Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Relatively Normal Secrets by C.W. Allen

 


It's time to go on a mystery adventure! Check out this excerpt from Relatively Normal Secrets by C.W. Allen to get a sneak peek inside before you get your own copy. Check out the rest of the tour, too, for even more and be sure to let the author know your thoughts along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!



Like most siblings, Tuesday and Zed don't always get along. Unlike most siblings, their arguments are over things like whether their parents are hiding a life of crime, or are simply the weirdest adults on the planet. When they decide to go on the hunt for some solid evidence, things get weirder than ever: two thugs with shape-shifting swords show up, their dog shows off some tricks she definitely didn't learn in obedience school, and even their treehouse turns out to be more than meets the eye.

Their escape leaves Zed and Tuesday stranded in a land where robots and holograms live alongside quaint medieval villagers and soldiers on horseback. Soldiers who insist their father is a disgraced fugitive, and their dog a legendary monster.

If they ever want to see their parents again, they'll have to learn to work together. After all, they've got a mysterious code to break, secrets to unlock, bandits and soldiers to outwit, and a rowdy dog whose antics are getting more outrageous by the minute. Even if they manage to evade the eerie secret police and uncover enough clues to figure out what's really going on, they're not sure they're going to like the truth.

Zed and Tuesday will have to decide who to trust and what really matters, or they'll never get back to normal (whatever that is.) Because when it comes to normal, everything is relative.


Read an excerpt:
Their father was fond of saying the dog had not managed to learn anything in the years that followed, but that was not strictly true. While it was true that she did not come when called or sit on command, the dog had in fact learned many tricks. Nyx had learned quite early on, for example, how to help herself to the contents of the refrigerator. No one was quite sure how an animal without thumbs was capable of opening a refrigerator door, since she had never been caught in the act, but an entire ham doesn’t simply get up and go for a stroll during the night, now does it?

Zed imagined some people would consider it normal to take a dog along to run errands—as long as the dog could fit comfortably inside a purse, that is, or at the very least wait patiently in the car. But Nyx was neither tiny, nor well-behaved and patient. She was, in fact, huge. Her bristly black fur and legs that seemed much too long for the rest of her frame made her look like a gigantic hairy spider. His mother spent nearly every moment in the dog’s company, and whenever she needed to go inside the grocery store, or post office, or other location where dogs are generally unwelcome, she brought Nyx along to wait in the car for her return. Nyx made use of this time by bouncing anxiously from seat to seat, smearing her nose on the windows.


Buy Links
(affiliate link included)


C.W. Allen is a Nebraskan by birth, a Texan by experience, a Hoosier by marriage, and a Utahn by geography. She knew she wanted to be a writer the moment she read The Westing Game at age twelve, but took a few detours along the way as a veterinary nurse, an appliance repair secretary, and a homeschool parent.

She recently settled in the high desert of rural Utah with her husband, their three children, and a noisy flock of orphaned ideas. Someday she will create literary homes for all of them. (The ideas, not her family.)

Relatively Normal Secrets (Cinnabar Moth Publishing, Fall 2021) is her debut novel. She writes fantasy novels for tweens, picture books for children, and short stories and poems for former children. Her work will appear in numerous anthologies in 2021. She is also a frequent guest presenter at writing conferences and club meetings, which helps her procrastinate knuckling down to any actual writing.

https://www.cwallenbooks.com/

https://twitter.com/cwallenbooks

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2983485.C_W_Allen


C. W. Allen will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

National Geographic Kids Shark-tastic Prize Pack #Giveaway Ends 9/1 @MarksvilleandMe



If you really want to get kids engaged in reading, I recommend the books from National Geographic Kids. They are full of so much information and amazing photographs. And how can you go wrong with sharks? Check out this amazing prize pack of six books for one lucky winner! Best of luck entering!


Affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I can earn a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!


Welcome to the National Geographic Kids Shark-tastic Prize Pack Giveaway! 

Hosted by MarksvilleandMe

Co-hosted by Reviews by Dennis

Sponsored by National Geographic Kids Books

This giveaway is part of our 2021 Back to School Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

One winner will recieve this 6 Book Collection from National Geographic Kids with an ARV of 71.00.


Check out this video featuring National Geographic Explorer Brian Skerry photographing Tiger Sharks. 


A little about the collection.

The Ultimate Book of Sharks (ages 9-12, hardcover, $19.99) by internationally acclaimed marine photographer and National Geographic Explorer Brian Skerry is an underwater adventure like no other.  With exclusive photographs and personal insight from Skerry, this book takes the reader below the surface and into the minds of these spectacular predators.  Beyond the feared fins and terrifying teeth, readers will learn what its like to swim with these amazing fish, how they live, what they eat, their superhero-like senses and better understand why these graceful, confident, perfectly sculpted predators are also vulnerable animals that we need to protect.  

NG Kids Sharks Sticker Activity Book  (ages 4-8, paperback, $6.99) Rule the ocean in this activity book from National Geographic Kids that features over 1,000 stickers! This boredom busting activity book is packed with mazes, spelling and pattern games, drawing activities, shark facts, and more. Shark-crazy kids are sure to love these pages loaded with fun, learning as they go.

Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean (ages 4-8, hardcover, $14.95 ) - An adorable animal reference that includes the sea's high-interest animals, such as dolphins, sharks, sea otters, and penguins, and introduces kids to some of its lesser-known creatures. More than 100 charming animal photos illustrate the profiles, with facts about the creatures' sizes, diets, homes, and more. This book will quickly become a favorite at storytime, bedtime, and any other time.

Extreme Ocean: Amazing Animals, High-Tech Gear, Record-Breaking Depths and Much More by National Geographic Explorer Sylvia A. Earle (ages 8-12, paperback, $12.99)  An action-packed combination of science and adventure, famed National Geographic Explorer Sylvia Earle leads readers on an in-depth tour of life beneath the waves. Come face-to-face with whales and sharks, learn about the newest and most hi-tech ocean gear and gadgets, experiment with hands-on activities, and join Earle as she recounts her most daring dives. Packed with fascinating tidbits, animal profiles, and up-to-date science, each chapter combines stunning photography with fun, accessible text. Perfect for curious kids, ocean lovers, young explorers, and the classroom. Extreme Ocean reveals the mystery, majesty, danger, and — above all --the importance of our ocean.

So Cool! Sharks (ages 3-7, hardcover, $6.99 ) - Sharks are among the world's top predators, but that's just ONE reason why they are SO COOL. So who wouldn't want to hang out with them to learn more! These books blend awesome animal photos with silly quips and info that will delight young readers and animal enthusiasts. For example, kids can catch the hunting habits of a great white shark while learning that its true nature is as chill as a frozen fish stick. This is the perfect little reader to get their brain buzzing and keep them laughing during their downtime.  

Weird But True!: Ocean (ages 8-12, paperback, $8.99) Dive into these fishy facts: Did you know that the prehistoric shark, megalodon, had jaws so big that it could swallow a car? Or that goats, pigs, dogs, cats, and even an alpaca have all learned how to surf? And if that's not weird enough for you, one man even rowed solo across the Pacific Ocean for 312 days!  In this book filled with 300 facts and pictures, you'll glimpse the ocean's weirdest wildlife, uncover shocking shipwrecks, and meet sensational seafarers, from pirates and sailors to ground-breaking marine scientists. Perfect for ocean enthusiasts and trivia-loving landlubbers alike!


 Open To US entrants and must be 18+ to enter

Giveaway Dates ~ 8/2 12:00AM EST through 9/1 11:59PM EST
MarksvilleandMe would like to wish all those who enter
Good Luck!

Disclosure: This giveaway/sweepstakes is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 12:00 AM (EST) 9/01/21. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to marksvilleandme@gmail.com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the RaffleCopter Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Pamela Marks at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.


Thursday, August 5, 2021

A Link Between Two Worlds by Gabriella Kiwaki

 


Welcome to the book tour for A Link Between Two Worlds, which is a French bilingual fantasy story! I would have been all over this as a kid, because I always loved reading stories in French as well as English. Even more impressive is the age of the author! Check out an excerpt and the author giving us a sneak peek into an upcoming book/series. Let her know what you think in the comments section! And be sure to follow the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!



Three book bilingual series

Book 1:
Two worlds, one goal. The story will all be revealed. Hey, my name's Alaura. In this story, I found out that there's a parallel universe to Earth's called Aliese. I also have a long-lost relative, my sister Alia. But not everything is as great as it seems; there're evil forces called the Gaulris out to destroy the worlds with their leader, Lord Zefron. My friends, my sister, and I must find a way to stop this force before they reunite the two parallel universes, which will be total destruction.

Deux mondes, un objectif, l'histoire va être révélée. Bonjour, mon nom c'est Alaura. Dans cette histoire, je découvre qu'il y a un univers parallèle à la planète Terre qui s'appelle Aliese. J'apprends aussi que j'ai une soeur, nommée Alia, perdue depuis longtemps. Mais tout n'est pas aussi beau qu'il n'y paraît, il y a également les forces du mal : les Gaulris et leur roi Zefron. C'est pourquoi mes amis, ma soeur et moi devons arrêter le roi Zefron avant qu'il ne réunisse les deux univers parallèles, ce qui serait une destruction totale.


Book 2:
The future is never a straight path.

Hey, my name is Alia. In this story my friends, my sister and I find out that we cannot destroy Lord Zefron because of his mechanism. We also find out the exact date that the parallel universe will merge. We later make it to Bartha's place. She has a solution to how we can stop the universes from reuniting. But with every good thing comes a price to pay. We collect a load of items to prepare ourselves for this mission. So, we need once again to find a way to save the galaxy before the total destruction caused by the parallel universes.

Le future n'est jamais un chemin droit.

Hey mon nom est Alia. Dans cette histoire mes amies, ma soeur et moi ont découvert que nous ne pouvons pas détruire Le roi Zefron à cause de son mécanisme.

On a aussi découvert la date exacte à laquelle les deux univers parallèles vont se réunir. Quand nous sommes arrivés au château de Bartha, Bartha avait une solution comment empêcher les deux univers parallèles de se réunir. Mais pour toute bonne chose il ya un prix à payer. Nous avons donc collectionné beaucoup d'objects pour préparer à cette mission. Une fois de plus mes amies, ma soeur et moi doivent trouver un moyen de sauver la galaxie avant que les univers parallèles causent une destruction totale.

Book 3:
A light in the darkness . . .

Hey, my name is Lily and in this volume the nightmare truly begins. So, I, Alia Reven, and the rest of the group finally prepare a plan to stop the two worlds from merging. We had everything planned out, or so we thought . . . When The Telepathies sisters did the spell of Senyria, they awakened a hidden dark force that is out to destroy the world, which goes by the name of the black mist, or Devoile. Friends get possessed, new worlds are unlocked, hidden mysteries are discovered, and, worst of all, our friends, the world and realms are all in danger, 'cause in this volume the nightmare begins!


Une lumière dans le noire . . .
Bonjour mon c'est Lily et dans cette tome le cauchemar a commencé. Alors moi, Alia, Reven et tout le rest du groupe ont finalement trouvé un plan pour arrêter les deux mondes de se reunir. Nous avons prevu chaque etape ou on pensait avoir . . . Quand les soeurs Telepathie ont fait le sortilège de Senyria, elles ont révélé une nouvelle force du mal qui s'appelle la brume noir ou Devoile. Nos amis deviennent possedés, deux nouveaux mondes se montrent, des secrets inconnu sont révélé mais la plus mauvaise. Nos amis, l'univers et tout le monde sont en danger car dans cette tome le cauchemar a . . . vraiment commencer!


Read an excerpt:

The story of how it all began

Alaura — Wow, where is this place?

Elesore: this is the kingdom of Aliese. Welcome.

Alaura and Reven: Wooooooooooooooooooow! Reven — This is like a dream but real, and wait, how are we still alive? We’re in space with no air! We could die any second.

Elesore — Aliese has its own air source, but only those who receive its magical essence can stay alive.

Alaura — Wait, so we have magical essences?

Elesore: Yes, Alaura. The princess has been waiting and searching for you ever since.

Alaura — What do you mean? I don’t even know her.

Elesore — Are you sure about that?

Reven (whispers) — Hey, Alaura, this is a really big change. An hour ago we were regular high school students, and now we have, umm, made-up magical powers or something.

Elesore — You know I can hear you, right?

Reven — Wait, how?

Elesore — You whisper really loudly and my magic allows me to, umm, hear your vibrations and voices.

Alaura — Cool, so what power do I have?



PURCHASE LINKS

Book 1: A Link Between Two Worlds / Un Lien Entre Deux Mondes : Volume 1 & 2



BOOKSHOP

INDIGO CHAPTERS

BARNES & NOBLE

BOOK DEPOSITORY

SMASHWORDS

APPLE BOOKS


Book 2: A Link Between Two Worlds / Un Lien Entre Deux Mondes : Together Forever / Ensemble Pour Toujours - Volume 3

AMAZON.COM

KINDLE

INDIGO CHAPTERS

BARNES & NOBLE

BOOK DEPOSITORY

RAKUTEN KOBO

SMASHWORDS

APPLE BOOKS


Book 3: Releasing soon - A Link Between Two Worlds / Un Lien Entre Deux Mondes : The Nightmare Begins/ Le Cauchemar Commence



Preview of an upcoming book/series:

Note: The information provided is not the title and some of this information doesn’t come from the book itself, it only describes it.


A darkness circled the land, attacking, absorbing and destroying...

If it was up to me, I would have changed this horrible destiny that lies ahead. Time has past since the light had won the war, as a darkness still roamed the land.

A witch with her servants casting a forbidden spell to bring back a goddess only known for her powers of darkness, was the only thing that she needed to have her revenge on the world.

The goddess didn’t want to do as she was told, she wanted to stop her fate before it was too late. With her purple hair, blue eyes that reflected the moon’s color and brown skin, she had an evil aura and dark powers. The witch that summoned her didn’t want the power to fall in other hands so she kept it a secret.

Evel: Listen to my voice, you shall forget all of this. Ever since the day we met you’ve been my servant; you had this incredible power you’ve been trying to master. Your name was…. Ila.

Ila: But I don’t want to forget…

The witch casted a spell that erased all memories of the goddess’s nature. Time had passed since the witch Evel casted the spell and Ila (the goddess), who had an everlasting life, stayed the same until she reached the age of 100,00 years old. As she grew older, she wondered what the real world was like.

Ila: I don’t get it! Ever since I came here you’ve always been holding me back! So, what’s your deal huh?

Asher: Look, it’s not my story to tell. Got that? Come on Ziris, Evel needs us.

Ziris: Coming.

The cruel witch with her evil servants wanted to stop Ila from figuring out her true destiny but that didn’t stop her. The goddess kept looking for answers and later knew about the true story behind it all with the help of some friends along the way. This time, it isn't the protagonist that saves the world from a danger. It’s the protagonist that tries to stop herself, for she is the danger to all humanity.

Everything she knew was a lie. Everyone she met kept secrets from her. As the days got closer and closer till Ila’s destiny is revealed, another page of the story opened as the struggle to learn the truth begins…


I am an eleven-year-old girl from Ontario, Canada. I speak both French and English. At the age of 11 I wrote my first book in a series called A Link Between Two Worlds. I like gymnastics, dancing, singing, swimming and drawing characters. I also love writing fantasy stories. One day I decided to write a story about a magic galaxy, friendship, hope, courage and fantasy.

Je suis une fille de 11 ans. Je viens de l'Ontario, Canada. Je parle le français et l'anglais. À l'âge de 11 ans, j'ai écrit le premier tome de la série Un lien entre deux mondes. J'adore chanter, nager et faire de la gymnastique. J'aime aussi dessiner des personnages et raconter des histoires originales et amusantes. Un jour, j'ai décidé d'écrire une histoire sur une galaxie où se mêlent magie, amitié, courage et de la fantaisie.

CONNECT WITH GABRIELLA

WEBSITE: https://authorgabriellakikwaki.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/alinkbetweentwoworlds

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabriellakikwaki/



Gabriella Kikwaki will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway