Cover Reveal: An Unexpected Adventure by Kandi J. Wyatt

I absolutely love Kandi's books and so do my students.  Can't wait to put this one on my school shelves.

Blurb: Protect their community or protect their discovery?

For eighth graders Chace, Harley, Will, and Cherise, that’s a life-changing question after they find a dragon’s egg while hunting for thundereggs on the beach. Toss in summer jobs, family struggles, and a National Security Agent, and their summer vacation just became complicated.

Can they find a solution that won’t leave their hearts broken or their community in flames?

***

One liner: When four eighth graders discover a dragon’s egg, they must choose between protecting their treasure from the NSA or protecting their town from a growing dragon!

Mashup: E.T. meets How to Train Your Dragon

Pre-order Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/3yDLX6

Author Bio:

Even as a young girl, Kandi J Wyatt, had a knack for words. She loved to read them, even if it was on a shampoo bottle! By high school Kandi had learned to put words together on paper to create stories for those she loved. Nowadays, she writes for her kids, whether that's her own five or the hundreds of students she's been lucky to teach. When Kandi's not spinning words to create stories, she's using them to teach students about Spanish, life, and leadership.

Where to find me:

Website: http://kandijwyatt.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/kandijwyatt/

Google: http://plus.google.com/u/0/+KandiWyatt/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kandijwyatt

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kandijwyatt

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13817774.Kandi_J_Wyatt

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kandi-J-Wyatt/e/B00ZTC4T10/

Other Books by Kandi J Wyatt:

Dragon's Future: https://www.books2read.com/u/bzpDq9

           

Dragon's Heir: https://www.books2read.com/u/47YQE3  

Dragon's Revenge: https://www.books2read.com/u/b5qvGb  

Dragon’s Cure: https://www.books2read.com/u/47kxJa  

Dragon’s Posterity: https://www.books2read.com/u/4DA8og

Dragon’s Heritage: https://www.books2read.com/u/3neVN6

The One Who Sees Me:  https://www.books2read.com/u/mdrRlb 

Journey from Skioria: https://www.books2read.com/u/4AwJee

To Save a Race: https://www.books2read.com/u/49PG5k

Excerpt to share:

After a few more minutes of digging, the stone came free. Will wriggled it until we could get a grip underneath and lift it out. I really had my doubts we could pick it up; I was sure it’d weigh close to a hundred pounds or more. However, to my surprise, it came free and up without a hitch, absurdly light for its size.

“Should it be this light?” I squinted at the rock in our hands.

“I don’t know.” Will shrugged his shoulder.

Chace shifted his grip. “I’ve never seen a single rock this big before. But it should weigh more than this. I still say it’s an egg.”

I was beginning to believe him, but there were some good reasons to doubt it, too. “What bird’s this big, and how did it get here? We’re a long way from the game park.”

The game park was the closest thing to a zoo we had. They had wild animals and some pet deer, sheep, donkeys, geese, goats, and peacocks to feed. They even had an emu and an ostrich, but I still couldn’t imagine either one having an egg quite this size.

Chace shook his head. “I don’t know, but listen.” He took a free hand and tapped ever so gently on the surface.

It echoed hollowly. Before anyone could say anything, a second fainter tap came as if in reply.

“What in the world?” I exclaimed, jumping and almost dropping the thing.

“It’s an egg,” Chace said with firm conviction. “I don’t know what kind yet, but it’s an egg.”

“Wh-what do we do with it?” Will looked like he wanted to toss it in the ocean.

“We keep it.”

Both Will and Chace looked at me as if I had just turned down a shot at a five-point deer during hunting season. I don’t know what I was thinking, but suddenly a fierce desire to protect the creature inside came over me

Guest Post Tonya Barbee 10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer

This is one of my stops during the two month tour for The Little Girl Inside: Owning My Role in My Own Pain by Tonya Barbee. This virtual book tour is organized by Write Now Literary Book Tours. This tour runs October & November.  Follow the tour here.  Book your own tour here WNL

Book Title: The Little Girl Inside: Owning My Role in My Own Pain

ASIN: B00VJFVN5Q

ISBN-10: 0692564802

ISBN-13: 978-0692564806

Genre: Non-Fiction

Tonya Barbee

10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer-

Take classes.

Improve on your trade. 

Read books from authors you would like to be more like, or learn from. 

Be clear and specific. 

Prepare an outline first before you get started. 

Do a mind map of your outline.

Plan your writing.

Research what you are writing about so your book will have correct information. 

Write the first draft without editing what you write. 

Write as you would want to read about what you write about. 

Be relaxed and in a good place when you’re writing.

About The Author

TONYA BARBEE is a novelist and aspiring playwright. Her most recent published work is titled, The Little Girl Inside Owning My Role in My Own Pain. She is currently working on another project that complements this book. Tonya grew up in Durham, NC, a family of four daughters and one son. Her father, Woodrow served his country for twenty years as an Army officer, retired then taught ROTC for another twenty years and her mother, Doris, a college administrator. She is a proud 1980 graduate of Frank W. Ballou High School in Washington, DC. She worked in operations and management for Department of Agriculture for twenty years. For the past ten years, she’s worked as a project manager for Department of Defense in Washington, DC. She studied at National-Louis University where she earned her Masters in Business Administration in 2009.

Although she’s worked her way up the ladder in the federal government, she had no idea she would end up writing professionally however she has always enjoyed sharing her personal life through story telling with those she thought she could help. Then something clicked. As she writes, she is in hopes that her work reaches her readers that have been through something and have contemplated giving up. Her goal is to enable her readers to become empowered to keep moving forward to accomplish their dreams no matter what challenges they have been faced with.

Tonya resides in Bowie, MD with two of her youngest children, Christian and Zachary. Her eldest two, Andrew and Jessica left the nest years ago and have blessed her with seven beautiful grandkids.

About The Book

The Little Girl Inside is a prolific story of triumph and discovery of inner peace. With each page, the reader will be captivated while the author uses the writing pen as a sowing tool-seaming a garment of praise, banner of victory and fabric of joy. With imaginative color, the book is a perfectly designed combination of patterns expressing the maturation of a woman.

A uniquely designed transparent jewel every woman should own in her jewelry box. The Little Girl Inside is a ministry resource tool for women in search for transparency in the human heart. The author shows us how to overcome the inner battle of doing the right thing the wrong way, going from finding love in the wrong places to allowing love to be revealed in the right time and in the right place.

 Excerpt

I made room for Sir Intellectual to bring what I thought were the remainder of hi things. I also made room on my health insurance policy just in case he didn't have any. Too bad it didn't occur to me to ask him. My ability to confront was non-existent. I decided not to wait until I returned to work to handle it. I contacted my carrier and updated my policy to include my new husband. The whole time I felt sad that he wasn't contacting his carrier to include me. I had a husband, though what caliber of husband, I wasn't sure. Sometimes I wanted to slap myself for being so needy that I overlooked important things and ignored flags, bells, and whistles.

Social Media Contacts

Website: http://www.iamstillarose.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamstillarose

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paes/I-am-Still-a-Rose/1429623497335690

Purchase Links

Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/y768n67m

Amazon ebook: http://a.co/7V9fOx6

Amazon paperback: http://a.co/b9qsRcs

Tour hosted by Write Now Literary

Guest Post: John Achor Author of "Five-Six Deadly Mix

COINCIDENCE OR KARMA OR FATE?

A short while ago, I was musing about the infinite number of events that had to occur before I would meet my wife. Considering she was born in Vermont while I was raised in Indiana, there was a darn good chance we would never meet. But … World War II, the Manhattan Project and dozens of less significant occurrences did happen and we did meet.

I began thinking about my female protagonist, Casey Fremont, and how and why she came to be and where she lives ― in my warped mind. We were living in Phoenix, Arizona when I completed a pair of thrillers with a male protagonist. I was casting around for a change of pace ― I decided to switch from male, third person thriller to female, first person mystery. Casey’s odyssey began.

In my home library, I found “Writing the Private Eye Novel,” edited by Robert Randisi — and a chapter by Jeremiah Healy titled: Developing a Series Character. I used the information there as my basis for developing a new character. I began the work in Phoenix.

During a workshop presented by the Scottish author,  Val McDermid, she said it took her a couple of years to take an idea to fruition. I wondered if it would take that long for me. Little did I realize … You may wonder how I was able to attend a seminar by such a prestigious writer. Easy answer ― in Phoenix, Barbara Peters who owns The Poisoned Pen bookstore arranged the class. Barbara is well known for her acumen and as an independent bookseller; she is often invited to present at large conferences in the U.S as well as the United Kingdom.

Back to my story. I worked on my character, using a four-page development checklist I devised combined from several other writer’s efforts. It’s so comprehensive, I’ve never completed the entire checklist ― even for Casey. I did decide on her physical characteristics, her back story, where she would live and other details which may never be revealed in her books. Then fate/karma/coincidence stepped in.

My wife and I decided to move from Phoenix to Arkansas. Don’t ask: we didn’t have relatives there; we didn’t know anyone there ― but the state did have green things. I later learned the things were called trees and grass. Phoenix, is basically brown.

I moved Casey from Arizona to Little Rock, Arkansas. Our retirement village was about thirty miles southwest of Little Rock, so I found it easy to visit the big city often enough to gather needed details ― and know when to make it up.

We recently moved 600 miles north to the Omaha, Nebraska area. Will fate catch up with Casey and find herself in Nebraska? Or will she remain in Little Rock. In her third mystery  “Five, Six - Deadly Mix” (released January 2017) she’s in Little Rock. I’ve begun writing the next one ― working title of “Seven, Eight - Full of Hat” ― and she’s still in Arkansas. Where next? We’ll see …

Casey Fremont’s latest mystery  

John Achor posing with a poster at his first book signing  

Author Bio

The first of John Achor’s three careers spanned twenty years as a U.S. Air Force pilot. He accumulated over 4,000 hours flying planes from Piper Cubs to the military equivalent of the Boeing 707. After the military, he entered the real estate industry. He joined a national real estate franchise as a management consultant working at the regional and national levels. Those positions led him to Phoenix, Arizona, and an affiliation with a major Savings & Loan institution.

In John's words, “When the Savings and Loan industry melted away like a lump of sugar in hot coffee, I knew it was time to develop a third career.” He became a freelance computer instructor, user-developer, consultant, writer and Community College instructor.

In mid-1999, John moved to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, where he lived in the piney woods with his wife Pat and their two cats, Lexus and Betsy Ross. As you may know from his latest book or web site; these two cats are no longer with them. Big hole in their lives, but both are waiting for us by The Rainbow Bridge. Their latest move was a recent relocation to the Omaha, Nebraska area where John is busy meeting and greeting new writers, readers and writing groups.

Website URL: www.johnachor.com

Blog URL: www.johnachor.wordpress.com

Facebook URL: www.facebook.com/jachor1

Twitter: www.twitter.com/caseyfremont

Amazon buy link for Five-Six, Deadly Mix:

https://www.amazon.com/Five-Six-Deadly-Mix-Fremont-Mystery/dp/1542612063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485987610&sr=8-1&keywords=John+Achor

Amazon buy link for Three-Four, Kill Some More:

https://www.amazon.com/Three-Four-Kill-Some-More-Fremont/dp/151514805X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478131870&sr=8-1&keywords=three+for+kill+some+more

Story Prompts that Work by Carly Berg

Genre: Writing

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a book of 52 writing prompts that can be used in a variety of ways. Some of them can be used for any age, while some are for the more mature audience.  I am going to talk about a couple of my favorites and how I, as a teacher, will use them with my students.

Prompt #3 – Unreliable Narrator  will work well in my classroom. We talk about unreliable narrators when we read a story about a dog who has been sold and really does not understand the true reason why he has been purchased. The situation of an unreliable narrator can make for a very humorous story as the students find out. I feel that I can help them better understand this by having them write a story with an unreliable narrator.

Prompt #6 – Choose a Story #1, #36, and #49  Is a great idea.  You have a first line, then choose a line from Setting, Main Character, and Situation.  The ones listed here may be a bit much for my middle school students but this is a wonderful idea and a wonderful way for me to come up with some writing prompts for them.

Prompt #18 – Twisted Fairy Tale #1 and #46  is something I do with the last unit I teach each year. We talk about fairy tales, fables, myths, legends and other traditional stories. They are required to take the story and tell it from another point of view, change the setting and time period. So they may take the story for Red Riding Hood and tell it from the Wolf’s perspective. It could be set in New York City in present time.

Prompt #19 – Objects  is one I will twist a little. Instead of going around the house and grabbing six objects that will become a list of words in a story. I would take objects and put them in a bag and have students pick from the bag to get their list of words.  This would be especially fun if we are studying a specific genre, for example ‘mysteries’ and they have to write a mystery story using those objects in their story.

Prompt #24 – A Picture is one I use every year. I find a variety of pictures and put them on my board and students may choose one or more to write about.

There are a lot of fun writing prompts here that can be done straight from the book, or you can put your own twist on them. One thing I really liked was that the author wrote example stories so you could get a better idea of what she was talking about. I can foresee this as creating hours and hours of fun writing.

Laura Sullivan: The Modern Romantic New Relaxing Classical Piano Music

Winds of Magic and Timeless were probably my favorites on this CD.  It is tough to choose as they are all so beautiful. I took this to school with me after I got it. My students know me well. When I am stressed I play music with no words. This year I’ve had to be very selective with what I usually play. I have a student on the Autism Spectrum with sensitivity issues. He sits right in front of my desk, so playing music can be very disrupting to him. I noticed something with this CD. I told him if it bothered him to let me know and I would move it, turn it down, or turn it off. He has a lot of tics when his senses are over stimulated. This is something he is working on. He was not having the best day with his tics. I noticed when I put the CD on they did not increase. When we came to the song Come Home his shoulders actually relaxed and the tics subsided for a while. I told his mom about this and the CD. They and his therapists are trying different things. If this will help him then I will provide them with a copy, just not this one. I am having surgery in a couple of days. This will accompany me to rehab as I know I will need the relaxation. I was trying to pick the best music to take and this is it. I grew up in a musical family. My father played 11 instruments and had a gospel quartet. From the time I was little until two days beforeh he entered the hospital and then passed away I sat with him as he played the piano for me. For this reason I have an affinity to music that has piano in it. I can say without a doubt that my father would have loved Laura Sullivan’s compositions. I look forward to more of her music in the future.

PIECES ON EARTH Blog Tour info

Description:

As the wife of a naval aviator in sunny Pensacola, Florida, Liv Tulley eagerly anticipates the first Christmas in several years with her husband, daughter, and extended family. Then her husband is unexpectedly deployed for an undetermined amount of time, smashing her white Christmas dreams. Can she find God's peace in the midst of life's pieces?

Excerpt:

Liv finished filling out the necessary paperwork in the medical clinic waiting room, doing her best to keep her fears at bay.

She rose to her feet and carried the clipboard with the completed paperwork to the receptionist. The harried woman took the clipboard without so much as a glance her way. "Have a seat. A nurse will call you back momentarily."

Liv trudged back to the worn gray chairs and slumped into one of them, once more cognizant of her reason for being here. October marked her second month without her period. For most women her age, that would be a sign of promising things to come, but no such luck in her case. She'd known since her daughter's birth that having more children just wasn't in the cards for her. A fact that made Chesney's life even more miraculous.

She gnawed the inside of her lip and watched a little boy--probably about two years old--playing in the floor with a toy car. Without warning, the fear returned, bringing with it only one thought. Was it possible that she'd somehow inherited the gene that lead to the ovarian cancer that claimed her grandmother's life? Was that the reason for her current symptoms?

Liv pressed her lips together and forced her thoughts to happier ones. How wonderful it would be to add a fourth member to their clan. Chesney would make such a great big sister, and Jeff would be ecstatic to have another child. Since being promoted to lieutenant a few months ago, he had qualified for a stateside assignment as an instructor pilot at Pensacola NAS. How wonderful would it be to be able to raise a child with his or her parent actually around to help out? Even the few short months of having her daddy at home had made a huge difference in Chesney.

A pent-up sigh whooshed from her lungs. This current line of thought was landing her nowhere except in the dumps. There wouldn't be another baby. She grabbed her large sack of a purse and rummaged inside until she found an old envelope. Forcing the baby blues away, she started a to-do list of things to accomplish for her family's first Christmas together since before Chesney was born.

Get the Christmas shopping done. Well, that was a no-brainer. But this year it was especially important, since they'd also be buying gifts for nieces, nephews, siblings, aunts, and uncles. How fun it would be to have both sides of the family all together again in the mountain cabin vacation rental her mother had located online.

Now happy thoughts wound their way through her insides. Liv leaned her head back against the Plexiglas partition and allowed the happiness to wander unchecked. Warm sweaters, cups of cocoa, a gigantic tree stuffed with presents, laughter of loved ones, and fluffy white snow.

Though she loved the sunny weather of Pensacola where Jeff was stationed, during the holidays she always yearned for the cold weather and snow of her Colorado upbringing. This year it would finally become a reality.

She straightened in her seat, checked the clock above the receptionist window, and returned to her list. Buy Chesney some cold weather clothing. Hmm, maybe she could order a ski bib online, since there was very little to no chance that she'd find one in Pensacola.

One thought led to another, and Liv scribbled as quickly as possible, unwilling to let even the smallest detail escape. A few minutes later, she brushed some escaped frizzy hair from her face and once more scanned her list. Yeah, that should do it. Now if she could just get these health concerns out of the way so she could concentrate on more pleasant tasks.

Liv glanced at the clock once more. Unbelievable. She'd been here for a half hour already. At this rate, she'd never make it to Chesney's preschool in time to pick her up. She grabbed her cell phone and hit speed dial for Darcy, one of many military wives in her group who all looked out for each other.

Her friend picked up immediately. "Hi Liv. What's up?"

"My blood pressure."

Darcy's contagious giggle sounded through the phone. "Let me guess. You're still waiting to see the doctor."

"How'd you guess?"

"Umm, 'cause I've been there and done that. Need me to pick up Ches?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind. And if a miracle occurs and I get out of here in time, I'll shoot you a text."

"Sounds good."

Liv had just dropped the phone back into her purse, when a short blond nurse in pink scrubs called her name from the doorway that lead to the exam rooms. She followed the nurse through the door where the dreaded scales awaited. After getting off the scales, fresh resolve took root in Liv's mind to cut back on carbs and lose those ten extra pounds that had plagued her since Chesney was born. Four years was way too long to lug around the unwanted weight. She followed the woman down the hallway and dutifully entered the room to which she motioned.

The nurse smiled and pulled the door toward the closed position. "Dr. Amy will be with you soon."

Liv perched on the edge of the exam table, once more on pins and needles about the potential problem. Lord, please let me be okay, and please, please, please, don't let this affect our Christmas plans.

Purchase Links:

Print: http://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Earth-Christian-Fiction-Christmas/dp/1941699103/

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/PIECES-EARTH-Christian-Fiction-Christmas-ebook/dp/B017FV5AAG/

Author Bio:

Amazon best-selling author Cathy Bryant loves to write heart-stirring stories of God's life-changing grace, and has done so through six Miller's Creek novels, two Bible studies, one Christmas novella, and two devotional books written in collaboration with other Christian authors. She's also written for The Upper Room devotional magazine. When she's not writing, you'll find her rummaging through thrift stores, romping in the great outdoors, or up to her elbows in yet another home improvement project in the mountain cabin she shares with her minister husband of over thirty years. You can connect with Cathy in the following online spots, including her website: http://www.CatBryant.com, where you can download a free eBook copy of one of her novels.

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PIECES ON EARTH $200 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway:

Guest Post: Maggie Kast Author of A Free Unsullied Land

 Did It Really Happen? 

A reader of any age might ask this question of a story, whether it’s told by a parent or teacher or read in a book of fiction or non-fiction. And today’s reader has a particularly strong “reality hunger,” a term used by David Shields to title his manifesto about the confusing nature of reality in modern life and our desire to find it. A writer of non-fiction today can get in serious trouble if he or she fails to report as accurately as possible what really happened, as memoirist Vivian Gornick points out in an interview in The Rumpus.  And both readers and reviewers often assume that a work of fiction is all or part autobiography. The historical novel is a special case. Well-known and documented historical events provide a non-fictional frame, which the writer of fiction must observe. If historical figures appear in the novel, they must be true to character, and if they speak, their words must at least be close to what they really said. But the writer is free to imagine invented characters within the historical frame.

In my first book, The Crack between the Worlds: a dancer’s memoir of loss, faith and family, I

followed the rules of non-fiction and told what happened as well as I could remember, searching documents from dance programs to autopsy reports for evidence. Shortly before it was published my mother died, and I acquired all the correspondence she’d saved in her lifetime, from handwritten and typed letters on fading yellow paper to emails she’d printed out in her later years. Most interesting to me were the ones she’d written as a girl, before and during her courtship with my father. They revealed a vibrant, sassy, smart young woman kept under the thumb of her own mother, a woman held back by nineteenth century expectations of women.

I wanted to find that girl I never knew, to take her on adventures she never had, to let her experience all the risky possibilities of her time and place, prohibition-era Chicago. Thus the seeds were planted for my historical novel A Free, Unsullied Land. I invented a young woman of the 1930’s named Henriette Greenberg, but she is not my mother. Her personality has elements of me, my mother, and many other women I have known.

I made the time and place as historically accurate as I could, and doing the research was one of the most enjoyable parts of writing the book. I dug through libraries and the Internet to find what such historical characters as Theodore Dreiser, Jane Addams and W.E.B. Dubois really thought and said. I researched the endless legal battle of the so-called Scottsboro Boys, nine African-American young men unfairly accused of rape in Alabama. I listened to the jazz that was making its way from the South to Chicago at the time.. I watched the groundbreaking musicals of Busby Berkeley, who celebrated the Great Depression’s “forgotten man.”

Did the events in the book really happen? No, they never did and never could have. My mother would never have had or even wanted to have the adventures of Henriette. She and the people with whom she interacts are almost all invented characters. But the world of the novel was real at one time, and I have tried to give it new life. I hope the reader will see how very different and yet how much the same it is as the world in which we live today.

Maggie Kast is the author of The Crack between the Worlds: a dancer's memoir of loss, faith and family, published by Wipf and Stock. She received an M.F.A. in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has published fiction in The Sun, Nimrod, Carve, Paper Street and others.

A chapter of her memoir, published in ACM/Another Chicago Magazine, won a Literary Award from the Illinois Arts Council and a Pushcart nomination. A story published in Rosebud and judged by Ursula Leguin won an Honorable Mention in their fantasy fiction contest.

Kast’s essays have appeared in America, Image, Writer's Chronicle and elsewhere. Her first novel, A Free, Unsullied Land, is forthcoming from Fomite Press in November 2015. An excerpted story, “The Hate that Chills,” won 3^rd prize in the Hackney Literary Contests and is forthcoming in the Birmingham Arts Journal.

Website URL: maggiekast.com

Blog URL: http://www.ritualandrhubarbpie.blogspot.com

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/magdance1

Twitter: @tweenworlds

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/hp/?dnr=zA9_R7IwxvqvfyKjWoynR9fyxdqvYeeAGYo

Skype: username: maggiekast

Popular Purple Pencil Sharpener

I received this product in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

To say that I love these pencil sharpeners is an understatement. I have shown them to just about everyone I know. When parents came to our "Back to School" night, the kids took their parents to my pencil sharpener to show them how it worked. Then I watched parents pull out something to write with and write down the website. Our night custodian comes in each night and sharpens the pencils he finds in the hallways. He loves my pencil sharpener. The best salesman in our school is one of our parent liaisons.  He came to my room and saw the kids lined up at my desk. He asked about it and I showed him.

Mr. Belvin is trying out my brand new purple pencil sharpener while one of my students uses my ever popular pink pencil sharpener. Students line up with multiple pencils so they don't have to use the sharpeners in the other classrooms.

Mr. Belvin and my student compare
the sharpness of their pencil leads. The number one comment about their lead is that the end is not so pointed that they snap the minute you begin to write. The sharpness seems to last longer than most sharpened pencils.









Mr. Belvin was so impressed with the purple pencil sharpener I thought I'd lost it. He snatched it up and left my room yelling he'd bring it back. He took it around to different rooms to demonstrate it to the teachers. He tried to see the principal and was unable. I however, did see her after an afternoon meeting. I demonstrated it for her and she asked for the information because she would like to buy them for the teachers at our school.

 Several of the parents have told me they are ordering one for their child for Christmas. I can think of nothing better for a Christmas gift. I love the way they are heavy duty and durable. I like that if the sharpener ever gets dull I can replace it for just a few dollars. I especially like the fact that I can change it my self.  I rewarded Mr. Belvin for his great job of promoting this sharpener by purchasing one for him and his children. I will continue to promote this sharpener. I do not get paid for this. I don't need to. You may think that is crazy, but I believe in this product that much. I would recommend everyone get this sharpener. It comes in many colors. However, This new purple one is something to be very passionate about.

THE BEST PENCIL SHARPENER YOU WILL EVER USE

 Recently I was on Pinterest looking at classroom supplies when I came across the strangest looking pencil sharpener.  Fascinated by its looks and curious as to why it looked that way I clicked on the link for Classroom Friendly Supplies.  I watched a video that showed how to use the pencil sharpener.  That video explained why the pencil sharpener looked so strange. The front pulls out. There are two knobs on the top. When you squeeze the knobs together you open the first hole where you stick the pencil through. The pencil then goes into the hole in the sharpener. The first hole has tiny teeth that hold the pencil in place.  Why is this important? Simply because that leaves the pencil holding hand free.  You can place your free hand on top of the pencil sharpener or you can use the small bar that allows you to attach it to the edge of any surface. The magic happens when you sharpen the pencil. One thing I've always hated about electric pencil sharpeners is that students often stand there shoving the pencil in, removing it, looking at it, then  repeating that step over and over again.  With this pencil sharpener you begin to sharpen the pencil and watch the part you had pulled out in the front, slowly move in as the pencil sharpened.  You can't over-sharpen the pencil. That is where the magic comes in. The hand crank will begin to turn super easy when the pencil is sharpened enough.

My husband hates when I sit down to write because I interrupt him, (his desk is opposite mine), by constantly sharpening  my pencils with our electric sharpener. I can't write if the pencils are not real sharp. I prefer writing with pencils over pens. I just love the feel of the graphite grabbing the paper. I feel I have more control.  So, it wasn't enough for me to use this wonderful tool. I needed to test it out with some kids.  My grandson Jacob and granddaughter Haylee spent the night with us and I had Haylee try it out. She's going into fourth grade and has her own desk in her room. I was thinking this would be an awesome gift for her. She cranked away and then got her pencils out of her writing portfolio she keeps at my house and sharpened every single one.  Jacob wanted to try it. He is almost 5.  So, I demonstrated it for him and then told him what to do step by step.  He sharpened the rest of my pencils. It was easy and he thought it was fun.  My son came the next weekend and I showed it to him.  As a former draftsman he knows the importance of sharp pencils. He had so much fun, he called his wife in to see this wonder. He kept breaking pencil leads so he could sharpen them. Then he broke two more and had his wife sharpen  them. You know it is a cool item when your grown children tell you they want them for their children for Christmas.  I plan on spending quite a bit of money buying several of them this year. I will definitely need one in my house to replace the electric pencil sharpener I will place in my husbands work shed. I think they will make great gifts to the 3 new teachers in my department this year.

You have got to go to www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com and check them out.
Read through her site.  This pencil sharpener was created by a teacher. Watch the videos she has. Part of every sale goes to several different charities. Please check out that page as well. I guarantee you that you won't find a better pencil sharpener for your classroom or office.

Mastercraft Coloring Book for Grown-Ups

Genre: Coloring Book
Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

When I was asked to review this book I jumped on it.  I am always looking for adult coloring pages to help me relax.  I have a folder of individual coloring sheets I have found online to download. When I clicked on the link to look at this book I was surprised to see it was an ebook.  My first concern was how I was supposed to color the book.  The end of the book has a link to download the PDF version. I did that and immediately picked out four pictures to color.  These pictures are fun and whimsical as you can see from the cover above. I printed a whimsical cat, owl, a fun beachy type picture and a picture with mushrooms and leaves that reminded me of something from the 70s.  I enjoyed coloring the pictures.  The other thing I like about this book is that at times my granddaughter wants to color pictures like this. She's never been one to color Disney type pictures.  I know that this is something she would want to color as well.  I definitely will recommend this book. If I have a favorite picture all I have to do is print it over again.

Two Unique Items

Two very unique items.  I received them in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

The Children's Pack of Frames by Bryan Canniff

From Good Reads:
This is a pack of pre-printed frames for children's art. Just draw, crayon, or paint in the frames and you have a framed masterpiece to hang or give to Grandma. London artist Emma Rios created the bold decorative frames.

My Thoughts:

I actually received two sets of these to review in exchange for an honest review.  The first set had a coating on them.  What we discovered was when my grandchildren used water based markers they tended to smear.  For my four year old grandson this turned into a beautiful watercolor look within the frame.  That is because his arm kept going over the wet marker.  His sister used crayons on it successfully.  With the second set those same watercolor markers worked great and were vibrant. My granddaughter made a birthday card/gift for her grandfather out of one of them. I have mine hanging on my wall.  She spent several hours making gifts to take with her when she visits her dad who has just returned from deployment. She made one not only for him, but for her brothers and step-mom. She said she liked that she didn't have to find a frame for it because it was done.  These are great for kids of all ages. I've had grand kids ages 4 to 9 create on these and they had a blast.  I am so thrilled I was allowed to review them.

Imagination Will Take You Everywhere (Doodle Art Alley Books volume 1 by Samantha Snyder

From Goodreads:
Explore the Magic of Doodle Art.

Imagination Will Take You Everywhere shares 50 doodle art images of inspiring sayings, quotes, and words printed on one side of the page for all ages to color.

Quotes from famous authors include Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Benjamin Franklin, John Keats, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, William Shakespeare, and more. The book also includes sayings and words from Be Kind, Courage, and Dream Big to Enjoy the Journey, Faith, and Hope.Each doodle art image has been carefully selected to provide plenty of enjoyment, inspiration, and relaxation .

My Thoughts:
I've been doing a lot of doodling and coloring of doodles and mandalas.  When given the opportunity to try out this doodle book and review it, I responded with a resounding YES PLEASE!  In this day and age our stress levels are higher.  We can't always get out and do things that will reduce our stress level. For me, when I would come home late from work, have to fix dinner then deal with my mother who now lives with us, I was not always able to go out and do something to reduce my stress levels from the day.  However, I could sit and relax while doodling and coloring, while making sure my mom was safe and sound.  The difference between what I had been coloring and what this book is all about is simple.  I'd been coloring pictures, or creating my own doodles.  Yes I have three journals of doodles. I opened this book and realized there was an inspirational saying on each and every page.  The drawings are incorporated around the words.  I tried colored pencils, twist up crayons, regular crayons, permanent markers and water color markers.  All of them work quite well. I have not tried my water color pencils yet.  The key word there is yet.  It will be coming, I'm just not sure when.  I really loved the inspirational sayings. Not only do you calm down and relax while coloring, but you get inspired by the quotes.  Definitely recommending this to all of my friends who color like me. 

Forget Me Knot Release Day Blitz

Forget Me Knot (Royal Reaper 2)

by Ruth Silver

Publisher: Booktrope

Published: June 23, 2015

  Don’t mess with death. When Wynter explores his newly developed dark angel powers, regret soon fills his heart and mind. Saving a soul isn’t what he imagined it to be, and it puts the grim reaper he loves in grave danger. Obligated to take the throne as Queen, Mara must face the truth and unravel secrets she may not be ready to accept. The second book in the Royal Reaper saga takes you on a paranormal fantasy adventure into a world of grim reapers, dark angels, and undead trucidators.

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Also available on Barnes & Noble and iBooks

Excerpt

Death crept into the castle. Mara could feel its darkness pressing her down. As she walked to her father's bedchamber, the thought of marrying a man she did not love weighed heavily on her. All the invitations had been sent out months ago. Just as her life was beginning to almost feel normal, her father, King Philip, had fallen ill along with the court of Casmerelda and much of the kingdom. The second wave of the plague violently spread, leaving a trail of death and burning corpses for the living to clean up.

Her father had been bedridden for three days. His fever spiked and his skin glistened. He grew delirious, falling in and out of consciousness. As much as she despised him for what he’d done to her sister’s boyfriend, he was still her father. She didn’t want to be left alone.

“You must marry Astin at once.”

Mara cringed. “I can’t.” Her lips hidden as she wore a piece of ivory cloth against her nose and mouth, the slightest bit of protection from the disease that had taken over the kingdom. “I don’t love him. Please don’t do this to me.”

“Don’t be selfish.” The words struggled to reach his lips. He coughed and heaved, his chest rising and falling quickly as his pulse raced. “I’ll be with your mother soon…”

“You’ll be dead.”

Taking in several deep breaths, he opened his mouth, his words coming out as a whisper. “You will be reigning queen. Mara, you must act the part. Marry Astin and forge an alliance with the country of Morro, for the sake of Casmerelda. Your people need you.”

“I need you,” Mara said, gripping her father’s hand. She frowned, studying the tips of his fingers, a blackened hue lacing his skin.

“You shouldn’t touch me.” He tried to pull away, unsuccessfully. Her grip remained tight, but more significantly, he’d grown weak from the disease ravaging his body.

“I haven’t been infected, and I’ve been at your bedside every night.” Mara ordered the servants to bring more water and rags. It had done little good to break his fever or alleviate the discomfort he must have been experiencing, but it was all she could think of to help.

“Marry Astin.” His words were rough slipping past his lips. He wheezed, trying to speak, but Mara rested a hand upon his chest.

“Don’t.” She didn’t want to have this conversation again.

“For the sake of the kingdom,” he said, pleading with her.

Mara refused to answer. Marrying Astin wasn’t what she wanted. “I have no desire to be queen so young. You will pull through, do you hear me?”

He’d fallen into a deep slumber, unable to answer her.

About the Author

Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of the Aberrant trilogy. With a passion for writing and a love of story-telling, Ruth is actively writing two series: Royal Reaper and Orenda. She also writes The Federal Agent Chronicles and Palace Secrets, both of which are adult romance under the name Ravyn Rayne for Blushing Books. Her interests include traveling, reading, and photography. Her favorite vacation destination is Australia. Ruth currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois. 

Follow Ruth here: 
Blog- http://writeawaybliss.com 
Facebook- http://facebook.com/writeawaybliss 
Twitter- http://twitter.com/writeawaybliss 
Looking for a steamier read? Check her out here: 
Blog- http://ravynrayne.com 
Facebook- http://facebook.com/ravynraynereads 
Twitter- http://twitter.com/blushingravyn