Authors, Kai Strand & LA Dragoni

Welcome to Three Times A Charm. I love to introduce readers to the people involved in children’s publishing. Today we welcome children’s author, Bob Richley. Bob, can tell us a little about yourself? I grew up in the Chicago area and now live in beautiful Colorado. Growing up, I would often go camping in the Rocky Mountains. It was these childhood camping trips and especially my visit to Crater Lake in Oregon that were the inspiration for events in the Oregon Kids series. I am a parent who has volunteered for years in children’s ministry. Teaching children good values and the grace of God are my passions. My stories, originally written for a single mom to help her raise her children, are a way to fulfill this passion. I have always loved children. I want all children to be raised with love and grace. It is my hope that my stories will be one of many tools that parents will use to teach and to raise their children with Godly values I live about an hour and a half north of Cra...

Yay – it’s Friday! Friday’s begin the weekend and weekends offer all sorts of READING time! So to help you make your reading decisions, I’d like to introduce you to Mercy from her newly released book Scavenger of Souls by Joshua David Bellin. She's brought a giveaway along with her, so be sure to read to the end. Welcome to Strands of Thoughts, Mercy. Can you tell us a little about you, please? You want to know about me? Really? Do I look like I have time for this? Okay, fine. My name’s Mercy, I’m eighteen years old, and I’ve been stuck all my life inside this piss-poor excuse for a base commanded by my grandfather. Occasionally I manage to sneak out to hunt for Skaldi and other objectionable life forms, starting with my whack-job of a father. But that’s a long story, and I’m really not in the mood right now, okay? Sure, Mercy. I understand. Let’s focus on the part you play in Scavenger of Souls . What conflict are you up against? Not that it’s any of your busi...

Welcome to Three Times A Charm. I love to introduce readers to the people involved in children’s publishing. Today we welcome young adult author, Nicky Peacock. I’m visiting Nicky’s blog today too! I’ll share the link at the end of this interview, but first let’s get to know Ms. Peacock. Nicky, share with us a little about you. I still live in the town I was born in (sad but true) A place called Corby. If the map of the UK were a person, I’d be living on his belt buckle. I was first published back in 2012 in a vampire anthology and have been submitting work ever since. I now have 35 short stories published and 4 YA novels through Evernight Teen Publishing. Growing up in a small town, I had no writing mentors or help with getting my start as a writer, so I run a free local writers group and volunteer at local schools and libraries to help the next generation of writers. That’s very generous of you to do that. Mentoring is often the step a person needs to learn how to achieve ...

Welcome to Three Times A Charm. I love to introduce readers to the people involved in publishing book for childrens and teens. Today we welcome young adult author, Megan Crewe, and her upcoming release, A Mortal Song . I’m even sharing a rare review at the end of the interview. But first, let’s get to know Ms. Crewe. Megan, tell us a little about you. I’m a Canadian author of YA speculative fiction: fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, horror, it’s all good. My books include the upcoming A MORTAL SONG, the Earth & Sky trilogy, the Fallen World series, and GIVE UP THE GHOST. I live in Toronto with my family, and when I’m not writing or reading, I’m probably planning some new trip around the world. Let’s hear more about A Mortal Song . A MORTAL SONG will sweep you away into the world of Japanese mythology, with a unique twist on popular fantasy conventions. Sora believed she was heir to Mt. Fuji's spirit kingdom, but when the mountain is attacked, she discovers...

Happy release day to C. Lee McKenzie and Sign of the Green Dragon About the book: Three plucky sleuths. A crumbling skeleton. A buried treasure. After six months in a new school, Sam's finally fitting in. He's the one kid with enough talent to hit the winning home run and bring the baseball trophy back to Haggarty Elementary. But Sam's guardian is shipping him off to boarding school before that can happen. When teammates, Joey and Roger, hear his bad news, they plot to hide him until the big game. Their secret cave is a perfect place until an earthquake shatters a wall and reveals a wooden chest with a red-eyed dragon carved into its top. Inside, a bony hand clutches a map with a note, promising treasure. With Joey and Roger, Sam sets off to track down the clues and hopefully discover treasure. Just as some puzzle pieces start to make sense, the boys become lost in a labyrinth of underground tunnels, trapped by dangerous thieves and sealed inside an airless tomb....

I must clarify right off the bat that I have trouble with the phrase guilty pleasures . The “guilty” part to be precise. Feeling guilt over a pleasure indicates that you are doing it when you shouldn’t be, therefore you feel guilty. I know – it’s just a saying – but one of my very strong beliefs in this life is that I live it so that I don’t feel guilt. The decisions I make, the actions I take are in line with my morals and beliefs. From doing what’s right, to telling friends and family I love them, to apologizing if I’ve done wrong, and even to popping a bonbon into my mouth – I work hard to live without guilt and I suggest every person do the same. So, putting together a post on this is difficult for me even though I know it’s only meant to indicate how I indulge myself. But honestly, I work dang hard for my rewards, whether they be time to sit and read or an evening out with the girls, I don’t take anything I don’t feel I’ve worked for already – therefore, why would I feel ...