“High School Musical - Across the Pond”

On the day when Disney have purchased Marvel Entertainments, for $4 billion in cash and stocks. Bringing the prospects of many more films involving the more than 5,000 characters, I got to pondering over how you change a book into a film, or even get a book looked at to become a film.

As several people have remarked in my reviews the Across the Pond would make a great film, I would even suggest the next “High School Musical” perhaps Zach Efron, now’s he finished making "17 Again", could polish up his English accent and play Fred?

Both Disney and Hallmark have been mentioned as possible people who might be interested and I’ve had a couple of emails asking about film rites, but where do I go from here.

Authors need to supply authentic Hollywood-style book “coverage" of their books, as well as provide Hollywood studios, production companies, networks, agencies, and producers access to this coverage.

Coverage means a 1 to 3 page report including synopsis of the book, and comments that would include a perspective of the plot/characters/theme as well as the adaptability of the work into a screenplay, analysis of marketability, and other pertinent comments. This report is used by studios, production companies, networks, etc. to evaluate new books and screenplays they're considering acquiring for production.

So I guess my next step is to contact people/companies who can supply this service.


After that… well you never know.

“High School Musical - Across the Pond”

My mind is making up songs as I write.

Just imagine the leaving scene, the whole cast doing a “Leaving on a Jet Plane” number all around the airport as the two have to say goodbye… complete with flash backs.




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

STORYHEARTS SUNDAY UK BLOG - US FOOTBALL

Before I start this page of further views of the USA, I should apologize to any that I might offend. These are my own personal views of the USA, or that part of the USA that I have known in the time that I have been living in America.

The Football Season is just about starting in the USA, large men trying to squeeze themselves into ever tightening trousers. to appear on the filed, pitch or whatever you want to call it for a couple of minutes. Before going to sit down again there work done.

To a person from anywhere else in the world except America and perhaps Canada, the word football means eleven players a side, charging around varying types of land chasing a round ball, throughout the world. Names like Pele, Charlton, Best, De Steffino, Maradona, and Beckham bring visions to ones mind. However in America it brings forth a totally different vision.

What the rest of world calls football, the Americans call soccer. This being the fact that to an American football is this totally different sport.

Now, in England we do actually know what "American Football" is, our screens being filled on "Channel 4" during the early nineties on a early Sunday evening.

Names like Dan Marina and Number 44, John Riggins were discussed around schools in the local pubs. When the fridge, was not a place for storing food but a Chicago Bear's player the size of a small out house. For those who do not know any better "Football" as we will now just call it, is played by what seems to be several hundred players a side, who stay on the field a few minutes at a time, before having to go off for what seems to be an endless supply of "Gatorade" a drink, seemingly invented for the event.

Players have to ware what to any rugby player would seem a suit of Armour, complete with a crash helmet center. Touch downs do not mean the player has "touched the ball down over the line. God forbid anybody trying to bend down to do that in those trousers... one can't call them shorts. And when the conversion/kick is done for an extra point. Kicking from where the "touch down" was scored would be way to difficult, so they have to take it from in front of the posts.

Don't get me wrong I do enjoy the game, it's one of the nearest sports that might actually be classed as physical except of course Ice Hockey.

Anyway I will be there, sipping a cold one watching the games and wondering where all the people play.

Next Sunday... things you don't know about England



Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
Across the Pond
http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com/
http://across-t-pond.com


OTHER SUNDAY UK BLOGSABOUT

THE GRAND NATIONAL
WHY UK DRIVES ON THE LEFT
MOTHERS DAY ACROSS THE POND
ABOUT THE UNION JACK
ENGLISHMANS VIEW ON BASEBALL
WHAT IS BOXING DAY
BRITISH TV TRANSPLANTS
WHO WAS SAINT GEORGE?
BOBS YOUR UNCLE
SWEET FANNY ADAMS
EUROPE'S GOT TALENT - WELL PERHAPS
GOBSMACKED, BOBBIES AND AN ARM AND A LEG
BIG BEN... OR IS IT?
THE USA NEEDS A CITIZENS CHARTER
FROM CHARIOTS TO NASCAR
WHAT IS FATHERS DAY?

A Book and a Chat with "J.R. Hauptman"

As they say, the show must go on, so pulling myself out of my sick bed (why is it always the bed that is sick?) I managed to chat and croak with the very interesting
J.R. Hauptman about him and his new book "The Target: Love, Death and Airline Deregulation"

J.R. Hauptman, is a retired pilot. His book is set in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West, and tells the tale of the tumultuous first years of airline deregulation and the effects it had on that industry and the people who worked there. There are many people today who believe it was, in large part, the rush to overall dLove, Death and Airline Deregulation back then that led directly to the economic chaos that threatens to overwhelm our entire economy today.


Why not stop for thirty minute and share this enjoyable and interesting chat

Listen to it at
You can listen to the show (as I am now) at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond

Direct location you can link to is

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/29/A-Book-and-a-Chat-with-JR-Hauptman


or on my blog at

http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

Views, Reviews and Weird News

So what have I got to offer you in this weeks "Views, Reviews and Weird news?


There has been some really interesting and weird news this week, so I'll jsut concentrate on that this blog.


WEIRD NEWS

Some of you might have read about Microsoft (in Poland) getting into trouble for altering a photo on its website to change the race of one of the people in the picture. To my mind, while this was interesting and of course Microsoft had to make an apology. You’ll notice that while on the website of its Polish business unit the black man's head was replaced with a white face, the color of his hands was unchanged.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/technology/8221896.stm

A British tourist has spent a night trapped in a French town hall after mistakenly thinking she could book a room at the "hotel de ville".
The hapless female visitor arrived in the Alsace town of Dannemarie on Friday and tried to find a bed for the night.
Spotting the impressive-looking "hotel de ville", the tourist popped in to use the toilet before trying to check in. But as she was in the convenience, officials finished a meeting, left the town hall and locked its door.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8218069.stm

Australian palaeontologists say they have discovered a new species of dinosaur on a sheep farm in the northern state of Queensland.
The fossil remains of the large plant-eating sauropod, nicknamed Zac, are about 97 million years old.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8224279.stm

A bear climbs out of a concrete skateboarding park after staff provides a ladder for it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/americas/8223717.stm

Police in the Indian city of Mumbai say they have arrested a man for forgery and polygamy after he married at least six women over the past two years.
Tushar Waghmare, an engineer with Air India, allegedly kept all his wives in the dark about their counterparts.
He was arrested after his sixth wife went to the police when she discovered he was married to someone else.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8224746.stm





Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

A Book and a Chat with "Randy Sue Coburn"

Join with Randy Sue Coburn, journalist, screenplay writer and author, as we discuss her life, and her books. Including her new book "A Better View of Paradise"

Randy Sue Coburn began her career as a journalist whose essays and articles appeared in numerous national magazines and major newspapers. Her screenplays include Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, the 1994 film about Dorothy Parker that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won Jennifer Jason Leigh the National Society of Film Critics Award for best actress. Film work and teaching at The University of Washington subsidized the writing of Remembering Jody, (1999, Carroll & Graf), and Randy Sue’s second novel, Owl Island, was published in June, 2006 by Ballantine, a division of Random House Publishing Group. A Better View of Paradise, also from Random House/Ballantine, is being published in July, 2009. Born in Chicago and raised in South Carolina, Randy Sue is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of The University of Georgia.


Why not stop for thirty minute and share this enjoyable and interesting chat

Listen to it at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/25/A-BOOK-AND-A-CHAT-with-Randy-Sue-Coburn

or on my blog at

http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

Trumpet Blaring News and Helpful links

I’m going to start today’s blog with a just a little piece blowing my own trumpet.

Yesterday my book “Across the Pond” reached the BIG 100 reviews status on Amazon

I am so pleased that that many people have taken time not only to read my book, but to review it as well.



Any way I said I would try and help people out with free software, useful links etc. There are plenty around these are just a few that I can recommend.

ALL IN ONE

All your favorite links and downloads on one page, well worth checking out (allmyfaves.com)

ANTI- VIRUS

While people pay out for various anti-virus software when of the best available on the market is actually free

AVG (free.avg.com) is a popular anti-virus/spyware program with a free and pay version. The free version is very good with automatic updates etc.

SPYWARE

Spybot Search and Destroy (safer-networking.org) is a good antispyware program which is free for noncommercial use

FIREWALL

ZoneAlarm (zonealarm.com) a free firewall for individual users

HTML CREATION

FirstPage 2006 (evrsoft.com) a good WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) html editor with various templates and add on.

JAVA SCRIPTS

Snazz up your web pages with free java scripts (raindrops, reflections, rollover etc) from Anyflash (anfyflash.com)

INTERNET

Instead of using Internet Explorer more and more people are using FIREFOX (mozilla.com) it tends to be faster than IE

OFFICE SUITE

While Microsoft are talking about adding a “free light” version of programs such as Word and XL, for now if you do not want to pay for the Microsoft there is Open Office (openoffice.org) is free software that includes word-processor, spreadsheet, drawing program, and presentation program (sound familiar)

Also there is WordWeb (wordweb.info) a writing utility combining thesaurus, dictionary etc.

V- BLOG INFO AND HELP

Thinking of creating V-Blogs check out FREEVLOG (freevlog.org)

CREATE YOUR OWN MOVIE POSTER

Turn your book or any other picture into a movie poster (bighugelabs.com/poster.php)

GOOGLE RANK CHECKER

Check Page Rank of any web site pages instantly (prchecker.info/check_page_rank.php)

VISITOR MAP

Create a map of where all the visitors to your Web site/blog come from Clustermaps (clustrmaps.com)

SHORT NAME URL

Twittering or just want to shorten a URL address try TinyURL (tinyurl.com)

LARGE FILE SHARING

Want a location for your large v-logs or book video’s zSHARE (zshare.net)

I hope some of these were of use to people

Barry (Storyheart)



Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

Radio Progs, Literary Dogs, and Helpful Blogs

It's been a busy week on the radio side with some fantastic shows and guests on my blog radio show "A BOOK AND A CHAT".

I have been very lucky with my guests, and the response and feed back has been nothing but good. So much so that there seldom seems to be a day go by without an email or a message asking if such and such a writer could be a guest.

I am now, or so it seems going to shows on three nights a week, with even these dates filled for much of the next couple of months. Up and coming guests range from bloggers to reviewers to writers and publicist. Hopefully all will enjoy their chat over a cup of tea, in the friendly fun format I always try and promote.

I have been asked recently to create a couple of guest blogs about doing a radio show, the first of which can be found at


http://marketmynovel.com/2009/08/how-to-find-a-good-online-radio-show.html


I was also asked in another interview for the pitfalls and drawbacks of blog radio, guest no shows etc. One item I did forget, which was brought home to me over the last few days is the fact that to do a show, I have to shut the windows and turn off the air conditioning or fan while doing the show, to avoid background noise. in the humidity we've had on the east coast the last week, this is definitely not a good thing.

For those of you who caught the show on Friday with The Story Siren, we had a little dog interruption on one of the calls, as well as discussing Kristi's own dog, Xander who appears on her Vlogs. Well if you check "The Story Siren" today you see Xander can also help put book cases together.

Many blogs are full of helpful advice, for writers and readers, places to go, books to read, free things etc. I even did my own "Book Promotion on a Budget" five day blog to help people. On Wednesday I will hopefully be producing a blog with some more helpful locations for software and advice.

As for the AMAZON reviews... the number at the Deli counter has not ticked over and I'm still standing at...




Barry (Storyheart)




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

STORYHEART SUNDAY UK BLOG - THE FASTEST KETTLE IN THE WORLD

A kettle, sometimes called teakettle, tea kettle or the pot, is a small kitchen appliance used for boiling water in preparation for making tea or other beverages requiring hot water. Kettles may be electric or for stovetop use. Depending on culture and historical location, the word kettle can also have a variety of other meanings.


However at this moment at Edwards air base, in California's Mojave Desert. The "Fastest Kettle In the World" is trying to break a land speed record. A team from Hampshire, England has begun four days of attempts to break the world steam car record.

The current world steam car record of 127mph (204km/h) was set by American Fred Marriot in 1906 in Florida.

Usain Bolt set a new world record of 9.58 seconds in the men's 100m at World Championships in Berlin, a speed of 23.3 mph.

Mallard, a Class A4 steam locomotive, set the steam locomotion land speed record - 125.88 mph - on 3 July 1938.

British-built Thrust SSC set the world land speed record in October 1997, reaching 763.035 mph in a desert in the US state of Nevada.

It is hoped this 25ft-long (7.6m) three-tonne car, nicknamed the "fastest kettle in the world" which has reached 137.14 mph in testing, will be able to get to speeds of up to 170 mph in their record attempt.

However the first attempt by the team of British engineers to smash the longest-standing land speed record was dashed when the car's turbine became stuck. Suffering from overheating electrical components,a lot of gas pressure problems, due to the temperature causing the liquid propane to vaporize further up the car than it normally does. They've started using a lot of dry ice to try and keep things cool.

The car which has 12 boilers that turn 40 liters (8.8 gallons) of water per minute into superheated steam at 400C (752F), at 40 times atmospheric pressure, has three more days to break this speed record that has stood for over a hundred years.

So when your making your cup of tea or coffee on the morning, just listen for the news that the "fastest kettle in the world" has broken the steam land speed record.




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
Across the Pond
http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com/
http://across-t-pond.com


OTHER SUNDAY UK BLOGSABOUT

THE GRAND NATIONAL
WHY UK DRIVES ON THE LEFT
MOTHERS DAY ACROSS THE POND
ABOUT THE UNION JACK
ENGLISHMANS VIEW ON BASEBALL
WHAT IS BOXING DAY
BRITISH TV TRANSPLANTS
WHO WAS SAINT GEORGE?
BOBS YOUR UNCLE
SWEET FANNY ADAMS
EUROPE'S GOT TALENT - WELL PERHAPS
GOBSMACKED, BOBBIES AND AN ARM AND A LEG
BIG BEN... OR IS IT?
THE USA NEEDS A CITIZENS CHARTER
FROM CHARIOTS TO NASCAR
WHAT IS FATHERS DAY?

Barbara Bretton, Story Siren, Radio Shows and the Magic 99

The last few days have been full of fun, adventure and entertainment.

Today my Saturday "Book and a Chat" guest was Barbara Bretton, is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries. Not counting that she is also a major knitter of socks...





As normal it was a great thirty minutes chatting with Barbara about her family, her writing, and her new book "Laced with Magic" the second book in the Sugar Maple series. As I always try for the show was full of laughter.

Check the show out at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/22/A-BOOK-AND-A-CHAT-with-Barbara-Bretton

Talking about laughter yesterday I had a wonderful time chatting with Kristi "The Story Siren" and many other YA Bloggers (Check yesterdays blog). I had a wonderful follow up from that show receiving this great email...

I was just listening to your interview with the darling Story
Siren.... I'm thrilled to hear that so many people have mentioned
WILLOW on your show! Thank you for your most positive comments! If
you would be interested in having me on....

Julia Hoban

Of course to get the author of Willow as a guest I jumped at it, so keep a look out for Julia coming as a future guest.

Talking about humor... with all the shows this week I did not have a Weird News day, though beleive me there were some great snippets.

In New Zealand (we have some great one from there) a man went into a record store, ordered a box set of CD's and gave the assistant his address and telephone number so he could be notified when the set arrived. He then robbed the store, but could not work out how the police were there waiting for him at his house when he got home.

Now that Magic 99.

I have had several fresh and very kind reviews at Amazon, each one clicking up the review counter, until today that total is sitting at 99... waiting... waiting to tick over to that wonderful 100

So that is the news for today I'll be back tomorrow with my UK BLOG where you can read about the fastest kettle in the world

Barry






Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

A Book and a Chat with "The Story Siren"

Sometimes a show is so special that you have make it stand out above other shows, change your night extend the length of your show, whatever it takes. Tonight was one of those special shows.

A Book and a Chat with "The Story Siren"

Kristi alias "The Story Siren" has one of the leading lights in the YA blogging community, with almost 200,000 Visitors in under 2 years, number 6 in the top book sites, followed by over 800 on twitter, the plaudits just go on and on. The Story Siren blog has been nominated for TEN different categories in the BBAW awards.

Listen to this special radio program about a special blogger, with interaction from other guests and chat room folk

Stop what your doing and share this forty five minute fascinating incite into the world of YA blogging.

Listen at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/21/A-BOOK-AND-A-CHAT-with-The-Story-Siren

or on my blog at

http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com

"The Story Siren" did a great recap of the show...(in her words) which I'll share so it gives you an idea of how it went.

The Story Sirens Recap:

* Well there was an introduction! ha!
* We talked about how books can help with things like: self esteem for example
* That I was an "invisible" person in high school, I related to The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher.
* I showed up for my first swim practice in a two piece.
* Books are an escape!
* Xander is my Rotten-weiler. Everyone loves him, especially Cat.
* I've gotten to meet other bloggers. I mentioned Chelsea of the Page Flipper and Lauren of Shooting Stars Mag. I'm amazed that you can have real friendships that develop online!
* Why I like reading YA: relate to the characters and Fantastic Writers! They are the complete package!
* Vlogs
* That I can't help buying books! Even if I already have them.
* My Favorite books from this year: well the ones I remembered to mention: Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert, Willow by Julia Hoban, and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.
* The YA Connection, that is in retirement at the moment.
* The genre that I wish I could read more of: fantasy! Diana Peterfreund author of Rampant asked this one!
* Cindy of Cindy's Love of Books stopped by
* Cindy asked what was the one thing about blogging that surprised me the most? That authors are accessible! You can talk to them and everything, that's just crazy!
* Cindy's favorite book she mention was Willow by Julia Hoban. Lots of Willow talk.
* We couldn't pick a favorite author!
* Also, thanks to Adele of Persnickety Snark, I remembered I loved Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols.
* Book Blogger Appreciation Week, started by My Friend Amy. And my 10 nominations!
* Vania of Reverie Book Reviews stopped by.
* V asked what's one of the hardest thing about bloggin? My reviews! I stink at writing them!
* Steph asked what books I read and loved as a teen? I read James Patterson and Micheal Crichton, loved the Jurassic Park books. I didn't read teen books, there weren't really any. Loved Goosebumps and Babysitters Club when I was younger.
* Talked about the fact that you can read YA at any age, and the recent negative email and comments that were made on the blog.
* Diana from The Book Resort called in.
* Diana asked where do I see YA trending? We need a new "vampire" I'm predicting unicorns, zombies, faeries and angels!
* Khy from Frenetic Reader stopped by too!
* Khy asked what books have gotten overlooked? I mentioned The Dairy Queen series by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
* Team Unicorn!
* Plus a few other things that I might have mentioned!

Thanks for such a great run down Kristi



Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

A Book and a Chat with "Heather Cariou"

Sometimes we have to face up to things, to do what has to be done. Listen to my Book and a Chat with Heather Cariou author of a wonderful book... "SIXTYFIVE ROSES: A Sister's Memoir"

During the show heather shares with us, some of her early life, and how her sister Pam was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of four and given only a short time to live.

She promised to die with her, but as Pam fought the limits of her prognosis, she instead taught me how to live. “Sixtyfive Roses” is the way Pam pronounced the disease that altered the lives of my siblings and parents, who in turn helped alter the community’s response to the disease by founding the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. With the help of the Foundation, research, and new treatments, the fight to save Pam lasted for years, ending with her death at the age of 26.

As a last wish Pam asked Heather to give up her acting and go back to her first love of writing. It took Heather 20 years to learn and then to write this wonderful book about not just about her sister, but also about how we all can face life's challenges.

The time went by way to quickly for such a wonderful story, and we will I'm sure have a follow up show where we can learn more about this fascinating lady Heather Cariou and her book "SIXTYFIVE ROSES: A Sister's Memoir"

Why not stop for thirty minute and share this enjoyable and interesting chat

Listen to it at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/20/A-BOOK-AND-A-CHAT-with-Heather-Cariou


or on my blog at

http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

A Book and a Chat with "Douglas Abrams"

Listen to today's tremendously entertaining "A BOOK AND A CHAT with Douglas Carlton Abrams"

Douglas Carlton Abrams is a former editor at the University of California Press and HarperSanFrancisco. Abrams writes fact-based fiction that tells an exciting story while at the same time changing the world we live in. His first book, The Lost Diary of Don Juan, has been published in thirty countries around the world and was recently optioned for film.

Listen how we discuss his new book "Eye of the Whale" a page-turning blend of great storytelling and the latest insights of the world's leading environmental scientists.

Learn that to aid his work as a writer, he learned to sword fight dance, swam with whales and even dived with sharks.

A fun and entertaining thirty minutes for all to listen to and enjoy

Direct link is

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/18/A-BOOK-AND-A-CHAT-with-Douglas-Carlton-Abrams

or on my blog at

http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com

Take a break and enjoy a fun thirty minutes as I chat with Douglas Carlton Abrams




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

An Interview with Anjie (Anjie's World and The Frugal Freelancer)

As anybody who has read me reviews interviews or heard my comments on either my own radio program or where I have been a guest, you will know I am a great believer in what I call the "Small Blogger". These are the people who read, write and live books are "The 'Sham Wow' of Teen/YA literature", soaking up everything they can read.

To this end on Friday at 7pm, I have as a guest on A BOOK AND A CHAT one of the top YA Bloggers THE STORY SIREN

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond

Today's blog interview is something slightly different. While I met her when she she kindly reviewed by book "Across the Pond" on her blog site, she is also known as a savings specialist and webqueen of Freelancebyu.com

Name: Anjie Henley
Blog spot name: Anjie’s World and The Frugal Freelancer
Blog address: www.anjiesworld.blogspot.com
and
www.thefrugalfreelancer.com


How long have you been blogging?

Since 1998 (before they even had the name BLOG it was “online diary” then!)

What books do you read?:

I enjoy many genres and authors. I even read cookbooks! (true, there is a story in each one of them!)

What is your favorite book and author of 2009?

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

What is your favorite author/book of all time?

Joyce Carol Oates

How many books do you have in your library?

