Interview & Giveaway: Bobbie Pyron

Any Pet Peeves?

          The phrase “point in time”, writers who overuse exclamation points! People who don’t treat their animals the way they’d like to be treated, clothing without pockets.

Chocolate or Peanut Butter?

          Peanut butter. I’m a salty gal.

The weirdest thing you've ever done?

          Hummm….that’s a tough question. There’s probably a lot of people out there who think I’m weird, but I, of course, think I’m boringly normal. When I’m intensely immersed in writing a new book, I’ve been known to do some weird things like put my purse in the refrigerator, the phone in the microwave, or sign one of my character’s names on a check. Is that weird?

Is there a soundtrack to the book/Favorite music?
          I have to have music playing when I’m writing, often a certain type of music. When I wrote my first book, THE RING, I mostly listened to the soundtrack to the indie movie Garden State. When I wrote my second book, A DOG’S WAY HOME, I listened to a lot of traditional bluegrass (Allison Krause) and the soundtrack to the movie Oh Brother Where Art Thou. A really cool aside: my editor for A DOG’S WAY HOME, Molly O’Neill, sent me a CD of the music she listened to while she was editing my book! With THE DOGS OF WINTER, I couldn’t seem to settle on a certain type of music to listen to while I wrote. At first, that kind of freaked me out. But after a while I relaxed and just listened to whatever I felt like that particular day.

Do you need anything to write?
          I need a cup of hot tea and music.

Give us the number one reason to read your book.
          It will hopefully make you look a little differently at that homeless person or animal living on the streets. If I’ve opened a crack of compassion in the reader’s heart, I’m a happy camper.

Author Info:
Twitter-@BobbiePyron
Facebook-Bobbie Pyron
Goodreads-Bobbie Pyron

Based on a true story.
           When Ivan's mother disappears, he's abandoned on the streets of Moscow, with little chance to make it through the harsh winter. But help comes in an unexpected form: Ivan is adopted by a pack of dogs, and the dogs quickly become more than just his street companions: They become his family. Soon Ivan, who used to love reading fairytales, is practically living in one, as he and his pack roam the city and countryside, using their wits to find food and shelter, dodging danger, begging for coins. But Ivan can’t stay hidden from the world of people forever. When help is finally offered to him, will he be able to accept it? Will he even want to?
           A heart-pounding tale of survival and a moving look at what makes us human.

*Giveaway*

(Ends 3/14)

US Only



Review: The Inventor's Secret by Chad Morris

Synopsis:

Abby and Derick have been accepted to the most prestigious secondary school in the world -- Cragbridge Hall. Due to the inventions of their grandfather, Oscar Cragbridge, they will be able to experience history in 3D, use their minds to literally project visual interpretations of classic literature, and become animal avatars for zoology.

But when their grandfather and parents go missing, Abby and Derick must follow clues Oscar left for them that will reveal a dangerous secret. Along the way, they discover there is much more to one of their grandfather's inventions that anyone has ever dreamed. Saving their family will take all of Derick's mind and Abby's heart as thy come face to face with a crazed scientist who desperately seeks to change the past. If they fail, the world - past and future - will never be the same.

This book is a page-turning, time-travel adventure that teaches powerful lessons about choice and consequence, believing you can do hard things, and valuing your history.

Generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of middle grade. I grew out of the stuff long before I hit my teenage years, and have only revisited it for real gems. But, to put it bluntly, I found the Inventor's Secret to be one of these gems.

Chad Morris' characters were remarkably believable and relateable. I've found a big thing that puts me off about middle grade is that the plot, the world, and the adult characters are all painted in a simplified middle gradish way. But in the Inventor's Secret, the adults weren't simplified. They actually acted like adults. Of course the kids still saved the day, but the adults weren't weak or stupid. And, even better, the kids weren't whiny or stupid themselves. Many times, middle grade author's try to emphasis something by emphasizing their characters' reactions to it (The monster is scary because the kids act really scared of it, not because it actually is scary). I'm happy to say, there was none of that in here. In fact, it may have been one of the main character's normalness that really drew me to this book. Abby (Derick's twin and the main focus of the book) is average. She wasn't a genius like her brother, or all the other kids at her school, and she could never think of witty things to say. But she still was a hero, simply because she was willing to work for what she wanted. And even though her brother Derick was a genius, he was lovable too. Originally I thought Carol (Abby's friend) would get annoying, but she didn't. And her same irritating traits added a nice flavor to the characters' interactions.

