Lieve Snellings's Blog, page 9
August 12, 2018
Introduction ‘We Love Picture Books With Photo Illustrations Of Nature’
This is the introduction video I made for the Facebook Group I created ‘We Love Picture Books With Photo Illustrations Of Nature’
For quite some time, I searched to find other picture books in which the illustrations are nature photos, but I didn’t find them yet. I was thinking that it isn’t possible that I would be the only author-photographer in the whole world who makes this sort of picture books, or who wants to read and see them. Therefore I have started this group, in the hope to find other authors, photographers and/or readers who also love this new branch of picture books.
You can find this group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1806476256134920/
Welcome!
July 30, 2018
Meet Your Next Favorite Author: Alhan Rahimi
Last year I read Alhan Rahimi’s first children’s book ‘Yara, my friend from Syria’ and since then, I am on the front line, waiting for her next book to come. The story follows the adventures of a fictional Syrian girl named Yara, on her first day of school in Canada.
[image error]Especially in these days while we hear so much about refugees, this is a book that needs to be read by every child (and adult) where refugees arrive. When the principal presents a new student to the class, he explained that Yara spoke 3 languages. She may not know English/Spanish/Dutch (fill in yourself) yet, but she knows already 3 languages, so she for sure is clever and soon will learn the language of her new home too.
And then there is this other eye-opener, the story of the Apple tree. But that you have to read yourself.
I am so extremely happy that Alhan Rahimi accepted my invitation to interview her for ‘Meet Your Next Favorite Author’.
And if I may give an advice, this book is waiting to be translated into so many different languages, because this book is very needed in the World.
Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?
Hi! My name is Alhan and I consider myself an International Citizen! I’m Canadian now, but I lived in 4 different countries prior to Canada – my current lovely home
My origins are Persian. My grandparents from both sides emigrated to Qatar (Google this country if you haven’t heard of it!) in the 1950s, so I was born and raised in Qatar. That’s how I’m native in both Persian (Farsi) and Arabic, and lucky to be fluent in English and speak some French as well.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
Growing up, my place was 5 minutes walking distance from the sea, but I never learned how to swim.
Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?
I love thinking of and analyzing the human behavior; why people act a certain way [image error]and what goes in their minds and emotions when they do so.
Being a mother reshaped who I am in many ways. My children made me realize I didn’t understand MANY things about life and others even though I thought I knew. I’m eternally grateful for them and consider them my greatest teachers.
Identity Card
[image error]
5. Do you remember the first book you read?
Unfortunately not!
6. What makes you laugh/cry?
Laugh: A funny joke!
Cry: I rarely cry! But I cried often during my pregnancies.
7. In which genre do you write?
Children
8. What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?
First of all I love the illustrations and I thank Anahit for that.
[image error]Second, my book addresses the refugees topic from another point of view – how they’re feeling in their new home away from home and how anything and everything can remind them of home. Also, it’s applicable to ANY situation in which the child has to move to a new place, specially, if the language is different.
9. How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?
I feel productive and generous!
Nothing special… I just need my laptop and a quiet spot.
10. What inspired you to write your first book?
The fact that I couldn’t find a children’s story about the Syrian refugees that were coming to Canada in 2016.
11. How did you come up with the title?
I always liked the name “Yara” and I liked how it rhymed with Syria, so I guess that’s how it came up.
12. If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?
Anne – from “Anne of Green Gables”
13. Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?
I think that it’s usually difficult for people to accept change… In times, change can be painful… So having new people, for any reason, in our city or town could be a challenging situation for both the newcomers and the residents.
My message is for the residents of any place… When you see newcomers, put yourselves in their shoes and be welcoming to them – smile at them, have a conversation, ask them about their story and invite them for a cup of tea or coffee. It makes a world of difference and would gradually heal their pain.
I’d also love to see children discussing important issues, specially those that touch the human feelings, from a young age.
14. What are your top 3 books of all time?
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Some Answered Questions by Abdu’l-Baha
15. How important is marketing and social media for you?
No matter how great a book is, if it doesn’t get to people then it’ll stay hidden. Marketing is the means to get it to people and it’s very effective through social media these days. But I find traditional media helpful too!
16. Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?
Definitely! I read them all. At this stage of my career as a writer, I like knowing what people think of my writing.
17. What advice do you have for other writers?
[image error]I don’t see myself at a stage of giving advice to other writers yet… But something I can tell them, and myself, KEEP WRITING!
I think there’s nothing more generous than sharing your thoughts with others, so let’s do that through our writing.
18. Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)
Book: Yara, My Friend from Syria
[image error]Hook: It was Monday morning and Oliver was in his classroom, concentrating on the new grammar lesson being explained by his teacher, Mrs. Smith. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was Mr. Maxwell, the principal of the school, who entered the classroom with a girl walking behind him.
Blurb: This book is about a Syrian girl’s first day of school in Canada. It depicts her mixed emotions, as she is happy to be in school again but sad to be away from home. The way her new classmates treat her is crucial to her experience.
Asin (Amazon): B01N90RZOV
ISBN: 9781541087613
[image error]
My second book will be about a boy’s experience in that natural disaster In Puerto Rico. Listen to what Alhan has to say about it on YouTube. The rest is to be read!
Website: www.persianarabic.com
Here you can find all the media coverage the book had
Social Media links:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter: @alhan_rahimi
QUICK POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)
Snow or sun: Sun (I grew up in Qatar and it was mostly sunny and HOT)
Soccer or (ice) hockey: Soccer (I understand the rules to some extent)
Dogs or cats: Dogs
Ice-cream or fruit: Both – The best is when they’re combined!
Fact or fiction: Both
Music or silence: Both (Silence for writing time, but music for cooking and driving)
Sport or reading: Reading
Sea or mountains: Both – to look at only though!
Groundhogs or squirrels: Squirrels
Books or movies: Both
E-book or print: E-book (audio books even more)
Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?
In addition to reading my book to the children around you (or after they read it themselves if they can read), PLEASE, have a discussion with them about it. One thing you can ask them throughout the story is, “what do you think this person is feeling here?”.
Thank you so much Alhan Rahimi!
Alhan Rahimi at Meet Your Next Favorite Author
Last year I read Alhan Rahimi’s first children’s book ‘Yara, my friend from Syria’ and since then, I am on the front line, waiting for her next book to come. The story follows the adventures of a fictional Syrian girl named Yara, on her first day of school in Canada.
[image error]Especially in these days while we hear so much about refugees, this is a book that needs to be read by every child (and adult) where refugees arrive. When the principal presents a new student to the class, he explained that Yara spoke 3 languages. She may not know English/Spanish/Dutch (fill in yourself) yet, but she knows already 3 languages, so she for sure is clever and soon will learn the language of her new home too.
And then there is this other eye-opener, the story of the Apple tree. But that you have to read yourself.
I am so extremely happy that Alhan Rahimi accepted my invitation to interview her for ‘Meet Your Next Favorite Author’.
And if I may give an advice, this book is waiting to be translated into so many different languages, because this book is very needed in the World.
Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?
Hi! My name is Alhan and I consider myself an International Citizen! I’m Canadian now, but I lived in 4 different countries prior to Canada – my current lovely home
My origins are Persian. My grandparents from both sides emigrated to Qatar (Google this country if you haven’t heard of it!) in the 1950s, so I was born and raised in Qatar. That’s how I’m native in both Persian (Farsi) and Arabic, and lucky to be fluent in English and speak some French as well.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
Growing up, my place was 5 minutes walking distance from the sea, but I never learned how to swim.
Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?
I love thinking of and analyzing the human behavior; why people act a certain way [image error]and what goes in their minds and emotions when they do so.
Being a mother reshaped who I am in many ways. My children made me realize I didn’t understand MANY things about life and others even though I thought I knew. I’m eternally grateful for them and consider them my greatest teachers.
Identity Card
[image error]
5. Do you remember the first book you read?
Unfortunately not!
6. What makes you laugh/cry?
Laugh: A funny joke!
Cry: I rarely cry! But I cried often during my pregnancies.
7. In which genre do you write?
Children
8. What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?
First of all I love the illustrations and I thank Anahit for that.
[image error]Second, my book addresses the refugees topic from another point of view – how they’re feeling in their new home away from home and how anything and everything can remind them of home. Also, it’s applicable to ANY situation in which the child has to move to a new place, specially, if the language is different.
