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Amazon Reviews for The Kenny Cartwright Chronicles Book 1

 List Price: $9.95

5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm)
Black & White on White paper
82 pages

Saguaro Books, LLC
ISBN-13: 978-0692064658

ISBN-10: 0692064656
BISAC: Juvenile Fiction / Imagination & Play

Kenny Cartwright seems to be nothing more than a human lab rat to his neighbor, Rich Peterson. Although the boys have a different definition of what it means to be "best friends,” Kenny is always a willing candidate to try Rich’s potentially dangerous ideas. One day, while exploring a hill in the woods, the two boys stumble across an alarming plan of attack, aimed directly at them. Regardless of their differences, Kenny and Rich must work out the true meaning of friendship. The only way the two can survive is to unify—their lives depend on it. Their usually laid back summer will quickly turn disastrous if the two don't work together. Their once quiet town won't be safe again until the boys figure out their enemy's master plan. Do they wave the white flag and give up? Or do the boys prepare for war? There are big decisions to be made for Kenny and Rich. The clock is ticking.

Amazon Reviews for The Kenny Cartwright Chronicles Book 1

Monty J. Curtis

5.0 out of 5 starsThe chapters, each and every one, were riveting ...

January 30, 2018

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

The chapters, each and every one, were riveting. I literally could not put this book down and literally didn’t until I had finished. Cleverly written with equally cleverly-named chapters! I look forward to the next!

Amy Weigel

5.0 out of 5 starsThis book is a great read! A new adventure in each chapter

January 17, 2018

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

This book is a great read! A new adventure in each chapter. This was a fun one to read to the family!

Alexander Peacock

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

December 16, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition

4th and 5th grade students loved reading KCC, so did I. Each chapter starts with a famous quote leading into a short story, which makes the book am easy read especially for reluctant readers. All of the students, girls and boys alike were enthralled by Rich's fun attitude, ideas and quick wit. At times I could hear students laughing as they read! They were eager to read the next adventure. This is a great read! I highly recommend it for every one. Adults too!

Debra

5.0 out of 5 starsI live in a small New England town and could ...

December 16, 2017

Format: Paperback

I live in a small New England town and could picture all of this happening. I laughed out loud reading it to my granddaughter.

Terry Timothy

5.0 out of 5 starsthis book is funny! Be warned

December 17, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition

I'm 59 years old, this book is funny! Be warned, if you read this book in bed sleep will not come to either you or your partner. You will stay awake from the splitting belly laughter and your partner will ultimately also receive no sleep. In addition, when you're through reading it, your partner will want to give it a read and the no-sleep cycle for both of you will begin. Very well written and throughly captures moments that most of us have encountered in our youth. If you like to laugh and reminisce about days gone by, this is a book for you! What a fun read!

Paul & Erica Robinson

5.0 out of 5 starsKeeps young readers interested

January 14, 2018

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

Glimpse into the mind of a boy as he gets himself into and out of trouble. Great book for elementary students!...short chapters that read as stand-alone short stories but are joined together to create a complete book that keep kids’ attention.
I bought this book for all of my kids from 1st to 6th grade, but it’s pretty much perfect for my 4th grade son!

Mom of 3

5.0 out of 5 starsExtremely funny

December 11, 2017

Format: Paperback

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. Although it is a book for elementary and middle school kids, I enjoyed it immensely as an adult.

 

Goodreads change for authors

Have you seen the NEW Goodreads pricing for GiveAways? That's right, authors, giveaways aren't free promotion anymore!!!

New Title

List Price: $11.95

5" x 8" (12.7 x 20.32 cm)
Black & White on White paper
202 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1978044838

ISBN-10: 1978044836
BISAC: Juvenile Fiction / Social Issues / Physical & Emotional Abuse

Danny Meyers is a kid with a plan—he’s smart, goal-oriented, and the definition of a goody-two-shoes. So how does an A+ student get mixed up with the school bully? In the summer of 1995, Danny is about to learn that people aren’t always what they seem, that sometimes the best-laid plans fail, and that the ordinary events of day-to-day life can be important—even if you don’t think so at the time. Danny is on the verge of turning a corner and he won’t be able to go back. But what he learns after turning that corner, and a few more, just might help him make sense of things after all.

A word to the wise:
Avoid submitting work during and around a Holiday

Revision Tips for Writers

We can all agree writing is a joy. It’s fun and many of us make our living doing it. But, there are parts of the publishing aspect that can be frustrating and difficult. Most of us find revision to be the most difficult hurdle. “I like it the way it is. Everything there is important and I don’t see anything that needs changing.” How many of us have approached the revision process with that mindset? I think we all have, at times. In other words, you are not alone.

Although I am an editor as well as a writer, I don’t find revising my work to be easy. However, I’ve collected tidbits of advice from several writers and editors. I’ve found them helpful, so I’m sharing them here:

1. Revise big stuff first, make small edits later. This doesn't mean you should not correct obvious typos and grammar errors as you notice them. However, you shouldn't be actively tinkering with word choice until after you've nailed down the structure of your piece.
2. Put the manuscript down and walk away. Writers need at least a little distance from their manuscripts before jumping into revision.
3. Scan the whole manuscript without reading. Scanning can make big problems more obvious than a writer might not notice when reading closely.
4. Read carefully. Take your time and read every word. Then, read it out loud. This will help you catch obvious errors and check for smoothness or the “flow.” 
5.  Look for ways to be more concise with your language. Can you turn a 15-word sentence into an 8-word sentence? Can you turn an 8-sentence paragraph into a 5-sentence paragraph? Less almost always means more for the reader.
6. Use active voice over passive voice. There may be occasions for using passive voice, but for the most part be active.
7. Vary sentence structure. Don't fall into the trap of always writing: Noun + Verb + Noun = Sentence. Even if it's grammatically correct, using the same pattern over and over again will make your manuscript boring. Don't feel like you have to be creative with every sentence; just check that you're not falling into a monotonous pattern.
8. Save each round of revisions as its own file. Start with the first draft. Then, the second draft. Then, the third draft and so on. Saving these files provides a record of your changes and shows your development of the story.
9. Have someone read the manuscript. The more eyes the better, because they'll be more objective when reading, and they're less likely to make "leaps of logic" than you, the writer, might. It is always best to ask someone other than a relative, who naturally will be biased.
10. Print the manuscript for a final edit. There are things you’ll catch on paper that you won't on the screen.

Take your time with revision. Set it aside for a few days, a week if you have the time. Then return to the work with a fresh attitude. Save your revised version in a separate file. Be sure you have addressed all of the editor’s comments. Do not ignore them. If there are some changes that you don’t agree with, write the editor a note explaining why the revision called for will change the meaning of your work. It’s best not to take exception to more than one or two editorial changes. If you and the editor are far apart on the way the piece is written, you may wish to withdraw the work and resubmit to another publisher. That, of course, is beyond the topic at hand.

Revision is necessary to polish the work for the reader, and the reader should be foremost in your mind. If you use these revision tips, you'll be ahead with your revision process and find the editor is not the ogre you imagined.