Characters: 5 Stars

This was not high fantasy, but it was still a fun journey and kept me reading till the end. I appreciated that the world and the plot didn't revolve around the children. Without them, the world would have been destroyed, but they didn't discover some secret power at the last moment or another VooDoo, easy way out. Every victory was won by them as they were. And time travel. I mean come on, what doesn't grab you about that? At first, the plot may sound unoriginal, but Chad Morris succesfully freshens it up.

Plot: 4.5 Stars

Chad Morris has written a fun story with an aspect about it that makes the adventure genuine entertainment. The action/reaction time throughout the book flowed smoothly, and the end tied up satisfactorily while still leading nicely to a sequel. Quite thankfully, Chad Morris lacks the patronizing tone that so many middle grade authors present to their audience. To sum up, I found it an engaging book and, even though much older that middle grade, was able to enjoy it thoroughly. 

Style: 4 Stars

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Source: Arc from giveaway

Genre: Adventure/Sci-fi

Junior Fiction

Note: The book officially releases March 5, 2013. But it's been spotted in the wild at B&N, so keep your eyes peeled.

Interview & Giveaway: Kersten L. Kelly

      Kersten L. Kelly is a self-published author of narrative nonfiction and semi-fiction books. She grew up in Munster, Indiana and currently works in a sales role based out of Chicago, Illinois. She started writing at an early age and graduated from Indiana University with a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and communication and culture. She then went on to earn a master’s in business administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She has a passion for learning, teaching, and writing. 

      In her spare time, she enjoys international travel with her friends and family and training for running events of various distances. She likes the outdoors, social media, pop culture, and any new technologies that draw the people of the world a little bit closer together.

Favorite reads?

      Freakonomics, A Million Little Pieces, The 50 Shades of Gray Trilogy, and My Friend Leonard

Inspirations for the book? 

      I fly all the time for business, and the number of people that I meet is unbelievable. There are so many unique stories that I've collected over the years that I thought it was unfair not to share them. I wanted an opportunity to provide people with a little entertainment with unique stories that they normally wouldn't read about or experience in another venue.

Did you know you wanted to be an author when you were little? 

      Yes, I spent much of my childhood writing stories about all kinds of stuff. The best part was that my parents, sister, and friends all encouraged me to keep writing. I actually found some of the old scraps of paper with my stories on them and laughed. It's always good to remember where your roots are. My passion for writing started young.

Any Pet Peeves? 

      Non-aggressive drivers. I live outside of Chicago, and I commute to work every day into the city. For anyone who has ever experienced driving in a major city, it's important to be alert and to be quick. I get frustrated with those who aren't.

Chocolate or Peanut Butter?

      Peanut Butter

The weirdest thing you've ever done?

       The weirdest thing I've done is probably jumped out of an airplane 4 times. Many people think it's crazy, but I love it.

Is there a soundtrack to the book/Favorite music?

      There really isn't. I have a very wide mixture of music on my iPhone that I listen to while writing, running, reading, or just relaxing. There really isn't a rhyme or reason to what I choose. Most of the time, one song will be a vastly different genre than the one before it.

Do you need anything to write?  

       The only thing I need to write is time. I am a sales person as well, and sometimes it's hard to find time to write.

How long do you write on any average day? 

      I would say about an hour on average when I do write. I definitely don't write every day just because I don't have enough time.

Author Info:

Twitter: @KerstenLKelly

Facebook: facebook.com/KerstenLKelly

Amazon

Kindle 

Barnes and Noble

CreateSpace:

Goodreads

      In this tumultuous, distinctive memoir, Kersten L. Kelly looks back on the most influential individuals that she encountered while flying through the clouds. Confined in a small vestibule for hours, Kelly identified an opportunity for learning and growth by chatting with the fellow passengers around her. After a few life changing conversations and unforgettable emergencies, she put the in-flight magazines to rest and never looked back.

      She recalls life lessons from perfect strangers about love, family, perseverance

of dreams, and humility through a series of brief anecdotes all taking place on airplanes. Selfless philanthropy was discovered, long-term friendships bonded, and talents unveiled. The book proves the phrase “you never know what you will learn on an airplane” over and over again.

      Every chapter will capture the mind and sometimes the heart of anyone who

jumps into this collection of humanity at its best. The personalities present in this

book assimilate with the intrinsic characteristics all readers can relate to. With a raw authenticity stemming from old notes in a ragged journal, Kelly delivers a personal reflection of unique tales from a mile high.     

*Giveaway*

(Ends 2/21)

Excerpt: The Journey by John A. Heldt

      Seattle, 2010. When her entrepreneur husband dies in an accident, Michelle Preston Richardson, 48, finds herself childless and directionless. She yearns for the simpler days of her youth, before she followed her high school sweetheart down a road that led to limitless riches but little fulfillment, and jumps at a chance to reconnect with her past at a class reunion. But when Michelle returns to Unionville, Oregon, and joins three classmates on a spur-of-the-moment tour of an abandoned mansion, she gets more than she asked for. She enters a mysterious room and is thrown back to 1979.
      Distraught and destitute, Michelle finds a job as a secretary at Unionville High, where she guides her spirited younger self, Shelly Preston, and childhood friends through their tumultuous senior year. Along the way, she meets widowed teacher Robert Land and finds the love and happiness she had always sought. But that happiness is threatened when history intervenes and Michelle must act quickly to save those she loves from deadly fates. Filled with humor and heartbreak, THE JOURNEY gives new meaning to friendship, courage, and commitment as it follows an unfulfilled soul through her second shot at life.

Ecxerpt

      Michelle stared at the marble memorial and saw dead things.

The dead husband went without saying. The man she had known more than half of her life was literally six feet beneath her designer flats. Or at least his body was. Where his enterprising mind was at the moment was anyone's guess.

But when she looked at the ornate gravestone, the handiwork of a celebrated local artisan and long-time friend, she also saw a dead marriage and dead dreams. She had expected as much. Gravesites, by nature, brought out memories and regret and this one, located atop a forested bluff, was no different. Once the site of many tears, it was now a place for deep reflection.

Scott Richardson hadn't been a bad husband. All things considered, he'd been a pretty good one. The founder of a wildly successful software company, he'd been a good companion and an even better provider for his wife of twenty-four years. But he hadn't been a good life choice.

Michelle "Shelly" Preston Richardson thought about life choices as she stood before the final resting place of the only man, besides her long deceased father, who had ever mattered. She thought about the college she never attended, the career she never pursued, the children she never had. The missed opportunities took on new and greater relevance given the stark reality that now confronted her. She was forty-eight, unfulfilled, and alone.

The Journey was released Nov 3rd., and is the second novel in John A. Heldt's Northwest Passage time travel series, headed by The Mine.

More info:

Amazon

Goodreads

YA2U

           Have you ever wished that a big YA book tour would make a stop in your hometown? Well, here's your chance for that wish to come true! YA2U is a program that features five award-winning and best-selling authors who are holding a contest to see what city they should visit in an exclusive tour stop!

            The authors are collecting votes from January 1 to February 15, and any city in the continental US or any Canadian city that has an international airport can win an exclusive visit from all five authors, including an author panel and book signing! Entering is super easy--and if you help spread the word about the contest, you can also enter win a signed copy of all of their books (TEN signed books in total!)--and the book contest is open internationally!

The authors in the program are:

• Marie Lu, the New York Times best-selling author of Legend and the upcoming Prodigy
• Marissa Meyer, the New York Times best-selling author of Cinder and the upcoming Scarlet
• Beth Revis, the New York Times best-selling author of Across the Universe, A Million Suns, and the upcoming Shades of Earth
• Victoria Schwab, author of The Near Witch and the highly- anticipated upcoming The Archived
• Megan Shepherd, author of the debut novel The Madman's Daughter

      And they want to have an event in your home town! To participate, just got to the YA2U website and let them know what city you want them to come to. And while you're there, help spread the word about the contest and you can be entered to win all of their books--TEN signed books in total! 

Vote for Orem, UT Or Salt Lake City! 'Cause we're awesome!

Why should the YA2U Team come to your hometown?
      Why not join in the fun today and share with others about this program and your hometown. The more votes your town gets, the closer you are to having your very own personal tour stop! Vote for YOUR town here!

       And if you help spread the word, you can also participate in the book giveaway. Tell them that you learned about YA2U from me and we both get extra entries in the contest!
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Review: The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell

Twelve princesses suffer from a puzzling (if silly) curse, and anyone who ends it will win a reward. Reveka, a sharp-witted and irreverent apprentice herbalist, wants that reward. But her investigations lead to deeper mysteries and a daunting choice—will she break the curse at the peril of her own soul?

      The Princess Curse is a gem. And yes. This will be a raving post. A perfect book to finish the year on!
          I could go on an on about these characters, but for your sakes I will keep it brief...ish. Reveka is only thirteen, but demonstrates the maturity of those who have dealt primarily with adults their whole lives.. In fact, often times she was more mature than the adults around her, demonstrating her true character by staying true to what she believed and being willing to sacrifice for those she loved. Her age provided a perfect perspective for the plot. There was an interesting dynamic between Reveka and her father, an irritation/adoration type of thing, but his motives were seamless. At first I suspected Minhas (a former cowherd) of being a hero of the story, and in a way he is. But he's not the stereotypical hero type, and he's much better because of that. And Dragos was perfect, as a character. His strengths and flaws gave him a visible depth. His past is incredibly intriguing.
Characters: 5 Stars
         This plot is a remix of Twelve Dancing Princesses and Beauty and the Beast. The Twleve Dancing princesses portion would be fairly standard, except it doesn't take place from the perspective of the princesses. Rather, they are under a curse, shrouded in mystery from which countless have fallen into a comatose state. But breaking this curse is only the half the plot. The rest is even better, but if I tell you, it would be a bit of a spoiler.
Plot: 5 Stars
          I found this book in the library's junior fiction section, but it can easily be enjoyed by all ages. Merrie Haskell does a marvelous job of keeping the fairy tales' classic feel while introducing  her own flair and sense of style. Reveka's engaging matter-of-fact manner mixed with the creative worlds Merrie Haskell paints make this book a definite re-read.
Style: 5 Stars

Rating: 5 Stars
Source: Library
Genre: Fantasy
Junior/YA Fiction

MerrieHaskell.com

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

     Or happy, whatever else you celebrate! Unless you kill puppies. 

I am writing from the midst of a winter storm with snow finally here to stay. Merry Christmas! And I have a book suggestion for you.

      Asking me to choose a favorite Christmas book, or indeed, any book, would be like asking me to choose a favorite limb. Nope. Can't be done. But I do have some I prefer.

In the city of the dead,

a dreamer awakens....

      Young Babak has a magnificent gift: He can dream the future. Mitra, his brave older sister, is sworn to protect him. For them to survive living on the streets, she must do whatever is necessary -- including using her brother's talent for profit.

When Babak is asked to dream for a powerful Magus, he receives a mysterious vision of two stars dancing in the night. Determined to solve this prophetic riddle, the Magus takes the boy and his sister on an arduous journey across the desert. What they discover will change the world in a way that no dream could ever predict... 

        But what makes Alphabet of DreamsChristmasy? I enjoyed it because it provided another perspective on the nativity story. The nativity is only a very small part of this book and not the focus. But it follows a young girl as she tries to survive and care for her brother in a largely uncivilized world and shows how the birth of a savior affected everyone. The world did not stand still, but the impact was made in individual lives.
        Here's wishing a happy, hopeful season and a better new year. This is one of my favorite Christmas songs, and the artwork is beautiful. Enjoy~