Book Signing

Yesterday was a wonderful day.  I was one of nine local authors at “Mixon’s Fruit Farms” participating in a book signing.  Mixons is a half a block from the school where I teach.  I had several students show up just to show support.  A retired teacher friend and one of my students actually purchased my book.  Mixons has fresh fruit and gifts, a gift shoppe and café with wonderful orange ice cream and a lot of fudge.  They give grove and wildlife tours, they  have venue rental space, and multiple events and festivals.  I will be participating in the Orange Blossom Festival in March.  It is a two day event from 9 – 5.  I was told that they have 10,000 plus visitors for it each year.  I will have a vendor spot.   I met some wonderful authors.  I’d like to tell you a little bit about my new friends.

 

Liam McAuley is the author of “The Musicians” and “Cake Eaters and Charlie McGuire”.   I have the privilege of  reading and reviewing his book.  I hope to have the review up in the next few weeks.

Shari and Marty Medley had two wonderful picture books.  The topic is alligators.  If you live in Florida you definitely need to read books about alligators, even the fiction ones.  Check out “Alligator Tail” and “The Adventures of a Lifetime”.

Mary Grant is the author of three Books “The Secret Keepers”, “The Truth Keepers”, “The Justice Keepers”.  These books take mystery and suspense to the next level.

Brenda Darnley Martin is the author of the “Treasure-Hunt Fish Book Series”

She is available for classrooms or parties including book-readings.  You can find her at www.treasurehuntfish.com.  I will be reading and reviewing one of her books.

Diane Adams Taylor has written the book “Circles in Time”.  You can read the first chapter of her book here

Diane E. Robertson is an author, editor, speaker, and an instructor.    Her current books include “The Madcap Misadventures of Monica Mayo”,  “Coming Apart”, and “Adventures in Writing”.  She offers manuscript editing, leads workshops, and offers creative writing classes at our local community college.  You can check out her website at freelancewritingbydiane.com

Nancy Lee Hurley was my table mate.  She has two books out.  The first is her book “Close Encounters of the European Kind”. It is  about her life in Europe while her husband was on assignment there. Her second book is called  “Close Encounters with My Lord”, and  is all about relationships with God through the thick and thin.  I am happy to report that I will be reviewing her book within the next few weeks. 

There was another lady there with her therapy dog Regis.  I unfortunately did not get her card.  Hopefully I will see her at the next book signing on the 15^th of December.

I really enjoyed myself.  Meeting and talking with other authors is a wonderful way to spend a weekend.  Check out these wonderful books by locals authors.  You won't be sorry you did.

Student Saturdays: The Final Hour - Andrew Klavan

Student Reviewer:  Jose M-M

From Goodreads:

"You're not alone. You're never alone."

Charlie West has held on to that belief, but now he's starting to wonder. He went to bed one night an ordinary high-school kid. When he woke up, he was wanted for murder and hunted by a ruthless band of terrorists. He's been on the run ever since.

Now he's stuck in prison, abandoned by his allies, trying desperately to stay a step ahead of vicious prison gangs and brutal guards. And a flash of returning memory tells him another terrorist strike is coming soon. A million people will die unless he does something. But what? He's stuck in a concrete cage with no way out and no one who can help. Charlie has never felt so alone-and yet he knows he can't give in or give up. Not with the final hour ticking away.

 

Student's Thoughts:

 

I enjoyed reading this book.  As a kid I have seen so many movies where people end up in jail for no reason.  Charlie west is the adult that ended up in jail.  Charlie West is the young adult that ended up in jail supposedly because he murdered someone and is hunted by a ruthless band of terrorists.  The setting is in a jail that is the size of a mansion.  The book was awesome because it had a little action and it was also kind of sad.  I can’t wait until the teacher reads the book The Final Hour.

Just Breeze – Beverly Stowe McClure

Publisher: 4RV Publishing, 
LLC Pages: 196 
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade
Source: Copy from author in exchange for my honest opinion

 I loved the name Breeze Brannigan. I would have loved to be in the author’s head when she decided on this name for her character. The author was spot on with her characterization. As a middle school teacher I could see several “Breezes” in my classrooms. I know middle school is a difficult time for them. Their body begins to change, or not change. I was like Breeze in the bra category. I wore one in eighth grade even though I really didn’t need it. I went to school with a girl who referred to her feet as canoes. They grew faster than the rest of her body and she was very tall. Outside of the hair color Beverly McClure could have been writing about this girl. She had wild honey colored curls that she tried to keep back from her face with headbands. We tried to put part of it up or put it in a hair tie. She looked like she had a puffball on the back of her head. I loved the way Breeze’s description brought back memories of my own middle school years. It seems like we always have a best friend who feels the need to “help” us with our problem areas, just like Breeze did. I identified with Breeze when she tried out for cheerleading. For me it was a cousin who was captain of the cheerleading squad. I didn’t land wrong and sprain an ankle; instead I pulled a thigh muscle when I came down into the splits. I too had to be helped out. I have a musically talented younger sister that I was compared to. It didn’t help out that my father was a gospel singer and I didn’t fit into their world. Like Breeze, I felt I didn’t fit in any place. It took one boy to see me differently for me to gain the confidence in myself. Those friendships in middle school are so important. I can’t wait to put this in the tray of my white board and talk about it on Monday. It is a book I will recommend to everyone. I feel this book is so important that I am making sure the counselors and psychologists at school know about this book so that they have something to recommend to girls who fit this category. Happy Reading.