Kate and the Kid By Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks Excerpt, Interview and Giveaway

Kate and the Kid

by Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks

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BLURB:

KATE AND THE KID is about a young woman (Kate) who has just lost her job and had a major fight with her boyfriend (also arising from the trauma of being fired). At this very low point in her life, Kate is tricked into taking care of a sweet but emotionally damaged six-year-old girl (Jenny) who only communicates with adults through a doll she calls “Miranda.” As a result of an eventful night of babysitting, Kate begins to bond with Jenny, which causes a whole new set of complications with the people in Kate’s and Jenny’s lives. This book tells the story of how Kate and Jenny help each other to heal, grow, and navigate the difficult and sometimes dangerous world of New York City.

An interview with 2 wonderful authors,  thank you so much,

We asked if they thought that  e books have helped the writing industry or have they hurt it.  Do they think that most people like to read physical copies or do they like e copies better.

Ken and Anne: These are difficult questions to answer and we will combine them into one answer since they are integrally related.

Anne and I both come from a time when the only books were made of paper and cardboard and cloth. We loved those books and have fond memories of searching among the stacks at the library, pulling those with intriguing titles from the bookshelves, using our library cards to check them out, staggering home under their weight, and reading for hours in a cozy spot. It was an exceedingly pleasant experience and remains so today for many people. We know several who will read nothing but a physical book. We, ourselves, collect old books, just for the fun of having them.

Still, there can be no doubt that with the advent of the computer, the smart phone, the internet, a plethora of new networks generating movies and TV programs, and all the other distractions today (didn’t even mention games!) that many people are not reading as many books and newspapers now as in the “olden days”. Nonetheless, there is no question that people are reading—staring into their smart phones as they walk down the street, or stop for traffic lights in their cars, or ride the elevators to their floor at work. Okay, some are just checking their e-mail, but most have one or more links to a social media feed and are reading news, gossip and other things. A portion of those same individuals are also downloading books that they can carry around with them on their smart phone or iPad or other device, allowing them to read whenever they wish. Instead of being able to carry just one or two or maybe three “real” books, they can access hundreds and can switch back and forth as the mood dictates. Beyond that, a person who reads soon learns that contact with the printed word in any format involves the imagination and the brain in ways that are not duplicated by a movie or TV show. How many times have you heard someone say that they enjoyed the book more than the movie? What they mean is that they enjoyed their own visualization of the author’s words more than what the director brought to the screen. That unique personal experience of communing with some other human being through words is the same if they are written on a piece of paper or appear on the digital screen. Physical books may become a thing of the past in the years to come (although we hope not), but reading itself will always be a fact of life and ebooks will make sure of that.

Excerpt;

Like any kid sleeping in an unfamiliar place, Jenny was up at first light. She crept into the living room and sat cross-legged within a few inches of Kate’s sleeping form. When Kate stirred, Miranda’s plastic face was pressed gently against her cheek.

Smack.

“Hi, Katy!” Miranda said in her high-pitched voice.

“Hi, Miranda!” Kate replied in the deepest basso tones she could manage without harming her vocal chords.

Jenny giggled. Miranda danced with delight on the mattress.

“Say it again!”

Kate sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

“Hi, Miranda! Wasamatta?”

Jenny giggled harder than before, but Kate noticed that Jenny had changed her clothes again. Her pink shirt had a bright yellow flower on it, which matched smaller yellow flowers on her pink shorts. Miranda wore a new matching outfit also, yellow with a touch of pink.

“Girls,” Kate said very seriously now. “You didn’t go out on the fire escape again, did you?” The answer was obvious, both from the downcast look on Jenny’s face and from the fact that Miranda also turned away in apparent shame. “Please, no more walking on the fire escape? Okay? Please? Will you promise me that?”

“Yes, Katy,” Miranda said sweetly. “And Jenny promises too.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Anne Rothman-Hicks was born in New York City and, except for a brief exile to the suburbs imposed by her parents, she has lived there all of her life, the latter part of which she has shared with her co-author, Kenneth Hicks, and their three children.

Links: website -- www.randh71productions.com  

Facebook author page -- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kenneth-Hicks-and-Anne-Rothman-Hicks/622272714477979y

Buy links http://www.amazon.com/Kate-And-The-Anne-Rothman-Hicks-ebook/dp/B00D9W3V20

Anne and Kennet will be awarding a $40 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway