Oct10

How Can a Fourteen Year Old Girl be a Threat to the Taliban?

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How Can a Fourteen Year Old Girl be a Threat to the Taliban?

The attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan yesterday has me reeling!  I cannot understand how in a modern world, a fourteen year old girl could become a target on a Taliban hit list.  All this young girl wanted to do was attend school; a privilege taken for granted in North America and often not even appreciated.  Can you imagine this  girl’s courage to dress each morning and attempt to go to school after her right as a female to attend had been taken away? The Taliban deprives women’s roles and rights to openly attend schools. After shooting Malala and another girl who tried to protect her identity from the assassin, the Taliban immediately took pride in announcing their responsibility … Read the rest

Oct5

Canadian Thanksgiving Freebie for a Family Read

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Canadian Thanksgiving Freebie for a Family Read

It’s Thanksgiving weekend and I want to show my appreciation to the readers of my Frenchie series by offering you a free download of my first novel, Frenchie’s Best Friend-Follow the Blog. Just go to  http://www.smashwords.com/b/96726 and enter the Coupon Code LX49S to download a copy in the ebook format of your choice.

This first book in the series will make a humorous read for the entire family.  “Follow the blog of daily misadventures as Ethan’s cohort of allies attempts to deceive his overworked mom by setting a nefarious scheme in motion to own his Frenchie.”  It will make you laugh, it will surprise you and most of all it will resonate with puppy love.  All readers are cautioned, … Read the rest

Aug22

Big Boy’s Toys

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Big Boy’s Toys

Finally the departure morning of the long, awaited sailing trip together up Desolation Sound arrived. Two sailboats, two couples, and two weeks ahead cruising the Pacific Northwest coastline bathed in an August heatwave. Sounds ideal, right? Extensive preparation for this trip to “the wilds” was completed.  It all began with the purist sailor, Ryan (always indignant over the power boats and their noisy gadgets in anchorages) purchasing a honking, massive Honda generator.  Yes, a big boy’s toy. The justification, you ask? He could proudly brag he’d be brewing his wife a Starbucks Pike Roast on a newly purchased Keurig. Yes, another big boy’s toy. After all, Desolation Sound might actually be desolate!

Nothing matched the frenzied excitement caused … Read the rest

Aug9

Maeve Binchy’s Writing Advice

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Maeve Binchy’s Writing Advice

Maeve Binchy, an entertaining Irish author, passed away recently and I wondered how many people around the world were touched by this woman through her books. Whenever I was on holidays and had a chance to pick up a book for an extended time, Maeve Binchy novels were always my first choice.  One could count on the story being set in Ireland, memorable  characters, and it would be an enjoyable, light read.

Before starting my second career as an author of Middle Years novels, I purchased Maeve Binchy’s ‘how to’ book, entitled, The Maeve Binchy Writers’ Club.  This book is a collaborative effort (like guest blogging) with contributions from authors, poets, editors and publishers.  It served as a road … Read the rest

Jul31

5 Reasons NOT to Read Frenchie’s Best Friend

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5 Reasons NOT to Read Frenchie’s Best Friend

Don’t even consider reading Frenchie’s Best Friend- Follow the Blog this summer, if:

1.  you aren’t “gaga” about  dogs (especially French Bulldogs).

2.  you dislike reading for fun and humorous entertainment.

3. you’re a perfect teen that never does anything wrong or devious.

4. you can’t relate to a “Frenchie crazy” 13 year old boy from a single parent home with an interfering and quirky Grandma living nearby.

5.  you’ve never wanted anything so badly that you’d do ANYTHING to make it happen!

Of course on the off- chance that this doesn’t apply to you and you’d actually like to read Frenchie’s Best Friend, there are several ways to get your hands on the print copy or eBook.  The … Read the rest

Jul30

Better Hat than Woman Overboard

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Better Hat than Woman Overboard

Sailing along the Pacific Coast, means donning a Scala hat, especially at the age where brown spots magically appear daily. Wearing a broad brimmed hat on the water is mandatory, regardless of its lack of a fashionista appeal. Movies and TV ads never show the woman aboard a sailboat in an ugly hat or flattened hat hair.  Oh no, they look gorgeous, nautical, tanned and relaxed.  Reality, the Scala hat can’t just be any cap, no, it has to be full-on with a wide brim for maximum sun protection.

It’s bad enough you have to wear the thing, but it’s never discussed how trying it is to keep the ugly hat on one’s head out in the wailing winds.  No … Read the rest

Jul11

Winner of Blog Comment Contest

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Winner of Blog Comment Contest

What a great time we had together last week at the  Nanaimo Wellington Branch!  It was great fun sharing the first two books of the Frenchie Series with the participants of the Summer Reading Club. Nothing is more enjoyable for an author of juvenile fiction to have the participants laughing during the readings and commenting on how they can personally relate to the novels.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to leave a comment about your experience with me or your recommendations to others to read Frenchie’s Best Friend-Follow the Blog and Frenchie X2-Follow the Blog. It made my day to hear that some of you are inspired to start your own blogs about your … Read the rest

Jul4

Children’s Writer Shares Enthusiasm

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Children’s Writer Shares Enthusiasm

Children’ s Writer Shares

Enthusiasm

         Nanoose Bay author Mary Laudien is having a blast writing humorous, contemporary novels for anyone who loves their pet.

She shares that enthusiasm with young readers at the Wellington Library’s Summer Reading Club Thursday(July 5 ) at 2 p.m.

Laudien, a retired principal from West Vancouver, is writing the third book in her Frenchie series, aimed at nine to 12-year-olds, ages that she believes engage in reading through humorous books they relate to personally.

In the first book, Ethan enlists the aid of his quirky grandmother, and a following of bloggers, to realize his dream of owning a French bulldog. Misadventures ensue, including a bargain dogwash business in his mother’s laundry room, all shared nightly … Read the rest

Jul1

Blog Comment Contest

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Blog Comment Contest

With summer reading upon us, Mary Laudien is excited to share the first two books of her Frenchie series as a way to inspire kids to read and write blogs over the long summer break.

In preparation for Mary Laudien’s Author Visit to Nanaimo Wellington Library’s Summer Reading Club, she has organized a BLOG COMMENT CONTEST as a follow-up activity.  Participants will be given a business card with her blog address (http://twocandobooks.wordpress.com).  They will be asked to visit her blog site after the Author Visit and leave a comment.  The participants will have some experience with blogs through her readings and will be asked to briefly comment on one of the following:

1. a recommendation for an … Read the rest

Jul1

Blog Comment Contest, Discounted Books, Frenchie Give-Aways!

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Blog Comment Contest, Discounted Books, Frenchie Give-Aways!

LOCAL AUTHOR has a BLAST Sharing her Frenchie Novels during Nanaimo Wellington Library Summer Reading Club

Local Nanoose Bay author, Mary Laudien, a retired principal from West Vancouver is having a blast writing humorous, contemporary novels that make a fun read for anyone who loves their pet or is a “pet-owner wannabe”.  She is currently writing the third book in her Frenchie series to share with 9-12 year olds in libraries and schools. If you like hilarious, realistic novels that give you belly laughs, then Laudien’s Author Visit during the Wellington Library Summer Reading Club is a great summer activity choice.  Laudien will be presenting on Thursday, July 5th at 2:00 (45 minutes) to all who have pre-registered for … Read the rest