Authors Archives - Donna Galanti - Where heart and hope meet adventure!

Build the Author Life You Seek & Empower Kids!

I’m excited to be a guest on two blogs this past week! Writers Helping Writers is a great resource for writers and one of 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer’s Digest. I’m thrilled to be on today (for the 3rd time) talking about how you can build your author life BEFORE your first book comes out! Calling all writers, stop in and share your thoughts and tips too.

“As writers, the rejection never ends with queries, book proposals, editor notes, or bad reviews. But there is a key to creating and sustaining an author life while surviving endless rejection: build a support community. We can write alone, but it’s very hard to get published (or succeed) alone. To enhance success, we can build the foundation before we’re published, just like the railway built to connect Vienna and Venice. It was built before any train could travel up such a steep grade. A feat of civil engineering that took 20,000 people! You won’t need 20,000 people, but you will need a few, along with these 3 steps …” READ MORE

Writers, you may be interested in my other two posts cheapativanpriceonline.com there on Eight Steps to an Agent, Publisher, and a Two-Book Deal and Building Suspense: Meeting Readers in the Middle.

And if you love middle grade books than stop on by Project Middle Grade Mayhem where I talk about celebrating the power of kids and share my favorite books that empower kids. Come share yours!

“I’ve met and read about so many amazing kids lately that are overcoming obstacles, big and small, and letting the power of their voice shine through. Like Caine. At nine he built his dream and didn’t give up, even when no one would share in it. You’ll be so inspired by what he started. Read the story. And Mason, a seven-year-old who gave up birthday presents to feed an animal shelter. And Erik, an amazing teen author, book blogger (This Kid Reviews Books), and super reader. Get to know him! Kids matter. We need to let them know they matter. We need to let them know their voice matters. As writers, we can do that through books. You’ve got the power!” READ MORE

Fun Fall Book Events! Win Prizes & Grab Great Reads!

By Donna Galanti

CAUTION: Booklover fun ahead!

The historic Prallsville Mill in Stockton, NJ, on the picturesque Delaware River will be the backdrop for the River Reads book festival on Sunday, Oct. 23rd from 10 to 4pm. I’ll be there along with 45 other local authors, nonstop readings, a special section for young readers plus scavenger hunt, Unionville Winery tastings, Bonjour Creperie food truck, a chance to prizes, & more!

Lots of special things for young readers too!

Visit the Facebook page and click “Interested” or “Going” to get updates in your feed. What better way to spend a crisp fall day than discovering that perfect fireside book, or two!

It’s been a fun bookish fall so far with school visits and book events! Here I am presenting at my alma mater school, Academy of the Holy Names, in Albany, NY. I traveled back in time for my 30-year high school reunion this month and to step back once again into the halls of my youth. It was an amazing time and to see old friends and classmates and hopefully buy phentermine inspire their children. Was truly special to return and spend time with my vice-principal from 1986 who is still there but now as the head of the school! Want me to visit your school? Check out my school visits page!

I also had a wonderful evening at the Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza signing books and celebrating the launch of Joshua and the Arrow Realm with old and new friends. Folks even came out from my old elementary school I hadn’t seen in 35 years!

Next month I’ll also be guest author at Philcon, the world’s first and longest-running conference on science fiction, fantasy, and horror, in Cherry Hill, NJ, November 18-20. Come on out and get your fandom on!

Also, don’t forget to enter this fantastic giveaway! This October I’ve banded together with 8 other authors to stir up a giveaway. In the cauldron is a $220 USD e-gift card to spend on Amazon.

Enter below! Contest runs from 11am EST October 10th through 5pm EST October 24th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter to Win a $220 Amazon Gift Card!

By Donna Galanti

Wouldn’t it be wicked to win $220 to spend on books? This October I’ve banded together with 8 other authors to stir up a giveaway. In the cauldron is a $220 USD e-gift card to spend on Amazon.

Click on a Rafflecopter giveaway to enter or enter below! Contest runs from 11am EST October 10th through 5pm EST October 24th .

Would you like to find out more about the authors behind this giveaway? Explore their websites…if you dare. Bwah-ha-ha-ha!

Amy Allgyer

Jennifer Bardsley

Jennifer DeGiovanni

Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Click on the covers to check out each book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fine Print:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE buy viagra PROHIBITED BY LAW. Time Period: Begins on 10/10/2016 at 8:00 AM (Pacific Standard Time (US & Canada)) and ends on 10/24/2016 at 2:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time (US & Canada)). Eligibility: Open to legal residents of USA and Canada who are Must be 13 years old to enter or older. Winner Selection: The winner of the giveaway will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible Entries received throughout the Promotion Period. The random drawing will be conducted by 48 hours by Sponsor or its designated representatives, whose decisions are final. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible Entries received. Winner will be notified by email at the email address provided in the Entry Information on or about 48 hours after the random drawing.

NYC, BookCon, Book Launches & School Visits!

By Donna Galanti

It was a crazy week with book events! And I faced two fears: going to NYC alone and giving my first author visit presentations at two schools.

I traveled to NYC for BookCon at the Jacob Javits Center, along with thousands of other book lovers May 30th-31st, where I signed Joshua and the Lightning Road at my publisher’s booth, Month9Books.

With my publisher of Month9Books, Georgia McBride.

It was book heaven and fun to engage with young readers who are excited about books and meet old friends like fellow International Thriller Writers Debut Author, Nancy Bilyeau!

Vittoria here sets her own summer reading challenge and was super excited to put Joshua and the Lightning Road on her reading list.

I conquered the city: rode the train, hailed a cab, walked the streets. I feel very New York-ish now. I brought back some wonderful new memories – and reads for free!

After the skyline of NYC faded is was onto New Jersey to give my first presentation to a middle school creative writing group and two presentations back-to-back at my son’s elementary school June 4th and 5th.

The kids were so animated and engaged as I shared my frustrating and rewarding road to becoming an author mixed in with humor and the five R’s of being an author: Reading, (W)Riting, Research, Revision – and Rejection. And the improvisational skit was a big hit!

My one goal as requested by my son, Joshua: Do NOT be boring! According to him it was the best presentation ever. Phew. Second fear faced.

Joshua with one of his best buddies. School visit photos by Reckie Leckie Photography.

And my son was on such a high Friday after my author visit at his school that heading for ice cream to celebrate he said: “This is the best day ever and we need a theme song to celebrate!” He picked the most buy cialis perfect song off his iPod “BEST DAY OF MY LIFE” by American Authors! And we rolled down the windows and sang our hearts out.

I had a dream so big and loud
I jumped so high I touched the clouds
Wo-o-o-o-o-oh … Wo-o-o-o-o-oh
I stretched my hands out to the sky
We danced with monsters through the night
Wo-o-o-o-o-oh … Wo-o-o-o-o-oh
I’m never gonna look back
Woah, never gonna give it up
No, please don’t wake me now
Oo-o-o-o-oo
This is gonna be the best day of my li-ife
My life.

And the week wasn’t even over yet! More celebrations came with the book release party at The Doylestown Bookshop on Saturday, June 6th.

And how cool is it that I was right next to Judy Blume in the month’s event flyer!

Friends and kids came out in droves!

The scavenger hunt was a HUGE hit and so was the book trailer and I tried not to embarrass the real Joshua too much by talking about him as my inspiration. So many wonderful friends came out!

Even a knight in shining armor showed up and we sold out of stock!

And we ended the day with a celebration at the Doylestown Brew Pub!

The crazy week ended and Sunday was grounded in reality with revisions to tackle on book two, JOSHUA AND THE ARROW REALM. I closed the blinds so the fresh green of summer and sunshine wouldn’t taunt me. After a 12-hour revision day I crawled out of my cave to drench myself in the last remnants of a golden green day for 30 minutes of a heavenly reward bike ride. Through fields and flowers I followed my own scavenger hunt to feed my creative soul that needed filling. And I sang aloud:

I had a dream so big and loud
I jumped so high I touched the clouds
I’m never gonna look back
Woah, never gonna give it up
No, please don’t wake me now.

Time to get back to writing – and dreaming…