Celebrate the Small Things-March 29, 2019

It's Friday! Let's Celebrate the Small Things with Lexa Cain! I am her co-host.

The weather this week has been wonderful! I've been taking the kids to the park on a regular basis, and the boys have also been riding their bikes a lot. This also means I've been getting some much needed exercise and fresh air.

We took a spur of the moment trip to get ice cream as a family earlier in the week. I'm always going to celebrate an opportunity to eat ice cream!

Finally, I'm also celebrating the fact that the release day for Masquerade: Oddly Suited is a little over a month away. April 30th will be here before we know it! I can't wait for everyone to have a chance to read it!

What would you like to celebrate?

Celebrate the Small Things-March 22, 2019

It's Friday! Let's Celebrate the Small Things with Lexa Cain! I am her co-host.

The weather is definitely feeling more springlike. We've had a decent stretch of warm, dry days, so flooding where I live has become less of a concern. The boys have been able to spend their spring break riding bikes and playing with sidewalk chalk. Zoe likes to join in on the fun, though she hasn't quite got the hang of her tricycle yet.

My husband and I have a date night scheduled for next week. We figured we should find a way to fit that in since we have a baby coming in two months. Once the baby comes, it'll be a little while before we get another chance.

I'm also celebrating the fact that I've made some progress in editing my WIP. A troublesome spot kept tripping me up, but I finally like what I've done with it. Hopefully things continue to go well there and I can get some good work done over the next week.

What would you like to celebrate?

Celebrate the Small Things-March 15, 2019

It's Friday! Let's Celebrate the Small Things with Lexa Cain! I am her co-host.

It looks like spring is starting to poke its reluctant head around the corner here. The temperatures have been warmer here. I'm certainly happy about that. Unfortunately, we've also had rain here over the last few days. The combination of rain and melting snow has led to some flooding. A lot of country roads around here are impassable because they're too muddy. It's a mess for now, but hopefully things will dry out and the warmth will continue.

Our new telescope came in the mail. We haven't had an opportunity to use it yet, but the kids are pretty excited. So am I, for that matter. Hopefully we'll have a clear night soon so we can test it out.

Lastly, the kids have spring break next week. We bought a couple of wooden 3D models, so that should make for a fun project for us to do together. If all goes well, I may post some pictures of the results!

What would you like to celebrate?

Celebrate the Small Things-March 8, 2019

It's Friday! Let's Celebrate the Small Things with Lexa Cain! I am her co-host.

I'm celebrating warmer temperatures over the next few days. I haven't exactly been quiet about the fact that I'm more than eager for winter to be over. We have mountains of snow surrounding our house. One of our cars was literally frozen to the ground. We finally got it to move for the first time in weeks yesterday. Please bring on the warmth! We desperately need it!

We just ordered a new telescope, and we should receive it some time next week. That's another reason to hope for better weather. There's something exciting about trying out a new telescope for the first time. I can't wait!

Lastly, I'm celebrating the fact that I got to go book shopping this week without any kids in tow. As much as I love spending time with my kids, sometimes I need a quiet stroll through a bookstore by myself.

What would you like to celebrate?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group: March 2019

It's the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's time to convene another meeting of The Insecure Writer's Support Group. Our leader Alex J. Cavanaugh has gathered some wonderful co-hosts for this month: Fundy Blue, Beverly Stowe McClure, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard.

Be sure to check out the IWSG website for support and lots of great resources for writers!

I've been feeling a little insecure about my writing for the last couple of weeks. One of the reasons for this has to be lack of progress. I've been busy, and when I do find time to write, it's hard for me to get much done. My mind has been focused on other things. I know all writers go through things like this, but it's still frustrating. I just need to keep reminding myself that slow progress is better than no progress.

Now let's move on to the optional question for the month.

Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? And why?

I can honestly say I've never attempted to write a story from the point of view of the villain. Why? I suppose I'm just accustomed to telling stories from the POV of the protagonist. That's my natural starting point. I guess most stories we consume are told in this same way. We like to travel alongside the hero and cheer them on through their journey. It's a crucial part of being human.

That being said, I think it would be quite fun to try writing a story from the POV of the villain. The opportunity to get an in depth look at their motivations and the way they perceive the world could be invaluable. I'll definitely have to give it a try some time.

Do you prefer to tell your stories from the POV of the hero or the villain?

Music Boxes by Tonja Drecker

Music Boxes

By Tonja Drecker

Middle Grade Fantasy / Performing Arts

158 pages

Dancing Lemur Press

Release date: March 5th, 2019

Ages 9 to 12

      ·         ISBN-10: 1939844568

      ·         ISBN-13: 978-1939844569

Book Blurb:

“I only desire your talent...”

Twelve-year-old Lindsey McKay's biggest dream is to be a famous ballerina. But after moving to New York, she ends up at the Community Center with a teacher who’s a burly bear in tights.

When she meets Madame Destinée, the teacher of a top dance school who offers her classes for free, Lindsey can't believe her luck. In exchange, she must perform in the school’s exclusive midnight shows, ones sure to make her a star. But something’s not right...

One by one, the other dancers disappear. Each time they do, a music box with a figurine just like the missing ballerina joins Madame Destinée’s growing collection. If Lindsey doesn’t discover the truth about the dance school, she might end up a tiny figurine herself.

Goodreads link :  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41452109

Sale Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Music-Boxes-Tonja-Drecker/dp/1939844568

B&N : https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/music-boxes-tonja-drecker/1129391447

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/music-boxes

Get a FREE envelope with Swag!

Pre-order/order your book (ecopy or print) before midnight (EST) on Friday night, March 8^th, send a copy of your proof of purchase to  tonjadrecker@gmail.com along with an US mailing address, and you will receive an envelope with exclusive swag (bookmark, sticker, etc). 

All about the author...

Tonja Drecker is a writer, blogger, children’s book reviewer and freelance translator. After spending years in Germany exploring forgotten castles, she currently resides in the Ozarks with her family of six. When she’s not tending her chickens and cows, she’s discovering new adventures, nibbling chocolate and sipping a cup of tea.

Links:

Author website: http://tonjadrecker.blogspot.com/

Review blog: https://bookwormforkids.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TDrecker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TDrecker/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJhQ1T8dLx1v9xkiLzlJSnA

Giveaway

The giveaway will run from midnight (EST) on the night of February 21^st, 2019 until midnight (EST) on the night of March 15^th,  2019. Entries will be made through the Rafflecopter. One winner will receive a music box (the one found in the book video: https://youtu.be/ww_RY4lVg3w) with the author’s golden signature on the bottom as well as swag (US addresses only). The second winner will receive an Amazon GC of $10 (US). The second winner must be in possession of a qualifying US Amazon account.

The contest is open to U.S. residents only, ages eighteen and over. No purchase is required for entry. All winners must claim their prize 48 hours after notification. Winners will be announced on www.tonjadrecker.blogspot.com on Saturday, March 16t^h 2019 by 10:00am (EST). All addresses and personal information will be used only for prize allocation. Sponsor, Tonja Drecker, assumes no responsibility or liability of any kind. Please email all questions to tonjadrecker@gmail.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Celebrate the Small Things: March 1, 2019

It's Friday! Let's Celebrate the Small Things with Lexa Cain! I am her co-host.

We bought a van this week. Considering I'll be transporting 4 kids around starting sometime in May, this was a necessary purchase. It isn't fancy by any means, but it'll do the job.

I'm also celebrating the beginning of March. Please let this mean spring is coming soon! I'm so tired of all the snow we've been getting. It's insane. Over the weekend, my husband couldn't make it into work due to a massive blizzard we had. The blizzard shut down a 158-mile stretch of the interstate that runs near our house. The kids also missed school on Monday because it took snowplows so long to get everything cleared.

Finally, I'm celebrating the fact that I bought myself a couple of new jigsaw puzzles to do over the next few weeks. I can't wait to get started on them.

What would you like to celebrate?