Book Details:
Lets Talk! A story of Autism and Friendship by Lisa Jacovsky Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 32 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book ~ Content Rating: G. Publisher: Lisa Jacovsky ~ Release date: July 2020 Tour dates: Mar 29 to Apr 16, 2021 Book Description: Harper, a seven-year-old little girl that is typically developing, meets a new friend one day at the pool that is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They both love to swim at the pool and want to play together however, Emma has little communication skills. Emma can make sounds and not words and flaps her hands when she is excited. When Harper realizes she cannot communicate with her new friend she becomes determined to find a way to. She begins to learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder and the different ways that Emma can communicate. Once she does the two become inseparable. Harper introduces Emma to all her friends and teaches them how to communicate with Emma. Harper and Emma become the center of their circle of friends and have more many more adventures together. Buy the Book: Amazon ~ BAM ~ B&N ~ IndieBound ~ add to Goodreads
Talk about why you choose to self-publish rather traditionally publish and how you found your self-publisher. One reason I think I always felt nervous about writing a book was how difficult it can be to find a traditional publisher. When I wrote my book, I did a lot of research. I love doing research and found that there are different kinds of publishers like vanity publishers. I had no idea what these were until I got my first offer and was shocked, I had to pay for part of publishing. It is totally ok to go with a vanity publisher, I almost did. I sent out tons of queries but kept getting rejections. I never let it get to me though; I was determined to publish my book even if I needed to pay. I got an offer from a vanity publisher that I loved because I had read books published by them before. The only problem was the amount of money they wanted to me put into the book. It was just too much for me. I did my research, looking for an illustrator because then it could be cheaper to go with the vanity publisher and found my amazing selfpublishing company. I compared the two and sat on them both for months because I had to save the money either way. It really came down to the fact I just thought the amount the vanity publisher wanted was too much. I decided to self-publish and honestly it was the best experience. I ordered illustrations from them for a short story and have my second book in production with them now. I sent queries for book two and got rejections, so I figured ill go with selfpublishing again. I plan to continue to query with each book I publish because you never know. I am determined and thankful for the self-publisher I use. I have met many other amazing self-published authors in the writing community. I think for publishing it really is about luck and what your comfortable with. I saw a tweet one day an editor wrote saying they received 2000 queries and had only 16 spots if that gives you an idea of the competition. My biggest advice is never give up and do your research. Self-publishing has been so amazing and honestly fun. 
Meet the Author:
Lisa Jacovsky currently is a doctoral level student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is excited the possibilities having her Doctorate degree will bring her. She has been in the field of ABA since 2014. She began working with children with Autism in 2018 and is currently working in Early Intervention. It is her experience with children that inspired her to finally fulfill her dream of writing a book. Lisa began writing short stories when she was seven years old. Writing is her passion and one of many things she enjoys. She is excited for the future of her series Lets Talk!. connect with the authors: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads 
Giveaway Details:
One of Six signed copies of LET'S TALK (6 winners) (USA only) (ends Apr 23) Enter by filling in the Rafflecopter Below. 
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Book Details:
Cleo Can Tie a Bow: A Rabbit and Fox Story by Sybrina Durant Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book Publisher: Sybrina Publishing Release date: Sept 27th, 2020 Tour dates: Apr 6 to Apr 19, 2021 Content Rating: G for everyone. Book Description: Cleo can tie a bow. She learned from a rabbit and a fox. They can help you learn to tie one, too. Great parent-child activity for learning to tie a bow with any ribbon or string - including shoe laces. Buy the Book: ~ Amazon ~ add to Goodreads 
Meet the Author:
I've been writing creative and technical works for years. Many of my songs are on Youtube and Itunes. Two of my books are available as ebooks online. They are "Learn To Tie A Tie WIth The Rabbit And The Fox" and "Sybrina's Phrase Thesaurus". Author's links: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodreads 
Win soft-back copy of CLEO CAN TIE A BOW, t-shirt, & $25 Amazon Gift Card
(1 winner)(USA only) (ends Apr 26) 
Whenever a Child is Born by Nancy Diedrich Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway! {Ends 4/16/21}3/23/2021 
Book Details:
Whenever a Child Is Born by Nancy Diedrich Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 30 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book ~ Content Rating: G for everyone. Publisher: WestBow Press ~ Release date: July 2017 Tour dates: Mar 15 to Apr 9, 2021 Book Description: In his 2014 homily for the Feast of Holy Guardian Angels, October 2, Pope Francis told those gathered for daily mass to be like children who pay attention to their "traveling companion. No one journeys alone, and no one should think that they are alone. "According to Church tradition," the pope said, "we all have an angel with us, who guards us . . . It is what God said: 'I send an angel before you, to guard you, to accompany you on the way, so you will not be alone.'" In this children's book, angels wait anxiously and with great excitement to see which one of them will be chosen to be the guardian angel of a child that is to be born. This delightful book depicts the joy of all God's creations anticipating the birth of another precious child. The sun shines brighter, the moon has a shinier glow, flowers grow taller, birds tweet more sweetly, and angels dance and sing with bliss, as all creation awaits another baby girl or boy. Whenever a Child Is Born offers the perfect message for parents as it charmingly tells the story of how all of heaven and earth react to the news that a child is about to be born. The story comforts parents with the knowledge that their baby is a special gift from heaven to them, and that they will never be alone raising their child, and that their child will never ever be alone in life. Parents never worry. No one journeys alone through life because whenever a child is born, he is given a guardian angel. Buy the Book: West Bow Press ~ B&N ~ Amazon ~ BAM ~ Nancy Diedrich ~ add to Goodreads
REVIEW By LAWonder10:
Whenever a Child is Born is a beautifully illustrated book, with each page bursting with color. The Illustrator, Chis Diket did a lovely job with watercolor images. The author, Nancy Diedrich, created a literary work of art with her rhyming, tale of angels overlooking each child. This would make a lovely gift for a newborn, as well as a Summer Reading story. It is a perfect book for reading anytime! I offer a Five Stars rating. *This book was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
Walk the Walk When it comes to writing, for many years, I talked the talk, before I found the courage to actually walk the walk. In my first career, I taught high school English for ten years. I want to go on record, right now, admitting that I may not have instilled a love of literature and creative writing into anyone, but I surely had fun trying. Through the years, I nurtured my students’ confidence in their writing abilities, and watched them transform into talented young writers. I did an effective job teaching them to do, what I was uneasy doing myself. I did not give any consideration to publishing anything, not even, a magazine article. My excuse: I was just too busy. Being a wife, mother of three, homemaker and teacher absorbed all of the hours in my day. What a sad excuse! Later, in my second career, in which I am still active, I have been a Marriage and Family Therapist for almost twenty-eight years. In this work, I write case notes… lots of case notes! This type of writing is definitely not creative, and is never imaginative. It is, however, very detailed and precise. In many ways, it’s a much more difficult form of writing; however, it is only meant to inform; there is nothing entertaining about it. I believe, having to routinely read and write such factual and mundane notes, caused me to miss the kind of writing that entertained and inspired me. So, what did I do? I hit the bookstores, and began to read voraciously, to satisfy my longing for creative writing. Again, I did not have the confidence to write anything myself. My excuse: I was still really too busy. Being a wife, mother of three, grandmother of seven and therapist, truly left me with no time to write…. another sad excuse. I clung to those excuses until one day, I got a call from a local magazine, wanting me to submit an article as a guest author. Guest Author? Me? I was terrified. I began reciting all of my sad excuses over and over, hoping to rationalize why writing this magazine article was absolutely impossible for the likes of me. Guest author…the words kept ruminating through my head. Why did I feel so paralyzed with fear? I had no answer to my question; I had no excuse for myself, this time. So, I decided to give it a shot. I wrote that article, and many more, for that magazine and others. That one decision changed my entire confidence level. Since then, I have written children’s books for my grandchildren, and I have written three more for publication. I’m so happy that I stopped making excuses, stopped talking the talk, and started walking the walk 
Meet the Author:
Nancy Diedrich was born and raised in South Louisiana, where storytelling was not just an art form, but an authentic way of communicating. Everyone had a tale to tell! This was, more than likely, where her love of communication developed. With undergraduate degrees in English and speech, and graduate degrees in psychological counseling, Nancy learned that words can educate; they can entertain; they can inspire and they can heal. In Nancy’s career, she has been a teacher, a counselor and an author, where the power of words always guided her in interaction with her students, clients and readers. Nancy’s value for genuine communication extends beyond her career, to the anchors of her life, which are her faith, her family and her friendships. Whenever A Child Is Born is Nancy’s first published children’s book. In it, the reader gets a glimpse of this author’s compassion for family, and her gift of faith, as the story tells how all of heaven and earth react to the news that a child is about to be born. connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads 
Giveaway Details:
Autographed copy of WHENEVER A CHILD IS BORN (USA only) (1 winner) (ends Apr 16) Enter by completing the Rafflecopter form below. 
  Book Details: The Search for the Scepter by Julie Dinges Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages, hardcover Genre: Children's Picture Book ~ Tour dates: Mar 22 to Apr 2, 2021 Publisher: Mascot ~ Release date: December, 2020 Content Rating: This children's book is rated G. Mom's Choice Award Winner (Gold) Reader’s Favorite Five-Star Recipient Book Description: When Princesses Rosalie and Scarlet went to bed on a warm summer night, they didn’t expect to awake to such a fright. Their father the king’s scepter was taken by a thief. The royal family was in utter disbelief! The princesses sneak out of bed and find a clue. Their mission is clear, they know what to do. Along their journey, they meet friends who help them track the thief down. Will they find him and return the scepter to their father who wears the crown? Buy the Book: Mascot ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ add to Goodreads  Meet the Author: Julie Dinges lives in Hilliard, Ohio with her husband, two daughters, one dog, and several fish. She loves being outside, cooking, traveling, watching science fiction movies, and reading fantasy books to her girls. Julie spent many years as a technical writer before shifting focus to website design. One of Julie’s greatest ambitions was to write a book. She is excited to share her first published creation, and hopes it sparks imagination and inspiration for all who read of the princess’s quest. connect with the authors: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads  
Join us for this tour from Mar 15 to Apr 9, 2021!
Book Details: Zippy's Special Gift by Therese Van Ryne Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book ~ Tour dates: Mar 15 to Apr 9, 2021 Publisher: Mascot Books ~ Release date: Mar, 2021 Content Rating: G for everyone. Book Description: Zippy the Zebra doesn't like her stripes. She doesn't want to stand out! Follow Zippy as she embarks upon a thrilling adventure with her animal friends that helps her realize everyone is perfect just the way they are. Profits from the sales of Zippy's Special Gift will be donated to one of Zebra Technologies strategic charitable partners, Bernies Book Bank, a non-profit organization that changes the story for under-served children and helps them read their way to a better life! Learn more at www.berniesbookbank.org. Buy the Book:Mascot Books ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ add to goodreads 
REVIEW by LAWonder10:
Zippy's Special Gift is a well-written, truly rhyming work of art. It places emphasis on recognizing gifts in oneself and being aware gifts are often what we woud choose to have. These gifts are a part f what makes us "special". The illustrations by Walter Pollicelli are clear, colorful and very cute. This is a quality, well made book. I offer a Five Stars rating This book was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest reveiw.
The “Imperfect” Quote Which Has Inspired Me As An Author My favorite inspirational quote was shared with me by one of my mentors: “Aim for progressive performance versus postponed perfection!” Many of us wait to pursue our dreams until everything is just right. Especially for those of us who are perfectionists, we pause until the perfect situation is set to kick off a new project. It is important to keep moving forward to achieve your goals because tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone. Writing a children’s book has been on my bucket list for many years. I had my doubts that I would be able to publish my first book in the midst of a pandemic, but I had already postponed it for years while I raised my children, pursued my career, and lived one day at a time. When I finally put my fingers to my keyboard last year to bring "Zippy’s Special Gift” to life, it felt amazing! In the process, I have also met incredible people who work in the book publishing industry. Writers, illustrators, publishers, promoters, reviewers, and bloggers – it is truly a world of talented, dedicated people who are committed to celebrating books! They truly understand the value that reading brings to the world as a tool to educate, entertain and even escape. I have an incredible amount of respect for those who work in this field and am excited to now be a part of it! Furthermore, I’m now ready to keep progressing to check more boxes on my list rather than waiting for the perfect time to pursue them. I encourage all of you to start checking boxes on your bucket list too and if you don’t have a bucket list, start creating one! Blogger’s note: For over 50 years, Zebra Technologies has helped people around the world with solutions to keep them connected and make better business decisions. Our mascot, Zippy represents our diverse culture and the fun we like to have at work. In “Zippy’s Special Gift,” Zippy introduces us to her connections – her best animal friends who help her make an important decision about herself. Check us out at www.zebra.com 
Meet the Author:
Zippy’s Special Gift is Van Ryne’s debut children’s book. She currently serves as the Global Director of PR, Thought Leadership and Advocacy for Zebra Technologies. One of PR News’ 2019 Top Women in PR, Van Ryne also has experience as a journalist, editor and producer, reporting nightly from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. connect with the author: instagram ~ facebook ~ goodreads 
Giveaway Details:
Autographed copy of ZIPPY'S SPECIAL GIFT (USA only) (1 winner) (ends Apr 16) To Enter, Fill-in the Rafflecopter form Below 
When the Sun Met the Moon by Simran Mohinani Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway! {Ends 4/9/21}3/15/2021 
Book Details:
When the Sun Met the Moon by Simran Mohinani Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book Publisher: Mascot Books ~ Release date: March, 2021 Tour dates: Mar 15 to Apr 2, 2021 Content Rating: G for everyone. Book Description: In this enchanting tale of the origins of the Sun and the Moon, the Sun flies across the universe on an adventure to look for someone whose light matches his own. When the Sun Met the Moon is a story filled with so much love, excitement, and equality that you won't want to put down, and can be told for years to come. After centuries of brightening up the sky by himself, the poor Sun is exhausted, lonely, and in need of some help. So, he decides to search the galaxies for someone whose light is as strong and powerful as his to help him shine down on the people of Earth. When the Sun decides to take a holiday to go on this adventure, Earth is left with its first-ever nighttime where the sky goes dark and cold, leaving people afraid to come out of their homes. Will the Sun be able to find somebody whose light is equal to his? Find out in this gorgeous love story how the Sun met his perfect Moon. Buy the Book:Mascot Books ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ BAM 
REVIEW by LAWonder10:
This is a quality made, colorful book, ideal for very young children. Illustrator: Leo Hartas, has created simple images on beautifully illustrated pages. The story is written in short poetic verse. However, it lacks skill in rhyming. It is a whimsical, incredulous tale, I offer a Three and a Half Stars rating *This book was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
How to Get Your Children's Book Published the Right Way My latest book, 'When the Sun Met the Moon', was actually never even intended to be a book at all! I started writing it one day as a poem for my second book 'The Storyteller' after having the thought: 'What would the Sun even be without the Moon?', for starters: lonely, exhausted, and incomplete. I wanted to tell the love story between two characters the whole world knows and can relate to. After writing this poem and editing basic errors, about 20 minutes had passed. I immediately sent it over to my editor to see if it was good enough to be included in the manuscript. "Good enough?" He questioned, "this is some phenomenal stuff, you could turn this into a book for kids if you wanted to". The process of book publication is a very personal, yet grueling one, for anyone who encounters it. There are always inevitably going to be bumps in the road when trying to find someone to publish your book. My previous trilogy of books came relatively easy to me, I found a publisher whose vision aligned with mine and most importantly gave me autonomy with my creative process. Children's books are a whole different ball game. I emailed manuscripts to several literary agents and heard no after no. I submitted my manuscript to a ton of places, tried networking within the field, spent countless hours trying to figure out my next move, all to no avail. Fast forward a few months and 'When the Sun Met the Moon' was performed in interpretive dance at a festival I was attending; that ensemble touched so many people I thought: wow, I should just get this published, even if it means going down the self-publishing route, which I had never encountered before. As I started to do my research on self-publishing, I got an email back from one of the biggest publishing houses in the world, reaching out to sign me on for the rights to ‘When the Sun Met the Moon’. I was elated, and we quickly started the motions of bringing the book to life, except for one problem, the book they wanted to release was not the book I wrote. What do I mean by that? They changed the words, storyline, added more and subtracted most of what I had written, had picked a fancy illustrator for me that added arms and legs to the planets I loved and quite frankly in my eyes, made a mockery out of my work. I decided promptly that I wanted no part in this, and left the best traditional publishing contract I think I will ever see in my life. I moved on and forgot about publishing for a while, I put this project on the back burner and focused on producing things that I could control to avoid more disappointment. Eventually, one day, when I was checking my email, I received a notification from a company called Mascot Books telling me that they would like to publish my book and explaining that they were a hybrid publishing company, almost like traditional publishing, just with a different revenue model and way more freedom for creative expression. After doing my thorough due diligence, I assessed this would be the best option for me, and haven't looked back once since. Working with Mascot has been so amazing, they've truly provided me with the best in the industry and every opportunity possible to try and make my book a success! The key to getting your children's book published in the best way is by analyzing your options not based on the financial returns or notary success you may receive, but by finding a team that can support your goals, genuinely believes in your ideas, and works with you to make them flourish daily. 
Meet the Author:
Simran Mohinani, otherwise known as Simi Moh, was born on September 8th, 1998. She is a graduate of Northeastern University, studying entrepreneurship with a minor in global fashion. She was born and raised in Hong Kong, and now lives between there, London, and Boston. She first worked for the United Nations with their environmental conservation team before also collaborating with Amazon, Marriott, and Snupps. She published her first trilogy of books comprised of poetry and short stories which are very successful. She now owns and runs three of her own businesses in the fields of consulting, denim supply, and commercial goods. She also has her own charity: The SiMission. After college, she also worked full-time at her family business, which deals with properties in Europe. On the side, she still loves to write, which came to fruition with When the Sun Met the Moon, for your enjoyment and pleasure. connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads 
Giveaway Details:
Autographed copy of WHEN THE SUN MET THE MOON (USA only) (1 winner) (ends Apr 9) 
Book Details:
Rhythm Rescue by Vicky Weber Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 44 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book Publisher: Trunk Up Books ~ Release date: August 2020 Content Rating: G. ~ Tour dates: Mar 8 to Mar 19, 2021 Book Description: Welcome to Music Metropolis, where there's always a song to sing and instruments playing all around. Everyone has something special to share, but Beat Street is where the real magic happens... The musicians of Beat Street have super abilities. The people who live here can do extraordinary things...with the power of music! When Tala's day begins with a phone call from a friend, she is SUPER excited...but she'll need your help to make it there in time! You won't want to miss this interactive musical adventure. Buy the Book: Trunk Up Books ~ Amazon.com ~ B&N 
Meet the Author:
Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. While she has taught a variety of grade levels, primary level education is where her passion lies. It has long been a dream of hers to teach children through the magic of books and she hopes you love reading her works as much as she loved writing them. connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodread 
Giveaway Details:
Autographed copy of RHYTHM RESCUE (USA only) (1 winner) (ends Mar 26) 
Book Details:
WAR AT THE ICE CREAM STORE by Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 32 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book Publisher: Cheryl DaVeiga and Dave Gibson Release date: January, 2021 Tour dates: Mar 8 to Mar 26, 2021 Content Rating: G. This children's book is for everyone. Book Description: The first of the Frank TL Frogg and Friends series, War at the Ice Cream Store tells the story of one night at the Frozen Frogg, when Mustachio Pistachio and his “flavorite” flavor friends teach Bulli Vanilli a lesson in kindness and acceptance. Buy the Book: Amazon 
REVIEW By LAWonder10:
Train your toddler/pre-schooler about the unpopular "bully" with this comical children's story, War at the Ice Cream Store. This is a new approach to each children from a very young age tha bullying is a bad thing and working together in kindness is a good thing. The book is very colorfully illustrate by Dave Gibson, Sarah Krogman and Jay Petsko. The cartoon characters are amusingly animated on each page, with a variety of bright colors. it is sure to capture each very young child's attention. It is a little silly, but along with the book is a se of stickers the child can stick on himself/herself to portray one of the characters. There is also a website address children can go to with music and puppets portraying the adventures. This is a terrific book for Summer Reading Programs. I offer a Four Stars rating. *This book was gifted me with no pressure to write a positive review. This is my honest review.
Ice Cream Memories by Dave Gibson.
I’ve always been a kid in love with ice cream. We didn’t have much growing up in hot, dry Odessa Texas, but we did have a whole lot of love and sand, and mesquite bushes, ants, and horny toads. One of my favorite memories is of Sunday afternoons in the summer when we’d get out the homemade ice cream machine and pack the ice and salt around the steel cylinder while Mom poured in the sweetest confectionery concoction known to kids. It tasted so good my sister and brother and I wanted to drink it before it froze; it was hard to wait. But after an hour or so of muscle-cramping cranking, we couldn’t wait to dive in. We ate so much so fast we all got a brain freeze. So isn’t it funny that after years of following my music dreams, becoming a Nashville hit singer/songwriter, winning an Academy of Country Music award as the front man for the Gibson Miller Band, and co-creating a musical TV puppet show (bet you didn’t see that one coming did you?), I should end up following my West Texas heart memories and write a children’s book about...you guessed it...ice cream? The day I met my songwriting partner and co-author, Cheryl DaVeiga, I realized we were both kids at heart. She played me a song she had written for children called “Ice Cream Storm” and I played her one of mine called “The Frog Song.” We immediately knew we were on the same page (pun intended) and had the same sense of humor. Years and songs and a puppet show later, we ended up creating a children’s entertainment platform and writing a children’s book featuring the frog in my song and the ice cream in hers. We’re so proud of providing a place where children learn to love reading and experience positive messages through story, song and laughter….and if they learn a little something from adorable ice cream characters, all the sweeter! Come see us FrankTLFroggandFriends.com
Meet the Authors:
Giveaway Details:
Autographed copy of WAR IN THE ICE CREAM STORE (USA only) (1 winner) (ends Apr 2) 
Book Details:
Marvellous Macey, The Delightful Days by Caitlin Bangsund Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-8), 40 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book Publisher: Caitlin E. Bangsund Release date: March 2021 Tour dates: Mar 1 to Mar 28, 2021 Content Rating: G. This children's book is for everyone. Book Description: Can you va va voom? Do you light up the room? Marvellous Macey does! She may not quite fit the mould, but she is living delightful days. Embrace Macey's world of imagination and ability to love and accept everyone. Life may not be perfect and some things might be hard, but Macey shows us how to live in the moment and find the delight! Be inspired by Macey to make everyday the BEST day. BUY THE BOOK: Author's Website ~ Amazon ~ add to Goodreads 
REVIEW by LAWonder10:
This is a very cute story which is sure to entertain most toddlers or very early elementary age children. This is a fictionalized true story about Macey, who has found joy in a difficult world. She has issues not brought out clearly in the story. I feel it would have appealed to more individuals if further detail was shared. The author cleverly added the enticement of finding a certain creature easily found on the various pages. The illustrator, Csonger Veres, did a delightful job in creating colorful, pleasing illustrations. There was a certain charm in the facial expressions. I offer a Four Stars rating for this book. *This book was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.
What is the scariest thing that ever happened to you? In hospital shows there is always a small, windowless room where doctors take people to deliver difficult news. My husband and I were ushered into one of those rooms in real life in November 2016. This was the beginning of facing the scariest thing that ever happened. Macey, the star of the book, had been admitted to the hospital and was struggling to breathe all night. After attempting to provide oxygen in several different ways the doctors had to intubate her (put her on a ventilator). Even with the ventilator she couldn't get the air she needed. I was told (along with my husband) that she was so severely ill that there was only one more possible option and that was to put her on life support. There was incredible risk associated with connecting her to this heart and lung bypass machine, and it would result in her being air-lifted to a different city, but it was her last chance of survival. Macey’s brothers were brought to the hospital so everyone could say goodbye. I didn’t know what Christmas 2016 would look like, but I prayed it would include a miracle. I was not allowed on the plane with Macey so I drove the 3-hour highway stretch (along with my parents, husband, and his mom) to face the scariest thing - my daughter’s battle to live. There was a day the specialists thought there was no brain activity. To wheel her bed and all the medical equipment for a CT scan was a huge undertaking. The CT scan would show that there was brain activity, but the doctors were still uncertain as to whether she would make it. There was a lot of sitting, praying, crying, and waiting - endless amounts of waiting. There is no fear like that of wondering whether your sons would lose their sister and your family would be changed forever. I do feel like I am forever changed because of that experience, but we are so blessed that the story ended with a miracle. Now Macey lives with such exuberance and delight that I had to share her story! 
Meet the Author:
Caitlin Bangsund is the author of Marvellous Macey, The Delightful Days. It is the first in a series based on true life. Caitlin knows the trial and trauma of childhood cancer, childhood disability, and the fear of almost losing her daughter — the star of the series — Macey. She encourages readers to look for the treasures that hide in the rubble and gloom. Life is beautiful chaos and her message is to press on and conquer. Read her stories and help create a world that is full of kindness and acceptance. author links: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads 
Giveaway:
Autographed copy of MARVELLOUS MACEY (USA only) (1 winner) (ends Apr 2) 
  Book Details: LEMAR AND HER MAGICAL PETS by Nesrine Sleiman Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 30 pages Genre: Fiction Pets General ~ Publisher: Self-Published Release date: September 25, 2020 Tour dates: Feb 22 to Mar 5, 2021 Content Rating: This children's book is rated G. Book Description: Perhaps, Pets are more than best friends, they are a huge responsibility. Lemar and her Magical Pets teach simple facts about pets and give children a glimpse of what it means to own a pet; that pets require lots of care and are hard work. Lemar finds a gemstone in her backyard. She will use it to ask for a pet. Little did she know that the gemstone will unfold the truth of owning a pet. With a little bit of time left to try over and over again, will magic work for her after all? This children's book is full of unexpected magical Outcomes! Children will love to read it over and over again. Buy the Book:Amazon ~add to Goodreads ~  Meet the Author: Nesrine is a full-time preschool teacher for more than ten years. Nesrine holds a degree in child development and is currently working on a master's degree in Family and Human Development. Nesrine loves to read fantasy books and believes in the magic of hard work! Currently, she is working on books two of ,both, the Magical Gemstone Series and Learning Through Reflection Series. More on the personal side, Nesrine loves white flowers, horses, birds, and is fascinated with ants’ teamwork. connect with the authors: website ~ instagram ~ goodreads  
Book Details:
The Adventures of Forkman: What's That Noise? by Tiffany Caldwell and W.R. MacKenzie Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book ~ Tour dates: Feb 1 to Mar 5, 2021 Publisher: Mascot Books ~ Release date: Jan 2021 Content Rating: G. This children's book is for everyone. Book Description: When poor manners are present, Forkman will be there to save the day! Join Kathryn and William as they learn how to load the dishwasher properly and avoid inappropriate distractions at the table with the help of all their utensil friends. This second book in the Adventures of Forkman series is a great introduction to mealtime etiquette for readers of all ages. Buy the Book:Amazon.com ~ B&N ~ Mascot Books 
BOOK REVIEW by LAWonder10:
The Adventures of Forkman: What's That Noise? is a great children's picture book about mealtime etiquette and clean-up. It is a great way to instruct a child in properly loading a dishwasher, plus, good table manners. It is a great book for young pre-school and elementary age readers. The illustrations done by Vanessa Alexandre are large, colorful and simple in a slightly abstract way. The Cover image and Title are eye-catching and somewhat "fitting". However the Title does not offer a clear idea of what is withing te pages. What I found slightly confusing is, that the book begins with Chapter 3. It can be confusing to the reader, wondering where the missing chapters are. Also, personally, I am not fond of cartoon-like depictions of characters. - However, this does not affect my rating of the book. I offer a Four Stars rating. * This book was gifted to me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
On writing: Responses from Tiffany Caldwell (Daughter)
How did you do research for your book? I used life experiences as my research. I went to etiquette classes when I was younger, and my Grandma was very big on manners. She would buy us etiquette books like the books by Emily Post. Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest? The hardest characters to write were the utensils. Trying to make utensils relatable can throw some curve balls! The easiest was Kathryn and William. Since those are my siblings, capturing their personalities was fun and easier to write! What made you write a book about etiquette? I wrote a book about etiquette because etiquette has always played a role in my life. From classes with my grandma, dinners at nice restaurants, and working at a preschool that was very focused on loving one another and that manners mattered! Where do you get inspiration for your stories? The inspirations for our stories come from dinners at the family table. There are many books out there about....What makes yours different? There are many books about etiquette that you can buy and many are wonderful resources! Our book is different because Forkman is a superhero, which all kids love, but he is an unsuspected character! What advice would you give budding writers? Don’t be afraid to revise your stories! With each revision, our story developed more and became better! Your book is set in a home. Why did you choose a house. Our book is set in a family home. We tried to make the setting relatable to any reader’s house! 
Meet the Authors:
Tiffany Caldwell: I have worked with children for over thirteen years and every year basic manners become less evident. When I was growing up, my sisters and I took etiquette classes during the summer while we visited our grandparents. Etiquette was always a big part of our upbringing. When we would have our family dinners, my dad, W.R. MacKenzie, would make our utensils come to life as we were eating. Forkman became a part of our dinner routine! I am a mother of three great kids and military wife to my hero. A few years ago, I told my dad we needed to start writing our story. We are so excited to share Forkman with the world! W.R. MacKenzie: I spent thirty-nine years in the bakery business. After I retired and my four children were grown, I felt it was time to share the importance of the family meal with the world. The Adventures of Forkman teaches children how to properly conduct themselves at the table. Our books are filled with characters all children can relate with and I believe Forkman and his crew will help children of all ages learn manners and table etiquette. connect with the authors: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads 
Giveaway Details:
Autographed copy of THE ADVENTURES OF FORKMAN (USA only) (1 winner) (ends Mar 12) Enter by completing the Rafflecopter Below 
Book Details:
Mickey on the Move by Michelle Wagner Category: Children's Non-Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages Genre: Children's Picture Book Publisher: Mascot Books ~ Release date: Jan, 2021 Content Rating: G for everyone. ~ Tour dates: Feb 1 to Mar 5, 2021 Book Description: In this bighearted book, the real story of a young boy with deafness in his ears is aided by his mother and teachers in navigating new school experiences. Mickey is just like everyone else, except he wears cochlear implants and has to do things just a little differently than most. This charming tale reminds us that we can all find happiness if we lean on and support each other. Buy the Book: Amazon ~ B&N ~Mascot Books 
REVIEW by LAWonder10: Mickey on the Move is a true story about a little boy with hearing impairment. It is also a story about a little boy who has had to frequently move to new schools. His attitude is very positive and uplifting. This is very educational, containing a lot of hearing impaired information. Although written for early elementary age reading, many will find tis book interesting. Illustrator, Jenny Phelps, has done a beautiful job in doig the illustrations. They are colorful, crisp and cleatr images.The book's pages are very colorful and the print copy has quality pages and binding. I offer a Five Stars rating. *This book was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review. 
Meet the Author:
Born and raised in Chicago, Michelle Wagner was always a very positive and outgoing woman. Her energetic love for children and zest for life was admired by everyone who knew her. Michelle is a realtor whose career background involved restaurants and always helping other people. She has dedicated time and support to charities and events to help other children with hearing loss and assist families as they work through the different approaches to raising a special needs child in a typical environment. connect with author: website ~ instagram 
Giveaway Details:
Autographed copy of MICKEY ON THE MOVE (USA only) (1 winner)(ends Mar 12) Enter by filling-in the Rafflecopter Below. 
Cleo Can Tie A Bow: A Rabbit and Fox Story by Sybrina Durant
Publisher: Sybrina Publishing (Sept. 7, 2020) Category: Children’s Fiction, Parent/Child Activity Books, Picture Books ~ ISBN: 979-8685994844 Tour dates: Feb, 2021 Available in Print and ebook, 39 pages Description: Cleo loves bows. She wears her hair in a bow and decorates her room with bows. Cleo is bow crazy. Learning to tie a bow is very difficult for some people but Cleo remembers how to do it from a cute story she once heard. It is about a little rabbit with very long ears and a very helpful fox who shows her what to do to keep them clean. This is the story of how Cleo learns to tie a “bunny ear” bow. Buy Links: Amazon ~ BarnesandNoble ~ IndieBound
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Becoming a Published Author 1. The biggest surprise about becoming a published author was how hard it was to get the attention of a traditional publisher. Of course, I was like most authors when I first started. I had a “great” book idea. Who wouldn’t want to sign me and my book up to a million-dollar deal? But I had done absolutely no research on what the sales prospects might be for the type of book that I was trying to get out to the world. I had no clue, at all, about the publishing business. If I had done a little research, I would have soon learned that literally thousands of new books are published and offered to the public for sale each and every single day – year end and year out. The competition for a particular book to reach the eyes of a traditional publisher is mind boggling and nearly unreachable for most authors. . .even if you have the most amazing idea ever. 2. My second biggest surprise was the discovery of how easy it is to self-publish. Literally anyone can do it. Many avenues are available for self-publishing and distribution of books but KDP seems to be the most lucrative because of their close ties to Amazon. That organization absolutely rules the book world today. It is truly shocking how fast they overtook every other book seller out there. My first book was self-published through Create Space. I was so thrilled to have found them. That was before Amazon – KDP absorbed it into its vast organization. The best feature of Create Space was that you could set up a wholesale book page through them. Amazon does not offer that ability. I wish they would because an author on Create Space could hand out coupon codes to anyone who wanted to purchase the book in bulk (like independent book stores, non-profit organizations and such). Those books were delivered straight to the customer from Amazon. That was very useful and convenient. 3. In the beginning, having your book listed on Amazon almost insured that your book would be seen in keyword searches. It might be on page 100 but at least it would be there. Those days have swiftly departed. Not long ago, search lists were mysteriously reduced to a max of about 10 pages. Even if there should be many more pages because you know without a doubt that your book contains the word or phrase of the key word search, you might not get to see it. In fact, we’ve come to a point where your book title might not even be found when you key the actual book title into the search box. That can be very vexing. At least you can still find it in a search by listing the title of the book and the name of the author. . .for now. So, what, exactly, can this strange phenomenon be attributed to? 4. I’ve come to the painful realization and I’m sure many others have as well, that it’s absolutely true that whoever spends the most money on advertising gets the most results in getting their books in front of potential readers. Here’s the really sad part. . .even if you are spending money on advertising, your book might not show up on the search list because too many others in that 10-page search result list are spending more than you are. It is sad because most authors really do not have a lot of money to spend on advertising. What is an author / entrepreneur to do in their endless effort to get eyeballs on their book? 5. When I decided I wanted to be a writer. . .and then later to self-publish, I never realized I was going to become an entrepreneur. I never gave one second of thought to marketing and promotion. When I realized I might have to start doing some of that stuff, I had no idea what avenues to take or what was available down each of them. Now, I know there are more ways than you can count to promote a book. I also now know without a shadow of a doubt that if you don’t promote your own book, no one will ever know it exists. Once it is published on Amazon (or what ever self-publishing service you ultimately choose. . .and there are many) each book has a permanent web address. That address is your link to possible sales and you must promote that link everywhere you possibly can. 6. Social media has opened up a world of possibilities for marketing and promotion. I mainly use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn for those purposes but there are so many more that it makes your head spin. Since I also work a full-time job in addition this full-time job; I have tried to narrow down my interactions to those five. Since their beginnings, each of those sites have offered free use of their apps to all users, so millions of people gather on them every hour of every single day. They might not remain free for long but for now I use a service called Postfity (not free) to automatically schedule daily posts on all of those social media sites, except Pinterest. They don’t offer auto scheduling on it yet. Most of my weekends are spent creating hundreds of posts that can be scheduled to the other sites, months in advance. 7. I am an Amazon affiliate. What this means is that I can list any Amazon product that I happen to like on my blog and other social media sites to try to sell. If an item sells through my efforts, then as an affiliate, I get a few cents from that sale. I mean literally pennies but hey. . .someday it could add up to some big bucks. This could potentially be a big deal if enough people get the word that they can find hundreds of a particularly themed item at your online store. The reason this is important is the same as in Number 3 above. When searching for anything these days, you might find your search results confined to the 10-page list or even worse, you might get many things in the list that absolutely do not resemble what you thought you were searching for. One of the things I have done is assemble several online stores on my blog that feature books and gifts based on themes from my books. For my Cleo Can Tie A Bow book, I recommend hundreds of unique bow-themed gifts on my Girls Love Bows Gift Shop. The Rabbit and The Fox Book Store features hundreds of “how to tie” books, “rabbit and fox” books and gifts, and books and games meant to improve manual dexterity or eye-hand coordination. Sybrina’s Unicorn Book Store contains at least 1000 unicorn books written by many different authors. (Yes, I have been busy!) There are hundreds of unicorn-themed gifts there, too. The books and gift selections of that store are categorized by Little Kid, Middle Kid and Teen. If you are a unicorn aficionado, come take a look. If you are an author, you might be wondering why you would want to spend any time and energy promoting anyone’s book other than your own. Well. . .with the way search engines are set up these days, there just might be some value in being the Go-To place to find other books (and gifts) in your book’s genre. Link - 8. Shortly after I became an Amazon Affiliate, I learned of their Merch program. They started out as a tee shirt Print-On-Demand service but have recently expanded to many other items. You can select from several different countries to distribute your products. If you have any cool artwork from your illustrated book, you can upload the designs to Merch. If you have cool ideas for illustrations inspired by your non-illustrated book you can upload the designs to Merch. If you are not an illustrator, you can find one on Fiverr or any service provider site like them and work with them on your design. When you select an illustrator, just make sure to select to pay for the “Commercial Use” option. This will allow you to use the design you purchased from that illustrator on Merch (or any other print on demand site) with no repercussions. Each design you upload will receive its own product page on Amazon, just like books have. Because of my Blue Unicorn – Journey to Osm series of book, I was inspired to create something I call Unicorn Reader and Unicorn Writer graphic designs. They are all available on Amazon. Now, Merch is offering their Print On Demand service on many different clothing items, pillows, pop socket phone holders and more. These products get promoted everywhere that the books do. They’re not just on tee shirts anymore. 9. One of my main philosophies is Authors Helping Authors. It’s my view that none of us selfpublished authors are any real competition for each other. Helping each other is not going to hurt our particular book’s sales. In fact, the more we help each other and spread the word for each other, the better off we all can potentially be in the long run. That is why I am a book tour host. . .just like Lu Ann is. I share space on Sybrina’s Book Blog for books that I feel my readers might be interested in. I know that it takes a little work to set up a post (and then promote it) so I want to let Lu Ann know how grateful I am that she is offering some of her valuable blog space to spread the word about my latest book, Cleo Can Tie A Bow: A Rabbit and The Fox Story. It means a lot to me. 10. I’m telling all of you, who happen to read this, all of these things that I learned over the years because these are all things that anyone can do. If you want to, you can use similar methods to promote your books and book-themed gifts, too. You may start out with nearly no followers but if you consistently work on your social media, your influence will continue to grow. Trust me, auto-scheduling is the way to be most efficient at that. One day you may wake up with thousands of followers and daily page views and some sales, too. You just have to keep at it. PS... . once you reach 2000 followers on Facebook or Instagram, you can apply to become an Amazon Influencer. That title has a nice little ring to it. Just remember, however far you end up going, is totally dependent on how much time and energy you are willing to put into it. It is truly all up to you. 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
About Sybrina DurantAward winning author, Sybrina Durant is the author of ‘The Rabbit and The Fox Learn To Tie’ Series of Books which include ‘Learn To Tie A Neck Tie With The Rabbit and the Fox’ in English, Spanish and Tagalog; ‘Ned Can Knot A Neck Tie’; ‘Nellie Can Knot A Neck Scarf’ and the newest addition, ‘Cleo Can Tie A Bow.’ She also the author of ‘The Blue Unicorn’ Series of books and has an online book store which features, unicorns, rabbits, foxes, and how to tie books plus gift items related to those things plus lots of bow-themed gifts. ‘Learn To Tie With The Rabbit and The Fox’ won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and the Indie Bragg Award. Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ YouTube 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
One print copy and one bow shaped necklace for 3 winners. (It is open to the U.S. only and ends on February 27, 2021 at midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only) 
Book Details:
Mommy's Oven by Brandi Pearce Category: Children's Non-Fiction (Ages 3-7), 38 pages Genre: Children's Non-Fiction Picture Book Publisher: Mascot Books ~ Release date: Feb 2021 Tour dates: Feb 2 to Feb 15, 2021 Content Rating: G for everyone. Suitable for all ages, Book Description: In this true story, young August learns about how he will get a new little brother. He learns of how his little brother will grow in someone else's tummy, not his mommy's. Will he look like Augie? Will he grow for too long? Will Augie get to take his little brother home once he is born? Join August on this new, exciting adventure of getting a new little brother in a very unique way. If you are looking for a way to help your children understand that families can be created in many different ways, this is a story to keep on your bookshelf! Buy the Book: Mascot Books ~ Amazon ~ B&N 
REVIEW by LAWonder10:
This is a wonderful book to use to explain surrogate birthing to a young child! What is even "neater" is that it is a true story! In Mommy's Oven, a very awkward situation is approached in a simple manner. The Illustrations by Nazar Horokhivski, is very attractively eye-catching and bright. They are large and simple so a young child will more easily embrace them. The artist has captured true emotions in the various individuals faces. The writing is concise and "to the point". It minimizes any impact this information might have on a child. I offer a Five Stars rating for this book. *This was gifted me with no presssure for a positive review
After being in the hospital for 6 years fighting Crohn’s disease, and sometimes only surviving through the strength of others, I knew this process would be no different. We would need the support of those around us to handle the ups and downs of the surrogate process. What I didn't know, was how much our journey would help others.
As our story began to unfold to our friends and family on social media, I began to have women reach out and share their own stories. Their heartaches, their triumphs, their questions, their gratitude for me being willing to open-up and encourage acceptance and understanding. I wasn't just having an impact on each of them, they were having an impact on me. There is so much unspoken about the world of infertility because it is hard to be vulnerable, it is hard to face pain publicly. Knowing that there are others who have been through it, or who are going through it right along with you, doesn’t necessarily make it easier, but it does give you a sense of comfort and understanding. I have been blown away by the response Mommy's Oven has received. I haven't just heard from surrogate families, I have heard from families with adoption, with infertility, with miscarriages. Each one expressing what a blessing Mommy's Oven has been in helping them communicate and explain these situations to their children. To be able to help your child grasp that their family is not the only one out there made in a different way, gives them a sense of inclusion. Thank you for your time! Brandi 
Meet the Author:
Having battled Crohn’s Disease for most of her life and after undergoing 82 abdominal surgeries, Brandi Pearce knew she wouldn’t be able to carry children of her own. After a successful surrogacy resulted in her son, August, years later, she wondered how to explain to August that he was getting a new brother who was growing in someone else’s belly. That’s when Mommy’s Oven, Pearce’s debut children’s, book was born. Pearce wants other parents to be able to teach their own children that every family creation is unique and special. She hopes to inspire hope in overcoming adversity, as well as true miracles with this book. connect with author: website ~ amazon 
Giveaway Details:
Autographed copy of MOMMY'S OVEN (USA only) (1 winner) (ends Feb 22) 
Cleo Can Tie A Bow: A Rabbit and Fox Story by Sybrina Durant
Publisher: Sybrina Publishing (Sept. 7, 2020) Category: Children’s Fiction, Parent/Child Activity Books, Picture Books ~ ISBN: 979-8685994844 Tour dates: Feb, 2021 Available in Print and ebook, 39 pages Description : Cleo Can Tie A Bow by Sybrina DurantCleo loves bows. She wears her hair in a bow and decorates her room with bows. Cleo is bow crazy. Learning to tie a bow is very difficult for some people but Cleo remembers how to do it from a cute story she once heard. It is about a little rabbit with very long ears and a very helpful fox who shows her what to do to keep them clean. This is the story of how Cleo learns to tie a “bunny ear” bow. Buy Link: Amazon ~ BarnesandNoble ~ IndieBound 
REVIEW By LAWonder10: Very Young Girls will delight in this very colorful, picturesque fun book! It not only contains a fun "counting" opportunity, but it also instructs on how to tie a bow, plus has an additional tale about a bunny and a fox This oversize book is beautifully illustrated by Pumudi Gardiyawasam. The illustrations are simple, well defined, and dazzling. At the end of the story, it has the audio links one can purchase to go along with the story, ending with a cute song. The author's Blog Site has other equally instructional, winsome books, plus fun things to accompany them. This a Pre-School/Early Elementary age reader I can highly recommend. I was gifted this book with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review. I offer a Five Sars rating for the literary + value of this book 
PRAISE FOR The BOOK!
“... exceptionally fine illustrations by Pumudi Gardiyawasam that enhance.. Using the principles of that story, page by page the instructions for tying a bow are shared as a teaching lesson for children.. This is a clever idea for interactive learning and hopefully the author and illustrator will take on other tasks the entire family can enjoy.” -Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame, Top 50 Reviewer “This is a cute story that any child would love. It’s an engaging story that will be read over and over again in our home, and passed on through generations. The illustrations are, it’s my daughter’s current favorite bed time story. I’d recommend as a gift to any child or as a part of an educator’s book shelf.” -Marie, Amazon “This is a great resource to introduce young children to the bow-tying activity, one of Montessori’s practical life lessons to develop finger control and dexterity. The use of a story and a song to teach children to tie a bow is quite clever. The illustrations are colorful and draws you into the story. This book will be useful for kids who are ready and eager to learn to tie bows.” -Belle Brown, Goodreads 
About Award Winning Author:
Sybrina Durant is the author of ‘The Rabbit and The Fox Learn To Tie’ Series of Books which include ‘Learn To Tie A Neck Tie With The Rabbit and the Fox’ in English, Spanish and Tagalog; ‘Ned Can Knot A Neck Tie’; ‘Nellie Can Knot A Neck Scarf’ and the newest addition, ‘Cleo Can Tie A Bow.’ She also the author of ‘The Blue Unicorn’ Series of books and has an online book store which features, unicorns, rabbits, foxes, and how to tie books plus gift items related to those things plus lots of bow-themed gifts. ‘ Learn To Tie With The Rabbit and The Fox’ won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and the Indie Bragg Award. Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ YouTube 
Giveaway Cleo Can Tie A Bow Details:
This is for one print copy and one bow shaped necklace for 3 winners. It is open to the U.S. only and ends on February 27, 2021 at midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only. Enter by Filling in Rafflecopter Below. 
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