Just thought you might like to watch Rebel’s video. I finally figured out how to put it here. All this modern technology confuses me. Enjoy.  Read more about Rebel at Blazing Trailers.

SCHOOL VISITS AND WORKSHOPS

I would love to visit your school and talk with your students about reading. I also do workshops where students can add to the lessons taught in the classroom about writing a story. My programs are listed below, but I am open to whatever teachers would like for me to do.

PROGRAMS

Fun With Reading (Pre-K-2)

We’ll play a game. I start by asking three questions about an animal, and the students guess the animal. Then students take turns asking three questions and letting other students guess what it is. We’ll look at my magazine articles about animals and their babies and also discuss my forthcoming picture book, Frankie’s Perfect Home, about a young armadillo searching for the perfect home. The children will receive color sheets of different animals.

How to Write a Story  (3-5)

We’ll talk about the students’ favorite ways to travel: car, airplane, train, ship, bus and then go step-by-step through my forthcoming historical fiction story about the Orphan Trains, showing how to find ideas, research, write, and edit. Students will receive a fun wordhunt.  Q/A

The Wonderful World of Reading (6-8)

I discuss how a nonreader (me) became not only a reader but a writer, as well. Students will see the process I used to write my historical novel, Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines, from the idea to research to writing and editing. We’ll also look at Just Breeze and see what research is necessary for a contemporary novel and how writing it differs from writing a historical story. Bookmarks will be given to the students. Q/A

If you prefer a workshop where the students write their stories, I’m happy to do that. I also speak at libraries, book fairs and conferences.

To learn more, leave a comment below, or email me at Beverlysmcclure (at) aol (dot) com.

I’m now scheduling for spring and fall 2010 and beyond.

On Thursday, May 21, 1863, a mortar shell rips through the wall of fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Stamford’s bedroom. Afraid their home is no longer safe, her mama, Susan, rushes Lizzie and her younger brother, Nathan, to the cave, where she plans to live until the siege of  Vicksburg, Mississippi, ends. Lizzie, however, has her own plans–to enlist in the Confederate army and help drive General Ulysses S. Grant and his Yankees into the Mississippi River. Her older brothers, Joseph and Willie, are in Virginia, fighting for their cause. Can she do any less?

Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines is the story of one girl and her family’s day-to-day struggle to survive a changing way of life during the War Between the States.

Coming this fall from Twilight Times Books.

* * *

REVIEW:

Title:                     Caves, Cannons and Crinolines

Written by:       Beverly Stowe McClure   

Ages:                     12 and up

Publisher:         Twilight Times Books

ISBN:                    1-60619-112-8        

Published:         September 2009

Paperback:        153 pages

Price:                    $16.95

The year 1863 finds outspoken, 14-year-old, Lizzie Stamford at a crossroads of what her parents believe to be acceptable behavior for a young lady, and secret desire to join the Confederate Army disguised as a boy. Her two brothers, Willie and Joseph willingly joined the Confederacy to defend Vicksburg from the Yankees and Lizzie longs to be part of the glory. Her blind courage brings her into the midst of a battleground at nighttime. Much to her dismay war is not what she believed it to be. The horrific acts of violence overwhelm her and she runs away as quickly as she arrived.

Her emotions and beliefs that all Yankees are evil is put to the test when an unexpected encounter with a Yankee soldier has her doubting her belief system. Will Lizzie come to terms of the ever changing world and circumstances which surround her? And what is to become of her beloved brothers and the city of Vicksburg?

McClure balances the emotions of the Confederate and Yankee characters with such in-depth feeling the reader will find themselves switching sides throughout the perilous journey of Lizzie Stamford and her family, and their quest to reclaim Vicksburg.

 Donna M. McDine, author of The Golden Pathway

* * *

ANOTHER REVIEW:

/Caves, Cannons and Crinolines/, is thought provoking young adult
historical novel. Set in the days of the Civil War where families are
torn apart, readers are given a very real picture of life in 1863. Ms.
McClure has clearly done her research and skillfully brings her
characters to life.

The main character, Elizabeth Stamford, or Lizzie as she is called by
her family, is a girl on the brink of young adulthood. Everything she
knows has been thrown into confusion and turmoil as the Yankees lay
siege to her home in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Lizzie’s two older brothers
have gone off to war, leaving Lizzie home with her younger brother, Nat,
her mother, two slaves, and her father, who is a doctor.

With shelling occurring on an almost daily basis, the family is forced
to move from their lovely home to a cave carved into the hillside behind
their house. Food is scarce, tempers are high, and living conditions
difficult. Lizzie is torn between her desire to please her family, and
her convictions that even girls should fight in the war. How does a
young girl deal with this conflict?

Lizzie has a lot of growing up to do, and in the midst of death and
despair, love comes calling in a most unlikely young man. Is Lizzie up
to the challenge? Will her family support her choice? Can love blossom
despite the stench of blood and the pounding of cannon balls?

We all know the North fought the South because President Lincoln
believed all men should be equal, despite the color of their skin. Ms.
McClure lightly deals with this subject as Lizzie struggles to determine
if her family’s slaves, Aunt Lois and Uncle Morris, are happy. Lizzie
thinks of them as family, but do they feel the same way?

Ms. McClure answers these questions and more, but you’ll have to read
/Caves, Cannons and Crinolines /to find out the answers/. /I know I
enjoyed reading this novel and felt transported to another time and
place each time I picked it up to read another chapter.

From Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz, author of   Ghost for Rent 

Chapter 1

Jennifer Barret glanced at the clock on the white wicker table beside her bed for at least the hundredth time that night. Midnight. She paced, her arms hugged across her chest.

“Where are you, Dad?” she whispered. “Why are you so late?”

She paused  by the phone, lifted the receiver, and dialed her father’s office at Orion Laboratories. The answering machine clicked on. She hung up. Something was wrong. But what?

In her mind she played back her father’s phone call earlier. How long ago was it? Six o’clock, she thought. She was on her way out the door to go to the basketball game with her best friend, Iris, when he called. Saxet High was one win away from the state tounament, but her dad told her to stay home until he got there. He had sounded tense, jittery, even frightened. So she obeyed. And that was the last she had heard from him.

She tossed a pile of shirts and jeans to one side, flopped down on her bed, and ruffled the ears of the blue-speckled dog curled on the pillows. “Dad’s not at work, Chopin,” she said. “Where do you suppose he is?”

The dog opened one eye a hairline crack and yawned.

Jen joked to hide the unease growing inside her. “What’s that you say, boy? You think Dad is at Lani’s, doing whatever old people do on a date? Do they kiss?

She wrinkled her nose at the thought. “If Dad is at Lani’s, then why did he order me to stay home, when he hasn’t shown up? Thanks to his phone call, I missed the most important game of the season.” She sighed. “I don’t understand him anymore. Ever since he met Lani he’s acted like a lovesick schoolboy, while here I sit, bored to death. It isn’t fair.”

###

Review:

“The romance in this story is curl-your-toes sweet–the perfect relationship for a true first love. This is a must-read for summer entertainment for girls ages 11 and up.” Wanda Horton, Blue Iris Journal

Review:

“Computers, animals, burlaries, motor-cycle accidents and stormy weather make this novel a suspenseful read with plenty of page-turning excitement. I am looking forward to more from this writer. 5 stars.” M. Poulson-vick for Sharpwriters

ISBN:  1-59088-563-5

Available at Amazon.com or Wings ePress, Inc.

 Ta Da! I’ve sold my first picture book, Frankie’s Perfect Home, to  Guardian Angel Publishing. Details to follow. I love September. 

My story, “Traveler,” has been selected to appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Dog. The book is now available in bookstores and at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Why don’t you go ahead and order a copy? You know you want to.

Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines edits are done and sent to the publisher. This is my young-adult historical novel. I’ll keep you updated on its progress. Look for the book’s release this winter or spring 2010. An ARC in PDF is available for purchase at Twilight Times Books.

Just Breeze is now available at 4 RV Publishing. Breeze also has her own site. Stop by when you have a minute and learn more about Breeze and her friends. You can also purchase a copy at Amazon. Watch for details about the book launch contest.  

Twilight Times Books is having a sale!

This year is the 10th anniversary of the founding of Twilight Times Books (1999) and the 5th year since they went to print (2004). In celebration, Twilight Times Books will have a print book sale from Oct. 1st to Nov. 15th. Most titles will be offered at 10-30 % dicount. http://twilighttimesbooks.com/print_books101509sale.html

For a limited time, and while quantities last, TT is offering a 30 % – 50 % discount on selected titles. http://twilighttimesbooks.com/print_books101509special.html

Check out TT newsletter for info on latest releases. (My forthcoming novel is there.) http://twilighttimesbooks.com/ttb_nl19.html

Easy shopping for the holidays.

TIP # 8 – GET ANOTHER OPINION OR TWO

You’ve written your story. You’ve edited and edited it. You like the characters. The setting makes you feel as though you’re there. The plot keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. You love the story.

But wait! Of course you love it. You’ve lived with these characters for weeks, months, even years. They’re like your children. Perfect. Now you need to get another opinion or two. And I don’t mean your husband, wife, children, sisters, brothers. Chances are they will tell you it’s the best story they’ve ever read. They have to live with you. You need someone who can look at your manuscript with an objective eye, see where there are plot holes, where you’ve repeated yourself, or left out a key ingredient. Where do you find such people?

CRITIQUE GROUPS: The members in the group I belong to say nice things about the manuscript, which is encouraging. They also point out things I’ve overlooked, places that need additional explaining, characters that need developing better, and scenes that contradict other scenes or just don’t make sense. If you live in an area like mine, isolated, with few writers around, Online groups are ideal. You can post your stories or chapters any time and see what they need to make them publishable in these competative days. Face-to0-face groups would be wonderful, if there happen to be some in your area. Check with your local SCBWI, if you’re a member for groups.

You may also know other writers, willing to read your manuscript. The main point is to let other eyes see your work before you send it off. You’ll be glad you did.

TIP # 7 – SETTING (Historical)

Your characters don’t live in a vacuum. They live somewhere. Your story idea might take place in the past. If so, you’ll want your setting to be as authentic as possible. We’ll talk about historical settings today. Next week, we’ll look at contemporary and then fantasy settings.

For an historical fiction story, you’ll likely need to do research. There are many ways to discover what life was like in earlier days. Use primary sources, such as diaries, letters, journals, interviews, first. For my Civil War novel, Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines, I visited Vicksburg, MS, and toured the historic homes, drove through the battlefield, explored the museum with its artifacts from the time period. I bought diaries, newspaper articles, and books written by the people who lived in Vicksburg during the siege, or by their descendants who related stories handed down to them. I talked to the curator of the museum and also to a little old woman whose grandparents survived the war. I watched videos of the battle, the hardships not only the army went through, but also the families.

Obviously, it isn’t always possible to travel to the site of your story. Your local library probably has a genealogy department and a historical department, as well as microfilm of old newlpapers. If not, they can usually get what you need through inter-library loan. My library had a great time ordering magazine articles for me for a biography I wrote. They enjoyed reading the information.

Check online museums. Military parks have books and maps you can order. The Internet is a great source of information, but be careful that you use primary sources whenever possible. Go to University Web sites and government sites. Be sure to note their sources and keep a copy in case you have to verify your information.

Talk to people who lived in the state or country, if possible. Phone them or meet them in person. Read books written in that particular time period to get the flavor of their language. Words today did not always mean what they did in the past. How did the people dress? What were their houses like? How did they cook?

Put the reader back in the time of your setting. They’ll relate to the characters and love your story.

Have fun.   

TIP # 6 – DIALOGUE

Your characters talk. Yes, they do, in fiction. Even if your characters are the furry kind or have scales or wings, they usually have something to say. Kids like to read dialogue. They like to “hear” the characters talk to each other, the way they talk to their friends. So how can we as writers write dialogue that sounds natural?

First, we can listen to what people around us say. Have you ever really listened to a conversation between kids or teens or adults? Try it. Pay attention to the tone of a person’s voice. Is the voice whiney or pleasant to hear? Is the voice soft or screechy, firm or wishy-washy?  

Second, what words does a character use? Age, of course, will make a difference in vocabulary. Also, education will determine a character’s choice of words. Boys who like sports would use a lot of sports’ terms. Where a person lives will influence her choice of words. Be careful, though, to avoid slang or language that might confuse the reader.

Third, does the character speak slowly, as if considering the meaning of every word. Or does she ramble on and on, running her words together in a rush to make her statement?

Dialogue tells us so much about the characters and also helps to move the story along.

Now if you’re writing nonfiction, you may not have dialogue. Then again, you may, if you use quotes from the person whose story you’re telling. The words you quote show the reader what kind of person your subject is.

So talk away, characters. Next time, we’ll look at the story problem. No problem, no story.

See you then. 

