A Children's Book Disguised as a Novel by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

• Writer’s Inspiration - Where did you come up with your idea for book or novel? Was there a person that was your inspiration for this book/novel? Who would you like to thank for getting you where you are today?



About Cheryl Malandrinos
Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A regular contributor for Writer2Writer, her articles focus on increasing productivity through time management and organization. A founding member of Musing Our Children, Ms. Malandrinos is also Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens.

Cheryl is a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book, a book reviewer, and blogger. Little Shepherd is her first children’s book. Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two young daughters. She also has a son who is married.

You can visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com or the Little Shepherd blog at http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com/



Visit Cheryl’s tour page at Pump UP Your Book. http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2010/09/08/little-shepherd-virtual-book-tour-october-november-and-december-10/







A Children’s Book Disguised as a Novel by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

I find the story behind Little Shepherd a bit funny. When it first came to me, it wasn’t a children’s book at all. It was a novel.

When God first planted the idea of Obed’s story in my heart, I felt I should be writing about an older Obed, fully grown, who decides to leave his home against his father’s will to search out the apostles. The apostles were in hiding after the Resurrection of Jesus, and Obed must find them to figure out if Jesus was the newborn King he met in the stable many years ago. His family had come away from their faith, and he is certain if he can verify the identity of Jesus, they will remember the miracle of the first Christmas they had witnessed and believe again.

I had a hard time writing that story, mainly because I needed to perform additional research on the daily lives of people during the times of Jesus. Since I felt God wanted me to tell Obed’s story, I certainly wasn’t going to abandon it.

I continued to struggle along and pray about it.

One Sunday I told my pastor about Obed’s story. He asked if it was a children’s book. I said no, but then I wondered if it could be. I prayed some more and felt even more confident that this was the story God wanted me to tell—a story for children that would allow them to see God’s love in action.

They say God works in mysterious ways. I feel my journey to publish Obed’s story shows, however, that when God offers His blessing on something, it will come to fruition. I am thankful that my ears were open enough to hear Him.

Watch The Little Shepherd Book Trailer
http://tinyurl.com/35vmrbj

Buy The Little Shepherd Book at amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Little-Shepherd-Cheryl-C-Malandrinos/dp/1616330856/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1287552677&sr=1-7



GIVEAWAY #1 (for people who comment during the VBT)

An autographed copy of Little Shepherd
Angel figurine printed with the Serenity Prayer
A Little Shepherd sticky note pad
Little Drummer Boy 2010 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament
Gift of Peace 2003 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament
Retail value of Giveaway #1 is $65 (rounded to nearest dollar)
*****

GIVEAWAY #2 (for those who purchase a copy of Little Shepherd between August 21, 2010 and December 17, 2010)

A ”Sparkling Angel” scented jar candle from Yankee Candle
An angel gold and silver lid topper for the candle
An angel tea light holder from Yankee Candle
A Little Shepherd sticky note pad
A Jim Shore Nativity Star hanging ornament
A Jim Shore Holy Family hanging ornament
A $25 Amazon.com gift card
Retail Value of Giveaway #2 is $97 (rounded to the nearest dollar)

Here are the rules and guidelines for these giveaways:

1) For Giveaway #1 you must leave a comment on the hosting blog with a working email address for the author to contact you if you win.

2) For Giveaway #1 only the first comment with your working email address is used to determine eligibility (one comment, per blog).

3) You are eligible to win Giveaway #2 if you purchase a copy of Little Shepherd between August 21, 2010 and December 17, 2010 and provide the author with proof of purchase via email, mail, or fax prior to December 19, 2010. Little Shepherd is available at the Guardian Angel Publishing website, Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, and at indiebound.org.

4) All giveaway winners will be selected using http://www.random.org/

5) Prizes will be shipped via USPS with appropriate insurance. The author cannot guarantee receipt before December 25, 2010.

6) Author, blog hosts, and Pump Up Your Book are not responsible for lost or damaged goods.


7) The same person cannot win both giveaways.

Although it is not a requirement for eligibility, Cheryl asks that you consider following the blogs who host her during her tour and also the Little Shepherd blog.




Good luck to all who enter!