Little Free Library Update

Those of you who have sent me books fore review know that they go into my Little Free Library for my neighbours to enjoy. (If you would like information on this, go to https://bferrante.wordpress.com/2016/07/09/get-featured-on-my-blog/) Unfortunately, in one of those typical northern Ontario winter events, the temperature went from-5C to -33C within a day and made the plexiglass in the door buckle. Dampness began to seep into the books.

The box needed rejuvenation anyway. Even though I used at least 8 layers of protection, the red ink on the quotes ran and blurred. So I scraped it down, my husband gave it a rough sanding, and I started over. I finished the pictures today. Tomorrow I’ll do a bit of touching up, add more glitter (of course), and start putting on protective coats of Varathane.

Here’s how it looks so far. I’m actually pretty pleased with what I was able to do with pens and brushes despite my Parkinson’s tremor.

The side facing the sidewalk. The welcome words need a little more punch.

This one needs lots more glitter.

The back.

After, I realized it seems male-dominate, but there are actually four females and four males. Three of the females, however, are tiny. Do you know who they are?

 

Click on the covers for more information or to purchase the book.

Books featured on my library walls:

    

    

  

Bonnie Ferrante: Books For All Ages

New Video for Parents AND Little Free Library Launched Successfully

A new video has been posted to youtube. Teach your child counting to 5 “on the cheap”. It uses multiple learning styles, the outdoors, and simple free or inexpensive materials. The emphasis is on play and being active.

https://youtu.be/J0LSCiycYQc

Yesterday I opened my Little Free Library to the public. If you’re a STTNG fan, you’ll appreciate that my number1 patron was named Ryker. 🙂 I remembered to ask the first two families to sign the guest book. Then I remembered my camera for the next few. Then I barely remembered my name. It was great to meet new people, old and young, in the neighbourhood. It was also lovely to have Lisa Laco from CBC come by with a bag bursting with adult books to donate.

 

Bonnie Ferrante: Books For All Ages

Setting Up My Little Free Library

Last night my husband set up our Little Free Library at the end of the driveway. Unfortunately, the heavy rain storms have breached my five coats of varathane and made the ink run on some of the pictures of book covers I glued to the outside. My  theme is the magic of books. Oh well, “The glass is already broken.” I’ll think of something new for next year.

I put in two full boxes of books. I was surprised how much space was inside the library. I will have to be diligent about keeping it full. Fortunately, it’s about five minutes away from winter. Not really, I’m hoping to last till November. Frozen books are notorious for falling apart. It starts to go below freezing here in October.

All the books that you see pictured were either scrounged up by me or donated by authors I have reviewed. Unfortunately, I got rid of most of my books when I moved last August. Part of my simplifying goal.

(Note: Authors, if you don’t see your book, it’s because I haven’t read it yet.)

My husband still has to put a chain for the guest book and pen. Apparently they are notorious for disappearing. My husband believes it is naughty kids. I prefer to believe someone takes it home to read and add to it, and then loses track of it. Either way, I don’t want it to disappear.

I’m excited to see how many people show up on Saturday. The plan was to launch in July but the best laid plans… Starting out small might turn out to be a good thing.

Are there any Little Free Libraries in your neighbourhood? Do you use any?

Finally, a Newsletter

 

This is a copy of my newsletter sent to subscribers. If you would like to receive it in an email, please email me at b.ferrante at tbaytel dot net with the words “subscribe to newsletter” in the subject line.

August 8, 2016

It has been quite a while since my last newsletter. My focus has been working on our new house, my blog on book reviews at bferrante.wordpress.com, and babysitting my little granddaughter.

GIVEAWAY

Nightfall (Dawn’s End, #1)
by Bonnie Ferrante

Betrayed by her fiancé, Nicole Newman has put her love life on hold. She loses herself in fantasy, becoming isolated and despondent. When a voice from the woods identifies himself as the man of her dreams and asks for her help, Nicole is unsure whether he is stalking her or about to take her on the adventure of a lifetime. Who, or what, is this mysterious being?

Flaming Net Young Adult Book Reviews Top Choice Award

Five Star LitPick Book Review Award

By YA Bound: “This is a fun, fantastical read that Adult Romance lovers will not be able to put down. Recommended for older readers of YA.”

Other review comments:

“Awesome book cover, font & writing style. A great paranormal or sci-fi or paranormal suspense filled, mystery.”

“This is a well written tale dealing with issues such as love, fear, good and evil, where much is not what it seems.”

“This book was a nice, light, fantasy-romance type book, with an interesting storyline, a well-structured world, and sweet, likable characters.”

The giveaway runs from August 14 two August 28, 2016 on Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/199039-nightfall

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Little Free Library

I am in the process of setting up a Little Free Library at 240 Humber Crescent. We have had a bit of a problem with waterproofing the doors and so the opening day has been delayed while this is remedied. The major focus of the Little Free Library will be children’s books and books for young adults, but there will be a section for adults as well. You don’t have to live in the neighborhood to participate. Set aside a book you’d like to trade keep an eye out on my blog for the opening day. bferrante.wordpress.com. If you have any books in good shape that you would like to share with the community, I would be very pleased to accept donations. Since it is a family oriented library, I will not be including horror, erotica, or extreme violence. I would also prefer to avoid anything religious or political that might trigger controversy.

If you are a writer, I would love to have a copy of your book. I will review it on my blog first, if you so request, and also on amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble. Inside the book will read, “This book was generously donated by the author. If you enjoyed it, please check out his or her other books online or at your local bookstore.” I will then provide a link to your work. I will try my best to keep these books circulating.

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All my books are available in print and e-book form online

@Amazon.ca and Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, etc.

as well as locations in Thunder Bay

 

Get Featured on My Blog

Information on: Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Promos, Guest Posts and Critiques of works in progress.

No thanks to crowd-funding or kickstarter campaigns.

NOTE: This blog also appears on Amazon, Goodreads, and Tumblr.

Review Policy

I am accepting paper books for review at this time.

I mostly review children’s picture books (85%), middle grade books, and young adult books. Please follow this blog to familiarize yourself with what I do. I do review the occasional adult book, especially those I think parents would be interested in.  (I do not review books that have horror, erotica, religion, politics, excessive violence, born again, amateur self-help, true paranormal, angels, or saved by something. No animal exploitation, cult membership, racism, homophobia, misogyny, or hate literature of any kind. I will promote very few memoirs. They must have something exceptional to say. No poetry, unless it’s kid’s poetry.

You must be a blog follower.

I also accept picture books for review from the artist. I am not an arts major, so the review will not be an intensive analysis of the art work although I always comment on the art in books I review. For an example of how I review an artist’s work, go here on or after March 27, 2017.

Go here for details on requesting a review.

Interview Policy

I am accepting requests for reviews. Interviews are presently scheduled every Wednesday up to July 2017. I am running a series called “Three Random Questions.Please follow to familiarize yourself with my interviews. I do not send a canned list of questions but research each author and tailor the questions to them and their work.

Click here for details on requesting an interview.

Promotions

A promotional page for a book can be requested at any time. I will only run a maximum of one per week. You must send me a printed copy of the book for my Little Free Library.  A Promotion page may include 3-4 pictures, links, a blurb, and other information. No more than 800 words please. Unless I have reviewed at least one of your books (favourably), a promotion does not mean I will endorse your work. If your book captures my eye, I will probably review it. If it receives 3-5 starts, I may ask you for an interview.

Click here for details on submitting a promotion.

Guest Post

Guest posts are welcome to a maximum of one per week. Follow my blog to get an understanding of what I publish.A guest post should be 900-1200 words.These are suitable topics:

• Book reviews of picture books, early chapter books, and young adult books.
• Information, inspiration, education, and creation pertaining to children and families.
• An article about writing for children or with children. Make this helpful and relevant to my readers. This should not be an account of your books.
• Tips for reading to and with children.
• Anything about writing or researching for writing or children’s books.
• Working with, helping, educating, or parenting children.Please no religion or politics. Nothing misogynistic, racially divisive, homophobic, or animal exploitation. (Anything about involving children with rescued animals or the outdoors is great.)

Picture Book in Progress Critique

I will focus on three major areas for improvement (if you have them).

For details on this process, go here.

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Toy Review

I also may review a children’s toy, game or activity. Please contact me if you want to submit one for review.

Click here for the details.

Little Free Library on Humber Street

Hi Everyone,

Today’s my birthday and my wish has come true. I’m getting a “Little Free Library” to share with my community.  Unfortunately, when we moved, I did a major purge of my fiction books so stocking it will be a challenge. If you have any books you are willing to donate, please let me know and I will pick them up. You are, of course, welcome to participate. The Little Free Library will feature books for all ages. (No erotica please.) I will hold a launch day when the official sign with my charter number arrives in 2-3 weeks. Thank you.

Bonnie Ferrante: Books For All Ages