Expanded to include even more action, romance, and adventure!

The Chosen has been revised and expanded to give it a more polished look. You’ll love all of the new additions, including:

• Two new characters essential to The Chosen
• A light romance story
• More action scenes

All of this topped off with a beautiful brand new cover.

Blurb:  Halli is a shy, young dwarf who has no idea of her true calling. When the evil Prince Gastle sets out to detroy the world of Phantasma, Queen Laurali of the Elves comes to tell Halli she's a Holy Paladin with the power to heal, and will join The Chosen, a group of brave warriors being sent to defeat the evil beast and save Phantasma. Will Halli be accepted by her group, and be able to keep them alive through their adventures? Will the evil Prince Gastle be defeated, freeing Phantasma from his destruction? Only time will tell.

Excerpt:  "Halli, you have a wonderful calling.  You are a Holy Paladin, with powers that can heal the sick, and even raise the dead in certain cases.  Holy Paladins are very rare, and very coveted.  To protect you, we agreed to come to Drumple to live with the other dwarves, so we could blend in, and appear to be no different than them.  We all planned on telling you of your calling when you were done with school, but as Queen Laurali has said, Prince Gastle’s attacks have made the day we tell you come sooner than we anticipated.”

Halli sat staring at her mother as she heard the tale.  She knew all about The Castle of the Elves, it’s subjects, Priestesses and Holy Paladins from her studies and readings.  She grew up hearing stories about them all.  She absorbed everything she could find and read about them.  It was as though somewhere inside her, she knew she was a part of it all.  But hearing what her mother was telling her was surreal.  She started to shake her head.

“This can’t be,” she whispered.  “You can’t be serious.  How can I possibly be what you say I am?  You know me, Mom.  I’m not strong and powerful.  I’m shy, I’m quiet, I like to be alone and not surrounded by a lot of people.  I have problems facing confrontations, and do everything I can to avoid them.”

Queen Laurali smiled at Halli’s description of herself. 

“Halli, everything you just said are the classic traits of Holy Paladins, from a certain point of view.  They don’t get involved in conflicts themselves, but rather keep those that are involved alive from a distance.  They don’t get directly involved in confrontations and arguments.  They think things through and come up with solutions that will work for everyone.  In essence, they keep the peace within the groups with which they’re involved.  From a distance, this can make them seem quiet and shy, but anyone who knows them knows it is their quiet ways that keep this peace.”

Halli stared at Queen Laurali as she listened to her, and again began to shake her head. 

“I don’t think that’s how I am.  I am shy, I do avoid confrontation.  And even if what you’re saying is true, how can I possibly do anything to help the fight against Prince Gastle?  I’m just a student!”

“Halli, this is your destiny,” Queen Laurali assured her.  “This is what you’re meant to do.  I know it’s a shock to hear all of this, but it’s your birthright.”

Available at Amazon and Smashwords

Andrea Buginsky is a freelance writer and author. “The Chosen” was her first book, and was followed by “My Open Heart,” an autobiography about growing up with heart disease. “Nature’s Unbalance” is the second story in THE CHOSEN series. Andrea plans to write more in the series. She’s already done with the first draft of book 3 and has a concept for book 4. You can find Andrea on her website, Andi’s Realm. Her books are available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Remember to sign up for Andrea’s newsletter to stay up-to-date on all of her exciting events.

I am often asked, why I write middle grade fantasy... here is the simple answer.  I write younger fantasy because I enjoy the fantasy of a world where good will always triumph over evil, where Prince Charming waits around the corner, where chivalry and bravery are the norm, and damsels in distress really have issues.  This is a genre where you can escape reality, believe in magic, hope in the future, and let your dreams soar.

You can tackle everyday challenges in a philosophical way- a little personification of the dragon breathing down your back.  Focus on growth with your heroic quest, and solve the mysteries with grandeur.  This genre takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary in every sense of the word.  

Fantasy is an escape from the normal, with the tools, philosophy  and skills to implement in every day life.  While this is true for all ages, the middle grade realm allows me to make it a longer story (compared to a children's book), and retain the innocence.

We all have to grow up, but we don't need to stop dreaming, wishing on stars, hoping for the good, and looking for the deeper meaning.

photo credit: http://pinterest.com/pin/15129348720928986/

Behind every successful person is a team of people helping them.  I have been very lucky in this journey to have the support and help from a lot of talented people.  

I have the unconditional support and love from my family.  A personal cheering squad from my friends and neighbors  and a wonderful team of professionals working with me to ensure that my books are complete and professional.

