Buckaroo Buckeye ~ ~ Blog Tour Promo, Author Interview, & Giveaway!

BUCKAROO BUCKEYE:

A LITTLE NUT WITH BIG DREAMS

BY KRISTIN ANDERSON CETONE

Illustrated by Nadia Komorova

Genre: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7)

Pages: 36 pages

Publisher: KLAC Enterprises, LLC

Release date: September 1, 2012

Categories: Friendship, Social Skills & School Life, Bullies, Growing Up & Facts of Life

Book Description:
Winner of the Mom's Choice Silver and OneBookAZ Awards!

There's a new cowboy in town! Hit the trail with Buckaroo Buckeye, a lovable little nut who falls from his tree in Ohio, as he dodges the bumps and bullies along the way in a magical journey to find his true place in the world.
Created by Reading Specialist Kristin Cetone, Buckaroo Buckeye teaches children 4-8 to: • Learn to ignore bullies

• Improve their self-esteem

• Connect with reading

• "Dream, Believe and Achieve" no matter their size!

Your child will be inspired by Buckaroo's determination in this touching story with unforgettable characters illustrated by Nadia Komorova. Get yours today!

Buy the Book:

Amazon

Add to Goodreads

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER!

INTERVIEW WITH
AUTHOR KRISTIN ANDERSON CETONE

Buckaroo Buckeye seems all about journeys. Where are your favorite travel spots?

My favorite travel spots would be the U.S. and Europe.  I had a very magical journey several years ago to Beijing, China on an educator exchange.  There were 300 educators from the U.S. from all grade levels.  We visited and observed their classrooms that matched with our grades we taught.  Fascinating!  We had meaningful conversations with their educators while sharing our experiences.  It was also so rewarding to make new friends with the educators from all over our nation.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

The days of the old Wild West.  I would love to live on a ranch with horses of my own to ride.

I was born and raised in Ohio and over the years, my life journey took me to Arizona where I put down roots.  I had travelled all over, but Arizona is where I found my true calling as a reading specialist to help struggling readers and where I created my book characters and wrote their stories.

Who was the inspiration for this story?

This story is based on MY life journey.  The little girl who picks up Buckaroo is me.

There is only one main character in my story, and his story was easy to connect to me and my life journey.  My three characters in my sequels were also easy to write as they directly relate to three very influential female members of my own family.  The hardest part was coming up with my character names, since they are buckeye nuts, and giving them human experiences.

Also influential was my own life growing up in Ohio and the strong guidance and influence of my “family tree.”  The whole premise for Buckaroo Buckeye came from my father.  In his elder years, he would often ask, “Do you know what a buckeye nut is?”  To humor him, we would always say, “No, Dad, what is a buckeye nut?”  His response was ALWAYS, “It’s a worthless nut!”  This became the trigger for Buckaroo’s journey of self-discovery.

“Success comes from a tiny ‘seed’ within each of us.  This tiny seed contains our hopes and dreams and passions in life.  When we receive encouragement and nourishment from family, culture, education, and life experiences, the seed will sprout and grow mighty, and rise above the bumps and bullies and setbacks along the way.

Discouraging words…discourage dreams,

Encouraging words…sprout dreams,

Parents plant the seeds.”

              -- Kristin Anderson Cetone

About the Author: Buckaroo Buckeye grew out of author Kristin Anderson Cetone's imagination and joy of reading.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, she traveled many miles before putting down roots in the Arizona desert. Influenced by family, education, life experiences, and a desire to teach others, Mrs. Cetone discovered her purpose---just like Buckaroo Buckeye did.

Her true calling and passion is writing and helping others become successful readers. She created Buckaroo to encourage children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams while dodging the bumps and bullies along the way. Reading will help guide the way. Being a Reading Specialist, she has also created Nuts About Reading™ an informal, supplemental, online reading service. She shares her insights and suggestions to help parents strengthen their children's reading process and become successful readers.

Her joy now is to inspire and help kids to find the Buckaroo Buckeye in themselves.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway!
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Open in US & Canada
Ends June 23, 2018

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR SCHEDULE:
May 21 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 21 - Blooming with Books - book spotlight / giveaway
May 22 - Library of Clean Reads - book spotlight / giveaway
May 23 - Words and Peace - book spotlight / giveaway
May 23 - Splashes Into Books - book spotlight / author interview 
May 24 - Brooke Blogs - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 25 - Hall Ways Blog - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 28 - #redhead.with.book - book spotlight / giveaway
May 29 - Cheryl's Book Nook - book spotlight / giveaway
May 30 - Books Direct - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 31 - Writers and Authors - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 1 - Bound 2 Escape - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 4 - This and That Book Blog - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 5 - A Mama's Corner of the World - book spotlight / giveaway
June 6 - 100 Pages A Day - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 7 - Books are love - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 8 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - book spotlight / giveaway
June 11 - Nighttime Reading Center - book spotlight / giveaway
June 12 - The Autistic Gamer - book spotlight / giveaway
June 13 - The Book Girl - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
June 13 - JBronder Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 14 - Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine - book spotlight / author interview
June 15 - Bookworm for Kids - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
June 15 - KC Beanie Boos Collection - book spotlight / giveaway

Talisman of El ~ ~ Blog Blast, Excerpt, & Giveaway!

Talisman Of El by Al Stone

Series: T.O.E. Trilogy, Book 1

Author: Al Stone

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Centrinian

Scroll down for giveaway!

WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet..

Two Worlds.

Population: Human … 7 billion.
Others … unknown.

When 14-year-old Charlie Blake wakes up sweating and gasping for air in the middle of the night, he knows it is happening again. This time he witnesses a brutal murder. He’s afraid to tell anyone. No one would believe him… because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago – the day before his dad died.

Charlie doesn’t know why this is happening. He would give anything to have an ordinary life. The problem: he doesn’t belong in the world he knows as home.

He belongs with the others.

On Sale for $0.99 for a limited time on Amazon!

Amazon * Kobo * Barnes & Noble * iBooks * Google Play

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

"If there was ever a book series to rival Harry Potter, then Talisman Of El is definitely the one." - The Queen Of Teen Fiction

"This is a one of a kind novel." - Reflections Of A Bookworm

"All I have to say is that it has been a long time since I read a book in just one day." - Myth, Goodreads

"Talisman Of El is part fantasy, part mythology and pure adventure." - Tina, Winter Haven Books

EXCERPT:

They had traveled two-thirds of the way across the lake, a good twenty metres, when a splashing sound reached their ears, and they stopped.

They looked to the right but saw nothing. Another sound reached them from the left, and they shifted their gazes.

‘Keep moving,’ Derkein instructed.

As soon as they took off, Richmond screamed and jumped back, colliding with Charlie. ‘Something touched my leg,’ he cried.

‘That’s not funny,’ Alex said in a strained voice.

‘I’m not joking,’ Richmond said, his expression serious and scared.

A flicker of movement at the edge of Charlie’s vision caught his attention, and he looked to his right. He saw the dark silhouette of a figure rising out of the water. Its top half was huge and hunched over with spikes arched around its head.

‘There’s something in the water,’ he whispered.

‘That’s what I said,’ Richmond muttered.

‘No, look.’

From the gasps that followed, Charlie supposed he wasn’t the only one who could see the creature.

‘I want you to move towards me slowly,’ Derkein whispered.

The trio began to move. At that same moment, the creature plunged into the lake, and all they saw were water ripples heading towards them.

‘Run!’ Derkein shouted.

CHECK OUT THE BOOK TRAILER!

Other Books in the Series
Blackout (T.O.E. Trilogy, Book 2 )
Ground Zero (T.O.E. Trilogy, Book 3)

ABOUT AUTHOR AL STONE:
Al Stone is the author of the YA fantasy trilogy T.O.E. After graduating with a BA in Film & Television, Al had worked in the television industry for a short period before a disabling injury caused her to turn her hand to storytelling. Talisman Of El is her debut novel. The sequels Blackout and Ground Zero are currently available for sale. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys going to the movies, listening to music and travelling. At present, she lives in England, United Kingdom with her family.

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

$$ FIFTY DOLLARS! $$

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 11/20/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Thirteen Therapists

Sanders, R.J. (2012). Thirteen Therapists. Featherweight Press.

Young Adult / Contemporary / Relationships 

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Book Blurb: Senior Aaron Hardaway has a new bad boy lover and he wants his mother out of his hair---super therapist Thirteen warns eyes wide open, but will Aaron listen? He's the son of one of Chicago's richest families. He'll graduate from an exclusive Chicago prep-school. He cruises in a Benz SLK300, a grad present from his father. Aaron Hardaway has it all. But a boyfriend. And a loving mother. Sylvia Karnes Hardaway, evil Queen of Chicago society, long ago thrust her son into therapy hell. Twelve shrinks later, Thirteen enters Aaron's life. Thirteen's mantra is eyes wide open. Thirteen will transform Aaron's life. So will bad boy Derrick. Aaron hooks up with Derrick, and things will never be the same. Maybe he should have kept his eyes wide open.

Watch the book trailer!

  

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HALL WAYS REVIEW: It's been four years since I read this book. . . And I still remember it. I read it straight through in one sitting because I had to know how things were going to turn out for Aaron Hardaway -- a character I came to adore.  I am not sure how posting my review slipped through the cracks (I had it framed, I had my notes) but it did. The good news is that Thirteen Therapists is as timely as ever with its characters and premise, so here goes. 

On the surface, Aaron is living the teen dream: money, the best of everything it can buy, status, and connections.  Beneath the surface, he is alone and drowning in it all, and he longs to be his authentic self. Aaron is someone that readers will immediately like and want to feel loved and kept safe; but he doesn't always make it easy. 

As readers watch the decisions Aaron makes, we understand and feel things right along with him: the passion of sexual attraction, the comfort of belonging, the anxiety of ditching common sense, the thrill of the forbidden.  Right along with those feelings, author Russell Sanders makes sure readers are ill at ease with how the story is unfolding as Aaron and willing Aaron to keep his eyes wide open, as Aaron's therapist (nicknamed Thirteen) has advised him. 

The writing is outstanding and the book is wonderfully edited. The secondary characters, particularly Aaron's mother and bad-boy boyfriend Derrick, are well-written and fully imaginable and realistic. (And evoked strong emotional reactions from me. Momma Bear, claws out.) Sanders also does a great job of building the tension for readers and plants subtle (and not so subtle) hints that there's a train wreck coming. We don't want to believe the wreck is really going to happen, but again, as is human nature, we have to watch. 

Thirteen Therapists is totally engaging. It has twists, turns, and surprises; it has heartbreak, humiliation, and humor; and it has drug use, underage drinking, and male/male sex -- pretty graphic at times -- so sensitive readers beware.  Sanders is an excellent writer, and he has written a bunch of other books since this debut (and I have two of them on my Kindle reader right now.)

Thank you to the author for sharing his book with me so many years ago (and sincerest apologies for not sharing my opinion with the world sooner) in exchange for my honest opinion -- the only kind I give.

BUY THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Russell  J. Sanders is an actor, a musician, a teacher, and now, a writer. He loves writing for young adults, and his novels Thirteen Therapists, Special Effect, The Book of Ethan, and Colors are coming of age tales that will appeal to all. His latest book, All You Need is Love, was published March 21, 2017 by Harmony Ink Press

Russell lives in Houston, Texas, with his husband, where he spends his time writing and volunteering and spending time with friends and just living a good life.  

Connect With the Author:  

Amazon Author Page ╿ Website ╿ Twitter ╿ Facebook ╿ 

 

The Sound & the Echoes

Pellucid, D. (2012). The Sound and the Echoes. Echoland Publications. (Audio released 11/6/2013)

YA / Middle Grade Fantasy / Print & Audio book

PRINT: I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars
AUDIO: I gave this book 3.5 out of 5 stars

Even months after I first read this book, images from the story still vividly pop to mind. And especially as we enter the winter months, I find myself thinking about the fantastic world of the Echoes, where there is adventure, danger, and beauty beyond imagination.

This was a magical, mystical journey into a parallel Echo realm where twelve-year-old Will finds his identity is not what he believed it to be and even things in his world are not what they seemed. There are plenty of colorful characters, including the terrifying, but intriguing Fate Sealers (think Dementors from HP) and also surprising twists and turns that carry the story to a satisfying conclusion.

Pellucid's imagination is wondrous and the author's ability to put ideas to paper is phenomenal. The writing, along with Andy Simmons' haunting CGI illustrations, allow for readers to truly escape into an other-wordly experience every time they turn the pages.  As far as the story, it is an outstanding adventure between parallel worlds and lives. The Echo realm is pure magic -- a mystical, shimmering world of illusions and often deadly realities. Though reminiscent of Harry Potter at times, the characters are fabulously unique and well developed, though they are not always what the seem! Twists and turns abound, and readers will find themselves utterly immersed in this story. Highly recommend this book for strong elementary or middle grade readers who aren't intimidated by its length. Be warned -- there is a fair amount of death, often remorseless, and violence, though not overly graphic. No sex or innuendo of it, or foul language. 

Thank you to Dew Pellucid for sending me a hard copy of this book, which I won in a Goodreads GiveAway, and then an audio download in exchange for my honest opinion -- the only kind I give.

Check out the Book Trailer:

ABOUT THE AUDIO BOOK: Love this story in print (I gave it a 4.5) but less in audio format (a 3.5) due to the main narration. I also didn't discover I could speed up the pace until near the end, which would have made a difference on a 14 hour+ audio book! That is my own fault, not the book's, however.

The narrator did a very good job with voicing the various characters and each really was distinct, but the in between narration was clunky and lacked much emotion. . . It reminded me of the awkwardness of anime cartoon voices or how Racer X sounded in the original Speed Racer cartoons. Also, there were times it seemed that punctuation was ignored, so the narration was confusing or off.