Donna Galanti - Where heart and hope meet adventure!

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Happy Memorial Day + Contest Winners, Giveaways & Reviews!

By Donna Galanti

marines

Photo by Marine Corps NYC

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Today we take a moment to remember those who courageously gave their lives and those who bravely fight today for freedom.

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” — Joseph Campbell

I’m also grateful today to just be able to spend the holiday relaxing with my family – and I’m super excited to announce the winners of the pre-order promotion for Joshua and the Lightning Road! Thank you all for participating.

iPad-Promo-JOSHUA-Web

And here they are! I will be contacting you about your prizes.

Leah B. – iPad Mini

Anne S. – $25 Barnes and Noble gift card

Stephanie R. – Signed map of the book’s world, the Lost Realm

Hope you all enjoy your prizes!

There was more fun in store this weekend. I had a blast this past Saturday, May 22, at The Doylestown Bookshop Teen Fantasy event with other Month9Books authors. We had a goofy fun time meeting so many wonderful readers!

Teeenfantasy2 TeenFantasyPanel

 

Joshua-BannerAnd the Joshua and the Lightning Road blog tour continues with excerpts, giveaways, and interviews. Here are some fun spots to visit this past week where Joshua made an appearance.

5/18/2015           Chapter by Chapter – Guest Post (My Top 3 Favorite Things To Do and Why)

5/19/2015           Reader Girls – Spotlight + Excerpt

5/19/2015           WS Momma Readers Nook – Interview

5/20/2015           Deal Sharing Aunt – Interview

5/21/2015           A Book Addict’s Bookshelves – Guest Post (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Getting Published)

5/22/2015           YA Chit Chat – Spotlight + Excerpt

5/22/2015           Susan Heim on Parenting – Guest Post (Playing on Our Fears)

5/23/2015           Mythical Books – Guest Post (10 Steps to Writing Thrillers for Kids)

5/24/2015           Book Lovers Life – Spotlight + Excerpt

And I must share some fun new reviews. Click on the reviewers link for the full review:

“A solid recommendation for the fantasy, adventure fan. Strong, relatable characters and imaginative world building make this debut children’s novel one you will hope will continue in a several book series.”–Boys to Books

“This is a story of friendship, love, sacrifice, hope and courage. A wonderful, magical, mystery adventure for kids of all ages.” –Fundimental Book Reviews

“Fascinating and mysterious…Fans of fantasy adventures will eat this up.”–Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews

group picsAlso, don’t forget to check out the super fun #ReadOrWriteAnywhere campaign I am participating in with the YA Chicks through 5/31. Great for readers, writers, and teachers! Over 30 authors are giving away books, author skype visits, lesson plans, and writing critiques. I am also giving away a first chapter critique of your novel. Check it out!

And if you read Joshua and the Lightning Road, please consider leaving a review online. We authors gobble up reviews like Thanksgiving dinner! 🙂

#KIDLITPOWER: Celebrate the Power of Kids

By Donna Galanti

Today I’m asking you to help promote the power of kids.

child-164318_1280As grownups we shape and guide kids – as parents, as teachers, as leaders. We are their models. We don’t always do the right thing. We don’t always make the right choices. But we don’t give up trying – and that’s what kids see. You are the reason why a kid didn’t give up. You can make a difference. And as a parent, knowing this awesome gift we carry is scary and wonderful all at the same time!

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 Erik, an amazing 13-year-old author, book blogger, and super reader. Get to know him!

Kids matter. We need to let them know they matter. We need to let them know their words matter.

I wrote my first children’s book, Joshua and the Lightning Road, for my son Joshua. It’s a story about finding super powers, but also about finding your own special power inside that no one can take away. In the book Joshua learns that, “You don’t need powers to do the right thing. All you need is to believe in yourself.”

We can help kids do that.

And I want to make a difference for kids. I’ve launched a Kid Heroes series that features kids doing heroic things, in noisy ways and quiet ways. And for each feature I am donating $10 to Kids Wish Network. Nominate a special kid!

But I want to do more.

I want people to be more aware of the power of kids and their words in the vast social media universe. I want to share resources for families with kids in need to help give them a voice.

Will you join me?

This month I am asking everyone I know on Twitter or Facebook to post about a kid hero you know or kids in need, a positive paxil generic message, an inspiring quote, or a resource for families using #KidLitPower hashtag.

Foster1-300x280

Me at my foster home

Why this month? Two reasons:

#1. Because May is National Foster Care Month. I was so lucky to have a wonderful foster family for almost a year before I was adopted (see my story). I don’t where I would be in life if it weren’t for the foster family foundation I had that led to my adoption by loving, supportive people – people who helped me believe in myself.

#2. My book Joshua and the Lightning Road releases this week on May 19th – a book that reflects the spirit of kids to embrace their strengths and differences and be their own hero.

I’m hoping, through a massive number of retweets and reposts, to keep this going throughout the month.

Won’t you add your voice of these kid heroes to #kidlitpower? Share your spirit with those kids and families who need a boost in challenging times. Maybe it’s a favorite inspirational quote about the power of kids, a resource that helped your child, a special story of one kid who made a difference, or a kid who has inspired you to change your life for the better. Help us remind everyone, especially kids, that no one can extinguish your special light.

METADATA-START

Reading Joshua and the Lightning Road to a new friend in the kid’s book section of The Doylestown Bookshop

If you don’t yet follow me, please do so @donnagalanti. I’ll follow you back. If you’re not on Twitter you can still play with #kidlitpower quotes on my Facebook Author Page as well. I look forward to sharing in spreading the power of kids on May 19th and beyond!

Also, stop by my interview this week on Laurie’s book blog.

***

Only a few hours left to pre-order Joshua and the Lightning Road and enter to win an iPad Mini, B&N gift card, and a map poster of the Lost Realm in the book! It ENDS AT MIDNIGHT May 17th!

Pre-order Joshua and the Lightning Road from your favorite bookseller and email proof of purchase to LightningRoadContest@gmail.com

iPad Promo JOSHUA

 

 

 

Pre-order Joshua and the Lightning Road & win an iPad Mini + 5-star review!

By Donna Galanti

So many fun things are popping about with Joshua and the Lightning Road (coming May 19th!) that I had to share in the excitement with all of you folks!

First,
Joshua and the Lightning Road is now available for pre-order on some outlets! Amazon & Barnes & Noble

And I’m so giddy that I’m doing a pre-order giveaway with lots of goodies!
iPad Promo JOSHUA

How awesome is this?! Even if you don’t win an iPad Mini look how cool this 18 x 24 map poster of the world of Joshua and the Lightning Road is that you could win!
Joshua Poster Final 030515

Second, I had so much fun in my first interview about Joshua and the Lightning Road and received my first review – 5 stars! I’m also giving away a print galley (a pre-publication copy). Check it out on This Kid Reviews Books . Even more amazing is that this book blog is run by 13-year-old Erik, who also happens to have his first book published! He is truly inspiring. Watch for his interview on my site this month featured in my Kid Heroes series.

Here’s some of what Erik had to say:

The descriptions in this book were so vivid I could feel, smell and envision the setting. The characters were solid. Joshua was totally believable. He had all the right characteristics of a great main character – brave, smart and kind, but he also acted like the kid he is. The story has a lot of action but also a great plot line that strings everything together. The ending is satisfying but leaves the reader buy ambien wanting to get into the next book in the series. (Read more)

In other bookish news, I also had an amazing time presenting at my first two writer’s conferences in March, at Liberty States Create Something Magical Conference in Iselin, NJ, and The Write Stuff in Bethlehem, PA . I spoke about how to position yourself as an author before you get a book deal, foundations of world building, and revision techniques. I finally got over my anxiety of teaching (eek!) and met some great new folks and met up with old friends.

YAFESTJR POSTERYou can also catch my latest post on Project Mayhem about blurring the line between good and evil in fiction. Stop in and chat about your favorite villains, heroes, and anti-heroes!

And you can see me speak this month in NJ at the The South Jersey Writers’ Group at the Barrington VFW on April 16th, and at the Bethlehem Public Library, Bethlehem, PA, on April 25th at YA Fest Jr. where I’ll be signing free copies of Joshua and the Lightning Road that my amazing publisher Month9Books is giving away – plus I’ll be hanging out with tons of cool authors!

Check out all my events that keep growing. Would you like me to come speak to your group or school? Just email me! See what I include in my school assembly presentation.

So come party with me as Joshua and the Lightning Road blasts to Earth. My favorite space traveler Captain Picard says “make it so”!

 

 

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