Southwest Florida Reading Festival Draws Passionate Readers

Saturday was an outstanding Florida day for the annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival at Harborside Event Center in Old Fort Myers! With about 18,000 in attendance, the grounds teamed with passionate readers anxious to check out the newest books and authors on the scene.

The canvas-covered kiosks dotting the grounds displayed a wide range of products. Some focused on children's books and educational aids, while others represented schools, daycare centers, home school organizations, and parenting magazines. Basically, one could find any and everything designed to educate, involve, and stimulate the reader's mind. Plenty of food concessions were on hand, including one of my favorites, Jason's Deli, which had box lunches for only $5. 

One large tented area was dedicated to book readings and activities for young children. Another catered to middle school and high school age youth. As I strolled past the children's area, I heard sounds of laughter and squeals of delight. When I peeked inside, I saw a radio show host doing an animated book reading that seemed to captivate both adults and children.  

Meanwhile, inside the event center, more authors lectured and performed book readings. One large hall was dedicated to area booksellers and local authors. Writers displayed their books and were happy to sign and personalize them for willing buyers. Members of local writers organizations grouped together,  including Pine Island Writers, Peace River Writers, and Gulf Coast Writers Association, of which I am a member. I set up my book table between 1 pm and 4 pm, and showcased Benny's Angel, the first book in God's Secret Garden Adventures, my picture book series for young children. That book soon will be joined by two more  in the series - Fred D's Amazing Escape and Catie's Secret. You can get a preview of these two books in earlier posts.

When I do a book signing, one of the most enjoyable things for me is watching the children's faces as they look through the book. They seem to respond to the bright colors and animated appearance of the characters. The 3-D version of the book always grabs their attention, especially the boys. Saturday was enjoyable and productive for this author, as I sold and signed my book, networked, and shared writing experiences with fellow authors. For me, exchanging stories is a favorite part of author events.

If you have never attended the Southwest Florida Readers Festival, put it on your calendar for March 2014. If you go, allow plenty of time to park and figure on at least a couple of hours to wander about and visit the various areas of interest. There is so much for both adults and children to enjoy at this information-packed, fun-filled event. 

                                                                                  ~Laura Allen Nonemaker

LEARN ABOUT FAITHLEAPS, ALYSSA AVANT'S BRAND NEW BOOK!

Today I have the great pleasure of being the host on Day 2 of the Virtual Blog Tour for FaithLeaps: The Christian Mom's Guide to Passion, Purpose and Profits by author Alyssa Avant. On the last stop of the tour, Alyssa visited Lyn Parker's blog at www.supermomillusion.com.  Following is the great interview I did with Alyssa about FaithLeaps.

Could you sum up for my readers what FaithLeaps: The Christian Mom's Guide to Passion, Purpose and Profits is all about? FaithLeaps is about helping moms to find or identify their God-given passion and purpose in life and ultimately to profit from it. By profiting I don't necessarily mean monetarily, but it could be.

Would you say FaithLeaps is a "business" book? Yes and no.  FaithLeaps is very much a book about faith. I just happen to share my journey, which included a great deal about life, ministry and business. 

What is a faith leap? A faith leap is stepping out of our own comfort zone into the hands of God.

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Alyssa Avant and that you'll check out FaithLeaps: The Christian Mom's Guide to Passion, Purpose, and Profits by Alyssa Avant at www.faithleaps.com and on Amazon. Be sure to follow Alyssa on Monday, March 18 at her next stop on the Virtual Blog Tour over at Gina Weeks' blog at www.tothinebetheglory.com.

WHAT IS CATIE'S SECRET ???

I shared in a previous post how Fred D's Amazing Escape, the second children's book in my God's Secret Garden Adventures series, came to be. At that time, I promised to be back to tell you about the third book, Catie's Secret. Unfortunately, health issues with my husband and me kept me from staying current with my blog. I thank God that we are both doing well and resuming normal life (if our busy lives can be called normal for two retirees).

I love all the characters in my books, but especially Catie Caterpillar. She entered my imagination following a bug (pun intended) that my daughter, Lisa, put in my ear one day. "Mom, why don't you do a story about a butterfly?" were her words, as we talked about possible future topics for God's Secret Garden Adventures. She remembered my first encounter with raising butterflies not long before.  I had chronicled my experiences, some of them challenging, in a series of blog posts. Accompanied by photos, these earlier posts can be found in my blog archives.

When the nephew and niece of Mayor Benny (remember him from Benny's Angel?) come to Peaceful Meadow to eat clover and play, they find Catie crawling on a milkweed plant. She is eating voraciously and getting fatter and fatter. Then Catie is faced with a challenge and she must make a decision on how to react. She is a soft-spoken little thing, a bug of few words you might say. She decides to focus on the thing she knows best - eating.

I won't spoil the rest of the story by revealing it here, but suffice it to say that by the end of the book, the bunnies have experienced some valuable teaching moments. Both Fred D's Amazing Escape and Catie's Secret will be available by Summer 2013, when it can be purchased a number of ways, including Tate Publishing's online bookstore, my author website, Amazon.Com, and Barnes & Noble.Com.  

                                                                                              ©2013 Laura Allen Nonemaker

BENNY'S ANGEL in CAPE CORAL and NAPLES, FLORIDA 

Saturday, October 13, will be a busy day for Benny's Angel and for me. Between 9 a.m. and noon we will be at the Art and Book Fest at Hampton Inn and Suites located at 619 SE 47th Terrace in Cape Coral, Florida. This is a free event and features a free book for children 3-18. Artists and authors will display their work for sale and authors will be available to sign copies of their books. A children's book reading will take place at 11 a.m.

Saturday afternoon, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., join  us for the Local Author Meet & Greet, Part 2 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers Waterside Shops, 5377 Tamiami Trail, Naples, Florida. A number of area authors will be available to chat with visitors and sign copies of their books.

Benny's Angel, the first book in the children's series, God's Secret Garden Adventures, illustrates the importance of prayer. Book 2, Fred D's Amazing Escape, shows the need for obedience. It will be released by Tate Publishing in March 2013. In Book 3, Catie's Secret, children learn why they should not tease or bully. It also will be released in 2013.

Why not consider starting your child off this Christmas with a signed copy of Benny's Angel and later adding the sequels at Easter or for a birthday gift? With Christmas fast approaching, enjoy browsing these events and getting a jump on Christmas shopping!

                                                                                         Laura Allen Nonemaker

FRED D'S AMAZING ESCAPE - A FROG'S TALE

Fred D is a determined little frog. I first met him in what I call my “secret garden” as I followed my usual routine of watering my plants. I had left some water in the watering can the day before and decided to use it up. When I tipped the watering can, nothing came out. Oh well, I thought, I guess some leaves are clogging the spout. I grabbed a twig to poke the leaves down and saw two big eyes staring at me. Apparently, a little frog had fallen into the watering can. When it couldn’t get out, it somehow crawled up into the spout.

I decided that the plants didn’t need to be watered right then and ran into the house to get my camera. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a very clear picture of the cute little fellow, but I wanted my husband, Paul, to see him when he got home. When we returned later, the frog was gone.  I guess I scared him so badly that he was determined to get out somehow…and apparently he did.

That’s how I came to write the second book in my children’s series, God’s Secret Garden Adventures. I titled it Fred D’s Amazing Escape. When Fred D (for determined, of course) Frog disobeys and leaves God’s Secret Garden, he almost doesn’t make it back to Promise Pond. Unfortunately for him, he faces more serious dangers than just getting stuck in a watering can. Fred D ultimately learns that obedience is even more important than determination.

Like my first book, Benny’s Angel, which launched in 2011, Fred D’s Amazing Escape is written for children between three and eight. It will be released in March of 2013 and followed soon after by the third book in the series, Catie’s Secret. Each God's Secret Garden Adventure is crafted to entertain young children and at the same time impart sound biblical principles. 

 I’ll tell you about Catie's Secret next time, so tune in.   

                                                          ©2012 Laura Allen Nonemaker  All Rights Reserved

Benny’s Angel Sequels Coming

As I return to my social media activities with this, my first post in several months, I ask myself, “Where did the summer go?” No doubt, others wonder the same thing, especially youngsters heading back to school.

Time has a way of sliding on past us while we are “doing life”. It began to get away from me way back in the spring, when a couple of unexpected hospitalizations and subsequent doctor visits derailed me. Thank God, the outcome was positive and later on, we traveled up north to visit family and friends. We also enjoyed bringing two granddaughters back to Florida for a couple of weeks.

In spite of all this, my creative juices continued to flow in at least one important area of my writing. I am excited to announce that, with God’s help, I completed two more children’s books in my series, God’s Secret Garden Adventures. The first book, Benny’s Angel, released from Tate Publishing in 2011. Book two, Fred D’s Amazing Escape, will launch in April of 2012. The third book, Catie’s Secret, releases shortly after that.

Children, parents, and grandparents alike have delighted in Benny’s Angel and its charming animal characters. In the weeks ahead, I look forward to introducing you to some new animal personalities that will join existing ones in books two and three of God’s Secret Garden Adventures.

                                                                                                     Laura Allen Nonemaker

The Best Benefit Package of All

It was Christmas evening and we had finished a wonderful dinner at my daughter's home.  My grandson, Brandon, was stretched out comfortably in an easy chair with his feet propped up on the oversize ottoman. Reyna, my six-year-old great-granddaughter, nestled in the crook of his arm, obviously enjoying the security and contentment of being close to her daddy.

Meanwhile, the rest of us pitched in to clear up the dishes. That's when Reyna twisted around to where she could see her grandmother and called out, using the German endearment for grandma, "Oma, thank you for making such a good daddy!" I was amused and touched by Reyna's expression of gratitude for the blessing of her daddy's special love and attention. In her young mind, her grandma was the reason she enjoyed the benefit of a good daddy.

Reyna's comment made me think about how important it is to express my gratitude for the benefits I enjoy. I praise God for the many benefits with which He has blessed me, which include a loving family, provision of all my needs, and a church where I can enjoy God-anointed worship and Bible study. But what if some of these benefits were removed? What if I did not have the resources for some of the necessities of daily life. Suppose I could not worship God or read my Bible openly, as in many countries. Would I still be grateful? Would I still praise God if the benefits I enjoy were restricted or withdrawn entirely?

These days, a chaotic economic environment and forces hostile to our values and beliefs threaten the security of our country and the world around us. Many people are depressed and nearing panic over the changes that are taking place and wonder what the future holds for them. They realize that no matter what benefits are offered by the powers that be, they are subject to being changed or eliminated.

In Psalm 103, I have found some benefits that will not be eliminated. They are not dependent on the whims of those who think they know what is best. They were promised and enacted before the foundation of the world by our Creator. These benefits include forgiveness for ALL our sins, no matter how grievous (v.3); healing and deliverance from destructive bondages inflicted by Satan (v.4); the lovingkindness and mercy of our God (v.4); good things that truly satisfy our body and soul (v.5); a renewal of our body, mind, and spirit (v.5).

As we approach Easter, I thank God for the greatest blessing and benefit of all, the gift of eternal life. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for you and me when He hung on the cross and died for our sins. Have you signed up for the best benefit package of all, one that you can enjoy for all eternity? Have you asked Jesus to come into your heart, forgive your sins, and be your Lord and Savior? If not, won't you ask Him now?

                                                                                                 © Laura Allen Nonemaker