NITTY GRITTY GRAB BAG

Your PROMO QUEEN presents:

  a GRAB Bag
of news that could be of interest. . .

NEW BOOK - SKYPE - DYSLEXIA - PINTEREST

 

Temporary picture: As soon as I have the first completed illo I will put it here.

My main news is
"DREAMTIME  MAN"
.

What is that?

My latest book!

.A picture book for older grade-school children.

.

Imagine a wild place where sun burns the sand,

Where water and food must be scratched from the land.

This place is the wellspring of men black as coal,

And Dreamtime ruled all who endured as one soul.    

While shy Daintree tribes hunted deep in the shade,

Tough bush and outback men learned how to trade.                     

Whether hunting, or fighting, or struggling to live,

All respected the Dreamtime and what it could give.     

.

It is the rhyming tale of what happened to the Australian Aboriginal tribes after the white man arrived and proceeded to take over their land. I have had this story simmering on my back burner for a number of years.  In the meantime I wrote 13 other books - some of them about Aussie animals, and several that had Australian protagonists, with even an aboriginal main character or two.
.

Yet the Dreamtime Man kept whispering to me from the depths of my computer.  "Come on Margot, let's get this walkabout on the march. The American Indians got their story out. Stone the crows, mate, we've waited long enough! It's a bonzer tale.  Let's DO IT!"
.

 I guess nagging does work, because I dug him out, dusted him off and polished until he yelled, "Jumping grasshoppers mate, I"M READY already!"
.

Finding the perfect illustrator was no swim in the billabong. The Aussie Outback and bush colors are unique:  bright, clear and strong - their own spectrum of blues and reds. And the aboriginal has a special look - a black Indian like figure will not cut it.  I sent bunches of pictures of it all to prospective artists, but the Dreamtime Man was not impressed. "No fear! I won't fight for my freedom in colors this those!"
.

Then I found an artist on the Dreamtime wavelength.  Her first sample was not promising. But after I sent details and more pictures she came up with a sample that had the Dreamtime Man hopping with glee - like a kangaroo on steroids! The artist's name is Ioana Zdralea, and you can look at some of her diverse work here: http://ioanazdraleaillustration.wordpress.com/page/2/

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SKYPE
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Author Visit News

April 1st 2014 - 10.30 am

Taking my Magic Carpet of Books to a first grade class in the Eastern US.

Read a story, talk about writing and how books are written,
and answer lots of class questions.

 A FUN DAY FOR ALL!

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SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS
.http://pinterest.com/margotfinke/
.

Dyslexia VIDEO

Flemming Ast is a crusader for those with Dyslexia and other reading
or learning problems. This is his latest VIDEO encouraging parents
to get their children reading well and early, and if they
need help doing this, find that help ASAP. 

He has kindly featured me and my Horatio Humble Beats the Big D -
a picture book that helps and encourages dyslexic kids and their parents.  

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My
PINTEREST

*There's mouthwatering YUMMY food
* Great BOOK REVIEWS
*Help for SPECIAL NEEDS

*Cool BLOGS THAT ROCK
*TEACHER- CLASSROOM
HOME SCHOOL


And LOTS more!

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Books for Kids - Skype Author Visits
http://www.margotfinke.com

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The L-O-N-G. . . L-O-N-G. . . Walkabout

 

SOMETIMES A LONG WAIT PAYS OFF.

A writing friend, Penelope Cole (Magical Matthew/Mea series), commented today
about the post before this one. She thought my writing was getting even better.

Hmm-m-m-m

Aboriginal playing a didgeridoo

That got me thinking about how Trial By Walkabout, my latest adventure for boys and tomboys, finally made it to publication. The title is prophetic!  It was the first book I ever wrote. Surprised? Well the original version and the final proof have very little in common - except the title and the fact they were both set in outback Australia.

Let me now begin the way I advise all my critique clients:
set the scene for this tale by adding the time,
the place, and the characters. . .

Long, long, ago, when the personal computer was just a gleam in Bill Gate's eye, and my three kids were still in grade school, I wrote a book about a feisty koala and his Aussie bush mates.  I had always dabbled in writing, but this was my first full length book.  I was sure it would be a winner. Many of the publishers I sent this gem to are now defunct, or swallowed by publishing's current literary behemoths. I was full of hope and excitement. You know, new writer dreams combined with lack of writing and publishing insights. My balloon was soon pricked, and I rewrote the book umpteen times, with similar enthusiasm (?) from each batch of publishers I dismayed.

By this time the Internet was UP and staggering. Writing lists blossomed online, and I discovered Yahoo and all it's satellite writing groups.  I joined the Children's Writers and Illustrators group (CW for short) and began to learn the writing ropes from a few of the original members. These talented ladies helped me enormously. The concept of mentoring and networking was new to me. They helped me polish my natural rhyming talent, and I was off and running - writing picture books in rhyme.  That old flop Walkabout mouldered in a bottom drawer - forgotten.

