Iconic Film, It's A Wonderful Life, Helped Inspire Bestselling Author Jody Sharpe's Mystic Bay Series Of Books Featuring Angels Who Live As Humans

As a former teacher of special needs children, Sharpe has direct experience regarding the effect bullying has on children. Her award-winning, bestselling books help readers find hope, inspiration and gratitude.

Why do some stories become classics? Out of the hundreds of thousands of stories available to us through books and movies, what is it that sets a minuscule percentage apart from all the rest, moving that story into a category defined by timeless appeal? Is it the compelling plot? The well-developed characters? The emotional resonance?

Bestselling author Jody Sharpe addressed this in an article posted on her site. In that piece, she said in part:

"Many remember the Christmas story where George Bailey is contemplating suicide by jumping off the town bridge into the river. His family business has been ruined, he thinks, by the antagonist, the wealthy and ruthless Mr. Potter. But all is about to change when George is about to jump into the water and unbeknownst to him, Clarence, his guardian angel is sent from heaven to help.

Clarence jumps in first crying for George to save him. George jumps in and saves Clarence. Clarence tells George he is his angel and shows him what life would have been like had George never been born. All the goodness George showed his family and neighbors would never have happened and Mr. Potter would run the town into the ground.

This classic in humanity helped inspire me to write my nine books. I believe in angels and I believe they are here for us all, sometimes seen and most times unseen. In this time of war in parts of the world and sorrow plaguing so many, I continue writing about love, forgiveness, redemption with angels at the helm."

The full text of the piece is available at http://jodysharpe.com/blog/.

Sharpe recently received an honorable mention in the 2024 National Federation of Press Women's Professional Communication contest at the national level for one of her novels, ‘Summer of Angels’. This is the fourth NFPW win for her. In 2023, ‘20 Moon Road, An Angel’s Tale’ took First Place nationally in the novella category. ‘Town Of Angels Christmas’ placed At Large, as did ‘Special Needs Children, The Angels On My Shoulder’.

She was also featured in the September issue of 'Great Writers You Should Be Reading Magazine.'

Books by Jody Sharpe include:

The Dog Who Came For Christmas - Meteorologist and psychic, Gayle Force Knight, proves to be a force to be reckoned with once more. While Gayle was sleeping, an angel sent her a vision of a future event. With her intuition, Gayle wonders, will she really meet the dog in her dream and save another one?

With the help of her intuitive husband, Alex Knight, and friends, Gayle sets on a course to rescue many more. But with surprising twists and turns of intrigue, both Gayle and Alex find there are always angels at the helm as they ride on their coattails.

To Catch an Angel - Jody is also the author of 'To Catch an Angel', written in memory of her late husband Steve. In 'To Catch an Angel', miracles happen in Mystic Bay, California, the town with the psychic and angel vibe. Angels are calling. Psychic Maggie Malone returns home to find she's swept up in the miracle of it all. She can't imagine why her mother left or who her father might be. But these questions pale in comparison to the wonder of the angels. Maggie meets writer, Noah Greenstreet. They realize they've met before, but where? Maggie and Noah embark on a journey to find our world is all awash with angels.

The Angel's Daughter - A secret lies in Mystic Bay, California, and only two people know it. First, there’s Hannah, a tender curly-headed half-angel. Then there’s her father, Gabe, an effervescent, teddy bear of a full-blooded angel. And it’s up to Hannah to keep the secret safe, but she’s made a colossal mistake telling her ex-boyfriend and writing professor, Sam Blakely. Now he's written a book exposing the secret to the world.

Town Of Angels - Angel vs. Bully in the town of Mystic Bay, California, where a well-kept secret lies. Angels live as humans there. After angels appeared to three children, all was blissful in the town full of psychics, and ordinary folk. But as brute, Klaus Waxman, comes to town, angel Ken Leighton, a storeowner, must carefully guide his flock of humans not to give in to the bully's efforts.As Klaus opens a store mocking the resident angel sightings, angel Ken guides psychic Justine Greer, and her family to thwart his efforts. And with the help of the indomitable oldest psychic in town, Madam Norma, the bully meets his match through the soft voices and intuitive minds of his neighbors.

