Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Showing posts with label children's fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children's fiction. Show all posts
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Christmas Gifts Children Will Love For Less Than $3.50
The following covers show a selection of my fiction books available on Amazon Kindle. I write for girls and boys of all ages and interest levels, so you'll find an original story written by me for any child. My books are great Christmas gifts at less than $3.50 each. Please click on the book covers to purchase or find out more about each book.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Snap Magic Blog Tour With Children's Author Angela Sunde
A few weeks ago I was very fortunate to secure a place in a workshop at The Queensland Writers Centre through The Australia Council for the Arts. The presenter of the workshop – Market Development Skills for Australian Authors – is a publicist for one of Australia’s largest trade publishers.
One of the questions she asked us was:
What are the themes/messages in your work?
Apparently we should aim for seven themes, and if they are not immediately evident, then we need to ask others who have read our work. Our themes need to be succinct and clear, while the most obvious ones aren’t always the most interesting. Keep brainstorming until you have uncovered all seven. The last two or three will make the most catchy hooks when it comes to writing your book’s pitch.
With a short novel of only 12,000 words, I thought this might be an impossible task. But, surprisingly, there were in fact seven themes hidden within my new book Snap Magic.
And here they are as they relate to the characters and plot:
1. Trust – Twelve-year-old Lily is not sure whether she can trust her best friend Maureen with her secret. And the cute new boy in school… Is he just like all the other boys, or is he OK?
2. Bullying – Lily does her best to avoid the overt bully Rick, but it is the covert bully, Ellen, she should be watching out for.
3. Fears – A tween’s life is filled with anxiety and fears: fear of not fitting in; fear of your secret being found out; fear of the whole school laughing at you.
4. Embarrassing parents – Lily’s mom and dad seem oblivious to her problems. Dad keeps giving away pumpkin soup, and Mom’s new passion for Snap ‘n’ Snack is particularly cringeworthy.
5. Onset of puberty – There are some things Lily would rather pretend aren’t happening – like shopping for a bra with her mom; having her first crush; and that bothersome excess hair on her chin.
6. Humor – Life is full of funny and magical moments. Unfortunately for Lily they all collide in one long sequence of hilarious events.
7. Consequences – For every action there is a reaction. The bullies Rick and Ellen learn this the hard way. And even Lily knows not to trust her old neighbor Mrs Swan’s magic solution – something bad is bound to happen.
And there you have it, the seven themes of Snap Magic. It would be interesting to hear whether others are able to find seven themes or messages within their own work too. Leave a message in the comments.
About the Author:
Angela Sunde is the author of the light-hearted fantasy novels Snap Magic, and Pond Magic (an Aussie Chomp - Penguin Australia.) Awarded a May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Fellowship in 2013, Angela represents the Gold Coast as a committee member of the Queensland branch of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and is the editor of the Redlands City Council’s Junior Redlitzer Anthology 2014. Formerly an award-winning language and literacy teacher, she is also a children’s writing judge and offers workshops at libraries and schools. www.angelasunde.com
Listen to Angela Sunde’s interview on 612ABC Brisbane radio about the release of her new children's book Snap Magic : http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2014/10/angela-sunde-releases-new-childrens-book-snap-magic.html
Snap Magic Blog Tour Dates:
Monday 13 October
Kids Book Review
http://www.kids-bookreview.com
Tuesday 14 October
Sheryl Gwyther
http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com
Wednesday 15 October
Robyn Opie Parnell
http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au
Karen Tyrrell
http://www.karentyrrell.com
Thursday 16 October
Alison Reynolds
http://www.alisonreynolds.com.au
Friday 17 October
Chris Bell – From Hook to Book
http://christinemareebell.wordpress.com
Saturday 18 October
Boomerang Books Blog
http://blog.boomerangbooks.com.au
Dimity Powell
http://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com.au/
Sunday 18 October
Sandy Fussell/The Reading Stack
http://sandyfussell.blogspot.com.au
http://thereadingstack.blogspot.com.au
Monday 20 October
Aussiereviews
http://aussiereviews.com
Tuesday 21 October
Dee White
http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com
Wednesday 22 October
Angela Sunde’s Blog Tour Wrap Up
http://angelasunde.blogspot.com.au
November
Robyn Opie Parnell
http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au
About Snap Magic:
Something weird is going on...very weird. Long black hairs keep sprouting from Lily’s chin and her dad is looking more and more like a Yeti. Just what’s behind this fuzz fest? And is Lily really turning into a witch like her neighbor, Mrs Swan?Now the prettiest and meanest girl in class is threatening to tell the whole school, including the cute new boy. Can Lily put her desperate plan into action before the school bully strikes?And will the magical solution Mrs Swan offers work?After all, what’s the worst that could happen?A bewitchingly funny coming-‐‑of-‐‑age story about secrets, bullies and pumpkin soup – ideal for 9-‐‑12 year olds.
“Snap Magic began while recalling embarrassing tween memories one Sunday morning amidst laughter and aha moments.” Angela Sunde
Edited by Catherine McCredie – former senior editor with Penguin Group Australia, specializing in children’s and young adult books.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
I've Been Tagged!
I remember playing tag when I was a kid. I remember trying to not get tagged. When someone's fingers reached out to tag me, I'd try to get away or try to bend my body so the tagger couldn't touch me. Times have changed. This time, I didn't mind being tagged at all. This time, the kind of tag I’m talking about involves
authors sitting at their computers tagging each other to answer 4 questions.
Thank you, Sally Murphy, my lovely and talented writer friend who tagged me. Sally Murphy is an Australian children’s author and poet, who has had thirty books published, including verse novels, picture books and educational titles. You can read Sally's Tagged! post here.
At the end of my post today, I'll tag two other authors who will answer the same four questions next Monday. Then they'll tag two or three more authors. And so on...
Thanks again, Sally, for tagging me. Good luck with your books and work in progress (historical novel for upper primary aged readers). See I read your post!
Now it's my turn to answer the questions.
Q1: What am I working on?
This blog post. Seriously, I'm always working on something. Last Friday, I finished editing a chapter book for children aged 7+. As far as I'm concerned the story is ready for submission. But first I want to read the story through from start to finish to make sure it is really ready for submission. I want to check for any previously unnoticed typos or errors. Sometimes typos or errors sneak through from draft to draft because we have a tendency to read what we think is there, rather than what is actually there. I hope to spot any mistake. I also want to make sure I'm absolutely happy with the story. Then, I'll submit the manuscript to a publisher.
I confess that this manuscript is my silliest story and one of my favorites. It's fun, humorous, action-packed... After all, the title is My Mum's An Apple. I will self-publish this story with illustrations through Amazon Kindle if a publisher doesn't bite. One way or another, Noah will declare to the world, My Mum's An Apple.
After that, I'll probably submit a picture book to a publisher. Then... Who knows?
Q2: How does my work differ from others in its genre?
Most people aren't mad enough to write a children's book called My Mum's An Apple.
.jpg)
My crazy sense of humor makes some of my work different. Best Book Ever and Best Joke Ever are both humorous stories. Firstly, I write for my own fun. I don't mean to sound selfish. I'm not. I believe if I write for my own fun, if I enjoy a story, my readers will enjoy the story too.
At other times, I can be quite serious in a book, like with Maya and the Crystal Skull. My Maya series includes many of my interests, such as spiritualism, quantum physics and the Ancient Maya.
All of my main characters are a bit like me. All of my main characters draw from my experience. Best Joke Ever is based on a true event, which involved my two brothers. Like all authors, what makes me different is me. I am what I bring to a story. I am what makes my stories different. There is no one else quite like me.
Q3: Why do I write what I write?
I write to instil a love of reading in children. If children grow up to love reading, at any time during their lives, they will be able to escape into books and be happy. That's why I like to write humorous stories. I want to create fun, joy, happiness.
I also write to make the world a better place. My stories are always positive. At least with my books, I only add positive energy to the world. For example, in my books, I promote a love of animals and the environment, good always wins, and my characters learn and grow. Children can learn new things from my books. (So can adults too.) Most importantly, my stories are fun, entertaining, interesting.
You'll have to read my books to find out more. If I keep explaining here, this could be a very long post.
Q4: How does my writing process work?
.jpg)
Every story starts with an idea. So an idea pops into my head. I think about the idea for a while to see if the idea inspires a story. At this stage, I don't sit down to write. I let my mind mull over the idea until, like magic, my mind gives me skeletons of the characters and plot.
With longer stories, like Maya and the Crystal Skull and Maya and the Daring Heist, I sat down and plotted the entire stories before I began to write the novels. Maya and the Crystal Skull was my first attempt at a long novel, around 40,000 words. I plotted first to make sure I would be able to complete a full length novel. Plotting first also meant that I wrote the first draft of Maya and the Crystal Skull in 6 weeks. I never got stuck. I always knew where I was going.
Every morning, I have a cup of tea, then I meditate for 30 minutes. After meditation, I make another cup of tea and sit down to start writing. By this time, it's about 8.30 am. I usually write until lunch time. Some days, I continue until about 2 pm. The rest of my day is spent on emails, social media, promoting, marketing, housework and other chores.
I hope you enjoyed my answers. I enjoyed being involved in this game of tag. Now I get to tag three other authors, who’ll answer the same four questions next Monday. I'm looking forward to reading their answers. I love to learn about other writers, how they come up with their ideas, how they work and so forth.
Firstly, I'm tagging DC Green, who is the funny, brilliant author of Monster School. I had the privilege of assessing/editing Monster School and I loved it from the first word to the last. Thankfully, DC is currently writing the second book in the series, so the last word won't actually be the last. Okay, let's get back to DC.
Surf journalist DC Green has won multiple big awards, had
thousands of articles published in over forty countries and roamed the world’s
greatest surf spots with the likes of eleven-times world champion, Kelly Slater.
Children’s author DC Green has won two very small awards, had six children’s
novels published in one country and Kelly Slater no longer returns his calls.
His latest novel, Monster School, has
been described as ‘Hogwarts for monsters’, ‘gloriously grotesque’ and
‘hilarious’. It features a vampire with attitude, a socially-challenged zombie
and a giant spider called Bruce!
For more DC stuff, check out: www.dcgreenyarns.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/DCGreenAuthor.
Secondly, but only because of alphabetical order, is Karen Tyrrell, the amazing, talented author of Bailey Beats the Blah. Karen is an inspiration. She turned a bad experience in her life into a golden opportunity to fulfill her dream of being an author. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade. So, with no further ado, I'm tagging Karen Tyrrell.
Karen Tyrrell, award-winning Brisbane author is passionate about mental health for kids and grown-ups. In a previous life Karen taught primary school both in Sydney and Brisbane including Gifted & Talented classes. Now Karen goes out to schools and libraries as an author-teacher delivering interactive pantomimes, story-telling sessions and creative writing workshops. Karen has appeared on TV and ABC radio.
Next Monday, DC and Karen will be answering the same four questions and tagging more authors. But, for now, I wish everyone a wonderful week. May your week be filled with much love and blessings.
At the end of my post today, I'll tag two other authors who will answer the same four questions next Monday. Then they'll tag two or three more authors. And so on...
Thanks again, Sally, for tagging me. Good luck with your books and work in progress (historical novel for upper primary aged readers). See I read your post!
Now it's my turn to answer the questions.
Q1: What am I working on?
This blog post. Seriously, I'm always working on something. Last Friday, I finished editing a chapter book for children aged 7+. As far as I'm concerned the story is ready for submission. But first I want to read the story through from start to finish to make sure it is really ready for submission. I want to check for any previously unnoticed typos or errors. Sometimes typos or errors sneak through from draft to draft because we have a tendency to read what we think is there, rather than what is actually there. I hope to spot any mistake. I also want to make sure I'm absolutely happy with the story. Then, I'll submit the manuscript to a publisher.
I confess that this manuscript is my silliest story and one of my favorites. It's fun, humorous, action-packed... After all, the title is My Mum's An Apple. I will self-publish this story with illustrations through Amazon Kindle if a publisher doesn't bite. One way or another, Noah will declare to the world, My Mum's An Apple.
After that, I'll probably submit a picture book to a publisher. Then... Who knows?
Q2: How does my work differ from others in its genre?
Most people aren't mad enough to write a children's book called My Mum's An Apple.
My crazy sense of humor makes some of my work different. Best Book Ever and Best Joke Ever are both humorous stories. Firstly, I write for my own fun. I don't mean to sound selfish. I'm not. I believe if I write for my own fun, if I enjoy a story, my readers will enjoy the story too.At other times, I can be quite serious in a book, like with Maya and the Crystal Skull. My Maya series includes many of my interests, such as spiritualism, quantum physics and the Ancient Maya.
All of my main characters are a bit like me. All of my main characters draw from my experience. Best Joke Ever is based on a true event, which involved my two brothers. Like all authors, what makes me different is me. I am what I bring to a story. I am what makes my stories different. There is no one else quite like me.
Q3: Why do I write what I write?
I write to instil a love of reading in children. If children grow up to love reading, at any time during their lives, they will be able to escape into books and be happy. That's why I like to write humorous stories. I want to create fun, joy, happiness.
I also write to make the world a better place. My stories are always positive. At least with my books, I only add positive energy to the world. For example, in my books, I promote a love of animals and the environment, good always wins, and my characters learn and grow. Children can learn new things from my books. (So can adults too.) Most importantly, my stories are fun, entertaining, interesting.
You'll have to read my books to find out more. If I keep explaining here, this could be a very long post.
Q4: How does my writing process work?
Every story starts with an idea. So an idea pops into my head. I think about the idea for a while to see if the idea inspires a story. At this stage, I don't sit down to write. I let my mind mull over the idea until, like magic, my mind gives me skeletons of the characters and plot. With longer stories, like Maya and the Crystal Skull and Maya and the Daring Heist, I sat down and plotted the entire stories before I began to write the novels. Maya and the Crystal Skull was my first attempt at a long novel, around 40,000 words. I plotted first to make sure I would be able to complete a full length novel. Plotting first also meant that I wrote the first draft of Maya and the Crystal Skull in 6 weeks. I never got stuck. I always knew where I was going.
Every morning, I have a cup of tea, then I meditate for 30 minutes. After meditation, I make another cup of tea and sit down to start writing. By this time, it's about 8.30 am. I usually write until lunch time. Some days, I continue until about 2 pm. The rest of my day is spent on emails, social media, promoting, marketing, housework and other chores.
I hope you enjoyed my answers. I enjoyed being involved in this game of tag. Now I get to tag three other authors, who’ll answer the same four questions next Monday. I'm looking forward to reading their answers. I love to learn about other writers, how they come up with their ideas, how they work and so forth.
Firstly, I'm tagging DC Green, who is the funny, brilliant author of Monster School. I had the privilege of assessing/editing Monster School and I loved it from the first word to the last. Thankfully, DC is currently writing the second book in the series, so the last word won't actually be the last. Okay, let's get back to DC.
Surf journalist DC Green has won multiple big awards, had
thousands of articles published in over forty countries and roamed the world’s
greatest surf spots with the likes of eleven-times world champion, Kelly Slater.
Children’s author DC Green has won two very small awards, had six children’s
novels published in one country and Kelly Slater no longer returns his calls.
His latest novel, Monster School, has
been described as ‘Hogwarts for monsters’, ‘gloriously grotesque’ and
‘hilarious’. It features a vampire with attitude, a socially-challenged zombie
and a giant spider called Bruce! For more DC stuff, check out: www.dcgreenyarns.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/DCGreenAuthor.
Secondly, but only because of alphabetical order, is Karen Tyrrell, the amazing, talented author of Bailey Beats the Blah. Karen is an inspiration. She turned a bad experience in her life into a golden opportunity to fulfill her dream of being an author. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade. So, with no further ado, I'm tagging Karen Tyrrell.
Karen Tyrrell, award-winning Brisbane author is passionate about mental health for kids and grown-ups. In a previous life Karen taught primary school both in Sydney and Brisbane including Gifted & Talented classes. Now Karen goes out to schools and libraries as an author-teacher delivering interactive pantomimes, story-telling sessions and creative writing workshops. Karen has appeared on TV and ABC radio.
Her picture book, Bailey Beats the Blah (2013) won ★★★★★ reviews from child psychologists, mental health CEOs and school counselors. Karen’s junior novel empowers kids with resilience skills, launches in May, 2014.
Download FREE kids activities and teacher notes from www.karentyrrell.com
Next Monday, DC and Karen will be answering the same four questions and tagging more authors. But, for now, I wish everyone a wonderful week. May your week be filled with much love and blessings.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Best Book Ever - A 5-Star Review From Vickianne Caswell
Best Book Ever written by Robyn Opie Parnell Synopsis: Sam hates to read. She hates books. Unfortunately for Sam, her family are bookworms, her mom writes children's books and her teacher thinks reading is important. Every day is a battle for Sam to avoid reading and to keep her secret. Life gets so bad, Sam is ready to move to Antarctica. Instead, Sam is about to have the most embarrassing experience of her life. Will she survive?
Review: The story is about a girl who comes from a family of readers, though she is not one of them. Her mother is an author and while some children would be proud, she finds it embarrassing. The book helps show the reader that just because they have a disability, it doesn't mean they need to be embarrassed. The story is well-written, humorous in many spots and in the point of view of the teenage character. Her dog Hound is also a huge delight and does a great job supporting her as comic relief with his affliction. There were some parts in the story that I did not see coming and they were hilarious! My daughter could not stop laughing throughout the book and it was hard to put the book down. We look forward to reading more of the author's stories and hope they are just as much of a delight as this one was.
5 Star Review
Please visit Vickianne's website to read the original review - http://vickianne-caswell.weebly.com/7/post/2013/11/best-book-ever-written-by-robyn-opie-parnell.html
Best Book Ever can be purchased from Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Best-Book-Ever-Robyn-Parnell-ebook/dp/B0071642I2
Thank you for the great review, Vickianne.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Christmas Gift Ideas From Robyn Opie Parnell
Move over Indiana Jones...
Maya's life has changed. Her mother is dead, killed in a car accident;
she's befriended by Ethan, a boy who claims he's
from the spirit world; and now her father is missing.
What does the legend of the crystal skulls have to do with her father's disappearance? Will Maya travel to Mexico to save him? How can Maya's destiny have anything to do with the future of humankind?
The Mexican jungle, ancient Mayan ruins, dangerous bounty hunters and evil kidnappers...
Yes, Maya's life has changed. The fate of the world now depends on her.
For children aged 10 and older.
BUY NOW from Amazon Kindle - $2.99
What does the legend of the crystal skulls have to do with her father's disappearance? Will Maya travel to Mexico to save him? How can Maya's destiny have anything to do with the future of humankind?
The Mexican jungle, ancient Mayan ruins, dangerous bounty hunters and evil kidnappers...
Yes, Maya's life has changed. The fate of the world now depends on her.
For children aged 10 and older.
BUY NOW from Amazon Kindle - $2.99
BUY NOW from the publisher - $19.95
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
Available On Amazon Kindle
Only
Sam hates to read. She
hates books.
Unfortunately for Sam, her family are bookworms, her mom writes children's books and her teacher thinks reading is important.
Every day is a battle for Sam to avoid reading and to keep her secret. Life gets so bad, Sam is ready to move to Antarctica.
Instead, Sam is about to have the most embarrassing experience of her life. Will she survive?
Stop! Do not read this book - and help Sam keep her secret.
For children aged 8 to 12.
BUY NOW - $2.99
Gary is sick of being a
loser. He wants to be popular.
So, he comes up with the best joke ever.
But the joke gets out of control. Soon the whole town is involved. The school is in danger. Gary is too. Can he fix everything before it's too late?
For children aged 8 to 12, or reluctant older readers.
BUY NOW - $2.99
Sam hates to read. She
hates books. Unfortunately for Sam, her family are bookworms, her mom writes children's books and her teacher thinks reading is important.
Every day is a battle for Sam to avoid reading and to keep her secret. Life gets so bad, Sam is ready to move to Antarctica.
Instead, Sam is about to have the most embarrassing experience of her life. Will she survive?
Stop! Do not read this book - and help Sam keep her secret.
For children aged 8 to 12.
BUY NOW - $2.99
Gary is sick of being a
loser. He wants to be popular.So, he comes up with the best joke ever.
But the joke gets out of control. Soon the whole town is involved. The school is in danger. Gary is too. Can he fix everything before it's too late?
For children aged 8 to 12, or reluctant older readers.
BUY NOW - $2.99
It's Christmas Eve, 1974, when Cyclone Tracy hits Darwin in Northern Australia.
Lucy is at home with her parents and her dog, Foxy. As the ferocious cyclone intensifies, Foxy goes missing. Will Lucy be able to save her dog from the storm? Or will Christmas be a disaster in more ways than one?
This is a moving tale of one family's ordeal during a true-life event.
Lucy is at home with her parents and her dog, Foxy. As the ferocious cyclone intensifies, Foxy goes missing. Will Lucy be able to save her dog from the storm? Or will Christmas be a disaster in more ways than one?
This is a moving tale of one family's ordeal during a true-life event.
BUY NOW - $2.99
More Children's Books by Robyn Opie Parnell:
 |
 |
 |
You're Amazing -
The Law of Attraction for Young People (R&R Books, 2012) e-book $19.95 |
||
 |
 |
 |
The Pony Game
(Lothian Books, 2007) paperback $7.95 |
||
 |
 |
 |
Living in Space
(Barry Publishing, 2001) |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Mrs Twitch and the Small Black Box
(Macmillan Education, 1999) paperback $7.95 |
Martian Milk
(Macmillan Education, 2000) |
|
 |
||
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Choosing Children's Books
Choosing books for children can seem like a daunting task due to the huge number of available titles. It’s important to make good choices, too, because an inappropriate book can lead to boredom, frustration or both. Certain considerations will help to narrow down the choices.
1. Age Appropriateness - Be sure the topics explored in the book are not meant for a much older or younger audience, and the vocabulary and complexity of sentences and story line are not too difficult to follow or too simple to enjoy. Suggested age ranges can be found on the back of the book, on bookstore websites, or in bookstores and libraries.
2. Level of Independence – If the child will be reading to himself, the book will need to be less difficult than if he is reading aloud to you. If you’re choosing a book to read aloud to a child, you can look at titles that are written at one or two grade levels above the child’s independent reading level.
3. Art – Picture books introduce children to art along with literature; Caldecott Medal winners are children’s books that have been recognized specifically for the quality of the artwork. Remember that picture books are often written at a high reading level because it is assumed that they will be read aloud to the child.
4. Quality – Some bets are safer than others when you’re choosing from books you haven’t read. Look at time tested classics and winners of awards such as the Newbery Medal and the Geisel Award.
5. Topic – You may want to look for a fiction book that goes along with topics the child is studying. A search on any library OPAC or bookstore website will bring up children’s novels and picture books that pull in topics from history, science, social circumstances, and the arts.
6. Non-Fiction – When looking for a non-fiction book, be open to different formats. Since children learn best when they’re entertained, some of the best non-fiction books incorporate humor, illustrations or both.
Once you’ve gotten a feel for what’s available, searching for the perfect book for a child can become as enjoyable as picking out a gift for his birthday. If you carefully consider the purpose, difficulty and quality of books, you can confidently select appropriate books for children that will nurture their love of reading.