Oh my, too many to count, hundreds if not thousands, I think it is time to scale back a bit.

How many books do you read a week?

It normally takes me longer than a week to read a book, just not enough time in the day for all that I want to do. I am able to complete a book every few weeks.

Not counting yours, what is your favorite blog to follow?

I love Pioneer Woman, she has it all! http://thepioneerwoman.com/

When is your favorite time/location to read?

I prefer to read in my bed, but also snag time in the car riding when my husband is driving on the highways!

If you could be a character in any book who would that be and why?

Alice in Wonderland ……. So many wonderful experiences and she gets her “moves” from C.S. Lewis whose quotes I adore! Write me in!

Have you ever thought about or actually written a book yourself?

Yes, I have three books in mind, one autobiographical, one “how to” / handbook and a cookbook. I have started two of them……….. I have a long way to go.

If you had a chance to advertise your blog in any way you could, what would you chose and why?

I would go on OPRAH, instant success! I love how she is able to help out individuals that have a purpose and goals, she definitely “gives back” and I would do the same if I were in her shoes!

If you had a chance to interview any one author who would that be and why?

I would interview Kate Chopin, she was so ahead of her time and wrote about such controversial subjects while living in the deep south (very brave woman). She has lived in both of the towns in Louisiana that I have lived in. (Natchitoches and NOLA) we would have tons to talk about, it would be an interview opportunity of a lifetime!

If you had a chance what period of history would you live in.

Probably the roaring 20’s!

What is one thing about you that readers might not know?

I would love to go back to school to get a degree in Creative Arts Therapy. I currently have a BSW (Social Work) but the CAT degree is not offered in my state, nor online that I am aware of. I am patiently waiting!

What would you like to change about you if you could?

I would change my location. I would like to move but am still unsure of where I want to replant my roots! I love so many places but have yet to make up my mind as to where “home” should be.

Have you ever heard of a “Tree Kangaroo?”

Yes they are so cute!

Glad the word is getting around :)

If people are interested in being a guest on your blog or sending a book to you and your blog what is the best way to contact you?

Via email: byuwebqueen@gmail.com


Thank you for being my guest Anjie, good luck with your blogs, writing and continue to help people save money.


Don't forget I am always looking for guest for my Monday blogger interviews



Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

STORYHEART SUNDAY UK BLOG

During this last week some announcements have been made regarding the Olympics so I thought I'd touch on some sporting events, as well and add some information about another UK phrase.

For those of you who do not know, the next Olympic Games will be held in London, well England, but the main arena's will be in London.

I hope to be able to attend taking as they are all within tube (Subway) ride from my family's house.

This this week it was announced that "Women’s Boxing is in the 2012 Olympic Games".
Let's hope they manage to sort out some of the "wonderful" scoring decisions before then.

At the same time it was announced that Golf and Rugby 7's will be in the 2016 games.

While I had doubts when tennis came back into the games, I also have the same feelings re Golf. It is not a team sport, and I can not see some of the golfers turning down a multimillion event, just so they can play at the Olympics. But we will see, the Ryder Cup manages it, so perhaps the Olympics will do the same.

I am however, really pleased to see the rugby 7's... not to be mistaken with the normal 15 a side game. The sport is already has a world wide tournament, with an atmosphere more like a circus. A little like the Beach Volley Ball with the music, but with people in the crowd dressing up and having fun. Currently teams from every continent taking part in the World 7's Tournaments, it is very exciting game and if you get a chance try to catch it on TV (Sentanta) if you get a chance.


This by the way is the 2012 Emblem.



Of course the USA are a little down that Softball and Baseball are out of the games, bun honestly... are they really "world sports"? And I mean world as in Globe not as in "World Series".

If you want to find out more about the 2012 games, check out

http://www.london2012.com


ENGLISH PHRASE:

The phrase 'daft as a brush' is used more so in the North of England than the south and describes "someone who is known to do and say silly things".

But where does it come from?

It seems that children were first used as sweeps since the skilled child was small and could easily work his way vertically through the confined space, clearing blockages and removing the build up of soot by hand. While in training the apprentice was sometimes dropped head first down the chimney which caused severe cerebral damage.




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
Across the Pond
http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com/
http://across-t-pond.com


OTHER SUNDAY UK BLOGSABOUT

THE GRAND NATIONAL
WHY UK DRIVES ON THE LEFT
MOTHERS DAY ACROSS THE POND
ABOUT THE UNION JACK
ENGLISHMANS VIEW ON BASEBALL
WHAT IS BOXING DAY
BRITISH TV TRANSPLANTS
WHO WAS SAINT GEORGE?
BOBS YOUR UNCLE
SWEET FANNY ADAMS
EUROPE'S GOT TALENT - WELL PERHAPS
GOBSMACKED, BOBBIES AND AN ARM AND A LEG
BIG BEN... OR IS IT?
THE USA NEEDS A CITIZENS CHARTER
FROM CHARIOTS TO NASCAR
WHAT IS FATHERS DAY?

A Book and a Chat… the show that nearly never happened

Saturday as many of you know is my Book and a Chat Radio Show. Normally it starts at 11:00 and I check about ten minutes before to make sure connections, microphone phone etc is working correctly. The you as the host dial into Blogtalk radio, set up your switchboard and wait for your guest or anybody else who wants to chat to arrive.

This morning however, when you attempted to open the switchboard you received an error message. I attempted to get to the switchboard, but no matter what I attempted this part of Blogtalk was not working. That meant that though my guest dialed in I was unable to see her or open a microphone for her to join the chat show. I could not control, open, play the music nothing. I even sang the closing music...

So I tried to chat for the thirty minutes about my guest, my book "Across the Pond" and YA Blogging. I had no idea what was going on and after, I could not even check or listen to the show.

Finally seven hours later the problem was fixed. I knew this as suddenly I received a message from my guest saying she was there.

The show is also finally now available for people to listen to.

So check the show out, listen as I try to cover 30 minutes about my planned guest, my book, reviews, have my rant about YA bloggers and even sing the closing music.

Give it a listen and let me know what you think

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/15/A-BOOK-AND-A-CHAT-with-Chamein-Canton

Barry


http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com



Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

A BOOK AND A CHAT BLOG RADIO SHOW

I have been doing my Blog Radio show since February. Originally I was doing one show a week on a Saturday, the theme was to be two people chatting over a cup of tea, rather than like some other writers/book programs which sometimes get a little errrr bookish.

Okay I like to have fun, have a laugh, make the guest feel at home. I also like to try and get some of the YA blogger as guests rather than just authors. So the shows started and after just a couple I found i was really into the swing of things. I have managed to even do a few shows just on my own, when guests have not turned up for one reason or another.

Very soon I found I was being asked to host all sorts of guests, agents, publishers and authors all contacted me loving the informal format. I have been able to talk about subject ranging from abuse and religion to the theater and humor.

Very quickly I went to two shows a week and have had to turn people away already being booked up until November. And am having to squeeze some guests into one of specials. The next week is a prime example with shows Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and again the next Saturday.

I have received some wonderful emails of thanks and it seems that everybody even those who start off like a nervous wreck love the format and the way the show goes.

So if you want to spend 30 minutes listening to something light, entertaining and enjoyable, why not try

A BOOK AND A CHAT Blog talk radio show.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond

Up and coming shows:

Aug 15th Chamein Canton (Canton) 11:00am EST
Aug 18th Douglas Abrams 6:30 pm EST
Aug 20th Heather Cariou 6:30pm EST
Auh 21st The Story Siren (YA Blogger) 7pm EST
Aug 22nd Barbara Bretton 11:00am EST
Aug 25th Randy Sue Coburn 6:30pm EST
Aug 29th J.R. Hauptman 11:00am EST
Sep 1st Joanne Sundell 6:30pm EST

Barry Eva (Storyheart)
Author of "Across the Pond"

Book Site:http://across-t-pond.com
Follow my daily blog at: http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com
Follow my Blog Talk Radio Show at :http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond
Amazon Reviews: http://tinyurl.com/o7sokp

Views, Reviews and Weird Nature News

So what have I got to offer you in this weeks "Views, Reviews and for a change some Nature News

VIEWS:

Where do babies come from? What makes a rainbow? Why is the sky blue? these are some of the many questions that have left four out of five parents vexed by questions asked by their children. Here however are ten other crackers.

1) Why don't all the fish die when lightning hits the sea?

2) How much does the sky weigh?

3) Why can't people leave other people alone?

4) Why are birds not electrocuted when they land on electricity wires?

5) What is time?

6) Why is the Moon sometimes out in the day and sometimes at night?

7) Why did God let my kitten die?

8) Why do I like pink?

9) Why is water wet?

10) Why does my best friend have two dads?

REVIEWS:

It has been another great week for reviews with some very nice things being said about my book. At Amazon I am now up to 94 reviews hoping to make the BIG 100 before my appearance at the BIG E in September.

Here's some snippets from this weeks reviews...

...I was drawn into it the moment I began. It has humor. It has wit. It has love. It has baseball! (everyone loves baseball, right?) It also has an underlying message on a more serious note regarding teens and the potential secrets they keep. I'd highly recommend this book for all ages....seek it out for your next week-END break!

Across the Pond by Storyheart is a cute teenage story about a boy from England who visits a family friend in the United States. I have to say I LOVED this story! It was very cute and completely believable. The main characters Fred and Brittany and wholesome teenagers going through life and dealing with typical teenage issues. Doesn't matter he is from England and she is from the United States. This book reminds me of books I read as a teenager and loved.

This is a book that I would readily recommend for all tweens, preteens and early teens. I believe that it will appeal equally to boys as it would girls, even though it is labeled "romance" it is a well rounded story complete with school yard brawls and sports too!

One of the best features of the book , that was of most interest to me was the cultural comparisons. The main character wants a video game console and in order to get that he has to complete a notebook with words that are different or objects that have different titles in each of the countries. This is humorous and informative and the main reason my own 13 year old step-daughter wants to read it!

I am sure there will be a sequel to this story as the ending had a few possibilities, that hinted at "more to come." The main character, Fred, is a great guy for young ones to relate too, he has a lot of fortitude and great character for a young man which is rare in today's society. An example is set in this story for other youngsters without being "preachy."

Story Heart spins a good yarn and this book is no exception. I believe that everyone will enjoy it and it could quite possibly be made into a movie or TV special! Disney or Hallmark either one would like the components of it!

WEIRD NATURE NEWS:

Some great articles this week...

** Giant 'meat-eating' plant found **

A new species of giant carnivorous plant has been discovered in the highlands of the central Philippines.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8195000/8195029.stm

** Why flamingos stand on one leg **

It is one of nature's cutest mysteries, and now scientists think they have the answer.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8197000/8197932.stm





Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

Literary Terms and Quotes

Last weeks writers help drew quite a few responses so I'd thought I would try some more "literary terms" this week.

Literary Terms & Quotes

An example of personification?

whispering trees.

An example of onomatopoeia?

pop.

An example of hyperbole?

She is as big as a house.

An example of assonance?

I like pie.

An example of alliteration?

Shannon shook the sugar.

An example of a simile?

Life is like a box of chocolates.

An example of a metaphor?

Life is a dream.

An example of a foil?

Tom and Jerry.

A connotation of the word 'mean'?

grouchy.

What word is used for the Japanese form of poetry that is written in three lines consisting of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, and 5 syllables respectively?

haiku. Haikus usually are related to nature, but not always.

What is verbal irony?

Sarcasm. One example would be "That sock smells like roses" after it has been sitting in a gym locker for three months.

cliche.

Good example of a cliches: the ubiquitous 'broken heart', the everpresent 'spinning world', and the irritating 'burning love'. These weaken poems.


Barry Eva (Storyheart)
Author of "Across the Pond"

Book Site:http://across-t-pond.com
Follow my daily blog at: http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com
Follow my Blog Talk Radio Show at :http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond
Amazon Reviews: http://tinyurl.com/o7sokp

A Book and a Chat with "Alycia Ripley"

Listen to today's tremendously entertaining "A BOOK AND A CHAT with Alycia Ripley"

Alycia chats about herself and her book “Traveling with an Eggplant”. A Mystery Novel that is a combination of mysticism and paranormal experiences which has become a "colt following" must read.

She also tells us about her new book "The Final Alice" which comes out early next year and is sure to become a huge success.


Alycia's being called the "Queen of the Yuffies (Young, Urban, Failures)"- a group defined as 'those with talents and ambition who reject the yuppie mentality of corporate jobs, rat races and anything that could compromise their ultimate goals- the word 'failure' is ironic because they don't fail at anything they want, they simply do not waste time on things they are not passionate about.

Listen to the show and learn about Alycia, her writing and her views.

You can listen to the show (as I am now) at

Direct link is

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Across-the-Pond/2009/08/11/A-BOOK-AND-A-CHAT-with-Alycia-Ripley

or on my blog at

http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com

Have a break and enjoy a fun thirty minutes as I chat with Alycia Ripley




Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

Interview with "Girl With Braids" - Reading to Myself Blog Spot

As anybody who has read me reviews interviews or heard my comments on either my own radio program or where I have been a guest, you will know I am a great believer in what I call the "Small Blogger". These are the people who read, write and live books are "The 'Sham Wow' of Teen/YA literature", soaking up everything they can read. Today's guest is fairly new to blogging, and this interview I hope will encourage her and show others how much bloggers are appreciated by authors such as myself.

NAME: GirlwiththeBraids
BLOG NAME: Reading to Myself
BLOG ADDRESS: www.readingtomyself.blogspot.com

How long have you been blogging?

I created Reading to Myself in December of 2008, when my mom said I was old enough to keep a blog. My older sister, The Bookworm of Au Courant, inspired me to keep one because she made it look so cool and fun!

What books do you read?

I like to children, middle grade, and young adult genres. Sometimes fantasy, sometimes historical fiction, and others general fiction. I just like books! Occasionally, I will pick up an adult book but only if it has an interesting plot that I can understand and no sexual content.

What is your favorite book and author of 2009?

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink! It has the best writing ever and just came out on the 1st of this month. So go out and buy it! It’s definitely worth it.

What’s your favorite author/book of all time?

The Holy Bible. But in fiction, it’d have to be all the future books running through my head. I don’t know when they will be on paper, but they are my favorite to think about.

How many books do you have in your library?

Hang on a sec, I’ll go check- 112. I’m constantly receiving more books though and trading my least favorite ones on PaperbackSwap.

How many books do you read in a week?

On an average, usually two. But of course, it depends on how long they are. (I’m saving The Book Thief for a time when reading one book in two weeks isn’t a big deal. ;) Honestly, I’m not a very fast reader.

What is your favorite blog to follow?

I can’t really pick favorites because there are a few I love to check in on regularly but one of them are EmilyRuth from Aye Captain. She was the first one other than my sister that I commented on.

What is your favorite time or location to read?

I like reading in my room in the middle of the day when nothing’s going on. I don’t have a job yet, though I already know a place I want to work when I become the legal age for it. Until then, I’m focusing on getting my book published.


If you could be a character in any book, who would it be and why?

In most books I read, my favorite character is the main one and usually the whole plot is that they are in a … bad situation (Dad dying, have to save the world of demons, etc.). So if I could be any character but not be in their situation, it’d have to be Ginny from Harry Potter (though getting married to Harry isn’t necessarily a bad thing).

Have you ever thought about or written a book yourself?

Actually, I have written a book called ‘Little Angel’ that I finished the last draft for in June. It’s in the middle grade genre and I hope to get it published by RandomHouse or Bloomsbury sometime. I’ve already sent it to the Delacorte division of RandomHouse. I’m very nervous about the notification letter. But I’m also in the process of writing another book.

If you had a chance to advertise your blog in any way you could, what would you choose and why?

I think it would be completely awesome if an email was moving around through a bunch of published authors about it. I would faint if they left a comment on it! But I’d rather advertise my sister’s blog because she updates it a lot more regularly than I do and is very passionate about it. Her reviews seem so professional and she deserves the good attention.

I can see I'm going to have to check out your sisters "awesome" blog

If you had the chance to interview any author, who would it be and why?

Even though she’s …*whispers* … dead, I’d want to interview Laura Ingalls Wilder. The big thing I’d like to tell her, is that someone made a hit TV show based on her life.

If you had a chance, what period of history would you live in?

I don’t think I’d be able to survive living in any time except this one. A huge reason is that I have arachnophobia. (Don’t know how I’d deal without modern buildings, toilets, showers, and all that.) But I think I could deal with living in the 1950s. Though there were a lot of issues then (What centuries don’t have them?), I love the fashion and the music.


I was there, well for most of it, and it certainly did have issues

What is one thing about you readers might not know?

I’m a Lutheran pastor’s daughter.

What is something you’d like to change about yourself if you could?

I would’ve liked to have been born a little more ambitious and not has emotional. I’m not dramatic, but I think too hard about little things.

Have you ever heard of a “Tree Kangaroo”?

I’m sorry. Pardon?

You'll have to check up online about these quute/strange creatures.

If people are interested on being a guest on your blog or sending you a book (to review), what is the best way to contact you?

You can send me an email at ReadingToMyself@yahoo.com

I look forward to talking with you (readers, authors, anybody)! : )>

Thank you for all the interesting questions. I had fun!


Thank you so much for being my guest I always want to help YA bloggers.
Good luck to your future blogs as well as your book and the one you're writing.

Don't forget I am always looking for guest for my Monday blogger interviews



Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
"Across the Pond"

STORYHEART SUNDAY UK BLOG

FRAGRANTLY SCULPTURED RED ROSE OF ENGLAND



I have just driving back from normal Sunday shopping trip, when I noticed a McDonald's advert for their Latia, not that I drink the stuff being a typical Englishman, it is "the leaf not the bean". In other words give me a good cup of tea any day. Any way the sign read "Deliciously Sculptured" something I could not quite get me wakening brain around. "Deliciously" is taste word, sculptured is a visual word. So can you taste visual?

It got me thinking about today's UK blog and using the McDonald's form of description the "FRAGRANTLY SCULPTURED RED ROSE OF ENGLAND"

Many countries have their own flower or emblem. Northern Ireland - has the Shamrock Scotland has two, the Thistle and Scottish Bluebell. As does Wales with it's daffodil and leek. For England however there is just one, the Red Rose. SO why the red rose? Where did it all come from? I have already had a few people contact me knowing I was going to write this blog reminding me of the rose of Yorkshire and Gloucester'

During the history of England, there have been two major civil wars. Thee one between the Royalist Cavaliers and the Roundheads which involved Oliver Cromwell , Charles I hiding in an oak tree and led to many people migrating from England for one reason or another to start a new life in the western colonies of America. While perhaps I'll go into that another time it's the other civil war I want to talk about today.

So here comes the history lesson...

THE WARS OF THE ROSES, was a series of civil wars fought by the rival houses of Lancaster and York between 1455 and 1485.

The struggle was so named because the badge of the house of Lancaster was a red rose and that of the house of York a white rose.

The initial opponents were the Lancastrian king of England Henry VI, aided by his queen, Margaret of Anjou, and Richard Plantagenet, 3rd duke of York. Because of the insanity of the king and military losses in France during the last phase of the Hundred Years' War, the authority of the house of Lancaster was badly shaken. York asserted his claim to the throne in 1460, after having defeated the Lancastrian armies at St. Albans in 1455 and at Northampton in 1460. In the latter year York was defeated and killed at Wakefield. In 1461, however, his son was proclaimed king as Edward IV and shortly thereafter he decisively defeated Henry and Margaret, who then fled from England. In 1465 Henry was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

WARWICK THE KING MAKER:

Richard Neville, earl of Warwick, or “Warwick the King Maker was one of the main protagonist, he was known as King Maker as what side he fought the leader became King. First he fought for the Yorkist faction, fighting against Henry VI, the then king of England.

Henry was deposed from the throne of England and the Yorkist Edward IV was proclaimed king in 1461. Warwick then virtually ruled the kingdom until 1464. Increasingly at odds with Edward, he fled to France in 1470 and allied himself with Margaret of Anjou, whose husband, the deposed Henry VI, was being held prisoner in the Tower of London. That same year Warwick invaded England as a Lancastrian and defeated Edward IV. Warwick had Henry released from imprisonment in September 1470 and restored him to the throne. When Edward IV returned and the Yorkists rallied to his banner, Warwick was outmaneuvered. He was slain in the Battle of Barnet. (My Home Town)

Shortly thereafter, the Lancastrians were totally defeated at the Battle of Tewkesbury, and Henry was murdered in the Tower.

After the death of Edward in 1483, his brother Richard usurped the throne, becoming king as Richard III, and the Lancastrians turned for leadership to Henry Tudor, earl of Richmond, who later became King Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty. In 1485 the forces of Richard and Henry fought the decisive Battle of Bosworth Field, the last major encounter of the war. After Richard's death in battle, Henry ascended the throne and married Edward's daughter, thus uniting the houses.

So if you followed that entire history lesson you will know why the emblem of England is the red rose.

In the end the Lancastrians won, their emblem was the red rose so that became emblem of England, if the Yorkists had won, then today we would be talking about the white rose of England. Still “fragrantly sculptured” or not; the Red Rose is and will always be, the emblem of England






Author of Young Adult Romance/Fiction book
Across the Pond
http://acrossthepond-storyheart.blogspot.com/
http://across-t-pond.com


OTHER SUNDAY UK BLOGSABOUT

THE GRAND NATIONAL
WHY UK DRIVES ON THE LEFT
MOTHERS DAY ACROSS THE POND
ABOUT THE UNION JACK
ENGLISHMANS VIEW ON BASEBALL
WHAT IS BOXING DAY
BRITISH TV TRANSPLANTS
WHO WAS SAINT GEORGE?
BOBS YOUR UNCLE
SWEET FANNY ADAMS
EUROPE'S GOT TALENT - WELL PERHAPS
GOBSMACKED, BOBBIES AND AN ARM AND A LEG
BIG BEN... OR IS IT?
THE USA NEEDS A CITIZENS CHARTER
FROM CHARIOTS TO NASCAR
WHAT IS FATHERS DAY?