Posts Tagged ‘books’
- In: Books | reviews
- 24 Comments
Another wonderful review for Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady. Amanda and I are very pleased everyone is enjoying the book.
I read about this novel on a book blog and was intrigued – it sounded just like the kind of thing that my 9-year-old daughter would enjoy reading. I’m pleased to say that since I’ve read ‘Amanda in Malta’, I’ve told her all about it and she can’t wait to not only read this novel, but the whole series. She wants to start with those featuring countries that she’s been to herself, and now has a very full Amazon wish list!
In ‘Amanda in Malta’, the lead character goes on holiday to Malta and gets involved in the mystery of a 4000 year old figurine that goes missing from a museum. The unique feature of this book, it that in reading it children will learn so much about the country that it features. The characters visit a range of Malta’s places of interest, both those on the common tourist trail…
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Amanda in Malta on NetGalley
Posted on: March 27, 2021
- In: Books | reviews
- 63 Comments
It’s six weeks until the release of Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady and I’m getting excited.
Here is what early readers have had to say about Amanda’s latest adventure:
“A missing friend, a mysterious boy . . . Amanda’s holiday on the island of Malta takes you on a fast-paced adventure through ancient forts and fishing villages, sea caves and spooky castles. A real page-turner!”
“I love how the author mixes creativity, imagination and cultural appreciation in her writing – for minds of all ages!”
“Middle-grade readers will be drawn in by the action, pulled forward by the mystery, and absorbed by the colourful backdrop of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean.”
Amanda in Malta, the eigth book in the series, is now available on NetGalley if you would like a free advanced reading copy and are willing to write a review.
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/?text=Amanda+in+Malta
Amanda receives a postcard from her best friend, Leah, and is surprised to learn that she is in Malta with her aunt. Reading between the lines, she senses Leah is in trouble. Desperate to help her, Amanda travels to Malta with her classmate Caleb and his parents.
Amanda is intrigued by this exotic island in the middle of the Mediterranean, full of colourful history, sun-drenched limestone fortresses, stunning beaches and fascinating birds. But…who is killing the protected birds? Who stole a priceless artifact from the museum? And why is Leah acting so strange? She couldn’t possibly be involved in these illegal activities, or could she?
Join Amanda and her friends as they visit ancient temples, an exciting falconry and the enchanting Popeye Village, as they try to get to the bottom of the mystery of the Sleeping Lady.
Check out the trailer I’ve created.
Please share and let your friends know. Thanks!
- In: Books | guest posts | podcast | Writing
- 51 Comments
I am honoured to be featured on Tea Toast & Trivia where I am interviewed by Rebecca Budd. It is my first podcast, so I would love to know what you think of it.
Molly Ringle Interviews Me!
Posted on: February 21, 2021
- In: Books | guest posts | Writing
- 68 Comments
I was excited to be interviewed by accomplished author Molly Ringle on her blog where she features, Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady. This book will be launched on May 11th, 2021. I also give some advice to aspiring travellers.
Check out Molly´s blog where she offers editing and proofreading services.
https://mollyringle.livejournal.com/
https://mollyringle.com/editing-and-proofreading.html
Molly is an excellent editor with a keen eye for details. She edited my latest book and now I have a clean copy I’m proud of. I highly recommend her services.
Guest feature: author Darlene Foster takes us to Malta! by Molly Ringle
It’s been too long since I’ve brought on another author for Q&A, and I’m pleased to be doing so again with Darlene Foster! I met Darlene (in an online sense) through our publisher in common, Central Avenue Publishing, and she’s one of the most upbeat, easygoing, fun-loving writers I know. Her Amanda Travels series is a wonderful set of books for middle-grade readers in which the young Amanda visits a new country in each book and always encounters an adventurous mystery to untangle. They’re perfect for the young armchair traveler—or real-world traveler—in your life.
The eighth book in the series comes out this May: Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady. I got to read an advance copy of it, and was instantly longing to go to Malta and soak up the sun and stroll between the stone buildings with their artistically idiosyncratic door knockers!
Darlene was kind enough to answer some questions for me as well, so let’s dive into those:
Q: When did you start writing fiction? What were your earliest stories like?
A: I’ve been telling stories since I learned to talk. My grade three teacher, Miss Roll, encouraged me to write them down. When I was twelve years old I had a short story published in a local newspaper. Called Stretch Your Food Dollar, it was about two friends having an adventure in Woolworths department store. I guess the idea of two girls having an adventure has been there for a long time!
Q: When you visit places, how much are you thinking about a possible story while you’re there? Or does the story idea come later?
A: When I visit interesting places, I am always thinking about how I could use it in a story. When I was in Malta, I kept saying to my husband, “Amanda would love it here!” I take a lot of pictures and jot down notes wherever we go. I once read that a writer never really takes a vacation as they are always looking for story ideas. I can attest that is true.
Q: What draws you to writing middle-grade fiction as opposed to stories for other age groups?
A: Some would say I have never moved past twelve myself! For some reason, I can easily relate to this age group. I think they are wonderful. Tweens are not little kids anymore but not yet terrible teenagers. They can be so astute and mature at times but still naïve and unsure of themselves at other times. It is the age when they start to assert their independence and become curious and questioning. It is my favourite age and I have no intention of growing up.
Q: I admire Amanda’s fearlessness and willing to take on adventures. Is that what you were like at her age?
A: It wasn’t what I was like, but it was what I wished I was like. I lived on a farm and we didn’t travel or have a television. So my world was very narrow. I was timid, bookish, and the only adventures I had were in my imagination. So I created a character I would have liked to be.
Q: Give some advice to the aspiring travelers of the world: what are your must-bring items that lend to happier traveling?
A: The most important thing to bring is an open mind. Accept that things will be different wherever you go, the food, smells, people, climate, customs, etc. Embrace those differences and you will have an enjoyable and enriching time. Also bring a camera, a notepad, and pen. Everything will be overwhelming and you will never be able to remember it all. Pictures and notes bring it all back. I would rather look at my travel photos than watch TV.
Q: What are you writing now, or planning to write next?
A: I am halfway through writing Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral. Amanda will fall in love with Paris, Versailles, and Monet’s garden in Giverny. Oh, and she will get to stay in a bookstore! Wouldn’t every young girl like to visit France? I know I would have loved it.
—-
Darlene Foster is a Canadian author who has written the popular Amanda Travels series, featuring a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places where she encounters mystery and adventure while learning about another culture. Readers of all ages enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another in various countries. Darlene has won prizes for her short stories and a number of them have been published in anthologies. She has also written a bilingual book for English/Spanish readers.
Darlene grew up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, where her love of reading inspired her to travel the world and write stories. Over the years she held wonderful jobs such as an employment counsellor, ESL teacher, recruiter, and retail manager, and wrote whenever she had a few spare minutes. She is now retired and has a home in Spain where she writes full time. When not travelling, meeting interesting people, and collecting ideas for her books, she likes to spend time with her husband and entertaining dog, Dot.
Her books include Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask, Amanda in Spain: The Girl in The Painting, Amanda in England: The Missing Novel, Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone, Amanda on The Danube: The Sounds of Music, Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind, and Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action.
Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady will be released in the spring of 2021.
Buy links
Amazon Canada here
Amazon UK here
Amazon US here
Barnes and Noble here
Chapters/Indigo here
Thanks, Molly for the great interview.
Guest Author: Teri Polen
Posted on: February 13, 2021
- In: Books | guest posts | Writing
- 92 Comments
Today is National Internet Friends Day and I am lucky to have many wonderful internet friends! I am pleased to introduce one of them, Teri Polen, as a guest author. I love her answers to my questions, especially which fictional character she would want to spend a day with.
Teri Polen reads and watches horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. The Walking Dead, Harry Potter, and anything Marvel-related are likely to cause fangirl delirium. She lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband, sons, and black cat. Her first novel, Sarah, a YA horror/thriller, was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Subject A36 was voted one of the 50 Best Indie Books of 2020 at ReadFree. Visit her online at www.teripolen.com
1.Tell us about yourself including something that may surprise us.
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog, Darlene! I’m a multi-genre
YA author—sci-fi, horror, and fantasy, a mom of two polar opposite sons,
a Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Walking Dead fan (I’m such a
nerd), and enslaved to Bond, my feline overlord. Considering my usual
entertainment preferences, most people would be surprised to know that
I’ve watched Grey’s Anatomy from the beginning. I’m not a Meredith
Grey fan—it’s Miranda Bailey and the medical cases that keep me tuning
in.
- How long have you been seriously writing?
Around eight years I think? I started writing while waiting for my son at
soccer practice—long hand because I didn’t have a laptop then—and
stayed with it until I had a completed manuscript. And it was truly
horrible. Once I understood I’d created a monstrosity, I read books on
the craft of writing, took classes, and learned just how difficult it really is
to write a book. - Where do you get ideas for your stories?
I’ve gotten ideas from dreams, billboards, asking lots of ‘what if’
questions, and merging movie ideas, but the spark for my first book
came from my cat. Weird, but true. We’d moved into a new house with
no previous owners and Shadow, fur bristled while emitting deep
throated growls, stared at something on the stairs no one else could see.
It started me thinking about how a house could be haunted if it was
never inhabited. I gave him credit in the acknowledgements! - What is your writing process? Are you a planner or a panster?
I lean more in the panster direction, but I’m constantly struggling to
claw my way in the direction of the planning side. I tend to be a slow
writer, and I think things would move along considerably faster if I had
some sort of outline. I’ve gotten better, but I’m not there yet. - Where and when do you do your best writing?
I don’t have a designated writing space. I tend to move around the
house with my laptop to whatever space inspires me that day.
Afternoons seem to be my most productive time. - What kind of research do you?
For my second book, The Gemini Connection, I researched twin
relationships and quantum physics. With my newest release, Subject
A36, I spent a lot of time reading about genetics and DNA. I took great
liberties in those areas with both books, but that’s why I write fiction. - If you could spend a day with a fictional character, who would you
choose and why?
You nearly stumped me with this one, Darlene. It took me days to
decide, but I tried to narrow it down by only considering fictional book
characters. I’ve read plenty that fascinated me, but I might not survive
the day (I’m a fan of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy novels—lots of dangerous
stuff going on). I finally decided on Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter
series. I adored his large, loving family, and I’d have a blast hanging out
with them for the day. Harry and Hermione would visit, and I’d
undoubtedly be the victim of Fred’s and George’s pranks. Maybe I’d even
get my own wand for a day! - Tell us about your next writing project. I’m currently working on the sequel to Subject A36, and I swear this
book may be the death of me (see above planner vs. panster). 2020
really slowed the writing pace for me, but I’m getting there.
Thanks so much, Teri. Always good to hear from a fellow panster. I have so much respect for planners but I just can’t seem to do it either. What fun it would be to spend a day with Ron Weasley! Great choice.
You can connect with Teri on her Social Media sites:
Website: https://teripolen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeriPolenAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TPolen6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16114393.Teri_Polen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tpolen6/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/teripolen/
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Teri-Polen/e/B01MYOUA6V
Planet Tage is dying, and the best hope of saving it is gone.
Seventeen-year-old identical twins Evan and Simon share an extraordinary bond, a trait that’s both useful and invasive. They use their connection in their work at Scientific Innovations. Evan is a Mindbender, someone who enters the minds of scientists to spark ideas, join thoughts, and battle nightmares. Simon is a science prodigy and Tage’s best chance of survival.
Unfortunately, their unusual link often bleeds into their private lives. When Evan discovers his brother is keeping a secret from him, he lashes out and ignores requests to talk, and even pleas for help. By the time Evan tunes back in, he finds their connection severed and Simon missing.
He suffers a terrible case of survivor’s guilt. Moreover, he’s desperate. The fate of the world rests on Simon’s return, and Evan is willing to do anything to get him back—even working with his greatest rival, who also happens to be Simon’s boyfriend.
Evan finds allies among enemies and adversaries among friends. When nothing is as it seems and everything is depending on him, he must explore a dangerous aspect to his twin connection he never knew he had.
If he fails, he’ll lose both his brother and his world.
| My 5-star review of The Gemini Connection A great sci-fi/dystopian YA novel. I don’t often read this genre but the idea of twins intrigued me. I was not disappointed. There is plenty of action and some clever world-building, but the character development and the relationships between characters are the stars of this show. The tie between the twins, Evan and Simon, is amazing and the story is written from the POV of both of them. The secondary characters are also interesting and round out the story. Evan is devastated when Simon goes missing, but when he realizes Simon is alive, he will do anything to rescue him and bring him home, even work with his sworn enemy. How this plays out will keep you on the edge of your seat. The author has a vivid imagination and is capable of using it to create an awesome reading experience. |
Teri’s other books:
Seventeen-year-old horror fan Cain Shannon thought helping a ghost find her killers would be the supernatural adventure of a lifetime. Now, he just hopes to survive long enough to protect his family and friends from her.
A bet between friends goes horribly wrong, resulting in Sarah’s death. When she returns to seek justice against those responsible, Cain agrees to help her. But when he discovers Sarah has been hijacking his body, he realizes she wants retribution instead of justice.
Terrified of what could have happened when he wasn’t in control, Cain commands Sarah to leave his house – but exorcising her isn’t that easy. She retaliates against her murderers in bloody, horrific ways, each death making her stronger, then sets her sights on Cain. With the help of friends, Cain fights to save himself and his loved ones and searches for a way to stop Sarah before she kills again.
If genetic engineering could guarantee you and your family perfect health and unparalleled beauty, would you pay top dollar for it? Would you kill for it?
Residents of the Colony would. And do.
Only the Insurgents can stop them.
Seventeen-year-old Asher Solomon is a premier operative with the Insurgents. He and his team have rescued countless hostages, saving them from painful deaths in Colony labs as desirable genetic traits are stripped from their bodies.
He’s also suffered more losses than anyone should have to.
Then Asher gets intel that might give his people the upper hand. The Colony is searching for Subject A36. If the Insurgents determine the subject’s identity first, they might be able to turn the tide of the war.
Asher and his team embark on their riskiest mission ever, and the stakes have never been higher. But even if he survives the physical dangers, the devastating secrets he uncovers might destroy him.
Thanks for being an internet friend, Teri!
2021 – A New Year, A New Page
Posted on: January 3, 2021
- In: Books | Dreams | quotes | Writing
- 78 Comments
For many years I have set goals for the coming year. They help to keep me focused and be productive. This year I was reluctant to set any goals because it is hard to make plans when things are still so uncertain. But then I decided the best thing is to just carry on as usual. Goals are not written in stone. They can always be adjusted or carried over to the next year. So before I went to bed on January 1st, I wrote down some goals. I also believe goals need to be shared in order to be effective. Here they are!
Goals for 2021
- Come up with innovative ideas to market Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady
- Plan a trip to Canada to launch Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady
- Visit family and friends in Canada as soon as it is safe to do so
- Finish writing Amanda in Spain: Fire in the Cathedral
- Read and review at least 40 good books
- Visit new places in Spain
- Continue to help other writers
- Organize computer files
- Attend conferences and workshops on line
- Do podcast and video interviews and presentations
- Visit schools digitally and in-person if possible
- Find markets for my short stories
- Adopt a buddy for Dot
- Stay safe and stay positive
In recent years, I have been encouraged by other bloggers to pick three words for the year. I really like this idea and usually pick the first three words that come to mind.
These are my words for 2021.
Strength
Love
Hope
My wish for everyone for 2021 is to be strong, share the love and never give up hope! And drink good tea and read good books.
Reading Challenge 2020
Posted on: December 28, 2020
- In: Books | reviews | Writing
- 74 Comments
One of the good things about 2020 is that there was more time to read. My goal was to read 36 books this year and I read 39. I read an assortment of books, including many I’ve wanted to read for a long time – classics, contemporary, children’s and books of poetry and short stories.
Check out my report from Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2020/2916220
They were all good. My reviews of the books I completed can be found on Goodreads.
Here are a few of my favourites:
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is not a 5 it is a 10!! It is one of the best books I’ve read, up there with One Hundred Years of Solitude and A Fine Balance. It is a story within a story. It is complicated, full of many interesting and complicated characters. But I was never confused. Barcelona is the perfect place to set a story like this; a tale of books, writers, history, lovers and mystery. The author uses words so well – “Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens.” I loved every word.
Wolf Willow by Wallace Stegner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a book dear to my heart. It is the history of the area near where I was born and raised, told by someone who lived there as a child when it was just being settled. It is so cleverly written, in a narrative that makes history come to life. He tells the good, the bad and the ugly of prairie life in the early 1900s. The writer returns to the small prairie town 40 years later and this is what he says, “Things look the same, surprisingly the same, and yet obscurely different.” Things haven’t changed that much in these places. The smells, tastes, heat, cold, and sounds of the prairies are all there between the covers and brought back vivid memories. The descriptions of blizzards, cyclones and drought are so real. My favourite line and there were so many, is this one. “I may not know who I am, but I know where I am from.” Reading this amazing book, masterfully written, reminded me of where I’m from.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A great book for kids and those of us who think like kids. I loved this book. When Danny and his friends discover a hermit living in the woods, they are intrigued. Danny is determined to find out more about him. He also needs to find a way to stop land developers from building condos on the soccer field. Plenty of action, believable characters and real-life situations. The kidspeak was perfect. I liked the main character, Danny, kids will identify with him. The events unfold in a timely fashion with a satisfying ending, and there is a loveable dog in it! I highly recommend this book.
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An incredible book by the incomparable Toni Morrison. The reader is taken on the fantastic journey of one man´s life, with prose that pulls you in, as he tries to find his place in the world. The importance of family, even a dysfunctional one, and the relevance of knowing where you come from is woven in with a cast of diverse and quirky characters and intriguing settings. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, one that will stay with me for a long time.
How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this classic tale. It took me to another time and place; to a coal mining village in South Wales at the end of the 19th century. The writing is so descriptive I felt I was there with the Morgan family. Every sense is used so that you can taste the food, smell the earth, feel the grime of the coal dust, see the verdant valley, and hear the singing of the choir. The feelings and emotions of young Huw Morgan, the main character and point of view, are so vividly described that you laugh and cry along with him. The book was written 80 years ago, so some of the words are old and unfamiliar, but it doesn´t matter. In fact, the lovely Welsh way of speaking comes through and makes the story even more endearing. If you are looking to read a classic, I highly recommend this book.
Good Mothers Don’t by Laura Best
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What would you do if you were a mother and felt you were losing your mind? This incredible book introduces us to Elizabeth, a wife and mom in the early 1960s who is grappling with her sanity. Then something happens to push her over the edge, resulting in a family that is torn apart. This well written, gripping story is told by Elizabeth and those affected by her. I have enjoyed everything Laura Best has written in the past, but she has outdone herself with this story. She has created characters so believable you begin to think you have met them somewhere before, perhaps a neighbour or a family member. I felt the pain, the hope and most of all, the love. I closed the book and wanted to start reading it all over again. This story will stay with me for a long time. Thank you Vagrant Press for the ARC.
Fragments of a Dream by Ruth Larrea
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A well-written story about love, regrets, and possibilities. The story takes place in Greece for the most part. I like how the author skillfully incorporates the sights and scenery within the story of Rosie and Angelo without info-dumping. Both characters are believable and well developed. It is a story of cultural differences and misunderstandings, family and friends. I highly recommend this enjoyable read that will keep you turning the pages wondering what will happen next. This is more than romance, it is about complex relationships in a captivating setting.
Perhaps you will be inspired to read some of these books. I would love to hear about your favourite reads from 2020.
Amanda Travels Series
Posted on: December 22, 2020
- In: Books | guest posts | Travel
- 29 Comments
Amanda and I are guests on Wanda Luthman´s blog today where I interview the intrepid traveller.
Hello, everyone!
Welcome to Wanda Luthman’s children’s book blog.
Today, I have a fun interview for you. One of my previous guests on this book blog, Darlene Foster, interviewed her main character, Amanda!
I think you’re going to love getting to know Amanda better.
NOTE: (DF stands for Darlene Foster, the author and AR stands for Amanda Ross, the main character)
Interview with Amanda Ross from the Amanda Travels Series by Darlene Foster
DF Hello Amanda. Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed as your readers are eager to learn more about you.
AR Thank you, Mrs. Foster. It is so awesome to be interviewed. I’ve never been interviewed before.
DF Can we start with you telling us a little about yourself?
AR Yes, thanks. I can do that. (Clears her throat) My name is Amanda Jane Ross and I live in Calgary…
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Lockdown With Anne
Posted on: December 6, 2020
- In: Books | Christmas | Memories | short stories
- 63 Comments
Here is my story included in the anthology With Love Comes Hope which I wrote about here
Lockdown With Anne by Darlene Foster
It’s day ten of the lockdown and I hate it. At first, I thought it would be great not to have to get up early and go to school. But Mom’s not very good at home-schooling. She loses patience with me and she doesn’t know anything about math. I miss my friends. Sure, we connect on Instagram, but it’s not the same. I missed two birthday parties already. By the time I get to wear my new top, it probably won’t fit anymore. My pajamas are wearing out. I’m tired of Mom’s cooking and wish we could at least get a take-away. This lockdown sucks big time.
I’m bored with TV and I’ve watched all the DVDs we have. I didn’t think I would miss school. Maybe I’ll check out a book my teacher gave me to read the last day of school. She said I would like it.
~~~
Wow! Midnight and I’m still reading. This book is so good. It’s about a girl, Anne, who’s thirteen years old, like me. She has to hide in a small apartment during World War II in Holland, along with her family. They are actually German so you’d think they’d be OK but they are also Jewish. If the Nazi soldiers find them, they will be sent to a concentration camp and most likely killed like so many other Jewish people.
It isn’t just Anne, her parents and older sister living in this hidden annex, which nobody knows about. They’re sharing the place with another couple, their son and an old man. Anne makes friends with the couple’s son, Peter. But, here’s the thing, they can’t make any noise during the day because there are people working downstairs in the office and warehouse. They can’t even flush the toilet. And, they have to keep all the windows closed and the curtains drawn.
How awful. No fresh air or sunshine. I would go totally crazy.
When Anne turned thirteen, just before they had to go into hiding, she got a diary for her birthday. So, to keep herself busy while in isolation, she writes in it everyday. She actually wants to be a writer one day. She writes things like “I hope I shall be able to confide in you completely, as I have never been able to do in anyone before, and I hope that you will be a great support and comfort to me. “ She names her diary Kitty because she has no girlfriends to talk to.
I am so loving this book. There are even pictures of the rooms and the bookcase that hides the stairway to the secret space. It’s called The Diary of a Young Girl and is a true story written by Anne Frank.
~~~
I finished the book and I’m so sad. In the end, after two years of hiding and being very careful and quiet, someone tells the soldiers about them. They are found and taken away. Anne doesn’t survive. In fact, her dad is the only one who lives. After the war, he comes back to the building, finds her diary and has it published. So her dream of becoming a writer did come true, but she doesn’t live to see this happen.
~~~
It’s day fourteen of our lockdown and Dad says it will be another two weeks at least, probably more. Many people are getting sick and dying. I don’t want to die. I want to grow up and get married and have kids. I want to go to Holland and visit Anne Frank’s house.
I’m doing my homework online and not arguing with my mom as much. Yesterday we made chocolate brownies together and then we all completed a huge jigsaw puzzle. It was fun.
And, we can make noise. I can sing as loud as I want and even go in my front yard and make dance videos. At eight o’clock every evening, we all go on our terraces or balconies and clap in appreciation of the healthcare workers, police, ambulance, firefighters and grocery store staff for keeping us safe and well.
I don’t have to be afraid I’ll be taken away because of my religion. This lockdown sucks but it is so much better than what Anne Frank had to deal with.
I will get through this.
With Love Comes Hope, filled with a variety of fiction and nonfiction stories, would make a great Christmas gift.
This book can be purchased in print or digital format on most Amazon sites.
Text and Image copyright © 2020 Darlene Foster – All Rights Reserved
- In: Books | guest posts | Travel | Writing
- 37 Comments
I am honoured to be asked about inspiring children to read by Sue Slaght of Travel Tales of Life.
Why would a child want to read? How can a book compete with the tantalizing glow of a screen? As the months, or has it been years, of time at home drag on, parents’ nerves are fraying. How can we get kids excited about adventure? Is the love of reading in children a forgotten skill?
We reached out to an expert for advice. How can we turn reluctant readers into book loving kids? Darlene Foster is an award winning author, publishing seven books about a spunky young girl named Amanda. The popular series inspires adventure, travel and reading.
Darlene Foster on inspiring reading in children
Thanks, Sue for inviting me to your awesome blog which encourages travel and appreciating other countries and cultures.
I write my books to inspire children to explore the world and appreciate our unique differences as well as our similarities. Unlike when I was a child, children today are well travelled. Which is great. But right now, because of the COVID 19 pandemic, their parents aren’t able to take them on trips. By providing children with books that take place in other countries, they can go on a vacation without leaving the safety of their home. And by reading the books together, the whole family gets a holiday.
At what age should parents start reading to their children? What types of books are best?
Read the rest of the article here.
