Donna Galanti - Where heart and hope meet adventure!

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Celebrating the 3rd book in the Unicorn Island series, Beyond the Portal!

By Donna Galanti

It was so fun to do a book event to celebrate the third and final book in the Unicorn Island series, Beyond the Portal, at my favorite bookstore, The Doylestown Bookshop on June 10th! You can order a signed copy from them here! We even had a special visitor as you can see!

We had a fun time with a scavenger hunt, unicorn light giveaway, goodies, a reading–and young readers (and older, too!) got their photo with my extra special friend, Tiffany the Unicorn!



Also, it was a wonderful surprise to finally meet my editor, Andrea with Epic for Kids, in person! She helped me make Beyond the Portal shine . Thank you all who came out and purchased books as well.

I was also super grateful to spend a week in Cape Cod this spring re-plotting one of my middle grade books into a new spookier version. Because spooky is fun! Cape Cod also has an eerie, haunted kind of feel to it with its wintry landscape still in April. Here is a favorite spot with a desolate sweeping vista by the sea. I even saw a coyote swimming toward me in a marsh channel. He got close then lumbered out, shook off his fur, and dashed away.

May was an up and down month. I was happy to celebrate our son, Joshua, moving home after nearly two years of living in Hawaii and spend time with him this summer before he travels around Europe but also distressed as my 88-year-old dad suffered more multiple strokes in North Carolina. Hospice let me know his passing was imminent and so I flew down, only to see him miraculously recover! Josh came home and had to check up on his Grampy so we then drove down to visit. While my dad’s a bit weaker and confused, he still insists Josh cuts that hair .


And now on to book recommendations! I was sad to finish this book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Published in 1936 it is still so timely today–and one of the first self-help books. While, some parts have been updated for today’s generation, I loved the cultural snapshots in time from stories used to demonstrate principles (especially from people I greatly admire–like Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln). Dale has a breezy and friendly voice that is compelling. Definitely a book to re-read. Highly recommend! Star recommends, too.

I celebrated my birthday this month and found this birthday blast from my past. A photo from my 10th birthday! Maybe you can see why I’ve always ventured to the thrilling side of adventure in my story telling. Heh heh heh. I do love tormenting my characters. Whether writing thrillers for grownups or kids. Guess I started young!

I love living in the countryside and I’ll leave you with some idyllic, peaceful morning photos among the woods and fields today. No one out but the butterflies, birds, and a lone horse and buggy.


Happy reading—and happy summertime!

P.S. You can order Beyond the Portal HERE from your favorite bookseller–and all the Unicorn Island books.

P.S.S. Here is an excerpt from Beyond the Portal:

Sam let go of the handle with an exasperated sigh and sat back on her
heels. “We’re doing something wrong. What are we missing?”
Tuck scanned the poem again, then tapped the paper. “We forgot about the magical talisman.”
“But doesn’t Barloc count?” Sam asked. “He’s magical.”
“He is, but that’s not the same,” Tuck said. “A talisman is an object you wear that provides protection. I think it’s supposed to tie us to this world.”
Sam raked a hand through her tangled curls. “Well, where are we supposed to find something like that?”
“I have no idea,” Tuck said. “Maybe there’s something in the cave that we could use?”
“We don’t have time to look for some mystery magical object,” Sam said. “This is ridiculous. We should have been more—”
Samantha.
She’d almost forgotten that Barloc was there. His purple eyes sliced through the darkness of the cave.
Your necklace, Samantha. Where is it?
Sam’s hand went to her throat, where the unicorn tail necklace usually hung, but there was nothing there.
“Oh—I do have it!” she cried, remembering. She pulled her backpack off her shoulders and rummaged in a side pocket before holding the necklace up triumphantly.
“Will this work?” she asked, turning to Barloc.
The unicorn nodded.
Sam looped the chain around her neck and tucked it beneath her shirt. It might have been her imagination, but she was sure her skin felt warmer the instant the unicorn tail touched it. She knelt on the
ground and reached for the handle. She took a steadying breath and turned the handle three times.
The cave was suddenly filled with a swirling wind. Sam’s hair blew against her face, tendrils whipping across her cheeks. She looked at Tuck, who met her gaze and pointed to the cave wall.
A small ring of white light was expanding in a blaze that was every color of the rainbow. It grew until it was large enough for all three of them to walk through, side by side, and then it seemed to swell and shrink, almost as if it were breathing.
Sam didn’t know whether she felt amazed or terrified.
They’d done it—but now they had to go through to whatever was beyond.
Sam looked at Tuck. He stared, mesmerized, at the swirling vortex in
front of them. He raised one hand toward the vibrant colors, as if he wanted to touch them.
It’s time.
Sam grabbed Tuck’s outstretched hand. He gripped her fingers tightly, and, together with Barloc, they stepped into the light.

