Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Princelings of the East Series
Book Tour 




About Author Jemima Pett:

I’ve been writing since I was 8 years old. I still have a small booklet I found in my mother’s box of treasures, written in a very childish hand, entitled The Little Stream. It reads very much like the story of Smetana’s Vltava, or The Moldau as it was called when I was young, so I must have been into classical music at an early age (I blame my brothers’ influence). My early fiction attempts failed for want of suitable inspiration: I couldn’t get characters or plot that seemed interesting, and my first attempts were derided by a ‘friend’. I had the bug for writing, though, and wrote articles and event reports for newsletters and magazines whenever I got the opportunity. My career in business and in environmental research kept me chained to a desk for many years, but also gave me the opportunity to write manuals, reports, science papers, blogs, journals, anything and everything that kept the words flowing. Finally the characters jumped into my head with stories that needed to be told….
I now live in a village in Norfolk, UK, with my guinea pigs, the first of whom, Fred, George, Victor and Hugo, provided the inspiration for the Princelings stories. 


The Princelings of the East Series

Book 1—The Princelings of the East
Genre – MG/Fantasy/Scifi
Publication Date – November 2011 (paperback June 2015)
Length (Pages/# Words) – 158 / 37,300
Publisher – Princelings Publications
Cover Artist – Danielle English

Book 2—The Princelings and the Pirates
Genre – MG/Fantasy/Scifi
Publication Date – January 2012 (paperback June 2015)
Length (Pages/# Words) – 181 / 39,000
Publisher – Princelings Publications
Cover Artist – Danielle English

Book 3—The Princelings and the Lost City
Genre – MG/Fantasy/Scifi
Publication Date – May 2012 (paperback June 2015)
Length (Pages/# Words) – 270 / 58.600
Publisher – Princelings Publications
Cover Artist – Danielle English

Book Synopses

The Princelings of the East is an adventure set in a world of labyrinthine castles, bustling inns, and the curious Isle of Hattan. It is the start of a saga where friendship and intelligence are rewarded, even in the face of treachery and deceit.

Princelings George and Fred leave the security of their isolated castle to solve the problem of the Great Energy Drain, meeting the dubious businessman Hugo, the young barkeeper Victor, the impressive Prince of Buckmore, and other movers and shakers. Who should these two innocents trust? Their wits and teach other, for sure, but when something comes between them, each is left to his own devices, and some of those devices are very strange indeed – and time is of the essence.





The Princelings and the Pirates shows our heroes, Princelings Fred and George, enjoying life with their inventions at Castle Buckmore. Oblivious to the kidnap of a princess from Chateau Dimerie, they are despatched there by Prince Lupin to discover why the wine hasn't been delivered and solve the case of the missing messengers.

What follows is the stuff of nightmares. Captured by pirates, sent off on different ships, Fred endures hardship and shipwreck while George has a dangerous night escape. They discover treachery at their home castle, and lead the people they have rescued to safety, only to end up fighting for their lives in the Battle of Dimerie.




The Princelings and the Lost City is the completion of the trilogy. A mystery is uncovered in the Prologue (which is unravelled in Book 5), then the story moves to more familiar territory as our heroes, Princelings Fred and George, wait at Castle Buckmore for the arrival of Princess Kira from Dimerie in a flying machine. George's power plant invention is overtaken by his enthusiasm for flying, but Fred is upset by Kira's strange behavious after the visit a legendary 'lost' castle in the middle of a forest.

What is the secret of the Lost City? Are the old wives' tales, of a civilisation ruled by females where no male dare set foot, true after all? Will Fred and his friend escape with their lives? How many times can Princess Kira be kidnapped in one story? The path of true love runs anything but smoothly in this tale of love, bravery, cruelty and loss.


