Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Answer to Monday's Riddle: Call of the Loons...


Excellent guessing, Riddlers! We'll be listening to the loons on Friday, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

As dusk settles on a northern lake, hear the cries of fowl heart break. Ruby-eyed sailors, paired to match, dive in deep for the evening catch. Carrying on, they swim away, a crazy call made at the end of the day. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Loons 





Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats






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Monday, June 6, 2016

Monday's Riddle: A Fowl Lament...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? They look like magical creatures and sing a haunted tune. ; ) ~ F

As dusk settles on a northern lake, hear the cries of fowl heart break. Ruby-eyed sailors, paired to match, dive in deep for the evening catch. Carrying on, they swim away, a crazy call made at the end of the day. 

What am I referring to? Stop by Wednesday for the answer

I gave you a clue!


Friday, June 3, 2016

Seeing Through the Fog!

Children grow up learning the story of Hansel and Gretel and their trip through the woods to the gingerbread house. We even know how they got away. But what we don't know is what happened after the witch was destroyed. Now is our chance. Rudi lives in the woods with his uncle, his horrible aunt, and Lucie and Elsebeth. His aunt is not happy about having so many mouths to feed and she complains regularly. When she takes Lucie and Elsebeth on a walk through the woods with her husband and leaves them there Rudi is angry and worried. He sets out to find them and encounters a strange looking woman. Looks can be deceiving and the stranger helps Rudi find the girls, but first he has to promise to never bother her again. When the trio gets back to the cottage a man is there who wants to be taken to a cottage further in the woods. They must get help from the strange woman again, which is very dangerous. On the way there they discover more about the man’s real identity and what he really wants. Fog is everywhere and it adds to the spooky feeling in the woods. Unfortunately, there is an evil warlock lurking in the forest and it's after the very man they're accompanying. All the fog they are running into is a trap. Now the warlock has his sights set on them. Is there any way to get out of his clutches? What does he really want? Can the terrible creature be stopped? You'll have to find out by reading this riveting tale!
I was excited to read The Eye of the Warlock by P.W. Catanese after finishing two of the author’s other books, and I was not disappointed! I enjoyed finding out what became of Hansel and Gretel, and I liked the way the characters developed. Rudi loves the young girls and will do anything to protect them. He's a great character, but his anger is his downfall. The evil characters play their part well. Boy do you despise them! Just like the characters, the reader gets to figure out what's real and what is an illusion. Don’t get tricked by the fog! I recommend this book to kids in fourth grade and up who enjoy fantasy, fairytales, and twists on stories. I look forward to reading more books by this author!


Has anyone else read The Eye of the Warlock? Or have you read another book by P.W. Catanese? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~L

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Answer to Tuesday's Riddle: In a Fog?

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Lizzy's review will be visible on Friday, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Sometimes patchy when I roll in, a tease for what might have been. You'll cancel the trip if I don't lift; sail with me, the ship's adrift. Cast as mysterious, I'm hot and cold. The sun burns me up, water is gold. I sneak by on what fell, but a beacon of light does tell. 

What am I? Answer: Fog!


 Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Monday's Riddle On Tuesday: Confused?

Hello, Riddlers! We're a day late due to the holiday, but can you guess our theme this week? According to Homer, it will turn you inside out. ; ) ~ F

Sometimes patchy when I roll in, a tease for what might have been. You'll cancel the trip if I don't lift; sail with me, the ship's adrift. Cast as mysterious, I'm hot and cold. The sun burns me up, water is gold. I sneak by on what fell, but a beacon of light does tell. 

What am I? Stop by Thursday for the answer. 

I gave you 2 clues! 


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Saturday, May 28, 2016

Author Interview with Kurt Chambers

The DMS was lucky enough to interview Kurt Chambers. Lizzy reviewed The Wrath of Siren, the second book in his Truth Teller series and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We're excited to learn a little more about his story. So, without further ado... take it away, Kurt!

The Wrath of Siren is Book Two in the Truth Teller series. How was writing it different from writing the first book?


In all honesty, it was exactly the same. When I first started writing I was a complete novice. Truth Teller and The Wrath of Siren were originally one book when I first wrote this series. A middle grade novel that was about 125,000 words, how funny! I had no idea there was a problem with that. Once I joined a writing forum and started to learn stuff, I split it into two separate novels. 

How long did it take you to write The Wrath of Siren? Will there be a third book? (We want one!)

It took me about two years to write. Having to live in real life and support a family didn't leave me much time. I would sit in my builder’s van on my breaks and scribble into a little notebook, then type it up in the evening when I got home.
Office stationery vector image
Yes, I have a third book in this series, Favian's Law. I am planning to release this title some time later this year and then publish a special edition with all three books in one. I have already received a very reasonable quote from a friend/editor, so the ball is rolling I'm pleased to say.

Siren is definitely a villain we wouldn’t want to meet! What was your inspiration for his character? 

I would have to say, Terry Brooks, was my greatest inspiration. I love the way he writes, he is a master at what he does. His Shannara books are my favourite fantasy series.

In the 2nd book we get to catch up with some characters we've grown to love, but there are many new characters too. Who was your favorite new character? Why?

This is an easy one. Guff, the talking troll. I had a lot of fun creating this character. He reminds me a little bit of, Ludo, a big scary monster of a creature from the film, Labyrinth by David Bowie, but is actually gentle and kind, willing to risk his own life for the good of others. Guff is a legend.


Charlotte and Elderfield both go through a lot of intense experiences in this book. If you had to give either of them words of advice what would you tell them at the end of this book (no spoilers, of course)?
  
Beware of unusual strangers. And don't forget to use the bathroom before you go out! Enough said. lol

Do you have a writing schedule that you follow? What do you do to when you get writer’s block?

I found over the years that I'm not like most writers. I have no schedule, I just write when I want to write. If I get writer's block I find it easier to get over if you don't stress out about it. Don't ever beat yourself up, all that will do is stress you out more and make it even harder. I try to write a little bit, even if it's just a line or two, but if nothing comes to me, I just won't write. Try again another day when I have more of a head on for it. In the meantime, I just run ideas over in my head. Sometimes, something pops in there that gets you all excited and you're off again!

You have recently published Unknown Reality, a sci-fi adventure. Can you tell us a bit more about your latest book?

Yes! How very excited I am too. After only twenty submissions I got a reply from a top UK publishing agent saying there was so much about this story that she loved and how sorry she was it was a near miss from her. Just GETTING a reply from an agent is a result these days with their no interest, no reply policy. After much deliberation though, I decided to publish it myself in order to keep a happy medium between my writing and real life.

I also get to aim my new book at a whole new audience: Science fiction fans. Up until now I have only been known as a fantasy author. Here is a blurb of the story.

Blurb...

Eleven-year-old Chloe gasps in awe at the magical splendour of a theatre performance, but her excitement soon vanishes during an autograph hunt and an encounter with the baddie from the show. His unbelievable claim of a flawed universe freaks her out. This starts a chain of unexplainable events that threaten to destroy the only reality Chloe has ever known.

Then one night...they come for her.

Claiming to be her friends, the Scientists try to persuade Chloe her life was some kind of experiment that went horribly wrong, and a computer virus left her with no memory of this alien planet. Struggling to come to terms with a world she doesn’t understand, she is kidnapped from the futuristic outstation by a clan of Savages that live out in the wilderness. When confronted by a father and brother she never knew she had, she is torn between two cultures, none of which she wishes to be part of. All she wants is return to the only family she knew; a family that never really existed.

Are you currently working on a book? If so, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Yeah, I have nearly completed a story I have been working on for a long time. It's called, The World in Johnny's Back Garden. I wanted a story that gave children an alternative view of all living things. I was originally going to write a set of adventure stories from the point of view of different living things you would find in an English garden, a mouse, a dandelion, an ant, a tree. You get the idea. But this proved to be too difficult. Then my youngest daughter insisted I read a book she was working on at school called, Feather Boy. It was a kind of strange contemporary story, but gave me an idea for a starting point for my story. I wrote a whole plot for my book and just started writing it. I have no idea of what reaction I will get; it's quite a strange story.

I posted the first chapter on my blog as it works quite well as a short story for anyone who is interested.

I was also working on another book called, Lost Childhood. This is another strange story about a young boy, Charlie, who gets a talking teddy from his dad. Again, I have the whole plot for this book and even started writing it, but then the film, Ted, came out. Admittedly, the story is completely different, just a case of bad timing so I shelved this one for now.

Where can we purchase your books?

Truth Teller and The Wrath of Siren can be purchased here...(Truth Teller is free)




You can also find them on Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, iBooks and all other leading book retailers. Just search by title or author.


Unknown Reality can be purchased here...






Again, this can also be found in all major book retailers.


Friday, May 27, 2016

Will the Pendant Get Back into the Right Hands?

Charlotte, the truth teller, has been back from the other realm for so long that her time there feels like a dream. Unfortunately, the dark and evil druid, Siren, is on the move making it dangerous for Charlotte to ever return. When her old friend, Elderfield, is given a pendant that will allow him to travel between realms he realizes that he must seek out Charlotte and warn her never to come back to his land. Elderfield’s luck runs out when he loses the key to the gateway and it is found by Siren who wants to destroy the truth teller so he can carry out his plan without obstacles. Siren comes to Charlotte’s world and believes that he gets rid of her, so he goes home and begins to put his plan in motion. Charlotte has no choice but to return with Elderfield to try to make things right. But war has already begun and Siren will stop at nothing until he destroys those who oppose him. Will Charlotte be able to help stop the war? Is it possible for her to find the power to defeat Siren and his army of beasts? Will she be able to get back to her world or has she seen her family for the last time? Read this sequel to find out more about this intense fantasy world and learn what happens when evil is unleashed and hope is running out!

Wrath of Siren by Kurt Chambers begins right where Truth Teller left off. Charlotte continues to be a strong and inquisitive character who's braver than she knows. She seemed stronger in this book, and I liked that she resigned herself to what the other world entailed. Elderfield is such a good friend, and I was happy they were reunited, even if it was under dangerous circumstances. This series is perfect for kids who are interested in the Lord of the Rings or other high fantasy stories. I would recommend this book for kids in fourth grade and up. This was an action-packed adventure, and with a war going on there were some scenes with violence. These were handled with enough details that you could picture what was happening, but they weren't gruesome or overly descriptive. Readers will be on the edge of their seats turning the pages. The storyline wraps up, but I'm hoping for more books in the series, because I hate to leave characters I've grown attached to! 

Has anyone else read Wrath of Siren? Have you read another book by Kurt Chambers? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L


*Stop back Saturday to read our interview with the author!

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