June McCrary Jacobs's Blog: ~ Author June McCrary Jacobs ~, page 78
April 9, 2020
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE TROUBLE IN WILLOW FALLS ~
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~BLOG TOUR STOP FOR:
-- 'THE TROUBLE IN WILLOW FALLS' --
AUTHOR PAT NICHOLS~Post Includes: Book Spotlight, Snippet, Author Bio & Giveaway~ 
About the Book
Series: Willow FallsGenre: Christian, ContemporaryPublisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas LPCPublication date: November 8, 2019
Months after submitting her first novel to publishers, Emily Hayes receives one response—a rejection. When famous artist Naomi Jasper offers her much-needed cash to finish writing, then cast and direct a play about Willow Falls’ colorful history, Emily faces a difficult decision—postpone rewriting her novel or accept the offer. Aware the project has a high probability of failure she attempts to recruit the one person who has the experience she needs.
Rachel Streetman is one audition away from jump-starting her lackluster acting career. When an unexpected incident sends her fleeing to Willow Falls and reeling back into Charlie Bricker’s arms, she reluctantly accepts Emily’s offer. An invitation to audition for a play in Atlanta’s premiere theater forces her to choose between loyalty and her life-long dream.
If anyone understands broken hearts, it’s Willow Inn’s beloved innkeeper. Sadie Liles learned to live with the fact that love is the last thing she’ll ever find. Then he walks through Willow Inn’s front door.
When a scathing blogger review and a negative Atlanta television newscast threaten Willow Falls’ premiere as a North Georgia tourist destination, the town council invests the remainder of its annual budget to hire a PR firm to restore the town’s image. At a town-hall meeting, angry residents brainstorm ideas to address the problem. When a second Atlanta television station announces plans to film a segment for its Around Georgia series, residents dig deep to invest their time and limited resources to boost Willow Falls’ appeal.
As the town prepares for Redding Arms’ grand opening, five newcomers and one British tourist test the town’s quirky, lovable, argumentative residents. Dealing with the strife, bickering, and personal backstabbing challenges Willow Falls in ways the small town never imagined. Could it be that the trouble in Willow Falls is the very thing that reminds its residents that honesty, love, and loyalty to one another is what binds them together?
GOODREADS | AMAZON
About the Author
Retired from a twenty-seven-year corporate career, Pat Nichols draws on her experience in seven different management positions working with hundreds of amazing women from all walks of life to create stories about women facing tension-laced challenges and heart-warming triumphs in the pursuit of their dreams.
Her debut novel, The Secret of Willow Inn , Willow Falls series book one, released January, 2019. Book two, The Trouble in Willow Falls , released November 4, 2019, and book three will be released in 2020. Pat received a 2018 NGCWC Georgia Peach Awards for her short story, The Vet and Valentine’s Day, and a 2019 NGCWC Georgia Peach Award for Willow Falls series book three. She received the 2017 CRW Woman of the Year Award and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers International. She has been featured on WATC Television Atlanta Alive and in Voyager Magazine http://voyageatl.com/interview/meet-pat-nichols-author-duluth/
FACEBOOK| TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITESnippetRachel Streetman stood on the sidewalk in downtown Atlanta and imagined living on the street. Sleeping in a doorway or on a bench in Centennial Park. Penniless. Alone. Men and women stepping around her as if she was nothing more than an obstacle blocking their paths. Children staring at her.
She tilted her head back and gazed at the top of the seventy-three-story circular Peachtree Plaza Hotel. Until a dizzy sensation threw her off balance and forced her focus back to ground level. She pressed her hand against a light pole. A week away from the most important audition in her life, she couldn’t risk passing out and breaking her arm or a tooth.
When the spinning stopped, she glanced at her watch. Fifteen minutes before lunch with her former assistant. She walked across the street and spotted a young man crouched on the sidewalk. His dog sprawled beside him. Brown hair brushed against his shirt collar. A scruffy beard covered the lower portion of his face. Was he the guy she’d befriended last year, before she resigned as vice president for her father’s company?
She moved closer and pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head. “Dennis Locke?”
His eyes widened. “Ms. Streetman?” He stood and wiped his hands on his jeans.
“It is you.”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around in a while.”
“No need to apologize. I didn’t expect a fine lady like you to keep coming back.”
She swiped a layer of sweat from her lip. Should she give him money and walk away? Or do some audition pre-work for the role—Penelope, a homeless woman who finds a winning lottery ticket. She stepped beside Dennis, relieved he smelled of soap and shampoo. “Are you still staying at the homeless shelter?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She leaned back against the wall. A man wearing expensive shoes and a three-piece suit tossed a handful of change toward the ball cap serving as Dennis’s collection plate. A quarter and three pennies missed the target and landed on the pavement. He moved past without making eye contact or uttering a word.
Heat crept up Rachel’s neck. “I guess he didn’t want those pesky coins rattling around in his pocket.”
“Don’t give him a hard time.”
“He could have said hello or at least nodded.”
Dennis shrugged. “Why would he?”
Rachel turned her attention to men and women rushing past without acknowledging their existence. “It’s like we’re invisible.”
“Easier for them.” He slid back to the pavement.
She sat beside him and imagined this was her spot, her cap poised for contributions. How would it feel to be hopeless and invisible, then suddenly have enough money to turn your life around?
Frightening? Challenging? What if she had no place to go? No one to love?
She swallowed the lump in her throat as images of Charlie, Mama Sadie, Emily, and Willow Falls played in her mind. Her refuge. She glanced sideways at Dennis. Maybe he needed something … or someone to motivate him off the street. A bizarre idea bubbled up. “July Fourth is in a few days.”
He swatted a fly from his face and wiped sweat from his forehead.
Words tumbled off her tongue before she had time to think. “Why don’t you spend the holiday in Willow Falls with me and my family? Emily, my twin sister, owns a lovely inn. You can stay there.”
Silence.
What are you doing, Rachel? You don’t need responsibility for a homeless man days before your audition. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her shins. Should she withdraw the invitation? Treat him like everyone who passed him by? She couldn’t do that.
“Look, I know I’ve caught you off guard. Frankly, I’m a bit surprised myself. The invitation still stands. I’ll come by the shelter on the third and pick you up.” She opened her wallet, removed all the bills, and dropped them in his cap.
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway HERE.
Giveaway ends April 15 at 11:59pm MT.Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.Tour ScheduleFollow along with the tour over on SLB Tours.
About the BookSeries: Willow FallsGenre: Christian, ContemporaryPublisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas LPCPublication date: November 8, 2019
Months after submitting her first novel to publishers, Emily Hayes receives one response—a rejection. When famous artist Naomi Jasper offers her much-needed cash to finish writing, then cast and direct a play about Willow Falls’ colorful history, Emily faces a difficult decision—postpone rewriting her novel or accept the offer. Aware the project has a high probability of failure she attempts to recruit the one person who has the experience she needs.
Rachel Streetman is one audition away from jump-starting her lackluster acting career. When an unexpected incident sends her fleeing to Willow Falls and reeling back into Charlie Bricker’s arms, she reluctantly accepts Emily’s offer. An invitation to audition for a play in Atlanta’s premiere theater forces her to choose between loyalty and her life-long dream.
If anyone understands broken hearts, it’s Willow Inn’s beloved innkeeper. Sadie Liles learned to live with the fact that love is the last thing she’ll ever find. Then he walks through Willow Inn’s front door.
When a scathing blogger review and a negative Atlanta television newscast threaten Willow Falls’ premiere as a North Georgia tourist destination, the town council invests the remainder of its annual budget to hire a PR firm to restore the town’s image. At a town-hall meeting, angry residents brainstorm ideas to address the problem. When a second Atlanta television station announces plans to film a segment for its Around Georgia series, residents dig deep to invest their time and limited resources to boost Willow Falls’ appeal.
As the town prepares for Redding Arms’ grand opening, five newcomers and one British tourist test the town’s quirky, lovable, argumentative residents. Dealing with the strife, bickering, and personal backstabbing challenges Willow Falls in ways the small town never imagined. Could it be that the trouble in Willow Falls is the very thing that reminds its residents that honesty, love, and loyalty to one another is what binds them together?
GOODREADS | AMAZON
About the Author
Retired from a twenty-seven-year corporate career, Pat Nichols draws on her experience in seven different management positions working with hundreds of amazing women from all walks of life to create stories about women facing tension-laced challenges and heart-warming triumphs in the pursuit of their dreams.
Her debut novel, The Secret of Willow Inn , Willow Falls series book one, released January, 2019. Book two, The Trouble in Willow Falls , released November 4, 2019, and book three will be released in 2020. Pat received a 2018 NGCWC Georgia Peach Awards for her short story, The Vet and Valentine’s Day, and a 2019 NGCWC Georgia Peach Award for Willow Falls series book three. She received the 2017 CRW Woman of the Year Award and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers International. She has been featured on WATC Television Atlanta Alive and in Voyager Magazine http://voyageatl.com/interview/meet-pat-nichols-author-duluth/
FACEBOOK| TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITESnippetRachel Streetman stood on the sidewalk in downtown Atlanta and imagined living on the street. Sleeping in a doorway or on a bench in Centennial Park. Penniless. Alone. Men and women stepping around her as if she was nothing more than an obstacle blocking their paths. Children staring at her.
She tilted her head back and gazed at the top of the seventy-three-story circular Peachtree Plaza Hotel. Until a dizzy sensation threw her off balance and forced her focus back to ground level. She pressed her hand against a light pole. A week away from the most important audition in her life, she couldn’t risk passing out and breaking her arm or a tooth.
When the spinning stopped, she glanced at her watch. Fifteen minutes before lunch with her former assistant. She walked across the street and spotted a young man crouched on the sidewalk. His dog sprawled beside him. Brown hair brushed against his shirt collar. A scruffy beard covered the lower portion of his face. Was he the guy she’d befriended last year, before she resigned as vice president for her father’s company?
She moved closer and pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head. “Dennis Locke?”
His eyes widened. “Ms. Streetman?” He stood and wiped his hands on his jeans.
“It is you.”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around in a while.”
“No need to apologize. I didn’t expect a fine lady like you to keep coming back.”
She swiped a layer of sweat from her lip. Should she give him money and walk away? Or do some audition pre-work for the role—Penelope, a homeless woman who finds a winning lottery ticket. She stepped beside Dennis, relieved he smelled of soap and shampoo. “Are you still staying at the homeless shelter?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She leaned back against the wall. A man wearing expensive shoes and a three-piece suit tossed a handful of change toward the ball cap serving as Dennis’s collection plate. A quarter and three pennies missed the target and landed on the pavement. He moved past without making eye contact or uttering a word.
Heat crept up Rachel’s neck. “I guess he didn’t want those pesky coins rattling around in his pocket.”
“Don’t give him a hard time.”
“He could have said hello or at least nodded.”
Dennis shrugged. “Why would he?”
Rachel turned her attention to men and women rushing past without acknowledging their existence. “It’s like we’re invisible.”
“Easier for them.” He slid back to the pavement.
She sat beside him and imagined this was her spot, her cap poised for contributions. How would it feel to be hopeless and invisible, then suddenly have enough money to turn your life around?
Frightening? Challenging? What if she had no place to go? No one to love?
She swallowed the lump in her throat as images of Charlie, Mama Sadie, Emily, and Willow Falls played in her mind. Her refuge. She glanced sideways at Dennis. Maybe he needed something … or someone to motivate him off the street. A bizarre idea bubbled up. “July Fourth is in a few days.”
He swatted a fly from his face and wiped sweat from his forehead.
Words tumbled off her tongue before she had time to think. “Why don’t you spend the holiday in Willow Falls with me and my family? Emily, my twin sister, owns a lovely inn. You can stay there.”
Silence.
What are you doing, Rachel? You don’t need responsibility for a homeless man days before your audition. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her shins. Should she withdraw the invitation? Treat him like everyone who passed him by? She couldn’t do that.
“Look, I know I’ve caught you off guard. Frankly, I’m a bit surprised myself. The invitation still stands. I’ll come by the shelter on the third and pick you up.” She opened her wallet, removed all the bills, and dropped them in his cap.
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway HERE.
Giveaway ends April 15 at 11:59pm MT.Giveaway is subject to policies HERE.Tour ScheduleFollow along with the tour over on SLB Tours.
April 7, 2020
~ CHRISTIAN FICTION BLITZ NEVER SAY GOODBYE ~
~ CHRISTIAN FICTION BLITZ ~
-- 'NEVER SAY GOODBYE' --
AUTHOR SARAH GRACE GRZY
Never Say Goodbye by Sarah Grace Grzy
Preorder Link https://amzn.to/2xFYYnv
She never imagined her beloved bookstore would reveal shattered places of herself she thought mended long ago.
Tyler Collens has seen grief and loss in his years of experience as a paramedic—but he never expected it to touch his life in such a personal way. Time and routine have steadied his feet, and he looks toward the future as he raises his infant daughter—but the past has a tighter grip on him than he knows.
Alyvia Emmerson has never been certain of who she is or where she belongs. Her dad’s abandonment as a teen broke a fragile piece of her heart, but ten years later, she has moved on. Living on her own, she at last has a project to devote herself to: revitalizing a shabby bookstore. But she didn’t count on her dream job revealing the shattered pieces of herself she thought mended long ago.
Learn more via JustRead Publicity Tours
sarahgracegrzy
#justreadtours #SarahGraceGrzy #NeverSayGoodbyebook #amreadingromance #christianfiction
Never Say Goodbye by Sarah Grace GrzyPreorder Link https://amzn.to/2xFYYnv
She never imagined her beloved bookstore would reveal shattered places of herself she thought mended long ago.
Tyler Collens has seen grief and loss in his years of experience as a paramedic—but he never expected it to touch his life in such a personal way. Time and routine have steadied his feet, and he looks toward the future as he raises his infant daughter—but the past has a tighter grip on him than he knows.
Alyvia Emmerson has never been certain of who she is or where she belongs. Her dad’s abandonment as a teen broke a fragile piece of her heart, but ten years later, she has moved on. Living on her own, she at last has a project to devote herself to: revitalizing a shabby bookstore. But she didn’t count on her dream job revealing the shattered pieces of herself she thought mended long ago.
Learn more via JustRead Publicity Tours
sarahgracegrzy
#justreadtours #SarahGraceGrzy #NeverSayGoodbyebook #amreadingromance #christianfiction
April 5, 2020
April 2, 2020
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE BORDER BREACH ~
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~BLOG TOUR STOP FOR:
-- 'BORDER BREACH' --
AUTHOR DARLENE L. TURNER~Post Includes: Book Spotlight, AuthorBio, Unique Author Guest Post &Giveaway~
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for
Border Breach
by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! ABOUT THE BOOK
Title:
Border Breach
Author: Darlene L. Turner
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: April 1, 2020
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
When drugs are smuggled across the border, it’s their duty to stop the culprits . . . at any cost.
Forming a joint task force, Canada border officer Kaylin Poirier and police constable Hudson Steeves have one objective: take down a drug-smuggling ring trying to sell a new lethal product. But when the smugglers come after Kaylin and Hudson, this mission becomes more than just a job. Can they live long enough to solve the case?
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
Can Research Be Fun?
Research—a chore or an opportunity? Every author has a job to do when it comes to writing a book. They need to get their facts straight. It must be done to make our stories authentic.
Why do many authors hate this aspect of the process? The number one reason is probably because it takes time. Time is very precious to all of us and we just want to get to the story. But don’t we want it to be realistic? Research can be exciting! It’s not just visiting a library or scouring the internet for information. Here are some ideas I’ve done while researching:
Field trips – For one of my manuscripts, I wanted a setting of a quaint, sleepy town, so I took a trip near the Detroit/Windsor border to do research on the town I wanted to use as the setting in one of my romantic suspense manuscripts. I was able to go to a coffee shop and talk to some locals. Got a great idea from an older resident who told me about the history of the town. Walking the streets of these places gives the author the layout of the land and it can be valuable in bringing the fiction story to life. Be sure to take a lot of pictures. As they say…they’re worth a thousand words and can help us bring our stories to life.
Enroll in a local Citizen’s Police/FBI Academy – I love this option. I was able to do this a few years ago and loved it. I even got to do a ride-a-long! It gives an author first-hand experience in the life of a police officer. Highly recommend it.
Interview when possible – Getting information first-hand from our subjects is the best way to go. This isn’t always physically possible but emailing or calling law enforcement can be done too. We need to stay away from television cop clichés. Not every cop eats donuts!
What type of research did I do for Border Breach ? Here’s a list:
--Googled information about the drug doda and poppy straw
--Contacted Canada Border Services Agency with these types of questions: do they work with other law enforcement agencies, do they carry firearms, do they make arrests, their biggest border smuggling challenges, how their operations are structured.
--Contacted police law enforcement with these types of questions: type of guns they use, if they work with CBSA, go undercover, forensic roles
--Visited their websites to get more details on their practices such as: uniform details, dog services the CBSA uses to help look for goods being smuggled
--Researched what flowers can be brought across the border and what documentation is required, weapons, Controlled Drugs and Substance Act, differences between Canada and the US, different prisons in the area
Yes, research CAN be fun! It not only helps writers be authentic but can be a blast.
You never know what you will learn!
* * *
CONNECT WITH DARLENE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY(1) winner will receive a cross pendant, bookmarks, pens, and $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 31, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on April 7, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for
Border Breach
by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! ABOUT THE BOOK
Title:
Border Breach
Author: Darlene L. Turner
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: April 1, 2020
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
When drugs are smuggled across the border, it’s their duty to stop the culprits . . . at any cost.
Forming a joint task force, Canada border officer Kaylin Poirier and police constable Hudson Steeves have one objective: take down a drug-smuggling ring trying to sell a new lethal product. But when the smugglers come after Kaylin and Hudson, this mission becomes more than just a job. Can they live long enough to solve the case?
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
Can Research Be Fun?
Research—a chore or an opportunity? Every author has a job to do when it comes to writing a book. They need to get their facts straight. It must be done to make our stories authentic.
Why do many authors hate this aspect of the process? The number one reason is probably because it takes time. Time is very precious to all of us and we just want to get to the story. But don’t we want it to be realistic? Research can be exciting! It’s not just visiting a library or scouring the internet for information. Here are some ideas I’ve done while researching:
Field trips – For one of my manuscripts, I wanted a setting of a quaint, sleepy town, so I took a trip near the Detroit/Windsor border to do research on the town I wanted to use as the setting in one of my romantic suspense manuscripts. I was able to go to a coffee shop and talk to some locals. Got a great idea from an older resident who told me about the history of the town. Walking the streets of these places gives the author the layout of the land and it can be valuable in bringing the fiction story to life. Be sure to take a lot of pictures. As they say…they’re worth a thousand words and can help us bring our stories to life.
Enroll in a local Citizen’s Police/FBI Academy – I love this option. I was able to do this a few years ago and loved it. I even got to do a ride-a-long! It gives an author first-hand experience in the life of a police officer. Highly recommend it.
Interview when possible – Getting information first-hand from our subjects is the best way to go. This isn’t always physically possible but emailing or calling law enforcement can be done too. We need to stay away from television cop clichés. Not every cop eats donuts!
What type of research did I do for Border Breach ? Here’s a list:
--Googled information about the drug doda and poppy straw
--Contacted Canada Border Services Agency with these types of questions: do they work with other law enforcement agencies, do they carry firearms, do they make arrests, their biggest border smuggling challenges, how their operations are structured.
--Contacted police law enforcement with these types of questions: type of guns they use, if they work with CBSA, go undercover, forensic roles
--Visited their websites to get more details on their practices such as: uniform details, dog services the CBSA uses to help look for goods being smuggled
--Researched what flowers can be brought across the border and what documentation is required, weapons, Controlled Drugs and Substance Act, differences between Canada and the US, different prisons in the area
Yes, research CAN be fun! It not only helps writers be authentic but can be a blast.
You never know what you will learn!
* * *
CONNECT WITH DARLENE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY(1) winner will receive a cross pendant, bookmarks, pens, and $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 31, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on April 7, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.March 31, 2020
~ RELEASE DAY BLOG TOUR STOP SHENANIGANS ~
~ RELEASE DAY BLOG TOUR STOP ~
-- 'SHENANIGANS' --
AUTHOR HEATHER NORMAN SMITH~Post Includes: Book Spotlight, Author Bio, Unique Author Guest Post & Giveaway~
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for Shenanigans by Heather Norman Smith, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title:
Shenanigans
Author: Heather Norman Smith
Publisher: Every Season Books
Release Date: April 1, 2020
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction
You're never too old for fun, faith, or love.
Lavinia Lewis is a wealthy southern widow who enjoys a good prank. But when a resident at her posh retirement community in Southport, North Carolina gets sick at a potluck, Lavinia's reputation as a jokester lands her in big trouble. How can she clear her name when her own daughter doesn't believe she's innocent?
Neville McGrath is a long-in-the-tooth lawyer, afraid of being put out to pasture. Torn between his nephew's offer to move to Maine to live with him and his desire to keep working, Neville discovers other options when he takes Lavinia's case.
The jokes keep her young, but Lavinia remembers the true source of joy as she faces criminal charges. Can she help Neville find his faith for the first time, and can they both find love at eighty-years-old?
A humorous and inspirational story with lovable characters, a beautiful setting, fun mystery, sweet romance, family drama, and an ending that will leave you sighing in satisfaction.
GUEST POST TOPICS: What inspired you to write a contemporary romance story about 'long-in-the-tooth' characters? What research, if any, did you conduct while working on your story?
FROM THE AUTHOR:This book literally began with one word: Shenanigans. As I explain in the author’s note, my family was headed down the road in our minivan when my husband made some passing comment about my mother and her 'shenanigans.' I don’t remember the context, but it was a light-hearted statement. We all laughed because the kids call her 'Nana' and it sounded like a play on her name. At that moment, I started dreaming up a story about a prank-playing grandmother. That was the beginning. I had to figure out how the pranks would turn into a conflict for her and what the resolution would be. It was a fun story to piece together, but the romance was a surprise to me. When Neville came in to help Lavinia with her problem, the story became much more romantic that I expected, so it felt like the characters just wanted it that way. The romance is so sweet, and I am really happy with the way it develops in the story. I know some cute, elderly dating couples in real life that served as great inspiration for that type of relationship as I was writing.
The setting of the book is a place with which I am very familiar, so I didn’t have to do a lot of research about it except to refresh my memory on street names and such, and to look at pictures to help better describe scenes. The most research time was probably spent on the criminal case. I had to learn what the charges, procedures, and processes could be like. Without giving away too much of the plot, I also researched the medical condition of fluoride hypersensitivity and the symptoms and effects of suffering a stroke.
OnePURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heather Norman Smith is a Christian Fiction and devotions author. Her goal is to use the written word to entertain and encourage while illuminating the redemptive love of God. She is proud to be a life-long North Carolinian and also aims to present the beauty of the Tar Heel State in her fiction. Heather's home is just outside Winston-Salem, NC, where she lives with her husband, their four children (currently including a foster son,) and several very spoiled pets. In addition to writing and spending time with her family, Heather enjoys singing about Jesus. Her "day job" is in the Information Technology field, and she is also involved in youth ministry with her husband. Heather's other novels include Grace & Lavender and Where I Was Planted.
CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY(1) winner will receive a print copy of Shenanigans and a story inspired glass ornament! Plus (1) additional winner will receive a print copy of Shenanigans!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 30, 2020, and last through 11:59 PM EST on April 6, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for Shenanigans by Heather Norman Smith, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title:
Shenanigans
Author: Heather Norman Smith
Publisher: Every Season Books
Release Date: April 1, 2020
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction
You're never too old for fun, faith, or love.
Lavinia Lewis is a wealthy southern widow who enjoys a good prank. But when a resident at her posh retirement community in Southport, North Carolina gets sick at a potluck, Lavinia's reputation as a jokester lands her in big trouble. How can she clear her name when her own daughter doesn't believe she's innocent?
Neville McGrath is a long-in-the-tooth lawyer, afraid of being put out to pasture. Torn between his nephew's offer to move to Maine to live with him and his desire to keep working, Neville discovers other options when he takes Lavinia's case.
The jokes keep her young, but Lavinia remembers the true source of joy as she faces criminal charges. Can she help Neville find his faith for the first time, and can they both find love at eighty-years-old?
A humorous and inspirational story with lovable characters, a beautiful setting, fun mystery, sweet romance, family drama, and an ending that will leave you sighing in satisfaction.
GUEST POST TOPICS: What inspired you to write a contemporary romance story about 'long-in-the-tooth' characters? What research, if any, did you conduct while working on your story?
FROM THE AUTHOR:This book literally began with one word: Shenanigans. As I explain in the author’s note, my family was headed down the road in our minivan when my husband made some passing comment about my mother and her 'shenanigans.' I don’t remember the context, but it was a light-hearted statement. We all laughed because the kids call her 'Nana' and it sounded like a play on her name. At that moment, I started dreaming up a story about a prank-playing grandmother. That was the beginning. I had to figure out how the pranks would turn into a conflict for her and what the resolution would be. It was a fun story to piece together, but the romance was a surprise to me. When Neville came in to help Lavinia with her problem, the story became much more romantic that I expected, so it felt like the characters just wanted it that way. The romance is so sweet, and I am really happy with the way it develops in the story. I know some cute, elderly dating couples in real life that served as great inspiration for that type of relationship as I was writing.
The setting of the book is a place with which I am very familiar, so I didn’t have to do a lot of research about it except to refresh my memory on street names and such, and to look at pictures to help better describe scenes. The most research time was probably spent on the criminal case. I had to learn what the charges, procedures, and processes could be like. Without giving away too much of the plot, I also researched the medical condition of fluoride hypersensitivity and the symptoms and effects of suffering a stroke.
OnePURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heather Norman Smith is a Christian Fiction and devotions author. Her goal is to use the written word to entertain and encourage while illuminating the redemptive love of God. She is proud to be a life-long North Carolinian and also aims to present the beauty of the Tar Heel State in her fiction. Heather's home is just outside Winston-Salem, NC, where she lives with her husband, their four children (currently including a foster son,) and several very spoiled pets. In addition to writing and spending time with her family, Heather enjoys singing about Jesus. Her "day job" is in the Information Technology field, and she is also involved in youth ministry with her husband. Heather's other novels include Grace & Lavender and Where I Was Planted.
CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY(1) winner will receive a print copy of Shenanigans and a story inspired glass ornament! Plus (1) additional winner will receive a print copy of Shenanigans!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 30, 2020, and last through 11:59 PM EST on April 6, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.March 29, 2020
~ MMGM FANTASY BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU WISH ~
~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADEMONDAY FANTASY FEATURE ~
-- 'BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU WISH' --
AUTHOR LIA LONDON~Post Includes: Book Spotlight, UniqueAuthor Interview & Giveaway~
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Big adventures can happen in tiny places!
Lon likes science projects and history books. Livi would rather bounce on the trampoline and play with her dog. This brother and sister have nothing in common.
When Lon and Livi discover a wedding party of fairies in their back yard, they accidentally steal a magic wish. But they can't just give it back. No! Magic doesn't work that way. They have to go on a dangerous quest for three special objects, and the only way to survive is to work together. That's going to be hard for two siblings who barely get along.
Oh, and there's one more problem. They're only a few inches tall now!!
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Careful-Where-You-Wish-ebook/dp/B085BJXJSY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lia London started writing when she was about ten years old. Mostly she wrote funny skits for her classmates to perform in school. By the time she was a freshman in college, she wrote a one-act musical comedy for a local children's theater.
She spent many years as a teacher in public, private, and home school co-op settings, and enjoys being creative and rambunctious with young students. Now-a-days, she teaches martial arts to children (which has meant making online videos in recent days thanks to Covid19). Every day, she is inspired by the way children see the world.
London has a cat named Cookie and a dog named Rolo, and they have a back yard and neighborhood that look very very much like the one in the story.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:
Website: https://lialondonbooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiaLondon1
June: Welcome to 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic', Lia. Congratulations on the recent release of your revamped middle-grade fantasy novel, 'Be Careful Where You Wish'!
June: Please tell us how you created your setting and developed the characters for this book. Do you plan for this book to kick-off a series or is it a standalone?
Lia: Since my own childhood days, I have always liked to daydream about what it might be like to be a few inches tall in a familiar place. How would everything change? What would be fun? What would be scary or difficult? That’s where the premise came from, and the story is consequently set in my own back yard. All the things described really exist in our neighborhood.
The main characters—two human children—are quite tightly based on my own children when they were little. The kids knew I would write a story about my daydream starring them someday, and I finally did.
June: Who is your favorite character in the story? Why is this character your favorite? Without spoiling the story, is there anyone in the story who you do not like? Why not?
Lia: In this story, the little sister Livi proves to be a lot of fun. She’s rambunctious and not quick to follow rules, but she’s also able to look on the bright side of situations and enjoy the wonder of new adventures.
I’m not particularly fond of Magenta, a flutterby fairy, who has a very negative sibling rivalry going with her sister Periwinkle. It makes her spiteful and reckless.
June: As I browsed your website in preparation for this interview, I discovered that you have written in the following genres: Children's Lit, Inspirational Non-Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Humor, and Romantic Comedies! Wow! Are there any other fictional genres you might want to try? What additional non-fiction subject(s) would you like to write about?
Lia: I’m eyeballing the whole dystopian genre that seems to have taken over the teen literature section. Also, I’d like to attempt a grand, epic fantasy novel. You know, the kind that acts as a doorstop or a dry flower press. Most of my books are on the shorter side of novel length, and I wonder if I could write an engaging enough story to keep readers turning for 400+ pages.
In the non-fiction world, I’m contemplating a short book with a title like Musings of a Middle-aged Ninja. It would talk about life lessons I’ve learned from my ten years of practicing and teaching martial arts.
June: What or who inspired you to become an author?
Lia: I was a latch-key kid growing up in neighborhoods that didn’t have a lot of other kids my age, so books were my most constant companions. The love of reading naturally spilled over into a love of storytelling, and I began writing humorous sketches in grade school. Writing never left my life from that time on.
June: When you write a book, do you outline the entire story, or do you have a different way of organizing your plot, characters, etc.? Do you always know the ending of your story before you begin putting things down on paper, or into your computer?
Lia: I’m a plotter/pantser hybrid. Usually, what happens is I’ll start getting ideas for a story. I open a document, give it a working title, and add “work pages”. The doc fills up with plot point ideas, character sketches, even bits of dialogue or key images.
Eventually, when I’m ready to work on the story for real, I print out the doc and cut it into the individual entries. Then I plop down on the carpet or clear the dining room table and stare at the pieces until a logical order starts to form. It’s not uncommon to see me assemble dozens of pieces of paper into piles and rows for hours at a time. Once I’ve sorted the ideas, I’ll create a bullet-point outline and start writing from there.
I typically know the beginning, a few big moments, and the grand finale, but the journey in between those points is left to the characters to dictate. I just start writing and let them take me along. If they get too far off the plan, I throw a course-correcting plot twist to nudge them back in the right direction—unless they had a better idea than I do, in which case I follow along, trusting! That sounds crazy, but writers know what I mean.
June: Please share the positives along with the challenges of being an indie author.
Lia: The biggest positive for me is the complete creative control. Yes, if I want to make bank, I need to play to market niches more, but the story is mine. The values are mine. No one is telling me to spice it up with more stuff that I consider yucky. And I can mix up genres, writing in several, and even combining them when it makes sense.
The biggest challenge is always the marketing. There are millions of books on Amazon. I can have a ranking in the six-digits, and I’m in the top 10% of writers. Five-digits = top 1%. But you need to be selling in those rankings or higher to be making any real money. It’s insane. You’ve literally got to beat out 99.9% of the books out there to make a solid living.
So, I don’t. Instead, it’s like a hobby that pays in fits and starts. Here a visit to Taco Bell, there a new patio set. Here a mani-pedi, there a vacation to Disney Land. It’s such a lava lamp of ups and downs. If you don’t accept that, you’ll be miserable. If you do, it’s like getting a windfall for doing something you’d do anyway because it’s therapeutic and fun.
June: You have taken a leadership role in the 'clean indie' publishing niche. Please discuss your reasons for and goals in launching the Clean Indie Reads Facebook group for indie authors and the Flinch-Free Fiction Facebook group and website which target readers who are interested in reading 'clean' fiction.
Lia: When I first ditched my corrupt publisher and went indie, I naturally wanted to find out more about what was happening in the self-published world of writers. I quickly discovered the wide disparity in quality, from gosh-awful-slop to holy-cow-wow-why-isn’t-this-a-movie-franchise-already?! Wanting to highlight the talented indies, I started a little book blog to feature the quality reads I found. Since I knew my most likely followers were going to be family and friends from church, I opted to stick to cleaner content. Thus, “Clean Indie Reads” was born.
Shortly after, one of the authors I’d featured suggested creating a Facebook group to help cross-promote. She already had a similar group going with a different niche, so she helped me figure out the ropes. Well, that little group exploded into a big group very quickly. Our focus evolved over time to one of support in the indie writing process, and I developed some amazing writer friends.
At the beginning of 2020, I opted to discontinue the book blog because it was taking a considerable amount of time and failed to yield the kind of exposure for my authors they needed and deserved. To market them more would have meant less time for writing, and I had to make a choice I could sustain.
In the end, I’m more proud of Clean Indie Reads and what we’ve accomplished in support for so many writers than I am for any of my books. Founding that group has changed some lives for the better, and that’s what I always want to do: empower others to be their best self.
[Note: The FlinchFreeFiction FB page has been discontinued because it wasn’t getting enough traffic to justify the effort.]
June: Thank you stopping by to chat with us for this Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday, Lia. We enjoyed learning about your career as an author and wish you much more success with your creative pursuits.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Big adventures can happen in tiny places!
Lon likes science projects and history books. Livi would rather bounce on the trampoline and play with her dog. This brother and sister have nothing in common.
When Lon and Livi discover a wedding party of fairies in their back yard, they accidentally steal a magic wish. But they can't just give it back. No! Magic doesn't work that way. They have to go on a dangerous quest for three special objects, and the only way to survive is to work together. That's going to be hard for two siblings who barely get along.
Oh, and there's one more problem. They're only a few inches tall now!!
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Careful-Where-You-Wish-ebook/dp/B085BJXJSY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lia London started writing when she was about ten years old. Mostly she wrote funny skits for her classmates to perform in school. By the time she was a freshman in college, she wrote a one-act musical comedy for a local children's theater.
She spent many years as a teacher in public, private, and home school co-op settings, and enjoys being creative and rambunctious with young students. Now-a-days, she teaches martial arts to children (which has meant making online videos in recent days thanks to Covid19). Every day, she is inspired by the way children see the world.
London has a cat named Cookie and a dog named Rolo, and they have a back yard and neighborhood that look very very much like the one in the story.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:
Website: https://lialondonbooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiaLondon1
June: Welcome to 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic', Lia. Congratulations on the recent release of your revamped middle-grade fantasy novel, 'Be Careful Where You Wish'!
June: Please tell us how you created your setting and developed the characters for this book. Do you plan for this book to kick-off a series or is it a standalone?
Lia: Since my own childhood days, I have always liked to daydream about what it might be like to be a few inches tall in a familiar place. How would everything change? What would be fun? What would be scary or difficult? That’s where the premise came from, and the story is consequently set in my own back yard. All the things described really exist in our neighborhood.
The main characters—two human children—are quite tightly based on my own children when they were little. The kids knew I would write a story about my daydream starring them someday, and I finally did.
June: Who is your favorite character in the story? Why is this character your favorite? Without spoiling the story, is there anyone in the story who you do not like? Why not?
Lia: In this story, the little sister Livi proves to be a lot of fun. She’s rambunctious and not quick to follow rules, but she’s also able to look on the bright side of situations and enjoy the wonder of new adventures.
I’m not particularly fond of Magenta, a flutterby fairy, who has a very negative sibling rivalry going with her sister Periwinkle. It makes her spiteful and reckless.
June: As I browsed your website in preparation for this interview, I discovered that you have written in the following genres: Children's Lit, Inspirational Non-Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Humor, and Romantic Comedies! Wow! Are there any other fictional genres you might want to try? What additional non-fiction subject(s) would you like to write about?
Lia: I’m eyeballing the whole dystopian genre that seems to have taken over the teen literature section. Also, I’d like to attempt a grand, epic fantasy novel. You know, the kind that acts as a doorstop or a dry flower press. Most of my books are on the shorter side of novel length, and I wonder if I could write an engaging enough story to keep readers turning for 400+ pages.
In the non-fiction world, I’m contemplating a short book with a title like Musings of a Middle-aged Ninja. It would talk about life lessons I’ve learned from my ten years of practicing and teaching martial arts.
June: What or who inspired you to become an author?
Lia: I was a latch-key kid growing up in neighborhoods that didn’t have a lot of other kids my age, so books were my most constant companions. The love of reading naturally spilled over into a love of storytelling, and I began writing humorous sketches in grade school. Writing never left my life from that time on.
June: When you write a book, do you outline the entire story, or do you have a different way of organizing your plot, characters, etc.? Do you always know the ending of your story before you begin putting things down on paper, or into your computer?
Lia: I’m a plotter/pantser hybrid. Usually, what happens is I’ll start getting ideas for a story. I open a document, give it a working title, and add “work pages”. The doc fills up with plot point ideas, character sketches, even bits of dialogue or key images.
Eventually, when I’m ready to work on the story for real, I print out the doc and cut it into the individual entries. Then I plop down on the carpet or clear the dining room table and stare at the pieces until a logical order starts to form. It’s not uncommon to see me assemble dozens of pieces of paper into piles and rows for hours at a time. Once I’ve sorted the ideas, I’ll create a bullet-point outline and start writing from there.
I typically know the beginning, a few big moments, and the grand finale, but the journey in between those points is left to the characters to dictate. I just start writing and let them take me along. If they get too far off the plan, I throw a course-correcting plot twist to nudge them back in the right direction—unless they had a better idea than I do, in which case I follow along, trusting! That sounds crazy, but writers know what I mean.
June: Please share the positives along with the challenges of being an indie author.
Lia: The biggest positive for me is the complete creative control. Yes, if I want to make bank, I need to play to market niches more, but the story is mine. The values are mine. No one is telling me to spice it up with more stuff that I consider yucky. And I can mix up genres, writing in several, and even combining them when it makes sense.
The biggest challenge is always the marketing. There are millions of books on Amazon. I can have a ranking in the six-digits, and I’m in the top 10% of writers. Five-digits = top 1%. But you need to be selling in those rankings or higher to be making any real money. It’s insane. You’ve literally got to beat out 99.9% of the books out there to make a solid living.
So, I don’t. Instead, it’s like a hobby that pays in fits and starts. Here a visit to Taco Bell, there a new patio set. Here a mani-pedi, there a vacation to Disney Land. It’s such a lava lamp of ups and downs. If you don’t accept that, you’ll be miserable. If you do, it’s like getting a windfall for doing something you’d do anyway because it’s therapeutic and fun.
June: You have taken a leadership role in the 'clean indie' publishing niche. Please discuss your reasons for and goals in launching the Clean Indie Reads Facebook group for indie authors and the Flinch-Free Fiction Facebook group and website which target readers who are interested in reading 'clean' fiction.
Lia: When I first ditched my corrupt publisher and went indie, I naturally wanted to find out more about what was happening in the self-published world of writers. I quickly discovered the wide disparity in quality, from gosh-awful-slop to holy-cow-wow-why-isn’t-this-a-movie-franchise-already?! Wanting to highlight the talented indies, I started a little book blog to feature the quality reads I found. Since I knew my most likely followers were going to be family and friends from church, I opted to stick to cleaner content. Thus, “Clean Indie Reads” was born.
Shortly after, one of the authors I’d featured suggested creating a Facebook group to help cross-promote. She already had a similar group going with a different niche, so she helped me figure out the ropes. Well, that little group exploded into a big group very quickly. Our focus evolved over time to one of support in the indie writing process, and I developed some amazing writer friends.
At the beginning of 2020, I opted to discontinue the book blog because it was taking a considerable amount of time and failed to yield the kind of exposure for my authors they needed and deserved. To market them more would have meant less time for writing, and I had to make a choice I could sustain.
In the end, I’m more proud of Clean Indie Reads and what we’ve accomplished in support for so many writers than I am for any of my books. Founding that group has changed some lives for the better, and that’s what I always want to do: empower others to be their best self.
[Note: The FlinchFreeFiction FB page has been discontinued because it wasn’t getting enough traffic to justify the effort.]
June: Thank you stopping by to chat with us for this Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday, Lia. We enjoyed learning about your career as an author and wish you much more success with your creative pursuits.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 26, 2020
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE HAPPY VALLEY BLOG TOUR ~
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~-- BLOG TOUR STOP FOR
AUTHOR LINN STEPP'S
'HAPPY VALLEY' & 'RETURN TO EDISTO' -- ~Post Includes: Book Spotlights, Excerpt,
Author Bio & Giveaway~
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Happy Valley & Return to Edisto by Lin Stepp, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!-ABOUT THE BOOKS-
Title:
Happy Valley
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 2, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Escape to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in this sweet tale of two young people who meet by chance, their paths soon overlapping and intertwining amid a cast of warm-hearted characters in the small rural community of Happy Valley.
With Grandpa suffering a heart attack, Juliette Hollander saw little choice but to head back to their Tennessee mountain farm in Happy Valley to help out. She didn’t expect, or want, to leave behind her life and work in North Carolina to return to her grandparents’ home so soon. Nor did she imagine meeting, and working with, the mysterious man she met briefly last summer and never thought to see again.
Walker Logan spent the last two years traveling the United States, seeing the beauty of the country and running from his past. But an old rock house he sees while hiking near Abrams Creek Campground unexpectedly calls to his soul. With danger close behind, he never stayed in one place long enough to put down roots. Yet now, with a new vision, he decides to take the risk.
EXCERPT FROM 'HAPPY VALLEY':
Someone was following him. His heartbeat kicked up, and he felt a thin sweat break across his brow. Walker could see the black van still behind him. It had followed him for the last several miles. Revving his cycle, he turned off on the side road ahead, glancing into his rear view mirror as he did, only to see the van drive by him. He’d been wrong. Again.
It was time to get past this—long past time.
He slowed on the narrow country road and then gunned his motorcycle into a rough gravel driveway. Roaring to a stop, Walker switched off the motor and dropped his feet to the ground. He pushed the cycle over to prop it against the gate of the rural property, trying not to glance back to see if the van had returned. But he could only hear the quiet of the country now.
Walking around to shake off the tension, he let the sounds of the birds, the hum of insects in the field, and the sun overhead calm him. He hated these moments. It was time for a change, and he was headed in that direction. He’d be danged if he’d let one flashback spook him again.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
* * * * * *
Title:
Return to Edisto
Series: The Edisto Trilogy #2
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 2, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Return to Edisto Island in the rich, Lowcountry story of a young woman’s difficult decision to run from threat and danger, changing the course of her well-ordered life and, in turn, the life of the young man who loved and lost her.
It was a long trip back to Edisto Island, South Carolina, and the beach house that shaped so much of Mary Helen Avery’s early life. Now her mind flashed between anger and hurt over the difficult situation she’d left behind at the job she loved. Was she doing the right thing to leave? Should she have stayed to fight? She hoped at the quiet, beloved island she knew so well, she’d find the answers she needed and peace from all this turmoil.
J.T.’s heart took a familiar lurch when he saw the car with New Jersey plates parked at the Avery’s beach house. Even after ten years, the memory of Mary Helen Avery still tormented him. Finding her on the porch weeping lit old fires he thought long dead. Was he a fool to hope for something more between them with all their problems of the past? Probably so, but if she stayed long enough, he’d find one more chance to try.
EXCERPT FROM 'RETURN TO EDISTO':
“Hmmm.” Kizzy put a hand to Mary Helen’s face, lifting her chin until she could look in her eyes. “You’ve been hurt, girl.” She stroked a hand gently over Mary Helen’s cheek. “But don’t you worry none. The island is a good place for healing and the good Lord lives strong here. He’ll help you work things through.”
Mary Helen bit her lip, trying not to let tears leak out at the kind words. Kizzy had always been intuitive about things. …
Kizzy followed Mary Helen to the door and out on the porch, walking with her to the car. After Mary Helen put her groceries inside and climbed in, Kizzy put a hand on the door before Mary Helen closed it, leaning over to study Mary Helen’s face once more.
“You’re a preacher’s girl, but I’m seeing you’ve drifted off and away from your faith. Leaning only to your own understanding won’t help you find the best answers at this time.” She paused, shaking her head. “You know the One who’s got the best answers for everything, girl. You may be mad at Him right now and think He hasn’t been watching out for you like He should, but it’s you that’s distanced yourself from Him. You do a little seeking and you’ll find Him drawing near again.”
Mary Helen mumbled something in reply as Kizzy closed her car door. Pulling out onto the highway, she started crying and wept all the way to the beach house at Oleanders, hardly noticing the familiar scenery along the way. All the emotions she’d pushed down and held back this week seemed to suddenly overtake her.
* * * * * PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lin Stepp is a native Tennessean, businesswoman, and educator. A New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon best-selling international author, Lin has eighteen published books, including her twelve beloved Smoky Mountain novels, all set in different Tennessee and North Carolina locations, her newest Mountain Home book, a novella in one of Kensington’s Christmas anthologies, and two novels in her new Edisto Trilogy, set on the South Carolina coast. Lin and her husband, J.L., also write regional guidebooks, including a Smoky Mountain hiking guide and a Tennessee state parks book.
Stepp’s latest 2020 releases are Happy Valley, set in a quiet rural valley near the Smoky Mountains, and Return to Edisto, set at Edisto Beach, South Carolina. Lin’s previous title Claire At Edisto was the 2019 Best Books Award Winner in Fiction: Romance, sponsored by American Book Fest, her novel Welcome Back a finalist in the 2017 Selah Awards, and Lin and her husband’s guidebook Discovering Tennessee State Parks a 2019 American Book Fest Best Books Award Finalist in Nonfiction: Travel Guides and Essays.
Lin enjoys speaking for events, festivals, libraries, and book clubs, reading, hiking, exploring out of doors, and keeping up with her readers on Facebook, Twitter, and through her monthly blog and newsletter which you will find on her website at: www.linstepp.com
CONNECT WITH LIN: Website | Facebook | Twitter
TOUR GIVEAWAY(1) winner will receive a print copy of Happy Valley & Return to Edisto, matching bookmarks, and a $25 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 23, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on March 30, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
# # # # #
AUTHOR LINN STEPP'S
'HAPPY VALLEY' & 'RETURN TO EDISTO' -- ~Post Includes: Book Spotlights, Excerpt,
Author Bio & Giveaway~
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Happy Valley & Return to Edisto by Lin Stepp, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!-ABOUT THE BOOKS-
Title:
Happy Valley
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 2, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Escape to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in this sweet tale of two young people who meet by chance, their paths soon overlapping and intertwining amid a cast of warm-hearted characters in the small rural community of Happy Valley.
With Grandpa suffering a heart attack, Juliette Hollander saw little choice but to head back to their Tennessee mountain farm in Happy Valley to help out. She didn’t expect, or want, to leave behind her life and work in North Carolina to return to her grandparents’ home so soon. Nor did she imagine meeting, and working with, the mysterious man she met briefly last summer and never thought to see again.
Walker Logan spent the last two years traveling the United States, seeing the beauty of the country and running from his past. But an old rock house he sees while hiking near Abrams Creek Campground unexpectedly calls to his soul. With danger close behind, he never stayed in one place long enough to put down roots. Yet now, with a new vision, he decides to take the risk.
EXCERPT FROM 'HAPPY VALLEY':
Someone was following him. His heartbeat kicked up, and he felt a thin sweat break across his brow. Walker could see the black van still behind him. It had followed him for the last several miles. Revving his cycle, he turned off on the side road ahead, glancing into his rear view mirror as he did, only to see the van drive by him. He’d been wrong. Again.
It was time to get past this—long past time.
He slowed on the narrow country road and then gunned his motorcycle into a rough gravel driveway. Roaring to a stop, Walker switched off the motor and dropped his feet to the ground. He pushed the cycle over to prop it against the gate of the rural property, trying not to glance back to see if the van had returned. But he could only hear the quiet of the country now.
Walking around to shake off the tension, he let the sounds of the birds, the hum of insects in the field, and the sun overhead calm him. He hated these moments. It was time for a change, and he was headed in that direction. He’d be danged if he’d let one flashback spook him again.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
* * * * * *
Title:
Return to Edisto
Series: The Edisto Trilogy #2
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 2, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Return to Edisto Island in the rich, Lowcountry story of a young woman’s difficult decision to run from threat and danger, changing the course of her well-ordered life and, in turn, the life of the young man who loved and lost her.
It was a long trip back to Edisto Island, South Carolina, and the beach house that shaped so much of Mary Helen Avery’s early life. Now her mind flashed between anger and hurt over the difficult situation she’d left behind at the job she loved. Was she doing the right thing to leave? Should she have stayed to fight? She hoped at the quiet, beloved island she knew so well, she’d find the answers she needed and peace from all this turmoil.
J.T.’s heart took a familiar lurch when he saw the car with New Jersey plates parked at the Avery’s beach house. Even after ten years, the memory of Mary Helen Avery still tormented him. Finding her on the porch weeping lit old fires he thought long dead. Was he a fool to hope for something more between them with all their problems of the past? Probably so, but if she stayed long enough, he’d find one more chance to try.
EXCERPT FROM 'RETURN TO EDISTO':
“Hmmm.” Kizzy put a hand to Mary Helen’s face, lifting her chin until she could look in her eyes. “You’ve been hurt, girl.” She stroked a hand gently over Mary Helen’s cheek. “But don’t you worry none. The island is a good place for healing and the good Lord lives strong here. He’ll help you work things through.”
Mary Helen bit her lip, trying not to let tears leak out at the kind words. Kizzy had always been intuitive about things. …
Kizzy followed Mary Helen to the door and out on the porch, walking with her to the car. After Mary Helen put her groceries inside and climbed in, Kizzy put a hand on the door before Mary Helen closed it, leaning over to study Mary Helen’s face once more.
“You’re a preacher’s girl, but I’m seeing you’ve drifted off and away from your faith. Leaning only to your own understanding won’t help you find the best answers at this time.” She paused, shaking her head. “You know the One who’s got the best answers for everything, girl. You may be mad at Him right now and think He hasn’t been watching out for you like He should, but it’s you that’s distanced yourself from Him. You do a little seeking and you’ll find Him drawing near again.”
Mary Helen mumbled something in reply as Kizzy closed her car door. Pulling out onto the highway, she started crying and wept all the way to the beach house at Oleanders, hardly noticing the familiar scenery along the way. All the emotions she’d pushed down and held back this week seemed to suddenly overtake her.
* * * * * PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lin Stepp is a native Tennessean, businesswoman, and educator. A New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon best-selling international author, Lin has eighteen published books, including her twelve beloved Smoky Mountain novels, all set in different Tennessee and North Carolina locations, her newest Mountain Home book, a novella in one of Kensington’s Christmas anthologies, and two novels in her new Edisto Trilogy, set on the South Carolina coast. Lin and her husband, J.L., also write regional guidebooks, including a Smoky Mountain hiking guide and a Tennessee state parks book.
Stepp’s latest 2020 releases are Happy Valley, set in a quiet rural valley near the Smoky Mountains, and Return to Edisto, set at Edisto Beach, South Carolina. Lin’s previous title Claire At Edisto was the 2019 Best Books Award Winner in Fiction: Romance, sponsored by American Book Fest, her novel Welcome Back a finalist in the 2017 Selah Awards, and Lin and her husband’s guidebook Discovering Tennessee State Parks a 2019 American Book Fest Best Books Award Finalist in Nonfiction: Travel Guides and Essays.
Lin enjoys speaking for events, festivals, libraries, and book clubs, reading, hiking, exploring out of doors, and keeping up with her readers on Facebook, Twitter, and through her monthly blog and newsletter which you will find on her website at: www.linstepp.com
CONNECT WITH LIN: Website | Facebook | Twitter
TOUR GIVEAWAY(1) winner will receive a print copy of Happy Valley & Return to Edisto, matching bookmarks, and a $25 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 23, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on March 30, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.# # # # #
March 22, 2020
~ MMGM RETRO FICTION FEATURE MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE ~
~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADEMONDAY RETRO FICTION HORSEADVENTURE FEATURE ~
-- MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE --
AUTHOR MARGUERITE HENRYILLUSTRATOR WESLEY DENNIS
LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS
ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:On an island off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her--that is, until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and determine that they can't live without her. The frenzied roundup that follows on the next "Pony Penning Day" does indeed bring Phantom into their lives, in a way they never would have suspected.
Phantom would forever be a creature of the wild. But her gentle, loyal colt Misty is another story altogether.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR {from Goodreads}:Marguerite Henry (April 13, 1902-November 26, 1997) was an American writer. The author of fifty-nine books based on true stories of horses and other animals, her work has captivated entire generations of children and young adults and won several Newbery Awards and Honors. Among the more famous of her works was Misty of Chincoteague, which was the basis for the 1961 movie Misty, and several sequel books.
"It is exciting to me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower ... even in the new age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder and challenge." This quote was from an article about Henry published in the Washington Post on November 28, 1997, in response to a query about her drive to write about horses.
Marguerite Henry inspired children all over the world with her love of animals, especially horses. Author of over fifty children's stories, including the Misty of Chincoteague series, Henry's love of animals started during her childhood. Unfortunately, Henry was stricken with a rheumatic fever at the age of six, which kept her bedridden until the age of twelve. Born to Louis and Anna Breithaupt, the youngest of the five children, Henry was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Because of her illness, Henry wasn't allowed to go to school with other children because of her weak state and the fear of spreading the illness to others. While she was confined indoors, she discovered the joy of reading. Soon afterwards, she also discovered a love for writing when her father, a publisher, presented her with a writing desk for Christmas. On the top of stacks of colored paper her father wrote, “Dear Last of the Mohicans: Not a penny for your thoughts, but a tablet. Merry Christmas! Pappa Louis XXXX.”
Henry's first published work came at the age of eleven, a short story about a collie and a group of children, which she sold to a magazine for $12. Henry always wrote about animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, foxes, and even mules, but chiefly her stories focused on horses.
In 1923, she married Sidney Crocker Henry. During their sixty-four years of marriage they didn't have children, but instead had many pets that inspired some of Marguerite’s stories. They lived in Wayne, Illinois.
In 1947, she published Misty of Chincoteague and it was an instant success. Later, this book—as well as Justin Morgan had a Horse and Brighty of the Grand Canyon—were made into movies.
She finished her last book, Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley, just before her death on November 26, 1997 at the age of 95.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR {from Goodreads}:(John) Wesley Dennis (May 16, 1903-September 5, 1966) was an American illustrator best known for his collaboration with author Marguerite Henry, with whom he published 15 books.
He illustrated over 150 books in his lifetime, including Anna Sewell's Black Beauty and John Steinbeck's The Red Pony. He also wrote and illustrated a few books of his own, among which are Flip, Flip and the Cows, Flip and the Morning, and Tumble.
MY THOUGHTS: As I may have mentioned a few hundred times since I launched this blog, I adore historical fiction. I especially enjoy rereading my favorite books from my own middle-grade years--and there are a lot of them because I have been a voracious reader since I was in Kindergarten!
As your read in the above author biography, Marguerite Henry wrote many horse stories. I checked several book sites and found that this 'Misty' series included four books:
Misty of Chincoteague Sea Star Stormy, Misty's Foal Misty's Twilight I remember reading Misty and Stormy as a middle-grader, but I do not remember reading Sea Star. Misty's Twilight was published in 1992, obviously long after I was a middle-grader.
LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:On an island off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her--that is, until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and determine that they can't live without her. The frenzied roundup that follows on the next "Pony Penning Day" does indeed bring Phantom into their lives, in a way they never would have suspected.
Phantom would forever be a creature of the wild. But her gentle, loyal colt Misty is another story altogether.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR {from Goodreads}:Marguerite Henry (April 13, 1902-November 26, 1997) was an American writer. The author of fifty-nine books based on true stories of horses and other animals, her work has captivated entire generations of children and young adults and won several Newbery Awards and Honors. Among the more famous of her works was Misty of Chincoteague, which was the basis for the 1961 movie Misty, and several sequel books.
"It is exciting to me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower ... even in the new age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder and challenge." This quote was from an article about Henry published in the Washington Post on November 28, 1997, in response to a query about her drive to write about horses.
Marguerite Henry inspired children all over the world with her love of animals, especially horses. Author of over fifty children's stories, including the Misty of Chincoteague series, Henry's love of animals started during her childhood. Unfortunately, Henry was stricken with a rheumatic fever at the age of six, which kept her bedridden until the age of twelve. Born to Louis and Anna Breithaupt, the youngest of the five children, Henry was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Because of her illness, Henry wasn't allowed to go to school with other children because of her weak state and the fear of spreading the illness to others. While she was confined indoors, she discovered the joy of reading. Soon afterwards, she also discovered a love for writing when her father, a publisher, presented her with a writing desk for Christmas. On the top of stacks of colored paper her father wrote, “Dear Last of the Mohicans: Not a penny for your thoughts, but a tablet. Merry Christmas! Pappa Louis XXXX.”
Henry's first published work came at the age of eleven, a short story about a collie and a group of children, which she sold to a magazine for $12. Henry always wrote about animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, foxes, and even mules, but chiefly her stories focused on horses.
In 1923, she married Sidney Crocker Henry. During their sixty-four years of marriage they didn't have children, but instead had many pets that inspired some of Marguerite’s stories. They lived in Wayne, Illinois.
In 1947, she published Misty of Chincoteague and it was an instant success. Later, this book—as well as Justin Morgan had a Horse and Brighty of the Grand Canyon—were made into movies.
She finished her last book, Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley, just before her death on November 26, 1997 at the age of 95.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR {from Goodreads}:(John) Wesley Dennis (May 16, 1903-September 5, 1966) was an American illustrator best known for his collaboration with author Marguerite Henry, with whom he published 15 books.
He illustrated over 150 books in his lifetime, including Anna Sewell's Black Beauty and John Steinbeck's The Red Pony. He also wrote and illustrated a few books of his own, among which are Flip, Flip and the Cows, Flip and the Morning, and Tumble.
MY THOUGHTS: As I may have mentioned a few hundred times since I launched this blog, I adore historical fiction. I especially enjoy rereading my favorite books from my own middle-grade years--and there are a lot of them because I have been a voracious reader since I was in Kindergarten!
As your read in the above author biography, Marguerite Henry wrote many horse stories. I checked several book sites and found that this 'Misty' series included four books:
Misty of Chincoteague Sea Star Stormy, Misty's Foal Misty's Twilight I remember reading Misty and Stormy as a middle-grader, but I do not remember reading Sea Star. Misty's Twilight was published in 1992, obviously long after I was a middle-grader.
March 19, 2020
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE BORDER BREACH ~
~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~-- BLITZ FOR AUTHOR DARLENE L. TURNER'SNEWEST LOVE INSPIRED ROMANTICSUSPENSE RELEASE, 'BORDER BREACH' --
My Friday Fiction Feature this week is a Blitz for Author Darlene L. Turner's newest Love Inspired Romantic Suspense release, 'Border Breach'. If you love to read clean, inspirational books with loads of fast-paced action, suspense, and romance, this book may be just the new read you're looking for.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When drugs are smuggled across the border it’s their duty to stop the culprits…at any cost.
Forming a joint task force, Canada border officer Kaylin Poirier and police constable Hudson Steeves have one objective: Take down a drug-smuggling ring trying to sell a new lethal product. But when the smugglers come after Kaylin and Hudson, this mission becomes more than just a job. Can they live long enough to solve the case?
The waves crashed against the shoreline, reminding her of God’s peace.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2VXT8I4
#justreadtours #borderbreach #loveinspiredsuspense #darlenelturner #ReadapageTurner #debutnovel #christianfiction #harlequin
# # # # #
My Friday Fiction Feature this week is a Blitz for Author Darlene L. Turner's newest Love Inspired Romantic Suspense release, 'Border Breach'. If you love to read clean, inspirational books with loads of fast-paced action, suspense, and romance, this book may be just the new read you're looking for. ABOUT THE BOOK:
When drugs are smuggled across the border it’s their duty to stop the culprits…at any cost.
Forming a joint task force, Canada border officer Kaylin Poirier and police constable Hudson Steeves have one objective: Take down a drug-smuggling ring trying to sell a new lethal product. But when the smugglers come after Kaylin and Hudson, this mission becomes more than just a job. Can they live long enough to solve the case?
The waves crashed against the shoreline, reminding her of God’s peace.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2VXT8I4
#justreadtours #borderbreach #loveinspiredsuspense #darlenelturner #ReadapageTurner #debutnovel #christianfiction #harlequin
# # # # #
March 15, 2020
~ MMGM S.T.E.A.M. FEATURE CALLING ALL MINDS ~
~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADEMONDAY S.T.E.A.M. FEATURE ~
-- 'CALLING ALL MINDS' --
AUTHOR TEMPLE GRANDIN
LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS
ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:
Have you ever wondered what makes a kite fly or a boat float? Have you ever thought about why snowflakes are symmetrical, or why golf balls have dimples? Have you ever tried to make a kaleidoscope or build a pair of stilts?
In Calling All Minds , Temple Grandin explores the ideas behind all of those questions and more. She delves into the science behind inventions, the steps various people took to create and improve upon ideas as they evolved, and the ways in which young inventors can continue to think about and understand what it means to tinker, to fiddle, and to innovate. And laced throughout it all, Temple gives us glimpses into her own childhood tinkering, building, and inventing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR {from Goodreads}:
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., didn't talk until she was three and a half years old, communicating her frustration instead by screaming, peeping, and humming. In 1950, she was diagnosed with autism and her parents were told she should be institutionalized. She tells her story of "groping her way from the far side of darkness" in her book Emergence: Labeled Autistic, a book which stunned the world because, until its publication, most professionals and parents assumed that an autism diagnosis was virtually a death sentence to achievement or productivity in life.
Even though she was considered "weird" in her young school years, she eventually found a mentor, who recognized her interests and abilities. Dr. Grandin later developed her talents into a successful career as a livestock-handling equipment designer, one of very few in the world. She has now designed the facilities in which half the cattle are handled in the United States, consulting for firms such as Burger King, McDonald's, Swift, and others.
Dr. Grandin presently works as a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She also speaks around the world on both autism and cattle handling.
(Excerpted from Temple Grandin's Official Autism Website)
MY THOUGHTS:
Although this book was originally published in 2018, I recently discovered it when I was browsing on the non-fiction 'New Arrivals' shelf in the middle-grade section of the local public library. Since I had read about Temple Grandin for the first time a couple of months ago, I decided to give this book a try.
I have been known to tear up or shed a few tears while reading a book, seeing a movie or TV show, or hearing a song that touches me and moves me in some way. I disclose this because I was extremely moved by the author's Introduction to this book.
As an elementary school educator for over twenty years, I worked with many students on the autism spectrum who were either full-time members of my class or who were mainstreamed into my classroom for a period of time each week. Reading the author's poignant retelling of her childhood and her journey up through adulthood living on the autism spectrum reminded me of so many of the young people I worked with over the years.
Viewing autism again through Temple Grandin's eyes truly was an epiphany for me as a human being!
"Autism is not 'one size fits all.' The more we learn about 'the spectrum' . . . , the more we will understand different kinds of minds and how important different kinds of thinkers are--especially where creativity, innovation, and invention are concerned." Temple Grandin, page 3
Grandin also shares important facts about many other inventors from the past -- Mathematician Grace Murray Hopper, Thomas Alva Edison, and Elias Howe are just a few of the inventors the author references in this book. In fact, the book is probably three-quarters inventor bios and one-quarter projects.
Now, on to the projects in the book. There are five chapters of projects for kids to replicate. Things Made of Paper, Levers and Pulleys, Things Made of Wood, Things That Fly, and Optical Illusions. All historical photos, diagrams, and drawings in the book are black and white. Many diagrams submitted with patents of the past are included in this book.
The projects in the book are fairly simple and use common materials. There is a safety warning at the front of the book about using sharp or dangerous tools under adult supervision. I felt that many of these projects would be 'fun' activities for small groups of children to work on together in the classroom, in a youth group, in a club, or in Scouts.
The Handmade Paper, Kaleidoscope, Jumping Jack, Puppet Theater & Curtain, Marionette, Kite, Stereoscope, and Solar System Diorama projects caught my eye because they are things I would have been interested in making as a middle-grade learner. The Epilogue about Grandin's Squeeze Machine was interesting.
Recommended for upper middle-grade students interested in S.T.E.A.M. subjects and for educators, librarians, and science club leaders.
LEARN MORE ON GOODREADS ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:
Have you ever wondered what makes a kite fly or a boat float? Have you ever thought about why snowflakes are symmetrical, or why golf balls have dimples? Have you ever tried to make a kaleidoscope or build a pair of stilts?
In Calling All Minds , Temple Grandin explores the ideas behind all of those questions and more. She delves into the science behind inventions, the steps various people took to create and improve upon ideas as they evolved, and the ways in which young inventors can continue to think about and understand what it means to tinker, to fiddle, and to innovate. And laced throughout it all, Temple gives us glimpses into her own childhood tinkering, building, and inventing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR {from Goodreads}:
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., didn't talk until she was three and a half years old, communicating her frustration instead by screaming, peeping, and humming. In 1950, she was diagnosed with autism and her parents were told she should be institutionalized. She tells her story of "groping her way from the far side of darkness" in her book Emergence: Labeled Autistic, a book which stunned the world because, until its publication, most professionals and parents assumed that an autism diagnosis was virtually a death sentence to achievement or productivity in life.
Even though she was considered "weird" in her young school years, she eventually found a mentor, who recognized her interests and abilities. Dr. Grandin later developed her talents into a successful career as a livestock-handling equipment designer, one of very few in the world. She has now designed the facilities in which half the cattle are handled in the United States, consulting for firms such as Burger King, McDonald's, Swift, and others.
Dr. Grandin presently works as a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She also speaks around the world on both autism and cattle handling.
(Excerpted from Temple Grandin's Official Autism Website)
MY THOUGHTS:
Although this book was originally published in 2018, I recently discovered it when I was browsing on the non-fiction 'New Arrivals' shelf in the middle-grade section of the local public library. Since I had read about Temple Grandin for the first time a couple of months ago, I decided to give this book a try.
I have been known to tear up or shed a few tears while reading a book, seeing a movie or TV show, or hearing a song that touches me and moves me in some way. I disclose this because I was extremely moved by the author's Introduction to this book.
As an elementary school educator for over twenty years, I worked with many students on the autism spectrum who were either full-time members of my class or who were mainstreamed into my classroom for a period of time each week. Reading the author's poignant retelling of her childhood and her journey up through adulthood living on the autism spectrum reminded me of so many of the young people I worked with over the years.
Viewing autism again through Temple Grandin's eyes truly was an epiphany for me as a human being!
"Autism is not 'one size fits all.' The more we learn about 'the spectrum' . . . , the more we will understand different kinds of minds and how important different kinds of thinkers are--especially where creativity, innovation, and invention are concerned." Temple Grandin, page 3
Grandin also shares important facts about many other inventors from the past -- Mathematician Grace Murray Hopper, Thomas Alva Edison, and Elias Howe are just a few of the inventors the author references in this book. In fact, the book is probably three-quarters inventor bios and one-quarter projects.
Now, on to the projects in the book. There are five chapters of projects for kids to replicate. Things Made of Paper, Levers and Pulleys, Things Made of Wood, Things That Fly, and Optical Illusions. All historical photos, diagrams, and drawings in the book are black and white. Many diagrams submitted with patents of the past are included in this book.
The projects in the book are fairly simple and use common materials. There is a safety warning at the front of the book about using sharp or dangerous tools under adult supervision. I felt that many of these projects would be 'fun' activities for small groups of children to work on together in the classroom, in a youth group, in a club, or in Scouts.
The Handmade Paper, Kaleidoscope, Jumping Jack, Puppet Theater & Curtain, Marionette, Kite, Stereoscope, and Solar System Diorama projects caught my eye because they are things I would have been interested in making as a middle-grade learner. The Epilogue about Grandin's Squeeze Machine was interesting.
Recommended for upper middle-grade students interested in S.T.E.A.M. subjects and for educators, librarians, and science club leaders.
~ Author June McCrary Jacobs ~
Welcome to my Goodreads blog!
Follow me on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/June-McCrary...
Follow me on Pinterest at: https://www.pinterest.com/junemccrary...
View and subscribe to my 'Reading, Wri ...more
Follow me on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/June-McCrary...
Follow me on Pinterest at: https://www.pinterest.com/junemccrary...
View and subscribe to my 'Reading, Wri ...more
- June McCrary Jacobs's profile
- 153 followers
