Mocked by Faith T-shirt Giveaway!

Holiday Blog Hop stops by here today!

Happy Holidays! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noël!


TWCS Author Blog Hop - Our authors are sharing holiday traditions Dec. 12 - 23. Each day an author will post on their blog a personal holiday tradition or a holiday tradition of their characters. They will also post the blog hop icon. You will notice in the bottom right hand corner of the icon a holiday/winter object. You will need to write these objects down and keep the list handy. In addition to great giveaways happening each day on the authors' blogs, we will have a grand prize drawing on TWCS's website (http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/publishinghouse). To enter the grand prize drawing you will need to have collected all 11 objects.


What is the grand prize? An ebook of Season of Love, your choice of paperback (Connected, Take This Regret, Slave, or Fourteen), TWCS coffee mug, bookmarks (many are signed by the author). TWCS pen and notepad.

As part of The Writer’s Coffee Shop Blog Hop let me say thank you for stopping by to see what others do for their holiday traditions! In addition to the publishing house's drawing I am also doing something extra. Leave a comment below to be entered into a drawing for a Mocked by Faith coffee mug! (You do need to follow this blog to be entered.)

In case you haven’t figured out by my name, yes, we’re French. New Brunswick Acadian French to be precise. Why would that matter? Because like everyone else we do things differently.

One of our biggest traditions is eating Acadian poutines râpées on Christmas Eve. This is not to be confused with the Quebec fast food of poutine. These are no French fries covered in cheese and gravy with ketchup.

The ones we eat take up to 6 hours to prepare, and a lot of potatoes from Prince Edward Island. 50 lbs. to be exact. So what is poutines râpées (pronounced poo-tin rah-pay)? I copied a picture from the internet to give you a look at them.

This picture is from http://ourflophouse.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/acadian-cuisine

The process of making them is quite exhausting and can take several people up to 6 hours depending on how many you are producing. For our family gatherings it takes roughly 2 -3 dozens of these softball sized delicacies to please everyone.

They are commonly referred to as “dirty snowballs” from those who generally don’t eat them. They are gray, and they are the size of large snowballs. However that is where the similarities end.

So how would one go about making them? You really only need two ingredients…yep you read that right.

To make 6 poutines you will need:

Diced salt pork ~ 1 pound

Potatoes ~ 12- 14

For a detailed recipe I recommend: http://www.food.com/recipe/poutine-rapee-123966?scaleto=6&mode=null&st=true This is the closest I can get to my mother-in-laws recipe, which she guards with her life.

So the day before Christmas Eve is spent grating 2/3 of the 50 lbs. of raw potatoes. (Good thing I am a writer and have great hand strength.) The other 1/3 is boiled and turned into mashed potatoes. Now what the recipe above skims over as extracting the moisture means manning the cheese cloth or pillowcases to literally wring out all the liquid from the raw grated potatoes. That’s when I call Maurice in. Manual labor is his specialty.

Now it’s time to work as a family, because the kids love to get their “hands dirty” in a good way. Hey if they can do it in the freezing snow why not. Seriously they love pressing them into balls. Once the balls are ready we carve out a hole with our thumbs and fill the center with the diced pork. The hole is then filled back in.

This is the point when the kids get bored and leave for techno world. Every electronic devise in the house will have someone attached to it. No child wants to watch water barely boiling. Once the poutine are lowered into the pot (Like a lobster pot) they sink to the bottom. They’ll rise to the top and float, then finally sink one last time. Takes about 2-3 hour for that to happen.

So what do you do once they are done? Nothing, they store in the water until you eat them. Love that! As for taking a few home, because one is never enough, we loaded up the Ziplocs.

I’m an oddity of sorts in the poutine eating clan. Where everyone else dusts theirs with sugar, I prefer mine with maple syrup drizzled all over them. Not the best thing for a diabetic, but it’s one day a year and we’ve done it for as long as I can remember.

On Christmas Eve it’s time to eat and enjoy all the family. Danielle and Virginia really love seeing their Parrains (godfathers), Memére and Pepére, 6 aunts and uncles, and 6 cousins all together. Memére gives each of the kids a stocking filled will candy and toys.

Also if anyone is in Canada seeing the family there their gifts are under the tree and they can open them as well. This does happen since Memére is one of 11 children herself and they all remain around the St. Antione area. We are lucky that Pepére’s family has mostly relocated to the Gardner Mass. area and we see them more frequently. Maurice’s Memére’s family was actually one of the largest to ever cross the border with a whopping 22 kids. Now there is a poutine making crew for sure.

We spend lunch with my family and dinner with Maurice’s, and then we finish off the evening with an open house at home for anyone who wants to drop by. All our friends and family know they are welcome to pop by and visit.

 
Thank you for stopping by and have a very happy holiday! Michele Richard
 
Dont forget to collect your picture for the Drawing!

What's going on in my mind?

Hello everyone! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Been very busy so sorry If its been a while. NEWS: Mocked by Faith has been extended and will now have a third book to it's storyline. Turns out when I submitted it, it had a whole other book at the end. Who knew! So Mocked by Faith ~ Healing the Faith, which is now available to bloggers for review will be released in early February. Mocked by Faith ~ Affirming the Faith will be released in August. Parasouls my new science fiction will be released in May. Humans with extra special abilites has been a wonderful experience to write. I'll be sharing more on them later as it gets closer. Will be posting regularly after the first once my book goes to the publishing house! Michele

Added content for Mocked by Destiny

An extended chapter 10 of Mocked by Destiny has been donated to Fandom4Texaswildfires. For more information on how to see the missing 18+ content visit: http://texasfires.ysar.info/

Why donate an extended chapter?

It's my way of giving to a cause that has affected so many people I know. One in perticular, Lisa, is a constant freind and supporter. I'd be lost without her and her passion. Her daughter Sophie almost lost the chance to go to a diabetic summer camp due to the wildfires.  For them and others who have struggled through it, I do this.

This should be something all writers do. Most of the perticipants are writers of fan fiction, all authors need to take a lesson from them on giving back to the people and fans who make them who they are.

5 Angel review!

  Well where do I start, I cried, laughed, got angry, lets just say my emotions where all over the place. And not just for Alexia and Justin, but for all the characters. A gripping story of a Religious gated community. Truly interesting. I found myself actually a part of the story. I could not put it down. Started reading it around 8 pm and read until 1 am. got up did a few things around the house but had to go and finish reading. Finished it that day. But let me just say here in my opinion this book is for young adults and adults. I know the story is about teenagers, but due to the explicit sexual language I feel it should not be for young readers...read more at  
http://breathoflifebookreviews.blogspot.com/

Join us tonight!

I have a segment on "Let's Talk Books" with The1Essence tonight, October 20, 2011 @ 9pm EST (USA) You can and others can listen to the show at: http://loudcaster.com/channels/581-the1essence-radio interact via a live web chat. FaceBbook log in required to chat but not necessary to just listen.

November Young Adult Blog Tour! Want to host Mocked by Destiny?

For all the details here's the form. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dF8tdUFvT3ZETzlJazdzeGtmSHdYZ3c6MA#gid=0

Want to be a reviewer For The Writers Coffee Shop Publishing house? Here's what you need to fill out!

Inside the characters of Mocked by Destiny

When I first started Mocked by Destiny, I had originially named it Diary of a Lonely Teeneager. This is the drawing I drew and used as my inspiration. I know I am not an artist, but I am a visual person and need to see what I am writing about. So be kind.

Inside the Mocked by Destiny story and characters: 


It’s no secret that towns with military bases have a higher teen pregnancy rate, even more so in places like Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach’s base is a vacationing base. It’s a base for military families to spend time with their families. The base itself has a campground, hotel, townhouses, and bungalows.

