Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Author @KatGreen00 Blog Tour from Strings




Book Blurb –

The rise of the Black Eagles was meteoric, from band practice in the garage to global stars almost overnight.
And Melissa Webb, the beautiful girlfriend of the front man, appeared to have it all.
But when Luke Black disappears without a trace and Melissa wakes up in a hospital bed after a savage attack, her perfect world is shattered and their lives are plunged into a potentially deadly crisis.
Where is Luke, and can he be found before it is too late?






Kat Green was born Nov 1979 into a military family, and moved around alot during her childhood. This shaped her into the person she is today. At ease with meeting new people and adapting to new surroundings. Her family roots are from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Kat now lives with her husband and son on the south coast of England, Portsmouth. She doesn’t pretend to be the best, and is still growing as a writer and having fun along the way. She loves books and has a busy imagination. Her love for music plays a big part in her first nove, Strings, and she can be found mainly at gigs around the UK. In 2010 she lost her mother to blood cancer and it was time to put her words on a page and stop worrying about what people might say, ‘Life is too short and precious to waste’ is her motto. Writing is her passion and her escape. If you like what she does, she says ‘Thank you!’ For those who don’t, she says ‘Thanks for giving her a chance.’






Spotlight
Melissa was also a big part of his plans. It surprised him when he thought about it, because with past girlfriends, his focus had never been diverted from his musical goals. More than once, this was the reason that his relationships ended. It wasn’t selfishness on his part, or at least he didn’t think it was. It was just that he’d never been with someone who he had pictured in his long-term plans. But she was in all of them now. He’d always found the thought of spending your life with one person a bit scary – never being close to another person or having that exciting feeling of a new relationship. But she’d changed all that. It may have been only a month, but he knew she was the one he wanted to be with. The fact that his friends seemed to like her too was a bonus; there had been one or two girls in the past who hadn’t fitted in – usually too wrapped up in themselves to bother getting to know his mates. They were the people he spent most of his time with, and he was nothing without them – they were like family. Melissa had just slotted into the role of being his girlfriend so effortlessly, and vice versa. It just seemed natural. His plans for his future and the band’s therefore naturally included her – it was as though she was their fifth member, even though she didn’t sing or play an instrument. He trusted her and valued her opinion, so it meant a lot to him that she approved of what they did.

He was still awake, his thoughts flying around in his head. He decided that he needed to hear her voice, to settle him down and put that tiny bit of doubt out of his mind. So he dialled her number.

‘Are you worrying?’ She sounded sleepy when she answered.

‘A little – everyone’s asleep, but I can’t shut off.’

‘Can you get to me?’

‘Of course, babe. I’ll be there in half an hour.’ He knew he should be sleeping, but there was only one place he wanted to be right now. He called a taxi, leaving a note for his sleeping band mates to pick him up from her house in the morning. He just hoped they could be trusted to get up on time.

Find Kat Green Here
 Twitter
Facebook
Authors Blog
Goodreads
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Signed paperbacks

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

The Sacrificing Mother Blog Tour



 
The Sacrificing Mother dives deep into the world of Laney Rhodes, a 17 year old girl, who loves nothing more than to surf. Laney’s life has never be smooth sailing or easy going. To be blunt her mother is an escort/stripper/sexual favors kind of a woman. Yes, to be exact Rubee Rhodes was quite the scandal, who had an inappropriate relationship with alcohol.  

Of course we cannot commence the storytelling process without justifying the backstory and whence it began. So all aboard criminals and lovers let’s enter the winding roads and deserted isles of a girl named Laney Rhodes.

There should always be two types of pregnancy tests. One, being for women who has established themselves in society or who are 30 years of age or older. The other one that is so apparently portrayed in my mind’s eye. Is for all those teenagers, those sweethearts running off to do the act they think will last forever. Guess what in denial tweens, it doesn’t!

So instead of the occasionally two lines or plus sign, for the youth of our nation there should be two replies for breaking the news: For NO it should state in all caps and in bold big blinking letters CONGRATS! As it shoots out confetti.  If you happen to be as unlucky as I am, then you would read the equivalent to the overused acronym FML. These three letters do not blink or congratulate you, they stand tall and wide. Your future is carved into a plastic flamingo lawn ornament, instead of an honoree plaque as a college graduate.

Oh, if only I could just take this worry, and surf the angst away. My, wouldn’t everyday be a little bit brighter! So, you’re wondering who the guy is that so kindly invested in me with his sperm. Well, I fell in love for the first time that summer or maybe the second, the second time I am still a little unsure about… Audience members meet the boys; Noah Adler, 19 year old college bound, gorgeous, virgin galore. Briton Clark, 22 year old bodyguard at my mother’s strip club. One night she finds definite disaster in the blue eyes of Briton and pure romance with Noah. The heart throbs have turned tables on her and cupid is now calling her out stupid.
 
 
 
Author

S.M.’s origin of script commenced at the earliest of eons.
Growing copious ambitious desires to become a novelist.
Once deliberating self-publishing the best option, her first novella The Tangled Tears was published in 2013.  The Circus in Me, published April 2014. The Sacrificing Mother her 3rd book, and first full length novel coming into print October 2014. A young adult novel about the sweet temptations of love and surfing.
Clean of ink stains and paper cuts, she dabbles in scrap-booking & wood crafts, and enjoys cooking. S.M. lives in Idaho with her husband and son.

 
 
 
 
 
Links to Author S.M. Bjarnson
Email: smbjarnson@gmail.com


Links to The Tangled Tears




 Links to The Circus in Me

Links to The Sacrificing Mother


 
 

@TownsendTales Book Tour Chasing Shadows

chasingshadowsbannerCS Cover-FINAL reg jpeg          Would you choose to entwine your fate with a hero of the past, even if it meant altering the future? The murder of an ancient king spurs Sarah Matthews to travel back in time, putting her life in jeopardy as she races against the clock to solve a thousand-year-old mystery and pick up the pieces of her star-crossed romance. Her return to Serimone reveals that the kingdom is in upheaval and that the elusive Cadius has sinister plans for the throne. Unable to right the empire alone, Sarah reunites with Will, the love she left behind and the man beneath the Shadow’s hood. As they work together amidst lavish balls and explore the secret depths of the castle, they discover that the conspiracy runs deeper than they ever imagined. And when a counterfeit Shadow claims the life of someone close to her after a personal threat from Cadius himself, Sarah discovers that the price of questioning the new regime is a life. Guilt-ridden and alone, she discovers comfort in her newfound friendship with Damien, a charming Spaniard who joins Sarah in her personal crusade for justice. But as she draws closer to his dark past and to the faceless killer in their midst, she realizes that the severed threads of time and the mystery surrounding Serimone Castle are unraveling rapidly, weaving new tapestries of devastation. In this thrilling and deceptive sequel to “Rising Shadows,” Sarah is forced into harm’s way countless times as she races to solve the puzzle before it is too late and Serimone becomes nothing more than a faded memory of the past. . . And before Sarah becomes a permanent fixture in history.  


pic
 
Ashley is a young twenty-something who has been spinning tales since she discovered that her wild imagination and love of storytelling could make a career. Reading and writing are her way of experiencing grand adventures from home, and she hopes that others will join in her fantastical escapades! She is a native to bookstores, coffee shops, the beach, and San Diego, CA. She also has an unexplainable aversion to clowns and describes outlines as a “proverbial noose.” Her first book “Rising Shadows” is available on ebook formats, and the follow-up novel “Chasing Shadows” is available for purchase on ebook and paperback via Ink Smith Publishing.
 
 
 
 
   
 
     
Interview with Ashley Townsend
Tell us a little about yourself and your background? Hey all! Well, I live in San Diego, but I grew up in Colorado Springs. Being trapped indoors for four months out of the year as a kid with an overactive imagination led me to write; I wanted to go on extraordinary adventures from home and share them with others. It just escalated from there over the years and turned into a career. I have two amazing big sisters and one younger, who also happens to be one of my biggest fans as an author, and my quirky lab Tawney is pretty much the best. When I’m not spinning tales, I’m usually reading, exploring, creating, baking, drinking coffee, and whatever else entertains me. I’m also terrified of clowns. You can find out more about me and my books at www.ashley-townsend.com

Q. Thinking back, what were you like in school? A. ........ Energetic seems like the safest description. I was homeschooled when I was younger and was quite a handful for my mom, though she was a patient angel with her spazziest daughter. I was a daydreamer, and rather than study math indoors, I wanted to spend my time writing stories or pretending I was a knight out to save a damsel from a high tower (my dog in the playhouse). I like to think of my childhood years as prep for my future career. ^_~

Q. What are your ambitions for your writing career? A. My goal for writing has always been to entertain, encourage, and to impact as many people as possible. In my opinion, if a story doesn’t make the reader smile, cry, laugh, or ache for the characters, then something is seriously wrong. Yes, I would do a giddy-happy dance to see my name on the New York Times’ best-seller list because that would mean I’d “made” it. But my goal is to make a lasting impression on my readers, to give them hope and courage when they see their favorite characters overcome great obstacles, to teach them something, or even to just provide a fantastic escape from the real world. I also love the show Castle and became obsessed with it because of my love for Firefly with Nathan Fillion. Basically, I want to be Richard Castle when I’m older—an awesome mystery writer who plays laser tag in the house, goes to underground Steampunk gatherings, writes a best-seller in a historical pub with secret passages, and be juuuust rich enough that all of my eccentricities would be acceptable.

Q. Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? A. I’ll cover my two main characters, because the story really revolves around both of their journeys. Sarah Matthews feels like an average eighteen-year-old who lives a mundane existence, and so getting the chance to travel back in time and thwart an ancient murder is a no-brainer. I admire and respect her, and I feel that she is one of the most relatable characters out there: Sarah is loyal, endearingly awkward, spunky, and bold but not fearless. The fact that she doesn’t always have a one-track mind and can’t control her emotions perfectly is one of my favorite things about her; she isn’t watered-down and doesn’t always find a solution on the first attempt—though that doesn’t keep her from trying—and it’s these very human qualities that make her character so realistic. I loved watching Sarah grow from a snarky teen in “Rising Shadows” to a strong and caring young woman in “Chasing Shadows.” She fights past her fear of getting trapped in time to help her friends and stop a killer, and she also learns to take hold of great love instead of living in the fear that it might be lost. I hope we can all learn from her! Now, as to Will Taylor ... Just *sigh*. Basically, he’s a culmination of all of my fantasies: tall, dark, enigmatic, enchanted by a normal girl, and has an incredibly tender heart. Check, check, and check! In “Rising Shadows,” Sarah befriends Will and later on discovers that he is the town’s vigilante known as the Shadow, and they work together in Book II to stop a murderer from striking again. What I love so much about Will is that he is one of the bravest souls I believe I will ever write about. Despite his past and the way he fears losing those he loves, he is willing to fight for what he believes in, even if it means sacrificing his own life, and he is also loyal to a fault. I was sobbing while typing multiple scenes in “Chasing Shadows” (you’ll know why when you read the book!) because his vulnerability really presents itself in this installment. I get so excited when I write a scene where Will and Sarah are together, because their dynamic gives me so much joy. They are so alike in many ways—their fiery loyalty, courage, and stubbornness—and I love writing scenes where Sarah is trying to be independent and Will just wants to shield her from pain. But they always sort things out in the end and they communicate with each other, which is a key to their relationship.

Q. What genre are your books? A. The most generic way to describe them is YA fantasy, but I also like to throw in sci-fi, adventure, historical romance, and time-travel thriller.

