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Jayne Fresina is the author of The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine. She dropped by the virtual offices to talk about her book, and she brought a copy for one of you to win! Fill out the widget after the interview for your chance to win The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine.
[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Jayne Fresina] I’m a crazy writer who loves dogs, tiramisu, shoes and cappuccino.
[Manga Maniac Café] Can you tell us a little about The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine?
[Jayne Fresina] This is a story about love and second chances. It’s about a woman’s journey to understand herself and forgive her own flaws. And it’s about a man who wants to turn his life around. When Sophie puts an advertisement for a husband in the Farmer’s Gazette she doesn’t really expect anyone to answer it. Mischief and temper make her do it, as well as a generous dose of frustration with her life and the constraints of propriety. Then our hero, Lazarus Kane, shows up on her doorstep, taking the advertisement seriously, and suddenly Sophie has to face reality.
[Manga Maniac Café] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Jayne Fresina] I woke up one morning thinking about a scarred woman opening her door to a dark, mysterious stranger. Have no idea where that came from, but that’s often the case with my inspiration! I was actually working on another manuscript at the time and had to put that aside because Sophie demanded her story be told at once!
[Manga Maniac Café] What was the most challenging aspect of writing The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine?
[Jayne Fresina] I have a tendency to want to use a lot of characters, so my biggest challenge with this one was cutting out a few small parts to streamline the story. Often I become very fond of minor characters and don’t want to edit them out, so that’s a struggle!
[Manga Maniac Café] What three words best describe Sophie?
[Jayne Fresina] Mischievous, curious dreamer.
[Manga Maniac Café] What are three things Lazarus would never have in his pocket?
[Jayne Fresina] Hmmm – good one! A pen (he can’t write very well); A To-Do list (he just does things— gets on with it); a 
compass (he knows where he’s going without one)
[Manga Maniac Café] What is Sophie’s single most prized possession?
[Jayne Fresina] The clockwork linnet in a cage that Lazarus buys for her. Although she’s also very fond of her French lace drawers with the little silk roses—as is Lazarus.
[Manga Maniac Café] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Jayne Fresina] Friends and family, particularly my Dad who used to tell us stories about his life growing up in the country.
[Manga Maniac Café] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Jayne Fresina] Coffee, clean teeth, peace. (I assume you mean in addition to the computer!)
[Manga Maniac Café] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?
[Jayne Fresina] Enslaved by Virginia Henley.
[Manga Maniac Café] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[Jayne Fresina] Olga Da Polga by Michael Bond (who also wrote the Paddington Bear books). I can remember reading it when I was very young and I was so sad that the story ended I just read it over
Tamara Hogan is the author of Chase Me, a paranormal romance from Sourcebooks. Tamara stopped by the virtual offices to chat about her new release, and she brought a present! One of you can win a copy of Chase Me just by filling out the widget below!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Tamara Hogan] Feral reader, newbie author, Mark’s partner, INFP, cat mom, boot hoarder, TV addict, Type B, digitally-overloaded technologist.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Chase Me?
[Tamara Hogan] In this follow-up to Underbelly Chronicles Book 1, TASTE ME, CHASE ME delves more deeply into the paranormals’ origin story. Millennia ago, when their ship crashed to Earth, paranormals of all types settled secretly into our world, quietly going about their business with humans none the wiser. Self–ruling and careful to stay below the radar, all is threatened when Valkyrie archaeologist Lorin Schlessinger and her werewolf geologist partner Gabe Lupinsky inadvertently draw evil attention to Earth and its treasured natural resources. As the threat intensifies, Lorin and Gabe struggle to contain the chaos they’ve unleashed, and to resist their explosive mutual attraction…
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Tamara Hogan] Though they were both dating other people at the time, Lorin and Gabe shared a scene – and some sparks – in TASTE ME. Half a year later, after the events of the first book, CHASE ME opens with Gabe having to travel to Lorin’s home turf, a remote archaeological site located in northern Minnesota, to exert some damage control.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What was the most challenging aspect of writing the book?
[Tamara Hogan] I found writing the scenes that take place on the spaceship—the villain’s home base—to be very challenging. I wanted the TonTon to be a workplace that is sometimes grimy and messy, not sterile and squeaky-clean like the starship Enterprise. The TonTon is basically a flying Playboy Mansion, an intergalactic pleasure dome, where the captain’s word is law—where anything goes, but where all is far from perfect.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Lorin?
[Tamara Hogan] : Practical, physical, aggressive.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things Gabe would never have in his bedroom?
[Tamara Hogan] Plates, glasses or food. Plants—he has a complete black thumb. A novel, because all his reading is technical or work-oriented.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Lorin’s single most prized possession?
[Tamara Hogan] Her deceased dog’s leather collar. Her bulldog, Princess Buttercup, died about five years ago.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Tamara Hogan] Other authors’ books. My worldview expands, and I learn something about craft, from every book I read, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, or a great book or a wallbanger.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Tamara Hogan] Pen and paper, coffee with cream, and a loaded iPod to block out the world.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?
[Tamara Hogan] Nalini Singh’s recent novella collection, Angel’s Flight. I was reading this book in the bathtub, and asked Mark if he would bring me some paper and a pen. I figured if
By:
Tara Lazar,
on 3/9/2012
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Before Michelle Kwan, before the whole Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan scandal, there was a figure skater who exhibited that perfect balance of power and grace: Kristi Yamaguchi. She had the high jumps and fast spins, but she also had a style and effortless elegance no one else could match.
OK, so why am I gushing? I used to be a competitive figure skater, but no where near the level of Kristi Yamaguchi. She was a role model to me. So today I’m very pleased to share with you her new picture book, IT’S A BIG WORLD, LITTLE PIG! And yes, it’s about figure skating!
First, let me introduce the main character, Poppy. Isn’t she cute? In her first book, she had the courage to DREAM BIG and chase after her goals.
Now, in the sequel, Poppy receives an invitation to Paris to compete in the International Games. She musters up her porcine prowess to travel far from home–with encouragement from her friends and family, of course.
When Poppy arrives in Paris, she’s overwhelmed. She doesn’t know anyone and doesn’t know where to go. But Poppy is great at making friends. She bumps into Li, a panda snowboarder. And Poppy finds out that even though they are from different countries, they “both smile in the same language.”
According to John Sellers, children’s reviews editor for Publishers Weekly, “There’s certainly a need for books that portray, mirror and show the value in all kinds of families: same-sex families, mixed-race families, stepfamilies, families with grandparents as guardians.” I also believe that books should reflect the diversity in the world around children. In my own neighborhood, there are families from Brazil, India, the Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, China, Taiwan, Denmark, and Mexico. So I was pleased to see that Yamaguchi’s book introduces readers to animal competitors from all over the world.
Tim Bowers illustrates with such adorableness (is that a word???), bright colors and a jovial quality. You can’t help but smile at the wonderful world he’s created.
IT’S A BIG WORLD, LITTLE PIG brings together many cool themes (besides ice): following your dreams, making friends, diversity, independence, and doing your best. And it’s all rolled up in a figure-skating package! What could be more perfect?
Well, I’ll tell you! One hundred percent of Kristi’s profits from IT’S A BIG WORLD, LITTLE PIG will benefit early childhood literacy programs supported by her Always Dream Foundation.
10 Comments on Perfect Picture Book Friday: It’s a Big World, Little Pig!, last added: 3/9/2012
Samantha Grace is the author of Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel, a new regency from Sourcebooks and the kick-off title for her new Regency series, The Beau Monde. Samantha dropped by the virtual offices for a chat, and she brought a present for one lucky reader! You can win a signed copy of Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel after the interview!
[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Samantha Grace] Warm, playful, loyal, optimistic, family-focused, curious…
[Manga Maniac Café] Can you tell us a little about Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel?
[Samantha Grace] HE’LL NEVER SETTLE FOR ONE WOMAN…
Debonair bachelor Lord Andrew Forest lives for pleasure and offers no apologies. But he receives a dose of his own medicine when his family’s entrancing houseguest beds him, then disappears without so much as a by-your-leave. He’d like to teach the little vixen a thing or two about how to love a man…if he can find her…
AND SHE WON’T SETTLE FOR HEARTBREAK…
After the dashing man of her dreams is revealed as a lying scoundrel, heiress Lana Hillary is ready to seek a match with a respectable gentleman—if only they weren’t so dreadfully boring. Unable to rein in her bold nature for long, Lana flirts with trouble and finds herself entangled with exactly the type of man she’s vowed to avoid.
What the summary doesn’t say is there is also an element of mystery and danger that could cost Lana and Lord Andrew their lives.
[Manga Maniac Café] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the book?
[Samantha Grace] Lord Andrew and Lana Hillary began as secondary characters in my first attempt at a romance novel, but their personalities were so appealing to me that I wanted to cast them as hero and heroine in their own books. The two of them weren’t even together much in the first book, but I began to question what it would be like if they became a couple.
I’ve always loved rake stories, but usually it’s the guy who’s resistant to marriage. It seemed like it could be an interesting story if the roles were reversed, and it was the lady who didn’t want to marry. I figured I couldn’t be the only woman who had dated the wrong man at least once in her lifetime and had learned she shouldn’t trust her heart with just anyone. I also can’t imagine I’m the only one who has been impulsive in a relationship and later regretted it. I know not everyone has been through these experiences, but the ones who have can hopefully find in Lana a heroine that’s relatable.
[Manga Maniac Café] What was the most challenging aspect of writing the story?
[Samantha Grace] Because Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel was written early in my career, my biggest challenge at the time was learning how to write fiction. Everything up to that point had been work-related writing, such as medical research papers, documentation, policies and procedures… All that really boring stuff. I’ve learned a lot from being part of a writers’ critique group, attending conference workshops, and studying books on writing. It’s my goal to keep growing and improving my skill as an author, and to write stories readers will love.
[Manga Maniac Café] What are three things Lana would never have in her boudoir?
[Samantha Grace] A miniature of her former betrothed. Her mother, if she could bar her from entering. That horrid tea her maid served her.
[Manga Maniac Café] Why do you think romances are so popular? Why did you decide to write one?
[S
| Title: No Proper Lady Author: Isabel Cooper Publisher: Sourcebooks ISBN: 978-1402259524 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
| It’s Terminator meets My Fair Lady in this fascinating debut of black magic and brilliant ball gowns, martial arts, and mysticism. England, 1888. The trees are green, the birds are singing, and no one has any idea that in a few hundred years, demons will destroy it all. Joan plans to keep it that way. All she has to do is take out the dark magician responsible-before he summons the demons in the first place. But as a rough-around-the-edges assassin from that bleak future, she’ll have to learn how to fit into polite Victorian society to get close to her target. Simon Grenville has his own reasons for wanting to destroy Alex Reynell. The man used to be his best friend-until his practice of the dark arts almost killed Simon’s sister. The beautiful half-naked stranger Simon meets in the woods may be the perfect instrument for his revenge. It will just take a little time to teach her the necessary etiquette and assemble a proper wardrobe. But as each day passes, Simon is less sure he wants Joan anywhere near Reynell. Because no spell in the world will save his future if she isn’t in it. |
Review:
I was originally attracted to this book by the gorgeous cover. A quick scan of the synopsis heightened my interest in No Proper Lady. Terminator meets My Fair Lady? Heck, yeah, I’ll take that bet! I eagerly dove into the story, and I’m happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed. The plot is unique, the setting is intriguing, and I liked both leads. I can hardly wait for Isabel Cooper’s next book!
Joan is a fighter, and she is one tough chick. In a last ditch effort to save humanity, she is sent back in time to assassinate the man responsible for the fall of the human race. Leaving behind everything she has known, and more importantly, everyone that she loves, Joan’s ticket to the past is irrevocably one-way. She can never go back to be with her family and her friends. If she fails her mission, she dooms them to death and destruction. Joan has survived the horrors of her world, and when she arrives in Simon’s, she is taken aback by the beauty and quiet of his world. Of the future she and her people were robbed of. The stakes are high in this game of hers, and Joan isn’t about to fail. For her, failure is simply not an option.
Simon is having a troubling time himself. His former best friend has betrayed him. His sister was almost lost to him, a vessel for a demon. He frets about how he will keep Eleanor safe, and he worries about how far Alex will let his dark arts sway him. House parties and genteel manners no longer seem important to the English nobleman; everything that he holds dear is now at risk of being sucked into a darkness so evil there will be no escape for any of them. When Joan’s time travel spell poofs her in front of Simon, he suddenly has an ally and someone who might just understand how urgently Alex needs to be stopped in his tracks.
I love time travel stories, and this one is a good one. Joan makes a huge sacrifice to make her journey back in time, and Simon, though slightly skeptical of how awful the situation in the future truly is, readily makes enormous sacrifices as well.
Janet Gurtler is the author of I’m Not Her and If I Tell. She dropped by the virtual offices to discuss some of her writing influences.
Janet Gurtler on her writing influences:
Honestly I think the greatest influencers on me and my writing as a teen were SE Hinton and Judy Blume. Both those authors had books that spoke to me. I can remember reading Judy Blume as a young teen and being absolutely flabbergasted that someone understood me. ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT`S ME MARGARET was my treasure. A book that mentioned unmentionable. Judy Blume wrote about girls who had similar thoughts to me and it helped me realize there were others like me. That Judy Blume MUST understand me. And then when I got older SE Hinton and her books took me to other places I needed to explore as a teen. Dysfunctional families, class struggles, drinking, sex. SE Hinton`s books were a great outlet and helped me realize I wasn’t alone with my thoughts and questions about life.
I think these authors guided me towards the kind of writing I do now. I try to show universal feelings that many of us share, especially to teenagers. I often felt like a weirdo when I was a teen. Awkward. A loser. I thought people didn’t understand me and if they did maybe they would like me better. I didn’t know how common that feeling was. Or even that I had a few tools in my box that could have helped me. A simple smile. A wave. A hello. Instead of downward eyes and an attitude of pretending not to care. I try to create characters in my books that are flawed but relatable. Whether they are comfortable with being kind of an awkward entity or not is not really the point. The point is that they are someone most people can relate to in some way.
With that same thought in mind, I’d have to say that another book that influenced my writing was THE DIARY OF BRIDGET JONES. Whoa. It’s definitely more adult than YA fiction but I so related to the character of Bridget Jones. Someone obsessed with everything she ate. And boys. Her tale was not mine and it was pure fiction but I loved the humor used to deal with hardships. Bridget Jones led me to explore chick lit, which eventually led me to Young Adult fiction.
Another writer whose work I greatly admire and who I would say influences my writing is Jody Piccoult. Her books are amazing at taking things in today’s headlines and making them real stories about very real and imperfect people. She is a master at developing characters and a master at convoluted and intricate plot lines (something I am still working on in my own books!)
I would never compare myself to these writers, for to me they are some of the very best. But I would say their writing has influenced me as a person and what I strive for as an author.
Thank you, Janet!!
You can learn more about Janet by visiting her website, and also by following her on Twitter.
Both If I Tell and I’m Not Her are in stores now! You can purchase them from your favorite bookseller, or by clicking the handy widgets below.
Sourcebooks has launched a new education division.
This company expansion means that several new hires have been made. The education team includes technical architect Deb Kimminau, education sales manager Phil Hartman and programmer analyst Kavita Khanna.
Here’s more from the release: “Sourcebooks is taking that commitment a step further in creating an education division responsible for managing the company’s biggest existing initiatives, including the leading college-bound publishing program, a Naked Roommate first year experience program, and MyMaxScore.com, an online SAT/ACT test prep solution.”
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
Today we bring you our weekly sampler of the cool youth media and marketing gigs. If your company has an open position in the youth media or marketing space, we encourage you to join the Ypulse LinkedIn group, if you haven’t yet, and post there... Read the rest of this post
| | Title: Elliot and the Pixie Plot Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen Publisher: Sourcebooks ISBN: 978-1402240201 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
| Elliot, King of the Brownies, isn’t usually a stubborn kid, but he didn’t see a lot of room to bargain on the issue of Goblins eating his subjects. Which is how he wound up alone in the Underworld, with no map either home or ahead to Demon Territory. Between trying to steal a hair for the Pixie Princess and a sock for the Fairies from a demon, being King of the Brownies is no easy job! |
Review:
My second adventure with Elliot was more enjoyable than the first. In Elliot and the Pixie Plot, the young protagonist is already the king of the Brownies, and he is much savvier in his dealings with the supernatural beings pestering him. Not much gets him worked up, and when it does, he has learned that it’s best to keep his reservations, not to mention fear, to himself. Evil creatures like nothing better than to hold your fear over your head as they attempt to scare you to death. A lifetime of being bullied by Tubs proves to be good training for Elliot’s dealings with the Underworld, and it’s given him the courage to deal with whatever awful things they throw at him.
This time around, he is kidnapped by the Pixie princess, because she wants him to free Grissel from the Brownie jail Elliot has sentenced him to. Elliot refuses to bow under Fidget’s Pixie pressure, though, because Grissel hasn’t learned anything from his poor behavior, and he has yet to show any remorse for his role in the Goblin War. In fact, Elliot knows that as soon as Grissel is freed, he will renew the Goblin aggression against his subjects, and he doesn’t want to see any of his friends get eaten. He won’t budge from his position, either; Grissel must promise to never eat another Brownie, or he can sit in jail for a good, long time.
One thing that I love about Elliot is how brave he is. Even when he is in a scary, death-defying situation, he never backs down. Better yet, he always thinks of creative ways to get out of whatever pickle he’s gotten himself in. That’s what makes these books so much fun. Elliot is an ordinary kid in extraordinary circumstances, but he never lets the craziness taking place around him distract him. This is a funny, breezy summer must read.
Grade: A-
Now for the GOODS!
Ok, you’ve read the review. Now you can win the Skype call! What’s that? You can win some face time with the very amusing Jennifer Nielsen! All you have to do is fill out the form below! Easy as chocolate cake without frosting!
