Princess Plume by Dean Lombardo

I'm pleased to welcome Dean Lombardo, author of Princess Plume, to the blog today. I was lucky enough to work on the edits for the novel, and I fell in love with Sara and her kitty, Princess Plume. This is an uplifting read for all ages!

The Protective and Therapeutic Power of Animals on Our Children and on Us

by Dean Lombardo

I’m a firm believer that domestic animals provide a social and emotional support system for people in need, particularly children. A pet seems nonjudgmental to a child, and is perceived as comforting, raising the child's self-esteem and making it easier for the child to express his or herself.

Whether it’s a cat or dog, horse or pony, or even a pig or goat, pets literally provide that warm and fuzzy affection that a troubled child might need when he or she gets home from a bad day at school or team practice.

You’ve heard that dogs are man’s best friend, and this is true with children as well. Our canine friends follow us around, play with us, beg from us, lay with us, and protect us by barking, growling, and acting as a deterrent against home entry or attack.

Cats play with us, entertain us, cuddle with us, soothe us with their purring, and keep our homes safe from rodents and other pests.

Horses, ponies, and donkeys, in addition to serving as steeds and work animals, are beloved by the majority of owners, adult and child alike. Riding these animals not only gets us from one place to another but also gets us outside and in tune with nature, away from an addictive digital world that would otherwise hold us prisoners.

Horses can have a magical effect on people, especially kids, which is a major reason they are used in child enhancement programs such as PEGASUS. Horses don’t care who were are, what our background is, or how popular we are in school. Children with disabilities benefit from the emotional, motor, and sensory sensations that come with horseback riding, and the child can learn to care for the animal through patting, petting and brushing.

And then there’s the donkey. Donkeys make us smile, and they make us laugh. Many of us grew up on Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh, and my own kids were entertained by the hilarious character from Shrek known simply as Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy. Donkeys also are said to be able to predict the weather, and provide protection for farm animals from predators such as coyotes. Like horses, they can kick pretty darn hard and even mountain lions have been dispatched by their hooved blows.

Adults, too, can benefit from animal therapy. Dogs can provide a sense of security, serenity and healthy exercise for PTSD sufferers, including soldiers and victims of violence, abuse, and other traumatic experiences. Dog can be trained to respond to the needs of the PTSD sufferer, preventing further physical and emotional harm, bravely leading the way around the unknown corner, quelling our fears. The elderly enjoy the companionship of pets, such as dogs and cats, and the physically handicapped can be guided and otherwise assisted by their canine friends.

My own outlook toward life has changed for the better since I provided a home for a feral, barn cat, now named Padme. With definite Turkish Van genes in her bloodline, Padme displays all of the characteristics of the breed: she likes water and is loyal to one person in the household: Me. When I’m brooding late at night, she leaps on the bed and falls asleep on my chest and she soothes my troubled mind and soul.

In my novel, “Donkey Sense,” eleven-year-old Timmy Unterkanz has lost his father to illness, is in a strange new town, and suffers from extreme teasing and bullying. There’s no Fairy Godmother to come to this boy’s rescue, but there is a rather special donkey named Pedro. Pedro offers Timmy companionship and confidence, and helps him to relate better to other children, such as Kelly, who finds similar comfort in the ponies she rides.

So whether it’s under the fluff of a purring cat, against the greedy but reassuring bed-hog pressure of a dog, or atop the sheen or mangy coat of a member of the equine family, each one of us can ease our troubled minds and hearts with the companionship of a pet.

Princess Plume

Dean Lombardo

Middle Grade Contemporary

Clean Reads

June 22, 2016

Amazon | Goodreads

Eleven-year-old Sara Massey feels neglected and depressed. After a haunting near-crippling crash from the uneven bars years earlier, Sara can’t return to her favorite sport of gymnastics without risking death or complete paralysis. Or can she? In a flicker of her desperate heart and soul, she adopts the kitten of a wild barn cat, and the feisty kitty gives Sara all she can handle, plus a jolt of confidence.

But as Sara begins her risky comeback in gymnastics and life, an imposturous Turkish sultan calling himself Orkhan Hamid arrives to claim the kitten for his own. Desperate for the kitten’s rejuvenating power, Hamid will even steal to turn his fortune around. Can broken-hearted Sara stop him and keep the cat of her dreams?

A fun and meaningful read for all novel readers.

Connect with the Author

Amazon author bio and bibliography:

https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/profile

Facebook author page

https://www.facebook.com/Dean-Lombardo-365281923557248/

Twitter

@DeanLombardo1

Dean Lombardo blog site, aka Dean's Den:

https://authordeanlombardo.wordpress.com/

Meeting of the Mustangs by Cathy Kennedy

I am pleased to welcome Cathy Kennedy to the blog today with a post about her novel, Meeting of the Mustangs!

This is a kid's book written by a kid. Sort of. It's not exactly just for kids and it wasn't written only by a kid. This story began decades ago when I was around thirteen or fourteen years old, the best that I can recall. I know that I hadn't yet learned how to type. The first part of it was pecked out with one finger on an Olivetti typewriter. It was single-spaced and there were no margins to speak of, typed on heavy stock paper. Both the typewriter and the paper were given to me by my dad. I would sit at that typewriter in our old Victorian house and pound out the story of the wild horses. I guess after some time, I found more important things to do because it was abandoned at some point. While I went on with the business of life, that manuscript never left my possession. I often thought about it and pretty much knew how the story would continue and what the outcome would be, but I never actually wrote it down. Writer's Block is a real thing. Writing a book is not an easy task, and I finally convinced myself to finish it. Looking at that old manuscript, I knew that I first had to fix what was already there. Lots and lots of editing, although I wanted to try to keep it as intact as possible. It was challenging and very time-consuming, but, oh, how the computer helped! But enough about me. Here's my wild horses story. It's called Meeting of the Mustangs and you can find it at Amazon or other ebook retailers. If there's anyone out there who might be going through a similar dilemma, please know that it's not impossible. With today's technology and a fair amount of your time, you can let people read your creation without requiring a big, bad publisher. Maybe people will want to read it or maybe they won't, but that's not really the point, is it? I wish you determination, luck, and success!

~Cathy Kennedy~

A black colt is born into a band of wild mustangs and soon learns that life can often be difficult. Follow his story as he goes from a free spirit to being captured for profit, and discover how one man gains the trust and extreme loyalty of a very special horse.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Createspace | Smashwords

About the Author

Cathy Kennedy spent the first years of her life growing up in Pennsylvania before moving to South Florida at age 17. She graduated from Atlantic High School in Palm Beach County and her professional life took her into the construction industry, where she was an Office Manager for twenty years. She is a history buff who also enjoys music, word puzzles, gardening, watching football, and the company of animals of all sorts. Her book, Meeting of the Mustangs, was started during her teenage years in Pennsylvania and would not be completed until many years later.

The story of the wild mustangs is somewhat reflective of her life living in the country, where her family owned horses. She wanted to complete the book for younger readers who have a love for horses, and finally convinced herself that she should continue the story where she'd stopped writing many years before.

She currently lives in Ohio with her husband and three rescued tuxedo cats.

Sale Alert! Sophie's Quest by Sonja Anderson - Author Interview & Giveaway

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Sophie's Quest

By Sonja Anderson

Sophie's Quest is currently only 99¢ for Kindle!

Interview with Author Sonja Anderson

1. What is your motivation behind Sophie’s Quest? Why did you want to write it? 

The character of Sophie Topfeather popped into my head many years ago when I was teaching a multi-faith class at St. Mary's International School in Tokyo, Japan. According to many stories, owls are supposed to be wise, and it felt like we could use a wise owl in our class to help me answer all the kids' great questions about God. Then, about fifteen years ago, my five-year-old daughter got into heated discussion about God on the playground with two other students from different religious backgrounds, and my wise owl popped back into my head again. I wanted to write a story that would help her understand others better in our diverse community, and for her friends to also understand her.

2. What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read it? 

I hope that first of all, they take away the feeling that they have made some special friends on the journey, and want to know what happens next! I also hope and pray that readers will have developed compassion for others who believe differently than they do, and an increased desire to know the true Sky Painter--Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.

3. Do you have a favorite scene? 

I love all the scenes with Sophie and Timley, but some of my favorite scenes are between the Great Wise Horned Owl and Timley's very frightened mother. Their love for their missing children helps them forge a strong bond that is very special.

4. What is something about you that is unique?

I write from home with a view of Puget Sound. While writing Sophie's Quest, I would watch container ships go by and imagine Sophie and Timley on board.

— Sonja

Sophie's Quest

by Sonja Anderson

Middle Grade Adventure
Paperbook & ebook, 260 Pages

June 7th 2015 by Sunberry Books

Sophie Topfeather loves to collect people-things with which to decorate her life and home. When she finds a golden necklace, she is intrigued by its shape and shows it to her grandfather, the Great Wise Horned Owl of the Park. His reaction only stirs her interest even more; he calls it a holy symbol, and then a ‘t’ for ‘trouble’! All of which sets our young owl off on a Quest to learn its true meaning. Little does she know that a day-dreaming, over-protected, adventure-seeking Pirate – er, mouse – named Timley has leapt into the brim of her hat as Sophie flies off on her Quest! And suddenly, their adventure takes its own turn as they find themselves on board a ship bound for the Holy Land. Thorns and thistles! Has the trouble started already? Can Timley convince Sophie she should not—I repeat, NOT—eat him?

This is also the story of the mysterious Sky Painter, who seems to be with them—no, leading them—on their Quest. So, why is he always leading them straight into trouble? Was the Great Wise Horned Owl right all along? Come along on the Quest to find out! Cross oceans with Sophie and Timley to a land of mosques and synagogues, markets and Bedouin tents, and, like our unlikely friends, you may never be the same again!

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Amazon UK

Author Sonja Anderson has a Master’s degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in History, has worked as an elementary school teacher, a resident counsellor in a children’s home, taught Sunday School, and has served for 12 years as the Christian Formation Coordinator for the North Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the NW Christian Writers Association. Married with two daughters, she has called Seattle home for over 20 years.

Website - Facebook

Connect with the publisher, Sunpenny Publishing Group, on their website, Facebook, or Twitter.

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Best in Show by Maria Grazia Swan - Excerpt & Giveaway

BEST IN SHOW

Mina’s Adventures Series, Book 6

Maria Grazia Swan

Cozy Romantic Suspense, 188 pages

Mina Calvi, Italian transplant to Southern California, thinks her love life might finally come together, just as her professional life has. Her Furry Friends Foundation, a no-kill shelter for rescued cats and dogs, is a success, and Mina hopes she may find a loving forever home for herself, in the arms of Diego Moran, her elusive, frustratingly mysterious, on again-off again, lover.

When a seemingly innocent night out with friends lands Mina in a hospital bed and Diego undercover, and not the covers Mina wants him to be under, Mina has to draw on all her new-found maturity, and all her supportive friends for strength.

Meanwhile, a Best in Show cat takes up residence at the Ritzy Cats B&B, Mina’s other venture, setting Mina on the trail of a suspicious character who might not have the cat's best interests at heart.

Add a Matchmaker to the Stars, a temperamental Italian chef and the usual menagerie of people and pets, stir it all up and you have an entertaining, hard to put down romantic tale of suspense.

Buy Links:      Amazon ebook    Amazon Print

Excerpt:

Did he love her?

In the heat of the night, love was a given. But as daylight unfolded, her insecurities found their path to her heart. Mina didn’t move, afraid the slightest shifting might wake him. His chest rose and fell against her back as he breathed peacefully. Their bodies touched, connected in a perfect fit. A match made in heaven she repeated to herself, in heaven but not on earth?

The longing she felt for him transcended sex and lust. Eyes closed, she revisited their good-bye two years ago in the cemetery in Italy, and that sense of unconditional love he’d brought into her life. It was the kind of love Mina assumed girls customarily expected from a father, a brother, a kin. But that was only a guess, a yearning, since she’d grown up without parents or siblings, so she had never experienced such love, until then, during that magical Italian summer.

Diego stirred and brushed his lips up and down the nap of her neck. “Missed you,” he whispered.

Now wide-awake, Mina quipped, “You missed me? How?”

“How?” In one fluid motion he spun her around, her body pressed against his. “How did I miss you?’

He paused, his eyes burning from a surge of passion she hadn’t seen coming. “For the last two years I carried with me the image of you in your red dress. The way you looked the last time I was near you. It’s branded in my soul. I couldn’t rid myself of it. Even now a glimpse of a red dress would arouse me. I’d be aroused not by the woman wearing it, but by the memory of you in that red dress.”

Books 1 thru 5 Available at Amazon

About the Author

Best selling author Maria Grazia Swan was born in Italy, but this rolling stone has definitely gathered no moss. She lived in Belgium, France, Germany, in beautiful Orange County, California where she raised her family, and is currently at home in Phoenix, Arizona--but stay tuned for weekly updates of Where in the World is Maria Grazia Swan?

As a young girl, her vivid imagination predestined her to be a writer. She won her first literary award at the age of fourteen while living in Belgium. As a young woman Maria returned to Italy to design for--ooh-la-la--haute couture. Once in the U.S. and after years of concentrating on family, she tackled real estate. These days her time is devoted to her deepest passions: writing and helping people and pets find the perfect home.

Maria loves travel, opera, good books, hiking, and intelligent movies (if she can find one, that is). When asked about her idea of a perfect evening, she favors stimulating conversation, Northern Italian food and perfectly chilled Prosecco--but then, who doesn't?

Find Me Here –Maria Grazia Swan

mariagswan@gmail.com, personal   mgsweb1@gmail.com readers/website

Webpage      Blog     Twitter         Facebook      Goodreads     Amazon Author Page    Linkedin

Giveaway:

I Love My Cat Locket Pendant (US only)

Paperback copy of any of Maria’s Books, winner’s choice (US only)

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Review: The Secret Lives of Animals by Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer + Giveaway

The Secret Lives of Animals

Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer

Children's Nonfiction

Falcon Guides

October 1, 2015

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s | IndieBound | Books-a-Million | Falcon Guides

The Secret Lives of Animals is the perfect mix of field guide know-how and armchair entertainment. In addition to the standard field guide notes and range maps, the meat of the book will offer up “spark moments” in nature—something fascinating or memorable that catches your attention and sets you on a path of lifelong learning. The Secret Lives of Animals will feature more than 100 North American animals and over 1,000 tidbits in a fun, colorful, illustrated format.

Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

The Secret Lives of Animals is a fun reference guide with lots of great facts and nice illustrations. I loved that it concentrated on North American animals. It encourages kids to head outside and look around nature to see what they can spot.

Each animal, bird, sea creature and insect is presented with an illustration and interesting facts in an easy to read and understand format. Some feature "Science Q and A" and others have a "Go Outside" box that explains how to find the creature in the wild. I thoroughly enjoyed the "little-known facts" presented on each animal, and I'm sure children will enjoy this feature as well.

The sections are well-organized, featuring invertebrates up to large mammals. There is also an index in the back to make finding a particular animal a snap. I liked the section in the back, "Animals by State and Province", with a quick breakdown of where to find each animal.

Any book that encourages children to head outside for some fresh air is aces in my book. This is a great book for fun and for school projects.

About the Authors

Website  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Pinterest  /  YouTube

Stacy Tornio is an Oklahoma girl at heart, though she’s lived in Wisconsin for the last 10 years. As editor of Birds & Blooms Magazine, Stacy is able to share her love of backyard nature. Her first book, Cathy’s Animal Garden, takes readers on a picture journey into the neighbor’s scary backyard in search of a homerun baseball. Project Garden, her recent book, is a monthly guide filled with activities to keep the whole family gardening all year long. Along with her husband, Steve, Stacy enjoys watching her two children explore nature in their Milwaukee backyard and on trips up north.

Ken Keffer was born and raised in Wyoming.  A vagabond naturalist, he’s done a little bit of everything, from monitoring mice and vole populations and picking up carnivore scat in Grand Teton National Park to researching flying squirrels in the Tongass National Forest of southeast Alaska, and monitoring Bactrian camels in Mongolia’s Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area. He’s also worked as an environmental educator in Wyoming, northern New Mexico, coastal Maryland, and along the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio. Ken enjoys birding, floating on lazy rivers, and fly fishing in the mountains out west.

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Review: The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven + Excerpt & Giveaway

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The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven

by Brandon Mull

This guidebook to the Fablehaven magical preserve is filled with everything a new Caretaker might need to know in order to survive. There are entries detailing important information about artifacts large and small, a complete bestiary of creatures (from fairies to trolls to satyrs), a guide to identifying demons, dragons, and wizards as well as valuable insights into the other magical preserves. Immerse yourself into the secret knowledge that has been handed down through the generations by reading the updates and notes written in the margins by the former Caretakers of Fablehaven, including Grandpa Sorenson, Kendra, and Seth. Fully-illustrated, this unique encyclopedia has gathered the world of Fablehaven into one volume.

Amazon

Review: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Caretaker's Guide to Fablehaven is a visually stunning, must-have companion book for Fablehaven fans. This wonderful  guide really opens up the universe, offering beautiful photos of creatures and fantastic descriptions. Everything you ever questioned or wanted to know more about can be found among the pages.

I loved the layout of the book. So much thought went into making it appear as though it really was created for a Caretaker. The notes in the margins were a great touch. I loved reading about all of the creatures, and I think even those not familiar with the world of Fablehaven would enjoy this book. I'm a sucker for companion books like this, and I have to say, this is one of the nicest I've ever read.

My copy was a pdf file which was very nice. Though the book is available for Kindle, I think hardcover is the way to go since the illustrations were so amazing. I just don't think an ebook can do those gorgeous pictures justice.

If you haven't read the Fablehaven series, I highly recommend it to middle school and high school students. My son started reading it in fifth grade and couldn't get more books fast enough. To this day, it's one of his favorite series. I'll be buying this for my son for Christmas.

Excerpt from Introduction

If you are in possession of this book you are assumed to be the caretaker or an apprentice caretaker of Fablehaven. By now you’ve been introduced to the world of mythical and magical creatures. However, there is still much to learn. Previous caretakers of Fablehaven thought it would be helpful to create aCaretaker’s Guide specifically for those tasked with the job of nurturing, protecting, and surviving this preserve and its inhabitants.

Do not be fooled. Fablehaven is an unpredictable and dangerous place. However, the collective knowledge gathered within the pages of this bestiary will give you the knowledge and wisdom needed to not only survive but to thrive.

The creatures of Fablehaven are either light or dark, not necessarily good or evil. In order to be good, one must recognize the difference between right and wrong and strive to choose the right. To be truly evil one must do the contrary. Being good or evil is a choice. This is not so with the creatures of Fablehaven. What they are largely governs how they act. Some are inherently builders, some are nurturers, some are playful. Some are inherently destroyers, some are deceivers, some crave power. Some love light, some love darkness. But change their nature, and without much resistance, their identities follow. Like a fairy becoming an imp, or an imp regaining her fairyhood.

Much counsel and advice has been passed down through generations and given to the new caretakers of this preserve. Perhaps the most invaluable piece of advice that has ever been given is this: Those who are careful to cause no mischief, work no magic, and inflict no harm are protected by the foundational treaty of Fablehaven. This truth alone may be your strongest ally and your only defense.

One final note. The signs leading up to the front gate were not always there. In the late eighteenth century, before the guest register that controls access to Fablehaven was created, two poachers entered the property in search of big game. Needless to say, they found it. Or it found them. Many days later, the resident caretaker found them as well. Or at least he found their bodies of petrified stone. And thus the first signs outside the gates of Fablehaven were posted.

As caretaker you have accepted a most noble assignment. Keep your eyes open. Obey with exactness. Take risks only as the last resort and you will have a better chance at seeing another sunrise. Welcome to Fablehaven.

Author Brandon Mull Brandon Mull is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Beyonders and Fablehaven series. Brandon resides in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and four children. He spent two years living in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He once won a pudding eating contest in the park behind his grandma’s house, earning a gold medal.

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  $25 Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon eGift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/28/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com eGift Card or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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