Danyelle Ferguson's Blog, page 5

Kansas City Teen Writers Workshop with Young Adult Authors Lisa Mangum & Janette Rallison!

I am absolutely thrilled to host an awesome teen writing workshop with the amazing Lisa Mangum and Janette Rallison! These ladies have not only incredible Young Adult authors, but are also genuinely fun, hilarious, and excellent teachers. If you have a teen who is addicted to books and writing, then this is a definite must-have experience.

Who's invited? Youth ages 12+ who want to learn more about writing

Price: $25, includes workshop, pizza and beverages.

When & Where: Thursday, Sept. 18th from 5-7:30 pm at Danyelle Ferguson's house. 15693 S. Blackfeather St. Olathe, KS

What you'll do: Enjoy a pizza dinner and spend 2 hours exploring plotting, creating great characters, dialogue, setting and other writing essentials. Lisa and Janette will have you laughing and brainstorming together as they share their expertise and stories from their own publishing experiences.

What to bring with you: A notebook and pens


About the Authors

Lisa Mangum  has worked with books ever since elementary school, when she volunteered at the school library during recess. She attended the University of Utah, graduating with honors with a degree in English. She has worked in the publishing industry since 1997. In 2014 she was named the Editorial Manager for Shadow Mountain.

Besides books, Lisa loves movies, spending time with her family, trips to Disneyland, and vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah, with her husband, Tracy. She is the author of four award-winning YA novels (the Hourglass Door trilogy and After Hello) and the editor of One Horn to Rule Them All: A Purple Unicorn Anthology.


Janette Rallison writes books because writing is much more fun than cleaning bathrooms.  Her avoidance of housework has led her to writing 23 novels that have sold over 1,000,000 copies.  Her novels have been on many reading and state lists. Most of her books are romantic comedies or action because hey, there is enough angst in real life, but there’s a drastic shortage of humor, romance and hot guys who fight dragons.  She lives in Chandler, Arizona with her husband, five kids, and enough cats to classify her as eccentric.




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A Fabulous $200 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

12 authors have come together to give you some BOOK LOVER'S DELIGHTful READINGand a $200 AMAZON GIFT CARD!
Click on the image to read a summary of each book :)
 


ENTER TO WIN THE $200 AMAZON GIFT CARD


GIVEAWAY ends 9/30/14

No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older and legally able to receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. This giveaway is not associated with Rafflecopter, Facebook, Twitter or any other entity unless otherwise specified.
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway was organized by I Love to Read and Review Books :) 
and sponsored by the participating authors.Stephanie FowersMaria Hoagland
Danyelle Ferguson
Paul Mark TagTara C. Allred
Rachel RossanoJaleta Clegg
Virginia Ripple
Tricia Ballad
Lisa Swinton
Victorine E. Lieske
Julie Wright

Fetch! Book Review and Amazon Giveaway

   

Fetch by Adam Glendon Sidwell    
Book Summary:

A story for anyone who's ever been loved by a dog or given one a home.

At least nine sunsets away, there is a place where dogs can do what they want. But they are not all the same, and when a special one has the courage to fly, he finds something unexpected beyond the tenth horizon.

My Review

Fetch is an adorable story about a dog and his life, the choice to stay free or be loved by a family. The art work is absolutely gorgeous! My kids love it!


Purchase your copyAmazon * Barnes & Noble 


Author Adam Glendon Sidwell:

In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Pacific Rim, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed adjectives. He really enjoyed writing 81,854 less words in his new picture book FETCH than he wrote in his first EVERTASTER novel, and hopes that you will like the ones he picked. Besides, FETCH has pictures.

Adam has also been rightfully accused of writing the upcoming novel CHUM.


Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * InstagramPraise for the book:

“If you need & want a book for younger children that does not involve zombies, monsters, or overdone "superhero's", and just want a good old fashioned great story, perfect illustrations, and a captivating experience, then "Fetch" should be ordered quickly.”—Carol Anne Merrill Miller

“Simple, yet engaging, storyline appeals to readers of all ages and the illustrations glue your eyes to pages!” –Doodles

“The art work enchanted, enthralled, and grabbed me in ways paintings can and often do.” –Kindle Customer
 

Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/13/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win A Kindle Fire HDX, a $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Pay Pal Cash!

A bunch of my book reviewer and author friends have teamed up to offer this fabulous giveaway. Just so we can say . . .

THANK YOU FOR READING!


For all those who hate the long Rafflecopters you should appreciate the fact that this one is much shorter. Just liking on facebook, following on twitter, a free entry and 2 options to share the giveaway make this much faster to enter.  


The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)
  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)
Each of these bloggers/authors are sponsoring this giveaway. How about big thank you for them in the comment section or on their Facebook or Twitter pages?  =)
I Am A ReaderFeed Your ReaderLife of a WriterElizabeth IsaacsBook Lovers LifeJo NoellePauline Creeden, AuthorSFK BooksLeahSay's ViewsMore Than A ReviewMama MonkeyDianne VenettaBonnie Blythe's Pure RomanceBella Street Weird RomanceBookBunnyPRHope with QDanyelle FergusonWords Wit and WisdomKatie's Clean Book CollectionJenn's Book Reviews & GiveawaysStart PublishingTrue North PublishingWhiskey Creek Press Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 9/18/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

One Dirty Bowl: Fast Desserts, Faster Clean Up

Quick desserts and even quicker clean up mean more time with your family and friends, and less time in the kitchen. With One Dirty Bowl, whip up show-stopping desserts like Hazelnut Puffs, Peanut Butter Truffle Bars, and White Chocolate and Strawberry Cupcakes, all while dirtying just one bowl. Grab your bowl and get ready to bake!











A Mom and Her Teen Review

One Dirty Bowl . . . plus measuring spoons, cups, and general clean up . . . all make for some fabulous and easy baking. Personally, I'm not much of a cooking queen, but my teen daughter is the kitchen queen princess. Here are some things we both liked about One Dirty Bowl.

The way the recipes were organized - and the section titles were so cute! They include: Small & Scrumptious; Beautiful Brownies & Bars; Decadent Dessert Breads; Enticing Cookies; Divine Sweets; and Charming Cakes, Cupcakes, Cobblers & Pies. There's also a section with measurement equivalents and an index in the back. Easy to find ingredient lists. Each recipe has a banner to the side that lists all the ingredients and measurements. It makes the grocery list so much easier to compile!Gorgeous pictures! There should be a warning attached to this book. When you flip through it, you'll see so many delicious treats, you won't know which recipe to start with!What did we make? Paper Bag Cookies. It name doesn't sound impressive, but can I just say YUM!!!

I'm looking forward to my daughter making many more treats from One Dirty Bowl!



For more yumminess by Christina Dymock, check out her website The Hungry Family. It has gobs of fabulous recipes and tips!

Cover Reveal: Ring on Her Finger by Lisa Swinton

What happened in Vegas should stay there . . . Not follow Amanda home wedded to the man who broke her heart.

After celebrating college graduation with her friends in Las Vegas, Amanda St. Claire wakes up with a terrible hangover and a ring on her finger. Her day gets worse when she finds out she's married to rich playboy Blake Worthington - the guy she has loathed the past four years. Amanda convinces Blake to legally terminate the marriage and they both return home like nothing ever happened. That is, until Blake shows up on her doorstep and Amanda has to come clean with her family.
           
Together for better or worse while the legalities are cleared, Amanda reluctantly plays along, but then the unthinkable happens - she finds herself falling in love with Blake.

Can they overcome the past?  Or will it end their future before it even starts?

Ring on Her Finger is available for purchase on Sept. 3rd!  Learn more about Ring on Her Finger on Lisa Swinton's website.

A Hubby & Wife Book Review: The Two Minute Marriage Project

Marry the one you love and love the one you marry. It sounds simple enough. But staying in love turns out to be a whole lot different than falling in love. In a world of constant distraction, marriage experts agree that the little things matter—a lot. The Two-Minute Marriage Project explores the little things couples think, say, and do to stay in love for the long haul. Supported by expert studies, interviews with happily married couples, and years of personal experience, author Heidi Poelman shares the simple secrets that keep love alive. Whether it’s choosing an attitude of gratitude, leaving a love note, giving a welcome-home hug at the door, or calling just to say “hello,” The Two-Minute Marriage Project is full of simple ways to love the one you married, two minutes at a time.  

John and Danyelle's Review

The Two Minute Marriage Project kicked off with assuming the couple has a traditional life - hubby goes off to work, wife stays at home to take care of the kids, etc. Of course, John and I are not at all like that couple. We both work from home and have gobs of fun together. One thing we enjoy is reading books together. In the past, we've read several "make your marriage better" books. We typically find a few tidbits of wisdom that we apply to our relationship.

What we did find was that almost everything in the preface is repeated in the first chapter. We spent ten minutes reading the preface, then seventeen minutes reading the first chapter, just to get to the first "2 minute" action step!

Here are our thoughts as we went through the first "project" of the book - which definitely took longer than 2 minutes.

Our favorite quote: John Jacobs, professor at NYU’s School of Medicine. "The only glue holding couples together now is the glue created by the two of you—the glue of mutual satisfaction, gratification, appreciation, and respect. The glue of mature love.”


#1 - Look back on how you met your spouse and what it felt like to fall in love. Make a commitment to do what is required to stay in love.

J: What did it feel like to fall in love?
D: Gooey - like melted Starbursts. All soft, but tangy.
J: Starbursts aren't gooey. When I think gooey, I think of roasted marshmallows - sweet on the inside, burned to a crisp on the outside.

D: What did it feel like to fall in love?
J: Exciting. Now I look back on it and I think it was exhausting. I'm so glad I don't have to do that at this age.
D: (Not sure what to think about that . . . .)

J: I commit to do what it takes to stay in love. What are the minimum requirements???
D: *sidelong glance at hubby, contemplating a to-do list*
J: (whispers) Did you know I give you a kiss every morning? Before I get out of bed, I lean over and gently kiss your cheek.
 D: Ahhh. *gooey girly heart*


#2 - Consider what feelings you want in the space between you and your spouse. Do you want to feel loved? Respected? Cherished? How do you want your spouse to feel?

J: Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of -
D: The crazy Ferguson's.
*crickets are heard outside as we both contemplate the concept of the space between each of us and what it should be like*

D: This might take longer than 2 minutes.
J: There's gotta be a song for this.
*continue contemplation*

J: If you had to choose between loved, respected or cherished, which would you choose?
D: Cherished
J: There's definitely a song for that.
D: Yep, Madonna rocked it.
J: Um, I was thinking of the other one.
D: The one from Pretty in Pink *sings tune*
J: Yep, that's the one.





D: What would you choose?
J: Is there a D - all of the above?
D: I'm the D. =)
J: I think I would choose loved.
D: Why???
J: I didn't ask you why!
D: Too bad. I am. You had your turn. Now it's mine. Why?
J: When I think of cherished, I think of something held very carefully, something fragile, something special. So I just don't connect with that word personally. I see it for you, but I think loved is a much more practical word. It's more me.
J: Now it's my turn! Why cherished? Because there are songs about it? There are more songs about love!
D: Like What's Love Got to Do with It?
J: (head banging, singing Tina style)
D: (laughing)
J: I don't have long enough hair to do the song justice. But if we're talking songs, let's go for the ultimate, hands-down winning song. Aretha, give me a little RESPECT, baby
*cue song and singing from JnD*





Getting back on topic.

#3 - Where do you want your marriage to be in five years? Ten years?

J: I have a hard time with the whole 5/10 year questions.
D: I have an answer. Still in sanity land with all our teens!
J: Shooting a little high here, aren't we? Sanity isn't all it's cracked up to be.
D: But I don't want to crack. This is why we need glue - marital glue!

*cue the glue song and our night is done*

Attitude and Gratitude

Have you ever noticed how your attitude effects your level of gratitude?

You may not know this, but I'm one of those people who - put in the right situation - easily gets frustrated. It quickly escalates into mega-frustration and anger. Then it's a serious YIKES! situation. When in this mode, my bad attitude rolls right over into my interactions with my family - who generally isn't even part of the situation. Times when I'm normally super patient (reminding kids three times to brush their teeth) suddenly becomes a major shouting fest - all of the shouting coming from me while my kids scramble away. 

Do I want to be this mom? This wife? This friend?

No, I don't.

About eight years ago, after being in a long, frustrating situation, something finally clicked. I realized just how much my attitude effects my ability to be grateful for my family and the many, many blessings in my life.

Then the purge began. If it was optional, stressful, frustrating - it was eliminated. I resigned from committees that were more about who had a better idea, was right, and competition than it was about helping the organization we were supposed to be supporting. I let some relationships go because I realized the only joy the other person received in our friendship was pointing out all the things I didn't do well enough.

It was super difficult at first. Mostly because I felt guilty, like I was letting everyone else down. But it didn't take long before I realized the most important relationships (my family and with Heavenly Father) were growing stronger. The best bonus - I was so much happier! All those knots in my shoulders, the gut-wrenching twists and worrying that kept me up at night - all gone!

For the first time in a long time, I stopped, looked at my life, and was grateful for every little thing.

I've changed a lot since then. I'm definitely more "go with the flow" and a lot more patient. I'm certainly not perfect, but I'm not trying to be perfect. I just want more gratitude, happiness, and lots of laughter in my home.

Sometimes those frustrating situations pop up - ones that are specially designed traps for me to fall into. And occasionally I do. The difference is that after a day or two, I make myself stop, evaluate my feelings and how I'm treating my family - then force myself to let whatever is causing the frustration go. There are times when that's not an easy thing to do, but when I accomplish the 'letting go', life is better.

My life is infinitely better my attitude is one that allows me to be happy and grateful each day.

Celebrate National Anniversaries with the Star Spangled Summer Adventure!

This summer marks the anniversaries of some profound American history. The sesquicentennial of the Civil War continues this summer, and August and September mark the 200th of anniversary of significant historical events from the War of 1812.

August 14th will mark the 200th anniversary of the British burning of America's capital, Washington D.C., including the torching of the White House, known then as The President's House, and the Capitol, which then housed the original Library of Congress. Along with these American architectural treasures, thousands

September 12-13 will mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore, the birth of The Star-Spangled Banner, and the moment America began its love affair with the red, white, and blue.

Sadly, economic issues and budget cuts have forced the cancellation of many public celebrations planned to mark these poignant events.

So families, it’s time to hit the road and create your own Star-Spangled Summer Adventure!

Laurie L.C. Lewis, author of the “Freemen and Dreamers” series, which covers this period of history, and some of her author friends are hosting this Star-Spangled Summer Celebration to encourage families to rediscover America and her history. You visit local, state, or federal landmarks with your family, and we’ll provide some added incentive.

Here’s how you enter:

    1.       Visit five American historical landmarks, (even your local landmarks count), between Flag Day, June 14th, and Defender’s Day, September 12th.

    2.       Email photos of your family standing in front of a sign or building indicating where you went. Use this email address: starspangledsummeradventure@gmail.com

That’s it!

Additional entries will be awarded for those who promote the SSSA by posting the official badge and link on their blog, and link to it via their Facebook page, or on Twitter.  Just send an email with the corresponding link to starspangledsummeradventure@gmail.com

Additional entries can also be earned by submitting a brief, (250 words or less), testimonial recounting your experience on a leg of your “Star-Spangled Adventure.” These will be posted on my blog over the summer.

One family will be selected to win the prize package on September 13th. Visit the official Star-Spangled Summer Adventure page.
of irreplaceable volumes were lost from our nation's library.

Prizes are still coming in, but the package now includes a Vivitar Digital Video Recorder; a $50 gift card to Bed, Bath, and Beyond; a commemorative set of the Charters of Freedom, suitable for framing; and a family-worthy collection of autographed books from authors in a variety of genres.

