The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper Blog Tour

 

Carpinello's Writing Pages is excited to be a stop on Fiona Ingram's Blog Tour for her exciting Middle Grade adventure story The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. It is the third book in The Chronicles of the Stone series.

About the Book:

 

Title: THE TEMPLE OF THE CRYSTAL TIMEKEEPER:

CHRONICLES OF THE STONE BOOK 3


Author: Fiona Ingram


Publisher: Bublish Inc.


Pages: 318


Genre: Juvenile (preteen) / Action / Adventure


 

BOOK BLURB:
 

A plane crash! Lost in the jungle! Hunted by their old enemy, will Adam, Justin, and Kim survive long enough to find the Third Stone of Power? With only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, the kids make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the lost city of stone gods, where the Stone of Power might be located. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task. Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?
 

 

About the Author:
 

Fiona Ingram is a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, she was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked her new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with her mother and two young nephews. They had a great time and she thought she’d write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned book series later, she had changed careers. She has now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in her middle grade adventure series Chronicles of the Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and several for Book 3! She also teaches online novel writing for aspiring authors and she finds that very satisfying. Fiona’s experience with raising an adopted, disadvantaged African child struggling with literacy got her interested in the subject and she has written numerous articles on child literacy. Relaxation time finds her enjoying something creative or artistic, music, books, going to the theater or ballet. She enjoys doing research for her book series. Fiona loves animals and has written two animal rescue stories. She has two adorable (naughty) little rescue dogs called Stanley and Pumpkin, and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.
 

 

Praise:
“Action, danger, and excitement are the key words for the riveting adventure novel, The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper ... Its spellbinding storyline explores the history of the Aztec and Maya gods and their cities with exceptional accuracy; this is one of those books you can’t put down. With authentic historical facts expertly woven into this spectacular action-packed fiction series, no one of any age can resist its magnetism. This is a fascinating and exciting fiction story created with expertise and finesse, which educates while entertaining the reader.”
— Susan Williams, for Readers Favorite

USA Book Awards:

 
• Winner Pre-teen Readers’ Favorite Book Awards 2017
• Winner Book Excellence Awards 2018
•  NYC Big Book Awards Distinguished Favorite 2018

Read the first chapter and receive a free download of The Young Explorer’s Companion Guide, a nonfiction guide to the journey and cover history, geography, mythology and subject kids will love to learn more about. In this guide, your child will discover the story behind The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper and experience the history of the Maya and Aztecs as well as ind out who was the ancient priest-king Topiltzin and why he is important.

Click here to read the first chapter and download your free copy of The Young Explorer’s Companion Guide!

Book Excerpt:

A guard turned Adam round to face Smoking Mirror again. It was horrible being so close to this evil man. He seemed like a giant, and his gaze bored into Adam as he leaned down from his throne to stare at Adam. His eyes were cold, hard, and utterly pitiless.

“Oh, but he is very … very special. In fact, quite extraordinary. I did not realize the true significance before, but now I see it.” Smoking Mirror spoke in a silky whisper as he stared fixedly at Adam. “You see, this boy has the fire hair and the pale skin of the god Quetzalcoatl who came to my land from far across the sea. This boy also bears the mark of an ancient civilization, yes?”

“Er … yes,” said Dr. Khalid in a sulky tone, shooting a quick, angry glance at Adam that seemed to say, “Now look what you’ve done!”

“In fact, the mark is from your civilization, no?”

“No … er, I mean, yes,” Dr. Khalid gabbled. “It is the ankh, the sign of life.”

“The sign of life?” Smoking Mirror shouted. “Then we will extinguish that life!”

He leaped up and screamed an announcement in the people’s language. The crowd remained silent except for a few women who began crying. But not a minute later, a deep collective groan arose from the gathering. Smoking Mirror’s warriors cheered and clattered their weapons against their shields as he continued with his speech.
 

Adam turned his head a little to one side, trying to catch Tukum’s eye. “What’s he saying?” he whispered, although he sensed already that it was bad.
 

Tukum’s head drooped. “He says this is the ultimate battle, because you represent the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, or Kukulkan to the Maya. He says the game will prove who is the ultimate winner.”
 