Q. Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book? A. Lina Liberato (from the Stuck in Love and The Best of Me) would be my ideal actress. Sarah is sarcastic and all of her thoughts are visible on her features, and Lina definitely puts that off on-screen. Then there’s the picture on the right, because she is my Sarah. Hair, coloring, face, freckles, eye shape (just needs blue contacts). I am dying to find out who this model/actress is, because she’s perfect! But until I discover her name,
Lina can be Sarah. ^_^

LINASarah


In my universe, time travel exists, so does anyone have a spare time machine I can borrow so I can nab a 22-year-old Tom Welling to play Will Taylor? All my years of watching Smallville rubbed off and caused me to write Will in Tom’s image—wavy dark hair, blue eyes, tall, winning smile. No time machine? Well, then, Derek Thieler (from Baby Daddy). Just a little darker on the hair, and we’ve got our Will. You can find the rest of the cast and my inspiration behind the Rising Shadows Trilogy at http://www.pinterest.com/TownsendTales/the-shadow-trilogy/

  TomDerek

Q. When did you decide to become a writer? Why do you write? A. Writing was the only thing I wanted to do when I grew up—besides being a time traveling- ninja, of course. I adored reading as a kid because it entertained me and storytelling because it brought joy to others, so finding a career that fed into my addiction to words was a win-win for me. And then when my little sister Katie was diagnosed with leukemia when we were kids, the characters I created became my way of showing her that regular people always triumph over their circumstances, even when the odds seem stacked against them. Being a writer was always something that I wanted to do, but when I realized how it could impact people, I knew it was something I had to do.

Q. Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured? A. I have a difficult time stopping once I get started, so I know not to write a big scene before work. Haha. When I have only a small gap in the day and don’t have time to write a chapter or two, I use plotting notecards to get down the gist of a scene to make writing time go faster. I love brainstorming at night and on the weekends, because I get the most uninterrupted time to write large scenes then. But if an opportunity to write presents itself in the middle of the day, I jump on it.

Q. Where do your ideas come from? A. From anything and everything. I can see something outdoors that inspires me, and then I’ll start thinking in my head how to describe the feel and look of things. Other instances, I can't help but wonder how my characters might react to a situation, and then I just start mentally doodling a scene from there. I get ideas from movies and books and life and my own interests; if there's something I haven't done or an adventure I wish I could experience, then I write about it! And there are some days where the writing takes on a mind of its own, and writing is inspiration enough. Those are the days where I just sit back, sip a coffee, and enjoy the ride.

Q. What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book? A. Time constraints. I knew I wanted this installment to be epic, to resolve a lot of things and also bring up new questions and introduce new characters. But I was working and going to school nearly full-time and promoting the first book while trying to find a publisher who would print physical copies of this story; it was a lot of work to find time in my day to write, which was torture. All I wanted to do was write! But I eventually found a rhythm, and when I had free time, I just set to work typing away like a mad woman, creating a story that I hope you’ll all love as much as I do.

Q. Do you ever get writer’s Block? Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? A. Ugh. All the time! The most irritating days for a writer are the ones spent staring at an empty screen and watching that obnoxious little black line blink on and off, reminding you that you haven’t written anything in about an hour. It’s a terrible feeling to know that you have something great in your head but get hung up on how to put it down on paper. Two things that (usually) get me over the dreaded hump: Number 1 is to just take a step back. I get stuck a lot when I push too hard and then lose all brainpower because I’m not inspired by what I’m forcing myself to write. So I’ll read a book, take a nap and think the plot over while I rest (I always have a pen and paper nearby!), or go outdoors for fresh air and a new perspective. And when all else fails, Pinterest for total vegetation and inspiration. ^_~ Option 2 is also very helpful: When I feel uninspired to write an entire scene but need to stay productive, I’ll lay out the plotline and certain elements of a chapter on notecards. It’s soooo helpful when I get trapped, and it also helps me to stay organized. I didn’t want to do it at first because doing an “outline” made it seem more like school than creative writing, but it is so freeing to be able to get little snippets down on paper and not have to write down an entire scene to get an idea out of my head. Thanks for having me, ladies! I’m super spazzy and quirky, so brace yourselves! But if you’re brave enough, you can find me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest (check out my inspiration board for the series!), my website, become a fan on Goodreads, and also check out my author page on www.Ink-Smith.com. And don’t be afraid to shoot me an email. I love hearing from you guys and sharing my story! Thanks so much for reading, and keep being inspired to do what you love.    



