Enter FREE Giveaway - 13 Inch Macbook Air and Apple TV Giveaway

Enter at a chance to win a 13 Inch Macbook Air and Apple TV Giveaway 

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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Martin Luther King, Jr. ~ I Have a Dream

In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I am pleased to share with you an excerpt and link to his full speech and mp3 audio.

I Have a Dream
by Martin Luther King, Jr.

(delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.)

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

"But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will..."

Read the full I Have a Dream speech and listen to the mp3 audio at American Rhetoric http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm.

May we allow our differences unite us in the interest and appreciation of our diversity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Toast to 2012: Enter to Win a FREE $100 PayPal or Visa Gift Card

I am excited to be part of Sweep Tight and Just Married with Coupons Toast to 2012 New Years Giveaway Hop. As an added bonus I will be offering a $25 gift card to Starbucks to one lucky winner.

The Golden Pathway, illustrator interview with K.C. Snider

Often times the illustrator does not receive the kudos for their hardwork in making the authors words come alive with their vibrant illustrations and I wanted to take the time out to share with you an interview with the illustator of The Golden Pathway, K.C. Snider that is included in the teacher's guide.

K.C. Snider, a prominent Oregon artist, has branched out into a variety of styles and subjects. Her collection of oil paintings, lithographs, and pencil drawings include the All-American Cowboy and Cowgirl and their historical lifestyles with magnificent wolves, buffalo herds, eagles and birds of prey along with horses and domestic animals. Her artwork has won numerous awards including the Snaffle Bit Award and the Pioneer Award.
Snider lives in the high desert with majestic views of the Cascade Mountains' snow capped peaks. K.C. also illustrates children's books: Alleycat; The Christmas Angel; Preston, the Not-So-Perfect Pig; One Family's Christmas; Cartwheel Annie; The Magic Violin; Does Heaven Get Mail?; Andy & The Albino Horse Series; Baby Jesus is Missing' Katydidn't; A Short Tale About a Long Tail; Monster Maddie; RV Mouse & Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind.

A three piece triptych from the second book in the Andy & the Albino Horse Series won 1st Place in The Western Art Roundup 2008 and another Andy story triptych won 2nd Place in The Western Art Roundup 2009.
1. How did you become artist/illustrator?

I attended commercial art school and graduated as a commercial artist in the late 1970’s. I have been working for Guardian Angel Publishing for about 5 years, now.

2. What inspires you as an artist?

Everything around me! Everything around us is art.
3. Tell us about your experience illustrating The Golden Pathway, and how closely did you work with Donna on the project?

I worked very closely with Donna in researching for historical accuracy. A lot of email flew back and forth between us.
4. What advice do you have for young, aspiring illustrators?

Draw a lot and learn as many styles as you possibly can. Success is in being versatile and being able to draw anything from realism to cartoon.

My heartfelt thank you goes out to K.C. for bringing the story of The Golden Pathway to life!

Fred and K.C. Snider


Snider Art Studio

http://www.kcsniderart.com/

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/

http://andyandthealbinohorse.blogspot.com/

http://www.cafepress.com/KCSniderart

http://blog.kcsniderart.com/


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Happy New Year

May There Be Peace Within

May you trust your highest power

that you are exactly where you are meant to be...

May you not forget the infinite

possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received,

and pass on the love that has been given to you...

May you be content knowing you are a child of God...

Let this presence settle into our bones,

and allow your soul the freedom to

sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of you...

--Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm