VS Grenier ~ Award-Winning Author, Speaker & Podcaster

  World Wide Web—Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s newest book, is, yep, a rehash (second edition!) of the multi award-winning   The Frugal Editor: Do-it-yourself editing secrets for authors: From your query letter to final manuscript to the marketing of your new bestseller. The first edition was winner of USA Book News’ pick for Best Professional Book, a Reader Views winner, and received nods from the New Generation awards and the Military Writers Society of America, but the new version is Expanded (more than 100 pages)! Updated! And reformatted for e-books that have changed considerably since it was published in 2007. It also has a a new subtitle, a new cover by   Chaz DeSimone   with a new three-dimensional look by   Gene Cartwright . The second edition covers new editing tricks the author has come to appreciate since the first was published, including how to spot the overuse of helping verbs when simple past tense would work just as well; a reminder that...

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 you...

“Beckmin Goes to School” is Bykowski’s first children’s book and was inspired by her middle son Beckmin, who was diagnosed with celiac disease at 18 months, after extensive sickness and a series of hospital visits. Since then, Christy has worked with Beckmin through the everyday challenges of being a kid with this disease, dealing with his frustrations and his own learning curve as to what celiac disease is, how to explain it and what it means in his day-to-day life. Beckmin’s stories, written to help children define, understand and explain celiac disease, are meant to be both empowering and educational for kids and their parents.  Title of Book: Gluten-Free Me, Beckmin Goes to School   Author: Christy E. Bykowski                     Publisher: Halo Publishing, Int. ISBN Number: ISBN 13: 978-1-61244-228-0 Genre: Children Publication Date: January 2...

Come listen to The Writing Mama show with hosts Virginia S Grenier & Marsha Casper Cook on BTR’s Featured World of Ink Network live at 8pm ET - 7pm CT - 6pm MT - 5pm PT This week come meet debut children's author Alicia Lloyd. She is a senior at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and is working towards her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Grades Preparation (PK-4) and Special Education. She has a strong passion for working with children and loves to write! Alicia Lloyd’s monster picture book, When the Monsters are Quiet is a 1st grade reading level children's book with phonemic awareness and has reading comprehension strategies in the back of the book so parents can get their kiddos to become star readers! You can find out more about Alicia Lloyd, her book and World of Ink Author/Book Tour at  http://tinyurl.com/mxhj8vj Follow Alicia Lloyd on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/whenthemonstersarequiet Learn more about the World of ...

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 toget...

Jay D Roberts MD is a board-certified physiatrist, specializing in the treatment of physical disabilities with a focus of adding quality to life. He is currently in private practice in California. He is a member and lecturer at national and international conferences related to his specialty, a contributing author to Current Trends in Physiatry, and author of various scientific papers. In addition to his career, Dr. Roberts volunteers as part of a Christian ministry in maximum security prisons. He and his wife, parents of two grown sons, live in Indian Wells, California. Break the Chains is Dr. Roberts’ first book. Following in the long tradition of doctors who combine their passion for saving lives with their passion for writing, Dr. Roberts is currently at work on a novel, concerning children forced to work in mines. VS: I want to thank you for being my guest here on The Writing Mama today. What do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life? Jay:...