Thursday, July 31, 2014

LAST CHANCE by T.G. AYER COVER REVEAL

Captionless Image




 
In her own words...
 

I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes... I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It's a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves - it works wonderfully...

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands - I shall forever remain crosseyed.


I love talking to my readers so email me if you have any questions or even if you just want to chat...
​Email: tgayer@xtra.co.nz  
 or tgayerauthor@gmail.com

T.G. Ayer

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Enigma Press New Release! "WELCOME TO LONDON, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE" by D. Lawrence-Young

"WELCOME TO LONDON, 

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE" 

by 

D. Lawrence-Young


BUY LINKS


Synopsis: 
 
Will Shakespeare is a young lad, happy to work at school, but happier really when he is writing long love poems and short plays. Unfortunately, his father, having fallen on hard times has to send Will out to earn his own living.

Eventually managing to convince his family that his pen and education will provide a better living than by making gloves in his father's shop, Will sets off for London and the new and exciting world of the theatre.

Elizabethan London is like no other place in the world, with its sights, smells, opportunities and constant danger. While Will is forging his career and making new friends in the theatre, including the alluring Dark Lady of the Sonnets, he must also be very careful of those he mixes with. The Tudor capital is a treacherous place at the best of times, and there are ever-listening ears everywhere. William Shakespeare has to be on guard at all times, especially when he is forced to become a government spy.

Based on a wide range of sources, D. Lawrence-Young has written a fascinating novel that helps us answer the question: What was Shakespeare doing during his so-called “Lost Years?’
Author:
D. Lawrence-Young has been teaching and lecturing on drama, history and English for many years. He is happiest when researching Shakespeare, English and military history. He has written Communication in English, a best-selling English language textbook as well as a dozen other historical novels. These include three based on the life of Shakespeare. 
He contributes regularly to Forum, a magazine for English language teachers and has also written several articles for Skirmish, a military history journal. He is a member of the local history club and is the Chairman of the Jerusalem Shakespeare Society. He is also a published (USA) and exhibited (UK and Jerusalem) photographer. He plays the clarinet (badly) and is married and has three children.
 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

PHASED Moonlight Series ~ Book 1 ~ by KASEY THOMPSON


 
 
Sera Kalihan was used to tragedy at a very young age. Losing her parents not only severed her family, but it also cheated her from her rightful place as Alpha of her pack. When her uncles give the Alpha title to her younger brother, she is turned into the fatal Wolf Warrior.
Known by all as a brutal killer, she had only a few friends to whom mean everything to her. When a threat to her life appears, her brother sends her away to a new pack, where she gets a little more than she bargains for.
The Alpha of the Pack is very apprehensive when it comes to Sera, but he allows her entrance to his pack out of mere curiosity. When her uncle threatens her new pack, she risks her life to save both packs that hold refuge in her heart. Along the way, Sera realized that she is more important than she could have ever guessed, and her power surpasses all.
Will she be able to push aside her personal insecurities and stand up against her uncle to save everyone she loves?
 
 
Image of Kasey Thompson
I am a young author, who enjoys dabbling in everything dark and mysterious. I write stories ranging from werewolves and vampires, to medieval dragons and knights. I am currently have seventeen books that I am working on, one including a novel I am co-writing with a friend and fellow author of mine. I hope you enjoy my works, and grow to love the characters as much as I have.
There is nothing normal about me. I love to be bubbly and spontaneous, and always divulge in anything my readers may send me. Please contact me through my amazon page, or through my website. I will always respond, even if it takes a while. My readers are very important to me, and I will always show the proper love and respect I feel they deserve.
 

Monday, July 28, 2014

The Indian Tycoon’s Marriage Deal by Adite Banerjie


 

Dancing with the enemy

 

Krish Dev needs to find a bride—and quick! With a marriage arranged by his father looming, Krish finds the key to his freedom in Maya Shome, but is this dazzling beauty really all she seems...? 
Maya has only one thing in mind: revenge. But when the host of the most exclusive high society party asks her to dance what is meant to be an innocent tango leads to an engagement to Krish—her enemy’s son! 
Arranging their own marriage could work to their advantage…if they can resist mixing business with pleasure!

 
Excerpt

 

‘This marriage would be strictly in name only. Or the deal is off.’
 Krish laughed. The sound waves reverberated inside her, making her feel all warm and fuzzy.
 ‘You mean leave sex out of it?’
 Krish’s dark eyes seemed to pick out her body vibrations even before she could.
  ‘Are you absolutely sure about that?’
  Maya seethed. She wished she could wipe that all-knowing look off his face. If only she didn’t feel this strong surge of attraction for him—but that was her secret to keep…just one of many.
 ‘I’m sure you can find a discreet way of taking care of that side of things for yourself.’
 He clicked his tongue in mock disapproval. ‘You haven’t been paying attention, jaaneman.’
 Maya was back to worrying her lower lip and Krish leaned across the table to run a finger across her mouth.
‘I’ve told you before that I’m a one-woman guy. And I don’t share what’s mine.’
 Her lips tingled at his touch even as his words held out a deep, velvety promise that made her breath catch.
Breathe, Maya, breathe! 
She pulled away and stuttered, ‘I…I mean it…No sex or the deal is off.’
 

 

About the Author:

Adite Banerjie is a screenwriter and published author. Growing up in a home with a filmmaker dad who worked in the world's largest film industry (yes, Bollywood!) and a voracious reader for a mom, it was inevitable she would fall in love with both films and books.

She turned to fiction writing after a fulfilling and exciting career as a business journalist. When she penned her first romantic short story, she won the Harlequin India Passions Aspiring Authors Contest (2012). Her debut title, The Indian Tycoon's Marriage Deal, based on the winning short story, was released in December 2013 in India. The e-book is available internationally (from June 2014). Her second title (Trouble Has a New Name) releases in July 2014.

Adite lives in New Delhi, India, with her writer husband.

Social Media Links:

   
Website  
 
 
 

Sunday, July 27, 2014

KEN'S WAR by BK FOWLER

 
 
 
As the conflict in Viet Nam escalates, army brat Ken and his hot-headed dad are suddenly deployed from Pennsylvania to a dinky post in Japan. Culture clash is just one of the many sucker punches that knocks Ken's world upside down. He struggles as his assumptions about friends and enemies, loyalty and betrayal, and love and manipulation are fractured. An army misfit, a Japanese girl and a martial arts master play unforgettable roles in Ken's rocky journey from a boy itching to get his driver's license to a young man standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his father.
 
 
 
 
 ***** 5.0 out of 5 stars A heady brew of high action and clashing cultures June 2, 2014
Format:Paperback
Over the weekend, I had the great pleasure to read B. K. Fowler’s Young Adult coming-of-age story, Ken’s War. As a school librarian and the mother of two boys (and a girl), I am always on the lookout for books that will appeal to boys, particularly adolescents. I believe that Ken’s War will hold great appeal for teenaged boys who are looking action and adventure and want characters to whom they can relate.

The story line of Ken’s War is complex. Set in the Vietnam era, Ken Paderson and his father have moved to Japan because his father, who is in the military, has been reassigned there. Ken is out-of-sorts. Struggling with culture shock, Ken is angry with his father for uprooting him and keeping him in the dark on many issues, including his grandparents’ death. His mother is, at first, out of the picture.

There is a secondary story line about a budding but forbidden relationship between Ken and Yasuko, a young Nisei woman. This flirtation proves as fragile and as rare as a white macaque monkey.

Ken, like many young men, is struggling to construct an identity and make sense of his world. Adding to this heady brew of hormones and clashing cultures, are a smuggling ring, a martial arts master, and a revelatory trip home to the states.
Ken, like many adolescents, particularly ones whose families are going through changes, is at war with nearly everyone and everything, including himself. In the course of the novel, Ken comes to empathize with others around him, including his father, and to see the world through other’s eyes.

The strength is B. K. Fowler’s writing lies in her ability to capture the essence of an image or a moment. Ken’s War, like the potent taste of dried tea leaves on the tongue, lingers in one’s mind.

LINKS TO FIND BK FOWLER
 
 

Saturday, July 26, 2014

ARE YOU READY FOR HORROR???? Here is MICHAEL W.GARZA with THE LAST INFECTION and THE HAND THAT FEEDS


 

The Last Infection

 
 
The series began with one little boy in The Hand That Feeds and ultimately follows the remains of the human race as they struggle for survival in a hostile world they no longer control. Come join what's left of the living as they fight for every last breath.

The infection swept across the country like a tidal wave. Survivors cling to life as the infected own the night and the dead walk the streets. Chris has endured on his own and bumping into Jake and Alicen weren't in his plans. The young brother and sister have plans of their own, but Chris has heard too many promises of sanctuary and infection free zones. Jenn's arrival turns his attention to the one thing he never thought he would face again, hope. They make a pact to reach the kids safe haven, but only time will tell if anyone can survive the last infection
 
                                                                                                                  
 
Watch out zombie world: Michael W. Garza has arrived! The Hand That Feeds has everything you could possibly want in a zombie book (and more!).
                                                                                           Zombie Guide Magazine
 
 
A parents love, and sanity, is put to the ultimate test in The Hand That Feeds. Michael Garza has delivered us one heck of a dark, mind-bending horror read.
                                                                                                      
                                                                                           The Bookie Monster
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                         


 
Michael W. Garza

Michael W. Garza often finds himself wondering where his inspiration will come from next and in what form his imagination will bring it to life. The outcomes regularly surprise him and it's always his ambition to amaze those curious enough to follow him and take in those results. He encourages readers to peek at his latest work as well as the material he's published in the past. He sincerely hopes that everyone will find something that astonishes, surprises, or simply scares the heck out of you. 




 
 
 
 

18392902
 
 
How far will a parent go to keep their child alive? John and Angela Mason’s lives are brought to a tormenting halt when their ten year old son is reduced to a lifeless shell. John watches his wife slip into madness as his son rises from the dead. He realizes they must escape the terrifying infection in order to survive but how can he choose between the insanity consuming his wife and the undying hunger of his son. An appetite for death will come in one form or another and it will be left to John to decide on the hand that feeds.
 
 
 

Friday, July 25, 2014

An interview with Rossandra White

loveyoubye_Cover 19Sept2013.indd






































“Loveyoubye is jam-packed with warmth and humor, heartbreak and healing, and unexpected twists.”~Ana Maria Spagna, author of Potluck: Community on the Edge of Wilderness
“Any woman who has stayed in a marriage, or relationship, longer than she should have, will see herself in these pages.”~Deborah Batterman, Pushcart nominee and author of Shoes Hair Nails
A collision of crises on two continents forces Rossandra White to face the truth. Just as her American husband disappears to Mexico, her brother’s health crisis calls her back home to Africa, and her beloved dog receives a fatal diagnosis. She faces down her demons to make a painful decision: stay in a crumbling marriage, or leave her husband of twenty-five years and forge a new life alone.
You can read the first chapter on Jukepop Serials.


1. Hello Rossandra White What inspired you to write this particular story?


_65R1228--croppedIt started out as a way for me to let off steam (and gain a sense of sanity) after my husband of twenty-five years started disappearing for weeks at a time without apology or explanation.
2. Describe your writing in three words.
That’s a hard one. Instead, how about I share a couple of Amazon reviews for my memoir, Loveyoubye : “. . . an honest book written by a woman with the soul of a poet.”  “. . . the author tells her husband's side of the story with generosity and love, with sympathy and candor.” And finally, people say my books are an “easy” read.
3. What authors inspire or influence your work?
Barbara Kingsolver, Carol Shields, Mary Karr, Abigail Thomas, Raymond Chandler, and countless others.
4. Is the Thesaurus one of your best writing friends?
Definitely. I want each and every word to count. Finding the exact word is vital.
5. How Does Your Writing Process Work?
So far I've been prompted to write by a need to resolve some issue deep inside me, to scratch an itch I can't quite locate.  I've done this without an outline, without a particular direction. I've "pantsed" it—flying by the seat of my pants, discovering as I go. However, I’d love to be able to outline a story. Hasn’t worked so far.
6. What project(s) are you working on now?
I'm doing a final sweep through Monkey's Wedding, my YA novel set in Zimbabwe. It was almost published back in the late 90s, but my publisher merged with another house and I was dumped. I went on to write the sequel, Mine Dances (set in Zambia), which I'll spiff up next. Then it’s on to getting them both published. Wait. There’s more, I’m going to turn Loveyoubye into an audiobook. Yes. I know, I’d better get cracking.
7. Where can readers find you and your book(s) online?
What people are saying about the book
loveyoubye_Cover 19Sept2013.indd 
 
Loveyoubye: Holding Fast, Letting Go, and Then There’s the Dog
“…the heart of this satisfying memoir is White’s inner battle to find her peace with the ever-intriguing, ever-unanswerable conundrum: What do we owe those we love—and what do they owe us?” ~Jill Smolowe, author of Three Funerals and a Wedding
 
“…a bold and powerful voice…something we could all learn a lesson from.” ~RedCity Review
 
“…from the jungles of Africa to the beaches of Southern California. Rossandra writes with heart and wisdom.” ~Anita Hughes, author of Monarch Beach, Market Street, and Lake Como


 
Loveyoubye captures in one word the dual themes woven with grace and agility throughout this magnificent memoir—the universal and often simultaneous experiences of love and loss.” ~Thomas White, author of The Wisdom of Sons

ROSSANDRA on AMAZON

Rossandra White was born in South Africa and grew up in Nkana, Zambia. Family holidays were either trips down to South Africa to visit family, over the border into the Congo, or trips up to East Africa accompanied by Corky, their parrot. As well as Loveyoubye, she is the author of two YA novels, Monkey's Wedding and Mine Dances, which are set in Zimbabwe and Zambia.


Available in paperback, Kindle and Nook.

 

Thursday, July 24, 2014

HIS BROTHER'S KEEPER by Hazel Blackthorn

What is your book about?

            His Brother's Keeper is about many things, but the main character, Leo is at the epicenter of all of the things going on. He’s a runaway who ended up caught up in this underworld of gangs fighting for control of the city. This turf war is pretty serious business since there’s nothing outside of Paragon City. What’s within its walls-- that’s it. There is nothing else. To make a living, Leo works as a professional companion; not the most dignified of jobs. Part of the story though is about how Leo learns to value himself just as he is. He learns that his worth has nothing to do with other peoples’ opinions of him. Of course, there’s tons of action too, as the three factions in the Junkyard fight against each other.

 

What inspired you to write this particular story (and/or series)?

            I started dreaming it up over a decade ago, and my inspiration comes from several key things. I loved video games growing up and those stories within them just as much as I loved my favorite novels. I knew from early on that I was “different” and desperately wanted to find characters like me in the same grand stories that I loved. More often than not, I came up empty handed. I was even further disappointed when I realized that the majority of queer fiction in the local library were all historical fiction or slice-of-live type novels. Totally boring to me-- even though I know that the narratives in those stories are very important to queer culture, they left me snoring. I wanted to go on adventures with queer people! I wanted gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and asexual heroes, wizards, mercenaries, bartenders-- you name it! In the end I realized that if you wanted something done right, you’d best just do it yourself…

 

Are your characters in the book based on anyone you know?

            Yes; one main character is based on the person I was with for six years before they left me with little or no closure. I’ll leave it up to everyone else to speculate on which character that is. I can tell you one thing: The character is not a villain.

 

What authors inspire or influence your work?

            So, so many! my biggest influences are definitely Anne Rice, Garth Nix, K.A. Applegate, and Cassandra Clare.

 

What project(s) are you working on now?

            I’ve got two major ones in the works! I’m writing the sequel to His Brother’s Keeper, The Mark of Cain which is due out on October 13th. The other project is a supernatural romance/action story for teens based in my hometown of Des Moines Iowa. It’s a twist on the popular vampire stories floating around out there-- and includes a blood feud between the undead vampires and the immortal alchemists. The series is called The Sempiternal Soul, and book one is Amaranth. Look for it this winter, and follow me on tumblr at hazelblackthorn.tumblr.com for updates on release dates.


 
 
 
Hazel BlackthornHazel Blackthorn is from Des Moines, Iowa. The author spends most of their time with video games, pets, and of course writing. Hazel graduated valedictorian of their high school class and has been a lifelong activist for LGBTQ+ rights and intersectionality in activism.









Wednesday, July 23, 2014

JAKE FINDI non-fiction

 
 
If you want to teach someone how to fish, instead of buying him a fishing tackle, buy him this book and you will make a friend for life. In this book you will discover these and many more:
- How to come out of your comfort zone –Are you dreaming of setting up your business on your pillow and after waking up nothing happens or you ’t know how?
- How to enrich yourself rather than working for your boss to get richer while you are still broke despite job promotion and incentive packages. The thin line between dreamers and millionaires –they both fear but millionaires put aside their fear and take chances. You may have the best product team, money but if you are not smart enough your competitors will take your opportunities.
- How to work smart , think smart and invest smart. You don’t need to work 24/7 before you become successful.
- How to start your business, where to start from , how to build your “agile” team and how to fund your project.
   - How to be unique in your industry.
The ideas are proven by other successful business men who broke the rules, quit their job to establish their business empires. You will find insightful techniques about where to start and how to run your project.
 
BUY LINKS
 
 
 
 



Jake is an entrepreneur and an author based in Moscow, Russia. He is the second child of four to Mr. Tana Findi. Jake is marketing oriented and business inclined. Above all, he is very ambitious.  His philosophy is to learn something new every day and is always hunting for new opportunities and ideas. In other words, Jake is a self taught entrepreneur. He believes that giving a shot is the key to success.
He is a motivational speaker, life coach, the creator of a reality TV show in Moscow and a fashion designer. Previously, he has been involved in fireplace production for a year. Moreover, he founded his own LLC in 2010, after a massive loss in the 2009 financial crisis. Later in 2010, he opened Jake & Jake, a store selling his own brand of clothing.
He is the founder of concierge and lifestyle management project called www.vip-service.ru. He is also the founder and CEO of www.fanada.ru, an online store and the author of How the super rich wins: the brainbox of success (coming soon, check it out).

 
 
 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

ALIX NICHOLS and the BISTRO LA BOHEME SERIES



What If It's Love? (Bistro La Bohème Book 1)




A typical heiress Lena moves to Paris to nurse old wounds reopened by her neglectful boyfriend, and decide what to do with her life. Enter Rob, a charismatic and handsome Frenchman who waits tables at La Bohème -- a café on Lena’s street -- and has big dreams.
He makes her laugh and forget her insecurities. She stirs something infinitely tender in his soul. Before they know it, they’ve fallen for each other, even though both had good reasons to fight the budding love.
But their passionate romance is cut short when she discovers his dirty secret. When their lives intersect again three years later, will Lena have enough faith in Rob to give him a second chance? And can Rob be worthy of her trust?

˃˃˃ About the Bistro La Bohème series

Bistro La Bohème is a contemporary romance series set in Paris. Meet an unforgettable cast of young, imperfect and charming expats and locals who work or frequent an ordinary yet special neighborhood café. They fall in love, cope with heartbreak and chase their dreams with a passion that makes them endearing even when in the wrong.
The books are interconnected, with a recurring setting and characters. But each story is self-contained, and you can read it as a stand-alone.
Fans of Amélie and Friends will enjoy these warm and funny tales of love, friendship and finding out where you belong.

˃˃˃ Recommended reading order:

1. You're the One (a novella)
2. What If It's Love? (a novel)
3. Under My Skin (a novel, coming soon)

In her own words; Alix Nichols
Image of Alix NicholsI am an avid reader of chick lit, romance and fantasy, caffeine addict and a badge-wearing Mr. Darcy/Colin Firth fan.
I released my first book at the age of six. It had six postcard-size pages stitched together and bound in velvet paper. The book was titled "Eliza and Robert" and had atrocious mistakes in every single word. Some words were written in mirror image. Unintentionally. I remember being immensely proud of my creation.
Turns out there's a remarkable constancy to my life: decades later, I still love the name Robert and the genre romance. As for my spelling and grammar, they are only marginally better than at age six (thank God for editors!).
I live and work in Paris, France. When not writing, I read romance (what else?) and spend time with my family.

You can find me at the following great places and don't forget to LIKE me !
 
 
 

Monday, July 21, 2014

"Tatted Mom's Guide to NOT Screwing Up Your Kids"



Author Bio: 

Morgan Moss is the creator of The Inklings of Life humor parenting blog (www.theinklingsoflife.com), which was named a Top 10 Mom Blog of 2013 by the parenting website VoiceBoks (www.voiceboks.com). Many of her parenting and motherhood articles have been featured on sites such as the Huffington Post, Babble, WhatToExpect.com, Mamapedia, Parent Society and BlogHer.com. She is a trained tattoo artist, and spends her free time creating mixed media art.

Author Links




Book Genre: Nonfiction Parenting/ Humor Parenting
Publisher: Inklings Print
Release Date: October 17, 2013




 
Motherhood is chaotic.
Some days are filled with unicorns and fairy dust, and some days the unicorn craps on your brand new rug and the fairies are flying around, crashing into walls. Mainstream parenting books help with the unicorn and fairy dust days, but what happens when your kid drops the f-bomb in a crowded grocery store? 

That's where "Tatted Mom's Guide to NOT Screwing Up Your Kids" comes into play, tackling situations in motherhood that you were definitely not warned about. Think of this book as your manual to the parenting problems that leave you throwing your hands up in the air, wondering if you are the only mom who goes through this craziness, and has you hiding in the back of your closet with a bottle of Moscato and a cheesecake (we've all been there). 

"Tatted Mom's Guide to NOT Screwing Up Your Kids" includes:
~The myths that mainstream parenting books tell you, and how they don't apply to every mother.
~How to deal with temper tantrums from toddlers to tweens.
~How to "win" the various battles you will have with your children (like the Personal Hygiene Battle and the Clothing Battle)
~Tips on dealing with picky eaters and the difficult potty trainee.
~Helping build your tween's self esteem and creating a strong family unit.
~Motherly advice on parenting from birth until the tweenaged years (around 12 years old)
~Mom Competition, unplugging your kids, chores, peer pressure and more! 

Written by an unconventional, tattooed, colorful mother whose out-of-the-box parenting tips have proven successful for many families, regardless of parenting style, "Tatted Mom's Guide to NOT Screwing Up Your Kids" weaves together helpful advice with humorous stories from the author's own trials and tribulations as a mom, as well as stories from other moms and dads on their own parenting journeys.
So get the kids in bed, grab a glass of wine and something sweet from your hidden stash of goodies (we all have one of those, too), and crack open "Tatted Mom's Guide to NOT Screwing Up Your Kids". Your mom-sanity will thank you.



Excerpt


From Chapter 7: Fixing More Than Macaroni and Cheese

Myth #1: Fixing my kids what they want ensures that they are at least eating something. If I don’t fix them what they’ll eat, they’ll starve. 

Tatted Mom’s Truth #1: Your child will not starve themselves. I can 100% guarantee it. These are the same kids who make mud pies in the back yard and try them out to see what they taste like. They will not pass down a hot meal of seafood alfredo because the little shrimps look gross. They reason so many moms use this as an excuse is because they try for one meal to get their kids to branch out, and when it doesn’t work, they give up. Let the kids skip that meal. I promise you, they won’t skip the next one. And don’t go letting them have snacks after the dinner they refused to eat, either. That just reinforces the horrible eating habits. This whole picky eating thing is usually a test of wills with kids. They love macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets, so they turn down everything else put in front of them until you feed them their favorite meal again, and they stick to it. The more you give in, the more they will take advantage of you.

Tips for Creating Healthy Eating Habits in Children


  1. Introduce your kids to the kitchen as soon as possible. Each of my kids was around the age of two when I had them actually help me prepare meals, but even before that, I’d put them in their high chair, give them a snack and pull the high chair into the kitchen while I prepared a meal with fresh meat and vegetables. I’ve always had my kids pick out meals for us, help cut vegetables, or even given them easy instructions for sauces. When they were too young for any of these options, I had them hand me things so I could cook. A toddler feels like king of the world when you say to him, “Hand Mommy that spoon right there, please,” and even if he hands you the salt, a random apple or the cat instead, he’s a big boy who helped his mom make dinner. Having the kids interact with the cooking process almost guarantees them to eat it, because their pride will kick in, as well as their curiosity. They’ll think, “I helped make this sauce, so I wonder if it sucks or not.” Plus, they’ll see that, despite the fact that those shrimp look like fat worms, no worms went into the making of the meal.
  2. Put the “Mom is eating something, I want a bite” quirk of motherhood to work for you. It never fails. As soon as you go to take a bite of your favorite cake or try and sneak a single M&M into your mouth as a mom, your child will appear out of nowhere and ask for a bite. I can remember one afternoon, when I was chopping up red peppers to go on a vegetable tray for a cookout we were going to, and as I popped a fresh red pepper slice into my mouth and started crunching away, The Girl, two at the time, appeared out of thin air and asked for a bite. I stared at the red pepper for a moment and thought there was no way she would eat it- two year olds didn’t eat fresh red peppers. But, I handed her one anyway, she took a bite, and happily trotted off with a smile on her face. No dressing on it, no salt, nothing, and the child ate it and returned for a second one. Nine years later she’s not a fan of red peppers anymore, but when I put a vegetable tray out for us to munch on, she’ll eat carrots, celery, raw broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. This concept worked at introducing my kids to sushi, too. Hubby and I love the stuff, so we would get some for just us and order the kids stir fry or their favorite Asian dish. Curiosity got the best of both of them, and soon they wanted to see why Hubby and I loved sushi so much. We let them try it, and they were hooked.





July 21 - Introduction at VBT Café Blog

July 21 - Spotlight at Notebook of Books

July 21 - Guest Blogging at Debbie Jeans

July 21 - Interviewed at My Life, Loves, and Passions

July 21 - Guest Blogging at Hungry Freelancer

July 21 - Guest Blogging at Reader's Cubby

July 22 - Guest Blogging at Black Coffee, Brown Cow

July 22 - Interviewed at The Avid Reader

July 22 - Spotlight at Black Lilac Kitty

July 22 - Spotlight at Fiction Zeal

July 22 - Spotlight at Bikers With Books

July 22 - Guest Blogging at Mythical Books

July 23 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner

July 23 - Spotlight at Simplistic Reviews

July 23 - 6 Besties at BK Walker Books

July 23 - Spotlight at Deal Sharing Aunt

July 23 - Interviewed at PubSlush


Giveaway:

Enter to win a signed copy of A Tatted Mom's Guide To NOT Screwing Up Your Kids