summer reading challenge Archives - Donna Galanti - Where heart and hope meet adventure!

NYC, BookCon, Book Launches & School Visits!

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…

Happy Memorial Day + Contest Winners, Giveaways & Reviews!

By Donna Galanti

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.

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!

And 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

Also, 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! 🙂

Summer is Almost Here: #ReadOrWriteAnywhere

By Donna Galanti

Summer is about to begin!

But just because it’s summer doesn’t mean we should stop reading and writing. I’ve teamed up with the YA Chicks and many participating authors on a global campaign to encourage readers, writers, students, and teachers to share pictures all of the places—both ordinary and extraordinary—where they are reading and writing. This is open to all readers/writers of both middle grade and young adult books! It runs from Friday, May 22nd – Sunday, May 31st.

You can also take part in…

A MONSTER GIVEAWAY!

I’ll be giving away a copy of JOSHUA AND THE LIGHTNING ROAD and listen up **Author Author** …. a first chapter critique of your novel! ENTER by commenting here and telling me about your book! One randomly picked winner will be notified.

And there’s more! Every author participating in this campaign is giving away books, critiques, swag and/or Skype visits.

So are you ready?

Drum roll….

Can you guess where I am?

5 clues:

1. National historic landmark in the Keystone state!

2. Featured in Arts & Entertainment Network’s popular “America’s Castles” series.

3. One man erected this 6-story concrete castle to house and preserve the 40,000 handmade objects he collected of daily life in America before it was swept away by the Industrial Revolution.

4. In a county that is named after a male deer.

5. In the town that the M. Night Shyamalan movie Signs was filmed at in a farmhouse built on land there at the agricultural college.

Once you’ve figured out where I’m reading, head over to the YA Chicks site and:

Officially enter the giveaway by inputting each author’s name and your guesses about our locations. Every author location you guess correctly increases your chances to win.
For even more chances, post a picture of yourself reading or writing on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #ReadOrWriteAnywhere (must have the hashtag).

For writer prize packs:

Post pictures of yourself writing in a fun location on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #ReadOrWriteAnywhere. Then follow the directions on the Rafflecopter giveaway to let us know you did it.
For even more chances, gather your writer friends together and post a group shot with the hashtag #ReadOrWriteAnywhere (must have the hashtag). And hey, since you’re already together, why not host a write-a-thon?

For teacher prize packs:

Post pictures of your class reading or writing on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #ReadOrWriteAnywhere (must have the hashtag).
Then let us know you did it when you enter the Rafflecopter. If you don’t have a Twitter or Instagram, you can email your picture directly with the picture pasted directly into the email (no attachments–we won’t open them) AND the subject, “Read or Write Anywhere.”
You can also check out the YA Chicks Read or Write Anywhere lesson plan, available on their site.

Now, what are you waiting for? Get out there and READ OR WRITE ANYWHERE!

#ReadOrWriteAnywhere