Sheila Deeth's Blog, page 21

Is it better to give up or to persevere?

Today I'm delighted to welcome Edward Dron, author of the lovely pillow-time picture-book, Pillow Parade. He's offered to let us know why he wrote this sweet tale of sheep and a rabbit--and a child who can't get to sleep.

Thank you for joining us Edward...

The Story behind The Pillow Parade
As a parent, you always want to pass on the things you’ve learned about life to your children. A big part of our role, as parents, is to help our kids navigate this tricky world. One thing I’ve noticed is how...

Where do Epic Fantasies come from?

Today I'm delighted to welcome author Robert Donohue to my blog. His epic fantasy series, Then Came A King, starts with the novel, Child of Creation, and he's been touring the internet, letting readers know more about it. So, fellow readers and writers, find some coffee, maybe a few gluten-free cookies, and meet Robert with me.


I know Child of Creation is a fantasy. Is this the only genre  you write, Robert, and if so, why? 
I write to relax.  I enjoy reading Epic Fantasy novels...

Where do paranormal and normal collide?

Not everything in life lends itself to easy explanation. Not everything in fiction either, and sometimes the not quite normal worlds of fiction are all the more believable for not explaining everything. Sometimes it's enough just to live, for a little while, in an unreal, paranormal place, looking back perhaps at the real and seeing how much is beyond our understanding. Sometimes it's good to remember we don't know it all. Otherwise we get caught up in arguments about things we don't complete...

What is women's fiction?

Goodreads makes me tag books when I review them. Somehow I got the idea I was meant to tag them by genre, and somewhere along the line I started tagging some books as dealing with "women's issues." Of course, that kind of begs the question, what I a women's issue. And should I really just have tagged them women's fiction?

A female protagonist, possibly wounded, probably by the men in her life, overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds... or maybe not overcoming... used, abused... I'm not sure i...

Do you like cats?

Today I'm featuring a children's picture book with real character, voice and plot - a very satisfying read in pictures and words, and highly recommended. It even has a version printed in the Dyslexic Font, the typeface for people with dyslexia. Go to www.dyslexiefont.com to find out more about the typeface (I did - it's intriguing!)

Mamá Graciela’s Secret by Mayra Calvani, illustrated by Sheila Fein - my reviewIt’s nice to read a children’s book with letters accented so neatly, giving depth to...

Have you read yourself into another world recently?

I love books. I love being transported to other worlds, historical, geographical, futuristic, fantastical... I guess they free me from thoughts of this world, allowing me to look back with a different perspective, maybe seeing the present differently because I've imagined myself into somewhere else. To some extent, reading a good book is like becoming an immigrant again. And being an immigrant gives anyone a perspective unique to their past as well as their future--a perspective the judge tol...

Why do Adults read Kids' Books?

I went shopping with a friend and a book-store voucher. We wandered aisles, greeting familiar books like lost friends, reminiscing on tales we had loved, and drinking coffee (of course). I had stopped to admire some boxed sets of children's books earlier (I have a fondness for series), and an assistant directed me to other, excellent children's books. Now my friend directed me to some that she had loved, either as a child or with a child. I picked them up, couldn't resist, and spent my vouche...

Why are Book Covers such a Big Deal?

Today I'm delighted to welcome Marissa Thomas to my blog, author of the intriguingly titled, How Not to Succeed in Hollywood. Her book, as you'll see below, has a seriously eye-catching cover, and she's going to tell us, perhaps, how to succeed in writing... or at least...

Why Book Covers Are So Importantby Marissa Thomas            I’ve always been a painter.  Not the tortured soul kind, willing to sacrifice food to buy can...

Red Army all-female fighter regiment?

Today I'm delighted to welcome C. S. Taylor, author of Nadya's War, to my blog. His novel tells of a young pilot with the Red Army's 586th all-female fighter regiment! Having never imagined such a regiment existed, I'm eager to know where his inspiration came from. So find yourself a coffee, sit back, and read on. Welcome C. S. Taylor!
The Inspiration Behind ‘Nadya’s War’ by C.S. Taylor
Some nameless, late night many moons ago, I was doing what I do best when trying to write, namely surfing the...

Have you entered the writing maze?

Author Sean Keefer is touring the internet with his novel The Solicitor, which is set in historic Charleston and the surrounding South Carolina Lowcountry. Since my background is English, I don't immediately know where that is, or what it's like, so I'm delighted that Sean has agreed to join me here on my blog and answer a few questions. So pull up a chair, pour yourself a coffee, and listen in. Thank you for joining us Sean.


   Firstly, I grew up in England and really don'...