Tag: children’s book

Categories
IWSG

#IWSG May 2020: Getting into the zone

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Optional Monthly Question: Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?

I don’t believe I have anything specific that helps me to get in the zone. Sometimes I’m there, but most of the time I’m sitting around waiting to get there. I guess that’s what I call the Muse coming alive, which by the way, happened in a major way last month. Otherwise, I’d say that sometimes listening to music helps me find inspiration to complete a scene I’m having trouble with. I usually like to keep a variety of soundtracks on hand since they seem to be full of songs that convey very specific emotions and themes, such as fear, love, hatred, passion, war, and so much more.

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Sorry, I didn’t have time to put my monthly updates together, again. I gotta stop dropping the ball, but, in all honesty, I’ve just been distracted by the next bit of info I have to share. I will say that I read a book by Allie Marie, local to my area, and really enjoyed it. The review is worth checking out.

Visit my Lit Carnivale blog to see my April book reviews.

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Now, on to the personal updates.

I don’t know how I did it, but I wrote and illustrated a children’s book about being in quarantine last month. Now I have to figure out what to do with it, and I’m hoping some of you will help. I know this is very last minute, but since next Tuesday, yes that’s May 12, is #GivingTuesday I figured that would be a good day to offer a free ebook and a fundraising giveaway. I want people to enter my giveaway for a chance to have me give $20 to the cause or charity of their choosing.


If anyone out there would be willing to share this next week, on your blog, or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram… I’ll take anything really, simply comment below or on my Contact page, and I’ll email you the details this weekend when the book launches.

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What do you do to get in the zone?
Can you help spread the word about my book and fundraiser?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will stop by your blog.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Feather Stone,
Beverly Stowe McClure,
Mary Aalgaard,
Kim Lajevardi, and
Chemist Ken!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #39).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Fun Hops Promotion Videos

Favorite Holiday Memory Blog Hop @ElaineKAuthor

Blog hop banner featurung the cover of Sleigh Ride by Elaine Kaye.

Blog Hop Question: What is your favorite holiday memory?

(Includes Hanukkah, Kwanza, Yule/Winter Solstice, Christmas, etc.)

MY MEMORY: I have so many wonderful holiday memories. It’s hard to pick just one. My family has many traditions that I look forward to every year. Being married means that my husband and I alternate our holidays between our sides of the family and I look forward to the different traditions that come with each group of people.

I will say, though, that one side is a bit more lively than the other. There are years that I miss the pajama parties, karaoke, caroling, talent shows, and more. And while I have no plans to go on another cruise (definitely not with my whole family), we did have fun during dinner time when my side of the family took a Christmas cruise a few years ago.

Still, I think my favorite memory, at the moment, has to be a bit of a holiday fail that we all now look back on and laugh at. While I adore the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie, several years back, my husband and I had a hard time convincing our family that it wasn’t as kid-appropriate as they thought, when not watching it on network television. Needless to say, there was lots of gasping and covering of eyes and ears during the viewing, at a time when all my sister’s kids were still in middle and elementary school. At least, now, as adults when we watch it we can all laugh and be grateful that the kids weren’t scarred for life.

via GIPHY

Definitely the look my mom made when she realized that watching this as a family was not such a good idea until the grandkids were older. 

New Picture Book Release from Elaine Kaye

BLURB: On Christmas Eve, Gregory and Sammy get a special visitor—Santa Claus! Santa brings them on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure around the world and to the North Pole. Bundle up and come along for the ride!

General Age Range – Kids 4-8 (Story Picture Book)

BOOK LINK:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Kobo / Smashwords / Goodreads

PLUS, A FREEBIE!
Get Pea Soup Disaster now!
Kindle / Nook / Kobo

See my review of the books in the Gregory Green Adventures Series here:

Pea Soup Disaster  4.0| Doctor Mom 5.0

Halloween Ride 5.0 | The Missing Alphabet 5.0

Sleigh Ride 5.0

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elaine Kaye author photo

Elaine Kaye is the author of A Gregory Green Adventure series. She created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup.

Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools. She currently lives in Florida, but has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home.

Website / Goodreads / Amazon / Instagram / Facebook

HOP AROUND TO THE OTHER BLOGS PARTICIPATING.


Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Virtual Book Tours

Teachers & #Books Make A Difference – Blog Tour & #Giveaway

blogtour

Well, I didn’t receive the participation response I was hoping for, but I’m still going to post today. If you’d like to contribute, answer these questions on your blog or social media and leave me a link in the comments… And please, stick around to check the “support a teacher” giveaway at the end.

Did a teacher ever introduce you to a book; which one(s)?
I had a teacher suggest I read some of Toni Morrison when I was in high school, but I was going through a Maya Angelou phase at the time.

What was your favorite book(s) as a kid?
I loved all things Peter Pan, but only ever found the Peter and Wendy book. I did, however, read quite a few Beverly Cleary books; mostly Ramona stories.

Who was your favorite teacher at any point in your youth; why?
I didn’t remember having a favorite teacher until I thought of my introductory years studying Spanish. I’m kicking myself that I can’t remember her name right now. She later became a principal.

What popular book have you never read and or faked reading?
I never read one Harry Potter book. They’re on my list, but not very high. With the release of all the films, the urgency to read the story just isn’t there for me.

Did you ever do any creative projects in school based on a book; what?
I once did an art project where I had to represent the story of a book visually. I chose to do a picture box about The Secret Garden.

What book(s) has had the greatest influence in your adult life?
Aside from The Bible, oddly enough, Peter and Wendy is a major influence in my adult life in too many ways for me to break down now. Mostly it’s the reason I started writing as a child, even though I lost my way for a while as an adult.

What words or advice from a teacher has had the greatest influence in your adult life?
I once had a teacher tell me I was wasting my time taking a particular class. Luckily for me, I ignored her. She taught me that even the people who are meant to guide us to greatness can lead us down the wrong path. My confidence in myself boosted when I aced that class and it didn’t affect my other classes.

What book have you read as an adult that you wish you’d read as a child or teen?
I totally wish I read Ender’s game as a teen. It would have been so impactful at that time in my life when I felt like my youth somehow hindered me.

If you were a teacher, what book would you recommend to a student and why?
I think all high school students should read Fahrenheit 451. For all the good, bad, universal, and outdated issues it has; any young adult struggling to appreciate the life they have and or figuring out how to think for themselves, that book will at least set them on the right path.

What would you write about or have you written about in a children’s book?
I’ve currently written stories that teach kids about needs and wants and changes. I hope to write more books down the road that teach other tough concepts.

This blog tour and giveaway is sponsored by me, Toi Thomas. I am a teacher and an author who wants to support other teachers. Please consider buying one of my books and OR entering my giveaway to support a teacher of your choice. BUY BOOKS HERE.

Please also visit two lovely supporters of this effort, today & tomorrow, and see how they answered these questions. Charity Ayres | Jemima Pett

SUPPORT A TEACHER with the GIVEAWAY below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords