My newest romantic adventure adult novel was just published by Black Opal Books:

THE LAVA LORD

Is available in both Paperback and E-Book NOW!

Kinley Wade is a damned good reporter, but she makes the mistake of volunteering for a not-so-glamorous gig in the dusty town of Bajito, Mexico, reporting on a festival that offers blood sacrifices to appease the volcano Gods. Once in Mexico, Kinley discovers that livestock is not the only living thing on the volcano’s menu. 

Accidentally becoming the next human sacrifice, she soon encounters other survivors who call themselves the Lazane Tribe, a group of people who were offered to the volcano and assumed long dead. Among them is Lars, personal guard to the Lava Lord, and Kinley’s ridiculously handsome captor. The only way to ever go back home to Chicago is to win the heart of the arcane Lava Lord. But if she leaves, the Lazane Tribe could lose everything. However, if she stays, she jeopardizes her heart. And her finely-honed reporter skills tell her that Lars is more than just an uncouth guard. In order to find out, she risks her freedom, while learning the hard way that she’s not nearly as tough—or as right—as she thinks she is.

Check it out now! 

Click HERE for The Lava Lord

Here's the 1ST REVIEW on THE LAVA LORD:

BEING SACRIFICED IS JUST THE BEGINNING.....

Interview with Author

DAN ELISH

I was so honored to be able to sit down with such an accomplished Author today! Dan Elish is a legend! With over 12 books out, tons of awards, musicals, and television shows under his belt, there isn't much Dan hasn't had his hand in. Today we'll mostly discuss THE WORLDWIDE DESSERT CONTEST but I couldn't resist sharing all of his other wonderful works for kids! 

  

About THE SCHOOL FOR THE INSANELY GIFTED....

Daphna Whispers is insanely gifted.

At age two and a half, she composed her first sonata.

At age eight, she completed an opera.

And now, at eleven and three-quarters, she is orchestrating a piano rhapsody.

With a résumé like that, it's no wonder she is a student at the prestigious Blatt School for the Insanely Gifted. But as sixth grade draws to a close, Daphna's mind is far from the upcoming "Insanity Cup" competition. She's preoccupied by her mother's disappearance two months ago.

When a mysterious man breaks into Daphna's small New York apartment, Daphna discovers that her mother's disappearance wasn't a random accident. Her mother knew something—and now somebody is after Daphna. What starts out as a simple fact-finding trip to the basement with her friends spirals into an international expedition. And while Daphna hopes to uncover the secret of her mother's disappearance on her global trek, the last thing she expects to uncover is an outrageous secret about the Blatt School.

And one insanely shocking secret about herself.

About THE WORLDWIDE DESSERT CONTEST....

For eleven years in a row, John Applefeller has entered his highly original apple desserts in The Worldwide Dessert Contest. And every year he’s watched his delectable treats turn into disasters while the evil Sylvester Sweet wins first prize. But this year, when John’s greatest creation, the world’s largest pancake, flops, he and his sidekicks decide to seek help from the king of dessert chefs, the magical Captain B. Rollie Ragoon. 

And now on to DAN ELISH, the mastermind behind the books...

Dan Elish is the author of the novel Nine Wives (St. Martins Press, 2005) and The Misadventures of Justin Hearnfeld (2008), both published by St. Martins Press. Dan is also the author of Born Too Short, Confessions of an 8th Grade Basket Case, which was picked as a Book for the Teenage 2003 by the New York Public Library and won a 2004 International Reading Association Students' Choice Award. He has also written several other novels for young adults including, The School for the Insanely Gifted, The Attack of the Frozen Woodchucks, 13, The Worldwide Dessert Contest, Jason and the Baseball Bear, and The Great Squirrel Uprising. "13," the musical for which he co-wrote the book with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown ran on Broadway from September 16, 2008 through January 4, 2009. In his career, Dan has also written non-fiction books for young adults, scripts for kids' TV shows (in particular Cyberchase (PBS)), music and lyrics for six musicals, funny corporate videos, and played piano for various Off-Broadway productions. He has received fellowships and scholarships to the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and is a member of the Dramatist Guild. Dan lives in New York City with his wife, daughter and son. Dan is represented by literary agent Matt Bialer at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

DAN, THANKS FOR JOINING THE BLONDE BOOKIE BLOG, LET'S JUMP RIGHT IN...

                        

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA AND TITLE FOR YOUR BOOK? 

I was first inspired to write a kids’ novel after re-reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I think it was that book’s brilliant usage of chocolate that made me think of a dessert contest. The plot took a long time to evolve though. My main character was always John Applefeller but in the first drafts he was an aggressive businessman who was trying to make money from apple pies. Gradually, through various drafts, Applefeller became a much kinder soul whose main goal is to win the annual Worldwide Dessert Contest. Once I got that idea, the title seemed obvious!

HERE'S MORE ON DAN'S WRITING PROCESS...HILARIOUS!

CAN I JUST SAY THAT THE PICTURES OF YOUR FIRST DRAFT BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES FOR ME. I LITERALLY HAVE THE SAME PAPERS--YELLOW AND LITTERED WITH CORRECTIONS AND PROBABLY TEARS. 

I LOVE THE TITLE AS WELL AS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS BOOK. DO YOU SHARE THE SAME SWEET TOOTH AS JOHN APPLEFELLER? 

Actually, I don’t bake that much but I do like dessert. My favorite is mocha chip ice cream. I’m sort of obsessed with it and, upon request, I can tell you about my favorite brands of any coffee or javachip flavor currently on sale in New York City.

WE DEFINITELY NEED TO CHAT AFTER ABOUT THAT. DID YOU DO ANYTHING INTERESTING OR FUN IN REGARDS TO RESEARCH FOR THE BOOK?

To be honest, not really. Mostly, it was a lot of imagination and a lot of rewriting. But one of my favorite parts of the book is our hero’s search for Captain B. Rollie Ragoon, a magical apple pie chef. It turns out that the Ragoon (as he is called) lives in Iambia, an island where everyone speaks in rhymes. I had fun writing those sections and my research had to do with re-reading my favorite Dr. Seuss books and investing in a rhyming dictionary.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE NEXT FROM YOU?

My most recent book is The School for the Insanely Gifted, a funny and suspenseful story about a school of outrageously gifted kids at a special school in New York. I’m currently working on another kids’ novel that I hope to complete soon. I also write musicals. I co-wrote the script for the musical “13” and another show of mine, Mann…and Wife, recently premiered in Oklahoma City at the Lyric Theater.

CHECK OUT DAN'S VIDEO INTRODUCING THE SCHOOL FOR THE INSANELY GIFTED. LOOOOOOOVE THIS!!!

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?

I see myself in John Applefeller. Actually, I think everyone has a bit of John Applefeller in him or her. Applefeller is a sweet guy who feels like a bit of a failure and desperately wants to prove himself and be a success in his chosen field. Who hasn’t felt like that sometimes?

WHEN AND HOW DID YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION TO A WRITER?

I made the slow transition during college. I didn’t write fiction and had no interest, but I did write musicals that were performed at school. That got me started.

WELL, I'M GLAD YOU MADE THE SHIFT TO FICTION. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?   

My personal favorite is this book: The Worldwide Dessert Contest. It’s perfectly zany, funny, and sweet. Also, it’s the first thing I ever published which makes it special to me. Also, I will say that The Worldwide Dessert Contest is the book of mine that has always gotten the best response when I read at schools. Kids seem to love it and I am quite grateful for that.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO PUBLISH THE WAY YOU DID? HAVE YOU HAD ANY HELP MARKETING THE BOOK?

The book came out initially in 1988, published by Orchard Books. The editor was Richard Jackson who was a huge name in publishing back then. (Over 20 Newbery Honors in his career). So it was a real thrill to work with him. Since I love the book, I just re-released a new version with the original cover and art myself.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER CREATIVE OUTLETS?

My main other creative outlet is piano. I play a fair amount, both classical (I love Chopin) and jazz and standards. 

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

Right now I’m working on a play that’s based on a YA novel of mine called Born Too Short.

I'LL HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR THAT. NOW, I ALWAYS ASK THIS QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?

At home.

OTHER THAN WRITING, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU ENJOY IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

Playing piano, reading, hanging with my wife and kids, playing softball.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS? 

If you love it, stick with it. There will be ups and downs. Keep your confidence up during the “downs” and keep working – the ups will come! Above all, keep working.

ABSOLUTELY! ALRIGHT, NOW ON TO....

DAN'S “BLONDE” BASICS:

FAVORITE FOOD? Mocha Chip ice cream (dessert). Chicken Tikka Masala (dinner)  

FAVORITE MOVIE? Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

FAVORITE BOOK? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or The Great Gatsby

FAVORITE SUPERHERO?  Batman

FAVORITE AUTHOR?  Hard to say – there are so many I like! 

