National Wear (Read) Red Day

Today is National Wear Red Day, a day that highlights women’s heart health. To celebrate I’m wearing red today, and of course made sure my nephew was dressed in red as well.

            Can you tell I’m obsessed with him?

            I thought it would be fun for today’s Valentine’s Advent, to share books with red covers that I’ve read and enjoyed! Here are the next books you need to add to your TBR list.

Anna and the King of Siam

If you have ever watched The King and I then you will love the more historically accurate take about Anna Leonowens. This book is a little hard to get into, especially if you think it’s anything like the movie, Anna and the King, because it’s not. But it is interesting and the slow parts are worth it in the end.

Before the Sword

I’ve reviewed this book before but I had to add it to this list- especially since Lunar New Year just happened. I love this prequel to one of my favorite princesses. It follows the story line from the live action version, which is why the characters may seem a little different. But this is definitely a book you need to read for yourself or to your kids/classroom.

Catching Fire

I added this classic because I miss the days of reading this series for the first time and being on the edge of my seat. I think this is my favorite of the trilogy, the first one is okay, and the third one is too slow, but I like the added layer of mystery in this one because you don’t know who is on which side.

Redeeming Love

Redeeming Love is a classic love story based on the greatest Love of all time. The movie has finally come out but if you think the book itself would be rated PG13 so it’s not for a younger crowd, despite is amazing message of redemption.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

With the new movie coming out soon, I wanted to add this book from Hogwarts Library. I love adding these to my Harry Potter shelf!

Valentines Day Advent Day 4

Happy Wednesday

Friday the 2022 Winter Olympics kick off and today’s Valentine’s Day Advent I compiled all the fun books I could find on the Olympics for kids!

World Flags Coloring Book

World Flag Coloring Book- while you’re watching the opening ceremonies and throughout the games have your kids color the flags of countries that show up on the screen. This is a great way to teach and entertain!

I Spy Winter Olympics

Another great way to incorporate learning and the Olympics is this fun I Spy Winter Olympic Games book!

Dream Big Little Pig

This is a great little story to encourage your children to dream big, to try new things and believe in themselves!

How Mabel Fairbanks Changed Figure Skating (She Made History)

One of my favorite parts about this book are the illustrations! They fit the entire winter aesthetic and I like how the artist captures Mabel. I also love how the author takes a subject like race issues that is a major part of Mabel’s story and makes it understandable for kids. This is a great book for kids and classrooms!

Valentine and Chocolates

It’s day 3 of my Valentine Advent countdown (click the link here to read the first in this series.) and Valentine’s Day is synonymous with chocolates! Today is National Dark Chocolate Day and I went all out this year! I bought a set of silicone molds and of course it included Mickey molds! Now, I made mine without a filling because I don’t have talent in the kitchen, but of course if you have talent in the kitchen feel free to create your own!

But this DIY is for the ones, like me, who want something fun and easy to do in the kitchen.

Watch the Full Video By Clicking the Link BELOW!

Valentines Day Advent: Day 2

It’s the first of February! How time flies! It’s also day 2 of my Valentines Day Advent. Check the first blog post HERE.

Day 2: Romances to Read if you like….. (links below)

Before Midnight

Once Upon a Prince (And the entire Rachel Hauk Royal Wedding Series)

Fairest

Go the Distance

Weddings by Bella

Red Door Inn (Prince Edward Island Series)

February Book Lineup

I’m excited to dive into new books this coming month and I’ve gone through my TBR so that I don’t forget about the ones that have been waiting for me to read. I’m hoping to get to at least half of them but we’ll see with school and life, but I’m determined to get at least one read.

If I get more than that it will be a miracle honestly.

  • Break You Glass Slippers by Amanda Lovelace

Road to Valentines Day

I’m not usually a big celebrator of Valentines Day but I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite books and book accessories leading up to the holiday for those who needs gift ideas or are looking for books to read themed for the holiday.

Let’s start today!

Day 1: Disney Valentines Books

For those Disney Villain lovers this this cute picture book featuring all the classics from Ursula and Cruella and their henchman looking for the best gift to get their villainous masters.

PURCHASE HERE

Disney Junior Happy Valentine’s Day covers all your kid’s favorite Disney Junior characters all celebrating Valentines Day!

PURCHASE HERE

Do you have a someone in your life who loves Minnie Mouse? Then grab this sparkly fun book and give it to them for Valentines Day!

PURCHASE HERE

Finally, let’s end with a classic- Winnie the Pooh. I loved the Winnie Pooh Valentine movie growing up and this books is just too adorable to pass up!

PURCHASE HERE

My Dream Library

My dream is to one day have an entire room that is a library. I’ve seen so many Pinterest ideas of home libraries and I just want a job that I’d make enough to save up for it (or win the lottery, either option works).

Here’s a little peak to what my ideal library would look like (Pictures from Pinterest)

MY PINTEREST INSPIRATION

My FAVORITE Writing Quotes

As we wrap up January (wow that feels weird to type) I wanted to share a collection of my favorite quotes about writing and art in general.

Enjoy!

“They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those dream only by night.” – Edgar Allan Poe

“If you don’t see the book you want on the shelf, write it.” Beverly Cleary

“I am a part of everything that I have read.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“I think new writers are too worried that is has all been said before. Sure it has, but not by you.” -Asha Dornfest

“I have lived a thousand lives and I have loved a thousand loves. I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read.” -George R.R Martin

“A pen is to me as a beak is to a hen”. J.R.R Tolkien

“First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it. We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand.” – C.S Lewis

“The world does not need more Christian literature. What it needs is more Christians writing good literature.” C.S Lewis

How to Create a Media Kit

When you have a brand- whether as an author, blogger, or small business owner, you need to have a media kit.

What is a media kit?

Basically, it’s a group of documents with information about you and your brand. It can include your social media numbers (ie: followers, likes, saves, etc). It’s something that you can give to people when you’re pitching an idea, story, or your business. They used a lot for launches, events, etc. You’ll want to have one because it’s an easy way to sell whatever you are doing.

What’s in a media kit?

            Name

Business Name

            Event/Launch/Project

            Contact Info

            Numbers- followers, past attendance (if it’s an event), sales, etc.

            Testimonials

            Examples of your work- through images or excerpts from writing

How to make a media kit?

            I use Canva for the majority of my graphic design now. I do like Adobe products, but Canva is good when I need something quick and when I can’t afford to make my own graphics. It’s also FREE which is great perk!

            Here’s an example of a media kit:

Now this is obviously just a two-page version. If I was promoting my book to a blogger or even a reporter I’d provide my book cover, sales, blurb, reviews, and of course my book trailer (that you can watch here).

Media kits can be hard to make if you over think it. Just look at it as you telling people about yourself and what you’re trying to promote in a series of easy to read to documents and compelling images. Make it stand out so people won’t forget it (in a positive way).

What’s in a Book Cover?

I think the quote ‘Never judge a book by its cover’ is true for people and not for books. Because that’s how people judge books now. I’ve always been pulled towards books with great covers. The book may be great but if it doesn’t have a compelling or classic looking cover my eyes will graze right over it.

When creating my children’s books and my novel I decided to create the cover myself. I almost hired someone on Fiver to create the cover for my novel, but it was a piece of control over my book that I didn’t want to give up. Because I’m so connected to the book and its characters, I felt I would never be satisfied with someone else’s conception piece of a cover. I went through multiple ideas and a couple were ones I felt determined were THE ONE, but I eventually went with something completely different.

If you have the skills, I highly recommend you create your own cover. No one knows the story better than you. I learned Adobe InDesign and Photoshop in college, and I continued to work on these skills afterward.

When creating your cover make sure you:

  1. Think about the overall essence of the story. What part of your story do you want to use to draw readers in?
  2. Think about the genre and how other book covers in the genre look. You don’t want your book to look out of place beside its fellows.
  3. Think about what catches the eye. What will make the reader pull your book off the shelf? Ask friends and fellow readers of that genre.
  4. Think about the fonts- THEY MATTER!! Your potential readers need to be able to read the title without having to try to decipher the hieroglyphics you chose for a font.
  5. Make it unique. Some may disagree with me on this, but I think it’s important to be current yet unique. I didn’t make mine look like a painting like many others do- instead I used free images (which is an important thing to remember- don’t use copy righted photos!) and with a little Canva magic I created my cover.