Thursday, December 29, 2011

Not Another New Year-Already?

Wow!  Can you believe it?  Not another new year already.  Didn't 2011 just get here?

Alas, the passing of time trumps all our wishes of holding onto cherished memories and people, too.  That trite but  true axiom is particularly poignant to me this year, as we will be spending more of our time in Florida and less in St. Louis, which is home.

While this decision was about ten years in the making, I find myself approaching it with two minds, as the ancient Greeks were fond of saying. 

 The anticipation of spending more time in the Tampa Bay area is, for us, undeniably appealing.  And being right in the heart of a city again suits us after years living in the heart of London.  Our beach condo also is and will continue to be a respite from that very city as well.

Tampa Skyline at Night
Sounds like a fantastic plan, right?  It would be except for that pesky "other mind" insinuating itself into the place where true and highly valued friends are. 

Good friends and cherished relatives.  That is decidedly the downside of such a decision.  Yes, of course, we will be back frequently, but it cannot be exactly the same ever again.  There is an invisible chasm, a pulling ever so slightly away, and that's the truth of it. 

What is one to do?  I don't know the answer to that question.  I only know what probably will happen from our experiences in other times and other places.  Those friends who have been so cherished will remain so no matter how far away we are in distance.  We will continue exactly where we left off in a previous time.  And with some others, not so much.  The human experience, after all...

So, off we go to Tampa.  New experiences.  New friends.  New milieu.  And old and dear friends and family never forgotten, never not concerned about and never devalued.  It is the fabric of life in this modern world.

Happy New Year, Dear Readers.  I wish you all the very best of everything in this coming year. 

  

Monday, December 26, 2011

Boxing Day Tradition and Memories (With Osso Buco Recipe)

When we lived in London we always celebrated Boxing Day, the day after Christmas.  Our family always had a dinner for many neighbors and friends.  We traditionally served Osso Buco as a counterpart to turkey and dressing the day before.

The term, Boxing Day, is a name for Christmas present.  In the past, it  was a day off for servants.  They received a ‘Christmas Box’ from the master. The servants would also go home to give ‘Christmas Boxes’ to their families. 

It is a day for charity.  Some say that traditionally, churches opened their alms boxes the day after Christmas and distributed money to the poor on Boxing Day.


Some say it was a feudal obligation from the middle ages.  The lord of the manor distributed boxes of household goods and tools to his serfs, as was his obligation, on Boxing Day. 
However far back the Christmas custom of Boxing Day extends, it was only made a legal holiday in England and Wales in the mid 19th century by Queen Victoria. In Scotland, Boxing Day was not a national holiday until the late 20th century.

A box to collect money for the poor was placed in Churches on Christmas day then opened the next day.   Also, sailing ships when setting sail would have a sealed box containing money on board for good luck.  If the voyage were a success the box was given to a priest, opened at Christmas and the contents given to the poor.

In recent times the day has become synonymous with sport. Horse racing is particularly  popular with meets all over the country. Many top football teams also play on Boxing Day. 
Here is a Boxing Day gift from me.  It is the Osso Buco recipe I always use and used in the days we lived in London.  I hope you like it!

Osso Buco Recipe
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt 
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 pounds veal shanks
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup thinly sliced carrot
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3 sprigs fresh parsley
  • 1 bay leaf

Directions

  1. In a shallow dish, stir together flour, salt, and black pepper. Dredge meat in seasoned flour. In a large skillet, melt butter with oil over medium heat. Brown meat. Remove meat from pan, and set aside.
  2. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to drippings in pan. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in tomato sauce, water, basil, thyme, parsley, and bay leaf. Return meat to pan. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to simmer. Cover, and cook for 2 1/2 hours.               

The recipe serves 6 people.  Enjoy!

