Alphabet Wildlife A to Z
by Nata Romeo
Reviewed by J.D. Holiday
Children will enjoy the Alphabet Wildlife A to Z. Each letter is taught with Nata Romeo's unique and amazing style of artwork. The images
has a stunning effects in ink and pen, some in colored ink and others in black and white using shapes and various forms of line. Very creative.
It will appeal to new young readers on a few levels as they meet animals from around the world, viewing the book's fresh and innovative artwork, and learning at the same time. This book will surely do its job of introducing the alphabet and teaching them the letters needed to create words.
Alphabet Wildlife A to Z it is easy to follow and will be enjoyed by everyone.
That's my review of Alphabet Wildlife A to Z by Nata Romeo, on THE BOOK REPORT! ~JD
(Bloomberg) -- Barnes & Noble Inc.'s Nook e-reader business, renewing efforts to challenge Amazon.com Inc. and Apple Inc., is teaming up with Samsung Electronics Co. to create co-branded tablet computers.
The new devices will combine the Nook software with Samsung's Galaxy Tab 4 hardware, creating full-service tablets that can access Barnes & Noble's collection of more than 3 million books, magazines and newspapers, according to a statement today. The 7-inch model will debut in early August, followed by a 10-inch Galaxy Tab 4 model about two months later.
Barnes & Noble, a bookstore chain with almost 700 stores, has been scaling back its investments in the money-losing Nook unit after earlier tablet models flopped with consumers. The company, which has struggled to compete with Amazon's Kindle and Apple's iPad, hasn't released a new device since October. As part of today's agreement, Barnes & Noble will buy at least 1 million devices from Samsung within the first 12 months.
Samsung, based in Suwon, South Korea, is the world's largest maker of mobile devices that run Google Inc.'s Android software. The deal will bring world-class technology to Nook, Barnes & Noble Chief Executive Officer Michael Huseby said.
"Our job and focus is to be a content company, not a device manufacturer," he said in an interview. The partnership with Samsung "allows us to focus on what we're good at."
Read the whole article at:
The Boy In The Leaves
from Short Stories and Other Imaginings for The Reading Spot
by J.D. Holiday
All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2014 by J.D. Holiday
A small boy laid there, motionless. Unlike the leaves around him he lay undisturbed by the wind gust.
Max stepped away. It was just a little kid. He looked asleep, his dark skinwas a shade of blue and purple, almost translucent. Thin parchment spanning a fragile frame.
The boy wore black jeans and an orange T-shirt with a ‘Save The Oceans’ logo across his chest. A crusted gash was on his forehead. Any time now he’d move, open his eyes and jump up, laughing.
“He’s dead,” Tony said again, this time contemptuously, his eyes wells of tears.
Max’s chest felt crushed like the time he’d fallen on his back from the school yardjungle gym and he couldn’t pull air in. He managed to say, “Maybe he’s not.”
Tony shook his head. “The little piss head. Dumb shit! He didn’t do whathe should have and now he’s dead. Stupid kid!”
Max stared at the kid. For a moment he sawTonylying in the boy’s place.Max choked. “He’s sick or something.” He hedged closer and squatted down, hesitantly touching the boy’s face. The skin was unusually cold, and the cheek dented in easily, like clay. Max jumped back falling on his backside.
“He’s dead. Can’t you see that cut on his head? They smashed him with something.Hard!” Richie loudly told him, his hands clutched at his side.
“No. Maybe it was an accident. Or a car hit him.”
“Grow up, Max. It happens,”Tony said softly now, grabbing Max’s sleeveand jerking him to his feet. “We have to tell.”
On his feet again, Max let Tony continue pulling him toward his own house. At the front door Tony using his key, lead Max inside.
They softly moved through the silent house to the kitchen in back, bright light from the many windows illuminating their way. Nothing was ever out of place there. Alwaysa bleachy smell in the air as if someone wiped off everything to disinfect and kill all the germs before they contaminated the inhabitants of the house. This house gave Max the creeps. There was something missing from it. What it was Max knew well, though things have changed since his stepfather now sucks it all up in their family. There was no love and what was there, felt like old toast taste; brittle, crackly and harsh. Most times Max could get Tony to come over to his house and hang out.When Max was here though, at Tony‘s, he felt it. Something always spooked him, only worse this time. Finding the boy did it, never having seen someone dead before.
He could almost see Tony getting beaten up here. Marus broke Tony‘s leg with thebaseball bat Tony usually kept leaning inside the garage door. Tony said he was batted to short stop, the patio doors calling him out. His parents told people he’d fallen from a backyard tree. Afterwards, Tony put the bat through the lattice work decorating the front porch, out of sight under the stairs so Maris couldn’t use it again.
Copyright by J.D. Holiday 2014
I had never seen this movie before even though I grew up with a mother who watched movies on TV every afternoon. Growing up I was not a Bogie (Bogart's nick name) fan. I found something else to do with my time if one of his movies was on the TV. However, over the years I have come to enjoy his work.
One night last week I saw Across The Pacific for the first time. Bogie never smiled so much than in this movie. I was surprised at how good he looked when he smiled naturally.
His name was Rick, like in
Casablanca (made after this movie in 1942,) but he was not playing his usual tough guy, though his character was that too. In this role Bogie shows his wide range of talents.
Mary Astor is also much changed in Across The Pacific. Like-wise, Mary's role brings fun and shows more of her talent than I had seen in her movies. She and Bogie have a playful rapport in this World War II romantic comedy-drama about spies, the war to come, and ironical since this plot was written before the US war with Japan. The only problem I saw, though not a show stopper in the movie, was when Mary Astor's character happily runs into the hero's arm at the end when her beloved father has just been killed.
On a side note, the original story was written shortly before the attack on Pearl Harper where the plot line was to take place and the movie was to be filmed. They quickly moved the story line and shooting to Panama. The title remained the same even though they were not in the Pacific at all. I loved this movie!
~JD
This is the painting to go with my short story, Where The Heart Is.
Another story for my next book:
Short Stories and other Imaginings for the Reading Spot.
It will be in black & White.
This goes with a short story I'm working on.
~JD
In Triple Shot, Maggie Thorsen and her BBF, Sarah Kingston have a nonstop time of it in the coffeeshop, Uncommon Grounds. They discover that the coffee shop was once a hangout for the mob with a connection to her friend Tien grandfather killed in a shot out between the mob and FBI, a 'secret room' the old mob use to use, a hint of unfound money they might have left behind, bodies still piling up and Sarah is a murder suspect. (Sort of like Geraldo Rivera's mystery of Al Capone's vault, but with a much, much better plot.) Add to this mix, Maggie has to deal with out of towners showing up in Brookhills running about stirring it all about and not to forget about another woman who tries to horn in and finger that buttery leather jacket Maggie so loves. Speaking of Pavlik, he mood is so warm and loving in the book!
In Triple Shot, Maggie's fun sense of humor, a hallmark of Sandra Balzo's character, keeps you entertained and the story moving with scenes. Maggie doesn't share all her thoughts with her fellow characters... just with me, (Okay, and you.) In this one, Maggie imagines Pavlik thinking of their relationship: 'How the hell did I get myself involved with this broad? It's like I'm Lassie, she's Timmy, and every day is a new well!'This is my favorite Maggie Thorsen mystery written skillfully by Sandra Balzo. Maggie is one of the strongest characters I know. Well... as well as a reader can know a fictional character, that is. Triple Shot has everything I love in a good book.
That's TRIPLE SHOT, In A Nut Shell!
~JD
When Fates Collide...Arm Candy by Yvonne Mason and Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc IN A NUTSHELL!
When Fates Collide...Arm Candy gives you a look, with a comical view, inside the bounty hunting business. Although they might seem an unlikely duo, these two women, Alex and Hope, like each other which is just what they need in order to work in the world they find themselves in. Their partnership make their job look easy. It's far from all business adding to the laughs as Alex and Hope join forces with others from all walks for life as they travel from New Orleans, where Alex swears the best coffee on the planet is, to St. Maarten to get their jumpers, the two criminals who jumped their bail. Their adventure keeps the story moving just the way I like it. So, while it's cold outside this winter, my advice is to go with Alex and Hope as they take you with them to the warm and sunny island of St. Maarten for a bit of fun!
When Fates Collide...Arm Candy is the third in this series following
When Fates Collide and When Fates Collide Mardi Gras Bound.
Yvonne Mason's site: http://indieauthoryvonnemason.comAndrea Dean Van Scoyoc's site: http://advanscoyoc.blogspot.com/
That's When Fates Collide...Arm Candy: In A NutShell!Enjoy! ~JD Holiday
Hear An Interview with Yvonne Mason on THE AUTHORS' WORDS at Blog Talk Radio: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bgr/2013/09/20/the-authors-words-author-yvonne-mason
by Lauren Gelman and Jessica Cassity  |
| In a NUT SHELL! |
A love of reading can protect your brain from Alzheimer’s disease, slash stress levels, encourage positive thinking, and fortify friendships. Here's how your brain and body benefit when you crack open a book.
Reading gives your brain a different kind of workout than watching TV or listening to the radio. Whether you’re absorbed in a page-turner or simply scanning an instruction manual for your coffee maker, “parts of the brain that have evolved for other functions—such as vision, language, and associative learning—connect in a specific neural circuit for reading, which is very challenging," Ken Pugh, PhD, president and director of research of Haskins Laboratories, told Oprah magazine. The habit spurs your brain to think and concentrate.
This is a Picture that goes with a poem in my book: Short Stories and other Imaginings for the Reading Spot. The poem is called, Cherished Dreams.
~JD Holiday
This week I'm on Penny Ehrenkranz blog! Please stop by! ~JD
We talk about my children's picture book, The Spy Game, plus I will giveaway a copy to one person who leave contact information in their comment at the end of the interview~
The Spy GameBUY LINK:
http://www.amazon.com/Spy-Game-JD-Holiday/dp/098186144X GIVEAWAY?: Please leave contact information in your comment to be considered for a copy of The Spy Game.
Please tell me how long you've been writing, and why you decided to become a writer.
In 1983 I started writing when a friend asked me to read a few pages from a historical romance she was writing. I told her what I thought about it and she asked me to help her write the book. We did finish it and sent it to an agent who was kind and sent the manuscript back with a detailed account of what was wrong with it. My friend went on to other things while I found that I loved writing and did not want to stop. I’ve been writing for years now.
READ THE RestAT: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/2013/09/jd-holiday-spy-game-plus-giveaway.html
I'm starting a new reading show of Christian and Jewish stories called, Halo Kids Tales at Blog Talk Radio. This is a preliminary drawing of people for the logo.
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| JD |
What will happen to Barnes and Noble now?
B&N has invested heavily in its Nook e-readers as we all started buying all our e-books and books online. I, as a reader and an author who has my books for sale at B&N, just can't imagine a world without B&N!
I found it and you can read it at:
BY HILLARY KELLY If the reports are true, and J.D. Salinger’s estate is about to release five never-before-seen novels by the famously reclusive author, the literary world may be set to receive its biggest posthumous bounty since Emily Dickinson’s sister happened upon that trunk full of poems. As many have long suspected, Salinger may soon join the long, illustrious line of novelists’ whose work continues to emerge long after they depart this world. Here, ten of the most remarkable posthumously published novels in history:
A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
BY JAMES AGEE
An autobiographical novel aimed at understanding his own father’s death, the ironically titled
A Death in the Family was seven years in the making but still incomplete when James Agee died in 1955. Two years later, it was published to alleviate the financial strain Agee’s family faced
—and then went on to win the 1958 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.NORTHANGER ABBEY AND PERSUASION
BY JANE AUSTEN
Usually recognized as Jane Austen’s earliest completed novel, Austen sold Northanger Abbey for ten pounds in 1803, but it languished in the hands of her editor for nearly ten years. Eventually, Austen raised the funds to buy back the manuscript, which remained unpublished—along with Persuasion—until 1817. The rest, as we know, is history.
When do you stop reading a book? I have no shame in admitting that I will stop reading a book after a few pages. Life is too short to read a book you don’t enjoy.
Goodreads has created a great infographic exploring the books most often abandoned by readers on the social network–a whopping 38 percent of readers refuse to stop reading, even if they don’t like a book! The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling topped that list, followed by Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. The complete chart follows below…
Welcome to our Top Stories of Summer 2013 series. For all our readers returning from trips and vacation reading, we’ve created a short list of the stories you may have missed during this long, strange summer for the publishing industry.
It's Story Time is NOW on BOOK GARDEN RADIO! ~Book Garden Radio brings you It's Story Time: an International Children's Reading Radio Shows; and The Authors' Words: where you will hear authors read their favorite part from their book. Q & A to follow. ~~ It's Story Time airs live two to three times a month 10/11AM est, 9/10AM cst, 8/9AM mst and 7/8AM pst ~~As Always, the show is FREE. No codes or coupons and you don't need to click to another site. The shows are here, so sit right back and listen live at show time or on demand at anytime you like at BLOG TALK RADIO. ~~~
Show's Site: www.thebookgarden.net ~~~~~ALL books that appear on It's Story Time are copyrighted by the author.
SHOW INDEX
Shows Index By Dates
(If links are broken, please copy and paste them)
It's Story Time will be featured on BlogTalkRadio's homepage starting on Sunday, August 4 at 12AM EST http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bgr/2013/08/03/its-story-time-with-jd-holiday-8-3-13
It's Story Time with J.D. Holiday 8-3-13 08/03 by Book Garden Radio | Books Podcasts
Comics for Kids Are Hot at Comic-Con 2013 Jul 25, 2013 on publishersweekly.com
While superheroes and zombies may have dominated the show floor at Comic-Con in San Diego this past weekend, publishers of comics and graphic novels for children and young adults brought plenty of excitement to the show, with announcements of new titles as well as digital deals. From Viz Media's relaunch of its children's imprint to Archie's first zombie comic and Papercutz’s team-up with the WWE, publishers had plenty of news to share.Viz Media has announced a new imprint for its children’s comics, which were previously grouped under the Viz Kids imprint for print and the “sticky DOT comics” app for digital. Viz is best known as a manga publisher for older readers (their properties include the digital Shonen Jump magazine and the top-selling series Naruto), but as Beth Kawasaki, senior editorial director for children’s publishing at Viz, explained, its children’s line is more diverse. “Perfect Square will be the overarching brand for both the print and the digital,” Kawasaki said. "Everything in the Viz Kids catalog is coming over, and we will continue to bring over strong brands and properties from Japan, but we have these new things as well.” The Viz Kids titles include Pokemon and Legend of Zelda, which will share the imprint with original graphic novels based on licensed properties such as Hello Kitty, Ugly Dolls, Ben 10: Omniverse, Monsuno, and Max Steel. In October, Viz will debut Pokemon Pocket Comics,chunky black-and-white books in a format similar to their Pokemon Pocket Guides that will feature gag comics, puzzles, and trivia.
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What a fun story for my grandson! The idea of a dog that just stares is so true, (we have one) and so funny.
Hi Charlotte,
Please leave your comment on at: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/2013/09/jd-holiday-spy-game-plus-giveaway.html
To maybe WIN a free copy! :D
Thank you so much!
JD