Sunday 21 December 2014

Multi Award-Winning Children's Chapter Book Series, Sir Princess Petra

Christmas Gift Ideas For Kids - Award-Winning Children's Book Author Diane Mae Robinson's Pen Pieyu Adventures Series Now Available


Book one: Sir Princess PetraBook two:  Sir Princess Petra's Talent

Robinson’s multi-award winning books, ‘Sir Princess Petra', and the second book in the series, 'Sir Princess Petra's Talent', teach children valuable life lessons through engaging fiction
[November 18, 2014, St. Paul, Alberta, Canada] Multi-award winning Canadian author Diane Mae Robinson's latest children's books, 'Sir Princess Petra' and 'Sir Princess Petra's Talent' teach valuable life lessons though works of fiction that engage children age 7 to 11 in powerful ways. Robinson has taken numerous awards for her highly praised works in The Pen Pieyu Adventures series.

'Sir Princess Petra', the first book in the series, took the First Place Award for children's books in the 2013 Sharp Writ Book Awards. 'Sir Princess Petra's Talent', the second book in the series, took the Bronze Medal in the 2014 Reader's Favorite International Book Awards in the grades 4 to 6 category.

Robinson 's highly praised, multi-award winning children’s book, ‘Sir Princess Petra’, the first in the Pen Pieyu series, is written in the tradition of C. S. Lewis and is reminiscent of ‘Shrek’. Reviewers have labeled the award winning book a ‘fantasy adventure that is sure to become a timeless classic.’

'Sir Princess Petra' took an Honorable Mention award in the 2013 Readers' Favorite International Awards for Children Grade K - 3rd. Robinson was also honored with two major awards for the book. She was awarded the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artists Award for Children’s Book Author and took 2nd place in the Purple Dragonfly Book awards for Children’s Chapter Book.

'Sir Princess Petra' has garnered multiple 5 star reviews and  praise from reviewers:

“A maverick fantasy, packed with plot twists and turns, brilliant flashes of humor, and originality.” James A. Cox,  Editor-in-chief, Midwest Book Review

“Sometimes a kids book comes along that turns convention on its ear. This is one such book.” John L. Hoh Jr., Book Ideas. com

“Distinctly quirky and uniquely interesting--I really feel this book is a gem.” Renee Cormier, Mother Daughter Book Reviews

“A delightfully imaginative read, a tale that invites readers on a fearless journey towards friendship and self-discovery.” The University of Manitoba Book Review

“A fantasy tale with substance--this is a bright and breezy book, buoyed up by its humor.” Stephanie Dagg, Readers’ Favorite

Sir Princess Petra’s Talent:

“Imaginative, creative, every child deserves to read this book.”  Olivia Dsouza, Readers’ Favorite

“Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is written with brilliant imagination intertwined with wonderful humor!”  Sharee, Sharee’s Sentiments

“Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is quite simply, wonderful.” Jack Magnus, Readers’ Favorite

“This is a wonderful, fast-paced story full of humor and profound messages.” Alinka Rutkowska, Award Winning Children’s Author

“Diane Mae Robinson has done it again—captivating, light-hearted, a whimsical fantasy.” Mark Simon Smith, Children’s Book Author

Robinson uses the dragon books concept as the background to teaching young people traditional values. Ms. Robinson's highly praised work demonstrates that dragon books can be something much more than fantasy tales.

Diane Mae Robinson is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at robinsond@mscnet.ca. More information, including reviews, information for teachers and librarians, a downloadable lesson plan and a special children’s section is available at her website. Both books are currently available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
 
About Diane Mae Robinson:

Diane Mae Robinson has a journalism diploma from the Schools of Montreal, and an advanced diploma from the Institute of Children's Literature in Connecticut. She is a writing instructor/tutor for the Children’s Writing Course at the Creative Writing Institute. She is also an artist and teaches acrylic and watercolor art to children. Diane lives with her husband, Allen, in a small hilltop castle near St. Paul, Alberta.  They have four dogs and five horses, along with a forest inhabited by gnomes, fairies, a princess, and a dragon. This magical forest is where Diane creates her characters and gets the inspiration for her stories.

Contact:

Diane Mae Robinson
http://www.dragonsbook.com
robinsond@mcsnet.ca

Teachers/Librarians page link:  http://www.dragonsbook.com/teachers-librarians.html
Lesson plan link: http://www.dragonsbook.com/Sir_Princess_Petra's_Lesson_Plan.pdf
- See more at: http://www.freepublicitygroup.com/release_diane_robinson_dragons_book_nov_114.html#sthash.AfWa3Yvb.dpuf

Friday 12 December 2014

Book Review--My Brother is my Best Friend

  • My Brother Is My Best Friend
  • by Nicole Weaver
  • Art by Clara Batton Smith

  • Paperback: 20 pages
  • Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc; large type edition edition (January 15, 2014)
  • Language: English, Spanish, French
  • ISBN-10: 1616334525
  • ISBN-13: 978-1616334529





Book descriptionBrothers are very special. Meet two brothers that do everything together. This delightful story transcends all cultural barriers. It will warm the hearts of children from all over the world. 
 Los hermanos son muy especiales: Conozca a dos hermanos que hacen todo juntos. Esta  bella historia trasciende todas las barreras culturales. Tocará el corazón de todos los niños del  mundo.   Être frère, c'est très spécial. Voici deux frères qui font tout ensemble. Cette histoire merveilleuse transcende toutes les barrières culturelles.  L'histoire va réchauffer le cœur des enfants dans du monde entier.

What People are saying

What a fun and easy way to expose your little ones to multiple languages. . . Just a wonderful book all around!! Jennifer Young, Amazon

This book is incredible! . . .I highly recommend this book. In my opinion, it is an excellent way to engage a child to think about other cultures, especially learning about how we are different and how we are alike! Elizabeth Brown, Amazon

This book isn't just enjoyable to read, but also beneficial educationally! . . .I would totally recommended it to anyone! "My Brother Is My Best Friend" is a must have for sure! Juan on Amazon

What I thought

This book is delightful. The story is about two brother enjoying themselves through play, exploring, and quiet time; everything they are doing is written in English, French, and Spanish on the same page. Children will love learning the same words in the three different languages. The story is tightly written and the illustrations are wonderful and enhance the text. At the back of the book, there is a Glossary, a Word Find Puzzle, and a Find the English sentences from the story that match the Spanish or French sentences. I highly recommend this book as a fun learning experience for children.

About the author:




Nicole weaver is an award-winning author. Her first trilingual book Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle was published in 2009. Her love for languages and other cultures resulted in publishing the award-winning book, My Sister Is My Best Friend which was published in 2011 by Guardian Angel Publishing. My Sister Is My Best Friend has won the following awards: 
2012 Creative Child Awards Program consisting of moms and educators has awarded this book the 2012 PREFERRED CHOICE AWARD 
Kids Picture Storybooks category.
2012 Children's Literary Classics Seal of Approval
2012 Children's Literary Classics Gold Award 
Readers' Favorite 5 Star Review

My Brother Is My Best Friend on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Brother-Best-Friend-Trilingual/dp/1616334525/ref=pd_rhf_pe_p_img_4

Author's Website: www.nicoleweaverbooks.com


Visit my author's website at: http://www.dragonsbook.com



Friday 5 December 2014

Burp Gun Bandit -- Adult Book Review

 Burp Gun Bandit
The Dudley Files, book two
by Cary Robinson

2014
Golden Hound Press

ISBN-10: 0989060039


  • ISBN-13: 978-0989060035
  • 240 pages




Synopsis: Book II of The Dudley Files, an award winning Dog Comedy Mystery Novel, brings back Dudley, the golden-colored hound dog, with his life partner, Careless, E.D., a blonde beautiful, sassy upstairs neighbor, Sarge, an idiot savant throwback from the '60's, and Birk, their redneck friend with road rage, as they solve the disappearance of a pet miniature donkey named Eddie in The Texas Hill Country and a diabolical mystery surrounding an old World War II rifle that some may say takes on a supernatural flair.

What people are saying: 
"I always say my rescue's rescued me (I have five now!), and clearly Cary Robinson's life changed because of his beloved rescue, Dudley. This is a true feel-good book, and you will love all the wonderful stories about dear Dudley, but most important, it will make you appreciate the heart and soul of shelter animals...they are true FUR ANGELS...."-Jill Rappaport, NBC's award-winning animal advocate and correspondent
"Will Rogers said, '"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." People who understand that will find The Dudley Files totally delicious! There's a laugh on every page, and a few good surprises, too. I'm frothing at the mouth to read Cary Robinson's sequel!"  -Ruth Buzzi, actress, comedienne

"Any fans of Kinky Friedman's books will see his influence right away: Both authors feature Texan-born detectives living in lofts with scene-stealing pet companions." - Kirkus Reviews

"With references to everything from Cozumel scuba diving to Texas songwriter Kinky Friedman, Robinson's crime caper is perfect for lighthearted summer reading." - ForeWord Reviews
"Cary Robinson filled the novel with surprises, intrigue, drama, and humor to create a fast-paced page-turner. I enjoyed reading every page and did not want to put it down until the last one." - Readers Favorite
 What I thought: This is a great book, well written, tons of humor, characters that are multi-dimensional and real, and of course, there is Dudley, the most incredible dog and the brains behind this wonderful comedy mystery (as dictated to his writer). I thoroughly enjoyed the writer's style, quick wit, and sense of adventure. The story was interesting from the get go and had me reading and flipping pages right to the end. Highly Recommended.

This book is also an award winner in the 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, Fiction/Animals category:
https://readersfavorite.com/2014-award-contest-winners.htm


The purchase of this book will help Dudley's friends get rescued from local animal shelters.

About the author:

Cary Robinson typed up this funny dog mystery novel for Dudley because much like his driving,
Dudley's typing stinks. Dudley started off with very little in life. After an extended stay in the executive suite at The SPCA, he found his life partner, not that there's anything wrong with that. He became famous after solving a mystery during The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo but still goes to work every day and even takes phone calls. Please be warned, his phone skills are lacking. This is a classic American tail of wags to riches. Dudley is a great Texan!

http://goldenhoundpress.com

www.dudleyfiles.com



Visit my author's website: http://www.dragonsbook.com


Saturday 29 November 2014

Award-winning Author, Diane Mae Robinson, Attends Readers' Favorite International Book Awards In Miami, Florida To Receive Medal

Attending the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards on Nov. 22, 2014 in Miami, Florida and receiving a bronze medal for, Sir Princess Petra's Talent (book two), is right up there with "super cool experiences in my life".
Bronze medal, Sir Princess Petra, Grade 4th - 6th category.
This is the series 5th book award.

My sister and I spent three days/nights in Miami. Each of the three evenings, the Readers' Favorite had events lined up for the authors and their guests at our hotel. The first evening, we had a "meet and greet" with the other authors. Evening two had an author/marketing speaking event with guest speaker, award-winning author and marketing guru Eddy Price; a presentation from publicist, Darlene Chan; and an insightful talk from the CEO and president, Debra Gaynor, about what Readers' Favorite Awards looks for in submission entries. The third evening was our award ceremony.
Meet and Greet Night

This year, Readers' Favorite International Book Awards had more entries than previous years and had to extend the announcement of winner by a couple of weeks. List of the categories and the 2014 winners: https://readersfavorite.com/2014-award-contest-winners.htm


With some of the winning authors before the award ceremony. From left: Linda Watkins, Leyla Atke, Adrianne LaCava, Ben Burgess Jr.,Val Silver, Readers' Favorite Book Awards CEO Debra Gaynor, myself, Wayne Clark.






Cindi (my sister), Val, Linda, Wayne, and myself rented a car to cruise down to South Beach. Driving in Miami was chaos! My sister did a fine job of the driving with four backseat drivers who all had different maps. Ha! Tourists!
South Beach, Miami, Florida






One of the great highlights was the day trip to The Miami International Book Fair. I met and talked with many authors, publishers, agents, publicists, and of course, I bought books and had them autographed.
Miami Book Fair just before opening. Yep, raining.

I, along with other authors, was interviewed for Eran Gadot's film about the Readers' Favorite Book Awards.
Diane with Eran Gadot, Silver medal winner for his book, Supernatural Hero.



The Miami experience was incredible: meeting and talking to many award-winning writers, all in the same room; hanging out with fun people as we shared many laughs, accepting a medal for my book without falling off the stage (I did get clunked on the head with the medal as Debra was putting it around my neck), The Miami Book Fair, South Beach, an introduction to Mojitos, and bonding with a small group of incredible people who, I am sure, will be lifelong friends.
Thanks for the memories, Miami!


For more information about my award-winning dragon books for children, visit my author's website:
http://www.dragonsbook.com 

Sunday 16 November 2014

Interview: ‘Sir Princess Petra’s Talent’ Author – Diane Mae Robinson

Re-post from Blog Critics https://blogcritics.org/interview-sir-princess-petras-talent-author-diane-mae-robinson/  Interview by Nicole Weaver Book InterviewsChildren's BooksFictionSci-fi and Fantasy


It takes a talented author to write a humorous fantasy/adventure  book with moral values of kindness, understanding, and acceptance of others. Today, Diane Mae Robinson  talks about her books and love for writing.  Thank you, Diane , for doing this interview.Diane Mae robinson Petra
Can you tell me about yourself?
Hi, Nicole, and thanks for having me on Blogcritics. I write fantasy/adventure children’s chapter books. Before venturing into the genre of fantasy children’s books, I studied journalism and did some freelance article writing about my visits and volunteer work in 3rd world countries. I work at a dental office, teach private art lessons, I am a writing instructor at the Creative Writing Institute, and recently, I was a judge in an international short story competition. I live on an acreage in central Alberta, Canada where I like to spend time with my horses and dogs.
What inspired you to become a writer?
As a child I was a total book worm fascinated by the other worlds I could visit within the pages. I also liked to make up plays about princesses, dragons, and their adventures. Besides me my sister, the die-hard cowboy, was the only other actor in the plays. So the plays were of a princess (me) being rescued by a prince (sister in cowboy outfit) who would slay (shoot) the dragons and save the day. After perfecting and polishing the plays, we would invite the neighborhood kids to watch. The need to invent plays and stories has stayed with me since childhood.
How long did it take you to acquire the skills to become a writer?
I am still developing my skills as a writer. To me the skills of writing are a lifelong venture, something that will only get better with more writing, studying other writers, reading, and finding your own voice as a writer. After I found my voice/style years ago, the writing became somewhat easier, but still requires the work of perfecting the craft of writing.
How many books have you written?
I have two books published: Sir Princess Petra – The Pen Pieyu Adventures,  and Sir Princess Petra’s Pieyu Adventures Talent – The Pen. This series has won 5 book awards since the first book was published in 2012.
Some writers go on long walks; others keep a journal, write at a café, or listen to music. What do you do for inspiration and unleashing your creativity?
I do art, listen to music, or go for long walks in the forest on my acreage. The forest seems to give me the best inspiration.
What are you working on now?
The 3rd book in this series, Sir Princess Petra’s Mission, will start the publishing process in Nov., 2014. I am also writing a grammar book for elementary kids with the same medieval humorous tone of my book series that has the characters from the books in the lessons. I haven’t started looking for a publisher for the grammar book yet — soon though.
Where can readers find more information about Diane’s books?
For more information about dragon books for children, visit Diane Mae Robinson author website: http://www.dragonsbook.com          

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Book Review - Prince of the Plains

 Prince of the Plains by Troy Boucher

 Virtual Bookworm.com Publishing Inc, 2002

 ISBN: 1-58939-204-3

 Also available in softcover and e-book.

Adult Fiction                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
From the back cover: Of all the men who rode with Billy the Kid, one of the least well-know is Henry Newton Brown. Brown broke with Billy the Kid and for a time served as an assistant marshal of Tascaso, Texas. Restless and looking for a better life, Brown ended up in Caldwell, Kansas in where he became an assistant marshal and eventually, after Bat Carr was fired, he became the marshal, of the cowtown known as the Border Queen.


Sure that his past had been safely left in New Mexico, he began to settle-in as a respected citizen of Caldwell. He was honored with the gift of an engraved Winchester as a token of the town’s appreciation. A short time later, he married a local school teacher, purchased a house, and then his past caught up with him and he discovered that life is full of choices, and always with a "passel of consequences."

About the story: This is a very cool story about the multifaceted life of Henry Newton Brown: gunslinger who rode with Billy the Kid, respected and well liked sheriff, true friend, and loving husband, turned bank robber. The story takes the reader on a thought-provoking fictional, fact-based journey about people, their dreams and mistakes, and choices they make along the way.

What I thought: Prince of the Plains is a wonderfully written fictional novel with facts of history woven into this vivid and exciting tale of the life of Henry Newton Brown. The setting is the American West in the latter 1800’s, and the author’s artful writing style swiftly gets the reader into the story with first-rate narrative, compelling and captivating characters, and effective and convincing dialogue. All the characters are skillfully created and multi-dimensional. The writing is sharp and crisp, and the author’s research has paid off in the skillful way he writes about every detail of the time period. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel; I did not want it to end. Looking forward to reading more from this talented author. I highly recommend it.

About the author: Troy Boucher grew up in a small, western Oklahoma town on what was once a large Cheyenne-Arapaho reservation. As a child he spent his time watching western movies on Saturday afternoons, reading Zane Grey novels, and wanting to grow up to be a cowboy. Most of his adult life has been spent teaching writing and American literature in a small private college. He enjoys writing, reading, gardening, and traveling with his wife to interesting places in the plains states and other areas of the country. His short stories have appeared in Cottonwood Magazine, Square One, Ellipsis, Kansas Stories, 1989, and the Chiron Review. His short story "Pocket Money" won first place in the Bob Gross Fiction Contest sponsored by Woodley Press.


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Plains-Troy-Boucher/dp/1589391934/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415750005&sr=1-1&keywords=Prince+of+the+plains

Saturday 25 October 2014

Words From The Wise - Author Quotes

Here is some of the great authors with their super advice for writers. I like George Orwell's quote: "Never use a long word where a short one will do." When I am reading and the author throws in some obscure, long word, it jolts me right out of the story--something you don't want to do as a writer.

George Orwell
 Yes, those obnoxious long, drawn out pages of description or back story that we skip over in a novel.

Elmore Leonard

 Let your characters have inconsistencies to make them real.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I know exactly how Maya Angelou feels. I have to convince my muse too. 
Maya Angelou
Saul Bellow

So much truth in Saul Bellow's quote. My characters often wake me up in the middle of the night with some important news, plotting, setting, etc., and I convince myself to get up and write it down lest it being lost by morning.

I think these authors hit the mark with their advice.

Visit my author's website: http://www.dragonsbook.com 









Sunday 12 October 2014

Fantasy SciFi Author, Raymond Bolton interviews award-winning, fantasy children's book author, Diane Mae Robinson

Fantasy SciFi Author Raymond Bolton interviews Diane Mae Robinson.
This, the second interview in The Write Stuff’s series of Readers Favorite award-winning authors focuses on children’s author, Diane Robinson. Diane, I’ve learned, is as fantastic as are her characters. Scouring the web for information about the author produced this:
2012-07-13 08.57.08Diane lives in a small hilltop castle nestled amongst a very old and magical forest. In this mystical forest, all the fantasy creatures one can imagine live and audition for parts in the author’s next book.
The author has a journalism diploma from the Schools of Montreal and an advanced diploma from the Institute of Children’s Literature in Connecticut. Diane writes fantasy children chapter books, teaches watercolor and acrylic art to children, and is a writing instructor to adults.
I asked Diane to give us the premise of her latest title, Sir Princess Petra’s Talent – The Pen Pieyu Adventures. This is what she provided:
Sir Princess Petra has already proven she is a kind and noble knight. This, however, does not please the king and queen—they want her to behave like a princess and forget this silly knight nonsense of hers!
But when the king writes a new rule in the royal rule book that requires her to attend Talent School and acquire a princess talent certificate or suffer the spell of the royal magician, Petra, reluctantly, agrees to go. But who could have guessed what Sir Princess Petra’s Talent would be?
How delightful! Will you tell us the story behind your book?
The story behind the book is my rebellious nature, to write the kind of story I want to write, to do something out of the norm, to possibly do what many people say a person can’t do in writing for children. I have studied children’s literature extensively—I don’t agree with all the rules. The main character of this series, Petra, has that same rebellious nature and proves that the unattainable can be accomplished with finesse and pizzazz and through kindness. Maybe I just had to prove, to myself, that a writer doesn’t have to follow the norm to write a fun book for kids.
What are you working on now?
Working on the 3rd book in my fantasy/adventure children’s chapter book series entitled, Sir Princess Petra’s Mission-The Pen Pieyu Adventures. I’m also working on a grammar book for elementary age children entitled, Grammar for Kids and Dragons—written in a humorous tone with the medieval characters from my series in the grammar examples.
And a worthy task that is. Goodness knows how much dragons need this sort of help.
May I ask why you have chosen your particular genre?
I’ve been fascinated with the medieval era and fantasy books since I was a kid. By the age of nine, I was making up mini plays–with princesses, brave knights, and meddlesome, or fun, dragons–and performing them for the neighborhood kids. The only hard thing about making the plays work was my sister, the brave knight, insisting to wear her cowboy attire at all times and shooting the nasty dragon instead of spearing him. Sheesh! Cowboys!
Sheesh indeed! Will you tell us why your writing is different from other authors in this genre?
I have a bizarre sense of humor (or so I’m told from non-bizarre humor people) and I think some of that humor comes out in the characters quite well. My books have been described as: ridiculously fun; very silly; incredibly witty; charmingly funny; and even, a maverick fantasy with brilliant flashes of humor and originality. Hmmmm.
That said, why should someone buy your book?
Well, if you think you might like to read about Sir Princess Petra, a tom-boy, onion-throwing princess knight who hangs out with a dragon (Snarls, from the Forest of Doom) that is a chef, royal steed, and is her best friend, along with a bog witch who is afraid of frilly dresses and a continuously soggy-smelling midget knight, Prince Nastybun, from the Land of Mesoggie, then you might want to buy the books. Oh, and then there’s Prince Duce Crablips who wears pink armour and likes to crochet, and King Asterman who runs Talent School in the Land of Lost Donkeys.
Hah! Ridiculously funny, indeed. I like it. Tell us a bit about your path to publication.
My road to publication was full of pot holes and ruts and quite a few broken wheels. I wrote the first book as a picture story book, researched publishers, queried them, sent manuscripts, had a couple of bites, and after 9 years and 27 rejections got an actual traditional publishing contract if I could turn the book into a chapter book. I did, publisher and I signed, publisher forfeited contract due to lack of funds (during the 2010 U.S. recession), back to drawing board, several months later found another publisher who wanted my book and does a few traditional contracts a year. Yep signed up, toot sweet. This publisher also accepted book two (since I hadn’t signed a series contract with them), and will publish book 3 also.
Good for you. What is your writing routine?
In the summer, I have no writing routine. Summers in Canada are just too short, and we all flock outside to play ball, ride horses, gardens, cruise on the lakes, drink beer around the fire pit, play ant hockey, stuff like that. By November, when the snow flies, I wake up early on Fridays (day off from day job) and write for several hours in a row. Saturdays, I edit for a few hours, write blog posts, work on marketing, and catch up on social media stuff.
Petra book one and two coversWhat else have you written?
Sir Princess Petra – The Pen Pieyu Adventures (book one) was my first publication, Jan., 2012. Sir Princess Petra’s Talent – The Pen Pieyu Adventures (book two) is the 2nd book published, Sept., 2013. Previous to those publications, I wrote some newspaper articles, and had some poetry published. I have written adult short stories that are not published yet.
Tell us about the awards you have won.
On Sept. 1st, 2014, I found out that book one won the Sharp Writ Book Award, 1st place in children’s books, and book two won a bronze medal in the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards, grade 4th – 6thcategory.
Previous to that, book one won: 2012 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist (literary) Award (medal and $10,000.00); 2012 Purple Dragonfly Book Award, 2nd place, children’s chapter books; 2013 Readers’ Favorite Intl’ Book Awards, honorable mention, grade K – 3rd; and was a finalist in the 2013 “50 Great Readers You Should Be Reading” contest.
Do you ever experience writers block and, if so, how do you overcome it?
Sometimes I have writer’s block for weeks at a time. I don’t worry about it much and I never force myself to write. I just have to wait until my imaginary friends start talking to me again, and they do, eventually. If my friends have been silent too long (mad at me because of a ridiculous scene I have put them in?), I go for a walk through the forest on my acreage—that usually gets my characters talking real fast (after threats of bringing in new characters).When I’m going through a writing blockage, I usually work on editing and other left-brain thinking stuff.
Some say marketing a book is more difficult than writing it. What is your marketing strategy?
Marketing books is sheer torture chamber stuff. I work on marketing approximately 5 hours per week. I have a marketing manager, a publicist, and an agent. They all give me input and help me with marketing strategies like: news releases, author signings, school visits, book blast promotions, social media, blogging, and author lectures. It’s still a lot of work on my part, but I have seen how the books have become more popular as I keep up a good and steady marketing effort.
Tell us about your writing community.
I live on an acreage, near a small town. This small town has one library and no book stores. There are several self-published writers around the area, and we all know each other, support each other, and keep in touch. Occasionally, we set up multi-author signing together in the small surrounding towns.
What life experiences or careers inspire or enrich your writing?
For several years, I have been an art teacher to children; being around children is rewarding in that I really get to see and hear what children act and think like, which is vital in writing for children.
For the last year, I have been a writing instructor in the course I teach to adults at the Creative Writing Institute–Writing for Children course. Mentoring other writers is a wonderful experience and it makes me into a more prolific writer—well, I have to be or I will get fired. Yikes.
Ever since I read my first book, Black Beauty, at age 7, I have been a fan of the written word. I read all the time, and have rarely watched television, even as a kid. Reading great writers, whether it is children’s literature or adult horror novels always inspires me to be a better writer.
Do you have a parting thought you would like to leave us with?
If you ever think to convince a wayward dragon of your opinion, either rub his tummy, or run away (which is very insulting to wayward dragons). But always go with your first instinct.
Before I provide our visitors with the links to your book and way to connect, I’d like to share with them an excerpt from the second chapter of Sir Princess Petra’s Talent – The Pen Pieyu Adventures, the title that earned the Readers Favorite award:
The pink knight spoke with a vibrating voice,
“I am Prince Duce Crablips of the Kingdom of
Crablips. I aim to stop the Princess Knight from
acquiring a talent and gaining her certificate. I
will stop at nothing. We may have to duel if you
do not turn back.”
“What in the entire kingdom are you talking
about?” Petra frowned her eyebrows at him.
“Are you not the Princess Knight?”
“Yes, I am Petra Longstride of the Kingdom
of Pen Pieyu.”
“Oh no, not another do-well?” Snarls
grumbled. “The last time you had a do-well,
you squeezed and squished and twirled
Prince Nastybun in your dance routine for so
long … well, he did finally give up, but honestly,
it was just boring. Don’t you know of any other
do-well maneuvers?”
“It’s a duel, Snarls, not a do-well.”
“I know all about your little clutch-’em-dance
routine,” Duce Crablips blurted. “And you’re not
touching me!”
“I have no intentions of touching you or
dueling with you.” Petra said, feeling quite
sure she was becoming annoyed. “But why in
the kingdom would you care if I received my
talent certificate?”
Duce Crablips dropped to one knee,
shouldered his spear to point at them, and began
chanting something that sounded in between
humming in Chinese and the rusty wheels of
the royal wheat mill.
“Stop that! I can’t understand a word your
saying, and it’s all quite harmful to the ear!” Petra
slid down the smooth scales of her mount.
Duce Crablips let loose his spear.
It landed between Snarl’s toes.
Snarls yanked the spear from the dirt, broke
it in two, then, raised his head and blew out a
fierce stream of something that resembled torn
pieces of gooey parchment.
“Oops.” Snarls flashed a fake smile. “Possibly
too many onions in that last omelette ta-da?”
“Snarls, stop dragon blasting!” Petra snapped.
“And as for you, Duce Crablips, just tell me what
your problem is, and you won’t be reported for
interfering with my mission!”
Duce, covered in layers of sticky onion skins,
looked like something ready to bake. His eyes, as
wide as royal platters, were wider than his wide
lips. He slowly stood up on shaking legs.
“Is it true they put you in a frilly dress
for interfering with someone’s mission?”
he whimpered.
“Worse for messing with a knight!” Petra
scolded. “It’s a strict rule in my kingdom.”
If you, or any younger acquaintances, would like to learn more about Diane or her works, so may do so through the following links.
Book online sales:
Tate Publishing: http://bit.ly/12hBWGg
Website, blog and other online social accounts:
Author website and blog: http://www.dragonsbook.com
All About Children’s Books blog: http://www.dianemaerobinson.com
Twitter: @DianeMaeRobinso








For more information on my dragon books for children, check out my author's website: www.dragonsbook.com