Shan L. Spyker's Blog, page 4
August 12, 2021
Breakfast at Kellandale
More story art coming from The Way of the River cover illustrator Thomas Spyker @clownfishcubed who is working his magic again! This is an imagined scene with the six main protagonists along with Henry and Velvet the cat together in the breakfast room at Kellandale. Initial sketch in progress, looking forward to seeing the finished piece.
I can’t even find the words to express how lucky and thankful I am to have a built-in crew of creatives helping me with this story, including my illustrator son, and my wordsmithy daughter, not to mention the rest of my family who has come together in ways that play on their strengths to make this a group effort. Collaborative projects are the most exciting projects of all!
August 11, 2021
BookLife Prize Critic Report
Feedback has come in from The BookLife Prize, 2021 for The Way of the River! Here's a few notes, and the book scored a very nice 8.75 out of 10 overall. Clinking my cup of coffee this morning! It’s been a long journey from my first post on this blog when the book was still being written and the path to publishing unclear!
Full report can be read here: BookLife Prize 2021 Critic Report for The Way of the River
July 30, 2021
Currently Reading
Today’s photo challenge: how to successfully and artfully hold a book and take a pic with it. Answer—knees! Super duper excited to start digging into Healers and Thieves, the first book in the Psychic Traveler’s Society series by the lovely @susan.quilty @bitter_lily_books which I will be reading and sharing my thoughts when I am done. Thrilled to be swapping books with such a talented writer!
You can find Healers and Thieves on Amazon, and find her and all the amazing creative things she does on her website susanquilty.com and on Goodreads.
#indieauthorsunite #fiction #scififantasy
July 28, 2021
(not one but two) BOOK GIVEAWAYS
Enter to win a pair of signed copies of The Way of the River and many other book-related goodies!
Giveaway A here on the website | Giveaway B @shanlspy on Instagram
Enter both (but you can only win one)! Drawings take place on August 15 & 16, 2021.
Not one but two! Why? Because I always like to make things overly elaborate! Lots to read here, but also lots to win so read closely...
Two giveaways, each with 2 books—one for you and one to share—along with several other book-related goodies! Full details below. You may enter both giveaways to increase your chance of winning but you may only win one.
First: the dull but necessary and important stuff. As this is an online contest, in the spirit of online privacy and safety (imperative!) you must be 18 or older to enter. If you are under 18 years of age you must have parent/guardian approval. Please have them enter on your behalf!
Now: the fun stuff! Draw for Giveaway A will be on Aug 15. One winner will be randomly selected. Draw for Giveaway B will take place the next day Aug 16, also randomly selected. If the winner of Giveaway A also enters B their name/entry will be eliminated from the pool for B to allow someone else to win, too!
Entry Instructions for Website Giveaway AFollow the link to the entry form on this website at shanspykerauthor.com/book-giveaway for instructions (requires e-newsletter sign up).
Giveaway A includes 2 signed copies of The Way of the River, 2 holographic stickers, 2 bookmarks, 2 enamel Messenger pins (one set for you, one to gift), one custom screen-printed tote bag w Ole Warty tree logo screened printed by the author, and one set of illustrated Character Cards with access code to a hidden webpage w more character information.
Winner of Giveaway A will be notified by email on August 15, 2021 and announced along with winner of B on Instagram on August 16, 2021.
Entry Instructions for Instagram Giveaway BVisit this post on the @shanlspy Instagram account
Comment on the post answering the following:
1. What is/are your favorite genre(s)?
2. Who you would share the second book with? No names needed, simply state something along the lines of sibling, best friend, family, donate to library or non profit etc, or tag someone.
Giveaway B includes 2 signed copies of The Way of the River, 2 holographic stickers, 2 bookmarks, and one set of illustrated Character Cards with access code to a hidden webpage w more character information.
Winner of Giveaway B will be notified through Instagram and announced along with the winner of A on August 16, 2021.
Good luck!
Giveaway items include signed copies of the book, stickers, bookmarks, illustrated Character Cards (A&B), enamel pins and tote bag (A only).
July 6, 2021
Mid-summer reading special — eBook on sale
Happy mid-summer! Grab your device and head to your beach blanket or favorite spot under a shade tree and enjoy The Way of the River in digital format. Now through July 31, the eBook edition has been reduced to $1.99 and is available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books and other places you can buy books online (price may differ outside the USA).
July 2, 2021
Editorial Review from SPR
"Two curious young adventurers find themselves in the strange heart of a magical forest, and at the center of their own family secrets, in The Way of the River by Shan L. Spyker, the first book in the Kellandale Wood series. Despite a high-fantasy atmosphere reminiscent of Narnia and other incredible YA realms, this story remains a uniquely plotted tale, as well as deeply symbolic. The concept of nature being a source of untold power and strength, coupled with a healthy nod towards paganism and older belief systems, makes this novel impactful for a broad range of readers. The prose is accessible, the protagonist dynamics are touching, particularly between the girls and Henry, and the more whimsical aspects of this novel keep it balanced and compulsively readable from the first page." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½
June 28, 2021
Premiere: first video trailer for The Way of the River
I am beyond excited to be able to finally share the new book trailer for The Way of the River! Music was written by my father, Pete Lambros—a piece from a full musical score he wrote to accompany the story (decades in the making, first time sharing!). More on that to come!
Help spread the word! If you know anyone who might be interested (parents of readers age 8-14, as well as older teens and adults who enjoy the genre), here's some information you can include in posts, emails, texts or however you want to share, along with a link to the just-released video trailer.
> Link to trailer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KmDtepi8Bkk
Trailer edited and produced by M. Spyker
Trailer text by D. DeLuca Lambros
Photo by A. Blatcher
“Iveria” music score copyright ©2021 Pete Lambros, all rights reserved.
Illustrations copyright ©2021 Thomas Spyker, all rights reserved.
The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One) copyright ©2021 Shan L. Spyker, all rights reserved.
The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One) Grab A Copy!
Middle Grade Fantasy/Adventure
Recommended ages: 8-14, as well as older teens and adults who enjoy the genre 368 pages
Available in paperback and eBook formats
Meet Elinora and Tillie Wolton and their allies in The Way of the River in the new middle grade fantasy adventure by Shan L. Spyker, a tale teeming with animals, nature, friendships and family, a forest shrouded in mystery, a young wolfhound with an extraordinary ability, and a rescue mission that pits them all against a treacherous and unscrupulous showman.
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble.com, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, IndieBound, shanspykerauthor.com , and online everywhere else books are sold. Also available in eBook format .
SynopsisLife is perfect for fifteen-year-old Elinora Wolton...for the most part. Anxious by nature and resistant to the often painful metamorphosis of growing up, she is most content when she is able to avoid uncomfortable feelings and experiences. This proves easy enough to do living a secure, sheltered life at Kellandale, a quiet country estate that has been isolated from many of the world's problems.
But in Kellandale Wood (Book One): The Way of the River, a tween fantasy/adventure set a hundred years ago in the country of Eldmoor, this estate also happens to sit on the edge of a vast forest. Known as Wyches Wood to some, it is a forest with a centuries-old reputation of being haunted. No one has dared to enter it for the last two hundred years, and Elinora and her precocious, easily bored younger sister Tillie have been strictly forbidden from going near it by their parents—a fact that drives Tillie mad.
This all changes when they witness a man dropping a mysterious parcel into the river within their property. Despite Elinora's initial reluctance, Tillie—curious and relentlessly persistent—persuades Elinora to go searching for it with her, taking them deep into the woods. There they discover an abandoned young wolfhound with an extraordinary ability, setting them off on a dangerous rescue mission and pitting them against a greedy and unscrupulous man.
As they begin to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abandonment, they discover what links their family to the forest, and the forest to the pup's own traumatic past. Together with their many allies, Elinora and Tillie set out to achieve what seems impossible, ultimately revealing the truth of the legendary enchanted woods and the mystic river that flows through it.
More About the StoryIn a world suffering from greed, threats of animal extinction, social injustice, and threats to the environment, this tale is a reflection on the importance of cherishing our own interconnectedness to nature, to one-another, and to all living beings. It’s been my purpose to write a story for a young audience that is hopeful to read, one that encourages kindness, compassion, open communication, the recognition and celebration of diversity, and working with others to enact positive change—told within the context of a fantasy adventure. The Way of the River is the result, and is a 368 page middle grade/tween tale written with readers age 10-14 in mind. If you are drawn to stories such as Mary Stewart’s The Little Broomstick, Hayao Miyazaki’s Totoro, CS Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series, or Diana Wynne Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle, this might be the next book for you!
………………………………………………………….June 14, 2021
Eeeee! It’s an ebooook!
That’s right! The Way of the River is now available as an ebook in so many formats! Links to the book on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook book, Kobu, Apple Books, Indigo (Canada), and many more to come can be found by following the link here:
FIND YOUR EBOOK!The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One)
Ebook edition $3.99 (Paperback edition $14.99 via this site in the Shop and at online booksellers everywhere!)
May 17, 2021
Free chapter download!
Want a glimpse into the forest to see what Elinora, Tillie and friends are up to in The Way of the River? Now’s your chance! You are invited to download a free pdf of Chapter 1 in its entirety, along with excerpts from chapters 3 & 4, and a coupon code should you decide to go into the heart of the forest—all of which have just been uploaded into the shanspykerauthor.com shop!
May 10, 2021
Easy ways to help support indie artists & authors
As an independent artist/author, I have created The Way of the River, my first novel, from ground up, with the help of three generations of my family. This includes writing, illustration, production, and publishing tasks. Now that the book is complete, this list of to do’s now includes publicity and marketing duties.
If you enjoyed The Way of the River and wish to continue to help support it and make it a success beyond Kickstarter, there are several easy ways to you can help…
Spread the Word!If you (or the young one in your life) enjoyed The Way of the River you can do any of the following. Any and all help is greatly appreciated! These ways of supporting also applies to any other indie artist, author, or creative you follow and wish to support!
Follow along on social mediaGoodreads The Way of the River book page
Amazon Author bio page
shanspykerauthor.com website/blog add your name to the mailing list here on this site to get updates on blog posts, and news when and where to find an ebook edition (in the works).
Share posts from these accounts/pages and invite your friends who have young ones (or friends who are young at heart) who may be interested in the story to follow, too.
Leave ReviewsLeaving an honest review or rating wherever The Way of the River is sold is one of the best ways to get the word about it out there to others. You can leave them in places such as
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Anywhere else you can purchase the book
Leave a comment here on Kickstarter
Leave feedback via the shanspykerauthor contact page. Be sure to include a note granting me permission to quote your comment/review on the website, social media and/or in printed promotions if it is okay to do so (also indicate how you authorize your name to appear, or if you wish the comment to remain anonymous).
Word of mouthShare this Kickstarter update! It's got all the details!
Tell your friends about the book! You can point them to our website directly (items purchased there are hand-packed with love by us, book signed, and a free bookmark included!) or point them to purchase via other booksellers (international orders will reap the benefits of reduced overseas shipping, US domestic orders may receive free shipping, and sales via these outlets help generate interest on a grander scale), so no matter where purchased, purchases will be directly supporting indie authors and artists!
Buy a copy to share as a gift
If you are a parent of a grade-schooler or middle-schooler and wish to approach your child’s library about stocking The Way of the River in their library, get in touch.
If you wish to approach your local independent bookstore carrying The Way of the River, get in touch, too!
Help the book stay in stock(No purchasing required) If you are on Amazon or Barnes and Noble and see that the title listing for The Way of the River changes to out of stock or is set to a future date for availability, add the title to your wish list and/or send Amazon or Barnes and Noble a request that the item be changed to back in stock!
Again, I say to all of you...What the heck in the world?! Look what we did! Thank you!! Please stay in touch!
Shan
