Wishing you a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May PEACE, LOVE & JOY follow you into the New Year and beyond. ~ Bette A. Stevens
Archive for the ‘Maine Author’ Category
How to write a novel in 30 days!
NOVEMBER WAS NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH
THANK YOU NaNoWriMo and my writing buddies for helping me meet the challenge of writing a novel in 30 days!
ON NOVEMBER 27th, 2013, the draft of my upcoming debut novel reached more than 55,000 words as I finished writing the final chapter. If there are any writers or want-to-be writers out there who haven’t finished , or perhaps haven’t started, writing their stories yet, I highly recommend committing to the challenge of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. You’ll find plenty of support and encouragement both online and through regional group write-ins.
For more information on how to sign up and commit to write your own novel in 30 days next November, check out http://nanowrimo.org/how-it-works
Here’s what my draft looked like at the end of the day on November 27, 2013. Since then, I’ve taken a holiday break. Come January, I’ll be reading, writing & editing my draft over and over before having a professional editor take a look-see… Winter here in Maine is a great time for all of that inside work. I’ll get in a little snowshoeing on warm (30+), sunny days and catching up on all the books I still have on my TO READ LIST, too. Have a wonderful winter. ~ Bette A. Stevens, author of PURE TRASH, The Story (the short story prequel to my upcoming debut novel)…
The CreateSpace (an Amazon affiliate for indie-authors and self-publishers) photo above was posted on my Facebook feed. The version you see, has been adapted by me for this blog post. I have self-published all three of my books using CreateSpace and recommend that you check them out if you’re considering self-publishing.
You can find my books—AMAZING MATILDA; PURE TRASH, The Story and THE TANGRAM ZOO AND WORD PUZZLES TOO! at http://www.Amazon.com/author/betteastevens
First draft of PURE TRASH, The Novel (working title) for Bette’s first novel planned for release in 2014.
Sign up for Bette’s FREE Email Updates at http://eepurl.com/t-7JP
Aside
PURE TRASH & AMAZING MATILDA: adventure books for readers of all ages
Amazon’s KINDLE MATCHBOOK: Purchase the paperbacks for GIFTING (or for you) & get your FREE kindle copies, too!
http://www.Amazon.com/author/betteastevens
PURE TRASH (1950s short story YA/Adult Fiction)
The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! (Activities ages 5-adult)
Amazing Matilda (Picture Book ages 5-10)
AMAZING MATILDA: A Monarch’s Tale by Bette A. Stevens: Honorable Mention 2013 Dragonfly Book Award-Excellence in Children’s Literature (Picture Books – 6 & Older)
THE NOT-SO-HALCYON DAYS OF YORE – PURE TRASH, BETTE A. STEVENS
An insightful review of PURE TRASH by Marilyn Armstrong, author of The 12-Foot Teepee. ~ Bette A. Stevens
Related articles
- Spotlight and Review: Pure Trash – The Story by Bette A. Stevens (ameliacurzonblogger.wordpress.com)
- PURE TRASH, The Story by Bette A. Stevens (greenembers.wordpress.com)
- Get your AUTHORGRAPHS from author Bette A. Stevens (4writersandreaders.com)
There are so many television shows and movies, not to mention sappy posts on Facebook and other social media sites about “the good old days” … kind of makes me a trifle queasy. As someone who grew up in those good old days, I can attest to their not being all that great. There were good things about them, but it was by no means all roses.
Good is a relative term, after all. If you were white, Christian and middle class … preferably male and not (for example) a woman with professional ambitions … the world was something resembling your oyster. A family could live on one salary. If you were “regular folk” and didn’t stand out in any particular way, life could be gentle and sweet.
The thing is, an awful lot of people aren’t and weren’t people who could blend in. If you were poor, anything but…
View original post 423 more words
Give the gift of reading this Holiday Season!
easel.ly
Visit the author at http://www.Amazon.com/author/betteastevens
The Countdown is on December 6th to 12th
SAVE $2.00 when you Purchase AMAZING MATILDA kindle copy for $1.99.
GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS: Looking for something different for the kids? Take them on an amazing adventure with a monarch butterfly! AMAZING MATILDA, a 2013 Purple Dragon award-winning picture book, is a perfect pick for all of the kids in your life (ages 4-10). They’ll learn about the monarch butterfly life cycle and travel with MATILDA and her meadowland friends as they learn how to meet everyday challenges with patience and persistence. This award-winning picture book adventure will inspire the kids in your life to be all they can be. There’s no greater gift than that! http://amzn.to/YJVVOk
SAVE $2.00 when you Purchase PURE TRASH kindle copy for 99 cents.
ADULT, TEEN & TWEEN READERS — Looking for something different? Something short to fit into your busy holiday schedule? PURE TRASH, The Story is a perfect pick for you. This short story (21 pages) 1950s adventure will take you back to a time and place where few have traveled. Join nine-year-old Shawn Daniels and his younger brother Willie as they ride their bikes to town on a Saturday filled with great expectations. You’ll smile to see them take pleasure in the simple things in life–pocket change, a sackful of candy, the freedom of reaching great heights on a swing. You’ll find adventure at every turn and plenty of surprises, too! Their story may change your life. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EH0RV6K
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! —Bette A. Stevens
LOOKING FOR PAPERBACKS for GIFTING?
KINDLE MATCHBOOK: This great special is on every day! Purchase Bette’s paperbacks for GIFTING or for you & download the FREE e-book versions for yourself as well! Visit the author at http://www.Amazon.com/author/betteastevens
And, PLEASE come back for your FREE authorgraph (autographed by Bette A. Stevens) covers for your kindle copies to add to your kindle library. You’ll have a chance to ‘talk’ to the author and she’ll respond with a special message to you on your cover. http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/BetteAStevens
Related articles
- The feeling that you are not good enough – Stop Bullying Campaign (authorspromotion.wordpress.com)
- The continuing collapse of monarch butterfly populations (blogs.courier-journal.com)
- Give a gift of beauty — plant milkweed this holiday season (switchboard.nrdc.org)
- This December buy INDIE books as presents! (4writersandreaders.com)
Woman Of Purpose Spotlight: Author & Retired Teacher – Bette A. Stevens
Spotlight Interview with author and retired teacher
Bette A. Stevens by Winsome Campbell-Green
Read all about it at http://womenbeautypurposeandempowerment.blogspot.com/2013/10/woman-of-purpose-spotlight-author.html
Related articles
- Author Bette A. Stevens (4writersandreaders.com)
PURE TRASH Author’s to Watch Book Review: “Unlike any story I’ve read…”
1950s LiteraryFiction: a short story for Middle-grade/YA/Adult Audience by award-winning children’s book author Bette A. Stevens
“Pure Trash is unlike any story I’ve read. At first, it reads like a memoir from Reminisce Magazine, but as the story unfolds, I connected with the characters at a deep level. The author explores prejudice, class division, alcoholism, poverty, injustice, and bullying. It’s a story all audiences over the age of ten can enjoy. While reading this story, the reader will experience the joy of a carefree Saturday and the blistering pain of feeling not quite good enough.”
—Tricia Drammeh, Authors to WatchRead the entire review and an opening excerpt from PURE TRASH here http://www.authorstowatch.com/2013/10/book-review-pure-trash.html?showComment=1381003916852#c4672239549036570333
Order your copy today! http://www.amazon.com/PURE-TRASH-Daniels-Adventure-England/dp/1481824449/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380997994&sr=1-2
Related articles
- Pure Trash Has Been Added to Book Club Reading List (4writersandreaders.com)
- A 1950s Short Story Review by Kathryn Elizabeth Jones (4writersandreaders.com)
- Spotlight and Review: Pure Trash – The Story by Bette A. Stevens (4writersandreaders.com)
- An Interview with Bette A. Stevens, Author of “PURE TRASH, The Story” (4writersandreaders.com)
Aside
AUTHORS TO WATCH: An interview with author Bette A. Stevens
Tricia Drammeh of AUTHORS TO WATCH interviews Bette A. Stevens about her latest book, PURE TRASH, The Story.
FIND OUT ABOUT THE… Who? What? When? Where? & Why? behind Stevens’s latest book: PURE TRASH, The Story.
Tricia Drammeh of AUTHORS TO WATCH interviews Stevens about her latest book. Read all about it here http://www.authorstowatch.com/2013/10/interview-with-bette-stevens.html
Related articles
- PURE TRASH, The Story by Bette A. Stevens (4writersandreaders.com)
- “Short story filled with images and flavor only better provided by an ice cream cone…” (4writersandreaders.com)
- Pure Trash Has Been Added to Book Club Reading List (4writersandreaders.com)
Let’s Paint the World with Peace!
September 21, 2013 marks the United Nations’ 33rd International Day of Peace
“WORLD PEACE? We really do have the power to make it happen, one brush stroke at a time. “ ~ Bette A. Stevens
World Peace?
Knowledge of the past holds one of the keys to world peace. Knowledge of the people in the world around us today holds another essential key. However, knowledge in and of itself is useless, a collection of unused paint brushes resting on the world’s shelf. It is our job to pick up those brushes and start painting. The perfect portrait of peace begins within each one of us. It’s painted one brush stroke at a time. Here are some simple steps that we can all take to contribute to that portrait:
Take the time to learn about those who are different from us in some way. We may want start with someone in our own family. Even there, we often find differences in opinions, race, religion, beliefs, customs, cultures, political affiliations. The list of personal differences and the diversity of relationships goes on….
Working in the classroom as a teacher of students from diverse backgrounds, I learned first-hand that those who hold different beliefs from my own are all unique individuals with whom I have many things in common. We all share the same needs and desires, the same frustrations and fears, the same hopes and dreams. Whether students, parents, staff, volunteers, administrators or colleagues, I have gained respect for and have been deeply enriched by each encounter. Life-long relationships are nurtured and continue to blossom and grow.
Sure, that all sounds great; but what can we actually do as individuals to promote peace?
- Listen to others
- Get to know them (That means spending time with them) Let them get to know us (talk)
- Respect differences
- Look for commonalities
- Nurture relationships
- Offer and extend a helping hand
- Encourage others
- Enlist the help of others
- Give input and feedback
- Keep the conversation going
International Peace Day Logo. jpg
The brush strokes to peace lie within each of one us. How do we paint the canvas? One brush stroke at a time. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS—listen, share ourselves and our ideas, respect those of others, look for commonalities. Our individual and collective lives will continue to be enriched as we work together to paint a portrait of world peace. We really do have the power to make it happen, one brush stroke at a time.
On September 21st, I’ll be interviewing M.C.V. Egan, author of The Bridge of Deaths. She’ll be sharing how she uses her novel to promote world peace. You’re invited to stop back and visit us here at http://www.4writersandreaders.com for MEET THE AUTHOR: M.C.V. Egan and join her PEACE IN TIME Book Blitz and Blog Hop.
Peace be with you.
Related articles
- http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=706&picture=paintings&large=1
- Peace (araparisien.wordpress.com)
- World’s Most Peaceful Countries (forbes.com)
- World Peace!!! (ireport.cnn.com)
- World Tolerance (ishratmomin.wordpress.com)
- Peace (woodpeckersclass.wordpress.com)
Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author 
Written
on 12/26/2013