Cheryl Rainfield's Blog, page 60

NEW Cover for STAINED, Authors Who Recommend It, Read the 1st Chapter, and Win a signed ARC, special message wristband, $15 bookstore giftcard

I loved the old cover of STAINED–I thought it told the reader immediately what the book was about, just like SCARS did. But B&N didn’t love it, so my publisher created a new cover. And guess what? I love it even more! The new cover makes the reader curious, draws the reader closer, yet still has the emotional feel of the book. I love the purple dripping from the title, the way Sarah in STAINED has a (purple) port wine stain on her cheek, and feels stained by her birthmark and by what her abductor does. To me, the black streaks behind are like the darkness that closes in on her when she’s held prisoner, as well as like her prison itself. What do you think?

“Sometimes you have to be your own hero.”

In STAINED, Sarah, a teen with a port wine stain and body image issues, is abducted, and must find a way to rescue herself.

I’m SO happy to have some wonderful author recommendations to share with you! Some fantastic YA authors I love and respect who read STAINED and recommend it! Whooo hooo!

“Powerful. I raced through it, wanting to know if Sarah would find a way to escape both her captor and her self-doubts. A real nail-biter!”

– April Henry, New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die





“A compelling, gutting, and ultimately triumphant read. You won’t want to stop turning pages — Or blink. Or breathe. — until you reach the very last one.”

-Jennifer Brown, award-winning author of Hate List

“STAINED is dark, tense and gripping; a triumph of one girl’s heart, soul and will to survive. Sarah’s strength during her descent into terror kept me reading way past bedtime!”

-Laura Wiess, critically acclaimed author of Such a Pretty Girl

Curious? Read the first chapter of STAINED!





Like I did with SCARS and HUNTED, I drew on some of my own experiences of bullying, abuse, and trauma to write STAINED and to give it greater emotional depth. Like Sarah in STAINED, I experienced abduction, imprisonment, periods of forced starvation, mind control, and having my life threatened. And like Sarah, I tried hard to fight against my abuser, keep my own sense of self, and escape. I hope, when you read it, you’ll see Sarah’s strength and courage, and appreciate her emotional growth as she reclaims herself.

Want to know why I wrote STAINED? Check out this video:

Have you seen the book trailer yet?

You can pre-order STAINED at any of these stores, or your local indie bookstore. Pre-ordering a book helps a book get noticed, so you’re doing the author a favor as well as getting your book as soon as it’s released.

Amazon (hardcover)

Amazon (kindle)

Amazon.ca (hardcover)

Amazon.ca (ebook)

Amazon.co.uk (hardcover)

Amazon.co.uk (ebook)

The Book Depository

Powell’s

Books a Million

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I love Superman…but I don’t love the new Superman movie Man of Steel

I love Superman. As an abused kid, I used to wish I could be like Superman–have bullets bounce off me, be strong enough to toss my attackers away. It helped me feel stronger, less like a victim, imagining I could be like him. Christopher Reeve in the Superman movies made me feel safe, happy, strong. The comic books did, too. I even (blushing) loved the TV shows Lois and Clark, and (less) Smallville. I’m predisposed to like Superman.

But this new movie, Man of Steel? I didn’t like it at all. I wanted to. How I wanted to! There were good actors–Henry Cavill was powerful, as were Diane Lane and Laurence Fishburne, and others. There were some beautifully shot scenes, especially of Superman flying, or saving people. There were scenes that should have been moving. But the movie lacked heart, hope, and most importantly, human connection and a well-written story. And on top of that, there was WAY too much violence–so much that it felt senseless and empty. Without the human connection, without emotions and relationships and a reason to care about the characters, the violence didn’t matter. The violence became monotonous, and it also didn’t escalate along with Superman and his goals. It left me untouched, except for wincing at all the destruction and the people “killed.” But it didn’t make me care.

And you need to care about a character to root for them, to stay there for the entire ride–whether it’s a novel or a movie or a TV episode. And a big part of that is, I think, having a character we can relate to in some way. And one important way to do that? Showing relationships–the tensions and joys and conflicts that make us feel and think: oh, yeah, I’ve been there. Or I want to be there, or I really don’t want to be there. Showing vulnerabilities and pain, showing hopes and dreams, showing why a character matters.

Also important is a fluid story–a story that makes sense, with characters who have a goal that they need and desperately want, and who build towards that goal, a character whose actions and reactions have consequences and shape their future, and affect that of others. I didn’t see much of that happen in Man of Steel. Flashbacks that could have been powerful were cut in without connection and felt disjointed. We didn’t see enough of Clark with his parents or friends or interacting with others on an ongoing basis, we didn’t get enough of an understanding of his life, what it’s like to be him, what he cares about, or how he copes. Other than saving people, and not being able to save his father–which is important, but there wasn’t enough family life, or relating to others. Not enough to make me care, and what was shown was disjointed.

And no way did I believe that he could come to care about Lois the way things were. There was no built up relationship, the way there was in past movies or comics, with Clark getting to know her through working with her. And as a love interest? I didn’t see enough of her character to make me really care or see how spunky and strong she’s supposed to be. Sure, she took some risks, and I was glad to see that, but…she didn’t shine the way Margot Kidder did as Lois in the 1978 movie. The writer or director or whoever had control here with Man Of Steel left out SO much of what was good in the old Superman movies and shows, and in the comics. Superman’s “humanity,” his relationships and the conflicts and pain and hopes and dreams that arise.

And the antagonists in Man of Steel? They felt flat, like stereotypes, nothing to make me believe in them or really fear them or care, or think that they were anything than an obstacle. They didn’t feel real. And the help that came from the dead Jor-El? Bad move. It took away some of the power and strength of Superman and Lois, in solving the problem themselves.

The beginning of the movie, too, situated in Krypton, left me not caring. A lot more violence, and not much to make me care. I needed to know and understand more about the characters. It felt like backstory plunked down in the beginning of the movie with nothing to make me want to know it. I could have gotten past that easily if I’d seen more of Superman’s life after that, had an actual storyline that flowed. But that didn’t happen.

The Spider-Man movies with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, written by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and David Koepp, directed by Sam Raimi, were incredibly well written and acted and directed. I hadn’t been a big Spider-Man fan until the movies, but the movies brought me over immediately. Why? I think especially because they instantly made me care about Peter. We saw his relationships with his aunt and uncle (which is key), his being bullied at school and the ways he coped. We saw his guilt over not saving his uncle, his longing for Mary Jane. We saw his human side. His relationships with others. His emotions and needs. His starting out as an underdog, and moving into great strength–emotional and mental and superpowered–and using that to do good in the world. To save others. To help. And all that made us care. He also had an antagonist or two who felt real, whose motivations and emotions were also vivid and almost made us empathize with them.

All that was lacking in Man of Steel.

I am so disappointed. This could have been an incredibly powerful, moving movie, especially with all the material that already exists. A movie to inspire hope, to come away feeling like the world can be a better place. Strangely, to me, the movie ended with a note about Clark going to work at the Daily Planet with Lois–which felt like it had the potential to become a wonderful movie. A relationship! Tension! Immediate interest. But this movie? It didn’t engage my emotions at all. It saddens me to say that.

DC Comics, I hope you come out with a better Superman movie in a few years. One that will make people feel and care and hope.

What do you think? Have you seen Man of Steel? Do you agree or disagree?

SCARS will become an audiobook this September!

I’m so excited! SCARS is being recorded as an audiobook–both a downloadable and a physical copy–through AudioGo. It will be released this September!

In only a few months, people can have SCARS read to them if they want to, can listen to it while driving or knitting or exercising or whenever they listen to audiobooks (smiling). I love having books read to me, especially my favorite books, and audiobooks feel like they’re being read to you. So I’m thrilled that this will happen for SCARS!

Do you listen to audiobooks? Do you get audiobooks as downloads or physical copies? I used to buy mostly physical copies, but lately I’ve bought downloadable copies.

Butterfly Tears Tour: 9 Women Who Went Through Abuse and Trauma To Healing

If you know about me or my books, you’ll know I’m an incest and ritual abuse survivor–rape was a daily and nightly occurrence for me growing up–and that I care deeply about breaking silence about sexual violence, and also encouraging healing and hope. We can have happier, better lives even after such violation and trauma.

So I’m happy to be hosting Butterfly Tears–a book on nine women who went through abuse and trauma to healing. Today you can read part one of an interview from the co-editors of Butterfly Tears, and also hear from one of the women featured in the book.

NEW! If you want to enter to win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this blog post. Open to US and Canada.

