Stephanie Burkhart's Blog, page 28

Read and ebook Week 1-7 MAR 2015: 4.99 children's book: The Giving Meadow #ebookweek

BLURB:Caterpillar travels across the meadow meeting and making friends as they provide food and water for the baby. But what happens when he joins Snake in the tree?

The Giving Meadow is a children's book geared for children between 3-6 and a great read for children around Easter.  Caterpillar's journey to a butterfly helps the children understand the nature of tranformation. 



7 Five Star Amazon Reviews:  (from Amazon) This is a good book for helping young children learn about how caterpillars change as well as a gentle lesson about sharing and caring. ”Connie Arnold| 4 reviewers made a similar statement“Colorful illustrations add just the right touch to this gentle heartwarming story about the transformative power of sharing. ”Midwest Book Review| 1 reviewer made a similar statement“This is a delightful story that follows the life of a very hungry caterpillar from the moment he hatches from his tiny egg in a beautiful meadow. ”N.A. Sharpe, Author| 2 reviewers made a similar statement
BUY LINKS: 
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00J3FBY9Y
Barnes & Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-g...

Read an Ebook Week: 1-7 MAR 2015: 99 cent contemporary romance - Gifts #ebookweek

BLURB:  

Figure skating is in Christian Jansen's blood. When he trips on uneven ice and drops his partner, Chris breaks his arm. Now he's looking for a second chance.

Famke deVries lost her skating coach four months ago. Needing to connect with her roots, she returns to Amsterdam and agrees to be Christian's new skating partner.

Christian and Famke connect on a deep level, understanding each other's losses, but will their chemistry off the ice interfere with their goal to go to the Olympics?

EXCERPT:
Famke stared in the direction that her brother had indicated. Christian stood near a gift shop, holding a box. She poked her tongue against her cheek and drew in a breath. Growing up, Stephen and Christian were inseparable. Chris had always been tall, but slim, with a wild haircut and a very pale complexion. He was still tall, but now he filled out his clothes well with his muscular frame and broad shoulders. His hair was golden-yellow, but he'd found a cut that framed his face to perfection. She spied a scar on his temple, and despite the imperfection, it gave him a very masculine appearance. Oh, dear. Christian Jansen had become a very handsome man. He approached, his gait emphasizing the force of his thighs and the slimness of his hips. She prayed a man that good looking wasn't vain and self-absorbed. She couldn't work with anyone who was like that.Christian stopped and held out his box. "Hi. I bought you a gift."She pointed to her chest, a bit surprised. "For me?""I hope you like Mozart Krugel."Her hand slid over his as she reached for the box and a reassuring warmth pulsed up her arm. "I love Mozart Krugel. Thanks."His eyes sparkled. "You're welcome." "Do you have any bags to claim?" asked Stephen."I've got one." She broke open the box and offered Stephen a piece."No, thanks." He gestured toward the walkway and they strolled off, Famke between the men."I want to say thank you for agreeing to become my partner. I appreciate it." Christian's voice resonated with seriousness."How could I refuse?" She kept her voice light, not wanting to recall her weightier thoughts, and offered him a piece of chocolate. He took one.
REVIEWS:
5 Stars, Delores Goodrick Biggs, Amazon Reviewer:Gifts, by talented author Stephanie Burkhart, is a Christmas story to warm the heart and delight in a touch of Old World scenario.
5 Stars, Joy Cagil, Amazon Reviewer:  This love story is a joy to read!
BUY LINKS: 
AMAZON: http://amzn.com/B00DPV86E8BARNES & NOBLE:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gifts...

Read an Ebook Week 1-7 MAR 2015: 99 cent romance Arrow Through the Heart #ebookweek

Today's featured ebook:  99 cent sweet contemporary romance:  Arrow Through the Heart

BLURB:

Summer vacation and the Fourth of July brings Ella to New Hampshire while participating in a tennis competition. Logan is an innkeeper's son who bumps into Ella and invites her for an ice cream. Attraction flares and they enjoy spending time together, but each has their own plans for their life. Then disaster strikes Ella. Can a summer attraction truly become a lasting relationship?

REVIEWS: 

5 Stars, Muddy Rose Reviews, Amazon Reviewer:
Ella and Logan meet when her tennis career brings her to his New England hometown. The attraction is immediate on both sides, but their life paths are different. Logan’s rooted in his town, helping his parents with the inn. Ella travels nonstop all summer.

A dangerous situation draws them closer, fueling the attraction and casting deep shadows on their future.

A sweet novella about falling in love.

5 Stars, Reader Forever, Amazon Reviewer:
This is a well-written fast-paced novella that I read in a couple of hours. I love the idea of setting the story around a tennis tournament since we never miss tennis shows on TV. The characters are nicely developed and there is enough suspense to keep you hooked. Recommended read.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON:http://amzn.com/B00TJH0UT6

B&N:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arrow...

