S. Smith's Blog, page 13
December 4, 2017
Calling all #Bookworms: Free Books
I’m very sorry I’m so late in getting this out on my blog, but like my 8th grade teacher used to say, “Better late than never…(better never late).” 
November 13, 2017
A Great Podcast for Authors
Today I’d like to introduce you to the Smart Author Podcast by Mark Coker of Smashwords. Smashwords is an ebook distributor. (If you are new to self or indie publishing, an ebook distributor means that when you upload your book to Smashwords, it also goes out to Nook, iBooks, Kobo, etc.)
The Smart Author Podcasts are great for both new and seasoned author/publishers. I began publishing in 2012 and was glad to find Smashwords back then. I’ve been with them ever since. Because the publishing industry is always changing, there’s always more to learn.
With podcasts on topics such as Best Practice Secrets of Bestselling Authors, Working with Beta Readers, and Marketing to Libraries, you can now listen to great advice and information while you commute or do household chores. Each podcast also includes a transcript and links so you don’t have to scribble down your own notes.
I particularly enjoyed the most recent episode on marketing to libraries. I publish both print and ebooks and hadn’t thought much about marketing ebooks to libraries. The episode was full of valuable information.
Please take a look at this great resource now and start listening today! You’ll be glad you did.
Have any favorite podcasts for authors you’d like to share? Leave in the comments below.
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S. Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
October 30, 2017
5 Great Gardening Fiction Books for Kids
There are many gardening books for kids, both fiction and nonfiction–particularly picture books. It’s harder to find books for the older grades. So with this short list, I’ve put together a few books that take you from toddler to the end of middle school. They are terrific resources for families and school garden programs. Feel free to add other fiction titles to the comment section. Enjoy!
Picture Books (preschool/kinder – grade 3)
[image error] The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
One boy’s quest for a greener world… one garden at a time.
While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it.
An enchanting tale with environmental themes and breathtaking illustrations that become more vibrant as the garden blooms.
[image error]Secrets of the Garden by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Alice’s family plants a vegetable garden each spring, and the budding naturalist reports all she sees. It’s the food chain, right in her own backyard!
Alice’s narrative is simple and engaging while science concepts are presented in more depth in sidebars.
Priscilla Lamont’s funny, friendly paintings make this a garden everyone will want to explore.
Early Readers
[image error]A Green Green Garden Mercer Meyer
Little Critter® and his family plant some vegetables. After lots of watering, weeding, and waiting, they enjoy a delicious meal—all from their green, green garden.
Grades 2 – 5
[image error]Show Me the Green by D. S. Venetta
It’s the First Annual Garden Contest sponsored by the local farmer’s market, and Lexi and Jason Williams are determined to win with their entry of organic vegetables.
In a battle against time and the elements, the kids are sidetracked by everything from caterpillars to worms, seeds to harvest. While testing each other’s patience, the siblings marvel at the wealth of discoveries hidden away in their garden. Including, poop. Worm poop, mostly. Who knew a garden could be so much fun?
Grades 5 – 8
[image error]Treasure (Seed Savers, 1) by S. Smith
In a future where growing your own food is against the law, three young friends risk their safety by studying the illegal subject of gardening.
The children’s mentor entices the children with her description of the food she knew as a child–food unlike the square, processed, packaged food they have always known.
Constantly watching, however, is GRIM, the government agency that controls the nation’s food and keeps in check all potential troublemakers.Will the children succeed in their quest to learn about gardening, and find a place of food freedom? And can they, only children, help change the world?
October 16, 2017
#YA Treats, No Tricks
As we approach the holiday season, there are bound to be numerous giveaways and promotions in time for gift giving and to ease the winter doldrums.
Right now I’m participating in one such giveaway featuring YA novels. Because the first book in my series is more middle grade, I’m giving away Heirloom, book three in the series.
Is it okay to read the series out of order? Yes! In fact, I wrote a whole post on it here.
If you’ve already read the Seed Savers series (If not, what are you waiting for?), there are a dozen other books to choose from. Check them out here.
Each book has a rating to make sure its all treats and not tricks. Enjoy and share!
S. Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
October 2, 2017
Guest Post: The Three Ps of Camping: Planning, Preparation and Problem Solving
When I first started this blog five and a half years ago, I frequently posted about camping. More recently, I’ve narrowed my focus to gardening and books, with the occasional rambling or rant.
