Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Blogelina Epic Post: Finding Your Own True Voice

I'm thrilled to take part in the Blogelina Epic Post celebration today, March 1st. Thank you for stopping by, reading my latest post, and commenting if you so desire.

Please leave your blog address so I can follow and comment you back.

Thank you!


"Finding Your Own True Voice"

by Donna McDine

Freelance writers need to study their craft through reading books in the genre they wish to write, attend writers workshops, and participate in critique groups. While all three are important in developing your writing skills, when should you step away and write for pure joy to let your own unique voice shine through?

Yes, the basics are imperative but if we allow ourselves to be constrained by the rules and try to replicate the successful authors before us, we will surely not succeed and become stifled. Let your creativity flow and you will most likely surprise yourself with a unique story to share.

For those who think they are not a writer, think again. No matter what occupation you hold our writing skills are put to the test on a daily basis. From the basic business letter, correspondence to our child's teacher, email, blog postings (such as the inspiring Blogelina Epic Post) to countless other ways, we have opportunities galore to let our voice/words shine through.

For many years I worked in Corporate America and correspondence needed to remain strictly professoinal, with no voice of personal opinion. With the ever changing technology at the forefront, especially blogging, it provides us all the opportunity to write and speak from the heart on matters important to us as individuals.

What do you do on a daily basis to let your own True Voice be heard?

Looking forward to an exhilirating exchange of ideas.

All the best!

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

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Black Cow by Magdalena Ball



I'm honored to participate in Magdalena Ball's virtual book tour of Black Cow and to share with you a splendid review by Jan Mitchell.

"The Archer family lives The success lie. Black Cow is a brilliant expose of the life behind corporate success. James has to force himself to become the ‘iceman’ to function as the CEO of the company; Freya, his wife, leaves behind her scientific career to become a real estate agent to people with lives as shallow as her own has become; their children possess every gadget young teens could want, except quality time with their parents. In their attempt to rescue themselves before the family disintegrates totally, the members of the Archer family move from the affluent Eastern suburbs of Sydney to rural Tasmania, where they learn many hard lessons about life and how to be a family." Jan Mitchell, Fellowship of Australian Writers

Enjoy the reading clip...



Learn more about Magdalena Ball... 

Magdalena Ball is the author of the newly released novel Black Cow. Grab a free mini e-book brochure here: http://www.bewritebooks.com/mb/BlackCow/BlackCow.html

Or visit http://www.magdalenaball.com to find out more about all of Magdalena’s books.



Thank you for taking the time out to visit with Ms. Ball today. Please feel free to leave your comments and/or questions so she can interact with you.

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

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

2012 Writing Goals

At the beginning of 2012 I created my writing goals for the year and I'm pleased to say I'm staying within my goals for the year. I'm pleased to share my goal progress as of February 22nd:

  • I have held steadfast to editing my middle grade manuscript and have completed handwritten edits of chapters 1 thru 19 and have typed the edits for Chapter 1-10. I've also submitted Chapter 20-21 to my critique group and have received their feedback and now I need to review and implement. 
  • I requested book reviews of The Golden Pathway in celebration of Black History Month and ten reviewers read and completed their reviews. All were announced as they came in at www.thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com.
  • The contest to celebrate Black History Month ends February 29th. Visit http://thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com/2012/01/golden-pathway-celebrates-black-history_30.html today and enter at your chance to win a $25 Starbucks Gift Card.
  • I've created a To Be Written log with topics and due dates through May 2012 and I'm writing every day in addition to the middle grade manuscript edits. I'm thrilled to report two projects are now written, edited, and submitted for consideration.
  • I have become much more social on blogs by visiting and commenting specifically to their current blog posting. It's a sure fire way to conduct cross promotional efforts.
Please chime in on your 2012 writing efforts. I look forward to hearing from you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Monday, February 20, 2012

Online Writers Workshop: Writing Humor for Kids with Best-selling and Award-winning author Nancy I. Sanders

Calling children’s writers, learn practical strategies you can incorporate into your manuscript for rib-tickling fun for children of all ages. Join Nancy I. Sanders for her Online Writers Workshop, Writing Humor for Kids on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12 Noon CST, hosted by the Working Writer’s Club.

Topic: Writing Humor for Kids

Date: Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12 Noon CST

Presenter: Nancy I. Sanders

Cost: Free for Working Writer’s Club Members

Description: Do you want to make kids laugh? Children’s author, Nancy I. Sanders, will use popular published examples of funny kids’ favorites to show you how to help your manuscript tickle those funny bones. From crafting scenes with a laughter-inducing punch to writing silly slapstick, join in this teleclass and learn techniques you can implement in picture books as well as novels to make young readers chuckle and laugh out loud. 

In this 55-minute writer’s workshop, you’ll learn…

• The Strategies
• The Scenes
• The Layers
• The Checklist
• Answers to questions about writing humor

Working Writer’s Club members will automatically receive an invite to this workshop and if you are not a Working Writer’s Club member register at the Working Writer’s Club.

About the author: Sanders’ is the bestselling and award-winning author of over 80 books including the ground-breaking book for writers, Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career.  She grew up on a dairy farm in Everett, Pennsylvania, with five older sisters and one older brother. She spent her childhood days milking the cows, baling hay, and ice skating in the winter. She also spent many happy hours with her nose in a favorite book whether perched high up in an apple tree or floating on a raft in the middle of their pond. Today Nancy loves to write and is the author with publishing houses both big and small. Now, one of her favorite things is to encourage other writers and help them learn practical strategies to use to build their own successful and satisfying career. Find out more about children’s author Nancy I. Sanders at http://www.nancyisanders.com.
Become a Working Writer’s Club Facebook Fan to stay updated on all of the valuable resources and articles at The Working Writer’s Club.  

Thank you for your time and interest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Friday, February 17, 2012

Young Adult Author Interview with Billie A. Williams at Book Bites for Kids – Fri, February 17, 2012 at 2 pm CST

Book Bites for Kids, hosted by Suzanne Lieurance is a delightful way to interact with children's book authors, illustrators, publishers, editors, and publicists to learn more about the world of children’s writing and publishing.

We are pleased to invite you to tune in at Book Bites for Kids to meet children’s author, Billie A. Williams as she discusses her new YA novel, Watch for the Raven on Friday, February 17 at 2 pm CST.



About Watch for the Raven: Fifteen year old Josh Avery has heard the horror stories about what Indians do to white people. Hurt, delirious he finds himself on a travois being transported across the Colorado Mountains of 1853 by Eagleman, he fears the worst. This young adult novel explores the consequences of a young man's anger at parental rules.

What People are saying about the Book: I found this high stress adventure exciting. Josh is transformed from a thoughtless adolescent into the high expectations of manhood. This tale carries a meaningful moral message for maturing youngsters. I would highly recommend it, not just for growing boys, but adventurous girls as well.—JoEllen Conger, Queen of Candlore, Rite of Passage, and Return of the Goddess

“Make sure you have time to finish this book in one reading because you will be compelled to turn another page to see what happens next. This book is targeted for the young adult audience but ‘old’ adults will love it as well. Give this book as a present to anyone interested in a rousing mountain adventure, but after you read it yourself. The only thing disappointing will be when you come to the last page and find out it is the last page.” —Mystery Author J D Webb www.jdwebb.com

About the author: Best-Selling, Award winning Mystery/Suspense author Billie A Williams is a fiction, non-fiction and poetry author and has won numerous contests for her short/flash fiction stories, essays, and poetry. She has over two dozen books published and is published in numerous magazines. Williams is a member of The Wisconsin Regional Writers Association (WRWA) Sister’s in Crime, Women in the Arts Program, Pen Writer's Org., Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Children’s Book Insider, and the Working Writer’s Club. Visit Williams www.billiewilliams.com.

Visit with host Suzanne Lieurance and featured children’s author, Kathryn Kessler for the live broadcast at (646) 716-9239 and www.bookbitesforkids.com and ask the author a question, make a comment, or just say "hi." For future scheduled interviews, visit Book Bites for Kids www.bookbitesforkids.com.

Visit the Working Writer’s Club, and become a Facebook Fan today at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/The-Working-Writers-Club/221038321276421. By becoming a Facebook Fan it will ensure that you are updated on all of the valuable resources and articles at The Working Writer’s Club.  

We look forward to your visit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Celebrate Black History Month with Donna McDine and Nancy Sanders


Join Nancy Sanders http://nancyisanders.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/lets-celebrate-black-history-month-5/ and celebrate Black History Month with Donna McDine as she shares her Literary Classics 2011 Silver Award - Early Reader for The Golden Pathway.

While you are visiting, be sure to to learn all about Nancy's books for Black History Month.

Thank you for your time and interest!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Authentic Voice: Unleash Your Writing


Normally I do not tune into reality shows, but for some reason when I settled in to relax a bit on the couch last night I stopped at the show The Voice hosted by Carson Daly. I've seen promo snippets over the last year and thought it was just another run of the mill reality show. Boy was I wrong!

The premise of The Voice is the judges keep their backs to the contestant and if they are impressed by their voice (without a visual) they hit a button that spins their chair around for their chance to convince the contestant to join their team. I was instantly impressed by the coaches, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton. Their positive energy and graciousness toward the contestants was heart warming. There was no bashing and making fun even if a judge did not join in the bid for the contestant. Each and every time the judges provided constructive feedback, with no negative undertones or sarcasm. What a breath of fresh air!

Christina Aguilera spoke about "not stifling your voice, let your true self shine through, and not be someone else. Once you find your authentic voice it has the chance to soar." I then had a major ah-ha moment.

You may be wondering at this point what does this have to do with writing. And if you are like me you've had your ah-ha moment. Instilling this thought process into my writing is a postive affirmation I know I'm going to start every writing session with. I've typed Christina Aguilera's words on paper and have posted them on my computer monitor to keep me focused and postive.

Go ahead find your authentic voice and let your words flow to paper and soar for all to enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Writers Online Workshop: What about Editors? with Faye Levow – February 9, 7 pm CST


Freelance writing careers are so much more than the writing. A freelance writer needs to learn the importance of editors and how to make your relationship with an editor flourish. Learn from author, editor, book-writing coach, and publisher Faye Levow on Thursday, February 9 at 7 pm CST for the Working Writer’s Club “What about Editors?” workshop.

Details:

Topic: What about Editors?
Date: Thursday, February 9, 2012, 7:00 p.m. CST
Presenter: Faye Levow
Cost: Free for Working Writer’s Club Members
Description: In this 55-minute writers workshop, you’ll learn…

·         The types of editors, what they each do, when you need them, why you need them.

·         How to choose an editor. How to work with an editor. How editors charge.

Working Writer’s Club members will automatically receive an invite to this workshop and if you are not a Working Writer’s Club member register at the Working Writer’s Club http://www.workingwritersclub.com/events-2.

About Faye Levow:
Ms. Levow has been a freelance writer and editor for over 30 years, in addition to expertise in a variety of other fields. Her background in business and sales, as well as spirituality has served her well in being able to relate to the subject matter of the books she has edited. As a book-writing coach, Ms. Levow assists upcoming authors in reducing overwhelm and seeing their way clear to getting their best-seller finished. She not only empowers her authors to achieve their dreams, but also get their empowering messages out to thousands more people than might have been possible otherwise. Ms. Levow's personal goal is to create more best-sellers than any other single publishing company in the history of publishing. Visit http://www.launchpadpublishing.com/apps/blog/.

Visit the Working Writer’s Club, and become a Facebook Fan today at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/The-Working-Writers-Club/221038321276421. By becoming a Facebook Fan it will ensure that you are updated on all of the valuable resources and articles at The Working Writer’s Club.  


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Children’s Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Math Concepts – February 2012 Issue



Teaching math concepts beyond traditional number problems opens up creative opportunities for both teachers and students. Different strategies include the use of poetry, stories, engaging articles, and activities that get the body and mind working in unison.
Come explore the world of "Math Concepts" in the Guardian Angel Kids February 2012 issue and learn how to tell time, add, subtract, and divide, rap to numbers through poetry, learn the history of pennies, how powerful zero truly is, and hands on math activities. Make it a family learning experience and fun will surely be had by one and all.

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


Featured BookS:
Learn to Count 1-10 flip book by Eugene Ruble

Sparkie: A Star Afraid of the Dark book trailer by Susann Batson

Children’S poetry, SHORT STORIES, and articleS:

“Can You Tell Time?” quiz by Marion Tickner – explores the different timepieces before the technology explosion.

“How Many Are Half?” poetry by Donna J. Shepherd – Grandma’s delicious chocolate chip cookie treat and how the cookies are shared.

“Numbers Rap,” poetry by Bill Kirk – the wonder of numbers all around us.

“Cookies with Sprinkles,” by Shari L. Klase and illustrated by Julie Hammond – a whimsical adventure to Grandma’s house.

“The Value of Pennies,” by Gina Napoli – discover the history and significance of pennies.

“The All Powerful Nothing,” by Mary Reina – learn about the power of zero and how it turns nothing into something.

“Hands on Math Activities for Home or School,” by Kathy Stemke – get moving and grooving with enjoyable Math activities.

“Hopscotch Math,” by Karen Robuck – teach and reinforce basic Math skills with the fun of hopscotch.

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.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm 

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Working Writer's Club facebook Fridays Live Chat - Feb 3 at 1 pm CST


Please join me at the Working Writer's Club Facebook Fridays Freelance Writers Chat on Friday, February 3rd at 1 pm CST/2 pm EST.

Topic: How to Use Media Releases to Sell More Books and Build Your Freelance Writing Business! Facilitated by: Donna McDine


If you aren't already a fan of the
Working Writer's Club on Facebook, please click on the Facebook logo here to get to our fanpage. When you get there, just click on the word "like" to become a fan.

Looking forward to chatting with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm