Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Libraries Without Borders - The Ideas Box


As we all know, the Internet connects us with people that we most likely would have never met. Recently I was contacted via email (through a Google search) by Madeline Ochi, project management officer at the non-profit Libraries Without Borders. Needless to say, I was intrigued the moment I started reading Ms. Ochi's email! I then did my beloved Snoopy dance when she invited me to come tour their program "The Ideas Book."

About Libraries Without Borders:

Our mission is to expand access to information and education.  We create and support libraries, and most recently began to work in partnership with the UNHCR to provide refugees with books and community spaces.

It is through the support of author ambassadors that we have been able to engage a wider audience with our mission, and we would be honored to have you join us in our efforts.

This summer, Libraries Without Borders will be launching our first domestic project in the United States, partnering with the local arts –education non-profit, Dream-Yard to create a library and media center spaces in low-income housing communities for middle-school youth during summer vacation in the South Bronx, NY.

Looking forward to meeting Ms. Ochi in person on July 25th at Hayden Lord Park in the South Bronx, NY. It's sure to be an engaging and fulfilling day!

Thank you Ms. Ochi for this lovely and unexpected invitation!

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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. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award First Place Historical Fiction, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, 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

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy 4th of July!




"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." - 
Abraham Lincoln


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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. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfily 1st Place Historical Fiction, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, 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, July 1, 2015

I'm back after several months of hiatus - #IWSG Insecure Writer's Support Group


I'm delighted to back with celebrating the Insecure Writer's Support Group the first of the month after several months of hiatus. 

Applause all around for the awesome co-hosts for the the July 1 posting of the IWSG will be Charity Bradford, S.A. Larsen, AJ, Tamara Narayan, Allison Gammons, and Tanya Miranda! 

I wish I could say my hiatus was for something fun like traveling the world and hitting lottery.... alas it was not to be. 

Much to our shock the doctor's discovered that my husband developed squamous cell skin carcinoma on his eyeball, inside his lower eyelid and eye socket. After three surgeries and plenty of down time, my husband is now back to work after a little more than two months of recovery time. Thankfully the brilliant surgeons were able to save his eyeball and with extensive reconstructive surgery he is just dealing with a lazy eyelid and a bit of blurry vision this time. I urge you all the protect yourself and your loved one's from the harmful sun. I'm not saying not to enjoy the great outdoors, but be sure to wear sunscreen, sunglasses and hats! 

Now, how do I get back into the groove of my writing and book promotion? I feel like I've lost a tremendous amount of progress in both categories. I've been taking the time over the last few days to get myself reorganized and plan on getting my July newsletter out before the July 4th holiday. 

Does anyone have any suggestions in not loosing one's mojo when dealing with a family crisis without exhausting one's self? I blogged a couple of times and actually released my June newsletter, but otherwise I took the easy way out and put my writing and book promotion on the back burner. My day job was and still is a fantastic support during my husband's health crisis and I'm eternally grateful for The Salvation Army, where I began work in January of this year. 

Your thoughts and suggestions are appreciated!

Thank you!

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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. ~ Purple Dragonfly 2015 Award First Place Historical Fiction and Story Monster Approved 2014 and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Purple Dragonfly 2015 Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6 & Older and New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, 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