Thank you all who participated this month. Enjoy the 'LOCKDOWN' pictures from various parts of the world.
Shine places: Texas - United States
Texas, USA
Italy
Italy
Texas, USA
It took many years and lots of writing stories before I was ever published.
When I held my first published book with my name on it, I remember just looking at it, thinking this is real. Wow! It was a surreal moment. It reminded me how my grandma and parents said: "Never give up." They were so right.
Fast forward, my husband and I had been living overseas for some time, Dubai, to be exact. I knew we would eventually be returning home to Texas, and I wanted to write something that took place in Dubai as a way to say thank you. It probably sounds silly, but it is true.
Eventually, the inspiration came, and I wrote my 4th published book, Harry the Camel. I also had the story translated into Arabic.
One afternoon my husband came into the house with the mail and handed me a package from the Author's Marketing Guild. I could not believe I won my first author's award. I did not even know I was in the running for my story Harry the Camel. I am humbled and grateful to the Author's Marketing Guild for recognizing my work. Wow! What a proud moment.
Thank you!
The virus around the world has kept us in our homes for many months. My wedding anniversary is June 2nd, and Texas was slowly opening back up. My husband and I decided to go to Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, and enjoy walking the seawall. I love watching the waves roll in.
The sound of the wave, memories of my childhood ,I find inspirational. I hope you enjoy the picture, and it inspires you as well.
The Story Garden is in full swing, and I am enjoying reading stories for various ages.
I especially enjoy having guests from various parts of the world sharing their love for reading how it inspired them to be the person they are today from being an author to an actress, like Jill O Patrick and Emma Quintin.
Make sure to check each one out.
I have some great guests lined up for the rest of the summer. So be sure to visit the Story Garden and share it with your friends. Be sure to subscribe to the Story Garden.
Another exciting day filled with the surprise that my books reached a young reviewer on Youtube called Wild Willie’ Book Reviews . He gave the Little Girl in the Moon series positive reviews! Now when a young reader gives you a thumb up, it is a vast Wow moment.
Please check out Wild Willies youtube channel. I will be interviewing him in a few weeks and will have even more to share with you about this young man and his youtube channel. So stay tuned.
One common thread is The Power of words: The more we understand and build our vocabulary, the more fun we can have with expressing ourselves in song, stories, acting and poetry.
1. John Lenon A musician, songwriter, peace activist. Singer for the Beatles.
2. Dixie Chicks An American music group.
3. Reba Mc Entire An American country singer and actress.
Nicholas Winton (1909 - 2015) He was a British humanitarian. He rescued hundreds of mostly Jewish children from former Czechoslovakia right before WWII.
Friedrich Wohler (1800 - 1882) Friedrich was born in Germany and is known for his work in inorganic chemistry.
Mary Eliza Mahoney (b. 1885 - 1926) She is the first black nurse in the United States. She was the first woman to vote in Boston, Mass.
A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but has a different spelling and meaning.
1. Aural > Oral
The concert was an aural as well as a visual delight.
The teacher gave the class an oral exam.
2. Ascent > Assent
The ascent to fame was a long road.
The nuns bowed their heads in assent to show their appreciation.
3. Aisle > I’ll
I like to sit on the aisle seat on the plane.
I’ll always be there for you.
An Antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word.
1. External > Internal
It is an external problem.
It is an internal problem.
2. Lock > Unlock
Please lock the front door.
Please unlock the front door.
3. First > Last
They came in the first place.
They came in last place.
A Synonym is a word or phrase that means close to or exactly the same as another word.
1. Irrelevant - Useless
It is irrelevant what they have to say.
It is useless what they have to say.
2. Fascinating - Interesting
We find ourselves in a fascinating situation.
We find ourselves in an interesting situation.
3. Essential - Important
It is essential that you understand.
You must understand.
The times we are in now has led to more time at home and enjoying nature walks around our neighborhood. I never know what I might see, like bunnies, turtles, snakes, and birds. Enjoy some of the pictures.
In my newsletter, I talked about crawfish holes and I said I would share a bit more about my interest in them. When I was little, my brother, Danny and I would walk to the park together and on the way would spot lots of crawfish holes. Now that I am back in Texas, seeing them on my walks brings back sweet memories. Do you know how crawfish protect their burrows when summer comes?
They their mud towers or opening to their burrow to keep as much water in them as possible. Read more about them here.
My youngest daughter was able to be home for her birthday! She wanted me to bake her a cake like when she was little. I surprised her with a doll cake.
I have been busy looking over the years a lot of stories I have written. I am enjoying working on past stories and making them come alive. I look forward to sharing them with you one day.
My newsletter I shared how the children author Eugena Chu was a guest in the Story Garden. Eugenia Chu’s books will make a great addition to your children’s library.
If you could travel around the world where all would you go. Send it in to SHINE!
The Stories for this Month...
This is the ninth year for Texas Librarians to select winning titles written by Texas authors in the Children's, Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry genres. This is the first year we selected winners for the international division. The winners from this year's contest will be featured at the Texas Book Festival in the DEAR Texas & Texas Authors Institute of History booths.
Authors Marketing Guild promotes authors from the Lone Star State and around the world in many innovative ways. The association leverages the knowledge and expertise of various authors to expand their visibility and promote their works locally and globally.
Harry the Camel |
Children's Books - Foreign Translation |
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Winter Lawrence
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Eve 2.0: The Ultimate Gaming Experience
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Literature
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Bill Poje
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The Byzantine Pineapple with Corporation X
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Non-Fiction Economics
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Cathey Nickell
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Yazzy's Amazing Yarn
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Children's Picture Book
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Sandra Rhea
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Willowmena's Quest
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Middle School Fantasy
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Ernie Lee
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Search for Aquasaurus
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YA Sci Fi
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G.M. Kelso
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Tess: Law Woman of the West
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YA Western
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M Ward Leon
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Blood of the Beast
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Action/Adventure
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Sharon K. Middleton
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The McCarron’s Daughter
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Historical Romance
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Sandra Fox Murphy
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On a Lark
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Historical Fiction (Texas)
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Becki Willis
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Wildflower Wedding With a Killer Reception (The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series, Book 8)
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Mystery Series, Amateur Sleuth
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Deborah Chelette-Wilson
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What the World Needs Now! Healing Trauma in Ourselves and Our Children
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Non-Fiction Education in Trauma
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Michael J. Farlow
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Leaders are Made Not Born: 40 Simple Skills to Make You the Leader You want to Be
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Non-Fiction Leadership
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Roger Leslie
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Divine Destiny: A Dialog with God
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Non-Fiction Spirituality
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Patricia Taylor Wells
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LodeStar
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Poetry
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Breakfield and Burkey
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The Enigma Factor (2nd Edition)
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TechnoThriller
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Art Anthony
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Too Many Rivers to Cross
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Western
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Source: www.authorsmarketingguild.com
Plum Creek Press