Friday, August 17, 2012

We are Writers, Hear Us Roar!

Hello, Folks. and thanks to ROCCO for turning the blog over to me today. I'm pleased to be part of the "Last Days of Freedom" Giveaway Hop!

So, as some of you who follow ROCCO's blog regularly know, I (that would be THE HUMAN) am a writer…okay, right now I don’t have the luxury of doing it full time, but it still doesn’t erase the fact that, no matter how much time I’ve  got to spend on it, I..AM…A…WRITER. And so, obviously, is my blogging cat!

Hey, our names might not be on everyone’s lips…I may not be on the USA Today or the NY Times bestseller lists, but…we are writer.  ROCCO has his blog (and his seekret projects) and I’ve written books, some YA, some paranormal romantic suspense, some better than others…and because we are writers hear us roar, the subject of illiteracy is near and dear to our hearts.

According to the UNLD:
· Worldwide, one in five adults cannot read or write
· In low-income countries, only about 61% of adults are literate
· In high-income countries, almost 99% of adults are literate

Check out these literacy statistics:

http://www.readfaster.com/education_stats.asp


This fundamental lack of basic skills inhibits most people from achieving success in many areas of life. Illiteracy has profound effects in the life of the person who can't read, and it also affects on the rest of society as well.


That’s one of the reasons I (and my cat, ROCCO, the real owner of this blog) became supporters of KIDS NEED TO READ.

Kids Need to Read works to create a culture of reading for children by providing inspiring books to underfunded schools, libraries, and literacy programs across the United States, especially those serving disadvantaged children.

From their mission statement:
Reading – it is the single most important skill children must learn to be productive members of society. Books open their minds, inspire their imaginations and stimulate their intelligence. As budget cutbacks increase, funding for libraries is often the first thing to go, especially in failing school systems. There are great numbers of schools that have been unable to buy new books for their students to read in years. Kids Need to Read was established to fight this disaster by sending exciting new books to underfunded schools and libraries across the United States, as well as to other organizations that provide literacy support to children, particularly disadvantaged children.




This charity was founded by author PJ Haarmsma, TV’s Castle, Nathan Fillion, and Denise Gary to help children in underfunded areas have access to books they might not otherwise have a chance to read.  You can learn a bit more about it here: www.kidsneedtoread.org

ROCCO and I just hosted a fundraiser for this charity, an annual event!  So check ‘em out! And then…enter our giveaway!


TWO lucky commenters will get their choice of two of my e-books!  You can choose from:

No Rest for the Wicca – (Paranormal Suspense)
Raven’s Kiss  - (Paranormal)
Raven’s Quest – (Paranormal)
My Superhero Sister (YA)
Demons and Fire (YA)

To enter, just leave a comment indicating which books you'd like to win along with your email address. Contest is open to residents of US/Canada/International, and ends midnight August 22.  Winners will be chosen using random.org  Entries without an email address will be disqualified.
If for some reason the unfriendly at times Blogger will not let you post, go to the HUMAN's facebook page (Toni LoTempio) and send a message.  We will enter you.

We will also throw in an autographed photo of moi - ROCCO the INCREDIBLE BLOGGING CAT!  Now if that isn't incentive, I don't know what is  :)

There are skeptics out there who don't believe a cat can talk...but we all know otherwise.

Come back and visit us, y’hear?


Toni & Rocco, the Incredible Blogging (And Talking!)  Cat

23 comments:

  1. i would love to win 'no rest for the wicca'

    and i LOVE the photo of rocco!

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. No Rest for the Wicca
    Raven's Kiss

    bookaholicholly @ gmail .com

    BTW, I love that Rocco the Cat is the head blogger!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, Holly and Laurie!
    I understand there are some non-believers who are skeptical of the fact a cat can talk...but we know better, don't we???????????????????

    ROCCO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have 2 beautiful cats, too.
      https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151224599028825.504718.689113824&type=3&l=0feed9bbca
      (These were taken for EpicReads, so TLG #3 is in each picture.)

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  4. I'd love to win No Rest for the Wicca and Raven’s Kiss.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Raven's Kiss and Raven's Quest look intriguing. Keep up the fight for literacy.

    nrlymrtl [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would love to win Raven's Kiss...

    ronnkely3@aol.com

    ronnkelly3(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'd like No Rest for the Wicca. thanks for the chance to win! emily joy drake at gmail dot com

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  8. and we are pleased to post the below entrants who contacted "the Human" on Facebook:

    auditgirl2010@gmail.com - Wicca and Raven's Kiss
    melvinfelther@gmail.com - Wicca and Superhero sister
    carmybaby@yahoo.com - Raven's Quest and Kiss

    Good Luck!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would love No Rest for the Wicca and Raven's Quest please. Thanks so much!
    hschrock24112 at yahoo dot com

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  10. From one cat lover to another, your furbabies are ADORABLE <3

    Okay, ahem ... back to books ;D
    I'd would be thrilled to read Demons and Fire,
    and thank you very much for the sweet giveaway!
    Mary DeBorde M.A.D.
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meow! thanks so much for the kind words! and thanks to all for parrticipating!

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  11. Ravens kiss and ravens quest sound great. Thanks
    Hollybwrightatcomcastdotnet

    ReplyDelete
  12. No rest for the wicca!
    thanks for the giveaway!
    gokarter418 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'd like to read both of your YA titles - my daughter and I both enjoy them!!

    email: jessica dot j dot brainerd at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Raven’s Kiss - (Paranormal)
    Raven’s Quest – (Paranormal)

    tinyauthor at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. No Rest for the Wicca
    sstrode at scrtc dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for the chance!

    Book choice: Raven's Kiss & Raven's Quest.

    jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would love Raven's Kiss and Raven's Quest

    june111(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  18. I really want to read Ravens kiss and Ravens Quest. Thx so much for giveaway. Love cover for Ravens Kiss.

    blinkysthebest at aol dot com

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  19. Thanks to all who entered! Our winners are: Laurie and Holly! Keep following our blog for more giveaways!

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  20. ooooooooooooooooooooohhh Toni, I WANT RAVEN'S QUEST! NOW I;M HOOKED!!

    linda?_bass@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for those kind words....for all "Raven" lovers, you will definitly like the Human's new paranormal series, debuting in Spring 2013, featuring Autumn Hathaway and the supernatural crew of the gothic soap Stormy Seas! Watch for announcements on the release of SOAPSUDS SEX AND SILVER BULLETS...SPRING 2013!

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