Connect with my Facebook and Twitter.
Anne B. Cole--Author and Preschool Teacher
  • Welcome
  • About Anne
  • Blog
  • Romantic Suspense Novels
  • Children's Picture Books
  • Contact

Inspiration Behind Author Ryan Jo Summers' Glimpse Eternity

2/24/2016

8 Comments

 
Picture

​I love to ask authors if they had a children's book that inspired them in any way. Today Ryan Jo Summers talks about a special book from her childhood, Lad: A Dog. 
​
Welcome, Ryan Jo!
​

      As a child I was given a copy of the book, "Lad: a Dog" by Albert Peyson Terhune. I loved the stories of the collie's adventures and quickly obtained many of the author's other collie books. Later I learned 'The Place' he wrote of had been his actual home and the stories were true. I also adored any Lassie story I could get my hands on.  I wanted to be active in collies one day, just like APT. 
In the early 1990's I bought a blue merle puppy and called him Ruffian. A short time later I bought a tri-color female and called her Raven. They were to be the foundation of my dreams. By then I was testing my wings both as a collie exhibitor in confirmation and obedience plus now I wanted to write, also like APT. It was a great treat when I traveled to his home with two of my dogs in 2003.

    Eventually my interest turned from showing and raising collies to the larger need of rescue and I founded a non-profit rescue  organization, successfully operating it for many years. When my divorce forced it's end, I moved, becoming more serious with the other half of my dream--writing. I finally experienced success in the late 2000's with articles in magazines and journals. Some were rescue or animal related, others were not. In 2012 I finally sold my first novel to a small press traditional publisher."Glimpse Eternity" is my sixth published book. 

     In March 2015 I returned to the world of collies, this time adopting one from another rescue group. Coming from unpleasant beginnings, Ty has been both a blessing and a challenge for me. Sometimes, when he and I are just chilling out, I think back to when I was a child. How I was crazy for anything to do with animals and books, how I wanted to have a house full of both when I grew up. How I wanted books written by me lining the shelves next to my treasured volumes, like "Lad: a Dog" and Lassie tales. And now I do. 


Inspiration begins at a very early age! Thank you, Ryan for sharing!
Take a look at Ryan Jo Summers' latest release! 
Picture
        Kasey Griffin is determined to prove a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis isn't going to ruin her life or define her expectations. She is dedicated to her pregnant sister, her pets and operating her bookstore, 'The Next Chapter'. She has everything she needs to have a full and satisfying life--the daily challenges of her condition notwithstanding.   
         Then hunky musician Ben Salem rolls into town. Ben's subtle charm quickly reminds Kasey she is more than a woman with a disease, she is also a woman with a heart. And Ben wants it.
         Will Ben still desire her once he learns the terrible details of her condition?  



Beautiful cover! I love the dog in the background! Glimpse Eternity is a touching novella I read a month ago in less than an hour, yet the story sticks with me to this day. Click on the cover to see it on amazon. Here's a bit about Ryan Jo followed by an excerpt from Glimpse Eternity.

       Ryan Jo Summers is a North Carolina writer who likes to pen romances with a twist. Love stories blended as inspirational, with paranormal, suspense or time travel--or several at once. She also writes non-fiction for regional periodicals. Her dad is a songwriter and his aunt wrote poetry, so Ryan came by the writing gene honestly.
         Her hobbies include poetry, bird watching, houseplants and gardening, gathering with friends, hiking in the forest, painting canvas and ceramics, and working wiggly word find puzzles, mah johngg or chess.  She lives in a 1920 cottage with a menagerie of pets. She often daydreams of the shore and frequently uses water as settings in her stories.


You can follow Ryan Jo by clicking on your favorite form of social media below!

WEBSITE: www.ryanjosummers.com  
BLOG: http:summersrye.wordpress.com  
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/RyanJoSummers
FACEBOOK:  www.facebook.com/pages/Ryan-Jo-Summers-author-page/312875648810797
ROMANCE REVIEWS:http://www.theromancereviews.com/mypage.php?location=ryanjosummers
GOODREADS: 
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6604705.Ryan_Jo_Summers

And now....an excerpt from Glimpse Eternity

    Silence hung between them. She shifted from foot to foot. Should she offer coffee, cook breakfast, or ask what happened that he spent the night? Self-consciously, she tugged at her hair again. Muttonchop whined at the tension slowly filling the room.

    “So, does that happen often?” he asked slowly, cautiously, reaching out to pat Muttonchop. “Last night?”

    Her eyes widened, breath caught. She felt like a deer in the headlights. So this was where he was going to walk out, she decided. Thomas padded into the room and sat, watching them. She wanted to scoop the big cat up, to hold him as a shield from what was to come. He was going to ask just enough questions to find out what was wrong with her and then decide it wasn't for him. Who would want her once he knew? She took a breath, steeling herself for the inevitable.

    “Sometimes.”

     He considered that, tilting his head. “Have you seen a doctor? It seems kind of out of character for you.” He cracked a quick grin. “Please don’t look like I’m scaring you because it’s starting to scare me.”

    He was scared? She was terrified. She pulled in a hard breath. “I have seen a doctor. It's complicated.”
 
This is just a peek at Ryan Jo's beautiful novella. Thank you, Ryan Jo for stopping by today to share your inspiration!

Inspiration hits me at the oddest times...sitting at a swim meet I jotted ideas for my first novel...hmmm...I wonder where I'll be when I come up with ideas for my future children's book...
​
Were you ever suddenly inspired? And if so, did you act upon it?

Who knows what inspiration will lead to? I say, life is short...go for it:)

---Anne
8 Comments

New Release---Text Me by Erin Bevan

2/10/2016

4 Comments

 
With Valentine's Day approaching, here is a  contemporary romantic novella you will love to read. Short, sweet, and filled with lots of tiny conversation hearts we all love!
Picture
When Erika’s ex becomes her boss less than a year after dumping her by text, she gets desperate to find a date to the corporate Valentine’s dance so he doesn’t suspect she still has feelings for him. Though not a fan of texting for the obvious reason, she doesn’t have much choice but to tap the keypad in order to gain the attention of the only viable candidate from the classified ads.
 
Grayson made the mistake of listening to his brother a year ago and has regretted what he did to Erika ever since. But his brother’s next suggestion just might be his salvation when he takes out an ad for a Valentine’s date…and Erika answers.
 
Using a pseudo name and keeping contact to text messages only, Grayson’s plans to make Erika fall back in love with him appears to be working…until the date of the dance draws near, and she pushes a meeting—face to face.



I enjoyed reading this 64 page book to get in the Valentine's Day mood. Burned by love, Erika's is smart and savy. Grayson learned from past mistakes, but attempting redemption isn't so easy. Check out this snippet from Text Me!

She sank deeper into the couch. What was she going to do? She couldn’t show up alone to the company dance. Not with the chance of Grayson being there. No way.
 
“Maybe go to another speed dating session?” She grabbed a tissue off the coffee table and wiped the excess slime from her fingers.
 
“My hairdresser’s single. You want me to ask him?”
 
“Your hairdresser’s gay. I don’t think he’d be interested in me.”
 
“Really?” Megan gave her a funny stare.
 
“Really.” Erika snorted. “Have you not seen the picture of him and his ex-partner at his station?”
 
“That was his partner?” Her friend’s mouth gapped open. “I thought it was his brother.”
 
She shook her head. Her friend was one of the smartest people she knew, but common sense eluded the girl.
 
Megan popped more hearts in her mouth. “That explains so much now,” she mumbled around the candy. “No wonder my hair always looks good.”
 
“Yes, it does.” Erika sipped her wine.
 
Her friend swallowed. “Well, I’m sorry, honey. I don’t know any single guys. If I did, I’d try to date them myself.”
 
“That’s okay.” She sighed and slumped back onto the sofa.
 
“Is Grayson single?”
 
“I don’t know. Why are you asking?” She narrowed her gaze. “You want to date him?”
 
“No.” Her friend said “no” as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.
“I’m thinking about you. You wouldn’t go back out with Grayson again, would you? Please say no.” Megan’s shoulders sagged.
 
Go back out with Grayson. She never thought she’d be given another chance. Would she go back out with him after the way he treated her? Of course not. She deserved better, despite how wonderful he had been.
 
“I don’t think so. He really hurt me. I can’t give him that privilege again.”
 
“Good for you.” Her roommate perked up and patted her on the back. “Stay strong. You’ll find someone.”
 
“You’re right. I’m going to have a date for that corporate Valentine’s dance, even if I have to search the classifieds.”
 
“Surely, it won’t come to that.” Megan held up her glass for a toast.
 
Erika clinked hers with her friend’s. “Yeah, surely.”
 
Her roommate sat her glass down on the table and reached for more hearts.
 
“Here, give me one of those.”

 
“I love reading the little sayings.” Megan passed her a heart and tossed her dark hair behind her shoulder. “What’s yours say?”
 
