Allison M Boot's Blog, page 3

My Favorite Movie-Based Book

Hey Readers,


Today I thought I’d write a blog about my favorite book, or my case, series of books that have been made into movies. Nine times out of ten, when a book is made into a movie, I say that the book is much better then the movie. This is typically either due to the fact that the characters do not look at all like I pictured or that the plot of the movie did not stay very close to the book at all. For example, I know that many people, myself included, were angry when the ending to the movie, My Sister’s Keeper was changed to be completely opposite of the book because it changed the whole point of the story. However, there are some movies based on books that I’ve enjoyed. My favorite is The Hunger Games series because, for the most part, the plot of the movies in the series stayed close to the books and the characters looked much like what I pictured they would. Moreover, it was awesome to see the characters and their adventures come to life. What is your favorite book based on the movie and why? Comment on this blog post, or the social media post associated with it, and let me know so that I can get to know you better and maybe get a list of new movies to watch.  I love watching movies when I’m not writing. Until next time…happy reading and, as always, don’t forget to love yourself just the way you are

My Hopes for Disability Literature As A Genre

Disability literature is an underdeveloped, largely ignored, genre. For the most part, when researching disability literature you will find not actual literature or stories, but rather self-help and parental guidance type books. Moreover, a September 2014 article in Disabilities Studies Quarterly stated that many disability related books have subliminal and/or outwardly negative messages about people with disabilities. I find this particularly sad and have done my part to include positive, non-stereotypical, characters with disabilities in my writing. Books of all kinds, including fiction,  have been used to help educate people about things that they might not be aware of or understand for centuries. I think that disability literature provides a unique platform through which to educate those who do not have knowledge of or have not grown up around disability about people with disabilities.  Furthermore, writing books geared towards children and young adults that fall within the disability literature genre can help to educate them about disability from a young age when they’re more likely to accept those with disabilities. I honestly believe that if more people wrote children’s and young adult books about people with disabilities then the world would be a more educated, evolved, and better place. Unfortunately, I cannot control the actions of others so I will just do my part to continue contributing to disability literature as a genre in hopes that my efforts, and contributions, as insignificant as they may seem, will eventually help to make the world a better place. Until next time… happy reading and, as always, remember to love yourself just the way you are.

What Is Your Favorite Holiday-Themed Book?

Hi Readers,

First off, Merry Christmas to my readers celebrating Christmas today and Happy Holidays to those of you who are observing another holiday this season. Secondly, what is your favorite holiday- themed book to read this time of year and why? One of my favorites is A Fool’s Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery. It’s a story about a fictional, very happy, small town in California  which details the love between a dancer and a lawyer and shows readers that miracles really can happen at Christmas.  if you haven’t read it already, I highly recommend it. Please comment on this blog, or the social media post associated with it, to tell me your favorite holiday- themed book so I can get to know you better and get ideas as to what books to read next Christmas. Until next time… happy reading and, as always, remember to love yourself just the way you are.  Happy Holidays

The Top Five Reasons Why I Write

Hey Readers,

Today I thought I’d write a blog about why I write. Below is a list of my top five reasons.

1. I write to spread disability awareness and make a difference in the world. I believe that books are unique platform that can be used to entertain and educate children about people with disabilities. More importantly, books can be used to teach children and young adults to accept and embrace differences and love one another just as we are. I have made spreading a message of self-acceptance and acceptance of others to young boys and girls my life’s mission.

2. I write to work through my emotions and help not only myself, but also others who might be going through similar experiences. Writing gives me a unique vehicle through which to express myself. Moreover it allows me to express myself in ways that I might not be able to verbally or otherwise.

3. Writing allows me to tell the stories that God put on my heart. I believe that He put only the stories that I am meant to tell on my heart so therefore, it is my responsibility to write them in the best way possible.

4. I write because I enjoy doing so and I firmly believe that you should spend as much time on this earth doing things that you enjoy as possible because you only live once and life is short.

5. I write to improve my writing skills. Although many people say I’m very good writer, I believe there is always room for improvement. I have wanted to be a writer since I was about 9 years old and have been writing since about that age. My writing skills have improved over time and I believe that they will continue to improve if I continue writing so I will continue doing so until there are no more stories on my heart to tell.

The post The Top Five Reasons Why I Write appeared first on Allison M. Lewis.

Why Book Reviews Are So Important to Authors

Reviews can make or break an author’s success. If you haven’t already, I ask that you to please take five minutes to review Just the Way You Are on any of the websites that sell and/or advertise it.  Just as the photo above says, a review doesn’t have to be anything fancy.  Even the simplest of reviews will help.  The more reviews I get, the more advertising I receive.  The more advertising I receive, the more people I reach.  The more people I reach, the more of a difference my writing can make.  I write to make a difference.  Please take five minutes to review Just the Way You Are or encourage a family member or a friend to do so and help me to make a difference in the world.  Thanks and, as always, don’t forget to love yourself just the way you are

Coming Soon-The Magic Within

Want to know more about my upcoming/second book, The Magic Within? I hope to publish it in March 2018 and,as of now, am on track to do so.  Today I thought I would post the book description to tide you over until then.

 

Isabel Benson has recently been crowned Queen of Cinder’s Edge, but before signing her first royal decree, she finds herself questioning whether the kingdom is ready for the changes she is about to put in motion.

Travel through time as her grandparents help to answer this question by telling their story.

