Marvelous Middle Grade Monday ~ The Samantha Granger Experiment: FUSED Reviewed

I am thrilled to be a part of Shannon Whitney Messenger's Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays!! and also to be in the company of other authors who partake like Shannon O'Donnell!

Do I sound too excited?? If so, I apologize. Here, come on take it. It's cotton for your ears.

I have a Middle Grade book review for you from a fabulous debut author. (Can't wait for her interview. Hee...she's wonderful.) I'm anxious to pass this along to you, not just because I believe the author is a talent, but because my daughter kifed the book from me and reviewed it herself over on Oasis for YA before I could.

Title: The Samantha Granger Experiment: FUSED
Author: Kari Lee Townsend
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher: Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky (Nov. 2010)
Pages: 208

My favorite line: Not to mention I'll look like a total spaz with my head tipping north, south, east, and west.

Description: When you make a face or cross your eyes, do your parents tease that if you're not careful, your face might stay that way forever?

Well, my parents said that if I'm not careful, I'll turn into one of my gadgets.

I thought they were joking, people!

But-somehow, someway-I have become a living, breathing, walking piece of technology. Apparently my head now has a built-in GPS and my palm is equipped with talking and texting capabilities-just like my cell phone!

Now I'm a techno-superhero with powers that seem to have a mind of their own. And, in my case, keeping a secret identity is harder than it sounds. I short-circuit every time Trevor Hamilton looks my way.

Like being a girl isn't stressful enough.

COVETED! 

A must MG read for any middle grader.

I really did like it that much.

MY SPLATS: 

Surprising, edgy, with humor to boot, Samantha Granger is a vibrant yet earthy 7th grader with a problem. Her hand starts acting like her missing cell phone after she has a strange encounter with some foreign space rock in the backwoods. Sam's friendship with her girly best friend is believable as is her crush on the junior high heartthrob, Trevor. This story is a fun, fast-paced read that should appeal to as many boys of middle grade age as girls. The voice was easy and authentically MG and so was the vocabulary.

Oh, and after you read the book, you'll understand why the cover and my favorite line are so fitting. They're so Samantha!

Can't wait to see where Kara will take dear Samantha next...

The book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

OH, and I did my first interview. It's posted over on Ebyss' blog, today! If you're interested in reading more about me, go HERE. Thanks!

QUICK SPLAT: I've decided to start posting on Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays, and occasional odd days to promote contests & giveaways for other authors. The hubs switched his day of from W to T's about 4 months ago. While the kids are in school, it's our only time to get any household needs accomplished. So my schedule will be M-T-F. 

One Hundred Word Sentence Blogfest!

This must be the week of blogfests. I think I've participated in three or four since I started blogging almost a year ago, and this week I end up being involved in three!!

I've been taken over, friends.

Monday I did the whole music thing with Alex. Wendesday was with Christine and finishing her first line. Today is about writing but it's different.

Elena over on You're Write. Except when You're Rong had a great idea for a fest: create a 100 word sentence, give or take a few words. We were allowed to use one semi-colon and commas, of course.


I love how this pushed me, made me think beyond the boundaries of writing structure, word choice, and punctuation. 


She was trying to shuffle forward, but her feet stalled as paralyzing fear morphed claws and embedded into her pale skin that suddenly felt like rubber or the thick hide of an elephant or even a taunt balloon filled with too much air; but maybe it was the thrill of being so close to death, so near to him, to the one who had the upper hand and could crush her, smother her lifeforce or keep taunting it on a whim with the shifty eyes of a predator like she was expendable and without right to breath.

Well, there you have it. My entry.

Have you ever given this a try?? Why not now?

WINNERS!! & Writing the Next Line...Won't U?

I have 2 purposes here, today. Here's #1: I was completely blown away at the attendance to my book giveaway a week ago. OMGosh...I had over 188 comments on that post alone, over 1,000 new hits to the Alleyway, and 92 gracious people decided to follow me.

Can you say Cha-Ching in blogger's language???? I am truly humbled and extremely happy to announce the winners of said Package 1 and 2, chosen by Random.org.

