Author: Nikki Mitchell is the award-winning American author of the Middle Grade Portal Fantasy trilogy; Eleanor Mason’s Literary Adventures, and The Magic Shoebox Adventures.
She is a native of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and lives there with her husband, two children, two rabbits, three cats, and a dog. She is a proud member of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA). As a mom of a child with ADHD and a sensory processing disorder (SPD), she continues to write fantasy tales with disabled characters, and characters with ADHD, anxiety, and Autism. Book Title: Season of Dragons - #1 in the Magic Shoebox Series Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy Book Synopsis: What would you do if you found a dragon egg at your bus stop? Ichabod Surname never imagined he’d be spending a Friday afternoon cross-country skiing with a grandma dragon—but that’s exactly what happens when he finds a giant egg on the way to school. For as long as he can remember, he has been at war with his siblings because he thinks outside of the box. He stays invisible at home and school, but for the first time in his life, he may be the key to restoring the weather and happiness in the village of Hasir. Can Ichabod and Gran fix what has gone awry and end the sibling war before Ichabod’s science teacher notices he is gone? --an enchanting fantasy about finding family, unexpected friendships, and the importance of being true to who you are.*The Magic Shoebox Adventure books feature: --easy-to-read chapters for all readers --ADHD representation --Fun adventure for the whole family Find The Book: https://amzn.to/3TWSyrz Visit Nickki’s Website: https://beacons.ai/nikki_mitchell YouTube: https://youtu.be/tbxBc-knT2g Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/8r63zsfb
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About The Author: Lisa Jacovsky currently lives in her hometown of North Brunswick, NJ. She works as a Child Development Specialist with Early Intervention. In her job she is able to help children under the age of three with cognitive and developmental delays, sometimes with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has been working in the field of applied behavior analysis for eight years and this is where she had inspiration for writing her very first series, Lets Talk!. Her hopes for this series are to simply inspire families and their children to be open to anyone no matter their differences. There will be six books in the series, with the fourth in production right now! Lisa has always loved writing and hopes to use this way of expression to show the beauty that is in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Title: Happy Thoughts! Going To The Aquarium Genre: Children’s Book Synopsis: Emma is so excited to be going on lots of adventures with her best friends Harper and Jerry! She happens to have autism and talks differently than other kids but she has never let that stop her. In their newest adventure the friends are going to the aquarium for the first time. Narrated by Emma, she will take you on a journey of having to learn how to make a new friend even though she is very nervous. Sometimes she has anxiety when new people try to talk to her but with the help of her best friends, she learns how to get past it. Come along on this fun journey to the aquarium and hear it from Emma's point of view for the first time. Find The Book: https://amzn.to/3PI7A1V Visit Lisa’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.jacovsky YouTube: https://youtu.be/d_gCK7wtpsc Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/nffm446c In this delightful children's book, we get to ride the waves with a wonderful pup who reminds us that it's okay to be scared, and never give up. This story resonates with me in all three of the roles I live; as a dog lover, an author, and a mom. Stories for children should clearly describe a problem or fear, and then help little ones understand a clear path to growing past the challenge. This story about a fearful pup who learns to trust his human and conquer the waves checks that box easily, with a flow that is simple for children to understand and fun for adults to read. It is unusual to find a dog who surfs, and this story, while depicting true events, tickles at the imagination, encouraging little minds to believe nothing is impossible. The illustrations are bright and fun, while remaining realistic. The illustrations are a strong artistic impression of James and Church. They remind us that this story is about real life, while remaining whimsical. This is a book, that if my son was still young, would certainly be on his "most requested" list of fun stories... and honestly, it's on mine, too. PS. This book is part of an exciting Kickstarter program where you can get your own Church plush! Check it out! https://tinyurl.com/2rk5kazx I find it interesting that as we age, our perception of time also changes. When I was a student, the year began in September. I returned to school after the long summer separation from my friends and found myself once again immersed in the creativity of music, writing, and theatre we all shared. Oh, sure, I worked theatre in the summertime, and read, and wrote a lot… but doing all those things with a familiar group of personalities was how I found comfort. So, the year “started” for me in Autumn. Now, a few decades past my years as a student, and Spring has arrived. At this stage of my life, this is when my year begins. April (at least in Michigan) is the beginning of Festival Season in the book world. This is the time of year when Indie Authors begin to schedule personal appearances, book talks, and signing events. As an adult devoted to the written word, I find Festival Season to be the best herald of Spring. Time spent with my writerly friends is a rejuvenation of silliness after a long winter cooped up indoors, without only connection except the insanity we can create on Zoom. But now… now, we get to stand together outdoors under tents, indoors at tables, laughing, playing, selling books, and talking about the writing craft. Each year, I review my checklist for Festival prep. And each year, I discover new things to change about the way I engage. Some of the things on the list are redundant – I’ve been doing this for a while now, and those things are a matter of routine. Other things, sometimes small, nuanced things, I discover as positive, and work to incorporate them into the list for future events. Here’s a bit of what I’ve learned over the years. I thought I would share… not only so I can check things off my list, but also to assist those who may be new to the adventure of Book Festival Season. Take what you will, use it if it works for you, disregard the rest. May you sell lots and meet tons of fascinating people.
I hope you’ve found some value in the ideas I’ve presented here, and I hope you sell LOTS this year! Happy Writing! Happy Selling! But most of all, have fun making new friends during the 2024 Book Festival Season!!
Today, we celebrate a new project coming to Kickstarter on April 1, 2024, with Louisiana Indie Author, Melinda Falgoust. In her new children's board book, "Church Da Surfin' Staffy," Melinda tells an endearing true tale of 'ohana (family) and malama (caring) through the eyes of a Hawaiian surf pup turned therapy dog. THIS EPISODE INCLUDES THE PUBLIC DEBUT READING OF THE BOOK BY THE AUTHOR! Title: Church Da Surfin' Staffy Genre: Children's Board Book Book Synopsis: When a lonely puppy named Church finds his "fur-ever" home on a surfboard with a boy named James, life is pretty maika'i (awesome). But when the local surf pup steps up to earn his official service animal rating, and starts working to help others overcome their fears and anxiety, it gets even better. This adorable and heartfelt true story celebrates the Hawaiian practice of malama (caring) and invites readers big and small to join Church's 'ohana - an ever-growing family around the world - all of whom share Church's happy philosophy: to face whatever life throws at you together with a smile and laughter. Follow this link to discover more about this extraordinary Kickstarter campaign and how you can support the important work of saving animals in shelters and lending aid to the victims of last year's Hawaiian wildfires. There are several levels of sponsorship for this project, each with its own limited, exclusive reward. But you'll want to act fast. The Kickstarter opens on April 1, 2024, and only lasts 30 days. Follow the links below to learn more about this amazing project and how you can help! Find The Kickstarter Page Here: https://tinyurl.com/2whuzzhj Find Church's Facebook Page Here: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchSurfs Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CPUIuZD2C1k Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/zhtjnthm About The Author: Jan Mau Hill was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her career was in advertising and corporate marketing before transitioning to be a full-time writer. She lived for decades in the beautiful Pacific Northwest which inspired the setting of her first book. Currently, she’s back in the deep-south where she tends to speak her mind and raise some Cain.
Book Title: Rock Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy Book Synopsis: Reputation Trashed. Labeled a Terrorist. No one said life was easy. In retrospect, seventeen-year-old Samara Yancy should not have taken the shortcut on her final exam. Her expulsion from The Guardian Academy forces her to look for work beyond the protections of her home on The Rock. A job on The Mainland seems like the answer to her problems. Working for Mages has a downside. Besides their magic, which can kill, Sam’s affiliation with them makes her the prime suspect in a terrorist attack. In order to clear her name, she must join forces with those who view her as the enemy. Lies and manipulation block her attempts to get at the truth. But all that digging unearths a family secret she never wanted to know. As well as discovering a powerful enemy who wants her dead. Sam is stuck between The Rock and a hard place, with no one to blame but herself. Find the Book Here: https://amzn.to/4aIFj42 Find Jan’s Website Here: https://janmauhill.com/ Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/33scr7w9 YouTube: https://youtu.be/HF9gZFa_Eq8 About The Author: Allison Spooner is the author of two collections of genre-crossing flash fiction, Flash in the Dark and The Problem with Humans, and has contributed to several horror and science fiction anthologies. The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story is her debut novel.
When she isn't writing, Allison loves reading, doing yoga, trying not to kill her plants, watching bad disaster movies, and spending time with her family in her home state of Michigan. The Lost Girl won the PenCraft 2024 Book Award for Literary Excellence! Book Title: The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Book Synopsis: Can Neverland save Peter Pan's descendant? Angela, the great-granddaughter of Peter Pan, is dying. Doctors have given up hope, but her mother, raised on tales of a magical land of eternal youth, is not done fighting. In a desperate attempt to save her thirteen-year-old daughter, she sends a reluctant Angela off toward the second star to the right and straight on till morning. But Neverland is not the idyllic paradise Angela imagined. The landscape has lost its luster. The Lost Boys are aimless and desperate for a leader. The pirates are bored and ready for a fight. Led by an incompetent and erratic Captain Smee, they want Neverland for themselves and will stop at nothing to get rid of Angela. In this volatile landscape, Angela's promise to fight for her life is tested at every turn. Thrust reluctantly into adventure, Angela must navigate the treacherous seas of her own mortality, consider a future without her mother, and discover the difference between living and simply surviving. Neverland, with the guidance of her new friends and the echoes of her great-grandfather's legacy, could save Angela’s life . . . but maybe not in the way she expects. Find the Book Here: https://amzn.to/3TS1cb8 Find Allison’s Website Here: www.allisonspoonerwriter.com Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/y2kh99s8 YouTube: https://youtu.be/bv5u58EwY4I
Listener Advisory: Strong Imagery
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats. Book Title: The Necromancer of Urbus: Book Four of The Chronicler's Awakening Series Genre: Epic Fantasy Book Synopsis: Cazlandt, the first of the archmages, seeks atonement. He travels to the corrupted realm of Urbus to discover a spell capable of reaching beyond the final curtain, to undo his murder of a friend seven centuries ago. Guided by a swordsman with his own haunted past and a talking, flying cat, Cazlandt travels across a realm of wraiths and shadow. Battling fragments of banished dark gods, daemon from the space between worlds, and the poisonous energy seeping into his mortal shell, he forges toward the world tree for a single, selfless act. Though maybe not the one he intended. In his third novel, author J. M. Samland's Necromancer of Urbus will suck you into a dark world to watch the spiraling path of his key anti-hero. Will Cazlandt find what he seeks? Will he make it out of Ubrus without taking a sliver of that cursed realm with him? Read Necromancer of Urbus, prequel to Realms of Terswood and The Chronicler's Awakening trilogy to find out! Find the Book Here: https://amzn.to/3SxHOzp Find J.M.’s Website Here: https://jamiemsamland.com/ Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/4sdxcnka YouTube: https://youtu.be/PXeK6t6xRe8
Listener Advisory: Violence, Graphic Imagery
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats. Book Title: Seeds of Farsil: Book Three of The Chronicler's Awakening Series Genre: Epic Fantasy Book Synopsis: If you had the power to go back to undo the worst atrocities, or even a single failure, would you? Should you? Alishia, the Chronicler, grapples with this question and the consequences. Invaders wielding overwhelming magic bring the leaders of Poas to their knees. They come bearing an invitation to the rebirth of the realm and to witness as they assume singular rule. Lone, regent king of Dracon and king of the archmages, manages the fallout from his late aunt’s disastrous final moments and this father’s waning sanity, all while struggling to gather allies against this new threat. Should he fail, his enemies will rise to power and leave this nation to waste away in the frozen north. Alishia, the Chronicler, manipulates her power over time to flit across realms, but she must eventually return home. She arrives just as events are getting to their worst for Lone, leaving her with a dreadful test of her morals and how far she will take her budding power. Seeds of Farsil marks the last installment in The Chronicler’s Awakening series, though not a finale for the players involved. In a tale of love and loss, cosmic forces reach across time to bring Alishia and Lone’s reality to the brink of annihilation and press them to define what it means to achieve victory. Find the Book Here: https://amzn.to/47JuXyk Find J.M.’s Website Here: https://jamiemsamland.com/ Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/mr2vfbsz YouTube: https://youtu.be/L4y1lC_lAaY
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats.
Book Title: Trials of Throk’tar: Book Two in The Chronicler's Awakening series Genre: Epic Fantasy Book Synopsis: You can't change what has already passed…right? Throk'tar is the realm home to the gronyn, a race of mighty warriors; noble and strict in their traditions. Alishia does not belong here. While struggling to understand her newfound powers as the Chronicler, an encounter with an unlikely adversary throws Alishia into the distant past of Throk'tar. She journeys across the hostile land alongside bickering brothers, hunting the one that brought her to this realm in hopes of finding a way home. All the while, Alishia is terrified one wrong step in the past might undo her own past. Luckily, her future self left her clues. Journey alongside a strong female lead between the realms and through the Trials of Throk'tar, the second book in The Chronicler's Awakening series. Find out if swords, spells, and intrigue can change the past's future. Could Alishia cause herself not to be born? Find the Book Here: https://amzn.to/4985Sil Find J.M.’s Website Here: https://jamiemsamland.com/ Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/4xzxvrs8 YouTube: https://youtu.be/vI9WZoUTtLA |
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