Virtual #Book Tour - Adunni Dares to Dream

Write Now Literary is pleased to announce Adunni Dares to Dream by Taiwo I Ajao, Virtual Book Tour, June 5-30, 2017.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Kids, Youth

Author/Illustrator Bio

The Dr. Ajaos are a husband-wife, doctor-nurse team who have a joint passion for health literacy, preventative healthcare, and education for at-risk groups in the Global setting. Mrs. Taiwo I Ajao, the Author, is a Registered Nurse with a Master’s in Public Health in Maternal and Child Health, while Dr. ‘Wale Ajao, the Illustrator, is an internationally-trained medical doctor with a Master's of Arts in Communications & Producing for Film and Video. Together, The Dr. Ajaos intend to address health literacy via it’s most fundamental forms: using the arts of writing, entertainment, and communication to educate children and their parents. Adunni Dares to Dream is the beginning of a beautiful merger of not just a celebration of educational achievement, but also of Faith, Hope, Love and Miracles.

About The Book

Adunni Dares to Dream is the true tale of a poor African girl who just wanted to go to school. Although she was a part of a very hardworking family, Adunni just could not have the finer things in life, like school, books, & literacy. In her culture, girls were just expected to look pretty, get married and have children. But Adunni wished for something more.

As Adunni dares to dream , she inspires many others to dream too, including a handsome young man who couldn't stop dreaming about her! So Adunni has choices to make. Does she give in to her society's expectations? Does she chose the status quo? What are Adunni's dreams and where do her dreams take her?

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Guest Post:

“Adunni Dares to Dream” is a story about a young girl who grew up poor in the village in a time when expectations were different for girls than from boys. Girls were (and in many places still are) expected to help in the home or on the farm and learn to become a mother and homemaker someday. They simply were not a priority when it came to formal education. It was rare for girls to develop a determination to break those gender barriers, even more so for a girl in a poor family. This is what makes Adunni’s journey very compelling.

This is my first time illustrating a book for this age range so, naturally, I assumed the book would have to be colorful, clear/clean/crisp, and easy for a child to digest what’s going on.

In hindsight, I may have been wrong but that was the summary of my strategy.

I harked back to my college days when I was in charge of the art department in our student fellowship. We used to make a lot of posters using cardboard cutouts. I’d make a sketch of the illustration and then figure out what colors of cardboard we would use, and then cut them accordingly.

Using Adobe Illustrator to digitally make the basic shapes really brings back those memories. Each illustration was to look as if it was made out of cardboard cutouts but I couldn’t resist adding a little bit of realism (a shadow here, a gradient there, and a bevel here) which I believe gives it a unique look even if that strict cardboard look is missing (meh...maybe on my next book).

Again, the idea was to use simple shapes with fine gradient colors and a hint of caricature here and there. I hoped the real kicker would be the use of patterns. Nigerian attire is very rich with patterns and instead of highly detailed backgrounds, we have patterns. Some of the patterns in the attires are based on real cloth patterns. If you look at the photo of young adult Adunni, you will see that the pattern on her dress was applied to the illustration of Adunni. I hope this blends well with the touching story Taiwo wrote and the decision to include some of the original language.

Overall it’s been an eye-opening collaborative experience all the way. And we are proud to announce the birth of this book which is our first-born baby as it were. Like a real baby, it takes a village to raise it and this book has been no exception.

We hope you love it...er...her, and she grows into the phenomenon that the inspiration for her truly is. We’ve seen that phenomenal inspiration in action and we hope you do to.

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Excerpt

Whenever Adunni brought up the idea of school, somehow Mama found a way to end it. Despite the fact that she was illiterate, Mama was sharp, hardworking and very resourceful with money. Mama had married young, as was common in the culture, and she started to bear children as a teenager. It was unfortunate, however, that she experienced the loss of many of those children during childbirth. Only Adunni and her sister had survived, and Adunni wondered often about what she could have done to save those who hadn't made it. Adunni was tearful as she remembered how her mother had nearly died last year during childbirth. Was every girl expected to get married and have children, even if it killed her? Adunni didn’t want to be like other girls: she wanted to be great! Adunni believed that to be great, she must be smart and be able to read, and learn great things. 

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Back From Broken Virtual #Book Tour

Write Now Literary is pleased to announce Back From Broken by Rosheka Henry Virtual book Tour January 9-20, 2017.

Book Release Date: June 2016

Genre: Religious/Self Help

WHY SOCIAL NETWORKS ARE THE KEY TO NETWORKING

In this 21^st century you cannot be an author and not have social networks that you are apart of. While you do not have to have all of them, as there are way to many for you as an author to be on, but you need to select at least 3 or 4 to participate on a consistent basis. There are many benefits to being on social networks and participating on them. Here are just a few reasons that I believe you should use the social media platform to network and also to brand yourself as an author.

• 1.      Social Media/the Internet is the great equalizer. Not to many years ago if you wanted to be an author you had to write a book, get an agent and hope that a Major Publishing Company liked your story and picked you up. In this 21^st century those days are long gone. As an author, you have the ability to Publish your own work and not wait for a Publishing Company to pick your story up, you can do it on your own with your own team.

• 2.      Social Media allows you to interact with your audience directly. You can talk with your fans and develop a more personal relationship with them with social media. They do not have to wait until you have a book signing in order to interact with you.

• 3.      Social Media allows you to have a global audience and not just be tied to people in your geographical location or nationally, you can sell books right on social media as well.

• 4.     With social media you get to promote, brand and sell all in one place to millions of people. Social media also allows you to join groups and get exposure that you would not get other wise.

• Social Media has grown in just the past few years and the technology of it is changing each and everyday. If you are not using social media as an author then you are not serious about being an author. You have to understand that social media is FREE marketing and advertising, for the most part and using it is key to you being a successful author!!!

About The Book

BACK FROM BROKEN is the story of one woman’s journey back to wholeness. It is one woman’s pursuit to getting rid of what was holding her back from being who God has called her to be. This story will give you the heartbreak and bitterness that one holds onto but decides to let go of so that Wholeness can begin.  This book will enlightened you, teach you what you need to know and empower you, and equip you with the tools that you need in order to walk in your wholeness, the last thing that I hope that this book can do for you is to impact you.

About The Author

ROSHEKA SHONTA HENRY is a native of Georgia, and was raised in Alabama. She grew up to love the medical field, and spent the majority of her career working at surrounding community hospitals as a phlebotomist and patient register. She is a proud and devoted member of Word of Truth Ministries, where her father, Pastor John L. Cook is the Sr. Pastor. She is also a certified dance instructor, where she leads the dance ministry at her church. She also teaches praise dancing in the surrounding churches. Rosheka’s praise dance ministry has been featured on local television stations numerous times. She has received awards as well as trophies for her profound work in her dance ministry. She is very devoted to Kingdom work. God is her driving force. She is the author              of  “BACK  FROM BROKEN…A    DANCERS        JOURNEY  BACK  TO WHOLENESS”, which is the autobiography of her life. She has written a gospel song called “Hallelujah” song by an up and coming artist, that can be downloaded on all major online music apps, such as iTunes and Google Play. She is also a single mother of three gifted children.

Her passion in life is to empower women, as well as men, and children. Her love for mankind has driven her to pursue a path that will inspire others to be all that they can be in life and in Christ. She is an inspirational speaker as well as an advocate for women who are broken. She works closely with her church and local food bank feeding the hungry.

Rosheka has also had the opportunity to model for The Wonderful World of Fashion Show. She has been known to grace the camera with her smile for multiple companies in her area. She has a bright future in ministry and is looking to open a Non-profit Organization THE BACK FROM BROKEN CENTER for broken women looking for inner help.

Click here to read the excerpt 

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#GuestPost - Ten Tips For Becoming A Better Writer By Yasmin Shiraz

Ten Tips For Becoming A Better Writer

By Yasmin Shiraz

1. Commit to reading at least 24 books a year. In 2014, I set a goal to read 100 books in a year. What did I discover? The more I read, the more I wanted to write. And, it immediately improved my writing because I was learning new writing styles by the types of books that I had read.

2. Find 3 writers who you really like and then critique their work identifying why you like them. When I recently completed this exercise, I found myself drawn to Richelle Meade. She wrote the Vampire Academy series. I like her ability to tell a full story while at the same time prompting you to want to find out what happens in the next book.

3. Incorporate some of the styles of your favorite writers into your work. Think of it as imitating Picasso. After reading Richelle Meade’s Vampire Academy novels, I incorporated that kind of storytelling when I wrote the Devious, and Secrets books which are part of the Tisha Ariel Nikkole Series. The style allowed me to complete one story while leaving the audience begging for the next installment.

4. Take a writing class. I’ve taken several writing classes over the years. Writing classes teach you technique but also teach you to see your blindspots. In my first screenwriting class, I learned about making strong opening scenes for my screenplays. It helped me to set a clear tone for my screenplays.

5. Join a writer’s group where you’re able to read other people’s work. Notice the strengths in other people’s writing. Reading the work from strong writers really helped me to become a better writer.

6. Find a good editor to work with who gives constructive criticism and takes some ownership in your work. I’ve worked with at least two great editors in my life.  When the editor is more of a partner than a hired gun, they truly care about the end result.

7. Use writing prompts. Many writers suffer from writers block. I have found that using writing prompts helps to clear blocks. Many free writing prompts are available all over the internet.

8.  Read books on writing like for example: How to build better characters, writing mastery, etc.

If you are struggling in a particular area like writing dialogue, or creating characters, read a book on it. You’d be surprised how much you can learn.

9. Read at least ten books from the NY Times Best Seller list every year. I do not believe that the best books written every year are automatically on the NY Times Best Seller list but a lot of them are. Seeing what is considered ‘the best’ is a great shot in the arm so you can know what to aim for.

10. Get a library card from your local library. Every serious writer needs a library card because writers need to be reading as much as writing and books can be expensive. The more you read, the better you write. 

       Yasmin Shiraz is the author of  more than ten books including the best seller, Exclusive and the American Library Association Award Winning Book, Retaliation. She is a full time screenwriter and author. She actively runs trivia contents, video chats and more on her Facebook page: Bit.ly/FBYasmin

More About The Author

Yasmin Shiraz is an author, filmmaker, speaker and activist. She uses her passion for life to fuel her books, documentaries, speaking engagements and social activities. She’s spoken at over 100 colleges, universities, middle schools and high schools as well as non-profit organizations. 

She’s an award winning Writer/ Director and enjoys producing work on youth and community issues. By day, she’s the President of Still Eye Rise Media and runs the Yasmin Shiraz website.

About The Book

When a teen girl discovers her brother has been shot, she learns  firsthand about loyalty. Should her brother be more loyal to her or the gang members he's so eager to impress?

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Guest Post: Abby Kelly, author of Beyond Belief

 

Guest Post:

Ever feel like you're hitting a brick wall with all your best intentions? Before you know it, all the good, God-serving things that gave you a sense of calling and mission lay in shambles at your feet, leaving you to wonder why you thought they were so great in the first place:

Maybe you heard God wrong.

Maybe He never called you in the first place.

Maybe you’re just not up to the task.

Maybe you over estimated yourself.

Maybe …

In the course of one week, half of my “calling” seemed to disintegrate. As a writer, who seeks to lead others to develop a strong relationship with Jesus, I felt like an utter failure.

I’m struggling to promote a book that I believe God compelled me to write. A generous local business offered to host a book signing for me. Only three people showed up—and they were all my friends just there to support me. And they already owned the book.

I’m an editor for a Christian website that I love and fully believe in. Last week, the founder emailed with discouraging news.

I decided to host a Bible study in my home and invited all my neighbors. Five women seemed excited and committed to attend. Before nine Monday morning, all but one had cancelled.

What do you do when all your “good-God things” go bad?

How do you quickly redefine your purpose, your calling, when everything you set out to do suddenly seems small, worthless, ineffective and empty?

I sat on the floor debating whether or not to cry. What now, God? Should I just quit this whole writing thing? Am I just not meant to be a leader?

A verse floated across my mind:

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Galatians 6:9

But how do you not lose heart when nothing seems to succeed, when you feel completely unproductive with nothing to show for your efforts?

Recently, I learned the origin of the modern definition of productivity:

“In the late 1870s … Frederick Winslow Taylor produced the first efficiency study and in doing so created the practice of ‘scientific management,’ from which we ultimately were given the concept of ‘productivity,’ a linguistic construction of the words product and activity, or ‘product activity,’ as it were.” (Desiring God, Rick Segal, November 1, 2015)

As concise as that sounds, I don’t think that definition of productivity is the kind that pleases God. It’s certainly not the kind exemplified in the life of the man who penned Galatians 6:9.

“Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea … “ 2 Corinthians 11:24-25

Not exactly a stellar resume. But if you know Paul’s story, you know that the greatest harvest was sown and reaped in the constructs of chaos and seeming failure.

Paul was confident in his calling, if not in its immediate consequence. Paul was mindful of his mission, if not in its momentum.

There’s a lot than can appear discouraging—even like outright failure. There are a lot of reasons to lose heart. But we must not.

First Corinthians 15:58 says, “ … Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Your work in the Lord is not in vain. Don’t lay down your calling in search of a better plan just because reason (and pride) tells you to. Remember, God uses the small things, the small beginnings, the foolish things. (Zechariah 4:10, 1 Corinthians 1:27)

And, “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

The not growing weary is your job, the harvest is His.

 

Abby Kelly is a nomadic, military spouse writing from wherever she momentarily finds herself with her husband, their wonderful dog, Brave, and two tolerable cats. Abby began writing in the process of recovering from a more-than-decade long eating disorder. She credits Jesus Christ for her full recovery and for filling her with a passion to encourage others to seek freedom from their own addictions and struggles. Now, Abby is the senior editor for two online Christian publications: www.tblfaithnews.com and www.mydailyarmor.org. She is a freelance editor, as well. Abby continues to write for numerous Christian publications as well as maintains her personal blog, www.predatory-lies.com. In her free time, she and Brave enjoy volunteering in hospitals and schools as a pet therapy team through Pet Partners.

   

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Genre: Bible Study, Christian Non-fiction 

ISBN-10: 1632131145 

ISBN-13: 978-1632131140

Does your life look the same as it did the day you put your faith in Jesus Christ? Or have you discovered the power of the Spirit within you enabling you to live a holy, righteous life? For that matter, is it even possible to be holy? Many Christians today are wading in the shallow end of the infinite relationship God desires to have with His children. They are strangled by addictions and idolatry, or distracted from the pursuit of spiritual maturity by a cheap imitation of moralism. Whatever the reason, their spiritual growth has been stunted; they’ve never gone beyond mere belief in Jesus Christ. Beyond Belief: Jesus Saved You ... Now What? explores what God has in store for you and what He wants from you. With a firm foundation on the centrality of Christ, this book will help you see exactly who you are and what you are called to, based on, and enabled by, His righteousness alone. Through intense study and humbling application of both the Old and New Testaments, Beyond Belief, will show you what a mature Christian life looks like and what it takes to get there.

 

 

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