ANNE is the WINNER of Package 1: Clockwork Angel/Fallout

CHARLIE is the WINNER of Package 2: Torment/Awakened

AND the WINNER of a copy of Terry Lynn Johnson's DOGSLED DREAMS is MEREDITH!

Many Congrats!! I have all your emails and will contact you.

And, ooh...I'm 4 followers shy of reaching 400!! I am so thankful. Tell you what, if you can help me get to 400 today by either tweeting for me, blogging, Facebooking, or whatever, I'll host a special 400 followers giveaway in February. If I end getting there and hosting a giveaway, let me know you plugged me for extra entries. Merci à mes amis.
______________________________________________________________________________


I'm a huge fan of writing exercises, although most of you wouldn't know that anymore. When I fired up the Alleyway, I had short writing exercises posted every Monday morning aka Monday Morning Munchies.

That fell to the wasteside and was renamed: I Imagine. Haven't done those in a while, either. But I will. So in honor of my lame efforts, I joined the fangtastic Christine's Journey Write the Next Line Blogfest. Yeah, most others posted there entry on Monday. Already signed up for another festie-fest, I decided to write up a post for Christine anyway, and post it today.

I've put Christine's beginning in bold. The rest is all mine. Thank you for reading. Heart you, guys!!

3:00 am. Those numbers glowed green, staring at me, letting me know I wasn't sleeping. I couldn't. If I did, who knows what injury I would wake up with. Every night a dream would consume me, and when I woke, something on my body was cut, bruised, or almost broken. 

I started at the ceiling. The fan squeaked and wobbled, trying to produce air flow. It wasn't succeeding. I turned over, hugging my pillow. What's happening? Maybe I should see someone, but who? A doctor? Padded room for sure. Is there such a thing as a dream specialist?

A branch scratched the window. I turned over again. 5:00 am. Where did the last two hours go? Adrenaline pumped through my veins, accelerating my heart. My T-shirt was damp and clinging to my back. What happened? Did I dream, again? 

Bang. Bang. Bang. I jumped up. Someone was at my door.

The room stilled, the only sound my racing pulse. My temples throbbed. A similar banging on my door had happened last night, only I hadn’t been awake…really.

I gnawed on the inside of my cheek. Blood squirted into my mouth and pooled under my tongue. The metal on my retainer was giving off a stale odor, so I flipped it out of my mouth and set it on my nightstand. Gulping the salty fluid confirmed I was awake. Was that good or bad?

My fuzzy slippers, the ones Chad, my boyfriend, had given me for Christmas, were warm to my feet. Well, I think he was still my boyfriend. We’d argued the week before he left for summer break and hadn’t spoken since, although someone said they saw his sister back in town, somber and nervous. What would she have to be nervous about, blonde-bombshell and the desire of every boy in town?

The banging turned to a gentle knock. One knock. Someone whispered my name. I pushed off my mattress, my pink sweatpants bunching at my kneecaps, my camisole noosing my torso. Readjusting the cotton, I stepped forward putting pressure on my heels first.

I’d called Chad a million times and even texted him. He was probably busy by the pool, hobnobbing with some European family at his parent’s villa in Spain. I’m making this sound like fun for him, but he hadn’t wanted to go. I encouraged him to do it for his parents. That’s what we argued about. I remember feeling like he was scared or anxious. But really, Spain?? Yeah, oh the horror. My toes crushed the soft cotton of my slippers; it wasn’t as settling as I’d hoped.

The crease where my carpet met the bottom of my bedroom door pulsated with a light glow.

“Who’s there?” I asked, but no one answered, only the sound of heavy breathing.

Gripping my desk chair, I cramped the back under the doorknob. Two heavy books sat on my desk. I lodged one against the wooden legs, securing the brace. My arms hugging my chest, and I ebbed from the door.

credit for photo

Light thickened to a bluish hue and seeped further under my door. A misty cloud floated aimlessly toward my desk and then slithered up the wall. The urge yard my door open and bolt down the hallway was pretty strong. But I couldn’t move. Not because some poltergeist possessed me, but because the mist had taken form, a human silhouette reflecting off my window.