Then I did something I should have done way earlier, I formed two critique groups, one called RHYMERS and another called OPUS.  There was some member turnover to begin with, but we finally had 2 cohesive groups that I am sure changed the writing paths of ALL the members forever. I discovered that it is amazing what you can learn from reading the work of others.  Plus the comments and suggestions I received on my own writing began to resonate with me.

Manuscripts and time rushed past. I took another look at Walkabout.  Everything I had learned in Opus and from the CW list jelled into one thought.  Scrap the animals and rewrite with kids as my characters. This idea was followed by another. Join SCBWI and become a conference junkie!  No sooner thought than done.  More time, more rewrites.  

Now the Internet sizzled, and Social Networking raises its pushy head.  I dive in boots and books!!  I design a website.  I begin doing Manuscript Critiques - not freebies like before, but PAID critiques. YEA!    THEN MY WORLD EXPLODES. . . I get a contract for one of  my picture books. Then ANOTHER and ANOTHER! I began blogging.

Time to really become serious about mid-grades in general and Walkabout in particular.  You guessed it - more rewrites and fine tuning, with OPUS cheering me along. Between all this, other rhyming picture books are written and published, PLUS my first mid-grade book  - only not Walkabout!

This !@#$% book is earning its title, fair-dinkum. EUREKA, my publisher (GAP) sees the movie Australia and loves it.  So, thanks to a movie, I finally earn a contract for Walkabout.  About time!!

Now I am confident enough to dip my toe into the self publishing arena.  The competition is fierce, if a little short on grammar and writing skills. The Revenge of Thelma Hill and Down Under Calling are polished, cover art done (thanks Awesome Agy Wilson), and finally sit on my Amazon page with my other books. But not without anguish, last minute errors, and a few sleepless nights.  STILL NO PUBlISHING DATE FOR WALKABOUT!  Will it be published posthumously on my behalf, after I go to that great writing room in the sky?

TRUMPET BLAST PLEASE - Walkabout finally made it to the book shelves of Amazon and elsewhere. Lynda Burch, my publisher, must take credit for grammar polish and trimming my mad passion for commas.  Hey, I'm great at plots, cool characters, and terrific pace.  Blimey, you can't expect me to shine at everything!

I am reminded of the old Lucile Ball movie, the "Long Long Trailer" - yeah, I know it dates me.  Only my book was a long . . . long . . . long. . . Walkabout instead.  This book wound through the years with me, gaining strength, power and way better writing.  As I grew in my craft, so Walkabout grew from a trite tale about critters, into a multicultural look inside what makes two very different Aussie teens deal with what life throws at them.

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Books for Kids - Skype Author Visits
Manuscript Critiques

http://www.margotfinke.com

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www.Hypersmash.com

LIVE or DIE by REVIEWER'S WORDS!

We authors live or die by those all-powerful
Reviewer's Words

The !@#$ Review Pitts:

The book had a weak and unbelievable plot. The characters were not well fleshed,
the pages were wordy, and the ending was disappointing.  Dodge this one - 1 *
.

You fall into a major depressive tailspin, lock yourself in your room (with either alcohol, chocolate, or ice cream), and swear never to write another book. Does the Maffia still accept 'contracts' on way nasty reviewers?  If the review was particularly cruel, you might go with all three of the above mentioned comforts.

Alternatively. . .
The SUPER ACCOLADE!

This book is a masterpiece of literary writing.  The characters are richly crafted, the plot is gripping and realistic, and the writing is tight, terrific, and powerfully crafted. Could not put it down.
Thoroughly recommended  - 10 **********

YEA!  WAHOO!  ABOUT TIME!

You go crazy with the news on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ Linkedin and more.  Your fingers are numb from texting friends your fabulous news.  Toasts with friends and family make you forget, for about 5 minutes, that you must BLOG the good news as well.  You wonder about the cost of a NY Times add, or even a local plane to do a fly-over and "smoke" the good news to the locals? You don't sleep for three days, while the underwear draws of your entire family are in dire need of clean socks, skivvies and bras.  WHO CARES. . . YOU got a RAVE REVIEW!!!  It even impressed your mom-in-law! Ye-e-e-e - Haw!!

==========

You've read my fantasy versions

Now for the

REALITY Check

I received what I think are two SUPER Reviews for my new young teen book,

Trial by Walkabout

And NO, I did not advertise in the NY Times or hire a plane. 
However, I do plead guilty to all  the rest - so sue me!!

Below is why I went a little crazy:

Wouldn't YOU?

Trial by Walkabout 

 Author: Margot Finke 

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing

                       Paperback ISBN: 9781616334505; 1616334509                     

eBook ISBN: 9781616334512; 1616334517

Reviewer: Karen Cioffi

 

'Walkabout' is Great Mid-grade Reading

The Writer’s Digest article “7 Ways to Make a Good Story Great” offers a lot of insight into this topic. It explains that as a writer you need to (1) ‘go beyond the five senses; (2) take advantage of your characters idiosyncrasies; (3) write the nitty-gritty; (4) don’t write down, thinking the audience won’t get it; (5) don’t include irrelevant content; (6 and 7) involve the emotions of the reader.

Margot Finke’s 'Walkabout' easily covers all these elements. It is truly good writing that has the reader anticipating the next page. The story’s protagonist is 13-year-old Josh Howard. He and his older brother, Tom, are at odds, fighting all the time and telling lies about each to their parents. With their parents away, Tom locks Josh out of the house after a fight

“Outside,you!” A hard shove shot Josh out the door flat on his back in the dirt. The door slammed shaking the frame. “You can stay out there ‘till the rains come for all I care.” Tom’s voice faded as he moved further indoors.

This is the catalyst that launches Josh into a world of survival, danger, hunger, Dreametime stories and tribesmen. Josh, who wants to get even with his brother, goes on an Aussie walkabout with an Aboriginal friend, Bindi. Bindi needs to go on this journey to fulfil his ‘manhood’ ritual. The two friends face lethal snakes, a huge and dangerous male kangaroo, a pack of wild dogs, a vengeful emu, and a crazy Medicine Man.

  

The story’s action is well crafted and Finke blends just the right amount of back-story throughout the book so the reader learns of the rich Aboriginal background and the treacherous outback terrain. In one scene, Josh and Bindi hide up in trees to escape death by a pack of wild dogs:

Shutting his eyes, he pleaded over-and-over. “Make them stop! Make them stop!” Finally, the victim grew silent. A sob escaped Josh. The slobbering sounds made by the dogs of death filtered up to him.He tried not to hear the soft tearing noises. And the smell—the stench of every creature these four-legged killers had ever slaughtered rose from them in putrid waves.

The writing is powerful and at times raw, as shown above, just what boys love. But, along with the heart pounding action, it also teaches subtle, yet powerful lessons about lying and loyalty. Trial by Walkabout takes the reader on an amazing ‘growing up’ journey through the Australian outback. This is great children’s reading and I highly recommend it for middle-graders and young adults.

Amazon:  Softcover (Kindle coming)
Website for autographs  plus my FREE Aussie Recipe Book

Survival by Walkabout

by

Margot Finke

Reviewed by:

Penelope Anne Cole

Award winning author of Magical Matthew and Magical Mea

 So, how do I like her latest middle grade novel, Trial by Walkabout?  It’s another love fest!  This is a compelling adventure that keeps you on your toes,  wondering what could happen next as Bindi and Josh go “walkabout” in the outback. l'lI admit I’m a fan of Margot Finke’s books.  I loved everything about her  Down Under Calling.  I thought The Revenge of Thelma Hill was just scary enough.  I also enjoyed the banter between Taconi and Claude -- plus learning more about life “Down Under.”

Young teens Bindi and Josh are the grandsons of Taconi and “the Boss,” the previous owner of the Cooperoo Cattle Station.  They grew up and played together before Josh went off to boarding school.  They’ve grown apart over the years and meet up again in this story when Josh is locked out of his house after a fight with his big brother Tom. 

Josh thinks up a plan to get even with Tom and going walkabout with Bindi fits his needs perfectly.  But the actual walkabout is more of an adventure than the overnighter Josh bargained for.  The way the teens deal with the outback’s strange creatures, living off the land – even surviving personal danger – makes for great fun and edge-of-your-seat excitement.

I can’t give away the ending.  Suffice it to say that Josh learns a lot on his walkabout about the important things in his life and personal values.  He learns more about friendship and relationships along the way.  He struggles with his original plan to get back at Tom and wants to set things right, if possible.  It’s good to see his character grow.

Exciting stories that entertain us and remind us of our moral compass – these are the kind of books we need more of.  Thanks to Ms. Finke for another winning teen book.  Trial by Walkabout is recommended for ages nine to fourteen – especially reluctant boy readers.

Published by( Guardian Angel Publishing.) 
Amazon:  Softcover (Kindle coming)

Website for autographs  plus my FREE Aussie Recipe Book


NOTE:
'Walkabout' is one of 4 young teen books I am offering FREE to teachers, in return for their class reading it, and adding a CLASS REVIEW on Amazon.  I will also  do a Skype Author Visit to each class that reviews my books.

See this  BLOG POST for details.



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Books for Kids - Skype Author Visits
http://www.margotfinke.com 

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www.hypersmash.com