CREATED--by Cindy Hogan

I had the pleasure of reviewing the 3rd book of Cindy Hogan's YA suspense novels, CREATED. I haven't read WATCHED or PROTECTED yet, but I certainly will. However, you don't need to read the others to be completely drawn into CREATED. 

Judging from CREATED, I am certain both WATCHED and PROTECTED are every bit as action-packed and exciting. In fact, the events that lead up to CREATED are woven into the story in such a way that it answers enough questions to make CREATED satisfying, but opens up enough questions that I DO want to read the others. 

What teen wouldn't love to go to a spy school and learn the ins and outs of all kinds of hi-tech gadgets to help them successfully complete clandestine and suspense-filled missions, especially when they get to accomplish the greater good in creative ways?

Ari Agave has many tasks to complete now that she has been enrolled in an elite spy school. She struggles to come to terms with the events leading up to her attendance at Bresen Academy, including being placed in the Witness Protection Program, never being able to see her parents and siblings again, and making amends for past mistakes ... all the while coming to grips with her new reality. She has to forget the person she was so that she can become the person she needs to be.

Too bad it isn't as easy to erase the past as it is to forge a new present. CREATED has it all: friends, enemies, mystery, intrigue, breath-taking suspense, moral dilemmas (without being preachy).

Most of all, CREATED gives today’s youth permission to be who THEY want to be, by helping the reader engage in Ari’s very real struggle to start over and still be true to who she knows she wants to be.

It isn’t easy as she goes quickly from one intense situation to another, battling self-doubt, trying to make her way through the difficulty of adolescence with the added drama of true life-and-death danger around every other corner.

Being a principled person is hard enough without bullets flying past you and having to decide if you can rely on the person next to you in a cut-throat world of espionage, never knowing who your true friends are, and always having to be leery of making any. “Trust no one” is a hard motto to live by for a regular teen, but for a teen who wants to be a spy, it may be the only policy that will keep them alive.

Cindy does an awesome job balancing the very real dilemmas teens face while weaving an engaging story that sucks you in, heart and soul. I am looking forward to reading her past books and will be sure to stay caught up when the next one comes out.

     

Created Blog Tour

October - 

23 Sumos sweet stuff            http://www.sumossweetstuff.com/2012/10/review-giveaway-book-created.html
25 Donna K. Weaver           http://weavingataleortwo.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-of-created-by-cindy-m-hogan.html
26 Jaclyn Hardy Weist          http://nothoughts2small.blogspot.com      
27  Andrea Pearson             http://andreapearsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/10/halloween-iap-created.html

29 Michelle Muto                 http://michellemuto.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/blog-tour-created-by-cindy-hogan/
30 Mary Ann Dennis



November

 1 Lisa Nowack                    http://lisanowak.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/new-releases/
2  Mikey Brooks                  http://writtenbymikey.blogspot.com/2012/11/author-interview-cindy-m-hogan-author.html
 
3 Angie Carlie                       http://www.angelacarlie.blogspot.com/2012/11/blog-tour-created-by-cindy-hogan.html


5 Shelli Proffitt Howells         http://shelli-proffitt-howells.blogspot.com/
   Heather McCorkle            http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.com/2012/11/giveaway-winner-and-great-read.html


7 Laura Josephsen                http://laurajosephsen.blogspot.com/2012/11/interview-with-cindy-hogan-author-of.html
   Kathleen Brebes                http://kbrebes.blogspot.com/2012/09/cover-reveal-for-created-by-cindy-hogan.html
    Jessie Harrell                     http://jessie-harrell.blogspot.com/2012/11/indie-author-spotlight-cindy-hogan.html

8 Donna McNicol                 http://donnamcnicol.blogspot.com/2012/11/guest-post-cindy-hogan-how-do-i-get.html
   Karly Kirkpatrick              http://www.karlykirkpatrick.com/
   Tristi Pinkston                    http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com/2012/11/happy-anniversary-day-8.html
    Ali Cross                          http://www.alicross.com/2012/11/cindy.html

9 Shantal Hiatt Sessions        http://shantalhiatt.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-book-plug-and-pretty-please.html
   Stacey Benefiel                   http://staceywallacebenefiel.com/2012/11/created-by-cindy-m-hogan/

10 Jennifer Jensen                  http://jenniferjensen.com/2012/11/ya-author-cindy-hogan-balancing-writing-with-real-life/
     Christine Bryant                 http://www.christinebryant.blogspot.com/2012/11/dear-me-by-cindy-m-hogan.html

11 Gaynell Parker
     Elle Strauss                     http://ellestraussbooks.blogspot.ca/2012/11/created-by-cindy-hogan.html#comment-form
   
12 Renae Mackley               http://renaeswritespot.blogspot.com/
     Deanna Henderson          http://deannahenderson.blogspot.com/

13 Tamara Heiner                http://tamarahartheiner.blogspot.com/
     Carolyn Frank                http://franklycreative.blogspot.com/

15 C.Michelle Jefferies         http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com/

16 Deborah Davis
    RaShelle Workman          http://www.rashelleworkman.com/

17 Arla Cook                         http://leavemommyalone.blogspot.com
18 Melanie McCullough         http://melaniemccullough.blogspot.com/
19 Monique Bucheger            http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com
20 Canda Mortensen              http://candamortensen.blogspot.com/

21 Rachelle Christensen         http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/


 Cheri Lasota                      http://www.cherilasota.com/blog/
Susan Quinn                     http://www.susankayequinn.com/
Laura Pauling                   http://www.laurapauling.com/
 Sheila Staley                     http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com
SRJohannes                      http://srjohannes.com/
Magan Vernon                  http://maganvernon.com/
Katie Klein                       http://www.katiekleinwrites.blogspot.com
Julie Daines                         http://juliedaines.blogspot.com/
Sara Kovach                      http://sosimplesara.blogspot.com/

Jenna Cooper                   http://findingthewriteway.blogspot.com/
Britney Wyatt                    http://living-fictitiously.blogspot.com/

 Jean Book Nerd               http://jeanbooknerd.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Doyle                  http://writingreadingandlife.blogspot.com/
 Maria Hoagland                 http://mariahoagland.blogspot.com
 Sarra Cannon                    http://sarracannon.com/category/the-sweetie-chronicles/
 Elizabeth Mueller               http://elizabethmueller.blogspot.com/
Carrie Butler                     http://soyoureawriter.blogspot.com/
Celesta Rimington              http://celestarimington.blogspot.com/ 
 Karen Hooper                    http://karenamandahooper.blogspot.com/

6 Debbie Roberts-Cluff        http://debbiecluff.blogspot.com/
   Karen Hoover                   http://karen-hoover.blogspot.com/

HAPPY DANCE!!I

I am so very happy!! After months of plotting, writing, rewriting, editing, re-editing, I sent my 3rd Ginnie West novel off to my editor!

Whew... then came the second thoughts: will she like it? Will she get it? Will she want me to rewrite the WHOLE thing or make major changes?

Thankfully, my editor is a very personable person and as an author of 16 books, she knows very well how it feels to bundle up your 'baby' (or Manuscript in this case) and ship him or her off to another. She was gentle as she gave me a heads up about some changes she was suggesting. It turns out that she knows very well what she is doing (which is why she comes highly recommended  :) ) and her suggestions weren't too hard to apply.

As a matter of fact--I LOVED and applied pretty much all of them. And now I am VERY HAPPY to report:

SIMPLY WEST OF HEAVEN: A Ginnie West Adventure is officially done!

YAY!!! (Minus the cover, which my illustrator assures me is mostly finished.)

My illustrator, Gary Rasmussen, is the author of his own book: 90 Days in the Pen as well as an artist and horse whisperer and too many other things to list here.

In other words--he is a very busy man and I am so grateful he loves my West family enough to cover my books so beautifully.

In this season of Thanksgiving I would also like to express my gratitude for my friends, family, readers, and beta-readers as well as the experiences (good and bad) and opportunities that help me grow. I am extremely grateful that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with this interesting, crazy, up-and-down journey called 'my life.'

He has filled it with amazing people and adventures (inside and outside of my head. ;) ) that make it S-O-O-O worth living.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!

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

Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell

Who woulda thunk a picky eater could have so much fun, excitement, and adventure in the pursuit of a decent meal? Adam Sidwell did and in the process came up with a clever, entertaining book book that is sure to validate picky eaters everywhere as well delight their parents and friends. 

Evertaster delivers on it's promise to concoct an exciting time in pursuit of the most awesome taste... EVER!! You won't regret joining Guster as he searches for the legendary taste and tries to outwit the sinister chefs who want to stop him.

Check it out here:

Evertaster is an incredible deal at only $1.99

"Wonderfully talented writing; funny."
--Orson Scott Card, NYT Bestselling author of Ender's Game

"Sidwell is a talented comedian, and that is certainly reflected in his writing. The characters are quirky and likable." --Deseret News

When eleven-year-old Guster Johnsonville rejects his mother's casserole for the umpteenth time, she takes him into the city of New Orleans to find him something to eat. There, in a dark, abandoned corner of the city they meet a dying pastry maker. In his last breath he entrusts them with a secret: an ancient recipe that makes the most delicious taste the world will ever know — a taste that will change the fate of humanity forever.

Forced to flee by a cult of murderous chefs, the Johnsonvilles embark on a perilous journey to ancient ruins, faraway jungles and forgotten caves. Along the way they discover the truth: Guster is an Evertaster — a kid so picky that nothing but the legendary taste itself will save him from starvation. With the sinister chefs hot on Guster’s heels and the chefs’ reign of terror spreading, Guster and his family must find the legendary taste before it’s too late.
www.Evertaster.com 

 "One of the most original, well-crafted and imaginative MG stories I've come across in a long time." - WordSpelunking Book Review

About the Author: 

In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to

make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the

Caribbean, King Kong, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a

keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is

delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed

adjectives. He’s been eating food since age 7, so feels very qualified to write this book. He once

showed a famous movie star where the bathroom was. Adam currently lives in Los Angeles,

where he can’t wait to fall into the sea.

You can learn more about Adam and his writing adventures here:


FB https://www.facebook.com/Evertaster

Twitter https://twitter.com/@Evertaster

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828904.Adam_Glendon_Sidwell

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/evertaster/

 Blog Tour Schedule for Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell, 2012

Oct 10-http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/
Oct 10- http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/
Oct 15- http://www.dorinewhite.blogspot.com/
Oct 16- http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/
Oct 17- http://www.christydorrity.com/
Oct 18- http://readerbenji.blogspot.com/ interview
Oct 19- www.ordinaryhappilyeverafter.com
Oct 22- http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com/
Oct 23- http://themomnerd.blogspot.com/ 
Oct 24- http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/
Oct 25- http://miriambarton.tumblr.com/
Oct 26- http://couponingwithboys.com/ 
Oct 27-  http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/
Oct 29- http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/
Oct 30- http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com/

Nov 5- http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/
Nov 12- http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
Nov 15- http://mymommysworld.com


 

 

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!   :)