Adam could hardly speak. His heart had begun pounding so hard it felt like a hammer against his ribs. He was breathless for a moment. This was the confrontation Kotz had spoken of, but it would be impossible to defeat Tezcatlipoca.
 

“So he thinks we’ll lose?” Adam asked.
 

“Yes,” said Tukum.
 

“What if we win?” asked Justin. “It’s possible.”
 

Tukum gave him a despairing look. “How can we win?”

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Meet MG Author Fiona Ingram

Carpinello's Writing Pages is please to welcome back Fiona Ingram, an old friend and fellow Quest author. We have known each other for several years after discovering that we write similar books for middle grade readers. As an adult reader, I love Fiona's books and look forward to learning about  ancient and not so ancient cultures.

Here's a bit about Fiona:

I am a South African children’s author. Up until a few years ago, I was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked my new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with my mother and two young nephews. We had a great time and I thought I’d write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned book series later, I had changed careers. I am now on Book 5. I also teach online novel writing for aspiring authors and I find that very satisfying.

Why did you pick to write books for MG?

It was a complete accident that I ended up writing for the middle grade audience. However, this is the age when I remember loving books and the feeling of awe, wonder, and anticipation when I opened the pages of an exciting book and entered a magical world. So that’s where I feel most comfortable writing.

What types of books do you like to read, and what do you do when you are not writing?

Given that I write adventure for young explorers, it isn’t hard to imagine how much I enjoy adventure stories. Anything to do with ancient artifacts, historical mysteries, uncovering of secrets of the past – that’s my kind of book. However, because all my books are meticulously researched, I end up reading a lot of non-fiction as well. I also like travel, movies, music, and taking walks with my dogs.

Tell us about The Secret of the Sacred Scarab and how the story came to be.

Egypt was the catalyst in this adventure, and I never expected to write a book, just a short story. But as writers know, once a story comes to life, there’s no stopping it. The Secret of the Sacred Scarab was inspired by a trip I took to Egypt with my mom and my two nephews, then aged 10 and 12. We had an amazing time exploring this wonderful, ancient culture. When I came back, I thought a short story with my young relatives as the heroes would be a unique memory of an amazing trip. I also put myself in as the boys' aunt and my mother in as their intrepid adventure-loving Gran. Many of the characters and events in the book were inspired by people we met and our experiences in Egypt. Six months later I was hard at work in the first book and had already planned an entire series. If you love history, geography, action, adventure, archaeology, and a story that grips you from page one (plus lots of danger!) then this is the book for you. This will also appeal to anyone who wants to save the world or (for those readers a little older) remembers their plans to do so! As I neared the end of the book, I realized that one book was not enough time to save the world. There had to be more!

Here's a peek at The Secret of the Sacred Scarab:

In this exciting Middle Grade adventure set in Egypt, a 5000-year-old mystery comes to life. A scruffy peddler gives Adam and Justin Sinclair an old Egyptian scarab on their very first day in Egypt. Only when the evil Dr. Faisal Khalid shows a particular interest in the cousins and their scarab, do the boys realise they are in terrible danger. Dr. Khalid wants the relic at all costs.

Justin and Adam embark upon the adventure of a lifetime, taking them down the Nile and across the harsh desert in their search for the legendary tomb of the Scarab King, an ancient Egyptian ruler. They are plunged into a whirlpool of hazardous and mysterious events when Dr. Khalid kidnaps them. They learn more about the ancient Seven Stones of Power and the mysterious Shemsu-Hor. They must translate the hieroglyphic clues on the underside of the scarab, as well as rescue the missing archaeologist James Kinnaird, and their friend, the Egyptologist Ebrahim Faza, before time runs out!

How do you research your stories?

I get my storyline down, leaving room for changes and new developments, and then I research around the themes. However, once I started writing book one and realized that more books were in the offing, I already began researching the links that would tie all the books together. So, a lot of the heavy lifting has already been done in the process of creating book one. I have a big A4 notebook with all kinds of notes written down. That’s my story Bible.

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

The next book is The Search for the Stone of Excalibur set in Britain, and if you are a King Arthur fan, this is the book for you. This is also a big turning point in the overall plot arc and what happens here resounds though the next two books. Next comes Book 3, The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper, set in the jungles of Mexico. If you are a fan of the Maya and the Aztecs, this is for you. Book 4 is set in the catacombs of Paris, The Treasure of the Knights Templar. If you are a Templar fan, you will love this.

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

I am about to start Book 5, The Eye of the Indian Idol, although a lot is already down in my rough notes. I am fascinated by the ancient culture of India and am looking forward to the research and fun of writing this adventure.



What advice do you have for other authors?

I have 3 simple tips that I have learned from experts in the trade. 1. Never give up. 2. Make sure your book meets the highest publishing standards. (Do not cut corners on editing, cover design, and layout.) 3. The cheapest form of marketing is word of mouth – it’s free. So, every day, in some way, tell people about your book/s.


Anything else you want readers to know?

If you are a parent struggling to get your child interested in reading, make sure your child sees you reading, let your child read what interests them, not what you think they should be reading. Make sure there are books and interesting magazines in the home, so your child is surrounded by printed matter. Tip: A print book has so many more benefits than an e-reader but go with what your child enjoys. If possible and if your child is of an age to enjoy reading with you, take 10 minutes every night to read a story together. This bonding cements the love of reading in your child who will reap incredible rewards in their future education.


Where can readers find you and your books?

Book website: www.chroniclesofthestone.com
Facebook book series page: https://www.facebook.com/chroniclesofthestone/
Fiona’s Twitter: @FionaRobyn  http://twitter.com/FionaRobyn
Author Site: http://www.FionaIngram.com
Adventure Quest Books where you can find Fiona, Wendy, and me 

Amazon page

Great Summer Reads 2020, Day 2, with Fiona Ingram

Carpinello's Writing Pages presents Day 2 of Loving the Book's Great Summer Reads with my friend and fellow Quest author Fiona Ingram. Her books in the series Chronicles of the Stone are excellent reads for young and old in search of adventure and settings in ancient and medieval worlds. Click here to read Fiona's interview.

So Enjoy Day 2!

I am a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, I was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked my new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with my mother and two young nephews. We had a great time and I thought I’d write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned book series later, I had changed careers. I have now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in my MG adventure series Chronicles of the Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and one already for Book 3! I also teach online novel writing for aspiring authors and I find that very satisfying. Relaxation time finds me enjoying something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. I love doing research for my book series. I love animals and have written two animal rescue stories. I have two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin, and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.

 
 
~ Book Site ~ Author Site ~
~ LinkedIn ~ Blog ~
~ Twitter ~

In this exciting Middle Grade adventure set in Egypt, a 5000-year-old mystery comes to life. A scruffy peddler gives Adam and Justin Sinclair an old Egyptian scarab on their very first day in Egypt. Only when the evil Dr. Faisal Khalid shows a particular interest in the cousins and their scarab, do the boys realise they are in terrible danger. Dr. Khalid wants the relic at all costs. Justin and Adam embark upon the adventure of a lifetime, taking them down the Nile and across the harsh desert in their search for the legendary tomb of the Scarab King, an ancient Egyptian ruler. They are plunged into a whirlpool of hazardous and mysterious events when Dr. Khalid kidnaps them. They learn more about the ancient Seven Stones of Power and the mysterious Shemsu-Hor. They must translate the hieroglyphic clues on the underside of the scarab, as well as rescue the missing archaeologist James Kinnaird, and their friend, the Egyptologist Ebrahim Faza, before time runs out!

 

~ Universal Amazon Link ~ 
~ B&N ~ iTunes ~

Top Ten List:

My Top Ten (in no particular order):

1.     Travel – I have been fortunate enough to visit many countries but there are still more on my list.

2.     Animals – I love animals and wish I had tons of money to donate to many of the causes I read about. One day, I will!

3.     Movies – I LOVE movies. Detective, thrillers, animal feel goods, historical series, adventure, action, marvel character movies, I love it!

4.     Books – I LOVE books, of course, and still have many of my old childhood favourites inherited from my parents and grandparents.

5.     Music – listening to music, mainly classical and movie themes, is very relaxing.

6.     Theatre and ballet – would you believe it I started out studying drama at university, went to drama school in London and mime school in Paris, came back home and ended up in writing and publishing.

7.     Writing – not just writing middle grade adventures though. I have an alter ego named Arabella Sheraton who writes Regency romances and has actually written more books than I have. Arabella is the proud author of eight books so far. Do I have a problem wearing two hats? Not at all. I love jumping into a historical fiction romance and having fun.

8.     Antiques and collectibles – I have inherited so many beautiful antiques (furniture and collectibles) but that hasn’t stopped me browsing flea markets and antique shops to enjoy the beautiful items of yesteryear and sometimes buy.

9.    Friends/family – getting together with good friends is something that can’t be beaten. I love having friends/family over and making a great dinner for us to enjoy.

10. Giving talks on child literacy – I didn’t start off as an expert on child literacy, but after I fostered and later adopted my daughter Mabel (a disadvantaged young African girl) I had to learn pretty quickly because she came to me just about illiterate at age eleven. From my experiences in teaching Mabel to read, I then was asked to address many institutions and groups on the topic. I enjoy helping parents and teachers to get kids to love reading.

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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Fiona Ingram's "The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper"

Continuing the adventure that ended in Britain just a short while ago, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair, with their friend Kim Maleka, are now hunting for the third Stone of Power, one of seven mysterious stones lost centuries ago. The third stone might be located in an ancient city, hidden in the depths of the Mexican jungle. When their small plane crashes in the jungle, Adam, Justin, Kim, and James are rescued by an uncontacted tribe. James, who is wounded, must stay behind as the kids, with only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the city. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task.

Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on in search of the lost city of stone gods. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?

~ Amazon ~ Website ~ Amazon UK ~ 

~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia ~

I am a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, I was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked my new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with my mother and two young nephews. We had a great time and I thought I’d write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned book series later, I had changed careers. I have now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in my MG adventure series Chronicles of the Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and one already for Book 3! I also teach online novel writing for aspiring authors and I find that very satisfying. Relaxation time finds me enjoying something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. I love doing research for my book series. I love animals and have written two animal rescue stories. I have two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin, and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.

Connect with the Author here: 

~ Blog ~ Website ~ Amazon ~ Twitter ~

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The Chronicles of the Stone series is an adventure-filled ride for middle graders and adults. In Book 1 — The Secret of the Sacred Scarab—readers travel through the land of the pharaohs and across the steamy deserts of the mysterious Egypt with Justin and Adam as they search for the first Stone and face a deadly enemy. In Book 2—The Search for the Stone of Excalibur—readers find themselves dodging not only their enemy Dr. Khalid, but a group called the Eaters of Poison as the boys, joined by young Kim, attempt to capture the second Stone of Power.



Now, in Book 3—The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper—Fiona once again literally drops readers and her intrepid young seekers of the Stones in the jungles of exotic Mexico where they encounter a familiar enemy and attract the unwanted attention of Smoking Mirror, an enemy who may be even more deadly than Dr. Khalid. Led by one no older than they, the three flee deeper in the jungle as young Tukum vows to led them to the hidden city and possibly the third stone. Be prepared to be thrust into the little known culture of the Aztec, the Mayan, and the uncontacted people in this latest non-stop adventure!
 
I enjoyed catching up with this group of young adventurers. Non-stop action, danger around every turn, as well as the magic and mystery surrounding the ancient jungles and people of Mexico will be sure to keep readers turning pages. I can't wait to see where we will travel to next!

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     Adam opened his eyes. The screaming sound of tearing metal had stopped. So had the thudding and the rush of breaking branches outside his window. Still strapped in his seat, he hung upside-down at an angle. His seat belt was the only thing preventing him from hurtling through the gaping hole in the roof of the plane and onto the jungle floor. The strap cut into his chest as his whole weight pressed against the fabric. He craned his neck, twisting awkwardly to see the others. His body ached after the awful jarring and jolting when the plane fell. He shoved his hand into his right-side pants pocket to feel for his golden scarab. It was safe. Relieved, he squeezed the scarab for a few seconds to get his courage up. It felt warm and comforting.

Check out the Book Trailers of the first 2 books in the series

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 

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