Welcome! I'm delighted to host fellow children's author, Cheryl Malandrinos. I always enjoy hearing how fellow authors find their inspiration. Today, Cheryl is doing just that has she tours cyberspace along with her latest children's book, Amos Faces His Bully.
Welcome Cheryl!
Prodding Inspiration Along
It’s hard to talk about writing without bringing up
inspiration. Almost every interviewer asks where the idea for your latest book
came from. There are articles to inspire your writing; books are written to
provide inspiration and encouragement; and you’ll often find conferences that
hold panels dedicated to inspiring your writing.
Some writers only put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard)
when inspired to do so, while others discipline themselves to write even when
inspiration is elusive. William Faulkner once said, “I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately I am
inspired at 9 o'clock every morning.” I guess we know where he stands on this
topic.
My
personal relationship with inspiration is one where I prod it along in the hopes
of producing results.
My first
book, Little Shepherd, was inspired
by a Christmas carol. At bedtime, I would sing The Little Drummer Boy to my daughter as a lullaby. Each time I
sang it, the image of a shepherd boy meeting the Holy Family on the night of
the first Christmas would come to me. It took two years, but eventually I was
able to plot out Obed’s story…though the end result was very different than I
originally intended.
A Christmas Kindness was inspired by a desire to focus
my children’s attention on others during the holiday season. Because the story
takes place in the mall around Christmas, I spent a few hours at the mall
sitting in the food court watching the kids line up to meet Santa. Sounds
really tough, doesn’t it?
Macaroni and Cheese for
Thanksgiving and my latest picture book, Amos Faces His Bully, were completed thanks to the Picture Book
Idea Month/STORYSTORM challenge
I participate in each year. Originally only for picture book authors, this
event challenges writers to come up with 30 story ideas over 30 days. I also
have a recently written picture book that is ready to submit thanks to Picture
Book Idea Month in 2012 (sometimes my inspiration needs a lot of prodding).
Now that I’ve talked about my inspiration, I hope you’ll
share yours. Do you have any tips or tricks to share? I’m always open to
suggestions. Writers can never have too much inspiration.
About the Author
Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is
the author of Little Shepherd, A
Christmas Kindness, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving and the recently
released, Amos Faces His Bully. A
blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two
daughters. She also has a son who is married.
WEBSITE
& SOCIAL LINKS:
About the Book:
Title: AMOS FACES HIS BULLY
Author: Cheryl C. Malandrinos
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing
Pages: 20
Genre: Christian children's picture book
BOOK
BLURB:
Amos is
targeted by the town bully because he is so small. When word reaches Amos of
his friend David's battle with Goliath, he thinks back to what David told him
about putting his faith in God's protection. Perhaps the same God can help Amos
face his bully too.
ORDER
YOUR COPY:
Book Excerpt:
Amos
clutched his knees to his chest. Sitting in the dirt, he blinked to keep the
tears from spilling down his cheeks.
Nathaniel
and the other neighborhood boys marched around, taunting him.
“Are
you going to cry now, baby?” Nathaniel balled his hands into fists and
pretended to rub his eyes.
“I’m not
crying,” ten-year-old Amos said with a sniffle. He stood and brushed the dirt
off his clothes.
“I
bet you’re the biggest cry baby in all of Bethlehem,” said Nathaniel.
The
boys pushed him back and forth chanting, “Cry baby, cry baby.”
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/qj4-5M2cgrg
We appreciate your time! Thank you for visiting!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters ~ December 2015 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2016 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Picture Books Five and Under and Story Monster Approved
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 and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, 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
