Taking a Blog Break for Reading and Writing

It has been a wonderful busy time of reading and writing these last couple of weeks. The reading is for Cybils and the writing for Nano. The next few weeks will be the same with full focus on those two things. Will be returning December 4 to start sharing what I have been reading Cybils wise. Until then enjoy the rest of the month and see you in December!

MMGM-Time of Honor-Margo Sorenson

Welcome to MMGM! Today I am featuring TIME OF HONOR by Margo Sorenson.
From the publisher:
Fourteen-year-old Connor’s smart mouth gets her in and—luckily—out of trouble on her prep school’s debate team and in the classroom. On a field trip to the U.K., when she is suddenly catapulted into the year 1272, she finds her royal new friends’ lives are threatened by a conspiracy fueled by greed. When William and Maud learn that their father has been murdered on the Crusade, they beg her to help them find who is plotting against them. William must confront his enemy in battle, but what does Connor discover about herself and her ability to use words well when she tries to save her new friends—and herself?

Connor is a fourteen year old with a travel writing, jet setting mother. For Connor it's a life she'd rather not have because of mother who'd rather be writing or traveling than spending time with her own daughter. So Connor takes on her mom and the world the way she knows how best. With words. And yes, sometimes those words get her into a heck of a lot of trouble. In fact, it's what lands her in a boarding school so her mom doesn't have to deal with it.

Connor is a believable, smart mouth kid. She's a debater and she's good at it, well, because she knows how to use her words. That's very clear from the first page. Beyond that first page, the author wastes no time in upping the action and tension. By the end of chapter one, Connor is back in time and having to use her "smart mouth" to keep her out of trouble. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not, but in the end it will serve her well. All of this is wrapped up in a mystery that keeps you guessing from page turn to page turn. Who is determined to kill William and Maud? So many possibilities and Connor soon finds herself wanting to help her two new friends just as much as she wants to get back to her own time. I'd recommend this one to upper middle grade fans of historical fiction you know will enjoy a great mash up historical fiction, mystery and time slip fantasy with a good dose of coming of age.  Worth a check out, for sure.

More reviews and interviews:

Introducing Time of Honor by Margo Sorenson - C.K. Volnek - Author - Story Teller
Middle Grade Mafioso

Where to find Margo this week:

11/7-Strands of Thought - Children's Author, Kai Strand
11/8-Write Stuff
11/12- Nerdy Book Club

Where to find Margo online:

Author Website- Margo Sorenson
Twitter Margo Sorenson (ipapaverison) on Twitter

Where to purchase TIME OF HONOR

Muse it Up-Time of Honor
Time of Honor: Margo Sorenson: Amazon.com: Kindle Store


Thanks for stopping by for a read. Happy MMGM all and be sure to check out Shannon Messenger for more MMGM posts.


Deb!

#Wipmadness October Check-In Five

Morning all!

Happy Monday and here we are on the last Monday of October. Thanks so much for coming to my blog to check in, share your stories, your ups, your downs. All of you are _so_ inspiring. And I want to say to you what I told our Angelina. The books and stories you work on make their way to kids who want and need to read them. I've seen the power of story first hand, the connections, the differences. You make a difference in a child or teens life when you connect with them in a story that makes them laugh, takes them on a wild adventure, makes them cry or makes them go "hey, that's me, I know what that's like". I could tell you story after story of experiences I've had when handing kids books. I won't right now. Why? 'Cause we got some #wipmadness to do!

School is done! So here is my #wipmadness for this week.

• Get organized and started with NANO and PIBOIDMO
• Read, read and read for #Cybils MG realistic fiction panel
• Start writing blog posts for the above reads!

That's it for me. What about you? How was your last week? What are your plans for this week?

AND---see you all over @ Hanging on to Wonder for our November check-ins.

Thanks again for hanging out here. Shout out and thanks to Jaye for taking on Novemeber! Happy Halloween!

#Wipmadness October Check-In Four

Greetings all #wipmadness peeps, new and old! It has indeed been a busy week of schooling for me. But, midst it all a possible NANO novel came to mine. Granted it is another idea and one entirely different from the other one I've written a synopsis for. This one is middle contemporary and is about coping with grief. I wrote about 500 random-ish words from the pov of a possible almost thirteen year old character. A working title is LITTLE GIRL BLUE. It's still tumbling about my head, so we shall see where it goes this week. Speaking of this week, it's still all about the school and getting it done, with bits of time captured here and there for writing. That writing to include prepping a picture book for next round of crits for my picture book group and getting crits done for members of that group. And-thinking more on LITTLE GIRL BLUE.

Now.

Way more that enough from me.

I'm looking forward to seeing where you all are with #wipmadness and reaching/adjusting/moving your goals from last week. And really looking forward to hearing how SIWC went for all you writing roaring twenty-ers!

Let's rock and write this week and with that in mind, I leave you with this:

May your imagination soar to the top of a mountain, set sail across the ocean blue, traverse the frozen north or swing through the rainforest. May it take you to just where you need to be with no limits, no boundries. May it let you soar and do what imagination does. If you need to take your inner editor with you for revisions. Just let her know to buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Editing this post to share Brain Pickings post on Freud, Dreams and Creative Writing! 

MMGM and Last Day for #Cybils Nominations!

Oh how I love MMGM! Today I am over on Shannon Messenger's blog sharing my thoughts on one of the #Cybils Middle Grade Realistic Fiction nominees, THREE TIMES LUCKY by Sheila Turnage. I'm sharing the cover here, too. I forgot to mention in the post how I like it. It's speaks volumes about what the book is about and so kid friendly.  Shannon's doing a giveaway on the book. Thinking you might want to enter.

And speaking of the Cybils. As many of you know today is the last day to get your nominations in. After that, I'll be in some reading kind of heaven. What? Housework? Sorry, I have to read. 

Finally-I'm hosting a giveaway of Heather Beck's HAUNTED.  'Tis the season to get your scare on...BOO!

For more Middle Grade Marvelousness make a stop over on Shannon's blog and see who's talking about what.

#WipMadness October Check-In, Week Three

Slowly but surely.

Pedal to the metal.

Book deals that happen when you keep on forging ahead even when the going gets tough.

However we need to do it, we will do it we will get there. That is evident from all the responses to last week's post. I'm pretty darn glad we are taking this journey together and mighty grateful for the inspiration you provide to just keep on keeping on and looking forward. So, THANK YOU, for sharing.

This past week I've been slammed with course work as I try to get it done by the end of _this_ week. Decided to go this route so I can give my writing and reading next week my all and everything. SO--this week will be all about getting my assignments in and getting those exams writ. Not quite the #wipmadness I was going for when I stepped into October, but I think this change in plan is going to work. Feeling in the zone. 'Course, there will be the odd break in the schooling and you can bet I will do me a bit of writing.

How about all of you? Sticking with the plan? Changing the plan, even scrapping it for another? Looking forward to hearing how you are all doing. And hope to all of our  #wipmadness peeps heading to Surrey and the SIWC this week...have a blast and learn lots!

Now, as NANO doth approach I shall leave you with this short 'n' sweet TED TALK. Has me thinking about other 30 day possibles to try out once NANO has come and gone. They could be writing, reading...anything. Enjoy the week and go, go GO with #wipmadness!

Oh MGYA Canada Giveaway of HAUNTED by Heather Beck

Heather Beck, a Canadian author and screenwriter, contacted me some time ago about doing a possible interview and giveaway. After checking out her site and asking her what she had to offer middle grade wise,  I suggested we do something a little closer to Halloween. The following is what book she had offered to do a giveaway for. You'll see why mid-October is a good choice (although scary is good anytime of year when you get down to it!)

From the author's site:

When darkness falls and the air turns cold, ghosts come out to play.

Heather Beck presents Haunted, an anthology of ghostly encounters and paranormal events.

Ghost Park

After discovering a mysterious playground in the woods, Chase is stalked by angry ghost children.  

  

A Haunting Past

Truce’s class trip to an old native reserve turns deadly when Bear, an infamous chief who died two hundred years ago, blames him for the tribe’s extinction.

The Manor On The Rocks

Grey, damp and surrounded by jagged rocks, Calla Lily’s new home isn’t only unpleasant, it’s also haunted by the world’s most evil boy.

A Medieval Nightmare

When Ellie and Brandon get trapped in a medieval museum that’s a bit too real, they fall under a spell and become pivotal players in a ghostly regime.

A Watery Grave

A camping trip becomes a heart-pounding race for survival when Justine meets a ghost who’s determined to change her fate by trading bodies with a living entity.

Haunted includes volumes 1-5 of The Horror Diaries series.

Heather has been busy out in the blogosphere. Here is one of her most recent interviews. She is one busy writer!

Book Labyrinth: Interview with Heather Beck 

If you'd like to win a copy of this all you need to do is leave a comment by MIDNIGHT Monday, October 15, 2012. Yes, you read that right. When the witching hour tolls, the giveaway will end. Much thanks to Heather for offering to do this giveaway. Good luck to all the enter-ers...and, BOO!