div#ContactForm1 { display: none !important; }

Friday, February 27, 2015

Celebrate the Small Things



Every Friday the amazing Lexa Cain sponsors a hop to help us remember that it's the small things in life that really make a difference. . . and we don't even notice them! So stop, take a moment and think back to all those little things (or big) that put a smile on your face.

And since Lexa can't do this alone, she has two awesome helpers:

L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge
Katie @ TheCyborgMom

Thanks, ladies!


This week, I'm celebrating. . .

1) Melting snow - Wednesday it hit around 50 degrees! Okay, yesterday we had a high of 30 (And 3 hours of drifting flakes), and today it isn't suppose to be much better, but tomorrow and the next day and the next day, the temperatures are said to remain above freezing. Yippeee!

2) Lasagna! The kids reminded me that it's been forever since we had some, so I baked up a big pan this week. Yum.

3) Tea. Hot in the winter and iced in the summer. Oh, and NO sugar please. Seriously, I don't know where I'd be without my tea.


And what about you? What brought a smile to your face? A kitten? A snowman? A hot bath? What are you celebrating this week???


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

What's Up Wednesday


The lovely ladies, Jaime Morrow and Erin L. Funk, sponsor this weekly hop to help us writerly/readerly folk touch base with each other. If you want to join in, head on over to either (better both) of their blogs and sign up on the linky.

Thanks, Jaime and Erin!


The last few weeks, I've been struggling to do much here on the blog-o-sphere (mostly thanks to those lovely snowstorms and 6....yes, 6!...snow days off for the kids). Needless to say, my kids thought we should cancel the rest of the school year and simply slide right on into summer vacation. Sorry, guys!




What I've Been Reading. . .

I've been hitting the books fairly hard lately, but seem to have been picking up things which just don't work for me. I read TEACHER BEWARE by Charlotte Raine, a suspense romance, and it was okay. I thought the author did a great job building the tension between the heroine and the killer, and she balanced 3 first person POVS rather well, but there were too many back flashes for my taste. I'd list the next 3 books, but it's not worth it. I stopped reading all of them by the fourth chapter. Maybe the next one I pick up will be better.


What I've Been Writing. . .

Two chapters done in four days! I'm still editing, but finally, I'm getting somewhere. I had a major....I'm talking extreme...plot change and ended up cutting 7-8 various chapters. I printed out the MS and literally took them out. Now, I'm patching and reweaving the story a bit, and really feel great about it - lighter and fresher.


What Works for Me. . .

Fingerless gloves. Ha! Bet you didn't expect that one. I'm one of those many female souls who suffers from cold hands. In my piano playing years, I'd stop and sit on them or put a space heater next to the piano. But when writing, I tend to carry my laptop everywhere (and who wants to tote a space heater too?) So I snipped off the tips of one of those cheap $1 stretchy gloves, and Tadah! Warm fingers for faster typing....or so I hope.


What Else I've Been Up To. . .

Trying to keep the kids' snow boots, gloves, hats, coats, pants and what nots half-way dry so that they can play outside over and over and over again. Oh, and the endless mopping of the mudroom - I LOVE the mudroom! (Seriously, if that stuff all got in the house *phew*)

Then we've had some problems with freezing water pipes. That's one of the lovely bonuses of living on a farm with a well. At first, we thought we'd simply failed to keep the pump house warm enough, but it appears that somewhere there's a pipe too close to the ground surface on the way to the house. . .which means we get to dig things up and try to find it this Spring! (Yay?????) Anyway, the water by the barn is on a different system, so I ended up carrying buckets and buckets of water to the house. Oh, and of course, the ponds froze over, which meant the cows got buckets and buckets too...and the goats....and the chickens. Let's just say that me and my bucket know each other well.

But most importantly, we've been making snow angels, and sled runs, and ice sliding races and all those wonderful things.



And what about you? Did you get buried under all that white stuff? Get to sun on the beach? Did you read a good book and love it? How's your writing going? In other words, what's up?


Thursday, February 19, 2015

Interview with Children's Author Cheryl Sturm

I love guests, especially ones who write children's books (and don't eat all the chocolate cupcakes before I get one or two). So today, I'm excited to have Cheryl Sturm stop her travels for a brief second and pop on by to answer some of my amazing (and not so amazing) questions. She's full of energy, exploration and simply a lot of fun to see around. With further adieu...here she is...


CHERYL STURM!!!
(yes, I'm cheering like Kermit on the Muppets)



Cheryl Sturm works with a great team of people at R. Crusoe & Son to develop unusual, cultural journeys. The daughter of an Army major, she was born in Berlin, Germany, raised in Manawa, Wisconsin, and lives in Chicago, Illinois. She began her career as a television reporter in Wisconsin, but a professional detour happily lead her to international travel. "Have I Told You Today How Much I Love You," is the first book published by Knowing Going Kids. More books are on the way for thoughtful families curious about our world.



Hi, Cheryl! I'm so glad you happened across Kidbits today. Since I really don't want to steal too much time, I'm just going to jump right in.
You've never had a boring life. Born in Berlin, Germany, and now in Chicago, I'd considered you pretty well traveled. Has this influenced you and how you write for children? 

Having the privilege to travel and see other countries—how life is lived now and has been in the past—has given me an added frame of reference to appreciate both foreign lands and our own magnificent country. I’ve met remarkable people, been wowed by a vast array of human achievements, and seen stunningly beautiful landscapes. These experiences have inspired my creative efforts, and I’m hoping to pass that sense of wonder to my readers: children and the adults reading with them.


Your first publication, HAVE I TOLD YOU TODAY HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, definitely is a great start in this direction!
HAVE I TOLD YOU TODAY HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU is also the first publication from Knowing Going Kids with the promise of more stories to come. I'm going to get noisy here and ask you to give us an idea of what we can expect from them in the future. . .if you don't mind, of course.

I’m working on two books. “How a Note Becomes a Song” is about creativity in general and classical music in particular for older readers (10+). The first half is a poem, and the second half is a primer, which provides background information on the poem and the development of classical music (mostly for the adults reading the poem with children readers). The second book is a take on an old classic that is a direct connection to my travel experiences. We’ll see which one is done first!


What is your favorite part about writing?

I love having an idea percolate in my brain, open a blank document on my computer screen, and see a story come to life.


And what would you rather eat worms than do?

I’m not a big vacuumer. But I have a nephew who is, so I wrote him a little book for his third birthday about vacuums.


That sounds really cute. I actually know several kids who are into vacuums and would find a book like that neat. 
Many authors were avid readers during their childhood. What were you favorite books while growing up?

My beloved Aunt Nat gave my siblings and me “The Illustrated Treasury of Children’s Literature” by Margaret E. Martignoni. We loved that book. We also loved the Richard Scarry and Amelia Bedelia books. As I grew older, I enjoyed the Nancy Drew series. To this day, I adore “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” by Dr. Seuss.


Somehow, your last choice doesn't surprise me.
What book are you reading right now?

The children’s book that has my attention is “Away in My Airplane,” by Margaret Wise Brown with illustrations by Henry Fisher. (I wish all my travels on airplanes were that much fun!) I’m also enjoying Jan Brett’s delightful books. For adult reading, for fun, I enjoy mysteries/thrillers by James Patterson, David Baldacci, and Brad Thor. To understand a complicated corner of the world, I’m also reading “The Last Great Revolution” by Robin Wright. Her understanding of Iran and the Middle East is impressive.


Wow! It sounds like your reading is as versatile as your life!
When you aren't writing, what do you like to do?

So many things! Just not enough time in the day. Since travel is a big part of my job, I enjoy being home. During summer, my Dad and brother create a fabulous garden. I like to spend time with our whole family, figuring out what we should cook with the vegetables and fruits they’ve grown, and then being part of the effort to make a great meal happen.



What was your biggest wish as a child? 

Really I can’t remember. I had a joyful childhood for which my amazing parents have my eternal gratitude. 


Thanks again, Cheryl, for stopping by. It was truly a delight (and no, I'm not saying that while munching down a third cupcake).


For you curious readers out there, here's the run down of Cheryl's fun book for kids ages 3+! (And younger ones too)


"Have I Told You Today How Much I Love You?" is one way to express love--beyond an inch, foot, yard, mile, the moon, stars, and Mars--to anyone dear to you. It was written as a bedtime story. But given that it teaches children some fun facts about measurements while reinforcing how much you love them, this book is an ANYtime story. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, and friends can buy this book as a gift and enjoy telling the children in their lives how much they are loved. The author wrote the book for her four nieces and nephews. When asked "Do I love you this much?", the youngest, who is almost four years old, delights in answering, "Not just this much." He starts saying it with his two index fingers an inch apart, and he enjoys repeating the phrase with his hands one foot apart and again with his arm stretched as far as they'll go. Then he starts again. On occasion, his grandfather has joined in. It's a fun, quick read with both basic and profound lessons.


You can find it on Amazon here!



Friday, February 6, 2015

Celebrating the Small Things

After totally sleeping through IWSG this month (that one tiptoed right past me - Ugh!), I'm waking up.

The lovely Lexa Cain sponsors this weekly hop with the sole purpose of putting a smile on our faces. It's the small things in life which really make the difference, and we shouldn't forget that.
Thanks also to her two, hard-working co-hosts!

L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge
Katie @ TheCyborgMom




This week, I'm celebrating. . .



1) I was selected to receive Middle Shelf Magazine's Best of the Blogs Award for 2015 for my book review blog Bookworm for Kids! (For those of you who don't know about Middle Grade Shelf, it's an online magazine which concentrates on literature for Middle Graders...and a pretty well read one at that.) *squeel*  Oh, and here's my award button (spiffy, huh?)




2) My son and daughter went to a FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) competition this last week and did well. My daughter got 2nd in the Sales Presentations (boot cuffs with built-in pockets for cell, credit cards or whatever - she made them herself). And my son got 9th from over 100 participants in Computer Problem Solving. Considering neither of them really wanted to be there (the teacher convinced them to join at the beginning of the year), I was really happy for them.

3) A trip to the mall with my daughter! Yep, we drove to the big city and spent the day shopping, drinking lattes and simply messing around. I love mother/daughter days.


Oh, and a good writer buddy of mine, Clara Stone, is bringing out her new book (YAY!!!) Today's the cover reveal for FLIRTING WITH LOVE (obviously YA Romance), so if you like pretty covers, go and take a look here.



And what about you? What wonderful things are you celebrating this week? Did someone unexpected call? Did a bird land on your window sill? Did you go somewhere and have a great time? What put a smile on your face?




Cover Reveal for Flirting with Love by Clara Stone



TITLE: Flirting With Love
AUTHOR : Clara Stone
GENRE : Romance , Young Adult











Hudson and Blake Lovelly lead a charmed life—successful careers,loving family, beautiful home. Now, on the eve of their daughter’s birth, they’re counting their blessings. Life wasn’t always so generous . . .

Fifteen years ago, seventeen-year-old Blake Voss walked into Cranbrook Preparatory High to participate in the school year’s most-prestigious debate competition. She never expected to fall for the pretentious, golden-haired boy on the opposing debate team, and he never expected to be ensnared by the quick-witted prankster with a heart of gold.

Their mutual love for joking pretense soon leads them to pull their biggest prank yet--pretending to be in love. But when danger threatens, Hudson can’t conceal his growing affection. He’ll do anything to be with Blake, even if it means risking his heart to protect her.

They didn’t plan for their friendship to grow into a love story. But sometimes, all it takes is a little Hope.

This powerful companion to Forever Kinda Love tells the history of Hudson and Blake’s relationship. Laced with haunting emotion and beautiful sentiment, this is a tale about overcoming even the darkest moments, reminding us all to love more. Give more. Without regrets.











“You.” I point at the guy that always seems to cling to Blake like a pet octopus. Weasley, or Possum, or something equally asinine.
He turns, eyebrows raised, and crosses his arms in defiance. The group around him pauses, their curious eyes on us. I ignore it.
“Where is she, Weasel?”
“My name is not Weas—”
“Weasel, Wormhole, whatever. I don’t care. Where. Is. She.”
He grinds his teeth. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Oh, really?” I take a threatening step toward him, cracking my knuckles. I’m not above bruising a chump to get justice for my Jags.
“What’s going on?” A voice, filled with authority, comes from behind me. Something stirs in the pit of my stomach . . . irritation, anger, or . . . ?
I take a deep breath and pivot. “Blake.”
She looks unimpressed, her eyes boring into mine. I notice the crowd around us is still hovering, interested to see where this is going. But once again, I ignore them.
I step toward Blake, searching the chocolate depths of her eyes for any sign of guilt. There isn’t any, but the fire that seems to crackle just beneath their surface leaves me suspicious. And slightly mesmerized.
A small smile appears on her lips, but quickly vanishes.
“Golden Boy here is looking for you,” Willy Wonkers says, shouldering past me to stand next to Blake.
I growl. “Who the hell are you calling—”
“Golden Boy.” Blake cuts me off.
I grunt, annoyed.. “Don’t call me that.”
She raises an eyebrow and takes a step toward me, away from Wes the Pet. “So . . . ?”
“So . . .” I prod.
She bites down on her lower lip, waiting for me to say something. And I don’t. Because there is no way I’m asking if she messed up my Jags. I want her to confess.
She clears her throat. “You were looking for me?”
Un-freaking-believable. Really, Blake? Really? Her confession be damned. I need answers. Now.  “How could you do this to my baby?”

BOOK 1:  FOREVER KINDA LOVE 

PURCHASE 
Life’s. Little. Surprises. 

The last thing seven-year-old Carrigan "Ace" Casper foresaw was an eight-year-old Heath Lovelly walking into her life the day her mother died. From that moment on, Heath sticks by her side, slowly becoming her strength, her confidant, and her entire world. What she doesn’t know is, she's his saving grace, too. 

Ten years later, Ace is handed another crippling challenge that threatens everything in her almost perfect life. Only, this time, she doesn't turn to Heath, hiding the truth instead. But Heath knows Ace too well and won't back down easily. He's ready to do whatever it takes and will stay by her side until she accepts that their love is the kinda love worth fighting for. 

Will he be her forever triumph or her unexpected downfall? 

Two lives. 

One story. 

And an unexpected journey to falling in love.


Clara Stone lives in the beautiful city of Boise, ID. Unlike what most believe about Idaho, it’s more than a sack full of potatoes. When she’s not writing, you’ll catch Clara reading YA and NA books, mostly romance, and enjoying time with her family. She is a proud CW TV addict.











 TWITTER  PINTEREST   TSU   AMAZON 

HOSTED BY 



Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Ninja Writers Kea Alwang and Melissa Mertz


Today, I'm going to be skipping my regular What's Up Wednesday post to clear space for two authors, who aren't only talented, but stealthy, quick and nimble. Kea Alwang and Melissa Mertz are the coauthors of the delightful middle grade series, THE SECRET PATH OF NED THE NINJA.



Kea Alwang lives in New Jersey with her podcasting husband, film-obsessed son, and book-munching daughter. Apart from writing and world building, she teaches Isshin-ryu karate, is passionate about bullying issues, searches for the perfect chocolate bar (Green & Black comes close!), and immerses herself in multiple fan girl obsessions. Her other works include the Young Adult Speculative Fiction series, Based on a Dream.
Melissa Mertz owns and operates The Dojo Paramus in Paramus, NJ, where, as a 5th level Black Belt in Isshin-ryu, she has taught for over ten years. She is forever grateful for the opportunity and privilege of teaching martial arts to those who have trained with her. She thanks her students and their parents for their trust and for following her path to Black Belt. Melissa lives in New Jersey with her star-throwing son and the sweetest dog the world over.


Believe it or not, these two lovely ladies have agreed to answer a few questions too!

Welcome, Kea and Melissa!!!



First off, ( I just have to ask this). . .are you two secret super ninjas? 


If we told you, we would no longer be much of a secret, and therefore, not very super! :)



I was afraid you might say that, but a girl has to try! So on to questions you can answer. . .

What inspired your love for Isshin-Ryu karate to seep over into a series for middle graders? 

Through the years, we have taught so many different types of kids. Some might lack coordination, but have a passion for the mental aspects of the art. Others might excel in technique, but fall apart when tested on the history of the art. Each has his or her strengths and weaknesses, as we all do. However, we have watched so many kids build confidence as they faced their personal challenges. 

Why does it work? 

Since bullying and meanness are unacceptable at Melissa's school, the kids are able to face their challenges without stressing over being humiliated. Kids are challenged firmly, but always by teachers (senseis) who want the students to reach their potential. One of the ways we believe students can move beyond the effects of bullying is to focus on the seven virtues of bushido (the code of the Samurai).... most importantly, honor. If you honor yourself, you can take the labels and stigmas thrown at you and treat them as gifts that are not to your taste. In other words, you don't accept them. If you don't accept them, they do not belong to you. They remain a weight on the person who is trying to force that gift (label or stigma) upon you. Since grade school is when bullying builds and not every kid gets to take martial arts, we wanted to give kids who bully a more personal glance into the life of a bullied kid. We wanted to give bullied kids a hero in Ned, who does struggle with confidence and fear ... his path is not easy ... but who is following a path toward remaining true to himself. Ned is a mash-up of so many students we have taught through the years. He can be Ned the Nerd or Ned the Ninja ... or Ned the Nerdy Ninja ... and there is nothing wrong with any of those titles as long as the one Ned claims allows him to feel comfortable in his own skin.



You two don't only work with kids together, but write together. 
What is your favorite part about writing together?

Sitting in our favorite cafe, Cool Beans, and outlining a story. Kea hits the coffee, Melissa hits the tea, and we hit on funny and meaningful moments together.



That does sound like fun! But I bet there's things you'd rather eat worms than do as well. 

Kea: I'd rather eat worms than deal with getting my daughter through shots at the doctor. As a courtesy, I should probably hand out cotton to the entire staff for their ears next time. 

Melissa: If I think too long about eating worms, I could become vegetarian.



I totally understand that, Melissa. Then it's better if we quickly move on over to other thoughts... like bookworms!

What were you favorite books while growing up?

 Kea: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, then The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton, and the Dragonlance series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.  
Melissa: Madeleine by Ludwig Bemelmans 


What was your biggest wish as a child? 

Kea: First, I wanted to be a writer, then an astronaut, then a writer again! 

Melissa: To have a summer beach house and live at the beach.



Ninja Writers In Space!!! That sounds like fun!


If you want to learn more about Kea and Melissa, go ahead and visit over at. . .





 Hey ... I'm Ned Herts. But you can call me Ned the Nerd. No, really ... I don't mind. My hobbies include: video games, comic books, creating superhero characters, bringing home awesome grades, tumbling into school lockers, and handing over my lunch money. Talents? Well, I have mastered the art of duck-and-cover while steering clear of Beck the Bonebreaker, my personal bully. Unfortunately, a super-bad school day involving a paper cut causes my parents to flip: They drag me to a karate class to toughen up. Let me tell you something: When a guy like me lines up next to a cute girl to face his very first workout at the mercy of a weapons-happy martial arts teacher, it's not pretty. But when a guy like me gets hauled into the woods in the middle of the night for another lesson, he's going to wonder if superheroes can really exist and if his uncoordinated feet have just been placed on a very strange path.





Ned Herts is back! "I know. You have questions: Did Ned the Nerd wind up in Witness Protection for standing by as Beck the Bonebreaker kissed the concrete? Did Beck make good on his threat to tackle Ned another day? Did Ned set his coordination-impaired tootsies back on the mats at Tora Khan Martial Arts? Did the Tiger King drag our hero out for another night of pushing him beyond his limited limits? Did Ned Herts become the most notable name in superhero comic book history? Did he get the girl?"





















Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Writing for a 3 Book Deal with Dianne Salerni

I'm SUPER excited to have a very talented and extremely sweet guest here on Kidbits. Some know her as the amazing brain behind The Eighth Day, a fast-paced fantasy for middle graders.  And just a few days ago, the second book in the series was released!


This sequel to The Eighth Day, a fantasy adventure that VOYA called "unparalleled" and "absolutely necessary for middle grades," continues with higher stakes, greater world building, and more pulse-pounding action. With suspense, action, and intrigue at every corner, this fast-paced fantasy series will be a welcome addition for fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter.
After an all-out battle in Mexico, Jax, Riley, and Evangeline have gone into hiding. There are still rogue Transitioners and evil Kin lords on the hunt for Riley, a descendant of King Arthur, and Evangeline, a powerful wizard with bloodlines to Merlin, in order to gain control over the Eighth Day.
So when Finn Ambrose, a mysterious stranger, contacts Jax claiming to be his uncle, Jax's defenses go up—especially after Jax learns that he's holding Jax's best friend, Billy, hostage. To rescue Billy and keep Riley and Evangeline out of the fray, Jax sneaks off to New York City on his own. But once there, he discovers a surprising truth: Finn is his uncle and Jax comes from a long line of Dulacs—a notoriously corrupt and dangerous Transitioner clan who want Riley dead and Evangeline as their prisoner. And family or not, the Dulacs will stop at nothing to get what they want. (You can find it on Amazon here!)



WELCOME,

DIANNE SALERNI!!!!



Writing for a 3-Book Deal

When The Eighth Day launched in April 2014, many people asked me, “Are you excited about writing the other books in the series?”

What these people didn’t know – and what I hadn’t anticipated when I signed the 3-book contract -- was that most of the writing for all three books was already finished by the time the first book released. The second book had progressed through copy-editing and passed on to design, and I’d handed in a draft of Book 3 to my editor scant days before my launch. In fact, I was a walking, talking spoiler alert who already knew the events of the next two books while people were buying the first!

The pace of production was dizzying at times, but there was a purpose to it. As I was drafting each of the subsequent books in the series, I still had the ability to make small adjustments in the one that came before it. No major revisions were possible, but I could edit a line here or there, delete a sentence, add an important clue. It was incredibly helpful to know that everything wasn’t carved into stone just yet.

Book 3 ended up being the hardest to write for several reasons. First of all, although it was tricky to write The Inquisitor’s Mark (#2), blending the characters from the first book with new villains and allies, I pulled it off. With the third book, however, I had to bring in yet another new cast and still account for the characters in the two previous installments.

At that point, I began to wish I’d killed off more people in Books 1 and 2!

There was an additional factor that made Book 3 tricky. HarperCollins signed me for a 3-book series, but optioned a fourth and fifth book. This meant I had to write a story that would satisfy readers as the end of the series, but which could also serve as the midpoint.

For this little dilemma, I was lucky to get advice from a HarperCollins assistant editor who said, “You need to plant your own version of Tom Riddle’s diary in one of the books.”
Remember Tom Riddle’s diary from The Chamber of Secrets? That diary was defeated and destroyed in Harry Potter #2, and if the series had ended sooner, we would never have given it another thought. But in later books, the diary turned out to be one of Voldemort’s horcruxes and the seed of a new plot thread.

So I planted my own “horcrux” in The Inquisitor’s Mark, something that is resolved in the course of the book – but which can lead to a lot more trouble if I’m lucky enough to sell Books 4 and 5.

In the world of the 3-book deal, where am I now? I’m launching The Inquisitor’s Mark, revising the unnamed Book 3 (officially unnamed that is; I know what I called it), and plotting out potential Books 4 and 5 – the synopses of which I must submit for consideration in the spring of 2015.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

(If you read The Inquisitor’s Mark and spot the potential “horcrux” that could lead to complications in future books, please contact me!! If you’re right, I’ll send you a prize!)

***
In The Eighth Day, 13-year-old Jax Aubrey discovered a secret day of the week hidden between Wednesday and Thursday and a mysterious girl living in the house next door who existed only on that day.  Jax learned that his guardian, Riley, and the girl, Evangeline, were descendants of people out of legend, tasked with maintaining the Eighth Day Spell and keeping the world safe from the dangerous and powerful Kin race imprisoned in that day.

Now, in The Inquisitor’s Mark, the adventure continues … and Jax has a terrible choice to make.

After the battle on The Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico, Jax, Riley, and Evangeline have gone into hiding from rogue Transitioners and evil Kin lords who want to gain control over the eighth day.

So when Finn Ambrose, a mysterious stranger, contacts Jax claiming to be his uncle, Jax’s defenses go up—especially when Finn tells Jax that he’s holding Jax’s best friend, Billy, hostage. To rescue Billy and keep Riley and Evangeline out of danger, Jax sneaks off to New York City on his own. Once there, he discovers a surprising truth: Finn is his uncle and Jax is closely related to the Dulacs—a notoriously corrupt and dangerous Transitioner clan who want Riley dead and Evangeline as their prisoner. And family or not, these people will stop at nothing to get what they want.


Learn more about Dianne and her books at http://diannesalerni.com/






In this riveting fantasy adventure that VOYA called "absolutely necessary for middle grades," thirteen-year-old Jax Aubrey discovers a secret Eighth Day with roots tracing back to Arthurian legend. Fans of Percy Jackson will devour this first book in a new series that combines exciting magic and pulse-pounding suspense.
When Jax wakes up to a world without any people, he assumes it's the zombie apocalypse. But when he runs into his eighteen-year-old guardian, Riley Pendare, he learns that he's really in the Eighth Day—an extra day sandwiched between Wednesday and Thursday. Some people—like Jax and Riley—are Transitioners, able to live in all eight days, while others, including Evangeline, the elusive teenage girl who's been hiding in the house next door, exist only on this special day.
There's a reason Evangeline's hiding. As the descendant of the powerful wizard Merlin, her magic is highly sought by corrupt Transitioners who want to use her to destroy the seven-day world. Torn between protecting his new friend and saving the human race from destruction, Jax is faced with an impossible choice. Even with an eighth day, time is running out.

You can find this on Amazon here!