MMGM aka Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday was created by Shannon Messenger to give middle grade reads the attention they deserve. I'm joining in, today. If you'd like to see more MG books, Click HERE to follow other participants.Today, I'm thrilled to be a part of Shannon M's brainchild and also such a wonderful blog tour! First, let's explore the joys of writing MG in the author's own words.
Adventure of Writing
by Shannon Duffy
It was a lot of fun writing a middle
grade story. In a way, you get to pretend you’re a kid again, living
vicariously through your characters. Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta is
a story that I would’ve loved to have read as a kid. That was important for
me—to try writing something I know would have made me want to stay up late
flipping through the pages like I did when I found something I loved. And I
knew from the beginning that I wanted my middle grade characters to go to
another world, because I think that’s one wild ride of an adventure where
anything can happen, and does. So letting my imagination go wild with a fantasy
story that includes middle grade kids, another world, and lots of unusual
creatures—some good, some dangerous, and a dying parallel world—was crazy fun.
I especially love Finley the talking, tracker monkey and I hope the middle
graders will too.
ABOUT GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA:
Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta is a magical, fast-paced story that takes readers on a journey they won’t soon forget. It has enough mystery, intrigue and wonder to keep readers up, lamp lit, and reading into the night.
Gabriel Stone is a twelve-year-old boy still reeling from the unsolved disappearance of his mother. With a dad who’s hard to relate to, and mounting pressures at school, Gabriel lets off steam by hiking in the place where his mother was last seen. There, Gabe and friends find a crystal that proves not only beautiful, but magical beyond their wildest dreams. Only, magic and beauty come with a price: in order to return home, they must save the dying world of Valta.
GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is perfect for the classroom. Reading and Teacher Guides are available. Contact Caroline Patty at: educationm9b@gmail.com to request guides. GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA also makes a great gift for readers ages 9 and up who enjoy fantasy stories like THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and THE BRIDGE TO TARABITHIA.
Shannon Duffy grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and son, Gabriel. She’s mom to one boy, and several pets. Shannon loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions: shopping. Shannon Duffy is available for quotes, signings, video or podcast appearances, and all opportunities relative to GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA.
GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIAN, Book 2 in the Gabriel Stone series will be available from Month9Books in February 2014!
Month 9 Books is a publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens… where nothing is as it seems. Month9Books will donate proceeds from each of its annual charity anthologies to a deserving charity. Individually, authors may donate his or her advances and royalties to a charitable organization. Month9Books will also release 10-12 non-charitable titles annually. GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is Month9Books’s first Middle Grade release. Month9Books is distributed by Small Press United, a division of IPG. You may visit www.month9books.com for more information.
Links:
Goodreads GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA: http://www.goodreads.com/book/
Goodreads SHANNON DUFFY: http://www.goodreads.com/
Shannon Duffy Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Shannon Duffy Website: http://www.shannonduffylit.
Goodreads Month9Books: http://www.goodreads.com/
Month9Books Blogger Central: http://month9booksblog.com/?
Month9Books Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/
Month9Books Twitter: http://twitter.com/Month9Books
Month9Books Publishing Website: http://www.Month9Books.com
Goodreads SHANNON DUFFY: http://www.goodreads.com/
Shannon Duffy Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Shannon Duffy Website: http://www.shannonduffylit.
Goodreads Month9Books: http://www.goodreads.com/
Month9Books Blogger Central: http://month9booksblog.com/?
Month9Books Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/
Month9Books Twitter: http://twitter.com/Month9Books
Month9Books Publishing Website: http://www.Month9Books.com
Blog Tour Schedule:
February 11-Mundie Kids
February 12-I’m a Reader, Not a Writer
February 13-Wonderful Bookshelf of Jaz
February 14-Fantasy’s Ink
February 15-Rose Garcia Books
February 16-I Write For Apples
February 17-Starting the Next Chapter
February 18-Bookshelf Banter
February 19-Mad Musings of Mastermind
February 20-Moosubi Reviews
February 21-Writer’s Alley
February 22-Jeanz Book Read N Review
Gabriel is such a great MG read!
ReplyDeleteI have it; just haven't finished reading yet. :)
DeleteMiddle grade would be a lot more fun than young adult - much less angst!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! This sounds like a fun read. I think writing a MG book is harder than it looks, so my hats off to you. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing this pop up quite a bit lately and it's getting great reviews. I think I need to increase my MG TBR list. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds good! So nice of you to spotlight authors.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good story! I agree that younger kids often have this desire to escape to another world or a secret place; when I was in middle school, I loved The Secret Garden, because the main character found a hidden sanctuary, so to speak. I think younger kids like the idea of going somewhere else partly because their lives are often structured by their parents and their teachers; exploring a new world gives them a sense of freedom.
ReplyDeleteAt his does sound good! Thanks for spotlighting it!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such a fun book. I have it, but haven't gotten to it yet. I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an adventurous read, especially for boys. Good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteI love that this book sounds like such a fun adventure! MG do enjoy escaping to a secret place. I would like to do that as an adult. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
Oh gosh, I hear you there! I'd love to escape to some adult fantasy place...no danger, though. Just sun. LOL
DeleteFlying White Tiger! (that's my version of "Squirrel!")
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your release! yay Canada! And yay for charity anthologies. :-)
Looks like a suspenseful adventure.
Danika
I'm not finished the story yet, but so it's a great MG read! And I love the cover.
DeleteThanks so much for stopping by for a visit!
Went to Month9books site. Looks like a great new small press to watch out for (esp if you like MG/YA speculative fiction).
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