Childhood Inspirations: How My Own Children Shape My Chapter Books by Kimberly Kinrade #ChaBooCha

photo by Fyfe Photography

Childhood Inspirations: How My Own Children Shape My Chapter Books

 by Kimberly Kinrade

In 2007, a simple survey was conducted that showed that 9 out of 10 elementary aged kids are bullied at school, and 6 out of 10 have bullied others. I’m not sure what the current stats would show, but I’m guessing it’s not going to be lower. I know many schools have an anti-bully policy, including the school my own girls go to. I also know my kids still come home hurt or sad or scared about bullies hounding them.

When I set out to write the first three books in The Three Lost Kids series, I wanted them to be fun fantasies, but also relevant to the issues my own girls face. Each book is based on one of my children, and their challenges and struggles helped shape the storyline and themes present in the books.

In Lexie World, my then-5-year-old Lexie kept getting into trouble for leaving her stuff outside or leaving trash on the ground. She loves the earth and nature, so it saddened her to know that her actions were hurting the earth. We talked about what challenges Lexie World would have and came up with the Garbage Goblins, destined to destroy the world if Lexie and her sisters couldn’t break the curse and stop them.

On this journey, the character, Lexie, had to face her own behaviors and decide what she was going to do about the litter she and others had caused. The real Lexie also took a journey while reading this book, as I hope you and your children will. She learned important lessons about herself and caring for the planet, all wrapped up in an exciting story.

In Bella World, my then 8-year-old had to face the Dragon Fire in her that often burns other people. She had to look at her tendencies to horde her belongings or take things that don't belong to her at all. As she entered her magical namesake world, she met a Dragon who had many of the same struggles as Bella. Together they learned how to treat others, and they grew emotionally as a result.

Maddie World is the third book in this special edition, fully illustrated trilogy. My own Madelynne, who is now 10 years old, is most impacted by bullying at school. It’s hard for her, and she’s had times where she didn’t want to go to school at all. It breaks my heart to see my girl hurt like this, and I also know that she needed to learn to own her own strength and stand up for herself–without becoming a bully too. Thus Maddie World was conceived. In this story, a Fairy War is destroying Maddie World. The Lava Fairies have bullied the Bubble Fairies for too long and the Bubble Fairies are fighting back, but now they’ve become the bullies they so hated. Maddie has to face her fears, and be braver than she’s ever been, if she wants to save her sisters and her world.

The first three books were so popular with my kids, and others, that I wrote another special trilogy of holiday books featuring The Three Lost Kids. Once again, life lessons are incorporated into a fun fantasy adventure where they save a dying Sugar Fairy, break a Christmas Curse and rescue Cupid from a monster!

My girls learned about the outlining process, story building, plot and character development and editing as I wrote these books. Now, our real life Lexie is becoming a writer and spends several hours a week (sometimes a day) typing on my laptop. Her first story, over 4,000 words long, is "None of Your BEESWAX." I think she's also working on a story involving a machine that turns people into dogs and cats.

I can't wait to someday share her stories with you.

In the meantime, you'll have to settle for mine.

It’s my hope that this series brings important lessons to kids without being heavy handed–that they learn, within the pages of fantasy, how to care for their world, grow emotionally and stand up for themselves.

What struggles do your children have and how do you help them through it as a parent?

About the Author

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes fantasy and paranormal stories for children, young adults and adults and still believes in magic worlds.  Her most popular series include The Three Lost Kids, The Forbidden Trilogy and the Seduced Saga, all available on Amazon and other online retailers. She is also the co-owner and marketing director of Daring Books Design & Marketing. She lives with her three little girls who think they’re ninja princesses with super powers, her two dogs who think they’re humans, her two cats who think they're gods (and probably are), and her husband, also known as the sexy Russian Prince, who is the love of her life and writing partner.

For a list of her books, check out: http://Amazon.com/author/kimberlykinrade.

Find Kimberly Kinrade

Website     Twitter     Facebook     IPI Twitter     IPI Facebook   IPI Website Three Lost Kids Website   Daring Books Design & Marketing Website

Kimberly has very generously offered two prizes today, an e-copy of "Lexie World," and an e-copy of "The Three Lost Kids & Cupid's Capture." All you need to do to be entered into the drawing for the prize, if you are already a signed-up member of the Chapter Book Challenge, is to leave a comment on this post before noon GMT on the 30th of March. The two winners, one for each book, will be announced on the 30th. If you already have the book, you may choose to gift it to someone else in the challenge. In addition, if we get more than three comments on this post, I am offering one commenter the chance to win a print version of "The Three Lost Kids & Cupid's Capture." So that makes three prizes available to win by three separate people. The e-books will be chosen by random number generator in the order that they are mentioned and then the print copy will be chosen the same way.

Announcing the winners of "Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success" by K. M. Weiland #ChaBooCha

 It's time to announce the winners of "Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success" by K.M. Weiland. Two of these prizes were offered during the guest post by K. M. Weiland.

Remember if you already have the book, one of you can do one of two things; you can choose to give the book as a gift to someone else in the challenge, either anonymously or with your name attached and it will be sent directly to them instead of you OR you can choose ONE of the following two things from the Chapter Book Challenge 2013 shop. 

 The Chapter Book 2013 Journal

 The Chapter Book 2013 mug

I used the random number generator on Random.org to select the winner and the number came up with 3 for the first winner and 2 for the second winner (we had 9 entrants), so that makes the winner:

  #1 - BRENDA HARRIS

#2 - MELISSA KHALINSKY

Congratulations to you both!

Writers Block by Adam Wallace #ChaBooCha

 

Writer’s Block!

 by Adam Wallace

So you have writer’s block. You sit at your computer, or at your desk, head in hands, wondering why a story that was flowing so well has suddenly got to a point where you have no idea what to write. Or worse, you’re sitting staring at a blank screen or page, and you’ve got nothing at all. You can’t even start. All that’s going through your mind is a tune ... a really, repetitive, annoying tune, over and over again. So what can you do? Does this mean you’re a bad writer? Does it mean that you’ve used up all the ideas your life has been allocated? Does it mean you have to go back to engineering?

Well maybe ... I mean HELL NO! Not one little bit. So you’re stuck. So what? It feels awful, and you get that frustrated feeling in your stomach, but it’s momentary and there are things you can do to get past it that don’t include a bottle of wine, three shots of tequila and a block of chocolate.

My number 1 technique for getting around writer’s block? WRITE! WRITE DAMMIT, AND THEN WRITE SOME MORE!

It doesn’t matter what you write or how you write, as long as it’s not the story you’re working on. You can write a story on a piece of bark about your eyeball using blood from your finger for all I care (as long as that wasn’t the story you were working on) ... just write. And don’t try to make it perfect, especially if you’re a perfectionist. Simply put words down on paper.

Sit down and write for ten minutes, and don’t stop. Let the words flow. Write about the flowers on your desk. Or write down random words that pop into your head and then expand on one of them if that’s what happens. Yell at your blank screen (in your writing, we don’t want you being taken away when your neighbour calls the police). Write a letter to your writer’s block. Write a letter to your main character, telling him how he's making you feel. Write a grocery list. Whatever you write, it doesn’t matter; the point is you’re writing! Feel the flow again. It doesn’t have to be amazing, it doesn’t have to be brilliant, it doesn’t even have to be good, but it’s writing and even if you throw it in the bin or delete it as soon as you’re finished, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you were writing.

And, you never know, in the middle of your letter to your main character, for example, you may write something that triggers an idea. “I hate how you make me feel when I can’t work out a way for you to make up with your parents! I HATE YOU! Why can’t you just take them to that park they always used to take you to when you were 3 with the HANG ON A MINUTE!!! THAT’S IT!!!”