Town Of Angels Christmas - The bully never wins. A secret lies in Mystic Bay California. Angels live as humans there. Angel Ken, a storeowner, fears the secret will be revealed when vet, Jordana Hart, a woman with special healing abilities moves to town.

Years before Angel Ken materialized as an old man, changing the course of her life. Will Jordana recognize Angel Ken as the man from her past as they work together on a rescue mission to bring twenty-two horses to Mystic Bay before Christmas, will they see what lies before them, a Christmas story only the angels could write.

Special Needs Children, The Angels On My Shoulder is a memoir based on her twenty-five years teaching children with special needs. The book placed second in the National Federation Of Press Women's At-Large Communication contest. The book is as entertaining as it is illuminating. It's a love story about the special students and others who over the years graced her life with just that, their grace.

With hearts of angels and challenges to face, the children took Sharpe along their journeys and inspired her own life's journey of self-discovery. When sorrow came, their kindness helped her through. The synchronicity of events from high school to retirement changed her life for the better, turning her face toward heaven.

Midwest Book Review stated, "Sharpe's ability to see the good in circumstances and people identifies the 'special' in 'special needs' as she delineates her journey through the education system and those teaching and social encounters which changed her perspective and life."

"Teachers (especially those working with special needs kids) will find this spiritual and social reflection easily accessible. It's presented in vignettes which offer small, digestible bites of insight into a world where angels and kindness are present in more than one form."

Special Needs Children followed her recently released children's book about angels, When The Angel Sent Butterflies. The new book helps children understand that love from their parents and others surrounds them. Love conquers fear, and believing that angels are near can help sweep any childhood fear away. This concept is presented in the book when Angel Ken sends Jones and Kate butterflies. The book, appropriate for ages 2 to 7, is now available at Amazon and Ingram.

One of her latest books, Summer Of Angels, is a mystery novel. Meteorologist and psychic, Gayle Force proves a force to be reckoned with as she moves back to her beloved Mystic Bay, California. While sleeping, an angel sent her a vision in a dream of a future event. Gayle realizes she must use her intuition to save an old man from drowning. But who is this old man?

With the help of intuitive attorney, Alex Knight, she finds they are caught in the middle of a future crime. But can Gayle and Alex solve the case and save the old man before it’s too late? With surprising twists and turns of intrigue and love, Gayle and Alex find there are angels at the helm as they help prove the bully never wins.

In addition, on the "Tuesdays With The Angels" section of her site, Sharpe presents stories of real-life encounters with angels. The stories are available at Sharpe's website at http://www.jodysharpe.com.

Sharpe hopes to create a collection of angel stories that involve sightings of angels, interaction with angels, miraculous angel encounters, and other types of accounts or stories. Everyone is welcome to submit angel stories. All submissions will be considered, but inclusion is not guaranteed. Stories may be submitted at http://bit.ly/2FV8amd.

Sharpe's YouTube channel brings all of this together, offering segments on all of these topics. One topic of special interest is bullying, specifically as it relates to special needs children.

In addition to the National Federation of Press Women’s award, Jody was chosen as a winner in the annual "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" Book Awards. She was chosen from a field of hundreds of authors through a public voting process.

Jody also announced recently that two new screen treatments of her books are now available: The Angel's Daughter and Town Of Angels Christmas.

Jody Sharpe is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at sharpejody76@gmail.com. Angel stories can be submitted at http://bit.ly/2FV8amd. All of her books are available at online book retailers. New quotes will be added every Tuesday to the "Tuesdays With The Angels" section of her blog, which can be found at her website at http://www.JodySharpe.com.

Profile:

Jody Sharpe had a rewarding career as a Special Education teacher. Writing about angels became healing after losing her daughter and then her husband. The valuable lessons she learned about moving forward and loving life in the now have set her on a mission to tell the stories with love, humor and spiritual awakening. The fictitious town of Mystic Bay has given her an avenue to put characters and themes together hopefully enlightening the reader towards contemplation of the precious life and memories we are given.

Contact:

Jody Sharpe
sharpejody76@gmail.com
http://www.jodysharpe.com

Leia Mais…

The Best Charities: Seeds for a Future Is A Catalyst For Change And Provides A Sustainable Solution to Food Insecurity And Malnutrition In Guatemala

Donations made before December 31 will be matched 100% and help provide a solution for breaking the cycles of poverty and malnutrition for children in Guatemala.

In the rural communities of Guatemala, families have faced the constant threat of food insecurity and severe health issues from chronic malnutrition for many generations. With almost 50% of children under 5 years of age suffering from chronic malnutrition, Guatemala is ranked one of the highest in the world for "stunting," malnutrition’s most visible symptom. Malnutrition also causes other lifelong impacts including diminished brain development, increased childhood mortality, and low adult earning power.

Some programs address malnutrition and food insecurity with hand-out strategies. Hand-out programs are very important in emergencies, but do not give people the tools to sustainably combat malnutrition and food insecurity themselves.

Seeds for a Future, one of the best charities focused on Guatemala, is a nonprofit making a real difference in the lives of these families. Their sustainable program has already impacted 19 communities across 10 states in Guatemala, providing a solution for breaking the cycles of poverty and malnutrition. Since its inception, over 5,200 families have completed the 12-month program. The commitment and hard work of these families has already improved the lives of more than 41,600 children and adults.

The program fosters a culture of learning, action and self-reliance. Through the creation and maintenance of home nutrition gardens, thousands of families now have year-round access to fresh, nutritious food, thereby reducing food insecurity and improving overall family health. The program also teaches participants how to raise small animals for protein, and plant native fruit, cacao, and timber trees, providing additional income opportunities and further breaking the cycle of poverty.

Another vital impact of the Seeds program is the empowerment of family members, especially women, and their increased confidence that they can build a better future for themselves, their family, and their community.

Seeds for a Future is not just a charity, but a catalyst for change. With your gift of support you can help empower families to create better lives for themselves and break free from the grip of malnutrition and poverty. Your donation, no matter the size, can make a real difference in the lives of these families and their kids.

Seeds for the Future has received thousands of heart-felt testimonials from program participants:

“I’m very grateful for everything they have taught us, especially how to make sure our babies have the nutrition they need so that they grow healthy and strong.” - Marta Esther Sauceda Menchu

“Through the family gardens, they’ve helped eliminate anemia in my child and me, and in my mother as well, thanks to their home visits and making sure the garden keeps producing every day.” - Mayra Marleny Lacán Cotti

“Seeds for the Future has been a great help to my family and me. I have a daughter who is almost two years old, and she previously suffered from anemia. Thankfully she has recovered from this illness. I have monitored her condition closely and have given her greens and vegetables to help her recover.” - Rosa Elena Tista

If you make a charitable donation to Seeds for a Future today, your money will be doubled. A generous donor will match 100% of all charitable gifts made by December 31, 2024, up to a total of $50,000! Give today and be a part of this transformative movement. Together we can reach thousands more rural Guatemalan families and help them cultivate a brighter future for their communities.

Donations are accepted at the charity's website at https://seedsforafuture.org/. More information, including podcasts, videos, and a resource library are available at the site.

About Seeds for a Future:

Since 2009, Seeds for a Future, a US 501c3, has developed and implemented effective and sustainable long-term strategies for addressing health, nutrition, and economic challenges among low-income rural families in Guatemala.

Community-based Field Teams work directly at the household level to help each family build long-term solutions customized to their specific needs and interests. Seeds for a Future’s strategies are practical and low-cost. And the program’s flexibility and adaptability make it easy to replicate in other communities and environments.

Contact:

Suzanne de Berge, Co-Founder
https://seedsforafuture.org/
suzanne@seedsforafuture.org

Leia Mais…

New Young Adult Fantasy Book, Big Ears Jack And Friends, Now Available From Award Winning Author Earl Vincent de Berge

The book is a collection of tall tales featuring extraordinary animals and plants from the Sonoran desert of Baja California. It is a literary experience for young readers that can help ignite a passion for the natural world.

Animal books have always been important in the lives of kids. Books about animals have been favorites of children of any age, from newborns to teens. Most are both entertaining and educational. Seldom however do we find a book that features that special class of animals found in the Sonoran desert of Baja, California. That is the focus of Earl Vincent de Berge's latest story book about animals, 'Big Ears Jack and Friends', a book that would make a perfect gift for youngsters and for Moms whose children love to hear stories about coyotes, foxes, jackrabbits and other desert animals.

