Virginia Wright, Author & Illustrator: Daring To Go Bare , In Alicia Keys #NoMakeup Movement Photo 1 of 2

DARE TO GO BARE? Bare-faced that is! If you haven’t heard about the  #NoMakeup Movement yet, I will give you a brief on it. Alicia Keys reports that she was beginning to feel like a chameleon in a recent interview on Lenny.  It sounds like she was tired of the certain mold women are brainwashed into thinking they have to fit into, and she just wanted to break free from that. Alicia Keys has started a #NoMakeup Movement and there are already millions of posts on Instagram.  Alicia is definitely a girl who’s on fire, wearing or not wearing makeup. :-)

In my opinion, I think you have to be comfortable in your own skin. If you don’t dare go bare, or don’t want to go bare, then do whatever you are comfortable doing. :-) I decided this morning to take photos of myself right out of bed, morning face, no makeup.  I dared to go bare to the whole world…do you? (It is okay if you don’t.) Take that makeup off and go bare…I agree with Alicia, it is liberating!

Post your bare photos, if you dare! Bare-faced that is! On Instagram. :-)
#daretogobare #nomakeupmovement

Click to see it on Instagram.

Hugs,

-Virginia

FRIDAY SPOTLIGHT 5/27/16 – Deanie Humphrys-Dunne is a children’s book author with five books published at this time: Award-winning autobiography, Tails of Sweetbrier, Charlie the Horse, Charlene the Star, Charlene the Star and Hattie’s Heroes and Charlene the Star and Bentley Bulldog. All of her books offer positive messages for children. Her sister, Holly Humphrys-Bajaj, beautifully illustrates her books and designs the covers.

Deanie will be giving away her fourth book today, over on the fan club page ( https://www.facebook.com/From-Here-to-Eternity-The-Dennis-Higgins-Virginia-Wright-Fan-Club-1022527901175486), Charlene the Star and Hattie’s Heroes. Thank you, Deanie!!

Go to the link below and download your FREE copy of Deanie’s eBook :
http://www.amazon.com/Charlene-Hatties-Heroes-Deanie-Humphrys-Dunne-ebook/dp/B00C81V2DI

Charlene the Star and Hattie’s Heroes
by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne

Description: Charlene the Star is becoming known as a fine jumper, after winning the Green Jumper Championship at the Sterling Horse Show. She loves jumping, but she wants to do something new and exciting in her spare time. What is her new career? What happens when she meets her new friends Hattie and Wooliam? Charlene solves problems for her new friends, while relying on some old friends to help her succeed in her new adventure. Charlene and her team will delight you with their amusing adventures.

Give Deanie a warm welcome and please comment below. For more information on Deanie Humphrys, please contact her at the links below.

– Virginia
From Here to Eternity…The Dennis Higgins/ Virginia Wright Fan Club

Contact Links:

Website: http://www.childrensbookswithlifelessons.com

Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Deanie-Humphrys-Dunne/e/B003FFS15S/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Childrens-author-Deanie-Humphrys-Dunne-574820065875628/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Memories-of-Sweetbrier-Farm-Easton-CT-1736497933252082/

Book trailer videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rba4hkmmTyc&feature=youtu.be

I agree!!! Thank you. It was accidental that I found him playing. Anderson Ard definitely has talent. Thanks for stopping by my blog. :-)

What a young talent. Great find on your part. It seems he will do well.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a guitar store in South Carolina with one of my sons. I walked into the acoustic guitar area and I heard someone playing. As I went around the corner I saw a young boy and oh my, I will tell you, the journalistic, interviewer, writer-self, came out in me. He was playing guitar awesomely and when he picked his head up from playing and looked at me, I told him what a great job he did and I started asking him questions. First, I asked him how old he was.  He told me he was eleven years old. Then I asked how long he’d been playing guitar.  “A little over a year,” he said.  Another question from me was, “Who taught you to play guitar?”  He told me his grandfather, as well as some other older buddies of his.  Did he sing as well as play guitar? Yes.  As I was leaving, I asked his name, and he told me. I said that I wanted to remember it when he was famous one day. I turned to leave but instead, went back to where this guitar picking young man was in the store, as I wanted to give him one of my business cards. By then, he had picked up a different guitar and played me a song; I believe it was, Wildwood Flower. Little did I know when I talked to him about becoming famous one day, that this young musician, Anderson Ard, was already on his way to stardom! His father helped me find Anderson on Facebook, and of course I “Liked” his Facebook page… and I hope you do, too.

I am so happy to have met Anderson that day, as well as his father, mother, and little brother. Such an awesome family!

Follow Anderson Ard on Facebook, and check out the videos he is in on YouTube:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Anderson-Ard-915763511793873/

YouTube

Anderson Ard sings Bring ‘Em On Back at the Music Hall!

Other Anderson Ard Videos on YouTube

Rivertown Bluegrass Society May 2016 Concert Part 1

Rivertown Bluegrass Society May 2016 Concert Part 2

Another YouTube Video of Anderson Ard:

Jimmy Stone and Anderson Ard, “Wildwood Flower” Live at Cains BBQ

4/23/16 Anderson Ard, Musician By Virginia Wright,  Writer, Author, Illustrator

Jane Firebaugh is a wonderful romantic mystery writer, and she is our Friday Spotlight on From Here to Eternity, The Dennis Higgins and Virginia Wright Fan Club Page. For more information on Jane, and her giveaway today (5/13/16), click here. Don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of the spotlight and comment for your chance to win an eBook by Jane.

Jane is generously giving away three eBooks.

Comments are now open!

Big Bear Hugs, Xoxoxo                                                                                                                                                -Virginia

If you don’t have a Kindle device, Amazon’s Kindle for PC is a free e-book reader for PCs. Read e-books, and shop for new titles all on your computer just like you would with a Kindle.  FREE $0.00. http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Digital-Services-Inc-Download/dp/B00UB76290

Thanks a lot for sharing the blog there are so many Attractions in Alabama and this one of them many people here to visit the place . All such place make Alabama special and is also one of the special Alabama tourist Attractions.

To find more tourist attractions in Alabama: visitingmontgomery.com

The Dennis Higgins and Virginia Wright Fan Club is a unique fan club that will be a place for all authors (and others) to showcase their work. A place for readers to win FREE stuff. A place for fun. Authors, artists, proprietors, will be scheduled on a regular basis for giveaways. Free stuff is great!

Please join our Fan Club!! Click here. Virginia and Dennis welcome you. This is also a good way to keep up on new book releases, giveaways, and author news from Dennis Higgins and I (Virginia Wright).

Tomorrow April 19th, Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do will be FREE on Kindle. To be entered into the Paperback giveaway,  download the eBook, review it on Amazon, then go to the fan club page and tell us that you reviewed Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do, you will be entered into the paperback giveaway. Good luck! 

Dennis Higgins and I (Virginia Wright) became Facebook author friends back in April of 2012. We became close after discovering that we both lost siblings too early in life, we adopted each other as virtual brother and sister. Often people think we actually are blood siblings.

Contact Information:

Bios:

Books:

Thank you!

Both Rhonda and Virginia are wonderful authors and persons.

Rhonda Patton is a Shreveport residence, a mother, a wife, and a daughter. Her husband is the illustrator of the Ted and Raymond Series as well as her co-writer in Searching for the Unknown and Spirits of ChesterVille General Store. She has loved writing since a young girl.  She  wrote the first Ted and Raymond book in 2000 and that turned into a series, “The Croak 500”. With NO animation or characters, her husband made the book come alive.  Rhonda was inspired to do more and more stories.

She truly is an inspiration for this author. :-) For more on Rhonda Patton, please contact her at the links below.

-Virginia Wright

Buy her books at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Rhonda-Patton/e/B008QX4XO2 and other retail stores.

Connect with Rhonda :

Twitter @frecles24
Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/RhondaPattonauthor
Google + @ https://plus.google.com/111915739855547342642?hl=en#111915739855547342642/posts/p/pub
LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rhonda-mcdaniel/24/788/8bb/

WEBSITE: http://www.thecroak500.com

Design and Promotion: http://www.freckledfrogdesigns.com

Yes, Rhonda did. Thanks for stopping by.

Rhonda, did a wonderful job! Thanks for sharing.

Yes, Peter. The Coon Dog Cemetery featured in the Sweet Home Alabama movie is the cemetery I wrote about. :-) Thanks for stopping by my blog!!! :-) -Jinnie

Is this the one featured in Sweet Home Alabama the movie?

Thank you for stopping by my blog! I am so happy you found the post about the Coon Dog Cemetery Interesting! :-)

Recently, while traveling,  I looked up tourist attractions to visit in Red Bay, Alabama.  On the Internet I read about a cemetery for dogs, that was somewhat of a tourist attraction around these parts.  Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Cemetery in Northwest Alabama is worth the trip if you are passing through. I have never been to a dog cemetery before, nor have I ever owned a coon dog. However, I have owned dogs that were extremely dear to me. What they say about a dog being man’s best friend is so true. For many, losing a dog is like losing a family member. It is touching to see this cemetery  and the tribute to such loved and dedicated hunting dogs. The first dog to have been laid to rest in this cemetery established by Key Underwood is his special friend and coon dog, Troop, on September 4, 1937, after more than fifteen years of hunting together. The coon dog cemetery is the only one of its kind in the world, and only coon dogs can be buried there. 

The spot that this faithful dog was buried was once a hunting camp that coon hunters from all over the area gathered. Underwood  marked the grave with a rock that he hand chiseled out Troop’s name, and the date, using only a hammer and a screwdriver.

Other hunters  began burying  their coon dogs  in the same cemetery where Troop was laid to rest. There are in excess of 185 coon dogs now, from all across the United States buried in the “Key Underwood Coon Dog Cemetery.”  That  I could tell, the last coon dog  laid to rest in the cemetery, was in 2015.

As I began walking around the cemetery, initially, my first impression was reminiscent of a “traditional cemetery” with engraved headstones. But the further  I surveyed this special cemetery, I found nontraditional grave markers such as wooden slats with the name gouged or burned into the wood, some of the grave markers were rocks that had names etched in the stone with a hand chisel, others were homemade concrete blocks where fingers in the once wet concrete wrote the inscription of their beloved dog.

Some of the graves in the coon dog cemetery have  dog  memorabilia on the burial sites, for example, one has a stainless steel dog dish, another has a dog collar, and more than one has a dog leash draped across the gravestone.  I looked at all the graves as I walked around and noted the  names  of a few that were inscribed on  the stones, including Easy Going Sam, Bean Blossom Bommer, Old Roy, Buck Shot, Squeak and  OL Lou.  The headstones are etched with heartfelt messages such  as “Ashes of 3, Good Coon Hounds, Friend, and If he Treed in a mailbox you’d better open it and look because he’s got em.”

In addition to grave markers and memorabilia, flowers adorning the graves were everywhere as far as the eye could see. Knowing how much these coon dogs meant to their owners was truly touching, and was evident in the sentiments etched in the gravestones. If you are in this area, stop by and visit such a special cemetery, and don’t forget to sign the guestbook. I did!

  -Virginia Wright

For the qualifications of burial in this one of a kind cemetery, contact The Friends of the Coon Dog Cemetery, Inc.

Contact:  (256) 412-5970 and ask for Janice Williams.

Website: http://www.coondogcemetery.com

Address:  4945 Coondog Cemetery Road, Cherokee, Alabama 35616

Directions: Find the Coon Dog Cemetery 7 miles west of Tuscumbia on U.S. Hwy 72. Turn left on Alabama Hwy 247, and travel approximately 12 miles. Then turn right, and follow the signs.

Admission: FREE

Hours:  Open daylight hours year-round

What is a coon dog?

A coon dog is any dog trained to hunt raccoons.

 Six breeds of U.K.C. Registered Coonhounds

Black and Tan Coonhound, Bluetick Coonhound, English Coonhound, Plott Coonhound, Redbone Coonhound,  and  Treeing Walker Coonhound.

Welcome back to the blog, Joe.

I’m thrilled to be back. I love your blog. And my grandnieces loved your mouse books!

 Aw! Thank you. Last time you told us about your acting career, including starring with Holland Taylor in the ABC-TV movie, My Mother Was Never a Kid, and working with other stars like Bruce Willis, Nathan Lane, Rosie O’Donnell, Charles Keating, and Jason Robards. You also discussed PAPER DOLL, the first Jana Lane mystery. Why did you write the second novel?

As a child I loved child stars like Shirley Temple, Hayley Mills, and Patty Duke, seeing their movies over and over. So I created a heroine who was the biggest child star ever until she was attacked on the studio lot at eighteen years old. In PAPER DOLL the secret behind that attack is exposed. The reviews were raves. Here are a few of the quotes:

 “Paper Doll is a superbly crafted mystery with an eclectic cast of characters that will engage you and elicit some very emotional responses as you are completely caught up in the events that unfold in these pages. Everyone has secrets and the people in Paper Doll have them in spades!” Fresh Fiction

“Joe Cosentino knows how to keep his readers’ interest with every page.” Universal Creativity Digital Magazine

“Mr. Cosentino has produced a masterpiece of mystery” “The story gripped me from the start and there were enough twists and turns, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure, to keep hold of me until the end of the book.” “Great book, can’t wait for book 2.” Readers’ Favorite

So I wrote another Jana Lane mystery. In PORCELAIN DOLL (The Wild Rose Press), it is 1982 and Jana is thirty-nine years old, living in a mansion in Hyde Park, New York. Jana makes a comeback film and uncovers who is being murdered on the set and why. Her heart is set aflutter by her incredibly gorgeous co-star, America’s heartthrob Jason Apollo. The other suspects include Jana’s James Dean type young co-star, her older John Wayne type co-star, her children’s Eve Harrington type nanny, the film’s gossipy makeup and hair artist, a local reverend trying to stop the film’s production, and Jason’s agent.

Did you use your background as an actor to write PORCELAIN DOLL?

Definitely! As one reviewer of PAPER DOLL wrote, I used my knowledge of show business to devilish ends. Actually, I used my background in each of the Jana Lane novels, since I know the ins and outs on a movie set. Thankfully nobody was murdered on my sets.

Who is your favorite character in PORCELAIN DOLL? And why?

Jana’s agent, Simon, is my favorite character for five reasons. He is amazingly resilient, old world Hollywood, incredibly funny, loyal to Jana, and most importantly, I want to play him in the movie version!

Which character was the most fun to write?

Jana’s James Dean type young co-star is a sexy rebel without a cause.

Is it difficult writing a series?

It’s like visiting with old friends. I love Jana and all the characters. I do need to keep a notebook with copious details on the characters and environments—especially every room in Jana’s mansion.

How have the reviews been for PORCELAIN DOLL?

Amazing. Here are two examples:

“Porcelain Doll is Joe Cosentino at his finest. We are drawn back to the fashions and attitudes of the 1980’s in a character-driven story full of intrigue and passion.” Kirsty Vizard, Divine Magazine

“Beautifully written and intensely detailed, Porcelain Doll is one not to be missed. Flirtatiously decadent with a strong moral undertone, set in a decade of extraordinary social change this is a story of its period that is as poignant today as it was then. Joe Cosentino controlled the emotions that the book encouraged with a deft but delicate touch. Suspenseful and mysterious, Porcelain Doll is a masterful creation, one that was impossible not to be affected by.” Carol Fenton, BooksLaidBare Reviews

Why did you set the books in the 1980’s?

I love the music, hair styles, clothing, and decadence of that era. I had great fun writing about Jana’s mansion, wardrobe, makeup, and hairstyles. I was also able to incorporate some of the music, films, television shows, Broadway shows, and political and social events of the era.

Will more Jana Lane mystery novels follow?

Yes, in SATIN DOLL (not yet released from The Wild Rose Press), Jana and family head to Washington, DC, where Jana plays a US senator in a new film, and becomes embroiled in a murder and corruption at the senate chamber. She also embarks on a romance with Chris Bruno, the ex-professional football player detective. In CHINA DOLL (not yet released from The Wild Rose Press), Jana heads to New York City to star in a Broadway play, enchanted by her gorgeous co-star Peter Stevens, and faced with murder on stage and off. I am currently writing RAGDOLL, where Jana stars in a murder mystery TV series and again life imitates art. Through the course of the books, Jana not only solves the mysteries, but also reclaims the courage and fortitude she had as a child. This is an important message for all of us. As one reviewer wrote, she starts out as a wounded bird, and ends as tiger.

Do you have another mystery series besides the Jana Lane mysteries?

Yes, the Nicky and Noah comedy mysteries published by Lethe Press. Each novel is loaded with wacky humor and romance in a fast-paced whodunit. Since I am a college theatre professor/department head, and theatre departments are havens of mystery, secrets, romance, and high humor; the series takes place at an Edwardian style New England college. In DRAMA QUEEN (Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015 winner for Best Mystery, Best Humor, Best Crime, Best Contemporary) theatre college professors are dropping like stage curtains. With the inept local detectives, it is up to Directing professor, Nicky Abbondanza to use his theatre skills (including playing other people) to solve the murders, while he directs a murder mystery onstage. Complicating matters is Nicky’s intense crush on Assistant Professor of Acting, handsome Noah Oliver, the prime suspect in the murder (whose tenure application was not supported by the first victim). In DRAMA MUSCLE Nicky and Noah have to use their theatre skills to find out why musclemen are dropping like weights in the Physical Education department while Nicky directs the Student Bodybuilding Competition. In DRAMA CRUISE (not released yet), Nicky and Noah go on a cruise to Alaska, and discover why college theatre professors are going overboard like lifeboats while Nicky directs a murder mystery dinner theatre show onboard ship.

As a college professor/department head, how do you have the time to write?

I write at night after my spouse has gone to bed. I have a beautiful cherry wood study with a fireplace, huge desk, bookcases, and window seat. My mother asked me, “Don’t you have anything better to do than write at night?” I wonder if Stephen King’s mother asked him that? Hah.

How can your readers contact you?

I love hearing from readers. They can contact me at http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com.

Excerpt

1982.

Jana Lane, America’s most famous ex-child star, ran on the grounds of her estate. The forty-year-old kept up a quick pace as someone, or something, followed closely in the woods just out of sight. Her heart pounded, and sweat dropped down her neck, arms, and legs. As she turned to avoid falling into the lake, Jana raced past a large oak tree. A hand reached out from a branch. Jana screamed.

Waking with a gasp, Jana rested her head on her silver satin pillow, and took in some deep breaths. Then, she sat up in bed and tried to shake away the nightmare.

Keep it together, girl. Don’t go off the deep end like before.

Thinking that music might help, she flipped on the radio, perched on her white and gold French provincial night table.

As Diana Ross crooned “Mirror Mirror,” Jana rose then stood in front of her floor-length oval mirror. Staring back between the white and gold molding was a forty-year-old woman with porcelain skin, sky-blue eyes, a button nose, deep dimples, ruby red lips, and velvety strawberry-blonde hair. (Yet all Jana could focus on were her newly acquired crow’s feet, laugh lines, frown lines, and three gray hairs. After giving birth to three children, the figure underneath her pink satin nightgown was still shapely and petite, but Jana only noticed the tiny belly and unwelcome stirrings of cellulite.) Moving to the red satin canopy bed with its gold circular headboard, Jana slipped on her silver satin robe and fluffy pink slippers. Feeling a man’s strong hands around her, she screamed.

PORCELAIN DOLL, a Jana Lane mystery

by Joe Cosentino

published by The Wild Rose Press

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6684

Is art imitating life in 1982? Jana Lane, ex-child star, is doing a comeback film about murder. When a crew member is killed on the set, it looks like Jana could be next. Thickening the plot is Jana’s breathtakingly handsome and muscular leading man, Jason Apollo, whose boyish, southern charms have aroused Jana’s interest on screen and off. Will Jana and Jason stop the murderer before the final reel, or end up on the cutting room floor in this fast-paced whodunit with a shocking ending?

BUY LINKS:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6684myBook.to/PorcelainDoll

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/porcelain-doll-joe-Cosentino/1123368757?ean=2940157711948

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-porcelaindoll-1979755-367.html

Praise for PORCELAIN DOLL, a Jana Lane mystery:

“Porcelain Doll is Joe Cosentino at his finest. We are drawn back to the fashions and attitudes of the 1980’s in a character-driven story full of intrigue and passion.” Kirsty Vizard, Divine Magazine

“Beautifully written and intensely detailed, Porcelain Doll is one not to be missed. Flirtatiously decadent with a strong moral undertone, set in a decade of extraordinary social change this is a story of its period that is as poignant today as it was then. Joe Cosentino controlled the emotions that the book encouraged with a deft but delicate touch. Suspenseful and mysterious, Porcelain Doll is a masterful creation, one that was impossible not to be affected by.” Carol Fenton, BooksLaidBare Reviews

Praises for PAPER DOLL, the first Jana Lane mystery:

“Paper Doll is a superbly crafted mystery with an eclectic cast of characters that will engage you and elicit some very emotional responses as you are completely caught up in the events that unfold in these pages. Everyone has secrets and the people in Paper Doll have them in spades!” Fresh Fiction

“If you like novels that are filled with new and old Hollywood, and a range of sub-plots, you are going to love this!” Saguaro Moon Reviews

“I liked that there was enough evidence for each of the suspects to keep me guessing until the very end.” Molly Lolly Reviews

“Joe Cosentino knows how to keep his readers’ interest with every page.”                           Universal Creativity Digital Magazine

“The setting, the characterization and the plot keep you turning the pages.”                             The Book Mistress

“Joe Cosentino has crafted an engaging tale of secrets, lies and deceit set in that crazy, ego driven scene called Hollywood.” Deb Sanders

“Mr. Cosentino has produced a masterpiece of mystery” “The story gripped me from the start and there were enough twists and turns, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure, to keep hold of me until the end of the book.” “Great book, can’t wait for book 2.” Readers’ Favorite

ASIN: B01BA2705Y

Released: March 16, 2016

Pages: 260

Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor

Paperback: 978-1-5092-0603-2

Digital: 978-1-5092-0604-9

Heat Level: Sensual, PG-13

Amazon Bestselling author Joe Cosentino wrote Paper Doll the first Jana Lane mystery (Whiskey Creek Press), Porcelain Doll the second Jana Lane mystery (The Wild Rose Press), Drama Queen the first Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), Drama Muscle the second Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), An Infatuation & A Shooting Star & A Home for the Holidays & The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press), Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back (NineStar Press), and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Eldridge Plays and Musicals). He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. His one-act plays, Infatuation and Neighbor, were performed in New York City. He wrote The Perils of Pauline educational film (Prentice Hall Publishers). Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. His upcoming novels are Satin Doll the third Jana Lane mystery (The Wild Rose Press), China Doll the fourth Jana Lane mystery (The Wild Rose Press), Drama Cruise the third Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), and Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward (NineStar Press). Joe was voted 2^nd Place for Best MM Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015.

Web site: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino

Amazon: Author.to/JoeCosentino

More about Virginia Wright go to Amazon.com

Home   |  Recipes  | My Books

Copyright 2016 Virginia Wright

In honor of World Read Aloud Day, I thought I would share a photo of my grandmother reading The Night Before Christmas to me.  From a young girl, I wanted to be a writer.  But, I never imagined back then, one day that I would grow up and write my own Christmas book. Goosies!

Reading is extremely important, not only for pleasure but for developing skills needed in everyday life. When reading aloud, you can put so much expression in the voice as the story unfolds. Children love being read to and when they can read, they love reading to others.

In 1998, while I was teaching at St. John’s Preschool and Kindergarten in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, I  implemented a reading program in my class that I penned, Book-A-Day.  This would help promote children’s reading literacy in my classroom and to get young children interested in reading every day.  I found that young children had much more interest in story time when it was made part of a daily schedule.  Instead of my students just bringing in a book on Show & Tell Day, every day of the school week, children took turns bringing in a book. It was an easy plan to establish… because I simply asked the child who had the turn to bring in the snack of the day– to also bring in a book.  I found that the interest was two-fold in story time, and while teaching for three years at St. John’s,  I kept  the Book-A-Day program in place, in my classroom. Book-A-Day is a reading literacy awareness effort that I hope to make every preschool and kindergarten class aware of.
Now go read!
–Virginia

VIRGINIA WRIGHT is the author of Timothy the Christmas Mouse and the companion book, Timothy the Christmas Mouse Coloring Book For Children.

http://www.amazon.com/author/virginiawright 

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FREE! FREE! FREE! eBook, February 19th – February 23rd, 2016

I’m especially excited as two of my poems are in this Anthology: Picture Memories and Life, Love, Inevitably Death.

Scroll down and read about Our Day of Passing and then click on the link for your free eBook. Enjoy! -Virginia Wright

Our Day of Passing: An Anthology of Short Stories, Poems, and Essays

With this project, Ingrid asks, Do you have a macabre fascination with death and the afterlife?

If so, then this anthology is definitely for you. While some see the subject of death as too morbid to contemplate, others such as the skilled writers that have contributed to this anthology, view it as the perfect subject to stimulate creative thinking. Much like ‘love’ and ‘war’, the topic of death has the ability to draw out some of the most thought-provoking pieces ever to fill a blank sheet of paper.