The smoky figure stood tall, wearing a familiar football jersey and a torn pair of jeans. His face was sullen and his lips, blue. His eyes were as green as freshly cut ivy. A baseball cap sat backwards on his head, the emblem of the Red Sox staring at me. I bit the meaty part of my fist and stuttered an inhale.

With thumbs hooked in the pockets of his jeans, he gazed at me, soft and gently, and then with more urgency. The tips of his hair tapped his shoulder like they were waiting for him to make a move. 

His lips parted and he said, “Help me.”

I knew that image.

“Chad!” I yelled, and he lunged for me.

Here's some of the other writers who posted for the blogfest. There's great stuff over there!!

Christine's Journey Jen @ Unedited anne gallagher Sonia's Blogfest Tessa Conte

Writers' Ally aka SA Larsen Nicole @ Where Fantasy and Love Take Flight Dawn Embers Myne Whitman Writes Mara Nash

Music Up the Whazoo!!

(1st: for those of you who journeyed over to the Alleyway to see my addendum to Christine's Next Line Blogfest, this isn't it. Blah...once again, I signed up for two blogfests. So I'll post the text on Wednesday. Hope you come back to see my personal Graffiti!!)

But please stay and check out the Muscial-orama I've got going on here, today.

My new blogger friend, Alex Cavanaugh, is celebrating Music and all it's influences. I am as huge a music fan as I am a movie buff. My musical gray matter just couldn't resist.

Many times I've written of the influence music has had on my life. First with my dancing, then raising my babies--especially while they were little, and ultimately with my writing. There is always a song that taps into my current mood or thought process, pointing me in the direction a scene could take or giving me the vibe one of my characters need.

For this blogfest, Alex asked each of us to simply list our top ten favorite songs by band and why they move us. I have a wide range of loves so my list may seem odd to you. Hope you enjoy it anyway!


"What a Feeling", by Irene Cara - as a dancer, there was no better movie to influence my soul than Flashdance, and no better song to motivate me to be me.

"Shook Me All Night Long", by AC/DC - just because, and yes, there just might be a high school memory attached to this one.... *grins and blushes*

"She's Some Kind of Wonderful", by Andrew Strong - this tune is upbeat and sweet, not to mention the song my hubs surprised me with on our wedding day when he dedicated it to me.

"Living on a Prayer", by Bonjovi - another great high school memory. It gave me freedom and the will to dream.

"Paradise By the Dashboard Light", by Meatloaf - a fun, upbeat tune about teenage youth and wildness at its best.

"You Raise Me Up", by Josh Grobin - classical it is and beautiful. When I need a pick-me-up in the confidence department I listen to this song. His voice is that of an angel and the lyrics are amazing.

"Fighter", by Christina Aguilera - because I am. I don't believe in giving up...ever. I hope you never do.

"I Hope You Dance", by Lee Ann Womack - if you ever want to know me better, listen to this song. This is me.

"She's Got the Looks That Kill", by Motley Crue - a hard tune, which always reminded me of a dark paranormal horror. Just love that stuff.

"Still Loving You", by the Scorpions - one of my favorite, favorite rock ballads. It says far more than the words sung.

I could go on FOREVER. But, our time is limited. Thank you, Alex, for suggesting this fest and for everyone who's visiting and reading.

I HEART U!! 


Do you have a few favorite songs that influence you? 

The Significant Other Blogfest!

Ever heard of T bone? What about Talli?

I know some of you have. For those who haven't, you have to pay a visit to their blogs. T bone aka Don is a wonderful blogger who's filled his followers plate with at least one member from every state in the US. Cool huh? And he talks about the wifey's throw pillows. (hee...)

Talli Roland is a talented writer with amazing ideas. Her book, The Hating Game, was released Fall of 2010.

They've gotten together to create what I think is a pretty ingenious blogfest. What do my 'significant others' think of me as a writer?

At first, I wasn't going to bother signing up. Getting my family to write up even the smallest paragraph about me would be quite the feat, definitely an energy buster. But our way-pleasing hosts came up with an alternative for those of us in my delicate position. Questions. Three simple question posed to said significant other(s). Yeah, that option worked much better for me.

