Charlotte/ C.K. Volnek - Author - Story Teller
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Adult Books
  • Middle Grade Books
    • Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island >
      • Meet the Characters from Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
    • A Horse Called Trouble >
      • Meet the Characters from A Horse Called Trouble
    • The Secret of the Stones >
      • Meet the Characters from The Secret of the Stones
  • Contact Me
  • News/Writing Tips
  • C.K.'s Cover Designs
  • Newsletter

Stained Glass Summer by Mindy Hardwick

1/5/2012

8 Comments

 
Picture
I feel especially lucky to introduce STAINED GLASS SUMMER and author Mindy Hardwick on my blog today.

Welcome, Mindy. Can you tell us about the main character of Stained Glass Summer, 12-year old Jasmine? What was she like before her Father abandoned the family and what was she like after?

When the story opens, Jasmine lives in Chicago and wants to be an artist. Jasmine’s Father is an award winning photographer and she adores him. Her favorite thing to do is work, side-by-side in her Father’s studio. Jasmine is devastated when her Father chooses to abandon her and her Mom.  But, Jasmine is a survivor, and when Uncle Jasper visits, Jasmine sees an opportunity she can’t pass up—a chance to spend the summer with her Uncle on a small island in the Pacific Northwest and learn a little bit about stained glass.

 What is the cause of her Father’s choice to leave the family?
Jasmine’s parents have been at odds for years. Her Father is a successful photographer and spends most of his time working on his photography rather than spending time with the family. He finally decides to leave and follow his photography career.     


 Has Jasmine always been a creative soul? What caught her eye to create stained glass?

Jasmine has always enjoyed art. She takes Saturday art lessons at the Art Palace. Unfortunately, at age twelve, she is too old for art classes at the Art Palace which only teaches younger children, and she is too young to work as a teacher’s helper.  As a former seventh grade teacher, this age problem was something I saw often. At age twelve and thirteen, tweens were too old for elementary school classes and activities, but too young for jobs in the community. The middle school years (grades 6-8) can be hard because you’re “in the middle.” I wanted to acknowledge that struggle in this story.   

When Jasmine arrives on the Island, she meets Opal who is a glass artist and a friend of her Uncle’s.  When Opal offers a contest in stained glass, Jasmine jumps at the chance to learn a new skill and show she can be the best—just like her Father.

Opal sounds like a fascinating character. Tell us more about her. I have a feeling she is a major influence on Jasmine.
Opal is a glass artist who owns a glass art shop on the island.  Opal is a successful glass artist, but, Opal is not like Jasmine’s Father. Opal believes in community and being of service to others. She shows Jasmine how to redefine her understanding of what makes a successful artist.

How is life on a Pacific Northwest Island different from where Jasmine was raised?

On the Island, everyone knows everyone—something 13-year-old Cole points out on their first bike ride into town. But, island life takes getting used to for Jasmine. For example, she is frustrated when her cell phone does not work very well. Jasmine is waiting a phone call from her Father (which never comes), and she can only get reception when she is in town.
In Jasmine’s words…what would she like to say to the tween who is reading her story? What words of advice would she give her reader?
If your parents get divorced, it’s not your fault. I thought Dad left because of something I had done. I believed that if I won art awards like Dad, then he would love me.  The best thing to happen was for me to move to the Island and learn about mentorship. Not everyone can move to a small Island. But everyone can have or be a mentor. If you want to find out more about mentoring in your community, here are some great resources:

National Mentoring Month

http://www.nationalmentoringmonth.org/

Find Mentoring Opportunities

http://www.nationalmentoringmonth.org/take_action/becomeamentor/

Big Brothers/Big Sisters

http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.5962335/k.4DD4/Start_Something_for_a_child_today.htm

Share a little bit of your perseverance with getting Stained Glass Summer to print. You’ve got quite a story
I began writing Stained Glass Summer ten years ago. A friend gave me three pieces of broken glass she had found in an art supply store dumpster and Jasmine’s character popped into my head. What I love about the long journey of Stained Glass Summer is the story took me to so many places.  The journey began when I applied for and was accepted to the National Book Foundation Summer Writing Camp. It was at Camp that I met Ann Angel and Norma Fox Mazer who both encouraged me to apply for the Vermont College MFA in Writing for Children Program. I was accepted to the program and traveled to Vermont two times a year for residencies. I met many great people who worked on this story including: Ron Koertge, Liza Ketchum, Sharon Darrow, and Lisa Jahn Clough. After graduating, I spent another six years submitting. It came close to being published a couple times, but each time, the story wasn’t “quite right for them”. Finally, I sent the manuscript to freelance editor, Sarah Cloots. She suggested the story become a middle grade novel.  It was Sarah who titled the story, Stained Glass Summer.   When I saw Musa was looking for YA and middle grade submissions, I sent off a query and partial.  A few hours later, I received an e-mail from the editor requesting full. A week later, I received a contract.  I’m thrilled to be a part of e-book publishing, and I know that Stained Glass Summer found the exact right home.

You can buy Stained Glass Summer at your favorite on-line bookstore or through Musa Publishing.

A free reader’s discussion guide is available for download at:

http://www.mindyhardwick.com/books/stained-glass-summer/

Mindy can be found at:

Website: www.mindyhardwick.com

Blog: www.mindyhardwick.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stainedglasssummer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/mindyhardwick

Thanks for joining me here today, Mindy. It was a pleasure to discover what STAINED GLASS SUMMER is really about.
C.K. Volnek


8 Comments
Dale Thompson link
1/5/2012 11:56:27 pm

This is a book kids will love. As a former teacher of middle grade kids, I've also witnessed the stresses that come with this age group. I loved working with twelve to fourteen year-olds because, once they're focused on a project, they have boundless energy and drive to finish it. Good luck with your book, Mindy. And thanks, Charlie, for having her on. PD

Reply
C.K. Volnek
1/6/2012 01:16:32 am

Hi Pat,
So wonderful to see you here! Thanks for coming. Mindy is such a delight and I was so glad to host her today.
C.K. Volnek

Reply
www.masculineshopping.com link
10/4/2012 02:26:07 pm

Another excellent example of innovation, I am happy to locate it. There are so many developers working on this segment but this is one of the best innovative idea ever. Thanks for sharing it here.

Reply
Mindy Hardwick link
1/6/2012 01:21:23 am

Thanks for having me on your blog, Charlie! Thanks, Dale, for the words of encouragement!

Reply
Pat McDermott link
1/6/2012 01:26:38 am

What an upbeat story, one that lets not only Jamine but all kids know there's hope in the world. I love the title, and the setting sounds gorgeous too. Congrats on the release of Stained Glass Summer, Mindy!

Reply
C.K. Volnek
1/7/2012 01:32:19 pm

Hi Pat. Thanks for stopping by. I think the name is rather cool myself...it speaks of multiple threads within the story. Mindy weaves a great story. Thanks again.
C.K. Volnek

Reply
london singles link
8/26/2012 02:53:05 pm

Took the day off and was just reading up some blogs and thought I would post here

Reply
MckimmeCue link
1/17/2022 12:08:40 am

This is a very informative—edifying article to all. Thanks a lot! Continue to post!
If you are looking for coupon codes and deals just visit coupon plus deals dot com

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Ghost Dog of  Roanoke Island
    - a tween ghost story with a twist of Native American Folklore and based on the real life mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island.

    Available in Print and E-book
    Picture
    View the Book Trailer for Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbJEF9TjZzo

    A Horse Called Trouble
    A troubled teen must overcome her abused past to save the defiant horse who taught her to love and trust again.
    Available in  Print and e-book
    Picture
    View the book trailer for 
    A Horse Called Trouble

    Welcome to my blog.

    Hi. I'm C.K. Volnek, Author and Story teller. I love books and photography, dogs and horses, hiking and tulips, kids, pasta, sunsets and of course…writing. Please come back often and share your passion in writing.. 

    Blogs to follow:

    Moments of Clarity
    Victorine Writes
    Why is My Book not Selling
    Barbara's Meanderings
    Teen Word Factory
    Muse It Up Publishing
    Dasef's Book Corner
    Sue Perkins
    Pembroke Sinclair
    Stories Ala Mode
    Kim Baccellia
    Candid Canine
    Shellie Neumeier
    Under the Yellow Hat


    CK's bookshelf: read

    The Secret GardenThe ShackDear JohnThe Queen of EverythingTangerine

    More of CK's books »
    CK Volnek's  book recommendations, reviews, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists
    free counters

    Archives

    March 2015
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010

    Categories

    All
    #100blogfest
    A Horse Called Trouble
    Al Capone
    Aloha For Carol Ann
    Anne Johnson
    Author
    Author Interview
    Author Platform
    Bad Spelling
    Barbara Bockman
    Barbara Ehrentreu
    Beast Of Noor
    Bethlene Williams
    Blood Chronicles
    Book
    Book Birthday
    Book Cover
    Book Marketing
    Born Of Blood
    Brian Kittrell
    Building A Promotional Platform
    Bullying
    Characters
    Chicken Soup
    Children\'s Books
    Chris Henderson
    Christian
    Christine Irene Steeves
    Christine Verstraete
    Christmas
    Ckvolnek
    C.k. Volnek
    C.k. Volnek
    C.K. Volnek
    Colors Like Memories
    Contest
    Cover Art
    Crimson Dream
    Crossed Out
    Cry Of The Fallen
    Cyrus Keith
    Dark Fantasy
    David Normoyle
    Death In Writing
    Descriptions & Emotions
    Down River
    Dragon Flame
    Dragons Of Noor
    Dragonswood
    Driven
    Earrings Of Ixtumea
    Ebenezer
    Ellen Jackson
    Enchantment
    Exiled
    Fantasy
    Free
    Ghost Dog Of Roanoke Island
    Ghost Dog Trailer
    Ghost Story
    Ginger Simpson
    Halloween
    Heather Cashman
    Herman Agency
    Heroes
    Historical Romance
    Horse Story
    If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor
    Impossible To Hold
    Indian Folklore
    Inspirational
    Internet Book Fair
    Jack Dahlgren
    Janet Lee Carey
    Jan Fischer Wade
    Janni Lee Simner
    Jenny Lundquist
    Jill Corcoran
    Joel Andre
    John Hart
    Jo Linsdell
    Joyful
    J. R. Wagner
    Judge A Book
    Kathy Pieper
    Kathy Rygg
    Killer Valentine Ball
    Kim Baccellia
    Lady-In-Waiting
    Lawna Mackie
    Letters From Al
    Liebster Award
    Life After The Undead
    Linda Barnett-Johnson
    Lindsay Below
    L.K. Below
    Long Story Short
    Lost Colony Of Roanoke Island
    Margo Sorenson
    Marketing
    Martin King
    Marva Dasef
    Meradeth Houston
    Mg Books
    MG/YA Blog-A-Thon
    Middle Grade
    Middle Grade Author
    Midnight Find
    Midnight Oil
    Mike Larsen
    Mindy Hardwick
    Mirror Mirror
    Missing Assumed Dead
    Muse Author Blog-a-thon
    MuseItUp MG/YA Blog-a-thon
    Muse It Up Publishing
    Napibowriwee
    New Year
    No Goddesses Allowed
    Not What She Seems
    Odessa
    Omm Writer
    On-line Writing Confrence
    Pb
    Pembroke Sinclair
    Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz
    Perception
    Picture Books
    Prophecy
    Published
    Publishing
    Rebecca Russell
    Rebecca Ryals Russell
    Resolutions
    Reva's Quest
    Sb Knight
    Scary Story
    Scrivener
    Seeing Cinderella
    Self-esteem
    Shellie Neumeier
    Shortcomings
    Social Media
    So You Want To Write A Novel
    Spirit Stealer
    Stained Glass Summer
    Sue Perkins
    Tall Tales With Mr. K
    Teen Talk
    Thanksgiving
    The Ballad Of Booser Bogg
    The Beast Of Noor
    The Black Chronicles
    The Burberry Scare
    The Circle Of Sorcerers
    The King Of Lies
    The Last Child
    The Never Chronicles
    The Overtaking
    The Seraphym Wars
    The Tiger
    The Writing Friend
    Three Things To Remember
    Tweeting
    Tweets
    Tweet Tips
    Twitter
    Twitter Tips
    Veiled Virtues
    Victorine Lieske
    Why Is My Book Not Selling
    Witches Of Galdorheim
    Wounds
    Writechris
    Writer
    Writers' Blog
    Writing
    Writing Skills
    Writing Tips
    Writing Workshop
    Ya Author
    Yellow Hat
    Young Adult
    Zarena

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Yuliya Libkina, brewbooks, nanaow2006, orangeacid, peasap, Mr. T in DC, h.koppdelaney, The U.S. Army, Giorgio Montersino, LifeSupercharger, gilles chiroleu, DSuàr, jumpyjodes, Sugar Daze (f/k/a LittleMissCupcakeParis), Ethan.K, the bbp, *Vintage Fairytale*, kenny_lex, striatic, MarkBennett86, {Guerrilla Futures | Jason Tester}, Pink Sherbet Photography, Xurble, DanielWiesheu, Smiley Stew, George Vnoucek, laverrue, skuds, AngryJulieMonday