middle grade books Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Donna Galanti - Where heart and hope meet adventure!

Happy 1st book birthday to THE SECRET FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW + Book Giveaway & Enter to Win a $50 Visa GC!

Happy 1st book birthday to THE SECRET FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW! It’s been a year since the mystery of the Begonia House was revealed to the world, and now the paperback will be available January 3rd, 2017. Check out my 5-star review of this wonderful mystery adventure! The new cover stays true to Fairday’s snazzy style, sprinkling in a few added charms. Can you spot the differences from the hardcover?

Catch the book trailer to find out more about the story…

Planning to pick up the paperback? Pre-order a copy and you could win a $50 VISA card to treat yourself after the holidays. Contest is open to all! For more details on how to enter, click here.

For more information about the book, visit the DMS at fairdaysfiles.com

Write What You Know. It’s Full Of Surprises!
By Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson

One idea that will help give your writing a certain texture and realness about it is to write what you know. There are several scenes in The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow where this tool has come into buy soma play.

When we first began revising with our editor at Delacorte Press, it was suggested that we make Fairday and Lizzy a little more different. We realized that they did talk a lot alike, and of course they did! We’ve been friends for a long time, and we tend to sound the same too. The
answer became obvious once we thought deeper about our characters and who they are. We knew Lizzy was from Minnesota (Stephanie’s family is from there.). People in Minnesota say “You betcha”. Bingo! That was it.

Another example where we incorporate a personal experience in the story had to do with a wardrobe that was full of surprises. The inspiration for the scene Fairday and the DMS find themselves in is based on real circumstances we encountered while living as roommates when we purchased a piece of furniture together. Needless to say, it was a memorable event and we laugh every time we read that part in the book!

Enter to win a paperback edition of THE SECRET FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A month of book launches, retreats, and research!

By Donna Galanti

It’s been a fun whirlwind month celebrating the launch of Joshua and the Arrow Realm! Thank you everyone for sharing in it with me 🙂 .

We had a super fun book launch party on September 17th at my favorite bookstore, the Doylestown Bookshop. There was a presentation, reading, book trailer showing and scavenger hunt – plus storm cloud cookies and lightning bolt chocolate pops! If you’re close to Albany, New York, I will be having another book party on Friday, September 30, at 7pm at the Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza.

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Me and the real Joshua at the book party at the Doylestown Bookshop!

Julie won the Lost Realm poster
in the scavenger hunt!

You can also follow the Joshua and the Arrow Realm book blog tour here for interviews and excerpts. This week hop on over to the Secret Files of Fairday Morrow’s blog where Joshua is interviewed for Character Book Club by his pal, Sam, from Sign of the Green Dragon!

And more reviews have come in for Joshua and the Arrow Realm!

“Galanti has created another fast-paced, intricate tale that weaves together newly created myths with ancient levitra ones and populates the world of Nostos with Greek gods and characters and monsters to thrill and chill the reader. This is wonderful adventure-fantasy from start to finish.” – C. Lee McKenzie

“This is a great book for kids in 4th grade and up who love mythology and stories with lots of action. I read this in one day, so it’s full of page turning adventures- but there are sad parts too.” – Lizzie’s Blog

This month I also had fun researching medieval life for my current manuscript at the Philadelphia Museum of Art!!

I could have spent days here. My favorite gallery being on armor and weaponry! My son and his friend were more interested in face swapping with Renaissance portraits 🙂 .

I also spent a wonderful writer’s retreat this month at my friend Kathryn Craft’s lakeside home in northern New York.

It was a wonderful few days shared with talented writers.

We wrote together, read our work, laughed, and cried.

We can write alone but we can’t grow as writers alone – we need each other. I’m so lucky to have an amazing writer network of special people around me.

Happy fall everyone!

Release Day! Joshua and the Arrow Realm is Here!

By Donna Galanti

Today is the day! Get out your party horns! Joshua and the Arrow Realm, book 2 in the Lightning Road series, releases. Grab a copy here. Toot toot! 🙂 Thanks to all of my Thunderclap supporters who helped me spread word of the book and achieve over 1,000,000 reach through social media!

ABOUT JOSHUA AND THE ARROW REALM:

Joshua never thought he’d return to the world of Nostos but is soon called to the Arrow Realm to free his imprisoned friend, King Apollo, kidnapped as a power pawn in Queen Artemis’s quest to conquer every realm. With his loyalties divided between our world and theirs, Joshua wonders whether he alone can restore magic to the twelve powerless Olympian heirs and save all those enslaved. But when he finds himself abandoned in his quest, he fears he cannot only save those imprisoned—but himself as well.

