A New Picture Book Series Chronicles the Whimsical Adventures of Two Forest-Dwelling Brothers as They Learn About Kindness and Acceptance

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19 October 2023

The Weight of Ink, a publishing company celebrating storytelling, announces the release of their first installment in a new picture book series, The Adventures of Birpus & Bulbus, following two young brothers living in a magical forest.

The debut title, The Sour Milk Dragon, created and written by actress Wynn Everett-Albanese and Michael Albanese, introduces readers to Nobby Lob-lolly, a magical village of Tree Wee homes that are nestled within an ancient tree in The Forest of Fine Repute. When Birpus and Bulbus go exploring in the forest to collect things for dinner, they are chased by a giant purple dragon who spews hot, sour milk from his nostrils. When the brothers flee in fear, it isn’t long before they realize that Duncan the dragon is lonely in the forest and is only looking to make some friends to play with.

Beautiful painterly illustrations bring the whimsical story to life, giving young readers much to look over on each spread, whether its ladders made of moss and vines, tiny homes nestled in the trees surrounded by firefly lights, or the unique characters themselves. The social emotional learning elements of kindness and friendship, acceptance and inclusion give this debut title purpose and an enduring message for families and educators to share with children.

The Sour Milk Dragon, book one in The Adventures of Birpus & Bulbus series, is Albanese’s fourth children’s book, the first collaboration with his wife, Wynn Everett Albanese. Everett Albanese has appeared in film TV most notably Marvel’s “Agent Carter,” HBO’s “Doom Patrol,” “The Newsroom,” NBC’s “This Is Us,” ABC’s “Ordinary Joe,” Netflix “Teenage Bounty Hunters” and “Sweet Magnolias.”

If you would like more information about The Weight of Ink, authors Wynn Everett-Albanese and Michael Albanese and The Adventures of Birpus & Bulbus book series, please contact 366589@email4pr.com or visit www.theweightofink.com.

New Release:: To Dance With Destiny By W.L. HAWKIN

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Jocie McKade

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19 October 2023

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To Dance With Destiny By W.L. HAWKIN

To Dance With Destiny – Book 5 of the Hollystone Mysteries Series

Twin wolves howled beneath a turquoise crescent moon, their bushy manes wild and ruffled and knotted by the winds of change. “It’s us. You over my heart, and me beside you. It’s our destiny.”

In the captivating sequel of To Kill a King, ancient magic collides with modern trickery as a Wicca high priest embarks on a thrilling journey to defy the boundaries of time and challenge the very fabric of destiny. This gripping urban fantasy novel follows Estrada who, armed with extraordinary powers, ventures into the past hoping to alter Michael Stryker’s future. A maelstrom of unforeseen events unfolds, weaving an intricate web of chaos that changes the course of history itself. For in the tapestry of time, even the most well-intentioned actions can have devastating consequences.

While attempting to prevent the tragic outcome of To Render a Raven, Estrada struggles with the complexities of love; archaeologist Sorcha O’Hallorhan slips into her own time warp with a woman she once adored; and Conall Ceol, an Iron Age Druid bard, walks into the future to challenge Michael Stryker for Estrada’s attention.

Amazon.ca: To Dance with Destiny : Hawkin, W. L.: Amazon.ca: Books

Amazon.com: To Dance with Destiny (Hollystone Mysteries Book 5) – Kindle edition by Hawkin, W. L.. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

W. L. Hawkin writes the kind of books she loves to read from her home in the Pacific Northwest. Because she’s a genre-blender, you might find crime, mystery, romance, suspense, fantasy, adventure, and even time travel, interwoven in her stories.

If you like “myth, magic, and mayhem” her Hollystone Mysteries feature a coven of West Coast witches who solve murders using ritual magic and a little help from the gods. The books—To Charm a Killer, To Sleep with Stones, To Render a Raven, To Kill a King, and To Dance with Destiny—follow Estrada, a free-spirited, bisexual magician and coven high priest as he endeavors to save his family and friends while sorting through his own personal issues.

Her standalone novel, Lure: Jesse & Hawk (2022) won a National Indie Excellence Award, a Gold Reader’s Choice award from Connections E-magazine, a Crowned Heart Review from InD’tale Magazine, and placed as a finalist in The UK Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Lure is a small-town romantic suspense story set on a Chippewa Reservation in the American Midwest near the fictional town of Lure River.

As an intuitive writer, Wendy captures what she sees and hears on the page, and allows her muses to guide her through the creative process. In an upcoming book, Writing with your Muse: a Guide to Creative Inspiration, she explains her writing process and offers tips and techniques to help writers get their words on the page.

Wendy needs to feel the energy of the land so, although she’s an introvert, in each book her characters go on a journey where she’s traveled herself.

