Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Review of 'James Saves the Moon' by Wendy Nystrom

Book blurb from Amazon:
"Here within lies a tale of a young boy named James, which takes place in a far away island nation of Iceland."

Travel along with James up the mountain, soaring through the air with his friends he meets along the way to reach the moon.

**My thoughts**

James Saves the Moon is a sweet, short chapter book about a little boy named James who lives in Iceland. He has recently moved there from America and isn't used to not being able to see the moon on a nightly basis like back home. When he does finally see it, he is amazed by how big it is and becomes determined to travel up the mountain to be able to touch it. Along the way, he makes new friends, including a little man named Syvok, and a dragon named Matthias. Together, the threesome travel closer to the moon and realize that it is actually stuck on the mountain! Using magic and good old-fashioned elbow grease, they manage to save the day.


It is a fast read, because each chapter is only 1-3 pages on the Kindle. Each chapter also has its own illustration. It gives a brief introduction to some Icelandic folklore and fulfills the fantasy of many young children. Haven't we all dreamed of going to the moon?

I look forward to possibly sharing this with my students when we learn about North America this next school year. I think it would be appropriate to read with children ages 5 and up. This is the first book in a series that features James. I hope future tales teach us more about Iceland, which is one of our lesser known countries in North America!

Book links
 

Monday, July 22, 2013

Author Paige W. Pendleton talks about writing and 'The Keeper and the Rune Stone'


What was the inspiration behind The Black Ledge series?
Short answer: Ancient secrets on the coast of New England. Dark secrets.
Long answer:  The Red Paint People, a tribe of indigenous people who lived on the coasts of New England and Atlantic Canada regions of North America thousands of years ago. 
The name The Red Paint People arose from their use of Red Ochre to decorate their belongings, and themselves. They decorated tools, clothing, and the bodies of their dead in burial preparation.
They were bold seafarers. Swordfish bones discovered in archaeological sites tell us they were navigating deep and treacherous waters in the Atlantic. Thousands of years ago, in canoes.
And here's where the plot thickens. Archaeological excavations in Norway have unearthed tools and belongings with similar red marks/patterns to those discovered on the coast of Maine. Eerily similar red markings. Other clues point to trans-Atlantic travel. Rune Stones in North America that date long before the defined Viking Age.  A breed of domestic cat (the Maine Coon) shares DNA with the Norwegian Forest Cat. Strong similarities between some Native American and Ancient Norse myths suggest they gathered around the same campfire more than once. 
Did Elves and Dwarves stow away on one of the return trips to Maine?  It appears they did. 
Our story then takes a darker turn, as things tend to do on the coast of Maine, but our Once upon a time began in a land far, far away.
Which character spoke to you the most during the writing process?
Gunnr. At the end of the book he stepped on stage and wouldn’t behave. He wanted to take over. I really had to cool his jets. I promised to let him have his way in Book II, The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice.
Which scene was your favorite?
Probably the scene with Ralph, the cellar-dweller. Ralph is a Hafling who lives at Black Ledge, and he isn’t inclined to be cooperative.
'The Keeper of the Rune Stone' and 'The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice' are currently available. How many more books do you anticipate in this series?
I have 4 more books planned for The Black Ledge Series.
When can we expect the next installment?
I am hoping to release Book III, The Keeper and the Scimitar of Salaman in January 2014.
Please tell us about your other published works.
The Black Ledge series is my first project. I have the first book of a juvenile Mystery series due out this fall. Unattended. No magic, just murder.
Do you have any other projects currently in the works?
Besides the juvenile murder mystery series, I am plotting two adult fiction projects.
What is it about the fantasy genre that is so appealing to children and adults?
I think it’s believing in magic! Being Aware of the magic around us is a very big aspect of The Black Ledge Series.
How do you make yourself stand out in this competitive genre?
I’m not sure I have, yet. So far the reviews are good, but the pond is very big. I think it will just take time, but I have that. Word of mouth from fans never hurts!
You are a part of an authors group in Maine and like to support them. What other authors should we be reading?
Oh, gosh! So many fabulous books out there. When I read for pleasure, Tim Dorsey and Carl Hiaasen always hit the silly spot.
What is something readers may be surprised to learn about you?
When I was Eleanor’s age I moved into the house in The Black Ledge Series, and it really is magic. Sidney Sheldon even stayed there and was inspired to write a scene for Master of the Game.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes, a reminder for people to check out The Magnificent Map Thomas Block created for The Keeper and the Rune Stone, and the five illustrations for The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice! Each piece of art is amazing! I catch myself writing scenes considering what Thomas will do with them.
And thank you for having me today! I’m really enjoying this tour, and I hope everyone enjoys reading The Black Ledge Series as much as I enjoy writing them.
Thank you so much for your time!


The Keeper of the Rune Stone by Paige W. Pendleton

The Black Ledge Series
The secrets of the Red Paint People have haunted Maine for 7000 years. From the vast fjords of Norway to the shores of New England, ancient standing stones mark a trail of betrayal, greed, and murder... 

The Keeper and the Rune Stone, Book One
An unholy ritual, a ticking clock. Four children discover there are things that go bump in the night ...

Centuries ago a group of Elves committed an unholy ritual. But the ritual was a spectacular failure. It transformed the Elves into the Noctivagi - the beings we know as vampires.

Striving to maintain a fragile peace, the ancient Elves and Dwarves negotiated an Accord, which they've renewed every year on the Summer Solstice. The ceremony depends on the magical Rune Stone, but it's missing. If it is not found—and quickly—the consequences could be dire, and not just for Elves and Dwarves.

Four children, Rob, Jack, Eleanor, and Flora, stumble into a world of magic and mayhem when they move into Black Ledge, the old estate on the Maine coast, and discover they aren’t the only ones who live there.

Buy The Keeper and the Rune Stone on Kindle
By The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice, Book 2 on Kindle


About the Author

The secrets of the Red Paint People have haunted Maine for 7000 years. Paige W. Pendleton is busy writing those tales.


Follow the Book Tour

Enter the Contest
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Friday, July 19, 2013

Meet Angela Myron, author of 'Ennara and the Fallen Druid'


Please welcome author Angela Myron today! Learn more about her and her book Ennara and the Fallen Druid. Be sure to leave her any comments or questions!

What was the inspiration behind 'Ennara and the Fallen Druid'?
A number of things inspired me when writing this story. I wanted to write a heroic adventure set in a fictional distant future of Earth. I wanted to explore that world through the eyes of a strong young female hero. I wanted to explore the struggle between light and darkness within us all. And magic. I wanted lots of magic.
Which character was the most fun to write?
Smoos and Kithe were, by far, the most fun characters to write. They are both intelligent and skilled, but have strong comedic traits. They added a lot of energy to each scene, and were just fun to be around.
Which scene was your favorite?
Easily, my favorite scene was the one in the market, when Ennara accidentally brings the meat on a butcher’s stand to life. It was just as funny to write as it is to read.
A close second and third would have to be the scenes with the toadstools in the forest, and the paintings in the Royal Gallery of Ililsa. I love the magic my characters used!
What message do you hope readers take away from your story?
Ah, theme. It's in the eye of the beholder. However, there are a few themes in the story that I tried to cultivate, and hope that the reader picks up. First, that heavy burdens can and must be shared with friends. Second, that the greatest power to overcome adversity is the light and intelligence within you. And finally, that desperate situations can often be solved without violence, if you put your mind to it.
Will we see these characters again?
Absolutely! I hope to have book two of Ennara’s story out in early 2014. We’ll see a lot more of Kithe, Gevin, Smoos, Tork, and, of course, Ennara too, in their new home of the Druidic Academy in Iceland.
Do you have any other projects in the works?
Besides writing book two of the Ennara series, I’m writing a paranormal mystery under the pen name Chase Theroux. Why two names? One for kids, and another for everything else. So the kids don’t come across adult content written by the author of the fantasy story they just read.
I feel like when I was a kid, we were all into reading mysteries. Now, children seem to be really drawn to fantasy. Why do you think fantasy is so appealing to the younger audience?
I think kids are still reading mysteries, and I know that even as a child I loved fantasy stories. If you look closely at today’s popular fantasy stories, they all have strong elements of mystery to them, as well as riddles, puzzles, and mythology.
It is the unique domain of the child to believe that wishing on stars will indeed bring their fruition, and that somewhere in a distant land and time, fairies, dragons and unicorns exist.
I remember that as a child, I thought that even the simplest objects were composed of many tiny, intricate, complex machines under the surface. And that not just TV was once black and white, but rather that the world was, and color itself was invented.
Fantasy stories, especially ones filled with magic and magical creatures, allow a child to embrace the vivid imagination and open-hearted belief in possibility that is inherent to a young mind. I think that it’s the same reason some adults love fantasy stories too. It brings us back to that state of limitless possibility. It makes the world around us magic.
Because fantasy is so popular, how do you make yourself stand out in the genre?
Currently, I try to stay authentic to my experiences and the stories I feel are important to tell. Each of us has such a unique life, I think it would take more effort to write just like someone else than it would be to have your own voice. But, you could ask me that again in a few years. I’ll probably have a better answer then.
You have twin toddlers at home. How do you balance caring for them with your writing?
There is no balance when you have 19 month old twins at home! Seriously, my time is completely consumed by them, at least when they are awake. I don't think it should be any other way.
I write because it is an important practice to me—I feel lost without it. But my days are full with these wonderful little people who need a lot of attention. So when they are awake, they have me completely. When they sleep, I write.
It makes for early mornings, simple meals, and not the most perfectly tidy house. It takes me months longer to draft and revise my stories than it does my peers. But that is all temporary. Eventually I’ll get back to writing fulltime.
Do you find yourself making up stories to tell them, in addition to reading books?
I’m sure that will come as they get older. At the age of a year and a half, they are content with playing with their board books and listening to a few paragraphs of The Tales of Peter Rabbit before bed.
How did you make the transition from article writing to fiction writing?
Unlike some people, I wasn’t able to pick up fiction writing in addition to my fulltime job. I have the deepest reverence for writers who are able to put in 8-10 hours at work and then come home and write stories. I attempted novels several times before doing on maternity leave with my twins, but it took a concentrated effort (aside from caring for newborns) to finish my first novel.
What is something readers may be surprised to learn about you?
I was a Tibetan Buddhist nun for three years in my late twenties. That’s not too common, is it? During that time, I went to several talks by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and a handful of times even sat on stage with him (and other monks and nuns) during Buddhist teachings. It was magical. My affair with the thoughtful religion slowed after I spent two summers and a Christmas holiday in Arizona helping with an intense Tibetan Buddhist retreat. Nursing wounds from a deceitful preacher and aggressively competitive students, I withdrew to my home country of Canada and back to the life of a layperson. Moral of the story: thoroughly check out any religious or spiritual group, even if they claim affiliation to those you trust. The damage people with selfish motivations can cause in a spiritual context can have nuclear ramifications.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’m looking for reviewers and people for my street team! If’ you’d like to become a beta reader and be eligible for some swag, please drop me a line at myronangela AT gmail DOT com.
Thank you so much for your time!
Thank you, Andi!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Like many writers, I have a full life in which I juggle many duties and joys. I love to cook, garden, and play with my twins. As a mother to toddlers, I write whenever I am not helping them navigate their day--which typically means in the early mornings and early afternoons when they sleep, and sometimes when Grandma comes to visit.

I was twenty-two when writing became a passion of mine. I've been doing it in one form or another ever since. But it took me a very long time to follow my heart's desire to tell stories.

For years, I simply journaled. I delved into writing articles for newsletters and grant proposals. I settled into technical writing, often finding myself a one-person writing, editing, design, app development, and publication team. I learned the basics of journalism, and finally, when on maternity leave with my twins, I turned to writing fiction.

I am grateful for every reader I have. Writing can be a solitary pursuit, but it can also be a dialog, a meeting of the minds. I invite you to connect with me:


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myron.angela?fref=ts



Join my street team! Email me at myronangela@gmail.com to subscribe to my newsletters.

Ennara and the Fallen Druid
by Angela Myron

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Eleven year-old Ennara Gaern has a serious grudge against the dragon on her right hand.

Born with a caul—a mask that foretold magical powers—she was immediately inked with the fiendish, fire-breathing tattoo that forces her to study boring texts, cover her hand continuously, and worst of all, keeps her from visiting the beautiful capital city, Dordonne. But her quiet life changes when one night she is attacked by a shadowy demon.

Tork, an old friend and wizard, is enlisted to help. But when he arrives, he informs Ennara’s parents that she is her world’s only hope of finding the legendary Sword of Gisilfrid, which is needed to destroy the curse that is creating the demons. Ennara doesn’t want to leave on the dangerous quest, but when she learns the curse threatens her world, she reluctantly agrees.

Ennara and the wizard begin a perilous journey to the Sunken City, pitting them against dangerous oceans and pirates intent on claiming Ennara’s magic as their own. With only her friends at her side, including the intelligent, aquatic cat Smoos, Ennara must defeat monsters guarding the sword and servants of the Fallen Druid. When her world is covered in darkness, will she know how to dispel the curse?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read an excerpt:

“Is it true she is….” Gevin blushed. “I mean, you are… magic?”
Ennara fumbled the wand as she turned it in her fingers. She scooped it off the floor. Her stomach knotted and her cheeks burned. “Oh, um, I guess.”

She nervously twirled the wand again, this time accidentally tapping the case of trinkets. A lavender light shimmered across the panes, and behind them the objects began to twitch.

“Eeep!” Ennara jumped as the severed hand crawled toward her and tapped on the glass. A long finger uncurled and poked the case open. The appendage leapt from the shelf to the chest, then the floor, and scurried to the door.

Smoos crouched on the lower bunk, wiggled her haunches, and pounced on the hand. She shook it back and forth in the air. It grabbed the cat’s snout and flicked her hard on the nose. She dropped the hand and snorted, rubbing her muzzle with her paw. The hand scampered away and hid behind the girl’s legs.

“You seem to have a penchant for necromancy, young lady.” Tork flicked his curvy black wand at the case. “Merta perape.”

The hand and other charms returned to their lifeless state.

“Ne … necromancy?” The word felt foreign in her mouth. She glanced at Kithe and Gevin. Both boys were fixed on her. Gevin’s mouth hung open.

“Yes. Bringing back the deceased. Creating walking dead. Giving life to the lifeless.”
But I didn’t say a spell!”

Buy links:

 
Also available on iTunes

   Angela will be awarding to a randomly drawn commenter during each week on the tour, a wall calendar print from http://www.cafepress.com/ennaraswag (Items can be exchanged for other equal or lesser value items from Ennara Swag on Cafepress.), and will award a t-shirt from http://www.cafepress.com/ennaraswag to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY). Also, a $20 Amazon GC will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.
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Monday, July 15, 2013

'The Keeper and the Rune Stone' by Paige M. Pendleton Book Tour Blast!



The Keeper of the Rune Stone by Paige W. Pendleton

The Black Ledge Series
The secrets of the Red Paint People have haunted Maine for 7000 years. From the vast fjords of Norway to the shores of New England, ancient standing stones mark a trail of betrayal, greed, and murder... 

The Keeper and the Rune Stone, Book One
An unholy ritual, a ticking clock. Four children discover there are things that go bump in the night ...

Centuries ago a group of Elves committed an unholy ritual. But the ritual was a spectacular failure. It transformed the Elves into the Noctivagi - the beings we know as vampires.

Striving to maintain a fragile peace, the ancient Elves and Dwarves negotiated an Accord, which they've renewed every year on the Summer Solstice. The ceremony depends on the magical Rune Stone, but it's missing. If it is not found—and quickly—the consequences could be dire, and not just for Elves and Dwarves.

Four children, Rob, Jack, Eleanor, and Flora, stumble into a world of magic and mayhem when they move into Black Ledge, the old estate on the Maine coast, and discover they aren’t the only ones who live there.

Buy The Keeper and the Rune Stone on Kindle
By The Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice, Book 2 on Kindle


About the Author

The secrets of the Red Paint People have haunted Maine for 7000 years. Paige W. Pendleton is busy writing those tales.


Follow the Book Tour

Enter the Contest
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, July 11, 2013

'The Great Kieranski and the Bardbuy' by Cate Mara

It is the last day of the summer holiday before school starts again and the self-named Great Kieranski is determined to have an adventure even if he has to invent one! Joined by his crew of best mates they use recent events as a reason to save their town from aliens, bullies and the evil Bardbuy.

Kieran, an opinionated country boy who loves his town, friends, and family with a fierce pride, tells the story of their last day. Obsessed by magic, the local bully, and being part of a crew, he reveals the triumphs and trials of friends and enemies through their encounters. He explains why kids sometimes tell lies, start fights, and even deal with girls, as his crew saves the town from the monster that lives by the creek. During their adventures the boys support each other, help others, and Kieran even develops an inkling of why the local bully is a bully. 



 Buy it on Amazon!

Bio:

I live in outback Australia with four dogs, a cat and several noisy parrots! The Great Kieranski was based on the misadventures of my two brothers.

'My Friend Edwind' by Susanna Thomson


Dear Parents and Grandparents,
This is the start-up of a series of children's books about William who just started school and his dream about having his very own dog.

This children's story book series starts with William dreaming about having a puppy and continues with his dream come true with Jack Russel puppy Edwind and their daily life and adventures together.

I have written each chapter to be perfect for a bedtime story making the young listener falling asleep smiling and feeling good, and believing that all dreams can come true with time.

I, the author, am a mother of four and a grandmother of two, and my middle daughter Sarah, the mother of my two grandchildren, is the illustrator of these children's books.

It is our hope to create joy and good feeling to an audience of children between 4 - 8 years. We would very much appreciate to get feedback from our young audience with ideas about what adventures they would like to see
in future children's books in this series.

We take our young readers views very seriously so please let them know we read carefully all their reviews added here.

Happy reading!
Susanna and Sarah 


Buy it on Amazon

Sunday, July 7, 2013

'Guide Doggie: Learn How Guide Dogs Help the Blind' by Daniel Saynuk

 

From the book jacket:

This fun and unique coloring book is a great way to introduce children to the world of a guide dog. Help educate your child while they have fun with Guide Doggie! Meet Guide Doggie when he is a puppy, then follow him on his adventures during guide dog training. Learn what a guide dog does during the day, including the chores he completes for his handlers in order to keep Guide Doggie ready to serve. Your child will learn how guide dogs help the blind live more independently, and how dogs can be heroes too! With narration of the book done by a guide dog each page is a fun an educational adventure for all ages. Your child can color the pages, making it an interactive as well as educational learning experience. Fill in the blank pages let your child get involved in telling the story, and fun bonus games including a word search, crossword puzzle and, word jumbles based on the story will help your child remember what they learned!

"...very entertaining book for a child to work through as well as provide valuable information concerning the duties of a guide dog and their benefit to someone who is blind." -Readers Favorite

Buy the coloring book on Amazon!

Also available on CreateSpace

Also available are the accompanying picture ebook and printed picture book!
 
About the Author:

Legally blind writer Daniel Saynuk has a special fondness for guide dogs. His own beloved guide dog helps him more easily live his life in his home town of Baltimore, Maryland. Daniel began writing stories while pursuing his Business Administration degree, and established his own company to bring this book to life. He is passionate about educating others about the valuable services guide dogs provide to the visually impaired.

Visit his website at http://danielsaynuk.com