Presentation with Greg Mortenson Tonight!!

Join us tonight at the 92nd St Y in NYC for a presentation with Greg Mortenson and his organization- Pennies for Peace. We are honored to be a part of recognizing Greg and all of his amazing accomplishments to initiate peace through education around the globe!

Greg is also being considered for the Nobel Peace prize. For more information about this event, visit- www.MomsChoiceAwards.com.

It's not too late to attend this exciting event!

Special Event with Greg Mortenson

Peace Through Education
A special event featuring Greg Mortenson
Nobel Prize candidate and
#1 New York Times bestselling author of
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time
Thursday, May 28th @ 7PM
New York City

Across America, people are lining up to hear Greg Mortenson recount the journey that led him from a failed 1993 attempt to climb Pakistan's K2, the world's second highest mountain, to successfully establish schools in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mortenson combines his unique background with his intimate knowledge of the third-world to promote peace
with books and successfully bring education and hope to remote communities in central Asia.

Mr. Mortenson's book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time, has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for more than 120 weeks and is currently #1. It is at once an unforgettable adventure and the inspiring true story of how one man really is changing the world one school at a time.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet one of the greatest humanitarians
of our time!

Learn more about the event and get tickets >>>
http://www.momschoiceawards.com/EventGuide.php

Read more about Mr. Mortenson's work in Entro, The Mom's Choice Awards Magazine >>>
http://www.momschoiceawards.com/documents/Entro%202009%20Greg%20Mortenson.pdf

Attending BookExpo America?
Greg Mortenson will make a special appearance in the Mom's Choice Awards booth (#345) on Friday, May 29th from 10AM until Noon. Fox News will be on
hand to cover the presentation of the Mom's Choice Award.
Please plan to stop by!

Watch Fox & Friends
Set your DVR's! You won't want to miss Alisyn Camerota's special segment on
Greg Mortenson scheduled to air on Fox & Friends, Saturday, May 30th.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Jeanette Ramnarine

I had the honor of interviewing author Jeanette Ramnarine who has a fabulous children's picture book called “The 4 Little Pigs,” a financial values book for children (where was this when I was younger :o)

Jeanette and her husband own the company Four Piggies Publishing and they reside in Belleville, Ontario which is a city located halfway between Toronto and Ottawa (love both cities!) Jeanette and her husband have been married for 10 years and they have a 6 year old son named Caleb and a 5 year old daughter named Maya. Here are some of the questions I asked Jeanette about her book.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your product?

Jeanette: My book was inspired by my children Caleb and Maya. Teaching them financial responsibility from a young age was something that my husband and I had always planned to do. When we started giving my son an allowance we divided it between four piggy banks named Spending (pocket money), Saving (for a bigger purchase), Sharing (to be used to help society) and Schooling (savings for post-secondary education) we thought the information could be useful to other families and the result is “The 4 Little Pigs” (a financial values book for children).

Tara: Jeanette, what an incredible concept! I have one child who loves to save his money, but another one who spends it faster than he can hold onto it. What a great way to teach children financial discipline (especially with the way things are today!)

When did you first come up with your idea?

Jeanette: I came up with the idea of giving my children an allowance divided between four piggy banks before they were even born. I remember seeing an Oprah show talking about the Save, Spend, Share concept and being a teacher and knowing the high cost of post-secondary education added Schooling as a way to have children start saving and thinking about what they want to be when they grow up.

Tara: Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Jeanette: The idea to write the story as a children’s book came from a conversation with our financial planner. I told her that we had started giving Caleb an allowance and how we were dividing it between four piggy banks. I wanted to share the idea with other parents and was looking into having the four piggy banks created. Our financial planner suggested that I write the story as a children’s book and later add the four piggy banks for sale along with the book which is the path we decided to take.

Tara: What a great idea and unique in an impactful way.

Who would you say has been your greatest source of support; why?

Jeanette: My greatest source of support is my husband Richards. He has always given me the freedom to explore new ideas and encouraged my creativity even if he doesn’t always fully understand the “big picture” that I see. He has always believed in me and allowed me the opportunity to explore my dreams.

Tara: I have said this before, but I will say it again. How wonderful it is to have the support of our husbands.. it is truly a great time we are living in!

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Jeanette: My one piece of advice would be to follow the dreams of your childhood and go after what you believe in. That’s where you truly find success.

Tara: You bet!

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Jeanette: We were ecstatic when we found out that we won a Mom’s Choice Award. To be recognized as one of the best in family friendly products has opened doors to allow us to explore opportunities in expanding our company Four Piggies Publishing and the financial education of children through “the 4 piggies concept”.

Tara: Jeanette, this is wonderful. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your concept and the inspiration you offer to parents and their children. Such a neat idea!

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as an author?

Jeanette: I am currently working on the next book in “the four piggies” series which is due out in Spring 2010. The book will be geared towards children ages 6 – 10 and is a chapter book. I have been in contact with some philanthropic organizations in terms of the “sharing” piggy bank and looking at ideas where children can help in making the world a better place. I also would like to get more involved in talking about “the 4 piggies concept” with the media so that we can reach a wider audience across North America. I plan on giving more presentations of “The 4 Little Pigs” in its digital format on the big screen to children within the school system. I have been exploring the idea of having “The 4 Little Pigs” created into a children’s cartoon series to give children the opportunity to think about how they would use money to Spend, Save, Share, and put some away for School so they could follow their dreams when they get older. Now that we sell the four piggy banks named Spending, Saving, Sharing and Schooling on our website along with the book we would also like to look into marketing them as a package in retail stores.

Tara: Great ideas.. keep them coming. I have no doubt this will be a huge success. Your passion is undeniable!

Will you be attending Book Expo in NYC this year?

Jeanette: Yes, I am very excited about attending Book Expo in NYC this year. I am scheduled for an author signing and looking forward to my interview with MCA founder Tara Paterson. My husband and I will be volunteering some time to help out at the Mom’s Choice Awards booth and will be looking for opportunities to expand Four Piggies Publishing further into the North American market.

Oh hey, that's me! Yes I look forward to my interview with you as well. Great job and can't wait to see you later this week.

Stay tuned for our next interview with author Rosemary Serluca.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Bonnie Wayne

This week I interviewed author Bonnie A. Wayne. Bonnie writes concept books for children which include- Counting with Bella and Finny, Shapes with Bella and Finny, Colors with Bella and Finny and Opposites with Bella and Finny. Her Adventures of Bella and Finny Series won a 2009 Mom's Choice Award.

Bonnie resides in Clifton Park, NY and has been married to her wonderful husband, Tom for 30 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters Tiffany Wayne, Taryn Wayne Shelton and a son-in-law, Scott Shelton. The stars of her books are Bella and Finny, her 2 standard poodles. I asked Bonnie some questions about her series of books and the inspiration behind them. Here's what she said.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your books?

Bonnie: My love for children and to make learning fun through humorous photographs of Bella and Finny.

Tara: One thing I know about children, they love animals!

When did you first come up with your idea?

Bonnie: The very first time I thought about it was in 2004. The first book was on sale January 2006.

Tara: It's amazing how quickly ideas can manifest into reality. How fantastic!

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Bonnie: My aha came while I was laying in bed one morning. I was thinking.... what can I do with these funny pictures of my dogs? Why not turn them into a learning tool for children! Take a new approach to teaching basic concepts!

Tara: Who is your greatest source of support; why?

Bonnie: My Faith, "Everything is possible for him who believes." My Family, their belief in me and their constant love and encouragement.

Tara: If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Bonnie: You must be passionately in love with what you do and the rest will follow.

Tara: I couldn't agree more. Passion definitely brings out the most creative inspiration and gives it the energy to continue even after you've moved onto something else.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Bonnie: It has been a validation of all my work. I am so honored and humbled. I look forward to all the possibilities that this award will bring.

Tara: We are honored you feel this validates your work. You are the real validation of your work through your efforts and faith. We just acknowledge your accomplishment :o)

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as an author/ teacher?

Bonnie: I want to bring The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series to mainstream publishing along with all the marketing possibilities.

Bonnie, I wish you continued success with your book series' and look forward to our interview at Book Expo. For more information about Bonnie's books visit- www.BellaandFinny.com

Our next interview will be with Honoree Jeanette Ramnarine author and creator of the Four Pigs.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Chariss Walker

This past week I had the privilege of interviewing Chariss Walker, author of the book- Make a Joyful Noise: Searching for a Spiritual Path in a Material World.

Chariss' business is Chariss Walker Ministries, LLC, an outreach program for spiritual growth located in Navarre, FL. Chariss is a single grandmother and cares for her nine year old granddaughter, Vivien, who has lived with her for the past 4 years. I asked Chariss to share a little about what inspired her to write her book and here's what she had to say.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your book?

Chariss: I wanted to connect the dots between the idea of “being more spiritual than religious” and show that we are all saying the same thing; that it's the terminology that is different.

Tara: When did you first come up with your idea?

Chariss: It is something I have been working toward for the last six years, but it sprang forth as a new and living presence in my life demanding to be born about two years ago.

Tara: I love how we contemplate ideas and then suddenly realize it's time to do something with the creativity.

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Chariss: Yes, I was watching an Oprah show. She was presenting some of the speakers from The Secret. I felt that it needed explanation – that the world needed to understand it is not really a secret. It has been with us since the beginning of time and is in the bible if we only know where to look.

Tara: Probably something we could spend hours talking about, but given our limited time, who would you say has been your greatest source of support; why?

