Donna Galanti - Where heart and hope meet adventure!

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Release Day! Joshua and the Arrow Realm is Here!

By Donna Galanti

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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!

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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.

13873191_10210201746548365_4185314844364314676_nGet 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

DGalanti_JATLR_eCover_900x1350You 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 …

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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 …

WildChilds

“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 …TreeHouse2Here 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.”

GrandTree

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.”

BlackHeartTree

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.

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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!

Terror

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.arrowRealm9

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

Joshua2Tour

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

Joshua and the Arrow Realm Cover Reveal + Excerpt & Amazon GC Giveaway!

By Donna Galanti

I’m super excited to share the cover for Joshua and the Arrow Realm! First, here’s what book two of the Joshua and the Lightning Road series is about:

Joshua and the Arrow Realm
(Trade paperback, August 30th, 2016 Month9Books)

Joshua never thought he’d return to the world of Nostos so soon. But, when King Apollo needs his help in the Arrow Realm, Joshua’s will and powers will be tested in order to save him. With his loyalties divided between our world and theirs, Joshua wonders whether he alone can restore magic to the twelve powerless Olympian heirs, or whether he is being tricked into making the one mistake that might cost them all.

Advanced reader copies are available for Joshua and the Arrow Realm!
If you are a book blogger and would like a free e-book advanced reader copy please sign up for the Review Copy Month9Books newsletter. Don’t forget to add Joshua and the Arrow Realm to your Goodreads list.

My publisher is also giving away an Amazon gift card for the cover reveal. Check it out here!

And.

Here.

It.

Is! 

Joshua and the Arrow Realm ebook

Ooh, right? I love it as much or even more than book one, Joshua and the Lightning Road.

How about this amazing quote from New York Times bestselling author, Michael Northrup! Check out his TombQuest series.

Can you tell I’m excited to share?

via GIPHY

I know, I know, you have to wait until August 30th for the release but here’s an excerpt to hold you over!

Excerpt from  Joshua and the Arrow Realm: 

A faint rumble groaned through the whistling wind.

Boom!

Thunder ripped the sky overhead.

Charlie reached the frozen pond, spinning across it. “Woohoo! I win! You Americans can’t beat us at speed!”

Lightning flashed. It zinged across the pine trees like brilliant sunlight. A seed of terror klonopin flickered inside me.

Boom! Boom!

Another flash scorched the sky.

Charlie’s smile fell to a frown as he raced across the ice, peering up into the swirling clouds.

We both knew what lightning could do.

Suddenly, sneaking outside for a moonlit sled ride before Bo Chez got home from his monthly poker game didn’t seem so smart.

The sleet turned to snow. Icicles flew off trees like glass splinters, shattering on the hard snow. As I shot toward the pond, a tree on the edge moved. Its branches swayed in the swirling snow.

It wasn’t a tree, but a girl! She stumbled through the mad flurry, arms outstretched.

“Charlie, look!”

Gusts snatched the words away as my sled hit the ice and careened out of control on the bumpy surface. The girl staggered and fell onto the pond. I twisted my sled away to avoid hitting her and smashed right into Charlie. With a yelp, he pulled me up, and we clumped toward the girl. We lifted her up, half dragging her back up the hill to the house in the pelting snow and sleet.

“Who is she?” Charlie yelled.

“No idea,” I yelled back.

He said more, but his words were lost in the wind.

My lungs burned with the cold and effort. There was only one reason someone would appear with lightning—to steal us. This girl might appear like a waif unprepared for a storm but I couldn’t trust that’s all she was.


While you’re waiting for the full cover release
, please enjoy the map for book two of the Arrow Realm by the talented Al Sirois. Watch for this coming as a two-page spread in the front of the book!arrowRealmFINALThanks for being so awesome!

via GIPHY

 

Middle Grade Rewind Week + Readers Choice Awards & Fun Reads!

By Donna Galanti

It’s time!!! Readers, did you love Joshua and the Lightning Road? You can now vote for it HERE in the Month9Books 2015 Readers Choice Awards under your favorite MG book! Like the cover? You can vote on that too! I would shower you with chocolate kisses if I could but you’ll have to settle for a video of cutie Ian Somerhalder giving chocolate kisses instead. 🙂

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It’s also been soooo fun to be featured on ?#?MGRewind? this week where I share a middle grade flashback story to 1978! Check out all of the fun middle grade flashbacks by other Month9Books authors.

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Get it straight from my goofy young self about a day in the life of living at a campground in New Hampshire PLUS enter to win a pack of 5 awesome kids books!

Donna

Me 1978!

41jcKkCPgiLLooking for more great reads for teens? Check out the talented nominees on the Young buy ativan Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Best Fiction for Young Adults list!

What awesome book are you reading right now? I am having fun with the funny Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos, winner of the 2012 Newbery Medal and the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a wild, off-kilter novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos.

9780385744713Next on my reading list is just-released The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow by my friends Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson. Fans of the classic detective/spy story are sure to adore this highly illustrated debut middle-grade adventure featuring three young sleuths! I know I can’t wait to read it  🙂 .

You will want to follow Jess and Stephanie’s fun blog too – it’s chock full of cool authors and fun reads.

Happy reading all!

Summer Fun: San Francisco, book signings & reviews!

By Donna Galanti

6-2916Summer is racing by and it’s time for a mid-summer break. I’ve been in la-la land with my son being out of school and I’m not sure even what day it is – and I’m so late in posting news! So here’s a mish-mosh for ya.

I was thrilled to receive a glowing review from The Midwest Book Review for Joshua and the Lightning Road that hails it as “A heart-pounding thrill ride full of unexpected twists and turns from start to finish.” See the full Midwest Book Review.

I also planned a family vacation in San Francisco, California, around my book signing at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference the last week in June.

6-292And WOW what an amazing time our San Francisco trip was!

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I will never forget biking over the Golden Gate Bridge…

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…or seeing the great redwood trees…

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…or driving down the winding Pacific Coast on Route 1…

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…or visiting Alcatraz. Put them on your bucket lists now if you haven’t already done so!

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San Francisco is unlike any other city I’ve been in. The architecture. The weather that can change three times a day. The culture. The FOOD! The diversity.

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And THE FOG. It rolls in like a mysterious beast that slinks its way through the Golden Gate Bridge and rolls up and over the mountains. It sucks away the world and returns it on its own time. I was so fascinated by it that buy provigil it’s becoming a character in my new fantasy book!

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The fog rolls in across the Golden Gate and Alcatraz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I truly did leave my heart in San Francisco and can’t wait to go back!

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And to sign at the ALA Conference was amazing! Although getting there was a bit tricky as the city was one big colorful festivity with the Pride Parade going on the same day.

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ALA2I got to meet some author friends there like Selene Castrovilla with her award-winning book Melt. And had a co-signing with fellow Month9Books author, Scott Craven, who writes zombies for middle graders.

This week I’m thrilled to be returning to my hometown of Albany, New York for a book signing and celebration at The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza at 7pm on Friday, July 31st. Folks local to Albany, come out early for a scavenger hunt, goodies, and giveaways – and of course, books! My real Joshua will also be there for me to embarrass him. Hope to see you there. Please invite your friends!

I’m gearing up for school visits now and if you’re a teacher, parent, or student who would like for me to come visit your school I’d love to! I live in Southeastern, Pennsylvania, but can travel anywhere in the U.S. See my assembly flyer and contact me for more information.

HAPPY SUMMER ALL!

150628-101841 RSC4 Michael and Josh on bench Grand View  Park

 

 

 

 

Happy Memorial Day + Contest Winners, Giveaways & Reviews!

By Donna Galanti

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Photo by Marine Corps NYC

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Today we take a moment to remember those who courageously gave their lives and those who bravely fight today for freedom.

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” — Joseph Campbell

I’m also grateful today to just be able to spend the holiday relaxing with my family – and I’m super excited to announce the winners of the pre-order promotion for Joshua and the Lightning Road! Thank you all for participating.

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And here they are! I will be contacting you about your prizes.

Leah B. – iPad Mini

Anne S. – $25 Barnes and Noble gift card

Stephanie R. – Signed map of the book’s world, the Lost Realm

Hope you all enjoy your prizes!

There was more fun in store this weekend. I had a blast this past Saturday, May 22, at The Doylestown Bookshop Teen Fantasy event with other Month9Books authors. We had a goofy fun time meeting so many wonderful readers!

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Joshua-BannerAnd the Joshua and the Lightning Road blog tour continues with excerpts, giveaways, and interviews. Here are some fun spots to visit this past week where Joshua made an appearance.

5/18/2015           Chapter by Chapter – Guest Post (My Top 3 Favorite Things To Do and Why)

5/19/2015           Reader Girls – Spotlight + Excerpt

5/19/2015           WS Momma Readers Nook – Interview

5/20/2015           Deal Sharing Aunt – Interview

5/21/2015           A Book Addict’s Bookshelves – Guest Post (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Getting Published)

5/22/2015           YA Chit Chat – Spotlight + Excerpt

5/22/2015           Susan Heim on Parenting – Guest Post (Playing on Our Fears)

5/23/2015           Mythical Books – Guest Post (10 Steps to Writing Thrillers for Kids)

5/24/2015           Book Lovers Life – Spotlight + Excerpt

And I must share some fun new reviews. Click on the reviewers link for the full review:

“A solid recommendation for the fantasy, adventure fan. Strong, relatable characters and imaginative world building make this debut children’s novel one you will hope will continue in a several book series.”–Boys to Books

“This is a story of friendship, love, sacrifice, hope and courage. A wonderful, magical, mystery adventure for kids of all ages.” –Fundimental Book Reviews

“Fascinating and mysterious…Fans of fantasy adventures will eat this up.”–Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews

group picsAlso, don’t forget to check out the super fun #ReadOrWriteAnywhere campaign I am participating in with the YA Chicks through 5/31. Great for readers, writers, and teachers! Over 30 authors are giving away books, author skype visits, lesson plans, and writing critiques. I am also giving away a first chapter critique of your novel. Check it out!

And if you read Joshua and the Lightning Road, please consider leaving a review online. We authors gobble up reviews like Thanksgiving dinner! 🙂

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