Kay LaLone's Blog, page 6

My Review Of Tinker Bee By Erin Beth Liles

Tinker Bee is not just a bee. She's a fairy bee! Despite her love of all things fairy, her parents and fellow bees just want her to be a bee. But when the flower patch is in trouble, it's Tinker Bee who saves them all—just by being a fairy.

My Review:  Colorful pictures draws the young reader in. Tinker Bee want to be a fairy. But what good is a fairy bee? Tinker Bee saves the flower patch by being a fairy bee. I really enjoyed reading this story to my two year old granddaughter. 

Loving Everything British Photo Contest Blast

BeachBoundBooks is pleased to be coordinating a Photo Contest Blast for the author of Wicka: The Chronicles of Elizabeth Blake, Christy Deveaux. The blast will run July 20 - August 3, 2016.

To celebrate her recent trip to England, to get ideas for her next book, Christy Deveaux is holding an British inspired contest! Simply share a picture of yourself with a British theme i.e. In England, in an English pub, eating English fare such as a fish and chips, reading a British novel, etc. - be creative! 

One Winner will receive a British Themed Gift Basket worth $50.
The winner will be selected at random through Random.Org.
About the Author: Christy Deveaux

Christy Deveaux is the author of The Chronicles of Elizabeth Blake series. Her highly anticipated first book in the series, Wicka, was just released this spring (2014). Inspired by traveling across Europe solo at a very young age, and many travel adventures since, the character and story line behind Elizabeth Blake was born. Christy majored in political science and earned a cross-disciplinary degree from the University of Western Ontario. She lives in Toronto, Ontario with her husband, three children and a fish named Cow.

About the Book: Wicka: The Chronicles of Elizabeth Blake

Elizabeth Blake, a seventeen year old girl from Ann Arbor Michigan, thinks she's enrolling in an international school in the south of France to finish her final year of high school. Instead, she falls in love; finds out that she is a witch from an ancient family ––who weren’t thought to exist anymore; and discovers that her life is in danger, as the Elders believe that she is the heir to a legend they fear above all else.

Wicka has been compared to other fantasy paranormal tales such as Twilight, written by Stephanie Meyer and Harry Potter, written by J.K. Rowling. Young adults and grown ups alike are sure to love this adventure filled magical romance. Get your copy today at bit.ly/Wicka. 
*Note: purchase of the book is not a requirement to enter this free contest.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Contest Rules
Prize: One winner will receive a British Themed Gift Basket ($50 value)

Giveaway ends: August 3, 11:59 pm, 2016

Open to: Internationally

How to enter: Entrants should submit their British themed photos by completing the form below.

**Nude, semi nude, non British themed or pornographic images will be disqualified**

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Only pictures submitted between July 20 and August 3, 2016 will be eligible to win. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Random.org 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, Christy Deveaux and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.

My Review Of The SockKids Say NO To Bullying

BeachBoundBooks is pleased to be coordinating a Blog Tour for the children's book The Sockkids Say No to Bullying written by Michael John Sullivan and Illustrated by Alexandra Gold. The tour will run from July 18 - August 15, 2016

About the Book 
Title: The Sockkids Say NO to Bullying | Authors: Michael John Sullivan and Shelley Larkin | Illustrator: Alexandra Gold | Genre: Children's Picture Book/Social Issues | Number of Pages: 56 | Publisher: Insider's Report, Inc | Publication Date: June 7, 2016

 
Book Description: The SockKids focus on educating children and adults how bullying affects us all and what we can do about it.

Do you know where your socks go when they go missing in the washing machine? Well, the SockKids know! The SockKids are a mismatched family of socks that sometimes time travel through the spin cycle, teaching universal lessons of love and kindness, and focusing on creating a greater awareness of the many social issues that children are faced with today. The SockKids help to educate and encourage children from 2 to 92 to find solutions in helping to make this a better world.

In this story, Sudsy and Wooly discover their human is being bullied at school and team up against bullies with Ethan’s newest friend, Olivia. They discover bullying hurts everyone and staying silent is not an option.

More Inside! Children’s counselor and licensed therapist, Jamie Ross, gives adults and children guidelines on how to handle bullies.

Take a look inside the book...



My Review: This story helps kids deal with bullies in a fun and entertaining way. Sudsy and Wooly, who are SockKids, help Ethan deal with bullies. Every Sock is different. We have different colors. We're made of different fabric. We even have different soap issues. Great, fun characters. Colorful pictures. I received this book free for a honest review. 
About the Author: Michael John Sullivan
Michael John Sullivan is the creator of the SockKids. Constantly searching for his socks, he wondered whether the missing foot comforters had found another pair of feet to warm. Before his interest in socks, Sullivan started writing his first novel while homeless, riding a NYC subway train at night. Sullivan returned to his subway notes in 2007 and began writing Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness (Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books imprint). Library Journal named Necessary Heartbreak one of the year’s best in 2010. His second novel, Everybody’s Daughter (Fiction Studio Books, 2012) was named one of the best books of 2012 by TheExaminer.com. Sullivan has written articles about the plight of homelessness for CNN.com, The Washington Post.com, Beliefnet.com, the Huffington Post, and America Online’s Patch.com service.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads Blog Tour Giveaway
Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choiceGiveaway ends: August 15, 11:59 pm, 2016
Open to: 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, Michael John Sullivan and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Cats Of Cullaby Creek By Kimbra Kasch

THE CATS OF CULLABY CREEK
Think “The Animorphs” Grown Up




RELEASE DATE: January 21, 2016PUBLISHER: http://cleanreads.com/ ISBN: 978-1-62135-483-3
BOOK TRAILER: https://youtu.be/JOft7ED0z2Y
BOOK TEASER: https://youtu.be/729o2HWEAuE
YOU CAN BUY KIM’S BOOKS HERE: AMAZON & iBOOK


LOVE IS ALWAYS RISKYBUTIN CULLABY CREEK IT’S DANGEROUS
IS IT ALREADY TOO LATE FOR SAVANNAH?FIND OUT IN THE CATS OF CULLABY CREEK
TAG LINE:Love is in the Air, something else is in the water

EXCERPT:Kelly and KyleThese two shared some sort of history. And now I was in the middle of their story. Sparks flew through the air. But, they didn’t seem to notice—or maybe they just didn’t care how uncomfortable they were making the rest of us.I scanned the room. The terribly odd thing was that while they stood in the center of the cafeteria—arguing—everyone’s eyes were on me. What is so interesting about me? After a few seconds, I heard whispered accusations slammed back and forth, like a ping-pong ball. My name, muttered in odd and angry tones. No one seemed to mind staring at me, but only the bravest few were sneaking sideways glances over at Kelly and Kyle, hoping no one noticed. This wasn’t what I needed on my first day at a new school. I hadn’t come here looking for instant enemies, but I knew I’d accidentally stirred a private pot and things were already starting to boil. I needed to do something and quick. From the sounds floating around me, if they got into an actual argument, I was going to get the blame. I spit out the first words I could think to say, “What’s a new kid to do, after school, around here… for fun?” Kyle sighed and chuckled, “That depends on what you’re hoping to find and what you think is fun.” He stepped back away from Kelly for a moment. “You big city kids always think something needs to be going on. But in real life, in a small town, not much ever happens.”“We could ask my Mom to drive us into Astoria to do some shopping,” I suggested. It was a little too obvious—even to me—Kelly wanted me out of the picture and was trying everything she could think of to keep me away from Kyle. I almost felt sorry for her—but only for a second.“Or,” Kyle sat down and nodded for me to join him. I could feel a warm rush of air and his scent worked its way up inside my head. I barely heard him finish, “We could go for a run.”“What?” Kelly demanded, clenching her hands into tight-balled fists at her side. “Savannah,” Kyle lowered his voice and said my name slow, putting an emphasis on the last syllable, like it was a soft sigh, ‘ah’. And, for the first time in my life, I loved the sound of my own name. “Is a runner. And she’s fast. Aren’t ‘cha?” He nudged me and moved even closer. I could barely think. His smell overpowered my senses; it was the sweet woodsy scent of him that took me by surprise. I closed my eyes and drank it in. When I opened them back up, Kelly’s eyes were shooting red flames of rage straight at me.I gazed at Kyle and felt a warmth in my stomach again. It was working its way up into my chest. “That’s not what you said this morning,” I laughed then spun away.“You two went running this morning?” Her voice came out in a squeak that broke into a high-pitched screech, like fingernails on a chalkboard.“Yeah,” Kyle said casually, then back to me he added, “And, I’d like to see how fast you are.”I wondered if everything he said was going to have a double meaning but I wasn’t ready to question his motives. He was my only real friend in this place, and it looked like I was going to need a few because I was making more than a few enemies, without even trying. “I could use the exercise,” I nodded, looking around the table at the other kids’ faces and wondering why no one else had said a single word. “Plus, you could show me around the town.”“No problem,” Kyle agreed, and I couldn’t help looking forward to it, even though I knew Kelly wasn’t going to be happy about my running off with Kyle. “But I only think it’s fair to warn you, there’s not much to see—so don’t get your hopes set too high.”“Great—I mean about the exercise,” I smiled, and without even thinking how it might sound, I added, “Then it’s a date.”Kelly only heard one word and it was like I’d pulled back a rubber band—hard—and snapped it against her forehead. She wailed like a wounded animal, “Agghhh!” and spun around on her heels, stomping out of the room.Kyle shrugged and started to walk toward the exit, then he twisted around to call out, “I’ll meet you out by the flag post after seventh period.” His lips curled softly, throwing me a quick backwards nod, “And, remember, it’s a date.” The last thing I saw was his warm, sensual grin, as he glanced around the room before he gave me an exaggerated wink—meant more for everyone else to see than for me, and then he disappeared out into the hall.I wished he would have used a different word because he didn’t need to rub it in. I shrugged. Who cares? I told myself, he’s been the nicest person in the entire school. If it weren’t for Kyle, I wouldn’t want to ever come back to Mist High. The rest of the day dragged on and on. All I wanted was to see Kyle again, with his sleek body and powerful frame. But what I found fascinating was the casual way he had about himself. He said whatever he wanted, while I worried about everything I said, how it would be taken, and what people would think of me.Somehow, Kyle was working his way into my system, like a powerful drug. And I was beginning to feel addicted. I couldn’t wait for our meeting out by the flag post. Finally, after what seemed like absolutely for…ev…er, the bell rang. I rushed out of class, down the hall, and out the front doors of the school to meet up with Kyle.But as I got closer, my spine tingled. Something was wrong. I could feel it. Then I knew why.Kyle wasn’t standing underneath the flagpole; someone else was there, waiting for me. “Kelly,” I muttered under my breath. She stood beneath the red, white, and blue banner with an enormous grin carved into her face, like a giant jack-o-lantern beaming up at me. But this look was way more sinister and gloating. My knees suddenly felt weak and my throat went dry. This girl just kept surprising me.
BLURB:
When Savannah meets Kyle, its love at first sight. And why wouldn't it be? He's perfect, as far as she can tell. But Kyle appears whenever things go wrong. Maybe he isn't everything she thought he was. It's a complete mystery until she discovers the water in Cullaby Creek is being bottled and sold as vitamin “infused” water. Mistic Water promises the impossible. And then, like a magical elixir, it delivers. People who drink it feel younger, smarter, faster...healthier. But it doesn’t take long before side effects hit. Literally. The secret has to be in the water…or is it something more?
Here is a sneak peek at Kimbra new book coming out next month. 

Summary of Morgaine Le Fay and the Viking
This is an old story told from a totally different perspective. This is a Viking’s tale.MORGAINE Le FAY AND THE VIKING is a legendary romance filled with honorable Knights from King Arthur’s Round Table, Salacious Pirates, and Brutal Vikings. This is the retelling of the romance between King Arthur’s half-sister, Morgaine Le Fay, and her epic lover, the Viking Prince of Denmark and heir to King Geoffrey’s throne, Holger Danske. And though you might think you know these characters from the British stories, this tale comes from an entirely different point of view. The Viking perspective.Everyone knows of Excalibur and King Arthur but few know of his brother-in-law, the Danish Viking Prince and warrior Holger Danske or his sword Cortana. MORGAINE Le FAY AND THE VIKING is a Young Adult retelling of folk-lore legend and Danish leader, Holger Danske, and his magical romance with the sorceress Princess Morgaine Le Fey.They met on a battlefield, poised against each other, but their attraction was more powerful than any sword, stronger than any warrior and more magical than Merlin, yet theirs is a tale more tragic than Romeo and Juliet.Weaving the stories from English, French and Danish together this is one slice from the rich tapestry of tales that have come together throughout time and history.While most everyone who searches for tales of the middle ages and seeks out stories of Knights and battles, castles and magical swords, they will only find the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Yet, it is only with the help of the Viking warrior Holger Danske of Denmark and Charles the Great (a.k.a Charlemagne of France) that King Arthur beat back the Saxons and retained leadership of Camelot.Amidst these battles and legends, Morgaine Le Fey is worthy of her own stand-alone stories for she was such a strong woman everyone believed her to be a sorceress or more than human. Some said she was half fairy because she rode with the men in battle and was more than willing to take enormous risks for the men she loved.Some believe she was the most powerful sorceress in all of history, having tutored under the guidance of Merlin and quickly surpassing his abilities. But it is her tragic love story with the Danish Prince that forms this first story in the Viking Series: MORGAINE Le FAY AND THE VIKING.Morgaine’s lover, the Viking Norse leader and legendary warrior, is immortalized in stone in the dungeons of Hamlet’s Castle on the shore that sits between the sound of Denmark and Sweden.But there is much more to this tale than a simple love story.King Arthur received his magical sword, Excalibur, from the Norse Goddess, also known as The Lady of the Lake but Excalibur was not the only magical sword she ever relinquished to mortal hands. She gave just such a magical sword to the Danish Prince, Holger, and one to the French King, Charlemagne. Together these three heroic men joined forces to fight side by side. Britain, France and Scandinavia battled back the invading Saxons.I am married to a Dane who was born and raised in Denmark, and have visited the Castle of Kronborg in Helsingør, Denmark and viewed the statue Holger Danske in the casemates. I have also visited both England and France and tried to stay true to the themes of all three legends, (from Denmark-Holger Danske, England-King Arthur, and France-Charlemagne), while weaving them together. However, I have taken artistic liberties with language and in dramatizing the tale of MORGAINE Le FAY AND THE VIKING.There is an entire world full of rich stories about epic battles that go far beyond King Arthur’s realm and other countries hold their legendary heroes in this same high regard. This is one such story.
KIM’S AMAZON AUTHOR PAGEhttp://www.amazon.com/Kim-Kasch/e/B00ZOAUKMO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1GOODREADShttps://www.goodreads.com/user/show/15278287-kimbra-kaschWebsite: https://www.kimkasch.comhttps://www.kimbrakasch.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/15278287-kimbra-kaschYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIt0EKLYjrbM_FRnPP1JXdwBlog:https://www.kimkasch.blogspot.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009489617484Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimkaschGoogle+: https://aboutme.google.com/u/0/#profile_photoPinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/kimkasch/
Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=AAIAAAGF2pwBVg-AKJf0oZ1xQgzY1oFTZ2yaAcY&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic

My Review Of Korian And Lucy By Zoe Kalo

NOTE TO READERS: "Korian and Lucy" is NOT a novel. It is a companion short story (6,000 words) to 'Daughter of the Sun' (Cult of the Cat Book 1). It is meant to be read AFTER 'Daughter of the Sun,' otherwise you won't get the full meaning or references to characters.

It is the love story of Korian and Lucy (Trinity's parents) and takes place in The Island of Cats 17 years before the birth of Trinity.

My review:  I really enjoyed reading Daughter of The Sun. So I was excited to read this short story which takes place 17 years before the birth of Trinity. Korian and Lucy, Trinity's parents, are in love. There is a curse which Lucy saved him from. "No harm will ever come to you," she said. "So long as I live." Romance. Mystery. Secrets. Good read. But make sure you read Daughter Of The Sun first. I can't wait to read part 2. Thanks, Zoe, for a good read. I received this book free for an honest review. 


This Review is a part of the Blogger Outreach Program by b00k r3vi3w Tours

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Korian-Lucy-Cult-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B01H9FM2M2#nav-subnav

Ghostly Visions By Penny Lockwood

 Ghostly Visions Blurb



Wendy Wiles attracts ghosts, first in Ghost for Rent, when her parents separate and she, her brother, and mother move into a haunted house. The story begins in Portland, Oregon and quickly moves to small town, Scappoose, Oregon. Miserable at leaving her friends and beloved Portland behind, Wendy meets her neighbor Jennifer who tells her the house Wendy’s mom rented is haunted. After two of them appear to Wendy, the girls find themselves tracking down the mystery of who the ghosts are and why they "live" in the Wiles' home.
In Ghost for Lunch, Wendy’s friend, Jennifer, moves away, leaving Wendy sad until new neighbors and their restaurant in St. Helens bring ghosts back into Wendy's life. She, her brother, and their new friend discover the two cases are connected. Once again, the young sleuths use clues and lots of brainstorming to figure out who is haunting the restaurant.
While on the surface, these two stories appear to be about ghosts and the mystery of solving them, they are also about the importance of family and friends and working together to solve a problem.
        Ghostly Visions is available direct from the publisher 4RV Publishing LLC for $15.99 including shipping and handling: http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/penny-lockwood.php.  It can also be ordered from your local bookstore with the following ISBN numbers: ISBN-10: 0982642326, ISBN-13: 978-0982642320, or through Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-Visions-Ghost-Rent-Lunch/dp/0982642326/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1465600196&sr=1-1&keywords=ghostly+visions.

My Review:  Great fun characters. Wendy is scared at first when she learns her house is haunted. Ghost aren't real her mother says. Wendy is determined to help solve these ghostly mysteries. In the first book she helps the ghost haunting her home. In the second book she helps ghost haunting a restaurant. Her brother Mike might pick on her like brothers do, but they learn to get along. Good book about ghosts, family, and friendship. Thanks, Penny, for a good read. 
1.    Tell us about your book and how the story came to be.
Ghostly Visions, published by 4RV Publishing, is a two-for-one edition of Ghost for Rent and Ghost for Lunch. Hardshell Word Factory originally published the first of the stories in 2002. I had been writing short stories and non-fiction articles for close to five years when my young daughter told me she didn’t think I was a “real” writer since I hadn’t written a book.  To challenge myself and to see if I could, I decided to write a children’s novel.  A neighbor told me about hearing a piano playing in her rented farmhouse.  The idea intrigued me and I thought a mystery about ghosts might appeal to the middle grade readers.  Hardshell eventually went out of business, and I got my rights back.
I had a lot of fun writing Ghost for Rent. After I got my rights back, I decided to write another novel using most of the original characters.  I read an article in our local paper about a restaurant in a neighboring town that was reported to be haunted.  This seemed the perfect spot for a sequel. When I approached 4RV with Ghost for Lunch, advising them there was another in the series, they decided they wanted the first story as well and put together the two-for-one package.
2.                  What three words best describe your main character?
Determined, curious, and clever.
3.   Do you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable?
       When creating characters, I usually think about the people I know.  I then take character traits from different people and combine them to create a unique individual.  I have used different methods for choosing names.  Sometimes I hear a name I like and I jot it down to use later in a story.  I have used web sites of popular baby names.  I worked for a few years with an agency that dealt with juveniles and I often made note of unusual names that appealed to me.            In order to make my characters believable, I try to give them little quirks.  For example in Ghostly Visions, Wendy, my main character, likes to write poetry. I make sure the characters aren’t perfect and have faults.  Wendy’s brother, Mike, loves to torment Wendy about everything from her name to her obsession with ghosts.  I dress my characters according to what is popular for the area of a country and time period.  Ghostly Visions takes place in a small rural community during the early 1990s and I tried to be true to that when crafting my characters.
4.       Do your characters follow your plot path or do they take on a life of their own? Do you keep them in check?
When I start a story, I have a general idea of what I want to write about.  For example, in the Ghostbooks, I knew I wanted a mystery that centered on a haunting.  I didn’t know how the ghosts would communicate with Wendy until they made their appearance.  I didn’t know what Wendy would do to solve the mystery, until she found the clues.  That said, I guess my characters tend to have their own lives and I let them do that.  The only time I might keep them in check would be if they got themselves into some sort of pickle that couldn’t be fixed.
5.                  Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? If so, how did you over come it?
I’ve heard it said there’s no such thing as writer’s block.  I do think there are times when it’s harder to write than others.  I’m afraid I’m not the type of writer who feels I must sit down each day at the same time and write in order to call myself a writer.  I allow myself to take a break if I’m not in the middle of a project. 
I have, however, over the years, developed a technique that keeps me busy when I want to be.  Since I am a versatile writer, I can write non-fiction articles about parenting, writing, or teen self-help.  I’ve done grantwriting. I can write a children’s book or short story.  Or, I can write adult fantasy, soft science fiction, or romance, or a combination of those genres. Having that ability allows me to work on something different if I’m stuck with what I’ve been writing.
6.                6. What types of books do you like to read?
I have read a great deal of fantasy and science fiction over the years.  I also belong to a women’s book group, and so I read books outside my comfort zone and have found many I've enjoyed that I wouldn't have normally chosen to read.
7.                  7. What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
I have three delightful grandchildren and enjoy spending as much time as I can with them. I do a lot of reading (what writer doesn’t?). I love spending time in both my flower and vegetable gardens during the spring, summer, and fall.  I enjoy walking and water aerobics. I also do quite a few crochet projects, mostly for my grandkids.
8.                 8.  What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?
Truthfully, I am on a break right now.  I have been thinking of another Ghost story and have written a couple of preliminary chapters.  I thought I’d see how well Ghostly Visions is received before getting fully committed to it.  We have a lot of ghosts it seems in our area.  This story would also be based upon a newspaper article about a former craft supply story that was haunted.
9.                  9.  What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?
Don’t give up. When I first started writing, the support systems in place now weren’t available.  I had no idea of where to submit my work and no one I could ask.  I, of course, sent stories off to high-end magazines I read as a teenager. I gave up feeling completely rejected.
Only much later in life, after I’d been grantwriting for a couple of years, did I learn that one should start small and work up to the bigger markets. Once I figured that out, I began selling stories and articles on a regular basis. I often found one editor might not like the story or article but another would love it.  It was all about being in the right place, at the right time, with the right story.
10.       Where can readers find you and your books?            My web page is http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com.
My children’s books, Boo’s Bad Day and Ghostly Visions, can be found at 4RV Publishing, LLC: http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/penny-lockwood.php.
My romances, Love Delivery, Lady in Waiting, and Mirror, Mirror, are with MuseItUP Publishing, and all currently discounted: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/search?keyword=penny+ehrenkranz&limitstart=0&option=com_virtuemart&view=category.
My collection of science fiction and fantasy short stories, A Past and A Future, is available from Alban Lake Publishing: http://store.albanlake.com/product/a-past-and-a-future/

Penny Lockwood (Ehrenkranz) has published over 100 articles, 75 stories, a chapbook, and her stories have been included in two anthologies. She writes for both adults and children. Her fiction has appeared in numerous genre and children’s publications, and non‑fiction work has appeared in a variety of writing, parenting, and young adult print magazines and on line publications.  She is a former editor for MuseItUp Publishing, 4RV Publishing, and Damnation Books.  Visit her web site at http:// pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com and her writing blog at http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/.

4RV Publishinghas joined her two middle grade novels (Ghost for Rent and Ghost for Lunch) as Ghostly Visions. She recently released Boo’s Bad Day with 4RV Publishingand has one other children’s picture book under contract with them: Many Colored Coats. She has three romances published by MuseItUp Publishing: Love Delivery, Lady in Waiting, and Mirror, Mirror. Her short story collection, A Past and A Future, is available through Alban Lake Publishing and Smashwords. 

Book Blast For Emoji Adventures Volume 1: The Horse Party

BeachBoundBooks is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the children's adventure book written by P.T. Evans, Emoji Adventures Volume 1: The Horse Party. The blast will run June 20 - June 22, 2016.



About the Book
Title: Emoji Adventures Volume 1: The Horse Party | Author: P.T. Evans | Genre: Children's Adventure | Number of Pages: 108 | Publisher: Montage Publishing  | Publication Date: February 21, 2016

Book Description: OBSESSED WITH EMOJIS?
LOL with your favorite emojis as they come to life in this fun, new series. Follow Annie with the constant smile; Kevin, her devilish brother; Billy, poop head and BFF; and Dot, the love-struck jock as they make their way through Emoji Elementary.

 
What others have to say about the book...

"I LOVE this book! The dialogue is witty (and LOL funny); the characters are endearing; and the theme is universally sweet. The author has created a unique experience, blending modern inventions of emojis with classic lessons for kids (and, truly, all of us). It would make a fun read-aloud as well! Definitely a winner." - Robin (Amazon)

"This book is darling! My girls fell in love with Annie and her emoji buddies! We can't wait for the next installment so we can laugh and keep on reading!!!" - Amazon Reviewer

"The Emoji Adventures combines things that a lot of kids love- silly characters, fun storylines and emojis!" - Amazon Reviewer

Montage Publishing Summer Reading Program

"We at Montage Publishing are committed to creating quality books for children; as parents and educators, we’re also aware of the academic backslide that can happen during summer.  We’ve created some worksheets, a reading log, and a certificate of achievement to be used alongside our EMOJI ADVENTURES series.  Feel free to use them as they are or adapt them to your specific needs.

To further encourage summer reading, we’re having a drawing for two sets of EMOJI ADVENTURES books – one for the winning student; one for his/her library."

To print worksheets and enter the drawing visit montagepublishing.com.

About the Author: P.T. Evans
 
P.T. Evans has been writing books for children under various names for two decades. With seventeen novels, numerous author visits, and state reading awards, Evans' books have been translated into two dozen languages.

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Book Blast Giveaway
Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choiceGiveaway ends: July 4, 11:59 pm, 2016 Open to: 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, P.T. Evans and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.

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Book Blast For Raising Sleeping Stones

BeachBoundBooks is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the middle grade fantasy written by P.H.T. Bennet, Raising Sleeping Stones (The Orora Crona Chronicles, Book One). The blast will run June 20 - June 22, 2016.


About the BookTitle: Raising Sleeping Stones (The Orora Crona Chronicles, Book One) | Author: P.H.T. Bennet Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy | Number of Pages: 364 | Publisher: DreamKeeper Publishing Publication Date: December 4, 2014

Book Description: ***Winner of a 2013 Newbury Comics Award!***

When sisters Kiva and DeeDee Stone discover a mysterious plot that threatens them and everything they care about, they have to take a crash course in the ancient art of DreamKeeping to survive. As two elder DreamKeepers lead them up the Varruvyen river to the Eyle of Return, they show the girls how to gain dream powers greater than anything they had ever imagined. But can they become strong enough to face the monsters that haunt their dreams at night, strong enough to fight the enemies that draw nearer each day? The answer lies somewhere in the broken history of Orora Crona, the Valley of Dreams lost centuries ago, and whoever can piece it together first will rule for centuries to come.

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Read an excerpt...
Kiva looked closely at the sun’s golden face. Wavy rays representing shimmering heat radiated out from it. Its cheeks were plump, the lips full and curved, the nose wide, and the eyes were a little almond-shaped, like hers. In the middle of its forehead was a weird circle with six curving parts swirling around a six-pointed star. She’d never seen the sun drawn like that. Wondering what was on the back of the pendant, Kiva turned it over.
The instant she saw the moon’s closed eyes, her hair flew back in the wind, her stomach dropped, and she was pressed back against the cushions of a vessel that was flying just inches above the river. She jerked her head back up and found she was in the back of a crescent-shaped boat piloted by an old man sitting up front. She was about to call out to him when he pointed at a tree that had fallen across the river and shouted, “When you get here, you must take a detour that even old Jacques didn’t know about! Hold on!”
Before she could, though, he turned the boat around so quickly that Kiva was thrown against the side of her boat and the wind was knocked out of her. She only got her breath back when he straightened out and followed the river back down.
“Look there!” he shouted moments later. “Turn right between the tall twins!”

Watch the book video...




What others have to say...

"Raising Sleeping Stones is a beautiful visual/musical tale about confidence and creative thinking." - Stephanie R. (Amazon)

"Great adventure tale that is both coming-of-age story and testimony to the power of dreams." - Thomas G. (Amazon)

"I was enthralled by this book from beginning to end. Truly connected with the intent and purpose behind the story, as well as the strong concept of dealing with dreams. I would definitely recommend this app..." - Amazon Reviewer

"Both allegorically and psychologically the author deftly explores the richness of young people's emotional lives. I read this story both in its app form and on Kindle. The book is beautifully illustrated and in its app form adds a great sound track. A wonderful book!" - Edward D. (Amazon)

About the Author: P.H.T. Bennet
 
P.H.T. Bennet began exploring his dreams when he was a child and has never bothered to stop. He had the good luck to have two daughters, Juliette and Paola, who not only served as the inspirations for DeeDee and Kiva, the main characters of Raising Sleeping Stones, but also helped him turn their family dreamwork sessions into this book. His lucky streak grew when he married his lovely wife, Mim, who tolerates his turning on a light in the middle of the night to write down ever-crazier dreams and talking about them in the morning as long as he lets her sleep in, first. His favorite dreams involve flying, visiting the dead, and replaying nightmares until they reveal their secrets.

Pratt’s latest projects are editing Book Two of the Orora Crona Chronicles and planning a virtual summer dreaming camp with other dream authors.

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Book Blast Giveaway
Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choiceGiveaway ends: July 4, 11:59 pm, 2016 Open to: 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, P.H.T. Bennet and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.

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My Review Of Cryptogram Chaos A Virtual Reality Adventure

BeachBoundBooks is pleased to be coordinating a Blog Tour for the middle grade virtual reality adventure Cryptogram Chaos written by Linda Covella. The tour will run from May 23 - June 13, 2016

About the Book 
Title: Cryptogram Chaos| Author: Linda Covella | Publisher: IngramSpark Publication Date: March 9, 2016 | Genre: Middle Grade Adventure | Number of Pages: 197 

Book Description:

What if you were 8, or 11, or 14, and you could race cars at 150 mph, bungee jump, fly, eat all the ice cream and candy you wanted, or become powerful avatars such as Robobug, Kulshedra the dragon, and Altai, the gryphon avatar? All this and more is possible in the ultimate virtual reality game The Cryptogram Connection created by 14-year-old computer whiz Cody Reynolds and his two classmates, Nicole Nash and Kerry McCorkle. To advance to different levels in the game, players must solve cryptograms, or secret codes. (Readers also get to solve the cryptograms.) They create their game to be used with the latest VR technology developed by local game manufacturer NuVision Games–a headset with biosensors that transmit signals to the brain, fooling it into tasting, hearing, feeling, seeing, and smelling what was programmed into the game. The games are as close to reality as reality itself. The game becomes every kids’ virtual dream, and Cody, Nicole, and Kerry, besides becoming national celebrities, make more money than they ever imagined. But The Cryptogram Connection turns into “cryptogram chaos” when an evil presence inhabits Zazar, the laser avatar and the most powerful, and takes control of the game. It’s up to the three partners to enter the game and fight Zazar to save the gamers from virtual—and real—disaster.

Take a look inside the book...


Cryptogram Connection: Level 1
Cryptogram Connection: Level 2
Cryptogram Connection: Level 3 
My Review:  Great book. I loved it. Cody, Nicole, and Kerry didn't know what danger they would get into when they invented the game Cryptogram Connection. They just wanted to invent a fun game and make some money. The kids end up saving the world. Great, fun characters. Visual descriptions made me feel like I was in the game.
About the Author: Linda Covella 
Linda Covella’s varied background and education (an AA degree in art, an AS degree in mechanical drafting & design, and a BS degree in Manufacturing Management) have led her down many paths and enriched her life experiences. But one thing she never strayed from is her love of writing. Her first official publication was a restaurant review column for a local newspaper. But when she published articles for various children’s magazines, she realized she’d found her niche: writing for children. She hopes to bring to children the feelings books gave her when she was a child: the worlds they opened, the things they taught, the feelings they expressed. She has published one young adult historical romance Yakimali’s Gift, and, besides Cryptogram Chaos, two other middle grade novels in The Ghost Whisperer Series: The Castle Blues Quake and The Ghosts of Pebble Brook Lodge. She is a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She lives in Santa Cruz with her husband, Charlie, and dog, Ginger. No matter what new paths Linda may travel down, she sees her writing as a lifelong joy and commitment. Learn more about Linda and her writing at http://lindacovella.com/.
Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Pinterst  Google+ | Goodreads | YouTube Blog Tour GiveawayPrize: One winner will receive a 25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice Giveaway ends: June 13, 11:59 pm, 2016
Open to: 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, Linda Covella and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.

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Book Blast For Marty And The Christmas Eve Surprise

BeachBoundBooks is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the charming children's book written by Sharon Durgin and illustrated by Joan Coleman, Marty and the Christmas Eve Surprise. The blast will run June 7 - June 9, 2016.
About the Book
Title: Marty and the Christmas Eve Surprise | Author: Sharon Durgin | Illustrator: Joan Coleman Genre: Children's Holiday Book | Publisher: BookLogix | Expected Release: May 24, 2016

Book Description:Marty is a little mouse who has lots of fun with his friends as they get ready for Christmas. But when the house cats get involved, you can expect a little bit of mischief. Can Marty save the day in time for Christmas?


Take a peek inside the book...

About the Author: Sharon Durgin
Sharon E. Durgin is a designer in the engineering business and an active member of Toastmasters International. With her love of the spoken and written word she has created Marty and the Christmas Eve Surprise. This is her first book, and she looks forward to publishing more stories of Marty's life. Sharon has two adult children and lives and works in Greenville, South Carolina.

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Book Blast Giveaway
Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choiceGiveaway ends: June 21, 11:59 pm, 2016 Open to: 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, Sharon Durgin and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.
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