AMG Book Award Winner 2020

AMG Book Award Winner 2020

Jun 3, 2020 | News

PRESS RELEASE

Best of Texas & International Books Awarded | 9th Annual Contest for Texas Authors

AMG Indie Book Awards
TEXAS Readers of the exceptional titles selected for Authors Marketing Guild, a Texas-based organization Best Book Awards for Texas & International, would agree that they are winning reads and top-tier selections in their categories. By any measure, the distinguished books from this year's seventeen winners are of stellar quality. They are perfect examples of books readers will love to fall into the pages and climb out with the greatest of satisfaction.

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.

International Award Winners

Diann Floyd 
Harry the Camel
Children's Books - Foreign Translation
Winter Lawrence
Eve 2.0: The Ultimate Gaming Experience
Literature
Bill Poje
The Byzantine Pineapple with Corporation X
Non-Fiction Economics

Texas Award Winners

Cathey Nickell
Yazzy's Amazing Yarn
Children's Picture Book
Sandra Rhea
Willowmena's Quest
Middle School Fantasy
Ernie Lee
Search for Aquasaurus
YA Sci Fi
G.M. Kelso
Tess: Law Woman of the West
YA Western
M Ward Leon
Blood of the Beast
Action/Adventure
Sharon K. Middleton
The McCarron’s Daughter
Historical Romance
Sandra Fox Murphy
On a Lark
Historical Fiction (Texas)
Becki Willis
Wildflower Wedding With a Killer Reception (The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series, Book 8)
Mystery Series, Amateur Sleuth
Deborah Chelette-Wilson
What the World Needs Now! Healing Trauma in Ourselves and Our Children
Non-Fiction Education in Trauma
Michael J. Farlow
Leaders are Made Not Born: 40 Simple Skills to Make You the Leader You want to Be
Non-Fiction Leadership
Roger Leslie
Divine Destiny: A Dialog with God
Non-Fiction Spirituality
Patricia Taylor Wells
LodeStar
Poetry
Breakfield and Burkey
The Enigma Factor (2nd Edition)
TechnoThriller
Art Anthony
Too Many Rivers to Cross
Western

Source: www.authorsmarketingguild.com

March Visits

March Visits

Mar 19, 2019 | News

Temphis, Tennesse

Recently I had the opportunity to travel with my husband to Memphis, Tennesse. There were many things to do and I did but one thing I wanted to do was to find a place where more inspiration would occur and sure enough I found the spot during a visit to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – with its amazing history and daily miracles, and also on a place I never imagined existed, Mud Island in the Mississippi River.  The island has a great museum and other attractions.  My inspiration, however, came from contemplating that mighty river.

Texas and Virginia

I attended Good Shepherd School, in Kingwood,  Texa,  Washington Mill Elementary School in Mount Vernon, Va and Sandra Mossman Elementary, Texas.  As always I greatly enjoyed and learned a lot from reading to the classes at the schools and taking the students’ questions.

I even had a question from a sweet girl with the name HOPE just like our word of the month. With a friend she is co-authoring a book.  I am looking forward to hearing more about, and one day buying her work. 

Memorizing Sight Words

Memorizing Sight Words

Mar 19, 2019 | Handy Tips

Reading

Last month we discussed reading to your children. This month I thought I would share ideas on sight words. What is a sight word?

Sight words are also referred to as high-frequency words and it means they are words that do not follow the phonics rules for pronunciation. They are some of the first words young children are encouraged to memorize to make learning reading and comprehension easier. The most popular list among educators is the Dolch List.

How can you help your child memorize sight words?

In the classroom, I would place a word on a card shaped according to the theme for the month. During the center reading time, the students would take turns at their reading center time to learn to read each card. 

Basically, these are flash cards with a twist. I turned it into a game for the children. Before I knew it, they were ready for more words, and they were reading with success.

For my own kids, I took word strips, but you could use large index cards.  Write the word and cut the word out according to its shape. Practice the word with your child and then  paste the word on their bathroom mirror, bedroom bulletin board or a location that would involve them to see the word often. If you color code the word then they learn the part of speech at the same time. Exmaple:  adjectives could be yelllow, verbs could be orange and nouns could be green.

SCBWI Conference 2019

SCBWI Conference 2019

Mar 19, 2019 | News

I attend The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference in New York City this March, and what a great experience it was!

As I took my seat for the opening ceremony, I looked around the ballroom filled with over 800 authors and illustrators, and I could not help but be in awe of all the creative people in one room. It was inspiring to meet illustrators and new and seasoned authors, all of whom were very gracious and welcoming to us new members.

The opening keynote was none other than Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor who is also a children’s book author. She was humble, inspiring and honest in her story sharing how and why she started writing children books and how she felt she was making a difference by being an author for children.

It was very touching. She gave a signed copy of her book to all of us. I had the honor to speak briefly with her as well as shake her hands. And no, I did not get a picture as they were not allowed.

The days were filled with the gala, keynote speeches, breakout sessions, sign books, purchase books, and network with other authors, illustrators, agents, and other wonderful keynote speakers.

The keynote speakers were outstanding, along with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor there were authors like Jarrett Krosoczka, Elizabeth Acevedo and Christopher Paul Curtis.  This was not one of those conferences where you leave the speaking sessions and only attend the networking.  The stories told by the speakers were riveting and revealed the human being inside each of these highly acclaimed authors. Over the next few months, I will be introducing you to the talented illustrators and gifted authors from the conference.

Signing books at The SCWBI conference gave me a feeling of accomplishment. For those who don’t know, it has been a long journey to becoming a published author. I am so grateful to OC Publishing who believed in me and publishes my books.  To be meeting other authors, from aspiring to best-sellers is a milestone to be sure.

For more about the society see their website here

Developing Reading Skills

Developing Reading Skills

Feb 2, 2019 | Handy Tips

Well, I never thought I would be entering this part of social media but here I am with my own blog, of which to start with I'm focusing on ideas about developing reading skills at home and at school. Enjoy ...

Reading

Let’s start with what is most important ... reading to your child. My children are all grown now, but I have fond memories of reading or hearing my husband to read the children, which taught them that reading can be fun and to value time set aside for reading.

Also, did you know that reading out loud has a great impact in teaching a child to understand the rythm of sentences, sentence structure and vocabulary, much more so than if the child is left alone with the book.

Tip One

It is important to set a regular time aside for reading or making up stories together.

When? Whatever time works best with your schedule. For our family bedtime was always the easiest.

Why?

  • You are more relaxed and ready to enjoy the time with your kids. The kids are more relaxed.
  • A habit of reading at bedtime will result in unexpected moments when your child opens up to talk about the day,
  • or any worries and - what is super fun — all the observations she or he will make that will surprise and delight you.
  • You will never regret that time, as child rearing goes so quickly and one day you will long for just five minutes to go back to that precious reading time together and their innocent questions. Enjoy the moment.

Tip Two

I highly recommend a bookshelf in each of your children’s room.

Why?

  • It teaches them to enjoy the ownership of books and going back and rereading a book they enjoyed whenever they like.
  • If space is limited, of course, you could develop the family library and section off shelves for each child. Whatever works for your family.