A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Archive for the ‘Maine Author’ Category

Aside

AMAZING MATILDA, A Monarch Butterfly’s Tale by Bette A. Stevens

Missed Matilda’s October Monarch
Butterfly Migration Celebration?

No worries…

AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning picture book written and illustrated by Bette A. Stevens, is a brilliant bargain any time—eBook ($3.99) Paperback ($9.49) OR purchase the paperback and download eBook for FREE! http://bit.ly/19Qr3Y0

“Children of all ages will be able to relate to monarch’s plight in some way… “This story is a true gem and one that will inspire children for years to come.” Renee Hand, award-winning adult and children’s books author. Hand reviews for the New York Journal of Books.

Find out more about our amazing monarch pollinators and take a “Look inside” of Bette’s award-winning picture book today!

“Science, adventure and wise lessons for kids!”

Monarch butterflies are a near-threatened species. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Food Safety filed a legal petition requesting Endangered Species Act protection for the monarch and its habitat.

About the book

AMAZING MATILDA by Bette A. Stevens (Ages 4-11 + grownups love it too) Friendship, patience and persistence are among the lessons learned in this gem of a tale featuring an amazing monarch butterfly. This award-winning picture book adventure follows the monarch’s life cycle as Matilda embarks on a quest to make her dream of flying come true. Matilda emerges from her egg on a milkweed leaf—she stretches and yawns and knows she wants to fly. Sparrow tells her to follow her dreams. Toad and Rabbit laugh at a creature without wings who wants to fly. You’ll be as amazed as Toad and Rabbit are as you follow Matilda from egg to imago. Science, art and wise lessons for children—all wrapped up in a tale the kids will want to read/hear again and again!

Bette A. Stevens received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Maine at Orono before embarking on graduate courses in Curriculum Studies at Chapman University in California. She has taught in elementary and middle school classrooms in California and Virginia. Stevens is the author of AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning picture book; The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!, a home/school resource incorporating hands-on math and writing; and PURE TRASH, the short story prequel to her début novel, DOG BONE SOUP, a Boomer’s coming of age novel published in January 2015.

Eighth-generation (2015) monarch butterflies in the US and Canada migrate south each fall. Destination—Mexico and California’s coast where they over-winter before mating to create the first generation of monarchs for the northern migration that begins the following spring.

Inspire the kids in your life with AMAZING MATILDA today and find out more about all of Bette’s books! http://viewauthor.at/BetteAStevens

Love monarch Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ butterflies?

FREE: Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ FUN & LEARNING WITH MONARCH BUTTERFLIES (FREE pdf) from Bette
★Monarch Facts★Coloring Pages★Crafts★Gardening★Video: How to Make an Origami Butterfly
★Butterfly Teacher Guide and more…★Find out how you can help protect our Amazing Monarchs at https://4writersandreaders.com/fun-learning-with-monarchs-2/

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 10/29/2015

Aside

THE TANGRAM ZOO & WORD PUZZLES TOO!

The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! was written and illustrated by Bette A. Stevens (1st Edition published by Windswept House, Mt. Desert, ME in 1997) as an educational resource to use in her classroom. Kids, teachers and families are still raving about this book.

“Awesome and Creative!” ~ S.B.

“These were fun, so I wish there had been more pages.”
~ Ocean Breeze

“The animal shapes are fun and the riddles are great too.
Don’t worry the answers are in the book so you will
not get stuck trying to figure them out.”
~ David M. Howard, author

“A great tutoring resource. I would highly recommend
it as a teaching aid for parents or tutors.“
~ Charles Bray, educator and author

For hours of creative learning at home
and in the classroom, visit
THE TANGRAM ZOO and WORD PUZZLES TOO!

Kids will learn how to make their own tangrams

Solve tangram puzzles
Solve rhyming riddles
Create their own creatures & riddles
to add to THE ZOO…

Get the kids out of that boredom slump with THE TANGRAM ZOO by Bette A. Stevens—a great resource for home or school. Puzzles, poetry, reading, research, writing & projects too! (ages 5–adult)
Looking for some Classroom or Family Fun with the kids or grandkids? Need some quality together time on a rainy or snowy day?
Solve 18 puzzles and riddles, make your own tangram puzzle pieces; then write your own riddles and add your creatures to THE ZOO!
Solutions and project ideas included.

Visit THE TANGRAM ZOO AND WORD PUZZLES TOO! written and illustrated by Maine author/illustrator. Paperback only $6.99 for hours of creative learning and hands-on fun. Get your copy at YOUR AMAZON today!

Find adventure books for everyone in the family at http://viewauthor.at/BetteAStevens

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 10/28/2015

Aside

Celebrate Autumn with a Monarch Butterfly Adventure! AMAZING MATILDA by Bette A. Stevens Only 99¢ October 21-25

To celebrate the season’s great Monarch Butterfly Migration, AMAZING MATILDA by Maine author/illustrator Bette A. Stevens is on sale for only 99¢ from October 21—25. Find out more about our amazing monarch pollinators and download your copy of Bette’s award-winning picture book today!

Eighth-generation (2015) monarch butterflies in the US and Canada are migrating south right now—destination: Mexico and California’s coast where they will over-winter before mating to create the first generation of monarchs for the northern migration that begins during the spring of 2016.

Celebrate the Great Migration with AMAZING MATILDA

Kindle version only 99¢
October 21—25, 2015
at Your Amazon

About the book

Latest 5✰ Book Review

by T. Sanders (October 18, 2015)

As an early educator for nearly fifteen years, I am always seeking new books to share with my children. I stumbled upon this book and because I adore butterflies, I just had to give it a try. What I discovered is that this is not just another children’s book with pretty pictures and an engaging story line. It has a subtle, yet powerful underlining theme of perseverance, patience, and believing in oneself. The language isn’t too sophisticated for the targeted age group, yet it’s written in a way which would also cause parents to not be annoyed in having to read it ‘just one more time’ at the pleas of their little ones.

I own the Kindle and paperback version of this book now and I display it proudly in my classroom with my other favorites such as ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ and Dr. Seuss classics. With all the ridiculous contemporary children’s books being released, which have no positive message or valuable information in them, it’s refreshing to find a gem like this one to add to my library.

Download your copy of “AMAZING MATILDA”

ONLY 99¢ OCTOBER 21—25
(OR: Purchase paperback and download the eBook for FREE
any time) at YOUR AMAZON

About the author

Inspired by nature and human nature, author Bette A. Stevens is a retired elementary and middle school teacher, a wife, mother of two and grandmother of five. Stevens lives in Central Maine with her husband on their 37-acre farmstead where she enjoys reading, writing, gardening, walking and reveling in the beauty of nature. She advocates for children and families, for childhood literacy and for the conservation of monarch butterflies—an endangered species (and milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat).

Stevens is the author of AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning picture book; The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!, a home/school resource incorporating hands-on math and writing; and PURE TRASH, the short story prequel to her début novel, DOG BONE SOUP, a Boomer’s coming of age novel published in January 2015.

Please share this post… Monarch butterflies are a near-threatened species. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Food Safety filed a legal petition requesting Endangered Species Act protection for the monarch and its habitat.

FIND OUT MORE: Monarch butterflies could get endangered species status

January 11, 2015 at 5:23 PM EDT
http://video.pbs.org/viralplayer/2365400870

Download Bette’s FREE pdf for amazing links to:
★Monarch Facts
★Coloring Pages
★Crafts
★Gardening
★Video: How to Make an Origami Butterfly
★Butterfly Teacher Guide and more…
★Find out how you can help protect our Amazing Monarchs
https://4writersandreaders.com/fun-learning-with-monarchs-2/
Bette’s Books

Find out more about Bette A. Stevens and take a “Look inside” her books at http://viewauthor.at/BetteAStevens
Sign up for Bette’s author email updates at http://eepurl.com/t-7JP

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 10/21/2015

Aside

The wonder of it all!

The deciduous leaves are sparkling against the conifers and the canvas sky the here at “The Farmstead” in Central Maine. Have a beautiful week, friends! ~ Bette A. Stevens

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 10/10/2015

Aside

REVELATION, a poem by Bette A. Stevens

Find more of Bette’s poetry and explore her blog at http://www.4writersandreaders.com

Written

on 10/09/2015

Aside

Celebrate the Season with ‘DOG BONE SOUP’: Grab it for only 99¢ from October 3~7

First, you can read “An Apple Picking” excerpt from DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens right here.
Only 99¢ for the whole story from October 3—7!

“The other America, the America of poverty, is hidden today in a way that it never was before. Its millions are socially invisible to the rest of us.” — Michael Harrington

DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens
ONLY 99¢ for 5 days: October 3—7
Grab a copy today on YOUR AMAZON!

DOG BONE SOUP is a fictional story of the survival and the triumph of a boy who overcomes the odds of repeating the pattern of poverty in his own life back in the 1950s and 60s, an era when most families were living The American Dream.

Unfortunately, DOG BONE SOUP is as relevant today as it was in the 1950s and 60s. Fortunately, we do have the opportunity to change these statistics today. As caring and concerned adults, we can all make a difference—one child at a time.