Today I want give special attention to my cover artist, Sara Twitty.  Sara has amazed me from day 1 with the beautiful, whimsical masterpieces she creates.  She is able to take a basic description of a book, or a scene and capture it entirely, from the characters, to the emotions, and the overall essence of the story.

I am proud to have Sara on my team, and proud to help support her in whichever way I can too.

Please visit Sara at her website
Her print gallery

and take a peek at a "best cover review" for her work on The Escape of Princess Madeline.  I have been so pleased, and I look forward to each and every wonderful creation she makes.

You can also join us both at a wonderful reception at the North Plains Library, June 14th 6-8pm.  Visit the library anytime during the months of June & July to see her artwork that will be displayed around the library.

Goodreads is an AWESOME book site that connects readers to authors and books in a remarkable fashion.  By searching the shelves, you can find more books than imaginable, read reviews from other readers, and even meet the author themselves.  There are also groups... an interactive arena to talk about anything and everything BOOKS!  I am lucky to be a moderator for the Young Adult section of the Modern Good Reads group.  I would love for you to stop by, take a look and get involved.

Modern Good Reads seeks to connect readers with excellent books, interesting authors, news about publishing and book trends, new trends in genre-specific books, and great reading challenges and experiences. The moderators will work hard to ensure members have fun, are informed, and provide enjoyable events, games, and discussions about Good Reads. Our goal is to provide a home for readers of all genres, and a forum to talk about them all. Our first and foremost mission is to have FUN.

So, stop on by... discuss your favorite book, and find the perfect next one to read.  http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/99986-modern-good-reads

In anticipation of the upcoming release of "The Battle for Princess Madeline," I will be sharing some special snippets and scenes...  I hope you enjoy.

“Princess Madeline?” her professor asked to no response.  “Princess Madeline,” he yelled, whipping his willow branch on top of her desk, shaking his head in frustration.  “Please pay attention.  In the ancient days of the dragons, Lord Hawthorne created what is called Hawthorne’s Theory, a series of complex battle arrangements designed to startle the enemy and keep them off guard.”  Her professor continued talking and pointing to various diagrams and outlines on the wall.

Princess Madeline could barely keep her eyes open.  She was waging a personal battle between fighting off sleep during the day and fighting off her nightmares at night. Her eyelids grew heavier the longer Professor Warren spoke.  The low steady tone of his voice, the long lectures on lords, kings and history, even the bland beige robe he was wearing lulled her to sleep.  It wasn’t Professor Warren’s fault.  He was doing the best he could under the circumstances.  It was his charge to teach while managing the thin compromise between King Theodore and Princess Madeline.

Earlier that summer, King Theodore had reminded Madeline of her royal duty and pressured her to marry.  Outraged by his plan, she devised her own- defying the king and running away, determined to make a stand for her freedom.  After being captured, beaten, and narrowly escaping, she quickly realized that her true place was at home.  Princess Madeline returned and new compromises were reached.  Every day since, she and her father performed a calculated dance, each giving in a little, and each taking a turn leading, still trying to figure out some of the quirks of their arrangement. 

“… and that is why his theory is greatly regarded as a fool’s notion in the battlefield.”  Professor Warren turned around and squinted, rubbing his eyes with his forefingers. 

“Princess Madeline,” he yelled again.  “Please pay attention.”

Jumping at the sound of his voice, she opened her eyes quickly, reluctantly leaving the sunshine and birds in her dreams.

“Princess,” he said wearily, “could you please explain Hawthorne’s theory to me?” Crossing his arms, he waited for a response.

Madeline looked down at her notes.  Brushing a few loose strands of her brown hair out of the way, she smiled.  Her papers were full of sketches of herself and Daniel, rather impressive ones too for only a few hours of work.  She quickly scanned the rest of her notes, feeling the Professor’s eyes on her, and hearing the tap-tap of his shoes.

Last week I was lucky enough to read this charming children's book, and this week, I am honored to introduce the author to you.  

Kimberly, I am so happy you could join me today.  Can you tell everyone a little about you...
I was born talking, or so my parents claim! (There is a question in the family as to who could take up the most air on a deserted island by talking--me, my mom, or one of my aunts. I vote for my aunt.) I always have loved reading and writing (I wish I could draw and sing!). My favorite books to read when I was a child were the Nancy Drew series and the Little House on the Prairie series, but like my dad (who used to read encyclopedias when he was bored), I would read anything. I also loved listening to my grandmother's stories. She grew up on a farm (that sold tomatoes to Campbell's Soup), and she had some of the most interesting stories, and I loved tracing the scar that was left after a cow stepped on her foot and picturing how (and other things) happened.

I was born and raised in New Jersey (still live there), where we go to the shore, eat hoagies, and put jimmies on our ice cream, and I am a huge Bon Jovi fan. 

I have to stop you right there- Bon Jovi!  I am a huge fan of his too!!!  Ok, I will stop singing, and get back to the important things.
I attended Catholic schools until college. I graduated from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) with a BA in English Liberal Arts and a minor is Psychology. I worked as an editor for a company that published magazines for the pharmaceutical industy. I also tried my hand in market research. Now I work for local government, where I administer and monitor contracts. I also work part-time at a pediatrician's office (some weekends). Writing my book made me realize that my true love has always been the written word. Presentations I am doing also remind me how much I just love talking!

I prefer what I would call "quirky" and/or humorous shows and books, although I watch and read a variety of genres. Psych is one of my favorite shows, along with Monk and Scooby Doo episodes (only the original ones). I have crushes on Nathan Fillion of Castle, Matt Passmore of The Glades, Keith Urban, Tom Hanks (seriously!), and Bradley Cooper (when I am taking time off from obsessing over Jon Bon Jovi).

I am owned by two cockapoos--Nico and Tugger--yes, they really exist. Nico was named after a hockey player (I love sports) and Tugger was almost Deuce (because he was the second dog) or Tillman (after Pat Tillman), but my boyfriend's daughter overruled those. I am seriously considering "unliking" animal rescue groups on facebook because it breaks my heart to see how cruel people can be to animals. I am glad I haven't found any like that that show pictures of child or elder abuse, or any abuse toward others.

People can convince me to do almost anything if they offer me Utz Extra Dark Pretzels, mashed potatoes, Skittles (just the original flavors in the red packaging), and/or the chance to meet Jon Bon Jovi. I make a mean meatloaf, and my buffalo chicken dip, taco salad, and creamsicle pies are crowd pleasers, but generally I am not much of a cook (but I will always eat). I burn off a lot of calories by talking!

I have been blessed with loving and supportive family and friends. Other than to become a best-selling author, there is not much more to ask for...other than a cure for cancer and other God-awful diseases...and to be able to eat whatever I want and still have my pants fit me the next day.

Why do you write children’s books?
 I remember when I was asked once as a child what I wanted to be. I replied, "I want to write a book." I have toyed around with starting a novel (my family provides so much material...), and I started a few drafts, but I always found myself getting pulled away or discouraged. And life just got in the way, too.

After Tugger came into the home, I watched how he and Nico interacted...and acted like kids, fighting over toys, for my attention, etc., and remember actually telling people, "There's a kid's book there." Finally, I got the fire under my butt to write the story, and I stuck with it this time.

Also, after I decided to write both sides of the story (it originally was called "Nico Gets a Brother") I thought it was an interesting take, and I thought it could help children understand that people can see the same story differently. My sister is six years older than me, and it's so funny when we talk about growing up how differently we view the same situation (our parents' divorce, our grandparents,  a TV show, etc.). We still have completely different views on things. My hope is to continue writing about Nico and Tugger in a series where each dog will tell his version of the story. That was probably the  most difficult part of writing this book--trying to make the stories match while rhyming.

After reading the book at schools and events, I would love to continue writing for children. To be honest, it's pure enjoyment (for me) to hear the comments that they make, whether someone is telling me how he or she thinks Nico is mean (he's really not), how they can relate because they bicker with their siblings, someone is telling me I looked like Justin Bieber as a child, or someone is offering to show me his underwear (true story--happened at a Barnes and Noble reading, and I don't know who wanted to crawl into a hole more--me or his mom). Just their untainted comments are so refreshing. At this age, they still don't grasp sarcasm, they see things so much more in black and white than I ever will again, and they are just so sweet or funny (sometimes without even trying). I received some thank you letters from a school visit, and on top of telling me how much they liked the book and my presentation, they wanted to tell me about themselves. They still have big dreams and haven't been told yet that they can't do something, and it was so welcome to just be lost in that world for a little bit. Does that make sense? Perhaps I should have kept my major as English Education, which was my first major in college.

What inspired you to write this book specifically?
A quick answer would be that the dogs (and my relationship with my sister) inspired me to write this book; however, I think you're grasping that there is no thing as a short story when it comes to me.