Giveaway

1 x $25 gift card/PayPal cash (paypal cash is much easier for me to deliver)
1 x set of the six Princelings of the East paperbacks
5 x  1 signed print of a chapter illustration of the winner's choice (approx. half letter-sized/A5, unmounted)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Here is an exciting excerpt from Book 3—The Princelings and the Lost City

A strange noise crept into their consciousness, a sort of buzzing.  It changed tone, skipped a beat and sometimes stopped altogether. The princelings looked out, straining to see what was making the noise. Fred stared down the road as far as the bridge; George gazed up into the sky as if he was dreaming.
“There ….there..they..ther….” he stuttered and pointed for Fred to locate.
“What?” said Fred, following the direction and wondering why he was pointing into the sky. There was some sort of bird flying towards them.
“I w-wond-ered … a ffly-ing ma-ma-sheen.” In his excitement, George was having trouble getting any words out at all. He slipped off the window seat and went over to a pile of papers beside his bed. He selected one near the top of the pile and brought it back to Fred.
“M. Bleriot demonstrates flying machine at Fortune,” read the headline. Underneath was a picture of a very dashing French person with a helmet and goggles standing next to a funny tube with two boards sticking out of it on either side.
Fred glanced at it, held it close to look at the machine in more detail and dropped the paper to look at the sky. A very similar machine was now approaching the last stretch of road before it turned to come into the castle itself.
“Oh my goodness,” said Fred, his eyes wide in panic. “She’ll be killed!”

Links for Jemima & The Princelings series


The Princelings of The East


Posted by at 3 comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Meet Colorado MG Author Phyllis J. Perry

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes fellow Colorado author Phyllis J. Perry. Phyllis writes fiction and non-fiction for kids of all ages. She has authored numerous non-fiction books on Colorado.

First, a bit about Phyllis:

Phyllis J. Perry grew up and went to school in a small town in northern California. After attending the University of California at Berkeley, she began teaching elementary school. She continued her academic career by earning a Master's Degree from San Francisco State College. After moving to Boulder Colorado, she worked in the Boulder Schools as a teacher, Curriculum specialist, and Director of Talented and Gifted Education. She also earned her Doctorate at the University of Colorado. She is married and has two children and four grandchildren. Retired now, she spends full time writing fiction and nonfiction for children and adults.

Why did you pick to write books for children?

As a teacher in Colorado, I knew little about  state  and its history. I began reading and learning as much as I could in order to share information with my students. This eventually led me to write A Kid's Look at Colorado for elementary students and Bold Women in Colorado History for secondary students and adults. I went on to write books about various aspects of Colorado for adults.

Teaching research skills to elementary students led me to write the Fribble Mouse Library Mystery series. My book, Teaching the Fantasy Novel,  was written to assist secondary teachers in making the most of this genre. Now as my youngest grandchild is in middle school, I find myself writing fiction for the middle school reader.  My family and my teaching  career have shaped the sorts of books that I write.

What type of book do you like to read?

I enjoy reading all kinds of children's books and especially like to read adult mysteries. British mysteries are among my favorites.

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

I enjoy going on trips with my husband, especially to the coasts of California and Oregon We have also made several  trips to Alaska. I enjoy and participate in the sport of geocaching. Also, I like to attend the theatre.

 Tell us about Together and how the story came to be.

Together is aimed at the middle school audience. Although Holly and her friends are the main characters, I also wanted to portray grandparents in an active role. Key to the story is the fact that Holly learns from her grandfather how to be a ham radio operator. Since my husband is active in ham radio, I learned about it, got my operating license, and learned Morse Code. I thought young people would be interested in learning about this special means of communication.

For therapy, Holly joins a swim team.  While I am far from a good swimmer, I swim twice a week in our local  Recreation Center lap lanes and have known and admired young people who do swim on local teams.

