Victoria Simcox's Blog, page 112
June 23, 2014
Heart Shaped Rock Blog tour & Giveaway
Heart Shaped Rock by Laura Roppe Release Date: May 2014
Summary from Goodreads: “If you liked the music collaboration of Maybe Someday, you’ve got to check out Heart Shaped Rock.” — New York Times best-selling author of Maybe Someday, Colleen Hoover
"Laura Roppé has written a moving and emotional novel of first love, accurately capturing the voice and mind of a dramatic and emotional sixteen year old girl caught in a maelstrom of grief and loss, love and heartbreak. And then there’s Dean…you'll just have to read the book, ‘cause I can't do him justice in a few short sentences.” –Jasinda Wilder, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of Falling into You
Sometimes a shattered heart needs to sing to love again . . . Sixteen year old singer-songwriter Shaynee Sullivan hasn't so much as touched her guitar since her mom died six months ago. In fact, Shaynee hasn't felt like doing much of anything lately, except maybe playing Whack-a-Mole on her "emotionally intelligent" brother's head. But when she meets a gorgeous and surprising rocker named Dean, her shattered heart begins to mend . . . and then burst at the seams. Heart-wrenching, heart-warming, and sometimes even heart-racing, Heart Shaped Rock will leave you laughing through tears and rooting for love in all its forms.
Hear the original music performed in Heart Shaped Rock at www.LauraRoppe.com . All music available on iTunes.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21902782-heart-shaped-rock?ac=1
Buy Links: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Shaped-Rock-Laura-Roppe-ebook/dp/B00KBZ93UC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1400432902&sr=8-5&keywords=laura+roppe
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heart-shaped-rock-laura-roppe/1119496891?ean=2940149294572
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/heart-shaped-rock
https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/heart-shaped-rock/id861895359?mt=11
Link to Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLiNcM1u154
About the Author Laura Roppé is an award-winning singer/songwriter, author, audio book narrator, speaker, and former attorney from San Diego, California. In 2011, Billboard Magazine ranked her as Number Three on its chart of the Top 50 "uncharted" artists in the world. In May 2013, Laura began hosting Amazon's weekly podcast, "Kindle Love Stories," for people who love hearing about love stories, romance, and happily ever afters.
Her first book is the non-fiction memoir, Rocking the Pink. Her latest is a YA-teen romance novel entitled Heart Shaped Rock, featuring a soundtrack.
Author Links: http://www.lauraroppe.com/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5168846.Laura_Roppe http://www.twitter.com/lauraroppe http://www.facebook.com/lauraroppe
Giveaway: 1 $50 Gift Card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Or:
Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours
The Girl Who Believed in Fairy Tales Promo & Giveaway
The Girl Who Believed in Fairy TalesSub Genre: Magical RealismRelease Date: June 23, 2014
Heather Baker believes in fairy tales, and she turns to their timeless wisdom whenever life gets difficult.
Again and again, the playfulness, symbolism, and deeper meaning in fairy tales have filled Heather with hope, nurtured her spirit, and fired her imagination. Sometimes touching, and sometimes humorous, these tales capture the three most transformative experiences in her life:
—Heather reframes her childhood sorrow in “The Girl Who Watched for Elves” —She embarks upon a life imbued with meaning in “The Girl Who Dreamed of Red Shoes” —And after taking several wrong turns, she finds the place where she belongs in “The Girl Who Couldn’t Sing”
The Girl Who Believed in Fairy Tales chronicles the journey of someone who was willing to change the way she viewed the world... and never stopped believing.
Amazon | GoodReads
The Archetypal Fairy Tale Journey
Many adults love fairy tales as much as children do. Why is this so? And why are fairy tales and their retellings so enduring?
In every fairy tale, five things always happen to the fairy tale character: She leaves home, she gets lost in the woods, she faces obstacles and/or tests, she overcomes these challenges, and she finds her happily ever after.
That journey, the fairy tale character’s journey, is archetypal because it involves the task of discovering and committing to the true Self. Since each of us yearns to connect with the true Self, the archetypal fairy tale journey is compelling in the tips and clues it offers about such an undertaking.
1.
Leaving Home
Fairy Tale Character’s (FTC’s) leave home. The impetus for the departure varies; curiosity, duplicity, parents who are invasive, stepparents who are envious, a call to duty and/or sacrifice—something—ousts the naive child from their secure, loving environment.
2.
Getting Lost in the Woods
The FTC always stumbles and falls psychologically, metaphorically, and literally in the first stage of her journey. Her naiveté, fear, and inexperience lead her to make poor choices that inevitably heighten her dire situation.
3.Facing Obstacles and Tests
As more trouble is heaped upon the FTC, she is driven to experiment. She must embrace her innate strength, courage, and/or cleverness; and she must make wiser choices in regards to her relationships and who she trusts. Otherwise, she’ll be fated to eke out a meek/mean/meager/impoverished existence… or die.
4.
Overcoming the Challenges
Once the FTC comes into her own, i.e. once her consciousness has evolved to the point where she has become her own authority, she can achieve mastery over the trials that face her.
5.
Living Happily Ever After
Living in accordance with her true nature, and following her true path, is the FTC’s ultimate living happily ever after. Partnering with the beloved is a function of her matured Self.
Throughout our very real lives, we cycle through these phases again and again and again. Fairy tales, presumably the province of children, can be quite effective in spurring adults toward believing in themselves—and Happily Ever Afters—as well.
That is the enduring power of the archetypal fairy tale journey.
About The Girl Who Couldn’t Sing:
She began to meditate upon "The Ugly Duckling” for she'd always imagined herself as a misplaced swan. But with all the changes, and her sadness shedding like the skin of snake, she'd stare in the mirror and whisper, “Perhaps, you're not even a bird."
Heather Baker struggles to find the balance between fantasy and reality in her everyday life. Enticed by Neptune, the planet that rules everything hazy and glamourous--she's desperate to become the next indie singer/songwriter sensation. Dogged by Saturn, the planet that rules obstacles and everything practical--she's confronted with the limitations of her abilities and talent.
Which planet will win?
“The Girl Who Couldn’t Sing” is free on Amazon June 23rd-27th!
Author Bio
Heidi Garrett is the author of the contemporary fairy tale novella collection, Once Upon a Time Today. In these stand-alone retellings of popular and obscure fairy tales, adult characters navigate the deep woods of the modern landscape to find their Happily Ever Afters.
She's also the author of the Daughter of Light series, a fantasy about a young half-faerie, half-mortal searching for her place in the Whole. Heidi's latest project is a collaboration with Billie Limpin. They're cooking up a yummy paranormal romance!
Signup for Heidi's newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/wWKUj for discounts on all new releases!
Heidi was born in Texas, and in an attempt to reside in as many cities in that state as she could, made it to Houston, Lubbock, Austin, and El Paso. She now lives in Eastern Washington state with her husband, their two cats, her laptop, and her Kindle.
Being from the South, she often contemplates the magic of snow. Website/Blog Facebook for Heidi Garrett Facebook for The Magic Cupcake Series
Giveaway:
5 lucky people get a signed copy of The Girl Who Believed in Fairy Tales & a happily every after bracelet US onlya Rafflecopter giveaway
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions
The Warble ~ LAST DAY FREE on Amazon 6/23~6/27
Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen – all these and more can be found in The Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship. Book ReviewThis is a fantastic children's book for middle grade age range. I loved it!Kristina Kingsley is a fantastic character. She may not be the most popular girl in school, but I actually liked her. She reminded me of me! I was never the popular girl either. However, where we differ is that she is a lot braver than me! She is given an unusual gift, and she finds herself on an adventure of a lifetime!
This is a fantastic children's fantasy novel! There are some wonderful characters in this book. The most likable of them are Clover and Looper (a pair of sibling fairies), Prince Werrien, and Kristina's pet rat, Raymond. This book is also filled with some really nasty characters. The main ones being Queen Sentiz and her gross Zelbocks. There are also enemies that turn into friends and friends who turn into enemies.
I was completely engrossed in this tale! It is full of danger and adventure! In a way, it reminded me of Tolken's Lord Of The Rings, as there is an object (the Warble) and a dangerous mission to deliver it to it's rightful place. I loved the subtle humour that the author used to great effect; it lightened the mood, so that the story didn't take a too dark a turn. The story is also told from several character's points of view, which gives a well rounded feel to the book and brought the characters alive. There are also some pictures sketched on a few selected pages to reinforce the story. These pictures are well drawn and show the characters just as described, and how I imagined them without the pictures!
Victoria Simcox has written an amazing children's adventure book! Her writing style is fast paced, but not overly so as to feel rushed. Her attention to detail with regards to the description of the characters, scenery and clothing is exceptional. I could "see" them so clearly in my minds eye! I am now looking forward to reading the sequel, The Shard!
I recommend this book to everyone (adults included) who love fairies, gnomes, dwarves and talking animals in their fantasy novels. - Lynn Worton http://bookreviewsbylynn.blogspot.co.uk/
Synopsis Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and the evil Queen Sentiz. In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it’s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Warble” in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart. Available at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/oclob9n
BioVictoria was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. She now resides in Western Washington with her husband and 3 children. Her other family members are, a Chihuahua, named Pipsy and 2 cats, named Frodo and Fritz. For the past 12 years, she has home-schooled her children. Besides being an author, Victoria is also an elementary school art teacher. Victoria enjoys writing, reading, painting watercolors, hiking, good movies, and hanging out with her family and friends. Victoria is the author of The Warble.Blog: victoriasimcox.blogspot.com
Face Book:https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Warble/118277634882514 Twitter:http://twitter.com/#!/VictoriaSimcox Posted by VML Sat 12:00 AM
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The Warble ~ Get it FREE on Amazon 6/23~6/27
Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen – all these and more can be found in The Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship. Book ReviewThis is a fantastic children's book for middle grade age range. I loved it!Kristina Kingsley is a fantastic character. She may not be the most popular girl in school, but I actually liked her. She reminded me of me! I was never the popular girl either. However, where we differ is that she is a lot braver than me! She is given an unusual gift, and she finds herself on an adventure of a lifetime!
This is a fantastic children's fantasy novel! There are some wonderful characters in this book. The most likable of them are Clover and Looper (a pair of sibling fairies), Prince Werrien, and Kristina's pet rat, Raymond. This book is also filled with some really nasty characters. The main ones being Queen Sentiz and her gross Zelbocks. There are also enemies that turn into friends and friends who turn into enemies.
I was completely engrossed in this tale! It is full of danger and adventure! In a way, it reminded me of Tolken's Lord Of The Rings, as there is an object (the Warble) and a dangerous mission to deliver it to it's rightful place. I loved the subtle humour that the author used to great effect; it lightened the mood, so that the story didn't take a too dark a turn. The story is also told from several character's points of view, which gives a well rounded feel to the book and brought the characters alive. There are also some pictures sketched on a few selected pages to reinforce the story. These pictures are well drawn and show the characters just as described, and how I imagined them without the pictures!
Victoria Simcox has written an amazing children's adventure book! Her writing style is fast paced, but not overly so as to feel rushed. Her attention to detail with regards to the description of the characters, scenery and clothing is exceptional. I could "see" them so clearly in my minds eye! I am now looking forward to reading the sequel, The Shard!
I recommend this book to everyone (adults included) who love fairies, gnomes, dwarves and talking animals in their fantasy novels. - Lynn Worton http://bookreviewsbylynn.blogspot.co.uk/
Synopsis Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and the evil Queen Sentiz. In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she’s honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. But it’s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Warble” in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart. Available at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/oclob9n
BioVictoria was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. She now resides in Western Washington with her husband and 3 children. Her other family members are, a Chihuahua, named Pipsy and 2 cats, named Frodo and Fritz. For the past 12 years, she has home-schooled her children. Besides being an author, Victoria is also an elementary school art teacher. Victoria enjoys writing, reading, painting watercolors, hiking, good movies, and hanging out with her family and friends. Victoria is the author of The Warble.Blog: victoriasimcox.blogspot.com
Face Book:https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Warble/118277634882514 Twitter:http://twitter.com/#!/VictoriaSimcox Posted by VML Sat 12:00 AM
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June 21, 2014
The Summer Sacrifice Tour & Giveaway
Upper middle grade fantasy THE SUMMER SACRIFICE will be available to buy from major online retailers as of June 21st 2014. Available in ebook and paperback form. (Audiobook to follow.) Click here to read Chapter One of The Summer Sacrifice.Click here to listen to the first chapter of The Summer Sacrifice's audiobook. Click here to watch Holly visiting Dancing Ledge: the birthplace of The Summer Sacrifice.Praise for The Summer Sacrifice "The present world is often terrifying to a sensible adult. Hinton reflects its effect on youngsters in a powerfully imagined world that hums with poetry. In its pages, in the words of Yeats, a terrible beauty is born. Herein lies empathy, barreling adventure and an iconic heroine, Jamie Tuff."
Charles Bane Jr., award winning author of The Chapbook, and Love Poems; creator of The Meaning Of Poetry series for The Gutenberg Project, and nominee as Poet Laureate of Florida. Meet Jamie Tuff and her friends:[image error] Jamie Tuff"I just happen to drop into other people’s bodies now and then, but don’t worry, I can't control it!"
Seveny Brown “Symbol my arse. That is a dead and stinking bird, attached to a dead and stinking snake!” [image error] George Button “If I go to Askerwell I’ll be dragged down to hell! Can I take anyone with me?” [image error] Max Lively“Did you see me smash it? Blake didn’t know what was coming when I wrestled him to the ground!”
[image error]
Ella Rose Last “Transparent means being honest, rule-abiding, nice and good. I’m all those things, aren’t I?”
Join Jamie Tuff and friends on their adventures through land, sea and sky, in a world where stars walk and Halfhawks fly. Portraits and group painted by David Revoy. Welcome to the Island
Map designed by Joel Sams. [image error] No Place Only the Island survived the Great Storm. It's quite small and just a quarter of it is inhabited. That quarter is called No Place. The Establishment The Establishment rule No Place. Here is what they have to say: “We in the Establishment save lives through the boundaries we create. Our boundaries are your protectors. And trespassers will be punished.” Pity Me Pity Me is No Place's largest settlement and its capital. The Perfects The Pity Me Perfects are students selected by the Establishment to help them rule, both in school and out.Officially, they are selected for their objectivity and fairness. Really, they are selected from the ranks of the wealthy. The Perfects do not live up to their name. The Tombland Gang The Tombland Gang are Pity Me School's resident thugs. As the Gang’s ranks have swollen, the number of orphans plummeting to their deaths has also grown. The Gang do live up to their name. Funnella Fitzgerald “I am the Headmistress of Pity Me School and the Head of the Establishment.But you probably all know that. At least, you ought to. . . ” Phosphor-Jones, Head of History “Dreaming is of little use, and not to be cultivated.” Miss Humfreeze, Head of English The English teacher's eyes look like they could tell a thousand tales, and her wide mouth often tells them. The manshu and juvenites love her for this, lapping up her words like they are delicious drops of non- fermented Honeydew. No Place's Chief Doctor “What a wonderful specimen you are! You’ll look perfect sweating out your life in my Laboratory!” Illustrated Chapter Headings. I drew some pictures to accompany the chapter titles. Below is a sample. Hope you enjoy!
[image error] Chapter 1. Dancing Ledge
Chapter 2. Pity Me School (for No Place Boys and Girls) [image error] Chapter 13. Miss Mackadoo and the Brainticklers [image error] Chapter 30. Little Sea[image error] Chapter 31. Fireforge AUDIOBOOK DRAMAThe actor in me wants to read everything out loud.Reading The Summer Sacrifice aloud resulted in multiple revisions being made to the book. Voicing the text let me get close to my characters, see the world from outside of my own head, and it helped me gauge flow, pace and tone. Recording an audiobook seemed a natural conclusion to the publishing process. I looked forward to bringing The Summer Sacrifice to life in this way, and was excited about the potential the book would have to reach a broader audience.When I was researching how to make and produce an audiobook, I found a podcast on The Creative Penn website, a great site for writers created by author Joanna Penn. During this podcast, acclaimed audiobook producer and author J. Daniel Sawyer talks prospective producers through the process of recording an audiobook, from preproduction to distribution.Sawyer's advice is fantastic. Though he stresses it's a time-intensive and potentially expensive enterprise, he gives clear examples of how to go about creating your audiobook so that neither its quality nor your sanity is compromised.On his list of things you need, I already had my voice, a good microphone, a basic knowledge of Audacity (an open source sound editing program), a wonderfully geeky boyfriend with a not-so-basic knowledge of Audacity, and a quiet room. I was so excited to commit the story to tape, but on the first day of recording, my preamp broke.Luckily, my boyfriend gave me a Zoom sound recorder for my birthday.The actual recording was a bit of a learning curve, and it took twice the time I had anticipated. I was much more adept at the process towards the end of recording the book. With the knowledge I had gained, I then rerecorded The Summer Sacrifice from the beginning.The audiobook has some sound effects and original music. A few of the sounds are sampled from Sound Jay. Most of the sounds are recorded by me. For example my cat Max has a starring role. He can deliver up indignance, joy and "please feed me!" on a sixpence.As soon as I know when the entire audiobook will be available to buy, I shall shout loudly about it here. Until then, I hope you enjoy Chapter One!
