Introducing Author/Illustrator J.D. Holiday

I’d like to introduce a talented and versatile author/illustrator, J. D. Holiday, to my readers today.

J.D. is the author and illustrator of two children’s books. “Janoose the Goose,” is a picture book and “THE GREAT SNOWBALL ESCAPADE,” is a chapter book for six to eight year olds. A chapbook of her short stories titled, “Trespasses,” was published in 1994 and she has had short stories and numerous articles published in literary magazines. She is a member of The Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators, (SCBWI) and Small Publishers of North America, (SPAN.)

J.D. Holiday lives in the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania.

J.D. can an you give us a summary of your chapter book?

Wilhemena Brooks’ cousin, Bud Dunphry came to live with her family. Wil, as she likes to be called, finds her pink pencil sharpener is missing after Christmas. Wil knows Bud has it! Who else would have taken it? Her mother told her to be nice to Bud and to treat him like she would like to be treated. If Wil treats Bud nicely does that change anything for her?

How did you find the plot for The Great Snowball Escape?

As a child, every winter day that snow was on the ground I would spend time on the hill sledding in front of the high school near where I lived. This story was inspired by my love of it.

Do you think kids will understand that bullies like Bud are often reacting to problems in their own lives?
Yes, if their parents or guardians explain it to them, kids can understand how others feel and how behaviors might be a reaction to how they feel.

From my own experience, with my parents and in turn, with my daughter, parents can influence their children somewhat even if at the time, it might appear to the parents they are not having an influence. It could be years later when they witness actions or words from their children that make it clear their children were listening.

In “The Great Snowball Escapade,” Wil’s mother is Bud’s aunt. She knows him and his current problems. She can see how Bud has changed and how he is affected by his circumstances. Wil’s mother tries to help her daughter understand. In fact, she explains that his problems are causing him to act out with bad behavior.

I love yourcover and illustrations J. D. How long have you been drawing?

I started drawing and painting about 44 years ago! In high school, I had a teacher who saw something in my artwork and encouraged me to draw and paint.

What will kids like most about your book?

Kids have told me they like the kids in the story and think they know kids like them. Also they understand why the kids in “The Great Snowball Escapade” react to Bud’s bullying with distain.

What will parents and teachers like most about your books?

They like the subject matter. Today bullying is becoming a national problem, For the age group 6 to 8 year olds, “The Great Snowball Escapade” gives kids a concrete example of bullying to look at, and opens up conversation between the children.

How can teachers use this book in the classroom?

Kids can role play the different scenes and come up with alternate things to say. That way they will discover that choosing your words wisely can change the outcome of a story.

How have you marketed your books?

This book and my picture book, “JANOOSE THE GOOSE,” are listed on many online bookstores. I have done book tours, interviews and readings and plan to do much more in the future.

Do you do school visits?

I do on occasion. I enjoy hearing what children have to say about my stories and love how they can relate to my characters.
Can you tell us a little about "Janoose the Goose?"

JANOOSE THE GOOSE-Janoose the Goose is visiting her cousin, Molly the Duck on the farm. Janoose likes the barnyard very much but she must go home because there are no job openings there. When her flight home arrives, the fox has begun a crime spree, and Janoose is the only one who can stop him.

What’s your next project?

I have two books I’m working on at the moment. One is a picture book I am now doing the drawings for and then I’ll paint them. It is a story about a boy who wants a puppy but gets a dog that is older. It's what they do together that makes them pals. The other book is a young adult novel titled, “Christmas in the City.” This story is about two girls, one with a family and one without. Both are searching for what is important to them.

Where can my readers find out more about your books and purchase them?

JD Holiday’s website: http://www.bookgardenpublishing.net/

JD Holiday’s blog: http://jdswritersblog.blogspot.com/

Find her books on Lulu.com, Amazon.com.

Thank you for stopping by and bringing your delightful books J. D.

Thank you so much, Kathy for having me on your Blog today.

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
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Welcome Author/Publisher VS Grenier

VS Grenier is an Award-winning author & editor with over 30 short stories, articles, and crafts for children along with newsletter articles for writers. She also has multiple titles published in the Best of Stories for Children Magazine Volume 1 anthology. She learned how to hone her writing skills at the Institute of Children’s Literature. She’s also the Editor-in-Chief of Stories for Children Magazine.


ATTENTION!!! KATHY, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOUR READERS TWO FREE BACK ISSUES OF STORIES FOR CHILDREN MAGAZINE ALONG WITH THE EDUCATOR'S PAGES THAT GO WITH THEM. IF THEY EMAIL ME AT vsgrenier@storiesforchildrenpublishing.com WITH "FREE-SFCMag/Ed" IN THE SUBJECT LINE, I'LL SEND THEM THE SEPTEMBER 2009 AND OCTOBER 2009 ISSUES.
Thank you, Virginia, I know my readers will love them. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

First Kathy, I want to thank you for having me on your blog. Well . . . I live in Southern Utah about 2 hours north of Las Vegas. So, if I ever get tired looking at all the red mountains or the laid-back life style, I can hop in my car and head to one of the cities that never sleep for some fun. Let’s see . . . I have been married for almost eight years. I also have three beautiful children ranging in age from fourteen to six months old. J The kids keep me very busy.

What tips can you give parents looking to share the love of reading and writing with their children?

· Visit the library often. Let your child pick out her own books.
· Ask your librarian to suggest favorites.
· Make book time a special time just for you and your little one.
· Let your child see you reading.
· Stop for a while if your child loses interest or gets upset. Reading should always be enjoyable.

Children who enjoy books will want to learn how to read and write!

Children learn new words by doing things with you, like talking with you. Talk about how things work, feelings, and ideas.

Reading informational books on subjects your children like helps increase their vocabulary. Children with bigger vocabularies become better readers and can more quickly understand the meaning of words in context.

The first words children learn to write often have emotional content. Ignore the niceties of spelling and penmanship . . . for now, at least. The mechanics of writing are taught in elementary school and if your little one isn’t learning this in school yet, don’t worry about it. If they are, then get a children’s dictionary and look up a few of the words together. Pointing out mistakes may make a preschooler or young elementary student self-conscious and reluctant to write.

What was the first thing you ever had published?

A short story about my father as a kid called Flying Upside Down. It was published in the Ezine Fandangle Magazine back in 2006.

Can you share with us a little about your most recent book?

My most recent book is Babysitting SugarPaw. This is also my first picture book. It’s a picture book about a little bear named SugarPaw who hopes to get rid of his babysitter, Bonnie Whiskers, by getting her into trouble after making changes to his rules chart. As this loving story unfolds, SugarPaw learns about honesty and friendship.

Babysitting SugarPaw, with its child-centered plot on getting to know others, is the perfect book for little ones scared of being left alone with a babysitter for the first time and is endorsed by MommyPR.com. You can read the review at http://www.mommypr.com/index.php/2009/08/babysitting-sugarpaw-book-review-giveaway/
Your readers can find out more about Babysitting SugarPaw at http://vsgrenier.com/BabysittingSugarPaw.aspx

Take a Look at the Trailer!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What prompted you to start Stories for Children Magazine?

Stories for Children Magazine was going to be a hobby of mine as I worked on my own writing. I thought it would be fun to have a free site where parents, children, teachers, and librarians could come and read some stories, crafts, articles, and poems. Of course, like all my hobbies, Stories for Children Magazine took on a life of its own and has become the Ezine everyone knows today. It is also now one of many divisions to the parent company, Stories for Children Publishing, LLC.


To learn more about Stanley Bookman, the SFC mascot in the World of Ink visit us at http://storiesforchildrenmagazine.org. The magazine is on hiatus until April 2011, but we have book reviews, tips, fun links, and some other free stuff currently on the site.

Do you have any other works in progress?

I have two picture books and two YA novels I’m working on in whatever spare time I get throughout the week. One of the picture books is almost ready for submission. It’s about a little girl who can’t whistle. The story is based off my childhood. The others are still being fine-tuned so I don’t want to say anything about them in case I make some major changes.

What would we be surprised to learn about you?

I went to college to be a fashion buyer and did that for just over 10 years before giving it up to stay home with my children. I’ve worked for some really interesting places like Motherhood Maternity, Frederick’s of Hollywood, Hot Topic, Inc. (I opened the first 5 Torrid stores and helped design them.), L’Occitane, and Brighten Collectibles to name a few.

For those who love to write and want to learn, they can visit our newest site Stories for Children Publishing, LLC at http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com. Your readers can also sign up for our FREE newsletter, SFC Newsletter for Writers which is sent out monthly and is full of articles on writing, markets, contest, workshops, conference, and much much more. It was voted one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers in 2009 by Writer’s Digest.

If your readers would like to learn more about my writing services, school visits, and books . . . they can visit me at http://vsgrenier.com.

And lastly, there is the SFC: Families Matter blog at http://familiesmatter2us.blogspot.com/

Thank you for visiting us today, Virginia. You are a very creative and productive author. We look forward to your future books and magazines.

Kathy, it was a pleasure sharing Babysitting SugarPaw, my writing, and Stories for Children Publishing with you and your readers.

TOMORROW'S TOUR STOP: Nancy Famolari is featuring Robert Medak

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.htmlhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.htmlhttp://kathystemke.weebly.comFollow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemkeFollow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile

DANCE WITH KLUTZY KANTOR PICTURE BOOK

I'm honored to feature an incredible author, J. Aday Kennedy, on my blog today. This differently-abled author, is an award winning, multi-published author of inspirational/Christian articles and essays for adults and of children’s
literature. As a ventilator dependent quadriplegic, she is making her dreams come
true one story at a time. As a speaker, Aday entertains, instructs, motivates and
inspires audiences of all ages.



Check out my review of her book:

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc (April 14, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1616330511
ISBN-13: 978-1616330514
Reviewed by Kathy Stemke

Children will relate to this adorable character, Klutzy Kantor, as he falls and trips on every page. The themes of friendship, training hard to achieve a goal, and a desire to improve are wonderful lessons for kids to learn as they follow his quest to become graceful.

Ms. Kennedy’s humor throughout this delightful book will tickle kid’s funny bones everywhere. They’ll have so much fun they won’t realize that they’re learning great life lessons. They’ll be rooting for Kantor to outwit the leprechaun, Cobbledom McSweeney, and get his wish granted.

The riddles found in this book are an added challenge to young and old minds alike. As a retired teacher I can imagine children in classrooms frantically raising their hands with their imaginative answers to these riddles.

Jack Foster, a talented illustrator, has used vibrant colors that are full of fun and movement to portray this story. Kids will laugh along with his cute, loveable characters.

I recommend J.Aday Kennedy’s book, Klutzy Kantor, for home and school libraries.

Kathy: Thank you for stopping by today to discuss your new book, Klutzy Kantor.

Aday: I’m thrilled to be here and get a teacher’s opinion.

Kathy: How did you find names for you characters?

Aday: I brainstorm, look at baby name books, and I keep a list of “different” sounding names I come across. Well, Kantor, because horses canter and I changed it to a K, because Klutz starts with a K. Agra is a name of one of my favorite characters from the children’s movie, The Dark Crystal. Cobbledom McSweeney sounded Irish and popped into my head. I search for names in my search engine. The less prevalent the name is the greater chance I’ll use it.

Kathy: Where did you find the riddles in your book?

Aday: I remembered the edam cake riddle from childhood, but switched it up a little. The “four ants riddle,” was shared with me by a friend from India. I changed it a bit, too.

Kathy: What part of the book do you think kids will relate to the most?

Aday: Wishing they were different and dealing with their short-comings will resonate with readers. Any time I can I surround the lesson to be learned with humor I do.

Kathy: Which do you think is the most important life lesson in your book?

Aday: Focus on your strengths, hone them through practice, because things don’t just happen. It’s up to us to find a way to make our dreams come true.

Kathy: Where can my readers find out more about you and your books?

Aday: You can visit Klutzy Kantor’s Blog at http://klutzykantor.blogspot.com. The characters from the next 2 books in the series are sure to drop in and be interviewed. There are many interesting features to read.

My author website at www.jadaykennedy.com discusses all of my books and has coloring pages, the dance steps to Klutzy Kantor’s theme song, the entire song, “Go Me!” and a teacher’s guide for each of my books.

Kathy: How did you come up with the idea of a song and dance?