If you don’t find her at Blue Haven Press, she’s out wandering the woods or beaches of Vancouver Island with her beautiful yellow dog.

When You Draw the Hot Mess Character Tarot Card…

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Jocie McKade

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19 October 2023

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The Language of Love and Loss by Bart Yates

When his difficult mother is diagnosed with ALS, a sharp-witted yet sensitive artist reluctantly returns to his New Hampshire hometown – and all the ghosts he left behind.

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

A smart, tender must-read for everyone who’s ever wondered about the life that got away…

Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective by Katie Siegel

A twentysomething former kid detective is coaxed out of retirement for one last case.

Reprinted with permission from Kensington Books.

2024 Creative Writing Awards Applications Are Now Open!

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Jocie McKade

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18 October 2023

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Penguin Random House, and We Need Diverse Books (WNDB), have opened submissions for the 2024 Creative Writing Awards. This is the first year the awards include the Freedom of Expression Award; in the face of book bans and attacks on free expression on the rise in America, Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books celebrate the power of books and stories. Applicants to the new award will be asked to answer the prompt, “Tell us about one banned book that changed your life and why.”

The 2024 competition launches on October 16, 2023, and closes on January 16, 2024—or when 1,000 applications have been submitted. Current high school seniors who attend public schools in the United States, including the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories, and are planning to attend college in fall 2024, are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Six first-place $10,000 prizes will be awarded in the categories of: the Michelle Obama Award for Memoir, the Amanda Gorman Award for Poetry; the Maya Angelou Award for spoken-word; fiction/drama; and the new Freedom of Expression Award.  In recognition of the Creative Writing Awards previously being centered in New York City, the competition will award an additional first-place prize to the top entrant from the NYC area. Runners up will also be honored.

To apply and to read more about eligibility and rules, please click here.

Winners will be announced and posted on the Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards website in early June.

Hear from this year’s winners and learn more about the program in the video below:

Sneak Peek: Coaching Fire by Victoria Laurie

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Jocie McKade

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18 October 2023

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Coaching Fire by Victoria Laurie

Everything’s bigger in Texas when Hamptons life coach Cat Cooper and her saucy bestie Gilley show up for the Texas Rose Festival with their customary pizzaz in the latest Life Coach Mystery from Victoria Laurie, New York Times bestselling author of the Psychic Eye Mysteries and the Ghost Hunter Mysteries…

Gilley’s whirlwind romance with creative director Stuart Jacobs began in Paris, where Stuart was sourcing fabric for the world-renowned Texas Rose Festival, which he is heading up for the first time. The festival is nothing short of spectacular, bringing in half a million people (and their wallets) to see the artistic displays, and exquisite gowns and jewels worn by the Rose Queen and her court. Stuart and his crew seem to have it all under control. But the night Cat arrives in Texas, someone is shot in cold blood, and a member of Stuart’s staff is named the prime suspect!

The Rose Festival is too important to the city’s economy to cancel, so while Stuart scrambles to prevent the festival from derailing, Cat and Gilley launch their own investigation into the murder. With a parade of potential suspects to parse, and an even longer list of motives, they bring in East Hampton Police Detective Steve Shepherd to help. As rumors of arson, burglary, and professional sabotage swirl around the already fraught festival planning, Cat and her team immerse themselves in the cutthroat pageantry to identify the killer, who has already picked their next victim . . .

BEHIND THE WORDS With Author Elizabeth Goddard

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Jocie McKade

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18 October 2023

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Today, we welcome author Elizabeth Goddard to our blog. We’ll be talking about her latest release Shadows at Dusk. First, give our readers a quick overview of your book.

Bush pilot Carrie James assists Detective Trevor West on his search to find his missing sister in Alaska. As they follow the clues, traveling to multiple islands, the stakes have never been higher when someone tries to stop them from finding the truth.

What type of research was required for Shadows at Dusk?

This novel required a ridiculous amount of research—in fact, probably the most research I’ve had to do for any of my novels. I had to know everything about flying a bush plane in Alaska. I had to learn details about the various islands, conflict minerals, geology, and EPA Superfund sites. I find it all so fascinating!

Both of your protagonists, Trevor West and Carrie James, have skills that the other one needs. Can you explain their roles and how they can help each other?

Detective West is a former Deputy US Marshal who used to track fugitives, and Carrie is determined to find the person responsible for her friend’s death and needs his tracking skills. Carrie has been a bush pilot in Southeast Alaska for ten years, and she recognizes the locations in the pictures that Trevor’s sister left behind. They make a great team!

Shadows at Dusk is set in Alaska. Why did you choose this setting for your series?

I can’t believe that’s even a question! Ha. Most of my novels are set in stunning locations, and I figured it was time I write another series in Alaska. The landscape provides all the elements I need to ramp up the tension.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading Shadows at Dusk?

I hope they’ll come away breathless after the ride of their life. Entertainment aside, I want to give them a fresh sense of awe at God’s creation as they learn more about Alaska and to make them feel like they’ve just come back from an adventurous trip.

Shadows at Dusk is the second in the Missing in Alaska series. Will we be seeing any recurring characters from Cold Light of Day, the first book in your series?

Carrie and Trevor head away from Shadow Gap in their search, but they interact with Shadow Gap characters throughout the novel.

What is the connecting element between the books in the Missing in Alaska series?

Shadow Gap, Alaska, and the characters who live there connect all the stories.

What do readers have to look forward to in the final volume of the Missing in Alaska series?

Another wild ride and a winter story!

What do you love most about writing romantic suspense novels?

I love the action and adventure I can add to the suspense elements to keep pushing the story forward, and, as a result, I often hear my books are unputdownable.

How can readers connect with you?

At my website, ElizabethGoddard.com, readers can subscribe to my newsletter to get the latest news. The icons for my various social media sites can also be found on my website.

Where can readers purchase a copy of Shadows at Dusk?

Everywhere books are sold, but especially Baker Book House.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Elizabeth! Readers, here’s a quick look at Shadows at Dusk…..

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can’t help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition–that he help her track down her friend’s killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they’ll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They’ll have to learn to trust one another–and face the dark secrets of the past–if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

New Release: A WINTER IN NEW YORK by Josie Silver

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Jocie McKade

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17 October 2023

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A WINTER IN NEW YORK by Josie Silver

A young chef stumbles on a secret family recipe that might lead her to the love—and life—she’s been looking for in this stunning novel from the New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December

When Iris decides to move to New York City to restart her life, she realizes she underestimated how big the Big Apple really is—all the nostalgic movies set in New York she’d watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn’t quite do it justice.

But Bobby, Iris’s best friend, isn’t about to let her hide away. He drags her to a famous autumn street fair in Little Italy, and as they walk through the food stalls, a little family-run gelateria shop catches her eye—could it be the same shop that’s in an old photo of her mother’s?

Curious, Iris returns the next day and meets the handsome Gio, who tells her that the shop is in danger of closing. His uncle, sole keeper of their family gelato recipe, is recuperating from a stroke and can no longer remember it, so they can’t make more. When Iris samples the last remaining batch, she realizes that their gelato and her gelato are one and the same. But how can she tell them she knows their secret recipe when she’s not sure why Gio’s uncle might have given it to her mother in the first place?

Iris offers her services to help them re-create the flavor and soon finds herself falling for Gio and his family. But when Gio’s uncle finally recovers, all of the secrets Iris has been keeping threaten to ruin the new life—and new love—she’s been building all winter long.

AWARD-WINNING MUSIC PRODUCER CHRISTOPHER “DRUMMA BOY” GHOLSON RELEASING DEBUT BOOK “BEHIND THE HITS”

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Jocie McKade

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17 October 2023

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Multi-award-winning music producer Christopher “Drumma Boy” Gholson, whose name is synonymous with mega chart-topping hits such as Waka Flocka Flame’s diamond-certified single “No Hands,” Jeezy’s “Put On,” August Alsina’s “No Love,” Rick Ross’s “Here I Am” and Birdman’s “Money to Blow,” is releasing his debut book “Behind The Hits,” on Tuesday, October 17, under the Wahida Clark’s Innovative Publishing imprint (WCP), everywhere books are sold.

“Writing Behind The Hits allowed me to reflect on all my accomplishments and experiences over the past 20 years,” says Drumma Boy. “I hope the lessons I learned and mentioned in the book inspire others charting a similar path as mine.”

With over 50 chapters titled after songs he has produced for influential Hip-Hop and R&B artists, the book captures the essence of Drumma Boy’s production prowess with pages of vivid details about his childhood as the son of a Memphis Opera vocalist and the first Black principal clarinetist in the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and the younger brother of the late Ensayne Wayne, who introduced Drumma Boy to the recording studio at age 12. He also reveals how he earned the name “Drumma Boy” and why he chose to leak Plies’s platinum-selling single “Shawty” before the record label released it.

“Behind The Hits is a groundbreaking and timeless literary work by one of the greatest music production geniuses in the game,” says Wahida Clark, the “Queen of Street Lit,” founder and CEO of WCP. “I am proud and excited to collaborate with Drumma Boy as he continues to achieve unprecedented success in his ability to influence music and worldwide audiences.”

Drumma Boy and WCP are co-hosting a book signing party inside his House of Fresh retail store at 1770 Howell Mill Road Northwest in Atlanta, Georgia, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11.

Visit www.drummaboy.com to pre-order “Behind The Hits” and learn more information.

Amazing Hockey Stories: Edmonton Oilers playoff star, Leon Draisaitl By Lorna Schultz Nicholson

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Jocie McKade

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17 October 2023

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Leon Draisaitl by Lorna Schultz Nicholson

An inside look at one of the top current NHL players, Leon Draisaitl.

Born in Cologne, Germany, Leon Draisaitl excelled in many sports as a youth. Ultimately, he followed in the footsteps of his father, a professional hockey player who played in three Olympic games.

Since joining the Oilers in 2014, Leon has only gotten better in each season he’s played. A natural center who can easily switch to the wing, he has the size, speed and vision that make him effective as a scorer or set-up man with a knack for finding the open man.

With family and game photos plus 16 pages of full-colour graphic hockey action, this easy-to-read biography will teach fans all about Leon’s family connection to the game. Engaging text and action comic sequences illustrate how he made his way to the top of the points charts, earning both the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award, given to the League’s most outstanding player!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

LORNA SCHULTZ NICHOLSON grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario, and as a child loved to read, write and compete in all kinds of sports. She is the respected author of many middle-grade and YA novels, the Puckster picture book series, and several non-fiction books about hockey, including the Amazing Hockey Stories series. Lorna lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her family. Not surprisingly, she is a HUGE Edmonton Oilers fan. Visit her online at www.lornaschultznicholson.com.

Scripps Howard Fund raises record-breaking $1.2 million for annual childhood literacy campaign

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Jocie McKade

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16 October 2023

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The Scripps Howard Fund’s 2023 “If You Give a Child a Book …” campaign raised a record-breaking $1.2 million during its 8th annual childhood literacy campaign. The donations will provide 200,000 books to children during this academic year.

For every $6 donation, the Fund gives one book to a child in need.

The “If You Give a Child a Book …” campaign is supported by The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) and its employees, the communities it serves and Scripps family members. The campaign’s primary focus is on reaching underserved and vulnerable children living in poverty, with a special focus on distributing books to kids in kindergarten through third grade, when they are still learning to read.

“Books shouldn’t be a luxury,” said Liz Carter, president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Fund. “Every dollar raised helps a child start building their home library – setting them on a path to success.”

Through the Fund’s collaboration with Scholastic, Scripps’ local stations and national networks distribute the free books during book fairs. The Fund’s goal is to ensure every student in the low-income schools with which it partners receives 10 books each year. The Scholastic Book Fairs allow students to select their own books to take home.

Donate: Help a child start building their home library

To celebrate 25 years since the first Harry Potter book’s publication in the U.S., Scholastic also donated 25,000 copies of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” to every third through eighth grade student in the Fund’s 78 partner schools. Schools distributed their books throughout the month of September as part of Scholastic’s 25th anniversary celebration. School libraries also received a new box set of the complete Harry Potter series.

“The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is a modern classic that has ignited kids’ imagination for many years,” said Ellie Berger, president, Scholastic Trade. “We’re thrilled to join forces with the Scripps Howard Fund on this exciting national literacy initiative to bring ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ to thousands of children in underserved schools and inspire a new generation to start their magical reading journey.”

Watch: Students receive free copies of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone“

Last spring, author Dav Pilkey donated 25,000 copies of his book “Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea” to the Fund’s childhood literacy campaign.

With the two book donations, combined with the funds raised this year, the total number of books distributed since 2016 will surpass 1.25 million.

The Scripps Howard Fund invested more than $8.1 million in charitable gifts in 2022 for journalism education, childhood literacy and community giving.

To learn more and donate, visit IfYouGiveABook.com.

Media contact: Molly Miossi, The E.W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3713, molly.miossi@scripps.com

About the Scripps Howard Fund
The Scripps Howard Fund is a public charity that supports philanthropic causes important to The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) and the communities it serves, with a special emphasis on journalism education, excellence in journalism and childhood literacy. At the crossroads of the classroom and the newsroom, the Fund is a leader in supporting journalism through scholarships, internships, minority recruitment and development and First Amendment causes. The Scripps Howard Awards stand as one of the industry’s top honors for outstanding journalism, and the Fund’s annual “If You Give a Child a Book …” childhood literacy campaign has distributed thousands of new books to children in need across the nation. In support of its mission to create a better-informed world, the Fund also partners with Scripps brands to create awareness of local issues and support organizations that help build thriving communities. The Scripps Howard Foundation, an affiliated organization with the Scripps Howard Fund, supports Scripps’ charitable efforts through its endowment, key assets and major donations.