Blisscraft Life With Christina Katz

And the winner of Late-Onset Hearing Loss: A Parent’s Perspective by Krysty Krywko is…

Lorraine Wilde

She was chosen by Random Number Generator.

Lorraine’s response was:

I admire memoirist Kim Kircher, author of “The Next Fifteen Minutes.” Her memoir poignantly shares how she survived her struggle with her husband’s liver cancer and transplant by focusing on what’s right in front of her, just 15 minutes at a time. Her amazing attitude, developed through her life experience as a ski patroller and avalanche control explosives tech and EMT, shine through every chapter. Her writing is deft and I learned a lot about the use of simile and metaphor from her heartfelt words.

Congratulations, Lorraine!

If you missed the drawing for Late-Onset Hearing Loss: A Parent’s Perspective by Krysty Krywko, you can read all about it here.

Important, winners: I need you to send me an e-mail with your mailing address so that I can send it on to the author and she can send you your signed book! Please include a phone number, as well.

Please send your address in an e-mail to “christina at christina katz dot com.”

Please put “Book Winner” in the subject line.

And thank you for supporting the giveaway and my work!

Thanks for participating. This is just day 15 of The Writer Mama Every Day In May Book Giveaway. We have 16 more days and winners to go! I hope you will spread the word.

I met Janet Boyer on Twitter after our paths crossed and crossed and crossed online. Janet writes books on esoteric topics and I am a long-time fan of esoteric topics, especially tarot. But more than anything I appreciate Janet’s sunny, friendly demeanor. And I am interested in learning more about her topic, which is how to understand the meaning of reversed tarot cards, since I use them in my own life practically every day. Please help me welcome Janet!

About Janet Boyer

Janet Boyer is an Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, as well as the author of Back in Time Tarot, Tarot in Reverse and the Snowland Tarot (Schiffer 2013). She is also a blogger, Social Media Maven and professional Tarot reader. Janet makes her home in Pennsylvania with her soulmate, Ron, and their son, Noah, whom she home schools. Her main website is JanetBoyer.com.

About Tarot In Reverse

Written in a fun, accessible style, Tarot in Reverse is the only “quick guide” reference to reading upside-down cards. Full-color, glossy pages feature both the upright and reversed images of all 78 Tarot cards from the Universal Waite Tarot.

The Very Short Interview

When did you know for sure that you were a writer and that writing would be a major energy focus in your life?

About a decade ago, when I began writing articles and reviews for the second largest women’s site on the web (at the time). Before that, I was a public speaker (ordained Pentecostal minister, to be exact)–who disbelieved a woman that came up to me and said “One day, you will write. That will be your prime mode of communication”. Turns out she was 100% right.

Who has always been behind your writing career and who helped pull you up the ladder of success?

My husband. Always. Biggest encourager, steadfast supporter and first reader. Also, our son.

What is the most frequent comment you hear about your book (or books) from readers? Tell us a little story about the response to your work.

That my work helped them see through different eyes–sometimes, to the point of helping them to heal from neurological paralysis, break free from stifling religious tradition or gathering the strength to believe in themselves.

And Now, Your Turn

Now it’s your turn. You remember how this works right?

I ask you a question. You answer in the comments for your chance to win a book each day.

Please just respond once, even if you make a typo.

Answer in the comments in 50-200 words (no less and no more to qualify to win one of today’s books). Please read the complete rules at least once!

Thanks for participating in the Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway! I hope to see you here every day this month. Bring your friends!

I use Tarot cards, as well as other techniques, to help me make big or difficult decisions in my writing career. How do you make challenging or difficult decisions in your writing career? Do you have a process you go through or use any tools or speak with anyone in particular when faced with an important choice? Maybe you are a journaler? Share your career-steering techniques.

Ready, set, comment!

I met Heather Snow thanks to a tweet.

I tweeted and she e-mailed me in response.

I liked what she had to say and now here she is.

In her introductory e-mail, I learned that Heather is a debut romance novelist with two young boys. Her first book came out in February and her next book comes out in August.

This is the way it works sometimes in this brave new world of social media. You see a tweet, you respond, you land a spot in a giveaway, and who knows what will happen next!

Please help me welcome, Heather.

About Heather Snow

Heather Snow is a historical romance author with a degree in Chemistry who discovered she much preferred creating chemistry on the page, rather than in the lab. She is forever trying to wrangle her left and right brain to work together (some days with more success than others!), but if her two sides had to duke it out, left would win every time—which can be a creative challenge. Luckily, she loves challenges…she just goes about solving them analytically.

Heather lives in the Midwest with her husband, two rambunctious boys and one very put upon cat. She sincerely hopes you find her stories have just the right chemistry…

Please visit her at www.HeatherSnowBooks.com, on Facebook www.facebook.com/authorheathersnow or on Twitter www.twitter.com/HeatherSnowRW.

About Sweet Enemy: A Veiled Seduction Novel

Geoffrey Wentworth, a war hero and rising political star, never wanted to be the Earl, but when his brother dies, he knows his duty—take up the responsibility for his family’s estates. His mother’s definition of duty differs from his, however, and can be summed up in one word—heirs. When Geoffrey rushes home to answer her urgent summons, he finds himself host to a house full of women, all vying to become the next Countess of Stratford. But his love is Parliament, where he wields his influence and reputation to better the lives of ex-soldiers, until a tempting houseguest and a secret from his past threaten his freedom…and his heart.

Liliana Claremont, a brilliant chemist, doesn’t want to be any man’s wife, much less a countess. If she had tuppence for every time she’d been told her place was filling the nursery, not experimenting in the laboratory, she could buy the Tower Bridge. However, when she receives a coveted invitation to the Earl’s house party, she trades in her beakers for ball gowns and gladly takes on the guise of husband hunter—for the chance to uncover what the Earl had to do with the murder of her father.

Liliana believes the best way to get the answers she needs is to keep her enemy close, though romance is not part of her formula. But it only takes one kiss to start a reaction she can’t control…

The Very Short Interview

When did you know for sure that you were a writer and that writing would be a major energy focus in your life?

I’m going to have to say it was the day I sold, and realized that with that contract came deadlines! Sweet Enemy was my first completed manuscript, one started just before our eldest son was born, sort of to see if I could do it. I’d always liked the idea of writing, but hadn’t made a serious effort at it until then, and since I was writing about a Regency era lady chemist, I wasn’t sure anyone else but me would find her interesting. I was shocked when it sold so quickly, and was just as quickly thrown into the life of a working writer! It’s been very exciting, and also quite challenging, particularly because our second son was born shortly before the deadline for my second book.

Who has always been behind your writing career and who helped pull you up the ladder of success?

I’m blessed with an incredibly supportive family and friend network. I wouldn’t have had the courage to start writing if not for the lifelong support of my mother, who always stressed that I could do anything I set my heart to. Nor would I have been able to do it without the encouragement and sacrifices of my husband. As for people who pulled me up the ladder of success? There are so many. The romance writing and reading community is amazing, the authors so giving of their knowledge and time and advice—everything from workshops on how to write better, to my awesome critique groups, to readers who love our work and spread the word. There isn’t enough space in the blogosphere for me to list every person who has been a part of this journey with me!

What is the most frequent comment you hear about your book (or books) from readers? Tell us a little story about the response to your work.

I’ve been so thrilled with how people have reacted to Sweet Enemy—they’ve loved the unique chemist heroine and viewing the Regency through her analytical mind, they’ve loved the mystery elements. But I think the most surprising comments I’ve had are from readers who don’t typically identify themselves as romance readers. Either they won the book in a giveaway, or a friend (or in one man’s case, his wife!) insisted they read it, or someone in their book club picked it—and they loved it! That’s been very gratifying, and hopefully will encourage some of those readers to give other romance novels a try. There are so many AWESOME authors in our genre!

And Now, Your Turn

Now it’s your turn. You remember how this works right?

I ask you a question. You answer in the comments for your chance to win a book each day.

Please just respond once, even if you make a typo.

Answer in the comments in 50-200 words (no less and no more to qualify to win one of today’s books). Please read the complete rules at least once!

Thanks for participating in the Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway! I hope to see you here every day this month. Bring your friends!

Tell us about your romance with writing. Has it been tumultuous, steady, or unrequited? Describe your relationship to writing and the impact this tone has on your ability to succeed or not succeed?

Ready, set, comment!

And the winner of Once Upon A Toad by Heather Vogel Frederick is…

Suzanne Holyde

She was chosen by Random Number Generator.

Suzanne’s response was:

Oh, how much easier it is to comment on someone else’s qualities. However, I do appreciate that I am a diligent worker. I don’t shy away from something just because I don’t like it. I see things through to the end. Also, I am always learning. I am not afraid to admit that I still have much to improve on and I enjoy the adventure of becoming better. I think this is one reason I love reading so much!

Congratulations, Suzanne (again)!

If you missed the drawing for Once Upon A Toad by Heather Vogel Frederick, you can read all about it here.

Important, winners: I need you to send me an e-mail with your mailing address so that I can send it on to the author and she can send you your signed book! Please include a phone number, as well.

Please send your address in an e-mail to “christina at christina katz dot com.”

Please put “Book Winner” in the subject line.

And thank you for supporting the giveaway and my work!

Thanks for participating. This is just day fourteen of The Writer Mama Every Day In May Book Giveaway. We have 17 more days and winners to go! I hope you will spread the word.

[This giveaway will be extended through midnight, Wednesday, May 16th, because Krysty was away from an Internet connection on the 15th. (Oops! My bad!) So, you can comment on the post for the 16th and this post and I will choose both winners on the 17th. Thanks!]

I have known Krysty for years, so it was really a delight to work with her on an e-book project that is near and dear to her heart. Krysty’s son was diagnosed with late-onset hearing loss when he was three years old. Shortly thereafter, Krysty was also diagnosed with hearing loss. Krysty’s e-book addresses not only the important concerns that parents have when their child is diagnosed with late onset hearing loss, but also the emotional challenges that come with an unexpected diagnosis. I hope you will help spread the word about this compassionate, helpful e-book. Thanks for helping me welcome Krysty!

About Krysty Krywko

I am a writer and education researcher who specializes in hearing loss and the impact it has on children and families. I write from a parental, as well as a personal, perspective, as my young son and I were diagnosed with hearing loss one year apart.

I hold an Ed. D in International Education Development from Teachers College, Columbia University; where I was a Spencer Fellow for the 2005 cohort. After ten years of early childhood teaching experience, my current research interests include: hearing loss, brain development and the impact on literacy; how hearing loss affects learning in the classroom and making schools hearing-accessible; raising public awareness of hearing loss detection and treatment; and community and parent involvement.

I am the author of the blog Ear to the Ground. You can find my blog, and other articles I have written, at my website www.lateonsethearingloss.org.

About Late-onset Hearing Loss: A Parent’s Perspective

Your child has been diagnosed with late onset hearing loss, now what? I am sure you are feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and a million questions are racing through your head.

I am here to tell you that it will all be okay. Sit down and take a deep breath. There is a long road ahead of you, I won’t tell you that it will be easy, but I will tell you that both you and your child have strengths that you have not even recognized yet. My e-book offers a “from the trenches” perspective that will walk you through the emotions that are involved from the moment of diagnosis and will help you learn to cope with these emotions so that you are able to move ahead and be there for your child.

This e-book is geared towards parents whose children have some residual hearing and who will be aided – either through hearing aids, cochlear implants, or a baha device. The intent is to educate and inform, without overwhelming.

The Very Short Interview

When did you know for sure that you were a writer and that writing would be a major energy focus in your life?

I have always wanted to be a writer, but it wasn’t until I began teaching writing to 1^st grade students that I began to think about myself as a writer. It was during graduate school that I began to really take ownership of the writing and researching that I was doing.

Who has always been behind your writing career and who helped pull you up the ladder of success?

I am lucky to have two people: my mother and my husband. My mother was my first editor and really taught me a lot on how to shape a piece. My husband has always encouraged me to pursue my writing and was one of the first people to take my work seriously.

What is the most frequent comment you hear about your book (or books) from readers? Tell us a little story about the response to your work.

The most frequent comment that I hear is how approachable I make the topic of hearing loss. It can be a pretty stressful time when you first learn that your child has hearing loss. Since 90% of children with hearing loss are born to hearing parents, it is really like entering foreign territory for so many families. Readers have told me the book really helped them deal with the emotions that are involved in the diagnosis; something that often becomes lost in the rush to make treatment and education decisions.

And Now, Your Turn

Now it’s your turn. You remember how this works right?

I ask you a question. You answer in the comments for your chance to win a book each day.

Please just respond once, even if you make a typo.

Answer in the comments in 50-200 words (no less and no more to qualify to win one of today’s books). Please read the complete rules at least once!

Thanks for participating in the Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway! I hope to see you here every day this month. Bring your friends!

We have been talking about admirable qualities. So let’s keep going! Name a writer you admire and list his or her admirable qualities…on the page. What about this person’s writing makes him or her a total original?

Ready, set, comment!

I went with two winners, tonight. I rounded up ‘cuz it was Mother’s Day. 🙂

And the winners of Writer Mama, How To Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids and with a bonus e-copy of Author Mama, How I Became a Published Author and How You Can Too both by Christina Katz are…

Cara Holman

and

Dee

Both winners were chosen by Random Number Generator.

Cara’s response was:

I was surprised, when towards the end of her life, Mom told me she also had writing aspirations at my age. Mom a writer? And then I began to think. About the bedtime stories she wove for me, how she helped me with my high school essays by suggesting just the right turn of phrase, how she could always mesmerize whoever she happened to be talking to with her stories of everyday events, the job she took after she retired as a teacher, doing editing and freelance writing of math books, the two math books we co-authored together, the little books she wrote for my children when they were young, the stories she wove for them… Mom a writer? Of course!

Dee’s response was:

My earliest memories of my mom have been seeing her read.  Well, read and watch Star Trek (I was born in the late 60s).  I think I decided I wanted to be a writer because it was OBVIOUS that writing was very very important if it commanded so much of my mom’s time.  She even read while we ate dinner! I should say that I was offended, but … it just seemed normal in our house.

Congratulations, Cara (again) and Dee!

If you missed the drawing for Writer Mama, How To Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids and with a bonus e-copy of Author Mama, How I Became a Published Author and How You Can Too both by Christina Katz, you can read all about it here.

Important, winners: I need you to send me an e-mail with your mailing address so that I can send it on to the author and she can send you your signed book! Please include a phone number, as well.

Please send your address in an e-mail to “christina at christina katz dot com.”

Please put “Book Winner” in the subject line.

And thank you for supporting the giveaway and my work!

Thanks for participating. This is just day thirteen of The Writer Mama Every Day In May Book Giveaway. We have 18 more days and winners to go! I hope you will spread the word.

I am pleased to announce our week three author mamas!

I would love your help buzzing our authors each day on Facebook and Twitter. I’ve always got wall announcements and tweets you can forward.

But most of all, thanks for participating!

May 15th: Krysty Krywko is giving away a copy of Late-onset Hearing Loss: A Parent’s Perspective (nonfiction, e-book) More info

May 16th: Heather Snow is giving away Sweet Enemy, A Veiled Seduction Novel (fiction, romance) More info

May 17th: Janet Boyer is giving away Tarot In Reverse (nonfiction) More info

May 18th: Hope Clark is giving away a copy of Lowcountry Bribe (fiction, mystery) More info

May 19th: Laura Laing is giving away Math for Grownups (nonfiction) More info

May 20th: Christina Katz is giving away a copy of Get Known Before the Book Deal (nonfiction, how-to) More info

May 21st: Nina Amir is giving away How To Blog A Book with a foreword from Christina Katz (nonfiction, how-to) More info

I recently hosted Heather at the Northwest Author Series in Wilsonville, Oregon and she gave a terrific presentation on mastering setting, character and plot. I am also thrilled to share that for my daughter’s first mom-daughter book club book, we have selected Heather’s book, The Mother-Daughter Book Club (both suggested to me by our Day 12 author, Cindy Hudson). Heather has released two new books within that past six months, which is quite a feat. No matter where you are in your publishing journey, it’s always such a treat to be in the presence of such a seasoned, versatile author. Please help me welcome, Heather!

About Heather Vogel Frederick

After a 20-year career as a journalist, Heather Vogel Frederick decided it was high time to fulfill her lifelong dream of writing fiction for young readers.  Today, she’s the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including the popular mother-daughter book club series, and hot-off-the-press ONCE UPON A TOAD, which School Library Journal pronounced “a gem.” Heather’s work spans many genres, from historical fiction to fantasy and contemporary realism, and has been honored both nationally and internationally and translated into numerous languages.  A former staff reporter and children’s book review editor for The Christian Science Monitor, Heather has also written for the New York Times, Child, Family Life, and Publishers Weekly, where she was a contributing editor for many years.

About Once Upon A Toad

Once upon a time, Cat Starr lived with her astronaut mom in Houston. But when her mother gets sent on a last-minute space mission, Cat is shipped off to a faraway land—her dad’s house, halfway across the country—to share a room with her real-life evil stepsister, Olivia. Just when Cat can’t take it any more, Great-Aunt Abyssinia comes to the rescue. And things go from bad to worse.

Out of nowhere, toads start appearing whenever she opens her mouth. At the same time, Olivia spouts precious gems and flowers when she speaks. How unfair is that? Before you can say “happily ever after,” the girls are on the run from jewel thieves and a secret government agency. Can Cat save the day—and get rid of all those toads?

The Very Short Interview

When did you know for sure that you were a writer and that writing would be a major energy focus in your life?

The year I turned 12, my parents sent me to summer camp thinking it would be a big treat.  I was a shy girl whose favorite things to do were read and write, activities not in abundance at most summer camps!  Homesick and miserable from the moment I arrived, my coping mechanism for surviving the seven weeks away was to retreat to my bunk and write during rest hour.  Over the course of the summer, that story grew into an entire novel (never published, of course, but oh, the sheer joy of working on it!), and the process of writing it ignited a spark in me that has never been extinguished.

Who has always been behind your writing career and who helped pull you up the ladder of success?

My husband.  We’ve been married for 30 years now, and he’s been my cheerleader every step of the way.

What is the most frequent comment you hear about your book (or books) from readers? Tell us a little story about the response to your work.

Readers often tell me they wish they could step into my books and live there, with my characters for their friends, which is catnip to a writer, of course.  Probably the best compliment I ever received, though, was from a girl who wrote and said, “Your books make me feel happy and safe.”  Does it get any better than that, I ask you?

And Now, Your Turn

Now it’s your turn. You remember how this works right?

I ask you a question. You answer in the comments for your chance to win a book each day.

Please just respond once, even if you make a typo.

Answer in the comments in 50-200 words (no less and no more to qualify to win one of today’s books). Please read the complete rules at least once!

Thanks for participating in the Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway! I hope to see you here every day this month. Bring your friends!

Yesterday I asked you to share the qualities you appreciate about your mom. Today, I’d like you to share the qualities you appreciate about yourself. They can be related to writing or anything else.

Ready, set, comment!

And the winner of Mother-Daughter Book Club Meeting Planner Guides: Collection One and Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs by Cindy Hudson is…

Mar Junge

She was chosen by Random Number Generator.

Mar’s response was:

Instead listing my favorite childhood books, I want to tell a wonderful story about Cindy’s book All my children and my friend’s children are in college and plan on going to grad school, so it will be many years until they’ll have daughters of their own. But this year my niece had a baby girl. For the baby shower, she asked guests to include one of their favorite children’s books with their gift inscribed with their name, instead of a greeting card. In addition to “Love You Forever, I gave my niece a copy of Cindy’s book. I’ve also given a copy to my neighborhood elementary school’s PTA to share with parents. Cindy is helping us build the next generation of readers, one Mother-Daughter Book Club at a time.

Congratulations, Mar (again)!

If you missed the drawing for Mother-Daughter Book Club Meeting Planner Guides: Collection One and Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs by Cindy Hudson, you can read all about it here.

Important, winners: I need you to send me an e-mail with your mailing address so that I can send it on to the author and she can send you your signed book! Please include a phone number, as well.

Please send your address in an e-mail to “christina at christina katz dot com.”

Please put “Book Winner” in the subject line.

And thank you for supporting the giveaway and my work!

Thanks for participating. This is just day twelve of The Writer Mama Every Day In May Book Giveaway. We have 19 more days and winners to go! I hope you will spread the word.