MAROONED IN THE ARCTIC

Coming March 1!!!!

CLEOPATRA

Available this month is Cleopatra: Powerful Leader or Ruthless Pharaoh?--one of the six books in the Capstone Perspectives in History Series, which also includes stories about Andrew Jackson, Benedict Arnold, Christopher Columbus, John Brown, and Marie Antoinette. The books provide fascinating looks into the lives of famous people. Young readers are presented with both positive and negative aspects of the person's life, giving them an opportunity to form their own opinion about whether or not the person was good or bad.

Launch of The Many Faces of Josephine Baker

 

On Valentine's Day, I launched my latest biography, The Many Faces of Josephine Baker: Dancer,
 Singer, Activist, Spy at Barnes & Noble in San Antonio, Texas. While the audience munched on heart-shaped Valentine cookies, I explained the background of the book and shared some of the high-
lights of Josephine's life. It was then my pleasure to autograph the book for those present.

Barnes & Noble Launch

 

FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY

From December 8, 2014, to January 11, 2015, Chicago Review Press is giving away 10 free copies of my latest book: The Many Faces of Josephine Baker: Dancer, Singer, Activist, Spy. The distribution will be through GoodReads.

Please follow the link below to enter the contest:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/118116-the-many-faces-of-josephine-baker-dancer-singer-activist-spy

I will launch the book on February 21, 2015, at the Barnes and Noble at 281 & 410, San Antonio, TX.

2014 Skipping Stones Honor Award

Skipping Stones is an International Multicultural Magazine . . . that encourages communication, cooperation, creativity, and celebration of cultural and environmental richness. Each year, for the past 26 years, the magazine has recognized books that reflect these standards. I am proud to announce that Daughters of Two Nations, written by me and illustrated by Carolyn Dee Flores, has been named one of their 2014 Honor Books.

REUNION WITH AUTHOR FRIENDS

Six of my author friends and I gathered at Los Patios today to celebrate the publication of No Surrender Soldier by Christine Kohler, who is in town for a book signing at La Cantera this Saturday.

Back row (left to right): Christine Kohler, Maritha Burmeister, Kay Folkes, Jody Cosson
Front row (left to right): Peggy Caravantes, Lupe Flores, Kristi Holl

Great 2014 TLA Conference

Congratulations to the Texas Library Association for its great 2014 conference in San Antonio, Texas, April 10-12, 2014. Attendance reached 7,200 registrants. There were opportunities to mingle with publishers, authors, and other attendees. Books-books-books everywhere! A reader's delight!

Selling Book at TLA










 

A Big "Thank You" to DAR

I would like to express my appreciation to Mary Eck and the San Antonio de Bexar Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for presenting me with their "Women in History" Award at a luncheon held at the San Antonio Country Club on April 3, 2014. After recognizing my writing that features historical persons and events, they presented my latest book, Daughters of Two Nations, to the Winston School, which was represented by the school's guidance counselor, Denise H. Williams.

Remember the Alamo!

As we remember the Alamo this past week, my new children's book, The Battle of the Alamo (Cherry Lake Publishing) arrived. It takes a look at the famous battle from three perspectives: a Mexican soldier, a Texan soldier, and a slave who survived.

Conchita Cintron: 15 Minutes to Kill

Why did she kill?  What did she kill?  Why did she have only 15 minutes to kill?  These questions are answered in the amazing life story of Conchita Cintron, the world's greatest female bullfighter, now available as an ebook (Collca) through Kobo, B&N/Nook, Amazon's Kindle store.


See the Bite Size biography series: www.collca.com/biography
                              

San Antonio Historical and Genealogical Society

On Saturday I enjoyed reviewing my first book, Petticoat Spies: Six Women Spies of the Civil War for the San Antonio Historical and Genealogical Society.

Book Signing

        Barnes and Noble at San Pedro Crossing in San Antonio, Texas, will host the discussion and signing of Daughters of Two Nations on Saturday, January 22, 2014, at 1 p.m. After a panel discussion led by bilingual author Lupe Ruiz-Flores, author Peggy Caravantes and illustrator Carolyn Dee Flores will sign books.

Daughters of Two Nations

Midwest Book Review

"Daughters of Two Nations" is a compressed, illustrated collection of excellent thumbnail biographies of nine historically notable women of Native American descent who changed North American history from the 18th century to the present. A great deal of colonial and pre-colonial history of North American tribal cultures is revealed in these condensed biographies. . . Each chapter biography is adorned with a carefully researched, captivating color painting of the subject by noted artist Carolyn Dee Flores. Narratives of these amazing women read like exciting adventure stories, with real blood, tears and hardship embroidering the pages . . . "Daughters of Two Nations" is both an entertaining reading experience and an eye-opening education in Native American history.

GREG PINCUS, SOCIAL MEDIA GURU, SPEAKS IN SAN ANTONIO

On Saturday, June 16, I had the pleasure of hearing social media guru, poet, and workshop speaker, Greg Pincus, speak to the Southwest Texas Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. In a captivating and entertaining style, he removed many of the fears that some of his had about getting involved in social media. His advice was not to feel forced to become active in the various social media realms but to jump in only if you want to do so. If you are interested in testing the waters, take small steps. He assured us that we would love the contacts we would make through our efforts. Sounds like good advice which I plan to follow. For those who want to know more about Greg, please see his blog (www.gottabook.blogspot.com) about children's literature and his web site (www.thehappyaccident.net) about social media.

MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCES

In grateful appreciation for all those who served or are serving in the military and especially for those who paid the ultimate price--their lives.

If you served in World War II, have a family member who did, or just have an interest in our country's history, please consider reading my book, American Hero: The Audie Murphy Story.

Speaking to Daughters of War of 1812

On Tuesday, May 8, I had the privilege of reviewing A Great and Sublime Fool, my book about Mark Twain, for members of the San Antonio chapter of the Daughters of the War of 1812.

Although Twain is not directly connected to the War of 1812, the chapter members enjoy hearing about other periods of history as well. After a wonderful buffet lunch on the 7th floor Petroleum Club, I emphaiszed the "humanness" of Twain by telling stories from his childhood--eight near drownings before he learned to swim, deliberately exposing himself to the measles--an act which almost killed him, and pushing a huge boulder from the top of a mountain are just a few of the anecdotes I shared. I gratefully accepted the book presented to me--a bicentennial production of the Daughters of theAmerican Revolution: The Alamo Heroes and Their Revolutionary Ancestors.

Happy Birthday, Charles John Huffam Dickens!

Tuesday, February 7,2012, marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of noted English writer Charles Dickens. To review the life and writings of this remarkable man, please read Best of Times: The Story of Charles Dickens by Peggy Caravantes.

Presentation in Lockhart, TX

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, I had the privilege of speaking to the United Methodist Women in First United Methodist Church, Lockhart, Texas. They were hosting their annual membership tea, complete with scones, cookies, fresh strawberries and blueberries, sandwiches, and hot tea.
I told them how I got started writing young adult/middle grade biographies, stories about the books already published, what will be published this year, and books that I am currently presenting to publishers, hopefully for contracts. The ladies were all most gracious hostesses, and I enjoyed my visit with them.

2012

Happy New Year!

Resolution: To post more frequently on my blog and to gain more followers.