Laurisa White Reyes's Blog, page 13

$25 GIVEAWAY: A FRIEND IN PARIS by Jennie Goutet

   A Friend in Paris by Jennie Goutet Friendship between a talented young artist and her handsome French neighbor is a promising start—until it’s not enough. April promised her dying father she would study painting in Paris, but friends are few, her budget is tight, and her landlord increasingly won’t take "no" for an answer. Then she meets Victor. Victor is as chivalrous as he is wealthy, and if it weren't for him, April would have already left the City of Light behind. Too bad Victor still has eyes for his ex-girlfriend, who is now back on the scene and wants to get married. Although April and Victor swore to remain just friends, magical Paris seems to weave a different spell. The more their connection deepens, the more it becomes difficult to keep a proper distance. Or to remember why they should.          Penelope peeked into the hallway. “We’re about to play poker. Who wants in?” “Me,” April said. “But I need a refresher for the rules. It’s not for money, right?” “Nope, just for chips. Hey, Victor,” Penelope said, “Are you able to take April back to your grandmother’s apartment tonight after you bring Margaux home? She probably won’t ask for help, but we’re afraid Lucas is following her, and we want to make sure she doesn’t get stalked.” “Sure.” Victor turned to her in consternation. “Another thing you’re not telling me, April. Please tell me these things.” A flash of anger came over April, and she replied without thinking. “Don’t expect me to tell you everything. It’s not like I’m your girlfriend. I don’t owe you explanations, or details, or anything.” “ Er …let me see how the game is going.” Penelope turned, whisking away a smile. “What are you talking about, April. We’re friends. Friends talk.” “Victor,” April hissed. “It’s like you expect things from me you don’t even expect of your own fiancée. You want me to come to you for help and tell you everything. But you don’t even know what Margaux was doing that whole year in Monaco. You don’t know what brought her back or…or whether the baby is even yours.” There. I said it. April’s pulse pounded in her temple. “Victor doesn’t ask me these things, because he already knows the answer.” Margaux's cool voice came from where the living room joined the hallway. “And, since he is satisfied, I don’t see what business it is of yours.” Margaux managed to communicate all her disdain in two sentences. April’s face was crimson. She could feel the heat of shame emanating from her. She’d let everyone know how she felt about Victor as plain as if she’d announced she was in love with him at the dinner table. It’s not like I’m your girlfriend. And what was even worse was that she was completely in the wrong attempting to sow seeds of doubt. She was not the type of person to try to break people up. She was not “the other woman”. It was not her style. If a man wasn’t free to love her, she had absolutely no interest in him. So what had happened? How had she gone so wrong? Victor’s eyes were fixed on hers. He hadn’t answered, but now he looked toward Margaux and the crowd that was gathering behind her. “Hey guys, could you give us a minute? Margaux, I’ll be right there to take you home. I imagine the baby needs you.” Margaux folded her arms and planted her feet. So Victor took April’s arm and pulled her into the first room he saw. It was the toilet, and they had only enough room to stand face to face. He fumbled for the light, and when it went on, April wouldn’t look at him. He grabbed her by the arms. “April, I need to say this fast so no one gets the wrong idea about us being in here together.” They were standing in a tiny cubicle, nose to nose, and his words brought on an insane desire to laugh. She needed to get a hold of her emotions. He’s not available. “I think one of the biggest regrets of my life,” Victor said, “will end up being that I wasn’t free to follow my feelings in this instance. But I’m not. I’m a father, and that comes first.” I am a great fool , April thought, and any wisp of humor over the situation fled. To complete her shame, her eyes filled with tears. “If I could’ve followed my feelings…” He stopped short, looking at her eyes, her lips…They heard only the sound of their breath. Then Victor dropped his arms, turned in the tight space, and opened the bathroom door. “Margaux and I need to get going. Penelope, do you think one of you could see April home safely?” “Sure,” Penelope said. She handed the pack of cards to Auriane and slid past Victor to where April was. “You guys go ahead and play.”          Once I began to read I couldn't put it down until I finished. The characters are well developed and I easily identified with their struggles and triumphs. A wonderful story you will want to read again   A Friend in Paris is rich with everything a romance needs and more – drama, plot twists, characters you’ll fall in love with…and some you’ll love to despise. The setting of Paris and the wonderful descriptions are added bonuses! I devoured this book in two sittings.   Really enjoyed this read! I was completely absorbed into the Paris setting. Felt like I was there! The hero and heroine are interesting, believable, and their chemistry was natural and lifelike. Nothing felt contrived. The supporting characters were intriguing too. Highly recommended.      Author Jennie Goutet Jennie Goutet is an American-born Anglophile, who lives with her French husband and their three children in a small town outside Paris. Her imagination resides in Regency England, where her upcoming romance, A Regrettable Proposal , is set. Jennie is the author of the sweet, contemporary romances, A Friend in Paris and A Noble Affair , as well as the award-winning memoir, Stars Upside Down . A Christian, a cook, and an inveterate klutz, Jennie writes about faith, food, and life—even the clumsy moments—on her blog, aladyinfrance.com.             Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in PayPal Cash Ends 2/4/19 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.     a Rafflecopter giveaway

SWAG GIVEAWAY: FOR MELISSA - AN ANTHOLOGY

For Melissa: An AnthologyPresented by Wild Dreams PublishingGenre: Multi Genre
With stories by:Bella Emy Shaan RanaeJeremy SimonsRosie ChapelVeronique PoirierSarah SteinKristen CollinsJenee RobinsonNiki LivingstonBey TolentinoMelisa LyonsLori HoopengardnerSonya JesusCam JohnsJustina LutherSheri Branson ChapmanDavina PurnellK.A. MorseMelanie RodriguezAim Ruivivar


An anthology dedicated to Melissa Lee, bringing together stories of strong independent women by some of today's favorite authors of the indie community.When Melissa was diagnosed with cancer it shook our house to the core. Within a matter of days we started asking how can we help. The answer create an anthology dedicated to the strong woman that is our Melissa. Each story as a set of rules. one the main character is named Melissa. And her character must be strong. After that each story comes from the hearts of our authors. This book is forever dedicated to the teacher that touches the lives of the children that she meet. The  authors who's lives have now been touched with her soft touch and strong will. And for the member of our family who we wish only the very best.

*All proceeds will be benefitting Melissa Lee during this difficult time. Our hearts & prayers are with her.


~* A special thanks to YM Zachery for her endless dedication
Melissa's Menagerie by Lori Hoopengardner
After the death of her parents, Melissa was on her own to carry on her family's secret. She was lonely, scared and busy. That is until she found some people she could trust. Friendships and more just seemed to happen.

The Rainbow Truck by Jeremy Simons
On the backroads of Louisiana, the unthinkable happened to Melissa. A truck tried to run her off the road. She could have let it go, but she was too proud for that. Besides, its color intrigued her. Oh yeah, and the blood on the tailgate.
She and Scott followed it to a secluded camp where their fortunes were forever sealed. She had to fight. She had to stand on her own two feet. She had to...survive.
But could it be that easy? Find out in The Rainbow Truck.
Unbound Wonder by Niki Livingston
Melissa’s past doesn’t define her and she refuses to allow her teenage trauma to hold her down. Believing in herself when no one else did, she became an instant fame in the music industry. And with the public eye on her, it wasn’t a surprise when she attracted a male admirer who didn’t have her best interest at heart. Another man who only craved to control and own her.
Now she must face her fears, both known and unknown, in order to gain the strength to battle the seemingly never-ending storm threatening her very existence. Rising to face her foes is only the beginning to taking back her power.

Lovelight by B. Tolentino
Blind but never felt unwanted, Melissa Chaplin lives peacefully in New Hampshire with her mother. Wanting to make progress in her life, she decides to take a step forward by applying for a part-time job only to be rejected as soon as she receives the phone call she was so excited about. Suddenly, the bruising pain of frustration of being visually impaired envelopes her, causing her to take a huge leap of faith by agreeing to be a patient to a doctor from Germany she meets for the first time.


