. And so every single book review is important for me.

What advice do you have for other writers?

If this is what you like and want to do, well don’t give up and go for it. Write the first draft, and then revise and rewrite again and again. Then ask someone to edit. It is good to have some beta readers, they will give you such important feedback, but in the end, it is your book.

The road can be long and not easy to go, but use difficulties and critics to grow and become a better writer.

Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)

Margot Gets an Unexpected Visit

[image error]Hook: A children’s tale where high-quality nature photography meets up with friendship, diversity, fun, education and ice hockey

Blurb: As all groundhogs, Margot doesn’t like to have others around her. Certainly not humans. But is this also the case when she meets up with two little girls? You’ll find out in this book.

You will also enjoy the unique and touching photo-images of nature in Quebec, and an unpredictable anecdote on the special haircut for ice hockey fans.

Age: 5 – 9 year

Asin: B01E0FL2H

Amazon smartly: http://smarturl.it/e7uowx

ISBN: 978-1532877650

Groundhog Secrets – Everything You Always wanted to Know about Woodchucks

[image error]Hook: Discover the secret world of the groundhog through the eyes of Margot the woodchuck while gaining a close-up view of wildlife in whimsical photo illustrations.

Blurb: Do you want to know more about the woodchuck? Then this book packed with information about groundhogs (who are also called woodchucks), is for you! Margot the woodchuck reveals all her secrets. She describes how groundhogs are born, what they look like and who is in their family. She talks about how they fill their tummies in summer and autumn, to store fat for the long winter months. Even medical doctors and scientists study the groundhog hibernation. Find out why in this fascinating illustrated book.

Age: 8 – 11 year

Asin: B071Z35TDB

Amazon smartly: http://smarturl.it/0psllg

ISBN: 978-1546813033

Website: lievesnellings.wordpress.com

Social Media:

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/FotoBoekLieveSnellings

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14186089.Lieve_Snellings

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lievesnellings

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SnellingsLieve

Member Independent Author Network

Readers’ Favorite Book Award Winner

Amazon Author Page 

Behance (for Photoshop Creative Cloud members): lievesnelld415

QUICK  POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)

Snow or sun: sun

Soccer or (ice) hockey: soccer, unless Fiston is the radio reporter

Dogs or cats: cats

Ice-cream or fruit: no doubts, that is ice-cream

Fact or fiction: both

Music or silence: silence and sometimes music

Sport or reading: both, sports watching and reading

Sea or mountains: sea

Groundhogs or squirrels: of course Margot the groundhog, but also Frazie, Gen and Philli the squirrels

Books or movies: both

E-book or print: for picture books, it is print, all the rest in e-books

Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?

[image error]I hope to publish my third book on Margot the groundhog this Autumn. And I’m glad to offer you a first glimpse on some of the first draft pages.

Margot has built her winter burrow and will start hibernation soon. Normally she loves her winter sleep, but this time she feels sad. Will she be able to survive the long winter months without her new friends? And how can those friends help her with this problem?

And I have another project that could end up in a book. ‘What you see is what YOU see’.

It is true, but not the only truth because other people see other things in the same image, the same story.

I want to thank you for all your support and friendship and I hope you enjoy my books as much as I enjoyed photographing and writing them.

To end, I want to tell you that I, like all other authors, love to hear what you think of my books. That I am open to all suggestions and I certainly will respond to your email or comments on the Social Media.

 

Ce que vous voyez est ce que VOUS voyez

Au cours des 100 derniers jours, j’ai partagé une de mes photos d’arbre avec vous, sous le titre “Ce que vous voyez est ce que VOUS voyez” sur ma page d’auteur Facebook, FotoBoekLieveSnellings.

Quand j’ai commencé ce projet, je ne savais pas où cela me mènerait. J’étais prête à me reposer, je voulais me vider la tête et j’avais besoin de recharger mes batteries. Je suis sortie avec mon appareil photo, sans plan, sans contrat de reporter, mais avec un regard ouvert et réceptif. Je voulais voir ce qui se passerait, les images qui se présenteraient. Ce sont souvent les choses simples et accessibles de la nature qui sont les plus bénéfiques, qui offrent une médecine forte et directe.

Donc sans plan préconçu, je revenais régulièrement avec mon appareil photo, ouverte à tout ce que je verrais ou ne verrais pas. J’étais enchantée, complètement absorbée par mes rencontres telles qu’une femme au panier rempli d’herbes;  une danseuse du Moulin Rouge;  une ancienne déesse;  une femme lisant un livre;  un jeune arbre plein d’une nouvelle;  un jeune couple qui s’embrasse sous les ailes de leur mère;  un danseur qui saute dans le ciel bleu;  les yeux pleins de douleur et d’amour d’un vieux couple d’arbres, etc.

