Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Wendy Leighton-Parker and The Shadow of Atlantis Blog Tour

I'm so excited to participate in Wendy's The Shadow of Atlantis Blog Tour with Mother Daughter Book Reviews. I love stories set in the ancient worlds, and when I first came across The Shadow of Atlantis, I became hooked. As a young reader, I would have devoured this entire series! As an adult, I'm got the books squirreled away on my Kindle for reading and re-reading. 

Wendy has graciously agreed to share her ancient and medieval setting with Carpinello's Writing Pages. Read on and prepare to be immersed in the fascinating world of historical fiction!

The Shadow of Atlantis Blog Tour Button

 

SHADOWS FROM THE PAST


Have you ever wished you could travel back in time and experience history for yourself? And if that wish came true, just when and where would you choose for your trip into the past? That was the dilemma facing me when I decided to embark upon writing my Shadows from the Past series. Just where should my young time-travelling heroes visit during the course of their quest?

For the first step in the journey, I knew my characters would have to venture deep into the past and I was drawn inexorably to the legend of Atlantis, that mythical city which never fails to capture the imagination. And so the voyage began. The Shadow of Atlantis would be a perfect place to start a magical mystery tour through time.

So, where to next? Hmm … fast forward a little, but not too much. How about the Greek island of Crete during the reign of the legendary King Minos? Ah yes, and let’s not forget his labyrinth which contained the fearsome, flesh-eating Minotaur. The Shadow of the Minotaur would provide plenty of thrills, spills and danger.

So far, so good. I was enjoying my foray into Greek myths and wasn’t quite ready to leave them behind just yet, so I wondered where to send my time-travelling children next. My favourite of all the tales from Greek mythology is the story of Troy and I simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to visit the legendary city. The Shadow of the Trojan Horse would be an exciting, if rather perilous, adventure. Thank heavens the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus would be there to help out when things got out of hand … which, of course, they did.

As reluctant as I was to leave Ancient Greece, I knew the time had now come to move on. And how could I not make a stop in the land of the Pharaohs? Ancient Egypt in all its mystical wonder was calling to me and the lure of the boy-king Tutankhamun could not be ignored. Mystery and intrigue galore awaited my young adventurers in The Shadow of the Pyramid, not to mention deadly scorpions and cobras. It was a nail-biting visit for them all.
 

The ancient world still held me in its grip, but what would be next on the itinerary? For me, the ancient Roman town of Pompeii was a must. So I sent the children back in time to the year 79AD to face a deadly disaster. The Shadow of the Volcano would prove to be a thrilling, if somewhat terrifying, trip. Did my intrepid heroes make it out when Mount Vesuvius erupted? Only just – it was touch and go at the end.

 This had all been a bit scary and I decided it was time for some light relief. What could be better than a visit to the mythical land of Camelot? With a little help from Merlin, my time-travelling children were transported back to 5th century Britain in order to fulfil an ancient prophecy and help King Arthur defeat the Saxon invaders. The sixth adventure in the series The Shadow of Camelot turned out to be great fun and I really enjoyed writing it.

I’ve recently completed book number 7, The Shadow of the Norman Arrow, set in the year 1066 with William the Conqueror about to invade England. 

However, the journey doesn’t end there – many more adventures still await the children, as I’m planning a total of 16 books in the series. Where will it all end? Well, I’m not going to tell you that, although I already know exactly where each further step in the journey will take my time-travellers. The only clue I’ll give you is that the final destination will be sometime during the 20th century. Why not come along for the ride and find out?

 

About the Book

Title: The Shadow of Atlantis (Shadows From the Past, Book 1)
Author: Wendy Leighton-Porter
Year Published: 2012
Publisher: Mauve Square Publishing
Pages: 196
Recommended Age: 8+
Summary (Amazon):
Ten-year-old twins Joe and Jemima Lancelot have no idea why their parents have disappeared, but a mysterious old book which had belonged to their father holds the answer… and so begins an unusual quest to discover the truth. Together with Max, their remarkable Tonkinese cat, and Charlie from next door, the children embark on an epic adventure, travelling back in time to the lost city of Atlantis. Once there, however, they soon run into problems. Can they save the people of Atlantis from the disaster which is about to destroy their land forever? And will they find their way back to the safety of their own time before it’s too late?
 

The Buzz

"Shadows of Atlantis is a well-written story with a collection of likable main characters, a solid plot line, snippets of educational facts about a historically important location and event, and, is filled with mystery, magic, and suspense. This book grabbed me at the prologue and had me hooked until the end." ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews, 5 Stars
"... Shadow of Atlantis is an imaginative tale that will draw children in right from the get go. The characters are deftly and warmly established, and Wendy shows a sure touch in enabling these characters to interact in a fun but believable fashion, each playing their own part in the plot's development...." ~ 5-Star review from John C., Amazon US
"The author makes the legend of Atlantis (and also the story of the Minotaur in the second book) so accessible to kids and in such an imaginative way. My daughter loved the children's characters and also the comical, lovable cat Max and his ability to help the characters out during times of strife! We will be looking out for future books from this author for sure. A really enjoyable adventure for kids and highly recommended..." ~ 5-Star review from A. Bradshaw, Amazon US
"This story will draw any young reader in will keep them entertained and engaged. It is sometimes hard to find books that will keep children interested, often their subject matter is trivial and insubstantial, this is not true of The Shadow of Atlantis. My daughter can't wait for the next adventure..." ~ 5-Star review from Annaliese M., Goodreads
 

Purchase

Shadow of Atlantis by Wendy Leighton-Porter

Amazon U.S. * Amazon Canada * Amazon U.K. * Book Depository

 

Great Deal!!

*** You can buy the all 6 books (electronic copies) in the series (The Shadow of Atlantis, The Shadow of the Minotaur, The Shadow of the Trojan Horse, The Shadow of the Pyramid, The Shadow of the Volcano, and The Shadow of Camelot) for only 99 cents each from Amazon between October 14 and 28, 2013. Get hooked on this great series NOW by clicking on the Amazon button below. ***

Amazon Buy Button
   

 

About The Author, Wendy Leighton-Porter

Wendy Leighton-Porter, AuthorDividing my time between homes in England and South-West France, I live with my husband Simon and our two beautiful Tonkinese cats. I spent 20 years as a teacher of French, Latin and Classical studies, but now write books for children instead of teaching them. The Shadow of Atlantis is the first book in a series of 15 planned time-travel stories, featuring 3 children and, unsurprisingly, a rather special Tonkinese cat. Having recently completed number #7, The Shadow of the Norman Arrow (coming soon!), I’m currently working on the eighth book in the series.
As I take my young readers on a magical mystery tour through the past, I’m also hoping that my love of history, myth and legend will rub off on them too. Personally, I’m enjoying the journey so much, I don’t ever want it to end! Why not come along with me for the ride?

Website * Facebook * Goodreads

 

The Shadow of Atlantis Blog Tour Schedule (2013)

October 14
October 15
October 16
October 17
October 18
October 19
October 20
October 21
October 22
October 23
October 24
October 25
October 26
October 27
October 28
 

*** The Shadow of Atlantis Blog Tour Giveaway ***

Amazon $50 Gift Card Prize: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash Contest runs: October 14 to November 5, 11:59 pm, 2013 Open: WW How to enter: Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by author Paul Hewlett and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway MDBR Kid Lit Book Promotion Services - Button FINAL

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Kid Lit Blog Hop #26

Welcome to the 26th Kid Lit Blog Hop.

On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews Scottish Author Rosemary Gemmell

This marks the 1 year anniversary of the very first Kid Lit Blog Hop. We have come a long way since then with many familiar faces that visit on a regular basis as well as new bloggers and authors who join us all the time. All in all, we have managed to create a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists, as well as parents seeking out their next great read. So, if you haven't joined us in a while, please pop in a post and hop around to meet some of the new bloggers who have joined the Hop. If you are one of our regulars - thank you so much and Happy Hopping to all!

Best 4 Future Blog


We are pleased to announce that we have a new part-time permanent hostess, Lina from the blog Best 4 Future, Bringing up Baby Bilingual. Lina will be joining us every 3rd Wednesday of the month as hostess. Big welcome to Lina!! Also joining us as co-hostess this week is Charity Kountz, author of the book Jason, Lizzy and the Snowman Village, which we have reviewed recently. Big welcome to Charity as well!! Please be sure to give each of our hostesses a visit to say a quick hello and we'll be sure to visit you right back!

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

Kid Lit Blog Hop
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Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*

1. We ask that you kindly follow your hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)
Hostesses:
Co-Hostesses:
2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.
* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post*
* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one *
* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*
* Feel free to link more than one post.*
3. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!
Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.
Happy Hopping!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Meet Author Rosemary Gemmell

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes Rosemary Gemmell, a Scottish author equally at home writing Middle Grade novels, adult fiction, short stories, and articles.

A bit about Rosemary:


Rosemary Gemmell is a Scottish freelance writer whose short stories, articles and children’s stories are published in UK national magazines, in the US, and online. The Jigsaw Puzzle (as Ros) is her second MG book from MuseItUp Publishing which was released earlier this year. Summer of the Eagles was published in 2012. Her historical novels, Dangerous Deceit and Mischief at Mulberry Manor and contemporary novella The Aphrodite Touch, are published under the name Romy. Rosemary is a member of the Society of Authors, the Scottish Association of Writers and the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Why did you pick to write books for MG?
I’ve written in a variety of genres for many years and it’s always about the story and characters first. Having written a few short stories for children, I naturally progressed to writing longer fiction and both of these published novels fitted the MG or tween age group. I love this particular age group as it’s a time of transition between childhood and entering the adult world, and young people have such great imagination.

What types of books do you like to read?
As with writing, I love variety! Anything from romance, historical and crime for adults, and I also enjoy YA and MG fiction. But I’ll always try new genres if I like the sound from the book from the blurb. 

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I write more full time now as well as taking part in my writing group and other writing-related activities, such as speaking or judging stories for writing groups. In between, I love watching good TV drama and films, reading for pleasure, walking by the sea and dancing whenever possible.

Tell us about The Jigsaw Puzzle and how the story came to be.

This story started with an image of two young people staring out from behind old fashioned leaded window, and I knew they were trapped inside that cottage. The story grew from there as I love jigsaws and puzzles and wanted to write a slightly creepier story. But I like fantasy based in reality, so my main character, Daniel, has asthma (which my son had when a child), and I added even more problems in his life. Since Daniel is fairly sensitive and creative, I sent him to stay with his arty aunt and his tomboyish cousin, Amy, who is very down to earth.

Here's a peek at The Jigsaw Puzzle:

Twelve-year-old asthmatic Daniel stays with his bossy cousin, Amy, her mum, and two cats in the Scottish countryside during the Christmas holidays while his parents take a trip to sort out their problems. When Amy and Daniel make up an old jigsaw puzzle, the cottage and garden gradually change to resemble the Victorian cottage pictured on the box lid.

In between searching for the missing Title Deeds of the cottage to save it from land developers, they complete the jigsaw and find a strange rhyming puzzle hidden within the box. What does it mean?


Danny and Amy become trapped inside the Victorian jigsaw house. Will they solve the cryptic written puzzle and find their way back to the present before it’s too late to save themselves, the destruction of the woods, and their cottage? 


Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.


My first published tween book, Summer of the Eagles, is set on a Scottish island and involves bird egg thieves and a fantasy eagle boy. Again it’s based in reality as main character, Stevie, is orphaned and left slightly lame. Her Gran sends her to live with her aunt for the summer. It turns out to be a healing time for Stevie, in between the danger and adventure!

(Note: I read this recently, and it is a wonderful story dealing with physical disability, peer influence, adaption to new situations, and conservation. Perfect for middle grade readers as they approach their teens.)

My other published books are mainly for adults, although the historical novels are also enjoyed by younger girls. I’ve also written a short contemporary novella set on Cyprus, which is the first of a series. My new full length historical, Midwinter Masquerade, comes out on October 24th and is set around the winter solstice in 1816.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I’ll be continuing with a new MG book soon and also have various adult fiction projects on the go, including short stories and novels. I find it easier to concentrate if I go between different types of writing so I never suffer from writer’s block!

What advice do you have for other authors?

Perseverance, patience and belief in your own writing are essential if you want to be published. Never stop learning and submitting work to editors and take note of all advice. Read the type of fiction you want to write so you can see what publishers are looking for.

Anything else you want readers to know?

 I’ll leave you with this quote which is great for procrastinators like me!

Inspiration is the act of drawing up a chair to the writing desk.” Anon


Where can readers find you and your books?
 
Website: www.rosemarygemmell.com
 

Flights of Imagination Blog (children’s): http://rosgemmell.blogspot.com
 

Main blog: http://ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com
 

Twitter: @rosemarygemmell

The Jigsaw Puzzle is available from: 


MuseItUp Publishing in all formats: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/museityoung/action-adventure/the-jigsaw-puzzle-detail

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CB4RGLO 

  
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CB4RGLO

Also available in print from Amazon.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Kid Lit Blog Hop #25

Welcome to the 25th Kid Lit Blog Hop. 

On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews Middle Grade, Time Traveling author S. W. Lothian.

The Kid Lit Blog Hop takes place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. We have managed to create a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists, as well as parents seeking out their next great read. So, you are more than welcome to link in and take some time to make some new friends.



BeachBoundBooksWe have a few changes to announce. We are sad to announce that one of our regular hostesses, Sue from Kid Lit Reviews, will be taking a short sabbatical from the Hop. We wish her the very best and look forward to when she can rejoin us. We'll still be checking out your reviews though! On the flip-side, we are excited to welcome a new hostess, Stacie from Beach Bound Books - a fabulous Kid Lit blog. Big welcome to Stacie - we're thrilled you are joining us.

Also joining us this week are two co-hostesses. The first is Maria from the wonderful parenting blog Music, Teaching and Parenting. The second co-hostess for this week is Jemima Pett, author of the Princelings book series. Be sure to visit Jemima's on-going Blog Tour for The Princelings of the East. I can tell you that the buzz is good AND you can enter a giveaway for your chance to win a paperback copy of the Princelings Trilogy + a $25 Amazon gift card (or PayPal cash). Welcome Maria and Jemima! Please be sure to give each of our hostesses a visit to say a quick hello and we'll be sure to visit you right back!

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

 

Kid Lit Blog Hop
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Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*

1. We ask that you kindly follow your hostesses. You can follow us any way you choose (Email, GFC, Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, etc.), but we've added our preferences below. If you could just give us a quick "follow" or "like" that would be much appreciated! Make sure to leave us a message if you are following us (i.e., on Twitter or Facebook or on our websites) and we will be sure to follow you back. Thanks! :-)
Hostesses:
Co-Hostesses:
2. Link up any Kid Lit related post. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.
* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post*
* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one *
* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*
* Feel free to link more than one post.*
3. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you! 4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links! 5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!
Interested in co-hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop? Please email renee @ motherdaughterbookreviews (dot) com and put Co-Hosting Blog Hop in the subject line.
Happy Hopping!