C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 49
May 2, 2018
#BookADayMay for 2018
30 Days, 30 Books. This is a fun challenge I put to myself last year. Let’s try it again for 2018! My goal is to read a book a day (middle grade, of course) in May. I’ll update this calendar throughout the month. Or watch for daily tweets on @Elymnifoquent …
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April 30, 2018
BYWAYS: Jovan Johns
Jovan Johns. He’s not one of the three brothers in the race. He’s their second cousin (their dad’s uncle’s grandson) and Zane’s best (and only) friend. Musical and bookish, Jovan bears a strong resemblance to the rest of the Johns family.
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April 23, 2018
BYWAYS: Omnibus Editions
For your Bookshelf. Nothing encourages kids to read and reread a series like having copies on your home bookshelves. The award-winning Byways Books are available as both paperbacks and hardcover library editions. (Contact CJ via email if you’re interested in ordering author-signed copies.)
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April 9, 2018
BYWAYS: Illustrations
Every one of the Byways Books includes beautiful full-color art by my illustrator, Hannah Christenson. Here’s a sampling from Book #13, Among the Tents: A Ganix Johns Adventure.
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March 27, 2018
#amreading Adventurously
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Tommy Black and the Staff of Light has a historical setting (WWII) and involves the dwindling strength of mages worldwide. The Case of the Left-Handed Lady is the second Enola Holmes mystery (and is just as good as the first). Outlaw Princess of Sherwood brings a new facet to the story of Rowan Hood’s outlaw band.
March 26, 2018
BYWAYS: Laurel Johns
“Were you checking on your couriers?”
“I do like to keep an eye on things.” Ian was the founder of all of Liberty’s post offices. His couriers delivered letters and packages throughout the land. As often as he could, he flew far and wide to visit them.
Laurel laughed. “Liberty’s couriers watch the sky, checking to see if the Postmaster is watching.”
“My friends love it when I drop in for a chat!”
“You’re lucky Uncle Vanek keeps things running smoothly around here whenever your wings are restl...
March 20, 2018
#amreading Riffs & Remixes
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Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave is a clever contemporary mystery that will surely appeal to lovers of the Bard. The Broken Realm is the third installment in the Saga of Roland Innes (King Richard, Prince John, and Robin Hood, oh my!) And Lionclaw is the second book in the Rowan Hood series (which includes both a bard and Robin Hood! Go figure).
March 17, 2018
BYWAYS: Thirteen Colonies
Did you know that the first thirteen Byways Books cover America’s first thirteen colonies? Each is represented (in ratification order) with facts woven through the storyline—cities, landmarks, icons, and claims to fame.
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March 13, 2018
#amreading: Historical Settings
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The Case of the Missing Marquess kicks off a (new to me) favorite series starring the much younger sister of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. (I blitzed through all six volumes of the Enola Holmes series in record time.) Beastly Bones is the second of the Jackaby novels, with another fantastical case. And Rowan Hood is the first in the 5-book series about the daughter of Robin Hood.
March 12, 2018
BYWAYS: Behind the Header
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I’m offering readers a peek behind the Byways header. On a related note, do you recognize the four creatures it features? From top left, circling clockwise, they are a unicorn, a griffin, a dragon, and a phoenix. The topmost animal changes out from book to book. In this case, we have an eagle, representative of Ian Johns, who can Change into a golden eagle.
Today, I’m offering a peek at purple mountain majesty from Hannah Christenson’s cover illustration for Byways Book #2, Aboard the Train...
