Helping Young Refugees, Immigrants And Kids Who Have Been Bullied - Smart Tools For Life Announces Fundraising Campaign

Smart Tools for Life provides memorable and engaging books and music for young children that enhance their “smarts” for problem-solving, empathy, and compassion, and sink deeply - for life - into children's hearts and minds.

Every day 44,000 people become refugees due to climate change, war, etc. Half are children. Incredibly, many people don't care. When fear-mongering is rampant, and hatred of “the other” is being modeled from the highest levels of government, what are we teaching our kids?

Creating a compassionate point-of-view toward others and stimulating kind actions by children is a clear solution. One organization, Smart Tools for Life, has a unique and powerful way to implement that solution. Their new kids' book, 'Immigrant, Refugee, & Stranger -- The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer', inspires kindness toward newcomers, including the new kid in school, as well as immigrants, and refugees.

"Whether or not people are warmly welcomed in a new location or maligned and mistreated, fundamentally comes down to the attitude of each individual they encounter," stated Julie Penshorn, author of the new book. "These attitudes are formed as children learn and grow, and become laws when they are decision-makers. Hate and indifference have no place in our complicated world. Our work is to provide resources that change hearts, minds, and ultimately future governments, by educating children in empathy, compassion, and more today."

"Since attitudes of adults are difficult to change, we provide guidance for young kids, both residents, and those coming to our country. They learn to interact with others with kindness as a prerequisite, not an afterthought. This learning sinks deeply into their hearts and minds, and will influence their behaviors as culture-creating teens and adults."

Penshorn's new children’s book addresses the challenges that newcomers have when entering communities and classrooms. Readers are moved toward thoughtful and compassionate action. Embracing and accepting new people has complications. This story guides children to explore the questions around this topic. There are many opportunities for deep thinking and finding ‘compassion-smart’ solutions.

Thought-provoking questions are asked in the Parent and Educator Guide at the end of the book. The 'Conversation Starters' and 'Activities' provide several lesson-plans based on the conundrums provided by the story."

The Global Giving fundraising campaign will help accomplish all of these goals in a number of ways, including providing no-charge print books and ebooks, readings at libraries, classroom visits and a number of marketing/outreach programs. The Global Giving campaign is available at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/compassion-smart-education-immigrants-refugees.

“This book is a great resource for families and teachers looking for materials that enhance decision-making. It supports teachers dealing with a new child in class, or perhaps immigrants, or refugees. We think these are critical discussions to have in today’s world,” said Rebecca Janke, M.Ed., the book’s content editor.

Penshorn's previous children's book about peace, 'I Can See Peace', won the Human Relations Peace Book Of The Year Award in 2018.

She encourages those seeking more ideas to visit her website: http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com. The Smart Tools for Life products include kids’ books and music, conflict resolution cubes to help children express their feelings, and wearables. There is also a free, downloadable coloring page for kids, based on the flagship children's book, 'The Barnyard Buddies Stop For Peace.'

Penshorn also makes her books and music available for corporate sponsorships and as fundraising tools for like-minded schools and preschools. She asks that anyone who would like to learn more contact her by email.

Julie is a the Director of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace and champion of its Smart Tools for Life project. Penshorn co-authored a preK-3 curriculum on conflict resolution, complete with hands-on-learning tools, that is in use in over 13,000 locations. She now focuses her unique talents on children’s books and music and a blog-based approach to supporting peace literacy and building a culture of peace.

Penshorn is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at julie@smarttoolsforlife.com. Donations are being accepted at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/compassion-smart-education-immigrants-refugees. More information about the books, music and other products, including a video about the campaign, is available on the Smart Tools for Life website at https://www.smarttoolsforlife.com.

About Smart Tools for Life:

Smart Tools for Life is an ongoing project of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace. It provides memorable and engaging books and music for young children that enhance their “smarts” for problem-solving, empathy, and compassion, and sink deeply -- for life -- into children's hearts and minds. It makes it easy to bring social skills for peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, to young children, thereby encouraging more harmonious, sustainable relationships with others and the planet.

The organization’s materials are designed to develop peace literacy as they educate, entertain, and empower all those involved to strengthen families, classrooms, and neighborhoods. They also provide other teacher and parent education to support and maintain a culture of peace.

Contact:

Julie Penshorn
julie@smarttoolsforlife.com
https://www.smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.growingcommunitiesforpeace.org

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International Award Winning Author Wayne Clark Announces Release Of New Historical Fiction Novel, 'That Woman'

Clark's latest novel details the life of a woman kidnapped in France and brought to America as an indentured servant, a young woman who takes on the brutal merchant king of New York's East River waterfront—and wins.

While there is a tremendous amount of information available regarding slavery in the Southern United States, slavery in the Northeastern U.S. is seldom discussed. Nevertheless slavery and indentured servitude were prevalent in the Northeast, especially in New York City. CNN has featured the subject on CNNInteractive, and a recent article on the Untapped Cities website neatly summarized the history of three of the largest slave burial grounds discovered in New York City. However little has been known about the day to day lives of slaves and indentured servants who lived in the Northeastern U.S. during that time period. Until now.

Author Wayne Clark has announced the release of his latest historical novel, 'That Woman'.

Illness suddenly deprives 17-year-old Sarah Da Silva and her older brother Jacob of a mother. Before Sarah has come to terms with that loss, her merchant father grows frail and increasingly desperate in the face of impending bankruptcy. On a rainy night while their father scours the docks of Bordeaux, France, to make his final bid to save his family, his children are kidnapped and forced onto a ship bound for New York City where they'll be separated and sold to the highest bidder as indentured labor.

Purchased by a grotesque merchant whose wealth, backed by a team of henchmen, allows him to dominate the chaotic East River docks, Sarah strikes back the only way she can. Vowing to never allow him to put his hands on her again, she presses a knife to his fat neck. She demands her freedom, a roof over her head and the means to start a business. Her leverage? Knowledge obtained on the voyage that would bring the big man to his knees forever. He yields to her demands but privately swears to become her worst nightmare.

“The main idea in writing the book,” Clark stated, “was to tell a tale of a young woman’s survival against all odds in the raw man’s world of New York City’s East River waterfront. As I researched the history of the city in the Colonial era it soon became apparent that racism and slavery were an inseparable part of the city’s history. Slaves were bought and sold daily at the foot of Wall Street.

“On top of that, the immigrants who populated the city, and who were the ones to eventually build the country, were often little more than slaves themselves when tethered to multi-year contracts of indentureship. I married the two situations in the deep friendship between Sarah, the protagonist, and Noah, a free black who came to her aid.”

Wayne Clark is also the author of 'he & She'. 'he & She' was named as one of the best self-published books for 2015 by IndieReader. 'he & She' is an in-depth, fictional exploration of the subject of male midlife crisis.'he & She' took a 5-Star Silver Medal in the Readers' Favorite International Awards. In addition, Clark was chosen as a Finalist in the 2015 IAN Book of the Year Awards for general fiction, and was named a winner in both the 2015 and 2016 Great Writers You Should Be Reading Awards.

'That Woman' has received high praise from reviewers and readers alike. Kirkus Reviews called it a "... meticulously crafted ... engrossing story". Reviewer Grady Harp said Clark, "invites us into dark places but keep the focus on the frailty and durability of our humanity. There is much to be learned here and in the quality of fine prose and drama Wayne Clark offers another solid novel."

Wayne Clark is currently featured on The Authors Show and is available for media interviews. He can be reached using the information below or by email at mtl1642@videotron.ca. Both novels are available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions and in all other digital versions at all major online retailers. More information is available at his website at http://www.wayne-clark.com.

About Wayne Clark:

Award-winning author Wayne Clark was born in 1946 in Ottawa, Ont., but has called Montreal home since 1968. Woven through that time frame in no particular order have been interludes in Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, Germany, Holland and Mexico.

By far the biggest slice in a pie chart of his career would be labeled journalism, including newspapers and magazines, as a reporter, editor and freelance writer. The other, smaller slices of the pie would also represent words in one form or another, in advertising as a copywriter and as a freelance translator. However, unquantifiable in a pie chart would be the slivers and shreds of time stolen over the years to write fiction.

Contact:

Wayne Clark
http://www.wayne-clark.com
mtl1642@videotron.ca

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Award Winning Historical Fiction Author Rosemary Gard Announces Release Of 'Destiny Delivered', Fourth In 'Destiny' Series

In the tradition of writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Boris Pasternak, Rosemary Gard writes powerful and compelling works of fiction based in reality

Award winning historical fiction author Rosemary Gard has announced the release of 'Destiny Delivered', the fourth novel in her 'Destiny' series.

In the tradition of writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Boris Pasternak, Rosemary Gard writes powerful and compelling works of fiction based in reality. Her works feature richly drawn fictional characters, drawn upon a canvas of historical fact. Unlike other writers, Rosemary lived among the people upon which those characters are built. She has lived the life of a peasant in Croatia in the late 50's. She lived for a time in Italy and was a guest in Venezuela. She grew up speaking a number of Slavic languages, learned Italian later and was Croatian Queen during the Gary, IN Golden Jubilee celebration.

Rosemary's books give readers a first person account regarding the lives of their ancestors - drawing water from a well, washing clothes in a stream, sleeping on a straw mattress, cooking on a clay stove, and working in the fields. Her works are filled with passion for her characters, written with an intimate knowledge of a different time and a sharp eye for historical accuracy, centered on the Croatian people.

"The 'Destiny' books are very personal to me," Gard stated. "I knew and cared for the people I write about. Croatian characters from my childhood and old friends of my parents, who told outrageous stories of their lives back home in the Old Country. I used stories of family secrets, death and danger in my books. I was able to spend three months in a village outside of Zagreb. I slept on a straw mattress, walked on a dirt floor and ate food cooked on a clay stove. I observed how devoted these people were to their family and to the land they planted for their food. I learned about their many strong superstitions. I hope readers will find interesting facts about how their grandparents and even their parents lived in the villages, specifically about political events in Europe and the loss of land that forced so many of them to migrate to America, often as indentured workers. In the early 1900’s America needed hard working laborers to build up the country. Working as steel workers and miners gave men money to send home or save to bring their families to the US."

In this fourth book of the Destiny series, 'Destiny Delivered',  more immigrants are coming to Gary, Indiana. Stevo Markovich finds himself making room for relatives of his deceased wife who arrive unannounced disrupting his life with the problems they bring with them. He is greatly saddened by the death of his wife and others. He feels lonely and is disinterested in his successful business. He seeks a change.

Thoughts of his life as an immigrant fisherman and dreams of his father draw him back to New Orleans, where he lived in his teenage years.

At his family home in New Orleans, he discovers his family is gone. Stevo finds the city rich with history and interesting people. He discovers a friend, money, a new business, and what promises to be a happy life. This historical fiction book is filled with adventure, love, loss, triumph and intrigue. The novel also addresses the unpredictable turns in life which some call destiny and how it plays a crucial part in shaping our lives. Readers learn about the life of immigrants in America and the problems they face in a new county.

All the books in the 'Destiny' series have won awards and high praise from reviewers. 'Destiny Denied' took the Gold Medal in Readers' Favorite 2013 International Book Awards. One reviewer stated, "I wouldn't be surprised if Katya's DESTINY journey winds up in a mini series or in a movie." Another said, "Destiny's Dowry does indeed transport the reader to a different time and place, to the European world of our ancestors."

Rosemary Gard is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at rosemarygard@gmail.com. All of the novels in the 'Destiny' series are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other fine booksellers. More information, including samples of her work, is available at her website at http://www.rosemarygard.com.

About Rosemary Gard:

Author Rosemary Gard actually lived among the people upon which her fictional characters are built. She lived the life of a peasant in Croatia in the late 50's, and grew up speaking a number of Slavic languages. Rosemary was Croatian Queen during the Gary, IN Golden Jubilee celebration and resides in Crown Point, IN.

Contact:

Rosemary Gard
rosemarygard@gmail.com
http://www.rosemarygard.com

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Franklin Graham's Stance On Muslim Immigrants Is Wrong Says Award Winning Author Frances Fuller

Fuller spent many years in the Middle East. She puts a face on the Middle East many Americans have not yet seen. Her award-winning memoir, 'In Borrowed Houses', gives readers a penetrating glimpse of the Middle East from the inside

The Syrian refugee crisis has split the US into two camps. Frances Fuller, award-winning author of 'In Borrowed Houses' spent many years as a Christian publisher in Lebanon during the Lebanon civil war. She believes the position taken by Franklin Graham is wrong.

"Franklin Graham is wrong again," Fuller stated. "According to Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra in Christianity Today, Graham opposes opening the country’s doors to Syrian refugees, saying, ‘We cannot allow Muslim immigrants to come across our borders unchecked while we are fighting this war on terror.’

"Graham is wrong,” Fuller says, “because he is ignoring the facts.  Immigrants do not get here without passing through extensive interviewing, screening and security clearances.  They don’t even get to choose what country they will go to but must be referred by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Then they must be cleared by six different government agencies including the Dept. of Homeland Security. The process, according to immigration lawyer Scott Hicks, is difficult to get through and 'most people languish in camps for months or years while their story is evaluated and checked'.

"This information is attested to by Matthew Soerens, US director of church mobilization for World Relief, which opposes the decisions of thirty-one US governors to ban Syrian refugees from their states. Soerens, also quoted by Zylstra, says that since the 1970s the US has received three million refugees and ‘No one from that program has attacked anyone.’  Refusing Syrian refugees will, in Soerens’ words, 'punish the victims of ISIS for the sins of ISIS.'

"Franklin Graham is wrong also because his attitude is unchristian. He is responding not to a great humanitarian need but to fear. To put security above compassion is selfish and not the way of Jesus. Graham is dangerous, because he is both influential and wrong."

Fuller spent many years in the Middle East. As the result of her time spent as a missionary, Fuller wrote an award-winning book entitled 'In Borrowed Houses'. Told in short episodes, Fuller’s book reveals the alienation, confusion and courage of civilians in the Lebanese civil war, introducing to the reader a variety of real people with whom the author interacts: editors, salesmen, neighbors, refugees, soldiers, missionaries, lawyers, shepherds, artists, students. With these people she works, studies, plays games, prays, laughs and cries, all to the accompaniment of gunfire. Together these small stories tell what war is like for civilians caught on a battlefield, and they create the impression of the Lebanese as a fun-loving, witty, patient and resilient people. They also compose, not a political history, but a historical document of a time and a place.

Critics have praised  ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “…a well written book full of compassion…a captivating story…”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching…”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “….western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”

Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. Fuller's book is available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. Frances Fuller also blogs on issues relating to the Middle East on her website at http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com.

About Frances Fuller:

Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.

Contact:

Frances Fuller
frances0516@att.net
http://www.inborrowedhouseslebanon.com

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