Spotlight: Who's in the Drive Thru by Shauna Wuggazer Knott

Date Published: August 28, 2024

Publisher: ‎MindStir Media

Join Jane, a friendly barista, for a day in the drive-thru as she serves up yummy treats and warm drinks to different customers. Who is also in these cars? Hop in and meet the cuddly companions who are out for a ride, ready to share a smile.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

I am a stay-at-home mom to Zoey (15) and Garrett (12).  Wife to Korey, and furmomma to Oreo the Bernedoodle.  I love to read, bake, travel, and be outside, while also cheering on my kids at their sporting events.

Spotlight: Perfectly Imperfect by Cara Davis

From a nose that's a tad too big, to a giggle that lights up the room, you are perfect, just the way you are.

Witness the charm of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the whimsy of the Mona Lisa's smile, and the joyous laughter of a girl who's unapologetically herself. Meet a dad whose scar tells a story of bravery, and see how even a heart with a band-aid has its own perfect place in the world.

Discover why the most beautiful thing in the world is to be fearlessly, wonderfully, uniquely you!

About the Author

Meet Cara Davis. She lives in East Nashville with her two kids, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, and two chickens. Cara really likes to check out fun places nearby and listen to music when she’s not writing stories like this!

Connect:

Website: http://papertiger.store

Instagram: @carabakerdavis

Spotlight: I'm Beautiful Because I Am by Azizi Tuere

Because I Am Series

Children's Picture Book

Date Published: 07-09-2024

Publisher: Let Your Light Shine Press

Join our hero as they discover the wonder hiding in everyday moments. From planting seeds to chasing butterflies, each page bursts with colorful surprises that will make you giggle, gasp, and go "Wow, that's beautiful!"

But wait, there's more! This book doesn't just show beauty – it helps you find the beauty in YOU. Because guess what? You're not just beautiful, you're beautifully YOU!

So, are you ready to uncover the real meaning of beauty? Grab this book and let the adventure begin! Who knows what amazing things you'll discover about yourself along the way?

Remember, true beauty isn't just skin deep – it's YOU deep!

About the Author

Azizi Tuere is a vibrant storyteller on a mission to empower families through heartwarming tales. As a homeschooling mom of two, she transforms everyday experiences into adventures that nurture emotional intelligence and self-worth. Her "Because I Am" series sprung from a desire to help children embrace their unique beauty and potential. When not weaving words, Azizi hosts "Tiny Green Chef," an online cooking program that brings families together through plant-based cuisine. Her work is a testament to her belief that every child is a masterpiece waiting to be discovered. Connect with Azizi's world of wonder at AziziTuere.com.

Connect:

Website: http://azizituere.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azizi.birkeland

"X": https://x.com/AziziTuere

Blog: https://azizituere.beehiiv.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50968122.Azizi_Tuere

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azizituere

Spotlight: The Case of the Greensboro Gremlins by Erik Christopher Martin

Middle Grade Paranormal Mystery

Date Published: October 2024

Twelve-year-old Dotty Morgan is a supernatural sleuth who has solved cases involving French fry phantoms and zombie ninjas in her hometown of Elderton, NC. Now, she’s heading to Greensboro, where her girlfriend, Hannah, is wrestling in a major tournament, and her BFF, Parker, is competing in a fashion show for young designers.

Dotty looks forward to a few fun and relaxing days in the city. But when weird accidents plague Parker’s fashion show, she determines paranormal forces are to blame. Dotty declares her vacation over and the investigation on.

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Erik Christopher Martin is a San Diego writer originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He has published four books for YA and middle grade readers under the In A Bind Books imprint. His latest book ‘The Case of the French Fry Phantom’ launched in all formats on 3/17/2023. It is Book One of the Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth Series.

His short stories can be found in A Year Ink 4, The Guilded Pen 2019, on CoffinBell.com 2.3, Frontiertales.com, Tales to Terrify podcast, HauntedMTL, and the Monster Anthology by AEL Press.

Visit his website at ErikChristopherMartin.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ErikCMartin.

Erik is a member of the SCBWI, SDWEG, and the HWA.

Erik loves all things book related. He is a former bookstore owner (In A Bind Books in Lakewood, Ohio opened in 2000 and closed 2 years later), and former part-time library employee.

Besides writing, Erik loves to read authors such as Vonnegut, Moorcock, Pratchett, and Douglas Adams. And when he plays D&D, he’s the DM, 9 times out of 10.

