Sunday, July 7, 2013

'Guide Doggie: Learn How Guide Dogs Help the Blind' by Daniel Saynuk

 

From the book jacket:

This fun and unique coloring book is a great way to introduce children to the world of a guide dog. Help educate your child while they have fun with Guide Doggie! Meet Guide Doggie when he is a puppy, then follow him on his adventures during guide dog training. Learn what a guide dog does during the day, including the chores he completes for his handlers in order to keep Guide Doggie ready to serve. Your child will learn how guide dogs help the blind live more independently, and how dogs can be heroes too! With narration of the book done by a guide dog each page is a fun an educational adventure for all ages. Your child can color the pages, making it an interactive as well as educational learning experience. Fill in the blank pages let your child get involved in telling the story, and fun bonus games including a word search, crossword puzzle and, word jumbles based on the story will help your child remember what they learned!

"...very entertaining book for a child to work through as well as provide valuable information concerning the duties of a guide dog and their benefit to someone who is blind." -Readers Favorite

Buy the coloring book on Amazon!

Also available on CreateSpace

Also available are the accompanying picture ebook and printed picture book!
 
About the Author:

Legally blind writer Daniel Saynuk has a special fondness for guide dogs. His own beloved guide dog helps him more easily live his life in his home town of Baltimore, Maryland. Daniel began writing stories while pursuing his Business Administration degree, and established his own company to bring this book to life. He is passionate about educating others about the valuable services guide dogs provide to the visually impaired.

Visit his website at http://danielsaynuk.com

Friday, June 28, 2013

Cover Reveal! 'Uh-Oh...We turned our brother into a Zombie?' by K.B. Miller

Coming soon!

A new children's book series from Amazon bestselling author K.B. Miller


Blurb:

Witches, Magic, and Zombies, oh my! 

That's what's in store for Abby, Kenzie and Caleb Stewart when one of them checks out a mysterious book out of the library on Halloween.

As the magic spells fly from the book, an evil witch is released and Caleb is turned into his Halloween costume...a Zombie.

This Halloween will be a whole new adventure for Abby, Kenzie and Caleb Stewart. Will Abby and Hannah be able to reverse the mixed up spell? Or, will their little brother be a zombie forever?

Spooky fun and adventure is on its way in 'Uh-Oh, We turned our brother into a ...Zombie?'

Available soon at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

Visit author K.B. Miller's page for her kids books on Facebook! 


Monday, June 17, 2013

'Charity and the Fae' by Mandy Austin Cook


Charity is finally old enough to go to Camp Gertrude with the Feather Helper Girls for the very first time. When two girls make fun of her, Charity seeks solitude in a favorite hiking spot. Yet she does not find solitude in this adventure. What Charity doesn't know is that all of the rumors about Faery Falls are true.

~~Buy links: Lulu \ Amazon~~

About the Author

Mandy Austin Cook is a Young Adult Fantasy Chapter Book Author. Also a children's drama and music instructor for ages K-12, Mandy has entertained many young imaginations over the years with her storytelling. She has two books out currently, A Green Ghost Tale and Charity and the Fae.

Visit her website for even more chapter books!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

'Reversing Worlds' Trilogy by J.T. Brown



The Legend of Harper and the Reversing Worlds,
The Reversing Worlds Trilogy One
J.T. Brown

Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal for middle grade – young adult

ISBN: 978-1467955409
ASIN: B004Z9G6D2

Word count: 43,328

Cover Artist: J.T. Brown’s Cover Magic


Book Description:

Harper Grogen has no idea that she is the most powerful creature in Pasmaqon. She recognizes that she is different from other eleven year olds; maybe a little quirky, but magical was not in her self-description.

Her inquisitive notion drove her to an old tattered book which held a mysterious stone. Struggling to open the clasp, releasing the stone as, it radiates a glow across her room.

She kept the rock in her pocket for secrecy.

Her possession of the stone sent her to a world, which had been hidden under the ocean's fire tornado of “'Reversing Falls.”

She found herself fighting for her life in a land that is its own worst compelling character, not knowing who to trust, only the estranged friends that she meets along the way. Oliver, which holds his cover as a trustworthy gnome, and Minsty, a large gentle giant that protects her from the dark creatures, who roam and strip the lands with their ghostly evil presence.

She discovers that her adventure holds the key of eternity. She learns her existence is a true mystery that sings along the pages of her ancestor’s mysterious book.

Read an excerpt:
The History of the Lost
World of Pasmaqon,Created 1854
A large house sat at the edge of “The Denny’s River," near where the river met the ocean. A house, called “The Inn” by locals, sheltered many guests over the years. Caroleen, a young lady in the midst of her adolescence had a habit of listening in on the town’s people’s tales and beliefs about “The Reversing Falls." It was considered a deceptively secret retreat where the ocean currents formed a phenomenal whirling of the tides, which began and ended at the ocean's floor. Some said, the strong tides contained many secrets of a Lost World; others said it was a place of tragedy and a place where evil hid. All agreed “The Falls” was a thrilling mystery.
Caroleen was intrigued with all of the town people’s stories. Most days Caroleen found herself resting along the shores of the ocean after a long day of hard work. She would escape by writing down her imaginable thoughts in her numerous journals. She found comfort by the ocean, and imagined triumphant lands in her mind. She envisioned the lands hidden below the sea's floor, under “The Reversing Falls.” She pictured all of the different characters in her mind that might live in the mysterious world. She drew maps and diagrams of the secret world. She visualized the spectacular place, which she called the land of Pasmaqon. Although, Pasmaqon was its own worst compelling character, and seemed to haunt her through the whispers of the water’s surface.
Her imagination stretched across the pages, and she filled many journals, including a particular journal, that she discovered in one of the rooms at the inn. The journal held a peculiar clasp and was filled with blank pages. In this journal, she wrote all of her most imaginative secrets of the lost world.
She chose not to tell anyone of her imaginable endeavors; knowing her parents would assign more work, to keep her from her crazed thoughts. Daydreaming was what helped her survive the long hours, and the many faces that she daily met. Sometimes she thought her characters appeared to her in her dreams. She began to believe that her stories had grown into a reality. The characters often visited her through the water’s edge, eager to tell her the true mysteries of Pasmaqon.
On the afternoon of January 24, 1854, a winter storm claimed the lands. The snow accumulated and quickly concealed the inn, blending in with the river’s edge.
Caroleen pulled on her high boots, wrapped her heavy dress through her legs, and tucked the bulky edges into her belt. She put on her hat and mittens and grabbed a bag of birdseed on her way out the door. She fed the birds that chose to fight though the harsh winter day. She made her way through the mountains of snow, trying to find the bird feeder that once stood in the middle of their lawn.
Caroleen could hear voices coming from the river’s edge. “Miss Caroleen, we need your help; we are in danger.” The voices screamed through the stormy air around her. Caroleen made her way through the snow to the river, hoping she would make sense of the voices.
“Miss Caroleen, we need you," a small voice whispered. "There is no time.” The voice grew, hazily through the air, which seemed to come from the glassy ice that topped the river. Caroleen climbed through the snow, making it to the river’s edge. She braced herself over the snow-protected ice. She cleared away the snow and cupped her hands to look inside the glass-like ice covering the chilled water. She strained her eyes; she thought she had seen an image of some sort. What looked like a face, worked its way closer to the surface. She wiggled her body across the ice in hopes of getting a better look.
Just then, the ice cracked around her, she tried to frantically maneuver back towards the snow bank for safety, but it was too late. The surface gave way and sent her in the cold waters below. The current of the ocean claimed her as its’ own.
The years passed, her family and the town’s people gave up, and lost hope in ever finding Caroleen Grogen. Her disappearance was a true mystery; some wondered if the heavy currents of Reversing Falls had taken her forever.
The only memories she left behind, were her journals of Pasmaqon. Caroleen had kept them all in the bottom of her hope chest. Since then, the chest had been handed down through the generations. Eventually, the journals were covered with memorabilia from new generations.
Nobody took an interest in the journals or even ventured to find out about the secrets that danced along the pages. Caroleen's stories remain a mystery because they have never been read...


Tide’s Ghost of the Reversing Worlds,
The Reversing Worlds Trilogy Two
Part I
J.T. Brown

Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal for middle grade – young adult

ISBN: 978-1467960120
ASIN: B0061591QM

Word count: 29,983

Cover Artist: J.T. Brown’s Cover Magic


Book Description:

The words whisper along the pages of the old tattered book showing its deceitful powers, only to harm what is in its path to Harper’s treasures. Harper has learned the secrets of Pasmaqon and has grown into her powerful magical being which is her strongest power of all. She is prepared to fight the villains of Pasmaqon, yet she is not prepared to fight her past villains that chose to find the only leak to the powerful lands beyond.

Harper is about to sacrifice her life in a battle of the unknown as, she protects who she thought she would never consider as equals. She realizes the battle is non-other without their help. Wizard of Tide’s power has grown stronger, uncovering the secrets of Pasmaqon. To use his new found freedom to destroy the worlds around them. Harper discovers an old friend that carries the secrets of the book and the world. She unfolds the meaning that she longed to find, only to discover the darkness pulls her into a whirlwind of her own worst fears.





War of the Reversing Worlds,
The Reversing Worlds Trilogy Two, Part II
J.T. Brown

Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal for middle grade – young adult

Cover Artist: J.T. Brown’s Cover Magic

Book Description:

Harper needs to find her warrior within, and face not only Tide’s Ghost, the darkness, but Wizard Argon. Who has stripped the land of Pasmaqon of its beauty and its power, only to strengthen his own land of Thurrobia.

Nothing has been left behind – only ghost spirits that had surrendered themselves to the powerful force of Wizard Argon. Pasmaqon is left powerless with only the spirits of the past.

The mysteries bleed its phenomenon off from the pages of Mystical Book, as the terror and the ghost dance with the mysterious tune. That sends Harper into a whirl wind spin tossing her to learn the truth behind the cover of the storm.

Is war the only answer?

But…..How can you fight something that is already dead, how can you weaken the weak, and how can you save a land that has already in silence.

Harper can now trust no one or anything, for she may never know who is watching from behind. Harper’s powers mean nothing to the unseen.
 


About the Author :
J.T. Brown is a paranormal fantasy/science fiction author, who lives in Downeast, Maine. J.T. has always been drawn to the ocean, maybe because she spent most of her days on her father’s lobster boat as a child, or maybe it’s the phenomenon that shakes her cage daily. The Reversing Falls, which sits on the coast of Maine has always sang its mysteries across the twisting currents of the ocean, but for J.T. that song has always been a tale, waiting to bleed its story across the pages of “The Reversing World’s Trilogy.”





Giveaways

Giveaway- once JT receive 300 likes on her facebook page she is giving away a prize pack 



Tour wide Giveaway open to US Shipping

1 print set of all 3 books of the Trilogy

2 print copies of Book One

2 print copies of book 2

2 print copies of book 3

8 swag prize packs with keychain and bookmark

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

'Land of Nebra: Their New Home' by Cheecowah Jack


Atlantis and Lemuria are at war again. Two sets of twins needs to learn how to survive using their wits and magic with the help of Mayan elders.

Book blurb from Amazon:

This is young adult fantasy, which is blended with indigenous stories. It is infused with magickal creatures and mystery.

This story is a magickal adventure into the past when people could talk to the animals, trees and all of nature. You will find new ways to see the world.

35,000 years ago the island of Lemuria and the island of Atlantis were at war again. 

The Earth Changes spoken about in the worlds pre-history are about to happen. 

Our heroes are 2 families youngest children who are both twins.
The children with the help of their teachers do incredible things. This adventure is like nothing you have seen or read before. 

If you can let your imagination run free you will enjoy this story and perhaps even try to hear the animals reply when you say hi. 

Listen to an excerpt:
  


~~Visit the website for Land of Nebra~~



~~Buy it on Amazon~~

Saturday, May 18, 2013

'A Green Ghost Tale' by Mandy Austin Cook


Something that had been hiding under Johnny's bed runs past him, stealing his baseball bat and glove. Since those are two of Johnny's most prized possessions, this means war. After careful investigation with a flashlight, he discovers a frightened creature in the attic. The baseball thief is a little green ghost named Peanut. Who would have thought that a ghost would be afraid of a human?


~~Preview the first chapter and purchase a copy here.~~


Mandy Austin Cook is a children's drama and voice instructor in Atlanta GA. "A Green Ghost Tale" is a compilation of stories that she told to her little sister and younger cousins on stormy nights when they were afraid of the dark. The stories were put into book form so that they could continue to be shared with her niece, nephew, and generations to come.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

'How Not to Train a Zombie' by Annie Rachel Cole Blurb Blitz Tour



HOW NOT TO TRAIN A ZOMBIE!!
by Annie Rachel Cole

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

How does a thirteen-year old become the most popular kid in 8th grade? He trains a zombie to be a pet... And that's exactly what Max Taylor plans to do, even if he had to lie, steal, and lose his best friend in the process.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Read an excerpt:
Max walked over to the table in the back of the room where Eddy sat, put his backpack on the floor, and plopped down in the empty chair.

Eddy looked up from the science book, shook his head, and went back to reading.

“What are you reading?” asked Max.

Eddy ignored the question and kept reading.

Max rolled his eyes. “I’ve got a really cool idea for a science project.”

“I’ve already got a project.”

“But you haven’t even heard what my idea is.”

Eddy looked up from the science book. “If it has anything to do with zombies, I don’t want to hear it. That’s all I’ve heard about since dad spoke at Career Day.” He turned his attention back to the book.

Max bit his lip. “Then you’ll like my idea, because it has nothing to do with zombies.” He put on his best smile. The same smile he used when he was trying to convince his mom he wasn’t up to something.

Eddy closed the book and sighed. “And what is your idea?” He turned and looked at Max, not at all convinced that Max’s idea had nothing to do with zombies.

“I was thinking that we could—that could—”

“That we could what? Try to train a zombie or something as equally stupid or dangerous?” asked Eddy.

Max glanced at the posters covering the wall. His eyes stopped on the poster depicting the solar system.

“Well?” asked Eddy.

“I was thinking we could do something with the solar system.”

“The solar system?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buy links: Amazon \ Barnes & Noble

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I live in Texas with my husband, son, and two cats who think they run the place. I read, write, play Texas Hold’em poker (I'm actually part of a local league), and occasionally I compete in BBQ competitions with my husband. Our team name is Outcast Cookers. I also teach in a public school.

My likes include: a wide variety of music (see my play list for book 2 on my blog), Star Trek (My son got me a signed picture of Patrick Stewart which sits on my desk.), Star Wars, Grimm (TV series), winter (though we don’t have snow), the holiday season, coffee, hot tea (with cream and sweetener), pizza (no anchovies though), puzzles, Edgar Allan Poe, Ray Bradbury, and JK Rowling.





The author will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  Follow the tour for more chances to win!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Chinese Heritage Tales by Camille Picott

Chinese Heritage Tale Tour
by Camille Picott

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Raggedy Chan (novelette)

Emma Chan-McDougal receives a special gift from her Auntie Gracie: a rag doll named Raggedy Chan. But Raggedy Chan is no ordinary doll. She is a beautiful Chinese princess who lives in a jasper palace on the enchanted isle of Kunlun. The peace of her island home is threatened when Drought Fury steals Winged Dragon, bringer of rain. Without Winged Dragon, Kunlun will wither and die.

To save her stricken homeland, Raggedy Chan sets forth alone. Her quest leads her to America, where she meets people who distrust her because she’s different. Can Raggedy Chan adapt to the strange ways of this new land and rescue her beloved dragon?

In this modern fairy tale, Chinese-American author Camille Picott draws on her heritage to weave a story of magic, adventure, and sacrifice.

Read an excerpt:

“What do you have in there?” Emma eyed the large canvas bag hanging from Auntie Gracie’s shoulder.

Auntie Gracie smiled. “I show you. Come sit on couch.”

Emma scrambled up, pulling the red-haired rag doll into her lap. Auntie Gracie sat beside her, picking up the doll.

“This your favorite toy?”

“It’s from Grandma McDougal,” Emma said. “She had a raggedy doll just like this one when she was a little girl.”

Auntie Gracie pursed her lips and placed the doll on the coffee table. She reached into the canvas bag and pulled out a new rag doll. The yarn pigtails hung long and black. She wore a bright red dress and a white smock. Her black eyes, stitched of thread, had a distinct almond shape.

“She for you.” Auntie Gracie plopped the new doll into Emma’s lap. “Her name Raggedy Chan.”

“Raggedy Chan?” Emma burst into giggles, hugging the doll to her chest. “Wasn’t that Mommy’s last name before she married Daddy?”

Auntie Gracie nodded. “You like her?”

“I love her.”

“I tell you about Raggedy Chan. She from China, like me. You like to hear how she come to America?”

“Oh, yes, please.” Emma snuggled up next to Auntie Gracie, pulling a throw blanket over her legs. “I love stories.” She cuddled Raggedy Chan. Her other raggedy doll lay facedown and forgotten on the coffee table.

Auntie Gracie arranged part of the blanket over her own legs. “One time, far away, there mountain kingdom called Kunlun . . .”
Buy links: Amazon


Nine-Tail Fox (novella)

When fifth-grade Emma Chan-McDougal is ridiculed by her classmates for being part Chinese, she's devastated. To ease Emma's wounded self-esteem, her aunt, a Chinese immigrant, spins the mythical tale of a brave little Nine-Tail Fox named Ainu who lives in San Francisco.

In a parallel animal world that comes to life when humans slumber, Ainu Nine-Tail and her mother face off against Chih Yu, an ancient demon who feeds on hatred. As the last of their clan, the Nine-Tails are honor-bound by a family oath to defend the Chinese animals from the demon. When Chih Yu kills her mother and leads an angry mob against Chinatown, Ainu is left to complete the task alone. Raw with grief and only partially trained for battle, Ainu must reach deep inside herself to find the wisdom and courage to save her people.

Will the journey of Ainu Nine-Tail help Emma find the strength to confront the school bullies and win back her confidence?

In this modern Chinese fable, Chinese-American author Camille Picott draws on her heritage to weave a story of courage, truth, and adventure.


Read an excerpt:

A young nine-tail fox stood at the railing of a freighter steamship, white fur ruffling in the nighttime breeze. Her real name was Lang-Dao, which meant “bright leader,” but everyone called her Ainu. It was her mother’s nickname for her, meaning “sweet girl.”

Most of the humans on the ship slept in their bunks, leaving the deck swathed in silence and darkness. Hiding from those few humans still awake, Ainu and Mama Nine-Tail stood in the shadow of a big coiled rope.

The ship rode the ocean’s deep, even breaths. Ainu stared at the lights spangling the silhouetted city. The tall buildings yawned up at the sky like jagged teeth, seeming on the edge of violence.

The moon, three-quarters full, hung crookedly in the night. It shed light on a small island between the city and freighter. No plants grew on that mound of bronze-colored earth. Two long arms of land sprouted on either side of it. In the rippling light, those narrow peninsulas gave the island the appearance of having wings.

Studying that harsh landscape and, beyond it, the massive mainland city, Ainu shivered.

“San Francisco doesn’t look very welcoming,” she said, leaning against Mama.

“That is because Chih Yu is there,” Mama said. “He spreads his hatred for the Chinese among the American animals.”

“Which is why I must begin my training as soon as we get to shore,” Ainu said. She hoped she didn’t sound too eager. It wasn’t good to be excited when her fellow animals suffered. “So I can help protect the Chinese animals,” she added.

Mama nodded. “Master Zheng sent me word of events in America before we boarded,” she said. Master Zheng was Mama’s longtime friend. He sent her regular reports on Chih Yu’s activities in America. “We could very well find ourselves part of the greatest battle against Chih Yu since the time of the Yellow Emperor. Chih Yu has become corporeal, my daughter.”
Buy links: Amazon


**My thoughts**

I enjoyed reading this series. Folktales from other cultures have long fascinated me, because there are so many ways to tell similar stories. I love the Camille is sharing her cultural and family heritage by penning the stories that have been passed down in her family.
'Raggedy Chan' introduces young Emma to her Chinese heritage as she learns how to play Mahjong and to properly hold her chopsticks (both of which I have apparently been doing wrong all of these years, despite what I had learned). It also tells her the story behind her new doll, who is also struggling to find her way in a mixed culture with a mixed heritage. This story alternates between Emma's discussions with her auntie and Raggedy Chain's story, which shows how the two go together.

'Nine-Tail Fox' also features Emma at the beginning. She is struggling with a "Mean Girl" at school, who makes fun of her for being half-Chinese. She is distraught and turns to her auntie for advice. Auntie Gracie tells her the story of Ainu, the nine-tail fox, who must fight against the evil Chih-Yu. It is an epic tale with a message, that Emma takes with her when she returns to school and has to face her own enemies again. Emma is empowered to take on Melissa. While I don't like Emma being mean to Melissa to make her point, I think it shows that you can stand up to bullies and sometimes even work things out again. The focus of this book is on the fable as inspiration for life, as opposed to interspersed life lessons like in 'Raggedy Chan.' 

Both of these books are enjoyable for kids, as well as adults. You can learn a lot from them, no matter your heritage. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Camille Picott is a fifth-generation Chinese American. She writes science fiction and fantasy books with Asian characters and/or Asian settings. Camille grew up reading speculative fiction stories largely devoid of Asian characters and culture. This, coupled with a passion for her heritage, is the reason she strives to bring some aspect of Eastern myth, legend, culture, and ethnicity to all of her writings.



Twitter: https://twitter.com/camillepicott or @camillepicott



 Camille will be awarding an autographed Raggedy Chan bookmark to every commenter; a Chinese Heritage Tale illustration signed by the author and illustrator to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and a grand prize of a Limited Edition Raggedy Chan Doll to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. A choice of a Raggedy Chan doll or signed Chinese Heritage Tale print will be awarded to a randomly drawn host. (ALL ITEMS US ONLY) Follow the tour for more chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway