Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Mystery's Knocking at Your Door!




This week we're building suspense! Friday we'll be sharing a chapter excerpt that will keep you on the edge of your seat, so be sure to check back.  

The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow is available for pre-order. Be the first to help Fairday and her friends solve the mystery of the Begonia House. 


“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.”


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 New York City and her best friend, Lizzy, the only other member of the elite Detective Mystery Squad (DMS), 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 an ancient mirror, a brass key, and a strange picture of a red-haired lady are the first in a series of clues that takes the members of the Detective Mystery Squad on an amazing adventure.




Here's a tease for the Friday excerpt...

Fairday wasn’t sleeping well her first night at the Begonia House. Tossing and turning, she listened to the sounds of her new surroundings. The old house clanged and groaned...


Stephanie Robinson & Jessica Haight

How well do you know the authors?

Can you guess which two statements are the truth, and which is a lie?

Those who guess correctly will be entered to win a surprise book bundle. We're withholding the prize titles, because... suspense! That's why. ;)   

Jessica Haight is a true New Englander, with a deep desire to be near the ocean and a love of the four seasons. She enjoys drawing while standing up and cultivating magic in her garden. She easily floats away in the pages of a good story and is still waiting for her owl from Hogwarts. Jessica lives in Connecticut with her charming fiancé, James; dog, Jack; cat, Bill; and a very entitled bunny named Alice.  

1. I don't have a TV, but I do like to watch a little entertainment each night on Netflix. The feature playing is usually Xena or MASH, sometimes I sprinkle in The Twilight Zone, or Bewitched. 

2. I have an interesting relationship with numbers, and I like to relax by putting together math puzzles and solving word problems. Fractions are my favorite to play with.

3. The only pencil I like to draw with is a Ticonderoga #2, it's all about the eraser. When I was a kid, I had an art teacher that told me a real artist never erases. My rebellious nature presented itself in the fact that 50% of my art is creating interesting negative space with the eraser. 




Stephanie Robinson lives with her husband in a quiet town, though not as quaint as Ashpot. After teaching fifth grade for almost fifteen years, she is now enjoying her role as a school media specialist. One of the many benefits of her job is that she learns something new every day. When Stephanie isn't working, she spends her time creating stories, getting lost in books, and traveling to new places. 

1. As a child, I was such an avid reader that I would get a temporary library card every summer when I went to visit my grandparents in Minnesota. I would read the books I brought and then walk to the library to get another stack of books to make it though the next week.

2. I love the peace of the morning and I get up early every day to write. A week doesn't go by that I don't watch the sunrise as I write at my computer.

3. In third grade I learned how to wiggle my ears by accident. Now I can wiggle my ears at will.

Tell us which statements you think are true or not true about Jess and Stephanie.


TO BE REVEALED...

 
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Answer to Monday's Riddle: The Mystery!

What will the last piece of the puzzle reveal?

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! We're keeping you in suspense. We have a secret to share, so stay tuned. See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Sitting on the edge of your seat, your eyes wish for words to meet. You'll flip by scenes of action or prose. What will happen? Who really knows? The pass is tricky, the character's deep, the house looks haunted, the family's asleep. Anything's possible when thoughts come to mind. Let them flow, then see what you find. There's always a signpost set up for you, connecting the way with a hint or a clue. Should you decide you need to know, this is the feeling that's sure to grow.  

What am I referring to? Answer: Suspense! 


Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats







Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Monday, August 17, 2015

Monday's Riddle: Caught Up In...


Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? We've got a secret to share... ; ) ~ F

Sitting on the edge of your seat, your eyes wish for words to meet. You'll flip by scenes of action or prose. What will happen? Who really knows? The pass is tricky, the character's deep, the house looks haunted, the family's asleep. Anything's possible when thoughts come to mind. Let them flow, then see what you find. There's always a signpost set up for you, connecting the way with a hint or a clue. Should you decide you need to know, this is the feeling that's sure to grow.  

What am I referring to?

I gave you a clue!


Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Friday, August 14, 2015

Piper Morgan Joins the Circus


We are happy to help our good friend, Stephanie Faris, spread the news about her new book, Piper Morgan Joins the Circus, to be be released in 2016. 

We revealed the cover on Wednesday, and today Stephanie will share a little about her experience writing the story. 
Learning About the Circus 
by Stephanie Faris

Do you know what’s frustrating about writing about the circus? There never seems to be one in town when you need it! I spent hours watching circus videos on YouTube, but I had the feeling being there would be so much more helpful. I contacted the biggest circus company’s PR department but I couldn’t get a response. I have to admit I was hoping they’d hear I was writing a book and give me a behind-the-scenes tour the next time they were in the area! No such luck.


But I have my editor, Alyson Heller, to thank for one of the biggest things I learned about the circus. Originally I had my characters traveling by train because my research shows that Ringling Bros. Circus travels by train. But she asked a question that prompted me to dig a little deeper. While trains have proven to be a great way to transport the heavy equipment and animals in a circus, most circuses travel by bus and RV. But Ringling Bros. still travels by train—there are even YouTube videos of them passing through towns.

Is this the most reasonable form of transportation? Probably not. But Ringling Bros. seems to like the ceremony and tradition of it all. Plus, it’s a fun way for the circus performers to live.


I also stopped to think about the fact that circuses aren’t in tents anymore. I knew this, of course, but I never really thought about it. I never attended a circus in a tent, yet I watched a movie as a kid where they showed circuses in tents. Doesn’t it seem like it would be more fun to attend a circus under a “big top” rather than in a big auditorium?


What’s most amazing to me about the circus is that children are born into it. Entire generations become circus performers, with kids training from a young age to be trapeze artists, animal trainers, and tightrope walkers. What an exciting environment for a kid!

When was the last time you went to the circus?

Coming to town in 2016