Mikey Brooks's Blog, page 17

Cover Reveal: Awakening

A friend of mine, Christy Dorrity has a new book coming out on September 24th. To create some hype she is sharing the cover. I personally think it looks fantastic and thrilling, I cant wait to read it. Below is some information on Christy and her YA Fantasy: AWAKENING.
Synopsis:

. . .because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.
A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery’s family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn’t think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She just moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.
 When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.
After Aunt Avril comes to the valley in pursuit of the supernatural killer that she has been chasing her entire career, people in the valley begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When an ancient curse, known as a geis, awakens powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.
A thrilling first novel, Awakening is a gripping contemporary fantasy rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18074584-awakening?ac=1
AUTHOR BIO:
Christy Dorrity lives in the mountains with her husband, five children, and a cocker spaniel. She grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming, and is the author of The Book Blogger’s Cookbooks. Christy is a champion Irish dancer and when she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.

Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Twitter

Book Feature: The DIVIDED

What would you do if you had the power to teach freedom,but such actions could start a war? Read The Divided . . .
I am happy to share on the blog today a book feature on Ryan Hunter's new book: The Divided-- sequel to inDIVISIBLE. 

Summary: Brynn Aberdie has found a home among the Freemen, but it’s not enough. She wants to wake the nation, educate them about their bondage. As her father’s plans are revealed on the hard drive she recovered from his office, she realizes she can't do it alone. Brynn must gain allies and infiltrate the society that wants her dead. And she must do it all without bringing the wrath of One United down on the innocent people she’s come to love.

What readers are saying: "Fantastic!" and "That book was amazing!!! I just finished it this morning and was hoping there was more!"

Where to find it: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E9FV4FW

Book Feature & Interview

I am excited to have on the blog today a wonderful author and friend, Braden Bell. He recently had his 2nd middle-grade book, PENUMBRAS, come out and he has agreed to do an interview and share a little about his new book. Just a little about Braden:

Braden Bell grew up in Farmington, Utah and graduated from Davis High School. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theatre from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in educational theatre from New York University. He and his wife, Meredith live with their five children on a quiet, wooded lot outside of Nashville, Tennessee, where he teaches theatre and music at a private school. An experienced performer, Braden enjoys singing, acting, reading, gardening, and long walks with the dog. 
So that's a little about him. Now here's a bit about the book:
Conner Dell didn't meant to blow up the school bus. Or the bathrooms. In fact, he only wanted to go to sleep and possibly dream about Melanie Stephens. But explosions had a funny way of happening when Conner and his friends were around.
*** Conner Dell wants to be good--he really does. But he is terrified that he might be turning into a Darkhand, especially when new powers start to surface. What's worse, the Stalker is following Conner, but no one else seems to be able to see him. The Magi think he might be hallucinating, the guilt of what happened in the Shadowbox keeps weighing on him, and his relationship with Melanie Stephens is complicating things. Even for a Magi, Conner knows his life is anything but normal.  


Can you share a little about your new book, PENUMBRAS?
Braden Bell: PENUMBRAS is the second volume in The Middle School Magic series. The first installment, THE KINDLING came out last summer. I am currently working on the third volume, which will hopefully come out next summer.
“Penumbras” is a somewhat unusual title. Can you explain it?
Braden Bell: A penumbra is a vague, shadowy, area, neither fully light nor dark. The Kindling, the first book in the series was about the sparking of new and exciting powers. This particular book follows the characters as they confront the complex consequences of those initial events and confront the shadowy places in their own hearts.
How did you get the idea for this series?
Braden Bell: One night during a sky-splitting spring thunderstorm, my kids came home from a church activity and told me about a man they had seen driving home. He had a black cape and was walking across people’s yards in the storm. Wondering about who he was and what he was doing triggered the idea for the book.
What is your background?
Braden Bell: I am a middle school choir and theatre director at a small private school. I’m the father of five children and the husband of one wonderful wife.
Speaking of that background, is it a coincidence that a middle school theatre and choir teacher has such a prominent part in the book? How about the students and other teachers in the book? Are they based on anyone specific?
Braden Bell: Well, writers write what they know! Dr. Timberi is admittedly similar to me in some ways. However, that’s not because he’s modeled on me. Rather, it’s because he is someone I would like to be. As far as the other characters, in the very beginning, I did sort of model their voices on some specific people—but that changed within a few pages of the first draft and they quickly become their own unique characters.
Beyond the characters, are there any other events based on real life experiences?
Braden Bell: There is a sad scene towards the end between Dr. Timberi and one of his students. While it is not an exact replication, being a theatre director means I have dealt with disappointed and/or angry students (and parents!) for many years. I tend to have a pretty thick skin. However, there are occasional times when this gets to me. This scene was actually inspired by a particularly difficult confrontation with a student of whom I was quite fond. I wrote the scene as a way of working through the incident—and ended up keeping it. The only other thing that might be based in reality is the degree to which teachers truly do care about their students. I don’t think the students often realize just how much teachers and other adult figures care about them and what they would do to protect and help them.
What is your favorite thing to do, besides reading or writing?
Braden Bell: My wife and I love to watch old movies, or adaptations of literary classics. Nearly anything by the BBC! I also love working in my yard.
Thank you Braden for being a part of my blog today! You can find more information about Braden and his books at: http://www.bradenbell.com/penumbras-order.html (Discounted Price: $9.99+s&h)
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Penumbras-Middle-School-Magic-Braden/dp/146211220X
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/penumbras-braden-bell/1114516270
Except from the Book:



