Mymcbooks Celebrates Black History Month 2012

Black History Month 2012 Theme: “Black Women in American History and Culture”

Artist Hubert Sam created this year’s image which depicts the 2012 National Theme for Black History Month. “Our poster recognizes “Black Women in American History and Culture” who we honor through their achievements.”

Click link to learn more: http://www.oneamerica.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5_74

Mymcbooks introduces 2012 Black Women in American History and Culture.

 

Bessie Coleman, the daughter of a poor, southern, African American family, became one of the most famous women and African Americans in aviation history. “Brave Bessie” or “Queen Bess,” as she became known, faced the double difficulties of racial and gender discrimination in early 20th-century America but overcame such challenges to become the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license. Coleman not only thrilled audiences with her skills as a barnstormer, but she also became a role model for women and African Americans. Her very presence in the air threatened prevailing contemporary stereotypes. She also fought segregation when she could by using her influence as a celebrity to effect change, no matter how small.

Coleman was born on January 26, 1892, in Atlanta, Texas, to a large African American family (although some histories incorrectly report 1893 or 1896). She was one of 13 children. Her father was a Native American and her mother an African American. Very early in her childhood, Bessie and her family moved to Waxahachie, Texas, where she grew up picking cotton and doing laundry for customers with her mother.

The Coleman family, like most African Americans who lived in theDeep South during the early 20th century, faced many disadvantages and difficulties. Bessie’s family dealt with segregation, disenfranchisement, and racial violence. Because of such obstacles, Bessie’s father decided to move the family to “Indian Territory” inOklahoma. He believed they could carve out a much better living for themselves there. Bessie’s mother, however, did not want to live on an Indian reservation and decided to remain in Waxahachie. Bessie, and several of her sisters, also stayed inTexas. To read more click link below http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Explorers_Record_Setters_and_Daredevils/Coleman/EX11.htm

 

Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a fearless anti-lynching crusader, suffragist, women’s rights advocate, journalist, and speaker. She stands as one of our nation’s most uncompromising leaders and most ardent defenders of democracy. She was born inHollySprings,Mississippi in 1862 and died inChicago,Illinois 1931 at the age of sixty-nine.

Although enslaved prior to the Civil War, her parents were able to support their seven children because her mother was a “famous” cook and her father was a skilled carpenter. When Ida was only fourteen, a tragic epidemic of Yellow Fever swept throughHollySpringsand killed her parents and youngest sibling. Emblematic of the righteousness, responsibility, and fortitude that characterized her life, she kept the family together by securing a job teaching. She managed to continue her education by attending near-byRustCollege. She eventually moved toMemphisto live with her aunt and help raise her youngest sisters.

It was in Memphiswhere she first began to fight (literally) for racial and gender justice. In 1884 she was asked by the conductor of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company to give up her seat on the train to a white man and ordered her into the smoking or “Jim Crow” car, which was already crowded with other passengers. Despite the 1875 Civil Rights Act banning discrimination on the basis of race, creed, or color, in theaters, hotels, transports, and other public accommodations, several railroad companies defied this congressional mandate and racially segregated its passengers. It is important to realize that her defiant act was before Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the U.S. Supreme Court decision that established the fallacious doctrine of “separate but equal,” which constitutionalized racial segregation. Wells wrote in her autobiography:

I refused, saying that the forward car [closest to the locomotive] was a smoker, and as I was in the ladies’ car, I proposed to stay. . . [The conductor] tried to drag me out of the seat, but the moment he caught hold of my arm I fastened my teeth in the back of his hand. I had braced my feet against the seat in front and was holding to the back, and as he had already been badly bitten he didn’t try it again by himself. He went forward and got the baggageman and another man to help him and of course they succeeded in dragging me out.

Wells was forcefully removed from the train and the other passengers–all whites–applauded. When Wells returned toMemphis, she immediately hired an attorney to sue the railroad. She won her case in the local circuit courts, but the railroad company appealed to the Supreme Court of Tennessee, and it reversed the lower court’s ruling. This was the first of many struggles Wells engaged, and from that moment forward, she worked tirelessly and fearlessly to overturn injustices against women and people of color. To read more click on the link below:

http://www.duke.edu/~ldbaker/classes/AAIH/caaih/ibwells/ibwbkgrd.html

 

Cara Barton born on December 25, 1821 in Oxford, Mass., the youngest of 5 children in a middle-class family, Barton was educated at home, and at 15 started teaching school. Her most notable antebellum achievement was the establishment of a free public school in Bordentown, N.J. Though she is remembered as the founder of the American Red Cross, her only prewar medical experience came when for 2 years she nursed an invalid brother. In 1861 Barton was living in Washington, D.C., working at the U.S. Patent Office. When the 6th Massachusetts Regiment arrived in the city after the Baltimore Riots, she organized a relief program for the soldiers, beginning a lifetime of philanthropy.    

When Barton learned that many of the wounded from First Bull Run had suffered, not from want of attention but from need of medical supplies, she advertised for donations in the Worcester, Mass., Spy and began an independent organization to distribute goods. The relief operation was successful, and the following year U.S. Surgeon General William A. Hammond granted her a general pass to travel with army ambulances “for the purpose of distributing comforts for the sick and wounded, and nursing them.”
       

For 3 years she followed army operations throughout theVirginiatheater and in theCharleston,S.C., area. Her work inFredericksburg,Va., hospitals, caring for the casualties from theBattleof the Wilderness, and nursing work at Bermuda Hundred attracted national notice. At this time she formed her only formal Civil War connection with any organization when she served as superintendent of nurses in Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butlers command. http://www.civilwarhome.com/bartonbio.htm

 

The woman we know as Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in New York as Isabella Baumfree (after her father’s owner, Baumfree). She was sold several times, and while owned by the John Dumont family in Ulster County, married Thomas, another of Dumont’s slaves. She had five children with Thomas. In 1827, New York law emancipated all slaves, but Isabella had already left her husband and run away with her youngest child. She went to work for the family of Isaac Van Wagenen.

While working for the Van Wagenen’s — whose name she used briefly — she discovered that a member of the Dumont family had sold one of her children to slavery in Alabama. Since this son had been emancipated under New York Law, Isabella sued in court and won his return.

Isabella experienced a religious conversion, moved to New York City and to a Methodist perfectionist commune, and there came under the influence of a religious prophet named Mathias. The commune fell apart a few years later, with allegations of sexual improprieties and even murder. Isabella herself was accused of poisoning, and sued successfully for libel. She continued as well during that time to work as a household servant. To read more click on the link below:

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/sojournertruth/a/sojourner_truth_bio.htm

 

Born in New Orleansin 1911, Mahalia Jackson grew up in a shotgun home shared by 13 people. Raised by her Aunt Duke after her mother died in 1917, economic circumstances forcedJackson to quit school and work at home when she was in fourth grade. Her earliest influences were the sights and sounds of Uptown New Orleans: banana steamships on theMississippi River, acorns roasting inAudubonPark, hot jazz bands, the beat-driven music of theSanctifiedChurch, and Bessie Smith’s bluesy voice wafting from her cousin Fred’s record player. ButJackson found her greatest inspiration atMt.MoriahBaptistChurch, where she sang on Wednesday, Friday, and four times on Sunday. Even at age 12, her powerful voice could be heard all the way to the end of the block. “You going to be famous in this world and walk with kings and queens,” said her Aunt Bell, predicting an illustrious future for a voice that would change the face of American music, empower the Civil Rights movement, and bring Mahalia Jackson worldwide renown. To read more click on the link below: http://www.mahaliajackson.us/

 

On Sept. 17, 1956, Ann Gregory teed off in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis, becoming the first African-American woman to play in a national championship conducted by the United States Golf Association.

Other talented female black players would follow, including professionals Renee Powell and Althea Gibson, the great tennis player who turned to golf at the age of 32.  But Gregory was the first black woman to compete on the national scene and, arguably, the best.

“She was a determined and confident golfer,” said Powell, “and she was such a warm-hearted, inspirational individual that she helped me by her example, by the kind of person she was.  She set the stage for every other black female who came into golf after her.”

