Cover Reveal for The W.H.O. Files: Potions in the Pizza

Exciting news! I am publishing another book!! This one will be coming out through Future House Publishing in October 2016, just in time for Halloween.

About The W.H.O. Files: Potions in the Pizza

10­-year-­old twins Ethan and Emmy’s parents have never told their kids what they do for a living. Then just before Halloween, while their parents are away on an emergency business trip, Ethan, Emmy, and their best friend Jax discover a HUGE secret: could the twins’ parents actually be . . . witch hunters?

Meanwhile at school, a new team of glamorous lunch ladies arrives on the scene, serving meals that taste way too good to come from a school cafeteria. There’s only one logical explanation: they’re witches, and the meals they serve are spiked with a dangerous potion! Why have witches come to Roosevelt Elementary? Where have Ethan and Emmy’s parents gone? Can it be a mere coincidence that their parents left just as the witches arrived? Whether they’re ready or not, Ethan and Emmy have only one option if they want to save their school and find their parents: become witch hunters themselves.

If you would like to be notified when Mikey’s book is published, join our Beta-readers list. If you would like to get an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a review of this book, contact Ryan Mendenhall (details below).

For booking school assemblies or classroom visits, media appearances, interviews, and/or book-signings contact Ami Johanson (ami AT futurehousepublishing.com). Contact Ryan Mendenhall (ryan AT futurehousepublishing.com) to request podcast appearances, guest blog posts or other digital promotional opportunities.

Spooky Summer Reading

I am really amazed at how much summer reading I have been able to get done this year. Normally it's just a few books here and there but I am seriously cruising through them. It helps that I listen to most of them on audiobook as I illustrate. Something I believe everyone should try at least once—audiobooks are so full of imagery and can really heighten the emotions. I'm still blazing through Protected, by Cindy M. Hogan, book 2 in the Watched series, and I just started reading The Hidden Kingdom, by R.K. Hinrichsen, with my girls. I'll let you know what I think of those soon.

The Thickety: The Whispering Trees, by J.A. White, is just as creepy-crawly as its predecessor, hands down! When Kara’s father becomes possessed by some deranged witch hunter from long ago she and her brother Taff are driven out of the village into the Thickety itself. There Kara comes face to face with Mary Kettle, a dark witch who used to boil children for magic, and if that’s not spooky enough, she meets the forest demon and his coven of followers. Some of the themes discussed in this book I believe are a little too dark for younger middle-grade readers but I think older tweens and teens would get a kick out of these creepy pages. I enjoyed this book just as much as the first book and I can hardly wait for book three to be released. YES! This book ends on a HUGE cliff hanger like in book 1. What I especially liked about this book was the redemptive qualities explored. This book begs the question: even if someone has committed the worst of crimes, can they find forgiveness from others? Can they be redeemed? It’s a very hopeful thought. Over all a super fun and spooky read!

Summary: After Kara Westfall's village turns on her for practicing witchcraft, she and her brother, Taff, flee to the one place they know they won't be followed: the Thickety. Only this time the Forest Demon, Sordyr, is intent on keeping them there. Sordyr is not the Thickety's only danger: unknown magic lurks behind every twist and shadow of the path. And then they discover Mary Kettle, an infamous witch with a horrifying past. She offers to lead them out of the Thickety while teaching Kara how to cast spells without a grimoire. The children are hesitant to trust her . . . but this could be their only chance to escape. Or the first step down a dark and wicked path.

Book three, The Thickety: Well of Witches, is expected for publication February 2016.Make sure you add it to your list on Goodreads so you don;t miss it when it hits the shelves.

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Thickety-Whispering-Trees-J-White/dp/0062257293/

Even More Summer Reading

Another great read this summer ... or maybe save it for the fall ...

The Thickety: A Path Begins

by J.A. White

This is a delightfully creepy tale of magic and greed. I feel some of the concepts in this book are a little dark for younger readers but older tweens, ages 11-12, might be able to handle it. I think adults would really enjoy reading it. It starts out very suspenseful as a girl named Kara’s mother is being hung for witchcraft and she is then accused of being a witch. You get the feel of the book from the very beginning. It’s haunting, suspenseful, and at times down right spooky—a perfect book for Halloween or just to put you in that special mood that comes only on that one night. It leaves off on quite the cliff hanger to make sure you have book two ready to go. Lucky for me, I do!

Synopsis:

When Kara Westfall was five years old, her mother was convicted of the worst of all crimes: witchcraft. Years later, Kara and her little brother, Taff, are still shunned by the people of their village, who believe that nothing is more evil than magic…except, perhaps, the mysterious forest that covers nearly the entire island. It has many names, this place. Sometimes it is called the Dark Wood, or Sordyr's Realm. But mostly it's called the Thickety.

The villagers live in fear of the Thickety and the terrible creatures that live there. But when an unusual bird lures Kara into the forbidden forest, she discovers a strange book with unspeakable powers. A book that might have belonged to her mother.

And that is just the beginning of the story.

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Thickety-Path-Begins-J-White/dp/0062257234

Cover Reveal: CASE FILE 13

The cover that the Whitney award finalist, Author J. Scott Savage revealed to us on Tuesday was amazing, right? (Click here if you didn't get to see it!) Well, today we have cover to share with you from his other amazing YA series, Case File 13. If you haven't had the opportunity to READ THIS SERIES you should. It is one of those books that can be enjoyed by either kids or adults. For me it brought back memories of my own childhood and the kind of movies I liked to enjoy, The Monster Squad and Goonies. You'll find yourself laughing out loud and turning pages--just waiting to see what happens next. Overall these are amazing books! A wicked Halloween treat!

First, for those of you who didn't get to see his author bio on Tuesday, lets help you guys get to know the man behind the amazing books real quick!

Author Bio:

J. Scott Savage has returned after being lost in a Mexican rain forest. His office is now filled with Mayan scrolls, hieroglyphics, artifacts, and star charts. His children and children-in-law, Big Nick, Erica, Scott, Natalie, Jake, and Little Nick, look pale, and claim to be cursed. His grandchildren, Gray, Lizzie, and Jack, are heavily wrapped in mummy-like bandages. And his wife, Jennifer, has reportedly been seen glowing green and hexing the neighbors.

You can visit him on his blog jscottsavage.blogspot.com or on Twitter @jscottsavage.

Praise for Case File 13 Zombie Kid (Book 1 in the series):

An Amazon Best Book of the Month 

A Whitney Award Finalist

“Sure to please young readers looking for a thrill. It’s hard to imagine that readers (particularly boys) won’t enjoy every minute of hair-raising fun.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review.

“With its mix of creepy chills and laugh-out-loud humor, Zombie Kid is the perfect book. Nick and his friends are my new favorite people.” —James Dashner, New York Times bestselling author of The Maze.

Now about the book that this absolutely AMAZING cover is for! Here is the back cover blurb:

BEWARE! This is not your ordinary back-cover blurb! 

(It may cause uncontrollable giggles and/or out right laughter.)

You hold in your hands a very sinister story.

I have searched every nook and cranny to compile the evidence in Case File 13. Now, in this book, you will find the next eerie installment in the adventures of Nick, Carter, and Angelo, three monster-obsessed boys whose harmless trip to Mexico turned into something so horrendous, so revolting— 

Wait a second, Mr. B! You’re making this whole thing sound way scarier than it really was. Maybe dial it back a notch?

But Nick, it is that scary. In this volume alone there are haunted pyramids, alien artifacts, and even a mummy with a terrible curse. 

True, but there’s also the part with the hidden treasure, and the time when Carter used his knitting needles to—

Yes, all right, you win. Now if you’ll excuse me... 

You hold in your hands a very sinister, VERY SILLY story, following the WACKY adventures of three boys whose expedition to Mexico turned into something OUT OF THIS WORLD. This is the fourth volume. Read on if you dare...

Totally hilarious right?!?!? 

You should be totally eager to take a peak at this cover now.

Are you READY?????

BAM!  

Amazing cover, right? Leave your comments for the author below!!! 

If this isn't awesome enough for you, Author J. Scott Savage ALSO set up a Rafflecopter for all of you wonderful fans! Be sure to get your name in the drawing!
Click here to join in the  Rafflecopter giveaway!
The drawing ends tonight!!!!

Cover Reveal Blog List:

http://pennybrojacquie.wordpress.com/

railynstone.blogspot.com

http://mehousdonblog.weebly.com

readinginsarahscorner.wordpress.com

julkbearreads.wordpress.com

http://abookandacupofcoffee.wordpress.com/

http://authorsrevealed.blogspot.com/

http://jessicaparkerstories.wordpress.com/

http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com/

http://bookloverslife.blogspot.ie/

http://authorsandralove.blogspot.com/

www.321golivelaughloveandread.blogspot.com

http://authorcandyodonnell.blogspot.com/

http://booksshelly27.blogspot.com/?zx=fab341e33c76a4c

http://writtenbymikey.blogspot.com/

http://semishort.blogspot.com/

Tween the Weekends: Halloween

I love October…the changing leaves, the crisp cool air, but mostly it’s because of Halloween. There is nothing quite like putting spooky decoration up around the house, picking out ghoulish costumes to wear, and planning out how much candy a human being can possibly consume. Above it all though are the Halloween stories.

Ever since I was a kid I loved the frightening tales only shared at Halloween time. They would creep, seep, and chill me to the bone. I remember my first time when I was a tween listening to an audiotape of The Legend of Sleepy Hallow, by Washington Irving. I can recall the goose bumps that prickled my arms and back as I wondered if the headless horseman would get Ichabod Crane. Stories like that never leave a kid not wanting more. 

Because it is Halloween time and because it is also Tween the Weekends I’d like to share some fantastic Halloween stories that tween readers would like to read. To quote a favorite series of ghostly books, “BEWARE…You’re in for a scare!” –Goosebumps, by R.L. Stein. 

Curse at Zala Manor, by BBHMcChiller

Synopsis: It's almost Halloween, and twelve-year-old AJ Zantony's world is threatened by an ancient curse that releases wicked pirates who had been trapped for centuries in his Aunt Zsofia's creepy mansion, Zala Manor. The pirates--a vampire count, a pegleg skeleton, and a zombie--have three goals: to find a lost treasure, unleash the restless dead from their graves, and to settle a very old score by destroying the Zantony bloodline. AJ has to stop them before midnight during Aunt Zsofia's annual Halloween party. Except he has a big problem--monster phobia! He's scared to death of monsters. But if he doesn't act fast, the streets of Craggy Cove will be crawling with zombies. Will AJ overcome his fear and stop the monsters or bail out? Will Craggy Cove become Zombie Central? Who will be alive when midnight tolls?

Case File 13: Zombie Kid, by J. Scott Savage

Synopsis: You hold in your hands a very dangerous record. I have collected every side of the story and every piece of evidence on case number 13. Now, in this file, you will find all you need to follow the dark adventures of Nick, Carter, and Angelo, three boys who possess an unhealthy obsession with monsters, in a town so grisly, so horrific—
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're telling it all wrong, dude. You make it sound like it's a scary story.
Ahem. Well, Nick, it is a scary story. In this volume alone, there are voodoo queens, graveyards—even the dreaded Zombie King himself.
Yeah, but there's also the part where Angie gets mashed potatoes all in her face, and the part where I use my cool zombie powers to—
All right, point taken. Now, if you don't mind . . .
You hold in your hands a very dangerous, very funny record, detailing the hilarious adventures of three boys who have an awesome obsession with monsters. This is the first volume. Read on if you dare. . . .

The Spook's Apprentice, by Joseph Delaney

Synopsis: 'Someone has to stand against the dark. And you're the only one who can.'

For years, the local Spook has been keeping the County safe from evil. Now his time is coming to an end, but who will take over? 

Many apprentices have tried . . . Some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive. Just one boy is left. Thomas Ward. He is the last hope. But does he stand a chance against Mother Malkin, the most dangerous witch in the County?

Other great Halloween books for Tweens:

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing Hahn

The Witches, by Roald Dahl

A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz

Splendors and Glooms, by Laura Amy Schlitz

May Bird and the Ever After, by Jodi Lynn Anderson

What are your favorite Halloween books? 

You can check out the other Emblazoners 
Posts by clicking this link: http://emblazoners.com/tween-the-weekends