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Winston The Titan Terrier : Adventures In Ancient Egypt (Book 2)
Winston the Titan Terrier returns for another thrilling quest, this time alongside his loyal friends Diesel and Teddy. Their mission in Adventures in Ancient Egypt by award-winning authors Colin Peter Van Dongen and Mia Van Dongen leads them through a labyrinth of twisting tunnels, riddled with ingenious traps and mind-bending puzzles. Each solution propels them deeper into danger, and each wrong move threatens disaster. Along the way, formidable foes emerge, determined to halt their progress. At the heart of their journey lies a daunting challenge: stop Sad Face, a mischievous yet oddly endearing octopus, from rewriting Egyptian history, or risk arriving too late.
From the very first page, the story bursts with energy. The fast-paced narrative kept me eagerly turning pages, invested in whether Winston, Teddy, and Diesel could outwit the countless challenges placed before them. For children, the sheer variety of puzzles, traps, and encounters ensures that every reread reveals a new detail or hidden layer of fun.
The characters shine with personality. Winston, Diesel, and Teddy are more than companions; each stands out as a hero in their own right. Readers will find it difficult to choose a favorite among them. Meanwhile, the villains, Sad Face the alien octopus and Smokestrike the sly ninja cat, add both tension and comic mischief, often stealing scenes despite their role as obstacles.
Equally impressive are the illustrations by Colin Peter Van Dongen. Detailed, crisp, and vividly colored, the images elevate the storytelling. Their clarity, reminiscent of AI-rendered sharpness, invites readers to pause, explore, and savor every page.
Winston the Titan Terrier: Adventures in Ancient Egypt is a delightful read for all ages. It blends clever storytelling, dynamic characters, and striking illustrations into one unforgettable package. Highly recommended for children, and equally enjoyable for adults who love fast-paced adventures filled with heart and humor.
Pages: 48 | ISBN : 1738448746
The Power of Imagination
Winston The Titan Terrier: The Cosmic Bone follows a clever superhero dog who loses his bone and goes on a quest to find it. What was the inspiration for your story?
We have an incredibly entertaining Boston Terrier named Winston. He absolutely loves snacks, especially a South African treat called biltong, or beef jerky as it’s known in America. He’s also a huge sports fan and can often be found chewing on basketballs and rugby balls, all while constantly nagging us to play with him. He absolutely loves to win! Mia has known him her entire life and absolutely adores him. So, when we collaborated on her own book concept at the age of five, she didn’t hesitate to turn him into Winston the Titan Terrier, a superdog with a unique backpack that can launch all sorts of awesome sporting equipment and gadgets.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Some of the important ideas that we wanted to share in this book were:
- The Power of Friendship and Teamwork: The book highlights the importance of cooperation and support in overcoming challenges.
- Overcoming Adversity: It emphasizes the theme of resilience and perseverance in the face of difficulties.
- The Value of Curiosity and Learning: The story encourages exploration and a thirst for knowledge.
- Interactive Storytelling and Engagement: The book offers puzzles, mysteries, and interactive elements to keep readers engaged.
- Adventure and Exploration: It takes readers on journeys to new and exciting worlds.
- The Thrill of the Quest: The plot involves thrilling adventures, gadgets, and a formidable villain.
- The Imagination at Work: The book explores the power of imagination to see the world differently.
- Appeal to a Wide Audience: The story is designed to resonate with readers of all ages.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
My personal favourite, due to my love for big waves, is the scene where Smokestrike activates his Sea Sweeper device, which has the power to truly generate gigantic waves. Winston must quickly find a way to avoid being completely overwhelmed as one of these massive waves is barrelling towards him.
Some of Mia’s favourite scenes is when Teddy, the Australian Shepherd, leads Winston through secret entrances to his laboratory deep beneath the Bone Shop. There, Winston discovers a special cosmic bone that grants him incredible SuperDog abilities. As Winston demonstrates the bone’s powers, they stumble upon an ancient tunnel system that was built thousands of years earlier. Using the cosmic bone, Winston is able to translate the ancient text on the walls, revealing that they must complete five challenges to unlock a portal capable of transporting them anywhere in the universe. One of the most exciting interactive challenges on their journey is the Milky Way Gate. Here Teddy and Winston need to unlock a door by solving a code in front of them, using hints from various animal shapes illuminated by star systems.
Can you tell us what the second book will be about and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
We are excited to communicate that we have already storyboarded and mapped out Books 2 and 3 as part of the series over the last few weeks. The story is set to become even more exciting and intense as it unfolds, with the introduction of the ‘Time Twister’ device. Winston and the other characters will face off against old and new intergalactic villains across various time periods, as they journey through Mia’s favourite moments in history. We are aiming to launch Book 2 on World Book Day next year. In this instalment, Winston is transported back to Ancient Egypt in its original glory, where he must find a way back to his own timeline and save his world.
We plan to continue delivering all the adventure, mystery, secret tunnels, and interactive puzzles, ensuring readers of all ages remain captivated by what is going to happen next.
Author links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website | Music Video | Book Trailer | Chat with Winston
Packed with vibrant illustrations that ignite imaginations, this action-packed story follows Winston’s journey through daring rescues, ingenious inventions, and surprising alliances. As he teams up with quirky characters, the adventure takes an unexpected turn, leading him to an ancient underground world filled with mysteries and challenges. Winston must race against time, using his transformative backpack and cunning wit to outsmart Smokestrike and prevent a catastrophe that threatens their planet. This is just the beginning of Winston’s adventures!
This exciting tale is a treasure trove for young readers (ages 5-12) seeking action and excitement, and adults looking for a heart-warming story filled with camaraderie. Perfectly blending illustrations and narrative, this book promises a visual feast, an enthralling journey, and interactive puzzles and riddles that seamlessly engage young minds.
Prepare for an extraordinary escapade with Winston, where every page brings vibrant illustrations, unexpected surprises, and a world brimming with wonder!
Purchase from:
Amazon USA http://tiny.cc/winstonamazonusa
Amazon UK http://tiny.cc/winstonamazon
Amazon Global Links http://tiny.cc/winstonamazonglobal
Barnes and Noble http://tiny.cc/winstonbn
Apple Books http://tiny.cc/winstonapple
Takealot http://tiny.cc/winstontakealot
Winston Titan Terrier : The Cosmic Bone (Adventure Book 1)
In Winston The Titan Terrier: The Cosmic Bone, authors Mia van Dongen and Colin van Dongen introduce readers to Winston, a clever Boston Terrier with a spy alias, Titan Terrier. Winston’s adventure begins when he loses his precious bone and embarks on a thrilling quest to recover it. Unknown to him, this is no ordinary lost item. Smokestrike, a ninja black cat, is behind the disappearance. Smokestrike wants to steal the secrets of Winston’s transformative backpack and sporting equipment. The result is an action-packed children’s book filled with clever twists and engaging challenges.
One aspect I loved about this picture book is Winston himself. He’s a charming character surrounded by a diverse group of dog friends, each with unique skills contributing to the story. This adds depth to the story and serves as an educational element that introduces young readers to various dog breeds and their characteristics. The authors enhance the reading experience by posing questions directly to the audience, encouraging them to spot hidden details or predict the next move in the mystery. This interactive approach keeps readers engaged and makes the story feel more dynamic.
The story is engaging and filled with unexpected details that take readers through various imaginative settings. The illustrations are another highlight. They are beautifully realistic and draw readers deeper into Winston’s adventurous world. The inclusion of photos of the real Winston at the beginning of the book is a delightful touch. It allows readers to connect even more with the character.
Winston The Titan Terrier: The Cosmic Bone is a fun, educational, and visually captivating picture book. The story’s interactive elements and vibrant artwork make it a worthwhile addition to any child’s bookshelf.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0CW1KLGM6
Personal Power
Along Came Spider: The Making of a Superhero follows an elementary school boy who, along with his friends, is being bullied by two boys who terrorize students. What was the inspiration for your story?
There were several factors that inspired me:
1) I grew up with comics, but they were always on a higher level than I probably should have been reading at the time. I really wanted to write a comic for kids that was age-appropriate.
2) I was bullied several times when I was kid, so that was a factor in writing this book because I often was a little bit different than some of my classmates.
3) As a child, it’s very easy to feel like no one notices you. I thought I’d take that inadequate emotion of feeling invisible and turn it into a superpower instead.
Spider has to learn to stand up for himself and his friends, and that is a hard thing to do, especially with bullies. What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
When you’re bullied, you lose some of your personal power. I wanted to give power back to the main character Spider. I also know, from my own experience, that it can be hard to do the right thing – to stand up for one’s self and others, that requires all of us to find courage and personal power to stand out and stand up for what matters.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I think a lot of bullying occurs because 1) teachers either don’t know what to look for or they, too, have a tendency to not see some things that are right in front of their eyes. 2) There is often a herd mentality going on in schools – especially when we are young and are trying to find a sense of ourselves. Anything different is to be avoided because it can often draw negative attention to us. We all want to stand out in a positive way, not a negative way. I wanted this book to give a sense of empowerment to all kids.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
This is the first book in the Web Society series. There will be 11 books total. The next book is actually about Lacey’s superpower. It will probably be next year before that book comes out. I currently work a full-time job and write in my free time, and Alex, my illustrator, is in the same boat as I am, so we can’t devote all our time to just working on this one book. Plus, I do work on other genres as well. The more heavily illustrated a book is, the longer it takes to finish it, but, I assure you, that when it does get finished, the next book in the series has a little more action and danger and Spider will be in that one as well.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Amazon
Bullies exist everywhere! Everyone has met one. It’s hard not to – there are so many of them in the world. Even with that being the case, it doesn’t mean they should always get to win.
But if you don’t step up to stop them, then who will?
It doesn’t matter how small we think we are or how unimportant. When you stand up for what is right, that’s when you find out what you’re truly made up of inside – in Spider Monroe’s case, he finds out he can be a superhero for his blind best friend Lacey.
What’s his superpower, you ask? Invisibility. How does he use it? In every way that stops two bullies in their tracks and restores the world to order.
Bullies beware – heroes exist everywhere . . . but only if we are brave enough to look inside ourselves to find them!
LITERARY TITAN 