#Eggcerpt Exchange: Guest Author, Traci Sanders

Posted on February 8, 2016 by kimwrtr

I am participating in the Author Helping Authors – Egg-cerpt Exchange.

Throughout the months of February and March, I plan to delight you with exciting information about books and authors who are or could become your favorites. So make sure to check this out and let each amaze you with their ability to write awesome stories.

Today, I am featuring Traci Sanders, author of When Darkness Breaks & Unsevered.

I’m excited to be part of the Egg-cerpt tour, and I’d like to thank Tina Gayle for creating it!

Instead of offering character interviews, excerpts of my books, or a boring bio, I decided to offer a bit of insight on the driving forces behind my work. I hope you enjoy!

9 Things to Know about Traci Sanders

Who is Traci Sanders?

First and foremost, I am a mom of three great kids: boy 18; boy 16; and girl 10. Being a mom is the best job I’ve ever had. I’m also married to my high-school sweetheart. We’ve been together for about twenty-four years. My family is my inspiration for most of my books … with just a bit of embellishment here and there.

What genre do you write?

My first published book was a potty-training guide for parents. Then I published my first children’s book and two more parenting books. Six months into publishing, I released my first adult fiction piece, and I was hooked on the romance genre. So, even though I will continue to write and publish children’s books (because I have eight more already written), I mostly write adult romance. It’s my favorite!

What do you like most about writing?

Writing has always been there for me. Also, there is no prerequisite to satisfy. Writing shows no prejudice. You don’t have to have a college degree, or be the smartest or most popular kid in school; you simply have to possess a passion for words. For me, growing up in a family of six girls and one boy, writing was many things – an escape from chaos and noise, a friend who understood what I was feeling, and an outlet to pour my emotions into. It has helped me get through some tough times.

Who has been your biggest influence in your life?

I doubt she even realizes it, but my mother has always been a huge inspiration for my writing. As a young girl, I watched her play the piano and write songs for church. I once found her journal and read some of her songs, which inspired me to write my own. I also wrote poetry and short stories from the time I was in third grade. Writing was my gift, and I realized this at an early age. As I got older, I wrote and sang songs in church. People told me I had an “anointing” from God—a power to heal with my words and my voice. That was a pretty powerful thing to hear at my age, so I took it seriously. And, while my books are not Christian-based, my upbringing does play a part in my writing.

Who are your favorite Indie authors?

Gosh, having read more than forty books last year, I’ve experienced a plethora of great ones. But, to name a few: Beth Hale, Bethany Turner, Stephen Geez, Beem Weeks, Elizabeth Horton-Newton, Emma Scott, Anita Kovacevik, and Michelle Abbott. And recently, I’ve added Kim Cox and Allaina Daniels to this list because they write such quirky, intriguing characters that are fun to read about!

What is your ultimate reward as an author?

My ultimate reward as a writer is when someone says to me, “your book helped me” or “your words touched my heart.” That is when I feel the most successful and fulfilled. Don’t get me wrong, I very much enjoy seeing my sales go up; but my biggest payoff is when I get that feeling I had as a little girl—hearing those same words from people in my church or teachers at my school. In a way, it was validation for me. It made me feel as if could change someone’s life through my words, whether it is true or notJ

Name a classic author who has influenced your writing.

I am not usually a dark-natured person; however, in middle school and high school, I was drawn to Edgar Allan Poe. The desperate tone in his writing and rhythmic flow of his words fascinated me. I don’t enjoy horror stories or films, but I remember listening to The Tell- Tale Heart on a tape recorder in class (wow, I’m telling my age now) and being drawn in to the story. It was powerful, and I wanted to have the same effect on readers with my writing.

What is your biggest fear?

Of course I could say it would involve losing a loved one, but that’s a given. So, if I’m being totally honest otherwise, I’d have to say losing my mind is my greatest fear.

If I ever lost a limb or an organ, I would find a way to survive and manage from day to day. But if I lost my mind—my ability to think and create—I would soon wither away inside. Therefore, I plan to use my words to entertain, inform, and heal others for as long as I am able.

What is your biggest pet peeve about books?

I can overlook a few grammatical errors if the story is compelling enough; but a major pet peeve of mine is when authors repeatedly misuse simple words such as then, than, your, and you’re. It just drives me crazy. If you ever see that in one of my books, trust me, I DID NOT purposefully put it there!

Thanks so much for having me today and for letting me share a little bit about my writing journey.

Please subscribe to my blog at www.awordwithtraci.com where you will find samples of my poems and stories, excerpts from my books, and daily tips on all aspects of the writing industry (publishing, marketing, writing, etc.) in my new segment for 2016 called “365 Days to Write Right.”

Here is a link to the trailer for my newest release…Unsevered

Buy links for “Unsevered”
Amazon: http://amzn.to/20zBXtw
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1nUdy0y

Buy links for “When Darkness Breaks”
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1TKCG5H
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1SAb7gD

Connect with Traci:
Blog: www.awordwithtraci.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWordWithTraci/?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmsanders2014
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tsanders2014/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7508333.Traci_M_Sanders

#RRBC’S BETHANY TURNER “PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Traci Sanders

Posted on August 20, 2015 by kimwrtr

Traci Sanders is my Thursday’s #RRBC’S BETHANY TURNER “PAY IT FORWARD” – I decided to choose one person per day for this SUPPORT WEEK. Traci also goes that extra step for her fellow authors. I love the images she puts together with the cover and a snippet of text from the inside.

About Author, Traci Sanders

Author and mother of three, Traci Sanders has been composing poetry, songs, and children’s stories since the young age of ten. In 2003, she opened her home to young children in her community offering “beyond the basics” teachings. In 2008, she was recognized by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency as Family Childcare Provider of the Year and was featured in two local newspapers.

In 2010, she furthered her education by earning her Child Development Associates degree and was a recipient of the FIRST (First Incentive for Raising Standards among Teachers) Award presented by the Child Care Commissioner of her state. She continues to shape the young minds of the future through her home-based childcare program. Her daily interactions with these children provide constant inspiration for her writing and she plans to continue on this path until her story has reached “The End.”

Traci has two goals in writing books–to help people and/or to make them feel something.
To date, she has published five books, including her latest foray into adult fiction titled, ‘When Darkness Breaks’. She is an avid reader and writer, and finds inspiration all around her.

Currently Traci is writing her second adult novel, a light paranormal romance, titled ‘UNSEVERED’.

Please visit Traci’s blog: A Word With Traci
Follow Traci on twitter: @tmsanders2014

About Traci Sander’s Adult Fiction Books

When Darkness Breaks – Adult Romantic Fiction

Local news anchor, Amber Woods, seemed to have it all – a thriving career, two beautiful children, and a doting husband named Drake. Life was perfect…until her world was turned upside down in one fateful night.

While the incident caused Amber to renew her priorities; Drake was unable to deal with what happened, and sank into a deep depression laced with infidelity and alcohol.

Hoping a change of scenery would salvage her quickly deteriorating marriage, Amber agreed to move to New York; but it didn’t take long for her to discover that the past is not always left in the past.

Can Amber save her marriage without losing herself along the way? What will she do when darkness breaks her will to keep trying?

Snag a copy of “When Darkness Beaks” Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

About Traci Sander’s Parenting Books

Little Sponges: Teaching Toddlers the Basic Concepts

(Jennifer Polk – Illustrator) and (Pamela M. Fields – Foreword)

Whether you are a stay-home parent striving to prepare your child for preschool, or an early childhood professional who needs a boost in creativity; you will find a multitude of ideas and resources in this book to ensure your child receives the right start before entering the school environment.

In this book, Sanders provides a host of ideas for hands-on activities to enjoy with your child in teaching them all of the basic concepts – shapes, colors, letters, and numbers.

Your child will master these concepts very quickly through the songs/fingerplays, art/craft ideas, and the step-by-step instructions that Sanders offers.

Children’s brains are like little sponges. There is no limit to how much knowledge they can soak in, but it is the job of caring adults around them to ensure that no important information falls through the holes.

Purchase a copy of “Little Sponges” at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Welcome to “Poop Camp”: The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth about Potty Training

(Jennifer Polk – Illustrator)

Okay, there are hundreds of books on potty training available on Amazon and you feel as though you have read them all. So why should you spend your valuable time and money on one more?

*Most potty training guides on the market are either written by a child psychologist, a stay-home parent, or a pediatrician who has physically had a hand in potty training their own children and maybe a couple more at best.

This book is written by a seasoned family child care professional who has successfully potty trained MORE THAN THIRTY children in her career, encountering practically every scenario that can arise during the process – training boys, girls, and even twins; training older and resistant children, and even dealing with issues such as a child with-holding urine or BM.

*The author has excellent parental testimonials to back up her stated results and offers a direct email address to allow readers to contact her with specific questions or concerns about the process.

*The author offers one particular potty training secret that will most likely not be found in any other potty training manual on the market. This one simple trick makes the process less messy and produces rapid results.

Potty training really can feel like boot camp, but if you follow the steps laid out in this book, you will begin to see results almost immediately. Some of these answers can be found practically anywhere you search on the internet, but why waste all that time and energy when you have a proven method to follow here in this short, easy-to-read guide?

“Here’s wishing you much success and many less diapers!”

Get “Poop Camp” at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Right At Home: A Parent’s Guide to Choosing Quality Child Care

Every parent, at some point, is faced with the need for some type of child care. Whether it’s hiring a nanny, leaving your child in the care of a family member or friend, or enrolling them in a child care setting.

With more than twenty years of experience in various arenas of child care, Traci Sanders shares her knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of environment to allow parents to make an informed decision about where to place their child for care.

In this book she reveals:

*All the options for child care explaining the benefits and drawbacks of each one.

*The three most important S’s in choosing a child care setting.

*What type of daily schedule a parent should expect their child to have from birth to twelve years and includes suggestions for age-appropriate toys, materials, and activities.

*The top twenty questions a parent should ask ANY caregiver when interviewing.

*The top twenty things child care providers wish parents knew.

*Strategies to make the right decision for the location and price of your child care setting.

*Ways to build a relationship with your child care provider to ensure your child’s needs are met and your concerns are addressed.

*How to ease the transition for you and your child into a new care setting.

Making the decision to leave your child in someone else’s care is never an easy one but with the strategies and tips found in this book, you can at least make an informed decision.

Take back your power as a parent and make the RIGHT choice for your child.

Purchase “Right at Home” at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

Review: “When Darkness Breaks” by Traci Sanders

Posted on August 17, 2015 by kimwrtr

About The Author

Traci has two goals in writing books–to help people and/or to make them feel something. To date, she has published five books, including her latest foray into adult fiction titled, ‘When Darkness Breaks’. She is an avid reader and writer, and finds inspiration all around her.

Currently Traci is writing her second adult novel, a light paranormal romance, titled ‘UNSEVERED’.

Please visit Traci’s blog: A Word With Traci
Follow Traci on twitter: @tmsanders2014

About The Book

While the incident caused Amber to renew her priorities; Drake was unable to deal with what happened, and sank into a deep depression laced with infidelity and alcohol.

Can Amber save her marriage without losing herself along the way? What will she do when darkness breaks her will to keep trying?

My Review

Truly Heartbreaking, Yet Uplifting Story

As the story unfolded, I found myself asking two questions: What makes a strong woman? Is it the woman who stays in a bad marriage waiting for it to turn around, or is it the woman who doesn’t take any crap, leaves, and starts her life over. Before reading “When Darkness Breaks,” I would’ve said the latter. However, Amber is a strong woman to whom I can relate, and I think anyone who has been married, husband or wife, especially those in a bad marriage can.

When a marriage is damaged, for whatever reason, it is both hard to walk away and yet, it is hard to stay. One person’s answer may not be another’s. Amber fought for a marriage she knew had been good and with some faith and effort it could be great again.

I feel this is a well-written story that at times can break your heart, but in other times, lifts you up. It gives you faith. Once you start reading, you will not want to put it down and could very easy keep you glued to your seat and reading until the very end.

Get “When Darkness Breaks” here.

Next Five books and short stories on my reading list are:
Deadly Secrets (Gavin Shawlens Thriller #1) by Gordon Bickerstaff (Book of the Month moved up)
What’s In A Name? Tales from the Lost Horizon by Michael Eging
For The Sake of a Child by Stevie Turner (Push Book moved up)
The Ruins on Stone Hill (Heroes of Ravenford Book 1) by F. P. Spirit
Finding Kate by Harmony Kent