Showing posts with label Friendship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friendship. Show all posts

Monday, June 24, 2013

A great free summer read - Thomas and the Lily Pond by author Jane Whiteoak

Dear readers, today's spotlight is about the popular Children's Book titled Thomas and the Lily Pond written by the exceptionally talented author Jane Whiteoak. Please note that Thomas and the Lily Pond will be a FREE DOWNLOAD for everybody for 4 days from June 25 - June 28, 2013 across all Amazon Stores. Click on this link to go to Amazon book page- FREE BOOK 

Here is a chance to gift your children, your little niece or nephew, your little grandchild this summer, an exceptional book that tells a wonderful story and enables children to learn what's good and what's right.

Let us read a few thoughts that author Jane Whiteoak has shared with us today.


 

Author Jane Whiteoak                     Thomas and the Lily Pond at Amazon

 Q. Why have you focused your writing in the children's book genres? Who inspired you for your current creative works? What is so special about Thomas and the Lily Pond?

Author's words -  I have placed my focus on children's books and have thus far stayed with that genre. Perhaps in the future, I may writie a book for Young Adults.
 

Nature is a great inspiration, I love animals and often wonder if they could speak what would their experiences and life stories be? My grandchildren are an inspiration to me also, particularly the four year old, as children are so open and honest. They'll say anything and question everything! They're completely uninhibited, which is really refreshing. I really enjoy spending time and engaging in conversation with young children, they've yet to be influenced or judged by societal standards.

I would like to thank the readers for taking the time to read this blog and hope that everyone takes bullying very seriously. If a child is bullied, it leaves an indelible impression on them for the rest of their lives. This can impact self esteem, lack of confidence in people, trust issues and ultimately lifestyle choices. Bullying starts at a young age, I've witnessed it and must say that, I was shocked to see this trait amongst three- five yr. old children!

My goal with "Thomas and the Lily Pond", is to reach young children, so that they may become aware of this behaviour and recognise it, if unfortunately confronted by it, through absolutely no fault of their own.

I thank the readers for taking an interest in this subject and really hope that they see, as described in the book, how peer group pressure can also inadvertently, play a role in promoting a bully to an even higher platform. Perhaps this new generation, through knowledge and awareness can eventually eradicate this despicable trait completely.



Connect with Author Jane Whiteoak



Book Spotlight - Chapter Excerpt and Review links



Ebook : THOMAS AND THE LILY POND

Author : Jane Whiteoak

Genre : Children's Book


FREE DOWNLOAD - June 25 - June 28, 2013 AT AMAZON KINDLE STORES

Reviews : Multiple 5 stars




  
Blurb : The book is for children ages 4-6 yrs. old. It can be read to the children in a pre-school/ Kindergarten setting by a teacher or relayed to them as a bedtime story by parents or grandparents.

Thomas and the Lily Pond is about a group of happy and very contented animals living in a forest. Their world is turned upside down by the arrival of a huge frog named Bruno. His primary goal is to take over the lily pond as his new home and to manipulate the group of animals through flattery. Since Thomas the turtle, is the sole occupant in the pond, of which the frog desires, Bruno starts to immediately bully the docile hard working turtle.

 Through peer group pressure the other animals, slowly turn on their once beloved friend. His is left all alone, while the others plot, a midnight food heist under Bruno's direction. Chaos ensues, when they arrive back to the forest, as a wild storm erupts and sweeps them all into the rough, swirling waters of the river and the lily pond. Many cannot swim and call out for help as the only one left on shore is Thomas. He does not hesitate to help his friends and attempts a daring rescue.  The most difficult and dangerous one of all to save from drowning is Bruno, the nasty, bullying frog!




Book Chapter Excerpt

Binnie and Corinna flew on ahead, high over the tree tops, keeping a watchful eye on their friends walking beneath them. Spike and Roman led the entire group. Spike was very certain that he could defend them all from any strangers. Roman, also felt very important, as he would be a hero by taking this great big bag, piled to the very top with delicious food.

Sammy and Rupert scurried quickly, marching on either side of the skunk and raccoon. They ran ahead, then back and forth, all the while trying to hurry everyone along. There was enough star light shining through the evening sky for them to see the forest path. They crossed under the berry patch leading to the ditch, and marched along the road.

Princeton was at the very end, as he was much slower than the others. The animals all trudged along and trudged along and trudged along.  

While marching, Sammy suddenly had a thought and said, “It’s too bad, that Thomas could not come with us, and he would have so much fun!”
“You heard what Bruno said, Thomas is too pokey!” called out Spike.
“Anyway,” answered Roman, “I’m doing the work here. I can carry it all by myself, we don’t need Thomas!”
“Still, he is a hard worker, and our friend. Maybe he would have liked to come along?” sighed Rupert
“No,” said Roman. “We don’t need him with us, didn’t you listen to Bruno? I’m doing this job!”

The group finally stopped walking as they had arrived at the place, marked with an “X” on the map. Binnie and Corinna soared high above the city houses watching for strangers, while Roman eyed the enormous bag, set inside a large metal can.

“This is it!” said Roman, in a very excited whisper.
“SH-SH-SH-SH,” said Sammy, all the while jumping up and down in delight. “Someone might hear us!”

It was dark outside now, the only light came from the houses, along the tree-lined street. They were at the end of a very long driveway. Roman got a grip on the large can while he carefully began to climb slowly upward. He grasped the middle of the big handle and up, up he went. As he was nearing the top, to remove the lid and look inside, the great big container suddenly began to SWAY… BACK AND FORTH, BACK
AND FORTH, THEN  IT TIPPED OVER!!!

“Look out, look out,” shouted Rupert.
“It’s falling, it’s falling!” shouted Sammy.
Sure enough, the enormous tin toppled over with Roman now lying underneath it. The bag opened up and pieces of food started to spill out all over the street!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Special Spotlight : Thomas and the Lily Pond by author Jane Whiteoak

Dear readers, today's spotlight is about the popular Children's Book titled Thomas and the Lily Pond written by the exceptionally talented author Jane Whiteoak. Please note that Thomas and the Lily Pond will be a FREE DOWNLOAD for everybody for 2 days from Dec 13 - Dec 14, 2012 across all Amazon Stores. Click on this link to go to Amazon book page- FREE BOOK 

Here is a chance to gift your children this exceptional book that tells a wonderful story and enables children to learn what's good and what's right.

Let us read a few thoughts that author Jane Whiteoak has shared with us today.


 

Author Jane Whiteoak                     Thomas and the Lily Pond at Amazon

 Q. Why have you focused your writing in the children's book genres? Who inspired you for your current creative works? What is so special about Thomas and the Lily Pond?

Author's words -  I have placed my focus on children's books and have thus far stayed with that genre. Perhaps in the future, I may writie a book for Young Adults.
 

Nature is a great inspiration, I love animals and often wonder if they could speak what would their experiences and life stories be? My grandchildren are an inspiration to me also, particularly the four year old, as children are so open and honest. They'll say anything and question everything! They're completely uninhibited, which is really refreshing. I really enjoy spending time and engaging in conversation with young children, they've yet to be influenced or judged by societal standards.

I would like to thank the readers for taking the time to read this blog and hope that everyone takes bullying very seriously. If a child is bullied, it leaves an indelible impression on them for the rest of their lives. This can impact self esteem, lack of confidence in people, trust issues and ultimately lifestyle choices. Bullying starts at a young age, I've witnessed it and must say that, I was shocked to see this trait amongst three- five yr. old children!

My goal with "Thomas and the Lily Pond", is to reach young children, so that they may become aware of this behaviour and recognise it, if unfortunately confronted by it, through absolutely no fault of their own.

I thank the readers for taking an interest in this subject and really hope that they see, as described in the book, how peer group pressure can also inadvertently, play a role in promoting a bully to an even higher platform. Perhaps this new generation, through knowledge and awareness can eventually eradicate this despicable trait completely.



Connect with Author Jane Whiteoak



Book Spotlight - Chapter Excerpt and Review links



Ebook : THOMAS AND THE LILY POND

Author : Jane Whiteoak

Genre : Children's Book


FREE DOWNLOAD - DEC 13 - DEC14, 2012 AT AMAZON

Reviews : Multiple 5 stars




  
Blurb : The book is for children ages 4-6 yrs. old. It can be read to the children in a pre-school/ Kindergarten setting by a teacher or relayed to them as a bedtime story by parents or grandparents.

Thomas and the Lily Pond is about a group of happy and very contented animals living in a forest. Their world is turned upside down by the arrival of a huge frog named Bruno. His primary goal is to take over the lily pond as his new home and to manipulate the group of animals through flattery. Since Thomas the turtle, is the sole occupant in the pond, of which the frog desires, Bruno starts to immediately bully the docile hard working turtle.

 Through peer group pressure the other animals, slowly turn on their once beloved friend. His is left all alone, while the others plot, a midnight food heist under Bruno's direction. Chaos ensues, when they arrive back to the forest, as a wild storm erupts and sweeps them all into the rough, swirling waters of the river and the lily pond. Many cannot swim and call out for help as the only one left on shore is Thomas. He does not hesitate to help his friends and attempts a daring rescue.  The most difficult and dangerous one of all to save from drowning is Bruno, the nasty, bullying frog!




Book Chapter Excerpt

Binnie and Corinna flew on ahead, high over the tree tops, keeping a watchful eye on their friends walking beneath them. Spike and Roman led the entire group. Spike was very certain that he could defend them all from any strangers. Roman, also felt very important, as he would be a hero by taking this great big bag, piled to the very top with delicious food.

Sammy and Rupert scurried quickly, marching on either side of the skunk and raccoon. They ran ahead, then back and forth, all the while trying to hurry everyone along. There was enough star light shining through the evening sky for them to see the forest path. They crossed under the berry patch leading to the ditch, and marched along the road.

Princeton was at the very end, as he was much slower than the others. The animals all trudged along and trudged along and trudged along.  

While marching, Sammy suddenly had a thought and said, “It’s too bad, that Thomas could not come with us, and he would have so much fun!”
“You heard what Bruno said, Thomas is too pokey!” called out Spike.
“Anyway,” answered Roman, “I’m doing the work here. I can carry it all by myself, we don’t need Thomas!”
“Still, he is a hard worker, and our friend. Maybe he would have liked to come along?” sighed Rupert
“No,” said Roman. “We don’t need him with us, didn’t you listen to Bruno? I’m doing this job!”

The group finally stopped walking as they had arrived at the place, marked with an “X” on the map. Binnie and Corinna soared high above the city houses watching for strangers, while Roman eyed the enormous bag, set inside a large metal can.

“This is it!” said Roman, in a very excited whisper.
“SH-SH-SH-SH,” said Sammy, all the while jumping up and down in delight. “Someone might hear us!”

It was dark outside now, the only light came from the houses, along the tree-lined street. They were at the end of a very long driveway. Roman got a grip on the large can while he carefully began to climb slowly upward. He grasped the middle of the big handle and up, up he went. As he was nearing the top, to remove the lid and look inside, the great big container suddenly began to SWAY… BACK AND FORTH, BACK
AND FORTH, THEN  IT TIPPED OVER!!!

“Look out, look out,” shouted Rupert.
“It’s falling, it’s falling!” shouted Sammy.
Sure enough, the enormous tin toppled over with Roman now lying underneath it. The bag opened up and pieces of food started to spill out all over the street!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Featured Ebook : Awake in the Mad World by Damon Ferrel Marbut

Ebook : AWAKE IN THE MAD WORLD

Genre : Literary Fiction, Coming of Age

Author : Damon Ferrel Marbut

Author Website :  http://www.amazon.com/Damon-Ferrell-Marbut/e/B008E72MCK



Goodreads Author page :  
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6234255.Damon_Ferrell_Marbut

Author Blog :   www.damonferrellmarbut.com

Twitter handle : @dfmnola

Amazon Stores : Kindle and Paperback 

ISBN : 978-0-9855452-0-8 (Paperback ) and 978-0-9855452-1-5 (Smashwords Ebook)


Reviews : Multiple  5stars

Blurb :  “I hadn’t thought of it, in real truth. I hadn’t thought about love because when I was at work, I didn’t think, I am at work. I hadn’t thought, when I was at the grocery store, I am at the store. We just are where we are. We’re in what we’re in.”


Pete Rattigan is a frustrated young newspaper journalist caught up in uncertainty of the post-graduate “real world”. One night, one seemingly minor encounter sparks a philosophical journey which leads him to discover that in the most beautiful or even cruel moments of life, the power of friendship explains the power of the universe. And that perhaps there is no such thing as chance. With force, humor and sensitivity Damon Ferrell Marbut presents his debut, Awake in the Mad World, which frees its audience to believe again in the wildness of the young American heart, how it beats just to prove that it will always survive and succeed on its own terms. 


Great read, pleasantly surprised! July 22, 2012
By Andre
star star star star star
Format:Paperback
A friend referred me to this book saying it was well worth the read. At first I was skeptical but turned out he was more than right. I was quickly immersed in to the characters story. It was nice to be able to really relate to a book. It seems like so long since I have read a good story like this, one that takes me back as if the memories were my own.I highly recommend this book, A great coming of age story.

Coming of Age at Its Best, June 26, 2012
By mrsadams1
star star star star star Format:Paperback
With Awake in the Mad World, Marbut has written a coming of age novel that showcases so many of the issues of twenty and thirty-somethings in America today. He shows the disillusionment with established norms that so many encounter. His novel portrays this, "I went to college, what now?", mindset that has become more prevalent. His characters bring this issue to life and grapple with decisions of entering the workforce in a job that is meaningless or going to graduate school until they figure out what to do with their lives. Marbut's novel is a beautiful, thoughtful read.

 
 

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Featured Ebook : FINDING OUT by Sheryn MacMunn

Ebook : FINDING OUT
Genre : Romance / Women's Fiction/ Contemporary Fiction
Author : Sheryn MacMunn
Author Website : http://www.amazon.com/Sheryn-MacMunn/e/B007T2CT4C
Goodreads Author Page:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820388.Sheryn_MacMunn
Amazon  Stores :  Kindle  and Paperback 
http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Out-ebook/dp/B007SGVSAA
ISBN : 978-1470108090 (Paperback)

Reviews : Multiple 4.9-5stars (34)

Blurb : Getting dumped on the sidewalk by her live-in boyfriend of seven years and finding he nearly emptied their savings account is the first of Sheila Davenport’s problems. At 36, Sheila had thought her life was on track. Now she’s saddled with a mortgage that is about to skyrocket, a psychotic boss, and she has to train someone who is unqualified and just doesn’t care about the rules. Life no longer makes sense.

Her friends advise her to date immediately, preferably someone rich and successful, or risk being old and alone. But Sheila’s trying to figure out what went wrong and how she got to this place. Since Prince Charming has ruined Sheila’s life, who can save her now? Help comes unexpectedly from her 86-year old neighbor who has had her own share of life’s ups and downs. After each get together, Sheila begins to find the strength to put the pieces of her life together while fighting not to lose her head.

Will Sheila succeed at work or walk away? Can she save her home? And why do her friends think their lives are any better? A story of love found and lost, true friendship, and how the human spirit endures.
***************************************************************

FINDING OUT is captivating readers through the dual storylines of Sheila Davenport and Ruth Krey.  By hearing Ruth's stories, Sheila learns to grow up and readers can dream about true love and the horrors of war. Readers are repeatedly saying they cannot put the book down once they start reading.  This is the debut novel for Sheryn MacMunn.

FINDING OUT Reviews

Amazon Reviews(Please click on this link to see all Reviews) 
Wow, absolutely blown away!, July 3, 2012
ByAimee Engebretson "Aimee" (California) - 
star star star star star

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Finding Out (Kindle Edition)

So I started this book not expecting much. I certainly wasn't expecting to stay up half the night reading it! Maybe it's because I identified with the characters, but this book flew by and by the time I realized it was over I was really, really sad.

This is not your typical romance or man-hating book, this book is about a modern girl struggling to make it in her career while dealing with her jerk ex-boyfriend who took advantage of her for 7 years. It also tells the story of Ruth, a war survivor who went through things that my generation quietly tries to forget ever happened.

This story was riveting, and well worth the price. I can't wait to see more from this author and I hope she is proud of herself for writing a book that is so different from the typical ones in this genre, but is easy to relate to.

Please keep writing about Ruth!


Over too soon, June 13, 2012
By Janet Hughes
star star star star star
 
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
First, let me say that I never write reviews, this book drew me in almost immediately. Sheila's story was one that I could relate to, having spent a lifetime in office environments. Her relationship with her Ruth was wonderful, listening to Ruth's story was very interesting and I loved the diversion within the book; one book, two stories. The only issue I had was that I wanted more, I wanted to hear more about Ruth's life after her return to the states and also how Sheila's evolved once she found her inner strengths.

There is so much more I would love to say, but that would reveal too much about the story line.

One can only hope that the next book in the series expands on Ruth's story as Sheila learns more about her neighbor..
 

Couldn't put it down... read it in one night!, July 3, 2012
By Meghan Gilroy "Shaman Girl"
(Marblehead, MA United States) -
star star star star star 
This review is from: Finding Out: A Novel (Paperback)
What I loved about this book: the realistic characters, the intergenerational friendship, the "waking up" to what really matters in life, and how it all came together in the end. Sheryn MacMunn tells a modern tale of a middle aged woman facing heartbreak and NYC career drama in an engaging plot that also flashes back to WW2 (which gives the book extra depth). Glad my friend recommended this one to me!

Fantastic read , April 17, 2012
By Hundredsandthousands -
star star star star star 
Format:Paperback
I was immediately hooked into this story when Sheila got dumped in the first paragraph. The story grabbed me and i couldn't put it down for one second. This is so different from other books, as Shelia doesn't whine about her life and I could relate to her struggles. We have all worked with people like Crystal who is spoiled and clueless. Hearing Ruth's story about WW2 made me want to call me grandmother!

There are lots of turns and twists that i really didn't expect too!

A must read and i definitely recommend this book!!

You will not be disappointed!

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