Wanda Luthman's Blog, page 23
September 17, 2018
Franky Wins Again!
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Hi everyone,
I told you I would let you know about the other award that Franky had been nominated for and drum roll, please….
Franky is a Finalist in the 2018 Top Shelf Indie Book Awards!!!!
Here’s the email I received…
Dear Wanda,
We had a staggering 1,023 entries in the 2018 TopShelf Indie Book Awards, and your book Franky the Finicky Flamingo has been selected as a Finalist in the category of Children’s Picture Book (0-5 years)!
Warm Regards,
Keith Katsikas
CEO & Publisher
TopShelf Magazine
I’m so excited!!!!!
When I started this journey 4 years ago, I never would have imagined I would be a multi-award winning author. 
September 14, 2018
Fun Fact Friday with Franky’s Fun Flamingo Facts
Welcome to Day 16 of Franky’s Fun Flamingo Facts!
Flamingos are a lot like us using lungs to breathe air. We have to hold our breaths when we go under water too. Can you imagine eating under water while you’re holding your breath?
Thank goodness, we don’t have to do that!
If you enjoyed this fun fact about flamingos, please like and share this post all over social media and leave a comment to let me know your thoughts!
Hugs!
September 12, 2018
Camino de Santiago, what is it?
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A couple of years ago, we watched that movie where an older man lived on the Appalachian Trail (AT) and he decided him and his childhood buddy would walk it. I can’t remember the name of it. I’m like that, I just don’t remember details.
Anyhoo, my husband decided he wanted to walk the AT and true to fashion, he read every book on it, watched every YouTube video, bought the backpack, the boots, the walking sticks, the sleeping bag, the poop shovel, etc.
But, then, he actually went on an overnight with some friends up in TN/NC to watch that total eclipse we had last August and well, let’s just say sleeping on a very thin mattress in a very small tent wasn’t his favorite thing.
It’s heck getting old. Maybe when he was younger, he wouldn’t have felt every rock underneath him.
He then heard about the Camino and it piqued his interest. Not only do you not have to carry your own tent and sleeping bag and mattress and poop shovel, you are walking where St. James walked. He was one of the original apostles with Jesus.
The Camino is a Pilgrimage trail and there are places to stay along the way called Alburgues (I may be spelling it wrong). Some are old monasteries. But, these places have beds, showers, a place to wash and hang your laundry, and usually a hearty meal is included in the small price.
The walk begins in several places but my husband and his sister decided to do the one that started in France and go over the Pyrenees mountains. They trained and did all they could in flat ol’ Florida to prepare, but they had no idea what it would actually be like.
They have finished Week 1 of their 250 mile walk. The entire Camino from France is 500 miles. They determined they weren’t going to do all of it, at least not on this trip. They are doing the first part (over the Pyrenees) and the last part (into Santiago).
We have only talked twice because Spain is 6 hours ahead of me and well, I still have to work. By the time I get home, they are fast asleep.
But, I receive many posts and pictures when I wake up in the morning. Something I enjoy waking up to besides my coffee.
I can confidently say that they are having the experience of a lifetime.
The countryside is absolutely beautiful! Untouched, it seems, for the past 1,000 years. They have passed farmers walking their cows or pigs or horses along this path. They have stopped to eat at beautiful places (like the one pictured above).
One place they stopped to eat lunch at actually had pear trees, peach trees, and grape vines and you could pick fresh whatever you wanted to eat. Imagine that! That is truly authentic eating!
Today, he said they overdid it. They walked further than they had been. They must have been feeling strong. But, the son was hot and they got a little burned and overheated.
They are fine. He said they may take tomorrow off. They had built in a couple of rest days.
I will continue to keep you posted on Wednesdays throughout the month of September while they are walking.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I may not know the answer but I can make something up (LOL) or actually ask my husband (who probably does know the answer with all his studying of the Camino and all).
Buen Camino!
September 10, 2018
The Big Crowned Princess
Hi everyone,
Today, I’d like to bring you a Princess book–you know I love princesses!
This one is called The Big Crowned Princess. Author Ayesha Marfani tells us about it…
Princess Alishba wears a VERY big crown and fancy frocks, so people think her arrogant and stuck up. In reality she longs to be allowed to wear comfortable clothes like ordinary children – and her large crown hides a secret … A touching story about not judging by appearances, from master storyteller Ayesha Marfani.
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Princess Alishba hates the royal protocol because it makes her life miserable at school. She hates her heavy dresses and jewels on the crown but wears a very big one
The big crown is her own choice and she treasures something in it.
She cannot reveal the secret and accepts the mocking from her fellows until one day her secret is revealed.
Some of Ayesha’s other books…
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Also see the other three titles by Author Ayesha Marfani
Book details: Target age: 3 to 7 years Publisher: Crimson Cloak Publishing Illustrator: Alison Wood
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All of her books are available on Amazon
Thank you, Ayesha, for sharing you Princess book with us today. And I hope everyone checks out all of her books because she’s one very special author.
September 7, 2018
Fun Fact Friday with Franky’s Fun Flamingo Facts
Day 15 on Fun Fact Friday.
Guess what? I was having so much fun with these fun facts about flamingos that I decided to do an encore. I have a few more fun facts to share with you about flamingos before we switch it up to some other animals that I know you’ll enjoy just as much.
When you go swimming, have you seen the numbers on the sides of the pool? These numbers show how deep the water is in that area.
While flamingos can wade into deep water, you need to stay safe and only swim where an adult tells you that you are allowed. And never, ever, ever swim without an adult there to watch you at all times.
To see what it’s like to have webbed feet, you can put flippers on your feet and walk around the backyard with them on. You might find you have to lift your feet higher than normal to be able to walk.
Franky is the beloved character in the award-winning children’s picture book called Franky the Finicky Flamingo available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
If you enjoyed today’s Fun Fact Friday by Franky, please like and share on your social media channels.
Hugs!
September 5, 2018
A Camino de Santiago Blessing
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Hi everyone,
I thought I’d share with you something going on in my life right now kind of a behind-the-scenes look into my personal life.
My husband decided to do a walk called the Camino de Santiago which goes from France to the coast of Spain. It’s 500 miles total but he’s doing half of that (the first part and the last part).
He’s been training for well over a year because he had also thought about walking the Appalachian Trail. However, when he was at an REI Seminar, he heard about the Camino and it peaked his interest.
Then, he got sick, like really sick. In the hospital, heart attack, stint, sick. It took him about 3-4 months to get his medication regulated before he felt like walking again. That was last August.
He shared his goal of walking the Camino with his sister and brother-in-law. It just so happened that their church was hosting a talk given by a Priest who had walked the Camino. So, they invited us to listen.
He was hilarious! Something about it inspired his sister to want to do the walk too. That’s a very fortunate thing because I did not feel the call to do the walk but I didn’t like the idea of him doing the walk alone. She had lived in Spain back when her husband was stationed there in the Air Force and they have traveled back there to visit friends, so she has kept her Spanish up.
She’s also a detailed planner, as is he. Together, they poured over websites and books and videos to figure out exactly what they wanted to do. They booked their plane tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, and a hotel. The first few days were done. After that, they will officially start there walk and yes, those days are planned too but of course, they vowed not to push themselves and to just take it as it comes. As it should be.
Anyway, they left on Sunday, September 2nd.
Of course, being a writer, I had a few words for them. This is a blessing that I wrote to send them on their way. I read it to them before they left.
May your backpacks be light and your sticks be sure.
May your legs be strong and your feet endure.
May you, each moment embrace
And with each step find more of God’s grace.
May you make friends of everyone you meet
And wake refreshed each day as the sun you do greet.
May your minds be filled with peace from above
And your hearts overflow with God’s great love.
May you walk and talk and find silence too
Until your blessings abound and your burdens are few.
Bien Camino!
Sometimes a walk does ya good!
September 3, 2018
Franky Wins in 2018 Reader’s Favorite Competition
Hi everyone,
I told you I would be back after September 1st to let you know how Franky the Finicky Flamingo does in the 2018 Reader’s Favorite International Book Competition.
