Blog - Page 2 of 18 - Donna Galanti - Where heart and hope meet adventure!

My Travel Year + Pre-Order Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath The Sand Now!

I know it’s been a long time since I’ve sent out some news, but it’s been quite the year as you’ll soon read below!

But right now, I’m getting excited for Volume 2 of Unicorn Island, Secret Beneath the Sand, to release February 1^st in hardcover! The illustrations are AMAZING in this book and I can’t wait for you to see them. AND you can pre-order Secret Beneath the Sand now. If you do, I can send you a bookmark and an autographed book plate label for you—or a special reader you know. 😊 Just email me your address and who you’d like the book personalized for at donna@donnagalanti.com. Check out the cover here!

In Volume 2 of the series, Sam and Tuck are on their way to becoming unicorn protectors when they discover new secrets about the island that threaten unicorns’ existence!

Sam can’t believe how much her life and luck have changed since she came to Foggy Harbor: First, she discovered that unicorns are real, and now she’s on her way to becoming an actual unicorn protector! With her new friend, Tuck, by her side during Uncle Mitch’s lessons, Sam finally feels like she’s home.

But as the long-buried dangers of Unicorn Island begin to surface and a mysterious scourge spreads throughout the herd, Sam learns the truth behind Aunt Sylvie’s disappearance and her own connection to the island. With determination, courage, and fierce loyalty to one another—and to their code as unicorn protectors—the kids set out to protect the island’s secrecy and the unicorns’ very existence.

PRE-ORDER AT YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSELLER

I just sent the final draft for Unicorn Island Volume 3 to my editor. Watch for this coming out February 2023! For now, see a sneak peek into the beautiful artwork by Bethany Stancliffe she created for Secret Beneath the Sand.

Don’t have a copy of Unicorn Island 1 yet? You can order both here!

As I said, it’s been a crazy year. After packing up our house and moving to a new area and home … over the course of 13 weeks, I was then gone for 10 of those weeks because…

Spent a month in Hawaii moving my son to Oahu for a GAP year before college.
Traveled to North Carolina three times to visit my dad and get him registered for assisted living.
Traveled to Cape Cod twice for writing retreats.
Traveled to Northern NY for a writing retreat.
Visited Vermont for our 20^th wedding anniversary.
Visited D.C. to see an old friend.
All while on book deadline for Unicorn Island 3 and dealing with a leg injury I needed physical therapy for! (I am on the mend although it’s been slow).

See some photos below!

I’m finally getting settled in my new home and having fun exploring the area. I’m living back in the country now and loving it. It’s so picturesque and peaceful and dark at night. I love the spread of farms and fields and woods. The Mennonite horse and buggies clip-clopping past our house. The covered bridges and little farm stands with local artisanal food.

And getting settled means getting back to writing! In particular, revisions of a fun adventure middle grade I hope to send my agent in the New Year. The story involves a legacy, a ticking clock, a ghost story, a quest to save an ancestral home, a hidden fortune, and family lost and found.

As for me, my head is already getting ready for Christmas as one month from today my son, Joshua, comes home for two whole weeks. I have peace of mind that he loves his job, his car, and his apartment. Plus, he’s working hard on his business he launched as a Junior in high school–Spiffy Laces. Watch for his new designs coming soon. He uniquely designs them himself! ORDER HERE.

I won’t have seen Joshua for 3 ½ months and that is waaaaayyyyy too long. ☹ Miss this kid–and how he makes me laugh.

I hope you all are having a wonderful fall! Happy reading and adventuring!

XXOO -Donna

Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand Out Today on Epic + Exciting Book News & Nature Videos!!

By Donna Galanti

Today is the day! The next books in my Unicorn Island series, Secret Beneath the Sand, releases on Epic! There are new characters, new creatures, and new adventures to enjoy. 😊

In the next part of the series, when a mysterious scourge spreads among the unicorns, Sam and Tuck must face a long-buried secret to protect the herd.

Epic, the leading digital reading platform for kids 12 and under, releases Secret Beneath the Sand in a 5-part serial this month. The illustrated hardcover, that includes all 5 serial books, will be released by Andrews McMeel in winter 2022!

I’ve had so much fun writing the Unicorn Island series because … unicorns! Plus, the illustrator, Bethany Stancliffe, has done such an amazing job with the artwork for both books throughout, too.

But this isn’t all the news for today. Here’s more BIG Unicorn Island News:
There will be a third and final book in the Unicorn Island series! I am so excited to be working with Epic again to create book 3 and the ending will literally BE epic! I’m already plotting the end (and new characters!) and can’t wait to deliver this final story. Watch for this story to come out in spring 2022 on the Epic platform, followed by illustrated hardcover.

Get access to the book on Epic and 40,000+ other books for kids here. You can also gift this award-winning subscription to a child. Sign up and catch the second part of Secret Beneath the Sand in the 5-part series!

And now for some nature scenes to calm you down after all this excitement. 😊

I go to my special, secret woods several times a week. It’s been wondrous this spring to see them come alive. With spring rains, the woods are wonderfully mucky with the pungent scent of damp blossom and bark in the air. The mourning doves call to one another and songbirds rejoice, flitting between all the green.

Walking through the woods I came around the corner to see three fox kits scurry along and down into their den. I froze and they soon came out. I watched them play and relax for twenty minutes before I had to head home.

Here they are on video. Curious little kits!

And just hanging out…

At this peaceful spot by the creek in my chair, I had a window to the many blue herons that soared down the creek.

This guy came along and just stopped in front of me and fished for twenty minutes. Watch him get the fish!

Here he sails away…

Well, we did it! With our son graduating and moving to Hawaii this summer, it’s time for these empty nesters to move north to the country. We found a wonderful farmhouse to rent on 20 acres to explore a new area to potentially buy in. It’s a quirky place with loads of character, trails to meander, and a writing office with a view. It will be a bittersweet adjustment but here’s to getting out of your comfort zone and grabbing the next life adventure!

I hope you are getting outdoors and enjoying the weather!

XXOO-Donna

Spring Events & Life Updates

By Donna Galanti

Spring is finally here in Pennsylvania. The world has gone green, and I can’t get enough of the woods every day. I breathe in the sun and color and sounds. I roam and wander then sit by the creek and ponder new life adventures coming my way.

And new adventures are coming! This is a summer of change.

Our son graduates high school, we are re-locating to a new home out in the country north of us, and then we move our son and his girlfriend to Hawaii for a Gap year and then college.

Yes, HAWAII. I was stationed in Pearl Harbor 30+ years ago as a U.S. Navy photographer with Fleet Intelligence Pacific and must say never thought I’d go back. So, a new life indeed from Pennsylvania to 5,000 miles away on an island in the Pacific. I like to think I’m up for the challenge, but it will be a tough one—especially when I hug my son one last time and board a plane for that long flight home. Here is his senior photo and some photos of me on Oahu at the same age as him! Chaka brah.

I also went up to Cape Cod this month with my critique partner, Erica George, for a writing retreat. Check out her beautiful and heartfelt debut novel set on Cape Cod, Words Composed of Sea and Sky, out May 25th. Pre-order here!

Spring had definitely NOT sprung yet in Cape Cod, but it was still beautiful in its cold, gray landscape.

Recent Unicorn Island events and reviews:
Check out my virtual book tour on Teaching Books where I read an excerpt and talk about the writing of Unicorn Island and my childhood.

I had so much fun talking about the behind scenes ideas and creation of Unicorn Island on Reading With Your Kids podcast! We also discuss how authors can create stories for kids to connect to and how our experiences as writers can affect our stories.

On the Bookshop at the End of the Internet podcast I discuss the fun of writing children’s books and Unicorn Island.

Here’s a fun and thoughtful review on Unicorn Island at the Children’s Books Heal blog with Patricia Tilton! “A compelling contemporary fantasy that is full of wonder, mystery and tension. It will captivate readers’ imaginations and lure them into a magical world of mythical beasts.” Check out the full review.

AND AS A REMINDER, book 2 in the Unicorn Island series, Secret Beneath the Sand, releases in a 5-part serial on the Epic platform starting May 10th! Watch for the hardcover to release in 2022.

Happy spring!

Enter 3-Book Middle Grade Giveaway + Watch Me Answer Reader Questions!

By Donna Galanti

Happy spring everyone! Here’s my first walk in the woods in 3 weeks since surgery–and on the first day of spring! Took it slow but love my new pop up chair to doze in the sun when I get tired. Daffodils are springing up. Where flowers bloom, so does hope. My buddy, Star, also helped me get through a long recovery.

And it’s been a fun month since the illustrated hardcover of Unicorn Island released in February. Book 2, Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand, releases in 5 parts on Epic!, the leading digital library for kids 12 and under, starting May 10^th. Sign up here to read it.

First, here’s some updated news!

I’ve had so many wonderful virtual author school visits this month and got such great questions from young readers, I thought I’d answer some of them here. Take a look!

Read a review by Author Lee McKenzie. “A delightful story that young readers will fall in love with.

What a fun review of Unicorn Island by a young reader at Reader Views. “Things were so exciting I couldn’t wait to keep reading to find out what would happen next!”

Do you love to read middle grade, no matter your age—like me? Then enter to win my 3-book giveaway below! I’m giving away 3 hardcovers of new books I fell in love with. Check out my reviews and enter. U.S. and Canada only please. 😊 Read more about these books.

365 DAYS TO ALASKA by Cathy Carr

One of my favorite books in a long time! I loved this book all the way through! I was hooked from the very start with Rigel fully embracing her Alaskan wilderness life and then to follow her challenges within suburban life. Carr does a wonderful job of showing us Rigel’s new suburban world through her eyes with a wild Alaska perspective. This is a poignant story about loss, friendship, and about being true to yourself–especially when it’s all you’ve got to hold onto, or at least you think you do! I felt deeply for Rigel especially when we see her so alone in this strange new world and her only friend a crow. This immediately shot me back to middle school where I was placed in a new school and also didn’t fit in and I’d sneak outdoors to be in nature. You can always count on nature to be there for you, and the friendship between Rigel and crow is written with emotional depth. I admit I teared up several times throughout this book! A story full of heart and hope. A bittersweet tale about coming of age–with all it encompasses: self-awareness, transformation, disappointment, sadness, and new beginnings.

