AUTHOR LOIS WINSTON WROTE A CHILDREN'S BOOK!

Awhile back, Lois Winston, the author who keeps messing with my life, gave me a brief respite and wrote a children's book. With the holidays fast approaching, it seemed a good time to remind people of the book because no matter where you fall along the political spectrum, you have to admit, it’s been a divisive few years. Couple that with a pandemic and various conflicts going on across the globe, and it’s a wonder we all don’t crawl into bed, pull blankets over our heads, and refuse to come out. And we’re adults. Think about how our children must feel. 

If you have a young child on your holiday shopping list, you might want to consider purchasing a copy of The Magic Paintbrush as a gift. Without being preachy, The Magic Paintbrush addresses the issue of differences, in this case, a kingdom that’s all pink at war with a kingdom that’s all blue for longer than anyone can remember—so long that no one even knows what started the feud. It takes two children from another land to point out to the rulers of both kingdoms how we're really all the same inside and the benefits of everyone getting along.

 

Now if only people in the real world would do likewise….

 

Lois originally wrote this story for her own grandchildren (yes, she's that old!), but the reception she received convinced her she should send it out in the world for others to enjoy—and learn from—because the lesson taught is one the world really, really needs right now.

 

Happy holidays!

 

The Magic Paintbrush

When nine-year-old Jack and his seven-year-old sister Zoe are snowed in for days with nothing to do, their complaints land them in every guy’s worst nightmare—the kingdom of Vermilion, a land where everything is totally pink! At first Jack is mistaken for a spy from the neighboring kingdom of Cobalt, but Zoe convinces Queen Fuchsia that they’re from New Jersey and arrived by magic.

 

Queen Fuchsia needs a king, but all the available princes in Vermilion are either too short, too fat, too old, or too stupid. Jack and Zoe suggest she looks for a king in Cobalt, but Vermilion and Cobalt have been at war since long before anyone can remember.

 

Jack and Zoe decide Vermilion and Cobalt need a Kitchen Table Mediation to settle their differences. So they set out on an adventure to bring peace to the warring kingdoms—and maybe along the way they just might find a king for the queen.

 

The Magic Paintbrush is suitable for children eight years of age and up to read on their own. Younger children will enjoy the story if it’s read to them. You can read an excerpt here. 

 

Buy Links:

Paperback 

Kindle 

Nook 

Kobo 

iBooks 

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--A TIMELY TALE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES (AND ADULTS!)

Need a holiday gift idea for a child? Back in 2009, Lois Winston, the author who makes my life miserable,  came up with the idea for a chapter book for young readers. Shortly after she finished writing it, she sold the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, and as all of you know, with a few exceptions, her life has pretty much centered around dropping dead bodies at my feet ever since. The Magic Paintbrush was finally published in 2014. With all the divisiveness going on in the country, it remains a must-read and a perfect gift for young readers.

Without being preachy, The Magic Paintbrush addresses the issue of differences, in this case, a kingdom that is all pink at war with a kingdom that is all blue for longer than anyone can remember—so long that no one even knows what started the feud. It takes two children from another land to point out to the rulers of both kingdoms how we're really all the same inside and the benefits of getting along. 

 

Now if only people in the real world would do likewise…

 

The Magic Paintbrush

When nine-year-old Jack and his seven-year-old sister Zoe are snowed in for days with nothing to do, their complaints land them in every guy’s worst nightmare—the kingdom of Vermilion, a land where everything is totally pink! At first Jack is mistaken for a spy from the neighboring kingdom of Cobalt, but Zoe convinces Queen Fuchsia that they’re from New Jersey and arrived by magic.

 

Queen Fuchsia needs a king, but all the available princes in Vermilion are either too short, too fat, too old, or too stupid. Jack and Zoe suggest she looks for a king in Cobalt, but Vermilion and Cobalt have been at war since long before anyone can remember. Jack and Zoe decide Vermilion and Cobalt need a Kitchen Table Mediation to settle their differences. So they set out on an adventure to bring peace to the warring kingdoms—and maybe along the way they just might find a king for the queen.

 

The Magic Paintbrush is suitable for children eight years of age and up to read on their own. Younger children will enjoy the story if it’s read to them. Read an excerpt here. 

 

Buy Links

Paperback 

Kindle 

Kobo 

Nook 

Apple Books 

FAVORITES, FAILURES & FRUSTRATIONS WITH GUEST AUTHOR KATH BOYD MARSH

Kath Boyd Marsh, born a fourth generation Californian, roamed the USA and came to stay in the magical Bluegrass of Kentucky. Here she writes in an office filled with dragons. Her debut novel took a mere two decades and a multitude of drafts to find a publisher. But Kath, Cl’rnce Merlin Clan Principus Dr’gons, and Moire Ain would not give up. Learn more about Kath and her writing at her website. Today Kath talks about decades of both failure and frustration…and perseverance.

Never Give Up! Never Surrender!

I began working on The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard twenty-seven years ago. There were plenty of rejections, and then the one puzzling one, and THEN I found the editor/publisher who liked my writing and my manuscript. 

About eight years ago I submitted The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard to a mid-sized press, Blooming Tree. Got back an encouraging note saying they were laughing their heads off about it and passing it around. NEXT day I got a form rejection from them, no explanation. WHAT? 

So forward four years, I'm feeling like I'll never publish, that there's something fundamentally wrong with my writing. I see a listing for a small press called Children's Brains Are Yummy. I couldn't resist the name. I contacted them. The young adult editor liked the query enough to request the full manuscript. YAY! And quickly he decided he didn't like the main character. Boo. 

But I'm not particularly good at quitting. A month later the same press ran a contest with publication as the prize. I entered both the Young Adult and Middle Grade categories with two new manuscripts. Color me gobsmacked when each made the semi-finals! And even more amazed when the Middle Grade manuscript made the finals. I came in second, so no publication, but the publisher offered to work with me on the manuscripts. After working with her and seeing my manuscript grow better and better, I felt so good about her that I sent her The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard, my most precious manuscript. And she loved the main character! In Feb. of 2015, she offered a contract. 

Now, the spooky part. Childrens Brains Are Yummy started life as an imprint of Blooming Tree. Madeline, publisher of Childrens Brains Are Yummy, went to work at Blooming Tree at their new Childrens Brains Are Yummy imprint, apparently after my fail. When Blooming Tree moved out of children's books, Madeline bought Childrens Brains Are Yummy. And then I found her and Childrens Brains Are Yummy!

You just never know. Certainly not if you give up. 

The Lazy Dragon and the Bumblespells Wizard

For Cl’rnce, a perfect day would involve a nap, another nap, followed by dinner, and a nap. So what if he’s the only dr’gon his age without a wizard partner or the ability to fly? That sounds like work, and Cl’rnce is opposed to all forms of work.

Moire Ain, on the other hand, has never known anything except miserable, soul-crushing work. She has lived her whole life as a virtual slave to the evil Hedge Witch. When Moire Ain overhears Hedge Witch plot to have Moire Ain kill a king, the girl runs away with only a magic book, her pet raven, and a dream of someday becoming a Great and Mighty Wizard.

Moire Ain hasn’t even been gone a full day when she stumbles across an irritated Cl’rnce. Grudgingly, Cl’rnce has accepted a quest, and he now finds himself footsore, hungry, and trapped in a tree by a dragon slaying knight. With a bumbled spell, Moire Ain manages to save Cl’rnce’s life. Unimpressed, Cl’rnce tries to get rid of the little wanna-be wizard so he can get back to his interrupted nap. However, Moire Ain has gotten a glimpse of a way to free herself from Hedge Witch for the rest of her life. Convinced now that she would make an excellent wizard partner, despite the bumbled spells, Moire Ain invites herself along on Cl’rnce’s adventure.

Buy Links

paperback 

ebook 

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--BOTTLE CAP JEWELRY WITH GUEST AUTHOR CONDA V. DOUGLAS

Conda V. Douglas had a childhood filled with authors, artists and goats in the kitchen, buffalo bones in the living room and rocks in the bathtub. Now she fills her life with writing, cooking and jewelry making. She writes the Starke Dead cozy mystery series for adults and the Mall Fairies series for tweens. To learn more about Conda and her books visit her blog. 

How to Make Bottle Cap Jewelry and Magnets

Bottle cap jewelry and magnets can be wonderful as gifts for all sorts of occasions. A baby shower? Give a bottle cap pin with the photo of the new mom as a baby! Maybe pins for all the attendees! How about making a bunch of Christmas bottle cap ornaments? Give out bottle cap magnets for a Halloween treat! Do six magnets with lovely, perhaps even personal, sayings printed on fun paper and place in a nice little metal box for a fun gift. Or bottle cap magnets for an easy project for your child's class? The limit is your imagination.

Materials

bottle caps (available at craft stores or collect your own)

1” circle epoxy stickers (made for bottle cap pendants and available in craft stores) or varnish

1” circle punch

super glue

1/4" pin backs, earring backs and/or magnets

images (available in craft stores specifically for bottle caps or use magazines, greeting cards, stickers, wallpaper, etc.)

beads, buttons, charms, glitter glue, etc. (optional)

1. Using the circle punch, cut out desired image.

2. Glue the image into the bottle cap taking care to smooth out any wrinkles. Note: Don’t use too much glue and don’t saturate the paper, but make sure the glue covers the entire back of the image. Allow to dry.

3. Place a 1" circle epoxy sticker on top of the image or coat the image with clear varnish. Allow varnish to dry.

 

4. If desired, glue object such as miniature charms or beads within bottle cap or add glitter glue around the inner perimeter of the bottle cap.

5. Attach pin back, earring backs, or magnet to back of bottle cap.

The Mall Fairies 3-Book Bundle

The Mall Fairies: Exile

Teenage fairy Swoop risks everything to protect her best friend from being exiled from their shopping mall home.

A Foodie Fairy’s First Foray

Pudge is exhilarated about her first day as a Foodie Fairy, until, one after another, food-filled disasters descend.

The Mall Fairies: War

Fairies, pixies and humans together! Will following their dreams lead to war?

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The Mall Fairies Sweet Tooth Cookbook

Swoop here, one of the main characters from the tween fantasy series, The Mall Fairies, with a little bit about this cookbook. The fairies and pixies of The Mall Fairies series inspired our author, Conda, to write this series of Mall Fairy short stories, each with a (real) recipe from the story. So, here's the cookbook chock-a-block full of fairies' tales and fun, easy and most of all sweet recipes! Chocolate molasses cake, banana bread, sugar cookies, pumpkin pie and more delightful desserts await you here. 

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