In the evening hours, the visitors flood the boardwalk to shop, eat, drink, and of course, get ice cream. Though it’s unavoidable to interact with the locals, some locals resent what their visits do to their beautiful town.

How could I know this? Did I make it up? No, i'm quite familar with the base. Having spent many of summers there with my family. My family has a lot of former military members: 2 ex-Navy, 4 former Army, and 1 currently deployed.

So you see, I myself have been in the groups headed to the beach to shop, buy ice cream, and mingle. I've also seen my teen cousins meeting vacationing military or their sons. In fact this story started as I watched them playing with babies on the beach as the Navy Seals performed their training a 100 yards away. Grabbing my daugther's notebook, it poured out. I had it half written by the time I returned home to the burbs of Boston. Of course it took some proding from my freind from NY to get me to post it in an online contest. In the end, it didn't matter whether I won or lost, if just one young girl read it and resisted her hormones, my job was done.

 

Stella Richards



Stella grew up knowing nothing good comes from those who visit her home town of Virginia Beach. The outsiders only want to use and abuse the serene setting and the friendly people who work there. There is only one guarantee from those visiting, they will leave and most likely never come back. She herself learned this early on during her first unsupervised summer on the beach.


After being left heartbroken by the flurry of friends she made, she vowed to never do it again. Making and losing five bestfreinds will do that to you. Cutting herself off from those who could hurt her, she left herself lonely and uninterested in the flocking vacationers.




Coming from a long line of teenage, unwed mothers, Stella’s family consisted of all females who were either left pregnant or were children of those who visited the beach and left without looking back. Stella had plans that didn’t include becoming a teenage mom. She strived to break the streak that had plagued her family for generations starting with being the first in her family to attend college.




All those plans changed when she encountered a young man on the beach. Stefan Sterling. She tried to out run her destiny several times and it always came back to bite her in the butt. When Stella handed him his ice cream cone, she handed him her heart and future.





Stefan Sterling


 Stefan grew up on a military base in Germany. In a life where you never knew when you’d be shipped off to another one. He had friends, but like him, they all knew they could wake up the next day and they’d be gone. As Stella had done, he kept his friends at a distance to avoid being hurt when they had to leave.




He, too, wanted to change the way his life seemed to be headed. He wanted out of the strict upraising he had. Determined to follow in his brother’s footsteps, he planned to go to college as far removed from the military as he could.




The stories of how the generations in his family had known the moment they met their loved ones had been passed on. Stefan wasn’t a believer in love at first sight. He concidered it a ridiculous wise tale his grandparents had passed down, until it happened to him.




Passing through on his way to Washington, DC for his father’s new posting, his life changed in an instant. In one glance Stella altered him and his heart. On his last night of vacation he gave Stella a piece of himself, the one peice his parents couldn't control. The one piece that would forever lock them together.



Who knew a chocolate ice cream cone could change their destinies?




Stella and Stefan



Pulled together by destiny, these two will learn to love, sacrifice, and grow up before it’s time. Reconnecting on thier birthdays, the true impact of what had happened all those months before stared them in the face. Forced to make decisions that take them further from their goals, they learn to lean on each other. Mistakes are made, but can love conquer all?




For that answer you’ll have to read and find out.




Some of that you might have seen before on The Girl Who Reads blog or in interviews. So here's what has never been said before.




Daisy Richards




Stella's mom, Daisy had grown up the daughter of a teen mom. After being left pregnant twice, she hardened her heart and raised her daugthers to avoid the boys from the base. She'd learned first hand, they only wanted one thing. The desire to go to college never stuck with her. Instead she became a hairdresser and raised the girls alone with only the help of her mother. She took the news of her impending grandmotherhood much like any of us would have.




Maurice Sterling 




Stefan's father, tried to keep a strict hold on his sons in the hopes they would make the mistakes he had. In the end it pushed both his sons to run from him. His efforts to keep Stefan away from Stella not only failed, but fueled the night she got pregnant. Deep down he was only trying to pretect his son, but inadvertantly ended up making the situation worse.




Shirley Sterling




Being an overly protective mother led to her downfall. Her matching efforts with Maurice served to push the boys away even further, and hurt everyone involved. There are times when you need to let your children live their lives, she forgot that.




This is a raw and realistic view of teen pregnancy. It's not fluffy. I wanted teens to know what they were really up against. Please feel free to comment and ask questions. Thanks for reading! 

Mocked by Faith Blog Tour stops for Sept 19 -30, 2011!

Sept. 19 Guest post and Giveaway at Live to Read http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/

Sept. 20 Review, Character Interview, and Giveaway at The Magic Attic http://theawesomemagicattic.blogspot.com/

Sept. 23 Review, Interview, and Giveaway at Ali's Bookshelf http://alisbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/

Sept. 23 Review and Interview at WTF are you reading? http://wtfareyoureading.blogspot.com/

Sept. 24 Review, Guest Post, Interview, and Giveaway at Chick Lit = The New Black http://chicklitthenewblack.blogspot.com/

Sept. 25 Review at Feeding my Book Addiction http://feedingmybookaddiction.blogspot.com/

Sept. 26 12:30 - 1:30 Live Chat with Michele Richard at Coffee Talk http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/coffeetalk

Sept. 28 Review and Guest Post at Books Like Breathing http://bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com/

Sept. 30 Review and Guest Post at Journey with Books http://journeywithbooks.blogspot.com/

Are you on Book Blogs?

Visit Book Blogs

Mocked by Faith

Mocked by Faith is now on www.Amazon.com

Sign up today for my new blogging tour!

Mocked by Faith

eARC (pdf) available for August release: Mocked by Faith by @M_A_Richard #Reviewers #Bloggers wanted! #romance

Missing parts of Mocked by Destiny

So everyone knows the published Mocked by Destiny faded to black when the couple conceived since it was a Young adult genre. As part of a donation to raise money for LLS, I have donated the first missing scene. To help them in their efforts, donate at least $5 to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at: https://donate.lls.org/ECommerce/donate.action?amount=&fundraiserPageID=628084&participantFirstName=Fandom%20For&participantLastName=LLS&displayName=Fandom4LLS forward your receipt to Fandom4LLS@gmail.com, and you will receive a compilation of stories and one shots from your favorite fic authors and some original authors. These written pieces will not be published anywhere else for a minimum of 2 months. But if you donate you will have a chance to read them before anyone else! Don't wait! Donate Today! Thank you for all of your help and support for LLS!

Mocked by Faith Summary

For Alexia Cross and Justin McNear, things are not what they seem. Both were born and raised in hidden, gated communities. A place where time virtually stands still and marriages are arranged by parents before a child’s 18th birthday. Alexia is destined to be her community’s first spinster. In a last ditch effort, a husband is found. The only complication? He has no idea he has been betrothed. Will his history of dating outsiders help or hinder his relationship with his future wife? Justin McNear searched outside his church for the woman of his dreams. Returning home after failing, he knows he needs to rectify his life and his faith. Can a woman he’s never met make him whole again? Will this couple end up mocked by their own faith? Follow Alexia and Justin through the trials and tribulations of finding, falling, and surviving each other's love. It’s never easy saying “I do” to someone you don’t know. http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/publishinghouse/books/detail/33 Order now For delivery on or about August 25th, 2011

Mocked by Faith is now on pre-order

For Alexia Cross and Justin McNear, things are not what they seem. Both were born and raised in hidden, gated communities. A place where time virtually stands still and marriages are arranged by parents before a child’s 18th birthday. Alexia is destined to be her community’s first spinster. In a last ditch effort, a husband is found. The only complication? He has no idea he has been betrothed. Will his history of dating outsiders help or hinder his relationship with his future wife? Justin McNear searched outside his church for the woman of his dreams. Returning home after failing, he knows he needs to rectify his life and his faith. Can a woman he’s never met make him whole again? Will this couple end up mocked by their own faith? Follow Alexia and Justin through the trials and tribulations of finding, falling, and surviving each other's love. It’s never easy saying “I do” to someone you don’t know. Order today and it will be shipped on August 25, 2011. Shipped worldwide! http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/publishinghouse/books/detail/33

The New York Indies Book Event

I will be having an author's table at the NY Indies Book event. Please stop by and purchase your Mocked by Destiny Book. It would be my pleasure to sign it or if you have one bring it and I will sign it also!

iBook !!!!!!!!

Mocked by Destiny is now available on ibook for you iPad, iTouch, and iPhone. Hoping you will enjoy it and let me know you feelsings on it.

Trailer for Mocked by Faith

Trailer for Mocked by Faith

@twcs_pubhouse: Book Trailer for @M_A_Richard's Mocked by Faith (available August 2011) http://bit.ly/roZecQ Pre-order on July 28th

Mocked by Faith

A very talented musician in Boston, Born Gotti, has co written a song with ButterflyBetty Cullen for the novel Mocked by Faith. Have a listen and share the love. We'd love if you'd repost and twitter it. The video for it will for be of the story. http://www.myspace.com/borngott1/music/songs/you-were-standing-mp3-82794006

Mocked by Destiny on a new list of break out authors

Mocked by Destiny on a new list of break out authors. http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/10886.Best_Break_Out_Author_Novels_ Have you voted?

Another Wonderful Review and Seal of Approval!

My Thoughts: Richards tackles a very difficult subject in Mocked by Destiny – the issue of teen pregnancy. As a Childbirth Educator I usually have very strong feelings about fiction dealing with teen pregnancy because so much of it tends to idealize or glorify this trend and not show the hardships that can be associated with it. I was so happy to see that Richard made Stella (and her family’s) reaction to her pregnancy to be quite realistic and she took the time to illustrate the emotional roller coaster that a teen might face upon discovering an unplanned pregnancy. Through Stella readers were also given a realistic view of the financial and logistical (ie. having to finish high school, get a drivers license and start college) hardships that a teen could have to deal with. To read more visit http://www.handsandhome.ca/2011/06/mocked-by-destiny-review-and-author-interview.html

New Place to Purchase!

http://bit.ly/m71MYd Mocked by Destiny can now be found on Barnes and Noble

A fan's review!

An outstanding review and interview with an amazing author I am blessed to call my friend. As the mother of a teen who has a baby, I wish I could make this book required readin in high schools and give these young girls a wake-up call. Babies cry at 3 am, they don't sleep when their teething, and even when you're tired, you still have to take care of their needs. It is not all rainbows and kittens, they dont always look sweet and smell like baby powder. These youn ladies, and men, need to stop and think about hte eventual consequences that an unplanned pregnancy will bring into their lives. I only hope Michele's book can start bridging the gap between reality and fantasy.

Laura Braley

New Interview!

http://www.thesundaybookreview.com/2011/06/interview-with-michele-richard/

For an in depth look into the making of my novel here it is!

New Interview!

Either from personal experience or from reading my own moans, you know how hard it is for a writer to gain recognition. E-publishing is fine and all, but what some of us still hope for is that fateful acceptance letter. Someone, somewhere, has read what you've created and wants to print it. But people tell you that it hardly ever happens, that it's luck, or that the publishing world is stacked against their 'creative style'. Well, today, my friends, I want to bring you the other kind of story. Theone where someone works hard, writes well, and gets what they deserve. The story of Michele Richard.

I have the esteemed pleasure to bring to you an interview from the writer if the new novel, Mocked By Destiny. A story of teenage pregnancy set against a Virginia Beach backdrop that won't have you reaching for the puke bucket. It's honest, real and has an actual message rather than sloppy Hollywood morals. You won't find Jeremy Kyle here, dear reader.

For more visit http://craighallam.blogspot.com/

New 5 star review

Books about pregnancy are not appealing to me usually. Possibly because pregnancy is not something I have ever seen happening in my life—I’m not a kid friendly person. But for some reason, Mocked By Destiny just appealed to me and I couldn’t not read it.

For more check out @bibliophile23's 5 star review of Mocked by Destiny by @M_A_Richard http://bit.ly/m8oEuM

Amazon now has the paperback of Mocked by Destiny!

http://amzn.to/mdYpmA Mocked by Destiny Now on Amazon! in paperback! I am so excited!

The Jagged Edge Review

Review:

When I was first offered Mocked by Destiny I was a bit skeptical with the whole pregnant teen thing. But boy did she blow the lid off I absolutely could not put the book down... Even though I really needed to seeing as it was 1AM on a school day. The twists and turns were unexpected and kept you immersed in the story line. The story will keep you on your toe's. The end goes through two generations and I was not big on that I would rather have the story continue from after Italy. No That actually didn't give any thing away. The end did have a little to much going on with all the generations and it was hard to tell who was saying it. Fast paced and drama city. Defiantly a must read! 5/5


-Kati

New interview and review!

http://klearsreviews.blogspot.com/

Check out my most recent interview and review on the Jagged Edge! Five stars!

Review:
When I was first offered Mocked by Destiny I was a bit skeptical with the whole pregnant teen thing. But boy did she blow the lid off I absolutely could not put the book down... Even though I really needed to seeing as it was 1AM on a school day. The twists and turns were unexpected and kept you immersed in the story line. The story will keep you on your toe's. The end goes through two generations and I was not big on that I would rather have the story continue from after Italy. No That actually didn't give any thing away. The end did have a little to much going on with all the generations and it was hard to tell who was saying it. Fast paced and drama city. Defiantly a must read! 5/5

kati

Mocked by Destiny t-shirt giveaway

And the t-shirt goes to...? All things books. Thank You Tanya for all the wonderful people you sent! PM me your address and I'll get it right out.

Drawing

I have decided to do a giveaway. The reward? A Mocked by Destiny t-shirt. What do you have to do to be in the drawing? Share my site with your freinds and family. Everyone who sends me a new fan who "likes" my fanpage will be entered. So make sure you tell them to let me know who sent them so your name can be added with theirs to the drawing. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waltham-MA/Michele-Richard/113282685403721

Mocked by Faith cover is now on the publishers website

http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/publishinghouse/books/detail/33

Follow me on Twitter

You can find me on Twitter at M_A_Richard and yes I do follow back.

Mocked by Destiny has its own fan page on Facebook

My first book now has its own fan page! please join!

Newsletter starting this in May!

Funding for the Boston Book Festival

Funding for the Boston Book Festival

<iframe frameborder="0" height="380px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/twcsph/send-michele-to-boston-book-festival/widget/card.html" width="220px"></iframe>

Fundraiser

We have launched a fundraiser to get me into the Boston Book Festival in October. We only have 29 days to raise the needed $800 dollars to pay for the booth. Anyone interested in helping here is the link, there are rewards for helping. http://www.kickstarter.com/e/OR1JJ/projects/twcsph/send-michele-to-boston-book-festival

Follow and "like" me on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waltham-MA/Michele-Richard/113282685403721 Are you a memeber of my fan page? Would love it if you would be.

New reviewer blog gives Mocked by Destiny 4 stars!

The Awesome Magic Attic

Part of this story reminded me of a girl I had befriended on a beach a long time ago. We said goodbye with promises to visit, email, and write. But upon arriving home, I was swept back into a busy schedule, and we never heard from each other again.

The title 'Mocked by Destiny' suited the story very well, and summed up the whole plot. In this story, we got a very deep understanding of all the characters. Stefan was every girl's dream boy. Handsome, kind, yet protective and firm. Stella was shy, sweet, somewhat emotional, and as Stefan reminded her and us over and over again, extremely beautiful. The story, much like the characters was easy to understand. It was an easy read, though I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone under the age of 14. Small problems kept popping up here and there, and there was never a reason to put down the book. It was a definite page turner.
to read more:

http://theawesomemagicattic.blogspot.com/2011/04/book-review-mocked-by-destiny.html

Calling all bloggers!

