Countdown to
FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Today’s Monsterism:
#3: Time waits for no monster
Here’s the link to win a signed copy of FROM THE GRAVE!
Tag: fantasy
September 23–A Month of Monsters
Countdown to
FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Today’s Monsterism:
#2: Mayhem when appropriate
Here’s the link to win a signed copy of FROM THE GRAVE!
FROM THE GRAVE Book Launch at THE NOVEL NEIGHBOR
Come Join Me!
On October 22 at 2:00 to celebrate the launch of FROM THE GRAVE!
There will treats, prizes, activities–and BOOKS!
Get your signed copy of FROM THE GRAVE!!!
Be prepared for some Frightful FUN!!!
Happy 100th Birthday to ROALD DAHL!
September 13
Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of one of children’s literature’s great fantasy authors.
Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.
(Matilda)
Dahl’s spunky, outrageous, endearing characters have become a part of childhood for so many children. I remember reading THE BFG to my two sons when they were young elementary students. We would all be laughing and eagerly turning the pages to find out what was going to happen to Sophie and the Big, Friendly Giant.
Click on this link to read more about the BFG and me.
Celebrate today with Ten Quotes from Dahl’s Stories
Here is a great list from USA TODAY of fun and insightful quips taken from some of his favorite books!
Please share the celebration!!!
Reviews Are In!
See What Two First Readers Are Saying About
FROM THE GRAVE
[FROM THE GRAVE]… this is a totally fun book that I can see middle graders adoring. And it is fun that we hear the story from both Frank and Malcolm’s perspective and that Cynthia Reeg doesn’t sugarcoat the emotions the young monsters feel. There are lots of great themes and lessons here, particularly about how our society treats people (or monsters) who are outside of the norm, but they are drenched in monster pus and roars and hysterically funny things. Shocktober, ‘Monster Up’, Mushington Way, Snotfargle; I can’t tell you how many times I giggled at the name. The end of the book leaves open the possibility for another book. I’m sure a lot of kids will hope there will be one!
WENDY MACKNIGHT, author of It’s a Mystery, Pig Face! (Sky Pony Press, 2017)
Frankenstein Frightface Gordon (Frank) isn’t cut out to be a real monster. He’s not the right color. He doesn’t want to scare humans. He couldn’t hurt a monster or a human or any creature at all. And he just can’t stand being covered in dirt or grime or bat poop—truth be told, he’d rather be neat! Frank just can’t seem to do anything right. Yes, he’s a total misfit, and when a law is passed to get rid of misfits like him, he has to somehow figure out a way to stay true to himself and to stay in Uggarland, his home.
Good-hearted Frank sets out to prove that he and his misfit friends are an important part of Uggarland, and he knows just how to do it. In fact, his idea seems so bad, that maybe—just maybe—it might actually be good.
Cynthia Reeg does a great job creating a fun and funny world full of monsters, witches, dragons, and mummies—with names like Mr. McNastee to insults like, “Eat sugar!” to a horrifying field trip to a place with fresh air and bright blue skies! Young readers will laugh out loud, root for Frank, boo Malcolm, and wait with bated breath for these characters’ next adventure.
VICTORIA COE, author Fenway and Hattie (Penguin, 2016)
You Can Preorder Now and Earn a Chance to Win Swag!
Five specially designed spook-tacular T-shirts in child sizes!!!
Simply preorder FROM THE GRAVE and send a digital receipt copy/photo to publicity@jollyfishpress.com
Here are links for placing your order:
Jolly Fish Press
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-the-grave-cynthia-reeg/1123528610?ean=9781631630941
Books A Million
Indiebound
http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781631630941
Powell’s
http://www.powells.com/book/from-the-grave-9781631630941
The GiveAway ends September 23
Thanks! And MONSTER ON!!!
Celebrate FRANKENSTEIN DAY!!!
Who wouldn’t love a face like that?
Okay, so I’ve been hanging around with monsters for much too long–and I LOVE IT!
AUGUST 30 is Frankenstein Day!
So you still have time to put on your costume and monster mash the night away!
FRANKENSTEIN FRIGHTFACE GORDON from my upcoming MG fantasy novel FROM THE GRAVE (October 18, 2016) is not a typical Frankenstein–he’s blue, prefers a crisp white button-down shirt, and the quiet life.
Still he’s full of surprises, the best of friends, and can certainly pull his weight in a tough situation. BLUE is COOL!
Preorders are happening right now–and an amazing giveaway! Don’t miss your chance to win a MONSTER OR DIE T-shirt.
Bonus:
Follow the link and learn how to make a FRANKENSTEIN CAKE–perfect for today’s celebrations or anytime you want to Monster On!!!
And if you want to make your Frankenstein cake look like my character FRANK, just switch blue icing for the green. Remember, BLUE is COOL!
FROM THE GRAVE Pre-order GiveAway
Don’t Miss Your Chance!
Only 8 more weeks until my official FROM THE GRAVE book release—less than six weeks until Amazon and Barnes & Noble ships the book out! What a great time to PRE-ORDER!
Why pre-order? Well, it’s a big deal in terms of promoting my book. Pre-orders count toward the first week’s sales, which helps create buzz about the book. Buzz leads to more people noticing the book, which leads to more sales—which means more kids are reading!
In addition, when more people pre-order FROM THE GRAVE, then the publisher will increase the first-run of the book and book sellers are more likely to purchase the book—which leads to more buzz about the book. You get the picture. Pre-orders are important!
As a thank you, please enter the contest to win some MONSTROUS book swag:
A limited edition FROM THE GRAVE child’s t-shirt! This is your chance to win one of FIVE!!!
Simply pre-order FROM THE GRAVE and send a digital receipt copy/photo to publicity@jollyfishpress.com.
Here are some links to where you can place your order:
Jolly Fish Press
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-the-grave-cynthia-reeg/1123528610?ean=9781631630941
Books A Million
Indiebound
http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781631630941
Powell’s
http://www.powells.com/book/from-the-grave-9781631630941
Or visit your local bookstore and order there. THANK YOU to those who have already pre-ordered and to all you who plan to do so! Don’t miss your chance to win a child’s FROM THE GRAVE t-shirt. Send in your receipt today!
The GiveAway ends September 23
Monster on!!!
MONSTER RULES
In my upcoming fantasy FROM THE GRAVE, I wanted to explore the concept of prejudice and bullying from a totally different perspective. So I created a world of monsters where conformity and rule following is extremely important. I wanted to show the absurdity of creating mandates based on preferences and obscure reasoning. Each chapter begins with a rule.
Some are nonsensical:
Monster Rule #33: Mayhem is appropriate only when those in authority determine it to be so.
Monster Rule #5: A monster is judged by his actions, so act up!
Some are simple:
Monster Rule #1: Follow the rules, or else!
Some are funny:
Monster Rule #55: Expect the unexpected and then eat it for lunch.
Some are alarming:
Monster Rule #71: Torture is often a necessary component of monster education.
All of them are rather extreme:
Monster Rule #13: Monster or die!
The theme in this sometimes wacky and often intense monster world explores how a society’s views are shaped by conventions: rules, customs, laws. Of course, we need guidelines to create a safe and livable environment. What I wanted to present was a society that had established too many unnecessary rules and regulations on how its inhabitants should look and act. The punishment for violating these monster rules is termination. In this fantasy society, rather than looking for the talents and potential in an unconventional monster, the creature is automatically excluded—unless it can somehow conform.
As might be expected, monsters shy away from change (Monster Rule #913: A well-educated monster knows not to ask any questions.) But I’m hoping FROM THE GRAVE will provide not only an entertaining middle grade read but also serve as a catalyst for discussion on discrimination and intolerance in our own society.
Monster on!
GOOD MONSTERS and BAD MONSTERS
Oftentimes When I Start Writing a Story…
There will be a good guy versus a bad guy. My fantasy FROM THE GRAVE seemed pretty straightforward in this respect with Frankenstein Frightface Gordon—a less-than-monsterly monster—as the good guy. Malcolm McNastee—a true blood troll on a mission to end misfits—seemed the obvious bad guy. But then, as I dug deep (please forgive the obvious cemetery allusion) into the story, my characters started revealing who they really are. Their quirks and shortcomings. Their fears and failings. And of course, I love them all the more for it.
Looking Deeper
While Frank maintains his good guy persona, he’s not without his numerous shortcomings. He has a quick temper that he’s tried to put under wraps, which sometimes causes him to be too cautious. He doesn’t initially lead the charge to stand up for exiled misfits. Rather he must be convinced by Georgina—a dragon without a trace of fire—and by his dear, departed granny—from the grave!
Malcolm, on the other claw, isn’t a totally tough creature. He has a big soft spot for his little sister, Nelly, who exhibits some disturbing misfit traits. Plus, Malcolm has his own secrets to hide—secrets that would destroy his perfectly gruesome image. One of Malcolm’s favorite sayings is “Less thinking and more monstering.” But that is not always easy to do. In fact, being a monster is far from easy but wonderfully entertaining, as I hope you’ll discover in FROM THE GRAVE coming October 18 from Jolly Fish Press.
More Monsters!
For more information on creating characters and details on FROM THE GRAVE, visit these What’s New blog posts:
Monster Writing Prompts: Creating Characters
1/29 Friends
1/21 Family
1/17 Appearance
1/8 Likes & Dislikes
Cover Reveal
The totally monstrous FROM THE GRAVE cover!
Featured, front and center, Frankenstein Frightface Gordon—a.k.a. Frank. He’s a sixth grade misfit, with pathetic blue skin and neat-nik ways. But he’s quick to help his friends and usually careful to control his temper, which too often leads to big trouble. His motto: Stay Calm and Scary On!
Behind him is his best friend, Oliver, a mummy who detests being wrapped up and isn’t afraid to read banned books. Finally, standing by the Cemetery Park gates is Georgina, a brave dragon who has a major drool problem. In the background (top right), Fiendful Fiends Academy lurks. In this award-winning school for monsters, you’ll discover surprising secrets, evil creatures, and a belfry of bat poop.
Thanks so much to the amazing Jolly Fish Press design team who created this colorful cover!!! They’ve provided a glimpse into the monster kingdom with its bony skeleton trees and eternal gloom. They’ve brought to life three of the quirky characters. So many more were dying to be included. I can’t wait for you to meet all of them!
Pre-order your copy now before FROM THE GRAVE becomes a banned book too!!!
Want a signed poster of my cover? Subscribe to this blog before April 30 for a chance to win one!