Tag: middle grade fiction

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

50% OFF SALE!!!

Start your holiday literary party off to an awesome start with this amazing sale from my publisher, JOLLY FISH PRESS. You can have my monsters and more, all for half price!!!

You’ll be celebrating long after the holidays have passed with your very own copies of FROM THE GRAVE and INTO THE SHADOWLANDS.

Don’t miss out on the MAYHEM!

 

 

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

Thankful for Booktalking Teachers & Librarians

Thank You, Teachers & Librarians!!!

 

This month, I’m celebrating all the wonderful teachers and librarians out there sharing books with their students. As a former school librarian, I know how effective booktalking can be to help sell kids on books–both old and new.

GIVEAWAY

Teachers & Librarians, here is how my November book giveaway works:

Follow me on Twitter @cynthiareeg and send me a tweet with #booktalking in it. That’s all you need to do to be entered. I’ll send the educator selected a copy of both my MG fantasy novels: FROM THE GRAVE and INTO THE SHADOWLANDS!

Thanks again for all you do!

Happy reading!!!

 

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

Summer Update

I don’t know about you, but for me the summer is flying by! I can’t believe it’s half over. Hopefully you’ve been up to plenty of fun, whether it’s outside or inside. I’m trying to learn some new things this summer. One is outside–golf. The other is inside–piano. Both require a lot of practice, but I am seeing some improvement at both of them.

Are you trying some new adventures this summer?  Even reading a new type of book–like a mystery, or historical fiction, or SciFi, or nonfiction–can be a new adventure.

Yesterday, I visited my local library and found plenty of interesting titles to choose from there. Here are some of the middle grade books I’m going to dig into:

SAVE ME A SEAT by Sarah Weeks & Gita Varadarajan, about a new kid at school. I can relate to that, since this was my experience several times as a child.

ROSETOWN by Cynthia Rylant, about a young girl dealing with the death of her dog and her parents’ divorce. Big changes in our lives can be tough. I’m looking forward to meeting this character and seeing how she deals with her problems.

STINKBOMB AND KETCHUP-FACE AND THE BADNESS OF BADGERS by John Dougherty, a totally off-the-top fantasy which I will share with my grandson. I think he’s going to laugh-out-loud at this one.

And yes, I am writing as well this summer. I’m editing a middle grade novel as well as a nonfiction picture book. Plus, I’m writing a fun picture book that’s hopefully quite moo-velous!

One other summer adventure I had a few weeks ago was an evening at our local butterfly house with camera in hand. It was incredible to closely observe so many beautiful butterflies and try to capture them with my camera. I am only a beginner at photography but our instructor, a professional photographer, gave me some pointers. I’ll share a few of the photos here.

Keep me posted on your summer adventures and your summer reads!

 

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

My Monsters Continue to Travel the Globe

February and March have continued to be busy months for me with my Microsoft Educator Community Skype Classroom visits—over 75,000 virtual miles total now. Whew! Yesterday I traveled from north Texas to New Jersey and all the way down under to Australia! G’day, mates!

 

In the past two months, I’ve also squeezed in a couple of in-person school visits in St. Louis at Lone Dell Elementary and Bayless Elementary, meeting hundreds of eager 4th and 5th graders.

 

What I enjoy so much with school visits—whether in-person or via Skype—is sharing my love of words with the students. Seeing them become excited about reading and writing is the best! Today, out of the blue, I received a note from Mark Nechanicky, 4th grade teacher in Albert Lea, MN, expressing appreciation for my January Skype visit with his class.

Thanks again for the Skype. We purchased and received books from you. Our media specialist told me that they are checked out all the time. Thought you should know the students really like the books.

This totally made my day! As a former school librarian, I know how awesome it is to have students lining up for a good read. And it’s totally amazing when that read is one I’ve written!

Chandra Hale, school librarian from Celina, TX, where I visited 5th graders yesterday, said: I’m trying to get a copy of each of your monster books for our library… Several students are already asking about checking them out:) And 4th grade teacher, Maria Krudzlo from Marlton, NJ, had this to say after my recent Skype visit with her class: They learned a lot. Thanks again! I ordered your books and the kids are arguing over who gets them first.

Again, that’s so super cool!


My books FROM THE GRAVE and INTO THE SHADOWLANDS are published by Jolly Fish Press/North Star Editions. This is a small indie press, so it is much tougher for my books to be noticed by schools and libraries and middle grade readers. But I’ve found through my visits that WHEN my books and students connect it is a winning combination. I hope you’ll pass the word on about my monsters through social media with an Amazon or Goodreads review or a Tweet.

The REAL critics (the student readers) from all of these states so far: Missouri, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Connecticut, New York, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Washington, New Jersey, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa—as well as Puerto Rico, Canada, Wales, and Australia—give a big “Scary on!” for my stories.

I hope you’ll have the opportunity to share my monsters with the special students in your life!

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

Put the Monsters on Your Calendar

Monster Book Signings

It’s less than a month away from the first book signing for Book 2: Monster or Die, INTO THE SHADOWLANDS! I will be at The Novel Neighbor in St. Louis from 4:00-6:00 pm on Saturday, October 14. That gives you plenty of time to grab this spooky read before Halloween. There will be monster swag for the taking and monster treats for eating. I’ll read an excerpt and be happy to answer all questions monster-related.

Neverfear …

If you can’t make it on 10/14, the monsters return on Saturday, October 21 to Main Street Books in St. Charles from 2:00-4:00 pm. It will be a repeat performance of all things monsterly.

Hope you can make one of these–and get your MONSTER on!!!

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

Inquiring Middle Grade Minds Want to Know!

 

I had such fun reading and responding to students’ questions I received this week from Holt Middle School in Fayetteville, Arkansas that I wanted to share their awesome words!

Comments

I really enjoyed you describing the characters for us and reading the first couple of pages of your book. I can’t wait to lose myself in your book. Thanks for visiting our school. Maggie

Thank you for the bookmark and I hope I can stick it in one of your books because I would really love to read FROM THE GRAVE. Kyndal

I am so excited to read your new book. I am happier than a elephant in a room full of peanuts. I hope we get to see you in real life! Maddie

You were so prepared and organized. I really like listening to you read the first part of your book. I can’t wait to read your book! Ashton

Thank you for Skyping us and letting us talk to you. It was fun doing it! Jose

I am so excited to read your book, FROM THE GRAVE! …My favorite character is the Dragon because she doesn’t abide by people’s expectations! Rian

I love how you teach people to not bully in an adventure with monsters. Finally, I would like to ask you when your next book in the series comes out so I can tell my friends about it. Matthew

Thank you for showing us that different is ok with your book. Mariano

Questions & Answers

 

Mikayla: How many books have you wrote in your career so far?

 

Hi Mikayla! So far I have written four picture books which explore parts of speech: THE PET GRAMMAR PARADE series, and another picture book called GIFTS FROM GOD. I’ve had two short stories published in anthologies—story collections: “The Emily Explosion” in THE GIRLS and “The Dragon Artist’s Tale” in SPREAD YOUR WINGS. FROM THE GRAVE was my first middle grade novel for readers your age. Book 2 in the MONSTER OR DIE series will be out October 10: INTO THE SHADOWLANDS. You can go to my website to find out about all my books. www.cynthiareeg.com

Thanks for your interest and happy reading!

 

Ella: I am reading your book right now … I can’t wait to read the second book …

 

Thanks, Ella! I really appreciate your reading and enjoying my story. That helps me know that my writing is working. It helps me be a better writer. The second book (INTO THE SHADOWLANDS) is coming October 10, but because all of you at Holt Middle School have been so supportive of me I will try to send Ms. Jewell an advanced reader copy if I can. I’m sure it won’t arrive before school ends for this year, but at least you can check it out first thing next year!

 

Aidan: Were you scared of monsters when you were little? Is there going to be a second book to the From the Grave?

 

Hello Aidan! Yes, I was very scared of monsters when I was young, and I think a lot of kids are. So I enjoyed creating monster characters who are misunderstood and a whole lot like regular kids. I guess that’s how I made my monsters less scary—to me anyway. The second book: INTO THE SHADOWLANDS is coming October 10. I sure hope you can read it. And I really appreciate nice reviews on Amazon if you and any of the other students have enjoyed reading my books!

 

Zachary: Do you have any brothers? Are you married?

