Time & Circumstance...a MUST read...more than once!

This beautiful writer has been my blog friend since some time in 2009. I have to admit, I stole her from another writing friend. I knew she had to be mine the second I saw the title of her blog. She was a substitute teacher and I had just "retired" from teaching. Me, being me, I wanted to help her reach her goal of having her own classroom. I'm sure I filled her head with so much information it might have exploded, but it was the beginning of a great friendship and critique partner relationship.

Theresa did get her classroom, furthered her education and wrote and edited and wrote and edited and excelled.  My (pre-ordered) copy of Time & Circumstance arrived on Friday, March 17th. I read it and sent Theresa notes about what I loved about it as I was reading.  My favorites: First Apartment, Collision, Substitute Teacher, and my MVP (most valuable Poem) Card Game. (If you've ever bought a card out of obligation you will totally get this one.)

I asked Theresa to tell us a little about her writing process for Time & Circumstance....

Poetry inspiration has come from many different places. Because my imagination is activated from challenges, visual and written prompts work well for me. A few of my vignettes in the collection came from prompts. But real life has served as ample inspiration as well.

A now inactive blog, “Magpie Tales” used to post picture prompts on a regular basis, which I sometimes posted on my blog and sometimes wrote for myself. I’m a visual person, and the photos and paintings paired nicely with poetry. My first Magpie attempt, “Brolly Folly,” was inspired by a black and white photo of what looked to be a man with holding a red umbrella and a purse. It’s still one of my favorites. Of the maybe 20 in the collection that were inspired by Magpie Tales, I must admit that about half I’d written in advance and waited for a picture that fit with the poem, and the other half the picture actually inspired me. I miss that blog. I’ve tried to find another on that solely uses images, but so far, no luck.

Written prompts mostly informed the prose rather than the poetry, and I’d love to do more of them. There was a Neil Gaiman challenge in The Guardian to begin a piece with the lines: “It wasn’t just the murder, he decided. Everything else seemed to have conspired to ruin his day. Even the cat.” I was too late to add my piece to The Guardian’s online comment section, but “Injustices” made its way into my collection. Another favorite, “The Door” also came from a challenge to begin with “The door swung open” and to end with “The door slammed shut.” I would love to be part of an anthology that all came from the same challenge—what fun it would be to see where our styles and imaginations took us.

Real life, in its wonderful and ugly carnations, has also enriched my writing. One of the last poems in my collection, “Summer Song” came from a vacation on Cape Cod when my family rode on a boat from Woods Hole. The weather was gorgeous—not too hot, not too cold. The views were postcard perfect—everything blue and bright. We passed by all the grand Kennedy family homes. We eventually stopped at a couple of beaches and walked through the clear waters. On the way back, these lovely lines kept popping into my mind. I typed them into the notes section of my phone, so I wouldn’t lose them. Later, I sorted through the notes and wrote the poem. On a darker day, the poem “Boundaries,” was inspired after hearing a hate-filled speech and comparing it with the realities of the poor children I taught at school. I used the dichotomy to channel my feeling onto the page.

Often I find there’s something I want to write about. The idea is in the back, percolating. It takes just one inspiration to take it from my brain to my fingers. My advice is to look for these inspirations and see where they take you.

Theresa Milstein writes middle grade and YA, but poetry is her secret passion. Her vignette collection, TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE, will be published by Vine Leaves Press in March 21, 2017. She lives near Boston Massachusetts with her husband, two children, a dog-like cat, and a cat-like dog. For her day job, she works as a special education teacher in a public school, which gives her ample opportunity to observe teens and tweens in their natural habitat. 

TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE is available for preorder.

$3.99 AUD (eBook)
Kindle AUS
Kindle US
Kindle UK
Kindle CA
iBooks | Kobo | Nook

$12.99 AUD (paperback)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
​Amazon CA
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Chapters Indigo

Leave a comment  and you’re eligible to win a prize during my blog tour!

1 $25 Amazon gift card

1 signed paperback copy

1 ebook

Answer the question:

“If you could relive any moment in time, what would it be?”

Extra entries if you share on Facebook or Twitter and link it to me.

@TheresaMilstein on Twitter.

@Theresa Milstein on Facebook

#ReliveMoment or #TimeandCircumstance

Winners will be announced on April 5, 2017

Attention All Baby Boomers! Out of the Spotlight by George Green Book Giveaway

I"m excited to share with you that one of my consulting clients, George Green, is going to kick off his, OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT, book campaign on June 4th at 9 AM (Pacific Time) on Los Angeles radio station KRLA 870 AM.  He will be the guest of Dennis Prager. Almost every radio market has a Salem station in it. To find your local Salem Channel, Google Salem Radio Broadcasting.

George Green worked for KABC Radio starting in 1960. It was the first all talk format radio station. George worked his way up until he hit the top and became the President and General Manager. Under his leadership, KABC became one of the largest sales revenue stations of America’s seven-thousand properties, and a marketing machine that commanded an audience of over one-million listeners. In 1996 he left KABC and started his own media marketing company called George Green Enterprises.   

George believes   ‘You’re never too old to make things happen.’  Now, at age 84, he's setting his sights on being an author. You can pop over to his website to see all of his books. 

Have you ever wondered what happened to "stars" once their series ended or they were no longer in the limelight? 

Were you a Golden Girls fan? What about Different Strokes? Did you think the Sinatra family walked on the moon? What about the Reagan's? These are just a few of the fascinating people interviewed in George Green's book Out of the Spotlight. The interviews show how so many former stars have found a new spotlight in their lives.

Each interview includes a lovely drawing of the interview subject, a short bio, and then an interview focusing on where they are now. (Some of the people in the book have passed away.)

George has graciously offered to give away a copy of his book to one of my lucky readers, so make sure you leave a comment! Random.org will pick the winning comment on June 26th.  If you aren't the winner you can pop over to Amazon and purchase either the hardback copy or the paper back copy of OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT.

Attention All Preschooler Moms, Grandmothers, and Teachers! (a book give-away)

Kim Scanlon is a certified and licensed pediatric speech language pathologist who lives and practices in New Jersey. Kim is the author of two books. MY TODDLER TALKS will help you help your child with language development. LEARNING TO READ IS A BALL is a rhyming picture book about balls with an excellent parent's guide to help you prepare your preschooler to be a lifelong reader.

Reading is the foundation for your child's future. Children who like to read do better in school. As a former teacher and as a parent, I put a lot of value on teaching reading skills to your children early in life. When my daughter was a preschooler almost everything in our house was labeled with index cards. We read to her daily and nightly. She memorized books when she was two and a half. She loved books then and still does today. (Sometimes I think she is the reason Barnes & Noble is still open.)

Kim's new book, LEARNING TO READ IS A BALL, is not only a cute rhyming picture book about all kinds of balls, but it has an amazing parent's guide in the back. You'll want to start on page one of the story, but don't! To get the most out of this book you should read the parent's guide first.

Kim gives specific techniques to help your emerging reader do more than memorize words. She gives you examples of ways to connect your child's reading and learning to their real life. Those connections increase the value of reading for your child. She shows you how to use synonyms and antonyms to improve your child's vocabulary. She even shares a lesson on how to use elaboration help your child develop his or her own stories. And if that's not enough...she guides you through phonological awareness, rhyme, alliteration and print awareness. These are all skills that will benefit your child as he or she becomes a skilled reader. LEARNING TO READ IS A BALL even has some activity pages. The parent guide  is versatile. Once you grasp the concepts, you'll be able to apply them to other books.

Learning to Read is a Ball is available on Amazon in print and a Kindle version. It is also available at Barnes and Noble. Kim has a wonderful website full of insight on speech and language.

Kim also has a website specifically for My Toddler Talks.  My Toddler Talks can be purchased on Amazon.

You can learn more about Kim, her books, and her services on Facebook and Twitter.

If you would like to be entered to win a copy of Learning to Read is a Ball please tell me if you are a mom, a grandmother, a teacher, a caregiver, an aunt or uncle of a preschooler who would benefit from Kim's book. (Random.org will choose a winner on May 7th and Kim will send him or her a signed copy.)

Please show Kim some book love and tweet about her new book.

And The Winner Is...

Thanks so much to everyone who shared or read my last post. I can't stress how important it is to do your research on agents and publishing houses before you commit to them.

Drum roll....

The winner of the 2015 Guide To Literary Agents is (chosen by random.org) Carrie Charley Brown! Congratulations, Carrie and please email me your address.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

And The Winner Is...

Connie Arnold was chosen by random.org to win a copy of Martha Ramirez's book BROKEN HEART. Congratulations, Connie!

If you didn't win a copy and would still like one you can go here to purchase a copy.

Veuillez m'aider tendance! And a Burnout Giveaway

Veuillez m'aider tendance! 

(Please help me trend!)

I'm not someone who asks for favors or help often, but I'm going to ask you guys to help me with something this week. When I was hosting #sweetheartpbcontest, #midgrademadness, and #yahugs I had the opportunity to help a lot of writers doing I two things I love to do: connecting people and editing. Seeing my hashtags was really cool. It made me think, about trending and the value of trending.

Other than writing and my family, having a positive impact on the people who I "touch" really matters to me. Several years ago I "hosted" a #bepositive Tweet event and lots of people joined in, including Literary Agent Terrie Wolf. She and some of her followers expanded on my idea and created #bepositivehour.  Every week day from 3:00-4:00 PM in whatever time zone you live in you tweet something positive using #bepositivehour. Some of the tweets are so good I would have RT (retweeted) them more than once if it was allowed. Writing positive things is empowering and sending them out to the Universe could potentially change someone's day from a negative to a positive.

Soooooo...

What I'm asking you to do is please join me on Thursday, June 26th from 3:00-4:00 PM in your time zone to help me trend #bepositivehour. You'll have fun I promise! Plus have a chance to win a hardback copy of BURNOUT by Kristi Helvig.

Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth's final years, Tora yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns "red giant," but discovers her fellow survivors are even deadlier than the hostile environment.

Author bio: 
Kristi Helvig is a Ph.D. clinical psychologist turned sci-fi/fantasy author. She muses about Star Trek, space monkeys, and other assorted topics on her blog. Kristi resides in sunny Colorado with her hubby, two kiddos, and behaviorally-challenged dogs.

You can find out more about Kristi on her website/blog and follow her on Twitter.

How to win  a hardback copy of BURNOUT...

Commit (in the comments) to joining me on Thursday, June 26th from 3:00-4:00 PM (in your time zone) for #bepositivehour. I'll use Random.org to choose the lucky winner on Friday. I will be checking the person Random.org chooses did tweet. (I have a #bepositivehour list on my Tweetdeck.)

I hope everyone joins me on Thursday and that we can make #bepositivehour trend...

(((HUGS)))
Sharon

WE HEAR THE DEAD...(insert scary music)...with Dianne Salreni and a giveaway

I have a special guest for the spookiest holiday of the year...

Please welcome Dianne Salerni!

 I have nine quick questions for Dianne...and she has some really cool news...plus I am giving away my gently used copy of her book WE HEAR THE DEAD (which is awesome) and a signed book mark for her upcoming release of THE CAGED GRAVES.

Dianne, when did you begin writing?

I’ve been writing since before I could write. I illustrated my first book, THE GIRL AND THE DRAGON, and my father took dictation for the text. I think I was about 4 years old. But if you want to know when I started my quest for publication, I’ll have to cite my unsuccessful submissions to Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine in high school and my husband’s attempts to get two (really awful) children’s books published when I first got married.

Do you have an agent? If so, who?

My agent is Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger, and she is amazing.

Can you tell us the journey WE HEAR THE DEAD (Which is totally awesome!) took until it reached publication?

Originally, I had an idea about writing a MG book about séance frauds. But when I started researching séances, trying to learn more about them, I kept coming across the story of the Fox sisters, who are credited with the invention of spiritualism. When I learned that one of the teenaged sisters became embroiled in an ill-fated celebrity romance, I decided I had to write this story. So, ultimately I switched from a MG humorous tale to a YA historical romance. Originally, I self-published the book (back in 2007 when this was still taboo), and the good reviews attracted the attention of Sourcebooks, who offered a traditional publishing contract. In 2010, the book was published with a fresh edit and a new title.

(Here's a link to the book trailer....cool stuff)

Is there anything special you would like to share about WE HEAR THE DEAD???

Yes! Around the same time Sourcebooks contacted me about publishing rights, an independent Hollywood producer emailed me after stumbling across my indie book on Amazon. I ended up selling her a film option in a separate deal – which may now be coming to fruition. The producer, Amy Green, has acquired funding through her company ARC49 Entertainment, to produce a film short, tentatively titled THE SPIRIT GAME. Hopefully I will have more information to share about the film and casting later this fall!

When does your next book, THE CAGED GRAVE, come out? 

THE CAGED GRAVES comes out in May 2013 from Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and it is my first agented deal. THE CAGED GRAVES is about 17-year old Verity Boone, who returns to her hometown in 1867 to take part in an arranged marriage, only to discover her mother’s grave confined in a cage outside the cemetery walls and the secret behind her death likely to put Verity in a grave right beside it.

What one thing would you say to prepublished (I love that term. It sounds so much better than unpublished.) authors?

Do not EVER give up – and do not stop writing! Persevere with your projects, but not to the point of excluding new projects and even new genres. If I were to make a list of the manuscripts I’ve written, you would find that the first ones written were not necessarily the first ones sold, and my biggest deal is not in the genre/audience I started with.

Do you have any special news you’d like to share???

HarperCollins has just bought my MG fantasy THE EIGHTH DAY in a 3 book deal, proving the point I made above. THE EIGHTH DAY is about a mysteriously orphaned boy who discovers a secret day hidden between Wednesday and Thursday and a reclusive girl living next door who exists only on that eighth day, hiding from people who’d use her to destroy the regular seven.

What is your favorite holiday?

Summer vacation. That counts as a pretty important holiday when you’re a teacher trying to become an author.

One last question and it’s an important one:  What is your favorite kind of cheese?

Sharon, how can I possibly choose? It depends on what I’m eating it with, or if I’m eating it alone, and what kind of mood I’m in. There’s extra sharp Vermont cheddar, baby Swiss, mozzarella, shaved Parmesan, feta and port wine cheddar – and goat cheese with honey is a local specialty in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Thanks so much for having me here today, Sharon!

**********************************

I so appreciate Dianne for being here with us.  If you haven't checked out her blog, please hop over...If you would like to check out her author website here it is.

If you don't win my copy of Dianne's book and the signed bookmark on November 8th, here is a link where you can purchase it... (It's really good...but you guys know I'm a sucker for historical fiction...)

A Symphony of Seasons...book release and giveaway

Winter

Spring

Summer

And 

Autumn

These are a Symphony of Seasons...

Every season has it's own moment to shine.  Bloggy friend, Connie Arnold, just released her newest poetry book.   Everyone who buys A Symphony of Seasons directly from Connie gets one of these lovely framed photos (below) free with purchase.

Connie gave me permission to share one of her summer poems (because summer is my favorite season).

Shelter of the Trees

A warm summer wind

blows through the trees,

A soft and gentle caressing breeze,

Causing the branches to

wave and sway,

Enhancing the beauty of the day.

Children are playing in the shade

That these magnificent trees have made,

Running around and having fun,

Protected from the hot summer sun.

Green leaves shine in the bright sunlight

While children are laughing with delight

On this perfect day that’s sure to please

Beneath the shelter of the trees.

To read an excerpt (in a variety of formats) follow this link. 

You can purchase Connie newest book and other books and a calendar at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. 


You can even purchase it directly from her publisher RPJ.

Connie has two blog... Connie Arnold Children's Writer and Inspirational Poetry.  

Connie is giving away a couple lovely prizes during her blog tour, so if you leave comment here or on one of the other sites you will be entered in that contest.  

Because I adore Connie, I'm going to giveaway a signed copy of her book and all you have to do is be a follower and answer my question in the comments... (I'll announce the winner of Connie's signed book on May 11th)

What is your favorite season?

ME WANT PET....review and giveaway

Do you have an author crush?  You know an author you just adore and can't get enough of their books... I have an author crush on Tammi Sauer.  (blushes)  I met her at the SCBWI conference in Kansas City a few years ago.  I took a class from her and was bowled over by the wealth of information she shared with us.  If you missed that post, please feel free to check it out.  So when Tammi asked me if I would be interested in doing a book review for ME WANT PET I was beside myself.  I had already pre-ordered ME WANT PET, so that is good news for you because I will be giving a copy of this amazing hardback picture book!

Tammi is also doing a book giveaway .and.... she is giving away some wicked cool second and third place prizes too.

ME WANT PET! (Paula Wiseman/S&S, 2012)
Illustrated by Bob Shea
Synopsis:
Cave Boy goes in search of the perfect prehistoric pet.
Raves and Reviews for ME WANT PET!:
"This account of the age-old bond between animals and children is ideally paced for read-aloud pleasure." - Kirkus Reviews
"Sauer has crafted a humerous read-aloud that's both age-appropriate and entertaining." - School Library Journal
"In this Stone Age comedy, Sauer and Shea imagine a child with a demand as old as time." - Publisher's Weekly




My review without spoilers.... 

If you ever wanted a pet and were told no, this is the book for you!

Cave Boy really wants a pet, but his parents find every excuse they can  for why he can't keep each animal he brings  home. But Cave Boy doesn't give up...He keeps searching for a pet that his parents will accept.  He searches hard and long to find the perfect pet.  Something awful happens....then something great happens....and a very very  happy ending.  (See no spoilers)

ME WANT PET is a delightful story, that is easy and fun to read and kiddos will want to read it over and over again.  Cave Boy is such a relate-able character. It's full of fun dialogue...OOGA!

If you are a picture book writer, I suggest you check out Tammi's books.  I've been studying them to improve my writing.  You can check out all of Tammi's books and upcoming books here.  You can purchase ME WANT PET here and here.

Tammi's book Mostly Monsterly is featured on Cheerios boxes right now!    So hurry out and buy a box of Cheerios!  Mostly Monsterly is an amazing book!

To check out & enter Tammi's contest hop over to her blog.... 


If you would like to enter my giveaway, please be a follower and use "OOGA" in your comments.  I will announce the winner on my March 22nd post.

Do you have an author crush???

Be A Rebel Writer! Make The Commitment To Your Goals

 The absolutely amazing Sheri Larsen reminded me I had committed to being a Rebel Writer this year!  So I am taking a break from my working break to encourage you to write your goals for 2012.  Make sure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Timely.  (SMART GOALS)

You can have a variety of goals that relate to different aspects of your life.  I posted a few of my life goals and writing goals here.  My awesome critique partner, Lenny Lee sent me this wonderful planner and I am using it to make sure I am on track with my writing goals.  Each day I write down what I did relating to my goals of becoming a published author.  It really is motivating me to not have any blank pages.  (I don't typically write on the weekends, so having blank spots on those days is fine for me.)  I'm keeping a food and workout journal to go along with my health goals for 2012.  (It's going well, just in case you wondered...)

I encourage you to keep track of how you are doing on meeting your goals for this year. 

If you have time, pop over to Sheri's blog and check out  the participants of the REBEL WRITER'S PLEDGE Members.  You might find a piece of advice that serves your writing/life style perfectly!

HAPPY WRITING!!!!

(I'm heading back to my office and my manuscript until February 14th when I announce the winner of my book giveaway.)

HUGS TO ALL!!!!

A Giveaway and A Working Break

Last week, I asked you if you had a plan and I told you mine.  Saturday, I began on my health plan.  By going six days a week at an extreme fitness gym and following their nutrition plan, I can already see a visible difference in me. (I'm not talking about the fact that I'm limping today, LOL.)  I am being really focused.  (Everyone claps...)  

I realized I need to be like this with my writing too. 

Lenny and I working on a picture book.  We chatted about it for quite a while today.  I'm not sure if this is how you partner up to write a book, but this is how we are doing it.  He's writing the first draft and I'm consulting.  Then he'll send it to me.  Then I'll send it back to him and we'll chat.  We'll keep doing that until it is perfect and then we'll send it to some of our great bloggy friends for a critique and more revisions until it's polished and ready to submit.

I read YELLOW STAR by Jennifer Roy.  If you get my Goodreads updates or my tweets you'll know I was blown over by the story and the writing.  It made me waver a bit about the importance of my hf story compared to something so compelling, but thanks to some supportive friends (waves Theresa and Len) I'm back on track and want to finish my hf mg novel, NOT A HOLIDAY.  Lenny has promised to be (on my case) super supportive over the next month so I can get close to having the first draft done.

Soooooo, I'm going to take a working break from blog posting until Valentine's Day.  Then I will give you a full report (accountability is so important) on my progress.  Until then I am giving away three books.  All you have to do is be a follower and leave a comment.

 (Published by Guardian Angel a small press based in St. Louis.)

(a personal favorite )

(a writing craft book)

I hope you are having an amazing month!

Hugs to all... (Be safe if you are driving on icy roads.)