Meet Children's Fastasy Author E. P. Bellows via Pump Up Your Books

 

 

Carpinello's Writing Pages is excited to participate in Pump Up Your Books blog tour for E. P. Bellows. I love introducing my readers to new writers and their books. If you are not already a subscriber to Carpinello's Writing Pages, please sign up with your email in the box located lower down in the right side bar. Also, be sure to enter the Giveaway at the end of the post.

 

Now, let's learn a bit about E. P. Bellows:

I’ve been writing (when I can) for 15 years!  Born and raised in California, I’ve always been an outdoor kinda gal. When I’m not tucked away behind a computer screen, being active and sporty (grew up playing soccer), and goofing off with my 3 kiddos is my cup of tea. Jedi = life, so any movie night that includes anything Star Wars is a good night… Jedi mind tricks are always welcome and encouraged.
 

I live in wine country and enjoy visiting the wineries for a splash and a good meal. If I can drag myself out of bed early enough, I catch the hot air balloons floating over the vineyards. They are cool!
 

I’m a decades long Charger fan - which is emotional torment – sadly. Football brings out the “crazy lady” in me, complete with foul language and arguments with the refs through the tele.

Why did you pick to write books for children?

 

Those are the stories I love to tell. My favorite kind of story has the prefect amount of adventure and magic. Of course, you have to have a fantastically flawed hero and “rotten to the core” villain.

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

 

Books by the late Wayne Dyer, Neale Donald Walsch, and Deepok Chopra have inspired me. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is a fantastic pirate tale. I love just about anything by Roald Dahl. I can't forget Tolkien and C.S Lewis for windows into some amazing worlds and characters.

Tell us about Bandits of Basswood and how the story came to be.

 

Bandits of Basswood is the prequel to Alexander Drake’s adventure. I had already written about Alexander (Alexander Drake’s Extraordinary Pursuit), Jonn William’s son. Bandits of Basswood builds out the back story for the guardians, Imperius and how the adventure really unfolded hundreds of years before. John William’s adventure begins with the mysterious disappearance of his father in Azra’s Pith. John William was determined to find him.

 

He had no idea what dark forces he was up against. He never imagined being captured by bandits and taken to a ship riddled with river rats was part of his fate. Not just any bandits – the Bandits of Basswood, known to be a ruthless and wild crew of thieves. Trying to escape would be a ridiculous idea. No one ever escaped and lived to tell about it. Uncovering traces of his missing father gave him hope and upped the stakes. John William was determined to get off the ship alive and search for the missing pieces of the puzzle. The chase out of Basswood was on.

 

Here's a peek at Bandits of Basswood:  

 

Celeste stiffened her posture. “Here is the plan; one of you needs to help me free myself from this tie before the hatch opens again. I will take on my bird form and fly out of here. They won’t even know what happened. Once I tell my dad, the guards will come to save you.” Her tongue hovered over her upper lip as she strained to free her hands.
 

Ferdinand frowned. “That’s your plan, is it? Marvelous! You are just going to flutter off in the dark of night? You don’t even know how far away from Verhonia you are. Nonsense! You’re not doing it!”
 
“Why can’t you turn to a bird with your hands tied? Then you could free yourself and unfasten my ties.” John William wiggled around on the bench.
 
“I could break a wing or something worse. I’m not willing to risk it.” Celeste replied.
 
“A lot of good having your hands free will do when you are locked in a cabin surrounded by bandits and river rats!” Ferdinand huffed.
 
The boat jolted suddenly, throwing the three of them off their seats. Celeste’s eyes lit up. She waved her hands around. “I did it!” she shrieked.
 
The drunken slur of a bandit came from the other side of the hatch. “I don’t want any foolery in there!” The hatch shifted and wiggled.
 
“Don’t worry,” Celeste whispered and smiled at John William. Within seconds, she was a beautiful red robin flying around the cabin. The hatch swung open and out she flew, nearly hitting the bandit in the face.
 
“Oh, great,” Ferdinand grumbled.
 
The bandit swung his arm. “What the – how did a bird get in here? Hey, you lazy lumps! Catch that bird; let’s boil it for dinner!” He laughed belligerently. The bandit reeked. He must have been saturated from head to toe with rum.
 
John William and Ferdinand exchanged nervous glances.
 
The bandit poked his head in and looked around. “Hey! Where’s the girl?” He stumbled inside, knocking ship tools and other small objects around with his tail.
 
John William and Ferdinand remained quiet, looking like they both swallowed the same canary. The bandit stood over John William, swaying with his hands on his hips.
 
“Well, where is the princess, wart? Did you help her escape?”
 
John William cleared his throat. “I, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
 
“Is that so?” The bandit pulled a knife from his belt with a taunting smile.
 
“She escaped,” Ferdinand blurted. “We tried to stop her, but she refused to listen. She went out the hatch and jumped overboard.”
 
“Impossible.” The bandit rubbed his fingers over his oily fur.
 
“Wait a minute… who are you?”
 
“Um, I believe I am Captain Vic’s supper.” The hopper stuck out his pudgy belly.
 
“It’s true! I heard the splash, myself,” declared John William, trying to take the focus off Ferdinand. The bandit examined their faces.
 
“Plunk – it sounded just like that,” said Ferdinand with a shaky laugh.
 
“Plunk?” The bandit’s soggy, rum-soaked face crinkled in confusion.
 
“Yes, yes, that’s right… plunk,” Ferdinand squeaked.
 
The bandit stormed out of the cabin. “The princess escaped! Get up, you twits!” He ran around the boat, banging his blade on an iron pot, making as much racket as one drunken bandit possibly could. The other bandits stirred.
 
Ferdinand shook his head with terror in his eyes. “We’re in for it now, boy….”

How do you go about researching for your stories?
 
A healthy amount of my own wild imagination and watching my kiddos play gives me all the inspiration I can handle. The setting was inspired from a childhood of wandering through the woods around my grandmother’s house and bicycling to the creek to catch frogs. After reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, I was forever in search of portals to magical worlds.
 
Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.
 
I have written five additional books in the Azra’s Pith Series. After a wild publishing ride they are all waiting in line to be revised and re-released. Quest for Copia will be the next book to be released (again). It is the sequel to Bandits of Basswood. A lot of questions are answered in this book and the story takes a heavy turn, so I’m taking my time on this one.
 
What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?
 
I want to have the entire Azra’s pith series out by the end of 2022. That is my main focus at the moment.
 
What advice do you have for other authors?
 
Persevere, have the patience of a Jedi, grow a thick skin, and learn from constructive criticism... did I mention persevere? I'm sure this goes without saying, but read and write as often as you can... even when you’re struggling and the writing looks like rotten bologna on a computer screen. If you hope to buy a latte or two with your royalties, the work begins when the writing is done... so be ready! Did I mention persevere?
 
Anything else you want readers to know?
 
I just want to say a huge thank you and send out a virtual hug to everyone. Thanks so much for having me here! I hope to see you all in Azra’s Pith!
 

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM

 

GIVEAWAY

 

E.P. Bellows is giving away a summer goodie bag containing Azra's Pith swag! Goodie bag includes a coffee mug, tumbler, beach towel, paperback and kindle copy of Bandits of Basswood!
 

Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter
This giveaway ends midnight September 30.
Winner will be contacted via email on October 1.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.
 

Good luck everyone!
 

ENTER TO WIN!

Sorry, Rafflecopter isn't working here. Please go to PumpUpYourBook to enter.

 

Meet Christian Children's Author Cynthia P. Willow

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes Christian Author Cynthia P. Willow. Cynthia writes a variety of stories for all young readers.

First, a bit about Cynthia:

Cynthia loves to spin stories in the shade of the willow tree...when she's not home schooling her teenagers or reading to her toddler. She's also a student in her 5th year with Liberty University. She loves Jesus and has many stories to share about faith. She resides in Georgia with her husband and three children.

Did you pick to write books for children, middle graders, or young adults?

I actually write for all ages. I have one rhyming picture book already published and will have another one out this year. 

What types of books do you like to read?

I like to read all types of books, but fantasy is my favorite. I guess I never left middle school because that’s the section I go to in the library.

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

I write in my spare time. It’s my hobby of choice. The rest of the time, I’m parenting, teaching, and doing school work.

Tell us about Letsi and the Labyrinth and how the story came to be.

I began this story years ago as a request from my daughter who was about 11 years old then. She came up with the name and said she wanted it to include a labyrinth. So I began the story and added to it little by little until it was finished.

Here's a peek at Letsi and the Labyrinth:

Fourteen-year-old Letsi wants to know why the labyrinth is forbidden. Tragedy forces her to move in with her wealthy aunt where the labyrinth consumes her thoughts and gives her hope for a new adventure.

Her late uncle created the maze, but only one person alive knows the treasure it holds. Letsi's aunt has warned her to stay away from it, but she is much too curious.

Once she discovers her uncle’s blueprints, she begins a quest to unlock the secrets within the labyrinth. But someone else wants the treasure and will stop at nothing to find it.

Can Letsi solve the puzzle and discover what her uncle meant to stay hidden, or has she put herself in more danger than she can handle?

