We have a winner of Darlene Foster’s book Cerdito a juicio (Pig on Trial)!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the draw/left comments for a chance to win a copy of Cerdito a juicio – Pig on Trial – by Darlene Foster.

Thank you, Darlene, for offering a copy to one of my readers.

I’m happy to say that random name picker selected the winner …

Congratulations to Sue Slaght who thinks this book is “a great way to teach children history with such a unique experience!”

Sue, I’m sure you will enjoy Pig on Trial – in English and Spanish! I’ll mail your copy to you this week.

Thanks, everyone! You can purchase your own copy of Cerdito a juicio by finding it on my BUY THE BOOK page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

A reminder, and another giveaway coming!

The day is almost over, and with it goes your chance to enter the draw for a copy of Darlene Foster‘s bilingual children’s book Cerdito a juicio — Pig on Trial. This book is as good for adults learning Spanish as it is for children to enjoy.

Perhaps you know someone who would like this book. You can enter the draw for them, or direct them here.

Tonight at 9:00 EST a winner will be determined (thanks to an automatic random name picker), so check your email. I will make the announcement here tomorrow morning.

The next day, August 2, I will be offering my eighth 2016 monthly giveaway!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!

Book Review: Cerdito a juicio; comment by author Darlene Foster; & book giveaway!

Book: Cerdito a juicio 
(translation: Pig on trial)
Author: Darlene Foster
Publisher: Ediciones Camelot SRL
Date: March 24, 2015
Genre: children's
Pages: 30; paperback
Price:  $12.00
My rating: enjoyable bilingual medieval tale

Poor Fredrick! He was innocently minding his own business when soldiers showed up and arrested him, and ten-year-old Sebastian could do nothing about it. When Father came home, immediately the decision was made to go and sort out the misunderstanding. He took Sebastian with him, and what transpires is not quite as easy a rescue as expected. Fredrick was slated to be executed, and Fredrick is the family’s pet pig!

Imagine medieval times, bizarre accusations, a pig on trial and the efforts to rescue him – as told by a ten-year-old boy. Now you have an interesting story. Plus it’s in two languages – English and Spanish.

When I asked author Darlene Foster if there was anything she wanted to tell me about the story or the writing of it, here is what she said:

“I got the idea for the story a few years ago when I learned that animals were put on trial and sometimes executed in medieval times. I thought that children might find that interesting. Then, I met someone who, when he was a child, had a pet pig called Frederick, and I loved that name for a pig. As often happens, I couldn’t sleep one night, so I got up and scribbled down the first draft of the story. When I moved to Spain, I was introduced to a publisher here. He offered to translate the story into Spanish so we could offer a bi-lingual book to children (and adults) who wanted to learn either language. I am pleased with how the book turned out and will be doing readings at four outlets in Spain this summer.”

Congratulations, Darlene! 🙂 This is a wonderful book.

Here’s an inside view to show you how it’s laid out in two languages:

Now, to my readers located anywhere in the world I am offering one copy of Cerdito a juicio. If you want to put your name in for your chance to win this book, all you have to do is leave a comment about anything mentioned in this post. Easy peasy.

You have until July 31 at 10 PM AST, that’s 9 PM Eastern, to get your name in. Don’t put it off! I will use an automated random name picker to select one winner. The next day, August 1, I will make the announcement of who won Darlene Foster’s Cerdito a juicio.

You can find Cerdito a juicio on my BUY THE BOOK page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Did someone say books?

One afternoon last week my daughter met me in town after I’d dropped my little Meyya off for her grooming. I had awhile to do what I wanted before going back for her, so we went shopping in a secondhand (mostly clothing) store. The fun thing in that store is they now have shelves of used BOOKS! My attention on clothes was quickly diverted when I discovered that. Even better – the sign said: BUY 2 GET 1 FREE! Oh. My. Gosh. I was in the right place! happy happy happy! Not that I needed more books to add to my already toppling over TBR pile, but … um … yes I did! You understand. 🙂

Look at what I bought for $15.00! Plus one not in this shot.

I don’t know about you, but I love books no matter whether they are new, used, or very old – and I hope you do, too. Two of these books I plan to give away on my blog. I’ll let you know later when I’m offering them, one at a time.

About the above books:

I bought Assassin’s Apprentice – by Robin Hobb because when I was on a bus trip with a friend – I talk about that HERE – there was a fellow on the bus reading one of the author’s books. I had to ask, even though I didn’t know this guy … because seeing anyone immersed in a book makes me curious. He told me the author writes really good fantasy novels. (You know I love fantasy.) He said if he’d not left at his girlfriend’s the one he’d just finished he’d have given it to me! Wasn’t that sweet of him? When I came across this book, of course I had to have it.
The Great Gatsby – by F. Scott Fitzgerald – I’ve watched the movie. Is the book better? I have to find out.
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf – I hadn’t read any of her writing, so this was my first. Someone will win this book.
Song of Solomon – by Toni Morrison – I’m not sure about this one yet, but I’ve wanted to read some of the author’s work and this seemed a good place to start.
The Pursuit of Happyness – by Chris Gardner – I saw the movie of this true story starring Will Smith and his son, and I loved it! I was excited to find the book. Again, is the book better?
I’m Not Wonder Woman – by Sheila Walsh – I’ve read a book by this Christian author, and reviewed it HERE on my blog. I’m interested in seeing what else she has to say.
The Man Who Was Thursday – by G. K. Chesterton – has been recommended a few times by a friend, so when I saw this copy I had to have it!
You’ve Earned It, Don’t Lose It – by Suze Orman – I picked this one up because I thought it would be of interest to my husband. Turns out it is directed much more to the US economy – so guess what I’ll be doing with this book? 😉
The little book I don’t have in this picture is called Bad Cat: 244 Not-So-Pretty Kitties and Cats Gone Bad – by Jim Edgar. It’s quite funny, and since three of my daughters are cat lovers the book has started its rounds.

Have you read any of the above? And of those that have been made into movies, which is better – the book or the movie?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

We have a winner of my 7th Giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who entered my July giveaway contest!

We have a winner!

The prize is this:

I used Random.org name picker and found out that the winner …

with this comment:

“Such practical materials lovely picks. I would use the bag to store my journal and writing pens, it will be easier to have them all in one place.”

is:

Maemi!

Congratulations, Maemi. I’ll get this into the mail to you soon, hoping Canada Post doesn’t strike.

To everyone who is interested in my giveaways, I’ve been watching for and setting aside fun things that, in some way, have to do with reading and/or writing. The AUGUST giveaway will be posted in a couple of weeks and is something special! Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!

My 7th Giveaway of 2016; your chance to win!

I am much later than I had hoped to offer another giveaway. The good news is that next month’s will be something special and you’ll have more time to enter the draw. This month it is something handy and the draw is not far off.

In my shopping around and looking for items to give away, I have to bear in mind the cost of mailing these things to you. Therefore, what I offer is not big items; regardless, I do hope they are things you can use. This month it is more than one item in my giveaway, but all go together to one winner.

Take a look:

It’s a black zip bag, plastic, a sort of very large pencil case that is big enough to easily hold 8.5″x 12″ paper. It’ll be handy to store your writing things in or carry them around. It would also hold a manuscript.

With it I’m including a note pad for jotting down your story ideas (for example), and a package of brightly coloured sticky tag notes. Perhaps you can use them as bookmarks, or to mark certain passages of your notes so you can find them when you want to make changes or double-check your work.

Here are more images of the same things.

The quote on the bag is by Gandhi, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” The bag has a mesh back so you can identify what you put in there.

Now for the details.

If you want the chance to win this zip bag and its contents, please leave a comment telling me how you usually keep track of your reading or writing supplies OR what use would you have for this bag? Even if you already won something in an earlier draw, please feel free to enter again.

I am offering this giveaway to my readers in Canada and the United States. If you live outside those countries and you know someone in either of those countries who will keep it for you should you win, please feel free to enter. Just give me the Canada or US address if you do win.

I will use Random.org name picker to find out which of you is the winner; therefore, repeat winners are by chance and fairly selected. Watch here the morning after the draw for the announcement, and don’t forget to check your email. This could be yours!

Draw date for this giveaway is at 10 PM AST, that’s 9 PM Eastern, on Wednesday, JULY 13. This gives you less than ten days to pass the word on to others, too. I will post the winner’s name on JULY 14.

Remember, you have until July 13 to get your name into the draw, but don’t put it off!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!

Giveaway #6; We have a winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my June giveaway contest!

We have a winner!

The prize is this pretty butterfly tote:

I used Random.org name picker and found out that the winner …

with this comment:

“I usually carry my books in my arms. Thanks for the lovely giveaway!”

Is …

Jonnie!

I will get this into the mail to you soon, Jonnie!

To everyone who is interested in my giveaways, I’ve been watching for and setting aside fun things that, in some way, have to do with reading and/or writing. The July giveaway will be posted in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