More Medieval Magic!

We're excited to feature a guest post hosted by C. Lee Mckenzie and find out more about our good friends Pete and Weasel. 

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Thanks for hosting Pete and Weasel on your amazing blog. We’re excited to be here. I thought I’d tell your readers why I set this story where I did, and what I found out while writing Some Very Messy Medieval Magic (SVMMM). 

I love history, so sending Pete and Weasel off to the past was sheer joy for me. I chose 1173 because I’d been reading about Richard I, and he fascinated me. In SVMMM, he’s still young and not the king yet. In fact, he’s off to France to join his brothers in a plot to overthrow his father, King Henry II.

The more I learned about Richard, the more I had fun writing a “highly fictional” account of Pete and Weasel interacting with him. 




Here are two facts about him: 

1. He didn’t care much for England. He only spoke French and adopted their customs and manners. Well, Eleanor of Aquitaine was his mom and English was the commoner’s language, but since I couldn’t write the book in French, I took the liberty of making Richard bi-lingual. 

2. He loved to hunt and he loved to sing. From all accounts, he had an excellent voice. He became a knight and later a warrior during the Crusades where his volatile nature didn’t show off the supposedly “gentler virtues” of a knight. He did seem to charge into battle a lot, so that’s why he was called Coeur de Lion, the Lion-Hearted. The descriptions I read were that he was “tall, well built and with hair mid-way between red and yellow.” He must have been quite an interesting guy.

Castle Beynac 

I’d just finished this story when friends asked me to go with them to France, and guess what? I wound up in castle Beynac where Richard spent some time. The wall around castle and the fireplace in the main hall were the way I’d imagined. The scullery, too. Then when I found the “toilet” I was so pleased to find it matched my description to a T! 

I love first-hand research so much better than what I do online, and when I see the real thing and it supports all that I’ve read, I jump up and down and clap my hands.

I hope readers will enjoy the time travel back to 1173 and the characters that are very loosely based on people of that time. Of course, I had to have a witch or two, after all without those witches, I would never have started this series. 

Buy the book on Amazon
Visit C. Lee's blog 

Read Lizzy's review of Alligators Overhead, The Great Timelock Disaster, and Some Very Messy Medieval Magic, plus check out an interview with C. Lee Mckenzie! 

It's Good To Be Library Bound!

"The novel builds to an exciting climax that takes magic in stride and suggests that further mysteries await the DMS trio."-Publishers Weekly 

"This paranormal mystery will be of interest to young readers looking for something spooky but not violent or scary." -Booklist

"[The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow] moves briskly and includes magic, action, and suspense." -SLJ

The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow
Publish date: 12/1/15
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Illustrator: Roman Muradov
Ages: 9-12
Grade Level: 4-7
Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book
Limited Edition Library Bound

Eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow is less than thrilled that her family is moving thousands of miles from civilization to the quiet country town of Ashpot, Connecticut, where she’s absolutely certain she’ll die of boredom. 

As if leaving Manhattan and her best friend, Lizzy, the only other member of the elite Detective Mystery Squad, weren’t bad enough, Fairday is stuck living in the infamous Begonia House, a creepy old Victorian with dark passageways, a gigantic dead willow tree, and a mysterious past. 

Before she can even unpack, strange music coming from behind a padlocked door leads Fairday up a spiral staircase and into a secret room, where she finds an ancient mirror, a brass key, and a curious portrait of a red-haired lady. 

These seemingly unrelated items prove to be the first in a series of clues that takes Fairday, the visiting Lizzy, and their new squad member, Marcus, on an amazing adventure.

Can the members of the Detective Mystery Squad piece together the puzzle before it’s too late? Or will whatever’s causing trouble find Fairday and her friends first?

“Remember, young lady, you have to think beyond what you know to be real. You have to see with your mind as well as your eyes.” The old man pulled his glasses down to the end of his nose and looked at her. “Be careful, Miss Morrow. Please be very careful.” 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson

Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson are co-authors of the Fairday Morrow series. They met freshman year of high school in English class, where they discovered they liked the same books. Their friendship grew, and over the years they went on to work as servers together, go to the same college for a short time, and they even became roommates for a while. Many books were discussed, but none were ever written. Now, after the release of their first middle grade novel, The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow, Stephanie and Jess are continuing to build suspense in book 2: Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library. 

If you're interested in engaging readers with tips on crafting stories, host an event with Stephanie and Jess. The authors discuss their journey collaborating on a mystery series in a Google Slides presentation or conduct writing workshops to inspire creative thinking. The workshops focus on using visualization to inspire writing; older students get to be the editor. 😮

Camp Summerset, Summer Reading Group, NY

To learn more about booking an event with Stephanie and Jess, visit their website: fairdaysfiles.com

The next case in the DMS files is open! Catch the book buzz in Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library.

The Detective Mystery Squad tries to stop a bookworm from eating words in stories. The mystery unwinds as three young sleuths uncover a world where books are alive and legends guard a library that doesn't exist.

Preview the book

While you're here, check out what's happening on Fairday's Blog. Fairday and Lizzy are bookworms who can't get enough to read. They love sharing their thoughts about books they like and engaging readers with creative posts.
Stay for a spell and take a look around!

View Book Reviews

Fairday and Lizzy love to discuss books, and they invite you to join in the reading fun. Lizzy's review focuses on middle grade and Fairday reviews children's picture books her little sister, Margo, picks to share.

Click to read articles

Fairday's Story Album is packed with articles about writing, reading, and collaborating on books. If you're working on a manuscript or publishing a book, stop by this page to find out what it takes to bring a story to life.

Click to view riddles

Fairday pretty much thinks in rhyme, and on Mondays she writes a rhyming riddle that clues readers in on the theme for the week. If you're in the mood to tease your brain or love working out word puzzles, give it a try!  

Click for contest details

Drawing is a wonderful tool to inspire writing, and the next DMS drawing contest is on! Students can send in a drawing of a scene or character from The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow or Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library, and they'll be entered to win an awesome mystery prize pack.

Click to visit an enchanted forest

If you want to relax and let your mind wander take a walk in a literary forest. Follow the links through the post to keep on track. Watch out for tricky cats and sipping snakes. You'll need to keep your wits about you to find the right path through the trees!

Click to view drawings

If you'd rather contemplate the magic of twisted lines, stop by to check out Jessica Haight's illustrations. Featuring: original sketches for The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow and Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library, plus other inconceivable tangents of endless imagination. Enjoy the whimsy!

CT Children's Book Fair 2017: Part 2

Today we're featuring part 2 of our highlights from the 2017 CT Children's Book Fair at UCONN. We had a great time finding out the stories behind the stories, and the day was inspirational.

Here's a link to part 1 of our adventure, in case you missed it. :)

Happy reading!
~ Jess & Stephanie

GORDON KORMAN, Restart, Mastermind series, Titanic

Gordon Korman's presentation was interesting, and it was funny to hear about how the titles of his books translate into other languages. For instance, in one language the title of his book, "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire," translates to, "Speaker of Untruths, Your Pants Have Combusted." Another fascinating topic he touched on was the character research for Titanic. When the ship was going down, people today would say something like, "That water looks mad cold." But a hundred years ago, it'd have been more like, "Seems as though we're in a tight corner." It's important to get a character's voice right for their time period.

RESTART by Gordon Korman
Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name. He knows he's Chase. But who is Chase? When he gets back to school, he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return. Some kids treat him like a hero. Some kids are clearly afraid of him. One girl in particular is so angry with him that she pours her frozen yogurt on his head the first chance she gets. Pretty soon, it's not only a question of who Chase is--it's a question of who he was . . . and who he's going to be. From the #1 bestselling author of Swindle and Slacker, Restart is the spectacular story of a kid with a messy past who has to figure out what it means to get a clean start. ~Amazon

Gordon Korman on the web

CAMMIE MCGOVERN, Chester and Gus, Say What You Will

Cammie McGovern is delightful, and we enjoyed finding out more about her stories that deal with life issues. Her autistic son was the inspiration that sparked her journey to becoming a storyteller. Today she writes books and runs Whole Children, a creative center for kids learning how to understand their world. We're looking forward to reading her stories!

CHESTER AND GUS by Cammie McGovern
Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his certification test, though, it seems like that dream will never come true—until a family adopts him. They want him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus, who has autism. But Gus acts so differently than anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester, and sometimes he doesn’t even want Chester in the room. Chester’s not sure how to help Gus since this isn’t exactly the job he trained for—but he’s determined to figure it out. Because after all, Gus is now his person. In the spirit of beloved classics like Because of Winn-Dixie, Shiloh, and Old Yeller, Cammie McGovern’s heartfelt novel—told from Chester’s point of view—explores the extraordinary friendship between a child and a dog with a poignant and modern twist. ~Harper Collins

Cammie McGovern on the web

Thanks for the fun book day, CT Children's Book Fair! 

See you next year. :) 

Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson, co-authors of the Fairday Morrow series. CASL/CECA conference 2017

CT Children's Book Fair 2017: Part 1

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! This week we're featuring highlights from the CT Children's Book Fair on the UCONN campus. We always have a fabulous time, and this year was no exception! It was fun to listen to the authors talk about the stories behind their stories. The day was inspirational, and we'll be back again next year.

Moments that arise may be a book's birth in disguise. There are those with eyes to see all a scene can really be. They ask, "what if?" or "where'd it go?'- this person will imagine it so. A blank page is the space where they'll shave the story's face. Stringing words in lines, meanings point to signs. Inner space cosmonauts, creating with inky thoughts.

What am I referring to? Answer: Authors!

Happy reading!
~ Jess & Stephanie

MARC BROWN, Arthur books/ PBS cartoon, Mary McScary

Marc Brown's presentation was fun, and it was interesting to learn about the evolution of Arthur's nose and how many of the stories and characters are based on real life. We also enjoyed hearing about Mary McScary. Watch out! She's looking to give you a fright!

Meet Mary McScary. Mary likes to be scary. She scares her mom, her dad, her pets, and even a balloon! But there's just one person Mary can't scare -- her cousin, Harry McScary. He's not afraid of the usual things, like spiders, snakes, and other creepy crawlies. But Mary doesn't give up that easily, and one way or another she'll find a way to give Harry the scare of his life. . . Beware of Mary McScary! ~Scholastic

Visit Marc Brown Studios













CAROL WESTON, Ava and Pip, Girl Talk, Speed of Life

As an active columnist, Carol Weston lends advice to girls living in the world today. She talked about how her own experiences influence her stories. When it comes to writing, she explained that there is always more than one draft of a story, and the best ones appear after many sloppy copies.

We're excited for the new book she's planning about the Spanish princess Infanta Margarita, a fascinating character, who must have had plenty of issues growing up as a royal young girl!

Visit Carol Weston on the web

Tune in Friday for part 2 of our highlights from the CT Children's Book Fair. Featuring: Gordon Korman and Cammie McGovern. 

See you all around the book block! 

Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson,
co-authors of the Fairday Morrow series

Meet Gregory Slomba, Author of The Deliverers Series

Mrs. Robinson's 5th grade class meets children's author Gregory Slomba

Mrs. Robinson welcomes children's author, Gregory Slomba, into her fifth grade classroom to talk about his new book, The Deliverers: Order of the Crystal Lion. We always enjoy hanging out with the Deliverers, Eric, Stig, Kate, and Hallo, so it's awesome to see their story taking off. Check out our CBC meeting with these cool characters. 

The students had fun meeting Mr. Slomba, and a great time was had by all! Stop by The Deliverer's corner of the book block to read more about this exciting event. All eyes on Calendria...

Connect with this author ☞ Preview the Book 

Book 1: Read the reviews! 
Twelve year old Eric Scott is called by Stig, a talking owl, to journey to another world to save a fishing village from a band of bloodthirsty pirates. Once there, Eric discovers that delivering the town is but one of the problems he'll have to solve. 

Book 2: Read the reviews! 
For centuries, the Vynistri have been splicing lion DNA to the genes of their servants, the Chazum, using a device called the Machine. Now an army of Chazum and sympathetic Vynistri are waging a bloody civil war to overthrow the Vynistri's evil ruler, Chancellor Trelango. In their latest Assignment, the Deliverers--Eric Scott, Stig the owl, Kate Endria and Hallo Tosis the dwarf--are charged with putting an end to the fighting and restoring balance to the world. Aided by a secret society called the Order of the Crystal Lion, Eric and the rest of the Deliverers must overcome tragedy and loss to fight for freedom and equality. Spurring them on is the Order's belief that the long awaited Crystal Lion has arrived to deliver the world. Is it true, or will Trelango destroy them all?

Book 3: Read the reviews! NEW!
"From the mouth thou shalt hear The wisdom of far off lands. The way to truth is clear Head, then heart, then hands. Lastly, tail will point the way To the world's end. Then gold shall have its say And foretell the doom of men." With his dying breath, so spoke the last Dragon's Voice. Now, with no successor to impart the wisdom of the mythical Golden Dragon of Ang and children between the ages of 12 and 15 mysteriously disappearing, the Dragon Islands have been turned upside down. It is up to the Deliverers-Eric Scott, Stig the owl, Kate Endria and Hallo Tosis the dwarf-to unravel the clues they hope will lead to the missing children and the new Dragon's Voice. Meanwhile, the Fang, leader of the renegade Denchi Assassins, has harnessed the unearthly powers of the sparkling mist and is attempting to tip the balance of power in the Islands, and perhaps shred the very fabric of the universe itself. Will the new Dragon's Voice be revealed, or has the Golden Dragon of Ang abandoned the Islands to the Fang and the sparkling mist?

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Meet the Authors! Hosted by a Gypsy...

Can you imagine? Just the other day, I was whisked away by two ladies I've come to know very well. They took me to an elementary school in Middlebury, Connecticut, and it was such an adventure! It was lovely to see all the kiddies traipsing about, learning things. There were some who thought it wise to call me ugly, and, of course, they should have been cursed, but I held back at the request of my hostesses- it wasn't easy.

The classroom was bright, and the children all listened to Stephanie and Jess, authors of the new middle grade mystery The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow, talk about how the story came to be. Fate wrote me into this tale, and in August of 2015, when the book is released, you and I can spend some time together. But today, it's all about those rosy-cheeked darlings....

All of my things were packed up for the trip- even my fancy perfume bottle that I cherish! The kiddies enjoyed looking at my magical trinkets, and I had fun watching them peruse. Of course, they all wanted to try on the high-heeled sneakers, but those are not to be fooled around with. I would never want anything bad to happen to the little darlings...

When the children gathered 'round me after the presentation, I could sense their excitement, and, of course, they all wanted to explore the Begonia House... who wouldn't?

The day was filled with magic, and I predict that I will see their sweet cherub faces again soon!

Now, I leave you with some good advice: When in doubt, and you must sort it out- trust your gut to know what's best, help yourself, then take a rest... I bid you farewell dearies.  

The Begonia House keeps its secrets. Everyone knows that. Everyone, that is, except for clever eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow, whose family has just moved in. Being the Senior Investigator in the Detective Mystery Squad, more commonly known as the DMS, she’s ready to uncover the mysteries hidden within the strange manor. As the investigation gears up and the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, the DMS enters into a world where anything is possible, and the danger is most definitely real. Follow along with Fairday and her friends, as spooky meets lovely in this twisting tale of dark secrets and hidden pasts.

Read the reviews for The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow 

Represented by Rachael Dugas with Talcott Notch Literary 

Scheduled to hit bookstores everywhere in August of 2015!
Brought to you by Krista Vitola at Delacorte/ Random House

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