Victoria Simcox's Blog, page 76

AN EMBER IN THE ASHES ~ Blitz & Giveaway

I am so excited that AN EMBER IN THE ASHESby Sabaa Tahir releases today and that I get to share the news, along with a special introduction from Sabaa herself!
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Sabaa Tahir, be sure to check out all the details below. This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed copies of the book and some of those awesome sword letter openers we’ve seen around courtesy of Sabaa, Penguin Teen, and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

A letter from Sabaa Tahir.

Dear Readers,
Today, my “baby” AN EMBER IN THE ASHES is finally out in the world! From inception to pub date, this journey took eight years. And what a journey it was: writing, rewriting, revising, editing, querying, submitting; Meeting other debuts, bloggers, booksellers and librarians, and hearing their thoughts on EMBER. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the radness.
And now, the book is here! I am so excited to see it in the hands of readers. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. To celebrate release day, I’m giving away two signed, first-edition hardcovers of the book. Details below!
All my best,
Sabaa
Title: AN EMBER IN THE ASHESAuthor: Sabaa TahirPub. Date: April 28, 2015Publisher: RazorbillPages: 464Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.
LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.
ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.
When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.

Check out the book trailer!


About Sabaa:Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.



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Giveaway Details:
2 winners will receive a signed hardcover of AN EMBER IN THE ASHES. US Only.
3 winners will receive a hardcover of AN EMBER IN THE ASHES and a Sword Letter Opener! US Only.
Ends on May 9th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 



 

The Tale of Willaby Creek~ Cover Reveal & Giveaway

I'm excited to share the cover reveal of The Tale of Willaby Creek by Victoria Lindstrom! This is a middle grade adventure fantasy that releases in June 2015. 
About the Book: A magical tale of amazing sacrifice...

When a violent windstorm strikes an enchanted rain forest many of the woodland creatures of Willaby Creek are stranded, injured, or lost forever to the frenzied force of the tempest. Basil, a black bear full of doubt and fear, becomes the unlikely leader to head the woodland creatures' rescue. He is joined by Daphne, a spunky blue dryad; Oliver, a wise horned owl; Elbert, a noble elk; and a host of other creatures that inhabit the enchanted rain forest.

Dangerous twists and turns in this animal adventure fantasy cause Basil to discover a courage, and a conviction, he never knew he had. The answers to the ancient mysteries in this magical tale emerge in an extraordinary finale under the tall timbers of the hidden hinterland.----------------------------------------------------------------- About the Author:VICTORIA LINDSTROM is a full-time writer, a voracious reader, and the author of the children's picture book, The Scandinavian Santa. She loves to wander through the woods, capture the beauty of Nature in photographs, and visit museums and fine art galleries. She and her husband, Michael, live near the shore of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. You may visit Victoria at: www.victorialindstrom.com

Facebook | Twitter @AuthorLindstrom | Goodreads | Pinterest 


Giveaway:
One hardcover copy of The Tale of Willaby Creek (US) and an ebook of The Tale of Willaby Creek (INT)
(Books will be delivered upon release, or shortly before.)
Ends May 19, 2015

a Rafflecopter giveaway
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Maisy and the Missing Mice

About the Book Title: Maisy and the Missing Mice (The Maisy Files) | Author: Elizabeth Woodrum | Publication Date: September 24, 2013 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 75 | Recommended Ages: 6 to 10 Summary: Maisy Sawyer is not your average fourth grade student. She is a detective with a special skill for solving mysteries. She loves black and white mystery movies, cherry lollipops, and her dog, Reesie. When a thief known as The Black Boot steals the school's mascots and her lollipops, Maisy sets out to solve the case. Can she help return the mice to their home in the science lab? Will she ever see her beloved lollipops again? Find out in the first book in The Maisy Files series.      
Book Trailer  
Purchase Amazon | Createspace* NOTE: Available for only 99 cents through Amazon. OR, you can receive 15% off the regular price of the print version of Maisy and the Missing Mice by visiting https://www.createspace.com/4368649 in the month of March and entering the code RXJN6DUZ upon checking out.   The Buzz"Woodrum certainly knows her target audience and does a very nice job with the character development of Maisy. This is an incredibly kid-friendly story that makes a great introduction to the genre of mystery for newly independent readers. It's a quick page turning read that encourages kids to think outside of the box." ~ The Children's Book Review"My name is Kat. I am 9 years old. I would rate this a five because I like everything about it, the mystery the most. It was fun to read. My favorite part was the mystery and the end. I love this book so much. I think other kids would love it too because it has mystery and most kids would like mystery books. Most mystery books have a good mystery. I would love to read the whole series." ~ 5 Star Review, Heather A., Amazon"I knew I would love this book simply because I knew it would remind me of the mystery books I read in my childhood. I really love how much trust the teachers and community as a whole put in Maisy. She is well deserving of their admiration as the way she finds clues and finds the mascot for the school is well thought out. This is a story any child would love to read. I hope Maisy continues to solve mysteries..." ~ 5 Star Review, Josh, Amazon  About the Author: Elizabeth WoodrumElizabeth Woodrum is an elementary teacher in Ohio. She came to love writing when she was in elementary school, but more recently began writing material for use in her classroom. From that writing, grew the desire to write books for the general population of children and adults alike. The Maisy Files , a children's series, is the first series that she has published. The series currently has one book, Maisy and the Missing Mice . Elizabeth plans to add more books to the series, and would also like to publish books for adults in the future. As a reader, Elizabeth prefers the fantasy genre, but she enjoys realistic fiction as well. Some of her favorite authors include JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordan, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, and Nicholas Sparks. Originally from Indiana, Elizabeth currently resides near Dayton, Ohio with her two pets: a cat named Butterscotch and a dog named Reese Cup. Book Website | Author Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest 

Good Night Animal World

About the Book Title: Good Night, Animal World: A Kids Yoga Bedtime Story | Author: Giselle Shardlow | Illustrator: Emily Gedzyk | Publication Date: September 20, 2013 | Publisher: Company: Kids Yoga Stories LLC | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 2.5 to 6 years Summary: Say good night to the animals of the world! Calm your mind and body before bedtime by taking a journey around the world with this kids yoga storybook. Join six Kids Yoga Stories characters as you perch like a bald eagle, crouch like a tiger, and curl up like a sloth. The book includes a list of Kids Yoga Poses and a Parent Guide with tips on creating a successful bedtime experience. Learn something new, explore movement, and unwind together before bedtime!
  Interview with Giselle Shardlow
     As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a teacher, even when I was very young.  As a preteen, I babysat and helped coach other young figure skaters.  In the summers, I worked with primary school-aged children at a day camp.  I remember the rewarding feeling of impacting children’s learning.  Working with children has always been my passion. 
   What inspired you to write books?
I’ve practiced yoga since I was a little girl doing yoga with my mother.  After I took yoga teacher training in 2005, I saw the possibility of bringing this ancient wisdom to children in a fun and meaningful way.  At that time, I had been teaching internationally for eight years, and I’d always pondered what makes children happy.  I noticed that movement, storytelling, and bonding together (link: http://www.kidsyogastories.com/free-resources/benefits) brought them joy.  So I began to write yoga stories that incorporated my teaching, traveling, and yoga experience.  The outlines for the stories flooded out onto the paper.  Once I was inspired to write the stories, I couldn’t stop! 
    What is the best compliment you’ve received as an author?
The best compliments come from parents and teachers whose children and students love going on pretend journeys around the world through movement and story.  Seeing pictures of children in yoga poses always warms my heart.  Parents are happy that their children are engaging in healthy activities while reading and having fun.   I love that the books provide a win-win for the adults and children.
But, the best email I received from a customer was regarding the book Good Night, Animal World(link: http://www.kidsyogastories.com/product/good-night-animal-world/).  A mom wrote to say that her family was going through a relocation, and their lives were unsettled, stressful, and uncertain.  She went on to say that the bedtime yoga story had become a nightly routine and served as a stable activity for her young child.  After reading and acting out the animal poses, her daughter fell asleep peacefully without the stresses of their current situation.  That email will stay with me forever.
     What is the toughest criticism you’ve received as an author?

