Award-winning Children’s Author, Donna McDine - Launches First Book through Guardian Angel Publishing

M E D I A   R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Donna M. McDine
Children’s Author
Website: http://www.donnamcdine.com/
Email: dmcdine@optonline.net
Phone: 845-721-7802

For Immediate Release

Award-winning Children’s Author, Donna McDine - Launches First Book through Guardian Angel Publishing

Tappan, New York – Donna M. McDine debuts her first children’s book, The Golden Pathway, August 2010, published by Guardian Angel Publishing. The book release is perfect timing in preparation of back to school as it ties into the grade school curriculum.

As one young boy struggles to come to terms with his father’s beliefs and actions towards slaves, he pulls from deep within his soul, courage and determination he never knew existed. Will David’s attempts to save Jenkins come to fruition or does David get caught red handed in defying his Pa?
“David crept into the barn. His first attempts to help Jenkins hadn’t gone well. Jenkins cringed when he saw David. Over time, David gained Jenkins’ trust with promises that he was not there to harm him, but to help. Tonight the wounds from the whip were worse than ever. The welts looked as if caterpillars were stuck under the skin.”

Journey along as McDine puts forth her unique mesmerizing voice where the depths of emotions from the main character spill forth from the pages and has you spell bound from the onset.

Visit Guardian Angel Publishing – http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/ for ordering information - August 2010.

About the Author

Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions. Donna’s stories and features have been published in many print and online publications, and her first book, The Golden Pathway, will be published through Guardian Angel Publishing as well as her second book, The Hockey Agony. McDine’s interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Ms. McDine is a member of the SCBWI, Musing Our Children, and The National Writing for Children Center.

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Full Media Kit, Headshot, Book Cover Art and more are available upon request.

Happy 4th of July

The American Flag

When Freedom from her mountain height

Unfurled her standard to the air

She tore the azure robe of night

And set the stars of glory there!

She mingled with its gorgeous dyes

The milky baldric of the skies,

And striped its pure celestial white

With streakings of the morning light;

Then, from his mansion in the sun,

She called her eagle-bearer down,

And gave into his mighty hand,

The symbol of her chosen land.

Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly

The sign of hope and triumph high!

When speaks the signal-trumpet tone

And the long line comes gleaming on.

Ere yet the life-blood, warm and wet,

Has dimmed the glistening bayonet

Each soldier eye shall brightly turn

To where thy sky-born glories burn,

And as his springing steps advance,

Catch war and vengeance from the glance;

And when the cannon-mouthings loud

Heaven in wild wreaths the battle-shroud

And gory sabers rise and fall,

Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall;

Then shall thy meteor-glances glow,

And cowering foes shall sink beneath

Each gallant arm that strikes below

That lovely messenger of death.

Flag of the seas! on ocean wave

Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave;

When death. careening on the gale,

Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail,

And frighted waves rush wildly back

Before the broadside's reeling rack,

Each dying wanderer of the sea

Shall look at once to heaven and thee.

And smile to see thy splendors fly

In triumph o'er his closing eye.

Flag of the free heart's hope and home,

By angel hands to valor given!

Thy stars have lit the welkin dome,

And all thy hues were born in heaven.

Forever float that standard sheet!

Where breathes the foe but falls before us,

When Freedom's soil beneath our feet,

And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us!"

Joseph Rodman Drake

Balancing the Writer’s Life and Mama’s Life

M E D I A  R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Donna M. McDine
Children’s Author
Email: dmcdine@optonline.net
Phone: 845-721-7802

For Immediate Release


Balancing the Writer’s Life and Mama’s Life

Balance, balance, and some more balance. To find it at times with (as many fellow writers) the responsibilities of wife, mother, daughter, friend and my work as a virtual assistant can be quite daunting at times.

Visit with Donna McDine through her charismatic interview by freelance author, VS Grenier on Friday, July 2 at: http://thewritingmama.blogspot.com/.

Stop by for a spell and enjoy the chance to get to know this up and coming children’s author. Donna will be on hand throughout the day to field your questions and to respond to your comments.

