Maranda Russell's Blog, page 109

"The Battle for Tomorrow" Novel Review

Most of the books I read and review on here are fairly innocent, but "The Battle for Tomorrow" steps out of this comfort zone and addresses some real nitty-gritty details about what it is like for many kids growing up today.

Written by Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall, "The Battle for Tomorrow" is the tale of a sixteen-year-old girl named Angela who is pretty much raising herself.  Her mother is now disabled to the point that Angela has taken the role of caretaker, but even before her mother's disability, Angela never felt loved and supported by her parental figures.

The story really picks up when Angela meets a political activist who is deeply involved in political and environmental issues.  Angela soon finds herself tangled in this new world, even going so far as to participate in a blockade and occupation of the Capitol.  Of course, even non-violent protests have consequences, so Angela ends up incarcerated at a juvenile detention facility where the real battle begins.  Faced with the possibility of being put in the custody of children's services, Angela decides to fight for emancipation, eventually even including the ACLU in her fight.

I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but there are a few things I feel it is important to share with potential readers.  First of all, this is not a book I would recommend for younger teenagers.  Some of the issues it deals with are pretty mature.  In fact, when the book starts out Angela is trying to get her second abortion.  The author presents this and other adult matter in realistic, emotional and sometimes brutal ways.  This honesty is what makes the book fascinating and meaningful, but it also makes it questionable for younger readers.

Overall, this book is a book which is much-needed in today's world when many kids are left to raise themselves or planted in front of an electronic babysitter all day.  The story raises many important issues about independence, emancipation, political dilemmas and parental responsibility (or the lack of it).

To find out more about this book, please visit the author's website.

Something fun…favorite shows of all time?

Lately I've been working ALOT.  I'm still doing book reviews and author interviews for this blog, promoting my ebook "In Memory of Dad", finishing the final editing work for my upcoming picture book, "Ode to Icky" and working on my next ebook release, "Weezie, the Elephant with Allergies".  I'm pooped, so instead of doing some philosophical, life-changing post, I am just going to talk about my favorite tv shows and invite all my readers to share their faves in the comments below as well!

My personal favorites:

* The Twilight Zone

* The Mary Tyler Moore Show

* I Love Lucy

* Charmed

* The Dick Van Dyke Show

* House

* Little House on the Prairie

* Looney Tunes (the originals)

* Ghost Whisperer

* Family Guy

I could probably think of more, but I'm too tired….

"Who Am I?" Picture Book Review

"Who Am I?" is an inspirational picture book produced by Panda Heart Publishing, a company that focuses all of their attention on making the world better for children and helping each person, no matter how small, find the truth of who they are inside.

Written by Suzanne Mulcahy and illustrated by Patty O'Rourke, "Who Am I?" is a unique picture book.  Its main character, Yin, is an adorable panda bear who is searching for his own identity.  By asking his mother a series of profound questions, Yin comes to see that there are many parts that make up who he is, but perhaps the most important part of all is his heart.

And why is the heart so important?  Because it contains your ability to love as well as some special gifts that only you can share with the world.  By the last page, Yin is proud of who he is and all that he has to offer, a feeling that would change the lives of children all over the world if they were only allowed to see the power that lies in their own humanity.

I would definitely recommend this book for younger children, particularly those who are starting to recognize their individuality.  Books like this are great for helping children attain a healthy self-image and become more self-aware.  It should also be mentioned that the author, Suzanne Mulcahy, has been a licensed school psychologist for over 25 years, so she has a great deal of experience in helping children find their place in the world.

If you would like to find out more about this book, the author or the other products offered by Panda Heart Publishing, please visit www.pandaheartpublishing.com.

Some Cool Updates

It's been awhile since I posted a personal blog post, so I wanted to take this opportunity to share a few cool updates about my writing career and stuff in my life.

*My ebook, "In Memory of Dad" is now available on Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes and Noble!  Even better, it is listed as one of the bestsellers on the Smashwords page for the children's books category!  The book has received several outstanding reviews as well, and is available right now for only a $.99 download in any format!

