Special Announcement

The countdown is on for my special announcement on January 1, 2009!

The most unexpected things can happen by attending a conference.

What unexpected thing you ask?

You will have to check back each week to get more hints that lead up to my announcement.

Happy Thanksgiving!

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY



MAY YOU ALL BE BLESSED!

The Sandlot Summit Book Review

Cruise on over to The National Writing for Children Center - http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com and read my book review of The Sandlot Summit.

While you are there, be sure to read all the other exciting writing information. Be prepared to settle back for quite some time...there is a wealth of knowledge to read and absorb!

INCREASE THE FONT SIZE IN YOUR BROWSER

I don't know about you, but with all the time I spend on the computer I have started using a larger font size in my emails and documents to ease the strain on my eyes. I have always wondered how can I do that in my web browser and to my delight I came across a great tip by Tylenol while flipping through Cooking Light Magazine last night.

Staring at a computer screen all ady can be strenuous on the eyes. And eye strain can cause painful headaches that make it difficult to concentrate.

To increase the font size in your browers, press:

PC: Press - Control, Shift and +/= at the same time

MAC: Press - Command, Shift and +/= at the same time

To decrease the font size back to its original:

PC: Press - Control, Shift and - at the same time

MAC: Press - Command, Shift and - at the same time

Hope this helps ease your eye strain!

Have a headache free day!

The Circle of Friends Newsletter

Special Announcement - I'm the "Special Feature" in L. Diane Wolfe's November newsletter.

To subscribe to next month's The Circle of Friends Newsletter visit http://thecircleoffriends.net/ and opt-in your request at the bottom of the home page.

Receive updates on future books, appearances, and news from the author world.


WWW.THECIRCLEOFFRIENDS.NET - November Newsletter

* NEWS & UPDATES *

Greeting friends & fans!

The holidays are nearly upon us! Time to remember all for which
we are thankful.

I am thankful for all those who have supported me the past
few years! Your letters and emails and attendances at book
events keep me going in ways you cannot imagine. This journey
has been incredible and sometimes I hardly believe this is really
my life now. I have you to thank for the success I have achieved
so far, and know it is only the beginning of what I can accomplish.

The Circle of Friends began with one message – “Get inspired to
achieve your dreams!” - and I could not have picked a better
slogan.

Check my website on January 1, 2009 for a really BIG
announcement regarding the series!! I have incredible news
for my fans and it will rock your world!

As always, believe in yourself and dream big!

L. Diane Wolfe
“Spunk On A Stick”


*SPECIAL FEATURE*

A fellow YA author – just another one of those great people
I’ve met on my journeys:

Donna McDine is a native of Rockland County, NY…about
20 minutes outside of NYC. She lives with her husband
Tom and two daughters. Donna began writing for children
about two years ago and her impressive publishing credits
are listed at: http://www.donnamcdine.com

From a young age, Donna has always been an avid reader,
especially Nancy Drew mysteries. Her mom saved the
collection, which her daughters now enjoy. Donna is
currently working on a middle-grade historical fiction
manuscript entitled, The Trauma of Unspoken Actions.

The work-in-progress intertwines historical events of
General George Washington and Major John Andre with
fictional long ago and current day occupants of the D.C.
Campbell home:

Two different young girls, two different eras, result
in similar traumas of unspoken actions.

Present time, modern day American girl, Nicole Sloan,
finds herself in the midst of another move with her
mother and sister. To avoid disaster of dire consequences
by the hands of Nicole’s father they are constantly on the
move. Their latest relocation, the historical hamlet of
Tappan, New York. The 1780’s young woman, Loran Childs,
controlled by her domineering father, dares to break free
of the expectations and ridicule of woman from that era.
Loran’s mother, a complacent woman, sees no way out, but
to stay in the explosive marriage. Loran struggles to bring
her mother to reality and nothing will change, unless she is
willing to leave.

Separated by time, a kinship is developed in Nicole’s heart
and mind to Loran’s similar plight. The headstrong attitude
of Loran spills from the pages and convinces Nicole she
must be strong. Extensive research on Loran and her
betrothed, Paul Stone, and newly formed relationships in
town brings all the pieces together to prove the engaged
couples innocence of murder and treason.

To learn more about Donna’s writing career visit:
http://www.donnamcdine.com or
http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

*SPUNKY ON THE ROAD…*

November 20th, 6 - 9 pm
Pamlico Com. College
Grantsboro, NC
*Seminar - How to Promote Your Book Now!
Reservations required
Contact: Jerry Prescott
252-745-7348
jprescot@pamlicocc.edu

November 28th, 10 - 2 pm
Waldenbooks
Southern Pines, NC
*book signing

December 2nd, 12-1pm / 6:30-9:30 pm
Mitchell Com. College
Statesville, NC
*seminar – Publishing & Promoting
Reservations required
Contact: Mike Tucker
704-878-3227
mtucker@mitchellcc.edu

January 13th, 2009, 6 - 9 pm
Halifax Com. College
Weldon, NC
*seminar - Publishing
Reservations required
Contact: Dick McCormick
252-536-7274 McCormickR@Halifaxcc.edu

I've been tagged by Kimberly Lynn

I've been tagged by Kimberly Lynn

I have to come up with 7 interesting or random facts about myself, and then tag 7 other people to do the same.

You can learn more about Kimberly Lynn and her blog by clicking http://kimberlylynn1020.blogspot.com/.

7 random facts about me:

1. I have a twin sister, Debbie - we look nothing alike, but have had psychic premonitions about one another from time to time...and they end up being true.

2. My nickname is Dee. My brother Tom married a Donna Marie and I married a Tom...so my 4-year-old niece nicknamed me Dee and it stuck. She's now 23!

3. I love watching scary movies in the dark alone.

4. My dear friends, Michelle, Dawn, and Mary are my cheerleaders when rejections come my way.

5. My 13-year-old daugther, Nicole, looks exactly like I did at her age.

6. My first draft is always done in long hand with my favorite Graf von Faber-Castell pen, my husband and daughter's gave me for my 40th birtday.

7. At the beginning of January 2009 I will have a great announcement about my writing career posted on my blog and website...stay tuned!

I am tagging:

1. Carma Dutra - Carma’s Window - http://www.carmaswindow.blogspot.com

2. Lori Calabrese - http://www.loricalabrese.blogspot.com/

3. Dawn Phillips - http://www.rdchildrensbooks.blogspot.com/

4. Dorothy Massey - http://larimar.pnn.com/3693-the-front-page

5. Jennifer Gladen - http://jgladen.blogspot.com/

6. Jessica Aday Kennedy - http://j.adaykennedy.tripod.com/blog/

7. Sylvia C. Hall - http://www.sylvias-journal.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

Write What Inspires You! FREE Newsletter

Friendly Reminder:

The debut issue of my new FREE newsletter, Write What Inspires You! will be released December 2008. I already have over 40 subscribers and would like remind you that if you are interested in being an interview subject, have great news to announce, or would like to contribute an article to the Reflections or Dreams column please contact me at: dmcdine@optonline.net.

The line-up for December is:

Author Interview, Mayra Calvani
Illustrator Interview, Dawn Phillips
Book Review of Junior Geography Detective Squad - State of Wilderness by Elysabeth Eldering
Reflections or Dreams, by myself
Proclaim your Successess! - several announcements by fellow writers.

Have an inspirational day!

Honor Veteran's Day

THIS PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS...

GENERATIONS OF VALOR...

We truly take a lot for granted. Forget the football 'heroes' and movie 'stars'.

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul; the other for your freedom..

77th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition Announced

Category WinnersClick on the category name of the 77th Annual WD Writing Competition below to see the top 100 winners in each area:

Children's/YA Fiction - #12 Donna M. McDine
Feature Article
Genre Short Story
Inspirational
Mainstream Fiction
Nonrhyming Poetry
Memoir/Personal Essay
Rhyming Poetry
Stageplay
Screenplay

November Articles Published Online & In-Print

Hello...I'm thrilled to share with you that two of my non-fiction articles are appearing online and in-print during the month of November:









"Your daughter is developing early - should you worry?"

http://www.hvparent.com/articles/article.aspx?id=813







Guest Profile: "An Interview with K.L. Going"

http://momwriterslitmag.com/GuestProfile2.htm


At both magazines, please be sure to check out all the other informative articles.

Thanks for visiting!

Mayra Calvani - Virtual Book Tour Today!

I am thrilled to have Mayra Calvani with me today and she will be fielding questions. Please read her Guest Author Post below and leave a comment or ask any question you may have. Mayra will be checking in throughout the day to answer your questions.

So You Want to Be a Reviewer?

Are you passionate about books? Do you have a talent for easily capturing the essence of a book after having read it? Do you often feel the desire to share your thoughts about a book with readers? If you answered "Yes" to these questions, then book reviewing can be one of the most satisfying, rewarding activities you'll ever undertake. In fact, book reviewing can become addictive.

I started reviewing in 1998. Back then, I wished someone had written a book with all there is to know about book reviewing. Sure, I found many articles on the web about the craft, which I read eagerly. But, I really wished I could have found everything in one volume. A sort of "user's manual"–a book that I would be able to come back to again and again and use as a reference, one that would reveal the secrets of the trade, the Dos and Don'ts, full of guidelines, tips and practical advice.

Though it may seem strange, there are hundreds of books on writing in general, and many on writing book reports, proposals, query letters and synopses, but practically none on writing reviews.

Like all fledgling reviewers, I made my share of amateurish mistakes, becoming all the more experienced and polished because of them. I, too, was guilty of the fledgling reviewer's disease–that of writing overly-positive reviews. Overwhelmed with enthusiasm, a good heart, and the desire to please everyone associated with the book, I often made the big mistake of forgetting the foremost person a reviewer must keep in mind–the reader. As I read and wrote more and more reviews, it soon became easy to tell a good review from a bad one, and to realize that a large number of reviewers, especially beginners, would profit from a bit of guidance, the things I learned from my mistakes.

The fact is, most people do read reviews to select their reading material. Reviews do have a positive or a negative influence on whether or not a person buys a book. Hence, reviewing is a serious responsibility, one reviewers shouldn't take lightly.

The aim of this book, therefore, is to offer some guidelines in a clear manner supported with targeted examples of how to write and publish thoughtful, well-written reviews no matter their length, type or genre, and to examine the essence of reviews within a broader spectrum.
This book was written not only with the aspiring reviewer in mind, but for the established reviewer who needs a bit of refreshing and also for anybody–be they author, publisher, reader, bookseller, librarian or publicist–who wants to become more informed about the value, purpose and effectiveness of reviews.

On a final note, the writing of this book has been a highly interesting, educational and thrilling ride into the slippery world of reviews for Anne K. Edwards and me. I hope you'll enjoy the journey and profit from it as much as we have.

So take out pen and paper, a highlighter, and get ready to write great reviews!

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Copyright © 2008. Mayra Calvani and Anne K. Edwards. All rights reserved by the authors. Please do not copy without permission.

Multi-genre author Mayra Calvani has been a reviewer for ten years. She's the author of the supernatural thrillers, Embraced by the Shadows and Dark Lullaby. A regular contributor to Blogcritics Magazine, she's also a member of Broad Universe, Authors Coalition, and The Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators.

Visit her website at: http://www.mayracalvani.com/. For her children's books, visit http://www.mayrassecretbookcase.com/. Mayra also keeps a blog, The Dark Phantom Review, where she regulary posts reviews and author interviews. To learn more about The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, visit http://www.slipperybookreview.wordpress.com/.

Mayra Calvani - Guest Author - The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing

FRIENDLY REMINDER:

Mayra Calvani, co-author of The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, to visit Donna McDine's blog - Write What Inspires You! - http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/ on:

Tuesday, November 4th

An excerpt..."Are you passionate about books? Do you have a talent for easily capturing the essence of a book after having read it? Do you often feel the desire to share your thoughts about a book with readers? If you answered "Yes" to these questions, then book reviewing can be one of the most satisfying, rewarding activities you'll ever undertake. In fact, book reviewing can become addictive."

To learn more about Mayra and her latest book, visit on November 4th to read more of Mayra's guest post. Mayra is happy to answer any questions you may have.