REVIEW of TOBY GOLD and the SECRET FORTUNE

First.... I just gotta say: "WOW!" 

Toby Gold and the Secret Fortune has it all: 

Drama, Intrigue, Empowerment of the small kid against the school bully, Friends, Enemies, Fun, Money, Mystery and Mayhem.

What a great package for kids of all ages, especially Craig Everett's target audience: middle-graders, junior high and high schoolers. Adults will enjoy this book as well, I certainly did. :)

I also learned an awful lot about finances that needs to be taught to our kids: the future Wall Street investors, and leaders of our country, as well as their parents. The principles Craig teaches in his book should be learned and applied by all, and I suspect they will be because he teaches them in an easily understood manner. 

In some ways it is downright scary that money is so much of a mystery to so many people. Economic freedom is important to financial security for each family, business, community, country and nation. Knowledge IS power and good financial knowledge can leverage all people to be able to make wise choices and attain financial security for the people they love. 

Toby Gold and the Secret Fortune is a great read. Get your copy TODAY: here
You'll be glad you did AND your kid might even thank you for it. :) 
Make sure you read it as well... it is so worth your time.

Laugh lots...Love much... Write on! 

In 2009, while volunteering in public school classrooms in West
Lafayette Indiana, author Craig Everett recognized that traditional
methods of teaching personal finance to kids were not having
the desired results nationally. Despite significant efforts to add
finance topics to school curricula, financial literacy test scores have
not markedly improved in many areas of the country. There had to
be a better way. Thus was born the idea of incorporating financial
literacy concepts into a fantasy novel that both middle-grade and
high school youth would enjoy reading. TOBY GOLD AND THE
SECRET FORTUNE is a fun and entertaining reading experience
as well as one more useful tool in the struggle to improve youth
financial literacy.




Craig Everett was born in Bangor,
Maine, and received his B.A. in
Quantitative Economics from Tufts

University, an MBA from George
Mason University, and a Ph.D. in
Finance from Purdue University.
The author is currently a finance
professor at Pepperdine University
in Malibu, California, where he
teaches corporate and entrepreneurial
finance in the MBA program.
Dr. Everett also serves on the curriculum
advisory board for the National
Financial Educators Council.
He dedicates his free time as a
volunteer in local schools teaching
kids about money and finance. He
lives in Newbury Park, California
with his wife and five children.
AUTHOR INFO:
www.craigeverett.com

Review of David Farland's NIGHTINGALE

 I am excited on many levels to share my review of the David Farland's multi-award winning book 'Nightingale' with you. It is a fabulous read and is deserving of each award it has received. It has everything: wonder, heart, action, coming-of- age issues, and DRAMA (it is a YA book after all.) :)

As a foster mom to over 120 kids in 12 years, I was sold from page one as David masterfully introduces his reader to conundrums realistically faced by some foster children in some foster families. I admit I cringed a little at Bron's misfortune to be placed in several less-than-ideal homes, but I felt David did a good job of balancing some of the negative stereo-types of social services by giving Bron a good-hearted caseworker, as well as Olivia, a childless woman with a huge heart who recognizes Bron for what he is, (and helps him anyway).

I loved how the story gave opportunities for David's readers, as well as his characters, to ponder their lives and how they choose to live them... in meaningful ways. You can't read David's books and NOT have a desire to be a better person or entertain old thoughts in a new way.

 I have met David in person several times. I've attended his classes at writing conferences, seen him at book signings, and attended two of his week-long intensive writing workshops.
(Scroll down two posts for my blog on the September 2012 class I just participated in.)

At the last workshop he asked each of the attendees which authors we would like to emulate and why. I didn't even have to think about it, I want to be HIM. Why? Because I had just finished reading his Whitney Award winning book: 'In The Company of Angels', an amazing account of a company of pioneers early trek west from Europe to New York to Utah in the 1800's. Even though I hated one of his characters (I did like what I discovered about WHY I hated that character), they were all meaningful people I spent several hours with. Weeks later, I still smile at things that amused them and want to cry when I think of the trials they endured and feel great joy at their successes.

At the time, I had just started reading Nightingale, and only stopped to prepare for his class.
It doesn't matter what genre David writes in, he writes them all well. He knows what emotional buttons to push in his readers to make his characters come to life.

Bron (like all of David's characters) has flaws, trials, desires, and dreams that will resonate with teens and adults alike. His journey is one that everybody takes--though thankfully not so dramatically for most of us. :) David also has a knack for bringing light to dark places.

All in all, I was very happy to take the journey with Bron, Olivia, Mike, Whitney, and Monique.

On a personal side note, an unexpected (and pleasant) highlight was reading about a literary figure named Monique who WASN'T the seductress, an adulteress, a prostitute, a mistress, a murderer, a victim, a French maid OR a French poodle. Monique was truly an awesome and multi-faceted character with incredible purpose and depth.

(No, I don't think she was named for me. I just love that she exists... and she has a noble role in a great book. I get a little tired of the cliche roles that most Moniques are relegated too. David's Monique is refreshing--and I make no apologies for enjoying her.  :) )

You can find out more about David Farland here:

Now is a wonderful time to buy the hardback for $10.40 as it normally retails for $25. Here:

I bought a copy of Nightingale in March when I attended one of David's workshops. Three people at my house read the 500 page book in less than a week. My husband finished it shortly after he bought the kindle version. That should say something about it's appeal. Last I heard David was finishing the 9th book of his Runelord series.

At any rate, I want to wish him well with that project so he can start and finish the sequel to Nightingale and encourage everyone else to get a copy if you don't have one already.

Laugh lots...Love much... Write on. :)

Year of the Angel: Why Aren't You Getting Published?

To my writer friends, check out this link:

Year of the Angel: Why Aren't You Getting Published?

WHAT A GREAT WEEK!!

WOW!!

I've just spent an awesome week at David Farland's Novel Rewriting class. They don't call him 'the Wizard of Storytelling' for nothing. :)

I learned so much from him and my wonderful classmates that my head is still spinning.
(I know--it's cliche--but it's also true.)
I can't wait until I can re-read my notes and apply all of the knowledge. :)

I flew to St. George, Utah for David's class and got to spend time with one of my very best friends and her family as well.

The only sad part was being away from MY family, but I plan to squeeze them all and smother them with kisses when I get home tomorrow. :)

I was also interviewed for my friend Tanya Mill's blog today: here

As Ginnie would say: Life is totally awesome sauce!

Laugh lots... Love much... Write on!   :)

FAITH, HOPE, & GRAVITY by Merrill Osmond and Shirley Bahlmann

FAITH, HOPE and GRAVITY is a story everyone can relate too.

Young Liam has a hard time finding courage outside the four walls of his home. Thankfully within them, his mother, Halia, is a loving force to be reckoned with as she guides her young son through the ups and downs of life. When Liam is the victim of a childhood prank gone extremely wrong, he struggles to heal and put in perspective the events of that fateful day. As he grows, he has to learn to push past fear and embrace faith as he navigates his way.

That childhood prank haunts him and the perpetrators for years, causing their paths to cross in interesting ways as they seek peace, forgiveness, and learn to accept that some things just can't be changed. And if those things could changed, maybe they shouldn't be. Some things just have to be experienced to be valued.

Having lived a pretty sheltered life provides comfort and conflict when Liam is forced to leave his home on a Hawaiian beach to help his extended family. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, but quickly gets confused when he realizes that other people don't play by the same rules that he has been taught. Liam is forced to reach deep inside himself to find courage to find his way as he trots across the globe, visiting countries and people foreign to him.

Liam finds himself collecting people the way others collect stray animals. Each new friend or foe helps him gain further knowledge about himself and his life's purpose as well as define who he wants or needs to be. He is willing to help and serve others. His innocence can be painful to witness when he is taken advantage of, but powerful when it confirms that human beings have more in common than they don't. Each just needs to be wanted and treated like they have value.

Author Bios:

Merrill Osmond is a world-class entertainer, producer, author, motivational speaker and renowned lead singer of the Osmonds. Merrill and his siblings have produced 47 platinum & gold records and Merrill has written the lyrics for five #1 hit records. Merrill is a co-founder of the Osmond Foundation, which originally produced “The Children’s Miracle Network” Telethon. He has produced presidential inaugural events for both Reagan & Bush. Merrill is excited to release his first novel, Faith, Hope & Gravity.

Shirley Bahlmann has written a wide variety of genres, including historical fiction, novels, biographies, how-to, and how-not-to books. One of her favorites is a children’s book titled “When the Chicken Crossed the Road” which comes with instructions and a chicken-colored washcloth so you can roll your own chicken! Shirley finds the most annoying thing about being a prolific writer is sleep, because she’d rather be writing.

THE LIFE OF A WRITER:

So, you want to know what it's like to be a writer? Here it is in all it's glory:

 http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2012/08/the-publishing-process-in-gif-form.html

The Publishing Process in GIF Form | Nathan Bransford, Author

blog.nathanbransford.com

Check out this blog post by Nathan Bransford, the author of JACOB WONDERBAR AND THE COSMIC SPACE KAPOW

Do you need a good read? Try Nightingale! TODAY! :)

Hi Everybody!

You all are cordially invited to David Farland's Book Bomb launch for his runaway hit: Nightingale! Read the small print--there are great prizes for all who tweet and FB. I already have a signed copy of Nightingale--so I really just want to support him and will be purchasing the Kindle version as well. 

The best thing about David, in addition to being an awesome storyteller and teacher is truthfully, he's just a great guy to know. He loves writing and is so approachable and kind. I've met him several times and took a class from him. I'm taking another soon and though I'm a little nervous about submitting my MS to someone of his great experience, I also know he will have great ideas to strengthen my story and even if he tears it up, he will do it in a way that I can learn from him and that it can only be better. And he'll tell me the truth--in a kind way. :)

David Farland was recently flown to Hollywood California (2 weeks ago) to receive The Hollywood Book Festival Grand Prize, among other prizes this summer alone.

Two weeks ago 3 people in my home read Nightingale  and  I spent 12 hours straight enjoying In The Company of Angels. (Have tissues ready, you'll need them.)

If you want to be part of Nightingale's Biggest night--please go to amazon.com right now:

You can buy the Kindle version here.

Or the hardback here.

Thanks in advance--I promise you won't be sorry.

 

Laugh lots... Love much... write on! :)