Always on the lookout for entertaining and enlightening books for my young cousins, I was delighted to discover the Hoo Hoo the Bear series by author Amanda Kleback.
This charming series features five titles available in hardcover and made in the USA. The series takes youngsters and their parents on unique journeys while creating lasting memories with the help of an adorable little bear named Hoo Hoo. Who can resist a cuddly bear at Christmas? To enhance the learning experience, a plush Hoo Hoo the Bear is also available to accompany the series.
The first book in the series is HOO HOO’S SONG. The main character, Hoo Hoo, is a cute, cuddly bear with a big heart. He hears a song coming from his heart and it leads him to a shelf in a store.
Before long the song leads Hoo Hoo to find Mrs. B, whose heart is singing the same song. Mrs. B. is a bit sad, but Hoo Hoo makes her giggle and they become best friends. She takes Hoo Hoo home and their family adventures begin.
Author Amanda Kleback tells a delightful story of friendship, love and caring. The story is beautifully illustrated by Kerry Mentzer and Sara Warfel. It includes an illustration of Hoo Hoo youngsters can color using their own imagination. There is also a maze puzzle in back for youngsters to enjoy.
Hoo Hoo’s Song by Amanda Kleback, Illustrated by Kerry Mentzer and Sara Warfel, The Hoo Hoo the Bear Company, @2012, ISBN: 978-1936963041, Hardcover, 24 Pages
The second book in the series, KNOCK, KNOCK! HOO HOO’S THERE!, takes youngsters on a magical journey back in time to a land where dragons roam and Sir Hoo Hoo lives. One day Sir Hoo Hoo encounters the Nusspickle monster who blocks his path home. Sir Hoo Hoo has to knock on wood to enlist the help of a fairy who leads him away from danger.
In this cute story, the author uses the old saying, ‘knock on wood’ to create Hoo Hoo’s adventure. The story is beautifully illustrated by Brian and Amanda Kleback with contributing art by Sara Warfel and Kerry Mentzer.
Knock, Knock! Hoo Hoo’s There! by Amanda Kleback, Illustrated by Brian and Amanda Kleback, Contributing Art by Sara Warfel and Kerry Mentzer, The Hoo Hoo the Bear Company, @2012, ISBN: 978- 1936963058, Hardcover, 24 Pages
Next in the series is HOO HOO!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS. In this adorable tale Hoo Hoo gets ready for his family’s annual Christmas Eve tradition - preparing food as it has been done for generations.
Just before midnight Hoo Hoo goes with his family as they carry a big pot of fruit soup to the barn to share with the animals. At the strike of midnight the barn becomes flooded with conversation as all the animals talk for one minute. Hoo Hoo learns sharing the food is a tradition of saying thanks for what the animals’ ancestors did the night Jesus was born.
The author creatively uses the Polish tradition of Wigilia (observed by her family) to relate the celebration of family, friends and especially the birth of Jesus. Hoo Hoo, his family and all the animals come to life through the amazing illustrations of the author and Jessica Lopez.
Hoo Hoo!!! Merry Christmas by Amanda Kleback, Illustrated by Amanda Kleback and Jessica Lopez, The Hoo Hoo the Bear Company, @2012, ISBN: 978- 1936963065, Hardcover, 24 Pages
The series continues with HOO IS FROM BALTIMORE, HON!. Hoo Hoo learns Mrs. B. grew up in a magical place called Baltimore. On a field trip to the area, Hoo Hoo and his family visit various famous and popular sites such as the Maryland Zoo, Fort McHenry, the Maryland Science Center, the Cylburn Arboretum, and much more.
The author weaves an adventure through the city and its attractions. She points out seeing magic in a place depends on how you look at it. The beautiful illustrations depicting the story are by the author.
Hoo Is From Baltimore, Hon! by Amanda Kleback, Illustrated by Amanda Kleback, The Hoo Hoo the Bear Company, @2012, ISBN: 978- 1936963072, Hardcover, 24 Pages
The last installment in the series is DON’T GET A BOO BOO, HOO HOO!. This is a well-written book explaining various safety tips for youngsters.
The author uses Hoo Hoo to explain how to respond to strangers, when and how to dial 911, and what to do when someone swallows poison. In addition, Hoo Hoo demonstrates what to do when lost, dealing with bullies, and in case of fire. The bright, vivid illustrations by the author will capture a youngster’s attention and hold it as the lesson is learned.