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

Letsi and the Labyrinth is my ninth completed book. I have a middle grade Christian fantasy series called The Kingsley Adventures and an elementary to middle grade fantasy series called The Karini and Lamek Chronicles. Book 1 of that series is permanently free on all platforms. My series The Hell Tales is clean, but probably more enjoyed by YA and adult audiences. It’s Christian fiction / romance.  I also co-wrote a Christian paranormal book called Cat Tales and Whiskers with my dyslexic daughter. It’s been called a Christian version of the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. All of my books are featured with full blurbs, trailers, and photos on my website.

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

Yes! I’m currently writing an inspirational Christian story called Saving Private Benjamin. This one will require tissues.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Just get the first book written. Then write more books. Make sure you have a proficient editor and proofreader. Write what you would read. Make it fun. Don’t overthink it!

Anything else you want readers to know?

Some of my books are also available on audio, so be sure to check those options out while on my Amazon page. 

Where can readers find you and your books?

The best place to find my books is my website.
You can also find them all on my Amazon author page.

Meet UK Children's Author Rosen Trevithick

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes another UK author Rosen Trevithick and her Smelly Trolls series.

First, a bit about Rosen:

I’m a wild-swimming, chocolate-loving, hairspray-dousing writer of fiction for children and adults. I’m Cornish and currently living in Devon.

Note:  Rosen sent in this photo of her at Tintagel, supposedly the birthplace of Arthur, since my books are based on Arthurian Legend.

Why did you pick to write books for children?

Writing for children allows you to really stretch the boundaries of reality and be completely over the top, in a way that’s frowned upon in most adult genres. I wanted to write something funny and silly that I could share with my nephews.

What types of books do you like to read?

I enjoy reading humorous fiction and crime thrillers. The work of Ben Elton is particularly appealing. I also enjoy reading independently published titles because I love being able to interact with writers about their work. Also, because I run a daily eBook newsletter, I like to keep a feel for what’s out there.

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

I spend a lot of time out of doors: swimming, cycling, jogging and sometimes just sitting beneath a tree with my Kindle. I’m also part of a local amateur dramatics group and a writing group.

Tell us about Trolls on Ice and how the story came to be.

Trolls on Ice is the third book in my Smelly Troll series. It features the Winter Trollympics – the biggest sporting event on the troll calendar. However, because trolls are stupid, smelly and built like potatoes filled with rocks, they are not particularly strong athletics. Events include the ‘troll vault’ (troll pole vault), in which the pole usually snaps under the competitor’s enormous weight.

I came up with the idea for putting trolls on skis because I knew it would give rise to all manner of exciting disasters. However, a school class who were doing a project on my first troll book, The Troll Trap, came up with the idea of Trollympic. They kindly let me use a winter version of their idea in my book.

Here's a peek at Trolls on Ice:

Brawnulator Powerknees picks other people’s noses, smells like mutated tuna and eats small children. He is the strongest, fastest, most desirable man on the planet – to a troll.
When Rufus and his friends go on a skiing holiday to the Craggle Alps, they have no idea that the Winter Trollympics – the biggest sporting event of the troll calendar – is taking place nearby.
Sporting a wide variety of dangerous athletes, including Brawnulator, the Winter Trollympics is a hazardous place for children to be. But an avalanche blocks the railway line, leaving Rufus and his friends stranded amongst the hungry beasts.
A slippery, icy adventure packed with hideous trolls, winter sports and lots and lots of snotacular calamities.

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

I started off writing books for adults. In fact, my current bestselling title is for adults. It’s called My Granny Writes Erotica and is about a 65-year-old pensioner who finds herself in debt and needs a way to raise some cash quickly. She ends up eroticising her life’s work – a romance novel. However, being somewhat naïve, inexperienced and conservative, writing about kinky sex does not come easy to her, resulting in some hilarious disasters.

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

In November 2013, I launched three books: Seesaw Volume II, my second short story collection for adults; Trolls on Ice; and The First Trollogy, a collection containing Troll books 1-3. I also have a short story from the Smelly Trolls called Gourment Girl Burger.

The Troll Trap







                  Mr. Splendiferous and the Troublesome Trolls


What advice do you have for other authors?

If you plan to publish, allow yourself to have big dreams. Writing is an incredibly difficult field in which to get noticed and most authors experience dozens of knock backs before getting anywhere. The skill is not in avoiding rejection, but bouncing back from it. Have a goal in mind and keep working at it. Big dreams will help you keep going.

Where can readers find you and your books?

My blog, Facebook and Twitter are good places to interact with me.

My Adult Blog
My Children's Blog
Facebook
Twitter

The best place to buy my books is Amazon.

A smaller selection of my titles are available from other stores, such as Waterstones and Smashwords.