Hi! I work for an up and coming small press. We will be releasing the second novel in N. K. Smith's Old Wounds series April 28. I'm setting up blog stops for interviews, reviews, and guest posts. I can send any blogger who is interested an ebook of the first novel in the series. You can learn more about N. K. Smith and Old Wounds series at the publisher's website:
http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/nsmith

If you are interested in participating in the blog tour, please either contact me at donna (at) thewriterscoffeeshop (dot) com or by replying to this discussion. Thanks!

A new review for Mocked by Destiny

Having grown up in a tourist town which also had a base at one time (Myrtle Beach, SC), this story evoked a lot of memories for me. I viewed the friendships differently than Stella- I saw them as brief spotlights in my life and feel that some people are put in your path for a reason. Michelle really described those feelings of new relationships well and I felt like I was in the scene- the ice scream shoppe, the beach, the base.

So this book was more personal for me and thanks for the trips down memory lane.

Cullen Confection

A review for Mocked by Destiny

Mocked By Destiny by Michele Richard

Let’s start by saying this was my first E-book I have ever read. Great way to read a book, but having a copy on the bookshelf is even better. I have been an advent reader since I learned to read when I was ten. I was one of those kids who just slipped through the crake until I became teacher’s pet when I was in 4th grade. Once I learned to read I could not stop reading. It took me no time to be tested at college level.
I have always read such a verity in my types of books. If someone recommends a book I will read it not matter what type it is. This book was recommended to me by the author who is also a friend. Trust me when I say our friendship has no bearing on this review.
The book had me hooked within the first two pages. I could not put it down…. Oh I did have many interruptions, but that’s life. I had fun going from ah, that’s so sweet, to tears and then to laughing my rear off and back around.
The way she wrote the book is how I have dreamed someone would write one. I have always wondered what the guy was thinking so it was so refreshing that she would write two or three chapters of each point of view so you could feel each of their emotions.
The emotional feel of this book changes and just makes it that much harder to put down. The way she described how things looked, painted a picture in my head.
By the sixth or seventh chapter I was telling myself that I have to get a copy for my ever growing collection as this is the type of book I love to read on cold day in front of a roaring fire.
The subject was one that many authors have written about over the year’s teenage pregnancy, but unlike most of the others she kept them together and showed how they struggled to grow into a loving family.
Not many authors put an epilogue at the end of the story so you can get an idea of who the story turns out. That was one of my favorite parts to the story. I have always believed in the happily ever after, but in most teen pregnancy stories you have not gotten that.
To me this story is a must read for teens, young adults and adults of any age that loves a good love story. Life is not full of roses and is full of struggles, which was brilliantly written in this story. I for one will be looking forward to reading the next story Ms. Richard’s writes.

My guest blog gets you a free ebook of Mocked by Destiny

http://speedyreader-allthingsbooks.blogspot.com/2011/03/guest-post-by-author-michelle-richards.html#comments

everyone who visits, reads my guest blog, and leaves a comment with their email address will recieve a free ebook of Mocked by Destiny!

New book signing for Mocked by Destiny

Time	Saturday, April 23 · 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location	East Cambridge Savings Bank 860 Lexington St. Waltham, Ma.
Created By	Michele Richard
More Info	Stop by and if you have already purchased Mocked by Destiny, bring it and have it signed. If not, you can purchase it at the event. I hope to see you there!

My Interview with WCAC is now on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_BOXpQOONw

You Tube Links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYbCObNGJws Teaser

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyHadX-0oVo Readings by Ashley

Newspaper Interview 03/01/2011

Waltham woman makes literary debut with teen pregnancy novel.Zoom Photos. Purchase this photo Wicked Local staff photo by Lisa Cassidy.Michele Richard, author of "Mocked by Destiny", smiles at her daughter, Virginia, 9, in their Waltham home.
  
