Life in the First Draft with Second Chance Dogs and Little Miracles along the Way

Do you believe in second chances? Real Dogs Don't Whisper book is about second chances and miracles. This very touching book will melt your heart as you read about four rescue dogs that were ready to be given up on because they have special needs; they teach their human about life, love, and hope. Real Dogs Don’t Whisper: Life Lessons from a Larger than Life Dog! (and his Owner), is the true story of a remarkable family as told in a unique way by both Kelly, the owner of the household, and her spunky, hilarious, nine-year old Lhasa Apso, Mr. MaGoo. The narrative is at times tear-jerking, at times hysterical, and always enthralling.

2013 Winner for the National Indie Excellence Awards, Alex Carroll Radio Publicity Sponsor's Choice.

2013 Silver Winner in Readers’ Favorite Non Fiction Animal category

2013 Bronze Winner in Global Ebook Awards, Animals/Pet category

2013 Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards, Animals/Pets category.

2013 Finalist in the "Animals/Pets: Narrative Non-Fiction" category by International Book Awards

2013 Nominated for Global Ebook Award, Animals/Pet category

Life in the First Draft

Hi, allow me to introduce myself; I am Kelly Preston, author of Real Dogs Don’t Whisper, this is my first book and I am still surprised at myself that I took a vision and made it possible.  It all started one morning in December 2010, I had a “light bulb” moment that I wanted to share an incredible, rewarding journey with special need pets.  The goal was to inspire the audience that no matter what may face us, with determination, unconditional love and support from others; and, opening your heart to allow love in when not expected, amazing and priceless outcomes will occur. 

Once I determined the goal and the reason why I wanted to write this book, it took a little over a year to complete.  I can’t even begin to share how many times I had to go back and redo, delete, pace back and forth; and, start over again.  What I was finding that I was writing too  much and it was too heavy, I needed to find a way to lighten up the content and add humor to a serious subject.  I looked at my one dog, Mr MaGoo, my spunky Lhasa Apso and knew at that point he would be my co-author.  After months of reworking the chapters, adding Mr MaGoo’s flavor, I was pleasantly surprised with the finished work.  In fact, I am delighted to read the reviews that I receive; of course Mr MaGoo has now a strong fan base and his fans want more, which I am happy to share, they will see more of his writing in 2013.  

Meet her family like no other: Kelly, Mr. MaGoo, Buffy, Carla Mae, and Betty Boop. A girl, her two Lhasa Apsos, one Cocker Spaniel, and one adorable mutt – each with their own challenging set of difficulties to overcome. One puppy has serious neurological disorders and is blind. Two were severely abused. All are on a journey of discovery. Together, learning love and patience along the way, perhaps none so much as Kelly.

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Student Saturday: Jade Green - Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Student Reviewer - Grant G.

Jade Green a Ghost Story is a very good book.  I liked it because it had a good plot and a very good detail, almost like it made a movie in my head. It was really scary. A word to the wise, don't read this book alone in the dark. The book is sometimes confusing when it goes from one scene to another.

There are four main characters in this book.  Judith is a girl that was orphaned at fifteen and had to move to her uncle's house in Charleston, South Carolina. Judith's uncle is the owner of the house and really starts to open up to her. Charles is Judith's cousin. He is forty years old and eats with his uncle almost every night. The cook Mrs. Hastings is really ice to Judith. She was the person that Judith would trust the most.

In the story, after Judith gets orphaned, her uncle takes her in. The only rule he had was no green in his house. Judith had a green picture f4rame with her mother's picture in it. The night after she was taken into her uncle's house she hears shuffling in the closet of her bedroom. About a month later Judith gets employed at the Hat Shoppe in town. She makes a lot of new friends and hears a lot of gossip. half a year later a hurricane comes through the town. Judith and her friend Zeke begin to evacuate and prepare the house for the hurricane.

The book takes place in Charleston, South Carolina before cars and phones and when every shop in town had its own purpose. The uncle's house was two stories high and had three people who live there, the uncle, Judith, and Mrs. Hastings. They ate in a garden outside next to the house. They lived near a beach of which they visited often. Judith will sometimes take a carriage ride home from the hat Shoppe going the long way.

This book has the same setting as my neighborhood. There is a big house, double story with a beach not far from it. In my grandparents' house they used to have rats in the basement that made a lot of noise just like the ones in Judith's closet. Sometimes I will hear noises at night but usually it's just my brother.

This was a very interesting book. Personally I would recommend it to my friend Mark. He likes scary books with a lot of detail like me. I would also recommend it to anyone who likes scary books and to the people who like a lot of detail. This book can be scary at times. It is part mystery and a lot thriller. This book is definitely worth a read.

Corriander Jones Saves the World - Kim English

Publisher:  Cricket Cottage Publishing

Pages: 270

Source: I purchased this

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy

From Amazon:

The Old Ones are out there, waiting, and trying to get back into our dimension. All that separates us from them is a barrier known as the sieve. 

Thirteen-year-old Coriander Jones, her best friend Sam and little sister Autumn are expecting another summer as usual at Camp Happy Haven, a rundown summer camp subsidized for “lower income children.” But after the bus ride to camp turns into a battle for their very lives, Coriander discovers she is part of a mysterious, centuries-old organization that defends our world against the return of the “Old Ones,” deities that pre date written or even spoken history. Angry at being forgotten and replaced over the eons, they want to breach the sieve and re-establish their control over humanity. Along with Sam and Autumn, Coriander must work with her arch nemesis, the formerly wealthy Olivia, and the mysterious teenager, Cole, to save the world from being thrown into chaos and despair.

In between discovering her own unique powers and trying to uncover Cole’s secret agenda, Coriander must also juggle endless bureaucratic paperwork, nosy counselors, homicidal maintenance men, and the first annual Camp Happy Haven Color War.

If she survives all that, maybe she’ll have time to save the world.

My Thoughts

It is not very often my mom recommends a children's book to me.  She came home from church a couple of weeks ago with a book her friend had given her.  Her friend's daughter had written i,t and it had just been published.  My mom recommended it.  I immediately downloaded it to my Kindle.  Half way through the book I ordered a print copy for my classroom.  I knew this was a book I wanted on my shelves.

Corriander Jones is exactly the type of book I look for when purchasing books for my shelves at school.  This book made me think of several things.  We have a protagonist who fits the age group I teach.  That means the kids will be able to relate to her.  The book deals with battling different gods.  Kids who love the Percy Jackson series will love this book.  It has something that a lot of books similar to this topic does not have, a female protagonist.  A lot of my students would be able to relate to Corriander Jones because she is from a poorer neighborhood.  She and her sister, along with a couple of other friends attend the same camp every year because it is set up for disadvantaged kids.  This book teaches kids that they can accomplish what they set out to accomplish no matter what their financial circumstances.  It shows that smart kids aren't always rich kids.

The characters are very relatable.  They show the beginnings of crushes, dealing with annoying people, and most importantly not judging people until you have walked in their shoes.  The author used Florida as her character's playground.  Although some well known cities were mentioned, the setting could have been any number of places in Florida.  She did an excellent job of creating a place that anyone in Florida could identify with.

If you are looking for an adventure to read or recommend to your middle grader then I would say look no more. Corriander Jones is just sarcastic and lovable enough to entice your child into this story. There is plenty of action for both boys and girls to be interested in this series.

I definitely recommend this to teachers, librarians, parents and especially middle grade age kids.

Kim English is an author to watch for.  I don't know what she has up her sleeve next but I hope it comes soon.

Lessons Learned on the Way to the Top: A Q&A with Christopher Cloud and Book Giveaway

Christopher Cloud is the author of the YA novel “Voices of the Locusts.” The Musing of a Book Addict caught up Cloud and he shares his lessons learned on the way to the top. 

About Voices of the Locusts

Sixteen-year old Jack O’Brien has never known the bittersweet stint of love, and romance is the farthest thing from his mind as he and his family arrives at a remote U.S. Air Force outpost in Japan where Jack’s father is base commander. The year is 1948. Jack’s life changes after a chance encounter with Fujiko Kobaysi, a beautiful and enchanting 17-year-old Japanese girl. Jack is immediately smitten.

Fujiko’s traditional parents are overly protective and monitor her every move, and Jack and Fujiko meet secretly at her garden, located some distance from her village. There is a good reason why Fujiko’s parents are so protective and Jack is devastated when Fujiko tells him that her parents have promised her in marriage to an older man, a practice common throughout Asia at the time. The marriage is only a months away. Jack devises a cunning plan, one that will overshadow her arranged marriage and bring Fujiko and him together.

Playing against a backdrop of swirling post-War social change, Voices of the Locusts tells the story of three families – one black, one white, one Asian. Told in Jack’s voice in vivid and sometimes haunting detail, Jack and Fujiko are frustrated in their romantic quest by story characters coming to terms (often violently) with the emotional scars of World War II.

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Book Excerpt

            A flutter of panic races through my body. It is instantly replaced by a sweep of joy, and a strange, unnatural lucidity overcomes me.

            Fujiko and I hesitate for what seems a small eternity, our eyes locked in a moment of mutual understanding. Finally, I lean in toward Fujiko and she leans in toward me. Our eyes close and our mouths touch in a whisper-soft kiss, a brief, gentle brush of lips.

            I pull back slowly, my heart racing, my head alive with all manner of strange, warm images. This must all be a dream. A wonderful, glorious dream. I don’t want to ever wake up.

On Writing:

Q:  What motivated you to write the book?

I have carried this story in my head for 30 years. It was not until I reached my mid-60s did I have the discipline to sit down and piece the story together. Writing requires Himalayan dedication, but I was never able to demonstrate this personal commitment until late in my life. Much of my story is based upon personal experience.   

Q:  What is the single most useful thing you have learned and how has it helped you as a writer.

I am constantly amazed at the volume of copy I can produce if I dedicate three or four hours each day to writing. Working seven days a week, I wrote the first draft of “Voices of the Locusts” in about two months.

Q:  What would you say are your main literary influences?

All of my novels are multi-cultural: Native Americans, Latinos, and Asians assume pivotal roles in each of my novels. I would hope that each novel provides the reader with the knowledge that although we are all different—our language is different, as are our looks and cultures—there is a common thread of humanity that runs through all of us.

About Christopher Cloud

            Christopher Cloud began writing fiction full time after a long career in journalism and public relations. “Voices of the Locusts” is his fourth novel. A multi-genre author, Cloud’s  choice of novels to write is determined not by genre, but by the weight of the story. Cloud graduated from the University of Missouri in 1967 with a degree in journalism. He has worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist at newspapers in Texas, California, and Missouri. He was employed by a Fortune 100 company as a public relations executive, and later operated his own public relations agency. Cloud attended high school in Japan, and much of his “Voices of the Locusts” is based on personal experience. Cloud lives in Joplin, Missouri

Student Saturday: Umbrella Summer - Lisa Graff

Student Reviewer: Olivia G.

Umbrella Summer is a great book.  It's sad but good! After her brother has been struck in the heart at a hockey game, Annie Richards becomes afraid of everything, and she does not even want to walk out her door! She freaks out over some bug bites! Her friends want her to try out for cheer leading! There is no way she was doing that! Her friends will not give up! Thy know she can do it, but she refuses to try. I would be the same, trying  to do a back handspring with no experience! I can't imagine her brother dying, it made a huge impact on her life. But, with a friend at the end of the street she can change. I would say most people that love non-fiction or realistic fiction would enjoy this book. The back of the book is a great grabber. I love this book. It really relates to someone who is trying to be a risk-taker, but it's taking a while. This is a book that everyone would love.

Student Saturday: Steps to Courage - Sandra Stiles

Today's Student Reviewer - Ethan

Steps to Courage is a fictional story based on a true event. This story is based on the horrors of nine-eleven when two planes crashed into the Twin Towers causing thousands of innocent people to die. The main characters of the story are Trina, Lucas, and Mark. Trina is a shy girl who was hurt severely in a car accident. Mark is a mysterious loner whose parents died in a fire. Lucas is a nice upper class guy who caused Trina's accident. The main part of the story is when three kids working for a fundraiser go into the Twin Towers on nine eleven and two big jets crashed into the Twin Towers , or World Trade Center. causing three thousand innocent people to die. Trina, Mark, and Lucas barely made it out with their lives. There was lots of bones, body parts, and debris everywhere, even in the air. Nine-eleven was on September eleventh, 2001, in New York City. My opinion of Steps to Courage is that it is a well detailed page turner and I couldn't stop reading it until I finished it. If you like to read interesting real life tragedies, then I strongly suggest reading Steps to Courage. This book interested me because my dad worked in the Twin Towers eight years before the towers collapsed. I also lived two miles from where the towers used to be.

Everville Series: Books 1 & 2- by Roy Huff

Everville: The First Pillar
Publisher: Roy Huff
Pages: 234
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I received a copy to review. The opinions expressed are my own.

From Goodreads:
Owen Sage is the emblematic college freshman at Easton Falls University. With all the worries about his first year in college, he was not prepared for what would happen next. His way of life was flipped upside down when he mysteriously crossed into another dimension, into the beautiful land of Everville. His excitement was abruptly halted when he discovered that there was a darkness forged against both the natural world, which he knew well, and the new land which he discovered, Everville. He must devise a plan to save both worlds while joining forces with the race of Fron and The Keepers, whom both harbor hidden secrets he must learn in order to gain power over the evil that dwells in The Other In Between. With a race against time to save both worlds, his short time at Easton Falls did to quite prepare him for the evil, dark forces he must fight in order to conquer The Other In Between.

My Thoughts:
One thing I loved about this book was that the action was instant and constant.  The author has created characters that you want to care about.  You are led to feel as if they are your best friends. The world is one that I would like to visit because of its characters.  This author is a master at description. It is a talented person that can create two worlds, a normal real world for a character and an alternate world where the character(s) travel back and forth.  You would think that this would be confusing but it is not.  The author has taken an ordinary, or so we think, college student and turned him into someone who will battle evil for the good of all no matter what the cost.  This is the first book in the series and a must read, followed by the second book in the series.

Everville: The City of Worms
Publisher: Roy Huff
Pages: 228
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I received a copy to review. The opinions expressed are my own.

From Goodreads:
College freshman Owen Sage has just started to understand the darkness trying to overtake Everville and the earthly realm. With the help of The Keeper and the Fron army, Owen has managed to buy some time, but new problems have already emerged, new secrets need to be revealed, and the race against time to stop Them form conquering both dimensions has only just begun. The Keeper, Owen Sage, and his friends at Easton Falls University must now battle threats from within. To do it, they must reunite with familiar creatures and join forces with new ones as they navigate their journey to the truth that awaits them in Everville.

My Thoughts:
I loved visiting with these characters again.  The author held true to the first story creating new characters that within the world of fantasy are very believable.  One of my students told me the other day that she liked reading books that was more like turning a movie on in her brain.  I know exactly what she was talking about.  This author is wonderful at creating that movie in your brain.  His descriptions of characters and the battles are a real treat for a visual person like me.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the way a lesson was woven into the story without coming across as preachy.  In school we are always teaching our middle schoolers that the decisions they make today will affect their lives and the person they become for a long time.  This book carries that same message.  Owen has to make some tough decisions that carry some very have effects for the future.

I used to say I didn't like reading fantasy.  However, if you were to check my shelves at school, the fantasy section makes up at least a quarter of all of my books.  That would be somewhere around 300 to 350 fantasy books.  What I discovered was that I don't care for adult fantasy books.  I love middle grade and young adult fantasy.  This one is a great addition to my school shelves, and one that I recommend to all fantasy lovers.

Shadow of Darkness - Rashad Freeman

Pages:  264
Source:  I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Genre:  Young Adult, Thriller

From Goodreads

Anthony Dimair isn't your average teenager. Anthony Dimair doesn't have your average teenage problems. Unfortunately, Anthony dimair doesn't know that yet. By most accounts Anthony's been a pretty normal kid his whole life. When he starts what should be a normal year of high school, he suddenly begins to change. There's something dark buried deep inside him, but it wants to get out. As people start disappearing and unknown assailants start following him, Anthony turns to his Uncle for answers. With only the help of his friends he sets off on a quest to discover the truth. But discovering the truth may very well get him killed. Follow Anthony on an epic adventure as he races against time and the darkness inside him. Will he survive to find out the truth? Or will he get himself and his friends killed in the process?

My Thoughts

This was a fabulous book. From the first chapter where you read what seems to be a lab experiment gone terribly wrong the action never stops.  There is a lot of humor built into the book that will definitely grab middle grade kids.  Anthony Dimair has started high school with his best friends.  However, in addition to the normal teenage angst he suddenly sprouts wings and doesn't know why.  The author has created characters that are very believable in their actions.  You get a feel immediately that they are teens.  He has created a plot that will keep you reading from beginning to end.  I read the whole book in just two hours.  I was surprised by the way the book ended.  I didn't want it to end that way.  However, I have to say that since this is the first book in this series that it definitely had a great ending.  I can't wait until the next book comes out.  I am sure this is a book that my students will definitely love.  I can't wait to introduce them to it tomorrow.

You can find his book at:
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Student Saturday: The Future of Us - Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Student Reviewer: Isha

I would say this is the best teen romance ever! This book was written in the past when there was no Facebook. Emma's dad had just bought her a computer, and her best friend Josh had given her a CD so she could download the Internet. Once she did she had decided to get an E-mail. Something unusual was that under social was Facebook. No one else had this, not even Josh. Once she logged on the future of their lives was right ahead of them, literally. I could connect to this book because I have a Facebook and an E-mail.

The main characters of this book were Josh and Emma. Josh is a tall and a good looking guy. Emma is very nice and she is not that short. She has brown hair.l The nest two characters are Tyson and Kellan. Tyson is Josh's best friend and Kellan is Emma's. Kellan looks a lot like Emma. There there is Graham who went out with Emma. After that there is Sidney, blond hair, blue eyes, and very pretty, who ends up not like in a real relationship but acted like they were with Josh. Also, there is Cody one of the best athletes in the state. He is very tall. There there is Mom and Marin and the dad, and her baby sister. The setting of this book was mostly Emma's house, Josh's house, Pete's Pizza, their school, and the lake.

I would recommend this book to teens that like romance, There is some inappropriateness but then again it is a young ADULT book. Hope you enjoy it because the future and past at the same time with the same two people is something you would want to know more about.

Student Saturday: Allie Finkles Rules for Girls: Moving Day - Meg Cabot

Student Reviewer: Annabre

I like this book so much that I have started reading the second and the third one. This book is about a nine year old girl that is about to move with her second grade brother Mark, her kindergarten brother Kevin, and her mother and father who work at a college. But, Allie the fourth grade girl disagrees about going to a new house. One reason she doesn't want to move is because she doesn't want to leave her best friend Mary-Ann. Allie and Mary-Ann have done everything together. My questions when I read this part was: "Are they still going to see each other?, "Are they still going to still be friends?", "If they are still going to be friends how are they going to live without each other if they have done so much together". I had many questions about this book and that's what made it so interesting, because I love books that make me question because then I can make a prediction what the answer is and then when I'm done with the book I can compare my prediction to the real answer. But Allie agrees about moving because her parents said if she moved with them (I don't know where she would have gone if she didn't go with her parents) she would get a baby kitten. She has always wanted a kitten because she loves cats. I didn't think she would want to move because she would not know anyone for one and she wouldn't have the same school for two, and three she would have a different house. I really enjoyed this book! It had a lot of twists and turns but that's what also made the whole book so interesting to me. These kinds of books have caught my interest.