Great timing!  I recently met with a book critic who critiqued each of the yoga stories for their layout, illustrations, writing, and front covers.  It was tough to hear someone go through each book with such criticism, but I was very grateful to have honest and direct feedback.  My goal is to significantly improve each book that I write, so her constructive criticism was just what I needed to hear.
      How do you react to a bad review?

To be honest, I have been blessed with positive reviews since publishing the books.  However, one of the Spanish-language yoga books did receive a bad review on Amazon.  The customer described a printing issue with the book.  I immediately called my publisher and Amazon, but unfortunately, due to privacy issues (which were understandable), I couldn’t do anything to help the customer.  I wrote a comment on her review that I would personally send her a new copy, but I didn’t hear back.  That situation broke my heart.  I certainly hope that Amazon helped her obtain a new copy.
    What advice would you give aspiring children’s book authors?
Do it!  As a former teacher, I think there is lots of room for quality children’s literature with a positive life message.  Every book that I read to the children in the classroom had a teachable moment, led to a stimulating discussion, or led into an extension activity.  I used books as springboards for discussion about the world. 
When I write my yoga stories (link: http://www.kidsyogastories.com/store), I think about 4 P’s: passion, purpose, people, and progressiveness.  Am I writing about something that I’m passionate about?  What’s the purpose of the book?  How does the book make a difference to the people who are reading the book?  Is the book unique, creative, and progressive?  Thinking of these four components helps keep me focused and ensures that the books are beneficial to the readers. 
My advice to aspiring children’s book writers is to write books that might impact the world in a positive way.  Write from your heart and get lots of feedback from family and friends.  Keep writing, sharing, and editing to continuously improve your stories.  Remember that writing your book is only the first step; spreading the word about your book is both challenging and rewarding.  Most importantly, just start, and when you’ve started, keep going!
Giselle ShardlowKids Yoga Storieswww.kidsyogastories.comgiselle@kidsyogastories.comwww.amazon.com/author/giselleshardlow

The Buzz"This book has been so amazing for my 2.5 year old daughter! The illustrations are adorable! She is always so rambunctious at bedtime and this lets her get out some of that excess energy. She loves the book so much that this has been one we read every night. It helps my daughter fall asleep faster which means more time for mom in the evenings." ~ 5 Star Review, cwalt047, Amazon"Another GREAT book!! I used this book for my kids yoga classes for ages 2-5 years old. After a very active yoga class, we read this book and did the yoga poses before the resting portion of the class. My little yogis loved the pictures and saying Good Night to all of the animals one by one. I played a calming song with some animal noises in the background and we were then able to quiet our minds and bodies for the pose of rest. I think this will become a regular pre-resting story for my classes with this age group. My 5 year old son loves to read this book again and again too! Keep the great books coming!" ~ 5 Star Review, Stacy Daniels - Kids Yoga Teacher, Amazon"What a delightful book to get young children reading and moving in a wind-down, calming story about saying goodnight to the animals of the world. I am a k-12 Reading Certified teacher who blogs about parenting at The Educator's Spin On It. I am big fan of literacy activities that combine movement and geography in a loving parent / child interaction experience and Good night, Animal World does just that. This book would be a great addition to your book shelf." ~ 5 Star Review, Amanda at The Educators' Spin On It, Amazon  About the Author: Giselle Shardlow Giselle Shardlow is the author of Kids Yoga Stories. Her yoga-inspired children’s books get children moving, learning, and having fun. Giselle draws from her experiences as a teacher, traveler, yogi, and mom to write the stories found at www.kidsyogastories.com or on Amazon (amazon.com/author/giselleshardlow) worldwide.     Book Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Google+  
 

Goodnight Sleep Tight

 
About the Book Title: Goodnight, Sleep Tight: What a Wonderful Flight | Author: Louise Lintvelt | Illustrator: Do Thai Thanh | Publication Date: April 16, 2014 | Publisher: eBookPartnership.com | Number of pages: 30 | Recommended age: 3 to 8 Summary: After an exciting flight, it is time to say goodnight. The tired sun sets overhead. Sleepy aircraft get ready for bed. They slow their propellers and park their wings. Time to snuggle up and tuck in...Goodnight, Sleep Tight. The charming illustrations and sweet rhyming text are sure to be a delight for sleepy aircraft enthusiasts.  
Purchase Amazon  
Guest Post 

Writing Picture Books for Children Tips From an Independently Published Author


I do not profess to have the magic formula that will make your children’s book a runaway success. Infact after reading many, many incredibly successful children’s books, I am still no closer to understanding why some good books are more successful than others.  I love picture books and since having my daughter I have spent a lot more time enjoying children’s books. Having read a number of popular and not-so-popular children’s books I have come to find that children love simple stories, written with rhythm/meter using colourful illustrations which are simplistic yet understatedly detailed. In early 2013 I dived in head first so to speak and immersed myself in the wonderful world of writing and designing picture books. I have independently published six picture books over the last year and have two new projects which will be published later this year.
Looking back on the year that has passed, I can definitely say that, when I first started I had absolutely no idea what I was letting myself in for! There are so many things that need to be considered when publishing a picture book and I was initially quite overwhelmed. I learnt a lot along the way and made many mistakes but the experience has been exceptionally rewarding. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when my first book was published only to find that I had not considered one of the most crucial aspects at all – marketing. I have only just started to get a handle on this aspect of the publishing business which is proving to be quite a challenge, but one that I most certainly look forward to. Publishing is after all exactly that – a business.
Publishing books independently is most certainly not for the faint hearted, it requires a lot of time, attention to detail and a very thick skin. This post aims to give a summary of things to consider when independently publishing a picture book.

Do lots of research


If you want to write books for children a great starting point is to read lots and lots and lots of children’s books. It is important to learn as much as possible about writing picture books. There are many things to consider and the list below outlines some of things you will need to research for your picture book.

If you plan on publishing independently, it is advisable to spend time finding a fantastic illustrator. You will need to know what style of illustration you are aiming for before you start looking for an illustrator.

Layout for text and images

Through my picture book self-publishing journey over the last year, I have come to realise that layout is very, very important! Picture books generally have 250 – 1000 words and come in 3 standard lengths namely, 24 pages, 32 pages and 42pages (32 page picture books are by far the most common). When working with your illustrator it is important to know the trim size for your book, whether illustrations are single spread or double spread and whether or not your illustrations are full bleed or not. You need to decide all of this before doing the illustrations as this will determine the number and size of illustrations for your book.

I would also advise that you go through a storyboarding process on the rough pencil sketches before your illustrator proceeds with working on the full colour illustrations. During the storyboarding process you need to make sure that there is enough space to place your text and you need to ensure that important details in the illustrations are not lost or obscured in the centre fold of the book.

Storyline/Concept

This is obviously the most important and should be considered quite carefully. Choosing your story is the starting point and more often than not you will find that there are many published books that are similar or related to the story you want to publish. When an idea for a new book pops into my head, the first thing I do is hit the amazon search function and look for similar books using key words and tags that best describe the book I want to write. I read the descriptions and use the look inside function to get an idea of the storyline, concept and illustration style, to make sure that I am not simply producing another version of a book that already exists.

Target age group

Choosing a target age group before you write your book is quite important, because the target age group will influence both word choice and illustration style. Knowing that the book is aimed at 3-5 year olds rather than 6-8 year olds would mean that you would opt for simpler words and sentences with illustrations that appeal to toddlers.

Illustration style

This can make or break a picture book. Picture books are all about visual storytelling and the illustrations need to strongly support and enhance the text.

Produce a quality product

I can’t say this enough, quality is everything! There are many independently published books on the market today with varying quality. Some of the books are absolutely terrible with glaringly obvious grammar mistakes, spelling errors, inferior illustrations and poorly considered layouts. While others are superbly crafted with mesmerizing illustrations and layouts that would rival that of any traditionally published book.
It is important that you aim for your independently published books to be of the highest quality. Producing a quality book often requires a lot more time and not as much money as you think. My tips to ensure that you produce a good quality product are as follows:

Engage the services of an editor. Another great resource is to make use of a Beta reading service such as the one offered on the Mother and Daughter book reviews website

 Look for a great up and coming illustrator that charges reasonable rates on sites like Behance and Freelanced.

Spend time doing storyboards to perfect your layout

 If you wish to publish a picture book as an eBook, have it converted to a fixed layout format. I used a company called eBook Partnership and I was very happy with the service and end result.

Include fun activities to go with your book

A lot of children get introduced to reading at school. Picture books are a very popular means of introducing early readers to books and are used quite often in classrooms around the world. It is always nice for teachers and children to have a classroom activity to go with a book. In addition to being useful in classrooms, these activities will also be welcomed by Mom’s who encourage crafting and other fun activities at home. I have started compiling some activities to go with my books on my website. Some activities for you to consider are:

 Illustrations from the book that can be used for colouring-in activities.

 Paper plate animal craft activities. I have compiled a make your own paper plate giraffe/ladybird for my book, How Andrew Got His Spots.

A story wheel template that can be used in classrooms to help children retell a story. I have created a story wheel template for my book, How Andrew Got His Spots.

Craft activities based on a theme in your book such as the make your own clothespin airplane Audio narration, videos and songs.

Marketing

Marketing an independently published book is a lot more challenging than I had initially anticipated. It is very difficult to sell books when you are a new author, especially when you do not have a large publishing house to assist with marketing efforts. Selling your books is all about discoverability and creating a brand. You need to establish a presence in the author community, bring your books to the attention of readers and ensure that you have sufficient brand credibility so that readers will consider buying your product.

Blogging on Goodreads

Goodreads giveaways to obtain book exposure, this is not really a way to dramatically increase sales but it does create a lot of book shelving on too read lists.

Book tours with companies that specialize in your Genre. For children’s books this is most important as many book tour companies do not really specialize in children’s books.

Create a website and upload useful blog content such as activities that go with your book or read along versions of your book on YouTube.

Offer free content


Interact with your readers

Your readers need to be able to find you and your books. The age of the internet has brought about a multitude of platforms on which to interact with readers. It is important to establish an online presence to that your readers are easily able to interact with you. It is also important to consider the platforms carefully so as to select those that you will easily be able to update and interact on. Having a non-active profile is probably worse than not having one at all. That being said it is important to remember that good old fashioned face to face interaction is just as important so don’t forget to interact with your readers in real life too!

Online Platforms
 Goodreads
Amazon author profile page
Author website Facebook page
 Google+
 Twitter

Face to Face Interaction
 School visits
Library visits
Book readings
Book launches


About the Author: Louise Lintvelt I am from South Africa and I live in a city called Pretoria. I am a Chemical Engineer by day and a children’s book writer by night. I am married to a wonderful man and we have a beautiful two year old daughter called Allegra. I love writing stories for my daughter, who is a constant inspiration. I have always loved reading. My childhood was filled with books and you would often find me crouched the corner of my room devouring the pages of my favourite book. I lived for Tuesday mornings as this would bring with it the excitement of a trip to the local library for story hour and the opportunity to take home a new book. I was the local librarian’s worst nightmare. I would arrive a few minutes early to check that she had not mistakenly chosen a book that had already been read in story hour. I was a very bossy three year old with an insatiable appetite for books! This has not really changed much in the last twenty seven years. Dr. Seuss was my absolute favourite and to say that my copy of One, Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish was well read would be an understatement. When it comes to writing, my daughter is my biggest inspiration. I love seeing her face light up with excitement when we sit down to read a book before bedtime. My daughter was fascinated by giraffes after we went on a safari trip in late 2012. This planted the seed for my picture book called How Andrew Got His Spot s which is a rhyming adaptation of a story I originally wrote in the third grade. My daughter has since grown into a healthy two year old with a passion for aircraft which was the inspiration for writing Goodnight, Sleep tight, What a Wonderful Flight . I am sure that there are many parents in the world (myself included), who are quite decidedly sick and tired of reading the same favourite picture book night after night. I believe that the words of Oscar Wilde best describe how children should feel about picture books when he said, If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all. Happy Reading!
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The Magician's Doll