Quand j’ai montré ces photos à ma famille et à mes ami(e)s, j’ai remarqué que le monde ne voyait pas la même chose que moi dans les images. Je voulais tester cela sur un groupe plus grand, c’est pourquoi, avec chacune des 100 photos publiées, je vous ai demandé ce que vous voyez sur la photo. Et la plupart du temps, vous avez vu autre chose que moi. Avec votre réponse comme guide et en regardant sous un angle différent, je pouvais généralement voir comme vous, mais quelques fois pas.

[image error]Il est clair que «ce que je vois est ce que MOI je vois» et que «ce que vous voyez est ce que VOUS voyez». Cela dépend de notre état d’esprit à ce moment où nous regardons l’image, ce que nous avons traversé, ce que nous faisons, notre passé, les rêves que nous avons ou de ce que nous avons peur. Ce que nous voyons est donc en partie déterminer par le point de vue sous lequel nous regardons. Donc, ces photos en disent long sur le photographe, mais aussi sur la personne qui regarde les images.

Ces images me guérissaient, parfois je les voyais à travers les yeux du petit enfant en moi et j’appréciais le jeu, parfois elles me faisaient rire, parfois elles me faisaient pleurer, mais parfois aussi j’étais confrontée. Je vais élaborer sur cela plus tard.

Comment était-ce pour vous? Reconnaissez-vous quelque chose à propos de ce que je dis dans le dernier paragraphe?

J’apprécierais vraiment un échange à ce sujet.

 

What you see is what YOU see

During the past 100 days, I have shared every day one of my ‘tree pictures’ with you under the title ‘What you see is what YOU see’ at my Facebook Author Page, FotoBoekLieveSnellings.

When I started this project, I had no idea where this would lead me. I was ready for a rest, wanted to empty my head and I needed to recharge my batteries again. I went outside with my camera, without a plan, without having to ‘photograph’ something, but with an open, receptive look. Watching what would happen. The images presented themselves. Often it is the accessible, simple things in nature that are the most beneficial, that offer strong and direct medicine.

And so afterward, without a preconceived plan of what I would do, I regularly went back. I took my camera and just went for a walk, open to everything that I would or would not see. I was enchanted, completely absorbed in my meetings with an herbalist who had picked her basket full;  a dancer in the Moulin Rouge;  the ancient goddess;  a woman reading a book;  a young tree, pregnant of an almost full-grown new life;  a young kissing couple under mother’s wings;  someone who makes a joy jump in the blue sky;  the eyes of an old couple of trees, full of pain and love.

[image error]When I showed these pictures to family and friends, I noticed that not everyone saw the same thing as me in the images. I wanted to test that for a larger group, which is why, with each of the 100 published photos, I asked you what you see in the photograph. And most of the time you saw other things than me. With your answer as a guide, and looking from a different angle, I usually could see what you were seeing. But sometimes I didn’t.

It is clear that “what I see is what I see,” and that “what you see is what YOU see.” It depends on our mood or temper when we watch the images, on our past, on the dreams we have or what we are afraid of. What we see is therefore partly determined by the point of view from which we look at it. So those photos say something about the photographer, but also about the person who looks at the images.

Those images were sometimes healing for me, sometimes I saw through the eyes of the little child-in-myself and enjoyed the game, sometimes they made me laugh and sometimes cry, but sometimes I was confronted. I will elaborate on this later.

How was this for you? Do you recognize anything about what I have said in the last paragraph?

I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts about this.

Wat je ziet is wat JIJ ziet

Onder de titel ‘Wat je ziet is wat JIJ ziet’ heb ik de voorbije 100 dagen, elke dag een van mijn bomen foto’s met jullie gedeeld op mijn Facebook Auteurspagina FotoBoekLieveSnellings.

Toen ik dit project startte, had ik geen idee waar dit naartoe zou leiden. Ik was aan rust toe, wilde mijn hoofd leeg maken en mijn batterijen opladen. Ik ging naar buiten met mijn camera, zonder plan, zonder iets ‘te moeten’ fotograferen, maar met een open, ontvankelijke blik. Kijkend wat er zou gebeuren. De beelden dienden zichzelf aan. Vaak zijn het de toegankelijke eenvoudige dingen in de natuur die het meest heilzaam zijn, die een sterk en direct medicijn aanbieden.

En zo ben ik nadien, zonder vooropgezet plan van wat ik zou doen, regelmatig terug op stap geweest. Ik nam mijn fototoestel en ging gewoon wandelen, open voor alles wat er wel of niet te zien zou zijn. Ik werd betoverd, ging helemaal op in mijn ontmoetingen met een kruidenvrouw die haar mandje vol had geplukt;  een danseres in de Moulin Rouge;  de oergodin;  een vrouw die een boek leest;  een jonge boom, hoogzwanger van een bijna volgroeid nieuw leven;  een jong kussend koppeltje onder moeders vleugels;  iemand die een vreugdesprong maakt in de blauwe lucht;  de ogen vol pijn en liefde bij het oude koppel bomen.

Wanneer ik deze foto’s aan familie en vriendinnen liet zien, stelde ik vast dat niet iedereen in de beelden hetzelfde zag als ik. Dat wilde ik testen op een grotere groep, vandaar dat ik, bij elke van de 100 gepubliceerde foto’s, opnieuw vroeg wat jij in de foto ziet. En meestal zagen jullie andere dingen, die ik dan, met jullie antwoord als leidraad en een andere manier van kijken, meestal ook kon terug vinden. Soms ook niet.

[image error]Het is duidelijk dat ‘wat ik zie is wat IK zie’, en dat ‘wat jij ziet is wat JIJ ziet’. Het hangt af van onze gemoedstoestand op dat ogenblik dat we het beeld bekijken, van wat we meegemaakt hebben, waar we mee bezig zijn, ons verleden, de dromen die we hebben of waar we bang van zijn. Wat we zien wordt dus mee bepaald door het standpunt van waaruit we het bekijken. Die foto’s zeggen dus iets over de fotografe, maar ook over degene die naar de beelden kijkt.

Voor mij waren die beelden soms helend, soms zag ik door de ogen van het kind in mezelf en genoot van het spel, soms maakten ze me aan het lachen en soms aan het huilen, maar soms waren ze ook confronterend. Daar zal ik het in een volgend artikel dieper op ingaan.

Hoe was dit voor jou? Herken je iets over wat ik in die laatste paragraaf vertel?

Ik zou het erg waarderen om jouw bedenkingen te horen.

Meet Your Next Favorite Author: Reesa Grace

Meet your next favorite author: Reesa Grace

Tomorrow, April 16, 2019,  it will be exactly one year ago that I started to introduce you every two weeks, to an amazing children’s book author in the series Meet Your Next Favorite Author.

[image error]Today, in the 25th and last interview of this year circle, I want to put the lights on a young, talented writer and illustrator from Thailand, Reesa Grace.

While I read her book ‘The Princess of Tears’ I was convinced that we will hear much more about Reesa Grace in the future. This wonderful and easy read story that tells us how the princess learns that when you look at her tears from another angle, her tears are something precious. And with the help of her friends, she starts to accept being different. Not only is she a great storyteller, but she also did the illustrations, and they are breathtakingly beautiful.

 

Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?

Hi! I’m Reesa Grace. I was born and grew up in Bangkok, Thailand.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

When I was a baby, my babysitter who was carrying me got hit by a car. I fell off on the road with many cars coming. But in the end both of us were safe.

Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?

My intuition- I always pay attention to all ideas that come to me and go for what resonates with me the most.

My determination – Being a writer, I have to spend hours each day sitting at the desk and sometimes get stuck for ideas. If my determination was not stong enough my books wouldn’t ever be finished.

Author Identity Card

[image error]

Do you remember the first book you read?

I started reading when I was very little so I can’t remember what the book was about. But I assume that it must have been a children’s book in Thai, my native language. The very first English books that inspired me to write are “The Last Slice of Rainbow and Other Stories” and “The Kingdom under the Sea” both by Joan Aiken.

What makes you laugh/cry?

A friend of mine who is a funny guy always makes me laugh with his (bad) jokes and crazy ideas. I sometimes cry when a cartoon character dies.

In which genre do you write?

Children’s picture book

What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?

Tears are everywhere! I know that this might give some readers a misled impression of sadness and weakness especially when Lola, the protagonist, couldn’t stop crying (even when she was happy). I love this “weird” nature of hers. It makes her unique and completely different from happily smiling characters we often see in children’s books. Lola perfectly represents children (or adults!) who feel like they don’t fit into society.

How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?

I feel excited every time I start a new book because it feels like my ideas are coming to life. Usually, I would finish the cover first just to get a glimsp of overall drawing style and of course to officially meet my new character for the first time (that’s the most exciting part!). I would also put relaxing instrumental music on while writing and illustrating. It helps calm me down and make it easier to tap into my intuition.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I have come across many people who tend to think that we who cry easily are weak and might not go far in life because we are too emotional. I then felt a strong urge to create a character who represent us and show that despite tears, we are strong and invaluable in our own way.

How did you come up with the title?

My main character is the princess who couldn’t stop crying so I decided to call her the princess of tears.

If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins) – I admire her strong personality characteristics. She was a real fighter who didn’t yield to injustice but she also has a soft spot for her little sister. It captured my heart the most when she volunteered as a tribute after her sister’s name was called out. However, I would never want to be in her place. I could possibly get killed even before the story starts.

Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?

We all have our own uniqueness which may not appeal to other people. We sometimes feel like not fitting in and often being misunderstood, just like Lola, the Princess of Tears, who had no friends (except for her giant cat) because of her strangeness. Just like her, we question ourselves and try hard to change into someone who we are not. But doing so isn’t like rejecting our true self? I wrote this book mainly to communicate the message of “You are perfect in your own way! Be yourself no matter what other people think and eventually you will find your own tribe who accepts you the way you are”.

What are your top 3 books of all time?

That’s very difficult since there are many great books out there but if I have to choose I’ll go for:

The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

A Song of Ice and Fire – George R.R. Martin

How important is marketing and social media for you?

They are very important especially for new writers like myself. As a writer we need readers to read our books and the best way to find an audience is through social media. Not only we can reach out to our readers, we can also get connected to other fellow writers and share writing and marketing tips with them.

Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?

Book reviews are very important. They make the books more visible on Amazon and help readers make a purchase decision. I do read the reviews. I definitely want to know what the readers think about my books so that I could use their comments in my future works. Of course we writers secretly hope that all reviews we get were positive but some times we learnt some valuable lessons from negative ones. Just be kind to us and don’t make them too harsh J

What advice do you have for other writers?

Never give up bringing your imagination and creativity out even if some readers might have given you negative feedback (just because your stories don’t match their taste). You can’t please them all. Keep writing and stay true to yourself!

Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)

Books

The Princess of Tears

[image error]Blurb: A little princess was born with streams of tears. On the night when her tears flowed over the kingdom, she decided to leave her home behind for a whole new adventure that she had ever dreamt of. Will she be able to get past her own self-doubt and grow up with the help of lovely friends she meets along the way?

Asin (Amazon): B07GWZVC79

ISBN: 978-0-6483872-2-0

Age: 4-8

Granny Annie and the Happy Moon Cats

[image error]Blurb: Granny Annie had been dreaming of making people happy with her delicious warm bread but no one had ever noticed her little bread shop. Until one night, she met Mama Moon Cat and her children who introduced themselves as bringers of happiness! They had heard her prayer and came to help her bring back happiness to the world. Granny’s chance had come. But isn’t the world too big for an old lady?

Asin (Amazon): B07PCH9J9N

ISBN: 978-0-6483872-4-4

Age: 4-8

Social Media:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reesagrace

Amazon Author Page

QUICK  POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)

Snow or sun:  Snow! We already have too much of sun in Thailand.

Soccer or (ice) hockey: I’m not a fan of sports but will go for soccer.

Dogs or cats: Absolutely cats! I’m a cat person.

Ice-cream or fruit: Ice-cream! Vanilla with homemade hot chocolate sauce yum!

Fact or fiction: I can’t live without fiction.

Music or silence: It depends on my moods.

Sport or reading: Reading definitely

Sea or mountains: Sea with nice cool breeze

Groundhogs or squirrels: Squirrels

Books or movies: Books but could go for a good movie for a change

E-book or print: Both

Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?

I really hope you enjoy my books. Thank you so much for your support! Please feel free to get connected via my Facebook page or my email address: reesagrace.author@gmail.com!

Meet Your Next Favorite Author: Marianne Reese

[image error]Marianne Reese is one of those authors I discovered while I became an Indie Author and searched for other great reads by Self-publishers. She loves her golden retriever, and to write and to read, especially paranormal and fantasy.

I read ‘The Book of Alma’. It was such a real joy. The exciting adventure starts 112 years back in history when Alma received a magic book that allowed her to travel to all the places she wants to visit. This is a real treasure for her because it made it possible to escape from her harsh life. Then suddenly we are 112 years later and meet Cassie and Kevin on the road to the library. Cassie is very interested in a book, in which she hopes to find the answer to what happened to Alma, the lost girl who once lived in this place. The book is masterly written. I can tell you that Cassie found the book. But to know what happened afterward, you have to read the book yourself. Let me tell you that it was difficult to stop reading because the author kept the suspense, what was going to happen next, very vividly.

 

Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from:

My name is Marianne Reese. I’m originally from California, and recently moved to Nevada.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

When my husband and I retired, we journeyed on a 12,000 mile (19,000+ km) motorcycle trip from California to New Foundland and back. It was an amazing adventure packed with memorable moments.

Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?

I try to be the best person I can be not only to others, but also to myself. I believe in treating others as I would want to be treated. A small act of kindness, something as simple as saying hello to a stranger or sending a letter to a friend, can really make another person’s day as you never really know what others may be going through. Kindness extends not only to people, but to animals and our planet. I love animals, and have a huge respect for our wildlife, and for Mother Nature.

IDENTITY CARD

[image error]

Do you remember the first book you read?

In elementary school, all the kids learned to read: Fun with Dick and Jane.

What makes you laugh/cry?

My dog, Gixxer, made me laugh every day with his fun loving personality and silly antics. The day he died was the first day of many that I shed uncontrollable tears. There are so many triggers and memories of him that cause the tears to start flowing without warning. He truly was, and still is, the love of my life.

In which genre do you write?

Mainly fiction, with the exception of my dog’s auto’pup’ography.

What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?

What makes my books special is that they are crafted through my imagination and written by me.

How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?

In order to get into my writing zone, I need complete silence, with no one home to interrupt me. It’s just me, my computer, a note pad, thesaurus and dictionary, and a glass of water at my desk.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I love to read, mainly fiction but I enjoy a bit of all genres. Getting lost in a book can help escape the stresses of day to day life. Having retired from a career where there was a lot of stress and negativity, I decided to spend my retirement doing something I enjoyed by writing books with the hope of passing on joy to those who also love to read.

How did you come up with the title?

I chose the title of my book ‘Skylar Moon’ because the meaning of the name Skylar is a reflection of what my book is about: strength, love, beauty, and water giver.

If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?

Hermione Granger. I love her spirit, and her personality.

Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?

Life is full of adventures, big and small; live life to the fullest.

What are your top 3 books of all time?

The Game of Thrones series; The Harry Potter Series; and my childhood favorite ‘The Boxcar Children’.

How important is marketing and social media for you?

Marketing is very important, and it is something that I’m still learning how to implement in my writing journey. I spend too much time on social media, but feel it’s important to gain followers, meet other authors and make new friends. It’s also a fun way to interact with and learn about people around the globe.

Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?

I appreciate any and all reviews, even if it is only one sentence. Although many authors don’t, I read every book review. If someone is going to take the time to review my book, then I feel it’s important that I take the time to read what they have to say. I might even learn a thing or two!

What advice do you have for other writers?

Write what you enjoy and would want to read. Having a good editor, along with honest and dedicated Beta readers is an important part of the writing process. Keep writing!

Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)

Books:

SKYLAR MOON

Hook: Two siblings. Two worlds. One choice.

Blurb: Hidden in the Other World for thirteen years, twins Aren and Alexa lived a normal life with their beloved Nana Gazelle, until her brutal death at the hands of a [image error]ruthless Xendor warrior. It wasn’t until then that the A-twins (as they were named by their school friends) learned that the fate of their people was dependent on them returning to Rheyaros with a mystical sword before the disappearance of the Skylar Moon.

In a race against time to find their way through the unfamiliar terrain of Vesterra, the grief stricken A-twins encounter many obstacles while being relentlessly pursued by Xendors who would stop at nothing to acquire the sword.

Will Aren and Alexa be able to find their way through the untamed region of Vesterra in their quest to return the sword to Rheyaros on time?

Asin (Amazon): B0755PWTW3

ISBN: 978-0-9994579-1-7

Age: Middle School+

 

[image error]THE BOOK OF ALMA

Hook: Uncover the past that tells the future which reveals the present.

Blurb: The 112 year old mystery behind the disappearance of a young girl named Alma is about to be lost forever with the closing of the local library, which used to be her home. With only one chance left to find the book that holds the secrets to her disappearance, Cassie and Kevin attend the library’s closing determined to locate Alma’s hidden journal. The siblings find themselves caught up in mystical adventures through time in search of solving Alma’s fate.

