Lisa Orchard's Blog, page 3

February 14, 2013

Valentine Day Ramblings

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s that day when you do something special for the one you love.

As I write this post, I think back on all the Valentine’s Days in my past. I remember in High School we used to buy roses from the student council and give them to that special someone. It was something we looked forward to on a cold, snowy day.

Now, I enjoy getting a card from my hubby and I enjoy giving him one. But the real joy I feel is when I go to my kids’ Valentine’s parties. They are so excited! And I remember the feeling I got when I was a youngster and I would go to my school party. Beforehand, I carefully selected the perfect Valentine for each friend and signed my name on the back. I carried them to school with an air of anticipation, excited to give as well as receive.

As I think about all of this, memories of my childhood parade through my brain. I remember playing kick the can with the neighborhood kids until it was too dark to see. I grew up in a small town and there was no fear of abductions or strangers walking in the dark. Everyone knew everyone else.

I smile as I think about where my “kick the can” friends are now. Some still live in the same small town and others have scattered to the four corners of the Earth. I wonder what they're doing now. And I hope their lives are everything they hoped they would be.

As I dwell on these thoughts, I wish for those simpler times when we didn’t have to lock our doors at night. Now, I won’t let my kids run around the neighborhood in the dark without me or my hubby being there.

I loved growing up in a small town until my teens when I found the familiarity all too oppressive. Everyone knew everyone else’s business. I felt suffocated and had the itch to leave. I did leave and moved to a bigger city and I’m glad I did. I’ve experienced more things and accomplished more things than I would have if I had stayed.

I look at my kids and I hope that I’m creating happy memories for them. I want them to look back on their lives with joy and contentment. I know they’ll have struggles like we all do, but I hope they’re few and far between. :) I hope they have a lot of good “kick the can” memories like I do.

Who would’ve thought that Valentine’s Day would’ve sparked a trip down memory lane? Thanks for stopping by and if you’d like to share some of your own “kick the can” moments, feel free to do so! I’d love to hear from you!
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February 2, 2013

Astraea Press is Celebrating their Anniversary!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! Astraea Press is celebrating their two year anniversay! And guess what? They're giving away two free books everyday for the whole month of February!


Isn't that awesome?

So, to get your free books click this link and follow the directions on the blog!

http://astraeapress.blogspot.com/

My book "The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer" is free today! So hop on over and get yourself a copy!

The second book in the series, "The Super Spies and the High School Bomber" will be free tomorrow! So stop on by and check it out!
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Published on February 02, 2013 17:25 Tags: anniversary, astraea-press, free-books, free-e-books, giveaways, lisa-orchard, super-spies

January 18, 2013

Volunteering--another solution to Teen Angst

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you today! I am refreshed after all the holiday festivities and I hope you are too.

I’m back today and I’d like to just touch on some of the teen issues that I’ve discussed in the past, for example, bullying behavior, teen depression, and teen pregnancy. What I’d like to touch on is a possible solution to these problems.

All of these behaviors are a result of pressures that the young adults feel during these tumultuous years. These years are filled with new challenges and new emotions and this is the first time teens are testing their boundaries. These are exciting and frightening times for them.

So, it’s not surprising that they make some incorrect choices. :) In the past, I’ve said that parental involvement and keeping kids active in sports are ways to combat some of these negative choices. I still believe that parental involvement is very important in developing positive behaviors, but what about the kids who aren’t interested in sports? Some kids just don’t have any inclination in that direction.

Well, I’ve thought about this and I’ve discovered a solution. :) You knew I had one didn’t you? What about volunteering? That’s right. I came across a wonderful organization that encourages teens to volunteer and I’m very impressed by it.

In fact, I’m working with them on a project and I’m very excited about it!

But, there will be a whole blog post about that as soon as we get all the details ironed out. :) So stay tuned for that. :) The organization is called VOLUNTEENATION and here’s the link to their website. Check it out! http://www.volunteennation.org/ .

This is a national organization which means they have volunteer opportunities all throughout the United States.

I’m sure you all have heard one of the best ways to combat depression is by helping others…I believe this applies to teenagers as well and that’s what volunteering is all about.

What I love about this organization is that teens are working with other teens in a positive situation. They aren’t at home closed off in their rooms brooding about their problems. Volunteering takes their focus off of their problems and gets them moving in a positive direction. In my opinion, this might lead to more fulfilling friendships because teens are working together toward a common goal.

Another positive effect this type of organization has is that there are certainly instances where teens can utilize/learn leadership skills as well as team building skills. :) Skills that are necessary for the working environment.

Maybe if we got our kids involved in volunteering we’d have fewer disasters like Columbine and Newtown. Something to think about my friends.

Check out Volunteenation’s blog. Here’s a post about how teens can support the Newtown victims. http://www.volunteennation.org/blog/c...

