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Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Seven Days to Goodbye & Starting Over by Sheri S. Levy - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!


Hi lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host Sheri S. Levy and her new book, “Seven Days to Goodbye & Starting Over”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Plus, check out all the adorable pics of Sheri’s furbabies that are featured throughout this post!!  They are sooooo cute!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Sheri and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!


Seven Days to Goodbye 
&
Starting Over
by Sheri S. Levy

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GENRE: Young Adult – Coming of Age

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BLURB:

Thirteen year old, Trina has chosen to raise service dogs and have puppy after puppy. But during her seven day beach vacation, Trina struggles with having to return Sydney at the end of the week and worrying about her best friend changing into a stranger. To complicate the week, Sydney, meets a young boy with autism and the girls meet his two older brothers. Tension is raised over the guys, and Trina fears she’ll lose more than her service dog. Will Trina's lose her best friend, also?

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EXCERPT TWO:

Uh, oh. The wind lifted the Frisbee into the air. It looked as if the disc had sprouted wings, and disappeared up and over the jetty. Sydney halted, staring at me. He was used to chasing his toy. His eyes asked for permission as his body quivered pent-up energy. Letting him struggle for a minute, I giggled and said, “Okay, Syd. Find Frisbee.”

I did a slow jog towards the rocks and seconds later, Sarah called, “Wait for me.” I did a slow jog towards the rocks and seconds later, Sarah called, “Wait for me.”

I turned around and stopped. “Wow, you're joining me! Come on. I’ve got to
find Syd’s Frisbee. It’s on the other side.”

We climbed over the jetty. The dogs used their four-legged drive and moved much faster than Sarah or me. When we reached the top of the mound, Sydney stood a distance away with his Frisbee at his feet, leaning close to a small boy. The boy continued to pat the sand in his bucket and turn it upside down, making a row of mounds.

My heart did a triple beat in quarter time. I started running. Sydney’s stub wiggled and jiggled as soon as the boy’s sandy hands rubbed his back.

“I’m sorry,” I said running ahead. I bent, face to face with the boy. “I hope he didn’t scare you.”

The boy never looked at me, only at Sydney and back to the sand. He said in a monotone voice, “Doggy, doggy.”

Sarah meandered up to us. I panted in fast spurts. Worried about the boy and Sydney, I never noticed the rest of the group. A little ways from the small boy, two guys around our age worked on a fort or it could have been a sand castle. The one who seemed to be the oldest, stood. He had long legs and was much taller than I expected. Using his hand, he shoved his longish brown bangs out of his eyes.

Oh, Sarah had definitely noticed. She smiled, pushed loose hair back into her braid and pulled her bathing suit in place.

I rolled my eyes. Okay. Here she goes.

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GUEST POST:

Reasons You Should Read, “Seven Days to Goodbye”


          Mix together a week on Edisto Island with your best friend, connect with guys for the first time, meet a young boy with autism who falls in love with your service dog, learn about protecting loggerhead turtles, and you’ll have the ingredients for Seven Days to Goodbye.

          Years after my husband and I spent long weekends with our best friends and our dogs on Edisto Island, I turned my memories into a young adult novel. The fun began with creating unique relationships that transport the reader.

          I used my experience of teaching children with autism, my knowledge of training dogs, and my research with PAALS, a service dog organization.
         
Facts you need to know about autism:

          1. Autism affects one in sixty-eight children.
          2. Autism is not a disease. The brain happens to 
              function differently.
          3. Autism is an ability, not a handicap.

          My favorite quote from Dr. Temple Grandin, born with severe autism and a professor at the University of Denver. “Autism is part of who I am. It has given me special skills.”

          Dr. Temple Grandin helps families understand why children with autism flap their hands, spin in circles, make no eye contact, lack social interaction, use repetitive behaviors and can be verbal or non-verbal. She believes her life changed because of the people who believed in her and pushed her to interact in social environments. If you are interested in understanding more about autism, please watch or read, Seeing in Pictures, about Temple Grandin’s life.

          In August, 2017, I met a PAALS client, Jory Fleming, a sophomore at the University of South Carolina. After receiving his service dog four years ago, college students approached him with questions about his dog, Daisy. This forced him to speak to strangers and develop social skills. He began volunteering with extracurricular activities, and making friends. He was the first person with autism awarded the American Rhodes Scholar for 2017, and is off to Oxford to study with Daisy.


          “Seven Days to Goodbye,” shares the magic between Logan, a young boy with autism and Trina’s first trained service dog, Sydney. Guys play a major role in creating new types of relationships. There is humor, growing-up, and plenty of puppy love in both varieties. 

During teen years, emotional changes occur at different times. Meet Trina, a thirteen-year-old puppy raiser, who chose to train dogs and give them up to help others. She must decide after returning Sydney at the end of their week vacation if she wants to train a new puppy.

Her best friend since first grade, Sarah, lives down the street, plays soccer, and is interested in guys.

Trina and Sarah are at odds with each other while driving to Edisto. Trina talks about playing on the beach, swimming, and training Sydney. Sarah wants to cruise the beach for guys.

          During their first afternoon on the beach, Sydney meets Logan. Sydney responds to the boy’s flapping hands by standing in place as Logan pats his back. Trina speaks to Logan, but he makes no eye contact.

          Throughout the story, a magical connection happens with Logan and Sydney. Trina gets introduced to his older brothers, Peyton and Chase. Afraid she’ll lose her alone time with her Sarah, Trina doesn’t share that the boys want to meet them on the beach.

          Adult readers found themselves relating to the changing relationships from their own teen days. And young readers recognized the challenges Trina and Sarah face.

          One of my favorite parts in the story is about Loggerhead turtles. On Edisto Island, during the months of May through October, the rule is: No lights on porches. A turtle’s instinct is to lay its hundred eggs where it hatched. If the turtle sees any light, it will return to the ocean and loose its way to the beach. The Turtle Patrol polices the turtles’ nests every morning. If a new nest is found, they stake and rope off a square area around the nest, marking the date on one stake. As the sixtieth day approaches, the patrols inspect the nest for signs of a hatch. Sometimes they actually help unearth the babies before they suffocate. The word spreads around the island about the hatch, and residents stand guard as the baby turtles crawl to the ocean.

          From my readers, they shared their favorite parts: the girls meeting Peyton and Chase, beach walks with the dogs, the beautiful setting, the connection with Logan and Sydney, the Loggerhead turtles, and the fostering of relationships between old friends and new.


The series, Trina Ryan’s Dogs in Training, evolves and continues with the sequel, Starting Over, due July 18th. “Starting Over,” introduces a new character and horseback riding.

Please stay tuned for more information. www.sherislevy.com.

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AUTHOR BIO:


Sheri, originally from California, moved to South Carolina with her husband, two children and a Siamese cat. Soon they adopted their first rescue dog who influenced their need to continue living with dogs. Sheri taught a multi-handicapped Special Ed class, and then a GED-parenting class, which included home visits. Because of her love of reading, Sheri found unusual ways to encourage children to read. After her rescue of a difficult dog, Sheri enrolled in dog classes to change his behavior. Her dream of writing, Seven Days to Goodbye, came from the culmination of her beach experiences, her understanding of behaviors, and from research with PAALS, a service dog organization.

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CONNECT WITH SHERI:


Website:

Facebook:

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Goodreads Author Page:

Goodreads Book Page:

Amazon Author Page:

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle:

Amazon Paperback:

Barnes and Noble:

Amazon Kindle:

Google Play:

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Sheri will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.


**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase made I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.

67 comments:

  1. Sheri ~ It is great to have you here! Congrats on your new book and good luck on the book tour! Also, thanks for sharing your super cute furbabies with us! :)

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  2. Congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)

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  3. Good morning, Ally. This is a fabulous post. Thank you very much for having me on your blog and part of the tour. I am on Edisto for four more days and enjoying playing with my dogs and writing. Thank you for taking your time to help promote Seven Days to Goodbye and announcing, Starting Over.

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  4. Great post - I loved the pictures. Thanks for sharing :)

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  5. Thank you for responding, Victoria. It's nice to know you enjoyed the post. The red-merle is Sydney, and the two dogs with red balls are my current dogs. They are 8 1/2 and 9 years-old.

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    1. Thank you, Gwendolyn. I hope you get to read Seven Days to Goodbye before Starting Over is revealed.

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  7. Thanks so much for the excerpt and giveaway.

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  8. Good Morning! Have a great day and thanks again for the chance at winning.

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    1. Thanks for being in touch, James. Hope you are a winner!

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  9. Good morning, Nikolina. Thank you for reading and responding to the my blog post. Ally did a great job with this.

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  10. Good Morning! Stopping by again to thank you for the chance at winning.

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  11. She sure did!! Shared on G+ to help spread the word, have a great day! :)

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  12. Been busy and not making it here daily, not good! Thanks again for this chance at winning!

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  13. Hi, James. You must enjoy reading! I've been busy, too! Wishing you lots of luck in the drawing!

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  14. I am in Bluffton, SC and the wind is blowing hard. It is Spring!

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  15. Happy Friday!!!! Have a good one and thanks again for the opportunity to win.

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  16. Hi, James. Your family is adorable. If you win the $20.00 card, I hope you order a book for your girls. Perfect for the older ones!

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  17. Has been a beautiful day here in Michigan. Hope it was the same for you. Thanks for all the great giveaways you bring to us.

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  18. Good Evening! Hope you enjoy your Sunday and thanks so much for the chance at winning.

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  19. Good Monday Afternoon! Another weekend that went by too quickly. Have a good day and thanks for the opportunity to win.

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  20. Thank you for the chance at winning! Have a great day!

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  21. Good Morning! I appreciate the opportunity to win, thanks so much!

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  22. Good Friday Afternoon! Have a great day and thanks for all you do for us.

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  23. A bright and sunny good morning to you! Thanks for the giveaway and all you do.

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  24. Hello! Have a terrific day and thanks for the opportunity to win

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  25. Happy Hump Day! Thanks once again for the chance at winning!

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  26. Rainy day here in Michigan Hope your day is full of sunshine & fun. Thanks for the chance at winning!

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  27. TGIF!!!! The best day of the week for so many. Hope it's a good one for you and thanks for the chance at winning.

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  28. Hello!! Have a great Saturday and thank you once again for the giveaway and chance at winning.

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  29. Thanks again for the opportunity to win

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  30. Good Afternoon, Happy Friday! Thanks once again for the opportunity to win!

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  31. Good Morning! Wishing you a fun filled Saturday. Enjoy and thanks again for the giveaway

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  32. Good Monday Afternoon! Have a great week and thanks for all you do and bringing us this giveaway.

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  33. Thanks so much for bringing us this giveaway along with many more as well.

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  34. Enjoy your Friday and thanks again for the chance at winning!

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  35. Wow! If your name isn't drawn, I'll be shocked. Youhave been very persistent.

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  36. I appreciate the chance to win, thanks so much and have an enjoyable Saturday!

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  37. Sunday blessings to you and your family. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  38. Hope your Monday is terrific along with the rest of the week. Thanks for the chance at winning!

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  39. Happy Friday! Hope it's a fun one for you and thanks for the opportunity to win.

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  40. Good Morning! Back to thank you for the giveaway and chance to win. Sure appreciate it!

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  41. Happy Memorial Day and thanks to all our military men & women who have served our country. Always remember those who paid the Ultimate Sacrifice and God Bless their families. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

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  42. Hello! I am here once again to thank you for the chance at winning. I appreciate it!

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  43. Hope you're not tired of seeing me visit daily. I do appreciate you giving us the chance at winning. Thanks!

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  44. Good Afternoon! I appreciate the chance at winning, thank you!

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  45. I'm in helping my brother out while he is working and i know he wants to say thanks.

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  46. Hello! Warm day here in Michigan. Hope you have a great Sunday and thanks once again for the chance at winning.

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  47. Where did our weekend go? Well, Happy Monday and thanks again for the chance at winning!

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  48. It's great fun to be able to enter nice giveaways. Thanks again for the chance!

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  49. Happy Friday! Thanks once again for the chance to win and all you do.

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  50. Have a fun Saturday and thanks for the opportunity to win

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  51. To all the Dad's out there I wish them a Happy Father's Day and to you I thank you for the chance at winning. Have a great Sunday!

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  52. Good Morning! Been so busy moving I have been missing out on my entries. I do appreciate the opportunity you have given us to win.

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  53. First day of July already? Have a great weekend and thanks for the chance at winning.

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  54. Good Morning! Thanks so much for the chance at winning!

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  55. Happy Friday! Thanks for all you do and the great giveaway!

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  56. Wishing you a Saturday full of fun and thanking you for the chance at winning.

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  57. Sunday blessing to you and thanks for all you do bringing us these great giveaways.

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  58. Have a terrific Monday and thanks once again for the chance at winning.

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  59. Thank you once again for taking the time to bring us such great giveaways. I really appreciate it!

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  60. Have a Happy Wednesday and enjoy the summer. Thanks for the chance at winning!

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