Thank you for joining us today, Hope. Can you please start off by telling us a bit about yourself?

Yes. I am a Post Depression child and the eighth of nine children who grew up on a dairy farm smack dab in the middle of the state of Pennsylvania.  I graduated from Lock Haven High School in 1952 and from Milligan College (TN) in1956.  I received my Master’s of Arts degree in Library Science from SUNY Geneseo in 1972.  I began my teaching career at Aberdeen (MD) Junior-Senior High School.  In the spring of 1961 I met a Maine farmer.  I moved to Maine and married him in August of that year.  (Arthur and I celebrated our Golden Anniversary this past August.)  After teaching in Buckfield for five years, we moved to upstate New York where the weather can be more vicious than any of the winters I experienced living in Maine.  

In 1970 I said goodbye to the seventh grade classrooms where I had taught for more than a decade and became library media specialist at Case Junior in Watertown, NY.  I retired from that position in 1990 so I could devote my time to writing children’s books.

When did you first get bit by the writing bug?

Books were a scarce commodity in our household when I was growing up so it was a red letter day for me when the county bookmobile came to our school, located on the corner of our farm.  What a thrill it was to climb into that vehicle, which was probably about the size of the Taurus van my husband drives, and choose a book from all those beckoning me from the shelves.  After I read my book I returned it to my teacher and was allowed to borrow someone else’s story.  It was through those bookmobile experiences I developed a respect for authors. I decided that someday I would write a book. It took me about thirty years to reach that goal, and the fun continues.

Why did you decide to write stories for the How-to/Parenting market?

Hmmmm.  A misunderstanding somewhere I think. I do not write for the How-to/Parenting market.

Can you tell us what your latest book is all about?

Eye on the Iditarod: Aisling’s Quest, my thirty-second children’s book, was released by Windward Books on December 1.  It’s a biography of Aisling (pronounced “Ashley”) Lara Shepherd whose goal is to some day run her own dogs in the famous Iditarod sled dog race held each March in Alaska.  Born legally blind, from the time Aisling was three she loved watching sled dog racing on television. My book, written from information Aisling shared with me in hundreds of e-mail letters, follows her through the mushing season the year she is eleven.  That memorable year she conquered obstacles, dealt with heartbreak and loss, and achieved victories, while keeping her eye on the Iditarod.  

In 2008 when Aisling was ten years old, she was one of three girls chosen from 8,000 nominees for a Real Girl of the Year Award, by American Girl.  The award was given in recognition of her “demonstrating initiative, effort, impact and personal growth” toward reaching her goal of someday running the Iditarod.  She exemplified those qualities by her dedication to rescuing, training and racing sled dogs.  I learned about her from an article in an online Maine newspaper my husband continues to read each morning.    Since she lived in Norway, a town near Buckfield, I contacted her, went to see her, and felt led to tell the world about this remarkable young girl with a broad vision, figuratively, if not visually.

What inspired you to write it?

Aisling’s knowledge of dogs and her love for them, even at age ten when I first met her.  Her plucky attitude and her positive outlook on life were unusual for one so young.  Also I was awed by the heart-warming relationship between her and her single mom.

Where can readers purchase a copy?    

Ask at your local bookstore.  Check out my website.  Or go to Amazon Books.

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more about you?

Yes. Please come visit me at www.HopeIrvinMarston.com  Among other things you’ll find an update on Aisling’s mushing competitions this season. If you have a question, please email me at hopemar7@twcny.rr.com

What is up next for you?

My current project is an historical middle grade novel, Sackets Harbor Powder Monkey. It’s local history.  I had hoped to find a publisher for it a couple of years ago.  After over 20 rejections I realized it must have major faults.  I learned to identify them after attending Darcy Pattison’s Novel Revision Workshop in the fall of 2010.  Since then I’ve spent considerable time re-writing the story.  I had it professionally critiqued by respected children’s editor Paula Morrow (good decision on my part) and am now working through her comments and suggestions.  Because it’s too late to find a main stream publisher in time for the War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration, I am bringing this one out as an e-book.

Once the powder monkey book is completed, I will get back to another historical novel of a Vermont family settling in New York in the early 1800s. Hannah Brown:  Pioneer Girl is the working title. The story is based on the settlement of Pulaski, New York.    During a difficult winter move from Vermont to central New York in 1806, a plucky 12-year-old Hannah proves her maturity in hopes of being given the new calf that will be born shortly after the family arrives.   

Do you have anything else to add?

I enjoy talking about my writing life. Thank you for interviewing me, and thanks to all of you who are reading this interview.

Thank you for spending time with us today, Hope. We wish you much success.

          It was my pleasure.

To follow Hope Marston’s World of Ink Tour Tomorrow, please go to: http://momnbaby.com/blogs

Welcome to my blog today Kasey Kellem.  I look forward to getting to know and your work a lot more.

Could you tell us what age range is your book written for?

A: 4-7 preschool aged, though many teens and adults have my book displayed in their bedrooms or offices and feel the book is helpful to people of all ages!

Can you share a memory of yours or a story of you from when you were within the age range of your target readers?

A: When I was four years old, I was a Sesame Street fan and particularly like Oscar the Grouch!  One late afternoon my mother was looking out the window calling out for me to come in for dinner. She saw the garbage can lid go up and down several times until it occurred to her that is was me inside the very smelly metal garbage can. She marched outside, pulled me out of the can and I had to bathe SEVERAL times to get the garbage stench off of me. It was the ONLY time in my life that I was grounded: I couldn’t watch Sesame Street for a week! I think I may have been the only child to actually be grounded from watching Sesame Street!!!

How has life changed for children today than when you were that age?

A: I feel life is tougher for children now than it was for me. I had never heard of divorce or abuse of any sort. Cancer and autism didn’t seem to exist.  Life just seemed simpler, slower and more peaceful.  We played out doors every day and night because television was limited and there certainly weren’t video games. Play time was unorganized and unscheduled unlike the play dates created now and parents pushing their kids into every activity daily! Not only that, but I learned to read, write and do math IN  kindergarten,  whereas kids now have to know how to do all of that BEFORE going to kindergarten!!!

Everything is high speed now. I had to wait a week to see my favorite tv show again, wait until Sunday mornings to hear my favorite song on Kasey Kasem’s top 100 songs and wait hours for dinner to be made. Now everything is at a click of the finger. Children do not understand the concept of waiting or patience.

How is life still the same 

A:  I think very little is still the same. I guess some kids still play outside, like my nieces and nephews, and are still creative in their play! There are still parks for kids to enjoy, thankfully.

What was your favorite toy or activity when you were that age? 

A: playing with Legos because it allowed me to be creative. This was before they came in kits to create various trucks or machinery. You just created those things on your own with your own imagination!!! I could immerse myself for hours creating houses, cars and robots with my basic Lego shapes!

What inspired this book and how did you decide on this age range for your book?

A: I have been intrigued by resiliency since I began teaching. I even went back to college for another degree beyond my masters to study resiliency. I wanted to further my studies at the doctorate level to learn HOW to teach kids resiliency, but ran into some roadblocks.  I was still determined to somehow teach kids how to be resilient, so I later came up with the book idea. I want kids to learn resiliency skills early on in life because they will more than likely face challenges, adversity and obstacles in their lives and need these skills early to be prepared!

Finally, I have four kids. Over the years, they’ve attended a lot of birthday parties. I love the idea of building a theme gift around a book. If you were to give a gift basket to a child based on your book, what else would be in the basket besides (Believe)?

I would not only have the book, but also a Webkinz caterpillar since there is a hidden caterpillar on each page of the book. I may also include a “Believe” bookmark, “Believe” sticker and a “Believe” children’s picture frame.

Thank you so much for being here on my blog Kasey.  You are a wonderful author and I wish you much success and fulfillment as a writer.

To follow Kasey Kellem’s tour tomorrow, please visit http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com

Good Table Manners Made Easy: Quick Tips For All Ages
Maryann B. Sawka

     Maryann Sawka’s Good Table Manners Made Easy was created as a result of her many etiquette workshops that she’s given around the country. Sawka’s picture book is an easy to follow guide for children of all ages on how to develop effective table manners and to make mealtime much more graceful and meaningful.

     Practising good table manners is a topic that is much needed today since the family meal has mostly disappeared. Meals are usually consumed on the run in families. Because of this, kids have no one to teach them the tools of proper meal and table etiquette. In fact, in our quick-paced society, we have lost the art of meal and table etiquette. Families now eat their dinner in front of a blaring television set, watching endless dramatic scenes of mayhem which constantly saturates their psyches. There is no time to connect with family members or sit at a table to eat as a family and properly eat a meal.

     Sawka’s book rekindles the art and beauty of mealtime. She shows kids and parents how to exhibit good manners when eating. Since kids learn by example, it is best for parents to learn Sawka’s practises for good table manners first and then institute them into their mealtimes. Also, if parents put Sawka`s mealtime practises into effect by exemplifying effective table manners, their kids will soon learn good table manners at mealtime as well. Parents have to show kids the importance of eating gracefully and enjoying the family’s presence at meals every night without the television blaring if at all possible.

Reviewed by Irene S. Roth

Diary of My Days in Kenya:
A Naturalist’s Observations of a Lioness and Her Adopted Oryx
By:  Rachel Yurchisin

     Rachel Yurchisin’s Diary of My Days in Kenya is a great educational picture book for children.  It is based on one young girl’s journey to Kenya.  Rachel loves science and nature and it shows true on each page of this fictional account of her voyage to Kenya.

     The reader will be moved by the love that one lioness has for a baby Oryx that isn’t even her own offspring. The lion saves the Oryx from other predators who would surely eat it up. The reader will also learn a lot about the droughts in Kenya and the impact that it has on nature and specifically on lions and their offspring.

     This is a unique book in that it is written by a high school sophomore.  She is one talented writer. Her example should inspire other budding writers to have the courage to pen their own stories at an earlier age and to have the courage to submit them to traditional or non-traditional publishers.

     The illustrator did a splendid job at presenting Kenya in its more realistic form. I felt transported to Kenya through the images and prose. The book is written as a set of dated journal entries.

     I recommend this book to kids of all ages. It can also be used in the history, geography, and nature classes at the high school and even elementary levels.

Reviewed by:  Irene S. Roth

Smarty Pig
By Molly Nero 

      Smarty Pig is a wonderful picture book story with a powerful message for kids. Many kids love to goof around in the evening and watch endless television after school. They don’t want to study or to try and do well in school. But the little red hair piggy is not like that at all. She believes in hard work and studying. And through her example, the reader could learn a lot of important lessons about the need for hard work to excel in school. 

     Smarty Pig is also a story about the perils of being teased by peers and how the person who is being teased can emerge victorious. Her peers were mean to her and called her names endlessly as she studied. But she continued studying anyways. However, their fun ended when the little red hair piggy got an A on her exams and some of the kids who teased her either failed or got a very low grade.  In fact, the red hair piggy did so well that she was appointed by her teachers to be a tutor for the kids who failed the test. Now that is a real triumph, if you ask me! 

     To tutor the other kids, the red hair piggy made up games to show the merit of all the school stuff that they learned. She taught them the value of Math and Science. Also, the games were fun and the kids found that they didn’t have to watch television or goof around to have fun. They could play games while learning. What a great message for kids. 

     This book is for parents who have children who struggle in school. It is also for kids who don’t see the meaning in studying and think that what they learn in school is a waste of time. Molly Nero believes that kids could study and still have fun, and excel in school.  The illustrator also did a splendid job to portray the little red hair piggy and the mean kids. The illustrations are bold and bright.

Reviewed by Irene S. Roth

Rachael, it is great to have you here on my blog today. I look forward to getting to know you better.

1. Could you please tell us a little about yourself?

I have a love of science and nature that has inspired me to write my first children’s book in the hopes of passing on my passion to other young “budding” naturalists. I am currently a junior in high school residing in Cleveland, Ohio. I feed my interest in animals and the natural world by participating in educational programs at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. I am an athlete who participates in United States Tennis Association Junior tournaments and plays softball for my high school. I also compete in science fairs throughout Ohio and hope to revisit a national science fair that I was selected to represent the state of Ohio at in 2010.

2. Describe your desk/workspace.

I have a desk with my laptop that is always playing music. There isn’t a time when I’m writing that I don’t have music playing. I have little knick-knacks from my friends and family that keep me smiling and remind me that there is another life other than that found in my book.

3. Do you have a favorite quote?

Winston Churchill is quoted saying “Never, never, never, never give up!” These are words I live by for my attitude on court when playing tennis and for every aspect of my life.

4. What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading the Pendragon Series by D. J. Machale. It’s a 10 book series that I love; its hard to put down, each turn of the page has me riveted to my seat and fully immersed in the world the writer has created.

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I have ever received was from my parents, they always told me that they believed in me and told me to never give up on anything that I do. The reward in life is not to arrive at the destination but to live the journey.

6. If you could have coffee with anyone (living or dead, real or fictional), who would it be and why?

I would have coffee with Steve Irwin. He was my mentor and I have modeled my life after him. His entire legacy of wildlife warriors is what I wish to strive to do with my life when I am older.

7. What are your top three favorite books and why?

I love the Pendragon series of books, the Inheritance Trilogy, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I enjoy these books because they take place in fantasy worlds but explore the realm of good and evil; the eternal questions of morality that all people must confront. I find pleasure in characters and situations where a reader can use their imagination and enter the world of magic, dragons, and mystical events. I prefer fantasy books for my reading pleasure because they allow me to escape from reality and go to places this world has never known.

8. What was your favorite book as a child and why?

I read every single “Magic Treehouse” book when I was younger. They told fictional stories that “took place” during real historic events and time frames. Not only did this perk my interest in fictional stories but also taught me a lot of history.

9. What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I like to use a little sarcasm and jokes that often times only adult readers would understand or find funny. I offer it as just a little “reward” for the parent who may be reading my book to their child.

10. Do you write full-time or part-time?

Part-time, I have only written one book at this time.

11. What are your current marketing strategies for “Diary of My Days in Kenya?”

I have used Facebook and the web to begin publicizing my book. I have had a few book signing at local churches and craft fairs.

12. Could you share about any current writing projects?

I am not working on any particular project at this time, just working on school assignments and getting prepared to start my college career.

13. What would be the best way for readers to contact you?

By email at reyurchisin@adelphia.net

14. Where can people find your book?

“Diary of My Days in Kenya” can be found at www.halopublishing.com and also at Amazon.com.

15. Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I wish to thank all the people in my life who have made this part of the journey so rewarding. The true gift that I have received from all the people I have met due to this publication is the knowledge that they are sharing in my love of reading and writing and that love does not end, it keeps going on to every person who turns a page.

To follow Rachael’s Yurchisin’s WOI tour tomorrow, please visit, http://terri-forehand.blogspot.com/

It is great to have you here on my blog today, Molly, and to get to know you better. Welcome!

Could you tell us what age range is your book for?

A: Smarty Pig is written for children ages Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Its message of “learning is for life” could be for even younger pre-school kids creating a positive feeling about learning and school.

Can you share a memory of yours or a story of you from when you were within the age range of your target readers?

A: Christmas at my house was incredible for me. Because there were so many kids, Christmas and birthdays were the only times we received presents or something new or special, so the anticipation was huge. The live tree was decorated with sparkling glass ornaments alongside the crayon and colored paper ones we made. My father loved a heavy coating of silver tinsel on every branch creating this glorious sparkling illumination in the corner of the family room. My favorite though was the 6 ft. silver tree made of tinsel that was placed in the front dining room window for all to see. As it turned on its base, the rainbow wheels turning below made the room magically change colors. This area was off-limits during the holidays for protection of the delicate tree, but I would sneak in with our little dog for company to sit watching that tree turn and the colors change while Christmas music would play from the stereo in the next room. Nothing ever seemed so beautiful when I was little.

How has life changed for children today than when you were that age?

A: I grew up playing outside without sun-block, helmets, knee pads, or fear of strangers. It was simply a different world. There were no television stations playing cartoons 24 hours a day, and no video device in my hands. Kids today have entertainment available at all times, even while riding in the car. Atari games didn’t become popular until I was a teen, and the video craze was just beginning. We were expected to use our imagination when playing, while children today are accustomed to being told how to play by the mechanics of their toys. Basketball and football games were made up of neighborhood kids of various ages, not the rec teams that we all sign our kids up for now with uniforms, refs and a trophy every year just for participating. Kids today see much more realistic violence and hear foul language in movies that are rated PG or PG-13 at an age where I was only allowed to see G rated movies. School was important. Now kids seem to have a different attitude about learning and respecting those trying to help them learn. I was considered a “high-level” student, so I went with other “high” kids to reading or math class where we learned at our pace while other kids went to other rooms with similar kids. Now all children are expected to learn together which can result in frustration for the struggling students and boredom for the faster learners. Again, it’s a different world.

How is life still the same?

A: Kids will always be kids. The surprise as they open a birthday gift, the anticipation of Christmas, the anxious faces on the first day of school each year, and the thrill of watching fireworks explode above them are all a part of our children’s lives today as in years past. It’s the world that they’re being raised in that has changed so much. Imaginations are still alive, but video games and tv have created a vacuum that devalues the use of them. Toys are loved, but the actual toys don’t inspire creativity. But some things don’t change, kids love to play, create, learn and grow, and they always will.

What was your favorite toy or activity when you were that age?

A: Being the youngest of 7 kids with 5 brothers to deal with, I loved to play with dolls. I had my precious baby dolls, but at this age, Barbie was my favorite. She was dressed in the most glamorous clothing which was thrilling for a little girl living in hand-me-downs. The trick was to keep her from being captured by G. I. Joe. Being under the command of my brothers, G. I. Joe always left a ransom note demanding my cookies from lunch or root-beer flavored Kool-Aid for her safe return!

What inspired this book and how did you decide on this age range for your book?

A: Being in an elementary school for 18 years as both an academic and music teacher, I worked hard to create a classroom where kids could talk about their frustrations concerning different things, and that has given voice to my writing. During the state testing schedule, students would arrive for music absolutely drained and despondent. The idea for Smarty Pig came from hearing students express their apathy toward school after several days of taking these tests. During the year, it’s worksheet after worksheet preparing kids for the tests. Then you have intense review right before it’s given. They even have pep-rallies to try to excite the kids about taking the tests! Students didn’t understand why it was necessary, and the pressure was undermining all the joy of learning for them. As the years passed, I heard this from younger and younger students. My object in Smarty Pig is to uplift our youngest learners early in their academic life to see the value and fun in learning.

I love the idea of building a theme gift around a book. If you were to give a gift basket to a child based on your book, what else would be in the basket besides (your book’s title)? Feel free to include pictures of the gift basket if you want to get really industrious. If you do, I need them sent in jpg format as separate attachments, please. But, a picture is not required.

A: I love themed baskets!

Smarty Pig, play money, plastic food, price tags (those price stickers for a garage sales you get at a dollar store), string, colored beads, Earth blow-up beach ball, magnifying glass, a journal & neat pencils, sketch pad, cookie cutter alphabet, and cookie mix in a jar.