Smashwords:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

GIVEAWAY FOR YOU:  Leave a comment asking about Ella, Logan or New Hampshire in the summer time and you'll be entered to receive a FREE PDF of the book!

Snippet Sunday: 99 cent sweet contemporary romance - A Polish Heart #snippetsunday

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my sweet contemporary romance, perfect for the Easter season, A Polish Heart. You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:



This snippet:       Darrin and Sofia share a laugh.

*****

Sofa turned into a parking lot, "This is your hotel. It is one of the finest in Warsaw."

Darrin chuckled, "It's a Hilton."

How she adored his winsome smile, "Are you teasing me?"

"We have a lot of Hiltons in America."

"Ah."

He reached over and squeezed her hand. Warm blasts of reassurance threaded up her arm. 

****

This snippet has been modified to fit the 8 sentence limit. 


"A Polish Heart" is a sweet contemporary romance.  Darrin Riverton, an architect from the United States is assigned to a challenging project which requires a trip to Poland. Sofia Buraczynski is assigned as his translator and his first sight of her heats his blood.

With Sofia as his guide, Darrin discovers Poland and many new things about himself, as well. When a chance is presented for him to remain in Poland, will he leave behind family and all that is familiar to follow his heart? ****
Reviews for A Polish Heart:

5 Stars, Reader Lady, Amazon Reviewers
"This is an excellent read!"

5 Stars, Tara Manderino, Amazon Reviews
"A totally enjoyable read."

5 Stars, Diane Craver, Amazon Reviews
"A wonderful and fascinating read."

BUY LINKS: 
Amazon:
http://amzn.com/B007AS29AO

Barnes and Nobles:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-pol...

Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: 
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBur...

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?f...
PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

New Release: Brady's Lost Blanket, children's book #newbookrelease

Welcome my new release: Brady's Lost Blanket from 4RV Publishing. Illustrator Bridget McKenna's drawing are whimiscal and heartfelt and a perfect compliment for the story.

BLURB:Brady is a sensitive young boy who takes his blankie wherever he goes. After traveling with his parents to visit his new cousin, Brady accidently leaves his blanket behind. Can Brady learn to get by without his blankie?

INSPIRATION:
I was one of those young kids who grew up with a blankie.  My blankie was blue and soft and I loved to rub the silky part against my cheeks. When my blankie was close, I felt very confident and secure. However, I think there comes a time when one "outgrows" a blankie and it's time to let go. Unfortunately, letting go can be hard to do. Learn how Brady lets go and grows up a little in my new children's story.

Author Bio:

Stephanie Burkhart was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, but now calls California her home. She currently works for LAPD as a 911 Dispatcher. Stephanie has been writing since she was five, when she crafted homemade comic books on the kitchen table. Her previous books with 4RV Publishing include: The Giving Meadow, and First Flag of New Hampshire.  Stephanie enjoys coffee, adores chocolate and is currently the Den Leader for her son's Cub Scout Den.
BRADY'S LOST BLANKET is available in print from 4RV Publishing.
BUY LINKS:
4RV PUBLISHING BOOKSTORE: http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/b...
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Bradys-Lost-Bla...
BARNES & NOBLE:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brady...



******If you are interested in reviewing the book, please send me an email at: Botrina_Buchanan@yahoo.com and I'll make arrangements with you to send you a review copy.****

February is NaHaWriMo! Enjoy #haiku

What a treat to discover February is National Haiku Writing Month. I’ve always enjoyed writing Haikus for their brevity, sensual imagery, and word play, but as I prepped my blog for today, I learned that haikus are a lot more complicated than they appear. A haiku is a short style of poetry from Japan. The actual presentation of a haiku is written in Japanese varies from its presentation in English. The big difference occurs with sound and while a “traditional” Japanese haiku strives for 17 sounds, it loosely becomes a 5-7-5 syllable scheme in English. I learned when translating haikus into English is a bit of an urban myth because counting sounds in Japanese and syllables in England don’t translate well. When writing haikus, don’t feel limited by the -7-5 scheme. Traditional haikus focuses on the human condition as it relates to the environment. It should strive to evoke an image or feeling. A haiku should include two juxtaposed (opposite) ideas that allow for a deeper interpretation and use language that involve the five scenes. What do you see or hear? What does it taste like? What’s the texture of the touch? What does scent evoke? Strive for subtle images and avoid clichés. It’s easier said than done.The challenge of NaHaWriMo is to write a haiku a day for a month. Don’t feel limited by believing you need to follow a 5-7-5 syllable scheme. It’s the thought put behind the words that is the haiku.Enjoy some of these of these haiku.  Which one is your favorite? If you have a haiku to share, please do!  PEACEFlash fills my visonBang assaults my earsPeace lingers in deeds BUCKETDrop in a bucket,ripples inconsistent waves,fleeting beauty fades
HEAVYSnow in New England,heavy, crushing, dominates-oppressive beauty. SHADOWSSun casts a dark shadowagainst a clear blue sky,bringing unwanted relief RUSTRust floats to the groundcoating beauty long past done

evoking bitterness. 

Snippet Sunday: 99 cent contemporary sweet romance: A Polish Heart #snippetsunday

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my sweet contemporary romance, perfect for the Easter season, A Polish Heart. You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:



This snippet:       Darrin steps off the plane and meets his translator, Sofia. 

*****


His leonine stride radiated self-confidence. His hair was sandy blond in a short, neat cut and his cobalt blue eyes pierced her professional armor.

He stopped in front of her and held out his flowers. "Dzien dobry."

A wide grin crossed her lips and she dropped the sign she was holding. "Hello, Mr. Riverton."

A look of relief passed over his face. "You know, I practiced that phrase all morning on the plane." 
****


"A Polish Heart" is a sweet contemporary romance.  Darrin Riverton, an architect from the United States is assigned to a challenging project which requires a trip to Poland. Sofia Buraczynski is assigned as his translator and his first sight of her heats his blood.

With Sofia as his guide, Darrin discovers Poland and many new things about himself, as well. When a chance is presented for him to remain in Poland, will he leave behind family and all that is familiar to follow his heart? 
****
Reviews for A Polish Heart:

5 Stars, Reader Lady, Amazon Reviewers
"This is an excellent read!"

5 Stars, Tara Manderino, Amazon Reviews
"A totally enjoyable read."

5 Stars, Diane Craver, Amazon Reviews
"A wonderful and fascinating read."

BUY LINKS: 
Amazon:
http://amzn.com/B007AS29AO

Barnes and Nobles:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-pol...

Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com
TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
FACEBOOK: 
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBur...

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart
YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?f...
PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Welcome Guest Author Janet K. Brown: Worth Her weight

Short BLURB FOR: Worth Her Weight: How can a woman who gives to everyone but herself accept God’s love and healing when she believes she’s fat, unworthy, and unfixable? Can she be Worth Her Weight?
5 Questions for Janet K. Brown
STEPH: - What was the inspiration for the story?
 JANET:    I would probably have to say me. I suffered from food addiction and remained overweight much of my life. Twenty-one years ago, God healed me emotionally. I lost ninety-five pounds and have maintained the loss for 18 ½ years. Who knew that God might use me to write of many of my experiences?
     Of course, Lacey’s story in Worth Her Weight is totally fiction, but the fact is we all face emotional highs and lows and many of us suffer from low self esteem or caregiver burn-out. Others might turn to alcohol, gambling, or compulsive spending, but many of us turn to overeating. Any compulsion or addiction can ruin a life.
     Throw in a police chief that’s a hunk with control issues of his own, and I had a story.

STEPH: - How long did it take you to write?
    JANET:  I wrote the first draft in about nine months. That came about seven years ago. My local critique group at the time gave me great suggestions. I improved the story and pitched it to an agent at an American Christian Fiction Writers conference. I was billing it as a romance.     He asked me, “Is the main goal of this story that the man and woman fall in love?”     “No,” I said. “The main goal is that Lacey finds healing.”     “Then you don’t have a romance. And if you don’t have a romance, you should add about twenty thousand words to the story.” It was about sixty thousand words.     I added twenty thousand words and sent it to a publisher who told me. “We only publish romance, and that’s not a romance.”     Discouraged, I put the manuscript away for five years. In 2012, I began to work on rewrites and spent another year doing that before I pitched it to Duke Pennell of Pen-L Publishing at the Oklahoma Writers Federated International conference in 2013. At last, I got a contract.   STEPH - How does the cover reflect the story?

   JANET:  I love the cover. Kelsey Rice with Pen-L came up with that, but I had some input. The woman is a plus-sized young woman who looks like she has a dream. She makes a perfect Lacey. The clouds with sunshine breaking through speaks of healing and hope.

STEPH: - How long have you been writing?
 JANET:    I’ve been writing something most of my life starting in junior high. I sold a few short stories when my kids were little, but it wasn’t until I retired that I joined writing groups, took workshops, and begun to attend conferences. I actually completed full length manuscripts and submitted them. That was nine years ago.

STEPH: - Fun Question: What's your favorite girl scout cookie?
JANET: Peanut butter patties. Anything with peanut butter in it catches my attention.
AUTHOR BIO: Janet K. Brown lives in Wichita Falls, Texas with her husband, Charles. Writing became her second career after retirement from medical coding.
     Worth Her Weight will be the author’s debut inspirational women’s fiction, but it makes a perfect companion to her recently released, Divine Dining: 365 Devotions to Guide You to Healthier Weight and Abundant Wellness. Both books encompass her passion for diet, fitness, and God’s Word.
Worth Her Weight marks Brown’s third book. Who knew she had a penchant for teens and ghosts? She released her debut novel, an inspirational young adult, Victoria and the Ghost, in July, 2012.
     Janet and her husband love to travel with their RV, visit their three daughters, two sons-in-law and three perfect grandchildren, and work in their church.
YOU TUBE BOOK TRAILER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTotxQGtGn0
Buy links:
This inspirational women’s fiction is available through the publisher at http://www.pen-l.com/WorthHerWeight.html
Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/kkw94b6
 Barnes & Noble
http://tinyurl.com/lk7cn4f
 Janet K. BrownTwitter: @JanetKBrownTXWebsite: http://www.JanetKBrown.com/Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/#!/pages/Janet-K-Brown-Author/143915285641707Victoria and the Ghost: Available at http://www.4RVpublishingcatalog.com/Janet-Brown.phpDivine Dining: 365 Devotions to Guide You to Healthier Weight and Abundant Wellness. Available at www.pen-l.com/DivineDining.html

Time for Thin Mints #girlscoutcookies

Girl Scouts in NH selling cookies

Girl Scout cookies rocks! There’s a great variety and every box sold supports a great cause – scouting. While I don’t have a girl scout, I buy way too many boxes each season. The boxes I don’t eat, I share with coworkers or donate to charity.Every February the Girl Scouts sell cookies. It’s a great way to support the organization. Local troops receive 10-15 percent, the council receives approximately 50% and the rest goes to the manufacturer. Trivia: What are the two most popular cookies?The Girl Scouts of America contracts with 2 national commercial bakeries: Little Brownie Bakers which is owned by Kelloggs and ABC Bakers owned by George Weston Limited. ABC Bakers has been making Girl Scout cookies since 1936.It wasn’t all so complicated. The Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma was the first troop to bake cookies in 1917 as a service project using the high school kitchen.Did you know? All Girl Scout cookies are kosher. Pretty quickly, the Girl Scouts realized baking cookies was a great way to fundraise. In the early days, they sold door-to-door. Prices were .25 to .35 a dozen! Selling cookies helped the girls develop their business and marketing skills. In 1936, they started using national commercial bakeries to bake their cookies. By the 1950’s 3 varieties were sold – thin mints, peanut butter sandwiches, and shortbread.
Trivia: When was the “Samoa” added to the cookie catalog?In the 2000’s, the Girl Scouts began using a healthier cookie formula due to the trans fats uproar. Also, the cookie size became smaller due to higher production costs.Trivia: What is the highest number of boxes sold in a season?A: 10,000B: 18,000C: 5,000Question: What’s your favorite Girl Scout cookie? How many boxes do you usually buy a season? 

Mardi Gras Hard; Tomorrow is Lent #mardigras

Gotta' thank the French for bringing Mardi Gras to the states. They sure know how to party before Lent starts. Literally translated, "Mardi Gras" means Fat Tuesday in English. It's meant to be a celebration before the penitential season of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, but the origins and traditions of Mardi Gras go all the way back to the heyday of Rome.
In ancient Rome, they celebrated a circus-type festival called "Lupercalia" which was very similar to Mardi Gras as we know it. Popular traditions and practices today include wearing masks, dancing, parades, and overturning social conventions along with a little general debauchery.   I remember when I was stationed in Germany, one tradition would be when the women would go into a bar and cut off a guy's tie with scissors. The guy was hers for the night to do whatever she wanted. Wild, huh? The Germans call Mardi Gras "Fasching" and traditions vary from place-to-place, country-to-country.
When Rome embraced Christianity, the early church decided it would be wise to incorporate some aspects f pagan rituals into the new faith. In regards to Lent, the ritual of Lupercalia evolved into the 'debauchery' of Mardi Gras.
Most of Europe and Brazil call Mardi Gras "Carnival." In some places it starts in November, and in other places, it starts the day after Epiphany.
Mardi Gras made its way to America in the early 1700's when the French explorer, Sieur d'Iberville, settled the Louisiana/Alabama area; however the 1st recognized Mardi Gras in the States wasn't until 1827 in New Orleans. A group of students, who had recently been to Paris, put on costumes and danced through the streets.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE COLORS?
In 1872, Russian Grand Duke Alexi Romanov visited New Orleans. He was given the opportunity to pick the Mardi Gras colors. He choose purple, representing justice, green for faith, and gold meaning power.
Me, personally, I'm a believer in moderation. I generally don't do much for Mardi Gras except wear beads and smile. Lol!!

Question for you: Do you celebrate Mardi Gras?  What do you to celebrate?