Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Self Published Sunday Welcomes HL Carpenter!
I am thrilled to welcome HL Carpenter to Self Published Sunday. HL Carpenter is a mother/daughter writing team. Their indi-published New Adult sweet romance, Jack and The Fountain of Youth is the latest adventure in their writing career. The Carpenters are also the author of a satirical short story, The Demise of Fyne Literature, and a young adult novel, The SkyHorse, both available at Musa Publishing.
Jack and The Fountain of Youth
a New Adult novella by HL Carpenter
Where did you get the idea for Jack and The Fountain of Youth?
Last
year was the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de León's landing on the Florida
coast. Since we’re Florida residents, we immediately began imagining what life was
like back then. And what if...what if someone from the expedition actually did
drink from the magical Fountain of Youth? What would that person’s life be like
today?
How did you come up with the hero of your novella?
We were sitting on the porch in Carpenter Country (a magical
place that is unreal but not untrue), when Jack popped up in the fountain in
our garden. That was a bit unexpected, since our usual fountain visitors are
birds, bees, and butterflies, so after we told Jack to stop splashing the water
out, we handed him a towel and asked why he was there.
When
he told us his story, we knew we had to help. How could we resist the kind of
hero we believed only existed in our daydreams, a chivalrous guy with eyes the
color of unsweetened cocoa who looked and acted like a caballarius of old?
Why did you decide to pursue indie publishing?
We’ve
always thought of our writing as a business as well as an art, and our work has
been published by a traditional print house and an e-publisher. We’ll continue
to appreciate and create for both of those outlets. At the same time, we view
indie publishing as an opportunity to grow and learn, and we think it’s
important to explore all the exciting possibilities available to authors today.
TAGLINE
Some people say the Fountain of Youth is a myth. Jack Ponsi
Dileonardo Thomas knows better.
BLURB
Jack Ponsi Dileonardo Thomas is eighteen years old. At
least, that’s what he tells everyone. He doesn’t like to lie. But he has to,
because he celebrated his real eighteenth birthday five centuries ago.
Some people say the Fountain of Youth is a myth. Jack knows
better. He drank from the fabled fuente in 1513. Over the five hundred years
since, he’s given up believing his life will ever again be normal–and that
he’ll ever rediscover the magical spring. But when he learns the Fountain is
located on the property of Nessa Owens, Jack takes up the search once more. And
when Nessa captures his heart, his quest acquires new urgency.
Caught in the midst of a hurricane, surrounded by
centuries-old memories and present day mysteries, Jack must risk all for a
future with Nessa.
Will love prove more powerful than the enchanted waters of
the Fountain of Youth?
EXCERPT
“You want me to do what?” Eighteen-year-old Jack Ponsi
Dileónardo Thomas stared at his gray-haired boss, and a memory he’d buried five
centuries earlier lurched to life. He clutched the cold metal arms of his
chair, fighting off the shock that threatened to topple him to the floor.
Colby Newman, editor-in-chief and
person-in-charge-of-handing-out-assignments at the World Pryer, crunched a peppermint candy and stared back at him
without answering.
During the six weeks Jack had spent as a summer intern
for the Pryer, he’d learned Mr.
Newman always lapsed into silence after dropping a bomb on one of his
reporters. Mr. Newman was a great editor, but he had an odd sense of humor.
Right now, he didn’t look like he thought he’d cracked
a joke.
Jack took a deep breath and unclenched his hands. The
shock died away. The undead memory lived on. He said, “Did you ask me to find
the Fountain of Youth?”
“Yes.” Mr. Newman twisted his thick lips into a smile
that made him resemble the water-skiing gorilla on last week’s front page. “Go
prove the Fountain exists, Jack. And I don’t mean another tired story on that
moldy tourist attraction in St. Augustine. I’m talking about the real thing.”
“The real thing?”
Mr. Newman said, “You probably learned about the
Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León in school, Jack. It’s textbook history.
He explored many parts of Florida during his search for the Fountain of Youth.”
“I know.” Jack knew all about the de León name and its
place in La Florida’s past, though
not from any school lessons. He said, “Juan led an expedition through the area
around Everyoung, too.”
Mr. Newman nodded. “That means the Fountain of Youth
could be right here, in our town. In fact, a reliable source called in that
very tip to the hot line yesterday morning. The message was a bit garbled, but
I have reason to believe he’s onto something.”
“You do?” For one shining moment, a beam of hope seared
through Jack. He used all his willpower to shove it aside. Over the years, the
flame of false expectation had burned him badly. “Why do you think so?”
“Call it an old newsman’s hunch.” Mr. Newman shrugged.
“Even if the tipster is wrong, the Fountain of Youth makes good copy. I’m
excited about this story. I’m assigning you to follow up.”
The still-swirling memories burst through the dam of
Jack’s willpower and threatened to swamp him. He didn’t have to follow up,
because Mr. Newman’s source was right about the location of the Fountain. It was here on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Jack knew that for certain.
He couldn’t say so, though. As much as Mr. Newman liked
weird stories, he’d never believe that five centuries earlier, in the year
1513, Jack had accompanied Ponce de León’s expedition to La Florida, and discovered the magical spring.
Mr. Newman wouldn’t believe the rest of the story,
either. Jack hadn’t understood what he’d stumbled across until years
later—specifically, on the day he’d looked at his twin sister Maria and
realized she had become a fifty-year-old woman.
And he was still eighteen.
BUY LINKS
HL Carpenter's Links:
Visit their website
Friday, February 7, 2014
Review of The Runner by J.M. Johnson
I received a copy of J.M. Johnson's debut novel, The Runner in exchange for an honest review. The Runner is a Young Adult Dystopian novel with a touch of science fiction and fantasy.
Amazon's book description:
Ten years ago the president of the United States declared that global warming had reached a tipping point from which it would not recover. In answer to this dilemma, modern technology was shut down. The elderly and other volunteers could opt to live out the rest of their lives in a virtual world, but all others were left to fend for themselves.
Seventeen-year-old Avi Bloom lives in a world in which each family must contribute one child as a runner. A runner risks life and limb to travel from village to village delivering news and other small items. Avi is one run shy of retiring when she discovers that whole villages are disappearing, leaving only a few dead bodies and the youngest children behind. Now, Avi must find out who or what is responsible for these missing people as she goes on a journey and discovers friendship, love, and betrayal. She also discovers that the forces behind these disappearances are much larger and more frightening than she could ever have imagined.
What I thought:
There are several characters in this story and the author knows them well. Johnson did a good job giving each character a distinct personality and voice.
The main character is Avi Bloom, a runner for her village. Her mother is dead. Her father is missing and she knows statistically a runner's life expectancy isn't very good. When it comes to danger, she knows how to handle herself. Avi is no fainting flower. She's tough and smart.
Johnson did a great job imagining her world. The descriptions are vivid and compelling. I particularly liked the inclusion of the Amish as well as what seems to be "preppers." It was easy to believe that these folks would be prepared to survive.
I like a story where the author swiftly introduces the action and Johnson did precisely that. She moves the tale at a quick pace but in doing so, I felt as though some of the relationships weren't as developed as they needed to be. For me, this created a bit of a disconnect. I wish that the author had spent just a little more time showing how certain relationships/feelings evolved.
The Runner is the first book in the series. The ending was a bit disappointing in that it was more of a set up for the next book in the series. That being said, the author leaves the reader curious as to where the story will lead.
3 1/2 stars
Ten years ago the president of the United States declared that global warming had reached a tipping point from which it would not recover. In answer to this dilemma, modern technology was shut down. The elderly and other volunteers could opt to live out the rest of their lives in a virtual world, but all others were left to fend for themselves.
Seventeen-year-old Avi Bloom lives in a world in which each family must contribute one child as a runner. A runner risks life and limb to travel from village to village delivering news and other small items. Avi is one run shy of retiring when she discovers that whole villages are disappearing, leaving only a few dead bodies and the youngest children behind. Now, Avi must find out who or what is responsible for these missing people as she goes on a journey and discovers friendship, love, and betrayal. She also discovers that the forces behind these disappearances are much larger and more frightening than she could ever have imagined.
What I thought:
There are several characters in this story and the author knows them well. Johnson did a good job giving each character a distinct personality and voice.
The main character is Avi Bloom, a runner for her village. Her mother is dead. Her father is missing and she knows statistically a runner's life expectancy isn't very good. When it comes to danger, she knows how to handle herself. Avi is no fainting flower. She's tough and smart.
Johnson did a great job imagining her world. The descriptions are vivid and compelling. I particularly liked the inclusion of the Amish as well as what seems to be "preppers." It was easy to believe that these folks would be prepared to survive.
I like a story where the author swiftly introduces the action and Johnson did precisely that. She moves the tale at a quick pace but in doing so, I felt as though some of the relationships weren't as developed as they needed to be. For me, this created a bit of a disconnect. I wish that the author had spent just a little more time showing how certain relationships/feelings evolved.
The Runner is the first book in the series. The ending was a bit disappointing in that it was more of a set up for the next book in the series. That being said, the author leaves the reader curious as to where the story will lead.
3 1/2 stars
Sunday, February 2, 2014
MIA: REVIEWERS AND THEIR REVIEWS
Like many self published authors, I'm always in search of reviews. Why? Because reviews pave the path to sales. However, getting those reviews can seem a bit like undertaking a quest to obtain the Holy Grail. It's a definite challenge.
Perhaps, like me, you've posted requests to exchange a copy of your novel for a review. I've posted requests in Facebook and G+ communities as well as on Goodreads and was so excited when "reviewers" agreed. I sent the file (mobi/pdf) and waited... and waited.... in fact, I'm still waiting for some of those reviews. I'm not alone. I see posts on KBoards and Goodreads from other writers who are experiencing the same thing. In good faith, we gave a copy of our novel to a reviewer. The only charge (if you want to call it that) was to write a review and post it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. So yes - it's frustrating - because someone didn't follow through on what they promised.
So whose fault is it? The reviewer who didn't follow through or the author who blindly sent the file? Obviously, the reviewer was wrong. But did the writer (me) do the necessary homework? Did I ask for a link to the reviewer's blog? If the reviewer answered a Goodreads request post, did I make sure that the potential reviewer had actually posted reviews? I wish I could answer a resounding YES! but hindsight is 20/20 and experience is a great teacher and I have learned the importance of researching potential reviewers.
There are reviewers out there who are as good as their word. Michelle Randall at http://tammommyblogs.blogspot.com/ was one of those. She was upfront - letting me know that she would give an honest review - good or bad. I also had great luck exchanging reviews with other authors (Goodreads) and no - they didn't all give me 5 star reviews. They have reputations to maintain themselves. Blog tours are also a good source for obtaining reviews. Not only are you getting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, you are being featured on multiple blogs - which in turn are being tweeted and shared. I've done three tours now, the last being with CLP Blog Tours. With this tour, I was fortunate enough to visit some awesome blogs. Both Bookish and The Book Bag have a lot of visitors to their blogs - which meant a lot of people saw the reviews for my novel.
The moral of this story is this - before you hand off your book baby, make sure you know to whom you are giving it. Forewarned is forearmed!
Perhaps, like me, you've posted requests to exchange a copy of your novel for a review. I've posted requests in Facebook and G+ communities as well as on Goodreads and was so excited when "reviewers" agreed. I sent the file (mobi/pdf) and waited... and waited.... in fact, I'm still waiting for some of those reviews. I'm not alone. I see posts on KBoards and Goodreads from other writers who are experiencing the same thing. In good faith, we gave a copy of our novel to a reviewer. The only charge (if you want to call it that) was to write a review and post it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. So yes - it's frustrating - because someone didn't follow through on what they promised.
So whose fault is it? The reviewer who didn't follow through or the author who blindly sent the file? Obviously, the reviewer was wrong. But did the writer (me) do the necessary homework? Did I ask for a link to the reviewer's blog? If the reviewer answered a Goodreads request post, did I make sure that the potential reviewer had actually posted reviews? I wish I could answer a resounding YES! but hindsight is 20/20 and experience is a great teacher and I have learned the importance of researching potential reviewers.
There are reviewers out there who are as good as their word. Michelle Randall at http://tammommyblogs.blogspot.com/ was one of those. She was upfront - letting me know that she would give an honest review - good or bad. I also had great luck exchanging reviews with other authors (Goodreads) and no - they didn't all give me 5 star reviews. They have reputations to maintain themselves. Blog tours are also a good source for obtaining reviews. Not only are you getting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, you are being featured on multiple blogs - which in turn are being tweeted and shared. I've done three tours now, the last being with CLP Blog Tours. With this tour, I was fortunate enough to visit some awesome blogs. Both Bookish and The Book Bag have a lot of visitors to their blogs - which meant a lot of people saw the reviews for my novel.
The moral of this story is this - before you hand off your book baby, make sure you know to whom you are giving it. Forewarned is forearmed!
Self Published Sunday Welcome Rhonda Paglia
Today is the first time Self Published Sunday has featured a children's writer. Rhonda Paglia (Grandma Pags Stories) is the author of three children's stories. Today, she is sharing her work with us!
Biography:
My name is Rhonda Paglia. I am a retired elementary teacher and
grandmother of five from Hermitage, Pennsylvania. I’m known
as “Grammy” to my grandchildren, my husband, Tony, is known as “Papa,” and our funny
little Yorkie-Poo is known as Bella.
To date, I have self-published three
children’s stories: The Little Lambs and
the Very Special Mission, Doonsey’s
Beach Adventure, the Great Rescue, and the companion, Doonsey’s Beach Adventure, the Great Rescue Coloring and Activity
Book. My fourth book, about three
little gnomes, is in progress and will be ready later this year.
In most of my “just for fun” stories, my
grandchildren play leading roles. It’s
quite interesting and sometimes funny to see their reaction, especially when “Grammy”
uses her imagination and veers from reality.
In one of my non-published stories, my 4-year-old grandson, Rowan
becomes a pirate and he takes off on an adventure. Rowan’s comment when I read him the story was,
“Grammy, that didn’t really happen!” I’m
still laughing!
Because I’ve been writing for my family,
it never crossed my mind to try and publish any of my work - until the tragedy at Sandy Hook
Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Twenty beautiful first graders were killed along with their 6 brave teachers.
The
massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School was unspeakable and devastating. I
grieved along with our nation and the rest of the world. As a retired teacher, I felt the pain on many
levels. I started my teaching career as
a first teacher many years ago. I loved teaching those darling little
ones. Later in my career, we were required
to practice lockdown drills with our students in case of emergencies. Lock
the door, turn out the lights, hide the kids.
The students were instructed on the urgency of staying silent during
these drills. Scary!
As
details of Sandy Hook emerged, I could visualize what those teachers must have done
to try and save their students. I prayed constantly for the victims, their
families, and for all of us.
It was
during my prayers that an entire children’s story was given to me – start to
finish with the moral that God loves us; He placed love in our hearts before we
were born, but we have forgotten. If we
choose to live the “Be Attitudes,” we can all help our world become a better
place. I don’t know how to explain it, other than the story was
“pressed” into me – it was given to me – I didn’t ask for it.
I was
so touched by the images I received that I wept. Then I became very conflicted
about putting the story to paper, and even more so about sharing it.
One “voice” in me said, “You know, you should not get involved [in the
Sandy Hook tragedy]. Don’t insert yourself.” The other “voice”
said, “I gave you this story and you are to tell it.” So that is the
voice I followed. All loss is difficult, especially one as tragic as
Sandy Hook. This little story filled my heart;
it gave me some peace and comfort, and offered hope.
I am not an artist and before
I could publish my story, I needed help with the illustrations. I prayed again and God answered my prayers by
sending me help in the form of a
14-year-old Kennedy Catholic Middle School student named Taylor Galaska. Taylor and I met by chance last February. When I explained my book project to him, he
immediately said “yes” to helping with the illustrations. With Taylor’s help, I finished my little
story. It was then that The Little Lambs and the Very Special Mission took
wings and began its journey.
Synopsis
of Little Lambs and the Very
Special Mission: In this
story, God asks a field full of sweet, playful little lambs to help Him with a
very important mission. He tells them that the people of Earth have forgotten
to be loving and kind to each other. God needs their help to remind the people
of Earth how much He loves them. With the little lambs’ help, the world becomes
a better place.
The Little Lambs and the Very Special
Mission is dedicated to the children and staff of
Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut. Books were sent to all of the families through
the Newtown School District. All the
profits from the sale of the book go to the “Angels in Charge” Scholarship fund. This scholarship is awarded to a qualifying
student from Newtown High School who plans to pursue a career in
education. It’s a small way to give back
and send some love up there from all of us.
The first scholarship from book sales last May was $2500 and went to a wonderful
Newtown High School graduating senior.
She is now attending college in New Jersey and working toward a career
in elementary education.
Illustrations from Little Lambs and the Very Special Mission:
The Little Lambs playing in the field.
The Lambs listening to the God who is asking for their help.
The Lambs going to Heaven escorted by the Angels in Charge.
Links to more information about “The
Little Lambs and the Very Special Mission”
· The Sharon Herald Newspaper,
April 7, 2013: http://www.sharonherald.com/local/x1319127155/On-a-mission
·
The Sharon Herald Newspaper, December 15,
2013: http://www.sharonherald.com/local/x1005127203/-Little-Lambs-lead-teen-on-new-journey
· Link to
interview by Rockin' Book Reviews, November 30,
2013 http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/2013/11/30/interview-with-rhonda-paglia-promotion-of-her-very-special-book-the-little-lambs-and-the-very-special-mission/
·
An endorsement from “The American Institute of
Health Care Professionals, Inc.” who recommended this children’s story for
use in grief and bereavement counseling. The article can be seen at: http://www.aihcp.org/blog/rhonda-paglias-little-lambs-special-mission/
Other books by Rhonda Paglia:
I recently released a new children’s story titled, Doonsey’s Beach Adventure, the Great Rescue along with a companion
activity and coloring book. In this
story, Doonsey is a happy, friendly little crab who loves to
explore. On this particular day, Doonsey decides to
explore the beach. Half way through his quiet
day, he suddenly finds himself scurrying off on a rescue mission. This sweet little crab becomes a hero and makes
some very unusual, but very special new friends.
On the last few pages in this book, kids are encouraged to explore their own
imaginations and create their own beach buddies.
The activity companion book, Doonsey’s Beach Adventure, the Great Rescue Coloring and Activity Book gives
a brief summary of the Doonsey’s Beach
Adventure with pages to color and some fun activities like matching, mazes,
and counting. The kids also learn a little more about the beach buddies and there
is additional space for the kids to use their imaginations.
Fun
facts about myself:
· Although
I’m a grandma of 5, I recently picked up the game of jacks again after not
playing for almost 50 years. I am amazed
at how much I remember!!
· When
I was a child, I took dance lessons and was part of a group called “The Tiny
Mites.” We were on TV several times and we
tried out for the original Mickey Mouse Club, but we didn’t make it.
· My
husband and I have a little Yorkie-Poo named Bella who does tricks. She can dance on her hind feet, roll over,
and jump through the hoop! She will be
in a future story titled “Bella’s
Backyard!”
· The
fourth children’s book that will be released to the public this year was
actually written in 2009. The working
title is Orion and the 3 Little Gnomes. Ratna Kusuma Halim is the illustrator and I can’t
wait for everyone to see this sweet Little
Gnomes book!!
Social
media:
· The Little Lambs and the Very
Special Mission on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLittleLambsAndTheVerySpecialMission
· For more information about The Little Lambs and
the Very Special Mission: go to: https://sites.google.com/site/littlelambs20/
Purchase
links:
Contact
information:
grammypags1@gmail.com
or message me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/grammypagsstories
Several pages from Doonsey’s Beach Adventure, the Great Rescue & Doonsey’s Beach Adventure, the Great Rescue Coloring and Activity Book:
Pages 1 & 2 from the story, Doonsey’s Beach Adventure, the Great Rescue
Doonsey trying to figure out which direction he is going on his exploring day – [left pic from story, right pic from coloring book.]
Doonsey running after the birds – [Left – from story, middle - from coloring book].
3rd pic on right – matching page from the Doonsey Coloring Book
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)