As I said, I always wanted to write, and the dogs were a great inspiration. The longer story is that I always wanted to write, but never fully committed myself to it. I was always going to do something "later." In 2009 I was able to reconnect with my best friend from high school and college. Kristen was not someone I should have let myself lose touch with. The best way I can describe her is to say, "If you didn't like Kristen, something was wrong with you." She was just one of those rare people who no one could say anything bad about. A few months after we reconnected, she was diagnosed with leukemia. She was pregnant, and the doctors had to terminate the pregnancy so that they could immediately start an agressive form of treatment, which started with a 30-day hospital stay so they could administer chemo every day. Within months she was in remission, but a year after diagnosis the leukemia was back. This time they did a bone marrow transplant, and once again she was in remission. She was cancer-free, but the two years of treatment still took a toll on her body--but never her spirit. If you didn't realize that she didn't have much hair, you would never know how sick she was because she never complained--and she asked you to pray for other people. Anyway, in October of 2011 she walked into the hospital on a Monday to have fluid drained from around her lungs and heart (a side effect of her treatments) and she never came home. She passed away on December 1.

How does a 37-year-old woman who made this world a much brighter place die? If she isn't guaranteed a tomorrow, then neither is someone like me. (Out of all my grammar school friends, I was one parents had to worry about least, but with Kristen I was the "bad" one. HAHA) I needed to start taking charge of my life and doing what I dreamed of doing. It was time to "live life" (a motto associated with Kristen--it's even on her tombstone). I wish I had done this sooner, when she was here to enjoy the ride with me, or to remind me to enjoy it. 

Wow!  She sounds like a wonderful person, and I know she is thrilled that you are following your dreams and living life to its fullest potential.  Thank you for sharing all of this with us... and thank you for sharing your book.
Oh Brother: A Nico & Tugger Tale available at:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

I just had the honor of reading a wonderful new children's book, "Oh' Brother: A Nico and Tugger Tale, by Kimberely Sentek.  

As a mom of two small kids, we read a lot.  Between storyime at the library, bedtime, homework, and just reading for rainy day fun, there isn't a day that goes by without a book or two (or ten)... and I am always on the lookout for new ones.

This is a wonderful. I am so happy I ran across this book and picked it up. A lot of the time, a story is told from one perspective. I LOVE that this told both sides.

• The gruff and tough story from the older dog, having to deal with the new puppy- from his world being turned upside down, to mis-behaving, to learning to share. Nico learns the joy of having the puppy around.
  

• The sweet excitable story from Tugger, the puppy- the excitement of a new home, a new friend, struggling to fit in, learning to share, and learning patience.
  

This is a story that is relatable on so many levels. Whether showing sibling rivalry, the birth or addition of a new baby, or the simple lessons of sharing and growing up. The puppies make it cute, the story makes it timeless.

Great Story! Lovely illustrations, Fantastically done!!!  Here are the links to pick up your own copy... 
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

The Sunshine Award is a lovely sunny flower that bloggers give to other “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere”.

Thanks so much to Ally Shields, the  fabulous blogger, author and friend who passed the award to me. Check out her blog post here

As with most awards, the Sunshine Award comes with a few simple rules:

(1) Thank the person who gave you the award.
(2) Do the Q&A below.
(3) Tag some of your favorites.



Favorite Color: Blue!  Any and all shades
Favorite Animal: Bald Eagle
Favorite Number: 5
Favorite Non-alcoholic Drink: Coffee!!!  Have to have my pot of coffee each day.  :)
Facebook or Twitter: Hmmm... both have their purposes... Twitter is great for those quick connections, quotes and ideas, but facebook is fun for sharing photos and longer pieces.  I like twitter for inspirational quotes, and facebook for the inspirational photos.
Your Passion: My Family
Giving or getting presents: Giving!  Nothing beats giving that perfect gift to someone, and watching their face as they open it.  Priceless!
Favorite Day: Each Day!  I believe in living life to the fullest, each and every day.
Favorite Flowers: Daisies... simple beautiful daisies  :)

Ok, now to share this award with some others.  Please stop by their sites, read their reviews, interviews, and knowledge that they share.  They are inspirational, fun, and people you should know.

Trish Marie Dawson, http://writertrishmdawson.wordpress.com/
K.N. Lee, http://www.writelikeawizard.blogspot.com/
Terri Louise, http://gradergalbooks.wordpress.com/

They say practice makes perfect, and I agree.  

Before you hit your first homerun, you hit off a tee.  If you want to learn to swim, you start with the doggy paddle.  When you sign up for an art class, you begin with an exercise and before you get your license you get your permit.  There are certain steps to take to help you fine tune and improve your skill.  Sometimes this comes quicker or more natural

For a writer, before you write your novel, you write stories.  We practice with prompts, photos and challenges.  Recently I have participated in a few challenges and thought I would share them with you.

Thomas Winship hosted my flash fiction on his blog here.  His challenge was to write a 500 word story that began, "Lightning flashed. For one brief second, everything was illuminated. And my life was never the same."

Brian Rogers of The Iron Writer featured me in his first writers challenge, to combine an empty ATM, a talking tree, toilet cleaner and meteor in a 500 word story.

Most recently, K.N. Lee hosted me on Write Like a Wizard, to write a 2000 word story about an egg.

In every aspect of your life, the more you do something, the better you get... now if only that would transfer to my cooking.  :)

If you ever wondered if Big foot was real, I can tell you with absolute certainty, he is... and he is funny!  Simon Okill has created  wonderfully funny story about this often misunderstood creature.

Bigfoot Blurb:
Welcome to Big Beaver, home of the Phantom Bigfoot Bather and his many crazy friends. My Book Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe is a ludicrously different take on Bigfoot and his habits. It quickly dispels the Hollywood b-movie version of a cannibalistic female-ravaging monster. My tribe of Bigfoot are so peace-loving they sadly make easy targets for hunters.

This is where Duane-o the no-brain-o comes in. He has dedicated his life to protecting his Bigfoot and their sexy babes by dressing up as the Phantom Bigfoot to distract said hunters. Problem there is not getting shot. But each year Duane-o has to visit the Big Beaver's surgeon to remove yet another slug. Dumbass Duane-o is also the richest guy in Big Beaver and a bachelor which makes him a prime target for most of the women in town. Problem is Duane-o has no idea why women lust after him and he ain’t gonna find out either.

Things get real tricky for our hapless hero, Duane-o, when Olaaa, a pubescent female Bigfoot abducts Beau, the plumber’s seventeen year old son. The FBI are called in after two days of missing Beau, but most Beaverites still think he’s up to one of his Bigfoot abduction pranks.

Now poor old Duane-o has to keep the FBI and Sheriff Lou from discovering his secret. This he manages to accomplish by getting Sheriff Lou and Agent Willis back in the sack after 13 years miserably apart. It takes a while, but he gets there.

My book is a wild ride into the wilds of N California full of sex, beer, partyfests and Bigfoot. If you want to know how Bigfoot get married, what the jooobaaa is used for and the special significance of red berries then read Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe and laugh your socks off.

You can pick up your copy today at any of these links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Christopher Mathews Publishing

I know you are as excited as I am about this, and I want to introduce you to the man who write this wonderfully humorous and exciting book.  Simon Okill, please let everyone know a little bit more about you, and some of your other projects.

I live with my wife, Shirlee Anne and our cat, in a pretty coastal town in South Wales, UK. We both love Stephen King and had read many of his books and enjoyed their transition to the screen. Due to our love of books, my wife and I dabbled in writing for some years as a hobby. We were approached by a film company to write a paranormal TV series. We struggled most nights and all through weekends to come up with 22 episodes only for the company to go bust. Then after a serious accident at work, I was forced into early retirement due to disability. I used my newfound skills as a writer to help with my depression. We decided to use our TV series episodes as templates for film scripts and novels. My writing became more serious as certain A-list actors expressed interest in my scripts and my debut novel Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe was accepted by Christopher Matthews Publishing after so many British publishers turned it down. Recently on Goodreads I have been voted Best British Fantasy Author – Best Amazon Breakthrough Novel – Best Fantasy Creature Feature Book. 

Eternally Yours is my next novel following the tumultuous life of a female amnesiac vampire treated in an asylum in France 1925.

SSteppenwolf is a supernatural retelling of WWII involving the Occult Warfare department run by Himmler. Think Indiana Jones searching for a werewolf.

Scripts: 
‘Flip Side’ is one of my most exciting screenplays to date with its unusual slant on a supernatural gangster story that encompasses music and dynamic dance sequences to portray the action. The script has been optioned by Tasha Bertram of Brodie Films and Stuart St Paul has come on board to direct and co produce this fascinating piece of work. 

‘Nightmare Circus’ is a supernatural revenge mystery script set in the Australian outback. 

‘Dark House’ is set in Massachusetts, US, where a lonely female artist must overcome her agoraphobia to escape from three kidnappers holed up in a house haunted by a witch finder’s hanging tree. 

‘Circus of Blood’ is a horror script set in Rome AD79 where two citizens go on a dangerous quest to kill a brutal serial killer. Their adventures end in Pompeii.

‘Hunter’s Moon’ is a contemporary supernatural western script set on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall.

The Last Warlord is set during WWII and tells of Major Stewart of MI6 who must find the Nazi’s secret Atlantis base in Antarctica or the entire world will be doomed. 

It looks like you have quiet the career, and I know we'll be hearing more from you in the future!  Thank you so much for joining me her today, and best of luck!