Thank you for your interest.

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Publication Announcement - The Golden Pathway!

COMING!

August 2010

PUBLISHER:

Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/

PUBLICATION DATE:

August 2010

SYNOPSIS:

Be transported through time to the Underground Railroad, where high-pitched screams echo each night. David’s cruel Pa always chooses the same victim. Despite the circumstances during slavery, David uncovers the courage to defy his Pa.

Raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily, David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David leads Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa.

Donna M. McDine
Children's Author

http://www.donnamcdine.com/
http://www.thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com/



K.C. Snider
Illustrator

http://www.kcsniderart.com/
http://blog.kcsniderart.com/

Does Perseverance pay in the End for Children’s Authors?

M E D I A  R E L E A S E


CONTACT: Donna M. McDine

Children’s Author

Email: dmcdine@optonline.net

Phone: 845-721-7802

For Immediate Release

Does Perseverance pay in the End for Children’s Authors?

An author’s dream is to impact their readers in positive thought provoking words, whether writing for adults or children. When children’s author, Donna McDine, first embarked on her writing career in 2007 she dreamed of the day a child would feel the wow factor through her storytelling. And much to her delight she received those encouraging words from several young muses early in the writing stages of The Golden Pathway.

Visit with Donna McDine through her charismatic interview by freelance author, Nancy Sanders on Friday, June 18 at:

http://nancyisanders.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/author-interview-donna-m-mcdine/.

Stop by for a spell and enjoy the chance to get to know this up and coming children’s author. Donna will be on hand throughout the day to field your questions and to respond to your comments.

Thank you for your interest.

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Road to Publication

I recently had the honor of being interviewed by children's author, Nancy Sanders and will be featured on her blog in the coming weeks http://nancysanders.blogspot.com/. The official date is to be announced by early next week. In the meantime, I wanted to share with you a portion of the interview regarding my road to publication:

Nancy Sanders: Share the journey from book idea to published book while working with this particular publisher.


Donna McDine: The Golden Pathway started out as a writing assignment for the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and after several critiques with director, Suzanne Lieurance, I took the plunge and submitted my manuscript to the 77th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition and placed 12th in 1,17 entries. While not first place it is an honor I am quite proud of. From there I attended the Muse Online Writers Conference and met publisher, Lynda Burch of Guardian Angel Publishing. Lynda encouraged attendees of her workshop to submit and I found myself taking yet another plunge. Isn’t that what it is all about for writer’s, taking the chance and submitting? While Lynda liked the story her professional opinion was to expand the story with specific points since I was no longer under a strict word count from the contest. I took all her suggestions into serious consideration and hired professional editor, Lea Schizas for further development. Once Lea and I were satisfied the manuscript was at its best, I resubmitted to Lynda Burch for reconsideration, resulting in an acceptance. Working with Lynda and K.C. Snider (illustrator) has been a rewarding and exhilarating experience and I am anxiously awaiting to announce the release date.

Now a question for you...
 
I'd be interested in knowing your road to publication story? And if you like to be featured on my blog let me know.
 
Thank you for your interest and I look forward to sharing with you my publication date in the near future.

Book Review: January's Sparrow by Patricia Polacco

Title: January’s Sparrow


Written by: Patricia Polacco

Researched by: Mary McCafferty Douglass

Hardcover: 96 pages

Ages: 9-12

Publisher: Philomel Books

ISBN: 978-0-399-25077-4

Published: October 2009

Price: $22.99

Many brave souls, white and black, risked their lives helping slaves to freedom. Many would believe that once reaching a free state all their worries would be washed away. Unfortunately, the “Under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793,” gave slave owners the right, even in free states, to take back their slaves.

The true story of the Crosswhite family told through the eyes of their “adoptive” son January, engulfs you in the dreams and fears of each family member, especially young Sadie. Her intuition and trustworthiness will warm your heart for a positive outcome for all. What became of the Crosswhite family one will learn through the expert storytelling of Patricia Polacco. One you will not soon forget.

To learn more of the illustrious career of Patricia Polacco visit http://www.patriciapolacco.com/.