Beuty in Women

Bette A. Stevens is an author and retired teacher who received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Maine at Orono before embarking on graduate courses in Curriculum Studies at Chapman University in California. She taught in elementary and middle school classrooms in California and Virginia. Stevens and her husband are now retired and living in Hartland. Stevens has written articles for ECHOES, The Northern Maine Journal of Rural Culture based in Caribou, Maine. Her love of children, of literature and of learning inspired her to write her first children’s book, The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! Stevens’s latest award-winning children’s picture book: AMAZING MATILDA, A Monarch’s Tale, is a beautiful story that is sure to inspire readers and listeners alike, not only to reach for their own dreams, but to encourage others to do the same. PURE TRASH, The Story (released July 2013) is Stevens’s first book, a short story, for the Middle-grade/YA/Adult audience. It is a prequel to her upcoming debut. PURE TRASH, The Novel will be a coming of age novel featuring Shawn Daniels, the short story’s protagonist. Novel’s planned for release is Spring 2014) Find out more about the author and her books on her page on Amazon.



1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey as a writer?

I am a writer who loves nature, people and literature. I advocate for children, promote childhood literacy and feature authors and their books on my website/blog and social media sites. I have been writing for many years. First, non-fiction, journalistic pieces that featured stories about interesting people. While teaching, I began writing books and stories that I could use in the classroom. I am inspired by nature and often take notes about God’s glorious canvas that surrounds us everywhere and later turn them into short poems. My stories, although fictional, are based upon real people that have entered my life and touched it deeply in some way. Actually, writing fiction was a step-in-faith for me. I have been an avid reader all of my life, but didn’t realize that I could write my own fiction until taking a creative writing course in the 1990s. For me, writing is my way of inspiring people—sometimes revealing the positive, at other times, revealing the negative. In a way, I hope to be a teacher (although I’m now retired from the classroom) to my readers by giving them pause for thought and discussion. I think that is the teacher in me.

2. As an Author, how do you divide your time between your writing and promotional activities?

My ideal would be one-third promoting and two-thirds writing. As a new author, that ideal is pretty much turned upside-down at this point and will likely be revised over time. But, I think that is probably a natural step in the writer’s journey… Just as learning and growing and changing is part of our everyday experience. I’m sure that I’ll find many new and exciting challenges along the way.

3. Describe your writing style in ten words or less.

Hopefully, my writing style is descriptive, accessible, informative and thought-provoking.

4. When you hear from your readers, what do they say?

My readers have all been very positive. Reviewers and proof readers have helped me to improve my writing and are invaluable allies. I am blessed in so many ways.

5. How do you use social media to promote your writing?

I try to post everything on all of my sites, while highlighting articles of interest and other authors and their books as well as writing tips and helpful ideas to involve families in reading, writing and spending time together.

6. How is this world a better place because of your books?

My goal is to inspire us all (myself included) to be better people―to believe in ourselves, to care for others and our natural world and to meet our challenges in ways that will improve our own lives and the world around us.

7. What are 5 life lessons you have learned that other women should know?

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3: 5,6 (NKJV)
• Life is short― make the most of every moment
• People are more important than things
• Be kind to everyone
• Be a good listener
• Follow your dreams

Books

AMAZING MATILDA: A Monarch’s Tale (Award-winning children’s picture book)
MATILDA’s Video debut
THE TANGRAM ZOO & WORD PUZZLES TOO! (Children’s activity book)
PURE TRASH (1950s short story for YA/adult readers)

Bio

Tara Ford lives in Hampshire, UK with her husband, children and a naughty husky called Meika. In between writing she enjoys taking care of her numerous Koi fish, but occasionally she also has to live with a frustrated heron that frequents the garden fence and peers longingly into the well protected pond.
Tara’s writing career began at the tender age of 15 when she wrote a beautiful love story as part of her English literature homework. Her writing career came to an abrupt end at the tender age of 15 when the teacher tore up her story, exclaiming that the content of the essay was highly unsuitable material for school. Although it had not been in the realms of 50 Shades of Grey, Tara’s first attempt at a short story had been shunned.
Over 3 decades of child-rearing, fish-fostering and dog walking later, Tara has reignited her dream of writing. Her first book, Calling All Services, a women's fiction-humour story, was released in July 2013. She has always wanted to write in this genre, but until a couple of years ago, she could never quite think of a good storyline. Then a sudden illness and some time in hospital gave her the beginnings of a novel which would eventually turn out to be the first book of four in the Calling All series.
Tara has completed the second book in the series, Calling All Dentists, which she hopes to publish, early 2014. Her third novel, Calling All Customers is currently an early stage, work in progress and her plans are to release this in 2015. Tara has ideas for a further series, again in the women’s fiction-humour genre, to be written in the future. Her ultimate dream would be to write a new book each and every year.

Tara’s debut novel, Calling All Services is a peep into the lives of one family, over the course of one unusually, eventful week. A rollercoaster of emotions will have you laughing, crying and cringing as the week unfolds to reveal one disaster after another. Will the members of the Frey family ever be the same again?

Blurb – Calling All Services



Alex Frey, successful businesswoman, wife and mother to a busy and demanding family, doesn’t find it easy to take a break. So when she’s hospitalised with a mysterious illness, paralysed and afraid of what the future might bring, frustration meets fear and she can’t wait to escape the hospital, get back in control of things and return her family to the normality of salmon paste sandwiches.
At home, her husband Grant is determined to manage the kids, Alex’s parents, his sister and anything else life can throw at him while his wife is away recuperating. But what else can possibly go wrong while Alex is in hospital? The Frey family is about to find out.



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Book Links:

15 – 5* Reviews
Calling All Services UK
Calling All Services US