Resiliency and The Girl Guide

Hi everyone! happy Monday. I wanted to take a moment this morning, and let you know about my latest release, THE GIRL GUIDE. Since this week’s topic is resiliency, I wanted to get things started by telling you about this book.

As many of  you know, this book is special to me. It contains everything I would – and have – told my girls about growing up a strong woman. At a time when women’s rights continue to be threatened in places in the world, and girls are getting bombarded with mixed messages about how they are supposed to act, I think the book has an important message.

Another reason I am thrilled for the book, is the advice contributed by some of the most amazing women I am privileged enough to call friends. Called “Notes to Self” in the book, these little nuggets are amazing. Thank you to the following list of women who shared their words and advice: Mona Chicks, Paula Earl, Rebekah Graham, Erin Hastedt, Stasia Kehow Ward, Jessi Kirby, Shelli Johannes, Heather McCorkle, Michelle McLean, Gretchen McNeil, Jen Merrill, Abby Mohaupt, Lisa Rivero, BE Sanderson, Melodye Shore, and my mom and grandmother. This group is nothing short of amazing! 

To celebrate the launch, Xpresso Book Tours is hosting a book blitz over the next couple of weeks, and with it, I am hosting a special Girl Guide giveaway. Before I get to the prizes, which include books and a gift certificate for either Amazon or Barnes and Noble, I want to tell you about a special photo opportunity associated with the giveaway…

As most of you know, Barnes and Noble picked up the Girl Guide for national distribution. In fact, it has end-cap display in the Teen section starting May 14. 

This is a first for any of my books to be picked up for large distribution and I am pretty dang giddy about it. SO, I am asking that you, my readers, find my book at your local Barnes and Noble, take a picture of it, and post it online somewhere. If you do, it counts as TEN ENTRIES for the giveaway.

Epic, yes????

Okay, so the rest of the specifics:

Giveaway runs from TODAY through June 1 and it is open internationally. Of course, there is nothing you “need” to do other than complete the form below, though I am giving extra entries for various things – like the picture op. (Can you tell I am excited to see pictures!). Winners are randomly chosen.

Here is what you can win:

1) $100 gift certificate for Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) PLUS a copy of the Girl Guide and swag (1 prize)

2) An annotated galley proof of the Girl Guide with my comments throughout, PLUS book swag (1 prize)

3) A copy of the Girl Guide plus book swag (3 prizes)

Complete the form below to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Come back Weds and I will post about resiliency and adolescence! See you then

Change of Plans and Some Exciting Times

Hi everyone! I had planned on introducing a new blog author today. However, we have not finalized her participation. So, I thought I’d use today to introduce you to my upcoming nonfiction book, The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed-Up World

I am so excited to bring this book to all of you. Written for girls from grades 6-9, this book focuses on resiliency and becoming strong young women, something important to both gifted and typical girls. Here is the blurb from Amazon:

Finding your unique voice in a noisy world can be hard–very hard. But not if you have a great guide! The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed-Up World is a must-read for girls in grades 6-8 as they enter the tumultuous world of adolescence. Packed with fun worksheets and quizzes, as well as stories from older girls and women, The Girl Guide covers everything a teenage girl needs to know on the journey toward her own identity. Proven strategies for dealing with stress management, confronting relational aggression, being safe online, navigating the changing mother-daughter relationship, and more make this the ultimate guide for any girl to get through the teen years and discover her unique point of view in the world.

Review copies of the book are just making their way into the world. If you are interested in being considered for one, please follow the link to complete the form. I can’t guarantee you’ll get one, but completing the form is the only way to be considered. Or, you can pre-order your copy from your favorite retailer today! Amazon and Barnes and Noble both have it at a great price. 

And keep your receipts if you decide to pre-order – I am planning a pretty EPIC giveaway for anyone that pre-orders the book. More on that next month

 

 

Rare Weekend Post Part II

So, it has been a crazy week with surprise releases (Check out my other blog for that story), 50+ hour days and being way past due on my manuscript turn in. It has also brought a little news about The Girl Guide that I am allowed to share….

THE COVER!

Not the final final cover, but one that is pretty darn close.

So… what do you guys think?

 

Better Late Than Never…

Well, today has come…and gone…and yea. I was supposed to post the September BTS giveaway winners and post a book review. #FAIL!!!

I have been insanely swamped with work, the release of a novel and the edits of The Girl Guide.

But, here I am, with the winners. That’s something, right…

So without further adieu, I present the Annotated Galley Winners:

LORI – Annotated unbound galley of Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students (with my notes)

BETSY ICKES – Annotated unbound galley of 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids (with my notes)

CONGRATS. And…

back to the editing cave I go…

A Rare Weekend Post

Yes, I know. I don’t typically post on the weekend. But I received exciting news and just had to share.

For those of you who have seen my recent status updates and such around the web, you know that I have a nonfiction book for girls coming out in the Spring from Prufrock Press. You may also know that I have been deep in “find a title” mode with the book. That and trying to finish up the manuscript.

I am happy to tell you all that a little progress has been made. I now have a title. And a working backcover blurb. And a release date.

And a cover…

But more on that later.

For this weekend, as I desperately try to finish up the manuscript and hit “send”, I wanted to share the title and blurb.

So….*cue drum roll*

May I present my latest nonfiction project:

Title: The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed-Up World

Release Date: April 1, 2013

Blurb: 

Finding your unique voice in a noisy world can be hard. Very hard. But not if you have a great guide! “The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed-Up World” is a must read for girls in grades 6-9 as they enter the tumultuous world of adolescence. Packed with fun worksheets and quizzes, as well as stories from older girls and women, “The Girl Guide” covers everything a teenage girl needs to know on the journey toward her own identity. Proven strategies for dealing with stress management, confronting relational aggression, being safe online, navigating the changing mother-daughter relationship, and more make this the ultimate guide for any girl to get through the teen years and discover her unique point of view in the world. 

Now…the cover news…

After taking a lot of notes from parents and girls, we have a cover. Sadly, it’ll be a few days until I can share it. But…trust me, when I can it’ll be giveaway time yet again.

Speaking of giveaways – The giveaway for the annotated galleys from my first two nonfiction books, Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students and 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids, is still happening. Check it out and enter the giveaway while you can. It closes on 9/11/2012. 

I am really exciting for The Girl Guide. I can’t wait to share it with all of you!

Happy September…with a little giveaway

Hi all!

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend in the US. For me, I spent it knee-deep in edits for a new non-fiction book for girls that I am more than a little excited for. But more on that in future posts.

Today I wanted to introduce the month, our theme and a little September giveaway. As you can see, I’ve been busy rearranging a few things around her. I still have a lot to do, but it’s a start.

With September starting, it’s time to introduce a new topic – Surviving School 101. Our blogging schedule is on the right.

As I thought about what I wanted to say this month, I thought about the two books I have out and realized I’ve said a lot on the topic already. So, to celebrate going back to school (not to mention finally making some real progress on my edits) I have a very special giveaway for all of you.

I am giving away the annotated, unbound galleys for Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students AND 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids.

Both galleys (unbound copies of the book just before publication) have been marked up with notes by me, giving you a peek into my head as I read through my own book. Scary I know.

Entering is easy – just leave a comment on THIS post between now and Sept 11. I will pick two random commenters to win. Easy Peasy, right.

Good luck and be sure to spread the word (and leave another comment each time you do!).

What a fun way to start the month. I’ll be back at the end of the month to share a few thoughts on the topic. Until then, good luck with everything.

New Bookish News

Happy Monday everyone!

I am so excited to announce the sale of my latest nonfiction book, tentatively called Parenting Introverts. This book, sold to Prufrock Publishing, will be the latest in my books for parents and focuses on the unique needs of introverted children. Written in the same conversational style as Emotional Intensity and my other nonfiction works, Parenting Introverts discusses the hard-wiring of temperament, strategies for enhancing the strengths of an introvert and specific tools to work through some of the more difficult issues that may arise. In addition to the various strategies throughout the book, Parenting Introverts will also feature specific stories of parents and their introverted children. The book is slated for an October 2013 release.

WOO HOO!!!

And in related bookish news, my current nonfiction project, Redefining Normal, a book for teenage girls about resiliency, is being released in June 2013 – several months early. SO SO SO exciting.

Be on the look out for contests and such as we get closer to the release.

OH! And be sure to come back next week when I reveal a fresh, new look for the blog as well as introduce new features and contributors. So much fun!

Redefining Normal – New Book News

Happy Monday! I have been loving the posts and conversations on the blog of late. THANK YOU everyone – new contributors and new readers!

Today, I thought I’d share an announcement with all of you:

Prufrock Press is publishing my third nonfiction book, entitled:

REDEFINING NORMAL: A Girl’s Guide to Embracing Her Identity and Realizing Her Potential

I am very excited for this book. It is sort of a gift to my own girls, and something I have been working on for the last several months. As described in the original proposal, REFINING NORMAL covers all aspects of resiliency, including social acceptance, self-efficacy, and emotional balance. I provides girls with evidence-based strategies to understand, evaluate and develop their own resiliency. Furthermore, it covers some areas unique to girls, including relational aggression, cyber-bullying, social acceptance, peer pressure, and empowerment.

One of my favorite aspects of the book includes stories from other teens and adults about their personal experiences finding their own unique voice.  If you would like to contribute your story, or participate in this project in some other way, please CLICK HERE and complete this form.

REDEFINING NORMAL is slated to come out in the Fall of 2013.  I hope you will be part of this exciting project in some way! I am planning a mini-series on resiliency as it relates to giftedness starting next week. Hope to see you then as well.

I interrupt this blog to…

Hey all!

I just had to tell you about a few giveaways and deep ramblings related to my fiction life! The Requiem Series is officially out with the release of DIES IRAE. And, to celebrate, I am doing a virtual tour. Today, I’m getting all deep talking about the creative process (a la Rollo May and Paul Tillich), writing about the dark stuff (a la Jung), and what the titles (DIES IRAE and LACRIMOSA) actually refer too (a la Mozart). Check it out if you like my deep philosophical ramblings.

Oh, and be sure to check out my blog for the current contests to win your OWN copy of the novella (suitable for teens and adults alike).

WOO HOO!

A Quick Congrats!

Hi everyone! Hope your week is starting off well. I wanted to sneak in with a quick CONGRATS for the winner of the SEIZE THE STORY giveaway -

DONNA!

Hope you and your daughter enjoy it.

I’ll be back on Tuesday with another one of the common myths related to giftedness. See you then!