Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Meet Children's Author JD Wise on his Pump Up Your Book Tour

 

 
 
Here's  a bit about JD Wise: 
 
JD Wise is a West Virginian-born author who believes that the world can be changed for the better, by one person, one time, doing the right thing.
 
“Just think what would happen if we all did that,” said Wise.
 
Wise is happily married to the love of his life. Together, they have four wonderful children, who are the true inspiration for the book.
 
He is also camera-shy!
 
Why did you pick to write books for children/MG/YA?
 
My first children's book A Child Called YOU started out as an art project that I was playing around with one day, and it just bloomed into a book.
 
"I like to see the face of smiling children who love to read! The satisfaction this brings is truly amazing. I spend my time thinking of new book ideas and how I can use my work to inspire the younger generation all around the world."

What types of books do you like to read, and what do you do when you are not writing?
 
I think that the only books that I have read in the last few years have been picture books (I have a four year old).  It's Not Easy Being a Bunny by Marilyn Sadler is our number one book. When I'm not writing, I spend a lot of time in the woods and outdoors. I work in my garden and keep the yard up.
 
Tell us about Nomophobia and how the story came to be. 
 
Nomophobia is a book about 3 modern-day children who are addicted to their cell phones.  The thought process started when I was at the doctor's office with one of my children. The waiting room was full that day. The nurse called one child but he would not go in until the game on the phone was over. Another time, a boy in the family told his grandma that he didn't need to learn how to tell time because if he wanted to know what time it was - then he'd just ask the phone.
 
Nomophibia is a somewhat true, mostly exaggerated story of modern-day children - children who have spent way too much time on their phones.
 
Here's a peek at Nomophobia:
 

Hello, Reader. My name is Joe. Welcome to NOMOPHOBIA. This is a somewhat true, mostly exaggerated story of myself and my siblings. We use to spend all day, every day on our phones. TEXT. CHAT. TWEET. PLAY A GAME. REPEAT. That's how we spent our day. At least that was until... our overused smart phones mysteriously turned us into ogres.
 
 
 
How do you go about researching for your stories?
 
This story was very easy to research. Children are always on their phones. You can go anywhere, at any time, and find a kid on a phone. The fit starts when you try to take away the phone to have them do something else. Doors slam, feet stomp, the ogre appears.
 
Have you written other books? if so, tell us a bit about them.
 
Yes. My first book is A Child Called YOU published by Mascot Books. This book is about You. The reader, you. This book displays kindness without judgment for everyone. It also talks about celebrating our differences and doing so is the true expression of kindness that we all need. A Child Called YOU is the recipient of a Mom's Choice Award, as well as a Reader's Favorite award.

What's next for your writing?  Are you working on a new story? 
 
I am presently working on a few other books. Wonderful, Mighty, Me is the second book in the Kindness is for Everyone series. I hope to release it in the summer of 2022. 
 
What advice do you have for other authors? 
 
Use the rejections you receive to your advantage. Once you've completed your manuscript, use the buddy system and let someone critique your work. Don't be easily offended.
 
Anything else you want your readers to know?
 
I wrote Nomophobia to inspire kids to look beyond what their phones have to offer. There is way more to life than a screen. Thanks for reading! Don't forget to pick up a copy of  Nomophobia.
 
Where to find the author and his book:
 

Visit JD Wise on Instagram and Facebook.

 
Find his books on:

Amazon




Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Meet YA Author Michele Barrow-Belisle & FREEZE

Carpinello's Writing Pages
Introduces 
 
FREEZE—A YA Fantasy Romance

NOTE: I want to acquaint you with our new mailing list company. For years, I've used FeedBurner for my blog subscribers. In July of this year, they discontinued their blog feeds. Notices of new posts will now come from follow.it. I hope you will continue to be a subscriber and recommend us to your friends and family, and anyone who enjoys meeting new authors and seeing their books.
 

 

 

Title: Freeze
Author: Michele Barrow-Belisle
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Cover Designer: AMDesign Studio
Publishing: BarBelle Publishing
Publication Date: Dec. 7th, 2021
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR





What happens when the hunter becomes the prey?

In a twisted game of following impossible clues to ceaseless dead-ends, The Shadow Faerie Zanthiel is forced to search for the girl he let go. Lorelei may be out of his life, but she's never far from his mind with the prophecy pulling them together. They both feel it, yet they both have reason to fight it. He might not be able to have her, but no force in this world, or any other, will stop him from saving her. Time is running out, and Zanthiel has only a fraction of it left to find her, before those hunting her do.

But finding Lorelei could mean losing so much more. Past, present and future are about to collide. Vows are fractured. Friendships severed. And a truce among enemies revoked. Will the prophecy that binds them together be what breaks them in the end?

Delve into the world of Shadow. Interwoven with flashes from his past, retrace the defining moments in Zanthiel's life and see how the darkest of the Shadow Fey became the infamous dark Prince.


Book Links:
Amazon
Universal
Goodreads

 

About the Author:


Michele Barrow-Belisle is a USA Today bestselling author who spends most of her days eating chocolate while talking to imaginary people. It's technically not considered crazy when they're your book characters. Her favorite genres to write are YA fantasy romance and paranormal romance, and her debut series FIRE AND ICE (Faerie Song Saga) is currently in development for a feature film.

Michele resides in southern Canada with her husband and son who indulge her ever-expanding obsession with reading, writing and most importantly... chocolate.

Where to find Michele:
 

 

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Meet Children's Author Claudia McAdam

 
 Welcome to Carpinello's Writing Pages!

Before meeting our author, I want to acquaint you with our new mailing list company. For years, I've used FeedBurner for my blog subscribers. In July of this year, they discontinued their blog feeds. Notices of new posts will now come from follow.it. I hope you will continue to be a subscriber and recommend us to your friends and family, and anyone who enjoys meeting new authors and seeing their books.
 
 

Today we welcome
 
Colorado author
 
Claudia Cangilla McAdam

 
Before meeting her, I want to share reviews of her featured picture book The Christmas Light. These were done by local Colorado 5th graders. For privacy reasons, the names are not included. Each student used their own grading scale; some used 5/5 while others used 10/10.

(9/10): I liked it because it felt soft and sweet. I didn’t like it because it had no action.

(9/10): I give The Christmas Light a 9/10 because it retells the reason Christmas is a thing in an interesting way. It’s about a girl who helps two people who are in need and I like that.

(4/5): I like how the story tells how she felt that night and how she felt when she did stuff. I also like that when she was sleeping with her sister she was kind of annoyed, but when she came back from the stable she kept her sister warm when she was freezing.

(5/5): I’d rate it 5/5 because it’s about the birth of Christ and how it’s about Christmas.

(5/5): I would rate the book a 5 because I like the similes and how it is about Christmas.

 
And now, here's a bit about Claudia:
 
At age ten, I knew I wanted to be a professional writer when I grew up. My undergraduate degree is in English, and later in life, I got a master’s degree in theology. I began being published in children’s magazines and newspapers before I was out of college. To date, I have penned two dozen books, for both the secular and the religious markets. My faith-based titles explore the virtues, build character, and deepen faith. My most recent work is the 44-page picture book, The Christmas Light, published by Sophia Institute Press. My husband and I live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, not far from our children and grandchildren.
 
Why did you pick to write books for children? 
 
I actually write for all three groups, but The Christmas Light is a picture book. I fell in love with reading when I was a child (it’s still my favorite pastime), and I remember how impactful books were. Story has the power to draw readers in and take them to a completely new place. It was an experience I treasured and craved, and I want to replicate that for young readers today.

What types of books do you like to read, and what do you do when you are not writing?  


My reading interests are wide-ranging. When I was a child, I would read every word on the cereal box at breakfast, and I admit to opening up a volume of the World Book Encyclopedia and start reading at random, getting lost in its pages. I loved how National Geographic could take me to far off places around the globe. Today, I read the Bible in its entirety each year, and in addition, you might find my nose buried in a nonfiction book, a work of theology, or various types of fiction from historical works to modern-day mysteries. Next up for me: Gary Paulsen’s biography. My “reading” these days is comprised in large part of audio books, which I can enjoy while driving, exercising, cooking, cleaning, gardening, and so on. I’m a big-time multi-tasker, so audio books fit into my life perfectly.

When I’m not writing or reading, I enjoy spending time with my large extended family, traveling, walking in nature, watching sports or movies, and binging The Chosen.

Tell us about The Christmas Light and how the story came to be.

The story told in The Christmas Light revolves around the main character, the young daughter of the Bethlehem innkeeper, who is cold and cranky in her crowded home. When she remembers the young couple staying in her family’s stable across the lane and hears the newborn Baby cry, she realizes that if she is cold, they must be freezing. When she brings them fire for warmth, she has an encounter with the newborn Jesus and finds her mood suddenly altered and her life forever changed, thanks to the Christmas Light.

I remember the exact moment the story idea entered my mind. Our church has a large Nativity scene on display during the Christmas season. The figures are nearly life-size, so it’s rather impressive. While looking at the myriad characters that populate the scene, I began to wonder who else might have interacted with the Holy Family in Bethlehem. Since I write for kids, I speculated about the children who might have met Jesus when He was born.

I love what my friend and fellow children’s author Kathleen Pelley has to say about The Christmas Light: “The lush, lyrical text and bold, mesmerizing art enchant the reader into a long-ago world, glimmering with glimpses of grace and goodness beneath the seemingly ordinary surface of life . . .”

Here's a peek at The Christmas Light.


 
 
It’s the coldest night in Seraphina’s life, and she can’t sleep. Outside the house the wind roars like a lion and burrows through the roughly thatched roof. The thin blanket is more holes than fabric, and her little sister’s frigid feet prod Seraphina’s bare calf. Seraphina’s face crumples in an angry frown.

On a normal night, the children would not be so far from the fire, crowded in the loft, side by side like stones in a wall. But this is not a normal night.

How do you go about researching for your stories?

I do a lot of reading about the topics, watching videos, interviewing people, and even traveling to certain locations such as to the Holy Land, which has been inspirational for many of my books and critical for incorporating authenticity into those works.

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

Yes, many books, including three picture books with my text and the photography of renowned nature photographer John Fielder; books featuring profiles of heroes; retellings of legends; YA novels; and a MG mystery novel. I have a lot of interests and am likely to pursue writing a book about something that grabs my imagination and just won’t let go.

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

I have three faith-based books coming out in 2022: two picture books from Ascension Press, The Real Presence and Louie’s Lent, and a YA novel of Biblical historical fiction, Beckoning, from Our Sunday Visitor. A picture book from OSV is due in the fall of 2023, and I have three other manuscripts in the hands of interested editors at present.

What advice do you have for other authors?

I’m not the first to say it, but write what you know and love. Your authentic voice will shine if you do so. And know that your success doesn’t come when you complete a manuscript or even when you sell it. That’s just the start. Marketing, presentations, signings and the whole business end of being a writer is critical to success and longevity.

Anything else you want readers to know?

I love what I do and am so blessed to be able to live out the only career I’ve ever wanted since childhood. But I don’t take the credit. My faith is the bedrock of my life, and Proverbs 16:3 captures what I believe about my career: Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.

Where can readers find you and your books?

My website is www.ClaudiaMcAdam.com, and I keep it up to date with information about my books, appearances, and forthcoming works. My books are available at online retailers, including Amazon and brick-and-mortar booksellers as well as from the books’ respective publishers.