January Podcasts Bring Diverse Subjects to Start the New Year

Writers in the Sky January Podcasts to Feature New Works of Fiction, a Guide for Writers, and a Memoir of Spiritual Growth

Nashville, TN, December 24, 2009—The Writers in the Sky podcast will begin the New Year with an exciting month of interviews that offers a great variety of program topics. The year starts with a work of fiction that explores a difficult mother and daughter relationship, and the struggle to overcome a cycle of abuse. The following week brings a conversation with a couple who will share how they have expanded their consciousness through interactions with angels. The month continues when special guest Mignon Fogarty, also known as Grammar Girl, joins the podcast to discuss her work to help writers improve their craft. Next, the podcast will welcome a new author who will share a heartbreaking coming-of-age story. The month of January ends with a book that teaches children to maintain hope and a positive attitude in the face of challenges.

On New Year’s Day, WITS author’s assistant Sarah Moore will sit down with author K. L. Lewis to discuss her new release Kendra’s Pearl. This novel follows the childhood of Kendra Haywood, who loses her dad to a motorcycle accident at a young age and then lives as the focus of her mother’s abuse and resentment. During the interview, Ms. Lewis will discuss why she decided to focus on such an emotional topic, the message she hopes readers will take away from Kendra’s Pearl, and why she believes emotional abuse by mothers is so prevalent. Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Kendra’s Pearl.

Yvonne Perry will interview Rich and Denise Tuminello on January 8 about their new book, Talking with Angels. This book is part spiritual memoir and part handbook for those who are looking to expand their own consciousness. Talking with Angels details Rich’s introduction to, and subsequent enrichment through, The Monroe Institute in Virginia. The second half of the book reads much like a diary and both Rich and Denise share their experiences with angels and other spirits. The husband and wife writing team will be discussing how the techniques they practice lead to spiritual enlightenment, why they were compelled to share their story, and what the listeners can do to begin their own journey. To purchase Talking with Angels, please visit the Amazon website.

The podcast series continues on January 15 when Yvonne Perry will welcome our very special guest, Mignon Fogarty, to the program. Many listeners will recognize Ms. Fogarty as Grammar Girl, as her popular website has helped a countless number of authors through the writing and editing process. Ms. Fogarty will be discussing her book, Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Better Writing, as well as the work she does on her website. She will share some of the most common mistakes that writers make with their grammar and how listeners can use the resources she provides to improve their own work. Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Better Writing can be purchased by visiting the Amazon website.

On January 22, special contributor Amanda McCurley will interview R. A. Riekki, author of the novel U.P. The book, which takes place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, tells the coming-of-age story of four teenage boys. Each young man offers his own narrative to a world that is often violent and heartbreaking. The author will discuss any personal connections to the area of the country that is the focus of the book, why the teenage characters were the chosen demographic, and what readers should take away from the novel. To purchase U.P., please visit the Amazon website.

The final podcast of the month will be on January 29 and will feature a discussion between Yvonne Perry and author Barbara Techel. They will be discussing Barbara Techel's second book: Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby's House. In this children’s story, readers get to know the true story of a dachshund that becomes paralyzed after a spinal injury. Frankie receives a customized wheelchair and shares a positive attitude that will give hope to anyone who is facing challenges. Barbara Techel will be discussing the real Frankie who served as the inspiration for her book, the series of stories in which Frankie is featured, and what impact she hopes Frankie’s story will have on her young readers. Please visit the Amazon website to purchase any of the books in the Frankie the Walk ‘n’ Roll Dog series.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way that we are starting a new year of podcasts,” shares Yvonne Perry, owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services, which produces the podcast. “The variety of guests is a great representation of the variety of writers with whom we get to work every day.”

About Writers in the Sky: Writers in the Sky blog, podcast, and newsletter is a three-fold production filled with information about writing, publishing, and book publicity created by Yvonne Perry as part of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (http://writersinthesky.com/).

Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Go to http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com/. On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.

Start the New Year with Podcast Featuring Author K. L. Lewis

Please plan to make the WITS podcast interview series part of your New Year's Day as we welcome author K. L. Lewis. She will be discussing her new release Kendra's Pearl. This book tells the story of young Kendra Haywood and her mother Pearl. Kendra loses her father to a motorcycle accident before she starts kindergarten and, for the remainder of her childhood, becomes the recipient of her mother's rage and resentment. Along the way, the readers meet the extended members of Kendra's family, who try to their best to help despite their own personal flaws.

Kendra's Pearl is a novel that exposes the reality of emotional abuse that all too often occurs between mothers and daughters and the efforts to break that destructive cycle.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Kendra's Pearl.

You can read more about K. L. Lewis and her work at her blog.

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: Kendra’s Pearl
Author: K. L. Lewis
ISBN: 978-0-595-53513-2
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre and Target Market: fiction; family relationships; emotional abuse
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 159

Reviewed by: Sarah Moore

For me, it is easy to enjoy a piece of literature if the story is well-written and the characters are believable. I have had a passion for reading ever since I was old enough to hold a book, so I enjoy the opportunity to get lost in the written word. However, most of these books lose my attention soon after I finish reading the last page. It was a great read and I will recommend the author to others, but I quickly move onto the next selection that interests me at the library or local bookstore. There are instances, though, in which the writing and the emotions of a novel are so powerful that they resonate with me long after I close the cover and place the book back on my shelf. Such is the case with the new release Kendra’s Pearl by author K. L. Lewis.

Kendra’s Pearl, the first work of fiction for Lewis, focuses on the life of a young girl who finds herself a primary target of her mother’s emotional and physical abuse. This tragic cycle begins when Kendra is only a preschooler and her father is killed in a motorcycle accident, and worsens as her mother enters relationships that are destructive and result in more children towards whom she throws her resentment. The novel follows Kendra through her entire childhood and into her independence as an adult, through which the readers will discover if she develops the strength and the life skills to create a life better than the one her mother had known.

K. L. Lewis uses language to create vivid, emotional scenes for her readers. There were multiple instances in which I actually felt a physical reaction to the rage and abuse that Kendra’s mother, Pearl, heaped upon her beautiful, young daughter. The cast of characters who create Kendra’s extended family try their best to offer support to Kendra and her siblings, but also struggle with their own dysfunctions and addictions that are revealed throughout the book. Lewis really captures the sense of chaos that dominates Kendra’s life. From her time as a young child and through the adolescent years during which every girl needs a sense of confidence and safety, Kendra rarely had a safe place to fall.

Whether or not the readers of Kendra’s Pearl grew up in a home with an abusive parent, I imagine that many of them will be able to relate to the book in some way. I know that I certainly have experience with being treated poorly by a person from whom I only desired love and attention, and that made Kendra’s story personal for me. K. L. Lewis’ writing is raw and brutal in its depiction of Kendra Haywood and her family, making it obvious that the author wanted to evoke a strong reaction from her readers. There is no sugarcoating within the pages of Kendra’s Pearl, and the result is both disturbing and captivating.

It did not take many pages of Kendra’s Pearl for me to become a fan of K. L. Lewis’ writing. She made me care about the characters in her novel, each of whom was skillfully developed to be a multidimensional personality. There were no “good” or “bad” people in Kendra’s Pearl, because their problems are much too complex for these simple descriptions. I was able to find reasons to criticize, as well as sympathize with, each one. I certainly hope that Ms. Lewis plans to continue with more published books, as her writing provides an important message about the human condition and the complexity of family.

Take Your Writing to the Next Level

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Mailing Books the Green $ Way

This might seem like a break from the writing, publishing, and book marketing theme of this blog, but keep reading and in a moment you will see how it relates to authors who mail a lot of books and want to save money on padded mailers.

Whenever an author asks someone to review a book, it's considered a common courtesy to send the reviewer a copy of the book. While it's more green and cost-effective to simply email the reviewer a PDF of the book, many people want a printed copy. Well, I can't save you any money on that end, but here's a way to saving money on padded mailing envelopes—that is if you don't mind spending a little time and creative energy on a craft project.

I got this idea from the Earth Heros on Threadbangers.com when they featured a video "How to Fuse Plastic Bags into a Laptop Case." I made the laptop case, but decided I needed something with handles for carrying my laptop. Not being one to waste anything, I used the laptop case as a portfolio for the oversized original artwork from my illustrations used in The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children.

Well, that led me to my next multi-purpose idea. Why not fuse plastic bags to make mailing envelopes for shipping my books? I had plenty of bags from the times that I forgot to take my canvas totes in the store with me, and those padded mailers are about a dollar each! Cha-ching! *light bulb on, money saving mode activated* I even used food packaging plastic. And, there's a used padded envelope that I had received when someone sent a book to me.

I get a lot of strange looks at the post office, and "duh" comments like, "Hey, that looks like a Target bag!" (Here's your sign from Bill Ingvall), but I think they turned out great.

What do you think?

Author Mike Thompson Joins the Podcast Today

Merry Christmas to all of our podcast listeners! Today, new author Mike Thompson joins us for a special holiday edition of the WITS podcast to discuss his new book Blood Betrayal. This thrilling work of fiction details the story of two brothers, Dimitri and Wolf Magnussen, and begins with the murder of Dimitri's son during a hunting trip. What unfolds as the book develops is a murder spree that will prove to be much more complicated in its intentions than first suspected. There are twists to the plot that will keep the reader in suspense until the very last page.

During the interview, Mike Thompson will discuss how his own experiences in the military influenced the development of his characters and the inclusion of PTSD into the plot of Blood Betrayal, why he decided to write this book, and is in store next for what is to be a series of Wolf Magnussen books.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

You may purchase Blood Betrayal by visiting the Amazon website.

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: Blood Betrayal
Author: Mike Thompson
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4802-9
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: suspense; fiction
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 277
Reviewed by: Sarah Moore


There are certain elements that, for me, create an especially compelling piece of dramatic fiction. If the book features episodes of violence or fear that are just as powerful for their psychological effect as they are for the acts themselves, I’m going to be drawn to the story. I have a great appreciation for writing that really explores what is occurring in a person’s mind, no matter how twisted. When this complicated sense of terror is found within the context of family relationships, the plot becomes even more captivating. First-time author Mike Thompson captures both of these features with his gripping new release Blood Betrayal.

Blood Betrayal details the story of Dimitri Magnussen, a veteran who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following seven years in the Special Forces, and the murder spree that he embarks upon while on a family hunting trip with his brother and son. As the story unfolds through the eyes of his brother Wolf, the progression of Dimitri’s violent rage and his terrifying crimes makes him into a character with seemingly no conscience or hesitation to spill blood. However, revelations that are left unknown to the reader until the closing chapters of the book will complicate the situation and, at least for this reader, create an uncomfortable sense of ambiguity.

Mike Thompson does a wonderful job of using language to create a dark and suspenseful environment. As I turned each page of Blood Betrayal, I began to sense each dark corner and mysterious noise that existed in the comfort of my home. Even when the mood is a frightening one, I love getting lost in a book that transplants me into every emotion and experience in the story. From the terror that Wolf feels when he does not know who or what is stalking him in the mountains to the climatic moments during which Dimitri becomes the hunted and shocking family secrets are revealed, Thompson makes sure that every word contributes to the growing suspense.

I believe the impact of Blood Betrayal was multiplied for me by the current events that we see on the news every evening. The record number of PTSD cases stemming from the military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq has made many Americans more aware of this frightening reality. It is apparent that Thompson uses his own experience as a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and as a Close Quarters Combat instructor to develop the characters in this book and that makes their personalities even more riveting. While the character of Dimitri Magnussen is certainly an extreme case, I know that shedding light on this emotional topic will continue to be important for years to come.

With Blood Betrayal, Mike Thompson has crafted a novel that will attract fans of suspense and those who appreciate the successful efforts of the author to bring his own expertise into a fictional format. The plot is unique and undoubtedly will have the readers guessing until the very last page, with a conclusion that warranted an audible gasp from me as I sat alone in my living room. On the back cover of his book, Thompson shares that Blood Betrayal is just the first release in the Wolf Magnussen series and I look forward to discovering what Thompson has in store for us next.

Art Showcase Offers Children Unique Opportunity to Share Lessons Learned

Author Yvonne Perry announces an online art and writing showcase and asks children to write a story or create an art piece to showcase life lessons they have learned.

Nashville, TN—After a successful 30-day Internet tour in which she visited more than 25 blogs to share her new book, Yvonne Perry has opened the lines of communication between parents and children with a online community project. Children ages 3 through 9 are encouraged to write their own story or create artwork that demonstrates a lesson they have learned by reading The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children (ISBN: 9780982572207). Every participant will get a free copy of the e-book comprised of the art and stories created by the children.

Inspired by adventures Yvonne has enjoyed with her first-born grandson named Sidney, each story in The Sid Series focuses on skills such as overcoming fear, being environmentally conscious, helping others, being true to one’s self, and following inner guidance. There’s even a story about recycling that alludes toward organ donation. This collection of body-mind-spirit stories highlights unique lessons about love, acceptance, self-worth, caring for the body, diversity, facing fears, dealing with change, experiencing the death of a pet, using mystical gifts today’s children exhibit.

To participate you must be familiar with the lessons taught in The Sid Series, but if a family is financially unable to purchase a copy of the book, you may let the author know which lesson your child wants to illustrate or write about, and she will send you a PDF of that story. For a list of stories and lessons contained in The Sid Series, see http://thesidseries.com/.

“Spending time with my grandchildren has provided me with an opportunity to talk about some pretty adult topics—some that many parents and teachers are hesitant to discuss with children,” says Yvonne Perry, the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. “By sharing the stories in The Sid Series through this art showcase, I hope to reinforce and enhance these and other life lessons, and help open lines of communication between children and adults.”

Children may share a story by drawing, painting, sketching, writing, or speaking about how they learned or experienced a Sid lesson. Parents are asked to assist the child with typing, scanning, and digitally uploading their child’s story or artwork . The child may color a picture directly from The Sid Series Coloring Book or record himself reading from the book by calling (214) 615-6505 ext 1210. Yvonne believes this is a great way to learn what’s on your child’s mind and offer supportive answers for their earnest questions. Entries may be sent between December 26, 2009 and January 25, 2010 by using the guidelines at http://writersinthesky.com/art-showcase.html

“The art showcase is NOT a contest,” says Perry. “I don't believe children should be judged or rejected for their heart-felt creativity. Instead, every effort will be recognized and everyone's work will be included on The Sid Series blog (http://thesidseries.blogspot.com/) and in an e-book that can be given away to family and friends.”

A grandmother of ten, Yvonne holds a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics from American Institute of Holistic Theology. She is a freelance writer who specializes in articles and books that guide people on a spiritual path. She is also the publisher and editor at Write On! Publishing and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. Yvonne and her team assist people with writing and editing projects, as well as media releases. She has also ghostwritten and edited more than forty books.

###

Contact

Yvonne Perry
(615) 415-9861
http://writersinthesky.com/contact.php

What Incentives Can I Offer My Readers?

Someone posed a question to me on Suzanne Lieurance’s Web site (http://workingwriterscoach.com/) and asked, “Where to begin and more importantly if my book is fiction; what possible service or incentives can I offer my ''opt in'' readers to keep them coming back?”


To which I answered:

Without knowing what your book is about, it’s hard to say what opt-in gift (I’m assuming you are referring to a freebie) is a good fit for your readers. However, a free first chapter is a good complimentary gift for any type of book. It makes sense that you are giving this incentive to get new subscribers to your blog or newsletter.. Most authors use auto-responders to send freebies to new subscribers, but since you will have the subscriber’s email address you could follow up with a personal note thanking them for subscribing. This works best if you only have a few new subscribers each week—otherwise it could become very time consuming. Relationships with target readers is what sells books these days.

Ideas for your opt-in gift: If your fiction is about a damsel in distress in the Renaissance period, you could offer an e-book with photos (check for copyright/permission) of castles/landscapes of the area in which your story is set. Or, you could offer a free e-book with some historical background on the area. Were there dragons in your fantasy story? Write an e-book about dragons. Be sure to tie in your book to the article/e-book/report. For example, was a character in your book involved in an abusive relationship? Write a report with stats and list support groups or sites that talk about domestic violence.

When you say you want to “keep them coming back,” do you mean to your blog? If so, post material about the historical places and real-life characters or other themes mentioned in your book. Offer a link to purchase the book—it doesn’t have to be on each post, but have it in a prominent place on the site. Here are two author blogs that are tying their books to current events: http://actasifblog.com/ and http://author-jamesross.blogspot.com/.

I hope the person who posted the question will try some new things and let us know how it works out.

Yvonne Perry
Freelance Writer, Editor, Author, and Owner,
Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (WITS)
615-415-9861
Web site: writersinthesky.com
Blog: www.writersintheskyblog.com
Follow WITS on Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersinthesky

Talent Showcase for Children

I am looking for original work by children that demonstrates a lesson he or she learned by reading The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children.This may be an audio of the child reading one of the stories in the series; a drawing, watercolor, or digital art piece; or an original story that compares a lesson the child has learned with a lesson inspired by Sid's story.

The Sid Series is a collection of body-mind-spirit stories that focus on life skills such as overcoming fear, helping others, being true to one’s self, following inner guidance, caring for the body, having self-worth, appreciating diversity, dealing with change, accepting pet death, being environmentally conscious, and using spiritual gifts.

Spending time with my grandson has opened communication about some pretty “adult” topics that many parents and teachers are hesitant to discuss with children. By sharing the stories in The Sid Series and through this art showcase, I hope to reinforce and enhance these and other life lessons.

The art showcase is NOT a contest. I don't believe children should be judged or rejected for their heart-felt creativity. Instead, every effort will be recognized and everyone's work will be included in an e-book that can be given away to anyone who wants it. Every participant will get a free copy of the e-book we create as an artistic community. I will also post here on this blog every story and piece of art turned in.

First, you have to be familiar with the lessons taught in The Sid Series. PDFs of individual stories are available for $3 each at http://TheSidSeries.com.The printed book is available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble,

Here's a list of Sid lessons:

• Sid’s Fairy ~ Learning about Inner Guidance teaches children to meditate and sense the small voice of guidance inside.
• A Stormy Adventure ~ Facing the Fear of Storms. How have you overcome your fear of storms or the fear of something else?
• The Pirate’s Treasure ~ Finding Treasure Within. What is the greatest treasure and where is it found? How did you find it?
• You Can Be! ~ Understanding Destiny and Making Choices. What would you like to be when you grow up?
• Ask Your Body ~ Understanding the Body’s Needs. Do you know what your body needs to be healthy? How are you helping meet your body’s needs?
• A Ghost in My Closet ~ Communicating with Angels. Have you ever seen or heard a ghost or angel? What did he or she say or do? Do you hear your inner guidance?
• A Powerful Potion ~ The Power of Imagination. Do you believe in magic? Have you ever witnessed a miracle?
• My Friend’s Skin ~ Accepting and Appreciating Diversity. Do you have friends of a race different than your own? What do you like best about that person? What have you done to show love to someone who is not like you?
• Puppy Love ~ Dealing with the Death of a Pet. Has a pet or someone you love died? What does it mean to die? Tell about your experience.
• Old Things New ~ Learning About Recycling. Do you recycle? What are you doing to keep the earth clean and safe?
• Always Be Honest ~ Learning to Tell the Truth. Have you ever told a lie? How did it make you feel? How did you resolve the situation?
• Making Room for Brother ~ Coping with Family Changes. Has your family gone through a big change? Perhaps a new person came into your life, or maybe someone moved out of your home. Tell or draw what happened.

Second, have your child share a story by drawing, painting, sketching, or writing about how he or she learned or experienced a Sid lesson. Adults are welcome to help the child type his or her own story, but please don’t do the artwork for them. I want the work to be an expression of the child’s true self and for parents to expand communication with their children.

Third, you will be asked to sign a release that allows me to use your child's entry to create an e-book and post it on my blog.

Fourth, since an e-book is an electronic book, you will need to send me your child's writing as a Word document. You will need a scanner to convert your child's art into a jpg that can be emailed. A link or an MP3 file of the audio may be sent.

This showcase is a great way to learn what’s on your child’s mind and offer supportive answers for their questions. I hope you will enjoy sharing with us the lessons your kids teach you.

Kids, start working on your art, audio, or writing now. You may send it to me between December 26, 2009 and January 25, 2010. I plan to have the e-book ready February 5 so you can give it as a Valentine’s gift!

An Interview With a Teenaged Book Illustrator

When I decided to publish a print copy of the twelve e-books in The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Story for Children, I still had a lot of work left to do on the illustrations. There were at least six books with no illustrations at all.

I love kids of all ages and wanted to encourage some young person in their artist abilities. I also had a small budget. Putting the two together, I sent out a few tweets on Twitter asking for referrals of high school or college-aged illustrators. I had an overwhelming response and ended up with about ten people from which to choose. Most were adults, who were asking prices that were out of my reach. There was one individual who stood out, 15-year-old Hayley John.

After getting approval from her parents to allow her to work for me, we got started while she was out of school during the summer. Not only was she fast in completing the projects, she was amazingly talented. She is available in her spare time to do illustrations for authors, so I decided to interview her as part of my blog tour.

YVONNE: When did you first realize you had artistic talent?
HAYLEY: I started to notice and use my artistic talent mainly in third and fourth grade. In junior high I really started to love art and to develop new skills in that area.

Tell me about some of the first art you created.
Well, the very first pictures I drew were of horses. I loved to draw horses but because I was young they looked more like bananas with a head, tail, and four legs. one of the first real pieces of art I created in junior high. One day I decided to try to draw a dog that I saw in a children book. I did it in pencil and it turned out nice and I ended up giving it to my mom for mother's day. (I attached a photo of this drawing)

How old were you when others started noticing you had such talent?
When I was 10 or 11 (fifth and sixth grade)

Have you taken art classes?
I took one last year (my freshman year) and two in junior high.

You worked with colored pencil, water color, and digital formats on The Sid Series. What is your favorite medium to work with?
I have always liked pencil but because of the lack of color and fun you can put into pencil I like digital and water colors. I have to say that digital is by far my favorite for a lot of reasons. First, there is no mess at all. Second, If I mess up no one has to know because it erases completely away. Third, because with digital I am able to fill a space completely with color without much effort.

What are you future hopes or plans after high school?
Do you plan to incorporate art into your career? I plan to attend a local collage for a few years before attending Brigham Young University, my dream collage. I still have no plans for a future occupation. No, I don't think I want to incorporate art into my future career. This may sound odd because I do love art, but in my opinion if art becomes work it is no longer play. I want this to be kept as a fun hobby or a resource to earn a little extra money when needed.

Thank you, Hayley, for sharing with my blog visitors and for doing such a fine job on the illustrations for my book.

You may read more about the The Sid Series and see more of Hayley's artwork at TheSidSeries.com

How to Make 2010 the Best Year You've Ever Had

Today's podcast guest will show you how to discover the real you, change your career, or find a soul mate this coming year!

Through her years of working with clients, Allison Maslan has come to understand how and why human beings create their own personal limits in every aspect of their lives: relationships, personal joy, career, health, business, prosperity and spirituality.

Allison is the originator, master personal coach and president of the Blast Off! Life, Career and Business Success System. She is a highly acclaimed author, international motivational and inspirational speaker, the inventor and developer for Blastation—an interactive life coaching software.

She developed the Blast Off! System to help people learn to identify and release self-imposed road blocks. Her Blast Off! Program offers a step-by-step, solution-oriented road map and life fitness plan to living abundant, richer and freer lives.

Listen to the interview with Allison Maslan by clicking on the small arrow below. . .

Allison's book, Blast Off!The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams into Reality will inspire you to envision your biggest dreams and fondest desires—your big picture visions—and wholeheartedly go after them. Blast Off! provides the guidance and structure you need to stay on course and rapidly reach your intermediate goals. This book will give you the encouragement and skills necessary to assist you in designing the necessary changes while eliminating any obstructions. You'll find step-by-step strategies to achieve your ultimate life visions.

Sign up for a reminder about Allison's book launch and tell us why you or someone you know should win a complete coaching package worth $5,000.

Ranking and Rating Book Reviews on Amazon

Amazon.com ranks its book reviewers based on the opinions of their customers. Each time someone indicates that a customer review was helpful or not, they use that vote, along with votes from other customers, to determine how helpful a review is.

A reviewer's rank is determined by the overall helpfulness of all their reviews, factoring in the number of reviews they have written. It helps your book and those who have reviewed your book when you give a rating regarding how helpful the review is to you.

Let's go to Amazon and start ranking and rating each other's book reviews. Here is a link to one of my books to get you started. That wasy you don't have to search all over Amazon to learn what I'm referring to: http://tinyurl.com/MTMTEbook.

How to Skype an Author

I have enjoyed much time in the classroom both as a teacher and a student, but the most fun times are when I’m able to visit a class as an author. I have written twelve stories and compiled them into a book titled The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children. I’m hoping for opportunities to visit more classroom and share my stories with kindergarten through 2nd grade students; and now I’ve found a way to do just that without even leaving my home. Love it!

Thanks to Skype an Author Network, I can sit in front of my computer with my video camera and speak live to boys and girls anywhere on earth! All the teacher needs is a computer that has Skype’s free software that can be downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/yknoe4e . If you are an author who wants to do a virtual classroom visit, go ahead and sign up on Skype an Author. It’s free and you could actually be paid for speaking to groups via Skype. Librarians can fine author resources to help kids get into reading books. Publishers who are looking for inexpensive ways to help their authors of K-12 books find classroom engagements will love this tool. Isn’t technology wonderful?

If the topic of my book interests you and you would like to learn more about having me visit your classroom, check out http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/page/Yvonne+Perry.

Inspired by adventures I’ve had with my first-born grandson named Sidney, each story in The Sid Series (ISBN: 9780982572207) focuses on skills such as overcoming fear, being environmentally conscious, helping others, being true to one’s self, and following inner guidance. This collection of body-mind-spirit stories highlights unique lessons about love, acceptance, self-worth, caring for the body, diversity, facing fears, dealing with change, experiencing the death of a pet, using spiritual gifts, and psychic experiences today’s children exhibit. There’s even a book about recycling that alludes toward organ donation.

The titles of the stories in The Sid Series are as follows:

Sid’s Fairy ~ Learning about Inner Guidance


A Stormy Adventure ~ Facing the Fear of Storms


The Pirate’s Treasure ~ Finding Treasure Within


You Can Be! ~ Understanding Destiny and Making Choices


Ask Your Body ~ Understanding the Body’s Needs


A Ghost in My Closet ~ Communicating with Angels


A Powerful Potion ~ The Power of Imagination


My Friend’s Skin ~ Accepting and Appreciating Diversity


Puppy Love ~ Dealing with the Death of a Pet


Old Things New ~ Learning About Recycling


Always Be Honest ~ Learning to Tell the Truth


Making Room for Brother ~ Coping with Family Changes

If you would like to read inside my book, please visit http://thesidseries.com/

~~~~~~~~~

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and editor, award-winning Amazon.com bestselling author, podcast host, blogger extraordinaire, newsletter publisher, Internet marketing guru, and an outstanding keynote speaker. She is a graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics.

Blast Off with Allison Maslan and Lynn Serafinn

Allison Maslan will be my guest this Friday December 18, but I thought you might want to hear her in advance since my friend, Lynn Serafinn, is taking a different aspect of Allison's program during her interview.

On December 16, author and transformation Coach Lynn Serafinn hosts author, coach, and registered homeopath Allison Maslan. Allison is the author of the book Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams into Reality, which is coming to Amazon on January 19, 2010.

Allison will be sharing her story of how she manifested her own “dream life”, including creating several highly successful businesses, filling her life with fun and magical adventure, and finding her soul mate when she was in her 40s. As a coach, Allison was so inspired with her own success that she started sharing her formula for happiness with her clients, and found that the system could easily be learned by anyone. This eventually inspired her to write her book Blast Off! in which she gives a step-by-step breakdown of the practical steps to creating your dream life.

On Lynn’s show, Allison will share the Blast Off! formula with us, so you can start knocking down the barriers between you and all the good stuff in life, and let 2010 be the year when you make the changes in your life that you have been dreaming about for a lifetime.

Allison will also be telling you how you can receive over 20 beautiful mind-body-spirit gifts when you buy the book during its exciting launch in January, AND find out how you can get a free preview of her innovative life manifestation software program “Blastation.”

AND… Lynn will also be playing the final holiday instalment in her series of live readings from her book “The Garden of the Soul: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self.” This week’s chapter is “Lessons from the Lily: the Principle of Being.” She’ll also be telling you how you can receive over 1 hour in free MP3 recordings from the upcoming audio book.

Listeners can listen LIVE or "on demand" any time after broadcast at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lynn-serafinn/2009/12/16/ep46-blast-off-to-the-life-of-your-dreams-in-2010

Listener questions: call at 646-727-3449 during broadcast (US number). An online chat room is available during the show for people to ask questions/make comments.

The Sid Series Blog Tour Stops

This is the last week of my blog tour for The Sid Series. Here is a list of the stops for this week. Please feel free to visit these blogs and post a comment or ask questions. I'll be by each stop to respond.

Next week I will have a special surprise for all the people in our network who have children or grandchildren in their lives. I'm starting an art showcase that I think you will really enjoy. More details on December 21!

• Sunday, December 13 More Than Meets the Eye (www.deathdyingafterlife.com) will feature an article, “Out of the Mouths of Babies! Channeling 101” about how Yvonne’s grandson at age three channeled an import message from his higher self.
  
• Monday, December 14 Lillian Brummet will host Yvonne Perry as she reads “Sid’s Fairy ~ Learning About Inner Guidance.” http://www.blogtalkradio.com/authorsread
  
• Tuesday, December 15 In a radio interview, Yvonne will discuss why The Sid Series was written for her grandson, Sidney. Hot Books - Great Authors is hosted by Valerie Connelly, publisher at Nightengale Press.
• On Tuesday, December 16, More Than Meets the Eye (www.deathdyingafterlife.com) will feature a flip book version of "Puppy Love ~ Dealing with the Death of a Pet," which is one of the twelve stories in The Sid Series.
  
• Wednesday, December 17 Heart Song's Hymnal will post a book review for The Sid Series at http://heartsongshymnal.blogspot.com
• Thursday, December 18. This very blog you are on now will feature a question and answer interview with Hayley John, the 15-year-old student who illustrated many of the stories and the cover for The Sid Series.
  
• Saturday, December 19 stop by Dennis Martin's blog, I Write Some, http://iwritesome.blogspot.com/and read “A Book for Kids (and Adults) Who Love Fairies” and listen to an audio of the author reading the story, “Sid’s Fairy ~ Learning About Inner Guidance.”
  

I'm giving away The Sid Series Coloring Book to everyone who purchases the printed book during my blog tour. Be sure to let me know you purchase it, and I'll send it right away.

You may purchase The Sid Series book on Amazon! http://tinyurl.com/AmazonSidSeries or learn more at http://TheSidSeries.com.

Career and Life Coach Allison Maslan on WITS Podcast

Do you need a personal and professional rebirth?

If so, you will not want to miss this week's podcast!

On Friday, December 18, Writers in the Sky Podcast welcomes Allison Maslan discusses her book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality. She and I will be discussing her new book and workbook, her book launch and bonus gifts, her contest, and goal-setting software for busy authors.

The message of the book, which comes out on Amazon on January 19, 2010 is for anyone wanting to create powerful changes in all aspects of their lives at any age. Blast Off! weaves together motivational stories, secret strategies and specific, easy-to-follow action steps to help you tap into your life purpose and manifest your goals and dreams from business to health to finding the love of your life.

I've been assisting Allison with her book launch and marketing campaign and would like to invite you to be part of the fun.I hope you will join me in celebrating Allison’s book by purchasing her book and collecting all the free goodies available during the launch.

Just put your name and email on her page at http://www.myblastoff.com/booklaunch/ and Allison will send you a “countdown reminder” so you make sure you don’t miss the launch date. That way you will be able to take advantage of all the great self-development and inspirational gifts AND enjoy Allison’s great new book.

On the show, Allison will also talk about her contest. The winner of the grand prize will receive a coaching package worth $5,000 to help someone make positive and drastic life changes!

Mark your calendars for this Friday, or subscribe to this blog to get a reminder.

Yvonne Perry
WITS Owner

Goal-setting software for busy authors

Allison Maslan's groundbreaking life-planning and goal-setting software called Blastation can help anyone--especially writers--stay organized.

She invented Blastation out of a need to find a great web-based goal setting software program to help her clients in their quest to make dramatic changes in their lives, help them stay on task with their goals, and ultimately aid in reaching their bigger dreams and visions.

She found that other goal-setting software programs on the market were boring and complicated.  Blastation is colorful, inspiring, and completely strategic in helping you reach your goals. It is fun, motivating, and easy to use with so many creative dimensions.

You can take the tour by clicking the banner below.

Spirit of the Season Catalog

Here's a note from my networking buddy, Carolyn Howard-Johnson. This looks like an interesting holiday site so I thought I'd pass it on. Feel free to share it with others.

The holidays are upon us. I’m excited to share this amazing holiday catalog with products you have never seen before. It’s called the Spirit of the Season Catalog—for your gift giving pleasure—but also as an example of an excellent approach at the kind of promotion that is effective for authors because it is helpful for others. So won't you please visit this transformational approach to gift giving. www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com.

For those of you who are tired of trinket-filled catalogs and are looking for special gifts that change people’s lives, the Spirit of the Season Catalog is perfect.

For the first time ever, this online catalog offers a shopping experience that is fast, fun and green. It features bestselling books, unusual and personally- empowering, self-enriching products and services in a varied collection from amazing authors, coaches, gurus and mentors.

You’ll find gifts in the Spirit of the Season Catalog in the following categories: art, inspirational, motivational, business opportunities, success & wealth building, health and energy healing, Law of Attraction workshops, intuitive healing, all genres of fiction and a variety of non-fiction to empowering products that will light anyone’s life and many more too numerous to mention.

Many sellers are even giving a portion of their earnings to charity helping others around the world like the women of an African village (who actually make the jewelry we are selling) and the children of St. Anthony’s Orphanage in Italy.

The brainchild of Denise Cassino and Dr. Anna Maria Prezio, the Spirit of the Season Catalog will be issued seasonally. The unique aspect of the catalog is that the founders take no profits but offer joint venture partners an opportunity to showcase a vast array of Internet based products and their amazing artistry often overlooked during the holiday shopping experience.

It’s the catalog that keeps on giving throughout the season(s). Please share it with your friends, family and contacts! You can do so by simply copying this letter, adjusting it to your needs and sending it to others.

I shared this opportunity with writers before and several Sharing with Writers subscribers are part of it. Thus, we can't go wrong when writers share with writers.

Happy Writing, Promoting and Editing, too. And Happy Holidays, too!
Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Children's Author Dawn Menge Returns to WITS Podcast Today

We are very excited to welcome back author Dawn Menge for her second visit to the Writers in the Sky podcast series. She is joining us today to discuss her new release Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains. As with her first book, Queen Vernita's Visitors, Dawn uses her work to teach children about the month of the year and the days of the week as her characters enjoy a variety of games and adventures. However, in this second book, Dawn also introduces the idea of environmental awareness. Queen Vernita and her friends explore a different location within the Blue Ice Mountains every month and learn fascinating details about the flora and fauna of the area.

During the interview, Dawn will be discussing why she decided to include an emphasis on the importance of nature in this second book, how the critical acclaim she received for her first release has helped with the promotion of Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains, and what's in store next for the Queen Vernita series. Listeners will even get to hear from a couple of the characters who are featured in the book as they read from their featured pages.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains.

Rewriting the Past for More Compelling Fiction

by Norman German

While researching my third novel, A Savage Wisdom, I discovered that in real life Toni Jo Henry was not a sympathetic character on which I could build a true crime novel. At that point I became interested in “rewinding” her life, recreating her as an ingénue deceived into high-class prostitution. A Savage Wisdom thus became a study in deception and an exploration of identity development.

Put to death in 1942 for the 1940 Valentine’s Day murder of a Houston businessman, Toni Jo Henry is still the only woman ever executed in Louisiana’s electric chair.

Toni Jo’s story has intrigued me since childhood, when I would read about her in special features in the Lake Charles American Press, which tantalized readers with reproductions of her leggy portrait as a coddled death-row inmate.

When I decided to “novelize” her life, my four-year research led me to the newspaper archive room, legal documents, and Toni Jo’s gravesite.

First, I read dozens of newspaper articles on the murder, capture, trial, and execution. To create the dense, “textured” world of a novel, I immersed myself in magazines and popular histories from World War I to 1963 (JFK’s assassination).

From antique stores, I bought ten copies of magazines from the period, including Life, Look, Collier’s, and Saturday Evening Post. I read every article and studied every ad in order to realistically recreate the clothing, slang, and pop-culture icons of the era.

Two indispensable histories were Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s and Since Yesterday: The 1930s in America, both by Frederick Lewis Allen. However, my most valuable source was written by a hobbyist historian. New Orleans in the Thirties, by Mary Lou Widmer, includes hundreds of photographs chronicling the interior décor, men’s and women’s clothing styles, cuisine, and social customs reproduced in the novel.

For the 1950s, I ordered legendary journalist David Halberstam’s The Fifties. From Time magazine’s special issue “Time Capsule: 1950, The Year in Review,” I became familiar with everything from automobile models and colors to whiskey brands.

The authoritative source for the trial was the Southern Reporter, a series containing summaries of regional court cases—dull reading, indeed, but it led me back to the newspaper accounts describing the various parties in the courtroom. For example, during Toni Jo’s three trials, members of the courtroom audience often made slitting motions across their throats.

For years, I had heard the rumor that Toni Jo’s grave was not marked by a headstone for fear of vandalism. I went on my scavenger hunt in the Orange Grove-Graceland Cemetery on Broad Street, thinking to walk in concentric squares until I found her tombstone or proved the rumor valid.

I discovered that the name of Louisiana’s most notorious murderess had been misspelled. Annie Beatrice McQuiston, carved as “Anna,” adopted the name “Toni Jo” as a prostitute and became Toni Jo Henry upon marrying Claude “Cowboy” Henry, himself a murderer on the lam.

Norman German is Professor of English at Southeastern Louisiana University, Fiction Editor for Louisiana Literature, and Winner of the Deep South Writers Contest for No Other World. Visit the author at www.asavagewisdom.com.

Children's Book Tour Continues

The tour for my latest book, The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children continues this week with the following stops:

Sunday, December 6 Yvonne’s Facebook and Twitter friend, Lisa J. Jackson, volunteered her blog, Lisa Haselton's Reviews & Interviews as the tour stop.

Monday, December 7 Liana Metal will host Yvonne on Art Stories with an article about how she worked with 15-year-old Hayley John to create the illustrations for The Sid Series. http://LianaStories.blogspot.com

Tuesday, December 8 Hal Manogue of Short Sleeves Insight will host Yvonne on with the posting of an article about children having remembered past lives. http://halmanogue.blogspot.com

On Wednesday, December 9 Chelle Cordero will host a “Woman in Charge” interview of Yvonne as an author and business entrepreneur. You don’t want to miss “Combining Authorship and Free-Lance Writing Business” on Chelle Cordero’s Promo Page http://cce613.xanga.com/.

Thursday, December 10 Sidney’s mother, Amanda McCurley, will host Yvonne on Fashionably Late http://fireofsorrow.blogspot.com/ by providing a book review and her thoughts about her son being the main character and inspiration for The Sid Series.

Friday, December 11 Mama Paro and her three kittens: Elina, Bibble, and Tuktuk, will write a book review for The Sid Series. You’ll get a child’s perspective of the book when you visit http://mymamaparo.wordpress.com/.

Saturday, December 12 Anita Revel has invited Yvonne to stop by Daily Blissings http://dailyblissings.blogspot.com/ and discuss why she is thankful for the learning process of self-publishing using Lightning Source.

The Sid Series is a collection of body-mind-spirit stories that focus on life skills such as overcoming fear, helping others, being true to one’s self, following inner guidance, caring for the body, having self-worth, appreciating diversity, dealing with change, accepting death, being environmentally conscious, and using spiritual gifts.

A virtual book tour is a great way to network since both parties get new visitors to their blogs as a result of a joint publicity efforts. If you want to read the articles where I've already visited or if you want to let others know about this tour schedule, go to http://tinyurl.com/SidTour.

Author Lewis Tagliaferre and the New Spiritual Path He Shares with Readers

Today we welcome Lewis Tagliaferre, author of the book Voices of Sedona: A Spiritual Path to Serenity and Contentment and his accompanying blog. These two pieces combine to form Lessons from Sedona, The Course in Theofatalism. He is sharing a discussion about his work with Sarah Moore, Author’s Assistant for Writers in the Sky.

SARAH: Welcome to Writers in the Sky. As I mentioned in the introduction, your work is produced in order to share with others the idea of Theofatalism™. Will you give us a brief overview of this belief system?

LEWIS: It is very simple, but yet complex enough to explain what people need to feel good inside no matter what happens outside. God is in control of all that happens in the cosmos, from the very small to the very large, and that certainly includes all the lives of all the people on earth, in addition to all of its other forms of life too. Hence, theofatalism. It comes with five principles of reality. Its symbol is the ancient Chartres Labyrinth, which illustrates there is only one way to walk the pathway of life, God’s way.

SARAH: You mention throughout your work that the information is taught to you through the spiritual teaching of Sedona M. Schnebly, the namesake of the resort town in Arizona who passed away more than fifty years ago. How did this teacher-student relationship begin?

LEWIS: I discovered Sedona on a side trip to the Grand Canyon during my business travel in 1987. It immediately attracted me and called me back again and again. When I saw the sculpture of Sedona herself in front of the library, there was a call to know her and her life better. That led me to the discovery of these principles from teachers through my creative imagination during subsequent visits that began as a personal journal and then became the book, Voices of Sedona.

SARAH: What is your response to those who may be skeptical of the idea of receiving your material from channeled spirits?

LEWIS: I personally do not have the education or background to support this work so I can only say it comes from a different source, a Higher Power. After all, one can assume that all creativity, be it music, art, poetry or whatever is more than the work of the artist. And the Church does support the notion of a communion of saints with its implications for continuing relationships after life. After all, those who pray to the saints do so with faith so I find no difficulty now in assuming the saints may contact us too. One of them may be Sedona.

SARAH: What initially prompted your study of this new path?

LEWIS: The untimely death of my wife through ten years of breast cancer in 1985 produced a shock that I could not anticipate. My traditional faith was not able to provide the support I needed to go on without her, so I entered therapy and that led to reading and to meditation and to journaling which produced the present work. It actually is the third work of a trilogy; the others involved recovery from loss and living the single's life in this ad-hoc culture.

SARAH: Your blog tackles many of the current events that are making headlines in the news. Is this writing meant to provide a theofatalistic perspective on relevant stories, or is there another purpose?

LEWIS: Much of the daily news seems to be reports of events that would only be described as insane, unless there is some other explanation. I hear a voice saying “tell them, tell them”...and what it wants to say is that nothing that happens is outside the will of God, nor can it be. The discussions in the essays all point to that conclusion from many different aspects and topics, including economics, psychology, politics, science, religion, history, and more.

SARAH: How do you hope people will use the material presented in your book and blog?

LEWIS: First, I hope they will start discussing it with others, maybe in family and local support groups. Most people are so busy making a living they have no time to prepare for the shocks of life that are sure to come, so this could be a powerful short cut to readiness. Second, I hope it will help remove the blindfold of complacency that could enable them to see reality as it really is, just as a child must let go of Santa Claus and move into maturity. The spiritual opportunity for growth is unlimited, but most people stop growing when the pain gets troubling. This work helps me to grow so it may also help others.

SARAH: How long did it take you to write the material for Voices of Sedona?

LEWIS: All my life. I suppose it is a natural result of theofatalism in my own life. It is the inevitable result of all that has come before. Sort of like putting together a jig saw puzzle without the picture on the box.

SARAH: How did you publish your book? Tell me about your publishing experience and what you learned from it.

LEWIS: I have done a lot of writing in my career, including magazine articles and trade business literature, so journaling was a natural aspect of therapy for me. The first book, Recovery from Loss was commercially published, but I self published Kisses aren’t Contracts as well as Voices of Sedona. I learned that unless somebody pays you for it, writing is a labor of self-expression that may not be discovered in one’s lifetime. Some of the greatest contributions were not valued until after death of the artist, and I am prepared for that.

SARAH: What kind of feedback are you receiving from people who have read your work?

LEWIS: Well, it has ranged from “you saved my life” to “I just cannot believe in that”...all in God’s will of course. I am comforted by St. Thomas a Kempis; “It is more profitable to leave everyone to his way of thinking than to give way to contentious discourses.” It takes special eyes to see God in everything, else the shock would be too great. But, for those who are ready the teacher has come.

SARAH: Do you have any future writing projects in the works?

LEWIS: I am retired from my career so that gives me the time to check news every day and that stimulates new topics and contents for the Sedona essays on the blog. I have not published them in a book as they are still a work in progress and seem to have a life of their own that needs constant revision. Perhaps the blog will become an ebook, maybe a commentary on our times for future historians. I would be pleased if some churches would take up this work.

SARAH: Is there anything else you want our readers to know about the compiled work that is Lessons from Sedona?

LEWIS: Well, I think they are like gravity. They don’t need your permission, but you cannot avoid them, and you may reduce suffering a lot if you understand the Principles of Sedona as developed in Voices of Sedona and the blog at www.sedonavoices.blog.com. All in the will of God of course. Thank you.

SARAH: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and learn about your work.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Voices of Sedona. The book also can be purchased through Barnes and Noble or iUniverse.

Writer Benefits at SquidLog

SquidLog.net is a new social network that offers a customizable platform for writers of all genres. Authors can promote their books and increase their online presence by customizing and accessing all their online work in one platform.
On SquidLog.net, writers will be able to promote their books and other work, produce new content, personalize their profile, interact with other members, participate in groups, plug their Squidoo lenses, and import outside blogs. It’s an all-in-one place to gain readership, share writer resources, and generate content.
SquidLog attracts both experienced and new lensmasters, who want to utilize Squidoo lenses, or websites, as a promotional tool. As a central place to share all types of online-related topics, SquidLog members will find solutions to their questions about Squidoo and other topics. Experienced lensmasters participate and freely share their knowledge.
Writer Benefits at SquidLog include:

• Free Membership – A short registration and free membership provides access to your profile and the site’s tools.
• Start a Blog – Writers can start a blog on marketing, their books, or writing resources. Blog topics are limited only by members' imagination and passion.
• Import an Existing Blog – Writers can import a blog from another site and then continue the blog right from SquidLog.
• Join or Start a Group – SquidLog offers group tools for anyone who wants to mentor a group. Writers can start a group on their interests or join one of the existing groups, like WordPress Tips and Tricks or Publishing Project Collaborations.
• Featured Content Shows Latest News – Content is user-driven. Activity on all members' blogs, groups, comments, and posts become the featured content on the landing page.
• Gain New Readers – With featured content, readers can scan new activity and follow a writer's work across their blogs, sites, or lenses.
• Interact In One Site – By following the featured content, members can stay on top of everyone’s content and activities. Members can interact with each other in one place, on SquidLog, rather than jumping from site to site to read their favorite blogs.

In March 2009, power Squidoo lensmasters (also known as Giant Squids) Anne Corcino and Achim Thiemermann co-founded SquidLog.com. Within its first three months, SquidLog was ranked second, behind Squidoo itself, for highest traffic of Squidoo-themed sites. Corcino and Thiemermann wanted it to grow dynamically from a resource site to a central place for everyone to interact and share a variety of topics. With the power of SquidLog's high ranking, authors can promote their newest books and introduce readers to their blogs or sites.

SquidLog.net began in October 2009 and offers free membership, a marketing platform, and a social network to all Squidoo lensmasters, authors, and writers.
Jennfer Akers, a freelance writer and Squidoo lensmaster, writes on a variety of topics, including social networking, writing resources, and online business. Join Jennifer and other writers on her SquidLog profile: http://squidlog.net/members/jennifer-akers/profile/

Children's Writer Dawn Menge Returns to WITS Podcast

Author Dawn Menge will be joining author's assistant Sarah Moore to discuss her new release Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains this Friday. This will be Dawn's second visit to the WITS podcast, her first being last year to mark the release of Queen Vernita's Visitors. That initial book in the Queen Vernita series earned Dawn First Place in the Children's category of the 2009 EVVY Awards and an Honorable Mention in the Readers Views Awards.

Dawn Menge continues her efforts to teach calendar skills to children with Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Mountains. This time around, she also includes an emphasis on the environment as Queen Vernita and her friends explore a different point of natural beauty each month. As the week of each month proceeds, they observe or actively experience some aspect of flora or fauna. Each page of text is accompanied by beautiful illustrations that will promote the curious nature of children.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains.


Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains
Author: Dawn Menge
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1169-6
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: children; fiction
Publication Date: 2009

Book Review by: Sarah Moore


In my capacity as someone who enjoys a profession in the writing and publishing world, I am always excited when an author whose work I have enjoyed in the past comes back with another book for me to review. As the mom of a three-year-old girl who loves her bedtime stories, I am particularly thrilled that author Dawn Menge has gifted all of us with another wonderful tale of Queen Vernita and her friends, who teach young readers through their daily adventures. In her first book, Queen Vernita’s Visitors, Dawn Menge introduced us to her title character and the decision she makes to have a different friend visit every month of the year. Menge continues this concept in her new release, Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains, and improves on a first book that itself is worthy of much praise.

Queen Vernita invites her friends back for another year of fun, but this time the destination is the Blue Ice Mountains. Queen Vernita and her guests use this beautiful location to learn interesting details about science and nature. As a former school teacher, I am a strong advocate of any learning tool that gets kids thinking about the world around them. Every page offers fun facts about a specific animal or place that I am sure will be educational to both parents and their children alike. On Tuesday in March, Christopher is there to learn that when ice melts and breaks away from glaciers, it is called calving. On Saturday in July, Queen Vernita and Susanna learn that brown bears can weigh up to 900 pounds. And, on Thursday in November, the two friends discover that sponges in the ocean are sessile invertebrates. Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains is well-researched and packed with information that will fascinate young readers.

Every aspect of Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains is expertly designed to be engaging and educational for children. The colors on each page capture a child’s imagination, with the dominant use of bold, primary tones in the detailed illustrations and the text for each month printed on a different muted color. We all know that if the pictures grab a child’s attention, interest in the words that surround them will more likely follow. Menge also effectively uses the important learning tool of repetition to teach children the days of the week, with each month featuring a different fact for Monday through Sunday. By the time you reach December, you may find that your child is calling out the months before you have a chance to read them. The fact that the author is currently working towards her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction is evident throughout the book’s format, word choice, and graphics.

Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains is a beautiful book that I am excited to add to my daughter’s collection. Even the youngest child will learn details about plants and animals that she will be proud to share with others while improving her calendar skills along the way. Perhaps even more importantly, readers will be presented with the idea that friendship is to be valued and openly appreciated. Queen Vernita is genuinely excited for each visitor to arrive and enjoys every moment of every month with a dear friend. What could be a better lesson to learn? Whether or not you have already had the pleasure of reading Queen Vernita’s Visitors, I strongly recommend that you discover the joy within Dawn Menge’s second offering. I only hope that Queen Vernita has more plans for her guests and, therefore, more books to come!