Jessica Haight's Blog, page 147

Author Interview with V.L. Burgess

The DMS was lucky enough to interview  V.L. Burgess , author of the middle grade novel The Mapmaker's Sons. Fairday recently reviewed this swashbuckling, new story, and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We are excited to learn a little bit more about the story behind the story. So, without further ado... take it away, V.L. ! 



Thanks so much for inviting me to visit your blog. I’m delighted to be here today!

What inspired you to write The Mapmaker’s Sons?
The spark for the book originated with an article I read in National Geographic about the Hero Twins, which is actually an ancient Mayan myth about two brothers who battle the lords of the underworld and play a lot of baseball (Yes, baseball! Or at least the Mayan version of the sport.)  
The actual myth is rather long and cumbersome, but I found the premise of two brothers who must come together to battle evil so intriguing. What great place from which to launch an adventure! I began the book with Tom and Porter, then layered on the elements necessary to bring their story to life: a secret past, savage monsters, a cruel tyrant, and a map that leads to a dangerous new world. Woven within the story are classic themes of good and evil, family bonds, friendship, and sacrifice.
How long did it take you to write The Mapmaker’s Sons?
The writing process itself was probably about six months. After that I spent another month or so editing and shaping the story.
What are some of your favorite books from childhood? Were there any specific authors who inspired you?
My all-time favorite growing up was The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton . It was an assigned reading book for my daughter’s sixth grade class, and was just as powerful for her and her classmates. It’s amazing that Hinton was able to create something that still captures kids’ hearts and minds. Interestingly enough, that’s another story about brothers and friendships. Hmmm…I’m sensing a pattern here!
Where did you come up with the character Tom?
Tom Hawkins is an average 13-year-old boy who is thrown in a situation that's completely out of his element. He’s a classic reluctant hero. While I did give him the magical ability to make maps come alive, that’s his only edge. I love to watch him dig deep and discover he has the skills within himself to survive the strange new world he’s crossed into. I like to believe we all have untapped powers within us, just waiting for the right opportunity for us to discover them.
If you could befriend a character from your story, who would you choose?
That’s a tough one, but I think it would have to be the pirate Umbrey. I love his free-wheeling sense of adventure, his sly humor, his utter certainty that he can handle whatever life throws at him. He’s absolutely fearless, knows more than he lets on, and always has something up his sleeve.
Do you have any writing rituals? Do you listen to music while you write?
I really envy writers who can carry on with single-minded focus in the midst of chaos, but I’m not one of them. I need to visualize the scenes I’m working on, so I turn off all outside distractions. 

I begin with an overall story arc, then push myself to make a sloppy mess of the first draft. I write scenes in the order they come, jot down random dialogue as it pops into my head, let the descriptive phrases fly. That loosens me up and I get a lot closer to the heart of the characters. Then, once the story is fleshed out, the editing, snipping and pasting begins.  

If you could live in one of the five kingdoms, which would you choose?
I would want to live in the chain of island nations that make up the kingdom of Aquat. It’s a lovely place, really, except that its shores are infested with slave shippers!
Where can we purchase your books?
The Mapmaker’s Sons can be purchased at your local bookstore —look for it in the children’s middle grade section. It can also be ordered online.


Hitting shelves in October 2012!Read the reviews! 
*Win an advance copy of The Mapmaker's Sons by V.L. Burgess! Enter the rafflecopter giveaway form below for your chance to get a sneak peak at this exciting, new adventure! 

Giveaway open to US and International : ) 


We will announce the two lucky winners on Sunday, September 30th!  

a Rafflecopter giveawayFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Top of the Heap!

Monday's Riddle unmasked our theme this week, and Lizzy took us on a power trip with her review of Powerless by Matthew Cody. Friday, we will be hosting an interview with V.L. Burgess , author of the swashbuckling new middle grade book, The Mapmaker's Sons. We will be giving away one advance paperback copy of this great new adventure, which will be hitting bookshelves in October, so be sure to check back!