In 1963, Gregory was competing in the U.S. Women’s Amateur in Williamstown, Mass.  A handsome woman with great warmth, she was by then a veteran who mingled easily with the other contestants, but there had been an embarrassing moment earlier in the week.

Polly Riley, a contestant, was unpacking a suitcase when she saw Gregory, dressed entirely in white, walking in the hall of the inn in which they were both staying. To read more click on the link below: Story by Rhonda Glenn, USGA.  

http://www.lasentinel.net/Pioneer-Gregory-Broke-Color-Barriers.html

 

Frances (Fannie) Barrier was the youngest of three children born to Anthony and Harriet Barrier. Her father, born in Pennsylvania,  
came to Brockport, New York. Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to…
as a child. He claimed to be partially of French descent. He worked as a barber and later became a coal dealer. Her mother Harriet was born in Chenango, New York and the couple married in Brockport. The family attended the First Baptist Church in Brockport, and was the only black family in the congregation. Fannie recalled her Brockport youth as a time of innocence, but her personal experience and growing awareness of the unfair treatment received by women of color led her to pursue a lifetime of activism.

All three Barrier children attended Brockport public schools. After graduation, Fannie Barrier went on to theBrockportNormal School, a teachers college (now SUNY Brockport), and was the first black to graduate in 1870. After graduation, Fannie Barrier went to theWashingtonD.C. area to teach joining the emerging education movement which focused on freedmen and freedwomen. She reported that she was “shattered” by the discrimination she encountered in the more southern city. She also experienced significant difficulties due to her race when she enrolled in theSchoolofFine ArtsinWashingtonto study portrait painting, and had a similar experience when she attempted to study at the New England Conservatory of Music inBoston,Massachusetts.Chenango is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 11,454 at the 2000 census.The Town of Chenango is in the eastern part of the county, northeast of Binghamton.- History :The town was first settled around 1787….

While teaching in Washington, D.C., she met her future husband S. Laing Williams of Georgia. He worked in the United States Pension Office while studying law at Columbian University (later George Washington University Law School). They were married in Brockport in August 1887, returned to Washington, and eventually settled in Chicago, Illinois where Williams was admitted to the Illinois bar and began a successful law practice. The couple joined All Souls (Unitarian) Church inChicago. To read more click on link below:

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Fannie_Barrier_Williams

http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/africanamerican/9.html

Book Review/Giveaway: The Bamboo Dance. Ends Feb 18th

Christine and Aisha, co-owners and creators of the Independent Children’s Book Publishing Company, www.hartlynkids.com  

 

About Christine: One of Christine’s earliest memories as a child involves riding a small boat at Disney World. On that boat, she stared in amazement as little puppets sung “It’s a Small World” in different languages. Fast forward many years later, with a banking position, a budding writing career, and a family, Christine now joins her friend, Aisha, as they strive to raise globally minded children.

About Aisha: It was only a matter of time before Aisha got the inkling to start introducing her daughter to a “Cosmopolitan” life! Having lived inNew York city for most of her life, Aisha was quickly exposed to various ethnic cultures, which opened up her appetite for further exploration. AtNew YorkUniversity and later at law school, Aisha could be found visiting various locales including, Senegal,Paris, Amsterdam and the Caribbean. Motherhood is quickly becoming an extension of her global citizenship.

About the Author: Cress Sia grew up in the Philippines but spent a few years in the United States for some high school and college education. She is a pharmacist by day and a creative writer by night. She lives with her family in Cebu, Philippines.

About the Book: Meet Paco and Diego, two Filipino boys, as they learn to dance the tinikling, the national dance of thePhilippines. Along the way, they will learn that practice makes perfect, especially when you have the encouragement of your friend!

My Review: Bamboo Dance is a great book that introduces children to the culture of the Philippines.

While Paco and Diego were waiting to be picked up from school, they decided to go across the street to the strip of sari sari stores. They picked up some food and drinks and sat on a wooden bench outside the shop and ate silently while they watch some children in a near by parking lot with two dancers doing the tinkling dance. They remember learning the steps and decided to join them, but Diego was having problems keeping up with the beat as it speeds up. Would Diego let his friend Paco teach him how to dance?

