In Which I Lie, Twice

Please, visit Crystal Collier's blog.

On it, I play "Two Truths and a Lie." 

See how well you know me.

By making a guess, you enter for a chance to win a signed copy of my book.

Good luck! 

Enter to win. 

Moments to Relive and Winners

Thank you again to everyone who agreed to host me on their blogs for my tour for Time & Circumstance. I’m overwhelmed with how much support you’ve given me. I already knew it was going to be a tough time for the tour because of Applied Behavioral Analysis class. It wound up being an even more difficult time for a tour because of the death of a dear family friend, and so I didn’t get the word out about the tour as much as I’d planned. I’m sorry, hosts.

The good news is I just finished the class, and so I’m finally getting around to choosing winners. I put every commenters’ name in Random Name Picker (Winners are listed at the bottom of the post.)

I also want to thank the commenters, especially those who answered my question: “If you could relive any moment in time, what would it be?”

Here are some fantastic answers:

Seeing Lincoln give the Gettysburg Address.

Oh...question...Relive a moment in time...too many to mention, but flying into Paris for the first time I'd like to repeat that. Unfortunately, like all such moments, we only get to do them once.

That's a tough one, if I could relive one moment I think I would choose my first visit to Paris. It went by too fast T_T

As for a moment I would want to relive- maybe my release day for my book. It went by in a magical blur and reliving it would help me try to prolong the excitement. :) 

What moment would I relive? So hard. Probably the last outing we had before my dad passed away. My kids were little and he found such joy in going on rides with them at the local fairground. Lots of fun.

As for a moment I would like to relive- I am not sure. So many wonderful moments. Maybe reading Harry Potter for the first time. I love rereading it, but it would be amazing to read it with the same surprise and awe I had that very first time.

My moment in time would be Woodstock. I’d love to know what it felt like to be enmeshed in so much energy.

If I could relive a day, I'd pick my wedding or the day we adopted my daughter. The first moment I held her was priceless.

I’d save events from my life as a young wife, my daughter as she grew up, and my grandson who is growing up way too fast. I’d take about every four to six months, keep those times in an appropriate container so I could shake them out and relive those moments. 

Best moment -- wishing on a shooting star with my kiddos when they were wee folk. I think they'll always believe in magic because of that night. 

Last year, in the weeks before my mother died, I had the privilege of spending many moments with her, sometimes in complete silence. I used to sleep so well in the same room as my mother. Don't we all? Sometimes, in the quiet moments of my hectic life I relive that time. You never get it back again.

What's your favorite response here? 

Please share your own favorite moment to relive.

And now …

The WINNERS!

Grand Prize Winner: ($25 Amazon Gift Card) Patsy

Signed Book: Nick Wilford

Ebook: Natalie Aguirre

Congratulations! xo

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March Madness

My book comes on 3/21, and so blog tour begins today. YaY! I’ve written a variety of posts--from how music influenced me to how the collection came about to the challenge of writing in our new political reality.

Dates and links are listed below. Please visit. If you comment on them, you’re automatically entered to win 1 of 3 prizes.

And if you scroll to the bottom of this post, I’ve written a poem. It’s my birthday near the end of this month, so I figured it would be fun to write something that is also in theme with my book, Time & Circumstance.

  

3/13    Nas Dean

3/14    Annalisa Crawford 

3/15    Wendy McDonald 

3/16    Judy Mintz 
3/17    Kid Lit Universe 
3/18    Iris Blobel 
3/19    Sharon Mayhew
3/20    Jemi Fraser 
3/21    Denise Covey 
3/22    Marcy Hatch
3/23    Janet Buttenweiser 
3/24    Jessica Haight  
3/27    Alex Cavanaugh
03/28  Unicorn Bell
3/29  My Memories of a Future Life 

Thank you to everyone who has hosted me! xo

Middle Age March Madness

My regrets shadow me—

long in dusk.

And like a bewildered toddler,

try as I might,

I can’t outrun the damned thing.

Is this middle age madness

looking back?