This new young adult fantasy book is an enchanting collection of 15 short fantasy stories celebrating the wild animals and plants that live in the hottest desert in the Americas, on the narrowest peninsula in the world, Baja California, Mexico.

The main character in these charming stories is Big Ears Jack: a very big jackrabbit with huge ears -- and magical powers to use for good! Jack is the king of desert kindness, a good friend to all desert critters.

Among Jack’s friends readers will meet Nosey and Wag, mischievous coyote brothers; Blue Dasher, a racing dragonfly; the Kangaroo Rat Chorus; tree-lizard Boris; Giro the dust devil; Hawk Conchita and the red ants; Lady Treble Clef, a watchful cactus; Paulina, the puma poet; Diana the musical tarantula;  Lady Chrona, a sea lion  who dreams of flying; a scheming sea gull named Swindler; the beautiful bobcat Miss Mucha Purrs; Mr. Shellie the chatterbox tortoise; and Young Red Fox and his sweet love, the lovely rabbit Adorna -- along with many others.

And just for fun, a short essay is included about how to enjoy a hike or walk in the desert in a safe and respectful way.

'Big Ears Jack And Friends' is now available in Kindle and softcover version at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Ears-Jack-Friends-Earl-Berge-ebook/dp/B0DM6PR8HW?ref_=ast_author_dp. Add it to your Christmas shopping list today.

Earl Vincent de Berge is also the author of 'A Finger of Land on an Old Man’s Hand'. This coming of age memoir is more than just another adventure story; it’s a meditation on resilience, friendship, and the inescapable pull of self-discovery. Each challenge—be it physical or emotional—becomes a steppingstone in the explorers’ evolution, perhaps reminding readers of their own capacity for growth. It offers a compelling testament to the human spirit's capacity for transformation.

The Baja Peninsula serves as both a backdrop and a mirror. It immerses readers in four explorers' transformative journey through Baja California in 1962 and 1964, inspired by 'The Forgotten Peninsula' by Joseph Wood Krutch.

Photography enthusiasts will be thrilled to know the book offers a treasure trove of previously unreleased photographs of the area.

One reviewer called the book, ". . . a beautifully written, fabulous tale of an incredibly brave and daring journey." ReaderViews, in their 5-star review said, "A Finger of Land on an Old Man’s Hand by Earl Vincent de Berge is the stark, witty, and profound memoir of four college students testing their limits on the Baja Peninsula in the summer of 1962. One could think of this as the classic literary assignment, 'How I Spent My Summer Vacation.' Only to do so would be to grossly underestimate this narrative."

Earl’s adventures in Baja deepened his youthful fascination with the Sonoran Desert and its plants and animals, and inspired him to write a collection of charming stories for young readers. The main characters are Big Ears Jack – a huge magician jackrabbit – and other animals, birds and plants of the Sonoran Desert and its coastal regions. 'Big Ears Jack and Friends,' is now available on Amazon in both print and e-book formats and would be a unique and delightful addition to anyone’s Christmas stocking.

The book took Best In Category 2024, Nonfiction, from the Arizona Authors Association.

To date, Earl has also published three collections of his poems, 'Allegro to Life,' 'Swans to Carry Me,' and 'Wind in the Elephant Tree,' which touch on nature, human nature, love, desert silence, and life in Guatemala.

All of de Berge's books are available at Amazon and other online book retailers. More information, including an excerpt from the book and a PDF of selected photos from 'A Finger Of Land On An Old Man's Hand', with insider details revealing Baja in the 1960s, is available at his website at https://www.earldeberge.com/.

About Earl Vincent de Berge:

Author Earl Vincent de Berge is an Arizona native, writer, photographer, and poet. With a master’s degree in political science from the University of Arizona, he founded Behavior Research Center, Inc., and created the respected and widely published Rocky Mountain Poll (RMP), of which he was Editor for 35 years. Earl’s photographs, logbooks, and essays reflecting on life experiences serve as foundations for his prose and poetry. He has recently published three collections of his poems, 'Allegro to Life,' 'Swans to Carry Me,' and 'Wind in the Elephant Tree,' which touch on nature, human nature, love, desert silence, and life in Guatemala.

Earl has just published “Big Ears Jack and Friends,” a book of young reader stories in which the main characters are animals and birds of the Sonoran Desert and coastal regions of Baja and he is currently assembling 'The Man Who Ate His Dreams,' a biography of a rags-to-riches businessman, artist, and poet.

Earl and his wife Suzanne split their time between Arizona and Guatemala where they founded the nonprofit Seeds for a Future to help impoverished rural women improve their families’ access to adequate food and nutrition.

Contact:

Earl Vincent de Berge
https://www.earldeberge.com/
edb1326@hotmail.com

Leia Mais…

Book Marketing Announcements: The Authors Show® Lineup For The Week Of December 16, 2024

The Authors Show® serves as a resource for authors and allows members to engage in promotion and publicity for marketing purposes. The site offers professionally produced radio interviews that are broadcast worldwide.

Don McCauley of the Free Publicity Focus Group and Danielle Hampson, Executive Producer of The Authors Show®, have announced The Authors Show® broadcast schedule for the week of December 16, 2024. The new show schedule is available at The Authors Show® site.

For those who hope to sell books on the Internet, the challenge can be daunting. It can be confusing difficult, time consuming and expensive. The Authors Show® helps authors overcome these challenges by providing opportunities for greater visibility.

The Authors Show® shows offer professionally produced radio interviews that are broadcast worldwide.

The Authors Show schedule for the week of December 16, 2024

Dec 16  
Channel 1     Randy Rolfe (USA)
Channel 2     Cherika Shields (USA)
Channel 3     Sharman Apt Russell (USA)
Channel 4     John Mahaffey (USA)
Channel 5     Fish Nealman (USA)
Channel 6     Alphonsus Obayuwana, MD, PhD, CPC (USA)
Channel 7     Bill Yarborough (USA)

Dec 17  
Channel 1     Donna Louis (USA)
Channel 2     Jody Sharpe (USA)
Channel 3     Craig Snyder (USA)
Channel 4     Jeffrey Marshall (USA)
Channel 5     Nancine Meyer (USA)
Channel 6     Donna Louis (USA)
Channel 7     S.G. Blaise (USA)

Dec 18  
Channel 1     Victoria Gail Oltarsh (USA)
Channel 2     Cherika Shields (USA)
Channel 3     Leah Rise (USA)
Channel 4     Elsie McKenney (USA)
Channel 5     Penny Orloff (USA)
Channel 6     Rosanne D'Ausilio, Ph.D (USA)
Channel 7     Grace Blair (USA)

Dec 19  
Channel 1     Tom Strelich (USA)
Channel 2     Richard Trayler (USA)
Channel 3     Martin Klubeck (USA)
Channel 4     Nick A. Masellis II  (USA)
Channel 5     A.L. Tayler (United Kingdom)
Channel 6     Linda Maria Frank (USA)
Channel 7     Laya Martinez (USA)

Dec 20 - Dec 22  
Channel 1     Deb Lewis  (USA)
Channel 2     Ricardo Jose Gonzalez-Rothi (USA)
Channel 3     Jody Sharpe (USA)
Channel 4     M.J. Polelle (USA)
Channel 5     Jake Kaminski (USA)
Channel 6     Eric Madeen (Japan)
Channel 7     Don A. Holbrook (USA)

Profile:

Don McCauley is a marketing strategist and is the facilitator of the Free Publicity Focus Group, a marketing and publicity firm. He also serves as the host of The Authors Show®.  Danielle Hampson is the Executive Producer of The Authors Show®.

Contact:

Don McCauley
Free Publicity Focus Group
don@freepublicitygroup.com

Danielle Hampson
The Authors Show
danielle@theauthorsshow.com

Leia Mais…

New Release Of Children's Book Series, ‘The Shelby F Squirrel Series’, Teaches Love, Learning And How To Grow Into A Responsible Adult

The highly praised 3 book set by author Eleanor Lawrie uses an entertaining cast of animal characters to engage children in stories filled with adventure, love and laughter.

Children's books can play a major role in shaping the minds and values of young readers. By incorporating life lessons into their storylines, they can help children develop important values that they will need to become responsible adults.

The SHELBY F. SQUIRREL Series is comprised of three books:

BOOK ONE: The Complete Adventures of SHELBY F. SQUIRREL and Friends: (ages 4 to 10)

Shelby is a young Flying Squirrel who lives with his mother and his twin sister, Darby. This delightful series of adventures includes necessary lessons for skills the young ones will need as adults, and endless fun and excitement as Shelby explores the world around him.

Shelby hiccups and stutters when he is upset or nervous, trouble finds him much too easily, and growing up is not what he wants to do. The forest provides him with many good friends, but when their beloved meadow is changed forever they all move to the woods beside a farm, where Shelby meets and learns about farm animals, a whole new experience.

BOOK TWO: The Great FOREST CAPER: A Shelby F. Squirrel Adventure: (ages 8 to 11)

Shelby F. Squirrel and his friends suddenly face mortal danger, and may lose everything! This fast-moving adventure includes Marvin F. Mouse, Molly and Polly Raccoon, the Wise Old Owl, Rosie Robin, and farm animals: Charlie the Horse, Sultan Rooster, and Billy Goat, all part of the close-knit group introduced in 'The Complete Adventures of SHELBY F. SQUIRREL and Friends'. Combining the strength and wisdom of the whole community leads to a meticulously mounted counteroffensive, their only hope against heavy odds.

BOOK THREE: Where is Virginia?: Another Shelby F. Squirrel Adventure: (ages 9 to 12)

Virginia, a young flying squirrel with white fur, moves with her family to The Flying Squirrel Sanctuary to escape bullying. Her desperate parents call for help when she disappears, and Shelby and his friends organize a search party. They thankfully accept the help of Nikita, a dog who uses her tracking skills to pick up Virginia's captor's scent on the road. The animals are able to locate a building in town where they find Virginia has befriended a baby raccoon named Bandit, and perfected an escape plan. Meanwhile, Nikita's owner, Bryan, drives them to the building. Virginia triggers an alarm during her escape, but she and Bandit manage to get away just as the fire trucks arrive. The story has a happy ending, with new flying squirrel babies, family reunions, a Canine Lacrosse tournament, and the announcement that no more animals will be captured.

“Shelby F. Squirrel was 'born' when a back door at my condo building was left open a little too long....I always thought that some animal would get in and create havoc; amazingly I have no idea why that animal became a flying squirrel,” Lawrie stated. “My goal is to put The SHELBY F. SQUIRREL Series in the hands of readers of all ages, but I must admit that a personal dream is for the Series to be part of school reading. I promise to donate a percentage to a charity that promotes world literacy. I only want SHELBY to be loved for who he is as a baby and who he becomes as an adult. The life lessons are there to be picked up without expanding on them, but simply as part of each rollicking adventure.”

Readers and reviewers have praised the books in the series. One Amazon reviewer said of BOOK ONE, "Though broken up into small nuggets that are perfect for bedtime reading, this collection reminds me of tales by Thornton W. Burgess and Beatrix Potter." Another stated, "I must commend the author on her work. Shelby F. Squirrel is a wonderful creation, who deserves to be enjoyed by kids and grown-ups around the world. An easy 5 stars from me!"

Accompanying videos can be found on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/@eleanorlawrie375.

Eleanor Lawrie is available for media interviews and can be contacted by email at eleanorlawrie1@gmail.com. All The SHELBY F. SQUIRREL Series books are available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00VD26BNO. More information is available on Eleanor's website at https://flutesandflyingsquirrels.com.

About Eleanor Lawrie:

Eleanor Lawrie was born in Toronto, studied Commercial Art at Northern Secondary School and worked for a few years as a catalogue layout artist. Drawing and watercolour painting were busy pastimes for many years. Her love of music began at age 7 with piano lessons, and flute became a passion in high school, which led to her career as a professional musician. She was also in demand for several years as a music copyist for the Canadian Music Centre and CBC.

Eventually, symphony jobs (Hamilton Philharmonic and Niagara Symphony), chamber music, and private teaching became her full-time occupation. After retiring, she joined a writers group and soon brought her first SHELBY story to share. The group's enthusiastic response encouraged her to carry on, and SHELBY subsequently led her into everything that followed.

Contact:

Eleanor Lawrie
https://flutesandflyingsquirrels.com
eleanorlawrie1@gmail.com

Leia Mais…