Friday, December 28, 2007

Judi Moreo, author of You Are More Than Enough Achievement Journal

With 2007 behind us and 2008 on the horizon, it’s time to reflect on how we want the rest of our journey here on earth to go. Do we settle for letting life happen or do we take steps toward achieving our dreams? Do we think about it or do we DO it? If you have watched the movie, “The Secret,” then you understand the power of affirmative thinking = affirmative action. Are you taking those steps in the right direction to enjoy life at its fullest – whether it’s through financial success, relationship bliss or perfect health?

On January 1, 2008, Judi Moreo, author of You Are More Than Enough Achievement Journal (Stephens Press, Dec. '07), will embark on a virtual book tour throughout the blogosphere, but it will involve YOU. She wants YOU to be the star in a campaign to let the world know how you are taking those steps in realizing your dreams.


“Every step I take brings me closer to the realization of my dreams” what a profound statement from Judi Moreo, author of You Are More Than Enough Achievement Journal (Stephens Press, Dec. ’07) and I would like to elaborate what that statement means to me:

About two years ago I embarked on my dream of writing for children by taking the Institute of Children’s Literature course ~ Writing for Children and Teenagers and successfully completed the course in April 2007. Since then I have achieved publication success in various online magazines and I continue to participate in children and young adult conferences, writing workshops, writers groups, author school visits, and critique groups on an ongoing basis to sharpen my writing skills.

The next step I am taking in making my dreams a reality is that I am about to begin the Institute of Children’s Literature course ~ Writing & Selling Children’s Books. Another important key aspect of making my writing career a success is networking and maintaining the contacts throughout the writing industry.

My dreams do not stop there. I strive to continue to be a positive influence with my children to make sure that they have the tools and knowledge to make their dreams come true and to be productive members of society. Spending ongoing quality time with them is key in achieving this success. My husband continues to be a positive influence in the decisions that I make to make my writing career a reality and finding the balance between motherhood and writing. I thank him for his unconditional love and support everyday of my life.

Surrounding myself with a close knit core group of friends has been instrumental in developing myself into a more rounded person. The emotional support that we provide one another is beyond any expectations that I ever dreamed of in women friendships. And I'm eternally grateful for them.

With my many blessings of family, friends and writing relationships I look forward to taking many baby steps throughout 2008 to keep my family, friend and writing aspirations on track!

Best wishes to all in your endeavors for 2008!


To participate in Judi's virtual tour go to:
http://www.virtualbooktoursforauthors.blogspot.com/



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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

In Between Time

If you have children home from school for the Christmas to Near Year break writing may be a difficult task. Why not take the time out to organize yourself for the new year that is rapidly approaching.

Suggested To Do Lists:

Reading to be accomplished

Research of writer's guidelines and theme lists for potential magazines

Work-in Progress Goals

Foll0w-up on queries and/or submissions already in pipeline from 2007

Take a well needed break and recharge your creative juicies for 2008...you'll be glad that you did!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Merry Christmas!


Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

And for all that celebrate a different holiday:


May you and your families find
peace and happiness during
this magical time of the year.

Peace on Earth!

God Bless!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Book Review - The Sky's Not Falling! Why It's OK to Chill About Global Warming

It was a delight to have Holly as my guest author yesterday...thank you, Holly! Read on for my book review:

Title: The Sky’s Not Falling! Why It’s OK to Chill About Global Warming
Written by: Holly Fretwell
Hardback: 126 pages
Publisher: World Ahead Media / Kids Ahead Books
ISBN: 978-0-976726-94-4
Publication: September 2007


The Sky’s Not Falling! Why It’s OK to Chill About Global Warming, by Holly Fretwell is not your typical mainstream book, but it will enlighten our children and definitely the adults around them about global warming.

“How do you choose to live your life and how we can together make this world a better place for all children of the future.” Is a profound statement and it is meant to get your brain churning so that the reader as an individual realizes that they can make a positive impact on the environment on a daily basis.

Written in terms that 8-12 year olds can make sense of and not panic about global warming. Fretwell presents the complex material in simple to understand terminology for all levels of understanding and learning.

Fretwell, a natural resources management expert and professor at Montana State University. To interview the Holly, contact Judy at marketing@worldahead.com or 310-961-4170.

Book review written by Donna M. McDine for Pump Up Your Book Promotion

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Guest Author - Holly Fretwell - The Sky's Not Falling: Why It's OK to Chill About Global Warming




Hello All...I'm excited to have Holly Fretwell with me today as guest author. She shares with us:



Kids are the greatest. To hear them laugh and see them play is heart-lifting. To listen to them and learn from them is a joy of life. And to teach them is invigorating but it can be a challenge. I have two kids of my own that I read to every night. It is a magical time where we adventure into strange and foreign lands. It is one of the ways that we share ideas with each other and a time, that as a parent, I impart life lessons in ways that may otherwise come off sounding preachy and static -- not to mention boring.

To share some of these lessons I have written a book of my own. Writing a book for kids, however, is not the easiest task, especially my chosen topic; a non-fiction book discussing science and economics for 8-12 year olds. When writing “The Sky’s NOT Falling: Why It’s OK to Chill about Global Warming,” I had to focus on making complex concepts simple to understand for kids at different comprehension levels.

Since a kids' book in particular needs to be lively and engaging I tried to weave in some basic science and economic concepts without stopping the more entertaining narrative. I knew I needed to keep it simple while at the same time giving a fair explanation of sometimes technical concepts. I also wanted to bring light to some of the misconceptions that many kids have about global warming. After lots of help from friends and family I found what worked best was keeping the sentences short and snappy, the words uncomplicated, and the information unambiguous. I knew what it was I wanted to communicate, but I had to let go of the flourishes. Kids can’t be expected to understand, much less interpret, the phrases and clichés that adults use without a second thought.

I found that asking my kids and their friends to give me feedback as the chapters progressed was immensely helpful (and they let me know what they did and did not like)! Their feedback helped me refine my explanations and descriptions and gave me confidence that the manuscript I turned in was, to use that famous expression, "kid-tested and mother-approved."

Writing "The Sky's Not Falling: Why It's OK to Chill About Global Warming" was an incredible experience. It improved my writing skills by forcing me to be ever more precise, and gave me the opportunity to share the ups and occasional downs of the project with my sons helping them understand just what I do for a living as an instructor and researcher of natural resource policy and economics. In addition, if what I know can help kids relax about the natural changes in the world around them while teaching them to think critically and inspiring them to work towards the cleaner environment every community needs, then I consider the time I spent writing "Sky" to be time well spent.

Holly Fretwell is a natural resources policy expert, an adjunct professor at Montana State University, and is a research fellow at the Property and Environment Research Center. You can visit her publisher's website at http://www.worldahead.com/titles/sky.php.

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Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Book Review at NWFCC: Remebering Raquel by Vivian Vande Velde


Cruise on over to The National Writing for Children Center and check out my book review of "Remebering Raquel," by Vivian Vande Velde.


While you are there take the time out to view the wonderful writer's resources available through the NWFCC.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Musing Book Reviews by Kids


In conjunction with Musing Our Children I'm pleased to announce Musing Book Reviews by Kids.

Have you read a good book lately? What did you think of the newest Harry Potter book? We welcome your thoughts and invite you to send us your review - you need to be under seventeen, sorry, no grownups here.

FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS:

Our guidelines are quite simple and we'd love to have your children/students participating all year round. This will not only encourage them to read, but to write and read their published review online.

We need you to help them send us the following:

their first name
their age and grade level
city and country
the title and author of the book they read
their review - couldn't have a review site without reviews.
email it to: Lea Schizas: museitupeditor@yahoo.ca -- Make sure to place KIDS REVIEW on the subject heading.

That's it. Nice and easy.

We can't wait to read all the reviews to come our way.

TEACHERS, PLEASE LINK HERE.