Mrs D's New Books Blast

 

About Book 1

 
Title: Runaway Clothes | Author: Mrs. D | Publication Date: May 1, 2014 | Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing | Number of pages: 44 | Recommended age: 6 to 10  

Summary: An enlightening story about a little girl named Nika who didn't want to take care of her clothes and toys. One hazy morning when Nika opened her closet, she discovered that it was empty. Her clothes had disappeared! What had happened to her shirts and pants? Where did her favorite dresses, coats, and socks go? Why did they leave her with just her pajamas on this misty morning? Will they come back? Taking a closer look at her room, Nika starts thinking about her attitude toward her clothes and toys. "How easy it is to lose something you love so much." She learns an important lesson at the end of this story. Watch your children have a blast reading this story while learning valuable lessons.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

 

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About Book 2

 
Title: The Royal Palm | Author: Mrs. D | Publication Date: October 21, 2014 | Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing | Number of pages: 40 | Recommended age: 6 to 10  

Summary: A thought-provoking tale of the journey of a royal palm born on a tiny island surrounded by mysterious waters. This tender story explores the world of someone wrapped up in herself. Protected by her cousins, the short plain palms, the royal palm grew up beautiful, but very self-centered. Dreaming about life outside the island, she did not bother with her friends, who lived as one big family. Immersed in her own beauty, she only cared for herself, until one day a hurricane struck the tiny island. Then the royal p lam discovered the true meaning of family and real friendship. Inspiring story with valuable lessons to be learned and shared.  

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

 

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The Buzz

Runaway Clothes: "Runaway Clothes by Mrs. D is full of delightful imagery. The words flow in such a fanciful way that children are sure to be immediately engaged and pulled into the story. Its endearing quality teaches young ones the importance of taking care of their valued belongings in such a way that they will not realize they are learning a lesson in the proper care of one's possessions. Excellently executed!" ~ 5 Star Review, HopefulSerenity, Amazon

Runaway Clothes: "Runaway Clothes is a whimsical and charming tale that educates children on the importance of taking care of their belongings... The delightful illustrations add to the enjoyment of the story... I highly recommend picking up Runaway Clothes." ~ 5 Star Review, Stacie T. BeachBoundBooks, Amazon

The Royal Palm: "As is the case with Mrs D's other books, the language is lyrical and colorful... Mrs. D effectively employs the techniques of alliteration, personification and analogy to communicate her message... Mrs D addresses many of the difficult issues children face in dealing with their peers in a whimsical, charming tale. Highly recommended." ~ 5 Star Review, Barbara M., Amazon

The Royal Palm: "A meaningful children's book by a fantastic writer Mrs. D! An unforgettable story that provides life lessons for our children! Mrs. D. is a very talented storyteller who knows how to convey magic into each of her stories. So far her magical books, full of delightful illustrations, never disappointed my children or I. " ~ 5 Star Review, Olga G., Amazon

 

About the Author: Mrs. D

Olga D’Agostino (aka Mrs. D.), an award-winning children’s author, was born in western Ukraine. She lived in the historical city of Lviv, where she studied business in Lviv Business College. In 1992 she immigrated to the United States with her two small daughters and for years worked in her own business. In 2011 she began her career as a writer, focusing on writing children’s books that have meaning and provide valuable lessons. Two of her children’s books, The Trees Have Hearts and Good Morning, World, won Mom’s Choice Awards in 2013, and three are winners in the 2014 Readers’ Favorite contest. She is a member of SCBWI and speaks a few languages fluently. She lives in the famous town of Smithville, N.J., with her husband Patrick and a meticulous old cat named Nyda. Published children's books by Mrs. D. include Carlo the Mouse on Vacation, The Trees Have Hearts, The City Kittens and the Old House Cat, Good Morning, World!, Runaway Clothes, The Royal Palm, The Little Girl Praying on the Hill (short story) and Carlo the Mouse, Book 1: Too Many Rules for One Little Mouse. The full series of Carlo the Mouse and her new books The Mysterious Life Inside a Closet, That Is How Things Are (two connected stories: The Autumn Wind and The Kitten and the Sparrow), and her new book, The Cat Who Wonders, by Itself, and three rhyming stories in Who Is Most Important in the Fridge? will be published in the near future. Her books are available in print on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and as e-books for most popular e-devices. She is presently working on her first novel, The Chinese Princess, and a short story, “A Taste of Bread.” For updates on Mrs. D.’s books, please visit her website: www.mrsdbooks.net.

Website | Author Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

 

* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash prize (winner's choice) Contest ends: January 9, 11:59 pm, 2015 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Mrs. D and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Bravest Squirrel Drives a Race Car

Title: The Bravest Squirrel Drives a Race Car | Author: Sara Shafer | Publication Date: November 7, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 96 | Recommended Ages: 5 to 12  

Book Summary: When his baby cousin Zander runs away, Chaz finally has a chance to live his dream of rescuing someone and proving his bravery. But Zander doesn't want to be rescued, and he certainly doesn't listen.

When the little squirrel crawls into a race car, Chaz follows him, expecting they will hide from the humans until the race is over. But Zander doesn't stay hidden, wanting to try everything the humans do.

When the race car spins out of control, Chaz is the only one who can save them. If he's not brave enough, not only will they crash, he'll lose Zander forever.

The Bravest Squirrel Series:

1. The Bravest Squirrel Ever

2. The Bravest Squirrel in the Forest

3. The Bravest Squirrel in School

4. The Bravest Squirrel Drives a Race Car

Amazon * CreateSpace

Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

 

The Buzz About the Series

"Totally awesome book!! You are brave to be an author!" ~ reader Valerie D., age 9

"A wonderful children's book. I am passing mine on to my youngest grandson. He will enjoy this story." ~ Susie, Amazon

"I liked how the squirrels act. They were funny. It was a really good book. I think other kids that are reading chapter books should read this." ~ Gaea, 12 year old reader

 

About the Author: Sara Shafer

When two squirrels moved into Sara Shafer’s attic, she went on a quest to figure out what they were doing. She knocked on the ceiling, and they scratched back. Imagining what they thought and felt, she wrote The Bravest Squirrel Ever and then continued their adventures with The Bravest Squirrel in the Forest, The Bravest Squirrel in School, and The Bravest Squirrel Drives a Race Car. Although her attic is currently vacant, the squirrels outnumber the humans in her neighborhood and could decide to take over at any moment. She watches for signs of invasion as she plots more stories of squirrel bravery.

Website | Newsletter | Twitter

Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: December 22, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author Sara Shafer and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Big Brass Band Book Blast

Title: The Big Brass Band | Author: Pam Bonsper | Illustrator: Jessica Ziegler | Publication Date: August 18, 2014 | Publisher: AroSage Publishing | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8  

Book Summary: A parade! Watch from the sidelines, as a little fellow follows the magnificent marching band go by. He is overcome by the sounds of the big brass band, and every instrument is his favorite. How can he decide which instrument he will play? Will it be a bassoon, a drum, a tuba? In this delightful rhyming tale about a parade, a band, and a boy, Pam Bonsper and illustrator Jessica Ziegler take us on a very loud, decision-making journey while we learn the names of the instruments in a marching band. But be aware...your children may want an instrument after reading this book! Which instrument will they choose?

Now available both in print and as an e-book!

Amazon (Print) * Amazon (eBook)* AroSage * StoryTots * Goodreads

 

The Buzz About the Book

"The poetry in the book is lyrical and when read out loud you feel the music of the band. This will draw a child's attention and introduce vocabulary that is sure to stimulate. Really like the colors and emotion in each page. Well done! " ~ 5 Star Review, kmhorgan, Amazon

"Poems help improve a child’s reading skills and also their ability to remember passages. The author has cleverly used these techniques to enhance her tale and mesmerize her readers." ~ 5 Star Review, Susan D., Amazon

"'Watch out. The Big Brass Band is about to march straight into your heart! " ~ 5 Star Review, S.J. Teer, Amazon

"My grandson made me promise to read it to him every night. Could anything be better than that - encouraging children to read and give them knowledge about instruments in a band?" ~ 5 Star Review, Juliet A., Amazon

"The best part of this book was reading with my son and seeing his excitement for music and all the possible instruments he could play. We have been talking about them all morning." ~ 5 Star Review, Joshua C., Amazon

 

About the Author: Pam Bonsper

Pam Bonsper has been a free-lance writer for many years. Her articles have appeared in numerous periodicals and professional publications. She is currently a feature writer for Coastal Canine magazine. Pam also enjoys writing children's poems and stories and has been published in The Bee Hive, Mexican World, Happy Times and Classmate and Bumples.com. She has now published her first children's rhyming book and will launch her new Friends and Feelings Series in December. She lives with her husband in Carmel Valley, California and is inspired daily by her two young grandchildren.

Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Facebook

Pinterest | Google+ | Goodreads

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: December 19, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author Pam Bonsper and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

John Bloom and the Victory Garden

 

Sign-Up to Join the "JOHN BLOOM AND THE VICTORY GARDEN" Book Review Blitz and receive a FREE COPY of the book!

About the Book

Title: John Bloom and the Garden of Victory | Author: Leigh Shearin | Publication Date: October 27, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 195 | Recommended Ages: 9+  

Book Summary: John Bloom and the Victory Garden is the rollicking tale of 3 boys at the dawn of America's involvement in WWII. John Bloom, and his best friends Joe and Chewie live, play, and get into adventures in 1940's era Appleside, NJ. Because children are generally joyful and tend to put more importance on the goings-on of their own worlds than those of grown-ups, the events of the war are woven into the boy's daily lives. Along the way, a bitter and cynical old man is drawn into their hijinks, and contributes his own joy to the lives of these 3. Chapter One invites the reader to join John and his friends in Appleside, NJ on the afternoon of December 6th, 1941. Through newspaper headlines and radio bulletins, the boys learn about the incredible events of the war- beginning with the attack on Hawaii by the Empire of Japan. As the story moves along, John and his friends learn that everyone- not just soldiers- can make a difference. They learn that commitment leads to ultimate success and that taking a seemingly insurmountable task one step at a time will make that task simple. John, Joe and Chewie learn about where their food comes from, and how important good food is to the Allies overseas. John Bloom and the Victory Garden is not just a story of Homefront USA during WWII. Its about faith, endurance and sturdy values that transcend time and cultural differences. It's about accepting tough times, struggle and adversity and overcoming them anyway. It's about seeing the humor in life, and helping others to see the humor too. But mostly, they just have a gut-busting great time!

Amazon | Goodreads

About the Author: Leigh Shearin

I am a Writer, Chef, Baker and Farmer. I earned a B.A. in Studio Art from Maryville College in Maryville, TN, and worked as a Graphic Artist and Photographer before earning my A.A.S in Culinary Art. I've worked as a Chef, Baker and Culinary Art Instructor. Most recently, my husband and I have bought rural land and are developing our own small, sustainable farm, Winter'Rest Farm in north Central New York. Through it all, I've written stories and poems, some published, some tucked away. The older I get, the more the stories stalk me, so I hope to move into full-time writing in the very near future.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: January 3, 11:59 pm, 2015 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author Leah Shearin and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

   

The Mystic Princesses and the Whirlpool

Title: The Mystic Princesses and the Whirlpool | Author: PJ LaRue | Illustrator: Aristides Rodriguez | Publication Date: June 28, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 63 | Recommended Ages: 5 to 10  

Book Description: Join Exciting Princess Adventures and Learn Life Lessons Along the Way Have you ever wanted to ride a dolphin or dreamed of playing on a rainbow as if it were a waterslide? How would you feel if someone tried to kidnap you, and you were forced to move to Hawai'i to hide and live with people you don't know? That happened to Harmonie. Come meet Harmonie, her new Mystic Princess friends, and find out what happens when her enemies, the Children of Ares, find her again.

Purchase * Goodreads

 

The Buzz About the Book

"The Mystic Princesses and the Whirlpool has a delightful plot. P. J. LaRue uses mythological characters to tell a lively story of bravery and friendship. The book teaches important lessons on strengths and weaknesses, conservation and safety. This is the first book in the Mystic Princesses series, and I cannot wait for the next princesses' adventure to come. Young girls will love The Mystic Princesses adventure on their bedside table." ~ Kelly Santana, Readers' Favorite Book Reviews

"A lovely book for children with colourful pictures and any child who reads it will be looking for a sequel." ~ 5 Star Review, Diane, Amazon

"'The Mystic Princesses and the Whirlpool' is a confidence boosting book for children, giving them important information. It is the first in a series and I look forward to reading more about Harmonie and her friends." ~ 5 Star Review, Mary C., Goodreads

"This early chapter book is perfect for children ages six through ten. It does not portray wimpy princesses, but strong, respectful and independent female role models involved in many adventures in which they learn to overcome their weaknesses, act against bullying, and cooperate with friends and family to promote human welfare and peace. Short chapters interspersed with illustrations will maintain interest if the book is read aloud for younger children. Introduce your little princess to this one." ~ 5 Star Review, Barbara M., Amazon

"The short chapters would make this ideal for younger girls who are newer to reading Chapter Books. The colourful illustrations are excellent, and compliment this warm story nicely. A new series for girls, offering a fun way to learn valuable life lessons." ~ 5 Star Review, M.J. Kinsmen, Amazon

 

About the Author: PJ LaRue

PJ LaRue wrote poetry in high school, but she discovered writing children’s books and short stories later in life. Her writing inspirations are hiking, photography and environmental consciousness, but she links these interests to much larger social issues. A person very close to PJ was molested as a child, making PJ passionate about providing child safety tips. And, PJ was bullied in the third grade by girls much larger than she, who demanded that PJ give them her lunch money. As a result, PJ is committed to spreading the word that bullying must be stopped.

One of PJ’s goals is to help educate children, parents and caregivers, in a fun way, using her children’s book series, The Mystic Princesses. Because PJ loves to travel, the princesses will visit many locales, learning about environmental concerns along the way.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Pinterest | Google+ | Goodreads

 

About the Illustrator: Aristides Rodriguez

Aristides Rodriguez has worked with clients to create websites, social media graphics, print graphics, and logos. His print media projects include cards, posters and magazine ads. He is comfortable working with a team, but has also designed client projects independently. While in school, Aristides participated in job shadows to Central Florida design community members including Disney Event Group, Orlando, SeaWorld, Orlando, and large offset and digital printing companies. Currently, Aristides is a Winter Park Tech Advisory Board member.

Website

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: December 17, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author PJ LaRue and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Eleventh Commandment

Title: The Eleventh Commandment

Author: Richard Van White Jr.

Genre: Science Fiction

Release Date: January 6, 2014

Length: 376 Pages

Stand-alone novel

       

Synopsis

  The Eleventh Commandment: “Prevail together or surely perish together.” —Prophet NarajiIlkani, 4082 A.D.

The mighty Ambros clan have reined over the Imperium for many centuries, having first seized power following a series of brutal intergalactic wars known as “The Wasting” that ravaged the universe for hundreds of years, destroying entire star systems, sterilizing planets, and decimating populations with natural and engineered plagues. Only through absolute control and their strict adherence to The Eleventh Commandment have the Ambros been able to bring about centuries of inter-planetary peace and economic prosperity. But at what cost? Rigid conformity and homogenization?

Now, after many years of study at the Academy on Tempel where he’s been carefully groomed as the next leader of the Imperium, Pfizer Ambros is returning to Earth to join his family in inaugurating the Omnividome, a multi-galactic instalink connecting every being in the Imperium. His mother, Emperor-Executrix AnastaciaAmbros, intends the Omnividome to usher in a golden age of planetary autonomy and unprecedented inter-galactic collaboration. But many fear that a new era of autonomy and self-determination will bring back contentiousness, greed, war and worse—a second Wasting. There are dark forces that want to see this happen, forces that seek to destroy the Ambros and everything they have built.

Pfizer and his family are about to discover that even for the most powerful clan in the universe, a single day can change everything.

Add to Goodreads

   

About the Author

R.V. White has long been fascinated by space travel and the infinite mysteries of the universe. His love affair with science fiction began while watching Star Trek on a black and white television in 1969, the same year that man landed on the moon. He soon developed a voracious appetite for all things sci-fi—from classics by Robert A. Heinlein and Frank Herbert to Dr. Who, Space 1999, and the Star Wars Trilogy. This is R.V. White’s first science fiction novel. He resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but also spends considerable time in Maryland with extended family.

Connect with R.V.

Website | Facebook

Ashley's Dream Book Blast #DreamBlast

Will she follow her heart and choose love, or follow her life-long dream?

Publication Date: TBD

Genre: New Adult Romance

Ashley isn't looking for love. She has a dream to travel the world, and getting tied down by a man doesn't fit into her plans. Relationships always get so complicated, and men always lie. It's better just to have some fun and no one gets hurt.

When she graduates college and the job offers don't come rolling in, her life continues as usual: working as the manager of a college town bar and hanging out with her friends. Then a tragic event pushes her to take a chance on romance.

But things are not always as they seem, and Ashley’s white knight has secrets. Her friends try to tell her something isn't right, but her common sense is smothered by his kisses and soft endearments.

When the job offer she has always wanted arrives, will she follow her heart and choose love, or follow her life-long dream?

This book is part of the Kindle Scout program, where you get to nominate the books you want to see published! Go vote and help see this book get published!

Kindle Scout

I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, among writers, artists and weird Hispanic and Native American myths and folklore. I've lived all over the U.S. and earned a living doing everything from making silver and turquoise jewelry, to construction to computers. I currently split my time between Baltimore and Albuquerque.

I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master's in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, and somehow found a career working with computers.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

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The Shadow of the Unicorn by Suzanne de Montigny

About the Book

Title: The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy (The Shadow of the Unicorn, Book #1) | Author: Suzanne de Montigny | Publication Date: October 15, 2014 | Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing | Number of pages: 124 | Recommended age: 9+  

Summary: A loud, hissing sound filled the air. The unicorns looked up, their eyes filled with horror. Azaria, a unicorn colt, is intrigued when the young clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a terrifying change in the world. When a giant fireball smashes into the earth, the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. Danger of a more sinister nature threatens when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle in the valley and their leader, Ishmael, discovers the healing power of the unicorns’ horns. Azaria, now a young stallion, must use his wits to save the herd from complete extinction.

Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle) | Goodreads

*** For those of you living in British Columbia, you can grab a print copy of "The Shadow of the Unicorn" from the local Kidsbook Bookstore in Vancouver. ***  

FREE Study Guide

There is now a FREE 36-page reproducible study guide to The Shadow of the Unicorn complete with integrated activities for kids and a complete answer key for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers. Click on the image below to download your free copy.

   

Book Preview

Winner of the 2013 Global E-book Award for Best Fantasy/Alternate History

 

The Buzz About the Book

"The Shadow of the Unicorn provides an innovative and interesting plotline exploring how the fictional unicorns, the extinct dinosaurs, and early humans may have interacted if they co-existed in a post-apocalyptic world. Suzanne de Montigny does an excellent job of exploring the themes of natural disasters and environmental change, human greed, compassion, and courage. At the end of the day, The Shadow of the Unicorn is an entertaining read that I think will be enjoyed by children who love the fantasy genre and are keen on reading about unicorns. Ages 9+" ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

"Kudos to Ms. de Montigny for writing an original variation on the fantasy epic--unicorns intermingling with dinosaurs! The book's themes include the humane and environmental concerns that Watership Down and the films of Hayao Miyazaki have in common. If you have a middle grader or are just young at heart, pick up The Shadow Of The Unicorn." ~ 5 Star Review, Stuart W., Amazon

"The Shadow of the Unicorn is a must-read for all unicorn lovers, but even more so for the ones, like my self, who hadn't read anything about them yet. It is a thrilling and encouraging story about a young unicorn that has to save his herd after a meteor nearly destroyed their environment and killed the dinosaurs. Suzanne de Montigny created a compelling universe with believable characters and a great adventure story to challenge them with. While the story finishes in this book, I can't wait to read about the new adventures the unicorns will face.." ~ 5 Star Review, Antje H., Amazon

"This story pulled me in with a beautiful portrayal of a time and place where unicorns and dinosaurs live side by side. It moved me forward with unexpected twist and turns (a requirement in any good story). I found it hard to put the book down and was totally engaged in seeing the young characters (unicorns and dinosaurs) survive and grow because of the challenges they faced." ~ 5 Star Review, NW Harris, Amazon

"What a delightfully unique book. Unicorns and dinosaurs facing changing conditions. Darius is a young dinosaur capable of seeing the future. Azaria is a young unicorn who becomes a friend and learns from Darius. Yes, there are humans in this book. They are the villains of the story. Greedy beasts. I think both boys and girls will love this story. Very quick paced and easy to read. A delightful story, and I look forward to more from this author." ~ 5 Star Review, DM Lawrence, Amazon

 

About the Author: Suzanne de Montigny

Suzanne de Montigny wrote her first unicorn story at the age of twelve. Several years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with unicorns. The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, is her first novel. Suzanne lives in Burnaby, B.C. with the three loves of her life – her husband and two boys. For more information about Suzanne and The Shadow of the Unicorn, please visit http://www.suzannedemontigny.com

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

   

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice)  
Contest ends: December 27, 11:59 pm, 2014  
Open: Internationally  
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Suzanne de Montigny and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Meritropolis by Joel Ohman

In Meritropolis everyone is assigned a numerical Score that decides their worth to society and whether they live or die. After a young boy is killed because of a low Score, his brother plots to take down the System.

Sounds good, right? Well, this exciting YA Dystopia is on sale for just 99 cents Thursday, November 27 through Monday, December 1. You can pick up your copy on Amazon.

To celebrate, we are offering a giveaway for an autographed copy and a $100 Amazon gift card—hooray!

Check out this interview with Joel Ohman, the author of the book critics are calling, “The Hunger Games meets The Village with a young Jack Reacher as a protagonist”, then scroll to the end of this post to learn more about the giveaway. Happy reading, and good luck!

Interview with Joel Ohman

Other than an author, who are you?

My name is Joel Ohman. I am 32 years old, married to my best friend, Angela, and have 3 kids, ages 5, almost 3, and 6 months. My writing companion is my 130lb Bull Mastiff, Caesar (who's asleep on the job most of the time, to be honest). I am a Christian who likes to talk about the good news of Jesus Christ. I do volunteer work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and also with my church in Tampa. I am a serial entrepreneur, having founded a number of different startups in the web space. I am currently the President & CEO of 360 Quote LLC and Real Time Health Quotes LLC, and we own a lot of different web properties, one of the most popular ones being our workout website/iOS App/Android App for WeightTraining.com. You can learn more about me at JoelOhman.com.

What is the most surprising thing you learned while writing?

One of the most important things I learned is maybe not all that surprising, but definitely important—the value of an editor. I worked with 3 different editors while writing Meritropolis. Each of them provided extremely valuable feedback and advice that was instrumental at various stages of the book writing process. The book that is available for purchase now is a much better book than it would have been without the expertise of my editorial team.

What are you doing to market your book now?

Right now I am concentrating on getting my book in front of as many of the awesome book bloggers and book reviewers out there as possible. Meritropolis is fortunate to have received a large number of 5-star reviews on both Amazon and GoodReads, and I am definitely hoping this trend will continue. I also recently started working with Emlyn Chand over at Novel Publicity, and she has been great, so I am excited to see what she can do!

What are your views on marketing your book through social media such as Twitter or Facebook?

I believe that social media can be an effective marketing technique if done the right way. The key is that social media is primarily about building relationships and about delivering something of value. We all know those Facebook friends who incessantly clog up our newsfeeds with pleas to join their health and wellness MLM—don’t be that kind of author! That being said, I do think that Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, etc. can be a great way to meet other readers and authors and discuss fun and interesting things. Hopefully that will lead to more exposure and more book sales, but coming across as too salesy or pushy is something that I definitely aim to avoid.

What are your thoughts on getting bad reviews?

Everyone has different tastes in what they like to read, so I don't let bad reviews bother me too much. No matter what your favorite book is, you can almost be guaranteed that it will have many bad reviews on Amazon from people who just didn't get out of it what you did—that'sfine. I do try to stay objective and see if there might be something I can learn from the criticism to become a better writer, if not, then I just move on and don't worry about it.

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Take the first step! Just do a little at a time. If you decide writing is important to you then make time for it, be consistent, and read a lot.

Do you have any advice for authors who are considering the self-publishing route?

I am not one of those authors who will say that self-publishing is the best choice for every single author, but I am absolutely glad that I went this route. I love that I can fully control and fully own my work, but I would encourage anyone who self-publishes to try and adhere to the following advice:

Don’t be a cheapskate - be willing to pay for a professional editor, a professional book cover designer, etc. It boggles my mind that people will spend hours upon hours writing their book and then just take a few minutes to throw some clip art and stock photos together to “design” their book cover. Don’t. Just, don’t.

Work with professionals - by this I simply mean to not overly rely on friends, family members, and co-workers, all of whom will likely just tell you what you want to hear. You need someone who is not afraid to point out the problem areas in your book and provide an honest critique. You already know that your mom is going to say she loves your vampire-Scottish-Highlander-billionaire-love-triangle-in-space book that you wrote, so don’t even bother asking her for feedback. Instead, pay someone who does that kind of thing for a living...

Sell, sell, sell - If you are a self-published author and you are not actively involved in sales and marketing for your book—which is essentially your mini-business—or you are not paying someone else to be actively involved in the sales and marketing of your book, then you are not maximizing the reach your book can have. As uncouth as it might be to say this, writing is only half of what is required to see success as a self-published author. Yes, you need to write a good book, but you also need to effectively market and sell your book (either by hiring someone, or doing it yourself, or both).

What books would you would recommend to aspiring authors?

Here are some books that I highly recommend for all authors to check out:

Wordsmithy - Douglas Wilson

Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott

On Writing - Stephen King

The Anatomy of Story - John Truby

The Fire in Fiction - Donald Maas

Don’t forget!

Meritropolis is marked down from its regular price of $5.99, but only for a limited time. Feed your Kindle by picking up a discounted copy for just 99 cents, but make sure you do it before December 2!

Now enter the giveaway

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