FEATURED AUTHOR: Staci Stallings

A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading.

How did you start out your writing career?
I've always had "movies" playing in my head. When I was young, I would put myself to sleep to them. The next night, I would remember where I had left off, "push play," and start from there. My writing career started because I kept "losing" favorite story lines, and when I finally had the time after my first child was born and I became a stay-at-home mom, I started writing them down. I gave those first few to some friends to read. They fell in love with them, and that's how it started.

What did you learn while writing this book?

How very vulnerable our kids are to the world and how diligent we must be in protecting them and listening to them. Their experiences are real, and we can't abandon them as we search for lives of our own. They need us as parents, as teachers, as adult friends to listen and to care and to help them--not to judge them or dismiss them.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

Although it's about high school age students and they will enjoy it, I want it to accomplish two things: 1) to give the kids the courage to stand up to the very real evils they are facing but more so, 2) to tell parents and teachers and administrators to WAKE UP and stop putting our students lives and spirits on the line by trying to keep the veneer of "everything's okay" stretched over our schools. If everything is not okay, we need to get in there and do something about it. PC doesn't work when our kids are being shredded in the land of bullying and threats.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

This is probably going to brand me or something, but I loved Sean, the hero. I'm far more like Robyn, the heroine, who is going to get in there and do something to fix things. But I truly loved Sean, the bad boy who has a heart of gold. I loved him trying to protect Robyn and how he went all out, but still trying not to let her know anything was wrong. He was fun to write because he was edgy but so sincere and wanting to be the good guy.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

That life is still life. I still have laundry to do (should be doing some now, but this is more fun). And I still have dishes to do and still have to go get the kids from school and a million other "life" things that were supposed to magically disappear when I got published.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love getting lost in the stories--whether I'm writing them or reading them. I love to just sit back and watch my characters as they grow and learn. The other night I was reading one that just came out on Kindle, and in the scene the heroine was being really obstinate, and I was like, "Come ON, Elizabeth! Give him a break!" My husband looked at me really funny and said, "Didn't you write that?" I said, "Yeah, but she needs to cut him some slack already!" I love that.

What do I not like? Trying to let readers know I'm here without sounding like I'm some kind of pushy salesman. I love my readers and I love talking with them about the books. It's getting them to go, "This sounds really good" and taking the next step to buy it that is the toughest for me. If I could just give the books out, that would be great. Unfortunately, it doesn't work too well like that.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

To let God work and enjoy the ride. I do that a lot better now than I ever did. Five to seven years ago, I was into the "making it happen" thing. Brought me a lot of misery. Now, it's just "let's see what God has in store for today." That's a lot more fun and I'm a lot more successful as well.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do believe in your voice and your style.

Don't try to fit yourself into everyone else's boxes.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

How awesome it is to hear that someone liked your book. Good reviews make me excited about writing more, and some days that's worth gold to me. Problem is, most people read the book, like it, but never think to leave a good review or to write in and say they liked it. Years later, I'll say something on Facebook or something and they'll go, "Oh, I loved that book. I've read it five times!" I would love to have a way to get them to tell me that when they read it so I can ask 10,000 questions about what they liked and why.

Think about your favorite television show. Part of the fun is watching it. Part of the fun is talking about it. I really like to talk about my books with people who enjoyed them.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

Cinderella--minus the stepmother, two stepsisters, and the mice! :) I just love the story of how she had this hard life, a sad life really, but she stayed beautiful on the inside. And although the dress and the glass slippers helped, if she was ugly on the inside, the Prince would never have fallen for her. I love that.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to Wii Snowboard. I love the sensation of going super fast down this wicked hill and jumping up on these things and doing these flips and jumps, and even crashing and burning. Then getting off and not having to spend six months in a full-body cast!

What do you do to interact with your readers?

Well, I'm on Facebook and I have a Contact Me page on my blogs. I reply to all comments on my blogs. I'm on Twitter. I do interviews on cool blogs like this one and talk to people there. Any way I can think to interact, I pretty much do and try.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

YA (Young Adult) is only one of the genres I write, but I love it. I think teenagers have some of the most challenging, interesting lives that we just don't see because too many times they are either caricatured as materialistic brats or dismissed as having nothing to contribute to the conversation of humanity. Far from either of those, I love the spirit and the energy teens bring to life. I love how imaginative they are and how they are just ready to take on any challenge. And I love how the ones I know care so much about life--theirs and everyone else's.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

That God exists and that He's in our corner. Bad things happen. God doesn't cause those things to happen. Life takes care of that. Just like with parents. They don't cause the child to fall off the bike. Life does that. But a good parent is always there to pick the child up, to hold them, to make it better, and then to encourage the child to try again. They are also the first ones to cheer when the child makes that phenomenal leap into learning how. That's what God does for us, and that's what I know for sure.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I'll give you a sneak peek of another series for YA that I have out right now. It's a three-book series (The Faith Series), and it's about this group of friends in college and how that group was built. You start out with Rebecca Avery who is this really quirky, fun girl but who kind of blends in with the woodwork. She meets up with Eric Barnett in this hilarious scene (one of my all-time favorites!), and he's this guy who nothing seems to be working out like it is for all of his friends. We start off following them, and then as others are added to the mix, we go through all kinds of ups and downs in their lives.

Those books are: A Work in Progress, A Little Piece of Heaven, A Light in the Darkness

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

I'm on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/staci.stallings.author

Twitter: @StaciStallings
Email: staci_stallings (at) hotmail (dot) com
My blog: http://spiritlightbooks.wordpress.com  and http://stacistallings.wordpress.com


Thank you so much for having me! This has been fun! Now, I guess I'd better go get that laundry done... *sigh*... but if you've read the interview and liked it, you can certainly leave a comment and then I'll have a reason to stay here just a little longer (I don't really want to do the laundry anyway!). That would be TERRIFIC! :)

THE PRICE OF SILENCE
Where do you turn when the watching eyes are everywhere?

Where do you go when no place is safe?

Who do you turn to when saying anything could get someone killed?

Who can you trust when “they” could be anyone?

Robyn Lockhart liked her simple but predictable life in the small Iowa town she grew up in. But when her mother moves them to the big city, Robyn has no choice but to brave the tumultuous high school she’s thrust into. Then, with barely a blink and as an outsider looking in, Robyn begins asking questions that no one seems willing to face. Is it possible to stay silent while simultaneously shouting from the rooftops that something is deadly wrong? And if you shout, beyond those watching every move you make, who will even hear?

“Stallings takes a much darker turn with this novel and she does so very well. The sense of desperation and anguish on the part of Robyn is palpable and you definitely find yourself sympathizing with her. Stallings has created a very memorable character here… an Atticus Finch styled hero who refuses to let threats stop her from seeking the truth and justice."
–Kevin Apgar, Fun With Dead Trees



If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

FEATURED AUTHOR: Vicky Alvear Shecter

Vicky Alvear Shecter is the author of three books set in the ancient world. Cleopatra’s Moon is her first young adult novel. Her other two books—Cleopatra Rules! and Alexander the Great Rocks the World—were written for younger readers. She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University in Atlanta.

How did you start out your writing career?

First, let me say thank you, LaShaunda, for having me here! It’s an honor. To answer your question, I had always been a writer, but because I worked in business marketing, I approached writing as a trade rather than an art. When my second child was born, I took a break from writing. During the period she was in grade school, I reconnected with my passion for ancient history and so I began writing about that. I got trained as a docent at our archaeology museum here in Atlanta (at Emory University) and went from there.

What did you learn while writing this book?

It’s not enough to just “report” what was happening in a story, but to dig deeper into the emotional experiences of my characters.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I hoped that people would learn about two fascinating figures in ancient history—Cleopatra Selene (the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony) and Juba II, a king of North Africa. Both have fallen into obscurity, which needs to be fixed!

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

Oh, that one’s hard because there were so many characters in this book. But I’d say, Selene’s little brother, Ptolemy Philadelphus, known as “Ptolly” in the book. I loved that little guy!

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

How vulnerable I would feel about people’s response to my characters. Would they like them? Hate them? Suddenly, they were like my children and I hadn’t expected that.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love the imagining process (for me I have to imagine scenes before I write them down) because that’s when it’s the most fun. What I hate the most is the endless waiting. Once I’ve written something, I need to give myself some space from it, which requires waiting. Then there’s the waiting from an agent. Then the endless waiting to see if the book will sell. Then the waiting for edits from the editor. Then the waiting for it to come out! Nobody warned me how LONG the process takes and how much waiting is actually involved.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1. (Your book) is only a story and there are many, many stories in this world.
2. But it is YOUR story, and so has a right to be heard.
3. Trust your instincts.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

1. DO search/dig deeper for the emotional core of the story. It’s too easy to focus on plot or “what happens.” For example, when Cleopatra Selene faced some devastating losses, I pulled up the feelings I remembered from childhood when I faced a family member’s unexpected death. I don’t have a thing in common with an ancient Princess of Egypt—except our shared humanity.

2. DON’T give up on yourself. When I first started on this novel, I discovered that a famous writer was about to release a novel on a similar subject. I was devastated and figured I’d quit. No point, right? But a friend insisted I keep writing because my story would be different. She was right. I’m glad I listened.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

For years, I’d been told to stop “living in my head” or to “get my nose out of books.” But these are the ways I cultivate my stories. And reading books—lots of them—are critical for writers! After getting published, it’s a little easier to do these things.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

I’d have to say Janie Crawford from Their Eyes Were Watching God. Her confidence, her capacity for deep love, and even her acceptance of pain and sorrow are a wonder to behold.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Read!

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I have a blog (http://historywithatwist.blogspot.com) and am on Facebook and Twitter. I also love to do school visits and book clubs.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

I’m not sure I set out to write for children per se, it just ended up that way. I have been accused (complimented?) of having a childlike curiosity and enthusiasm, so maybe that’s why it made the most sense.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know that I love my family. Beyond that, I know that what fascinates me so much about ancient history is that it shows us that no matter how much time has passed, no matter who we are or where we’re from or when we’re from, we are all the same inside.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I haven’t sold it yet, so I can’t. But I will say it will also be set in the ancient world.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

I love to hear from readers. My email is valvearshecter@gmail.com and my website is www.vickyalvearshecter.com. And, as mentioned above, my blog is: http://historywithatwist.blogspot.com.

Cleopatra’s Moon is the story of Cleopatra’s daughter, Selene (Mark Antony was her father), the only one of the queen’s four children to survive into adulthood. Cleopatra Selene was taken from Egypt and reared in the home of her parent’s conqueror in Rome. She and her brothers were marched through the streets of Rome in chains in place of their mother. When nearly sixteen, Cleopatra Selene was married off to a North African king, where she ruled for decades. This is her story of survival and eventual triumph.

The LA Times called the book, “Magical.” PW said it was “fascinating” and “atmospheric.”




If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Sanctuary Cove

SANCTUARY COVE
by Rochelle Alers

Sometimes love is the simplest choice of all.

Still reeling from her husband's untimely death, Deborah Robinson needs a fresh start. So she decides to pack up her family, box up her bookstore, and return to her grandmother's ancestral home on Cavanaugh Island. The charming town of Sanctuary Cove holds happy memories for Deborah. And, after she spies a gorgeous stranger in the local bakery, it promises the possibility for a bright, new future.

Dr. Asa Monroe is at a crossroads. Ever since the loss of his family, he has been on a quest for faith and meaning, traveling from one town to another. When he meets Deborah, the beautiful bookstore owner with the warm eyes and sunny smile, Asa believes he has finally found a reason to stay in one place.

As friendship blossoms into romance, Deborah and Asa discover they may have a second chance at love. But small towns have big secrets. Before they can begin their new life together, the couple must confront a challenge they never expected . . .

With nearly two million copies of her novels in print, Rochelle Alers is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.

For more information, please visit Rochelle's website at www.rochellealers.org/


If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

OPEN HOUSE - THANK YOU

We had a lot of luckers today, so I want to say thank you to our silent visitors for stopping by today.

I didn't give out all my prizes, so the next 10 who leave a comment will be lucky winners today.

I will give out the rest of the prizes next week, so stay posted here and on facebook for your chance to win some great prizes.

A big Thank you for the ladies who stopped by and shared some hot cocoa with me.

Have a great weekend.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

OPEN HOUSE - 2011

SORMAG's OPEN HOUSE

Welcome to our OPEN HOUSE.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.

Our chocolate bar includes a pitcher of cocoa, tea and coffee with lots of marshmallows and whip cream. If you need a cherry there’s a few of them too.

This year we have a chocolate fountain for dipping, cubes of pound cake, marshmellow treats and pieces of bananas, strawberries and apples.

The dessert bar includes Red Velvet Cheesecake,  German Chocolate Cake,  my specialty Turtle cake with extra Carmel and cupcake pops shaped like Christmas trees.

I know it’s early in the morning so I have a breakfast bar with a few bagels, glazed donuts and Christmas cookies if cakes are too much for you.

I’m looking forward to mingling with you all.

Prizes will be give every hour from (9:00 a.m - 5:00 pm)

There are two ways to win.  Leave a comment or answer one of the questions posted each hour. To be eligible make sure to leave your email in the comment.

Feel free to mingle with the other guests who drop by. Tell us how your holiday plans are going.

Listen to some music with us.
http://www.pandora.com/

Type in Christmas Song – Select Brian McKnight

Now you’re listening to the music at our open house - Enjoy

Authors feel free to tell us about your current books in our
On The Shelf Now  room.

We all know books make great gifts, so tell us what we're missing.

Check out our SPONSOR page. 

They've donated some great gifts this year.
Come on in and have some fun.

LaShaunda
SORMAG’s Editor/Hostess

P.S. I have doorprizes every hour. You have to leave a comment to win.


Do you eat roasted chestnuts or fruitcake?

What is your favorite Christmas smell?


What is your favorite Christmas memory?

If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

http://sormag.blogspot.com/2011/12/sormags-open-house-sponsors.html

http://sormag.blogspot.com/2011/12/sormags-open-house-whats-on-shelves-now.html

SORMAG's Open House - SPONSORS

SORMAG's OPEN HOUSE SPONSORS

A Sinner’s Cry
by Rose Jackson-Beavers

Denise Reese is beautiful, successful and can buy anything she wants. But all she needs is to be wrapped in the arms of Darren Tate, a sexy, Professor she’s been involved with for almost two-years. When her life seemed as if it was on a sure course to perfection, a single phone call sent her reality crashing and left her heart broken and vulnerable. Trying to find a way to gather her life back together, Denise seeks solace in the confines of her former church. As she struggles to gain redemption, the ringing of her phone continues to haunt her. Through her struggles of trying to stay on the right path, she receives support from the pastor, the handsome James Davis. As he encourages her, he faces allegations from his congregation of misdoings. While the two attempt to walk the right path, they struggle with the lies and deception that those closest to them are spreading, while wondering if they should allow their hearts to find each other. As Denise learns to decipher between lust and love, she realizes always God hears sincere cries.

www.prioritybooks.com

The Write Plan
Dr. Linda Beed

Gift certificate entitles you to developmental review of first three chapters of manuscript.

www.thewriteplan.net

Telling Your Tale: A Beginner's Guide to Writing Fiction for Print and eBook
By Angela Benson

Telling Your Tale: The Beginner's Guide to Writing Fiction for Print and eBook (2nd edition) is a 10-week writing class in ONE eBook!

Telling Your Tale: The Beginner's Guide to Writing Fiction for eBook and Print is for you if -

* You want to write a book, but don't know how to get started. Telling Your Tale can help you learn.

* You've written a book, but you're concerned because somebody told you it wasn't good enough. Remember it's just their opinion. You may never be able to change it, but Telling Your Tale can help you get better at the craft of writing.

* You're writing a book, but you don't think you can finish it. You can. You just need a little push in the right direction. Telling Your Tale gives you that push.

Whether you want to be published by a traditional publisher or intend to go the independent route and publish your own book through eBook and POD (print on demand) mechanisms, Telling Your Tale can help you. Using engaging exercises, illustrative examples and inspiring advice, Telling Your Tale will guide you to find your writing voice and personal style, develop multidimensional characters who reflect today's diverse communities, and weave plots that keep readers turning the pages.

http://theamensisters.com/tellingyourtale.html

The Table in the Window
By Elaine Cantrell

Being dumped by your gorgeous fiancé is bad enough no matter when it happens, but he did it at Christmas time! Marley thinks she’ll never get over it, but Rob Travers disagrees. He sets out to win Marley’s heart, well aware that when she finds out about his past, she may turn her back on him forever.

http://www.elainecantrell.com


Sand and Silk Soap

They are fragrant, beautiful and wonderful in the bath: one is Pink Sands, the other Pina Colada

www.sandandsilk.com

Do You Still Do What Happens Happily Ever After
By Cheryl Lacey Donovan & Keith Donovan

Do You Still Do? is a wonderful guide on being spiritually married. And that is something else altogether than, simply, being married. I really loved that the book was written by Mr. and Mrs. Donovan and added a masculine component that is usually missing in marital, relationship books. Angelia Menchan

http://www.doyoustilldomarriage.blogspot.com

Deceptive Nights
By Sylvia Hubbard

When her husband leaves her with nothing, Phoebe Green vows to never give another man any part of her heart or her body without getting something in return.

Jacoby Knight just wants to find a woman, who wants to join themselves with his body and not his massive bank account.

These two strangers meet and find they can meet each other needs, yet one night won't do when passion this hot meets.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20331

A Kiss of a Different Color
By Bettye Griffin

After nine months of unemployment, physical therapy assistant Miranda Rhett leaves her home in Racine, Wisconsin, to take a job in employment-rich Bismarck, North Dakota, despite the city's startling absence of African-Americans. Once there, far removed from anyone who would tease her about her dream of ballroom dancing, she signs up for lessons, providing the school can find her a partner. The school comes through in the form of handsome, sexy Jon Lindbergh, a recent transplant from Minnesota.

Jon is as charming as he is agile on the dance floor, and Miranda soon finds that her romantic daydreams about falling in love in the arms of a handsome partner on the dance floor spilling over into real life. But Jon's family history of four generations of failed marriages has made a non-believer out of him. His primary interest seems to be hooking up with someone with whom to spend the bitterly cold North Dakota winter. Miranda doesn’t believe in pursuing failure, and an even bigger obstacle is their learning they have the same employer--who instituted a strict no-dating rule in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. Both of them have plenty to lose...Miranda paid her own relocation expenses at considerable cost, and while Jon, a director, was reimbursed for his, he has invested in a house. He feels that no one will be the wiser, since he works at corporate and she at the rehabilitation center. Miranda is not so sure. But with the magical sparks that pass between them every time they look at each other, and with an average high winter temperature in the single digits and frequent dips below zero, what’s a girl to do?

If she's Miranda, she does what comes naturally...and tries like hell to be the one to make a believer out of him...

Bettye Griffin - Bunderful Books

Even Sinners Have Souls TOO:
By Various Authors

Darrell King, Victor L. Martin and Essence Best-Selling authors, Tysha and Michel Moore, bring you four smashing tales, but not before National Best-Selling author, K’Wan, hits you with the powerful introduction, Oh Sinner Man. Edited by award winning author E. N. Joy, once again, some of the literary industry’s much respected authors pick up their pens to ink something outside of their norm. As the gritty tales unfold, the readers’ souls will be enveloped by the moving and unexpected outcomes. Unlike other street stories, these real and raw characters choose neither the road most traveled nor the road traveled less; they make their own way.

www.enjoywrites.com

Santa's Helper
by Deatri King-Bey

Santa’s Helper: Marybeth Write is a kindergartner on a mission many deem impossible—to see her dad marry their neighbor by Christmas. To accomplish this mission, she’ll have to go straight to the top—her grandmother and the big guy himself—Santa! A kid’s gotta do what a kid’s gotta do.

Five years ago when District Attorney Houston Write lost his wife to breast cancer, he began going through the motions of life without truly living. Then choreographer Sabrina Ingles moved in across the street and reignited a fire within him he thought was long gone. Now Houston is ready to live again and give his child the mother she deserves.

When Sabrina Ingles’ marriage went down in flames, she swore off relationships and the trouble that accompanies them. But how could she shield herself against the most adorable little girl ever? Marybeth quickly became a part of Sabrina’s heart as Sabrina’s undeniable attraction to Houston grew stronger. Guarding her heart against the type of man fantasies are jealous of has become a full-time job, but she refuses to be burned again.

http://deatrikingbey.com

Caught Up in the Rapture
By Lisa G. Riley

We meet the outspoken Tracy Adamson as she’s sneaking out of a Parisian apartment after indulging in a one-night stand with Jacques, a Frenchman whom she believes she'll never see again. Mortified by her behavior, she flies home to Chicago.

Jaques Winthrop is a French-American federal agent and is only in Paris to track down an American fugitive, but finds himself irresistibly drawn to Tracy. A ladies’ man who enjoys having no ties to women, Jaques decides to seduce her and let her believe that he lives in France. No one is more surprised than he that he can’t stop thinking about her. And when he wakes up to find her gone after their one explosive night together, the amount of disappointment he feels stuns him.

Tracy is determined not to get involved with Jacques. Gorgeous Jacques who for the first time in his life is interested in more than just sex with a woman, is determined to change her mind. In the meantime, Jacques is on the trail of Alexander Brickman, a criminal mastermind that has been Jacques' personal nemesis for at least a decade.

www.lisagriley.wordpress.com.

Lights Out
By Ruthie Robinson

Piper Renee Knight was sole proprietor of two coffee shops located in Austin, Texas. Lights Out Coffee began two and a half years ago as a joint venture with her father, Macarthur "Lights Out" Knight, former boxing great turned businessman. Joe and Piper meet during Joe's second visit to her shop and exchange coffee and banter. They both agree to take their attraction further. But before they can start, Piper's father asks her to look after his two younger daughters, her half-sisters. His third wife has left him.

Piper settles her sisters into her life, locating a school for them. She decided that Joe is not an option for her now that she has the girls, and he gets her message and stops coming by the shop. They meet again at the kids' school. Joe has been raising his nephew for the last two years, after his sister's departure. During the school year they join forces and work together. Piper falls in love, and, while Joe likes her, he's not sure with his nephew and his prior life experiences that he's in for the long haul?.

Guilty By Association
By Pat Simmons

Guilty by Association is the story of Kevin "Kidd" Jamieson. Kidd suffers from the "angry black man syndrome". How dare his father insist that his sons carry his last name when he was never around? As far as he's concerned the Jamieson name is worthless. Kidd's anger is seeping out into every area of his life as he carelessly leaves a trail of destruction whenever he goes. When he receives an invitation from a distant cousin, Parke Jamieson VI to come to St. Louis, he is hesitant but accepts it almost as a dare. Though he initially bumps heads with his cousin, a series of events that involve a dog named Silent Killer, Stacy Adams shoes, and two women who enter his life to calm his raging storm, Kidd makes St. Louis home. One woman is Eva Savoy who becomes his “Eve,” a woman through whom God uncovers and exposes the underlying goodness in Kidd’s heart.

Reluctantly, Kidd allows Parke to walk him through information on their royal family heritage. Overwhelmed by the care and compassion of new friends and family, Kidd struggles to keep up the bad boy attitude but his walls are starting to crumble and he knows he’s going down.

Eventually, Kidd learns it’s not his association with the name that identifies him, but the man he becomes that defines him.

http://patsimmons.net




If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

SORMAGs Open House - What's On The Shelves Now

SORMAG's OPEN HOUSE
What's On The Shelves Now

AUTHORS: 

Post your excerpts in our comments. Include title, genre, blurb about the book, a one page excerpt, and where to find the book.

READERS: 

Are you looking for what's hot on the book shelves now. Click on the comments.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

FEATURED AUTHOR Samantha Williams

Hi, my name is Samantha, I am 10 years old and in the 5th grade. I am also a stroke survivor. I had a stroke when I was six months old and my family and I lived in Germany. It affects a lot of things I do, because I can’t use my right hand and foot very well. When I grow up I want to be a radiologist (x-ray doctor). Big Like Me is my first book.

I like to hang out with my friends. I like to have breakfast for dinner on Sunday. I like to read YA novels, especially the paranormal ones. I especially like things from the eighties: movies, music and television shows. I love to go shopping, because I am a girlie-girl on some things and a tomboy on others.

I love my family and I have a Chihuahua, her name is Daisy. My dad is funny and crazy if you ask me. My mom is a romance writer but let’s talk about me. I like new shoes. My favorite foods are ice cream, cheese burgers, salad and ravioli from Olive Garden.

How did you start out your writing career?

I started writing because my mother made me. For real. She wanted me to work on my writing and sentences, so she said ‘think about a story you want to write’. I first thought that she was joking. Then I looked at her face and realized she was serious. I then thought about if I was going to write a story the only thing I really knew about was my life. So, I thought about myself as a character and I came up with Denise Wilson.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned that when you write it can bring out emotions in you as a writer. For example there is a part in this book that was really hard for me to write because I had to remember a sad experience in my life to write about what the character was feeling. I didn’t expect that sometimes writing a book could make you cry or laugh out loud.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I hoped that people would see how special needs people can be the same as regular people. I also hope that friends can learn to understand each other better. I want other kids to know that if they are being bullied they can learn to stand up for themselves.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

There are two characters in the story Madeline and Jamar. They are both best friends to Denise. Even though Madeline and Denise’s friendship kind of changed, Madeline was still there when Denise needed her. Jamar he is cool, funny and is a good friend.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

It’s hard work. You have to first figure out how the characters are feeling in one moment, then you have to make the character actual go and do things. Like if they are talking you have to say where they are or if they are eating or what they are wearing. Well finding clothes for them to wear was fun. I also had to try and keep up with posting on my blog, some days I just wanted to watch TV.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

What I love the most is looking on the internet and finding pictures of what I think the characters look like. You know find famous people who may have the same color hair or might act like the person I see in my mind.

The one thing I hate the most is that I had to draft what was going to happen in the story. I just wanted to write the story and let it go where ever.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

The first thing I wish I knew was how hard it would be to write a book. The second thing was how important it would be for me to write in a journal or a note book about the characters and different things I wanted to happen in the story. The third thing is that I would have liked to know that after I finished the book it would take so long to get the book together, processed and published.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do the best you can on your writing and don’t give up just because you don’t think you can do it.
That’s how I felt, like maybe it was too much and I couldn’t get it done.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

I would have to say Sarah from “Shadow Walker” by LA Banks, because she had special powers that she had to learn how to use and overcome her fears. That’s how I feel sometimes like I know there’s something special about me but I don’t know what it is and I get scared at times.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to hang out with my friends, listen to my IPOD or play with the things in my room or watch television, especially old sitcoms.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I have a blog where I post about things in the book and things going on with me.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

Because I’m a child. I will be eleven soon and I like to read young adult books, so I wanted to write books about things and feelings that young adults go through.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

What I know is that special needs people out there can write and be just as active and do big things just like everyone else.
Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

My next book is called “I Bite” and it is about a girl that is a half-blood vampire who finds out that there is paranormal mischief going on at her middle school and she has to discover a way to stop it before another cheerleader gets changed.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

http://samanthas-books.com

Ms. LaShaunda, I would like to thank you very much for taking time with me to talk about my book. This was my first interview and it was fun.

Big Like Me

Denise Wilson, a stroke survivor, has always been tall for her age. Too tall in fact. At nine she was a giraffe among cats. All of her friends were shorter than her and she could even see the top of most of the guys’ heads. But, that didn’t stop her from falling for Taylor Young. In the fourth grade the Puerto Rican heartthrob had taken her breath away every time he looked at her. However, when her father gets a job in Germany and they move halfway around the world to strange people and even stranger places; all seems lost.

Now, it’s her eighth grade year and she is back in North Carolina--to old friends, old places and an old crush. But, things have changed in a major way. More students are looking her eye-to-eye now, but there are other unexpected situations for Denise and her friends at Pramar Academy. The pressures of her last year in middle school are piling up. The cruel trio is meaner than ever and if she is not careful everything she is afraid of happening… will happen.

Note: This story is for young adults written by a young adult.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

FEATURED AUTHOR: Kimberly Reid

Kimberly Reid is the author of the Langdon Prep series for young adults starring Chanti Evans, a fifteen-year-old girl trying to navigate her new school and solve crimes. Like her main character, Kimberly grew up the daughter of a police detective, attended a prep school where she did not fit in, and always wanted to help her mother solve crimes. She earned a M.A. from The George Washington University and currently lives near Denver, Colorado, where her series is set. Please visit KimberlyReid.com to learn more.

How did you start out your writing career?

At a writing conference that included literary agent pitch sessions, I pitched a coming-of-age novel to an agent and she asked me to send the manuscript to her. I told her I was also starting a memoir about growing up in 1980s Atlanta during a two-year long serial murder investigation. She ended up rejecting the novel because she didn’t feel it was marketable, but she liked my writing style and asked that I send her the memoir when it was complete. It was ready a year later, she read it and offered representation. Several revisions and another year and a half later, No Place Safe sold to Kensington Books. It was my first published book, but the third book I’d written with serious intent to publish. Now I’m writing fiction for young adults, though I hope not so young adults will give the book a try.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned my long-held ideas about who I am, what I expect of myself and what I enjoy writing were outdated expectations that didn’t fit where I wanted to be right now. I’m a big planner, but sometimes I get so caught up in executing the plan that my brain misses the moment when the plan no longer works. Fortunately, my heart pays better attention. Once I let go of what I ought to do, I was able to do what I really wanted to do, which was write this new series.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

I wanted to create a fun teen series with multicultural characters who aren’t defined only by their race or ethnicity. I wanted my characters to go to school, deal with family drama, solve mysteries, fall in love just like everyone on the planet does, except they happen to be people of color—both good guys and bad guys. Mostly I just want readers to have a good time, to put down the book feeling entertained and looking forward to the next one.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

MJ was fun to write. She and Chanti keep dancing around whether they’re friends or not. Chanti is a by-the-book kid of a police detective, MJ is a cop-hating former juvenile delinquent serving probation, and they are fascinated by each other’s lives even if they won’t admit it. I look forward to learning more about MJ in future books.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

I was surprised by how many other people want to become published authors when I tell them what I do.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

The best part of writing is being able to do the thing I’ve dreamed of doing since I was a kid – creating people, worlds and stories out of my head and having real-life people join me for the ride. Even on a bad day, it’s good, and I absolutely love it when I hear from readers that they enjoy my work.

The part I most hate is the lack of control I have over most aspects of the business side of writing—whether a book is published at all (although self-publishing is changing this); whether booksellers will carry it on their shelves; whether critics and readers will like it. I used to be in corporate management in a start-up tech environment where decisions were often made quickly and unilaterally. Publishing is very different—at least from my view of it—many people are involved in decision-making so it can sometimes take a while. It has taught me patience, a lesson I needed to learn, anyway.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1. After her writing skills, a writer’s most important tools are patience, perseverance, and thick skin.

2. Writing for a living will most likely not make you rich, or even earn you a full living.

3. Enjoy every step along the journey as it happens, even the not so great moments, instead of worrying about the next three steps down the path. There are many firsts, but you only get to enjoy them once. I’m still learning this one, but getting there.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

1. Do learn to accept editing and criticism—both will make you a better writer. You don’t have to accept every suggestion (and shouldn’t), but be open to the idea that everything you write is not absolutely brilliant and occasionally may even suck.

2. Don’t let rejection make you bitter. It is part of this business—you will be rejected by agents, publishers, booksellers, book reviewers and readers. It will happen on your first, third and twentieth book. Not everyone will love your work. It isn’t personal; a variety of tastes makes the world more interesting. Enjoy a minute of self-pity and indignation (privately, not on your blog, in an e-mail to your editor or in retaliation to a bad Amazon review) then let it go. Move on. Be a professional. Write the next book and make it better than the last.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

I write every day, but once in a while I go into the writing zone and the world I’m creating is as real to me as the one that demands mortgage payments and family commitments. The zone is like an unpredictable lover—it visits when it wants to; I have no say over it. It may stay a week or only a few hours; I have to enjoy it while I can. If I seem less attentive, it isn’t because I’m in a mood, I’m just in another place. But day jobs and bosses will be given 100%, dinner will be cooked, appointments will be kept, though I may seem a little odd while I handle my business—sort of like I just fell in love.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

That’s a hard question. Even though I spend several hours a day pretending to be other people while I write, it’s hard to imagine being anyone but myself. When I first read Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and its cast of characters who were each strong in their own way, I was just becoming a woman myself. Those women stayed with me. I’d try being a composite of them: Shug Avery’s adventurous spirit; Sofia’s fight; Nettie’s desire to see the world beyond the little piece offered to her; and Miss Celie’s ability to move past fear and all the wrongs done her to eventually find strength and happiness.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

My favorite things are food, music, and traveling. I’m a Food Network junkie and love trying out new recipes while enjoying a glass of wine. Good food, music and conversation with people I like and love make me happy. Traveling can be all of that, wrapped up in a brand new setting. I also watch more television than I probably should. OnDemand cable is dangerous when I’m on deadline.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I’m still trying to get the hang of that. I prefer face-to-face interaction, but I realize you can only meet so many people at book events, plus they’re expensive and hard to come by when you’re a new author. I still enjoy attending conferences and book events, but now I’m using e-mail, blogging, Facebook and Twitter. I’m not yet convinced about Twitter, probably because I’m not very good at it. But I like the other methods and hope to become better at using them to connect with readers.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

After my memoir was published, I felt very exposed. I should have seen that coming, but didn’t think about it while I was writing. So I wanted to return to fiction, my first love, and my agent suggested I try writing for young adults because she thought I had the right voice for it. I thought she was crazy until I realized every manuscript I’d written for adults had a teen narrator. My first effort was a darker YA about online predators. It felt forced because it wasn’t my voice, and we didn’t even try to sell it. Then I realized that while I liked reading dark, I wanted to write something fun. I wanted to write books that reflect real-world diversity without heavy messages about morality or race.

Of course those books are necessary and important, but when I went to the bookstore, it seemed publishers thought, with a few exceptions, that was the only kind of book teens of color wanted to read. But if they were anything like me, I figured they also wanted to find books like those of YA writers Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot or Ally Carter, but with characters that look something like them in settings they can better relate to. I also hoped to write books readers of those authors would want to try, the same way I “crossed over” to enjoy those writers. I think teens today are more savvy about knowing what they want to read without genres or the skin color of characters on the book cover limiting or defining their choices. As for choosing to write mystery/suspense with a little romance thrown in, I always liked Nancy Drew and I’m addicted to cop shows and thrillers, so I drew from my personal experience growing up the kid of a cop to create the backbone of the series. Each book will have a main crime for Chanti to solve and her detective skills will grow, but we’ll also see her mature and develop emotionally. Last year, my agent sold my first YA book—My Own Worst Enemy—as the first in a series, in a three-book deal to Kensington Books’ new YA line, Dafina KTeen.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

The only thing I can control is the writing. The rest I’ll try to influence the best I can, deal with what comes my way, and appreciate how wonderful it is to be doing what I love.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

Creeping With the Enemy is the second book in the Langdon Prep series. Here’s the cover copy:

There’s nothing like having someone in your corner when you’re the new girl in school, but Chanti can’t help suspecting that everything about her new friend, Bethanie, is a lie—especially once she starts skipping classes and blowing Chanti off for her mysterious new crush, Cole. Chanti really doesn’t need the trouble of finding out the truth. She’s busy enough trying to convince her hot almost-boyfriend Marco that her amateur sleuthing won’t come between them again. But when Bethanie disappears with Cole, Chanti has only one chance to find her—even as her investigation puts her love life, and everything else, at risk…

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

I welcome contact!
email: Kimberly@kimberlyreid.com
website: http://kimberlyreid.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberly-Reid/211943298837447

My Own Worst Frenemy

Chanti Evans is an undercover cop’s daughter and an exclusive private school’s newest student. But Chanti is learning fast that when it comes to con games, the streets have nothing on Langdon Prep. With barely a foot in the door, fifteen-year-old Chanti gets on the bad side of school queen bee Lissa and snobbish Headmistress Smythe. They’ve made it their mission to take Chanti down and she needs to find out why, especially when stuff begins disappearing around campus, making her the most wanted girl in school, and not in a good way. But the last straw comes when she and her Langdon crush, the seriously hot Marco Ruiz, are set up to take the heat for a series of home burglaries—and worse. . . .



If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

FEATURED AUTHOR: Joshua Cohen

I began writing "Leverage" after reading a news account of a horrific attack by a group of high school seniors on their fellow underclassmen teammates. When the victims reluctantly came forward they were ostracized by the surrounding community for sullying the reputation of the school and causing a cancellation of the football season. My fascination with that part of human nature--the need to keep quiet when awful things occur and how that leads to victims getting wronged twice--is what started the whole story that eventually led to "Leverage."

How did you start out your writing career?

I think my writing career began in earnest when I started submitting short stories to literary magazines. Of course, none of my stories were accepted but that was the point I made the mental leap from writing "just for fun" to writing to get published. It's an important psychological step to take in any writer's evolution.

What did you learn while writing this book?

That having readers you can trust to read early drafts of your manuscript is important but you also need to trust your own instincts as well. My first manuscript (for a story that will never see the light of day) I spent 5 years writing without any trusted reader input and I think I could've saved myself 4 years worth of trouble if I'd had someone early on tell me that my first story really had no plot.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

Above all, I wanted the reader transported for a few hours to a different world where they were entertained by a good story. That's how I judge books I read. After that, if they go away thinking about the characters in my story and maybe looking around at their own lives through the lens of one of my characters, if only for a few minutes, well, that's icing on the cake!

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

Kurt, by the end of the book, really pulled me in as I wrote his story and I really experienced all the emotions he seemed to be going through and found him really awe-inspiring. But for pure fun, one of the secondary characters, Vance Fischer, the team clown, was the most fun to write since he delivered some of the best lines in the book.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

Just how much of a business there is to not only getting published but trying to help the sales of your book. You don't sign the dotted line with a publisher and then sit back and let them do all the work anymore. Now days they want your full participation, which takes time away from actually working on another book. It's a tricky balance.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I loved seeing my book on the store shelves. That was phenomenal. It felt so good to see it there after so many years of struggle to get published. That will always be one of the true highlights of writing for me. I also love the feedback from readers who contact me out of the blue to tell me how much they enjoyed the story or were moved by a particular aspect of the story. I don't think there's anything I hate about writing. I went through a period where I no longer enjoyed all the work of writing with no pay off and I stopped for about a year. It felt like renouncing my faith and I felt really empty after awhile so I licked my wounds and got over my bitterness and came back to writing because I had to do it. Besides my family, it gives my life meaning.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

These are actually three things I've known for a long time but it's good to be reminded of them:

(1) Your family and friends cannot be replaced. Love 'em now while they're around to love.
(2) You have no more and no less a right to exist and live on this planet as does the next person.
(3) Work Hard. Play Harder!

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

DO keep writing and submitting to agents and venues that publish no matter what. The world of readers is supremely vast with tastes to match and just because one agent says your work will never sell doesn't mean another agent won't love it.

DON'T let your doubts overwhelm you. Everyone has doubts about whether or not they are talented enough or smart enough or gifted enough to be a published writer (or in any endeavor, for that matter). Go ahead and allow your doubts to run wild for 5 minutes each day and then shoo them away so you can get down to work. When you're finished writing, plan on meeting up with your doubts for another 5 minutes the following day before you kick them to the curb again.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

How much time it takes and how you need "alone time" to get it done. People see you in front of a laptop and they think you're surfing the net and that it's not real work you're doing so they may come up to chat with you. And if you go into your room and shut the door, they accuse you of being anti-social. It's got to be done, though, if you want to get anything completed.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

That's a hard one. All the great characters that come to mind have suffered terribly but have acted heroically in the face of tragedy. I'd want to be a character that's boring to read about because I'm not up for too much real life drama at the moment. I'll have to get back to you on that one.

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I became a father 11 months ago and my spare time is "daddy-time" which I absolutely love. It's a bit like having a second childhood because I start seeing the world through the eyes of my baby girl all over again--the smallest things fascinate my daughter ... like a sock. That sock on her foot is absolutely fascinating to her...and quite tasty judging from how often she tries to stuff it into her mouth.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

I do interviews like this (And a big THANKS to you, LaShaunda, for this great opportunity!) and do a bit of blogging (a very little bit as of late) and I'm attending the Tucson Book Festival this March 10th and 11th. I also get email on Goodreads and on my website. I love reader emails. It's a blast hearing from someone that's read a book you spent years writing and years shopping around to finally get published. I never tire of emails from readers!

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

I'm not sure this will be the focus of my career but I really felt that the voices I wanted to get down into this story needed to be heard and they happened to be those of two teenagers. Bullying in our schools has become such a problem and such a source of humiliation for so many kids, that I wanted kids to know they're not alone, that others are out there suffering, too, and they understand the pain some kids are going through.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know that playing with my daughter is a remedy for a day at the office (yes, I have regular day job) where the news on the internet all seems to be bad. I know that when I watch her just now learning to walk, it fills me with hope that the human race really does strive to be better and do good by each other.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I cannot because I'm still working with my publisher to see if it will, indeed, be my next book. If I get the green light on it, though, I will be happy to shout about it on your site.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

My website is http://leveragethebook.com/
my email is jcc@joshuacohenbooks.com
facebook at leveragethebook

LEVERAGE

When a violent, steroid-infused, ever-escalating prank war has devastating consequences, an unlikely friendship between a talented but emotionally damaged fullback and a promising gymnast might hold the key to a school's salvation. Told in alternating voices and with unapologetic truth, "Leverage" illuminates the fierce loyalty, flawed justice, and hard-won optimism of two young athletes.



If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

FEATURE AUTHOR: Tony Lindsay

Tony Lindsay is the author of six novels; One Dead Preacher, Street Possession, Chasin’ It, Urban Affair, and One Dead Lawyer, More Boy than Girl, and a short story collection titled Pieces of the Hole. He has published book critiques and reviews for Black Issue’s Book Review. He was a contributor to the anthology Don't Hate the Game, the on-line encyclopedia Identity.com, and Mosiac.com. He has been published by the African American literary web-site Timbooktu.com, as well as the young adult magazine Cicada. He has a MFA from Chicago State University. He is currently an adjunct professor at Chicago State University, South Suburban College and Westwood College.

How did you start out your writing career?

My career started when I met Kwame Alexander of BlackWords at a writers conference and he published 'One Dead Preacher' however I have always wrote, even as a child.

What did you learn while writing this book?

Quite a bit, 'Fat from Papa's Head' was actually my Master's thesis so I given a lot of feedback during it's creation.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

To pass on a little "Papa" wisdom.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

Probably the protagonist from "First Time" one of the short stories.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

The unexpected sources of help.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

I love the creative process, I dislike the business end of it.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

The true monterary compensation, the time requirment, and the self sacrafice.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do read, don't not read.
What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

That it is an art form and should be respected as such; craft.
When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Read, movies, plays.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

Book signings, facebook, emails.
Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

This is my first Teen / YA piece, the genre is not the focus of my career. I enjoy writing in different genres.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

That I will die, everthing else is uncertain.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

The third in my mystery series 'One Dead Doctor' will be out in Feburary

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)
facebook, tonylindsay7045@sbcglobal.net

‘Fat from Papa’s Head’is collection of short stories targeting the Young Adult market. All of the protagonists are African American male teenagers and young adults. The main characters in the short stories are at pivotal points in their young lives. Some of the youth are at rite of passage moments, and others are merely faced with decisions. The collection was composed in response to the author’s conversations with incarcerated African American male youth. The discussions centered on reading materials, and the need and want for stories that reflected their lives. This collection is an attempt to meet that need and want.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
By Kadir Nelson

The story of America and African Americans is a story of hope and inspiration and unwavering courage. But it is also the story of injustice; of a country divided by law, education, and wealth; of a people whose struggles and achievements helped define their country. This is the story of the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton for their masters; it’s about the America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws; it’s about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from an education. It’s a story of discrimination and broken promises, determination and triumphs.

Kadir Nelson, one of this generation’s most accomplished, award-winning artists, has created an epic yet intimate introduction to the history of America and African Americans, from colonial days through the civil rights movement. Written in the voice of an “Everywoman,” an unnamed narrator whose forebears came to this country on slave ships and who lived to cast her vote for the first African American president, heart and soul touches on some of the great transformative events and small victories of that history. This inspiring book demonstrates that in gaining their freedom and equal rights, African Americans helped our country achieve its promise of liberty and justice—the true heart and soul of our nation.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm

FEATURED AUTHOR: Gwendolyn Hooks

Gwendolyn Hooks is the author of sixteen books for children. She writes both fiction and nonfiction to encourage children to explore their world. As a child, Gwendolyn was forced to explore whenever her Air Force father transferred to another base. “It was hard always being the new girl in class,” Gwendolyn remembers about those moves. But she could count on a trip to the library to ease the transition.

Gwendolyn graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a degree in Secondary Education-Mathematics. She taught in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Now she writes from her home in Oklahoma City.

Her recent books are the eight-book series, The Pet Club Stories (Stone Arch Books 2011), and Bobby’s Big Bear Hunt (Red Chair Press 2010), The Best Shoes (Bebop Books 2011).

How did you start out your writing career?

I have always been a reader and would sometimes think that I could write magazine articles like the ones I read. But I didn’t seriously consider it until my brother –in-law took a playwriting class and had one of his plays produced. As I sat in the audience I thought to myself, “If he can do it, I can, too.” That was the beginning. I did write a few adult magazine articles and got them published. Then one day, I read in our local paper about a meeting for children’s writers. Sitting in the meeting with all those people who loved writing for children made me feel like I’d found my place.

What did you learn while writing this book?

No matter how confident you are about how your story will turn out, a character will make a choice that you didn’t see coming—changing your story.

What did you hope to accomplish with this book?

With all my books, I hope to spark the imagination of a child’s mind. I want to encourage them to find out why and search for more.

Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

In one of my books, Three’s A Crowd, Keisha is very upset when her best friend brings a new girl on one of their Saturday adventures. It was fun writing about someone with a sassy attitude and having her say “not so nice” things.

What has surprised you most about becoming a published author?

After I wrote my first book, I thought the others would be easier to write and sell.  What I learned was that each new book is just as hard as the first and you have to sell yourself all over again.

What aspect of writing do you love the best, and which do you hate the most?

The first draft is the hardest for me. I love revising. I truly believe writing is rewriting.

What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?

1. It takes more than one draft to write a publishable book.
2. Words don’t magically appear on a page, you actually have to sit and type them.
3. Besides sitting and writing, you have to study your craft.

Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?

Do read and study the types of books you want to write. Discover for yourself why some books work for you and some don’t. When I find a book I really like, I’ll type it. It helps me to discover why it’s special and how it was structured.

The don’t is simple—don’t give up. I’ve met writers who were much more talented than me, but they gave up because they got ONE rejection. Get a thick skin and move on.

What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?

Unless you have a BIG name, you don’t make a lot of money.

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?

One of my favorite authors is Nevada Barr. She writes a series about a national park law enforcement ranger. Anna, the ranger wears a uniform, packs a gun, rides horses in the mountains, sleeps under the stars, collects bear scat, wrestles alligators, and hikes in caves all alone. She travels all over the country working in national parks and in each park she has to solve a murder. Yeah! I’d love to be her except I’m a scardy-cat!

When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to read and travel. I just returned from northern California where I was part of the Humboldt County Author Festival. I visited three schools—one had only eight students! I drove through the trunk of a Redwood tree. I kept singing the line “From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters” from the Woody Guthrie song This Land is Your Land. I’m always up for a trip.

What do you do to interact with your readers?

Since most of my readers are young children, my interaction comes mostly during school and library visits.

Our theme for this month is CHILDREN BOOKS. What inspired you to make children’s literature the focus of your career?

Writing is my second career. Teaching middle school math was my first. But I have always been a reader. I love books. I love being transported to different worlds. I want children to experience the fun and excitement that’s captured between book covers.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?

I know there are many more stories in me and that I’m the one to tell them. I know they’ll never be told my way unless I sit down and write them. I know that whining about the success of others won’t get me any closer to my goal. So I will congratulate them, wish them well, support them, and continue to sit and write.

Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?

I am writing a picture book biography about an African American who made an enormous medical contribution to the world, but very few people have ever heard of him. I want children to know him and be inspired by his life.

How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website)

Gwendolyn@GwendolynHooks.com
http://www.gwendolynhooks.com/
Twitter: @GwenTheGweat

The Cat Food Mystery - A Pet Club Mystery

When Kayla discovers that something is eating Daisy's cat food, she immediately calls the Pet Club to action. They grab their pets and start to gather clues. Will they solve the case of the cat food thief?

Three's A Crowd

Keisha is very unhappy when Val spoils their Saturday fun by bringing along Mya, a new girl in her neighborhood, but soon realizes that three is not such a bad number after all. Includes activity ideas for parents and children.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today

Do you need help with your promoting? - http://sormag.com/advertise.htm