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1. Online Book Launch Party for My New Young Adult Novel

Join me at the Lit Ladies blog for my online book party with prizes. Details on the flyer below or on The Lit Ladies blog here: (http://www.thelitladies.com)

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2. My Favorite Christmas Children’s Books (Giveaway)

Little Shepherd

Obed is in the hills outside Bethlehem when the angels appear to announce the Savior’s birth. Can he trust that the miracle of the first Christmas will keep his flock safe while he visits the newborn King?

Purchase your copy from:

Guardian Angel Publishing
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Indiebound.org

Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA2KStzoCPo

Cheryl’s Favorite Christmas Children’s Books

In case you didn’t realize it, I’m a big kid at Christmas. I honestly think I’m a bigger kid than my girls. I decorate almost every room in the house. I bake for the neighbors. I’m hoping to go Christmas caroling next month.  Oh, Christmas carols are an all year thing around this house. If it weren’t for the cats, I’m pretty sure I would leave the Christmas trees up all year round, too.

Seasonal books are another great way to get into the holiday spirit–not that mine is lacking, but it’s a good excuse to buy books. :) Here are some of my favorite Christmas children’s books.

best_christmas_pageant_ever

When my son was a kid  (and that’s many years ago), he had to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. It is the story of the Herdmans, who are not exactly the kind of kids you want yours emulating. They lie, cheat, and steal. There had never heard of Christmas before, but they end up getting involved in the Christmas pageant at church with some hilarious results.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss is a holiday staple. In the years it has been on TV, I’ve not missed it–the original animated version, not the movie version. If Dr. How_the_Grinch_Stole_Christmas_coverSeuss didn’t think readers needed to know the Grinch’s history of how he became so sour, then Ron Howard and his writers didn’t need to create one. I love the story of the green, miserly Grinch with the heart two sizes too small.

My son and I read this one together for years, then it was my girls’ turn. As a child, even more than A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, this book revealed to me there is evil in this world, or at least grumpy people who for one reason or another cut themselves off from the joy of Christmas. Perhaps that’s why the Grinch’s transformation is so thrilling to me. Just like Ebeneezer Scrooge, Christmas works its magic on the Grinch and he’s pulled into all the joy it can bring.

twasI sometimes wonder if Clement Clarke Moore had any idea that his poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” would entertain generations of families for centuries. More commonly know-at least around here–as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,’ this poem shares the story of a father who witnesses the jolly old elf visiting his house on Christmas Eve. It has been used to create magical story books featuring humans and animals alike as the characters of this story, in addition to several television movies.

One of my favorite written versions is the one Tiger Tales released in 2011 with Santa Mouse visiting the Mouse family, giving new meaning to “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”

The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder has long been a favorite of mine. Most of the books have at least one Christmas featured in them–if not all of them.

A LH Christmas

The publishers pulled out the Christmas stories from the set and featured them in two large hardcovers.

From Christmas in the Big Woods of Wisconsin to the day Mr. Edwards delivered presents so that Santa didn’t have to cross the creek, to the chapters of Christmas on Plum Creek where Laura received red mittens, the white china box, and the fur cape and muff off the tree at church, each story is just as special as when you first read it in the Little House books.

A LH Christmas Volume IIThe illustrations by Garth Williams have been colorized to make this book an extra special treat for Little House fans, and also includes the words and music to Merry, Merry Christmas! by Mrs. T.J. Cook.

While A Little House Christmas shares the Christmas stories of Laura’s early days, A Little House Christmas, Volume II travels east to Malone, New York to share the story of Christmas at the Wilder farm when Almanzo was a boy and the aunts and uncles and cousins were coming to dinner.  Then the book travels to the shores of Silver Lake, where Laura and her family are living in the surveyor’s house, and on to Christmas in De Smet, SD, where the blizzards seem like they will never end and the trains won’t run again until spring. And finally, we get to read the story of Almanzo’s surprise return visit on Christmas Eve in These Happy Golden Years.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the short return to my childhood. I hope you’ll share some of your Christmas favorites, too.

Cheryl Malandrinos

Cheryl Malandrinos is a children’s author and freelance editor. She is the author of Little Shepherd, released by Guardian Angel Publishing, and A Christmas Kindness, released by 4RV Publishing, under her pen name, C.C. Gevry. A digital version of A Christmas Kindness will be released in 2013.

Since 2007, Cheryl has been an online book publicist specializing in virtual book tours. She is a member of the SCBWI, a book reviewer, and blogger.

Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two children. She also has a son who is married. Visit her online at http://ccmalandrinos.com/ or http://ccgevry.com/.

Pump Up Your Book and Cheryl Malandrinos are giving you the chance to win a set of 2 Little Shepherd mugs.

Use the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to enter. Bloggers participating in this tour are eligible to enter and win.

Terms and Conditions:

  • Giveaway runs from 12:00 AM EST on 11/4/13 and concludes at 12:00 AM EST on 11/30/2013.
  • By entering you certify you are 18 years of age or older and reside in the United States or Canada.
  • Winner will be notified by email on 12/2/2013 and have 72 hours to respond with mailing address.
  • Prize will be shipped directly from the author to the winner via USPS.
  • Blogs participating in this book tour are not responsible for items lost or damaged in shipment.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also visit the Little Shepherd tour page to enter at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/08/01/little-shepherd-virtual-book-tour-november-and-december-2011/

Little Shepherd Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Nov 4

Book spotlight at The Story of a Writer

Book review at Margo Dill’s Read These Books and Use Them!

Nov 5

Book review and interview at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews

Book trailer reveal at 4 the Love of Books

Nov 6

Guest post at I’m A Reader, Not A Writer

Nov 7

Guest post at This Little Book of Mine

Guest post and book review at Topsy Turvy Land

Nov 8

Interview at Between the Covers

Nov 11

Guest post at Marilyn’s Musings

Guest post at Authors and Appetizers

Nov 12

Book review at Janet Ann Collins On Words

Guest post at Bookingly Yours

Book review and giveaway at Mom Loves 2 Read

Nov 13

Book review at Maureen’s Musings

Nov 14

Guest post at The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

Nov 15

Guest post at Paperback Writer

Book trailer reveal at Broken Teepee

Nov 18

Book review at Blooming with Books

Nov 19

Book review at Nancy Stewart Books

Radio interview at Stories from Unknown Authors at 1 PM.

Nov 20

Guest post at 4 the Love of Books

Book trailer reveal at Thoughts in Progress

Nov 21

Guest post at Literarily Speaking

Nov 22

Book review at Cheryl’s Book Nook

Nov 23

Book review at Freda’s Voice

Nov 26

Book trailer reveal at CelticLady’s Reviews

Nov 27

Book review at ASC Book Reviews (ASC Photos and Designs)

Guest post Tribute Books Reviews and Giveaways

Nov 29

Book spotlight at Cheryl’s Book Nook

Book spotlight at Rose & Beps Blog

Book spotlight at Frugal Canadian Coupon Mom


2 Comments on My Favorite Christmas Children’s Books (Giveaway), last added: 11/16/2013
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3. First Chapter Reveal: External Forces by Deborah Rix (Giveaway)

External Forces 7Treason, betrayal, and heartbreak.

A lot can happen to a girl between her first kiss and her first kill.

It’s 100 years since the Genetic Integrity Act was passed and America closed its borders to prevent genetic contamination. Now only the enemy, dysgenic Deviants, remain beyond the heavily guarded border. The Department of Evolution carefully guides the creation of each generation and deviations from the divine plan are not permitted.

When 16-year-old Jess begins to show signs of deviance she enlists in the Special Forces, with her best friend Jay, in a desperate bid to evade detection by the Devotees. Jess is good with data, not so good with a knife. So when the handsome and secretive Sergeant Matt Anderson selects her for his Black Ops squad, Jess is determined to figure out why.

As her deviance continues to change her, Jess is forced to decide who to trust with her deadly secret. Jess needs to know what’s really out there, in the Deviant wasteland over the border, if she has any hope of making it to her 17th birthday. Because if the enemy doesn’t kill her first, the Department of Evolution probably will.

Prologue:I haven’t slept in forty-eight hours.

It’s part of the Special Operations Assessment and Selection course, twenty-eight days of grueling work. The two days of no sleep are meant to disorient us, part of discarding our former selves. There are three hundred of us trying to figure out how to do what we’re told, when we’re told to, and how to do it correctly. Jay and I weren’t assigned to the same platoon, which was unexpected. I’m in the “civilian” platoon; we’re the ones with skills that don’t generally require brute force. I think Jay is in some kind of elite group because I haven’t seen him, I’ve only seen the G-men platoon. They are all about brute force; they’re the ones that opted for genetic enhancement at age thirteen without the supervision of the Devotees. But Special Forces is, well, special, so they have to prove they’ve got more than muscle and I’ve gotta prove I’ve got more than a quick mind.

If I don’t make it to Special Forces, my life expectancy in the regular army could be pretty short. And if I’m a complete washout, I’ll have to go to my assessment with the Devotees and they’ll find out about me, making my life expectancy even shorter. I seriously need to pass.

Zero dark thirty is when I have to haul myself out of bed in the so-called morning. My drill sergeant has been yelling at me for most of the past two days. The word “why” has been surgically removed from everyone’s vocabulary. Any individual hesitation in following orders means at least one private is getting smoked, if not the whole platoon, which usually means push-ups. We’ve done a lot of push-ups. I stare straight ahead as the drill sergeant walks by me and continues down the row of privates. I made the mistake of “eyeballing” him yesterday.

Never. Eyeball. A drill sergeant.

First Chapter:

Three weeks earlier – May, 2125

My mother thinks I’m a Deviant.

It’s the kind of thing that can really throw a girl for a loop.

The Devotees missed it when I was born, she said, but one day they would come for me. That was a few years ago, she didn’t know I was home when I overheard her; I got out of there lickety-split.

And it’s not as if I haven’t noticed the way my mother looks at me sometimes. If they had taken me when they had the chance, maybe her other baby would still be with her. I’m pretty sure that’s what goes through her head when she looks at me.

So the early assessment notice wasn’t entirely unexpected. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Lots of kids are called for early assessments and nothing happens; they show up at school the next day. Some of them are all excited because they got called to become a Devotee.

But some of them, well, they don’t come back.

I’m in the parking lot of my high school, West Liberty. It’s prom night, and I came with my best friend, Jay. He’s still inside; he likes this sort of thing. I haven’t told him the early assessment notice came this afternoon. I didn’t want to ruin tonight for him. The humidity has made my dress even more uncomfortable than it was inside. Jay owes me. At least he won’t mind if I go home; it’s not that kind of date.

A car door slams shut. There aren’t a lot of kids who can afford the fuel to drive their own car to the prom.

Uh-oh. Blake.

I take a step back. Blake is a popular kid, with the right look, the right home, the right pedigree.

Right.

Despite my attempts to blend in and stay in the background, Blake noticed me this year. When I didn’t respond like all the other girls do, I became his target.

His car keys jangle as he drops them in his jacket pocket. I stand still; maybe he hasn’t seen me.

“Hey, freak,” he calls as he comes around the blue pickup I was hoping would shield me. “Not leaving, are you?”

I smell alcohol as Blake backs me up against the truck.

His slicked-back hair smells slightly astringent, and his tongue slides over his upper lip as he looks me over from top to bottom. A shiver of revulsion goes through me. I can’t imagine what girls like about him. I can hear some voices, but they’re at the other end of the parking lot. It’s just me and Blake.

“I’ve got an early graduation present for you,” he says quietly. His face is close to mine, and I can see beads of perspiration on his forehead. Slick from the humidity, his hand glides down my bare shoulder, as if he’s entitled to touch me.

I don’t think I want a present from Blake.

I’m surprised when my hand moves. There is a wet sound as Blake’s head snaps back.

Blood spurts, and it seems as if time has gone into slow motion. The blood sprays toward me. I move my head to the side to avoid it, and watch it slowly drift by, suspended in the air.

I turn back to Blake and a thrill zips through me. Thick, glossy blood creeps down his chin from his mashed nose. His mouth is open in shock; blood colors his teeth and gums. He moves sluggishly, and each blink seems to take effort.

Drip by slow drip, the blood falls from his chin onto his shirt. Fascinated, I watch each droplet burst on his crisp white collar.

A wet plonk hits my forehead as a sudden coldness envelops me. The grin I’m shocked to find on my face sags. Fat droplets of rain release the pressure in the air and mix with the blood on Blake’s shiny shoes.

Hands to his face, he doubles over as time suddenly speeds up again. The rain pelts down now. I take two steps to the side and run. I hear a sob and realize it’s me.

What just happened?

It’s the morning after prom, and Jay saunters along beside me as we walk back to my house. I met him half way, as per my usual. His t-shirt is a bit wrinkled, but that’s on purpose, to go with jeans that are a little baggy in back. He’s over six feet and gets asked if he’s a model, which he laughs at, but I know he’s pleased. He could be quite popular if he wanted, but he hangs out with me instead.

Jay and me are Fifth Generation. We’re the ones born between 2100 and 2120. We found each other in the seventh grade. We were the last two kids left when we all paired up for gym class. He asked me why I wasn’t moving when we were supposed to be heading out to the field. I explained that I was trying to activate my special powers so that I could use them to transport me far away. Usually that kind of talk would send kids running, and they’d whisper that I must be a Deviant. But not Jay. He blinked at me, then asked if I would take him with me, should my special powers ever actually work. We’ve been best friends since, and tell each other pretty much everything.

“So, can you come to the thing?”

Uh oh.

I think I’m supposed to know what he’s talking about.

“Uh, when is it again?” I stall for time. What thing?

I push my hair behind my ears to help me think. It doesn’t always work. I have shoulder-length brown hair, parted on the side. My no-nonsense look is how I think of it. I still don’t know what the thing is.

