You can vote daily until the contest closes on May 18th!
.
Imagination is the beginning of all creation. ~George Bernard Shaw
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Learning at Home by Rhonda Cratty
Learning at Home gives parents an idea each week with which to challenge and motivate their children.
Excerpt: Family Gardens Trigger Curiosity
Take a trip to your library and find gardening books. Then read, research, plan, and shop for your garden together. Let your child watch you learn and develop new skills from research. As they watch your positive attitude toward learning and mastering gardening, you encourage learning within your child.
Let it be their garden:
-Filled with their favorite vegetables to eat.
-An ABC flower garden, filled with plants from A to Z.
-They could make it in the shape of a heart, a star, or a magic old English rock trough.
Some “tiny-vegetables” with which to charm young gardeners are:
‘La Belle’ - mini filet bean
‘Little Ball’ - mini baby beet
‘Planet’ - a small, ball-shaped carrot
‘Early Aviv’ - baby onions
‘Cherries Jubilee’ - tiny potato
‘Munchkin’ - mini pumpkins
Even with the smallest, most unlikely spaces, you can awaken the love of gardening in your children.
One of the best books to instill the love of gardens in your children is Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden.
Rhonda Cratty includes her experiences of 30 years of public school teaching, raising children of her own, and articles written for on-line and hard copy publications within the pages of Learning at Home. This new parent resource can be purchased through Amazon. For more information visit famfunlearn.com.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
COVER REVEAL: WICKED POWER by DelSheree Gladden
Book 2 in the Someone Wicked This Way Comes Series.
Release Day: May 1, 2014
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Clean Teen Publishing
Find out why Kirkus Reviews said: The pairing of a formulaic start and formula-breaking ending makes the book ideal for paranormal-romance readers seeking a new spin on the familiar.
“Wicked Power is what he craves. He collects it and turns it into wicked glory—the glory of ruling everything and everyone.”
Even after Vanessa and Zander Roth barely survive the Eroi's attempt to expose them for what they are, they aren't safe. Sitting balanced on the edge of impending death and unthinkable power, they reluctantly turn to the other Godlings for help.
What they find and learn while being trained by the arrogant leader makes them question whether they are being trained to be a weapon for good or evil. Soon enough, Van and Zander find themselves once again on opposing paths.
A lot of things happen to Godlings as they near their sixteenth birthday, including the impending full strength of their hunger. When Van starts exhibiting some strange abilities, which include a heightened intuition and frightening visions of the future, she soon learns that she's not like the others. She knows she must do everything she can to protect her secrets from their leader, who will use her as a weapon if he finds out. Thankfully, Van is not alone. She has the help of her best friend—and the one boy she shouldn't be falling in love with—Ketchup.
While Van is dealing with her own problems, Zander finds himself embracing the training of the Godlings, even though their methods are cruel and harsh. He finds himself clinging to the hope that he can redeem himself, even after falling into Ivy's trap and putting their family's lives in danger. Along the way, Zander finds himself falling for an unlikely accomplice, who has him wondering if he even loved Ivy at all.
Redemption and protection both take a backseat when a shocking discovery puts everything they have worked for in jeopardy. The choice between safety and freedom has never been more important, and in the end… they may not have a choice at all.
Wicked Power is the second book in the all-new paranormal series, Someone Wicked This Way Comes.
WICKED HUNGER by DelSheree Gladden
AVAILABLE NOW!
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
“Save him and hurt him, don’t save him and hurt him. Pain, either way. Delicious pain. Hunger will be the only one that wins. Hunger always wins.”
Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. Their whole life is a giant web of deceit made in an effort to conceal the deadly secrets that plague their family.
Zander will do anything to forget his mistakes, including pushing everyone away. He was barely surviving in his self-forced solitude before Ivy Guerra entered his life. The new girl in school, with her pink-striped hair and unyielding curiosity, incites something wicked inside Zander that can only be blamed on his family genes. Now Zander is forced to fight an internal war and make a choice between loving Ivy Guerra and killing her.
Vanessa wants nothing more than to shed the strange powers she wields and be normal. Because if Van were normal, she’d be able to have normal things… Like a relationship with the boy she’s been secretly in love with for years. Unfortunately, her life is anything but ordinary. That boy who owns her heart just happens to be her brother’s kryptonite and a potential liability for her entire family. When choices between love and family loyalty have to be made, Van finds herself faced with an impossible decision.
As if the Roth family needs anything more to worry about, a vicious plot to expose Van and Zander for what they are is uncovered. When it becomes apparent that someone close to them is at the center of this devious plan, the fight to maintain control and keep their cover ensues. It's a seemingly impossible battle because something is causing their powers to stir stronger than ever before… and it won’t stop until Van and Zander give in to their wicked hunger.
Wicked Hunger is the first book in the all-new paranormal series, Someone Wicked This Way Comes.
KIRKUS REVIEW OF WICKED HUNGER
Teenage siblings with a dark secret find their lives complicated by the arrival of a mysterious girl.
