Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Very Inspiring Blogger Award


The rules for accepting this award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who nominated you, and link to their blog.
2. Display the award logo.
3. Nominate at least 15 other blogs (more or less) and provide a link where they may be found.
4. Then, go to their blog, leave a comment to let them know they have been nominated, and where to find the information they need to accept (rules).
5. Mention three things that inspired you the most during the past few weeks.


What a lovely surprise I came home to today! Beverly Stowe McClure has nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. We have been cyber friends for many years and Beverly always lends are support and advice at the drop of a hat. Visit Beverly's blog at The Story of a Writer


Three things that inspired me during the past few weeks...
  1. My daughters are always a source of inspiration. Their heartwarming loyalty and love for their family and friends are inspiring.
  2. My twin sister Debbie. She is the wind beneath my wings on a daily basis.
  3. My co-worker at my new job who trained me from the onset four weeks ago and continues to be available for any questions or guidance. Thanks, Teri!
Now onto my nominees, in no particular order...




Alex J. Cavanaugh ~ http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/ 


Elizabeth Seckman ~ http://eseckman.blogspot.com 




Katie Davis ~ http://katiedavis.com/


I stopped at ten...way too many to list and the natives are getting restless for dinner!

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

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


Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

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

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite 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

Monday, January 26, 2015

Kidlit Book Review - Her Pink Hair


I am pleased to review children's author and illustrator, Jill Dana Siegel's debut children's picture book Her Pink Hair


  • Paperback: 16 pages
  • Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc; large type edition edition (November 25, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1616335688
  • ISBN-13: 978-1616335687

The word “cancer” is scary for anyone, especially what the outcome will be. Author and illustrator, Jill Dana captures the true essence of the old saying, “out of the mouth of babes” when she takes you into the thoughts of a young girl as her friend battles cancer. Ms. Dana’s unique approach to an emotional topic will certainly open up the difficult conversation of cancer with your young muses.

About the author: 

Jill is an author, illustrator, artist, teacher, and filmmaker.  She is a certified elementary educator with a Master of Education from FAU. She is an award-winning filmmaker with an MFA in film and television production from USC.  She also studied psychology and motion pictures at the University of Miami. 
The author will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Her Pink Hair to a children's charitable organization.

Visit Jill:

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

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

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

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite 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

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

#IWSG - My mantra for 2015 and beyond....


Welcome 2015 and to the first 2015 
post of the Insecure Writer's Support Group! 

The awesome co-hosts for the January 7 posting of the #IWSG will be Elizabeth Seckman, Lisa Buie-Collard,Chrys Fey, andMichelle Wallace!

I am a bit late to the party with Alex's request to share a little about ourselves. So here I go...

  • I have a fraternal twin sister and my next children's book is about our first day of kindergarten. 
  • I am a terrific cheerleader for other writer's but when it comes to my work, not so much.
  • I just started a new job with The Salvation Army ~ amazing place to work and it's only ten minutes from home. 



I have always been a planner by nature and I've come to discover I'm allowing myself to be stuck in the planning and not forging forward with my writing. I'm working hard at breaking this "old and bad habit" by staying true to my dreams and focusing on my writing before email, book promotion and social media networking, etc.

How about you, what are you doing daily to achieve your writing dreams?

Wishing you an inspirational and productive 2015!

Interested in staying up to date of my writing world and special offers, join 506 parents, teachers, and publishing colleagues and receive two FREE e-Books... "The Story Behind the Book" and "Marketing Tips e-Book"...
iContact Email Marketing You Can Trust ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author


Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

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

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite 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, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year!


Wishing one and all a Blessed New Year!

May you take the time to...

laugh more often
love more often
take chances more often
offer forgiveness more often
less judgment more often
and live with more gratitude each and every day!

God Bless!

Interested in staying up to date of my writing world and special offers, join 506 parents, teachers, and publishing colleagues and receive two FREE e-Books... "The Story Behind the Book" and "Marketing Tips e-Book"...
iContact Email Marketing You Can Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

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

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite 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