TIP # 5 – DEVELOPING “REAL-LIFE” CHARACTERS

Computer troubles, allergy problems, and adjusting to DH’s health treatments have delayed my next tip. But hey, maybe they’ve helped me show how to develop “real-life” characters.  In other words, the characters in your stories should have problems they have to deal with, too. If not, they won’t seem real to the reader. So how do we create three-dimensional people?

There is no right or wrong way, as long as your characters come to life on the page. Here are some things I do at times.

1.  Make a character sketch for each of my characters. On a sheet of paper I list a description: eye color, hair color, size, etc. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes forget which character has blue eyes and which has green. It’s easier to look at a sheet telling this than having to skim through typed pages to find the answer.

I also describe how each character talks, favorite sayings they use, how they dress, habits, and stuff like that. In the beginning I may not know all of these things about every character, even my main character, so I add to this sketch as I learn more about my characters.

It’s also good to list what they love and what they hate. What their goals are and their attitudes about things like books, music, animals, etc. What are their positive traits, their negative? How do they grow during the course of the story?

People don’t exist in a vacuum, so you need to know a little about the main character and other major characters’ families. We are, to a degree, the product of our parents, for good or bad. How does the main character feel about her mom, her father, her siblings, if any? Who are her friends? What is her background? Does she have a lot of friends, or is she a loner? Again, I add to the character sketch as my main character reveals her personality to me.

2. Another thing I like to do is to interview my characters. I start with asking their name then go on to discuss their goals, their problems, their friends, and whatever comes to mind. It’s surprising what a character will tell me. Of course, as the story goes along, the character may change, and that’s good, because he’s becoming real. People change constantly.

3. With my current work-in-progress, I’m attempting something new. I’m having my protagonist and the three major characters keep journals, telling about their feelings, their actions, their fears, and their joys. I’m behind on this part of my writing, like I am on most things lately. But hopefully, when I catch up, or when they catch up on their journals, they’ll be telling me where each of them are going in the story.

So basically I’m saying our characters must have good points, but not be perfect. They must have faults, too, like “real” people. We must see their actions, whether we approve of what they do or not. We must hear their voices, whether we like what they say or not. We must be a part of their thoughts and inner turmoil, because they may have some of the same problems we do. Then we, the readers, will root for the characters, especially the protagonist who we can relate to,  to succeed in reaching his/her goal or solving his/her problem. 

What questions do you have about your characters? Leave a comment and I’ll be happy to answer. Do you have a specific topic you’d like for me to discuss? If not, I’ll be back next week with Tip #6.

TIP # 4 – CHARACTERS

Where do you get your characters?

Sometimes a little voice whispers in my ear and tells me about his/her life. I usually ask him questions. For example, a boy once told me he lived in a doghouse. I asked him why, and we discussed his situation. Pretty soon I wrote his story, publication date TBA.

So listen to the voices in your head. They may be your next story.

I also discover my characters when reading a newspaper article or a magazine. As the old saying goes: “Life is stranger than fiction.” Sometimes it’s true. Look at the weird things real people do. A manuscript that I’m shopping around now started from a newspaper article about a young couple who found the son the mother had  given up for adoption when he was born. I love happy endings, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your story has to end the same way as the article ends. Use your own judgment. The story I wrote has a sort of  happy ending.

So pay close attention to what’s happening in the world around you.

And what better place to find characters for your children’s stories than your own family: children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, students, neighbors, kids on the playground. (Of course, you can’t be a stalker, but you can observe the way kids play and interact with each other, the way they talk and dress.) Mix them up: take characteristics of one child and combine them with actions of another child and their attitudes and behavior patterns and develop a one-of-a-kind kid that young readers will love.

So pattern some of your characters after people you know. Be careful, though, to make them unique so your friends won’t recognize themselves.

These are just a few tips on where you can find characters to populate your stories. Where do you find your characters? We’d like to know. 

The next tip will be on developing your characters so they seem like real people.

TIP # 3 – IDEAS

Some writers’ heads swim with ideas. They never run out, but have an abundance of stories or nonfiction articles to write. Other writers think everything’s been written. What’s left? They want something original, something that’s not been done before. Well, there may be no new plots or are there? Some books I’ve read are new to me. This doesn’t mean the idea is new, just that I haven’t read it before. You can take any idea and make it your own. Your voice, the way you tell the story, will make it unique. So where do you find these marvelous ideas?

Look around you. Your family is a treasure, their stories just waiting to be told. The funny things your cat does. Your loyal puppy. Your kids. Oh, my. Whether they’re toddlers or teens or somewhere in between, follow them through their day and you’ll have enough material for at least one book, perhaps more. Your kids’ friends. The skunk that visits your patio every night. The horse you raised from a foal. Your grandkids.

The weather. Have you survived a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or fire?

For kids, there’s always the school situation. Popular kids, shy kids, awkward kids, and on and on. What is their school life like? How do they deal with it? Each child will face the same situation in a different way, depending on his/her personality. Boy/girl relationships, friendships.

Look at some of the popular movies today. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, High School Musical. What are the young people dealing with in these stories?

Historical (one of my favorites). What time period intrigues you? Check to see what other books are out set in this period then find your story. Research the facts to be sure they’re accurate. Then put your character in that setting. Research the language of the day, the clothing, the food they ate, the way they traveled, and anything to add a touch of authenticity to your book.

Basically, ideas are everywhere. Read the newspapers for interesting events in peoples’ lives. Read magazines. Go to places where kids/teens are and watch their interaction with each other, listen to them talk. What are they interested in? How do they dress?

Do you have other thoughts? Leave a comment, and I’ll get back to you.

Next time, we’ll look at our characters.

 TIP # 2  WHAT TO WRITE

You’ve read and read, everything from picture books to chapter books, middle grade to young adult, fiction and nonfiction. Now you need to decide what type of book interests you most. That will probably be the kind you want to write. True, many writers do great in several genres and ages. Others prefer to stay with one type. If you aren’t sure at first, try different kinds.

If you simply adore picture books, the story, the artwork, then that may be what you choose to write. Maybe you like the more complicated plots of a story for teens. Then try writing for the young adult market. It may take awhile to discover what you enjoy writing the most. Or perhaps you’ll do good at all of them.

Writing is an individual activity. It’s yours and yours alone. So think about this until your’re ready to jot down ideas you might have. See where they take you. Are they ideas babies would like. Would toddlers find your puppy story fun? Would the early learner enjoy finding a bird nest in a most unusual place?

Next week, we’ll talk about ideas. Until then, keep reading and start thinking.

TIP # 1  READ.

First, remember that writing a story or article is a highly individual process. What works for me, may not work for you. But we all have some things in common: we love to write or we wouldn’t be doing it. We want to write the best stories and articles we can. We want our readers to enjoy our writing and take something from it that they may need in life. That said, here’s my first tip.

READ!

Ok! Ok! I hear you saying I know, I know. Everyone tells me to read. It’s true though. Read not only the genre you write in, but other types of stories and nonfiction too. Read for fun. Read to explore the different ways various writers put their stories together. How do they develop their characters? The setting? The plot? Why do you look forward to a particular author’s next book and the next? 

Then look at your work-in-progress. Do you care about the main character? Or are you ho-hum about whether she succeeds or fails in reaching her goals? If you don’t care, the reader won’t care. Later, we’ll be looking at character development, settings, and grab-you-by-the-throat plots.

For now, READ.

Your comments and thoughts are welcome. After all, we’re in this together. We learn from each other.

Happy 2009. May all your dreams come true.

Chapter 1

Rebel Ferguson pulled the currycomb across the mare’s broad back. Fine specks of dust floated in the early morning air. A mockingbird sang outside the stables. A lump the size of a barn owl lodged in Rebel’s throat. How could the bird be so happy when her life had been shattered into  millions of pieces? Don’t think about Mom, she told herself. Keep busy.

And she tried. She brushed and brushed Sunrise’s coat until the hair shimmered like a new copper penny. One by one–she counted them–she untangled three sharp burrs from the mare’s coarse mane.

The sudden vroom of a car engine rumbling to life made Rebel’s chest tighten. Even though the driveway was not visible from the stables, she darted to the stall door anyway and looked out the open top section. Rain lingered like teardrops on the red tile roof of the white stucco house nestled among mesquite and cottonwood trees a hundred yards away. Last night’s storm was past, at least the storm outside. The clouds had drifted east, leaving behind a clear blue sky.

But the storm between her parents was etched on Rebel’s heart forever. Oh, they never yelled or fought or said horrible things to each other. They were much too civilized for such childish behavior. Sometimes she wished they would. Anything would be better than the unbearable silence. Except for what had to be said, her parents simply stopped talking to one another. They were polite strangers, and she was caught in the middle, loving them both.

She listened to the hum of her mother’s Jaguar until it faded, leaving behind only the chatter of that annoying bird, the swishing sound of the mare’s tail as she swatted flies, and Rebel’s thoughts. Everyone said she was a carbon copy of her mother. She had the same smoky blue eyes, the same long dark hair, and the same slender build. But outward appearances could be deceiving. Their personalities were complete opposites. Liz Ferguson was a city girl who liked fancy dresses and parties and crowds. Rebel Ferguson was a country girl who preferred jeans, T-shirts, and a few close friends.

End of Excerpt:

Rebel is available as an e-book at Twilight Times Books and Fictionwise.

Rebel is also available in trade paperback at Twilight Times Books and  at Amazon

                                                                               * * *

Reviews:

4 Flames – Rare Find

Rebel Ferguson’s life is changing at the tender age of 16. Her mother has abandoned her, her father has started drinking and her two best friends, the Garret cousins, Will and Sully, are suddenly looking at her through different eyes.

Rebel can’t accept her mother’s choice of a rock star over her father and herself. She vows to hate her mother’s new love interest. She knows her father still loves her mother, and if her mother would just return, everything would be all right.

She can’t ignore the changes going on around her no matter how hard she tries to throw herself into her care for her menagerie of farm animals.

Will and Sully distract Rebel from her gloomy mood in a variety of entertaining ways. They’ve always been the best of friends, sworn to stay together and always take care of each other. But suddenly, there seems to be much more than friendship between Rebel and one of the boys. Oh, no, you can’t know which one until you read REBEL IN BLUE JEANS. One thing you can count on: Will and Sully are both quite capable of making any young lady’s heart throb.

REBEL IN BLUE JEANS is a book teens will love. It’s fun, exciting and very identifiable. Ms. McClure has done an outstanding job with this novel. It’s a book readers will want to read more than once.

Reviewed by: Fran Shaff, Romance and Children’s novelist, for Word Museum

***

Beverly Stowe McClure wrote a good book–considered a “YA”-young adult book. Shucks. I haven’t been that young in a while, but I still enjoyed the book. It deals with parents separating and other issues that arise in the lives of young people. I would whole-heartedly recommend it as reading material for both the parents and the teens of parents who must face the confusion caused by separations. While I can pray that this never happens to any of our children or grandchildren, the situation is handled realistically and with genuine understanding. When I hand this one over to the oldest grandson to read, we will get another viewpoint. He will recognize the “good guys” in this story and probably grin at the “boy humor” in many of the scenes.

I hope that Mrs. McClure continues to handle topics of this nature. Her books will definitely find a place on my book shelves and on my gift list. It was definitely worth my trip to Hastings today to meet her and purchase her book.

Reviewed by: Nancy Dickerson (Your Hub)

***

 ”This is one book where from the very first page you are pulled right into the characters and their story. The book opens right as Rebel’s mom is leaving her and her father, and she begins to struggle with the emotional impact that this ‘betrayal’ has on herself and her loved ones. Interwoven with the main plotline is an underlying romance as Rebel tries to decide between the affections of dashing college student Rick and the ‘boys next door’, Will and Sully. Even the minor characters –Mimi, a darling little girl the gang helps by working on her house, and Rebel’s menagerie of animals (everything from horses to puppies, and even a wounded hawk) help to bring the story to life and bring the reader inside the lives of  Rebel and those she cares about.

“… even as Rebel grows, changes and learns more about herself and the people she cares about, she remains a very level-headed girl who is exactly what I hope my own daughters will be like when they reach the teenage years.”

Reviewed by: momstakeonthings

Thank you.

ISBN: 978-1-933353-49-4

Available at Amazon.com and Twilight Times Books

***

REBEL IN BLUE JEANS

What’s a girl to do when her mother runs away with the drummer in a rock band, her friendly relationship with the boy on the neighboring ranch turns serious, and a handsome college guy takes an iterest in her? 

Come meet Rebel and her friends at her blog.

I’ve just signed a contract with 4RV Publishing for my MG story Just Breeze.

UPDATE!

First edits are finished on Just Breeze. The book is scheduled for September 2009. 

I’m now working on the next round of edits. Sometimes I do the silliest things. Like this: !!!!!!!!!! I know you don’t use ! very often, so why did I? Thank heavens for great editors who point out my brain lapses. Thank you.