Blog Tour (Excerpt, Book Trailer, Giveaway): SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW by Patty Blount (YA)

It’s been two years since the night that changed Ashley's life and two years of hell for Derek. When it all comes to a head at Thanksgiving, will these siblings be able to salvage their relationship? From the award-winning author of Some Boys comes an unflinching examination of rape culture that delves into a family torn apart by sexual assault.

SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW
by Patty Blount
Release date: August 7th, 2018
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Format: Paperback, eBook
Trigger Warning: Rape

SUMMARY

It's been two years since the night that changed Ashley's life. Two years since she was raped by her brother's teammate. And a year since she sat in a court and watched as he was given a slap on the wrist sentence. But the years have done nothing to stop the pain.

It's been two years of hell for Derek. His family is totally messed up and he and his sister are barely speaking. He knows he handled it all wrong. Now at college, he has to come to terms with what happened, and the rape culture that he was inadvertently a part of that destroyed his sister's life.

When it all comes to a head at Thanksgiving, Derek and Ashley have to decide if their relationship is able to be saved. And if their family can ever be whole again. 

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BOOK TRAILER - SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW

EXCERPT

Copyright© 2018 Someone I Used To Know

Patty Blount

Derek

Now

Long Island, New York

My sister hates me.

Ashley’s hated me for a couple of years now and it’s okay. I wanted her to hate me and did whatever I could to make it happen. Of course, that was before I knew what hate really meant. Now that I get it, I can’t change it, can’t undo all the shit I did, can’t fix what went wrong. So I suffer.

See, hate is a meaningless word. Everybody tosses the word around like it’s confetti, diluting it, rendering it about as effective as a Band-aid over an amputated limb to describe how they feel about every little thing that annoys them. They hate this song, that food, that person, or this movie. They hate homework, hate their teachers, hate their parents. They hate this team and that game. They hate every damn thing but nobody has even the smallest clue what hate really means unless they’re the object of it. 

The focus of it.

Hating somebody is more than you stop caring about them, and it’s more than not wanting to see that person ever again. It’s this need—an urge you can barely control—to make that person suffer. True hate goes all the way down to your bone marrow. Sometimes, it’s glacier cold and infinitely patient; other times, it’s surface-of-the-sun hot and bullet fast.

Ashley hates me in that glacier cold, slow-moving kind of hate. It leaves me permanently frost-bitten and has this really annoying habit of shadowing me around even when she can’t. Like right now—I’m surrounded by flyers. One was slipped under my dorm room door, another was stuck on the exit door of my building, the third was stuffed into my hand when I ordered some breakfast and this one is folded into one of those little tent cards and placed on top of every single table in the dining hall. I’ve been on campus at Rocky Hill University—several states and hundreds of miles away from my sister—for a few weeks, relieved to be away, to be anonymous, to be on my own. Mom and Dad wanted to come with me, set up my dorm room, have the big sloppy farewell like they did when Justin left for college four years before, but I wanted no part of that. I just wanted to be gone. Free. When Dad got the last of my crap into the car and asked if I’d said my goodbyes to everybody, I’d said yes.

But I hadn’t.

I’d tried to say goodbye to Ashley. She held up a hand and said. “Just go.” It had cut deeply, but I knew I deserved it, so I did.

I’d climbed into the passenger seat. Mom came to the front door and waved as Dad pulled out of the driveway. Ashley stood behind her, freezing me with that same cold, dead stare she’d been saving just for me since the trial. I kicked back, happy to be rid of her for the next four years.

And what happens?

Everywhere I look…reminders of her.

The flyers announce You Can Stop Campus Sex Assault! Blue paper, white text, announcing we’re gonna Take Back The Night.

Great.

There’s a huge rally being planned for Homecoming week—Rock Stock here. Because we’re the Rockets.

Of course, it would be homecoming week, because, like I said, I must suffer.

There will be guest speakers and live music and a candlelight vigil for all the survivors of sexual assault. I flip it over to read my favorite part: Are you a guy against rape? Join GAR today!

GAR. I wonder if people say it with a rolling R, like a pirate. Garrrrrrrr.

Oh, and the coach informed us the entire football team would don special uniforms for that game, showing our support. 

Awesome.

I crumble up the collection of flyers into a single giant ball and shove my breakfast aside, my stomach churning up acid. I was already planning on being hurt, injured, or maybe both that day.

“Hey, Derek.”

I glance up into the smiling face of Brittany Meyers, my girlfriend. We actually met in high school but didn’t hook up until we both arrived here. “Hey, Britt.” I sit up a little straighter, shove thoughts of my sister the hell out of my brain. Brittany’s hot in that girl-next-door way. Her long blond hair’s tied up in a loose knot with strands hanging loose. She’s wearing a tank top, shorts and flip-flops and her toes are painted an electric green and my mouth goes suddenly sand-paper dry. Happens every time.

Quickly, I take a sip of orange juice. A big one.

“What’s this?” She indicates my balled up collection of flyers and I shrug. Understanding dawns a second later. “Oh. The rally.”

“Yeah. That.” I rub the side of my face, scratch at the scar near my temple.

“You’re gonna go, right?” 

Hell, no. I shake my head. “No way. I’m the last person who should be there.”

She slides into the chair opposite mine, covers my hand with hers and my whole body heats up. “Derek, you’re the best person to be at that rally. You get it. A lot of guys claim they get it and have no clue. But you do.”

I look into her big blue eyes for a minute and finally decide she believes her own bullshit. And then I decide she’s right. I do have a clue. In fact, I have the whole mystery solved. And because I do, there’s no way in hell I’m going anywhere near that rally because I don’t need the entire university knowing I’m Derek Lawrence, the guy whose sister is the Bellford High School Rape Victim.

That’s what the media called her.

Ashley was barely fourteen when it happened. A minor. So her identity was protected. But she took her story public, posting a detailed account to her do-it-yourself website. And she included my role in it. Now, everybody from feminist bloggers to Matt Lauer knows our names.

So, yeah. I don’t want my whole school saying, “Oh! You’re that Derek Lawrence.”

Yep. The Derek Lawrence that played a stupid game that got his sister raped and then told a court of law that to go easy on her rapist. The same Derek Lawrence who drove away and left her standing alone in an empty parking lot, putting the whole friggin’ ordeal into motion.

Self-hatred runs another ice cold finger across my bare skin and I shiver, reminding myself I deserve this…deserve every second of it.

GIVEAWAY

Rafflecopter for SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW First Look Giveaway!!!

Patty is offering Five (5) lucky winners a special prize pack consisting of:

- a $10 Amazon Gift Card, 

- a paperback copy of Some Boys, 

- and an advanced e-copy of SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW. 

To enter for your chance to win one of these exciting prizes, 

please fill out the Rafflecopter link below:

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*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales is not responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Patty Blount

Patty Blount grew up quiet and somewhat invisible in Queens, NY, but found her voice writing smart and strong characters willing to fight for what's right. 

Today, she's the award-winning author of edgy, realistic, gut-wrenching contemporary and young adult romance. 

Still a bit introverted, she gets lost often, eats way too much chocolate, and tends to develop mad, passionate crushes on fictional characters... and actors like Gilles Marini... and Sam Heughan. Okay, so Patty's not nearly as cool as her characters, but she is a solid supporter of women's rights and loves delivering school presentations.

Patty is best known for her internet issues novels, including SOME BOYS, a 2015 CLMP Firecracker winner and RWA Rita Finalist, and SEND, a 2012 Junior Library Guild Fall Pick. Her upcoming release, SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW, has already been selected as a 2018 Junior Library Guild Fall Pick. 

Visit her website at pattyblount.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter. 

She blogs at YA Outside the Lines and is also active on Twitter and Facebook.

When she's not writing, Patty loves to watch bad sci-fi movies, live tweeting the hilarity, and scour Pinterest for ideas on awesome bookcases.

Patty lives on Long Island with her family in a house that, sadly, lacks bookcases. 

She loves hearing from readers, especially when they tell her she's cool (even though she knows it's not true), and is easily bribed with chocolate. Never underestimate the power of chocolate. 

Connect with Patty: 

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / GOODREADS / AMAZON / BOOKBUB

Blog Tour (Excerpt and Giveaway): SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Katie McGarry (YA)

I am so very excited and happy to be able to share with you today an excerpt from Katie McGarry's latest book, SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME!!! A story of two people from different worlds pushing themselves, and each other, to get what they deserve! 

Katie McGarry is one of the few first authors that I was able to meet and interview in person when I first started reviewing books and blogging - she is such a wonderful person! And all of her books (that I have already read, I'm a few books behind, lol!) are favorites of mine :) 

SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME

by Katie McGarry

Release date: January 30th, 2018

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

"Doesn't matter who did it. Not anymore. I did the time. It's over."

When Drix was convicted of a crime - one he didn't commit - he thought his life was over.

But an opportunity came with the Second Chance Program, the governor's newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while. 

Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor's daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn't may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means. 

When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle's parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix's messy life.

But sometimes love can breach all barriers.

Fighting against a society that can't imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves - Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence - and each other to finally get what they deserve. 

Grab your copy of SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME here!

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks 

Google Play / BAM / Kobo

EXCERPT

Hendrix

“Everyone says you have a blank slate.” My brother Axle sits beside me on the ground, arms resting on his bent knees, and he stares at the bonfire I built with my own two hands with only flint and sticks. It’s one of the many tricks I learned over the last three months. That and how to survive on my own in the middle of nowhere.

Trees and bears I can handle. It’s not knowing who I can trust, now that I’m home, that’s the problem. Axle knows this. It’s why he’s next to me as our friends and family walk around the backyard for the impromptu “Welcome Home” party I told Axle I didn’t want.

Someone in this yard is the reason why I spent a year away from home for a crime I didn’t commit.

My neck tenses and I roll it in an attempt to release the anger. It took me close to eight months to find some Zen, and it has taken less than thirty minutes for some of the old underlying rage that followed me around like a black thunderhead to return.

Across from us, two girls I used to go to school with are roasting marshmallows. They’re waiting for me to talk to them. That’s who I was before: the smooth talker, the guy who made girls laugh and caused them to light up with a few specially chosen words. The right smile dropped at the right time, and panties would be shed. But I don’t feel up for conversation and I don’t feel like manipulating anyone anymore.

Crazy—I used to thrive when surrounded by people. The more, the better. But after being in juvenile detention for seven months and spending three in the wilderness taking part in an Outward Bound program for troubled teens, I’m more at ease by myself in front of a fire.

“They’ve all confirmed you’re walking out of all this with sealed records,” Axle continues.

Hel’s leaving out the part of how those records only remain sealed if I uphold my end of the plea deal—the agreement I made with the district attorney after I was arrested. I agreed to plead guilty, and the DA didn’t charge me as an adult and send me to hard-core prison. Considering we had no money for a lawyer to help prove my innocence, the deal sounded like the better of two bad options.

“You’re getting a massive second chance,” Axle says.

It was rotten luck that got me into this mess, but it happened at the right time. Our governor was searching for screwed-up teens to use for his pilot program. Someone high up in the world thought I stood a chance at turning my life around, but that second chance comes with a price. A price my brother is currently breaking down for me.

“This is a good thing. A blank slate. Not many people get one of those.”

Blank slate. That’s what I’m scared of. I may not have liked parts of the person I was before I was arrested, but at least I knew who I was. This blank slate, this chance to create someone new, scares me. This is a new type of pressure. At least I had a good excuse for being a delinquent before. Now, if I mess up, it’s because I’m truly broken.

The fire crackles then pops, and embers rise into the late May night. My younger sister laughs at the other end of the narrow yard near the aging shotgun house, and the sound is like an eight-eight beat with a high hat cymbal. It’s welcomed, and it’s the first time this feels like home.

She’s sixteen now, grown up faster than I’d prefer, and she’s one of the four people I love more than my own life. She’s also the only reason I’m still out here instead of holed up in my room. According to Axle, it was Holiday’s idea to set up the party.

Old Christmas lights are strung from one towering oak tree to the next, zigzagging green, red and blue across the yard. Most people brought their own chairs and a dish to share. My first meal as a free man and it’s hamburgers, hot dogs, and potato salad. I don’t have the heart to tell her I would have given my left ball for a slice of thick crust pizza.

“She missed you,” Axle says, catching my train of sight.

“I missed her, too.” Those are my first words since we pulled into the driveway. I used to be the life of the party, but that was before, and as I said, I don’t know who I am anymore, so for now, I’m quiet.

“I missed you,” he says in such a low tone I barely catch it. “We weren’t the same without you.”

I take a deep breath because I’m not sure any of us will be the same again.

Order your copy of SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME, register and you will receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER, a novella that features your favorite PUSHING THE LIMITS and THUNDER ROAD characters!!! 

From the PUSHING THE LIMITS series, Noah, Beth, Isaiah, West, and Logan are all grown up. Catch up with your favorite characters as one of them finally says, I DO!

Pigpen, Eli, and Addison from the THUNDER ROAD series: 

Three separate personalities who still needed to find love... and still had someone important to meet.

This is a limited time offer! SO HURRY!

Registration ends on February 3, 2018!

You must register your order to receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

https://a.pgtb.me/4tLZSM

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*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales is not responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Katie McGarry

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. 

She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full-length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. 

Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS, was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick.

DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine's Reviewer's Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

LINKS: Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads 

Pinterest / Tumbler / Instagram

Blog Tour (Excerpt and Giveaway): THE WAY IT HURTS by Patty Blount (YA)

I am so very happy to be able to share with you today the release of another contemporary book by Patty Blount!

I have been reading and following Patty Blount since her debut of SEND was released back in 2012. She is a local Long Island author who usually uses NY as the settings to her stories; and who writes about real life teen topics that are very important and that everyone should read more about! 

"In Patty Blount's THE WAY IT HURTS, two teens' quest for fame goes terribly wrong when a single tweet goes viral and the online backlash follows them into real life. Fans of Gayle Forman's If I Stay will like how main characters Elijah and Kristen bond over their music in this edgy, real world contemporary young adult read that examines the impact social media has on the lives of today's youth."

THE WAY IT HURTS

by Patty Blount

Release date: August 1st, 2017

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Formats: Paperback (352 pages), eBook

SUMMARY

There may be two sides to every story, but sometimes there's only one way to set things right...

Music is Elijah's life. His band plays loud and hard, and he'll do anything to get them a big break. He needs that success to help take care of his sister, who has special needs. So he'd rather be practicing when his friends drag him to a musical in the next town... until the lead starts to sing.

Kristen dreams of a career on stage like her grandmother's. She knows she needs an edge to get into a competitive theater program - and being the star in her high school musical isn't going to cut it. The applause and the attention only encourage her to work harder. 

Elijah can't take his eyes off of Kristen's performance, and his swooning face is captured on camera and posted with an out-of-context comment. It goes viral. Suddenly, Elijah and Kristen are in a new spotlight as the online backlash spins out of control. And the consequences are bigger than they both could have ever imagined because these threats don't stay online... they follow them into real life. 

ADVANCED PRAISE FOR The Way It Hurts

"Blount writes authentically; both protagonists' voices are distinct. The author explores the rapidly consuming world of social media and how it affects relationships online and in real life. A relevant read and must-have for all YA collections." 
- School Library Journal

"Elijah and Kristen's personal evolutions through the novel, along with their chemistry, feel as authentic as the conflicts they face. A genuine plot filled with steady tension that twill keep readers hooked." 
- RT Book Reviews 

"This book sensitivity covers topics such as sexism, handicapping conditions, communication, and ageism. Agency is also shown when Kristen says she wants to pursue studying in a conservatory rather than continue in the band and the three young men acknowledge her wish. Talking about what bothers us rather than trying to guess another person's feelings is demonstrated through the actions of the characters. The characters' issues are eventually resolved through hard work and understanding, making this an interesting and informative read." 
- School Library Connection 


EXCERPT

Elijah took my hands. "Okay, look. Maybe you're right. Maybe these people are taking this whole battle thing way too seriously. If you're scared, then we'll stop. No more posts except for appearance information."

"So no more battle of the sexes, no more make Kris scream?"

He held up his hand. "Swear to God."

"Okay." I sighed in relief. "You'd really do that?"

He leaned closer and repeated the vow. "I promise, Kris."

And just like that, I forgot why I was mad at him. I couldn't talk, couldn't breather, couldn't even blink because I was afraid he'd let go. This was the part of him I adored. I clung to him for a long moment, and when his gaze drifted to my mouth, I wondered if - hoped - prayed - he'd finally kiss me.

And then, Etta's voice suddenly spoke inside my head.

"Well, my God, darling, it's the twenty-first century. What on earth are you waiting for? You can kiss him." 

I could. Yes. Yes, I could just lift my head and lean in and kiss Elijah Hamilton like it was a normal, ordinary occurrence. 

Right. Like kidding Elijah Hamilton would ever be ordinary?

I'd watched him kiss that girl at the mall and was sure I'd memorized all the steps in his routine. He'd move in, grip m face between his hands, run his thumb along my jaw, and finally, glide his arm down around my body, pulling me against his own, all the while, peeking through his lashes to see if I enjoyed it. 

I wasn't sure when I decided - even what made me decide. I just touched my lips to his and waited.

it took a second or two. But then there was a sudden, tiny squeak from him, and I felt the pulse in his wrist leap under my fingertips.

And then, his hands were in my hair, angling my head just the way he liked it, his tongue brushing against mine, so soft it might have been my imagination,,, except imaginary kisses were never so intense. He kissed me like I was a song he wrote, lips wrapped around every word until it hummed with hidden meaning and promise, and his hands held me the way they held his guitar - like the music would stop if he let me go.

Copyright THE WAY IT HURTS by Patty Blount 2017

GIVEAWAY

Patty Blount is offering one (1) lucky winner a $50 Amazon Gift Card! 
To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

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*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Patty Blount 

Native New Yorker Patty Blount is the award-winning author of several critically acclaimed 'internet issues' novels for teens as well as a few adult contemporary romances. She is inspired to write by such greats as Judy Blume, J.K. Rowling, and Gayle Forman. In fact, Judy Blume is the reason Patty elected to write under her real name.. so she'd appear on shelves next to her idol. 

Patty adores writing; she's written everything from technical manuals to song lyrics (see THE WAY IT HURTS, coming August 2017). 

Patty wants you to know she loves chocolate... really, really loves chocolate. 

When not crushing on actors Gilles Marini or Sam Heughan, Patty can be found sitting in traffic somewhere on the Long Island Expressway, listening to audio books or talking wildly to herself about plots and characters. Prone to falling madly in love with fictional characters, Patty suffers frequent broken hearts when they all invariably prefer the heroine to her... go figure. 

When she's not writing, Patty loves to watch bad sci-fi movies and live tweet the hilarity, and scour Pinterest for ideas on awesome bookcases. 

Patty lives on Long Island with her family in a house that, sadly, lacks bookcases.

LINKS: Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

BLOG TOUR HOSTED BY:

http://www.barclaypublicity.com

Blog Tour (Guest Post and Giveaway): HAPPY MAMAS by Kathleen T. Pelley (C)

Welcome to the HAPPY MAMAS Blog Tour... 

"A perfect ode to motherhood!"

Hosted by TheChildrensBookReview.com

HAPPY MAMAS

by Kathleen T. Pelley

Illustrated by Ruth E. Harper 

Release date: October 10th, 2016

Published by CWLA Press 

Genre: Children ages 3 - 6

Format: Hardcover

SUMMARY

A lyrical read aloud that pays tribute to mothering in the animal and human kingdoms. 

Charming illustrations depict activities that bring joy to a mama and her baby over the course of a day: feeding her little ones bundles of bamboo shoots; teaching her calf hot to trumpet a loud jungle cheer; playing peek-a-boo; watching her little ones fly from the nest; singing a serenade to the man in the moon; or crooning owly lullabies through the deep dark woods. But as the moon glows and the stars shine, what is it that makes all mamas - from desert jungle, from forest to field, from land to sea - happiest by far? 

Mamas and babies everywhere will delight in this happy romp - a perfect ode to motherhood.

Perfect for one on one sharing or for use in the classroom. 

GUEST POST

Importance of having a Spanish version of Happy Mamas

We Celts love our circles – long ago we worshiped the moon and the sun, we sat in a circle to tell our stories, and when St. Patrick brought us Christianity, he took our beloved circle and placed it around the Christian cross, giving us the Celtic cross.   Most stories are circular too in their structure – that last page will often circle back to some character, scene, or concept from the first page, and reveal some shift or change that has taken place.  And of course, just as circles are seen as ways of connecting, so too are stories: stories connect us to other cultures, to other places, to other people and even to our ancestors and descendants.  That is why they are such an effective way of teaching children compassion and empathy: stories allow children to see the world through another’s eyes, to touch it with another’s skin, or to feel it with another’s heart.

But before children can relate to other cultures, they need to develop a strong connection to their own, which means they need to see themselves reflected in the stories that are read to them.  In this way, they can develop a strong sense of pride and honor about their heritage, language, and traditions.  From my own experience of growing up within a Scots/Irish culture (I was born and raised in Scotland, but spent most of my summers on my grandparents’ farm in Ireland) that was often undermined by the overall dominant English influence, I can totally relate to this need for honoring one’s own language and traditions.  Back in those days, the only kind of accent heard on radio or television, was the “Queen’s English.”  Scottish or Irish accents were branded as uneducated or inferior, and it was not until fairly recently, that the trend came full circle and now these regional accents are much more in vogue.

 Later, when I came to America, I experienced a certain loss of my cultural identity that is common amongst many immigrants.   I craved time with other Scots/Irish people – our accent and dialect, our traditions and common cultural roots gave us an immediate and lasting bond.  When I visit children in schools, they love to learn about the differences between Scots English and American English, and delight in some of our lovely Scottish sayings such as, “Lang may Yer Lum reek” or “the best laid plans o’ mice and men gang aft aglae.”   I like to show children how our language is so tightly connected to our identity and how this explains the need for a new American dictionary that came into existence after the American Revolution.

Of course, some may argue the danger of immigrants who maintain strong ties to their native land, is that they will never totally assimilate into their host country.  However, I think the opposite is true: when children have a strong bond to their native land, it can help them be more open to learning about the culture where they live and so ultimately strengthens their sense of belonging to two cultures.

As we know, this sense of not belonging is at the root of many or our societal woes, but when I talk to children about writing, I explain that sometimes we can actually use this feeling of not belonging to help our writing.  William Trevor, the Irish novelist, who was one of those rare breeds – a Protestant living in the south of Ireland (predominantly Catholic), attributed his literary success to his experience of always being “other” and not belonging.   As I tell children, when you come from another land, it is easy for you to observe things that the native people cannot see, and so it helps you to become a better writer.

In recent years there has been much discussion in the publishing world about the need for diverse books.  Rudine Sims Bishop noted, “When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part.”

Again, from my own experience of over twenty years of reading picture books to children – Kindergarten – 8^th grade at an inner city school serving the Hispanic community, I witnessed this phenomenon first hand.  Over and over again, when I managed to find a wonderful picture book, featuring Spanish speaking characters or depicting some aspect of life in Spanish speaking countries, I could see the children literally sitting up in their seats, saucer eyed and mouths agape. Their excitement at connecting to these characters was palpable.  The perennial favorite for all grades from 1^st -8^th was The Quiet Place by Sarah Stewart and David Small, featuring a little Mexican immigrant girl in the 1950’s.

No wonder then, when I heard my Happy Mamas was also going to be a Mamis Felices, I was a very Happy Author!

Picture books are meant to be read aloud – they should be a veritable auditory feast filled with fresh, juicy, alliterative words, onomatopoeia, and rhythmic, playful language – all the better to enchant young readers into an early love of literature.  The first sound a child hears in the womb is the beat of the mother’s heart and so naturally we humans feel soothed and lulled by rhythmic patterns be it the pitter patter of rain, the click clack of knitting needles, the tick, tock of a clock, or the lovely lilt of a tale well told. 

 I fell in love with stories before I could read or write, by listening to them – on the radio, around the peat fire in my grandparents’ farmhouse, and later on, when we finally acquired a television in our house, from the voice of Roald Dahl himself reading aloud Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – yes, really!  When I write a story or read it aloud, I want to bask in the beauty of words and the wonder of language.

So, imagine my delight, when we found our talented translator, Gloria Garcia Diaz, an immigrant from Mexico, and translator of acclaimed author, Laura Resau’s book Star in the Forest.  Now, I have to admit, I can speak only a small smattering of Spanish, but like most Scots educated people, I did study French, German, and Latin all the way through high school, and even continued with my Latin through university.  All of that to say, I know enough about the translating process to understand that a good translation, especially of a children’s picture book, requires a translator who is willing to breathe her own life and love into the text, and thus retain the rhythmic, playful language that makes it a joy to read aloud for any parent.  Gloria’s labor of love now means that Mamis Felices will have a wider circle of children and parents who can enjoy this book and celebrate a Mama’s love.

Newbery Award winning author, Katherine Paterson, maintains that in every children’s book there should be “the wonder of language and the wonder behind and beyond the story that ties us to the mystery of the meaning of our lives and all of creation.”

And that is the magic of literature – it links us together, like letters in a word, or words in story no matter our race, culture, religion, age, or language.

Gracias, Gloria for our Mamis Felices!

·        Lang may yer lum reek – old Scottish blessing for newly married couple, meaning long may your chimney smoke – may you always have enough money to put wood in your fire!

·        The best laid plans o’ mice and men gang aft aglae”  the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry- from Rabbi Burns, Scottish Bard, To a Mouse.

Rudine Sims Bishop’s article, 1980 “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors.” http://weneeddiversebooks.org/mission-statement/

GIVEAWAY

- Enter to win an autographed 6 picture book prize pack from acclaimed author Kathleen Pelley. The prize pack includes finger puppets, adorable stuffed animals, and HAPPY MAMAS.

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

• A copy of Happy Mamas  autographed by Kathleen Pelley
• A copy of The Giant King autographed by Kathleen Pelley
• A copy of Inventor McGregor autographed by Kathleen Pelley
• A copy of Magnus Maximus, a Marvelous Measurer autographed by Kathleen Pelley
• A copy of Raj the Bookstore Tiger autographed by Kathleen Pelley
• A copy of The Sandal Artist autographed by Kathleen Pelley
• A set of 10 assorted adorable baby animal finger puppets and stuffed animals.

Value: $150.00+

Three (3) runner-up prize winners receive:

• A copy of Happy Mamas autographed by Kathleen Pelley

Value: $14.95

- Giveaway begins October 10, 2016, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends November 10, 2016, at 11:59 P.M. PST. Open to US and Canadian addresses only. (Prizes and samples provided by Kathleen Pelley.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, unclaimed, damaged, etc. prize(s).)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Kathleen T. Pelley

Kathleen Pelley was born in Glasgow, Scotland, but spent most of her childhood summers playing on her grandparents' farm in Ireland. Her passion for stories stemmed from listening to them on the raiio during the BBC children's story hour. Later, her gentle Irish father fanned the flame even more by feeding her his tales of fairies, leprechauns, and banshees. 

So much did Kathleen love stories, that off she went to Edinburgh University and earned a degree in HISTORY. She didn't much care for all the facts and dates and numbers, but how she loved the stories of Rasputin, Napoleon, and Bonnie Prince Charlie! One character in particular captured Kathleen's imagination - Florence Nightingale. After completing her degree, Kathleen studied to become a children's nurse, but it was brief and disastrous dalliance. For much as Kathleen loved children, she did not like to see them sick and suffering. However, decades later, Kathleen now sees herself as a kind of a nurse, because she believes that stories can heal the hurts in our hearts. 

As a former elementary teacher, Kathleen enjoys sharing her passion with people of all ages. She has been a regular speaker at Regis University on "Nurturing a Passion for Stories," makes frequent presentations at schools and conferences, and has been telling stories at an inner city elementary school for the past 20 years. She believes that one of the best ways to teach our children empathy is through stories that help them "walk a mile in another man's moccasins." When she's not reading, writing, telling, or listening to stories, Kathleen enjoys knitting, Scottish music, and hiking with her husband and two Golden Retriever dogs along the trails of sunny Colorado. 

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