Blog Archives

Inspiring Teens Blog Hop

9/29/2013

Ready for some great fun?

Want to meet some fantastic MG/YA authors and terrific bloggers?

How would you like to win some books?

You can enter our Rafflecopter competition to win a $10 Amazon gift card. There will be two winners.
Well, you're at the right place!

The Inspiring Teens Blog Hop starts here on Monday, October 14 and will continue all week long. The list of bloggers/authors is below. Take a few minutes to visit each day for a chance to meet some wonderful people and win a free book.

Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter (below the schedule) for a chance to win a gift certificate from Amazon.

Monday, Oct. 14

Blogger – Kate Bainbridge http://read2review.com/2013/10/14/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-interview-with-vickie-johnstone/
Author - Vickie Johnstone

Blogger - Sharon Ledwith http://sharonledwith.blogspot.com/2013/10/inspiring-teens-blog-hop.html
Author - Jennifer Loiske

Blogger - Armen Pogharian https://armenpogharian.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/344/
Author - Ey Wade

Blogger – Candice Conway Simpson http://booksforboysreviewsandfun.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-sharon-rose.html
Author - Sharon Rose Mayes

Blogger-Cedar Sanderson http://cedarwrites.com/2013/10/14/teen-week-blog-hop-with-special-guest/
Author - Kim Mutch Emerson

Blogger – Maria Savva – http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/5020446-inspiring-teens-blog-hop-interview-giveaway-with-author-ed-drury/
Author – Ed Drury

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Blogger - Kate Bainbridge http://read2review.com/2013/10/15/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-interview-with-greta-burroughs/
Author - Greta Burroughs

Blogger - Jennifer Loiske http://jenniferloiske.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-meet-author-cedar-sanderson/
Author - Cedar Sanderson

Blogger – Lisa Cresswell http://lisatcresswell.blogspot.com/2013/10/october-15-teen-blog-hop-week.html
Author - Tim Flanagan

Blogger -Debra J Jameson Smith https://www.facebook.com/Creationsbydjamesonsmith (link to blog in pinned post)
Author - Sharon Ledwith

Blogger -David Lowbridge http://indieebookreview.blogspot.com/2013/10/an-authors-tale-why-i-write-teen.html
Author - Amanda Haulk Taylor

*************
Blogger -Wendy Strain - http://www.writeonwendy.com/
Author - Greta Burroughs 7:45-8:45 PM CST
This is a five minute fiction contest open for all participants to write a short piece using a prompt provided by Greta Burroughs. A prize will be awarded to the winner. It's a lot of fun and an exciting way to show off your skills at writing.

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Blogger - Kate Bainbridge http://read2review.com/2013/10/16/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-interview-with-debbie-manber-kupfer/
Author - Debbie Manber Kupfer

Blogger –Maria Savva http://quietfurybooks.com/bestsellerboundrecommends/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-linda-deane
Author -Linda Deane

Blogger – Debbie Manber Kupfer http://debbiemanberkupfer.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/interview-with-lisa-cresswell/
Author - Lisa Cresswell

Blogger - Ey Wade http://dna-bloodtiesandlies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/armen-pogharian-is-inspiring-teens-to.html
Author - Armen Pogharian

Blogger – David Lowbridge http://tinyurl.com/q5h6dwy
Author - Dianne Gardner

Blogger - Robert DeBurgh http://robertdeburgh.weebly.com/2/post/2013/10/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-christine-hughes.html
Author - Christine Hughes

Thursday, Oct. 17

Blogger - Kate Bainbridge http://read2review.com/2013/10/17/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-interview-with-hugo-jackson/
Author - Hugo Jackson

Blogger - Vickie Johnstone (Vixie's Stories) http://vickiejohnstone.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-paul-plunkett.html
Author - Paul Plunkett

Blogger - Kim Mutch Emerson http://masterkoda.com/teen-reads-week-donna-dillon
Author - Donna Dillon

Blogger - Karen Pokraz Toz http://kptoz.blogspot.com/2013/10/author-spotlight-jr-simmons-teen-read.html
Author - JR Simmons

Blogger - David Lowbridge http://indieebookreview.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/cover-spotlight-pirates-pirates.html
Author -Saoirse O'Mara

Blogger - Brenda Perlin http://homewreckerthebook.blogspot.com/2013/10/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-welcomes.html
Author - Charlotte Blackwell

Friday, Oct. 18

Blogger - Kate Bainbridge http://read2review.com/2013/10/18/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-interview-with-tianna-scott/
Author - Tianna Scott

Blogger –Tim Flanagan http://timflanaganauthor.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/teen-reading-week-meet-catherine-stovall/
Author - Catherine Stovall

