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This weekend is the last opportunity to download FREE The SOCKKIDS Meet Lincoln for your Kindle.

The SockKids – Solving The Mystery Of Your Missing Socks!
Where do our missing socks go?

Readers find out in the children’s series, The SOCKKIDS. We follow the Socker family through many adventures; from encountering the slobbery mouth of the family dog to meeting Santa as he comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve to helping a fireman save a baby to the most shy Socker going to the school dance for the first time.

Thanks to the time-travel opportunities afforded by the spin cycle of the washer, they learn about some of the most important humans in the world.

Children two and up and their parents will be drawn to the diversity of the family and the universal and timeless lessons they teach: don’t be afraid of new experiences; treat others as you would like to be treated, and of course, beware of the spin cycle!

The SockKids – Helping Humans Cope in a Smelly World!
TheSOCKKIDS.com

PURCHASE AT http://www.amazon.com/Sockkids-Meet-Lincoln-Michael-Sullivan-ebook/dp/B00EKPIB48/

How far would Willow go to find the man she loves?

It only took three short months for Project ELE to send sixteen year old Willow Mosby’s life spinning out of control. Her family has been torn apart; she merely escaped capture by the Hasting’s men and now Alec, her first love, is missing along with her newfound friends. In order to find them, Willow is forced to leave the shelter, her only protection from ELE’s wrath. What she doesn’t realize is that outside, the change has begun and the world will NEVER be the same again.

The forces of good and evil collide and Willow has no choice but to choose a side. When her rare abilities become a liability an unlikely protector must step up to help her. For if her gifts were to fall into the wrong hands…NOBODY would be safe.

With her protector by her side Willow races against time to find Alec and her friends. After new friendships are built and alliances are formed, Willow finds herself torn between the one she loves and the one who protects her.

From the authors of Project ELE comes Finding ELE. The second book in an all new apocalyptic series with a paranormal twist: The ELE Series.

Get it today by clicking on one of these links:
Amazon  * Smashwords
Barnes and Noble  *  iBookStore

Purchase your autographed copy here.

Is it possible to fall in love when the world is crashing down around you?

Millions have already died, and thousands more are perishing daily. As a last ditch effort to preserve the human race, the government implements Project ELE. With the earth heating at rapid speeds, all remaining survivors are forced to turn to F.E.M.A. shelters to wait out ELE’s wrath.

Fifteen-year-old Willow Mosby’s life, as she knows it, ends the moment she walks through the shelter’s door. Willow has to quickly adapt to the new challenges that shelter life demands, the least of which includes making new friends, working a full time job and experiencing her first relationship.

Soon after making an interesting discovery, Willow and her friends start exhibiting strange abilities. Seeking answers, they embark on a mission to find out what these new abilities mean and whether they are a gift or a curse. This new adventure can send her world crashing down around her. The question is: Can Willow survive the fall?

PROJECT ELE is now available in all ebook formats for FREE!

Get it today by clicking on one of these links:
Amazon  * Smashwords
Barnes and Noble  *  iBookStore

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Little Meg finds the outside world a bit too loud and far too scary! So, she’s going to stay inside her safe white shell, thank you very much. But then the Howl breaks into the barn and steals Mother Hen! What is she supposed to do, still holed up in that egg of hers? She can’t run and she certainly can’t fly. Well, never get between a chick and her momma, cause this little bird’s got a can-do spirit and a whole lot of courage that she didn’t know she had before!

A tale of self discovery that speaks to all children’s fears of the unknown, Ms. Borg delivers a great read-aloud resource for parents and teachers alike. With an onomatopoeic construction that gives life to the story and encourages children to participate through repetition of words, noises, and actions, MEG THE EGG is the perfect story for beginning readers.

AMAZON – AMAZON KINDLE – BARNES AND NOBLE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rita Antoinette Borg was educated in New York and now resides on the Mediterranean island of Malta. She performs storytelling and creative writing workshops in schools across the country and works as a freelance writer for local magazines and newspapers. Ms. Borg has published four picture books aimed at early readers as well as an anthology of short stories for older children. Her books have been recognized by the Malta National Annual Literary Awards. Her book “Don’t Cross the Road, Holly!” was chosen as the year’s best Children’s Book in English. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Writers & Illustrators.

WEBSITE – FACEBOOK

Pump Up Your Book and Rita Antoinette Borg are teaming up to give you a chance to win fabulous prizes!

Here’s how it works:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour. This promotion will run from April 22 – May 17, 2013. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on May 20, 2013. Each blogger who participates is eligible to enter and win. Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If the Rafflecopter form doesn’t load, you can visit the Meg the Egg tour page at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/04/01/pump-up-your-book-presents-rita-antoinette-borgs%E2%80%99s-meg-the-egg-book-blast-%E2%80%93-win-25-amazon-gift-card-and-free-books/ for your chance to enter and win!

MEG THE EGG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, April 22^nd

Literarily Speaking

Tuesday, April 23

The Children’s and Teen’s Book Connection

Wednesday, April 24^th

The Writer’s Life

Thursday, April 25^th

As the Pages Turn

Friday, April 26^th

The Busy Mom’s Daily

Monday, April 29^th

LadyD Books

Tuesday, April 30^th

Tribute Books Reviews and Giveaways

Wednesday, May 1^st

Classic Children’s Books

Thursday, May 2^nd

My Devotional Thoughts

Friday, May 3^rd

Review from Here

Saturday, May 4^th

Bea’s Book Nook

Monday, May 6^th

Mayra’s Secret Bookcase

Tuesday, May 7^th

Paperback Writer

Wednesday, May 8^th

Read For Your Future

Thursday, May 9^th

Freda’s Voice

Friday, May 10^th

Lori’s Reading Corner

Monday, May 13^th

Books for Kids

Tuesday, May 14^th

Wednesday, May 15^th

Literal Exposure

Thursday, May 16^th

4 the Love of Books

Friday, May 17^th

The Crypto-Capers Review

Next month, Amazon will change its policy for associates who help readers find free Kindle eBooks online, making certain sites ineligible for advertising fees. Here’s more from the company:

Starting March 1, 2013, Associates who we determine are promoting and meet both conditions below for a given month will not be eligible for any advertising fees for that month within the Amazon Associates Program …
1. At least 80% of all Kindle eBooks ordered and downloaded during Sessions attributed to your Special Links are free Kindle eBooks
2. 20,000 or more free Kindle eBooks are ordered and downloaded during Sessions attributed to your Special Links

The company predicted that the new policy will only affect .1 percent of its associates and will not count for advertising fees accrued before March 1, 2013.

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

As Americans celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we have collected links to free digital editions of the books that inspired the life and writings of Martin Luther King, Jr..

We’ve included some of his favorite books, but King also taught a Seminar In Social Philosophy at Morehouse College in 1961. We found the complete outline of his syllabus at The King Center’s massive archive.

Follow these links to explore more free eBooks at Project Gutenberg: our 50 Free eBooks To Be Thankful For list, our Free Books for Halloween collection, our Free Herman Melville books list, our Free Edgar Allan Poe books collection, our Downton Abbey poetry reading list, our Free Bram Stoker collection and our Free Books That Inspired David Foster Wallace list and Free Books Neil deGrasse Tyson Thinks Everybody Should Read.

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Want to give free eBooks to your friends and family this holiday season?

For all the GalleyCat readers who celebrate Christmas, we’ve collected 25 free digital books about the holiday–they can be downloaded in all eBook formats. Our list includes old classics like A Christmas Carol (pictured) but we also discovered some lost gems like A Kidnapped Santa Claus.

Follow these links to explore more free eBooks at Project Gutenberg: our 50 Free eBooks To Be Thankful For list, our Free Books for Halloween collection, our Free Herman Melville books list, our Free Edgar Allan Poe books collection, our Downton Abbey poetry reading list, our Free Bram Stoker collection and our Free Books That Inspired David Foster Wallace list and Free Books Neil deGrasse Tyson Thinks Everybody Should Read.

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

& special e-book giveaway!

Sadly, I’ve spent my entire adult life letting other people choose my wine for me with a wave of my hand and an uninterested “Whatever.” Recently, a friend decided it was time for me to start acting like a grown-up and appreciate wine making as the true art it is. Slowly, I’m starting to recognize different types of wines and, instead of drinking whatever is placed before me, decide what I truly like.

If you’ve decided to expand your knowledge of wine, look no further than the beginner wine series by sommelier Sara Fasolino. Her book Cabernet Sauvignon: Beginners Guide is the perfect place to start. In addition to advice on choosing a good Cabernet Sauvignon, there is wine trivia and history, food pairings, and other tips for wine lovers. It’s a book everyone should have on their e-reader.

And, in the interest of making sure everyone has some wine knowledge on their virtual bookshelf, Sara and 101 Publishing are offering everyone a book. Yes, everyone! All you have to do is fill out the form on the Facebook App. You can choose Cabernet Sauvignon: Beginners Guide or one of 20 other wine books! Along with familiar types such as Champagne and Zinfandel there are a few I’ve never even heard of . . . Melon de Bourgogne, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo and more! The giveaway contest closes on the last day of the tour Wednesday, September 7 at 11:59 PM, PST. Don’t let your friends miss out. Tweet about this great giveaway using our hashtag #Wine101CabSauv.

E-Book: 22 pages
Publisher: 101 Publishing (July 1, 2012)
Genre: Nonfiction
ASIN: B008GWI5T2
Twitter Hashtag: #Wine101CabSauv

Cabernet Sauvignon: Beginners Guide is available in e-format at Amazon.

About the Author:

Sara Fasolino is the Beverage Systems Manager at Morton's The Steakhouse and is recognized in the industry as a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, as a Certified Specialist of Wine by the Society of Wine Educators and as an Advanced Mixologist. Fasolino's role with Morton's includes overseeing the restaurant's beverage inventory for all its locations, serving as the restaurant's liaison with the Court of Master Sommeliers and managing all educational and training materials related to the restaurant's wines, liquors and beers. Fasolino's experience in the restaurant industry dates back to her college years in Ohio, where she was a server in a restaurant. Upon graduation from Marietta College with a bachelor's degree in psychology, she worked with a beverage marketer and distributor in Ohio before relocating to Chicago in 2005. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Fasolino has been with Morton's The Steakhouse since 2007, working in its global headquarters.

Find the author on Twitter: @SommelierSara

---------Interview by Jodi Webb

WOW: Sara, when I read that you were a "Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers" my imagination ran wild. I could picture you being "knighted" by some sort of Wine King. But seriously, tell us how you became a sommelier. What's an average day like for a sommelier?

Sara: Well actually, it was a bit like getting knighted by a wine king! Let me explain. First, I decided to go about this course at the suggestion of my former boss and mentor while working as the Corporate Beverage Manager for Morton’s The Steakhouse. I have been in the restaurant/beverage industry since college and he felt that it would give all of that hard work some added credibility. After panicking a little, I finally agreed to the challenge.

Becoming a Sommelier is a difficult task. Within the Court of Master Sommeliers there is a four tiered structure that leads to the eventual goal of becoming a Master Sommelier. Keep in mind there are only about 100 Master Somms in the US. So the first exam is called the Intro Exam. This is a written exam that focuses on regions, grape varieties . . . things like that. Upon passing this exam a person may call themselves a Sommelier, but they are technically not “certified.”

The second exam is the Certified. It is about a hundred times more difficult than the Intro Exam and consists of a written exam as well as a service practical where you have to properly serve a Master Sommelier still or sparkling wine while they fire questions at you about regions, styles, vintages, food pairing, cocktails, beers, cigars and things like that. If you get through that without shaking so badly you spill wine everywhere, and you have passed the written exam, you can call yourself a Certified Sommelier.

Once this task is achieved, you can apply to take the Advanced Exam. If your application is accepted, you are subject to almost certain death. Your life stops and all you do is study and taste and practice. The exam is a week long affair. It begins with a practical exam that is a thousand times more difficult than the Certified. After that, you move to a service practical that is three parts: Decanting, Champagne Service, and food pairing/spirit identification. Again, at each of these three tables, the Master Somms are firing questions at you about everything under the sun. The third part of this exam is the blind tasting where using a deductive process you have to identify the grape variety, region and vintage of 6 wines–the caveat is you have to do it in about 12 minutes. If you make it through this (only about 4% of the people taking the exam pass) you may or may not get invited to take the Master Exam. Honestly I’m emotionally exhausted just thinking about this process! I have attempted the Advanced Exam and was not part of the 4% but I fully intend on going back and subjecting myself to more pain.

WOW: I may have to lie down after hearing about that! If that’s what the test is like, what's an average day like for a sommelier?

Sara: An average day for a Sommelier can vary vastly given your duties and job description. For me personally, I oversee the Beverage Programming for 822 Chili’s Locations and 44 Maggiano’s nationwide, so my duties fall in more of negotiations with suppliers to find the best products at the best price. For most Somms, however, working in the restaurants directly with the guests in service and sales is their main activity while others work in sales with wholesale distributors. One common thread we all share, though is that we have a passion for teaching about wines and spirits. Most Somms should be very down to earth and willing to help you understand things without making you feel embarrassed; that said, if you ever run into a snobby one you have my permission to call them out or completely ignore them. They are not doing their job correctly!

WOW: You're touring with Cabernet Sauvignon: Beginners Guide but you've written several books on several different wines. Do you have a favorite type of wine? If you were stranded on a deserted island with one bottle of wine, what would it be?

Sara: I really don’t have a favorite type; I like pretty much all of them. For me, winemaking is an art and I respect any artist who makes an attempt to put themselves out there to be judged—that’s scary and deserves respect. I typically choose wine in two ways: either by the food I am eating with it or by the weather. For example, on a hot summer day I would be more likely to choose Sauvignon Blanc than Merlot. If I were choosing Sauvignon Blanc regardless of whether or not I was pairing it with food I would then choose the style. Do I want fruity from New Zealand or flinty from the Loire? My mood and the food are typically the deciding factor on that.

So to answer your question about the Island—well, the food would likely be fish and the weather would be sunny and warm so . . . I would stick with a white wine—a nice white Grenache would be great or maybe a Riesling from Germany or a Torrontes from Argentina . . . so many choices, so little time!

WOW: Oh my, I’m still caught up in the fact that you described a wine as “flinty.” I can’t even begin to understand what that means! I must confess, I always let friends choose my wine for me. Why should we all know at least a bit about wine?

Sara: That’s a very good question . . . everyone should know a little about wine so that you can choose what you like rather than relying on someone else’s ratings, reviews or marketing. I often see people buying wine because someone else rated it highly and I think that is a dangerous thing in a way.

Think about it this way—how do you like your peanut butter and jelly? Do you like more peanut butter? More Jelly? Equal amounts? If you ask a group of people this question you will find many different answers. Our taste preference is strongly related to our upbringing and the things we were exposed to.

What I am saying is just because someone who happens to write reviews for a magazine likes something it doesn’t mean that they are right about their review or that you will or will not like something that they love or hate. Having a little knowledge can give you the confidence to make those decisions on your own and find what YOU like.

The other reason is that the wine industry is a for profit business like any other—sure, there is passion and love but at the end of the day it is a commodity like any other. A little knowledge can help you weigh out the good from the bad. For example, a passionate winemaker may make an incredible wine and charge—say $50 for it—while another perhaps not so scrupulous winemaker may try to make it seem like their wine is also worth $50 and it's really worth about $5. On the flip side of that, from a retail standpoint, a little knowledge can help you understand if the retail mark up is in line with where it should be. If you visit a few different stores you will notice that they pretty much (depending on the state laws) have different pricing on the same items. Knowledge is power!

WOW: I'm sure many people think of wine as a rich man's interest. Do you have to be wealthy to enjoy good wines? Can those of us smack in the middle of the middle class (who are worrying about our children’s looming college tuition bills) also find worthwhile wines to match our budget?

Sara: Indeed . . . YES! There are so many good wines out there that are budget friendly! The best advice I can give here is to take a deep breath and break away from the brands you know best. You’ll be amazed at the quality of the lesser known brand names. I recently did a side-by-side blind tasting of wines specifically geared towards budget friendly and was surprised by how good the lesser known brands tasted. Some I had never even heard of tasted much better than the big names!

WOW: And now a quick question for the next dinner party I'm invited to . . . is Cabernet Sauvignon a good wine to take as a gift when you're invited to someone's home? Is it versatile? Do most people like it?

Sara: Absolutely! Cabernet Sauvignon is still King among grapes. It is good to drink on its own and pairs well with rich foods like steak but its biggest strength is that it is positively brilliant with chocolate!

WOW: Wine and chocolate? You’ve convinced me!

--------- Blog Tour Dates

Wednesday, August 15 @ Books, Books, The Magical Fruit
Although Books, Books The Magical Fruit calls the land of wine (California) home, she's eager to learn more about Cabernet Sauvignon from wine expert and author Sara Fasolino.
http://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com

Friday, August 17 @ A Writer’s Life
Need the perfect wine for your next dinner party? Maybe sommelier Sara Fasolino can help you. Don't miss a review of her book Cabernet Sauvignon: Beginners Guide.
http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com

Tuesday, August 21 @ CMash Loves to Read
Stop by for male and female points of view on a great wine book for beginners: Cabernet Sauvignon: Beginners Guide.
http://cmashlovestoread.com/

Wednesday, August 22 @ Thoughts in Progress
Come enjoy a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon with us and read the review of Sara Fasolino's Cabernet Sauvignon: Beginners Guide.
http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

Monday, August 27 @ Misadventures with Andi
Experiment with a new wine after reading Sara Fasolino's book about Cabernet Sauvignon.
http://www.misadventureswithandi.com

Wednesday, August 29 @ Donna's Book Pub
Want to know more about the world of wine? Stop by to learn about a wine series and receive a free e-book on the wine of your choice.
http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com

Friday, August 31 @ Empty Nest
Last chance to read a review of Sara Fasolino's Cabernet Sauvignon: Beginners Guide and register for a free e-copy.
http://emptynest1.blogspot.com

Get Involved!
If you have a website or blog and would like to host one of our touring authors or schedule a tour of your own, please email us at [email protected].

(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com

Visit WOW! Women On Writing for lively interviews and how-tos. Check out WOW!'s Classroom and learn something new. Find jobs on the Freelance Job Board. Enter the Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest. Open Now!

SCARS is featured today on StoryFinds.com, because the ebook is free today. You can find a lot of good free and cheap reads through StoryFinds. They have a website AND a FaceBook page AND a Twitter account, so it’s easy to keep up to date with books you might be interested in. I’ve liked them on both FB and Twitter for easy access.

The Sylvan Dell offices are buzzing with excitement today! June kicks off Summer Reading. We are offering two free movie tickets with the purchase of an eLibrary, and rewarding reading by giving away prizes each week.

Over the course of the next two months go on a road trip with Sylvan Dell from the depths of the ocean then blast into outer space. Every two weeks we will be featuring a new free eBook. For the first two weeks, we are offering Animals are Sleeping for the new reader, and in coordination with the American Library Association theme of the month. Then explore the ocean with Ocean Hide and Seek, seek out where animals live in Habitat Spy, climb into the clouds with A Day on the Mountain and finally blast into space with Solar System Forecast, a Sylvan Dell new release.

With this exciting news, we have also developed a new Sylvan Dell iPad app available for purchase in the iTunes store. Now you can read your favorite Sylvan Dell books on the go. Just like our website the iPad app has auto-flip features audio available in English and Spanish as well as access to our quizzes and For Creative Minds sections.

As you know at Sylvan Dell, we are committed to make learning adventurous, especially when nature is in full bloom. To prevent the “summer-slide” make reading fun with activities, and keep checking with Sylvan Dell for great rewards throughout the summer.  Click here and send us a short story about which Sylvan Dell books is your favorite and what makes this books so special. You will win three of Sylvan Dell’s latest books.

Children’s Book Week 2012, sponsored by the Children’s Book Council, runs from May 7th through May 14th.  In honor of this special week, Sylvan Dell will be offering our full eBook site license FREE on our website the entire week.  Use this as a great opportunity to kick off a summer reading program for your students or children! Plus, the free teaching activities and quizzes included with every Sylvan Dell book make it an even better option for kick-starting a great summer!  To participate, simply visit www.sylvandellpublishing.com from May 7th through May 13th, and click on the “Children’s Book Week” icon in the upper-right hand corner.

Many Sylvan Dell authors and illustrators are also participating in Children’s Book Week including:

• Jennifer Keats Curtis, author of Baby Owl’s Rescue, Turtles In My Sandbox, and fall 2012’s Animal Helpers: Wildlife Rehabilitators. May 7th-Joppa View Elementary School, Perry Hall, MD
• Jean Heilprin Diehl, author of Three Little Beavers and Loon Chase. May 8th-Bethesda Elementary School, Bethesda, MD
• Suzanne Slade, author of The Great Divide, Multiply On the Fly, The Great Divide, What’s New at the Zoo?, and Animals are Sleeping. May 9th-McCormick Place West, Chicago, IL
• Janet Halfmann, author of Home In the Cave, Fur and Feathers, and Little Skink’s Tail.
• Scotti Cohn, author of BIG Cat, Little Kitty and One Wolf Howls.  May 10th-West Pelzer Elementary School, Pelzer, SC
• Donna Love, author of The Glaciers are Melting! and Henry the Impatient Heron. May 10th-Avon, MT & May 12th-Missoula, MT
• Janet Ruth Heller, author of How the Moon Regained Her Shape. May 10th-12th-Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
• Christina Wald, illustrator of Habitat Spy, 0 Comments on Kick Off Children’s Book Week With FREE eBooks! as of 5/1/2012 12:17:00 PM