She flipped over the candy to see the phrase. Bright pink letters stared back at her. Oh, you can’t be serious. “‘Text me’. Seriously?”
 
Megan burst out laughing.
 
“You would find that funny.” Erika popped the heart in her mouth and obliterated the little saying she had grown to hate so much.
 

Love those candy hearts! Here's a little info on Erin--- 

Erin Bevan is a wife and mother of three. An avid reader, one day she decided to try her luck in writing stories of her own, and the idea paid off. She spends her days deep in the heart of Texas, fighting mosquitoes, cleaning dirty faces, and writing when the kids nap. If it's a really good day, she even finds time to brush her hair.
 

Facebook
Website 
Twitter
 
Click the Text Me Button below to find Text Me on Amazon!
Text Me
Happy Valentine's Day to Everyone!
​---Anne

4 Comments

Ice Painting for Preschoolers

2/3/2016

2 Comments

 
​Kids love to paint.
Fingers, paint brushes, marbles, sponges, toy fire trucks...there are so many fun and different ways to apply paint.
We talk about snow and ice in the winter months so we incorporate ice painting into our da
y.
Picture
Making ice paint is simple. Pour water into an ice cube tray---don't fill to the top or the colors will blend.
Add drops of liquid paint OR food coloring to each cube to the desired color. We used red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Feel free to use different shades or mix colors to make unique cubes.
Cover the filled tray with foil and carefully poke wooden craft sticks through. The foil keeps the sticks upright during the freezing process. 
Freeze several hours or overnight. Remove foil. Before painting allow the tray to thaw for a few minutes so the paints remove easily from the tray. 
Picture
Be sure to cover all surfaces with plastic table cloths and roll up your child's sleeves. Popsicle trays can also be used. BUT...some young kids may think the ice paint is really a Popsicle.
Picture
This green ice paint worked well with my 3-4 year old class but I had reservations using it with my 2-3 year old class. The square wooden stick paints don't look nearly as appetizing.

​As always, adult supervision is necessary especially if using food coloring to make the paints. Food dyes makes vibrant colors, but can be difficult to remove from clothing or counter tops.

Keep warm and enjoy ice painting.

​---Anne

2 Comments

    Anne B. Cole

    Anne B. Cole is my pen name. In real life, I'm Becky Blystone, a preschool teacher, wife, and mother of three fast growing teenagers. In my spare time I like to run, garden, take pictures, and read books! 

    I blog recipes, preschool activities, updates on my books, new releases from other authors, and more.

    To Follow, scroll to the bottom of this page and enter your email address!

    Archives

    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All
    Amazon Links
    Animal Characters
    Animals
    Anne's Books
    Authors Helping Children
    Author Spotlight
    A Writer's Garden
    Behind The Scenes
    Blog Hop
    Book Trailer
    Breakfast
    Children's Books
    Chocolate
    Coming Soon!
    Contemporary Romance
    Cover Reveals
    Cutting
    D.R. Grady
    Everything In Between
    First Day Of School
    Five Secrets Behind A Novel
    Flowers
    Food
    Free Books!
    FREE EBOOK ON AMAZON
    Fund Raiser
    Games
    Gardening
    Gift Giving
    Give A Way
    Give-a-way
    Guest Blogging
    Half Marathons
    Hershey
    Historical Romance
    Hobbies
    Ice Painting
    Indiana State Fair
    Inspiration
    Jordan James
    Long Bow
    Medicinal Plants
    Monster
    Morrison Family Series
    Mystery
    New Adult
    New Release
    No See Ums
    Novel Covers
    Novella
    Outdoors
    Painting
    Pantser
    Paperback
    Paranormal Romance
    Peanut Butter
    Photos
    PI
    Plotter
    Poetry
    Polar Bears
    Preschool Activities
    Publication Journey
    Puffy Paint
    Rachel Sharpe
    Recent Release
    Recipe
    Recipes
    Regency
    Romance
    Romantic Suspense
    Running
    Sanibel Island
    Scissors
    Scotland
    Self Help Skills
    Separation Anxiety
    Series
    Settings
    Souls Endure
    Souls Entwined
    Souls Estranged
    Spring Break
    Susan B. James
    Sweet Romance
    Teacher Ideas
    The Romance Reviews
    The Souls Trilogy
    Thursday Threads
    Time Travel
    Weeds
    Writing Conferences
    Writing Tips
    YA
    Young Adult

    To Follow:
    Enter your email address and click
    Subscribe 

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

Powered by
✕