S. Smith's Blog, page 21

The Religion of No Religion: Where Diversity Falls Short

Recently, I noticed a conversation that had developed under a review of one of my books on its Amazon page. The initial commenter, after reading a long and thorough review of the book, left a comment saying they were sorry to hear there was a “Christian theme” in the book because he/she was an atheist and had wanted to recommend the book to another atheist based on their seeming disagreement on Roundup-Ready seeds.

A second commenter chimed in with their two cents, noting that the main theme of the book had to do with misuse of power and greed, and pointing out that many children do grow up in families with some sort of religious belief.

Next, the writer of the original review added a couple of comments, clarifying that the book did not really have a religious theme, but to her the children’s prayers and one or two Bible quotes in the story seemed “out of place.”

The second commenter then came back and reiterated that though the book wasn’t perfect, they enjoyed that it showed the children as thinking individuals.

I have no idea if the original commenter ever saw any of the other comments. I only noticed them yesterday, nearly a month after the discussion took place. I was tempted to weigh in on the subject, but most people agree that it’s bad form for an author to respond to comments in this way. However, I’m been contemplating a blog post on the subject of religion in books for a couple of years, and this time I may actually finish one and get it posted. We’ll see… I feel a little strange about showing the cards in my hand.

This is the way I see it: Treasure is about kids being empowered and making change.

This is the way I see it: Treasure is about kids being empowered and making change. Somewhat like the hobbit–smallest of all the fellowship–being the one to carry the ring. I wrote the story as a pantser, not a plotter, and the siblings turned out to be church-going kids, mainly I suppose, because this is where they first heard about the banned seeds: in a sermon about seeds (And symbolically, I suppose, using the church’s role as sanctuary). Also, because I’ve been around a lot of children, and they often have deep spiritual insights and questions. The elderly mentor uses the text in the Bible about food because it’s what she has in the oppressive world in which they live. The instruction is about horticulture, not Christianity.

The instruction is about horticulture, not Christianity.

The children pray because it is who they are and I didn’t feel right censoring it, although I did worry, given the divisive climate in this country, that some people would deem the book unfit for reading or for use in schools because of it. Which is sort of a sad irony based on all the other things found in books that could disturb children.

Trying to recall my internal debate on the issue, I believe a lot of it had to do with Harry Potter. When the first Harry Potter book came out, there was much hullabaloo in certain Christian circles that the books were full of witchcraft and bad for children. Many people dismissed the books without having read them. In Treasure, when the children say little prayers, I likened it to the spells in Harry Potter. When I included a Bible passage it was something poetic, like Shakespeare or the long songs and poems in Lord of the Rings. It was all from the Old Testament, so not exclusive to Christianity.

I guess I knew these elements might make some people dismiss the books, but I hoped that non-religious people would not do the same thing as the anti-Harry Potter camp and write the whole thing off. Sadly, there have been a few comments to that end.

Personally, my favorite books—Peace Like a River by Leif Enger and The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd—both have strong spiritual themes running through them. To leave out a spiritual dimension sometimes seems to me a gaping omission. My hope is that Seed Savers can be read and discussed by people with differing viewpoints, rather than avoided.

My hope is that Seed Savers can be read and discussed by people with differing viewpoints, rather than avoided.

If I were to chime in on the comments on Treasure’s page, I might make the simple suggestion that the atheist friend start with book 2, as the friend Lily has no religion. On the other hand, I’m not sure avoiding people who adhere to religion is a good option, considering they are our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family. I would much rather we learn acceptance rather than avoidance.

Can I get an amen on that? ;)

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!

Newbie Self-Publisher? There’s Help

Review of The Self-Publisher’s Ultimate Resource Guide

When I decided to publish my first book in 2012, I knew nothing about how to put a book together and get it out there. Luckily for me, I found thebookdesigner.com by Joel Friedlander. Through his website, Joel taught me almost everything I know about self-publishing.

I was happy to request a free copy of his new book The Self-Publisher’s Ultimate Resource Guide in exchange for an honest review.

The introduction to Ultimate Resource Guide states: “… for indie authors who don’t have access to these people, and often don’t even know who they are, trying to find top freelance professionals to help them write, produce and sell their book can be a nightmare. Our goal in The Self-Publisher’s Ultimate Resource Guide is to make this process easier for you.”  This book is what it says it is. It is pages of live links from everything to editors, illustrators, self-publishing blogs, places to list your ebooks, and more. If you’re looking for a good read, this isn’t the book for you. But there are links to what the authors determine are the best books on writing!

As I checked through the index, there only seemed to be one section missing, and maybe I missed it. It seems to me that since there are sections on consumer protection, news and views, awards and contests, there should also be a section on the business end of being a self-publisher. Help on setting up as a small business, keeping records, taxes, etc.I would also like to see a page of links to some of Joel’s most oft-views posts. Other things that could be in the book that I did not find: links to youtube “how to” videos and information on creating audio-books.

