"Homeschooling and Working" by L. M. Preston

REVIEW and EXCERPT

Homeschooling and Working
While Shaping Amazing Learners

by L. M. Preston

Homeschooling and Working While Shaping Amazing Learners by L. M. Preston is currently on tour with RABT Book Tours & PR. The tour stops here today for my review and an excerpt. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

Description

Homeschooling and Working While Shaping Amazing Learners is a nuts to bolts guide for working parents who want to groom exceptional learners through the flexibility of homeschooling. Learn to juggle working and homeschooling your kids while maintaining your sanity. Also, use aspects of homeschooling for after-schooling when traditional school isn’t working. Single parents are given options for executing homeschooling or after schooling methods that work in practical bits for the busy parent. Learn how to take your child from an average student to an exceptional student by exploring the possibilities shown in the section on acceleration of learning. From pre-K to Homeschooling College, open your eyes to the many options in flexibility this approach to learning can give. You can homeschool and work to shape amazing learners by exploring the possibilities.

Book Video

Excerpt

The first and foremost expectation and goal of homeschooling and working should be to build a close and loving relationship with your child. Don’t ever let the educating of your child get in the way of that. Remembering, as long as they are growing to perform well in their core courses or anchor courses all the rest will fall in place.

Before diving into homeschooling, being realistic is the first step to managing your expectations. Sometimes through aiming in the middle, you are pleasantly surprised when you and your children exceed them.

In order to start from a good place, create a list of your bottom line goals for the school year and build your mindset to be happy that at the very least you’ve met them.

[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]

Praise for the Book

“Wow! Until I read this book, I never considered how important the homeschooling format is to the homeschooled child, other siblings, and the parents. Homeschooling and Working While Raising Amazing Learners is so well thought out and organized that I can see why LM's children are so accomplished.” ~ MeandMibooks

“Words cant possibly express how much of a satisfied customer I am. This book gives many options on ways to homeschool effectively while working and enjoying your family.” ~ Tericka

“Great book! EXTREMELY helpful on this scary, yet exciting journey of homeschooling for the first time.” ~ Crystal K

“Read this in one sitting last night. It's just what I needed as I prepare to start my first year of homeschooling. I work from home and was super worried that I would struggle to work and be the homeschool leader my kids need me to be. This gave me so much confidence and helped me build a path forward. Thank you so much for this!” ~ Britney

“The things I liked about this resource include the practical approach. It is easy to read. A lot of time and information is given on the preparation portion of this book. Developing schedules, considerations to include, like the child’s learning style, curriculum requirements, length of children’s attention and so very much more. It is very comprehensive and presented in a logical manner.” ~ Suzanne Hare

My Review

By Lynda Dickson

This book is a “guide for working parents who want to groom exceptional learners through the flexibility of homeschooling.” In fact, it’s the book the author wishes she had when she began her homeschooling journey. The book is organized into four sections: preparing for homeschooling (things to consider before you begin), the day-to-day operation of your home school, accelerating your child’s learning, and maintaining your sanity throughout the process. The author covers practical and emotional considerations for your child as well as yourself, the importance of play and socialization, issues of boundaries and discipline, the distinction between home and school at home, fostering a love of learning, and maintaining your mental health. The Appendix contains schedule templates for all grade levels, weekly curriculum plans, and lists of curriculum options. Working in the field of education support, I found the list of websites (with handy hyperlinks in the ebook version) under Appendix H and Appendix I to be especially helpful.

One of the key takeaways is that it is important to separate your roles as parent and teacher. You also need to understand your child(ren) in order to present them with a curriculum that suits their personality, their learning style, and your time constraints. If read cover to cover, the book is a bit repetitive. However, this becomes useful when you need to re-read certain sections later. There are numerous editing errors and poorly phrased sentences in the edition I read. Hyperlinks to chapters and appendices referenced in the text would also be useful in the ebook version.

This book isn’t only for homeschooling families who work; it is an invaluable resource for any parent or educational staff interested in the education of the child(ren) under their care.

About the Author

L. M. Preston is an author, engineer, former college professor, and working mother who has been married for over twenty-five years. She homeschooled three of her four children from elementary school and beyond while she and her husband worked outside their home. Three of her kids graduated with degrees by the age of 17 years old.

Freeebie

Enroll in the author’s FREE mini-course today. “Kickstart Homeschooling While Working” gives an overview of homeschooling and after schooling to reveal how to make it a reality as a working parent.

Links

Add to Goodreads
Amazon
Apple
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
Blog
BookBub
Facebook
Goodreads
Instagram @lm_preston
LinkedIn
Newsletter
Pinterest
Twitter @LM_Preston
Website
YouTube

Featured in this post:

"Writer Get Noticed!" by Colleen M. Story

REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

Writer Get Noticed!:
A Strengths-Based Approach to Creating a Standout Author Platform

by Colleen M. Story

Writer Get Noticed! by Colleen M. Story is currently on tour with iRead Book Tours. The tour stops here today for my review, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

Description

Stop feeling invisible and start attracting the attention you deserve!

Have you been writing for years, but feel like no one notices? Have you published your stories, only to gain a handful of readers? Do your marketing efforts feel like shouting into a void?

Veteran writer and motivational coach Colleen M. Story helps you break the spell of invisibility to reveal the author platform that will finally draw readers your way.

There are more books out there than ever before, and readers have many other things vying for their attention. A writer can feel like a needle in a haystack, and throwing money at the problem rarely helps. What does work is creating a platform that stands out, but in a sea of a million platforms, how is one to do that?

Writer Get Noticed! takes a new approach, dispelling the notion that fixing your writing flaws and expanding your social media reach will get you the readers you deserve. Instead, discover a myriad of strengths you didn’t know you had, then use them to find your author theme, power up your platform, and create a new author business blueprint, all while gaining insight into what sets you apart as a writer and creative artist.

Writers need readers to achieve their highest potential. Find your way to stand out, and let it lead you to the writing career that fulfills all your expectations and more.

In this motivational and inspiring book, you’ll learn:

·         Why simply improving your writing skills won’t take you where you want to go.

·         How discovering your strengths makes you a more effective writer and entrepreneur.

·         What you really want from writing and why that matters.

·         How to use the three-brain decision-making system to build a more successful author platform.

·         What truly motivates you and how to use that to propel yourself forward.

·         How to use the “find your author theme formula” to write a theme that fits your creative style.

·         How imposter syndrome can stall your progress, and how to overcome it.

·         Why risk-taking is critical to writing success, and how to make better decisions about the risks you take.

When you find the treasure that’s been inside you all along, don’t be surprised if it opens new doors you never thought possible.

Excerpt

Have you ever looked up to another writer, admired her success, and said to yourself, “That’s what I need to do. I’ll just follow what she did.”

It’s a common way of thinking, and in most cases, a good way. We naturally learn from observing others, and it’s always helpful to study those who have reached the level of success we aspire to. The problem comes from expecting if you do exactly what this other person did, you’ll accomplish the same level of success. That’s a symptom of small thinking, and it rarely works. In fact, this sort of outlook often leads to discouragement and despair rather than success. When you do (or think you did) everything the successful author did, and the same rewards refuse to come your way, you may feel like a failure. But in truth, you didn’t fail. You just followed a path that wasn’t meant for you.

Consider how many variables there are in life. To start, no two people are the same. You don’t have the same talents, gifts, or personality as someone else. You are you, and that means you must forge your own path to success.

Yes, you can absolutely pick up tips from others, learn important skills from them, study as an apprentice, and use your newly acquired knowledge to take giant steps forward in your career … as long as you go about it with the right mindset, understanding that all you’re doing is picking up tools to make your journey a little easier.

But if you think, even for one minute, that following in another’s steps will take you to the top of that same mountain of success, you’re making a huge mistake. We all have our own mountains to climb. You have to find yours.

[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]

Praise for the Book

“Colleen M. Story has taken a different approach to guide authors toward that platform that will attract an audience to our books. Whether a beginning writer or one with several books published, any writer will benefit from reading Story’s suggestions, doing the exercises, and making a plan.” ~ Pat Stoltey

“… what sets Story apart from other ‘how-to’ writing coaches is her well-researched, scientific background - especially neuroscience - for her advice as well as her fresh, friendly style that makes the reader feel as if we are just sitting down for a chat. This book is all you need whether you are an experienced author or one just starting out.” ~ Lisa T

“The best part of the book by far is Colleen Story: she is upbeat, positive, resilient, level-headed, and creative in her tone and flow so a writer doesn't feel tossed and lost in what can be overwhelming, daunting, and off-putting.” ~ Louise Foerster

“My biggest take away right from the start was the idea of building a strong author platform around my brand, one I feel truly represents who I am as an author and what I am trying to do. I like that each chapter ended with exercises - important steps to help bring your personal voice to the surface so you can truly begin to understand your motivation and your strengths.” ~ Marilyn R Wilson

“Writer Get Noticed! is a superb resource for anyone struggling to establish their own author theme and platform in an increasingly crowded marketplace. I was very impressed with this book and found lots of the exercises and ideas were as helpful to me as a blogger because Story focuses on our motivations to write and how we can better develop our author platforms through a greater understanding of our individual motivations.” ~ Stephanie Jane (Literary Flits)

My Review

By Lynda Dickson

In Writer Get Noticed! the author states that “it’s time to create an author platform uniquely right for you” as your “platform is the key not only to the success of your books, but to your personal and professional fulfillment as a creative entrepreneur.” To that end, she provides a number of exercises for you to do as you read the book. “Though you could simply read the book and learn some important lessons, I guarantee you’ll gain a lot more if you work with me as we go.” She’s right. Don’t skip these!

The book is well written and well set out, with each topic flowing into the next. The author illustrates her points with case studies of real-life authors, as well as with examples from her own career. This comprehensive guide will lead you through an in-depth analysis of your strengths and show you how to match your talents to your passions to create a plan of action. By the end of the book, you will have come up with your author theme, your tagline, and your mission statement, and a much clearer purpose of what you want to achieve as a writer.

This book will benefit all types of writers, whether you write books, articles, or blog posts. As a blogger myself, reading this book has helped me clarify my motivations and define my own mission. The author makes it clear that there’s more to being a writer than merely writing a book. Always remember that “there’s joy in the act of creation that fills our hearts and keeps us coming back to the writer’s desk. But sometimes we forget that it’s on the other side of that desk, where we interact with others, that we discover where we truly belong.”

Inspiring.

About the Author

Colleen M. Story is on a mission to inspire people from all walks of life to overcome modern-day challenges and find creative fulfillment. Her latest release, Writer Get Noticed!, is a strengths-based guide to help writers break the spell of invisibility and discover unique author platforms that will draw readers their way. Her prior nonfiction release, Overwhelmed Writer Rescue, was named Solo Medalist in the New Apple Book Awards, Book by Book Publicity’s Best Writing/Publishing Book, and first place in the 2018 Reader Views Literary Awards.

With over 20 years as a professional in the creative industry, Colleen has authored thousands of articles for publications like Healthline and Women's Health; worked with high-profile clients like Gerber Baby Products and Kellogg's; and ghostwritten books on back pain, nutrition, and cancer recovery. Her literary novel, Loreena’s Gift, was a Foreword Reviews' INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, an Idaho Author Awards first place winner, and New Apple Solo Medalist winner, among others.

Colleen frequently serves as a workshop leader and motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers.

Giveaway

Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $15 Amazon gift card (US/Canada only).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Links

Add to Goodreads

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

BookBub

Goodreads

LinkedIn

Newsletter

Twitter @colleen_m_story

Website – Writing and Wellness

Website – Colleen M. Story

Website – Writer CEO

YouTube

Featured in this post:

"Buzz: The Ultimate Guide to Book Marketing" by Dara Beevas and Roseanne Cheng

REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

Buzz: The Ultimate Guide to Book Marketing

by Dara Beevas and Roseanne Cheng

Buzz: The Ultimate Guide to Book Marketing by Dara Beevas and Roseanne Cheng is currently on tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. The tour stops here today for my review, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.

Description

Congratulations, indie author!

You’ve finished your book - now all that’s left is to get it out into the world. Unfortunately, for many authors, it’s that step of the process that’s the hardest. Marketing is seen as something to be feared, dreaded, and outsourced as much as possible - a daunting task that will leave you drained.

But fear not! The team at Wise Ink knows a thing or two about how to sell your book. And they’re here to tell you everything.

Buzz is the indie author’s ultimate guide to marketing effectively, inexpensively, and excitingly. Within its pages, you’ll find answers to the questions on every writer’s mind:

• What does it really mean to “market” my book?

• How do I best reach my specific audience?

• What are effective ways to promote my book via social media?

• Do I really need to be a public speaker?

In addition to this, the Wise Ink marketing team has provided sample content calendars, email promotions, a marketing starter kit, and more to ensure you’re prepared to get out there and sell your book.

Marketing doesn’t have to be a horror story! Let Buzz teach you how to take your book to its maximum potential.

Excerpt

Where Do I Begin?

This certainly is the million-dollar question. The truth is that you “began” when you started writing your book, saw that process through to completion, and decided that what you’d written was worthy of being brought into the world. So congratulations! You have already begun.

Now that you can check “writing your book” off the list, your next task is to define what success means to you. Yes, “selling books” is a good goal in general, and yes, it would be nice if Bill Gates recommended your book for his summer reading list. But success as an author is more complicated than simply selling books. For many authors, being successful means leaving a lasting legacy. For others, it means winning awards in the literary world. For authors who have speaking careers, success might mean having something tangible and desirable to sell to their audience. You are guiding this journey; you get to create your goals based on your vision for your life and career.

Doing this work at the beginning will focus your marketing efforts. There are literally thousands of ways to market your book. So begin by asking yourself why your book is important, who you’ve written it for, and how you expect it to impact your audience. If your book isn’t solving a problem or offering something new and different, you’ll have a difficult time marketing it.

Next, envision the next three to five years. Are you hoping to start a business? Become a career writer? Launch an online platform based on your book’s content? Inspire activists? Is your book the start of several books you will write? If so, who are these future books for? Are you growing a robust online business where content is essential to grow and leverage your brand?

When seeking marketing opportunities, revisit your definition of success and measure whether each potential marketing effort helps meet your specific goals. What works for someone else’s book won’t always work for yours. If an opportunity does not advance you toward your vision, skip it.

What are three non-monetary definitions of success that align with your vision for your life, career, and future? Ideas include launching a business, becoming a career writer, or raising awareness for a cause.

Praise for the Book

“Buzz is a must-have resource for indie authors. Packed with a wealth of brainstorming activities and dos and don’ts resources, it helps target your thinking about the process and translate your self-reflection into action for the best marketing practices.” ~ Russell Ricard, award-nominated author of The Truth About Goodbye

“When I published my first book, I had zero experience with marketing and had no clue where to start. Thankfully, the amazing publishing team at Wise Ink took me under their wing and walked me through the entire book marketing process, step-by-step. Today, my book is a bestseller and has been read by people all around the world. [...] Buzz really is the ultimate guide to book marketing, and essential reading for all authors who want to successful in today’s marketplace.” Josie Robinson, author of The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles

“This book recognizes the importance of speaking to its reader in a way that offers confidence and realism in the steps needed to take to begin the marketing process, right through continued use of marketing for keeping books current and relevant. [...] Buzz creates a sense of ‘you got this’ and ‘keep going,’ matching the anxiety of the new author and the overwhelming nature of known and unknown things to come for the experienced author.” ~ Kim Kane, award-nominated author of Sparkle On: Women Aging in Gratitude

“Buzz is a fantastic resource for all authors. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or if you’re a year or two into your journey - you will learn a thing or two about marketing your book. [...] I wish we’d had this book when we started our journey, but there’s no doubt we’ll be making good use of it now.” ~ Kathy Engen and Linda Heath, founders of Shift and Spark and authors of GoL: A Curated Guide to the Modern Day Job Hunt

My Review

By Lynda Dickson

You may have heard this before: “the real work of being an author happens once the book is launched.” Well, that’s where this book comes in. According to the authors, “we chose to format this book in essential questions.” Each of the fifty chapters asks and answers their most-asked questions with space to record your notes and to get you thinking about your goals. Each chapter ends with a list of things to do. I just wish the Kindle edition could be interactive so that you could actually make notes in the spaces provided. The book includes links in the text for downloading free resources from the Wise Ink. The Appendix is also full of helpful resources, including a sample marketing calendar, sample content calendar, sample email marketing campaign, a list of 101 ways to market your book, a comprehensive glossary of marketing terms, and a full index.

Key takeaway: “We could never repeat this enough: any marketing you do for your book, especially marketing that has a large price tag, will only be effective if you are willing to promote it yourself.”

An invaluable marketing resource for both new and established indie authors.

About the Author

Dara Beevas believes that books can save lives, open doors, and build bridges. As co-founder of Wise Ink, she encourages authors to share powerful stories that ignite change, tolerance, and growth. She has been involved in the publishing community for fifteen years, acquiring manuscripts, managing projects, and creating marketing and sales strategies for authors and publishers. She’s helped more than four hundred authors publish their books. She is the author of The Indie Author Revolution and co-author of Social Media Secrets for Authors. When she’s not busy pushing the envelope in this crazy world of publishing and networking with inspiring entrepreneurs, she’s travelling and enjoying her husband Tomme’s delicious Jamaican meals with her daughter Genesis.

Goodreads

Instagram @darairene

Twitter @darairene

YouTube

Roseanne Cheng is a former high school English teacher and author of two young adult books, The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High and Edge the Bare Garden, which won the gold medal for young adult fiction at the Writer’s Digest Self Published Book Awards and the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. She now works as Marketing Director at Wise Ink Creative Publishing where she holds the secondary title of “Author Therapist” and has the pleasure of helping authors create plans to get their work into the world. When she’s not reading a book or practising yoga, you can probably find her hanging out with her hilarious husband of ten years and their two ridiculously awesome kids.

BookBub

Goodreads

Twitter @teachablelit

Giveaway

Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a 30-minute book marketing consultation with Wise Ink.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Links

Add to Goodreads

Amazon

Wise Ink

Blog

BookBub

Facebook

Instagram @wise_ink

Newsletter

Pinterest

Twitter @Wiseink

Website

YouTube

Books featured in this post