Wednesday, August 26, 2015

The More You Read

Wednesday Women Write Edition 

Before I had children I was avid reader of all kinds of genres. When I became a mother this shifted. These days the books that I devour daily are no longer for my benefit but for the benefit of my children. 

When my oldest was born we read to him every night starting with his first night at home. When he turned three he started to show signs of wanting to learn to read on his own. By four he was reading simple words and eventually was devouring small picture books like candy. At seven and a half he is a voracious reader and I couldn't be prouder. It warms my heart to find him with a book in his hand. This summer my big boy read 60 chapter books!! This is amazing to me. (Read: Proud Mama). 

At first my youngest wanted to just eat books, but now at almost three LOVES them for their intended purpose. Lately we have been reading the same books over and over again. He currently loves books about food and potty training. The books pictured above have been in our current rotation.

1) He sing songs Eric Carle's "This is Monday" all day long!

2) "Everyone Poops" is a hit for kids and adults of all ages. Poop is funny.

3) "The Okay Book" is AWESOME. It tells children that it is okay to be who you are whether you are short or tall, big or small, freckled or wear glasses. It's Okay to be YOU!

4) "The Pigeon Eats a Hot Dog." For the pigeon books I do voices. Both of my boys love all of these books. This one has a good message about sharing. I have a warm spot in my heart for these pigeon books. 

If you have small children, what do they love to read? What did you loved to read as a child? 

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Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Pre-order Blitz for Mischief Under the Mistletoe




Pre-order Links 




 Kristin Miller 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1gJ9f4C
Facebook:http://on.fb.me/1McUofO
Newsletter:http://bit.ly/KristinMillerNewsletter
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kristinmiller02
Website: http://www.kristinmiller.net





Mindy Klasky

Holly S. Roberts

Stephanie Rowe 

Diane Rinella 
 Kate Angell
website: www.kateangell.com 


 Kimberly Kincaid
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ToLqLr 
Facebook profile: www.facebook.com/kimberly.kincaid1 
Twitter: @ kimberlykincaid 
Newsletter http://eepurl.com/bmTXTH 
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/kimkincaidbooks/

J.D. Tyler
Robin Covington 
Facebook Profile: http://on.fb.me/YSW9n3
Facebook Page: http://on.fb.me/1fCyWuQ
Instagram: https://instagram.com/robincovington/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/wEqer
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1c1Tm5u
Twitter: @RobinCovington
Website: http://bit.ly/1lewhMg


 Suzanne Ferrell
 Kathy Ivan 
Amazon:http://amzn.to/1IvBRc2
Facebook:http://on.fb.me/1IQ2pET
Newsletter:http://bit.ly/1P8B8ON
Twitter:https://www.twitter.com/kathyivan
Website:http://www.kathyivan.com/


Selena Laurence
Amazon:http://amzn.to/1Dp2Nth 
Facebook:http://on.fb.me/1SU8sig
Instagram:https://instagram.com/selenalaurence/
Newsletter:http://bit.ly/1mtE0pJ 
Twitter:@selenalaurence 
Website:www.selenalaurence.com


Jennie Marts 

Jennifer Theriot
MJ Fredrick
Deb Julienne
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DwXLLs
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1P8BogU
Twitter: https://twitter.com/debjulienne
Website: http://debjulienne.com 





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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Our Mother's lied to us!


When I was younger, oh so much younger, I thought that I could have it all. I fearlessly wanted to try a dozen different professions, experience different cultures and travel the world. One of my favorite literary lines is from Little Women when a lawyer tells Jo that she should have been a lawyer and she responds, "I should have been a great many things." I will admit that I was always disappointed that she settled down to raise boys in a boys home. As sweet and well suited for Jo, as Fredrick was, I wanted her to be more, do more. In reality I know I'm projecting my own disappointments in my own choices and circumstances onto Jo. Sorry Jo.

Growing up my mother always told me I could do anything I wanted--I could have it all. Most moms of my generations told their daughters similar things. We were told that we could choose. I'm not knocking this. I am very fortunate that I can work outside the home if I so choose to do so and for the most part people aren't going to judge me for that choice. 

But do we really have a choice? The truth is, that you can't have it all. As progressive as we are as a society women still get paid only 78% of what their male counter part does. This pay equity has barely budged in nearly a decade and in some states the gap is even as wide as 68%! (Pay Equity). This pay equity gap means that often it is just more feasible financially for a woman to stay home than it is for her partner. 

For women who do work outside the home it is almost worst because as progressive as our society is, moms still, in general, carry the weight of child rearing. So after putting in long hours at their job, suffering bone crushing guilt over having someone else watch their kids, they have to go home and be mom and wife. It makes me tired just thinking about it. I'm not ignoring you awesome stay-at-home Dad's out there. You rock! 

For my family, it wasn't until my youngest was in a mothers day out program that I finally got to catch my breath and think about what I wanted for myself. After reflecting on my situation I realized that I was burnt out as a fundraiser (part or full time). I didn't want to keep doing a job that I had sort of just fallen into. I knew what I wanted but never thought I could make this dream a reality. I wanted to be a writer! It had been my secret wish, my dream, for as long as I can remember. 

So I took a chance to be that fearless girl again. I made sacrifices with time and money and wrote a book. Over 1,000 people now have it in their homes. I made it happen by hard work and sheer will. It was hard but oh so worth it. I know that I can't have it all, but I can have some.

A thank you shout out to all the women who came before me to fight for the rights that I sometimes take for granted.  

What have you as a woman over come? What have you done that you never thought was possible? What odds did you defy? Men, how have you worked to help your wife or daughter in their pursuit for their passions? 

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KM Hodge is the author of The Syndicate Series. Book #1, Seasons is available on Amazon. 
Amazon US , Amazon UK, Amazon CA

BLUE SEASON LAUNCHES SEPTEMBER 20th, 2015

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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Don't fail to try


(Wednesday Women Writers Blog Entry) 

Samuel Beckett had the right idea. To be successful in any endeavor you can't be afraid of failure. Growing up I would often go to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village where Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory is on display. It always stood out to me that Edison, a famous inventor, failed again and again and again before he finally got it right. 

I started this journey toward authorship this last fall, which means that I am coming up on my one year anniversary of being a writer. I have made lots of mistakes and failed in lots of ways. Through every failure I have learned valuable lessons. Over the last few months I have begun to make improvements upon my business practices as well as my technical writing skills.

Don't fail to try. Instead embrace the fail and each try, fail better. The road to success is littered with both small and epic failures. What have you failed at? What did you learn? 



KM Hodge is the author of The Syndicate Series. Book #1, Seasons is available on Amazon. 
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Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Seasons New Cover Reveal


I am so please to bring you the new cover for Seasons by KM Hodge. Seasons is Book#1 in the Syndicate Series. 

Amazon $2.99 / Amazon.UK 2.09


New! Series Logo
Book Blurb: 
Special Agent Alex Bailey is trying to put his sordid and traumatic past behind him. Looking for redemption, he takes on a new secret mission and partner, Katherine Mitchel. On the eve of their partnership, Katherine uncovers damning evidence against a crime ring working out of Richmond, Virginia known as The Syndicate.They control the Police, Congress, even the FBI and will stop at nothing to protect their interests. With her life on the line, Katherine is forced to put her faith in Alex  as she flees from Washington D.C. and is placed in the Witness Protection Program.  But you can't run from The Syndicate. In what becomes the most dangerous investigation of their careers, Alex could ultimately prove to be Katherine's last and only hope.

 What Authors and Readers are saying about Seasons: 
"Domestic abuse and addiction can be pretty tough topics but K.M. Hodge delivers in a debut novel that is fast-paced and very suspenseful." By Gail Ward Olmsted Author of "Guessing at Normal" and "Jeep Tour" 

 "A fantastic, fast-paced thriller. Well done to KM Hodge, a brilliant debut. I literally can't wait for the second in the series. The characters were beautifully drawn out and Katherine, Alex, and Doc were all so likable. I'm curious to know who is going to feature in the second book and if any of this book's characters will reappear. Looking forward to it!" By Kate-Beth Heywood, Author of Anti-Social Media 

 "Nicely done blend of passion and suspense, it's a well-constructed first novel and a thoroughly engrossing story." 4 stars

 "Could not put this book down! Exciting read from beginning to end, twists and turns made for a spell-binding story. K. M. Hodge is definitely an author I will read again. You want to read this book!" 5 stars 

 "Absolutely fantastic! Move over Baldacci Prepare for competition from this new author! Spell binding - hard to put down. Had me captured from chapter one through the end! Thank you KM Hodge!" 5 stars

 About the Author
KM Hodge is a stay-at-home mom of two energetic boys, who does fundraising events and grant writing on a part time basis. When she isn't busy trying to feed all the starving children of the world, she enjoys reading books by indie authors, catching up on tv shows, playing board games, and trolling the internet for X files Season 10 spoilers. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter as well as on her blog, The Land of Hodge. The second novel in her Syndicate Series, Blue Season is going to go live on Amazon September 20th. Sign up for her mailing list to get up-to-date notifications of sales and book releases. 
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Monday, August 3, 2015

5 Second Book Review: Diving for Pearls Series by Melissa Storm parts 1-4



The Diving for Pearls, short story serial, by Melissa Storm Parts 1-4
I really love this series (solid 4 out of 5 stars). This author's refreshingly hopeful voice sticks with you long after you stop reading. This series, which follows an angel trying to get her wings, is rich in interesting characters and hard thoughtful questions that really make you think, in a good way. The first part of the series is free on Amazon. Diving for Pearls: Part I. 

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