Author interview with Lydia Howe! {Action Kids’ Club}

Hey readers!

Author, Lydia Howe, is visiting with me on the blog today as part of a tour for her NEWLY PUBLISHED BOOK! I'm so proud to be a part of her book promotion, and am excited to share the author interview, where I got to ask Lydia some questions about her writing and her life. Check it out below!

Here's Lydia for more details...




Today is one of the final stops in the blog tour stop celebrating the release of the first book in the Action Kids series, Action Kids' Club. Read the post from yesterday at this blog.

The answer to yesterday’s quote puzzle is: If you really want to do something you’ll find a way... If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse. -Jim Rohn

Today I’m really excited to have an interview to share with y’all! Tarissa kindly agreed to interview me, so take it from here, Tarissa!

The Interview...

• Alright, let's start this interview, Lydia! Where did you gather the ideas behind Action Kids’ Club?

I got the idea for the success principles while attending a John Maxwell conference when I was eighteen. The story idea came along slowly when I thought of things that I would have enjoyed getting to do as a kid.

• Is there a message in this book that you want readers to grasp?

Yes! That you’re never too young to grab ahold of opportunities and run with them. A lot of kids (and adults!) seem to think that it’s for kids to waste their childhood years. I don’t advocate kids growing up too fast, but I do think there’s a lot they can learn while still enjoying being a kid.

• That's a strong message, Lydia, one that that I believe in too. Did you base any of your characters off someone, or where did you find ideas for your characters?

Grandpa Don and Grandma Vickie are based off of my parents, so that was fun. I kinda imagined my cousins a little bit while writing the kids, but they were mostly freelance.

• How long did it take you to write this first book in the Action Kids series?

Well... That’s a hard question to answer. The actual first draft of the book? About a week. I've been mulling it over in my head, working on characters, coming up with ideas, taking notes, etc... for the past four years.

• What inspires you to write middle grade fiction?

I pretty much read every book I could when I was a middle grader and I think that’s when my love of reading really got developed. I've always thought that the years 8-12 were really important and I wanted to be a part of them for other kids because I am so grateful for the authors who I read during that time. In fact, I still like reading middle grade books!

• I too feel that the ages 8-12 are important for developing a child's education, and find that the books written for that age group are often the best quality. When you’re not writing, what are your other hobbies/favorite activities?

Of course I like reading a lot (I’m on my 95th book for the year), and I enjoy walking, swinging, hanging out with my family, cutting grass, cooking (that’s what I do for my non-writing job) cracking my nine-foot-bull whip and traveling.

• You had the opportunity to do some traveling this past year. What is the farthest place from home you've ever been?

I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to go to Asia this spring and spend a month in Indonesia. That’s pretty much as far away from home I can get while staying in the world.


(Lydia Howe in Asia)

• You're obviously a book-lover, Lydia! Of all the books you've read in 2014, which title has become a new favorite?

Oh! This is a very good question! One I’m not even sure I’d be able to answer... I didn’t read nearly as many middle grade books as I normally read, but one of my favorites was Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek which was a book I got free in exchange for a review. Some day I want to read more in the series.

• Which author(s), past and present, do you look up to the most?

Oh wow. Another great question! One of my all-time favorite authors is Catherine Farnes. I read her books over and over again and every time I’m amazed at how much I enjoy her writing style. I dream of one day getting to meet her.

• Do you have your next book project planned yet?

I have a ‘continuing’ project that I've been working on all year, but other than that I haven’t started anything else. I have a lot of ideas going around in my head and I just have to weed around them and figure out which one is the most important for me to run with next.

• Would you like to share your favorite quote?

One of my very favorite quotes is: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” - Jim Elliot



• Lydia, I love that quote from Jim Elliot too. It's one of my personal favorites! That concludes our interview... It has been a blast learning more about you!


Readers, here's the rest that author Lydia Howe wants you to know...

Here’s your quote puzzle for today. Figure it out and leave the answer in the comments section and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a great prize! And, check out my blog to find out about the $50 gift card I’m giving away!

(Answer Key)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C

(Puzzle)

Wkh fohduhu brx duh derxw zkdw brx zdqw, wkh hdvlhu lw lv wr pdnh lw kdsshq. -Don Howe

Make sure you check out my blog blog tomorrow for the answer to the quote puzzle and the last stop on the blog tour. Thanks for stopping by!

About the Author: 

Lydia Howe (aka Aidyl Ewoh) is a twenty-something adventurous author who enjoys hiking in the mountains of Asia and South America, building life-size models of dinosaurs, taking road trips across Europe and cooking for large crowds.

Lydia grew up in a barn and has always dreamed of living in a tipi. She is trained as a John Maxwell coach and her passions include self-development and Christian apologetics One of her life-long dreams was realized when her first book, “Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl”, was published by Answers in Genesis in 2013. Her second book, “Action Kids’ Club” was published in November of 2014. Find her online at her Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads and Pinterest.

Action Kids’ Club Back Cover Blurb: 

Twelve-year-old Olivia Hall’s dream of a friends' club ends when she finds out her family is moving. Her parents assure her it's a good thing, opening a new world of possibilities for the Halls. But going from ‘miss popular’ to ‘the new girl’ won’t be easy, and Olivia is not convinced.

Soon she begins to realize that although her life has suddenly changed, there's plenty of adventure to keep her on her toes. From making new friends at Forward Focus, to hanging out at the world-renowned Kids Zone, to meeting the curious head chef, she discovers that there's much more to life - and her new surroundings - than she ever imagined. How will she make the most of these new opportunities? Or will she let them slip away?

Check out Action Kids' Club!

A book that is shut....

Now, wasn't that a fun little game? Thank you to all the people who commented yesterday and completed the puzzle.

This is one of my new favorite quotes and I'm glad to have shared it with you all!

Letters, anyone?

I have a little game for you today. Anyone can participate. Just guess a letter or two of what you think might fit into the following phrase. It's actually a new quote I happened across and really like.

So, just leave a comment with a letter and I'll fill in the blanks. I'll continue to update this post as I receive your guesses!

a     book    that    is    shut,    is    but    a    block.

16 letters guessed: A, B, C, D, E, F, H, I, K, L, N, O, S, T, R, U

Dictionary Dash

I've come across some interesting new words lately. They either have unusual spellings, pronunciations, or definitions.

Take a guess at what these words mean by trying to match them up to their definitions below. All guesses are welcome!

Otiose Concatenate Milquetoast Ferly Druthers

\OH-she-ose\ \con-CAT-eh-net\ \MILK-toste\ \FAIR-lee\ \DRUHTH-erz\

A timid, meek, or unassertive person. (noun)

Unexpected; strange; unusual. (adj)

Producing no useful result; lacking use or effect. (adj)

One's own way, choice, or preference. (noun)

Linked together. (adj) ... To link together in a series or chain. (verb)

Don't forget to enter in my giveaway for a READ or WRITE sign!

Dictionary Dash Answers

Thanks for all your comments on last week's Dictionary Dash post. If you wanted to see the answers (and if you haven't already looked them up in the dictionary!), then here they are.

Burgeon \BUR-jen\ To send forth new growth; to grow and expand rapidly. (verb) Ascertain \a-ser-TANE\ To find out or learn with certainty. (verb) Tyro \TIE-row\ A beginner in learning; novice. (noun) Nepotism \NEH-peh-ti-zem\ Favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship. (noun) Dearth \derth\ An inadequate supply; lack; famine. (noun)

Have you found any new, interesting words lately?

Dictionary Dash

Here's a quick little puzzle for my readers. Take a guess at what these words mean by trying to match them up to their definitions below. All guesses are welcome! The answers will be revealed next week.

Burgeon Ascertain Tyro Nepotism Dearth

\BUR-jen\ \a-ser-TANE\ \TIE-row\ \NEH-peh-ti-zem\ \derth\

A beginner in learning; novice. (noun)

Favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship. (noun)

To send forth new growth; to grow and expand rapidly. (verb)

An inadequate supply; lack; famine. (noun)

To find out or learn with certainty. (verb)

Correct Meanings to those 5 words

Thanks to everyone who left their guesses on last week's Puzzle of Interesting Words. I have the answers below, so you can find out the right word definitions. Congratulations to both Emily and Redwriter for getting all the answers correct!

Oppugn \uh-PYOON\    To fight against; to call in question. (verb)

Snollygoster \SNOL-ee-gos-ter\    A clever, unscrupulous, shrewd person, especially a politician. (noun)

Eleemosynary \el-uh-MOS-uh-ner-ee\    Of or relating to alms, charity. (adj)

Higgler \HIG-lur\    An itinerant dealer or peddler. (noun)

Nudiustertian \nu-di-uhs-TUR-shuhn\    Of or relating to the day before yesterday. (adj)

Puzzle of Interesting Words

I have a little puzzle for you to today. It contains just 5 words. These words may seem very unique in their own way. They look (and sound) a little odd to be in our English language... but they are real words, I can assure you--with real definitions.

Take a guess at what these words mean by trying to match them up to their definitions below. All guesses are welcome... the answers will be revealed next week.

Eleemosynary Higgler Nudiustertian Oppugn Snollygoster

\el-uh-MOS-uh-ner-ee \HIG-lur\ \nu-di-uhs-TUR-shuhn\ \uh-PYOON\ \SNOL-ee-gos-ter\

To fight against; to call in question. (verb)

Of or relating to the day before yesterday. (adj)

A clever, unscrupulous, shrewd person. (noun)

An itinerant dealer or peddler. (noun)

Of or relating to alms, charity. (adj)

6 important questions

View more of my favorite quotes.

Just a couple things...

Thank you to everyone who has been answering my last riddle. I thought I might be able to stump you all with that tricky question, but lo and behold, a lot of you figured it out! To anyone who's still in the dark about the answer, here it is for you...

What English word has 3 consecutive double letters? -- BOOKKEEPER






I also wanted to post today and give you a reminder about Anna's Les Miserables Week that has been going on. If you're interested at all, I encourage you to run over and see what she (and other bloggers) have been posting about Les Miz this week. If you have anything in mind, you can post something about Les Miserables on your own blog and sign up on Anna's linky list. Have fun!

A New Twist

I see that my readers are having a bit of trouble figuring out this last riddle I posted. {No, the answer is not "Mississippi" or "committee".}
So I thought that I'll add something extra into the mix this time... I'll let you guess the letters in the word, and eventually you'll put the word together... It's pretty similar to a "hangman" type of game.

Just leave a comment with an alphabet letter you want to guess. I'll update the game again with everyone's letters, and then you'll start to see a word forming. (hopefully!)

What English word has 3 consecutive double letters? the word:   _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

an answer & a new riddle

Thank you everyone for guessing on my riddle post the last few days. It's about time that I revealed the correct answer! For a quick update, this was the riddle:

"I know a word of letters three. Add two and fewer there will be."

...and the answer to this excellent riddle is.... the word: Few    :~D


I feel like I'm on a roll here, and I don't want to mess up the momentum of throwing these riddles at you. So, I have a new one!!
Here it is:

What English word has 3 consecutive double letters?

{This is a pretty tough one... So think hard about all the words you know. And I don't mind if you use some "help".}

.:. More About Riddles .:.

Hi everyone,
If you saw my "What am I?" post last week, you might have guessed the answer... or you might not have. If not, I'm here to reveal the answer now. For a quick update, this was the riddle:

I have keys, that open no locks. I have space, but there is no room. I have a home, but there is no house. You can enter, but you can't go in. What am I?

Thank you for all your guesses! The final answer is... a Computer Keyboard.

So, I thought since a lot of you guessed that one, I'd give you another riddle to play around with.
Ready? And yes... it's a tricky one!

"I know a word of letters three.
Add two and fewer there will be."

~Can you figure it out?~

A simple riddle to solve.

I have keys,
that open no locks.

I have space,
but there is no room.

I have a home,
but there is no house.

You can enter,
but you can't go in.

What am I?