Let me just say the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) Fall Conference was weekend of awesomeness. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this conference, it’s a combination of great camaraderie with other Wisconsin writers (and illustrators), super smart national-level faculty, and break-out sessions that allow us to fine-tune our writing craft.
At the beginning of the conference we always have some kind of mixer. (Thank you MJ... Continue Reading
Catching up in the land of book promotions.
With the release of my book this Friday – October 24 – (YES, that’s THIS Friday!) I have been deeply immersed in book promotion for weeks. If you have liked my author Facebook page or you follow me on Twitter, you are keenly aware of this fact. I hope that you’ve had some fun with the Facebook contests and enjoyed my Teaser Tuesdays where I share a bit... Continue Reading
Mysterious Runes - What are they? What do they mean?
I’ve included an “Uncover the Secrets of Runes” kit in my SWAG BOX prize package (which you can win by subscribing to my blog before midnight on 10/23). To subscribe – look in the right hand column of this page. (That’s it, to the right, yup, and down a little bit.) Do you see it? Click on subscribe by email – Enter your email address in the pop up screen – An email verification will go to your inbox. (Don’t forget to verify at this step... Continue Reading
TEN DAYS TO GO TO WIN THIS AWESOME PRIZE!
I still think swag bag sounds so much better than swag box – but let me remind you that this box is so much cooler than a bag.
If you are just catching up with my blog and posts about this contest now, I’ll explain the reason for the box instead of the bag. You need to know that pivotal to the storyline of Circle of Nine: Beltany is a book of family history that is stored in an antique wooden box. When I was shopping for goodies and... Continue Reading
How did it get to be Teaser Tuesday AGAIN!! Time is a-flyin' here in book world. The official launch date - October 24 - is coming up quickly.
I wanted to share the first chapter of Circle of Nine: Beltany with you. Please don't hesitate to share this with others if you like.
I LIED! IT’S NOT A SWAG BAG – IT’S A SWAG BOX!!
Okay, I have to admit it took me a little while to get used to the idea of saying swag box. Many of you know how much I love rhyming, and, well, swag box just doesn’t sound cool when you say it.
BUT – let me tell you this is the coolest thing ever. A book of family history stored in an antique wooden box plays a pivotal role in my story. And when I was shopping for goodies for this contest and saw this lovely carved box, I knew this was THE way to deliver the contents to the lucky winner. Now -- if you missed it in the last post, I'm running a contest from now until midnight on October 23 -- the day before my official book launch. You have the chance to win a swag BOX which includes a signed paperback and a... Continue Reading
WIN THE BIG DEAL BOOK SWAG BAG
Little did I know that when I began researching Book Giveaway Contests how easy it would be to get sucked into a vortex of choices. Who knew there were so many types of contests – just for books?? It took a while, but I’ve successfully pulled myself out of the whirlwind and made some decisions!
I’ve designed a series of giveaways that include four separate three-day contests starting October 1 and one Big Deal Swag Bag contest that starts now and... Continue Reading
It’s Writer Wednesday and today it’s all about MY BOOK!!!
Announcing the official release day – ONE MONTH FROM TODAY!! FRIDAY - OCTOBER 24 CIRCLE OF NINE: BELTANY will be available in paperback and eBook on Amazon.It’s been a long road to publication. Many of you have followed the progress of this book for years – yes, YEARS! Thank you for sticking with me.
The past six months have been a whirl of final edits, final-final edits, final-final-final edits (I mean it this time... Continue Reading
In a strange sort of coincidence I ended up reading two series of books with nearly the same name, Stranded -- Jeff Probst’s (host of Survivor) middle-grade novel series and an indie pub YA series by Theresa Shaver.
I can’t remember when and where I purchased the hardcover version of the first book in Jeff Probst’s series, but wanting a quick read the other night I grabbed it and was hooked on... Continue Reading
I am so pleased that author KJ Klemme took the time during her debut week for this interview. KJ's novel Tourist Trapped is a fast-paced, mystery set in Cancun. Her engaging main character is a Chicago area divorce lawyer who turns into a sleuth in order to find her missing half-sister when she disappears on vacation. You're going to love the twists and turns in this story! KJ promises there's more to come from this cast of characters!
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
... Continue Reading
Please know that I only recommend books or writing-related products that I feel are worthy of your time! Some of the links included in my posts are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Valerie Biel’s debut novel Circle of Nine - Beltany has been honored as a 2015 Kindle Book Award Finalist, a finalist in the Gotham Writers' YA Novel Discovery Contest and the Readers' Favorite Book Award Contest as well as being a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. The final installment in this series - Circle of Nine - Sacred Treasures - has also received a B.R.A.G. Medallion and was short listed for the Eric Hoffer Book Award grand prize, earning the First Runner-Up distinction in the YA category.
