Review of "A Sandy Grave" by Donna McDine

Today it is my great pleasure and honor to have author Donna McDine visit the blog once again.  I have known Donna for quite a few years and am delighted to host her and her new book from Guardian Angel Publishing, A Sandy Grave.

N.S. You’ve hand a prolific writing career so far.  What paths did you take to reach this artistic point?

D.M. At the beginning stages of my writing career I expanded my education beyond what I had attended college for (Business Administration) through the Institute of Children’s Literature writing for children and teenagers. After “picking the brains” of established writers I then joined a writer’s critique group and began attending writer’s conferences. Both are imperative in honing my writing skills on an ongoing basis. My critique group is online and we live in various parts of the country, we’ve been together now going on five years. Yes, ladies five years…can you believe it! I also was involved in an in-person group at my local library, but unfortunately it has disbanded.

Donna McDine

N.S. I fell in love with your new book A Sandy Grave, the minute I read it.  Where did the idea come from, which is what all authors want to know.

D.M. Nancy, thank you so much. It warms my heart that you enjoyed A Sandy Grave so much! While reading the newspaper I came across a story about a dead washed up whale on a California beach and what the authorities had to do to protect the whale before being able to bury it.

N.S. You have written several books that speak to the greater good of humanity.  Is that theme a part of you?  And if it is, how did it develop?

D.M. At first I did not pay attention to this particular theme, but the more I read and hear about horrific occurrences writing about the greater good of humanity ends up becoming part of most of my manuscripts. For instance, one of my non-fiction articles that I just submitted for consideration is about the good youngsters are doing right in my own community to help special needs children. Often times, the newspaper and broadcast news are filled with the negatives of the world and to share specific examples of “good neighbor” behavior warms my soul.

N.S. Where will your next book take you—and your readers? 

D.M. I’ve been working on a middle grade manuscript off and on for several years now and my critique group has encouraged me to dust it off and get it into tip top shape for submission to agents and publishing houses. It’s a historical fiction manuscript that includes history of the historical hamlet, Tappan, New York that I’ve resided in for the last 16 years.

N.S. How can readers learn more about you and your accomplishments?

D.M. Those interested can visit me at www.donnamcdine.com, www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com or drop me an email at donna@donnamcdine.com.

By the way, Donna is running a contest during her tour for a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card. Readers may enter at:   http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2014/02/23/pump-up-your-book-presents-a-sandy-grave-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Thank you Nancy for hosting me during my Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour!

A Lovely Offering of Books from Guardian Angel Publishing

Happy New Year from the GAP family! 

This month’s theme is Weather Wonders. GAK, our very own Angel Gecko has a special feature in this month’s issue titled, “Tsunami Fog on the Beach.” Don’t miss it.

Robert Niven provides this month’s poem, “A Sudden Storm,” and short stories come to you from Arthur Carey, Carol Thompson, and Irene S. Roth.

We have two weather-related non-fiction articles this month, and as a special treat, our Editor-in-Chief, Mary Sue Roberts, provides this month’s Parent Teacher Article, “Down on the Windmill Farm.” This article includes a neat paper windmill activity.

To read this month’s issue, please visit us online at http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/ You’ll also be able to access all our past e-Zine issues there.

And below are three more you may enjoy this month.  Do notice that there are two offerings about Australia, each from a different author.

Review of Hockey Agony by Donna McDine

Peer Pressure:  A phrase that sends terror to the hearts of most parents. 

Those of us who are parents know all too well the pitfalls and life-changing events that can occur when this phenomenon visits our children.

Hockey Agony (Guardian Angel Publishing), a chapter book for Tweens by Donna McDine is the kind of book that can help guide children of this callow and impressionable age through some of the morass and danger of peer pressure.

Enter Larry, a great hockey player with an attitude--and with a broken leg.  His coach has warned him repeatedly about a bad attitude, but Larry hasn't paid much attention.  That is until he is forced to come to terms with peer pressure in the heat of an important game.

Will he make a hard decision?  The right decision?  Or will he fall back on old ways and disappoint his coach and, most importantly although he doesn't realize it, himself?

Enhanced by the poignant illustrations of Julie Hammond, Hockey Agony is a must-read for any child facing peer pressure.  I heartily recommend this one to you. It would make a great gift to find under the tree!

Donna McDine

Category: Chapbooks for Tweens
Author:Donna McDine http://www.donnamcdine.com
Artist:Julie Hammond http://www.juliehammondart.com
Paperback ISBN: 9781616333607; 161633360X
eBook ISBN: 9781616333614; 1616333618

Guardian Angel Publishing Champions Multi-Cultural Books for Kids

Several weeks ago, I wrote a blog post on Guardian Angel Publishing and protagonists of color.  The publisher, Lynda Burch and many of the authors are dedicated to this policy. 

Thank You, Author/Artist Margot Finke

In this post, I am  showcasing authors who write books featuring multicultural children as protagonists.  I hope you will find them inspiring and useful for your young ones, classroom or library.

A list, alphabetically by author is as follows:  (Please click on the author's name for all pertinent information.)

Barbara Arbo   Scripture for Kids 

A book packed with Scripture promises along with color visuals to apply God's word to their lives.



Penelope Cole     Magical Mea

Matthew's little sister is a trickster.  Mea got her magic when Matthew lost his.  Matthew tries to guide Mea to use hers for good.  But she wants to do it her way.  Will she get in trouble?

In the words of Lynda S. Burch, publisher of Guardian Angel Publishing:

Guardian Angel is proud to offer a mixed variety of children's books for all ethnicities and also multiple language platforms.  We have been aware of the needs for a broader base of stories for kids from around the globe and in our own backyards and have extended our efforts to produce quality children's books that kids can identify with-no matter their skin color or ethnicity.  Many of our books include multicultural characters that gently teach acceptance for all children of the world.  We believe in cultural diversity is a literary portal from which we can embrace our global community with our books.

Janet Ann Collins           Signs of Trouble

Children with learning disabilities get separated from their Special Education class on a field trip and use what they’ve learned to get reunited with them. The included activities can help children learn safety rules, understanding of people with special needs, basic reading skills, and creative writing skills.  They, of course, are the heroes!

Andi Houdak    Stop That  Pudding!

Passing up fruits and veggies for an afternoon snack, Kevin grabs a chocolate pudding and heads out the door. His adventure begins as he opens up his pudding cup and watches it spring to life! Find out if Kevin and his spoon are fast enough to catch his quick snack!

Mary Jean Kelso       The Christmas Angel

Melissa is a young girl who moves with her family to Oregon via The Oregon Trail. She has been allowed to bring one prized possession and she struggles to see that the porcelain angel that has topped the family Christmas tree makes the journey safely. This adventure on the Oregon Trail has added educational tools including a map, lists of supplies, info on the trail, links to sites and games about the Oregon trail. Five extra pages of activities.

Donna McDine     Hockey Agony

Peer Pressure and Honesty many times go hand-in-hand. What is Larry to do when his teammate asks him to cheat when he is given the responsibility to run the clock during the big hockey game? Outwardly, it may seem he will follow suit, but his conscious tells him otherwise at the moment of truth.

Mary Esparza Vela 

A tiny burro shows up at a little boy’s house and becomes a real asset to the family. The day he disappears, they never expect to see him again until he prances in one dark spooky night.  Ms. Vela's books are written in Spanish as well as English.

 

Colleen L. Reece         God Loves You Whoever You Are

Young or old, big or small, fat or thin, God loves each of us. We may have blue eyes, or brown eyes, gold, green or grey. Our skin may be colored any shade. God loves  us.

 

Cynthia Reeg     Gifts from God 

Gifts from God celebrates God’s loving gifts to each child. Glorious color photographs highlighting children and nature accompany each gift. Every double-page spread has an easy reader sentence on the right and a scripture quotation on the left making this an enjoyable and uplifting book for both children and adults.

 Kristen Zajek       Ebeneezer's Cousin

Maria Jimenez and her dad share many things including a passion for going to see the monkeys at their local primate sanctuary.  But when Maria’s father returns home from military service with an injury, how will she find a way to help him recapture his spirit and independence?

 

Guardian Angel Publishing Lauds Kids' Books With People of Color Protagonists

My post of August 18, titled Why Do Kids' Books Stay Perennially White? caused such a positive stir, I decided to look closer to home--my publishing house, Guardian Angel Publishing.

Margot Finke, Artist and Author

Happily, this house makes a point of showcasing protagonists of color. This post then will feature books and authors who have and continue to do just that.  It is my hope you'll take a look at them, see the real value, and obtain some for the youngsters in your life.

In the words of Guardian Angel publisher, Lynda S. Burch:

 Guardian Angel is proud to offer a mixed variety of children's books for all ethnicities and also multiple language platforms.  We have been aware of the needs for a broader base of stories for kids from around the globe and in our own backyards and have extended our efforts to produce quality children's books that kids can identify with-no matter their skin color or ethnicity.  Many of our books include multicultural characters that gently teach acceptance for all children of the world.  We believe in cultural diversity is a literary portal from which we can embrace our global community with our books.

The books are in the authors' alphabetical order.  The links for each book will lead you to its page at Guardian Angel Publishing where all information about it can be found.

Bear Cahill

We're Brothers & Sisters: The Booples

Even if your friends have different mothers and fathers, as children of God, we're all brothers and sisters. As we learn from the Bible, God adopted us all as His children and to find our brothers and sisters, we just need to look around! 

Penelope Cole
Magical Mea

Matthew’s little sister Mea is a trickster. Mea got her magic when Matthew lost his. Matt tries to guide Mea to use her magic for good. But the more Matt tries to mentor Mea, the more she wants to "do it her way.” Matt worries Mea might get into trouble.

Kevin Coller

Dreamchaser

We’ve sewn a flowing flag of glory, and created a dialogue of resilience: one where seeds of hope are planted, and the fruit is harvested and shared by all.  Believing one person can make a difference to the many is the direction of this story...the direction to a better world. 


 Donna McDine
The Golden Pathway
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily, David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David leads Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa

Margot Finke
Takoni and Claude

Taconi, a young aboriginal boy living on Coorparoo Cattle Station, in outback Australia, fears the unknown. His upcoming Man Ceremony, Dreamtime Spirits, and his Dad's change of job are just three of the unknowns he must tackle. Claude, his chatty cockatoo, offers wise one-liners. Yet Taconi must discover courage and insight for himself. 


 

Nicole Weaver
My Sister is My Best Friend  

 Sisters are very special: Meet two sisters that do everything together. This delightful story transcends all cultural barriers. It will warm the heart of little girls from all over the world.

Las hermanas son muy especiales: Conozca a dos hermanas que hacen todo juntas. Esta bella historia trasciende todas las barreras culturales. Tocará el corazón de todas las niñas del mundo.

Les sœurs sont très spéciales : Rencontrez deux sœurs qui font tout ensemble. Cette jolie histoire transcende toutes les barrières culturelles. L’histoire va réchauffer le cœur des petites filles dans le monde entier.


Vishpriya
Tales from India:  Character Counts! RESPECT

Throughout my growing years, character formation made a distinct mark. Through numerous stories and daily experience, my parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents continuously re-iterated the importance of good character and how it helps form the person you are in future. In this tale Viswas Ram learns about respect.

Kristen Zajac
Chasing the Spirit of Service

Emma comes from three generations of Air Force pilots and misses her father when he travels. Her best friend Adam tries to cheer her up. Emma’s great grandfather, one of the first African American pilots during World War II, shares his life story with Emma and Adam and helps them appreciate the spirit of service.

 

Nancy Stewart
Sea Turtle Summer

Bella and Britt think living by the beach is the coolest thing ever.  When they discover an unprotected sea turtle's nest, they go into action!   Will their bravery and quick thinking save the baby turtles?  How can they do it, and what lessons will they learn about themselves?  The book also contains kid appealing sea turtle facts.

Using Deep Point of View in Children's Books

I wrote this post last week for my regular guest spot on Donna McDine's wonderful blog, Write What Inspires You.  It is a timely topic in the writing world, so I'm doing a reprise here in case anyone would enjoy reading about this useful technique of getting into one's character's head!

Deep Point of View?  What is it?  Never heard of it.  But I'd like to know more. 

These are the kinds of answers I get many times when I mention this technique of writing. I thought it just may be time to discuss this effective way of truly getting into one's character's head and staying there.  It's time to give the pesky narrator the boot!  Goodbye, author intrusion.

Deep Point of View, sometimes called Close Third Person, can be used with First Person as well and is a writing style in great demand these days.

The reader climbs into their protagonist's skin—tasting, feeling, hearing, smelling what they do.  Deep POV is a skill that must be learned, like anything else. But the four tips below are a great place to start.
(The before and after examples are from my middle grade manuscript Lost on the Skeleton Coast.)
Tip 1: Delete the phrase "s/he saw"

Obviously not every use of the word saw (observed, noticed, wondered, etc.) will be slashed. But go through your manuscript looking for lines like these:
Olivia smiled at her uncle. She saw that he was really into it now. 
And change to:
Olivia smiled at her uncle. He was really into it now. 
State the action only. Saw always distance the reader. Bring the reader up close instantly.


Tip 2: What words would you say in the manuscript?

Use realistic internal dialogue. What you would say to yourself if you were living the scene, then replace the pronouns with "s/he" (unless you're writing in first person, of course.) 

Example:   She felt the knife's blade rub her throat.  The metal felt so cold.  She had to stay still and keep from blinking. Olivia was panicked. 
Deep Point of View:  The knife's blade rubbed her throat.  Why was the metal so cold?  Sweat dripped into her eyes, burning them.  What does it feel like to die?

Tip 3: Don't label emotions.

This is classic show vs. tell but is vital to Deep POV. Delete from your mind the name we give to an emotion and force yourself to describe it.  What physical movements would show the emotion without naming it?
Example: Anger 
Olivia was angry.

becomes:   Olivia's eyes became slits. 

Tip 4: Physiological responses

Once you lay out some strong internal dialogue and remove emotion labels, follow up with physiological responses. Depending on the situation, these might be knees buckling, throat clamping, an adrenaline rush, goose bumps, nausea, dizziness, sweating, etc. Describe those. This will really pull the reader deep into the story, particularly in high-intensity moments.
Example:  Excessively hot
Olivia was too hot.
becomes:  If only Olivia could remove the enormous blanket of heat bearing down on her.  Breathing hard, sweat poured from her body and dried quickly.  "We all have to drink, or we're not gonna make it."  A frog's croak.  Was that her voice?
 
I hope this post has encouraged you to throw out all the distance-making words in your manuscript.  Let yourself be invisible.  Allow your protagonist to shine through those pages.  You'll be happy with the results, and so will your readers!

How to Avoid the Feeling of Isolation by Conducting Author Visits by Donna McDine

I am delighted to resume our monthly guest posts with author and Editor-in-Chief of Guardian Angel Kids, Donna McDine.  Welcome, Donna!

Your writing career is moving at a steady pace, but from time-to-time, the feeling of isolation overwhelms you. What is a writer to do to get one’s self out into the world of the living, but not neglect your writing goals?  One of the best ways to get yourself known locally as a serious writer would be to participate in author visits to elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools in your area - depending on what genre you write for. Also check out your local library and bookstores – they too may be interested in having you conduct an event. Presenting your short story or non-fiction article for children’s magazines can be fun way to present the creative writing process to children of all ages without overwhelming them. And since you are writing for children, why not spend time with them? 