If a groundhog sees his shadow,

we’re all screwed.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Why didn’t I get grandma’s recipe

for brown bread

and those creamed turnips too?

Better yet,

let’s dish about the speakeasy.

Then all my dumb fear decisions.

Pathetic.

Landed, stranded, instead of airborne.

Practical.

Confidence wasn’t on sale, I guess.

Why didn’t we do this or that

way back when?

Would it have killed me to try?

Seemed so then.

Whatever … it all worked out, I guess.

Writer's Week

I woke up to a nice surprise this morning.I received an email from The Artist Unleashed accepted my writing advice article, and it went live. So here I am to tell you my struggles and how I overcame them. I hope they help you. Please visit  and answer the question, How do you manage your writing time?

Note: I'm going to close comments here in the hope that people visit The Artist Unleashed. 

Two posts ago, Gayle Krause visited my blog. Crystal Collier won an ARC of Gayle’s historical fiction set during the American Revolution! I’m excited for Crystal, but a little jealous. Now I’ll have to wait until Twice Betrayed is released to get one for my classroom!

On my last post, I requested for people to host me on their blog, and I’m thankful for how many volunteered. It’s winter break for me this week. This meant I wrote 14 guest posts over 3 days. My blog tour will run from 3/13-3/29 for release of TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE. There will be prizes and hashtags, so you can spread the word (with even more chances to win). 

In addition to writing the guest posts and organizing the tour, I'm using this week to catch up. I have a ton of work for my job, assignments for school, and last night I received an email with the study guide to prepare an exam I’m taking in March for my Master’s degree. I may need to keep reading my own post on The Artist Unleashed to inspire me to keep writing.

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Book Promotion: 5 Pieces of Advice

Vine Leaves set me up with an hour session with a marketing consultant. On a recent snow day we Skyped for an hour. Even though with work, a grad class, etc, I don't feel like I have a second to spare, I have to make many seconds to spare. My book is coming out in 6 weeks.
So far, I've taken five pieces of advice.

First piece of advice:  Consistency between social media platforms is key. I updated my blog to look more like my Twitter, and Facebook profiles and my website. I've got tree branches, more consistent color, and style. What do you think?

Second piece of advice: Plan a blog tour with prizes, contests, and hashtags. I put up a note on Facebook, and a few people kindly volunteered their blogs. Now I've actually got to write some posts!

If you would also like to be a part of my blog tour, I'd love to have you. :)  I can write a post, you can interview me, or other ideas that work for you.

Dates available:

3/21 (taken), 3/22 (taken), 3/23 (taken), 3/24 (taken), 3/25, 3/27 (taken), 3/28 (taken)

Please comment if you're interested.

Third piece of advice: It's important to minimize the number of clicks people have to make to find your book. Rather than just linking to Vine Leaves Press, I'm providing individual links.

TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE ebooks are now available for preorder!

$3.99 AUD (eBook)
Kindle AUS
Kindle US
Kindle UK
Kindle CA
iBooks | Kobo | Nook

If you want to preorder a paperback copy, that's available too.

$12.99 AUD (paperback)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
​Amazon CA
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Chapters Indigo

Fourth piece of advice: It's also important to set up local events. I'm trying to connect with the local poetry community like I'm part of the kid lit community. The other day, I attended a poetry book reading. Sure, I hardly talked to anyone, and I left early. But I met a couple of nice poets, bought one of their books, found out from a bookstore how to order books for events, and took a few pictures that I shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Fifth piece of advice: Build relationships online, which I think I already have pretty much covered. I've been blogging since 2009 and attending writing-related events even before then. I've appreciated getting to know you over the years. Thank you for your support.

xo,

Theresa

Twice Betrayed

I met Gayle Krause at a Highlights Foundation Summer Camp at the Barn last year. There were so many talented writers there. When Gayle told me her book would be coming out, I wanted to help get the word out! This would be a perfect novel for students learning about American History. I'll buy this book for my fifth-graders. 