However, today I’m featuring a guest post by Jamie Strand about readiness for camping. If you’ve never camped before and aren’t sure where to start, be sure and save this article! The characters in my Seed Savers series certainly had to be prepared on their many adventures.
September 18, 2017
Free Ebooks & A Paperback Giveaway
I’m a little late in announcing this, but there are still a few days left to grab some free ebooks in the September Ebook Extravaganza. There are fifty books of all genres to choose from and a $50 gift card to sign up for to win!
My book, Treasure, first in the Seed Savers series, is among the books you can download for free. This giveaway ends Wednesday.
If you’re like me, you might prefer a paperback book. Paperback giveaways are harder to come by. For the Love of A Good Book paperback giveaway is a contest where you can sign up to win a box of FIVE PAPERBACK books! This giveaway ends on Thursday. Here is an explanation of how to sign up for the books you want, since these books are also of multiple genres:
There are several “lots” consisting of 5-7 paperbacks to choose from. Click on this link first. You will see three more links. The first one will take you to a site to browse all of the books–but to see the books and not just the authors–you must go to the upper right-hand corner of the page to the pull-down menu “Indie Paperback Giveaway.”
Back on the original page, the other two links will show you 1)each “lot”of books 2)the sign-up form to list your preference of books. It’s a little confusing, but well worth it if you win the box of books.
Last, but not least, the second book in my Seed Savers series, Lily, is on sale for 99 cents until the end of September (ebook). Lily is available here:
Amazon, Smashwords, Nook, Kobo, iBooks
Take advantage of the savings, try some new authors, and I hope you are having a great fall as the changing of the seasons is upon us.
S. Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
September 11, 2017
Watching My Garden Grow #4
Now that it’s September, it’s time for the last video of my backyard garden…that overgrown, tangled mess of a fall garden. Time to see what worked and what failed. In case you want to compare, here is the initial post from June.
Also, as I’ve been saying, we got a late beginning this year because of so much winter and spring rain. Which was followed by a very hot, very dry summer. We’ve also had days and days of smoke-filled skies from forest fires, not to mention a total eclipse of the sun. So it hasn’t exactly been a typical garden year.
That being said, some things remain the same. The hope as the seeds go in, and the harvest before the cold and dark of winter.
Anyone want to share about their garden? Perhaps it is spring where you live, and you are at the hopeful, expectant stage.
August 28, 2017
#BacktoSchool with the Seed Savers Series
All good things must come to an end, and so the summer of 2017 is winding down. It’s been a doozy, what with the solar eclipse and all.
But no need to be sad! Thousands of kids around the country are excitedly counting down the number of days to return to their classrooms and school friends (and in many places are already back!)
If you are a teacher, librarian, or parent, you understand the value of a good book. With so many distractions these days, kids might forget the comfort or excitement of a book that resonates with them.
Let me introduce the Seed Savers series–maybe someone you know is looking for a series like this one. Seed Savers is set in a future where gardening is illegal and real food is unknown. Three young friends must decide what to do when they discover the truth about the “old ways” of food. Out to stop them is GRIM, the government agency controlling the nation’s food.
Who might enjoy this series?
fans of Among the Hidden, The Giver, and other futuristic “What if” stories
adults & kids who like children’s books such as Little House on The Prairie and Anne of Green Gables. The main characters in Seed Savers start at age twelve.
children who like adventure, but not violence
teens and ‘tweens who like romance, but just a hint
people who prefer not to read profanity
gardening class teachers and students
homeschoolers
folks who grew up on farms
folks who wish they had grown up on farms
More about the Seed Savers series
Five books in the series: Treasure, Lily, Heirloom, Keeper, Unbroken (Unbroken still to be released)
each book is available in paperback and ebook
Treasure has an audiobook, great for reading along with in class!! Read an interview with the narrator here.
Available to order through the regular online sources. For schools and bookstores, available through Ingram ISBN 9781943345038. You may also email authorssmith@gmail.com to buy directly.
lexile for Treasure is 660
visit my website and Amazon author page for more info on each book
Back-to-School Savings
Try book one, Treasure for free here with other YA fiction for a limited time. (You can also win a $50 prize!)
Book 2, Lily, is also on sale for only 99 cents through the end of September!
Testimonials
“Smith’s Seed Savers books are great reads for young people on many levels. The action is packed with secret acts of civil disobedience, escape from evil GRIM thugs and independent cross-country treks. Plus, teens will both recognize and learn about issues surrounding food sources. Seed Saver books have something for everyone: diverse characters, themes of empowerment, revolution, and even a little romance.” —Joyce Yoder, Middle School Principal
“My 10 yr old daughter says this series is the best she has ever read. She hopes volume 5 will be out soon. She said when she was finished reading this last book she felt like throwing a fit because she couldn’t read another in the series. My daughter is an avid reader and has never thrown a fit or said she had ever wanted to until she finished this book. Hope there are more to come in this series.” —Recent Verified Purchase Review on Amazon
“This is a great book for kids. I love how it brings back the importance of eating healthy fresh food, and does it in an entertaining way. I love to garden and am trying to pass the love on to my kids. I will definitely be recommending this book to them. I look forward to the next book. I wasn’t ready for the book to end when it did.” –From Julie on the Audible edition of Treasure
Does it sound like you or someone you know might enjoy Seed Savers? Give it a try! Pass on the information! And feel free to leave a comment below.
S. Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
August 21, 2017
Now Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Life
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It was, actually, very cool.
Today was the big day, August 21, total eclipse of the sun traveling across the U.S.A. My hometown, Salem, Oregon, one of the first in the path of “totality.”
Dire predictions were made about millions of people descending upon us, traffic jams, gas shortages, etc. Nah. Not bad.
But those two minutes ( 1 minute and 57.6 seconds) when we could whip off our 99-cent eclipse shades and look directly at the moon covering the sun…worth it. Totally.
My husband and I did not go to a viewing party at Willamette University or the state fairgrounds or the baseball auditorium. We went out to the farm and sat between a filbert orchard and a berry field, joined by family from out-of-state.
When the moment arrived, we whooped and hollered and said how cool it was and that we wanted to see the next one in Argentina. And then those needing to return to Seattle hit the road immediately. Hubby and I lingered at the farm with my parents and other family members.
The time leading up to totality was nice, too. How it got still, quiet. The way the light changed and the temperature dropped. The chickens up at the house going back under cover. (See slides below.)
Now I’m home, thinking it’s time to get back to ordinary life again after a few days with visiting family, preceded by a few days of cleaning in preparation for the guests. Sigh.
Back to canning peaches. Back to finishing the novel. Back to conferring about new covers for the books, paying bills, watering the garden.
Back to my regularly scheduled life.
Click to view slideshow.
Were you in the path of totality? Have you ever experienced a total eclipse of the sun?
Leave your comments below :).
S. Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade/YA series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter . Sign up for the newsletter!
August 5, 2017
Watching My Garden Grow, Parts 2 & 3
So back in June I posted a video of my garden. It rained a long time here (seems long ago now) in the spring, so everything was late getting in. And traditionalist that I am, I grow everything from seed myself rather than bringing in starts (okay, maybe I’m just cheap), anyway, so this year everything is late.
July was a busy month for me, what with a week in Portland at the Master Gardener Convention and the Horticulture Society’s Children & Youth Garden Symposium. Then I had a week to get the house in order for the arrival of my daughter and boyfriend from out of state and to plan for my community center half-day camp (I’m the coordinator.) Then of course, there was the actual week of camp, simultaneous with the visit. Phew!
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My lovely daughter & boyfriend sampling Marionberries.
During that time, I ran out and videotaped a July version of the garden, only to never post it. So this morning I taped it again, and am posting both.
Gardens amaze me. In the beginning, everything seems amply spaced (see June video), only to later grow into one big gnarly heap! Anyhow, I can’t seem to stop planting the darn things, even if they make it harder to leave and go camping during the heatwaves (which we’ve been having).
Here is my video of July 25, almost exactly a month after the Gonna Watch My Garden Grow post:
And, voila, almost like two posts in one, my video from this morning, August 5:
(I just watched these two, and the beginnings are similar, but I do show some of my container plants at the end of this second one. And I apologize that the videos are sort of hard to hear.)
What kind of garden do you grow? Comments always welcome in the section below.