For what it is, I think The Self-Publishers Ultimate Resource Guide is a great resource, but I’m not sure I would pay $7.99 for it. The good news is that Ultimate Resource Guide is a living document and perhaps any omissions out of the gate will be taken care of in the future.

I definitely recommend this book for those who want a lot of information (in the form of links) right at their fingertips and who don’t mind the price. Find The Self-Publishers Ultimate Resource Guide here.

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!

10 Lesser-Known MG/YA First-in-Series FREE Books

Do you follow all the lists about which middle grade/YA books you, your kids, or your students should be reading? Are you tired of seeing the same well-known books on all the lists? Have you tried finding lists with lesser-known books? Here is a list of ten middle grade/YA books in a series with the first book free. Each book has over 20 reviews. The way I see it, you have nothing to lose. And maybe you will find a new series to enjoy.

Go ahead. Check it out:

1. Treasure (Seed Savers) – environment, adventure,  Big Brother government,  “Fahrenheit 451 meets Little House on the Prairie”

2. Aunt Jeanie’s Revenge (The Bex Carter Series) – friendship, making choices

3. Guardians Inc.: The Cypher (Guardians Incorporated Book 1) – secret societies, magic

4. The Thirteenth Unicorn (The Ben Alderman Series Book 1) – fantasy, adventure

5. Johnny B. Fast: The Super Spy 1 – adventure, gadgets

6. The Candle Star (Divided Decade Trilogy Book 1) – historical fiction, civil war era

7. Cycles (Cycles Series Book 1) – sci-fi, action, suspense

8. Blast of the Dragon’s Fury (Andy Smithson 1) – fantasy, medieval

9. Jayden & the Mysterious Mountain (The Sanctum Series) – action, spy, sci-fi

10. Okay, well, I was looking for something that wasn’t fantasy. Something contemporary, realistic … maybe you know just the book? Leave it in the comments below…

 

Free Christmas Short Story

Looking for a quick and cozy Christmas short story? Look no further! For three days, 28 Days–A Smoky Mountain Christmas is FREE on Kindle. Here is the blurb:

It’s Christmas holiday and Lily is stuck in a remote mountain village surrounded by people with unfamiliar cultural traditions.With school out for a month and no internet connection, at first she wonders how she will fill the time. Lily soon discovers there’s more to gift-giving than just the giving. Cut off from the outside world, she’s expected to hand make gifts for friends and family. Will there be enough time in just 28 days?

A sweet, multicultural Christmas story with a touch of young romance, 28 Days features Lily and Arturo from the Seed Savers series. Read more about them in Lily and Heirloom.

What are you waiting for? Go and get it…and Merry Christmas!

 

And Merry Christmas from our cat, Spice. :)

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

 

10 Ways to Thank Your Favorite Indie Author at Christmas or Any Time

1. Mention their name/book when someone asks “What are you reading?”

2. Add their book(s) to Goodreads groups and lists.

3. Buy and give their books as gifts to people on your Christmas list.

4. Request your local library get their books.

5. If children/youth books, tell your child’s teacher/librarian/PTA about the books.

6. Suggest the author/book for your book group.

7. Follow author on Twitter and retweet.

8. Like their author Facebook page and comment occasionally so author knows someone is out there.

9. Write an email to author.

10. Leave a review on Amazon or other site of your choice.

Seriously, these things mean a lot. Thanks for reading!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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!

Load Those Kindles for Christmas

If you missed the sales on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, don’t worry. Readers everywhere are invited to check out the deals offered on Read Tuesday.

What am I offering up for Read Tuesday?

My book Heirloom is on Kindle Countdown. Normally $3.99, it will be only 99 cents through Thursday, December 11.

Cover Design by Aileen Smith

Heirloom is book 3 in the Seed Savers series, but the first three books can be read in any order, so don’t let that stop you. Heirloom is set about sixty years in the future when the government controls all food production. Gardening is illegal, and fresh food is eaten only by the rich and powerful. An underground movement known as Seed Savers is working to save the pure seeds and teach people gardening skills.

Read more about each book in the series here.

Amazon also still has book 1, Treasure on sale for 99 cents. I don’t know how long it will remain marked down from its regular price of $3.99. (It would be a good time to nab all three.)

If you’re looking for Christmas stories for ‘tweens, may I suggest the BookElves Anthology? The short stories in the anthology are a great introduction to seven authors whose other books you might want to read once you’ve read their Christmas tales (including one from me). Available in paperback and digitally.

 

Well, what are you waiting for? Go, buy books. :) (And don’t forget to thank the authors by leaving reviews. It will make them happy.)

S. Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter. Sign up for the newsletter!

Order Your Author-Signed Book In Time For Christmas!

What child wouldn’t be excited to receive a book signed by the author?

