WHERE DID AMELIA GO? Back To The Future

February 1, 2020Donna L

footprints

Last week when Amelia stopped by the house, she told me to “follow the bread crumbs.” I wasn’t sure what she meant by that until I visited the Titanic Museum this past weekend.

There she was, sitting so smug and sassy at the foot of the actual center anchor from the original ship. Amelia loves a mystery so I knew she was trying to give me clues but at first I couldn’t figure them out.

I knew she’d shared the story of Margaret and the SHIP OF DREAMS with me but what was she trying to share with me now? I spent the next two hours stepping back in time to relive all the sights and sound of that once mighty ship. I felt the excitement of those workers who took pride in building something that had never been created before.

I stood on the replica of the grand staircase, gazing up in awe and wonder at the intricately carved molding and glittering domed ceiling. How fine a ship it was and how lucky those passengers must have felt to set sail on her maiden voyage.

Then came the heart wrenching magnitude of lives lost and souls trapped forever in the fabric of time. Stories needing to be told of the lives lived BEFORE an iceberg stole their future chapter of how they could have conquered their world.

Maybe Amelia wanted me to fully understand how important ALL history is for use who live in its wake?

And then there was the amazing exhibit of the large LEGO Titanic built by a young, autistic boy from Iceland.

Brynjar was only ten years old when he began his creation. It took him 11 months and 56,000 LEGO bricks to built his tribute to a ship that sailed into history back in 1912.

Years later he’s all grown up but his future will be forever tied to the past and how he came to terms with such a tragedy by building something to honor the memories of those who came before him.

Maybe Amelia was trying to show me a glimpse into my own destiny? Maybe MY role is to create the portal where readers can visit the past while moving forward into their own future?

I just think she’s waiting to see what I come up with next…

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Books always make a great gift! There’s everything from inspirational essay journals to picture books…young adult fantasy novels to historical fiction chapter books. Something for everyone on sale now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other retailers. HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Ship of Dreams can also be found at the Titanic Museums in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Branson, Missouri.

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donna - Copy

Best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest chapter book series is called HISTORY’S MYSTERIES. Book One, Ship of Dreams, is available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers. Also, coming to the Titanic Museums in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Book Two, A Chocolate Train Wreck, was released in November.

BOOK NOOK REVIEWS: A Special Interview

July 31, 2019August 1, 2019Donna L

Story Catcher Publishing caught up with the adventurous Amelia Earmouse recently and are excited to share the spotlight interview with you…

SCP: Amelia, so glad you could stop by and chat with us before heading out on another adventure. Can you share a little bit about yourself with our readers?

Amelia: Well, I’m the youngest of 172 siblings and with that many brothers and sisters, you can get lost in the crowd! I tried different things to stand out…putting on some dark glasses and walking around with a white cane, running up and down a clock, helping out a lion with a nasty thorn in its paw, and even swabbing the decks of the Mayflower!. But nothing seemed to help until the year I turned 10.

SCP: What happened then?

Amelia: That’s when I realized I wanted to share my adventures with everyone. So many stories and so little time!

SCP: You’ve lived an amazing life. Why chose Ship of Dreams for your first story to share?

Amelia: Everyone loves the Titanic! And who doesn’t love a little mystery? Each one of my stories will spotlight a little known historical fact and mix in some of the mystery surrounding what happened.

SCP: So when do we get to check out your new chapter book series, HISTORY’S MYSTERIES?

Amelia: Book One, Ship of Dreams, will hit bookstores October 14, 2019.

SCP: So you have more planned?

Amelia: Oh yes! Book Two, Chocolate Train Wreck, about an unsolved mystery involving a train and twenty tons of chocolate is set to release in November, 2019!

SCP: Wow! We can’t wait! Do you have any other things planned for your new series?

Amelia: I’m also going to have a contest when the first book comes out where up to ten lucky winners can receive a beautiful commemorative coin showcasing the Titanic. All readers have to do is ask for a free copy of Ship of Dreams and then leave an honest review on Amazon for a chance to win…

Titanic front.jpg Titanic back.jpg

(FRONT/BACK)

SCP: Sounds like a win/win! We’ll definitely follow up and share the contest details with all of our readers! Thank you so much, Amelia Earmouse, for stopping by and chatting with us.

Amelia: Any time! Now I’m off to dig up a little WWII mystery down in the swamps of Louisiana for Book Three. Catch you on the flip side!

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donna - Copy
Best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest book, HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Ship of Dreams, will be available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers on October 14th, 2019.

Flash Fiction Tuesday: Ship of Dreams

July 30, 2019July 30, 2019Donna L

Check out the sneak peek at Ship of Dreams…coming October 14th, 2019. Want to know more?

Chapter One

The Journal

Wednesday, March 20th, 1912

Dear Journal,

This is my first time writing in you. I got you for my birthday today from Aunt Alberta. Momma says every young lady should keep a journal of her most private thoughts. I asked her what kind of thoughts a ten-year-old girl would have that was important enough to write down. Momma told me not to be so saucy. There’s just no talking to Momma when she scrunches up her eyebrows and her smile turns upside down, so here I am, scribbling on this blank page just to be able to tell her I wrote my thoughts today.

Well, there is one thing I can tell you DIDN’T happen today, Journal, and that’s the maiden voyage of the White Star Line’s newest ship. They call the ship Titanic and I hear it’s the biggest one ever built! Momma and I were supposed to meet Papa down at the docks to say goodbye to all those folks traveling to faraway places like America. It was going to be kind of special, it being my birthday and all. I must remember to ask Papa at dinner tonight what happened. Papa sure is lucky to be one of White Star Line’s tally men. He might oversee loading things onto the ships, but he hears all the latest gossip down on the docks as well. That means Momma and I do too…

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Amelia Earmouse

Amelia Earmouse travels back through time to uncover little known secrets. You may THINK you know your history, but wait until you see what Amelia uncovers in this volume of HISTORY’S MYSTERIES!

In Book One, Ship of Dreams, ten-year-old Margaret can hardly wait to see the largest ship ever built visit Southampton! Life is already hard for her family in the spring of 1912, but the coal workers’ strike could turn a bad situation into a deadly one. Margaret hopes to see the great Titanic leave on its maiden voyage, but will the strike prevent it from happening?

Tell your friends to mark their calendar!!

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donna - Copy

Best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest book, HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Ship of Dreams, will be available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers on October 1th, 2019.

FLASH BACK TUESDAY: Who Stole My Eggs?

April 23, 2019April 23, 2019Donna L

Pete pushed the door closed with his foot before setting down the rest of his things on the floor by his bed.

Man, was he tired.

The next time he ran into Nick, he’d have a thing or two to share with the old guy. Every year after the holidays, they met for dinner to swap tales and try to outdo each other’s horror stories.

Last year Nick had won with his closer encounter of the grandmotherly kind. This year Pete was sure he would come out the clear winner with his battle of the bulldog story.

Quickly pulling on his pj’s and bunny slippers (a gift from his mother he didn’t have the heart to refuse), Pete could feel his stomach rumbling with hunger. He was so busy making his rounds last night, he’d forgotten to eat. Not matter, he knew exactly what he would have for breakfast before hitting the hay. Humans weren’t the only ones who waited all year for a tasty Easter egg.

Hopping over to the basket he had filled just last night before hiding the others around the neighborhood, Pete stopped short and stared in shock. Grass was strewn all over the floor where the basket lay broken.

His eggs were gone.

The first batch each Spring was always a little bit more special than the others, so why shouldn’t the Easter Bunny have first choice? But who would do such a dastardly deed? And to the number one rabbit in the land? He couldn’t wait to share this mystery with Nick. Pete was sure to take home the prize this year…

Okay, it’s your turn! Put your creative cap on and continue my story or start one of your own in the comments below…

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donna

International best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest book, LUNADAR: Homeward Bound (a YA fantasy), is now available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers.

FLASH FICTION TUESDAY: Lacey’s Bridge

February 12, 2019February 10, 2019Donna L

Now on Tuesdays…at least for the foreseeable future…welcome to Flash Fiction Tuesday. In case you don’t know what flash fiction is, it is an extremely short story (sometimes created in 100 words or less) with a beginning, middle, and an ending.

But my case, I write flash fiction with an open ending. I allow my readers to draw their own conclusion as to what happens. Sit back, relax, and take a moment to find out what happens at Lacey’s Bridge…

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Tears streaming down her face, Lacey raced to the bridge. She was numb to the feeling of branches scratching her arms and the winter wind tangling her hair. Her attention was focused on the destination. She had to get to the bridge in time.

Lacey broke through the trees just as the sun slid from behind dark clouds. Ahead of her were moss-covered posts and snow stung her eyes as she stumbled toward the bridge’s edge. Exhausted, she paused a moment to rest her head against the rough stone as memories of Tommy washed over her.

“You promised!” He said.

Lacey looked at him with tear filled eyes. “I know, but now I’m not so sure.”

He pulled her to him and kissed her softly, almost apologetically, before saying, “You know she will never stop. This is the only way. If two people believe in something strongly enough then even the impossible becomes possible.”

She hung her head, “Yes, I know.”

Lacey’s thoughts returned to the stone beneath her hands as his voice echoed into the night, “I’ll love you forever.”

Slowly she made her way to the middle of the bridge. Stopping long enough to register the sound of hounds barking in the distance, she reached into her pocket. Trembling fingers closed around cold steel as Lacey drew the gun to her lips for one final kiss before letting it slip into the dark waters below.

It was done…

Okay, it’s your turn! What did Lacey do? Why are the hounds after her? Why does she have a gun? Put your creative cap on and add a sentence or add a paragraph. Continue my story or start one of your own and leave a comment below…

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donna

BOOK NOOK REVIEWS: Jake G Panda

October 10, 2018Donna L

dodo

Title: The Case of the Cursed Dodo
Author: Jake G Panda
Publisher: Woolly Family Studios
Ages: Young Adult, Adult

Synopsis:

If you’re looking for trouble, you’ve found it. The name’s Jake G. Panda, and trouble seems to follow me wherever I go. I work in the protection racket at a flophouse for endangered critters called the Last Resort. I’m the hotel snoop. The resident fuzz. It’s my job to keep these guests safe and outta harm’s way. This is the first of my many misadventures. A wild and woolly mystery involving a lost suitcase, a green bird, and a bunch of double-crossing animals. I’m calling it The Case of the Cursed Dodo.

Why you should read it:

Author Jake G Panda had me from the first chapter. With wit and charm, Mr. Panda dances across the pages of his book like the starlets of the silver screen. I found his clever analogy of the old time detective hot on the trail of his latest case to weave a story about endangered animals of the desert quite entertaining.

While I understand his take on presenting sections of this story from the lens of a movie camera, this was the only part of the book I don’t particularly care for and could have done without. I personally don’t think the storyline needs it.

But what little price to pay for such a delightful read. This is the first in hopefully many installments of the ENDANGERED FILES series and I’m sure readers of this first book will wonder what will Mr. Panda uncover next? The author has also recently released the audio version of this great tale as well so you can get your dodo fix any way you want it!
Like-o-meter Rating scale**: 4 out of 5…think about it.

**Rating scale**

5 out of 5…grab it!

4 out of 5…think about it.

3 out of 5…take or leave it.

2 out of 5…maybe not for you.

1 out of 5…forget about it!

BOOK NOOK REVIEWS: Yolanda Renee

May 30, 2018May 28, 2018Donna L

yolanda

Title: Murder, Madness, & Love
Author: Yolanda Renee
Publisher: Whampa, LLC
Genre: Adult Murder Mystery

Synopsis:

A killer plays cat and mouse with a young widow against the snowy backdrop of an Alaskan winter. Branded a black widow after the suspicious death of her millionaire husband, Sarah Palmer flees Seattle for Anchorage. But the peace and quiet she hoped to enjoy in her hometown is soon shattered: The killer is murdering Sarah look-alikes on the 14th of each month, taunting Sarah with a valentine of evidence. After her experiences in Seattle, Sarah is slow to go to the police. When she finally does, she finds Detective Steven Quaid, who is called on to protect the beautiful widow from a stalker intent on her destruction. Steven is not entirely sure she is not behind the scheme herself, and before long Sarah has him wound up tighter than barbed wire. Is Sarah a victim or a very skilled manipulator? With a killer on the loose and a climbing body count, Steven can’t afford to hedge his bets-or his life.

Why you should read it:

I’m a sucker for a love story…and a good whodunit mystery in the flair of Jessica Fletcher’s Murder She Wrote series. when I saw the cover of Ms Renee’s book, I had the feeling I was going to like this story. It doesn’t hurt to throw in the Alaskan backdrop and a cute cowboy named Steven into the mix. Ms. Renee has others in this series but this stand alone creation was certainly a good effort at keeping my attention on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Like-O-Meter Rating: 4 out of 5…give it a try!

5 out of 5…grab it!
4 out of 5…think about it.
3 out of 5…take or leave it.
2 out of 5…maybe not for you.
1 out of 5…forget about it!

International best selling, award winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest book, My Journey, My Journal, is scheduled to be released by Expert Insights Publishing in the Fall 2018.