Book Review ~ Ronie Kendig Raptor 6

By Dorothy Adamek

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. She married a veteran, and together their lives are never dull with four children and two dogs--a Maltese Menace and a retired military working dog, Vvolt N629. Ronie's degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters. 

You can find Ronie at http://roniekendig.com/ 

Raptor 6 ~ Captain Dean Watters keeps his mission and his team in the forefront of his laser-like focus. So when these two things are threatened by hackers, Dean’s Special Forces training kicks into high gear. Failing to stop the hackers from stealing national security secrets from the military’s secure computers and networks isn’t an option. Zahrah Zarrick is a missionary teacher to Afghan children in Mazar-e Sharif. And a target. When Zahrah is captured because of her expertise in quantum cryptology, endangering the US national security, Dean is forced to crack the lockbox around his heart—a move that might come at the highest cost.

My reading stash rarely keeps books like Ronie’s in the mix. This book was so far from my typical go-to historical romance, my family wondered who had left the ‘war book’ in our house and why was mum reading it?

To answer their question, I read the fast-paced Raptor 6 as the required reading for book club. 

Packed with danger and suspense, Raptor 6 came with just enough romance to keep me flipping pages and the perfect measure of innocent captives, torture and evil captors. 

Yes, I read a book with torture, folks. And I didn’t throw it into the compost bin because Ronie Kending is a brilliant writer who weaves dark, military suspense with a strong faith element and breaks the tension with a tender love thread. 

Ronie’s promise is Rapid-Fire-Fiction. She doesn’t gloss over the realities of life for imperfect soldiers in this perfect military thriller. If you’re looking for a story where the hero/heroine grapple with some of the darkest, life altering faith challenges, this is it. This book goes beyond entertainment. It pays tribute to those who dedicate their lives to military service, their sacrifices and commitment to duty.

Strong characters, great banter between hero Dean Watters and his Raptor team and the intrigue of anonymous scenes narrated by someone working with a mole in the team, did not disappoint. What stole the story for me was heroine Zahrah’s deep faith and grip on God amid the terrors of war. 

This is my first Ronie Kending book. I highly anticipate the release of Hawk, the second in the Quiet Professionals Series. 

*****

Dorothy Adamek lives in Melbourne with her Beloved and their three gorgeous kids.

She's the winner of the 2013 FHL ~ Touched By Love Competition. Enamoured by all things 19th century, she writes The Heartbeat of Yesteryear, Historical Romance - Aussie style. Come say G'day at her blog, Ink Dots. 

Readers Welcome!

By Jeanette O’Hagan

In a recent discussion on reviewing ethics, one person commented:

'I guess the brilliant marketing ploy of writing a GOOD book and letting it stand on its merits is too advanced for some authors...' 

Sounds simple doesn't it. Write a good book (a solid achievement in itself) and the publishers and readers will come flocking to your door. I don’t think it worked that way even in the ‘good old days’ when writers just wrote books and publishers edited, published and promoted them. But these days even the best book, if written by an unknown or low profile author, is likely to sink without a sound if it is not promoted in some way. And here’s the thing, increasingly publishers give cursory attention to new and midlist authors, focusing the bulk of their marketing machine on the high profile, high earning stars. Even when a publisher is prepared to give promotional backing to unknown authors, they still expect authors to promote and market their own books. In fact, they may not even consider publishing a book unless the author already has a ‘platform’. 

Now readers please bear with me because I hoping for your input on this post.

Of course there are good ways and bad ways of promoting one’s book or in cultivating a social media profile after or even before that book is published. 

One pivotal way a writer can ‘build a platform’ or more importantly, build a devoted fan base, is through a website. Now I won’t go into the debate about whether a writer should in fact have a website and whether this should be a blog or static site. What concerns me today is what content to include on the website. Non-fiction writers can obviously blog around the topic of their non-fiction books but it’s not so clear cut when one writes fiction. Many fiction writers blog about interesting topics – maybe about their life experiences or on social or topical issues etc. (e.g. MikeDuran or Paula Vince). More commonly, I think, writers start blogs on writing – sharing their writing journey as wells as tips and pitfalls about writing craft. I can feel the pull to do this on my own website. After all, writing is a big part of my life, it is something I’m very interested in and am learning about. Moreover, blogs on writing craft can attract attention and build platforms – think of K M Wieland, Randy Ingermanson or Angela Ackerman for instance.

Readers, are you still with me?

The fact is that readers unless they are also writers are not so interested in writing focused blogs. Joe Bunting suggests (2013) that few of the people attracted to a writer’s blog actually buy his/her books (less than 10%) unless of course they are books on writing. And what an author really wants to do is to connect with his or her readers.

(Not that writing a blog for writers or about interesting topics unrelated to your book/s is a bad thing. After all, I did buy K.M. Wieland's Dreamlander after finding her website repeatedly helpful. Just that we need to know what we are doing and why.)

So if this is the case, then perhaps it is of greater benefit for authors or aspiring authors to target their website to the people they envisage reading and enjoying their books. This makes sense to me but it is not as easy as it sounds. I have a hunch attracting readers to websites of an unknown author is a lot harder than attracting writers to writing websites especially before one has a published book or books for readers to read.

So what content attracts prospective readers? Here are some possible ideas (by no means exhaustive):

- write about your books including pitches, book trailers, brief excerpts (though be cautious here);

- book reviews or vblogs in genre or category you write in;

- short fictional pieces  – short stories, deleted scenes, interviews with characters, poems, songs;

- behind the scenes  – author notes, the whys and wherefores behind the story;

- characters and setting – fun character interviews or profiles, maps, drawings, genealogies etc;

- related subjects – eg recipes or meals of the time period or location of  your world or setting, alternatively  some skill or hobby that you have included in the book and that you are passionate about;

- a question and answer page where you answer readers’ questions;

- contests, giveaways, quizzes, surveys;

- news about releases, launches  and other events;

One example of an author who connects effectively with her readers is Anne Elizabeth Stengl (my daughter's a big fan). Can you think of any others? 

My questions to you are:

- If you are a writer, what content do you think might attract readers?

- If you are a reader, do you look at author’s blogs? If so, what attracts you to an author’s website? What sort of content do you appreciate or would you like to see?

Jeanette has practiced medicine, studied communication, history and theology and has taught theology.  She is currently caring for her  children, enjoying post-graduate studies in writing at Swinburne University and writing her Akrad fantasy fiction series.  She is actively involved in a caring Christian community.

You can find her on her Facebook Writer's page   

or webistes Jeanette O'Hagan Writes &   JennysThread.com 

Image Readers Welcome by Jeanette O'Hagan (c 2014)

Further Reading (For Writers):

Beman, S., (November 28 2012) 4 Steps to Creating Enjoyable Reader Experience in Your Fiction Author Website on Self Published Authors Helping Other Authors, http://selfpubauthors.com/2012/11/28/4-steps-to-creating-enjoyable-reader-experience-on-your-fiction-author-website/  , acc 2 Sept 2013

Bransford, N., (August 12, 2008) Author Websites in Nathan Bransford Author http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2008/08/author-websites.html,  acc 9 Sept 2013

Bunting, J., (Aug 2013) What Fiction Authors Really Need to Know About Their Platform in The Write Practice, http://thewritepractice.com/fiction-platform/  , acc 16 Sept 2013

 Loren, R., (October 28, 2011) 13 Steps to Creating an Author Website Readers Will Love in Roni Loren, http://www.roniloren.com/blog/2011/10/28/13-steps-to-creating-an-author-website-readers-will-love.html , acc 8 Sept 2013

Loren, R., (February 2 2012),  Author Websites: Layering Yours With Sticky Extras in Roni Loren    http://www.roniloren.com/blog/2012/2/22/author-websites-layering-yours-with-sticky-extras.html  , acc 16 Oct 2013

Ruesch, R., Saturday, (September 2010) Websites 101: What the Unpublished Author Needs in Will Design for Chocolate, http://www.willdesignforchocolate.com/2010/09/websites-101-what-the-unpublished-author-needs/, acc 9 September 2013

Reader's Luncheons with Guest Blogger, Debby Giusti

Today I have asked Debby Giusti to come and share some information about Reader's Luncheon. Welcome Debby

Debby Giusti here!

 

Thanks, Jenny, for inviting me to your blog. I’d love to share some information about one of my favorite type of events…Readers’ Luncheons. Whether hosted by a writing group, church or civic organization, or even a library, a readers’ luncheon is a wonderful way to promote local authors.  It’s also a great way for writers and readers to mix and mingle and talk about books and the craft of writing while generating revenue for a worthy cause.

 

I often attend the Heart of Dixie Readers’ Luncheon held each spring in Huntsville, Alabama.  Many of the authors arrive on Friday and lodge at the Embassy Suites that adjoins the conference area.  Heart of Dixie Romance Writers of American chapter members join the authors for dinner that night and often visit in the lobby until late in the evening.  The next morning, readers line up early and wait for the doors to open, hoping to grab a seat at their favorite author’s table. 

 

The writers provide books and small gifts for the people sitting with them and also donate large baskets or totes filled with books and other goodies for door prizes.  The chapter provides additional baskets that are raffled off as well as “get your name in a book” chances where the winner’s name ends up as a character in a future novel. In addition, each attendee receives a bag filled with books and promotional material. A nationally known, best-selling author is the guest speaker, and a book signing follows the luncheon.

 

Debby waits for the doors to open for the Heart of Dixie Readers' Luncheon.

Kathy Bone has chaired the Heart of Dixie Readers’ Luncheon for a number of years and shared the following suggestions for hosting a successful event.

 

Mary won my author basket!

 “Our luncheon has grown in size, from 144 to182 attendees in four years.  We've learned to better access online resources, advertise the luncheon on the chapter website, use online PROMO requests to help create over 40 raffle baskets, post bookseller posters detailing the event, leave stacks of invitations at book stores and other retails shops, and include invitation postcards in other event goody bags.  The key is promotion.  I can't stress this enough.  Let readers know this luncheon is all about them.  Include readers.  They'll love the hosting chapter for it and will be devoted to it from that time forward.”

 

The Southern Magic Readers' Luncheon

 The Southern Magic RWA chapter in Birmingham, AL, holds a similar readers’ luncheon each November.  Former chairperson, Lisa Dunick, says her chapter wanted to grow the event, which was a huge challenge.  “You need to keep the ticket prices reasonable but still be able to cover the cost of food and facility rental. If you want to have an event that is professionally catered, don't expect to make a lot of money--if anything--on the ticket sales unless you can sell A LOT of tickets. But then, too many tickets mean you have to pay for a larger space, so it's a strange balance.”

Lisa advises asking for donations early. “We had so many lovely authors send boxes of books and other goodies, and because I also asked presses and publicists, we were able to get some sponsors for things like the swag bags and an e-reader we raffled off.”

 

My table at the Southern Magic Readers Luncheon.

Murder in the Magic City, held in Homewood, Alabama, is hosted by the local Sisters in Crime Chapter and is chaired by Margaret Fenton, who calls it “a one-day, one-track annual mystery fan conference.” Close to 100 readers listen to a series of author panel talks, enjoy a delicious box lunch and bid on baskets provided by the Sisters in Crime chapter.  A book signing concludes the day-long event, and the money raised is donated to the SINC Chapter’s charity.

 

The following morning, the authors travel to Wetumpka, Alabama, for Murder on the Menu.  More than 130 readers take part, and the proceeds benefit the town’s library.  The authors are treated to an early lunch with the mayor and chief of police and her deputy and then rotate tables during the actual luncheon to speak individually with the folks attending the event. 

 

Margaret Fenton has organized Murder in the Magic City for over five years and says, “People want to hear authors they know of and have read.  We get two relatively big names every year, and then 10 or 15 or 20 midlist authors who need the exposure.”

Debby's gifts for each person sitting at her table for Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon 2014

Barbara Vey, formerly with Publishers Weekly, hosts an annual luncheon that has grown from 130 readers to over 500 in three years. Held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Barbara says the luncheon is filled with fun, gift bags full of books and door prizes. Proceeds benefit a local charity and provide what Barbara calls a “girl’s day out with a room full of your best friends who love books.” For those arriving the day prior, Barbara hosts an evening Question and Answer forum with the authors fielding questions and a social get-together after the Q&A.

 

Debby Giusti (L) poses with Debbie Macomber, Keynote Speaker for Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon

Whatever the format, Readers’ Luncheons are delightful for everyone involved. Consider planning such an event in your local area.  All you need are a number of authors willing to host a table, volunteers who will provide the manpower and readers eager to attend.

 

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

www.seekerville.blogspot.com

 

 

THE AGENT’S SECRET PAST

By Debby Giusti

THREAT FROM HER AMISH PAST 

Eight years ago, a drifter destroyed Becca Miller's ties to her Amish community—and murdered her family. Now a special agent with Fort Rickman's criminal investigation department, Becca knows her past has caught up with her and doesn't want to relive it. She's convinced that the killer, who supposedly died years ago, is very much alive and after her. Special agent Colby Voss agrees to help her investigate. Yet the closer they get to the truth, the closer the killer gets to silencing her permanently. 

Reviewing Ethics: Deleted Reviews

By Iola Goulton

My reviews have been deleted! What can I do?

Reviews can be deleted in two ways, by Amazon, or by the reviewer. Amazon can—and will—delete reviews which fall outside their reviewing guidelines in some way:

• Paid reviews
• Reviews written by someone with a financial interest in the book
• ARC reviews where the free book has not been disclosed
• Reviews where the author has gifted the book to the reviewer and this hasn’t been disclosed

A review may also be deleted if it includes specific words (e.g. ‘nazi’) which Amazon does not permit to be used on the site. This might be difficult to avoid if you were reviewing a book about, say, politics in Germany in the 1930’s. In some cases these reviews will be deleted automatically, in others they will be deleted if enough customers Report Abuse on the review.

Amazon will edit but not delete reviews where the review links to an external website, or where the reviewer has linked to their own book (which is seen as promotional, and therefore against the Reviewing Guidelines).

Review deleted without reason

If you believe a review has been deleted without reason, you can contact Amazon and ask them to review their decision. This usually results in a standard email saying the review was deleted because it was against the Reviewing Guidelines.

The other way reviews can get deleted is if the reviewer deletes them (e.g. because they are closing their Amazon account).

I didn’t mean reviews I wrote. I meant reviews on my book.

There’s nothing you can do about reviews written by other people. They are not your reviews, so you can’t ask Amazon why they have been deleted. If you remember the reviewer name and have their contact details (e.g. if it’s a review you solicited), you could ask the reviewer to ask Amazon, but they’ll probably just get the standard email (and may be threatened with having their review privileges revoked if they keep asking).

However, you can take some proactive steps to ensure reviews of your book aren’t removed by Amazon:

• Don’t review your own book
• Don’t ask/allow family members to review your book
• Don’t ask/allow editors or your publisher to review your book
• Don’t gift your book to potential reviewers through Amazon. Post them a hard copy, or email the pdf or mobi file
• If you do give a copy to a reviewer, ask that they include an appropriate disclosure statement (e.g. “Thanks to the author for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes”).
• Ensure reviewers don’t use their review of your book as a platform for promoting their own book, either in their reviewer name, through links, or by mentioning their own book in the review.

This is the final post in a series on reviewing and reviewing ethics.

We’ve looked at a range of topics:

• What makes a good book review
• Reviewing and influencing
• Blog tours
• The dilemma facing author/reviewers
• The etiquette of responding to book reviews
• The ethics of online reviewing
• The sins of online reviewing
• The rules of online reviewing

And we’ve debated whether authors should review (and where), and looked at copyright on reviews. I could write a book!

What is the most useful thing you’ve learned from this series? Is there anything else you’d like to know about reviews and online reviewing?


By Iola Goulton. I am a freelance editor specialising in Christian fiction, and you can find out more about my services at my website (www.christianediting.co.nz), or follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/christianediting), Twitter (@IolaGoulton) or Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/iolasreads).

I love reading, and read and review around 150 Christian books each year on my blog (www.christianreads.blogspot.com). I'm a Top 25 Reviewer at Christian Book, in the Top 1% of reviewers at Goodreads, and have an Amazon Reviewer Rank that floats around 2000.

Meeting an author for the first time.

By Jenny Blake

Last time I talked about a Goodreads group retreat with some writers and readers in Spokane Washington State. This time I am going to mention a couple of meetings I have been able to have with some authors both published and aspiring.

Last May when I went to America for my trip of a lifetime to meet a couple of friends for the first time and to do the Historical Highlights tour and see places like Gettysburg which were on my must see list. I also had the chance to meet with 4 Seekerville regulars, two of the seekers and 2 followers.

I had mentioned my trip and a couple said if you are in Atlanta we should meet. I had decided to stop there for a day and as it turned out I flew into Dallas then into Atlanta. I was going to Chattanooga the following day so I was able to meet 4 ladies for lunch at Ruby Tuesday's. Debby Giusti and Patty Jo Moore meet me at the hotel and took me to the venue where Missy Tippens and Patty Smith Hall meet us.

Debby Giusti, Jenny Blake, Missy Tippens, Patty Smith Hall

and Patty Jo Moore.

 

It was a fun time talking about books and the Australian scene. I shared timtams with the ladies. I felt I knew most of these ladies before meeting due to Seekerville and with Patty Smith Hall from the Goodreads Love Inspired Historical group. Patty Jo I knew as Catmom from Seekerville and said to her I didn't know if I would recognise her without a cat. She is such a lovely warm lady who I am so happy I have met. The lunch for this reader was a wonderful time to get to know writers I had read and gotten to know on line and was now meeting.

 

While I was in Williamsburg I got to meet Carrie Fancett Pagels who is also a historical author. My tour had the afternoon to look round Old Williamsburg and Carrie met me there and we spent the afternoon with her showing me the area. Again this came about because of my trip and for this reader it was special.

 



 

I have had the chance to meet a couple of Australian authors this year and it has been a blessing. I am not sure if authors know how much it means to readers to meet them and how excited we can get. I met Paula Vince in my towns Christian bookshop a few years back and I was like a kid in a candy store. I was so excited, I am sure Paula can tell you how excited I got. The same reaction happened when a sales girl in Koorong found out Narelle Atkins was an author and had just found her book. I saw in her how I was when I first met Paula.

 

On Tuesday Debby Giusti will be visiting to talk about reader appreciation luncheons. Hopefully will give ideas on how to meet and appreciate readers.  

 

 

 JENNY BLAKE (aka Ausjenny) is an avid reader. When not reading she enjoys watching cricket, in fact you could call her a cricket fanatic, scrapbooking and jigsaws. She volunteers at the local Christian bookshop where she can recommend books to customers. Her book blog is where she reviews books and interview authors. Her goal is to help promote new books and encourage authors. Her blog is athttp://ausjenny.blogspot.com and is Co-Founder ofhttp://acrba.blogspot.com

 







Book Review: ‘Here to Stay’ by Melissa Tagg

Amazon blurb:

After playing nomad for five years, Blake Hunziker has finally had enough of adventure. Not sure what reception he'll get from everyone back in Whisper Shore, he's stunned at not only a warm welcome from his hometown but also a job offer. The job is his if he can successfully pull off the annual Christmas Festival. If only he knew the first thing about coordinating events...

If there's one thing Autumn Kingsley knows, it's Whisper Shore. For years, she's been stuck running her family's inn when all she wants is to see the world. Now she has a visit scheduled from a potential investor who could take over the inn, as well as a dream job offer in Paris. But with just two weeks to whip the inn into shape, her chance at escape is a long shot.

The Hunzikers and the Kingsleys may not get along, but Blake knows Autumn's the only one who can help him. She agrees to a trade--she'll help with the Festival and he'll help with inn repairs. But what was meant to be a simple deal quickly becomes much more than that when the guy who's done running away joins forces with the girl who can't wait to leave.

My review:

So glad I read this book. While an easy-to-read romance, ‘Here to Stay’ is by no means shallow. Blake Hunziker and Autumn Kingsley both have their issues and Melissa Tagg explores them with honesty and sensitivity.

Usually it’s the female character I bond with the most, but, interestingly enough, not this time. I think it was because I already felt a connection with Blake after reading Melissa’s debut novel Made to Last. (While it's not essential to read this one first, I'm glad I did).

I really wanted to know Blake’s story. Don’t get me wrong, Autumn Kingsley is a well-crafted and lovable character too. She’s got grit and determination and a great sense of humour. I really liked her.

Blake, for reasons which unfold throughout the story, has been an adventurer and a wanderer but all that has changed. He wants to belong, have a normal life, have a purpose. Autumn Kingsley on the other hand, feels stifled by family issues and a small-town existence, – a job offer in Paris is exactly what she wants and she's going, no matter what. So when the chemistry between her and Blake can't be ignored any longer, it causes a fair amount of angst for Autumn. And the pair of them already have a major problem to deal with – the animosity between their families has been there for years and for painful and valid reasons.

I loved this book. It had all the things that appeal to me. Romance, obviously, but also family dynamics, hurdles to overcome and a load of humour. The banter between Autumn and Blake is terrific – it had me reading with a smile. The Christian element is there, but never preachy and to my mind, comes across very naturally. Here to Stay is a book I can recommend without hesitation.

About Andrea Grigg

Andrea writes contemporary romance. Her second novel Too Pretty will be released on August 1 by Rhiza Press. Her first novel A Simple Mistake was a finalist in the 2012 CALEB Awards.



Andrea would love to hear from you via her website or Facebook page:
http://www.andreagrigg.com/
https://www.facebook.com/author.andreagrigg

Character, Character, Character!

Heard of the movie? I’d read a couple of reviews, watched the trailer, and knew it was sad. So, armed with tissues, five of us toddled off to the local cinema.

Everything seemed normal at first. There were the usual sounds of lolly bags being wrestled open, frozen Cokes hurtling up straws, low-key chatter during the ads and previews. And then, the instant the movie began, a collective ‘Awwwwwww?’ erupted from all around us. Loud, shrill, and very, very female.

I looked at my bestie. She looked at me. I caught my daughter’s eye and then that of her friend. They both raised eyebrows and shrugged, as did my sister-in-law next to me. What was going on?

Teenage girls, that’s what.

The ‘awwww’s just kept on coming – every time Augustus spoke. Every time he smiled. Every time he so much as raised an eyebrow.

And then came the tears. Except they weren’t just tears. They were sobs. Violent ones. So loud in some parts we couldn’t actually hear the movie. The girl in front of me rocked as she cried into a jumper shoved against her mouth. And I kid you not, the girl behind me was curled in a foetal position. And then, when I looked around, I saw there were literally hundreds of them doing it. Yeah, I was a little freaked.

Once the movie ended (and it was a beautiful story), us twenty-, forty- and fifty-somethings stayed glued in our seats, watching the aftermath with a kind of macabre fascination. Girls sat huddled on the stairs, arms around each other. Group selfies were taken, even videos. After fifteen gobsmacked minutes, we left them to it.

So why did this happen? Why did this movie have such an effect on these girls?

I asked one of them (several had recognised me from their primary school days where I’d been a teacher) and she was more than willing to explain. Between sobs, that is. Yep, she was still crying and shaking twenty minutes after the credits had finished.

She had read the book, she said, over and over. As had all her friends. She was going home to read the book again if she could. She mightn’t because she’d probably get even more upset. She just LOVED the characters. They meant so much to her.

Talk about a smack between the eyes. (Me, I mean, not my young friend J)

These girls would have had the same reaction if Hazel and Augustus had been Medieval peasants rather than contemporary Americans. Why? Because John Green, the author of 'The Fault in Our Stars', had made them so real and engaging, they had leapt off the page and into their hearts.

So, I’m throwing it out there by saying this:

If my characters don’t connect with my readers, I’m wasting my time.

I could have the most beautiful and eloquently described setting; a clever and intriguing plot; godly themes. But if I have wooden rather than resonating characters, my story will be weak and illicit only a small amount of empathy. And that’s the last thing I want.

I’m a visual learner. Therefore, my movie experience was a brilliant, God-given eye-opener. Because I saw the impact on several hundred lives made by excellently crafted characters. And as a writer (and a Christian), I have the potential to do that. It may take a lot of practice, but I’m determined to get there. Anyone want to join me?

About Andrea Grigg

Andrea writes contemporary romance. Her second novel Too Pretty will be released on August 1 by Rhiza Press. Her first novel A Simple Mistake was a finalist in the CALEB Awards 2012

Andrea would love to hear from you via her website or Facebook page:
http://www.andreagrigg.com/
https://www.facebook.com/author.andreagrigg

ACBRA Tour Better Than A Superhero by Belinda Francis Illustratedby Kayleen West

21st - 25th June 2014

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

Better Than A Superhero

(Wombat books 1 May 2014)

By

Belinda Francis, illustrated by Kayleen West

About the Book

Who is better than a superhero? Find out about Jesus as you explore what he did and who he was. And most importantly how Jesus really can be your best friend!


About the Authors

Belinda Francis
Award winning journalist turned children's author Belinda Francis worked in newspapers, magazines and electronic media for ten years in South Africa before she and her family immigrated to Queensland.

Shortly after arriving in Australia, her elder son was diagnosed with ASD and she devoted the next few years to his early intervention, which with God's guidance, has paid off miraculously. Her second son, who had been born ten weeks prematurely, is now healthy and strong – evidence of yet another miracle. She and her family recently celebrated the arrival of their third child, a much-prayed for daughter.

While raising her children, Belinda wrote Better than a Superhero, her first published book, and threw herself into the local church and community. She runs the Sunday school program at her church campus.

Belinda is passionate about raising children up in God's kingdom and excited about the ministry opportunities the book will undoubtedly open up.

Kayleen West
An award winning artist, her work hangs in private and corporate collections in France, United States, Italy, and the Australian Embassy in Ireland and in government collections in Australia.

Although an initial childhood dream was to write and illustrate for children, Kayleen was encouraged to venture into a career of an exhibiting fine artist and later a graphic designer.
Returning to her original passion in 2009, Kayleen is now a published children's Author and Illustrator working on her third children's book and writes Christian content for magazines and blogs.

Kayleen is the author and illustrator of Without Me? (Wombat Books, 2013) and the illustrator of Better than a Superhero (Even Before Publishing, 2014).
For more information: www.kayleenwest.com.au