VS Grenier ~ Award-Winning Author, Speaker & Podcaster

Christy E. Bykowski is an award-winning public relations and marketing practitioner, as well as a wife and mother. She lives and works in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband, Benjamin, raising their three boys and spreading awareness about celiac disease and the need for a gluten-free environment for individuals diagnosed with celiac disease. VS: I want to thank you for being my guest here on The Writing Mama today. To get this started, Christy can you share what do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life? Christy: I wrote this book when my children were sleeping.   I do most of work after-hours, so I can spend most of my personal time with them. VS: How long have you been writing? Christy: I’ve always enjoyed writing, since high school.   But this is the first children’s book I’ve published. VS: What inspired you to write your book (if this is a personal story about you, please share about the decision to open up about your life)?

1st grade reading level children's book. Phonemic awareness and reading comprehension strategies are in the back of the book so parents can get their kiddos star readers! Title of Book: When the Monsters are Quiet   Author: Alicia Lloyd                     Illustrator: Amy Rottinger Publisher: Halo Publishing, Int. ISBN Number: ISBN 13: 978-1-61244-219-8 Genre: Children Publication Date: January 2014 Page count: 25 Price: $11.95 Synopsis of book: This friendly book is a fun way children can start to become proficient readers by reading about one of their biggest worries- bedtime! This book is a reminder to never be afraid of your monsters and has helpful hints for parents to help their children by exploring with early reading strategies at home.    My Thoughts: I really liked how the author at the end of the book put together a parent/teacher skill page to use with children. This is such an added bonus for educators and homeschooling p

It's Saturday October 19th and the St. George area community begins making its way into the Lexington Hotel Ballroom. It's still early as authors are setting up their tables to greet, talk and sign books for eager lovers of the written word...and it's only 9am. The day is just beginning. David W. Smith and VS Grenier welcome those who have begun to show up. It's time to get the Book Expo underway and all the exciting events Smith and Grenier have planned for the day. Guest speaker John Sebba shares some poetry with our gathered audience before winners of the 2013 Youth Poetry is announced. Author and poet Lin Floyd steals the show as she announces the 2013 Youth Poetry winners. Many of the winners are present to not only receive their award, but also to read their poems to all in attendance. Now for a bit of fun. David W. Smith and VS Grenier have added another fun treat to the St. George Book Festival this year beyond the Charity Dinner Friday Night (Oct.

Join BTR's World of Ink Network every Monday on The Writing Mama show with host Virginia S Grenier as she talks with debut and award-winning authors about writing, the importance of reading and thier latest works. This week debut author Maryann Tatro is our guest Monday Oct. 21st at 4pm eastern. MaryAnn Tatro attended Southern Ohio Business College and received a degree in Office Administration and Communication. She also attended Cooper School of Art for one year and took with her a love to create, design and color. She worked several years for a publishing company in Cleveland while raising her son Ryan. Tatro’s inspiring children’s picture book, Milton the Square Shell Turtle released Summer 2013 and is published by Halo Publishing, Int. Milton is a story of a turtle. Unlike other turtles with round or oval shells, Milton has a square shell. You can find out more about MaryAnn Tatro, her book and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at  http://tinyurl.com/oz73p

Denise Zarrella is an Emmy Award-winning reporter who has spent the past two decades covering hard news. She has met with historic figures, including U.S. Presidents and roc stars, but the people she has been most touched by are the children at the center of many of her stories. Zarrella began her career at Fox’s “America’s Most Wanted,” where she researched cases involving unsolved crimes and missing children. From there, she shifted gears to news and headed to Atlanta, where she became an Associated Producer at CNN’s World Headquarters. While at CNN, she began reporting for TBS’s morning show “Interact America,” and her on-air journey began. She left CNN and TBS to become a full-time Anchor/Reporter at WBBJ, in Jackson, Tennessee. She has also world in Champaign, Illinois, and Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, which returned her to her hometown in the Poconos.   VS: What do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life? Denise: Writing this