The Best Read of the Summer!!

I have to start out by staying that I am a HUGE fan of Jennifer A Nielsen. Not only because she is a fantastic author (which she is!), but she IS also a compassionate, kind, and humble person. She is real! You can tell when she interacts with you. Jennifer has taken the time to discuss with me my own path in publishing. She knows my goals and my dreams and she doesn’t hesitate to encourage me onward up the mountain. A little over a month ago I saw her at a signing. She looked at me right in the eye and asked, “You feel how close you are, don’t you? Please don’t give up.” She didn’t know but I needed that. At times I feel I am so close to my dreams I can almost touch them, at other times it feels galaxies away. I am grateful for Jennifer to take the time and say that to me. It really boosted my confidence and helped me to move forward. I started querying again and I am very optimistic. I now know that if this book doesn’t get me an agent the next one will. Jennifer, I DO feel how close I am. I am ready to grab hold of that dream and stand firm on my summit. Thank you for spurring me along!

Another fantastic read that I have the opportunity to dive into this summer is The Mark of the Thief. If you’ve read Jennifer Nielsen’s Ascendance Trilogy and were blown away by the gripping-suspenseful-action-packed story as I was, then you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into with this one. I found myself flipping through page after page devouring the compelling words that told of Nicolas Calva’s heroic life. I really liked this book because it speaks to everyone’s heart. Many people are born into different situations, some worse than others, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay there. This book is a rite of passage for Nic, but it’s also one for the reader. You will feel better about yourself when you finish this book because you will be determined to choose to be the person YOU want to be and not the person circumstance placed you. I also feel this is a great book for a reluctant reader. They will immediately identify with the main character and his struggles. Because the chapters are short and page-turny, they will find themselves taken away to ancient Rome, bulla in hand, as Nic enters the arena to fight for his life.

Summary: A fantastical alternate history set in ancient Rome. Nicolas Calva and his sister are slaves in the mines outside of Rome. When Nic is forced to retrieve treasure from Julius Caesar's cave, he assumes he is going to his death. But inside the cave he finds a bulla, a magical amulet thought to have given Caesar great power, and takes it for himself. Suddenly, Nic is the most wanted fugitive in Rome. The emperor and a powerful general are after the amulet and they will kill Nic to get it. His only help is Aurelia, a plebian girl who is searching for her own family. With no one to trust and nowhere to hide, the protagonist must decide how he is going to save his sister and get out with his life. He doesn't want the bulla or the responsibility of the magic it contains, but if the magical object gets into the wrong hands, Rome will be at war and Nic will be at the center of it all.

Book 2, The Rise of the Wolf will hit bookstores February 2016 according to Jennifer's website: http://www.jennielsen.com/archives/1452  

Link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Thief-1/dp/0545561558/

The next book I am reading is The Thickety: The Whispering Tree, by J.A. White. I am sure this one will be just as creepy as the first book. Wish me luck that I don’t get nightmares!! 

Andy Smithson Book 3

Not Your Average Fantasy Series – Book Three Launches Today!

In the tradition of C.S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, author LRW Lee offers fantasy enthusiasts more than entertainment in the Andy Smithson series. Woven throughout her first two books, and with the launch of the third today, is a depth of meaning few authors today achieve. The planned seven-book series is a coming-of-age narrative of redemption about an overly ambitious prince who unscrupulously seizes the throne of the kingdom of Oomaldee from his older sister, Imogenia, plunging the land under a 500-year-old curse. As in all redemption stories, the offender, now king, is thwarted from restoring the kingdom by his own efforts and must rely on an unlikely candidate, an unextraordinary boy, Andy Smithson, to restore that which he most prizes.

For his part, Andy finds himself the chosen one to deliver this land having only his wits, experience as a gamer, a legendary sword and a magic key to rely on. Complicating his efforts, the king of Oomaldee’s northern neighbor, Abaddon, has committed to conquering the land, so in addition to breaking the curse, Andy must also overcome this evil monarch before true freedom exists.

LRW leverages symbolism extensively as she sets up tools and characters. A few examples: Andy’s sword, Methuselah (yes, think Biblical), is legendary in its dividing good and evil; the magic key unlocks (even stone statues) and reveals secrets; gold envelopes contain messages from an unknown eternal sovereign who knows the end from the beginning, and orchestrates events; purple (royal) message spheres (no beginning or end) trumpet messages from the king’s father from the afterlife, to name a few.

In keeping with traditional fantasy narratives, LRW also uses the numbers three, seven and twelve extensively. Three is considered the number of perfection, seven means security, safety and rest and twelve is the number of completion or a whole, perfect and harmonious unit.

Character names are also important in this series. Consider these: Andy, means brave or courageous. His best friend, Alden, means helper. Hannah, their female companion, means favor or grace. Others: Imogenia means blameless; Kaysan, the king, means administrator; Mermin, the wizard, is a parody on Merlin, and the list goes on.

LRW has also leverages the names of the books to imbue yet another layer of meaning, revealing Imogenia’s progress as she feeds her emotional hurt, moving from furious and venomous, to acting disgracefully, below the dignity of a royal. A tiny spoiler: as the series progresses, enthusiasts are sure to see this young woman evolve. Whether it will be for better or worse, LRW will not reveal.

If you are looking for a fantasy, adventure you and your children can sink their teeth into, I recommend LRW Lee’s Andy Smithson series. There’s far more here than meets the eye and it will give you much to ponder.

Just Released!

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure
Number of Pages: 252
Synopsis: Now twelve, Andy discovers more than he bargained for when his parents reveal his mom's past and he realizes she will die when he breaks the curse unless he intervenes.

Andy returns to Oomaldee to find its citizens on edge after many have been turned into vulture-people. Against this background, Andy and his company embark upon the next quest, to retrieve the horn of a unicorn. But not long into it, a seductive voice calls to Andy, tempting him to surrender the next ingredient in exchange for a promise to preserve his mom. Will he be able to stop the transformation of Oomaldee’s citizens? Will he jeopardize his ability to end the curse to save Mom?

Purchase Kindle and Paperback

The Buzz

"Sometimes, I just let the 5 star rating speak for itself. I can add nothing more." - Wayne Walker, Home School Book Review
 

“I loved reading Disgrace of the Unicorn's Honor as much as I enjoyed the first two in the series. In Book 3, new life changing truths are revealed, Andy and friends go on high adventures, meet new characters and continue to battle evil. I was not ready for the book to end. As usual, L.R.W. Lee leaves Andy in an interesting spot and the reader longing for the story to go on. Can't wait for Book 4!”  – Maggie T. Amazon Reviewer

"A long-lasting story that is part of one of my favorite series." - Erik Weibel, This Kid Reviews Books Blog (Erik is 13)

eBook 1, Andy Smithson: Blast of the Dragon’s Fury is FREE. Pick up a copy at Smashwords, Kobo, Google, B&N. You can also listen to the FREE podcast of Book 1 on iTunes. Book one is also available in paperback.

Book 2, Andy Smithson: Venom of the Serpent’s Cunning is available in Kindle and Paperback.

About the Author: L. R. W. Lee

L. R. W. Lee writes to teach her readers principles that can transform their lives – overcoming frustration, impatience, fear and more. She also shows why responsibility, diligence and dignity are the keys to true success in life. L. R. W. Lee lives in scenic Austin, TX with her husband, daughter and son.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Email

Cover Reveal: The Stone of Valhalla

I am very excited to show everyone the cover for my newest middle-grade fantasy-adventure novel: THE STONE OF VALHALLA. This book is very special to me because it is my very first book I ever wrote. Of course, I wrote it over 12 years ago and then totally revamped it this past summer. It was fun rewriting a book from start to finish. I think it turned out awesome. You wont have to wait too long to get your own copy. This book is slotted for release on March 31st (which happens to be me mum's birthday).

I will also be holding a blog tour for this book March 31st-April 5th. I have over 20 stops scheduled and there will be a rafflecoptor giveaway so you can win prizes for sharing the word about this fun book.

The following week, after the blog tour, I will be having a Facebook online launch party. There will be games and ways to win other great prizes, just for coming. That is scheduled for April 10th and will be hosted by Loving the Book Launch Party. 

Here's a little bit about my new book:

13-year-old Aaron was chosen to save their world, but it might come at the cost of losing his own…

Breaking into an old lady’s basement was supposed to reward Aaron with new friends. Instead he finds an enchanted amulet that transports him to another world—one at war with magic. Before he knows it, he is accused of witchcraft and invited to a bonfire—where he’s the main attraction. If that’s not bad enough, a goblin army shows up and toasts the town...literally. The good news: Aaron escapes being charbroiled. The bad news: the goblins are after him. They want his amulet and will stop at nothing to get it. Battling to find his way home, Aaron teams up with a not-so-magical-wizard and learns it’s his fate to destroy the amulet and save this new world. But is he willing to sacrifice his own?