Lieve Snellings's Blog, page 8

Oshin Alagiyawanna at Meet Your Next Favorite Author

I found out about Oshin Alagiyawanna’s book after meeting her father, wildlife photographer Dilum Alagiyawanna, in the Facebook group ‘Authors and Artists Love Wildlife’.

I loved Dilum Alagiyawanna’s photos, but then he told me that not he, but his daughter has written this children’s book ‘Life in a Herd’.  I have only seen elephants in a zoo, so I didn’t know anything about them living in a herd. So I was very curious and read her book. Oshin tells us the story through the eyes of elephant-boy Marley, who lives in a herd with his grandma, mom, aunts, and cousins. In an exciting way, we are informed about the fun Marley has while playing and discovering the world. We also learn about the problems the elephants face on their road while traveling to find food. While reading you almost feel as if you are living in the herd yourself. But you feel also this 17-year old author’s empathy for the humans, and I think that invites children, and adults to search, to find a way that both, humans and elephants can live together.

I believe Oshin Alagiyawanna is a promising new talent and I am happy to introduce her at Meet Your Next Favorite Author.

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

Hey there,  I am Oshin Alagiyawanna, from Colombo, Sri Lanka, I’m 17 years old, currently studying for Edexcel A levels in  Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at Gateway College Colombo. I successfully passed my ordinary level exams with distinction for all my subjects and now I am working towards the goal of getting 4A* in my A level and applying to a good university in a foreign country to do my undergraduate studies.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

I have a keen interest in Astronomy. We all are made up from the same substances stars are made up of, and this amazes me, and therefore I want to know what’s out there, what rules the universe.

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

I trust my intuition and I am a tough person who has endured tough times.

Identity Card

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Do you remember the first book you read?

The Magic Porridge Pot and Three Billy Goats Gruff

What makes you laugh/cry?

I have a huge tendency to laugh out loud in class when my classmates joke around and sometimes I  can’t stop laughing even after the laughter of others have ceased down. I often find myself crying when I watch a film with a sad ending or if have been hurt by those closest to me.

In which genre do you write?

I don’t have a specific genre that I stick to as this is my first book after all.  I would like to try out almost all kinds of genres.

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

[image error]It is special because it’s a story that drives people to work for the conservation of endangered Asian wild elephants. The behaviour of the elephants in my story are not imaginary, they’re real and highlights the human-like behaviour of elephants. It changes the perception of how people view elephants. It speaks out the elephants’ side of the story in human-elephant conflict.

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

No, I don’t. I sit down to write depending on my mood and the thoughts become words as my pen touches the paper.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I was inspired by a project done by my dad for a book and a documentary on the Great Elephant Gathering of Asia. By listening to his encounters with wild elephants, I was awed by their human-like behaviour and was saddened by what they had to go through because of human-elephant conflict.

How did you come up with the title?

Since the story revolves around a herd and as I was trying my best to portray their lives, I decided to title this story as “ Life in a Herd”.

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

Halt the ranger from the Ranger’s Apprentice series, because he is a character that I would like to relate to.

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

Yes, there is an important message of conservation. Furthermore, I really would like my readers to change their perception about Asian wild elephants and their role in the human-elephant conflict.

What are your top 3 books of all time?

This is  quite hard to decide  but nevertheless, I would rank my top 3 as

Lord of the rings
The Dark Artifices
Pride and Prejudice
and Call of the wild as well.


How important is marketing and social media for you?

It is pretty important to me because I want to get publicity for my book as its total proceeds is to support the good cause of collecting funds for the scholarship which will aid secondary school students in human-elephant conflict areas.

Is it important for you to get book reviews?

Do you read them? Yes, I do read them and they are important because it is then that I know what my readers think of the book.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Don’t stop to think to write, Just write. Write your day’s story, write your emotions and keep on writing and most of all write from your heart.

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

Book: Life in a Herd

[image error]Blurb: “This story is, by implication an appeal to humans to cultivate empathy towards the elephants. Her story-telling is so efficient that one cannot help but be immensely saddened by the fate in store for the wild-elephants. In this story, there is a concluding ecological message that is strongly worded. The young child’s request is that we work out a formula, enabling both humans and elephants to live in mutually sympathetic co-existence.”

Kalakeerthi, Dr. Edwin Ariyadasa Senior Media Consultant/Editor/Author/Writer

Asin (Amazon): B07HHX7NJ3

ISBN-10: 9557131608

ISBN-13: 978-9557131603

Age:  5 to 18+

Book: THE DINOSAUR ADVENTURE: Unity is Strength

I hope you don’t mind Oshin, that I want to add here your little brother’s book too. You [image error]made me curious with your Facebook group Children’s Books For Nature Conservation and so I found out that Akira, our 9-year-old brother, also had published a book in the benefit for Nature Conservation. It is a little story about dinosaurs, in which he explains, in simple words, and wonderful colored images, how we can overcome all problems when we help each other, and look out for each other. Asin: B07HJGBY6K

ISBN-10: 9557131616

ISBN-13: 978-9557131610

https://www.amazon.com/DINOSAUR-ADVENTURE-Strength-Childrens-Conserva-ebook/dp/B07HJGBY6K

Social Media:

Facebook: Children’s Books For Nature Conservation 

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

Snow or sun: Never really experienced real snow except perhaps the artificially generated one, But I would still select snow over the sun. Coldness is my preference.

Soccer or (ice) hockey: Soccer is my absolute favourite.

Dogs or cats: Cats relate to me, whereas dogs are awfully messy and hyper.

Ice-cream or fruit: Ice cream

Fact or fiction: both

Music or silence: Definitely  Music

Sport or reading: both

Sea or mountains: sea

Groundhogs or squirrels: squirrels

Books or movies: both

E-book or print: print, I just love the smell of printed paper

Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?

As humans are the very reason for elephants being threatened in their existence I believe all my readers could show empathy towards these human like endangered creatures and assist in conserving their community which is in dire need of our help if they are to sustain in the future.

IAN Book of the Year Award Winner 2018.

Breaking News!

I am so excited. I just received an email to tell me that ‘Groundhog Secrets’ won another

Book Award. This time, ‘Groundhog Secrets’ is judged by IAN (Independent Author

Network) as ‘The Outstanding Children’s Non-Fiction’ and named an IAN Book of the Year

Award Winner 2018.


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I’m thrilled. This time gold. So wonderful!

This is giving me lots of energy to work on a new book.

I needed to share this with you!

Barbara Ann Mojica at Meet Your Next Favorite Author

​​​​​Barbara Mojica is a multi Award winner with her Series ‘Little Miss History Travels’ picture books. At the Readers’ Favorite Book Award 2018 in the category Children’s non-fiction, Barbara Mojica won a Gold medal with her book ‘Little Miss HISTORY Travels to Ford’s Theater’. This is the same category as I won my Bronze Medal with ‘Groundhog Secrets’

Selfpubber Lieve Snellings in de spotlight

Met plezier deel ik dit interview met mij op Nienke’s kinderboekenblog met jullie!

“De Uit België afkomstige Lieve Snellings werkte bijna veertig jaar als dispatcher op de Spoedgevallen dienst van het Universitair Ziekenhuis in Leuven. Op haar veertigste deed ze een professionele opleiding fotografie en werkte ze de volgende twaalf jaar als freelance fotografe naast haar werk in het ziekenhuis. Door haar long distance relatie verblijft ze bijna de helft van het jaar in Quebec waar ze een gepassioneerde natuurfotografe is geworden. Hoe zijn de boekjes over Margot de bosmarmot nu eigenlijk precies geboren?”

Lees hier het hele interview!

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Press Release de Readers’ Favorite Book Award 2018

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DAISY COPELIN at Meet Your Next Favorite Author

By chance, I met Daisy Copelin on Instagram. I was immediately impressed to find out more about her children’s book No More Bad Secrets, A kid-to-kid guide on Safe Body Touch.

Statistics show that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are abused sexually before they reach 18 years old. In the light of those staggering statistics, and feeling the need to protect children, combined with her passion for working with children, Copelin has used her gift of teaching and writing, to create a book, designed to help kids know and learn safe boundaries for their bodies.

Daisy Copelin’s message to children and young people comes from a place of first-hand experience. Sometimes we’re not always dealing a fair share in life. But it’s possible to overcome your circumstances, live out your dreams and be the best you that you can be.

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I’m glad to introduce you to Daisy Copelin!

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

Hi, my name is Daisy Copelin. I am originally from Suffolk Country, born and raised, but have been residing in Brooklyn the past 10 years(2018)

Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

I am adopted

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

I am authentic and I genuinely love working with children.

Identity Card

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Do you remember the first book you read?

No! I am getting older I guess

What makes you laugh/cry?

Madea movies make me laugh, and sad movies and pretty much just about everything makes me cry now that I think about it

In which genre do you write?

Children’s stories

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

My book No More Bad Secrets is special because it solves the silent epidemic “Taboo” topic of child sexual abuse. It is life changing for children. It entertains, engages but yet empowers them with a message that could potentially save their lives.

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

I feel relieved when I write and challenged to be as creative as possible.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My first book was The Diary of an Overcomer an Inspirational story of True Love, Hope, Triumph and Victory. I was inspired to write that because I wanted people to know they can come from unfortunate circumstances, but still, thrive and become productive members of society.

How did you come up with the title?

I looked at what my life entailed and formulated a title based on the words that described me and my story.

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

Pete the Cat because he’s a cool cat that is super hilarious.

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

Absolutely! I want children to know the difference between a good and bad secret, an appropriate and inappropriate touch and to know they have trusted adults that can and will help them if they have been touched inappropriately or was to be touched inappropriately. Hopefully, that never happens, but I wish we did live in a perfect world where stuff like that did not happen

What are your top 3 books of all time?

Rich Dad Poor Dad, Becoming a Leader, Bible

How important is marketing and social media for you?

Very important, it’s easy to release a book, business or idea but it is a lot harder to market it effectively and get the exposure that your vision needs.

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

Yes, because it demonstrates verbally the effectiveness or ineffectiveness for that matter. You get to hear people’s brutal opinions and criticism which should help you grow.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Continue to write, perfect your craft daily and be the best writer that you can become.

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

Book

No More Bad Secrets, A kid-to-kid guide on Safe Body Touch

Hook: “Personal Body Safety is as important as ABC’s and 123’s”

Blurb: ‘No More Bad Secrets: A Kid-to-Kid Guide on Safe Body Touch’ gives children a [image error]voice and leaves them empowered. Told from another child’s point of view, kids learn what’s not acceptable in terms of personal body safety. Kids also learn what to do if another person makes them feel uncomfortable or does something that’s not acceptable.

Available at Barnes & Nobles, Lulu:

Amazon

ISBN: 978-1-64440-925-1

Age:4 and up

 

Website: https://daisycopelin.com/ 

Social Media links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisycopelin1/

Facebook: facebook.com/daisycopelin

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7429558.Daisy_Copelin

Linkedin daisycopelin

 

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

Snow or sun: Sun because it just makes your day a lot brighter

Soccer or (ice) hockey: Soccer because I like playing basketball and soccer is a lot easier than Ice hockey.

Dogs or cats: They both frighten me

Ice-cream or Fruit: Of course, ice cream, although I do eat fruit at times

Fact or fiction: As long as it is a good book I do not mind

Music or silence: Music even though silence can be invigorating at times

Sport or reading: love sports, love reading so I am undecided on this one

[image error]Sea or mountains: Sea, watching the waves whether big or little can be peaceful at times

Groundhogs or squirrels: Groundhogs because in elementary school I loved groundhog day

Books or movies: Books, movies put me to sleep 9 out of 10 times I never finish the movie

E-book or print: Print love taking notes and doodling on actual pages

Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?

My message goes out to the children that hear the book that they would know that they don’t have to keep a bad secret. To the Parents and Educators that they would work together in support of one another to educate their children on Personal Body Safety and use my engaging age-appropriate book as a tool to begin the “taboo” discussion, that affects 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys.

 

Thank you so much Daisy Copelin!

Reader’s Favorite Book Award 2018

I am so happy and proud to announce my book Groundhog Secrets, Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Woodchucks won a Bronze Medal in the Reader’s Favorite Book Award 2018 Contest, category children’s non-fiction.

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Ik ben zo blij en fier dat de Engelse vertaling van Het Grote Weetjesboek Over De Bosmarmot een Bronze Medaille gewonnen heeft in de prestigieuze Reader’s Favorite Book Award 2018, in de categorie non-fiction voor kinderen.

 

Linda Yiannakis at Meet Your Next Favorite Author

Linda Yiannakis is an author, reader, martial artist, speech-language pathologist, often seeking the meaning of life and her car keys

Wanda Luthman at Meet Your Next Favorite Author

I am happy to introduce you Wanda Luthman, a Multiple-Award-winning children’s author, which I met at the BookGoSocial Children’s Books group and the Author Resource Group.