Chariss: Vivien, my granddaughter, because each day I get to witness the love of God in her. She is such an inspiration to have overcome so much and be such a lovely, little person. It lets me know there is hope for everyone.

Tara: Kids truly are the light of the planet and are here to teach us so much.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Chariss: Love yourself, love your message and then write about it.

Tara: Absolutely, or whichever creative form feels right to your individual spirit.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Chariss: As a self-assisted author, meaning that I am the writer but I hired publishers for my book, the Mom’s Choice Award lends certain credibility to my work. The world still believes that if you are not picked up by a major brick and mortar publisher that your book has no value. I had to believe in my message and gather up the nerve to go it alone. Having a gold seal on my book is totally awesome, believe me!

Tara: What are your future plans; what’s next for you as a writer?

Chariss: To write more books! Yes! I have two more in mind that go along with this particular book, Make a Joyful Noise, but I also have some ideas for ’tweens (ages 9 to 12) books and perhaps a novel or two. I hope to find an editor or publisher who will pick me up and realizes the value of my experience.

Tara: Anything you would like to add?

Chariss: Yes, I love my life. I love writing and being able to share my message with millions around the world. It is so important to share what we have learned; in the process of that perhaps we save someone else a few steps. In this electronic age, we are growing – expanding our minds and learning at an astonishing rate, we are learning from the past and from others experiences. It is truly a blessing to be part of that.

I couldn't have said it any better myself. As an author myself, I understand the privilege of sharing your work with people all over the globe and technology sure does help out a lot! Good luck to your Chariss and perhaps we will see you at BEA!

Stay tuned for my next interview with Susan Heim, author of Boosting Your Baby's Brain Power.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Shirley Cheng

I recently conducted an interview with one of the most amazing women I have had the joy and privilege of meeting. Come to find out, Shirley Cheng is from the same part of the country I grew up in, Upstate, NY.

Shirley has been blessed with the gift of writing and as a blind author, her 4th book Waking Spirit: Prose & Poems the Spirit Sings has been selected to receive this year's Mom's Choice Award. Shirley's company- Dance with Your Heart! Publishing, has produced some amazing pieces and is currently working on publishing Shirley's 9th book. I asked Shirley to share some of her story and here's what we talked about:


Tara: What was the inspiration for your book?

Shirley: The inspiration for my book is life, as for all my other books and projects. Life is the most precious present God has given to each and every one of us. Through my writings, I urge people to recognize and realize the importance and blessing of life, of every minute, of every second, so they can love the lives they live and go for their own gold medals as I have gone for mine despite seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Tara: Life is definitely our greatest teacher and as I've been told more than once, it's not the challenges life hands us as much as how we overcome our many obstacles.

When did you first come up with your idea for Waking Spirit?

Shirley: In October 2006, I suddenly had an urge to write and publish Waking Spirit, which is my fourth book. At that time, I had several short writings I wanted to publish in a book, so I decided to put them in a volume called Waking Spirit, which had been a title I was aching to use for a future book. However, the book would be too short if only comprised of those writings, so I wrote many poems (most of which are haiku) all on the theme of loving life, spirituality, delightful animals and nature wonders.

Tara: Who has been your greatest source of support; why?

Shirley: My greatest source of support comes from two beings: my Heavenly Father, Jehovah God Almighty, and my beloved earthly mother Juliet Cheng. They are the very foundation and light of my life, the ultimate secret to my happiness, strength, and success. They energize me spiritually by providing me with unconditional love to propel me to the greatest heights.

Tara: I couldn't agree with you more. As a parent, one thing I recognize is the importance of a spiritual foundation for children so they are confident enough to navigate through life successfully. It may look different for each person, but it's an important part of a child's core values system.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Shirley: When your passion and urge to share with others a piece of your heart, to help them live a more fulfilling life, is unconquerably and undeniably strong then follow your heart's desires to make that positive difference in someone's life through your writings. No one and nothing can hinder you from going for your dreams if you do not let them--only you have the power to stop yourself.

Tara: Absolutely; or whichever form of creativity is your heart's desire.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom's Choice Award?

Shirley: When people appreciate the fruits of my love, it adds even more bliss to my career. So when I am honored with the Mom's Choice Award for something I love to do, well, it's just like a cherry on top of an ice-cream sundae! Receiving the award for Waking Spirit validates the value of my book and affirms my beliefs and hope in it.

Tara: Well it means a lot for us to have the opportunity to honor inspirational works that will grace the world and impact people's hearts.

What are your future plans; what's next for you as an author?

Shirley: I plan on releasing my ninth book, which is an inspirational book on Christianity that is based on love: love for God, love for fellow creations, and love for life. Afterward, I think I will take a break from writing my own books; I instead will focus on contributing to other people's books (I've contributed to sixteen books thus far), and do more writing for the Internet.

Tara: You are one busy lady and have earned a well deserved break! Keep us posted as you release your next book. We will also see Shirley this month at Book Expo America in NYC so if you see her wheeling around the building or passing by, stop and say hi!

Anything you would like to add?

Shirley: Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. I let the ropes of hope in Jehovah God haul me high!

Tara: Amen! For more inspiration, please visit http://www.shirleycheng.com where you can contact Shirley for speaking engagements (she's also a motivational speaker), interviews, book signings, and any inspirational events.

Our next interview will be with 2009 Honoree Chariss Walker, author of Make A Joyful Noise.

Important Dates and Announcements

EXCITING NEWS!
Fox News to cover MCA LIVE from BookExpo America. More details to follow.

Important Deadlines:

ASAP Schedule your filmed interview timeslot and your volunteer shifts

5/5 Last day to reserve your hotel accommodations from the BEA Travel Center

5/9 MCA Showcase display products due

Learn more about these offers! Visit the MCA Alumni Webstore: http://momschoiceaw920.corecommerce.com/BookExpo-America-c26/

Volunteer
Find out how you can volunteer and save BIG! http://www.momschoiceawards.com/alumni_faq.php Hurry! Only a few slots remain!


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Midwest Book Review Call For MCA Award-Winning Children’s Illustrated Works


The Midwest Book Review (MBR) was founded in 1976 by highly respected James A. Cox, Editor-In-Chief. MBR is an online monthly publication aimed at librarians, booksellers, as well as the general reading public. Its mission is to promote literacy, library usage, and independent publishing. You can learn more about the organization here: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/

MBR produces an average of 600 professional reviews per month. The average queue time is 14 to 16 weeks, BUT! MBR will give special consideration to children’s illustrated titles that have earned honors from the Mom’s Choice Awards®.

If you’re interested in having your children’s illustrated book reviewed by the Midwest Book Review, send a review copy to:

Sara Hassler
1601 West Main Street
Suite 90 #403
Willimantic, CT 06226

mbr@momschoiceawards.com
Sorry, galleys are not accepted at this time. This is a complimentary service.


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Early Bird Deadline Expires May 1st
Don’t forget, the early bird deadline for the next round of entries expires on May 1st.

Save $100 or enter two for the price of one.

Visit the website for complete details: http://www.momschoiceawards.com/enter.php

Book Expo America 2009

Mom's Choice Awards® Honorees and Alumni: Book Expo America is just around the corner! Don’t miss out on this dynamic event that generates positive exposure for your award-winning book/product.

Make arrangements now! Visit the Mom’s Choice Awards Alumni Webstore for special offers—many expire Friday, April 24th, so don’t delay!

Volunteer in the MCA booth and save!

Exhibit your award-winning book/product in the MCA Showcase.
*There is NO better exposure for your book/product!

Get 40% off your admissions badge when you order by April 24th.

Reserve your filmed interview timeslot with ME!
*These filmed interviews make a great commercial / trailer for your book/product.

Autographing sessions and product demo opportunities are still available, but going fast!

Is this your first experience with Book Expo America? Click here to learn everything you need to know.

We hope you’ll plan to visit the MCA Booth #345 on Friday, May 29th from 10-Noon. Greg Mortenson, author of the sensational book Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time (115 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List and currently #1) will be making a special appearance and signing copies of Entro®--The Mom’s Choice Awards® Magazine.

We look forward to seeing you there!

~Tara Paterson

Mom's Choice Awards Updates

The Mom's Choice Awards® is currently accepting submissions. Enter your product, book, or service and distinguish yourself from all of the others on the market. Entries will be accepted now through October 1st, 2009. Enter by May 1st, and save! Visit the website for details.

Join us in the MCA Booth #345 at Book Expo America May 29th-31st. Book Expo America (BEA) is the largest publishing event in the United States and hosts several industry leaders.

We will also have a special guest with us Friday May 29th from 10-noon, so don't miss your opportunity to be a part of the excitement!

There is still time to book your interview spot with me at BEA. All interviews will be taped and available for upload on the internet. Currently, we are filming on Friday May 29th and Saturday May 30th so reserve your spot now. Space is limited!

We would like to thank the sponsors who have graciously offered us their support.

Wells Fargo

JetBlue Airlines

Barnes & Noble

And a special thanks to our partner in advocating family-friendly entertainment, the Dove Foundation.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

~Tara Paterson

Book Expo America 2009

Mom's Choice Awards' recipients and alumni make sure to book your arrangements for BEA as soon as possible! Accommodations are filling up and it's an event you won't want to miss.

After much demand, we are offering two days of interviews to our recipients this year. If you haven't scheduled your interview to be filmed live at our booth, contact the Mom's Choice team to reserve your slot. Space is limited and filling up fast.

We have a special guest joining us on Friday May 29th from 10am- noon. More information will be available next week.

We look forward to seeing you there!

~Tara Paterson