Tag Archives: young

Coffee and Discussion with Briana Vedsted

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picture  Today, I have the immense pleasure of sitting down with Briana Vedsted and talking with her about life, the books she writes and how the journey of publishing her work has been for her so far. Briana is one of my absolute favourite bloggers. She is witty, fun and a very talented young author with a bright future ahead of her.

Without further ado, please welcome Briana:)

You can find Briana at http://whenibecameanauthor.wordpress.com/
Do you have a favourite book genre and do you write in that same genre?

My favorite genres are western and fantasy. I write books from both genre, I love to write fantasy books because every world is better with magic, but have been told my westerns are much more enjoyable.

Do you plan to write series books or will there be stand-alones as well?

I’ve written several unpublished series, as well as half a dozen stand alone books. It is easier to write a series, because I’m always getting new ideas!

Being a younger author in a tough market, have you learned any survival tips you can share? The biggest thing I’ve learned is that you’ve got have people. You need people to know you’re a writer. Surprises are great, but if no one knows who you are, no one will buy your work. You need social media sites, blog/website, as well as letting people in your area know about you. The best way to do this is to write a column for the local paper.

How have you marketed your book so far and what has the experience been like for you?

So far, I’ve been unsuccessful in marketing my books, and that’s because I just started and didn’t know that you really have to, well, advertise. I mean it! You can’t advertise too much. If you have a blog, use it! Talk about your book! Talk about yourself as an author. Have contests and giveaways, post sample chapters, anything to catch the reader’s attention.

When did you know that you were going to be an author?

Well, I’ve always love to write. But I never really though about being an author. I was going to go to school and become and elementary school teacher. Then two years ago my mother pointed out how little patience I have for helping my sister with math. She said, “Why not be a writer?” I though, hey! That could work! So I switched my major and have been trying to get published since then.

How do you deal with negative/rude reviewers?

I haven’t have very many of them yet. But even when my mom would criticize my work, I got mad. I wished I would have listened to her. Criticism stings. One day I hope I’ll be able to let it slide off my back. But for now, the negative has been evened out by the praise from my friends, Ionia Martin and Charles Yallowitz.

What do you do for fun when you aren’t writing?

Well, that depends. In the summer, I’m out working on our 1000 acres of irrigated and dryland hayfields, and in the winter, I’m working with out 350 cow/calf pairs. But in my spare time, I enjoy making cosmetics, cooking, gardening, sledding, and redecorating my future house.

Tell us a bit about your newest book and what you are planning for the future.

My newest book is a modern day werewolf book. It will be part of a series, and I’m hoping to have it traditionally published. But if I cannot find an agent that will accept the manuscripts, I will self publish it on amazon.com

*Thank you so much Briana, for agreeing to be my guest today. I wish you much luck with your writing career and look forward to seeing your name on the front of book covers everywhere!

The Flame in the Mist by Kit Grindstaff

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Set in an imagined past, this dark fantasy-adventure is for fans of Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass. Features  Jemma, a fiery-headed heroine held captive in Agromond Castle, yet destined to save mist-shrouded Anglavia.

Fiery-headed Jemma Agromond is not who she thinks she is, and when the secrets and lies behind her life at mist-shrouded Agromond Castle begin to unravel, she finds herself in a chilling race for her life. Ghosts and misfits, a stone and crystals, a mysterious book, an ancient prophecy—all these reveal the truth about Jemma’s past and a destiny far greater and more dangerous than she could have imagined in her wildest fantasies. With her telepathic golden rats, Noodle and Pie, and her trusted friend, Digby, Jemma navigates increasingly dark forces, as helpers both seen and unseen, gather. But in the end, it is her own powers that she must bring to light, for only she has the key to defeating the evil ones and fulfilling the prophecy that will bring back the sun and restore peace in Anglavia.–Description from Goodreads

Hardcover, 464 pages
Expected publication: April 9th 2013 by Delacorte Press
ISBN
0385742908 (ISBN13: 9780385742900)
edition language
English
You can find this book Here
My thoughts:
Okay–someone has to be telling untruths here…there is no way that this is a debut novel. This is too good to be a first book!”The Flame in the Mist” by author Kit Grindstaff is an incredible fantasy with all the elements you want in a fantasy read. Jemma is the perfect heroine to lead the way in this absorbing and well-written tale. She is strong and funny, smart and sassy–the epitome of what the young fantasy heroine should be.

I fell in love with her two rats, Noodle and Pie. Telepathic rats? Awesome. Fantasy needed that kind of creativity to redeem it.

This novel has a bit of a dark theme, but it is handled so well that it would be perfectly appropriate for the younger end of the YA market as well as the older. I’m 31 and I smiled all the way through it! One of the things that I found engaging about this book, is that the evil is relentless. The presence of the dark forces at work in this novel are always there, lingering just below the surface. This built up suspense and made for a wonderful pace to this story.

Along with a lot of creative and original descriptions, excellent character names and some fantasy appropriate humor, the dialogue in this novel is superior to that of many other authors in this genre. I love fantasy because it takes you away from reality and transports you to somewhere else. This book does just that. It enabled me to leave my worries behind and just have a really good time.

Honestly, this is the kind of fantasy that made me want to read fantasy in the first place. Loved it and can’t wait to see what is next!

This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher.

A Review of A Very Special Book

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Today, I am proud to showcase a very special book, written for a good cause. This book is by a young author, and when I say young, I don’t mean like as in early twenties. Mr. Ryan Moralevitz has recently turned Six years old. His dedication to saving marine animals from the dangers of pollution and keeping the world’s oceans clean has prompted him to write a book, entitled “Puffy the Pufferfish Saves the Ocean.” He also makes and sells ornaments and magnets and donates the profits to various charities that work to save the ocean he loves so dearly. You can visit Ryan at www.thefisheswishes.com  where you can find out more about his efforts and see the incredible things he makes, or pick up a copy of his book.

Making a name for himself in the world of  conservation, Ryan has recently been featured in piece by the Ocean Conservancy, Which you can find at: http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2012/08/22/a-small-boys-example-anyone-can-make-a-difference-for-the-ocean/

 

 

 

 

 

Image from rear book cover copy

 

 

 

 

 

 

My thoughts:

Admittedly when I first heard about this I expected it to be little more than crayon drawings that some parent decided to market. I don’t love admitting when I am wrong, but in this case I have to admit defeat. I received this book in the mail the other day from my good friend Harry Steinman.

I read the back cover, instantly impressed by the little boy who seemed to have been born to make a difference in this world. Later in the evening, I had the opportunity to sit down and read the book with my children. Here are their comments:

Elijah-who is eight, said “Wow. I didn’t draw that good when I was his age.”

Avery-who is seven, said “He is right, we should get everyone to help us clean up the beach when we go this summer.” –This coming from a kid who hasn’t cleaned his room for so long he isn’t sure he has a floor.

I was really amazed at this. It seems that my kids are always watching Discovery or Animal Planet, but this is the first time I have actually seen the light of understanding the core concept of pollution and the damage it does flip on in their heads. Perhaps it is because the information is from a trusted source–another child. (Heaven knows us adults don’t always make sense to kids.) Or, it might be because his book has such cute illustrations and such a nice story that they didn’t know they were learning a lesson in the first place. Either way, the kids and I give this book five sea stars. I never doubt the creativity of children, but this book was better than many of the other books written by adults and intended for kids. If you want to teach your children about how to make a difference and the effects of trash on the ocean’s creatures, this is a great book to introduce the topics.

I think this boy is a reminder to all of us of what a bit of spirit and drive can do and that each of us has the power to make a difference for the planet we call home. Please visit Ryan and offer your support to his worthy Cause.

Ryan also has a video you can watch here: http://streams.ning.com/video/my-wishes-for-the-fishes

You are one amazing little boy!

 

 

Big Egg by Molly Coxe (A review by Amanda C. Age 6)

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One morning Hen wakes up and finds a gigantic egg in her nest. Whose egg can it be? Here’s a hint, Hen–it doesn’t belong to that wily Fox!

You can find this book HERE

    big egg is the frist book that i have read out loud  in school. the words are not very hard to read. it is about a hen who finds a egg and she dosnt now where the egg came from and she thinks it is a cow egg and a pig egg and a gote egg. she is happy when the egg cracks open and there are baby hens for her to love.

I liked this book becuase the hen is a mommy at the end. the person who wrote this book is funny and she thinks cows have eggs. i read it to danny and he thinks that pigs and cows have eggs to.

the pictures of hen are funny to. the end.

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig (A review by Brandon W. age 9)

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It was time for the three little wolves to go out into the world, so off they went and built themselves a splendid brick house. But they hadn’t reckoned on the big bad pig who soon came along and knocked their house down.

The little wolves built a stronger house of concrete, in which they were sure to be safe. But that didn’t stop the big bad pig, who made short work of it with a pneumatic drill. Even a house made of armor plates could not protect them. It was only a chance encounter with a flamingo bird that solved their dilemma in an entirely unexpected and satisfactory way.

Helen Oxenbury’s enchanting watercolor illustrations, full of humorous details and visual excitement, are the perfect accompaniment to this hilarious retelling-in-reverse of the traditional tale.–Description from Amazon.com

You can find this book here: http://www.amazon.com/Three-Little-Wolves-Big-Bad/dp/0689505698/ref=sr_1_123_title_1_har?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362445443&sr=1-123

 

“I don’t like this book. The pig is okay but the wolves are stupid. I think this book

will tell children that it is okay to blow things up if you get mad at somebody. I

think the end is boring. My school is always telling us that being a bully is bad

but in this book it makes it like it is okay. I did like some of the pictures. I like 

the three little pigs better. The pig tries to use wepons to get the wolves so I would not read this for little kids.”

 

***I would like to thank Brandon for his insightful and honest review of this book. I am happy to share it with my readers and encourage him to keep reading and writing!

Garden Princess by Kristin Kladstrup

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Hardcover, 272 pages
Expected publication: March 12th 2013 by Candlewick Press
ISBN
0763656852 (ISBN13: 9780763656850)
edition language
English
Dig in to this middle-grade fantasy featuring a horticulturally minded princess, a beautiful butevil witch, and a magpie with a shameful secret.

Princess Adela is not a typical princess. She’s neither particularly beautiful nor particularly graceful, and she’d rather spend her days digging new plots for her garden than listening to teatime gossip. But when her friend Garth is invited to a garden party hosted by Lady Hortensia — whose beauty is said to be rivaled only by the loveliness of her gardens — Adela can’t resist coming along, even if it means stuffing herself into a too-tight dress and donning impractical shoes. But the moment Adela sets eyes on Hortensia’s garden, she knows something is amiss. Every single flower is in bloom — in the middle of October! Not only that, there is a talking magpie flitting about the garden and stealing the guests’ jewels. Is it possible that Hortensia is a witch and the magpie an enchanted prince? And what of the flowers themselves? Will Adela get to the root of the mystery and nip trouble in the bud before it’s too late?–Description from Goodreads

My review of “Garden Princess”
Garden Princess is a wonderfully refreshing twist on the typical princess story. The main character is not perfect as all princesses tend to be. She is not over the top beautiful, nor is she particularly graceful. She can be stubborn, outspoken and a variety of other things that made me love her. She is low maintenance and proud to be exactly who she is.

This book reminded me of the simple, elegant classics of the past, but with a more updated and modern feel. The characters are sassy and the relationships they develop during the story are the type that you expect to last. I feel rewarded when the characters seem to be working toward a strong finish and in this book, they did.

What made me love this book so much, was the descriptive language of the author. She was able to set the stage for a truly magical story without ever boring me with an overload of pointless banter. The imagery that she produces with her words made me want to keep reading this forever. I could see the flowers and hear the material of the dresses crinkling.

This is a book that I could see a younger or older audience enjoying. There is romance, magic, animals, mystery and laughs to be discovered in these pages. If you love fantasy and magic you can’t miss this one.

The Song of Unmaking by D. Barkley Briggs

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The Song of Unmaking

Paperback, 336 pages
Published October 14th 2011 by Living Ink Books (first published September 15th 2011)
ISBN
0899578659 (ISBN13: 9780899578651)
edition language
English
series
The dreadful Goths have invaded Röckval, testing the strength of Bitterland’s beautiful, widowed ruler. Meanwhile, the Barlow brothers are growing stronger and stronger in their powers – all except for Ewan, who traded his gift away to save the life of his friends.

Soon it becomes clear that the Goths are the least of their worries. A terrible machine is being built high atop Mount Vishgar, above Röckval, where the raging winds never cease. If the machine really does release the Song of Unmaking, what will happen? Can Arthur lay aside his grief and once more become a great leader of men? And what is the mysterious Doorless Tower, Nein Dyrr?

As Kr’Nunos grows more bold, the Barlow brothers take their stand with the viks of the north. Yet it is Ewan alone who must answer the question: Is any music stronger than the most powerful song of destruction the world has ever known?–Synopsis provided by Goodreads

My Review of “the Song of Unmaking”
D. Barkley Briggs is leading the way for a whole new generation of fantasy lovers! I read book one of this series, missed book two and just finished this one. I am pleased to report that missing book two didn’t kill it for me. The author has done an excellent job of backtracking (without making it boring) so that if you missed the other books (or in my case one of the other books) this will still make sense.

I was amazed with the first book in this series how bold and detailed the author’s descriptions are, and this book is even better. The author has a wonderful grasp on what fantasy is all about. In The Song of Unmaking, he has created characters that are intelligent, witty, hilarious at times and the kind of protagonists you can’t help but cheer for. As far as the dialogue, it is some of the best I have seen in a YA book. The speech never feels stilted or silly and each character has their own personality that comes through in the way they speak.

The one criticism I do have, is that you almost need a reference guide to keep up once you get halfway through. The younger the reader, the more difficult I see it being for them to sort out all of the characters and the places. Even for me, who is an experienced fantasy reader, at times it became a bit confusing.

The plot is great and the story was very well executed. One thing is for sure, whether you are young or old, it is hard to put this book down for more than a moment.

There is nothing in this story that wouldn’t be appropriate for a younger audience. The language is clean and the violence is mild and appropriate for the reading level.

If you are looking for a book that is right for the younger end of the YA audience but would still hold the interest of an older teen, you really can’t go wrong with this series.

This review is based on a digital copy from the publisher.

That One Spooky Night by Dan Bar-el

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Gr 2-4-Combining humor and gentle spookiness, this is a graphic novel for the Halloween season. The three stories take place on the same night. In “Broom with a View,” a girl accidentally ends up with a real witch’s broom, leading to a magical experience. In “10,000 Tentacles Under the Tub,” two boys find their post-trick-or-treating bath transformed into an undersea world. The final story, “The Fang Gang,” follows a group of friends as they end up in Dracula’s mansion on the scariest night of the year. Although the Halloween setting ties everything together, these selections function chiefly as stand-alone tales, their tone is more likely to elicit smiles than shivers. The full-color cartoon illustrations are appealing and nicely match the mood of the book. An economical use of dialogue allows the artwork to do the bulk of the storytelling. Brisk, entertaining, and easy to enjoy, this is a good choice for children looking for something light on Halloween.-Travis Jonker, Wayland Union Schools, MIα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.–Description from Amazon.com

 

  • Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  • Hardcover: 80 pages
  • Publisher: Kids Can Press, Ltd. (September 1, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1554537517
  • ISBN-13: 978-1554537518

This book is available for purchase here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1554537517/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

My Review of One Spooky Night:

This reminded me a lot of the old style comic books for kids. I loved the illustrations as they really brought the story to life. There are three individual stories in this book, each with a Halloween theme for kids 7 and older. This is the first graphic novel I have read that was intended for a younger audience, and I think it really worked well. The stories are more geared toward having fun than being very frightening and the characters are cute. There are so many illustrations on each page that it is difficult to get bored with so much to look at. With three stories, you and your child have choices about how much you want to read at once. The text is easy enough for a new reader and the stories are filled with adventure and excitement. My personal favorite was the first story in the book, but the others were really good as well. I also liked the way this book didn’t seem to show a preference for a female or male audience. It would work for either.

I would recommend this book to parents. It would make a fun addition to a Halloween sleepover!

This review is based on a digital copy from the publisher.

Dr. Frankenstein’s Daughters by Suzanne Weyn

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Dr. Frenkenstein's Daughters

A new generation is creating a monster….

When Doctor Victor Frankenstein died, he left behind a legacy of horror…as well as two unacknowledged, beautiful twin daughters. Now these girls are seventeen, and they’ve come to Frankenstein’s castle to claim it as their inheritance.

Giselle and Ingrid are twins, but they couldn’t be more different. Giselle is a glamorous social climber who plans on turning Frankenstein’s castle into a center of high society. Ingrid, meanwhile, is quiet and studious, drawn to the mysterious notebooks her father left behind…and the experiments he went mad trying to perfect.

As Giselle prepares for lavish parties and Ingrid finds herself falling for the sullen, wounded naval officer next door, a sinister force begins to take hold in the castle. Nobody’s safe as Frankenstein’s legacy leads to a twisted, macabre journey of romance and horror.–Description from Amazon.com

 

  • Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Scholastic Press (January 1, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0545425336
  • ISBN-13: 978-0545425339

You can find this book here: http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Frankensteins-Daughters-Suzanne-Weyn/dp/0545425336/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1359663348&sr=8-2

My Review of Dr. Frankenstein’s Daughters

When the Identical twin daughters of the infamous Victor Frankenstein inherit the family castle, they never expect for life to change as drastically as it does. With horror, suspense and romance all in the same story, this is one to read for a real adventure.

Somehow I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. I was not only surprised by the accuracy of the references the author made to the original work, but also delighted with her ability to tell a compelling story based on said work.

The twin girls that are the main protagonists are as different as night and day. One of them is concerned with fashion and her appearance and how society views her, while the other is intelligent, simple and rather introspective. These differences made this an interesting book. Rather than only seeing things through the eyes of one character, the reader gets the opportunity to view the story through both of the main character’s points of view.

This book had enough suspense to keep me reading, wondering what would happen next. For a young adult book, I thought the love story was actually pretty complex and the characters had a lot of depth. The author, Suzanne Weyn, used descriptive language that provided me with vibrant imagery.

The dialogue was very well written and believable, sounding appropriate for the historical period of the setting.

I would certainly recommend this book to others. I think early teens and younger adults would easily become lost in this intelligently written and entertaining novel.

This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher.

 

Witch Twins by Adele Griffin

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Claire and Luna may be witches, but there’s no easy spell to stop a wedding!
Though identical on the outside, ten-year-old twins Claire and Luna Bundkin are as different on the inside as peaches and peanut butter. Claire is mischievous and Luna is a dreamer, but they do share a favorite hobby: witchcraft. Whether it’s making breakfast or washing dishes, there’s nothing a five-star witch can’t accomplish with a wave of her pinkie finger. But there are two strict rules: Don’t tell Mom, and don’t try any spells without Grandy—their magical grandmother—watching.
When Claire and Luna’s father announces that he’s getting remarried to a loudmouthed Texas woman named Fluffy, the twins know they need to do something to stop the wedding. Fluffy wouldn’t be a bad stepmother, but Claire and Luna know that she would lure their father to far-away Houston. A spell might be the only way to save their Dad, and they’ll try anything. Even if magic usually lands them in a pot of trouble,–Description from Amazon.com
You can find this book available for pre-order right now and purchase on the 29th of January by going here: http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Twins-ebook/dp/B00AYRI4JS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359047324&sr=8-2&keywords=witch+twins
I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed this quick, fun read for older elementary children. The plot of the story is simple, and the author wastes no time getting right to the magic that makes this book so much fun.

While the fledgling witch sisters experiment with magic and try to stop their father from marrying “Fluffy,” they learn some valuable lessons along the way.

This book is funny and the sisters are well developed characters that children could relate to easily. I liked their brother, Grandy and mom as well. The dialogue in this story is right on target and makes you believe you are really listening to the conversation of a couple of middle-school girls.

A warning: after you read this book, you won’t be able to love or hate anything anymore without love, love, loving it or hate, hate, hating it!

By the end of the book there is a resolution to the major issues that fit the rest of the book nicely. I think this would be a great chapter book for young adults.

I reviewed a digital copy of this book from the publisher.