Aday: You. SURPRISE! I loved your book, Moving Through all Seven Days. I bet you never thought that would be my answer. I worry about kids not exercising. Your book encourages movement and that appealed to me.

A great way that the “big dogs” market their books is through toys, clothing, music and movies. My budget wouldn’t allow for that, but when I heard The Character Studio DOT com’s songs for Stubby’s Destiny and Rooter & Snuffle, I jumped on the band wagon to give my characters a voice and get kids moving.

Kathy: Wow, I’m so glad I was able to influence you to bring movement ideas to the children. It’s so very important. Where can my readers buy Klutzy Kantor?

Aday: Klutzy Kantor is available at:



http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Your local bookstore can order a copy.

Kathy: I understand you are offering prizes as part of your Klutzy Kantor book tour. Can you tell us how to participate?"

Aday: Yes, I have planned a giveaway at the end of the tour. The more stops visitors make and promote with blurbs on their social networks the more entries in the contest they receive. The more participants, the more prizes and winners their will be. I will let the winner(s) choose their prizes. Winner 1 gets first choice, winner 2 gets second choice and so on. Every 13 participants adds another prize. For pictures of the possible prizes and contest rules visit KlutzyKantor.blogspot.com.

Kathy: Thanks for stopping by today. Good luck with your book.

Aday: I’m really looking forward to watching the whole series come out. I hope I can visit again and have more new songs, and dances to share.

Kathy: I’d love that Aday. I can’t wait to see the other books in the series.

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.htmlhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.htmlhttp://kathystemke.weebly.comFollow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemkeFollow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile

MEET THE TALENTED AUTHOR MARIETTA TAYLOR!

Marietta (Mari) Taylor resides in Raleigh, NC with her husband of seventeen years and her two teenage daughters. Mari is the author of Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go, released March 2010 and Girlfriends On…Surviving Unemployment, also scheduled to be released in 2010. Mari was also published in Penned From The Heart VOL XV, a devotional anthology. Her column, Frugal Elegance, appears in Girlfriend 2 Girlfriend, an online magazine published by Extreme Diva Media.

I asked Mari a few open-ended questions so we could get to know her better and these are her answers.

MY FONDEST MEMORY IS when my husband and I attended a marriage conference in Winona, MN. We had been on the verge of a divorce. Going to this conference was the first trip we were taking after deciding to try to work things out. We had our two daughters with us because they had a program for the kids. We lived in Chicago at the time and drove up. As we crossed from Wisconsin to Minnesota we came upon a dam with water flowing over and the most beautiful pristine looking body of water. It took my breath away. I knew instantly this trip was going to be fabulous! It was held on a college campus so we all stayed in a dorm room. We had the best time. Our kids enjoyed their program and we learned so much there. We were on of the youngest couples there and were "adopted" by several older couples. This conference was a turning point in our marriage. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend.

WHEN I HAVE ENOUGH TIME, I WANT TO do some traveling overseas. I'd love to visit Jerusalem, Egypt, Paris, Italy and Tahiti. I know that's an odd mix but those are the places on my list. Jerusalem and Egypt are on the list because of their biblical significance. I took advanced French in high school and college and have always wanted to visit all the renowned landmarks and places of interest. I love Italian food so that placed Italy on the list. Tahiti is my romantic place. My husband and I hope to be walking the beaches of Tahiti in 7 years when we celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. I guess this also falls into the "when I get enough money" category.

I GET ANGRY WHEN people place blame, conveniently forgetting to mention their part in the matter. I think it is important to be accountable for your actions and not try to deflect so that you "look good". I often face this at work. I find myself carefully crafting a response "be accountable for your actions as well" in the most professional and unemotional way possible. That really helps my writing skills!

I ENJOY being relaxed, reading a good book. As an author I know that sounds kind of hokey but it's true. I'm a voracious reader. Books make me happy :)

MY FUTURE GOAL IS TO start a ministry for women facing difficult circumstances. I've already picked out the name. It will be called Joy For Mourning Ministries. The name comes from Isaiah 61:3. It says that God will give "The oil of gladness instead of mourning". I love that! I plan to draw on my own experiences to provide support, encouragement, practical advice and concrete assistance to the women who will participate in the ministry.

Here’s part of a review of Mari’s latest book:
Marietta Taylor’s book, “Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go,” is a devotional that reads like an e-mail from a friend. She is candid, smart, and funny. She reveals to you the things that most people wouldn’t, just so you can learn from her experiences. Each chapter has a scriptural reference and a prayer focus that condition you to hold on to the Lord’s promises and obey His Word, even as the storm of circumstances make you a little unsteady.

“Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go,” offers tips on thankfulness, frugality and money-making, and keeping a consistent relationship with God.
The emotions and obstacles brought about by unemployment are some that many of us face each day in different situations. There is debt, marital discord, and the tough job of trying to meet the needs of everyone in the family. I would recommend this devotional to any woman who manages a household.

Taylor shows us that we can live, love, and laugh through our issues, and make the best possible decisions, while we trust God to lead us out of them.

Book Review by Adrienne Adams
President, The Write Vision Group
www.wtvmin.com

Mari’s websites:
Personal Blog: www.marismorningroom.blogspot.com
Website: www.mariettataylor.net
Twitter: www.twitter.com/raleighgirl
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Marietta-Taylor-Author/345681080001Read an excerpt of “Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go” at www.mariettataylor.net.
Get your copy at www.edmbookstore.com.

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.htmlhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.htmlhttp://kathystemke.weebly.comFollow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemkeFollow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile

MEET AUTHOR & READING SPECIALIST CATHY PUETT MILLER

As “The Literacy Ambassador®,” author and children’s literacy consultant Cathy Puett Miller promotes early childhood literacy development and family literacy involvement.
Cathy presents at conferences and has written articles for Education World, Babyzone.com, The Reading Tub, PTA websites, and parenting publications. She is also the author of Anytime Reading Readiness: Fun and Easy Family Activities That Prepare Your Child to Read.

Anytime Reading Readiness respects the reading readiness level of your child. Now you can integrate prereading activities throughout your day – without stress, fuss, or pushing your child. Prepare your child to read—any time.



“Cathy Miller is a genius,” says award-winning children’s author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy. “What, in the end, she is telling us with this wonderful book is that spending time with your child, and allowing learning to evolve through play, is the surest way to create intellectually curious learners. Hooray!”

Kathy: Welcome to my blog, Cathy.

Cathy P: Thank you, Kathy. I already feel as though we are connected because you live in north Georgia and I was in Cherokee County, GA (45 minutes north of Atlanta) for 7 years when our son was in elementary and middle school.

Kathy: Let’s begin by talking a bit about your role in the world of reading. You are known as the Literacy Ambassador®. What is a Literacy Ambassador®?

Cathy P: It is a trademarked tag line I use to identify what I do – I make friends for reading with educators, families and community organizations across the country. I am one of the few educational consultants who cross those lines. I also work in both the preschool and K-8 environment. I reach across between these often distinct groups because I believe the best results always come when partnerships develop: between families and educators, between preschool and kindergarten teachers. Some of your blog readers may know me from my monthly columns at Educationworld.com and Inspiringteachers.com.


Kathy: So what has the Literacy Ambassador® been up to lately?

Cathy P: I always have lots of projects going on but I have been traveling a lot lately, speaking at conferences in Washington, DC, St. Louis, MO, Minneapolis, MN, Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL, New Orleans, LA. Everywhere I go, I meet people from various walks of life hungry to know how to best help children become strong readers.

Kathy: Speaking of children and reading, do you have some books you’d recommend for those visiting my blog (either teachers or parents)?

Cathy P: Sure. I’ll give you a few titles for different age levels here and then people can visit my website for more extended lists. They’ll also find lots of recommendations of great books especially for the young ones in my two new titles from Maupin House but we’ll talk more about those later.

Preschool and Kindergarten:
Baa-Choo by Sarah Weeks
Big Words for Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis
Indestructibles, a wordless book series by Amy Pixton
Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten by Stacey Kannenberg
Love the Baby by Steven Layne

First and Second Grade: From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Let’s Make Rabbits by Leo Lionni
Paris in the Spring with Picasso by Joan Yolleck
The Easter Egg by Jan Brett
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Third through Fifth Grade:
A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole
Evolution: Who We and All Living Things Came to Be by Daniel Loxton
Lawn Boy Returns by Gary Paulsen
Roberto and Me by Dan Gutman
Three Cups of Tea by Gary Mortenson

Kathy: Why did you pick these books?

Cathy P: My criteria for great books to read or share with students is “will they be interested?” “Will it give them an authentic reason to want to read; a positive experience with a book?” They have plenty of “must reads” in their lives but if we do not show children and families the power of books for them, we will not hook them. There are just too many distractions.

Kathy: That brings up an important point. There really are a lot of distractions from reading these days. What advice do you have for parents and teachers?

Cathy: I’m starting a revolution! And I want to invite you and all your bloggers to join in. Just a few minutes ago we were talking about those partnerships that are so meaningful to the success of young children. My two new books, Before They Read (for preschool and kindergarten teachers) and Anytime Reading Readiness (for parents and guardians of 3-6 year olds) are easy guidebooks to get involved. Each focuses on the same three big ideas, but with a slant specific to the needs of those who are reading them (families or educators).

The three big ideas are:

The importance of talking with young children to aid in their growth of their oral language

The delicious, delightful experience of reading a story with a child and exploring a book using a technique I called Engaged Interactive Read Aloud.

Playing with sounds and patterns in the language.

Kathy: And where are these books available?

Cathy P: You can get them through my publisher, Maupin House, by visiting my website www.readingisforeveryone.org. If your visitors have a favorite online book store like Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Books A Million, etc., they can also purchase them there. And the Before They Read title is a great Teacher Appreciation Week gift. Mother’s and Father’s Day will be here before we know it and the Anytime Reading Readiness book is a perfect choice for those special days.

Kathy: What about kids beyond this getting ready and beginning to read stage?

Cathy P: The same foundations are important; we simply build upon them. My technique, Engaged Interactive Read Aloud, for instance works all the way up through high school. Anyone can visit my website and look for my 1/27 interview with Stacey Kannenberg on her Born to Learn Mom show to hear just how to do it. Just visit www.readingisforeveryone.org and scroll down to the second item on the audio player.

Certainly it is important to continue to support readers even after they are reading on their own. But, once the snuggle and cuddle stage is gone, that may take a different approach.

Kathy: We’re at the end of our time together but are there some additional resources you can share?

Cathy P: I invite everyone to visit and follow my blogs

for parents http://parentsandkidsreadingtogether.blogspot.com
for educators K-12 http://lightthesparkofliteracy.blogspot.com
for preschool teachers: http://passionatepreschoolteachers.blogspot.com.

Kathy: Thank you for youe time, information and the wonderful work you do.

Cathy: Your welcome. I enjoyed my visit.

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
http://kathystemke.weebly.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke
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I'm Featured on Helen Harper's Blog Today

Please visit and leave a comment. While you're there please click on all the articles. It will help me. Thanks in advance.
http://helenaharpersblog.blogspot.com/


A PAGE FROM MOVING THROUGH ALL SEVEN DAYS!



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
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MEET DEBRA ECKERLING!

Debra Eckerling has expertise in feature articles, corporate communications (newsletters, corporate profiles, and web content), and public speaking. She does business and individual consulting; has written for local, national, trade, and online publications; and is the eZine editor for StoryLink.com. Debra has led workshops and writers support groups for more than 10 years.

Freelance writer, Debra Eckerling recently expanded her focus, so she can help young adults learn to love the written word. Her new website – www.PurplePencilAdventures.com- has interviews with young published authors, as well as weekly writing “adventures:” fun writing prompts to get the creative-brain going. Check out this sample post.

Jolie Vanier, Puwaii Adventures with Joliea and Friends, is an author and film actress with a lot of energy and a ton of personality. What better way to put her talents to use than to create a series about “the world’s youngest fashion designer” who goes on adventures? Book #1 - Puwaii Adventures with Joliea & Friends - comes with an audiobook CD. Book #2 - Puwaii Adventures with Joliea & Friends ... the Adventures Continues - comes with an audiobook CD and a DVD for a read-along, where she offers art lessons. Jolie loves watching her character come to life. She talks about being a writer, offers advice and encouragement, and more!

Debra: How did you come up with the idea for Puwaii Adventures? And the concept for including a DVD?

Jolie: I had to figure what the book would be about. That was the easy part, because I love fashion. My fascination with fashion started when my mother took me to a Pucci exhibit; I loved his designs and those wonderful, brilliant colors! (Color is fascinating to me - do you know that by combining red and yellow, you get orange?) I was trying to figure out how to start the story at the same time my family and I went on a vacation to Hawaii. That’s when I had the bright idea of “smooshing” Pucci and Hawaii together, and I came up with the Puwaii look!

Next, I decided my main character would be “Joliea”, the “youngest fashion designer in the world” who travels in a magical submarine. (Notice the similarity between Jolie and Joliea? Hahahaha!) I’ve read enough to know any exciting story needs a villain - so I came up with “Jack the Rat.” My other characters are taken from real life, like “Princess Issa,” is actually taken from my Maltese dog, Izzy.

I thought how nice it would be if I offered my books on CD, so my readers can hear me read my books! Then with my second book I included a DVD with a pictorial read-along. I also give children art lessons! Then I have a section where I tell you how to create your own book. I like the idea of “giving back, so that’s why I included both the CD’s and the DVD.

“I’ve always found a kinship with writing,” Debra explains. “I enjoy encouraging people, whether they are 8 or 80, to express themselves. Strong communication skills – the ability to compose your thoughts, whether you are writing or speaking them – are essential for any kind of success.” Here’s a writing prompt found on the website.

We have two "holidays" this long weekend: Valentine's Day on Sunday and then Presidents' Day - and no school - on Monday!

Here is this weekend's fun, writing adventure: Create a new holiday! When is it? What is it? And how do you celebrate? Be creative!

Debra’s workshops are designed as a safe environment for tweens and teens. They can play with words, share them with their peers, and get constructive nudges in the right · Communication Skills direction, while developing their voice in the process.

Workshops: Writers Group Leader Debra Eckerling has created a program to help kids learn to love the written word.
Develop:
· Writing Skills
· Creativity
· Self-Esteem
· Communication Skills

“It was my creative writing class in high school, where we had to journal a certain number of pages a week, that helped me the most. In doing all this writing I found my voice, but more importantly it gave me a safe place to express my emotions. It also built my confidence.

“I love helping writers go from dreamer to doer. And it is so simple. All you need is a pen, paper, and the confidence to realize you can achieve any goal you set out to accomplish.”

Debra Eckerling’s website – www.writeononline.com – gives writers in all areas a virtual home to get motivated, set goals, and move forward on their projects. The site has Author Q&As, Expert Columns, monthly writing contests, and more.

Check out this article on Traditional vs Self-Publishing.
Moving Write Along: Advice from the Experts – Traditional vs Self-Publishing

Visit Debra’s websites: www.purplepenciladventures.com and www.writeononline.com. You can also become a fan at www.facebook.com/writeononline and follow Debra at www.twitter.com/writeononline.

VBT - Writers On The Move: March Author and Book Tour Schedule http://is.gd/9hRRx

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
http://kathystemke.weebly.com
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

MEET AUTHOR/ANIMAL COMMUNICATOR: TIM LINK

Tim Link is an author, writer, speaker, and full-time animal communicator. As part of his passion for helping animals, Tim has also mastered Reiki - an ancient art of energy healing - which he uses on animals.

Tim has recently been featured in numerous newspaper, television and radio shows including the Associated Press (reaching more than 115 different media sites across the nation and internationally including MSNBC.com, USAToday.com, NYTimes.com, ChicagoTribune.com, LATimes.com, CBSNews.com, ABCNews.com, etc.), “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet,” “Good Day Atlanta,” Forsyth County News, The Bronx Times, Species Link, “Live Your Legacy”, “Cumming Home”, The Palladium-Item, The Other Paper, Woman 2 Woman Business, Atlanta magazine, “EveryDay with Marcus & Lisa”, Shirley MacLaine's Independent Expression Internet radio show, Aquarius, "Mornings with Lorri & Larry", "FOX & Friends", "Good Day Columbus", Gwinnett Daily Post, "Good Morning Texas", "Good Day Colorado", "Colorado & Company", The Detroit Free Press, "The Pat McMahon Show", "Sonoran Living", "Good Morning Arizona", "Arizona Midday", "San Diego Living", Tails, "More at Midday", Animal Fair, "Tennessee Mornings", "Better Mornings Atlanta", Dog Sport, and remains a regular guest on two Internet radio shows. Since May 2008, Tim has been a featured AJCpets expert for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.


Wagging Tales: Every Animal Has a Tale is a delightful read that introduces the reader to 32 stories about animals and the scenarios that prompted their human companions to consult with Tim. Each tale, which explores the thoughts and actions of each animal, and gives you insight into the daily world of what Tim does as an animal communicator. This book is appropriate for all ages who are curious about what goes on in the minds of animals just like yours.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT TIM'S BOOK:

“In my long career of working with domestic animals, pets, and wild animals; they never cease to amaze me! Whether it is their impressive strength, adaptability to new circumstances, social skills or their ability to communicate—they continue to re-define the term ‘animal’. Perhaps what we don’t know about animals will be the most incredible finding yet! Tim Link’s accounts in Wagging Tales will make you start thinking…”

Jack Hanna
Director Emeritus, Columbus Zoo
Host, TV’s “Into the Wild”
http://www.jackhanna.com/

"Tim Link delights us with enlightening true stories that clearly illustrate the powerful process and results of telepathic communication with animals. The author is also refreshingly realistic about the limitations of his animal communication work. An entertaining and educational book!"

Penelope Smith, author of Animal Talk, When Animals Speak, Animals in Spirit
and editor of Species Link magazine www.animaltalk.net

"Tim Link guides readers into the world of animal communication with his experiences, photos, and practical tips. He makes us aware how human decisions affect pets -- what kinds of candles cats don't like, how work schedules and changes upset pets, which pets don't want to share their toys. This is a delightful and helpful book that shows the utmost respect for sensient beings with whom we share our homes. Read it and become wise to the ways of animals."

--Allen and Linda Anderson, authors of Angel Cats, Angel Dogs, Angel Horses, and other books in a series published by New World Library, www.angelanimals.net



For more information about Tim Link, his books, speaking tours, or great information about understanding and communicating with your animals go to his website: www.wagging-tales.com.

