Overcoming Adversity - Read Lucky's Lick by Mary Esparza-Vela

Author: Mary Esparza-Vela 
Artist: Denis Prouix
Print ISBN: 9781616334062; 1616334061
eBook ISBN: 9781616334079; 161633407

As human beings we are met with challenges on a daily basis and how we choose to react to them is entirely up to us. Meet Juanito, a boy who is excited about his birthday party and disappointed at the same time because he cannot participate in sports with his friends because of his paralysis.

Juanito’s hope for his birthday is to receive super hero toys and he imagines what fun they would be to have. An unexpected gift of a puppy ends up being the best gift imaginable in more than one way. The companionship is the obvious and the outcome of the unexpected will make the readers’ heart soar with faith. Read Lucky’s Lick to discover Juanita’s special gift and how it changes his life.

Mary Esparza-Vela’s talent for blending many emotions at once from the characters into a believable and heartwarming story from the onset will make Lucky’s Lick a story to read over and over again. Illustrator, Denis Proulx’s delightful illustrations bring Juanito’s story to life capturing the story of friendship, faith, and determination. A must read for one and all for whatever your adversity in your life is. 

Congratulations to Mary and Denis...wishing you continued success! 

Visit the author, Mary Esparza-Vela www.marysdollsandbooks.com. 

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

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

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

Children's Picture Book - Hockey Agony receives Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

The weather is glorious here in the northeast (no humidity, yippee!), excitement is buzzing throughout my home with our oldest daughter preparing to kick off her first year of college, and now the "icing on the cake"...

Reader's Favorite has bestowed the honor of a Five Star Review for my children's picture book, Hockey Agony http://readersfavorite.com/book-review/12267!




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

Connect with Donna McDine on Google+

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

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

With the enormous amount of blogs in cyberspace it's difficult to keep up with the array of information for guidance in writing for children and opportunities to submit your manuscripts to children's magazines. 

Randi Lynn Mrvos has two fabulous resources...

The Children’s Writer’s World (CWW) www.childrenswritersworld.blogspot.com was created to inspire and to promote children’s writers. It features advice and guest blogs by children’s authors.

The Kid’s Imagination Train (KIT) (www.kidsimaginationtrain.blogspot.com) is a blog magazine that offers fiction, nonfiction, and book reviews each month. It’s unique in that it helps children to read and to learn, engaging them by providing the opportunity to illustrate their favorite features and have them published online.  

Be sure to check them out and visit frequently. You will be happy that you did!

Here's to your inspiration!

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

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

Connect with Donna McDine on Google+

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

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

Reader's Favorite Five Star Review for Powder Monkey

What a way to greet the day!

My historical fiction children's book, Powder Monkey, was submitted to Reader's Favorite yesterday for a review. Expecting a 10 week turnaround, I was pleasantly surprised to receive notification of the review.

Reader's Favorite Book Reviewer, Lit Amri has bestowed me the honor of a Five Star review. I'm over the moon!

A snippet... "Donna M. McDine's ability as an excellent storyteller is undeniable. Worthy praise goes to illustrator K.C. Snider for the beautiful and nostalgic style of illustrations." 

Please visit Reader's Favorite http://readersfavorite.com/book-review/12252 for the full review. If so inclined please leave a comment and/or share with your social networks.

Wishing you an inspirational day!

Thank you!

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

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

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

Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey by Donna McDine - Book Review Endorsements

Book reviews are essential in promoting your book, but before your book is published don't forget to reach out to fellow author's to obtain an endorsement to include on your back cover. Several of my colleagues bestowed me the honor of endorsing my two latest children's books, Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey.

“Hockey Agony is a great lessoned learned for kids, really of all ages. I love the illustrations and love the message.”

~ Debra Beck, Empowered Teens and Parents ~ www.empoweredteensandparents.com

“Hockey. What can be more exciting than that? And the agony starts right away. Larry’s leg is broken and he can’t play. Will he get a chance to join in the game? Not if Peter shows off his fast skate moves when he takes over Larry’s position. And what about Coach Brennan? Is he on Larry’s side…or against him? The action is fast-paced. The drama is real. Every reader will relate. Author Donna M. McDine’s new chapbook for tweens, Hockey Agony, is sure to deliver. Just in time to provide a great read for boys and hockey fans everywhere!”

~ Nancy I. Sanders, bestselling and award-winning children’s author of Challenge on the Hill of Fire and Frederick Douglass for Kids ~ www.nancyisanders.com

“Danger. Hardship. Cannon blasts. And whips. Stolen violently into service as a boy who delivers powder to the cannons during a battle, young Tommy never sees his parents again. What adventures await him? Donna M. McDine’s book, Powder Monkey, moves quickly through tense action scenes to portray realistic life during this dangerous era on the high seas.”

~ Nancy I. Sanders, bestselling and award-winning children’s author of Challenge on the Hill of Fire and Frederick Douglass for Kids ~ www.nancyisanders.com

“The saga of an age gone by, Donna McDine’s Powder Monkey, ably captures the essence of what some young boys endured as impressed sailors. With pathos and honesty, this historically accurate account of Tommy Kitt’s struggle to stay alive at sea, is a testimony to the author’s prowess as a storyteller.”

~ Nancy Stewart, Award-winning and Amazon best-selling children’s author ~ www.nancystewartbooks.com

Debra Beck, Nancy Sanders, and Nancy Stewart... thank you...I am eternally grateful for your time and endorsements!

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

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

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

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

Children's Writer Newsletter -

Several months ago I was approached by Katherine Swarts for an interview of an article she was writing for the Children's Writer August Newsletter. Never missing the opportunity to discuss writing for children I happily accepted. I'm in amazing and talented company throughout the article with Nancy Stewart, Marissa Widdison, Kelli Gilmore, and Marcia Frost.

The featured article is entitled, "Someone Worth Meeting - Writing Profiles for Magazines"
by Katherine Swarts

Visit Children's Writer today to subscribe and obtain back issues http://www.childrenswriter.com/.

Thank you Katherine for this terrific opportunity.

Wishing you continued success!

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

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

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Hockey Agony ~ March 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

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

Middle Grade Book Review - The Revenge of Thelma Hill by Margot Finke

Title: The Revenge of Thelma Hill

Written by: Margot Finke

Published in: Kindle

Published: 2012

Pages: 87

Twelve-year old Frannie’s life, in turmoil with the reality of abandonment by her mother, becomes even more frustrating with the announcement of her dad’s work transfer. Moving from the comfort of Iowa to Oregon gets her thinking more and more of her mother and the what if’s. Her dad makes it perfectly clear conversations about her mother are off limits. She would turn to her twin, Jeff, for support but they have never been close.

Upon their move to Oregon, Frannie is determined to make the best of summer vacation, even though the prospect of making friends before school begins appears nil. Miraculously a friendship develops in the most unexpected form. And when I say form, it’s the ghostly form.

Frannie’s ability to tap into spirits from the beyond is fine tuned and entwines her into an experience like no-other. The task at hand is unearthing the key evidence into a long forgotten death of a once wealthy newlywed.

Will Frannie trust her instincts and help the ghost of Thelma Hill be released into her final resting place? Or will she allow her negative relationship with her brother to consume her. Surely there is more than one way to develop a positive relationship with both the living and the dead?

Find out in this expertly written fast paced middle grade novel adventure written by the Aussie from down under, Margot Finke. The author’s wholesome writing is sure to please her readers, from children to parents and educators.

Learn more about Margot Finke’s illustrious writing career and critique services at http://www.margotfinke.com

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

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

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

Hockey Agony ~ March 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

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