Do you want Lindy to stay in Nashville and go to school? Or do you want Lindy to travel with the band? The choice is up to you! Vote once a day between now and September 5th and decide Lindy’s fate.
There’s nothing better than collecting a series of books. Especially kids books. They take you back to your youth and remind you of days spent reading under a tree and nights hidden under a blanket with a book and a flashlight. You eagerly devour each one, sure of the next waiting patiently for your perusal.
Sometimes it’s enough to simply have your favorite book, but it’s so much better to have all of them, ready and waiting for re-reads on your sick days, rainy days, and bored days. Here’s my list of several Fantastic Series & Where to Find Them.
1. Little House on the Prairie
2. A Series of Unfortunate Events
3. Anne of Avonlea
4. Redwall
So if you are in search of the perfect birthday present, Christmas present, or just present in general, be sure to check out these series. They are perfect for the kids who loves to read! Which series do you wish had just one more book?
Vote for your favorite band name! I am almost ready to announce the name of the band in The Rockstar Chronicles and I need your help in choosing the perfect name! Voting is only allowed once per day and I will close the voting on Sunday, March 15th.
Remember to check out my book on Wattpad and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter!
Like it or not, EBooks are here to stay. I hear and understand the complaints of die-hard readers when it comes to EBooks. They worry about quality and miss the old days of heavy hardbacks and fresh pages. I, too, love books in print. It’s one of the main reasons why I insisted on offering my books in print version as well as digitally.
However, I have to say I’m a sucker for EBooks. I love the ease and simplicity of bringing up a story on my phone, laptop, or other device whenever I have a few minutes free. Or even, if I want to admit it, during otherwise boring activities I’m required to attend. 😉 Another plus I see with EBooks is the reach it can have while encouraging children to read.
EBooks offer:
Despite all the reasons listed above, I still believe in the power of print. However, like I’ve pointed out, EBooks definitely have a place in our society. I enjoy having access to both print and EBook formats. I read different books in each medium and I love it. What do you think about EBooks for children? Would your child enjoy them?
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.
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?
“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)
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?
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.
Hey, guys!
So as many of you who have been reading Rockstar know, Grady Madison is a member of a new, up and coming band! The problem is I can’t decide on a name! I have so many that I love. I was trying to sort it out myself and then I thought, why not let you decide?
So… I’m running a poll to pick the fan favorite band name! Click on the band name you like best. You can vote once a day. I can’t wait to see what the reader favorites are. The top four will go to the next round with the ultimate fan favorite being the bands name!
