Willoughby the Narrator Book Launch

Book Information:

Title:  Willoughby the Narrator, Book 7 of the Princelings of the East series
Author:  Jemima Pett
Genre:  older middle grade mystery adventure – age 10+
Words:  55,000
Formats: 
eBook: ASIN B06XVZTCB7 / ISBN 9781370770830 (cover with dark lettering)
Paperback: 276 pages; ISBN 9781366081049 (cover with light lettering)

Summary:

Just where did Willoughby, who first appeared in the Talent Seekers (book 5), learn his ninja skills? How did he come to be a Narrator?

And what happened after he fell from the high tower at Castle Deeping?

Discover Willoughby’s origins, his big secret, and follow his adventures as he travels around, telling stories and acting as an undercover agent for the rich and powerful, as dark deeds start causing big trouble between the rival castles.

As might be expected from a Narrator, Willoughby tells his story with style and panache, starting with his somewhat surprising arrival in the Realms.

Lovers of the series will enjoy this latest tale, but newcomers may find it easier to start with book 1 or book 5. It’s a mystery adventure in a world not quite like ours, suitable for age 11 and upwards.


Excerpt in which Willoughby tries out the sport of wall-running (running around the vertical inner sides of the castle walls) for the first time:

I wasn’t laughing now. We moved to the windowsill and crouched on it, ready to jump out. The starter yelled ‘go’ and dropped a flag, and I let Prince Kevin get away first, since he was due to start behind me. He’d been eyeing me up and strutting a bit, and I didn’t feel the need to take him on. He was about my age, and if I did this another time, I reckoned we’d meet then. I wasn’t wrong.

I swung myself out on the window ledge and let the fall forces take my body down and then around, with momentum to fly up to the next floor. I let go of one ledge and turned upside down to grab the ledge below with my nails, and swung again, sideways this time, to the next window. I got a real swing on and made it to the brickwork on the corner. Then I leapt sideways high onto the second wall, sliding a little to the third level, where I thought I saw Diesel’s face pull back as I arrived at the brickwork bar dividing the central glass panes. I brought my back legs around to the bar and sprang off it, leaping horizontally but with my tummy to the castle wall, to catch the next window’s bar and repeat the manoeuvre. I couldn’t do it a third time as a competitor was already on the next window, but I swung down a floor and passed another coming up from the first floor as I made the edge there.  I think she slipped, but I ignored her and bounded for the next window and then onto a pole that stuck out. Someone had said it was for banners on feast days. There would be another one opposite. Bearing that in mind, I quickly rounded the next corner, which was a shorter side, flicked myself along three windows, and leapt for the pole matching the one I’d left behind.

Every now and then the crowd roared, but I barely noticed; I was concentrating on the next move. I suddenly realised Champion Christopher was in front of me, and I wondered if he was leading again.  I went to overtake him by a double swing from the third floor ledges, but he ducked beneath me and I slipped right to the ground floor window. The crowd below me scattered so I didn’t touch them and disqualify myself. I got through a loop of swinging to wind myself back up to leap for the last wall, but collided with Prince Kevin, and we both fell to the ground, caught by the crowd and set back on our feet. He glared at me; I felt his anger in more than just the heat of his eyes. I had a feeling that Kevin and I would meet again. Probably often. I bowed to him, and he bowed back. I wasn’t sure that meant anything, but I turned away and made my way through the crowd to the centre where the announcer was commentating. Huge cheers rang out: Champion Christopher had won again. I was right not to put him off his line, since one of the visitors I’d met in the practice was a close second. I joined in the cheering with the rest of them, and I’m sure he gave me a special wave.

Wall-running.  My new favourite pastime!

© J M Pett 2017  Willoughby the Narrator, Ch 3.


Buy Links: 

eBooks:
iTunes ** B&N ** Kobo
Smashwords
AmazonUS** AmazonUK ** AmazonCA ** AmazonAU
Paperback: AmazonUS ***  Book Depository



About the Author:

Jemima & Fred

Jemima wrote her first book when she was eight years old. She was heavily into world-building, drawing maps, building railway timetables, and dreaming of being a champion show-jumper, until schoolwork got in the way and she went down the science path, writing research papers, manuals and reports, as well as editing the newsletters for her sports clubs. Forty years on she started writing stories about her guinea pigs and their adventures in a fantasy world where everything ran on strawberry juice. Eventually the Princelings of the East took shape, originally intended as a trilogy, but the characters just wouldn’t lie down.  The planned ending will now be with book ten.

Meanwhile, Jemima continues to enjoy the company of new guinea pigs in her home in Norfolk, UK. Only Kevin is left of the ones in the stories to date, and he runs their blog ‘George’s Guinea Pig World‘. Check out their posts for the A to Z Challenge, too!

Contact Jemima Pett:
Blog ** Amazon ** Goodreads ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Pinterest ** Smashwords


Rafflecopter – Giveaway prizes will include a gift card, copies of the ebook internationally, and paperback and swag for a UK winner. The number of prizes will depend on the number of participating blogs. The closing date is midnight of 5th/6th May, New York time.

Writing Tips & the 83rd Kid Lit Blog Hop

Carpinello's Writing Pages is back with writing tips from authors we've interviewed in January and February 2016. Please feel feel to leave your own advice in the comments.

I guess I would try to demystify novel-writing as 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. There are many good ideas for books, but authors are people who develop ideas into books. Sure, I’ve heard the stories of authors sitting down, starting to type, and hammering out their novels from beginning to end (with a slap-dash pull of the last page from what in my mind is the cartridge of a typewriter). But that’s uncommon, in my opinion. I use many practical tools to maintain control over my writing—outlining, charting, diagramming, deep questioning—and I revise, revise, and revise, then revise some more—Marie C. Collins, author of A Brief Stay at Earth Human Camp

Keep writing. Keep networking. Make yourself a real person. Enable people to get to know you. One thing I have learned about being an author is it is so much more than just writing. You must interact on social media. This is more than saying, “buy my book.” It is a matter of letting people know what your interests are and sharing about them. I don’t sell a book by saying, “buy my book”. I sell books when I introduce myself, talk about my kids, and why I write. Eventually, someone says, “what is your book about?” That is when I sell a book—Kandi Wyatt, author of Dragon's Future

The main advice I have is don’t give up. From what I’ve read, it seems like every author has a different process, but all seem to agree that you need to keep writing, every day if possible. I’ve found it incredibly helpful to set small writing goals and to track my first draft word count. When I first started my goal was to write only 300 words a day. This was so small that it seemed ridiculously easy. Most days I wrote over 700 words. That doesn’t sound like much, but it added up very quickl—David Brough, author of Del Ryder and the Crystal Seed

Being an indie author is so much more than just writing the manuscript. You need a great editor, formatter, and cover design person. Also, you need to know how to market a book in a constantly evolving media world. Surrounding yourself with people who have these tools is key—Tricia Copeland, author of Is this Me?   

And now,

Welcome back to another month of terrific children's literature on the April 2017 Kid Lit Blog Hop.

 

On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews

MG/YA Fantasy author

B. Roman

 

This hop takes place every 3rd Wednesday of the month. It is designed to engage a  group of people who love everything that has to do with children's literature. Everyone is welcome to join us: bloggers, authors, publicist, and publishers!

Have you seen the  Kid Lit Blog Hopper Facebook fan page? This page has all the news and information related to the hop plus ongoing posts, giveaways, news articles, etc. related to Kid's Lit. Check it out and of course, please like the page.

So for our hop, please make sure that your posts are related to Children’s literature only and add it to the linky. (Please make sure to add your direct post only) If you are an author, feel free just to link to your blog. Once you are done, then hop around to visit others. Please follow the co-host and visit at least the one or two people above your link. Please leave a comment when you do visit, we all like those.

Also, it would be appreciated if you grab the Kid Lit Blog Hop Badge and display it on your blog and/or your post. Note: Make sure you have the newest badge as the old one goes to the wrong page.
 
We would also be grateful if you tweet and/or posted on Facebook about the blog hop. Let’s grow this wonderful community.

Thanks for sharing your great children's books with all of us! The hostess will be around to see you.


Happy Hopping!

Reading Authors, Host

The Bookshelf Gargoyle

BeachBoundBooks

Cheryl Carpinello

Pragmatic Mom

The Logonauts

Spark and Pook

 

Add Your Link HERE

Meet MG/YA Author B. Roman

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes MG/YA author B. Roman. She has also had an extensive writing career in newspapers and magazine.

First, a bit about B. Roman:

I began performing as a jazz/pop vocalist while still a teenager and continued performing until recently. Through the years I was always writing in one form or another - be it poetry, essays and songs. I studied Communications and Journalism in college, became a staff and free lance writer for newspapers and magazines on the subjects of music, fitness, film, theater, and dance. I was published and also self-published books on music and its power to affect changes in your life and health. I also created and presented workshops on writing books for children and how to use original song lyrics as a way to develop self-awareness.

Why did you pick to write books for Middle Grade & YA?

Actually it was an accident (of fate?). After many years of writing on non-fiction subject matter, I was working for a software company in Santa Cruz when there was a complete power outage. With nothing to do for about 3 hours, I was inspired to write my first children’s book, “Horace Won’t Sing - Unless He Doesn’t Have To.” It’s a humorous combination of prose and poetry. Shortly after, I wrote two more children’s stories on sheer inspiration. I was thinking about a new picture book called “The Crystal Clipper,” but it grew and grew in scope and Voila! the first book in the Moon Singer Trilogy was born. I was hooked after that and finished Books 2 & 3 out of a compulsion to see the stories through. They can be considered middle grade and young adult books.

What types of books do you like to read?

I run the gamut - from spiritual books:  e.g., Conversations with God, The Alchemist, The Power of Myth, to John Grisham legal thrillers as well as Anne Perry Victorian mysteries. And everything in between. I don’t like Gothic-type books about vampires, dark underworlds, teen killing machines, horror. I tend to like books that appeal to a higher consciousness. Even a good mystery that pits good against evil - when goodness wins out - falls into that category.

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

Well, I still work a pretty demanding and rewarding job as an Activities coordinator in a retirement community, so that takes a lot of time. Before my knees gave out I loved to tap dance and hope to get back to some kind of dancing soon. I also love to listen to music in my car as I drive around and sing along.

Tell us about The Moon Singer Trilogy and how the story came to be.

The Moon Singer Trilogy comprises The Crystal Clipper, The War Chamber, and The Wind Rose.  The stories have their roots in my delving into spiritual and supernatural subjects. I actually own a Singer crystal – shaped like a small sailboat - that inspired the first adventure, The Crystal Clipper.  I found this unique crystal at a crystal workshop one day – actually, it found me – which, it is said, is what crystals are preordained to do. I would hold the crystal up and ponder it now and then, and a story began to take hold in my mind. 

I used my own knowledge of music, and much research, to develop the plot, and there are additional facets to the stories that are informed by my own feelings about social issues, war, ethics, personal integrity, and discovering how one’s “disability” (David is a deaf teen) can be one’s greatest gift. But it is the desire, of creating something more magnificent than mundane that the characters all share and move the stories vigorously along.

Here's a peek at The Moon Singer Trilogy:

Teenager David Nickerson tries to cope with a series of family crises:  his sister’s paralysis in the car crash that killed their mother, his father’s lingering guilt over the accident, and his deafness after a serious illness. Always one to escape into fantasy, David’s experiments with crystal energy conjures the supernaturally-powered clipper ship Moon Singer, which transports him on three amazing journeys to astonishing dimensions of time and space. The people he encounters all have a soul connection to him, and their lives are destined to intertwine many times over.

Strangely, in these other worlds David finds he can hear for the first time in years, while at home he is just as deaf as before. With the help of a young girl who has the power of immortality in her song, and through the musical synergy of three sacred artifacts, David learns how to use his natural silence to complete his missions: to save a life that means more to him than his own. Thus, his disability becomes his greatest gift.

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

Whatever Became of Sin? is my “debut” as an author of suspense fiction. It’s about an activist lawyer who fights corporate corruption and who discovers that the child he buried a few years back was not his real daughter; in a heinous scheme driven by racial hatred and sexual obsession the two babies were switched in order to cover up murder and political conspiracies. He must find his real daughter before she, too, is the next victim.

On a lighter note, Hubert in Heaven - a hi-tech angel gets his wings, is a sweet, Christmas-themed  picture book. A hologram in a video game, Hubert is accidentally transported to Heaven, where he must stay until he finds his purpose. As an aspiring angel, he must perform many Heavenly tasks which he attempts to automate with his personal computer - to disastrously delightful results.

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

Yes. I’m working on a Prequel to The Moon Singer Trilogy which delves into the mother/son relationship between David and Billie Nickerson. The story is set in the “here and the hereafter,”  telling the story from the Mother’s point of view before and after her death. It is more “chilling” and mysterious than the Trilogy and reveals why Billie decided to raise her son, David, to become a seeker of spiritual truth even though it places him in grave danger. The story is an illustration of a mother’s love and devotion that transcends the boundaries of time as she tries to guide her son to his destiny.

I’m also working on another suspense fiction with the wine industry as a backdrop to murder, scandal and lots of juicy surprises. While I love writing metaphysical fantasies, I like having something like a suspense story in the works to create a balance - and one genre seems to nurture the other for some reason.

Also, I want to have my other three children’s books published soon.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Write what inspires you, not what others think you should write. Be yourself, have your own voice. It’s a lot of hard work but if you are sincere in your craft you’ll find there are lots of people who are happy to help you reach your goals.

Anything else you want readers to know?

The age of self-publishing is a boon to writers of all genres and levels of experience.  Even if you think your book is not marketable to conventional publishers or ready for an agent, being able to produce your own books - that you can hold in your hands, and share and see and feel - is an amazing experience. I self published before I was picked up by Creativia Publishing and it opened new vistas of exposure for my writing. It also gave me the incentive to keep plugging away because I eventually found someone who now believes in me and my work. I’ve been writing for decades and am now breaking through.  So don’t give up.

Where can readers find you and your books?

All five are on Amazon as well as on my author page at Creativia Publishing. This link will give you some insights about each book and how I came to write them.