C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 82
April 3, 2015
Deuce, Chapter 11: Mush, Hush
Mush, Hush
Although both children waited for Vanora to attack, no other stone guardians approached their hiding place. Ulrica tugged Aurelius and pressed his head to her shoulder. “Sleep,” she demanded. “Or you’ll be worse than useless tomorrow.”
“Aye.” After a lengthy pause, he said, “A few hours will be enough. I’ll take the dawn watch.”
Ulrica grunted noncommittally, then pinched Aurelius when he tried to get comfortable. “Squirm all night, and I’ll pin your limbs to this limb with eve...
March 31, 2015
ART: Tupper [Galleries of Stone]
With Rimbles close on his heels, Tupper chose a roundabout way into the galleries, springing lightly down one set of stairs after another as he followed them into the heart of the mountain. He couldn’t have explained why he knew his master was in the deeper galleries. He just did.
Acting upon this certainty, Tupper jogged along a columned passage, lantern held high, key thumping against his chest in time with his heartbeat.
—excerpted from Galleries of Stone, Book 2: Harrow
Tupper Meadowswee...
March 30, 2015
BYWAYS: New Jersey
Every Byways book is a story, but it’s also a game. There’s an educational element to this series of kids chapter books. Details in each story are borrowed from its assigned state. (As in the United States of America.) Byways will work through all fifty in order of ratification, so Book #3 covers our third state—New Jersey. Sharp-eyed readers will spot cities and towns, icons and emblems, famous firsts and claims to fame. Hide and seek. Search and find. Fun and learning.
Let’s give a quick...
March 27, 2015
Deuce, Chapter 10: Wave, Wake
Wave, Wake
When Aurelius pulled Ulrica’s hand away from his mouth, she whispered, “Stay quiet.”
“But I know her.” Tilting his head to one side, Aurelius muttered, “I found her earlier, buried under a mass of creepers. She’s a statue.”
Ulrica was ready with a snide retort, but when he turned, fear glazed his golden eyes.
“That thing is made of stone,” he managed weakly. “As in rock.”
“Aye, lackwit. I can see that.” She calmly asked, “You pulled away the vines that hid her from the sky?”
Au...
FANART: Aurelius and Ulrica [Deuce]
Hey You. This past week, I received what one of my readers called a “quick little rough fanart thing.” I call it charming! Fanart is always a welcome surprise, and I’m tickled that the artist gave me permission to show hers off in a Show & Tell blog post. Thank you, Skylee!
Have you ever created some form of fanart for a story?
March 25, 2015
BYWAYS: A Peek at Book #5
“Girls, this is important,” Ewan said, talking fast. “The quickest way to reach Mister Nathan is if I carry both of you.”
“Two is too heavy,” Tamaqua said.
“Not if I Change.”
—excerpted from Byways Book #5: Inside the Tree
A Ewan Johns Adventure. I’ve been busy behind the scenes getting the next batch of Byways books ready for their May release. The fun part is definitely working with Hannah Christenson on cover illustrations. Today, I’ll share a sneak peek of an early sketch for the cover o...
March 24, 2015
BOOKS: Durham, Ehrlich, and Lloyd
Library Day. When I’m looking for books to read, I usually aim straight for the “middlegrade” section of my local library. I love (reading and writing) family-friendly adventures, so I reach for #kidlit. Here are the titles I chose this week. They’re in the To Read pile on my desk, and I’ve added them to my GoodReads account. Eventually, I’ll post my reviews here on the blog. : )
March 23, 2015
BYWAYS: Hometown Challenge [Australia]
International Support. The Byways books may key off of the fifty states as their threefold adventure unfolds, but that doesn’t mean the race is limited to American fans. Much to my delight, a bundle of international postcards arrived from a reader in Australia! The photographs of Armidale in New South Wales show several facets of the city she calls home. Take a look…
I’ll be dropping an EXCLUSIVE Hometown Challenge postcard in th...
March 22, 2015
Deuce, Chapter 9: Star, Stir
Star, Stir
Aurelius glanced between Ulrica’s face and the place she’d reserved for him. Surely not. From an early age, Pred were taught to stay on guard, and the list of people Aurelius wanted at his back was short. Only a fool gives away his trust, and it’s twicewise foolhardy to accept trust without an equal measure of suspicion. Yet this girl offered her arms.
“Will I be safe in my partner’s clutches?” he asked, only half joking.
“Safer than you would be on the ground.”
“According to yo...
March 19, 2015
CHIT-CHAT: Where’s My Editor?
Spotted in SCBWI. When I flipped through the latest issue of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators magazine, my attention was snagged by an article called “Where’s My Editor?” by Kim Childress. Why? Because she’s one of my editors for the Byways books!
A or An. To give you an idea of the kinds of conversations Kim and I enjoy, I’ll share an anecdote from last fall. As you may have noticed, the Byways books release in batches of three, one for each of the Johns brothers. Tha...
