Posts Tagged magic

The “Magical” Life of Author Anna Hays

By on September 12, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

Author Anna Hays
Are you a fan of magic tricks? If so, you’ll love Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared, written by Anna Hays and illustrated by Mary Kate McDevitt. We’re excited to take a peek behind the curtain and interview the author and learn more about how she became drawn to magic.

Hi, Anna, it’s so good to have you here with us. I know our readers will be fascinated by the many experiences you’ve had with magic in your life. I’d love it if you could tell us a bit about your childhood first.

Did you have any childhood dreams for when you became an adult? If so, did they come true?

I always dreamed of righting the wrongs I saw around me. I stood up for people whenever I could. I thought about becoming a lawyer for a while, but never dreamed I would be writing books!

Did you love to read as a child? If so, can you tell us some favorite books?

I loved reading, cozying up with a book and immersing myself in another world. My childhood favorites were: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Diary of Anne Frank, and Harriet The Spy.

 Did you do magic tricks as a child? Can you tell us your favorites?

I was fascinated by those plastic tricks you would order from the back of a comic book. I would also buy small magic sets at party supply stores. My favorites were the disappearing coin trick, cups and balls, and the all-time best one ever was writing secret messages with “invisible” ink!” That trick was very mysterious to me. I was fascinated by it.

What was an early experience where you learned that written language had power?

I think I connected with written language through lyrics in music first. Childhood songs really stuck with me and impacted me emotionally. And, of course Dr. Suess, the OG! His words, rhymes, and characters made a big impression on me, and still do!

What was your biggest fear when you were young? Did you get over it?

Hard to pinpoint just one!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Trust myself.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I always enjoyed stories as a child, but never thought I’d become a writer. I studied film, and then worked for directors in both film and theater. Those experiences introduced me to different types of storytelling – narrative, documentary and experimental. After watching and learning from those mentors, I started to discover my own voice in the process.

What is your favorite or most challenging part of being a writer?

My favorite part of being a writer is when an idea just clicks and flows. I love when I’m surprised by a sentence, insight, or an idea that comes to me when I’m in the zone and totally immersed. The most challenging part is not getting distracted by life around me and trying to stay focused and engaged with whatever story or project I’m working on at the moment.

Have you had any careers besides writing?

I’ve been a film producer for low-budget films, and I’ve worked in experience design and concept development for theme parks, animation, toys, and retail destinations.

What drew you to writing nonfiction?Book cover of Vanished

When my children were in elementary school, they were required to read a certain amount of nonfiction. I looked around and didn’t see many options for that age group. That’s changed now, but at the time, I saw an opportunity to try to cross over and write a narrative non-fiction story and see where that would lead me. That’s how Vanished came to be.

Please tell us how you became interested in magic.

I’ve always been interested in magic and so has my family. There’s an iconic private magic  club in Los Angeles called The Magic Castle where many greats have started. It’s still very much a big part of the magic community. When I first met my husband, Buzz, I  discovered he did magic and was a member of The Magic Castle, I knew it was destiny from the start! Now I get to see magic whenever I want to, and the best part is having my friends dress up (there’s a dress code) and hosting them there! It’s always a great experience.

What inspired you to write about women magicians?

When I first met Buzz, he was working on a documentary film called Conjuring Women about women magicians. Since I came from a film background, I jumped in and helped him film women magicians whenever they would come to town. Soon, I became friends with a few of them. I ended up writing a cover story on one woman magician for a popular magic magazine called Genii. I began to realize how little is known about women magicians, and certainly women magicians from the past. I began to research and uncover the most remarkable women who were headliners and played to sold-out, enthusiastic crowds, who led incredible lives, and yet who had essentially been forgotten from history. I felt inspired to bring them back into the spotlight.

Can you tell us a little about the women in Vanished?

Each of the women lived such different lives and yet they each started as young girls who dreamed of a life of magic and adventure.

Anna Eva Fay came from a poor farm family in rural Ohio and emerged as one of the most famous mediums of her day. Adelaide  Herrmann was born to wealth but ran away to join the circus to become a dancer, a trick rider, and eventually a headlining illusionist. Annie Abbott came of age after the Civil War to become a strong woman, an “electric girl,” who claimed to possess electrical powers that could overtake any man who challenged her onstage, including the strongest men in the world. Talma, a delicate and rare beauty, would become known as the “Queen of Coins” for her palm artistry and extraordinary coin manipulation. Bess Houdini, the talented wife of famed magician, Harry Houdini, began her career as a singer and dancer, performed magic alongside Harry, and after his untimely death, carried on his legacy and became his gatekeeper. Minerva, was an escape artist who broke through chains and shackles while submerged in icy rivers in front crowds of thousands. And, Ellen Armstrong, the first African American woman headliner whose artistry, charm, wit, and storytelling set her apart as a true original and groundbreaker.

Do you have a favorite of the magicians?

I wouldn’t dare name one! I don’t want to stir up any spirits.

Can you tell us about connecting with the famous magician David Copperfield?

My husband met David Copperfield at a convention in Las Vegas. After they met, David invited our family to his show and then for a visit to his private museum, which was in a secret location in an unmarked building. During the visit, he introduced me to his archivist and gave me free reign to explore his amazing world-renowned magic collection. I spent the next few days there immersed, surrounded by posters, faded scrapbooks, costumes, props, articles, books, and photos. David has been a big supporter of the book and allowed me to use images in Vanished from his collection!

What was one of the most interesting facts you learned while researching?

It was hard to imagine how difficult it was to travel as a performer during the Age of Magic. Each of the women magicians relied on live performances to survive, so needed to tour for most of the year. They took steamships, trains, sometimes even traveling by horse and buggy and donkeys too! It took perseverance and grit to accomplish what they did and to forge successful careers when there was no precedent.

Did you have to leave anything out of this book that you wished you could include? If so, what?

I stumbled upon other fascinating characters during my research who mixed with the leading ladies in the book. I would have liked to have explored some of the more incidental characters like the skeptics, journalists, and other competitive acts.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers will be inspired by the women magicians in Vanished who took chances, followed their dreams and ambitions, developed their passions and talents, and went for it, despite the obstacles and odds against them. They believed in themselves and I hope the readers get that message – to value themselves, nurture their talents, and take chances, even if it feels scary.

Can you tell us about some of your other books?

My first two books, Portia’s Ultra Mysterious Double Life and Portia’s Exclusive and Confidential Rules on True Friendship, features girl detective, Portia Avatar. Portia is a 12-year-old girl who goes on a search for her father, and during her journey uncovers hidden truths about her mother, close friends, and other characters in her small town of Palmville.

I also created an original series, Spark Squad, for Scholastic Book Clubs Originals that follows a group of high school girls who form an after-school tech club that helps fellow classmates fight bullies and solve other pressing teenage issues.

And, for Disney Press, I wrote Stealing Starlight as part of a fantasy series called Star Darlings created by Shana and Ahmet Zappa.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a new book that also features women from the past. It’s under wraps for now. I’ll share more about it soon!

Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

Can’t think of anything at the moment… Thanks for including me in your very cool website and blog!

Thank you for being here! We’ve loved learning more about your “magic” life and book. I’m sure readers will be eager to read your fascinating book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anna Hays is a writer and producer. She is the author of Vanished, a nonfiction portrait of the forgotten lives of famed women magicians who disappeared from history. She is also the author of Stealing Starlight for Disney Press’s Star Darlings fantasy series; Spark Squad, an original series developed for Scholastic Book Clubs; and Portia’s Ultra Mysterious Double Life and Portia’s Exclusive and Confidential Rules on True Friendship, a middle grade series for Simon and Schuster. Anna lives with her family in the woodlands near Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared

By Anna Hays

Illustrated by Mary Kate McDevitt

Discover the amazing illustrated stories of seven women magicians who pulled off spectacular and death-defying illusions and acts, achieved global fame, and then simply…disappeared.

During the Golden Age of Magic from 1860 to 1930, seven women magicians in America defied Victorian conventions and created a unique place in history for themselves and future performers to come. There was Anna, the mindreader; Adelaide, who could float in midair; Talma, who could magically shower the stage with gold coins…and many more!

During a time when women were typically confined to the home, these trailblazers crossed oceans on steamships and traveled the globe bringing their imaginative brand of magic to audiences around the world. They followed their hearts and pursued their dreams of performing magic in the spotlight when women had neither a vote nor a voice in America.

They made history. Yet once their career ended, so did their legacy.

For decades their stories were hidden, or overshadowed by male counterparts, but now they’ve come to life in this vibrant and captivating book.

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Monsters, Marvels, and Middle Grade with Alysa Wishingrad

By on September 6, 2023   /   Articles, Book Lists, Fiction  
graphic showing The Verdigris Pawn and Between Monsters and Marvels book covers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I first met Alysa Wishingrad on Clubhouse. If you’re not familiar with the app, just know at one point it had become a haven for writers seeking community with like-minded scribes—however short-lived. Alysa and I would meet up with a few others and have writing sprints and I recall being so excited to one day read Between Monsters and Marvels. This middle-grade fantasy comes out on September 12, but dear friends, NetGalley has finally started to show me some love, and amongst the ARCs (advanced readers copies) that I basked in this summer, was Alysa’s lovely, second middle-grade novel. Between Monsters and Marvels blew me away.

I had the true pleasure of interviewing Alysa about this treasure of a story, her writing process, and all things Dare—the gritty main character that readers will fall in love with. Read on below.

Let’s start with some questions for the writers out there researching MG books!

Ines:

“The coarseness of our weave scratches their more refined sensibilities, but our thicker fibers make us more durable.”  When you write delicious lines like these, are they the result of revisions or do they pour out of your head during your drafting process? So much of the writing in Between Monsters and Marvels is lyrical and visual. I guess what I’m really asking is, how do you do it? What does your writing process look like?

Alysa:

Ines, thank you so much for having me, I’m so happy to be chatting with you!

I tend to say that my process is kind of sloppy because I’m not a traditional outliner, I don’t use notecards or have a big whiteboard. But there is a logic and system at work, it’s just very slow. I have to let ideas stew in the back of my head for a good long time until I can begin to see the world in my mind’s eye — I need to be able to see it like a movie. I am an acolyte of paper and pencil so as soon as I begin to get the first whiffs of an idea I start a notebook and get to jotting down ideas and questions. Lots of questions. Who are they? What do they want? Why do they want it? Why are they where they are, and what forces had to coalesce to get them there? I push myself to try to look around corners and really search for the hidden truths hiding out of sight so I can learn as much about my characters, their world, and the problems they’re facing as I can.

Then eventually the writing begins, and I start playing around to try and find the voice. That’s the key for me- once I find the voice then I can begin in earnest. On those days when I’m in the voice, words flow. But by flow, I do not mean they rush out of me. I am a pretty slow, line-level drafter, and will work out a moment until it’s just the right set piece. BUT, and this is the important part, just because a line or beat sets me up to find the rest of the scene or chapter, that doesn’t mean it ultimately stays in. I used to think being able to string together a pretty line was the key to good writing. Silly me, pretty lines are all fine and well, but they have to hit at the heart of the tale you’re weaving.

Finally, my process on both THE VERDIGRIS PAWN and BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS involved chucking either a completed (and sold) draft, or large swaths and beginning again from the blank page. I’ve done all the hard work at this point, I know the arc, the world, and my MC, so now I have the knowledge and the freedom to roll the story out the right way.

Ines:

It’s so easy to lose oneself in Between Monsters and Marvels and feel like you’re running right alongside Dare in the Must or on the shores of Barrow’s Bay. What is your favorite piece of advice for middle-grade fans who want to write stories like yours, with such deep world-building and character development?

Alysa:

That’s very nice of you, Ines! I’d say take your time! Ask lots of questions. Interrogate your choices, ask yourself why you’ve made the choices you’ve made. Don’t settle for, “that works.” Push yourself beyond your first, second, or even your third idea.

Just as it takes time to get to know a new person in your life, getting to know a character or your world, is about seeing through all the layers. I try to look at my characters from many different angles and put them through a kind of stress test. How would they respond in any given set of circumstances? And is how they respond how they’d want to? Do they understand how others perceive them? Do they like it? Do they even care? How do they want to be seen, and why is that so important to them?

It’s one thing for me to understand a character by their outward persona— how they present themselves to the world. But they truly begin to come to life when I dig to find out what lies behind the mask. What stories are they telling themselves about themselves?

As far as world-building, I say consider everything – how does the society function, what’s its history, how did it come to look the way it does now. While so much of this work might never wind up on the page, having a full and complete understanding of your world’s geography, history, belief system, etc., helps bring a place to life. And do your research, but unless you’re writing straight historical, I’d say don’t do too much so that you feel hemmed in by it.

Ines:

For the writers wishing to write in the third person, how did you manage to make us feel so very much in the head of Dare? The narrator’s voice, though third, allows us to feel Dare’s humor, her curious mind, and her perspective.

Alysa:

Third is tricky, but it’s my favorite POV to both write and read. John Gardner’s writings on psychic distance were incredibly helpful to me. The way he talks about the lens zooming in and out just made it click— there’s that visual, movie brain again.

But it was mentor texts— reading and studying how other authors have drawn us in through close third— that were my best teachers. My copies of Laurie Halse Anderson’s middle grades are marked up in a sea of yellow highlighters! The power of her observations just always makes me feel like I am living in the skin of her characters.

Fundamentally though, I think the key goes back to truly understanding your character, knowing not only what they like or don’t like, what they want or don’t want, but how they see the world. It’s really like positioning yourself behind their eyes and experiencing life as they do. I often think of that alien that controls Vince D’Onofrio’s character in the first Men In Black!

On making connections with young MG readers.

Ines:

Dare is described as wild, tough, and gritty. But she’s also very sweet and thoughtful, and I get the impression that as much as she seems to not want to belong in Barrow’s Bay, deep down she yearns for that belonging or acceptance. For example, when she vows to be more like her father, invisible, rather than be herself.

How were you hoping children would connect with Dare, how she sees herself, and her place in her world?

Alysa:

We all feel like outsiders at some point, whether we admit it or not, and we all have different coping mechanisms. Some of us do everything we can to try to fit in, squeeze ourselves into a mold that winds up stifling us. Others rebel and dare people to try and get close. But deep inside we all just want to be seen for who we are.

Dare refers to all her points and angles (her opinions, intelligence, and her innate ability to see past the illusions people weave) as her awful. And when we meet her, she fairly revels in getting a rise out of people. Then, as she begins to worry about her father, she tries to make a deal with the stars at night to save him –she promises to try to fit in, to hide her awful. But through the course of her story, she begins to understand it’s those very points and angles that made her stick out like a rose among the lilies that are her greatest strengths.

That’s what I hope readers of all ages take away from my Dare— those things we think of as our faults and foibles are our superpowers, it’s up to us to learn how to use them.

Book reccos à la Alysa!

Ines:

Can you give us a list of your favorite middle-grade books? From when you were in middle school and from today, what books have inspired you?

Alysa:

Oh yes, this is my favorite part!

Growing up some of my most favorites were: Charlotte’s Web [still can’t think of that story without wanting to cry], A Wrinkle in Time, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Borrowers, so many of the Roald Dahl stories, and The Chronicles of Prydain. But I also read a whole lot of books that I’d pull off my parent’s shelves. I’m sure 97% that what I read at the time went right over my head, but they pushed me to consider views of the world I would not otherwise have. John Updike’s Rabbit series was a favorite when I was 12. It makes little sense. What does a 12 year-old girl have in common with a man having a midlife crisis? Well, a lot it turns out. We all face a kind of existential angst at different ages.

Some of my recent faves include:

  • The Troubled Girls of Dragomire Academy by Anne Ursu
  • Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
  • Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu
  • The Skull by Jon Klassen
  • The Plentiful Darkness by Heather Kassner
  • Adia Kelbara and The Circle of Shamans by Isi Hendrix, coming out Sept 19th!

Speaking of Inspiration…

Ines:

The setting is so clearly detailed that it’s easy for any reader to dive into the pages and travel through them to get to Dare’s world. Is there a real place that inspired the fictional island of Barrow’s Bay or the mainland (The Must/City on the Pike)?

Alysa:

Barrow’s Bay was directly inspired by Jekyll and Cumberland Islands— both off the coast of Georgia. At the turn of the 20th century, they were exclusively inhabited by the very wealthiest industrialists in the country. Mackinac Island in Michigan, was also a playground for the very wealthy. But the sense of isolation and mystery was inspired by Put-in-Bay in Ohio. I have a friend who grew up there, and her stories of being iced in over the winter and that sense of wilderness absolutely fed my imagination.

City on the Pike was inspired by the countless cities in both the US and the UK that were absolutely overrun and transformed by the rapid growth of factories during the Industrial Revolution. Sadly, the Must is any one of all too many neighborhoods in the cities that were once thriving communities that were ruined by pollution and the nearly inescapable poverty borne of the inequity of the system.

 

Thank you so much for having me, Ines, it’s been such a pleasure to chat with you!

You can pre-order BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS from your favorite indie, or from mine, Oblong Books, for signed copies and some MARVELous swag  (https://www.oblongbooks.com/between-monsters-and-marvels-hardcover-signed-alysa-wishingrad)

 

About Alysa Wishingrad

Author Alysa Wishingrad

‌‌Alysa Wishingrad writes fantastical stories for young readers, tales that ask; is the truth really true? Her favorite stories are those that meld the historical with the fantastic, and that find ways to shine a light on both the things that divide and unite us all.

She is the author of Between Monsters and Marvels and The Verdigris Pawn, which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

Alysa lives in the Hudson Valley with her family, two demanding rescue dogs, and a cat-shaped dog, who is either a monster or a marvel, depending on the day.

You can find her at: www.AlysaWishingrad.com

Instagram & Threads @alysawishingradwrites

BlueSky @alysawishingrad.bsky.social

Twitter @agwishingrad

((If you enjoyed this post, check out this one.))

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Interview & giveaway: Donna Galanti’s Unicorn Island 2: Secret Beneath the Sand

By on March 11, 2022   /   Articles  

I’m thrilled to have author Donna Galanti here with me today. We’re both unicorn lovers, and she has another delightful book in her Unicorn Island series to share with us. We’re both so glad this book has finally arrived after its long journey.

Book summary

Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand (Volume 2)
By Donna Galanti
Illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe
Andrews McMeel Publishing (Simon & Schuster)

Unicorn Island is a middle-grade illustrated novel series about a young girl who discovers a mysterious island full of mythical beasts. School Library Journal says that “Fans of unicorns and magic in the real world will enjoy this adventure,” and Foreword Reviews claims it’s “An all-too-human, enchanting middle grade fantasy novel.”

In Volume 2 of the Unicorn Island series, Secret Beneath the Sand, Sam and Tuck are on their way to becoming unicorn protectors when they discover new secrets about the island that threaten unicorns’ existence!

Sam can’t believe how much her life and luck have changed since she came to Foggy Harbor: First, she discovered that unicorns are real, and now she’s on her way to becoming an actual unicorn protector! With her new friend, Tuck, by her side during Uncle Mitch’s lessons, Sam finally feels like she’s home.

But as the long-buried dangers of Unicorn Island begin to surface and a mysterious scourge spreads throughout the herd, Sam learns the truth behind Aunt Sylvie’s disappearance and her own connection to the island. With determination, courage, and fierce loyalty to one another—and to their code as unicorn protectors—the kids set out to protect the island’s secrecy and the unicorns’ very existence.

Donna is giving away one hardcover copy of Secret Beneath the Sand that Kirkus Reviews says is “A sweet but not overly sugary treat for unicorn devotees.” Open to U.S residents only please. Enter below!

Interview with Donna and Laurie:

Laurie: What was the inspiration behind this second Unicorn Island story idea for Secret Beneath the Sand?

Donna: I wanted to continue Sam’s story of becoming a full-fledged unicorn protector while also adding a new layer of mystery to the unicorn magic and solving the mystery presented in book one. I also wanted the characters to explore more of the island itself on their adventures so its mysteries—and challenges—are revealed. With these elements in mind, the story grew. I also knew I wanted to add in new fantastical creatures, and they were fun to create!

L: In the story, a mysterious disease threatens the unicorns. Even though unicorns are mythical, was there any research involved in writing this story?

D: Absolutely! My research was based on real-life science. I looked to the plight of elephants with their tusks being poached as a source of inspiration in relation to unicorn horns and their dire situation in the story. The atrocities that still plague elephants deeply affect me. Recent studies even suggest that as a result of widespread poaching, elephants are rapidly evolving to have no tusks.

L: Throughout the series, you introduce both science and magic. What was your purpose in combining these?

D: I love combining both science and magic in this story as I like to think we can have our feet in both worlds—and together, they can do wonders. It also adds to the conflict of the story as some characters view science as the answer and some view magic as the answer. Together, they discover that maybe both are necessary.

L: The story centers around not just unicorns but family and a sense of home. How does this change for Sam, the main character, in this second book?

Unicorn book coversD: Sam discovered new family in book one, but she is still drawn to solving another family mystery. This drives her to take high-risk actions in Secret Beneath the Sand to uncover the truth in the hope of benefiting those she loves. Through her choices, she comes to strengthen the foundation of her sense of home as she navigates this mystery.

L: You have other fantastical creatures in Unicorn Island besides unicorns. What influenced you to create them and add them into the story?

D: One of my favorite little wild animals are chipmunks. I grew up with them and loved to discover them in the woods. For years, I was sad to not live in chipmunk territory, but since moving last year, I was ecstatic to discover I am now back in chipmunk land! Hence, why they had an influence on me creating a similar creature in Secret Beneath the Sand. As a young reader in school, I was also fascinated with the mythical character of Grendel from the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, “Beowulf.” I’m drawn to tragic characters, and his was quite tragic—and why I’ve included a nod to him in this story. I’ve also been super lucky to have had the amazing illustrator, Bethany Stancliffe, bring these creatures to life!

L: I love chipmunks too! What a fun animal to include with your unicorns! And now that we’ve heard a bit about books one and two, I hope you’ll give us a sneak peek into what we can expect when the third volume of Unicorn Island releases in winter of 2023. Can you share some of what’s next for Sam and her best friend, Tuck, and the unicorns in this final installment of the series?

D: In the working title, Beyond the Portal, Sam is inspired to solve the final mystery of her family and save the unicorns. Once again, she puts herself in dire danger to do so, accompanied by her friend, Tuck. I won’t give too much away, except to say that much of this story takes place in a new and perilous setting. Tuck and Sam face the unknown again in a much more impactful way that has far-reaching consequences for all. 😊

Purchase the Unicorn Island series at your favorite bookseller here:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Unicorn-Island-Secret-Beneath-the-Sand/Donna-Galanti/Unicorn-Island/9781524871970

 Watch the book trailer for Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand here:

Download fun Secret Beneath the Sand activities and check out an excerpt from Secret Beneath the Sand below:

Sam frowned. A month ago, it had seemed that Mel, Foggy Harbor’s veterinarian and Tuck’s mom, had cured Barloc of a strange illness. But now that Sam thought about it, the young unicorn had seemed more tired this past week. He was running more slowly and sleeping a lot more.

She knelt in front of Barloc, looking into his violet eyes. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I promise. She gripped the necklace that Verny had given to her. Made from a unicorn tail, it was a symbol of his trust.

Barloc closed his eyes. I’m just tired. I have been since I got back to the island.

Sam bent her head to his and laid a hand on his horn. It felt warm against her fingers. She frowned and held the back of her hand against his horn to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. It was definitely radiating heat.

“Uncle Mitch,” Sam said, her voice quavering, “I think something’s wrong with Barloc.”

Uncle Mitch quickly knelt down next to her. He checked the young unicorn’s eyes and breathing, then stroked his horn.

“His horn is warm,” Sam whispered. “What does it mean?”

Uncle Mitch shook his head and bit his lip as he continued his inspection. Barloc whinnied softly, looking into Sam’s eyes.

“I know you don’t want to think about this, but . . . it could be the sign of another disease,” Tuck said.

“No!” Sam shook her head and jumped up. As she did, the ground beneath her suddenly rocked. She fell to her knees as the earth buckled. Uncle Mitch grabbed both her and Tuck, pulling them in close as Verny screeched and took to the skies, circling overhead with frenzied dips.

The herd bolted across the meadow in confusion and fear as Barloc bowed his head, digging his hooves into the quaking earth.

 

Donna Galanti is the author of the middle grade adventure Joshua and the Lightning Road, which the Midwest Book Review called, “A heart-pounding thrill ride full of unexpected twists and turns from start to finish.” She’s also the author of the follow up, Joshua and the Arrow Realm, the popular Unicorn Island series, and the Element Trilogy thrillers for adults. Donna is a member of From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors blog, regularly presents as a guest author at schools, and teaches writers through her online Udemy courses. She’s lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned campground in New Hampshire, and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer for Fleet Intelligence Pacific. Donna is represented by Liza Fleissig of the LRA Agency. Visit her at donnagalanti.com.

 

Enter to win a copy of Secret Beneath the Sand below! Runs 3/11/22 – 3/18/22

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