Hall Ways Blog: facts of life

Showing posts with label facts of life. Show all posts

Friday, May 25, 2018

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!
WIN A COPY + $5 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

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 - B ooks 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

Sunday, September 24, 2017

The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby ~ ~ Book Blast & $100 Giveaway!

The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby

Violet Barnaby searches for the joy in life after losing her mother in this sweet and funny follow-up to The Charming Life of Izzy Malone.

Violet Barnaby is a having a blue Christmas. She’s still grieving the loss of her mother, and to make things worse, her dad has just married Melanie Harmer, a.k.a. the meanest teacher at Dandelion Hollow Middle School. But on the day Violet and her dad are packing up and moving into the new house they’ll share with Melanie and Melanie’s two children, Violet finds a letter her mother wrote to her before she died, asking Violet to enjoy Christmas, along with a Christmas Wish List—things her mom wants her to do during the holiday season. On the list are exactly the kinds of things Violet doesn’t want to do this year, like Be Someone’s Secret Santa; Give Someone the Gift of Your Time: Volunteer; and Bake Christmas Cookies.

Violet shows the letter to her friend Izzy’s Aunt Mildred, who calls a meeting of the Charm Girls, a club Izzy and Violet belong to along with their friends, Daisy and Sophia. Aunt Mildred decides she will give them each a charm to put on their bracelet if they do all of the tasks on the Christmas Wish List, which Violet is not too happy about. She’d rather forget about the list completely, but feels compelled to honor her mother’s wishes.

And when Izzy’s crush confides a big secret to Violet, Violet feels like she is stuck between her best friend and the boy who she just might have a crush on, too…

Scroll down for $100 Giveaway!

Praise for The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby

"[an] emotionally perceptive novel of grief and recovery." - Kirkus

You'll fall in love with Violet and love every minute of living in her wondrous world! - Stephanie Faris

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * IndieBound

Author Jenny Lundquist

Jenny Lundquist was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California, where she spent her time unsuccessfully learning how to surf. When she was younger, she wanted to be either a rock star or a published author. After she taped herself singing and listened to it on playback she decided she'd better opt for the writing route. Jenny is the author of multiple YA and Middle Grade titles including Seeing Cinderella, The Charming Life of Izzy Malone, The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby and the forthcoming The Carnival of Wishes and Dreams (2019).

Website * Facebook * Twitter

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 10/10/17

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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Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Summerlost Release Day Blitz! Author Letter, Excerpt, & Giveaway

SUMMERLOST BY ALLIE CONDIE

Middle Grade / Realistic Fiction

Publication Date: March 29, 2016

Release Day Blitz Hosted by: Word Spelunking & Penguin Kids

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

Dear Readers,

I think most of us have had our hearts broken. Sometimes we can see it coming, and sometimes it comes down with the unexpected force of a sudden gale of wind or a rising of waters that we thought were still and safe. Loss is universal to human experience, but the way we each feel and recover is one of the most personal things we do.

In Summerlost, Cedar is dealing with the loss of her father and younger brother. And my intent was to show how hard their deaths are for her. But this is also a book about the healing power of friendship. Most of us have been broken-hearted; I hope that most of us have also discovered the miracle of friendships that were just what we needed. Cedar and Leo’s friendship is based on someone I met when I was twelve. Like Leo, my friend was fun and liked to enlist me in crazy adventures (although we never gave a secret guided tour of our town the way they do in Summerlost). And, like Leo, he thought I was wonderful and of worth at a time when I needed it most.

SUMMERLOST is my attempt to pay tribute both to the pain we feel and the friendships that save us. Thank you so much for supporting this book, and for your willingness to give Cedar’s story a try. I hope it makes you think of a wonderful friend of your own, whether that is someone you met in the pages of a favorite book or outside, in the world where it is often hard and beautiful to live.

Best wishes and happy reading always,

Ally Condie

BUY LINKS

Penguin Random House Amazon

Barnes & Noble Indiebound

Excerpt:

ADD TO GOODREADS

Praise for Summerlost:

A Spring 2016 Kids' Indie Next List Top 10 Pick!

Named one of Publishers Weekly’s Most Anticipated Children’s and YA Books of Spring 2016

« “Condie (Matched) strikes a deep emotional chord with this coming-of-age story.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

« “Multiple, seemingly random details, including a family of turkey vultures that now roost outside Cedar’s window, an absurd soap opera narrative of a woman buried alive, and Leo’s quest for a trip with his father, coalesce into metaphors that help Cedar make sense of her grief and the life she now has to look forward to. Thoughtful, poetic chapter endings guide readers new to psychological depth toward meaningful connections between plot events and thematic reflections.” – BCCB

“A moving tale of friendship and loss. I loved these characters—I wish we could have been friends when I was a kid.” –Brandon Mull, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fablehaven and Five Kingdoms series

“Ally Condie’s first middle grade book might also be my favorite out of ALL her books to date. Summerlost is a story packed with nostalgia, heart, and gorgeous prose.” – The Novel Novice

“A nuanced portrait of grief deeply grounded in the middle-school mind-set.” – Booklist

“Honest, lovely, and sad.” – Kirkus Reviews

“A sweet, heartfelt story.” – School Library Journal

“Achingly good.” – Summer Laurie, Books Inc.