Yep. It can be just that easy ... but not always. That’s the beauty of being an author, or a writer, I don’t really know the difference. It’s a new experience every time you sit down. Sometimes writing will come easily, and you will feel like 5 minutes have passed when you have actually been writing for an hour.

And sometimes it will be the opposite.

But sometimes inspiration will come when you least expect it, and the excitement you feel when that happens will have you jumping for joy.

I like to imagine my writer’s block is sort of like that ghost from Ghostbusters, the slimy one, all green and mean and slimy, so that when I jump for joy I land on it, and it splatters everywhere. It’s a very satisfying feeling!

Or sometimes I imagine my writer’s block is a trampoline, so that when I jump for joy on top of it, it actually sends me flying into the air, because that block, that struggle, has made my story better, has given me an idea I may never have otherwise thought of, has improved my writing and my problem solving, has been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me!

Okay, maybe that’s going a bit far, but you get the idea.

Embrace your writer’s block. Be happy you get to have some fun with a writing exercise, or free writing, where the result doesn’t matter. Notice the block, feel it, and then rejoice in what comes out of it, even if it takes a while. You will get there. You’re a writer, and writer’s block is just a slimy little nasty waiting to be squished.

PS If you do get stuck, there are many resources with idea starters and writing exercises on the internet, and I also highly HIGHLY recommend The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, an amazing book about breaking down the barriers and blockades we put up, so that our creativity can flow. (You can tell I’m serious. I put HIGHLY in bold and italics.)

A qualified Engineer and Primary School Teacher, Adam Wallace settled on writing books for children as his career of choice. With 20 published, including Better Out Than In and the How to Draw series, Adam is fast becoming a well-known name in the world of children’s books. You can find Adam's books at Adam Wallace Books and his Facebook author page here.

Now I get to announce the prize part of this post. If you are already a signed-up member of the Chapter Book Challenge and you leave a comment on this blog post by noon GMT on March 27th, you will be entered in the random drawing to win a copy of the "You Can Write Children's Books Workbook" by Tracey E. Dils.

Now, I understand that, as so many ChaBooCha members already buy writing books, some of you might already have the books offered as prizes during this challenge. Because of this, if you are drawn by the random number selector as a winner for this prize, and you already have the book, you can do one of two things; you can choose to give the book as a gift to someone else in the challenge and it will be sent directly to them instead of you, OR you can choose ONE of the following four things from the Chapter Book Challenge 2013 shop.

Chapter Book Challenge 2013 Tile Keepsake Coaster

Chapter Book Challenge 2013 Square Coaster


Chapter Book Challenge 2013 Keepsake Ornament

Chapter Book Challenge 2013 Shot Glass

Engaging the Reluctant Reader by Karen Pokras Toz #ChaBooCha

Engaging the Reluctant Reader
by Karen Pokras Toz

You love to read  - you always have. If you’re not busy with your family or other commitments, you’ve got a book in hand. Sometimes you read two or three different books at one time. You always assumed your children would grow into voracious readers also? Right. Wrong. Your kids barely want to read their assigned schoolwork, never mind anything extra. Does this sound like you? Well, this is me – and it’s one of the reasons I started writing chapter books for the middle grade reader.

So how do you convince that reluctant reader that reading is awesome? I went right to the source to find the answer – my own children. The response was unanimous: there is nothing fun to read. So I decided to prove them wrong. Before I knew it, Nate Rocks was born.

I keep several things I keep in mind when writing for the reluctant reader:

(1) Content – it needs to be easy to follow and on topic. If I lose the reader because they don’t know what’s going on or are bored with the subject, they are going to get easily frustrated, and move on to a different activity quickly.

(2) Tone – some authors like to jam pack their books with action. I think this is great. Kids love it. For me, however, I’m all about humor. My goal is to get your kids laughing. Have you ever seen a giggling kid leave the scene of something funny? Nope – it doesn’t happen.

(3) Parents/Educators – I want my books to be the books that parents and educators go to when trying to motivate their reluctant readers. Therefore, I try to make my books appeal to kids and adults. I (hopefully) accomplish this by keeping my books language appropriate. In addition, I always try to teach a lesson ... without the kids realizing I am teaching a lesson. For example – within my books you will find messages about anti-bullying, friendship, and respect.

In the end, if your child reads my stories, giggles, and asks for another book (whether one of mine or someone else’s), I have done my job.  Encourage the children in your life to read each and every day!

Karen Pokras Toz lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and three children. Karen's middle grade children's novels: Millicent Marie Is Not My Name and the Nate Rocks series, have won several awards including First Place for Children's Chapter Books and the Grand Prize Overall in the 2012 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, as well as placing first for a Global E-Book Award for Pre-Teen Literature. Karen is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). Her first adult contemporary novel, invisible, will be released this summer. For more information, please visit www.karentoz.com.

And now for the prize announcement! I bought a copy of "Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly!" by Gail Carson Levine to giveaway with this post. First, in order to enter, you have to already be officially signed up for the challenge. Then the only thing you have left to do in order to gain an entry for the prize is to comment on this blog post. You have until noon GMT on the 24th to enter as that is when I will be using a random number generator to pick the two winners.

Now, I understand that, as so many ChaBooCha members already buy writing books, some of you might already have the books offered as prizes during this challenge. Because of this, if you are drawn by the random number selector as a winner for this prize, and you already have the book, you can do one of two things; you can choose to give the book as a gift to someone else in the challenge, either anonymously or with your name attached and it will be sent directly to them instead of you OR you can choose ONE of the following four things from the Chapter Book Challenge 2013 shop.

Chapter Book Challenge 2013 Tile Keepsake Coaster

Chapter Book Challenge 2013 Square Coaster


Chapter Book Challenge 2013 Keepsake Ornament

Chapter Book Challenge 2013 Shot Glass

Interview with Jo Michaels, author of The Abigale Chronicles

Jo Michaels is a  friend of mine. We met during the Author Blog Challenge. I loved reading her blog during the challenge, and she is one of those naturally generous writers who commented on everyone else's blogs during the challenge and was willing to spend her time helping others. I asked her if she's be willing to do an interview for the Chapter Book Challenge and she graciously agreed.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I can’t remember the exact day/time that I decided I wanted to be a writer. It’s always been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I learned to read because I remember being little and staring at the words typed across the page and thinking: There is some great mystery in this because all the adults do it. What are they hiding from me? I have to learn! But writing just came naturally. If you’re asking when I decided to write full-time, that was last year. I decided to grab my proverbial bull by the horns and live the life I wanted, rather than the life I was told I should live.


What inspired you to write your chapter book series The Abigale Chronicles?
Simple answer: my daughter. Not so simple answer: I was making notes in my idea book while thinking of something my daughter might like to read and came up with the idea for a series about a little girl who loses herself in her stories – literally. I thought how great it would be if I threw in a twist about the girl not knowing if she was dreaming or really taking her little trips. There are clues in the books that will tell you the answer if you’re a good detective.


You have both a historical fiction book, Yassa, and a nonfiction book, The Indie Author's Guide to: Building a Great Book out.  How was writing your chapter books different from writing your historical fiction and your nonfiction books?
There are so many differences with all three. Yassa required a ton of research because it’s based on actual events, The Indie Author’s Guide to: Building a Great Book didn’t because the content stemmed from my own knowledge as a designer and indie publisher, and The Abigale Chronicles series allows me to use my imagination along with a little research. For book two, I used a lot of references I found around the web about cat breeds. You won’t find a ton of description about the cats in the book because I want kids to be inspired to look things up.


What made you decide to self-publish your chapter books?
Truth be told, I never even sought a publisher for that series. I’d like to keep as much of my profits as possible, and with my design knowledge I can put out quality material with little effort on the design end.


Would you recommend self-publishing to other chapter book authors?
Absolutely. But I will also issue a warning to anyone wishing to write and publish juvenile fiction: There are a ton of us out there and your competition is heady. Two of the most published types of books are juvenile fiction and how-to books. Know your market.


What would you do differently now if you could start over (if anything)?
I would have taken more risks in the publishing world sooner and done more research about what I was getting into before I dove in. There just wasn’t a book like The Indie Author’s Guide out there anywhere. It was disheartening and I flailed around trying. My personal experiences with distributors are outlined in the book, and I hope that tidbit of information helps others avoid the same mistakes I made.


Any tips for aspiring chapter book authors?Don’t stop writing if your first book doesn’t sell well. You have to have a lot of books out there before you can hope to be discovered easily. A good example is The Abigale Chronicles – Book One. When it went up for free, I only garnered about 25 downloads. My thought was: Gee, I can’t even give this book away. Why bother continuing? But then I got a couple of really great reviews and sales picked up! When book two launched, my first giveaway garnered over 50 downloads. My hopes are that people will become fans of the series by reading the first few and come back for more. I plan to write until Abigale is 18 years old (she’ll age by one year every three or four books) so there will be a lot of them before a definite end is reached. That’s another tip! Have the end in mind if you’re planning a series.

Do you have any books in the works?Yes. I have three. A series for Young Adults called Mystic (due out in October, 2012), a romance novel titled Player (December, 2012), and The Abigale Chronicles – Book Three (due out in September, 2012).

Abigale Book One Synopsis:
Abigale Fontenot is a 12 year old girl living in West Bluff, Louisiana, who believes she is perfectly ordinary. When she is threatened by a bully on her way to school one day, what happens causes Abigale to begin a new journey; she has to ask herself: "Is it real or is it all just a dream?"As Abigale learns in Book One, things are rarely exactly as they seem. Friendships are formed with unlikely people: a wizened old woman and Abigale's arch nemesis, Emmett, and with their help Abigale learns she is far from ordinary. Book One of The Abigale Chronicles will leave readers itching for more to find out for themselves just what in the World is happening to Abigale.

Abigale Book Two Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Abigale Fontenot is struggling to figure out whether her adventures are real or imagined. After an adventure with Amazonian women in book one, Abigale and Emmett have formed a bond through mutual trust and secrets, but Kristy has turned against Abigale because of it. Now, Abigale again finds herself in a precarious situation with a city full of talking cats. Emmett is once more by her side as she faces down a vicious cat queen in an attempt to avoid certain death and restore the leadership of the city to its rightful owner. Will they succeed, or will they be roasted alive? What will happen when Kristy overhears the discussions about the adventures with Ada?

Abigale Book Three Synopsis:
Abigale Fontenot is turning thirteen. Just when she thinks her birthday couldn't possibly get any worse, a new adventure takes hold. Abigale and Emmett are whisked away to a world of fantasy where knights, dragons, and princesses are the order of the day. Abigale is kidnapped by an evil prince in a nearby kingdom, and it's up to Emmett to rescue her. But Abigale finds that escape is not the most important thing; restoring the evil prince's kindness that has been locked away in a magical book by a wicked sorceress must come first. While Emmett is trying to rescue Abigale, she is trying to free the prince from his curse. Will she succeed in her quest before the evil prince kills Emmett, or will she fail and lose her new best friend? Will death matter if the whole thing is a dream, or are the adventures real and truly dangerous?

You can find Jo on her blog or via Twitter. All books are linked on the top of the blog.

Bio:

Jo Michaels was born in 1977 in Tennessee. She moved to Louisiana when she was four, then to Georgia in 2010. Her first book, The Abigale Chronicles - Book One, has received many accolades for its original and inspiring protagonist, Abigale Fontenot. The children's chapter book was written for Jo's daughter and is about the power of imagination helping someone become extraordinary. Michaels holds a degree in Graphic Design and all artwork associated with her material is original and done by her.