Still a few days left to catch Guardian Angel Kids' May/June 2017 Ezine!

That's right!  Space Zombies!, They Suck, Horror at Terror Creek, even the Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem! DVD are all available for purchase at Bakka Phoenix - Canada's oldest Science Fiction and Fantasy bookstore, located at 84 Harbord Street, Toronto.  It's a great store for the genre fiction lover - drop by and have a browse.

These are the many "sample" faces of Libby, a Lobivia Jajoiana cactus plant, and main character from our most recently accepted picture storybook!  Click on any of the images to get a better look.

My husband, Kevin Risk and I co-wrote Libby the Lobivia Jajoiana a number of years ago and have been revising it on and off ever since.  Last year Gordon Bagshaw (author and illustrator of the Frodo the Sheltie comic strip series, and the illustrator for Sleepy Time for Mammals) came on board as our fabulous illustrator, and this year, Guardian Angel Publishing accepted Libby for publication (at a date to be announced)!

Summary:  Libby is a cactus plant with self-esteem issues.  After Violet moves in next to her on the windowsill, Libby learns that perceived flaws, which make her feel different and weird, can be her best characteristic.

Here it is!  The cover for Tamara Turtle's Life So Far...which should be released later in THIS SUMMER!  I also hope to officially launch the book in September, and you'll also be able to get a copy at the 2017 Word on the Street Festival Toronto (Sunday September 24 at Harbourfront Centre).

CHANDLER, AZ (June, 2017) – The judges of the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in children’s literature, have spoken, and Sloth the Lazy Dragon by Regan W. H. Macaulay, illustrated by Alex Zgud, won 2nd place in the Health category.
                  “Winning any place in the Purple Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score is required before a First or Second place or Honorable Mention will be awarded to the entrant – even if it is the sole entry in a category,” explains Linda F. Radke, president of Story Monsters LLC, the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”
                  Sloth the Lazy Dragon: Sloth is a lazy and overweight dragon taking up space atop of a hoard of gold and jewels within a mountain inhabited by dwarves. One dwarf helps Sloth lose weight through diet and exercise. The grateful dragon, now able to fly, leaves the dwarf and his people a special gift.  It retails for $10.95 (softcover), $19.95 (hardcover) and $5.00 for the e-book (all prices in USD - may vary depending on the store) and can be purchased at Guardian Angel Publishing, Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes & Noble, Chapters Indigo online (and as of the evening of Wednesday the 14th, in store at Indigo Yonge & Eglinton Centre), Google Books, Vancouver Kidsbooks and in person at Owl's Hollow (PEI).

                  For a complete list of winners, visit www.dragonflybookawards.com.

                  The next Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest is already underway. Final deadline for submissions is May 1, 2018. The final deadline for the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards Contest, which recognizes outstanding literature in all genres, is October 1, 2017. Is your book or product Story Monsters Approved? Kids know when they see the Story Monsters Approved seal it means children their own age enjoyed the book or product and are recommending it, too. How do they know that? Because after books and products pass the first round of judging by industry experts, they are then sent to a panel of youth judges who must also endorse the books or products before they can receive the official seal of approval. Kid-tested and judge-certified! There is no deadline for the Story Monsters Approved program. Books are sent for judging as they are received. For complete rules and submission forms for either contest, visit www.dragonflybookawards.com and click on the contest of choice.
                  To learn more about Story Monsters LLC, celebrating over 30 years of business in Chandler, Arizona, visit www.StoryMonsters.com, email [email protected] or call 480-940-8182.

This June 14th, a number of CANSCAIP authors will be signing copies of their books, which will be available at Indigo (Yonge Eglinton Centre - 2300 Yonge Street, Toronto) in the Kid's Dept!  Authors will be dropping by casually between 4pm and 7pm on Wednesday June 14th to sign their books, which will then be on display and available for purchase.  I'll be there with Sloth the Lazy Dragon.  Pop on by to get your signed copy of a book by a Canadian children's author, and check out the display!