MG – Author Kandi J Wyatt

Release Day!–What all it entails

Kandi J Wyatt — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:35:07 +0000

Today is the big day! Dragon’s Future: book 1 of the Dragon Courage series is now available in paperback and eBook via amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks. So, what happens today? For starters, I have a guest post on Mother Daughter Book Review in which I share a section of the book where Ruskya learns a bit about his dad and becomes a trainer of dragon riders. I also have an interview on Book Nerd Paradise on YouTube that lets you get to know me a little better and I read a 6 minute section of the book when Ruskya meets the mysterious dragon rider. The next set of happenings was set up by my wonderful book manager, Pam Labbe. She helped organize a book blog tour through CBB Books. Dragon’s Future is also featured on Night Owl Reviews. Then later on today, 4pm EST to 8pm EST, there will be a Facebook party. This is where you just log onto the link and interact with authors. There will be a new author every half hour and each author will have some kind of a giveaway. I’ll also have several giveaways as well. The one who invites the most people who attend will received an autographed copy of Dragon’s Future. The top two people who interact the most over the course of the party will receive either a the dragon oil warmer or the dragon jewelry set.

I will also give away a large swag (that’s book related merchandise) package:

Besides all of this, I get to keep up with Facebook congratulations, Twitter tweets, and other miscellaneous social media contacts of well wishes and trying to get the word out to the world that Dragon’s Future is a real book!

The problem is that besides being an author I am a wife, mom of five (three of whom are still at home), and a teacher. That means that I also have housework that needs to be done, organizing kids so they don’t run a muck, and picking up a van from the school for a leadership conference that starts tomorrow. I think I have my work cut out for me and I had better go make breakfast, wake up the kids, and get started! Thanks everyone for the support you’ve shown me so far and “may your dragon fly true!”

Giving Birth–a metaphor

Kandi J Wyatt — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 19:39:44 +0000

I can remember each of my children’s births with vivid details. I know where they were born, who was the attending doctor–or nurse as the case was with one, and midwife with two–who was there, who came to visit, and what the circumstances were surrounding that special day or days. Each birth was unique. My first born had a good friend in attendance. We saw her at the store as I went into labor and she tagged along. She wasn’t going to stay for the whole thing, but did an amazing job of video taping everything with decorum. I remember the excitement leading up to his birth. We were in a living nativity scene as Mary and Joseph when labor pains first started on Friday. Monday morning early, almost 4:00, he was born. The second we walked Old Town Bandon in shorts and tank tops two weeks before she was born on February 22. It was hotter than summer. I was so ready for the baby to be born. We tried everything. Then the night before I was to be induced, labor started. My midwife didn’t believe the nurse when I said the baby was coming. I could hear the exasperation in her voice as she said, “She was only at 6 cm when I last checked her three minutes ago!” She reluctantly came in and said with shock, “You’re going to have a baby!” I had gone from 6 to 10 in under five minutes. The middle child was born only 16 months after my second. His birth is a little more hazy. I remember deciding that I would return to the States from Ecuador to have him. I lined up a midwife for the last month of my pregnancy, but when I called thinking my water had broken, she told me to go to the hospital the opposite direction from her. So, a doctor on call delivered my baby boy. He was in there for less than five minutes and charged us an outrageous amount of money. I never saw him again; the nurses discharged me. My youngest has the most memorable birth. He was born at home. After he was born, I said I wished I had been able to have all of them at home. It was so relaxing. Our family’s best friend came out for the week leading up to it. She got to see me in labor and then left Saturday morning. That evening in a rare hale storm David was born. It was three days of start and stop labor, but when he was ready, there was nothing stopping him. It was so precious to see the older children watch from the loft and later having the younger ones come in and hold their new brother. My oldest child was really my fourth birth. She was born before I was married. I met her shortly after I started dating my husband. When she was eight, we had nine hours of ‘labor and delivery’. Her mom called saying she needed a new home. Within the nine hours she was at our doorstep. The transition was not smooth, but we have been able to become friends again.

Birth is something that binds people together. Women especially relate to birthing stories, but even farmers tell the story of the birth of their cow, horse, sheep, pig or other animal. The beginning of life awes even the most sedate person. It is no different with a book.

In late February, I sent my manuscript, Dragon’s Future, to Booktrope to be reviewed for publishing. It was a nerve-wracking experience. I didn’t even tell my husband or any of my family members that I had done it until I heard back from Booktrope! Then when I heard, I had the two to three weeks of deciding if I wanted to follow through with this decision. I couldn’t believe it had been accepted. The mayhem of social media, blogging, editing, proofing, and cover designing has filled up the last five and a half months, but now it is finally time! The moment is upon us. The due date is only six days away. Unlike my natural births that I had, this one will happen on the day scheduled, at least for the eBook. The print copy may be more like my natural births of not sure exactly when after the due date I will get to hold the baby in my hands. I can’t wait! I am so ready and excited to see it and to know that my baby is here. However, just like my children, I will then hand my baby into the world to make its own way. I look forward to hearing your feedback–good and bad, but hopefully mostly good.

As an expectant mother, please forgive any emotional outbursts that I have in the next week or so. Expect my Twitter account to be filled with comments about the book or the Facebook party (come join, there currently is a contest for whoever invites the most people). My Facebook page may be filled with dragon related links or photos and words about the book. Believe me, the excitement will wear off, just like the newness of a baby wears off with sleepless nights. Until then, allow me to exult and rejoice in the life of a new birth.

Radio Interview with Author Kandi J Wyatt

Kandi J Wyatt — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 16:10:05 +0000

On Monday, July 27, Rick from radio station KYTT in Coos Bay, Oregon, interviewed me. It was fun and scary all at the same time. Here is what aired on the morning show, Mornings with Rick.

What makes a good children’s story

Kandi J Wyatt — Mon, 04 May 2015 12:52:23 +0000

In honor of Children’s Book Week, I created a list of my top ten (plus three) childrern’s books. Some may wonder what criteria I gave for the books that I chose. Here is what I believe makes a good children’s book.

1. Vocabulary: The author doesn’t talk down to the audience. The reader may learn new vocabulary from reading the book. Rockjaw threw the rat over one shoulder, chatting to lieutenant Morio as he did.

‘Wot does the Major mean by arboreal verdance, sah?’

‘Hmm, arboreal verdance, lemme see, I rather think it means treetops, leafy green ones.’

‘Oh! Then why didn’t ‘e say treetops?’

‘Why should he when he knows how t’say words like arboreal verdance?’ Redwall series.

2. Characters: They are memorable and work well together. These are the kind that you want to really get to know and meet in real life. You want to walk into the book to meet them. The hero is real—he makes mistakes and learns from them. “My values are not based on violence. My values are based on courage, which you see time and time again in my books. A warrior isn’t somebody like Bruce Willis or Arnold Schwarzenegger. A warrior can be any age. A warrior is a person people look up to.” ~ Brian Jacques from http://redwallabbey.com/forum/index.php?topic=308.0

3. Protective Character: There is always some wiser and maybe older character to whom the main character can turn to for help. There’s a Gandalf for Frodo, an Uncle Press for Bobby Pendragon, a Draco for Jack, a Mr. Drew for Nancy, or a Firedrake for Ben.

4. Good vs Bad: There is a definite line between good and bad. The two don’t get confused.

5. Plot: The story moves along with lots of action and imagination.

I hope this helps in understanding what makes a good kid’s book. These are things that not only appeal to children, but what they need as they are shaping their world.