Friday, July 31, 2015

D. G. Driver talks about the writing of Cry of the Sea





Oil Spill Fuels Imagination
By D. G. Driver

I was 19-years-old and living in Southern California when the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill occurred. I barely remember it happening. I was a young adult, busy with college, working, a boyfriend (or two), etc. I wasn’t watching the news much. I mean, what teenager does, really? Ten years later there was a huge retrospective about it, though, and I was fully an adult by then. The 10-year anniversary of the spill was all over the radio and TV. Slowly the story worked itself into my imagination, the same way the droplets of oil coated the ocean floor from Alaska to Northern California, and the premise of a novel was born: What if mermaids were caught in an oil spill?

I began writing Cry of the Sea back then. It took many years and several major rewrites to get it to be a strong enough story to be picked up by a publisher. Over those years I did a lot of research about oil spills – the damage they cause, laws regarding oil tankers, how animals are treated during rescues. I wanted to be accurate about these things even though my book was a fantasy. The reason was because my novel wasn’t meant to be a Little Mermaid type of romantic fantasy. It was meant to be more of an X-Files-what-if-mermaids-were-real science fiction.

The young adults of 2015 have grown up learning about the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. There was a spill just this year off the coast of Santa Barbara. I believe that teens are much more aware of these environmental issues than we were in the 1980s. I think they watch the news more – or at least get their headlines from the internet. I’m impressed at the intelligence and willingness of teens to want to help do their part to keep oceans clean of litter and pollution. 
 
Cry of the Sea has a major environmental theme. Juniper Sawfeather’s parents are environmental activists and have been raising her to follow in their footsteps. When the mermaids are discovered during an oil spill, she is in the center of the turmoil between her parents, the media, kids from school, a marine biologist and his intern, and the oil company itself over the fate of the mermaids.

In June, 2015 Cry of the Sea won 2nd place in the YA category of the Green Book Festival contest for environmentally themed books. Reviewers are raving about the environmental angle of the book. “It was an eye-opening read, at times really shocking and heart-breaking, and definitely one I won't soon forget. This is a great, mold-breaking YA for those who want more from their books than just silly romance stories and sparkling mythical creatures. It's a story of bravery, dedication, protecting all those things that are unable to protect themselves, and making a difference,” wrote Evie Seo of Bookish Blog. “As expected, this book has a strong message about environmentalism, but I'm impressed that the author was able to convey it without sounding preachy in the slightest. You're not going to get a sermon but you will see enough of the damage caused by oil spoils to be horrified by it. To be honest, I'm barely interested in the subject, but I went through a whole range of emotions and I cared about what was happening,” from Rachel Poole, Cullen House Reviews. 
 
Cry of the Sea is the first of a 3-part series. The sequel, Whisper of the Woods (which will center around the destruction of Old Growth trees) is scheduled for release from Fire and Ice Young Adult Books in November. Follow me to get updates www.facebook.com/donnagdriver



Book blurb

Juniper Sawfeather is choosing which college to attend after graduation from West Olympia High School next year. She wants to go to San Diego to be far away from her environmental activist parents. They expect her to think the way they do, but having to be constantly fighting causes makes it difficult to be an average 17 year old high school student. Why do her parents have to be so out there?



Everything changes when she and her father rush to the beach after a reported oil spill. As they document the damage, June discovers three humans washed up on the beach, struggling to breathe through the oil coating their skin. At first she thinks they must be surfers, but as she gets closer, she realizes these aren't human at all. They're mermaids! Now begins a complex story of intrigue, conspiracy and manipulation as June, her parents, a marine biologist and his handsome young intern, her best friend, the popular clique at school and the oil company fight over the fate of the mermaids.



Learn more about me and my books: www.dgdriver.com

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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Joyce A Evans talks about her fabulous books on Penny's Tales


 Joyce Ann Evans
 Biography

Joyce resides in Nashville, Tennessee and is married to Richard Lee Evans Jr.
They have three children: ReAnna, LaTica, and Jaylen; and one granddaughter—JaNiah. Joyce is currently employed at the Sunday School Publishing Board as a Creative Associate/Graphic Designer, where she designs the Sunday school curriculum for ages two through eleven.
Joyce is an active Children’s Teacher Assistant at the Mount Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Joseph W. Walker III.
Joyce serves as a member of the Visual Communications Advisory Committee at Nashville State Community College, where she teaches Graphic Processes as an Adjunct Instructor.
In 2000, God’s Word began to captive Joyce’s heart. She found herself falling in love with Jesus. In the midst of this love relationship, God began to reveal His divine plan—His call into ministry. Shortly after the birth of their third child, Joyce sought the Lord for directions on how to teach biblical principles to their children. She realized that the Sunday school hour was not enough time to prepare their hearts for a life-long relationship with Christ. Joyce’s purpose was revealed. God spoke, The FrootBearer™ Series Ministry into her eager spirit. Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:7, Galatians 5:22-23, and John 15:5 became the foundational scriptures for the ministry’s mission. Since elementary school, Joyce has always loved to draw and write. She would spend hours doodling and writing comics in her bedroom. God would use these talents to take His Word around the world teaching families how to grow in Christ-like character. The FrootBearer™ Character on Display Series of books are pint-sized parables displaying the character of Christ. Each parable is based on a scripture and written in a pratical manner offering parents an innovative tool for bible study or family devotion. These books, activity books, interactive book apps, and games provide biblical principles that can be taught anytime and anywhere.
In 2006, Joyce published her first book, “A Granny Goodness Day.” Over the next few years, Joyce published three other titles, “Rotten, but Not Forgotten”, “Puffed-up Pride,” and “Finish Line,” as well as, four supplemental activity books, and a board game.
In 2007, the FrootBearer™ Series Ministry was interviewed on live television by Dr. Pauline Fuller from Atlanta’s Channel 57 (WATC TV 57).
In 2008, Joyce launced the FrootBearer Series Ministry online ecommerce web site.
In January of 2012, Joyce pursued the growing industry of children’s books apps and placed second in the, “Interactbooks App Building Global Competition,” with her fourth series book,“Finish Line.”
In October 2012, Joyce placed first in the “Interactbooks App Building Global Competition,” with her third series book, “Puffed-up Pride.”
Soon after Joyce formed a partnership with the president of Interactsbooks, Ezra Weinstein to produce future book apps for the Apple Itunes Store.
Joyce is currently working on her fifth series book, “Gift Rappin!” Just in time for Christmas.
In July 2014, the FrootBearer Series Ministry formed a partnership with Nashville’s FaithUnity Street Paper to spread the gospel to children through a biweekly bible-based activity page.
In August 2014, Joyce started working with the animation software, ToonBoom Studio 8 to expand the ministry’s digital vision—animation. FrootBearer Series next big adventure!

For more information or to schedule a book signing, contact Joyce Ann Evans at:
E-mail: frootbearer@comcast.net or jevans408386@comcast.net


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