Connect:

Website: https://ErikChristopherMartin.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erikcmartinauthor

Spotlight: Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir by Mike Martin

Publisher: Mezzo Publications

Publication Date: October 15, 2024

Pages: 24

Genre: Children’s Christmas Book

Princess Sophie and the Magic Elixir is the story of a young girl who loves Christmas. When she sees that the people of Melodica are losing their Christmas spirit, she sets out to help them rekindle their magic. At the end she finds that all we really need is to believe in the power of love.

Princess Sophie and the Magic Elixir is available at Amazon.

Excerpt:

Princess Sophie lived in the tiny kingdom of Melodica with her father King Olav and her mother Queen Bianca. She loved her friends who were the birds and the rabbits and the squirrels who lived in the nearby forest. Princess Sophie especially loved Christmas. In fact, she loved everything about Christmas.

She loved the jingles and jangles. She loved the horns and the hooters. She loved the lights, the wrapping, the singing and clapping. She loved everything about Christmas. What she liked most was that warm, comfy feeling that you got just before Christmas. That something really good was going to happen. That feeling lasted for 12 whole days while Christmas went on in Melodica.

But this year something was just not right. There were still sparkles and sprinkles and lights all around. There was even a giant Christmas tree in the middle of the town square. Yet, Princess Sophie did not have that feeling, that special Christmas feeling. In fact, it felt a bit sad. She asked her mother, her father and her teacher but nobody knew what had happened. Worst of all, no one knew how to fix it.

“Oh, no,” said Princess Sophie to her favourite rabbit friend, Hopper. “We have to do something. We can’t have Christmas without that special Christmas feeling. What can we do?”

Well, Hopper was a great friend, but he couldn’t speak human. So, he started hopping instead. He hopped and hopped and hopped until Princess Sophie got tired of all the hopping and asked him to stop. But the hopping somehow had given her an idea.

“When I am sick, nurse gives me special medicine to help me feel better,” she said. “Maybe we can find a medicine that brings back the Christmas spirit. But where we would find a medicine like that? Princess Sophie asked her mother, her father and the nurse but nobody had ever heard of a medicine like that.

Now Princess Sophie was getting sad herself. “There must be somebody who can help us, but who? Hoppy didn’t have that answer so he hopped and hopped and hopped until Princess Sophie finally told him to stop hopping. “Your hopping has given me another idea,” she said. Christmas is magical, so the Christmas spirit must be magical, too. Who should we talk to about magic?” The rabbit just looked at her.

“A magician, of course,” said Princess Sophie. She asked her father who was the best magician in Melodica. 

“Why, it’s Lady Ariana,” said King Olav. “She is absolutely the best.”

– Excerpted from Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir by Mike Martin, Mike Martin, 2024. Reprinted with permission.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback

About the Author

Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand.

He is the award-winning author of the best-selling Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, set in beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 15 books in this light mystery series with the 2024 publication of Too Close for Comfort

He is also the author of 3 Chldren’s Christmas books. The Christmas Beaver, A Friend for Christmas and now Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir.

Connect:

X ➜ https://www.x.com/mike54martin 

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552604938333 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220363612-princess-sophie-and-the-christmas-elixir 

Spotlight: Maggie the Cat Loves Pip's Thanksgiving Surprise by Julia Russo and Grace Metzger-Forrest (Illustrator)

Maggie the Cat Book 2

Children's Book

Date Published: October 15th

Publisher: Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.

Wonderful illustrations bring us back up to Grandpa's mountain farmhouse for a Thanksgiving homecoming. Pip will soon have a Thanksgiving surprise, but what exactly will it be? Will it have to do with the treats in the oven? Pecan pie with oatmeal? Cornbread? Dutch apple pie? Mmmmm, they all smell so good!

Will it have to do with a new park for all of the children to play in, being built at a neighbor's farm? Wow! A brand new park where everyone, and I mean everyone, is working very hard. Will it have to do with little Barney who is the littlest goat ever and who is really working hard and chomp chomp chomping away to make the park soft and free of brush?

Or finally, will it have to do with Pip's best friend ever, Maggie? Read along, and let's find out together. We don't have that long. Thanksgiving is coming very soon!

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Hardcover | Paperback | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Julia Russo spent many winters in the mountains along with her little dog, Chloe, and her sweet husband, Kent. She continues to live in Atlanta but her heart is really in those woods.  

One of her favorite things ever was hearing her first graders read aloud. She sometimes wrote for the government and companies, and later wrote descriptions of homes. She even spent time as what is called a roustabout!

After her debut book, Maggie the Cat Who Came Home for Christmas, released in 2023, Julia is excited to continue the series. She visits her mountainside cabin often. One of these days, she’s hoping to get a little goat.