Giveaways

Don’t Be Foolish!

By on April 1, 2014   /   Giveaways  

It may be April Fool’s Day, but Lisa Doan’s not fooling: her new book pubs today, and she’s giving away three copies.  Jack the Castaway is the first book in a fun new adventure series.

jack castawayFrom Amazon: Jack’s parents have been chased out of Tokyo, gone broke in Greece, and hosted Nairobi’s least successful safari. Next they’re taking Jack to the Caribbean, whether Jack wants to go or not. The Berensons have devised their latest get-rich-quick scheme – a new sport called ‘drift-snorkeling.’ With these experienced world travelers at the helm, what could go wrong?
Jack’s used to staying indoors and not taking chances. When his parents take him out on the water, he ends up shipwrecked. Now Jack has to survive on a tropical island…and avoid a whale shark that’s cruising along his beach.

Lisa stopped by the Mixed Up Files to tell us a little about herself and her own adventurous life:

Lisa Doan received a master’s degree in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her travels in Africa and Asia and the eight years she spent living in the Caribbean inspired the international settings of The Berenson Schemes. In the first of the series, Jack the Castaway, Jack is embroiled in his parent’s latest get-rich-quick scheme and promptly stranded alone on a deserted island. Lisa has hatched her own share of harebrained schemes, including backpacking alone from Morocco to Kenya; hitchhiking across the Sahara with Nigeran car dealers; sauntering off on an ill-advised, one-person walking safari; and opening a restaurant with no actual knowledge of restaurants beyond eating in them. Lisa’s occupations have included master scuba diving instructor, international vagabond, New York City headhunter, television show set medic, restaurant owner and deputy prothonotary of a county court. Thankfully, she does not have children. (Or if she does, cannot remember where she put them.) Visit her at lisadoan.org.

Lisa is giving away three copies of Jack! Please leave a comment below to enter the drawing.

 

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The Ruby Pendant – Interview and Giveaway!

By on March 11, 2014   /   Author Interviews, Giveaways  
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 Book Two: The Ruby Pendant 

 
 Welcome to New Orleans- home of Mardi Gras, jazz music and voodoo. Eighth grader Melanie Belaforte is home for Spring break and itching for excitement. Late one night she discovers a hidden chamber and a secret journal in her deceased Aunt Florence’s bedroom.
            The diary contains the writings of a mad woman, along with vague clues to the whereabouts of a ruby necklace that once belonged to Cleopatra. The ruby bestows upon the wearer the power to hear other people’s thoughts- even the thoughts of the dead!
    And so the hunt begins. Melanie, her best friend Sybil, and a haunting specter unravel clues that take them from crumbling graveyards, to the busy streets of the French Quarter, and then into murky swamps, all to find the prize. But they need to watch out, because a murderous cult is matching them step for step, and they won’t give up, ever.
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Me: Welcome once again, Dorine! Tell us, what was easier about writing the second book in the series? 
Dorine:  Well, the foundation was already laid and I knew where I wanted the story to go, so that was clear. Plus, I was invested deeply now. I needed this second book to succeed so that I could pull off a full series.
Me: What was harder? 
Dorine: The Ruby Pendant is written almost like a stand alone, so I had to write it with a fresh eye and develop new characters. However, when I started writing I was so excited about the location, New Orleans, that things just flowed, almost like it was a character.  In that way the first book was harder to write. The Emerald Ring takes place in a small town in Ohio. There was nothing fancy about it and it kinda hides in the background. I learned my lesson. The next books in the series take place in wonderful locations.
Me: Did you keep notes, a chart, anything to keep all the plot points and character traits organized? 
Dorine: I have a spiral notebook that I write down my thoughts in. I don’t outline, but I do write down sentences about significant plot points. It is really in the rewrites that I make sure all the characters are in sync and the plot has no holes.
Me: Tea and crumpets or snails and coffee? 
Dorine: Mint tea and strawberry crumpets with strawberry jelly.

dorine

My name is Dorine White. I am a children’s author and a book reviewer. I grew up back East in Maryland and attended BYU in Utah. I have a BA in Humanities with an interest in Art History and French. Currently I live in the beautiful, yet rainy Northwest with my husband and 6 children.
 
 My first book in The Cleopatra’s Legacy series, The Emerald Ring, was published on May 14, 2013. It is a middle grade fantasy novel that involves Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, and a magic emerald ring. The Ruby Pendant (Cleopatra’s Legacy 2) is due out March 2014 and takes place in the vibrant New Orleans.
 
Twitter @Dorinewhite- https://twitter.com/DorineWhite
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I read book one, The Emerald Ring, last year and I look forward to reading The Ruby Pendant this year! How would you like to win a copy?  Well then, just enter the rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amie Borst writes twisted fairy tales with her 13 year old daughter, Bethanie. Cinderskella released in 2013 and Little Dead Riding Hood releases October 2014! Find Amie on her blog and see what they’re both up to on facebook!
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By the Grace of Todd – Interview and Giveaway

By on February 27, 2014   /   Giveaways  

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Todd’s room borders on Hoarders-level messy. We’re talking Roomageddon here. When his mom gives him the ultimatum to clean it or miss his best friend’s birthday bash, Todd makes an amazing discovery: he has created an entire civilization of ant-sized people from the sheer grossness on his filthy sock. The “Toddlians” put their faith in their all-powerful creator, but can the kid who can’t even keep a hermit crab alive save them from Max Loving, the biggest bully at Wakefield Middle School?

Me: Welcome Louise! Thanks for joining us here at The Files. Why don’t you start by telling us why you write MG books?

Louise: The middle-grade years are that transformative time between dreams and reality–between being a kid and becoming a “responsible” adult. It’s the cocoon season, full of introspection and self-discovery. It was a huge period in my life, because I made a major move from the suburbs of Tulsa to a tiny rural Kansas town, and to fit in, I basically had to reinvent myself. All of that awkwardness really stuck in my psyche. I still feel like I’m in that place between immaturity and sophistication–somewhere between my Jack Black sense of humor and my Jane Austen sensibilities.
Me: With or without a move, I think many of us had to go through that transition at some point or another.  What was your favorite MG book when you were a kid?
Louise:  Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. I still have my fifth grade copy. That book got under my skin and made me want to write (also was a good cautionary tale–I’m still careful about what I put in my journals!) And I loved the artwork. I consider myself an “underdeveloped” artist. I’d love to go back to school and get my art degree so I can illustrate my own books.
Me: I think that would be amazing! I really admire author/illustrators. So who or what was your inspiration for BY THE GRACE OF TODD?
Louise:  I have eleven children, so you might say I preside over my own micro-civilization. With five sons (one of which just turned thirteen), I have boatloads of inspiration (and stinky socks that might be growing their own species). I also have a blankie-toating toddler who readers will recognize as Todd’s baby sister, Daisy. (Minus the “evil” in the evil genius.) Princess VanderPuff (Todd’s mom’s pernicious poodle) is based on the dog I had growing up, “Chachi”.
Me: Eleven children? Wow. I can’t help admire you for managing it all and being an author. I struggle to find balance with three kids! Okay. Last question. You’re at Hogwarts and you have one choice to do the following everyday for the next month: Eat earwax flavored jelly beans for every meal or battle the Whomping Willow.
Louise:  Hmmm… well, I’ve been totally freaked out by scary trees since the first time I saw The Wizard of Oz, so I’m going to have to say the earwax flavored jellybeans, which might taste (or at least look) like popcorn flavored JellyBellies–one of my favorite food groups. My kids say I can eat anything, and I did once almost swallow a fried worm, like the hero in one of my other favorite middle-grade books.
Me: Whomping Willow it is! I never said I played nice 😉 Just kidding. I’ll give you chocolate instead, just for putting up with me. You deserve it!
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Louise Galveston grew up on horseback and books in the Midwest, where she still lives. In addition to writing middle-grade novels, Louiise is resident playwright and director of her local children’s theater. She also enjoys performing occasionally alongside her husband and eleven children. When she’s not writing or at the theater, you can find Louise sketching or battling laundry.
If you have your own little civilization….or a mountain of laundry…or kids who refuse to clean their room, then you’re going to want to win a copy of this book!  You know what to do….

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Amie Borst is the co-author of Cinderskella. She writes with her middle-grade daughter, Bethanie, and their second book, Little Dead Riding Hood releases this October! Follow them on facebook or blog.
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