“Wait. Jess. You’re joking, right?” Jay says with a laugh that’s on the edge of anger.

“I’m sorry.” I do my best pleading cringe. “I’m a little distracted.”

The early assessment and whatever that was with Blake last night are the distractions. I can’t quite believe I punched him, broke his nose by the look of it. He’s probably going to have two black eyes. But more than that punch, as surprising as it was, is the way time seemed to slow down around me. I want to say it was shock, or some kind of temporary fugue state, but that’s not what it was. Something happened.

“My mother’s thing, remember?” Jay practically yells at me.

“Oh, that,” I say with relief. Jay’s mother is hosting a party to celebrate his seventeenth birthday. That’s what the thing is. It’s going to be awful.

“We met up, what? Five minutes ago? And you’re already trying to drive me crazy?” He pinches my butt. Hard. He’s pretty worked up about this party.

I yelp and dance around. “No way. You are not blaming your crazy on me.” I give him a solid punch in the gut. “You had years of exposure to your mother before we even met.”

I go rock climbing, so my arms are strong. I’ve never needed to go to the gym to work out and “stay in shape” like some of the other girls do. I’m five feet ten and a half inches and the coach at school said I have an athletic body; he tried to get me to go out for track and field. I don’t like the idea of people watching me like that.

But hitting Jay is like hitting concrete. He doesn’t even notice my punch.

“And of course I’m coming, I already told you. That’s why I didn’t know what thing you were talking about. I thought you meant some other thing.”

“You didn’t actually confirm with my mother,” he complains, “and I know how you feel about people, in general.”

“I don’t have a problem with people, in general. Just the idiots,” I say. “And your mother.”

It’s kind of a toss-up, I suppose. A mother like mine, who actively avoids you and has already decided you’re not worth the effort, or one who pays too much attention and has too many expectations.

Jay nudges me as an unfamiliar dark-haired boy, a bit younger than we are, walks toward us. He doesn’t look right at us, but he flashes us two crossed fingers with his right hand.

I look up ahead and see them coming our way. Three Devotees. Jay and I mumble the greeting in unison, “Blood of our blood, flesh of our flesh, soul of our soul,” and we look down as they brush past us in their crisp white lab coats. It’s best not to be noticed.

The Devotees work for the Department of Evolution —everyone just calls it Devo— and they do the work of Creation in partnership with God. The Department of Evolution is under the direction of Secretary Galton. Basically, she’s God’s voice here on Earth. In the midst of the genetic revolution a hundred years ago, when the Genetic Integrity Act closed America’s borders, strict protocols for border biosecurity were instituted to stop genetic contamination. But we were still in danger of being overrun by the Deviants on the other side. Galton took control, ordered the fortification of our borders and gave the military the authority to do what they needed to do. Most people agree; she did what was necessary for our survival by relinquishing certain powers to the military to ensure our protection. Including the ability to create proprietary, genetically enhanced soldiers. The G-men. Since then, Galton has been leading us through the current stage of evolution, Regenesis, removing unwanted traits and improving and enhancing our best traits with the guidance of God.

In Social Biology class, Devotee Theresa taught us that we must all work for the common good, whether we like it or not. The less intelligent are more fertile and must be discouraged from breeding. Only those with desirable traits are allowed to produce the next generation.

There’s this section, practically a whole semester of tenth grade, where we studied pedigree charts, and DNA, RNA, proteins, and ribosomes. DNA is a double helix that carries the genetic information for all life. If only one part of one gene is wrong, it can create a whole generation of imbeciles, and that is not in God’s plan. Or in Devo’s plan. All Devotees have that DNA double helix tattooed on their forearm, as a constant reminder of their purpose in life.

That’s what the crossed fingers warning represents, the double helix tattoo.

We come up to the old Palace Theater. It’s been shut down for a long time, and the large sign that hangs out front lost its first A, so it says PLACE. Someone found a way in down the side alley, and now kids hang out there. They say, “Meet me at the place.” If they’re overheard or an adult sees a message, it only says “the place.” So far it’s stayed secret. I’ve heard they have illegal sim-seats in there, ones that can scramble the biometrics and mask what you’re doing.

“Jess,” Jay says as he slows right down, “something’s wrong.”

“It’s time to wake up!” a skinny boy with curly red hair yells. He’s standing on a wooden crate, and people are hesitantly milling about. “People are dying! Out there, children are starving, and you send them poison. People are sick, and you send them plagues. The blood of our blood is on your hands!”

There are gasps at his blasphemy, but a few people cautiously move toward him in morbid fascination. His eyes are wild, there’s spittle on his lips. Jay grabs my arm to tug me backward.

When the bullet enters the boy’s left temple, it’s as if he doesn’t know it’s there for a moment.

He’s about to yell, his mouth opens, his lips form a word he will never say. Then he topples backward, and I hear the terrible thud as his head hits the ground. The people closest to him quickly step back. No one screams, no one looks up to see the Guardian with the rifle on the roof across the street. Everyone wants to blend in.

Another Guardian comes toward the Palace. The Guardians work for Devo and protect us from Deviants. The stiff collar somehow makes his slightly rumpled, brown uniform shirt look crisp. The yellow double helix is on the front of his cap, and above his left shirt pocket.

“Move along,” he says. “It was just a Deviant.”

We all know that the plain fact of his yelling out crazy stuff in the street like that is proof of his deviance. It’s what happens sometimes, but it’s most prevalent during adolescence. The deviance manifests and people become dangerous, psychotic Deviants, intent on our destruction.

The Guardian rests his hand on the butt of the holstered pistol hanging from his belt and waits for the brown panel truck with the whooping siren we can hear approaching.

Jay swears at him under his breath and keeps hold of my arm. We hurry off with the rest of the crowd, wanting to move as far away as possible. I look back in time to see somebody dart in behind the Guardian, dip a hand in the boy’s blood, and leave an angry red handprint on the front of the Palace Theater. A red hand. I’ve heard the whispers but never thought it was true. As I stare at it, I bumble into Mrs. Yamoto, one of my neighbors. She walks fast, gripping her daughter’s hand tightly. Last year, I saw the brown truck with the double helix on the side parked in front of her house. The Guardians had come to take her son.

Wes.

That was his name.

Title: External Forces
Author: Deborah Rix
Publisher: Dime Store Books
Pages: 268
Language: English
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Format: eBook

Purchase at AMAZONDeborah Rix 7

Deborah Rix’s favourite position for reading a book is head almost hanging off the couch and feet up in the air with legs against the back of the couch. She’s been reading too much from Scientific American for research and ideas and needs to get back to some fiction. She has a long standing love of science fiction, some of her favourite authors include William Gibson, Philip K Dick, Kurt Vonnegut Jr, Douglas Adams, Iain M Banks. A bit old school.

Deborah enjoyed a successful career in entertainment publicity, live music promotion and event management. Which means she slogged through muddy fields for music festivals, was crammed into concert halls with too many sweaty teenage boys and got to go to Tuktoyaktuk (that’s in the Arctic Circle) for a Metallica concert. She lives with her family in Toronto, Canada, where she is the proprietor of The Lucky Penny, a neighborhood joint in Trinity-Bellwoods.

Visit her website at www.DeborahRix.com

ACCELERATE YOUR POWER GRAND PRIZE

GRAND PRIZE: Winner will have a minor character named after them in Acceleration, the second book in The Laws of Motion Trilogy by Deborah Rix. PLUS: 1 (One) WakaWaka Power – a solar powered charger and light, 1 (one) Limited Edition EXTERNAL FORCES Black Ops Beanie, and 1 (one) signed copy of External Forces.

The fine print: Grand Prize winner will have a minor character named after them in the forthcoming book, Acceleration. The winner can choose a name other their own as long as it is mutually agreeable with the Author, Deborah Rix. That means nothing obscene, stupid or ridiculous, as decided at the sole discretion of the author. Winner agrees that the gender, race, physical description, sexual orientation or any other characteristics of the character are at the sole discretion of the author. Winner agrees that the character may suffer some sort of gruesome downfall or may be a heroic figure in the story, it is at the sole discretion of the author what the role of the character will be and to what extent the character will be part of the story. The author assures the winner that it will be a real character in the story and part of a sub-plot or major plot.

Terms & Conditions:

  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive the Accelerate Your Power Grand Prize.
  • This giveaway begins November 4 and ends January 31.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, February 3, 2013.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit the External Forces Tour Page at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/10/20/virtual-book-tour-pump-up-your-book-presents-external-forces-virtual-book-tour/


2 Comments on First Chapter Reveal: External Forces by Deborah Rix (Giveaway), last added: 12/3/2013
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4. Trail of Bones Book Blast and Giveaway with Chris Salisbury

trail of bones

Trail of Bones
Ready for a new adventure? Are you a fan of fantasy, young adult, science fiction and action stories?
“No mercy, No rules – Welcome to the Trail of Bones!”
Run with Purpose – battle cry of the Shade Wolves

Magnus, the runt of a litter of Shade Wolves, wants nothing more than to be a loyal, strong member of the pack. But when an ancient enemy threatens his friends and family, he faces a choice that could tear him from all he’s known and loved.

Born in captivity, the giant panther Kelor knows nothing but suffering and loss. He struggles to find his place in this world of terror, and he battles to protect his family without succumbing to the darkness lurking inside him.

Falling captive to the evil Warden, the two are forced to fight in the battle of the beasts known as ‘The Trail of Bones’. How will Kelor and Magnus learn to work together? How will they escape a fate of despair and death? How will their choices affect their comrades? Their enemies? And the forgotten magic that could doom all life of their world?

Let the adventures begin!

A fun, exciting, clean read for teens, young adults, adults and readers of all ages. Pick up your copy of this fantasy adventure today!
Are you a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Robert Jordan, Orson Scott Card, Jim Butcher and other fantasy and science fiction authors? You’ll feel right at home with Trail of Bones. This fantasy story offers a strong moral message, suspense, action, and mystery, in a world full of magic, unlikely heroes, and devious villains.
Book Trailer

Editorial Reviews

Salisbury is a rising star in genre fiction. This book makes a unique and exciting contribution in the fantasy realm. The first of great things to come. –Jake Black, “The Authorized Ender Companion” “Smallville” “Ender’s Game: Recruiting Valentine”

Amazon Reviews

Conclusion:
A fantasy adventure that features lots of action and intrigue that is geared to a YA audience.
There are moments in this tale that are especially well done… story telling at a level that I’d be interested to see what this author would do with an adult orientated fantasy work.
As a dedicated YA work… 5 Stars.
~ Ray Nicholson

The beginning of a great adventure!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book of the Trail of Bones series. It is an unpredictable adventure, with heartwrenching acts of love and friendship. The story ended before I was prepared to put my Kindle down, and now I will wait anxiously for the second book to be published. In the meantime, I think I’ll read it again with my eleven-year-old son; I’m sure he’ll love it as much as I do. Give it a read!
~ HRL

Enthralling story line that really pulls you in
…The characters were some that I will not easily forget because he explains their background in a way that makes the reader really connect and believe they are real. He creates a world that I long to see. I really grew to both love and hate different characters. I think that is a sign of a really great author when they can make us feel so much emotion towards a character.
~ Janason

About Chris Salisbury
Chris Salisbury has been writing fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and action thrillers for years in independent films. Now he’s expanded his love of good movies, such as Gladiator, Counte of Monte Cristo, Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart, Star Trek, to the world of books. Trail of Bones is the first book in a planned four part fantasy, young adult series targeted at readers of all ages.
The father of four enjoys a wide range of interests from scuba diving to softball, coaching basketball to playing Battlefield 3 on his Xbox 360 or NCAA Football with his sons. He is also a big advocate for literacy and reading for young boys. There seem to be few titles that appeal to young boys and young men to hold their attention, trigger their imaginations and create a love of reading. Chris is out to change that.
In addition to the Trail of Bones series, he also has a number of other titles in development including historical fiction, action, suspense thrillers, and several science fiction properties. There’s a lot more on the horizon, so enjoy Trail of Bones but be sure to look for more captivating titles from Chris Salisbury in the near future.
trail of bones tour
Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 5/24/13

Enter at a Rafflecopter giveaway


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5. Book and Original Art Giveaway in time for the holidays!

You can win .... 

a copy of 

'Sleeping Bear - Journey of the Cubs' 

written by best selling and award winning author Anne Margaret Lewis 
- illustrated by (me!) Hazel Mitchell
A sweet chapter book retelling the legend of the Sleeping Bear Dunes of Lake Michigan, 
great for K-2 and for Christmas stockings!



PLUS! (Yes, there is more!)

The ORIGINAL pencil drawing for the illustration from the page you see above from Chapter one, 
signed and dated by me.

Entering is easy ... 
follow the blog and leave a comment to say you have done so.
If you can't get the comment to stick, send me an email at 
and I will make sure you are in the draw.
Draw will be made Friday Dec 7th 2012.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Toodles
Hazel

PS - Can't wait ... find it at my 
ETSY store






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6. $60 CSN Giveaway

It's that time of year again... CSN stores has approached me asking if I'd like to give my readers another $60 gift card to their online store. I said - why not!? The store is fabulous, selling things like swing sets, a cars themed art desk, and even Michael Kors bed set, with many items that include free shipping...

It's just too easy to enter. Simply visit the CSN stores website, find something you'd love to spend your $60 on and then leave a comment on my blog. Bonus entries for anyone who follows me on twitter, blogger or facebook (one extra entry per follow). You've already seen what I'd pick (links above), so get browsing! Good Luck. Draw is in one week, Wednesday, February 16 at 2pm.

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7. Amazing Blog Giveaway!


