Christina M. Pagès, Award Winning Author Of Children's Novel, ‘Lucy In Her Secret Wood’, Named As Finalist In ‘50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading’ Book Awards

Pagès was picked from a field of hundreds of authors who appeared on The Authors Show. Her book, entitled ‘Lucy In Her Secret Wood’, addresses a number of vitally important issues faced by young people today, among them the loss of connection with nature, and bullying

Christina M. Pagès, author of ‘Lucy In Her Secret Wood’, has been named as a finalist in the ‘50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading’ Book Awards. Her honor came as a result of her appearance on The Authors Show. Pagès was chosen from a field of hundreds of authors through a public voting process. ‘Lucy In Her Secret Wood’ is a multi-award winning children's book that addresses a number of issues faced by young people today including social media, the loss of connection with nature and bullying.

Inspired by Wordsworth’s Wild Child, Lucy Gray, Pagès’s book is also the recipient of Children’s Literary Classics' Top Honors Award -- the 2007 Eloquent Quill Award for Youth Fiction, their Gold Award, Readers' Favorite Silver Award, Literary Classics Seal of Approval, the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and The New York City Big Book Award.

"I was thrilled to hear last week that I was a finalist in the Great Writers Award," Pagès stated. "This will be the seventh award responding to my children's novel 'Lucy in her Secret Wood (A Story Inspired by Wordsworth's wild child Lucy Gray)'.

Social media and technology have impacted children in a number of ways, some of them unexpected and many of them negative. Children as young as 8 have committed suicide due to bullying. For many young people the natural landscape has been replaced by the digital landscape. This unprecedented trend toward technology causes young people to lose touch with their natural environment. This is a subject that Pagès is passionate about. She manages to weave a tale that seamlessly presents the beauty of the natural world and the connection with Mother Nature with another subject that negatively impacts youth - bullying.

In the storyline of the book, Lucy’s step-father takes her from the tiny room where he has locked her away for years, and drives her out to a remote wood where he leaves her with a bag of food, and her only life-long companion, a stuffed bunny. When Lucy’s fear of her stepfather dies away with his footsteps, and her tiny room world opens up to trees and bluebells, she is in awe of the shapes and colors around her. She recognizes her friends and family in the sentinels of trees, the woodland life and no longer feels lost and alone. She felt more lost inside walls, separated from outdoor life. Lucy needs only a few days in the woods to realize that this is her true home. Through 9-year old Will, who brings her food, two live chickens, and a recorder to copy woodland music, she experiences her first human friendship, and a way to make music that enchants all who hear it.

She is now part of the magical world of woodland animals, birds and butterflies, not locked away from it. Through Lucy, children recognize they are more “alive” when surrounded by the sounds, colors, and music of outdoors, unlike the world of their computers and phone screens which is always ‘on the other side,’ at a distance from them.

Members of the public who want to vote for Pagès in the ‘50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading’ Book Awards can access her entry and vote at The Authors Show site at http://www.TheAuthorsShow.com. Christina M. Pagès is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below, or by email at cpages@westmont.edu. ‘Lucy In Her Secret Wood’ is available at online retail book outlets. More information is available at her website at http://www.christinapages.com/lucy.

About Christina Pagès:

Christina M. Pagès, Ph.D., grew up in the fields of England, spending hours wandering the countryside. In America, she raised four children while studying for her Ph.D. She was the California State Poetry Society’s Winner in 2005, won a publication award for 'Shadow Words' (2006) published her poetry collection, 'Remember Not to Forget', in 2013, and her children’s novel, 'Lucy in Her Secret Wood' in 2016. Pagès has taught literature in Universities and colleges since 1987. Her writing, painting, piano playing, and gardening, all come from her love of nature as a child. “Nature is our best friend,” she says, “patiently waiting to feed our imagination and spirit.”

Book 2 of the Lucy Series – 'The Woodland Adventures of Lucy and Will' is complete, and will be published by Waldorf Publishing in 2018. Waldorf is in the process of publishing a gift book with some of her paintings and poems that will be titled 'Nostalgia: Poems and Paintings of Beauty, Love and Loss'. 

Contact:

Christina M. Pagès
christinampages@gmail.com
http://www.christinapages.com/lucy

Leia Mais…

Author And Photographer John Crippen Releases 'Animal Portraits With The Digital Photography Of John Crippen: Learning Photography With Animals'

The new book has over 100 captivating photographs and centers primarily on composition. Reviewers have called the book 'impressive' and 'enlightening'

Author and photographer John Crippen has announced the release of 'Animal Portraits With The Digital Photography Of John Crippen: Learning Photography With Animals'. The book is for photographers who are ready to transition from point and shoot to DSLR.

'Animal Portraits' has over 100 captivating photos with information such as ISO, shutter speed, and aperture settings under each image. While some dialog is provided regarding lens, filter or technique, most of the book provides an opportunity for readers to look at images and decide what kind of composition the reader would like to experiment with on their own. Incorporated in the collection are lighting, color, and field of depth combinations. The book is geared towards people transitioning from a point and shoot to a DSLR camera, but is useful at all levels of expertise.

"I think that photography has been a natural progression," Crippen stated, "because I've always loved art and I've aways loved animals. Photography is a way to nature and life while it's actually happening. Renoir would have been in heaven with a good camera. I wanted to create a book for people to learn the basics of photography through enjoying the images. I put the cameras setting underneath each photo so new photographers could quickly glance at a picture that's slimilar to they like to take. They don't have to spend a lot of time figuring out the right settings. with their DSLR.  Sometimes capturing that magic shot is only available for a few moments."

Jack Magnus of Readers Favorite said, "’Animal Portraits with the Digital Photography of John Crippen’ is a guide for photographers who have made, or are considering making, the transition from a point and shoot or a "prosumer" DSLR camera to a full-fledged DSLR. The first part of the book is a tutorial with demonstrations showing how shutter speed, focal length and environmental conditions can make photography challenging, and the solutions that can be used. He gives examples of pictures taken in zoos and in the wild, and shows how the background of each picture can enhance the mood of the presentation. Author and photographer John Crippen also discusses the types of equipment you'll need to bring along for a day's shooting. Each picture contains data including the type of camera, lens, f-stop, ISO and the time of exposure. He suggests that new DSLR enthusiasts can learn through exploring what experienced photographers have achieved and gives the reader basic instructions and guidelines. He also includes pictures taken with various point and shoot cameras while noting that great shots are sometimes just a moment or two's opportunity.

I will be purchasing a new DSLR in the near future and am also a wildlife photographer. This book is both impressive and enlightening. There are portraits of lions and elephants, seals and sea lions, and an amazing selection of wild bird photos, all beautifully composed and filled with life. Crippen's details and instructions are precise and to the point, and his pictures illustrate the lessons given. This is a remarkable collection of photographs as well as a well-thought-out introduction to the art of animal photography using a DSLR camera."

Mr. Crippen is available for media interview and can be reached using the information below or by email at johncrippenphotography@hotmail.com. 'Animal Portraits With The Digital Photography Of John Crippen: Learning Photography With Animals' is available at Amazon. More information is available at Crippen's website at http://www.photo-scenix.com.

Profile:

Photographer and published author John Crippen has been recognized by multiple publications, magazine covers and books. Crippen holds a degree in Psychiatric Technology as well as another in Liberal Arts from Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California. His writing and images have been seen in almost 40 countries by way of the PSA Magazine. (Photographers Society of America)

Awards in visual arts include the California Mid-State Photo Contest in which he has placed in professional divisions in 2007, 2008, and 2009. His connection with nature has had a tremendous influence to his photography, writing, and hand drawn artwork.

John Crippen has written 7 books in various genres including photography how-to, travel, psychology, humor, and a graphic novel based on classic mythology. Along with his books, John Crippen has published articles on a multitude of subjects including the Tesla Roadster, Elephant Seals on San Simeon, The 2009 Amgen Tour of California, deterioration of health care and poverty in the United States. Many of the articles have been published through his own column on Newsvine.com as well as in local and international publications.

Crippen has been involved in numerous fundraisers in conjunction with local chambers of commerce including The National Wildlife Association, Atascadero Land Preservation Society, Sober Graduations, and several others. Crippen has also donated books to libraries across the nation and actively encourages young people to pursue their love of arts. His memberships include the Photographer Society of America, National Geographic Society, Audubon Society, News Vine, Atascadero Art Association, and several local chambers. The majority of John Crippen's photography has taken place on the Central Coast, but he has also shot in San Diego, Catalina, San Francisco, Yosemite, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Fanning Islands.

In August 2009, Crippen founded the "Cameras For Kids" project. The website and book were created to teach children about digital photography through simple terms, examples, and icons. He has also visited schools and taught 30 minute presentations to children of varying ages.  The Cameras For Kids Program was also designed to teach children about animals, nature, and green sciences. The book won a 2010 national bronze award from Reader's Favorite.

Contact:

John Crippen
805-462-8670
Web: http://www.photo-scenix.com
Email: johncrippenphotography@hotmail.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Crippen

Leia Mais…

The Negative Effect Of Too Much Technology On Kids And Teens - Author John Crippen Offers A Solution

Author John Crippen demonstrates that although children and teens can develop a tendency to withdraw from the world as the result of using too much technology, there is one form of technology that will draw kids and teens back into the real world

There are hundreds of studies and surveys which clearly demonstrate that kids and teens are being negatively affected by interacting with modern technology. From cell phones to video games, computers to dvd’s, the documented effect on kids and teens is unquestionably negative. These negative effects are caused primarily by the tendency to withdraw from social interaction, withdrawal from society in general, a lack of exercise – even vitamin deficiencies resulting from lack of sunshine. Author John Crippen believes however there is one form of technology that draws kids and teen back into the world and actually increases their interaction with the world.

“Cameras,” stated Mr. Crippen, “could be said to be one of the only forms of modern day technology that require that the participant interact directly with the world around him or her. Photography and cameras sharpen and enhance creative thinking, improve observational skills and allow kids and teens to reconnect with the world around them.”

John Crippen’s new book, Cameras For Kids, is a fun filled book full of projects for young children. The projects found in Cameras For Kids are fun, simple and inexpensive to create. The book was written to stimulate art and creativity at an early age. Basic camera functions, settings, and even basic composition are covered in this book which is recommended for ages 7 through 14 years of age.

Camera functions, operating modes and simple composition concepts are described in easy to understand language. The concepts are accompanied by colorful images, icons, and example demonstrations for children to try on their own.

“The book was created,” continued Mr. Crippen, “with educators and parents in mind and can be easily adapted to a curriculum for art and enrichment programs. The program has been presented to a wide range of students in the Atascadero Unified School District, on the California Central Coast. The kids are very enthusiastic about the program. The book has already been adopted by districts and libraries.”

Apex Reviews said of Cameras For Kids “In an age when more and more parents tend to complain about the sedentary, video game obsessed culture in which their children are being raised, Cameras For Kids provides a wide assortment of healthy alternatives, encouraging children not only to engage their minds - but also their bodies - in the active exploration of the world around them.”

As a compliment to the book, there is a Cameras For Kids website with free instructions and information on photography, downloadable lesson plans for teachers, and even assistance in writing grants for schools with tight budgets. The website has many other topics for children to explore such as articles on animals, nature, and science. Designed to be an overall positive and enriching learning experience, the Cameras for Kids Website was created to reconnect children, parents, and teachers with the world around them.

“Unlike other electronic devices such as computers, TVs, MP3 players, cell phones, and video games,” stated Mr. Crippen, “the digital camera encourages kids to get outside, explore, and exercise. It is a form of technology kids can enjoy while providing all the benefits they miss while engaging with other forms of technology.”

Mr. Crippen is available for media interview and can be reached using the information below or by email at camerasforkids@gmail.com. More information is available at the authors website.

Cameras For Kids
John Crippen
CreateSpace
ISBN: 978-1449502355

Profile:

John Crippen is a published author with 6 books prior to camera for kids. He is an active advocate for kids, nature, and wildlife. His photography is noted in several books and journals as well as galleries and the California Central Coast. He also holds a degree in Psychology and has also taken classes in Early Child Developement. John has also worked with the developmentally disabled and enjoys being an educator.
Contact:

John Crippen
PO Box 875
Atascadero, CA 93423
805-462-8670
Web: www.CamerasForKids.info
Email: camerasforkids@gmail.com

Leia Mais…