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Where parents and children's writers come together, with the goal of finding or writing books that HOOK reluctant readers - especially BOYS!
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Number of Readers that added this blog to their MyJacketFlap: 9
My Two
Latest Picture Books
As well as Kobi and Oscar, many other unique Down Under animals
share the adventures in both these books.
An Aussie Word Glossary and animal information are at the back of each book, plus fun details about Koalas and Tasmanian Devils.
Kobi is a young koala who thinks he knows everything about
surviving in the Aussie Bush. He soon discovers he is lost,
scared, and REALLY misses his mom.
Oscar is a Tasmanian Devil who looks like his relatives--mean and ugly.
All the Aussie bush critters are afraid of him. Yet Oscar longs to be
friends with everyone--you see, he REALLY is different.
How he makes the other animals see his friendly
nature becomes a grand adventure.
16x books to choose from ( PB to Young Teen)
Ages 5 through 14 years.
AUTOGRAPHED--with DISCOUNT
(Direct from my Website) $2.50 POSTAGE
Add 50c for each extra book.
**************
Magic Carpet of Books
SKYPE Author Visits to Schools
************
DISCOVER
AUTHORS your kids will READ
Authors have terrific imaginations, a love of words, and a passion for creating
wonderful stories. Unfortunately, this rarely translates into buckets of money.
We write because we love to weave words into stories
that capture children's imaginations.
The idea of kids eventually reading our stories to
THEIR children is our kinky kind of immortality.
Don't laugh. . . I am SERIOUS!
Authors only need two things from READERS:
#1
BUY THEIR BOOKS!
#2
WRITE a REVIEW!
Tell others if you (or your child) enjoyed the read. . . or NOT.
PLUS
Buying from an author's website helps
YOU and the AUTHOR.
Authors make more from the books THEY sell, and
YOU often get DISCOUNTS and much CHEAPER postage.
Authors love to AUTOGRAPH the books you buy.
This makes your GIFT of a BOOK extra special.
The Authors listed in the panel on the RIGHT have
private websites, where you can BUY DIRECT from
them, and even ask about their plots and characters.
YOU CAN ALSO eMAIL an AUTHOR
Their books are also available on
Amazon, bookstores, and other places
More author names and links will be added
as they are discovered.
****************
Margot Finke
Skype Author Visits
*****************
HOOK KIDS on READING
FOLLOW the Revamped PATH.
BOOK. . . News
WRITING. . .Ideas
MARGOT'S. . . Thoughts
W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R Grabs My Interest.
Hold onto your hair, mate
not even The SHADOW knows!
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Celebrate International Literacy Day
*Books help children and adults learn
about the world and themselves.
*Reading opens a window to the rest of the world.
*Books are the Magic Carpet Ride every child needs.
*Reading opens minds and hears.
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HOOK KIDS on READING
NOW FOLLOWS a Revamped PATH.
BOOK. . . News
WRITING. . .Ideas
MARGOT'S. . . Thoughts
W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R Grabs My Interest.
Hold onto your hair, mates,
not even The SHADOW knows!
**********
The Stolen Generation:
Australia’s Dark and Tragic Past.
Imagine your child playing in your front yard. As you watch through the window, a van of policemen pulls up. They take your screaming child away. You never see your child again.
Children who were very dark skinned were allowed to stay with their parents, causing many indigenous people to dye their children’s skin dark using the sap of the milkwood tree. However, if a child looked as if he had any white ancestry, he was taken away. Some, if they looked white enough, were adopted by white families. READ MORE:
As an Aussie myself (now living in the US), I was shocked and disgusted by the actions by my then government. I always knew that Aboriginals, like the American Indians, got a raw deal when the white settlers arrived and took over their land.
This is one reason I wrote Dreamtime Man. I wanted to show how the native Australian people struggled to survive, and how far they have eventually come in claiming their place, their cultural dignity, and their rights.
Final illo and verses from
'Dreamtime Man.'
Much time has slid past–many moons full and new,
Since the people of Dreamtime claimed old Uluru.
Tribes now are proud of their history and lore,
Some, willing and eager to claim even MORE.
Men dance old Legends while the Spirits inspire.
"Dreamtime" still leads them where white men can't follow,
Where the spirits of old offer hopes for tomorrow.
The stars here are the Southern Cross--seen only
south of the equator
****************
Margot Finke
14x Books for Kids--Skype Author Visits
'Content' Manuscript Critiques
HOOK KIDS on READING
NOW FOLLOWS a Revamped PATH.
BOOK. . . News
WRITING. . .Ideas
MARGOT'S. . . Thoughts
W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R Grabs My Interest.
Hold onto your hair, mates,
not even The SHADOW knows!
**********
The school year is almost upon us.
GET YOUR CLASS READING
With a FREE Skype Author Visit
from ME!
My selection of 14 books were written with the idea of
HOOKING KIDS on READING
Picture books and young teen adventures.
FUN--MULTICULTURAL--EDUCATIONAL
Here's the Scoop!
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*First grade through mid-grade.
*Registered with Education Skype.
*Contact me through the FORM on the right
As the author of 14 books,
I love gassing up my Magic Carpet of Books,
and flying into classrooms anywhere there is a SKYPE connection.
I live in the US now, but I grew up in Australia, so some of my books have a Down Under flavor. I Skype globally, depending on how well the time zones mesh.
Many teachers have told me, that after my visit, their classes became much more enthusiastic about reading and writing. Meeting a real life author, and learning how their favorite book came to life, can work marvelous MAGIC!
THE DEAL
I begin by introducing myself, asking about their favorite books, and showing some Australian Aboriginal artifacts. Then a short question time. I then read a story, and chat about how to write stories that HOOK readers. More in-depth details about writing and how books are created, depending on the age of the class, and what the teacher wants me to include. The final Q and A is often the highlight of my visit!
Do email me, and we can chat further about your class needs.. CONTACT: [email protected]
Margot Finke
Read SAMPLE Chapters and
verses from all my books
HOOK KIDS on READING
WILL NOW FOLLOW THE PATH BELOW.
BOOK. . . News
WRITING. . .Ideas
MARGOT'S. . . Thoughts
W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R Grabs My Interest.
Hold onto your hair, mates,
not even The SHADOW Knows!
**********
PINTEREST-
*Teacher Classroom board: With the new school year breathing down our necks, I have added a whole bunch of fun help and advice onto this board. DIVE IN!!
*Teckie Help:
Windows 10 is now being downloaded. A cool Freeby-at least for a year. Get the Scoop from KIM KOMANDO. The GOOD - the BAD - and the UGLY! Then decide if Win 10 is for you.
*Gardening--Parenting and Family--Home School:
These, and many other of my boards offer great help, advice, and pure fun items and articles.
I posted this on Facebook yesterday, and received a GINORMOUS LACK of comments.
I have been at this writing for children game for well over 20 years, so I am no cute young thing!
I am beginning to wonder if the plethora of self published books for the genre I write, has made rising to the top, being noticed, and actually selling books, a no win proposition. I do have another MS in the wings, but I am seriously considering letting it slide.
The buying public has so many choices these days. I wrack my brains on a daily basis, for new and intriguing ploys that might grab a reader or two--a review or two. Yet I am not getting the readership I want for my books. All my fellow writers are on Facebook etc doing the same thing. Without spending like a drunken sailor, for professional promotional help, how do we get our books into the hands and minds of today's kids? Schools and Skype are an option I have mined deeply. My kids and family are not interested in spreading the word--busy with their own needs.
So now I am considering retirement--actually spending quality time with my dear husband and enjoying our garden. Having the time to read some of the wonderful new books I keep adding to my Pinterest boards--both for adults and kids.
Hence the 'CRY' for help you see below.
By:
Margot Finke,
on 4/28/2015
Blog:
HOOK KIDS on READING
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
# margot finke,
#Dynoroar,
#Featherbutt Bird,
#Oogledork,
Fantasy,
tweens,
words,
thesaurus,
bookworm,
Add a tag
Fantastic Fantasy Daisy and Bartholomew Q PLUS outrageous critters like--
The Dynoroar, The Oogledork, The Featherbutt Bird,
and. . . Evil Big Crow.
by Margot Finke
Cover Art: Ioana Zdralea.
This young tween fantasy will be published as soon as the cover to be completed.
Then,
Soft Cover and
Kindle pop-up will be your purchase choices.
(on Amazon and my website)
Daisy and Bartholomew Q. are an unlikely twosome.
She is a stubborn and feisty young teen girl. She likes to do things her way. He is a slightly pompous fellow who loves books and reading.He lives in a world of words, and his friends are astonishingly odd--to say the least. With Daisy's procrastination teetering at EPIC FAIL,
Bartholomew Q. is sent to guide and advise her.
He will show her where to discover those
fantastic words that will earn her garden essay an 'A.'
QUESTIONS: #1- Where would he take Daisy?
#2 - Who would she ask?
#3 - WHAT words would she choose?
ANSWERS:
#1 - the Thesaurus ('G' for Garden section)
#2 - the Cousin Adjective Tree, the Mother Noun Tree, the Father Verb Tree,
and the Depressed Raccoon--WHO ELSE?
#3 - Fabulous words that describe a garden.
Essay due tomorrow morning.
PLEASE HURRY!Of course if you're like Daisy, you've put off writing your essay until
the last minute. A failing grade looms--plus the wrath of Mom!
OH. . .and did I mention attacks by bizarre World Word residents,
Talking Trees, a depressed raccoon, and being kidnapped by Evil Big Crow?
So much fun and adventure--so many fabulous words.
I can't wait to see the cover. (the art here is only temporary)
STAY TUNED, MATES!********************************Books for Kids - Skype Author Visitshttp://www.margotfinke.com Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/nogbdad*********************************
OSCAR Needs a Friend
Is my latest Picture Book
AND YES
It is my FIRST PB that is NOT in rhyme!
Wonderfully talented Ioana Zdralea is again working
on the fun illustrations.
Oscar has a SECRET. . . Can you guess what it is?
Below are some illustrations that might help
you guess what his secret is about.
Illo #1 sketches--plus the finished illo.
#1- FINISHED
Illo #3 - full page spread
ILLO #5 - full page spread
COMING SOON
I only hope you love the story as much as I know you
will love Ioana's delightful art work
There will be 12 illustrations + the cover.
I am excited about launching this book in a few months--
when the illos are completed.
It will be in Soft Cover and Kindle Pop-Up
(the same as Dreamtime Man)
Kindle Kids POP-UP Books
are a great way to add extra fun or information.
Just tap the screen, and a small information screen pops up--
like Magic!
************************************
Books for Kids - FREE Skype Author Visits
Manuscript Critiques
**************************************
Make 2015 the year of
GIVING BOOKSLet this 2015 - 12 month "GIVING" CALENDAR Remind you to give
A BOOK a month for 12 months
FREE "Giving" CALENDAR( An 8 page PDF you can print )
REMIND yourself to GIFT a child with a
BOOK they will love and re-read.
******************************* Books for Kids - Manuscript Critiques Skype Author Visitshttp://www.margotfinke.com *******************************
I am Giving away
I am giving away 5x Print Copies of
#Dreamtime Man
+ copies of my "Fairdinkum Aussie Recipe Book."
ONE copy can be won on each of the 5 days below.
Beginning December 11th.
Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday - Monday
WIN Thursday the 11th's copy
by being the FIRST to answer this question:
Name a unique Aussie animal
that lives in gum trees.
** Please add your answers to the
COMMENTS.
If you don't win Dreamtime Man,
ALL who add a comment will get a copy
of my FREE
"Fairdinkum Aussie Recipe Book."
Recipes for the food I loved to eat while
growing up Down Under.
*********************
DISCLAIMER:
These Dreamatime Man copies arrived with a small
pale gray mark at the bottom of some verse pages.
The problem has now been fixed, and I decided
to give away the originals. My lyrically rhyming
tale, based on Aboriginal history, and the glorious
illustrations, are not affected in any way.
*********************
Books for Kids -Manuscript Critiques
SKYPE author Visits
*********************
By:
Margot Finke,
on 11/25/2014
Blog:
HOOK KIDS on READING
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
# margot finke,
#Australia,
#Dreamtime Man,
children's books,
sale,
hippo,
Holiday Gifts,
walkabout,
Ruthie,
Add a tag
GO ON. . . I DARE YOU!
Love 'em with BOOKS this Holiday Season.
2
BOOKS that make terrific Holiday Gifts.
*Trial by Walkabout is a great Aussie outback adventure--
a multicultural tale of sibling rivalry, aboriginal culture, danger,
and Dreamtime pirits--plus a friendship between two young teens
*Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind--
a rhyming story that tells how sudden BIG changes
can turn a sweet girl into a brat!
(parent teacher guide included)
************************
JUST PUBLISHED (soft cover)
Dreamtime Man
For young and old alike. . .
My rhyming tale, based on Australian history, shows how Aboriginals
survived the arrival of the white man, and eventually created
a place for themselves and their culture
in the present day.REVIEW SNIP:
SAMPLE from Book REVIEW on Penny's Reviews and Chat:
http://pennyreviews-chat.blogspot.com/
"I'm a great, and long time fan of Margot Finke’s children’s stories, as you know. I’m completely enthralled with this new one, Dreamtime Man. It is absolutely one of her best. It’s in rhyme and powerfully relates the stories of ancient Australian aboriginal tribes who used to roam the wild, untamed lands of Australia. Her word pictures are perfect jewels."
**The illustrations, by Ioana Zdralea, are amazing.
This SUPER Review is a huge thrill!! **You can also LISTEN to me read the story HERE
Not on Sale. . . but worth every penny!
******************************
Books for Kids - Skype Author Visits
Manuscript Critiques
******************************
My wonderful Grand-daughter Brittany
has just reminded me of what I once told her:
NEVER GIVE UP!
So what if Sunday, the first day of my Halloween giveaway, was a BUST--
I guess Facebook was not the right venue.
So today I am forging ahead with my Halloween HOT SPOT Giveaway.One FREE Kindle download to each day's WINNER
Oct27th through Oct 30th
EACH DAY I will give away
One Kindle download of
THE REVENGE of THELMA HILL
A young teen ghost mystery - chills and thrills galore!
to
The FIRST PERSON to give the correct answer to
MONDAY'S QUESTION
Oct 27th
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**To WIN Monday's KINDLE download of “The Revenge of Thelma Hill,”
answer this question correctly:
WHO DID I CHANNEL
WHEN I WROTE THE PART OF THE GHOST?
Answers go in the COMMENTS below.
Come Back Here
for A NEW QUESTION
every day.
****************************
THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR IS
JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
Time to plan a surprise
MAGIC CARPET RIDE
for your class.
FUN - ADVENTURE - LEARNING
NOW
Take a trip to my PINTEREST Teacher-Classroom board for help
and imaginative class suggestions. Pinterest PINS make teaching more fun.
Then, BOOK my FREE
"Skype Author Visit"
*EMAIL ME YOUR CLASS DETAILS
*CHAT WITH ME ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED,(AND WHAT I CAN OFFER YOUR CLASS) *CHOOSE a time and a date
Before my visit I will send you the following:
*A FREE "Sneak Peek" inside my current books (pdf download)
*Information about the book I plan to read to your class
*Coloring sheets for younger classes
*Word glossary for Aussie books
PLUS
WHERE TO PURCHASE
An Order Form + a brief Introductory Letter for parents -
so they can email me, and reassure themselves
about my books, or ask me questions.
IT'S FREESO BOOK EARLY.Magic Carpet Rides are a rare treat!
*****************
Books for Kids - Skype Author Visitshttp://www.margotfinke.com*****************
TRYING
TO PROMOTE YOUR BOOK?
ANY LUCK?
NO!
Then, allow me lend you my
Magic Wand.
PS:
You'll need to supply the imagination yourself.
I see so many of the same writers flashing the same book covers on Facebook,
Google+ and elsewhere. My DELETE button works overtime - I'll bet yours does too.
Then there are those that think reams of words are better.
Their covers are followed by mountains of text.
DELETE!
Wanna learn some MAGIC?
Wanna get attention for that book and cover?
Wanna halt that reflex delete?
The MAGIC WORD
"Snipping Tool"from Microsoft
Now you are ready to
LINE UP, COPY, PASTE, RESIZE, JUGGLE AROUND, ADD
BACKGROUND, TEXT BOX, PAGE COLOR AND BORDERS.
All this magic gives you a JPEG that is awesome.
You can SNIP anything from anywhere on the web - the whole page,
a picture, or only the exact part you want to use.
Snipping Tool Magic
lets you present your books in different ways on different days.
TOGETHER - SEPARATELY - WITH TEXT or WITHOUT.
REMEMBER
One memorable LOGO is worth 10,000 chunks of text!
TRY "SNIPIT"
IT'S AWESOME!
******************Books for Kids - Skype Author VisitsManuscript Critiqueshttp://www.margotfinke.com *******************
By:
Margot Finke,
on 7/6/2014
Blog:
HOOK KIDS on READING
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
masterpiece,
mid-grade,
ingredients,
# margot finke,
chapter hooks,
writing knowledge,
SCBWI,
writing process,
voice,
Add a tag
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Writing a Middle-grade Masterpiece
Ain't Easy!
Originally posted in The Purple Crayon – on "Musings"
by Margot Finke
Libraries, bookstores, and online shops offer middle-grade novels of all types: inspiring, good, bad, and that iffy area in-between. I am sure every writer starts out with the intention of writing a story that inspires as well as entertains young readers. However, it soon dawns on them that hard work, imagination, and dedication are just small parts of what it takes to write a middle-grade book that inspires and entertains.
Like any other job or career, a potential writer must spend time learning the craft of writing for children — an apprenticeship, if you will. The rules are available for those who take the time to learn them. And once you learn the rules, you can take an occasional deep breath. . . and break them with impunity.
.
Secret Ingredients for a Middle-grade Masterpiece:
Trying to write for the older half of the middle-grade range? To appeal to kids on the cusp of adolescence: with raging hormones and today’s fast pace your main competition? From 10 to 13 years of age is the range I mean. However, kids find their own reading comfort level, so some 10/11 year olds might read YA books, while older teens might still be into middle-grades. It all depends on their maturity and individual reading level.
Here’s a preview of the ingredients you’ll need to dig out of your imagination, and your well-honed craft box, if you plan to whip up a great middle-grade book for those fickle 10-13 year-olds:
- Tight writing.
- Active and powerful verbs.
- A plot that’s cool and fast paced.
- Characters who are alive with authenticity.
- Dialogue that is true to the characters.
- A background rich with possibilities or mystery.
- Your own unique writing voice.
- Hints and clues that are woven into the fabric of the plot, and tell of past history and things yet to come.
- End of chapter HOOKS that keep readers turning the page.
When completed, your middle-grade masterpiece needs to be somewhere between 20,000 and 60,000 words. Yes, I know Jo Rowlings upped the ante with her succession of Harry Potter books, and if your plot and characters have the same appeal as Harry, you too might get away with a larger word count. However, first-time authors might be wise to err on the side of fewer words.
Ingredients — How and Where to Find Them:
- If it’s been a long time since you sat in Mrs. Learnit’s English class, take a basic English/Writing course. You can do this online, through a nearby night class, or your local college. Writers must have confidence in their basic grammar and punctuation skills.
- Haunt your local bookstores and library. Read every middle-grade book you can get your hands on. Dissect the plots in these books, and the way authors create their characters. Look at the sentence structure, the way they describe events and places. Make notes. If a book grabs your interest, find out what it is the author does that has that effect on you. Is it their richly crafted characters, their sharp and fast moving plot, or their attention to all those small yet vital details?
- Write as often as you can. Becoming a published author is not for wimps or hobbyists. Sacrifices are mandatory. If it means getting up before dawn, because that is the only time you have to write — so be it. If it means being bleary-eyed at 2 am so you can finish a chapter — suck it up! If it means living with dust bunnies that make your mother-in-law cluck, and teaching your kids to do their own laundry and room clean up — go for it! Most important is a partner who is sympathetic toward your (weird to his mind) need to write, and his willingness to help out around the house when you are suffering from one of your many writing frenzies. Perfect wife, mother and housekeeper, OR great writer? Both demand masses of time — your choice, mate.
- If you have no middle-grade children in your family, volunteer at your local middle school. Observe these half-baked creatures in their natural habitat. Body language, peer groups, misfits and lunch room behavior: all this is grist for your writing mill. Moreover, you’ll probably have fun doing it. Make a note of what these kids read for pleasure.
- Network with others who write for the same age. This means joining online lists where writing and publishing information flows back and forth, and you can have your many beginner questions answered. Join a critique group that has some advanced or published members. Their support and encouragement will often save your sanity. Critiquing the work of others is surprisingly informative, and you will benefit from the feedback you receive on your own writing. Below are three of many great online lists for children’s writers, and links to join.
Whenever possible, go to SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) writing conferences. SCBWI is well worth joining. They offer many advantages to newcomers, and their branches pop up in every state. This is where you meet editors and agents, and hear them speak about today’s world of writing and publishing. Meeting them often leads to you being able to send your manuscript to a specific editor: and with so many publishers today closed to submissions, this is a real plus. Other writers will also be there, keen to network with you, and share their writing experiences.
The MAGIC of learning MORE will see you through!
If you don’t have a college degree, or even a high school diploma, don’t worry. Talent, perseverance, and a slice of luck can make up for these so-called deficits. A dedicated and talented writer, determined to learn the craft of writing, and stick with it until they become published, will succeed. Boost your writing confidence with an advanced writing class. This will take you beyond grammar and punctuation, and into the meaty realm of plots, character enrichment, voice and pace. Perfect these skills, and acceptances rates multiply like rabbits. Below are three links — two links for great writing classes, and the other to terrific books on how to write for children.
- Recommended Writing Class
- Anastasia Suen — A wonderful writer. If you want to write for children, visit her Intensive
Other Websites That Will Boost Your Writing Knowledge:
A must browse for beginners and experts alike. A veritable treasure
trove of writing information. - CBC (Children's Book Council)
Information about writing, authors, books and publishing.
- Writer's Market Research publishers. They update information regularly. They have a program where you can track submissions, but it cost to join. Writer's Market also has a free update site. You don't have to subscribe to the magazine to get the updates.
- Jan Field's Website
Chock full of writing help, and kidmagwriters.com is a terrific resource for
those who want to write for magazines. - CWIM (Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market). This hard copy book is the information Bible for publishers, editors, agents, and what they want from
YOU in the current year - LINKEDIN is a place for serious writers. Lots of writing lists for every genre`.
Final Note to Prospective Authors:
Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep researching to find the right publisher. Keep sending out those finished manuscripts. Editors do not make house calls!
HAPPY WRITING MATES!
**********************************
Books for Kids - FREE Skype AuthorVisits
Manuscript Critiques
***********************************
Make
SUMMER READING
at your house
ROCK!
But can you HOOK your kids on reading this summer?
Or will sleeping late, mindless music,
or compulsive computer games
beat you - AGAIN?
There's a secret to this dear parents.
Find books that fit your child's interests.
*If they love sports. . . get 'em books that feature sports.
*If they like computers. . . get 'em books where the main character is a computer whiz.
*If your kid has been bullied - find them a book where the hero gets even and triumphs!
*If your kid finds it hard to make friends - or any friends. . .
find books that show the main character discovering
cool ways to make new friends.
GET THE IDEA?
Here are 2 awesome adventures that will keep your reluctant reader. . . READING.
TACONI and CLAUDE - DOUBLE TROUBLE
And the follow-up book:
Both these fast paced adventures are set in the dangerous Aussie Outback
territory - if the heat and starvation don't get them,
the wild dingoes or the crazy
medicine man might.
An easy pdf download that offers a quick look inside my latest books.
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BUY DIRECT
from my WEBSITE for autographed books,
and a FREE copy of my
"Fairdinkum Aussie Recipe Book." Instructions on my BOOKS page -
Or eMail me personally - mfinke at frontier.com
(Tucker I loved eating Down Under when I was a kid.)
Postage $2.50 per book - the cost of postage stamps only!(Add 50 cents for each extra book.)**************************
Take a "Sneak Peek" inside ALL my latest books, and choose a book your child will love reading.CLICK HERE for a FREE pdf Download of the "Sneak Peek"
BOOKS also available on AMAZON, B and N, etc (Soft cover and Kindle)
******************************
BOOKS
A Magic Carpet Ride
to fun, learning and adventure!
Margot's
WILD and WONDERFUL Series
7 Rhyming Picture Books about Animals from
the US and Australia.
FUN as well as educational!
About ten years ago I had this series published in eBook format by Writers Exchange. This was an Australian publisher. CEO Sandy Cummins was wonderful to work with - helpful, supportive and open to suggestions. However, at that time eBooks were a novelty, and the eReaders of today were still a glint in their designers' eyes. The series received terrific reviews, but sales were dismal.
Now, thanks to Sandy allowing me to offer the series to Guardian Angel Publishing, a publisher that specializes in child friendly and educational picture books, my Wild and Wonderful series is being published in soft cover, and will be available on Amazon and other sites: Guardian Angel Publishing, + my website. YEA!!!
I am absolutely THRILLED that my Wild and Wonderful series is finally being published in soft cover. It has been a long wait, but well worth the time and the effort.
Already in soft cover and on sale are:
Now at the printers and available soon:
Never Say BOO to a Frilly:
Includes - Never Say BOO - Rainbow Birds - Tasmanian Devil Dance
Coming Next:
Prairie Dog's Play Day:
Includes - Prairie Dogs - Bald Eagle Rules - The Stinker (skunk)
Last 3 Books - Coming SOON:
*Don's Eat Platypus Stew -3 individual stories
*Squirrels Can't Help Being Nuts - 3 individual stories
*Humdinger Hummers - 1 story
Link to illustrations and news about my DREAMTIME MAN picture book.
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Books fpr Kids - Skype Author Visits
Manuscript Critiques
*****************************
Let me say first that I am a
HUGE FAN of PINTEREST!
It caters to all tastes.
It is FUN!
It gets you KNOWN!
It can help sell your STUFF!
And it can also offer great ADVICE and GUIDANCE!
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I have added a BONANZA of pins to the following boards:
SPECIAL NEEDS Board For kids and adults who battle to overcome, subdue, or work around the life altering symptoms of Aspergers, Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD etc. I was thrilled to add many new pins that tackle all of these problems, as well as offer hope and enthusiasm for the future.
TEACHER/CLASSROOM Board Today I pinned you a big bunch of brainstorming help. Some really terrific ways for teachers to find help, advice, and new ideas. You teachers carry a huge responsibility on your shoulders, and you often get a kick in the pants, rather than the bouquet of roses you deserve. Many kids spend more time with you than they do with their parents. They look up to you.
Yeah, I know, some of the little !@#% don't. HEY! You need all the help you can get, and this board has you covered!
CRITTER FRIENDLY Board
(from land, sky and ocean) Calling ALL TEACHERS
These unique and fun bug, critter, animal. bird and undersea pictures could form the basis of a wonderful class project. The most awesome array of critters from every corner of our earth. Terrific for a class project that lets kids each choose one or two animals to research. Are they rare? Are they endangered? where do they live? What do they eat, etc? Then, write an essay on what they discovered about these critters while doing the research.
My mouth actually watered as I pinned some of these luscious and taste tempting goodies!
Talk about every picture being worth a thousand words - some of these pictures were worth 1,000 calories - at least!! I can see diets flying out the window ASAP. Only kidding. There are lots of low calorie, low carb, and low fat recipes on my YUMMY board. . . Just no low taste ones!!
And if you still have a moment to spare
( several moments in actual fact!), do visit:
BOOK PROMO SECRETS
PARENTING
Both BOOK REVIEW Boards
FREE SKYPE Author Visits
and TECKIE NEWS
( It could keep your computer from blowing up. )*****************************
Books for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
FREE Skype Author Visitshttp://www.margotfinke.com******************************
"HEARTBLEED"
Nothing romantic about this heart!
This is the terrible problem that was an ACCIDENTAL mistake by a programmer several years ago, was not picked up by other code checkers, and now has major sites and providers over a barrel. Read more about how to protect yourself from Heartbeat on my "TECKIE NEWS and Help" board on Pinterest: <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--> http://www.pinterest.com/margotfinke/
Norton has sent me a link to a site where I can check all my most used web and blog lings to see if they are infected, or NOT with Heartbeat. A 2 second click, and you can reassure yourself about any site: <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]-->
TECKIE HELP
I recommend KIM KOMANDO'S daily updates and website for advice on new purchases, scams, virus protection, and everything technical to do with computers and e-readers etc. Her Radio Show is nation wide.
KIM KOMANDO WROTE:
Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse with 'Heartbleed' ... they do.
The "Heartbleed" bug that has floored Internet experts around the world just got worse. Cisco and Juniper, two of the largest network equipment makers, said today that the vulnerability, which exposes encrypted data like passwords, is present in their routers, switches and firewalls.
For a complete guide to Kim Komando’s "Heartbleed" coverage and help,
click here
MY VIRUS PROTECTION MANTRA
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You need super reliable virus protection at any time, plus one other program that sweeps your computer's floor after your protection has done the rounds - just in case! I have used NORTON for years, and it keeps me safe. I also have Win Patrol - a nifty little program that among many other things warns me whenever anything wants to alter or add to my Registry. COOL!!
The main thing for whatever virus protection you use, is to keep the program updated, do regular computer scans, and download the latest virus protection fixes daily. Keep other programs, like Quick Time, Apple and Microsoft programs etc updated as well. You can set these things to be done automatically.
Playing ostrich will not stop something bad happening
if you don't do YOUR part in protecting
your computer.
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Books for Kids - FREE Skype Author Visits
http://www.margotfinke.com
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Welcome to my contribution to
The WRITING PROCESS Blog Tour.
The talented Clara Bowman-Jahn tagged me to join this intriguing Blog Tour on WRITING PROCESSES. Each week, authors post answers to four Writing Process Questions on their blogs. Then they tag friends to play along the following week. You can read Clara’s terrific post, and learn what she's working on, right here. You can also see what’s going on with Clara and her books on Facebook - right here.
Bellow, find my answers (after much head scratching) to the four set questions. At the bottom of the page you'll find the names of talented writers who’ll carry the “Writing Answers Torch”for next week - Monday the 21st of April.
What am I working on?
Aha, I am getting ready to self publish a picture book that is near and dear to my heart. “Dreamtime Man” was first written many years ago – just scribbled down, and then put aside when more pressing works grabbed my attention. I would bring it out every so often and rework the rhyme, tweak the meter, and reinvent a verse or two – a rhyming story. I never forgot it - but life got in the way. This is a tale of bad deeds and tribal suffering: of how the aboriginal people of Australia were treated when the white man arrived– and after! For this story, near enough was not good enough. I wanted it perfect . . . and perfect takes longer than I imagined. Finally, I was ready for an illustrator.
I found Ioana Zdraleaon Linkedin. After reading Dreamtime Man, and a few words from me, she GOT it – the outback colors, the “feel,” and a wonderful sense of what my verses needed to tell about. I am eager to see her sketches for verse #2.
How does my work differ from others of its genre?.
I grew up Down Under, in the state of Queensland. They used to grow a lot of bananas there when I was young, so I was called a Banana-lander. Aussies have a barefaced independence, a way of thumbing their noses at anything that smells of “set in stone”rules. I think my writing voice shows this. I also like to mix humor and dire trouble in my young teen books. Life is full of awful situations that are made bearable by the ability to laugh at yourself. If kids learn this early, it will make life for them easier to handle. And even though I now live in the US with my family, my Aussie upbringing still holds sway. You know the old saying, “You can take the sheila outa OZ, but you can’t take the Aussie outa the Sheila!”
Why do I write what I do?
I write what comes to me in the middle of the night, when my head hits the pillow and I should be snoring. I guess if erotic ideas chased me into the bathroom at night, begging to be jotted down, I would write best selling erotica and make a bundle!! BUMMER! Unfortunately, my brain seems to generate pictures of Aussie adventures, and assorted animals that beg to be written about . And I can’t imagine Thelma Hill (from The Revenge of Thelma Hill ) doing anything even faintly “naughty.” She is modeled after my mother for goodness sake! She does sport the see through filmy gowns, but rattling bones and a musty basement are not conducive to anything vaguely erotic – unless you are REALLY kinky!
So, I’m stuck writing about ghosts, families separated by an ocean, Aussie adventures, and picture books with assorted critters, dyslexic boys, rattlesnakes, and grizzly bears. And as always, the big bucks will pour down onto those who dream up exotic doings. Sigh. . .
How does my writing process work?
Next morning I bring all those nighttime notes to my writing den and see what has real possibilities. Or, if there’s an idea that beefs up a plot or character I am working on, I slip it into place with a sigh of relief. Some books almost write themselves. Others have characters it is hard to pin down, or plots that are always wandering away on their own. Guess they caught the Aussie independence virus from me. I have to admit that Down Under Calling was a book that wrote itself. It poured from me like a river in flood. The characters are all fictional, but the tales and remembrances that Grandma Rose wrote about to her grandson, Andy, all came from my childhood or my dear mother. It was as if Mom were looking over my shoulder. A joy to write - and I do hope readers love it as much as I loved writing it. <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]-->
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WHO'S UP NEXT MONDAY! – April 21st 2014.
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AGY WILSON - writer/Illustrator
NOTE: Agy did the cover art on two of my young teen books. I named her "Awesome Agy" for a good reason!
Agy loves her family, art, environment, history, calligraphy and all things language. It's only natural for her to throw it into a huge pot and cook up her books. When she is not playing with kids or pets, Agy is usually immersing myself in her work. She is currently working on a coloring book suitable for all ages, and a few more projects - picture books, and beginning readers/chapter books, are included.
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DONNA SHEPHERD:Donna Shepherd's children's books, Topsy Turvy Land, No More Gunk! & OUCH! Sunburn!, Chizzy's Topsy Tale, Dotty's Topsy Tale, Poodle and Doodle, Sully's Topsy Tale, Bradybug, and Where is Salami? feature short, playful rhymes and humorous illustrations. Be sure to look for the items hidden in each picture by the imaginative artists.
Her newest book for children, Ava's Secret Tea Party, is her first 'girly' book with an old-fashioned fairy tale, hidden teacups and cookies, and recipes and crafts. Available in both paperback and hardcover. Donna is founder of Greater Harvest Workshops and Middletown Area Christian Writers, and in demand as a Bible teacher, conference speaker, and singer with over thirty years of experience. For writing tips, useful links, and updates about Donna's books, visit her Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/donnajshepherd
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Books for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
FREE Skype Author Visits to Schools
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<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--> My “Dreamtime Man” is taking shape
A rhyming picture book for grades 4 and up
Illustrator, Ioana Zdralea, did an awesome job of interrupting this wild and mysterious Dreamtime land. I am thrilled!! This is the illo she sent me for the first two verses. The verses describe the harshness of where the Australian aboriginals had to scratch out a living,
<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--> Imagine a wild place where sun burns the sand,
Where water and food must be scratched from the land.
This place is the wellspring of men black as coal,
And Dreamtime ruled all who endured as one soul.
While shy Daintree tribes hunted deep in the shade,
Tough bush and outback men learned how to trade.
Whether hunting, or fighting, or struggling to live,
All respected the Dreamtime and what it could give.
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More sketches and finished artwork will
come to this page soon.
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Books for Kids - Skype Author Visits
Manuscript Critiques
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As Promo Queen,
I Officially Dub this
GAP WEEK!
(Guardian Angel Publishing)
GAP is my publisher of record - PB and Young Teen.
(that is when I’m not self publishing )
Many awesome happenings there this week.
( April Issue )
FREE fun and learning for your kids.
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#2
Guardian Angel Publishing
March 2014 Book Releases
ANCIENT SYMBOLS, ARTWORK, CARVINGS
AND ALPHABETS- Book #2
Book Two—Join Professor Hoot as he explores more ancient arts and artifacts. The art, tools, and text represent various cultures and development from ancient eras, including fossils, too.
Follow Lana as she tries to capture the sunlight when it journeys to the 4 corners of the earth. The story centered yoga routine is simple for children to remember and fun for children to reenact.
Lily returns to the darkness of Htrae to take the King’s message from the City of Light. Even though she doesn’t think she can fulfill this mission, with the help of Ruah she embarks on the difficult task of inviting others to the great forgotten city.
Noah and Isabela take a journey in Great Grandmother’s kitchen to discover the Easter story by coloring eggs Grandmother’s “old-timey-way.” Color meanings help them learn more about who Jesus is and who they are.
Rip, the night engine, constantly worries about his passenger’s comfort on overnight train rides. He knows bench seating is not comfortable for sleeping. His cars are redesigned as Pullman Palace cars equipped with sleeping compartments. He finally lives up to his name that means Rest In Pillows.
A young rabbit loves to tease his older brothers. He goes off into the woods by himself and boasts that he’s not afraid of anything. One night, he hears a lion roar in the house. He tells his brothers, but they ignore him.
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Leaving the best 'till last. . .
There's our
ASIA Connection
Guardian Angel's indomitable, talented, and far-seeing CEO,
Lynda Burch, told us authors the following:
.
"I am about to sign contracts for foreign rights is Asia.
The first step will be getting our English content into
Asia as is - both ebook and print.
China has recently mandated that every child should learn to
speak English as a second language. This is great news
for us at this time. Additionally 90% of children’s
literature in China is imported from
foreign publishers!"
NOTE: That noise you hear is GAP authors and illustrators
dancing on the ceiling.
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TAIL ENDERS . . . .
Hope to share the first illo for “Dreamtime Man” with
you in my next GRAB BAG posting.
Here's an early taste of what's planned for my rhyming story about aboriginal
tribes, and how badly they were treated after the white man colonized Australia.
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Books for Kids - Skype Author visits
http://www.margotfinke.com
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Your PROMO QUEEN presents:
a GRAB Bag
of news that could be of interest. . .
NEW BOOK - SKYPE - DYSLEXIA - PINTEREST
Temporary picture: As soon as I have the first completed illo I will put it here.
My main news is
"DREAMTIME MAN"
What is that?
My latest book!
.A picture book for older grade-school children.
.
It is the rhyming tale of what happened to the Australian Aboriginal tribes after the white man arrived and proceeded to take over their land. I have had this story simmering on my back burner for a number of years. In the meantime I wrote 13 other books - some of them about Aussie animals, and several that had Australian protagonists, with even an aboriginal main character or two.
.
Yet the Dreamtime Man kept whispering to me from the depths of my computer. "Come on Margot, let's get this walkabout on the march. The American Indians got their story out. Stone the crows, mate, we've waited long enough! It's a bonzer tale. Let's DO IT!"
.
I guess nagging does work, because I dug him out, dusted him off and polished until he yelled, "Jumping grasshoppers mate, I"M READY already!"
.
Finding the perfect illustrator was no swim in the billabong. The Aussie Outback and bush colors are unique: bright, clear and strong - their own spectrum of blues and reds. And the aboriginal has a special look - a black Indian like figure will not cut it. I sent bunches of pictures of it all to prospective artists, but the Dreamtime Man was not impressed. "No fear! I won't fight for my freedom in colors this those!"
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Then I found an artist on the Dreamtime wavelength. Her first sample was not promising. But after I sent details and more pictures she came up with a sample that had the Dreamtime Man hopping with glee - like a kangaroo on steroids! The artist's name is Ioana Zdralea, and you can look at some of her diverse work here: http://ioanazdraleaillustration.wordpress.com/page/2/
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April 1st 2014 - 10.30 am
Taking my Magic Carpet of Books to a first grade class in the Eastern US.
Read a story, talk about writing and how books are written,
and answer lots of class questions.
A FUN DAY FOR ALL!
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Flemming Ast is a crusader for those with Dyslexia and other reading
or learning problems. This is his latest VIDEO encouraging parents
to get their children reading well and early, and if they
need help doing this, find that help ASAP.
He has kindly featured me and my Horatio Humble Beats the Big D -
a picture book that helps and encourages dyslexic kids and their parents.
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*There's mouthwatering YUMMY food
* Great BOOK REVIEWS
*Help for SPECIAL NEEDS
*Cool BLOGS THAT ROCK
*TEACHER- CLASSROOM
HOME SCHOOL
And LOTS more!
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Today I am introducing my
NEW PERSONA!
In the past I have been a -
WIFE
MOTHER
WRITER
SALESWOMAN
AUTHOR VISITING LOCAL SCHOOLS
SKYPER TO SCHOOLS WORLD WIDE
(time zones permitting)
BLOGGER
SOCIAL NETWORKING
(One woman book promotion)
and now
TRUMPET BLAST PLEASE. . .
My new persona is
the
"PROMO HO"
Extraordinaire
You may NOW drool over my flagship logo.
More "HOEING" to come!
I have been in training for this for years.
DESPERATION forced me to ACT NOW!
I want kids to READ my BOOKS
I WANT
Parents
Aunts
Grandmas
Uncles
Friends
And the kids old enough to spend their pocket money to
BUY - LOVE - RE READ
and thoroughly enjoy the stories I have written.
AND I WANT TO SEE IT ALL HAPPEN BEFORE I KICK THE BUCKET
AND GO TO THAT GRAND WRITING ROOM IN THE SKY!
Make sense to YOU?
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Books for Kids - Skype Author Visits
Hook Kids on Reading
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