Authors, Kai Strand & LA Dragoni

I'd like to welcome Beverly McClure to Stands of Thought. She is visiting today to share her brand new book with us, Princess Breeze. For months, Breeze Brannigan has heard nothing from Cam, the prince she met at school and who disappeared one night, without telling her goodbye. On the night, she graduates from middle school, however, he contacts her and invites her to visit Isla del Fuego, his home. Who could refuse such an invitation?           Breeze along with her whole family and best friends, Amy and Allison, soon sail to the island, where she and Cam renew their friendship. But danger lurks; a legend comes to life; and Breeze finds herself in the middle of a battle that can have one winner. PRINCESS BREEZE is available at Amazon , Barnes and Noble , and 4RV Publishing .  Since Breeze gets to travel in her newest book, I asked Beverly McClure to stop in today to share with us one of her favorite vacation spots. Tak...

When I helped with the cover reveal, I promised a review of A Family for Leona . And here it is! Ten-year-old Leona Chapter doesn't understand why her papa left his six children at the Brooklyn Home for Homeless Children after their mother's death in 1921. Each day she prays he'll return and take his children home. God, however, isn't listening. Her brothers and sisters are either adopted or run away, leaving only Leona and Baby Mildred in the orphanage. Leona promises she and Mildred will be together for always. A promise she cannot keep, for Leona, along with her friend Noah, who she defends from the bullies Hiram and Jehu, and several other orphans, are soon on a train headed to Texas, while her sister stays at the orphanage. Leona vows she'll go back to Brooklyn, the first chance she gets. An Orphan Tran tale of the early 1900s My thoughts: I’d heard of Orphan Train novels, but I’d never read one until A Family for Leona. Though it’s hard for me to imag...

You know those people in your life who, with a mere mention of their name make your heart goes all squishy? My critique partner, Beverly McClure, does that for me. She's the real deal. True, honest, goodhearted. And you know what? That shows up all over the place in her books. It is my pleasure to share her newest release with you. Ten-year-old Leona Chapter doesn't understand why her papa left his six children at the Brooklyn Home for Homeless Children after their mother's death in 1921. Each day she prays he'll return and take his children home. God, however, isn't listening. Her brothers and sisters are either adopted or run away, leaving only Leona and Baby Mildred in the orphanage. Leona promises she and Mildred will be together for always. A promise she cannot keep, for Leona, along with her friend Noah, who she defends from the bullies Hiram and Jehu, and several other orphans, are soon on a train headed to Texas, while her sister stays at the orphanage....

Today I am offering a rare and early review. I've known this book from infancy. I've watched it grow, try new things, rebel and comply. It's like a teenager itself! But it is one of my favorites of my lovely critique partner, Beverly Stowe McClure. Under the Purple Moon Eden Rose has learned to deal with her mother's criticism that she can do nothing right. What she can't deal with are the arguments between her parents. To escape their angry words, she finds refuge in an old abandoned house. She always returns home, hoping her mother will love her one day, even though Eden's not sure what the word love means. Three other teens with problems also hang out at the Old House. Meeting Murphy, Toby, and Josh changes Eden's world, and she begins to have faith in herself. Perhaps she can do something right, after all. Thanks to the boys, she begins to understand the meaning of love. But will it be enough to save her broken home life? My thoughts: Though ...

The lovely and talented Beverly Stowe McClure has a new book coming out and I'm excited to help her show off the stunning cover and share some information about the story. I'm even more excited for the book to release. I've read this book several times during its creation process and I love it.  The four main kids really find their way into your heart. Their struggles are so relateable and I love how their friendship grows when they begin to trust one another. Even when it isn't your own book, it's always so fun to have the final version in your hot little hands. But it isn't out yet. So I'm: Waiting...waiting...waiting... Under a Purple Moon By Beverly Stowe McClure No Love in the Garden of Eden... Eden Rose has learned to deal with her mother’s criticism that she can do nothing right. What she can’t deal with are the arguments between her parents. To escape their angry words, she finds refuge in an old abandoned house. She always returns h...

As a teenager in Southern California, one of my favorite summer past times was getting a tan. My friend and I would catch a ride with her sister to her sister's work early in the morning. She worked close to the beach. Then we'd hop on a bus for the rest of the trip. We'd get there so early in the morning, the fog hadn't burned off yet, but that was okay because we'd be able to pick out the ultimate spot on the still empty expanse of sand. While the seagulls cried and the waves shushed in and out, we'd get to work forming our beach beds for the day. The first bed, we scooped out a deep ditch into the sand where our bottoms would rest, building the sand we removed into a pile of high behind our heads, and a smaller swell under our knees. The second bed would be flat except for a "pillow" made from sand for when it was time to turn over and tan our backs. We slathered on tanning oil, the distinctive coconut scent lifting into the constant wind. We...

To sign up, visit the IWSG Master, Alex Cavanaugh Purpose:  To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! The awesome co-hosts this month are  Suzanne Furness, Tonja Drecker,   Toi Thomas,   Rachna Chhabria,   Fundy Blue,  and  Donna Hole!  Be sure to visit them all! Now for my post. Very short due to the competition with A to Z Challengers. Since it's April 1st, I feel I can admit that I'm a fool. A fool for trying so darned hard to make this whole writing thing work. A fool for dreaming of some modicum of success to alleviate my guilt over devoting so much time to it. A fool to continue struggling. The towel is in my hand. The time to throw it approaches. Damn the fickleness of a creative career. *** On a much more positive note, I'm thrilled to sh...

Hi everyone! Welcome to Building Character. I’d like to introduce you to Nick, the main character in I LIVE IN A DOGHOUSE by Beverly Stowe McClure. Nick, can you tell us a little about you, please? Hey, I’m Nick Cassidy, eleven-years-old. I used to live with my mom, just the two of us and we got along fine. Then she married Jake, and I now have a stepsister that loves to call me gross names and a half-sister that likes for me to take her for walks in the stroller, and my life will never be the same. What’s the biggest problem you’re facing? I’m living with a ten-year-old stepsister that hates me and an eighteen-month-old half-sister that loves me. Figure that one out. Family dynamics can be tough when you’ve grown up within them, but even tougher when you’re not used to them. Have you learned anything from this situation? One thing I’ve learned is that people are not always who we think they are and sometimes they’re a lot different than we remember them. Hope...

I don't usually participate in blog nominations, but I really liked the theme of this one. I love talking about what inspires me and this gives me a nice organized format to recognize those inspirations in. First I'll start by  thanking the two amazing people who nominated me for  The Very Inspiring Blogger Award . Katie L. Carroll   is a wife, mother, writer, editor, critiquer, reader, soccer player - now that I think about it, she might be Wonder Woman. Make sure to check out her  website  and blog,  The Observation Desk . And Beverly Stowe McClure is a mother, grandmother, former teacher, and critique partner extraordinaire <-- seriously! She inspires me with her lovely photos of the flora and fauna of her little spot in Texas and her generous spirit. Please check out her many wonderful titles for kids and teens and her blog, The Story of A Writer .  The rules for accepting this award are as follows: 1. Thank the person who nominated you,...

Hi everyone! Welcome to Building Character. I’d like to introduce you to Kate, the main character in STAR OF THE TEAM by Beverly Stowe McClure. Kate, can you tell us a little about you, please? Hi, I’m Kate Taylor, eleven years old, and I live with my mom and older sister, Zoey. My mom’s also the coach for our basketball team, Angels.  I was all set for the new basketball season and to win a lot of games, then this new girl, Emily, showed up with an attitude, and we’ve had nothing but trouble since. Uh oh, that doesn’t sound good. What kind of trouble?  I have two major conflicts. The first is my tooth. It was knocked out at one of the games. The dentist replanted it but Mom’s afraid it’ll get knocked out again and won’t let me play until the tooth heals. By that time, the season will be over. Then there’s Emily. I don’t want to talk about her, but my mom seems to think she’s great at basketball. I guess she is good, but so am I, if I get the chance to prove it. ...

A big congratulations to wonderful author and my precious critique partner, Beverly Stowe McClure on the release of her newest middle grade book, I LIVE IN A DOGHOUSE. Eleven-year-old Nick Cassidy's stepsister delights in calling him gross names. His half-sister loves for Nick to push her in the stroller, to his embarrassment. What if the guys from school see him? All Nick wants is his father to come back and take him away from this crazy family. Is it any wonder he sometimes lives in the doghouse?   I LIVE IN A DOGHOUSE is the story of a boy's struggles to accept his new family while he longs for the old. When his father finally returns, will Nick's dreams come true? Or will he discover that memories sometimes are faulty, and it’s best to forget the past and treasure the present?   ###   Beverly, tell us what inspired I LIVE IN A DOGHOUSE.        One night when I was having trouble sleeping, a little voice whispered in my ear. T...