9. How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?
I feel productive and generous!
Nothing special… I just need my laptop and a quiet spot.
10. What inspired you to write your first book?
The fact that I couldn’t find a children’s story about the Syrian refugees that were coming to Canada in 2016.
11. How did you come up with the title?
I always liked the name “Yara” and I liked how it rhymed with Syria, so I guess that’s how it came up.
12. If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?
Anne – from “Anne of Green Gables”
13. Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?
I think that it’s usually difficult for people to accept change… In times, change can be painful… So having new people, for any reason, in our city or town could be a challenging situation for both the newcomers and the residents.
My message is for the residents of any place… When you see newcomers, put yourselves in their shoes and be welcoming to them – smile at them, have a conversation, ask them about their story and invite them for a cup of tea or coffee. It makes a world of difference and would gradually heal their pain.
I’d also love to see children discussing important issues, specially those that touch the human feelings, from a young age.
14. What are your top 3 books of all time?
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Some Answered Questions by Abdu’l-Baha
15. How important is marketing and social media for you?
No matter how great a book is, if it doesn’t get to people then it’ll stay hidden. Marketing is the means to get it to people and it’s very effective through social media these days. But I find traditional media helpful too!
16. Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?
Definitely! I read them all. At this stage of my career as a writer, I like knowing what people think of my writing.
17. What advice do you have for other writers?
[image error]I don’t see myself at a stage of giving advice to other writers yet… But something I can tell them, and myself, KEEP WRITING!
I think there’s nothing more generous than sharing your thoughts with others, so let’s do that through our writing.
18. Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)
Book: Yara, My Friend from Syria
[image error]Hook: It was Monday morning and Oliver was in his classroom, concentrating on the new grammar lesson being explained by his teacher, Mrs. Smith. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was Mr. Maxwell, the principal of the school, who entered the classroom with a girl walking behind him.
Blurb: This book is about a Syrian girl’s first day of school in Canada. It depicts her mixed emotions, as she is happy to be in school again but sad to be away from home. The way her new classmates treat her is crucial to her experience.
Asin (Amazon): B01N90RZOV
ISBN: 9781541087613
[image error]
My second book will be about a boy’s experience in that natural disaster In Puerto Rico. Listen to what Alhan has to say about it on YouTube. The rest is to be read!
Website: www.persianarabic.com
Here you can find all the media coverage the book had
Social Media links:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter: @alhan_rahimi
QUICK POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)
Snow or sun: Sun (I grew up in Qatar and it was mostly sunny and HOT)
Soccer or (ice) hockey: Soccer (I understand the rules to some extent)
Dogs or cats: Dogs
Ice-cream or fruit: Both – The best is when they’re combined!
Fact or fiction: Both
Music or silence: Both (Silence for writing time, but music for cooking and driving)
Sport or reading: Reading
Sea or mountains: Both – to look at only though!
Groundhogs or squirrels: Squirrels
Books or movies: Both
E-book or print: E-book (audio books even more)
Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?
In addition to reading my book to the children around you (or after they read it themselves if they can read), PLEASE, have a discussion with them about it. One thing you can ask them throughout the story is, “what do you think this person is feeling here?”.
Thank you so much Alhan Rahimi!
July 15, 2018
Meet Your Next Favorite Author: Ronald Craig
It was in the BookGoSocial Children’s Book FB Group that I First found out about Ronald [image error]Craig. He had published a book ‘The Little Witch And The Lost Boy’. As a witch or a witch lover myself, I had to buy that book and I have not regretted. I loved the storyline and the characters, so well described and vivid, sometimes scared, but always brave. It’s a great story to be told on a dark winter day, or around a campfire in summertime.
Ronald writes for his daughters. You can find out in this interview, which book he has written since and what he has in the pipeline. As an author, Ronald is very supportive of his colleagues writers. I know him as a sweet man with a writer and storytelling talented and I am happy he agreed to this interview.
Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?
Hello, my name is Ronald Craig. I’m 42 years of age and live with my partner and two young daughters in Redcar, England. I’m from a small coal pit village called Fishburn. A village full of folklore and tales ‘Witch’ which is in the land of the prince of bishops. I moved to Redcar which is part of a Jurassic coastline, this is where my partner is from. And is a great place for my kids with the beach full of fossils, all though it’s a bitterly cold sea it’s still great fun which is sourrounded by country side in local areas. Redcar is the place where the film Atonement was made featuring Kiera Knightly.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I’m a stay at home dad. I was made unemployed so my partner returned to work after our second daughter was born and I remain at home. I had a father who left before I was born, that I have never seen or know anything about; this gave me a life wondering and what if’s when I grew up. Seeing different families and the complexities of other families was interesting, even my cousins family who was and is my best friend growing up. The two sides to his family made me wonder but my family was not to be spoken about and a closed book so to speak.
Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?
Live and breath my daughters. Good or bad I give a lot and I’m really accepting of others and any problems they have. Which at times is over looked if I have anything going on.
IDENTITY CARD
[image error]
Do you remember the first book you read?
I remember my primary school teacher Mr Handly reading James and the giant peach and many other classics. He would play a guitar, sing and read books which inspired our imagination as kids. And my mother would read me adventure stories it will have been an Enid Bliyton book, but with so many to choose from at school I can’t remember the exact first book.
What makes you laugh/cry?
Kids, my brother who tells stories of my DIY (not good) films with Adam Sadler in. I don’t cry.
In which genre do you write?
Children, I also have an adult book yet to finish called The Black Path. But this is not a nice story it is based on folklore from the village I grew up in.
What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?
I write for my daughters. It’s a story of a magic family. It has layers of truths and lies with the different characters all having different experiences in life and how they understand[image error] good and bad or Dark and Light. I worked in mental health services for a lot of years and I’ve used the experiences and training to help explain and label emotions in words. The story is full of secrets, especially within this magic family and the secrets they hide are from other family members including those close, What have they to hide? This is something that is true in my own family so I’ve used this understanding of how it feels within the story. A young girl will have to grow quickly as she will face now foes in a mysterious world here and to secret worlds.
How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?
I have ideas/thoughts, at times I could think for days or weeks about a character until I understand them internally. I’m not one of them writers who get mental block, I don’t have enough hours in the day to look after the kids and write. So it has to be a mix of both which can be frustrating when I’ve got so much to say in my writing. Sophina comes up with names of magical creatures which I have to tweak to suit what I want to tell my daughters. They teach me so much and have given me new emotions and happiness.
What inspired you to write your first book?
It was one of those evenings. We lived in a old house (a old fire house) full of drafts and shadows. (My partner and daughter didn’t rest well in the house so we had to move) but continuing… my partner was out working evenings re-ableing people who had just been discharged from hospital, she would work late till 11pm at times depending on the needs of others. It was a winters night snow, hail and a wind the echoed through the house. I gave my daughter Sophina AKA ‘Nina the Witch’ her last bottle she was about 8 months old. We would play a game while she drank her milk I would look away then turn [image error]sharply she would giggle as she held on to my finger tightly. It’s one of them times when your tired and stressed from lack of sleep and long working days, she could just make it all away by holding my finger like she had witch powers. I sat there for a while watching her sleep in her Moses basket. It just came to me in a flood of information. A young Witch growing up in a world of light and dark magic, but how would she cope in the world we live. I’ll write her a story. I sat down got my rubbish laptop and written the last plot of the story of The Little Witch, I written 3,000 words before my partner got in from work. And I have never stopped yet. But now I have Scarlett AKA ‘Lettie the Witch’ who fills me with new inspiration and a world of wonder. Emotional overload at times, but I get such a satisfaction when I’ve got it all off my chest and into words.
How did you come up with the title?
My daughters how they make you feel even in a state of anger, frustration and sleep deprivation. They can make it all go away from a smile or a look. The name ‘The Little Witch’ just rolled off my tongue so to speak.
If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?
James from James and the giant peach, probably. I’d like to experience a lot of different characters this would give a big understanding and view of how people see things differently. Maybe a bad character.
Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?
Yes indiduality, substance and personal thoughts and feelings to every character. I’m hoping people with into the story more and think of who they are and why. Right and wrong, light and dark are different but how people feel things is how their lives turn out. Especially for a Lettie The Dark Girl who has a lot to find from within but this is not clear straight away.
What are your top 3 books of all time?
I like Enid Blyton The Famous five, Roald Dahl, BFG big friendly giant, and The twits, again I remember Mr. Handles read this one in his class.
How important is marketing and social media for you?
Social media is not what it says it is, there are to many fake profiles which leads to miss guided people. When I first started writing I looked at so much watched so many YouTube videos probably 100’s of hours of false instruction. There is so much miss guided information that you don’t know whether you are facing forward or back. It has helped me in a lot of ways but not as much as I like. The other side is every other person can do this and do that for £££ and get you this and that. It’s all false truths they are after money I have even contacted one PA and asked about his processes he sent my money back and asked me not to contact him again. You do have to be careful even in groups. You must chose a reputable company it costs more but you are safer.
Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?
Yes they are great, I love to hear feedback and if I’ve got my message across. And love hearing from new people and what they like about my stories.
What advice do you have for other writers?
Have a plan it will change but have a plan for you to follow. Keep as many notes or thoughts as you can and place them in the appropriate area of the story. I have written notes before but have never found where they fit if I only made a note then it would have made more sense. Don’t just give your money away to people claiming to be PA’s a good team is a must but be careful with your money. Commit to locals areas schools libraries and so forth these are your closest readers and future friends.
Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)
Books
Series of books: The Little Witch
This series is perfect for ages 7 to 14
The Little Witch and the Lost Boy
[image error]Hook: A story of a young Witch called Nina and her best friend Toot’s a magic Owl living in a world of light and dark magic.
Blurb: A young witch travels through magic mirrors and find a world of light and dark
magic. Her best friend Toot’s is her only companion and she will find new friends and fearsome foes. As they discover what secrets hide in the dark. Not only being a witch Nina is a young girl hiding her true self from the world.
Asin: B01M9JRBYO
ISBN-13: 978-1503068858
The Little Witch and the Magic Gift
[image error]
Hook: The story continues with Nina the Witch and Toot the magic owl as they find dark mysteries within a world of light and dark magic. Nina must face days alone as Toot’s is cursed with an unknown magic and Nina finds dark secrets within the family. But why are secrets kept from Nina? She must face what goes bump in the dark and find an underground world hidden from view. This leads Nina to discover the light and dark side of magic.
Asin: B078HSDYKY
ISBN-13: 978-1540397522
Website
Amazon.com: Ronald Craig: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
Social Media:
Ronals Craig at Facebook:
Ronald Craig at YouTube:
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
Dogs or cats: either
Ice-cream or fruit: fruit
Fact or fiction: fiction
Music or silence: music
[image error]Sport or reading: both
Sea or mountains: mountains
Groundhogs or squirrels: groundhogs (hmm wonder why this question)
Books or movies: books
E-book or print: print
Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?
The main reason I started writing was to talk to my daughters in a way that would be lasting and they could understand. I want to make the perfect audiobooks, book and cartoon for when they are older. It’s a process and I will learn as I write and the thought is exciting that my daughters will have a story written after them albeit fictional. Myself and my oldest daughter will be on the local radio soon ZetlandFM they requested I bring her after appearing on the show with Julie Donaldson. Which my three year old is excited about.
Thank you so much Ronald Craig!
Ronald Craig at Meet Your Next Favorite Author
It was in the BookGoSocial Children’s Book FB Group that I First found out about Ronald [image error]Craig. He had published a book ‘The Little Witch And The Lost Boy’. As a witch or a witch lover myself, I had to buy that book and I have not regretted. I loved the storyline and the characters, so well described and vivid, sometimes scared, but always brave. It’s a great story to be told on a dark winter day, or around a campfire in summertime.
Ronald writes for his daughters. You can find out in this interview, which book he has written since and what he has in the pipeline. As an author, Ronald is very supportive of his colleagues writers. I know him as a sweet man with a writer and storytelling talented and I am happy he agreed to this interview.
Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?
Hello, my name is Ronald Craig. I’m 42 years of age and live with my partner and two young daughters in Redcar, England. I’m from a small coal pit village called Fishburn. A village full of folklore and tales ‘Witch’ which is in the land of the prince of bishops. I moved to Redcar which is part of a Jurassic coastline, this is where my partner is from. And is a great place for my kids with the beach full of fossils, all though it’s a bitterly cold sea it’s still great fun which is sourrounded by country side in local areas. Redcar is the place where the film Atonement was made featuring Kiera Knightly.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I’m a stay at home dad. I was made unemployed so my partner returned to work after our second daughter was born and I remain at home. I had a father who left before I was born, that I have never seen or know anything about; this gave me a life wondering and what if’s when I grew up. Seeing different families and the complexities of other families was interesting, even my cousins family who was and is my best friend growing up. The two sides to his family made me wonder but my family was not to be spoken about and a closed book so to speak.
Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?
Live and breath my daughters. Good or bad I give a lot and I’m really accepting of others and any problems they have. Which at times is over looked if I have anything going on.
IDENTITY CARD
[image error]
Do you remember the first book you read?
I remember my primary school teacher Mr Handly reading James and the giant peach and many other classics. He would play a guitar, sing and read books which inspired our imagination as kids. And my mother would read me adventure stories it will have been an Enid Bliyton book, but with so many to choose from at school I can’t remember the exact first book.
What makes you laugh/cry?
Kids, my brother who tells stories of my DIY (not good) films with Adam Sadler in. I don’t cry.
In which genre do you write?
Children, I also have an adult book yet to finish called The Black Path. But this is not a nice story it is based on folklore from the village I grew up in.
What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?
I write for my daughters. It’s a story of a magic family. It has layers of truths and lies with the different characters all having different experiences in life and how they understand[image error] good and bad or Dark and Light. I worked in mental health services for a lot of years and I’ve used the experiences and training to help explain and label emotions in words. The story is full of secrets, especially within this magic family and the secrets they hide are from other family members including those close, What have they to hide? This is something that is true in my own family so I’ve used this understanding of how it feels within the story. A young girl will have to grow quickly as she will face now foes in a mysterious world here and to secret worlds.
How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?
I have ideas/thoughts, at times I could think for days or weeks about a character until I understand them internally. I’m not one of them writers who get mental block, I don’t have enough hours in the day to look after the kids and write. So it has to be a mix of both which can be frustrating when I’ve got so much to say in my writing. Sophina comes up with names of magical creatures which I have to tweak to suit what I want to tell my daughters. They teach me so much and have given me new emotions and happiness.
What inspired you to write your first book?
It was one of those evenings. We lived in a old house (a old fire house) full of drafts and shadows. (My partner and daughter didn’t rest well in the house so we had to move) but continuing… my partner was out working evenings re-ableing people who had just been discharged from hospital, she would work late till 11pm at times depending on the needs of others. It was a winters night snow, hail and a wind the echoed through the house. I gave my daughter Sophina AKA ‘Nina the Witch’ her last bottle she was about 8 months old. We would play a game while she drank her milk I would look away then turn [image error]sharply she would giggle as she held on to my finger tightly. It’s one of them times when your tired and stressed from lack of sleep and long working days, she could just make it all away by holding my finger like she had witch powers. I sat there for a while watching her sleep in her Moses basket. It just came to me in a flood of information. A young Witch growing up in a world of light and dark magic, but how would she cope in the world we live. I’ll write her a story. I sat down got my rubbish laptop and written the last plot of the story of The Little Witch, I written 3,000 words before my partner got in from work. And I have never stopped yet. But now I have Scarlett AKA ‘Lettie the Witch’ who fills me with new inspiration and a world of wonder. Emotional overload at times, but I get such a satisfaction when I’ve got it all off my chest and into words.
How did you come up with the title?
My daughters how they make you feel even in a state of anger, frustration and sleep deprivation. They can make it all go away from a smile or a look. The name ‘The Little Witch’ just rolled off my tongue so to speak.
If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?
James from James and the giant peach, probably. I’d like to experience a lot of different characters this would give a big understanding and view of how people see things differently. Maybe a bad character.
Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?
Yes indiduality, substance and personal thoughts and feelings to every character. I’m hoping people with into the story more and think of who they are and why. Right and wrong, light and dark are different but how people feel things is how their lives turn out. Especially for a Lettie The Dark Girl who has a lot to find from within but this is not clear straight away.
What are your top 3 books of all time?
I like Enid Blyton The Famous five, Roald Dahl, BFG big friendly giant, and The twits, again I remember Mr. Handles read this one in his class.
How important is marketing and social media for you?
Social media is not what it says it is, there are to many fake profiles which leads to miss guided people. When I first started writing I looked at so much watched so many YouTube videos probably 100’s of hours of false instruction. There is so much miss guided information that you don’t know whether you are facing forward or back. It has helped me in a lot of ways but not as much as I like. The other side is every other person can do this and do that for £££ and get you this and that. It’s all false truths they are after money I have even contacted one PA and asked about his processes he sent my money back and asked me not to contact him again. You do have to be careful even in groups. You must chose a reputable company it costs more but you are safer.
Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?
Yes they are great, I love to hear feedback and if I’ve got my message across. And love hearing from new people and what they like about my stories.
What advice do you have for other writers?
Have a plan it will change but have a plan for you to follow. Keep as many notes or thoughts as you can and place them in the appropriate area of the story. I have written notes before but have never found where they fit if I only made a note then it would have made more sense. Don’t just give your money away to people claiming to be PA’s a good team is a must but be careful with your money. Commit to locals areas schools libraries and so forth these are your closest readers and future friends.
Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)
Books
Series of books: The Little Witch
This series is perfect for ages 7 to 14
The Little Witch and the Lost Boy
[image error]Hook: A story of a young Witch called Nina and her best friend Toot’s a magic Owl living in a world of light and dark magic.
Blurb: A young witch travels through magic mirrors and find a world of light and dark
magic. Her best friend Toot’s is her only companion and she will find new friends and fearsome foes. As they discover what secrets hide in the dark. Not only being a witch Nina is a young girl hiding her true self from the world.
Asin: B01M9JRBYO
ISBN-13: 978-1503068858
The Little Witch and the Magic Gift
[image error]
Hook: The story continues with Nina the Witch and Toot the magic owl as they find dark mysteries within a world of light and dark magic. Nina must face days alone as Toot’s is cursed with an unknown magic and Nina finds dark secrets within the family. But why are secrets kept from Nina? She must face what goes bump in the dark and find an underground world hidden from view. This leads Nina to discover the light and dark side of magic.
Asin: B078HSDYKY
ISBN-13: 978-1540397522
Website
Amazon.com: Ronald Craig: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
Social Media:
Ronals Craig at Facebook:
Ronald Craig at YouTube:
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
Dogs or cats: either
Ice-cream or fruit: fruit
Fact or fiction: fiction
Music or silence: music
[image error]Sport or reading: both
Sea or mountains: mountains
Groundhogs or squirrels: groundhogs (hmm wonder why this question)
Books or movies: books
E-book or print: print
Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?
The main reason I started writing was to talk to my daughters in a way that would be lasting and they could understand. I want to make the perfect audiobooks, book and cartoon for when they are older. It’s a process and I will learn as I write and the thought is exciting that my daughters will have a story written after them albeit fictional. Myself and my oldest daughter will be on the local radio soon ZetlandFM they requested I bring her after appearing on the show with Julie Donaldson. Which my three year old is excited about.
Thank you so much Ronald Craig!
July 13, 2018
June 29, 2018
Meet Your Next Favorite Author: Melissa-Sue John
I came in contact with Melissa-Sue John after she wrote an amazing review for my book ‘Margot Gets An Unexpected Visit’ and I was curious to learn about her books. Wow, they look powerful, colorful, fun, educational and with a focus on diversity in all forms.
[image error][image error]Because there is so little diversity in children’s books, or that, when there were Black characters in primary roles, they were either about slavery or racism or historical icons, Melissa decided she wanted to be a part of the solution and together with her two daughters, she started writing books herself. She then wanted to provide a platform for other young authors and illustrators and that’s how Lauren Simone Publishing House was born.
Welcome to meet your next favorite author: Melissa-Sue John!
Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?
My name is Melissa-Sue John. I am a psychology professor, wife, and the mother of Alyssa Simone and Olivia Lauren, my little prodigies. I was born on the beautiful island of Jamaica, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, which boasts beautiful coastlines, beaches, waterfalls, reggae music and rich history and icons such as Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, and Usain Bolt.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself![image error]
My children encouraged me to become an author and a publisher of children’s books. They also co-author with me. The name of my publishing company is Lauren Simone Publishing House named after Olivia Lauren and Alyssa Simone.
Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?
God. If it were not for God’s goodness, mercy, and favor, I don’t know where I would be today.
Family. My family gives me so much purpose. I probably wouldn’t work as hard and achieve as much as I have without my husband’s support and encouragement and my children’s experiences and determination.
IDENTITY CARD
[image error]
Do you remember the first book you read?
ABC, hahaha!!! Then Dick and Jane. My parents bought me The Little Golden Books Book collection and I read all of them. They were mostly fairy tales (Three Bears, Three Little Pigs Bambi, Hansel or Gretel, Little Red Riding Good, The Big Brown Bear) or religious (Prayers for Children, The Christmas Story). As a teen, my dad got a book subscription of Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High and Sweet Dreams Novels that featured beautiful models to depict the heroine in the book. In 8th grade, my favorite book was The Secret Garden.
What makes you laugh?
My friends, family, and comedies make me laugh. Inequality, discrimination, betrayal, and death make me cry.
In which genre do you write?
Children’s nonfiction
What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?
Emphasis on learning STEM in practical everyday ways while using characters that promote diversity and inclusion. All our books include different races, religions, and abilities.
How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?
I try to write daily and with my daughters. I write like an academic, so my children help to bring it to the K-12 reading level.
What inspired you to write your first book?[image error]
[image error]The lack of diversity in children’s books. I am a mother of two black girls and all the books they purchased or borrowed from the library had white girls or boys as main characters. The books that had people of color emphasized poverty, discrimination (slavery, civil rights), and firsts or exceptions (first African American pilot, baseball player, etc). I enjoyed reading Amelia Bedelia and Fancy Nancy.
How did you come up with the title?
We came up with several topics to write about and every subtitle started with “A Guide”. This came about as Olivia and Alyssa started acting and everyone asked me how I got them on television. So I write a book called A Guide to becoming an actor.
If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?
I haven’t related to any book character. But as for famous persons, I would like to have Oprah Winfrey’s wealth, talent like Shonda Rhimes, a heart like Mother Teresa, and a body like Halle Berry, hahaha!
Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?
Learning is fun and every person reading my book matters!
What are your top 3 books of all time?
I don’t know if I have top 3 books. But the books I enjoyed reading this year were Luvvie Ajayi’s I am judging you, Terry McMillian’s Who asked you? and …
How important is marketing and social media for you?
It helps me to stay in touch with our readers, supporters, and distributors.
Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?
Yes, I welcome book reviews. I read them all. Constructive criticism helps you become a better writer and both positive and negative feedback can be motivators to try harder! Our books were recently given 5 stars by Readers Favorite!
What advice do you have for other writers?
Just keep writing. Practice makes perfect. Your second book will probably be better than the first because you get improve as a writer the more you write. But if you never finish the first, you won’t get better.
Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)
Books
Olivia Lauren’s Occupations A to Z: A Guide to Jobs and Careers
[image error]Recommended Age: 6 to 12.
Summary: Occupations A to Z is a youth illustrated children’s reference book about jobs and careers. Olivia Lauren and her multicultural friends go through the alphabet to learn about traditional and nontraditional careers in the arts, business, science, technology, engineering, and math. This book should be used as a child friendly guidebook for parents to discuss career choices with their children.
ISBN: 978-0997952025
[image error]Olivia Lauren’s Olivia Travels: A Guide to Modes of Transportation
Recommended Age: 3 to 9
Summary: Olivia Travels is a fun story about Olivia and her family that teaches young children about different ways that people travel. Olivia takes her readers on a journey through her own experiences with transportation. Children will increase their vocabulary, be exposed to rhyme and rhythm, and learn about homonyms.
ISBN: 978-0997952001
Olivia Lauren’s Olivia Connects: A Guide to Modes of Communication Recommended Age: 6 to 12
[image error]Summary: Olivia Connects teaches children about different ways people communicate. Olivia Lauren and her friends discuss communication styles and explore ancient and contemporary modes of communication. Children will increase their vocabulary, grow in curiosity about communication devices, and enhance their understanding about communication abilities (blindness, speech impaired, hearing impaired, wheelchair bound, cerebral palsy).
ISBN: 9780997952056
[image error]Olivia Lauren’s A Guide to Things We Wear
Recommended Age: 6 to 12
Summary: Things We Wear is an introduction to the different things we wear. Olivia Lauren and her friends explore when, where, and why we wear the things we do. Children will increase their vocabulary and curiosity about fashion, tradition, culture, safety, and the significance of clothing.
ISBN: 978-0-9979520-1-8
Website Lauren Simone Publishing House
Amazon
Social Media links:
Facebook
Goodreads
Instagram
Twitter: @laurensimonepubs
QUICK POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)
Snow or sun: Sun every day!
Soccer or (ice) hockey: Soccer, I am Jamaican
Dogs or cats: Dogs
Ice-cream or fruit: Both
Fact or fiction: Both
Music or silence: Both, depends on my mood
Sport or reading: Reading. I have never played any sport but I encouraged my children to try.
Sea or mountains: Sea
Groundhogs or squirrels: Neither
Books or movies: Both, especially movies about books!
E-book or print: Both. I love to hold a book in my hand. But if I am traveling I like to have multiple books with me. But my paperback never dies or needs charging. And I can pass on to a friend once I finish reading. Sharing is caring!
Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?
Follow our journey by following us on Facebook and Instagram! Leave a comment. Take a photo with our books and hashtag #laurensimonepubs
Thank you so much Melissa-Sue John!
Melissa-Sue John on Meet Your Next Favorite Author
I came in contact with Melissa-Sue John after she wrote an amazing review for my book ‘Margot Gets An Unexpected Visit’ and I was curious to learn about her books. Wow, they look powerful, colorful, fun, educational and with a focus on diversity in all forms.
[image error][image error]Because there is so little diversity in children’s books, or that, when there were Black characters in primary roles, they were either about slavery or racism or historical icons, Melissa decided she wanted to be a part of the solution and together with her two daughters, she started writing books herself. She then wanted to provide a platform for other young authors and illustrators and that’s how Lauren Simone Publishing House was born.
Welcome to meet your next favorite author: Melissa-Sue John!
Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?
My name is Melissa-Sue John. I am a psychology professor, wife, and the mother of Alyssa Simone and Olivia Lauren, my little prodigies. I was born on the beautiful island of Jamaica, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, which boasts beautiful coastlines, beaches, waterfalls, reggae music and rich history and icons such as Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, and Usain Bolt.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself![image error]
My children encouraged me to become an author and a publisher of children’s books. They also co-author with me. The name of my publishing company is Lauren Simone Publishing House named after Olivia Lauren and Alyssa Simone.
Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?
God. If it were not for God’s goodness, mercy, and favor, I don’t know where I would be today.
Family. My family gives me so much purpose. I probably wouldn’t work as hard and achieve as much as I have without my husband’s support and encouragement and my children’s experiences and determination.
IDENTITY CARD
[image error]
Do you remember the first book you read?
ABC, hahaha!!! Then Dick and Jane. My parents bought me The Little Golden Books Book collection and I read all of them. They were mostly fairy tales (Three Bears, Three Little Pigs Bambi, Hansel or Gretel, Little Red Riding Good, The Big Brown Bear) or religious (Prayers for Children, The Christmas Story). As a teen, my dad got a book subscription of Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High and Sweet Dreams Novels that featured beautiful models to depict the heroine in the book. In 8th grade, my favorite book was The Secret Garden.
What makes you laugh?
My friends, family, and comedies make me laugh. Inequality, discrimination, betrayal, and death make me cry.
In which genre do you write?
Children’s nonfiction
What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?
Emphasis on learning STEM in practical everyday ways while using characters that promote diversity and inclusion. All our books include different races, religions, and abilities.
How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?
I try to write daily and with my daughters. I write like an academic, so my children help to bring it to the K-12 reading level.
What inspired you to write your first book?[image error]
[image error]The lack of diversity in children’s books. I am a mother of two black girls and all the books they purchased or borrowed from the library had white girls or boys as main characters. The books that had people of color emphasized poverty, discrimination (slavery, civil rights), and firsts or exceptions (first African American pilot, baseball player, etc). I enjoyed reading Amelia Bedelia and Fancy Nancy.
How did you come up with the title?
We came up with several topics to write about and every subtitle started with “A Guide”. This came about as Olivia and Alyssa started acting and everyone asked me how I got them on television. So I write a book called A Guide to becoming an actor.
If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?
I haven’t related to any book character. But as for famous persons, I would like to have Oprah Winfrey’s wealth, talent like Shonda Rhimes, a heart like Mother Teresa, and a body like Halle Berry, hahaha!
Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?
Learning is fun and every person reading my book matters!
What are your top 3 books of all time?
I don’t know if I have top 3 books. But the books I enjoyed reading this year were Luvvie Ajayi’s I am judging you, Terry McMillian’s Who asked you? and …
How important is marketing and social media for you?
It helps me to stay in touch with our readers, supporters, and distributors.
Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?
Yes, I welcome book reviews. I read them all. Constructive criticism helps you become a better writer and both positive and negative feedback can be motivators to try harder! Our books were recently given 5 stars by Readers Favorite!
What advice do you have for other writers?
Just keep writing. Practice makes perfect. Your second book will probably be better than the first because you get improve as a writer the more you write. But if you never finish the first, you won’t get better.
Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)
Books
Olivia Lauren’s Occupations A to Z: A Guide to Jobs and Careers
[image error]Recommended Age: 6 to 12.
Summary: Occupations A to Z is a youth illustrated children’s reference book about jobs and careers. Olivia Lauren and her multicultural friends go through the alphabet to learn about traditional and nontraditional careers in the arts, business, science, technology, engineering, and math. This book should be used as a child friendly guidebook for parents to discuss career choices with their children.
ISBN: 978-0997952025
[image error]Olivia Lauren’s Olivia Travels: A Guide to Modes of Transportation
Recommended Age: 3 to 9
Summary: Olivia Travels is a fun story about Olivia and her family that teaches young children about different ways that people travel. Olivia takes her readers on a journey through her own experiences with transportation. Children will increase their vocabulary, be exposed to rhyme and rhythm, and learn about homonyms.
ISBN: 978-0997952001
Olivia Lauren’s Olivia Connects: A Guide to Modes of Communication Recommended Age: 6 to 12
[image error]Summary: Olivia Connects teaches children about different ways people communicate. Olivia Lauren and her friends discuss communication styles and explore ancient and contemporary modes of communication. Children will increase their vocabulary, grow in curiosity about communication devices, and enhance their understanding about communication abilities (blindness, speech impaired, hearing impaired, wheelchair bound, cerebral palsy).
ISBN: 9780997952056
[image error]Olivia Lauren’s A Guide to Things We Wear
Recommended Age: 6 to 12
Summary: Things We Wear is an introduction to the different things we wear. Olivia Lauren and her friends explore when, where, and why we wear the things we do. Children will increase their vocabulary and curiosity about fashion, tradition, culture, safety, and the significance of clothing.
ISBN: 978-0-9979520-1-8
Website Lauren Simone Publishing House
Amazon
Social Media links:
Facebook
Goodreads
Instagram
Twitter: @laurensimonepubs
QUICK POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)
Snow or sun: Sun every day!
Soccer or (ice) hockey: Soccer, I am Jamaican
Dogs or cats: Dogs
Ice-cream or fruit: Both
Fact or fiction: Both
Music or silence: Both, depends on my mood
Sport or reading: Reading. I have never played any sport but I encouraged my children to try.
Sea or mountains: Sea
Groundhogs or squirrels: Neither
Books or movies: Both, especially movies about books!
E-book or print: Both. I love to hold a book in my hand. But if I am traveling I like to have multiple books with me. But my paperback never dies or needs charging. And I can pass on to a friend once I finish reading. Sharing is caring!
Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?
Follow our journey by following us on Facebook and Instagram! Leave a comment. Take a photo with our books and hashtag #laurensimonepubs
Thank you so much Melissa-Sue John!
June 15, 2018
Meet Your Next Favorite Author: Barbara Roman
I met Barbara Roman first in the BookGoSocial Children’s Book Group. That’s how I read her kids’ book ‘Hubert in Heaven’. I loved the message in the story, telling kids that there are no limits to what you can and what you may do in heaven. And that heaven can be here on earth, in this life we live.
Thanks to the social media I connected to Barbara, who is always very supportive of other Indie Authors as myself. I must tell you that after this interview, I have added more ‘want to read’ books on my bookshelf. After reading the blurbs of her books, wow, I’m in! Somewhere, her words found a way directly to my inner child and the 500-year old soul in myself.
[image error]
Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?
My name is Barbara Roman and I also write as B. Roman. I’m originally from Philadelphia, PA but now live in Southern California in the USA.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
At 75, I’m still a rock ‘n roller! Love that music. But I sing jazz standards professionally.
Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?
I’m tenacious and determined (and probably a bit daft), which matters to me as a writer. I’m also loyal and empathetic, which I hope matters to others.
IDENTITY CARD [image error]
Do you remember the first book you read?
Not exactly sure about the first, but it was probably a Golden Book called The Pokey Little Puppy. And all the Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
What makes you laugh?
I love good comedy – especially clean comedy (as in Seinfeld), but risque is good, too, as long as it’s clever. I also love to laugh with good friends and family when we are just hanging out I cry at cruelty in any form, and at very sentimental TV commercials.
In which genre do you write?
I started out writing non-fiction about music, health, and metaphysical subjects. Now I write fiction and I guess I’m eclectic: fantasy, suspense, children’s books.
What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?
No matter the genre I write in, my books always revolve around ethical issues, courage, compassion, selfless sacrifice. How do they differ from other books? My novels are short – about 150 pages – which just about kills any chance I might have at being traditionally published because the industry is adamant about proper word count. But I write until my story is done; no more, no less.
How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?
Sometimes it’s a love/hate relationship. When I’m first inspired by an idea, I go full force and lose myself in it completely; it’s an out of body blissful state. When I’m polishing and editing I begin to get very subjective and sometimes insecure worrying if it will be good enough or have value. I have no ritual but I will listen to New Age or classical music if I write at home; other times I love to go to the Barnes and Noble Starbuck’s coffee shop to feel all the energy of all the books there. Hopefully it will rub off!
What inspired you to write your first book?[image error]
My first book was a non-fiction self-help book on the power of music. It started out as a magazine article on the subject, but then grew organically. My first fiction book, The Crystal Clipper, blossomed from my exploration of metaphysical subjects, including crystal power, and then evolved into The Moon Singer Trilogy.
How did you come up with the title?
Once again my spiritual (we are speaking metaphysical teachings, not religious) exploration led me to a crystal party, where beautiful crystals of all types are laid out before you. As you run your hand over the display, without physically touching any gem, a crystal “chooses you.” The one that chose me was shaped like a miniature boat, complete with mast, hull and rudder. I was told that this kind of crystal was a “singer” crystal with special powers. Indeed, it inspired me to incorporate that singer crystal into my book, “The Crystal Clipper,” with the Clipper being a supernaturally-powered clipper ship of crystal and gold that transcends the boundaries of time and space. I still have that crystal which I made into a pendant.
If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?
One of those very rich, beautiful, powerful, and famous women in a glitzy Jackie Collins novel! No long-suffereing heroine of an epic saga for me. No sir.
Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?
In all of my books, I hope readers find that element of truth and self-empowerment relevant to their own lives. Whether it’s through the Heavenly adventures of an accidental angel; through the eyes of a little girl who befriends light bulbs who want to be stars; or through the painful and enlightening journey of a deaf teen trying to come to terms with the responsibilities of his karmic destiny, I hope a light shines through that gives readers their own Aha moment.
What are your top 3 books of all time?
You mean favorite books that I’ve read? I adored The Thornbirds, one of the best and most romantic family sagas ever. Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth was my constant companion when I began writing fiction and trying to find my own voice. And I’m still trying to navigate my way through the lush and impossibly beautiful Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin. More? Life of Pi, Ishmael, the Alchemist, and John Grisham’s legal thrillers. Good stories. That’s what it comes down to.
How important is marketing and social media for you?
Social media is today’s marketing tool. I hate it, but it’s a necessary evil; it’s exhausting and endless, taking up valuable time that I need for writing. I’m not sure how much good it does with book sales, but it gives one high visibility worldwide. On the plus side, I have connected with some of the most wonderful, kind, supportive fellow authors one could ever hope to find (like you, Lieve)!
Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?
I ache for more book reviews (are you listening readers?) It is so difficult to get them, although some authors are just more fortunate than others in this respect, maybe because their books are of the most popular genres. The reviews I have gotten have been very complimentary and inspiring, even though they are not the high numbers I had hoped for. In turn, I try to review the works of other authors as often as time allows; it feels good to give someone a good review for a book they have poured their heart and soul into.
What advice do you have for other writers?
Don’t follow my advice. Read, research, explore, learn, be yourself, believe.
Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)
Books
Alicia and the Light Bulb People in Star Factory 13
Fantasy, Humor – children to age 10
Hook: A Readers Favorite 5 Star children’s book. An enchanting tale of friendship, courage, and realizing your star potential through the magic of believing!
Blurb: Where do light bulbs go when they burn out? Do they stay dead forever? Or can they be regenerated to live a brand new life with a brand new purpose? If they’re lucky [image error]they go to Star Factory 13 to become glorious stars in the sky… after they pass a rigorous test of their personality given by Carelia the Light Goddess, that is. But how in the world did 10-year-old Alicia get to Star Factory 13? Could there really have been some magic in that department store Christmas tree? Or perhaps it was the ride in the elevator with the Golden Door that did it. The elevator button said “Press Me” and Alicia willingly obliged. Up she rode to the 13th floor to find an assortment of wise-cracking light bulb people, all with distinct personalities, each coming from sad, silly or desperate circumstance, all hoping to take their rightful place in the heavens.
ASIN: B076YWWGHD
ISBN-13 : 978-1979398268
The Moon Singer Trilogy (YA Fantasy) – Book One: The Crystal Clipper
Blurb: David Nickerson begins his fantastic journeys as a boy trying to cope with a series of family crises: his Father’s unemployment, his sister’s paralysis, the death of his [image error]mother, and his deafness after a serious illness. When David acquires a sacred Singer crystal, he conjures up the supernaturally-powered clipper ship Moon Singer, which takes him on spectacular sojourns to past and future lifetimes. The people he encounters all have a soul connection to one another and their lives are destined to intertwine many times over. With the help of a young princess who has the power of healing in her song, David is ultimately transformed into a young man who can “hear” what others cannot and who can “see” what others deny. But his mission is always the same – to save a life that means more to him than his own.
ASIN: B00AR82NMS
ISBN-13: 978-1530641710
The Moon Singer Trilogy – Book Two: The War Chamber
Blurb: While his home town fights passionately over how to revive a stagnant economy, [image error]David Nickerson is despondent that all the miracles he brought back with him on the Moon Singer have dissipated. He is just as deaf as before, his sister’s paralysis has returned, and his anguish over his mother’s death is stronger than ever. Determined to try and communicate with his dead mother and understand why she left him all alone to grieve for her, The Moon Singer ship transports him to a strange city caught in a time warp between a high-tech, materialistic and militant past. It is here that David encounters a revered woman who becomes like a mother to him and helps him understand how his deafness and his mother’s karmic mission are intertwined. David realizes that he must face up to his obligations as captain of the Moon Singer and follow his destiny, wherever it may lead.
ASIN: B01E9GLQJO
ISBN-13: 978-1532792984
The Moon Singer Trilogy – Book Three: The Wind Rose
Blurb: In this third and final adventure, the prophecy of the Moon Singer is realized. But it all revolves around the answer to one question: Can music actually create and destroy life?
[image error]If David, whose deafness still eludes treatment, cannot hear it, will he be able to tap into music’s power to save the planet from catastrophe? Only if he is able to reunite the three sacred artifacts: the Singer crystal, the Rose Crystal pendant, and the Wind Rose compass. Their Triune energy is all that David needs to re-harmonize the destructive discordant music created by a vengeful music master. The mystical clipper ship Moon Singer is David’s transport to the Source of his paranormal abilities, but only through his complete understanding of the Power of Three to Become One will he manifest his destiny and once again save a life that means more to him than his own. That understanding will come to him when he deciphers the cryptic musical codes that have been created for evil purposes. In unraveling these codes David will come to know his own soul’s song, the one that allows his disability to become his greatest gift.
ASIN: B01GLQUESY
ISBN-13: 978-1534645288
Before the Boy – the Prequel to the Moon Singer Trilogy
Hook: Even in death a mother guides her son through triumphs and tragedies to his true destiny.
[image error]Blurb: Billie Nickerson must accept her own mortality as the only way she can assure her son will receive the intuitive gifts he was born to inherit, to save her family – and perhaps the world – from a disastrous fate. But learning that she has died too soon creates a Karmic crisis as Billie tries to escape the afterlife and return to her loved ones. Though Billie’s life is fraught with danger and dark spirits, and the power that David acquires places him in grave jeopardy, the story is an illustration of a mother’s love and devotion that transcends the boundaries of the here and the hereafter.
ASIN: B07BJJHZXW
ISBN-13: 978-1980589235
Hubert in Heaven – a hi-tech angel gets his wings
Genre: Fantasy, Spiritual, Humor – Children to age 10
[image error]Hook: Is there a place in heaven for an accidental angel?
Blurb: A hologram in a video game, Hubert is accidentally transported to Heaven, where he must stay until he finds his purpose. As an aspiring angel, he must perform many Heavenly tasks which he attempts to automate with his personal computer – to disastrously delightful results. Only when he learns to “be still – and let God do His work” does Hubert restore Heaven to perfect order, and this hi-tech angel finally gets his wings.
ASIN: B01LYD9SNK
ISBN-13: 978-1539740957
Whatever Became of Sin?
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Fiction
Hook: Racial hatred and sexual obsession lead to a heinous baby switching scheme, murder and political conspiracies. Now, one baby is dead and one alive. Can her father find her before it’s too late?
Blurb: Attorney Michael Warren’s life begins to unravel on a flight from San Francisco [image error]to New Orleans when a stranger gives him an audio cassette that renders his daughter’s life and death a lie: Dominique was not Michael’s real daughter; his real baby girl was kidnapped at birth and replaced with another newborn with the intent that the whereabouts of Baby Girl Warren would forever be unknown. Michael enlists the aid of local authorities in finding his real daughter but, unknown to him, they surreptitiously thwart his every move, each with their own agenda for revenge and profit. When Michael discovers the truth about who is involved in his daughter’s kidnapping, he is faced with the most difficult decision of his life: Shall he expose them all and jeopardize his daughter’s well-being? Or shall he submit to their conditions in order to bring her safely home? The shrewd compromises he must make in order to see justice done provide the surprising and satisfying ending.
ASIN: B01APSEVBU
ISBN-13: 978-1532920554
Website:
http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/b-roman.html
http://www.creativia.org/the-power-of-music-and-magical-adventures-author-b-roman.html
Social Media links:
Twitter: @BMoonSinger1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.BRomanMoonSinger
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7358514.B_Roman
QUICK POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)
Snow or sun: Sun, of course! I come alive when the sun shines.
Soccer or (ice) hockey: Neither (is that allowed? Ha)
Dogs or cats: Dogs.
Ice-cream or fruit: Fruit
Fact or fiction: Both. I’m a news junkie, particularly politics. A lot of fiction is based on ‘fact.’
Music or silence: Both; you can’t have one without the other.
Sport or reading: Reading
[image error]Sea or mountains: Sea
Groundhogs or squirrels: Margo, of course!
Books or movies: Both
E-book or print: Print; I love holding a book in my hands – especially my very own print book!
Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?
Just let them know I respect them, and I want to tell stories that not just entertain but enlighten. Know that authors are revealing very intimate parts of themselves in their work and I’m doing the best I can; always trying to do better. And if you read a book, please please review it. Don’t stop buying print books. Thank you, readers. We need you.
Barbara Roman on Meet Your Next Favorite Author
I met Barbara Roman first in the BookGoSocial Children’s Book Group. That’s how I read her kids’ book ‘Hubert in Heaven’. I loved the message in the story, telling kids that there are no limits to what you can and what you may do in heaven. And that heaven can be here on earth, in this life we live.
Thanks to the social media I connected to Barbara, who is always very supportive of other Indie Authors as myself. I must tell you that after this interview, I have added more ‘want to read’ books on my bookshelf. After reading the blurbs of her books, wow, I’m in! Somewhere, her words found a way directly to my inner child and the 500-year old soul in myself.
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Can you introduce yourself, what’s your name, where are you from… ?
My name is Barbara Roman and I also write as B. Roman. I’m originally from Philadelphia, PA but now live in Southern California in the USA.
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
At 75, I’m still a rock ‘n roller! Love that music. But I sing jazz standards professionally.
Give 2 things about yourself that you think matter the most?
I’m tenacious and determined (and probably a bit daft), which matters to me as a writer. I’m also loyal and empathetic, which I hope matters to others.
IDENTITY CARD [image error]
Do you remember the first book you read?
Not exactly sure about the first, but it was probably a Golden Book called The Pokey Little Puppy. And all the Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
What makes you laugh?
I love good comedy – especially clean comedy (as in Seinfeld), but risque is good, too, as long as it’s clever. I also love to laugh with good friends and family when we are just hanging out I cry at cruelty in any form, and at very sentimental TV commercials.
In which genre do you write?
I started out writing non-fiction about music, health, and metaphysical subjects. Now I write fiction and I guess I’m eclectic: fantasy, suspense, children’s books.
What makes your book special, how is it different from other books in your genre?
No matter the genre I write in, my books always revolve around ethical issues, courage, compassion, selfless sacrifice. How do they differ from other books? My novels are short – about 150 pages – which just about kills any chance I might have at being traditionally published because the industry is adamant about proper word count. But I write until my story is done; no more, no less.
How do you feel when you write, do you have a special ritual?
Sometimes it’s a love/hate relationship. When I’m first inspired by an idea, I go full force and lose myself in it completely; it’s an out of body blissful state. When I’m polishing and editing I begin to get very subjective and sometimes insecure worrying if it will be good enough or have value. I have no ritual but I will listen to New Age or classical music if I write at home; other times I love to go to the Barnes and Noble Starbuck’s coffee shop to feel all the energy of all the books there. Hopefully it will rub off!
What inspired you to write your first book?[image error]
My first book was a non-fiction self-help book on the power of music. It started out as a magazine article on the subject, but then grew organically. My first fiction book, The Crystal Clipper, blossomed from my exploration of metaphysical subjects, including crystal power, and then evolved into The Moon Singer Trilogy.
How did you come up with the title?
Once again my spiritual (we are speaking metaphysical teachings, not religious) exploration led me to a crystal party, where beautiful crystals of all types are laid out before you. As you run your hand over the display, without physically touching any gem, a crystal “chooses you.” The one that chose me was shaped like a miniature boat, complete with mast, hull and rudder. I was told that this kind of crystal was a “singer” crystal with special powers. Indeed, it inspired me to incorporate that singer crystal into my book, “The Crystal Clipper,” with the Clipper being a supernaturally-powered clipper ship of crystal and gold that transcends the boundaries of time and space. I still have that crystal which I made into a pendant.
If you could be any famous book character, who would you be and why?
One of those very rich, beautiful, powerful, and famous women in a glitzy Jackie Collins novel! No long-suffereing heroine of an epic saga for me. No sir.
Is there a message in your book that you hope the readers will grasp?
In all of my books, I hope readers find that element of truth and self-empowerment relevant to their own lives. Whether it’s through the Heavenly adventures of an accidental angel; through the eyes of a little girl who befriends light bulbs who want to be stars; or through the painful and enlightening journey of a deaf teen trying to come to terms with the responsibilities of his karmic destiny, I hope a light shines through that gives readers their own Aha moment.
What are your top 3 books of all time?
You mean favorite books that I’ve read? I adored The Thornbirds, one of the best and most romantic family sagas ever. Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth was my constant companion when I began writing fiction and trying to find my own voice. And I’m still trying to navigate my way through the lush and impossibly beautiful Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin. More? Life of Pi, Ishmael, the Alchemist, and John Grisham’s legal thrillers. Good stories. That’s what it comes down to.
How important is marketing and social media for you?
Social media is today’s marketing tool. I hate it, but it’s a necessary evil; it’s exhausting and endless, taking up valuable time that I need for writing. I’m not sure how much good it does with book sales, but it gives one high visibility worldwide. On the plus side, I have connected with some of the most wonderful, kind, supportive fellow authors one could ever hope to find (like you, Lieve)!
Is it important for you to get book reviews? Do you read them?
I ache for more book reviews (are you listening readers?) It is so difficult to get them, although some authors are just more fortunate than others in this respect, maybe because their books are of the most popular genres. The reviews I have gotten have been very complimentary and inspiring, even though they are not the high numbers I had hoped for. In turn, I try to review the works of other authors as often as time allows; it feels good to give someone a good review for a book they have poured their heart and soul into.
What advice do you have for other writers?
Don’t follow my advice. Read, research, explore, learn, be yourself, believe.
Can you give your book information: blurb, link, genre (for children’s book, please tell for what age)
Books
Alicia and the Light Bulb People in Star Factory 13
Fantasy, Humor – children to age 10
Hook: A Readers Favorite 5 Star children’s book. An enchanting tale of friendship, courage, and realizing your star potential through the magic of believing!
Blurb: Where do light bulbs go when they burn out? Do they stay dead forever? Or can they be regenerated to live a brand new life with a brand new purpose? If they’re lucky [image error]they go to Star Factory 13 to become glorious stars in the sky… after they pass a rigorous test of their personality given by Carelia the Light Goddess, that is. But how in the world did 10-year-old Alicia get to Star Factory 13? Could there really have been some magic in that department store Christmas tree? Or perhaps it was the ride in the elevator with the Golden Door that did it. The elevator button said “Press Me” and Alicia willingly obliged. Up she rode to the 13th floor to find an assortment of wise-cracking light bulb people, all with distinct personalities, each coming from sad, silly or desperate circumstance, all hoping to take their rightful place in the heavens.
ASIN: B076YWWGHD
ISBN-13 : 978-1979398268
The Moon Singer Trilogy (YA Fantasy) – Book One: The Crystal Clipper
Blurb: David Nickerson begins his fantastic journeys as a boy trying to cope with a series of family crises: his Father’s unemployment, his sister’s paralysis, the death of his [image error]mother, and his deafness after a serious illness. When David acquires a sacred Singer crystal, he conjures up the supernaturally-powered clipper ship Moon Singer, which takes him on spectacular sojourns to past and future lifetimes. The people he encounters all have a soul connection to one another and their lives are destined to intertwine many times over. With the help of a young princess who has the power of healing in her song, David is ultimately transformed into a young man who can “hear” what others cannot and who can “see” what others deny. But his mission is always the same – to save a life that means more to him than his own.
ASIN: B00AR82NMS
ISBN-13: 978-1530641710
The Moon Singer Trilogy – Book Two: The War Chamber
Blurb: While his home town fights passionately over how to revive a stagnant economy, [image error]David Nickerson is despondent that all the miracles he brought back with him on the Moon Singer have dissipated. He is just as deaf as before, his sister’s paralysis has returned, and his anguish over his mother’s death is stronger than ever. Determined to try and communicate with his dead mother and understand why she left him all alone to grieve for her, The Moon Singer ship transports him to a strange city caught in a time warp between a high-tech, materialistic and militant past. It is here that David encounters a revered woman who becomes like a mother to him and helps him understand how his deafness and his mother’s karmic mission are intertwined. David realizes that he must face up to his obligations as captain of the Moon Singer and follow his destiny, wherever it may lead.
ASIN: B01E9GLQJO
ISBN-13: 978-1532792984
The Moon Singer Trilogy – Book Three: The Wind Rose
Blurb: In this third and final adventure, the prophecy of the Moon Singer is realized. But it all revolves around the answer to one question: Can music actually create and destroy life?
[image error]If David, whose deafness still eludes treatment, cannot hear it, will he be able to tap into music’s power to save the planet from catastrophe? Only if he is able to reunite the three sacred artifacts: the Singer crystal, the Rose Crystal pendant, and the Wind Rose compass. Their Triune energy is all that David needs to re-harmonize the destructive discordant music created by a vengeful music master. The mystical clipper ship Moon Singer is David’s transport to the Source of his paranormal abilities, but only through his complete understanding of the Power of Three to Become One will he manifest his destiny and once again save a life that means more to him than his own. That understanding will come to him when he deciphers the cryptic musical codes that have been created for evil purposes. In unraveling these codes David will come to know his own soul’s song, the one that allows his disability to become his greatest gift.
ASIN: B01GLQUESY
ISBN-13: 978-1534645288
Before the Boy – the Prequel to the Moon Singer Trilogy
Hook: Even in death a mother guides her son through triumphs and tragedies to his true destiny.
[image error]Blurb: Billie Nickerson must accept her own mortality as the only way she can assure her son will receive the intuitive gifts he was born to inherit, to save her family – and perhaps the world – from a disastrous fate. But learning that she has died too soon creates a Karmic crisis as Billie tries to escape the afterlife and return to her loved ones. Though Billie’s life is fraught with danger and dark spirits, and the power that David acquires places him in grave jeopardy, the story is an illustration of a mother’s love and devotion that transcends the boundaries of the here and the hereafter.
ASIN: B07BJJHZXW
ISBN-13: 978-1980589235
Hubert in Heaven – a hi-tech angel gets his wings
Genre: Fantasy, Spiritual, Humor – Children to age 10
[image error]Hook: Is there a place in heaven for an accidental angel?
Blurb: A hologram in a video game, Hubert is accidentally transported to Heaven, where he must stay until he finds his purpose. As an aspiring angel, he must perform many Heavenly tasks which he attempts to automate with his personal computer – to disastrously delightful results. Only when he learns to “be still – and let God do His work” does Hubert restore Heaven to perfect order, and this hi-tech angel finally gets his wings.
ASIN: B01LYD9SNK
ISBN-13: 978-1539740957
Whatever Became of Sin?
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Fiction
Hook: Racial hatred and sexual obsession lead to a heinous baby switching scheme, murder and political conspiracies. Now, one baby is dead and one alive. Can her father find her before it’s too late?
Blurb: Attorney Michael Warren’s life begins to unravel on a flight from San Francisco [image error]to New Orleans when a stranger gives him an audio cassette that renders his daughter’s life and death a lie: Dominique was not Michael’s real daughter; his real baby girl was kidnapped at birth and replaced with another newborn with the intent that the whereabouts of Baby Girl Warren would forever be unknown. Michael enlists the aid of local authorities in finding his real daughter but, unknown to him, they surreptitiously thwart his every move, each with their own agenda for revenge and profit. When Michael discovers the truth about who is involved in his daughter’s kidnapping, he is faced with the most difficult decision of his life: Shall he expose them all and jeopardize his daughter’s well-being? Or shall he submit to their conditions in order to bring her safely home? The shrewd compromises he must make in order to see justice done provide the surprising and satisfying ending.
ASIN: B01APSEVBU
ISBN-13: 978-1532920554
Website:
http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/b-roman.html
http://www.creativia.org/the-power-of-music-and-magical-adventures-author-b-roman.html
Social Media links:
Twitter: @BMoonSinger1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.BRomanMoonSinger
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7358514.B_Roman
QUICK POP-QUIZ. (You can choose one or both, and please feel free to add a very brief comment)
Snow or sun: Sun, of course! I come alive when the sun shines.
Soccer or (ice) hockey: Neither (is that allowed? Ha)
Dogs or cats: Dogs.
Ice-cream or fruit: Fruit
Fact or fiction: Both. I’m a news junkie, particularly politics. A lot of fiction is based on ‘fact.’
Music or silence: Both; you can’t have one without the other.
Sport or reading: Reading
[image error]Sea or mountains: Sea
Groundhogs or squirrels: Margo, of course!
Books or movies: Both
E-book or print: Print; I love holding a book in my hands – especially my very own print book!
Is there anything more you want to tell your readers?
Just let them know I respect them, and I want to tell stories that not just entertain but enlighten. Know that authors are revealing very intimate parts of themselves in their work and I’m doing the best I can; always trying to do better. And if you read a book, please please review it. Don’t stop buying print books. Thank you, readers. We need you.