Now in my household of six, you'd think I could get someone to man-up and write a little entrée about Mom/wifey/writer. The hubs isn't into writing or reading unless it has to do with sports or cars (his industry). The 17yr-old was just too busy. The 14 & 12yr-olds are, well...14 & 12. And the itty-bitty 7yr-old simply thinks Mom is cool but is always in her office. LOL

L to R: Kate, Me, Josh, Jake, CJ, & the hubs-Artie

Here's a photo of my motley-looking crew at a friends house, watching the Pats lose their shirts last weekend. So depressing.

One of my friends was able to catch us all in the same picture. It's shocking, really.

So...um, yeah...it took a while to get them together, but I finally cornered them with my evil eye and threats of no food for a week. Here's their collective thoughts about me. (I believe the first three responses are from the kids and the last dual answer is from the hubs.)

1. What food or drink is guaranteed to return your loved one to a good mood, even after a bad day writing?


Chocolate and wine.


2. What one thing would you change about your others writing habits?


She talks to herself, which is way weird, and says 'sorry' to her laptop. Just as odd. We catch her walking around the house, smiling strangely at absolutely nothing. When we ask what she's doing, she just says, "I'm thinking." She has little notebooks everywhere and we'd better not touch them. *Shiver* She can get as scary as her invisible friends.


3. How hard is it to sit by and watch someone you care for struggle to attain a dream...knowing there's very little you can do to help?


We just tell her to be positive and good things will happen. We wish she wouldn't work so many hours and take more time off, but we know she's working hard. We are so excited for the day when her book comes out!!


Hard? 99% hard. She deserves everything, because having four kids and writing books is taxing on the mind. At least we have a family calender...that everyone's suppose to use to help Mom keep track of things.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to check out the other posts linked to the blogfest!

SPLATTER ALERT: My wonderful friend, Roza, has posted an interview today for a special writer who decided to self-publish her book. Take a gander over and read all about Kelly and her book!

Have a completed MG or YA manuscript you'd like to have fully critiqued? ENTER to win!!

Remember to ENTER the giveaways I have for free books! Linky is up top under Contests!!

NOW, get your Significant Others on, peeps! (You can click on the link to see if there are more folks participating. I copied these links a few days ago.)

1. DL Hammons 2. Talli Roland 3. Alex J. Cavanaugh 4. Charlotte Otter 5. SA Larsen 6. Jessica Bell 7. Summer Frey 8. Jules 9. Tracy 10. Leigh T. Moore 11. You're Write. Except when you're Rong. 12. Lisa Galek 13. Stephanie @ Scribbler to Scribe 14. Nicole Ducleroir 15. Sangu Mandanna 16. Raquel Byrnes, Edge of Your Seat Romance

17. Nicole @ Where Fantasy and Love Take Flight 18. Shannon O' Donnell (Book Dreaming) 19. Dan @ sanguine Musings 20. Candyland 21. T.J. Carson 22. Clarissa Draper 23. Ellie Garratt 24. Karly Kirkpatrick 25. Gina 26. The Good Wifehold 27. PK Hrezo 28. Susan Fields 29. Summer Ross 30. Melissa Sugar 31. Patricia A. Timms 32. Kari White

33. Margo Kelly 34. Jon Paul@ Where Sky Meets Ground 35. Elle Strauss 36. L.A. Colvin 37. Alexia Chamberlynn 38. Sara B. Larson 39. Angela Felsted 40. Donna Hole 41. Len's Conversations with Self 42. Len's Conversations with Self 43. Jolene Perry @ Been Writing 44. Kazzy 45. Wendy Tyler Ryan 46. Jen @ Unedited

That's YAmore Blogfest!!

I'm a love sap.


Yup. I LOVE romance.


And lucky for all of you, so do my team blogger sisters over on Oasis for YA. In honor of the Month of Love, February, we've decided to host a BLOGFEST.


Starting February 11th, the Friday before Valentine's Day, we invite you to post 250 romantic, swoon-worthy words from your YA WIP or feel free to make up something new. 


Then check out the entries from some of the other participants. We know your Valentine will appreciate you getting yourself in a romantic state of mind...


Head over to Oasis for YA for more details and sign up using Mr. Linky. This is an easy blogfest and one that can help us meet more amazing writers. 


