VS Grenier ~ Award-Winning Author, Speaker & Podcaster

Featured Show! Come join host VS Grenier and Irene Roth on BTR’s World of Ink Network's The Stories for Children Show July 16, 2012 live at 2pm EST - 1pm CT - 12pm MT - 11am PST We bring children's authors together with their readers. This week come meet author Jo Linsdell of Out and About at the Zoo, a rhyming picture book for young readers. Out and About at the Zoo is a rhyming picture book with colorful pictures showing children a fun day out discovering different things in the world around them. This first book in the ‘Out and About’ series is a wonderful introduction to a day at the zoo for children young and old. We will be chatting with Jo Linsdell about her new children's picture book series, the writing life and inspiration behind the books. The World of Ink Network has joined in helping to tour author Jo Linsdell’s first book from the 'Out and About' series of rhyming children's picture books, Out and About at the Zo

For Immediate Release: July 12, 2012 For more information, contact: World of Ink Network Marsha Casper Cook Email: mba3308@aol.com VS Grenier Email: VSGrenier@gmail.com Phone: 435-625-1743 Author VS Grenier is available for Interview and Speaking Engagements. The Mom’s Choice Awards® Names BABYSITTING SUGARPAW by VS Grenier Among Best in Family-Friendly Products (or Services) The Mom's Choice Awards® has named BABYSITTING SUAGARPAW by VS Grenier among the best in family-friendly media, products and services. BABYSITTING SUGARPAW, with its child-centered plot on getting to know others, is the perfect book for little ones scared of being left alone with a babysitter for the first time. This book delights young readers, ages three-to-eight-year-old, especially those who like to create mischief. The book is all about a little bear named Sugarpaw hopes to get rid of his babysitter, Bonnie Whiskers, by getting her into trouble after making changes to h

I have been asked this question more than once during my writing career. At first, I gave the standard answer I learned from my instructor at the ICL…YES! The question you maybe be wondering is has my opinion changed since then…NO. Entering writing contests (Free or Fee Based) is always a good thing. However, you want to make sure the contest you are entering is with a known company or group. I only say this because you want to make sure you’re not paying money or sending your manuscript somewhere no one has ever heard of and to never see again. With that said, I have entered all kinds of contests. Some have been through the Institute of Children’s Literature, Writer’s Digest, League of Utah Writers, Preditors & Editors, Mom’s Choice and other unknown local and national smaller groups and companies.  Winning is always nice, of course, but that isn’t why I enter contests. I do it to hence my writing and submission techniques, to hone my talents and learn from my mistakes

Come join host VS Grenier and Irene Roth on BTR’s World of Ink Network's The Stories for Children Show July 9, 2012 live at 2pm EST - 1pm CT - 12pm MT - 11am PST We bring children's authors together with their readers. This week come meet author Sands Hetherington of the Night Buddies children chapter book series. Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare is the first in a series featuring John, a young city kid who isn't ready for bed yet, and Crosley, a bright-red crocodile who shows up in his room to rescue him and take him on an adventure. We will be chatting with Sands Hetherington about his fun nighttime adventure series, the writing life and inspiration behind the books. The World of Ink Network will be touring author Sands Hetherington’s nighttime adventure for kids,   Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare published by Dune Buggy Press  all through July and August 2012.   You can find out more about Sands Hetherington

Book Lovers July '12 Blog Hop: Make friends, share the love of reading and be entered to win a FREE book! By joining the Book Lovers Blog Hop, you are automatically entered in our Book Giveaway! There will be two (2) winners for this Book Giveaway. The winners will win a copy of Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare. Learn more at the link below and to join/enter! SFC Blog: Families Matter: July '12 Book Lovers Blog Hop & Giveaway :

Sands Hetherington credits his son John for being his principal motivator. Sands raised his son as a single parent from the time John was six. He read to him every night during those formative years. He and young John developed the Crosley crocodile character in the series during months of bedtime story give-and-take. Sands majored in history at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and has an M.F.A. in creative writing and an M.A. in English from UNC-Greensboro. He lives in Greensboro. Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare by Sands Hetherington is an after lights-out adventure story that will delight young readers and middle graders who relish roller coaster fantasy and fun, filled with unforgettable characters and an astonishing and inventive collection of magical whatchamacallits. The book is all about the nighttime adventures of a young boy named John (named after Sands' son), who is not ready to go to sleep, and his friend, a bright red crocod

Jo Linsdell picture book 'Out and About at the Zoo' is a rhyming picture book with colorful pictures showing children a fun day out discovering different things in the world around them. This first book in the ´Out and About´ series is a wonderful introduction to a day at the zoo for children young and old. Linsdell, also the illustrator, has created pictures so adorable it makes you want to hug each animal in the book. Both the pictures and the text will entice a child's wonder and excitement during a day at the zoo. Linsdell writes mostly about Italy, pregnancy and parenting, marketing (She LOVES social media) and the writing industry. She has some very successful blogs such as Writers and Authors were those who are new or experienced authors can pick up a tip or two. Linsdell has enjoyed writing since she could hold a pen in her hand but officially started her writing career in 2006. Since then, Linsdell has worked for numerous clients around the world

This Friday I'm sharing an interview we did over at the SFC blog Families Matter. A bit different from my normal interviews, but I hope you like this one all the same. Born and raised in New York, Bill spent his middle years in Southern California. There, he raised two sons and enjoyed a twenty-five year career as a self-employed management consultant. For twenty years, Bill published and edited the Business Strategies Newsletter . He authored two business books, including, Strategic Thinking: A Four Piece Puzzle . Published in 2004, that book is currently in its third printing. In 2007, Bill and his wife, Wendy, were ready to write a new chapter in their lives. They sold their home, put everything they owned in storage and purchased one-way tickets to Arequipa, Peru. They spent the next eight months living in Peru, six of those months working voluntarily in a poor community in the Peruvian Andes. In 2008, the Birnbaums spent an additional four months traveling in Ecuador, P

BTR’s World of Ink Network show: Families Matter with hosts VS Grenier, Kecia Burcham and Irene Roth.   The Families Matter show airs live once a month on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 6pm EST - 5pm CST - 4pm MST - 3pm PST   The idea of this show on Blog Talk Radio’s World of Ink Network is to have guests and listeners (adults or kids) share information to help empower children and their families. Our June show topic is about homeless families and children on the streets. This month we have a special guest...Deb Borys! She has recently released "Painted Black" a suspense novel that twists the reality of Chicago's homeless community. Borys has worked with the homeless, which helped with the research of her novel. The hosts also understand the importance of this ever growing issue in our communities and look forward to sharing programs and ways we can help those in need; along with helping those who do not understand the need in homeless communi

Personal growth is the hot topic of the day. You'll notice that nearly every magazine you see, no matter whether it targets men or women, has one thing in common with all the rest: at least one article encouraging some kind of personal growth. These articles tell you about "empowerment," about growing as a person, about controlling your destiny, taking your life in both hands, and following your dreams. Do you need a magazine to tell you to take control of your life? Certainly not! You know deep in your heart whether your life is under control and moving in the direction you want for yourself, or whether you need to take measures to enable that self-control. Here is where you can use journaling to encourage personal growth. Journaling is a very old practice. Logs and field notebooks have been used by scientists, explorers, and travelers for centuries. During the Renaissance of the 14th through 17th centuries, journaling was extremely popular, as a focu