Fiction Illuminates Truth – Author Interview with Courtney M. Whitaker — M Liz Boyle

You may have known that I’ve written reviews of kids’ picture books, but I do keep my eye out for great middle grade and young adult books. Here is M Liz Boyle interviewing middle grade and young adult author Courtney M. Whitaker. Here they discuss how fiction can show characters shining their light in the darkness and even help us have empathy toward the hurting.

Please welcome Christian YA author Courtney M. Whitaker to the blog today! Courtney’s first novel, Faith Under Pressure, released in July (hip hip hooray!), and she’s in the throes of grad school and another writing project, so I’m glad she made time for an interview 🙂 LB: In Faith Under Pressure, lifelong missionary kid Katie moves […]

Fiction Illuminates Truth – Author Interview with Courtney M. Whitaker — M Liz Boyle

Literacy Lessons for Homeschool

The new school year is just around the corner (or maybe it has already arrived for you).

Are you looking for ways to have your children analyze their favorite books? University of Cincinnati Speech and Hearing Clinic has a YouTube channel that reads books and teaches lessons related to the books.

This here is Little Wolf’s Song by Britta Teckentrup. When you click on the link, it’ll take you to UC’s video where they read the story and teach children synonyms and antonyms of the words in the book.

UC’s Reading of Little Wolf’s Song

Fun Fact: I wrote a review of this book on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog. Check it out on the following link:

Little Wolf’s Song Review

Here is an old Disney book, Peter Pan and Wendy, where UC teaches how to compare and differentiate the characters.

UC’s Reading of Peter Pan and Wendy

For more homeschooling curriculum ideas, check out my post on K.A. Cummins’ teaching materials. Happy New School Year, everyone!

Teacher/Homeschooler Materials

The Importance of Fiction in a Christian’s Life by Teen Writers’ Nook — M Liz Boyle

Is your teen a reader? If so, awesome! This post, re-blogged from M Liz Boyle’s blog, shows the benefits a teen can gain from reading.

This post is also a reminder for us writers to incorporate these benefits into our stories.

Today I have the privilege of introducing Teen Writers’ Nook to the blog. Let’s see what these creative sisters have to say about the importance of fiction in a Christian’s life! Heya, readers!! Huge shout out to Liz for letting us borrow her blog for this post!! We’re SUPER excited to be here. So who […]

The Importance of Fiction in a Christian’s Life by Teen Writers’ Nook — M Liz Boyle

A Feathery Book Review and a New Puppy!

Hi, all.

A new book review, written by yours truly, is posted on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog. It’s Birds of the Air by S.E.M. Ishida. You may recognize Ishida’s name, as I re-blog some of her posts here on this site. And here’s a fun fact: she and I used to be in the same writing critique group.

Birds of the Air Review

If you haven’t seen my updated bio yet, here’s what happened in my life. I now have a cockapoo puppy! His name is Benny, and he is a much-needed playmate for my hyperactive Corgi, Maggie. And he’s a sweet cuddle-bug for me. 🙂

Take a look at my four-legged cuties! It looks like they’re planning something, huh?

Hmm…what mischief can we make today?

Book Review — The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

Looking for books for teen girls? Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale retellings would be the choice for you. I’ve listened to the audiobook version of The Merchant’s Daughter (a Beauty and the Beast retelling). It is a beautiful story, and Jude Mason does a wonderful job narrating it. I read “The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest” a long time ago, and I find it unique that the heroine is Odette and Robin Hood rolled into one.

Here is Lou Allen’s review of Dickerson’s retelling of Cinderella.

Lou Allen's avatarChristian Faith and Fiction

I just finished reading The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson.

Description:

“Gisela’s childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father’s death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela meets the duke’s son, Valten—the boy she has daydreamed about for years—and learns he is throwing a ball, she vows to attend, even if it’s only for a taste of a life she’ll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten’s eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.”

Review:

I would rank this book as one of my favourite in this series so far. I enjoyed the references…

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Writing Chapter Books by CAYUGA ISLAND KIDS Author Judy Bradbury

Hi, fellow writers!

Are you looking for tips on how to write a chapter book for seven to ten-year-olds? That is, kids who are moving beyond picture books yet are not quite ready for in-depth novels? Children’s author Judy Bradbury shares what goes into a chapter book for younger children on Tara Lazar’s site, which I’m reblogging here.

Tara Lazar's avatarWriting for Kids (While Raising Them)

by Judy Bradbury

Thanks, Tara, for inviting me to your blog space to offer a few tips on writing chapter books! I’m honored to be here.

A bit of background: THE CAYUGA ISLAND KIDS is chapter books series is contemporary fiction featuring five diverse friends who embark on backyard adventures, solve mysteries, and grow as a result of their experiences. The kids are resourceful, kind-hearted “fact detectives” who use their varied interests, their smarts, kindness, and humor to overcome hurdles and solve problems. Above all, these are kids who value friendship and community. The stories feature history, community service, respect for the environment, brainstorming, teamwork, misinformation, disinformation, and the importance of gathering all the facts—from more than one source—when tackling a problem, seeking a solution, and before landing on an opinion or drawing a conclusion.

The first book in the series, THE MYSTERY OF THE BARKING BRANCHES AND THE SUNKEN…

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Trying to Get Your Kids to Read?

Are you looking for ways to get kids reading during the summer? Children’s author Diane Davies has tips on encouraging young people to read⁠—she has experience with teaching, after all. Click on the bottom link to access ways to have kids get access to books while being adventurous and having fun.

Growing Readers ⁠— Guest Post on M. Liz Boyle’s Blog

Below are books Davies has written. Look at the vibrant colors in the covers!

The Importance of Writing for Yourself

Do you write for personal enjoyment while wanting to be published one day?

If you’re working towards publication, you may know the pressure in pleasing your future readers. If you’re wishing to find freedom from this pressure—or at least some of the pressure—author S.E.M. Ishida illustrates how you can write for personal enjoyment while still aiming for publication.

S. E. M. Ishida's avatarS. E. M. Ishida

I don’t think I realized until recently how important it is to write for yourself. Let’s face it—writing and publishing can feel like work. You close your day job laptop and open your personal laptop to reply to an editor’s email and post to your author social media accounts. Then there’s writing a new manuscript or editing an existing draft. It’s all part of a dream coming true, but it’s still work.

What doesn’t feel so much like work? Giving yourself a place to play. To be cheesy, even cringey. To ramble to an extent that would bore anyone but yourself. The kind of writing for yourself that I’m talking about here is like singing in the shower. No one’s listening, and that is a beautiful thing.

When I write with the intention to publish, I want to write a story that I’d like to read, but publishing means keeping…

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The Purpose of Fiction in Real Life – Guest Post by Shalynn Mellerup — M Liz Boyle

The following post is from M Liz Boyle’s website. Enjoy reading about the benefits of fiction by Shalynn Mellerup, and be sure to check out her picture books.

With all the worthwhile non-fiction available, do we really need fiction stories? Today we’re welcoming my friend Shalynn Mellerup to the blog! Read on to see her thoughts on the importance of fiction. I’ve always considered myself to be an optimistic person. I want to be the kind of person who smiles in the rain […]

The Purpose of Fiction in Real Life – Guest Post by Shalynn Mellerup — M Liz Boyle