Creating Stories That Inspire
I’m so excited that my YA novel, The People In The Park, is the featured book for January 2018 on the Splinter-Fire website.
Click this link to head over to Splinter-Fire and read the featured excerpt: The People In The Park
Purchase here: The People In The Park
Margaree King Mitchell, author of the YA novel, The People In The Park, is one of four featured authors on Splinterfire for the month of October. Also featured are authors Lee Goldstein, Mary Ellen Donat, and Lee Benning.
The following is an excerpt from Splinterfire – Meet The Authors:
“Margaree King Mitchell was born in Holly Springs, MS. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and now lives in Kansas City. She is the creator of the Everybody Has A Dream program, which empowers students in urban and rural areas to shoot for the stars with aspirations for their lives. In 2002 Margaree received the SCERUS Award at the National Invitational Conference of Educational Research in the Urban South.
Margaree is renowned for her wonderful picture books. The People In The Park is her first foray into young adult fiction.”
Visit Splinterfire to continue reading about each author.
I am thrilled that my YA novel, The People In The Park, is a featured book for August on the Splinterfire website.
Following are excerpts about The People In The Park:
Lauren Moffitt is privileged and overprotected by her wealthy parents. Lauren’s only concerns in life are getting good grades and finding the perfect designer dress for her junior prom. The world is her oyster. Nothing can prepare her for the devastating scandal that rocks her world when her father is charged with investment fraud.
As Lauren’s father fights to save his name, Lauren quickly learns who her real friends are, and that she has a lot of growing up to do. Spoiled and self-centered, she struggles to keep her head high. But it’s not until after she hears the stories of the people in the park, her sanctuary where she takes her daily run, that Lauren realizes that she can rise above her family ‘situation’. For the first time in her 16 years, Lauren begins making serious decisions about her life’s goals. When her father is exonerated, Lauren begins to establish ties with her African American relatives, especially a wonderful cousin who is her age and who attends a city prep school.
Strong-willed Lauren learns to be charitable, but most of all, she learns what the importance of family ties means to securing a happy future for herself and her loved ones.
PG-13 Christian
Margaree King Mitchell’s wonderful picture book, Uncle Jed’s Barbershop, has been adapted and produced into an award-winning musical. It’s run has been very successful. She’s helping the creators of the show identify producers to carry the show to cities throughout the United States.
She’s traveling and promoting her novel, The People In The Park. She is also promoting her first novel for adults, Woman In The Pulpit.
Thanks Splinterfire for the feature!
Be sure to browse around the Splinterfire website and check out the wonderful books by Donna Eastman & Gloria Koehler. Their motto is: Wholesome Books For All Ages
Visit: Splinterfire
Read Chapter 1 of The People In The Park! Click below:
I jumped off the cliff!
Last year I did something I had always wanted to do. I published my first novel for adult readers, Woman In The Pulpit.
This decision was accompanied by much anxiety, fear, trepidation, and all other emotions that are present when we step outside our comfort zone.
Since my lane, so to speak, is books for children, I expanded slowly. First I wrote a novel for teens, which was published. As a result of taking this step into something new I was invited to appear on panels at book festivals. I enjoyed the experiences and open doors that my YA novel enabled me to enter.
I loved interacting with teens and getting their feedback. They completely identified with the characters in the book and the situations they encountered. They especially identified with the mask people show to the world that everything is okay. As the students in the book, real life students could name situations in their lives when they carried on as usual even though a crisis was occurring that turned their lives upside down.
After swinging my feet off the cliff with my teen novel, The People In The Park, I didn’t want to stop there.
I had projects I’d been working on but kept tinkering and revising.
My novel, Woman In The Pulpit, was sitting on the shelf daring me to step out into the unknown. I picked it up and put it down many times. My inner warring voices fought it out. “Put it out there,” said one voice. “No, don’t,” said the other. “Send it to agents and publishers,” said a voice. “No, not yet,” the other voice said. Back and forth they went. The conversation usually ended with me putting it back on the shelf.
After looking at the manuscript way too many times, I finally decided I didn’t want to answer the ‘What if?’ question years from now.
So I steeled my nerves and went to the edge of the cliff. I closed my eyes. And jumped! Into the unknown!
Oh my! It was scary!
When Woman In The Pulpit was published I had three weeks of travel scheduled with my other books. My trips kept me busy and kept my mind from focusing on what was happening with my newly published book.
Imagine my surprise when I returned home and received a notice that Woman In The Pulpit was on the Hot New Releases list!
I exhaled. And opened my eyes. This was going to work.
During the months since the publication of Woman In The Pulpit many new doors have opened: Speaking to women’s groups, church groups, and book clubs.
I am especially delighted when women in ministry tell me that the book is spot on and illustrates their experiences.
I love all the reviews the book has received. I especially like this one:
“Woman In The Pulpit has it all – humor, drama, love, romance, suspense, tragedy, betrayal, redemption, and some incredible spiritual insights.”
Jumping of the cliff into the unknown reminded me that we shouldn’t be afraid to go after our dreams. In jumping off the cliff I sprouted wings to fly.
I still have other goals and dreams. I’m climbing a mountain this year! Another one of those ‘What if?’ questions. I’m not broadcasting what it is. But this time next year I’ll let you know what happened.
Until then… Don’t be afraid to jump off your cliff.
To Purchase: Woman In The Pulpit