Kaye Lynne Booth's Blog: Writing to be Read, page 36

Growing Bookworms – Age groups for children’s books: Middle-grade Fiction #growingbookworms #childrensfiction

Picture caption: Banner for Growing Bookworms featuring a drawing of a squirrel with fold arms by Robbie CheadleWhat is middle-grade fiction

Middle-grade fiction is aimed at readers aged between 8 and 12 years old. This genre is intended to be a bridge between simple children’s stories and stories that are more emotionally or thematically advanced. Importantly, middle-grade is not a genre, it is an age-based categorisation. Middle-grade fiction comes in all sorts of genres.

Books falling into the middle-fiction category are usually 30,000 to 50,000 words in length and are frequently in the third person point of view. The protagonist is usually between the ages of 10 and 13 years old and there is no graphic violence, sexuality or swearing.

While middle-grade stories can include heavy topics such as death, illness, mental illness, and war, the stories generally focus on dynamics between family and friends and don’t go into introspective discoveries and or social dynamics in the greater world.

Famous examples of midde-grade fictionHoles by Louis Sachar

An excellent example of a complex middle-grade book is Holes by Louis Sachar. The main themes of Holes are: The power of fate to determine events; the benefits of friendship; the destructive nature of cruelty; and the importance of history in every day life.

Picture caption: Book cover for Holes by Louis Sachar

This is the Amazon US blurb for Holes:

Stanley Yelnats’ family has a history of bad luck, so when a miscarriage of justice sends him to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre (which isn’t green and doesn’t have a lake), it’s not exactly a surprise.

Every day he and the other inmates are told to dig a hole each, five foot wide by five foot deep, reporting anything they find. Why? The evil warden claims that it builds character, but this is a lie. It’s up to Stanley to dig up the truth.

A masterpiece of storytelling that combines sly humour with irresistible, page-turning writing.

You can purchase Holes from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Holes-Louis-Sachar-ebook

Roald Dahl’s books

Roald Dahl is synonymous with childhood in my mind. I absolutely loved his dark and quirky books when I was a young reader. I read these books to my two youngest sisters and also to both my sons. When I got the chance, I also read them to my nieces and nephews. I am a Dahl fan!

These are a few wonderful quotes from Roald Dahl’s books:

“A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it.” from Boy: Tale of Childhood

“So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place, you can install A lovely bookshelf on the wall. Then fill the shelves with lots of books.” from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

“Well, maybe it started that way. As a dream, but doesn’t everything.” from James and the Giant Peach (this is my favourite as it includes an assortment of giant bugs including Miss Spider).

You can find all of Roald Dahl’s books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Roald-Dahl/author/B000AQ0WGQ

Roald Dahl inspired a few of my fondant creations:

Picture caption: My Fantastic Mr Fox inspired fondant fox.

Toni Pike is a modern Indie author who has captured the same quirky and darkly humorous style of writing as Roald Dahl. You can find all of Toni Pike’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Toni-Pike/author/B009I70E8Y

Middle-grade series

There are several excellent middle-grade series.

My sons both loved Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson. The first book in the series in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. The hero, Percy Jackson, is half human and half Greek god. A quote from the Amazon blurb: I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. Now I spend my time battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive.

Talented Indie children’s author, Darlene Forster, has a wonderful series of middle-age books featuring a young girl, Amanda, who loves travelling to different countries. Everywhere Amanda goes, she falls into an adventure.

You can find all of Darlene’s Amanda books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Darlene-Foster/author/B003XGQPHA

Some writers start out as middle-grade writers and their targeted age group increases as their characters age. A famous example of such a writer is JK Rowling. The first two Harry Potter books were middle-grade stories. As her characters grew older, the books became more complicated, darker and much longer.

You can find the complete collection of Harry Potter books here: https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Complete-Collection-1-7-ebook/dp/B01B3DKROQ

Of course, if anyone reading this post hasn’t read Harry Potter I’ll eat Sir Chocolate – haha!

Picture caption: Sir Chocolate wearing a new hat, a fondant creation by Robbie CheadleAbout Robbie Cheadle

Award-winning, bestselling author, Robbie Cheadle, has published fifteen children’s book and three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

The eleven Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.

Robbie and Michael’s new Southern African Safari Adventures series is aimed at teaching young children about Southern African wildlife in a fun and entertaining way. Each book contains a rhyming verse story about a particular animal, as well as illustrations by Robbie Cheadle, photographs and links to video footage about that animal.

Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews. https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/

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Day 2 of the WordCrafter “Sarah” Book Blog Tour

Join us over at Roberta Writes for Day 2 of the WordCrafter Sarah Book Blog Tour to learn about the Ute people of Colorado and how they play a role in Sarah. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy.

Roberta Writes – WordCrafter Book Blog Tour: Sarah by Kaye Lynne Booth #readingcommunity #fiction #historical

Welcome to the WordCrafter “Sarah” Book Blog Tour

Welcome to the WordCrafter Sarah Book Blog Tour, where we’re celebrating the release of Book 2 in my Women in the West adventure series. We’ve got a five day tour planned and at every stop you can learn more about me, the author, and learn interesting historical facts which inspired my settings and characters through an interview, guest posts, and a review or two, and I’ll be giving away three digital copies of Sarah in the giveaway. You can follow the tour through the schedule below, but the links won’t work until each post goes live.

Tour Schedule

Mon. May 6 – “The Soiled Doves of the American West” – Writing to be Read

Tues. May 7 – “Utes in Glenwood Springs & the Legend of Chapita” – Roberta Writes

Wed. May 8 – Interview & Reading – Book Places

Thurs. May 9 – “‘Modern Medicine’ in the American West” – Writing to be Read

Fri. May 10 – Interview & Review  – Patty’s Worlds

Giveaway

Leave a comment at each tour stop for five chances to win a free digital copy of Sarah.

The Soiled Doves of the American West Eric A. Hegg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prostitution_district_of_Klondike_City,across_the_Klondike_River_from_Dawson,_Yukon_Territory,_ca_1899(HEGG_320).jpegProstitution in the Old West

In Colorado, the mining town of Cripple Creek had over 300 prostitutes in 1894, and it was home to one of the most high-end brothels in the mining towns of Colorado. The clients were taken by appointment only and were put through a thorough screening process where their finances were scrutinized, as well as their references. Appointments started at $200 an hour and the gentlemen had to have at least a million dollars in the bank to get one. The Old Homestead House brothel was run by the infamous Pearl DeVere and housed five women who squeezed into their corsets, petticoats and fancy dresses every evening to offer their ‘services’ for sale. The girls entertained in luxury on the ground floor, with music provided by the girls, gambling and alcohol available for their enjoyment, but the real entertainment occured on the second floor, in the girl’s rooms.

Although their profession was illegal, authorities and town founders chose to look the other way and add fees, fines and taxes and taxes collected to the town coiffers. Permits were required ply their trade for both madams and doves, and each girl had to undergo a weekly or monthly exam by the town doctor to be cleared for the permit, all of course, at a cost. There was a designated shopping day when the ‘respectable’ ladies stayed indoors so as not to be offended by their presence, and a ‘dove’ caught on the streets on a different day would bring a fine not only upon herself, but upon her madam, as well. And donations made to local causes such as church and school by the madam kept the ‘respectable’ ladies from complaining too much about the very existence of the houses of ill repute.

Less fortunate women in the profession, who did not work in such a high-end establishment were found up and down the street They received less for their services, with small make-shift shacks in which to entertain their customers. Independent doves who had no madam to offer a place to offer their services and provide protection from unsavory types, might provide services in the shadows of an alley for as little as a dollar gold piece.

Meet Big Nose Kate

Big Nose Kate Horony is one of the historical characters which the Women in the West adventure series is known for. In real life, she was an independent prostitute and one-time Madam, who made her own way in the west and was companion to the infamous John Henry “Doc” Holliday, and her portrayal in Sarah, as ‘the woman behind the man’ is a true and accurate story. Kate was there, and she really did go into the hills of the surrounding canyon and gather firewood to sell in order to keep a roof over Doc’s head as he lay dying of tuberculosis, too weak to practice his trade as a gambler.

Mary Katherine Horony – Big Nose Kate, Public Domain Image

One of the fascinating things about the Women in the West adventure series is the fact that there is a true-life historical female character in a supporting role, along with the strong female protagonist in each book. In Sarah, the supporting historical character is Mary Katherine Horony, (Big Nose Kate), who was the consort of the infamous dentist, gambler, and gunfighter, John Henry (Doc) Holliday. In this case, our character was the woman behind the man, and is little known for her own merit.

Born Mary Katherine Horoney on November 7, 1850, who lived in Mexico as a child, she was the daughter of a the personal surgeon to the Emporer Maximillian until her family immigrated to Iowa when she was 10. As the daughter of a prominant surgeon, Kate was educated and it is said that she spoke several languages.

At the age of 15, she and her younger siblings were orphaned when both of their parents died within a few months of each other, and the children were split up and placed into foster care. But Kate ran away within a year, and she and her sister traveled to St. Louis and by 1869, in a time when there were few opportunities for females to earn a living. A self-sufficient woman in the rough and tumble of the American west, Kate worked as a dance hall girl, a prostitute, or just about any way she could to make a buck.

In Texas, she crossed paths with John Henry “Doc” Holliday, a dentist turned gambler, who became a notorious gunfighter, and they were traveling companions, on and off, until his dying days. A strong woman with a hot Hungarian temper, she and Doc had their ups and downs as they frequented saloons and gambling houses in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, living a life of vice and liquor. Even so, Kate was always there to back up Doc’s play, even setting a she on fire to distract his guards and breaking him out of house arrest to avaoid a lynch mob, after he stabbed a man who accused him of cheating at cards. It is said that for a time, Kate even had her own bordello in Tombstone, before she reunited with Doc after one of their many seperations.

When Doc was dying in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, a friend contacted her and she traveled to Glenwood Springs to care for her destitute lifelong companion, gathering firewood in the nearby hills to cover his room and board when he could no longer support himself. And that is where my fictional character of Sarah, or Hair of Fire, meets Kate in my story, after a harrowing ordeal of survival through the mountains of Colorado.

You can learn more about Kate and Doc in my guest post from the tour for Delilah: Book 1 on Kay Castenada’s Book Places blog site.

References

Brinks, Mellissa. 23 September, 2021. “What Life Was Really Like as an Old West Saloon Girl”. Ranker. https://www.ranker.com/list/life-of-a-wild-west-saloon-girl/melissa-brinks

Whitley, Carla Jean. 10 March 2017. “To Doc From Kate – But Who Was Kate?” Post Independent. https://www.postindependent.com/news/local/to-doc-from-kate/

Hughs, Jessica. 11 September 2022. “10 Authentic Old West Towns”. Uncover Colorado. https://www.uncovercolorado.com/wild-west-towns-in-colorado/

Old Homestead House Museum, Cripple Creek, Colorado,

Bowmaster, Patrick A. “A Fresh Look at ‘Big Nose Kate'”. Tombstone History Archives. http://www.tombstonehistoryarchives.com/a-fresh-look-at-big-nose-kate.html

Van Ostrand, Maggie. 2017. “Katie Elder a.k.a. Big Nose Kate, Her True Story”. Goose Flats Graphics & Publishing. Southern Arizona Guide: https://southernarizonaguide.com/katie-elder-her-true-story-by-maggie-van-ostrand/

Williams, Joseph A. “The Real Story of Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate”. Old West. https://www.oldwest.org/doc-holliday-big-nose-kate/

“Big Nose Kate – Doc Holliday’s Sidekick”. Legends of America. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bignosekate/

28 February 2022. “Couples with History: Glewood Springs Loves Stories”. Glenwood Springs Blog. https://visitglenwood.com/blog/2022/02/couples-with-history-glenwood-springs-love-stories/

“The True Story of Katie Elder”. Notes from the Frontier. https://www.notesfromthefrontier.com/post/the-true-story-of-katie-elder

Book TrailerBook trailer for SarahAbout the Book

Sarah is a young girl trying to make a place for herself in the world.

Sarah is not the young girl who was stolen away from Delilah anymore. Now she is Hair of Fire, mate of Three Hawks, even as she blossoms into a young woman and tries to make a place for herself among the Ute tribe.

When she is stolen away from the life she’s made with the Utes, she struggles to survive in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. A streak of stubbornness and determination take this tough, feisty heroine up against wild beasts of the forest and the rugged mountain landscape to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where she receives a less than welcoming reception by some.

Will this young woman find her way back to the Ute tribe, which she’s come to think of as family, or will she discover a place among the colorful inhabitants of the Colorado hot springs and mining town?

Follow along on her journey to learn who she truly is and where she belongs in this rough, and often hostile frontier.

If you like strong and capable female protagonists, you’ll love Sarah.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/Sarah-Women-in-the-West

About the Series

The Women in the West adventure series features strong female protagonists in a setting filled with hardship, which many believed did not fit well with the female constitution. Women on the frontier were few, and most of those were included in a family unit. Single and widowed women did exist on the frontier, as did those whose husbands just never came home for whatever reason, went back to the family unit in most cases. Women who chose to go it alone, defying societal expectations were rare. Those who did, chose a hard life and had to have backbone to survive.

While my protagonists are fictional, they are representative of strong women who did make a way for themselves, out of choice or necessity, and each book introduces a fictionalized version of one such historical female character who plays a supporting role in the story. In Delilah, it was Baby Doe Tabor. In Sarah, it is Big Nose Kate. And Marta will feature Clara Brown.

About the Author

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Book 1 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

That wraps up the first stop on the tour. Thank you all for joining us. Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance at a free digital copy of the book. Join us tomorrow over at [ ], where I’ll be guest posting on how the history of the Ute Indians helped me choose my settings.

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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!

A lovely review of Poetry Treasures 4

Thanks goes to Dawn Pisturino for this lengthy review. She didn’t leave anyone out. So glad you enjoyed this anthology, Dawn.

Poetry Book Review: “Poetry Treasures 4”

Mind Fields: Tibetan Dance Steps

Tibetan Dance Steps

After reaching enlightenment,

Milarepa dusted off his chuba and stood up.

His first three steps

burned footprints

into the rocks of his shelter

so that today

pilgrims bow to these relics as holy icons.

The yogi’s steps were fired in the kiln

of his deep understanding.  A thousand

years have passed and his footprints remain

sunk into the bare granite.

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Arthur Rosch is a novelist, musician, photographer and poet. His works are funny, memorable and often compelling. One reviewer said “He’s wicked and feisty, but when he gets you by the guts, he never lets go.” Listeners to his music have compared him to Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Randy Newman or Mose Allison. These comparisons are flattering but deceptive. Rosch is a stylist, a complete original. His material ranges from sly wit to gripping political commentary.

Arthur was born in the heart of Illinois and grew up in the western suburbs of St. Louis. In his teens he discovered his creative potential while hoping to please a girl. Though she left the scene, Arthur’s creativity stayed behind. In his early twenties he moved to San Francisco and took part in the thriving arts scene. His first literary sale was to Playboy Magazine. The piece went on to receive Playboy’s “Best Story of the Year” award. Arthur also has writing credits in Exquisite Corpse, Shutterbug, eDigital, and Cat Fancy Magazine. He has written five novels, a memoir and a large collection of poetry. His autobiographical novel, Confessions Of An Honest Man won the Honorable Mention award from Writer’s Digest in 2016.

More of his work can be found at www.artrosch.com

Photos at https://500px.com/p/artsdigiphoto?view=photos

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A Reading from Small Wonders: A Haiga Poem

On Sale for National Poetry Month – Only $2.99

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/SmallWonders

WordCrafter News: May Release & a Kickstarter Campaign

May Release

The release of Sarah is finally approaching. The Kickstarter for Sarah didn’t fund, so if you’ve been waiting for a copy of Book 2 in this western historical women’s fiction series, Women in the West, you’ll be as pleased as I will be when May 7th roles around and Sarah becomes available through all the major distributors. Of course, we’ll be holding a book blog tour to send it off right May 6th – 10th, so be sure to drop by and join in on the fun for interviews, reviews, blog posts and a great giveaway.

Sarah is a young girl trying to make a place for herself in the world.

Sarah is not the young girl who was stolen away from Delilah anymore. Now she is Hair of Fire, mate of Three Hawks, even as she blossoms into a young woman and tries to make a place for herself among the Ute tribe.

When she is stolen away from the life she’s made with the Utes, she struggles to survive in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. A streak of stubbornness and determination take this tough, feisty heroine up against wild beasts of the forest and the rugged mountain landscape to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where she receives a less than welcoming reception by some.

Will this young woman find her way back to the Ute tribe, which she’s come to think of as family, or will she discover a place among the colorful inhabitants of the Colorado hot springs and mining town?

Follow along on her journey to learn who she truly is and where she belongs in this rough, and often hostile frontier.

If you like strong and capable female protagonists, you’ll love Sarah.

Kickstarter Campaign

I’ll be running a Kickstarter campaign for The D.I.Y. Author May 19th – June 8. When you back a Kickstarter project, not only do you show your support for the author, but you also get cool stuff not available anywhere else. The exclusive Kickstarter rewards for Sarah’s campaign include early digital copies, signed print copies, author services at huge discounts, and more.

If you’re an author who hasn’t hit six figures yet, looking for ways to build your author business and make it grow, this writer’s reference is for you. In it I share my journey from published poet and blogger to published author and independent publisher along with tips and suggestions from my own research and experience. When you can’t afford to outsource, you must learn to do it yourself. In The D.I.Y. Author, I share with you ways to learn the needed skills to build an author business, and you too, can be a D.I.Y. author.

About the D.I.Y. Author

Being an author today is more than just writing the book. Authors in this digital age have more opportunities than ever before. Whether you pursue independent or traditional publishing models, or a combination of the two but being an author involves not only writing, but often, the publishing and marketing of the book.

In this writer’s reference guide, multi-genre author and independent publisher, Kaye Lynne Booth shares her knowledge and experiences learning the business of being an author.

Topics Include:

Becoming Prolific

Writing Tools

Outlining

Making Quality a Priority

Publishing Models & Trends

Marketing Your Book

Book Covers & Blurbs

Book Events—In Person & Virtual

And more…

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If you’d like to show your support for this author, you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee. All support is appreciated.

“Sarah” is Available for Pre-Order Now

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RXlRx

Hey Everybody! Sarah, Book 2 in the Women in the West Adventure Series is available for pre-order. It will be released on May 7, 2024, but you can reserve your copy now.

And don’t miss out on the WordCrafter Sarah Book Blog Tour, May 6-10, starting right here on “Writing to be Read”, where you can learn more about the book and the series. There will be guest posts, interviews with the author, a reading, and a review. You’ll have the opportunity to check out the book trailer for Sarah, engage with the author, and a chance to win a free digital copy of the book.

A Poetry Reading from Small Wonders: A Tanka Poem

On Sale for National Poetry Month – Only $2.99

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/SmallWonders

Reading of a Tanka Poem by Kaye Lynne Booth

Gotta Love This

Roberta Writes – The Gift: A poem about cats for d’Verse Poetry Challenge #d’Verse #poetry #cats