Donna M. McDine's Golden Pathway to Publication + GIVEAWAY

Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions. Donna’s stories and features have been published in many print and online publications and her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna has two more books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, The Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey or Boy. She writes, moms and is the Publicist Intern for The National Writing for Children Center and Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Musing Our Children.

About The Golden Pathway: David lives on a farm in the mid-1700’s and is on a quest to free Jenkins, a black slave owned by his Pa. Pa is a cruel man and badgers David for his weaknesses. Using Pa’s negative outlook to his advantage, David uncovers courage from deep within to keep his promise to Jenkins and leads him to eventual freedom down the golden pathway.

I'm honored to be a part of Donna's virtual book tour. Not only has she been an inspiration to me, but I consider myself very lucky to have her as a friend. We recently presented together on a panel for the SCBWI Writers of Lower Fairfield, talking about what it's like to publish with a small press. I had the pleasure of asking her about her inspiration for The Golden Pathway and what she hopes readers will take away from her endearing tale about The Underground Railroad...

Tell us about your path to publication.
Initially, The Golden Pathway started out as a writing assignment for the Institute of Children’s Literature, but I never submitted it beyond my writing instructor. This particular manuscript kept calling to me to bring David and Jenkins' story forth from my computer. After joining the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club and garnering success in online ezine and print magazines, I finally submitted the manuscript to Suzanne Lieurance for critique and, with her encouragement, I submitted it to the 77th Writer’s Digest Writing Competition and much to my delight it placed 12th in the Children’s/Young Adult category. Then after meeting Lynda Burch of Guardian Angel Publishing at the Muse Online Writers Conference and further editing by Lynda and Lea Schizas, The Golden Pathway saw the light and then to life with the illustrations by prolific artist, K.C. Snider.

What was your inspiration for The Golden Pathway?
I have always enjoyed historical fiction, especially slavery and the Underground Railroad. Even though this specific time period was a horrific time in history I always find it fascinating and heartwarming that so many people helped the slaves escape to freedom, despite consequences against them if caught.

Why did you want to educate young readers about the Underground Railroad?
American history teaches our young muses of the successes and failures of our fine country. It is imperative for them to learn about slavery so that these same mistakes are not repeated. And to learn of the determination of the slaves and Quakers in getting slavery dissolved.

What do you hope readers will take away from The Golden Pathway?
No matter your circumstances with knowing the difference between right and wrong, positive results can be had.

What’s the most rewarding part of writing for children?
Watching and experiencing a child picking out a story that interests them and they go back to it time and time again. And each time they come away with different though provoking questions.

Lori, thank you for hosting me today, it is an honor to be here.

To learn more about Donna M. McDine, please visit her official website.

THE GOLDEN PATHWAY GIVEAWAY:
I'm giving away a FREE copy of The Golden Pathway to one of Lori Calabrese Writes' lucky readers.
For your chance to win this awesome book, all you need to do is:

1) Follow this blog
2) Comment on this blog post

For extra entries:

1) Blog about this contest and leave a comment telling me
2) Tweet about this contest and leave a comment telling me
3) Share on Facebook and leave a comment telling me

And if your e-mail address is not included in your Blogger profile, make sure you leave a way for me to get in contact with you when you win! (U.S. entries only)

The contest will run through midnight on Friday, October 1, 2010!
UPDATE**This contest has officially ended. And the winner is...Kathleen Moulton!
Congrats, Kathleen! Please contact me, so I can send the book to you ASAP!

Additional Information:
Reading Level: Ages 8-12
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc (August 12, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1616330880
ISBN-13: 978-1616330880
Source of review copy: Publicist

Watch the booktrailer for The Golden Pathway: