#MGlit BAD FAIRY STRIKES AGAIN by Elaine Kaye!

Happy Monday Morning!

It's been a while since I spotlighted a new middle grade release on my blog. So today is a special day because I have Elaine Kaye's next book to share with you! And make sure to scroll to the bottom to enter for your chance to WIN her GIVEAWAY!

***NEW RELEASE***99 CENTS***

BAD FAIRY STRIKES AGAIN by Elaine Kaye 

Series: A Bad Fairy Adventure (Book 2)
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Pages: 60
Ages: 7-12 

BLURB:

Will Thistle ever escape the nickname Bad Fairy?

Thistle Greenbud thought the nickname Bad Fairy was behind her, but she can't escape it. Someone is spreading a rumor about her that just isn't true and can ruin all of her hard work in getting into Advanced School. What fairy would do such a thing?

As if that's not bad enough, Thistle's dad goes missing. Not a single fairy in Tinselville has seen him. He's vanished like pixie dust. Her mom is distraught, and Thistle is worried. Where could he be?

Thistle and the Flutters, along with Dusty and Moss, are on both cases. Can they find out what happened to her dad and solve the Bad Fairy rumor? Thistle hopes so!

BOOK LINKS:

Amazon / Nook / iBooks / Goodreads

MEET ORLA:

Name – Orla

Role – Thistle’s mom

Hair Color – Golden-brown

Eye Color – Honey

Wing Colors – Yellow and gold

Favorite Food – Dandelion salad

Favorite Drink – Herbal tea with lots of honey

Personality – Gentle, caring, sentimental, sensitive

Likes – Knitting, baking cookies, gardening, helping others

Dislikes – A messy kitchen and when Thistle zooms through the house

MEET HERB:

Name – Herb

Role – Thistle’s dad

Hair Color – Black

Eye Color – Black with white specks

Wing Color – Mahogany

Favorite Food – Cauliflower

Favorite Drink – Chicory coffee

Personality – Brave, generous, smart but silly

Likes – Working at Sparkles Factory making fairy dust, going to the Spring festival

Dislikes – Fairies who cause trouble for other fairies

 

EXCERPT:

We are nearing the edge our village limits when we see the abandoned house hidden in tall weeds. The night grows darker as we huddle in a fern thicket. “It sure is spooky out here,” Lacey whispers and shifts closer to Moss.

“Let's move in closer,” Dusty says. “Moss and Lacey, you go to the other side of the house. Find a crack in the wall to see inside. Thistle and Rose follow me.” He looks back at Moss. “If you see anything strange, flick your flashlight on and off three times.”

“Then what?” Rose asks, munching on another berry.

“We’ll meet…um…” Dusty looks around and then points. “Over by that fern thicket. Is everyone clear?”

We nod and fly as low to the ground as we can. Once we reach our positions, we hunker down and wait. Time goes by as slow as a worm while we wait. It gets darker. After a while, boredom creeps in.

“What's that?” Rose points behind us.

Dusty and I turn to see a shadow coming out of the woods, heading straight for us. Boogles! No, wait. There are two shadows!

Get Book 1 for 99 CENTS!

BAD FAIRY: Amazon / Nook / iBooks / Kobo

 

***GIVEAWAY*** 

 

PRIZES: 3 signed paperback picture books (Pea Soup Disaster, The Missing Alphabet, Slow Poke), three handmade bookmarks, plus a goodie bag and worksheets.

Eligibility: International

GIVEAWAY LINK: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76132e0224/?

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elaine Kaye is the author of A Bad Fairy Adventure series AND A Gregory Green Adventure series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story Pea Soup Disaster.

Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home. She is a grandmother of three boys.

Amazon / Goodreads / BookBub / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter

Thank you so much for sharing Thistle's continuing story with us! Wishing you much success, Elaine.

SHERI~💖

IWSG ~ Book Lovers Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day & a Bookish Giveaway!

I'm foregoing this Insecure Writer's Support Group monthly question to share a cause that is dear to me and has, in the past, caused me some insecurity. I'd love it if you'd comment, sharing from your experiences or opinions, but I completely understand if you don't. A huge 'thank you' goes out to this month's co-hosts: Gwen Gardner, Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantiner! For more participants, go HERE.

The first annual Book Lover's Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day Tour will kick off on Sunday, September 1st and will culminate in a twelve-hour Facebook Live Event on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th.
The purpose of this event is to spread mental health awareness among the book community, eradicate the stigmas associated with mental health, share our individual journeys in an accepting community, discuss books that effectively represent mental health issues, and raise money for the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Mental illness is often misunderstood. Some believe it's feeling sad, while others think there's just something wrong with that person. And the biggest misconception is that the person suffering with mental illness can just think happy thoughts or maybe try smiling to make it all okay. We have a lot to learn about true clinical mental illness, but smiling more is definitely not a cure.
Without further blah-blah from me, here's the exciting author line-up for the Book Lovers Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day Tour:
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                         LINK                                             LINK                                        YOU ARE HERE!

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My Spotlight On September 4th
I talk about mental illness and depression from personal experience, one I RARELY expose. 
When I was around twelve years old, my mother was diagnosed as a severe or manic depressant. (Today, I believe it would be classified as bi-polar. Please correct me if I'm wrong.) For the remainder of my school-aged years, my father spent most of his time refereeing for her, while I shielded my younger brother of four years from any of the backlash. Yelling, throwing things, crying, complaining, grabbing my arms, being dissonant, and over-dosing on sleep. That's what I remember her doing all those years.
Growing up was tough. She threatened suicide sometimes, which made coming home from school kind of scary. I never knew what I might find. My mother wasn't a bad person. Frankly, she had a huge heart, always wanting to help others or be involved. But so often, her emotions (or so we thought) prevented her from doing so. She was sick, but nobody back then looked at it that way. She was moody or ornery or high maintenance. Other than taking her to therapist after therapist - that always failed - she never got any other help, partly her own doing. Everything was everyone else's fault. I even agreed to go to therapy with her in my later teen years to help her, and all she ended up doing was telling the therapist how wrong I was about everything. I don't think that's what she meant. It's just her view of reality was so eschewed that she didn't know any other way to act or communicate. 
Her behavior, attitudes, and roller coaster emotions were so confusing to grow up with, which made being the oldest extra rough. My dad tried everything, but nothing could ever make her happy, make her well. And that unhappiness needed an outlet. I've never, EVER said this out loud (Well, other than to my husband), but most of that unhappiness landed on me - the oldest child, a girl who was expected to grow up so fast. I feel like this is me crapping on my mom, but people have to realize that a family member with a mental illness is a family with mental illness. It affects every single member.
It wasn't until my mid-thirties that I realized how emotionally damaged I really was, the reason I had a hard time to show love, the reason I was terrified to accept love. I know this must sound seriously messed up to some of you, but I've never put my feelings about all of this into words. I've tried. I've just never been strong enough. I think I am now.
I've had a young adult story about a patient of mental illness and the affects it has on a child growing up within that perfect storm stewing within me for over fifteen years. I know I must write it. I think I'm finally ready. I want children/families with members suffering from mental illness to know that they can advocate for their loved one . . . but they also should advocate for themselves. 
Something I wish someone would have told me when I was younger.
Thank you for listening. <3 
Please scroll to the bottom of this post to enter for your chance to WIN the special giveaway I'm offering up. Facebook LIVE Event!

Join us for a twelve-hour Facebook LIVE event on September 10th - World Suicide Prevention Day!

Join the Event!

Want to lend some support?

Attend the Event!

Share the Event!

Buy a T-shirt for $20 to support the International Association for the Prevention of Suicide!

Enter my giveaway . . .

What you'll get:

• a Book Lovers Unite for Suicide Prevention day T-shirt
• a Meditation Sidekick Journal from Habit Nest
• some book swag from my books

 I'll be keeping this giveaway open until the Live Facebook Event on September 10th, so the more you spread the word the more chances you'll have to win!

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This is a safe zone. If you'd like to share an experience or feelings about mental illness and/or suicide, you are more than welcomed to do so. Thank you for stopping by to visit the Alleyway!

MMGM with WINDY HOLLOW by Tara Tyler & a GIVEAWAY!

I was recently reminded about the magic that middle grade literature possess. How it keeps adults young and the young inspired, motivated, and encouraged.

On that note, I have such a fantastic new middle grade release for you today!

*A brief side note - this author has taken quite the journey to get this book into the hands of readers, so let's give her a round of applause and a cheerful Hooray as I introduce her awesome story!

Isn't this cover amazing?!!

WINDY HOLLOW

Beast World MG Fantasy Series, book #3

by Tara Tyler

Available NOW!

In BROKEN BRANCH FALLS, Gabe and his friends go on a quest to save their school, blowing up all the rules, and discover their origins.

Then they go to CRADLE ROCK and meet some real live humans, scaring them into attack mode. The Beasts realize they have to spread the truth ASAP.

Now, school's out, and Gabe is ready for a break from all the drama...

Gabe and his friends fly over the Great Sea for the wedding of the century: a dragon prince and a beautiful harpy. But Gabe can't relax on this vacation. Besides competing in rigorous wedding events, he overhears the nearby human village WINDY HOLLOW is in danger from an evil human scientist and a vengeful were-ogre experimenting on beasts. Gabe and his friends risk crossing the mountains to help, despite several warnings. 

Maybe he's going too far this time, but he's in too deep to quit. It's do or die, hopefully not die!

Paperback ~~~ Ebook

Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over the US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her husband and one boy left in the nest. She has two series, Pop Travel (sci-fi detective thrillers) and Beast World (fantasy adventures), plus her UnPrincess novella series where the maidens save themselves. She's a commended blogger, contributed to several anthologies, and to fit in all these projects, she economizes her time, aka the Lazy Housewife—someday she might write a book on that... Make every day an adventure!

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | NEWSLETTER

Check out the WINDY HOLLOW Release Blog Tour schedule:

6/20 - Heather Holden - How does she Create such Awesome Art?
6/22 - Ellen Jacobson - Interview
6/24 - Patricia Lynne - Keeping Magic Alive
6/26 - MJ Fifield - Fantasy World-Building
6/30 - SA Larsen - Special Newsletter & a Vlog?!
7/1 - Tara's IWSG post with updates and a Special Guest!
7/3 - Alex J. Cavanaugh - IWSG Day - Fantasy Movies
7/4 - Tonja Drecker - Kids in Books
7/8 - Christine Rains - Levels of Romance
7/10 - Heather M. Gardner - Binge Watching TV
7/15 - Tyrean Martinson - Hiking!
7/17 - Julie Flanders - Gotta Have Friends

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Okay, so I have to ask - have you ever seen a wolf like that? Love!

Interested in being part of MMGM ~ Shannon Messenger's genius plan to give middle grade reads their just due? Click HERE to join in and for the other participants.

Research with Kristy Fairlamb, YA Author of LUCID & a Giveaway!

TOUR SCHEDULE

One of my favorite aspects of writing fiction is the research. It's the part where I get to lose myself in someone else's data, ideas, theories, or facts, and then manipulate them to fit my story. It's so much fun to do!

Today, I have Kristy Fairlamb here to share her personal experience of researching topics and
information while writing her new release LUCID. 

Using Research In Novel Writing: An Account

by Kristy Fairlamb

I didn’t do a heap of research before I started writing, but I was intrigued by the dreaming element of this story so that’s where I focused my research to start with. Most of what I learned about lucid dreaming doesn’t really apply to my character, Lucy, because her dreams are nothing like your typical lucid dreams, but it was good to have something as a starting point. 

Most of the research for the book involved a strange mix of things that were often minor touches to add truth to certain aspects of the story. I searched for info on what it’s like to die a certain way, which brought up some very interesting and depressing articles. I needed info on a particular medication and its side-effects. I researched brain injuries but had to call on a doctor friend to help when this impacted some scenes and I needed to make it more believable. I looked up details on Queen Victoria and how Jet is made.

I did a lot of reading on aeroplane crashes and watched episodes of air-crash investigator. I needed to come up with causes for a plane to realistically crash, which was not easy. I came up with a scenario that helped me write the scenes I needed. But when things got serious, I called in an expert. I had a contact through a writer’s group who was an expert on aeroplanes and had worked in Air Traffic Control. He helped me come up with an even better scenario for my crash. 

Thank you, Kristy!

Now let's take a peek at Kristy's book!

BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon 
 TBD | GOODREADS

LUCID

by Kristy Fairlamb

Released: April 23, 2019

Publisher: Lakewater Press

A terrifying power. A horrifying curse. 

Lucy Piper lives a lonely existence on the precipice between life and death. She possesses the horrifying ability to resurrect real-life tragic events in her nightmares, reliving over and over, as if she were there, the last few moments before the victim takes their final breath. Car accidents, drownings, plane crashes – Lucy has seen it all. No one understands what it’s like living death by night and fearing sleep by day.

When Tyler Sims and his family move to town to escape past traumas, Lucy is drawn to him. The two of them are linked through their dreams, and with Tyler’s trust and friendship, hope for a brighter future returns to Lucy’s world. But Tyler's presence awakens something else in Lucy, and with this new knowledge, she will be forced to make impossible decisions. Decisions that will change history, and the future.

Chilling, haunting and compelling, this novel is the first in a two-part series for fans of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and The Hidden Memory of Objects that will leave you breathless for days.

Kristy Fairlamb is an Australian author of the Young Adult Lucid series coming out in 2019. She spends her days drinking coffee and torturing her characters with loads of tension – both love related and the nail biting kind. Long before her days of writing began she spent half her childhood in a make believe world; daydreaming about growing up, falling in love, and travelling the world. She’s worked as a nanny in country England, a junior matron in a boy’s boarding school south of London, a governess in East Timor, and made coffees and cleared tables in the New South Wales snow fields.                                                                                                                                                                                        She lives with her husband, teenage daughter, and two sons in the beautiful Adelaide Hills where they’re lucky enough to get occasional visits from the local koalas. She’s terrible at gardening, likes her bookshelves sorted by colour, and recently checked off a lifelong dream of jumping from a plane. When she’s not writing or daydreaming about her stories you’ll find her reading, cooking for her family, or doing anything to avoid the housework.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram • Goodreads

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If you're a writer, how much research do you do? 

MMGM ~ Roger Mantis by Author Tom Alan Brosz & a Giveaway!

Monday's are a favorite day for me when I get to participate in Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays! And this Monday I have a really sweet middle grade read to share.

Psst . . . and you get to read an excerpt! Remember to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post.

Meet Roger Mantis and his creature Author Tom Alan Brosz.

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon
 B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

Roger Mantis by Tom Alan Brosz

Publication Date: April 2, 2019

Publisher: Tantrum Books

Baseball is Roger McGillicutty’s whole life. That is until he wakes one Saturday to find he is no longer a normal eleven-year-old boy. He's a five-foot-tall praying mantis.

Roger has school on Monday, the carnival comes to town next week, and his baseball team is poised to play their biggest rival in one week. Being a giant bug will seriously cramp Roger’s style!

To Roger’s surprise, his parents and friends are supportive. Even his dog isn’t spooked. But not everyone’s thrilled about Roger’s change. Some people are frightened and others would like nothing more than to squash him into the ground like the bug he is.

And when Little League officials oust Roger from baseball, his world collapses.

When a reporter from the city comes snooping around rumors of a man-sized baseball-playing praying mantis, Roger must choose between hiding his true self or being the hero he's always wanted to be.

Doesn't this story sound like such a hoot for an adventurous middle grade reader you know?!!! Here's a snippet from Roger's story:

Slowly, carefully, and as quietly as possible, Roger staggered across the room to the mirror over his dresser.

As prepared as he was, it was still a shock. A triangular emerald-green head looked back at him, with two enormously round green compound eyes on either side. Two long, thin antennae stuck out of the top of his head. He could move them around if he tried, kind of like wiggling his ears (which he didn’t have anymore and couldn’t wiggle when he did). His mouth was … he didn’t know what the heck his mouth was. It was a weird mess of powerful-looking cutting and crunching things and some even weirder tentacle things. Roger wiggled the many separate bits around and then quickly stopped, deciding it wasn’t quite as gross if he wasn’t moving it.

He folded his arms tightly together in front of him, side by side. He had done it without really thinking about it, but his odd posture suddenly made him realize what he had become.

“I’m a praying mantis,” he said in his new buzzy voice. “A big, frigging praying mantis.”

Tom Alan Brosz actually is a rocket scientist (sort of), having done design and engineering work in the private space industry back before the private space industry was cool. His qualifications for writing this book are that he has experience in raising children who like bugs, and raising pet mantises for those children. Normal-sized mantises, of course.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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Interested in being part of MMGM ~ Shannon Messenger's genius plan to give middle grade reads their just due? Click HERE to join in and for the other participants.

Want to read more excerpts or interviews with Roger and his creature? Follow the Roger Mantis BlogTour!  Blog Tour Schedule

Have you read a middle grade story where the main character turns into an insect? An animal? Something else? Please share!