Catch Up Friday: TV, Book Signings, Contract, Oh My!

I have been ridiculously busy for a long time, and I am sorry to have neglected this blog!

Here's a little bit of what I have been up to:

1. I dressed as a black and white Audrey Hepburn for Halloween.

2. I signed a book contract with my publisher for Carried Home, sequel to Swept to Sea.

3. I was Dorothy in my school's skit of Wizard of Oz.

4. I was on TV.

(Watch Heather Manning's Report on Fox 4 News.)

5. I met Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

(If you live in the area, go see this amazing show at the Coterie Theatre!)

6. I will be signing copies of Swept to Sea at  the Woodneath Library Center. 
Stop by and get a signed copy of Swept to Sea for yourself and for a Christmas gift!

Book Review Monday: Golden Daughter Review

Hey everyone! I'm sorry I have been neglecting this blog so much lately...between book contracts, writing, homework, and college search, I have been terribly busy!

I have a guest review for you today from Cortney. Here's what she thought of Anne Elisabeth Stengl's latest novel:

Thanks for having me here, Heather!

Dreams, bodyguards, secret orders, divided families and kingdoms, war, adventure, love, and of course… dragons all meld together in this epic new book of the Tales of Goldstone Wood.  With Golden Daughter, Anne Elisabeth Stengl proves once more that she has been blessed with a tremendous gift for writing powerful, moving, and emotional tales.

Vibrant new characters join familiar favorites to create a unique cast of heroes and villains that you can’t help but love.  Sairu, a Golden Daughter, is placed in the service of Lady Hariawan, a Dream Walker.  To the eyes of many, she is nothing more than a handmaiden, but in reality, she is a highly trained bodyguard, devoted to her mistress for the rest of her life.

But other forces are at work, and Lady Hariawan is not the only Dream Walker, nor is she the only one in need of protection.  A fan favorite returns in this book of the series to guard Sairu herself, and the bond that forms between these two is both lovely and unique.

Another returning favorite is the mighty villain, the Dragon, who seeks to fulfill his own dark purpose.  Aiding him are many who feel displaced and angry with their lot in life.

At the same time, two brothers are divided by hatred and jealousy, and readers will be pleasantly surprised to discover a bit more of Sunan’s (from Goddess Tithe) backstory.

Several other mysteries are explained, including one which has been referenced multiple times since the beginning of the series in Heartless.  Also, readers may discover threads woven throughout the story that are reminiscent of the Old Testament accounts of Joseph, Daniel, Esther, and even Adam and Eve.  Truly Golden Daughter is an epic tale with far-reaching effects upon the worlds of Goldstone Wood, yet the struggles of the individual characters makes it relatable, and the powerful description breathes life to the characters and their story.

I would highly recommend Golden Daughter by Anne Elisabeth Stengl to any fan of Fantasy or even any fan of reading.  However, if you intend to read the entire series of the Tales of Goldstone Wood, then I would recommend beginning with Heartless and reading through the rest of the books in the order they were written.  Either way, you are certainly in for a treat with this delightful story and series!

Catch Up Friday: Disney, TV Interview, and Book Sale!

Happy Halloween! Are you doing anything special today?
I am dressing up for Halloween...my yearbook staff is sponsoring a costume contest which I am excited for! I'll post pictures of my costume at some point.

So...I have been incredibly busy lately.

Last week, I got to go to Disney World, which was awesome. I went to all four parks and had an awesome time.

Me and Gaston!

At the 1950's Prime Time Cafe!

I also want to tell you that my TV feature for Fox Four's Reaching for Excellence award will air THIS Wednesday, November 5th at 9:00 PM. It will also re-air several times after that, and I will be sure to post the link for you to see it. 

Finally, yet equally important, I wanted to tell you that Swept to Sea is CURRENTLY ONLY 99 cents! So if you buy it right now you would be saving $3. Sounds like a deal to me! 

So, please consider purchasing Swept to Sea during this limited time if you have not already and sharing the deal with your friends. As I am writing this, Swept to Sea has reached number 38 on the Amazon Bestseller list! Let's see how far we can make it go!

Bible Verse Wednesday: Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

Bible Verse Wednesday: No Word Will Fail

"For no word from God will ever fail.”

Luke 1:37

Book Review Monday: Abandoned Memories

Hey everyone! I just got done reading Abandoned Memories by MaryLu Tyndall.

Now, it is time for a review! But first, here's some info about the book.
"In MaryLu Tyndall’s stunning conclusion to her Escape from Paradise series, Angeline Moore longs to make a fresh start in the Confederate colony of New Hope, Brazil. James Callaway longs to create a city free from immoral women who caused his failure as a preacher. But a series of strange happenings soon lead the colonists to believe they have been brought to this place for a divine purpose."

Now, on to my review.

My Thoughts: 

The Idea:

I have been following this series since the very first, Forsaken Dreams. This trilogy follows a colony of Southerners after the Civil War, who are sailing to Brazil to create a Southern Utopia. This book solves the mysterious events that plagued the colonists in the first two. 

 I was eager to continue the story with familiar characters.

The Characters:

This final book details the story of Angeline, a woman with a dark past, and James, a doctor who hates the sight of blood and has become the colony's pastor. I had seen their interactions in the past two novels and had been awaiting their story the entire time, and was not disappointed. 

The Plot:

This plot definitely kept me intrigued. The entire series, I have been wanting to know what was going on with the mysterious occurrences that have been plaguing these colonists, so I was eager to keep reading! The romance between Angeline and James was kind of predictable, but I did not mind it that much.

The Setting:

All alone in the wilderness of Brazil? This definitely posed some challenges for the colonists, and made for a good story. The setting was unique and well done.

Overall:

A great read! I definitely recommend starting with Book 1, Forsaken Dreams, and working from there. You will be glad you did!