Kai Strand's Blog, page 18

Three Times A Charm with Rita Monette

Welcome to Three Times A Charm. I love to introduce readers to the people involved in children’s publishing. Today we welcome middle grade author, Rita Monette. Rita, can tell us a little about yourself?
I was born and raised in the bayous of Louisiana, and I write stories set in my home state. I retired to the mountains of Tennessee, which is above sea level. Yep, no swamps or gators! I stay busy writing and doing face and body art at local festivals. I enjoy painting, visiting waterfalls, an...

November #InkRipples #Giveaway

Ripples in the Inkwell  is a monthly meme hosted by Mary Waibel, Katie L. Carroll, and me, Kai Strand. We post on the second Monday of every month. If you would like to participate compose your own post regarding the theme of the month, include any of the images displayed on this page, and link back to our three blogs. Feel free to post whenever you want during the month, but be sure to include #inkripples when you promote so readers can find you. The idea is that we toss a...

Cover Reveal - Under the Purple Moon by Beverly Stowe McClure

The lovely and talented Beverly Stowe McClure has a new book coming out and I'm excited to help her show off the stunning cover and share some information about the story. I'm even more excited for the book to release. I've read this book several times during its creation process and I love it.  The four main kids really find their way into your heart. Their struggles are so relateable and I love how their friendship grows when they begin to trust one another. Even when it isn't your own...

#IWSG - Eep! A Book Signing

For more info & for a complete list of blogs, visit the #IWSG sitePurpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The co-hosts for November are:Tyrean Martinson  http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/Karen Walker  http://karenfollowingthewhispers.blogspot.com/Denise Covey &n...

Another Favorite Childhood Book

Another treasured find from our recent garage purge brought a huge smile to my face. Since The Peanuts Movie releases Friday, this is a great time for me to share this book.

The Snoopy Festival by Charles M. Schulz



Snoopy was one of my all time favorite characters when I was a child. Ah, what am I saying? He still is! I even received a 3 foot tall stuffed Snoopy when I was barely taller than that (I'm guessing I got it for Christmas 1968 or 9.) I used to drag him around by his ear because he wa...

Author Branding - My New Logo

My first book, The Weaver, was published in December of 2010. Almost five years later I'm finally revealing my logo. What took so long? Author branding is harder than it looks.

Well maybe just for me. But I've been struggling to find a brand that would cover the variety of books I have published, while leaving room for whatever might come. Though my current works are all fiction, they span readers' ages from five to eighty-five (honestly I don't know the top age for young adult readers.) So it...

Climate Change and You…and Me and the Planet

I rarely step away from posting about writing—this being my author blog and all—but lately there has been a perfect storm of instances that has really made me think about our planet. Intriguing articles about fossil finds, which lead me to look up details about that period or that geographic area. Swarms of earthquakes all up and down the west coast, which spurs me to research volcanic activity through the ages. Articles on how fracking is a national security threat. All of these things make...

My Favorite Childhood Books

We've been cleaning the garage, which means now our house is a mess. It's fun to walk down memory lane as I stumble upon pictures from when the kids were young or my middle school yearbooks. But one of the most surprising finds of all are my two favorite picture books from my childhood. Though I remember asking my mom for them (repeatedly - poor Mom) I don't remember actually taking possession of them, so I thought they were gone forever.

I'm so excited I thought I'd share them with you. They'...

The FulFillment Playlist - Character Interview

Layla’s world tumbles out of control when she discovers the truth of her parentage and realizes the Prophecy—the one she upended her entire life to defend—is incomplete. When her new friends share the entire Prophecy, the revelations contained within it alter her destiny and challenge everything she and Wil believe in. Now, she must confront the Outlander queen to save the Ethereal kingdom while grappling with this new reality.
Tortured and imprisoned, Nash accepts his fate and offers the Firs...

October #InkRipples #Giveaway – Things That Go Bump in the Night

I remember reading Amityville Horror. I think I was about 12 years old and I was home alone a lot. I’d get so wrapped up in the book I wouldn’t notice the sun had set until I look up and found myself completely surrounded by black picture windows. I was terrified that the red pig eyes would appear, so I’d close my eyes and feel my way around the room to draw all the curtains closed – not opening my eyes until I was sure I wouldn’t see any black window surfaces.
It’s hard to scare me like that...