Angela C. Castillo's Blog, page 3

Beyond Momo. Public Content and the Threat to Our Kids.

Photo courtesy of Hal Gatewood, UnsplashThis blog is normally about my journey as a writer, but today I'm writing as a mom and a concerned parent.
As many parents, I allow my children to watch content on Youtube, on our family television in the living room and while I'm watching. However, there have been times I slipped out of the room to fold laundry or-gasp- actually brush my hair. A few months ago, my children were watching a video they'd seen several times, or at least, it SEEMED like the same video. It had the same title, and the content that began was the same, a funny little song by a very innocent kid's band called Parry Grip. I was right in the next room, cooking supper, and could hear snatches of the song playing. My seven-year-old daughter came running into the room, her eyes wide. "Mommy, there was a scary man in the video! He was laughing in a scary way!"I ran into the room, but whatever my daughter had seen was already gone. My sons confirmed her story, that the main character from a very scary video game, Five Nights at Freddy's had appeared. Apparently, the image had only lasted a few seconds. Despite the short time, my daughter had nightmares for several days. As often happens in parenting, I told my children to make sure the videos were always from the official channel and forgot about the entire thing. 
The Momo Challenge
A few days ago, my Facebook page was suddenly inundated with warnings about Momo, a creepypasta character that may or may not have been responsible for several children committing suicide or self-harm. I'm not going to post a picture of the frightening image here, but trust me, it's scary. The story was that videos of this character had been appearing in the middle of innocent children's Youtube videos, encouraging them to do dangerous things. This had been dubbed the "Momo Challenge." For more information you can go to this link, but please note it's very disturbing. https://educateempowerkids.org/5461-2/Though many people are arguing Momo has been around for months, and indeed she has, and that the story has become more of an urban legend, which I believe is possible, it caused me to dig into the dangers of Youtube, especially the feature that causes videos to 'autoplay' in an endless chain. And what I found was extraordinarily disturbing. 
The Dangers of Elsagate.One night my two-year-old was watching a favorite kid's music video, the annoying but harmless 'Baby Shark.' As many parents know, Baby Shark is a Youtube viral video that has now been made into hundreds of versions, including Christmas Baby Shark and Paper Puppets Baby Shark.As my son was watching a chain of these songs, I was reading a book. Suddenly, something about the tone of the songs changed, and I looked up. The song was the same, but instead of sharks, Spider Man, Elsa, and the Hulk were swimming around in their place. It was cheap and crude animation, and rather silly, but for some reason, I felt very uneasy and disturbed. I turned the TV off. I've spoken to other parents in the last few days and done some research, and my findings are EXTREMELY disturbing. Jamie Foley, a mother of a 4 year-old, told me, "My 4-year-old daughter loves Frozen, so videos of Elsa and Anna came up frequently in her YouTube autoplay. It was surprising, though, to walk into the living room and frequently see Spider-Man in a romance with Elsa. The more I watched with her, the stranger things came up, like doctor visits that didn't sit right and videos involving bodily functions I didn't think appropriate for the very young children they appeared to be targeting. It was just weird... We quit YouTube Kids, but my daughter is quite happy with Netflix and the custom YouTube playlists we made with classic cartoons." Other parents have reported cheaply made animation and live videos, with other well-known children's characters doing very crass, violent and inappropriate things. If you want to know more, you can check out Reddit's Elsa Gate page here. WARNING: Very disturbing and graphic.. https://www.reddit.com/r/ElsaGate/comments/6o6baf/what_is_elsagate/Many of these videos have also been found on Youtube Kids. They are often titled as 'Educational,' but trust me, you don't want your child receiving that kind of education. And there are THOUSANDS of these videos, looped into popular algorithms, and they are receiving millions of views.  Youtube says they remove these videos as soon as they are flagged, but the problem is they're being uploaded again, hundreds every hour. 
So what can we do, as parents?
1. Educate ourselves. Though this has been going on for years, I just found out about it two days ago, and I consider myself to be pretty well-informed and internet savvy. 
2. Restrict screens. Even if your child is watching Youtube on a phone or tablet right in front of you, it's hard to know if a spliced video with a hidden message is playing. A few seconds is all it takes for an image to pop up that can't be unseen.
3. Don't let your kids have unsupervised screen time. I barely scratched the surface on this stuff, and trust me, it's sickening and disgusting. It's beyond 'Toilet humor' and slapstick comedy. It's depraved. 
4. Educate your kids. Make sure they know not to watch videos on other kid's phones. Make sure they know that if scary people come on TV and tell them things to come and let you know right away. 
Social content and media should be a helpful, educational thing. Not a terrible danger. We have the power to control what it can and cannot do. As parents, it's up to us to be watchful and protect our kids. 

Two New Kid's Book Covers! Free Book and Book up for Pre-order!

Hello, everyone! I've taken a bit of time from my writing for grown-ups to focus on books for my (and everyone else's) kids! The first project I've had is for one of my first published books, The Amazing Adventures of Toby the Trilby. I commissioned an artist named Artilili from Venezuela to create a cover for me, and I'm so excited to show it to you!


I've given the story a bit of a polish as well, without changing anything important about the story. The best thing? It's FREE on Kindle! (You can find it HERE) There are two other books in the series as well if you enjoy this one.

Aaaaand for your book-loving children who love stories about royalty and castles, the second book in my Three Royal Children series will be released on March 1st! You can pre-order it today for a special price! (Check it out HERE). 
So that ought to keep the kidlets happy for a few days, right? HOWEVER . . . I have a super exciting announcement coming up involving . . . 
PICTURE BOOKS! 
Stay tuned!

Win a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card and a Child's Library!

Win a $50.00 Amazon gift card and five beautiful picture books for a child's library. 
To enter, go HERE. 
Good luck! Please share!

Covered Wagon Journeys and the Books About Them

When I was a little girl, my parents chose not to have a TV in our home until I was ten years old. Even after we purchased a TV, my mom would read aloud to our family at night. One of my favorite books she read was a story called Tree Wagon by Evelyn Sibley Lampman. (Amazon link HERE.) Though the book was for children, it was an unforgettable (at least for me, anyway) adventure about a covered wagon train on the Oregon trail.

Ever since then, the westward migration of settlers to the early west has always fascinated me. According to History.com, the first wagon trains began the grueling journey around 1841, and over 180,000 people attempted the journey over the next 28 years, until the first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.One out of every ten people who attempted the trip would die trying.

I've decided my next series will be a historical saga, based on the Oregon trail. As any writer knows, a historical series takes TONS of research. So I wanted to share some of the books I've been reading to make my new series come to life.

Days on the Road  by Sarah Raymond Herndon (Amazon link HERE.)
So far, this book has been my favorite. It's an actual diary of a 23-year-old woman who faithfully recorded every day on the trail. The details of life and survival are amazing, and though it was a personal diary, the author has a gift of writing that leaves you hanging on to every word and flipping the pages to see what happens next.

Covered Wagon Women by Kenneth L. Holmes (editor) (Amazon link HERE.)
An unpublished selection of letters by women who traveled the Oregon trail, including a fascinating handful of letters by Virginia Reed, a member of the fated Donnor party. This is the first of a several-volume series.
Written by women of all ages and stations in life. You can feel the sorrow, joys and agonies of these women, and join in the triumph of those who actually made it into 'the promised lands' of Oregon and California.

The Best Land Under Heaven, The Donnor Party and the Age of Manefest Destiny by Michael Wallis. (Amazon link HERE.)
An account of the tragic Donnor Party story. I found this book to be rather tedious at times, but it has a wealth of information about westward migration and the mindset of people who set out on this harrowing journey.


So that's what I've covered so far . . . with lots more to go! I'd love recommendations if any of you have read a good book about westward migration in the United States. Please comment with the links! 
Oh, and look for the first book in my covered wagon series sometime in summer 2019!

A Book, Giveaway and Contest . . . All for Kids!

NEW BOOK
I am VERY excited to announce my newest book is in my favorite genre ever . . . after four years I'm releasing a kid's book! It's called The Three Children and the Batty Aunt.
You can order it in paperback right now (FREE shipping with Prime), or pre-order it on Kindle for a special price (the Kindle book will be released November 10th). Order copies HERE.  Aimed at ages 6-12, but anyone who is young at heart will enjoy it!


GIVEAWAYIf you have kids who LOVE activity sheets like mazes and word finds, you can head over HERE to sign up for my kid's newsletter for free printable The Three Royal Children and the Batty Aunt activity pages! 


Aaaand last but not least, get a jump-start on your Christmas shopping if you win this contest! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal! "Inn Dependence," Miss Main Street Book 3!

I am excited to reveal the cover for Inn Dependence, which is Book 3 in my Miss Main Street series. The cover was designed by the oh-so-talented artist Elaina Lee of For the Muse Designs. http://www.forthemusedesign.com/about.html





For two years, Sammi Morretti has cared for her home-bound grandfather. Now he's gone, and she's left with no place to go. Then a mysterious aunt invites her to work at a tiny bed and breakfast in the town of Wimber. Can the Main Street women and a kind youth pastor with a dangerous history pull Sammi out of the darkness she's lived in for so long?

This book is near and dear to my heart, because it touches on the subject of anxiety, which I have dealt with to a small extent. I also have many friends and family members who live with anxiety on a daily basis. I believe with God's help we can be free from the clutches of worry and fear.

I'm super excited about this cover, and I love the colors and subject. The book is also up for pre-order right now on Amazon for a very special price of 99 cents! Launch date is September 5th!  Order HERE .

BFFF (Best Fiction Friends Forever)

One of the reasons I loved reading as a child was because books introduced me to a
world of characters I could pretend were my best friends in real life.

Here is my wishlist of literary best friends.

Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Longstocking)
A little girl who lives all by herself, makes tons of cookies, owns a horse and has a chest full of gold pieces to buy her friends stuff? Not to mention she could invite you on a south seas vacation at any moment!


Jo March (Little Women)
Always ready for a crazy adventures and has the ability to get out of all kinds of scrapes. Especially enjoys ice-skating and running down hills.






Lucy (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe)
Has an amazing knack for finding doorways to secret, magical worlds. Makes friends with fairy creatures and, oh yeah, if you get hurt, can heal you with her magical cordial.




Charlie Bucket (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Kind and honest. Oh, did we mention he owns an entire chocolate factory?

Charlotte (Charlotte’s Web)
Yes, she’s a spider, but a more loyal and true friend you’d never find. Plus, she's a great writer.

SSam Gamgee (Lord of the Rings) If you must go on a death-defying journey to save the world, he’s the one to take along. Loyal, ridiculously brave, and a good cook



Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)
Tells great stories and fiercely loyal. Has a habit of naming everything, which can come in handy if your cat has kittens.

Alice Cullen, (The Twilight Series)
Ability to see the future, a love for throwing elaborate parties, and impeccable fashion sense. Also handy to take with you in a bad part of town since she has super-human strength.
 Bess and George (Nancy Drew Mysteries)
Always game to help out with any mystery, and well-versed in Judo just in case the bad guys have you tied up in a (sinking) abandoned boat. Will never make you feel guilty when you give in to an ice cream craving.
Bernard (The Rescuers)
Loyal to the end, and willing to attack bad guys hundreds of times his size with a paring knife and part of a lawn mower if it means keeping his friends safe.
So there's my top ten (well, top 11 since Bess and George are two people). Which best friends would you pick from fiction books?

Win a copy of The Magnolia Table and a 25.00 Amazon Gift Card!

You can't get much more Texan then Magnolia! Win your very own hardcover copy of The Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines and find out about four amazing Christian authors!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FREE Trilogy Audible Contest! 10 Winners

I'll be giving away TEN Audible codes for the full Texas Women of Spirit. To enter, go to my facebook post at https://bit.ly/2Gf8DQk and comment with your favorite historical character, real or fictional. Drawing will be held on May 25th.

To see the book on Audible, go here: https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Texas-Women-of-Spirit-Trilogy-Audiobook/B07BL82G5Y?ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=9ZJS0BJ14ZDDY5F0447V&

Good luck! 

Books that Change Our Lives

As readers, we surround ourselves with new thoughts every time we crack open the pages of a fresh book. Good or bad, the ideas float through the 'windows of our souls' and into our minds, where they merge into our thought process and are either accepted as part of our ideals or rejected as flotsam, scattered to the wind. Even rejected notions can linger, becoming part of our dreams or even nightmares.
Sometimes books can have life-changing, positive impacts on our lives. Here are a few of the books I've never been able to forget, the ones I go back to for inspiration on a regular basis. In my case, the majority are fiction. 
'

Till We Have Faces
   (Link to Amazon HERE)At first, this book seems like a simple re-telling of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche. But in classic Lewis fashion, the story is filled with allegorical references and word pictures that have stuck with me since first reading the book. Every time I read it, (every five years or so,) I learn something new. 
A Bargain For Francis
(Amazon link HERE)


My mother first read this to me when I was five, and she used it as a way to teach me about bullying and why it's not okay to manipulate friends. Thelma tries, and succeeds, in tricking Frances to pay her money for a cheap plastic tea set when Francis really wants a china set 'with pictures all in blue.' The way Francis handles her problem is probably not necessarily ideal, but it does teach the nasty Thelma a lifelong lesson. One hopes, anyway. Take away lesson: "Is it better to be careful, or to be friends?"

One Thousand Gifts
(Amazon link HERE)


Ann Voskamp is a vintage soul and a modern-day poet. The way she weaves her words is mesmerizing. The lesson of thankfulness is a hard one to learn in this materialistic society, and even more difficult for those who have walked down the path of sorrow far too many times. Though Voscamp's experience with sorrow began at an early age, she is able to listen to the Holy Spirit as He teaches her to be thankful--for big things and small gifts alike.

Princess Academy (Amazon link HERE)
It might be geared towards a MG-YA audience, but Shannon Hale's Princess Academy has lessons everyone should learn. Most important: Don't assume what people think because of someone else's perception. I keep copies of this book on hand to give away, the message is so important to me.



Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge
(Amazon link HERE)I had to stop reading this book to my children because no matter how many times I read it, I would break down like a baby and end up sobbing at the end. It just doesn't make for a very cheerful story time. But it's a wonderful story about how a little boy makes friends at an old folk's home next door, and how he helps his very best friend find something she lost. The wonderful illustrations are just icing on the cake. 

Little Women
(Amazon link HERE)Millions of girls have read and re-read the unforgettable stories of the young March girls and their quest for normalcy in an impovrished family. As the oldest of seven children in a poor family, I can very much relate to their joys and struggles and always dreamed of 'writing myself out of poverty' like Jo March (and the author, Louisa May Alcott). I owe a lot of the inspiration to become an author from this book, and return to re-read it at least once every few years. 

This is just a short list of books I have found inspiring and unforgettable. Do you have any to add? Please feel free to share in the comments below.