Lately my son has been spending quite a bit of his time scribbling at his toddler friendly art easel with wax crayons and too-short-pencil-stubs (left overs from sketching sprees). Maybe that means he will one day become an artist, like his mother, or maybe that just means he likes spending time in my studio because I'm in there too. Either way, it keeps him busy just long enough for me to catch up on my emails.

One recent email had an intriguing offer for my blog... a giveaway - just for my readers! And the kicker - I got to pick the prize! I wondered, do I give away something useful and beautiful like a Dutch oven (oh the ridiculously elegant meals I could attempt to create in one of those), or maybe something that might inspire other young children to be creative while giving their parents some time to themselves, like the Creativity Desk and Easel? Eureka!

Entering is so easy, you could even attempt to allow your toddler to do it for you. Leave a comment on this blog post before Friday, August 20th at 1pm MST. I'll contact the winner that day and we'll set up how to get this fabulous prize to you, even the shipping is free (*I'm so sorry but international readers - that is people not living in Canada and the USA will have to pay for their own shipping).

A great big thank you to CSN stores for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway.

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8. Thursday Tour: Travels With Tarra and Just for Elephants by Carol Buckley

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I am so happy to be a part of Tilbury House’s Elephant Tour! We have elephant facts, elephant book giveaways, photos, website links, and more. SO, here we go. . .

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Carol Buckley and Tarra when Tarra lived at the tire shop

BOOK GIVEAWAYS!!!! BOOK GIVEAWAYS!!!!

*Two books will be given away from the comments on my blog on this post. I will draw two names from the comments. The first name I will draw gets to choose which book he or she wants either Travels with Tarra or Just for Elephants, both by Carol Buckley. The second name will get the second book. I will draw names on Friday, September 4 at 5:00 p.m. CST.

*But wait, there’s another chance to win a book! Tilbury House is also giving out prizes. They are drawing winners from all the comments on all the blogs that participate in the blog tour. Here are their prizes (they are able to ship in the U.S. and Canada):

1. Copy of Just for Elephants signed by Sanctuary co-founder Carol Buckley
2. Copy of Travels With Tarra signed by Carol and stamped by Tarra the Elephant
3. Package of Tilbury House animal books— The Goat Lady, Thanks to the Animals, and an advance copy of Bear-ly There

So, leave a comment below for a chance to win one of five prizes! Now onto the books. . .

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Travels With Tarra is a book about Tarra the famous elephant, whom Carol Buckley purchased from a man who owned a tire shop when she was in college. Tarra has starred in movies, performed in circuses, and provided elephant rides. She loves dogs! This is a touching book with real photographs of Tarra, Carol, and their adventures. It also talks about how Carol started an Elephant Sanctuary for Tarra and other female elephants. A beautiful book for children and adults!

Just for Elephants is a book about Shirley the elephant who was a circus performer and then lived in a zoo. In this book, Shirley goes to the Elephant Sanctuary that Carol started for Tarra. The book shows how an elephant gets used to the sanctuary and other elephants in her new home. And Shirley sees an old elephant friend from her circus performing days. It’s quite touching!

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Twitter Prize: From now through Sept. 9, anyone who tweets about the tour using the hashtag #trunktour will be entered to win a copy of Travels With Tarra or Just for Elephants. US/Canada only, two winners will be announced on Sept. 10th. **Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Margo_L_Dill

So, what do you do with these books?

In the back of the books, many resources for teachers are included. Here are three:

1. The Elephant Sanctuary website has downloadable curriculum materials and links at http://www.elephants.com

2. The Elephant Information Repository is an extensive directory of elephant websites, organizations, events, etc. http://elephant.elehost.com

3. The website of the world-leading expert on African elephant family structures, life cycle, and behavior http://www.elephanttrust.org/cynthia-moss.htm

Here’s some interesting facts about Tarra the elephant–care to comment on any of these? :)
*She is 8′2″ tall and weighs 8,700 pounds!

*Each day she eats: 130 lbs of hay and/or vegetation, 1 pound of hand-mixed whole grains (oats, barley, and wheat), 2 pounds of soaked wheat bran, 10-20 pounds of fruits & vegetables, and drinks approximately 30 gallons of water.

The blog tour continues with. . .

Friday, Sept. 4: Maw Books http://blog.mawbooks.com/
Saturday, Sept. 5: Shelf Elf http://shelfelf.wordpress.com/
Sunday, Sept. 6: Bees Knees http://beeskneesbooks.blogspot.com/
Monday, Sept. 7: Through The Looking Glass http://lookingglassreview.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, Sept. 8: Bri Meets Books www.brimeetsbooks.com

And finally. . .Tilbury House Promotion to Support The Elephant Sanctuary (8/1-12/31)

Tilbury House will hold their first-ever “Trunk Sale” promotion from August 1 through December 31. For every 100 elephant books that they sell, the independent publisher has pledged to sponsor a much-needed item from the Sanctuary’s wish list. These gifts will include 100 lbs of peanut butter (a favorite treat), a day’s worth of meals for one elephant (including more than 10 lbs of fruits & veggies and 100 lbs of hay!), and an elephant-sized piece of land (to support the Sanctuary’s recent
expansion).

So, buy these books if you don’t win them or buy a bunch and give them to your favorite school or as a Christmas gift!

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9. 200th POST - Print Giveaway


It's been almost two years since I started my blog with an article about leaving my place of employment. This post marks my 200th article and to celebrate and thank the many readers who stop by and leave comments I'm giving away an entire set prints (by yours truly). There are five in the set and they measure 10 x 13". Switch them up as the years pass, give some away or frame them. They are all individually cello packaged and signed by yours truly.

Enter from anywhere in the world (I'll priority post if the winner is Canadian or will arrange meet/pick up if you live in Edmonton, Alberta to make it a Christmas Present). All you need to do is leave a comment in this post. I'll randomly draw a name from the comments listed on Wednesday, December 17th and then contact the winner for their mailing address.

If you are interested in purchasing a print you may do so in my etsy store. All prints are all currently 50% off ($10 each plus shipping for a limited time only).

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10. 2008 Calendar Giveaway Contest!


I have two copies of my 2008 calendar to give away to two different blog visitors (plus a surprise gift!). Here's the rules: Post a comment on the following topic and I'll draw from the names of people who comment on or before January 31st for the prize. Then once I've contacted the winner you'll be sent the prize (please don't leave your address in the blog comment section but rather leave a website or blog address/email where I can get this from you privately)!

Here's the topic:

"Green Illustration & Design" (what are you doing to make your illustrations and office more environmentally friendly? Any links to good office crafts out or recycled goodies? And if you're not an illustrator or designer what are you doing to make your home more eco-friendly?)

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11. Raleigh's Page


Raleigh’s Page

Author: Alan Armstrong

Illustrator: Tim Jessell

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Raleigh’s Page is the riveting story of Andrew, a young boy sent to be a page to his father’s old friend Walter Raleigh. Yeah that Walter Raleigh - throw his pearl studded cloak on a puddle for Queen Elizabeth of England to walk on Walter Raleigh. Pretty cool, no? I was always fascinated by that story but didn't really know much about him other than the usual middle school page in a history book.


Andrew goes to live in Raleigh's estate along with two other boys who are already serving as pages to him. He is fascinated by all the newness but misses his family. One of the boys is cruel but the other is a good friend to him. Andrew, the farmer's son makes a great friend in the French gardener and becomes his apprentice. Together they learn of strange plants from other lands and prepare for the New World.


Raleigh himself is an interesting character in this book. I was fascinated by his excitement and verve. Walter Raleigh is a high energy, intelligent and purposeful man in this book. His way of teaching the children in his care is also fascinating. He plans secret trials that not only test the boy's writing, business acumen and other abilities but he tests the strength of their character. Interesting.


Andrew, being a solid farm boy with good values and a strong character shines in this story. He's a normal boy with hopes and dreams and fears, yet he consistently rises to any occasion, whether it be spying, carrying secret documents or venturing out to the New World. He meets the mysterious Dr. Dee, the Queen's own astrologer among other characters that populate this book.


Ah yes, Raleigh is planning a big trip to the colony of Virginia - the first expedition to Roanoke and Andrew is determined to go along. The story gets even more interesting once Raleigh's ship actually gets to Virginia. Alan Armstrong writes a great tale full of intrigue, adventure, compassion and understanding.


Raleigh's Page is one heck of a great read. The marvelous illustrations by Tim Jessell give depth to the story and a flavor for the time period in which it is set. One of my favorite illustrations is one of Walter Raleigh almost bursting with excitement.

Book Description from the publisher:
Andrew has grown up near the Plymouth docks hearing the sailors talk about America. Knowing that Andrew's heart is set on going to the new world, his father sends him up to London to serve as page in the house of Walter Raleigh. In Queen Elizabeth's court, Raleigh's the strongest voice in favor of fighting with Spain for a position in the New World, and everyone knows that it's just a matter of time before Her Majesty agrees to an expedition. Can Andrew prove himself fit to go on an expedition to the New World?

Meticulously researched and brilliantly crafted, combining fictional characters with historical, Andrew's tale offers up a vivid look at the cloak and dagger politics of the time and a genuine feel for what it must have been like for the first Europeans to set foot on the beautiful, bountiful, savage shores of America.

About the Author
Alan Armstrong's first book, Whittington, was awarded the Newbery Honor in 2006. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Martha, a painter.

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