About the Book
Title: The Magician's Doll | Author: M.L. Roble | Publication Date: February 2, 2013Publisher: Independent | Pages: 320 | Recommended Ages: 10+Summary

"They are stronger. They are coming. They will arrive!" Life would be so much better for twelve-year-old Natalie if she and her mother weren’t different; other kids wouldn’t pick on her; she wouldn’t have to get into fights. She would have friends. But Natalie has abilities that set her apart, and despite her very best efforts to have a normal life, her developing “gift” has a way of upending them all. Then one day a big top circus rolls into town bringing with it Beausoleil the Magician, his daughter Louisa, and his mysterious doll. Strange things are afoot with Beausoleil’s arrival, and in his wake, an eerie storm is approaching. Soon Natalie discovers there is more to her world and the people around her than she knew, and that being different is just the tip of the iceberg... The Magician’s Doll sparks readers’ imaginations with a tale of magical discoveries, profound friendships, a fight against evil, and the growth that comes with facing your fears and accepting who you are.

 
Purchase the BookAmazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | The Book Bin  The Buzz"The story of exceptional and gifted beings secretly living among us is timeless; this exhilarating book is an impressive treatment of that classic storyline. The writing is fast and clear, with a well-developed plot and perfect buildup of action and suspense." ~ 5 Star Review, G. Wagner, Amazon"This is perfect for kids of the middle grade age. It forces them to look at the way they treat each other and their differences. It makes them look at what true friendship is and what they would do in certain circumstances. I am sure this book was written to be a wonderful story, yet I find it is a great example of teaching kids something without them realizing they are learning I will definitely continue to recommend this book to parents and students." ~ 5 Star Review, Sandra S., Amazon"I am a eighth grader, and was told to read this book by a friend. I am a huge fan of fantasy and magic, and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it well thought through with colorful characters from a variety of backgrounds. The concepts and ideas are fresh and interesting, I especially enjoyed the idea of travel through maps, like Phillipe. I would DEFINITELY recommend this book to all my friends, and will do so as soon as possible." ~ 5 Star Review, Eugenia, Amazon 
About the Author: M.L. Roble M. L. Roble's desire to write a children's novel stems from the nostalgia of her own middle grade reading years where she first experienced books like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Shattered Stone". There have been different books and genres since, but those years fueled an enchantment for story that continues to this day.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ 
 

The Dragon’s Egg Cover Reveal

My name is Heidi Bolton, but I use my initials for my writing name, H.B. Bolton. I’m the author of the middle-grade fantasy series, Relics of Mysticus. The Dragon’s Egg (Book Three) is in the final stages of development and is almost ready for its May release date. Today I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share my newest book cover with you.

Cover artist, Elisabeth Alba, offered an inside peek of her work’s progression through her photographs and commentary. I’m extremely fortunate to know this Scholastic Book illustrator and have had the privilege to benefit from her talents for all three of my covers. In fact, we’ve already started talking about The Mummy’s Amulet (Book Four).

I met Elisabeth about 14 years ago through one of my drawing classes. From her high school freshman year through senior year, she was one of my students (a favorite one, at that). I taught advanced-placement art, which was before having children of my own and creating worlds with unlikely heroes for my mythical stories.

Thank you, Elisabeth, for helping to bring my characters to life!

As a bonus, I’m offering a free eBook version of The Serpent’s Ring (Book One) through Amazon from March 10-13.
Grab it on Amazon!



~H.B. Bolton (Author)




Progression of a Book Cover Illustrator by Elisabeth Alba 




This is a progression of The Dragon’s Egg book cover from sketch to final drawing. Truth be told, I haven’t illustrated many multi-figure images before, and then add a ton of stuff happening around them, so I was in for a challenging composition — a fun challenge! You can see how I gradually worked out and tightened the image. In the beginning, I had planned to make the background darker but then realized if the glowing fog was everywhere, then it wouldn’t be so dark. It framed the floating castle better as well.
Once I figured out the drawing, which I did digitally, I worked on a color composition to figure out how I would paint it. This was an important step — especially since watercolor is really hard to fix if you make a mistake.


