Please welcome Nancy Carty Lepri to The Write Voice Continues to Speak. Nancy is the author of a new book, Tiny Angel, published by Guardian Angel Publishing Company. Below you will find the many reviews written for this wonderful and unique book for middle grade children. Read, enjoy, and please make Nancy feel at home here on the Write Voice, by leaving her a comment.
From the Heart of Dixie.....
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Tiny Angel by Nancy Carty Lepri
In a day and age when chapter books for tweens can sometimes be more hype than substance, Nancy Carty Lepri's Tiny Angel is a breath of fresh air. When ten-year-old Macy Carver's dad is transferred to a new town, Macy leaves behind everything she knew even her best friend. Suddenly she is the new kid on the block and is the recipient of cruel bullying. Then, she receives an unexpectant heavenly visitor - her guardian angel Jody.
There are numerous positive lessons children can learn from Tiny Angel.
1. The gift of compassion - Macy's keen discernment helps her look beyond herself and extend friendship to Tommy, a needy boy in her school.
2. Another perspective - Macy gives readers another view from her pew. She is able, through the help of her guardian angel Jody, to see beyond herself.
3. Generosity - Macy could have been selfish and kept the award money she won from the spelling bee competition, but instead she sees a need greater than herself and donates her money to help those in need.
4. Convictions - Macy's life reflects her heart of mercy for the underdog while continuing to stand up for what you believe in even if it means being rejected.
5. Educational - Children will hone their spelling skills when they attend the spelling bees with Macy and her friends.
6. Faith - Little hearts will grow in their faith when they fall in love with Macy's guardian angel Jody and learn that only faith can devour fear.
Macy isn't some goody-two-shoes. Ms. Lepri pulls back the curtain and allows us to see Macy's struggles.
I think Tiny Angel should be read in elementary schools everywhere. It would open up dialogue about bullying and how devastating it can be to an individual and teach students the lost art of compassion.
If you want a great book with some character building lessons tucked in every chapter for the children in your life, you will want to get a copy of Tiny Angel.You can purchase Tiny Angel by Nancy Carti Lepri at http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/tiny-angel.htm . While you are there, you may want to look around at some of their other amazing books.
Posted by Dixieland57 at 8:54 PM 4 comments
Labels: Guardian Angel Publishing, Tiny Angel, Nancy Carty Lepri
"Things aren't looking too bright at the moment for 8-year old Macy. She's just moved into a new place, left her best friend behind, and in her new school there's a bully who makes her life miserable every chance he can get. But just when things can't seem to get any worse, she receives a visit from a special little friend: her very own guardian angel! This little angel is witty and has an attitude, and does her best to infuse Macy with strength and confidence. Finally an opportunity comes for Macy to prove herself at a bee spelling competition... Will she go for it and show everyone what she's made of, or succumb to her fear of success?
"Tiny Angel is a well-written, delightful story that will entertain middle-grade girls. Macy, with all her doubts and insecurities, is a character young girls 8 and up will identify with. The story has a good message--there comes a time when we have to be bold and act in order to achieve our dreams--but it is not preachy; it's simply a good story about school, friends, being oneself, and achieving one's full potential. Highly recommended." --Mayra Calvani, Mayra's Secret Bookcase
National Latino Books Examiner; The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Tiny Angel, Macy suffers from an angst of childhood that many of us go through; being the new kid in school. Not only does she suffer from that, but the miserable day to day teasing she gets from the school bully, not knowing anyone in the new town she had to move to and her own personal insecurities.
To her rescue comes a tiny angel...it's so funny when the angel whizzes by and knocks the bully out of the chair...and then...well, you have to read the rest of the story.
This book is written in a wonderfully whimsical way, and Ms Lepri does not talk down to the target audience.
Ms. Lepri took me back to my own childhood and made me wish I had had my own angel to protect me.
I highly recommend this book for young and old alike.
Erin Collins, Author, Shadow Walk: The Gathering~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the help of her guardian angel, Macy discovers the importance of true friendship and having faith in yourself. Tiny Angel by Nancy Carty Lepri is a delightful story that will inspire and entertain.
- Cheryl C. Malandrinos, The Children's & Teens' Book Connection
"Mucking though the world of growing pains and pre-teen anxiety, we all wished for someone to give us a hint that we were worthy and everything would be okay. With Tiny Angles, Nancy Lepri has given new girl in school, Macy her very own guardian angel. In turn, Macy helps her new friends, Tomas, Susan, and even mean old Kenny, realize they're going to be okay, as well. Ms. Lepri has created an endearing story that will be in instant favorite of every child who reads it, and touch the heart of every parent who remembers."
Sheryl Hames Torres, author of "Fate's Little Trick" and "Enigma"
Tiny Angel
I recently had the privilege of reading a soon-to-be-published book by Nancy Carty Lepri called Tiny Angel.It was bad enough that Macy had to move away from her best friend, whose letters showed she had quickly found another best friend.
Attending school in a new town where she had no friends at all and became a victim of the class bully was worse. And it didn't help that her teacher was pushing her to participate in a major spelling bee, which would make her seem like a nerd to everyone.
To top it all off, the tiny angel who unexpectedly showed up might turn out to be more of a problem than a help.
How could Macy ever make some friends and have a normal life?
Kids can easily identify with Macy's troubles and the touch of supernatural influence makes Tiny Angel more than just another book about problems in school. I think young readers will love this book.
Posted by author Janet Ann Collins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Title: Tiny Angel, Author: Nancy Carty Lepri
ISBN: 13: 978-1-935137-94-8
Pages: 100
Tiny Angel captured my attention right from the first page. I laughed, cried and cheered Macy on to the final page.
The story is told through 8-year-old Macy’s eyes. Nancy Carty Lepri uses language and expressions that would be common to the 8 to 12 year old age group.
Macy learns she has a guardian angel named Jody. Jody helps Macy transition into her new school and helps her understand the true meaning of friendship.
This is a truly a heart-warming story of friendship, doing the right thing, and discovering confidence within ourselves. I am sure, that like me, you’ll be looking for a sequel.
Rosemary Reagan Hall
Author of The Adventures With Lamb E Boy series~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tiny Angel"
By Nancy Carty Lepri
Macy Carver isn't happy about her move from Massachusetts to North Carolina and leaving familiar surroundings. Her worst fears are realized as the kids in school taunt and tease her--especially Kenny, the class bully. And when her old best friend stops writing her, she's as miserable as an eight-year-old can be.
Macy is saved by a strange, buzzing ball of pink, which dives at Kenny and makes him fall. The brightly lit little creature is only visible to Macy. Back home, odd things happen and Macy is visited by her guardian angel, Jody, a happy little being with a busy schedule (always off to aerobics classes or shopping) and a penchant for cool clothes, always pink. After hearing lectures on how to handle bullies and having Jody pop up at embarrassing times, Macy wishes her odd little angel would go away. But as Jody points out, guardian angels are for life, around whenever you need them.
Tomas is also picked on a lot because he comes from Mexico, is poor and 'different'. His problems make Macy's seem not so bad and they become good friends. Susan, the most popular girl in her grade, befriends Macy and invites her to her house after school, along with three other girls who don't like Macy.
Jody, in wacky ways as only the funny little angel can, shows Macy how good she has it, while Susan, the popular girl, is lonely with an overworked mother and no father. Macy asks Jody about getting angels for Tomas and Susan but Jody points out that it's Macy's job to do that by telling them to ask for one.
The annual Spelling Bee arrives and Macy, an excellent speller, gets scared and doesn't want to take part. Tomas talks her into it and she wins first place. Tomas and Susan are runner-up winners and the three are scheduled to represent their school in the state finals. Now Macy is terrified and her stomach flutters and churns, but friends like Tomas and an often annoying angel, convince her that she has to do it.
At the contest, she meets Karen, a girl from the mountains, called a 'hillbilly' by some, with eleven brothers and sisters and two families living in one small house. Yet, Karen is a happy girl in spite of her poverty.