Cathy’s books

MARY UNDERWATER by Shannon Doleski

There are so many things to love about this book. We follow Mary, the courageous main character, in her struggle to find her voice and break free of what is holding her back. She is an appealing character and her friend, Kip, is a fun contrast to her. The heart of the book is the unique and challenging adventure Mary pursues and how it transforms her to find the courage she’s always sought. This is a heartfelt story with light moments but also dark undertones.

Shannon’s books

THE BRAVE by James Bird

This was a beautiful and poetic story. We are deeply immersed in Collin’s point of view, a young boy with an OCD issue that isolates him. Yet, we see him come into his own once he finds where he truly belongs–with lost family. Collin is indeed brave and his newfound friend, encourages him. She helps him find his way and also the strength inside him to love and to let go when necessary. The mystical, Native American elements to this story enrich it with lyrical imagery and beauty. A story full of hope and a sense of home.

James’ books

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And in case you missed it, if you’re a fiction writer wondering how to create a world in your story you can sign up for my virtual class, Foundations of Worldbuilding for Any Genre.

INFO:

Pearl S. Buck Writing Center
April 17th from 1:30pm – 3pm (EST)
Fee: $25

All stories happen somewhere. Whether you write fantasy, dystopian, science fiction, or even about the “real world,” world building is key to creating a meaningful story.

I’ll share methods of world building that any writer can apply. From the smallest details to the rules of its universe, discover the way a considered approach to world building can govern the hearts of your characters and help drive your story.

Topics include: elements of world building, using world building to support conflict and tension, world building questions and resources, seven main areas that serve as the foundation for your world, and what to avoid in building your world. I’ll also share real-book examples to supplement my topics.

REGISTER: https://psbwritingcenter.org/…/foundations-of-world…/

Hope to see you there!

Enter to Win a Copy of Unicorn Island plus Reviews, Podcasts & a New Course for Writers!

By Donna Galanti

Thank you everyone for helping me celebrate the release of Unicorn Island this past month! Watch for book 2, Secret Beneath the Sand, launching digitally in a 5-part serial first on the Epic! platform starting May 10.

I also ran away to this farmhouse in the woods at the end of February to get a new middle grade novel completed and sent to my literary agent. It includes adventure with lakes, loons, campgrounds, and the Appalachian Trail. I can’t wait to tell you more about it someday!

It was a rough week after retreat as I had surgery to remove my pesky little gallbladder, but I’ve been comforted by so many wonderful friends who’ve called, texted, emailed, sent flowers, and delivered food! I’m hoping to turn the corner any day soon. 😊

And now for fun unicorn stuff! Check out an interview on Literary Rambles this week PLUS go there to enter to win an illustrated hardcover copy of Unicorn Island!

Check out this wrap up of Unicorn Island news from this past month:

Here’s a new recording I did with Teaching Books. Listen to me talk about the backstory of Unicorn Island, an excerpt from the book, and how my childhood helped me write magical stories! And here’s a recording of my name, its history, and what I think of it. 😊
5 Things to Like About Unicorn Island with Always in the Middle book blog plus a review. “Will for sure capture your imagination.”
Read an excerpt of Unicorn Island on The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow plus a review. “Anyone who enjoys magic will fall right into this story.”
A fun interview plus 3 fun facts about unicorns on Word Spelunking book blog!
Video podcast with Middle Grade Ninja where we talk writing, Unicorn Island, plus a ghost story!
Interview plus review on Geo Librarian blog. Find out my favorite part of writing! “A fun fantasy book.”
Review of Unicorn Island on Fundimental book blog. “A beautifully written coming of age fantasy.”
Interview on Literary Rambles and advice for writers.

Look what my publisher made! You can download these fun Unicorn Island activities for a book hideaway and make your own banner, bookmark, and door hanger.

I am also doing virtual school visits! I’m hopping across country from Pennsylvania to California and doing 5 in the San Jose school district alone this month. If you’d like me to visit with your school just check out my informational page here or download my virtual flyer here. **NEW** For 2021 I am donating all my virtual author visits for free!

CALLING ALL FICTION WRITERS!
Are you a fiction writer wondering how to create a world in your story? Then sign up for my virtual class: Foundations of Worldbuilding for Any Genre
Pearl S. Buck Writing Center
April 17th from 1:30pm – 3pm

All stories happen somewhere. Whether you write fantasy, dystopian, science fiction, or even about the “real world,” world building is key to creating a meaningful story.

Hope to see you there! Please share with your writing friends.

Haven’t gotten a copy yet of Unicorn Island for yourself or a unicorn lover you know? You can order it here at your favorite bookseller.

Spring is nearly here! Hope it’s a good one for you. –Donna

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