Wanda loved writing since she was a child and always wanted to become a professional, but didn’t think she could make a living, so she studied Psychology instead. She found being a Guidance Counselor very fulfilling, but then has decided to pursue writing. She self-published her first children’s book in 2014 and has published several more since then.

She writes chapter books for ages 7-11 and picture books for ages 0-5 as “read-to-me” or 6-7 years old as “read-to-myself” books. She writes magical adventure stories that weave positive character messages into them that inspire children to be their best selves.

 

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

Hi, everyone. I’m Wanda Luthman and I’m a High School Guidance Counselor and I’m also a children’s author. While I was born in North Carolina, I didn’t spend much time there and then a few years in Florida but I mostly grew up in St. Louis with another few years in Hawaii while I was in High School. Eventually, I made my way back to Florida, where I’m truly happy. I live on a small, yet beautiful retention pond. My writing office overlooks it and I find peace and inspiration from the wildlife in and around the water.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

I guess the most unexpected thing is that I’m a mother to 5 children. To be clear, though, I’m the actual biological mother of just one child. I have 4 step-children from my husband. They are all beautiful people that I love dearly and am blessed to have in my life. And I have two step-granddaughters that are an absolute blast to know and watch grow.

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

I feel my spirituality is very important to me. It’s kind of like the thing that underpins me. I meditate daily and feel very connected to God. The other thing about myself that is important is my family. I love each one and feel enriched and blessed by being a mother and a step-mother as well as a wife to a wonderful, loving husband.

Identity Card

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Do you remember the first book you read?

No, unfortunately, I don’t. The first one I fell in love with though was Charlotte’s Web.

What makes you laugh/cry?

I love puns and sometimes they make me laugh out loud. What makes me cry are sweet romance stories with either happy endings (I cry happy tears) or sad endings (and then I cry like a big ol’ baby)

In which genre do you write?

Children

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

My books all have positive social/emotional messages gently woven into them. Because of my background in psychology, these messages are sort of naturally a part of me so my writing reflects that. Plus, I really want to help children be the best they can be and I can’t think of a better way than through a book that touches their heart.

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

I don’t have any special ritual. Sometimes stories (books) come to me in a flash, sometimes it’s more sitting down and writing from a nugget of an inspiration and letting it flesh itself out as I go. I feel wonderful when I’m writing. I will forget to eat and sleep and not even realize how much time has gone by. It’s my favorite!

What inspired you to write your first book?

Oh, this is amazing! One day I just woke up with this story burning inside of me. It wasn’t like I had dreamt it either. It was just there. After I wrote it and re-read it, I realized that it was a bit of a compilation of my daughter and me.

How did you come up with the title?

This was easy, I knew the princess would love flowers (like I do) and what better smelling flower than a lilac? So, The Lilac Princess was born.

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

[image error]You know this is going to sound funny, but I would like to be Pooh Bear. I know he has a movie out right now and I can’t wait to see it. But, Pooh was so easy-going and didn’t worry about his weight and had a great group of loyal friends and of course, he had Christopher Robin who loved him more than anything. It sounds like a pretty great life to me.

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

All my books have messages—The Lilac Princess has courage, friendship, and forgiveness; A Turtle’s Magical Adventure has self-acceptance and anti-bullying; Gloria and the Unicorn has self-empowerment and letting love guide your choices; Little Birdie Grows Up has perseverance and letting go; and Franky the Finicky Flamingo is about picky eaters and making healthy choices.

What are your top 3 books of all time?

Charlotte’s Web; Pooh Bear books; Hinds Feet on High Places (not a children’s book, I know, but I read it when I was young and it impacted me, the symbolism of it all and it’s spirituality).

How important is marketing and social media for you?

It’s very important but I don’t have any official training so I learn as I go.

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

It is very important to get reviews. It really helps books to be discovered by other readers. Yes, I read them and if they have a good descriptive line in them that I feel will help other readers know what the book is about, I will use that to help me promote my books.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Mainly to never give up! I have come to the end of my rope several times in this journey. You have to remember why you got into writing and publishing and stay the course. Good things do come. It just takes time.

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

Books:

The Lilac Princes

Hook: A willful princess gets her way, but will it destroy her as well as her kingdom?

Blurb: A young Princess with too much responsibility and not enough freedom finds [image error]herself facing the greatest decision of her life. She is an only child to an elderly King and Queen of a Kingdom in turmoil.

Upon her rests the responsibility to rescue her Kingdom one day, but for now, she is held within the castle walls for her safety. She longs to go outside just for a moment, to smell the sweet lilacs growing in the meadow.

Come along on her adventure when she dares to escape the castle walls and meets a cursed dragon. Little does she know that while the dragon has an evil plan, she holds the key to bringing peace to her Kingdom.

Asin (Amazon): B06XPTXTJG

ISBN: 0998195804

Age: 7-11

A Turtle’s Magical Adventure

Hook: Tad, the turtle, doesn’t like his shell because it makes him too slow. Will he discover its’ importance before it’s too late?

Blurb: A Turtle’s Magical Adventure is a charming, heart-warming story of a turtle who [image error]doesn’t like his shell because it makes him too slow.

Tad asks other slow animals if they also mind being slow. Each one gives an answer that helps Tad feel better, but, still, he wants to be fast.

He happens upon a snake who tells him there is a wizard that can make him fast. He goes on an adventure into The Magical Timberwood Forest to meet the wizard and hopefully get his wish fulfilled.

He encounters delightful, magical creatures along the way, but also meets with danger and choices. Will Tad get his wish or will the wizard turn him into turtle soup?

ASIN: B01F3SFPNK

ISBN: 153083256X

Age: 7-11

Gloria and the Unicorn

Hook: When Gloria needs help a unicorn appears and becomes her best friend, but then their relationship is challenged, can this unlikely duo triumph against evil?

Blurb: Gloria and the Unicorn is a story that will delight you as well as pull on your heart [image error]strings as Gloria struggles with her facial disfigurement and wanting to fit in. Gloria’s mother died at birth and her father gave her to Miss Libby, the owner of a children’s home. Miss Libby loves the little girl and feels protective of her. But, it’s not until Sir Louie, the unicorn, shows up that Gloria starts to believe in herself. She has a conflict at school and never wants to go back and then she finds herself in an even worse situation; she encounters the evil Wizards of Malcadore who want to kill her. She must decide if she will face her fear of certain death to save her friend, Sir Louie, or lose him forever. Come along on Gloria’s marvelous journey with Sir Louie.

ASIN: B06XXG5TS5

ISBN: 0998195812

Age: 7-11

Little Birdie Grows Up Hook: A baby blue bird is born and yearns to fly. Come on his journey as he perseveres to reach his goal.

Blurb: Young kids love Little Birdie in the award-winning picture book Little Birdie [image error]Grows Up! This charming picture book follows the story of a little blue bird pecking out of his shell and into the world. He longs to learn how to fly. Children will laugh as he eats a worm for the first time and they will identify with his first attempts at flying as he falls a bit short. We learn perseverance by watching him try again. This book is ideal for young kids but also enjoyable for the whole family as it shares the universal message of longing to grow up.

ASIN: B01I08WY7A

ISBN (paperback): 0692745092

ISBN (hardcover):  0692745106

Age: 0-8

Franky the Finicky Flamingo

[image error]Hook: Franky appears to be a picky eater until he discovers the food that is right for him.

Blurb: Franky is a beautifully colored pink flamingo, but, he doesn’t know the right food to eat. He tries food that other birds like, but he doesn’t enjoy any of them. Then, the unthinkable happens. His adored pink color begins to fade. What will Franky do now? Find out in Franky, The Finicky Flamingo.

ASIN:  B076BT4SXF

ISBN: 978-0998195827

Age: 0-8

Website: https://wandaluthman.wordpress.com

 Social Media links:

Facebook fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/wluthman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/wandalu64

YouTube:   https://www.youtube.com/c/WandaLuthman

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/wandalu64

LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/wluthman

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/+WandaLuthman

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/WandaLuthman

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

Snow or sun: sun soccer

Dogs or cats: cat/dog (remember that cartoon? But seriously, I love them both!)

Ice-cream or fruit: ice cream!!

Fact or fiction: fiction

Music or silence: silence

Sport or reading: reading

Sea or mountains: mountains with a lake though, I have to have water

Groundhogs or squirrels: groundhogs!!     [image error]

Books or movies: books, of course!

E-book or print: Print but I do buy ebooks because I have NO MORE room in my house for books! Ha!

Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?

I hope you enjoyed this interview. Thank you, Lieve, for allowing me to do this. If you enjoy my books, please leave a review and tell your friends. Magic is real, it shows up in the form of love so let love guide all your choices!

 

Thank you so much for this interview Wanda Luthman!

Meet Your Next Favorite Author: Maria Matthews

I am so glad that I met up with Maria Matthews at the BookGoSocial Children’s Group and got to know her work. She has such a wonderful imagination.

[image error]I read the Runaway Schoolhouse. After being a decade in an Irish village, this small schoolhouse, called Clearie, wants to travel to France. He starts wandering with small steps to the beach. But with the help of the sometimes hilarious twins John and Sara, of Lancelot the crab and Aldo the Frenchman, Clearie lives the most amazing adventures. While reading, you know it is all fantasy, but at the same time, you believe everything did really happen as we see it going on before our eyes.

I really adore Maria Matthews fantasy and hope she will continue daydreaming forever.

Lieve Snellings

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

My full name is Maria Monica Matthews. I was born here in Ireland, in the capital city, Dublin but I have always felt more at home in the countryside as it fed my imagination from an early age. I work as an admin/event coordinator for a community stadium for 20 hours a week, the remainder of my week is divided between volunteering, training dogs and my family.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

I am a soft hearted, emotional individual but I volunteer with a river rescue and recovery crew.

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

a) I married my soul mate and have 2 incredible kids.

b) I believe that the whole point of living is to show you love others by helping in whatever way you can, or at the very least make them laugh which is why I volunteer…


Identity Card

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Do you remember the first book you read?

The first book I remember vividly is an illustrated version of Snow White, I loved the large book, the illustrations and the very smell of it.

What makes you laugh/cry?

TV shows like Father Ted, The Big Bang Theory and conversations with friends usually gets me laughing. The crying bit is easy, soppy films, add a sick child or a dog and I weep … I am a sucker for them.

In which genre do you write?

I began writing short stories for womens magazines and moved on to writing romance novels but have discovered the amazing world of writing for children. So I suppose my answer is romantic novels, and childrens fiction. I would love to write a who dun it, an ambition yet to try.

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

I often overdose on Irish humour with regards to writing for children. Because I have read too many books for kids which lack the whackyness that adds sparkle to their genre.

My romantic novels are a developing genre, with a sprinkle of the humour I witness around me.

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

[image error]No ritual involved in writing, it does help to have my oldest and furriest 4 legged friend snoring at my feet. I simply relax and go along with the idea rolling about in my head. Too often I forget about a plot outline I may have done, and that is why editing is such a big thing for me. I  can let words and feeling flow on paper but then when I read it back, I realise I have literally lost the plot and need to edit and re edit to get back on line.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My first book was a romantic comedy, which I wrote after reading too many books set in Ireland but written by foreign writers who had a mythical idea about irish romantic men and the women who fall in love with them. Fact is : A romantic Irish man is a rare gem most are honest, hardworking and practical with a great sense of humour.

How did you come up with the title?

I struggle with titles and I think I always will. My method is down to pure work and is time consuming, I grab a notepad and begin to write titles, in random orders then I systematically go through them and eventually am left with two or three and from there the title is eventually decided on.

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

As a young girl I read and re read Little Women and loved Jo, she always had an answer in a tricky situation, something I am bad at doing. I just emm and ahh my way through it and afterwards the answer pops into my head. But I would also like to be Bridget Jones, who wouldn’t?

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

Simply put the message in The Runaway Schoolhouse began as: Often we get the nagging feeling we are missing out on something or that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence only to discover much later that we had it good all along.

What are your top 3 books of all time?

1) Roald Dahl: The Twits – I just adored how wrong they were and how funny they came across.

2) Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend; RJ Wallers tale of a man chasing that which he should not even consider: a woman who is already married. For me it is a stronger book than the one who brought him to fame: The Bridges of Madison County.

3) Pride and Prejudice. I know it is a cliché but really it is a template for romance writers everywhere. I read and re read it many times swooning and dreaming about Mr. Darcy, and then of course there is  feisty Elizabeth Bennett who reminds me of an older version of Jo in Little Women is another favourite character of mine.


How important is marketing and social media for you?

Unfortunately, they are hugely important because I realise it is the way to attract attention and find an audience, though I wish I possessed a superhero’s ability to slow time down as marketing and social media eat into writing time.

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

Book reviews rock my world, because only through them can I gauge if I am connecting [image error]with an audience. I don’t mind the amount of stars I am given, I just prefer to know if the book was read and liked or disliked and why.

I did receive an email from a reader telling me she wouldn’t give me a review as she felt she would only give me a three star review because she didn’t understand the book. To me that was a loss as every single star and review is a reward for work done. I understand that we all think differently and we can’t please everyone.

What advice do you have for other writers?

Write as often as you can, and don’t stick to one genre as time goes on so our writing evolves and it is only after trial and error you can find the genre you are meant to write. Also find a good on line critical writing group where you will get honest opinions from those in the world of writing, don’t just ask your mum to read your work. Above all never quit and read as much as you can…

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

Books

Title: The Runaway Schoolhouse 

Hook: Clearie has dreamt for so many years of travelling beyond his small village to have adventures and experience the wonders of the world, but even with the help of two young friends and some luck or magic,  will this schoolhouse manage to run away?Blurb: Clearie, a one-hundred-year-old schoolhouse, is fed-up.

[image error]For so long, he has helped children get educated but been rewarded only by their complaints about how much they hate school.

He longs to get away.

His dream is to go to France, a country he has heard so much about in geography lessons over the years – but how could a schoolhouse possibly travel? Eventually, he comes up with a plan and enlists the help of two students, the Buggy twins; but not everything works out as he had hoped. With an attic full of crazy crabs, led by the fearless Lancelot, his journey is less than enjoyable and, in his absence, the school system falls apart.

Will Clearie’s dreams come true and the children get their wish for schooldays to end forever? Or has everyone bitten off more than they can chew?

Asin (Amazon): B019C9J2OY

ISBN: 978-1909684782

Age: 7 – 10 y

Book Reviews

Title: Moving On 

Hook: With her marriage over, Ally believing, love is not her destiny concentrates on her family of five loving dogs, and her friends but when Tom meets her he realises they are meant to be together forever, and  pushes himself to do whatever it takes to convince Ally of this simple fact, one way to the other.

Blurb: Ally O’Brien’s world has been knocked sideways by the death of her father and her failed marriage. For this romantic Irishwoman being a divorcee is not a trophy. Ally wishes to move on with her life. She believes love is not for her. If she needs companionship she has it in her friends and her five dogs.

Her love of dog sled racing becomes her focus. Competing in a male dominated sport Ally [image error]enjoys competing and winning.

Tom Lynch is everything Ally should avoid, handsome and charming, with a different woman beside him each day of the week. He is used to winning. Finishing behind a woman who is indifferent to his charm creates a challenge. If there is one thing Tom loves it is overcoming the impossible.

Ally is certain of one thing, love is not for her.

However, Ally is everything Tom has been searching for.

Asin (Amazon): B00LFNR60S

ISBN: 978-1499776584

Website 

Children’s stories

Social Media Links

Twitter: @matthewsmaria92

Instagram matthewsmaria92

Facebook

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

Snow or Sun- Snow I am more used to dealing with wet and cold than blistering hot.

Soccer or Ice Hockey – Ice hockey – We love to go to see the Belfast Giants play, in their home arena of course. Though I admit if it was rugby or ice hockey….rugby would win.

Dogs or Cats – Dogs of course – Bob would never forgive me if I even looked at a cat.

Ice cream or fruit. I love ice cream, especially Italian Ice cream …I could cheerfully spend a week eating Ice cream …any flavour will be tried and tested with great reverence.

Fact or Fiction?  Fiction always, it doesn’t matter the age it is written for I will dive in and lose myself.

Music or silence – Silence. In this noisy world I love to sit and just be.

Sport or reading – ah both are great loves of mine. I am hopeless at sport so I will choose reading.

Sea or mountains – I am lucky I live close to the sea and not far from the Cooley Mountains and there is always the Wicklow mountains, but Bob loves chasing sea gulls [image error]so it will have to be the sea.

Groundhogs or squirrels – I have never met a groundhog but after reading about Margot I will have to say Groundhog. Besides I rarely see squirrels here.

Books or movies: I love both but prefer to read the book as I can create my own vision of Mr. Darcy, thank you.

Ebooks or print; I love printed books, the smell and feel of them though ebooks are becoming a handy alternative.

Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?

Getting a message or email from a reader makes my heart sing and getting a review is like Christmas Morning, a surprise you hoped would come your way. I would love to hear from anyone who reads anything belonging to me, as it gives me confidence to keep trying to improve. So if please stay in touch; matthewsmaria92@yahoo.com or via any of the social media links.

 

 

Thank you so much Maria Matthews