Don’t Get A Boo Boo, Hoo Hoo! by Amanda Kleback, Illustrated by Amanda Kleback, The Hoo Hoo the Bear Company, @2012, ISBN: 978- 1936963133, Hardcover, 24 Pages
This series doesn’t have to be read in order. In fact, I’m not sure I have the books listed in the correct order here. However, the complete set would make a wonderful gift for a child’s library providing delightful hours of entertainment and many life lessons to learn along the way. Additional learning activities, lesson plans, and games can also be found on Hoo Hoo’s website at www.hoohoothebear.com. FTC Full Disclosure - I requested the first book in this series. The entire five book series and a couple of adorable plush Hoo Hoo the Bears were sent to me by the author in hopes I would review the books. However, receiving the complimentary copies and bears did not influence my reviews but were a wonderful surprise and treat. Thanks so much for stopping in today. Do you enjoy searching for books to share with youngsters in your family? Have you found any books lately you’d like to tell us about?
An adorable little girl named Avery adopts a cute chocolate brown poodle from a Los Angeles animal shelter. She names the dog Pansy and takes her to live with her and her family at the Palace Hotel. Pansy quickly makes friends with the guests, residents and staff of the hotel.
When jewelry is stolen from several guests, Pansy quickly picks up the trail of the thief. It’s up to this canine detective to locate the thief and save the hotel’s reputation.
Author Cynthia Bardes has created a delightful story with an irresistible canine protagonist in PANSY AT THE PALACE. This is an entertaining tale of friendship and mystery. The story moves quickly and will capture youngsters’ imagination. In addition, the story highlights the importance of adopting pets from humane societies and animal shelters.
This charming story is brought to life through the vivid and beautiful illustrations by Kim Weissenborn. The bold and colorful illustrations will mesmerize young readers as they join Pansy on the search for the missing jewelry. The glossy pages are high quality and durable for many hours of enjoyment at the hands of youngsters.
PANSY AT THE PALACE would make a delightful addition to any child’s library and a perfect gift for the holiday season. For more about Pansy, visit PansyAtThePalace.com
Pansy At The Palace by Cynthia Bardes, A Beverly Hills Mystery, Illustrated by Kim Weissenborn, Octobre Press, @2012, ISBN: 978-0615692531, Hardcover, 32 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have you discovered any new children’s books lately?
Today throughout the country we take time to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It’s a time for family and friends, good food, friendship, football, and relaxing.
We should also remember, it’s a day to give thanks for what we have, where we are, and who we are.
Sometimes as chaos takes over our lives, we don’t think there is much to be thankful for -- but there is. We may not have all that we want and the economy may be bleak, but there is much to be thankful for even if it’s the simplest of things.
Being able to greet another day (sunny, cloudy, or rainy), should make you thankful. Being able to share food (an elegant meal or a sandwich) with family and friends, should make you thankful. Being able to pet your four-legged furry companions, should make you thankful. Having family and friends that you can visit with or talk to, most definitely should make you thankful.
With my life turned upside down daily, I’m still so thankful for all I have. I hope each and everyone who stops by here from time to time realizes just how thankful I am for your friendship and your support.
May you all have a wonderful day to enjoy as you wish. For those who are not celebrating this holiday, I am still grateful for your friendship and support. I wish for you a day to enjoy as you like as well. Let us not forget to include all of those touched by the recent storms in our prayers of thanks. Their lives are difficult right now, but I’m sure they would each say they are thankful for various things despite their circumstances.
Now have a safe and HAPPY THANKSGIVING (or HAPPY THURSDAY)!!
Stories that keep me guessing what will happen next or who the bad guys really are draw me in and hold me captive till the finish.
I have two such books to share today. They are from different eras in history, but both are suspenseful and have lots of history intertwined. First we’ll go back in time to the Roaring Twenties and see how a rumrunner seeks revenge. Then we’ll return to present day for a trip to Yemen searching for an Al Qaeda terrorist.
Take a step back in time to the era of the Roaring Twenties just as change is coming to the movie industry and a rumrunner wants in on the action.
Matt ‘Hud’ Hudson is the premier bootlegger to the stars and the movie industry bigwigs. Silent movies are still popular but Hud sees ‘talkies’ as where things are going. He shares his dream of making a ‘talkie’ with his best friend, Danny Kincaid, a con man.
Kincaid gets the idea to run a con on Frank Minnetti, a Chicago gangster recently relocated to California. Kincaid believes Minnetti is the answer to Hud making his movie. However, when things turn deadly and Kincaid winds up at the bottom of the ocean, Hud’s direction changes. He sets out to run his own con to find his friend’s killer and seek justice no matter what.
The story is well-balanced with historical tidbits scattered throughout for a plausible adventure. Author Jeffrey Stone has done an excellent job researching the era and setting placing the reader back in time with realistic accuracy.