Butterfly Tears: Stories of Entrapment to Empowerment

About Butterfly Tears:

So many women’s lives are shattered before they even have a chance to begin girls who suffer childhood abuse, neglect, drug addiction, and despair.

Butterfly Tears reveals the gripping, intimate stories of nine brave women who found the strength to turn their dark, raging worlds around. Women who, against all odds, broke free of the destructive cycle of addiction and abuse to attain love, security, and successful lives. Women who have emerged as lawyers, teachers, and counselors who joyfully give back to society.

Butterfly Tears: An Interview with Co-Editors Wil Drouin and Jennifer Thomas

PART 1

Q: How and why did you get involved with Pathways?

Wil: About five years ago, as a senior citizen and realizing my future is now shorter than my past, I began some soul-searching, asking myself the Socratic questions: Why am I here? What am I leaving behind? How can I make the world better? I was referred by a friend who told me that Dave Bishop had an amazing program called Pathways to Independence that I might be interested in. I met Dave and I was astounded by the one-of-a-kind-ness and effectiveness of his program. Getting involved seemed so much more gratifying than simply writing a check to a worthy cause.

Having come from a broken family myself, which landed me in an orphanage and a children’s home, I am especially passionate about to wanting to help at-risk young people who have suffered, and help them become functional. And that’s what this program does. It offers total immersion and support of each girl involved.

Jennifer: I agree. Pathways to Independence is by far the most comprehensive and regimented, yet personal and loving program I have ever heard about. Clients are given everything they need to heal and to succeed in life: a college education, therapy, mentoring, a car, help with rent, free doctors, dentists, etc.–all supplied through volunteer professionals and Pathways supporters (all of whom are lovingly referred to as the Pathways Family). But in return, the clients must dive all-in to their own transformation. They must attend their weekly therapy sessions, never missing, call their mentor, maintain a minimum GPA, work part-time…the list goes on. It’s intense. But it works! And most importantly, they are surrounded by loving, good people who sincerely want to help them succeed. I think experiencing that family they never had makes the biggest difference of all.

Here is what Kaysie (the first of the 9 women who share their story in Butterfly Tears) has to say:

My picture-perfect life growing up was really a shattered family portrait of shame. I was a victim of incest by my father, a Baptist minister, all the way from age 6 to 18. I didn’t know how to escape, so I did so through drugs and alcohol, eventually living in my car in a Target parking lot.

Today, my life is transformed. It has taken hours and years of therapy to move on from the harsh reality of my upbringing. But it has been worth it. After graduating pre-med from Cal State and earning my nursing license, I am now in medical school, pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse practitioner. But most importantly, today I hold my head high and face the world head on. I am living proof that one’s past need not determine their future.

Thank you so much, Kaysie, Wil, and Jennifer for joining me today.

Do you love my books? Join my street team. You’ll have my deep gratitude, enter to win prizes, and more

Do you love my books? If you do, and you’d like to help me let others know about them, then I would love to have you on my street team!

A street team is a group of readers, book bloggers, and reviewers who are a fan of an author’s books and want to spread the word about the books they love–such as posting cover reveals, reviews, hosting blog stops, talking about my books, following me on Twitter, etc. You only do what you want to do and are comfortable with.

There are so many books being published that some books can disappear without getting noticed or read much–and I really want my books to reach people. I remember what it felt like to be so alone and in so much pain I wanted to die–books were my safety and helped me survive. It’s important to me to make a positive difference through my books, and to keep doing that, the way I did with SCARS–and to entertain people at the same time. I also want to be able to make a living as a writer, and to keep writing and publishing many, many more books. Your honest word-of-mouth recommendations can help with that!

I need all the help I can get–and I am so grateful to everyone who joins my street team.

What else do you get besides my gratitude if you join my street team? (smiling)

You will:

be entered to win monthly prizes including bookstore giftcards, signed books, signed ARCS (advance reader copies);

get bonus material and book news first–there’s already a just-for-you book news message in my street team email group;

get excerpts and sneak peeks;

get signed bookmarks, bookplates, and other swag with each release;

have a chance to talk to me (and others!) in the private email group;

enter for a chance to name a (minor) character in one of my books;

and more over time.

What can you do as a street team member to help me get the word out about my books? Lots of things! But only what you’re comfortable with. Do the things you want to do. You can:

Post my book news, cover reveals, book trailers, contests, TV and radio interviews, etc that you like on your blog, FaceBook page, Twitter, Pinterest, whatever social media/s you enjoy and prefer. You can also host me–have

me write a short article or piece that you post.

Review my book/s on your blog, FaceBook page, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, whatever social media/s you enjoy and

prefer (honest reviews are good). You can also interview me (email me with questions).

Post your reviews of my books on sites like GoodReads and Library Thing, and bookstore sites like Amazon, B&N, Powell’s, etc. and rate them. It really does make a difference!

Add my books to your GoodReads and LibraryThing shelves, add them to your Amazon or B&N or other bookstore wishlists, and “like” them–it helps with others discovering my books.

“Like” my FaceBook book and author pages, follow me on Twitter and Pinterest, check out my blog. Re-tweet me or re-post me when you like something.

Recommend the books of mine that you’ve loved or are looking forward to, to friends and family–in person and online, when it feels right.

If you can afford to and the book interests you, buy my new books in the preorder period or the first week of their release. This can help other readers find it faster, and may help to get a book on a bestseller list. (Yes, I dream of that! Smiling)

Ask your local library to order in my books.

If my books aren’t in a bookstore that you go into, ask the bookseller to order them.

If you’re in a bookstore and you see one of my books, you can turn it face out so others are more likely to see it. But please don’t put it on another shelf or another table–it’s organized by the bookstore owners for a reason. Just turning it face out on the same shelf can be a nice way to help others see it.

Leave bookmarks in a bookstore or library (please ask them first to make sure it’s okay)or to give one to a friend (again, please check to see if they’re interested first). Let me know and I can mail you some. And of course you can enjoy some for yourself.

And anything else that you can think of that is friendly and helps others who might be interested or helped by my books know about them.

Just do what’s comfortable to you and what you’d like to do.

If you can let me and the group know what you’ve done each month, I’ll enter you into my monthly contest. You may also inspire others to help get the word out or find new good ways to do this.

To kick it off my new street team, for June I have a signed ARC of STAINED with the original cover and some mistakes and none of the new changes—something you won’t be able to buy anywhere. Maybe it’ll even become a collector’s copy, who knows? Also a $25 giftcard to an online bookstore of the winner’s choice.

Sound good? I hope you’ll sign up for my private YahooGroups Street Team list (smiling).

Some people have told me that they had trouble signing up, and we figured out the problem: You need to sign up with your Yahoo email or name. You can then change the settings to have the emails forwarded to your primary email. If that doesn’t work, let me know Cheryl@CherylRainfield.com and I’ll send you a personal invite.

1 Sweet Picture Book and 3 Sweet Board Books: Duck and Goose: Goose Needs a Hug; Hey, Duck!; Up Cat; and Sweet Dreams Lullaby

Art matters a lot to me in picture and board books; if the art isn’t beautiful or sweet or somehow just right, for me it ruins the story. And the story, the text, is just as important, if not more so; if it’s not written well, it doesn’t matter how beautiful the artwork is, it just doesn’t feel right.

These four children’s books–1 picture book and 3 board books–all have beautiful illustrations and text that works and that makes these books a treat.

Duck & Goose: Goose Needs a Hug

Written and illustrated by: Tad Hills

Published by: Schwartz & Wade Books/Random House

Published: Dec 26, 2012

Recommended Age: 2-5 years and up

My rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My policy is only to review books that I love or enjoy.

Duck & Goose: Goose Needs a Hug is a keeper for me–one of my new favorites that feels just right story-wise, illustration-wise, and emotionally. Goose tells his bird friends he’s sad and needs something, but before he can tell them what he needs, they interrupt him with suggestions. His friends are sure they know what Goose needs, but each time they make a suggestion, again interrupting him, Goose is just a little bit more exasperated, until finally they ask and really listen to what he needs–and Goose can tell them: a hug. Then Goose gets exactly what he needs–though they ask why he didn’t tell them in the first place. This is a sweet and funny book, the last page a punch line that many readers will get–that feeling of not being listened to and then asked why they weren’t speaking out. The gentle humor, sweet illustrations, the fact that his friends so obviously care and want to help, and that Goose moves from being sad to getting what he needs, makes this book a feel-good book and keeps it from being a painful one.

Hills’ illustrations are both cute and beautiful, as always, with cheerful, bright colors; simple, expressive figures that show emotion so well; and beautiful backgrounds (blue sky with white fluffy clouds, lots of green grass and trees). There’s something so sweet and tender in the little birds that immediately draws me to the artwork. I also love how the copyright pages visually begin the story before the first page, with Goose walking with his head down, obviously sad. Goose’s expressions are almost comical as he is interrupted again and again, until finally he’s ready to burst–and that’s just when he gets what he needs. The figures are not static, either–not just talking heads–they move from talking to each other, to hiding, to running, and many other playful activities. The illustrations will make the reader want to hug Goose.

The text is beautifully written and feels just right, with lovely comedic timing, Goose being interrupted again and again before he can get it out and before the final punch line. Each time when Goose tells his friends their suggestion is not what he needs but he needs (and is interrupted) he says it in a slightly different way, making his dialogue interesting. All the story text is dialogue between Goose and his friends, and that keeps the story moving quickly. Readers will want to turn the pages quickly to see what happens next.

A sweet, warm-hearted, and lightly funny story of sadness moving into comfort that tells readers a hug can help if you’re sad; it’s okay to ask for a hug; your friends love you; and there are many things that may also help you when you’re sad. A great message lightly woven into a sweet, comforting story. Highly recommended.

Goose Needs A Hug is available in both board book and picture book formats.

Hey, Duck!

Written and illustrated by: Carin Bramsen

Published by: Random House Books for Young Readers

Published: Jan 22, 2013

Recommended Age: 3-7 years

My rating: 4 out of 5

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Hey, Duck! is a sweet book about friendship between unlikely friends, and friendly persistence winning over even grumpiness.

The little duck in this book tries to make friends with a cat, insisting that the cat is a duck. The cat keeps saying that she is NOT a duck and resists the duck’s friendly overtures, until finally saying she wants to be alone. But after a while the cat realizes she misses the duck. When she finally finds the duck, she tries to be friends by saying that she is indeed a duck–but after the duck splashes water on her she realizes she really is a cat. The duck then metaphorically reaches over to the cat by meowing and saying that they’re friends.

Young readers will delight in realizing what the little duck doesn’t seem to–that her new friend is really a cat, not a duck. And they will enjoy the unusual friendship between a cat and a duck.

The illustrations are cute and look almost 3-D, with texture visible especially on the duck and the cat and the tree, making them seem to leap from the page. There’s always a gleam of light in their eyes that make them look almost alive. The characters have strong body language and are very expressive, so you know what they’re feeling by looking at them. The characters and foreground are all detailed and stand out greatly against the plain one-tone blue sky background, which draws your eye to the characters and their romp. Illustrations move from single page spreads to full spreads to two illustrations per page, which adds visual interest.

The text is written in rhyme, which isn’t my favorite to read, but Bramsen’s rhymes scan well and have a nice rhythm–so nice that for the first few pages I didn’t notice the book was in rhyme. A few odd times it felt like the last word in a rhyme was forced, but usually they read really well. The text is dialogue between the duck and the cat, which moves the story forward, and engages the reader in both the duck and the cat’s point of view. I loved the naive enthusiasm and friendly persistence of the little duck, and the way the cat came around to becoming friends.

Hey, Duck! encourages readers to see that you can be very different from someone else and still be friends and enjoy each others’ company. It also reminds readers that if you want something you shouldn’t give up right away. A bright, funny picture book that will have little ones giggling. Recommended!

Up Cat

Written by Hazel Hutchins, illustrated by Fanny

Published by: Annick Press

Published: August 2012

Recommended for Ages: 2-5 (and up)

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Up Cat is a funny, sweet little book about a playful cat going throughout her day, doing cat-like things–waking up and asking for food, then ignoring the food, playing with wool and empty boxes, and lying in the sun. Hutchins’ knows her cats well!

Hutchins’ text is made up of simple, very short phrases, usually ending in “up” that tell what the cat is doing (though you need the illustrations paired with many to know exactly what) such as “creep up/leap up/toss up/bat up”. I can see the text working well for babies and toddlers. The rhythm works beautifully and encourages the reader to turn the page to see what will happen next. There was only one line that pulled me out of the rhythm, when the line didn’t end with up but rather started with it. The simple phrases that show the antics that the cat is doing will make readers laugh, especially paired with the illustrations.

Fanny’s illustrations help make Up Cat work, showing the reader exactly what the cat is doing when she is doing something “up”. You can see the curiosity, attitude, and happiness of the cat. The illustrations have a stylized feel to them, with slightly skewed perspectives and bodies that don’t look anatomically correct but are pleasing to look at. I like how you never see a person in the illustrations–only a person’s hands and arms–so that the focus stays solely on the cat. Most illustrations have a bright color as the background, with only needed details and of course the cat in the foreground.

Hutchins and Fanny have captured the mischievousness, playfulness, sometimes attitude, and fun of cats. Young children will love the mischief the cat gets into, and love, too, the many uses of “up”. Readers who have a cat will also especially enjoy and identify with antics of the cat in this book. Recommended!

Sweet Dreams Lullaby

Written and illustrated by: Betsy Snyder

Published by: Random House Books For Young Readers

Published: 2010, 2012

Recommended for Ages: 3-7 (and up)

My rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Sweet Dreams Lullaby is indeed a sweet book. Both the illustrations and the text are sweet, warm, and comforting, and reach out to readers like a hug–or a lullaby. Little bunny gets tucked into bed, encouraged to dream of happy nature scenes, and gently drawn into sleep.

The text is written in rhyme, each page a happy, comforting suggestion of what to dream about: blossoms soft as snow, clouds like puffy pillows, gentle raindrop showers, fireflies that blink and flash. I love Snyder’s beautiful language and imagery–”eggs wrapped in a nest/where mama bird has come to rest.” This is poetry that soothes and comforts, while uplifting the reader.

Snyder’s illustrations fit the text perfectly–they are sweet, comforting, and soothing, with gentle, warm colors, lots of nature, and a whimsical, loving, happy feel to the illustrations. In one spread, a bunny in turquoise pajamas blows dandelion seeds up into a warm yellow sky and a setting sun, her home under the grassy hill beneath her. In a later spread, the bunny lets a firefly go into the darkening sky, where it shines and sparkles with the other fireflies. The pages move easily into each other, moving from daytime to nighttime scenes, the moon rising higher and higher, slowly encouraging the reader to drift off to sleep.

This is a comforting, tender book that will give the reader a sense of safety and love, and remind readers that nighttime and the dark is safe, and dreams can be wonderful. Highly recommended!

Scars is going to be translated into Slovenian!

Scars is going to be translated into Slovenian! I love that it’s going to reach even more people who might not otherwise be able to read it. I’ll post a pic when I get an author’s copy. It’s the first language Scars has been translated into, so I find it kind of thrilling.

LOVE this video talk by Laurie Halse Anderson on censorship.

If you’ve followed my blog or know me from Twitter or Facebook, then you know I love Laurie Halse Anderson–her brave books that help make a positive difference in the world, and the way she speaks out and creates good change.

Well–Laurie’s done it again with her talk to ABFEE on censorship. I LOVE what she said! That books are a safe way to pass on lessons and wisdom to others–and that books save lives. And that that’s what we’re doing writing and publishing YA literature. That our books have to be honest to connect to teens. That sometimes the only ways readers can find the answers they need from books. That most of censorship is fear-driven. And that teens can’t afford to have the truth withheld from them. And that censorship leaves teens in darkness and opens up opportunities for them to be hurt. I SO identify with that–books were what helped me survive my childhood–and they were what helped me know I wasn’t alone, and that the abuse I was surviving wasn’t okay. So Laurie’s words–they speak to me so much.

Thank you Laurie Halse Anderson for your wonderful speech!

Watch the video for yourself and let me know what you think.

Guest Post from JR Wagner To Celebrate His New Release: A Novella From The Never Chronicles (Proceeds Donated to RAINN!)

Ack! Today is a holiday here in Canada, and I completely forgot I was supposed to post JR Wagner’s post. (blushing. My sincere apologies!) JR Wagner is an author I like and respect; he’s a great person–kind, supportive, aware–and a great writer. I hope you’ll all check out his post celebrating his new novella from his YA series The Never Chronicles: Tristis Manor. While Tristis Manor is based upon one of the characters from Exiled, its subject matter and themes take readers to a much darker place.

JR Wagner deals with painful issues and abuse in this novella–a brave move!

And JR Wagner is doing something very special–he is donating all proceeds from the sale of Tristis Manor for the first four months (March 20-July 20) for Tristis Manor to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network)–an organization that helps rape and sexual abuse survivors. And Tristis Manor is only $1.99! So you can grab a copy of a great book and at the same time know that you’re doing something to truly help others. A great deal all around! If you loved Exiled, you need to get this novella. And if you haven’t read Exiled, you might want to grab both.

Check out this quote from a review of Tristis Manor: “Be forewarned this is not a light, or happy read at all. That said this is a beautifully written story of jealousy, abuse, and how a child survives and copes with the aftermath of trauma. This novella deals with physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse in a very frank manner.”

Take it away, JR!

My series, The Never Chronicles, is by no means small, simple or even linear for that matter. I hesitate to call it epic fantasy because the moment someone reads ‘epic fantasy’, they automatically think George R. R. Martin, Terry Brooks or Robert Jordan. All of these masters have penned amazing tales and each are well worth reading, but The Never Chronicles, despite spanning generations at times, would not fall into this category if, for no other reason than it is written with the teenage reader in mind.

I strive to make The Never Chronicles a character driven tale rather than quest driven. When I sit down to write, I want my readers to understand why a particular character is taking a given action –or, if they don’t quite understand it, I want the reader to want to understand it because they’ve found a way to identify with the character.

After completing Exiled, I felt the need to delve into one of the characters from the main story line and so Tristis Manor was born. This novella gives the reader more insight into the early life of Margaret, mother of the main character, James. Margaret’s story runs from a different vein Exiled. It is a tale of abuse, perseverance and strength. It is my hope that the reader will understand how Margaret is able to cope with the events in her adult life having experienced such a harrowing childhood.

My vision for The Never Chronicles includes more novellas mixed between the releases of the main books. Perhaps when it is all over, there will be an anthology of novellas.

As I continue to refine book 2 of The Never Chronicles (tentatively called Evasion –yes, that’s the first time I’ve announced the working title), I realized in order to organize all of the stories –how they link, cross paths and relate, I would need to be very, very organized. Fortunately, I stumbled upon Timeglider. Timeglider is a web-based timeline program where you can lay out every chapter, event, date of importance on a timeline and be able to step back and see how what you’ve written interacts and works with the other stories in the timeline. The screenshot below is my Timeglider layout for Tristis Manor.

I’m not paid by Timeglider –I just found it to be a very useful tool when keeping track of such a large project.

The Never Chronicles series continues to grow. The second book from the main story (which many readers have been begging for) is in the editorial washer at the moment but it will take a while to get it where it needs to be. With so much complexity between the timelines, characters and events, I would be doing my readers a disservice if I rushed to get this story out.

Thank you, Cheryl, for your constant support and encouragement. You are a constant source of strength and inspiration.

More about Tristis Manor:

Margaret lives in a constant state of fear. Fear of her mother, whose deep seeded anger and unwillingness to speak of Margaret’s past have long since pushed Margaret away. Fear of disappointing her father should he ever discover the events of that day. Most of all, Margaret lives in fear of her abuser’s return. Margaret turns to self-harm to cope with her pain and fear. Only when her self-inflicted injuries bring her near death does she realize she has the power and the support from an unlikely place to stand up to her fears and believe in herself again. Tristis Manor is a novella from The Never Chronicles, an epic fantasy series. Tristis Manor is a tale of perseverance, strength and redemption.

JR Wagner is a Chester County native born in West Chester and currently residing in the Downingtown area.

Tristis Manor is available for digital download on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, and other great online retailers. For more information visit TheNeverChronicles.com

Two Feel-Good Picture Books: Good News, Bad News and Snippet The Early Riser

I think picture books can bring a lot of good feeling–for children, and also for adults. I struggle with a lot of depression (a result of childhood abuse), and one of the things I turn to when I’m depressed that consistently help are feel-good picture books. I think good picture books can be tools to help with emotions, even trauma, in both children and adults. But because I’m a writer, and I also do art (just for myself), I have to really love both the writing and the illustrations, as well as the message or theme in the books, to love the books.

These two books are two of my new favorites that delight me; I hope you or the children in your life will love them as much as I do.

Good News, Bad News

Written and Illustrated by: Jeff Mack

Published by: Chronicle Books

Published: July 2012

Age range: 1-6 years (and up)

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: I bought the book myself.

Good News, Bad News delivers a powerful story with not much text and great illustrations, but the text that there is tells a lot. The text is simple: “Good news” from one character’s perspective, and “Bad news” from the other. It’s a story of an optimist rabbit and a pessimist rat. The optimist rabbit keeps seeing the good in everything that happens or every way a problem is solved–when it rains, having an umbrella handy, when the rat gets swept away in the storm with the umbrella, realizing that they’re now under shelter under a tree. And the rat keeps seeing the negative in everything–rain spoiling a picnic, the wind sweeping her or him away. Over and over, no matter what calamities befall the two, the rabbit keeps seeing the good things, and the rat the bad–until finally the rat freaks out and yells “Bad news!” over and over. When that happens, suddenly the rabbit is overcome with despair and agrees with the rat. The rat is so dismayed by his or her good friend losing hope, that the rat suddenly finds hope her/himself, and shows it to the rabbit, who regains her/his sense of hope and happiness. This is a funny and heartwarming story, sure to bring laughter and good feeling.

The illustrations are vivid drawings with a cartoon-like feel (in a good way), and are highly expressive; you always know by looking at the characters what they’re feeling. The illustrations also move from including background and a full-color page, to closeups of the characters with only a white background, and this helps keep visual interest. The mishaps are very visual–pink icing splatting all over the rat, lightning striking the characters and blackening them. There’s no mistaking what happens to the characters, or the humor as well as the mood, and the light use of text underscores the emotional tone of the events. The illustrations perfectly match the text.

Good News, Bad News is an entertaining, enjoyable story, and it’s also a deep story–one that may help change your perspective and help you see that for some things in life, how you experience them depends on how you see them–as positive or negative experiences. Written and illustrated in a lighthearted, funny, sweet way, without any preaching, this book is a real treat. It’s one of my new top favorites. Highly recommended!

Get Good News, Bad News at

Amazon.com

Amazon.ca

Snippet the Early Riser

Written and illustrated by: Bethanie Deeney Murguia

Published by: Knopf Books/Random House

Published: March 12, 2013

Age range: 3-7 years and up

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

Source: Book donated by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes there’s something so touching about certain illustrations that they just curl up inside my heart like a hug, and feel just right. That’s the way it was as soon as I started browsing the pages of Snippet the Early Riser. I was hoping that the text and story would live up to the illustrations–it’s so disappointing when they don’t–and I wasn’t disappointed. The story is just as sweet and wonderful as the illustrations.

Snippet loves to do all the things that other snails do–draw on the sidewalk, make leaf sculptures (by eating pieces of the leaves), getting piggy back rides–but he doesn’t sleep in like the rest of the snails. Instead, he’s an early riser. He tries and tries to get his family awake to play with him, but by the time his family finally gets up, he’s too tired to play for very long. And then once he falls asleep, the reverse happens. But he still has other friends to play with. This is a funny, sweet book that lets readers know it’s okay to be who you are, to sleep in or get up early.

The illustrations are enchanting and heartwarming; they made me feel good to look at. Snippet and each of the snails in his family all have different designs on their shells–Snippet has red and white polka dot patches on a turquoise spotted shell, his sister has white stars on a red shell, his mother has white flowers on a purple shell, and his father has blue and turquoise plaid. When Snippet and his sister draw designs on the sidewalk (with the slime trail from their bodies) they are beautiful–Snippets graceful curls, his sister hearts. And when they make leaf sculptures by eating parts of the leaves, Snippet’s is a big star, while his sister’s are hearts. The illustrations and colors used are soothing and comforting.

Some of the story text is told through speech bubbles or sound effects (munch munch) adding to the fun of the illustrations, while the bulk of the story is typefaced text. The story text feels just right; not too long and not too short, and the reversal at the end of the story (his family trying to wake him up, instead of him trying to wake him up–until it starts all over again) brings a fun note.

In some ways Snippet is different from his family, but he’s still obviously loved and secure and has many friends. I think we can all relate to being a little different than others in some way, and this is a sweet, non-preachy book about that. Highly recommended!

Get Snippet the Early Riser from:

Amazon.com

Amazon.ca

I loved both these books so much that I will now look for any book by Jeff Mack and Bethanie Deeney Murguia, and have them on my list to give children in my life, as well as some other adults who love picture books. If you love picture books the way I do, I highly suggest you check these out!