Shelley Workinger's Blog, page 45
October 30, 2012
Toastworthy Teens! Hayley Okines
Hayley Okines’ shoulders may look frail – as frail as those of a 105-year-old person, to be precise – but they are in fact strong enough to carry the weight on an entire cause.
Because at not just 14 years old but amazingly 14 years old, Hayley is defying the odds of Hutchinson Gifford Progeria Syndrome – a disease which ages children at 8 times the normal rate. “Progeria” (derived from the Greek word for prematurely old) normally claims the lives of young people by age 13.
Hayley has become the face of Progeria awareness both because of her strength and perseverance and also due to the success of her autobiography, Old Before My Time, in which she expresses both her struggles and her triumphs. I bet you can guess from her smile which ones she focuses on. :)
Meet the beautiful young author here:
http://hayleyokines.com
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
Because at not just 14 years old but amazingly 14 years old, Hayley is defying the odds of Hutchinson Gifford Progeria Syndrome – a disease which ages children at 8 times the normal rate. “Progeria” (derived from the Greek word for prematurely old) normally claims the lives of young people by age 13.
Hayley has become the face of Progeria awareness both because of her strength and perseverance and also due to the success of her autobiography, Old Before My Time, in which she expresses both her struggles and her triumphs. I bet you can guess from her smile which ones she focuses on. :)
Meet the beautiful young author here:
http://hayleyokines.com
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
October 26, 2012
Please Welcome Wendy Owens, Author of Sacred Bloodlines
One of the things I love so much about food in stories is how it can really give you insight into a character’s journey. What they are eating can tell you when they are low on their luck, or living the life many only dream of. Is the person stealing food at a local street market just to survive, or are they attending lush balls with buffets as far as the eye can see - covered in delectable and scrumptious nosh? This tells us a lot about their current station in life.
What do you picture in your mind when I use words like lavish, bounteous, luxurious, extravagant? Were there any folks out there thinking of an orphanage? Of course not, we have these ideas in our head of how places are, and an orphanage is none of these things. Therefore, it’s not surprising to find out, Gabe, the main character in The Guardians series lives at a home for wayward boys where they force a breakfast of burnt toast and powdered eggs on their charges.
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
What do you picture in your mind when I use words like lavish, bounteous, luxurious, extravagant? Were there any folks out there thinking of an orphanage? Of course not, we have these ideas in our head of how places are, and an orphanage is none of these things. Therefore, it’s not surprising to find out, Gabe, the main character in The Guardians series lives at a home for wayward boys where they force a breakfast of burnt toast and powdered eggs on their charges.
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
October 23, 2012
Toastworthy Teens! Timothy Doner
Some kids dread the required school language course; others who’ve grown up in multi-lingual homes see it as an easy A.
Timothy Doner is neither of those. It was actually studying for his bar mitzvah that got him started speaking Hebrew, which then perked his interest in Arabic, followed by Russian, Italian, Persian, Swahili, Indonesian, Hindi, Ojibwe, Pashto, Turkish, Hausa, Kurdish, Yiddish, Dutch, Croatian, and German.
Yes, you’re reading that right; the 16-year-old New Yorker has to date taught himself 20 languages, mainly through grammar books and iPhone apps, his goal being “not to speak like a native, but to learn the basics of as many languages as possible.”
Because of his special ability to pick up languages, Timothy has been able to both connect with a subculture of polyglots around the world via the internet, as well as engage in conversation with the foreign-speaking folks he encounters in daily life, like a NYC cab driver from West Africa with whom Timothy was able to chat with in Hausa.
Being able to talk to anyone, anywhere is a gift that truly does make the world Timothy’s oyster. ;)
See his skills in action here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PolyglotPal
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
Timothy Doner is neither of those. It was actually studying for his bar mitzvah that got him started speaking Hebrew, which then perked his interest in Arabic, followed by Russian, Italian, Persian, Swahili, Indonesian, Hindi, Ojibwe, Pashto, Turkish, Hausa, Kurdish, Yiddish, Dutch, Croatian, and German.
Yes, you’re reading that right; the 16-year-old New Yorker has to date taught himself 20 languages, mainly through grammar books and iPhone apps, his goal being “not to speak like a native, but to learn the basics of as many languages as possible.”
Because of his special ability to pick up languages, Timothy has been able to both connect with a subculture of polyglots around the world via the internet, as well as engage in conversation with the foreign-speaking folks he encounters in daily life, like a NYC cab driver from West Africa with whom Timothy was able to chat with in Hausa.
Being able to talk to anyone, anywhere is a gift that truly does make the world Timothy’s oyster. ;)
See his skills in action here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PolyglotPal
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
October 17, 2012
Fall Into Fantasy GIVEAWAY!
This hop, organized by The Write Path and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, features over 100 (!) participating blogs offering book-related giveaways!
Winner here at BWATE? gets a Signed Copy of either:
"Solid" (Solid Series Book #1) or "Settling" (Solid #2)
To enter to win, just follow this blog and leave a comment/question,
along with a way to contact you.
Optional Extra Entries:
+1 Follow on Twitter
+1 Like Solid Series on Facebook
+1 Add series to your to-read list on Goodreads
Giveaway runs from Oct. 16th to Oct. 21st; last day to enter is Sunday, Oct. 21st.
Be sure to check back on the 15th; there is a prize for EVERY entrant, not only the winner!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
Winner here at BWATE? gets a Signed Copy of either:
"Solid" (Solid Series Book #1) or "Settling" (Solid #2)
To enter to win, just follow this blog and leave a comment/question,
along with a way to contact you.
Optional Extra Entries:
+1 Follow on Twitter
+1 Like Solid Series on Facebook
+1 Add series to your to-read list on Goodreads
Giveaway runs from Oct. 16th to Oct. 21st; last day to enter is Sunday, Oct. 21st.
Be sure to check back on the 15th; there is a prize for EVERY entrant, not only the winner!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
October 16, 2012
Toastworthy Teens! Graceann Rumer
Graceann Rumer says she’s not a hero, just a girl at the front of the bus with some driving experience.
Just to clarify – the high school senior had only been practicing driving to school for 2 weeks when the driver of the bus she took home had a heart attack, sending the full school vehicle into oncoming traffic.
Graceann, who couldn’t get around the collapsed driver to reach the brake pedal, first slowed and redirected the bus with a u-turn, then put it into park. Unfortunately, the 51-year-old driver did not survive the trauma, but, thanks to Graceann, all of the student riders were spared.
Graceann may not call that heroic, but I sure do. :)
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
Just to clarify – the high school senior had only been practicing driving to school for 2 weeks when the driver of the bus she took home had a heart attack, sending the full school vehicle into oncoming traffic.
Graceann, who couldn’t get around the collapsed driver to reach the brake pedal, first slowed and redirected the bus with a u-turn, then put it into park. Unfortunately, the 51-year-old driver did not survive the trauma, but, thanks to Graceann, all of the student riders were spared.
Graceann may not call that heroic, but I sure do. :)
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
October 14, 2012
Happily Ever After GIVEAWAY!
This hop, organized by Murphy's Library and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, features almost 200 (!) participating blogs offering book-related giveaways!
Winner here at BWATE? gets a Signed Copy of either:
"Solid" (Solid Series Book #1) or "Settling" (Solid #2)
Giveaway runs from Oct. 9th to Oct. 14th; last day to enter is Sunday, Oct. 14th.
Be sure to check back on the 15th; there is a prize for EVERY entrant, not only the winner!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
Winner here at BWATE? gets a Signed Copy of either:
"Solid" (Solid Series Book #1) or "Settling" (Solid #2)
Giveaway runs from Oct. 9th to Oct. 14th; last day to enter is Sunday, Oct. 14th.
Be sure to check back on the 15th; there is a prize for EVERY entrant, not only the winner!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
October 11, 2012
Please Welcome Jennifer Barry, Author of The Kingdom
Ireland has a reputation. Let’s face it; when people think of Ireland, they think of beer. Or potatoes. Or the lack of potatoes, which has happened in the past. It was this lack of potatoes that spurred the good people of the Emerald Isle to do something about their food choices. Through exploration and determination, the bad-food stigma that hangs over England no longer applies to Ireland. In fact, you’ll find some of the most innovative and delicious dishes available in small, alley restaurants all the way up to the poshest of establishments.
When writing The Kingdom, I faced a bit of a conundrum. You see, the first publication included the names of several businesses and restaurants in Cork and Dublin. Within months, several of these businesses closed for good. This includes the Virgin Megastore, the Kingsley Hotel, and the store that replaced the Virgin Megastore. Not only did these establishments shut down after I wrote about them in The Kingdom, but also several other restaurants, pubs, and shops I’d written about in other books and short stories folded. My question was, of course: Is this just the way of things, or am I a terrible jinx?
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
When writing The Kingdom, I faced a bit of a conundrum. You see, the first publication included the names of several businesses and restaurants in Cork and Dublin. Within months, several of these businesses closed for good. This includes the Virgin Megastore, the Kingsley Hotel, and the store that replaced the Virgin Megastore. Not only did these establishments shut down after I wrote about them in The Kingdom, but also several other restaurants, pubs, and shops I’d written about in other books and short stories folded. My question was, of course: Is this just the way of things, or am I a terrible jinx?
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
Please Welcome RaShelle Workman, Author of Sleeping Roses
Everything goes with food. We celebrate birthdays, promotions, engagements, weddings, breakups, death, and everything in between with some sort of refreshment. It's the glue that makes a gathering, big or small, work.
In "Sleeping Roses" Sophie Berkeley is a woman on the edge. The edge of life, love, and possibly death. The pivotal moments always seem to happen to her around food...
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/09/...
In "Sleeping Roses" Sophie Berkeley is a woman on the edge. The edge of life, love, and possibly death. The pivotal moments always seem to happen to her around food...
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/09/...
October 9, 2012
SOUND Read Week
SOUND (Solid #3) hits the shelves in just one short month!
For everyone who's eager for a taste to what's to come, the previewers are sharing their thoughts on the ARC across the blogosphere this week; scroll down for all the bloggers who're weighing in!
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/09/...
For everyone who's eager for a taste to what's to come, the previewers are sharing their thoughts on the ARC across the blogosphere this week; scroll down for all the bloggers who're weighing in!
More:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/09/...
September 25, 2012
Toastworthy Teens! Julien Leitner
Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I can move the Earth.
This Archimedes quote, delivered by Julien Leitner’s 5th grade science teacher, is what led to the now 14-year-old launching his own charity. That one notion made Julien, who accompanied his parents on volunteer outings even as an infant, realize that “there [have] to be a billion other people like me who want to make a difference, but feel they can’t…what if everyone just pooled their resources?”
His goal for Archimedes Alliance is to get 1 million people to donate $2 each and then to donate the proceeds to “a small charity with visible impact on the local community.”
I have a feeling Julien himself is going to have a visible impact…on the world.
Learn more about Archimedes Alliance here:
http://www.archimedesalliance.org
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/09/...
This Archimedes quote, delivered by Julien Leitner’s 5th grade science teacher, is what led to the now 14-year-old launching his own charity. That one notion made Julien, who accompanied his parents on volunteer outings even as an infant, realize that “there [have] to be a billion other people like me who want to make a difference, but feel they can’t…what if everyone just pooled their resources?”
His goal for Archimedes Alliance is to get 1 million people to donate $2 each and then to donate the proceeds to “a small charity with visible impact on the local community.”
I have a feeling Julien himself is going to have a visible impact…on the world.
Learn more about Archimedes Alliance here:
http://www.archimedesalliance.org
Do you know a toast-worthy teen you’d like to see featured here at BWATE?
Comment below with your email address so we can get a post together!
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/09/...