PLAY HIM AGAIN is filled with colorful characters mingling with real-life movie stars such as Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplain. It details bootlegging and the movie industry giving a look at how the two facets were possible interwoven. The story is action-packed moving at a steady pace but never losing your attention. There’s suspense, mystery, friendship, loyalty, and surprises along the way.
You don’t have to be a movie buff or a fan of the silent screen era to enjoy this tantalizing adventure. Hud is a character well-worth keeping an eye out for in the future.
Play Him Again by Jeffrey Stone, A Matt Hudson Novel, Riverdale Press, @2012, ASIN: B007MDM8EW, Kindle Format, 444 KB, 310 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
When you find yourself laughing out loud while listening to a suspense thriller set in one of the most treacherous countries in the world, you know author Nelson DeMille has returned protagonist John Corey to the limelight.
Anti-Terrorist Task Force agent John Corey has followed his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, to Yemen. There they joined a small team of specialists assigned to tracking down the mastermind behind the USS Cole bombing. Their job is to apprehend a high-ranking Al Qaeda operative known as The Panther. Their orders are specific in his apprehension as The Panther is an American citizen.
As more is learned about this particular assignment, John begins to see more at work than they are being told. Turns out he and Kate are the bait to lure The Panther out into the open. John is on a hit list for killing Asad Khalil, a Libyan terrorist known as The Lion. Kate is in the crosshairs for killing a tainted CIA agent, even though the shooting was in self-defense.
The couple soon learn they can’t trust everyone who is supposedly on their side. And it also appears the allies shouldn’t be as trusting either.
Narrator Scott Brick does an excellent job bringing the various characters to life. He brings the emotions to the surface drawing listeners in as the tension builds. His interruption of John Corey and his dry wit will have you smiling and laughing despite the seriousness of the plot.
THE PANTHER is not a story that can be breezed through. At just over 21 hours of listening time, the story goes into great details about the country of Yemen and the lifestyles of its people. DeMille’s eye for details in describing the land, its people, and their customs causes the story to more slow for the first part. However, this background information and set up is necessary for the dramatic conclusion. The intense look at Yemen and the situation there helps place the listeners (and readers) in the midst of the action.
DeMille’s characters are well-developed with strengths and flaws. He writes John as a bit of a smart ass, but as you come to understand him you realize there’s more to him. His wise cracks are a way of coping with tense situations.
When the pace of the story picks up, it’s a roller coaster ride till the finish. There are twists and turns that will blow you away. The suspense will keep you wondering who is really good and how just how far will be bad guys go.
The Panther by Nelson DeMille, A John Corey Novel, Read by Scott Brick, Hachette Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-1619691827, Unabridged, 19 Discs, Listening Time: 21 Hours 30 Minutes
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. Thanks for stopping by today. Do you enjoy historical tidbits sprinkled throughout stories to give them a real-life feel?
I was delighted some time back to discover that my friend, fellow cat lover and blogging buddy Ingrid King was publishing a new book. Learning the book was compiled from work Ingrid has done through her blog, The Conscious Cat, I knew the subject matter would be both informative and entertaining.
I was right on both counts and much more. With that in mind, I’d like to share my thoughts on Ingrid’s latest release, PURRS OF WISDOM. Before I do, however, let me stress that while the book does incorporate the love cats and their actions -- it is most definitely not just for cat lovers. There is much to learn from this engaging book whether you are a pet owner, pet lover or not.
While dealing with pets can sometimes be frustrating and nerve-racking, for the most part pets provide unconditional comfort, love and joy in our lives.
It is with the latter in mind that PURRS OF WISDOM comes to life. Author Ingrid King skillfully illustrates how pets, especially those of the feline persuasion, can enrich and calm our lives if we pay attention.
The author has compiled this book in such a way as to draw you in, relaxing your tension as you read. She relates how various cats have come into her life and helped her, sometimes taking her life in unexpected new directions.
Through short essays about conscious living, King points out how one can center themselves and gain a bit brighter outlook with a little practice. She gives examples and explains that paying closer attention to our cats and their attitude can also give additional insight to helping us feel calm.
King highlights various faucets of life from multi-tasking to lack of energy to negative outlooks and more. She gives simple, concise tips on managing not your life, but how you react to what life deals you. One example is learning to be grateful for even the simplest things amid all the ups and downs of life.
PURRS OF WISDOM is an ideal book to add to any cat lover’s library. However, one doesn’t have to have a cat or even like cats to find enlightenment in this charming book. The reader merely has to want to improve their outlook on life and how they handle life in general.
