Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools by By Victoria Twead is amazing!

My review follows Twead’s blurb on Amazon.

**Wall Steet Journal Top 10 bestseller**
**New York Times bestselling author**

“If Joe and Vicky had known what relocating to a tiny mountain village in Andalucía would REALLY be like, they might have hesitated… 
They have no idea of the culture shock in store. No idea they’ll become reluctant chicken farmers and own the most dangerous cockerel in Spain. No idea they’ll help capture a vulture or be rescued by a mule. 
Will they stay, or return to the relative sanity of England?
Includes Spanish recipes donated by the village ladies.”

The Telegraph– “a colourful glimpse of Andalucían life. And a psychopathic chicken or two…charming…funny”

I loved this book and am excited to read the rest of Twead’s books in this series. What did I NOT like about this book? Nothing! Aside from being extremely well-written, Twead finely wove this tale and added the right humorous punch when needed. I love reading about ex-pats in new countries and I wasn’t let down. This travel memoir is purely entertaining, funny, full of pictures, and visions of what happened in the course of five or so years. Five stars!

Today I’m pleased to present Val Rainey author of “Sunny’s Grand Adventure”, “Fun and Frolic” and her latest project “Down on the Farm”.  I’ve attached my review at the end of this feature.

Hello Val, welcome to my blog. Please tell my readers, how did you come to writing?

My first literary masterpiece was  a critique of Anne Sewell’s Black Beauty in grade four. I was less than impressed with the treatment of the horse. My grandmother accused me of being an animal activist.

How do you come up with your stories?

The characters and ideas come to me. I don’t actively pursue them. It could be our neighbour’s two dogs playing and yapping outside or the crazy woodpecker who likes to run up and down the length of our roof. When he gets to the top of the chimney he plays with the cover grate. Sounds like I’ll have to write a story about him/her.

Is there a message in your stories you would like your readers to grasp?

All my characters get along and help each other. They tell the reader “Hey, if we can get along why can’t humans?”

In Sunny’s Grand Adventure the main message is when you have a dream go for it and never let anyone tell you that it’s impossible to make come true.

People have told me that Sunny’s Grand Adventure is perfect for every situation from pre-K to Psych 101 classes.

You have created great characters. Which one is your favorite?

In Sunny’s Grand Adventure I would have to say it’s Nahala the wolf. She is a no nonsense wolf. She warns Sunny that flying could be dangerous for her because she doesn’t have wings.

How much of your book is realistic? Are the experiences based on someone you know or events in your life?

I guess the real question is “Does this apply to real life?” Now it is clearer and easier to answer.

Is Sunny’s Grand Adventure based on me or someone I know?

I’ve never known any flying daisies but I have some special dreams of my own. I always try to be supportive of them even if the dream seams a bit ‘whacky’. Hey, if you can’t dream big…….don’t’ bother!

Who would you cast to play the characters in a movie?

It would have to be animated but I would love to have Patrick Stewart be the voice of Redhawke.

Are you like any of the characters (and how so)?

I’d have to say I’m a lot like Sunny and Nahala. When I get ahold of an idea I can be very shall we say “determined”.

Were the plot and subplots completely planned from the start or did they change during the process, and if so, how?

Say what? The characters told me what happened and I was simply the recording secretary. They let me know at every opportunity when I went astray. Since Sunny is a story/colouring book there really isn’t a sub plot.

What is your main reason for writing?

It is a very special gift from God and besides I love having something fun to read. I realized many years ago that if I want something fun to read I might just as well write it.

What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?

Best aspects……discovering the beginning of the story and the fun of interacting with the characters even when they get grumpy!

Worst aspects…….when the characters start quarreling and won’t let me write. Some days trying to get up a head of steam can be a challenge.

Please share a little of your current work in progress or ideas for your next novel?

My current project is the second volume of The Sunshine Collection. It is called “Down on the Farm” and is a collection of very short one or two page stories of the animals and people at Howell Farm.

I will put up one of the stories at http://www.theelfandtoadstool.ca under Down on the Farm.

It is still in the works but you can always purchase the first volume called “Fun and Frolic” at http://www.theelfandtoadstool.ca and of course, Sunny!

How do you balance marketing one book and writing the next?

Sometimes I spend so much time trying to write that the only place I manage to market is on Facebook. I would sooooo love to have help in the marketing area. So for anyone reading this article……..help!

What do you do when you don’t write?

Oh wowie. Where do I start? I love crocheting, scrapbooking, reading and going for walks with Brian (my sweetie)

Who are your editors and how do you quality control your books?

Sunny’s Grand Adventure is the only book I’ve had professionally edited. I met Judy O’Shea at a local women entrepreneur evening here in Lethbridge. She was wonderful! I had many friends and authors read Sunny before I sent it to Judy and even she found goodies to fix up.

Brian is also a great help because he doesn’t read the story before it is finished so that he has fresh eyes. I know you’re thinking…..bad move…….no way Brian is never shy about pointing out hiccups!

How have you found the experience of self-publishing? What were your highs and lows?

Self-publishing Sunny was a total blast. I suppose some day I might have to deal with editors but for now…..no thanks.

The real low was all the corrections I had to make before handing in the final dummy. Oh! One day I discovered that Sunny had a great beginning and ending…………but oops……no middle. Solution… create Jamie and Thunder.

What is your advice to new independent writers?

Read, read, and read some more especially in your favourite genre. Reading helps you pick out the really great writers from the wannabees. If you are reading a passage and the author just prattles along about who is wearing what other than at a high fashion show…….run!

When you are ready to publish……read this very carefully……NEVER deal with a vanity press! If a publisher wants money from you to publish your story…….run!! I don’t mean places like Create Space but most of the others. If a publishing house wants to carry your work they pay for it…..always!!!

Some authors use really poor grammar. They even begin sentences with conjunctions. To me that is lazy, unprofessional and an insult to the reader. They do this to create and instant focus. Read my dots. It.doesn’t.work! Whatever interrupts the flow is wrong, just plain wrong. You’re saying, “Well if the Chicago style of writing says it’s ok why not?”

Just because they say so does that automatically make it right?

Who are your favorite independent writers?

Wow! I’ve read some lovely books by Samantha Mozart aka Carol Child. Her first book about her experiences with caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s is very close to my heart as my own mom had it. Carol’s book is called “Begins the Night Music”. It is available at Amazon.

Wendy McClelland’s “27 Steps to Freedom” is also very poignant.It is her journey from  being very seriously ill to learning to walk again. It is available at her website wendymcclelland.com.

Who are your favourite authors and what is your favourite book?

I have two favourite authors.  On is Edith Partiger aka Ellis Peters who wrote the Brother Cadfael historical/mystery series about a Benedictine monk at the turn of the 12^th century in England and Wales. My other is Lillian Jackson Braun of “The Cat Who” fame. Both of these wonderful ladies books are suitable for all ages.

Do you work with an outline or do you just write?

Mostly I write the bones and then build the story around them. For example in my current massive project Marigold and The Unity, I write the basics of who does what when and where and the reactions. By the time I finish the ‘outline’ of a section I’m ready for all the filler as in why did this happen and what is/was the result.

What makes you laugh?

About reading? Cozy mysteries, dogs at play, old time movies. They are sooooooo corny. I love noticing silly errors in movies or TV series especially with props and wardrobe. 

In general…… watching dogs play and trying to catch birds. Forget it boys it ain’t gonna happen.

What (not who) would you like to take to a lonely island?

An endless supply of my favourite yellow newsprint paper writing pads and lots of pens and pencils…….Oh, I guess I’d need a desk and really comfy chair. The entire Brother Cadfael collection and The Cat Who series.

Who would you like to invite for dinner?

How about Patrick Stewart? I have always been a huge fan of his…..especially his beautiful grammar…….sigh.

What would your friends say are your best and your oddest quality?

Let’s see. My best quality I would have to say is honesty and being able to give my opinion or advice ‘straight from the hip’.

My oddest? I guess I’d have to say jabbering away to myself when I’m writing. Hey, we need someone to talk to as we work!

Tell us about your other books?

Okie dokie…..The Sunshine Collection is a series of books which will eventually have at least 5 separate books.

I am also working on a series about a dragon named…..are you ready for it? Marigold. She was originally to be just one book but part way through I realized that wasn’t going to work.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

Well, no one has been vaporized yet. I am always open to ideas and suggestions. When you are the writer it isn’t always so easy to write from the reader’s perspective. So often I will be writing and can see what’s going on……you know the ‘but’ is coming…..uh, oh it isn’t on the page.

I used to belong to an online critique group. One piece of Marigold that I offered up for critique had a member telling me that one simple sentence needed to be its own chapter……Yikes.

I really believe that belonging to a critique group is the greatest gift that an author can give to themselves and other authors.

My Review

I found the story of Sunny to be a delightful read. The drawings are nicely done, (only black and white), and ready for kids to color them in. Can you imagine being a daisy, and flying with a sparrow? Fun is it not?

Author Bio

Hi! Iive in beautiful southern Alberta, Canada in a city of almost 100,000 people with my wonderlful husband Brian. Just us, no cats or dogs except for two funny little furries next door.Hey, don’t laugh we’re the fourth largest in the province.

I was born in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada on December 16th 1953 which makes me one of the clown princes of the Zodiac, Sagittarius!

I have been asked many times why I write and I find that the answer is always the same.

I have to. It’s that simple. My maternal grandmother wrote journals and my mom wrote some poetry and verses as a teenager.

Several years ago I discovered that my maternal Great Grandfather and Great Great Grandfather were fabulous writers.

So it appears that I must carry the torch and continue the family tradition.

For more fun and adventures visit my web sites at

http://www.raineydaywritingandresearch.com

or

http://www.theelfandtoadstool.ca

Facebook Author Page  

Facebook Personal Page

Pinterest

Find me on Twitter   @valrainey26

Goodreads Author Page  

Website:  http://www.theelfandtoadstool.ca and http://www.raineydaywritingandresearch.com

Jonathan’s Locket by Lorraine Carey

My review follows Carey’s book blurb found on Amazon.

“Orphaned Jonathan Palmer is a fifteen year old stowaway aboard the doomed ship The Convert which was part of the fleet that crashed into the reef on Grand Cayman in 1794. This famous shipwreck was known as the Wreck of the Ten Sails. Jonathan was not lucky enough to survive the wreck along with eight other seamen. Problem was, no one ever knew he was even on board.

Two centuries later strange sightings have been reported of ghost ships, screams and eerie lights off the east end of Grand Cayman. Brandon Wallace, a troubled teen seems to acquire a strange affliction and begins to have bizarre encounters from the sea where he befriends a mystical sea turtle who holds the secrets to the mysterious sightings as he plunges into the world of the paranormal. Here he is compelled to embark on a dangerous journey, risking his life to uncover the dark secret of Jonathan’s death. This task proves to be even more dangerous when one of Brandon’s closest friends has other plans for him. This book won a Silver Award from Reader’s Favorite for Young Adult Mystery.”

From Carey’s book blurb, I knew this was a must read book for me. I wasn’t disappointed! An adventurous teenager in 1794, Jonathan Palmer, stows away on a doomed ship, The Convert, and there ensues this wonderfully written story. Orphans want to know about their past, really who they are, and Jonathan has a locket containing a lock of blonde hair – hair that belonged to his mother. Jonathan’s friend, and seasoned seaman, Peter, helps Jonathan stow away on this adventure. The narrative is written so well that one feels that they truly see the setting before them. I recommend this highly entertaining book for all young adults. Five stars!