Running from Ghosts by Cam Johns Not telling the whole truth is the same as lying. It turns out, withholding secrets is more dangerous than being honest with the one you love. At least that’s what Melissa has come to realize. Now being forced to face her deceptions head on as the ghosts of her past come back to haunt her - threatening the life she has finally built - Melissa has to find a way to confront her dishonesty without losing the love of her life.
Onusby Sonya Jesus
Oliver: In onus memoria. I had it engraved on his tombstone so that when I went to visit, I could remember Ben died because I failed to protect him. In my onus, I let guilt corrode through any attempt at happiness. I let the blame overwhelm me because I deserved to be punished... He died because I wasn't watching.




Melissa by Davina PurnellOliver's been coming to group sessions for a year and half now. I wish I could say he's slowly getting better, but he's shown no progress and it worries me. I don't know how to break through to him or if he even wants me to, but I care about him too much not to try.
Till Death by Bella Emy
Happily Ever After.
That's what Mel thought she had found the day she met Brad.
Now, married for years with their two children, Austin and Brayden, Mel fears for their life. The man she once knew who had been so loving, supporting and caring has turned into a drunk, alcoholic, abusive husband and father, stopping at nothing to get his point across.Will Mel be able to overcome her dread of living huddled up in a corner, fearing for her life and that of her sons, or will Brad place his hands on her one last and final time?


Witch’s Heart by Melanie Rodriguez
Melissa is a sophomore at the prestigious Circe Academy, a school that grooms only the finest of witches and warlocks. She finds herself an outcast to most of her peers and professors due to her half-human side. Wanting nothing more than to be a fully-fledged witch, she enlists the help of the wily and sarcastic spirit fox, Vic, who too has his own agenda. In order to retrieve the lost half of magic that she needs to accomplish her goal, Melissa must locate the human the old ritual demands she needs and must steal their “heart.” When she realizes who that human is, Melissa finds herself in a bind: does she complete her goal and fulfill her pact with Vic or does she let the special human go and continue to live her outcast life without the respect she deserves?

Choices Made by Justina Luther
At the age of 26 I, Melissa Leighton, thought I had my priorities right. I worked hard, kept my eye on my goals, and loved my mom and twin sister with all my heart. I broke my back to make us all proud and be the first in my family to become a doctor. The funny thing about life is, every choice we make changes something and the choices I made threatened to change everything.

My Shadow by Sheri ChapmanMelissa is drawn to wrong side of the law. For now, she contents her intrigue by pitting herself against the police. Through her own vices, she must figure out crimes before they can. Not only does it inspire her writing career, but it also gives her life an exciting edge. However, Melissa is being watched. The innovative woman must determine if her life in endanger before it’s too late…
From the Ashes by Sarah SteinHow far would you go to survive?
Melissa was the perfect child. She never complained, did amazing in school and made her parents happy. Or so she thought. Everything changed when she was told to pack her bags, and leave with a man she’s never met. But all is not what it seems as she has to fight not to lose herself in his custody.

Also includes: Bittersweet Resilience by Shaan RanaeThe Ladie's Wager by Rosie ChapelAll For You by Veronique PoirierThe Lupie Warrior by Kristen CollinsTypical Hunter Day by Jenee RobinsonMelissa, The Queen of the Fairies by M.L. RuscsakMelissa and the Lost Tomb of Akila by K.A. MorseClub Hooligans by Aim Ruivivar


**Only 99 cents!!**Goodreads* Amazon * Wild Dreams Publishing




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$10 GIVEAWAY - YOU'RE NOT ALONE by Nance Newman

You're Not AloneWhispers Series Book 1by Nance NewmanGenre: Paranormal Mystery
When you’re dead, you’re dead. That’s it. Nothing more. At least that’s what Quinn O’Reilly thinks until she starts hearing whispers after losing the love of her life to cancer. Quinn either has to start believing in an afterlife or admit that her own sanity is in jeopardy. As a battle begins for her beloved’s estate, threatening her with financial ruin, the voices intensify. 

To make them stop, Quinn and her best friend Chaz follow an unlikely mix of characters into the world of spirits, ghosts and specters. What they must do to unravel the mystery of the whispers tests Quinn’s belief system in every way. Can the dead really reach out from the other side? Can Quinn open her mind enough to help her and her dead lover? Is it okay to commit a crime for a greater purpose? And what is appropriate attire for a séance or digging up a grave?


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Bad Man, Bad Ghost Whispers Series Book 2
Finding clues in the shoes of a dead man in a coffin wasn’t what Quinn thought she would do when she became a mortician. She also didn’t expect the bodies that entered her funeral home to have lived their lives as bad men or to whisper their requests to her—not only demands that she has to fulfill to get them to stop, but ones that might lead her to commit acts on the wrong side of the law.
The spirit of a mob boss has entered Quinn O’Reilly’s funeral parlor and his whispers drag her into a world of criminals, secrets and lies. Once again, she enlists the help of her friends—Andjela, a communicator with the dead, Mr. Princeton, a professor of Egyptian studies at the local university, Chester, the owner of the town cemetery and Chaz, her best friend and assistant—to find the clues that will lead her to what the dead man wants. She realizes that she can’t answer the whispers alone which force her to put her friends in danger. Soon she finds it’s not only the dead Mafia boss that wants something from her, but so does his wife, his mistress and strange, dark men in dark suits.To make matters worse, Quin is realizing that the whispers of spirits aren’t going to go away. Neither is the specter that still haunts her apartment. 

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Dirty WrongWhispers Series Book 3
Eleanor’s spirit is doing a lot of griping in Quinn’s funeral home. She was the wife of a member of the Mafia who was murdered several years prior and now she wants something from Quinn. Her best friend nicknamed her “Mafia magnet” since this is the second spirit to contact her who is connected to the mob. She knows she is destined to a life of answering their ghostly requests but she wonders if all the spirits that contact her will always be on the wrong side of the law.
Once again, Quinn must put her friends in danger to help her decipher the clues Eleanor’s spirit has communicated to them. It leads them to the now defunct, dark, and foreboding subway tunnels beneath the city where they discover they’re not the only one’s searching for whatever Eleanor has hidden. There’s a war going on in the tunnels and they can’t tell who’s winning—the ghosts or the Mafia. What will happen if the war in the tunnel keeps them from finding the answers to Eleanor’s clues? Will the price they have to pay for being in the middle of it be too much for Quinn to handle?  


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Sound TravelsWhispers Series Book 4
Once again, Quinn hears the whispers of the dead, but when it follows her on a trip to New York City with Andjela and Chaz to help her parents find a missing girl, Quin realizes the whisper is that of the missing girl, Sofia. 
The niece of Eleanor, the last spirit to elicit Quinn’s help, Sofia had somehow gotten mixed up in her family’s Mafia mess. Now she is dead. Quinn summons Mr. Princeton and Chester to New York City to help them communicate with Sofia. Together, they must follow the clues to find Sofia’s body and the cause of her death. Who is really responsible for the murder of a young girl? What was Sofia hiding that got her killed? Will Quinn and her friends find her and what it was she was hiding? And why are there two different black SUV’s that show up where ever they are? Follow Quinn, Andjela, Mr. Princeton, Chester and Chaz into two very menacing worlds-that of the Mafia and of the dead, and discover the newest hiding spot—a very large hole in Brooklyn.


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I live in upstate New York with my two dogs; a 17 year old Min Pin (Zeus) and a female dog I recently rescued from the Puerto Rico hurricanes (I have been learning Spanish and she is learning English!). Her name is Ela and she is a joy.
I have been writing in some form or other since high school when I bought my first guitar (a 12 string for $50 from one of those magazines my mother used to receive in the mail) and began writing songs. In college, I started my first novel that I hope to go back to and finish someday.I currently work for a school district in transportation as a router and dispatcher where I use software to solve the puzzle of getting 5600 students to many different schools, but my goal is to become a full time writer of novels and music. I try to fit writing in with my full time job and hobbies that include biking, gardening, hiking, kayaking and watching movies (lots of them and all kinds)I continue to write songs and perform with Dooley(my music partner) We have a CD of original songs and it is available for your enjoyment. Visit me at nancenewman.com to check it out.I am really excited to share my work with you, and some days you might see me driving a big yellow school bus.

Website* Facebook * Twitter * Google+* Amazon* Goodreads

Follow the tour HEREfor exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
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THE WORST BOOKS I READ IN 2018

I admit, I read a lot of "bad" books last year. Maybe they weren't completely horrible or a waste of time, but they were at the very least disappointing. Most started off to be promising and were good enough that I read to the end. But these books left me feeling dissatisfied and frustrated. These are the books I'd advise you to avoid.

Click on the titles to read my reviews. Some I didn't even bother writing one, they were that bad.

5. SEA OF MONSTERS by Rick Riordan
(Sorry folks, but I can't stand the Percy Jackson books. But on the bright side, my 10-year-old liked it enough.)



4. THINGS FALL APART by Chinua Achebe
(This story went NO WHERE!)


3. SLITHERS by WW Mortensen
(This story was awesome until the last few chapters when the story took off in an entirely wrong, confusion direction. Huge disappointment.)
 
2. OVER THE EDGE by Greg Child
(Boring. Just...boring.)
 
1. LEARN HOW TO WRITE A BOOK IN 2 HOURS by Ken Dunn
(Watch out. Ken Dunn claims to be a best-selling author helping other authors. But he is a scam artist. I read a few of  his books, and his how-to books are worthless.)

PETALS - JUST 99 CENTS!!!

GET PETALS FOR JUST 99 CENTS THROUGH SATURDAY!!!Available at all online retailers.
https://www.amazon.com/Petals-Laurisa-White-Reyes-ebook/dp/B01N7XSVG0/
 

$10 GIVEAWAY - HEARTWOOD by Nance Newman

Heartwoodby Nance NewmanGenre: Fantasy, Magical Realism
In the Adirondack Mountains the forests are dying by the hand of a demon whose only purpose is the destruction of the natural world.
Within the high peaks of the Adirondacks a magical edifice, Heartwood, appears yet remains hidden from the world. Inhabited by the descendants of an ancient race who have been protecting the natural world since the beginning of their existence, they will wait for the next true Xylem who is the only one powerful enough to fight the demon.The battle will soon begin.Heartwood weaves legend into reality as the world’s ecosystem is threatened by supernatural demons. Elathea is a typical teenager whose parents can no longer keep the family secret from her—that she is a descendant of an ancient race of women whose legend says only one progeny every hundred years or more will have the powers needed to face nature’s magical enemies. As her powers begin to emerge, they can no longer deny her destiny. They send her to Heartwood to learn about who she is and what she must do. Only Ela doesn’t want the job.Sometimes, you don’t have a choice.


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I live in upstate New York with my two dogs; a 17 year old Min Pin (Zeus) and a female dog I recently rescued from the Puerto Rico hurricanes (I have been learning Spanish and she is learning English!). Her name is Ela and she is a joy.
I have been writing in some form or other since high school when I bought my first guitar (a 12 string for $50 from one of those magazines my mother used to receive in the mail) and began writing songs. In college, I started my first novel that I hope to go back to and finish someday.I currently work for a school district in transportation as a router and dispatcher where I use software to solve the puzzle of getting 5600 students to many different schools, but my goal is to become a full time writer of novels and music. I try to fit writing in with my full time job and hobbies that include biking, gardening, hiking, kayaking and watching movies (lots of them and all kinds)I continue to write songs and perform with Dooley(my music partner) We have a CD of original songs and it is available for your enjoyment. Visit me at nancenewman.com to check it out.I am really excited to share my work with you, and some days you might see me driving a big yellow school bus.


Website* Facebook * Twitter * Google+* Amazon* Goodreads

Follow the tour HEREfor exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

FOREVER YOURS $100 GIVEAWAY

Forever Yours Clean Romance Event!January 2019During the month of January, we will be featuring 12 fabulous Authors who write clean romance! There will be $400 worth of Giveaways plus great deals on books! You are invited to join the fun, learn about these great authors & find your next favorite book! There will be FREE ebooks, awesome sales & great giveaways! Check out this great list of featured authors who are sponsoring this event!
Jennie GoutetLiwen Y. HoCrissy SharpJo NoelleLaurie WinterSophia SummersStephanie FowersLorin GraceRanee S. ClarkRebecca ConnollyReina M. WilliamsJess Heileman  Never miss a giveaway, freebie or sale by signing up for Clean Wholesome Romance’s Reader Newsletter! Are you a blogger or reader who would be willing to post about this event on your blog or social media? Sign up here. Are you an author who writes clean romance? Learn more about CWR upcoming events here, or Sign up for my Author Newsletter.  
To start things off we have a $100 Giveaway! Giveaway Details $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 2/3/19 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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WRITER 2 WRITER: WHY WRITING MATTERS

KIDS WRITE: PART I


This is part one of a series about how to help kids not only learn to write well but to love it. Excerpts are taken from my book TEACHING KIDS TO WRITE WELL: SIX SECRETS EVERY GROWN-UP SHOULD KNOW.

Writing is the second most important means by which humankind communicates with itself, the first being speech. Unfortunately, the English language, both verbal and written, is in decline. SAT scores for the 2006 graduating high school class showed the largest year-to-year decline since 1975[i], and more recently in 2013, the College Board expressed concern over the low scores, stating that “roughly 6 in 10 college-bound high school students who took the test were so lacking in their reading, writing and math skills, they were unprepared for college-level work.”[ii] This persistent pattern of declining test scores has caused experts in the educational field to sound the alarm.

In generations past, an individual who could not communicate effectively with others was considered ignorant, uneducated, even unintelligent. Today, poor language skills are often considered trendy and are representative of the American teen culture. However, while it may be popular for young people to hardly finish a sentence or to text using nothing but acronyms, inadequate communication skills will eventually prove an obstacle in their lives.

In their report, Because Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Our Schools, The National Writing Project and author Carl Nagin state the following:

“In today’s business world, writing is a ‘threshold skill’ for both employment and promotion. In a 2004 survey of 120 major American corporations, respondents emphasized that people who cannot write and communicate clearly will not be hired and are unlikely to last long enough to be considered for promotion.”

In other words, in a time when jobs are already hard to come by (U.S. unemployment rates averaged around 7% in 2013), applicants lacking appropriate communication skills find it difficult to compete for those jobs.

In contrast, those who do speak and write well stand out in a crowd. They are confident in themselves, obtain higher levels of education, earn more money in the workforce, and often become the leaders in our society. According to the College Board’s National Commission on Writing, two-thirds of salaried workers in large U.S. companies are required to write, yet over three billion dollars are spent annually in trying to improve employees’ poor writing skills.

Good writing skills are also critical to academic success. A large number of exams given in colleges and universities require essays. But despite the importance of good writing skills in higher education and in the workplace, these skills are in decline.

This is actually good news for your children. If you are reading this, you are concerned about your child or students’ writing skills and are searching for a way to improve them. By setting your child on the path to writing more effectively, he will one day find himself in that ever-shrinking pool of qualified college and/or job applicants who rise, like cream, to the top. Even if your child chooses to remain outside the mainstream workforce by being an entrepreneur or a stay-at-home parent, excellent writing skills will always play a valuable role in his life.

Research cited in Because Writing Matters shows that writing helps develop thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, utilizing writing in all academic subjects aids in the retention of knowledge and improves reading skills. According to the National Writing Project, “If students are to learn, they must write.”

In this series, I’ll be discussing six secrets to helping kids write well, but in truth, they are not really secrets at all. Rather they are suggestions on how to create a positive writing environment in your home. Good writing demands an open mind and a positive attitude. Without them, writing becomes a chore, or worse, an assignment. While there is nothing wrong with writing assignments, there is something fundamentally distasteful about turning a child off to writing.

My intention is to help you, the parent and/or teacher, help your child discover the joy of writing. Once the door to good writing is flung open, all the barriers and blockades that trip up the rest of us will vanish for your child. He will become an “I can” person, and the wonderful side effect is that, as his parent and/or teacher, you will, too.

MY FAVORITE READS OF 2018

I managed to match the number of books I read last year, 42. Out of those, six were audio books. Most were print books, while I think two or three were digital.

Overall, this year I didn't LOVE most of the books I read. In fact, a few were quite disappointing. But I'll get to those next time.

For now, what were the BEST books I read in 2018? I'm going to break this into two categories: non-fiction and fiction. You can click on the links to read my review of each title.

NON-FICTION
5. SUGAR CRUSH


4. NO ONE CARES ABOUT CRAZY PEOPLE by Ron Powers

3. NEIL ARMSTRONG: A LIFE OF FLIGHT

2. FAST INTO THE NIGHT by Debbie Moderow

1. KILLING THE RISING SUN by Bill O'Reilly



FICTION
5. HATCHET by Gary Paulsen

4. MURDER ON EDISTO by C. Hope Clark



3. THE DINING CAR by Eric Peterson


2. ENDANGERED by Eliot Shrefer

2.  
1. THE GIRL IN THE BLUE COAT by Monica Hess

WRITER 2 WRITER: BE THE VERY BEST YOU CAN BE!

“There is real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.” – Norman Vincent Peale

One thing I have always feared is being mediocre. Few people understand what that really means. They think being mediocre is being average. But being average means you are somewhere in the middle in comparison to everyone else: average height, average weight, average intelligence, average grades. Being mediocre, however, has nothing to do with where you are in relation to others. It is about where you are in relation to your own potential. There’s nothing inherently bad about being average, but mediocrity means you have failed yourself.

In the course of my writing career, I have met hundreds of other authors like myself, many of whom I revere and others not so much. Those authors who have earned my respect have done so not because they’ve achieved great accolades or earned millions for their books, but because they have put their all into their stories. Their books represent the very best of themselves; they create stories of which they can be proud.

On the flip side, I’ve met authors who sell themselves short by producing sub-standard books. They fail to invest time or money in developing their writing skills. They cut corners on design and editing to save a buck. They publish their books prematurely, just to get them “out there.” Or they write stuff because it sells, not because it matters. These authors had the same potential as the others, but they fell short of the mark. And that is the tragedy.

Whenever I write a book, I set out to write the best story possible and to produce the highest quality book I can. It often takes years to get it right, and even then, I am never completely satisfied with the result. I constantly strive, not for perfection, because in writing there is no such thing, but I strive for improvement. Each project should be better than the one preceding it. That way, I can always be assured I am doing my best.

Reaching for excellence isn’t just about writing. The reality is, we are surrounded by mediocrity, by people who are too easily placated by their own ordinariness. It’s easy to be ordinary. It’s easy to be mediocre. It takes effort and consistent hard work to stand out from the crowd.

I teach college English composition, and usually, within the first few days of class, I can identify the mediocre students from those who will excel. My mediocre students show up late or are often absent. My mediocre students turn in assignments late or not at all. My mediocre students fail to progress throughout the course of the semester; they do “just enough” to pass the class.

On the other hand, students who excel are committed to doing their very best every single day. They ask questions. They are not satisfied with less than an ‘A’. They also feel a deep level of personal satisfaction when they do get a good grade because they know they earned it. And that is the biggest difference of all—mediocrity can never experience that feeling of satisfaction and self-pride because the level of work they produce did not require any sacrifice on their part. They don’t know what it means to “give your all.”

As a mother, I try to teach my kids to do their best, whether it’s in their school work or just washing the dishes. Don’t be satisfied with mediocrity. That doesn’t mean beat yourself up for being imperfect; it means, instead, to strive for excellence and progress. It means to grow and to achieve. Finally, it means to produce the kind of work you can be proud of.