So hit the road, and let us see what great American history you find!

Warmly,
Laurie L. C. Lewis & Danyelle Ferguson

Feed Your eReader for Summer!

This sale is amazing. Dozens of books from $1.99 to FREE and the chance to win all these fun prizes. Go to Bookmarked Bargains to click on the books you'd like to purchase and to enter to win. 

Here are the other participating authors. Happy reading!

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE Imperfect Love, Rebecca TalleyWild Hearts, Heather TullisFallen Angel, Lisa SwintonThe Daisy Chain, Heather MooreSweet Confections, Danyelle Ferguson A Portrait for Toni, Annette Lyon       ROMANTIC COMEDY My Own Mr. Darcy, Karey WhiteHome Matters, Julie N. FordSilver Linings, Kaylee BaldwinThird Times the Charm, Heather Moore
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE (LDS/ CHRISTIAN) Discovering Sophie, Cindy Roland AndersonThe Making of a Queen (Ariana Book 1), Rachel Ann NunesPrank Wars, Stephanie FowersMr. Wrong, Alivia AndersonIntercession, Vicki Budge
HISTORICAL ROMANCE Amazon, Sunset, Marie HigginsLoyalty’s Web, Joyce DiPastenaThe Man from Shenandoah, Marsha WardIntertwine, Nichole VanIlluminations of the Heart, Joyce DiPastenaSpinster’s Folly, Marsha Ward                 ROMANTIC SUSPENSE Tell me No Lies, Rachel BrantonSpy Noon (Spy Another Day prequel), Jordan McCollumA Change of Plans, Donna K. WeaverFourth of July, Cami CheckettsHomecoming Identity, Heather JustesenI, Spy (Spy Another Day #1), Jordan McCollumTo Sleep No More, Ronda Gibb HinrichsenThe Colony, Cami Checketts
NONFICTION There, Their, They're: A no-tears guide to grammar from the word nerd, 2nd edition, Annette Lyon   Homeschool Lifestyles from Homeschool Moms, Valerie SteimleThe 2012 Book Bloggers' Cookbook, Christy DorrityOf One Heart: Being Single in the LDS World, Valerie Steimle
INSPIRATIONAL FICTION (LDS, CHRISTIAN) Nourish and Strength, Maria HoaglandWall of Faith, J Loyd MorganIntercession, Vicki BudgeFamily Size, Maria Hoagland
YA GENERAL/ YA ROMANCE Just Like Elizabeth Taylor, Lu Ann Staheli          Worth It (an LDS love story), Taryn TaylorThe Princess Sisters, Stacy Lynn CarrollFrogs and Toads, Stacy Lynn CarrollConfessions of 16-year-old Virgin-Lips, Cindy HoganSamara: A Kilenya Romance, Andrea PearsonTides across the Sea, Lu Ann StaheliGravediggers, Cindy Hogan
MIDDLE GRADE Heroes of the Highest Order (1-3), Ronda Gibb HinrichsenThe Secret Sisters Club (A Ginnie West Adventure), Monique BuchegerThe Stone of Valhalla, Mikey BrooksThe Key of Kilenya, Andrea PearsonSimply West of Heaven: A Ginnie West Adventure, Monique buchegerThe Dream Keeper, Mikey Brooks
FANTASY/ SCI FI The Waxing Moon, author J Loyd MorganBlue Dragon (Dragonbound Series book one), Rebecca ShelleyNexus Point, the Fall of the Altairan Empire Book 1, Jaleta CleggSoul Windows, Jaleta CleggDragonBound IV: Red Dragon, Rebecca Shelley

YA FANTASY Inevitable, Tamara HeinerTwisted Tales Trilogy, Stephanie FowersThe Roilden Stones of Elf Mountain,  Anna del C.Awakening: Book One of the Geis, Christy DorrityFateful, Cheri SchmidtThe Silent Warrior Trilogy, Anna del C.