Writing Tips & Meet Author Steve Resnic Tem (better known for his horror stories)

Before getting to our author interview, here are some writing tips from 2017. As always, feel free to leave your own tips in the comments.


Write what inspires you, not what others think you should write. Be yourself, have your own voice. It’s a lot of hard work but if you are sincere in your craft you’ll find there are lots of people who are happy to help you reach your goals—B. Roman, author of The Moon Singer Trilogy.

There are several things I could say but one thing that comes to mind immediately is about reviews. If you get some bad reviews, don’t let them stop you from continuing to write. Yes, it’s disappointing, but it’s just possible that some of those bad reviews might turn out to be very helpful. Try to be objective and see what you can learn from them. The reviews for my first novel, The Ezekiel Code, were nearly equally divided by 4 and 5 star reviews on the upside and 1 and 2 star reviews on the downside. It took me a long time to get over the disappointment of the negative reviews but eventually I began to see that what many of those reviewers had to say was true. I made a concerted effort to learn from them so that my future work would show a marked improvement. I’ve made a lot of headway in that respect, and I’m still working at it—Gary Van Tenuta, author of The Lost Dreamstone.

Always remember to have fun with what you’re doing. If you enjoy what you’re writing, then it will show in your words. This goes for promoting your books too. Be excited and have fun with all the interviews, tweets, posts, and whatever else you do to get people to give your books a chance. Positive energy brings people in. It’s also one of the hardest things to maintain because you will get negative reviews and criticism, so make sure you have a solid support system to pick you up if you stumble. This is where social media can really come in handy because the helpful hands don’t always come from family and pre-author friends—Charles

Writing Tips & Say Hello to MG Author Teresa Funke

Before getting to our author interview, I want to share more writing tips from authors I interviewed in 2016. Hope these inspire you! Please feel free to leave your own tip(s) in the comments.

I must have sent out close to 200 queries to agents and publishers regarding The Legend of Koolura. Finally, Solstice Publishing accepted it in 2011 for publication. So my advice to other authors is to NEVER give up—Michael Thal, author of MG/YA Koolura Series.

Keep going, keep learning, keep developing. Manage your expectations. Only do it if you love it and want to do the best you can—Steve Griffin, author of the MG series

Fiona Ingram's WOW! Women on Writing Tour & Review

Welcome today to Fiona Ingram and the WOW Women on Writing Tour of The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. The complete tour schedule can be found at The Muffin/WOW.

Carpinello's Writing Pages is excited to be showcasing this latest book in Fiona's series The Chronicles of the Stone. It is a wonderful adventure for all ages and is great as a read aloud for families. 

I've known Fiona for many years now, and we, along with Wendy Leighton-Porter, make up The Quest Authors. Our combined website is Adventure Quest Books. We all write adventure thriller for Middle Grade readers and even manage to hook more mature readers also! We live in different parts of the world: Cheryl (me) in the USA, Fiona in Cyprus (formerly of South Africa, and Wendy in Abu Dhabi.

Today, though, is all about Fiona, so here we go!

First, a bit about Fiona:

Fiona Ingram is a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, she was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked her new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with her mother and two young nephews. They had a great time and she thought she’d write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned book series later, she had changed careers. She has now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in her middle grade adventure series Chronicles of the Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a also for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and one already for Book 3!

Fiona also teaches online novel writing for aspiring authors and finds that very satisfying. Relaxation time finds her enjoying something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. She loves doing research for her book series. Fiona loves animals and has written two animal rescue stories. She has two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin, and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.

You can find Fiona at –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secretofthesacredscarab/

Website: www.chroniclesofthestone.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/FionaRobyn

Author Site: http://www.FionaIngram.com

Blog: http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2868182.Fiona_Ingram

Quest Books: http://www.adventurequestbooks.com


About the Book:

A plane crash! Lost in the jungle! Hunted by their old enemy, will Adam, Justin, and Kim survive long enough to find the Third Stone of Power? With only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, the kids make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the lost city of stone gods, where the Stone of Power might be located. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task. Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?




My Review:

The Chronicles of the Stone series is an adventure-filled ride for middle graders and adults. In Book 1—The Secret of the Sacred Scarab—readers travel through the land of the pharaohs and across the steamy deserts of the mysterious Egypt with Justin and Adam as they search for the first Stone and face a deadly enemy.

In Book 2—The Search for the Stone of Excalibur—readers find themselves dodging not only their enemy Dr. Khalid, but a group called the Eaters of Poison as the boys, joined by young Kim, attempt to capture the second Stone of Power.








Now, in Book 3—The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper—Fiona once again literally drops readers and her intrepid young seekers of the Stones in the jungles of exotic Mexico where they encounter a familiar enemy and attract the unwanted attention of Smoking Mirror, an enemy who may be even more deadly than Dr. Khalid. Led by one no older than they, the three flee deeper in the jungle as young Tukum vows to led them to the hidden city and possibly the third stone. Be prepared to be thrust into the little known culture of the Aztec, the Mayan, and the uncontacted people in this latest non-stop adventure!


I enjoyed catching up with this group of young adventurers. Non-stop action, danger around every turn, as well as the magic and mystery surrounding the ancient jungles and people of Mexico will be sure to keep readers turning pages. I can't wait to see where we will travel to next!

You can find The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper and all of Fiona's Chronicles of the Stones books at these and all on-line book sellers:

Amazon US

B&N

Sneak Peek: Guinevere Book 2 and the 82nd Kid Lit Blog Hop

When I first finished Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend in 2008, there was never any intention to continue the story. I had accomplished my purpose:  To introduce young readers to this misunderstood queen. However, Guinevere's friend Cedwyn had other ideas.

In the intervening years while I traveled and worked on other stories, there was a small voice inside that just wouldn't give up. Cedwyn continued to ask when I was going to fulfill my promise to make him a knight.

In late 2015, I finally gave in.  I'm so excited to share with you this peek at Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend! Book 2 of my Guinevere trilogy is expected to be released late April/early May 2017.

Chapter 1 - Guilt

 
A strong north wind rushed down the valley to Cadbury Castle, scattering yellowed leaves blown down earlier. The smell of winter filled the air—crisp and sharp—with the promise of early rains and snow instead of the mild fall usually seen.

It also carried another scent on its breath—war. Throughout the spring and summer, conflict ripped through the northern counties of medieval Britain. The battles—bringing death to many—sent the ashes of villages, burnt to the ground instead of surrendering, south. A light dusting of ash powdered the castle parapets and floated down onto the roofs turning them a greyish-white. The ash covered every level surface and nook, inside and out. On days like today, when the wind raced through, people tried to breathe shallow to avoid inhaling the acrid smoke.

High up on the castle’s parapet, a slender figure stared north, oblivious to the frequent gusts of wind. Tendrils of brown hair escaped from the cowl of a dark green cloak and whipped around the figure’s head. A nasty gale ripped off the hood, revealing the worry-lined face of a young princess—hollowed cheeks streaked with tears and dark circles smudged under her amber eyes. Just past fifteen years old, Guinevere would have been a queen were it not for the war raging throughout Britain. Instead of celebrating her marriage to the young Arthur Pendragon, legions of men rode through the north under his banner, determined to defeat the renegades refusing to fall in line behind King Arthur.

Her betrothal to Arthur—at the age of thirteen—took Guinevere by surprise. The loyalty of her friend Cedwyn and the wisdom of the wizard Merlyn helped her accept her destiny. But, it was the story of the red deer and the unicorns that made her understand the importance of her marriage. 

The day after her thirteenth Birth Day, Merlyn had taken her and Cedwyn deep into the old magical forest that surrounded the castle. They came upon a herd of red deer. Mixed in the middle of the herd were fawns and baby unicorns playing and jumping. When a fawn or unicorn escaped from the center, the harts nipped those on the neck or hindquarters sending the youngsters squealing back into the herd.

Merlyn explained the reason behind the harts’ behavior with his story:

When the forest was young, unicorns roamed over the entire island that is Britain. One day in a terrible storm, a red deer lost its way and was carried across the water to these shores. Not knowing the land, the deer became lost and unable to find fresh water. When the unicorns found it, the deer was dying of thirst. Then nudged and pushed the deer to fresh water and later showed it to the best grazing grounds and the safest places to bed down. A few years later another deer was discovered on that same shore, and the unicorns saved its life also. The two deer mated, started a herd, and promised to protect the unicorns should they ever be in danger.

As the years came and went, the population of the red deer increased while population the unicorns—constantly hunted for their horns that were considered magical—dwindled to almost nothing. And so when asked, the red deer kept the vow made hundreds of years ago and protected the remaining unicorns forever.

Guinevere learned that day that there was little difference between what the red deer promised the unicorns and what kings promised their people. Guinevere, as a queen, would be expected to protect her people in exchange for their loyalty.

It had sounded simple that night, but not now. Making the right decision to protect someone wasn’t easy.

A sigh escaped her blood-spotted lips, cracked and sore from standing on the castle wall while the wind destroyed the summer in her land. Now, her best friend moved further from her reach and safety. Her lack of patience—exacerbated because of her guilt and frustration at not being able to help Cedwyn and the children—caused her to be short with the others. Unless necessary, those left at the castle tried to avoid her, even though she was King Leodegrance’s daughter, and Arthur’s future queen. Now she stood on the battlements and waited each day for sight of her father, or Arthur coming home with the knights.
 

Guinevere wished she could erase her decisions and the aftermath, but it wasn’t possible. She stared down at the castle gates where, in what seemed a different lifetime, another woman, Brynwyn, Cedwyn’s ma, had stood, afraid for Guinevere and Cedwyn, as they and others started on their dangerous journey. 

(Keep an eye open for a peek at the cover of Guinevere: At the Dawn of Legend!) 

And Now,

HAPPY SPRING! Welcome you to the March 2017 Kid Lit Blog Hop.

 

On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews

the YA Writing Team of 

Lee Bice-Matheson

 

This hop takes place every 3rd Wednesday of the month. It is designed to engage a  group of people who love everything that has to do with children's literature. Everyone is welcome to join us: bloggers, authors, publicist, and publishers!

On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews

the YA Writing Team Lee Bice-Matheson

 

Have you seen the  Kid Lit Blog Hopper Facebook fan page? This page has all the news and information related to the hop plus ongoing posts, giveaways, news articles, etc. related to Kid's Lit. Check it out and of course, please like the page.

So for our hop, please make sure that your posts are related to Children’s literature only and add it to the linky. (Please make sure to add your direct post only) If you are an author, feel free just to link to your blog. Once you are done, then hop around to visit others. Please follow the co-host and visit at least the one or two people above your link. Please leave a comment when you do visit, we all like those.

Also, it would be appreciated if you grab the Kid Lit Blog Hop Badge and display it on your blog and/or your post. Note: Make sure you have the newest badge as the old one goes to the wrong page.
We would also be grateful if you tweet and/or posted on Facebook about the blog hop. Let’s grow this wonderful community.

Thanks for sharing your great children's books with all of us! The hostess will be around to see you.


Happy Hopping!

Reading Authors, Host

The Bookshelf Gargoyle

BeachBoundBooks

Cheryl Carpinello

Pragmatic Mom

The Logonauts

Spark and Pook

 

  

Meet Childrens/MG Author Peggy McAloon

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes author Peggy McAloon whose stories deal with an element of life all of us would like to see vanish: child abuse.

First, a bit about Peggy:


Peggy McAloon was Sales Manager for a Century21 installation in Minnesota until a debilitating car accident forced her to give up the dream of owning the business in 1978. She went into the field of commercial credit and eventually became a recognized trainer, speaker, and author. She is retired, but still works passionately for children’s rights and water conservation and protection.
She published”The Art of Business Credit Investigation” in the ‘80’s and “Elle Burton and the Reflective Portals” in 2014.

Why did you pick to write books for children/MG?

The abuse of my childhood broke my spirit, and yet it inspired me to champion children’s rights. In addition to the abuse, I also became victimized by the bullies at school who saw an easy target in a child already completely victimized. I recognized early in life kids are easily hurt and need someone to convince them to get help when they’re in trouble. I am also painfully aware of the methods used when children are threatened not to seek help or are otherwise too afraid to ask someone to help them.
 

So, I decided to write a fantasy about a young role model who could inspire and encourage kids to stand up to the social injustices they face daily (abuse, bullying, loss, etc.). To do that successfully, I decided to draw on my love of reading. As a child, I discovered I could escape the pain and suffering of the real world by losing myself in the characters in the books I so dearly loved. The most surprising part of this journey has been the women who have discovered the book and shared their stories of abuse with me after reading it.

What types of books do you like to read?

I tend to be an “evolving” reader. When I was young, I much preferred fantasy and adventure. As a young mother, I became lost in mystery books. I’ve been branching out into historical, self-help, and I tend to pick up and reread the classics I read earlier in life. I still lean heavily toward a good mystery or action story and tend to weave that in my writing.
 
My biggest regret today is that I never knew how important reviews were for authors. I’ve kept a list of the hundreds of books I’ve read over the past 15 years, and I plan to try to make sure I eventually write a review for each and every one.

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

I love traveling with my husband and spending special time with the kids and grandkids. You will frequently find me dabbling in photography and pursuing my interest in art. I love to play with the two little rescue dogs who hang out beside me as I write. I’ve won several awards for my watercolors, and I currently belong to three art groups (two in Wisconsin and one in Mississippi). I received the National Conservation Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution a little over a year ago. I earned the award for my efforts in protecting our ground and surface waters for not only our safe use, but for future generations.

Tell us about Elle Burton and the Reflective Portals and how the story came to be.

Elle Burton is an ordinary kid. Very much like you and I were when we were small. I needed her to be smart, but still have the flaws other children have. I decided to include an element of magic and fantasy to keep kids engaged in the story.

Elle journeys from this world into another dimension through reflective portals where creatures called Fiorins have a special link to all human life.  She learns the remarkable creatures chose her as a guide to help them, and it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Elle has always loved helping others, and now she’ll have magical assistance. There are evil forces in the book too, just like there are in real life that do everything in their power to keep the guides from offering support to those in need.

The book will keep young minds engaged as they travel with Elle to Fiori to discover magical foot lockers, spider elevators, and the beloved Pegasus. Her journey on the crusade to protect the world’s children will help inspire kids to help peers who are being bullied or abused or seek help themselves. Elle’s a modern-day role model who embodies everything that is good in this world.

Here's a peek at Elle Burton and the Reflective Portals:

Elle Burton is an ordinary kid…or so she thinks. On her tenth birthday she encounters Eunie Mae, a tiny, fairylike being who comes from a world called Fiori. Other than some children under the age of eight, the only human beings who can see Fiorins are guides—people who have been chosen to help protect the children of Earth.

Being a guide seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Elle has always loved helping others, and now she’ll have magical assistance. But not everybody wants her to succeed. There are evil forces that do everything in their power to keep the guides from offering support to those in need.

Join her as she enlists the Fiorin warrior Amadeus and others to help her protect the human children against bullying and physical abuse. The children at risk Elle encounters are dependent on her decisions and quick responses. Traveling to Fiori, she discovers magical foot lockers, spider elevators, and the beloved Pegasus. She is a modern-day role model who embodies everything that is good in this world, but will she be strong enough to combat the problems children face in the 21st Century?

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

I have written for newspapers and magazines for years. I have also been the editor of several newsletters for organizations throughout the years. The first book I published was a resource guide for commercial credit managers called The Art of Business Credit Investigation back in the 80’s. Between family, civic, and business responsibilities I couldn’t find the time to write a complete novel until after retirement. I have two more full-length novels in various stages of editing, and a third is in the early stages of writing. My short stories appear in two anthologies: An Anthology of Modern Fairy Tales #1: 10 Original Tales About Wishful Happy Endings to Real Life Experiences and So What Do You Do: Discovering the Genius Next Door with One Simple Question, Volume 2.

I am currently working on the final edit of Missing, the second book in the Lessons from Fiori series. This book continues Elle Burton’s story in this ‘Coming of Age’ adventure. I've also completed the first draft of Secrets of the Lake, a murder mystery.

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

Elle’s journey will continue as she grows into an adult. The first two books in the series have set the foundation, but human guides continue to help the winged creatures through adulthood. I know exactly how the series will end, but I continue to discover things about Elle as the books proceed. She currently appeals to kids 8+, but I’ve already discovered she also appeals to Mom’s and Grandmothers. I expect as she continues to mature, she will begin to appeal to teens as well. 

What advice do you have for other authors?

Make certain you begin marketing long before the book is ready for publication. Ask for references for anyone you choose to help you on the journey. I self-published the book in the 80’s and had no problems. That book was highly successful in its niche, and I considered it a great success – I knew the industry!
 
A novel was something quite different. I hired people to help me bring it to print and market it. Some have disappointed, and some have conned me. I now understand this is a business like any business. Don’t sign a check or send a payment without a signed contract to protect you. Don’t send anyone money without references. Make sure some of those references don’t come directly from the vendor you are checking out. Just remember, every con artist has at least three references who will give them a glowing report, so ask for more than three!
 
I’ve read some incredibly good books and some which are not as great. Editing is not an option. It is an integral part of any successful book. Seek out recommendations and make certain you are working with professionals.

Anything else you want readers to know?

I have written this fantasy series to encourage kids to find someone to talk to if they are being hurt in any way. Elle Burton is far from perfect, but she can teach your child how to remain calm and have the courage to find help when necessary. Unfortunately, the majority of child victims know the person who mistreats them. Ask your children frequently if anyone has made them uncomfortable or has hurt them. Let them know that no one has a right to make them feel bad and believe them even if the answer rocks your world.

My desire to create a role model strong enough to combat the problems children face in the 21st Century was a direct result of the terror I experienced as a child. Before the book was released, I worked with Catherine Gruener, a child counselor to prepare a discussion sheet for parents to help them discuss some of the issues kids in the book face. It is always easier to talk about problems and solutions using fictional characters. Catherine AZ Gruener is the founder and owner of Gruener Consulting, LLC, a premier education program provider offering solutions to both parents and educators. Through its unique workshops and services for gifted children, and positive discipline parent classes and seminars. The discussion sheet is at http://peggymcaloon.com under the Books, Reviews, and Publicity Tab. (Here is a direct link to it: http://peggymcaloon.com/wp-content/uploads/C.Gruener.2014.Elle-Burton-and-the-Reflective-Portals-Discussion-Sheet.pdf).

Where can readers find you and your books?

Website  - There are additional interview links under the “Books” tab
Pinterest
Twitter
Facebook Author Page
Amazon (Paperback, Kindle, & Audible editions)  
Click here to listen to an excerpt
Barnes & Noble (Paperback & ebook)
Apple iTunes