*My picture book "Ode to Icky" is now finished illustration-wise and will be coming out soon after a final edit!

*Our 9-year-old foster son celebrated his birthday with us today!  He had a great day, between opening his gifts, going roller skating, going to dinner and setting up for a mini B-day party with the kids at church tomorrow.  He told my husband and I that we were his "best friends"…an admission I am sure he will deny in a couple years, but still sweet to hear.

"Mo Wren, Lost and Found" Middle Grade Book Review

"Mo Wren, Lost and Found" is the sequel to "What Happened on Fox Street", a highly celebrated book by Tricia Springstubb.

"What Happened on Fox Street" laid the foundation for the story, introducing Mo Wren, her spunky little sister Dottie and the rest of the Wren family.  It also set up a chain of events that would eventually cause Mo to leave her beloved home on Fox Street.  "Lost and Found" picks up the story at this point, showing the heartaches, troubles, fears and realities that accompany big changes, such as moving to a new home.

After making the big move, Mo struggles to move on from the past.  She wants to cling to the people, comforts and memories of her old life, but realizes that her life has changed for good.  However, this knowledge does not stop her longing for the familiar world of Fox Street.  To make things even rougher, her sister and father seem to have moved on without looking back, which only makes Mo feel more alone.

As the story progresses, Mo does start to adapt and show a resilient spirit, but not without a fair share of growing pains.  The story is told with warmth and honesty, a refreshing element to find in any genre, but particularly in children's literature.  Some of the issues dealt with in the book are pretty deep, such as grief, acceptance and loneliness.  Children will like this story because it is quirky, funny and imaginative.  The characters are far more than the one-dimensional caricatures found in many children's books, creating realistic people with genuine problems.

I would definitely recommend this book to girls in the 8-12 age range.  To find out more about "Mo Wren, Lost and Found" and its prequel, "What Happened on Fox Street", please visit the author's website, www.triciaspringstubb.com.  You can also find information there about where the books are available for purchase.

"Mary's Atlas, Mary Meets Ontario" Picture Book Review

"Mary's Atlas, Mary Meets Ontario" is actually part of a series of books written by Gwen Smid and illustrated by Sonia Nadeau.  The books are an interesting mix of fantasy and real history.

The main character, Mary, is a little girl who has a magic atlas.  This atlas has the ability to whisk Mary away to different parts of Canada, where she meets unusual characters and has adventures of her very own.  In this particular book, Mary is taken to Ontario where she decides to help a loon named Gavi figure out why the Great Lakes are drying up.  Everyone wants to blame it on the beavers, but is it really their fault?

I don't want to give the ending away, but I will say it wasn't what I was expecting.  Honestly I was expecting that the story would take an environmental turn and talk about global warming, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that the author found her own creative solution to the problem in the story.

I also really liked how the author incorporated famous Canadian landmarks and historical facts into the story without slowing down the pace too much.  At the end of the book there is also a list of additional interesting places in Ontario that weren't mentioned in the story.  Whether you happen to live in Canada or not, this is a fun series that your kids will enjoy.  The best part is, they won't even realize that they are learning geography and history at the same time!

To learn more about the Mary's Atlas series, please visit www.marysatlas.blogspot.com.

Tips for Publishing on Smashwords

Since I recently published my new ebook, "In Memory of Dad" on Smashwords, I have had quite a few other authors ask about how the Smashwords process works.  Many didn't even know what Smashwords was, which didn't surprise me too much since I only recently found out about Smashwords after being asked to review a few books published there.

Put simply, Smashwords in a website that allows you to publish your own ebook.  Even if your book is available in hard copy or is published by another company, as long as you have the rights, you can publish your book on Smashwords as well.  Not only does Smashwords allow you to publish your ebook for free, but they offer the opportunity to have your ebook distributed to other major ebook retailers, provided that you follow their guidelines.  Another thing I really like about Smashwords is that they offer your book to customers in a variety of formats, including Kindle, PDF, online reading and various popular phone apps.

