Mom's Choice Awards Founder's Blog

Interview with 2009 Honoree- Vanessa Van Petten

2009-06-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of interviewing a friend and colleague of mine, Vanessa Van Petten, about her Mom's Choice Founder's Award for her book- You're Grounded. I first learned about Vanessa through a social networking web site- SelfGrowth.com and immediately connected with her mission and ideals. Her book- You're Grounded, caught my eye, because as an intuitive mother of four children, this young woman was speaking my language and doesn't yet have kids of her own.

Vanessa lives in Los Angeles and has an incredible background working with tweens and teens from a very raw or what she likes to call a "radical" approach to what parenting looks like to many of these young people. I dug a little deeper to learn more about Vanessa's personal background and here's what she had to say!

Tara: Tell me about your family.

Vanessa: My parents are divorced. I was raised in one Jewish household as an only child and one Christian household as one of four with one step brother and two half sisters! Complicated, right?!

Tara: LOL. Vanessa you have such a great personality and are such a real person, I can only laugh when I go back and read some of our interview together..

So share with us what the real inspiration for your book was?

Vanessa: I was so tired of fighting with my parents and I knew other teens must be going through what I was going through. I wanted to let them know they were not alone and there were things they can do to shift the patterns with their parents. I also wanted to give parents some insight into the teen mind and why we do what we do so they don't feel so alone either.

Tara: Great insight from such a young person. Now there's a real story to how you came to write this book.

Can you share your story with our readers?

Vanessa: I was grounded and very, very angry at my parents. I could not talk on the phone, be on the internet, --nothing! Luckily I decided to put practical application to my anger and my lack of freedom.

Tara: What a great way to manage your anger and something I am sure you have shared with the many young people you mentor today.

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Vanessa: My aha moment was when I was in China, talking to Chinese teen rappers about why their rap music was so angry. I was writing my thesis on Underground Chinese Hip Hop and Urban Youth and expected them to say they were upset with the government and repression, instead they told me—“we are mad at our parents.” I thought that it was the universe’s way of telling me I was supposed to help teens everywhere.

Tara: What a great aha moment! Not only because you thought to ask the question, but you took the message and acknowledged it as a way you could serve young people through your own experiences.

Who would you say is your greatest source of support; why?

Vanessa: Scott Edwards is my boyfriend, my best friend, my internet guy, my reality check and my rock. I am so grateful to him for all of his help. He has been with me since I decided to publish my book!

Tara: Any other thoughts you would share with people reading your story?

Vanessa: Dream really big, work really hard and you will get there.

Tara: What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Vanessa: It is such an honor! I love moms and it is so nice to have mom’s love what I do. The Mom’s Choice Awards are such a great brand and stamp of approval, I am so grateful to them and to Tara Paterson, the real force behind the Awards!

Tara: You are the power behind your award. Your work speaks for itself and is the reason I recognized your book for such an award. I am so impressed by your tenacity and confidence in your mission. I know with people like you in the world, our children will have great role models and to me that means more than anything!

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as an author/ writer?

Vanessa: Professional blogger? I am working on lots of projects; as I say we have lots in the oven. I am working on several more webinars now so I can bring my "in person" work to people all over the world in easier formats.

Tara: Ah yes, check out Vaness and my webinar- Radical Parenting Using Intuition!!

Anything you would like to add?

Vanessa: I am so grateful to all of our readers and to the Mom’s Choice Awards, I am a true believer in heart resonance and think that the more people who are doing good things, the more joy there is.

Thank you Vanessa, I believe that too!!

Entro Magazine

2009-06-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Entro® (ahn΄ tro) means "introducing inspired works” and is derived from the Norwegian word TRO which means "to believe." The online magazine is produced annually and released in conjunction with the Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) and features stories that help families grow physically, emotionally and spiritually; are morally sound and promote good will; are inspirational and uplifting; and relate to the MCA award-winning products and services. As of 2009, this online media property feeds into Twitter, FaceBook and 150 parenting portals. Read the 2009 issue. Please help us spread the word about this FREE inspirational resource for families, librarians, media specialists and educators!

To read Entro, click here!

Founder's "Parenting Well Using Intuition" teleclass

2009-06-08T07:37:00.001-07:00

Tonight, my "Parenting Well Using Your Intuition" class begins.

LIVE TELE-CLASS BEGINS- TONIGHT
4 Two hour classes offered- 6/8, 6/15, 6/22 and 6/29
TIME: 7:00 – 9:00PM EST

What does it mean to parent using your intuition? What is intuition and how will you know when to use it? As parents, we are bombarded by too many resources outside of ourselves for guidance on how to parent. We look to the latest books, advice from experts, family, friends, church, community, web sites, media, etc. What about finding your own inner knowing about how to parent your child? It is my intention to empower you as a parent to trust your feelings and intuition when it comes to raising your child.

What if you could successfully:

· Trust your feelings about how to parent your child
· Feel emotional upset within yourself, acknowledge the emotion and shift the feeling before you interact with your child
· Encourage your child to make choices
· Honor your child’s feelings about a person or experience
· Enjoy each moment and allow the rest to come

In this interactive course, Certified Coach for Parents of Intuitives- Tara Paterson, will share the 10 Secrets that will have you interacting positively with your child while strengthening confidence in your ability to trust your own inner knowing about how to parent your child.

Register now for- Parenting Well Using Your Intuition

Also offering- Radical Parenting Using Intuition!

Check out this youTube video on what we are offering!

As a special added bonus for taking this teleclass, we are offering a $50 discount for the Radical Parenting Using Intuition webinar!

Register now for- Radical Parenting Webinar

Interview with 2009 Honoree Rosemary Serluca Foster

2009-06-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

I recently had the honor and privilege of not only interviewing Rosemary, but also had the pleasure of meeting her in NYC at Book Expo America. Rosemary is the author of Genevieve’s Gift: A Child’s Joyful Tale of Connecting with her Intuitive Heart.

This connection was special for me for two reasons. During my last pregnancy with my 4th child (2nd daughter) I considered naming her Genevieve. And the other special reason is that my work is intuitive parenting and working with intuitive children through heart centered connections. As you can tell, Rosemary's book is aligned directly with those principles.

Rosemary's company is Rosedove Productions, LLC located in Nyack, NY and she is married to her wonderful husband Doug Foster. She has four godchildren whom she adores: Lauren, Chelsea, Antonia and Ian and feels that all the children and adults she works with on a deep level become part of her extended family. I asked Rosemary some questions about her book and here's what she had to say.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your product?

Rosemary: I began to observe children around me who were losing their intuitive and creative spark as they got older through peer pressure and unconscious parenting, and felt moved to create something specifically for children that they could relate to; something to help them keep in touch with that deeply present, and intuitive part of themselves.

Tara: Rosemary, I couldn't agree with you more. My book Raising Intuitive Children is aligned specifically with the need to educate parents about what it means to raise intuitive children. What I have found through the feedback about the book, is that parents themselves are beginning to recover their own intuitive knowing and memories.

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Rosemary: Oh yes! I was on a meditation retreat, sitting next to an idyllic pond. I began journaling and wrote the sentence—“teach children about intuition.” It felt like someone had commanded me. So I followed the order, so to speak, and created my children’s workshop called Kids-R-Intuitive, which is comprised of exercises, visualizations, crafts and games to help children tap into their inner and creative voice, and then wrote the book, Genevieve’s Gift.

Tara: How wonderful. So many of us are being called to re-ignite this sense for our children.

When did you first come up with your idea?

Rosemary: After that meditation retreat, I felt something important was about to be born through me. Being that I am a writer, it felt natural to create a book. I constantly relied on my own intuition to bring this project to life. I was in fact, living the journey of connecting with and following that small still voice inside, just like the main character does. And it was through the same heart connection meditation that I teach children in my workshops, that I first got a glimpse of what Genevieve looked like, who is very similar to my sweet, intuitive goddaughter Antonia.

Tara: Who is your greatest source of support; why?

Rosemary: Without a doubt my husband Doug. He is, and has always been very supportive of my creativity and writing, not to mention he is a very kind and steady, and reminds me to take a step back and look at the big picture, especially when things “appear” not to be falling into place.

Tara: We have the "supportive husband" blessing in common. Someone told me it's the divine masculine we are beginning to see in men. Whatever it is, I am grateful to have one :o)

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Rosemary: Listen to your intuition every step of the way. I cannot stress enough how important this is. The journey of how this book came to be is a story in and of itself, and the common thread throughout that journey is the synchronistic events that kept me moving forward. That’s not to say it wasn’t challenging, for it definitely was at times. But that’s part of the growth experience that none of us can, or should avoid. My job was to listen and follow. You’ll feel so much better after you've tried something you're dreaming about doing.

Tara: Absolutely so true! If you don't listen to that inner voice, you miss the blessings that are waiting for all of us on this journey we call life.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Rosemary: It is a great honor and validation of my work. I am so grateful to have been awarded by an organization that celebrates the same values that I hold dear in my own work, integrity, consciousness and compassion.

Tara: What are your future plans; what’s next for you as a writer?

Rosemary: I am continually writing and working on other projects that include: content for websites, magazine articles, ghostwriting and editing books, and TV scripts. I would love to have a publisher acquire Genevieve’s Gift (any ideas or introductions are so very welcome!) and also create a whole series of Genevieve's Gift books, (I have many adventures in mind for our heroine.)

Tara: Anything you would like to add?

Rosemary: Just that it has been an absolute pleasure working with the Mom’s Choice Awards organization. The entire staff is so gracious, helpful and warm. I feel very blessed to have been in connection with all of you. Thanks and many blessings!

Thank you Rosemary. We are so pleased to have the caliber of books, a book like yours brings to the world. Many blessings to you as well!

Book Expo America was a Success!

2009-06-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

Book Expo America was an amazing success this year! Thursday night we held an event at the 92nd St Y for Greg Mortenson and Pennies for Peace. Executive Director- Christiane Leitinger and 12 year old Sequoia from Reston, VA were present to accept the Mom's Choice Award for Charitable Organization of the Year. I presented Pennies with a coffee can full of pennies my younger son- Caden, collected for the organization.

Greg presented his mission to promote peace through education with an audience of about 450. The event was a huge success and proceeded well into the night with Greg signing autographs and interacting with all of his guests.

Friday morning, I had the honor and privilege of interviewing both Alisyn Camerota our 2009 Celebrity Mom of the Year and Greg Mortenson our 2009 Author of the Year. We were filmed live on camera at the Mom's Choice booth.

Later that morning, we moved to the main hall of the Javits Center to present both Honorees with their 2009 Mom's Choice Awards. The award presentation was featured on Fox & Friends Saturday morning during the 7am hour.

I also had the privilege of interviewing several of our 2009 Honorees. It was a wonderful experience and I would like to personally thank all of the people who made this event possible.

Stay tuned for live footage of the interviews and the event in the coming weeks!

Presentation with Greg Mortenson Tonight!!

2009-05-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

Join us tonight at the 92nd St Y in NYC for a presentation with Greg Mortenson and his organization- Pennies for Peace. We are honored to be a part of recognizing Greg and all of his amazing accomplishments to initiate peace through education around the globe!

Greg is also being considered for the Nobel Peace prize. For more information about this event, visit- www.MomsChoiceAwards.com.

It's not too late to attend this exciting event!

Special Event with Greg Mortenson

2009-05-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

Peace Through Education
A special event featuring Greg Mortenson
Nobel Prize candidate and
#1 New York Times bestselling author of
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time
Thursday, May 28th @ 7PM
New York City

Across America, people are lining up to hear Greg Mortenson recount the journey that led him from a failed 1993 attempt to climb Pakistan's K2, the world's second highest mountain, to successfully establish schools in some of the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mortenson combines his unique background with his intimate knowledge of the third-world to promote peace
with books and successfully bring education and hope to remote communities in central Asia.

Mr. Mortenson's book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time, has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for more than 120 weeks and is currently #1. It is at once an unforgettable adventure and the inspiring true story of how one man really is changing the world one school at a time.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet one of the greatest humanitarians
of our time!

Learn more about the event and get tickets >>>
http://www.momschoiceawards.com/EventGuide.php

Read more about Mr. Mortenson's work in Entro, The Mom's Choice Awards Magazine >>>
http://www.momschoiceawards.com/documents/Entro%202009%20Greg%20Mortenson.pdf

Attending BookExpo America?
Greg Mortenson will make a special appearance in the Mom's Choice Awards booth (#345) on Friday, May 29th from 10AM until Noon. Fox News will be on
hand to cover the presentation of the Mom's Choice Award.
Please plan to stop by!

Watch Fox & Friends
Set your DVR's! You won't want to miss Alisyn Camerota's special segment on
Greg Mortenson scheduled to air on Fox & Friends, Saturday, May 30th.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Jeanette Ramnarine

2009-05-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of interviewing author Jeanette Ramnarine who has a fabulous children's picture book called “The 4 Little Pigs,” a financial values book for children (where was this when I was younger :o)

Jeanette and her husband own the company Four Piggies Publishing and they reside in Belleville, Ontario which is a city located halfway between Toronto and Ottawa (love both cities!) Jeanette and her husband have been married for 10 years and they have a 6 year old son named Caleb and a 5 year old daughter named Maya. Here are some of the questions I asked Jeanette about her book.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your product?

Jeanette: My book was inspired by my children Caleb and Maya. Teaching them financial responsibility from a young age was something that my husband and I had always planned to do. When we started giving my son an allowance we divided it between four piggy banks named Spending (pocket money), Saving (for a bigger purchase), Sharing (to be used to help society) and Schooling (savings for post-secondary education) we thought the information could be useful to other families and the result is “The 4 Little Pigs” (a financial values book for children).

Tara: Jeanette, what an incredible concept! I have one child who loves to save his money, but another one who spends it faster than he can hold onto it. What a great way to teach children financial discipline (especially with the way things are today!)

When did you first come up with your idea?

Jeanette: I came up with the idea of giving my children an allowance divided between four piggy banks before they were even born. I remember seeing an Oprah show talking about the Save, Spend, Share concept and being a teacher and knowing the high cost of post-secondary education added Schooling as a way to have children start saving and thinking about what they want to be when they grow up.

Tara: Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Jeanette: The idea to write the story as a children’s book came from a conversation with our financial planner. I told her that we had started giving Caleb an allowance and how we were dividing it between four piggy banks. I wanted to share the idea with other parents and was looking into having the four piggy banks created. Our financial planner suggested that I write the story as a children’s book and later add the four piggy banks for sale along with the book which is the path we decided to take.

Tara: What a great idea and unique in an impactful way.

Who would you say has been your greatest source of support; why?

Jeanette: My greatest source of support is my husband Richards. He has always given me the freedom to explore new ideas and encouraged my creativity even if he doesn’t always fully understand the “big picture” that I see. He has always believed in me and allowed me the opportunity to explore my dreams.

Tara: I have said this before, but I will say it again. How wonderful it is to have the support of our husbands.. it is truly a great time we are living in!

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Jeanette: My one piece of advice would be to follow the dreams of your childhood and go after what you believe in. That’s where you truly find success.

Tara: You bet!

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Jeanette: We were ecstatic when we found out that we won a Mom’s Choice Award. To be recognized as one of the best in family friendly products has opened doors to allow us to explore opportunities in expanding our company Four Piggies Publishing and the financial education of children through “the 4 piggies concept”.

Tara: Jeanette, this is wonderful. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your concept and the inspiration you offer to parents and their children. Such a neat idea!

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as an author?

Jeanette: I am currently working on the next book in “the four piggies” series which is due out in Spring 2010. The book will be geared towards children ages 6 – 10 and is a chapter book. I have been in contact with some philanthropic organizations in terms of the “sharing” piggy bank and looking at ideas where children can help in making the world a better place. I also would like to get more involved in talking about “the 4 piggies concept” with the media so that we can reach a wider audience across North America. I plan on giving more presentations of “The 4 Little Pigs” in its digital format on the big screen to children within the school system. I have been exploring the idea of having “The 4 Little Pigs” created into a children’s cartoon series to give children the opportunity to think about how they would use money to Spend, Save, Share, and put some away for School so they could follow their dreams when they get older. Now that we sell the four piggy banks named Spending, Saving, Sharing and Schooling on our website along with the book we would also like to look into marketing them as a package in retail stores.

Tara: Great ideas.. keep them coming. I have no doubt this will be a huge success. Your passion is undeniable!

Will you be attending Book Expo in NYC this year?

Jeanette: Yes, I am very excited about attending Book Expo in NYC this year. I am scheduled for an author signing and looking forward to my interview with MCA founder Tara Paterson. My husband and I will be volunteering some time to help out at the Mom’s Choice Awards booth and will be looking for opportunities to expand Four Piggies Publishing further into the North American market.

Oh hey, that's me! Yes I look forward to my interview with you as well. Great job and can't wait to see you later this week.

Stay tuned for our next interview with author Rosemary Serluca.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Bonnie Wayne

2009-05-19T12:06:00.001-07:00

This week I interviewed author Bonnie A. Wayne. Bonnie writes concept books for children which include- Counting with Bella and Finny, Shapes with Bella and Finny, Colors with Bella and Finny and Opposites with Bella and Finny. Her Adventures of Bella and Finny Series won a 2009 Mom's Choice Award.

Bonnie resides in Clifton Park, NY and has been married to her wonderful husband, Tom for 30 years. They have 2 beautiful daughters Tiffany Wayne, Taryn Wayne Shelton and a son-in-law, Scott Shelton. The stars of her books are Bella and Finny, her 2 standard poodles. I asked Bonnie some questions about her series of books and the inspiration behind them. Here's what she said.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your books?

Bonnie: My love for children and to make learning fun through humorous photographs of Bella and Finny.

Tara: One thing I know about children, they love animals!

When did you first come up with your idea?

Bonnie: The very first time I thought about it was in 2004. The first book was on sale January 2006.

Tara: It's amazing how quickly ideas can manifest into reality. How fantastic!

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Bonnie: My aha came while I was laying in bed one morning. I was thinking.... what can I do with these funny pictures of my dogs? Why not turn them into a learning tool for children! Take a new approach to teaching basic concepts!

Tara: Who is your greatest source of support; why?

Bonnie: My Faith, "Everything is possible for him who believes." My Family, their belief in me and their constant love and encouragement.

Tara: If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Bonnie: You must be passionately in love with what you do and the rest will follow.

Tara: I couldn't agree more. Passion definitely brings out the most creative inspiration and gives it the energy to continue even after you've moved onto something else.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Bonnie: It has been a validation of all my work. I am so honored and humbled. I look forward to all the possibilities that this award will bring.

Tara: We are honored you feel this validates your work. You are the real validation of your work through your efforts and faith. We just acknowledge your accomplishment :o)

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as an author/ teacher?

Bonnie: I want to bring The Adventures of Bella and Finny Series to mainstream publishing along with all the marketing possibilities.

Bonnie, I wish you continued success with your book series' and look forward to our interview at Book Expo. For more information about Bonnie's books visit- www.BellaandFinny.com

Our next interview will be with Honoree Jeanette Ramnarine author and creator of the Four Pigs.

2009 Honoree Interview with Joanne King

2009-05-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

I had another special opportunity to interview Joanne King, creator of the Answers CD ROM, a guided journal from parents to their children. Joanne's company is Besoga Dreams, LLC located in Lutz, Florida (a lot of floridians in these interviews...LOL).

Joanne has three beautiful, bright girls; Isabella 7, Sophia 4, Gabriella 4 and a wonderful, caring husband Michael. Her husband Michael, is an accomplished artist who creates home décor artwork, which is transformed into print form and is sold in fine home stores both nationally and internationally. I love when I have the opportunity to connect with bonded families such as these and here is where our conversation took us.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your CD- Answers?

Joanne: Once I had children, my entire life changed. I realized the tremendous responsibility being a parent brings into our life. Nothing could have prepared me for the depth of unconditional love that would fill my heart. I became so aware of how important my role was going to be in shaping these amazing girls, into the women they would one day become. I knew it wouldn’t be enough to just hope I would always be there throughout their lives. I had to be sure I would. That’s when I took writing personal journals to the next level, by creating Answers.

Tara: Your words touch my heart. I could not be more aligned with your parenting method... thank you for your intuitive awareness.

When did you first come up with your idea?

Joanne: I came up with the idea soon after my first daughter Isabella was born. She is seven years old.

Tara: Wow, sounds very similar to my experience. I really began to reflect after the birth of my oldest son too.

So would you say you had an aha moment; something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Joanne: I absolutely had an “aha” moment. I had the idea for Answers for several years. I did a charity walk-on role for NBC’s SCRUBS. I spent the day with Angela Nissel, who is the head writer for the TV show. After I became comfortable with her, I told her my idea for Answers. She looked at me and said, “That’s a good one”. That was my first boost of confidence to believe in my idea.

I started writing an outline, but I was very busy being a new mom to our identical twins. Then the next “aha” moment made me stop and get busy. My husband had a high school friend, whose wife died suddenly. She had asked her older son to drive their car around and pick her up. The older son allowed the youngest son to drive the car. He ran over his mother and she died. After I heard that story, I cried for a long time. I didn’t know that woman, but I felt responsible for not making Answers available sooner. All I could think was how would that little boy ever know how much his mother loved him? If she could talk to him, she would probably want to fill his heart with all things I had planned to have in Answers. I knew I needed to be committed, so I could give other children the opportunity to never be left without their parent’s unconditional love and guidance.

Tara: Joanne, your story is so touching. I always marvel at how people come to their creative place. One of the main reasons for the Mom's Choice Awards' was to give stories like this their proper place among the other products out there. A place for heartfelt stories to be showcased. This is certainly one of the most amazing!

Who is your greatest source of support; why?

Joanne: My greatest source of support is God. He inspires me to write and to keep trying. God has helped me through the darkest moments of paralysis and brought me to incredibly lighter moments of love and family. Without a doubt, He has been there to hold me and inspire me to help others through Answers.

It is only fair to also mention my husband. Without his help, Answers would still be an idea in my mind. He has been there every step of the way, by helping with our children, our home and boosting my confidence. I am extremely blessed to have such a caring man by my side.

Tara: Amen sister! In my book, my dedication is to my husband for standing by me; to be strong and yet sensitive enough to allow my light to shine. It's so nice to see more men becoming comfortable in their sensitive role... attractive too :o)

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Joanne: It takes commitment. Not just a commitment to the idea, but a commitment to your belief, your idea’s success. The road to public awareness is like planting a tree. As it grows, you travel down new creative branches of inspiration. There are so many different avenues to explore. You grow and learn, just as the tree grows. Through each venture you learn more about yourself and this industry. A tree doesn’t grow overnight. It takes a while. It needs care, but it can weather a storm and the winter, until it reaches the spring! The same is true with writing, believe, learn and be patient.

Tara: Excellent advice and a great metaphor.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Joanne: A Mom’s Choice Award is a tremendous honor. There are a lot of closed doors in this industry. It is wonderful to have a product you believe in, but it’s not enough. The Mom’s Choice Awards gave me inspiration. They gave me opportunity to join the IBPA, to receive a Dove Foundation’s seal of approval and tons of marketing opportunities. They offered a belief in what I had created. Those are priceless gifts to an author.

Tara: Stories like these are the one's that should be recognized. Let's face it, there is a lot of garbage out there that receives tons of exposure because someone has money to buy it. I believe the future of all business will be based on the heart that drives it, not money. (my soap box anyway :o)

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as an author/ creator?

Joanne: We are still knocking on doors and trying to make Answers a household name. As soon as people hear about Answers, they love the idea. There are many parents out there that need Answers, not only for their children’s future, but as a comfort though illness. Our goal is to continue to try to make people aware of that Answers is available and to give parents the opportunity to always be by their child’s side.

Tara: Anything you would like to add?

Joanne: I would love to add that EVERYONE at the Mom’s Choice Awards have been wonderful! They are always bright, energetic and eager to help in any way they can. It is greatly appreciated and noticed!
Thank you so much for this award and your ongoing effort to help your recipients shine!

Thank you Joanne! Visit Joanne's web site- http://www.joannecking.com for more information about her Answers CD ROM.

Join us next time for an interview with author Bonnie Wayne.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Susan Heim

2009-05-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

I recently interviewed 2009 Mom's Choice honoree Susan Heim, author of Boosting Your Baby’s Brain Power. Susan is an author and editor and resides in Florida with her husband Mike and four sons (whew..I have four, but I always said if I had more than my two oldest boys I would have had to reconsider...LOL).

Her oldest son is a college student with a high school student following closely behind, but imagine this- twin kindergartners!! Wow Susan, how do you do it? I had an opportunity to ask Susan some questions, and here is what she had to say.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your book?

Susan: Like most “mom authors,” I’d have to say that my children were the inspiration for this book and all the parenting books I write. To watch their intelligence and talents develop and blossom is utterly fascinating. And I love to share these wonders with other parents.

Tara: Susan, I can totally relate. My parenting book is based on my journey with my children too. It is SO fascinating to take the knowledge they teach us and turn it into guidance for others.

When would you say you first came up with your idea?

Susan: In 2007, Holly Engel-Smothers – an educator, mother of twins and contributor to some of my books – contacted me with an idea about doing a book about baby brain development for parents. She had noticed in the course of her research that most books of this kind were for educators and medical professionals, so we teamed up to write a book for parents.

Tara: Something else we share in common. It's wonderful when you can relate so closely with another person that the knowledge you share becomes twice as impactful.

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Susan: When Holly and I started taking a closer look at intelligence in children, we were astounded at the complexity of a baby’s brain. We just knew that most people didn’t know, for example, that all the neurons in a baby’s brain would stretch for 62,000 miles if placed end-to-end. Or that parents can play an important role in helping those neurons to connect for optimum brain function. We became inspired to get that crucial information out to parents.

Tara: Ah, ho. What an amazing discovery for you to share with other parents. When I took my infant daughter for a well check up, I asked our doctor when he started babies on food. Our doctor is a holistic practitioner and shared that the way he was going to have us introduce foods to her would be different than most. We are not going to use cereals and will begin by introducing the bitter vegtables. The reason for this is the imprint it will have on her brain. When parents start with sweeter fruits and vegtables it sends messages to the brain that can later translate to impulses for sugar...

Who is your greatest source of support; why?

Susan: My faith is my greatest source of support and strength. The more I turn my worries and fears over to God, the more open doors I find.

Tara: Wonderful how when we get out of the way, things become more clear and effortless.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Susan: Be persistent. If you want to be a writer, you’ll face a lot of rejection. Develop a tough skin and keep going. The first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was rejected by more than 40 publishers, and it’s now a worldwide sensation because the authors believed in their product and didn’t give up.

Tara: I believe when you work from your heart, it will happen regardless of what the outside world says.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Susan: Mom’s Choice Awards are the best-known and most reputable awards in the parenting field. I proudly display these awards on my books. It gives them distinction as high-quality and valuable resources for parents.

Tara: Love to hear that :o)

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as an author?

Susan: As an author, I will continue to write more books! In early 2009, my book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More, was published. This fall, Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family and Moms of Multiples’ Devotions to Go will be coming out. I’m very excited about these new projects!

Tara: Congratulations, we will definitely have to keep an eye out for your upcoming Chicken Soup books.

Anything you would like to add?

Susan: Please visit my blog, Susan Heim on Parenting, at http://susanheim.blogspot.com, where I share parenting advice, product reviews and giveaways!

Thanks Susan and good luck with all of your future endeavors!

Stay tuned as we talk next time with author Joanne King.

Mom's Choice Awards Presents Greg Mortenson

2009-05-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

General Details:
Thursday, May 28th @ 7PM
Kaufman Concert Hall
(92nd Street YMCA)
Lexington Avenue & 92nd Street
New York City

Program Overview
A 90 minute multimedia presentation given by
Mr. Mortenson followed by Q&A and a booksigning.

A Special Gift
All attendees will receive a copy of Mr. Mortenson's book, Three Cups of Tea. Attendees may select from the original adult version or the recently released young reader's version.

Read about Greg's work in Entro Magazine.

Everywhere Greg Mortenson goes, people line up to hear his simple message about how to change the world. Standing-room-only crowds have become a trend for Greg Mortenson since the publication of Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time.

Don’t miss his engaging multimedia presentation featuring:

Education as a key to promoting peace, empowering women, supporting economic growth and fighting terrorism.

How the government, the military and the school system can secure a better future for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

What we can learn: Cross-cultural lessons from rural Pakistan and Afghanistan

Ticket Information
Three types of tickets are available: General Admission, VIP Admission and Student Admission.

For more information about tickets and details, visit http://www.momschoiceawards.com/EventGuide.php

**Photo courtesy of Harvard University

Interview with 2009 Honoree Chariss Walker

2009-05-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

This past week I had the privilege of interviewing Chariss Walker, author of the book- Make a Joyful Noise: Searching for a Spiritual Path in a Material World.

Chariss' business is Chariss Walker Ministries, LLC, an outreach program for spiritual growth located in Navarre, FL. Chariss is a single grandmother and cares for her nine year old granddaughter, Vivien, who has lived with her for the past 4 years. I asked Chariss to share a little about what inspired her to write her book and here's what she had to say.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your book?

Chariss: I wanted to connect the dots between the idea of “being more spiritual than religious” and show that we are all saying the same thing; that it's the terminology that is different.

Tara: When did you first come up with your idea?

Chariss: It is something I have been working toward for the last six years, but it sprang forth as a new and living presence in my life demanding to be born about two years ago.

Tara: I love how we contemplate ideas and then suddenly realize it's time to do something with the creativity.

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Chariss: Yes, I was watching an Oprah show. She was presenting some of the speakers from The Secret. I felt that it needed explanation – that the world needed to understand it is not really a secret. It has been with us since the beginning of time and is in the bible if we only know where to look.

Tara: Probably something we could spend hours talking about, but given our limited time, who would you say has been your greatest source of support; why?

Chariss: Vivien, my granddaughter, because each day I get to witness the love of God in her. She is such an inspiration to have overcome so much and be such a lovely, little person. It lets me know there is hope for everyone.

Tara: Kids truly are the light of the planet and are here to teach us so much.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Chariss: Love yourself, love your message and then write about it.

Tara: Absolutely, or whichever creative form feels right to your individual spirit.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Chariss: As a self-assisted author, meaning that I am the writer but I hired publishers for my book, the Mom’s Choice Award lends certain credibility to my work. The world still believes that if you are not picked up by a major brick and mortar publisher that your book has no value. I had to believe in my message and gather up the nerve to go it alone. Having a gold seal on my book is totally awesome, believe me!

Tara: What are your future plans; what’s next for you as a writer?

Chariss: To write more books! Yes! I have two more in mind that go along with this particular book, Make a Joyful Noise, but I also have some ideas for ’tweens (ages 9 to 12) books and perhaps a novel or two. I hope to find an editor or publisher who will pick me up and realizes the value of my experience.

Tara: Anything you would like to add?

Chariss: Yes, I love my life. I love writing and being able to share my message with millions around the world. It is so important to share what we have learned; in the process of that perhaps we save someone else a few steps. In this electronic age, we are growing – expanding our minds and learning at an astonishing rate, we are learning from the past and from others experiences. It is truly a blessing to be part of that.

I couldn't have said it any better myself. As an author myself, I understand the privilege of sharing your work with people all over the globe and technology sure does help out a lot! Good luck to your Chariss and perhaps we will see you at BEA!

Stay tuned for my next interview with Susan Heim, author of Boosting Your Baby's Brain Power.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Shirley Cheng

2009-05-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

I recently conducted an interview with one of the most amazing women I have had the joy and privilege of meeting. Come to find out, Shirley Cheng is from the same part of the country I grew up in, Upstate, NY.

Shirley has been blessed with the gift of writing and as a blind author, her 4th book Waking Spirit: Prose & Poems the Spirit Sings has been selected to receive this year's Mom's Choice Award. Shirley's company- Dance with Your Heart! Publishing, has produced some amazing pieces and is currently working on publishing Shirley's 9th book. I asked Shirley to share some of her story and here's what we talked about:

Tara: What was the inspiration for your book?

Shirley: The inspiration for my book is life, as for all my other books and projects. Life is the most precious present God has given to each and every one of us. Through my writings, I urge people to recognize and realize the importance and blessing of life, of every minute, of every second, so they can love the lives they live and go for their own gold medals as I have gone for mine despite seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Tara: Life is definitely our greatest teacher and as I've been told more than once, it's not the challenges life hands us as much as how we overcome our many obstacles.

When did you first come up with your idea for Waking Spirit?

Shirley: In October 2006, I suddenly had an urge to write and publish Waking Spirit, which is my fourth book. At that time, I had several short writings I wanted to publish in a book, so I decided to put them in a volume called Waking Spirit, which had been a title I was aching to use for a future book. However, the book would be too short if only comprised of those writings, so I wrote many poems (most of which are haiku) all on the theme of loving life, spirituality, delightful animals and nature wonders.

Tara: Who has been your greatest source of support; why?

Shirley: My greatest source of support comes from two beings: my Heavenly Father, Jehovah God Almighty, and my beloved earthly mother Juliet Cheng. They are the very foundation and light of my life, the ultimate secret to my happiness, strength, and success. They energize me spiritually by providing me with unconditional love to propel me to the greatest heights.

Tara: I couldn't agree with you more. As a parent, one thing I recognize is the importance of a spiritual foundation for children so they are confident enough to navigate through life successfully. It may look different for each person, but it's an important part of a child's core values system.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Shirley: When your passion and urge to share with others a piece of your heart, to help them live a more fulfilling life, is unconquerably and undeniably strong then follow your heart's desires to make that positive difference in someone's life through your writings. No one and nothing can hinder you from going for your dreams if you do not let them--only you have the power to stop yourself.

Tara: Absolutely; or whichever form of creativity is your heart's desire.

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom's Choice Award?

Shirley: When people appreciate the fruits of my love, it adds even more bliss to my career. So when I am honored with the Mom's Choice Award for something I love to do, well, it's just like a cherry on top of an ice-cream sundae! Receiving the award for Waking Spirit validates the value of my book and affirms my beliefs and hope in it.

Tara: Well it means a lot for us to have the opportunity to honor inspirational works that will grace the world and impact people's hearts.

What are your future plans; what's next for you as an author?

Shirley: I plan on releasing my ninth book, which is an inspirational book on Christianity that is based on love: love for God, love for fellow creations, and love for life. Afterward, I think I will take a break from writing my own books; I instead will focus on contributing to other people's books (I've contributed to sixteen books thus far), and do more writing for the Internet.

Tara: You are one busy lady and have earned a well deserved break! Keep us posted as you release your next book. We will also see Shirley this month at Book Expo America in NYC so if you see her wheeling around the building or passing by, stop and say hi!

Anything you would like to add?

Shirley: Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. I let the ropes of hope in Jehovah God haul me high!

Tara: Amen! For more inspiration, please visit http://www.shirleycheng.com where you can contact Shirley for speaking engagements (she's also a motivational speaker), interviews, book signings, and any inspirational events.

Our next interview will be with 2009 Honoree Chariss Walker, author of Make A Joyful Noise.

Interview with Book Author- Donna Seim of WHERE IS SIMON, SANDY?

2009-05-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

I recently conducted an interview with 2009 Mom's Choice Award's honoree Donna Marie Seim. Donna's book, WHERE IS SIMON, SANDY? received a gold award in the children's book category- Peoples, Places and Cultures.

Donna began her business career with the Dragon’s Nest Toy Store, a specialty toy store in Newburyport MA where she resides today, with her husband 27 years ago. The store is now owned and operated by her daughter Kristin, and when Donna is not traveling to promote her book, she works at the store with her daughter. I asked Donna a few questions about her book and here is what she had to say.

Tara:What was the inspiration for your writing?

Donna: I came from a large Irish American family and had the fun of growing up with lots of cousins, loving parents and grandparents, whose doors and arms were always open to us kids. Our holidays and Sunday’s were filled with our families getting together; people were always around and so were their stories!

My daughter Kristin pushed me to write down some of my stories. My first book was dedicated to my Kristin and it was at this point that I decided to take up writing as my second career.

Tara: When did you first come up with the idea for your book?

Donna: My husband and I took a trip to visit two of the undeveloped islands in the Turks and Caicos Islands. During the trip we were told many stories, one of which was the story of a little donkey that wouldn’t quit. This is the true tale of a donkey that continued to walk his route delivering water to every gate in town, even when his master was no longer able. I was so touched by the faithful little donkey that I decided to mold it into a children’s story, happy ending and all!

Tara: What a great source of inspiration for a children's book!

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Donna: To answer honestly, I must admit I have experienced many aha moments; I think my life has been a series of them! But the most poignant of these was the very first time I read, “Where is Simon, Sandy?” to primary school children in the Turks and Caicos. The intensity of their faces as the story opens and their smiles and applause at the end, were the most rewarding gifts I could ever receive. I knew this was what I wanted to do forever.

Tara: Children have such a way of bringing out the purest of joy from our hearts, don't they?

Who would you say has been your greatest source of support; why?

Donna: I have a tremendously supportive team to work with, but the greatest of these is my husband, Martin. Without his encouragement and true delight in my stories I don’t think I could have accomplished half as much as I have. He has been my greatest source of moral support and a willing travel companion to the islands and places of research. He is also a superb photographer, a kind adviser, a consoler, a listener, a cheer leader, a savior of unfortunate events, and my dedicated copy editor!

Tara: Donna, you are blessed to have such an amazing husband who has supported you through the many ups and downs that can come up when you're following your passion.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Donna: My one piece of advice would be- Be true to yourself and write about what you know and love.

Tara: Well put. If that isn't sage advice, I don't know what is!

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Donna: When I learned WHERE IS SIMON, SANDY? had been awarded The Mom’s Choice Award, Gold, for the category of Peoples, Places and Cultures, I felt a great surge of pride in my work. It meant a tremendous amount to have my work validated by the Mom’s Choice stamp of approval, for excellence in children’s media. The Turks and Caicos National Museum as well as our publisher here in the states, Publishing Works, have taken great pride in the award, sending out press releases and publicizing the fact we have won this grand award.

Tara: Donna, I am honored you feel so strongly about our award. It was the reason I began this program- to bring works to the forefront which may otherwise not be recognized. I love to hear these stories!!

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as a writer?

Donna: I plan to continue promoting, WHERE IS SIMON, SANDY? which will raise money for the children’s programme of the Turks and Caicos National Museum. I have many planned events coming up this spring and summer for, WHERE IS SIMON, SANDY? as well.

I have just finished my second novel for children ages 8-12 entitled, CHARLEY, and will be busy marketing it to publishing houses. I guess writing for children is my future plan!

Tara: Anything you would like to add?

Donna: I would like to thank David Bowen, Director of Culture of the Turks and Caicos Islands, for all of his incredible help and support. He is now writing a musical play based on the story, for the children of the primary schools to perform. I would also like to thank Susan Spellman, our illustrator extraordinaire, who captured the people, the vibrant colors, and the essence of these beautiful islands.

It has been an enormous honor to win a Mom’s Choice Awards', Gold! Thank you!

It's our honor and privilege Donna! We appreciate your work and look forward to what you have coming out next!

Watch for our next interview with 2009 Honoree- Shirley Cheng, author of Waking Spirit, Prose and Poems the Spirit Sings.

Interview with 2009 Honoree Dyan Eybergen

2009-05-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

I recently conducted an interview with 2009 Mom's Choice Award's honoree Dyan Eybergen. Dyan resides in Alberta, Canada and is the mother of three boys(God Bless you for that... I have two boys which is plenty :o) - Kohan who is almost 13, Nolan 10 and Talen 6; and she has been married to her husband Rob for 15 years.

Dyan's book, Out of the Mouths of Babes: Parenting from a Child’s Perspective received a silver award in the parenting category. I asked Dyan a few questions about her book and here is what she had to say.

Tara: What was the inspiration for your product?

Dyan: I worked as a child and adolescent psychiatric nurse for more than 8 years – there wasn’t a behavioural situation that I wasn’t trained to handle. When I began having my own children I thought I was more than adequately prepared for motherhood. I learned very quickly that all my education and clinical experience taught me nothing about being a mother. Children are unique and cannot be parented from a text book.

Tara: Amen Dyan. I am the mother of four children and couldn't agree with you more.

When did you first come up with your idea?

Dyan: Shortly after I gave birth to my first son. I was overwhelmed by how much personality he expressed as an infant and how much I needed to rely on and trust my instincts to care for him.

Tara: Dyan, in my book Raising Intuitive Children I tell parents to trust their intuition. We could have been cut from the same cloth!

Did you have an aha moment; was it inspired by something you were doing or someplace you were visiting; a person in your life?

Dyan: Through the parent education I was providing I was struck by how many parents I heard say “but I tried that [parent strategy] and it didn’t work for me”. I feel that we are a generation of parents’ whose intuition has been undermined by contemporary approaches to raising children. I want parents to embrace and trust their instinctive responses to their children’s needs.

Tara: Who is your greatest source of support; why?

Dyan: My mother: She continues to champion my dreams and nurture my individuality but at the same time helps me to stay grounded. But it is my husband who holds me when I am frightened and listens to me when I temporarily lose my mind. Both of them support me in uniquely different ways.

Tara: Love the men in our lives! My husband is my greatest source of support as well.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone who is thinking of venturing into this line of work, what would it be?

Dyan: Brace yourself for ridicule and criticism. When you put yourself in a position of offering an opinion or advice you can expect to be chastised by those who disagree with your philosophy. Having said that though, there are very few experiences more gratifying than publishing a book.

Tara: Dyan, you couldn't give better advice than that!

What has it meant to you personally or to the success of your product to have been honored with a Mom’s Choice Award?

Dyan: I chose to publish independently which for the most part still carries a stigma in the world of mainstream publishing. After receiving a Mom’s Choice Award I found I was taken more seriously in the writing and book community. My credibility as an author has increased.

Tara: Precisely the reason I created this Awards' program. I love to hear feedback from our recipients about how this has had a positive impact for their business/ product. I am so happy to hear it's helped you as well!

What are your future plans; what’s next for you as a writer?

Dyan: I have five other book titles in my head. I’ve been busy with the marketing and promotion for Out of the Mouths. Eventually I have to get back to writing!

Tara: You go girl!

Will you be attending Book Expo in NYC this year?

Dyan: Yes I will. I have never attended Book Expo or been to New York before. I am very excited. I will be working in the Mom’s Choice Awards' booth on Friday morning and I will be autographing Out of the Mouths of Babes on Saturday between 11-12pm at table 19.

Tara: Well I look forward to meeting you in a few weeks!

Anything you would like to add?

Dyan: Having received a Mom’s Choice Award for Out of the Mouths of Babes has been such a fulfilling experience. It has opened the doors to so many other opportunities: interviews, book expo, book sales. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of being a part of this distinguished award.

Thank you Dyan! We couldn't be happier for you and wish you the best of luck on this amazing journey.

Watch for our next interview with 2009 Honoree- Donna Seim, author of WHERE IS SIMON, SANDY?

Important Dates and Announcements

2009-04-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

EXCITING NEWS!
Fox News to cover MCA LIVE from BookExpo America. More details to follow.

Important Deadlines:

ASAP Schedule your filmed interview timeslot and your volunteer shifts

5/5 Last day to reserve your hotel accommodations from the BEA Travel Center

5/9 MCA Showcase display products due

Learn more about these offers! Visit the MCA Alumni Webstore: http://momschoiceaw920.corecommerce.com/BookExpo-America-c26/

Volunteer
Find out how you can volunteer and save BIG! http://www.momschoiceawards.com/alumni_faq.php Hurry! Only a few slots remain!

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Midwest Book Review Call For MCA Award-Winning Children’s Illustrated Works

The Midwest Book Review (MBR) was founded in 1976 by highly respected James A. Cox, Editor-In-Chief. MBR is an online monthly publication aimed at librarians, booksellers, as well as the general reading public. Its mission is to promote literacy, library usage, and independent publishing. You can learn more about the organization here: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/

MBR produces an average of 600 professional reviews per month. The average queue time is 14 to 16 weeks, BUT! MBR will give special consideration to children’s illustrated titles that have earned honors from the Mom’s Choice Awards®.

If you’re interested in having your children’s illustrated book reviewed by the Midwest Book Review, send a review copy to:

Sara Hassler
1601 West Main Street
Suite 90 #403
Willimantic, CT 06226

mbr@momschoiceawards.com
Sorry, galleys are not accepted at this time. This is a complimentary service.

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Early Bird Deadline Expires May 1st
Don’t forget, the early bird deadline for the next round of entries expires on May 1st.

Save $100 or enter two for the price of one.

Visit the website for complete details: http://www.momschoiceawards.com/enter.php

Call For Entries- Mom's Choice Awards

2009-04-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

About The Mom's Choice Awards®
The Mom's Choice Awards® is known for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. This annual awards program recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media products and services. Learn more.

A Mark Of Distinction
Parents, educators, librarians and retailers rely on our evaluations when selecting quality materials for children and families. The Mom’s Choice Awards seal helps families and educators navigate the vast array of products and services and make informed decisions. Learn more.

Our Esteemed Panel Of Judges
An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. Click here to see a sampling of our panel members.

ATTENTION Publicists & Marketing Pros
Are you making awards programs a part of your marketing/publicity strategy? You should! Notable awards program like the prestigious Mom's Choice Awards can help gain positive media attention for your book, product or service.

Why The Mom's Choice Awards?
There are several factors that set us apart from other programs, but the top two are:
1) Your book, product or service is judged by your target market (parents, educators, librarians, media specialists, retailers and others)--NOT by your industry peers.
2) We do an incredible job of marketing and promoting our Honorees. Check out these testimonials!

Learn why the Mom's Choice Awards is a GREAT value for your marketing/publicity investment!

More than 250 categories. Click here for a complete list!

Enter by May 1st and SAVE!
Use one of the following promotion codes.
EB-100 = $100 off the entry fee
EB-AD = Enter one item or category and get a second item or category for free
Sorry, these promotions cannot be combined or used with any other offer.

Please visit the website for complete details.

Distinguish yourself and your work and join this prestigious awards program!

Book Expo America 2009

2009-04-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

Mom's Choice Awards® Honorees and Alumni: Book Expo America is just around the corner! Don’t miss out on this dynamic event that generates positive exposure for your award-winning book/product.

Make arrangements now! Visit the Mom’s Choice Awards Alumni Webstore for special offers—many expire Friday, April 24th, so don’t delay!

Volunteer in the MCA booth and save!

Exhibit your award-winning book/product in the MCA Showcase.
*There is NO better exposure for your book/product!

Get 40% off your admissions badge when you order by April 24th.

Reserve your filmed interview timeslot with ME!
*These filmed interviews make a great commercial / trailer for your book/product.

Autographing sessions and product demo opportunities are still available, but going fast!

Is this your first experience with Book Expo America? Click here to learn everything you need to know.

We hope you’ll plan to visit the MCA Booth #345 on Friday, May 29th from 10-Noon. Greg Mortenson, author of the sensational book Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time (115 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List and currently #1) will be making a special appearance and signing copies of Entro®--The Mom’s Choice Awards® Magazine.

We look forward to seeing you there!

~Tara Paterson

Mom's Choice Awards Updates

2009-04-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

The Mom's Choice Awards® is currently accepting submissions. Enter your product, book, or service and distinguish yourself from all of the others on the market. Entries will be accepted now through October 1st, 2009. Enter by May 1st, and save! Visit the website for details.

Join us in the MCA Booth #345 at Book Expo America May 29th-31st. Book Expo America (BEA) is the largest publishing event in the United States and hosts several industry leaders.

We will also have a special guest with us Friday May 29th from 10-noon, so don't miss your opportunity to be a part of the excitement!

There is still time to book your interview spot with me at BEA. All interviews will be taped and available for upload on the internet. Currently, we are filming on Friday May 29th and Saturday May 30th so reserve your spot now. Space is limited!

We would like to thank the sponsors who have graciously offered us their support.

Wells Fargo

JetBlue Airlines

Barnes & Noble

And a special thanks to our partner in advocating family-friendly entertainment, the Dove Foundation.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

~Tara Paterson

Founder Announces Release of Her First Book- Raising Intuitive Children

2009-04-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

"Raising Intuitive Children is a parent's guide to understanding the special gifts of these uniquely gifted children. The authors' use of real stories from their own lives lend heart and compassion to our evolving need as a society to connect with our children in a new, more loving way… I would recommend this book to anyone!" —Josie Bissett, Actress and Author of Tickle Monster

San Francisco, CA (April 21, 2009) –– In their ground-breaking new book, Raising Intuitive Children: Guide Your Children to Know and Trust Their Gifts, psychotherapist Caron B. Goode and parenting expert Tara Paterson help parents understand an intuitive child´s world, while teaching parents how to validate these intuitive abilities, and how to:

Know if a child is intuitively gifted

Shift parenting styles to meet a particular child´s style and strengths

Use breathing techniques to stay centered, calm, and optimistic

Create rituals so intuitive children feel secure and confident

Deal with the environmental and nutrition elements that affect intuitives

Explore strategies for bonding and communication at each stage of development, from toddler to teen

Raising Intuitive Children deals with a population of children that few parents understand. Intuitives have been called ugly ducklings, the sensitive ones, or the creative dreamers(think of the young boy in the movie Sixth Sense). With real-life stories and examples, the authors demonstrate how intuitive kids engage their world. They debut in the book an educational model to enable parents and teachers to approach the education and parenting of intuitive kids, walking them step-by-step through the model.

Now, parents who believe their child may be intuitive are given the tools to make positive changes, help the children manage their unique energy, and nurture their gift.

Click here to view the authors' online press kit.

Media Contact: Simon Warwick-Smith
warwick@vom.com
(707) 939-9212
www.warwickassociates.net

Book Expo America 2009

2009-04-20T13:28:00.000-07:00

Mom's Choice Awards' recipients and alumni make sure to book your arrangements for BEA as soon as possible! Accommodations are filling up and it's an event you won't want to miss.

After much demand, we are offering two days of interviews to our recipients this year. If you haven't scheduled your interview to be filmed live at our booth, contact the Mom's Choice team to reserve your slot. Space is limited and filling up fast.

We have a special guest joining us on Friday May 29th from 10am- noon. More information will be available next week.

We look forward to seeing you there!

~Tara Paterson

Mom's Choice Awards 2009 Updates

2009-04-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Mom's Choice Awards^® is currently accepting submissions for 2010. Enter your product, book, service or company and distinguish yourself from all of the others on the market. Entries will be accepted now through October 1st, 2009.

Join us in our booth at Book Expo America May 29^th-31^st. Book Expo America is the largest publishing event in the United States and hosts several industry leaders. We will also have a special guest with us Friday May 29th from 10- noon, so don't miss your opportunity to be a part of the excitement.

There is still time to book your interview spot with me at Book Expo. All interviews will be taped and available for upload on the internet. Currently, we are filming on Friday May 29^th and Saturday May 30^th so reserve your spot now; space is limited!

We would like to thank the sponsors who have graciously offered us their support.

Smithfield

Wachovia Securities

Webiob

JetBlue Airlines

And a special thanks to our partner in advocating family- friendly entertainment, the Dove Foundation.

Make sure to pick up your copy of the Mom's Choice magazine Entro at Book Expo or reserve a copy through MomsChoiceAwards.com.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

~Tara Paterson

Moms, why should you look for the Mom's Choice seal on books or products?

2008-04-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

We take the guess work out of deciding what media, books, products or services are appropriate for your family. Mom's are the largest consumer group in the country, but with the millions of products on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to decide what's right for your family. That's where our organization can assist.

Our award winning selections go through several expert assessments before it can be selected to receive this prestigious honor. Our panel of judges are among the most credible and knowledgeable in their industry which ensures that each honoree meets our standard for excellence in family-friendly content. Among our experts are:

Dr. Twila Liggett, creator of the award winning PBS' Reading Rainbow and professor for early childhood education. Each year Dr. Liggett selects the most outstanding children's book which must meet her stringent guidelines in order to be considered.

Julie Aigner- Clark, creator of Baby Einstein and the Safe Side. Julie's expertise crosses many bridges; her background is as an elementary school teacher. Julie is also affiliated with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which makes her an expert with regard to our youth of today.

Terry Doherty, founder of the non- profit, the Reading Tub (http://www.readingtub.com/). Terry spends her days evaluating children's books ensuring that the books we select to receive our award are diverse and meet a high quality standard you can feel comfortable with.

We are an organization who believes strongly that parents need to feel confident with the materials they introduce to their children. We are not a program who selects products based on marketing or high profile PR, but rather we base our selections on the core values they were created from. The MCA is not about "whose who."

Each year, many of our awards will be presented to first time or self- published authors, mom entrepreneurs, philanthropic products, family- friendly web sites, magazines or services, innovative, exceptional educational products, and the list goes on. To look at the latest Mom's Choice products, visit our store- http://astore.amazon.com/wwwmomschoice-20.

I am a mom of three children and it was important for me to create a program that would reach out to the heart of a mom and support her in the nurturing of both herself and her child. It was also important for me to acknowledge the many creative geniuses out there by giving them a place they could be recognized for their contribution to society and the world at large.

We are all a part of this together and the MCA is positioned to lead the industry in the direction of recognizing the unique quality and heart so many people bring to their products or services.

Mom's if a product you love doesn't display a Mom's Choice "stamp of approval," we need to find out why and ensure that it does. It is the only way you will be assured it meets the quality standard you want for your family!

~Tara Paterson

Take Our Poll

2008-03-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

In an effort to continue to provide you with the highest quality and standard you've come to expect from an award's program, we have created a poll to the side of this post. Please select the item you feel sets us apart from other awards' programs and if you have a suggestion you feel we missed, please respond to this post and I will gladly add the item to our poll.

~Tara Paterson

Letting Go In Order To Grow

2008-03-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

It was 2004 when I was approached by a colleague and friend of mine, with the idea for creating an awards program approved by moms. He was familiar with the various businesses I had established in the mom niche, so it just made sense- why not a program to honor the things mom's feel are important? We collaborated on a name and the Mom's Choice Awards was born.

I spent the first couple of years marketing heavily to the book market and attended several Book Expo conferences, encouraging authors and publishers to submit their products. It was exciting and exhausting at the same time, but the rewards were great. Our recipients began to share the impact receiving our award had on their product and one even received interest in the form of a T.V. show. How amazing it was to know we were truly having an impact on people's lives and their creations, all at once.

2007 proved to be more challenging than past years, because we were truly growing beyond my personal capability. We contracted with a remarkable company who brought the image of the Mom's Choice to new heights and the realization began to set in- I was not capable of taking this much further on my own. In the fall of last year, I was faced with a decision that proved to be a difficult one. I had a choice to make- continue to develop the MCA within the box of my limitations or let it go so it could grow. It wasn't an easy decision to make as I had formed an emotional attachment to my creation and the feeling it evoked, but in the end, it was the only choice that made sense.

I made the decision to allow the Mom's Choice to take on wings of her own and released the attachment I had to solely operating the program. Today, the awards is climbing to new heights as we form partnerships with company's like the Dove Foundation and Wachovia Securities and I am happy to say I have more pride and ownership in this company than I ever expected.

I want to honor and thank the Mom's Choice team for all of their hard work in making my dream a greater reality than I ever could have imagined.

Stay tuned, because the momentum we are building this year far exceeds my expectations and I am proud to be a part of such a great organization!

~Tara Paterson

Why Should You Enter The Mom's Choice Awards?

2008-03-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

There are many awards' programs out there and we understand it can be challenging to decide which one's to enter. We offer a variety of unique opportunities for our entrants in an effort to make the decision making process a bit easier.

Upon receiving a Mom's Choice Award, you can expect to receive:

An award certificate and a supply of the beautiful MCA embossed seals
A product review in Entro® – The Mom’s Choice Awards® Magazine
National press release listing your book/product (we also offer a model for creating your own press release)
Product reviews posted on Amazon.com and BN.com
Product promotion via the Mom’s Choice Awards® website with links to your website and Amazon.com
List your product in the Mom’s Choice Awards® webstore
Your testimonial included in the Mom’s Choice Awards® interactive testimonial gallery
Lifetime membership in the prestigious Mom’s Choice Awards® Alumni Honor Roll
Cooperative advertising opportunities
Product promotion opportunities at BookExpo America and the ABC Kids Expo
Honorees interviewed and filmed for media distribution at BookExpo America and the ABC Kids Expo
An interview which will appear on the Mom's Choice Founder's blog
Product promotion to retailers and other strategic partners
15% off Webiob services (interactive online books, product trailers, and other services)
50% off the review fee for the Dove Foundation’s Family Approved Seal
For a small licensing fee – the MCA Image Pack – everything you need to promote your status as an MCA honoree on your book cover, product packaging, website and promotional/marketing collateral
And more!

To find all of the services included here, visit- www.MomsChoiceAwards.com for more information. Plus, you always have access to me, the founder of the Awards! I will be at BEA, interviewing all of our fine alumni and recipients and I look forward to meeting you.

-Tara Paterson

What Does An Award Bring Your Product?

2008-03-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

When you win an award for your book, product or service, it is an exciting experience full of potential to increase sales and acknowledgement within your industry.

Here are some benefits of winning an award courtesy of the Jenkins Group:

Increases credibility
Increases visibility
Gives you new material for press releases, brochures and other marketing collateral
Renews enthusiasm of sales and marketing team
Use of logo and stickers on books and promotional material

So how can you use this honor to your advantage and how can you put your new stickers and logo to use? Use your award honor on:

Press releases
Book covers
Press kit covers
Catalogs, brochures, post cards, flyers, book marks, other materials

And don't forget to place the logo on your:

Web site
in your signature line
on your business card

If you are scheduled to do an interview mention you have been selected as a recipient of a special award and make sure when your team makes a sales call, he/she refers to your award winning honor.

Who knows, you may be the next recipient or alumni with a show on PBS. Dewey Doo-It did it, you can too!

Regards,

Tara Paterson

Happy Easter to the Mom's Choice Recipients, Alumni and Team

2008-03-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

I would like to wish all of the Mom's Choice 2008 recipients, MCA Alumni, staff and team a very Happy Easter. May this year bless you all!

With fondest regards,
Tara Paterson

Congratulations to the 2008 Mom's Choice Awards' Recipients

2008-03-21T06:48:00.001-07:00

I would like to personally congratulate all of the 2008 MCA recipients! Welcome to our community of award winning creators and we look forward to seeing you all at Book Expo where I will be personally interviewing past and present recipients. It is always our pleasure to recognize outstanding products, and this year was no exception.

Among the most outstanding children's books were-

Dance In A Buffalo Skull by the South Dakota State Historical Society Press
R Is For Rhyme by Judy Young, Sleeping Bear Press
Priscilla McDoodleNutDoodleMcMae Asks "Why?" by Janet Mary Sinke, My Grandma and Me Publishers.

Congratulations to this year's top honors in children's literature and to all of our other honorees!

Founder,

Tara Paterson

2008 Mom's Choice Announcement

2008-03-20T09:39:00.001-07:00

Be the first to learn about the 2008 Mom's Choice recipients at our sneak peek preview tonight! Announcements will officially be made Friday March 21st.

Why I Created The Mom's Choice Awards

2008-03-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

My name is Tara Paterson, the founder of the Mom's Choice Awards and it gives me great pleasure to share with you the reasons I created this prestigious awards program. It has always been a vision of mine to empower mom's to create from their inner passion; to nurture the special gifts that are contained within each of us; and to recognize those gifts in a light worthy of being a celebrity. The creation of my first business, the web site- JustForMom.com is a prime example of the heart I bring to acknowledging the role of a mother and how important she is to the world at large. I also believe strongly that a mother must first nurture herself so she can nurture the people in her life.

My goal with the Mom's Choice Awards was to recognize the effort a mom puts into her family and the consideration she gives to the books, products, businesses, or services she wants her family to have. The book market certainly seemed like the ideal place to begin this journey having previously come from the publishing industry with a company I began- Moms In Print. Books are such an integral part of a family's life and an important part of their educational future. I could envision people who put their heart and soul into their work, passionate about impacting the world, standing on stage receiving an award of excellence for the work they produced and it would send chills down my spine.

Although not all of the products that display a Mom's Choice seal of excellence are created exclusively by mothers, the products that display such an honor signify the recognition of a "mom's stamp of approval" which is important to the consumer market and most of all to families. It is also my vision to one day see our awards on television alongside programs like the Kid's Choice or the People's Choice awards, so that people at home can see something of themselves in any one of the recipients. How beautiful to know that anyone can create from their place of passion and be honored on the red carpet like a celebrity who partakes in a movie.

I hold the belief that each one of us has an inner genius and if we can see someone just like ourselves standing in a place of honor, it would empower anyone to reach for and achieve their dreams regardless of their circumstances. I am here today to say- the ride hasn't been easy; I have had to overcome tremendous obstacles; but what has kept me going is the knowing that someday my efforts would be recognized and the support we would receive for this program would enable our team to reach more people like you, ultimately changing your life and ours.

It gives me great pleasure to say thank you for your support; thank you for believing in our program; thank you for spreading the word; and thank you for the book, product, business or service you believed in yourself enough to share with the rest of us.

Many blessings and success to all,

Tara Paterson
Founder
Mom's Choice Awards

Welcome!

2008-03-10T13:23:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Mom's Choice founder's blog. It is my intent to create an interactive environment with our MCA alumni, recipients and entrants, as well as with our judge's, sponsors and team. In the next few months, we will introduce our new 2008 MCA recipients as well as conduct interviews with many of our supporters.

Please join us in building a community where you can speak directly with me as well as learn about all of the amazing books, products, and services we are proud to recognize as worthy of the esteemed Mom's Choice seal.

Join us in May at Book Expo America in Los Angeles where I will be conducting live, filmed interviews at our booth. For more information, stay tuned or visit the Mom's Choice official web site. You can also sign up for email alerts with all of our upcoming events and offers.

I look forward to meeting you!

Welcome To The Founder's blog

2008-03-10T12:25:00.001-07:00

My name is Tara Paterson, the founder of the prestigious Mom's Choice Awards. I have created this blog to enable recipients, entrants, authors, sponsors, businesses, and the general public, to have access to information as it is announced as well as direct contact with me.

Over the next few months, I will be interviewing the 2008 Mom's Choice recipients and answering your questions. Please take our blog poll and share your insightful experiences as a creator of your business, product or idea.