Until now, parents were those who provided parenting tips and wrote books to share their knowledge and help other parents on children issues. Now a teenager is the one who comes forward providing parenting tips to parents!
Lu-Lu Rea is not the typical sixteen-years-old girl. She is the founder of an internet technology company, called Toddlertown.co.
Toddlertown.co is an online one-stop-shop for all childcare related services.
In her debut book titled ‘Parenting Tips From A Sixteen Year Old Founder’, Lu-Lu Rea shares candid yet warming tips and advice to parents and caregivers, as seen from her perspective.
How did you decide to pursue a writing career?
“My inspiration to pen this book came from two truly important influences in my life. The first is my beloved mother who has always been the ultimate superwoman in my life. She raised my sister and I to be the strong and independent young ladies that we are today. Her example as a mother is truly what catapulted the idea for this book. It is also why I know that I am qualified to write such a book.
The second inspiration is my mentor and friend, Kaye-Cee Austin- who is also the Founder of TeenTrep.Co, the parent company to my company, ToddlerTown.Co. Kaye-Cee has always believed in me and has always seen aspects in me that I did not see for myself. She pushes me to be the best version of myself that I can be- even if it means stepping out of my comfort zone to do it. I am truly blessed to have both of these women in my life!”
Was getting published hard?
“We have a really amazing team at TeenTrep that assists of its Teen authors and founders with all of their projects and assisting us in the publishing process is one of the things they do very well. So I’d have to say, because of them- getting published has been easy on my end.”
What is the book about?
“The book incorporates many of the lessons I have learned throughout my life when working with children and of course the insight that I have to share just from being a child at one point myself. I also interviewed many experts in the child services field as well as kids and teens to ensure that the insight from the book was based on real world facts and experiences.”
Do you have a specific writing routine?
“I enjoy writing so I always make sure that I take time out of the day to write. Even if it means not attending as many events as usual or hanging out with my friends at times- I will make sure that I get my writing in!”
So what’s next for you?
“Focusing on my company, its growth and its customers. I am truly passionate about children and assisting parents in making life as easy as we can for them so that will always be what I am focused on. I am also currently spending much of my days filling out college applications believe it or not. Education is very important to me so I want to ensure I get the best one that I can!”
This is a book that you just can’t put down once you start it. I read it in less than a day. The characters are well developed, complex and multi-faceted. The story is built in such a wonderful way that leaves you rooting for their success and fearing for their safety. Gary Starta did an amazing job creating twists and turns that left me guessing from beginning to end. The book gets off to a great start with a short prologue. A guy has just killed four women and two men lead by his distaste “for a crazy little thing called love”. It’s a guy who gets angry “every time a stranger passed him by without so much a nod or salutation”. The ending is at once unexpected and darkly emotional the way every great noir mystery is. “Lost in the character” as Gary Starta writes…
** I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review**
Murder By Association: A Stanford Carter Prequel (Stanford Carter Murder Mystery Book 2)
As Boston’s most lethal serial killer jeopardizes the city’s anniversary celebration, CSI Detective Stanford Carter desperately fights for forensic clues to nail the perp. But the “Plunger” after stabbing his victims through the heart, leaves only Tarot cards as evidence. The mayor demanding an arrest is also keeping a secret. Soon, something even more dangerous threatens the city. Carter must find out what it is before it steals his sanity and the life of the woman he loves.
‘What a personal story is that!” That’s what I told myself after the little chat I had with ‘The Solomon Sisters’ series author JESSie NW. I was shocked by what she’d been through and amazed by her courage to overcome the difficulties; the kind of difficulties that create great books and successful authors…
How did you decide to pursue a writing career?
“I did not consciously decide to pursue a writing career. My mother is a retired Professor who majored in English Writing.
There strict unwritten rules regarding English in our home i.e. reading, writing, homework but especially speaking clearly and enunciating. Sooo… we fast-forward 25+ years to getting married and having my husband abruptly taken from me during a robbery. I needed and finally accepted emotional therapy where I dealt with the anger, pain and grief surrounding this pain of being a 29-year old pregnant widow.
The self-medication came in the form or words on paper. I was successful in a few industries as a professional Project Manager. I then branched off on my own to assist small businesses in becoming successful entities, but found people rarely know what they really want from a business. They just want to make widgets and be happy. Oh and the business to be successful. The market did not bode as Small Business funding decrease and my motivation to chase clients dwindled because my private life kept intercepting due to my lack of trust for real happiness. I could not sustain a real relationship because of my fixation on my deceased husband. Therefore, I married and divorced after his death, failing in the marriage by putting my work first.
Finally, 11 years after his Charles death, I decided to be a cog in the wheel of the government where I put in my hours and jumped ship at the minimum tenure to pursue what always soothed my soul. Writing. I stopped running from it and embraced it with fervor. So technically my writing career pursued me. When I finally stopped running and gave in to its healing powers, I published my first book in June of 2013.”
Was getting published hard?
“No, putting the book on the shelf is not hard. Marketing, distribution and publicity is a daily challenge.”
Are your characters based on people you know?
“Not really, but yes. I use characteristics from various people and build one person with multiple personalities from real sources.”
What genre are your books?
“Fiction/Romance/Comedy/Suspense. The genre is multi-faceted as I am; all based from an African American Female voice because it really is impossible to write what you do not know. ”
Which of your books is your most favorite?
“My favorite book is ‘Fasten Your Seat Belts’. It is not published; in fact, it is not complete. I spent 10 years with the Department of Homeland Security and watching the public is humorous and enlightening. I learned to be a better human being by watching people do things that should be socially unacceptable. I also learned there is a way to achieve results without making a scene. Very few people know how to do this, either they accept the situation with no voice, or they use their voice to detriment. This book points out our human flaws and indelicacies in the work place and in our public interactions.”
Do you have a specific writing routine?
“Oh how I wish I could regal you with a patented tried and true work ethic for writing. But alas no, when life is not in my way i.e. cooking, washing clothes, dentist appointment’s, Mafia Wars, husband, holidays, marketing, relatives, etc. I write. I let the voices in my head have the conversations on paper and I fill in the scenarios that surround these conversations. Sometimes the conversations go back to high school with a teacher who was bullying me… and I let my voices reply. Often I do not realize these unresolved situations until the storyline in that chapter is complete.”
What are your current projects?
“The Solomon Sisters are going to Italy to meet their illegitimate sister in Arms of Steel due for release in April 2016. Finishing the trilogy are Feet of Granite due for release in October of 2016. In between there, Fasten Your Seat Belts will fall on a shelf near you.”
What’s next for you?
“In 2016 I would like to see a virtual book tour each month and a physical book tour every other month, maybe even two straight months with 3 relaxing months in between. My husband is working on a schedule now and you can see the results by January 15, 2016 by signing up on Facebook or my Website for JESSie sightings during the year.”
The bar is set high, the load hard to carry. Paralyzed at the chore of being a good example for her younger siblings, Jessica cringes at her sordid life. On the surface her strength, success and wisdom are always aglow, but she knows what lies beneath it all. Will they still love and respect her once they know the truth? Can she count on their support through the upcoming trauma? Life is beautiful because they care for each other, until… there is always that “UNTIL”!
AUTHOR BIO
A precocious child from birth, who rolled over at three months, walked at seven months, talked at 11 months; graduated with honors from high school at 16 and always knew what she did and did not want, whether she got it or not. It is no wonder that JESSie, who is an avid reader and pacesetter, began her writing career while in a mid-life crisis. Although she earned an AA in Fashion Design and a BA in Business Administration concentrating in Computer Technology, she has always made her own way, not asking anyone else to endorse her choices, but ever ready to be an endorser and supporter of others.
‘No one ever tells you what it is like to die’. No one, except this book’s heroine whose name isn’t mentioned not even once throughout the book. How original is that! ‘Life’s Defeat’ is based on a very interesting and well thought out story. I liked the idea and characters are well developed. The action starts on the first page and doesn’t let up till the last. I loved Rebekah Raymond’s writing. Her descriptions are so vivid that I felt to the core her heroine’s agony and claustrophobic sensation caused by the unknown and the numerous trials she was forced to be through. The ending left some questions unanswered but I’ll happily read ‘Life’s Hope’ Book 2 in the series hoping that answers will be provided.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Tragedy places the soldier in StPatrick’s complex, determination to be someone of use keeps her within its walls. When she finally takes her first breaths of freedom, the soldier is sucked back into military servitude. Her long, violent capture and imprisonment by Rochester sets her path of physical and psychological terror.
Under his rule she learns the depth of her own depravity, and how far she can go before she threatens to lose herself. But when Tomlin and his team rescues her, she discovers a new threat in the life she chooses to lead.
As the pages of her genetically-altered history are revealed, the solider finds the key to achieving her new goal: revenge.
It’s unfortunate it might just kill her in the end.
Rebekah Raymond is a born and bred Canadian, now residing in Calgary, Alberta with her husband, two children and a handful of animals. Rebekah was always a reader and writer, early on picking up Shakespeare and writing her own poetry. She has also been a trekkie for years, a habit that led to compulsive and creative writing through interactive role playing games online.
Rebekah attended a non-traditional high school and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in Drawing, from Alberta College of Art + Design. She later received her Academic Strategist Certificate from the University of Calgary. She is extremely musically inclined, participating in main choir for over 10 years, the women’s choir for four, as well as band and instrumental group via the violin. Of course she supports all of the arts, having worked in an art gallery for years and purchased many pieces herself.
Rebekah launched her first novel, “Life’s Defeat” October 7, 2015. A psychological thriller than began years ago as a short story, the tale has now extended into a series, with book two and three expected out in 2016. Twisted and violent, this first book leads the reader into a world where criminal discipline is left to extraneous means. Walking in the footsteps of a young woman who comes into the realization of who and what she is, this novel will take you from one extreme to the next, watching for justice and always waiting for more…
Alyssa Rae was born in Massachusetts and currently resides in a small, historic town in North Carolina. She is a devoted and enthusiastic reader, writer, and movie goer. Her debut novel, A Lion’s Pride, was published in early 2013. A Rebel Star is her second novel.
Alyssa told me more about her book in a interesting conversation we had a few days ago…
First of all, I’d like to ask you who exactly Alyssa Rae is.
“I am 25 years old. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in North Carolina, raised by a half Irish-half Italian family. My family alone gives me enough material to write many books, perhaps one day I’ll focus on that. I love to write, play the piano, and think up stories for young adults.”
How did you decide to pursue a writing career?
“I’ve always loved writing. As soon as I was able to put a pen to paper I would write these silly, sometimes awful, poems for my Mom. In high school I took creative writing and journalism classes. I had so many notebooks filled with short stories and story ideas that one day I decided I just needed to finish one. I picked the story that had the most material and a year later I published A Lion’s Pride.”
Was getting published hard?
“I self-published both of my books using Amazon’s Createspace platform. Createspace makes publishing very fast and easy, especially for someone with little or no experience with publishing.”
Are your characters based on people you know?
“None of my main characters in either book are based on people I know, but several of my friends and family members have made appearances as minor characters.”
What genre are your books?
“My books are written for teens and young adults. Both feature strong, independent, young women, action, and a little bit of romance.”
Which of your books is your most favorite?
“A Lion’s Pride will always be special to me because it was my first completed novel, but I have truly enjoyed immersing myself in the Ogoni people’s struggle featured in A Rebel Star.”
Do you have a specific writing routine?
“I always outline my stories in bullet points first. I make a list of all the characters and the major events and their details so I have something to reference while I am writing. The very first chapter that I write is the ending; I have to know where the story is going to take me before I can start the beginning. I also don’t write everything in order. I like to start with writing the scenes that are the most vivid in my mind. I can always tweak them later if I decide to make changes to the story.”
What are your current projects?
“I am currently working on the second book of the Rebel Star series. I am also working on the first novella for the series which will be written from Danny’s point of view.”
What’s next for you?
“I really enjoy writing for teens and young adults and am hoping to publish many more books within this genre.”
Book Title: A Rebel Star
Description:
Living atop the richest oil fields in Nigeria, the Ogoni people have battled for their rights against their own government and the greedy oil companies determined to take their lands. Chasing the secrets of her mother’s past, Marienela leaves her privileged life in London to visit the Ogoni villages. There she will witness the destruction of the environment caused by none other than the oil company her father controls. She will meet rebels and soldiers. Writers and fighters. Face violence and corruption. And, through it all she will have to choose. Will Marienla return to the comfort and safety of her London home, or will she become…
A Rebel Star
Book Category:
Teen, Young Adult
Author name:
Alyssa Rae
Author bio:
Alyssa Rae was born in Massachussetts and currently resides in a small town in North Carolina. She is a devoted and enthusiastic reader, writer, and movie goer. Her debut novel, A lions Pride, was published in early 2013. A Rebel Star is her second novel with many more projects soon to follow.
Every author has a moment in their lives that lead them to choose the path of storytelling. Each of them has an interesting story to share about that moment, but what Lori A. Moore (author of ‘Missing Andy’ and ‘Oh Ship!’) shared with me is one of the most interesting how-I-became-an-author stories I’ve ever heard.
Here is what Lori told me in this fun intereview…
How did you decide to pursue a writing career?
“I didn’t! My former husband died in 2008 and a friend suggested that I journal as a way to deal with my grief. I turned that journal into a book about dealing with grief after the loss of a loved one in the book, ‘Missing Andy: The Journey From Grief to Joy’.
Was getting published hard?
“Surprisingly, no. It might be hard for some to understand or believe, but I’ll tell you how it happened. I was asked to share my testimony at a church in a neighboring state. After the service was over, a woman walked up to me and said, “God told me you’re going to write a book.” To make a long story short, she had even mentioned the name of a publisher she had researched. After my former husband died and I was journaling, I remembered the name of the publisher that the woman had said, looked them up on the internet, submitted my manuscript, and you could knock me over with a feather because they accepted it and offered me a book contract.”
“Apparently I’m a ‘mutt’ author because two are Christian Living, two are Children’s, one is Travel Humor, and one will be Suspense.”
Which of your books is your most favorite?
“Can a parent pick a favorite child? Geesh! Okay, if I HAVE TO pick one so far, I’d say ‘Missing Andy’ because readers have given me so much feedback about how it has helped them and I meant it also as a tribute to a wonderful man.”
Do you have a specific writing routine?
“Routine? You haven’t met me, have you?!”
What are your current projects?
“Depending upon the success of ‘Oh Ship!’, I hope to write a sequel, ‘Oh Ship 2: More Ship Happens’, as I continue to travel and experience new adventures.”
Joanne Jaytanie is an author of romantic suspense, paranormal, and contemporary romance books. Her stories are full of twists of plot and turns in her character’s lives. Joanne’s heroes find themselves involved in many troubles while building an everlasting relationship, that’s why each of her books is an exciting reading experience.
Recently I had a little chat with Joanne. Here is what we talked about…
How did you decide to pursue a writing career?
“I’ve loved writing since my freshman year in high school. But instead of following my dream, I went to college for business and got my BA. I spent years working in business administration, personnel, and finance for a variety of companies, including our own business.
Ten years after we started our accident reconstruction firm, my husband decided he had enough of running his own company and longed to return to marine engineering. That was a difficult time for me. Along with dealing with the loss of our business, I found myself with no job and no direction for what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. So I focused on my love of dogs. I went back to the obedience ring and then became infatuated with the breed ring. I have owned Dobermans for thirty-four years, bred and showed them for fifteen years. During my showing days I toyed with the idea of applying for my Conformation Judge license. All the while the need to write constantly pushed at me.
One day, while filling out part of my judge application, the thought occurred to me, if I continued on my present course I would be completely engulfed in the dog judging world and my writing would once again be pushed back to – some day. I finally realized that if I didn’t focus on my dream today, it would slip away forever. I didn’t want to wake up one day and wonder why I never worked at the one thing I loved most to do.
My primary genre is romantic suspense with paranormal elements, which of course is one of my favorite reads. Because of my love of Dobermans and the fact they are a large part of my life, I wanted to incorporate them into my writing. By blending my love of Dobermans, suspense, and paranormal, The Winters Sisters came to life.
I love writing. I do it when I’m sad, happy, busy, and lonely. Writing makes me happy. I submerge myself in the world of my characters. I live and breathe their lives and marvel at their decisions and predicaments. How lucky am I to know what it is I want to do ‘when I grow up’ and to absolutely love doing it.”
Are your characters based on people you know?
“My characters are all created by me. However, I do have a habit of incorporating certain traits from individuals in my life, past and present.”
What genre are your books?
“My Winters Sisters series is romantic suspense with paranormal elements. Romantic suspense is my primary genre.
Most of my novellas are contemporary romance, with the exception of my new story, P.I ~I Love You.”
Which of your books is your most favorite?
“I would have to say Chasing Victory, because it was my debut novel. Although as I continue to write the Sisters series I find myself enjoying each new journey even more.”
Do you have a specific writing routine?
“I guess my specific routine is to set aside time each day to put words ‘on the page.’ I try to write in the early afternoon, although I find I am usually most productive in the evening. If I’m on a roll, I often been known to write until two in the morning.”
What are your current projects?
“I am currently working on book four for The Winters Sisters Series. This is a shorter novel. The main characters are Kenzie, who is not related to the sisters and Logan. I’m planning on releasing this novel by the end of February.”
What’s next for you?
“Next for me is to pursue the indie route for the next year. I’m learning all about the production end of the business. While it’s overwhelming at times, I thrive on the challenge.”
P.I ~ I Love You
Rivers don’t let rocks hold them back.
River Nightingale has decided to blow past the rocky men in her life. She’s played by the rules for too long—especially when it came to her career as a cop. She was the top closer of cases for years, but promotions in her small town cop shop went to her less productive male counterparts. River’s friends, three other women cops, are also ready to change careers. Together they leave behind their small towns, become their own bosses, and purchase a Seattle private detective agency.
Homicide Detective Gage Hamlin takes pride in his job; he closes cases and fosters justice. All that changed the day River Nightingale sauntered into his office. River has him questioning his pride, his cases, and his aversion to private detectives, especially beautiful private detectives.
River’s client thinks Gage got it wrong, and River is forced to prove Gage missed a murder. Will River and Gage find a way to play nice, or will River be forced to leave Gage behind?
Ivy has always been a part of Christmas; can this Ivy put down roots in Forever Christmas, where the spirit of the holidays never fades?
Ivy Harper is a survivor. Deprived of college by a selfish mother and stuck in a dead-end job that can’t pay the bills, it’s the last straw when she finds herself a crime victim, too. Hoping for a new start, she flees to the big city, only to end up homeless. Her one chance is an intern program that offers a new life on a farm outside a small town. But can a farm job provide Ivy’s artistic soul the security and fulfillment she needs?
Mason Weatherly is exhausted. A leading surgeon, ER doc, and specialist in internal medicine, Dr. Weatherly is in constant demand. Unfortunately his seventeen-hour days and long weeks mean he has no relationship or personal life. Frazzled and desperate for a break, Mason decides to visit his brother, Colton, before Colton settles down. Mason needs to discover for himself how a small town and a tree farm managed to tame his career-driven brother.
Joanne Jaytanie was born and raised in Sherburne, New York, a quaint village surrounded by dairy farms and rolling hills. From the moment she could read she wanted to explore the world. During her college years she slowly crept across the country, stopping along the way in Oklahoma, California, and finally Washington State, which she now proudly calls home. She lives with her husband and Dobermans, in their home located on the Olympic Peninsula with a panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains.
Joanne writes romantic suspense, paranormal, and contemporary romance. She loves to submerge herself in the world of her characters, to live and breathe their lives and marvel at their decisions and predicaments. She enjoys a wide variety of books including paranormal, suspense, thriller, and of course romance.
Joanne is a member of Romance Writers of America, and past President of Peninsula Romance Writers, which was Debbie Macomber’s home chapter.
Roy Albert Andrade is an author. Roy Albert Andrade is a stock market investor. Roy Albert Andrade is a cosmopolitan. Roy Albert Andrade is a mysterious personality surrounded by an air of intrigue. Roy has gained notoriety on Facebook and Twitter and capitalized on his popularity by releasing his first novel, ‘Cultivating the DNA of Crime’. To the delight of his many fans worldwide his second novel, ‘Virula: Renaissance Outlaw’ followed soon after.
So my first question to him couldn’t be any other than…
How did you decide to pursue a writing career?
“I graduated from the University of Phoenix with an Associate of Arts with a concentration in Business Foundations back in 2011, I think (LOL) and decided that I would start-up a business in the automotive industry. I later decided it would be best if I ventured into various industries, so, I invested financial capital into the stock market, and later pursued a career as an author, which, has been an exciting experience.”
Was getting published hard?
“Getting published was not going to be easy, but, it was not going to be impossible. I wrote Cultivating the DNA of Crime and presented it to college students of UCLA as a short survey, which I paid each participant $50 at a Westwood, California coffee shop for their feedback. And 8 out of 10 people actually enjoyed reading it. I knew this was going to be a profitable, yet, challenging career. K1LLER, Inc. of Beverly Hills, California published the book on May 5, 2014.”
A cosmopolitan’s life
Are your characters based on people you know?
“Yes and No. (LOL) I build characters around people I know, and with the help of a little imagination, I create the dialogue.”
What genre are your books?
“Cultivating the DNA of Crime and Virula: Renaissance Outlaw are fiction novels. However, I intend to write different genres, such as, science fiction, romance, fantasy, mysteries in the future. There is more to life than simply writing about crime, so, I know the books I write in the future will be quite interesting, and entertaining, because I am cosmopolitan.”
Which of your books is your most favorite?
“Man! That’s a hard ball question to answer. Can you repeat the question? (LOL) It would have to be a coin toss decision, because both books are really intriguing. I have to be brutally honest, these books are packed with excitement, adventure, and most importantly, information.”
Do you have a specific writing routine?
“I like this question! I sure do. Funny that you ask. (LOL) I write whenever it’s convenient. I have a number of activities I’m involved in day-to-day, but, when I focus on writing, I get [expletive] done. I get to work! I write, and write, and write until I feel I’ve accomplished what I would have in a month’s timeframe, all in one day. Seriously! Truthfully speaking, I really do enjoy writing, but, I also have to remember, it’s not my only source of income.”
What are your current projects?
“I’m invested heavily in the stock market, and other profitable ventures, but, as far as books, I am working on a manuscript that’s going to be published as a second novel of the Virula: Renaissance Outlaw series.”
What’s next for you?
“To continue writing and publishing as many books as possible can before I die. The Roy Albert Andrade brand is growing rapidly, and I know sooner or later other people are going to want to work with K1LLER, Inc. Thank you for this interview, it was a pleasurable experience.”
A book and a cup of coffee 