Friday, June 27, 2014

A Sandy Grave Wins Coveted Purple Dragonfly Book Award


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Linda F. Radke, Five Star Publications, Inc.
Phone: 480-940-8182
      E-mail: info@FiveStarPublications.com
  

A Sandy Grave Wins Coveted Purple Dragonfly Book Award

CHANDLER, AZ (June, 2014) – The judges of the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in children’s literature, have spoken, and A Sandy Grave by Donna M. McDine and illustrated by Julie Hammond, won first place in the Picture Books 6 and Older category.

“Winning any place in the Purple Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score is required before a First or Second place or Honorable Mention will be awarded to the entrant – even if it is the sole entry in a category,” explains Linda Radke, president of Five Star Publications, the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”
                 
Violations of the Endangered Species Act and the Mammal Protection Act come into play during summer vacation in protection of a beached whale in A Sandy Grave. It can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Guardian Angel Publishing and other online retail stores, in addition to personalized autographed copies directly from the author at www.donnamcdine.com.
                  
For a complete list of winners including all first and second place and honorable mention recipients, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com and click on “Winners.”
                 
The next Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest is already underway. Submissions postmarked March 1, 2015 or earlier are eligible for the Early Bird reward: a free e-copy of The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing or Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show written by Radke. Final deadline for submissions is May 1, 2015. The Early Bird deadline for the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards Contest, which recognizes outstanding literature in all categories, is August 1, 2014. October 1, 2014 is the final deadline. For complete rules and submission forms for either contest, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com and click on the contest of choice.

To learn more about Five Star Publications, celebrating 28 years of doing business in Chandler, Ariz., access www.FiveStarPublications.com, email info@FiveStarPublications.com or call 480-940-8182.

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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multiple Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading! 

Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist












Thursday, June 26, 2014

Marnie Lester Visits Write What Inspires You!

The connections are never ending through cyberspace and I'm delighted to welcome guest author, Marnie Lester to Write What Inspires You! Marnie's article is an inspirational piece that will have you viewing the world through different eyes… 

Lyrics, Prose, Life and Love
By Marnie Lester


Life inspires me, the beating of my heart, the flow of air in and around me. The very fibre of existence, what makes each of us unique and divine. The people I touch, the pain I feel, the joy that makes every day a blessing. This is what inspires me to write.

The words of a song or an aria that stirs my soul and lifts me to heights unimagined or plunges me to equal lows.

A poem that is music to my heart, a magical blending of language and sound that sing in my ears and in my soul.

It is a deep, abiding love that can only be felt by two souls connected over time and distance. When one person is your rock, your pride, your joy, your mentor and your best friend. It is the deep and maternal love I feel for the characters I create. The love of watching them grow and evolve as my story grows.

I am inspired by all that I see, that I feel and that I love. Sometimes a phrase catches my ear. Sometimes an image moves me in a deep and profound way that I cannot explain. Sometimes I wake in the night with my head full of thoughts and images. This is when I cannot wait to sit down at my computer again and see what flows from these thoughts.

Writing is a release, it is a means of understanding myself; it is food and air to me, I could not live without it.


Marnie Lester lives in rural Victoria with her partner, best friend and soulmate. She is an ex-nurse who always wanted to be a writer. Her novel Ariel’s Charm has recently been released. She is currently writing the sequel.

Learn more about Marnie's writing career at http://classic-jojo.com/authors/marnie-lester/.

Marnie, thanks for visiting today. It was a treat to host you! 



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

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multiple Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading! 


Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review


Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star Review


Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star Review


The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist












Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Book Review: Picasso-ville: An Imaginary Place Consisting of the Visions of Pablo Picasso by Pat Luttrell




Author and Illustrator: Pat Luttrell                   
Paperback: 26 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; First Edition
Published: (February 28, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1494319969
ISBN-13: 978-1494319960

Come along for an artistic adventure like no other. Pat Luttrell’s, Picasso-ville: An Imaginary Place Consisting of the Visions of Pablo Picasso explores the world of Pablo Picasso through a young boy’s dream. Instilling the love of art is essential in teaching our young muses to think outside the box.  Pablo Picasso was a visionary who thrived in creating his art through his minds eye and not by just what he saw before him.

Pat Luttrell’s mastery of fine art and her expert story-telling skills shouts from the pages of an adventure to be shared over and over again. Looking forward to the next book in the series, van Gogh’s Fallen Star.

Connect with Pat at


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

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multiple Award-winning Children's Author

Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist