I just want to take a moment to answer a quick question.  Several people have asked me why I mainly read and review children's and young adult novels.  Well,  primarily because they are usually better written.  They are unique stories that are fun and entertaining.  I enjoy them.  Secondly, my son (age 12) and I share a Kindle.  I have the actual Kindle and he has the app on his IPad.  This means he has access to all books available on my Kindle.  I DO NOT want him gaining access to books I would not normally read with him.  I have over 1500 books in my Kindle library. Many are classics but most are children's and YA novels.  We share a common love of the works of Rick Riordan, J.K. Rowling, Brandon Mull and other novelists.  I truly enjoy watching the magic of reading become a part of his life.  A journey to another land, another time, has opened new worlds we can share together.   

Well, don't mean to ramble on, just wanted to answer the question I'm most asked from friends, family and followers.

Have a fantastic holiday season.

and

Today we welcome author
LARS GUIGNARD

about the book

Zoe Guire just talked to an elephant. Well, technically speaking, the elephant spoke to her, but either way it was weird and, as a rule, Zoe doesn't do weird. Except the thing is, when Zoe goes along on her mom's business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. Soon after she arrives, Zoe finds herself tagging alongside a kid named Zak, lost in a crazy city, with no money and no way home.

And those are the least of Zoe's troubles. Because if she's to believe the scary-looking snake charmer guy sitting in the corner, she and Zak have been chosen -- chosen to protect some kind of mythical animal called the Ghost Leopard from who knows what.

Now, the further they get into the mountains, the more crazily impossible things get. Carpets fly and statues talk and if either Zoe or Zak want to make it back to their parents, or the sixth grade, or anything even close to normal, they're going to have to make some new friends, learn some new tricks, and listen, really listen to that talking elephant. Because if they don't, nothing will ever be the same again.

My review

Read this book with my son, age 12.  He loved it.  There are not a lot of good 'boy' books (as he calls them) available.   He enjoyed this story.

It is a story full of magic, adventure and fun.  The kids get into some rocky patches along the way, but it adds to the excitement.  The book has a slow start, but I recommend hanging around, it picks up speed and doesn't slow down until the very end.

The two main characters Zoe and Zak are opposites, and they complement each other.  One is a thinker, who takes things slowly and the other rushes into a situation.

Overall, if your child is a fan of Harry or Percy, he/she should enjoy this book.

(4stars, and not 5 because I didn't like the ending)

It's here!!!! Cover reveal for the next installment of one of my favorite series:

Doorknob Society book 4

THE DETECTIVE INSPECTORS HVO

Chloe Masters life is in disarray, her best friend Edgar Magnus has been kidnapped by her mother. The Detective Inspectors of the HVO have been compromised and appear to be helping in the crime. All but one that is, Declan Hardcastle, a young DI who is more than willing to help Chloe in her quest. But is he looking for more than just friendship?

Her friends are spread far and wide; Jess has begun her apprenticeship in Paris while Slade is working for the Impossible Engineers. Nightshade has returned but is he the same man and can he truly be trusted?

When Chloe learns Edgar’s location it's a race against time to stop her mother’s plans and save her friend all while keeping everyone she loves alive. But the question becomes... does Chloe plan on getting out alive?

The Cape Beanery Chronicles (Short stories) Kindle | Kobo | Nook

The Doorknob Society (Book 1) Kindle (Exclusive to Amazon)

The Impossible Engineers (Book 2) Kindle | Kobo | Nook

The Mapmakers Union (Book 3) Kindle | Kobo | Nook

Today we welcome ROBIN L SANDERS 

author of  AN 8 TRACK IS 81 CHAPTERS

about the book:

When a Social Studies teacher assigns a special project to six high school students, (Richard, Shelly, Nathan, Charles, Morgan and Britt) they receive a lesson that may indeed change lives of many worlds. As they work on the problems set before them they come to realize that the typical real world issues that each student had been dealing with doesn’t look all that bad. As the unlikely group of misfits explores the project, they discover strengths that they were completely unaware they had.  

For seven whole days they stay in a mysterious book unlocking puzzles, fighting demon-possessed statues, creating bonds with a memorable cast of characters and fighting a villain who controls the powers of the heavens. Mr. Hutchenson, a professor of social studies at St. Cardinals, is a man who plays a large part within this story, but just as the kids have to discover that, so does the reader. These six kids work on finding that strength by not only fighting the enemy, but the enemy within.

Genre – Young Adult / Fantasy

Rating – PG13

Connect with Robin L Sanders on Facebook & Twitter

we have a guest post from Robin


What are the mistakes you see in beginner writers?

by Robin L Sanders

One of the beginning mistakes that we all make as writers is having the idea of writing a great story but not knowing how or where to start.  I would often have times of imagining an epic battle but haven’t a clue where to place the scene in the middle of my story.  Some people would prefer to write a story from beginning to the end, which is practical but not possible for many.  Other writers would start off by breaking their story into outlines so whenever they’re lost, they could figure out where to go next or start somewhere else then come back to the scene later.  There was one method I learned from a screenwriter about writing the scenario that you’re most passionate about and begin from there whether forward or backwards.  When I started I had this belief that if you didn’t start from the beginning then you’re not doing it right.  Truth is there is no actual rule of how to start writing a novel, you could just do it the way you feel the most comfortable.  It’s your work so do it the way you feel, do what you want to do, that’s what I learned.

Another big mistake that most writers often do is fail to develop a tough skin.  Writing is considered a literary expression in visual art; the writing industry is filled with critics that live by an established modern code.  Whenever they see something that is of the ordinary, they would either praise or insult the writer without any warning.  Some critics can be spiteful and would wake up every morning with their eyes set on any literature they disliked especially if it was a person. In other words develop the strength to accept criticism.  Constructive criticism is very important and can help sharpen and hone in on your writing skills as well as style.  Actual criticism whether good or bad could be harmful but knowing when and how to handle it could be a big step to becoming a fearless author.  Some writers developed the ability to use negative criticism as a source of fuel to produce more positive work while others are capable of weighing the differences of good and bad criticism.

Horribly written and edited work is a big mistake when publishing a book; placing commas, periods, and proper use of words into sentences without producing fragments are essential elements to having a good novel.  Even if you’ve written over a hundred thousand words in an epic novel it wouldn’t make any difference if you’ve spotted over thousands of errors.  Finding a professional editor can be hard and expensive especially if he’s a real good one.  Finding the right editor is also difficult and could take a long process if they’re real busy or accepting inbox mail from other clients.  I remember being rejected by professional editors from left to right over a years span and when I found one he wasn’t a real good one.  Later I had a friend who was a freelance English teacher who had taught English overseas and decided to edit my work with pay of course.

There can be many major set backs in the writing industry but the greatest mistake that could be ever made is to tell someone about your ideas without copyright protection.  Plagiarism is definitely a crime and is seen as literary suicide in the writing world but that doesn’t stop any money grubbing backstabber who can spot that as a business opportunity.  Working on a story while brainstorming new and creative ideas is definitely hard work.  The lands filled with characters that we created are apart of our lives, as we constantly have to live the roles of each and every one of them.  The stories that we create have an emotional connection with all of us and to have someone take that away from us is not a good feeling at all.  That is why it is very important on having your writing protected by any means as possible.  I’m not stating that it’s bad to exchange any ideas, instead keep the ideas that you want and give some of the ones you’re not interested on keeping to good use.

THANK YOU ROBIN.  ROBIN IS VISITING DURING HIS ONGOING BOOK TOUR, BROUGHT TO YOU BY

today we welcome author Vanna Smythe

Duty versus love is the one battle warrior Kae doesn’t know how to fight.

Kae has trained his entire life to become an elite Protector of the Realm. But when he earns that honor he finds himself protecting something far greater: the Veil separating two worlds. On one side of the Veil lie untold stores of magic. On the Realm’s side, magic is all but obliterated, and Kae is one of the few who can use it. The priests who secretly rule the Realm will do everything they can to control his growing magical abilities. He’s willing to pay the price, even though it comes between him and Issa, the princess he loves.

But the Veil has weakened over a thousand years and powers on both sides will stop at nothing to keep it intact. Strangers from the other side have kidnapped Issa to take her across the Veil and sacrifice her to strengthen it. Kae is the only one who can find her. If he goes after Issa, he loses everything he’s worked so hard for. But if he chooses duty over love, Issa will die.

Genre – Fantasy

Rating – PG13

We have an interview today with Vanna

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future? 

I would most certainly go into the past. I love the Middle Ages for some reason, though I would also love to travel back in time to the Roman Empire and Ancient Greece.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose? 

I’ve limited myself to writers here.  This is my list: Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, George RR Martin, Jane Austen and J.R.R. Tolkien.

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

The Hobbit  I can’t wait to go see that!

Favorite places to travel?

Italy and France.

What’s your favorite season/weather? 

Spring. I love watching nature wake up after the long winter slumber.

Can you see yourself in any of your characters?

I think there’s a part of me in everyone of my characters.  Though some are more like me than the others.

What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? 

Keep learning your craft and never stop believing that you can succeed.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 

My story has love and hate, duty and honor, lies and deceit, happiness and sorrow, and  more, all wrapped up in a single package.

Thank you Vanna.

I look forward to finishing your book.  I received it the other day, I will post a review on this blog and on Amazon/Goodreads when I've finished.  Sounds like you have a winner on your hands!

Vanna has offered a guest post for us

Symbols of Love, Friendship and Life in Protector – White Roses, Wind and Rivers

by Vanna Smythe

All books contain symbols, which are the things that really create that emotional connection between the reader and the story. I have woven several such symbols into the story of my Anniversary of the Veil series, the most important ones being those for Love, Friendship and Life. And they are…

Love Symbolized by White Roses

My two main characters, Kae and Issa, have been best friends for years, but once Kae finally becomes a fully pledged Protector he finds himself falling deeply in love with Issa.  White winter roses, Issa’s favorite flower, symbolize this love. White winter roses are also the flowers Kae’s long dead father would make out of cloth in the dead of winter and leave for Kae’s mother to find.

Friendship Symbolized by Wind

Throughout the story of Protector and the rest of the Anniversary of the Veil Series, the theme of strong friendship between Issa and Kae is one of the most prevalent ones.  This deep friendship they share is symbolized by wind.  Strong gusts of wind blow off the Taiel Sea that borders the capital city. The gusts are so strong that you can lean right into them when standing on the edge of a cliff and you will not fall.

Kae and Issa did this as children, playing on the cliffs that line the shore of the Taiel Sea. Issa is forever afraid that the wind will fail, that the gust will not be strong enough to prevent them from falling into the raging waves.  But the wind never fails, just as their friendship is stronger than anything else.

Life Symbolized by the River

In the world of Protector, the energy of life, the Life Force, flows through all living beings, yet the flow is stronger in some than in others. This flow is like a river, raging in some, barely a stream in others. The ones in whom the flow is strong can manipulate the Life Force, use it to perform a sort of magic that allows them to be in two places at once, feel other people’s emotions, even read their thoughts.

The flow of the Life Force can also be released from certain people, its flow channeled to right a wrong in the world.

Thanks again Vanna.

Website http://vannasmythe.com/