   .By Joyce Kelly
Wicked Local Waltham
Posted Mar 01, 2011 @ 08:28 AM
   
WALTHAM — Michele Richard said she was relaxing on Virginia Beach, watching her cousins and their babies playing in the sand, with Navy Seals training in the background, when it hit her: she was watching a story unfold before her eyes.
“I literally grabbed my notebook and started writing. It was the whole setting – it just kind of formed this little story,” said Richard, a Waltham resident.
“I wanted to address the issue of kids having kids. I found way too many kids having kids, and when I saw this little scene playing out, I decided to put it in fiction form so they can learn without the preaching,” she said.
When teens go through junior high school, “everything changes,” she said, and teenage pregnancy is too often glorified on television.
“TV makes a big drama out of it,” she said. “Young people don’t realize what’s involved with having a baby. How do you get them to look at things differently?”
“I want them to see, pregnancy is not all sunshine and bon-bons, it changes your entire life. I wanted them to think it’s not all about them lying on the couch getting fat and being happy. I basically told the truth in fiction form,” said Richard.
She started writing the story, “Mocked By Destiny,” in August, and three months later she finished a 350-page novel, she said.
Almost as quickly as inspiration struck, Richard secured a publishing deal with The Writers Coffee Shop, a small, Australia-based publishing house.
“Mocked By Destiny” was released online Feb. 24, and will be available in hardcover at Barnes & Noble and Borders in coming weeks, Richard said.
She had entered a writing competition held by the publisher, and, even though she did not win, Richard intrigued editors, who offered to publish “Mocked by Destiny,” she said.
“I was surprised when they instantly wanted it. I was writing for fun. I was surprised, because you hear all the stories that it takes forever to get published,” Richard said.
Writers Coffee Shop also asked her sign a deal with them for two more fiction novels – “Mocked By Faith,” a story about arranged marriages, and “Mocked by Fate,” a love story of a man and woman contending with the challenges of being from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
“Mocked By Faith” is slated for an August release, and “Mocked By Fate” is set to come out in February 2012.
Richard was able to complete all three books in the span of about a year, she said, because she simply loves writing.
“I write a lot. It’s one of my favorite things to do,” she gushed.
“I am crazily excited. It’s still so surreal, it’s nerve-wracking, but in a good way. It’s exhilarating,” said Richard, who works part-time as a recess monitor at Whittemore Elementary School, and co-leads the school’s Girl Scout Troop.
Richard’s 9-year-old daughter, Virginia, is a third-grader at Whittemore, and her 11-year-old daughter, Danielle, is a sixth-grader at McDevitt Middle School.
“They are very excited. It’s a very thrilling thing,” said Richard.
Richard will discuss her novel, answer questions and sign books at the Waltham Public Library on March 9 at 7:30 p.m.
For additional information or to order a copy of “Mocked by Destiny,” visit Richard’s website michele-richard.net, amazon.com or thewriterscoffeeshop.com/publishinghouse.
Joyce Kelly can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jkelly@wickedlocal.com.
Copyright 2011 Wicked Local Waltham. Some rights reserved

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Newspaper Interview

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Book signing for Mocked by Destiny

On March 9,2011 I will be meeting and greeting/ book signing Mocked by Desitny, my first novel. Waltham Public Library at 7:30pm. the address is 735 Main St. Waltham, Ma. 02453 Anyone interested in attend is suggested to RSVP even though it's a free event.

Hope to see you there!

Michele

Praise for Mocked by Destiny

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/note.php?note_id=144594995602202&id=119328354791583

Mocked by Destiny

My booked Mocked by Destiny is now available for pre-sale. Order it today and it will be shipped the day it release on Feb 24th, 2011

http://www.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/publishinghouse/books/detail/14