Kid Lit Blog Hop #18

Welcome to the 18th Kid Lit Blog Hop. The Kid Lit Blog Hop takes place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. We have managed to create a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists, as well as parents seeking out their next great read. So, you are more than welcome to link in and take some time to make some new friends. A big, big, big THANK YOU to all of you who abided by the new rules. I definitely noticed much more visits among everyone who participated. It is so much fun to develop relationships with all you wonderful people who participate in the Kid Lit Blog Hop time after time. I know that sometimes we are busy, but even if you visit just a couple people, it will make a big difference in your experience with being part of the Hop. Please join me in welcoming back our co-hostess for this Hop, Ramona from Create With Joy. Welcome Ramona! Please be sure to give each of our hostesses a visit to say a quick hello!

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

<div align="center"><a href="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/category/kid-lit-blog-hops/" title="Kid Lit Blog Hop"><img src="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kid-Lit-Blog-Hop-Button-Sep-2012-e1349976901756.jpg" alt="Kid Lit Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 

Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*:

1. We ask that you kindly follow your hostesses and co-hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)

Hostesses:

Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews Google+ * Goodreads

Jaymie @ Snacks for Max Twitter * Facebook

Sue @ Kid Lit Reviews Twitter * Facebook

Katie @ Youth Literature Reviews Twitter * Facebook

Julie Grasso, Author of Escape From the Forbidden Planet/Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Cheryl Carpinello, Author of Guinevere & The King's Ransom / Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Co-Hostesses:

Ramona @ Create With Joy Twitter * Facebook

2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.

* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post*

* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one *

* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*

* Feel free to link more than one post.*

3. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!

Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.

Happy Hopping!

Meet MG Author Hamilton C. Burger

Today we welcome Middle Grade author Hamilton C. Burger to Carpinello's Writing Pages. We are Twitter buddies. Hamilton is the author of the Apple Grove Gang series.


Hamilton, tell us a bit about yourself:

I was born and raised in Illinois and I currently live in Chicago. I have traveled many parts of the world, extensively and still make the occasional trip abroad. I’m married to my high school sweetheart, coming up to 33 years. I have two beautiful daughters, two cats and a little Westie.




Why did you pick to write books for Middle Grade readers?

I didn’t really pick Middle Grade. I just happen to write Middle Grade. It was and is important not to write anything I would feel uncomfortable having my mom or daughters read.

What types of books do you like to read?

I like thrillers, biographies, non-fiction…I’m pretty eclectic, and you never know what may grab my attention.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

When I’m not writing, I love to cook. I’m a bit of a foodie. Living in Chicago, I get to sample some of the best cooking in the world. I also love classic sports cars and have one that gives me hours of enjoyment. I also go to as many 70’s rock concerts as possible.

Tell us about Gold Fever and how the story came to be.

Gold Fever picks up right where book #1 No Exit leaves off. The whole Apple Grove Gang series started as a story I told my daughters during a road trip a long, long time ago, in another galaxy! They’re almost grown now, but they inspired me to “tell a story.”

Here's a peek at Gold Fever:

It’s the dog days of summer and Benny Churchill and Bug Beetle are back and still running! The Apple Grove Gang has caught gold fever, and they find that it’s too hard to bear. When they try locate the cure, things don't go as expected and not everything pans out. Only an earth shaking experience will lead  them to the depths necessary to cure Gold Fever.






Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

 Currently, I have three books published. No Exit is the first in the Apple Grove Gang series and Amazing Journey is #3 in the series. No Exit introduces Bug Beetle, Benny Churchill, Moe Harris and Cindy Carter to my readers. They are talented kids who are quick to get behind a noble cause. Amazing Journey is a fun story about time travel and kids making a difference.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

Like most authors, I am always looking for inspiration for the next book. Currently, I am in the process of finishing Egg Roll Ralley, book #4 in the Apple Grove Gang series.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Just know that writing is a full time job, even if it isn’t your full time job.  A good story just isn’t enough. You have to work hard to market your product.

Where can readers find you and your books?

My books are available on line, just about everywhere. I have links to several sites on my website: http://www.hamiltoncburger.com. Of course, they are on Amazon: http://amzn.to/15jG5vD.

Anything else you want readers to know?

I’d like readers to know that the first book in the series No Exit is always free! Be sure to check it out.

Here's the link for No Exit on Amazon: www.amazon.com/EXIT-Apple-Grove-Gang-ebook/dp/B0088GV98A

Kid Lit Blog Hop #17

Please see our NEW RULES below!

Welcome to the 17th Kid Lit Blog Hop. The Kid Lit Blog Hop takes place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. We have managed to create a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists, as well as parents seeking out their next great read. So, you are more than welcome to link in and take some time to make some new friends. Please join me in welcoming a new permanent hostess, Reshama at Stacking Books - a wonderful blog with many recommendations for the best children's books. We are also pleased to have Fiona Ingram, the author of The Secret of the Sacred Scarab (click for my review of this FABULOUS middle grade book) and a blogger as well, joining us this week as co-hostess of the Hop. Welcome Reshama and Fiona! Please be sure to give each of our hostesses a visit to say a quick hello!

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

<div align="center"><a href="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/category/kid-lit-blog-hops/" title="Kid Lit Blog Hop"><img src="http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kid-Lit-Blog-Hop-Button-Sep-2012-e1349976901756.jpg" alt="Kid Lit Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

 

Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *NEW*:

1. *NEW* We ask that you kindly follow your hostesses and co-hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)

Hostesses:

Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews Twitter * Goodreads

Jaymie @ Snacks for Max Twitter * Facebook

Heidi @ Geo Librarian Twitter * Facebook

Sue @ Kid Lit Reviews Twitter * Facebook

Katie @ Youth Literature Reviews Twitter * Facebook

Julie Grasso, Author of Escape From the Forbidden Planet/Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Cheryl Carpinello, Author of Guinevere & The King's Ransom / Blogger Twitter * Facebook

Reshama @ Stacking Books Twitter * Facebook

Co-Hostesses:

Fiona Ingram, Author of The Secret of the Sacred Scarab / Blogger Twitter * Pinterest

2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.

* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post*

* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one *

* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*

* Feel free to link more than one post.*

3. *NEW* Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!

Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.

Happy Hopping!

Meet YA Fantasy author Nancy Bell

I want to welcome Nancy Bell to Carpinello's Writing Pages. Like me, Nancy is published by MuseItUp Publishing, and she is also an editor at Muse. Today she shares with us A Step Sideways, the second book in her Cornwall Adventure Series. 


First a bit about Nancy:



Nancy Marie Bell lives near Balzac, Alberta with her husband and various critters.  She is a member of The Writers Union of Canada and the Writers Guild of Alberta. She enjoys writing poetry and fiction and non-fiction. A Step Sideways was a finalist in the 2012 OKRWA YA Novel category.





Why did you pick to write books for YA?

The stories pick me, I’m afraid. I think at heart we are all still children, and I like to let my inner child voice her opinion on a variety of topics. This is a wonderful outlet for coming to terms with things from my own experiences and, hopefully, as well as entertaining young readers. I can also let them know the things they are going through as they mature are a natural part of growing up. I love the fresh way young people view the world.

What types of books do you like to read?

I love fantasy with lots of magic. Anything that has horses or dogs in it is a winner as well. I love Charles de Lint’s urban fantasies, he brings to life those things we see from the corner of our eye and then dismiss as our imagination. I am also studying Celtic myths and legends.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I read—a lot. Seems I’m always doing research of one sort or another. I also spend time with my horses and dogs and there’s nothing like a good scrounge through an antique mall or sale to perk me up. 

Tell us about A Step Sideways and how the story came to be.

A Step Sideways is the second book in the Cornwall Adventures Series. It picks up the story of one of the secondary characters from Laurel’s Miracle. It has its origins in the last few pages of Laurel’s Miracle when the character meets his heart friend or anam cara. His heart friend happens to be a huge Crystal Stallion who has his home under the Tor at Glastonbury. The book is set in Cornwall and is full of the magic and mystery that surrounds the megalithic structures that abound on the Penwith Penninsula.


A brief peek at A Step Sideways:

Legend says that land once stretched from Lands End in Cornwall as far as the Scillies Islands thirty miles out in the Atlantic. To this mythical land Gort Treliving escapes when his Uncle Daniel beats him senseless. He steps away from his corporeal body and walks into the mist of oblivion, seeking only to escape the pain. To Gort’s surprise he finds he is Sir Gawain, one of King Arthur’s knights. He is also the partner of a wonderful grey war stallion who can telepathically speak to him.

While he is caught up in a wild chase across the countryside to rescue King Arthur’s kidnapped queen and her lady, Gort as Gawain, tries to puzzle out the strange visions of another life that assail him at the most inopportune times.

There is intrigue, mystery, sword play and a dash of romance. A Step Sideways is a rollicking romp of an adventure that borrows inspiration from the Arthurian legends with a decidedly quirky cast of supporting characters.

After the last page the characters will linger in your mind and you’ll wonder what happened next.


Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

Laurel’s Miracle is the first book in the Cornwall Adventures Series and is the story of a young Alberta girl who finds herself in the southwest of England with a riddle to solve that may help cure her mom from the disease she is battling. There is tons of magic and mystery involved and more than a few surprises. The response has been very positive, and I’m very pleased. The cover art is amazing.


Here's a surprise peek at Laurel's Miracle:

Have you ever wondered how you would handle it if your mom was terminally ill? What if you were sent to stay with people you didn't even know in another country because your father was at the hospital all day and night?

Laurel is faced with both of these realities; what she really wants is a miracle. She wants her mom to be cured of cancer.

Join Laurel as she searches for her miracle amidst the magic of the Cornish countryside. She is aided by her new friends Coll, Gort, and Aisling and helped along in her quest by the creatures of legend and myth. Vear Du, the Selkie, Gwin Scawen, the Cornish Piskie, Belerion the fire salamander, Morgawr the flying sea serpent who does Vear Du a favour, and Cormoran, the last giant of Cornwall. They must battle the odds in the form of bullies and confusing clues. Will they emerge victorious?  Will Laurel have the courage to solve the riddle and make her miracle a reality?

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I’m currently working on the third book in the series, tentatively titled Go Gently. I’m also in the middle of a sort of prequel to Laurel’s Miracle which tells the story of Laurel’s Gramma Bella and her grandfather. It explains how a lot of relationships which we find in Laurel’s Miracle were set in motion years ago.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Keep writing and follow your heart. The best thing you can do is heed the advice of your editor when you are lucky enough to get one. They look at your work with fresh eyes and assist you to polish in ways you could never achieve on your own.
 
Where can readers find you and your books?

A Step Sideways is available from MuseItUp Publishing in ebook format.  The buy link is http://tinyurl.com/86ubqdz 

Laurel’s Miracle is also available form MuseItUp Publishing as both an ebook and a print book.  The buy link is http://tinyurl.com/c5alx7p      

My author page at MuseItUp is found at http://tinyurl.com/3sbn7sn

My webpage:  http://www.nancymbell.ca

Facebook: http://facebook.com/NancyMBell

Follow on twitter: @emilypikkasso

Anything else you want readers to know?

Please drop by my webpage to find out more about how the names of the characters in the series were chosen. Most of them have their origin in the Celtic Tree Ogham. The main character in A Step Sideways is called Gort which is the name given the Ivy in the Tree Ogham. Its meaning is ‘search for self’ which is exactly what my Gort is embarked on. His Crystal Stallion is GogMagog which are the names of the ancient oak trees that stand at the foot of Glastonbury Tor. He is also called Ailim for part of the story which means Silver Fir which signifies ‘high views and long sight’ which also implies great wisdom. There is some very interesting information on the earth energy lines that play a big part in the plot of Laurel’s Miracle, as well as other background insights into the stories. I hope you will drop by.