Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Book Feature: The Adventures of Mitee Mite by David John




We are thrilled to be hosting David John, author of the children's book series, The Adventures of Mitee Mite! David will be traveling the blogosphere with Pump Up Your Book January 2 - February 28. Leave a comment below to let him know you stopped by!


Title: THE ADVENTURES OF MITEE MITE SERIES
Author: David John
Publisher: Mitee Mite
Pages: 120 pages total in series
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

BOOK BLURB:
Building on a desire to teach children about time, shapes, measurements, and money, author David John created THE ADVENTURES OF MITEE MITE series. In the same way that many of us learned our ABCs, the book and app (available on Google Play and iTunes) collection helps young readers learn how many seconds are in a minute, the number of sides different shapes contain, and more, using a catchy tune that captures their attention and motivates learning.
Focusing on children from age 3 to 11 years old, THE ADVENTURES OF MITEE MITE book and app series offers its readers a dynamic female superhero, Mitee Mite, as their guide through the often tricky terrain involved with mastering time, shapes, measurements, and money. In her matching red cape and boots, Mitee Mite, accompanied by her alarm clock sidekick, Terry the Ticker, activates her superpowers by using her manners, respecting others, and accurately answering questions in the games she encounters during her adventures.

The five books in THE ADVENTURES OF MITEE MITE book and app series include The Time Frame Game and The Time Frame Game Advanced, which break down seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, and years to teach readers the fundamentals of time. The Measuring Game explores the components of feet, yards, and miles, as well as cups, pints, quarts, and gallons. Mitee Mite teaches kids about currency in The Money Game and dives into a colorful world of triangles, squares, hexagons, and more in The Shape Game. The companion song for this series (available at www.miteemite.com) helps kinds absorb the skills in an enjoyable and interactive way.
           
The idea for THE ADVENTURES OF MITEE MITE book and app series came about when David was faced with a dire challenge. “One day as I was babysitting my friends’ children, and not having any idea what to do, I made up fun games to help them learn,” David revealed. The goal of the series is to expose children to a variety of lessons in a manner that is fun, relatable, and memorable. David says, “Mitee Mite was created to help give children a head start on the basics of time, measurements, shapes, and money.”
David’s daughter, whom he calls his “Little Mite,” is the inspiration for the main character and the themes of the series. David’s desire to teach his daughter the basic skills featured in THE ADVENTURES OF MITEE MITE book and app series has expanded into the goal of sharing these lessons with other children through his “You Buy, They Read” program. “We plan to give away one book for every one bought to kids in need.” In addition, David will donate $1 for every $2 of the gross sales of apps to teachers “who are going into their own pockets to buy supplies.”

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

 


Book Trailer:



About the Author

David John is the author of The Adventures of Mitee Mite book and app series. The series follows the adventures of superhero Mitee Mite and her sidekick, Terry the Ticker. The five titles in the series are The Time Frame Game (Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-9860919-0-2; Softcover ISBN: 978-0-9860919-6-4), The Measuring Game (Softcover ISBN: 978-0-9860919-2-6), The Money Game (Softcover ISBN: 978-0-9860919-4-0), The Shape Game (Softcover ISBN: 978-0-9860919-3-3), and The Time Frame Game Advanced (Softcover ISBN: 978-0-9860919-5-7). Complementary apps for each book are available on Google Play and iTunes.  The companion song is available at the website:  www.miteemite.com.

David lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife and daughter. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing hockey, and creating new stories for The Adventures of Mitee Mite book and app series.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:



Book Feature: Survivors' Dawn by Ashley Warren & Win free copy!

We are thrilled to be hosting Ashley Warren's Survivors' Dawn Blog Tour this month! Sign up to win a free copy by filling out form below. Good luck!


Title: SURVIVORS’ DAWN
Author: Ashley Warren
Publisher: Chaparral Press LLC
Pages: 316
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Women’s Fiction / New Adult Fiction

BOOK BLURB: 

A heroic story of three college women’s fight for justice
At first glance, Brooke Flanagan, Lauren Le, and Nikki Towers have little in common: a churchgoing virgin, a party girl, and a resident advisor. But they all have their own dreams, dreams that can be shattered in a single night.

When freshman Brooke Flanagan first arrives at the university, she’s excited to escape her sheltered life in a Southern town. Lauren Le, a scholarship student, likes to have a good time, but she never disappoints her hardworking, single mom. Nikki Towers always goes her own way. Confident, poised, and wealthy, Nikki’s biggest problem is what to do with her future.

Into these girls’ lives walks Colin Jordan. Colin is the son of a private equity titan, captain of his club basketball team, and a brilliant pre-law student. He is also a sexual predator.

Survivors’ Dawn relates a journey of heroes: the strength, courage, and determination of the victims as they fight to survive; the obstacles they face in their pursuit of justice; and finally, with its conclusion, hope for a future where students can pursue their dreams without fear of being attacked.

A contemporary novel, Survivor’s Dawn wrestles with issues of privilege, sexual assault, and the responsibility of academic institutions to protect their students.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon


Book Excerpt:

LAUREN LE BEFORE:
At eleven thirty Lauren Le stood with her new friends at the Homestead, a lively bar in the Triangle. Everyone talked at once, shouting to be heard above the music. The Homestead had space for a couple hundred people, with a large square bar in the middle, dozens of stand-up tables, and two dance floors. The constant beat and the bass notes coursed through Lauren’s veins.
She took a slug of the vodka soda.
Pace yourself, Lauren.
It had taken her a month to get comfortable on campus. She had grown up in Irving, Texas, outside of Dallas, and had never traveled this far to the east before starting school here. Some of her high school friends had gone to college, but none as far away as Lauren. They fell short when it came to grades and test scores and ambition.
Lauren was the result of a short-lived and reckless affair between a Vietnamese immigrant, Kim Le, who worked in a nail salon, and a tall Texan who lit out for the oil rigs as soon as Kim missed her first period. Kim had never heard from him again, and she seldom mentioned him to Lauren. As Lauren grew older she became curious and would sometimes ask about her father.
“I was stupid,” Kim had said. “I tried for a big dream with a big white man. But he was no good.”
When Lauren pressed for more information, Kim would grow adamant.
“You forget about him. You need to study.”
If Kim wasn’t working at the salon, a short distance from their apartment, she was doing piecework for a local tailor. Kim never paid Lauren an allowance, but she let her work a part-time job so long as she kept her grades near perfect.
With a tired mother and an absent father, Lauren was forced to learn how to have a good time on her own, and at that she had excelled. As a senior with a full figure, a fun nature—her hobbies were cosplay, online gaming, and organizing flash mobs—and a curious mind about partying and sex, Lauren had always attracted guys.
She had drunk one cocktail at the Italian restaurant and started with a shot of tequila at the Homestead. When they had first arrived, the girls danced as a group for nearly an hour, not allowing the dearth of boys to deter them from getting the party started.
Lauren took a break, her head buzzing slightly from the alcohol and the dancing. Cool air from the duct above her whisked away the perspiration.
God, college is fun.
The bar began to fill, and boys drifted by their group in ones and twos. A sophomore from New Jersey bought her another drink. He was her height, with red hair, and talked fast in a northern accent. He was almost cute, except for a big pimple and his lack of coordination. They tried dancing but couldn’t make it work. Afterward, he told her his dream of becoming a veterinarian. Snore.
Lauren spied one of the resident advisors from Roxbury Hall, Nikki Towers, watching her from the other side of the bar. The girls had approached Nikki when they first entered the Homestead, nervous because they had used fake IDs to get past the bouncer. They needn’t have worried. Nikki’s nickname was Cool RA. She had a reputation for doing her own thing in her own way and never traveling in a crowd. Cool RA had wished them a good time but advised them not to get wasted. (“I’m your RA, not your babysitter.”) Nevertheless, when Lauren caught Nikki’s eye, she could tell Cool RA was not impressed with the New Jersey kid.
“So…,” he said, “do you want to come over to the frat house and listen to music? I’ve got some killer weed.”
“Oh…well…like…”
His eyes were glazed and his shoulders swayed, like a five-year-old on a bicycle. Lauren wasn’t a fan of just-met sex. If he had been gorgeous, like Liam Hemsworth, then maybe. Wait, maybe? Not maybe. Definitely! But she would not have sex with New Jersey, at least not tonight. “You know, I’m gonna hang with my friends a while longer. Thanks, though.”
“Not a problem. Catch you later.”
He leaned toward her as if expecting something. She hesitated, unsure, and then offered to shake hands. He only got about ten steps before he stopped to chat up another girl.
“What did he want?” said Caitlyn, her roommate. Caitlyn’s face turned sour as Lauren told her of the invite to smoke pot. “Eewww! That guy?”
They laughed. Lauren was light as a feather. She could party all night.
LAUREN LE AFTER:
At two thirty in the morning an Uber dropped Lauren outside Roxbury Hall. Lighting a cigarette, she gazed up at the three-story brick building and remembered move-in day, how excited she’d been; her mother and aunt and uncle had come to help. What had she wanted then? Freedom? Relief from her mother’s watchful eyes? Yes, that was part of it, but she’d hoped for a lot more.
Lauren had smoked pot with her latest score, a hipster from California, and now her head felt heavy and thick. After the joint he had wanted to have sex again. She had no urge for an encore but couldn’t think of a polite way to turn him down. What did that make in total? Three? Four? Five counting the blackout sex with Colin Jordan. Five boys (men?) in four weeks. What the hell? So weird. The hookups were like gorging on pizza, but the gnawing emptiness she’d felt after Colin hadn’t abated at all.
What did she have on the calendar for the next day? A couple lectures: Psychology and English Lit. She might make it to class, or she might not. They were easy courses anyway. Crushing the butt beneath her heel, she tossed it in a trashcan and walked through the door.
Inside Lauren’s dorm room, Caitlyn sat at her desk reading a textbook with her earbuds in.
“Hey,” said Lauren. “What are you doing up so late?”
Caitlyn turned in her chair. “Studying for the psych test.” She sniffed the air.
What? Caitlyn never studied this late. Lauren walked to Caitlyn’s side and saw, sure enough, that the fat psych book was open a third of the way through.
“What for? The test is next week.”
“It’s tomorrow.”
“No, it’s next week.”
“It’s tomorrow. I texted you to study together, but you never answered. Where’ve you been?”
Lauren ignored Caitlyn and walked to her desk to check her laptop. The test had to be next week; she’d skipped a few classes and hadn’t read the book. “What?”
“I asked where you’ve been.”
“The Homestead. I went for a drink.”
Fuck! Caitlyn was right. The test was that morning—less than seven hours away. Lauren shook her head. The buzz from the pot had turned into a headache. How did she mess this up? Caitlyn was saying something else.
“What?”
“You smell like cigarettes and pot. Where did you smoke pot?”
“Uh…I stopped at this guy’s place to party.”
“On a Tuesday? Shit, Lauren. What the fuck?”
“Hey, you’re not my mom. Chill the fuck out.”
After a shower and some caffeine, Lauren reviewed her notes and opened the textbook. Caitlyn had gone to sleep, and Lauren’s desk lamp made shadows on the floor. The quiet of the room calmed her, and for the first twenty minutes she made progress, covered the better part of a chapter, but then her eyelids grew heavy, and the words blurred on the page. A short nap would clear her head and allow her to absorb the material with her usual speed. She set a twenty-minute timer on her phone, lay down, and closed her eyes. The psychology concepts quickly drifted away.
* * *
Lauren sat in the classroom, breathing fast; her eyes flitted back and forth over the questions. Half of the class had already finished and left. She flipped back several pages. Damn. There had to be another question she could answer, but she couldn’t find it, and after another minute the professor called time.
She had woken at eight thirty to Caitlyn roughly shaking her shoulder.
“Wake up! It’s time to go. I woke you twice already.”
With no time to even brush her teeth, Lauren had pulled on boots and a clean top and walked with Caitlyn to class. She had never felt so unprepared.
And now she’d failed the test. Fucking flat-ass failed it.
Outside in the bright sunlight, Caitlyn stopped to face her. Her eyes peered into Lauren’s, her ever-present smile nowhere to be seen.
“How’d you do?” said Caitlyn.
“Awful. I really fucked up.”
“I’m sorry. You know…I tried to text you.”
Lauren’s legs were numb. Adrenaline had fired her up during the exam, but now all the energy had burned off.
Caitlyn headed off to another class, and Lauren trudged to the student union. She’d spent the last of her cash on cigarettes. Once inside, she made it to the ATM and took out ten dollars.
She stared at the red and white logo on the touchscreen.
Bank of America.
Her mother’s apartment was two blocks from a branch. Kim would deposit cash tips at the drive-thru while Lauren sat in the passenger seat. Some days at the salon were hard. The owner would berate the workers for not learning English. But the drive-thru had always lifted Kim’s spirits. On the way out she’d pause to look at the B of A sign and say the same thing every time: “Your future is in this bank.”
Lauren took two steps and her knees softened. She turned her back against the wall and sank until her butt touched the floor.
Don’t cry. Don’t.
But her throat tightened and warm tears forced their way through closed eyelids. She sat with elbows on knees, her hands over her face. Silent sobs shook her shoulders. Students walked past in the hallway, busy, with classes to attend, futures to build. Two girls giggled, happy, oblivious.
Fuck. What was happening? She was freefalling into black air.
Someone said something. A man’s running shoes appeared through spread fingers.
“Are you all right?” he said.
Lauren pressed her palms against her eyes to rub away the tears. She wouldn’t compound her failure by making people pity her, too. Pushing off the tiled floor she stood, pulled her backpack over her shoulder, and faced him.
“You looked kind of sad,” he said.
Who was this guy? What was his game? Not bad looking, with strong shoulders and a relaxed vibe, faded jeans and a simple black T-shirt.
“Do you want to fuck me?” she said.
“What?” His mouth opened. “No!” He stepped back and thrust his hands in front as if to ward her off. “What’s the matter with you?”
Several students stopped, sensing an incident of interest.
Lauren marched away from the onlookers. She ran upstairs to the second floor and exited onto the grounds on top of the hill. She kept walking, past the admissions building and the Old Chapel and onto Philosopher’s Row. She took one of the paths into the side gardens and dropped on a bench.
She rocked slowly, hugging her arms. God, how pathetic was that? What would she do next? She wanted to skip class and walk to the Homestead for an early afternoon cocktail.
As if clinging to the edge of a dark abyss, Lauren tried to hold on, her stomach roiling, her arms shaking. She had propositioned the boy, because she had wanted to fuck him. She wanted to fuck a guy…any guy…every guy.
But why? She’d never done that before. Never on the first night…that was her rule, one she’d broken how many times now? Five.
She grasped the edge of the stone bench, squeezing, ignoring the grating surface against her fingers. A bird sang from a nearby tree. The bird flew from one tree to the next, a flash of red, a cardinal. It settled for a few moments on the branch of a maple tree, whose leaves had begun to turn, sang, and flew off.
The cardinal reminded her of Todd, the gay guy she’d met three weeks earlier, with his bright plumage and sweet song. What had Todd told her as they waited for the Uber driver? Something about the dean of student affairs. Maybe she should check it out.



 About the Author

The unending accounts of sexual assault on college campuses compelled me to write Survivors’ Dawn.

My goal in writing the novel was NOT to focus on the act itself, but instead, to write of the victim’s journey, to tell a story about the strength, courage, and determination of survivors, to describe the difficulties they face in their pursuit of justice, and finally, to offer hope for a future where students can pursue their dreams without fear of being attacked.

As Lady Gaga’s “Til It Happens to You” implies, non-victims can never truly know how it feels to be assaulted, but we can try to empathize, and we can try to help. Awareness is key to reducing the incidence of sexual assault on campus. Please do your part by taking the It's On Us pledge and contributing to organizations that are fighting on the front lines.

Thank you to readers who give me encouragement. It means so much to me. Word of mouth is an incredible thing, so thank you also for telling your friends about Survivors' Dawn. 

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:




Giveaway Details:

Ashley Warren is giving away a FREE Kindle copy of SURVIVORS' DREAM!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
  • This giveaway ends midnight March 30.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on March 31.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Monday, February 19, 2018

Q&A: Kathleen Shaputis, Author of Their Witch Wears Plaid @nwauthor



Kathleen Shaputis lives in the glorious Pacific Northwest with her husband, Bob, a clowder of cats and three pompously protective Pomeranians with little social aptitude: Brugh, Bouncer and Miss Jazzy. If not writing, she’s busy reading and watching romantic comedies, her ultimate paradise.

Her latest book is Their Witch Wears Plaid.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK


As a book bloggin’ and book luvin’ Princess, I’m always curious to find out how authors got the ideas for their books.  Can you tell us what your book is about?

It’s a tale of magical realism set in the Highlands, centered around a restored castle made into a romantic bed and breakfast. A chilling adventure begins with the visit of an ancient Druid, sending Nell on a quest to find herself.   

Can you tell us a little about the main characters of your book?

Nell is a talented palm reader and psychic who moved to Scotland from Olympia, Washington to work at the castle as their fortune teller during castle tours and their first summer fair. She had worked with the co-owner, Baillie, years before regarding the resident ghost, Lord Kai, the gorgeous laird of the 17th century.  Galen is a professional jouster who works at an entertainment restaurant in southern California until given the honor of filling a last-minute opening at the castle’s fair.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would that be?

Stay bold and tenacious with your passion. Under duress from my mother to put away foolish notions of being a writer as a young girl, I didn’t seriously pursue my dreams until I was in my late thirties. I wish I had started going to writers’ conferences earlier, learning the craft surrounded by other writers.

What would you say is one of your interesting writing quirks?

Having conversations with my characters. They can be quite the chatty bunch at times. And tend to twist a storyline with their whims and demands. Gillian Nation is the pushiest. Created in my romantic comedy Changes in Attitude, imagine my surprise when he slides in, making himself at home in the Baillie Castle series. He endears himself to Nell with an entourage of T-Cup and Rafael, his girls, in Their Witch Wears Plaid.

Do you hear from your readers?  What do they say?

My readers are a delightful cut of women who enjoy a book knowing there will be a happily ever after at the end. Their support and encouragement in wanting to know more is how the Baillie Castle series came about.

What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

Time to rip off the Band-Aid, eh? Criticism is part of being a writer. My work was shredded with razor-sharp claws from a well-known literary author as trite, childish and weak. Ouch, but I licked my wounds knowing my work may be cotton candy against his filet mignon, but people like cotton candy. There is a market for sweet fluff.  

What has been your best accomplishment?

The Baillie Castle series is my shining trophy to date. Each book stands alone in relating its story, but together they allowed me to fulfill my fantasies of living in Scotland. Interestingly, I live in western Washington where the rainfall and days of cloud cover are similar to the Highlands. I have white heather growing in a garden in the front yard for good luck from my Scots ancestors.

Do you Google yourself?

I have! With a married last name like Shaputis, I can Google myself and rest assured it’s not cluttered with a variety of other people of the same name. I wrote a fun creative nonfiction book titled The Crowded Nest Syndrome, about the return of adult children, and during a Google search, found someone had written an article awarding me the title of American sociologist when quoting my work.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

The secret stash of yet-to-be’s holds three right now. I am currently polishing a work in progress set in the disco-dancing Seventies of a single working mother.

Fun question – if you were princess or prince, what’s one thing you would do to make your kingdom a better place?

My kingdom would see a blending of generations working together. Seniors would be involved with kindergarten classes and pre-school activities. And those in high school would learn skills in caring for older adults and appreciating their history. Listening to Gray Stories, bringing history to life, would be an important part of a child’s growing up. And the elders would give relief to the working parents trying to juggle a career and an overfilled calendar of soccer practice and piano lessons.   

Do you have anything specific that you would like to say to your readers?

Don’t forget to leave a review. It doesn’t have to be lengthy, just a few words will make a difference. Authors work in a solitary environment and reviews are vital in understanding how their readers perceive their books and characters as well as building new audiences.

Q&A: Patrick & Shani Muhammad, Authors of 'Patrick Turns Play Into Pay'






South Florida based janitor turned serial entrepreneur, Patrick Muhammad took what some would call an unconventional route to his newest venture.  “What I do now has evolved.  It truly took my passion and has turned it into a profession for me. I can see myself mentoring and sharing my story with young people easily for the next 20 years.  I love talking to young people and showing them, what entrepreneurship looks like. I love sharing my stories of how I came to be.  I didn’t just wake up one day and have all the answers.  My wife and I bumped our head A LOT.  I just want to say to them, look…here’s the blueprint.  Start now, don’t wait until you’re 30.  Passion has no age requirement, and has no limit on how many you can have. I started out as a janitor, then became a baker now I am into motivational speaking. They just have to have the passion and guidance. Anything is possible.”

“Patrick Turns His Play Into Pay” is the 1st book in a series of children’s books authored by husband and wife writing partners, Shani and Patrick Muhammad. The idea for the book was created one night while trying to explain the reason there was a gigantic, neon, pink and orange food-truck, now sitting in their front yard to their then 4 year-old Qadeer.   Patrick and his wife came up with the idea that they would write a keepsake item for all their children, detailing the road they took to becoming entrepreneurs.  The primary message is simple. By tapping into your passion early in life you can turn your playdays into paydays.  Once the book was published they both realized that the story could not only inspire their own children to entrepreneurship, but others as well. Shani figured out how to self-publish it and Patrick would take it to different youth groups in his community.   “I began shopping the book around to childcare centers and non-profits that served young people in the projects and the adults loved it.  “They really loved the idea that it was based on a true story and that the message was coming from a black male perspective. A story their children could relate to.  The images were brown like them and I just always got a positive response.  We took that book everywhere with us, and the response was this is a message that’s needed.  Children can’t be what they can’t see.”
Patrick currently lives in South Florida with his wife and three of his youngest five children.  He has a passion for planting the seed of entrepreneurship and carving out wealth building opportunities for his children’s generation. When he’s not writing books he’s on tour, speaking to groups of young people about basic principles of financial literacy and the benefits of early investing using cryptocurrency as a vehicle to establish future financial goals. When he’s not doing that…he’s on a creek with a fishing pole in his hand.

Shani Muhammad has been married to Patrick for 17 years now.  Together they have 5 children and 3 grandchildren.   Shani has spent the past 15 years in a classroom as a teacher. She too is a serial entrepreneur and has in the past owned a one-price shoe store, group homes and several online businesses. When she’s not working on the next children’s book in their series, she too enjoys researching and investing in crypto currencies and planning her family’s next “staycation.”

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK



About the Book:

Title: PATRICK TURNS HIS PLAY INTO PAY
Author: Patrick Muhammad & Shani Muhammad
Publisher: 5 Star Publishing
Pages: 40
Genre: Children’s Book

BOOK BLURB:
The first book in a series, "Patrick Turns His Play Into Pay", details the journey of an entrepreneur, through the eyes of a child. The book uses vivid illustrations and lively words, to explain the road little Patrick took into the world of entrepreneurship.  It demonstrates the benefits of tapping into your passion early in life.  “Patrick” tapped into his passion of baking to help solve a money problem.  This book also shows the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.  You witness a 9-year old take the power and control of his future into his own hands. You also see what happens when “Patrick” finds help in a friend, to help grow his business. Above all, this book motivates both young and young at heart and serves as a reminder that we all have the ability to turn our playdays into paydays.


ORDER YOUR COPY:



As a book bloggin’ and book luvin’ Princess, I’m always curious to find out how authors got the ideas for their books.  How did you come up with the idea for your book?

The idea for the book was created one night while trying to explain the reason there was a gigantic, neon, pink and orange food-truck, now sitting in their front yard to our youngest at Qadeer. He was 4 at the time.   My wife and I came up with the idea that we would write a keepsake item for our children and God-willing…grandchildren, detailing the road we took to becoming entrepreneurs.  The primary message is simple. By tapping into your passion early in life, you can turn your play days into paydays.


Can you tell us what your book is about?

The first book in a series, "Patrick Turns His Play Into Pay", details the journey of an entrepreneur, through the eyes of a child. The book uses vivid illustrations and lively words, to explain the road little Patrick took into the world of entrepreneurship.  It demonstrates the benefits of tapping into your passion early in life.  “Patrick” tapped into his passion of baking to help solve a money problem.  This book also shows the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.  You witness a 9-year old take the power and control of his future into his own hands. You also see what happens when “Patrick” finds help in a friend, to help grow his business. Above all, this book motivates both young and young at heart and serves as a reminder that we all have the ability to turn our playdays into paydays.


Can you give us an excerpt?

“I didn’t have a dime, I only had a clue. Thanks to madea…I knew just what to do!”

“After reading this book, you’ll find out how I turned my playdays into paydays.”


“Just because baking is what you and I do for play, nowhere is it written, that it can’t become your pay.”

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would that be?

Start out the self-publishing route. You’re too much of a control freak to do it any other way.

What would you say is one of your interesting writing quirks?

I like burning candles with wintergreen scent when I write.

Do you hear from your readers?  What do they say?

During the 1st few months after I began self-publishing, I shopped the book around to childcare centers and non-profits that served young people in the projects and the adults loved it.  They really loved the idea that it was based on a true story and that the message was coming from a black male perspective. A story their children could relate to.  The images were brown like them and I just always got a positive response.  We took that book everywhere with us, and the response was that this is a message that’s needed.  We still today believe that children can’t be what they can’t see.


What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

I can’t say that I have received any.

What has been your best accomplishment?

Holding the finished product in my hands and showing it to my children.

Do you Google yourself?

 Yes, I think everybody has at some point.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

One published and 4 half-published. The next one in this series is Patrick Turns His Play Into Pay using Bitcoins. It’s almost finished.

Fun question – if you were princess or prince, what’s one thing you would do to make your kingdom a better place?

Make fishing mandatory on Mondays for….everyone!

Do you have anything specific that you would like to say to your readers?

Passion should drive you, not money.  If there is passion, no matter what you choose in life, I think the money will eventually come.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Blog Tour - Interview with Owen Sypher, Author of The Song of Solomon

Owen L. Sypher is a devoted servant of the Lord. At eleven years old, he started a spiritual journey to discover and understand God and his word.
In 1979, he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Since then, he has had fellowships with the same group. Song of Solomon is his first book.
You can visit his website at http://www.sypherbooks.com.   
What’s inside the mind of a Bible book author?
My mind is full of a love of the word of God.  I like to meditate and think about God’s word most of the day.  I like to try and see how does the word of God work in my life.
What is so great about being an author?
People is impressed when you say you are an author, that is nice but the greatest thing is knowing that what I wrote can potentially help a lot of people get a closer walk with the Lord.
When do you hate it?
When I am tired and have writer’s block, and when I have a self imposed deadline or goal to reach.
What is a regular writing day like for you?
When I am thinking about a verse, I take the verse and just think about that one verse or setting from morning to night, sometimes for a few days and just let the Lord stir up scriptures. I try to always have a pen and paper with me so that when an idea comes I can write it down even if I discard the idea later.  If I don’t write it down I tend to forget the idea. Then I transfer it to my rough draft that I am doing which I go over  several times later on in the process.
How do you handle negative reviews?
I realize not everyone is going to like my books, I look at the star rating and read what they have to say about it. I try to see if there is anything positive said about my book and dwell on that. The negative part I try to use to see if I could have improve my book anyway, or my writing style so when I write another book it will be better.
How do you handle positive reviews?
I get real excited about positive reviews, they are like a pat on the back for a job well done.      
What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?
First response is usually surprise, you wrote a book? And then it gives me an opportunity to discuss my book with them, and to explain the wonderful things that are found in the word of God.
What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?
I usually take a break from writing, sometimes I waste my time playing a game on the computer.  I had to force myself to write at the end because I had my own deadline of when I wanted the book done and published by, but this was in the finishing process.
What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?
It is ok if they don’t take it seriously; I had to do it because it is what I felt like God wanted me to do.  I did not get much encouragement or discouragement while writing my book people were just neutral on it until after it was written.
Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?
Yes I can the most beautiful thing about writing this book is that I feel like I have imparted some words of wisdom to this world that will help people.
The worst part about writing is that it can be very time consuming especially if you have a full time job also.
Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?
No the true success is if you impart something of value into your readers lives to where they can improve or have a better life.  Money is just a small part of the equation.
What has writing taught you?
The most important thing it has taught me is that I can start a long term project and finish it.  This is important to me on a personal level; I grew out of writing this book.
It also taught me that I do have knowledge that I can pass on to future generations in the form of this book. Also that people wanted to hear what I had to say.
Leave us with some words of wisdom.
That is a tall order to leave words of wisdom, but I will try.
Write about things you are passionate about, and describe it in your own way. Speak from the heart.  Do your homework so you can be more detailed about what you are writing about.
Enjoy the process it will have it’s ups and downs but stay focus on your goal of finishing.
I have enjoyed writing this book.
God Bless
About the Book:
Title: THE SONG OF SOLOMON REVEALED
Author: Owen Sypher
Publisher: Litfire Publishing, LLC
Pages: 308
Genre: Religion/Bible Studies

BOOK BLURB:
The book of Song of Solomon is a spiritual book full of allegories or pictures where God used the natural to show the spiritual. By using the keys of understanding found in the Bible the author has unlock the hidden meaning of the book of Song of Solomon.
The book of Song of Solomon is about the love that Jesus has for his bride. When looked at from this angle a lot of the verses makes more sense.

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Thursday, February 15, 2018

Q&A: Diana Forbes, Author of 'Mistress Suffragette @dianaforbes18 @pumpupyourbook



Diana Forbes is a 9th generation American, with ancestors on both sides of the Civil War. Diana Forbes lives and writes in Manhattan. When she is not cribbing chapters, Diana Forbes loves to explore the buildings where her 19th Century American ancestors lived, loved, survived and thrived. Prior to publication, Diana Forbes’s debut won 1st place in the Missouri Romance Writers of America (RWA) Gateway to the Best Contest for Women’s Fiction. A selection from the novel was a finalist in the Wisconsin RWA “Fab Five” Contest for Women’s Fiction. Mistress Suffragette won 1st place in the Chanticleer Chatelaine Award’s Romance and Sensual category, and was shortlisted for the Somerset Award in Literary Fiction. Mistress Suffragette won Silver in the North American Book Awards and was a Winner of the Book Excellence Awards for Romance. Mistress Suffragette was also a Kirkus Best Indies Book of 2017. The author is passionate about vintage clothing, antique furniture, ancestry, and vows to master the quadrille in her lifetime. Diana Forbes is the author of New York Gilded Age historical fiction.

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As a book bloggin’ and book luvin’ Princess, I’m always curious to find out how authors got the ideas for their books.  How did you come up with the idea for your book?


I had the idea for my book seven years ago, but I knew that I needed to do research on the time period. So, first I wrote down a detailed outline. Then I put that away for two years while I read actually happens in Mistress Suffragette. Then I visited every location in the novel and made numerous adjustments. While I was looking for an agent, the plot for the sequel came to me, and now I am happily writing that.
everything I could about the time period –- both fiction and especially non-fiction. Once I started writing the book, the characters did not let me follow the outline! Towards the end of the drafting process, I re-outlined the book, now following what

Can you tell us what your book is about?

Mistress Suffragette is about a feisty young woman named Penelope Stanton growing up in Gilded Age Newport, Rhode Island. Penelope expects to grow up and get married to a young man whom her parents have chosen for her through an arranged marriage. But her father experiences terrible financial stress, and Penelope’s plans are catapulted. She ends up running away to Boston, where by necessity she joins the early women’s suffrage movement—almost by accident. Gradually she grows in the Movement. But her tortured love life threatens to unravel everything she’s fighting for.

Can you tell us a little about the main characters of your book?

Penelope Stanton is a young, charismatic speaker in the early women’s movement. Verdana Jones is her outrageous, funny, bisexual sidekick.
Penelope has several male romantic interests, including the irrepressible Edgar Daggers, who is not a good person.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would that be?

Just keep writing. The form will come. The voice will come. The plot will come. But you have to be willing to pay your writing dues. Write every day for as long as you possibly can.

What would you say is one of your interesting writing quirks?

I eat the same thing for lunch every day: 2 Zone bars and about 10 cough drops. I also have an iced coffee drink or two.

Do you hear from your readers?  What do they say?

Yes. They say they really like the main character, Penelope. They also appreciate all of the research that went into the book. They also say it’s a fun read, which was my intention.

What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

I take two writing classes a week, which is my way of making sure my novels stay on point. If an early reader has a question, I revise and revise until I answer the concern.

What has been your best accomplishment?

Probably getting Mistress Suffragette published.

Do you Google yourself?

No. I just try to keep writing and having fun with it.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

1 unpublished novel; 1 unproduced play; 2 unproduced screenplays; and ¾ of a novel that I will return to after I finish the Mistress Suffragette trilogy.

Fun question – if you were princess or prince, what’s one thing you would do to make your kingdom a better place?

I would have a lot of costume balls and invite everyone in the kingdom so that we could all meet each other and dance the quadrille!

Do you have anything specific that you would like to say to your readers?

I really hope you enjoy Mistress Suffragette. I wanted the novel to be fun and easy—the kind of book I like to read.