Minty Online

 

Katie, The Queen of Teen Fiction, reviewed Minty on her blog. If you would like to read the full review please click on this link: http://queenofteenfiction.blogspot.co.uk.

 

When Wendy Storer agreed to review Minty on her blogspot, Don't Tell Me The Moon Is Shining, I had no idea that she would ask to interview me as well. I must say, I had a lot of fun doing it. Please click on this link if you would like to read our Q&A session: http://wendystorer.blogspot.co.uk.

 

Canadian blogger, Aly, reviewed my book on Reading Shy With Aly. She also requested an interview. She asked some fun questions too. To read the full review and interview, please click on this link:  http://readingshy.blogspot.ca/2014/05/minty-by-christina-banach-and-interview.html.

 

Online magazine, Lothian Life, read and reviewed Minty too. Clicking on this link will take you to the site: http://www.lothianlife.co.uk/2014/06/minty/#more-15235.

 

KM Lockwood reviewed Minty on Serendipity Reviews. This link will take you to it: http://www.serendipityreviews.co.uk/search?updated-max=2014-06-09T08:00:00%2B01:00&max-results=7

 

I had great fun being interviewed by Danl Tetley on her blog, Brain Vomit and Wordstipation. She also reviewed the book. Here is the link to her blogspot: http://brainvomitandwordstipation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/the-delightful-christina-banach-author.html#more.

 

Fellow writer, Sarah Broadley, interviewed me about Minty and all things writing on her excellent blog, Great Big Jar. Here is the link: http://greatbigjar.com/2014/05/07/fife-minty-and-all-things-christina-banach/

 

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) interviewed me on their fantastic online magazine, Words and Pictures, just after I signed with my literary agent. If you would like to read it, please click on this link: http://www.wordsandpics.org/2013/07/how-entering-undiscovered-voices-could.html.

 

Words and Pictures also interviewed me after Minty was published. To read the article please click here: http://www.wordsandpics.org/2014/04/minty-fresh-success.html. I was also interviewed by them for their fantastic Debut Authors series. Click on here to read the article: http://www.wordsandpics.org/2014/08/the-debut-author-series-christina-banach.html#more

 

SCBWI lovelies Jan Carr and Lorraine Gregory attended the Three Hares launch party. They wrote about it in Words and Pictures. Here is the link: http://www.wordsandpics.org/2014/05/huzzah-for-new-publishing-company-with.html

 

Indian blogger Aditi's reviewed Minty on A Thousand Words A Million Books. Click on this link to read the review, plus an interview with me.

http://athousandwordsamillionbooks.blogspot.in/search?updated-max=2014-07-15T09:35:00-07:00&max-results=3&start=15&by-date=false

 

As part of the Minty blog tour I guest posted on a couple of awesome blogs. The subject matter? My inspiration for the story and my approach to writing a mystery. If you click on these links you can read more: http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2014/08/guest-post-with-christina-banach.html and http://teenreadersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/minty-blog-tour-guest-post-by-author.html.

 

I was also interviewed by the Chosen By You Book Club during the blog tour. As you can see I was asked some very interesting questions. http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/blog-tour-spotlight-giveaway-minty-by.html.

 

Book Suburbia featured the Minty playlist the blog. http://booksuburbia.com/archives/7447.

 

The Word To Dreams blog wrote a beautiful review of Minty. They also asked me to provide a dream cast. I had a blast doing that! http://wordtodreams.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-giveaway-of-minty-by-christina.html.

 

I appeared on Roz Morris's blog as part of her Undercover Soundtrack series. If you're interested in knowing how music influenced me in writing MInty, please click on this link: http://mymemoriesofafuturelife.com/2014/10/15/the-undercover-soundtrack-christina-banach/

Newspapers and Radio

 

Minty has also featured in the newspapers.

 

Click here to read a report on a library and theatre visit I did as part of my June programme of author visits: http://www.centralfifetimes.com/news/lochgelly/articles/2014/06/23/502100-lochgelly-author-delighted-with-minty-reviews/ 

 

If you click on this link it will take you to an interview in The Courier where I talk about how I became an author: http://www.thecourier.co.uk/lifestyle/leisure/books/fifer-swaps-textbooks-for-novel-new-career-1.517366

 

Before the book came out local radio station, Kingdom FM, interviewed me. The interview was broadcast at various points throughout the day. I was very nervous beforehand but the delightful interviewer, Laura Haldane, soon put me at ease. 

 

John Murray of K107 Radio interviewed me recently. It's more of a conversation than an interview - so you might like to sit back and listen to it with a cuppa. Here's the link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3937873/christina%20banach%200511.mp3 



 

 

Coming soon: an interview with Hannah Murray of Talk Radio Europe.

Are you a writer? Then you may find the following links useful:

 

www.cornerstones.co.uk   If you're looking to perfect your self-editing techniques, I highly recommend Cornerstones Literary Consultancy. As well as providing excellent editorial guidance on your manuscript they also scout for literary agents. 

 

www.britishscbwi.org   This will take you to the website of the British Isles chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).  This fantastic organisation offers incredible support to published and unpublished children's book writers and illustrators throughout Britain. I am so glad to be a member of SCBWI - I'm sure you will be too if you join.

 

www.wordsandpics.org   Click here to find Words and Pictures, the online magazine of SCBWI British Isles. It's an amazing source of information for all things writing. Well worth checking out.

 

www.notesfromtheslushpile.com  This mine of information is the brainchild of children's author, Candy Gourlay, creator of Tall Story and Shine. Brimming with advice from authors, agents and publishers it's invaluable to the aspiring writer.

 

www.undiscoveredvoices.com   Clicking on this will take you to the home page of the Undiscovered Voices, which is a bi-annual competition to help fresh, new voices in children's literature find agents, publishers and readers. It's worthwhile keeping an eye on the site for news of their next competition. Not only that - check out the past winners and honorary mentions. You might find several of your favourite authors amongst them!

 

www.scottishbooktrust.com This link will lead you to the amazing Scottish Book Trust's website. Whether you're a reader or writer, or would like sound advice on how to run a literary event, you can't fail to find something of interest on this site. Highly recommended.  

 

Welcome to my website!

Hi! I'm Christina Banach, author of Minty. Thanks for dropping by my website. Please take a look around. Here you'll find news and information about me and my books. If you have any questions do get in touch through my contact page. Thank you for visiting and happy reading! 

 

AUTHOR IN RESIDENCE

I was the 2017-2018 Scottish Book Trust Author in Residence at Knightsridge Primary School, Livingston. Many thanks to the SBT for for affording me the opportunity to share my love of writing and reading with such an inspiring school.

 

REVIEW FROM THE BOOK TRUST

"This is a thought provoking debut novel about love, loss and the importance of family…A compelling and ultimately heart-warming story."

 

Please click on the link below to read the whole critique: 

http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/view/34314


REVIEW FROM THE SCOTTISH BOOK TRUST

"Through Minty's eyes we see how family and friends are affected by bereavement. It deals with loss, love, friendship and over all, hope, resilience and strength of character. It's a haunting, eerie and beautiful read that will resonate with you for days after you read it. "


TEEN'S BOOK OF THE MONTH

I'm very grateful to the Scottish Book Trust for featuring Minty as their Teen's Book of the Month. 

 http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/blog/2014/parents/11/teens-book-of-the-month-minty 

 

OTHER REVIEWS

Below are extracts of some other reviews (to read more please check out my News and Reviews page):

 

"What an amazing story! I could not put this book down!"

 

"This is one of those gems that works for young adults and also the not so young...I read it in a single sitting - something I do not ordinarily do - except for a brief pause to compose myself before the final chapter, such was the intensity of emotion the book engenders. You must read this book..."

 

"Christina's stunning style of writing succeeded in bringing tears of joy and sadness to my eyes. For a first book being this good, it makes me wonder what is yet to come."

 

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

I was thrilled to be part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2015 SCBWI panel event - How To Survive Being Published. It was a real privilege to have been invited. Thank you! 

 

Plot & Structure Event

Thank you to everyone who came to my plot and structure workshop in Edinburgh. I hope you had as much fun as I did. Thanks to Sheila Averbuch for this great write up of the day. 

 

PINTEREST 

I've created a mood board for MINTY over on Pinterest. Click here to take a look:

www.pinterest.com/cbanachauthor

 

 

 

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