Macy, Tomas and Karen end up as finalists at the contest. Once the final contest begins Macy loses her fear and begins to enjoy it, spelling each word correctly. Then she gets the most amazing idea. Jody, who can read her mind, is so proud.
What Macy does changes both her life and that of her friends. It also fills her parents with pride. It gives her confidence to shrug off Kenny's insults and makes her classmates willing to accept her. And all because a tiny pink angel named Jody heard her silent plea for help.
Nancy Lepri has captured the essence of what so many children suffer from their peers in school and demonstrates remarkable outlets for overcoming fear and gaining confidence in oneself. This book is a must read for both kids and their parents.
Mallie Pelosi author of "...And the Whippoorwill Sang"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interview of Nancy Carty Lepri
Children's Author of "Tiny Angel"
with J. Aday KennedyNancy Carty Lepri
Blog Address: http://nancycl.webs.com/apps/blog /
Website Address: http://nancycl.webs.com/ /
Email: nancy.lepri@yahoo.com
Bio:
Nancy Carty Lepri is a North Carolina transplant having been born and raised in Massachusetts. Two years after her marriage to Art Lepri, they, along with their three-month-old daughter, Danielle, moved to FL where they lived for six years until transferring to LA for five years. Moving back to MA, they settled on Cape Cod where Nancy worked as an editorial assistant for a publisher, and continued her studies.
Nancy earned an AA degree in Visual Art from Cape Cod Community College, and a BA in Liberal Studies, with a concentration in writing, from Western New England College.
She is also a certified editor.
Before completing her degrees, she freelanced as a reporter for several local newspapers.
After moving to NC in 1995, Nancy continued freelancing for local, national and international trade magazines, taught online writing and art courses, illustrated children’s books, started, but not completed, four mainstream novels, and wrote her children’s chapter book, “Tiny Angel.”
... Interview ...
Aday: How long have you been writing and submitting picture books?
Nancy: This is actually the first children’s book I have written. I have illustrated several over the years, though I started writing “Tiny Angel” before I left MA in 1995, but other things got in the way of completing and submitting this manuscript.
Aday: I read at your site that you are hoping this will evolve into a series. Will each book follow the same theme or will they change? How many books are you planning on writing?
Nancy: I plan to write a book for each child characterized in “Tiny Angel” giving me three additional books, which I may expand on further if I find the books are well accepted. Each child has their own differences and problems, and I want to touch on all of them. And, each child will also have their own guardian angel to guide them as well as maybe frustrate them, but they will learn a valuable lesson from them as well as gain much-needed confidence.
Aday: What will be your method(s) for promoting/marketing Tiny Angel?
Nancy: I have set up three blogs to promote my book, and they are mentioned on Facebook, Goodreads, JacketFlap and MySpace. I plan to contact a few local schools as well as my library to promote Macy’s story.
Truthfully, having mostly been on the other end of publishing dealing with editing and such, I never realized marketing and promoting was so much work!
My main focus is on writing my next book in the series, and I’ll need to carve out some time to do in-depth research, but if you have any suggestions, I’m open to them!
Aday: Do you plan to illustrate all the books you write? How would you react to a publisher that wanted to use a different artist?
Nancy: I would like to illustrate all my books if possible. I had a bit of a challenge with “Tiny Angel” for I went through an emotionally hard time, having just lost my dear mother, and it seemed like I had an “artist block”.
But my main concern is getting my story out there, so if a publisher suggested another artist for my book, I’d say, “Go for it.”
While I find illustrations are helpful, they have to enhance the text, not detract from it, and I’d want the best illustrations possible. If I was to go with another artist, I’d be thrilled to work with and meet someone else.
Aday: Where besides your blog and website can we see your illustrations?
Nancy: At this point the only other places my illustrations are available are on my Facebook page and JacketFlap.com. I’d be more than happy to submit to other venues, but I’d need to research to find where they would be accepted.
Aday: What advice would you give someone that writes and illustrates their own work?
