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INSPIRATION

I'm often asked where I get the inspiration for my stories from. The answer is simple: everywhere. From things I see, hear, read - even from my dreams. My children's novel, ANTics was inspired by a dream after watching a group of ants carry a  potato chip back to their nest. On this page, guest authors share the inspiration behind  their children's books. If you are a children's author and would like to be featured on this blog, please contact me via the contacts page on this website.

sample antics here

CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

9/21/2014

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A love of animals and nature inspires Australian author Michelle Path and both themes often feature in her books.
I'm delighted to welcome Michelle, who hails from West Gippsland in Victoria, to this blog.
Michelle started writing as a teenager and hasn’t stopped since. She aims to write fun stories that encourage children to pick up books and read - promoting good literacy skills which are invaluable in today’s society. 

Not everyone is an avid reader, but literacy, in varying ways, is a part of everyday life.
When not writing, Michelle spends her time riding horses and is often out competing in dressage. She also enjoys going to see live bands and spending time at the beach.



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Her book Xalien the Purple Alien is aimed at readers aged 3 to 7.

The story features Xalien, a small purple alien, who crashes to earth and finds herself befriended by three children; Jessica, Adam and Sarah.



Whilst on Earth, Xalien learns all about this new planet and all the strange habits of its human beings; often resulting in and both unusual and humorous situations as she tries her hardest to fit in. 


Along the way, Xalien teaches the three children about life on her own planet, and that each and every being is special in their own, somewhat unusual, way.


THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE STORY


Michelle came up with the idea for the story while taking her dogs for a walk.

“I have always had a fascination with aliens and UFOs, and so had thought about writing a book for children that featured an alien visitor,” she said. “She just needed a name, and so I began rhyming until I came up with the Xalien. My favourite colour is purple, being an Aquarius, so she ultimately became ‘Xalien the Purple Alien’.

“I wanted to make the character fun to read about, and so I introduced three children who would help her, and teach her about Earth and the ways of human beings.


"I thought of all the everyday situations children might find themselves in, and incorporated this into the story – both to make it humorous, and to be something that parents and children alike could relate to.”


Xalien the Purple Alien is available at www.rowanvalebooks.com/books/xalien.html

Another book by Michelle called Suki and the Seedling is available via www.michellepath.com.au


Xalien the Purple Alien is the first in a series of children’s picture books to be published by Rowanvale Books. Xalien the Purple Alien; Xalien Goes to School will be available November ’14

And Xalien the Purple Xalien; Xalien Goes to the Zoo; from August ’15
 
Also to be released with Rowanvale Books:
The Pirate Who Was Scared of Birds is available in February ’15

and

Sham Subterranean from May ’15


Readers can get in touch with Michelle via her website:
www.michellepath.com.au

on Twitter: @mimilovesu

and Facebook: Michelle Path – Children’s Book Writer

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Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.

You'll be surprised just what you can achieve!


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CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

9/8/2014

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Arrr! Me, Hearties! Come and meet the very talented Susan Day, mother and grandmother of three avid readers - and author and illustrator of the Astro's Adventures series of children's books. She lives on a rural property, in Victoria, Australia with the family dogs, two bossy cats, two rescue guinea pigs and a very patient husband.
Susan is passionate about getting children to be great readers and writers and often posts free activities regarding reading and writing on her blog.

WHERE DID HER IDEA FOR THE SERIES COME FROM? 

Susan's passion for animal welfare inspired the series.

"My friend and I wanted to do something for animal welfare," she told me. "I have worked in the pet and dog training industry for years and she is very compassionate. While there are many shelters and pounds that try hard to rehome unwanted dogs we felt that there needed to be a greater awareness of the plight of many dogs that are left un-walked in their backyard.


“From there I created The Organisation which all my characters belong to which operates under our noses without detection. Its purpose is to save dogs from neglect. I thought it would be fun if the dogs took control of this situation themselves. It also gave me a great deal of material to work with.”

HER CHARACTERS ARE BASED ON REAL LIFE DOGS

“When I decided to write my first book, The Great Escape, I sat down and made a list of the all the dogs I knew,” she said. “Some of them were mine, others belonged to family members. I then wrote down three characteristics each dog had that I thought would be useful.

“So, Alfie the Doberman cross is very strong, is always hungry and he’s not very clever (not as far as dogs go, anyway). He has other characteristics but I chose those to build his character. And it worked really well.


"He’s one of the funniest characters in my books. In Major Dakota’s Ghost, he sees five ghostly shapes coming towards him and mistakes them for pizza delivery boys. When you have characters like Alfie you can have so much fun with them.
“Indy’s another character. If the real Indy doesn’t like you she bites you; it’s that simple. Naturally, I made her into our no nonsense combo who enjoys fighting anything and anybody. On many occasions her bravery saves the day but there is also an understanding between the characters of how lucky they are she’s on their side because life would be extremely difficult if she wasn’t!


“I run workshops for children and we do this same exercise with their pets. They just love it!”

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CLIMB ABOARD FOR A FUN RIDE

Shiver me timbers! Susan’s next tale in the Astro’s Adventures series is set at sea. Neptune’s Trident is for ages 8 and up.

Neptune has lost his trident and without it he can't protect his kingdom under the sea. He calls on our brave team of dogs to help him find it. What he doesn't know is that it has been stolen by the wicked genius Speed Bump Charlie and a gang of evil pirate catfish. They want to use it to take over the oceans and rule the seas.

The book takes readers on a slightly wet journey of sea monsters, hammerhead guards and a little crab floating on a raft of rubbish.

WHAT'S THE KEY TO KEEPING READERS CAPTIVATED?

Susan believes you have to think outside the box.

“When I was planning my second book, The Golden Treasure, I knew my characters were going to have to find a treasure. I considered that most treasures are found on desert islands, under rainbows, on pirate ships etc. So, I thought long and hard thought of one place that you’d probably never expect to find a treasure and it also had to be the one place where you were not likely to find any dogs.

“The reason for this was I really enjoy challenging myself as a writer. Sure, I could get the characters to ride in a boat to a desert island or use a map to discover treasure in the forest but that would be too easy! No, I decided that the one place that met these two criteria was a cat show. Can you image the fun I had getting the dogs into and out the show without being detected by any human beings?

“In Neptune’s Trident, I wanted to explore the oceans. I am also concerned with the terrible pollution and I wanted to showcase this issue in this book. I created a character called Little Crab who finds himself floating on an old bucket. As he goes on more rubbish becomes attached and it eventually becomes an island. This describes the Great Garbage Patch and how it evolved.”


YOU CAN BUY NEPTUNE'S TRIDENT AS A KINDLE EBOOK OR COLOUR PRINT BOOK ON AMAZON  HERE

AND AS AN EBOOK ON SMASHWORDS HERE


OTHER BOOKS BY SUSAN:

The Great Escape
The Golden Treasure
Rampaging Rats
Major Dakota’s Ghost
Gypsy Curse
Dogs in Space (Coming Soon!)


Find out more about Susan on her blog HERE

Meet all the gang at Astro’s Adventures official website HERE 

And for more information about her books go to Susan’s Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Susan-Day/e/B009SS8IJK

Or her Smashwords Author Page:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/SueDay

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Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.

You'll be surprised just what you can achieve!

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CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

7/19/2014

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Eric Pierpoint has more talents than you can shake a stick at. When he’s not acting or teaching film class to future actors, he can be found writing novels.
His first book  THE LAST RIDE OF CALEB O'TOOLE draws on his family’s colorful pioneer history by creating a rousing children’s Western adventure story, just like the ones he loved growing up.

Eric was born in Redlands, California; raised in Washington, DC; and now lives in Topanga, California. He is a veteran Hollywood character actor whose credits include dozens of film and television productions including Hart of Dixie, Parks and Recreation, Alien Nation, Jag, Medium, Star Trek, CSI, The Mentalist, and Liar Liar.

HITTING THE TRAIL
His ancestors came west on the Oregon Trail in the mid-1800s. So to give his debut novel an authentic feel, Eric and his dog, Joey, hightailed it cross-country to follow in their wagon wheel tracks to do research.

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THE LAST RIDE OF CALEB O'TOOLE is about a 12 year old boy named Caleb and his two sisters, Julie 15, and Tilly 6. It begins in the booming and dangerous cattle town of Great Bend, Kansas in 1877. They lost their father to cholera and their mother has contracted the deadly disease. Zealots are burning down the houses of the dead. Violence and theft is rampant. 

The O'Toole kids are witnesses to a murder by the notorious Blackstone Gang. Mrs. O'Toole's dying wish is that Caleb take his sisters to the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana to live with their Aunt Sarah. Thus begins a great adventure as they hit the Oregon Trail just as the torch bearing zealots close in on them. 

With the help of a gunfighter they must deal with the many unexpected dangers of the Trail. They find sanctuary among most unusual allies they meet along the way. Caleb must grow up beyond his years. Julie finds strengths she never new she had. Together the three O'Toole children journey a thousand treacherous miles with the murderous Blackstone Gang a breath behind.

LASSOOING THE STORY IDEA
“I wanted to write a book I wish I had read when I was young,” he said. “My inspiration in writing THE LAST RIDE OF CALEB O'TOOLE came from a love of the American West. I grew up watching great classic TV westerns and movies. I have a special interest in the plights of children who, for whatever reason, must overcome great hardship.

“I have travelled extensively in the western United States. My own family has its roots in the western migration during the 1800s. They came across on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails in 1848. They left diaries. In my visits to Montana I began to wonder what it might have been like for children to survive the rugged and dangerous life back then.”

As he sat down to pull the story from his mind, he found that many of his “facts” about the Wild West came from Hollywood. So he decided he had to experience for himself the journey he was going to write about. Setting out with Joey, he traced the route his characters take in the summer of 1877; from the flat prairies of Great Bend, Kansas, along the Oregon and Bozeman Trails to the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana.

His research paid off because the novel has caused a ruckus with reviewers:

“A rowdy Wild West adventure.” – Publishers Weekly

"A pioneer story that will keep readers on the edge of their seat.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books


"Once I began to research the history of that era, I got hooked,” he said. “That led to a wonderful road trip with my dog, Joey. We started in Great Bend, Kansas and explored the route the characters of the book would have taken along the Platte River in Nebraska, up through Wyoming, then over to Montana. We ended up in a cabin in the Bitterroot Mountains in Montana, writing notes on the porch. 

“I was a mentor in Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles for years. I used to take my Little Brother on adventures. Horseback riding, river rafting, ski trips. I watched him grow and learn from new experiences. 


"I first developed this story, focusing on the adult characters. After a time, I found it more challenging and interesting emotionally to get into the mindset of twelve year old Caleb. How would he respond to the dangers and obstacles he would face during the journey? How would he learn to survive, how would he grow in courage and integrity and ultimately succeed in fulfilling his mother’s last wish? He had to learn to become a man in ways he would have never imagined.

“The adults became supportive players, mentors, friends and enemies. I also feel that there is very little historical fiction adventure for this age group and especially for boys. I want to write more for this audience.


“I hope when the last page is turned, the reader will love these characters and wish for more. I would like to think that they learned something of the history of the times. I want them to remember the O’Toole children and think about them, think about their journey, their courage and determination. I would like children to feel that they have had a fun and exciting reading adventure, and possibly reflect on their own lives and become inspired.”

This isn’t
Eric’s last ride as an author. He’s rustling up another great historical adventure for Middle Grade readers.

“The working title is The Secret Mission of William Tuck and centres around a young farm boy, William, during the American Revolution in 1781. It focuses on the period leading up to the Battle of Yorktown.


Check out Eric’s official website HERE

You can find more information there about him and the journey he took, as well as detailed information, including pictures, and a map charting the O’Toole Family’s journey.

THE LAST RIDE OF CALEB O'TOOLE can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Sourcebooks etc.

Amazon

Sourcebooks 

Barnes and Noble


You can also find out more about Eric's action career HERE


Picture

Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.

You'll be surprised just what you can achieve!

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CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

6/23/2014

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Angela Burkhead is a full time writer and a full time mom. Of the two jobs, she cannot decide which is more difficult and time consuming, but both bring the joys of fulfillment and accomplishment.

She and her son currently reside in Richmond, Ky, just north of Kentucky's arts and crafts capital, Berea, Ky, where she was born and raised.

Her newest book, Sticks n' Stones and the Garden of Phea, a young adult fantasy novel, was published February of 2014. It's targeted at readers aged from 8 to 13 years.

QUICK SYNOPSIS

Rather than spending one more day amongst the humiliating remarks to the amusement of her fellow peers, Emily Fickeltin runs away. Or, rather, walks away.

Emily is misunderstood and disliked but what seems to be every other child her age and on top of it all, she is overweight. Perfectly pleasantly plump, her mother calls her, but Emily feels far from perfect.

Her attempt to escape her pain leads her to discover a hidden place with new hope for friends and acceptance. Stumbling into Phea's garden, an eccentric woman skilled in the arts of gardening and imagination, Emily finds she is not alone in her troubles.

Phea and her friend rabbit have a past of their own they wish to run from and together the three battle their innermost demons as their world crumbles around them.

Will they ever discover peace and acceptance? These lost and disheartened souls must find who they are before they are all lost forever.

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I asked Angela where she got her inspiration for Sticks n’ Stones and the Garden of Phea from. Her answer was - from two sources.

“The first influence on my story was my own childhood experience with weight issues,” she said. “Emily is very much like I was as a girl, very quite, keeps to herself, a little on the plump side. 

"I originally had the idea for a young children’s picture book where Emily would run away crying and become lost in an elderly woman’s garden who she would continue to visit and be taught to work in the soil, grow plants and vegetables and to make the world more beautiful. Soon she would begin to lose weight from her long walks to the garden and her hard labor. She would begin to like herself because of the way she looked. 

“Then, I realized my story’s flaw. Emily was basing her happiness on appearance. Emily had a bigger lesson to learn. She needed to realize she liked herself for who she was, her talents, her abilities, her interests. She needed to find happiness in who she was not how she looked. So my short story stretched out into a novel."

Angela's second inspiration was a sudden family loss.

"Not only of a distant family member, but of our family history," she explained. "All of my great grandparents property was sent to auction and sold by the wishes left in a will and I suddenly realized I never knew our story. My great grandparents had saved everything, photographs, journals, property they brought with them to America when they migrated to Kentucky, and I never knew it existed until I discovered it was all being sold. All at once I had gained and lost an important part of who I was and I felt lost. My family did a wonderful job of filling me in on what they could, but the treasures are gone and not likely to come back.

“That’s where Phea comes in. Phea remembers very little of her young life in Italy and her father makes sure she is as American as possible to see that she fits in and succeeds in their knew life. But Phea wants more, she feels a part of her is missing and she can’t seem to fill the loss. Phea becomes lost in her own world where she fills in the gaps with her own ideas of how life should be, making make-believe into reality.

“Emily’s young life is dominated by school, all of our lives were, and what happens in school has a big impact on how our lives run their course. I not only wanted Emily to understand that words can hurt, I wanted the reader to understand and to walk away from Emily’s story knowing they should 'think before they speak’ so to say."

Angela's aim is to both entertain and motivate young readers with her book. 

“Young children go through many bodily changes and for some of us, before we grow up, we grow out. Middle school students are too young to judge by appearance yet it happens. Sticks n’ Stones and the Garden of Phea is meant to motivate children to find what makes them happy, what they like about themselves and to know that the cruel things kids say are just words. They do hurt, and they always will, but when we discover the things in life that bring us joy, those words suddenly lose their meaning.”

You can buy Sticks n' Stones and the Garden of Phea here

and you can find out more about Angela and her work here

Picture
Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.

You'll be surprised just what you can achieve!


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CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

5/14/2014

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Author Claudia Ware believes she was born to write.

"I cannot remember a time when I was not writing," said Claudia, who grew up on Long island, New York, moved to Florida in 1973, and to Tennessee in 2007.

"My mother read to me often, and I identified with Jo, the would-be author in "Little Women," one of my favorite childhood books.

"While quite young, I wrote little stories that I read to my dolls. At age eleven, I wrote a three-act play that was performed in my church. In high school, I won an essay contest sponsored by a civic association. My English professor in college encouraged me to write more.

"When my boys played Little League football, I was asked to write a weekly sports column for our local newspaper. To find creative ways to describe football action became a challenge. I loved to read books to my seven children, however when the grandchildren came I began to write my own stories to read to them.

"We would climb into my king size bed and snuggle in amongst the many pillows and we would read for hours. Their giggles inspired me to write more stories. I would have to say I have always had a fascination with words."

Claudia has an MS degree in Psychology, and taught at several colleges and universities. Two of her short stories were printed in a section called My Word – Orlando Sentinel. After several short story contest wins, she decided to take the stories she had written for her grandchildren and get them into print.

"With two novels, three children’s books, many short stories, and poetry in my portfolio I wonder what will come next!" she said.

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One of her children’s books is called Butterscotch and Chocolate Fudge.

"Children will adore these two sassy cats with their very different personalities," she said. "Butterscotch and Chocolate Fudge use their time together to learn to accept their differences and become caring friends. Here is a universal lesson for us all to ponder."

Claudia was inspired to write the book after she was asked if she could become an animal, which animal would she choose.

"Without hesitation I chose a giraffe because I would like to stand out from the crowd," she said. "My books would have to be a stand outs. This book was inspired by the fact that as my children were growing we had many pets. I encouraged them to choose unusual names for their pets. We chose weather as a theme. Over the years, we had a Thunder, a Storm, a Lightning, a Snow, and so on – a creative way to match the name to the pet’s personality.

"One of my children rebelled and he named his cat Barbara. We laugh about that to this day."

This is Claudia’s second year as President of Appalachian Authors Guild, Abingdon, VA. She also belongs to American Pen Women and Lost State Writer’s Guild.

She believes it takes a creative mind to write.

"Writers see things others may not, or see them in ways others do not," she said. "As I pondered on a title for my book about a country and city cat, I wanted one that would appeal to both the adult and the child.

"What is more universal than ice cream I thought? No particular flavor fit, but the toppings did. The orange tomcat therefore became Butterscotch, and the slinky brown and cream cat became Chocolate Fudge. Their names matched their personalities. I envisioned a book cover that would capture attention by linking the cats with ice cream toppings. It worked purrfectly."

Claudia’s other children’s books are The Day the Alphabet Rebelled; The Flat People and the Round People.

Amazon and other book retailers carry her books, which also come in e-book format
.

For a signed copy, visit her web page www.forhimpress.com

Her web page has links to Facebook, and her blog
www.forhimpress.wordpress.com

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Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.


You'll be surprised just what you can achieve!


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CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

4/29/2014

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Meg Welch Dendler is an award-winning American author and a former teacher with a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She lives with her family (including four rescue cats and her dog Max) at 1,400 feet in the Ozark mountains on what they call Serenity Mountain, just outside of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

While over a decade as a freelance writer with over 100 articles in print gave her the chance to interview individuals as diverse as the Archbishop of Cape Town and Sylvester Stallone, in 2010 Meg set her focus on publishing several books that she had been working on for years.

In the first book of the Cats in the Mirror series, "Why Kimba Saved The World", feisty house cat Kimba learns that she is really part of an alien race and has to pick sides between her loyal human family and her feline destiny. The second book, "Vacation Hiro," came out in November of 2013.

Both of the books in the Cats in the Mirror series have been honored with Silver Mom's Choice Awards. Book 3, "Miss Fatty Cat's Revenge," is scheduled for release in September of 2014. An adult book, "At the Corner of Magnetic and Main," is also set for a 2014 release.

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"Why Kimba Saved The World" won a Bronze Moonbeam Children's Book Award as "Best First Book."

Kimba lives the care-free life of a much loved house cat, but what she really wants is freedom and the wild life for which she was born. Then she learns a secret that changes everything, including her destiny. Will she join this mysterious cat conspiracy? Kimba must choose between the freedom she craves and the human family she loves.

I asked Meg what inspired the story.

"When I was growing up, my mom was a huge science fiction fan (way back in the '60s before it was cool)," she said. "I remember her telling me about a story where cats on Earth communicate with cats in outer space through mirrors. She doesn't remember telling me this, and I have searched but not found the story, so maybe I just made it up.

"I wrote stories even when I was young, so it's very possible. Anyhow, I grew up always wondering about my own cats and if they were aliens who could communicate through mirrors. I had been a freelance writer for over 10 years when my family found two kittens abandoned in a box. They couldn't have been more than a day or two old and wouldn't have made it much longer on their own. We hand-raised them and named them Kimba and Hiro. I had no idea what a journey that would start.

"Kimba is the kookiest cat I have ever met. She is defiantly independent and is always up to something. It didn't take me long to start wondering if she was some crazy alien cat. The fact that she loved to be up on my sink in the bathroom and would look at me in the mirror (you know, not turning around but looking at me through the reflection in the mirror) got my imagination going back to that story from when I was little.

"A very short story about "Kimba and the Mirror" was where it started. I was hoping to keep it more at the very early reader level, but that is kind of boring to read and write. When I kicked it up to a middle grade level, it was easier to add characters and plot and really develop the story. In the end I had "Why Kimba Saved The World" and notes for several more stories in the series.

"I shopped it around to a couple of places and got nice feedback, but self-publishing has gotten so easy that my husband and I decided to take it that direction. I had some connections from my freelance days to help with formatting and editing. It was absolutely the right move for us because a big publishing house would never have let me do the things I wanted to with the series--like using real photos of the cats and our family on the cover and within the books.

"The series has been so well received and Kimba's fans are increasing. "Why Kimba Saved The World" has been honored with a Silver Mom's Choice Award and won a Bronze Moonbeam Children's Book Award in the "Best First Book" category in 2013. Who knew that this would be the future of that little white kitten so near death in a box in Houston, Texas."

You can visit Meg at: www.megdendler.com for more information about upcoming books and events.

Click here to buy "Why KimbaSaved The World"

Picture
Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.


You'll be surprised just what you can achieve!


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CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

4/9/2014

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Mark H Newhouse loves to make kids laugh. Sounds like the perfect ingredients to make a children’s author. So I’m delighted that Mark could drop by to talk about his work and where he finds his inspiration.

Born in Germany to Holocaust survivors has made Mark very sensitive about bullying and this is a theme that can be found in his books.

He knows a lot about kids having taught elementary school in Central Islip, New York, a job he loved and as an adjunct professor of education at SUNY Old Westbury. He is proud to be named Elementary/Secondary Teacher of the Year by the New York State Reading Assoc., 1989, among other honors.

A LAUGH A MINUTE

Mark believes laughter is the best way to help children learn almost anything. So his world is full of impossible imaginary creatures and funny stories to make children laugh. He loved making kids participate while they learned problem solving in his classrooms. His first published books, The Rockhound Science Mysteries, won Learning Magazine’s Teachers’ Choice Award, 2001, and featured short funny mysteries children love solving with fun experiments. Like his other books, this series helps children learn how to solve problems with comical stories and comical characters.

Making kids laugh and raising awareness about bullying are two themes of his novel, The Midnight Diet Club, formerly, You Never See Fat Vampires, a humorous, slightly scary, novel about bullying. Mark was bullied as a child and loves his main character, Esme, an overweight teen-age girl, who faces three sinister bullies who may or may not be vampires. Mark uses vampires and humor to create a story that he calls a lesson in friendship, love and hope. He believes "bullies are the vampires in our schools and society and we need to put a ‘stake’ in bullying now".

"My book The Midnight Diet Club, which won first prize in the Florida Writer’ Association Royal Palm Literary Awards for Young Adult Fiction, was inspired by my desire to help children understand the terrible effects of bullying, not just on the victim, but also on the bullies," he explains.

"As the son of Holocaust survivors, and bullied myself as a child, I have always been concerned about this serious problem. My parents were Holocaust survivors who suffered so much because of hate and prejudice. I never met my grandparents since they and most of my family were killed during this awful time in history.
 
"In school I was horrified to learn about slavery and was inspired by meeting Dr. Martin Luther King at Queens College and hearing him speak about how we can change the world non-violently. It is this message that I try to share with others using humor and characters I hope children will like."

THE MIDNIGHT DIET CLUB

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Esme, an overweight teen-age girl, must find a way to stop three girls who are making her life miserable, and who may, or may not be vampires. She overhears a conversation in which they discuss being members of The Midnight Diet Club, and decides she is willing to risk everything to become a member of a club that will make her thin, popular and no longer the victim of bullies.

She learns the club is under the control of the fiendish, but funny Dr. Ghoulash, who also may be a vampire? Will she continue on her path to club membership knowing she could be risking her soul and everything she has always believed in, or will she find a way to foil the sinister plot of her arch enemies?

This Amazon 5 star rated book is soon to be an audiobook.

"It’s a funny twist on vampire legend that is really a story about bullying, friendship, and ultimately the hope that we can defeat our worst enemies if we work together," mark says. " I loved writing it and am grateful so many children are enjoying this first book in a new series that I hope will help ‘put a stake in bullies’, the vampires in our schools and society."

Why vampires?

"My hope in using vampires in this book was to show children that bullies are like the vampires in our society, striking the weak and the alone, out of the darkness of hate and prejudice," he said.

"I love reading stories about the supernatural and vampires, and know kids do too. So I thought it would be fun to create a vampire story that also shows how to deal with bullies and the problems of popularity, self-image and all the things that every teen-ager goes through. I loved writing this book and am happy when I get letters that it is helping children face these problems. Because I was bullied, I know what it feels like and hope my story shows bullied children they don’t have to go it alone."

In Book 2, coming soon, Esme will learn about her secret past and once again face her bullies, but this time with a totally new insane scheme by Dr. Ghoulash, the vampire, where he once again plays on the need to be popular to make slaves of the children in Esme’s school.

"I think it is a very funny book," Mark added, "but like my others, has a lesson I hope children will learn while they are laughing."

Other books by Mark:

The Rockhound Science Mysteries, a funny series helps children become scientist detectives, catching crazy crooks by performing fun experiments, like making orange juice ice pops, to help Rockhound, a teen-age dog detective, solve crimes.

Mark wrote the first of these mysteries when his Principal told him he had to teach science. "I was the worst science teacher ever," he said, "awful with experiments, even setting fire to a classroom, and not liking the text books, (BORING!), so I created these short, funny stories, to show my students that science is just a great way to solve mysteries," he said.

"The series won Learning Magazine’s Teachers’ Choice Award and has been enjoyed by children all over the country. They are now available in a bilingual version too and I will soon be adding new additions to this popular series of fun books, including a game very soon."

He has also written Bullystoppers Handbook. It's available at http://www.bullystoppersclub.com/ and includes free downloadable activities to help children, parents and teachers deal with this serious problem.

For adults, he has written How to Sell Your Books Checklist – a simple to use checklists to help authors promote their books – and coming Soon from Solstice Shadows Publishing, ECTOS: The Ghost Doctor’s Assistant about a young woman who must work with the devious chairperson of the university parapsychology department to rid herself of a ghost and a murderous stalker.

Find out more about Mark and his work by dropping by
http://www.markhnewhouse.com

Picture
Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.


You'll be surprised just what you can achieve!


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CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

3/26/2014

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Linda J Chapman, from the sunshine State of Florida, is the author of an enchanting children's story - Best Friends Forever The Adventures of Freddie & Stumper - about the friendship between an eight-year-old boy and an injured bull frog.  But she didn't always plan to be a writer. This is her story ...

Linda’s
first book, Beyond the Eyes of God was published in 2012. It tells of her traumatic early life and is a story of survival, as well as a search for love in her own family.

"At age five I was kidnapped by my own mother and thrown into a world of mental and physical abuse that followed me through much of my adult life," she says. "My book has changed my life, I knew that my life wasn't the life most children live. I knew there had to be something good in the world although my childhood was stolen from me."

Becoming a children's writer was an unexpected turn in Linda's life.  "Never having a childhood myself, I never could have imagined taking on a project of thinking or dreaming as a child," she said. "But after writing my memoir Beyond the Eyes of God, my mind opened to other ideas."

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Best Friends Forever The Adventures of Freddie & Stumper is a story about a boy who lives near a swamp with his parents who befriends an injured bull frog. It's a heart warming story of friendship and compassion for each other and their continued adventures with one another throughout their lives.

This is the first in a planned series of books. Book two is in the process of being illustrated.

Inspiration for the story came from something Linda heard while out for a walk early one foggy morning.
 
"All the sudden I heard this forlorn Croak Croak, it sounded like an injured frog as it kept croaking repeatedly sounding like it were miles away," she said. "Looking around I finally realized the sound was coming out of a culvert drain pipe. Looking through the holes of the grate I saw nothing and soon the sound was gone.

"It bothered me walking home. How was that frog going to get out of there? I thought. But the next morning and repeated mornings the frog continued its croaking sounding as if it were in yet another drain. At home I'd lie in bed at night thinking about how to rescue him and that’s what inspired me to write this story.

"The child and imagination has come pouring out every since." 

Linda penned Best Friends Forever The Adventures of Freddie & Stumper with fellow author Mary Lois Sanders. Illustrations are by Charlene Meeker. The book can be purchased on Amazon and Kindle. ISBN 13:978-1492871088 // ISBN 10:1492871087

You can find out more about Linda on her website at:

http://thecircleoffriends.weebly.com/

Picture
Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.


You'll be surprised just what you can achieve!

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CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

3/12/2014

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A LIFETIME SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

Inspiration can strike like a bolt of lightning, or it can be a glimmer of an idea that you mull over until it finally takes shape. Sometimes, it comes from experiences and memories in a person’s life.

Author Cynthia Meyers-Hanson has faced numerous challenges in her life. Being born legally blind and growing up in a dysfunctional family are just two of them.

Many people would find it difficult to overcome such traumas, but Cindy found the strength to battle and conquer whatever adversity life threw at her.

I’m delighted she has joined me on my blog to talk about her how the dramas she has endured have shaped her into the writer she is today. And how her children’s book - An Easter Tale - is based on her true story of overcoming blindness and was inspired by the bedtime stories she was told as a child.

"As a child, I had a dysfunctional family environment," Cindy told me. "My father was bipolar, and we suffered his reign of terror. I dreamed of a better way of life, which is what moved me through all of my personal challenges as well as towards college.

"I planned on a good education and to escape to my own home. I succeeded but it wasn’t easy. My major was math, computer science, and system’s analyst in an era when females were still being dissuaded from majoring in those fields.

"While at any library, I always admired authors and their books never dreaming I’d be one, today. To date, I’ve written or produced around twenty books including miraculous nonfiction, motivational children’s books, inspirational YA novellas, and novels full of serious topics as well as lighthearted and humorous prose."

Cindy’s early life sheds light on the inspiration behind her children’s book and many of her tales.

"I was born legally blind," she says. "My father showed many saving graces especially when he stayed with me in the hospital after my landmark surgery at age four going on five. My dad protected me when I was the most vulnerable; I gave him credit for trying to be a good man.

"When I was very young, Dr. Groom gave me sight; as I matured, my life gave me insight. My children’s book An Easter Tale originates in the pages of "The Vision," which is loosely based on my true story of overcoming blindness and the ramifications of my disability as well as dysfunctional environment."

Acceptance of your shortcomings while never giving up on your goals is the bricks and mortar of her stories.
 
"My underlying thesis in most of my books is making it through any adversity life can throw at you," she says. "It’s about striving to become perfectly balanced in life."

To remain so upbeat after what she’s been through is an inspiration in itself. How does she do it?

"In spite of all the trauma and drama in my youth, there were glimmers of hope," she explains. "Plus, dad had his good days telling us cute bedtime stories. He indirectly inspired my children’s picture book entitled An Easter Tale."

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In the story, the parents want to protect their children but things don’t always go as planned. Plus sibling rivalry proves her father’s favorite saying held merit. He often warned about decision making and its consequence. "Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face." Using that thought to guide the plot, the bunnies, in her tale, do not cooperate to win a contest. Thus, the winner of the Easter egg challenge may surprise the reader.

The story is loosely based on one of her father’s bedtime tales. But Cindy says it's less violent and depressing to show the triumphs and wins in life that even the underdog (or under bunny) can enjoy.

Cindy did all the illustrations herself. An Easter Tale isn’t her first paperback or children’s book. Her other works include:

The GNAW Project - created with her students’ input - becomes a vehicle to publicise the plight of some USA kids that need free or reduced breakfasts as well as lunches and dinners.

Frasier the Fir is Forever Green is about a perfect Christmas tree that has trouble finding a home?

Just Me - about the ‘middlest’ of middle children who dreams of being someone else.

AND

Thai Food For Thought -  a book created by her five-year-old granddaughter, Thai, with help from Cindy. It discusses how to survive wild things in Florida and reveals how to live through potential natural disasters.

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To find out more about Cindy’s writing on her author webpage click here

Find her books in various formats here:

h
ttps://www.amazon.com/author/chanson714

http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=mchanson714

Watch her book trailers via YouTube Channel here

And  read her blog here

Picture
Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.


You'll be surprised just what you can achieve!

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CHILDREN'S AUTHORS REVEAL THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR BOOKS

2/26/2014

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FOLLOWING IN A FAMILY TRADITION

I am delighted to welcome American author Mary Lois Sanders who is following in a family tradition and writes historical fiction, one of my favourite genres.

Here, she talks about the inspiration for her book, The Vision Seeker - a project that took her on a 14-year journey.

A native Texan, she is the daughter of a Baptist preacher and a Baptist preacher’s daughter—Dr. Ray and Jester B. Summers, both of whom were published authors in their special fields of expertise. They both loved music as well. Perhaps her love of both writing and music are in her genes, who knows? But she grew up loving to write, and also found she had a talent for singing. To this end, Mary Lois worked on her high school newspaper, wrote stories she never showed to anyone, and took voice and piano lessons.

The voice lessons took, the piano just barely passed. As she tells it, her most obvious talent, then, upon entering college, was singing, so she chose to major in music, with dreams of someday singing at the Met.

Two degrees from Baylor University and one degree from seminary followed—a Bachelor of Music with a Voice Performance Certificate, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Literature; and a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Church Music/Vocal Performance.

Her writing skills had become focused on academic articles and papers. After teaching for quite a few years, Mary Lois married and continued to act as minister of music in several churches, while beginning again to focus on writing, this time Bible Study curriculum for children and their teachers. Soon she branched out into the secular markets, with nonfiction articles in Cobblestone, Calliope and other periodicals. Her short stories have appeared in Boy’s Life and several anthologies.

The Vision Seeker is her first novel published. She is planning on two more in the trilogy, based on the history of the Tuscarora. She’s also working on a Revolutionary War series for middle grade readers. Down from the Mountains is the first book in the Timothy Michael O’Hara Adventure Series.

Mary Lois is a member of SCBWI, Florida Writer’s Association (FWA), and Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA). She’s also Publisher/Managing Editor of Creative Writer’s Notebook, a monthly newsletter for writers, and owner of Court Jester Publications.

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The Vision Seeker, a Tale of the Tuscarora - ISBN-13: 978-1492793496 – is an historical young adult novel set in North Carolina, 1711-1713.

For girls of the Tuscarora Nation in the Carolinas (1711), playing lacrosse is forbidden, but Running-Girl (13) doesn’t care. She’s not a maiden yet, and besides, she’s absolutely no good at women’s chores.

But Running-Girl is afraid. She’s having flash-visions—dead bodies strewn about the lacrosse field; her village bursting into flames. She tells no one, but the visions become more detailed during her Maidenhood seclusion. They show the death and destruction of her village and her parents.
 
When she shares her visions with the Clan Mothers of the village, her name is changed to Vision-Seeker in honor of the gift Creator has given her.

However, her Clan Mother cannot help her interpret her visions and many in the village don’t believe her … until the attack comes. Then she is left the oldest of 20 children and must lead them to a promised home, one she has seen in her visions. But can she?


INSPIRATION BEHIND THE VISION SEEKER

Mary Lois discovered the Tuscarora War history (1711-1713) doing research on Native Americans in the Appalachian Mountains, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.

"The history of this war and the treatment of the Tuscarora at the hands of the British intrigued me," she told me, "and I began to look at ways I could tell the story from the view point of a girl who experiences it.

"I started with a short story, but that wasn’t adequate. So research began and outlining and character descriptions. When I finally started writing the story I needed help … with names, customs, oral history. I got the help when Francene Peterson, Clan Mother of the White Bear Clan, offered to be my principle reader and act as liaison with the other Clan Mothers of the Tuscarora Nation in upstate New York.

"With their help, I began a fourteen-year journey. The result is this first book of the proposed trilogy that will tell the Tuscarora story."

Where can readers find
The Vision Seeker, a Tale of the Tuscarora

https://www.createspace.com/4453215

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com


Mary Lois has also written Down from the Mountains, a Timothy Michael O’Hara Adventure – an historical novel for children ages 9-12 (Middle Grades), and first book in a Revolutionary War Series3

Best Friends Forever, the Adventures of Freddie & Stumper – with Linda Chapman, Illustrated by Charlene Meeker – A Chapter Book for grades 1-3.

You can find out more about Mary Lois and her work by visiting her website:

http://MaryLoisSandersauthor.net

or

http://courtjesterpublications.net


Picture
Bye for now. But wherever you are on your Earth Walk, always try to Reach For The Stars.

You'll be suprised just what you can achieve!

0 Comments
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