You’ll find Bette’s INDIE books at http://www.Amazon.com/author/betteastevens where you can purchase her print books and get the kindle versions FREE to download to you reader or PC. Happy Reading & Happy Holidays!
BOOK ART: Nothing short of amazing! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com
Feeling glum? Not had the best day? You know what you need? You need to look at these beautiful book sculptures.
Still feeling blue? Go read a book. I promise you’ll feel better.
There’s still time to ENTER the GIVEAWAY for PURE TRASH, The Story by Bette A. Stevens.
Please share… YOU CAN HELP STOP BULLYING! ~ Bette A. Stevens
,,Shame is the most powerful master emotion.It’s the fear that we are not good enough.”
~PhD Brene Brown
Today the author of Pure Trash, Bette A.Stevens wants her voice to be heard
Bette A. Stevens is a retired teacher living in Central Maine.
Stevens is the author of two children’s books and has written articles for ECHOES, The Northern Maine Journal of Rural Culture based in Caribou, Maine. Her release latest is entitled PURE TRASH, The Story for the Middle-grade/YA/Adult audience which is a prequel to her upcoming debut novel is available in paperback and kindle versions. PURE TRASH, The Novel will be a coming-of-age story featuring Shawn Daniels, the short story’s protagonist. Find out more about the author and her book at
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Winners selected November 11th:
Ten (10) author-signed copies of PURE TRASH, The Story by Bette A. Stevens available to winners!
“Pure Trash is a worthwhile, meaningful, beautifully written story I’d recommend to readers of all ages.
“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.” (excerpt from Book Review by Tricia Drammeh, Authors to Watch) http://www.authorstowatch.com/2013/10/book-review-pure-trash.html
The year is 1955. If you grew up in the 1950s and the 1960s, you may be among those who like to recall those good old Happy Days of television fame. Even younger generations enjoy watching the old TV reruns to get a peek into what life was like back then.
Nine-year-old Shawn Daniels is ready to embark on a Saturday adventure with his younger brother Willie. They’re off to search for trash to turn into treasure. It’s going to be a great day. Shawn is sure of it. No school and no bullies to remind him that he’s not one of the crowd. PURE TRASH is a short story about bullies and what it’s like to be bullied. It may redefine your concept of bullying. If you were a child who was thought of as different in some way, you know what bullying is about: torment, persecution, intimidation, to name a few of its descriptors. For Shawn and Willie, their difference is based upon the social status of the dysfunctional family and the alcoholism and abject poverty in which they grew up. This short story is a prequel to Stevens’s upcoming novel.
1950s General Fiction: first book for Middle-grade/YA/Adult Audience by award-winning children’s book author Bette A. Stevens “This short story is filled with images and flavor only better provided by an ice cream cone…PURE TRASH gives the reader pause for thought, and I recommend it to the adult reader and the YA reader alike. ” Kathryn Elizabeth Jones, author of fiction & non-fiction
PURE TRASH (CreateSpace) kindle $2.99
Look Inside/Paperback (CreateSpace/26 pages) $5.49
The year is 1955. If you grew up in the 1950s and the 1960s, you may be among those who like to recall those good old “Happy Days” of television fame. Even younger generations enjoy watching the old TV reruns to get a peek into what life was like back then.
Nine-year-old Shawn Daniels is ready to embark on a Saturday adventure with his younger brother Willie. They’re off to search for trash to turn into treasure. It’s going to be a great day. Shawn is sure of it. No school and no bullies to remind him that he’s not one of the crowd.
PURE TRASH is a story about bullies and what it’s like to be bullied. It may redefine your concept of bullying. If you were a child who was thought of as “different” in some way, you know what bullying is about: torment, persecution, intimidation, to name a few of its descriptors. For Shawn and Willie, their difference is based upon the social status of the dysfunctional family and the alcoholism and abject poverty in which they grew up.
“THE BRIDGE” Book 1 in the Para-Earth series is free this weekend (August 10-12) for Kindle on Amazon. Here’s the link so can get your own copy. If you already have one, then share the link with everyone you know so they can get their own copy:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B86DR9G
PLUS here’s the latest review:
“The Bridge” is a paranormal novel of highest quality.
When one of the protagonists, Veronica Ross, a cop of 20 years experience, witnesses a strange car accident and tells her lover (and second protagonist) Alex Hill about it, she doesn’t know yet, what she’s going to face.
She doesn’t know yet, that this case isn’t simply a police matter…
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PURE TRASH, The Story by Bette A. Stevens
Here’s the final cover design for PURE TRASH, a short story for the YA/Adult audience. It’s the complete (front & back) of this story that will be released in August 2013.
A 1950’s adventure!
The year is 1955. If you grew up in the 1950s and the 1960s, you may be among those who like to recall those good old “Happy Days” of television fame. Even younger generations enjoy watching the old TV reruns to get a peek into what life was like back then. In this short story, Shawn and Willie Daniels are off on a Saturday adventure in search of trash to turn into treasure. It was going to be a great day. Shawn was sure of it. No school and no bullies to remind him that he’s not one of the crowd. This is a story about bullies and what it’s like to be bullied. It may redefine your definition of bullying. If you were a child who was thought of as “different” in some way, you know what bullying is about: torment, persecution, intimidation, to name a few of its descriptors. For Shawn and Willie, their difference was based upon the social status of the dysfunctional family and the alcoholism and abject poverty in which they grew up.
Click on the cover, take a read and let me know what you think!
Thanks,
Bette A. Stevens
Author Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo and PIE: The Old Brown Horse himself!:
“After we got the horses, I moved on to therapeutic horseback riding for special needs children.”
Read the reviews!
Read the reviews!
Invaluable lessons from PIE: An Old Brown Horse (That Knows What He is Doing) and author Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo:
“There is nothing like seeing the bond of child and horse. These magnificent beasts can be so gentle and protective. The unconditional love and trust they show is unfathomable.” Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo
“This is a feel good story about life, second chances and giving back.” January Magazine
“[Pie} became the most amazing mentor and therapy horse.” The Wall Street Journal
“Writing a story in the first person is not uncommon, but when that first person is a horse, well, I really wasn’t expecting it to actually be entertaining to say the least… What a pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable story this is.” Colleen Bratley
Welcome to 4writersandreaders, Kandy. It’s great to have you with us today. Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a seventh generation Texan with a brick at the cowgirl museum. I have always loved animals. I have worked in alternative education for over twenty years after a short career in the justice system. My formal training is in criminology so it works well with the job that I do during the day. My nights and weekends are taken up pretty much with working with animals. I have trained dogs for over twenty-five years at several major institutions. Working with horse, dog, cat, and snake rescues is something I do because I feel I need to give back. Some of time has been spent training and working with Therapy Dogs. After we got the horses, I moved on to therapeutic horseback riding for special needs children.
Tell us about your family?
I am married to a wonderful man who not only puts up with, but helps with all my projects. We have been married for twenty-three years and have one daughter. Our daughter is grown and is trying to find her way in life. She is very artistic. It will be interesting to see where her path leads her.
We have two dogs, a German Shepherd and an Australian Shepherd that share our house with three cats. They are our four children now that our daughter has moved out. My last snake unfortunately died a couple of months ago.
How long have you been writing? What type of writing do you normally do?
I have been writing off and on my whole life. I have just never really done anything with it. I have always had to write and create things to keep my students interested.
Can you give us a brief synopsis of your book?
Briefly, this is a book about an old rescued ranch horse and all of the amazing things he has done since he was rescued. The book was basically written and told by him. I just gave him some minor help with the computer. The most amazing part of it all, is that Pie is still with us at the ripe old age of 38!
What prompted you to write a story about PIE?
After seeing all the wonderful things Pie has done over the years, I felt that his story needed to be shared. There is nothing like seeing the bond of child and horse. These magnificent beasts can be so gentle and protective. The unconditional love and trust they show is unfathomable. The strength and security they impart to their riders is something to behold. Pie, has done this over and over and over again through the years. I know he didn’t serve in a war, or win any awards, but he has done more than his share as a merchant of hope for those that needed help.
Do you have a favorite line from PIE: An Old Brown Horse?
That would have to be the one from my husband in the forward: “Stop messing with the pretty ones and go get an old brown horse that knows what he is doing.”
Who is your favorite character and why?
Hands down, it would have to be Pie. His descriptions and insights are spot on. Sometimes they are funny and sometimes they are just downright snarky. Pie’s personality definitely shows through in his observations.
Watch PIE’s video and find out more about how a once broken horse finds new meaning in life and how he help special needs kids do the same:
I just love PIE’s video, Kandy. What was the hardest part about writing your book?
The hardest part I think came after writing the book. That would be trying to figure out how to promote it. I had some serious problems when the book first came out. As it turns out there was a misunderstanding and the book was printed without the final edit. Ouch! That has since been fixed. We pulled the book from production and edited it. Unfortunately, I was not able to pull the sample from Book Daily, so it continues to be a constant reminder of the problem. What is out there now no longer has the edit issues. Some of the earlier reviews reflect those problems. I would just like to tell everyone that bought an unedited book if you will contact me, I will be happy to replace it.
“The book itself was already in my head and came out on the paper with no hesitation. I think I was temporarily possessed by Pie.”
Do you do anything besides write?
I have a day job working with behavior challenged junior high students. I keep a barn full of horses. We go horseback riding, walk and train the dogs, and spend time with my family. My daughter has moved out, but still lives close. She and I spend time together doing things with the horses. My husband and I spend time touring in his 45th anniversary Camaro.
How is the book doing? I am really happy at how well my little book is doing. He has been mentioned in January Magazine and in the Wall Street Journal. Recently PIE received a five-star review from Reader’s Favorites and also earned a Silver Star for his cover.
Where can our readers get a copy of ‘PIE: An Old Brown Horse’? http://www.amazon.com/Pie-Brown-Horse-Knows-ebook/dp/B00A7ZMHKE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1372112877&sr=1-1&keywords=PIE%3A+The+Old+Brown+Horse PIE: An Old Brown Horse is also available on Barnes & Noble.
Be sure to get your copy today!
Well, Kandy, now that PIE is off and running, what’s next for you?
I’m not sure yet, but I think I feel another book possession coming on…
I can hardly wait to find out about your next inspiration. Thanks for joining us at 4writersandreaders. It has been great learning more about you and PIE. What a great success story for PIE and how therapeutic horseback riding is helping special needs children. ~ Bette A. Stevens
Find out more about author Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo and her adventures with PIE at http://www.kandykayscaramuzzo.com/
Come join us!
Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author 
Written
on 11/22/2013