If you are considering publishing an ebook and want to know more about Smashwords or what the publishing process there is like, here are a few tips:

1.  Above all else, make sure to follow the guidelines Smashwords provides when you upload your book.  If you don't it will affect your chances of having your book distributed to other retailers.  Also, your book might look kind of wonky if you don't follow the guidelines.  Luckily, Smashwords offers a great resource to help you at no charge, the Smashwords Style Guide.

2.  Make sure you have a good cover image for your ebook.  You can hire someone to do one for you or create one yourself like I did.  Of course, if you create it yourself, make sure it looks professional…your cover WILL affect sales.

3.  Don't post your ebook, walk away and hope to sell millions of copies.  Realistically, there is too much competition for people to just keep randomly stumbling over your ebook and actually want to buy it.  Do some promotional work, even if it is only on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.  If you can get your friends to review your book, that helps a lot too.

4.  Edit, edit, edit!  I love Smashwords and have found some great stories there, but far too many authors publish mediocre or downright painful prose.  If you don't know how to edit yourself, find a friend who will help or consider hiring someone.  Even picking up a copy of Strunk and White's Elements of Style and studying it would help many authors to avoid common grammar, punctuation and style errors.  Check your spelling too!

5.  Read the FAQ page on Smashwords.  This resource can help you avoid ALOT of mistakes and wasted minutes!

 

"Dan Quixote, Boy of Nuevo Jersey" Middle Grade Book Review

"Dan Quixote, Boy of Nuevo Jersey", written by Shevi Arnold, is a fun, entertaining story written for middle grade readers.  As you can probably tell from the title, "Dan Quixote" is loosely based on the classic romantic comedy "Don Quixote", written by Cervantes.

Since my experience with the classic "Don Quixote" mainly consists of watching a few "Wishbone" episodes on PBS, I can't really say how closely the plot of this story follows the classic novel.  However, from what I do remember, Don Quixote was a man with a big imagination, one that sometimes almost bordered on insanity.  In that respect, Dan Tyler (the main character of this middle grade novel) is very similar to his namesake.

Dan is definitely a dreamer.  Sometimes he takes his fantasizing too far, endangering his own wellbeing.  Luckily, at times like that Dan has a sensible best friend named Sandy who is quick to step in and save her Dan from himself.

The main plot of the story revolves around several problems that have cropped up.  For one, Dan is in love with a fair maiden named Gwen, a studious young girl who is often picked on by a mean teacher the kids have nicknamed 'The Dragon'.  In hopes of defending his young love, Dan teams up with the school queen bee Jade, determined to take down the Dragon.  However, Dan soon finds that teaming up with a bully can backfire and make things even worse.

Throughout the story, Dan and Sandy encounter many problems, but it is those trials that show them what true friendship can do if given a chance.  They also learn the power of love, forgiveness, confidence and standing up for what you believe in.  This story is inspirational in many ways, but beyond that it is simply a good story, one that is sure to entertain kids and tweens.

To find out more about this book, or to read the first few chapters for yourself, please visit the author's website, www.sheviarnold.com.

Interview with Children's Picture Book Author Carol Gordon Ekster

Carol Gordon Ekster is a writer who uses her creative abilities to discuss real world problems with kids.  From divorce to cleaning up a messy room, Carol finds fun, entertaining ways for kids to deal with the issues in their lives.  Ready to learn more?  Then on to the interview!

Q: When did you first decide that you wanted to be an author? What made you want to choose this career path?

A: My desire to write surprised me.  It seemed to come out of nowhere.  I worked with children on their writing as a 4th grade teacher for 35 years. I had writing workshops and conferenced with each child individually to give them feedback on their work.  When I started writing, I certainly had empathy for my students.  Getting feedback, at first, was not easy.

Writing just came to me one day on the beach when I was fifty years old.  I needed to write.  I went to the car and got post-its and a pen and started my first story.  Until then, I had always found writing a difficult skill.  It is difficult…lots of skills are needed to do it well.

I stepped into the life of a writer, joining SCBWI, becoming passionate about the craft, reading many books on writing and joining critique groups.  I stuck to my new path and never looked back.  It was wonderful to be able to share my journey of becoming an author as well as the writing process with my classes. Now that I'm retired,  it is the writing that allows me to continue communicating with children.

Q: Who are some of the authors that greatly influenced your writing style? What were some of your favorite books as a kid?

A: I believe I have my own writing style, but I've read so many books and respect and admire countless authors of children's books and adult books. I found picture books to enhance all areas of the curriculum when I taught.  I usually read a few a day to my students…so I was preparing myself for becoming a writer.  I knew what I liked…beautiful language and a story well told.  When I was a kid, I loved Nancy Drew books best of all.  Now I rarely read mysteries.

Q: Did you have a hard time getting your first book published?

A: My first book, Where Am I Sleeping Tonight?-A Story of Divorce, Boulden Publishing, 2008, was published about two years after I started sending it out, and less than two years after I started writing.  It was bought by the 12th publisher I sent it to.  That was the 20th manuscript I had written.  My second book, which is expected out this fall, Ruth The Sleuth and The Messy Room, sold the 16th time I sent it out.  It was the 30th story I had written.  I also sold the 24th manuscript I wrote to a magazine.  The second time I sent that out, I got a request for a rewrite.  Then the publisher said they were interested in the rewrite, but they ended up changing offices and staff, and I never received a contract.  So after about 20 other tries to get it published as a book, I decided I just wanted the story shared with children and accepted that it was time to let it go as a magazine piece.  I try to stay focused on working on my craft and enjoying the submitting process, and if something sells, well that's a bonus.  Sometimes, I still get disappointed when I get a rejection, but mostly I prepare to send it out again to another publisher.

Q: Assuming that you write for children or young adults, what made you decide to write for those age groups? Do you still feel connected to your "inner child"?

A: I definitely feel connected to my inner child, but I believe it's the teacher in me that pushes me to write for children.

Q: What are some of your hobbies, other than writing?

A: I love doing yoga, aerobics,  and going bike riding.  I love to vacation and be with family. And of course, I love to read.  I always have a book on CD that I'm listening to in the car, and one near my bed.  I also enjoy cooking healthy meals.  When I taught, I spent a lot of time looking for new teaching ideas and web sites to use with my students.

Q: Do you have any sage advice for new authors who are just entering the field?

A: Most importantly, writers must persevere and not get disheartened.  Continue working on your craft and submitting your work.  You must belong to writing groups or have other writers give you feedback.  We do not write alone.

Q: Do you hold any other jobs outside of your writing? If so, do you find that this helps your writing or gets in the way?

A: Being retired now allows me the time I need to write and promote my books.

Q: If you could meet one author, living or dead, who would it be? Why?

A: Carolyn Keene, because she made me love reading and understand the power of a good book.

Q: Do you have any other information you would like to share, such as a website, author page, awards won, etc.?

A: www.carolgordonekster.com

I joined the ebook revolution!!!

Guess what?  I just published my first eBook on Smashwords!  So excited.  The story is entitled "In Memory of Dad" and is geared towards upper elementary and middle school kids, ages 8-14.  The story is based on the real-life struggles I went through when my dad passed away.  I was only 12 when he died, but I remember it as clearly as yesterday.  I wanted to share the experience with other kids who may be dealing with loss in any form.

You can get the eBook on many different formats, such as Kindle, pdf, online reading and apps for various hand held devices.  The best part?  It's only $.99 to download!  I really hope that you will check it out and share it with your kids.  Please feel free to tell anyone you know who might be interested in this book as well!  Word of mouth really is the best promotion, whether it be in person or on a social networking site!

Soon the eBook should be available on Amazon and other top online retailers, but now you can buy it here at Smashwords.  If you do read it, please leave a quick review on Smashwords to tell me (and everyone else) what you thought!