Friday, December 23, 2011

A Swiss Christmas

Please allow me the indulgence of posting an entry I wrote several years ago.  The vignette below is so special to me, and I hope you will find it to be so as well. 

pictures of switzerland christmasIt was Christmas week, and we were in Switzerland.  My family and I, along with our good friends, Ed and Michele Elliott, and a frozen turkey, traveled there for the holidays.  As we were living in London at the time, we crossed the English Channel on a car ferry and were soon on the way to the Swiss countryside.

Our three sons were not so sure about the plan.  “Were they getting as many gifts?  What kind of Christmas dinner would we have?  What about a tree?”   I was having many of the same thoughts but kept them to myself. 

As we drove higher into the mountains to reach the chalet lent by a friend, small delicate snowflakes danced around our two cars.  Shadows deepened, and lights began to glow in houses nestled here and there in the valleys below.  Magical.  A very good sign.  With darkness settling around the mountains, we arrived at our chalet.  Maybe this adventure would be fine.  These words became my mantra.
The next morning, we four parents and five sons explored the tiny village.  And there, propped in front of a miniature store, was our Christmas tree!  It was short, a little crooked, a bit spare of needles and one of the last ones left.  We thought it was beautiful.  The nine of us trudged along with our treasured tree and promptly set about decorating it.  We popped popcorn and made white garlands with the help of needle and thread.  We did the same with cranberries and wound scarlet sashes round the boughs.

 The boys found pine cones of different sizes and shapes in a sheltered stand of pines near our chalet.  These they tucked between branches of our now festive offering to Christmas, and an aroma of pine drifted through the room.  James, the youngest boy, fashioned a star out of paper and placed it on top of the tree. 

That evening, Christmas Eve, the nine of us again walked to the village.  Our feet made satisfying crunching sounds through the crusty snow.  The village church was our destination. Candles shone in all the windows, casting shimmering shadows on the icy whiteness.  It seemed the whole town was attending the midnight service.  We were greeted with smiles and greetings of “Willkommen.”  We were welcomed by everyone. 

 Christmas carols, all in German, but so familiar to us in every other way, filled the small church with happiness and joy.  The pastor’s message, all in German, made us feel the meaning of Christmas, as if we understood every word.

Next morning, as the boys opened their allotted two gifts apiece, no one complained.  Michele and I baked our now thawed turkey and completed all the usual trimmings, minus a pumpkin pie.  No one complained.  When it was time for all to help clean up from our meal, no one complained.  Again, magical.

As I reflect on that Swiss Christmas of more than a decade ago, what made it so extraordinary?  Was it Switzerland itself?  Was it being with family and wonderful friends?  Was it fulfilled expectations?
Yes, of course, it was all of that.  And, yet, it was more.  It was that intangible thing called hope.  It was recognition that we are more than ourselves alone.  It was the knowledge that we need one another and are here to help each other and to be selfless when called upon to be so.  It was the magic of Christmas that happened to be in a country called Switzerland.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

You Tube Christmas from Me to You!

Please find some sounds and sights of the Season in my post today. I hope you enjoy them, and they help with the Holiday Spirit!

Now we don't want our kids to be too Grinchie, but they do have fun with this one, so I thought I'd include it!  Have fun.


 




And, of course, it is not Christmas without Charlie Brown.  Carl Schultz was really onto something with this glorious creation!

 



 And enjoy some old fashioned Christmas music!



Have a Happy Holiday from me to you!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Frenetic Season is in Full Swing

Too skinny Santas ringing bells calling for charity money.  Shoppers rushing with balanced packaged piled to their noses.  Harried clerks trying their best to remain calm and polite.  These are but a few of the sights of the season. 

Now, however, comes an interesting study from the University of Oxford.  It finds  that shops seen to be revelling too much in the festive season risk damaging sales figures by driving away stressed out customers. The study has discovered that overly jolly staff, bright decorations and Yuletide hits like Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody are a turn-off for shoppers.
With stress levels running high amid the pressures of getting everything prepared for Christmas, cheerfully run stores make people less inclined to spend money, the research found.  Faced with exuberant sales assistants or shops holding Christmas celebrations, many customers may even flee empty-handed, the report warns.

Nancy Puccinelli, Associate Fellow at the university’s Saïd Business School, who led the research, said: “In the final days before Christmas many a shopper will be feeling the pressure of the holiday season – with gifts to buy and preparations to make – leading to undue stress.
“The extreme contrast between consumers’ negative feelings and the atmosphere in the store, be it festive decorations, Christmas music or overly enthusiastic staff, actually makes them feel worse and less willing to purchase.

Ms. Puccinelli, an expert in the psychology of marketing, believes her research on how consumer mood affects behaviour could help high street stores boost taking in the run up to Christmas.

The report identifies music as one of the key areas for delicacy, warning that cheesy Christmas hits will no longer cut it with today’s cynical shoppers.

“It isn’t enough to order the Christmas soundtrack (e.g. Slade’s ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’). Consider classical melodies (e.g. Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker) that celebrate the holiday without hitting consumers over the head with the joy they should be experiencing,” the report advises.
In terms of decor, it warns against bright reds and golds in favour of muted blues, silver, and white “which are shown to be more relaxing for the customer."  The report concludes that staff should be encouraged “to be sensitive to the holiday stress of customers” and shops should aim to create “moderately positive retail environments."

So what are we hapless shoppers to do?  The study appears to give us a much needed escape hatch from expectations we know all too well will not occur--not in this lifetime.  All the built up anticipation and longed for nostalgia can go right down the rabbit's hole, and we do not have to follow!  Talk about freedom!

Yeah.  Just try it.  Then watch us all give in to the "old tapes" of our past from which we can never escape.  Nothing else to do but slog on and have a Happy Holiday!

Friday, December 16, 2011

A Review at Bassgiraffe's Thoughts Blog!

What a treat today!  We are highlighted and reviewed at the lovely and very well known Canadian blog, Bassgiraffe's Thoughts!

This blog has it all--tons of information about living in general, wonderful books to buy and read and great information about navigating through this technologically modern world.

Please let me say again how grateful we are that Sea Turtle Summer has been so well received nationwide.  My publisher is Guardian Angel Publishing, and it is a joy to work with everyone there.

Also, kudos to Samantha Bell, the magnificent watercolorist who illustrated the Bella and Britt series.

Our Tour Continues at Everyday is an Adventure Blog

Here we are at another blog today!  This one is Everyday is an Adventure, and it is perfectly named for Britt, Bell, the ranger and me.  The girls are always on a new beach adventure, and this new one is no exception.

Our tour and people's interest in the Bella and Britt Series has kept me very busy.  Now that Sea Turtle Summer has reached Amazon's Hot New Releases and Amazon's Bestseller List (both the hard cover and soft cover on both lists), things are frenetic!  A good frenetic, by the way.

This book is the second in the series.  The third is Bella Saves the Beach.  The girls realize cleaning a littered beach is too much for them.  What can they do? 

The fourth book is Mystery at Manatee Key.  In this book, Britt has to try to save Bella and the ranger from manatee poachers.  (Yes, they do unfortunately exist.)  She is only one girl.  Can she succeed in saving her friends?

But these books are still to come.  Sea Turtle Summer is here and is available at

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Sea Turtle Summer Reviewed at 4 the Love of Books

4 the Love of Books is the blog we are visiting today, and the book will be reviewed.  This is a kind and sweet blog where people are uplifted and come away with a happy feeling. 

Bella, Britt, the ranger and I are feeling great about our visit!  Please come along, and see what is said about Sea Turtle Summer, published by Guardian Angel Publishing!

We are particularly pleased that the book is on Amazon's Hot New Releases List in both its formats--hard and soft cover.  We want to thank you for that!

Bella and Britt Holding Hands Across the Sands!
I want to share one of the beautiful watercolor pages that Samantha Bell did for Sea Turtle Summer!




Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Sea Turtle Summer Reviewed at The Children's and Teen's Book Connection!

Today we have a special treat!   We visit and are reviewed by Cheryl Malandrinos at her marvelous blog, The Children's and Teen's Book Connection.

Cheryl C. Malandrinos
Cheryl Malandrinos
Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A founding member of Musing Our Children, Ms. Malandrinos is Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens. Her first children’s book, Little Shepherd, was released in August 2010 by Guardian Angel Publishing. She is also a member of the SCBWI.

Bella and Britt helping 97 Loggerhead sea turtle
hatchlings to the sea





With all that talent and experience, Britt, Bella, the ranger and I are excited to see what she thinks about our book!  We hope she likes it and gives Sea Turtle Summer a good review.

We are also excited to learn that Sea Turtle Summer is still on Amazon's Hot New Releases in Children's Books List.  And to add to that, both the soft and hard covers are on the list!

Thanks to all of you who support the Bella and Britt Series!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Sea Turtle Summer Reviewed at This Little Book of Mine Blog

Today Bella, Britt, the ranger and I visit a new blog, This Little Book of Mine.  Let's find out what this blogger thinks of our new Bella and Britt book, Sea Turtle Summer!

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!We are so proud of the fact that our book is on Amazon's Bestselling List for Children's Books.  And we want to thank you for the support.

Please pop by and visit us at this blog today at Sea Turtle Summer's virtual tour.

What the reviewers are saying about the new adventures of Bella and Britt:

This story brings great messages for children around the world who want to do their share to help save the animals.

Nicole Weaver, Tri-Lingual Author, Blogger, Educator

Since Nancy Stewart's earlier book, One Pelican at a Time, became a best seller, it's not surprising that Sea Turtle Summer is excellent.  I think the most important message is that even kids can make a difference in the world by standing up for what is right even when it's scary to do that. 

The illustrations by Samantha Bell are lovely and do an excellent job of capturing the mood of the book while portraying the turtles accurately.
I highly recommend this book.


Janet Ann Collins, Writer and Speaker




Monday, December 12, 2011

Taking Time for Mommy Blog

Hello, Dear Reader,

Today we are being reviewed on the Taking Time for Mommy Blog.  Bella, Britt, the ranger and I hope it will be a good one and make us proud!  We'd love it if you would stop by and say hello.

Sea Turtle Summer by Guardian Angel Publishing, is on Amazon's Hot New Releases list as well as on Amazon's Bestseller's for Children List.

We especially like the Green Living section of this blog.  Here you can find green living tips, recipes and general information on helping our planet stay healthy.  Come on over for a visit!

Sea Turtle Summer may be bought at:  Guardian Angel Publishing, amazon.com, barnes & noble.com, fictionwise.com and for an autographed copy, at my blob and websites.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Mayra Calvani's Interview with me at Mayra's Secret Bookcase

Nancy is the bestselling author of the four Bella and Britt Series books for children: One Pelican at a Time (eighteen weeks on Amazon Bestselling List), Sea Turtle Summer, Bella Saves the Beach and Mystery at Manatee Key. All are published by Guardian Angel Publishing.

(The trailer for Sea Turtle Summer can be found at the end of this post.)

She and One Pelican at a Time and were featured in the PBS Tampa (WEDU) special, GulfWatch. Pelican was nominated for a Global eBook Award and has won the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

Nancy’s travels take her extensively throughout the world, most particularly Africa. She is US chair of a charity in Lamu, Kenya, that places girls in intermediate schools to allow them to further their education. She and her husband live in Tampa and St. Louis.
I understand you were a university professor teaching classes about children’s and young adult literature before you started writing. How did the leap from teacher to author come about?


I thought fleetingly about writing for children through my years as an academic, but it never seemed the right time. After teaching children’s and young adult literature, though, the idea crystallized. The day after my granddaughter, Leah, was born, I wrote my first children’s book, I Held You on the Day You Were Born. Since then I’ve never looked back, and those pent-up books flow faster than I would ever have expected. So, in a real way, Leah (who is now five) is the true catalyst behind my writing.

What makes you passionate about writing for children?


My entire academic career has been about children, from teaching young kids to teaching pre-service teachers. It was, I think, a natural segue to begin writing for them. The combination of my love of all things books and the real joy I feel about children and their growing awareness of new ideas led me to this passion.

Congratulations on the publication of your latest children’s picture book, Sea Turtle Summer. What was your inspiration for this story?


My morning walks on Clearwater Beach provide me with so many ideas, particularly for the Bella and Britt Series. With Sea Turtle Summer, I walked by a cordoned off area of the beach that contained a sea turtle nest. The orange tape and the affixed state seal warning about the serious consequences of tampering began the process in my mind.
Clearwater Beach, always voted one of the three best beaches in the world, is a sea turtle’s nightmare if she happens to lay her eggs there. There is so very much activity—from sun worshiping, to volleyball games, to kids’ digging sandcastles (hatchlings cannot get over them), the problem became defined. The tension was set up. All we needed was a sea turtle laying her eggs in an unfortunate place, and Bella and Britt were back on the job!

I understand you get up at dawn everyday and by 6am are already pounding away at your keyboard on the balcony of your beautiful, gulf-view Clearwater apartment. Tell us more about your writing schedule and writing process, especially for Sea Turtle Summer.

It is true that I’m at my computer around six each morning and has become a joke with friends who always look at the time I send or answer emails! I do find that time to be more productive for me than any other.
I’ve learned to parcel my days into bunches of hours, each bunch dealing with one area. For instance, my best creative writing is early in the morning. About mid-morning, I turn to marketing and do that several hours. Later in the day, I go back to writing, many times on a different manuscript. I tend to finish about 5 PM, but my computer is sometimes on my lap in the evening as well.

My blog does take some time almost daily. I publish new posts three times a week. I try to write them in groups and usually have seven or eight ready to go. I enjoy blogging and find writing for adults helps keep my mind focused in a different way. In that regard, it’s a worthwhile exercise.


What do you do when the words ‘just won’t come out’? Do you stay and force it until something begins happening on the page?
Free Association is the name of that game for me. I don’t fight writer’s block anymore. Rather, exercise or running errands or doing anything not related to writing helps greatly. When I’m disengaged from writing is usually when engagement happens. An idea, a notion, a nugget of a thought will pop into my consciousness and, as if by magic, the block is finished.

Do you have any tips for aspiring children’s authors?

Yes! Don’t write in a vacuum! Join a writer’s group—immediately. It is the best thing you can do for yourself. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is beyond valuable for the new writer, and local groups are everywhere.

Realize you have to promote your own book, and you must do it constantly. The days of sitting back and letting your publishing house do it are over! I have a friend whose name you’d recognize here. She’s had thirty two books children’s books published. Recently she told me that she still gives one day a month to marketing.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?

I’d be delighted to share my web and blog addresses and tell them where my books can be purchased.
Web site:
http://www.nancystewartbooks.com
Blog site: 
http://www.nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com  

The books are sold at: Guardian Angel Publishing, amazon.com, barnes & noble.com,Fictionwise and my web and blog sites, where you can obtain a personalized, autographed copy.

Thank you, Nancy!

Thank you so much, Mayra, for hosting me. I enjoyed being with you and your guests.

Mayra's Secret Bookcase is a marvelous blog, and it is my hope you will take a look at it!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Guest Post at Coffee and a Keyboard

I am interviewed today at the lovely blog, Coffee and a Keyboard, where the by-line is Art-Life-Love! 

In the interview, I was asked some pretty in-depth questions.  I also give a peek into the next book on the drawing board and, no, Bella and Britt are not in this one.  It's a bit of a departure for me. 

The interview, of course, is to help spread the word about Sea Turtle Summer, the second book of the Bella and Britt Series of children's books.  Happily, the word must be out, as Sea Turtle Summer is on Amazon's Hot New Releases in both the hard and soft cover formats!
Below, I share with you one of Samantha Bell's wonderful watercolors.  So lovely!

It's my hope you agree that her art makes the book come alive. The girls, ranger and the loggerhead hatchlings are given a life of their own with her amazing talent.

Sea Turtle Summer Reviewed at One Day at a Time

Today, Sea Turtle Summer, published by Guardian Angel Publishing, will be reviewed by the One Day at a Time Blog. 

One Day At A TimeThe blog's logo is one I love:  Creating Childhood Memories.  Not only is is a sweet and nostalgic byline, the idea is crucial to positive child development leading to a mature, happy and fully functioning adult.

To that end, I am delighted to have Sea Turtle Summer with Bella, Britt and the ranger reviewed today. It is my hope that this series of books will help create happy and indelible childhood memories. 

Sold at:  Guardian Angel Publishing, amazon.com, barnes & noble.com
and on my web and blog sites (autographed copies)
The added benefit I am hoping, of course, is this:  The childhood memories created by the series will aid children in becoming responsible adults who care for and respect the animals with whom we must share this planet.

Please visit One Day at a Time.  Britt and Bella are waiting for you!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Guest Post at Cafe of Dreams (My Letter to Santa!)

Hello, Dear Readers,

Today for the Cafe of Dreams Blog, I've written a letter to Santa Claus, aka, Father Christmas. 

 Now this is something, I'll admit it, I have not done in many years.  (Of course, I won't tell you how many years it's been!)

I also will admit the letter was fun to write.  I'll tell you why I've been good to fellow authors and to my critique group as well. 

In the letter, I also talk about why I should be rewarded for staying at my research in the Bella and Britt books.  Why not come along to Cafe of Dreams today and take a peek at my list!

And speaking of Christmas lists, why not add one of the Bella and Britt books to yours for the children in your life?

 My brand new book, Sea Turtle Summer, has just been released to rave reviews, and it is on Amazon's Bestseller List and Amazon Hot New Releases!  I'd love to share the girls' adventures with you!

Why not come along to Cafe of Dreams today and take a peek at my list!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Sea Turtle Summer Reviewed at Loves 2 Read Blog

Britt, Bella, the ranger and I are delighted to be reviewed at the Loves 2 Read Blog today!  This is a powerhouse Mommy Blog, and I think you will find it to be one of the best.

The girls, the ranger and I are proud to announce Sea Turtle Summer is on Amazon's Hot New Release list and is also on Amazon's Bestseller's in Children's Book List as well!  We are proud of that.

Let's hope all those mommies will like our book, Sea Turtle Summer, girls.  Maybe the ranger will be influential with the readers. 
Sold at:  Guardian Angel Publishing, amazon.com
barnes & noble.com and at my web and
blog sites for autographed copies!

She has a persuasive manner, especially with people who don't have the best interest of kids or animals at heart!


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

My Guest Post at Hollywood Daze Blog

Hollywood Daze is an interesting blog!  It concerns, as the name implies, all things Hollywood. 

For my guest post today, I talk of some of my favorite films and the cities around the world where I viewed them. 

You may be surprised by the places I take you on this virtual tour.  Why not come along today and travel with me as I speak of movies and the places they were filmed?

You can find my post on Hollywood Daze!

And speaking of "celluloid," I have included the trailer for Sea Turtle Summer, the second book in the Bella and Britt Series.

You can find the trailer below:

Monday, December 5, 2011

MeeGenius Author Challenge and a Favor from You!

Hello, Dear Reader,

This is a very different post today, as I am asking a favor of you! 

Win a Kids&lquot; Book Authoring Contract!I have entered an author's challenge with MeeGenius eBooks, a cutting edge ebook publisher.  My children's picture book, Fred and the Belly Button Bandit, has made it through the first round of cuts.  This is where you can help!

Simply go to the link below, read the very short story and vote by hitting the pink star.  That's it!

http://www.meegenius.com/challenge/fred-and-the-belly-button-bandit-by-nancy-stewart

I cannot thank you enough for your consideration of my book!

All best wishes,

Nancy





Sea Turtle Summer Reviewed at Kristi's Book Nook

The book tour for Sea Turtle Summer begins today!  The book for children ages 6 to 9 is being interviewed at Kristi's Book Nook. 

Kristi's Book NookPlease stop by and see what is said about the new adventures of Bella and Britt.  The girls are on the beach again, but this time they try to save a Loggerhead sea turtle's nest from destruction.

Will they be able to stand in the face of adult opposition to their plan?  What they propose doing may cause a lessening of beach revenues from tourists. What will happen to the nest and to the girls?

Sold at:  Guardian Angel Publishing, amazon.com, barnes & noble.com
and on my web and blog sites (for autographed copies)

Join us at Kristi's Book Nook today!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Sea Turtle Summer Trailer--A Nice Preview!

The trailer for Sea Turtle Summer, published by Guardian Angel Publishing may be viewed in this post. 

(Please view the trailer at the bottom of this post!)

The lovely pictures are by Samantha Bella.  She is a marvelous watercolorist and has done it again, as she did in One Pelican at a Time.

I am pleased to announce that Sea Turtle Summer is on Amazon's Hot New Releases for Children and Amazon's Bestseller List for Children.  I want to thank so many people for all their support!

This book may be purchased at:  Guardian Angel Publishing, amazon.com, barnes & noble.com, fictionwise.com and at my web and blogsites.  Autographed copies may be obtained at my sites.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Children’s Book About Desert Elephants in Mali

The Tuareg Nomads of Mali have a saying: “We live with the elephants, and the elephants live with us.” The Dogon, Fulani, and Tuareg peoples share land with the last remaining herds of desert elephants.

WILD has worked to protect the unique Desert Elephants of Mali since 2002. We collaborated closely with author Helen Cowcher to present this lovely children’s book that conveys the essential message of the elephants, the people, and our work in Mali.

For hundreds of years, the elephants have followed a 300-mile circular path in Mali, West Africa, the longest migration route of any elephant in the world. Once a year, they must pass through the Elephants’ Doorway in the cliffs on their way to find water.

But what happens when that doorway is blocked? The local people are determined to continue their peaceful coexistence with the elephants, and they communicate with each other—over the radio and under the palaver tree—to solve these kinds of problems. Small changes can make a big difference!

Helen Cowcher shows that, when everyone works together, it’s possible to preserve the delicate balance of life in the desert and protect these magnificent desert elephants.

Location Gourma in Mali-Africa“Desert Elephants is a valuable and urgent book. It is a seminal contribution that will help save this unique elephant population”

Dr. Mike Chase, founder & director of Elephants Without Borders















Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Green Bay Packer's Donald Driver Pens Third Children's Book

Green Bay Packers receiver Donald Driver has introduced his new children’s book, “Quickie Goes to the Big Game,’’ and his first children’s calendar at the Packers Pro Shop in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

Donald Driver's new book, “Quickie Goes to the Big Game’," is an inspirational story about a little boy learning the values of honesty and hard work. The 32-page hardcover book features illustrations, official NFL photos of Driver, a family portrait and a letter Driver wrote to readers.“Quickie Goes to the Big Game’’ is an inspirational story about a little boy learning the values of honesty and hard work. The 32-page hardcover book features illustrations, official NFL photos of Driver, a family portrait and a letter Driver wrote to readers. This book joins his previous books, “Quickie Makes the Team’’ and “Quickie Handles a Loss.’’

driverbookThe Quickie 2012 Calendar contains illustrations of the Quickie series characters set

 to real-life lessons and teaching moments.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Donald Driver Foundation.


Saturday, November 26, 2011

Loggerhead Turtles Showcased in Sea Turtle Summer

Loggerhead sea turtles are an ancient species, having been on this earth for up to forty million years.  These turtles have very large heads and strong jaws. They can weigh up to three hundred pounds as adults.

(Please view the sea turtle hatchling rescue at the bottom of the post.)

Loggerheads spend most of their lives in the open ocean and in shallow coastal waters. They rarely come ashore, with the exception of the females' brief visits to build nests and lay eggs.
This turtle is endangered worldwide. Their main enemy is human.  Because of pollution, reduction of habitat, fishing trawls, the population is dwindling.

Many people and organizations are trying to help these majestic creatures. They are protected by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In the US and in many other parts of the world, disturbing a nest carries large fines. 

I hope my new children's book, Sea Turtle Summer, can do its part to help bring the turtles' plight to the attention of kids and their parents.  Education is the number one factor in conserving our planet.

Sea Turtle Summer is the second book in the Bella and Britt Series. The girls find a female sea turtle laying her eggs on the busiest beach in their town.  They see the female safely back into the sea, but what can they do to save the nest? 

This is not only an ecology book for children.  It is about kid empowerment as well.  Bella and Britt find themselves disagreeing with adults, and that makes for a sensitive situation. 

I would love for your children and grandchildren to read Sea Turtle Summer with you in the hope it will enlighten and uplift everyone who reads it. The book was launched on November 14 and can be found at: 

Sea Turtle Summer can be found at: Guardian Angel Publishing, amazon.com, barnes & noble.com, Fictionwise and at my web and blog sites, where autographed copies can be purchased:  http://nancystewartbooks.com and http://nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Gorgeous Thanksgiving Books for Kids

Nothing says Happy Thanksgiving more than a beautiful and festive holiday meal with family and friends.  And for the kids, a good and fun Thanksgiving book might enhance the day as well!

I have included a few suggestions of terrific books for kids and the holiday.  How about a book and a chat around the dinner table?  Grandma and Grandpa would, I know, love to hear about the first Thanksgiving, Squanto, planting corn with a fish and so many other tales of that first Thanksgiving.

Here are a few samples of what is out there for your kids to read!


A Plump and Perky Turkey by Theresa Bateman

A Plump and Perky Turkey
 Turkeys around Squawk Valley just don't jump into pots anymore -- they are way too smart for that.  So the townspeople hatch a clever plan. They host a turkey-themed arts and crafts fair and lure a vain bird into town by advertising for an artist's model. Peter the Turkey, proud of his well-stuffed form, takes the bait but doesn't fall for the trap.


P is for Pilgrim:  A Thanksgiving Alphabet by Carol Crane


From the lives of our early settlers, who established the foundations for American freedoms and ideals, to today's celebrations, P is for Pilgrim colorfully examines the history and lore of Thanksgiving. Educators will find the inclusion of the Core Democratic Values of valuable use for the classroom while kids of all ages will enjoy the bright, engaging illustrations and fascinating sidebar text.

‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey


Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving - sm
The incomparable Dav Pilkey adapts Clement Moore's classic Christmas poem to tell his wacky Thanksgiving tale. The day before Thanksgiving, eight boys and girls take a field trip to a turkey farm. They have fun playing with eight exuberant turkeys but are shocked to learn that Farmer Mack Nuggett plans to kill all the turkeys for Thanksgiving dinners. So the children decide to smuggle all the turkeys home, and all their Thanksgiving dinners become vegetarian this year. The turkeys' lives are saved!

I want to wish my US readers a marvelous and Happy Thanksgiving. (Our Canadian neighbors celebrated their Thanksgiving on October 10).  For you US expats and others who celebrate the holiday around the world as well, I wish the same to you!