I am pleased to have Mila A. Ballentine as the guest author today at Write What Inspires You! Mila and I nada the wonderful opportunity to meet in-person at the 2014 Beach Book Festival Awards Ceremony in NYC. It was an exhilarating evening and I'm delighted to say Mila and are not only fellow authors, but friends. Welcome Mila! Story Time on a Mystic Isle
by Mila A. Ballentine
The art of storytelling, a mother’s love, and the places I have yet to explore, inspire me. I have always had an appreciation for improvisational storytelling. So much so, that I would sit on the patio floor when I was a child, with my arms wrapped around my mother’s shin, and my head resting against her fleshy knee, listening as she told my sisters and I unconventional stories about the things she had witnessed or heard about during her time on the British Isles. I remember staying there for a while, thinking about the story she had shared with us and then I looked at her.
“Did those things really happen?” I remember asking, when I could not stand the suspense anymore.
Our eyes met, as she glanced at me with a straight face. “Yes, it really happened.”
I was grateful that she ended my suspense, and yet I no longer saw her solely as a mother. In my eyes, she was a magical being who gave birth to me. Her influence is one of the reasons why my paranormal stories have a lasting impression on readers. I write to honor her memory, creativity, and respect for the mysterious aspects of our world. She is the life force behind every word that I put into print. She lives on through my writing.
Bio: Mila A. Ballentine is a mystery writer who enjoys writing Historical, Crime, Paranormal, and Science Fiction mysteries for a general audience. When she is not writing, Mila enjoys learning about other cultures, traveling, and doing anything that allows her to put her creative energy to use. Her paranormal novel Thin Skin Soul Pinned received an award at the 2014 New York Book Festival in the Science Fiction category.
Mila, thank you for visiting today, it was a pleasure to host you! Best wishes for your continued success!
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Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMulti Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewPowder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewHockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star ReviewThe 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 
On Friday evening, June 20th I had the distinct honor and privilege to attend The Beach Book Festival 2014 awards ceremony in NYC held at The Grolier Club. Upon arrival (along with my parents… hubby stayed home to man the fort while our sixteen year old hosted a surprise birthday party for 20. Thanks Tom, for making sure I could attend the awards ceremony without concern!) we were immediately welcomed by Bruce Haring and his staff.
(The Exhibition Hall prior to awards ceremony setup.)
The electricity in the air was captivating from the moment we entered The Exhibition Hall. Guitar music played softly in the background while the award recipients mingled along with their guests and celebrated with appetizers and drinks, setting the tone for an amazing evening. The Grolier Club is one of the world's greatest libraries for rare documents, so to be amongst such history was humbling to say the least.
(View from the reception awards ceremony area
toward the area on the second floor that runs
the perimeter of the room.)
The evening proceeded with a warm welcome by Bruce Haring and continued on with exceptional speeches. Each author gave inspiring speeches that will stay long with me.
Congratulations one and all on your fine achievement.
I'm awed to be amongst you!
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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multiple Award-winning Children's Author
TAPPAN, NY (June, 2014) – The winners, runner-ups, and honorable mentions of the 2014 Beach Book Festival have been announced. A Sandy Grave by Donna M. McDine and illustrated by Julie Hammond has earned honorable mention in the children’s book category.
Title: A Sandy Grave
Category: Chapbooks for Tweens
Author: Donna M. McDine www.donnamcdine.com
Illustrator: Julie Hammond www.juliehammondart.com
Hardcover ISBN: 9781616334543; 1616334541
Softcover ISBN: 9781616334550; 161633455X
eBook ISBN: 9781616334567; 1616334568
About A Sandy Grave: The anticipation of summer vacation can put anyone in a great mood with the excitement of adventures to be had--especially at the beach. But what is a group of friends to do when they discover mysterious men poaching whale teeth at the beach?
What Reviewers Are Saying…
“The book is an enjoyable read and makes children aware of poaching and illegalities associated with it. During times of dwindling marine life and plants, it is important to save them. This book teaches children to protect marine life and endangered animals.” ~ Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite Five Star Review
“A Sandy Grave is a good fast read for the individual reader or for parents to read to their younger children. It engages the reader and opens up a dialogue between parents and children on the many different issues in the book. Most of all, McDine shows that children can respect authority without fearing it and parents and those in roles of responsibility can respect the contribution that children can make to society.” ~ Reviewed by Rebecca’s Writing Services
About the Author: Donna McDine is a multiple award-winning children's author. She writes and moms from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI and Family Reading Partnership. Learn more about McDine’s writing career at www.donnamcdine.com and www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com. ###
Full Media Kit, Headshot, Book Cover Art and more are available upon request.
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Best wishes,Donna M. McDineMultiple Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewPowder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star ReviewHockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star ReviewThe 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
