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


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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
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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

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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
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