Beth’s Book Basket

Book Basket #1

Check back each Friday for a book review - books for children, teens or women. I'll even sneak in an author interview from time to time. Happy reading!

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AUTHORS: Submitting your books for review

Beth's Book Basket reviews children's books, especially those from small, traditional publishers. Fiction and nonfiction books for children, middle grade and YA are accepted. Our goal is to provide reviews of wholesome books that parents can feel comfortable allowing their children to read. We do not review horror, paranormal or any book with content that contradicts Christian values.

To have your book considered, send a message through the CONTACT FORM on this website. Include a 1-2 sentence synopsis of your book, title, publisher, release date, # pages, reading level, and availability of cover image and head shot of author/illustrator. Indicate if your book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble online and brick-and-mortar bookstores. Please specify if your book can be e-mailed as a secure reviewer pdf file or mailed as a hard copy. For books over 48 pages, a copy of the bound book is required.

If your book fits our criteria, we will notify you by e-mail with instructions for sending a reviewer copy and other information. Hard copies of books are not returned, but are donated to a local church library or public library.

Author Interview: Danika Dinsmore

Danika head shotI’d like to welcome Indie-Debut 2010 author, Danika Dinsmore, to Beth’s Book Basket today. Danika’s fantasy middle grade novel, Brigitta of the White Forest, released this month. Congratulations Danika! Let’s talk a little bit about Brigitta and your writing. 

BETH: What was your inspiration for Brigitta?

DANIKA: It was originally a screenplay, as that was one of my earlier forms of writing. One day I was store-sitting for a friend. Her store was filled with magical items like renaissance wear, statues of dragons, etc. I found myself surrounded by faeries and thought that I hadn’t seen a lot of films about faeries and decided to create faerie characters that went beyond the Disney concept of them.

The main characters, Brigitta and Himalette, were inspired shortly thereafter while I was working on set with two girls who had a bit of an older/younger sister dynamic. We were filming outdoors on BC’s Sunshine Coast, which is forested, green, mossy – - and definitely a place where faeries might exist. 

The story emerged, fully formed, as if I had plucked it from the ether. The main story has never changed from that first draft, only become richer and deeper. 

BETH: As a author, I know how cool it is when the UPS truck delivers the box of your first book to your door. Describe your feelings the first time you held the book in your hands?

DANIKA: It was a bit surreal – like I couldn’t believe, after all those years, that I was actually holding a copy. I still can’t quite believe it. Ha ha. I also felt extremely grateful. It took the effort and support of many people to launch it. 

BETH: Okay, let’s touch on your writing process. What is the hardest thing for you about writing children’s stories? 

DANIKA: The hardest thing is always finding time to focus on writing! I’ve always been a busy person, with a lot of creative projects on the go. I had never focused on one creative project for so long.

BETH: What new writing projects are you working on?

DANIKA: It’s mostly editing right now. Editing screenplays, editing the second book in the White Forest series. Writing poetry in between when that calls. I did just get an idea for a new screenplay, but I’m going to have to put that on the back burner! 

BETH: Let’s wrap up with a fun, wacky kind of question. If you were a NASCAR driver, what sponsor would you want on your car and why?

DANIKA: Well, I don’t know if they’d sponsor a NASCAR driver, but BookMobile! I’m trying to convince my publisher to print our next run there. The produce all their books with 100% WIND POWER (from local windmills) and all their paper is 30% post-consumer fiber. This would help me to reconcile my environmental concerns regarding book publishing. And I also just think it would be cool to say I had a wind-powered book.

BETH: A wind-powered book is an interesting concept. However, Brigitta and Himalette might have trouble flying with all that wind!

Brigitta coverHere is the front cover of Brigitta of the White Forest. To find out more, check out Danika’s blogs, The White Forest and The Accidental Novelist Brigitta can be ordered from en theos press.

Comments

Comment from Chris Weigand
Time June 25, 2010 at 5:37 pm

Hi great interview, some interesting info. I’ve got a question though how do you get started on a blog tour and a launch party. My self published book will be coming in a few weeks and is already available through Xlibris, but I didn’t buy into all their marketing packages. So now I am looking at the daunting task of marketing this book and am not sure where to start.

Comment from Beth Bence Reinke
Time June 25, 2010 at 5:53 pm

Hello Chris,

Thanks for stopping by for Danika’s interview.

For a blog tour, you just ask people you know to host you on their blogs for an interview and/or book review. I haven’t done a launch party, but Danika may be able to shed some light on that for you.

All best with your new book! :)

Comment from Beth Bence Reinke
Time June 25, 2010 at 7:53 pm

My copy of Brigitta of the White Forest arrived in today’s mail. Woo hoo!
:)

Comment from Danika Dinsmore
Time June 25, 2010 at 11:20 pm

Hi Chris,

For a blog tour – start with the people you already know, whose blogs you admire and who you have a relationship with. Also, those you’d like to support. You can do an exchange and they can include your blog on their own tour. Social media is meant to be an exchange.

As far as a launch party, I simply asked some authors around my home town and then picked up the phone. In another town, where I had friends, I asked if they would help my find a space. Really, it’s just making a list of places and giving them a call. I had wine/cheese/juice/cookies at my launch parties, too, which allowed for hanging out time.

I also wrote a short article for Indie Debut on creating an alternative book tour: http://indiedebut2010.blogspot.com/2010/06/small-press-authors-consider.html

Best of luck!

Comment from Paula Gorgas
Time June 26, 2010 at 6:06 pm

Danika, I discovered this blog through Indie-Debut 2010, and I’m sure glad I did. Just wanted you to know I ordered a copy of “Brigitta” and am really looking forward to reading it. My WIP is a MG fantasy novel, and I’m always on the lookout for great authors. Best wishes on the release of your book, and here’s to many, many sales!
Paula Blais Gorgas

Comment from Beth Bence Reinke
Time June 26, 2010 at 8:08 pm

Paula, thank you for visiting my blog to read about Danika and her new book. I read the first few chapters last night and it is intriguing! ;o)

Comment from Danika Dinsmore
Time July 4, 2010 at 12:02 am

Hi Paula – yes, thanks for stopping by and for ordering the book! I’m still blown away that people other than my friends and family are getting copies. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think! I’m over at http://www.thewhiteforest.com

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