Feel free to grab the blogfest badge and link it to the post, too!! Thanks for all your help!


Best of luck! I can't wait to read all the steam....

WINNER of Perilous & Beth Revis' ATU GIVEAWAY!!

We have a WINNER!!!! The winner of a copy of Tamara Hart Heiner's book PERILOUS, chosen by Random.org is.......

HEATHER of Heather's Odyssey!!!! Congratulations. I'll be in touch!

NOW....

Have you heard about the OUT-OF-THIS-UNIVERSE Giveaway Beth Revis is having!!?? You have not???Well, she, along with her fabulous publisher, RAZORBILL, are celebrating ACROSS THE UNIVERSE's release on January 11th!!

Okay. So you haven't heard. Well, here are the deets:

All you have to do is take a picture of yourself with the book!!

Don't have a copy, yet? Not a problem. There's still time to buy one HERE and HERE and HERE.

BUT WAIT!! There's more...lots more. I'll let Beth tell it as only she can. (The following was taken from her blog...thx, Beth. You RAWK!)

...Razorbill is once again joining in with the celebration and offering FIFTY awesome prizes in addition to the three big prizes I'm offering!!!

Entering to win the prizes is super easy. All you have to do is take a picture of yourself with your copy of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. That's it. Just snap a picture and send it in, and you're entered!

First, here's what Razorbill is providing for you--custom made, totally sweet, amazingly cool WATER BOTTLES! And trust me--when you read ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, you are going to know how very very appropriate this prize is!

WANT. WANT. WANT.

To win ONE OF FIFTY water bottles, all you have to do is upload your picture to the Facebook Page! But that's not all!

There are also THREE awesome prize packs that you can win!

The grand prize is:

PRIZES INCLUDE:

-Signed hardcover copy of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Audiobook version of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Pin buttons and book mark and a star sucker (yum!)

-A MULTI-TOUCH IPOD NANO!

Yup! You saw that right! A multi-touch iPod nano! These little things are so cool--they are small, but they still have the multi-touch screen (like an iPad). I really wanted to include one of these in the prize pack because in my book, the characters use something called "floppies" which is a computer, but the size and thickness of a piece of paper, and the multi-touch controls in the floppies were something I developed in the book after playing with my own iPod. 

To win the grand prize pack: all you have to do is submit a picture of yourself with the book in some way. If you enter for the Facebook water bottle prize, that totally counts and you're already entered for the grand prize! How easy is that?! If you for some reason don't want to enter the Facebook prize, you can also enter for the grand prize by either posting your picture on your own website, tweeting the picture, or emailing it to me atATUContest@gmail.com.

But that's not all!!!

You guys know I love how creative you are, right? I mean, you guys are pretty awesome, and have come up with some awesome stuff. And, well, I'd love it if I could associate ACROSS THE UNIVERSE with some of your awesome.

So I'm doing another prize pack. 

PRIZES INCLUDE:

-Signed hardcover copy of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Audiobook version of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Pin buttons and book mark and a star sucker (yum!)

-Something very cool and very secret that is hidden inside of that little brown box. 

Only the winner will get to see inside and claim the prize that's there.

To win the best picture prize pack: all you have to do is have the coolest picture of yourself. This is going to be totally arbitrary, and totally up to me--whatever picture I pick as being the most awesome gets this prize. You can do anything--you can pose in a cute way, you take the book somewhere cool and pose with it in the awesome location, you can do something neat and have the book with you while you do it--it is 100% up to you, and which ever of you take the most awesomest cool picture, gets the prize! I am seriously excited to see what you can do with this!!!

But that's not all!!!!!!!!!!!

I also really want the whole wide world to know about ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and I want to reward the people who have helped me spread the word about the book. So...at the bottom of the entry form, there's a space to fill out who told you about the contest. I am going to take the top ten people who refer the most people to the contest, and I'm going to draw a name from those ten and give the winner this:

PRIZES INCLUDE:

-Signed hardcover copy of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Audiobook version of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

-Pin buttons and book mark and a star sucker (yum!)

To win the referral prize pack: all you have to do is advertise this contest and remind people to add your name (and website or twitter or facebook or whatever) to the bottom of the form. I'll add them all up and reward one of the top ten referring peeps!

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

There are also: rules! 

OFFICIAL ENTRY RULES:

1. All entries must fill out the form below to be considered for the prize (it's how we know who entered and how to contact winners).
2. To win a water bottle, you must upload your picture to the Facebook Page (emailing, tweeting, or blogging doesn't count for that prize).
3. If you upload a picture to the Facebook Page, that entry counts for the other prize packs, too--you only need to take and upload a picture once; you don't have to upload anywhere else.
4. If you don't upload your picture on Facebook, either email a copy toATUContest@gmail.com or include the hyperlink in the entry form.
5. The prize packs with Beth are international; the water bottles are US only.
6. The picture must be taken with a final copy of the book--ARCs don't count. You can display either dust jacket you want (the kissing cover or the blue print cover) as long as it's a picture with the actual physical book.
7. Taking a picture in a bookstore doesn't count--ACROSS THE UNIVERSE wants to go home (or on an adventure) with you!
8. eBooks count! Just make sure to show the book on the screen of your eReader in the picture.
9. The winner of the best picture is up to me. No whining. 
10. Deadline for pictures: January 25th. (As in: pictures need to be received by January 25th; winners will be announced later that day.)
11. One entry per person--but one person could win multiple prizes (i.e. you could win a water bottle from the Facebook contest and still win a prize from me, or you could be randomly selected for one prize and still win the best picture or the referral prize).

BUT THAT'S NOT ALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, wait. Yes, it is. That's all. 

Except for the entry form!!  

Isn't this giveaway incredible. I told you to read until the end. So go and visit Beth's blog quick!! Fill out her form and wait to be a winner! Good luck everyone! 


I did!

I'm GIVING AWAY BOOOOKS!!!

Today is a day I've been waiting on. A day when I can share good news with you, welcome new Alleywalkers (HI!!!), and give you some swag!!

I've been chewing on a number of projects over the last few months. But while doing so, there was unexpected movement with MARKED BEAUTY. Do I have that heart-stopping, leap-over-a-chair news for you yet?? Not just yet. I've been teetering in limbo for the past few months but have almost found the rim to climb over. I can smell it. *smiles* I'll be sharing this adventure with the fabulous Ebyss soon. She interviewed me. Me? *shaking and shivering* As soon as I know anything, you'll be the first to know!!

{On the freelance side of my life, I'm thrilled. A representative from CBS got in touch with me yesterday and I'm in for an interview with one of the new cast members of this season's SURVIVOR. Whew!! Now I've got to come up with a fantastic interview and article. Toes & Fingers crossed.}

Anyway, I've been taking my time, studying more, listening to experienced authors' advice (and an agent and publisher), and discovering my distinct writer's confidence and voice--yup, my writer's voice. Not the voice of my characters, but the voice that enables me to stand up and say, 'Yes, I have what it takes.'

I'm hoping to be able to explain more soon, but for now...I WANT TO GIVE YOU A GIFT!! You are all so amazing! I don't want to sound like the fickle high school girls I write about but...I think you are gangsta and all dat! I love your hair, your clothes.... I have cyber eyes for you. The fact that you stop by as often as you do astounds me. You inspire me and send me cyber hugs. A few have even sent me cards and a sweet gift. I HEART you.

So, I've decided to participate in an amazing Blog Hop! Martha's Bookshelf & Inspired Kathy are hosting today's ~ Dreaming of Books GIVEAWAY Hop!

You heard it. All the blogs participating are simply giving away books. That's it. So cool!! And at last look, there were over 174 blogs involved. WHOA!!

Need books ~ FREE BOOKS???

The Dreaming of Books Giveaway runs from 12:01 AM January 14th until 11:59PM on January 17th, and yours truly is in. So PASS the word, please.

Okay, so I've blabbed enough. Here's what I'm putting out there for grabs:

PACKAGE #1

PACKAGE #2

To ENTER, all you have to do is leave me a comment why you love reading and choose which package you'd like to WIN. If you'd like either, tell me that too! (Please leave your email addy & my giveaway is open internationally.)I'll announce the winners on Monday, January 24th!! Be listening.

GOOD LUCK, and keep on reading!

Dogsled Dreams!!

Snow, ice, and racing! What more could a middle grade child want during this wintery season?

I've featured this Alley-worthy author on the Graffiti Wall before, as I have many others. I'm into promoting writers. I read and review YA & MG books. Of course, that's what I write as well. I interview and host guest posts for authors, even some of you. (Hi!)

So when Terry asked if I'd host her official promotion for her MG novel DOGSLED DREAMS, there was no refusing. Only problem: I could not for the life of me upload it into this post. So what I've done is a tad different, but I think it works. I've used pieces of her promo below. Enjoy! And she has a SURPRISE! so read on...

Twelve-year-old Rebecca dreams of becoming a famous dog sled racer. She's an inventive but self-doubting musher who tackles blinding blizzards, wild animal attacks, puppy training, and flying poo missiles. All of her challenges though, seem easier than living up to the dogs' trust in her abilities.

And how cool is this. She even has a Teacher's Guide for DOGSLED DREAMS. Here's what Diane Johnson, Iditarod's Education Director, had to say - "Any teacher using Gary Paulsen's Woodsong would want Terry Johnson's Dogsled Dreams as a part of their classroom library." 

Take a gander over to her website where she has her First Chapter up and running.
Do you have her book yet? No. Well, here's where you can purchase it: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Book Depository. 

BUT WAIT!! THERE'S MORE. THE SURPRISE....

You have a chance to win yourself a copy!! Your very own copy. Terry has been gracious enough to offer up a copy! All you have to do is leave me a comment below!! Don't forget to leave your email addy so I can get in touch with you when you win!!

WINNER to be announced on Jan. 24th.

GOOD LUCK!!

The REBEL WRITER'S PLEDGE 2011

I'm a rebel at heart. Yeah, a closet rebel for most of my first XYZ years--didn't think I was going to tell you my true age now, did ya?--but none the less, a rebel.

REBEL - when used as a noun (according to Dictionary.com.)
1. a person who refuses allegiance to, resists, or rises in arms against the government or ruler of his/her country. 2. a person who resists any authority, control, or tradition.


When I see myself now, I see a person (Mom, writer, wife...) who respects authority & tradition but wants to forge her own path--her way.


Last Monday while surfing the web, I read a ton of posts declaring this year to be 'The Year'. Or lists upon lists of goals that 'I may or may not meet'. 


I've decided to approach the New Year of 2011 a little differently. Hope you'll join me.

~The REBEL Writer's Pledge~ 

I pledge: 

1~ to be ME in all that I write during this new year, to be true to myself, and write from that hidden place within me, scourging the pages with a blazing prism of light. 

2~ to write for ME and know the market will be there, my agent and book deal are there in the wings just waiting to jump on my rails and take this journey with me.

3~ to help others, reading and line editing and encouraging. ~ What is given is always repaid ten fold ~ I will be that truth.

4~ to blog earnestly and post with passion, addressing everyday aspects of writing and the publishing world. 

5~ to include all of you.

6~ lastly, to be a writer who leaves his/her mark wherever she goes, touching the lives of those who choose to read my written words. I will feel their blessing and pass it on.

YOU may be wondering why the RED DRESS? Firstly, everyone knows the little black dress is a must for any lady's wardrobe. So I have a red one. *winky-see rebel* The other three photos represent: 

- the spiral - the adversity and hurdles we'll each go through this year. 

- the glass - how we reflect ourselves and our individual lives in our writing. It's also a reminder to remain 'true to ourselves'.  

- bottles of champaign - to celebrate each of our successes for 2011!

Are you ready to take this pledge? I know you're ready. I believe in you. 

I've resized that photo for your convenience. If you want to take this pledge with me, cut and past the badge to your website, linking it to this post. (You could even post about it. That would be great.) Come December of this year. I will post a new blogfest where we'll share how we lived out our pledge. You don't have to keep track of anything. This photo is to connect us all and remind you, everyday, that you DO have what it takes no matter what road you decide to travel. 

Looking forward to hearing all of your successes this coming year!! 

Remember...I believe in you!