Better Late Than Never....Twisted True Tales From Science by Stephanie Bearce

And the winner is....drum roll...Hilary Melton-Butcher!

Twisted True Tales...and a book giveaway!

I have to say I am a fan girl...Stephanie Bearce is not only a friend, but the queen of research. Her series Twisted True Tales From Science can attribute to her amazing researching skills and her great voice. She doesn't dumb down her science she makes is just right for her readers. I would recommend her books for third through fifth grade and second grade if they are exceptional readers. 

Twisted True Tales From Science: Disaster Discoveries

As a former third and fourth grade teacher I would expect this book to be highly sought after off my book shelf. There is nothing more exciting than a natural or man made disaster and this book is full of them! One of my favorite parts is the hands on activities. Who doesn't want to make their own volcano erupt or figure out what liquids are heavier than others (density)?

Twisted True Tales From Science: Explosive Experiements

This has to be my favorite book in Stephanie Bearce's series! I could not put it down. Literally, I read it while I was getting a pedicure and was sharing what I was learning with everyone around me.

I knew the Chinese developed gunpowder, but I had no idea what they were trying to invent and all the invention that occurred because of their potion. This book is filled with great experiments that any second through fifth grader would love to do. Paint bombs, bath bombs and even soapy explosions.

While this book is full of history, it's full of great hands on activities. If I was still teaching this book would be a must have on my bookshelf!

Twisted True Tales From Science: Insane Inventors

Don't Try This At Home...might be another good title for this book.


Third through fifth graders will love reading about these crazy and successful inventors who tried far to many experiments at home or on themselves. It's amazing how many scientist experimented on themselves to provide us with modern medicine and technology. Many of these scientists injured themselves or even died for the good of others. 

Another great read by Stephanie Bearce!



Twisted True Tales From Science: Medical Mayhew

If you have a fever perhaps you should eat some spider webs...or for something more serious a jar of leeches might do the trick, but if your situation is peril you might want to eat some mouse paste. Yes, I said that! What a great book telling the horrors of medical history. It even has some experiments you can do. This is gross/fun/informative read.

And now for the giveaway....Please leave a comment and you will be entered in a drawing to win one of Stephanie's books...Please Tweet or share my post. It won't get your name in the drawing more, but it will help promote a talented author. (I'll use random.org to choose the winner on July 19th.)

Tess Hilmo, Amy Allgeyer, Terry Lynn Johnson and me...Plus Holiday Safety and Skies Like These Book Giveaway!

Tess Hilmo

Amy Allgeyer

 

Terry Lynn Johnson

What do these three writers have in common? Me! I know they have more than that in common....They are all amazing writers and each one worthy of you buying and reading their books. All of them write books that make you stay awake wanting to finish reading them...even if it takes you all night. So as you get ready to do some holiday shopping remember books are a wonderful gift!

Tess Hilmo just released her third MG book! 

Newly Released!

Awards:

Skies Like These was short listed for the Spur Award and made a few state lists as well

Awards:

With a Name Like Love was on the School Library Journal Best Books of 2011 List, and Booklists' 'Top 10 Historical Reads for Teens' list and a few state lists (Maine, No. Carolina, Utah and a few others) and also won the Rodda Award (which is the National Church and Synagogue Assoc Literature Award) and two Whitney Awards.

All are available on Amazon. You can click over and follow her on Amazon! I did!

Awards:

Won the Gold Medal for YA Fiction in the Moonbeams Children's Book Awards.

Won First Place YA in the Idaho Author Awards.

You can do the same thing for Amy! I did!

Awards:

• 2015 Children's Choice Book Award Finalist
• 2014 Cybils Award Finalist
• A Junior Library Guild Selection
• American Booksellers Association Best Children's Books of 2014
• A Scholastic Book Fairs Selection 2014
• Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids 2014
• Int'l Literacy Association—CBC Children's Choices 2015
• International Reading Association—Terrific Read Alouds
• Black-Eyed Susan Book Award—Maryland 2015-2016
• Maine Student Book Award—Maine 2015-2016
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award—Vermont 2015-2016

I followed Terry too! And so can you!

Did you know your reviews on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel and even Goodreads make a difference to authors? At a recent critique group session one very published writer said you hope to have at least fifty reviews on each of your books.

SOOOOOO....

If you like someone's work, let the world know!

The Lovely Tess Hilmo gave me a copy of SKIES LIKE THESE  to give away to one lucky reader. I will announce the winner (chosen by random.org) on December 6th. To enter leave a comment on this post. (Please tweet if you have time...These are wonderful writers!)

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Holiday safety:

(Tis the season to get scammed!)

Keep an eye on your doorstep! Don't let packages you are expecting walk off with strangers!

Know your charities! Only give to known charities. That person on the corner with an apron on may be scamming you.

Watch out for malware e-cards! Be careful what you open in email....you could get something you don't want downloaded. Use your virus protection!

Use caution on giveaways and raffles! Don't give away personal information or your mobile phone number! Only sign up for things that are through reputable organizations.

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BE HAPPY! BE SAFE! AND BE KIND!!!

(See you back on December 6th to find out if you are the winner.)

Faith, Charity, and Love (and a two book giveaway)

FAITH AND LOVE

 My title probably doesn't make sense with the photo of my kiddo...but it will. I couldn't find the picture of my pastor holding her on the day she was Christened. Pastor Jon, long gone from our old church, as are we, is still my spiritual guider. I go to him in confidence and trust that he will lead me in the right direction. He is an amazing man who tells the truth and sometimes the truth ruffles comfortable peoples' feathers. I know he's ruffled mine a time or two, but I know what he is says is right and he says it because he wants me to be a better Christian and person. Please don't be offended if you aren't Christian. I expect you aspire to be better in the eyes of your Lord too.

Pastor Jon's book, HOW TO SAVE YOUR DYING CHURCH, is not just for churches, although that is what he would like...He'd like small struggling churches to read this in Sunday School and see if they can get a message from it and help their church bring more disciples to Christ. For me reading it, it helped me see some of my shortcomings and some of my strengths.

Don't let the plain cover fool you! It's set up like the standard church bulletin. The lessons in it are well worth the read and then discussing with a friend or in fellowship. I am giving away a copy to one lucky reader on February 22nd.  Please spread the word.

Pastor Jon White's book HOW TO SAVE YOUR DYING CHURCH can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/How-Save-Your-Dying-Church/dp/1516863615/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455216474&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+save+your+dying+church

LOVE AND CHARITY

I love this woman! Robyn Campbell is the most caring, passionate woman around and if you don't know you...you must have just gotten your first computer last week.  Don't worry she will find you!

Robyn gives so much to the writing community. She is always helping others and reaching out to people. She home schools her children and her son Christopher has Sturge-Weber Syndrome. He has so many battles in his life and she keeps on fighting for him.

One of the amazing things she has done is compile an anthology called KISSED BY AN ANGEL and all the proceeds go to the foundation. The book is LOVELY! It is full of beautiful uplifting stories about children who find a special gift of sorts within themselves. The book is appropriate for children aged 8 to 12, but I believe anyone with a gentle heart would love this book. And if you like short stories that's another plus!

Eleven amazing writers worked together to create this wonderful book for the Sturge-Weber Foundation. You can buy this KISSED BY AN ANGEL for little to nothing and help these precious children!
http://www.amazon.com/Kissed-Angel-Robyn-Campbell/dp/151936055X

I'll be giving away a copy of KISSED BY AN ANGEL  on February 25th.

FAITH, CHARITY, and LOVE...

I love Jon and Robyn. Please help me help them share their books with the world. Just hitting the tweet my post button may bring more people here and give them more exposure...Sharing on Facebook would be great too.  I'm not so good at the fancy helicopter thing.

In your comment tell me which book you would be interested in. I'll put your name in an extra time if you tell me you Tweeted my post and another time for putting it on Facebook. (I'll trust you.) And yes, because I'm old school...I will be putting names in two jars and drawing from them on the 25th.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR SHARING ABOUT MY FAITH, CHARITY & LOVE POST!

And The Winner of Learning to Read is a Ball is...

Thanks to random.org the winner of expert Kim Scanlon's book is 

Anne Lee Rhoades!

Please email me your address and I will send it to Kim.  If you don't know Kim, please go back to my post about her and her qualifications. She is one brilliant writer, educator and mother!

(Thank you Kim for offering up a signed copy of your book for the giveaway on my blog.)

Happy Thursday!

Agent Research and Querying, plus an Awesome Giveaway...

Sometimes, you think a book is so valuable that you buy two copies....Which gives me the opportunity to either go through the hassle of trying to return it, or having an awesome giveaway. So you guessed it...

I'm giving away one copy of the 2015 Guide To Literary Agents.

If you know me, you know I a HUGE proponent of doing your research, no matter what it's for.  For the past month or so I've been researching agents. Before I began, I created a list of the places I would look at to research each potential agent. My checklist looked like this:

AGENT RESEARCH CHECK LIST:

• Agent’s name and agency website
• @twitter
• Writer’s Digest Blog information
• GLA (Guide to Literary Agents)
• Publisher’s Marketplace likes and dislikes
• Blog accounts
• Facebook 
• Interview information
• Editors and Predators, Writer Beware and Absolute Writer (the Water Cooler)
• QueryTracker.com
• Do a Google Search

Feel free to copy and paste my list, so you have it for future reference...

I created a document with the above information. Once each agent checked out,  (and not all of them did) I personalized the query, based on my research, and copied their submission guidelines and email address into their query/document. Being organized is key here! Whether you do it on paper, in a spreadsheet or on a file folder. Keep track of who you query and when you query them (leave space for a response, too). 

Every agent has specific guidelines you have to follow. Don't fool yourself into thinking it won't matter if you send them the whole manuscript, when they ask for ten, fifteen or fifty pages... It does matter. The rules are there for a reason. Be sure to follow them to the very best of your ability. This is your introduction to them. Show them that you are paying attention to what they want.

I would suggest if you are querying a novel or a non-fiction work, that you make several submission packages, so that you can easily adapt to each agents requirements. Some agents accept attachments and some want your letter and your submission in the body of an email.  So pay attention to HOW they want to see your work. 

Putting your best foot forward is like having the perfect handshake. Not too soft. Not too strong. Not too sweaty. Just right...

If you would like to win a copy of the 2015 Guide to Literary Agents, please pop over to my website,  click on one of the social media links and say something about my services or my site and leave a comment on this post. 

For my non querying friends....Our babies are happy and loving the new house.

Please come back on March the 6th to see who won the copy of the 2015 Guide to Literary Agents and to join in on a discussion on rejections.

From a broken heart to... a BROKEN HEART and a giveaway

Do you remember when Angela Ackerman asked us to help her friend Martha Ramirez? She was going to have heart surgery for a birth defect. Angela asked us to send her cards or heart things, or just send her some words from your heart.

Because Angela is such an amazing caring woman, a large number of us responded to her request.

After Martha recovered from her surgery, she reached out to me (maybe more than just me) and we became friends.

I had the privilege of helping her working on her book, BROKEN HEART this past year. I think it is a wonderful book, for if you have a sibling or even a cousin in the hospital for any disease or illness. It has coloring pages at the end of the book, lots of links for information about heart diseases and disorders. It even has a spot for the child to write or draw about his or her special memories.

I'd love to see this book in pediatric and cardiologist waiting rooms. Such a helpful book.

I'm going to give away a copy of BROKEN HEART on January 30th. (PS: I'm in the acknowledgements! If you are looking for a freelance editor my site is: http://www.themanuscriptmaveneditor.com/)

Did you join in in Hearts for Martha? Did you connect with her afterwards? I feel so blessed to have her as a heart. Though she had a broken heart, she has a very tender caring, now fixed, heart.

If you would like to win a copy of BROKEN HEART please join my blog and please tell me of a time you had a broken heart...

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

Happy 2015! I hope all your dreams come true!