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“When one man’s treasure is another man’s curse"
Book Information:Title: The Curse at Pirate’s Cove
Series: Nikki Landry Swamp Legends, Book 2
Author Name: Rita Monette
Genre(s): Middle Grade, Adventure, Mystery
Tags: Middle Grade, Adventure, Pirates, Bayou, Louisiana
Length: Approx. 208 pages
E-book: 978-1-987976-02-1
Paperback: 978-1-987976-01-4
Re-Release Date: Nov.17, 2015
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing
About the Book:
Nikki Landry is turning eleven years old, and is looking forward to riding her bike to school. That is until it falls apart. Papa can’t afford a new one. Is she doomed to ride the smelly old school bus from now on?
Hearing of an old pirate ship, and a legend about long-ago pirates burying treasure on a nearby swamp island, Nikki sees a way out. But when she makes a birthday wish for the pirate’s gold, things go terribly wrong. Did her wish trigger an ancient curse?
Join Nikki and her friends as they find themselves sailing away aboard a haunted schooner with ghostly pirates into the Gulf of Mexico … and into the year eighteen fourteen.
How will they ever find their way back home?
Pierre Part Louisiana
by Rita Monette
I have been spending the last few weeks in my home state of Louisiana, promoting my books and visiting relatives.
Today I visited my brother in the small town of Pierre Part, Louisiana, which also happens to be the home of Troy Landry of the Swamp People TV series, and where my series, The Nikki Landry Swamp Legends, begins. No, Nikki is not kin to Troy—at least I don’t think so.
The town is about as Cajun as anywhere in Louisiana. Folks there make their living in the bayous, where crawfish, crabs, and alligators are plentiful.
However, I came across one man that makes his living gathering old cypress and turning it into artistic creations. His name is Adam Morales. He says he is blessed to be able to see things in the old remains of cypress trees. Here are a couple of his creations...
Many folks in Pierre Part still live in houseboats, just like they did back in 1956 where my stories begin.
This week is the release of book two, The Curse at Pirate’s Cove, which is set in the nearby town of Morgan City, and in the Atchafalaya Swamp, where Mr. Morales collects the cypress for his artwork.
Follow the Tour:http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-tour-schedule-curse-at-pirates.htmlPurchase Links:Amazon:
http://amzn.to/1HG1d39Mirror World Publishing:
http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/adventure/products/the-curse-at-pirates-coveChapters:
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-curse-at-pirates-cove/9781987976021-item.html?ikwid=Rita+Monette&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-curse-at-pirates-cove-rita-monette/1120806662?ean=9781987976021
Meet the Author:
Rita Monette was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana. She loves to write stories set in the beautiful, yet mysterious, bayous and swamps of her home state.
Her middle grade series, The Nikki Landry Swamp Legends, is based on tales told by her father—who made his living in those bayous—of reasons to stay out of the swamp.
She currently lives with her husband, four lap dogs, and one lap cat, in the mountains of Tennessee. Besides writing and illustrating, she loves watching the many birds that make their habitat on the Cumberland Plateau, working in the garden, and frequenting waterfalls.
Social Media Links:
Behind every legend lies the truth…
About The Legend of Ghost Dog Island:Moving is nothing new for ten-year-old Nikki Landry. Her father relocates their raggedy old houseboat several times a year in search of better crabbing spots. However, their latest move has brought her to a mysterious bayou where she feels something is watching her from a nearby island.
Nikki learns of a local legend about something sinister inhabiting those swamps, stealing the souls of dogs...which would explain the strange howling sounds. Papa reassures her there’s nothing on the island but gators and snakes. He should know. He’s spent his whole life trapping and fishing those bayous and swamps…But maybe there’s something Papa doesn’t know.
Nikki and her new friends begin to uncover strange happenings from years ago that may have started the old legend…and town folks aren’t talking.
Then her beloved beagle goes missing.
Join Nikki as she seeks to discover the real truth behind the legend of Ghost Dog Island…before it’s too late.
Character Interview:
I’d like to introduce Nikki Landry, who is the main character in my Series, Nikki Landry Swamp Legends. Nikki lives in the bayous of Louisiana, in a houseboat, perpetually in the 1950s. She likes to help her papa catch crabs and she isn’t too crazy about school, especially since she moves several times a year and has to continually be the new kid in school. So without further ado, here’s Nikki:
Welcome Nikki. You look like a pretty tough young girl. Is there anything you are afraid of?
Well, I am tough. My papa always says so. But, I’m kinda scared of what might be in that swampy place Papa calls Ghost Dog Island. Does it really have a creature out there that steals dogs? Will it come after my best buddy, Snooper? Lots to worry about you know.
So, can you tell the readers your best or worst memory?
My best memory is playing with my best friend, Lydia in her treehouse.
The worst memory is when we had to move when I was mad at her. I thought it would make me not care about leaving, but it didn't work out that way. It made me all mad and sad at the same time. Ugh!
What would you say is your biggest strength? Weakness?
My biggest strength is that I am a good riddle solver. Just ask anyone. *beams with pride*
My biggest weakness is that I get myself in trouble sometimes by not telling the truth. I really gotta work on that.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
What’s a pet peeve? Is it something like a possum? I’ve never had one of those. I hear they are mean. I don’t think I want a pet peeve.
Your series’ tag line is “behind every legend lies the truth.” Do you think people should always seek the truth?
Yes. And even when I get caught not telling the truth, my papa always finds out. It’s what papas are good at.
But, my stories are about me setting out to learn the truth behind legends I hear about that don’t make no sense. That’s more like trying to solve a mystery. I love doing that, even though most of the time I get in trouble doing it.
So Nikki, If you were stranded on an island and could only have three things (items or people), what would you choose to have and why?
Island? I’d never want to be stranded on no island. I went out there to Ghost Dog Island with my friend, Spikes, and I wouldn’t want to be out there by myself, what with gators, snakes, and mosquitoes. But if I did get stranded, I’d want a flashlight for sure, and my dog, Snooper. A boat wouldn’t be a bad idea either
Book Details:Title: The Legend of Ghost Dog Island
Author Name: Rita Monette
Genre(s): Middle Grade, Adventure, Mystery
Tags: Adventure, mystery, middle grade, louisiana, bayou, dogs
Length: Approx. 204 pages
E-book: 978-1-987976-00-7
Paperback: 978-0-9947490-9-3
Re-Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing
Amazon Link:http://amzn.to/1Vc8647
Mirror World Publishing Links:eBook
http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/history/products/the-legend-of-ghost-dog-island-ebookPaperback
http://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/history/products/the-legend-of-ghost-dog-island-paperbackMeet the Author:
Rita Monette was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana. She loves to write stories set in the beautiful, yet mysterious, bayous and swamps of her home state.
Her middle grade series, The Nikki Landry Swamp Legends, is based on tales told by her father—who made his living in those bayous—of reasons to stay out of the swamp.
She currently lives with her husband, four lap dogs, and one lap cat, in the mountains of Tennessee. Besides writing and illustrating, she loves watching the many birds that make their habitat on the Cumberland Plateau, working in the garden, and frequenting waterfalls.
Follow the Tour to Read Exclusive Excerpts, Guest Posts, Reviews, and a Character Interview:
http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/blog-tour-schedule-legend-of-ghost-dog.html
Dat Loretta and Rango was no regular gators
Why dem swamp dogs was known from da bayou to Decatur
Dey dance da Lambada, da Salsa, an Tango…
But dey pack the house when dey dance
ZY-DEE-CO!
Never dare was a team dats mo betta
Den two steppen Rango and his sweet boo Loretta!
Fo True!!!
By Roberta Baird
www.robertabaird.com
I seem to have a theme going on here… if it isn’t dancing, it’s gators….. so why not dancing gators!
Happy Friday!
Mama’s Bayou by Dianne de Las Casas, illustrated by Holly Stone-Barker
Take a sound-filled tour through the bayou as the animals that live there prepare to sleep. Using the repeated phrase of “Mama’s by you on the bayou” the book moves from animal to animal offering the sounds they make. Crickets chirp, frogs slurp, snakes hiss, mosquitoes (skeeters) buzz, and more. Every few pages, there is a double-spread given over just to the accumulated noises of the animals. These small breaks in the pattern of the book keep it from being too rhythmic and also give readers a place to pause and consider the noises of the night.
De Las Casas has written a book that is a lullaby directly from the bayou to you. Her use of repetition is nicely done. Also the cumulative nature of the animal noises makes for a fun read. Stone-Barker’s illustrations are done in cut paper collages. The papers have dimension and texture, offering a depth that is exciting. She also uses deep colors of night very successfully.
A lovely way to celebrate the sounds of the night whether listening to the mosquitoes in the bayou or all the way north in Wisconsin. We do have fewer crocodiles though. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Reviewed from copy received from Pelican Publishers.
Title: Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou
ISBN: 978-159080-575-5
Price: $9.99
Paperback: 160 pages
Amazon: Echelon Press:Colorful pirates, SuRana-a shape-shifting puma, and an old Cajun guide named Mud Bug join Cynthia and Gus as they explore the Curse of the Bayou. The latest quest for the adventurous, twelve-year-old best friends finds them in a Louisiana bayou. There, they search for answers in the disappearance of Cynthia's great-grandfather, Beau Connor, who was on his way down the Mississippi River to sell a flatboat full of produce. With the help of a magic trunk in Cynthia's attic, this time-traveling duo venture back to 1914 New Orleans. The warm welcome and advice from old friend, Gabriella, is small comfort when Mud Bug warns them to stay away from Buzzard Jack LaBuse, the meanest pirate this side of the Mississippi, his gang of misfits, Snags, Darby, and Salty Sam, their thieving parrot mascot.
I've zoomed into techie land! From trying to figure out how to post a blog a few short years ago, to having my own book up on Kindle, I'm rocketing through cyberspace on Amazon's Whispernet!
Take a look at Curse of the Bayou, now up as a Kindle download. Do they still call them downloads? Or, have they been renamed? Maybe Time-Travel Tomes. (Now, that's just stupid!). Catcher In the I(pod)? (Help! I'm losing my I-Brain!)
Anyone out there have a better name than "downloads?" C'mon people. There's gotta be a more current phrase!
Meanwhile, Save a Tree - Read an Ebook!
And, read "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou!"
Amazon
Fictionwise
Quake
Mary Cunningham Books
How many parents have been woken up in the middle of the night by a child with an incredibly sore ear? It’s the unknown for both the child and the parent that causes concern, especially at a time when their own doctor may not be available.
Enter Dr. Charlotte Cowan, a pediatrician who took a leave of absence from Boston’s MassGeneral Hospital for Children to write a series of books that address health and hasn’t gone back.
On this edition of Just One More Book Mark speaks with Dr. Charlotte Cowan about leaving her practice to write children’s books for her Hippocratic Press and the role of understanding as a component of recovery.
Tags:
childrens books,
Dr. Charlotte Cowan,
Hippocratic Presschildrens books,
Dr. Charlotte Cowan,
Hippocratic Press
Today I visited my brother in the small town of Pierre Part, Louisiana, which also happens to be the home of Troy Landry of the Swamp People TV series, and where my series, The Nikki Landry Swamp Legends, begins. No, Nikki is not kin to Troy—at least I don’t think so. 
The town is about as Cajun as anywhere in Louisiana. Folks there make their living in the bayous, where crawfish, crabs, and alligators are plentiful.
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perfect for the topic. nice work.
I'm just so curious about what happens in the house on his back. I love the warm lighting as well!
nice illustration!
love this illustration
Wonderfully done.
I like your work! Imaginative, great lines and coloring, expressive!