Saturday 21 January 2017

Enter The Coloring Contest

The Sir Princess Petra Coloring Contest accepting entries until Mar. 8, 17. Over 200 great kid entries, but very few adult talent entries (over 17). Come on adults, shake up your crayons! Get your free coloring book below.

Join the multi-award winning series coloring contest for all ages.
The contest will begin Nov. 8, 16 and finishes Mar. 8, 2017
There are 3 categories in the contest:
Category #1: kids to age 9
Category # 2: ages 10 – 16
Category # 3: ages 17 and over

PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE CONTEST GUIDELINES AT THE END OF THIS POST.
Get your free 55-page pdf Sir Princess Petra Coloring Book here: https://dragonsbook.com/subscribe/


PRIZE FOR CATEGORY #1, KIDS TO AGE 9
Sir Princess Petra Notepad and Sir Princess Petra Hardcover Book





 PRIZE FOR CATEGORY # 2,  AGES 10 – 16
Sling bag with Snarls the dragon digital logo                                                                                            


 PRIZE FOR CATEGORY # 3, AGES 17 AND OVER.
Compu messenger bag with Snarls the dragon embroidered logo


CONTEST GUIDELINES
  1. Contest participants can be from a school I have previously visited on an author visit, or they can sign up to The Dragon Newsletter.  If you are already signed up for my newsletter, you will receive the link for the pdf coloring pages again in the November newsletter. If you have not signed up for the newsletter, see # 2.
  2. Contest participants can enter by signing up to The Dragon Newsletter (an occasional newsletter about my new book releases, contests, and giveaways). Upon sign up, you will receive the 55-page pdf coloring book which are the pages for the contest. Sign-up form here: https://dragonsbook.com/subscribe/
  3. One entry from the pdf coloring book per person. 
  4. Entries can be emailed or mailed. Address details will be sent via The Dragon Newsletter in November, 2016.
  5. All entries must indicate: Name, Age, School I Visited, or Email Address you used to sign up to the newsletter with.
  6. Winning entries will be picked by independent judges. Have fun and good luck!
  7.                   Snarls feels so important since his picture is on the bags. To read more about my dragon books for children, visit: www.dragonsbook.com 

Friday 6 January 2017

Common Comma Confusion

Mini Tip

Comma use seem to be a problem for everyone, writers included. Here are a few simple tips to remind you about the correct usage for the most common mistakes of not using commas properly.

Commas always have to be used with speaker tags. They also have to be used when description is added in the speaker tag (the dragon), which explains who Snarls (proper noun) is.

"Get off my tail," Snarls, the dragon, said.

 In the next two sentences,  there is a huge difference when a comma is used:

       "Let's eat Petra," Snarls, the dragon, said.
   
       "Let's eat, Petra," Snarls, the dragon, said.

So, since Petra and Snarls are the best of friends, Snarls does not want to eat her, but he wants to invite Petra to eat with him. The second sentence is correct.

Commas offset not just people’s names but anything (animal or object) in direct address:

     "See here, you crazy crocodile--quit snapping your jaws at me," Snarls growled.

     "Snarls, stop teasing Letgo, the crocodle," Petra said.

     "Hurry, all you knights, let's get out of here," Prince Nastybun hollered.

     "Please, King Longstride, begging your pardon, sir."


Reminder: be sure to capitalize professions in direct address:

        "What are the new rules then, Councilman?"

        "Bring the boat around, Captain."

        "No, Father, I don't like the royal rule book."
   
So by remembering these easy rules, Snarls will not be eating Petra. and Petra will be very happy about that.

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbird

copyright Diane Mae Robinson, 2015

Subscribe to The Dragon Newsletter for updates about new book releases, contests, giveaways and to receive the Sir Princess Petra coloring book https://dragonsbook.com/subscribe/

Visit my writer's website to learn more about my dragon books for children : http://www.dragonsbook.com