My Top 10 Fictional Crushes:
#1 Carswell Thorne, “Cress” by Marissa Meyer Hilarious, adorable, cheeky, and a great guy underneath. Love the trilogy because it’s incredible and also due to Thorne being a dreamboat. If you haven’t met him yet, you’re in love with him. Trust me on this.
#2 W.W. Hale V, “Heist Society” by Ally Carter This series is clever and fantastic, which basically describes Hale. He stole my heart from the first page with his billionaire playboy hilarity and charm ... Much like they stole that painting from the Henley. Also, what do the Ws stand for?! I like a man with a little mystery. ^_~
#3 Trevor, “Pivot Point” by Kasie West He is the epitome of the boy next door and is so endearing it’s almost painful.
#4 Will Herondale, The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare Cannibalistic ducks, cheeky sense of humor. ‘Nuff said.
#5 Montgomery, “The Madman’s Daughter” by Megan Shepherd I die a little each time I read about him. The series is eerily awesome, and Montgomery is such an incredibly strong, silent, and caring man. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that every time I read about him, I picture Tarzan. Win.
#6 Cole, Everneath trilogy by Brodi Ashton *giggles* The ultimate bad boy and a villain of sorts, but I still love him endlessly. If you haven’t read the series yet, you must! It’s one of my favorites, and Cole is such a cocky bastard that you’ll want to hop on the back of his motorcycle and drive off into the Everneath for eternity.
#7 Finn, “All Our Yesterdays” by Cristin Terrill I just died a little at the thought of him. He is funny, caring, and in my opinion, leads this awesome time travel novel. I cried through the entire end and just wanted to hug and laugh with him for the whole story.
#8 Captain Wentworth, “Persuasion” by Jane Austen Step aside Darcy! He’s a captain, and his love lasted a decade. Shall I go on?
#9 Tarver Merendsen, “These Broken Stars” by Kaufman and Spooner If you haven’t fallen in love with this go-getting cadet, whose sense of humor, ingenuity to get them off that barren planet, and commitment to Lilac drive the plot, then you should definitely check for a heartbeat.
#10 Michael, “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers He is literally the most endearing and kind and—well, let’s be honest—smokin’ hot farmer with a heart of gold you will ever read about. He is the type of character that can make city girls desire the farm life.
 
Follow her quirkiness on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and ashley-townsend.com. ashleytownsend.author@yahoo.com Don’t forget to check out my storyboard pages and inspiration playlists for “Rising Shadows” and “Chasing Shadows” on my website, and check back in for updates on Book III!

     

Sunday, October 19, 2014

True Colors By @KrystenLindsay Tour




Book Blurb


Every day I walked down the sidewalk to school and wished I were one of the interesting popular girls who ran up with exciting news. Just once I’d like to be one of those girls instead of the being the one who didn’t get invited to things because people “forgot” about me.Landry gets pushed into trying out for the American Ingénue reality show modeling competition with her two best friends. She doesn’t think she stands a chance, but she advances to the next level in the competition and her friends ignore her when they get cut.
Enter the gorgeous Devon, who also makes the first cut and includes Landry in her clique. Devon becomes the perfect best friend, but can their friendship survive the competition?
Landry hopes her big break could come at any moment, but soon sees there’s much more to modeling. She begins missing out on being with friends and has the chance to have a boyfriend when she meets a boy named Vladi from another school.
Part of Landry wants to be famous (and have her hair look good for once), but part of her just wants to be accepted. She learns about friendships, being true to yourself, and that a good hair conditioner doesn’t hurt.







Landry Character Bio
Landry Lilyanne Albright is an eighth grader at Hillcrest Academy. She was born in Chicago,
Illinois to Dr. Tony and Laine Albright. She moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan with her mother
when her mom was promoted and her father hopes to move there soon. Landry became best
friends with Tori Robins and Ericka Maines soon after enrolling at Hillcrest Academy.
Landry is an only child and enjoys writing and won second place in the Michigan Young Pens
writing competition. She has also become interested in modeling after getting through several
levels of the American Ingénue modeling reality show competition.
She is currently signed with the Rice­Carter modeling agency in Grand Rapids. She considers
Ashanti Russell, Peyton Urich, and Devon Abrams to be her current best friends. Landry hopes to
one day date the soap star who plays Colin on, As the Days Roll On, or the cute freshman
basketball player, Vladi Yagudin. She loves her English lit class with Mrs. Kharrazzi and enjoys
reading. She is on a never­ending quest for a hair product that will end her bad hair days and
ways to up her math grade that don’t involve intense tutoring.
Likes: Reading, soap operas like, “As the Days Rolls On,” ice cream sundaes from Ignatowski’s
Ice Cream Palace, shopping, magazines, cartoon movies, the Skylar Halston YA mystery series,
English lit class
Dislikes: mean people, gossip, math
Role models: Talisa Milan from American Ingénue, Melani Parkington from American Ingénue
Future career choices: Writer, English teacher, model, actress
Motto: Be yourself


Guest Post
I have been an educator for over thirty six years and really get excited
when a novel like True Colors came along. I wish this book was
available many moons ago when I was teaching so many preteen girls
who let their emotions and hormones interfere with their schoolwork.
Let me say that there just were not books out there that dealt with teen issues.
 Author Krysten Lindsay Hager did a fabulous job of depicting the woes
of young teen girls. She must have gone undercover at a school to get 
such accurate information.
At current I am a children's reading specialist providing reading
support services to struggling readers at a private school on Grand
Cayman.I selected True Colors for two of my young ladies, an eighth
grader and a sixth grader. Knowing both of these students from the
previous year and some of the issues they had with self confidence I
couldn't wait to share True Colors with them. The sixth grade student
was new last year and had a hard time fitting in and the student in
eighth grade endured various incidents of bullying. During reading
we often pause and comment about some girls that she has had similar
encounters with just as the main character did. We have discussions
about these situations which brings rich value to the text. The story has
a nice flow to it allowing for an educator to work those comprehension
questions into lessons.
I can honestly say that True Colors should be a staple for every junior
high and high school library and also available in the classroom
libraries. Three cheers for author Krysten Lindsay Hager for writing a
novel that will help so many young girls.
I also wanted to add I had mentioned the True Colors song by Cyndi
Lauper to them, and now we sing a few words on our way up to the
reading room.
Cheers!
Lorraine Carey
Reading Specialist
Triple C School
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands



Dream Cast List for True Colors
    When I first got the idea for the book, I was in the sixth grade and imagining what the band The Bangles would have been like at age thirteen/fourteen. Over the years I’ve collected pictures of what I imagine some of that characters to look like. You can find more on my Pinterest site: http://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/true-colors-inspiration/
Landry Albright: Over the years I’ve pictured Landry as Ashlee Simpson when she was doing her reality show. Now, I’d say maybe Elle Fanning could play her.
Ashanti Russell: My original image for Ashanti was Letoya Luckett (original member of Destiny’s Child) and I pictured her at 14. Now I think Zendaya would be a great choice, too.
Vladi Yagudin: Ross Lynch
Talisa Milan: Talisa is the model Landry admires for her work ethic and is sort of the “smart” model (like Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington were when I was growing up) and Landry is always reading what a hard worker Talisa is, so I picture Jennifer Lopez as Talia.
Devon Abrams: Selena Gomez with curly hair!

Mrs. Kharazzi (Landry’s favorite teacher): Shohreh Aghdashloo
Mr. Albright (Landry’s Dad) Ty Treadway
Hana Ito: Fumie Suguri (figure skater)
Yasmin McCarty: Victoria Justice
Peyton Urich: Bella Thorne
Thalia Zimmer: Ciara Bravo

India Allen: Stephanie Scott
Tori Robins: Laura Marano
Ericka Maines: Ariana Grande
Arianna Seymour: Dove Cameron
Colin the soap star (Landry’s celebrity crush): Michael Bergin
Blake Alderson (Devon’s older movie star crush the girls tease her about): Liam Neeson
Mrs. Albright (Landry’s mom): Darlene Vogel
Landry’s Grandma Albright: Michael Learned
Mrs. Urich (Peyton’s mom):  Sharon Osbourne
Mr. Urich (Peyton’s dad): Harrison Ford
Kyle Eiton: Austin Mahone
Doug (Devon’s crush): Spencer Boldman
Manny: Adam Irigoyen
Bradley McMillian (Ashanti’s soap star crush) Shemar Moore





Author Bio

Krysten Lindsay Hager is an author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and also writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. TRUE COLORS is her bestselling debut novel from Astraea Press. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing. She received her master’s in American Culture from the University of Michigan-Flint.
 
Krysten's Link
Gleam Code for Giveaway Click on the link!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

From Head to Tummy Blog Tour (Giveaway)














 
From Head to Tummy: The Simple Truth about Food, Media Messages, Self-worth, and True Beauty.

Blurb:
Give your daughter the peace and freedom that come from knowing the truth about food, self-assurance, and real beauty.
It’s never too early to help your child build a healthy body image.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association
  • 42% of 1st–3rd grade girls want to be thinner
  • 81% of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat
Your daughter will journey with the adorable Ashley as she’s faced with life’s unavoidable moments that create confusion about food and her body. But soon she will discover the truth and find happiness in learning how to listen to her tummy’s signals, use tools to deal with social pressures, and focus on her true beauty.

From Head to Tummy provides vital tips and assignments for mothers to help build a strong foundation of worth for themselves and their daughters, as well as help them create a healthy relationship with food in their families.
Author Haley Hatch Freeman
Illustrator Lori Nawyn


Per- Order books Here www.haleyhfreeman.com

By after the 10th of October on Amazon




About the Author:
Haley Hatch Freeman is the author of A Future for Tomorrow which tells her remarkable true story of enduring and overcoming anorexia and detailed miracles along the way which including a unique near death experience.
Because of her incredible story she has been interviewed on radio shows both in the US and Canada. She’s been on TV including an appearance on the Good Things Utah show. Her story has been featured in newspapers, national publications, and her book is available worldwide. Entire retreat programs have been developed because of Haley’s book and she mentors women all over the world.
Haley not only studied Eating Behaviors in college, but since she defeated anorexia she provides valuable insight on both professional and personal levels. She has been professional trained in public speaking and is a member of the Mountain West National Speaking Association. She is a keynote speaker presenting at women’s conferences, schools, church groups, and more. To schedule her for your event contact her at haleyshearttoheart@gmail.com
Haley founded the company Haley’s Heart to Heart in 2012. Haley’s Heart to Heart is a resource of truth for women and children about eating disorders, media messages, and social pressures. Haley’s Heart to Heart encourages others to creating a healthy relationship with food, develop self-acceptance, and internalizing their divine-worth.
After seeing a great need of children in these areas Haley wrote her next book From Head to Tummy: The Simple Truth about Food, Media Messages, Self-worth, and True Beauty.
Haley delights in raising her three children in Utah with her eternal companion, best friend, and true soul mate: Brandon.


Social Media Links



About the Illustrator:
Lori Nawyn’s essays, articles, and short stories have appeared in regional and national online and print publications including KSL.com and Deseret News. She is the author of My Gift to You (2010), Fill Your Day with Hope (2013), Simple Things (2014), The Great American Family Reunion Cookbook (2014), and The Pear Aficionado (2014).
An artist and graphic designer, Lori is the illustrator of What are you Thinking? (2010), Love, Hugs, and Hope: When Scary Things Happen (2013), and the author/illustrator of the forthcoming children’s series Abbie & Jack (2015). She is also the creator and founder of Hearts and Hands Dolls, a company that creates dolls to donate to the elderly, and to homeless and abuse children.
The wife of a fireman, mother of four, and grandmother of four, she loves to find the miracles in each new day.