What could possibly be more fun than losing yourself in the fantastical world of superhero comic books? The stories are amazing and always so intertwined, and it's fun to think about what it would be like to have certain powers to share with a group of friends. We've enjoyed chatting about this together, and are excited to share our thoughts on this topic with all of you!

This week's top of the heap: Super heros!  ⚡

Fairday: Another easy one for me! There are so many completely awesome powers, and amazing characters, but of them all- I always pick Storm from the X-Men. I think it would be fantastic to be able to summon up a thunderstorm or raise the wind; call off the rain, or lift the fog. How cool to have Mother Nature on your side! Sometimes I try to control the weather-  and, once in a blue moon, I swear it works! : ) ~ F

Lizzy: For me, I have to go with Wonder Woman. I know she's a little old school, but she's also a warrior princess from the Amazon! She had those bullet-deflecting gold bracelets, and the invisible plane. Also, my favorite superhero contraption, the golden lasso, which is unbreakable and forces people to obey and tell the truth when bound with it- how much would you love to have one of those?

Here is the synopsis of the story of the Wonder Woman T.V. series - fascinating! ~ L

Wonder Woman TV Series Synopsis (Wikipedia) 

During World War II, American pilot Major Steve Trevor bails out during an air battle over the Bermuda Triangle, location of Paradise Island. The island is home to the Amazons: beautiful, ageless women with great strength, agility, and intelligence. Amazon princess Diana rescues the handsome Trevor and helps nurse him back to health. Her mother, the amazon queen, decrees that Olympic style games shall be held to select one Amazon to return Trevor back the America, but she forbids her daughter, Diana, the princess, to participate. Diana stated that since she is not allowed to participate, she does not want to be present for the games and will take a retreat to the other side of the island. The games are held with participants wearing numbers, and a blond amazon wearing a mask... read more.FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Can a Regular Kid Save the Day?

When Daniel Corrigan and his family move to Noble’s Green, he is not looking forward to being the new kid. But, his grandmother is sick and needs their help.  Right away he starts noticing that the kids he meets all seem strange, but no one will acknowledge it. Luckily, it isn’t long before Daniel starts to make some friends, or at least he thinks he is making friends. It just seems that everyone has a secret they don’t want to share with him or maybe they are talking about him behind his back. A class trip brings everything into focus after the class bully, Clay, corners Daniel and backs him up until he falls out a window to his death.  Only he falls, but doesn’t die. Instead he is saved by Eric, a classmate who flies him to safety and tells him that all will be revealed to him later that night. When he is finally let in on the fact that the kids of Noble’s Green have superpowers he doesn’t quite know what to believe. Some can fly, others have superhero senses, and others are invisible. No one is quite sure how these powers came to be, but they all know the rules and the most important one is that their powers will be gone when they turn thirteen. With birthdays fast approaching, Molly tries to get Daniel to help her figure out what happens to the superkids on the eve of their thirteenth birthday. Daniel loves a good mystery, but has he gotten in over his head? Who or what takes the powers from the kids of Noble’s Green? Will Daniel and the others be able to figure out what causes the superpowers and how to keep them? Reading this book will make you want to have your own superpowers or at least have friends who can soar to great heights. 


Anyone who enjoys comic books and superheroes will be captivated by Powerless by Matthew Cody. Daniel is a character that I could easily relate to because he reads mysteries and likes to gather clues. He is also a good friend and easy to get along with throughout the story. I kept wondering how I would feel if all of my friends had superpowers and I was just ordinary. Would I be jealous? This was a fast read because the story takes off right from the first chapter. Once the mystery begins to unravel there is danger and clues to sort out. The kids of Noble’s Green are unique and fun. This is a great book for people ages 8 and up. The way the story ended made me think that there could be another book or maybe this is the start of a series. Though the story is all tied up at the end, some things happen in the last few pages that made me wonder if we would hear more about these superheroes. Start reading and see if you can crack the case and figure out what is going on in Noble’s Green.   

Has anyone else read Powerless by Matthew Cody?  Or another book by this author?  What did you think?
Happy Reading! ~LFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Answer to Monday's Riddle! BAM! POW!

Great guessing everyone! Yes! The superheros are flying in this week, and we're ready for some action! Over the next few days we are going to leap into this fantastic world of amazing people. Lizzy's Review will set the scene on Wednesday, and Thursday, it's sure to be a super time on Top of the Heap . Friday, we've brewed up something special, so be sure to check back! See you all around the book block ; )  ~ F

When you're in need, I'll swoop right in. Dressed really flashy and wearing a grin. By your side, should trouble arise, is where I'll be with my x-ray eyes. Sometimes masked and sometimes not- it all depends on what issue you've got. 

What am I? Answer: Comic Book Super Heros ⚡FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Monday's Riddle! Leaps and Bounds...

Hello Riddlers! Here's a fun one- can you guess the theme? Get ready for some action, because it's going to be a super week ; ) ~ F

When you're in need, I'll swoop right in. Dressed really flashy and wearing a grin. By your side, should trouble arise, is where I'll be with my x-ray eyes. Sometimes masked and sometimes not- it all depends on what issue you've got. 

What am I? 

I already gave you a clue!


FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

The DMS Wants to Know: What Would You Do With More Time?

Monday's Riddle thrust us into the topic of time travel! It was such fun being a part of the Genre Favorites Blogfest hosted by Alex Cavanaugh , which was the inspiration to spend some time traveling back to books we have read and loved. We chose fantasy as our favorite genre, and Lizzy reviewed one of the best books we know, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling . A new Margo's Musings reminded us what it means to be real and loved.  Today, we want to hear from you!
The DMS wants to know: If you were given a time turner, like Hermione in The Prisoner of Azkaban, how would you use it? Is there something in your own life that you need more time for? Or is there an event you would like to change or witness?   We'll tell you ours, if you tell us yours! FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Margo's Musings: How Toys Become Real

Last night, I read  The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams  to Margo. The book is the oldest in my collection and one of the most treasured in my library. The story held Margo captivated as she desperately wished for the toy rabbit to become Real. She showed a great respect for the wise, old Skin Horse, listening hard to his words, and seemed to really take the message to heart. Now, Mr. Fazzy (her stuffed velvet pony) has been making his way around the yard, relaxing in different sunny spots and galloping across the lawn. She's determined to love him as much as possible because, to her, Mr. Fazzy is most definitely real!

Mr. Fazzy, wild and free! How do toys become real? There's been quite a bit of debate about this among people over the years, but here's the explanation that resonates the most with me...


The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand about it all.
     "What is REAL?' asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?
     "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with you, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
     "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
     "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
     "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
     "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand you."

This story is very special to me, and I have always held it close to my heart. There is so much to learn from nursery magic, if only you choose to remember!

Happy reading! ~ F

Preview The Velveteen Rabbit
Read the reviews!

Mr. Fazzy in the morning glories : ) 
FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Top of the Heap!

Monday's Riddle slipped us into the topic of time- traveling through it, that is! We had a blast being a part of the Genre Favorites Blogfest hosted by Alex Cavanaugh , which was the inspiration to spend some time at Azkaban over the next few days. We chose fantasy as our favorite genre, and Lizzy reviewed one of our top picks of all time, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling . A new Margo's Musings is coming up on Friday, and Saturday, we look forward to hearing your thoughts on The DMS Wants to Know .

Time turning is a fascinating idea to think about. Where would you go? What would you do? There are some pretty heavy rules to follow, but we think it's worth the risk!