About the Author:Holly grew up in a small, sleepy village in Suffolk. The acting bug hit her at age nine, when she was asked to play Baboushka in the school nativity. That same year she played the lead role of a naughty black poodle in a pet parlour themed ballet, and she thought she had made it. Years passed, but the acting bug didn’t. She went to Goldsmiths, University of London to study Drama, after which she completed her actor training at Arts Ed.Writing a book was never part of the plan. But life’s full of swerves and surprises and ideas dropping into people’s heads. Holly had an idea drop into hers, and that idea became The Summer Sacrifice, and The Summer Sacrifice became the first book of the Master Game Series.For more information please visit: http://www.hollyhinton.com/Goodreads | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | Pinterest
GIVEAWAY!!!Holly Hinton is giving away one signed copy of The Summer Sacrifice (Paperback), and a bookmark illustrated by David Revoy. Open Worldwide!a Rafflecopter giveaway
How Andrew Got His Spots Blog Tour & Giveaway
Title: How Andrew Got His Spots | Author: Louise Lintvelt | Illustrator: Julie Sneeden | Publication Date: April 16, 2014 | Publisher: eBookPartnership.com | Number of pages: 15 | Recommended age: 3 to 8 Summary: Poor Andrew is feeling very blue, all the other giraffes are very spotty but he is as white as can be. He does not have any spots, you see! He keeps seeing spots wherever he goes… One spot, two spots, three spots, Four! And many, many, many more. “Where did you get your spots?” he asks. Join Andrew as he discovers how the ladybug, the leopard and the owl came to have spots and discovers that spots often appear when you are least expecting them! This is a wonderful rhyming picture book for children of all ages. Narrated Video of How Andrew Got His Spots Purchase Amazon About the Author: Louise Lintvelt
I am from South Africa and I live in a city called Pretoria. I am a Chemical Engineer by day and a children’s book writer by night. I am married to a wonderful man and we have a beautiful two year old daughter called Allegra. I love writing stories for my daughter, who is a constant inspiration. I have always loved reading. My childhood was filled with books and you would often find me crouched the corner of my room devouring the pages of my favourite book. I lived for Tuesday mornings as this would bring with it the excitement of a trip to the local library for story hour and the opportunity to take home a new book. I was the local librarian’s worst nightmare. I would arrive a few minutes early to check that she had not mistakenly chosen a book that had already been read in story hour. I was a very bossy three year old with an insatiable appetite for books! This has not really changed much in the last twenty seven years. Dr. Seuss was my absolute favourite and to say that my copy of
One, Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish
was well read would be an understatement. When it comes to writing, my daughter is my biggest inspiration. I love seeing her face light up with excitement when we sit down to read a book before bedtime. My daughter was fascinated by giraffes after we went on a safari trip in late 2012. This planted the seed for my picture book called
How Andrew Got His Spot
s which is a rhyming adaptation of a story I originally wrote in the third grade. My daughter has since grown into a healthy two year old with a passion for aircraft which was the inspiration for writing
Goodnight, Sleep tight, What a Wonderful Flight
. I am sure that there are many parents in the world (myself included), who are quite decidedly sick and tired of reading the same favourite picture book night after night. I believe that the words of Oscar Wilde best describe how children should feel about picture books when he said, If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all. Happy Reading! Newsletter Sign-Up | Goodreads | Author Blog | Google+ How Andrew Got His Spots Blog Tour Schedule (2014)June 17Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch)Book Reviews and Giveaways (Review)Cherry Mischievous (Review)June 18Mommynificent (Review)Misadventures of a First Time Mom (Review)June 19Amanda's Books and More (Review)June 20 SOS Supply (Review)We are the DinoFamily (Review)The Reading Room (Review)June 21 Lobo's Follies (Review)Victoria Simcox's Blog (Book Spotlight)June 22Adalinc to Life (Review)When I Grow Up I Wanna Write a Kids Book (Review)June 23Where Connor and JT Go (Review) Enter Here Canada (Review)June 24Three Boy Circus (Review)Spark and Pook (Review)Stitch Says (Review)June 25 A Leisure Moment (Review)Sweet Southern Home (Review)June 26Heart of a Philanthropist (Review) Sunshine, Bubbles & Books (Review)June 27My Brother is My Best Friend (Review)Brooke Blogs (Review)June 28Books Direct (Review) Mixed Bag Mama (Review)June 29Christy's Cozy Corners (Review)Nanna Three and Counting (Review)June 30 Library of the Seen (Review)My Devotional Thoughts (Review) * Blog Tour Giveaway *
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: July 15, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Louise Lintvelt and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 16, 2014
Fan Art Blitz and Giveaway
Fan Artby Sarah TregayRelease Date: 06/17/14Harper TeenSummary from Goodreads: When the picture tells the story…
Senior year is almost over, and Jamie Peterson has a big problem. Not college—that’s all set. Not prom—he’ll find a date somehow. No, it’s the worst problem of all: he’s fallen for his best friend.
As much as Jamie tries to keep it under wraps, everyone seems to know where his affections lie, and the giggling girls in art class are determined to help Jamie get together with Mason. But Jamie isn’t sure if that’s what he wants—because as much as Jamie would like to come clean to Mason, what if the truth ruins everything? What if there are no more road trips, taco dinners, or movie nights? Does he dare risk a childhood friendship for romance?
This book is about what happens when a picture reveals what we can’t say, when art is truer than life, and how falling in love is easy, except when it’s not. Fan Art explores the joys and pains of friendship, of pressing boundaries, and how facing our worst fears can sometimes lead us to what we want most.
Available from:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Book Depository
About the AuthorRaised without television, Sarah Tregay started writing her own middle grade novels after she had read all of the ones in the library. She later discovered YA books, but never did make it to the adult section. When she's not jotting down poems at stoplights, she can be found hanging out with her "little sister" from Big Brothers Big Sisters. Sarah lives in Eagle, Idaho with her husband, two Boston Terriers, and an appaloosa named Mr. Pots. Her next book, Fan Art, will be released in June.Author Links:
***GIVEAWAY***2 signed ARC’s of Fan Art (US/CAN only)a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Blitz Organized by:
June 10, 2014
Plumb Crazy Book Blitz & Giveaway
Plumb Crazyby Molly BlaisdellRelease Date: 06/10/14Summary from Goodreads: Small town country girl Elva Presley Hicks is about to attend her five-year class reunion with her best friends, Shay and Margarett.
The discovery of an old fanfic manuscript stirs up memories of her summer job as a plumber’s helper in Houston the summer before senior year. She earned a lot of money that year, but was lonely as heck.
It's not like there weren't any suitors back then. Elva could have chosen between Chase, the obese pig farmer, and Wyatt, the plumber with wandering hands. But Elva yearned for something more, and found it that fateful summer, with electrician, Mitch McCall.
It was magical. Mitch wasn't turned off by Elva's name or fan fiction writing, and Elva didn't lose interest in Mitch after he cut off his nose at work.
Trials and triumphs followed including a friendship implosion, world-wide fanfic humiliation, and goat salvation. It would go down as the most memorable summer of high school.
But as these things sometimes do, the summer romance fizzled and Elva moved on to life after high school. And while she's ready to reminisce, she is unnerved when she runs into Mitch at the reunion. Can they give it another go after so much time has passed, or are they too different now to even try?
Available from:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble
About the AuthorMolly Blaisdell's first crossover YA/NA romantic comedy, Plumb Crazy, is forthcoming from Swoon Romance. She is also the author of 30 books for children, including Rembrandt and the Boy Who Drew Dogs (Barron’s), The Truth About Unicorns (Capstone Press) and The Big Fuzzy Coat (MeeGenius!). She's written hundreds of articles for many internationally known publishers, including MSN, Scholastic, eHow, Hasbro, and Penguin's Author Learning Center.Molly is a Texan and a graduate of Texas A&M in Chemistry. She is a long-time member of SCBWI, and is a former Regional Advisor of the Western Washington region, a Blueboard Moderator Emeritus and a recipient of the Martha Weston Grant.She formed her first fan fiction group in junior high school and is still a huge fan gal of all things space, Star Trek, anime and blockbuster movies. She's the mom of four, and currently lives under the wide open skies of College Station, TX with her husband Tim. Her interestsinclude fine art, folk art, and Texas music.
Author Links:
***GIVEAWAY***
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Blitz Organized by:
June 7, 2014
DREAMER Book Blast
Welcome to the Release Day Book Blast Celebration for author Becca Johnson and her novel DREAMER!
Fifteen-year-old Rory Adair has a secret she never reveals to anyone—dreams that foreshadow
what is to come. Excited about finally meeting the hot, tall, blue-eyed guy from one of those dreams, she is shocked when he turns out to be identical twin brothers Bryce and Ryder Wyatt, both of whom take an instant interest in her and compete for her attention.As Rory tries to use her secret ability to help her decide which brother to ask to the Sadie Hawkins Dance, the dreams start to change. Something bad is going to happen, but before she can figure out how to warn her friends without revealing her secret, her best friend Stacey goes missing.Rory teams up with Bryce, who has a secret ability of his own. Together they use their abilitie, intellect, and gut instinct to find the missing women. Can Rory sort through her feelings for the Wyatt brothers—and find her friend—before she loses them all?A percentage of book sales will be donated to The Bully Project www.thebullyproject.com/Get Your eBook or Physical copy TODAY!
AMAZON
About The Author
www.BeccaJohnson-YAauthor.comwww.facebook.com/beccajohnsonauthortwitter @beccaauthor Filed Under: Blog Tours, Current, Nerd Blast
Goodnight Sleep Tight Blog Tour & Giveaway
About the Book
Title: Goodnight, Sleep Tight: What a Wonderful Flight | Author: Louise Lintvelt | Illustrator: Do Thai Thanh | Publication Date: April 16, 2014 | Publisher: eBookPartnership.com | Number of pages: 30 | Recommended age: 3 to 8 Summary: After an exciting flight, it is time to say goodnight. The tired sun sets overhead. Sleepy aircraft get ready for bed. They slow their propellers and park their wings. Time to snuggle up and tuck in...Goodnight, Sleep Tight. The charming illustrations and sweet rhyming text are sure to be a delight for sleepy aircraft enthusiasts. Purchase Amazon
Guest Post
Writing Picture Books for Children Tips From an Independently Published Author
I do not profess to have the magic formula that will make your children’s book a runaway success. Infact after reading many, many incredibly successful children’s books, I am still no closer to understanding why some good books are more successful than others. I love picture books and since having my daughter I have spent a lot more time enjoying children’s books. Having read a number of popular and not-so-popular children’s books I have come to find that children love simple stories, written with rhythm/meter using colourful illustrations which are simplistic yet understatedly detailed. In early 2013 I dived in head first so to speak and immersed myself in the wonderful world of writing and designing picture books. I have independently published six picture books over the last year and have two new projects which will be published later this year.
Looking back on the year that has passed, I can definitely say that, when I first started I had absolutely no idea what I was letting myself in for! There are so many things that need to be considered when publishing a picture book and I was initially quite overwhelmed. I learnt a lot along the way and made many mistakes but the experience has been exceptionally rewarding. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when my first book was published only to find that I had not considered one of the most crucial aspects at all – marketing. I have only just started to get a handle on this aspect of the publishing business which is proving to be quite a challenge, but one that I most certainly look forward to. Publishing is after all exactly that – a business. Publishing books independently is most certainly not for the faint hearted, it requires a lot of time, attention to detail and a very thick skin. This post aims to give a summary of things to consider when independently publishing a picture book.
Do lots of research
If you want to write books for children a great starting point is to read lots and lots and lots of children’s books. It is important to learn as much as possible about writing picture books. There are many things to consider and the list below outlines some of things you will need to research for your picture book.
If you plan on publishing independently, it is advisable to spend time finding a fantastic illustrator. You will need to know what style of illustration you are aiming for before you start looking for an illustrator.
Layout for text and images
Through my picture book self-publishing journey over the last year, I have come to realise that layout is very, very important! Picture books generally have 250 – 1000 words and come in 3 standard lengths namely, 24 pages, 32 pages and 42pages (32 page picture books are by far the most common). When working with your illustrator it is important to know the trim size for your book, whether illustrations are single spread or double spread and whether or not your illustrations are full bleed or not. You need to decide all of this before doing the illustrations as this will determine the number and size of illustrations for your book.
I would also advise that you go through a storyboarding process on the rough pencil sketches before your illustrator proceeds with working on the full colour illustrations. During the storyboarding process you need to make sure that there is enough space to place your text and you need to ensure that important details in the illustrations are not lost or obscured in the centre fold of the book.
Storyline/Concept
This is obviously the most important and should be considered quite carefully. Choosing your story is the starting point and more often than not you will find that there are many published books that are similar or related to the story you want to publish. When an idea for a new book pops into my head, the first thing I do is hit the amazon search function and look for similar books using key words and tags that best describe the book I want to write. I read the descriptions and use the look inside function to get an idea of the storyline, concept and illustration style, to make sure that I am not simply producing another version of a book that already exists.
Target age group
Choosing a target age group before you write your book is quite important, because the target age group will influence both word choice and illustration style. Knowing that the book is aimed at 3-5 year olds rather than 6-8 year olds would mean that you would opt for simpler words and sentences with illustrations that appeal to toddlers.
Illustration style
This can make or break a picture book. Picture books are all about visual storytelling and the illustrations need to strongly support and enhance the text.
Produce a quality product
I can’t say this enough, quality is everything! There are many independently published books on the market today with varying quality. Some of the books are absolutely terrible with glaringly obvious grammar mistakes, spelling errors, inferior illustrations and poorly considered layouts. While others are superbly crafted with mesmerizing illustrations and layouts that would rival that of any traditionally published book. It is important that you aim for your independently published books to be of the highest quality. Producing a quality book often requires a lot more time and not as much money as you think. My tips to ensure that you produce a good quality product are as follows:
Engage the services of an editor. Another great resource is to make use of a Beta reading service such as the one offered on the Mother and Daughter book reviews website
Look for a great up and coming illustrator that charges reasonable rates on sites like Behance and Freelanced.
Spend time doing storyboards to perfect your layout
If you wish to publish a picture book as an eBook, have it converted to a fixed layout format. I used a company called eBook Partnership and I was very happy with the service and end result.
Include fun activities to go with your book
A lot of children get introduced to reading at school. Picture books are a very popular means of introducing early readers to books and are used quite often in classrooms around the world. It is always nice for teachers and children to have a classroom activity to go with a book. In addition to being useful in classrooms, these activities will also be welcomed by Mom’s who encourage crafting and other fun activities at home. I have started compiling some activities to go with my books on my website. Some activities for you to consider are:
Illustrations from the book that can be used for colouring-in activities.
Paper plate animal craft activities. I have compiled a make your own paper plate giraffe/ladybird for my book, How Andrew Got His Spots.
A story wheel template that can be used in classrooms to help children retell a story. I have created a story wheel template for my book, How Andrew Got His Spots.
Craft activities based on a theme in your book such as the make your own clothespin airplane Audio narration, videos and songs.
Marketing
Marketing an independently published book is a lot more challenging than I had initially anticipated. It is very difficult to sell books when you are a new author, especially when you do not have a large publishing house to assist with marketing efforts. Selling your books is all about discoverability and creating a brand. You need to establish a presence in the author community, bring your books to the attention of readers and ensure that you have sufficient brand credibility so that readers will consider buying your product.
Blogging on Goodreads
Goodreads giveaways to obtain book exposure, this is not really a way to dramatically increase sales but it does create a lot of book shelving on too read lists.
Book tours with companies that specialize in your Genre. For children’s books this is most important as many book tour companies do not really specialize in children’s books.
Create a website and upload useful blog content such as activities that go with your book or read along versions of your book on YouTube.
Offer free content
Interact with your readers
Your readers need to be able to find you and your books. The age of the internet has brought about a multitude of platforms on which to interact with readers. It is important to establish an online presence to that your readers are easily able to interact with you. It is also important to consider the platforms carefully so as to select those that you will easily be able to update and interact on. Having a non-active profile is probably worse than not having one at all. That being said it is important to remember that good old fashioned face to face interaction is just as important so don’t forget to interact with your readers in real life too!
Online Platforms Goodreads Amazon author profile page Author website Facebook page Google+ Twitter
Face to Face Interaction School visits Library visits Book readings Book launches
About the Author: Louise Lintvelt
I am from South Africa and I live in a city called Pretoria. I am a Chemical Engineer by day and a children’s book writer by night. I am married to a wonderful man and we have a beautiful two year old daughter called Allegra. I love writing stories for my daughter, who is a constant inspiration. I have always loved reading. My childhood was filled with books and you would often find me crouched the corner of my room devouring the pages of my favourite book. I lived for Tuesday mornings as this would bring with it the excitement of a trip to the local library for story hour and the opportunity to take home a new book. I was the local librarian’s worst nightmare. I would arrive a few minutes early to check that she had not mistakenly chosen a book that had already been read in story hour. I was a very bossy three year old with an insatiable appetite for books! This has not really changed much in the last twenty seven years. Dr. Seuss was my absolute favourite and to say that my copy of
One, Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish
was well read would be an understatement. When it comes to writing, my daughter is my biggest inspiration. I love seeing her face light up with excitement when we sit down to read a book before bedtime. My daughter was fascinated by giraffes after we went on a safari trip in late 2012. This planted the seed for my picture book called
How Andrew Got His Spot
s which is a rhyming adaptation of a story I originally wrote in the third grade. My daughter has since grown into a healthy two year old with a passion for aircraft which was the inspiration for writing
Goodnight, Sleep tight, What a Wonderful Flight
. I am sure that there are many parents in the world (myself included), who are quite decidedly sick and tired of reading the same favourite picture book night after night. I believe that the words of Oscar Wilde best describe how children should feel about picture books when he said, If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all. Happy Reading! Newsletter Sign-Up | Goodreads | Author Blog | Google+
Goodnight Sleep Tight: What a Wonderful Flight Blog Tour Schedule (2014)June 3Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch)Mommynificent (Review)Sunshine, Bubbles & Books (Review)June 4Where Connor and JT Go (Review)Cherry Mischievous (Review)June 5Book Reviews and Giveaways (Review)Adalinc to Life (Review)June 6Misadventures of a First Time Mom (Review)SOS Supply (Review)June 7The Reading Room (Review)Victoria Simcox Blog (Guest Post)June 8Books Direct (Review)Stitch Says (Review)Heart of a Philanthropist (Review)June 9Tales of a Bookworm (Review)Christy's Cozy Corners (Review)June 10Enter Here Canada (Review)That's What I'm Here For... (Review)June 11Three Boy Circus (Review)Spark and Pook (Review)June 12Library of the Seen (Review)Mixed Bag Mama (Review)June 13We are the DinoFamily (Review)My Brother is My Best Friend (Review)June 14A Leisure Moment (Review)June 15My Devotional Thoughts (Review)Nanna Three and Counting (Review)June 16Bookworm for Kids (Review)Brooke Blogs (Review) * Blog Tour Giveaway *
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: July 1, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Louise Lintvelt and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway
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