Asin (Amazon): B06XRH11T9

ISBN: 9781544728483

Age 8+

 

[image error]WHERE THE ANIMALS TALK

Hook: Follow your dreams in a land where wild animals are your friends.

Blurb: Two sisters find themselves lost in a strang and wondrous place where the animals talk. They embark on an exciting journey where they meet several unlikely friends who help them on their quest to return to their home.

Asin (Amazon): B01E7PCGUA

ISBN: 978-1520363202

Age 7+

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Animals-Talk-G-M-Reese/dp/1520363206/

 

UNTIL NOW AN AUTO’PUP’OGRAPHY

Hook:  How a golden retriever captured the hearts of many.

[image error]Blurb: (Another version of this book is available for Teens/YA: The Time Betweeen an Auto’Pup’Ography) Gixxer Reese, a cherished golden retriever, has led a life that has been full of love and laughter, adventure and antics. He has brought endless happiness to all who are lucky enough to know him. Now that he is nearing the end of his lifelong adventure, the time felt right to share his memorable experiences in this heartwarming short story written by Gixxer (with the help of his mom/author Marianne Reese). His is a story that will capture your heart and make you laugh out loud. Young and old, alike, will enjoy reading this delightful book.

Asin (Amazon): B071VHH8B1

ISBN: 9781546522706

Age 8+

https://www.amazon.com/UNTIL-NOW-AutoPupOgraphy-Marianne-Reese-ebook/dp/B071VHH8B1/

 

THE TIME BETWEEN AN AUTO’PUP’OGRAPHY

Hook: How a golden retriever captured the hearts of many.

Blurb: (Another version of this book is available for younger readers: Until Now an [image error]Auto’Pup’Ography) Gixxer Reese, a cherished golden retriever, has led a life that has been full of love and laughter, adventure and antics. He has brought endless happiness to all who are lucky enough to know him. Now that he is nearing the end of his lifelong adventure, the time felt right to share his memorable experiences in this heartwarming short story written by Gixxer (with the help of his mom/author Marianne Reese). His is a story that will capture your heart and make you laugh out loud. Young and old, alike, will enjoy reading this delightful book

Asin (Amazon): B071YXTWMQ

ISBN: 978-1546516453

Age Teen/YA

https://www.amazon.com/TIME-BETWEEN-AutoPupOgraphy-Marianne-Reese-ebook/dp/B071YXTWMQ/

 

[image error]THE GIVING CHRISTMAS GIFT

Hook: A young boy’s improbable wish for a lifetime of cherished memories.

Blurb: A short Christmas story that will tug at your heartstrings!

Without Grandma Sharon, who was lost to cancer, and Jenny, who is away on deployment, Grandpa George struggles with making Christmas a joyous time for his six year old grandson, Johnny. A visit with Santa at The General Store brings hope to Johnny that this Christmas, with only him and his grandpa, will be a wonderful one after all. Will Santa come through and surprise Johnny with the gift he asked for?

Asin (Amazon): B07LCTZ3ZV

Age 8+

https://www.amazon.com/Giving-Christmas-Gift-Marianne-Reese-ebook/dp/B07LCTZ3ZV/

Websites

Website https://mariannereeseauthor.wordpress.com

Designs by Marianne: https://www.zazzle.com/designs_by_marianne

Social Media

Amazon Author Page

Twitter  

Instagram 

e-mail: mreeseauthor@gmail.com

QUICK  POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)

Snow or sun: Both! I enjoy a nice sunny day, but also fun in the snow. I live where there is both!

Soccer or (ice) hockey: Ice hockey – my dad used to play on a semi-pro team. It was very exciting to watch.

Dogs or cats: Although I like cats, my dog, a golden retriever, will forever have my heart.

Ice-cream or fruit: Both! Together is fine, also.

Fact or fiction: Depends. I like to read fiction stories, but I enjoy learning about factual historical events.

Music or silence: Silence before coffee in the morning and while I’m writing. Music any other time.

Sport or reading: Reading. Give me a good book anytime, anywhere.

Sea or mountains: Both!

Groundhogs or squirrels: They’re both pretty cute, so it’s hard to choose.

Books or movies: Books.

E-book or print: Print for children’s books, and classics or books that I want to keep. E-book for books that I’ll only read once.

Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?

Thank you for all the love and support. I hope you enjoy reading my stories as much as I enjoy writing them. Cheers to many exciting and memorable adventures in life and your readings.