AS I SAID EARLIER I JUST HAD TO INCLUDE SOME OF DAN'S OTHER GREAT BOOKS FOR KIDS....

       

THANKS DAN! SO GLAD YOU STOPPED IN. I LOVE ALL YOU DO FOR KIDS AND GETTING THEM TO READ. 

AND NOW HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND DAN AND ALL OF HIS WORKS.....

http://www.danelish.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Worldwide-Dessert-Contest-Dan-Elish/dp/1514429314/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458426287&sr=8-1&keywords=dan+elish

Here are excerpts from the reviews of The Worldwide Dessert Contest: 

From Booklist (starred review)
John Applefeller loves desserts. He especially loves apple desserts and his dream is to win the prestigious Worldwide Dessert Contest held each year in his very own town of Appleton. Not only does Applefeller never win, he always comes in last, because his desserts have the disconcerting habit of turning into other things. The perennial winner of the contest is Sylvester Sweet, the self-proclaimed King of Dessert, Captain of Consumption, and Duke of Decidedly Delicious, but who is, in fact, a bounder using a stolen recipe for his every-year entry, a double-chocolate-fudge-raspberry-coconut-lime swirl. Applefeller and his able assistant, a fifth grader named Stanley, are becoming decidedly discouraged, until they hear about a genius chef who might be able to help. The addition of Captain B. Rollie Ragoon to their team leads to some new recipes and recognition, as well as to the downfall of the sniveling Sweet. The plot goes down as easily as ice cream and is topped with plenty of laughs, both subtle and broad. Certainly its silliness makes for a pithy read-aloud and a booktalker's dream. Call this delicious. 

From Publisher’s Weekly: 
A little dash of Charlie and Chocolate Factory with a dash of Homer Price's donut maker, this novel pays homage to the longstanding rapport between children and sweets…Elish writes with a sure hand of this sugary world, his tongue squarely in the area of his sweet tooth. For his ability to praise desserts in an endlessly original fashion, he deserves a blue ribbon.

#TheSchoolfortheInsanelyGifted

#TheWorldwideDessertContest

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH 

JAKE KERR

Author of the TOMMY BLACK Series... 

ABOUT BOOK 1:
For fourteen-year-old Tommy Black, nothing is worse than being raised by an overprotective grandfather in the city that never sleeps. That is until his grandfather is captured by magical creatures and Tommy has to save him with his family's magical staff.

That wouldn't be so bad, but the only magic he can do with the staff is weak--making light. What the heck can you do with light? 

Tommy finds out as he fights golems, shadow creatures, and djinn in a journey that features a magical river, an enchanted train, and an illusionary fortress. But the worst part of all? Tommy has to save his grandfather with the help of Naomi, a girl whose talent with magic is only rivaled by her ability to hurl insults.

In this novel full of action and adventure, Tommy Black continues the tradition of young heroes finding their place in a formerly unknown magical world. Like Harry Potter, Tommy has a magical legacy thrust upon him from out of nowhere. He must not only understand this responsibility but the forces that are suddenly arrayed against him. Like Percy Jackson, mythology is plays a central role. And like both heroes, one of Tommy's best friends is a strong independent girl, who is a valuable ally while being headstrong and often difficult. 

From Nebula, Sturgeon, and Million Writers Award nominee Jake Kerr comes the Tommy Black trilogy, an action adventure series for boys, girls, and readers of all ages.

ABOUT BOOK 2: 
In this widely anticipated second volume of the Tommy Black series, Tommy finds himself searching for magical artifacts and fighting Nazi magicians in World War 2 Europe. 

Dedicated to reshaping his family's legacy, Tommy Black has spent two years mastering the powerful Staff of Light and freeing the magical creatures in England. While he was focusing on his personal mission, however, Germany had invaded Europe, igniting the flames of world war. 

Desiring to help, Tommy volunteers to free the magical creatures in Germany to disrupt the Nazi war machine. Joined by his friend, the powerful magician Naomi, and two others, the group soon discover an extraordinary secret that changes everything--Tommy may not be the only Archmage in the world.

NOW ABOUT THE DELIGHTFUL AUTHOR, JAKE KERR: 

Receive a free book of Jake's short stories by joining his mailing list here: http://bit.ly/1xNOs1o

After fifteen years as a music industry journalist Jake Kerr's first published story, "The Old Equations," was nominated for the Nebula Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America and was shortlisted for the Theodore Sturgeon and StorySouth Million Writers awards. His stories have subsequently been published in magazines across the world, broadcast in multiple podcasts, and been published in multiple anthologies and year's best collections.

A graduate of Kenyon College, Kerr studied fiction under Ursula K. Le Guin and Peruvian playwright Alonso Alegria. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and three daughters.

HI JAKE! THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOK. 

I’m a former music journalist who turned to writing about ten years ago. I started out writing short fiction, where I have had some success with award nominations from the Science Fiction Writers of America and others. My stories have been translated in China, France, Poland, and elsewhere. In 2015, I released my first novel, the kids book Tommy Black and the Staff of Light. My current book is the second in the Tommy Black series—Tommy Black and the Coat of Invincibility.

YOU'VE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY! WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?

I’ve wanted to be a writer my whole life, and I actually got paid a salary to write for quite a few years as a journalist/columnist, but I’ve always loved day dreaming and reading amazing tales. So the draw of writing fiction was always there. But to my mind, I didn’t become a writer until I finished my first story, and that was a long journey of wishing to be a writer while not doing any writing at all. When I finally started to actually create stories on the page—that was when I became a writer.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT? 

My very first published story—“The Old Equations”—was nominated for the Nebula, Sturgeon Memorial, and StorySouth Million Writers awards.

WOW, THAT'S HUGE! WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?

How slow it goes. It is a real challenge for people with rich imaginations to start writing because your mind envisions the story and scene much faster than you can write it. So you need to purposefully slow down and not “dream ahead.” It’s harder than it sounds. After all, the story you are writing is exciting, and you are writing it because you love it. Even as you write you are a reader, and the desire to rush ahead is very strong. Resisting that is what I find hardest.

I AM ABSOLUTELY THE SAME WAY. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

I am currently working on a re-imagining of G.K. Chesterton’s 1906 novel The Man Who Was Thursday. I’m taking Chesterton’s story and moving it to a virtual reality world in the near future. I decided to do it because I love the original, and this seemed like a lot of fun. After that I will be working on book five of my Guildmaster Thief Omnibus series.

YOU HAVE A TON OF BOOKS OUT. WHAT GENRE(S) DO YOU WRITE OR WISH TO WRITE?

Fantasy and science fiction. Although I’ve written literary short stories that have been published. But from the time I learned to read my heart has always been with fantasy and science fiction.

DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?  IF SO, HOW DO YOU GET PAST IT? 

Not so much. More than anything I suffer from writer’s impatience. I have so many stories that I want to write.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?

I really don’t have a “favorite” place. I usually write on my laptop in bed, but it’s not a writer’s den or creative cocoon or anything like that. I guess I tend to write in practical locations—airplanes, hotel rooms, on my bed, in a coffee shop. Wherever I can type.

LAPTOP IN BED IS MY SPOT TOO. WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?

A mother who had lost her child said that my story “The Old Equations” reminded her of her loss in a deeply touching way. It’s a story about love and loss, so the comment was very moving and meaningful to me. That’s what you want to do as a writer—touch a reader in a way that resonates with them.

WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?

The same story that touched the mother who had lost her child was called “one of the worst science fiction stories I have ever read” by a fellow writer in the comments section of the online magazine that published it. You quickly learn that you can’t please everyone.

AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH! OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE? 

I love watching my three daughters grow up. They fill me with such joy.

DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?

I’m lucky in that my wife is a formidable editor. So while she is not a professional, she is extremely good. In addition to her, I do use a second professional editor.

YOU LUCKED OUT WITH YOUR WIFE! GOOD EDITORS ARE HARD TO FIND. HOW DID YOUR BOOK COVER COME TO FRUITION?   

M.S. Corley is my cover artist, and I noticed his work on a book from a friend of mine. My friend introduced us, and I paid him for Tommy Black and the Staff of Light, and it was so amazing I, of course, hired him to do the covers for the rest of the series.

I LOVE THE 2 OUT SO FAR. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?

That’s a tough question. I guess I see my idealized self in some of my characters or at least pieces of myself. But I don’t consciously do that. It just kind of happens.

WHICH DO YOU PREFER – SELF PUBLISHING OR TRADITIONAL?

I enjoy the creative process in all its variations to traditionally publish in anything other then very specific circumstances. It would pain me not to be able to be involved in the cover or book design.

DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?

Not at all. I find it quite easy to navigate. Of course, I’m not dealing with publishers.

DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?

Never. 

GOOD! HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?

Another tough question. I guess success to me is really nothing more than having a lot of people share my daydreams by reading my books.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?

Read widely. Even if you just love fantasy, read a lot of different genres, eras, and cultures. Stock your writers toolbox with as many tools as you can, and the only way to do that is to experience them.

ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?

I was blonde up until about the age of ten. So I like to think that I’m at home here.

LOL! YOU SURE ARE AT HOME HERE! I KNEW I LIKED YOU FOR A REASON. 

NOW FOR JAKE'S “BLONDE” BASICS:

• FAVORITE FOOD?  Sushi
• FAVORITE MOVIE? The Matrix
• FAVORITE BOOK? The Great Gatsby
• FAVORITE SUPERHERO?  The Hulk
• FAVORITE AUTHOR?  Edgar Rice Burroughs

PRETTY GOOD FOR AN ACTUAL BLONDE!

AND HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND JAKE AND HIS BOOKS: 

• Tommy Black series page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B01B28MWQI/
• Tommy Black website: http://www.tommyblackseries.com
• Guildmaster Thief series page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A88PDT6/
• Jake Kerr on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jakedfw
• Jake Kerr on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjakekerr

THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE BLONDE BOOKIE TODAY!

#tommyblack

#jakekerr

MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN

Author Interview with COURTNEY KING WALKER

Hidden somewhere in the fog of the San Francisco bay lies Blue Rock Island, home to the bay area s two best-kept secrets: Bell s Bluff, the old, abandoned prison on one side of the island, and the Night Train, a mysterious train ride on the other. When twelve-year-old Molly Pepper receives a secret invitation promising a night of magic and adventure aboard the Night Train, she is skeptical. In her experience, most promises prove too good to be true. The fact that she lost her mom is proof enough.

Still, Molly gives hope another chance. Together with her loyal friend, Noah Wonderly, they sneak out of the house and follow a string of clues leading to the Night Train. But when the train stops at Bell's Bluff, Molly discovers the real reason she was invited. There, she starts to wonder if hope and magic not only fix broken promises; but make you believe in them again.

Courtney King Walker's other works (in the YA genre) include: 

   

And now for the lovely COURTNEY KING WALKER....

Courtney King Walker grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area building rocket ships and rafts out of cardboard, hoping to make it the moon or at least Niagara Falls. But a trip across the border to Tijuana was as exciting as it ever got, so she decided writing about adventure was the next best thing. She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and four children, and still dreams of flying to the moon. Her YA debut, ON THE FRINGE, was published in 2011 by Lands Atlantic Publishing.

SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY, COURTNEY!
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOK.  

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in a small town called Walnut Creek. My dad was a policeman, just like Molly’s dad in the book, and I even got to go on midnight excursions with him to watch all the donuts being made! The magic and loves from my childhood are what still drive me to write new stories, and Molly Pepper and the Night Train is especially close to my heart. Set on a fictional island near Alcatraz (but similar to the actual Angel Island), this is a story of a young girl who is suffering loss but who knows she needs to forge ahead anyway. With the help of those closest to her, Molly takes the spectacular Night Train in hopes of finding a little more adventure in her life, and along the way discovers that a little bit of hope and magic have a way of fixing broken promises and making you believe again. 

 IT SOUNDS GREAT! WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER? 

I’ve always loved telling stories and writing them down. I have written many over the years but didn’t consider trying to publish anything until I wrote On The Fringe, a YA ghost story in 2008, which was published in 2011.

 I LIKE THE TRAILER (above) FOR THAT BOOK! WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT? 

Having a child come up to me and tell me that Molly Pepper and the Night Train is their favorite book. Melts my heart every time!

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER? 

Staying focused. You’re either all in or all out when you’re writing or it’s impossible to connect to the characters and write from your heart—but that means total silence and no distractions, which is a golden period that only happens at night. Late at night.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT? 

I just published my third novel, Chasing Midnight, which is a YA twist on Cinderella, so I’ve been promoting that quite a bit lately. But I’m also still writing, and I’m so excited about this story that I can’t stand it. I can’t give many details other than it’s a Young Adult mystery/thriller, and I’m almost done!

THAT'S EXCITING! WHAT GENRE(S) DO YOU WRITE OR WISH TO WRITE? 

MG and YA.

DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?  IF SO, HOW DO YOU GET PAST IT?  
Music! It’s the best way to get inspired. Second, maybe watching a movie to get some ideas.

WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER? 

It’s a tie, both from Molly Pepper and the Night Train reviews. These seriously nearly brought tears to my eyes: 1. “This book was charming and boasts one of the sweetest endings in children's literature that I've read in a long time.” And 2. "I am literally sitting here crying about the surprise message he leaves for him.  I want to be these people for my daughters.  This book leaves me wanting to be a better parent, to be encouraging and freeing.  To be the parent, not their friend, and to be their support." 

THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY MOVING REVIEW. WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER? 

Oh, there are always plenty of those, but I try not to dwell on them!

OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE? 

I love watching movies with my family, warm summer days, hiking in the mountains, all kinds of music, chocolate, and love stories. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS? 

My biggest tip is not to be in a hurry. And that says a lot, coming from me. I have always been rushing through things my whole life. I even remember my Grandpa yelling at me to “slow down, kid,” more than once when I was a teenager. But I’ve since learned that the rushing your writing, strips you of the whole reason you’re writing in the first place. If you’re rushing, then it’s for someone else. If you’re rushing, then it’s for something else. Take your time with every word, every phrase, every picture in your head. Make it the best you can. Savor it, like you would anything else you love that much. The result will be so much better and you will be that much happier.

ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD? 

Thanks for taking the time for interviewing me about Molly Pepper!

GLAD TO HAVE YOU!

And now for the Speed Round of Questions...

COURTNEY's “BLONDE” BASICS:

FAVORITE FOOD?  Sushi

FAVORITE MOVIE? Ocean’s Eleven

FAVORITE BOOK? Classic: The Count of Monte Cristo / Non-classic: The Wednesday Wars

FAVORITE SUPERHERO?  Does Oliver Queen count?

FAVORITE AUTHOR?  Gary D. Schmidt and C.S. Lewis

YES ON OLIVER QUEEN!!! :)  COURTNEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING THE BLONDE BOOKIE BLOG TODAY! 

NOW, HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND COURTNEY AND HER BOOK:

WEBSITE - http://www.courtneykingwalker.com/

GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23008023-molly-pepper-and-the-night-train

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Molly-Pepper-Night-Courtney-Walker-ebook/dp/B00TUGZ262/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455667759&sr=1-1&keywords=molly+pepper+and+the+night+train&linkCode=sl1&tag=bookandlatte-20&linkId=0d3925556753827de80e705dcb491f66

Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/molly-pepper-the-night-train-courtney-king-walker/1121441830?ean=9780985725051

#mollypepperandthenighttrain
#courtneykingwalker
#onthefringe
#chasingmidnight

ALL THINGS AUDIE

As promised, I have just released 8 BOOKS 

in THE ANGEL ARCHIVES series!

In addition to the Middle Grade fantasy TRILOGY... 

VOL 1: Audie the Angel & THE ANGEL ARMY

VOL 2: Audie the Angel & THE AGING PLAGUE

VOL 3: Audie the Angel & THE AFTERWORLD

  

I have now published 6 Short Stories told from the view of your favorite Angel Army characters! These can be read in no particular order and include a 

"Future Writer Workbook"
that teaches the young Readers to write their own stories! 

BENNEZ & DAREL'S STORMY SECRET

CATHETEL'S CREATURE

GABI'S MYSTERY MESSAGE

PANCIA'S CITY OF SWORDS

TALIHAD'S MERMAID TRIBE

YAHEL'S LAND OF LOCKS

  

  

And in addition to ALL THAT, I have also partnered with the talented 

Illustrator - Iwan Darmawan - to create Audie's Younger Years:

THE ANGEL EGG - Picture Book

AUDIE'S ORIGINS - Coloring Book

 

ALL are available NOW on Amazon (just click the covers above).
They are all available in Paperback AND E-Book!

Volume One is ONLY $0.99 in E-Book format, so grab it now for your Kindle! :)

This completes THE ANGEL ARCHIVES series....at least for now :)

There maaaaay be one more 

FINAL BOOK coming SOON. 

A grateful THANK YOU to Jane Brencic for her Editing
assistance with the Short Story Series!

And I just want to say a huge THANK YOU
to Iwan Darmawan for his illustrations
and making young Audie come to life!
Isn't she beautiful?! 

#audietheangel

#theangelarchives

BOOK REVIEW AND AUTHOR INTERVIEW!

