Friday, November 2, 2018

Thankful Author 2018- Colleen Driscoll


All I have to do is look around and the many blessings I’m thankful for surround me. Most importantly, I’m thankful for my health, my family, and friends. This has been a tough year, especially as my aging parents need more assistance living in their home out of state. I’m grateful I can still visit and phone them, hear their caring voices, have them in my hectic life. I’m thankful for my husband and children. We have huge changes in our lives with upcoming graduations and kids moving away in the spring, but we are together in special times like the holidays and these memories will stay with us always. I’m thankful for my readers, fellow authors, and everyone else who follows and supports me throughout the year. Their encouragement and confidence in my talents empowers me. I’m thankful for being part of The Wild Rose Press family, especially as I await the publication of my first adult novel. I love my readers, whether they are from my children’s books or my upcoming novel. You are the blessings that surround me. God Bless you all!


 


 The Search is as Deadly as the High

Blurb:

Hailey Langley refuses to be a victim and has moved on from her traumatic past. But her marriage problems worsen when a deadly illicit drug threatens to draw her into the life she left behind.
Mark Langley has allowed his job to interfere with his marriage, but he never suspected the secrets in Hailey’s past might hold the key to solving both of his current investigations.
Together, they must unravel the mystery of the drug called Euphoria and find a way to save not only their marriage, but countless lives, before it’s too late.

COMING SPRING: 2019

The Wild Rose Press
C. Becker (penname)

 Adventures of Piper –
Santa’s biggest little helper at the North Pole
 



  Title: Piper the Elf Trains Santa
Series Name: Piper the Elf
Publisher: Headline Books
Illustrator: Brian Dumm
Award: Mom’s Choice Award
Theme: Christmas children’s book
Rating: G

Blurb: 

Uh, oh! When Santa’s suit doesn’t fit, Mrs. Claus assigns Piper to be his personal trainer.

Excerpt: 

Piper the Elf lived with her mother and father, and of course, Santa Clause. Piper loved to go outside in the snow and play with the other elves. Some days they would go sledding. Other days they would build snowmen, and sometimes the elves would throw snowballs at each other. One day while Piper was helping her father make toys in Santa’s workshop, Mrs. Claus came up to the little elf.
“Piper,” she said, “I really need your help.”
Piper replied, “What do you need, Mrs. Claus?”
“Santa does not fit into his suit anymore and Christmas is in one month,” she said.   “He is eating too many cookies.  The buttons are popping off of his clothes.  Would you exercise with Santa?” Mrs. Claus asked, “I want you to be his personal trainer.”
            “Sure,” said Piper.  She didn’t know what a personal trainer did, but she wanted to help Santa.  “Thank you,” said Mrs. Claus.  “I will tell him to come to your house tomorrow afternoon.  Good-bye.”





Title: Piper the Elf and Santa’s Rockin’ Band
Series Name: Piper the Elf
Publisher: Headline Books
Illustrator: Brian Dumm
Award: Mom’s Choice Award
Theme: Christmas children’s book
Rating: G

Blurb:  

Can Piper form a band in time for Santa’s Christmas party?

Excerpt:  

One morning Piper the Elf and her mother were helping Mrs. Claus bake cookies. 
Santa and Piper’s father came into the kitchen to have some cookies and milk.
“Piper,” Santa told her, “I would like to have music at this year’s Christmas celebration. Can you start a band with your friends and play some songs?” Santa asked. “You could practice in one of the rooms at the Toy Shop.”
Santa always had a big party two days before Christmas to thank the elves for their hard work making toys.
Piper was so excited.
 “Yes, Santa, I can put together a band to play for your Christmas celebration,” she said. “It will be a lot of fun.”
“Thank you, Piper,” Santa replied.           
The next day, Piper asked her friends if they wanted to join the band. Piper said she would beat the drums. Jack wanted to strum his guitar. Lin said she would like to try playing the tambourine. Miles wanted to blow on his trumpet. Holly said she would shake the maracas.
Skinner said he was too busy painting toys in the Toy Shop to play in the band. After Skinner left, Piper and the elves decided to call their group, Santa’s Rockin’ Band.
When the little elves met for the first time to play their instruments together, the sounds were not in tune.
Title: Piper the Elf’s Big Surprise
Series Name: Piper the Elf
Publisher: Headline Books
Illustrator: Brian Dumm
Award: Mom’s Choice Award
Theme: Christmas children’s book
Rating: G
COPYRIGHT @ 2015

Blurb: 

What surprise does Piper have in store when she helps Santa repair his sleigh?

Excerpt:

Piper the Elf was excited about Christmas. Each day Piper and the elves had fun making toys for Santa. One blustery afternoon, Santa looked troubled as he walked into the Toy Shop.
“I inspected my sleigh today and saw many holes rusted through the sides and bottom,” he said. “I’m afraid the toys will fall out as I fly through the sky on Christmas Eve. Can anyone help me in the evenings to patch the holes and repair my sleigh?”
The elves looked at each other and lowered their heads. No one volunteered to help.         Piper’s father said, “Santa, we work hard all day making toys. We are too tired to help you in the evening.” 
Santa was disappointed, but he didn’t want to overwork the elves. They needed to work during the day to finish the toys in time for Christmas.
            Piper bit her lip and thought. She had chores in the evening, but she didn’t want to upset Santa. She raised her hand. “I will help you,” she said. The elves stared with open mouths.




Title: Piper the Elf Rides a Reindeer
Series Name: Piper the Elf
Publisher: Headline Books
Illustrator: Brian Dumm
Awards: Preferred Choice Award Creative Child Magazine
 & Mom’s Choice Award
Theme: Christmas children’s book
Rating: G
COPYRIGHT @ 2017

Blurb: 

When the newest reindeer comes to town, Piper is determined to help him fly.

Excerpt:

Piper the Elf woke early one cold morning to help Santa feed the reindeer grazing in the corral by the barn. “Look, Santa,” she said, pointing to a small reindeer with stubby antlers. “We have a new reindeer.”
            Santa walked over and smoothed the reindeer’s fur. “I wonder where this little fellow came from.”
            Piper fed the animal a handful of moss and carrots from the bucket while Santa studied him. “I’ve never seen such gentle eyes,” Santa said. “They sparkle.”
            The reindeer nuzzled his nose against Piper’s neck. “Where did he come from?” she asked.
            “I’m not sure. There are many herds of reindeer around the North Pole,” Santa said.
            Piper mounted the reindeer. He stomped his front hoof and arched his back until Piper fell in the snow. “Ouch!” she said, rubbing her backside.
            Santa patted her shoulder. “I don’t think he wants to give rides yet.”
            The reindeer stomped again. Piper held out a handful of carrots on her palm. “Can we keep him?” she asked.
            “If he can fly,” Santa said.
            Piper gave a toothy grin. “I’ll teach him. I’ll name him Stomper.”

Buy Links:


Book Trailers:



Colleen Driscoll grew up on a small farm in New Germany, Pennsylvania. After starting a family, she relocated to beautiful, scenic West Virginia. On Christmas Day in 2010, she woke with a stomach virus, and as she lay in bed missing her family’s Christmas excitement, she began writing Piper the Elf adventures. She enjoyed writing so much she’s been writing stories ever since. Colleen believes that creativity is expressed in many ways and loves that her writing entertains children and adults of all ages. She especially enjoys meeting her fans and inspiring others to write.

My children’s book links:


10 comments:

  1. A beautiful post, Colleen. Family is truly important. Your children's books sound wonderful. They're on my list for my grandchildren. All the best!

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    1. Thank you, Mary. I love the holidays during this time of year and nothing is more important than being around those you love.

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  2. Family is the root of all the happiness :) Love your post and your books are adorable!

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    1. Thank you, Ruchira. The books keep me busy this time of year.

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  3. You have many things to be thankful for in your life, even with the coming changes. Your books sound great. Best of luck and Happy Thanksgiving.

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    1. Same to you, C.B. Life is definitely a roller coaster.

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  4. You children's book series sounds great and I love the illustrations/covers! Love that you write adult and children's (a hope of mine at some point...). Thanks for sharing! And that your book idea came while you awoke sick. Gotta love where the ideas arise!

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    1. Thanks, Jean. One student during an author visit likened my road to writing from my illness as "making lemonade out of lemons."

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  5. Love your covers. Certainly will help get you into the Christmas spirit.

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