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Own Your Motherhood

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Own Your Motherhood 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Jessica Kimball ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“Own Your Motherhood: Guidance From One Mom On a Journey of
Gentle Parenting and Self-Discovery” by the author Jessica Kimball is a must read book. In this book, the author has mentioned that motherhood is confusing. Jessica is a mother of three girls. Through her own motherhood journey, she learnt many things that she wished she would have known earlier.

The author hopes that other mothers find their voice to own their motherhood through this book. Gentle parenting is a choice and it’s one of the bravest choices that you can make as an adult. Gentle parenting requires patience and control of your anger. It requires you to be gentle with yourself first. I agree with the author when she has mentioned that parenthood challenges us mentally, physically and emotionally.

I appreciate the tips that Jessica has shared with us. Eg: surrounding yourself with people who inspire you and blocking those who only have negative things to say. Some of the tips she has shared in this book would be helpful not just in the motherhood journey but in our life too. I am glad to read this book. I like to recommend this book to especially new moms so they could be aware about gentle parenting at the right time. It’s a great book and I enjoyed reading about the experiences from Jessica’s motherhood journey. Go for this book without any second thoughts.

  • 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

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Interview with author Mark Snoad

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

Hi and kia ora from Aotearoa New Zealand. I’m a teacher and a debut author. I live in Auckland with my wife, two daughters, and rascal dog Wilbur.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Maggie and the Mountain of Light”?

Juggling work and family commitments around writing. Finding enough space and time to work on the manuscript was challenging at times, especially with a demanding teaching job!

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

J.R.R. Tolkien and his immersive Lord of the Rings mythology. Terry Brooks and the magical world of Shannara. Terry Pratchett and his remarkable Discworld series. Robert Jordan and the complex Wheel of Time series. Brandon Sanderson (who finished Jordan’s work) and his own exciting Cosmere series. David Eddings and his magical books. C.S. Lewis and Narnia. And Douglas Adams for the sheer joy he infused in his writing.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Aotearoa New Zealand is a stunning country. There’s a reason why The Lord of the Rings was filmed here. It is a natural paradise, with mountains you can be looking at and still think they are computer generated. I love being out in the natural world. One of my favourite places is the Whanganui River, where I went kayaking with my dad. It is a place of natural beauty, as well as challenge. It is also a strong memory I have with my father, who passed away a few years ago.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?

Some authors like to have the whole book plotted out before writing anything, and so they do all of their research at the start. I prefer to make a start and then do my research as I go, but this sometimes means I can divert from writing for quite some time as I discover what I need to know. I usually create a basic plot outline before writing, although sometimes I have an idea and I just start writing it down. 

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Maggie and the Mountain of Light’?

Maggie and the Mountain of Light is the second book I have written. My first book is a YA fantasy called Redemption’s Fool. I’d written that over several years but was not finding any success when querying agents. I had the idea for Maggie when I was still querying Redemption’s Fool, and I wrote the first scene. I then took the rather unusual step (for me) of writing the synopsis. I think that was to fully cement the idea. I wrote the synopsis in September 2018 but I didn’t really focus on Maggie for another 18 months. When I queried my publisher in January 2022, I did so with the Redemption’s Fool manuscript. My publisher passed on that, but asked me if I had anything else. So I shared Maggie with her and she loved it. So, it ultimately took me a couple of years to complete Maggie and the Mountain of Light.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

On all the major platforms, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo (Goodreads), ebook

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Maggie and the Mountain of Light’?

My initial working title was Maggie Thatcher Saves the World, but I soon realised this was too generic and overused (and possibly might lead people to think it was a book about British political history). The title Maggie and the Mountain of Light is much more unique and specific, and it directly relates to the story. The Mountain of Light hints at mystery and magic, which is a characteristic of the story. For the book cover we wanted to have a scene that readers could recognise when they read the story. And we wanted it to be a scene with the wonderful diverse range of characters, as well as mystery and magic. The cover has been hand-painted, which I still find incredible. And I love it!

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I found reading my book out loud to my daughters helped a lot. It gave me immediate feedback with their reactions, and helped to keep the book fresh. Likewise having readers who gave me honest feedback. Another important factor is making sure I am reading myself.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Sure! One is that, although the book is a fantasy, there are some very real and historically accurate elements in the story. Early readers have found it fun to work out what is real and what is fantastical. Secondly, I can reveal the name of the hidden programme that is part of the Wayfinder Girls. The programme is called Guardians!

Buy Maggie and the Mountain of Light on Amazon

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And Then Hope Happened

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: And Then Hope Happened 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Carmen Taylor-Acevedo ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
I love reading fiction stories. ‘And Then HOPE Happened’ is a captivating story that hooked my attention from the first page itself. Faith Wells was eighteen-year-old when she became the mother of a baby girl. Faith’s partner wasn’t happy at all when she announced her pregnancy to him. Faith decided to give her little girl for adoption because if she would have kept the baby, the baby’s abusive father would always be in her life.

Faith’s mother supported her in her decisions. Being in an abusive relationship helped Faith to sympathize with other women who are victims of domestic violence. Faith became the founder of the First Step Women’s Outreach Center. She took longer to realize she needed to take back control of her life. With her outreach center, she wanted other women to take that step early and leave the life of abuse behind them.

Hope Owens-Towers wanted a fairytale wedding and happily ever-after like her parents. When she met Anthony, she thought she found it all. Anthony soon opened Hope’s eyes and abused her multiple times. Will she leave an abusive relationship or will she take longer to take that FIRST STEP?

The pace of the story is fast and I loved this book. The characters seem real. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Those who are in abusive relationships should definitely get their hands on this book. There is hope and we should always look for it. Add this book to your tbr now.

  • 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

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Interview with author Jessica Kimball

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

Hi! My name is Jessica Kimball. I live in north-central Minnesota with my husband and our three young daughters. I’ve lived here my whole life, and I intend to keep it that way! I’ve been passionate about writing for as long as I can remember; I’ve got some old “books” I wrote from when I was a child, they’re quite comical! I also love gardening, spending time with my family, reading, painting, and meditation. My greatest passion in life is motherhood. 
I am also currently working on building a business as a full-spectrum doula – something our rural community does not yet have. My passion for motherhood drives my initiative to make it a positive, life-changing, fulfilling experience for all mothers. I hope to bring that to our small community so other mothers can embrace their unique motherhood journeys. 

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Own Your Motherhood”?

I struggled with word count along the way – at first it seemed daunting to write enough content for an entire book, even a bite-sized one like mine. I was worried my readers wouldn’t enjoy the book if it was on the short side, but I quickly realized that it’s about the quality of what I’ve got to say, not the quantity. 

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

I really enjoy anything with a conversational tone and relatable content. I find that it makes it easier to immerse myself in the author’s words if I feel as though we’re sitting down talking over a cup of coffee. 

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Unfortunately, my family and I don’t travel as much as we’d like – it’s difficult with young children. I do personally love the ocean and Yellowstone National Park. I have fond childhood memories in both places! I’d love to share these types of experiences with my own children someday. Thankfully we live in an area rich with lakes, state parks and forests, and many outdoor activities so we can embrace and thoroughly enjoy the area we live in.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?

I think  you should jump in and start writing! You may need to revise again (and again, and again) but that’s the beauty of it. You can make as many revisions as you want before you share your work with the world.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Own Your Motherhood’?

It only took me a couple of months once I finally picked a topic I could talk about for hours.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

You can find my book online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, in both ebook and print! 

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Own Your Motherhood’?

The book cover was a little project of mine during the writing process. When I wasn’t investing time in writing the words themselves, I was drawing the cover art – inspired of course by my family. The title didn’t come until partway through the book after I’d actually written the words “own your motherhood” down. It clicked instantly!

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I carry a notebook with me to write down thoughts, blurbs, questions, ideas, etc. on the fly. Writing in the moment allows me to accurately capture my emotions and keep the story relevant. I can look back later on my notes and recall situations and ideas with much more clarity that way. It also allows me to write down passing thoughts that would otherwise float away and potentially not come back – always a risk with small children running around!

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

There aren’t many hidden secrets inside of this book – it’s just stories and experiences from your run-of-the-mill mom. There is a lot of honesty, and I do write about my biggest mistake as a mother; one that almost cost my daughter her life. I hope it resonates with other mothers about the commonality of mistakes in parenthood – it just comes with the territory. I try to maintain a relatable nature so my readers can really see themselves inside of the pages.

Buy Own Your Motherhood by Jessica Kimball

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Watching From the Shore

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Watching From the Shore 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Dima Dupéré ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
‘Watching From the Shore’ is an epistolary novel written by the author Dima Dupéré. The story features Melanie and her brother David. Melanie was five years old when she was orphaned and separated from her brother David. Both of them were sent to multiple foster homes. They felt unloved and hoped to find each other one day.

One day, Melanie got to know that her brother is in prison. David told her how an accidental murder landed him there. He feels guilty for whatever happened and couldn’t sleep at night. Read this story to know what Melanie would do. Will she ever find love in life?

I enjoyed reading this book in the form of letters. The way Melanie was there for David without even knowing why he is in jail represents the strong sibling’s love. Will David receive forgiveness from the man whose wife he killed accidentally?

This is a beautiful story that touched my heart. I am glad to read it. The writing style of the author is amazing. The title is perfect and suitable according to the story. The pace of the story is fast and I enjoyed that. I am definitely interested in reading more novels by the author in the near future.

  • 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

Buy Book

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Interview with author Emeka Enu

1. Please introduce yourself so that the readers will get to know you better

My name is Emeka Enu. I have a background in pharmaceuticals and business. I live in Connecticut with my wife and our children.

2. What is your inspiration behind your book “Prop and Friends: Prop and Oz the Osprey”?

My inspiration came from my son who did not like the books I was reading to him at bedtime. He loves airplanes and wanted a story about them. He has a toy propeller plane in his room and that’s how the idea came to me.  

3. When did you realize you want to be an author?

I do not see myself as an author. I see myself as a storyteller.  It was my wife who convinced me to start writing these stories in the hopes of sharing them with other children like our son.

4. Please tell us something about your book “Prop and Friends: Prop and Oz the Osprey”?

This is a book about an unlikely hero. The protagonist is given a difficult task against great odds even though he does not fit the profile to accomplish it. It is the typical story we have all read in our childhood-David and Goliath, Frodo, Harry Porter, the Ugly Duckling. 

5. For which age group is your book suitable for?

Prop and Friends is suitable for children ages five to eleven years. 

6. What is your favorite Quote?

A quote from the philosopher Seneca, “We suffer more in imagination than reality”

7. What do you like the most about your country?

I  like that I am given the freedom to write whatever I want. If people like it, great and if people do not like it, they can move on. 

8. What suggestion do you want to give to parents of little readers regarding a reading habit? 

We are so busy but taking a few minutes each day to read to your children, especially at bedtime is critical in their development. There is something magical when parents read to their children. Personally, it is a bonding experience where you get to know the character of your children. Ask them questions about the story, ask them to name their favorite character(s) and in turn, allow room for them to ask questions. 

I am currently reading, “How to Train your Dragon” series and I am learning a lot about my kids and we get into discussions on how the protagonists act’s during certain situations.

9. What does literary success look like to you?

As long as people keep reading my books, I will keep writing. My goal in writing stories is to make a kid smile or laugh before they go to bed. My dream is that kids and adults  turn off the TV, put the phone down and pick up a book. 

10. Lastly, who is your inspiration in life and why?

This is a hard question and yet an easy one to answer. My inspiration in life are my family, especially my wife. She brings the best out of me. If someone told me that I would be writing books, especially children’s books, I would say, they are crazy. However, my wife was ahead of me, because she knows me, she encouraged me to put to paper all these stories that are stored and formulated in my head. 

Buy Prop and Friends on Amazon

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Brown Girl

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Brown Girl 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Leilani Taneus-Miller ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
This novel gives Insight into all experiences big and small that chip away at a person’s sense of worth. 

I can really relate with the main character of the story, Shelly – being a brown kid in a white neighbourhood is not easy, not at the time the novel is set in  early 1980’s, not so far off the changes coming out of the civil rights movement where prejudice was as yet deeply rooted. 

Shelly is isolated at school and gets sent to the Headmaster’s office frequently – not for her wrongs but to keep her out of the way and in many cases to keep her out of harms way, away from the relentless preteens who bully her because she is black. It seems so unfair yet entirely believable. 

I was so surprised that the Headmaster of her school constantly turned a blind eye to the physical and emotional abuse being doled out on a daily basis by Shelly’s would-be peers and class teacher. The only way she can shut out all the sneers and insults is to retreat into her inner world of stories, books and fantasies about being in her ancestral homeland (which are fantastically written).

I kept wondering will she be successful in befriending any of her classmates? And hoping the kids in her school would go against the grain to be her friend.

I liked Shelly’s character so much and I also loved the character of Dolly in the story – they both handle life with intrigue and humour. And I couldn’t help but fall in love with Hetty just as much as Shelly does. 

Although Shelly sees herself as not brave, I found her incredibly courageous to carry on day in and day out, as if she is holding out for the other people in the novel to change. I found myself thinking that maybe she brings about their change with her patience and tenacity. 

This is an intriguing story that I couldn’t put down until I finished it. The title of the story couldn’t have been better than this as this is truly the story of a brown girl.

  • 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

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Interview with author Dima Dupéré

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Dima Dupéré. I live in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada). I am a social worker and teach therapeutic writing (journal writing with a deeper purpose).  I also write, draw, and am constantly creating something.  

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Watching from the Shore’’?  And how long did it take you to write it?

I started writing this story in 2010.  I wrote 11 chapters and then went to Grad school to complete a Masters in Social Work. In 2016, I picked up the story again while at a Novel Writing Marathon.  I rewrote it from the perspective of a different character, in an epistolary style.  I spent a lot of time trying to think about how I wanted to present it so that people would have the feeling of reading actual letters.  I hand wrote  letters thinking I could create a picture book. Then, in 2021, I had a heart attack and that slowed me down quite a bit.  I was able to proofread, make some changes and recently decided the best way to present this story is in an e-book because I can use different fonts for the different characters.  I love this story, especially since it had such a complicated ‘birth’.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

I love simple story lines written with emotion.  One of my favourite authors is Carol Shields who had a way of connecting deeply with me through her words.  I also love the poems of Mary Oliver.  Generally I tend to read a lot of memoirs.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

I love Newfoundland (Canada) in particular the small town of Woody Point. They have a spectacular Writers Festival each year that combines authors, musicians and nature.  It’s located in the middle of Gros Morne National Park, on Bonne Bay.  Being by the ocean is very healing to me, and the festival very inspiring.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?

I tend to sit with a story and think about it for a long time before actually writing. I will do some research if necessary to make sure my facts are accurate.  Once I have a sense of exactly where I will go then I start writing.  But often as I start writing the characters tell me where they want to go.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Watching from the Shore’?

See question 2

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?

My book is available on the book’s website (watchingfromtheshore dot com) and also at Kobo books. It can be found on OverDrive Library Network – which means you can request it at your library if it offers e-books.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Watching from the Shore’?

The title and the book cover have a direct connection with something that happens in the story.  Without saying too much, the last time Melanie and her brother were together as children they were watching their parents canoeing from the shore.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

This story though relatively short has a lot of twists and turns.  The format of letters makes it fast paced and different from a regular book.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Part three will take the readers in an unexpected place.  I have to keep some secrets.

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Surviving You

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Surviving You 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Mariah Johnson ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
Surviving You is an intriguing story written by the author Mariah Johnson. The story features an eight-year-old girl, Sophía Pérez. Sophía lives in a family of four. Her parents and her younger brother Elias are her world. At the age of eight years, she was stripped of her childhood.

Her mother grieves the loss of her husband and wasn’t herself. Sophía was given the responsibility to take care of her younger brother. Sophía also found her mother’s behavior strange. Ballet was not just the hobby of Sophía. She was quite serious about it. Read this book to know how Sophía will deal with things.

The story is written well. Losing a partner or a parent is the biggest tragedy of life that could happen to someone. Reading about Sophía’s family’s grief broke my heart while reading. I could relate to this story as my cousins lost their mother in seventh grade and have to take care of themselves at a very young age. Go for this book. I am sure you would love it. Great work by Mariah in this book.

  • 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

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Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Martin M. Nuza ✍️
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🚀 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
“Snatched: The Unforgettable Cruise” written by the author Martin M Nuza is a crime novel. This novel is based on real events and crimes that happen on cruise ships.

The main character of the story is a young woman named Chloe. She went on a five day cruise with her best friend Alexis. Chloe’s father Ethan Moore is a police detective and he is 45 years old. When Chloe went on the cruise, his father was concerned for her. At the cruise, Chloe and Alexis were involved with strangers and had a great time. They didn’t have any idea about the monsters that were on the ship.

Read this story to know what will happen to Chloe on the cruise. Will she return safely to her father or will she never return? The story is fast paced. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Before reading this novel, I didn’t have any idea about the crimes that happened on the cruise. I am grateful to the author for this book and for increasing my awareness. I strongly recommend this book to all my fellow readers.

  • 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5

★ Book Is Available On Amazon

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