Author Bio:
Jason Miner, an expert freelance writer, loves writing articles on different categories. He is approaching different bloggers to recognize each other's efforts through http://www.blogcarnival.com. He can be contacted through e-mail at jasonminer8atgmaildotcom.
Examples - Books by Robyn Opie Parnell
1. Age Appropriateness - Be sure the topics explored in the book are not meant for a much older or younger audience, and the vocabulary and complexity of sentences and story line are not too difficult to follow or too simple to enjoy. Suggested age ranges can be found on the back of the book, on bookstore websites, or in bookstores and libraries.
2. Level of Independence – If the child will be reading to himself, the book will need to be less difficult than if he is reading aloud to you. If you’re choosing a book to read aloud to a child, you can look at titles that are written at one or two grade levels above the child’s independent reading level.
3. Art – Picture books introduce children to art along with literature; Caldecott Medal winners are children’s books that have been recognized specifically for the quality of the artwork. Remember that picture books are often written at a high reading level because it is assumed that they will be read aloud to the child.
4. Quality – Some bets are safer than others when you’re choosing from books you haven’t read. Look at time tested classics and winners of awards such as the Newbery Medal and the Geisel Award.
5. Topic – You may want to look for a fiction book that goes along with topics the child is studying. A search on any library OPAC or bookstore website will bring up children’s novels and picture books that pull in topics from history, science, social circumstances, and the arts.
6. Non-Fiction – When looking for a non-fiction book, be open to different formats. Since children learn best when they’re entertained, some of the best non-fiction books incorporate humor, illustrations or both.
Once you’ve gotten a feel for what’s available, searching for the perfect book for a child can become as enjoyable as picking out a gift for his birthday. If you carefully consider the purpose, difficulty and quality of books, you can confidently select appropriate books for children that will nurture their love of reading.
Author Bio:
Jason Miner, an expert freelance writer, loves writing articles on different categories. He is approaching different bloggers to recognize each other's efforts through http://www.blogcarnival.com. He can be contacted through e-mail at jasonminer8atgmaildotcom.
Examples - Books by Robyn Opie Parnell
For more information on books by Robyn Opie Parnell, please visit her website - http://www.robynopie.com
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Senia Interviews Childrens Book Author Robyn Opie Parnell
From Senia's blog - http://simplysenia.com/2012/10/30/senia-interviews-childrens-book-author-robyn-opie-parnell/
Where do you get inspiration for your books?
I get inspiration for my books from my life and experiences. The inspiration for my book The Pony Game came from playing with my dog as a child. My novel Backstage Betrayal deals with a fear of mine. Our Secret Place is based on a real experience that happened to a friend when he was a teenager. Eye of the Future explores a favorite subject of mine. Black Baron appeals to my sense of humor and desire to save all the animals in the world. Stop! Do Not Read This Book was inspired by the idea of someone hating books and hating to read. I was interested in opposites with this story because I love books and love to read.
What kind of children’s books do you write?
I write
fiction and non-fiction books for children. I write all sorts of
children’s books for children as young as 5 to children as old as 15.
I like to read fast-paced, action-packed, humorous stories, so I tend to
write these types of stories.
Thank you, Senia, for interviewing me.
About Senia
Senia is a very smart, hyper, and cute 10 year old little girl that loves chocolate, science, reading, and the (☮) peace sign. Her mother is Dangerous Lee! Senia's blog will cover tween and teen topics, parenting tips, as well as
artwork, photos, videos, book reviews, and other cool things that Senia
shares as she grows up to become a woman.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Half Price! All Proceeds to Animals Australia! Please help!
Today, I watched a TV advert from Animals Australia. I'll admit that the TV advert made me cry. I so badly want to see the animals find their place. I so badly want to help pigs fly. So, here's the deal ... A half price special!
This week, I'm selling my e-book How to Write a Great Children's Book for $15 and all proceeds go to Animals Australia. How to Write a Great Children's Book usually retails for $27.95. But if you help me raise $150 to donate to Animals Australia, you can have my e-book for the special price of $15!
BUY NOW for $15 and I'll donate all proceeds to Animals Australia.
Factory farming is the number one cause of animal cruelty today.
We have a plan to end it. Take a sneak peak at our most ambitious
campaign yet - and be a part of the launch of
Make it Possible! © http://www.animalsaustralia.org/
Make it Possible! © http://www.animalsaustralia.org/
If you'd like to watch the TV advert that made me cry, here is the URL:
My goal is to raise at least $150. Please spread the word. We all win. You get How to Write a Great Children's Book at approximately half price, we get to donate to Animals Australia, and the animals receive our help. What a great deal!
BUY NOW for $15 and I'll donate all proceeds to Animals Australia.
After your payment, please allow 12 hours for me to email you a copy of How to Write a Great Children's Book with my personal "thank you".
We can make a difference!
Love and Light,
Robyn Opie Parnell
robyn.opie.parnell@gmail.com
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Stop! Do Not Read This Book by Robyn Opie Parnell
A Five Star Review on Goodreads
A Review by Warren Thurston
Stop! Do Not Read This Book
by Robyn Opie Parnell
Sam has two pet hates, books and having her mum call her Samantha. In
fact everyone in Sam’s house loves books. They are devoted to the
written word so much that even when the electricity is off they use
candles to see to read. But worst of all her mum writes books.
Sam likes to watch DVD’s and play computer games. Reading is not for her, even at school. She always finds a way to escape to the sick bay. The school nurse is almost her best friend.
The family pet, Huckleberry the Dachshund, has a farting problem that young readers will enjoy. Sam thinks his gaseous explosions are chemical weapons of mass destruction. Finally the family takes Huckleberry to an Earth Therapist for treatment. To their relief his farting becomes less frequent and smelly.
Fate strikes a double blow at Sam. Her mum is about to launch her new book. Sam is distressed when her mum comes into the classroom to talk about the book. The class thinks that the girl in the story, who has a bed-wetting problem, is really Sam. Sam denies this but her denial reinforces her friends’ belief that the girl is her.
This misunderstanding leads to series of incidents, including a fight with her best friend Emma, which causes a lot of grief and embarrassment for Sam. She sinks into a world filled with frustration. Her mother’s effort to help Sam makes matters worse. Sam hates her lot in life and is desperate to find a solution to her own secret problem. The story has a twist that will delight readers and make them happy for Sam.
Robyn Opie Parnell has written a delightful tale of about the trials of growing up with a problem that is hard to share. Her choice of words make the story sparkle and builds a strong empathy between the reader and Sam.
This is a book I highly recommend for all middle grade readers.
Sam likes to watch DVD’s and play computer games. Reading is not for her, even at school. She always finds a way to escape to the sick bay. The school nurse is almost her best friend.
The family pet, Huckleberry the Dachshund, has a farting problem that young readers will enjoy. Sam thinks his gaseous explosions are chemical weapons of mass destruction. Finally the family takes Huckleberry to an Earth Therapist for treatment. To their relief his farting becomes less frequent and smelly.
Fate strikes a double blow at Sam. Her mum is about to launch her new book. Sam is distressed when her mum comes into the classroom to talk about the book. The class thinks that the girl in the story, who has a bed-wetting problem, is really Sam. Sam denies this but her denial reinforces her friends’ belief that the girl is her.
This misunderstanding leads to series of incidents, including a fight with her best friend Emma, which causes a lot of grief and embarrassment for Sam. She sinks into a world filled with frustration. Her mother’s effort to help Sam makes matters worse. Sam hates her lot in life and is desperate to find a solution to her own secret problem. The story has a twist that will delight readers and make them happy for Sam.
Robyn Opie Parnell has written a delightful tale of about the trials of growing up with a problem that is hard to share. Her choice of words make the story sparkle and builds a strong empathy between the reader and Sam.
This is a book I highly recommend for all middle grade readers.
To read the review of Goodreads CLICK HERE.
To purchase the PDF e-book of Stop! Do Not Read This Book CLICK HERE .
To purchase the Amazon Kindle e-book of Stop! Do Not Read This Book CLICK HERE.
To download Chapter One of Stop! Do Not Read This Book by Robyn Opie Parnell absolutely free CLICK HERE.
To request a review copy of Stop! Do Not Read This Book or to request an interview with Robyn Opie Parnell or for any reason please email: robyn.opie.parnell@gmail.com
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
An Interview With Sharon Ledwith, Author of The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis
Welcome Sharon Ledwith. Thank you for visiting this blog. We're thrilled to have you here. I'm thrilled to be here, Robyn.
1. How long have you been writing, Sharon?
Honestly, I have to admit I was a late
bloomer. I didn’t start writing seriously until 1995. That’s when I took two
college courses that changed my life. The first one was called Planning your Novel, which was an
introductory workshop for, Writing your
Novel. I met a couple of wonderful would-be writer gals, and we formed a
writing circle after the classes were done.
2. Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write The
Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis?
Both the idea and inspiration came to me
through a dream I had around 1998. In this dream, I saw seven arches, and there
were seven people (five kids, two adults) with crystals in their hands, walking
up to these arches. It definitely had an “Indiana Jones” feel to it. At that
time, I was writing a paranormal romance (before there was a distinct genre)
and had no intention of writing a middle-grade/young adult book like The Last
Timekeepers. But this idea kept growing in my mind, and wouldn’t leave, like
some mystical force pushing you from behind. So, I thought I’d challenge myself
and write a novel—a series—that would appeal to my son, who at the time was the
target age of my audience. I’ve always loved the time travel genre, so I imagined
the arches I saw vividly in my dream as time portals. It was a no-brainer for
me.
3. What sets The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis
apart from other books in the same genre?
Keyword: Atlantis. I wanted to create a
book series for middle grade/young adults that had a different slant to the
time travel genre. I love history. I also love myths and legends. There’s many
time travel series out there, but nothing that has roots leading back to
Atlantis—at least what I know about and have read. And since there’s no
concrete evidence that Atlantis did exist, then that left the door (or arch)
wide open to possibilities.
4. As an author, Sharon, what is your writing process?
Cut a vein and write. Kidding. I have
many notebooks and pads at my disposal. I also have a file full of ideas. I
guess I start with the characters and build the story around them. My
characters must carry the story to completion, give my readers closure. It’s a
must. In order to do this, I begin writing out character tracking sheets (stats
on characters' appearances, clothing, likes and dislikes, etc.) which have
served me well throughout the writing process. Then the fun begins. Research,
research, and still more research. When you’re writing time travel, you’ve got
to know your facts to create the fiction. I love this part of the journey too.
Only when I have enough facts, and I feel my characters are fleshed out
sufficiently, then I begin to start the novel. Sometimes I’m a pantser (writing
by the seat of my pants), sometimes a plotter (outline entire storyline)—it all
depends on the tone of the book and where my imagination directs me.
5. How long did it take for you to start and finish The
Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis?
Groan. I started gathering ideas and
writing the first draft in 1999. I signed the publishing contract with Musa
Publishing in September, 2011. Now, this was a back and forth project. During
the last eleven years, I wrote a second book in The Last Timekeeper series,
created and penned another young adult series (a teen psychic mystery series),
worked on my paranormal romance, took a writing correspondence course, and
worked at the local animal shelter. I finally picked The Last Timekeeper series
back up in 2010, transcribed and polished it, and kept sending it out until I
struck gold with a publishing contract offer. And even then, after all that,
there were major revisions on changing my point of view over from five
characters to one character. But I was determined, and did it.
6. Do you have any advice for other writers, Sharon?
Never stop
investing in yourself. Invest in the best. That’s in yourself, and in your
readers. Your readers deserve the best of what you have to offer them. Surround
yourself with the best possible team. Never stop learning. As you grow, so will
your readers, so be prepared for this. Oh yeah, and never give up. That’s a
given and should be part of any author’s credo.
7. What’s next for Sharon Ledwith, the author?
Currently, I’m
working on the prequel to the Last Timekeepers series, entitled The Legend of the Timekeepers. I also
have a completed manuscript of the second book in the series entitled, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret,
but there’s the fun job of revising it into Jordan Jensen’s point of view. I’ve
written a master plan for the series with possible titles and premises, so I’ll
be one busy gal!
8. My novel, Maya and the Crystal Skull, features ancient
Mayan ruins and the legend of the crystal skulls. The crystal skulls, in
particular, allow heroine Maya King to momentarily glimpse the past. As the
author of The Last Timekeepers and the
Arch of Atlantis, do you believe in past lives and our ability to
momentarily glimpse those lives?
Oh, yeah! In fact, I believe we’ve known each other in a
past life too, Robyn! Think about it. We were probably scribes who chiseled out
glyphs or created wonderful hieroglyphics on the walls of pyramids. Do I think
it’s possible for us to receive a glimpse of a past life? Most definitely. But
you have to be open-minded about it. Especially if you have a memory flash of
another person in another time period, don’t dismiss it. Even your feelings
about another place or person are wonderful guides. Just remember to trust your
inner voice – that’s where answers are found.
Sharon Ledwith is the author of
the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through
Musa Publishing. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys
reading, yoga, kayaking, time with family and friends, and single malt scotch.
Sharon lives in the wilds of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada, with her
hubby, a water-logged yellow Labrador and moody calico cat.
The Last Timekeepers and
the Arch of Atlantis:
When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and
her annoying classmates are caught in a food fight at school, they're given a
choice: suspension or yard duty. The decision is a no-brainer. Their two-week
crash course in landscaping leads to the discovery of a weathered stone arch in
the overgrown back yard. The arch isn't a forgotten lawn ornament but an
ancient time portal from the lost continent of Atlantis.
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to
be Timekeepers--legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the
evil Belial--Amanda and her classmates are sent on an adventure of a lifetime. Can
they find the young Robin Hood and his merry band of teens? If they don't, then
history itself may be turned upside down.
Connect
with Sharon Ledwith:
Thank you for an interesting interview, Sharon, and all the best with your books.
Love and Light,
Robyn Opie Parnell
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)