Category Archives: Announcements

New publications and other milestones.

Three New Publications Hot off the Presses!

Get into a good book–new educational and fiction books just published.

Braelynn’s Birthright–Book 2: Fallen Angel

Join Braelynn and her friends as they face their greatest challenge yet!

Inheriting her grandmother’s ring and the family curse was just the beginning for Braelynn. A few years have passed since then. Braelynn and her friends have graduated high school and set up a supernatural detective agency of sorts, helping people cleanse their homes of malevolent spirits and paranormal creatures. When what should be a case of a simple haunting turns out to be a portend of dark things to come, Braelynn soon realizes that she’s up against a fallen angel with powers the likes of which she never imagined.

Braelynn realizes she’s been chosen to fight against this force of darkness. It is her calling to navigate the dangerous world of otherworldly attachments, shapeshifters, and the mysterious troika, who follows her every move. Along the way, she meets other hunters who become her allies and friends as they battle to save the world from the chaos and destruction of Armageddon and their souls from eternal damnation. With the fate of the world at stake, they set out to defeat the fallen angel in a dangerous quest that will push them to their limits and test their strength and courage.

Set in a contemporary world where magic and the paranormal are real, this thrilling tale of adventure, danger, and self-discovery will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With its thrilling blend of contemporary magical realism, paranormal and urban fantasy, the supernatural, and a touch of romance, this book is sure to leave readers eager for more.

Buy Braelynn’s Birthright–Book 2: Fallen Angel at Amazon.

Also available: Braelynn’s Birthright–Book 1: Wendigo at Amazon.


365-Day Writing Challenge: A Year of Writing Prompts

Looking for a way to keep your creativity flowing every day of the year?

TAKE THE 365-DAY WRITING CHALLENGE

With 365 writing prompts, one for each day of the year, you’ll never be short on inspiration. Use this book to jumpstart your writing routine, break through writer’s block, or simply explore new ideas, genres, settings, and characters. With a year’s worth of prompts at your fingertips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a more prolific and confident writer.

365 DAYS, 365 WRITING PROMPTS

 Are you ready to take the challenge?

Get ready to explore new ideas and develop your writing skills with this amazing resource.

Start your writing journey today and see where these prompts take you!

Buy 365-Day Writing Challenge: a Year of Writing Prompts at Amazon.

Also available: The Shape of Stories: A Comprehensive Guide for Fiction Writers at Amazon.


Using Film as Text in College-Level Courses

If a student has difficulty meeting some of the expectations for a course, it doesn’t mean they cannot meet any of the other expectations. In this case, as a teacher, your goal is to pivot to differentiate your instruction while figuring out how else you might get students to demonstrate achievement of as many of the remaining expectations as they can.

The goal of this book is to illustrate methods of differentiated instruction, demonstrating how teachers might pivot their practice and change their approaches to allow their students to shine.

Longtime teacher Elise Abram’s eureka moment happened while teaching grade 11 college-level students when she noticed that students had difficulty recalling and analyzing fiction when presented with the text but not after watching the film version of the text. Using the concept of differentiated instruction (changing the efforts of the teacher to accommodate the students in front of them), Abram switched out film versions of texts for the remainder of the semester and saw a marked improvement in student performance.

The purpose of this book is to share this unit with you should you ever find yourself in a similar situation. Inside, you will find:

  • Organizers you can photocopy and use in your practice.
  • How to use choice boards to differentiate your assignments.
  • Tips for creating groups, techniques, and student seating during collaborative activities
  • Suggestions for writing effective paragraphs and summaries.
  • How to get students to make meaningful text-to-world connections.
  • Ways for students to discuss theme in a text no matter the format.
  • Checklist rubrics and other ways to evaluate student work, be it diagnostic, formative, or summative

Whether you use this book as a unit plan or break it up into a series of individual lessons you can employ in your practice, this book is sure to give you a better understanding of how college-level students work and learn.

Buy Using Film as Text in College-Level Courses at Amazon.

Also available:

New Merchandise for the Sassy Writer or Editor

Brand new merchandise, suitable for writers, editors, or lovers of English grammar.

These t-shirts are Gilden unisex ultra cotton tees

  • 100% Cotton (fiber content may vary for different colors)
  • Medium fabric (6.0 oz/yd² (203 g/m²))
  • Classic fit
  • Tear-away label
  • Runs bigger than usual

Purchase a sassy saying t-shirt through my Shopify store at emsapublishing.myshopify.com

Come out to say hi

EMSA Publishing was at the Third Annual Jingle Bell Christmas Market this past Saturday. Thanks so much to Bare Canvas Management for the opportunity.

Cookies and Holly Jolly Christmas Market

The next show is on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at Monsignor Percy Johnson Catholic Secondary School, 2170 Kipling Avenue, Etobicoke, ON M9W 4K9 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. I will be bringing all of my books, Heddy, Harry, and Luna dolls, and a selection of handmade blankets, including two new crocheted designs.

Holiday Market

Hot on the tails of Cookies and Holly Jolly is the Holiday Market at Temple Sinai Synagogue, 210 Wilson Avenue, North York on Sunday, November 27, 2022 from 2 pm to 5 pm.

Come on out for a great assortment of holiday gifts (and in some cases, like my blankets, one-of-a-kind gifts!).

Join in the festivities!

EMSA Publishing is confirmed as a vendor at the Prosserman JCC’s Sweet Week Market. We will be selling a host of books for all ages, crocheted Harry, Heddy, and Luna dolls, and one-of-a-kind comfy cozy blankets to snuggle under while you read books or watch television.

Hope to see you there!

Children’s author donates to Watarrka Foundation

Congratulations to children’s author Jan Lillefjære on the publication of his latest book, Åse and the Honeybees. This marks the fifth children’s picture book Jan has published with EMSA Publishing. Other titles include Tales from Lofoten, The Curious Misadventures of Ase the Bear, Matylda Goes on a Walkabout, and Kakadu. Each of these books follows the adventures of adorable forest animals.

Recently, Jan Lillefjære was featured by the Watarrka Foundation, a non-profit whose goal is to “deliver programs that support a sustainable environment, education, healthy lifestyles and independent livelihoods for Aboriginal communities in the Watarrka region.” Jan has pledged to donate the proceeds from the sales of his books and related merchandise to the foundation, which is both generous and admirable.

To buy any of Jan’s books, please click on the book title in the above post.

Read “Children’s Book Author Generously Donates to the Foundation.

Visit the Watarrka Foundation‘s website to learn more about this excellent charity.

Discover more about author Jan Lillefjære on his website.