VBT October schedule

VBT Writers on the Move begins a new feature to the VBT: Writers on the Move Mystery Site Give-away. Each month, the winner will have the choice of receiving the Mystery Site Host's book or a guest spot on VBT Writers on the Move web site. If you're an author and looking for visibility, this is a wonderful opportunity. But, it's going to be a tough choice; our members have great books to offer.

REMEMBER, you can't win if you don't play the game, so please stop by our members' sites during the tour and leave a comment.

4RV Publishing authors Linda Asato, Katie Hines, Elysabeth Eldering, Crysatlee Calderwood, and Vivian Zabel participate.

If you're interested in finding out more about our promotional group, you can send an email to: karenrcfv@yahoo.com.
Please put VBT-VBT in the subject line.


Dianne Sagan hosts Harry Gilleland
Harry Gilleland hosts Marvin Wilson
Karen Cioffi hosts Kathy Stemke
Kathy Stemke hosts Jane Sutton
Nancy Famolari hosts Steve Tremp
Vivian Zabel hosts Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Margaret Fieland hosts Nancy Famolari
Crystalee Calderwood hosts Elysabeth Eldering
Katie Hines hosts Linda Asato
Helena Harper hosts Katie Hines
Liana Metal hosts Margaret Fieland
Carolyn Howard-Johnson hosts Mayra Calvani
Gayle Trent hosts Crystalee Calderwood
Mayra Calvani hosts Dianne Sagan
Marvin Wilson hosts Helena Harper
Linda Asato hosts Gayle Trent
Heather Paye hostsVivian Zabel
Steve Tremp hosts Heather Paye
Elysabeth Eldering hosts Liana Metal
Jane Sutton hosts Karen Cioffi
Jack E. Geroge hosts Darcia Helle
Darcia Helle hosts Jack George

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Kreativ Blogger Award for Brain Cells & Bubble Wrap

Jean Henry Mead sent me the Kreativ Blogger Award (translation: Creative Blogger Award). Thank you, Jean.

I'm now required to pass the award to seven bloggers. As many blogs I know that meet the definition of being creative, choosing only seven was difficult. However, after many hours of mental gymnastics, I pass this award to the following:

1. Holly Jahangiri's It's All a Matter of Perspective blog site.

2. Katie Hines - Walking on Water.

3. Aidana WillowRaven's WillowRaven Illustration & Design Plus.

4. Nikki Shoemaker's What Comes from Nikki's Pencil ...

5. Rena Jones Children's Author & Nature Photographer.

6. Lea Schizas' The Writing Jungle.

7. L. Diane Wolfe's Spunk on a Stick.

The rules for the Kreativ Blogger Award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

I thanked Jean above and will on her blog. I copied the logo and pasted it above. I linked to Jean's blog and the seven (7) I nominated. I will leave a comment on each blog informing the nominees to come read this post about their nominations.

Now, for the seven (7) things people might find interesting about me; although, I'm not sure what about me might be interesting.

1. I had twenty-two school changes.
2. I lived in Morocco from October of eighth grade until April of ninth grade.
3. Guam is a place I would like to visit, since I lived there in part of the second and third grades.
4. I was born in Texas, but Oklahoma has always been home.
5. I thought marrying a man who had always stayed in one place for over twenty-two years would mean I wouldn't move very much -- boy, was I in for a surprise.
6. Robert and I have lived in thirty-six places in over forty-seven years.
7. We have lived in this house seventeen years -- home at last.

Guardian by Katie Hines will soon arrive

As the second part of the VBT Writers on the Move blog tour for August, I want to introduce Katie Hines' book Guardian.

First, let's learn a bit more about the author through her biography:

Katie Hines has been writing snippets here and there as long as she can remember. When in 8th grade, she wrote a short story called, “Underworld.” Then, in high school, she wrote several poems that were published in an anthology.

Marriage and raising two children contributed to putting away writing for a few years, but she came back to it while in her 40s. Since that time, she has been a contributing feature writer and columnist for a local newspaper, has written several features articles for another area newspaper, and wrote religious and humor articles for an online Catholic ezine.

Her short story, “My Name is Bib,” was published by the Loch Raven Review in October, 2008.

Finished with Guardian, Hines is currently working on another middle grade urban fantasy novel, as well as a couple of chapter books, and is extending “My Name is Bib” into a full young adult novel.

*****

Now, we'll learn more about the book through the synopsis provided by Katie in her media kit.

Imagine you have made a secret promise that can lead you to the discovery of an incredible treasure and an ancient power. But in order to fulfill that promise, you must defeat an age-old sect that is determined to claim the treasure and power themselves.

Drew Newman is ready to tell his friends a secret, but two strangers burst on the scene, demanding an ancient, magical, book. He plummets into a world of uncertainty and fear as his home is invaded and he desperately tries to find the book.

Aided by the mysterious Jean-Paul, Drew’s search takes him and friends to Oak Island, Nova Scotia, where he continues his search. Joined with his Grandpa Ian and cousin, Zea, the tension ratches up when Drew is kidnapped and he encounters the head of a sect that wants the book, a magical talisman and a treasure, for themselves.

Sprinkled with magic, Guardian explores the commitment of a boy determined to fulfill his promise to his mother and claim an uncertain destiny.

*****

Guardian will be available for advance ordering in about a month through 4RV Publishing.


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Introducing Katie Hines

The VBT - Writers on the Move August rotation starts today, August 1. 4RV Publishing has several authors who take part: Linda Asato, Lea Schizas, Crystalee Calderwood, Katie Hines, and me, Vivian Zabel.

Today I get to combine hosting a VBT member and introducing one of the 4RV authors. I will be giving more information about her book August 3.



Several months ago, Katie Hines submitted a manuscript to 4RV Publishing, a fantasy. Now, I read some fantasies, but I’m not a fanatic fan of the genre. However, I like good writing. Guardian made a good first read, but I hadn’t made a final decision. I didn’t know how teens would react to the story, how much editing would be needed, none of the details involved in accepting a manuscript.

At the time the company was extremely busy, and manuscripts were piling up faster than any of the editors could thoroughly go through them and decide what we wanted to accept. One of my grandsons, an avid and very exacting reader, found Guardian and read it.

He brought it to me and informed me that we needed to accept the book. He said it needed some work, but it would be worth it.

Ahh, he’s not a babe, so I can’t use the quote “from the mouths of babes” exactly, but he knew what he was talking about.

One of our excellent illustrators prepared a cover. One of our best editors is working with Katie. When the final revisions are finished, Guardian will be one of the best books in the fantasy genre, all due to a talented author -- Katie Hines.

Monday I will discuss the book more and show the cover.


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