Sara Shafer's Blog, page 14

Sticks 'n Stones and the Garden of Phea by @TheMsBurkhead

Title: Sticks n' Stones and the Garden of Phea | Author: Angela Burkhead | Publication Date: February 6, 2014 | Publisher: Maple Hill Publishing | Pages: 152 | Recommended Ages: 9+


Summary: Rather than spending one more day amongst the humiliating remarks to the amusement of her fellow peers, Emily Fickeltin runs away. Or, rather, walks away. Emily is misunderstood and disliked but what seems to be every other child her age and on top of it all, she is overweight. Perfectly pleasantly plump, her mother calls her, but Emily feels far from perfect. Her attempt to escape her pain leads her to discover a hidden place with new hope for friends and acceptance. Stumbling into Phea's garden, an eccentric woman skilled in the arts of gardening and imagination, Emily finds she is not alone in her troubles. Phea and her friend rabbit have a past of their own they wish to run from and together the three battle their innermost demons as their world crumbles around them. Will they ever discover peace and acceptance? These lost and disheartened souls must find who they are before they are all lost forever.
PurchaseAmazon
About the Author: Angela Burkhead

Angela Burkhead is a full time writer and a full time mom. Of the two jobs, she cannot decide which is more difficult and time consuming, but both bring the joys of fulfillment and accomplishment. She and her son currently reside in Richmond, Ky, just north of Kentucky's arts and crafts capital, Berea, Ky, where she was born and raised. Her newest book, Sticks n' Stones and the Garden of Phea , an upper middle grade/young adult fantasy novel, was published February of 2014.
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* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *



Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)

Contest ends: May 13, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, David Chuka and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Billy & The Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs @DavidChuka #kidlit

About the BookTitle: Billy and The Monster Who Ate All The Easter Eggs | Author: David Chuka | Publication Date: March 23, 2013 | Publisher: Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8

Summary: Join Billy and Monster in this third episode of the series titled Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Billy and Monster love all the holidays as they get to spend quality time together. However, their best holiday is Easter as they get to eat their favorite food...CHOCOLATE! This year, they're spending Easter with Grandma Chocalicious who loves Chocolate even more than Billy. She's an expert at making chocolate cake, chocolate waffles and even chocolate pasta. This year Grandma Chocalicious has made a pyramid of Easter eggs for her party on Easter Sunday. Billy and Monster want one of the Easter eggs but Grandma says they have to wait till Easter Sunday. What happens when Billy and Monster tip toe downstairs and the pyramid of Easter eggs comes falling down?

Get your copy of this funny book for kids of all ages that is not only full of laughs but also has a lesson weaved in that you'll love sharing with your loved ones.


Book Trailer
Purchase* Print copy includes FREE coloring book inside *Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle)
The Buzz"Experience is the best teacher as Billy and his "purple shadow" learn a sweet lesson in Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs. Beautifully illustrated, nicely formatted, this quick, easy story will be read over and over again." ~ 5 Star Review, Julia B., Amazon"My daughter has really been enjoying David Chuka's Billy and Monster books. This is another fun addition to the "family." As always, the story has a lovely moral (this time teaching the value of moderation - definitely the biggest word in the book)! It's based on the very realistic theme of overindulging in chocolate/sweets, which virtually anyone can relate to and which kids find a lot of fun. And, awesome pictures as always. Definitely recommend it." ~ 5 Star Review, Renee B., Amazon"I really like the little monster in this book and how they get into trouble together. What child hasn't snuck into the cache of candies that their parents have hidden? Cute story with a lesson for the little ones in your family!" ~ 5 Star Review, Patricia T., Amazon"This is a cute story about a little boy Billy and his funny friend Monster. They love chocolate so much that they forget about obeying to older. At night, they sneaked to the chocolate egg pyramid, started eating the chocolate eggs and made a big mess. On the morning, they not only got in a big trouble, but they also got a bad stomach pain. They both had to learn a lessons about MODERATION. Nice illustrations, book well written." ~ 5 Star Review, OPV, Amazon"Billy and his monster friend enjoy lots of fun in this book, filled with great pictures and a cute story. It shares a lot about celebrating holidays, and intertwines humor and family love throughout the story. Hidden in the story is a nice message about eating in moderation, a well needed lesson in our culture of over-eating. Billy ends up being proud of himself and makes good decisions by the end of the book, while all the while sharing some adventures with his cute monster friend. Great read to share with your children or grandchildren year round, not just for the Easter holiday." ~ 5 Star Review, Katie W., Amazon
About the Author: David Chuka David Chuka lives in London with his lovely wife and two adorable children. His family are usually the first people to hear his funny and quirky tales. He was inspired to write his first book, ' If You See a Doctor ' after he struggled to find a book for his daughter who was a beginner reader.He's gone on to write more books including the popular ' Billy and Monster ' series, a funny set of books about a little boy and his Monster who get into all sorts of funny situations and learn about moderation, friendship, self control, bravery etc. Young children can relate to Billy and you'll love sharing his adventures with your children, grandchildren and loved ones.

As a father himself, he has parents at heart when he writes. He recognizes that bedtime has to be one of the best parts of the day for parents and grandparents as it gives them the opportunity to bond with their little ones. He believes you'll enjoy sharing his stories with your loved ones at bedtime.

In David Chuka's books, you can stay rest assured that quality and captivating images will always complement the story to ensure your loved ones are spell-bound as you read to them. Beginner readers will also enjoy discovering new words as they read his books.

He has so many stories to tell and can't wait to share them with you and your loved ones.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | GoodreadsGoogle+ | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page
Want to win a copy of Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs?Enter for your chance to win 1 of 2 print copies of Billy and the Monster Who Ate All the Easter Eggs by David Chuka in a Goodreads giveaway (Open U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia; Ends April 17, 2014).


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The Bravest Squirrel Ever @goodreads #giveaway #chapterbook #animaladventure

The Bravest Squirrel Series will soon be available in print, as well as ebook. To celebrate, I'm giving away a PRINT copy of The Bravest Squirrel Ever.

Scared of thunder, lightning and being "flopped" by the humans, Pippi the squirrel wants to return to her mama's warm, cozy nest. Instead, she and her siblings stumble on a better nest...in forbidden human territory.

The attic nest is too perfect to resist, and soon she is drawn into a dangerous game of teasing the people. When their teasing goes too far and puts their lives in danger, she is forced to abandon the perfect nest.
However, she returns in order to rescue her brother. Instead, she becomes trapped inside. With little food and the humans plotting her demise, Pippi must depend on her wits to survive, proving to herself and the world just how brave a little squirrel can be.
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Goodreads Book Giveaway


The Bravest Squirrel Ever
by Sara Shafer

Giveaway ends May 05, 2014.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

It's Take Your Squirrel to School Day! #chapterbook #newrelease

Introducing the newest book in The Bravest Squirrel series!!! Pippi kicked off the series with The Bravest Squirrel Ever. Max was not to be outdone and showed just how brave he was in The Bravest Squirrel in the Forest. And now, at last, it's Lana's turn to shine!
The Bravest Squirrel in School
Lana has no interest in being brave like her brother and sister. However, she would like to be cuddled by a human, as long as another squirrel is nearby to keep her safe and rescue her.
But the plan goes horribly wrong. She ends up in a school bus full of children with no other squirrel to take care of her. Inside the school, she is discovered by a crowd of children who think she is a toy to poke and toss around.
With no one coming to rescue her, Lana needs to stand up for herself against the playground bullies and figure out a way to get back home. If she’s not brave enough to rescue herself, she’ll be stuck in school forever.

I'm The Bravest Squirrel Ever! #TeamPippi #TeamMax

Who's the bravest squirrel ever? Pippi or Max? Or dare I even suggest...Lana??? Let me know your favorite squirrel, and I'll send you some temporary tattoos so you too can be THE BRAVEST SQUIRREL EVER.

Squirrel vs. Coyote in The Bravest Squirrel in the Forest!

As I mentioned last week, not only have I revised The Bravest Squirrel Ever, but I've also revised and improved The Bravest Squirrel in the Forest.

Everyone thinks Max’s sister is braver than he is, and he’s sick of it. He’s determined to prove he is the bravest squirrel ever. He devises a plan for the humans to trap him, so he can rescue his Uncle Louie.
But things don’t go according to plan. First, he is forgotten in the cage. Then he is dumped out of a truck and abandoned in the forest with a hungry coyote hot on his trail.
Max has to give up being brave and beg others to help him. When he has the chance to save Uncle Louie or risk his life to save a friend, suddenly Max discovers just how brave he really is.

The Bravest Squirrel Ever...Now Better Than Ever!

Confession time: I've been neglecting this blog. But those days are over. Starting now!

While I've been on hiatus, my squirrels have been busy as ... beavers? Um, no. As busy as squirrels storing nuts for the winter!

Both The Bravest Squirrel Ever and The Bravest Squirrel in the Forest have been revised, so that the writing flows more smoothly and holds the reader's attention. In addition, print copies of both books will soon be available. But that's not all! Coming soon, Lana will get her own long-awaited story in The Bravest Squirrel in School.

Scared of thunder, lightning and being "flopped" by the humans, Pippi the squirrel wants to return to her mama's warm, cozy nest. Instead, she and her siblings stumble on a better nest...in forbidden human territory.
The attic nest is too perfect to resist, and soon she is drawn into a dangerous game of teasing the people. When their teasing goes too far and puts their lives in danger, she is forced to abandon the perfect nest.
However, she returns in order to rescue her brother. Instead, she becomes trapped inside. With little food and the humans plotting her demise, Pippi must depend on her wits to survive, proving to herself and the world just how brave a little squirrel can be.

Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop with Squirrels!

I am thrilled to celebrate and promote Children's Book Week by taking part in The Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop.

I am Sara Shafer. I've read to my children since they were infants. Books are a huge part of our lives and our connection to each other. As an author, nothing gives me a bigger thrill than having my little one jump up and down (on the bed, of course!) because she is so excited and rooting so badly for the little squirrel in the story I had written and am now reading to her.
Why squirrels? Well, that's kind of a funny story in itself. I'd never thought twice about the squirrels running around our yard until they decided to move in and make themselves at home in our attic. Then I couldn't stop thinking about them. When I knocked on the ceiling and they scratched back, I was hooked. I began imagining what they thought and felt, and The Bravest Squirrel Ever was born.
Pippi the squirrel isn't brave and has no interest in earning the title of "The Bravest Squirrel Ever." Scared of thunder, lightning and being "flopped" by the humans, Pippi only wants to return to Mama's warm, cozy nest. Instead, she stumbles on a better nest. There's only one problem. It's in dangerous, forbidden human territory. The attic nest is too perfect for Pippi to resist, and she moves in. The humans soon discover her. Instead of driving her out, they seal off her only exit, trapping her inside. To escape and to survive, Pippi must face her fears and depend on herself for the first time in her life. In doing so, she learns just how brave a little squirrel can be.

I'm happy to announce, my attic is currently squirrel-free. However... the squirrels outnumber the humans in my neighborhood and could decide to take over at any moment. I watch for signs of invasion as I plot my next story of squirrel bravery. For fun squirrel facts and information about The Bravest Squirrel in the Forest starring Pippi's brother Max, visit my website. 
To keep updated on future installments of The Bravest Squirrel series and on promotional discounts, follow this blog and like my Facebook page. To win a copy of The Bravest Squirrel Ever, please leave a comment with a your favorite squirrel memory. I'll pick one random winner from the comments. Make sure to include your email address and your preferred file type (Kindle, Nook or pdf) in your comments. Contest is open internationally.

Return to blog hop here

First Books and a Tribute to Bridget Zinn

My first book came out in September 2011, and I was so excited to share The Bravest Squirrel Ever with my family, friends, and--well--the world. That's why it makes me so sad that this author can't shout about her first book to the world. I'm proud to do my part to shout for her.
Poison by Bridget Zinn

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she's the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom's future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.
Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king's army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she's not alone. She's armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can't stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?
Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she's certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.
About Bridget Zinn
Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."
Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.
Links about Bridget

The Bravest Squirrel Series Update

Grace, Gaea's eight year old little sister, from Gaea: The Greek Goddess of the Planet Books reviewed The Bravest Squirrel Ever. Click here to read her awesome review and my interview. Thanks Grace and Gaea!

The Sara Shafer dot com website has a new look. Check it out, and let me know what you think!
www.SaraShafer.com