Now...I hope you'll visit the next site on the blog chain sponsored by the National Writing for Children Center. That site is http://ireneroth.wordpress.com/ For a list of all the links on the chain, go to www.writingforchildrencenter.com

P.S. Tour with VBT-Writers on the Move through February. New and famous authors, plus useful information. http://tinyurl.com/yhkt7v8

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
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

GUEST AUTHOR/PHOTOGRAPHER: DANA DONOVAN

Please welcome my guest author for February. Dana E. Donovan is the author of the Tony Marcella detective series including The Witch’s Ladder, Eye of the Witch, The Witch’s Key, Bones of a Witch and Witch House. He has also penned the novels: Abandoned, Skinny, Resurrection, Death & other Little Inconveniences and A Talisman’s Tale, available in trade paperback and ebook at Lulu http://www.lulu.com/dana and Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/encyber respectively.

Besides being an accomplished author, Dana is also an excellent photographer. He makes all his own book covers with the help of Photoshop. I asked him to tell us how he put some of his covers together.


I love taking photos, and using them for my book covers. Abandoned is about a boy who supposedly drowned in a river and I thought that this picture captured the feel, what with that weird cloud rising in front of the sun. I shot it right outside my back door.

Excerpt from Abandoned
Dana E. Donovan © 2004

The three of us found a seat, two on the sofa and one in the chair. Charlie
favored Rodriquez over me and even took up company by his side, curling up
at his feet like a common defector. I gave Charlie a dirty look but he only
snubbed me and turned away.

“Mr. Riley, you don’t remember me, do you?” Marcella said.
I looked at him and shook my head. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t. Should I?”
“Oh, I don’t suppose so. You were pretty young when last we met. I was
still a street cop and you had just lost your brother.”

“Oh, right, Marcella, of course. I’m sorry the name escaped me for a
minute.”

He smiled. “That’s all right. Trust me. Considering the circumstances that
brought us together, I’m surprised you have any recollection at all. That kind
of trauma can make a young boy forget all kinds of things.”

I smiled back and nodded, but my eyes broke away and drifted down
toward the floor. “You would think,” I said to him. “But strangely, I
remember everything about that day. It was Friday the thirteenth. It rained that
morning but the skies were trying to clear. You pulled up in your squad car
riding shotgun with Officer Greene. You had a bandage on your thumb, your
left I believe. I heard you tell Fireman Reynolds you slammed it in the car
door the night before. He joked how your swollen thumb now matched your
inflated ego. You both laughed at that until you saw the nine-year-old brother
of the missing boy.”

“You.” said Marcella.

I nodded.
“I’m sorry about that. I meant to apologize.”

Other book covers created by Dana:



The image for Skinny was shot on the road I now live on.





Resurrection is about zombies and witchcraft. I wanted something voodoo like and even played with the idea of making a voodoo doll for the cover, but that didn’t work. I ended up staging the props for the shoot in my garage.






My favorite is Bones of a Witch. I bought the rights to use that picture because I thought it was perfect, so I did not have to do much else with it.












The cover for Witch House, my latest book is really a shot of my swimming pool. If you look closely you can see the shadow from the handrail.









Another favorite of mine is the cover for Death & Other little Inconveniences. Everyone on the front & back cover is dead. Some I knew. Some I didn’t. I just thought it would be cool do use the photos of dead people for a book called Death & Other Little Inconveniences.

If you still have time after reading this, learn more about Dana Donovan and what he’s up to at http://www.danadonovan.com

Now...I hope you'll visit the next site on the blog chain sponsored by the National Writing for Children Center. That site is; http://ireneroth.wordpress.com/. For a list of all the links on the chain, go to www.writingforchildrencenter.com

Kathy'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
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

MEET GUEST AUTHOR, HEIDI THOMAS

I’d like to introduce you to author, Heidi Thomas. Raised on a ranch in isolated eastern Montana, she has had a penchant for reading and writing since she was a child. Armed with a degree in journalism from the University of Montana, she worked for the Daily Missoulian newspaper, and has had numerous magazine articles published.

Heidi, can you give us a synopsis of your book, “Cowgirl Dreams?”

Yes, sure. Defying family and social pressure, Nettie Brady bucks 1920s convention with her dream of becoming a rodeo star. That means competing with men, and cowgirls who ride the rodeo circuit are considered “loose women.” Addicted to the thrill of pitting her strength and wits against a half-ton steer in a rodeo, Nettie exchanges skirts for pants, rides with her brothers on their Montana ranch, and competes in neighborhood rodeos.

Broken bones, killer influenza, flash floods, and family hardship team up to keep Nettie from her dreams. Then she meets a young neighbor cowboy who rides broncs and raises rodeo stock. Will this be Nettie’s ticket to freedom and happiness? Will her rodeo dreams come true?

Based on the life of the author’s grandmother, a real Montana cowgirl.
Cowgirl Dreams is available from the publisher, Treble Heart Books, Amazon.com or the author website. It is suitable for both adult and young adult readers.

Heidi, how do you feel now that “Cowgirl Dreams” is finally published?

“You know, it sounds a bit cliché, I suppose, but having this book published (after 10 years in the process) is a dream come true for me. And I’m struck by the realization that we all do need to have a dream. My advice for other writers is to persevere—never give up!”



Here are some fabulous reviews of Heidi's book!

Reviewer: Svetlana Kovalkova-McKenna rated it: 5 of 5 stars

It is a wonderful YA (Young Adult) book! For the duration of the story you are completely immersed into the world of growing up in Montana in 1920s. Hard work on a family ranch, dreams that defy conventional wisdom, hard choices and, finally, success. Try becoming a rodeo star, when rodeo circuit is a man’s world and you are a teenage girl!

I appreciated author’s meticulous research. All the details of everyday life on a ranch, food, clothes, and people’s mindsets were so interesting, true and well placed throughout the story; I could not help but admire it!

If you are a fan of “Little Women”, “Secret Garden”, “Little House on the Prairie” and “Ann of Green Gables”, take a note of this author, she is the one for you.
I would say the book is a great coming of age story with a lesson in history, lots of adventures, a touch of romance and a great lesson in perseverance. I am buying this one for my daughter.
***

From a male reader: Peter Olson

Heidi Thomas’s "Cowgirl Dreams" provided me with a delightfully engrossing pleasure: a “good read.” An added bonus was a bit of history detailing the hardships and delights of rural life in early twentieth century Montana and the expectations for women of the time. I approached the tale with a mixture of mild trepidation and hesitant curiosity, the twin themes not being typical fodder for my pleasure reading, and finished with the great satisfaction found in experiencing a well-told story. Nettie Brady’s adventure richly details a pair of transitions: a child growing into young adulthood and a women tackling roles previously claimed by the men of her times. This is a book for all ages, and I look forward to the possibility of reading further installments of Nettie’s life and times.
***

Reviewer: Jane Kirkpatrick, Award Winning author of A Sweetness to the Soul (Wrangler Award, 1995) and A Tendering in the Storm, winner of a WILLA Literary Award, 2008.

Some girls claim they were born as horses and only later grew up to be western women. Heidi Thomas gives us one of those passionate, persistent young women in Nettie Brady, and she s based this sparkling and enduring character on her own grandmother s story. Cowgirl Dreams is a heart-warming read for all ages and lets us all know why Ms. Thomas is not only a fine editor of other author’s books but shines as a skilled and compassionate writer herself.

Reviewer: Stephanie Hooper

Heidi has truly captured the heart of the early days of Montana. She brings to life Nettie and her dreams for the rodeo despite the opposition of a woman in an exclusive man’s arena. As I read this authors first novel it was a sweet reminder of the Jan Karon Mitford series. I look forward to reading the sequel in what appears to be a Montana series in the making!

Thanks for visiting with my readers today. Please tell us how we can get your book.

Cowgirl Dreams is available through my website http://www.heidimthomas.com (for an autographed copy), and from my publisher Treble Heart Books http://www.trebleheartbooks.com/SDHeidiThomas.html

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
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

WELCOME BACK AUTHOR, JANE SUTTON

I'm honored to have author Jane Sutton back today. She has so much to offer! Here are some of her words of wisdom.

CHILDREN CAN UNBLOCK YOUR WRITERS BLOCK!
BY JANE SUTTON

The past week my life has been topsy-turvy. My imagination has been boosted into overdrive. My written words are short and appear in bursts of colors. I’ve read the same several dozen books over and over again. This creative surge has nothing to do with my current projects. I didn’t discover some super pill or eat a magic mushroom. My husband and I have simply spent the past 5 days with my 2 ½ year old grandson while his parents are away.

I see him frequently because they live nearby. But regular visits can’t compare to the exhausting responsibility of being a round-the-clock caregiver. I keep reminding myself, I’ve done this before and survived. My grown daughter and said grandson are my proof.

Though I can’t remember the last time I felt this tired, and my normal routine is way out of whack, it’s been a fabulous experience because he’s reminded me about the important things in life. Such as:

It’s perfectly fine to burst out into a song in the middle of the grocery store, if the mood strikes.

Getting down on your hands and knees to look at a bug crawling in the driveway provides a whole new perspective to the world. The expectation of a reply to the question, “Where’s he going?” can act as a verbal writing prompt.

Sometimes you should stop everything you’re doing to spin in circles in the living room for no particular reason.

The most important use of a dining room table is to make a tent. Forts can be made out of any available materials.

It’s possible to travel in space, back in time, to the beach, or to undiscovered lands without leaving your bedroom.

Stuffed animals and other inanimate objects have a distinctive voice of their own and love to say what they’re thinking.

Kissing an owie and then placing a Dora or Diego Band-Aid on the spot really does make the hurt go away.

Crayons make great rocket ships.

An entire house can become the Village of Sodor for Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

I’m confident now, that the next time I come up against the brick wall of writer’s block or my muse goes on an unplanned hiatus, I won’t panic as I’ve done in the past. Instead, I’ll simply sit back and try to look at the world through the eyes of a child.

JANE SUTTON'S BOOK, THE RIDE


The Ride begins in California where Barbie Anderson, unaware that her mundane existence will soon be unraveling, approaches that fateful Thursday as she had the other 8,395 days of her marriage. When news about the death of a relative reveals shocking family secrets and an unexpected windfall, Barbie begins to question everything she’s ever known including her identity. Her attempts to come to terms with the revelations and restore order to her life are hindered by guilt and self-esteem issues as well as an alienated daughter and an obsessive husband. When a handsome stranger enters the fray, Barbie finds herself embarking on the ride of her life down historic Route 66 towards Chicago, encountering the road to self-discovery along the way.

BUY THE BOOK HERE:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Ride-Jane-Kennedy-Sutton/dp/1595071938/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233850866&sr=1-1

ArcheBooks Publishing

http://archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/CONT/TR/TRDesc.htm

TO CONTACT JANE SUTTON:

Email – jane@janesutton.com

Web page - http://janesutton.com/

Blog – Jane’s Ride http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/

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
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Sign up for Donna McDine's FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER: WRITE WHAT INSPIRES YOU!

Come along for fascinating and intriguing interviews from writers, illustrators, and editors of the children’s publishing industry. It is imperative for your writing career to grow on a daily basis by learning from others in the field. Donna McDine’s monthly FREE newsletter, Write What Inspires You! will certainly help you do so. Additional features include a Proclaim Your Successes column, submission based Reflections or Dreams column, book review, and support ads. Each month you will walk away with new inspiration for your writing career. Go ahead opt-in today at www.donnamcdine.com.

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
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

"Teenagers Can Write Novels" by Heather Paye

Self discipline takes on a major role in writing. As a writer you have no boss, no one to tell you when or where to write, or even how to do it. This is why you have to do that yourself, you must be the boss and the worker. You have to look at things this way – You don’t work, you don’t get paid. But, then again, I wouldn’t really call writing “working” so to speak.

Writing is an art, and art is a way of expressing yourself, which is why in art you need only write what you know, express yourself, and only aim to please yourself. That’s right, take a breath out; there isn’t so much pressure to do well, or to write the right thing. Anyone can write if they push themselves enough, when I started odds were against me, my grammar was something like that of a 2nd grader, and my punctuation was non-existent. I went from not using punctuation at all, to looking down on writers twice my age saying to myself: “How could they get something like that wrong? It’s simple grammar.” As I wrote I learned more and more about writing in general, you could say that it all came naturally as I wrote. And that was 5 years ago. I’ve hidden the first stories that I ever created from sight, they’re very scary, and almost completely illegible. But, they are good reminders of how far I’ve come.