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Top Ten List

I made my Top Ten List about Top Ten Important Information. This is a compilation of parenting tips, self-esteem building exercises, warning signs, and my favorite inspirational quotes.


10. Warning Sign that you or your loved one has a low body image: You check yourself in the mirror constantly or obsess about a body part that isn’t perfect in your eyes.


9. Favorite Quote: “As daughters of God, you cannot imagine the divine potential within each of you, Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are. This will make you free—not free from restraints, but free from doubts, anxieties, or peer pressure. You will not need to worry, “Do I look all right?” “Do I sound OK?” “What do people think of me?” A conviction that you are a daughter of God gives you a feeling of comfort in your self-worth. It means that you can find strength in the balm of Christ. It will help you meet the heartaches and challenges with faith and serenity.” - James. E. Faust


8. Self-esteem Tip: Smile: Sounds too easy? A smile can change chemicals in your mind and body, releasing endorphins that enhance your mood. Smiling to others can start a wave of kindness to others and making others feel good always makes me feel better.


7. Parenting Tip: Teach your daughter that weight gain is normal and a healthy part of development. Prepare her for the changes her body will make during puberty.


6. Favorite Quote: “Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair, and nails are perfect? Do you think your value to Him changes based on how many followers you have on Instagram or Pinterest? Do you think He wants you to worry or get depressed if some un-friend or un-follow you on Facebook or Twitter? Do you think outward attractiveness, your dress size, or popularity make the slightest difference in your worth to the One who created the universe? He loves you not only for who you are this very day, but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential and the desire to become.” – President Uchtdorf


5. Warning signs of an eating disorder:

* Changes in eating habits, such as avoiding eating with the family.

* Defensiveness when asked about their eating behavior or weight loss.

* A tendency toward being a perfectionist or not being satisfied with themselves.

* Panic when they can’t exercise as planned.

* Comments about how they feel fat or are not good enough.

* An obsession with food, excessive exercising, calorie-counting, and reading about dieting.


4. Self-worth tip: Words are powerful. Create four to five descriptive words you want to be and say this statement several times a day: “I am ___(fill in with your adjectives)___”

Example: “I am energetic, kind, beautiful, smart, and thoughtful.”


3. Favorite Quote: “Looking in the mirror, do you sometimes wish for a different reflection? Some of you may feel that you are not as attractive and beautiful and glamorous as you would like to be. Rise above any such feelings, cultivate the light you have within you, and it will shine through as a radiant expression that will be seen by others” -- Gordon B. Hinckley


2. This is my number one tip for mothers: Never put yourself down in front of your daughter. Daughters not only model your behavior, but their own self-talk leads her to believe that if Mom—who is perfect in her eyes—thinks she’s fat, ugly, and not good enough, how much worse must she be? Or she might look physically similar to you and when you put down a trait she also possesses, she will feel you are saying it about her as well.

Never let her hear you speak negatively about yourself, but go a step further. Stop and change any of your own damaging inner dialogue.


1. I always end my presentations with asking the audience to take a pledge with me. It is to stop negative self-talk. It is to end what is sometimes called “fat talk.” Fat Talk describes all of the statements made in everyday conversation that reinforce the thin ideal and contribute to women’s dissatisfaction with their bodies.
Examples of fat talk include: “I’m so fat,” “Do I look fat in this?” “I need to lose 10 pounds” “I hate my thighs” and “She’s too fat to be wearing that swimsuit.”
Statements that are considered fat talk don’t necessarily have to be negative; they can seem positive yet reinforce the need to be thin. “You look great! Have you lost weight?”

So I challenge you today to take the pledge to stop the “fat talk” and all other negative inner dialog. You can make a difference!!




Author Giveaway Haley Hatch Freeman