Blog Tour Stop: Six Weeks to Yehidah

Six Weeks to Yehidah

by Melissa Studdard

http://www.melissastuddard.com/

Date Published: August 2011

Pages: 170

Book Description

Move over, C.S. Lewis; Melissa Studdard is here! Annalise of the Verdant Hills is one of the most delightful protagonists to skip through the pages of literature since Dorothy landed in Oz. Join Annalise and her two walking, talking wondersheep as they travel to ever more outlandish places and meet outrageous and enlightening folk on their journey to discover interconnectedness in a seemingly disconnected world. Discover with them how just one person can be the start of the change we all strive for. A book for all ages, for all time: wonderful, wacky, and bursting with truth!

My Review

Annalise of the Verdant Hills is a young girl with a super sized imagination. The fascinating visuals and sounds she conjures up in her mind lead her on a magical journey. Annalise travels to a variety of places beyond her wildest dreams with her sheep, Mabel and Mimi. What starts off as an amusing adventure quickly turns into an array of invaluable life lessons.

Six Weeks to Yehidah is an enchanting and refreshing story that enlightened me in ways I never expected, and I easily adored Annalise and her carefree, yet energetic spirit. Melissa Studdard didn’t waste any time tossing Annalise into a whirlwind adventure where she tackled many tasks set before her. The numerous characters that Annalise encounters are colorful and dwell in diverse environments and realms.

I definitely think this book is suited for readers of all ages. I am looking forward to rereading Six Weeks to Yehidah with my 8-year-old daughter. 

Author, Melissa Studdard

Melissa Stud­dard is the author of the best­selling novel Six Weeks to Yehi­dah, and its companion journal, My Yehidah (both on All Things That Matter Press). Since its August 2011 release, Six Weeks to Yehidah has been the recipient of many accolades, including the Forward National Literature Award and January Magazine's best children's books of 2011. It was also named a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards and is a current finalist for the Readers Favorite Awards.

As you might have guessed already, she loves anything related to writing and reading, whether it's sitting alone with a book and a cup of hot tea, or attending a large poetry reading or literary festival. She also loves travelling, meditating, going for walks, bicycling, practicing yoga, and spending time with family. 

She currently resides in Texas with her wonderful daughter and their four sweet but mischievous cats. 

To learn more, please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_Studdard orwww.melissastuddard.com.

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Tour Dates:
August 23rd @Geo Librarian
August 24th @Crunchy Farm Baby
August 25th @The Reading Pile
August 26th @Broad-Minded Books
August 27th @Nomi's Paranormal Palace
August 28th @Beneath the Moon and Stars
August 29th @Little Hyuts
August 30th @Simply Shan
August 31st @The Things You Can Read
September 1st @Hidden Adventures of a Teenage Reader
September 3rd @Just Me, Myself and I
September 4th @Magical Manuscripts
September 5th @Choice Reads
September 6th @Appraising Pages
September 7th @Book Fidelity
September 8th @Miles to Go Book Reviews
September 10th @My Life. One Story At A Time.
September 11th @For The Love of Film And Novels
September 12th @Turning The Pages

Book Reviewers: Catch the Sun Blog Tour

I’m booking a blog tour for the novel, Catch the Sun, by Lee Zamloch – The author is interested in a book review, and giving away an e-copy of her book at the tour stops.

 

Review copy available in PDF, 268 pages

 

Book Synopsis:

 

Marilyn Monroe begins appearing on Amanda Grace’s patio dancing, laughing at the moon and gazing at Amanda through the glass doors. Is it possible that Marilyn, against all reason, has somehow transported herself through time and space to contemporary Los Angeles? And why does she haunt Amanda, a model whose beauty is undeniable, but whose talent is questionable?

 

The visitations begin when Amanda’s mother, Edith, commits suicide, an event that shakes Amanda to her foundation. For, while she has been a successful model, she has always measured herself against her mother, a well-known artist who has overcome severe obstacles. But unlike Edith and her accomplished sister, Joanne, Amanda Grace has not distinguished herself intellectually or artistically, nor even managed to marry and have children. In her eyes, she has failed to live up to her mother’s expectations. Now, with Edith’s death, she has forever lost her chance to prove herself. In her grief, she forgets to eat, sleep, or carry on with life’s simplest tasks. The final blow comes when Amanda accidentally learns she was adopted. With the loss of her family as a touchstone, her foundation crumbles, and her fragile sense of self dissolves completely.

 

CATCH THE SUN is a story about how an obsession with a celebrity can impact the life of an ordinary woman. It explores our endless fascination with Marilyn Monroe’s fragility, beauty and dazzling rise and fall.

 

Dates available:

September 3rd

September 5th

September 6th

September 7th

September 8th

September 10th

September 11th

September 12th

September 14th

September 18th

 

If you are interested in hosting a tour stop, please choose three dates from the above list (I'll message back with one), and let me know if you’d like to do a giveaway along with the book review.

Contact Sage: sweetcandydistro@gmail.com

Blog Tour Stop: Getting Roosevelt by Yvonne Mikell

I am excited to kickoff Yvonne Mikell’s blog tour for her book, 

Getting Roosevelt – A Homeowner’s Nightmare.

Getting Roosevelt -- A Homeowner's Nightmare

by Yvonne Mikell
Author's website: http://www.yvonnemikell.blogspot.com
Date Published: January 2012
Pages: 238
ISBN -13: 978-1469958569

Book Synopsis

Roosevelt, an old Victorian nestled on the border of upscale Chestnut Hill and middle-class Mt. Airy, is the obsession of two people, Elizabeth Samms and Gordon Roosevelt. Gordon is a realtor who likes to flip properties. Handy man Donovan Smith helps his employer, Gordon Roosevelt eliminate prospective buyers who do not live up to his standards. Protagonist Emma Samms and her autistic son love the house and are willing to fight for it. Will Gordon relinquish control?

My Review

Elizabeth Samms recently became a widow and single mother to Desmond, her six-year-old son with special needs. Six months after her husband’s death, Elizabeth finds Roosevelt, the home of her dreams. The old Victorian home is located on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Roosevelt holds many secrets that Elizabeth isn’t aware of, like missing owners, thugs, and twin brothers who are leading Elizabeth and Desmond into a whirlwind of trouble. The more emotionally invested Elizabeth becomes in her new home, the more troubles that find their way onto her doorstep.

Yvonne Mikell shows various sides of the main character, Elizabeth who is a complex person. I wanted to know more about her and Desmond. I felt like there was more to their story than what was told. Maybe Yvonne is saving that for a second book? That would be a pleasant surprise. I think the author did a good job creating a story thick with deception and greed. 

About Yvonne

“I love writing. I love to write about the ups and downs of life. Most of my stories are fiction with facts loosely weaved in. These facts can come from my own life or from news headlines. My first novel, Getting Roosevelt--a homeowner's nightmare, is a combination of all three. My novels also tend to portray a protagonist with a lot on her plate. This mirrors my own life, I'm always performing a juggling act. I currently write three columns for Examiner.com. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.”

Getting Roosevelt is available in paperback and Kindle Edition on Amazon.


Click here to view Yvonne's Blog Tour Schedule.

Guest Post: Gardening with your children

I've had such a busy week that I completely forgot to share my guest post that I wrote about gardening with my kids. Going Green with the Grizls featured my post on Monday, check it out!

Gardening with your children Guest Post by Sage @ My Name is Sage

Blog Tour Stop: Saving Mary: The Possesion by Deidre Havrelock

Saving Mary: The Posession

by Deidre Havrelock

Author's blog: http://deidrehavrelock.wordpress.com

Date Published: April 2012

Pages: 170

My Review

Saving Mary is a spiritual memoir written by Deidre Havrelock. Readers are quickly introduced to a young girl who is a recipient of abuse and dysfunction in her family. Early on, Deidre is sensitive to the paranormal and feels constantly watched by someone or something. She is consistently searching for guidance and help from God, but darkness seems to be more of a prominent presence in her life. Deidre experiments with a Ouija board and connects with a spirit named, “Fred” who stays with her for some time. The battle between good and evil is Deidre’s main struggle.

As I became wrapped up in the story, I had to stop and remind myself I was reading true events that the author endured. That reality made this book more intense. Diedre’s honest writing allowed me to understand the desperation she felt while she tried to reach out to receive God’s grace. She is persistence in her attempts to battle wickedness and simply be “normal.” I admire that about her, she is always striving to understand the entities and paranormal experiences, not ignore them or make excuses about them. I am eagerly awaiting book two of Saving Mary.

Deidre D Havrelock grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where she eventually met her husband to be, DJ. It was DJ who initially noticed Deidre’s dark state and worked to seek out someone willing to perform her exorcism. Eventually, the newlyweds found their way to the southern hot spot of Brooks, AB where Deidre began writing. From there the family trekked across eastern Canada to Moncton, NB where they learned to love French fries with cheese curds and gravy. Currently nestled in the hills of Kennewick, Washington, Deidre has two horses, one dog, three cats and too many rabbits…and let’s not forget her wonderful husband and three energetic daughters. Her memoir, Saving Mary: The Possession chronicles her dark childhood and the path that led to her demonic possession. She is currently working to finish book two of her spiritual memoir, Saving Mary: The Deliverance.


Author Interview

How hard was it for you to write such a personal and deeply spiritual book?
It definitely got easier as I moved along. At first I was pretty adamant about keeping everything a secret. I had become an introverted and private person. This doesn’t mean I was quiet. (Trust me, I definitely wasn’t a quiet person!) It just means I didn’t usually share intimate details of my life with people. I guess I didn’t want to have to explain everything…or anything for that matter. Actually, I didn’t want to give those events much thought at all. It all seemed too chaotic.  But as time moved on it became apparent to me that it would be healthier to talk about the events of my life. The first person I told was my aunt Glenda (along with my sister in law and cousin). My aunt then encouraged me to tell my dad. From there I slowly opened up to most of the people in my family.

Telling both family members and some friends about what had happened was difficult at first. I mean, can you image your niece or cousin or best friend coming up to you and telling you this bizarre story about spirits and possession? But in the end talking about the events of my life was incredibly helpful. Family members often related to my story (many of them have had encounters with spirits), and they encouraged me to write about my story. As I spoke out and began to write, I realized everything was linked together. My life wasn’t just a list of weird things that had happened. My life contained a clear linear line of development.  I realized I was a child who grew up with this profound hope in God, along with an intense hope for a spiritual life…and that something was dead set against me finding these things. In the end, I realized my life made sense and that it was actually a good life. This made me want to open up about it.

Would you say writing Saving Mary was therapeutic for you?
Writing the books provided the healing I needed…and the order I needed for what seemed like a chaotic life. I’m healed from being married to the devil and it’s not an issue at this time. I’ve moved on. I’m more interested in keeping an open and vibrant relationship with the Holy Spirit.

What books have you read recently?
Right now I’m reading Fresh Air: The Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life. I’ll be reading plenty of Holy Spirit books as I get ready for a conference I’m planning in May of 2013: MotherHeart Conference 2013: God is Family.

What is your status on the second book?
I will be spending my summer finishing book two (which is almost complete). I have a wonderful editor waiting to get her hands on it in order to ready it for the ebook market.

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For the month of July, Saving Mary: The Possession is available for $.99
Purchase on Amazon or Amazon UK


Deidre Havrelock has kindly offered my readers an opportunity to win a FREE ebook copy of Saving Mary: The Possession! Fill out the rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Biannual Blogathon Bash

I signed up to participate in the Biannual Blogathon Bash, and I am super excited to get started. It’s a 72 hour blogger event that encourages bloggers to work on their blog to-do list for at least 24 hours within the Blogathon schedule. Mini-challenges are set up to educate bloggers about topics that will enhance their blogs and further their blogging experience. Not to mention the awesome networking and prizes, too! It’s not too late to sign up for the event.

 Some of my blog goals for the next 24 hours are below.

• Organize blog posts and create a posting schedule
• Catch up on reviews
• Plan my next giveaway

What's the Word June Blog Challenge

Tabi (tabi happy) is hosting a June blog challenge called 'What’s the Word June.' The challenge is to incorporate the word of the day (which Tabi has listed) into your daily blog. The words Tabi has chosen are fun and some are not commonly found in most blog posts so it will be interesting, but I am always up for a good challenge!

The word of the day is: smitten

It’s been close to eight weeks since I planted veggies for my indoor container garden. I have been watering them, hand pollinating them, and sometimes even cheering them on!  I am excited that I have been able to keep them alive and healthy this long. I was pretty nervous I would have a hard time growing vegetables indoors.

My cucumber plants grew amazingly fast. Remember this post? You can see how tall they have grown and how they are taking over my windowsill. When the cucumbers began to get larger, they started to hang down, applying a lot of weight to the plant stem and I saw places throughout the plant where the stems were breaking. I panicked because I didn’t want them to die. They have been growing so good and I didn’t want them to take a turn for the worst. I bought a metal cage to insert into their pot and entwined the plant up the cage, alleviating some pressure from the stem. A few leaves were damaged in the process but I read if the damage is minimal, they can heal themselves. Phew!

So far I have spotted a cherry tomato on one plant and on another, a larger tomato is growing with signs of two others coming along nicely. I am completely smitten over the tomatoes. I had a rough time growing them outside on my patio last year. They are doing so much better inside.