Here's a peek at Together:

Holly woke in the hospital bed… The Fourth of July accident had taken the lives of her mother and father, and she now faces a future filled with both change and challenge. Living with her grandparents on ten acres out in the country will be a lot different from living in town. It means a new school and new friends. When she is not invited to an 'old' friend's birthday party, she realizes that she cannot live in the past. Holly forms a bond with her Granddad when she studies to become a ham radio operator and joins him in his favorite pastime. When he has what appears to be a heart attack, a Fall fishing trip almost turns into a tragedy. Holly's new knowledge of amateur radio helps save the day. But it is only when Gram and Holly bring Granddad home from the hospital that Holly realizes how important the three of them are to each other… TOGETHER.
Have you written other books?  If so, tell us about them.

I have just finished another book for the middle grade reader called Scuba 4 Ever. This story takes the interest in swimming that was evident in  even further. The central character takes lessons in scuba diving. Although I am not a Scuba diver, four members of my family are, so I'm interested in it. This story also involves a school play, The Miracle Worker. I was a cast member in this play in our local theater group and enjoyed sharing in this story information about auditions and rehearsals as well as  the excitement  of  performance.

I've also written several books for adults. Some of these are It Happened in Rocky Mountain National Park, Images of America: Rocky Mountain National Park, and Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Colorado History.

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

I am currently working on two projects. One is a picture book for children about the plants
and animals of the Sonoran Desert. The other is a book for adults tentatively titled Colorado Vanguards: Historic Trail Blazers  and Their Local Legacies and The Historic Rocky Mountains.

What advice do you have for other authors?

For over twenty years, I have been active in a critique group of seven people. These women not only  help in crafting my stories, pointing out both weaknesses and strengths, but they also encourage and inspire. Although much of an author's work is done alone, I believe that a strong critique group is an important asset.

 Anything else you want readers to know?

Get to know other writers and readers of blog sites like this one. Take part in local book gatherings and library festivals. Attend conference such as those sponsored by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Colorado Authors' League. You will enjoy and benefit from getting to know writers and readers And if you want to be a writer—write!  It is easy to put it off. Make writing a regular part of each week!

 Where can readers find you and your books?

Many of my books are available on the Amazon Kindle book shelf. Others are available at local book stores. To find a listing and more information about my books, visit my web site:

www.phyllisjperry.com


Amazon Author Page
Posted by at 6 comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Writing Tips and the Kid Lit Blog Hop #66

Carpinello's Writing Pages is back this Hop with more tips from the Children's, Middle Grade, and Young Adult writers I've interviewed. These are from November 2014. Feel free to leave a tip of your own.

Be passionate about your work–the more passionate you are about sharing it with others, the more likely people will be to check out what you’ve done. Never stop networking or pursuing possible avenues of publicity. Generosity goes a long way too—Christine Meunier, author of the MG/PreTeen Free Rein Series

I still regard myself as a Newbie Author, but if I had to give advice to others it would be to form a great support group with other authors who are genuine and can guide you along the way. I have been extremely lucky in that sense—Lorraine Carey, author of the MG novel Jonathan's Locket.

Never give up—Christopher Mannino, author or the YA fantasy School of Deaths

Write what you know and then make up the rest. Be serious about your craft and understand that this is a business, and there are ugly sides to it, but don’t be afraid to chase after your dream. Be professional in all you do. Don’t skimp on editing costs or cover art costs. Invest in your work and yourself. Get your work critiqued if at all possible before you release it or even before you have it edited. That way you can make changes and make it as best as possible before the editor takes it—Brae Wyckoff, author of the YA fantasy series The Horn King

One thing I can attribute to my success is the fact that I belong to several author groups. There is something inspirational, energizing, and fun about being in the same community of like-minded people. I would advise every author, particularly if you’re new to the publishing game to find a group of authors on the social networks or in your local community you can meet regularly and exchange ideas with. Iron sharpens iron, and you’ll see a significant improvement in your writing and hopefully book sales as a result. Also, keep on writing. Farmers farm. Teachers teach. Builders build. And writers?…well we write—David Chuka, author of Kojo the Sea Dragon Gets Lost


And Now,

Welcome to the 66th Kid Lit Blog Hop where we continue to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists.

On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews
and

Remember, you are always more than welcome to join us by popping in a post and hopping around to meet some of your fellow Kid Lit bloggers and authors!

Hostesses:

Mother Daughter Book Reviews

Julie Grasso, Author/ Blogger

Cheryl Carpinello, Author / Blogger

Stacking Books

BeachBoundBooks

Music Teaching and Parenting

Pragmatic Mom

Reading Authors

The Logonauts

Spark and Pook

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

Kid Lit Blog Hop
 

Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*

1. Link up any Kid Lit related post in the Kid Lit Blog Hop. 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. Please link unique posts each time ~ no repeats please. *
* 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.*
2. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS from the Kid Lit Blog Hop 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! 3. 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! 4. 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!

Happy Hopping!

 

KID LIT BLOG HOP

Posted by at 5 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Meet Swedish MG Author A. J. York

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcome Swedish-born Middle Grade author A. J. York and The Delilah Dusticle series.

First, a bit about A. J.:

A. J. York is the author of the middle grade fantasy series called The Delilah Dusticle Adventures. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden and raised in the UK, her first love was telling stories through drama. 


"I have always enjoyed making up characters and their life stories, therefore I jumped at the chance to study theatre at the University of Brighton. I later trained as a drama teacher, and I have a Master's degree from Goldsmiths. I have gone back to my roots and now live in Gothenburg. People have told me they love reading my stories, and I hope you have fun reading them too!"

Why did you pick to write books for MG?

I do not recall choosing to write MG books. It just happened that way. The idea for Delilah Dusticle manifested itself over time, and I felt compelled to write her story. I am considering writing in a different genre, but middle grade fantasy really allows your imagination to soar. It brings me a great amount joy.
What types of books do you like to read?

I like to mix and match my genres, depending on my mood and where I am. I love MG, but I also love to read adult books. I am currently reading a self- help book Feel the Fear and do it Anyway. Later this month, I will be visiting a town in Sweden called Ystad, where author Henning Mankell’s series about Kurt Wallander is set. I will of course be taking one of his novels with me.

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

I live in Scandinavia, and the winter can be really dark. In summer I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors, preferably by the beach or in the park. I am an avid tea drinker, and I love to hang out in cafes. At other times I can be found trying to get into a pose in a yoga class.

Tell us about The Delilah Dusticle series and how the story came to be.

The Delilah Dusticle Series is about a girl with a special power over dust. It is just after the war, and Delilah is working as a maid. She makes the house sparkle, and the lady of the house is the envy of her friends. There are two stories available, Delilah Dusticle and Delilah Dusticle's Transylvanian Adventure. The third, Delilah Dusticle and the Cursed Tempest, will be released this year.

I have also written a bonus story that can be read as a stand-alone called Eliza Bluebell. She and her shadow travel from town to town changing the lives of the locals forever. Eliza Bluebell may make an appearance in a future Delilah Dusticle story. All stories have been described as whimsical, enchanting and magical. They have also been likened to Mary Poppins and Peter Pan.

Here's a peek at Delilah Dusticle:






Delilah Dusticle has special powers. She can completely eradicate dust. With her quiver pouch of special dusters, Delilah can run up walls, reaching places others just can’t. As a maid in the Fenchurch-Whittington house, Delilah’s unusual skills soon lead to her being promoted to Chief Dust Eradicator and Remover. Until one day, when a broken heart leads to her powers taking an expected turn.





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

So far, I have only written middle grade books. However, I do have an idea for a murder mystery, set in my home town in England. I am currently writing notes for it.

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

I am writing two other stories at the moment, Delilah Dusticle’s Mission Impossible and Tallulah the Christmas Fairy. The latter I hope to have ready by Christmas, the fourth in The Delilah Dusticle Series will be ready next year.

What advice do you have for other authors?

There is a wealth of information for authors online. I often scour the internet looking for answers to my questions. I read an article recently about JK Rowling and her speech at Harvard University. She talked about how failure played its part in her life. The thing that stood out the most was even in the darkest time in her life, while living in poverty, she listened to her desire to complete what mattered most to her. This was inspiring, and I intend to work on not being afraid to fail, that whatever happens, I will complete the things that matter to me.
Anything else you want readers to know?

All my stories are illustrated by Gavin Childs. Here is an illustration of Doris from Delilah Dusticle’s Transylvanian Adventure.





Where can readers find you and your books?

A. J.'s website
Twitter
Goodreads
Facebook

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble
Posted by at 5 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Meet Historical MG/YA Author Laurel A. Rockefeller

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes MG/YA historical author Laurel A. Rockefeller. She is the author of numerous stories about the fascinating women in history.

First, a bit about Laurel:

Born, raised, and educated in Lincoln, Nebraska USA, author-historian Laurel A. Rockefeller educates while she entertains, encouraging readers to think about current events and history in a completely new way. Using exhaustive and comprehensive research across dozens of academic disciplines, Laurel's stories come alive so vividly it is easy to forget you are learning something new.

 Why did you pick to write books for MG/YA?

I never actually set out to write for MG/YA per se, actually, but more for a general audience where everyone in the family can enjoy a book or film. When I was a child, the first movie I ever watched in a theatre was watched with three generations of my family. Likewise, for a couple years when I was young, our entire family sat around the tree and read A Christmas Carol aloud together. That experience really imprinted on me the value of creative works that people can enjoy together.  Especially in today’s world where everything is so sliced up and niched, and where we are usually alone in a crowd, I feel it is important to restore the social aspect of enjoying a great book or film, of doing things together again. 

My work reflects that, especially with the Legendary Women of World History Series of biographies for young readers. The audio editions—narrated by British voice artist Richard Mann—allow children as young as four to enjoy these inspiring stories, are written to about the second or third grade reading level, and yet are so rich in detail and information that most adults are shocked at how much they are learning from these compelling creative non-fiction true stories. And this is how it should be. Instead of telling our children fairy tales, I feel we should be inspiring our children (and ourselves) with true stories about people who really made a difference.

 What types of books do you like to read?

I generally prefer non-fiction, especially science, history, and politics.

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

Believe it or not, I really do love working and researching for my books. History is a lifelong passion of mine since I was very young, and I love reading historical research and watching documentaries and historical films. Love biographical motion pictures, especially those by the BBC. The Imitation Game is my latest obsession. I also love sharing what I learn with people. I write the Legendary Women of World History Series out of a genuine passion for these stories.

Beyond history, I enjoy English country dancing, attending live theatre and concerts, singing and writing music, and spending time with friends. When I’m in a crafty mood, I spin with a drop spindle, something I learned to do in the twenty some years I spent in the Society for Creative Anachronism.  I tried archery once and really do want to pursue that again.

I also spend a lot of time on social media. I love talking to people and being social. I am probably one of the most easy to reach authors online and will spend hours talking to a single reader about really anything and everything (within certain limits of privacy). I love reaching out to people and hearing their stories as well.

Tell us about Catherine de Valois and how the story came to be.

I am a huge Shakespeare fan. Shakespeare, Arthurian legends, and tales of Robin Hood made me fall in love with England. One of my favourite plays is Henry V, especially the Kenneth Branagh adaptation. Shakespeare takes King Henry’s side in his storytelling, but I was always fascinated by Princess Catherine. 

After launching The Legendary Women of World History Series with Boudicca:  Britain’s Queen of the Iceni in March 2014, it seemed only logical to tell Catherine’s story as the second book. What I discovered along the way was that Shakespeare’s depiction of Catherine as this giddy romantic who could not wait to marry Henry could not have been further from the truth. Henry, like Richard the Lionheart, was a soldier who loved killing and glorified war and slaughter. His marriage with Catherine was likely very unhappy. Fortunately for Catherine, Henry’s refusal to honour the Treaty of Troyes led to his early death after only two years of marriage. What happened next launched the most famous dynasty in history: the Tudors.

 Here's a peek at Catherine de Valois:

“Must we do this, Mother?” asked Catherine, pacing furiously.

“What choice do we have, Catherine? The blood of the women and children of Rouen cry out for action. We must meet with King Henry this day or risk further slaughter,” conceded Queen Isabeau, her heart equally furious and grieved at the same time at Henry’s atrocities in Rouen.

“I do not want to meet him! I hate him! I have never heard of any living man being so vile and disgusting to me!”

“It is said that he is otherwise to his own English people, that he governs them kindly and with great skill.”

“But what about the Welsh, Mother? Was he kind to them when he slaughtered them while his father reigned?” countered Catherine. “I know it is my duty as your daughter – but you know how I hate violence, especially against the innocent. How are the Welsh any different than us? All they wanted was to not be slaves to this conqueror. We of all people understand this!”

Before Isabeau could respond, the door opened. Jacques de Heilly entered with a bow, “Your Majesty, Your Highness may I introduce you to Henry, by God’s grace King of England.”

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

Catherine de Valois is one of twenty books, novellas, and flash fiction stories I’ve published since August, 2012. Joining Catherine and Boudicca in 2015 were Mary Queen of the Scots and Queen Elizabeth I of England in Journey to Gloriana

American Stories has two books: the flash fiction A New Start in the Niobrara for Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley about Irish immigration to Nebraska and the 70 page non-fiction American Poverty: Why America’s Treatment of the Poor Undermines Its Authority As a World Power which is a thoughtful comparative analysis looking at the real face of poverty in the USA, how poverty here differs from poverty among our closest allies, and what each of us can do to make life in America truly great again.

The Peers of Beinan Series is a six volume (one flash fiction, two novellas, and a completed novel trilogy) social science fiction series exploring a medieval monarchy in another galaxy. The books are: The First King (free flash fiction), Good-bye A672E92 Quintus, The Poisoned Ground, and the Legacy of Princess Anlei Trilogy: The Great Succession Crisis, The Ghosts of the Past, and Princess Anyu Returns. I offer a proper introduction to the series on YouTube.


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

Yes! I continue to work on additional LWWH biographies. The first of these for 2016 will be Empress Wu Zetian. Empress Wu is probably the most demonized woman in world politics, yet her wise rule led to some of the most important social and technological advancements in history. The prologue and epilogue are set in 1861 Beijing for a look at the Victorian Era from the Chinese point of view.

Joining her will be the Empress Matilda of England. Born 7th February 1102, Matilda was the daughter of Henry I and his only surviving heir after a shipwreck on the English channel killed her brothers. As the rightful heir to the throne, she journeyed to London for her coronation only to be driven out of the city and denied the throne in favour of her cousin Stephen. It is a fascinating story I can't wait to tell you!

 What advice do you have for other authors?

Talk to people not at them. Readers are really good at ignoring sales pitches. Stop trying to sell and spend more time interacting with people. Remember that people buy from people, not companies.

 Anything else you want readers to know?

My blog regularly runs a character profile column on Thursdays featuring books by largely undiscovered independent authors. Please take a look!

If you are an author with a children’s to young adult book, please apply for a character profile. 

It has been wonderful talking to you today!  I cannot wait to hear from each and every one of you reading this!

Where can readers find you and your books?

My office door is always open!

Connect with me on Twitter  and on Pinterest.
My blog is very active and full of great information about a wide range of topics.
Follow my YouTube channel.
If you ask me a question on social media or comment on any of my pins, videos, tweets, or blog posts, there is an excellent chance I will respond. Let’s have a conversation!

You can find my books:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iTunes/iBookstore
SmashWords
Goodreads
Posted by at 6 comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

Kid Lit Blog Hop #65

Welcome to the 65th Kid Lit Blog Hop where we continue to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists.
 
On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews
YA co-authors
and Historical YA author

You are always more than welcome to join us by popping in a post and hopping around to meet some of your fellow Kid Lit bloggers and authors! *** Please note that we are back to 2 Hops per month. The Hops will take place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. 
 

Hostesses:

Mother Daughter Book Reviews

Julie Grasso, Author/ Blogger

Cheryl Carpinello, Author / Blogger

Stacking Books

BeachBoundBooks

Music Teaching and Parenting

Pragmatic Mom

Reading Authors

The Logonauts

Spark and Pook

Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!

Kid Lit Blog Hop
 

Kid Lit Blog Hop Rules *Please Read*

1. Link up any Kid Lit related post in the Kid Lit Blog Hop. 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. Please link unique posts each time ~ no repeats please. *
* 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.*
2. Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS from the Kid Lit Blog Hop 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! 3. 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! 4. 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!

Happy Hopping!

 

KID LIT BLOG HOP

Posted by at 6 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Meet the YA Writing Duo: J.R. Matheson & Lee Bice-Matheson


Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes the mother-son writing team of Lee and J.R. Matheson who co-write a supernatural fiction series.

First, a bit about both:

J.R. and Lee are co-authors of Destiny’s Gate, Book Two in the Paige Maddison series, which is a literacy series and included in The Battle of the Books, 2012-2015. Destiny’s Gate holds a special place in Lee’s heart as it is her dream to write with her son, J.R., and they are the first Mom-Son supernatural fiction series writing team.

J.R. has always enjoyed writing. His first story—at the early age of 7 or 8—was a horror story about a young family being tormented by gremlins. At 11, he wrote his first full-length novel about a haunted island, but scrapped the project when a similar TV show was released (Lost). Now, over a decade later, he is overjoyed to be taking on a series project: co-authoring the Paige Maddison Series with his mom. He plans on pursuing graduate studies in pharmacology and neuroscience, with aims to improve the quality of life for people living with psychiatric illness.

Lee Bice-Matheson is the author of Wake Me Up Inside, Book One in the Paige Maddison Series, and is the recipient of the Literacy Award from the Readers' Advisory Panel of the Orillia Public Library. She has also contributed narratives to The Big Book of Canadian Hauntings. She found inspiration for the Paige Maddison Series through the encouragement of her beloved son, J. R. Matheson, and her husband and best friend, Kevin. Lee began with storytelling as a way to ward off bears along the trails her family often hiked. Lee is passionate about exploring ghosts, spirituality, family relationships, and higher awareness in her writing.

Why did you pick to write books for YA?

Lee:  I began to write for Young Adults as our home was a haven for our son and his friends. I thought if I’m going to write a series, why not for teenagers who have so much to deal with in this turbulent world we live in. Our series is an outlet and escapism for teens who deal with so much stress and pressure. And I am a teen at heart.  J.R. and I are happy to report that tweens are also reading our books and as are readers of all ages. That’s been a wonderful development for us.

What types of books do you like to read?

J.R.: I don’t necessarily have a favourite genre – I tend to freely float between horror, mystery, fantasy, and even some literary fiction – but I tend to be drawn to books with relatable, well-developed characters. I like books about friendship, loyalty, and love, but always set against the backdrop of some horrific events or dark worlds.

Lee: I like to read ghost stories, some horror, family relationships, but mainly non-fiction for me. I do not like to read fiction while writing our series.

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

J.R.: When I’m not writing, I’m usually studying. I’m fascinated by neuroscience and psychiatry, and even now that I’ve graduated with my B.Sc. and have a little bit of a break before I go off to graduate school, I’m still always learning about advances in neurology and neurobiology. Occasionally, you can also catch me playing video games or watching TV series online. I probably play League of Legends too often, and I think I’m watching about 5 or 6 shows at the moment.

Lee: My husband and I hike on trails. We love to explore Georgian Bay by boat and enjoy nature. I love loons, so anytime there’s a sighting, I’m overjoyed. We like to ‘unplug’ over most long weekends to experience life and travel often.

Tell us about Destiny's Gate and how the story came to be.

Lee: Destiny’s Gate is a continuation of the first book in the series titled Wake Me Up Inside. It begins exactly where the first book ended. I’ve read ghost stories since I was a little girl, and it is natural for me to write about this genre. I am fascinated by the idea that there is life after death and what it means to human beings. I am very lucky that J.R. loves the supernatural too.

 Here's a peek at Destiny's Gate:

Live from a place of love. It conquers all that is evil.

Shaken by the haunting from Conall, Paige Maddison hopes to put it behind her. When Paige’s premonitions, nightmares, and ghostly visions return, however, she realizes there is no way of getting back to the normal she once knew. Try as she might to adjust to her new life at the O’Brien Manor, dark forces begin to brew on the grounds of the haunted O’Brien estate. Paige becomes the unwilling target of the Earthbounds, anguished souls who seek revenge and retribution.

But where there is darkness, there is also light. Through an enigmatic string of events that has her questioning who she truly is, Paige soon learns that she is not only being watched over by guardians of both the spirit and mortal realms, but also being called upon by a greater power beyond her wildest comprehension. As her world is turned upside down, Paige faces a life-changing dilemma: Should she embrace her special gift and fulfill the destiny that is unfolding before her? Or will she succumb to the evil that surrounds her and deny her true identity? 

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.
J.R.: I wrote a novel when I was a wee lad about a haunted island. I’ve gone back to it a few times, but it needs so much work I don’t know if I’ll ever consider publishing it. It was about a group of students who end up crash-landing on an island in the Atlantic, only to find out that there are dragons, zombies, and other horrific creatures inhabiting the island, and that the ruler of the island has drawn them there with a special plan in mind.

Lee: Not before starting this series. Previously, I wrote Wake Me Up Inside, Book One in the Paige Maddison Series. I took a writing course from the Children's Institute, and my mentor advised me upon graduation that I could begin writing a novel. I was thrilled to hear this endorsement from Cheryl Zach, author of over 40 books! http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/z/cheryl-zach/

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?J.R. & Lee: We are working on Book Three in the Paige Maddison Series, and we think it’s going to be our best yet. Sorry, we don’t want to give anything away about our next book, so we’ll leave it there.
 
J.R.: I’m also working on a solo novel (or rather, have been working on and off for years), and I would really like to get that out there one of these days. It’s about a girl in her mid-twenties who inherits her parents’ estate after they die in a car accident, and her subsequent realization that there’s something wrong with the house she grew up in. It’s not a ghost story, by the way! I leave that area to my mom.

What advice do you have for other authors?

J.R.: The best advice I can give is to never give up and to stay positive about your writing. You will inevitably get some criticism because not everyone is going to like your work, but that doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer! I believe there’s an audience for everyone’s work, so just never forget that, and keep writing no matter what happens.

Lee: Practice, practice, practice. And write daily! Even when you think you have nothing to write, sit at the computer, or at your notebook, and see what happens. You’ll be surprised at what can come to mind.

Anything else you want readers to know?

Thank you so much, Cheryl, for hosting us on your blog! We were delighted to be asked and  thrilled to be a part of your world. We are also grateful to all of the Independent Bookstores that host us as well as the Canadian chain, Chapters.Indigo.ca.

Where can readers find you and your books?
Website
Twitter
Facebook

Destiny's Gate
  
Friesen Press
Amazon CA
Amazon US
iBook
Chapters Indigo CA

Posted by at 10 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)