The easiest part of writing is not always the beginning, but if you split the book up into four pieces, it would be the 2/4ths part, the beginning/middle part that is the easiest, after you get your book going in the direction that it’s going. The hard part is finishing it. You really have to push yourself. Sometimes I take a few weeks off of writing that particular piece so that my mind is fresh and I can finish the story easily.

Writing takes a little bit getting used to, but once you get in the groove it all becomes second nature. Writing has been used for billions of years and anyone can do it if they put their minds to it, no matter what the age. If you can spell words, you can write; everything else will come naturally. A great resource for aspiring writers is http://www.writing.com a community of every kind of writer there is, new, old, young, and experienced. Another is http://www.nanowrimo.org a contest that happens every November where you attempt to write a novel in one month. I highly recommend it to those who have a hard time finishing novels.

Buy HC Paye's book, A Gift From Above
CreateSpace - https://www.createspace.com/Customer/EStore.do?id=3375222

Portfolio: http://www.writing.com/authors/kittynadem
Fansite: http://www.agiftfromabove.webs.com
Email: the_jewelonsolot@msn.com

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
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Come Meet 15 Year Old, Student Author, Heather Paye

Today I'd like to introduce you to the Student, Author, Dreamer, Heather Paye. She's a student, who took her dream and made it a reality. H.C.Paye, author of the YA novel A Gift from Above, grew up in a small town in Arizona. She has been writing since 2001 and taking up every challenge that comes her way.

What do you like about growing up in Arizona ?

I love how open the land is, the animals, and the creativity that it all has to offer. It’s a very inspiring place to live. The sunsets are absolutely stunning, and the mornings are so golden. I’ve never had writer’s block and I believe that my environment has a lot to do with that.

What kind of books did you read as a kid?

I used to read the more “girly” books, I remember reading The Saddle Club, The Baby Sitter’s Club, and other books of that type, I read a great number of the classic books, Jane Eyre, Black Beauty, etc. Then I moved on to the Goosebumps series by R.L.Stine I loved those books, there were hundreds of them and I think I still have about 40 of them. So it was really a great many of them, and you can see I was really just trying out a lot of the genres that the world had to offer.


Who is your favorite author?

I’m going to say it would have to be J.K.Rowling, with Nora Roberts coming closely behind.

Who has encouraged you to keep writing?

My mom, definitely my mom.. I remember times when I just wanted to quit writing because in the process of publishing my books things were getting really hard for me and I could hardly keep up, and my relatives were saying bad things about authors and writing and my family really just kept me going, they really supported me and stood behind me, and made sure that I kept going. Especially my mom, she is my savior.

What inspired you to write this story?

My brother was a huge inspiration. After he was born things really didn’t turn out how I planned, he was loud and noisy, and things just changed a lot around the house.. And he was my main inspiration. It was funny, because originally the story was supposed to be this horror like story, and the children in the story were supposed to be possessed and stuff, and it was absolutely amazing how different the story turned out.

How did you come up with the main character, Celia Meyers?

In a way she was a reflection of me, but she also had some characteristics from my mom and my baby sister, so it was really just a compilation of people surrounding me in my life. I’m not exactly sure where I came up with the name, I usually just make up character names on spot and roll my eyes around looking for inspiration, so I assume I did the same with Celia.

Do you have any siblings? Have you ever had trouble with your siblings?

Yes, I have three siblings, one older and two younger. I have had trouble with my siblings; we don’t always get along, we’re great friends, don’t get me wrong, but we don’t have our little arguments, and there is something that I could pick at for each one of them. We have each others backs, even if we do have a few “disagreements” from time to time.

What events changed Celia from a spoiled child to a responsible teenager?

There was this one event the Celia went through where she saved another little boy from a car accident, it reminded her so much of her own little brother and it made her realize that that little boy could have been her brother and she could have lost him, and it also makes her realize how much she actually cares about her sibling.


How did you feel when you finally finished your book?

It wasn’t exactly very much excitement since I was in such a great rush, there was this contest that I was in where I had to write 50,000 words in one month, and I managed to do that, so that was the real excitement, but after that I rushed to actually finish the story, and after that I went straight to editing and then fixing up the layouts and getting the cover ready, and so on. So, it wasn’t exactly very much excitement at the time that I really finished the book. Not as much as when I finished my other novel.


What’s next for you?

Actually there’s quite a bit in the works for me. In the next few years I’m expecting my first novel The Jewel of Onsolot to be published and in stores, but I don’t have any details yet. Since The Jewel of Onsolot is the beginning of a series of nine, of course I’m working on the next book in the series. Also I’m working on a book about a girl who turns into a werewolf. So, there’s quite a bit, I’m not going away any time soon!

Do you participate in writing competitions?

From time to time, not quite so often. There are a few competitions that I do every year, in April I either participate in Script Frenzy, where I try to write 100 page script in one month. And in November, since it is National Novel Writing Month I participate in http://www.nanowrimo.org where you attempt to write 50,000 words in one month. Last year they did some sort of promotion where you can self-publish your novel and get a copy of it free, for a limited time. And that’s what I did, hence my publication.


Where can we purchase your book?

Currently it is available on Amazon.com, Amazon Kindle, Target.com, and of course, CreateSpace.com

Can you explain the Wednesday character feature on your blog?

That is where I tell about a character from my book, like a short little bio of their lives. And it gives the reader a more in-depth look at the other characters besides Celia.. Plus if the reader can’t get enough of the story they can go to the blog and see the extra details and stuff.

Thank you for sharing your book with our readers, Heather.

Don't miss my September 3rd post, which features an article Heather wrote for other aspiring students encouraging them to write their own novel. WAY TO GO, HEATHER.


Heather's websites:
Portfolio: http://www.writing.com/authors/kittynadem
Fansite: http://www.agiftfromabove.webs.com
Email: the_jewelonsolot@msn.com

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
http://kathystemke.weebly.com