M.E. Sutton's Blog, page 11
March 2, 2014
Aren’t there enough readers for all of us?
By Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
Boy, there’s been a lot of drama in the writing world recently.
Last week, there was this post in The Huffington Post, which essentially asked J.K. Rowling to stop writing, adult fiction at least, to give other less successful writers a chance.
Before that, it was this interview with Isabelle Allende, in which she referred to writing a mystery as a “joke.” (Full disclosure: Allende has since apologized for her comments; since she’s not a native-English speaker, I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.)
And none of it went down well.
See, we writers are an insecure bunch. We are. We spend hours, days, weeks, years, making up worlds. Our fictional characters become as dear to us, sometimes even more dear, than real people. But what if nobody else likes them? What if I have an “ugly baby”? It’s almost enough to scare one into not writing (but if you’re really a writer, it’s kind of impossible not to write – but I digress).
Genre writers – those who write fantasy, or crime, or romance, you know genres – seem to be especially sensitive. Somehow, some of us (and yes, I admit that I am occasionally in this pool) don’t think we’re given the same credit as more literary writers. That somehow writing romance or mysteries is easy compared to a sweeping historical epic. That we spend less time working on craft (we don’t, at least those of us for whom writing is more than a hobby don’t) and more time just cranking out crap. Quantity instead of quality.
We don’t. Which is why comments such as Allende’s hurt. Yes, yes they do.
(Side note: After several years, I’m still fuzzy on what it means to be “literary.” Genre, I understand. But literary to me means words, so honestly, I find it a little confusing. Again, I digress.)
But I’m not only a writer. I’m a reader. And as a reader, I say, “Who cares?” As the saying goes, there’s a book for every reader. There’s a reader for every book. I like Jane Austen as much as Clive Cussler. It’s all a kind of escape. Give me a well-written story, and I’m a pretty happy camper.
Which is why I find all this sniping a little ridiculous.
Really, I’m a smart woman. I can figure out what I want to read. Sitting down to read Pride and Prejudice does not somehow mean I won’t read Sahara, or The Wrong Girl, or Game of Thrones. I’ve even been known to read more than one book at one time. So from a reader’s perspective, the number of books published in any particular field is completely irrelevant. My shelf has room for them all (okay, not really, but I’ve got lots of floor space – and that’s what digital is for, right?).
There’s the argument that books by Rowling, et. al. are taking up physical shelf space in bookstores, crowding out other books I, the reader, might like and making it harder to find. Once again, I call shenanigans. I do a lot of browsing on Amazon. I don’t often buy from there, but I do browse there. They don’t have shelves. It’s limitless. And if I see something else (because their algorithms are really not bad), I can always go to my local indie bookseller, and she’ll be happy to order it for me.
As a writer, well, I much prefer this guy’s perspective. I’ve got one of those “reluctant readers.” Rick Riordan is a godsend. My daughter got hooked on reading way back when she was five and we were reading Harry Potter together. She reads Stephen King and John Greene now (often both in the same weekend). These folks are taking away readers. They’re creating readers. As someone who wants to see her work on the shelves some day, digital or physical, I say “thank you – please keep it up.” More readers is a good thing. Because, as with my daughter, she didn’t finish Harry Potter and then say, “Oh well, guess I’ll never read again.” She went out and found other books to read. In other genres. By other writers.
So please: Ms. Rowling, Mr. King, Mr. Patterson – keep writing. Keep creating readers. For all our sakes. There seriously are enough books – and enough readers – to go around.
And hey, if anybody wants to buy me a castle in Scotland, I won’t say “no” to that either.
Image courtesy of Thokrates; used under Creative Commons license
February 18, 2014
Plotting vs. Pantsing
By Mary Sutton / mary_sutton73
When a group of writers get together, one of the ways to start an energetic debate is to ask a simple question.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
If you don’t know, the question really goes to the heart of how you plan out a story. A “plotter” has an outline, sometimes written in incredible detail. She knows exactly where her story starts, ends, and every twist in the middle. There’s room for surprise and change (hopefully, because, as the saying goes “no plan survives first contact with the enemy), but this writer knows each day, scene by scene, exactly what must be written.
By contrast, the pantser runs free and wild through the great expanses of imagination. She may sit down every day not knowing exactly what she’ll be writing. Her heart will let her know. Who done it? Who knows! Not me – yet. I have a friend who said she writes every day to find out what happens. And yet, by the end of the story, you’d never know it. Now that’s skill.
I’ve toyed with both ways. More and more, I think I fall somewhere in the middle – and it very much depends what I’m writing as to whether I’m more on one side of the fence or the other.
When I write my Hero’s Sword stories, I have a general narrative outline. It keeps me from wandering too far afield – although on at least one occasion, I didn’t consult the narrative quite as often as I thought, so I diverged wildly. But that’s okay, because I liked the new approach better.
Short stories? I might have a general story question and some idea of the “bad guy,” but that’s about it.
Now, when I sat down to write the first draft of Every Other Monday is Murder, the first novel in my Laurel Highlands Mysteries series, I planned. I had a ten-page narrative. From that narrative, I generated a list of scenes, which I dutifully wrote in exactly the order I’d mapped out.
The good news is, by the end of the first draft I had a structurally solid story that hit all of the right points at the right times, that met my target word count (actually, I was about 15,000 words under).
The bad news? It totally lacked soul.
Now don’t get me wrong. There were good parts and as I re-read my draft, after an appropriate time for “marinating,” there were scenes and sections that definitely made me smile. And there were some that just, well, let’s just say I marked for some heavy rewrites. But perhaps the most telling thing, for me, was the story plodded. Yes, it hit all of the right marks and technical details. But it was the difference between memorizing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, and interpreting it. All the notes are the same, but the feeling is totally different.
To be fair, this is expected. It was, after all, a first draft. There were going to be holes, things that got tossed aside, and things that were kept. But I’ve discovered something through this first round of revision. The narrative and the scene list have been tossed aside. Yes, I’m not sure all these scenes make sense in these exact places. I’m sure they’ll be moved at least twice more, and I am now 10,000 words over my target (and adding more every day). But the story has taken on life, and soul. It’s starting to sing. And that’s important too.
Recently, I toyed with the idea of submitting a short story. But I really didn’t have an idea. Then I thought “what if”? And I just started typing. I had no idea where I was going. I was writing to find out. In the end, I had a story, well under the target limit, that I actually liked. And after a few rounds of polishing, and some early-reader feedback, I sent it out. It was exciting and exhilarating. I felt so daring.
It was also a 2,500 word short story. Could I do that for a 90,000 word novel? I don’t know. Maybe I’d end up with a mess. Strike that, I do know – I would end up with a mess because that’s how I wrote the very first novel I ever attempted.
But this has taught me something about myself as a writer – something I think is valuable to know. The plot, the structure, is important in that first draft to make sure the “frame” of the house I’m building won’t collapse under the weight of all those fancy decorations and woodwork. But to get at the heart of the fancy decorations, to really make the story sing to me, I have to throw away the structure that helped me through that first draft.
So, hybrid plotting/pantsing. Perhaps that makes me a “plantser”?
Image courtesy of Linus Bohman, used under Creative Commons license
February 9, 2014
Book Blast: Bifrost Bridge
Title: The Bifrost Bridge | Author: James Bradley Clarke | Illustrator: Marcus Gran | Publication Date: January, 2013 | Publisher: Wynwidyn Press | Pages: 92 | Recommended Ages: 8+
Summary: The Bifrost Bridge is a Viking princess fairy tale intertwined with Norse mythology. Silya, the feisty ten year old Princess of Norway, eagerly awaits the arrival of her cousin and best friend, Princess Hedda of Denmark. The princesses are both looking forward to the summer solstice celebration, but trouble lurks in their future as magical villains see the girls as being vital for their deadly conspiracy. Hedda and Silya find themselves cast into a dangerous adventure filled with fire giants, female warrior angels and the God of Thunder.Purchase
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The Buzz
“A delightful and endearing adventure that winds Norse mythology and two young girls through a whirlwind of danger, friendship and standing up to evil-doers. The Princess heroines, Silya and Hedda, engage the reader with their charming day to day life at the celebrated summer solstice festival in ancient Norway… The book moves along easily and the characters are likable at once. A fun read for the parents, and challenging enough for the children because it may have a few new words and characters they may not know. It is an adorable story that will soon become a favorite.” ~ 5 Star Review, Janet, Amazon
“Bifrost Bridge is a beautiful fairytale, mixing legend and adventure and creating a wonderful reading experience for both children and adults alike. I read this to my 7 year old daughter, and my 10 year old daughter read it for herself; both of them were captivated by the story. My 7 year old loved the idea of two princesses being such close friends, and my 10 year old loved all of the action and suspense in the story. I enjoyed the Norse mythology woven into the tale. It’s a wonderful family story. I will be reading it to my sons next!” ~ 5 Star Review, Rebecca F., Amazon
“When I first looked into this book, I was sure that the world of fairy tales had been overdone so many times that I wouldn’t see much difference between this one & my other classic favorites that I enjoyed over the years with my children… However, I was proven wrong.. This is such a beautiful and entrancing fairy tale! Mr. Clarke takes the often repetitive world of fairy tales and adds an elegant, dramatic twist to it, producing an epic and moving adventure that children will forever cherish! My daughter and I read it together and had many nights where we just didn’t want to put it down! His characters, including the feisty Silya, are memorable and seem so very real! It’s a hard thing to do that with children’s fairy tales and again, I commend Mr. Clarke for releasing a wonderful new fairy tale to pass on to generations to come!” ~ 5 Star Review, Vicky R., Amazon
About the Author: James Bradley Clarke
James Bradley Clarke
James Bradley Clarke is a graduate of Hiram College, The University of Houston, and the University of Michigan. He currently resides in Oxford, Ohio, where he works as an academic librarian for Miami University. He grew up near Ann Arbor, Michigan, and he has spent most of his life in the Great Lakes region.
The Bifrost Bridge is Clarke’s first work of fiction. The children’s book was first developed as stories Clarke started telling to his two daughters back in the summer of 2003. Both girls shared a love for classic princess fairy tales, so he invented original princess characters for both of them. As residents in Riverside, Illinois, Clarke’s family lived in walking distance of the Brookfield Zoo where the girls regularly admired the Norwegian fjord horses. When he learned this ancient breed of horse was used by the Vikings, a specific medieval setting for the stories came into focus.
As a Hiram College student, Clarke had developed a love for the epic poems of Homer and Virgil, so he chose to borrow from mythology to provide magical elements. The girls became instantly enamored with these stories and they insisted on developing new adventures for the two Nordic princess characters. The first draft of a manuscript was produced during the summer of 2005. Clarke’s daughters were delighted with the bound copy they received as a Christmas gift later that year, so he began the process of becoming an author. Clarke has a love for history and a taste for plot driven stories about extraordinary individualism. Themes of fortitude and self-determination lay at the heart of Clarke’s writing interests.
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Contest runs: February 10 to March 9, 11:59 pm, 2014
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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, James Bradley Clarke and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
January 27, 2014
Arguing with Imaginary People
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
Confession time: I argue with people who aren’t there.
In fact, these people are so “not there” that they don’t even exist.
Yes, I’m talking about my characters, people who are totally a figment of my imagination.
And I am not alone.
This came about because I am in the middle of revisions for Every Other Monday is Murder, the first novel in The Laurel Highlands Mysteries series. So, I was writing a scene where I wanted to reference the golden flecks in Jim Duncan’s hazel eyes. But in the first draft, I’d written “chocolate brown.” Yet the picture in my mind clearly envisioned him with hazel eyes. So I checked my trust character sheet (Yes, I should look at these things more often, but hey, you get to a point where you just know. So sue me.). And there it was, brown eyes. So I started to go back and suddenly heard Jim’s voice, arguing with me.
Jim: Of course I have hazel eyes. I’ve always had hazel eyes.
Me: No, you have brown eyes.
Jim: Hazel. Dmani it woman, are you blind? I mean, you’re the writer! How do you get this wrong?
Me: It says right there, brown.
Jim: I HAVE ALWAYS HAD FREAKING HAZEL EYES! Geez!
Lest you think this is strange, then I hear another voice. This time, it’s Sally.
Sally: I hate to butt in, but yeah, definitely hazel eyes. Oh, and mine are green, by the way. In case you missed that.
Me: I thought you were the one with hazel eyes.
Sally: Um, no. Well, maybe they looked that way because of my eye shadow. But no, they’re definitely green.
Me: But in my notes…
Sally: Look, are you really going to argue with a lawyer and a trained investigator?
Me: Fine! Be that way!
I then scurried off to make sure I’d never mentioned either character’s eye color in a released story (because readers will notice). I hadn’t. I could safely change my character notes.
I’m told by my writer friends this is a good thing, hearing your characters. It means they are alive to you, that you know them well. And that’s all good and fine as far as it goes. But just who is in charge around here anyway? Don’t answer that.
So, fair warning: If you ever see or hear me, and I appear to be arguing with invisible people, I am not losing my mind. I’m just a writer with stubborn characters.
Some other exciting news
So, a couple of other things from last weekend.
Writers’ Police Academy 2014
Yes! I’m going! I had a little trouble with the mobile version of the site, so I had to complete my registration when I got home and had access to a laptop. That meant I got shut out of the all of the optional workshops I wanted to attend (Felony Murder Investigation and Clearing a Building). But it’s okay. I’m sure it will be a great weekend anyway. And I am super-excited that I’ll be road-tripping and rooming with fellow Pittsburgh SinC sib Annette Dashofy.
Is it September yet?
New Laurel HighLands Story to be Release by Mysterical-e
I also got a notice that the next in The Laurel Highlands Mysteries series of novelettes, titled Death and Politics, has been accepted by Mysterical-e (you know the place that published the first one, An Idyllic Place for Murder). No publication date given, just “upcoming issue,” but if you hear a giant “whoop-whoop” from Pittsburgh, you’ll know it’s out!
Photo courtesy of Greg Wake, used under Creative Commons license.
January 13, 2014
2014 Writing Goals
By Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
So, 2014 is two weeks old. Still a baby, but time I stop aimlessly wandering around and put some goals out there so I (and you, please) can hold myself accountable. Some people can work without going public, but I find that if I announce that I’m going to do something, I’m far more likely to do it. Now, other things may come up during the year, and if they do, I’ll adjust. That’s life. It would be foolish to plan otherwise.
That said, here are the things I know I want to accomplish this year.
Write books 5-7 in Hero’s Sword
It takes me about four months, start to finish, to get one of these ready for the publisher. And yes, that takes into consideration all my other writing (if I wasn’t doing that, I could go even faster). At that pace, I should have the next three books in the series completed by the end of December 2014. Note that I say the manuscripts will be done. I make no publication guarantees.
Get Every Other Monday is Murder read for an editor by September
This is the first full-length novel in the Laurel Highlands Mysteries series featuring PSP Trooper Jim Duncan and public defense attorney Sally Castle. I completed the sh!tty first drafty during NaNoWriMo 2013 and I’ve reserved time with an editor this fall, so this must get done.
Write two more Laurel Highlands short stories
To date, I’ve finished four of these. One was publishing by Mysterical-e in the Fall 2013 issue. Another will appear there shortly. A third was included in the Lucky Charms: 12 Crime Tales anthology from Sisters in Crime Pittsburgh, and a fourth is currently with an editor. I’d like to get two more written because…
Start releasing the Laurel Highlands stories as digital shorts
It’s time these things start making me some money, so I want to start releasing them as digital short stories on a rolling basis. They’ll be available for 99 cents from Amazon (and probably other places). The ultimate goal will be a collection of the previously published stories, probably along with a “never before seen” story. That collection, however, probably won’t appear until 2015 (followed by the novel – but I’m getting ahead of myself).
Attend Writers Police Academy
I’ve been talking about this for a few years. I did a local Citizens Police Academy last spring and really enjoyed it. But I really want to do the full show put on by Lee Lofland. And this is the year it’s going to happen.
Revise (and potentially expand) my Black Orchid project
I did not win the Black Orchid award. Oh well, but I’ve given the manuscript to others who’ve said it’s worth going back to (including a “love it” comment from someone I really admire). So it’s back to the drawing board. Now that I won’t be facing a hard 20,000 word limit, I’ll be free to turn this into a longer novella or even a novel. If it stays a novel, I may wind up self-publishing it. But again, that’s probably something for 2015 (unless I get really inspired).
Continue learning about the craft
This is not so much a goal, as a “thing that must be done.” How? Well, last year it was a combination of online workshops, retreats, and books. This year will probably be the same. The WPA mentioned above will be part of it, and I’ll most likely attend the fall retreat with my local SinC chapter too. And maybe this is the year I finally read Stephen King’s On Writing. Who knows?
So that’s it. Somehow, this list seems shorter than the list I had for 2013. But I have a funny feeling that, as the year progresses, this will be just as much – if not more – challenging than last year.
Personally, I dubbed 2013 as the year writing became a “job” and not a “hobby.” 2014 will be the year I put that into practice. So let’s get cracking, shall we?
December 30, 2013
The Year in Review: 2013 Goal Recap
by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
So, here we are, at the end of 2013 (well, almost). It was a banner year, for a lot of reasons. And as I promised a recap post of what I said I would do in January 2013 vs. what I had actually done as of December 2013, here it is. My 2013 writing goals Year in Review.
I had set out a number of goals early in 2013, based on advice I read from James Scott Bell. What follows is how I performed in relation to each of those goals.
Submit my second Laurel Highlands story
Check. Story was submitted back in May to Mysterical-e, who published the first story in October. I am still waiting to hear anything (really should follow up on that, huh?).
Complete and submit my Black Orchid Novella entry
Check. This was mailed on time, as planned. Unfortunately, I didn’t win (although I do know the author who did, so I know I lost to a writer I respect). Now comes the hard part – what to do with it. I can self-publish it as-is, see if it will be picked up as a serial somewhere, or expand it before resubmitting. It’s being read right now by a friend who had a very positive first reaction, so I’m waiting. Time will tell.
Read at least one craft book a month
I’m going to say I accomplished this. Although I didn’t read 12 craft books, I did read six. That translates to one every other month. And since this isn’t the same as fiction (you know, I actually have to annotate and digest the information in a craft book for it to mean anything), I don’t think I could have read one per month and, you, have written anything in 2013. So I’m giving myself a “check” on this one too.
First draft of Hero’s Sword 4 by 31 May and revisions by 31 July
I had to adjust this one. The first draft was finished by 31 July and first revisions were complete by 30 September. I did a second round of revisions in October, and finished the third round this past weekend. You will notice that each revision round gets shorter, since I’m doing more fine tuning and less rewriting. I expect this to be done in early 2014 – but that’s a topic for the next post.
Complete and submit two more Laurel Highland stories by end of 2013
Well, no. I did finish the third (fourth?) story and sent it to an editor. I need to chase that down, and then it will be ready for submission. I have ideas for more short stories, but I got slightly detoured (see below).
Finish anthology edits by 24 June
Wow, that seems like so long ago, but yes, check, got them done.
And that leads into the other things I accomplished this year:
I took several workshops through Sisters in Crime, including one on short fiction and another on scene writing
I attended my first-ever Pennwriters conference, held in Pittsburgh in May 2013
As a result of that short fiction class, I wrote my first-ever flash fiction piece, which was subsequently published in the second volume at Uppagus.com, a new digital magazine.
The print version of Storm Clouds: Hero’s Sword Vol. 2 was released in November 2013.
The short story anthology, Lucky Charms: 12 Crime Tales was released in December 2013 with a smashing party at Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA. We signed – and signed, and signed. All told, we completely sold out our first print run of 200 books on the night of the party (some pre-order, some bought on the spot). It’s a night that still makes me giddy.
I attended my first author-even, Books in the Burgh, at the Heinz History Center in early December.
I started freelance proofreading/copyediting, and did some ebook formatting in preparation for a new venture in 2014.
I was invited to become a member of an online mystery writers blogging group, Mysteristas.
I racked up four new publication credits (Hero’s Sword 2, Twins (Uppagus.com), An Idyllic Place for Murder (Mysterical-e), and Batter Down (Lucky Charms).
So that’s it – my backward look at 2013. I think it was a pretty amazing year. And while it’s true I’ve come a long way since 2011, when I started this journey in earnest, I recognize that I’ve still got a long way to go.
Looking forward to an awesome 2014, filling with yet more writing excitement.
December 23, 2013
Merry Christmas
By Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house…
Wait a minute. I’ve still got two more days. Whew (’cause those gifts aren’t going to wrap themselves).
Unique content has been a little thin on the blog lately, and that’s not going to change until January. So on the second-to-last Monday of the year I leave you with this.
Many thanks to all of you who have read this blog, bought a copy of Hero’s Sword, Lucky Charms, wished me well, or otherwise provided support and inspiration in the last year. I literally could not have done this without you.
Look for posts recapping 2013 and looking ahead to 2014 early in the new year!
Merry Christmas!
Image courtesy of zaimoku_woodpile; used under Creative Commons
December 18, 2013
Book Blast: The Princess Madeline Trilogy
Title: The Escape of Princess Madeline (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #1) Author: Kirstin Pulioff Publication Date: November 4, 2012 Publisher: Caliburn Books Number of pages: 138 Recommended age: 10+
Summary: The Kingdom of Soron is known for many things, its rolling landscape, haunting history, fiery sunsets, and its beautiful princess. Princess Madeline woke on her sixteenth birthday to realize that her future had been planned out, a life full of privilege, royalty, and boredom… a life with a husband and knight champion that she did not choose. Using her charm, strength and stubbornness, she defies the King at every turn, determined to keep her freedom on her terms.
Freedom quickly turns to disaster as she finds herself seized by a group of wandering bandits. With the kingdom in turmoil over her capture; her Knight Champion eager to prove himself, a group of dedicated suitors determined to win her hand, and a group of exiled wizards join forces in the hunt to rescue her. Follow Princess Madeline in this adventure full of twists and turns as she tries to find her freedom and answers to her questions about life and love.
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Title: The Battle for Princess Madeline (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #2) Author: Kirstin Pulioff Publication Date: May 21, 2013 Publisher: Caliburn Books Number of pages: 159 Recommended age: 10+
Summary: The Kingdom of Soron bustled with activity as preparations for the Fall Festival began. Lively merchants, hardworking farmers, and musicians eagerly awaited this event of harvest and joy. This year’s festival was even more important, as they celebrated Princess Madeline’s betrothal to her knight champion, Daniel. Celebration quickly turns to disaster as Prince Paulsen returns with curious demands, either Princess Madeline will be his, or no ones. Rejection turns to obsession and battle is declared.
In a tense struggle to decide her future, Princess Madeline must choose where to put her trust… in the king’s tried and true plan, the wizard’s cryptic messages and maps, or her own sense of bravery. Follow Princess Madeline on this adventure as she battles evil in an attempt to create a future of love and magic.
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Title: Princess Madeline and the Dragon (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #3) Author: Kirstin Pulioff Publication Date: November 26, 2013 Publisher: Caliburn Books Number of pages: 135 Recommended age: 10+
Summary: After a season of battle and rebuilding, the Kingdom of Soron is exhausted. With the return of the exiled wizards, the Spring Faire, and her upcoming wedding, Princess Madeline is looking forward to a peaceful season of celebration. When the mysterious green dragon reappears, threatening the kingdom and the king, Princess Madeline and Prince Braden won’t rest for long. Faced with this incredible new danger, Princess Madeline and Prince Braden must find a way to lead their kingdom and secure their future. Can they find the answers hidden within their mother’s cryptic messages from the past, or will the dragon destroy everything they hold dear? Follow Princess Madeline as she embarks on a dangerous new adventure to save her kingdom and her family.
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The Buzz
Book 1: “Well-written, fast-paced, and entirely appropriate for its target audience (middle grade fantasy), this short but succinct novel (novella? It was maybe a little between a novella and a novel) tells a delightful tale of a naive princess who learns the real meaning of freedom. Kirsten gives her characters a sufficient amount of depth to make them genuinely likeable, and she leaves room for much, much more to come.” ~ 5 Star Review, Ally, Amazon
Book 1: “An inspiring thought provoking, and wonderfully written fairy tale by an author who transports us to a time in our imagination where everything is magical and possibilities are real.” ~ 5 Star Review, kathyls, Amazon
Book 2: “Fairy tales are filled with knights and princesses and castles and a special magical feel that takes the reader far, far, away into another world, another place, another time. The Battle for Princess Madeline fits the bill to a tee! Author Kirstin Pulioff has created a special feel to the tale of Princess Madeline with her own special talent for using words to paint pictures in our minds.” ~ 5 Star Review, Dii, Amazon
Book 2: “The story is well developed and easy to follow. The vivid scenes will transport young readers into the magical world of fairy tales with thrilling characters that have come to life. Another splendid read for young readers! I can hardly wait for a new book, Princess Madeline and the Dragon. ” ~ 5 Star Review, Mrs. D., Amazon
Book 3: “The story is engaging on many levels, as is Pulioff’s writing, but on this occasion I was mostly drawn into the action and the mystery as how to prevent the worst from happening. This is great entertainment and should do well across a wider age range.” ~ 5 Star Review,ChristophFischerBooks, Amazon
Book 3: “Kirstin Pulioff has saved the best for last. ‘Princess Madeline and the Dragon’ is the final instalment in the ‘Princess Madeline Trilogy’. I thought the first two books were finely wrought stories, but this novel surpasses its predecessors. Prophesies, family tragedies, magic and – of course – dragons, combine to produce a tale that is an instant classic. Written with a great deal of charm, ‘Princess Madeline and the Dragon’ will not disappoint Ms Pulioff’s young fans. I look forward to seeing where next her imagination will take this natural storyteller. ” ~ 5 Star Review, Diogenes, Amazon
About the Author: Kirstin Pulioff
Kirstin Pulioff
Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in Oregon, and enjoys being a stay at home mom. When she’s not writing, she is busy with her kids and church.
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* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *
Prize: $25Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest runs: December 18, 2013 to January 16, 2014, 11:59 pm, 2013
Open: 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, Kirstin Pulioff and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
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Book Blast: Tales of the Messed Up Talent Show
Title: Tale of the Messed Up Talent Show (Madison and GA – My Guardian Angel)
Author: Melissa Perry Moraja
Publication Date: November 15, 2013
Publisher: Independent – Melissa Productions Inc.
Number of pages: 156
Recommended age: 6-12
Summary
Madison Wunderkind is a sweet, honest girl, who always seems to find herself in trouble with the principal. But this time she’s not alone. It all started three days earlier, when Sophia, the most popular fifth-grade girl at Gator Elementary, asked Madison to hang out and plan this year’s talent show. Instantly, Madison had become Little Miss Popular. But what Madison soon discovered was that being Little Miss Popular wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Her best friends were ignoring her. Her brothers were angry at her. And her guardian angel, GA, was irritated by her snobbish attitude. And if things couldn’t get more messed up for Madison, everything that could go wrong at the talent show did, sparking Principal Dimples to find out why! Find out what happens at Gator Elementary’s Talent Show. Will GA be able to help Madison? Or will Madison become Little Miss Lonely? Also, try and find one of GA’s feathers in each picture!
Purchase
iTunes | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
You can purchase the first book of the series (e-copy), Tale of the Slimy Spitball for only 99 cents until Christmas, December 25, 2013 from Amazon. Just click on the cover below!
About the Author: Melissa Perry Moraja
Melissa Perry Moraja
Melissa Perry Moraja, Founder of Melissa Productions, Inc., is an entrepreneurial mom, a multifaceted business woman, a creative producer, and an author/illustrator of numerous modern-fantasy children’s books and self-help books. Melissa also has published articles, appeared on television, been interviewed on radio, has spoken in front of hundreds of people, and held workshops at local schools, discussing creative learning, publishing and parenting. Her desire to make a difference in her four young children’s lives inspired her to leave her six-salary career at IBM in 2007 to become a full-time mom and children’s author. Melissa spends her personal time coaching soccer and softball, painting, and coming up with fun art projects for her kids. She also blogs for Working Mother blog, has guest blogged for Charlotte Observer Mom’s Charlotte, and has her own personal blog at Not Your Ordinary Psychic Mom. Melissa is also committed to building awareness and support for Type 1 Diabetes. Her twin daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes November 4, 2011. To learn more about Madison’s type 1 diabetes disease please read Madison’s Story.
Website | Blog | Facebook (Author Fan Page)
Facebook (Book Fan Page) | Twitter | Pinterest
* $100 Book Blast Giveaway *
Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)
Contest runs: November 25 to December 24, 11:59 pm, 2013
Open: 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, Melissa Perry Moraja and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