There’s still time to order any of the Seed Savers books directly from me, with a personal inscription for you or your child. Treasure, book one of the series, is sure to delight book lovers ages 8 -12, or older readers who enjoy middle grade books. Lily and Heirloom are slightly older in writing style, and still appropriate for kids.

These books can be read in any order!

Read more about all three of the books here, or visit their Amazon pages to read more customer reviews.

To order an inscribed book, contact me directly with this form or email me at authorssmith at gmail dot com. Don’t delay if you are ordering for Christmas!

 

FREE FOR FIVE DAYS ONLY

 

Free is a great price! What do you get in Cat in Mouse?

First, you get four short stories–short as in just a few pages, not 20+ pages. The stories all feature characters from the Seed Savers series. You don’t need to have read the novels to understand the stories. In fact, this is a good way to see if you are interested in Seed Savers.

Next, you get about a dozen poems, written by middle school character, Clare. These are all different sorts of poems, such as haiku, pantoum, triolet, etc. The kind a student might be asked to write as part of the English curriculum.

Finally, Cat and Mouse includes instructions on how to save seeds and how to make tea from your garden–activities done by the characters in the Seed Savers books.

This is a nice little collection many people will enjoy and is especially great for teachers and homeschoolers.

Download your free copy today through December 1. 
S. Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter. Sign up for the newsletter. 

Christmas Short Stories for Kids

#MGBookElves

I’ve had the pleasure recently of working with several other authors who write for middle grade readers. For Christmas this year we have put together an anthology of short stories called the BookElves Anthology. This book is currently available on Amazon in paperback for less than $10–what a deal! It’s also available digitally for only 99 cents at all of these places:

Apple iBookstore
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Smashwords
B&N
Kobo

Seven stories, seven situations threatening the festivities. Will the holidays be a disaster? Will families be left out in the cold? Will there be tears before bedtime, or will there be happy endings all round? The MG BookElves group brings you its first anthology of tales to enjoy during the holiday season.

My contribution centers on Lily and Arturo in the secret mountain hideout where they ended up at the finish of Heirloom:

It’s Christmas holiday and Lily is stuck in a remote mountain village. With school out for a month and no internet connection, at first she wonders how she will fill the time. In this sweet romance, Lily discovers there’s more to gift-giving than just the giving. S. Smith (The Seed Savers series)
Reliable Clooney Dockins delivered his town’s mail on time for thirty-two years, until that strange and impossible Christmas Eve when he woke up late. M.G.King (Fizz & Peppers at the Bottom of the World, Librarian on the Roof)
Max the Tonkinese cat finds Santa Claus on the roof and is whisked away to retrieve a very special message from another time and place. Wendy Leighton-Porter (The Shadows from the Past series)
Shirley Link is an amateur sleuth who lives in a town that could use all the sleuths it can get! What is it about Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts that makes it such a hotspot for dastardly deeds? Even on Christmas Day? Ben Zackheim (Shirley Link Detective Series, The Camelot Kids)
Champ may be a rescue dog, but he’s the best person around to stop the dognappers and save heartbreak at Christmas. Fiona Ingram (The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, Champ: My Story of Survival)
When the railroad gets snowed under, the two bit town of Skunk Corners has to play host to a load of mighty difficult strangers. Can Big Al and the Ninja Librarian keep the season of goodwill from breaking into a riot? Rebecca M. Douglass (The Ninja Librarian, Halitor the Hero)
Far away on the west coast of a western Scottish island, Dylan and Dougall face yuletide in Castle Haunn with no heat, light or food. Can Dylan get the message through to the mainland for help, or is there something nasty waiting for him in the hills? Jemima Pett (The Princelings of the Eastseries)

The BookElves Anthology is also on GoodReads Giveaway. Sign up here to win a paperback.

MORE HOLIDAY SPECIALS TO COME! Don’t miss out. Sign up for the newsletter to make sure you hear about them.
S. Smith is the author of the awesome and award-winning middle grade series, Seed Savers. Visit her Facebook and Pinterest pages. Follow her on Twitter. Sign up for the newsletter. 

 

The Dedication Page (for Garrett)

authorssmith:

On your birthday…

Originally posted on Author S. Smith:

I don’t know if I can do it

but I promise I’ll try

And hope your mom forgives me

for making her cry.

Today is your birthday

but you are not here

So we’ll remember you fondly

with memories dear.

When you were a toddler

we never understood

What it meant, or why

the only thing you said was “noods.”

As you grew older

so did your sharp tongue

But we always loved you

though your words sometimes stung.

There are things I wish

I had said to you

But your prickly nature

made it hard to get through.

You were so smart

your smile so bright

When it wasn’t hidden

in your dark teenage night.

We miss you today

and we’ll miss you tomorrow

But we are grateful for God’s comfort

in our sorrow.

Someday we will see you —

there’ll be an end to the grief
Until then…

View original 28 more words