Nickerbacher The Funniest Dragon 

by Terry John Barto

"Dragon" You Along On A Comical Tale!  Children's Book Celebrates Fulfilling Your Dreams.

A dragon named Nickerbacher guards a princess because his papa told him to. However, he practices his jokes on Princess Gwendolyn, as he yearns to be a stand-up comedian. The young dragon gets up the nerve to tell his papa about his dream and is sternly reminded of his dragonly duty. Later that day, Prince Happenstance arrives for the princess and repeatedly challenges the dragon to fight. The opponents manage to find common ground and Nickerbacher leaves for the big city to pursue his dream.

Nickerbacher is the only dragon who wants to make people laugh. And in the process, he encourages the prince (and kids) to be themselves and follow their dreams.

Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon is the winner of the Royal Dragonfly Book Award 1st place Picture Book 6 & older, National Parenting Publications Award, Family Review Center Best of the Year, Readers' Favorite International Book Award - Gold, IndieReader Approved, BlueInk Review's Best Books of 2015, Children's Literary Classics Seal of Approval, CIPA EVVY Gold Award.

FIRST, LET'S START WITH THE BOOK REVIEW: 

MY BLONDE REVIEW: 

I adored the message to go after your dreams, no matter how far out of the scope they may seem. And for a dragon who would rather fire up jokes rather than breathe fire at foes, I’d call that the furthest thing from the scope. The book also made it clear that even big bold creatures can be fearful to be their true self. And that it’s important to stand strong and be who you are inside. Sometimes what your parents want for you may not be your best and only option.  

I think this can be enjoyed by both boys and girls alike. The book is clean and heartfelt. There is a warming feeling as Nickerbacher’s family (perhaps after some slight reluctance) is supportive of his dream. I also loved how Nickerbacher was joined in his freedom of dreaming with the prince he was supposed to fight. It proves that having dreams can be a universal language. In addition, since this was a picture book and I am coo-coo over fonts, I did enjoy the chosen font, colors, as well as found the art absolutely eye catching! I also loved the creative “Nickerbacher on Tour” sign at the end. My daughter giggled as I read them off to her!

And speaking of her: my 4 year-old daughter’s favorite parts were the pictures, the princess’s tower, and when Nickerbacher met his parents backstage at his show.

Overall, we had a blast reading this and I don’t think kids will be able to resist the strong message within! 

MY SCORE:  5 out of 5 Blonde Stars! 

 

AND NOW, FOR THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW. HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TERRY JOHN BARTO: 

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THE GREAT NAME

NICKERBACHER?  

It just came to me after I thought up the overall idea. The part that took the longest was how to spell it. There’s the Knickerbocher Hotel and I knew I didn’t want it to start with a K, then the reason I went with bach for the 3^rd syllable is a tribute to the classical composer.

YOUR CHARACTER LIKES TO DO STAND-UP COMEDY, DO YOU SHARE THAT

PASSION? 

No, but I have some good friends who do stand-up. I come from a theatre background so the similarities are the stage aspect.

 IF NOT, DID YOU PRACTICE ANY STAND-UP FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES FOR

THE BOOK? IF SO, HOW DID IT GO OVER? WHAT WAS YOUR BEST JOKE?  

I went to see comedy shows but didn’t perform. The jokes in the story were hard to do and I put a ton of thought into them. I consulted my friends in the “business” and went back & forth with my editor before finalizing. Maybe some good jokes ended up on the cutting room floor. The last page has a list of places Nickerbacher goes to on tour. That was because we had so many neat names but only needed one for the actual story.

SO YOU’VE DONE TURKEYS AND DRAGONS, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE

NEXT? 

I’m working on a story about a surfer. I was raised in Huntington Beach, California, the surfing capital of the world, so it’s a bit more familiar.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS? 

The dreamer part is all me!

FROM THEATER AND TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS, WHEN AND HOW DID

YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION TO A WRITER? 

An actress that I was directing in a show had some ideas for animation. She asked me to be Creative Director of the production company she was starting. I used my story telling abilities to help hone and develop her stories. After that, I used the experience I gained and started developing my own ideas.

WHEN YOU WERE THE CREATIVE FORCE BEHIND LIVE SHOWS, WERE YOU

ABLE TO TAKE CRUISE SHIPS AND WATCH THEM IN-PERSON? 

Yes, I oversaw the first show I did for Princess Cruises, on the ship after rehearsing in a studio in Los Angeles. The show went on for 5 years on 2 ships whereas I didn’t see any of those productions.

CONGRATS ON ALL OF YOUR AWARDS FOR NICKERBACHER! AFTER

WINNING SO MANY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING

ACHIEVEMENT? 

I’m really proud of all the recognition we’ve gotten. But I would say the Story Monster Award is the greatest ‘cause kids chose it. We got a perfect score for that award which apparently has never happened. Most recently, we got first place with Writer’s Digest for the e-book version, which is pretty cool too.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO PUBLISH WITH AUTHOR HOUSE? HAVE THEY

DONE A LOT FOR HELPING YOU MARKET THE BOOK? 

Their connection with Penguin Random House. Yes, they helped but I did a lot of marketing myself.

HOW WERE YOUR ILLUSTRATORS CHOSEN FOR BOTH BOOKS?

My editor is a friend with Kim Sponaugle who I had watching for a while. I loved her versatility and it seemed to be a perfect fit for Nickerbacher.

For Gollywood, Here I Come! I was originally going to use someone I worked with at the Production Company where I was Creative Director. It turned out she couldn’t fit it into her schedule. I found Mattia Cerato through a recommendation of a friend who has an animation company. I guess my gut feeling was that he’d be perfect and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

THE ARTWORK IS INCREDIBLE IN THE STORY. HOW MUCH INPUT DID YOU

HAVE IN THE CREATIVE DIRECTION?

I had a lot of input with both stories but in different ways. Kim & I discussed each scenario at length and worked it out together before she started. Just the cover was a process that took more then a month. In one scene where Nickerbacher is practicing in his room, we wanted pictures of his comedy idols on the wall. Kim worked from actual headshots of my friends in the business.

With Mattia, I extensively laid out what each scenario should be. Since he was in Italy, I had to write everything out. I also sent him a book on Southern California in the 1950’s to give him a sense of the style I was looking for. And he came back with artwork that was above & beyond. With both books, there are first drafts and discussions on any changes needed. It was a huge process and very fun. These artists were a dream to work with.

YOUR BLOG IS FANTASTIC WITH THE TALL, TALL TOWER. SO MUCH FUN!

DID YOU PARTNER WITH THE SAME ARTIST FOR IT? 

No, it was a template I found before we even started. I thought it would be good for what I had in mind.

THERE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A BETTER TEMPLATE! YOUR CAREER

PORTFOLIO IS AN INSPIRATION! AMONG WRITING, DIRECTING,

CHOREOGRAPHING, FILM, ETC, WHICH CREATIVE OUTLET IS YOUR

FAVORITE? 

Stage was a true love for me and I will always enjoy getting back to it. I had done so much of it that it was really nice to do something different.

 I ALWAYS FIND THIS INTERESTING…DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO

WRITE? 

Not so much a favorite place but I loved having my dog at my side. I originally thought up Nickerbacher’s story in a car during a long ride. I finally had to pull off the freeway and write it down on an In & Out Burger bag. Then, of course, I spent a few years refining it.

OTHER THAN WRITING, I KNOW THAT YOU LIKE YOGA AND PILATES. IS

THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU ENJOY IN YOUR SPARE TIME? 

Being with my family and walking my dogs. I now have 2 dachshunds.

SINCE CLEARLY YOU ARE DOING THIS RIGHT, DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR

NEW WRITERS? J 

Persistence and determination. It’s hard when rejection is involved, but stick with it. Because if you stop writing and putting yourself out there, it for sure won’t happen.

ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD? 

I’d just like to sincerely thank you for interviewing me and taking the time to review our

book.

                  READING YOUR BOOK AND SPEAKING WITH YOU HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE                             PLEASURE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! AND NOW FOR....

TERRY'S “BLONDE” BASICS:

FAVORITE FOOD?  Mexican

FAVORITE MOVIE? Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

FAVORITE BOOK? The Little Prince

FAVORITE SUPERHERO?  Wonder Woman

FAVORITE AUTHOR?  Mark Twain

Here's where you can find Terry: 

http://www.nickerbacher.com/

http://nickerbacherdgon.tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/NickerbacherFun

https://www.facebook.com/nickerbacherthefunniestdragon

https://youtu.be/HChGIJz3Pfo

http://www.gollywoodhereicome.com/

http://tjbkids.tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/Gobbleville

https://www.facebook.com/gollywoodhereIcome

https://youtu.be/w1EB_pDaBXs