And he won Honorable Mention in the Animals Category!! You can see above that he is celebrating!! Doing the happy flamingo dance!
Thank you for all of your support!!!!!
I’m super excited about this win as there were hundreds of other worthy books that Franky was judged against!!!!
Here’s a wonderful write up by the incredibly talented illustrator of Franky the Finicky Flamingo, Mara Reitsma.
And you know there’s always a team in creating a book, there’s the behind-the-scenes magical guru, Claire Plaisted of Plaisted Publishing House, who helped me every step of the way with decisions that had to be made and all the formatting stuff that I could never dream of understanding.
A great big hug and thank you and happy dances to my team members, Mara and Claire! I couldn’t do what I do without you!!
And there were other winners in the Reader’s Favorite Competition that I have either featured on my blog or have read and written a review…
There’s Alma Hammond with Super Rooster and Cat winning Silver in the Animals Category. Here’s my review re-posted from Amazon
“I love this sweet story about an unusual friendship between a cat and a rooster. They enjoy the beach together and meet sea creatures. The author does a great job explaining what may seem scary about these creatures is something that has a purpose. She explains in a fun way what each creature does that makes them special. Great messages for everyone and told in a fun way! Beautiful illustrations! 5 stars”
And there’s Diane Mae Robinson with the Sir Princess Petra series that I featured on my blog here and also reviewed on Amazon.
Here’s the review re-posted from Amazon
“Such a fun story! I actually read book three first but that took nothing away from enjoying this first book in the series. Sir Princess Petra is a kind-hearted soul who has big dreams for herself to be a royal knight against her parents wishes. She goes on her quest and makes friend of everyone she meets. Such a great story with a good lesson and plenty of humor thrown in!”
Her The Dragon Grammar Book won GOLD in Children-Educational!! Oh yea!!
I also have read and reviewed it on Amazon, here’s the re-post
“I picked up this book thinking I would know most of it, although why I thought that I have no idea. It’s true I’m an author but there is much to know about grammar. And well, I wasn’t the best student of grammar. Don’t get me wrong, I was a great student, but grammar alluded me. Still does, apparently. And I have most probably used every comma wrong in my above sentences. LOL I think this is a great book for children and adults. I think it is best as a reference rather than a read-through because it is a lot of information to take in. I compliment the author for taking on such a difficult task and for making grammar more pleasant by using dragons and princesses as examples.”
Cindy Shirley who I met last year at the Reader’s Favorite Awards Ceremony in Miami had TWO books win–The Fabulous Life of Minnie the Sassy Chick won an Honorable Mention in Children’s Concept and Doodle and the Magic Christmas Float won a Bronze in Children Grade K-3rd.
And Lieve Snellings who writes children’s non-fiction books about groundhogs (aka woodchucks) won a Bronze in Groundhog Secrets
And let me tell you a secret, she takes her own photos of groundhogs and they are amazing!!
She recently featured me on her blog. Check it out here!
She has promised that I can feature her on my blog in October, so stay tuned!
I hope to connect with some of the other winners so I can bring them to you on this blog.
And we still have the Top Shelf Indie Book Awards to hear on, so stay posted. I’ll let you know when I know.
Thank you everyone out there in Blog Land for supporting me, leaving comments on my posts, sharing via Twitter and Facebook and LinkedIn and Google+. You guys make blogging fun!
Happy Labor Day! Enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation!
Hugs!
August 31, 2018
Fun Fact Friday with Franky’s Fun Flamingo Facts
Day 14 and the Final Franky’s Fun Flamingo Fact post (at least for a little while)…
Franky is the pink flamingo in the children’s picture book, Franky the Finicky Flamingo. He seems to be a picky eater until he discovers the food that is right for him.
There will be more Fun Fact Friday Facts coming from Little Birdie and Tad….so don’t despair!
This is a great Fun Fact to end on. I love the Bahamas and I’m so glad one of my favorite birds is their National Bird!!
Share this Fun Fact with your children and provide paper and crayons or markers or even paints (if you dare!) for them (and you too!) to paint a National Flag of a mythical country using a flamingo as the main picture. Using you creativity, name your mythical country.
If you have cloth for the children to use to paint on, consider attaching the flag to a stick (once it’s dry, of course).
Then, for additional fun, make up a National Anthem about your new mythical country and march around your house singing the National Anthem while waving the new National flags! Maybe even put the flags in the ground outside your house (if your HOA allows).
If you enjoyed this Fun Fact, please share everywhere on the world wide web so others can have fun making their own Fun Flamingo Country Flag!!
Hugs!
P.S.–next week, we’ll be starting with a new character on Fun Fact Friday. Stay tuned to see who it will be. Will it be Little Birdie or Tad the Turtle? Who do you want it to be? Post your response in the comments.
August 30, 2018
Wanda Luthman at Meet Your Next Favorite Author
Hi everyone,
I just wanted you to see this lovely post that my internet friend and fellow children’s author, Lieve Snelling’s, posted on her blog.
If you love Pooh Bear like I do, you’ll find him on this post!
And be sure to check out the rest of her blog and her beautiful picture books on groundhogs!!
August 27, 2018
Girl in the Box No Bullies on my Block! (A book about bullying)
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Hi, everyone,
I want to introduce you to a very special father, Lamont, that I met via a mutual friend who does a live show every Saturday at 9:30AM called Self Love Saturday and his daughter, Danielle Lynn (pictured above).
Lamont and Danielle Lynn wrote a book to entertain young readers and also to teach about the very serious topic of bullying although they do it in a great way!
Here’s Lamont…
I’m happy to introduce “The Girl in the Box-No Bullies on my Block”.
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The story is based on my oldest daughter Danielle and some of her pre-teen experiences.
Everyone has felt awkward at some time in their life. It is based on some real life challenges she experienced at school.
Each school day she would come home with a different dilemma.
I noticed a huge difference regarding how girls dealt with bullying.
It has been an exciting learning experience putting her story on paper. We feel privileged to share with you, how Danielle dealt with her bully.
Bullying is a serious problem. Often the person being bullied doesn’t know where to go for help. We don’t all have siblings or a best friend.
If you are being bullied, you should tell someone immediately. Talk to your parents, friend, or teacher. There are many groups and organizations to help against bullying. It is not something to keep as a secret.
This is our first writing adventure. Often, writers write to persuade, convey, or convince the reader. I don’t. I prefer to engage thought; why, how, and reason. Let your imagination take you there.
We should seek a positive outcome when dealing with life situations.
It may make you laugh or cry, hopefully you will be entertained. I enjoyed reading to my children when they were younger, and I find it to be a great one-on-one time with your child. I also like to turn the radio off in the car and have a conversation. Those times we ‘tune out, turn off the cell or radio’ can be special moments to share.
I’m happy to say, Danielle has graduated from UNLV and is pursuing a career in Theatrical Engineering.
We are originally from Michigan. My family and I moved to Las Vegas about 15 years ago.
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My wife and I have three children and two grandchildren. We spend most of our time running our medical business.
My priority has been my family, and I have a deep passion for developing our youth. I have been fortunate to reach many young men through coaching baseball and basketball.
I am now assisting in development of an anti-bullying program with the Clark County School District.
There is a great need for parents to not only tell their children about right and wrong, but to set a good example as role models.
You can find more information on Facebook at Anti-Bullying@nobulliesonmyblock
You can connect with Lamont here Lamont Witcher @LamontWitcher1
Thank you, Lamont, for writing such a wonderful book about a very serious topic.
I had the good fortune to win this book on the Self Love Saturday Show and I wrote a review of it…
“I won this book on a Facebook Live Show and found this book to tell a great story that is based on a child’s real life situation of being bullied. The girl that lives in the box is super cool and gives wonderful advice. Any child would love to have a friend like her! I know I would have. While the topic is serious, the book handles it in a way that is not heavy. I think everyone should read this book–whether you have been bullied or not because it shows how people feel when they are bullied as well as a great way to approach the situation.”