Nancy: I’d say NEVER GIVE UP! Believe in yourself too. Find a good critique group. I have been working with several authors for many years and they have helped me get through the writing angst. I couldn’t have accomplished all I have without their guidance and candor, and I am very thankful for their advice.
Also, you have to develop a thick skin. Writing and illustrating is so personal—you’re trying to sell a part of your heart and soul—and not everyone is going to like or accept what you do. Try not to take it personally, and realize everyone has different tastes, likes and ideas. If you get rejected, keep trying. There IS a publisher out there who will take a chance on you and give you the break you’re looking for. I could paper my office with all the rejection slips I’ve gotten, but you only need one acceptance.
Aday: How does your writing and illustrating process unfold? (do you write the entire book first? Draw and write simultaneously? Draw enough to get a visual of the characters?)
Nancy: I started writing “Tiny Angel” many years ago, as I mentioned above, and left it and went back to it many times. I’ve also rewritten it many times, which drove me crazy, but I remember one of my college professors commenting, “It’s not the writing that’s hard, it’s the rewriting and rewriting and rewriting.” You get the picture.
I also made the mistake of writing by the “seat of my pants” …sitting down and writing without any plan or outline, which caused a lot of chaos in my work. My first draft was too long and too involved and I could have made several books out of that draft, but I’ve since acknowledged I need to plot out my story before I sit down to write it.
With regard to illustrating…my wonderful publisher had seen my previous work and gave me the go-ahead to illustrate “Tiny Angel”. As I mentioned, it was a difficult time for me and I came up with several illustrations, none of which satisfied me, but we finally decided on a finished product. If I hadn’t been filled with grief, I probably would have completed an illustration for every chapter. Hopefully with my next book, I will have gotten my drawing muse back!
But to answer your question…the writing come first, then the illustrations are completed after the text is done and approved.
Aday: Good luck with Tiny Angel. I wish you success with the series.
Nancy: Thank you so very much! I am excited to have had the opportunity to have this book published. The story is very close to my heart, and I have dedicated this book to my mother, Emily Carty. She instilled the love of reading in me at a very young age as well as the desire to write. This is my tribute to her.
Tiny Angel by Nancy Carty Lepri January 15, 2010 Filed under Chapbook for Tweens, Guardian Angel Publishing, Tween fiction, children's books Tags: book reviews, books for girls, books that teach a lesson, books that teach children a lesson, Chapbooks for Tweens, Chapter books, children's books, Guardian Angel Publishing, Nancy Carty Lepri, Tiny Angel, Tween fiction Macy Carver is the new kid in town and she sure isn’t happy about it. With her father being transferred from Massachusetts to North Carolina, Macy left her best friend and all that she loved behind to start over in a new school where she is made fun of and bullied. But when a flash of light announces the appearance of her guardian angel, Jody, things start looking up for Macy, and with Jody’s encouragement, Macy finds a way to fit in and make some true friends.A fun and inspiring chapbook for tweens, Tiny Angel by Nancy Carty Lepri will quickly become your child’s favorite. In this engaging story, your tween will learn how to appreciate their talents, disarm bullies, and the importance of meaningful friendships.I love the unique aspect of Macy having a guardian angel who encourages and helps her along her journey through the challenging transition from the school and the best friend she lost to truly coming into her own at her new school and making new friends. And while Jody encouraged Macy, she also motivated her to think of others.I would have liked to learn a tiny bit more about Kenny the bully, just so we had an idea why he acted the way he did, but not having this knowledge didn’t take anything away from the story.As someone who was teased from the day she entered school until the day she left, I sympathized with Macy’s, and her friend Tomas’s, plight of always being picked on for one reason or another. While the messages in Tiny Angel are timeless, I also like how Lepri gave a contemporary feel to the story by having one of the characters being left alone at home each day after school while her divorced mother was off working. The insight into Susan’s character was something very special.I would definitely recommend this book for your tween. Tiny Angel is an engaging and compelling story whose timeless messages will stay with your tween long after she’s read the last page.Rating: · Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. · ISBN-10: 1935137948 · ISBN-13: 978-1935137948 · SRP: $8.95 Reviewed By Cheryl Maladrinos for The Childrens and Teens Book Connection
From the Heart of Dixie.....
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Tiny Angel by Nancy Carty Lepri
In a day and age when chapter books for tweens can sometimes be more hype than substance, Nancy Carty Lepri's Tiny Angel is a breath of fresh air. When ten-year-old Macy Carver's dad is transferred to a new town, Macy leaves behind everything she knew even her best friend. Suddenly she is the new kid on the block and is the recipient of cruel bullying. Then, she receives an unexpectant heavenly visitor - her guardian angel Jody.
There are numerous positive lessons children can learn from Tiny Angel.
1. The gift of compassion - Macy's keen discernment helps her look beyond herself and extend friendship to Tommy, a needy boy in her school.
2. Another perspective - Macy gives readers another view from her pew. She is able, through the help of her guardian angel Jody, to see beyond herself.
3. Generosity - Macy could have been selfish and kept the award money she won from the spelling bee competition, but instead she sees a need greater than herself and donates her money to help those in need.
4. Convictions - Macy's life reflects her heart of mercy for the underdog while continuing to stand up for what you believe in even if it means being rejected.
5. Educational - Children will hone their spelling skills when they attend the spelling bees with Macy and her friends.
6. Faith - Little hearts will grow in their faith when they fall in love with Macy's guardian angel Jody and learn that only faith can devour fear.
Macy isn't some goody-two-shoes. Ms. Lepri pulls back the curtain and allows us to see Macy's struggles.
I think Tiny Angel should be read in elementary schools everywhere. It would open up dialogue about bullying and how devastating it can be to an individual and teach students the lost art of compassion.
If you want a great book with some character building lessons tucked in every chapter for the children in your life, you will want to get a copy of Tiny Angel.You can purchase Tiny Angel by Nancy Carti Lepri at http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/tiny-angel.htm . While you are there, you may want to look around at some of their other amazing books.
Posted by Dixieland57 at 8:54 PM 4 comments
Labels: Guardian Angel Publishing, Tiny Angel, Nancy Carty Lepri
"Things aren't looking too bright at the moment for 8-year old Macy. She's just moved into a new place, left her best friend behind, and in her new school there's a bully who makes her life miserable every chance he can get. But just when things can't seem to get any worse, she receives a visit from a special little friend: her very own guardian angel! This little angel is witty and has an attitude, and does her best to infuse Macy with strength and confidence. Finally an opportunity comes for Macy to prove herself at a bee spelling competition... Will she go for it and show everyone what she's made of, or succumb to her fear of success?
"Tiny Angel is a well-written, delightful story that will entertain middle-grade girls. Macy, with all her doubts and insecurities, is a character young girls 8 and up will identify with. The story has a good message--there comes a time when we have to be bold and act in order to achieve our dreams--but it is not preachy; it's simply a good story about school, friends, being oneself, and achieving one's full potential. Highly recommended." --Mayra Calvani, Mayra's Secret Bookcase
National Latino Books Examiner; The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Tiny Angel, Macy suffers from an angst of childhood that many of us go through; being the new kid in school. Not only does she suffer from that, but the miserable day to day teasing she gets from the school bully, not knowing anyone in the new town she had to move to and her own personal insecurities.
To her rescue comes a tiny angel...it's so funny when the angel whizzes by and knocks the bully out of the chair...and then...well, you have to read the rest of the story.
This book is written in a wonderfully whimsical way, and Ms Lepri does not talk down to the target audience.
Ms. Lepri took me back to my own childhood and made me wish I had had my own angel to protect me.
I highly recommend this book for young and old alike.
Erin Collins, Author, Shadow Walk: The Gathering~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the help of her guardian angel, Macy discovers the importance of true friendship and having faith in yourself. Tiny Angel by Nancy Carty Lepri is a delightful story that will inspire and entertain.
- Cheryl C. Malandrinos, The Children's & Teens' Book Connection
"Mucking though the world of growing pains and pre-teen anxiety, we all wished for someone to give us a hint that we were worthy and everything would be okay. With Tiny Angles, Nancy Lepri has given new girl in school, Macy her very own guardian angel. In turn, Macy helps her new friends, Tomas, Susan, and even mean old Kenny, realize they're going to be okay, as well. Ms. Lepri has created an endearing story that will be in instant favorite of every child who reads it, and touch the heart of every parent who remembers."
Sheryl Hames Torres, author of "Fate's Little Trick" and "Enigma"
Tiny Angel
I recently had the privilege of reading a soon-to-be-published book by Nancy Carty Lepri called Tiny Angel.It was bad enough that Macy had to move away from her best friend, whose letters showed she had quickly found another best friend.
Attending school in a new town where she had no friends at all and became a victim of the class bully was worse. And it didn't help that her teacher was pushing her to participate in a major spelling bee, which would make her seem like a nerd to everyone.
To top it all off, the tiny angel who unexpectedly showed up might turn out to be more of a problem than a help.
How could Macy ever make some friends and have a normal life?
Kids can easily identify with Macy's troubles and the touch of supernatural influence makes Tiny Angel more than just another book about problems in school. I think young readers will love this book.
Posted by author Janet Ann Collins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Title: Tiny Angel, Author: Nancy Carty Lepri
ISBN: 13: 978-1-935137-94-8
Pages: 100
Tiny Angel captured my attention right from the first page. I laughed, cried and cheered Macy on to the final page.
The story is told through 8-year-old Macy’s eyes. Nancy Carty Lepri uses language and expressions that would be common to the 8 to 12 year old age group.
Macy learns she has a guardian angel named Jody. Jody helps Macy transition into her new school and helps her understand the true meaning of friendship.
This is a truly a heart-warming story of friendship, doing the right thing, and discovering confidence within ourselves. I am sure, that like me, you’ll be looking for a sequel.
Rosemary Reagan Hall
Author of The Adventures With Lamb E Boy series~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tiny Angel"
By Nancy Carty Lepri
Macy Carver isn't happy about her move from Massachusetts to North Carolina and leaving familiar surroundings. Her worst fears are realized as the kids in school taunt and tease her--especially Kenny, the class bully. And when her old best friend stops writing her, she's as miserable as an eight-year-old can be.
Macy is saved by a strange, buzzing ball of pink, which dives at Kenny and makes him fall. The brightly lit little creature is only visible to Macy. Back home, odd things happen and Macy is visited by her guardian angel, Jody, a happy little being with a busy schedule (always off to aerobics classes or shopping) and a penchant for cool clothes, always pink. After hearing lectures on how to handle bullies and having Jody pop up at embarrassing times, Macy wishes her odd little angel would go away. But as Jody points out, guardian angels are for life, around whenever you need them.
Tomas is also picked on a lot because he comes from Mexico, is poor and 'different'. His problems make Macy's seem not so bad and they become good friends. Susan, the most popular girl in her grade, befriends Macy and invites her to her house after school, along with three other girls who don't like Macy.
Jody, in wacky ways as only the funny little angel can, shows Macy how good she has it, while Susan, the popular girl, is lonely with an overworked mother and no father. Macy asks Jody about getting angels for Tomas and Susan but Jody points out that it's Macy's job to do that by telling them to ask for one.
The annual Spelling Bee arrives and Macy, an excellent speller, gets scared and doesn't want to take part. Tomas talks her into it and she wins first place. Tomas and Susan are runner-up winners and the three are scheduled to represent their school in the state finals. Now Macy is terrified and her stomach flutters and churns, but friends like Tomas and an often annoying angel, convince her that she has to do it.
At the contest, she meets Karen, a girl from the mountains, called a 'hillbilly' by some, with eleven brothers and sisters and two families living in one small house. Yet, Karen is a happy girl in spite of her poverty.
Macy, Tomas and Karen end up as finalists at the contest. Once the final contest begins Macy loses her fear and begins to enjoy it, spelling each word correctly. Then she gets the most amazing idea. Jody, who can read her mind, is so proud.
What Macy does changes both her life and that of her friends. It also fills her parents with pride. It gives her confidence to shrug off Kenny's insults and makes her classmates willing to accept her. And all because a tiny pink angel named Jody heard her silent plea for help.
Nancy Lepri has captured the essence of what so many children suffer from their peers in school and demonstrates remarkable outlets for overcoming fear and gaining confidence in oneself. This book is a must read for both kids and their parents.
Mallie Pelosi author of "...And the Whippoorwill Sang"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interview of Nancy Carty Lepri
Children's Author of "Tiny Angel"
with J. Aday KennedyNancy Carty Lepri
Blog Address: http://nancycl.webs.com/apps/blog /
Website Address: http://nancycl.webs.com/ /
Email: nancy.lepri@yahoo.com
Bio:
Nancy Carty Lepri is a North Carolina transplant having been born and raised in Massachusetts. Two years after her marriage to Art Lepri, they, along with their three-month-old daughter, Danielle, moved to FL where they lived for six years until transferring to LA for five years. Moving back to MA, they settled on Cape Cod where Nancy worked as an editorial assistant for a publisher, and continued her studies.
Nancy earned an AA degree in Visual Art from Cape Cod Community College, and a BA in Liberal Studies, with a concentration in writing, from Western New England College.
She is also a certified editor.
Before completing her degrees, she freelanced as a reporter for several local newspapers.
After moving to NC in 1995, Nancy continued freelancing for local, national and international trade magazines, taught online writing and art courses, illustrated children’s books, started, but not completed, four mainstream novels, and wrote her children’s chapter book, “Tiny Angel.”
... Interview ...
Aday: How long have you been writing and submitting picture books?
Nancy: This is actually the first children’s book I have written. I have illustrated several over the years, though I started writing “Tiny Angel” before I left MA in 1995, but other things got in the way of completing and submitting this manuscript.
Aday: I read at your site that you are hoping this will evolve into a series. Will each book follow the same theme or will they change? How many books are you planning on writing?
Nancy: I plan to write a book for each child characterized in “Tiny Angel” giving me three additional books, which I may expand on further if I find the books are well accepted. Each child has their own differences and problems, and I want to touch on all of them. And, each child will also have their own guardian angel to guide them as well as maybe frustrate them, but they will learn a valuable lesson from them as well as gain much-needed confidence.
Aday: What will be your method(s) for promoting/marketing Tiny Angel?
Nancy: I have set up three blogs to promote my book, and they are mentioned on Facebook, Goodreads, JacketFlap and MySpace. I plan to contact a few local schools as well as my library to promote Macy’s story.
Truthfully, having mostly been on the other end of publishing dealing with editing and such, I never realized marketing and promoting was so much work!
My main focus is on writing my next book in the series, and I’ll need to carve out some time to do in-depth research, but if you have any suggestions, I’m open to them!
Aday: Do you plan to illustrate all the books you write? How would you react to a publisher that wanted to use a different artist?
Nancy: I would like to illustrate all my books if possible. I had a bit of a challenge with “Tiny Angel” for I went through an emotionally hard time, having just lost my dear mother, and it seemed like I had an “artist block”.
But my main concern is getting my story out there, so if a publisher suggested another artist for my book, I’d say, “Go for it.”
While I find illustrations are helpful, they have to enhance the text, not detract from it, and I’d want the best illustrations possible. If I was to go with another artist, I’d be thrilled to work with and meet someone else.
Aday: Where besides your blog and website can we see your illustrations?
Nancy: At this point the only other places my illustrations are available are on my Facebook page and JacketFlap.com. I’d be more than happy to submit to other venues, but I’d need to research to find where they would be accepted.
Aday: What advice would you give someone that writes and illustrates their own work?
Nancy: I’d say NEVER GIVE UP! Believe in yourself too. Find a good critique group. I have been working with several authors for many years and they have helped me get through the writing angst. I couldn’t have accomplished all I have without their guidance and candor, and I am very thankful for their advice.
Also, you have to develop a thick skin. Writing and illustrating is so personal—you’re trying to sell a part of your heart and soul—and not everyone is going to like or accept what you do. Try not to take it personally, and realize everyone has different tastes, likes and ideas. If you get rejected, keep trying. There IS a publisher out there who will take a chance on you and give you the break you’re looking for. I could paper my office with all the rejection slips I’ve gotten, but you only need one acceptance.
Aday: How does your writing and illustrating process unfold? (do you write the entire book first? Draw and write simultaneously? Draw enough to get a visual of the characters?)
Nancy: I started writing “Tiny Angel” many years ago, as I mentioned above, and left it and went back to it many times. I’ve also rewritten it many times, which drove me crazy, but I remember one of my college professors commenting, “It’s not the writing that’s hard, it’s the rewriting and rewriting and rewriting.” You get the picture.
I also made the mistake of writing by the “seat of my pants” …sitting down and writing without any plan or outline, which caused a lot of chaos in my work. My first draft was too long and too involved and I could have made several books out of that draft, but I’ve since acknowledged I need to plot out my story before I sit down to write it.
With regard to illustrating…my wonderful publisher had seen my previous work and gave me the go-ahead to illustrate “Tiny Angel”. As I mentioned, it was a difficult time for me and I came up with several illustrations, none of which satisfied me, but we finally decided on a finished product. If I hadn’t been filled with grief, I probably would have completed an illustration for every chapter. Hopefully with my next book, I will have gotten my drawing muse back!
But to answer your question…the writing come first, then the illustrations are completed after the text is done and approved.
Aday: Good luck with Tiny Angel. I wish you success with the series.
Nancy: Thank you so very much! I am excited to have had the opportunity to have this book published. The story is very close to my heart, and I have dedicated this book to my mother, Emily Carty. She instilled the love of reading in me at a very young age as well as the desire to write. This is my tribute to her.
Tiny Angel by Nancy Carty Lepri January 15, 2010 Filed under Chapbook for Tweens, Guardian Angel Publishing, Tween fiction, children's books Tags: book reviews, books for girls, books that teach a lesson, books that teach children a lesson, Chapbooks for Tweens, Chapter books, children's books, Guardian Angel Publishing, Nancy Carty Lepri, Tiny Angel, Tween fiction Macy Carver is the new kid in town and she sure isn’t happy about it. With her father being transferred from Massachusetts to North Carolina, Macy left her best friend and all that she loved behind to start over in a new school where she is made fun of and bullied. But when a flash of light announces the appearance of her guardian angel, Jody, things start looking up for Macy, and with Jody’s encouragement, Macy finds a way to fit in and make some true friends.A fun and inspiring chapbook for tweens, Tiny Angel by Nancy Carty Lepri will quickly become your child’s favorite. In this engaging story, your tween will learn how to appreciate their talents, disarm bullies, and the importance of meaningful friendships.I love the unique aspect of Macy having a guardian angel who encourages and helps her along her journey through the challenging transition from the school and the best friend she lost to truly coming into her own at her new school and making new friends. And while Jody encouraged Macy, she also motivated her to think of others.I would have liked to learn a tiny bit more about Kenny the bully, just so we had an idea why he acted the way he did, but not having this knowledge didn’t take anything away from the story.As someone who was teased from the day she entered school until the day she left, I sympathized with Macy’s, and her friend Tomas’s, plight of always being picked on for one reason or another. While the messages in Tiny Angel are timeless, I also like how Lepri gave a contemporary feel to the story by having one of the characters being left alone at home each day after school while her divorced mother was off working. The insight into Susan’s character was something very special.I would definitely recommend this book for your tween. Tiny Angel is an engaging and compelling story whose timeless messages will stay with your tween long after she’s read the last page.Rating: · Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. · ISBN-10: 1935137948 · ISBN-13: 978-1935137948 · SRP: $8.95 Reviewed By Cheryl Maladrinos for The Childrens and Teens Book Connection
