Calling all Kid Lit Authors and Book Bloggers #PBPiO #MARCHingBookstoKids

Michelle Eastman is collecting children’s books throughout the month of March to benefit children of incarcerated parents. This is part of the MARCHing Books to Kids initiative for the VNS of Iowa Storybook Project. She is reaching out to kid lit authors and book bloggers to get quality books into the hands of deserving kids.
TAKE THE PLEDGE TO DONATE A BOOK and keep passing it on!  You can make a difference to a child in need… 
Please use these tags when sharing:                                                      #PBPiO #MARCHingBookstoKids

Michelle R. Eastman's avatarMichelle Eastman Books


I would like to reach out to kid lit authors and book bloggers to get quality books into the hands of deserving kids.

Featured Image -- 1290

Throughout the month of March, I am collecting new children’s books to benefit children of incarcerated parents. Authors, I hope you will consider donating signed copies of your books. Book bloggers, please help us by sharing this information with your readers.

I am a children’s author, teacher, and mom who is passionate about children’s literacy and the power of children’s books. When I learned nearly 2/3 of children, living in poverty, DO NOT own books, I was moved to act. I founded the literacy initiative, Picture Book Pass it On, to raise awareness for literacy issues and get books to kids in need.

Three years ago, the Picture Book Pass it On initiative grew to include a month-long book drive called MARCHing Books to Kids.

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Remembering

An expressive poem by Kate McClelland that might move you in unexpected ways. I had to wipe a few tears as I read it. Beautiful, Kate 💚

(Featured image courtesy of Lucie Stastkova)

Kate McClelland's avatarKate McClelland

Remembering

A family get together

Or a couple of hours sitting in a coffee shop

Are never spent without a mention of you

Remembering, we laugh over the funny things

You did or said

We grumble about things promised

But never done

Or old arguments played over again

As only siblings can

We talk about the bitterness of our loss

And even after all this time

Still cannot comprehend

That we will not see you again

This firecracker persona

That we had known

From the moment we were born

The person who had memories

Of us before we had memories to share

Gone

You left us all a memento

To remember you by

But it wasn’t necessary

As we could not and will not forget

We share a smile and hugs all round

Make our excuses to leave

With promises of meeting soon

Knowing that there will always be

A…

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A Short Story For You – From Guest Blogger Ann Rochelle Aben

Fantastic short story by Annette Rochelle Aben​ on the subject of bullying, graciously hosted by Dan Alatorre​ on his blog 💜

Dan Alatorre AUTHOR's avatarDAN ALATORRE

Your humble host. your humble host

From time to time here on the blog we’ll feature a profile of an author or their writing. Today, it’s my privilege to introduce Ellis the elephant, a bullying story for children.

Ann Rochelle Aben gets introduced, too, as Ellis’ creator. Have a read and give me her thoughts!

Ellis the elephant was big and fat. For this, he was snubbed by many; imagine that. Yet he’d go through his day smiling at the trees and enjoying the songs of the happy honey bees. There were rivers to splash in and rocks upon which to sun, Ellis the elephant, knew how to have fun.

One day when he was playing shadow tag with low hanging branches a group of wild cats were giving Ellis funny glances. Never had they seen something so big and fat try to move as quickly and agile as a cat. Watching him…

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Our Jogger – Guest Post by Emily Gmitter (by kind permission from Zoe)…

Thank you to Zoe the Fabulous Feline for giving her monthly blog spot to her person on The Story Reading Ape. Emily Gmitter speaks to the regret we feel for not offering a kindness, and then wishing we had when it was too late. Moving and thought-provoking… ♥

Chris The Story Reading Ape's avatarChris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

profile-pic_my-name-is-zoe

Zoe here, I’m on a break, so I’m going to let my human have my spot this month, but I WILL be BACK.

It seemed the end of an era. I knelt beside the still body that was lying on the sidewalk in front of my house. I touched the back of my hand to his familiar face; it was cool to the touch. Not that I needed to do that; the thin skin on his face was a shade of bluish gray that indicated only one thing. I called 911 and waited for the paramedics to arrive.

Leaning against the stone wall in front of our home, I continued to stare at the body. I knew him, but I didn’t know him. Who were you?

In death, he did not seem as old as he had appeared when he was jogging through our neighborhood, which he did every day…

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Guest #Author #Shehanne Moore

Shehanne MooreShehanne Moore writes dark and smexy historical romance, featuring bad boys who need a bad girl to sort them out. She firmly believes everyone deserves a little love, forgiveness, and a second chance in life.  When not cuddling inn signs in her beloved Scottish mountains alongside Mr. Shey, and spending time with her lovely daughters and grandbaby, Shehanne can be found playing the odd musical instrument and relishing, what in any other country would not be defined as hill-walking. The dudes are her wee companions, hamsters (excuse me, hamstahs) who have a penchant for telling it like it is 🙂

** Find Shehanne’s books here and here. **

Welcome, Shey and Dudes!

 

So Tina, first of all can I just thank you for asking me here today to talk about myself and my work. And not just me. You were kind enough to ask the dudes. As you can see they are very happy. Thrilled, in fact, to be here.

Shey, I’m thrilled to host you and the dudes. All of you were such gracious hosts when I visited your blog, so I’m even more delighted you accepted my invitation to visit mine.

Shehanne Moore

I’m nothing if not sensible, my dear dudes. Thank you for noticing! 

Shehanne Moore

D.G. Kaye Uh-oh . . . 

Shehanne MooreOf course! That goes without saying. 

Shehanne Moore

Dudes, little guys, can we just can it, thank you?

Shehanne Moore

Tina didn’t ask you here to talk about you.

Um . . . Shey? It’s okay if the dudes talk a little about themselves, because our followers adore them 

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

But dudes, we never.

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

But guys……

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne MooreShehanne MooreShehanne Moore
Shehanne MooreShehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Dudes, you haven’t mentioned the Time Mutants.

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Shehanne Moore

Well…….. I wouldn’t exactly say—

Shehanne Moore

https://shehannemoore.wordpress.com/blog-3/

Shehanne Moore

Err….. Tina, what can I say, but sorry?

No need for apologies, Shey. I think the dudes did a fine job promoting you and your books. All of you are welcome here anytime. Thank you for being such lively and charismatic guests. 

Excerpt from The Viking and The Courtesan
            She glided closer. She had come to speak with him, wife to husband. And she had chosen here to do it because it was public. Those who thought the sun shone from the backend of his brown velvet breeches had a lot to learn.  Was it enough to propel her forward into the alcove though? Or should she turn, make her excuses and go?  Foisting a foundling on a man, even a man as bad as Cyril, did seem a hugely significant step to take. One that probably did not speak well of her character. Think of the life it would have though.  She closed her eyes, letting the jasmine scented pleasantry waft through her senses. That room off the Ratcliff Highway seethed with every smell imaginable. Not one of them was nice. She must do this. She opened her eyes, took a deep breath.
               “My lord.”
              Of course, she might have known Cyril would be more interested in looking at her breasts than her face. Maybe she should have ventured in here topless? Still, at least he was looking at her.
              “Cyril. Husband.”
              Now that jerked his chin up. If ever there was a way to bring a dog to heel, this was surely it.
              “I knew I should find you here before me, my dearest. And involved in a wager too. My lords, you must excuse Cyril, especially when he does not possess the money to pay any debts. And, we are shortly to require every penny we own.”
              “Malice?” He peered at her closely. “Malice? Is that you?”
              “Most certainly it’s not Aunt Carter’s silver teapot, my dearest husband.”
              She would keep with the endearments for the time being. It would not do for anyone here to think she was anything less than fond—the sole reason she clasped his wrist. “I know you find every time you see me like a first time, but caution yourself. It is not seemly to behave in this manner here.”
              “Malice, what the hell are you doing here? Let go of my—”
              She lowered her voice to a whisper. “When I have come to talk divorce, I advise you to stop tugging. I will let go when I am good and ready to let go.”
              “Divorce?”
              One little word to guarantee complete obedience from the damned dog.
              He cleared his throat, elegant in the fall of lace. Then he stood up. “You want to talk divorce? Divorce with me, Malice?”
              “I am looking, but I don’t see any other man here I am married to. Do you?”
*************
I hope you enjoyed this colorful post of the dudes defying promoting their human with charm and flavor. Please visit Shehanne’s sites, like and share. Thank you so much for stopping by  ❤
Learn more about Shehanne:    Blog    Website    Amazon US               Amazon UK   Barnes & Noble    Kobo   The Dudes   Twitter   Facebook   Facebook   Pinterest   

Smorgasbord short story – The System Administrator by Sally Cronin

I’m a big fan of #Sally Cronin‘s short stories and have thoroughly enjoyed all I’ve read. But this one takes the gold. Depending on which side of the fence you sit regarding A.I. technology, this will either unnerve or impress you 🙂

Smorgasbord Blog Sitting Special – I Spy by author D. G. Kaye

“I feel this technological era has surpassed its scope of being informative and graduated into the extremely invasive.” This quote from Debby Gies‘ article on Sally Cronin‘s Blog Sitting Special is utterly gripping. Entitled I Spy, Debby’s post discusses the many means by which our privacy is not only compromised, but also encroached upon.

Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – Book Reading and Interview – Tina Frisco

Please join me in Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore for my Book Reading and Interview, a new series on Sally Cronin‘s blog. For those of you who don’t know Sally ~ and I’m sure you are few in number ~ she is a prolific writer and fervent supporter of authors, bloggers, and all creative artists. I am so appreciative of her, the passion she brings to blogging, and the open heart that informs her life 💜

Blog Of The Day: Introducing Terri Webster Schrandt of Second Wind Leisure

Elena Peters features the fabulous Terri Webster Schrandt. Terri is the author of Better Blogging with Photography and offers many of her own photos gratis for use by other bloggers. Terri’s blog, Second Wind Leisure Perspectives, features many outdoor activities that not only are great fun, but also help keep us healthy and in shape😊

Tina Frisco and the origin of the Vampire………

Shehanne Moore and the dudes had me over for an interview and a little fun 🙂 What can I say? The hamstah dudes are colorful, creative, clever, and captivating. Heartfelt thanks to Shey and the dudes for featuring me on their blog with this brilliant interview. You rock, dudes! And Shey, you are exquisite. Hugs all around 

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