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General musings of the day that inspire me and hopefully inspires others.
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Social Networking Enough Already…When It Hinders Your Writing
By Donna M. McDine
As a society we are bombarded with technology at every angle. Often times overloading our brains of too much information. No matter what type of business world you travel in it has become a constant buzz of checking our email and voice mail at a frantic pace, and hanging out on social media networks to the point that our face-to-face communication suffers.
Personally, I’ve come to the decision I need to turn off the technology to rejuvenate my creative juices for my writing. When I say turn-off, I don’t mean completely, but with limitations. I always write my first draft of an article or new manuscript long hand with my favorite pen. In my case, my Graf Von Faber-Castell pen. Yes an indulgent but oh so worth it! Using this method to write away from my computer greatly reduces my temptation to check email every 30 seconds and surf various social media networks.
Over the years I have forced myself to get to the task at hand and write first, marketing second (yes, I know many feel social networking is a form of marketing, but when you spend the majority of your time socializing with peers and not connecting with your readers what’s the point?), researching publishing markets and blogging (which is a form of social networking) and in my opinion instrumental in developing one’s platform. How to build your platform is a topic for another day.
It’s wonderful to connect with people through social networking whom you most likely would have never met otherwise, however if you allow social networking to become your “job” you risk valuable writing time that could result in the next “big” book!
Yes, utilize social networking but with responsibility. Do you want to concentrate on honing your writing skills and writing the best manuscript possible or have hundreds of thousands followers on your social networks with no concrete publishing credits to show for your efforts? You decide what’s important to you. I made my decision to get out from behind my computer and engage in-person with members of my community who are instrumental in getting the books in to the children’s hands, librarians, teachers, parents, after school program directors, etc. The end and continued result is my business relationships have soared.
Good luck and expand your outreach beyond your computer!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Why did I decide to write Grandma, how do you know God is real?
by Lorita Kelsey Childress
I have a grandchild who I adore and love with all of my heart. She is a joy, very inquisitive and bright. She has been going to church with my husband and me since she was born. One day, I was praying about my next project and telling God I wanted to write a children’s book to leave as a legacy for my granddaughter, Kamia. I didn’t want just any story but a story that honored the God; I serve which would uniquely evangelize to her and all children of the world regarding the multitude of reasons as to why God is real. I also wanted a book which would remind adults about the everyday things we take for granted that He has created. We as a society are inundated with just living life and often forget that an old tree, green grass or a bird flying are all beautiful creations designed by God. I wanted to convey through my writing a thought provoking fun story which had great illustrations and simplistic teachings. Thus my book was imparted into my spirit.
As Christians our faith is increased by attending Sunday school, church and reading the Bible. These are instrumental tools in aiding us with continually building a strong deep rooted foundation in our Christian walk and our relationship with or Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, at a young age it is often hard to decipher. I wrote Grandma, how do you know God is real? to help children obtain another point of view regarding our God and to unite those who read it by rejoicing over His many blessings.
Title:Grandma How Do You Know God Is Real?
Synopsis: Grandma, how do you know God is real is about a six-and-a-half-year-old girl named Kendra, who spends a few weeks of her summer vacation with her Grandma. She awakens one bright and sunny morning and asks her Grandma how does she know God is real? Grandma takes Kendra on an adventure to show her all the reasons as to why she knows God is real.
Bio: Lorita Kelsey Childress lives with her husband David, in Northern CA. She has three daughters and a granddaughter. Lorita’s first novel The Turning Point of Lila Louise was published in May 2010. December 2012, she published her first children’s book titled, Grandma, how do you know God is real? She is a member of Sistahs on the Reading Edge book club. Lorita’s work is featured in Gumbo for the Soul; The Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community and Gumbo for the Soul; Women of Honor Special Pink Edition. Her latest work is featured in Suspect; A Confessional Anthology. Her poem Our History is Rich was featured in the January/March 2010 edition of Kontagious Magazine. She is currently working on her second novel.
Author website: www.loritawrites4u.com
Lorita, thank you for visiting Write What Inspires You! and sharing your personal publication journey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
I'm delighted to host Jo Linsdell as she tours the atmosphere promoting her latest book, Fairy May. I always find it interesting where fellow writer's find their inspiration. I invite you to sit back and enjoy getting to know Jo through her guest post.
We invite you to share with us where you find your inspiration too! We look forward to hearing from you.
A Constant Font of Inspiration
By Jo Linsdell
When writing for young children a writer needs to go back mentally to their childhood to remember what it was like at that age but they also need to get in touch with today's generation of young children.
Times have changed and kids today see the world differently to the way we used to. Even the youngest of kids would look at you strange if you told them that mobile phones didn't exist when you were their age. How about explaining about computers like the Commodore 64 that would take hours to load so you could play "high tech" games like Tetris... in black and white no less, were considered advanced technology? Most kids would just laugh at you in disbelief.
You need to think about these kinds of things when writing for children. You need to get inside their heads and see the world the way they do. As a mum of two young children (one is 5 years old, the other 17 months) I'm lucky to have a constant font of inspiration for my children's books. My 5 year old is also particularly good at sharing his opinion about things and is about as honest as they come and doesn't hold back on criticism.
Ways I find inspiration for my books include;
Playing together. Spending time with my kids and getting involved in games with them is great for seeing how they react to different ideas. If I suggest something that isn't "right" in their book you can be sure I'll get a "silly mummy" and a shake of the head in reply.
Watching them play. Observing how they play, the language they use and the games they create is very inspiring. Seeing how they interact with each
other and others of different ages is also useful.
Watching cartoons with them. Kids love cartoons but not all cartoons. My 5 year old is quite the channel hopper already. Just watching TV with him gives a huge amount of insight into what kind of cartoons catch his interest and what doesn't.
Reading together. I should probably have put this at the top of this list. I read a lot with my kids in both print and ebook format. I try to make sure they get to experience a wide variety of books. Whenever a book lights a spark with them I mentally note what they liked about it.
Listening to music. I usually have some music on in the background and I sometimes find that a phrase from a song with spark my imagination.
Art.A visit to a gallery can really kick my creativeness into top gear. I love art and the right picture can take me mentally into a whole different world.
Inspiration is all around us. It's just a case of being aware of it. Where do you get your inspiration from?
About the author: Jo Linsdell is an award winning blogger and freelance writer living in Rome , Italy . She is also the author of several books including the popular Italian for Tourists, A Guide to Weddings in Italy and the best selling children's picture book Out and About at the Zoo. Her latest book Fairy May was released on 1st February 2013. You can find out more about her at www.JoLinsdell.com
Jo, thank you for joining me today, it's always a pleasure to have you visit. Wishing you all the very best as you travel through cyberspace and beyond!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
In the ever changing technology landscape, it's imperative to have a web presence no matter the line of work you are in. Colette Politzer, Library Media Specialist recently contacted me through my website to invite me to participate in The 29th Annual Rockland Read-In during the week of February 11th.
I'm delighted to be visiting Chestnut Ridge Middle School this morning. During my visit I will share T
he Golden Pathway book trailer, read an excerpt, and engage in what I'm sure will be a lively discussion of what inspires each of us to write.
An extra shout out and huge thank you goes to my wonderful boss...who encouraged me to never turn down an opportunity to share my children's books (even though we are in the midst of two huge events for him this week). Thanks Thomas!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
A stagnate mind squashes the imagination. To keep one’s creativity and imagination flowing it’s essential to explore the unknown and take chances to think outside the box. Imagine for a moment if everyone thought, worked and acted the same way. What a boring world this would be! Read beyond the normal genre you gravitate to, explore the what if’s of everyday life, enjoy nature and soak in the wonders all around you. Challenge yourself on a daily basis and watch your imagination soar to new levels.
Come explore the world of Guardian Angel Kids
www.guardian-angel-kids.com through the thought provoking poetry, short stories and articles to expand your imagination and have fun along the way.
To the dedicated GAK readers and contributors after soul searching her own writing career path, Donna McDine has decided to step down as GAK Editor-in-Chief and dedicate more time to her personal writing and book promotional efforts. This decision did not come lightly, but to be able to expand her imagination and efforts she needed to lighten her work responsibilities. McDine shares that it has been a distinct privilege working with Lynda Burch, Donna Shepherd, Kevin McNamee, and Mary Sue Roberts over the course of the last two plus years. And of course, her daily interactions with the valuable contributors, without whom Guardian Angel Kids Ezine would not exist.
McDine wishes you all the very best in imagination and inspiration throughout 2013 and beyond! She looks forward to staying in touch. Please feel free to drop her a line any time at
donna@donnamcdine.com.
We also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-Angel-Kids-Ezine/163785080346247.
Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Mary Sue Roberts an email at
submissions@guardian-angel-kids.comand let them know what you think of Guardian Angel Kids and what you'd like to see in the future. They aim to please.
The Guardian Angel Kids Ezine staff and contributors look forward to your visit. Thank you for your time and interest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
A full month into 2013 Nancy Stewart and I are back into the swing of exchanging monthly guest posts. Nancy visits with today to share her tips and expertise on "Deep Point of View: What is It?"
Welcome Nancy!
Deep Point of View: What is It?
by Nancy Stewart
Deep Point of View? What is it? Never heard of it.
These are the kinds of answers I get many times when I mention this technique of writing. I thought it just may be time to discuss this effective way of truly getting into one's character's head and staying there. It's time to give the pesky narrator the boot! Goodbye author intrusion.
Deep Point of View, sometimes called Close Third Person, can be used with First Person as well and is a writing style in great demand these days.
The reader climbs into their protagonist's skin—tasting, feeling, hearing, smelling what they do. Deep POV is a skill that must be learned, like anything else. But the four tips below are a great place to start.
Tip 1: Delete the phrase "s/he saw. Obviously not every use of the word saw (observed, noticed, wondered etc.) will be slashed. But go through your manuscript looking for lines like these:
Olivia smiled at her uncle. She saw that he was really into it now.
And change to:
Olivia smiled at her uncle. He was really into it now.
State the action only. Saw always distance the reader. Bring the reader up close instantly.
Tip 2: What words would you say in the manuscript? Use realistic internal dialogue. What you would say to yourself if you were living the scene, then replace the pronouns with "s/he" (unless you're writing in first person, of course.)
The knife’s blade rubbed her throat. The metal felt so cold. She had to stay still and keep from blinking. She was panicked.
Deep Point of View: The knife's blade rubbed her throat. Why was the metal so cold? Sweat dripped into her eyes, burning them. What does it feel like to die?
Tip 3: Don't label emotions This is classic show vs. tell but is vital to Deep POV. Delete from your mind the name we give to an emotion and force yourself to describe it. What physical movements would show the emotion without naming it?
Example: Anger
Olivia was angry.
Becomes: Olivia's eyes became slits.
Tip 4: Physiological responses Once you lay out some strong internal dialogue and remove emotion labels, follow up with physiological responses. Depending on the situation, these might be: knees buckling, chest tightening, throat clamping, an adrenaline rush, goose bumps, nausea, dizziness, sweating, etc. Describe them! This will really pull the reader deep into the story, particularly in high-intensity moments.
Example: Excessively hot
Becomes: If only Olivia could remove the enormous blanket of heat bearing down on her. Breathing hard, sweat poured from her body and dried quickly. "We all have to drink, or we're not gonna make it." A frog's croak. Was that her voice?
I hope this post has encouraged you to throw out all the distance-making words in your manuscript. Let yourself be invisible. Allow your protagonist to shine through those pages. You'll be happy and so will your readers!
I invite you to visit Nancy at to learn more about her personally and her illustrious writing career -
http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/.
Nancy, thank you for visiting with me today and my readers. It is always a true pleasure and wonderful learning experience.
Warmest regards,
Donna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Life is a whirlwind and time goes by so quickly. When I first received the acceptance for my article "Fishing Through a Frozen Lake," by Boys' Quest several years ago I thought Winter 2012 issue would never get here. Well it finally arrived and I'm over the moon to hold the print edition of Boys' Quest Winter issue in my hands!
I know for myself the joy of seeing my story and/or articles in print along with my name is a thrill each and every time!
I'd enjoy hearing about what is going on in your writing life. Please share!
Wishing you all well!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
I'm over the moon.... I've received the galley proof to
Hockey Agony and I'm enjoying reading through and admiring the incredible illustrations by Julie Hammond. Don't worry Thomas, I'll get moving shortly.
Thanks Julie, you've captured the essence of
Hockey Agony!
Now to reality...time to get the wheels moving on book reviews, interviews, etc!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Children’s Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Sewing – January 2013 Issue
Publisher, Lynda S. Burch remembers fondly as a young girl how her grandmother, mother, and aunt had a quilting frame suspended from the ceiling in their basement. Burch and her relatives sat around it for hours, busily quilting away on their assigned sections. No TV or other noise, only the quiet sound of the quilter’s voices chatting. Time spent here was not only valuable in honing one’s sewing skills, but intertwined the family bond, much like the precise and tight stitching from each quilter to produce a beautiful quilt to be cherished for generations to come.
Come explore the world of Guardian Angel Kids through the thought provoking short stories and articles and learn sewing tips along the way. A hemming your pants poetry, Fingers Hats share s the history of thimbles, Calico Corners brings family history to life through quilting, Ribbons tests one’s sewing talents, how Hand Sewing teaches a new way of fun beyond video games, and essential tips for Easy Literacy Activities. Surf on over to Guardian Angel Kids today www.guardian-angel-kids.com, enjoy a child safe ad free Ezine and visit the writers and illustrators in the Guardian Angel Kids January 2013 issue and enjoy the inspiring poetry, stories, articles and activities. W
e also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-Angel-Kids-Ezine/163785080346247.
Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Donna McDine an email at submissions@guardian-angel-kids.comand let them know what you think of Guardian Angel Kids and what you'd like to see in the future. They aim to please. The Guardian Angel Kids Ezine staff and contributors look forward to your visit. Thank you for your time and interest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's AuthorConnect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
I'm delighted to be Carolyn Howard Johnson's guest blogger today - January 5, 2013. Come on over and visit while I share my article, Children's Book Award Contests: The Importance of Entering"
http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2013/01/chiildrens-award-contests-you-have-to.html.
We are looking forward to your visit!
Wishing you an inspirational day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Holy Father,
God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows.
We praise You for Your unequaled greatness.
Thank You for the year behind us and for the year ahead.
Help us in Your new year, Father, to fret less and laugh more.
To teach our children to laugh by laughing with them.
To teach others to love by loving them.
Knowing, when Love came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came for us.
So that Love could be with us, and we could know You.
That we could share Love with others.
Help us, Father, to hear Your love song in every sunrise,
in the chriping of sparrows in our backyards,
in the stories of our old folks, and the fantasies of our children.
Help us to stop and listen to Your love songs,
so that we may know You better and better.
We rejoice in the world You loved into being.
Thank You for another new year and for new chances every day.
We pray for peace, for light, and for hope, that we might spread them to others.
Forgive us for falling short this past year.
We leave the irreparable past in your hands, and step out into the unknown new year
knowing You will go with us.
We accept Your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what's ahead, depending on You to
help us do exactly what You want..
I say it again, we rejoice!
In Jesus name,
Amen |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Michael And The ElfWritten by Kathryn Sullivan
Illustrated by Jo Dunningham
Synopsis: Michael likes to pretend. A tiny elf he finds in his parent’s garden asks him to pretend to fly him home. But a witch might stop Michael from pretending, and he must believe in himself.
About the author: Kathryn Sullivan has been writing science fiction and fantasy since she was 14 years old. Any place and any object is at risk of appearing in her stories – the river bluffs surrounding Winona, MN, where she lives, can become the windswept cliffs of an alien planet or the deep mysterious woods of a fantasy tale. Any birdlike beings in her books only slightly resemble her cockatoo owner. Her website is http://kathrynsullivan.com and her Facebook author page is https://www.facebook.com/KathrynSullivan.author Visit Kathryn Sullivan
http://kathrynsullivan.com/ to learn more about her illustrious writing career.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
El Burro Sonriente (Spanish version)
Por: Mary Esparza-Vela
Illustrado por: Mike Motz
Synopsis: Un pequeño burro se presenta en la casa de un niño y se convierte en un valioso miembro de la familia. El día que desaparece, nunca esperan volver a verlo hasta que aparece una noche oscura y temerosa.
The Smiling Burro (English version)
Written by Mary Esparza-Vela
Illustrated by: Mike Motz
Synopsis: A tiny burro shows up at a little boy’s house and becomes a real asset to the family. The day he disappears, they never expect to see him again until he prances in one dark spooky night.
About the author:Mary Esparza-Vela is an award-winning author who has written articles for religious publications and online non-profit organizations. She has published a total of 15 short stories and five of her children’s books are available thru Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. Her work includes:
“A Miracle for Juanito” won Honorable Mention in a Writer’s Digest competition.
A 1st Place winning entry on the Pen & Ink Blog.
The Turtle Who Imagined was selected as 2012 Book of the Year by Creative Child Magazine.
The Odd Chick
Bearly Learning About Water
The Smiling Burro
El Burro Sonriente (Spanish)
Mary is also a patented inventor. Her plush dolls, called LUV-BEAMS®, received Preferred Choice and Seal of Excellence awards from a panel of parents and educators. TDMonthly Toy Magazine has featured them as “winning toys.” Adventure stories about the doll characters are COMING SOON.
Mary lives in Texas with her husband who is her writing partner, and their three children. Her books are available from various online bookstores, including Amazon.com, Guardian Angel Publishing, Barnes & Nobles, Target, and as e-books. The dolls are available at www.marysdollsandbooks.com.
Links to her books:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
A CHRISTMAS BLESSING
Wilda English, n.d.
God grant you the light of Christmas,
which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas,
which is purity;
the righteousness of Christmas,
which is justice;
the belief in Christmas,
which is truth;
the all of Christmas,
which is Christ?.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Just in the time for the Christmas season! Do you have a young girl on your Christmas list? Give the gift of a charming children's book today.
About Birds in a Flower Basket: Abbi’s mother struggles to keep her flowering plant alive while birds raise their family in it. This gives Abbi a valuable lesson on how birds create a nest and raise their young. It is a learning experience from identifying the birds through watching the young hatchlings grow and take wing.
Suggested age for readers: 2-8
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
I'm pleased to share with you the announcement of Donna J. Shepherd's latest children's book,
Ava's Secret Tea Party. Offered in both hard cover and paperback,
Ava's Secret Tea Party is sure to be cherished by little girls and their parents for years to come.
BLURB: Has your child dreamed of meeting Tooth Fairy, Santa, Sandman, or Easter Bunny? Ava wants to invite them to tea, but how? The answer lies with one special character who knows them ALL! In the style of a classic fairy tale, Donna Shepherd has written
Ava's Secret Tea Party. Enjoy the tale, look for hidden teacups and chocolate chip cookies in the sweet illustrations, and have fun making the recipes and crafts included in the book!
Visit author, Donna J. Shepherd and discover her world of tea parties and other children's books:
Blog:
http://www.asecretteaparty.blogspot.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Using Universal Archetypes in Children’s Literature
by Lucy Markham
Archetypes have been used in folklore for centuries to help adults and children alike understand the concepts of good and evil in storytelling. These archetypes are just as effective and important in modern children’s literature as they have been in mythology.
As the holiday season is approaching, there are several valuable lessons that can be learned from the Christmas story found in the Book of Luke. The reason why stories such as the Christmas story are so popular with children is because it presents archetypes such as the hero, the great mother, the devil, and the mentor, all universally recognizable characters that help children quickly relate to a plot line. The Christ child’s mother was said to be the most virtuous and beautiful above all other women, the Angel Gabriel appeared not only to Mary, but also to her fiancé Joseph to provide counsel and instruction to the couple. At the same time, there is a king, truly the representative of evil that is trying to rob all women of the joy of their baby boys.
The story of Christ continues by the baby boy growing up to be the martyr and best known hero of all time. His life is surrounded by characters such as the devil in a representation of being a trickster, a damsel in distress who will be killed without his help. These stories can be worked into your own children’s story to provide clear and recognizable characters. Why do you think so many children’s stories include an evil queen, a virtuous princess, and a knight in shining armor? These are terrific archetypes to help a story move a long and help children learn valuable life lessons of good prevailing over evil and the main characters overcoming triumphs and temptations.
As you are writing your own children’s story, consider the popular archetypes and how you can create your characters and their traits, flaws, and triumphs to help children dive into the story and understand easily with the familiarity of these universal archetypes.
Lucy Markham has a Bachelor’s Degree in English: creative writing from the University of Florida and worked as an academic and career counselor for three years before pursuing her Master’s degree in Education. She enjoys blogging, taking
online classes in creative writing and discovering new books.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
M E D I A R E L E A S E
CONTACT: Donna McDine, Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Angel Kids Ezine
Email: submissions@guardian-angel-kids.com
Website: http://guardian-angel-kids.com
For Immediate Release
Children’s Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Courage – December 2012 Issue
Courage instilled in children from the onset will develop over time to monumental positive actions. Starting with the simplest act of having the courage to ask questions in an effort to learn, especially when you think no one else could possibly have the same question. To always telling the truth even though disciplinary actions may be the result or standing up to the school bully when everyone else is afraid to. Courage comes from one’s positive surroundings and the support from our loved ones to live our lives in a positive manner.
Come explore the world of Guardian Angel Kids through the thought provoking short stories and articles of what it means to be courageous and how being so can be rewarding in immeasurable ways. Digging deep down to right a wrong in The Secret and Beyond the Evergreen are examples of truthfulness, discovering the admiration of sisterhood in Its Life, encouraging our children to reach their full potential in Courage-Reach for the Stars, and how teaching children to write their own stories provides them with an outlet to let their voice soar in Writing with Kids.
Surf on over to Guardian Angel Kids today
www.guardian-angel-kids.com, enjoy a child safe ad free Ezine and visit the writers and illustrators in the Guardian Angel Kids December 2012 issue and enjoy the inspiring poetry, stories, articles and activities.
We also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-Angel-Kids-Ezine/163785080346247.
Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Donna McDine an email at
submissions@guardian-angel-kids.comand let them know what you think of Guardian Angel Kids and what you'd like to see in the future. They aim to please.
The Guardian Angel Kids Ezine staff and contributors look forward to your visit. Thank you for your time and interest.
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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Do you remember the first time you volunteered? Perhaps you volunteered to help mom in the kitchen. Could it be that you offered to lick the spoon after she made fudge? Dad might have been making sandwiches for lunch and you made the tremendous sacrifice to eat the leftovers.
This kind of volunteerism is wonderful, but do YOU have a ‘spirit of service’? How would that look? The next time your local food pantry serves meals to the homeless, you could go help make the sandwiches. You could serve the meals and thank God that you have a home and food to eat. Do you look for ways to help others that do not benefit you, other than the tremendous satisfaction you’ll receive from truly thinking of others? That’s a spirit of service.
This month, GAK is all about volunteerism and having a spirit of service. I know you will enjoy this month’s issue and will want to share the articles, stories, and poetry this month by clicking the 'share' button at the bottom of each page. Be sure to send the link to the GAK Ezine to your friends, too! And I hope this issue prompts you to think in a new way about volunteering and developing a spirit of service.
Surf on over to Guardian Angel Kids today
www.guardian-angel-kids.com, enjoy a child safe ad free Ezine and visit the writers and illustrators in the Guardian Angel Kids November 2012 issue and enjoy the inspiring poetry, stories, articles and activities.
We also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-Angel-Kids-Ezine/163785080346247.
Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Donna McDine an email at
submissions@guardian-angel-kids.comand let them know what you think of Guardian Angel Kids and what you'd like to see in the future. They aim to please.
The Guardian Angel Kids Ezine staff and contributors look forward to your visit. Thank you for your time and interest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award & Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention & Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Title: Taconi & Claude: Double Trouble
Author: M. E. Finke
Soft cover: 104 pages
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. / January 2011
Print ISBN: 978-1-61633-130-6
e-Book ISBN: 978-1-61633-131-3
Price: $8.95
The fear of the unknown sends Taconi’s mind into the darkest corners of his imagination. Will his ever changing life continue to spiral out of control? Finding his one true place while saddling the life as an aboriginal in the Australian outback and then as a Jackaroo in the white man’s world is a constant struggle. With the anticipation of his man ceremony, Taconi fights his inner thoughts to be worthy of his aboriginal customs; all the while, striving to understand his father’s need to become the head cook on the Coorparoo Cattle Station.
The fight for balance becomes quite confusing for young Taconi in his determination not to forget his heritage and accepting the need to live in the white man’s world. Along the way he finds comfort and direction in an unlikely companion, the outspoken Claude the cockatoo. This unlikely and heartwarming friendship is wise beyond their years and will have the reader cheering for Taconi’s one true quest, acceptance. Will Taconi be able to weave customs from both worlds into a comfortable fit?
Author, M.E. Finke expertly brings forth her expertise of the Australian outback in this fast paced fictional story transporting the reader with the perfect blend of description and dialogue. For a deeper understanding of the Australian, author M.E. Finke provides a glossary of Australian terms, which will surely bring out the love of reading to the most reluctant reader.
Taconi & Claude: Double Trouble available at:
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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Title: Carla’s Cloud Catastrophe
Written by: Beth Bence Reinke
Illustrated by: Ginger Nielson
Soft cover: 24 pages
Ages: 4-8
Publisher: 4RV Publishing, LLC
Print ISBN 13: 978-0-982-8346-0-2
Published: June 2011
Retail Price: $13.99
A joyful birthday celebration long planned comes to a screeching halt when it appears the sky is falling. Not to be stalled by the clouds that have blanketed her town, Carla is determined to make her way home with her special birthday cake.
However, her father, the Director of Transportation has other plans. Taking the lead in solving this unusual catastrophe they join the mayor at town hall for an emergency meeting. Will the adults practical solutions or Carla’s imagination solve the cloud catastrophe in time to enjoy Carla’s birthday party or will the town stay blanketed by clouds forever?
What better way to spark the interest of science in our young muses but through this imaginative story. Children’s author Beth Bence Reinke brings the questions “what is a cloud” and “how do they float” to life in this laugh out loud story, which will surely create lively discussions both in and outside the classroom.
Carla’s Cloud Catastrophe would not be complete without Ginger Nielson’s vivid and clever illustrations; making Carla’s story a true gem for libraries, classrooms, and homes throughout the world.
Author: Beth Bence Reinke
Illustrator: Ginger Nielson
4RV Publishing online bookstore: http://4rvpublishingcatalog.yolasite.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Title: Caves, Cannons and Crinolines
Written by: Beverly Stowe McClure
Ages: 12 and up
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
ISBN: 1-60619-112-8
Published: September 2009
Soft cover: 153 pages
Price: $16.95
The year 1863 finds outspoken, 14-year-old, Lizzie Stamford at a crossroads of what her parents believe to be acceptable behavior for a young lady, and secret desire to join the Confederate Army disguised as a boy. Her two brothers, Willie and Joseph willingly joined the Confederacy to defend Vicksburg from the Yankees and Lizzie longs to be part of the glory. Her blind courage brings her into the midst of a battleground at nighttime. Much to her dismay war is not what she believed it to be. The horrific acts of violence overwhelm her and she runs away as quickly as she arrived.
Her emotions and beliefs that all Yankees are evil is put to the test when an unexpected encounter with a Yankee soldier has her doubting her belief system. Will Lizzie come to terms of the ever changing world and circumstances which surround her? And what is to become of her beloved brothers and the city of Vicksburg?
McClure balances the emotions of the Confederate and Yankee characters with such in-depth feeling the reader will find themselves switching sides throughout the perilous journey of Lizzie Stamford and her family, and their quest to reclaim Vicksburg.
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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Sharon Stanley Announce Debut Children’s e-Book ~ Olive Ann
Children’s author Sharon Stanley, a self proclaimed non techie, embraces new e-Book format.
Seizing the opportunity to jump on the e-Book bandwagon, children’s author Sharon Stanley collaborated with illustrator Barb Dragony to create a uTale entitled, Olive Ann. uTales is a new world of picture books for kids; a world one can access anytime, anywhere. It’s both a website and an app for your laptop, iPhone and iPad, and soon tablets and phones operating on the Android system. It’s a way of making picture books for kids modern and engaging…it doesn’t replace traditional books, it’s another option.
About the book: Olive Ann is a small rabbit who wants to be big. She makes several clever attempts to grow but in the end, is it really necessary? This brightly illustrated story follows Olive Ann as she thinks through her dilemma and tackles the problem head on in her own unique and humorous way.
Title: Olive Ann
Author: Sharon Stanley
Illustrator: Barb Dragony
Publication Date: October 2012
Pages: 37
Price: $2.99 e-Book
Sharon Stanley and Barb Dragony live with gratitude and appreciation for others and to celebrate the release of their book
Olive Ann they are proud to announce that 10% of their proceeds will be donated to the Pencils of Promise charity. To learn more, visit
www.pencilsofpromise.org.
About the author: Although Sharon Stanley has been writing for years, it was only after her youngest graduated high school that she got serious about it. She picked up her pencil and paper, joined the SCBWI and got busy. She has two picture books under contract and looks forward to seeing them published. Sharon lives with her husband, two grown boys, three dogs, three cats and lots and lots of cows on a working farm in Virginia. Her life is a crop circle of craziness that affords her a never-ending supply of subject matter for all the stories she writes. She enjoys all sorts of artistic and creative endeavors and blogs about her publishing journey and farm life at
www.sharonstanleywrites.blogspot.com.
Be sure to visit with Stanley and download a FREE coloring sheet and word search activity to celebrate the release of Olive Ann.
About uTales: uTales is a worldwide community of authors and illustrators who together are building a library of digital picture books. Readers can visit the uTales website (utales.com) and download their favorite picture books or get unlimited access to the entire uTales library with a monthly subscription. And since all books are approved by their editorial panel, uTales is perfectly safe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Just in time for the Christmas season, award-winning children’s picture book now available through iTunes for iBooks. Enhanced with real aloud sound, The Doll Violinist is available for download on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iBooks and on your computer with iTunes. Books must be read on an iOS device.
About The Doll Violinist: Five days before Christmas, Emma is captivated by a doll in a shop window. Each day, she sneaks out of the orphanage to check if it’s been sold, but the shop owner, Madame Dubois, sends her away. Will the magic of Christmas bring Emma, Madame Dubois, and the doll violinist together?
About the author: Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as
The Writer,
Writer’s Journal,
Multicultural Review, and
Bloomsbury Review, among many others. Her love for the violin has inspired her to pen three “violin” children’s picture books:
The Magic Violin,
Frederico the Mouse Violinist, and now the latest,
The Doll Violinist www.violinandbooks.wordpress.com/books-i-wrote.
Visit her website at
www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com and get the first two lessons of her popular
Walking on a Rainbow Picture Book Workshop free!
Title: The Doll Violinist Author: Mayra Calvani
Illustrations: Amy Cullings Moreno
Apple ID: 560908783
Published: September 1, 2012
Level: P-3
Pages: 28
Price: $4.99
ISBN: 9781616331870
Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-doll-violinist/id560908783?ls=1 Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/doll-violinist.htm~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
Walter Rauschenbusch
O God, we thank you for this earth, our home;
For the wide sky and the blessed sun,
For the salt sea and the running water,
For the everlasting hills
And the never-resting winds,
For trees and the common grass underfoot.
We thank you for our senses
By which we hear the songs of birds,
And see the splendor of the summer fields,
And taste of the autumn fruits,
And rejoice in the feel of the snow,
And smell the breath of the spring.
Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty;
And save our souls from being so blind
That we pass unseeing
When even the common thornbush
Is aflame with your glory,
O God our creator,
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDineAward-winning Children's Author
Connect with
Donna McDine on Google+The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
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Amen, sister!
Karin
Great article, Donna. I need to do something because I spend way too much time on the Internet.The idea of face-to-face contact sounds good.
Congratulations on your latest books.