Today also happens to be the 12th Anniversary of this awesome group, and I hope there are many, many more to come!
This month's question fits extremely well with the celebration:
When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?
I really don't remember when I ran across the IWSG, but it had to be very close to the beginning. I'd just started my writing journey and had no clue what I was doing. I can say that this group has introduced me to so many wonderful people. Although I've seemed to have drifted away a bit during the last few years (real life has been busy!), I do look forward to finding more time to connect with every one again because the writing world would not be the same without every single person.
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Fitting to the IWSG celebration, there's a new book coming out next year! This one comes from an author, who I met through the IWSG and also so happens to be share a publisher with me.
BUBBA AND SQUIRT'S CITY OF BONES
by Sherry Ellis
Dancing Lemur Press LLC
Middle Grade Fantasy
75 pages
ages 8 to 12
COMING...
JANUARY 16th, 2024!!!
Creepy Underground Catacombs!
Bubba and Squirt are back for another rousing quest as they travel through the mysterious vortex to Paris, France. It’s another wild adventure as they track down art thieves, encounter terrifying monsters, and discover the whereabouts of their missing father.
Will they make it out alive or join the rest of the skeletons in the City of Bones?
MY TIDBITS
A little fantasy, a little culture, a little history...and tons of mystery and adventure.
Bubba and Squirt's father has gone missing, and they'd love nothing more than to find him. Luckily, their grandfather pays Bubba a visit from the great beyond and gives him a vision, which leads them through the portal to Paris, France. After landing in the spooky catacombs, they run across not only monsters but thieves, too. Add a painting, which seems to open up to another realm, and the two have more than a little to figure out.
While it's not absolutely necessary, I do recommend reading this series from the beginning, since the books do build on each other a little bit. That said, Bubba and Squirt aren't only figuring out the hole under the tree, but Bubba's getting a handle on his powers. While there is family support...even from the afterlife...these two are pretty much on their own, which readers will enjoy. They meet new friends and have to figure out new ways of dealing with things. It keeps the story exciting the entire way through, and with the little twists of magic, it's impossible to guess what's really going on.
One of my favorite aspects about this tale is the length. At around seventy-five pages, it invites even more reluctant readers to jump into the fun. The stories do include historical facts and teach a little about the various places Bubba and Squirt travel. This falls smoothly into the main plot and never feels like a lesson, which makes this great for school libraries an even homeschoolers. The adventure is exciting, packs tons of tension, and keeps the reader guessing until the end.
It's a fun series and worth checking out.
And here she is...
Sherry Ellis is an award-winning children's author and freelance writer. Her published books include Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China, Bubba and Squirt's Mayan Adventure, That Baby Woke Me Up AGAIN, That Mama is a Grouch, Ten Zany Birds, and Don't Feed the Elephant. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
In addition to being a writer, Sherry is also a professional musician who plays and teaches violin, viola, and piano. She also enjoys hiking, bike riding, and SCUBA diving.
In addition to being a writer, Sherry is also a professional musician who plays and teaches violin, viola, and piano. She also enjoys hiking, bike riding, and SCUBA diving.
7 comments:
That's awesome that you joined this group soon after it began. I can't remember when I did except that I know it was before 2014. Glad you enjoyed Sherry's book so much. I agree that it's a great length for kids learning to read.
I'm so glad you enjoyed Sherry's book! Wait until you read the next one, Shield of Athena.
Glad you're a part of it.
Awesome Sherry has another book!
I love all of the connections that I've made through this group.
The IWSG has such a wonderful sense of community, which is hard to find in online groups.
I won one of Sherry's books - Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig To China. It's absolutely delightful! I'd love to read the rest of the series.
While I'm now past the years of needing books for my teen, I am definitely still looking for things to pass along to a book-loving nephew. Thank you for the suggestion.
Thank you so much for the awesome review!
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