A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Posts tagged ‘Bette A. Stevens’

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AMAZING MATILDA, Monarch Butterflies & The Purple Dragonfly Children’s Book Award


A Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpi...

A Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillar feeding on a leaf of the Swamp Milkweeden (Asclepias incarnata) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest recognizes excellence in children's literature.

Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest recognizes excellence in children’s literature.

AM Look Inside NEW 2015AMAZING MATILDA: A Monarch’s Tale is a children’s picture book about a monarch caterpillar who only wants to fly. “How can a creature without wings every hope to fly?” Matilda’s friends wonder as they laugh at the tiny caterpillar. As Matilda progresses from egg to butterfly she learns that if she keeps trying, she can do anything that she really wants to do. AMAZING MATILDA’s storyline and illustrations follow the actual life cycle of the monarch butterfly and includes milkweed, an environmentally near-threatened plant. Milkweed is the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat.

Judges of the 2013 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in children’s literature, have spoken, and AMAZING MATILDA: A Monarch’s Tale by Maine author/illustrator Bette A. Stevens, won Honorable Mention in the Picture Books – 6 & Older category.

“Winning any place in the Purple Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score of 72 out of 80 must be earned for a first-place award, 64 out of 80 for a second place and 56 out of 80 for an honorable mention – even if it is the sole entry in a category,” explains Linda F. Radke, president of Five Star Publications, Inc., the sponsor of the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”

The book retails for $9.49 (paperback) and $3.99 (kindle/eReader) and can be purchased on YOUR AMAZON  or ask for it at your favorite bookstore. GET the eBook for #FREE when you purchase the paperback from Amazon.

You can find out more about the author and her books…

AM Look Inside NEW 2015

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!


AMAZING NEW YEAR bas 2016Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for helping to make 2016 an amazing year for me. Your friendship and your wonderful blog posts, your visits here and the encouraging words you’ve left are gifts that I treasure. May 2017 be an amazing year for you.

Wishing you all  “A Beautiful & Blessed New Year!”

~Bette A. Stevens

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Bette’s Books & Blog…


BAS Author logo stamp 2015I 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.

BOOKS 5 by BAS 2019

 

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.

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Lyon Book Promotions Presents Our Hot Book Picks for August 2015


Lyon Book Promotions Presents Our Hot Book Picks for August 2015.

Click the link above to FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THEM…
DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens is on the list!

DBS AMERICAN STORY Vignette

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Greetings from The Farmstead


THE WONDER OF IT ALL bas 2015

Blossoms are singing here at The Farmstead in Central Maine. Yes, the wonders abound. Wishing you all a week filled with wonders too! ~ Bette A. Stevens

P.S. Happy reading, my friends!

Bette’s Blog

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Rainbow Promises, a HAIKU by Bette A. Stevens


Rainbow HAIKU bas 2015Spring has finally sprung after a long and frigid winter at here at The Farmstead in Central Maine. Captured a rainbow and its promise in a spring Haiku. Hope you’re enjoying the sensational sights, sounds and scents of the season, friends! ~ Bette A. Stevens

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Hairy Woodpecker HAIKU by Bette A. Stevens


NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

Hairy Woodpecker HAIKU

 

Inspired!

While sipping breakfast tea and finishing a journal entry, I glanced up at the window and spotted striking black and white flutters darting among the lilac branches. The first feathered friend was a downy woodpecker. By the time I grabbed the camera, he had disappeared and a nearly identical but larger version, a hairy woodpecker, hung upside down, pecking the last of winter’s crumbs from the suet cage. They’re sure to be back to dine, but next time it will be on succulent spring favorites—buds and bugs. Inspiring. Ah, spring! ~ Bette A. Stevens

What’s inspiring you?

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Celebrate EARTH DAY with a FREE Butterfly Adventure eBook by Bette A. Stevens


Celebrate EARTH DAY with a FREE (April 21 & 22) Butterfly Adventure eBook by Bette A. Stevens
AM Look Inside Cover

EARTH DAY April 22

AMAZING MATILDA is an award-winning picture book adventure that follows a monarch butterfly through her life cycle and teaches kids life lessons along the way!

“A lovely children’s book, with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and a profound message.” ~ Nicholas C. Rossis, author

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
`*..•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Follow The Magic! DOWNLOAD YOUR Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ FREE COPY HERE!

  • Please share... Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Monarch butterflies are a threatened species. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Food Safety filed a legal petition requesting Endangered Species Act protection for the Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ monarch and its habitat.
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Haiku by Bette A. Stevens


APRIL IS POETRY MONTH!

Blooms Season Rhapsody BAS 2015

What are you writing? 

Here’s a Spring Haiku from me. Snow is still covering the ground here in Central Maine, but I’m looking forward to watching those new blooms appear. I’ll be listening for their song. ~ Bette A. Stevens

 

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Amazing Matilda


Latest review for AMAZING MATILDA, our inspiring monarch butterfly. THREE CHEERS for MATILDA! ~ Bette A. Stevens

BOOK CHAT

By Bette A. Stevens

Amazing MatildaMatilda has just emerged from her egg, and already she wants to fly.  The sparrow tells her she has to have patience and follow her instincts. The speckled toad says she needs wings. But Matilda doesn’t know what patience and follow her instincts means. Moreover, where can she get wings? Matilda eats leaves and starts growing, and the sparrow says she is using her instincts. Rabbit told her he practiced and practiced until he could hop onto the rock ledge, but Matilda did not want to hop, she wanted to fly.

This delightful story tells the life cycle of a monarch butterfly in an engaging way that will catch the attention of children.  The award winning AMAZING MATILDA is a lighthearted story that will encourage children to follow their dreams and to have patience. The book is illustrated by author Bette Stevens with charming drawings that…

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