Caroline A. Shearer's Blog, page 10

New Release! Middle Grade Novel Different

Absolute Love Publishing is thrilled to announce the exciting release of Different, an authentic and empowering middle grade novel that shows kids that, despite our differences, we all deserve to be liked and accepted for who we are. An excellent classroom and library addition, Different has been exceptionally endorsed by the Tourette Association of America and the Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation and is ideal for any children who feel “different.”

Twelve-year-old Izzy wants to be like everyone else, but she has a secret. She isn’t weird or angry, like some of the kids at school think. Izzy has Tourette syndrome. Hiding outbursts and tics from her classmates is hard enough, but when a new girl arrives, Izzy’s fear of losing her best friend makes Izzy’s symptoms worse. And when she sees her crush act suspiciously, runaway thoughts take root inside of her. As the pressure builds and her world threatens to spin out of control, Izzy must face her fear and reveal her secret, whatever the costs.

Authentic and perceptive, Different shines a light on the delicate line of a child’s hopes and fears and inspires us all to believe that perhaps we are not so different after all.

What people are saying …

Amanda Talty, President and CEO, Tourette Association of America: “Being able to see the world through the eyes of someone with Tourette Syndrome is often difficult. Day in and day out we hear from families struggling with Tourette and everything that comes with it: bullying, ostracization, and intolerance. But we also hear stories of strength, bravery, and kindness. I applaud Different for bringing light to this misunderstood neurological condition and personifying the challenges our community overcomes while educating and encouraging compassion. The author does a great job of showing that the term ‘different’ can be used in many ways, and not just as a negative connotation.”

Brad Cohen, Educator, Author, Speaker, and President of the Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation: “Growing up, I never wanted to be ‘different.’ But then I realized that was just me. I learned early in life that being ‘different’ wasn’t always a bad thing, it was just my new normal. The book Different helps others embrace their own challenges in hopes that everyone can be a better person in the long run. Living with Tourette Syndrome is never easy, but knowing others around you understand where you’re coming from sure makes life a lot easier to manage. Different reminds us all to embrace our challenges and celebrate the ways we are all ‘different.’”

Lora Netherland, M.ED Special Education Teacher: “Different is an insightful look into the life of Izzy, who faces every day with the challenges of Tourette Syndrome. The author allows you to feel the world from Izzy’s perspective, creating an understanding that she is more like her classmates than different.

“As an educator for more than thirty years, it is wonderful to find a text that promotes an understanding of differences. I have had several students with Tourette Syndrome, and the availability of literature to build awareness for class was limited. This book lends itself to class discussions about what it means to be ‘Different.’”

Different is eye opening and age-appropriate with a message that we are all more alike than we realize. Encouraging social acceptance and peer awareness makes Different an ideal story for middle-grade readers, as well as a necessary addition to classroom bookshelves, libraries, and parent resource groups. Ready to read it for yourself? Different is available in digital and paperback formats from Amazon, B&N, Kobo, iBooks, and the Absolute Love Publishing Store.

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Meredith Ethington on Good Things Utah!

Utah mom Meredith Ethington, author of the popular parenting book Mom Life: Perfection Pending and blogger at Perfection Pending, joined the Good Things Utah team to share her six tips to staying sane through the rest of summer. These tips are so good they can be used year around- just exchange “summer list” for “weekend list.”

Watch the video here.

For more from Meredith visit perfectionpending.net and find her on the following social media platforms:

Facebook and Instagram: @PerfectionPending

Twitter: @PerfectPending

You can purchase Mom Life: Perfection Pending on Amazon, Deseret Book and more.

 

 

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Cover Reveal for Middle Grade Read, Different!

Here is the cover for Absolute Love Publishing’s upcoming middle grade book, Different!

Twelve-year-old Izzy wants to be like everyone else, but she has a secret. She isn’t weird or angry, like some of the kids at school think. Izzy has Tourette syndrome. Hiding outbursts and tics from her classmates is hard enough, but when a new girl arrives, Izzy’s fear of losing her best friend makes Izzy’s symptoms worse. And when she sees her crush act suspiciously, runaway thoughts take root inside of her. As the pressure builds and her world threatens to spin out of control, Izzy must face her fear and reveal her secret, whatever the costs.

A must-have for classroom bookshelves, check out this teacher endorsement:

“Different is an insightful look into the life of Izzy, who faces every day with the challenges of Tourette Syndrome. The author allows you to feel the world from Izzy’s perspective, creating an understanding that she is more like her classmates than different. As an educator for more than thirty years, it is wonderful to find a text that promotes an understanding of differences. I have had several students with Tourette Syndrome, and the availability of literature to build awareness for class was limited. This book lends itself to class discussions about what it means to be ‘Different.’” – Lora Netherland, M.ED Special Education

Authentic and perceptive, Different shines a light on the delicate line of a child’s hopes and fears and inspires us all to believe that perhaps we are not so different after all.

DIFFERENT – Coming Fall 2018!

 

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Mom Life: Perfection Pending Texas Book Launch

Meet parenting humor author and popular mommy blogger Meredith Ethington this coming Saturday, April 14, 2018 at the Tyler Public Library. Meredith will be reading from Mom Life: Perfection Pending, signing books, and answering your questions in a Q & A session. Come on by to experience the camaraderie of motherhood!

The book launch and signing will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tyler Public Library is located at 201 S. College Avenue in Tyler, Texas. Mom Life will be available for purchase at the event and is sold online on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Absolute Love Publishing.

Catch the latest media on Meredith Ethington and Mom Life: Perfection Pending from the Tyler Morning Telegraph here.

 

 

 

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New Release! Mom Life: Perfection Pending by Meredith Ethington

Absolute Love Publishing announces the release of Mom Life: Perfection Pending by popular parenting blogger Meredith Ethington. An uplifting and relatable read, Ethington’s debut book was written to help mothers who feel they aren’t “perfect moms” realize they are not alone.

“I wanted the mother who felt isolated and alone and like she wasn’t measuring up to know that she, too, was meant to be a mother. And that she is, in fact, the best mother for her own kids,” Ethington said. “Moms need to know they can do it. They are enough. We’re strong, and we can do this—because we love our kids.”

An important part of Ethington’s message is letting moms know they can love their kids, love motherhood and all it entails, and be honest about it, she said. From gritty truths to laugh out loud moments, Ethington tells it like it really is.

Here’s What Popular Parent Influencers Are Saying about Mom Life:

“Ethington has a knack for weaving just the right amount of humor and heartfelt honesty into every page. She provides moms a healthy dose of parenting reality, while encouraging them to be confident in taking on the hardest job on earth—being a mother.” – Jill Smokler, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Scary Mommy

“Meredith is no stranger to the perils and woes of parenting. She does a fantastic job at being real and honest. I think we are all … perfection pending.” – Meredith Masony, author, speaker, comic, and founder of That’s Inappropriate

“Ethington’s heartfelt, humorous take on motherhood offers overworked and touched-out mamas exactly the right dose of ‘Don’t worry, you’re doing all right’ we didn’t even know we needed. I saw myself in these pages, and if you’re a mom, you probably will, too.” – Kristen Mae, bestselling author of Beyond the Break and Red Water

“This book has a chapter titled, ‘I Never Knew You Could Ruin Someone’s Day by Simply Keeping Them from Killing Themselves.’ If that doesn’t make you want to buy it, then we can’t be friends.” – Clint Edwards, author of No Idea What I’m Doing: A Daddy Blog and “I’m Sorry” – Your Husband

Mom Life Author Meredith Ethington

Mom Life: Perfection Pending

Out-parented at PTA? Out-liked on social media? Wondering how your best friend from high school’s kids are always color-coordinated, angelic, and beaming from every photo, while your kids look more like feral monkeys? It’s okay. Imperfection is the new perfection! Join Meredith Ethington, “one of the funniest parents on Facebook,” according to Today.com, as she relates encouraging stories of real-mom life in her debut parenting humor book, Mom Life: Perfection Pending.

Whether you’re buried in piles of laundry, packing your 50th sack lunch for the week, or almost making it out the door in time for school, you’ll laugh along with stories of what real-mom life is like—and realize that sometimes simply making it through the day is good enough. An uplifting yet real look at all that is expected of moms in the 21st century, Mom Life: Perfection Pending is so relatable you’ll find yourself saying, “I guess I’m doing okay after all.”

Mom Life: Perfection Pending is now available in digital and paperback formats from Amazon, B&N.com, Kobo, and the Absolute Love Publishing Store.

Laugh out loud while celebrating the bond of motherhood! With authentic parenting reflections, humorous shenanigans, and honest advice, you’ll want to buy Mom Life: Perfection Pending for yourself or as a gift today! Mom Life is a humorous and smart read for expecting parents, new parents, and seasoned parents alike!

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Editor’s Tip: Recognizing and Releasing Fear of Beginnings

Whether you’re brimming with excitement and your words are pouring out and onto the page or you’re fighting fear of the blank page with procrastination, beginnings are always full of emotion. Excitement and joy, however, are much easier for us to handle than fear. Recognizing fear can help us release it and move our work forward. When faced with a new project, typical fears include:

*Not being good enough. As MM Finck wrote, “The story would not have picked you if you couldn’t write it.” So, write it. Get it down. It may not be good enough yet, but a good edit can transform it into something better than you imagined. Trust us: The polishing and perfecting can come later – once the story is out of you and onto the page. Get it out.

*Not knowing where to start. Books don’t often get written in the order they’re read. Can’t get the ending scene out of your mind? Start there, and work backward. Resonating strongly with a flashback scene? Start writing. Order, like perfection, can come later.

*Not having anything new/worthy/exceptional to say. There has never been another you in all of recorded time. Yes, your work may touch on familiar issues or plot lines, but don’t mistake the familiar with the unexceptional. Any book you will ever write will come out of your unique experiences and perspective. Whatever it is you’re writing, it is worth hearing because you are writing it.

Once you recognize and identify the fear you’re facing, releasing it becomes less of a struggle and more of an opportunity for growth. Remember: Our emotions are always valuable teachers. Receive their wisdom and use it to propel yourself forward.

Until next time, with much love,

Sarah

Sarah Hackley is the editor for Absolute Love Publishing and its imprint, Spirited Press. Through both, Sarah provides individualized, comprehensive editing services to authors seeking to bring light and inspiration to the world. A passionate believer that the written word can change lives, Sarah is deeply honored to be a part of these projects. She is the author of “Finding Happiness with Migraines: a Do It Yourself Guide,” a min-e-book. Her most notable contributions with Absolute Love Publishing include the “Love Like God” books and “Women Will Save the World.”

 

 

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The Courage To Write A Novel (And It Does Take Courage!)

Young adult author Janet McLaughlin kicks off the year with a blog hosted by the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of SCBWI.  McLaughlin is the author of the Soul Sight Mysteries series, including Haunted Echo and Fireworks, and is a longtime SCBWI member. Be inspired to write a book and learn how Janet decided what kind of book to write … Read the full blog here.

Janet McLaughlin has been involved in the communication field most of her adult life as a writer, editor, and teacher. Her love of mysteries and the mystical are evident in her novels. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Florida Writers Association. She lives in Florida with her husband, Tom, and along with her writing, enjoys playing tennis, walking, traveling, and meeting people.

 

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Ten Reasons Books Make Great Gifts

Is your holiday gift search fueled by peppermint mochas and all the Christmas music you can handle? Have you been embarking on endless shopping trips for just the “right”  (price, style, value) present and still coming up short? Then we have just the thing for you! Books!

Consider adding books (print or digital) to your mindful gift selection this year. Trust a bibliophile; they make great gifts! Here’s why:

Books are gifts that keep giving page after page, character after character, scene after scene. Readers get transported to new places and learn new things with each and every read. Plus, there’s always the possibility of a sequel!
Books make for inexpensive gifts for savvy shoppers on a budget. That’s sure to make even the biggest penny pincher (or Grinch) crack a smile and feel good about giving.
Books come with options. After they’re read, they can be added to a cherished collection, passed on to a fellow reader, exchanged for a “new to you” read at a local swap meet, or donated to a local library. The list goes on and on … Holiday elves agree that books are gift-giving gold!
Digital books support a minimalist lifestyle. They don’t take up space in the home and can be transported anywhere easily. That makes them an ideal present for the clutter-free person on your shopping list.
You can authentically personalize a book gift. Books gifted with a special message inside inspire sweet memories for years and decades to come.  
Books offer something for everyone. Whether the readers on your list like mystery, sci-fi, biography, or photography, an endless variety of book styles, sizes, illustrations, authors, and genres offers up the chance to capture all their hearts.
Gifting a book to a child, teen, or other young reader sparks their reading light to shine as bright as Rudolph’s nose and encourages a lifetime habit.
Books are unique as snowflakes. No one book’s dialogue, characters, and descriptive narration are exactly like any other book’s, and no one reader will read a book the same as another reader. That makes them the perfect gift for someone who already seems to have it all.
You can buy books online. No crowds, pressure, or hassle. Shop from your sofa snuggled in your favorite Christmas pajamas. It only takes a few clicks to have the book delivered to your door for personal gift giving or to arrive straight to the reader’s home or reading device. Santa will greatly appreciate you lightening his load this year and your feet will thank you for one less shopping excursion this holiday season.
The Absolute Love Publishing bookstore has all your favorite feel-good books! Shop now!

 

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Editor’s Tip: The Secret To Creating A Successful Writing Submission

Start where the action is. A major difference between beginning writers and seasoned authors is knowledge on how to hook the reader immediately. Almost every submission we receive starts approximately three chapters deeper than the author first imagines. So, write that background, if it helps, but then delete, delete, delete (or move it to a separate file if you can’t bear to let go completely.) Hook us from page one, and you’ve (or we’ve) got a keeper!

Check out our submissions page to see our 2018 book catalog needs!

Until next time, with much love,

Sarah

Sarah Hackley is the editor for Absolute Love Publishing and its imprint, Spirited Press. Through both, Sarah provides individualized, comprehensive editing services to authors seeking to bring light and inspiration to the world. A passionate believer that the written word can change lives, Sarah is deeply honored to be a part of these projects. She is the author of “Finding Happiness with Migraines: a Do It Yourself Guide,” a min-e-book. Her most notable contributions with Absolute Love Publishing include the “Love Like God” books and “Women Will Save the World.”

 

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Blending Psychology and Weight Loss

Absolute Love Publishing author and mindful weight loss expert Michelle Hastie recently chatted with Britt Allen on Writestream Radio’s “Get Fit, Feel Fabulous” about the dynamics of blending psychology and weight loss.

Hastie recently uncovered a clear pattern when compiling data for her thesis on the differences between dieters and non-dieters: the two groups approach exercise with completely different mindsets. Non-dieters exercise for how good it makes them feel (physically and emotionally), the strength it builds, and for enjoyment. Dieters said they exercise to lose or maintain weight. This presents problems for the dieters.

“When you exercise for weight loss you take away the benefits that exercise gives you,” said Hastie, “and if the scale [potentially] does not move, that discourages people from exercising altogether. That does not serve anyone.”

Instead of pushing through exercises they dread, Hastie shared three steps for those wishing to lose weight:

Start by moving from a “should” or “have to” mindset to a place of choice.
Stop emotional eating (which includes eating when bored).
Listen to your body to learn to eat within hunger and to stop eating once full.

Captivated by how psychology, eating, and weight loss intertwine to influence individual lives, Hastie will pursue her doctorate and release her next book this year. Her new book, “Have Your Cake And Be Happy, Too: A Joyful Approach To Weight Loss,” utilizes her own research into nutrition and the psychology of weight loss to help readers uncover the necessary mindset to transition from fat storing to fat burning, without overly fancy or external tactics.

Listen to the full interview online.

Michelle Hastie is a weight loss coach with a background in personal training, food psychology, neuro-linguistic programming, and yoga. She has been blessed with the gift of transforming lives, one body at a time, through Total Body Health Solutions.

Hastie also helps people learn to love their bodies and transform their lives through her Absolute Love Publishing books, “The Weight Loss Shift: Be More, Weigh Less” and “The Chakra Secret: What Your Body Is Telling You.” She also is a contributor to the Amazon category bestseller “Women Will Save the World.” Her new release, “Have Your Cake And Be Happy, Too: A Joyful Approach To Weight Loss,” is coming soon!

     

 

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