With the holiday season upon us, we are more rushed than normal trying to accomplish everything on time and perfectly. Taking a few minutes here and there to enjoy PURRS OF WISDOM might just help you survive the madness of the festivities and live a more serene life year round.
The newly released paperback edition of this book includes additional chapters and photographs.
Purrs of Wisdom: Conscious Living, Feline Style by Ingrid King, The Conscious Cat, @2012, ISBN: 978-0988343702, Paperback, 144 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you take time amidst the chaos of life to give thanks for simple things like the sunshine or that delicious first cup of coffee in the morning?
Sheila Roberts, author of the holiday fiction MERRY EX-MAS, is touring blogdom this month on her seventh virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. As part of that tour, I had the opportunity to read Roberts latest installment in the Life in Icicle Falls series.
Holidays and weddings are special times for family and friends. But what’s a woman to do when her exs are included in all the festive events?
It seems Christmas is both a joyous and sad time for three ladies in Icicle Falls. As their past and present collide in humorous and life-altering ways.
Cass Wilkes, owner of the Gingerbread Haus bakery, is busy preparing for Christmas and her daughter Danielle’s unexpected wedding. She’s thrown for a loop when she learns Danielle has asked her father, Cass’ ex, to walk her down the aisle. To make matters worse - Mason, his new trophy wife, her yappy little dog, his sister, and his mother will all be staying with Cass thanks to Danielle.
Meanwhile, newly divorced Ella O’Brien is having to share her house with her ex, a musician trying to land a record deal. Neither one can afford to move until their dream home sells. Thanks to the private detective her mother hired, Ella believes Jake cheated on her.
The third friend in the group, Charlene Albach, is having her own problems with the return of her ex. It seems Richard has gotten over the hostess he left with. Now he just wants to forget and make up.
As the three friends console and support one another, life throws each one a few new curves. Their friendship holds steadfast as old wounds are reopened before the healing can begin.
Author Sheila Roberts does a wonderful job placing the reader in the midst of the charming town of Icicle Falls. Her characters are entertaining with their unique quirks and flaws.
MERRY EX-MAS moves at a steady pace with unexpected twists and turns along the way that will have you laughing out loud. The theme of family and friends, friendship and loyalty are well mixed with the story of how life can be more unexpected than ever imagined.
This is a heartwarming tale of three friends, their families and the extended families that blend together sometimes inexpertly.
Merry Ex-Mas by Sheila Roberts, Life in Icicle Falls, Harlequin MIRA, @2012, ISBN: 978-0778313922, Paperback, 320 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book in order to participate in the author’s blog tour. The book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. Sheila Roberts lives in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and
has three children. Her books have been printed in several different languages and have been chosen for book clubs such as Doubleday as well as for Readers Digest Condensed books. Her best-selling novel ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS was made into a movie and appeared on the Lifetime Movie Network. Her novel ANGEL LANE was named one of Amazon’s Top Ten Romances for 2009.
When she’s not making public appearances or playing with her friends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate. For more on the author and her writing, visit her website, find her on Twitter and like her on Facebook.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you have a great week.
This week the final installment in author Larissa Ione’s powerful Lords of Deliverance series will come to an end with the release of ROGUE RIDER.
To celebrate this exciting end of the series, the good folks at Grand Central Publishing are offering a full set of the Lords of Deliverance series to one lucky visitor here today. More on that at the end of the post.
In addition, Larissa is also going to be doing an "End of the Apocalypse #LODapocalypse twitter party tomorrow (Monday, Nov. 19) from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. (EST). Be sure to drop in and check out all the fun going on.
Here’s a brief description of ROGUE RIDER, the final installment in the New York Times bestselling Lords of Deliverance series: Born of a match between good and evil, four siblings stand between hell's minions and everything they want to destroy. They are the Lords of Deliverance, and they have the power to ward off Doomsday…or let it ride…
Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues—and falls for—a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming, and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man whom Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man who can be very dangerous…
Reseph may not know why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbors are killed, and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: Can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?
About the Author
An Air Force veteran, Larissa traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She spends her days in computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything now and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case.
She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.
For more about Larissa and her writing, visit her blog at http://larissaione.com/blog Here’s what others are saying about Larissa’s previous novels:
“Gifted storyteller Ione’s tales are gripping and dark, filled with tragedy and hope. Transfixing!” — RT Book Reviews “Larissa Ione’s acerbic wit, imaginative, vivid world and larger-than-life überalpha heroes make for a thrilling, fun, paranormal romp.” — USAToday.com “Provides a thrilling ride for readers…Ione balances all the angst with plenty of action, sexual tension, and dark humor.” — Publishers Weekly The other books in this intriguing series include:
ETERNAL RIDERThey are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.
Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.
IMMORTAL RIDER The signs are everywhere...disastrous world events. Evil rising up, unleashed upon the innocent. The prophecies were there...but no one listened. Until now. The time has come for those who can either usher in Doomsday...or prevent it. They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.
Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.
LETHAL RIDER Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he's about to become a father.
Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he's ever wanted-a family.
GIVEAWAY Here are the giveaway guidelines. To enter, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Lords of Deliverance series.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. only. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a complete set of Lords of Deliverance series is 8 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. What are your thoughts on series? How long should they go on? How should they end - happily, tragically, or open-ended so they could one day be reawakened?
THE BLOODY MARY CLUB is a fun book that I reviewed Nov. 6th. Here’s a brief synopsis of the book: Stock market meltdown. United States housing bubble. Global financial crisis. Chief executives cooking the books. Who can you trust for financial advice? Gina Van Story, a savvy 40ish investment advisor to the rescue. She can spot a trend on the market and jump on it like a cat. She dreams of grabbing the bull by the horns and is on the hunt for one final big score. Gina and her three best friends form the Bloody Mary Investment Club and come face-to-face with corruption in a David and Goliath struggle when their stock portfolio turns deadly…literally.
Over made-to-order Bloody Mary cocktails at historic Gadsby’s Tavern, Gina takes her friends under her wing and teaches them the ins and outs of the stock market. Trouble begins when, following Gina’s bullish advice, they become majority owners in the local bank and then stubbornly turn down a lucrative buyout offer. Not only will money and greed challenge their friendship, they will have to get smart fast and figure out how to turn the tables on the charmingly seductive, yet evil, banker who wants control of their stock by any means necessary – including murder!
Debbie is a novelist and businesswoman from Alexandria, Virginia, and has a background in military intelligence, the stock market, executive recruiting and writing. She joins us today to talk about writing, smart girl financial fiction, and share a unique giveaway contest she is sponsoring through the end of the month. Now here’s Debbie.
Thank you for inviting to post to your blog! I’m the author of The Bloody Mary Club, a financial thriller about an all women investment club that gets into trouble when their portfolio turns deadly. I’m very passionate about the stock market and investments. I’m also fascinated by the recent Ponzi schemes and financial scams that have been reported in the front page news. I’ve watched the bank meltdowns with great interest. As a former stockbroker, I’ve met a few embezzlers and worked with several bad brokers who’ve run away with client’s money.
My first venture into financial writing was “The Wall Street Calendar.” I received a 365 day calendar for Christmas several years ago; it was called “money saving tips.” It was awful! Each day I’d cringe with the new tidbit of information. Example: to save on toilet paper step on the roll. By flattening, you will save on paper use! At some point I said, “this is so bad, I could write a better one.” And sure enough, once I said that I had to go through with it.
I started working on a smart Wall Street Calendar which if you are paying attention put to good use at the beginning of each chapter of The Bloody Mary Club. My Wall Street 365 day calendar caught the attention of the publisher of the most the most well regarded financial commentator at the time-- Lou Rukeyser.
After I completed the calendar, I took a screenwriting class for fun and was hooked. The fun stopped once my scripts started to get attention. When I was featured in Script Magazine, the editor, Shelly Mellott, liked my financial know-how so much she asked me to join her with the magazine as an owner. As you can tell, I’m an asset-focused gal, I put my money where my passion lies and became an owner. We were a great team. Script Magazine has since been sold to Final Draft. It was the most fun ever! I went to scriptwriting and film fests all over the United States. I met writers, producers, directors and agents. It opened doors for my writing and gave me amazing exposure. Over the years, I wrote five screen plays, several treatments, and articles for magazines. Two of my screenplays were option by HBO and an A list actress. I also collaborated with award winning director Uli Edel ( Baader Meinhof Complex, Tyson, Purgatory, Little Vampires) on a action movie called Closing In.
The best advice I received was from a top agent at CAA. He told me that if you wanted to be respected in Hollywood and control your work, you need to be novelist. Novelists are held in very high regard. Screenwriters are at the bottom of the barrel of the Hollywood pecking order and many aren’t even invited to their own opening night. I took his advice to heart. The Bloody Mary Club novel is based on my script.
I describe The Bloody Mary Club as a smart girl financial fiction. I won’t tell you how to get a man, buy fabulous heels or decorate a swanky condo, but I will use investing terms, mention stocks and weave a story about the ins and outs of a bank takeover. Although it’s fiction, it has real world relevance. I want to make the stock market and investing understandable and fun. I aim to increase the interest in Chick lit financial thrillers. In this era of bankruptcy’s, foreclosures and retirements in question, you need to know how to chart your own course.
My characters in the investment club are women in their forties with no financial security and desperately rely on Gina Van Story to save them from a dead end retirement. All she demands is that the investment earrings stay put in the club until retirement age. This of course is a downer for them because Gina has all the toys and is about to enter the 1% club. They want to spend their club profits as soon they get them and Gina won’t allow it. It’s the classic battle of the ‘haves’ versus the ‘have not’s’.
Ladies! This is your wake up call to take get your financial house in order. Don’t wait for a rich prince to come and save you! Here’s a passage from The Bloody Mary Club, Page 28 where my lead character Gina gives her ladies a wakeup call for being lazy about their finances:
“You’ve all grown up thinking you can’t handle this stuff and if you’re a good girl, some big strong man will come along and take care of it for you. Wake up. It’s not going to happen. Without this club, you’ll be greeters at Wal-Mart when you’re seventy,” Gina plucked a shrimp from her drink and jiggled it at Vivi. “Your legal secretary job isn’t secure.” Vivi picked imaginary lint off her slinky top. “What happens when your on-man-shop lawyer is thrown in jail for tax evasion? You’re pushing fifty, who’s going to hire a legal secretary who types on an electric typewriter and uses shorthand?” Vivi pouted. Gina moved onto Sarah busy snacking on peanuts: “And you can’t stretch your paycheck. You’re floating your bills. If mommy and daddy didn’t help out, you’d have no phone service, electricity or water. What are you going to do when they aren’t around? You think you’ll inherit their money? Statistics aren’t on your side. Mom and the General will need that money for their nursing home care. Your ex will get the last laugh as he skis down the slopes in Zermatt after having a wine and raclette meal paid for from his impenetrable trust fund.” Sarah picked at her cuticles with one eye stuck in a half blink. “You forgot Joanie, she’s a mess”
After reading The Bloody Mary Club, I hope that the reader will realize that financial thrillers are fun to read and you might even learn something about the stock market. Through my story you will see that even the fat cats top get ripped off and that there are no get rich quick shortcuts. In this era of self-directed IRA’s, everyone is responsible for their financial future and must make wise investment decisions. We all need to be savvy investors or else face a painful and dismal retirement. I make it clear through my characters that there are short cuts to make money or guarantees to double your return
I like it when readers tell me that they learned something from The Bloody Mary Club and that they also enjoyed the story. I’ve gotten a great response from readers that don’t normally follow the stock market or have an interest in anything concerning money. Readers have asked me to give them financial advice, to look over a proposed investment or even verify their trading strategies. In this day and age with retirement up in the air, it’s gratifying to have this kind of positive response. Through my writing, I want to make the stock market fun and understandable. I’m not looking to write the all encompassing story about Wall Street, I want to write about a tiny slice of Wall Street and stay within that framework. My next novel, Gina’s Tonic, focuses on day trading and money laundering. There’s going to be offshore money maneuvers, a day-trader who’s forced to trade for profit or else die and nasty drug dealers trying to launder truckloads of money. For sure, the gin and tonics will flow on this novel!!
Debbie, thanks so much for joining us and giving us a fun look at the financial workings of Wall Street. I do enjoy your take on smart girl financial fiction.
Now a little background on Debbie. An Army brat, she’s lived in Turkey, France, Germany, Italy, Albania and Holland. She graduated from the American High School in Naples, Italy then attending University of Maryland, Munich Campus. She graduated from Georgetown University and holds a Bachelors of Science and Masters degree in National Security.
Debbie has two grown children, Lisa and Jordan, and has been married to Michael for over thirty wonderful years. In addition, Debbie has written 5 screenplays, one Wall Street calendar and two novels.
As I mentioned earlier, there is an intriguing giveaway that will run through Nov. 30. Pump Up Your Book and The Bloody Mary Club are teaming up to give you a chance to win a BLOODY MARY GIFT BASKET and WEEKEND SUBSCRIPTION to the Wall Street Journal.
Here’s how it works: Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form (like the one below) placed on blogs throughout the tour. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on December 1, 2012.
Visit each blog stop listed on the author’s tour page to gain more entries. In addition, you can also visit the prior stops on the tour (also found on the tour page) as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy stories where you learn from the characters? Do you enjoy books that dip into the financial world?
The popular sitcom Friends was a huge success during its run on evening TV and continues to be a fan favorite with reruns popping up all over the airwaves.
Are you a fan of Friends or have a friend/family member that is? If so, then I have an intriguing giveaway opportunity for you. PartnersHub is working with Warner Bros on the Friends: The Complete Series Blu-ray Box Set that was recently released. Thanks to PartnersHub I have a Limited Edition Friends prize pack featuring two oversized cappuccino mugs and a picture frame just like the one on Monica’s door to giveaway. Remember, this is not a giveaway for the Blu-ray set. Using the 30 Days of Friends Video Player below you can see new unlocked Friends Maship clips running throughout November. Check back every Thursday to see the newest clip. Relieve all your favorite Friends moments in these fun clips.
You can also learn fun facts and enjoy challenges using the 30 Days of Friends Trivia Challenge widget below. Come back everyday to earn a different Friends character badge, unlock hidden badges, and earn awesome Friends content along the way. Everybody loves the characters of Friends for their distinct and quirky personalities -- Chandler’s wit, Monica’s OCD, and Phoebe with her free-spirit. Take this quiz to find out what Friends character you are most like!
To enter this contest, send me an email (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with ‘Win Friends Mirror and Cups’ in the subject line. Be sure to include your complete mailing information in the body of the email. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, and no post office box addresses can be accepted. The deadline to enter this contest for a Limited Edition Friends prize package featuring two oversized cappuccino mugs and a picture frame is 8 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, Nov. 25. Warner Bros. Pictures announced the release of Friends: The Complete Series Blu-Ray Box Set on November 13th. Thanks so much for stopping by today. What is your favorite moment from the Mashup Clip Countdown? Have you taken the quiz? Which one of the Friends are you most like? Why do you think Friends is so popular?
Be sure to send an email by Nov. 25 to enter for a chance to win the Limited Edition Friends prize package featuring two oversized cappuccino mugs and a picture frame just like the one on Monica’s door.
Eight-year-old Lucy Turnbull knows that times are hard in Maple Grove. But as Christmas 1937 approaches, she can’t help but wish (and pray) for a pony, as well as the boarders her mother says they need.
Lucy lives with her mother and grandmother in the small farming community. Since her father’s death, the Turnbulls turned their home into a boarding house to help make ends meet. Picking up supplies in town, Lucy learns a couple are stranded while their car is being repaired. She tells them about their boarding house. One pray answered so surely she will get her pony too.
Lucy doesn’t want just any pony, but the dapple gray pony the Greenburgs down the road have for sale. She and Smoky are friends and she can’t image anyone else taking him.
With the arrival of the couple at the boarding house, life as the Turnbulls know it becomes busy and confusing. The strangers aren’t married, but merely traveling companions on their way to California. The woman wants to become a movie star and the man is looking for work.
Days before Christmas Lucy finds herself making new wishes and prays that could change her world forever.
THE CHRISTMAS PONY is a charming story that can be read in an afternoon. The story is short and so compelling you won’t be able to put it down.
Author Melody Carlson has combined all the right elements for a heartwarming, feel-good Christmas story. The characters are well-developed, realistic and unforgettable. Told from the youngster’s point of view, the story moves at a smooth, steady pace.
Billed as a historical romance, THE CHRISTMAS PONY is also inspiring, a bit suspenseful, and humorous. This delightful tale can be shared with all ages at any time of the year. If you want to believe the impossible is possible, THE CHRISTMAS PONY is the book to reinforce your faith.
The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson, Revell, @2012, ISBN: 978-0800719272, Hardcover, 176 Pages
Available Sept 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of a blog tour and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have you started reading Christmas stories yet? Doesn’t the cover of this book just draw you right in?
I’m delighted to welcome author Linda Schroeder here today as she makes a stop on her Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour for her release, ARTISTS & THIEVES, winner of the 2011 San Diego Book Award in the action/suspense category.
Here’s a brief description of ARTISTS & THIEVES: Where there is art, there are thieves.
Mai Ling is both. Artist by day, thief by night, she recovers stolen art for Interpol. It’s a business, not a passion, until her beloved grandfather reveals a family secret that is also a destiny. He is duty-bound to return to China an especially precious bowl which belonged to his ancestor. Mai must steal it for him.
But Mai Ling is not the only one after the bowl. Four others plan to extract the bowl from a private California art collection. The rival thieves grasp and then lose the bowl until finally Mai is faced with the ultimate dilemma: save the bowl or save herself. Her duty to her grandfather gives her only one choice.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Monterey Peninsula and peopled with quirky characters, this stylish art caper entertains on every page.
Linda joins us today to talk about using real details in an imaged setting.
Writers fill their fictional world with details from their real world. That’s why we believe their stories.
In ARTISTS & THIEVES, I consciously placed the character Angelo in Monterey’s Cannery Row because it is a well known place. But the restaurant I invented for him is straight out of my head. I called the restaurant Sardines because Cannery Row used to be a cannery row, think John Steinbeck, not a tourist destination. And the main fish packed in those old canneries were sardines. A reader doesn’t need to know that but it helps with the pun: “Sardines was packed. Angelo nudged his way into the bar area of the performance space, reassured a little by the odd mixture of elegance and crap which its owner, Max, had assembled. The metal and brick walls were bleak, the lighting….”
I don’t always consciously use details from a real place in a scene. The other day I had lunch at a restaurant which is built around an old trout fishing lake. It has fish water spouts on the eaves, fountains spraying cones of water in the middle, and ducks. There is a long path which winds down from the parking lot. The path is cool even on the hottest day because bamboo lines both sides of it, thick bamboo, almost three inches in diameter.
As I walked down the path the other day I thought, Wait a minute. I know this place. Well, of course, I know it, I’ve been here dozens of times. No, that wasn’t what I felt. I knew the path from somewhere else. Then I realized that I had used this path as a setting in ARTISTS & THIEVES. It popped into my head as I was writing a key scene towards the end of the novel. The memory of this real place unconsciously provided the perfect setting of a chapter.
The chapter is titled The Bamboo Grove. The main character, Mai, is in the hospital with her grandfather who has been shot. I’ll just pull a few sentences here as “Mai walked outside to the coffee stand. Came back in with coffee. Walked outside for a muffin. Came back in. Sat. Picked up a magazine. Couldn’t read. Couldn’t sit. Paced. Sat. Outside, wisps of fog flowed in currents of evening air. Mai wandered away from the hospital down a path to a grove of bamboo which screened the cement parking structure. The thick bamboo stalks offered a sturdy comfort. . . .The gently curving path wandered through the bamboo. She walked slowly, feeling hopeful. . . . Along with the rustle of the bamboo leaves, the bowl’s song played in her head. . . . ”
Since I study Chinese brush painting, I know that bamboo is a symbol in Chinese thought for resilience. It survives the snow of winter, bends without breaking, and remains green in the heat of summer. That image was perfect for this crucial moment in the story when Mai needs to pull herself together and find the person who shot her grandfather. Even if you as a reader do not share the knowledge of the symbol, bamboo works throughout the chapter.
Sometimes I deliberately choose certain places for my characters to be, sometimes the details of a place pop unexpectedly into my head as I write. Both ways help create a good story.
Linda, thanks for joining us today. I like the way you incorporate the real with your writing to make it more plausible.
Linda divides her time between the bright sun of California and the high mountains of Colorado. She has a Master’s degree in English and one in Communicative Disorders/Audiology. In addition to her novel, Artists & Thieves, she has published a college text.
Her early interest in English expanded to include language disorders and she began a second career as an audiologist and aural rehabilitation therapist working with deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adults.
Currently, she studies and practices Chinese brush painting, celebrating the vitality and energy of nature. She follows art and art theft blogs and writes her own blog about art and sometimes includes reviews of novels. She is working on two more novels, a second Mai Ling novel about the Diamond Sutra, and a Sammy Chan art mystery about the forgery of a Goya painting.
Always on the lookout for entertaining and enlightening books for my young cousins, I was delighted to discover the Hoo Hoo the Bear series by author Amanda Kleback.
The first book in the series is HOO HOO’S SONG. The main character, Hoo Hoo, is a cute, cuddly bear with a big heart. He hears a song coming from his heart and it leads him to a shelf in a store.
The second book in the series, KNOCK, KNOCK! HOO HOO’S THERE!, takes youngsters on a magical journey back in time to a land where dragons roam and Sir Hoo Hoo lives. One day Sir Hoo Hoo encounters the Nusspickle monster who blocks his path home. Sir Hoo Hoo has to knock on wood to enlist the help of a fairy who leads him away from danger.
Next in the series is HOO HOO!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS. In this adorable tale Hoo Hoo gets ready for his family’s annual Christmas Eve tradition - preparing food as it has been done for generations.
The series continues with HOO IS FROM BALTIMORE, HON!. Hoo Hoo learns Mrs. B. grew up in a magical place called Baltimore. On a field trip to the area, Hoo Hoo and his family visit various famous and popular sites such as the Maryland Zoo, Fort McHenry, the Maryland Science Center, the Cylburn Arboretum, and much more.
The last installment in the series is DON’T GET A BOO BOO, HOO HOO!. This is a well-written book explaining various safety tips for youngsters.
