Book Review: Taconi and Claude by M.E. Finke

Title:                Taconi & Claude: Double Trouble

Author:            M. E. Finke

Soft cover:      104 pages

Publisher:        Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. / January 2011

Print ISBN:     978-1-61633-130-6

e-Book ISBN: 978-1-61633-131-3

Price:               $8.95

The fear of the unknown sends Taconi’s mind into the darkest corners of his imagination. Will his ever changing life continue to spiral out of control? Finding his one true place while saddling the life as an aboriginal in the Australian outback and then as a Jackaroo in the white man’s world is a constant struggle. With the anticipation of his man ceremony, Taconi fights his inner thoughts to be worthy of his aboriginal customs; all the while, striving to understand his father’s need to become the head cook on the Coorparoo Cattle Station.

The fight for balance becomes quite confusing for young Taconi in his determination not to forget his heritage and accepting the need to live in the white man’s world. Along the way he finds comfort and direction in an unlikely companion, the outspoken Claude the cockatoo. This unlikely and heartwarming friendship is wise beyond their years and will have the reader cheering for Taconi’s one true quest, acceptance. Will Taconi be able to weave customs from both worlds into a comfortable fit?

Author, M.E. Finke expertly brings forth her expertise of the Australian outback in this fast paced fictional story transporting the reader with the perfect blend of description and dialogue. For a deeper understanding of the Australian, author M.E. Finke provides a glossary of Australian terms, which will surely bring out the love of reading to the most reluctant reader.

Taconi & Claude: Double Trouble available at:

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/double-trouble.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Taconi-Claude-Trouble-M-Finke/dp/1616331305

Visit M.E. Finke at: http://www.margotfinke.com and http://perfectmagiccarpet.blogspot.com/

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

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+

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

The Writer’s Life with M.E Finke - National Writing for Children Center March Author Showcase

Welcome to day two of M.E. Finke’s 6-day NWFCC March Author Showcase tour and venture into Ms. Finke’s marvelous world of writing.


My writing days used to be packed with, well of course writing! Then there were book signings, school visits and talks to various organizations. Nowadays, due to hip and knee replacement problems, I do most of my book promotions online. Hopefully this will improve in a few months, and I will again be out there hawking my wares.


I converted the old family room, right off our kitchen, into my writing den. My husband made me a large U shaped desk, with cupboards and shelves, drawers and cubbyholes. There is a sofa and chairs, a cozy fire for winter, and big windows that look out onto the back garden. What I love most is the many shelves on the walls that house tender plants over winter. Gro-lux lights keep them blooming - the kinda tropical effect that keeps Oregon winters at bay, while infusing my imagination with “green” new ideas. Love it!


This is where I crouch over my computer after physical therapy torture, and spend most afternoons and early evenings. My husband and I have a deal. I quit at 8pm each night and we spend the evening together. Before that, I am free to lurk on Facebook, Tweet like a canary, and stalk online writing lists with my latest BOOK news.


Linkedin, JacketFlap and ReadersDen are my current stomping grounds. Writing something new is on the back burner at the moment. You have no idea how much time finding and contacting various newspapers, bookstores, and groups that might be interested in one of my books, takes.

Getting a Press Release just right, for a newspaper school or bookstore, is not easy: each one needs something slightly different and personalized. Then there’s bookmarks to design and make, and five blogs to keep fun, current and updated. YIKES!!


I also wrote a fun short story “tease” that introduces Taconi and Claude. It involves an adventure in the 21st Century, along with two troublesome characters from my other books. Readers can WIN a FREE Copy of my mid-grade adventure if their comment is chosen from the site. The short story is “Taconi and Claude’s BIG 2011 Adventure.”


Or - YOUR BOY can WIN his own copy by leaving a comment right here: http://taconiclaude.blogspot.com/.


To keep me out of mischief, I am tweaking my short story “tease” a tad, adding pictures, and turning it into an eBook. After slaving over this wannabe eBook for some time, sweating, tearing my hair, and suspecting I might needed mental therapy as well, it is almost ready to convert into PDF. Of course that will probably tip me completely over the edge. Who knew a simple little eBook could deliver such evil and Machiavellian torment.

Anyway, if we both survive the birth, a FREE copy of the eBook will go to anyone who buys an autographed copy of Taconi and Claude – Double Trouble. And if you aren’t sure your child will like my book, there’s a sample page on my blog: http://taconisample.blogspot.com/.


Follow Day 3 of Ms. Finke's tour tomorrow at http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com/. Leave a comment and your name will automatically be entered to win a Three Angels Gourmet Co mug and a package of Divine Dill Dip Mix - at the end of the month, provided by the National Writing for Children Center.


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

Book Review ~ Taconic & Claude: Double Trouble by M.E. Finke

Title: Taconi & Claude: Double Trouble

Author: M. E. Finke

Soft cover: 104 pages

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. / January 2011

Print ISBN: 978-1-61633-130-6

e-Book ISBN: 978-1-61633-131-3

Price: $8.95

The fear of the unknown sends Taconi’s mind into the darkest corners of his imagination. Will his ever changing life continue to spiral out of control? Finding his one true place while saddling the life as an aboriginal in the Australian outback and then as a Jackaroo in the white man’s world is a constant struggle. With the anticipation of his man ceremony, Taconi fights his inner thoughts to be worthy of his aboriginal customs; all the while, striving to understand his father’s need to become the head cook on the Coorparoo Cattle Station.

The fight for balance becomes quite confusing for young Taconi in his determination not to forget his heritage and accepting the need to live in the white man’s world. Along the way he finds comfort and direction in an unlikely companion, the outspoken Claude the cockatoo. This unlikely and heartwarming friendship is wise beyond their years and will have the reader cheering for Taconi’s one true quest, acceptance. Will Taconi be able to weave customs from both worlds into a comfortable fit?

Author, M.E. Finke expertly brings forth her expertise of the Australian outback in this fast paced fictional story transporting the reader with the perfect blend of description and dialogue. For a deeper understanding of the Australian, author M.E. Finke provides a glossary of Australian terms, which will surely bring out the love of reading to the most reluctant reader.

Taconi & Claude: Double Trouble available at:

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/double-trouble.htm  

http://www.amazon.com/Taconi-Claude-Trouble-M-Finke/dp/1616331305

Visit M.E. Finke at: http://www.margotfinke.com and http://perfectmagiccarpet.blogspot.com/

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