There are the books everyone has heard about: Twilight, Hunger Games, and Fifty Shades of Gray. But what about all those books written by people you’ve never heard of? Some of them are treasures, just waiting to be found, and that’s what this blog hop is all about: the books you might not have heard about, but that you might end up loving.
This blog hop is like a game of tag. One author posts and tags five other authors who link back to their website the next week and tag five new authors. If you follow the blog hop long enough, you’re bound to find some books you’ll love! Maybe you’ll even discover a book that ends up being the next big thing.
I was tagged by Michael J. Tucker. You can learn more about his novel, Aquarius Falling, and soon to be release follow-up, Capricorn’s Collapse, on his website: . http://www.michaeltuckerauthor.com/aquarius_falling/week-27-the-next-big-thing-blog-hop/#more-674
The blog hop includes ten questions to help you learn more about an author’s present work or work in progress. Here’s a little info about my work in progress:
1: What is the working title of your new book? Tools for Raising Kids of Character
2: Where did the idea come from for the book? I, like you, have seen more bullies than ever; more people who would rather lie than tell the truth; people who have no manners; have a short supply of compassion; seem to not know right from wrong; respect no one, not even themselves; think nothing of shop lifting; ignore their responsibility as parents; think only of themselves; have no moral compass and in short, just plain lack character. My goal is to help parents raise kids who have character.
3: What genre does your book fall under? Tools will fit into many genres, Family, Parenting, Character development, even Self-improvement – self-improvement, because it’s only possible to teach character if you have character.
4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? There are many kids who come and go in the book; each has an important part, but there are none who are present through it all. On second thought I, as the kids’ doctor, am the only one who is present at any great length. I guess Robin Williams, as he appeared in Dead Poet Society would be great!
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? The future of our country (world) lies not with our children, but with their parents.
6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? My previous books were published, Alfred A. Knopf and MapleTree. I hope to use a major publisher again, but if I can’t work out a contract that I’m happy with I will self-publish. I do not have an agent.
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? I’ve been working on it for a couple of years and should have it done in 2-3 more months. I would like to have it on the shelves by this Christmas.
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of parenting books, but none are similar to Tools.
Character Matters: How to Help Our Children Develop Good Judgment, Integrity, and Other Essential Virtues by Thomas Lickona (Feb 3, 2004), has been called the landmark book for helping parents and teacher direct kids toward becoming people of character. But, it has frequently been criticized for being too judgmental and moralistic.
The Death of Character: Moral Education in an Age Without Good or Evil by James Davison Hunter (May 22, 2001), gives us an in depth history of moral education in the US and fixes blame on everything from international capitalism to psychologists. It is difficult to read and really presents the problems well, but is short on solutions.
Character Building for Kids: Cartoon Guide to Good Manners with Family Discussions by Jean Tracy (Nov 11, 2012), and Character Building: Problem Stories for Family Discussions also by Jean Tracy (May 1, 2012), are two very good, short, easy to read, and follow, workbooks for parents who want to produce kids of character. I like them! They are “get to solving, or preventing, the problem” books which many parents can use in raising children in today’s world.
Tools for Raising Kids of Character is different from all and any of the above. In it we follow the non-preachy, easy to read, well researched format of Messengers in Denim. Tools for Raising Kids of Character, discusses the essence of parenting, the principles of parenting, the why and how of parenting, but also discusses who can teach character to others. Like Messengers, it is about how to be a parent rather than just how to parent. There is a distinct difference which readers will soon discover.
9: Who or What inspired you to write this book? I was inspired as much by the great kids I see who have character as well as those who lack it.
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Each chapter begins with a true story told to me by a child or teenager. These stories, some sad, some funny, each demonstrate a character trait. Stories are great teachers, they make learning comfortable and easy to remember.
Here is a list of authors who will be joining the hop for week 2 on January 10th. I hope you’ll visit their blogs next week and learn more about their books. Maybe one of them will become your new favorite author!
(Be sure to add the 5 other authors you have asked to join along with their links)
1)Jean Tracy
Website: http://www.KidsDiscuss.com
Blog: http://www.ParentingSkillsBlog.com
Kindle Book: Character Building for Kids: Cartoon Guide to Good Manners with Family Discussions
Kindle Book: Character Building: Problem Stories for Family Discussions
m/gp/product/B007ZU6CLO?ie=UTF8&tag=kidsdiscom-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B007ZU6CLO
2) Abbey Algiers:
website: abbeyalgiers.com
blogs: http://www.abbeyalgiers.com/blog/ or imrunnerchica.com
book: The Great Search