I can’t say enough about this organization; it’s getting teens headed in the right direction.
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Published on January 18, 2013 13:04 Tags: astraea-press, lisa-orchard, super-spies, teen-angst, teens, volunteering

January 1, 2013

To start off the New Year "The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer is only $.99!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! It is finally the New Year! I'm excited for this year because I've got so many ideas that I hatched in 2012 that are taking shape in 2013. I hope 2013 is your best year yet! And I hope it's the best year yet for me too! :)

To start off the New Year I have priced "The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer" at $.99! :) So, if you're planning on getting a copy...now's the time to do it!


The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer by Lisa Orchard


Here are a few Amazon Reviews that rave about the story!

5 Star Amazon Review:

This book was a great suspense novel, but also very funny and touching in parts. I am an adult, and I would have loved having books like this around when I was a young adult. I am ready to read the second book by this gifted author, and I can't wait to share this book with young readers!


5 Star Amazon Review:

Finished this book in one day! Amazing! Great job keeping the story going and developing the characters. Will definately order the next book in the series!


5 Star Amazon Review:

WOW! I am so glad I read this book! Lisa does a great job making the characters relate-able to people of all ages! Jackie and Sarah are fun, but believable teenagers!!! It is so hard to find good books for kids that have real life dialogue that the whole family can read. Books that have good characters and enough plot to allow for conversation afterward. I loved that I could have my family read this book and it started some very interesting conversations about "what would you do".
I love giving books as gifts and with this book, I know that it is well written and fun, I don't have to worry that parents will be offended by the content.


So there you have it! A great first book in the Super Spies series! And you don't have to just take my word for it. :) Check it out for yourself! :) And remember it's only $.99! :)

This is a great time to get this book for your tween/teen who got an e-reader for Christmas. :)

Here's the Amazon Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-Lad...

It should be up on Barnes and Noble soon! Those changes take a little longer.
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December 27, 2012

My New Year Resolutions

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you and that you all had a very Merry Christmas. I know I did. I love to see my kids so excited about Santa and Christmas, they are at a fun age and I hope this period lasts for a little while longer. Soon they’ll learn who Santa really is and some of the magic of this holiday will be lost. But hopefully not for a little while yet. :)

As the year winds down and I get ready for the New Year, I’m filled with excitement! I’ve got quite a few projects I’m working on and I’m hoping these projects develop and grow in the direction I’m planning. :)
It’s exciting to start something from scratch and watch it take on a life of its own.

When I think of this New Year, questions come to mind. What do I want to accomplish this year? What kind of changes do I want to make as a parent? How do I want to grow in my writing?

Pondering these questions, I’ve come up with some New Year resolutions and their listed below.

1) I want to experience as much joy as possible. :)

I know everyone probably has this on their list, but the question is…how do you do that? Well…I’ve come up with a plan and I think it will work quite well for me. I’m going to practice letting things go. When something bothers me…I’m going to deal with it…make my peace with it and then let it go. By doing this I’m going to free up time to experience the things that I enjoy. :) It really is this simple…but I know it’s hard to do. This means I’ll have more time to do the things I love, like spending quality time with my family, writing, and hiking in the woods. :)


2) My next resolution is to continue improving my craft and get as many books out as I can! :)

3) I’m going to continue building a positive relationship with my kids and provide them all the tools they’ll need for a happy life. (I’m sure every parent is saying this) :)

4) I’m going to work on maintaining my health by eating right and exercising. :) This might mean I’ll have to cut back on the chocolate…a little…but only a little! :)



So there you have it, my resolutions for the New Year. :) I’m looking forward to 2013! How about you? What resolutions do you have? Take a moment and jot them down! I’d love to hear them!
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December 11, 2012

It's a Holiday Indie Giveaway!!

Hello Everyone I hope all is well with you! I've gotten together with some amazing authors and we've decided to celebrate Christmas by doing a Holiday Giveaway! What are the prizes you ask? Well...three lucky winners will receive a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card...and...one copy of each of our e-books.

Cool wouldn't you say?

So if you want to check out the books and enter for your chance to win click the link below:


http://lisaorchard.wordpress.com/2012...

All the books and rules on how to enter are there!

Here are the covers! Check it out! You could win!

The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer by Lisa Orchard


The Super Spies and the High School Bomber (Super Spies #2) by Lisa Orchard


Ocean of Dust by Graeme Ing



Givin' Up The Ghost (Indigo Eady Paranormal Mystery #1) by Gwen Gardner


NEVERLOVE (Shadow Jumpers, #1) by Angela Brown
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November 19, 2012

It's a Thanksgiving Blog Hop!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you today! Some of my esteemed colleagues and I are participating in a Thanksgiving Blog hop! There are prizes galore so stop on over at my blog, here's the link: http://lisaorchard.wordpress.com/2012...

You could win an autographed paperback of "The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer"! And that's not all! There are other prizes too! So click the link above and check it out! You'll be glad you did! :)
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November 18, 2012

A Yummy New Dessert for the Holidays! It has chocolate! :)

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I've got a new dessert that is a family favorite for the holidays. I thought I'd share it with you! :) So, check it out and let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from you!



LORNA DOONE DESSERT

1 package Lorna Doone Cookies (or any shortbread cookies will do)
Add melted butter to cookies (approximately ¼ to ½ cup)
1 7 oz package of chocolate chips
2 Tablespoons of Sugar
2 ½ Tablespoons of water
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 egg whites

Crush the Lorna Doone cookies and add melted butter to the crust. Put crust in 10” baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until crust starts to brown. Remove from heat and cool.

Combine chocolate chips, sugar, and water in double boiler until blended. Remove from heat and add egg yolks, beat after each one. Add vanilla and chill slightly. (I usually stick it in the refrigerator until the pan feels cool approximately 10 to 15 minutes.)

Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into chocolate mixture. Spread over cookie crust and top with whip cream.

I usually double this and put it in a 9x13 dish.
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November 11, 2012

I'm going to be on a Radio Show! Whoo Hoo!

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I just wanted to let everyone know that I’m going to be on the radio tomorrow at 5:00 PM EST! I’m really excited about this! You can call in and ask me any question you want! Here’s the link! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/webbweav...




I’ll be talking about “The Super Spies” series!

So call in and chat with me! I'd love to hear from you! Below is the cover of the first book in the series!

The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer by Lisa Orchard



The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer Lisa Orchard
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Published on November 11, 2012 08:12 Tags: astraea-press, detectives, espionage, lisa-orchard, promotion, radio-show, super-spies

November 2, 2012

Cheating an Epidemic in our Schools

Hello Everyone! I hope all is well with you! I’m back after a two week Halloween Party. It was a blast! And I want to take just a minute and thank all the wonderful authors and contestants who participated in our event. I hope you had a great time and we’ll try and brew up some new and exciting events in the months to come. So stay tuned!

The topic that I want to discuss today is cheating. I posted this on my blog yesterday and I thought I should share it will all of you today. :)

From my research, I’m finding that cheating is a way of life in our schools today. At first, I was surprised by this but then I looked back on my own high school days, and realized that cheating was prevalent back then too.

Back in my day, (not so long ago, wink) I remember a certain football player who wanted to copy my answers on a test in health class. The teacher had left the room and there was a debate between all the students. Half of them wanted me to let him copy my answers and the other half didn’t. What a dilemma I was in, because I liked him and considered him a friend, but I didn’t want to get caught cheating.

Luckily, the teacher returned, and the class settled down. I didn’t have to make that decision. But what about kids who do? From what I’ve learned, it’s becoming easier and easier to cheat. It’s almost the norm nowadays. There is tremendous pressure on teens to get good grades and many are taking the quickest route to success.

And it’s hard for parents to caution against the perils of cheating when kids get away with it and are rewarded with good grades. And isn’t that the goal? Good grades?

What makes the process even more difficult is that these students see adults cheating as well. In fact, what do you do when your own school does it? In this article, http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/07/06/i...

Authorities found that educators in Atlanta were changing test answers on students’ tests in order to get a better score. Officials suspect this is a widespread problem brought on by the initiative “No child left behind” where teachers can suffer salary cuts and lose their job if their class doesn’t meet the requirements specified by this initiative.

So what’s the answer to the cheating epidemic that seems to be a problem not only among students but teachers as well?
In my opinion, the problem is that we’ve become a results oriented society. Our society is sending this message and our kids are smart…they’re picking it up loud and clear, and that message is…we don’t care how you get the best score…it only matters that you get it.

How very sad. We’re not doing our children any favors by sending this message. We need to shift that focus from results to the learning process. That’s right. :) We need our kids to be graded on how much they’ve learned or improved and let’s make learning fun again! I mean when they were babies those kids were curious they wanted to learn. Now, that curiosity has been snuffed out because society says you’ve got to learn these specific things and you’ve got to achieve this result. I don’t know about you, but for me that takes all the fun out of it!

I know what you’re thinking, how in the world are we going to do that? That is a good question and I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve got some ideas. :) In my opinion, as parents we need to focus on the strengths of each of our children. And we need to work in conjunction with educators in developing those strengths. I believe that our kids will grow up with healthier self-esteem and more confidence because they were able to develop these strengths.

There’s a great book available written by Jenifer Fox, M. Ed., titled “Your Child’s Strengths” and it’s a great resource for parents and teachers. We need to start there and create an educational environment that allows each child to develop their strengths. By doing this, we’ll eliminate the cheating problem we have in our schools today.
You can find the book in many book stores or on Amazon. Here’s the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Childs-Str...

I know what you’re thinking…that’s going to be hard to do. You’re right it is…we’d have to revamp the whole educational system…but aren’t our kids worth it?

I’d love to hear any other ideas or thoughts on the topic.  Feel free to leave a comment and thanks for stopping by!
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Published on November 02, 2012 06:16 Tags: cheating, detective, espionage, lisa-orchard, middle-grade, parenting, reading, series, super-spies, teaching, young-adult