Beyond the Portal Out Today, Book Events PLUS Enter 12-Book Giveaway!

By Donna Galanti

Yippee! April 4th is finally here. The day Beyond the Portal is out in the world!

I’m sad and happy all at once. Sad that this is the final and third book in my Unicorn Island series but happy that all secrets come to light in the story–and all mysteries solved! You can order Beyond the Portal HERE from your favorite bookseller.

If you’re close to Southeastern Pennsylvania, I’m super excited to be having a special book event at my favorite local bookseller. Join me Saturday, June 10th, 2023, at 1pm at The Doylestown Bookshop to celebrate the release of Beyond the Portal! I’ll have all 3 Unicorn Island books there to purchase and get signed, as well as my other books. Plus, there will be a scavenger hunt, unicorn light giveaway, goodies, a reading–AND your kiddos can get their photo with my extra special friend, Tiffany the Unicorn! Set the date now for a fun afternoon.

Check out this Kirkus Review of Beyond the Portal:

Here is an excerpt from Beyond the Portal:

Sam shielded her eyes against the glaring light. When it disappeared, they stood in another cave. The same blue lightning bugs scuttled around them, illuminating the walls. Sam shivered. It felt more like November in Brooklyn than August in South Carolina.

Sam glanced at Tuck and Barloc and exhaled in relief. “We made it,” she said.

Barloc whinnied softly and pressed his nose against Sam’s shoulder.

“Now we just need to find a way out of here,” Tuck said, his eyes darting around the stone walls. “There!” He pointed to a sliver of hazy light in the distance and motioned for them to follow.

When they stepped out of the cave, they found themselves deep in an unfamiliar forest. There were no live oaks with mossy beards, longleaf pines, or seagulls here.

Instead, tall evergreens loomed beside gray beech trees. Crows cawed overhead, and a lone hawk shrieked across the sky. Jagged, snow-covered mountain peaks loomed in the distance, just as Barloc had described.

A bright moon shone overhead, casting the world in light and shadow. All around them, things moved. It seemed as if the forest were alive, its spindly wooden fingers reaching for them.

Sam moved closer to Tuck. His face was tense as he scanned their new surroundings.


I love reading reviews from book bloggers! Did you know that the best way to help an author is to leave an honest review for books you read? I’d love for you to leave one for Beyond the Portal. 😊

Here’s an early review from Log Cabin Library: “I enjoyed how Galanti explored the grays of the world and that sometimes not everything is as it first seems … This last book showed a lot of character growth and emphasized standing up for your principles … It has strong kid appeal.”

My publisher, Andrews McMeel, also sent me bookmarks and bookplate labels. If you order the book, I’d love to send you a bookmark and personalized bookplate label for you or your favorite unicorn lover. Just email me at donna(at)donnagalanti.com.

My publisher is also so amazing as they are giving away a set of TWELVE of their middle grade books in print to 5 lucky readers! That’s right–12! One book just happens to be Beyond the Portal. Ends April 8th and U.S. only. Check it out and enter here.


Lastly, it’s so amazing to get these lovely surprises in my email from teachers and their students! It warms my heart to know young readers are touched by my stories.  Mrs. Christie said her students love Unicorn Island so much that they decided to write me an opinion letter about it. Here it is in their words.

Happy reading—and happy spring!

P.S. Be sure to take your own magic with you wherever you go

Winter Projects, Pastimes & Recommendations

By Donna Galanti

Happy Winter!

First, I’m thrilled to share the BRAND NEW book trailer of Secret Beneath the Sand! This hardcover of the second book in my Unicorn Island series releases March 8th.

Hope you enjoyed that as much as me! So, we just celebrated Valentine’s Day here in the U.S. I’ve always thought of it as a Hallmark Holiday, but it got me thinking about all the forms of love and how they envelop our lives. Shape us. Push us into action. Whether love for a partner, parent, child, or friend. Family and friendship love is a key element to my Unicorn Island books, and all my books, so it’s something I look for in other stories.

Here are a few of my favorite movies that reveal the power of love, some I re-watched this month:

  • Shawshank Redemption (love of friendship)
  • Under the Tuscan Sun (love for self)
  • Seabiscuit (second chance love)
  • The Age of Innocence (unfulfilled love)
  • Second Hand Lions (love of family)
  • Shakespeare in Love (love beyond boundaries)
  • Brokeback Mountain (tragic love)
  • 50 First Dates, Moonstruck, Harry Met Sally, The Wedding Date (happy ending love—so many of those!)

There’s something learned about love in each of these—and how many kinds of love can fill our lives, along with mistakes to avoid when it comes to matters of the heart.

Talking about love! If you’re looking for a heartfelt summer read check out The Edge of Summer by my friend and talented author, Erica George. You’ll be swept away by this big-hearted novel about one girl navigating first loss and first love during her summer on Cape Cod. Out June 14th. Pre-order here!

Here are some other winter pastimes I’ve been diving into … perhaps some will speak to you. First is walking in the woods, of course! Here are winter adventure photos from the 20 acres we’re lucky to roam on our property as well as local nature preserves. I came upon an empty lake and was inspired to leave messages in the snow.



Here are other ways I’m passing my time you might be interested in.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
I’ve been on a non-fiction kick lately eager to soak up knowledge and inspiration.

  • Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong by John O’Donohue
    This is a book to indulge in slowly with its rich words and thoughts—and one to re-read, which I am. O’Donohue speaks to the divine restlessness in our human heart. This is an exquisitely crafted and inspirational book that explores the most basic of human desires – the desire to belong, a desire that constantly draws us toward new possibilities of self-discovery, friendship, and creativity.
  • Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
    This book is so good for the person seeking focus to produce that I just read it a third time. This includes, handwriting thirty-five pages of notes from it to create my own guide as a Cliff’s Notes version. Newport shows how cultivating a deep work ethic will produce massive benefits and also offers a training regimen for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill. He truly inspires you to grasp how deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from artisanship.
  • John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir
    This book is like being vividly shot to a walk in the woods, a stance upon a mountain, or a peaceful spot by the creek. John Muir is known as America’s pioneer conservationist and father of the national park system, and I delightfully discovered recently that he was also a talented literary man. As he explored the wild western part of the United States for decades, he narrated his wanderings in notebooks. This is an unrestrained poetic account that will enrich your senses with the wonder of the natural world.

MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS
I listen to a lot of instrumental. It’s peaceful and non-jarring. I create soundtracks for writing. It’s lovely at times having no voices in your head, just melody. Spotify is my go-to for creating music collections.

  • Spencer Lewis:
    Met him in person one summer in Manchester, Vermont, at the Hildene Fall Arts Festival. I love his folk music original pieces.
  • Acoustic covers:
    A way to enjoy old favorites in a new way with other performers.
  • Celtic:
    Love a good Celtic session while in the kitchen cooking. Never fails to lift my spirits.

Speaking of music … I went to see Howard Jones in concert this week. He JAMMED! Great acoustic set. His band was the first concert I ever went to waaaaaay back in 1984 when I was 15 years old! Check him out below.

And speaking of throwbacks from 1984, here’s one. Me at 15 with my good friend, Elaine, who I am still friends with after 40 years!

T.V. SHOWS AND MOVIES RECOMMENDATIONS
Longmire:
Am binge-watching this 6-season suspenseful crime mystery with a western feel set in a small town. I fell in love with Walt Longmire, the resolute and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Recently widowed, he is a tormented man who buries his pain behind a stoic face with an unassuming grin and dry wit.

Mrs. Maisel:
Re-watched season 1-3 to prepare for season 4 out soon! It’s the 1950s and one housewife’s life changes when her husband leaves her – and she decides to become a stand-up comic. This witty, hilarious, and gorgeous show is unlike anything else out there. Midge, wife turned comic, is smart and funny with all the right looks and clothes. She’s perfectly pitted up against her rough and tumble, foul-mouthed manager, Susie.

Ozark:
Re-watched season 1-3 to jump right into season 4. When one married couple relocates their family to the Lake of the Ozarks for money laundering, they have no idea of the life and death challenges they’ll face from small-town corrupt locals to the Mexican cartel. The show is shocking, disturbing, and so darkly intense I can only take this in small doses, but the writing and acting is superb. You never know what twists will happen next!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before:
And now for something young and sweet! I don’t often watch teen movies, but this is too cute to pass up. In this romantic comedy-drama, Lara Jean writes letters to five of her past crushes meant for her eyes only until one day they get sent out. Her life is soon sent on a crazy path of fake-dating, first-love, and heartache. You’ll champion her as she stumbles but also can’t stop watching Peter, her adorable fake boyfriend. Or is he? 😊

Emma a PBS mini-series:
Another adorable show but set in the Regency period, originally penned a comic novel by Jane Austen. You’ll fall in love with our heroine. Emma Woodhouse seems to be content with a wonderful father, adoring friends, and a beautiful home. But Emma is consumed by matchmaking. She can’t help meddling to find ideal suitors for her friends, putting her own longings on the back burner.

Sanditon on PBS Masterpiece:
This is a well-done take on Jane Austen’s unfinished novel (she died while writing it). I re-watched Season 1 for the fourth time recently to gear up for season 2! Yes, that’s how much I love it and our two appealing main leads: kind-hearted and smart, Charlotte, and the dashing yet tormented, Sidney. This is another show set in the Regency period with a lovely seaside setting. Full of complex intrigue, societal trappings, quirky characters, and misunderstandings, this show entertains while pulling at your heartstrings.

MY CREATIVE PROJECTS
I’m creating my own Etsy Shop! If you don’t know Etsy, it’s a wonderful shopping platform for unique and handmade products and gifts. This project has been consuming a lot of my time. I’m having so much fun doing research, design, product development, and creation of my shop called Go Wild Design. It will feature nature-inspired gifts, gear, and apparel. This is a big project I am very passionate about and hope to launch before summer.

I’m also excited to be plotting a new middle grade book I can’t wait to jump into writing. This new idea has a fun and colorful cast of characters and is a contemporary story of friendship, secrets, and transformation. That’s all I can say for now. 😊

AND this is the week I have a middle grade book going out on submission to editors through my agent, Liza Fleissig. It’s always a nervous time to know your story is “out there” and hope a publisher picks it up. So, wish me luck!

Lastly, let’s talk juggling! Of course, I had to give you an update on my juggling expertise. I have limited time to practice but I am happy to say that I have graduated from one-ball juggling to two! Juggled low here to try and get it in the video. Star the cat approves.

I’m also revising A Healing Element, the third and final book in my Element Trilogy for adults. The first book released in 2012 and I finished the third book five years ago. Yes. FIVE. But I put that aside to write for young readers. However, the 10 year anniversary inspired me to publish it now. This was my first adventure into writing novels that started with thrillers for adults and soon turned into writing thrillers for kids.

Here’s a photo of me at A Human Element launch party 10 years ago with dear friends! This even has the original cover, changed long ago with a new publisher. Check out the newer book covers below it.

Just a reminder that if you pre-order Secret Beneath the Sand, I’d love to send you a bookmark and autographed book plate label for you—or another special reader. Just email me your address and who you’d like the book personalized for at donna(at)donnagalanti.com

Plus, my publisher sent me a gorgeous box of bookmarks and bookplate labels. Check them out!

Stay cozy out there!
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

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