Children can travel to another country by reading books from ‘Traveling The Globe One Book At A Time’ and learn about different cultures. This book comes with a passport and a welcome sticker. Learn the meaning of Tinikling the national dance of thePhilippines, Sari-Sari the small shops in wooden buildings and more.

Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

Giveaway Rules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Publisher will provide the winner with a copy

There will be 1 winner

This Giveaway is Open to the US ONLY.

Winner will be selected by Random.org

Giveaway Ends February 18th.

Comments like these would be deleted –  Great contest, Please enter me, Love to win this!, This is so cute!

1. Mandatory: Leave a comment about the review below. Leaving a helpful comment relating to this book would be appreciated and valid to the giveaway.

 

This Giveaway Has Ended!

Winner is #1 – Catherine C

 

Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations to the following winners.

The Winners were selected using Random.org 

#3 – Kristie is the Winner of Smarty Pig by Molly Nero

#25 – trista is the Winner of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

#16 – Vanessa is the Winner of Time to Teach Your Children Spanish

#2 – Lily Kwan is the Winner of Princess Reborn Chapter 1 by Lee Tidball

Thanks to all those who took part in this giveaways.

Winners has been notified.

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Check back for giveaways going on now or coming soon!

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Giveaway Winners!

 

Congratulations to the following winners.

The Winners were selected using Random.org 

#8 – Melissa is the Winner of Countercharm 2 Of Stars and Dreams

#6 – Marci is the Winner of Sabrina The Girl with a Hole in Her Hearth

#18 – teabird is the Winner of Wild Rose’s  Weaving

#4 – Vivian K is the Winner of Where Does My Dadda Go?

 

Thanks to all those who took part in this giveaways.

Winners has been notified.

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Book Review/Giveaway: The Weaver. Ends Feb 11th

The Weaver written by Kai Strand

About the Book: In a town of storytellers, Mary suffers through her third year of Novice Word Weaving. Mary thinks her troubles are over when she meets a gnome-elf who grants her a wish.  But instead of weaving a better story, she’s weaving strange yarn charms to accompany her still pathetic tales.

My Review: This is a book that truly captures the reader’s imagination. Mary Wordsmith wish is to be able to weave a tale just like her mother Abigail. When a little blue creature that looks like an unfortunate cross between a goblin and an elf grinned up at Mary and took her bottle of milk, he decided to grant her a wish in exchange for the milks. She couldn’t believe her luck and her wish was to weave a yarn as beautiful as her mother.

This is a great book that keeps you wanting to know what’s going to happen next.

Did Mary’s wish given by the little blue creature work? Did Mary’s storytelling improve? You have to read the book to find out. If you love fantasy books you would love The Weaver. I highly recommend this book.
 
 Pages: 94

Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

Giveaway Rules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Author will be providing the winner with a copy

There will be 1 winner

This Giveaway is Open to the US ONLY.

Winner will be selected by Random.org

Giveaway Ends February 11th.

Giveaway Guidelines and Disclaimer

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Comments like these would be deleted –  Great contest, Please enter me, Love to win this!, This is so cute!

1. Mandatory: First leave a comment about the review below. Leaving a helpful comment relating to this book would be appreciated and valid to the giveaway.

2. Mandatory Entry: Please click link below and read the author’s interview and leave a comment there.

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/mymcbooks-interview-with-author-kai-strand/#respond

 

Do Not Forget to Click the link

above to leave Your Comment

  about the interview also!

 

This Giveaway Has Ended!

 

Winner is domestic Diva

Mymcbooks Interview with Author Kai Strand

Kai Strand writes fiction for children and young adults. Her debut title, The Weaver is a finalist in theEPICeBook Awards. Her second title, Save The Lemmings! will be released in 2012. She has published several short stories, a list of links to current stories can be found on her website. For more information about Kai and her writing, visit   http://www.kaistrand.com/About_Me.html

 Kai Strand is the author of  The Weaver

I want to thank you for being my guest here on Mymcbooks Blog

What is the last book you read?

I just finished Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick. A young adult dystopian. Right before that was Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver. A middle grade ghost story. It sounds like I read a lot of darker fiction, but that was just a fluke. I do read a lot though.

What was your favorite children’s book?

The Little Mermaid and The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Anderson were favorite picture books of mine. Blubber by Judy Blume was top on the tween list.

What were your earliest memories of writing?

“Blunder Day” was a class assignment for 5th grade. Mine was one of those chosen to be displayed in the hall during open house, complete with my school picture. That was when I fell in love with entertaining people with words. 

Were you encouraged to write or was it something that came natural?

I think storytelling comes naturally. My grandmother used to enthrall me with her stories and I always wanted to be that captivating. The craft of writing the stories is something I continually work to improve.

Are you working on a new book?

In the middle grade range I am working on a story of friendship and loss. It is very emotional and kind of personal. But I believe it will be a beautiful story when it is done. I also write young adult and I am currently working on the second book in a series about super villains. A very fun series to write.

What inspired you to writeThe Weaver and how did you come up with each character?

I belong to an online critique group called Silver Web. One day the name made me think, ”We weave stories like a spider weaves a web.” And we are all good at it, which can be intimidating at times. So then I wondered, “What if we all lived in the same town and told stories well? What happens when one person isn’t as good as the rest?”

What was your reaction when you found out that The Weaver was a finalist in the EPIC eBook Award in the children’s category?

I was thrilled! It really is astounding for me to realize after reading all the entries, the judges chose to pass The Weaver through as a finalist. How incredible is that? 

What is the most difficult part of writing?

Editing my own story is the most difficult part for me. I absolutely love the creation phase and sometimes don’t mind the first pass of editing. But after that I tend to get caught up in the story and forget to pay attention to the work part. I have to do things like edit from the end of the story to the beginning and record myself reading it. I’m hopeless with punctuation!

Do you write full time or do you still have a day job?

I was laid off of my day job last year, so I’m writing fuller time while job hunting. In a perfect world my writing income will replace my wages and I’ll get to stay home. However, I’m realistic and know that doesn’t happen for most writers.

How do you react to a bad review and have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

There is a lot of negativity online. Mostly I’ve noticed it in the comments sections of blog posts or online articles. I try to value a person’s input without getting pulled into the snarkiness (I’m sure that’s a word!) If a review is respectful, but the reader simply didn’t connect with the story, I’m totally okay with that. I’m always sorry if someone didn’t enjoy my writing, but I know that is why there are SO many authors writing in varied genres. Because there are that many different readers, too.

I have suffered from writer’s block. One of the best cures (for me) is to read a book on the craft of writing. It inspires me to get those fingers limbered up and apply the technique.

What do you hope that readers will take away from your book?

First I hope they simply get swept into the story so that they don’t even realize there is a take away. But in the end, the take away is persistence. Accomplishments often follow a lot of hard work.

Who are some of your favorite authors you would love to dine with?

I’d love to dine with J.K. Rowling and pick her brain on how she manages to let her reader get to know a new character is one sentence. I’d love to discuss Bartimeaus with Jonathan Stroud. That djinn is the funniest character around. I’d love to discover how Maggie Stiefvater manages to write lyrically and with a contemporary voice at the same time. Plus, she’s cuter than a kitten, who wouldn’t love to dine with her?

What author inspires you the most and why?

There isn’t one author but an entire community that inspires me to continue writing. The children’s publishing industry is full of generous, caring, sharing individuals. Writers, illustrators, bloggers, editors, agents, publicists…you name it. They are there and they share. It’s remarkable really. I’m so proud of their successes and it inspires me to strive for more.

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?

Two things, really.

1) Just do the hard work.

2) If you’re going to do it, always do your best. Otherwise it’s a waste of your time.

What advice would you give parents on selecting the right books for their children to read?

Just like with a child’s social life, a parent should be involved. Get to know more about the authors they are reading by visiting their websites or facebook pages. Best of all, read the books yourself. Educate your child on what content is appropriate so that they can make good decisions when you aren’t available. I LOVE when my kids’ friends tell me they aren’t allowed to watch PG13 movies or read books with teenaged themes like serious dating. 

What advice would you give to new writers?

1) Love what you do. Know the business end of writing, but don’t forget the passion that inspired you to start.

2) Don’t write in a box. Critique groups or partners are crucial to growing your writing skill and keeping your sanity.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I’m excited about my next book release, SAVE THE LEMMINGS! Scheduled to release in March.

When Natalie’s Texty-Talky invention makes her an overnight sensation, the media digs until they find a way to smear her goody-goody image. When her best friends start believing what they read, Natalie’s sunny spirit is pushed to its limits. How will Natalie stop the lies and win her friends back? And who will SAVE THE LEMMINGS?

I hope your readers will visit my website, www.kaistrand.com to learn more about my writing, download fun The Weaver related goodies and find where they can visit me online.

Thank you for this interview

Thanks for having me!

 

Book Review/Giveaway: My Monster Burrufu. Ends Feb 11th

My Monster Burrufu by Alberto Corral and illustrated by Alessandra Sorrentino

About the Book: Seven-year-old Olivia has just moved to a new house, the same house where a lonely monster named Burrufu lives hidden in a secret attic. One night, unable to resist the smell of delicious cookies, Burrufu sneaks out and is discovered by Olivia. The two soon learn that you can find friendship in the most unexpected places. ‘My Monster Burrufu’ is a story of overcoming fear, a curse, and a most unusual monster who learns from a little girl how to trust his heart.

My Review: Olivia and her dad left the big city to live in a big house in the country. In the new house Olivia felt something moved in the attic. That night while Olivia was in the kitchen she encounters Burrufu the monster. A talking monster that wears glasses and writes! It turns out that Burrufu isn’t a scary monster and Olivia couldn’t wait to befriend this monster, but he just wanted to be left alone in the attic to write his stories.

My Monster Burrufu is a well written book that would hold any child’s attention. A perfect read for children to learn the value of true friendship between two different personalities but also accepting each other and overcoming fear. This book is full of exciting adventures and I highly recommend it.

Ages: 9 and up

Pages: 102

Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

Giveaway Rules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Author will be providing the winner with a copy

There will be 1 winner

This Giveaway is Open to the US ONLY.

Winner will be selected by Random.org

Giveaway Ends February 11th.

Giveaway Guidelines and Disclaimer

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/giveaway-guidelines-disclaimer/

Comments like these would be deleted –  Great contest, Please enter me, Love to win this!, This is so cute!

1. Mandatory: First leave a comment about the review below. Leaving a helpful comment relating to this book would be appreciated and valid to the giveaway.

2. Mandatory Entry: Please click link below and read the author’s interview and leave a comment there.

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/mymcbooks-interview-with-author-alberto-corral/#respond

 

Do Not Forget to Click the link

above to leave Your Comment

  about the interview also!

 

This Giveaway Has Ended!

 

Winner is Lisa – #5

Mymcbooks Interview with Author Alberto Corral

Alberto Corral was born in 1979 in the Canary Islands, Spain.

At an early age he knew he wanted to work in films somehow. He fell in love with movies, acting, directing and animation, after teaching himself to animate at home, moved toMadridfor further study. He followed his passion and became one of the most talented Spaniard animators.

After the animation school in Madrid he got his first job in Derby, Englandin 2001. That would be his first stop in many cities such as New York, London, Barcelonaor Granada. He settled down in Los Angeles working for DreamWorks Animation Studio in 2009, where he collaborated on the “Shrek Forever After” and “Kung Fu Panda 2″ success. He is now working on “Madagascar3″, due on theatres on March 2012.  Alberto Corral has also worked on two films in Spain that won Goya awards, the Spanish version of the Oscars.

His IMDB page can be found at www.imdb.com/name/nm3208207/.

Living in Los Angeles allowed him to explore storytelling, his biggest passion. Since 2009, Alberto Corral has shot 3 short films as director, wrote “My Monster Burrufu”, a book has received great reviews and he is now writing his first screenplay. http://www.mymonsterburrufu.com/

 Alberto Corral is the author of My Monster Burrufu

I want to thank you for being my guest here on Mymcbooks Blog

Thank you for this opportunity.

What is the last book you read?

I read “Start Something That Matters” by Blake Mycoskie. A great book of how companies should not only sell a product, but try to change the world to a better place. And as a novel, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins, another amazing book.

What was your favorite children’s book?

I don’t have a favorite book in particular. I didn’t read that much when I was a child. Readingis something that I fell in love with much later. However, I can say that when I was a child I used to love those books where you can choose your own ending. I found fascinating those stories because it made me be more protagonist and participant of the book.  

What were your earliest memories of writing?

Pretty young! I think my first short story was when I was 8 years old, for my class. I remember I won a few awards in my school. I remember that it was about a European family that traveled toJapanand the kid got lost. 

Were you encouraged to write or was it something that came natural?

It came natural. I never saw myself as an author, per se. I always loved creating stories and characters. That is something I was doing since I remember. But I never thought I would write a book, because I thought I couldn’t. Until I found a story that I really wanted to tell everybody.

What was your first animation before working on Shrek Forever After?

My very first job was a small animation that I did for a commercial that was played on local theaters. Years later, I got a job on video games in England. After that, I did some commercials, more video games and two movies. “Planet 51″ and “The missing lynx”, both movies won the Goya Awards for the best animated movie (the Goya are the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars).

What are the differences between working on Shrek Forever After Movie to the Kung Fu Panda 2 movie?

They are two ways to see it, Artistic and technical.
The technical part is the same, in both movies you have to do the animation, the same techniques, same deadlines, same everything.
And then, the artistic part is always different. You have to learn how they move. Shrek and Po are completely different and they behave in so many different ways. That’s the fun part. You have to learn their personalities, get to know them. For me, the biggest difference is that on Panda 2, I had move freedom to “exaggerate” the characters, as they were more cartoon than Shrek’s characters.

What inspired you to write My Monster Burrufu and will it be on the big screen soon?

I wish it will be on the big screen   I’d love to see it. Actually, that was one of the reasons to write it. I wanted to see the characters on theaters. What inspired me was that I felt the need to tell everybody about these two amazing characters. I didn’t want them to just be in my head. I wanted to tell their journey and share it.

What is the most difficult part of writing?

The first page, for me is to write the first page. Starting is the hardest thing. But, fortunately, for me, once I start, it’s hard to stop. Then there are a few more difficulties, like having a good story, but that’s always something that you can work on if you had something written at the first place. 

What do you do when you’re not writing or promoting your books?

Animate. Right now that’s my day job. And on my spare time, I do short films and I’m trying to finish my first screenplay.  And of course, I go to my wife to enjoy life as much as I can.

How do you react to a bad review and have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

I’ve been very, very lucky. So far, I haven’t had any bad review. I had a few that weren’t great, but never bad. But I know that eventually it will happen. It’s something that you always have to have in mind, because it is impossible to please everybody. And when that happens to me, I’ll try to learn from it.

And about writer’s block. Yes, of course, I had it many times and when I suffer it I just go for a very long walk. No music, no phone, no distraction. Just a long walk, thinking and relaxing.

What do you hope that readers will take away from your book?

I hope they learn how to accept people. That they don’t prejudge anybody for their looks. And once they got their friendship, they have to do sacrifices and work on it. Don’t take it by granted.

Who are some of your favorite authors you would love to dine with?

I’m more of a movie guy. I have a long list of directors and scriptwriter I’d love to dine with. But, authors, not that long. Let’s see….I’d think it’d be an interesting dinner with J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter’s book), Paulo Coelho (I love his book “The Alchemist”) and George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones). Another interesting dinner would be with some classics children’s book authors, like Ted Hughes (I’m a big fan of the Iron Giant) and Ronald Dahl.

What author inspires you the most and why?

Any author that makes me feel emotionally attached to his/her work inspires me. For example, George R.R. Martin’s books are masterpieces. He makes you care about all characters, their books makes you pour your whole heart into something that it doesn’t exist beyond those pages, and that’s what I would love to achieve. That’s what I truly believe that a story should do. Create characters so realistic (even a monster) that you wish they existed. 

What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.?

That’s really hard. I try to have a discipline. But it is tough, especially when you have another day job. What I do it’s to have goals. I believe that if you don’t plan a goal in your life, it’s very difficult to achieve anything. It’s like a ship, you need to know where you are going or you can spend all the time adrift. So, I’m very concern about goals and I even decide my deadlines for when I want to accomplish them. But I don’t have routine of writing. One thing that I always do is that I don’t start to write, until I got the whole plot in my head.

What advice would you give parents on selecting the right books for their children to read?

Read reviews. Listen what other people think about that book and if you have the chance to read it first, that’d be great. So you can tell if it suitable for your kid.

What advice you would give to new writers?

Write. Just write. It doesn’t matter how good or bad it is. You can always fix it, but you have to have something to start from. And the more you write, the better you become. It’s like everything in life, the more you do it, and the better you are. This is my first book, but it’s not my first story and I can see that the more stories I create, the better I become.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

There is a motto that I believe and it always gives me strength. “Never give up, because if you don’t give up……..anything is possible”

Thank you for this interview.

 Thank YOU

Alberto

 

Giveaway: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Ends Jan 31st

To Kill A Mockingbird Celebrates 50 Years!

For so many people across the country, both young and old, one name comes to mind when they think about the reading of their childhood — Harper Lee.

To this day, on the eve of the 50th birthday “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Lee’s only novel lives on to fulfill its one purpose: to challenge society and one’s way of thinking a page at a time. http://abcnews.go.com/WN/50th-anniversary-famous-harper-lee-book-kill-mockingbird/story?id=11126933

About the Book: The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior – to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story by a youngAlabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.

Pages: 281

http://www.harperlee.com/bio.htm

 

Giveaway Rules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There will be 1 winner

This Giveaway is Open to the US ONLY.

Winner will be selected by Random.org

Giveaway Ends January 31st.

Comments like these would be deleted –  Great contest, Please enter me, Love to win this!, This is so cute!

Mandatory: First leave a comment about the review below. Leaving a helpful comment relating to this book would be appreciated and valid to the giveaway.

 

This Giveaway Has Ended!

Winner: #25 – trista

Book Review/Giveaway: There’s Just Something About a Boy. Ends Feb 11th

There’s Just Something About a Boy by Jenny Lee Sulpizio and illustrated by Peg Lozier

About the Book: There’s Just Something About a Boy is a children’s keepsake picture book celebrating the special bond between a mother and her newborn son by depicting the love, laughter, and unparalleled adventure that will surely come from raising a little boy.

My Review: This is the second book by the author and what a great read. The author beautifully expresses the bond between a mother and her son. From seeing his image on the sonogram to graduating from school and starting a new future. She tells a story every mother with a son can relate to.

The illustrations by Peg Lozier are beautiful and colorful which helps to bring each pages of the story to life. There’s Just Something About a Boy is a great book to give as a gift to a first time parent.

Pages: 30

Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

Giveaway Rules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Author will be providing the winner with a signed copy

There will be 1 winner

This Giveaway is Open to the US ONLY.

Winner will be selected by Random.org

Giveaway Ends February 11th.

Giveaway Guidelines and Disclaimer

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/giveaway-guidelines-disclaimer/

Comments like these would be deleted –  Great contest, Please enter me, Love to win this!, This is so cute!

1. Mandatory: First leave a comment about the review below. Leaving a helpful comment relating to this book would be appreciated and valid to the giveaway.

2. Mandatory Entry: Please click link below and read the author’s interview and leave a comment there.

http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/mymcbooks-interview-author-jenny-lee-sulpizio/#respond

 

Do Not Forget to Click the link

above to leave Your Comment

  about the interview also!

 

This Giveaway Has Ended!

 

Winner is Melissa – #10