Our Day of Passing is formed from an eclectic and diverse mix of short stories, poems, fictions and essays. Contributions have been assembled from over 30 talented writers across the globe, each with their own fascinating interpretation of an event that comes to us all…eventually.

Written by Ingrid Hall, Franco Esposito, Dennis Higgins, Virginia Wright, Candida Spillard, Valeri Beers, Dada Vedaprajinananda, Strider Marcus Jones, Adam E. Morrison, Allyson Lima, D. B. Mauldin, David A. Slater, David King, Dee Thompson, Donald Illich, Edward Meiman, Eileen Hugo, Emily Olson, Joan McNerney, J.S. Little, Kin Asdi, Madison Meadows, Malobi Sinha, Marianne Szlyk, Mark Aspa, Mark David McClure, Megan Caito, Michael Brookes, Michael Burke, Pijush Kanti Deb, Prince Adewale Oreshade, Rafeeq O. McGiveron, Robin Reiss, Sasha Kasoff, Stephanie Buosi, Talia Haven

Whether they resonate with your own circumstances or provide new wisdom or something to ponder over, each of these carefully selected pieces will undoubtedly unlock a series of emotions within you. The anthology has been written in such a way that it can either be devoured or dipped in and out of as your emotions dictate. Either way, you can expect to feel a greater sense of self and enlightenment from reading it.

FREE eBook Click Here   |   More About Ingrid Hall 

*************************************************************

Pennies From Across the Veil by Dennis Higgins, one of the authors of Our Day of Passing says, “My own fascination with the subject has led me to write an entire story about it, based on true events.”

Reviews:

Pennies From Across The Veil By Dennis Higgins is a uniquely written love story. It is being told by the main character, who is telling the story in what seems to be a dark place (you will have to read the story to understand this). The characters are well created, and at times they have me smiling, at other times, they give me goosebumps. Throughout the whole story, I found my eyes welling up over several touching moments. Pennies From Across The Veil has it all– I can see this story being turned into an on-screen movie and out in theaters. I definitely recommend this read. In my opinion, this is Dennis Higgins best book to date! -Virginia Wright

I thoroughly enjoyed Pennies From Across the Veil. Intriguing, a bit mysterious, and definitely heartfelt, the characters felt “real.” The innovative way the story is told (from where I cannot reveal, because that is much of the mystery here!) is very unique and kept me reading. I read the whole book while traveling – waiting in line to board the plane(s), in flight, and waiting for my baggage at the end of a long day. Most especially I loved the touches of physical manifestation of a spirit’s love. The pennies…so cool! You have to read this book to know what I’m talking about – but don’t think you can guess the ending, it’s a very cool twist. I received a complimentary copy of this book to read/review, but that in no way influenced my rating or comments. Thank you, Mr. Higgins!  -Aaron P. Lazar

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Hi everyone, Bees and plants have evolved synergistically (like team members) to accommodate the needs of one another. The plants evolved methods to attract the bees to do the job of pollination; while the bees were developing ways to find, carry, store, and best use the bounty of pollen and nectar provided in exchange for their services.  These are words from my book Buzzzzzzzz. I am excited to share the new cover for, Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do. It was brought to my attention awhile back, that on the old cover, my name as author, blended too well and it could barely be seen… Hence, this new cover.

In addition to the front cover, the back cover has also been revamped to include two reviews about Buzzzzzzzz.   One of the reviews is by Dennis Higgins, author of Pennies From Across the Veil.  And also, author of the Time Pilgrim series.  http://www.timepilgrims.com 

Another review is by Daniel Caron, Nature Photographer, naturenomad.com.

Thanks to both men for agreeing to the reviews on my      cover.  I truly appreciate it!

Surviving and evolving over millions of years; honeybees are one of our most amazing creatures. They provide the essential service of pollinating, so many flowers; flowers of trees, shrubs, and plants of many types. Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do answers questions such as, Do all honeybees sting? What do they do with pollen? What type flowers do honeybees prefer? It also answers what we can do to benefit the bees.

One of my favorite hobbies is nature photography, I hope to have proved this in Buzzzzzzzz. I bring you up close and personal with some of our greatest pollinators, the honeybees.

-Virginia  

Virginia Wright, Author

http://www.amazon.com/author/virginiawright