Release Date : March 28, 2017

Publisher: Trowbridge Books

ISBN - 978-0-9911904-3-0

It will be available for pre-order on that day as well.

About the book:

The thread of friendship is stretched to the breaking point…

With the spark of independence crackling in Colonial Philadelphia, three girls dress as boys and head to the river to put a perilous plan into action, but only two return. The third, a young milliner’s assistant, is found drowned, with gold coins sewn into her hems, coded spy letters in her bodice, and a journal implicating another sewing apprentice in the treasonous plot.

All eyes turn toward Perdy Rogers, Betsy Ross’ thirteen-year-old apprentice. But she’s no spy!  With one friend dead and deserted by another, the thread of friendship is stretched to the breaking point, when Perdy is accused. With her life on the line, Perdy risks more than her freedom as a new nation struggles to be born.

About the author:

Gayle Krause was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania and being the oldest girl on the block, always led the younger kids in creative dramatics, wilderness expeditions through fields, and fossil hunting in the shale piles left from the heyday of mining. Those early interactions led her to a career in teaching, where, as a Master teacher she continued to inspire teens as she prepared prospective Elementary Teachers and Early Childhood Educators at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Simultaneously, she directed an instructional Laboratory Pre-K for her students, where she worked with eager young preschoolers.

Because she taught both young adults and preschoolers, her books fall at both ends of the Children’s Literature spectrum. You can find them on her website: www.gayleckrause.com

Gayle is most comfortable in front of students, be they four years old, or forty. She loves to teach Children’s Literature and enhance literacy skills in young readers. She is a member of SCBWI, Keystone State Reading Association, KidLit, Ink, a member of the Rhyme Revolution Best Rhyming Picture Book Selection committee 2015 and 2016, and a past member of The Poets’ Garage.

Follow Gayle’s writing journey on Facebook at Gayle C Krause, on Twitter @GeeCeeK, and on Goodreads.

I have included a giveaway of an ARC for Twice Betrayed or a first chapter critique of a YA or MG novel to a random commenter on your blog.

Thanks so much,

Gayle 

Promotion and Pre-Orders

I finally held an advance copy of TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE.

It became real and surreal. 

Suddenly, Vine Leaves Press is promoting my book. 

With two months left, 

I’m feeling the push 

to promote my book. 

Promote myself. 

Yesterday, I visited a local poetry group. 

In two weeks, I’ll do my first poetry reading.

I teach, I have read excerpts of my kid lit aloud. 

I don’t know why this is SO HARD.

Maybe it’s because some parts are autobiographical.

My blog’s been up since 2009. 

I’ve already shared a lot about my life.

I ask myself, Why is this different?

Finally, I’ve gotten to the bottom of things.

Even though I’ve critiqued poetry, 

and even determined what poetry is fit for a journal,

Now a publisher is taking a chance on

JUST ME.

People I don’t know will review my book.

Now that the book is available for PRE-ORDER ,

I’d better get used to it.

Because I actually became a top seller for a time.

People are actually buying my book.

If you do too, I hope you enjoy it.

I wrote it from my heart.

xo,

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Theresa

I'm in some good company.

Did You?

Did You?

Did you notice Me

entering the car

trying to find a place to

rest my weary bones?

Looking back, can you

approximate just

how many people I

passed in search of a seat?

In the seconds that ticked

between My demands and

your action, did you assess

My age and wonder more?

Was My crankiness a sign I 

might suffer from something--

could I have a cancer,

heart disease, dementia?

Did you wonder if I had a

family hoping strangers

looked out for Me like you’d

want for your elderly beloveds?

In the minutes that could’ve

passed with introspection,

you snapped my picture

without My permission.

You posted it on social media

Because I didn’t say PLEASE.

- Theresa Milstein

In/Divisible

After the election, I haven't been able to write much. 
But poetry found me again yesterday morning.

This poem is those who feel like the other right now,
especially for those at Standing Rock.

I wish you a hopeful Thanksgiving. xo 

In/Divisible

In the time of

Then,

We used to share

The

Whole

Truth

So help us God, except

Now we have pie

In

the face for our

Un

I

Ted

States of Misunderstood.

With a jolt of

Shock

A Yes vote for

In

Jus

Tice.

They burned the witch.

In the time of

Now,

Closed groups gather.

Lib

Er

Ty

Unwise, Unsound, Undone.

Theresa Milstein

This Time

I'm not used to promoting myself.

Even when I've been part of an anthology, I promote for the collective, the greater good.

But this time it's just me.

Cover Reveal 
From Vine Leaves Press

From Vine Leaves Press

Time and Circumstance
by Theresa Milstein

Publication date: March, 2017

“The trunk of this family is lost to history / Photo fragments remain as shadows”

With subtle wit, and poignant imagery, the unrelenting passage of time connects the  vignettes in Theresa Milstein’s Time and Circumstance. This reflective collection of real and imagined poetry and prose, speculates on an erratic childhood, the uncertainty of adolescence, and the reality of parenthood, through flashbacks of love lost and found.

“This everyday, why again, sometimes / ignored tune has measured time in notes, / seconds, minutes, days, years, and so it goes. / It’s a measure of the man he will become.”

Cover Reveals and Giveaways

This is an exciting month for my Write On to Build On writing support group. One member is revealing the cover of her third book in a trilogy. The other is revealing her first cover. And my cover will be revealed next weekend!

Without further ado, Crystal Collier:

TIMELESS (#3 Maiden of Time) by Crystal Collier #CoverReveal

Book Title: TIMELESS (Maiden of Time #3)

Author: Crystal Collier

Genre: YA Paranormal Historical

Release Date: November 1, 2016

TIME IS THE ENEMY

In 1771, Alexia had everything: the man of her dreams, reconciliation with her father, even a child on the way. But she was never meant to stay. It broke her heart, but Alexia heeded destiny and traveled five hundred years back to stop the Soulless from becoming.

In the thirteenth century, the Holy Roman Church has ordered the Knights Templar to exterminate the Passionate, her bloodline. As Alexia fights this new threat, along with an unfathomable evil and her own heart, the Soulless genesis nears. But none of her hard-won battles may matter if she dies in childbirth before completing her mission.

Can Alexia escape her own clock?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crystal Collier is an eclectic author who pens clean fantasy/sci-fi, historical, and romance stories with the occasional touch of humor, horror, or inspiration. She practices her brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. She has lived from coast to coast and now calls Florida home with her creative husband, four littles, and friend (a.k.a. the zombie locked in her closet). Secretly, she dreams of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese. You can find her on her Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, or follow her on Twitter.

Want the first chapter free? Sign up HERE.

And now Sheri Larsen:

AMAZON | GOODREADS

Description: Forget having a lively after school social life, 

Ebony Charmed is fighting to keep the entire Afterlife alive.

Ebony’s less-than-average spirit tracking abilities are ruining more than sixth grade at Motley Junior High: School for the Psychically & Celestially gifted. Her parents argue so much her dad moved out. And, even though he’s scared of his own shadow and insists on bringing his slimy, legless lizard everywhere they go, Ebony wouldn’t survive without her best friend, Fleishman. 

When Ebony’s Deadly Creatures & Relics’ project goes missing, she learns her missing project is one of the keys to saving the spirit world. Now Ebony and Fleishman must battle beasts from Norse Mythology to retrieve her project before spirits are lost, the Well of Urd dries up, and Ebony loses all hope of reuniting her family. But someone lies in wait, and he has other plans...including creating a new world of spirits without them in it.

Motley Education has been aligned with Core Standards for grades 4-7. A guide will be available on the author’s website to download for FREE after the book’s release date of October 10, 2016.

Sheri's also unveiled her new website - Motley Education friendly with kid fun stuff, Motley Mulisha Reading Club, links, school visit pamphlet, & more!
She's also offering up a giveaway! Five lucky winners will each receive a signed bookmark and assorted swag! Contest runs from 09/15/16 to 09/23/16. Winners will be chosen my random.com.  

Giveaway HERE!