At this stage, I printed the line drawing onto watercolor paper and got to work. I painted with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Hydrus fine-art liquid watercolors to start. I painted the base color first, which in this case was greenish.


After painting more of the base colors, I decided to do some line work with pen and ink to solidify the shapes.


Once the base colors were done, I sealed the image with matte medium. The Hydrus watercolors can be difficult because they are not like normal watercolor. Once they’re down on paper, you can’t wipe them away, but sealing with matte medium helps them not to smear — which is nice! You can also see how my desk lamp caused some glare over the castle when I took the photo.
On top of the matte medium, I painted with acryla gouache to darken and saturate the colors, and to do any highlights like the edge lighting around the figures. Finally, once the painting was done, I sealed the entire image with Kamar varnish. It brought out the colors even more, because once the acryla gouache dried, it became matte and the colors faded some.



Once I scanned the image, I worked on any digital touch-ups (some things are hard to do in watercolor, like getting colors really dark, and also the colors sometimes don’t scan well). This was how it looked once scanned, before any touch-ups. It was a more faded and less vibrant version of the original painting. I also lost the highlights.



For the typography, I added a dark-blue gradient around the edges to frame the image and help the text stand out. I’ve used the same font for all three books, but in this one, I replaced the “O” in “Dragon’s” with the actual Dragon’s Egg relic.

Official Blurb
The Dragon’s Egg (Book Three)
Sure, the glass castle floating over Evan’s head makes him uneasy, but that’s the least of his worries. With each step inside the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams, he must battle against his worst nightmares. One after the other, wispy smoke-filled bull sharks come at him — he must remember they’re only illusions pulled from his imagination by those dreaded shadowlike hands. If only the vengeful dragon circling above was also an illusion and didn’t have his mind set on destroying the one person who can control him: Emrys.
Inside the castle’s glass tower, Emrys sleeps in an eternal slumber, and Evan’s uncertain whether he can save the great wizard. Especially now that Emrys’ former student, the Lady of the Lake, has joined forces with the cunning immortal Alamaz. Together they have already stolen the Dragon’s Egg, but their greed doesn’t end there. The Siren’s Pearl calls to them, and that means only one thing … Atlantis is in trouble.
Join Evan, Claire, and Dunkle — along with a few other unlikely heroes — as they travel across the realm of Medieval Legends, float through the Ancient Isle of Avalon, plunge inside the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams, and be there when Atlantis rises once again.
You can see more artwork by Elisabeth Alba and keep up with her future creations through her sites:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Etsy store 
Elisabeth is a Queens-based illustrator whose work focuses on fairy tales, fantasy, and historical subjects. She earned her MFA in illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her clients include Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. Elisabeth wants to thank Heidi for being the best high school art teacher ever, and setting her on the path to becoming an illustrator!

Connect with H.B. Bolton here: Website |  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon 

Princess Madeline and the Dragon

About the BookTitle: Princess Madeline and the Dragon (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #3)Author: Kirstin PulioffPublication Date: November 26, 2013Publisher: Caliburn BooksNumber of pages: 135Recommended age: 10+  Summary After a season of battle and rebuilding, the Kingdom of Soron is exhausted. With the return of the exiled wizards, the Spring Faire, and her upcoming wedding, Princess Madeline is looking forward to a peaceful season of celebration. When the mysterious green dragon reappears, threatening the kingdom and the king, Princess Madeline and Prince Braden won’t rest for long. Faced with this incredible new danger, Princess Madeline and Prince Braden must find a way to lead their kingdom and secure their future. Can they find the answers hidden within their mother’s cryptic messages from the past, or will the dragon destroy everything they hold dear? Follow Princess Madeline as she embarks on a dangerous new adventure to save her kingdom and her family.    More Buzz About The Book"The story is engaging on many levels, as is Pulioff's writing, but on this occasion I was mostly drawn into the action and the mystery as how to prevent the worst from happening. This is great entertainment and should do well across a wider age range." ~ 5 Star Review,ChristophFischerBooks, Amazon"Kirstin Pulioff has saved the best for last. 'Princess Madeline and the Dragon' is the final instalment in the 'Princess Madeline Trilogy'. I thought the first two books were finely wrought stories, but this novel surpasses its predecessors. Prophesies, family tragedies, magic and - of course - dragons, combine to produce a tale that is an instant classic. Written with a great deal of charm, 'Princess Madeline and the Dragon' will not disappoint Ms Pulioff's young fans. I look forward to seeing where next her imagination will take this natural storyteller. " ~ 5 Star Review, Diogenes, Amazon"Princess Madeline and the Dragon is an exciting and thoroughly satisfying final chapter in this fantasy/adventure series. As she did with books one and two, the author has created a fantasy world in a rich medieval setting that we can believe in--and want to visit, over and over...Along with adventure, a sweet romance, and a theme that centers on the power of love, you may find a surprise or two! If your tween or teen loves princesses, brave heroes and fairytales of daring-do, they shouldn't miss this one!" ~ 5 Star Review, Ally S., Goodreads  Purchase Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords About the Author: Kirstin Pulioff  Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in Oregon, and enjoys being a stay at home mom. When she’s not writing, she is busy with her kids and church.Website | Facebook | TwitterGoodreads | Amazon Author Page   
 

My Friend Suhana

About the BookTitle: My Friend Suhana: A Story of Friendship and Cerebral PalsyAuthors: Shaila Abdullah & Aanyah AbdullahPublication Date: December 16, 2013 Publisher: Loving Healing Press Pages: 30 Recommended Ages: 3+Summary A simple tale of love and friendship to warm your heart. Award-winning author and designer Shaila Abdullah teams up with her 10-year-old daughter Aanyah to bring you this heartwarming tale of a little girl who forms a close bond with a child with cerebral palsy.   Purchase Amazon  About the Authors: Shaila Abdullah & Aanyah Abdullah Shaila Abdullah is an author and designer based in Austin, Texas. She is the author of two books: Saffron Dreams and Beyond the Cayenne Wall . The author has received several awards for her work including the Golden Quill Award, Norumbega Jury Prize for Outstanding Fiction, Patras Bukhari Award for English Language, Reader Views Award, Written Art Award, and a grant from Hobson Foundation. Aanyah Abdullah is a creative and compassionate 10-year-old, who is drawn to children born with physical and mental disabilities. When she was in second grade, Aanyah along with her mother Shaila, started volunteering out at a local community center where they helped assist special needs children. Later Aanyah wrote an essay about her friendship with a girl in the class who had cerebral palsy. That essay is the inspiration behind My Friend Suhana . Aanyah dreams of establishing a special school for children with disabilities one day. She is known to always stand up for what is right and is-–in her parents’ and teachers’ eyes––a perfect role model for her baby sister. Book Website | Twitter | Facebook | Subscribe 
 

Katie and the North Star Book Blast & Giveaway

 
About the BookTitle: Katie and the North Star | Authors: Bethany Lopez and Katie Lopez | Illustrator: Hetty Mitchell | Publication Date: March 13, 2015 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 26 | Recommended Ages: 2 to 6 Summary: Katie and the North Star is a book filled with adventure, joy, and imagination. Join Katie as she learns why she can't keep the North Star all to herself.   * PRICE DROP * * "Katie and the North Star" is available as an e-book for only 99 cents from Amazon between April 23 and 25, 2015. Or, subscribers to Kindle Unlimited can grab an e-copy for FREE! * Amazon * Goodreads  About the Authors: Bethany Lopez and Katie Lopez Katie and Bethany Lopez are a mother and daughter writing team. Katie is currently navigating through the first grade. She loves reading, writing, and Shopkins. Bethany writes stories for all ages. She enjoys writing full time, and spending time with her family. Katie and the North Star is their first collaboration. Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads    * $25 Book Blast Giveaway * Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: May 7, 11:59 pm, 2015 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Bethany Lopez and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway