Guest Blogging at The Professional Writer's Connection

A while back I started a new blog, The Professional Writer's Connection, to work alongside a FREE writer's forum I created with the same name. This month's special feature has been on first book stories. Authors across a variety of genres have shared the stories of their first books. It's been a fun month.

I decided to share the story of Little Shepherd today. You can find it at http://profwritersconnect.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-book-stories-little-shepherd-by.html

Interviewed at It Only Takes a Mustard Seed to Make a Dream Grow

Stop on over at Joanne Troppello's blog, It Only Takes a Mustard Seed to Make a Dream Grow, and read our interview about Little Shepherd and my writing. I would love to hear from you.

You can find the interview at http://joannetroppello.weebly.com/1/post/2011/05/interview-with-author-cheryl-malandrinos.html

Little Shepherd is available at:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Guardian Angel Publishing

Indiebound.org

You can also email me at cg20pm00(at)gmail(dot)com if you would like an autographed copy of the book. The cost of an autographed copy would be $10, plus a flat $3 shipping and handling fee for anywhere in the United States. Additional shipping charges would apply outside of the United States.

Walking on a Rainbow – a Children’s Fiction Picture Book Workshop

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a children’s picture book author? Perhaps you have lots of ideas sure to delight young readers, yet aren’t quite sure how to get started? Or maybe you’ve already tried your hand at it, but don’t feel confident enough to submit yet? If you’ve answered ‘Yes’ to these questions, then this is the workshop for you!

During this intense 2-week crash course, you’ll have the chance to write the complete first draft of a fiction picture book manuscript under 700 words. Why under 700 words? Because you want your story to be as marketable as possible, and that is the word count agents and publishers are after the most. You’ll be able to draft your story while learning the key elements that make a fiction picture book a success. Feedback will be provided by the instructor during each step of the workshop.

Topics to be covered include:

* What you need to know before you start writing
* Amateurish mistakes beginners must avoid like the plague
* How to grab the reader on the first page (setting, character and conflict)
* Point of view
* How to plot and develop an effective story arc (conflict, rising action and resolution)
* Understanding the “Rule of Three”
* How to add sensory detail
* How to develop a character arc
* How to think in pictures
* How to replace adverbs and adjectives with strong, precise verbs
* The surprising ending or twist
* Associations, clubs and newsletters beginners should know about
* Where to submit your picture book manuscript
* And much more

Note: This workshop will focus on stories written in prose, NOT in rhyme.

Requirements: Participants must either purchase or borrow from the library a copy of A Visitor for Bear, by Bonny Becker. The book will be used for the duration of the course.

This is an intense workshop. Lessons and assignments will be posted every day Monday through Friday (for a total of 10 lessons). There will be no lessons on Saturday and Sunday.

WHEN: May 30, 2011 - Jun 10, 2011

COST: $20 for Premium Members
$30 for Basic Members
Cancellation policy: Registrations are non-refundable except when the workshop is cancelled by Savvy Authors.


REGISTRATION: Click Here to Register (Members will not receive member rate unless logged in.)
INSTRUCTOR: Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. Her children’s picture books include Crash, The Magic Violin, Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster, Frederico, the Mouse Violinist, and The Doll Violinist. She’s had over 300 reviews, articles, stories and interviews published online and in print. She’s represented by Mansion Street Literary Management. Visit her website at www.mayrassecretbookcase.com.

PROMO DAY - Saturday, May 14th!

THE PROMOTIONAL EVENT FOR THE WRITING INDUSTRY IS BACK!

PROMO DAY makes its return in 2011 and promises to be the best yet. Mark your calendars for Saturday 14th May 2011!

An all day, online, international event for people in the writing industry packed full of tips and advice along with a variety of opportunities for writers, publishers, editors etc to promote their work and services. Readers are also welcome to drop in and get to know the authors better in the forums, view the video trailers or read the sample chapters onsite.

Founder and Organiser of the event, Jo Linsdell, had this to say "PROMO DAY came about because I was looking for opportunities to promote my books using the internet at little or no cost. After attending the Muse Online Writers Conference back in 2006, I searched the internet for similar events aimed at what to do after you’ve written the book and found none. I decided to fill the void and so PROMO DAY was born. PROMO DAY is a great opportunity to network with other members of the industry, take part in online workshops and promote and best of all it’s FREE”.

The forums feature added last year will become even more interesting during this year's event with all day workshops and pitch sessions with publishers. There will also be special sections for Companies offering services (virtual assistants, website designers, illustrators, ghost writers etc…) let attendees know more about what they offer as well as plenty of opportunities to network and promote.
Visit the website http://www.jolinsdell.com/promoday for more details of how you can be involved.

ALL DAY PRESENTER WORKSHOPS

Joyce Anthony -  Blogging 

Sandy Lender -  365 days of non-stop marketing

Jo Linsdell - Twitter

Joyce Lavene -  Writing series


TIMED PRESENTER WORKSHOPS

LIVE Workshops will take place in the chatroom on site between 15:00 and 21:00 (Central European Time).

15:00 TBC - TBC


16:00 Sandy Lender - There's Nothing Virtual About the Work in an Online Book Tour

17:00 Suzanne Lieurance - Show Me the Money: How to Make a Comfortable Living as a Children’s Writer

18:00 Robin Richmond - Selling through Independent Bookshops

19:00 TBC - TBC

20:00 Tannia Ortiz-Lopes - Writing Book Reviews: Lessons Learned


BE PART OF THE ACTION, BE PART OF PROMO DAY!

Children's Book Week: May 2nd - 8th!

“Since 1919, Children’s Book Week has been celebrated countrywide with author & illustrator appearances, parties, storytelling, and other book-related events in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs — anywhere where kids and books connect.”

Visit the Children’s Book Week website at www.bookweekonline.com to view events taking place across the country and to learn more about this annual celebration.

How will you celebrate Children’s Book Week?

Guest Blogging at Write What Inspires You on May 2nd!



In honor of Children's Book Week, I will be interviewed at Write What Inspires You, the blog of award-winning author Donna McDine. Donna’s stories and features have been published in many print and online publications and her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna has two more books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, The Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey. She writes, moms and is the Publicist Intern for The National Writing for Children Center and Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Musing Our Children.

I hope you'll visit me on May 2nd at http://donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/. 

Why God Matters Receives Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award!

I'm thrilled to pass along the following information that I received today from Nicole Langan, owner of Tribute Books:

ARCHBALD, PENNSYLVANIA – Tribute Books is proud to announce that our title Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life has received the 2011 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award in the Nonfiction/Christian Living category.

All readers of Christian books and all retailers selling Christian products were invited to vote for the Book of the Year. Over 3,600 votes were received for 72 books nominated by 48 publishers. The Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award honors books produced by small publishers for outstanding contribution to Christian life.

Readers and retailers were invited to vote for one book in each category online at http://www.christianbookaward.com/. The award is offered in eight categories: Fiction, Biography, Christian Living, Relationships/Family, Bible Study/Theology, Children's Book (4-8 years), Children's Book (8-12 years), and Young Adult (12+ years). The winners of this award are determined solely by Christian retailers and readers' votes.

This is the fourth year the Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award has been presented. This year the award has a new website at http://www.christianbookaward.com/.

About Christian Small Publishers Association:

The Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award is sponsored by Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA). CSPA was established to represent and promote small publishers in the Christian marketplace. CSPA is a supplier member of CBA. Christian Small Publishers Association can be found online at http://www.christianpublishers.net/.



About Why God Matters:

Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion.

In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth (“cradle Catholics”) and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common "and then a miracle takes place" school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.

What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.

Visit the book’s web site at: http://www.whygodmatters.com/.

$15.95, hardcover

$2.99-$4.99 eBook

ISBN: 9780982256534

5.5" x 8.5"
114 pp

2010

About Karina Lumbert Fabian

Karina Lumbert Fabian was born into the Catholic faith, but truly grew to love it as an adult. As a busy mother of four, she finds some of her strongest encounters with God's love happen in the ordinary events of the day-to-day. Karina started her writing career with diocesan newspapers but has settled into writing fun-filled fantasy and science fiction that nonetheless incorporates the principles of faith-filled living. Visit Karina’s web site at http://www.fabianspace.com/.

About Deacon Steven Lumbert

Deacon Steven Lumbert officially converted to Catholicism in 1988, but had been a "practicing" Catholic long before that. He met his lovely and loving wife, Socorro, while serving in Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico, in 1966. They raised their daughters, Karina and Regina, in the faith. Steve spent 30 years as a Colorado State Trooper, but retired when God called him to the diaconate. Currently, he serves the Diocese of Pueblo as the Associate Director of Deacon Formation.

Published by Tribute Books: http://www.tribute-books.com/. Please contact Tribute Books for author interviews, review copies, book artwork and any other requests at info@tribute-books.com.

To order 10 or more copies at a 40% discount, contact Tribute Books at info@tribute-books.com or phone (570) 876-2416.

We congratulate the authors and Tribute Books for winning this award. To read my review of the book, please visit http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-god-matters-by-karina-lumbert.html