Blogger – Sharon Rose Mayes – http://www.notyourmomblog.com/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-interview-with-wendy-and-charles-siefken/
Author - Wendy Siefken

Blogger – Cassie McCown http://gatheringleavesreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-author.html
Author - Alan Tucker

Blogger –David Lowbridge http://indieebookreview.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/authors-tale-michael-chulsky-part-of.html
Author -Michael Chulsky

Blogger – Wendy Siefken http://siefkenpublications.info/teen-blog-hop-juli-caldwell/
Author - Juli Caldwell

Saturday, Oct. 19

Blogger – Robbie Cox http://www.themessthatisme.com/2013/10/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-with-debra.html
Author - Debra J. Smith

Blogger – Jonathan Gould http://daglit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-interview-with.html
Author – Sibel Hodge

Blogger - Greta Burroughs http://booksbygretaburroughs.weebly.com/8/post/2013/10/inspiring-teens-blog-hop-chris-baker.html
Author - Chris Baker

Blogger – Cassy Wood & Alex Harrington http://reviewmetwice.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/blog-hop.html
Author - Vicki Kinnaird

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 Comments

Not in my class…Not in my school…Not in my sight. NO more bullying.

9/20/2013

6 Comments

Donna Dillon is our guest author today. She has written a couple of books that focus on a very serious subject that can alter and/or destroy the life of a child - Bullying.

I was bullied as a child. Bullied for something I had absolutely no control over. I was born with a cleft lip and palate, which, if you are not familiar, is the incomplete fusing of the facial bones. Basically, my face was a mess. I’d like to say that the cruel taunts of my classmates didn’t affect me, but I would be lying.

I didn’t let them stop me from doing anything, for that is not my nature to do so: I was a cheerleader, I acted in the school plays, I was in a baton corp that had me travelling all over the country performing. But, bullying affected my life in such a way that my confidence was shaken, I had trouble trusting people and held a great deal of resentment inside.

On the outside, I seemed happy. I married, had children, but now and then in times of great stress, I hear those voices, even thirty plus years later. So, in 2009, I published The Snake Pit: Jr. High Can Be Torture, which deals with bullying in the public schools. It was a short story, but touched a nerve with a lot of people. It was my intent to bring the issue of bullying to the forefront and get people talking.

Have I been successful? If you asked me that question a year ago, I would’ve said no. Recently I received a message on the Snake Pit fan page. It started out with the words: I am a bully. My heart stopped. I couldn’t imagine what this message was going to say. I read on and it was a note from a girl in Florida who had read my book. She went on to say that she had been a bully to a girl in her class for many years, and that my book touched her in such a way that she immediately called the girl and apologized and promised to never bully another person again.

So, has The Snake Pit been a success? Absolutely. Not only is there a girl in Florida who is no longer being bullied, there is another girl in Florida who is no longer being a bully. And there is no greater success than that.

Not in my class…Not in my school…Not in my sight. NO more bullying.

The Snake Pit
http://www.amazon.com/The-Snake-Pit-Donna-Dillon/dp/1453838902/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1372703457&sr=8-2&keywords=donna+dillon

Return to the Snake Pit
http://www.amazon.com/Return-To-The-Snake-Pit/dp/148022118X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1372692456&sr=8-3&keywords=donna+dillon

Snake Pit Fan Page on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/thesnakepitnovel?fref=ts

Donna Dillon's author page on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-Dillon-Author/390160161064078?fref=ts

6 Comments

Kristina Jackson has successfully inspired her children to read

9/11/2013

3 Comments

We're changing things up a bit today and are having a question and answer session with Kristina Jackson....

Thank you, Kristina for joining us today.
Tell us about a favorite book you read as a child or teenager.

I loved Tolkien, also Roald Dahl, and The Famous Five. I loved things with a little bit of adventure in them.

Are there any books that really made an impression on you?

The Little Rocking Horse, because I won it as a prize for writing a short story at school. Though the story was sweet, it was the fact I had won this for something I had done.

You have a couple of beautiful children. Have you read anything to or with them that became favorites?

I love the modern picture books. Things like The Gruffalo, there is colour and again a hint of an adventure about them. Now my daughter is 12, she is a real bookworm. She loves stories with content. Perhaps, harking back to those days when Witch on the Broom, Farmer Duck and Gruffalo use to be her all time favourites.

How about your son?

My son LOVED Donna Dillon’s, Why Did It Have to Rain Today.

Do you think you have succeeded in giving your kids the reading bug?

My kids were given some money from a relative. They both wanted to go into a bookstore and spend it on books.

What is your advice as to the best way to get children or teenagers to read?

Never tell a child ‘you won’t like that it is too ….’ Let them experiment to see what they like. Encourage children to choose their own books.

Thanks Kristina. Before you leave, please share with us your latest book.

If there's a sound of hopping inside your head,
Don't look out in the garden or under the bed,
Just open the pages and soon you will find,
That the Plot Bunny's here; now what's on (his or your) mind?

The Plot Bunny's mission is to encourage imaginative children's writing, so that they may become the next bob-tailed generation of authors.

The Plot Bunny links

Amazon Paperback (US) - http://amzn.to/14E5hhk

Amazon Paperback (UK) http://amzn.to/12gJeeI

Amazon ebook (UK) http://amzn.to/19Fy6AK

Amazon ebook (US) http://amzn.to/129IgzL

3 Comments

Why are dark disturbing stories attracting youngsters?

9/5/2013

9 Comments

The teen years are tough. There are so many questions adolescents have about life, death, love and the future.

Dianne Gardner wrote our guest post for today. She explores the reasons why teenagers are interested in these subjects and how they search for the answers...

I write for children. Not young ones. I write for adolescents that are transitioning from youthful innocence into adulthood- that turbulent stage of life when their questions are almost too disturbing to answer.

When I was 13, I read far beyond my years. Shakespeare intrigued me. I could relate to the deep inner struggles of a suffering Hamlet. The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet pulled at my heartstrings, and Macbeth terrified me, beckoning me to question my own existence. I read dark and stormy stories like The Last of the Mohicans, The Scarlet Letter,The Count of Monte Cristo, Don Juan, and Edgar Allen Poe. Why?

That same question is asked by many parents when they contemplate their own children reading series like The Hunger Games and Zombie invasions.

Why are dark disturbing stories attracting youngsters?

My only response is that our young people are looking for answers to the human condition.

Young teenagers are stepping into a world that for them is no longer a My Favorite Pony and Princess Bride bubble. They sense a dark side to existence. A side they see their parents struggle in. Children grow into awareness that they’ve been alienated from the darker side of truth. They not only want to know what life is about, they have a deep inner need to know what they will be tackling in the near future.

Our society would like our young people to think that getting a good education and a good job should be their primary concern. Of course those initiatives are appropriate. Parents should encourage their children to pursue success.

But there’s more to life to ponder. There’s another appetite to feed. At an early age, children question relationships with one another and with their parents. They contemplate world peace or why there are world wars, they struggle with love and hate, they decide their own morality or immorality, and most importantly they meditate on life and death.

My books are adventure fantasy-stories about make believe worlds. The characters are very human and face the same issues we do. Their struggles are believable. The most important aspect of these novels is that they offer hope because from what I’ve experienced, that’s what these teenagers need.

Teens need to be assured that they’re going to face darkness. Negative things will happen in their lives, if not already. We as adults can’t lie to them because children can’t sense it, and they reject lies.

Teens know they face an unknown future. Alone. It isn’t news to them.

What I believe is important in writing for this age group is to give them hope, regardless of what struggles life throws at them. They need to know there’s a lantern burning, that there is light at the end of the tunnel to use a cliché we’re all familiar with, because it’s that light that keeps us moving forward.

Dianne Lynn Gardner

The Ian’s Realm Saga

Dianne Gardner is both an award winning author and illustrator living in the Pacific Northwest. She’s an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the National League of American Pen Women. She has written Young Adult Fantasy novels as well as articles for national magazines and newspapers. Her series The Ian’s Realm Saga includes three novels and four short stories with more on the way and published by Hydra Publications, a small press out of Indiana.

You can see Dianne’s titles and artwork at http://gardnersart.wix.com/dlgardnersbooks

She blogs about her own work in progress, research adventures, contests, and interviews with other authors at http://dragontargeseries.blogspot.com/

9 Comments

Inspiring Children..
One Book at a Time

One of the most valuable gifts you can give a child is the love of reading.

This blog is for parents, teachers and caregivers and all those who have the power to help young minds to become great minds.

If you would like to write a guest post for this blog, please send an email to greta799(at)yahoo.com

*********

*******

Greta Burroughs

believes that sharing the joy of reading is one of the most important gifts we can give to a child.
Books can teach, entertain, launch imaginations and help a child/middle grader/teenager to excel in school as well as in life.

Greta is the author of several children's and MG/YA books and her website is here.

*******

Books by Greta Burroughs. Click cover for more information

********

Follow this blog

Inspiring Teens Blog Hop

Not in my class…Not in my school…Not in my sight. NO more bullying.

Kristina Jackson has successfully inspired her children to read

Why are dark disturbing stories attracting youngsters?

Inspiring Children..One Book at a Time

*******Greta Burroughs

Archives

Categories

Inspiring Children..
One Book at a Time

*******

Greta Burroughs