Mymcbooks Book review and giveaway, with author interview!

FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW TO SEE AN AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH YOURS TRULY AS WELL AS A BOOK REVIEW AND GIVE AWAY!

Interview: http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com ​/category/meet-the-author/

Facebooks - Meet the Author: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Meet-The-Author/211777542192164 

Book Review: http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/category/free-giveaways/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sh-Let-Baby-Sleep/product-reviews/1616331569/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Ella JohnsonMemorable Children Books & Gifts
Email: mymcbooks@yahoo.com

Website: www.mcbooksandgifts.com

Blog: http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com

Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/memchiboogif-20

Check out this link to see a  new book review and adorable pictures! http://homeschoolblogger.com/hillarym/783485/

PLEASE "LIKE" MY BOOK'S FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sh-Sh-Sh-Let-the-Baby-Sleep/102420823186683

KATHY STEMKE'S WEBSITES:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285

Sibling Rivalry-Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep Book Tour!

http://writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/
Please visit me today at Sylvia Ney's blog for a discussion on sibling rivalry.


Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285

Webtime Stories™ Offer a New Technology Solution to Summer Reading Slump

In recognition of the research identifying a drop in language and reading skills during the summer break, Be There Bedtime Stories is offering a new, parent-approved, multimedia solution which benefits early literacy, keeps kids connected to family members far away and features a high-tech, “cool” factor.

"We discovered that young readers were motivated to read Webtime Stories because of the video aspect," said Founder, Alison Sansone.

Research spanning a century shows that kids score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer break than they do on the very same tests just a few months earlier. “Although school ends for the summer, reading and learning are year-round activities,” said Earl Martin Phalen, CEO of Reach Out and Read.
“Childhood development experts tell us that the most important thing that parents can do to prepare their children to succeed in school is to read aloud to them every day.”

Be There Bedtime Stories adds a new, technological dimension to reading aloud with webcam-recorded storytelling, also known as Webtime Stories. This online platform works in three steps: 1) Choose an e-book from the online bookstore; 2) read the story in front of a webcam as it displays on the computer screen; the video is then embedded onto each page of the e-book; and 3) the Webtime Stories are accessible via link anytime, connecting young readers with family members no matter how far away.

“Storytelling has been unifying families for centuries, and reading aloud naturally fosters literacy,” said Alison Sansone, founder of Be There Bedtime Stories. While she knew far-away relatives and traveling and military parents would appreciate the ability to read bedtime stories to their favorite little ones, she was pleasantly surprised that new readers also enjoyed recording a story to show off their newfound skills.

“We discovered that young readers were motivated to read Webtime Stories because of the video aspect,” said Sansone. “As a result, grandparents, traveling or military parents, or other family away from the household, can participate in summer learning.”

The visual cues of both the storyteller and the words on the page deliver the proven, read-aloud techniques that build literacy, regardless of whether the child is reading or listening to the Webtime Stories. To encourage summertime reading, Be There Bedtime Stories is offering an unlimited-access plan for $29.99 through Sept. 7, 2011.

About Be There Bedtime Stories
Be There Bedtime Stories is a new, online platform that combines a webcam and bedtime stories to deliver Webtime Stories™. Founded by Alison Sansone, the recorded format of Webtime Stories™ aims to provide a kid-friendly, family-bonding form of multi-media which encourages budding readers and develops early literacy skills. Currently, the company has acquired licensing from eight initial publishers to nearly 250 e-books, including a variety of genres (e.g., educational, character-building, holiday, Spanish language titles, etc.) appropriate for ages 2 through 8 years old. Be There Bedtime Stories is proud to have a recognized alliance with two leading non-profit organizations that share the value of literacy: Blue Star Families, a leading military family support organization acquiring children's books for U.S. Military Base libraries; and Reach Out and Read, an evidence-based research organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness. For more information visit Be There Bedtime Stories on Facebook.

About Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based, national nonprofit organization that prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Reach Out and Read currently serves one-third of the most impoverished children in the U.S. The Reach Out and Read model is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the program has one of the strongest records of research support of any primary-care intervention. This year, Reach Out and Read’s 27,000 volunteer doctors and nurse practitioners will provide 6.4 million new books to 3.9 million children at 4,654 healthcare locations in all 50 states.

Kathy stemke's websites:

Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html 

Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke 

Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile 

Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285

  

Meet Talented Author J. R. Turner

I'd like to introduce author J. R. Turner to you today.

J.R. is a huge fan of all things fun and thrilling. She gets a kick out of surprising her kids and loves to tell goofy jokes—that aren’t always funny. She lives in Wisconsin, a state known for cheese, bratwurst, and beer—and 1001 recipes for Cheesy Bratwurst Beer Soup. Between writing books, enjoying the outdoors, cooking exotic recipes like Kitty Litter Cake, and trying her hand at all types of arts and crafts, her life is one adventure after another. Visit http://www.jennifer-turner.com to learn more!

J. R. Thank you so much for having me visit today, Kathy!

KATHY: Thank you for coming J. R.  Can you tell my readers a little about your upcoming series?

J. R. I began writing this series at the request of my publisher. Electric Shorts—Sparking Young Imaginations is a pilot program designed to reach the reluctant reader. Each series runs six short stories and offers something unique. My series, Delbert Dallas and the Dragon Diaries, began in a brainstorming session with my 10-year-old son, Matthew. I had two themes I wanted to play with—musical instruments and history. Wow, did we go places!

KATHY: That's exciting!  I'm a retired teacher who knows how important interesting stories are to reluctant readers. I love that your ten year old son is your partner. Tell us more.

J.R. We began with the idea of a boy who had an electric guitar that turned into a time traveling dragon named Barbeque Bob. From there, we designed his archenemy, Walter Wheeler, with his own dragon named Firebrand. The boys visit different warriors and wars throughout history. From Vikings and Greek soldiers, to Denmark in World War II and all the way back to the Mongolian empire, we found little known facts and interesting myths and legends to include in the series.

KATHY: Wow!  Now I like your stories even better.  Not only do reluctant readers get to read, but they also learn history facts too.  When will the stories be available?

The titles and their release dates are:

March 22nd: Voyage to Viking Island


April 22nd: The Civil War Skirmish


May 22nd: Viva La Francine!


June 22nd: Meltdown in Marathon


July 22nd: Don’t Dis the Danish


August 22nd: Genghis Khan Do It!

Each short story will cost $.99 and will be available as an electronic download only. This makes them cost effective for schools and other literacy programs that wish to use them as teaching tools. We’re very excited to become part of summer reading programs as well. Our goal is to reach out to the kids who may not enjoy reading. For this reason, we’re using easy language and high action to keep the pace quick and hold the reader’s attention from beginning to end.

KATHY: Where can we find out more about you, your other books, and these great stories J. R.?

I’ll be updating my blog and website as we grow closer to the release date. Don’t be shy, stop on by, and let me know what you think! My website is http://www.jennifer-turner.com/ and my blog is http://jr-turner.blogspot.com/. Leave a comment today and you’ll be entered to win a free book thong in your favorite color!

KATHY: J.R. has included this great activity for kids to do!  Have fun!!

Delbert Dallas and the Dragon Diaries Activity

Dragon Guitar

empty shoe box

large rubber bands

ruler or stick

Cut an oval in the cover from the box. Stretch the rubber bands around the box. Replace cover and tape in place. Attach the ruler or stick to the back of the box on one end to act as the arm of the guitar. Cut Dragon head and wings from card stock. Paint, color, decorate with glitter and fun objects like sequins or stickers. Glue head to the stick and wings to each side of the box.

To play, strum or pluck the rubber band.  Have fun!

J. R. Thanks again, Kathy, for having me here today!

KATHY: Your welcome J. R.   I know the kids will love making this dragon guitar.  Actually, so will I!  I wish you great success with this much needed series o short stories.

Tomorrow on our virtual book tour Nancy Famolari is featuring author Jennifer Wylie.

KATHY STEMKE'S WEBSITES:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965# http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke
 Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile
 Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kathy-stemke/13/269/285
 

Welcome Award Winning Author Donna McDine

Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions. Donna’s stories and features have been published in many print and online publications and her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Her second book, The Hockey Agony is under contract and will be published by Guardian Angel Publishing. She writes, moms and is the Publicist Intern for The National Writing for Children Center and Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Musing Our Children.

http://www.donnamcdine.com
http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/dmcdine
http://www.jacketflap.com/dmcdine
http://www.twitter.com/dmcdine


Thank you for this interview, Donna. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?

A: When I was a child, I enjoyed watching the television program, Lou Grant with my dad, and became mesmerized on how a reporter put a story together and I dreamed of becoming a reporter one day. For some reason or another, I did not follow this early dream and worked in administration for several Fortune 500 companies for many years. Not until I came across the Institute of Children’s Literature aptitude test in 2006 did my dream of becoming a writer reawaken.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

A: The waiting. I am very much hurry up let’s get it done mentality. Over the last several years I’ve learned that patience is truly a virtue. My most rewarding experience was the day my children acknowledged me as a children’s writer to an adult I was having a conversation with.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?

A: Balance, balance, and some more balance. To find it at times with (as many fellow writers) the responsibilities of wife, mother, daughter, friend and my work as a virtual assistant can be quite daunting at times. Even though summer vacation is in full swing I find it essential to rise at least two hours before my children, so I can get my exercise, shower, and writing in. By the time the girls rise, I’m all set to have breakfast with them and then I’m ready to switch gears to my virtual assistant position with International Business Leaders Forum. This way I can remain much more focused on my VA work when I get my writing session in first. Oh and yes, this isn’t the army, so there are times my schedule gets thrown out of whack depending on what the day throws me (i.e., basketball camp and F.I.T. camp car pools).

Can you tell us about your latest book and why you wrote it?

A: Be transported through time to the Underground Railroad, where high-pitched screams echo each night. David’s cruel Pa always chooses the same victim. Despite the circumstances during slavery, David uncovers the courage to defy his Pa. Raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily, David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David leads Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa. I have always been fascinated by American History and it was a natural pull for me.

Can you share an excerpt?

A: He crept into the barn. A sweaty odor clung heavily in the air. His first attempts to help Jenkins hadn’t gone well. Jenkins use to cringe when he saw David. Fearful he was there to inflict another beating. But over time, David gained Jenkins’ trust with promises he was not there to harm him, but to help. Tonight, the wounds from the whip were worse than ever. The welts looked like caterpillars lodged under his skin. David dared not touch the wounds with his bare hands, afraid his calluses from farming would make the welts worse.

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

A: The dining room table away from my computer. This way I am not distracted by email and because the natural light fills the room.

What is one thing about your book that makes it different from other books on the market?

A: Even though there are illustrations, The Golden Pathway is not a picture book, but rather a story book geared towards 8-12 years old.

Tables are turned…what is one thing you’d like to say to your audience who might buy your book one day?

A: The protagonist David shows that we can overcome negative influences with love and perseverance.

Thank you for this interview, Donna. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

Thank you to Cheryl C. Malandrinos of Pump Up Your Book Promotion for this original interview.

VBT – Writers on the Move continue to swirl through cyberspace, visit with Nancy Famolari on October 3rd at http://nancyfamolari.blogspot.com as she features Virginia Grenier.

Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke 

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