Get a signed copy of Joshua and the Arrow Realm at these upcoming events:

Doylestown Bookshop, Doylestown, PA, 9/17, 3pm
The Book House, Albany, NY, 9/30, 7pm
River Reads 40+ Multi-Author Event, Stockton, NJ, 10/23, 10-4pm

You can still grab book one, Joshua and the Lightning Road, for just $.99cents on e-Book.

People have asked me “What was the inspiration behind Joshua and the Arrow Realm?”
I knew I wanted to further test Joshua, the main character of the series, and have him grow in his journey. And I knew then I would have to throw him into some dastardly situations! Heh heh heh 🙂 .

With the story set in the Arrow Realm ruled by Queen Artemis (Greek goddess of the hunt), I wanted a great hunt to be part of the story. From this, grew an entirely new subculture of the Wild Childs who live in trees to escape the hunt. Many ideas for this woodland came on walks and I spent many hours audio recording scenes in the woods – about scenes in the woods!

As a child, fantasy was my reality. I read fantasy and also created fantasy worlds living out my favorite books so it’s no surprise that I write fantasy! From my first story at ten about Dodo birds, wizards, and a flying ship to Joshua and the Arrow Realm, fantasy has always claimed me. Growing up on a mountain as an only child, I spent much of my time roaming the woods with my notebook in hand and my trusty dogs by my side, putting stories on the page in hidden glens and the nooks of trees. My love of woods and fantasy – as a child and today – fueled the thicket world of Joshua and the Arrow Realm, where Joshua must survive the hunt!

Me and my dog, Windsor, who roamed the woods with me when he grew up …

In Joshua and the Arrow Realm I created a timberland world from my love of the woods. This world is populated with the Wild Lands (and the Wild Childs that live there in tree houses), the Grand Tree, and the Black Heart Tree.

Here are the Wild Childs, including Ash, who befriend Joshua in the story …

“Ash motioned us to leave with her when they were all gone, and we stepped outside onto the tree house platform. Purple night deepened and long shadows softened the craggy world. We stood on a plank road with roped netting rail that zigzagged from house to house and floated under the forest’s canopy in a sea of darkness. Green buy valium lights glowed soft through lopsided windows, and branch shadows wrapped the tiny shacks in prickly fingers. Leaves battered the houses in the sharp wind as the Wild Childs skulked amongst the trees.”

The Wild Child Tree Houses …Here is the Grand Tree, a most majestic oak tree and friend to children …

“Clinging to the sides of the Grand Tree’s hand, I peered down. The massive Oak uprooted itself, one root at a time, and strode through the woods on knobby feet. The forest swayed back to let it pass as it forged a trail, twisting wooden fingers around its fellow trunk mates, pushing itself onward. I held on, amazed to be alive.”

And here is the Black Heart Tree … a giant crooked evil tree you don’t want to meet!

“The worst horror faced us. The Black Heart Tree. Its trunk convulsed in a serpentine mass that slithered through it with each smack of its gargantuan limbs at the Grand Tree. The molded faces of children screamed along its hardened skin in a nightmare, their bones broken and crushed in the bark: a foot poised to kick, a hand fisted, fingers begging to live. With each punch the monster tree wielded, the dead writhed and moaned in its thrashing wood. A ghoulish vision that would haunt me forever.”

Of course, the true inspiration behind the Lightning Road series is the real Joshua and my son, my favorite person in the world. His adventurous imagination fuels my own and his faith in my storytelling never wavers. Here we are in a tree house at one of our favorite places, the Mohonk Mountain House.

I also want to thank my husband, Michael, for being the greatest provider of alone time there is! Thanks as well to my publisher Month9Books and for my amazing editor, Tara Creel. She guided me in enriching these stories (along with the pesky grammar stuff!). Special gratitude goes to my first reader and dear friend, Lisa Green. She continues to shine her enthusiasm and light on Joshua’s adventures. Her insight drove me to breathe fiery life into this story and these characters. Here we are on a Halloween adventure at Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary!

I appreciate all of you who have helped spread the word of Joshua and the Arrow Realm. The support of so many means so much to me! Thanks so much to the talented Al Sirois who designed the map and characters of the Arrow Realm and the Lost Realm in Joshua and the Lightning Road.

Check out all the places along the Joshua and the Arrow Realm blog tour put on by Chapter by Chapter and my publisher, Month9Books.

Week 1:

August 29, 2016 – The book slayer – Review

August 29, 2016 – BooksChatter – Interview

August 30, 2016 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – Guest Post

August 31, 2016 – JeanBookNerd – Guest Post

August 31, 2016 – Books,Dreams,Life – Review

September 1, 2016 – The Silver Dagger Scriptorium – Guest Post

September 2, 2016 – lynneawilson – Review

September 2, 2016 – Kayl’s Krazy Obsession – Guest Post

Week 2:

September 5, 2016 – Lisa’s Loves(Books of Course) – Guest Post

September 5, 2016 – Lori’s Little house of Reviews – Review

September 6, 2016 – The Avid Reader – Guest Post

September 7, 2016 – BookHounds YA – Interview

September 8, 2016 – Chapter by Chapter – Interview

September 9, 2016 – Seraphina Reads – Guest Post

WATCH THE JOSHUA AND THE ARROW REALM BOOK TRAILER

Character Book Club: Sam from The Sign of the Green Dragon

By Donna Galanti

I am super excited for this meeting of the DMS Files Character Book Club! In attendance today are Sam of The Sign of the Green Dragon, by C. Lee McKenzie, interviewed by Joshua from Joshua and the Arrow Realm.

In The Sign of the Green Dragon we have … Three plucky sleuths. A crumbling skeleton. A buried treasure.

After six months in a new school, Sam’s finally fitting in. He’s the one kid with enough talent to hit the winning home run and bring the baseball trophy back to Haggarty Elementary. But Sam’s guardian is shipping him off to boarding school before that can happen.

When his teammates, Joey and Roger, hear his bad news, they plot to hide him until the big game. Their secret cave is a perfect place until an earthquake shatters a wall and reveals a wooden chest with a red-eyed dragon carved into its top. Inside, a crumbling skeleton clutches a map with a cryptic note, promising treasure if the finder reveals the truth about an old murder and returns the remains of the victim to China.

Is the note a hoax? Maybe. But what does Sam have to lose? With Joey and Roger, he sets off to track down the clues and hopefully discover treasure. When finally some puzzle pieces start to make sense, they become lost in a labyrinth of underground tunnels, trapped by dangerous thieves and sealed inside an airless tomb.

My Review:
The Sign of the Green Dragon is an intriguing high-stakes plot brimming with dark secrets, unsolved murders, and mystical dragons in a race against a ticking clock. A compelling combination of criminal underworld and ancient lore, readers will enjoy hunting for treasure at their own peril with this resourceful group of young detectives. Magic, mystery, and mayhem reign in this tale of friendship and adventure that will leave you guessing until the end – and hope for more adventures to come!

As one reader says, this book, “has more twists than a dragon’s tail.” I can’t wait to find out what Sam thinks about his recent adventure! So, without further ado, let the meeting commence…

Character Book Club with Sam and Joshua!

Joshua: Were you totally scared to run away from home? (I’ve run away myself so know the feeling!)

Sam: I know about what happened to you, Joshua. Sorry, man. But, yeah. I guess I was a little scared. Still it was kind of exciting.

Joshua: Your friends seem like good friends. They stick by you through all the bad stuff. What was the worst part of your adventure that made you glad they were here?

Sam: Well, you know that tomb thing really was bad. Joey was a big help getting us out of there with his so-so Chinese. And Roger, well, he helped out a lot in Sadie’s museum. He figured out where to look for the dragon files.

Joshua: You had some super cool spooky experiences! What was it like to experience those weird things? If you didn’t believe in dragons and magic and stuff before, I bet you do now!

Sam: I’m nodding, Joshua. At first, I was creeped out, but then I met them and those dragons are something. I mean they fly! And fast. Maybe not fast like the lightning road, but close.

Joshua: Was there a point in your adventure that you didn’t think you’d antibiotics ever make it out okay? (I’ve had tons of these too so can totally relate!)

Sam: Right. Like that time you got caught by that tree! I was worried. Real worried. Oh, but about me and the guys. I didn’t think we were getting out of that warehouse. That’s for sure. And then that tomb. . .in the dark. . .no air. That had me tense.

Joshua: What is it like to not have a mother or father and be raised by an uncle? Do you think you and your uncle could be friends now after all you’ve been through? I’m an only child too without parents. (Hey, we have a lot in common and should hang out sometime!)

Sam: I’m still not used to Mom and Dad being gone, but Carmela helps and Uncle Jasper’s kind of different these days. Carmela’s changed things. Hey! I got a room of my own in the house now! Seriously. Come over and see. Maybe do a sleepover. Uncle Jasper’s even letting me ride some of his horses. Neat, right?

Joshua: You met a lot of nasty – and nice – people in your adventure. Who was the scariest and who was the nicest, and why?

Sam: That creep, Hanson, was a lot nasty, but Sadie Green downright scared me to death. No way do I want to meet up with her again. But Li Kwan was a really nice guy. I miss him. And Jen, too. But I might get to see him next summer.

Joshua: If you knew ahead of time of all the crazy things you’d come across on your quest to solve the mystery of the green dragon (dark secrets, magic, and murder, yikes!), would you still have run away in the first place?

Sam: Tapping finger and thinking here, Joshua. . . Yes. Definitely. I mean I wouldn’t have ever met Jen. I wouldn’t have seen that “house” he lives in or gotten to meet up with Mei Ling’s . . . I guess you’d say, her ghost?

Joshua: Knowing what you know now, would you have done anything differently with your friends along the way? Is there anything special you would have grabbed before you left to take with you?

Sam: Well, I packed my dad’s Swiss army knife and that helped me out a lot. Some more food would have been good. We all got kind of hungry until Jen started feeding us.

Joshua: I totally don’t think that this is your only treasure hunt adventure! Are you up for another adventure or ready for a break to just hang with your friends and play baseball? ?

Sam: Well, you see, I’ve got this map that Mr. Lung left and it’s kind of mysterious, and it kind of says that I could help out this person. Still, I’m getting really primed to bring in more winning runs. It’s a huge toss up. And then there’s Joey and Roger to think about. Guess I have to see how things go.

Hey, Sam, thanks for coming on Character Book Club with me!

C. Lee McKenzie

Meet Sam’s author C. Lee McKenzie!

Read the reviews for The Sign of the Green Dragon!

Check out C. Lee’s other books for young adults

Winner of Joshua and the Arrow Realm Giveaway + First Reviews & Fall Events!

By Donna Galanti

First, I have to share some wonderful early reviews of Joshua and the Arrow imagineear.com/pharmacy/ Realm by book bloggers! Readers like this make writing such a joy 🙂 . Book lovers, watch for my list of favorite book bloggers coming in September.

On Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
“An exciting non-stop story line of Greek heroes, hungry beasts, and betrayal from the past and future.From the first chapter I felt like I was on a roller coaster never knowing when the next twist or turn would happen. You can’t get off, nor do you want to. It’s smart, gripping, and one thrilling ride.” FULL REVIEW (he also lists the 5 things to like about the book!)

On Laura’s Ramblin’s and Reviews
“The action is all over the place, the character’s as engaging as ever, and adventure, danger, and intrigue abound. Joshua is an amazing boy. He’s not fearless and that’s where his bravery and loyalty to his friends shines. A spectacular next chapter in Joshua’s story. I’ll be watching for more.” FULL REVIEW

On Fundinmental Book Reviews
“I am excited to be back in Donna Galanti’s magical world of adventure, friendship and loyalty. The main characters stand tall as they race through the pages proving time and again that together they can accomplish what seems impossible.” FULL REVIEW

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who entered the Joshua and the Arrow Realm Book Trailer Reveal Rafflecopter Giveaway! The winner is Mary Ann C .! Look at all she won.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Missing out? You can still grab book one, Joshua and the Lightning Road, for just $.99cents on e-Book.

Would you like a personalized copy of book 1 or 2 in the Lightning Road series? I’d love to meet in person. Here is a list of fall events!

Joshua and the Arrow Realm book launch! Doylestown Bookshop, Doylestown, PA, September 17, 2016, 3pm
Joshua and the Arrow Realm book launch! The Book House, Albany, NY, September 30, 2016, 7pm
River Reads 40+ Multi-Author Book Event, Prallsville Mill, Stockton, NJ, October 23, 10-4pm
Multi-author book event, Open Book, Elkins Park, PA, November 5th, 2016, 3pm
Guest Author at Philcon, the world’s first and longest-running conference on science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Cherry Hill, NJ, November 18-20, 2016

Joshua and the Arrow Realm releases in just eight days but there is still time to help me get the word out. Please support my Thunderclap campaign through social media and zap the world with so many others about the release of Joshua and the Arrow Realm on August 30^th! It’s free and takes seconds to sign up HERE.

THANK YOU!
xxoo -Donna

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