Zander and Van are tougher and heal faster than ordinary teenagers. However, the price is a terrible, mysterious hunger—a bloodlust that becomes intensified by specific individuals. Younger Van does her best to suppress it so she can have friends and a normal life; Zander instead keeps everyone at arm’s length and warns Van that once her 16th birthday hits and her powers reach full strength, she should do so as well. Ivy, a new girl—cousin to one of Van’s friends—puts everything at risk. Both Zander and Van hunger to hurt her, but Zander falls for her in a push-pull love story reminiscent of Twilight, right down to Zander’s sneaking into Ivy’s room to watch her sleep. Van, however—when she’s not busy with a love triangle of her own, with a mysterious boy she’s just met and her trusty best friend, Ketchup—is suspicious that certain things don’t add up with Ivy. The conclusion, made strong by unraveling secrets and formula-shattering twists, sets up a sequel.
The pairing of a formulaic start and formula-breaking ending makes the book ideal for paranormal-romance readers seeking a new spin on the familiar. (Paranormal romance. 13-17)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
DelSheree Gladden lives in New Mexico with her husband and two children. The Southwest is a big influence in her writing because of its culture, beauty, and mythology. Local folk lore is strongly rooted in her writing, particularly ideas of prophecy, destiny, and talents born from natural abilities. When she is not writing, DelSheree is usually reading, painting, sewing, or working as a Dental Hygienist. Her works include Escaping Fate, Twin Souls Saga, The Destroyer Trilogy, and Invisible. The first book in the Someone Wicked This Way Comes series, Wicked Hunger, is scheduled to be released through Clean Teen Publishing on April 1, 2014.
Want to READ MORE from Clean Teen Publishing?
Check out our huge selection of amazing reads! There's sure to be something for every reader!
Sunday, April 6, 2014
JOIN US IN CELEBRATING CLEAN TEEN PUBLISHING'S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
WOW! We cannot believe that we are nearly upon our first year anniversary since we released our first book through Clean Teen Publishing! In under a year, we have grown to 19 authors (and still growing) with 47 books published or slated for publishing by this Summer and a dedicated fan base in the thousands and multiplying! We couldn't have had such a successful first year without the support from our fans, the Blogger community and voracious readers everywhere! This is why we want to thank you by giving you a present on our anniversary! We will be giving away a Kindle Fire and a CTP Swag pack on our anniversary of May 17, 2014! Join the giveaway below.
MY, HOW WE'VE GROWN:
OUR OWNERS- Rebecca Gober (Upper Left), Courtney Nuckels (Lower Left), Marya Heiman (Upper Right), Dyan Brown (Lower Right).
OUR SUPPORT TEAM- Cynthia Shepp- Editing (Left), Melanie Newton- Social Media and Submissions Team (Middle), Kelsey Gainer- Submissions Team (Right).
OUR AUTHORS- From Left to Right- Gabrielle Arrowsmith, Melissa Cunningham, Jon Messenger, Sherry Ficklin, Peggy Martinez, Angela Townsend, Amanda Strong, Jennifer Anne Davis, K.C. Finn, Kelly Risser, Alicia Michaels, Holly Kelly, Erica Kiefer, DelSheree Gladden, Cindy Saunders, and Lauren Nicolle Taylor.
OUR SELF APPOINTED MASCOT- Mr. Squirrel.
OUR BOOKS- Check out all of our books on our website: Clean Teen Publishing / Crimson Tree Publishing.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
WICKED HUNGER by DelSheree Gladden
Release Date: TODAY! Wicked Hunger is Finally Available!!!
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
“Save him and hurt him, don’t save him and hurt him. Pain, either way. Delicious pain. Hunger will be the only one that wins. Hunger always wins.”
Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. Their whole life is a giant web of deceit made in an effort to conceal the deadly secrets that plague their family.
Zander will do anything to forget his mistakes, including pushing everyone away. He was barely surviving in his self-forced solitude before Ivy Guerra entered his life. The new girl in school, with her pink-striped hair and unyielding curiosity, incites something wicked inside Zander that can only be blamed on his family genes. Now Zander is forced to fight an internal war and make a choice between loving Ivy Guerra and killing her.
Vanessa wants nothing more than to shed the strange powers she wields and be normal. Because if Van were normal, she’d be able to have normal things… Like a relationship with the boy she’s been secretly in love with for years. Unfortunately, her life is anything but ordinary. That boy who owns her heart just happens to be her brother’s kryptonite and a potential liability for her entire family. When choices between love and family loyalty have to be made, Van finds herself faced with an impossible decision.
As if the Roth family needs anything more to worry about, a vicious plot to expose Van and Zander for what they are is uncovered. When it becomes apparent that someone close to them is at the center of this devious plan, the fight to maintain control and keep their cover ensues. It's a seemingly impossible battle because something is causing their powers to stir stronger than ever before… and it won’t stop until Van and Zander give in to their wicked hunger.
Wicked Hunger is the first book in the all-new paranormal series, Someone Wicked This Way Comes.
KIRKUS REVIEW OF WICKED HUNGER
Teenage siblings with a dark secret find their lives complicated by the arrival of a mysterious girl.Zander and Van are tougher and heal faster than ordinary teenagers. However, the price is a terrible, mysterious hunger—a bloodlust that becomes intensified by specific individuals. Younger Van does her best to suppress it so she can have friends and a normal life; Zander instead keeps everyone at arm’s length and warns Van that once her 16th birthday hits and her powers reach full strength, she should do so as well. Ivy, a new girl—cousin to one of Van’s friends—puts everything at risk. Both Zander and Van hunger to hurt her, but Zander falls for her in a push-pull love story reminiscent of Twilight, right down to Zander’s sneaking into Ivy’s room to watch her sleep. Van, however—when she’s not busy with a love triangle of her own, with a mysterious boy she’s just met and her trusty best friend, Ketchup—is suspicious that certain things don’t add up with Ivy. The conclusion, made strong by unraveling secrets and formula-shattering twists, sets up a sequel.
The pairing of a formulaic start and formula-breaking ending makes the book ideal for paranormal-romance readers seeking a new spin on the familiar. (Paranormal romance. 13-17)
EXCERPT FROM WICKED HUNGER:
“Oscar,” I snap. His mouth stops blabbering and he looks up at me. “I need to know if Zander’s in trouble.”“Trouble,” Oscar says. He nods deeply. “Tell me everything.”
So I do.
I force myself not to look over at Ketchup once during my explanation. I hadn’t been planning on letting him in on the secrets of our family right now, or any time, to be perfectly honest, but what else was I going to do. There was no chance I was going to ask him to step out. Not only would that be incredibly unfair after I forced him to bring me here, but also, as much as I love Oscar, I do not want to be left alone with him. My mouth spills out the details of Ivy and Zander’s bizarre relationship as I pretend Ketchup isn’t listening to a word of it. I tell him about our hunger reactions, my suspicions, Zander’s love, his likely confession, and his slip that Ivy was somehow going to help him.
At that last part, Oscar’s entire body goes rigid. His eyes latch onto me like a barbed dart, painful and difficult to be free of. “She thinks she can help him?” Oscar says. “She won’t. She won’t help him. She doesn’t really want to. Ivy, Ivy. Ivy is lying. Ivy Guerra. I don’t like her name. Vines and War, that’s what her name means. She will wrap herself around Zander and strangle the life out of him, start a war that none of us can win. Ivy Guerra can’t be trusted.”
“I…what? Her name means war? What are you talking about?”
Oscar tsks at me, one finger of his bound hand bobbing up and down. “I told you to keep up with your Spanish, Van. It’s always useful to know languages. Shows you things that others miss. Guerra means war. Ivy is here to start a war.”
“How could you possibly know that?” Not that I disagree with him, but he’s actually crazy. I suspect Ivy is trouble because of what I’ve seen. I want to stop her, but I’m not going to launch a full out campaign against her on the word of my murdering, psychotic brother.
The dull thud of Oscar’s head hitting the metal table startles me. I look down at him. Panic creeps under my skin. Is this the end of his lucidity? It can’t be. I have more questions still. “Oscar. Oscar! How do you know Ivy is here to start a war? You have to tell me or Zander might get hurt.”
“Oh, Zander will get hurt.” The muffled slur of his words makes them even more ominous. “That girl is no good. If you want to save Zander, you have to stop her, but he’ll still get hurt. Save him and hurt him, don’t save him and hurt him. Pain, either way. Delicious pain. Hunger will be the only one that wins. Hunger always wins.”
My fingernails are digging into Ketchup’s skin. Pain ripples around his wrist, but I pay it no mind. All my focus is on Oscar. “How do you know about any of this, Oscar?”
“They didn’t want me to know, but I found out. Someone tried to help me, and I didn’t believe them. I searched and asked and demanded and screamed until someone told me. They didn’t want me to know, but I found out. I found out, and it made me angry. So, so angry. Furious. Irate. I wanted blood and pain and death when I found out. Nothing could feed my hunger enough, not after being starved for so long. I found out, and they paid for it. I made them pay.”
“Oscar,” I whisper, his words making more sense to me than I wish they would. He made them pay. They didn’t want him to know. He made them pay. My shaking rattles the uneven legs of my chair against the floor, a skittering noise that fries the last of my barriers. I ask my last, most frightening question. “Oscar, why did you kill Mom and Dad?”
“Because,” he hisses, “because, because they lied to us. They knew. All along they knew who we were, what we were, but they tried to pretend, change us, turn us into something we aren’t, starve us, deny us, make us suffer for years and years and years! They said they loved us, but they lied! They lied! They lied! THEY LIED!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Want to READ MORE from Clean Teen Publishing?
Check out our huge selection of amazing reads! There's sure to be something for every reader!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)