Thursday, September 27, 2012

Book Review: Alligators Overhead by C. Lee McKenzie





Title:                            Alligators Overhead
Written by:                  C. Lee McKenzie
Pages:                          95
Publisher:                    Outskirts Press
ISBN:                          9781432784737
Published:                   July 2012

If the cover of C. Lee McKenzie’s Alligators Overhead doesn’t lure you in from the onset the title certainly will.

A mysterious mansion reappears one hundred years after its disappearance in the vacant lot next to the house young Pete shares with his Aunt Lizzy, who is his guardian since the death of his parents. As the Hadleyville town folk contemplate why and how the mansion reappeared Pete’s curiosity gets the best of him. Forewarned by Aunt Lizzy not to go near nor enter the mansion drives Pete closer to it instead of convincing him not to enter. Throw in his best friend Weasel and the adventure that ensues will have you turning the pages at light speed.

Unbeknownst to Pete, the Ornofree Swamp is the cause behind the reappearance. A mind blowing experience happens within the walls of the mansion throwing Pete and Weasel into a tailspin of bone frightening chills and unanswered questions. Through his determination to uncover the hidden secrets of Hadleyville, Pete becomes enthralled by the town tellers, the long gone Hadley family or in this case the reappearance of one specific member, Cenzo the head alligator, what his aunt truly is, and what the preservation of Ornofree Swamp means to society, both human and animal.

Will mankind and animal join forces in time to save Ornofree Swamp? Or will it be lost to the destructive nature of a particular construction company intent on taking over Ornofree Swamp for their own purposes? Find out in C. Lee McKenzie’s mesmerizing tale of Hadleyville’s descendents of original witches, magical alligators, and the mysterious mansion.

Ms. McKenzie’s brilliant writing style and knack of making the unbelievable believable will pull the most reluctant reader in from the onset for an adventure like non-other.

About the author: A native Californian, C. Lee McKenzie lives on the edge of a redwood forest with her husband and assorted cats. When she's not writing or blogging she's hiking or practicing yoga. She wrote her first young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge, after reading a news article about "self-abuse" among ivy league students. It was so disturbing to think young people needed to inflict pain on themselves to cope with their lives that she finally had to write about it. It turned out to be a fictionalized account that she hopes offers some insights into the growing problem. Her second novel, The Princess of Las Pulgas, deals with a young girl and her family. They have everything and suddenly nothing. Alligators Overhead is a newly released middle grade novel about magic and some uniquely talented alligators. 


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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist








Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards ~ The Golden Pathway



I am over the moon to share that my children's historical fiction story book, The Golden Pathway has placed in the Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards ~ 2012 Honorable Mention Children K-3rd General.

Woo hoo!!! I'd do a cartwheel...but I would just hurt myself. So I'll do the Snoopy Dance instead...






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist








Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Interview with Lance Johnson - What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z




“Lance, I am in awe of your vast accomplishments. I’ve spent quite a bit of time learning about you through your website at www.AmericaAtoZ.com. I’d like to transform myself into a “pocket person” and experience your travels first hand. I’m delighted to interview you and to have an opportunity to introduce you to my blog readers and network of colleagues. Welcome!

DMc: The creation of your book, “What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z: How to understand crazy American culture, people, government, business, language and more” came from your love of America and extensive travels throughout the world. Please share why you feel your book is the perfect guide in understanding American culture.

LJ: As I point out in the book’s intro, I’ve been in 81 countries, taught overseas, and experienced firsthand the difficulties my immigrant friends in the US have understanding our crazy culture. I’m not sure there’s a perfect guide that you refer to above because it is such a broad complex topic. But I’ve simplified it with 26 fundamental chapters. For example, the chapters on grammar and speech simply address the errors commonly made by foreigners and how they can overcome them…I keep it simple and the language easy and fun.

DMc: One of your travel tips abroad is to ask people “what they would like to know about America that they were always afraid of asking for fear of offending.” What is the most common question, the most unusual?

LJ: Oh boy, that really varies. For example, when I taught Chinese teachers of English near Shanghai using my book as a text, the chapter on religion brought the most interest. This is not surprising, given China’s opposition to religions. Next in line was the chapter on film and the movie stars they knew a lot about.

A German couple wanted to know why we all get along so well here, given our various minorities. I explained that we didn’t do well at it, then we analyzed why they had that perception. A common question is about our food and table manners, a topic discussed in an entire chapter on food and dining. I think the most revealing questions come from foreigners who probably know more about what is going on in Washington than the average American. I recently met an Italian and his wife who surprised me with endless questions and observations about Obama, Romney, and our government, which reveals foreigners are indeed aware of what is happening here; they wanted my comments on their comments. That is why I have an entire chapter on government.

As a side note on this topic, throughout the book I stress the importance of free speech, individual rights, and religious freedom that are chiseled in the cornerstone of our society, which in turn define how we behave. Because of the recent crudely-produced video that incited Muslim hate of America, it comes as no surprise because in those countries they are told what they can do and say. Thus, it is my guess they think our government and people support saying bad things about their religion, which of course is not true. They don’t realize this was one man’s film and the expression of his opinion, and that in America we are free to express our opinions. (In Thailand I learned that expressing negative comments about the king can land you in jail.)

As I’ve learned in all my travels, if America were a business, it would need a better public relations department…we‘re continually fighting a bad image, another topic in my book. It has an entire chapter on what foreigners think about America, and in many cases they say the same thing: from their firsthand knowledge, America is not as bad as most foreigners think.

DMc: What, if any was your biggest obstacle in writing and publishing What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z?

LJ: This is easy. I wasn’t sure the book would ever be published. Halfway through the 24-month writing process, I started sending queries to literary agents and publishers around the world. The response was generally the same: There’s never been a book like this so there’s not a need for it. Finally, a foreign agent for all the big publishers in the US said he wanted rights to it. I signed a contract and he found a publisher who gave me an advance. Lesson: follow your own North Star and keep plugging away.

DMc: What has been your most exhilarating travel experience?

LJ: “Exhilarating” has multiple connotations, including frightening/exciting/stimulating. Frightening: Last year on a cruise ship from Singapore through the Suez Canal to Rome, as we approached Yemen and the Red Sea, we had to close our curtains a night and the ship ran without outdoor lights because of pirate activity in that area. During the day the captain spotted suspicious ships nearing us and broadcast an alert. Also, during the day we saw an armada of battle ships from different countries along the shipping lanes, which gave us some comfort. Exciting: I’ve traveled the Panama Canal multiple times and still marvel at this engineering wonder that is 100 years old and still working as designed. Stimulating: Visiting Israel, walking where Christ did, witnessing all the Biblical sights that I learned about as a youngster, and learning firsthand that Israel is much less the monster portrayed in the press regarding Arabs there. Like the US, they need a better PR Dept.

DMc: What’s next?

LJ: Would love to take the Orient Express, travel the Silk Road, and take the train across scenic Canada and write about that. (As an actor, I did some filming in Kunming, China, the exit from the Silk Road.) In my travels I send a travelogue to my friends with pictures and brief daily commentaries. In the last one when I sailed from Australia to San Francisco, this was the closing comment I made: “I’ve now been in 81 countries on 6 continents, but the more I travel the more I realize how little I know about the world and all that inhabits it, including peoples, cultures, vegetation, wildlife, and geology. What an eye opener it is to travel. If I were the Creator of Earth, I wouldn’t change a thing. What a magnificent place, and we’d better darn well take better care of it. This is also what astronauts say as they view Earth as a tiny speck cradling mankind. LJ”
I also point this out in the book’s intro:  With all of our cultural differences though, you’ll be surprised to learn how much our countries—and we as human beings—have in common on this third rock from the sun called Planet Earth. After all, the song played at our Disneyland parks around the world is “It’s A Small World After All.”
DMc: A signature request I like to ask every author, illustrator, editor, etc., I interview is for the individual to share with us a tidbit from their lives that the reader will find either humorous or surprising. Lance, can you please share one with us?

LJ: Perhaps the most surprising thing related to my book was receiving endorsements from the US Ambassador to China and the ambassadors to the US from China and Singapore in response to my requests for them. As my grandfather taught me ages ago: You’ll never know if you don’t try, will you?

Lance, thanks for taking the time out to chat with me. I’ve enjoyed getting to you know you! Best wishes for your continued success.

Best regards,
Donna




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist








Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Book Review - Save the Lemmings by Kai Strand



Title:                            Save the Lemmings
Written by:                  Kai Strand
Pages:                          107
Publisher:                    Featherweight Publishing
ISBN:                          9781608207102
Published:                   August 2012

Twelve-year-old Natalie Isabelle Cailean Edwards exerts creativity and integrity that puts most adults to shame. Determined to make her mark on the world through her Texty Talky invention and “saving” the lemmings, Natalie learns from her success and failures how to navigate the ever changing landscape of false perceptions and truth. The adolescent years are difficult enough, but when her sudden fame comes rushing in with the national success of the Texty Talky’s friendships are tested and jealousy rears its ugly head heightening the out lash from the school bully.

False accusations toward Natalie’s good girl image come into question. What can she do to set the record straight without making matters worse? Will her honesty and her positive attitude prevail? Journey along with Natalie to learn if she musters the strength to overcome.

Kai Strand brings forth a wholesome adventure of a young inventor and her adversity to overcome negative perceptions and jealously from others will have the reader cheering for Natalie from the onset.

About the author: Kai Strand writes fiction for children and young adults. Her debut title, THE WEAVER was a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards. Her second title, THE WISHING WELL: Another Weaver Tale, is set in the same fictional storytelling village as THE WEAVER. Her middle grade title, SAVE THE LEMMINGS! is contemporary fiction, which surprised even her. Still to come, KING of BAD, is a young adult super villain novel and will be released in 2013. She has several short stories published. Links to current and upcoming short stories can be found on her website. You can also find book related downloads and more information about Kai and her writing at www.kaistrand.com.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist








Thursday, September 13, 2012

Book Review: What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z by Lance Johnson



Whether you are a world traveler or not Lance Johnson’s book, What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z provides an insightful first person account of his extensive world travels and experience. Cultures across our vast world often times clash because of our diverse differences and lack of understanding of one another’s customs.

Through Johnson’s willingness and openness to communicate with people throughout the world he begins with a direct and simple question, “What would you like to know about America you were always afraid of asking for fear of offending?” Intuitive conversation ensued practically every time, providing an inspiring opportunity for Johnson to learn about cultures outside his own as well as explaining American culture. Intrigued by the misconceptions foreigners have of America whether abroad or in their own travels to the United States, Johnson documented his extensive conversations resulting in the compilation of What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z.

Lance Johnson’s one-on-one conversational writing style welcomes the reader from the onset. A natural born teacher, Johnson does not preach and keeps it simple with real life examples how the American culture operates. What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z goes well beyond the misdemeanor of personal culture. For to understanding all the components of this extensive guide will educate the reader well beyond their expectations, creating an opportunity to simulate into American culture seamlessly.

What Foreigners Need to Know About America from A to Z is the perfect guide that does not need to be read from start to finish, but rather consumed by section of interest. Get your pen, paper, and highlighter ready for I’m sure any reader will make their own notations, highlight and earmark the pages for future reference for years to come. 


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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist








Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Children's Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Weather - September 2012 Issue




Children’s Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Weather – September 2012 Issue

Welcome to the GAK September 2012 issue all about the weather.

The weather often times sets our mood. Editor-in-chief, Donna McDine enjoys a cool autumn day with the wonderful visual of the colorful leafs immediately relaxes me. With summer rapidly coming to an end McDine is looking forward to the next change of seasons. While she enjoys the so called lazy days of summer, McDine embraces the opportunity for a regular school schedule affording her the time to focus on her own writing, and continued work at GAK and private client publicity work.

The GAK staff invites you to sit for a spell and enjoy the every changing world of weather. Take a ride on a cloud and dance in the rain through poetry, experience the apprehension of a thunderstorm and competition amongst friends at the school science fair through engaging stories. Or look through the fog and learn how it helps the giant redwood trees of California grow and learn tornado safety tips.

Visit the writers and illustrators in the Guardian Angel Kids September 2012 issue and enjoy the alluring poetry, stories, articles and activities, www.guardian-angel-kids.com.

Letter from the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:  Donna M. McDine   

Featured BookS:
Lighting Strikes Flip Book by Kevin McNamee and art by Eugene Ruble  

Cloud Jumpers Flip Book by Tracy Ahrens and art by Eugene Ruble

Children’S poetry, ACTIVITIES, SHORT STORIES, and articleS:

“One Little Cloud,” by Barbara Bockman – the every changing cycle of clouds.

“Weather Wisdom,” by Guy Belleranti – changing seasons.

“Crack Boom Crash,” by Rose Thoman – how to stay safe in a lighting storm.

“Fair-Weather Friends,” by Jennifer A. Buchet – science fair competition.

“When You Can’t See the Water,” by Mary Reina – how fog affects your life.

“A Dark Furious Looking Monster,” by Irene S. Roth – the importance of knowing what to do before a tornado hits.

Visit Guardian Angel Kid today and www.guardian-angel-kids.com and enjoy a child safe and ad free Ezine.
We also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-Angel-Kids-Ezine/163785080346247.

Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Donna McDine an email at submissions@guardian-angel-kids.com and let them know what you think of Guardian Angel Kids and what you'd like to see in the future. They aim to please.

The Guardian Angel Kids Ezine staff and contributors look forward to your visit. Thank you for your time and interest.


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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist








Tuesday, September 11, 2012

September 11 Prayer






Blessed Is Our God!
Prayer In Time Of Need

O Lord our God.
Who has given Your peace unto mankind,
and Who did send down the gift of the Holy Spirit upon Your disciples and apostles,
and in your might did open their lips with the tongues of fire.
Open also the lips of us sinners and teach us how and for what we must pray.
Be the Helmsman of our life,
O calm haven of tempest-tossed.
Make known to us the way in which we should walk.
Renew a right spirit within us,
and with Your governing Spirit establish our unstable mind,
that, being guided daily by Your good Spirit unto that which is for our benefit, we may be counted worthy to do Your commandments and always to keep in remembrance Your glorious coming which shall search out the deeds done by man.
Strengthen us that we might not be deceived by the corruptible delights of this world,
but that we might desire the enjoyment of the treasures to come.
For You are blessed and praised in all Your Saints unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers,
Lord Jesus Christ our God,
have mercy on us. Amen.


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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist








Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Random Acts of Publicity - Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani - Bewitching Book Tour



In the continued celebration of Random Acts of Publicity I'd like to share with you the announcement of the Bewitching Book Tours schedule for Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani. What a terrific way to get to know Ms. Calvani!



Virtual Book Tour - Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani
Bewitching Book Tours Announces Sunstruck Virtual Book Tour Schedule

(KINGSPORT, TN)Travel along cyberspace with Ms. Calvani and virtual book tour hosts and immerse yourself in the world of Daniella, an architecture student living with her narcissistic artist boyfriend in San Juan. Abandoned by her father at an early age, Daniella always falls for the ‘wrong’ type of man. Her most enduring male relationship so far has been with her cat.

About Sunstruck: Several strange mysteries are threaded through Daniella’s everyday life: her ex-husband, Ismael, has just opened an outlandish hotel for animal lovers that has her distraught; Ismael’s wife, a rich woman Daniella fondly refers to as ‘Lady Dracula’, has some gruesome ways to keep her skin looking young; Daniella’s mother is founding a revolutionary, feminist society called The Praying Mantises; the island’s national forest is being depleted of hallucinogenic mushrooms; meanwhile, young girls are disappearing and there’s a nut loose dressed as Zorro slashing the rear ends of women who wear miniskirts. Oppressed by all these eccentric characters, Daniella feels herself falling into an abyss. Then something terrible happens, making Daniella wake from her stupor and take charge of her life.

In celebration of the Sunstruck release, Mayra Calvani is pleased to announce a gift with purchase offer. Purchase Sunstruck http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LYYOWM and receive FREE download e-Book of Dark Lullaby. Email her publicist, Donna McDine donna@donnamcdine.com with your receipt of Sunstruck purchase and receive link to FREE Dark Lullaby e-Book through September 15, 2012. Of course, if you purchase Sunstruck elsewhere please email receipt to Ms. McDine.

Bewitching Book Tours announces the virtual book tour schedule for Mayra Calvani’s latest book, Sunstruck http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.be/2012/08/now-on-tour-sunstruck-by-mayra-calvani.html.

About the author: Award-winning author Mayra Calvani has penned over ten books for children and adults in genres ranging from picture books to satire to paranormal fantasy novels. She’s had over 300 articles, short stories, interviews and reviews published in magazines such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal and Bloomsbury Review, among others. She has lived in America, Asia, the Middle East, and now lives in Brussels, Belgium.

Purchase info:

Title: Sunstruck
Author: Mayra Calvani
Author web site: http://www.mayracalvani.com/
Publisher: Twilight Times Books http://twilighttimesbooks.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60619-024-2
Genre: Parody/Satire
Format: ebook in pdf, ePub, Kindle, Mobi, PRC, etc.
Distributors: Amazon Kindle; Apple iBookstore; BN.com Nook; eReader; Fictionwise; Kobo Books; OmniLit; Sony eBookstore, etc.
Release date: July 15, 2012
Price: $2.99 – special offer through September 15, 2012
Pages: 160
Chapter excerpt: http://twilighttimesbooks.com/Sunstruck_ch1.html

About Bewitching Book Tours: Roxanne Rhoads is the brainchild behind Bewitching Book Tours which focuses on new authors, e-Book authors, small and independent press authors, mid-list authors, and authors who do not have a huge marketing budget at their fingertips. Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and paranormal erotica book tours though they are open to almost all other fiction genres as well.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist








Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Random Acts of Publicity - Book Review: Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani


I am delighted to participate in Darcy Pattison's "Random Acts of Publicity" event with my book review of...

Sunstruck by Mayra Calvani

Ms. Calvani writes across the genres and we are fellow authors at Guardian Angel Publishing. Without further ado, I'm pleased to share my review...





For avid mystery readers, curling up with a tantalizing book of on the edge of your seat suspense intertwined with adventure and romance will leave your heart pounding and your chest heaving with each breathe.

Living in crime riddled San Juan, Daniella longs to be a successful architect and to find herself the perfect mate. If such a thing exists. Raised by her mother, after her father’s abandonment, Daniella now has one unsuccessful marriage under her belt, so to speak and her current relationship with artist and drug addict Tony is a rollercoaster of emotions at best.

The crime filled world in San Juan becomes more alarming than ever when El Zorro hits the scene. For after dark, no mini-skirt wearing woman is safe. What are the women residents to do to protect themselves? Daniella’s mother, ever the pioneer, forms a women empowerment group, The Praying Mantises. Interest and rebellion abounds amongst the women of San Juan.

In the meantime, strange happenings occur at Daniella’s ex-husband’s new animal hotel and the bizarre behavior of his current wife and her lust for everlasting leave Daniella with an uneasy feeling. Should she express her concern or let it go and concentrate on her own bizarre relationship with Tony? Can Daniella hold it together and actually make something of her life or will it to be too late? Find out in Mayra Calvani’s mind-blowing mystery and suspense novel. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Calvani’s expert knack of the peculiar will surprise you to the very end. Bravo! 


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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist








Monday, September 3, 2012

Labor Day Prayer



Lord on this Labor Day, 
we celebrate the work we do,
 and we thank You for the blessing of our jobs. 
We ask for those seeking employment that 
You guide them in their search for work.

We ask for guidance when we are confused.
We ask for patience when working through conflicts.
We ask for strength to complete each day.
We ask for rest when we are weary.

We ask that You be with those whose faces
we might never see but who work tirelessly
each day for the good of us all.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist