K.P. Smith, Author of Growing Pains | Kendra's Diaries

K.P. Smith is the author of the inspirational fiction/YA novel Growing Pains | Kendra's Diaries.

Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I love to read (of course). I’m “addicted” to my two fav “s” soaps (daytime and nighttime) and sports.  I recently added another “s” social media. I’m mostly active on twitter but also do Facebook . I’m slowly getting into Instagram and Google+. It’s fun meeting and chatting with people online with similar and sometimes not so similar ideas and interests.

I also love movies. I live in New Orleans. It’s festival time here so I’m enjoying all the different festivals with great music and food!

By day I’m work in the insurance industry which I’ve worked for 18 years. I have two wonderful sons 13 and 15 which keep me beyond busy. I take life as it comes day by day and try to make the best of it!

Describe the plot of your new book, Kendra’s Diaries, in a few sentences.
Kendra’s Diaries is the beginning of Kendra’s growing up journey. She’s in that “limbo” place where you aren’t a kid anymore but not really an adult yet. She has to deal with her family as well as her own personal challenges (school, friends, boys). The story is about her own internal fortitude that keeps her pressing toward making her dreams come true no matter what.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?

It’s geared toward young adults ages 12-16 so I would say that is my primary audience. But it’s been a pleasant surprise to get feedback from “seasoned” readers closer to my age whom have enjoyed Growing Pains; Kendra’s Diaries as well.

Author K.P. Smith

What inspired you to write a series about growing up?
Whether we realize or acknowledge it a lot who we are who we become good or bad can be traced back to our childhood. It’s only 18 years of our life but literally can charter the course of our lives. Some of our experiences are good some bad and others downright awful.

I want to celebrate the good while at the same time showing the bad and awful happens but you can still chart a good course for your life.

Growing up can be tough no matter your race, gender, economic status, etc, etc. I remember some of my tougher times. I want the youth to know we’ve all gone through them and come out on the other side and we are better for it. And they will too!

Yes growing up can be tough but you can still have fun and enjoy it as well! I aspire to entertain as well as inspire and encourage.

I know from my own sons “talking” to them can somethings go in one ear and come out the other. But I’m hopeful through my writing to have many teaching moments to help them through the process.

Tell us about your main character, Kendra Foster.
Kendra has a lot maybe too much going on for a girl her age. She’s been trying to make cheerleader forever. She’s been trying to get the boy she likes, Jamie, attention for forever and a day. She has her high school picked out but due to her parents financial situation she needs some help to go. If that isn’t enough her home life is in shambles. Her parents don’t get along. Her mom is keeping secrets from her father. Her daddy and her maternal grandparents don’t get along but no one will tell her why.

Her plate is full to say the least. She’s just trying to keep it all together.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
It might sound cliché but it’s so true. It’s not what happens in our lives that defines it but how we react to it. And in alot of cases how we move passed it.

One of my favorite phrases is Keep it Moving no matter what just keep moving; you will get to the other side.

How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
Oh a lot. I recently sent the second book, New Beginnings, to my editor. It was in such better shape than Kendra’s Diaries when it was sent to the editor. I made it a point to make my sure it was.

When writing Kendra’s Diaries I developed a bad habit of telling myself don’t worry about “ that” we will deal with it later. And when later did come it made the process much more difficult because there were so many changes to be done. It took more time on the back end than if I would have taken time to do it right on the front end.

I’m also so much more organized in my thoughts and how I put them on paper. For my second book I started outlining what I wanted to happen in each chapter before writing it. I’m just starting the third book tentatively titled Decisions. For the first time I wrote down what I wanted to happen to the characters in the book. I’m sure somethings will change but it has given me such a solid foundation to start with.

Just like anything else in life my writing style continues to change, evolve and grow.

Have you ever had writer's block?
Yes, but never for a long period of time. I know people say just write even if you don’t feel like it. But I have to at least “feel it”. I might not actually “feel “ like writing but I have to “feel” the writing. For me if there is no “feeling” then I won’t produce anything worth reading.

Good news is I “feel” the writing more than not so I’m good.

Do you write with a computer, typewriter, or pen and paper?
I do have a system;

1)    I write my chapter outline by hand on paper.
2)    Write the chapter out by hand on paper
3)    Then I type the chapter on my computer.
4)    Once I’m done with all the chapters I print out the manuscript.
5)    I edit, rewrite and make corrections.
6)    Once I’m done give one more reread then it’s off to the editor.

Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about the next book in the series?
New Beginnings is just that. Kendra starts high school. There is the transition of a new school meeting new people. Kendra is trying to find her place. This proves to be challenging but very rewarding. There are also new beginnings for the other characters as well.

As with Kendra’s Diaries Kendra’s family has its own element of drama. And Kendra is always trying to stay neutral and not take sides. She still has to deal with her parents and the rest of her family. Just like the Kendra’s Diaries; Kendra’s plate is full.

We introduced new characters and storylines. More than anything throughout the entire series I want to keep things fresh and interesting.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Right before New Beginnings comes out this summer, I’ll be offering Kendra’s Diaries for free so keep checking my website www.iamkpsmith.com for further details.

I know you will enjoy it and when you do spread the word and come back for New Beginnings, Decisions and Senior Year!!

An excerpt from Growing Pains | Kendra's Diaries:

As I stood in front of the mirror, my mind went back to my first cheerleading tryout two years ago. I was in sixth grade then—that was the youngest a girl could be to try out for cheerleading. I barely slept the night before. All day, I couldn’t concentrate in class. I kept rehearsing and practicing—in my head—every single cheer, over and over again.
 

When it was time for tryouts, all of the girls waited in the locker room. Everyone tried to appear calm, but I knew everyone was just as nervous as I was. For some, it was their last year at the school, the last year to try and make it. For others, like me, it was not our last chance, but we still wanted to make it as much as they did. 

There was not much conversation. There were some nervous glances, some girls looking around, trying to size up their competition. Some people were in the corner getting in one final practice session. We could hear the cheerleaders in the gym, with music, gearing up the crowd and getting them ready. All of us could feel the excitement, the adrenaline, all the way in the locker room.

As the minutes passed, the knots in my stomach felt tighter and tighter. When it was time, we all ran out onto the gym floor and were greeted by the screaming crowd. My heart was beating so hard and fast that it felt like it was going to come out of my chest. I took my place on the gym floor and looked around. I made it; after six years—I made it. I was there. I looked up into the bleachers and saw my best friend, Katrina, right where she said she would be. She gave me the thumbs up sign and I smiled broadly at her. Lord knows, my insides were a mess, but I was ready, prepared, and confident.
 
My confidence served me well. The first few cheers were great. As each minute passed, my insides calmed down and I went into a “zone.” I could see and hear the crowd, but I was transported to another place. I was at home in my backyard. No one else was there but me. We finished our last cheer together and the gym exploded in applause. I looked up at Katrina and she was smiling, jumping up and clapping, letting me know I had done well.
 
We went back into the locker room to wait. Then came the hard part—the part that separated the average from the good, and the good from the great. It was time to do our cheers individually. If I thought the knots were bad before, they were nothing compared to what I felt as I waited in the locker room for my turn.
 
There was silence in the locker room—no conversation and little movement. Some girls had their head down, some were pacing the floor. I elected to sit with my hands folded, praying to God. I prayed so hard I didn’t hear my name called at first. Then across the intercom I heard the second call for Kendra Foster. I popped up and hurried out.
 
There I was in the middle of the floor with hundreds of pairs of eyes on me. I took a quick look at Katrina again. She smiled at me, but I could see she was just as nervous as I was. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and began. The first cheer went off without a hitch. It could have been better, but it was still pretty good. One of the requirements was that everyone had to do a spread eagle, which meant I had to jump up, do a split in the air and land on my feet. No problem for me, I have been practicing this for months, right? I thought. I chose to do the spread eagle in the middle of my second cheer.
 
I am not exactly sure how it happened, if I tripped on my shoe laces or maybe there was a wet spot on the floor. Maybe I was just clumsy. All I know is when I came down from the spread eagle, instead of landing on my feet, I landed flat on my face with a loud thud. As my face slapped onto the hard gym floor, I heard hundreds of gasps. The pain in my head was instantaneous and severe. Even though I didn’t want to, I had to lift my head to make sure I could move it. There they were all those pairs of eyes on me, some in horror, some in fear, some with pity and, of course, some laughing, but all bearing down on me.
 
My face was hot with shame, and tears blinded my vision. I jumped to my feet to get out of there, but my body would not cooperate. My legs came out from beneath me and I went down. The next thing I knew, there were people everywhere, feeling my head, asking me my name, asking me how many fingers I could see. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. I had to sit in the middle of the gym floor with all this commotion. I managed to meet Katrina’s eyes. She looked so worried. I smiled to try and reassure her.
 
They finally felt comfortable enough to move me and asked if I could make it to the office. They wanted to call my mom to come and get me. I quickly nodded my head “yes.” I was ready to get outta there. When I got up, the crowd cheered and that made me feel a little better.
 
My mom almost passed out when she got there and saw the gigantic knot on my forehead. A few hours and several x-rays later, the doctor gave me the “all clear” sign. He told my mom, “Keep a close eye on her for the next few days, but I expect her to be fine.”
 
Fine? I will never be fine again.
 
On the way home I closed my eyes and leaned against the seat. It wasn’t long before my mom tried to make me feel better.
 
“Kendra what you have just experienced is terrible and I won’t even try to make like it isn’t. At your age this must seem like the end of the world, but it’s not. Now, when you go back to school tomorrow—”
 
Tomorrow? She is making me go back to school tomorrow? I was thinking more along the lines of dropping out.
 
“—hold your head up. You can always try out again next year.”
 
Next year? How can I even think about that? All I could think about was going back to school and having all those eyes on me again.
 
“Don’t be a quitter. Life will bring about many difficult situations and the last thing you want to do is start quitting when things get hard. This is a painful but important choice you’ll have to make. The most important lesson for you to learn from this is that life is about choices and we have to live with the consequences of the choices we make.”
 
I never told anyone, not even Katrina, but all through the next summer I practiced every day. But when the first day of tryout practice came, I chickened out at the last minute. My mom was right. I’ve had to live with that choice.
 
By not trying out, I thought I took the easy way out, but it turned out to be the hard way. It was hard to look at the cheerleaders, longing to be one of them: wanting to do it, preparing to do it, saying I would do it. But fear stepped in. The fear spoke to me. It told me, you can’t do it. You will fail. The fear haunted me and stopped me. Yes, the fear was always, always there.
 
I looked at my reflection again in the mirror, this time talking back to myself.
 
“Kendra, you have to forget all that. That was two years ago. You have to focus on today. This is it; this is your last chance.”
 
I refused to live in regret. Trying out was not just about being a cheerleader—it was also about me. It was about truly facing myself and, most importantly, facing my fear.

Relevant Links

Visit the author's website

Buy Kendra's Diarieis on Amazon

Allie Burke, Author of Nowhere Train

As part of a blog tour with Enchanted Book Promotions, today we're interviewing Allie Burke, author of the young adult novel Nowhere Train, volume 1 in The Enders series.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m an author, blogger, and mental health activist. My favorite genre to read is YA and I love animals.

Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
Post-apocalypse, Jett and her family navigate the zombie waters of the world in an effort to find a safe haven away from their enemies.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Fans of new adult romance and fans of zombie fiction.

When did the idea for this series first come to you?
It came to me while I was eating pizza at my favorite restaurant about a year ago.

Protagonist Jetilyn Fournier is someone who has been through a lot. What keeps her moving forward?
The love she has for her family and her will to help them survive. Jett is quite selfless.

Each author seems to give his or her own spin on zombies. Without giving too much away, can you describe the zombies in your book?
The zombies in my book were never humans.
 

Nowhere Train is described as “two parts hippie and one part magic.” Can you elaborate a bit on this?
The hippie refers to Jett and her family—the Holistics, known as Holies—and the magic refers to Chris’s (Jett’s best friend) background.

Who was your favorite character to write?
Devlin.

Can you describe the creative process for this novel, from the initial idea to the finished manuscript?
I don’t really have a creative process other than to sit on it while my brain works out all the details and sit down and write obsessively for a few weeks.

Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
Sarah Addison Allen and Maggie Stiefvater.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
My next project is Prius, volume two of The Enders.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
That it’s very much a Romeo and Juliet story. If Romeo had a brother.

Relevant Links

Visit Allie Burke's website 

Follow the rest of the Nowhere Train blog tour

Buy Nowhere Train on Barnes and Noble

Follow Allie Burke on Twitter 

Buy Nowhere Train on Amazon

Paul James Nolan, Author of The Forsaken Queen

Paul James Nolan is the author of the historical fiction/adventure novel The Forsaken Queen.
 

Tell us a bit about yourself:
I’m half part teacher and half part writer, living near Winchester, UK. For years, I have enjoyed reading books to my classes and own children, often changing the endings when I prefer my own. I have a real passion for history: the little free time I have I spend visiting historical buildings, reading historical books and watching historical dramas. You could say (and some do) that I spend more time in the past than in the present!

I have also written a couple of school plays (with historical links of course) that can be purchased at www.easyprimaryschoolplays.com.

Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences.
A security guard at Hampton Court is badly injured. No-one believes his account of being attacked by a ghost except three school-children, each of them avid historians. A school visit to the Tudor palace provides the children with the opportunity to investigate but what they find there is far greater than any of them could have imagined. Their discovery sets in motion a chain of events that takes them into the deepest recesses of some of England’s greatest castles. They find a Queen Forsaken; only their bravery and determination can redeem her.

Who do you think would most appreciate The Forsaken Queen?
The book will appeal to anyone who loves a good adventure or mystery and anyone who likes to be scared (a little).  If readers enjoy deepening their understanding of the past, then they will like it all the better. I wrote the book with the 11+ market in mind but adults have really taken to it too!

What inspired you to write a book about someone who searches the Great Castles of London and discovers the truth isn’t what he thought it would be?
I took a group of schoolchildren to Hampton Court. There, in the chapel, an attendant told us the amazing story that the heart of Jane Seymour (Henry VIII’s 3rd wife) is buried beneath the chapel. We weren’t sure whether to believe him but at that moment, a story was born.

Tell us a bit about the protagonist, Henry Taylor.
Things aren’t going so well for Henry. He’s being bullied at school by Maddisson Manners and her moronic mob; singled out for being a loner and a book worm. The fact that he lives with his father above their little historical bookshop doesn’t help either. He sees so little of his father who spends most of his time reenacting battles in full regalia. He has only one friend of note: Dominique, until that is, a new boy Simeon arrives at school. After his arrival, Henry changes forever. 

How did you do research on the castles that Henry visits?
By visiting them! I have been lucky enough to visit Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and The Tower of London many times. In fact, I have visited Hampton Court so many times, that when I have spoken to the schoolchildren, tourists have mistaken me for a guide and joined our group! Other than that, I have topped up my knowledge by reading a plethora of books and watching countless documentaries. My readers will feel like they are in the castle with the characters.

What are some of the interesting things you discovered while doing research on the castles?
Other than the story about Jane Seymour’s heart, I think the most amazing story has to involve our present Queen, and the vaults of St. George’s chapel at Windsor Castle. The remains of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour are locked away in a vault away from the public. However, when the Queen is hosting dignitaries at the castle, she often takes them for a private tour of the tombs! Isn’t that cool! Of course - this too I have woven into the story!

How long have you been writing?
About 3 years. For years before that I wrote with my classes, modelling stories but I have been writing my own stories for three years. It took nearly two years to write The Forsaken Queen.

How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
To begin with, I wrote what I wanted to read but I soon learnt that I have to adapt my own style and control my own preferences to ensure that my writing appeals to as many people as possible. I have also learnt to tone done my descriptions – sometimes a door can be just a door!

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
It can be quite lonely – a far cry from teaching a bunch of children! As I write historical fiction, sometimes I am very keen to end the research and just get writing. I usually research the time-period for about 3 months.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
My new book, Demons of Dunkirk is due for released this month (May 2015) to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the heroic evacuation from Northern France in the summer of 1940.  

It’s about a Conscientious Objector from WWI who wants to redeem his tarnished reputation by rescuing stranded soldiers from the beaches. It’s aimed at the teen market and I think it’s a thrilling read.

The book is now available to purchase in many places – give it a Google!
I am currently writing a book set in the Bronze Age. It has a title but I can’t tell you yet!

I also have a sequel in mind for the Forsaken Queen – if there is a strong enough cry for it!

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Lots but I’ll keep it short. Life in Henry VIII’s court was precarious; the fortunes of those closest to him changed with the blowing of the wind. The Forsaken Queen explores the real possibility that more than two of his Queens met a deadly end... Have a read and see if you agree!

An excerpt from The Forsaken Queen:

The figure turned: black cloak billowing. The hood stared straight at them. Into them. Through them. Three mouths opened but no words escaped, cold air scraping over their dry throats. Pressed back by fear, the children felt the wood of the door behind them, trapping them. Slowly, the hooded figure slid nearer, bringing forth a lavender wave. Held out in front of her, in black-gloved hand, flickered a taper of light, flame flecks dancing of the marbled floor. Above lamented Tudor Rose pennants, blood drops’ crying upon the children’s socks. Gradually, the gloved-hand retracted, its grip released on the flickering candle. But the flame didn’t fall to the ground, instead it hovered ahead of the figure, its flame growing brighter. Now a second hand joined the first, either side of the hood and slowly they began to part and fall, gradually revealing the face beneath. Breath vacuumed from Henry’s rigid body, squeezed from his motionless mouth, for he instantly recognized the haunting, pale face, staring back at him, through hollowed, deathly eyes. 

Relevant Links

Buy the book on Amazon UK
Buy the book on Amazon US

Erin Kurt, B.Ed. and Laara Exsnar, B.Ed, RHN, Children's Book Authors

Erin Kurt, B.Ed. and Laara Exsnar, B.Ed, RHN are the authors of The Yummy Adventures of Celia and Cedric: A Read & Bake Series.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My mother and I have joined forces to write these fun, adventurous stories featuring our little characters, Celia and Cedric. Me, a former school teacher, and my mom, a retired school teacher and now nutritionist, have a passion for families, health and yummy food.  We've combined our expertise and created this Read & Bake Series that we hope will bring families continuous hours of fun and enjoyment!

Describe your new children’s book series in a few sentences.

This NEW, unique children’s book series links adventure, positive character traits and nutritious snacks for kids. The series is called, The Yummy Adventures of Celia and Cedric: A Read & Bake Series.

Our endearing characters  go on fun adventures that always have them needing to make or bake a nutritious, delicious snack - which we call Nutrilicious™! The recipe for each snack is provided at the back of the book so kids can re-create the exact recipe with their moms and dads.

Who do you think would most appreciate this series?

We recommend this book series for children aged 3-8.  We’ve tested the books on these ages, both boys and girls, and all just loved them! One reviewer said that these are some of the best pre-school and picture books for children she's seen in a while.  And, a few school teachers have already started to use them in their classrooms. They've shared with us that the children consistently ask for our books. It just thrills us!

What inspired you and co-author Laara Exsnar to write a series about characters who go on adventures and bake nutritious, delicious snacks?

 After I had my first child, my mother and I were sitting on the sofa chatting and she mentioned she wanted to write a cookbook for kids so she could include all the delicious and nutritious snacks she had compiled over the years.  I told her that it was always my dream to write books for kids too.

After chatting for a while I remembered that when I was a school teacher I used to take any book that had food within the storyline and find a recipe to match it.  Then I’d turn the making of that recipe into different extension activities for the children, whether it be Math, Science or Health.  At the end of the school year, my students would often mention that one of their favourite memories of our year together was the making of those yummy recipes.

After remembering this, I had a light bulb moment and said, “Mom, what if we create our own children’s book series where we have two friends going on adventures and always needing to make or bake something based on that adventure.  She loved the idea.

Right then and there we brainstormed the adventures and matched one of her snack recipes to suit. I still have that brainstorming sheet!

Each of your books includes a recipe for a snack the characters enjoy so kids can re-create the snacks with their parents. How did you come up with the recipes? 

Mom has literally been making and baking yummy, nutritious food since I was young.  The Dirt Balls, featured in the Book Eat Dirt Balls, for instance was something she made when I was a child.  Mom is a kid at heart, so she is constantly emailing me a new snack recipe she developed.  In fact, just the other day I received a new cookie recipe from her!

Is there a recipe that you’re particularly fond of?

Well, the Dirt Balls are something I make on a regular basis, which my kids also love.  However they often ask for the Green Dragon Drink and I love that as well.  It makes me feel wonderful and it also comforts me when I see my kids drinking it and getting all those incredible nutrients!  That being said, mom's cookie recipe, which we MUST write a future story about is my absolute favourite.  I will make a quick batch of these after dinner and by bedtime they're usually all gone.  They are THAT good - but also healthy!

Do you have a favorite character to write?

Mom's very drawn to Celia. And for some reason I'm drawn to Cedric - but both feel like our own children.  We adore them!

Are there any children’s book authors who have influenced your writing style?

Because my specialty as a school teacher was Literacy, I read loads of books.  Actually my favourite thing to do is read stories to children.  So, I've been influenced by loads of authors.  As well, I have seen what kinds of stories my students and children tended to request over and over again.  If I had to mention a few though, I'd say, Paulette Bourgeois, writer of the Franklin series, Robert Munsch, and C.S. Lewis.

Can you tell us a bit about the creative process of creating this book, from the initial idea to the finished book?

Mom and I usually decide which recipe we want to focus on then we discuss what kind of situation our characters would have to be in in order to make or bake it.  We go back and forth with a couple of ideas and then I usually write the story and send it to her to add her ideas.  Mom has such a playful connection to kids, so she always has great ideas to add.

How many books are planned in the series? How far along are you with them?

We plan to write and release continuously as we have so many recipes and cute story ideas to share.  Currently, we have brainstormed 20 stories, so we'll be going for a good while.

We decided to launch the series with 3 books.  It just didn't feel right to us, to offer 1 and then make kids wait for more.  We wanted them to love the first one and have immediate access to more.  These three will keep them busy for a while, but we'll soon be working on the 4th book, which we hope to release at the end of this year.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?

We want the lives of kids and parents to be enriched by these books, so we plan to send them surprises on a consistent basis.  For example, we already have downloadable activity sheets on our website (http://www.celiaandcedric.com) that are based on the books.  So, not only can parents and children read the books and bake together, but they can also continue bonding with these fun and educational activity sheets!

Mom and I have also filmed ourselves making or baking some of the recipes and plan to do a whole lot more.  My kids are excited to get in on the action too,  so they want to help me make a video, and I also plan to send audios and videos of me reading the stories, since this is something I so enjoy doing.

To get all of these extra surprises parents just have to enter their name and email address at the top of our website. (http://www.celiaandcedric.com)

Relevant Links

http://www.celiaandcedric.com

http://www.celiaandcedric.com/buynow

Charlene A. Wilson, Author of Destiny

Charlene A. Wilson is the author of the sci-fi/fantasy romance novel Destiny, book 3 in the Cornerstone Deep series.

Describe the plot of Destiny in a few sentences.
Destiny is the third book in the Cornerstone Deep series...

Angels, Gods, High Ones… Could anything else find its way into the prophecy caused by their father, Sylis Shilo, the renowned realm traveler? Vincent understands there were things in his father’s work he wasn’t privy to simply because his soul was too young, but how could this be kept a secret from even his brothers? The more he learns, the more he’s glad he hadn’t known.

The sentinels of Cornerstone Deep are in for their most difficult challenge yet. The portal to the Spectrum of the Realms must be sealed, and punishments must be carried out. Will the Gods take all that is dear to Vincent, James, and Cole Shilo?

In this book, Vincent discovers some of the things his father kept secret. Without giving too much away, how does his discovery impact his view of his father?
The Shilo brothers find that their father, Sylis, the renowned realm traveler, kept many secrets. It absolutely bashes the image of a loving parent seeking to do good in the name of humanity. In fact, Vincent is sickened by his father’s deceit. And now because of what he had done, the brothers must pick up the pieces in a foreign realm.

Vincent, James, and Cole have a very unique relationship with each other. Were you inspired by siblings you’ve met?
These three didn’t come from a pattern of siblings. This series developed around a dream I had long ago. The three “reapers” in the dream turned out to be my heroes in the story. How odd is that?

Who was your favorite character to write in Destiny?
I love all my characters but in Destiny I got to focus more on Vincent’s wife, Elaina, than in any of the other books. She’s sweet as they come, naïve, and discovers while prayers are answered, it might not turn out as we expect it to. Also, we have a new character in Destiny, the boys’ Uncle Rhune. He was a hoot to write. Bigger than life and charismatic, Rhune drags up much of the information the guys wish they didn’t need to know about.

Cornerstone Deep is a series that blends elements from sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. Do you try to keep these elements in balance or do you just let the story flow organically?
In this story, the elements blend naturally. I didn’t need to concentrate on making them level. It’s their world, it’s how things are. Magic, dimensions, rebirth, and soul mates are just part of it all. Oh and we can’t forget those Gods!

A fan said that Echoes, book 2 of the series, leaves the reader “reeling from the mind-blowing revelations and truly surprising twists of fate.”

Can fans expect the same level of twists and turns in Destiny?

Oh, yes! There are many twists that the Shilos face in Destiny and they’ll find this book fast paced… so don’t expect many potty breaks. (wink)

Do you think you’ve evolved as a writer since you started the series?
Yes, I think we all evolve as we learn and apply what it to our writing.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I think it’s a wonderful way to share our books. March on progress!

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
I would love to have the rest of my other series, Aumelan, published. Also the next series that takes off from Cornerstone Deep, Midway Summit. Those are my base goals. I have several others waiting on the sidelines to see publication.

Have your family and friends been supportive of your writing?
The have been wonderful! My daughters are proud to have an author mom. And with Aumelan now on the market, they get to have that series in their school library.

Have you ever had writer's block?
Sometimes I just need to take some time off to regroup. So when writer’s block hits, I go to my bookshelf and choose a nice book to get lost in. It helps free my imagination!

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
Book two of my Aumelan series is written and in terrible need of revision. It’s a monster of a job I’m facing with that one, so it will be the one I spear head next.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Destiny is the third book in the Cornerstone Deep series. This series is best read sequentially. If you enjoy magic, true love, heroes that fight for the one they love at all cost, angels, Gods, rebirth, soul mates and… well… hot guys, there you have it. Enjoy!

Relevant Links

Buy the book on Amazon

A.S. Chung, Author of A Brand New Day

A.S. Chung is the author of the children's picture book, A Brand New Day – A Banana Split Story.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a mother of a young toddler with a very normal professional career in the service industry. The writing component of my personal career, whilst was always prevalent, didn’t become a reality until later on in life. A recent divorce sparked my need to put pen on paper as both an outlet for getting through difficult times and also borne out of a need that I found was lacking (see below for further details).

Apart from writing, I am a regular suburban mum with a great love for photography, travelling, event management and spending lots of time socially with my close friends. 
 

Describe your new children’s book in a few sentences.
A Brand New Day deals with the topic of divorce, without ever actually mentioning it. It details the life of a little girl who has to split her time between her parents throughout the week and during school holidays. The book highlights all the special things she does with each individual parent and how love can still provide the child with a very loving and engaging life, without the dramas of poor co-parenting. Essentially, the book is designed to highlight the positive, to give the child hope that the future can be bright.
 

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
A Brand New Day is written for three groups of audiences. Of course, its primary audience is the young reader who is going through divorce. The beautiful illustrations and loving words are meant to sooth the pain and anxieties that come with it.

The book is also for the parent. A way to communicate what life could potentially be like. It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Sometimes it’s hard for the parent to paint a pretty picture at the end of it all whilst going through a divorce. This is just to aid that process.

Lastly, the book is also a resource for families and friends of divorce. I know that my circle of friends at the time, who also have very young children, had great difficulty explaining divorce when their families were perfectly fine! It made for a challenging conversation and I thought perhaps this book could help them understand it a little more.
 

What inspired you to write a children’s book that helps children learn how to cope with life’s challenges?
I was unable to find written resources for my then 4 year old daughter about divorce. In particular, I was looking for positive children’s picture books about the subject matter. In its absence, I was inspired to create Pigeonhole Books, which is a gentle resource to deal with life’s challenges. It was a way for me to communicate with my daughter and show her that life continues despite initial difficulties.

I have a great desire to preach positive messages and the importance of love and family to young children. Therefore, Pigeonhole Books is a project very close to my heart. Apart from the topic of divorce, Pigeonhole Books also deals with same-sex, blended and multiracial families.
 

Did you do the illustrations for the book? What goals did you want to accomplish with the illustrations?
I commissioned illustrator Paula Bossio for A Brand New Day. I was very open to how she would interpret the book and I didn’t want to restrict her style by giving too many boundaries to work with.  Paula has an incredible knack for turning my words into beautiful illustrations. For this book, I hardly even made any changes. It was perfect from the start to the end!

Ultimately, I wanted the illustrations to be lovely and beautiful, understated and not boisterous and most importantly to convey a positive outlook.
 

In addition to being an author, you’re a parent. How has your daughter responded to A Brand New Day?
When I first introduced the book to her, I didn’t tell her I had written it, let alone written it for her. By the time the book had been published, she had already gone through a year of co-parenting.

This is the second book I had done so upon finishing, she had an inkling I had written it and she asked me if it was about her. She laughed at all the right spots, pointed to scenarios which she could relate to and instantly asked me to read it again. A year down the track, she still requests that we read it together, except, now she reads it to me.
 

Are there any children’s book authors who have influenced your writing style?
I read a lot of books when I was a child, mainly all the classics. No one author influenced my style but they all in their own way showed me that I am only limited by my imagination. My style is my own and my writing reflects my message and in the tone I wish to convey it in.
 

Can you tell us a bit about the creative process of creating A Brand New Day, from the initial idea to the finished book?
I wish I had a great story to tell about the process or a sudden epiphany I had which led me to write A Brand New Day. Truth be told, I had a bad day with my daughter’s father. I ended the day completely dejected, tired and just plain miserable. I was ever so worried about my daughter and how we had changed her life forever.

I turned on the computer, opened a blank word document and just started typing. Two things startled me when I finished it in a matter for 30 minutes. There was an actual story, from start to finish, not just random words on a paper and also that I had written it in rhyme! Within the next 2 weeks, I had written another 4 manuscripts. Of course, since the first draft, I have edited the manuscript a million times.
 

What do you have in mind for your next project?
I am in the midst of having my next book illustrated. It is entitled Wishful Wedding and is the first book in the Pocketful of Pride series. This collection features stories about children from families with same-sex parents and marriage equality. 

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
This book is not simply a children’s picture book to be enjoyed by all. It is a divorce resource. It is designed to help children and families alike. It is also about publishing diverse books. We don’t have enough of those!

Banana rhymes with my daughter’s name and is her adorable little nickname. Divorce is such a grown up, ugly, real word. To be honest, split isn’t much better but coupled with banana, it made for a cute series title! 

Relevant Links

Where To Purchase A Brand New Day
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

Social Media
Goodreads
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter

Book Website
http://pigeonholebooks.com/

Liesl Johnson, Private Tutor and Website Founder

Liesl Johnson is a self-employed private tutor as well as the founder of a word-a-day vocabulary email subscription, called Make Your Point.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
As a private tutor, I teach reading and writing to students one-on-one in their homes, and I love it! I’m always hauling in piles of books to recommend to kids and teens and helping them find topics that excite them to write about. Overall, my goal is to help each student I work with become an accurate, fast reader and a fluent, expert writer.  My favorite thing to teach is vocabulary, because you can always play games to review the words, and kids and teens are so proud of themselves when they use their new words.

Describe your vocabulary email subscription, Make Your Point, for readers unfamiliar with it.
Make Your Point is a fairly new project: it launched on January 1st of this year. It’s a free, daily email that goes out to anyone who wants it, and each email teaches you a useful, sophisticated word. The readers so far have told me that it takes about five minutes to work through each issue, and they’re happy with how I make the definitions really easy to understand.

Who is your target audience?
That’s interesting, actually! The target audience is practically everybody in the English-speaking world. My youngest reader is less than five years old. She’s highly precocious and is homeschooled by her mom. There are lots of ambitious, college-bound students who use Make Your Point to study. But I think most of the subscribers are just regular adults who care about being precise and colorful in their word choice, and they like to be reminded of nifty words that they knew before but have forgotten about. The oldest subscriber I know personally is a poet in her sixties who has sworn to never stop learning new things.

What inspired you to start a daily vocabulary email subscription?
Thank you for asking this! Ha ha. This is really important to me. Okay, two reasons: first, there are already several other word-a-day email services available, but I wanted to improve on them.  As a vocabulary teacher, I’m kinda critical of them. They tend to focus on really random words that you won’t be able to use in daily conversation—words like “perfervid” and “livery”—and they all just give some quick information about the word without actually teaching it to you. I felt like I could create a word-a-day email that would offer both practicality and research-based instruction. (My undergraduate degree is in English education, and my master’s is in educational psychology.) So basically, Make Your Point was created to help kids and adults focus on useful words and learn them well. 

And then the other reason I was inspired to create Make Your Point is that I love, love, love teaching vocabulary and I’m nerdy enough to want to gather up all the words worthy of being learned and share them with anybody who’s interested. The format and content of each issue are the result of about ten years of experience in teaching vocabulary.

So, what information do you include in your daily vocabulary emails besides just the word and definition?
So there’s that, of course, and the definition is always phrased in really plain language (as opposed to being reported straight from the dictionary.) Then you have:

•    The part of speech, with an explanation of how that helps us put the word into a phrase

•    Related forms (like “jerry-build,” “jerry-building,” and “jerry-builder”)

•    How to use it: the right phrases and sentence patterns

•    Two real-life, true, contextual examples

•    A prompt for you to explain the meaning in your own words without saying certain key words from the definition. (It forces you to think about the meaning of the word instead of just memorizing the definition!)

•    A template for making your own sentence with the word to describe something from your life, along with another example sentence in that template

•    A quick word game and a quote to ponder. These distract you for a moment so that when you try the upcoming review questions, you’ve temporarily forgotten about the word’s definition, and you have to call it to mind on your own. That strengthens your ability to remember the word.

•    Two review questions that get you thinking about the word

•    Answers to those questions

In addition to reading the daily vocabulary emails, do you have any other suggestions for people looking to expand their vocabulary?
Sure! Read, read, read. Read novels that take place in the 1800s when people did nothing but sit around trying to be witty. Read blogs and magazines about topics you know nothing about. Read the editorials and the reviews in the paper, because when those writers get mad, they spit out incredible words. And turn on the English subtitles every time you watch TV or Netflix and read what you’ve been missing.

Were you always interested in new words or is it something that developed through your education?
Always! One of my sharpest memories from elementary school was when I used the word “tangible” in class and my teacher, Mr. Cleek, let me share with the other kids what it meant. OMG, I was so happy. And to the other girls at my summer camp, I was that weird one who went everywhere with a copy of Kaplan’s Word Power, commented on people’s “exorbitant” canoeing skills.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Anyone who wants to get the vocabulary emails can sign up at www.HiloTutor.com/myp.html. And anyone who wants to nerd it up and chat about their favorite words can email me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Thanks so much!Relevant Links

www.HiloTutor.com/myp