CHAPTER ONESHADOW PUPPETSConner Dell didn’t mean to blow up the school bus. Or the bathrooms. In fact, he only wanted to go to sleep and possibly dream about Melanie Stephens. But explosions had a funny way of happening when Conner and his friends were around. It all started on the annual seventh grade science trip to the Sea Lab at Dauphin Island, Alabama. Fifty-four thirteen-year-olds on a five-day field trip. What could go wrong?Especially when three of them happened to be Magi.#For a fraction of a second, Conner thought he saw shadows slithering along the base of the cinderblock walls. Tensing, he blinked and looked again. Nothing. He was alone in the darkness of his dorm room.Well, except for his friend and fieldtrip roommate, Pilaf.                Across the room, Pilaf disturbed the darkness by turning his flashlight on and digging through a giant floral print suitcase. Fishing a book out, Pilaf hunched over, tucked the flashlight under his chin, and read.                 “What are you reading?” Conner asked.                 “Sorry. Did I wake you up?” Pilaf squeaked. “I couldn’t sleep. I guess I slept too much on the bus.”                “No worries.” Conner burrowed into his sleeping bag. He didn’t like messing with sheets on these trips. The springs of the ancient bed creaked beneath him. “I’m not sleepy either.” Lexa? Can you hear me? Conner reached out in his thoughts, wondering if his twin sister was awake in her room on the girls’s floor. Head-talking was a cool benefit of being one of the Magi—a secret group of warriors who used the power of Light to battle evil. No answer from Lexa. Her allergy medicine must have knocked her out. Melanie? He tried Lexa’s best friend, Melanie Stephens—also one of the Magi-in-training. Conner listened for her response, trying to ignore the backflip in his chest that came when he thought of her. No answer. Melanie had taken something for motion sickness on the bus. She must be knocked out too.                Conner jerked up as something skittered across the ceiling right above him. No doubt this time. He grabbed his own flashlight, raking the beam across the ceiling tiles as someone whispered his name.Coooonnerrrrrr.                 “What?” Conner pointed his flashlight at Pilaf, who looked up from his book, blinking behind his thick glasses. Pilaf’s blinks always reminded Conner of the way a light on a computer blinked when it processed data.                “What?” Pilaf squinted back at him.                “Why did you call me?” Conner asked.                “I didn’t.” Pilaf looked down at his book.                On edge now, Conner lay back down, scanning the room for more shadowy movement, his fingers ready to snap his flashlight back on at any second. Co-n-n-e-r-r-r-r-r-r D-e-l-l-l-l-l.                 A whispered, hissing sort of growl sounded in his head as a flicker of movement caught his eye. He whipped his head around in time to see a shadowy tail vanish under Pilaf’s bed. Flipping his flashlight on, he investigated the space under the metal frame. Nothing there.                “What are you doing, Conner?” Pilaf managed to blink and stare at the same time.Trying to protect you from slithery shadow monsters that could slurp your soul like a slushie, Conner thought. How could he keep the flashlight on without alarming Pilaf? Out loud, he said, “Uh, it’s a game. Flashlight tag. You’re it.” He shined the flashlight at Pilaf.                 “How do you play?”                “Well . . . one person’s it and he shines a flashlight all over the room.”                “That’s all?” Pilaf blinked until Conner wondered if he was broadcasting the telephone book in Morse code. “It seems kind of pointless.”                “Uh, yeah.” Conner said. “You’re right. Lame. How about shadow puppets?” He slipped his hand in front of the flashlight, wiggling his fingers until the shadow resembled a horse.                 “Cool!” Pilaf shouted.                 A knock at the door interrupted them and a tired-looking science teacher poked his head in, glaring beneath tousled red hair. “What’s going on in here?”                “Sorry, Mr. Keller,” Pilaf said. “We slept on the bus ride, so we’re not tired. Conner’s making shadows with his hands. Look, a horse!”“Neeeiiiiggghhh.” Conner threw in sound effects as a special feature.                Apparently unimpressed with great art, Mr. Keller frowned. “Get some sleep. We have a full day tomorrow.”                “Yes, sir.” Conner swallowed his depression at the thought of a five-day science class. Five days of plankton, ocean salinity, salt marshes, and beach ecology. Five days of science, 24/7. At least they were close to the beach. That might be fun.                “Do another one,” Pilaf whispered as the sound of Mr. Keller’s footsteps retreated down the hall.                 “Okay, but be quiet this time.” Conner opened his fingers, making a snake’s mouth, complete with a flickering tongue. It seemed so real that Conner thought he heard a hiss. Unsettled, he dropped his hands, but the hissing noise continued, twisting into words.Co-n-n-e-r-r-r-r-r-r D-e-l-l-l-l-l—Trying to squash the sound, Conner raised his voice. “Here’s another one.” He cupped his hands on top of each other, stuck his thumb up, and opened his fingers slightly. “Wow!” Pilaf yelled. “A wolf!” He giggled as Conner opened the mouth and growled. “Little pig, little pig let me come in.” Conner prayed that none of the other seventh-grade boys heard he’d been doing Three Little Pigs shadow plays. That would not be cool.Co-n-n-e-r-r-r-r-r-r D-e-l-l-l-l-l—The weird voice came louder. Conner dropped his hands away from the flashlight. The wolf head stayed there.Fighting panic, Conner switched the flashlight off, but the wolf head remained, darker than the darkest shadows on the wall. It stretched and grew bigger, becoming life-sized within seconds. It turned and stared at Conner, a three-dimensional head sticking out of the wall like some kind of freaky hunting souvenir. The wolf growled, then jumped off the wall, and sailed across the room toward Conner.

In-BeTWEEN

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.netTween: a word we are hearing more and more. But what exactly is a Tween? A tween is a boy or girl between the ages of 9-13. Kids during these years are in the in-between—they are no longer little kids but not quite adolescent.  If we were referring to a girl who is a tween we might say, “She is too big for toys but too little for boys.”

Just as we have a book market for adults, young adults, and children, we also have a book market for tweens. The genre is also called middle-grade. Tweens are in the “in-between”, looking for books that are introducing adult concepts but in a friendly way. 
According to Barnes & Noble the top of the bestsellers list in Tween’s fiction are: Harry Potter, Maniac Magee, and Percy Jackson. Each of these books contains a lead character that is within the same age group, normally about twelve, who tweens can relate with. 
Harry Potteris in the in-between. He is a wizard boy, raised in a non-magical world. One of his greatest challenges is fitting into both. As he grows in age, he grows to embrace one world over the other—much like tweens as they grow into adulthood. 
Jeffrey Lionel, "Maniac" Magee, is a tween who has to overcome the difficult racism—all adult concepts but taught in a friendly way.  challenge of losing his parents, running away, and encountering

Percy Jackson, like Harry Potter has to find his place in-between two different worlds. Percy also introduces the concept of love to tweens. As he gets older, Percy gains a fondness for his friend Annabeth, who becomes his girlfriend. Love is a huge concept in tween books. 
Tween books are bridges to help tween cross over. To help them find their way out of the in-between. These books help tweens embrace themselves and help them find their identity in a world full of loud voices. I am proud to be a part of such a wonderful genre for kids. 
For more facts on tween literature including a list of fun books visit: http://emblazoners.wordpress.com/

Only Two Days Left!

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How to Write a First Chapter Worthy of a Bidding War

A while back I had the opportunity to hear Jennifer A. Nielsen teach a class on writing middle-grade books. During her instruction she shared a little about her book The False Prince and how it made every author’s dream: it got into a bidding war with publishers. Nielsen said what made the publishers so interested in this book was the opening chapter. Like any smart writer I immediately went out and got her book. I read it in about two days (which for me is amazingly fast). It was that good! The story was fresh and kept me turning page after page. However, the whole book is NOT what got Nielsen into a bidding war—it was the first chapter. So I went back and started pin pointing the things that made this chapter so compelling. Without spoiling this book for anyone who hasn’t read it I am going to try to give an analysis on some of the things Nielsen does to make a book worthy of a bidding war.
(Write the story in the correct POV.) Every story is different and not every book should be written in the save point of view. Nielsen chose to write The False Prince in 1stperson. I thought this was a bold move considering the secrets Sage keeps from the readers throughout the book—or does he?Reading back through its amazing how many clues Sage give the reader about what is to come in the first few chapters of the book.(Start with questions.) The first two sentences immediately start the book by posing questions in the readers mind. “If I had to do it all over again, I would not have chosen this life. Then again, I’m not sure I ever had a choice.”  Who is this? What life are they leading? What life did he leave behind? Did he have a choice? Who forced him into this situation? These are questions that readers take on. Instantly we want to read more because we want answers.(Don’t start slow—start with action or suspense.) Next the reader finds themselves in a chase scene. Sage has stolen a roast and is being pursued by a meat cleaver wielding butcher. We learn that 1. Sage is hungry, 2. He is an orphan, and 3. He is a thief. The chase scene lasts a whopping four paragraphs before Sage is caught. It’s fast. (Show more character and pose more questions.) When Sage is caught, a nobleman gets him off the hook by paying for the roast. Sage is forced to follow the nobleman to the orphanage where we have a brief conversation with the caretaker, Mrs. Turbeldy. We learn that the nobleman is named Bevin Connor. We also learn that Sage wasn’t stealing this roast just for himself—he is trying to feed the other boys at the orphanage, so he is willing to risk his neck for others. Then the questions start in the readers mind. Who is Bevin Connor? What does he want with an orphan boy?  Who is Sage? (Give more information about the main character.) Nielsen chooses to do this by Connor giving an interrogation of Sage (which also poses the question in the readers mind: who is Connor looking for?). Sage is identified as being illiterate, no good with a sword, a thief, and a liar. We also learn that Sage is snarky and has authority issues. As readers we like this kid! (Create more questions and end the chapter on a cliff hanger.) Next Connor tells Sage to get his things. Mrs. Turbeldy says he’s been bought and paid for. You get another hint at Sages character as he alludes to the fact he can’t be owned by anyone. Good, so Sage is a freedom fighter too—all the more reason to like him. When Sage doesn’t come willingly, Connor’s men knock him out. Nielsen ends the chapter with Sage being taken away into the unknown by a complete strange not opposed to violence.  Add this chapter to the fantastic hook Nielsen has and you have a book worthy of an agent or publishers interest. “An orphan is forced into a twisted game with deadly stakes. Choose to lie...or choose to die.” And that’s how you write a killer fist chapter. Let’s review just the bullets here: Have the right POV. Start with questions about your main character. Speed it up—don’t start slow. Create a character easily related to that shows us good characteristics. Pose more questions. End on a page turner or cliff hanger.

If you haven’t read The False Prince I invite you to go out and get the book. It is well worth your time and you will NOT be disappointed. I can’t tell you enough about how much I love this book. It will keep you turning pages and surprise you with the way it ends. Try to craft an opening chapter using the key elements I have found in the first chapter of this book. Not every story is going to be the same and not every story should start the same, but they should all start RIGHT.
Where to find The False Prince: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0545284147 and pick up its sequel The Runaway King: www.amazon.com/dp/0545284155/  

 

Books for Gwen

A dear friend of mine, who is 14-years-old, is undergoing a bone marrow transplant. She will be in quarantine for 6 months. She loves to read. I thought if I could get some authors or readers to donate books to her it would be awesome. I know she’d love it. Unfortunately she is NOT into eBooks. She reads CLEAN middle-Grade and YA books.
If you are interested in donating a PRINT book to her please let me know here by making a comment, or email me at insidemikeysworld@gmail.com. I will get back to you on how to send her the books directly or send them to me to have delivered along with gift baskets. Thank you all so much!

Dont forget about EMBLAZON!

Emblazon is a BRAND NEW website
that celebrates tween literature. If you are a writer or fan of Middle-Grade and Teen books than this is a site for you!To celebrate the Emblazon launch there is a GIVEAWAY going on now until July 23rd. You wont want to miss out on entering to win some of these fantastic books!! Click on the picture above to Enter

A Four-Author Book Signing!

A Four-Author Book Signing!
Juli Caldwell, Wendy Knight,Shantal Hiatt Session, and Mercedes M. Yardley will be signing their books!

Eccles Community Art CenterSaturday, July 132580 Jefferson Avenue
Ogden, UT 844013:30-5:30
Come and meet the authors! 
There will be treats and prizes.

Emblazoners Launch

The new site for Tweens launches this week! EMBLAZON
To celebrate we are 
giving away lots of tween books!


a Rafflecopter giveaway