Blog Archives
James’ Ragtag Adventure in Questworld
James’ Ragtag Adventure in Questworld follows a group of five pals who find themselves stuck in a magical realm. They awaken the Goblin Queen and her army of goblins during an adventure gone wrong! Now they’ll need to find backup to battle her wicked majesty. Along the journey, they’ll come across fascinating and mystical creatures. Some good, some bad… Are they going to be able to defeat the queen? What is the origin of this mysterious land, and how did they get there? This adventure will have you on the edge of your seat. Follow James and his group of friends as they navigate the exciting world of Questland!
This adventurous book will have readers hooked from the very first sentence. One of the highlights of this story is the solid character development. This novel has a prototypical group of friends. M. Doyle has included the sassy one, the strong one, the brainy one, the shy one, and the leader. These familiar character types and themes will appeal to middle-grade readers as they can relate to the characters’ personalities and feel comfortable with the storyline.
M. Doyle has done an excellent job with pacing in this novel. There are pauses throughout, and it gives readers the feeling that they are sitting alongside the gang, resting and getting to know them better. The moments of rest come as a welcome break from the captivating and suspenseful action that the characters encounter in Questland. It seems like they discover new creatures and monsters at every corner and are constantly in danger.
James’s Ragtag Adventures in Questworld: Return of the Goblin Queen is a thrilling fantasy adventure novel for middle-grade children. This exciting novel takes place in a video game and is a great way to introduce reluctant readers to the fantasy genre and help them become avid readers.
Pages: 103 | ASIN : B093Z64K41
The Legend of the Summer Snowflake
Sky Watch has disbanded and Cloudia is missing her friends. Mother Sky is sad because pollution is getting bad on earth and there is nothing that she can do. That is, until a single snowflake falls in the middle of summer, bringing the Sky Watch team back together. Now Cloudia and friends have the power to fight pollution and save a baby dolphin from a plastic garbage patch.
The Legend of the Summer Snowflake is a colorful children’s book that features a diverse cast of young characters that band together to save a baby dolphin, but more importantly they bring awareness to a major problem that is collecting in our ocean; garbage patches.
This wonderful picture books clearly illustrates a complex issue in a way that young children will be able to easily understand. Along with that, the Sky Watch team has an array of fantastic abilities they can use to cleanup pollution. Children will be excited to see all the different characters show up, as they will get to point out their different abilities and see them in action. I really enjoyed seeing how those abilities were brought to life by illustrator Len Peralta.
The Legend of the Summer Snowflake is a wonderfully educational kids book that educates as well as it entertains. What I like most about this book is that it not only points out the pollution trouble, it also explains what humans are doing to resolve the garbage patch problem, giving readers an actionable path to take the lessons learned from the book into the real world.
Pages: 34 | ASIN: B09W1HQ9TW
Totally Out Of My Genre
Young Davy Crockett: The Wild Frontier with Dinosaurs follows a young hunter that must find out what is happening to the missing hunters. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
A bunch of years ago, my mentor, Jonathan Maberry, sent me a message basically challenging me to write a middle grade horror book. This is something totally out of my genre. I normally write in epic fantasy, horror, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance. I was like…write something for kids? I don’t write for kids! Yet, at the same time, I’m not one to back down from a challenge.
I like history. So, I brainstormed historical figures. Who could I write about in their younger years? The answer came quick. After some research (I love research), I found my character: Young Davy Crockett.
How much research did you need to do for this book?
I did a lot of reading about Davy. Turns out he had a lot of adventures in his youth, so I was not stretching the facts. Most kids back then had to learn skills and put them to use in the towns and on the farms. Davy was a hard worker and being such a popular American historical figure, it was easy to find information about him.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
I had to remind myself…over and over…that I was writing for MG. I had to tone things down. Remember the language. And remember that, although brave and a skilled outdoorsman at a young age, Davy had to speak to adults like a kid. Not on par with them.
This was hard for me at times.
When my editor first read the book, she told me it read like YA writing. I tried my best to fix it to a MG style. Since then, I have had readers and reviewers come back saying it is MG and others saying it is YA. I’m proud of it regardless of which age range it lands more prominently in.
I found that trying to imagine the book as a cartoon helped. Like an 80’s cartoon. Remember the ABC WEEKEND SPECIALS? It was a series that featured a different kid’s books each week. I tried to paint it as one of those episodes back then. 🙂
Has writing and publishing so many books changed the way you see yourself?
I guess I look at myself as the grizzled old veteran now. I fought hard. I’ve had amazing victories and terrible losses. But I keep at it. My motto is: Write Makes Might! It means a lot of things to different people. Basically, to me, it means writing brings you strength. It can be helpful and cathartic. Do it for yourself above all others.
I have written nine books. Most of which are around 100,000 words or more. I am working on book ten and I recall, with great clarity, when I was on my first book and would see people on their tenth. I remember thinking, wow, I will never finish ten books.
Well, guess what? It turns out I will.
At one point or another, every book I have written has been, or is, published. But it was a struggle. It’s a battlefield out there. I have had deals with shady publishers, I have had publishers print and sell my books only to suddenly stop paying me. I have had books get published multiple times by different publishers. I have had an agent. I have had movie deals sent my way and offers to write TV shows. I have been nominated for huge awards and won smaller ones. It spins my head when I think about it all.
A wise man once said, “Life is like a hurricane…” This is very true for authors and artists. 🙂
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
In YOUNG DAVY CROCKETT: THE WILD FRONTIER WITH DINOSAURS, a nearly fourteen-year-old Davy Crockett is tested by his angry and often drunk father, his brothers, the wilds, and some mysterious goings-on. Somehow, prehistoric beasts are appearing in the forests of Holston Valley, threatening Davy’s family and his way of life. Curious to a fault, Davy seeks answers and attempts to hunt them…a creature no hunter has ever faced before.
Fixing Nick
Nick, the barn is looking run down and old. His doors are broken, his fence is falling down, his stalls are dirty, and his paint is faded and chipped. So the farmer decides that it is time to build a new barn to replace Nick. However, the animals want to save their friend. They work together to fix Nick and make him like new again. It is a big job. Will they be able to save Nick, or will the farmer still replace him with a new barn?
Fixing Nick, written by Howie Groff, tells the story of friendship and working together. This beautifully written picture book shows an unlikely group of animals that band together under the guidance of Goose to make all the repairs to Nick the barn before the next day when the farmer has someone coming to build a new barn. Old Goat doesn’t think they can do it, and that Nick is not able to be saved. However, the rest of the animals refuse to give up and will not let their friend down. This children’s book powerfully portrays the message of sticking together and helping those in need. Even when the tasks seem too big for the animals, they find a way to make them happen.
The colorful and cheerful illustrations done by Olya Bond bring the story to life. They have managed to capture the animals’ emotions on each page, the determination, the concern, and the joy as they make a difference in the life of their friend.
I enjoyed the rhymes in the story, it makes reading it a joy, and you can’t help but smile as you follow along with all the animals. This is a story children will want read aloud to them as they follow along with the playful illustrations.
Fixing Nick is a heartwarming picture book about friendship and working together to save another friend. This children’s book is perfect for teaching kids about the value of working hard and fixing things rather than just throwing something away or replacing it. It teaches the importance of friendships and teamwork.
Pages: 33 | ASIN : B09S7MX4YG
I Hope Readers Will Be Inspired
A Calf Named Brian Higgins is based on your real-life experiences of traveling to Africa. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It was important for me to write this book because of how much I loved spending time with the wonderful people in Sauri, Kenya. Part of the reason I had gone to rural Kenya was to be helpful to a community suffering from poverty and I quickly learned that while they are lacking in many basic resources, the people there know more about taking care of each other than any community I have ever known.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The people in Sauri, Kenya worked together and established a rule: leave what you can, take only what you need. Since abiding by this simple principle, no one in their community has died of hunger. When I speak at schools, I ask the kids to think about that: leave what you can, take only what you need. That can be tough to live by under any circumstances, and certainly when you’re lacking food and medicine. When they took only what they needed, there was enough for everyone.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from A Calf Named Brian Higgins?
I hope readers will be inspired by the love and solidarity of the people in Sauri and will help end global poverty.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am working on a book about the love we have for our dogs/pets. The manuscript should be completed this summer.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Unstoppable Zee
A young girl named Zee believes she has superpowers because her mom told her so. This well-written picture book shows Zee’s experiences with her superpowers. These powers are making flowers grow from seeds, drawing and painting, playing the drums, building tall towers, running fast, playing piano, singing, jumping high, helping to cook, and frosting cupcakes. Zee is proud of herself for trying her best and having fun while doing all these different activities.
In the feel-good children’s book, Unstoppable Zee by Reesa Shayne, young readers will identify with these activities and, at first, might not realize they are their superpowers too. Through watching Zee, children will learn they are able to accomplish whatever they put their mind to. They learn that having fun is important, and it isn’t a matter of how well they can do some of those things; instead, they enjoy it and try their best. It is a beautiful way to teach self-confidence to preschool and kindergarten-age children. Zee’s optimistic attitude is contagious, and teachers and parents will love reading this book aloud to kids as much as they will enjoy following along with the entertaining pictures.
Illustrator Juanita Taylor has brought Zee’s story to life with her imaginative and expressive illustrations. The wide-eyed look on Zee is welcoming and filled with joy. The graphics portray realistic expressions and activities that kids will be drawn to, even in cartoon form. In addition, the illustrations show a happy and engaged family all having fun together as Zee uses her superpowers.
Unstoppable Zee is an inspiring and uplifting picture book for preschoolers and kindergarten-age children. This fantastic children’s book will entertain young readers with bright and vivid illustrations, relatable subjects, and a can-do attitude. This is a welcome addition to a home or school library with its positive messages of doing your best and being willing to try new things.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B098MRD316
How Do We Live With Our Mortality?
Into the Wind follows a young boy who, while fixing up a sailboat, befriends his elderly neighbor. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
When I was a boy, I had a feisty, independent, widowed and elderly aunt who was an artist and loved sailing. As she aged, she didn’t seem to mellow or retire or relax, but seemed to come even more alive, to throw herself with increasing energy at what she loved, even as that became more difficult. She painted with a trembling, arthritic hand. Some weeks before she died, she managed—in a wheelchair!—to get herself into a small boat and, with the help of someone who held the rudder, sail through some rough weather. That was the germ of Into the Wind.
Was there anything from your own life that you incorporated into Rusty’s and Hazel’s relationship?
Yes. There is a certain amount of my relationship with my aunt in Rusty’s relationship with Hazel. Like Hazel, my aunt was odd and demanding—you might even say cantankerous. We rubbed each other the wrong way. But she took an interest in me, and slowly I took an interest in her and came to appreciate her quirky sense of humor, the challenges she faced and the wisdom she had as an aging woman who mostly got around in a wheelchair. We became unlikely friends.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main theme was intergeneration friendship. How could that happen between a boy with his life ahead of him and a woman near the end of hers? What might connect them? What might each of them gain from that connection?
Our mortality is another theme, something that children from eight to twelve are beginning to grapple with. By then they may have lost a loved pet or, worse, a relative. How do we think about that? How do we live with our mortality? Maybe Hazel shows Rusty a way. Sadly, life comes to an end, but it can be filled, like Hazel’s, with curiosity, fun, humor, generosity, growth, energy, friendship, love, wonder, and meaning—all of which might be passed from one generation to another. I hope that’s what readers feel and understand when they finish Into the Wind.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I write books for children and adults, and I’m usually working one or the other, or sometimes both. At the moment, I have an adult nonfiction draft on my screen and parts of a children’s story in a folder on the side of my desk. When might they be available? I don’t know, as I haven’t finished them yet. Sometime soon. Fingers crossed. Information about my previous books is available on my website.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Countless Challenges That Kids Face
Success follows a young boy who is working on a school assignment to discover what the meaning of success is by interviewing people he knows. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for this particular series of stories comes from my students over the years. As an elementary school teacher, I have seen countless challenges that kids face. I am inspired by them to write stories that touch on big life lessons, such as identity, perseverance, kindness, and courage. This story came to me while I was on a walk with my oldest sister one Sunday morning. She and I were chatting about my students, her own kids who are now adults, and life in general. If you have sisters, or have been around sisters, you know how we can bounce all over the place in conversations! Anyhow, as the day went on, the idea became more and more clear, and the story sort of wrote itself!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Helen Ayle?
I agree, the art is fantastic! Helen and I have been collaborating for about two years. We discovered one another for our very first project, a book called Good Deeds Gone Wrong that also has the same main character as Success. We have collaborated on seven projects so far. She is a wonderful artist and illustrator. Her ideas are creative, and I love how she brings different perspectives in the illustrations. My favorite from this book is while Stephen was lying awake in bed… I love the colors and mood on that page!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main themes that I wanted to explore through this book are identity and defining success. I think it is important for kids to consider this idea of identity — who we believe we are and how we see ourselves. I also hope kids understand that success looks different for different people. Ultimately, I hope kids think about success a little differently, just like the main character. I see children come through my classroom each year who are so uniquely talented, and often don’t feel successful based on school criteria. They maybe struggle with reading or math, but perhaps are incredibly logical thinkers. Or maybe they are amazing artists, or kind and helpful people who jump up to assist anyone who needs it. I have kids who are incredible public speakers, dancers, writers, athletes, and mathematicians. Ultimately, I hope this book helps kids feel seen and understood. I hope it helps them consider that each person is gifted in different ways, and that is what makes the world function well. We need all of the talents and perspectives!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I just released another piece about a week ago that Helen illustrated for me called A Big Family’s Big Trip. I was inspired to write a story after reading the 1978 Caldecott winner The Relatives Came. The story is about my family’s trip to Israel in December 2018- January 2019. My parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2019, and they announced that rather than having a big party, they wanted to take us all on a big trip to Israel! It was an amazing adventure, to say the least. And Helen did a fantastic job creating the thirteen characters inspired by my family! She has also finished illustrations for another book called Tough Turning Ten that will be released this summer. AND I’m also putting together a book for another series that I have with an exceptional illustrator named Pablo D. A’lio. That series has brief lessons for everyday activities that are also wise words of wisdom for life. We created three books of Grandpa’s Lessons, and now we are diving into Grandma’s Guides… We can learn a lot about life from activities like fishing, hiking, cooking, and gardening. Plus grandparents always have the best advice, right?
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
LITERARY TITAN 