Watch Them Soar - Guest Post by Donna McDine, Author of A Sandy Grave

It is my pleasure to host a stop in my fellow GAP Author, Donna McDine's, blog tour for her newest book A Sandy Grave. Donna is visiting today with a provocative guest post about parenting. Let's give a warm welcome to Donna.

It’s Okay Not to Peak in High School 
By Donna McDine

Now that I have a daughter in the first year of college and another daughter in tenth grade of high school, I have spent quite a bit of time chatting with my girlfriends as to what all the social pressure in high school means for our children. I’ve come to realize that the cliques still remain… the jocks, the brains, the nerds, etc., but what happens to those who don’t fit into the stereotypes? Do they aimlessly wander the halls of high school longing to belong to some type of group, or do they break out of the mold and create their own destiny? The pressures are real. Doing so, it can be empowering and frightening at the same time.

As parents or caregivers, it’s our responsibility to set a strong foundation at home that it’s okay for them to be an individual and to stand on their own two feet. Guiding our children to explore all the options presented to them without fear of being ridiculed for their choices has a positive ripple effect through their daily lives. It’s okay not to be the best athlete, the best singer, the best artist, or the best student. Exploring and finding their passion is what will matter after (for some four long years) high school. It’s okay not to peak during these four years.

Most children do not realize while they are in high school that these years will end up being a small part of their lives. The time to spread their wings is just beginning upon graduation, when so many new and exciting choices of college, work, and/or travel will be presented to them. Let them discover what they may want to do for a career, and once they find their calling the amazing transformation will begin before your eyes. 

As for myself, I remember distinctly the anguish of not being the best at something during high school and it took me many years to realize, so what. I’m having the best career choices in the last ten years than I ever did before, and I’m at the best physical health I’ve ever been. 

Encourage your children to be the best they can be with their own expectations and not those of others and watch them soar!

About the book:

The anticipation of summer vacation can put anyone in a great mood with the excitement of adventures to be had--especially at the beach. But what is a group of friends to do when they discover mysterious men poaching whale teeth at the beach?

EXCERPT:
The lifeguards had their arms extended and attempted to move the crowd back. The tallest lifeguard said, “People, please stay back. The authorities will arrive to examine the whale to determine the cause of death within the hour. The whale must have died at sea and washed ashore.”

PURCHASE AT:
GUARDIAN ANGEL PUBLISHING: http://guardianangelpublishing.com/sandy-grave.htm
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Sandy-Grave-Donna-M-McDine/dp/1616334541/
BARNES AND NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sandy-grave-donna-m-mcdine/1118285403

TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzzVjJWd4hM

Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions, Literary Classics Silver Award & Seal of Approval Recipient Picture Book Early Reader, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention, Global eBook Awards Finalist Children’s Picture Book Fiction, and Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2010 Top Ten Children’s Books ~ The Golden Pathway.
Her stories, articles, and book reviews have been published in over 100 print and online publications. Her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna’s 2013 releases of Powder Monkey and Hockey Agony and the 2014 release of A Sandy Grave will be joined by an additional book to be published by Guardian Angel Publishing, Dee and Deb, Off They Go. She writes, moms and is a personal assistant from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI, Children’s Literature Network, and Family Reading Partnership. 
Visit Donna online at www.donnamcdine.com or her blog at www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway
A SANDY GRAVE TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, March 3
 Book trailer reveal at If Books Could Talk
 Tuesday, March 4
 Interview at As the Pages Turn
 Wednesday, March 5
 Guest post at My Sister Is My Best Friend
 Friday, March 7
 Book review at The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection
Monday, March 10
Guest post at Literarily Speaking
Tuesday, March 11
Book featured at The Writer’s Life
Wednesday, March 12
Interview at Rebecca’s Writing Services
Thursday, March 13
Book review at Rebecca’s Writing Services
Book review at Farm and Fru Fru
Monday, March 17
Book feature and giveaway at My Sister Is My Best Friend
Wednesday, March 19
Interview at Straight from the Author’s Mouth
Friday, March 21
First chapter reveal at Read My First Chapter
Monday, March 24
Book feature at Between the Covers
Tuesday, March 25
Book feature and giveaway at The Busy Mom’s Daily
Wednesday, March 26
Interview at Nancy Stewart’s Books
Guest post at Mayra’s Secret Bookcase
Thursday, March 27
Book review at My Devotional Thoughts
Friday, March 28
 Interview and giveaway at PUYB Virtual Book Club
 Tuesday, April 1
Guest post at Strands of Thought
Wednesday, April 2
Guest post at Lori’s Reading Corner
Thursday, April 3
Character interview at Beyond the Books
Book trailer reveal at A Leisure Moment
Friday, April 4
Book review at A Leisure Moment
Monday, April 7
Book review at Blooming with Books
Tuesday, April 8
Interview at Blooming with Books
Wednesday, April 9
Book feature at 4 the Love of Books
Thursday, April 10
Guest post at The Story Behind the Book
Friday, April 11
Book review at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Monday, April 14
Book trailer reveal at 4 the Love of Books
Wednesday, April 16
Book feature and giveaway at Blooming with Books
Thursday, April 17
Book review at Mary’s Cup of Tea
Friday, April 18
Book review at By the Book
Monday, April 21
Book feature at Plug Your Book!
Wednesday, April 23
Book review at 4 the Love of Books
Book review at Mymcbooks’s Blog
Thursday, April 24
Book review at WV Stitcher
Friday, April 25
Book tour highlights at The Book Rack
  

Comments

  1. Donna McDineApril 1, 2014 at 5:08 AM

    Hi Kai,

    It's a pleasure for you to host me today. It's my hope that my post gets the conversation going here, at home and through cyberspace.

    Warmly,
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kai Strand, AuthorApril 1, 2014 at 8:30 AM

      Always wonderful to have you visit and I loved the message in your post today. Thanks for sharing with us. Best of luck with your writing.

      Delete
    2. Donna McDineApril 1, 2014 at 10:17 AM

      Hi Kai,

      Glad you enjoyed by post.

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
  2. CherylApril 1, 2014 at 5:46 AM

    Thanks for hosting today, Kai. Donna, this is a wonderful post. Wishing you both the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kai Strand, AuthorApril 1, 2014 at 8:30 AM

      Happy to host Donna. Thanks for visiting, Cheryl.

      Delete
    2. Donna McDineApril 1, 2014 at 10:18 AM

      Hi Cheryl,

      Glad you like the topic of my post.

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
  3. Karin LarsonApril 1, 2014 at 5:08 PM

    Very sage advice and wise words, Donna!

    Karin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna McDineApril 2, 2014 at 5:22 AM

      Hi Karin,

      Thanks for stopping by. I'm in the midst of reading Women of Wisdom and one of the contributing authors wrote about her high school years and it certainly got my creative juices flowing.

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
    2. Kai Strand, AuthorApril 2, 2014 at 7:55 AM

      Glad you could stop in, Karin!

      Delete
  4. penelope anne coleApril 1, 2014 at 8:19 PM

    Great interview and comments. Thanks Kai. Wishing Donna much success.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna McDineApril 2, 2014 at 5:22 AM

      Hi Penny,

      Thanks for stopping by and lending your support during my virtual book tour and beyond.

      Best,
      Donna

      Delete
    2. Kai Strand, AuthorApril 2, 2014 at 7:55 AM

      Great to see you, Penelope. Thanks for visiting!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Susan Kaye Quinn, Author of Open Minds, Presents:

Image
Finding Time to Write the Sequel by Susan Kaye Quinn, author of Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) Even before I decided to self-publish my new paranormal/SF novel Open Minds (Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy) , I knew it would be a trilogy. But once I had made the decision to publish, the need to get busy on the sequel(s) kicked into high gear. Except that I was also publishing a book. Most writers find it difficult to balance writing with all the other demands in life. Even people who are lucky enough to write full time (which I am, since I write while my kids are at school), there’s still a tug between writing time and all the other things that need to be done. Once you’re published, this all changes, and not for the better. Now, not only do you need to write and get the kids to school and get the laundry done, but you also need to market your book, which can mean everything from actually getting it published (edits, covers, websites, blogs)...
Read more

Robot Writing - What It Is & How to Avoid It

Image
Many beginner writers fall into the habit of what I like to refer to as “robot writing.” It’s when you basically write your scenes like a grocery list. Ex: Marcy stood and walked across the room. Then she picked up the candle stick to inspect it. She blinked when she noticed the spot of dried blood. Marcy dropped the candlestick and ran from the room. I call it robot writing because when I'm reading it I tend to fall into a robotic pattern and start to sound like the robot from the old Lost In Space series. "Danger. Danger. Will Robinson." You may as well put numbers in front of each sentence: First Marcy stood and walked across the room. Second she picked up the candlestick to inspect it. Third she blinked when she noticed the spot of dried blood. Fourth she dropped the candlestick and ran from the room. Don’t get me wrong, robot writing is absolutely acceptable in your first draft, no matter your writing experience. Your first p...
Read more

Don't Be Closed Minded. Read a Banned Book. #Giveaway

Image
On this list , compiled by the ALA, of the top 100 challenged books of the decades 1990-1999 and 2000-2009, I've read: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Adventure of Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Blubber Crank The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time The Dead Zone The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things Fat Kid Rules the World The Giver Harry Potter (series) The Hunger Games (series) The Kite Runner The Lovely Bones Olive's Ocean Speak Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes That Was Then, This Is Now Thirteen Reasons Why Twilight (series) A Wrinkle In Time I would recommend any of them, but especially the titles I've linked. The thing with me and banned books is that I don't get it. The banning thing. Why would you ever feel the right to keep a book out of the hands of other readers? Why would you feel you have the authority to say what some can and cannot read? Do you have the right to voice your o...
Read more