Natalie, a petite, silver-haired woman with emerald eyes and wrinkles that reflect both the triumphs and the tragedies of her life, was once a typical young princess. Her father’s obsession with finding her the perfect suitor and her mother’s insistence that she learn to perfect things like the art of curtsying, left her wanting nothing more than to break free of both of her parents’ expectations.

Blaine Benson is now a white-haired man with soulful blue eyes who loves his granddaughter more than life itself.  Growing up, he was like any other guy expect for his physical disability and the fact that his best friend was, and still is, a treasure troll. Hoping to learn how to free his father, a once beloved magician, from the guilt surrounding the cause of his disability, Blaine spent most of his formative years with his nose stuck in a book.

Go on an adventure with the two grandparents as they describe how falling for one another was not by coincidence, but by the work of forces greater than they ever could have imagined. Learn how their love, and the love of those around them, was put to the test when Glomgurgle, a dragon who attacked the kingdom when Natalie was a child, lured her to his lair and her father offered her hand in marriage to the suitor who could save her.

Stroll down memory lane with the patriarch and matriarch as Natalie struggles to find her own happiness with the well-being of her kingdom at stake. Hear how the former queen realized she must learn to trust in the only thing that she could – her instincts. Listen to how Blaine examined his true abilities, as the fate of Natalie, the trolls, and Cinder’s Edge was ultimately put in his hands.

In the end, after hearing the history of her family and kingdom, Isabel must decide whether she, too, can trust her instincts and sign a royal decree that will change the fate of Cinder’s Edge and its people forever.

 

Author and troll doll enthusiast, Allison Boot, loves to write. She uses her writing ability to spread disability awareness in hopes that her words will positively impact young people with disabilities.

 

Have questions for me?  Comment on this blog or the social media post associated with it to ask me anything you want about my upcoming book!

The post Coming Soon-The Magic Within appeared first on Allison M. Lewis.

The Reason Why I Wrote A Fairytale

I chose to write Just the Way You Are in a fairy-tale format for a couple of reasons. Firstly, fairy-tales have been around for centuries and therefore seemed like the appropriate through which to reach kids and young adults, who are my target audience. I figured, why reinvent the wheel if I don’t need to? Secondly, fairy-tales are tried-and-true and beloved format through which to tell a story. With that said, writing a fairy-tale seemed like the most logical way to educate children and young adults about people with disabilities while also entertaining them. Do you agree with my reasoning? Do you think I could better reach children and young adults through a different story format? If so, please feel free to comment on this post or contact me through my website and let me know. Until next time…happy reading and, as always, don’t forget to love yourself just the way you are

Why Do You Love Books?

I have loved reading and books for as long as I can remember. Over the years I have discovered that book lovers tend to love books for different reasons. Some people just love the way that book feel in their hands. Others love the way books, particularly old books, smell. Others, like me, enjoy books as an escape and love the way that many books allowed readers to escape to another world. Why do you love books? Do you love books for one of the reasons I mentioned or a completely different reason? Comment on this post and let me know. Until next time…happy reading and, as always, don’t forget to love yourself just the way you are

The Inspiration Behind Derrick’s Denison’s Character

As you may or may not know, my husband, Dylan Boot, was the inspiration behind the character, Derrick Denison in Just the Way You Are. When writing the book I knew I wanted Derrick’s character to be that nearly perfect guy that most every girl dreams about falling for and spending her life. I’m not saying that my husband is perfect, no one  is, but he is pretty darn close. I wanted Derrick to be that kind of guy so using my husband as the inspiration was an easy decision. However, it should be noted that while Derrick’s looks and kind disposition do nothing to hurt his character, those are not the things that make him the perfect partner for Misty. The way that he encourages Misty to stand up for herself when appropriate yet also stands up for her when appropriate, is what makes him the perfect partner for her. I hope this sends the message to young girls that your partner should both support you and let you be your own woman because, in my humble opinion, having the ability to support someone while letting him or her be his/her own person is what makes someone an awesome partner. Until next time…happy reading and, as always, don’t forget to love yourself just the way you are

Why A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a theme in Just the Way You Are

The art of dance will always hold a special place in my heart. I can’t dance, in what most people would consider a conventional way, due to my disability. However, I was part of a wheelchair ballet class as a teenager and loved it.  It was that class and the A Midsummer Night’s Dream performance I was a part of that inspired one of the major themes of Just the Way You Are. I chose to make A Midsummer Night’s Dream one of the themes of Just the Way You Are for a couple of reasons. Firstly, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a beautiful story that I thought should be used to tell another beautiful story. Secondly, I believe that A Midsummer Night’s dream and the dance moves utilized in it exemplify how dance can be used to tell a story and/or connect with others. For example, in Just the Way You Are, Misty hopes that the art of dance will help her connect with Derrick and, in fact, it does. More importantly, that connection is still intact and continues even after her disability is revealed. I made a point of showing this in the story because I want young girls to realize that anyone can indeed utilize the art of dance to tell a story or connect with others regardless of the level of ability they may or may not have because, as Derrick points out in Just the Way You Are, dance is a language that all people can speak if they learn to trust themselves and feel the music. Moreover, more importantly, as the king of Starrycrest says people with disabilities can do anything able-bodied people can do. They just have to do it a little differently.  What it all boils down to is,  you should never let anything, even not being able to dance in a conventional way stop you from telling your story. Until next time, happy reading, and as always, don’t forget to love yourself just the way you are