It can be daunting to research school visits, considering the Internet comes up with over 2 million hits when typing in “School Author Visits.”  Why not check out the following resources:

1.      Local Schools –Contact an elementary school in your area and find out whom you need to present your school visit request to. The school secretaries are happy to point you in the right direction, whether it is the principal, PTA or program coordinator of the school. IMPORTANT: Keep in mind you don’t necessarily need to have a published book to conduct a school visit. You may be able to present a published short story or non-fiction article to the class. In addition, let the school know that you can meet with respective teachers and conform the event to coincide with their ELA State Assessment Guidelines.

One of Donna's Author Visits

2.      Your network of fellow writers – We are all cheering for one another and I’m sure your network would be happy to discuss their ideas of school visits. If you are just starting out, the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators – http://www.scbwi.org, has a wealth of information on all topics for writing for children.

3.      Local Librarian – I have had wonderful success in becoming “buddies” with my local librarian. They are a chock full of information when it comes to conducting events for children. You never know, they may be so impressed with your initiative that they may request that you conduct a visit at their library. What better way to keep children inspired to read by meeting a local writer living in their midst?

4.      Local Bookstores – Approach the manager or owner to see if they would be interested in having you conduct an author visit. If they are, obtain their guidelines for conducting such a visit and tell them that you will get back to them with your proposal / school visit kit. Be sure to leave your business card with them.

Put yourself out there…it will not only be fun for the children but for yourself!

Bio: Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78^th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions,  Literary Classics Silver Award & Seal of Approval Recipient Picture Book Early Reader, Global eBook Awards Finalist Children’s Picture Book Fiction, and Predators & Editors Readers Poll 2010 Top Ten Children’s Books ~ The Golden Pathway. 

Her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna has four more books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, Hockey Agony, Powder Monkey, A Sandy Grave, and Dee and Deb, Off They Go. She writes, is Editor-in-Chief of Guardian Angel Kids, moms and is a personal assistant from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI, Children’s Literature Network, and Family Reading Partnership. Visit www.donnamcdine.com. 

Children’s Ezine Guardian Angel Kids: Courage – December 2012 Issue

Have a look at the featured short stories and activities in December, 2012's Guardian Angel Kids Ezine!  In editor, Donna McDine's words:

Courage instilled in children from the onset will develop over time to monumental positive actions. Starting with the simplest act of having the courage to ask questions in an effort to learn, especially when you think no one else could possibly have the same question. To always telling the truth even though disciplinary actions may be the result or standing up to the school bully when everyone else is afraid to. Courage comes from one’s positive surroundings and the support from our loved ones to live our lives in a positive manner.

Come explore the world of Guardian Angel Kids through the thought provoking short stories and articles of what it means to be courageous and how being so can be rewarding in immeasurable ways. Digging deep down to right a wrong in The Secret and Beyond the Evergreen are examples of truthfulness, discovering the admiration of sisterhood in Its Life, encouraging our children to reach their full potential in Courage-Reach for the Stars, and how teaching children to write their own stories provides them with an outlet to let their voice soar in Writing with Kids.

Surf on over to Guardian Angel Kids today www.guardian-angel-kids.com, enjoy a child safe ad free Ezine and visit the writers and illustrators in the Guardian Angel Kids December 2012 issue and enjoy the inspiring poetry, stories, articles and activities.

We also invite you to stay connected with Guardian Angel Kids through our Facebook Fan Page:{ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-Angel-Kids-Ezine/163785080346247.

Please feel free to drop Editor-in-Chief, Donna McDine an email at submissions@guardian-angel-kids.com and let them know what you think of Guardian Angel Kids and what you'd like to see in the future. They aim to please.

The Guardian Angel Kids Ezine staff and contributors look forward to your visit. Thank you for your time and interest.