Coffee Break with Padma Venkatraman

The Coffee Break Spotlight this month goes to none other than Padma Venkatraman, author of Climbing the Stairs, A Time to Dance and Island’s End. I had the pleasure of meeting her and listening to her speak at the James River Writer’s Conference in Richmond, VA this past October. She gave the welcome address and spoke on many panels,…

Coffee Break: Happy Holidays 2016!

Happy holidays and welcome back! I’m wrapping up 2016 and the monthly author spotlight “Coffee Break With…” by inviting authors who had a spotlight earlier this year to return for a little holiday cheer and share what’s on the horizon for 2017. I’m delighted to welcome back Margaret Locke, whose third book A Scandalous Matter, hit the…

Book Review: Snowmen at Night (Buehner)

Snowmen at Night Author: Caralyn Buehner © 2002 Illustrator: Mark Buehner © 2002 Publisher: Dial Books Genre: Children’s Books Subgenre: Winter Sports, Nature, Beginning Readers Reviewer: Sara Book received by: Gift from family     Synopsis: The often pondered questions of “what do snowmen do at night?” and “why don’t they look quite the same the…

Book Review: Allegiant (Roth)

Allegiant Author: Veronica Roth © 2013 Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Genre: YA Literature & Fiction Subgenre: Action & Adventure (Science Fiction), Social & Family Issues (Values & Virtues), Science Fiction (Dystopian) Reviewer: Sara Book received by: Purchased at retail store       Synopsis: Tris and Four return in this third and final installment of…