This week's top of the heap: Fabulous times to turn to ⌛


Fairday: This one is easy for me because I've given it a lot of thought over the years. I would love to see my mom and dad back when they were dating in college. It's so bizarre to picture the scene, and they talk about it all the time. The millions of pictures they show to Margo and me are hilarious! I would use the time turner to take me back to the day they proclaimed their love for one another at a Dave Matthews Concert. The story is extremely entertaining when my dad tells it, and I can see, from the look on their faces, that it must have been quite a magical evening : ) ~ F


Lizzy: I have also given time turning a lot of thought ever since I read The Prisoner of Azkaban . I think it would be fascinating to travel back to when I was a baby. What on Earth was I thinking about then? LOL! I seriously have no idea. Wouldn't it be amazing to spy on yourself and try to remember what it felt like to be so new? ~ LFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Who is the Prisoner of Azkaban?

It was quite some time ago that I reviewed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , a book that began my journey on my favorite series of all time. Although I haven’t reviewed the second book in the series, I am sharing my thoughts on the third book because it ties in so perfectly with our theme this week. I promised to come back and review The Chamber of Secrets before too long : ) 
“ Happiness can be found in even the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light. ” ~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 
Harry is home for the summer, but his time with the Dursleys takes a turn for the worse when he accidentally blows up his Aunt Marge. Fearing trouble now that he has used magic out of school, Harry does the only thing he can think of- he flees. Taking his beloved owl, Hedwig, with him he races into the night only to be rescued by the Knight Bus. Who knew that magical escape buses were just around the corner when you need them? Harry worried that he would be thrown out of school, but instead he enjoys the rest of his summer exploring Diagon Alley. Back on the Hogwarts Express, headed towards his favorite place on Earth, Harry is suddenly overcome by darkness and sorrow. He feels like his life is being sucked right out of him. Dementors, the guards from the wizards’ prison, Azkaban, are on the train. The only person who seems to truly experience their horrid wrath is Harry. Of course, Malfoy uses this as an opportunity to ridicule Harry, but that is the least of his worries. It seems that a dangerous prisoner, Sirius Black, has escaped from Azkaban, and he is after Harry. Not only that, but Professor Trelawney, the divinations teacher, has foreseen Harry’s death. One bright spot is Professor Lupin, their newest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Will Sirius Black find Harry? Could Professor Trelawney be right and Harry is in grave danger? Is there any way for Harry to combat the effects of the Dementors? You will fly through the pages of this book while you grip the edge of your seat in anticipation of what will happen next.


I was obsessed with the Harry Potter series as soon as I began the first book, but Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban took the series to a whole new level for me. The magical elements that are included in the story, the creatures, and the new characters all captivated my imagination. I loved the way that Ron, Harry, and Hermione grew and changed in their third year at Hogwarts. Their friendship developed and we got to see Hogsmeade and magical elements that we had never seen before. It was such fun to learn about Sirius Black and enchanted maps. The Marauders's Map is still one of the items I covet the most, and I think its creators were genius. The Time Turner takes you places you can't even imagine, and reading what happens when you use it- I would love to have one for my very own! I want to be a part of these books, and I cannot recommend them enough to others. If you haven’t read them- you really must give them a try. The audios are out of this world and once you hear Jim Dale, and the voices he captures for each character, you will be hooked! Reading this book will bring a smile to your face and you will be satisfied and eager for the fourth book in this enchanting series.Has anyone else read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?  Or any other books by J.K. Rowling?  We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading! ~LFEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED

Answer to Monday's Riddle! A Time to Turn...

Yes! You guys nailed it! Time turning is the topic of the week! Lizzy's Review is going to take us for a fantastical ride into the most magical of places, and Thursday is destined to be an extraordinarily fun Top of the Heap . Margo's Musings is coming up on Friday, and Saturday we look forward to hearing your thoughts about our spacey theme on The DMS Wants to Know. It's going to be a great time, so be sure to check back!  : ) ~ F

On this line, you shall slide- should you need some time to bide. If you want to see what's not, try me on and take a shot. I can send you forward or bring you back; show you what it is you lack. I'm something small- a device at best, but indispensable when you're on a quest. Take a spin and you will see all there is or will ever be. How will you know where you land? Three turns is plenty under slight of hand.
What am I? Answer: A Time Turner 


FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED