Kai Strand's Blog, page 66

Three Times A Charm With Neha Garg

Three Times a Charm is a weekly feature that spotlights authors, illustrators, bloggers, agents, editors or promoters from the publishing industry.
This week we are joined by a new friend I made over on Google+. I love social media! Neha Garg and I would never have bridged the 5000 mile gap between our cities without the internet.
Neha, tell our readers more about yourself.
To use the age old cliché, I am IT Manager by day and Writer by night. I live in London UK and work in IT as a day job...

Wanted: Reviews of The Weaver

I love to read reviews of The Weaver that have been posted on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and/or Goodreads. So, to entice you to spread The Weaver love, I'm offering to mail an autographed bookplate to anyone who posts a review on any of those sites.
Can I just say that I have the coolest bookplates ever?!
To claim your coolest bookplate ever prize, just send me an email (kaistrand at yahoo dot com ßof course format that correctly) telling me where you posted your review and your screen name for ...

Love You, Mom

This post is intensely personal. Maybe I shouldn't even share it. But as a writer it feels so wrong to not write about it.
Two weeks ago today, my sister called to say that our mom had passed away. Mom had battled mounting health challenges for a number of years, so I guess in theory our loss shouldn't be a surprise. Yet it was. It is.
It still is.
I learned so much from Mom. She didn't teach me how to cook. Or how to keep house. God knows she tried. She was my go-to guru for all things...

Three Times A Charm With Beverly Stowe McClure

Three Times a Charm is a weekly feature that spotlights authors, illustrators, bloggers, agents, editors or promoters from the publishing industry.
This week children's author, Beverly Stowe McClure, joins us from the deep in the heat of Texas.
Beverly, thank you for agreeing to be a part of my weekly feature "Three Times a Charm." 
Thank you, Kai, for inviting me.
Beverly has visited Strands of Thought before, but for those who missed that interview, here is a refresher course.
When Beverly w...

LaNiyah Bailey presents, Not Fat Because I Wanna Be

LaNiyah Bailey is a 6 year old author with a message for children like her – just because you are bigger than other kids, that doesn't mean that people have the right to bully you. In her debut book, Not FAT Because I Wanna Be, LaNiyah details the struggle of Jessica, a fictional girl who has an underlying medical issue that causes her to gain weight. Bullied by her peers, Jessica learns to accept her body and eventually opens up about her condition to her classmates.
LaNiyah is not only...

Three Times A Charm With Kate Ellison

Three Times a Charm is a weekly feature that spotlights authors, illustrators, bloggers, agents, editors or promoters from the publishing industry.
This week we are joined by young adult author, Kate Ellison. Katie tell us what you are all about.
When I'm not writing, I enjoy watching NBC comedy shows, playing video games, and eating ice...

Recents

Recent Reads
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare – humble rating: Motivational Speaker – I'm not sure how I feel about this installment. The writing is great. The story development is great. As usual. I'm not questioning Miss Clare's abilities. I'm just not sure I was too crazy about the direction Jace and Alec took. I loved...

What Would You Do With $1,000?

Enter the Boost Your Buzz $1,000 Giveaway! One lucky person is going to win $1000 USD paid via Paypal! Gain entries in this giveaway by following Strands of Thought (must be the Google friend connect account - um, this one you are reading), Kai Strand, Author on Facebook or my Twitter account
The giveaway starts August 1st 12 am EST and will run until August 15th...

Three Times A Charm With Kelly Hashway

Three Times a Charm is a weekly feature that spotlights authors, illustrators, bloggers, agents, editors or promoters from children's publishing.
This week we are joined by Kelly Hashway, author of May the Best Dog Win. Here is more about Kelly:
 Kelly Hashway writes short stories and books for children of all ages. Kelly's debut picture b...

What's Your Writerly Craving?

It is like a hunger that won't be satiated. A thirst that won't be quenched. It seems like I drink and drink only to feel more parched. You know that mosquito bite on the arch of your foot? The one you scratch until it's raw, but still itches? It's like that. It feels like the need is eating away inside me and leaving a growing hollowness, like a big dying tree.
What is it? Come on, you're a writer, you know.
The continual need to be published. The overwhelming desire to hear, "Yes, I want to p...