Leah Price

Monthly Archives: December 2014

Fun New Years Resolutions to Make with your Kids

It’s that time of the year again. Fresh starts and new beginnings are on the horizon. A new year full of hope and promise lies before us all. And what better time to make change in your life than this time?

Most resolutions are for individuals, but I propose several resolutions between yourself and your child(ren) as follows. If you are looking for some ideas, I have included a list of my favorite resolutions. Pick one (or more!) resolution for the next year from the list below. All hours and terms, of course, are up to you.

  • We will play together. This year, I (the parent) resolve to spend at least two hours every week playing the game of you, (the child(ren)), choice.  If you are feeling very brave, you may leave the resolution as is. If you are not technical, you may want to amend it to exclude video games, computer games, etc. Board games are an excellent choice.
  • We will have a special project. This year, I (the parent) resolve to spend at least two hours every week working on our own special project with you, (the child(ren)). This resolution is one of my favorites as it can take any form. You could take up a hobby, take lessons together, train a pet, grow plants, sightsee around your home, build a dollhouse…. There are just too many choices! Talk with your child(ren). I’m sure they have some ideas!
  • We will imagine together. This year, I (the parent) resolve to spend at least two hours every week pretending with you, (the child(ren)). I’m seeing forts, camp-outs, tea parties, etc. Let your (and their) imaginations run wild.
  • We will create together. This year, I (the parent) resolve to spend at least two hours every week creating with you, (the child(ren)), in the medium of your choice. Drawing, painting, sewing, calligraphy, music, etc. This can be incorporated with a special project very easily.
  • We will cook together. This year, I (the parent) resolve to cook at least one meal every week with you, (the child(ren)). This resolution is very exciting because it turns a somewhat mundane chore into a fun event for the family. If you have multiple children, I suggest cooking with each separately. Their proud faces at presenting the meal they cooked specially with Mommy or Daddy never gets old.
  • We will read together. This year, I (the parent) resolve to read the book of your choice at least two hours every week with  you, (the child(ren)). You may or may not want to include the stipulation of the book of your choice. Instead, you may want to say the book of our choice. Reading with your child(ren) can be so rewarding and enjoyable while also increasing their vocabulary. Reading is such a critical skill very often overlooked in this day and age and such a fun thing to do together.

Be careful when choosing your resolutions as they are an oath and a promise between yourself and your child(ren). If you have limited time, make sure you adjust the hours in your resolution. It’s fine to go over, but most children will notice if you don’t meet the minimum. Remember, these resolutions cannot ever be a waste because you’ll be spending time with some of the most precious people in your life.

My resolution is to create more fun games, ideas, stories, and content for children in my newsletter. I have a lot of plans brewing and I’m very excited about it. What do you plan on resolving for the new year? Are you going to use any of the suggestions above? Do you have any additional suggestions of fun resolutions to make with your child?

An Atterberry Christmas free for kindle!

So I put together a little Christmas present for everyone and I hope you like it! I wrote a short story in The Faire Pendant Series for Christmas and I have it free for five days on Kindle. It’s called An Atterberry Christmas (The Faire Pendant Series) and is a Christmas short. It features characters from The Faire Pendant Series. Here’s the excerpt from the back:

Glenna’s life is anything but ordinary. The daughter of renaissance festival vendors, Glenna’s days are filled with magic and medieval reenactments as she travels the faire circuit with her family.

Then one day, Glenna’s life changes forever. With the help of a pendant, she discovers Otherworld. An enchanted realm, Otherworld is the land in which all of the myths and magic woven by the renaissance players comes to life!

In An Atterberry Christmas, it’s Christmas in Otherworld! All the creatures and people of Otherworld are preparing for the upcoming festivities and Glenna can’t wait to be a part of it! But as soon as Glenna arrives, she finds a mysterious note from Atterberry. Has something happened to the magician? Can Glenna find him in time? And can she save Otherworld’s Christmas?

 

The story is around 8,500 words and is free for a limited time on kindle. It was SO much fun writing this Christmas short.  It really got me in the Christmas spirit writing this story. That and decorating the tree, baking cookies, BEING OFF OF WORK! lol, shopping for presents, wrapping presents, playing Christmas music, etc. What gets you in the Christmas spirit?

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on Kids and Reading

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on Kids and Reading

“My kid(s) hate(s) reading!” I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a parent say this very thing at book signings and events. But every time I hear it, it breaks my heart. There is no reason that a child should hate reading and there are several ways to encourage a love of reading in a child. I rarely have the opportunity at these events to have an in-depth conversation with parents about their children and reading, but if I did, here is what I would say:

1. Your child hasn’t read the right book. THE BOOK. Every avid reader knows what I’m talking about. That first book that grabs you as a kid and sticks with you. The one you re-read even today. When your child finds that book, believe me, he or she will be a reader.

2. Your child doesn’t like to read because you don’t like to. I see this one a lot. Parents can be very dismissive of reading in their own lives, but when it comes to their kids, they expect them to “do as I say, not as I do.” If you want your kids to love reading, try to love it too! Even if you only read with them, as long as you act as if you enjoy spending that time with them, they’ll enjoy it, too.

3. Your child may need a bridge. Huge books can be intimidating for a child, even small books can scare them away, especially if they struggle with reading or have only just begun to learn. Put yourself in their place. Imagine that you have taken one semester of French and suddenly, the teacher wants to read a book an inch thick! You would dread it, too! For this reason, I suggest starting with something less difficult. If you have to start with a comic book and then build to a spin-off series and then middle grade and then young adult, what’s the harm in that? Give them a book with a subject that is something they are interested in and they will usually read about it.

4. Try different avenues. In this day and age, there are so many options for reading that haven’t existed before. For example, all of my books in The Faire Pendant series are available on Amazon. Through Amazon, I have the opportunity to offer a free ebook copy with every print purchase. This can be downloaded on a phone, tablet, computer, etc. A parent or sibling can easily read the ebook copy along with a child and engage in conversations with them. Or use audiobooks while driving if needed! It can become a treasured and valuable part of your commute, believe me. Reading is a great tool to build conversation! Speaking of which….

5. Use books as a communication tool. So many books provide a moral that may be something a parent wants to talk about with their child. For example, self-confidence is the theme of my book, The Tale of Atterberry (The Faire Pendant Series Book 1) while bravery is the topic in the sequel, The Ballad of Captain Thatch (The Faire Pendant Series Book 2). Reading books with a moral can open up conversation with your child. And besides, children love to have one on one attention from their parents.

6. Connect with an author. Many authors incorporate fun activities, news, events, and releases for their fans into their newsletters. Some answer fan mail and provide dates and locations for signings. Communicating with the author of a book can make it come alive for a child and become an exciting addition to reading that they never even considered.

In short, there are many different approaches that can be taken while encouraging a love of reading in your child. Using a hands-on and creative approach is usually the best way and can end up building a life-long “reading relationship” between a parent and child. I love hearing all about the creative ideas and fun activities readers think of from my stories. What is the last book you and your child read together? And what types of fun things did you like to do to encourage reading in your child?

The Rockstar Chronicles Part 1 is finished!

Well, guys, late last night I pressed the complete button on part 1 of The Rockstar Chronicles! So excited! But this doesn’t mean that it’s over by any means. I will soon begin the next section, part 2 of The Rockstar Chronicles. I have the outline done and the first scene already happening in my head. lol

When finished, I will most likely be combining parts 1 & 2 into a single book. I am projecting a finished version of around 60-65 thousand words.  I have to say, I love writing some of my stories on Wattpad. It’s so much fun to interact with readers as I write. I love reading all of your comments and hearing your feedback. In part 2, I will be releasing the band name and I can’t wait for that. So here is my question:

What should I work on next? How many of you want me to work on The Rockstar Chronicles part 2? & how many of you want me to work on First Impressions? I can’t do both at the moment as I am also working on other projects, including The Faire Pendant series.  But I will try to update regularly and finish both of my Wattpad projects in the coming year. New Year’s resolution, maybe? hahaha Please comment below and let me know what you want to see. Believe me, I will take your comments into consideration.

Also, stay tuned for news over the Christmas holidays. And, last but not least, be sure to check out and favorite The Rockstar Chronicles Part 1 on Wattpad. Every vote means so much to me. And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for the latest news and information.

My trip to the Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival!

As many of you realize from my previous post, I was honored to be asked to sign my books at the Carolina Renaissance Festival. I have to say, I had an AWESOME time. The games, buildings, shops, and performers made the faire so real. I loved getting to experience all of it.

But even better than the atmosphere was the opportunity I had to meet not only avid readers, many of them children, but also writers as well. A few of the authors included:

Shelby Bach is the author of The Ever Afters series. They are middle grade and look amazing! I can’t wait to check them out. Shelby was super nice and answered all my many questions. I’d highly encourage everyone to check out her books! I bought one for my sister for Christmas. Shhh, don’t tell!

Christina Berkau Pope & Thomas Berkau were there with their children’s picture book, ABC Charlotte. Their book was really cute with great illustrations. I think it would make a perfect gift for children. I enjoyed getting to meet each of them and chatting about all the games and costumes we saw at the festival (more on that later!)

Faith Hunter and John Hartness also kept me company throughout the day. They were so knowledgeable about writing and the publishing industry. I was impressed!

I didn’t get a chance to visit with Jennifer Hudson Taylor very much, but my sister spoke with her and bought one of her books. I’m working on “borrowing” it from her. 😉

K.A. Thomas was another author I wish I had gotten to chat with more. Her books look really interesting and they are also on my “to-read” list.

And finally, Timothy Tron was there with his book. Anyone who loves genealogy, history, and/or historical fiction should check him out. He has studied the history in his books extensively and it shows!

Now, back to the faire! I had a great time at the Carolina Renaissance Festival. The whole thing was just amazing to me. The talent and hard work that the performers put into creating a character and costume reveals their love of what they do. Plus, the talent that is showcased at Renaissance festivals is always amazing. I feel like it’s a platform and a rare opportunity to see skills that are not easily found nowadays, such as falconry, swordmaking, leatherwork, etc.

Yes, it was very, very cold and a very, very long drive. But I went with family and we had a great time. The mountains were gorgeous, Christmas carols were on the radio, and fun things to see and do were everywhere. It even snowed a little bit on the way home, which was exciting!

I would really also love to thank Park Road Books for hosting us authors. Sherri was great. I can’t say enough good things about her! And if you missed the festival, don’t worry. Sherri has plenty of signed copies from every author in stock at Park Road Books. And if you want a signed copy, I think she’ll even mail it to you!