Meanwhile, savor “An Apple Picking Excerpt” from DOG BONE SOUP…

Right after school the next day, Willie and I grabbed two empty bushel baskets and headed over to Alvina’s place. We planned to fill ’em up over the tops.

“Hi, Mrs. Stevens,” I said when she opened the door.

“What on God’s green earth do you two want?”

“Saw your trees out there with branches tippin’ to the ground. Wondered if we could pick some apples. If you like, we’ll pick some for you too.”

“Hell, no! Those apples are mine and they ain’t goin’ to some white trash that lives down the road. I’ll have ’em rot before the likes of you gets a one. Now, get the hell out of here and don’t come back. My shotgun’s standin’ in the corner and I’m not afraid to use it. Now, git!”

We trudged back to the Buick, drove the quarter mile home and headed out to the garden to see what we could rustle up—a bushel of onions, a bushel of potatoes, half a bushel of carrots and fourteen Hubbards.

“Gotta head out to pick Mum up, Willie. You lug in the water and have the girls feed the chickens.”

Told Mum about it all soon as she slammed the Buick’s door.

Mum braided the onions and hung them down the basement so they wouldn’t rot. She had Willie line the Hubbards up around the edge of the kitchen floor without touching to keep them from rotting.

“I don’t think we have much grain left for the chickens and we can’t afford to buy any. Drive down by Bull’s Butcher after school tomorrow and get us as many dog bones as he’ll let you have. I can do a lot with those bones.”

So there we were, back to those god-awful stinkin’ dog bones. Mum boiled a big pot of ’em up that night. She scraped off what little meat was on them and separated out the fat to fry. We ate the crispings with our fingers. The meat scraps went back into the kettle with carrots, onions and potatoes and that was our supper for weeks on end.

Still, I had a plan.

“Hey Willie, let’s head over to Alvina’s after dark. We’ll park this side of her place, sneak into the orchard and snitch us some apples. We can lug ’em back to the Buick and Alvina’ll be none the wiser. What do you say?”

“You bet!” Willie was rarin’ to go.
###

Tell your friends all about it…

And don’t forget to grab your copy of DOG BONE SOUP for only 99¢ at YOUR AMAZON today!

Let’s all throw kindness around like confetti! ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author

Author Bio

Inspired by nature and human nature, author Bette A. Stevens is a retired elementary and middle school teacher, a wife, mother of two and grandmother of five. Stevens lives in Central Maine with her husband on their 37-acre farmstead where she enjoys writing, gardening, walking and reveling in the beauty of nature. She advocates for children and families, for childhood literacy and for the conservation of monarch butterflies—an endangered species (and milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat).

DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens
“Throw kindness around like confetti!”
ONLY 99¢ for 5 days: October 3—7
Grab a copy today on YOUR AMAZON!

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 10/03/2015

Book Review: Dog Bone Soup by Bette Stevens

READ THE REVIEW & AN EXCERPT from DOG BONE SOUP: “THE BUICK,” too! ~ Bette A. Stevens
REVIEW EXCERPT by N.A. Granger, author of The Rhe-Brewster Mysteries as well: Dog Bone Soup is a gem of a book, fast paced, entertaining, and moving. I loved it and devoured it in two sittings (I had to stop to eat!). Bette Stevens is a talented storyteller and I hope we will have another book from her soon.

Five stars!

SaylingAway

I grew up in New England the 1950s and ‘60s, and Bette Stevens has written a coming of age novel about a life I wouldn’t recognize. Call me lucky. Shawn Daniels, the oldest of several children, lives in poverty. His father is the town drunk and beats his mother, who struggles to keep the family together in an unfinished, tar papered house with no indoor plumbing, running water, and heat. They have a TV but that’s for the enjoyment of Dad. Shawn and his brother Willie do all his chores: cutting and stacking firewood, hauling water into the house, and helping mind their two younger sisters. Despite the curtailment of a real childhood, the brothers still find a way to have adventures in small pockets of time, fishing for one, with a home-made pole and a safety pin for a hook. Dog bone soup, made from the marrow in left…

View original post 739 more words

Category:

About the Author, DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens, Fiction, Literature, Maine Author, My Books, Parenting, Recommended Reads

Tagged with:

Aside

BROOK SONGS a poem by Bette A. Stevens

Inspired by nature, I love to walk to down the brook. It’s only a quarter-mile from “The Farmstead” here in Central Maine and no matter the weather or season, the sights and sounds of the water and the abundance of nature’s bounty always manage to refresh my soul and often inspire the writer child within me. The photo for the poem Brook Songs was taken last fall. As the autumn season nears a new dawning, I put pen to paper for a draft before designing the poem on the computer. ~ Bette A. Stevens, Maine author/illustrator

Take a “Look inside” all of Bette’s books on YOUR AMAZON.
You’ll find more of Bette’s poetry right here on her blog

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 09/17/2015

Aside

Bette’s Books & Blog…

I am a writer inspired by nature and human nature.

I love people, nature, art, music and literature.

I advocate for kids and families, childhood literacy and for the protection of monarch butterflies and their threatened habitat in my books, my poetry and on my blog. My blog supports Indie and traditional authors, features great books and poetry and provides tips for writers and readers as well. Be sure to check out the tabs at the top of my blog and leave a comment or two. Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit. I look forward to chatting with you. — Bette A. Stevens

Brief Bio: Stevens is a retired elementary and middle school teacher, a wife, mother of two and grandmother of five. Stevens lives in Central Maine with her husband on their 37-acre farmstead where she enjoys writing, gardening, walking and reveling in the beauty of nature. She advocates for children and families, for childhood literacy and for the conservation of monarch butterflies—an endangered species (and milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat).

Stevens is the author of AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning picture book; The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!, a home/school resource incorporating hands-on math and writing; and PURE TRASH, the short story prequel to her début novel, DOG BONE SOUP, a Boomer’s coming of age novel. MY MAINE, inspired by The Pine Tree State —Maine’s diverse landscape, natural beauty, rural communities, and independent people—the author’s 150 haiku poems, along with her photographs, reflect the Maine she knows and loves.

BOOK BLURBS:

“My Maine, Haiku through the Seasons takes readers on a poetic journey through the state’s four distinct seasons. Whether you’re a native Mainer or from away, Stevens’s short story poems and photographs will resonate. The collection opens with Maine Pines and People. The journey continues with the rejuvenating spirit of Spring Awakenings and Summer Songs; then on to more of Maine’s extraordinary places and people in Autumn Leaves and Winter Tales. In addition to its poems and photographs, My Maine includes state symbols and interesting facts about The Pine Tree State.”

“DOG BONE SOUP is not only a fabulous title for a novel, it’s also the staple diet of the young hero, Shawn Daniels . But it takes more than an impoverished family life, exacerbated by a drunken father, to keep our Shawn and his brothers and sisters down.” Survival, struggle and the human spirit rising above it all—a 1950s and ’60 coming of age adventure.

“PURE TRASH is an emotional and soul-searching short story read. Compassion is a beautiful thing.” A single day—a lifetime of lessons.

Inspire the kids to follow their dreams with AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning Monarch Butterfly picture book adventure! (ages 4-11).

CLICK, LOOK & LISTEN as author Pamela Beckford reads AMAZING MATILDA for United Way’s Childhood Literacy Program:

Encourage the kids (elementary and middle-graders) with THE TANGRAM ZOO & Word Puzzles Too!—a great resource for home or school. Puzzles, poetry, reading, research, writing and projects too!

I would love to hear from you (comments below).

Find out more about author Bette A. Stevens and take a “Look inside” her books at YOUR AMAZON.

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 09/11/2015

Aside

RRBC Back to School Book & Blog Block Party!

🍃CONGRATS to WINNERS for this PARTY SITE🍃

$10 Amazon Gift Card—Marlena Hand
e-Book copy of DOG BONE SOUP—Jo Robinson
e-Book copy of PURE TRASH—P. H. Solomon
Paperback copy of AMAZING MATILDA—Micki Peluso
Paperback copy of THE TANGRAM ZOO & WORD PUZZLES TOO!—Yvette M. Calleiro

Welcome to Rave Reviews Book Club’s “BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOK & BLOG BLOCK PARTY” at author Bette A. Stevens’s website/blog 4writersandreaders ONLINE! Location: Hartland, Maine where five (5) awesome prizes will be giving away today—September 10th!

Hi and thanks so much for visiting my blog and joining RRBC’s September “Book & Blog Block Party” today. To ENTER today’s GIVEAWAY, simply read along and leave a comment at the bottom of this post. You’ll get a glimpse into my books and find a short author bio too. As a writer inspired by nature and human nature, I continue to advocate for children and families, for childhood literacy and for monarch butterflies and their environment. To find out more about my books and poetry I invite you to explore my blog. I feature fellow authors and their books, share helpful writing tips and inspirational posts from my writer/blogger friends too. I hope you enjoy your visit! ~ Bette A. Stevens

Prizes Bette’s giving away today!

One $10 Amazon Gift Card

One e-Book copy of DOG BONE SOUP

One e-Book copy of PURE TRASH

One Paperback copy of AMAZING MATILDA

One Paperback copy of THE TANGRAM ZOO & WORD PUZZLES TOO!

Number of winners for this stop: 5!

BOOK BLURBS:

“DOG BONE SOUP is not only a fabulous title for a novel, it’s also the staple diet of the young hero, Shawn Daniels. But it takes more than an impoverished family life, exacerbated by a drunken father, to keep our Shawn and his brothers and sisters down.” ~ Charles Bray (MG/YA/Adult coming-of-age historical fiction)

Click here to READ CHAPTER ONE now!

“PURE TRASH (Short story prequel to DOG BONE SOUP) is an emotional and soul-searching short story read. Compassion is a beautiful thing.” ~Amazon reviewer

“How can so much imagery fit in such a small space? A host of human emotions and an entire era are crammed within a handful of pages. What’s even more impressive, is that it’s all accomplished from the point of view of a simple boy.” ~ Nicholas Rossis

Click here to READ OPENING EXCERPT now!

Inspire the kids with AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning Monarch Butterfly picture book adventure! (ages 4-11)

CLICK, WATCH & LISTEN as “Blossom” (author Pamela Beckford) reads AMAZING MATILDA—with permission from author Bette A. Stevens—for United Way literacy campaign.

Encourage the kids (elementary and middle-graders) with THE TANGRAM ZOO & Word Puzzles Too!—a great resource for home or school. Puzzles, poetry, reading, research, writing and projects too!

“I’ve used The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! in my classroom with students(grades 4-8))—The Zoo is a great resource for integrating research and creative writing into a math or science curriculum. One of the project ideas included in the book is for the kids to create their own tangram animals to add to The Zoo… and write their own rhyming riddles. It’s hands-on learning that’s creative and lots of fun!” ~ Bette A. Stevens

Author Bio:

Inspired by nature and human nature, author Bette A. Stevens is a retired elementary and middle school teacher, a wife, mother of two and grandmother of five. Stevens lives in Central Maine with her husband on their 37-acre farmstead where she enjoys writing, gardening, walking and reveling in the beauty of nature. She advocates for children and families, for childhood literacy and for the conservation of monarch butterflies—an endangered species (and milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat).

Stevens is the author of AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning picture book; The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!, a home/school resource incorporating hands-on math and writing; and PURE TRASH, the short story prequel to her début novel, DOG BONE SOUP, a Boomer’s coming of age novel published in January 2015.

You’ll find all of my books on YOUR AMAZON. Once again, thanks for stopping by—don’t forget to share your thoughts and comment below to enter the giveaway. Good luck on winning one of the five prizes! I’ll see you at the next stop of this awesome Rave Reviews Book Club “BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOK & BLOG BLOCK PARTY” ~ Bette A. Stevens

To read excerpts from Bette’s books, find her poetry and some excellent writing tips or perhaps learn more about monarch butterflies and download some cool freebies about them (top of blog tabs), simply click the link below and explore her blog…

[EXPLORE BETTE’S BLOG]

Written

on 09/09/2015

	Anonymous on Write a Summer Limerick &…
	Eunice Miller on The Splendor of Diversity—disc…
	graybeallashawn on Easter Blessings (+Music) and…
	Sandee on The Splendor of Diversity—disc…
	Annika Perry on The Splendor of Diversity—disc…

A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Archive for the ‘Maine Author’ Category

About the book

Love monarch Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ butterflies?

Please share:

Please share:

Celebrate the Great Migration with AMAZING MATILDA

About the book

Latest 5✰ Book Review

About the author

Bette’s Books

Please share:

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Please share:

Please share:

Meanwhile, savor “An Apple Picking Excerpt” from DOG BONE SOUP…

Please share:

Please share:

Please share:

I am a writer inspired by nature and human nature.

BOOK BLURBS:

Please share:

🍃CONGRATS to WINNERS for this PARTY SITE🍃

Prizes Bette’s giving away today!

Number of winners for this stop: 5!

BOOK BLURBS:

Author Bio:

Please share:

WELCOME!

Bette A. Stevens

Sign up for Bette’s Newletter

Follow this blog: 4writersandreaders via Email

BETTE’S BOOKS

Which would you choose?

Soothe the Soul…

DOG BONE SOUP… Book Trailer

Guts & glory of a Boomer’s journey

Follow me on Twitter!

What’s New?

What’s Been Happening?

Looking for a Post?

FIND MAINE WRITERS

A shout-out to my terrific community!

Rave Writers International Society of Writers

Rave Reviews Book Club

All Things Butterfly!

Authors/books

Blogroll

Goodreads

Author Bette A. Stevens

What readers are saying…

Tag Cloud