Magical World of Reading. This year, we raised over $29,000 for these programs that help people who are struggling with basic reading, writing, math and computer skills. This makes me feel pretty good. That’s over $6000 more than last year’s amount. I’m definitely smiling.

This past weekend, we finally experienced the moment, where all 40 writers gathered to spend 72-hours straight in one room… TOGETHER!

To continue reading this article, go to Ascribe Writers website where I'm guest blogging there today:
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                                                         Ascribe Writers Guest Post by Lori Twining
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BURN BABY, BURN BABY, Kevin Craig's fourth Novel, a contemporary young adult novel is being released by Curiosity Quills Press on December 11, 2014... that's TOMORROW. You can PRE-ORDER a copy today at AMAZON for only $4.99 for a Kindle version. Click the button below:

Today, I have the pleasure of being part of the Burn Baby Blog Tour and sharing my Review of the novel with you. Before I do that, I just want to tell you that I am a huge fan of YA (Young Adult) novels. I'm an avid reader and I read books from every genre, but, I love the YA category the best. In fact, I am also a writer in the same genre, so believe me when I say, "I KNOW MY YA! With that said, I will just blurt out, Burn Baby, Burn Baby was a FANTASTIC QUICK READ!

I read this book in one evening, while sitting in my rocking chair, wrapped in a fleecy blanket, chewing on my fingernails (especially during the last seven chapters or so). Actually, I believe this is the ONLY book I've read during 2014 (out of 83 books so far), that I have stayed up past my bedtime to finish reading it. It was that good. 

I do have a confession I want to throw out, actually it is more of a brag... I believe, I was actually in the same room as this writer, when he was pounding the keyboard during the Muskoka Novel Marathon writing this very novel. Kevin Craig is a machine. He hardly ever sleeps. I have been lucky enough to watch him create four novels over the past four summers and I can't wait to read each and every one of them. The amazing part of this, he was writing these novels while raising money for Literacy. What a wonderful cause to support!

Kevin has a talent with developing characters you fall in love with like Francis, the main character who is abused and bullied almost all his life. I dropped a tear or two reading about specific moments he spent with his father. I just wanted to reach inside the book and hug the poor boy. Take him home with me and try and protect him. Kevin created Francis's best friend Trig, who continuously stood up for Francis and was his full-time protection against the meanest kid in high school, Brandon Hayley, who I couldn't help but despise. Kevin, also created Rachel, a girl who was able to look past the ugliness and find only things to smile about... and kiss gently. My emotions were all over the map on this book: I went from happiness, to anger, to frustrated, to horror with every page I turned. I could easily picture this novel as a movie, as Francis was quite often doing, and I feel that I actually knew a few of these kids when they attended my high school back in the day. 

This book was a fantastic portrayal of the every day teenage life, with sticks and stones thrown in to make us gasp, including some trial and errors of coping with his problems, using methods such as alcohol, that every child experiences at one time or another. Teens are often struggling to find the right path on how to deal with small issues, let alone larger ones that happen near the end of the book. Sometimes, it's hard facing the truth of what life is like behind the closed door...sometimes, you never know. I loved the references of the Shakespeare quotes and the Paul Simon mentions. I can't give this away though, no spoilers from me, so you'll just have to wait and read it yourself. It's not what you think, I promise. PLUS, I loved all the author's acknowledgements at the end of the book... I possibly shed a tear or two.

Burn Baby, Burn Baby is a must read for all kids over the age of 12... and any parent who might have a child living in their house who may be abusive to others, or more importantly, may be the one getting tortured and is now scared to leave the house for worry, he may never come home alive.

You should add this novel to your Christmas Wish List this year.  ~  5 out of 5 Stars.

Twitter... unless you live in a remote area of the World, you probably know what Twitter is, right?

Basically, it's a small post or status update told in 140 characters or less, called a #Tweet.  You can add pictures and videos to the message, if you like. 

Twitter uses #Hashtags to make it easier for people to follow the the topics that they are most interested in, such as #writing...people who like to write, will check on this hashtag to see what other people are writing.

In 2009, an intelligent woman by the name of Johanna Harness started the hashtag #amwriting. I love this particular hashtag, because, a writer can always find someone else online, no matter what time of the day, no matter where you are in the World, and you can communicate with them. If you're having writer's block, jump on board and talk with someone else who either just experienced the same thing, or is struggling with it right beside you (virtually, of course).

At first when I joined Twitter, I must admit it was extremely overwhelming for me. Sure, I knew how to communicate with other social media sites, like Facebook, Pinterest, Blogging, etc., but Twitter was different. So many people collecting followers like they were playing a video game. I did sit back and watch for a while. I became friends with a few people that I actually knew already (my kids and a few friends) and watched what they had to say. Truthfully, most of them were using it as a chat line to talk to friends in the same room as them, at the same party, or in the same town. I wasn't interested in that. I wanted to meet other writers and authors. Why? Because, I like to call myself a writer, even though, I have a real paying job that I go to Monday to Friday 8-5 and sometimes, even longer than that. I have three busy kids who play sports everywhere and often. Enough said about that. 

So, obviously, I didn't feel I had enough time to dabble in social media I knew nothing about, right?

Wrong. As a writer, this is the place to be. I strongly urge you to join Twitter and become a Tweeter.

Did you hear? There's a new 3-Day Novel Writing Marathon coming to Toronto. 

If you've never experienced a 72-hour writing marathon, you really should add it to your Bucket List. It is an amazing experience for a writer. I know, it sounds overwhelming at first, thinking about trying to stay up for 72 hours straight, but something happens to you...you find amazing strength, just like a superhero, and surprisingly, you can do it. You will write and write, until you hear the horn signifying the marathon has come to an end. It's all thanks to the little brain chemicals, called endorphins. Neurotransmitters send messages pumping through your nervous system, giving you the ultimate energy to keep going and going, like that little Energizer Bunny.

I've had the pleasure of participating in quite a few 3-Day Novel Writing Marathons:

• The International 3-Day Novel Contest (Vancouver)
  
• The 3-Day Novel Marathon (Owen Sound)
  
• The Muskoka Novel Marathon (Huntsville)

So, I was very excited to hear there was a new one that popped up within driving distance of Owen Sound. With all the writers scattered across South-Western Ontario, there is no doubt in my mind that this marathon will be successful. Seriously, if you have never experienced writing in a 3-day novel writing marathon, you must participate in one.

Check this opportunity out at: TaNoMa

There is one very cool detail about the Toronto Novel Marathon (TaNoMa) that you may not know... the same guy, who is one of the co-founders for this new writing marathon was also a co-founder for The Owen Sound 3-Day Novel Marathon, The Muskoka Novel Marathon (MNM) and The Great Canadian Winter Novel Marathon in Pickering. 

The guy who gets all this credit is non-other than, Martin Avery! He has some amazing experience at organizing a writing marathon (and writing novels ~ check out some of his books HERE). This year, he has teamed up with an elementary school friend of his, Cynthia Langill, and together they are organizing a novel writing marathon to raise awareness and funds for Recovery from Addiction. 

Sponsors' donations will go to Renascent, an abstinence based treatment centre facility that treats men, women and families with addiction issues (a 12-step philosophy).

Think about it...this is your opportunity to participate in the FIRST EVER Toronto Writing Marathon! 

You'll even get a cool T-Shirt to wear while bragging to all your other writing friends. 


Just go ahead and do it...SIGN UP NOW!  :)