Friday, March 29, 2024

Review: Letters of Wisdom by Wanda E Brunstetter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Blurb: 

Friendship Letters Series — Doretta Schwartz has always enjoyed writing letters and feels her letters can be a bit of a ministry to her friends. In this series, exchanging letters that contain open and honest feelings and struggles helps Doretta and two of her best friends through the darkest challenges of their lives.  Letters and Prayers Between Friends Become a Balm for Healing   Irma Miller thought having a family of her own would bring her joy and a sense of accomplishment, but she struggles with memories of the abuse she suffered as a child at the hand of her stepfather. When she becomes physically and emotionally abusive to her own children, she reaches out to her friend Doretta for prayer and wisdom. But Irma may find herself at an even darker emotional place before she will admit she needs professional help to heal the past traumas. Will Doretta’s letters of wisdom help Irma and her family, or will too much be broken to ever be repaired?   Find out in the third book of The Friendship Letters series by New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter.  



My Review: 

Letters of Wisdom is the third installment from the Friendship Letters series by Wanda E Brunstetter. I believe this one is my favorite I have read in this series. It is one of faith and inspiration. The characters and what they have been through is realistic and relatable for many readers. The story played on my emotions at times. A beautiful story of the power of forgiveness and overcoming pain and heartache of the past. I loved it.
I will be giving Letters of Wisdom five stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read clean Amish Fiction. As always, I will be looking for more releases from this author in the future.
I received a paperback copy of Wanda E Brunstetter's Letters of Wisdom from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

View all my reviews

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Up from Dust: Martha's Story by Heather Kaufman



About the Book

 


Book: Up from Dust: Martha’s Story

Author: Heather Kaufman

Genre: Biblical fiction

Release Date: January 23, 2024

Martha of Bethany is no stranger to adversity. After her mother’s untimely death, Martha shoulders the responsibility of raising her siblings–quiet and studious Lazarus, and wild and rambunctious Mary. She finds solace in friendship and the beginnings of first love, but just as Martha begins to imagine a new future, hardship strikes again and her dreams crumble into dust.

Ten years later, Martha’s friend pleads for the new teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, to come and heal her husband. When Martha discovers that the carpenter-rabbi is connected to her past, she’s not sure she can trust him with her future. But as he continues to perform miracles, the invitation to believe becomes harder to resist, renewing Martha’s hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Heather Kaufman is the author of multiple books and devotions, praised by Kirkus Review for writing “a charming and well-crafted tale.” She delights in highlighting the goodness of God through storytelling. When not reading, writing, or accumulating mounds of books, Heather can be found exploring new parks with her husband and three children near their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

 

 

 




More from Heather

Up from Dust: Martha’s Story is the first of three books in my new series, “Women of the Way.” Each book focuses on a female follower of Christ, diving deep into her history before touching upon the events we know from Scripture. Book one is on Martha of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Mary.

 

Let me ask you a question: What comes to your mind when you think of Martha?

 

Busy? Angry? Worried?

 

How about: Teachable? Trusting? Strong?

 

I’m afraid we’ve distilled poor Martha down into a personality type, turning her into a cautionary tale for Christian women. When Scripture as a whole presents a much different picture.

 

The seed of this story was planted in my heart during an Easter sermon in 2016, when I was startled into a deep admiration for this remarkable woman of faith. “Why haven’t I been encouraged to be more like Martha?” I wondered. Martha . . . a woman who learned from her mistakes and took the living God at His word. A woman who confessed Jesus as the resurrection and the life while her brother was four days dead in a tomb. Her trajectory in Scripture from worry to radical trust is one to emulate and it led me to ask: What happened in this woman’s heart?

 

In Up from Dust, I linger over Martha, imagining what her life was like before Christ. The story traces all the “many things” that worried and troubled Martha’s heart and the Christ who pinpointed her pain, met her in the midst of it, and lifted her up. We watch Martha come of age as she works through her mother’s death and the heavy responsibility of raising her siblings. We journey with Martha as she experiences first love and learns to shoulder the mantle of womanhood, even while coping with a father who is stuck in his loss. When grief comes to Martha’s own heart, she is presented with a choice. Will she cling to her hurt more than to Adonai, the way her father has done? Or is there a better way forward?

 

May this story encourage you to remain openhearted even when life feels unbearably hard, to pin your hopes to Jesus, the only One able to lift you up from the ashes of grief.

 

While you read, consider listening to the Up from Dust playlist! It’s full of inspirational music that ties into the themes from the book. Give it a listen HERE. Happy reading (and listening)!

 

Surrendering with you to Him,

Heather

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 27

Texas Book-aholic, March 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 30

For Him and My Family, March 31

The Lofty Pages, March 31

Splashes of Joy, April 1

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 2

She Lives To Read, April 3

Cover Lover Book Review, April 4

Devoted To Hope, April 5

Labor Not in Vain, April 6

Mary Hake, April 6

Holly’s Book Corner, April 7

Pause for Tales, April 8

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Heather is giving away the grand prize package of a $15 gift card to Amazon and a paperback copy of Up from Dust!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2aa71/up-from-dust-martha-s-story-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

Up from Dust: Martha's Story is the first book I have read by the talented author, Heather Kaufman. It, also, kicks off the Women of the Way series. I really enjoyed Martha's story. The author use of vivid details made me as though I was standing right there along Martha and witnessing what she was experiencing. I thought it was a beautiful story of faith and hope. It will be among one of my favorite Biblical fiction books I have read to date.

Up from Dust: Martha's Story deserves five stars. I have no doubt historical fiction lovers, particularly of Biblical Fiction, will love it as much as me. I can not wait to see what is the second installment from the Women of the Way series. 

I received a paperback copy of Heather Kaufman's Up from Dust: Martha's Story from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Review: The Ark and the Dove: The Story of Noah's Wife by Jill Eileen Smith

 

The Ark and the Dove: The Story of Noah's Wife by Jill Eileen Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Blurb: 

Zara and Noah have walked together with the Creator for their entire lives, and they have done their best in an increasingly wicked and defiant world to raise their three sons to follow in their footsteps. It has been a challenge--and it's about to get much, much harder.

When the Creator tells her husband to build an ark to escape the coming wrath against the sins of humankind, Zara steps out with him in faith. But the derision and sabotage directed their way from both friends and extended family are difficult to bear, as is knowing that everyone she interacts with beyond her husband, her sons, and their wives is doomed to destruction. And when the ark is finally finished and the animals have been shut up inside, Zara and her family embark on an adventure that will test their patience and their faith as they await deliverance and dry ground.

Experience the story of Noah and the flood like you never have before. With bestselling and award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith as your guide, you'll never look at a rainbow the same way again.



My Review: 

Jill Eileen Smith is by far my go to author when it comes to the Biblical fiction genre. With her newest book, The Ark and the Dove: The Story of Noah's Wife, is now my favorite I have read from her. It was interesting seeing how she envisioned Zara's life and what she went through being part of the Ark with her family.

I am giving Ark and the Dove: The Story of Noah's Wife a very well deserved five plus stars. I believe lovers of Biblical fiction do not want to miss out on it. As always, I will be on the lookout for more releases from Jill Eileen Smith.

I received a paperback copy of Jill Eileen Smith's The Ark and the Dove: The Story of Noah's Wife from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Book Tour and Giveaway: The Secrets of the Hidden Workforce by Lisa Toth


 

Join us for this tour from Mar 11 to Mar 29, 2024!

Book Details:

​Book Title:  The Secrets of the Hidden Workforce by Lisa Toth
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+),  142 pages
GenreNonfiction Occupational
Publisher:  Yorkshire Publishing
Release date:  March, 2024
Content Rating:  PG. Suitable for all adults 17+
Book Description:

Radio show host, Lisa Toth shares how she created a staffing agency for the developmentally disabled population. Over the years, Toth has helped thousands of individuals with disabilities find work that Is not only a good fit for their strengths, but also work they find fulfilling. Readers will enjoy this collection of inspiring stories, as well as the honest candor with which Lisa shares the lessons she learned along the way. She and her clients have faced daunting obstacles and challenges that would make many give up. It's the challenges that make the successes extra sweet for all of them.
BUY THE BOOK:
Rise Staffing

Amazon ~ B&N
Meet the Author:

Lisa Toth, CEO Owner at Rise Staffing is passionate about employment. Her favorite thing is matching people with great employers! In addition to this workToth is the host of the successful radio show "The Hidden Workforce," a show about the positive impact people with different abilities bring to the workforce. 

connect with the author: website facebook 




Enter the Giveaway:
The Secrets of the Hidden Workforce Book Tour Giveaway


My Review: 

I enjoy reading Lisa Toth's The Secrets of the Hidden Workforce. I honestly was not sure what to expect in the beginning but quickly found it to be a beautiful book to read. Lisa starts off her journey as a radio show host who wanted to make a change help those with developmental disabilities to have an opportunity at job placements. Her determination to overcome the struggles, obstacles, and others who would stand in her way was truly inspiring. She would not give up and continued to do what was right for those who deserved to be in the workforce. She believed with customized training, each individual would find the right fit with their strengths. I admired her tenacity and perseverance. I loved the inclusion of some photographs of those she helped along the way doing what they love to do. It was another bonus reading more stories and updates about her sweet stories. I could not help but to smile from to time reading about them. A wonderful book to read. I loved it.

I believe The Secrets of the Hidden Workforce is a five star read. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading inspiring memoirs. I would love to read more updated stories about Lisa Toth and her friends. 

I received a hard cover of Lisa Toth's The Secrets of the Hidden Workforce from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: A Hope Fulfilled by April W Gardner



About the Book


Book: 
A Hope Fulfilled

Author: April W Gardner

Genre: Biblical Fiction (Obadiah)

Release Date: November, 2023

One Hebrew slave’s courage and faith opens the gate on Edom’s demise.

Tikvah, a Hebrew slave in Edom, lives in hope of once again seeing Jerusalem, the Holy City. When a Babylonian general and his dashing Jewish liaison arrive at her master’s house, whispering plans of Edom’s destruction, she senses Yahweh at work. After all, there’s a prophecy foretelling His justice upon the kingdom. Tikvah clings to that promise while obediently following the call of service into the heart of danger. If only there were a promise she would come out the other side alive.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

April W Gardner is an indie author whose great passion is historical romance with themes of Native American and Southeastern U.S. culture. Copyeditor, mother of two grown children, and non-trad college student, April lives in South Texas with her husband and two German Shepherds. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks.

 

 

 

 

More from April

So…Obadiah? Who ever heard of Obadiah as the backdrop for biblical fiction? I hadn’t. But that’s not where A Hope Fulfilled began…

In late December 2021, while deciding on a Bible reading goal for the upcoming year, I pondered which sections of the Bible I knew least. The minor prophets came to mind right off, then camped there as I asked myself what I knew about these little books.

I’d heard a million sermons preached from one or another of them over the years, but could I give even a one-sentence summary on any of the twelve? That question required a moment’s thought, which produced Jonah and the big fish, Hosea and his harlot wife, Joel and the locusts, Amos and… Uh, er, uh…

This was a problem. After burning some brain cells on the matter, I finally hung my head and admitted I was a minor failure. If I’d been tested right then on the minor prophets, I would have received a big red F.

How was this possible? I’m a missionary’s kid who never missed a church service, for goodness’ sake. This was unacceptable. I had an MK reputation to uphold.

Kidding, kidding. But the point remains. After 4.5 decades in church, I should be able to state every book’s title and theme. At a minimum. Anything less is spiritual laziness.

With that challenge in mind, I hitched up my trousers and set to work. My task? One minor prophet a month. I would read each one again and again, really drilling them home, absorbing their messages and banishing my spiritual “shame.”

By April, and my fourth read of Obadiah, I stared at my Bible, the verses swimming before me, and admitted to a second problem—despite my faithful rereading, the first four books were all running together in a mental smear of prophety messages.

Warning, judgment, doom, gloom. There was hope in there, too, of course. Praise God. And a harlot wife. I had that one down. But I was no closer to being able to distinguish them, to really understand the books with any kind of true ownership.

Since I’m a goal-girl, it made me a little sad to set aside my twelve-prophet year, but there was no getting around it. If this was going to work, I would have to go deeper, get messier, put on my work gloves and knee pads, and start digging.

New goal! Understand Obadiah. I’d worry about the rest once I had this one down. Fifteen months and three written books later, here we are, celebrating the release of my first biblical fiction, A Hope Fulfilled.

So, how did I get from studying a minor prophet to writing biblical fiction? The journey from point A to point B wasn’t very long. The series (A Fire and a Flame) started out as a Bible commentary for women, but when I got to exploring the history around Obadiah, my fiction brain kinda took over. It does that sometimes. Silly brain.

I did finish the commentary, but as soon as I allowed myself to ponder all the what-ifs of the event, the novella practically wrote itself.

Obadiah gives a fiction writer almost no details to build on. So, A Hope Fulfilled is what one might call an artist’s rendition of what might have happened during the fall of Edom. There were probably Hebrew slaves in Edom. One of them probably knew the prophecy of Edom’s doom. And that somebody might have, just might have, longed to help God’s justice play out.

Thus, Tikah and her story, A Hope Fulfilled, were born.

Blog Stops

Dee S White, March 20

Holly’s Book Corner, March 21

The Lofty Pages, March 21

Book Looks by Lisa, March 22

Exploring The Written Word, March 23

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 24

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 25

Lots of Helpers, March 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 28

The Printed Edge, March 29

Texas Book-aholic, March 30

She Lives To Read, March 31

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 1 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 2

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, April is giving away the grand prize package of a $30 Amazon gift card and a paperback set of the A Fire and a Flame!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a8f4/a-hope-fulfilled-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

A Hope Fulfilled is a faith filled novella by April W Gardner based on Obadiah's prophecy from the Bible. I was inspired by the author's vision of Tikvah's story. The vivid details made me feel as though I was right there seeing how it all unfolded for myself. Even though it was much shorter than I would have liked, I thought it was a beautiful and powerful tale to read. 

A Hope Fulfilled will be getting a very well deserved five stars from me. I have no doubt fans of Biblical fiction will greatly enjoy it like I did. I would love to read more books like this one from April W Gardner in the future. 

I received a digital copy of April W Gardner's A Hope Fulfilled from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Trapped in Yosemite by Dana Mentink



About the Book



Book: Trapped in Yosemite

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release Date: February 27, 2024

When a massive earthquake levels the region, secrets and unknown dangers are exposed…

The ground in still-icy Yosemite National Park isn’t stable, and K-9 handler Von Sharpe fears the worst. But his worries are pushed aside when he sees an SUV viciously forced off the road…with his ex-fiancée at the wheel. It’s only when Stella Rivers steps out of the vehicle that the very ground under their feet cracks and breaks with the onslaught of a terrifying earthquake.

When her meeting with a mysterious client is ambushed, Stella witnesses the man being gunned down by a sniper and becomes a target herself. With the threat of aftershocks triggering landslides and floods, the new mom has no choice but to run to save her baby girl—even if it means teaming up with the man who has no idea he fathered her child.

Trapped in a dangerously unstable wilderness with a killer closing in, Von and Stella are running out of time to get to safety. And every fissure reveals a new secret that will shake them to their foundation…

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion. She’s written over fifty titles in the suspense, lighthearted romance and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Poisoned Pen Press.

 

 

 

More from Dana

I won’t ever forget October 17th, 1989. I was finished with my student teaching duties, chatting with my mother while we watched the World Series. It was an epic matchup of two Bay Area teams. As we watched, the floor lurched and the entire house began to rattle and pitch. We ran outside and watched the street undulate like ocean waves. We’d later come to learn it was a 6.9 earthquake on the Loma Prieta fault. The shaking only lasted 20 seconds but 63 people were killed, 3,757 were reported injured and 12,053 displaced. The damage estimates reached as high as $10 billion, with 18,306 houses leveled. Approximately 2,575 businesses were impacted and 147 were destroyed. The part I will remember most was the collapse of a section of the freeway in Oakland which trapped people in the pancaked structure. I remember watching the close space rescue teams work night and day to find survivors.

Little did I know that memorable event would someday lead to a book! This novel combines the iconic California setting of Yosemite and the big fear buried deep in every California’s mind…the big one, the massive earthquake we know will be coming someday. Of course you know there will be a happy ending in the novel, but I hope you will feel the edge of your seat suspense that keeps you turning pages. God bless you, dear readers!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 21

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 21

Bigreadersite, March 21

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 22 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 22

Texas Book-aholic, March 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 23

Lakesidelivingsite, March 24

Pause for Tales, March 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 24

Betti Mace, March 25

The Sacred Line, March 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 26

Daysong Reflections, March 26

EmpowerMoms, March 27

Life, Love, Writing, March 27

Cover Lover Book Review, March 28

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, March 28

Blogging With Carol, March 28

Tell Tale Book reviews, March 29

Simple Harvest Reads, March 29 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, March 30

Splashes of Joy, March 30

Blossoms and Blessings, March 31

To Everything There Is A Season , March 31

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 31

Holly’s Book Corner, April 1

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 1

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 2

Labor Not in Vain , April 2

Lily’s Corner, April 3

Lights in a Dark World, April 3

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, April 3

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize package of a $100 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a8f5/trapped-in-yosemite-celebration-tour-giveaway


My Review

Trapped in Yosemite is another action packed and fast paced novel from Dana Mentink. I believe this may be my new favorite I have read from her to date. It was exciting to take this dangerous journey with Von and Stella. I was often on the edge of my seat as the secrets unfolded. I had no way of knowing what was going to happen from scene to scene. 

I give Trapped in Yosemite five stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy books that are clean romantic suspense. I am curious to see what Dana Mentink adventurous mystery has in store for her readers in the near future. This one is a page turner.  

I received a paperback copy of Dana Mentink's Trapped in Yosemite from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Monday, March 25, 2024

Spotlight Book Tour and Giveaway: Mei's Mermaid Mission by Crystal Z. Lee


 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Mei's Mermaid Mission by Crystal Z. Lee
CategoryChildren's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 42 pages
GenreChildren's Picture Book
Publisher: Balestier Press
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2024.
Content Rating: G
Book Description:

The mission of the Mermaids International Rescue Alliance (MIRA) is to guard the ocean and protect the sea creatures. There are many mermaid members in MIRA from all over Asia, such as Princess Hwangok (Korea), Roro (Indonesia), Jiao (China), Ningyo (Japan), Songkhla (Thailand), Duyung (Malaysia), Sovann Macha (Cambodia), Sirena (the Philippines), and Mei (Taiwan). Mei's Mermaid Mission is an exquisitely illustrated picture book that follows Mei as she travels all over the Asia Pacific region to gather the team of heroic mermaids in order to stop the pirate from polluting. Can Mei and the MIRA mermaids stop the pirate in time? Over twenty sea animals and over twenty locations in Asia are introduced in this story, as well as Asian mermaid mythologies in the book's backmatter. Children and adults will delight in this cultural story emphasizing empathy, friendship, collaboration, and environmental protection.
BUY THE BOOK:
AMAZON ~ B&N ~ BAM
add the goodreads

Meet the Author:

Crystal Z. Lee grew up in a bilingual household in Taiwan and in California. She is an avid traveler and has visited over thirteen countries in Asia. Her favorite travel memories include hiking the forests of Borneo, boating in Phuket, cruising down the Yangtze River, chasing butterflies in Taiwan, attending literary festivals in Hong Kong, and visiting family in Singapore. Crystal is the author of children's books A Unicorn Named Rin and Kai the Dancing Butterfly. Her poetry was recently included in the UK anthology, Tabula Rasa. She is also the author of a novel, Love and Other Moods.

connect with the author: website ~  instagram goodreads

Meet the Illustrator:

Allie Su was born and raised in a village in Yunlin county, Taiwan. She attended Nanhua University in Chiayi city, majoring in Visual Arts. Allie once lived in Korea for some time, volunteering in the area of animal protection. She loves kimchi, Korean saunas, Incheon's snowy winters, and taking boat rides to Yeouido. She believes in bringing joy to people through art. Allie has worked as a children's art teacher and a professional illustrator. She also illustrated a picture book about Taiwan, Kai the Dancing Butterfly.

Author Interview: 

There is an environmental protection message in this book. What do you hope your readers can takeaway from Mei’s Mermaid Mission?
If humans do not curb our marine pollution, current estimates predict that by the year 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all of the ocean’s fish. That means there will be more plastic than fish in our seas. We can all do our part in helping the animals and creatures we share this earth with. One of the simplest things is recycling, reducing plastic waste, and reading and learning about marine environment protection.

There are some specialty ships mentioned in your story. Can you share them with our readers?
Turtle ships were armored battleships used from the 15th-19th centuries in Korea. The ships resembled turtles with their fully covered plates.
Dragon boats have been around for more than two thousand years! They are traditional paddled long boats with decorative dragon heads and tails. Today they can be found all over Asia, such as in Taiwan, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, China, Laos, the Philippines, etc.
Moon boats are traditional Bangladeshi fishing boats with a distinctive crescent moon shape.

We love the vibrant outfits on each mermaid in your book. What was the inspiration behind that?

Each mermaid’s outfit is inspired by either the mermaid mythology from their home country, or from the traditional wear originating from their native culture. For example, Mei the Taiwanese mermaid is wearing Indigenous Tao clothing, Ningyo the Japanese mermaid is illustrated to have a ninja vibe, and Sirena the Filipina mermaid is wearing an interpretation of the baro’t saya (the traditional dress of the Philippines).

There are many endangered animals mentioned in Mei’s Mermaid Mission. Which ones made an impression on you?
Blue whale: The heart of a blue whale is the largest of any animal in the world!
Hainan gibbon: Found only in China, Hainan Gibbons are known for their singing, and they sometimes even sing in duets!
Whale sharks: As the world’s largest fish, a whale shark is about the size of a bus. The Philippines boasts the third largest known aggregation of whale sharks in the world.
Taiwanese humpback dolphin: Found only off the coast of Taiwan, these humpback dolphins may sometimes appear pink!

You seem to have penchant for animals in your picture books. Is there a reason for that?

You’re right! My other picture books, Kai the Dancing Butterfly and A Unicorn Named Rin also include many animals. I believe that as stewards of the earth, humans have a responsibility towards other animals and creatures we share this planet with. I think children should be taught this great purpose from a young age.

What advice would you give to students who are aspiring writers?
Keep a journal; start as soon as you can form sentences. Read as much as you can. Be open to reading about unfamiliar cultures and places. And stay curious!

How can Mei’s Mermaid Mission be utilized as an educational resource?
One of my mottos in selecting children’s books is “read the world.” Mei’s Mermaid Mission is for any student interested in learning about environmental protection, endangered marine animals, Asian mermaid mythologies, and unique destinations in Asia. It’s a book that can be utilized for multicultural studies, for animal science, and ecological studies.

Enter the Giveaway:
MEI'S MERMAID MISSION by Crystal Z Lee Book Tour Giveaway