Sourcebooks helped me explain this fantastic contest -
You may have heard of Jennifer Nielsen, author, former teacher, and evil Underworld mastermind. Okay, not that last one, but definitely the first two. Jennifer (being the evil cleverboots that she is) has deviously come up with a brilliant plan to corrupt, um, inspire, young readers. Rather than offering the traditional (boring!) copy of her new book for giveaway, Jennifer wants you to offer your readers a chance to win a FREE SKYPE VISIT with her. Jennifer has been very popular with teachers, librarians, parents, and students (I know, we can’t figure it out either! But see below for some testimonials.)
All Skype visits will need to be scheduled between August 15<
| Title: Elliot and the Goblin War Author: Jennifer A Nielsen Publisher: Sourcebooks ISBN: 978-1402240195 Reading Level: Middle Grade |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
WARNING! As of today, there are only 7 CHILDREN who have ever read this book and lived to tell about it. 95 CHILDREN successfully read the first chapter, but upon beginning chapter 2, they started BLABBERING in some language known only as "flibberish." 38 CHILDREN made it halfway through this wretched book before they began SUCKING THEIR THUMBS THROUGH THEIR NOSES. If you’re VERY BRAVE, perhaps you are willing to TAKE YOUR CHANCES. Be sure that you have told your family who gets your favorite toys if you DO NOT SURVIVE this book. Read it now, IF YOU DARE. But don’t say you haven’t been warned, for this is the story that unfolds the MYSTERIES OF THE UNDERWORLD. |
Review:
Now this was a pleasant surprise. I have seen this book at the library a few times, and it caught my attention enough that I picked it up more than once, but I just didn’t have time to read it when it was on the library shelves. When I received a review copy, I had a good excuse to read it. The first sentence reeled me it:
| When he was eight years old, Elliot Penster started an interspecies war. Don’t blame him. As anyone who has ever started an interspecies war will tell you, it’s not that difficult to do. |
The narrative continues in this tongue-in-cheek fashion, and I found myself laughing several times as I read. Elliot is a hapless human boy who finds himself in a very unexpected role; he becomes the king of the Brownies, and it’s up to him to put an end to a war he inadvertently started after confusing a group of Goblins for group of bullies. He saves Patches, a Brownie girl, and her pickles, from the Goblins, and before you know it, it’s all out war! The Goblins love nothing better than a Brownie or three for dinner, and they are determined to wipe out their Brownie enemies once and for all!
The situations Elliot finds himself in are utterly ridiculous, and give the story much of its humor. Once Fudd Fartwick, advisor to the queen who was recently scared to death by the biggest, meanest Goblin of them all, realizes that he isn’t going to be the next king, he quickly plots Elliot’s downfall. Fudd’s biggest problem, though, is that he isn’t that bright. Or that devious. Or that hard working. He takes the easy path to Elliot’s destruction by making a deal with the Goblins, and any Brownie with a brain should know that Goblins just aren’t to be trusted. Neither are advisors to the king, because everything that Fudd does is designed to imperil Elliot.
Elliot possesses a few qualities that make him a perfect king. He’s very compassionate, a trait that often gets him into hot water. He is also determined to carry out his decisions, once he finally makes them. Luck is another thing that he has in abundance, and that’s what usually allows him to get the upper hand with the Goblins. Luck
| | Title: Percival’s Angel Author: Anne Eliot Crompton Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire ISBN: 978-1402237843 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
| Lili, an apprentice of the Lady of the Lake, is the childhood friend of Percy, the boy who will become one of Arthur’s greatest knights. But as they grow older, Lili begins to see their differences. She has otherworldly magic while he has the magic that lives within the Human Heart. Lili dreams of knowing human love while Percy dreams of finding the Holy Grail. Neither can succeed without the other. Once again Crompton weaves together nature, feminist perspective, and Arthurian legend for a tale that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages. |
Review:
Anne Eliot Crompton’s narrative style didn’t always work for me, and it was a struggle to get through the first half of Percival’s Angel. The shifts in point of view, which included jarring changes from first person to third person, and from present tense to past, had me struggling to stay engrossed in the story. The writing seemed choppy and uneven, especially when Lili was telling her story. I can’t remember reading another book where the narrative changes so abruptly, so often, and I am sad to say that I didn’t care for it.
The chapters with Alanna were my favorite. She is Percy’s mother, and having lost her husband and all of her older sons to battle, she is determined to save her youngest from the same sad fate. She doesn’t want him to ever be a knight, but in the kingdom ruled by Arthur, there isn’t any other alternative open to him. Instead of waiting for him to die in battle, Alanna hides in the enchanted forest, and lives among the fey instead. Percy grows up ignorant of human society and his only friend is Lili, one of the fey. Even though he’s been kept isolated, Percy can’t help but feel discontentment. When a group of knights ride through the forest, his fate is sealed. He will journey to Arthur’s court, and be knighted, and there isn’t anyone who can stop him.
I love the premise. Percy is born to be a knight; he is big, powerful, and handsome, and he longs for excitement. He does not hesitate to get into violent altercations, and he wields his sword unflinchingly. I didn’t like him, and I didn’t care for Lili, either. The only character that I could relate to was Alanna. Her desperation to keep Percy away from Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable is convincingly desperate. Both the forest and the fey terrify her, but she doesn’t hesitate to flee under the looming branches of the trees to save her son.
The legend of Arthur and the Holy Grail is given a new twist, and I did enjoy this new spin on the story. I just wish it hadn’t taken until the last half of the book to become engrossed in the plot and to start caring about what happened to Percy. He is a hard guy to like, and it took a lot of patience to finally see some redeeming qualities in him.
Grade: C+
Review copy provided by publisher
My son's grandparents bought him an Imaginext Space Shuttle for Christmas. Ever since then he has been rocket crazy! He pretends his paper airplanes are rockets. He wanted a rocket cake for his birthday. He followed the Space Shuttle Discovery's last flight and watched the landing live on NASA TV. Someday he wants to fly up to the moon in a rocket. So, when I heard about the newly released board book by Bob Logan called Rocket Town, I just knew that my toddler would love it.
Rocket Town
by Bob Logan. Sourcebooks (April 2011); ISBN 9781402241864; 24 pages
Book Source: Review copy provided by publisher
Bob Logan, in his new rocket-themed book, welcomes readers to Rocket Town, an unusual community where most residents ride in rockets -- big rockets, small rockets, school bus rockets, ice-cream truck rockets, scooter rockets, and so on. It's a place where, "everyone has a favorite rocket." The area kids carry rocket-shaped balloons and go on rocket carnival rides. One man, dressed in an astronaut suit, seems a little out-of-place in Rocket Town. He drives an old, yellow pick-up truck through town, accompanied by his loyal Beagle dog. They wizz by all sorts of different rockets, finally arriving at "Rocket Ray's Rockets," a rocket sales lot. After a brief search, astronaut man finds a special rocket suited perfectly to his taste and blasts off into space.
Logan's board book belongs in a book galaxy all its own. With enthralling art and simple text it's very appealing to toddlers (especially rocket-crazed toddlers like my own), but due to the complexity of the illustrations and flashy rocket theme, older kids will find themselves drawn into the details. My daughter pointed out that all the baby strollers in the book are rockets, and she loves the "just married" rocket carriage that blows heart shaped exhaust. My son thinks the green "stinky onion" rocket is hilarious. The unique, digitally rendered illustrations are done in retro-pop style. The illustrations also look slightly futuristic with a rockets and space art theme (think Hanna Barbera's Jetsons crossed with the latest in animation technology). Logan primarily works as a story artist for DreamWorks and his animation talent is apparent in the pages of this book.
Now typically I'm not a huge fan of board books because most are versions of picture books formatted in a downsized design to fit babies and toddlers. However, Rocket Town was never released in picture book form and is specifically designed with the toddler/preschool audience in mind. Rocket Town is a counting book (it has an awesome countdown to blast off), and the book also teaches opposites by compa
Happy Launch Day to The Liar Society!
Since when do the dead send emails?
Kate Lowry's best friend Grace died a year ago. So when she gets an email from her, Kate's more than a little confused.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: (no subject)
Kate,
I'm here... sort of.
Find Cameron. He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell. They'll hurt you.
Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace's death was more than just a tragic accident. She teams up with a couple of knights-in-(not-so)-shining armor-the dangerously hot bad boy, Liam, and her lovestruck neighbor, Seth. But at their elite private school, there are secrets so big people will do anything to protect them-even if it means getting rid of anyone trying to solve a murder...
So many events going on today to help celebrate:
| | Title: The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fused Author: Kari Lee Townsend Publisher: Sourcebooks ISBN: 9781402240423 |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
When you make a face or cross your eyes, do your parents tease that if you’re not careful, your face might stay that way forever?
Well, my parents said that if I’m not careful, I’ll turn into one of my gadgets.
I thought they were joking, people!
But-somehow, someway-I have become a living, breathing, walking piece of technology. Apparently my head now has a built-in GPS and my palm is equipped with talking and texting capabilities-just like my cell phone!
Now I’m a techno-superhero with powers that seem to have a mind of their own. And, in my case, keeping a secret identity is harder than it sounds. I short-circuit every time Trevor Hamilton looks my way.
Like being a girl isn’t stressful enough.
Review:
This is a really cute read. Samantha is a fun protagonist. Her parents have decided to call it quits with their marriage, and she is having a hard time dealing with their separation. To make matters worse, her mother has dragged her from her old friends and her old school to a new home, thinking that she can keep a better eye on her only child. Little does her mom know how much trouble the gadget loving Samantha is going to get herself into on the way home from her friend’s house!
Samantha comes across a mysterious crystal in the woods, and faster than you can say “Boo!” she’s been fused with her fancy new cell phone. Now, not only is her mother going to kill her for ruining her new toy, but she’s going to be so annoyed that Sam has been turned into a super hero. Fighting crime certainly can’t be a safe pastime!
With her newfound abilities, Samantha has a dilemma. She is compelled to help others, especially when she experiences an emotional jolt – like every time she talks to Trevor Hamilton! Merely speaking to the cutie sends a shock to her system, which forces her new powers into action. She is mortified when she loses control of her body and has to go save someone in distress. As if talking to guys wasn’t nerve-wracking enough!
Samantha’s narrative is engaging and amusing, as she tries to piece together the weird things that are happening to her. It’s not so bad having a computer for a brain when she’s taking a test, but it really puts a damper on things when she’s trying to flirt with Trevor. Keeping her superhero life a secret from her family isn’t a picnic, either, and when a bunch of thugs keep trying to capture her, things start to get out of hand.
The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fused is a quick, lively read, with a spirited heroine who doesn’t know how to give up. The blend of comedy and action makes this a fun book.
Grade: B
Review copy provided by publisher
My mother got me hooked on historical fiction set in Scotland - both romances and adventure stories. Susan Kearsley's The Winter Sea which comes out on December 1, 2010 tells the story of Carrie McClelland, a woman writer in the present who is writing a historical novel set in Scotland in 1708. Somehow, Carrie McClelland's characters turn out to be based in fact and not just her imagination...
The blurb:
History has all but forgotten. . .
In the Spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeed in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown.
Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her ancestors, and starts to write.
But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who can know the truth of what really happened all those years ago -- a tale of love and loyalty. . . and ultimate betrayal. . .
Review:
In Carrie McClelland, Susanna Kearsley gives us an interesting lead character. Carrie's a bestselling author who specializes in historical fiction and it's fascinating to read about her life. Each time she begins a novel, she moves to the place where her novel is set - she lives there, gets to know the topography, the people, culture and history. The place starts to speak to her and the characters come alive. When the book opens, she is living in a cottage in France and heads to Scotland to meet her literary agent. During the trip to Scotland, something calls out to her and she decides to relocate herself and her characters from France to Scotland.
Suddenly, in Scotland, everything comes together. Carrie creates Sophia Paterson, named in part after Carrie's ancestor. The story comes together quickly, almost as if Carrie inexplicably knows details of the real Sophia's life. As Carrie meets a handsome stranger, her life -- and growing romance -- echoes that of her main character. And both stories draw you in with the romance, plot twists, and engaging characters.
I loved The Winter Sea
. It drew me in from the start and I found myself reading faster and faster just to find out what would happen next to Sophia and to Carrie. If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend The Winter Sea
0 Comments on The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley as of 1/1/1900
If you're looking for a fun chicklit escape, I recommend Jill Mansell's latest book,Take a Chance on Me
.
The blurb:
Even in a small town the drama is larger than life. . . Living in the small town of Channings Hill, Cleo has grown used to the fact that there are some people you just can't avoid, no matter how much you really, really want to.
When her job throws her into constant contact with her childhood nemesis Johnny LaVenture, she's perfectly content to leave the past behind. But for someone she'd rather have nothing to do with, Johnny is getting harder and harder to ignore. . . .
Review:
In Take a Chance on Me, Jill Mansell delivers another fun chicklit escape. She gives us heroines that we can't help but like - they're funny, a bit lost, kind - and secondary characters that make us laugh. Cleo, the romantic lead, her married sister Abbie and even Cleo's rival Fia are so likable that you wish you knew them in real life. Then there's Ash, the hilarious and witty DJ who is actually quite shy around women that he fancies.
Mansell combines complex and interesting characters with all sorts of funny situations and coincidences to give us a treat of a novel in Take a Chance on Me.
ISBN-10: 1402237510 - Paperback $14.00
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (October 1, 2010), 432 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
About the Author:
Jill Mansell lives with her partner and children in Bristol and writes full time. Actually, that's not true; she watches TV, eats gum drops, admires the rugby players training in the sports field behind her house, and spends hours on the Internet marveling at how many other writers have blogs. Only when she's completely run
Baby Baby Baby! by Marilyn Janovitz. 2010. October 2010. Sourcebooks. 24 pages.
Bitsy bouncy baby
On a bumpity lap
Mommy's little baby likes to
clap
clap
clap!
Teeny tiny feet
Tippy toes prance
Daddy's little baby likes to
dance
dance
dance!
Baby Baby Baby! reminded me of
Bouncy Baby by Begin Smart. (If you click through to my review, you'll see how VERY similar the opening pages are. Down to the clap, clap, clap and dance, dance, dance.) These two were so similar that it's almost impossible not to compare them.
At first.
What makes Baby Baby Baby different is that everyone has a chance to claim this little one! Mommy. Daddy. Grandpa. Grandma. And even the puppy and the kitty! (For example, puppy's little baby likes to crawl, crawl, crawl. And Kitty's little baby likes to chase, chase, chase.)
It's also longer than Bouncy Baby. This baby does more--more than just clapping, dancing, eating, splashing, waving. Grandpa has a chance to make the baby giggle. Grandma helps out at bath time. And there's a sweet bedtime scene with plenty of hugs and kisses.
It's not quite as rhythmic as Bouncy Baby. But I liked it well enough.
© Becky Laney of
Young Readers
Elizabeth Chadwick recently came out with the sequel to The Greatest Knight: The Unsung Story of the Queen's Champion
. The Scarlet Lion 
continues the story of William Marshall and his wife Isabelle de Clare.
The blurb:Wiliam Marshall's skill with a sword and loyalty to his word have earned him the company of kings, the land of a magnate, and the hand of Isabelle de Clare, one of England's wealthiest heiresses. But he is thrust back into the chaos of court when King Richard dies. Vindictive King John clashes with William, claims the family lands for the Crown -- and takes two of the Marshall sons hostage. The conflict between obeying his king and rebelling over the roayal injustices threatens the very heart of William and Isabelle's family. Fiercely intelligent and courageous, fearing for the man and marriage that light her life, Isabelle plunges with her husband down a precarious path that will lead William to more power than he ever expected.
Review:The Scarlet Lion is a strong sequel to
0 Comments on Book Review of The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick as of 1/1/1900
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Tammy Falkner is the author of A Lady and Her Magic, a new release from Sourcebooks. Tammy stopped by the virtual offices to introduce herself, and she brought a copy of her book for one of you to win!
THE TROUBLE WITH MAGIC BY PATRICIA RICE 
M L Buchman is the author of I Own the Dawn. This is the second book in his Night Stalkers series. I love the covers for both books; they are so intense! I was thrilled when ML dropped by the virtual offices for a chat. After the interview, stick around for your chance to win a copy of I Own The Dawn!
you read that knocked your socks off?
[Amanda Usen] I belong to the Western New York Romance Writers and the Romance Writers of America. I’m constantly inspired by the hard work of my colleagues, and I’m grateful to the authors who write books that make me reach deeper and work harder to write my own stories. Food plays a big part in my books. I met my husband in culinary school, and he’s my own, personal, hot chef hero. He cooks, cleans and loves to play with our kids – now that is inspiring! I love to read t
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Jeanette Murray is the author of The Officer Says “I Do.” She dropped by the virtual offices to introduce herself and chat about her new book.
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I’m so excited for this book (I happen to know my sister pre-ordered a copy for my 4yo, who already has the first one) to get here! We’re a figure skating household here, and I have adored Kristi ever since I was a little girl – she’s still one of my heroes. Poppy is so much fun, and I love the message of the first book, of hard work and dedication to something you love, just for the sake of loving it.
And I think it’s WONDERFUL that she’s putting all the profits from this book to early childhood literacy. She’s a role model in every way!
What an excellent book! I love the review. It’s something that you figure skated. Wow! Will add it to my list of GBI books. (Gotta buy it) *waving*
After watching my son in his ice skating course, this is a great pb to show him. I can imagine you ice skating, there is nothing that compares to gliding on ice is there. Lovely!
Charming book and profits going to an early childhood literacy program. What could be better?
Wow, a multicultural sport story about kids. How cool is that? Love the sound of Poppy. Thanks, Tara!
Sorry, that should read pigs, not kids!!
I saw Kristi interviewed about her book on TV and I keep meaning to buy it. I was a figure skater for many years. So, I love how she tells the story through the eyes of a pig. I want to order this one for my granddaughter. I like it that the profits are going to an early childhood literacy program. Such a nice idea.
Sounds like a fun story and a fun illustrations. I didn’t realize she wrote picture books too. And to learn about your figure skating past and now Pat’s, well that’s icing on the cake.
Ever since Miss Piggy, I’ve loved pigs. This story looks like great fun.
I haven’t actually read these books. i admit it. I shy away from celebrity titles. But it sounds like maybe Kristi is doing it right! On your recommendation, I’ll have to go read these
Thanks so much for joining in on PPBF!