Saturday, October 29, 2011

A setback and other news

I did get Attack of the Dust Bunnies all put together and uploaded to Createspace, but I've had a setback. I have to work on the images. If they aren't the correct dpi they may be blurred in print, so I have to work on that and upload the files again. This new program I'm using is a bit confusing, but I'll get it worked out.  So, this delays the release. Now, I am aiming for November 10th.  *fingers crossed*

Halloween is just around the corner, so if you are look for some good, spooky reads check out the October issue of Fictitious Magazine- click here!

Also, "Ally Ally Oxen Free" is a scary little story for all ages and available on both Smashwords and Kindle for $0.99. I am still giving away three free Smashword Ebooks on the 31st, so let me know if you are interested.
Click here for Kindle edition
Click here for Smashwords edition

If you are looking for a whole collection of stories, Tales from Imagination's Closet, is now available on Kindle as well. Click here


Happy Reading!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Attack of the Dust Bunnies and other stuff...



Happily, I am still on schedule to get Attack of the Dust Bunnies released next week. Tomorrow I will upload it to Createspace and as long as there are no problems, it will be good to go. Yay!

I will be having another giveaway along with an author interview soon, so I'll keep you posted when and where.









I have children's stories in two other places online if anyone is interested in reading.
Click here to read "Gordon Bunker~aka Gorilla Face" on Stories that Lift.

Click here to read my latest, "Sofa Monster," on Kids'Magination.

And below you'll find a couple of children's poems suitable for October.

Pumpkin Seed


Big Sis told me it was a pill
I swallowed it while I was ill
Later she admitted with glee
It was a seed planted inside me.

My heart raced, I had to know
Would this seed inside me grow?
I felt my belly begin to rise
I imagined myself made into pies.

I screamed, I cried, I went frantic
I hollered for Momma in a dreadful panic
She raced to see what the fuss was about
I hollered, “Momma get it out!”

Momma  sat at the edge of my bed
And calmed me down by rubbing my head.
What is that has you filled with such fear
I pointed at my belly, “A seed in here.”

Momma laughed and said you’ll be fine.
A seed won’t grow without soil and sunshine.
I looked up at her asked, “Is this true?”
She smiled and asked, “Would I lie to you?”

She was right about Momma’s not lyin’
I wiped my tears and stopped my cryin’
I’d get even with Sis for her litte trick
Just wait til’ next time she gets sick.

Jack-o-Lantern

They call me Jack-o-lantern

And how did I get this way?
I swallowed a pumpkin seed,
one breezy autumn day.

Some may pity me
And say it is a shame
But I’m not really Jack-o-lantern
Cause Harold Kershaw is my name.



Happy Reading!

Friday, October 21, 2011

"Sofa Monster" at Kids'Magination Magazine

 My children's story, "Sofa Monster," is now up at Kids'Magination Magazine Click here to read. I love the illustration of the sofa monster!

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Some recent reviews I've done...

I've been doing some reading when I have time to squeeze it in. Here are some recent reviews I've done for books listed by authors on Goodreads.

Jenny Twist’s Take One at Bedtime is an awesome collection of short stories. If you like surprise endings and twists along with interesting characters and engaging plots, then you will love this book.  I enjoyed each story, but my favorites were “Margaret’s Ghost” and “Victim of Fortune.”

 Rating ***** 5 stars







I loved the character Rain. She's smart, quirky and a tomboy, but she is like other girls her age and  wrestles with her inner critic. Rain is a character that all girls budding into womanhood can relate too, and she retains a sense of self throughout the story, making her a good role model for girls as well.

The story was a fun, quick read, and I think any young lady would enjoy it.

Rating ***** 5 stars




 Mysti Parker does an excellent job bringing her fantasy characters and world to life. She also uses a method of switching points of view to tell the story, which helps the reader get inside different characters' heads. Parker does an excellent job with this method and keeps the story moving beautifully while switching the point of view. She is a talented writer and brings beautiful imagery into the story that brings forth three-dimensional characters and a sense of scenery.

Having said that, the story was not my "cup of tea" so to speak. I do believe that readers who enjoy a fantasy/romance type novel will get absorbed into the fantasy world Parker creates in A Ranger's Tale. So, for those who read and enjoy this genre, Parker's novel is an excellent choice.
Rating *** 3 stars

Happy Reading!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

News...and a giveaway for Halloween

The Goodreads giveaway for The Peanut Buttor Tweatment is over. There were 802 entries and the winners are:
Carly Chambers
Betty Braden-Fisher
Jennifers Childers

I will have the books in the mail soon. Thanks to everyone who entered! You can still buy a copy by clicking here!

"Ally Ally Oxen Free" is doing very well on Amazon Kindle. I just want to thank the readers for their support and I hope those who read it, enjoyed it. I am so pleased that I will have a giveaway on Smashwords. If you would like to enter to win a free Ebook leave me a message here or on my Facebook page.  I will give away three copies on Oct. 31st. Since it is an Ebook giveaway, winners will receive an email containing a coupon to use on Smashwords for a free download.

Don't forget to check out "Solitude." 

I have made a Facebook page for the Hairingtons. The second book, Attack of the Dust  Bunnies, will be available soon. Check it out.  Click here

Happy Reading!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Writing today...

I have an children's story in my head that I must write today. I've had this idea for a while, but it's ready become more than an idea-- it's ready to be a story. :) I think I enjoy writing children stories more than adult stories. There seems to be no limit to the imagination when writing or children--just about anything goes.

I have also been looking through the old files again and found this piece of dialogue I write a couple of years ago for a contest on Writing.com. It is called True Genius and it is a couple having an illogical conversations. I hope it makes you smile. :)

True Genius


“Did you hear what that television said just now?”

“Tom, televisions don’t talk.”

“If they don’t talk , Margret, how come I can hear it?”

“Oh, you have a point there, so what did the television say?”

“Women can become men, and men can become women!”

“No way, that’s impossible.”

“Think about it, Margie, what if a woman had dangling parts, would she be a man?”

“I don’t know.”

“If you put a pecker on cat, would it be a rooster?”

“How am I supposed to know? There has to be some sort of rules. Things can’t be changing into other things just by swapping parts.”

“If we cut off our heads and traded them, would you be me, and me you?”

“What? You can’t be me, I’m me.”

“But I’d have your head, your brain.”

“You’d also have my body, a woman’s body.”

“I know that’s what I’m sayin’, I’d be you.”

“What a minute my head would be on your. . . “

“I’d be you, really.”

“I guess you’re right, I mean, you’d have my body. That is the biggest part of me.”

“See, I am a genius. I need to send a letter to those doctors who make men into women and women into men, let them know  that all they have to do is find a woman that wants to be a man and vice versa, cut off their heads, and switch ‘em.”

“Why, Tom! You are right. That would be so much easier than making new parts and taking off the old. I’m going to get some paper and a pen right now.”

“Margie, what if I write them doctors a letter and they steal my idea?”

“You’re right, maybe we should just keep this to ourselves, so no one can steal your brilliant idea and make millions from it.”

“You better promise to keep our secret, Margie.  We’re the only two that know, so if word gets out, I’ll know it was you. I’ll be keeping my eye you.”

“What if it wasn’t me? What if it’s you, and you blame me?”

“Oh, I guess I better keep an eye on both of us.”


The End

Happy Reading


Thursday, October 13, 2011

Solitude now on Amazon Kindle

Just a quick post to let everyone know that "Solitude" is now available on Amazon Kindle - click here
Also available on Smashwords and available in many different formats, even PDF and HTML.







Happy Reading!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Getting illustrations done :)

Two things on the agenda for today- getting "Solitude" on Smashword and Kindle and finishing illustration for Attack of the Dust Bunnies. 

I want to edit Solitude again before uploading to Kindle and Smashwords. I know everyone says "never edit your own work", but I don't have a choice when I am self-publishing and cannot afford to pay someone to edit stories for me, so I do what I can. :)

Here is one of the pages from the Attack of the Dust Bunnies. In this picture the Mom is telling Dad he has to go clean the attack. (not the wording in the book of course) But you get the idea.
I am using GIMP this time and trying to give the characters a softer look, so hopefully this turns out the way I envision it. *fingers crossed*
Right now I am still on schedule to release the book later this month. Yah!



The Goodreads giveaway for The Peanut Buttor Tweatment ends on the 15th, so there is a few more days left to enter.

Happy Reading!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Coming Soon!


I have a new short story coming later this week to Smashwords and Kindle. "Solitude" is a story about a girl who is fed up with the world around her and desperately wants to be left alone. Her friend, Flora, gives her charm that allows her to inter into a world without people...













Attack of the Dust Bunnies is just about ready for release. This is the second in the series of Hairingtons Look for it later this month on Createspace and Amazon.com.

I'm Not a Tangle is the third in the series and scheduled for release in December.





I am still working on Remain Calm and Flashes of Fiction. These will be out early 2012.

 I had to move Remain Calm back a bit to get other projects done. I had originally planned its release in November of this year, but with all I have going on, It won't be ready until next year.

Flashes of Fiction is  the first in a series of  books containing 10 short stories. I will more information and a cover soon!

I will keep the blog updated with any changes, so check back.

Happy Reading.

Monday, October 3, 2011

October issue is up!


Just a short post to let everyone know that the October, horror/scary issue of Fictitious Magazine is ready to view. I hope everyone enjoys this issues. We have some returning authors, including Ray Busler and T.A. Branom. Click here to go the site.

Happy Reading