 

Hi Zachary! Yes, I am sandwiched between two brothers—one older, one younger. You can visit my author website (www.cynthiareeg.com) in the ABOUT section to find out a little more about them and me. And yes, I’m married to the most wonderful man I could ever find. He’s my number one fan, so I am very lucky. He even dressed up like Frankenstein for my book release party last October! J

 

Madison: Do you like writing books? How long have you been writing? Are you going to retire?

 

Hey Madison! Thanks for your questions. I love writing books. It seems the best job in the world—creating fun characters and stories to share with readers like you. I’ve been writing since I was your age. I also loved reading and writing. I hope you are writing too! And no, I don’t plan to retire any time soon. I have retired from my library work, so I can write full time now. I’ve just started to get going with my writing, so I hope there will be many more stories to come.

 

Mattie: When did you know you wanted to write books? Why did you write this book and was this books suppose to teach you a lesson about something? Finally did you write the book about past experiences?

 

What great questions, Mattie! As soon as I learned to read and write, I started writing my own stories. I hope you are too! I wrote this book because I wanted kids to think about how awful bullying and discrimination is—even if you’re a monster. So yes, I hope FROM THE GRAVE will help kids think about being kinder and more accepting of each other—no matter if they’re blue like Frank or a sparkly dresser like Vanya. 🙂 I think all writers use a bit of their past experience in creating their stories. For me, I moved with my family quite often when I was a child, so I knew how scary it was to start in a new school with no friends. I wanted to fit in. I was generally lucky that things went pretty well, but there were a few times when others bullied me. I’m hoping you and the other students at Holt Middle School encounter no such “monsters!”

 

Jonah: Do you plan to make a movie?

 

Hi Jonah! I think it would be very cool to make a monsters movie, but so far no one has offered to do it. But I did collaborate with a video game maker to create a bit of monster animation. I hope you and the other students at Holt Middle School can open this short introduction to FROM THE GRAVE. If the link below doesn’t work, try https://itch.io and type in the title in the search box to open the video. You will need to click to advance the story. It works best in the manual mode to be able to read the text. Let me know what you think. Or you might try to create a book trailer of your own for the monsters. I’d love to see that!

 

https://from-the-grave.itch.io/from-the-grave

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

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

www.jollyfishpress.com

 

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Grave-Monster-Die-Cynthia-Reeg/dp/1631630946/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464812082&sr=1-1&keywords=cynthia+reeg

 

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-the-grave-cynthia-reeg/1123528610?ean=9781631630941

 

Books A Million

http://www.booksamillion.com/search?id=6715996410984&query=from+the+grave+by+cynthia+reeg&where=Books

 

Indiebound

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781631630941

 

Indie Store Finder

 

Powell’s

http://www.powells.com/book/from-the-grave-9781631630941

 

The GiveAway ends September 23

Thanks! And MONSTER ON!!!

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

WORLD BUILDING

Inside an Author’s Mind

 

(A Morning at the Dentist’s Office)

 

An exclusive look into the mind of one middle grade author. Read her ramblings as she faces terror! (i.e: sits in the dentist office, having her six-month cleaning and check-up—hoping that no new cavities have emerged in the interim.)

 

An author’s work is not limited to time spent before the computer or with a pen clutched in hand. No, some of my most productive creative time is down time, when I’m able to let my mind wander. It’s then that I often find answers to nagging plot problems or discover a new twist or—like today—uncover the truth about Monster Dentists!

 

In my upcoming middle grade fantasy, FROM THE GRAVE (October 18, 2016), I do not have a monster dentist as a character. However, I do mention one ancient vampire improving his bite with a set of new false teeth, so therefore, I know that monster dentists do exist in Uggarland—my monster world.

 

Today, as I sat in the infamous adjustable chair listening to drills and teeth scraping and moans (okay, maybe the moans were only mine and had nothing to do with pain but only with totally unjustified apprehension), I pondered a monster dentist’s workday. The following is what I envisioned:

 

The dentist’s name would be something like Dr. A. G. Ony or Dr. Lotta Payne

 

He would look like a cross between a mad scientist and a mangy dog, or she might be a skeleton in blood-crusted scrubs with a necklace of teeth dangling from her neck.

 

Tools would include a hammer, chisel, pliers, and a knockout punch, although most procedures would be administered with no pain relief. The louder the howling—the better.

 

The dentist would also have a file to sharpen teeth for better biting. Every Moanday, there would be a special two for one price on sharpenings. (always popular with the financially fiscal monsters like werewolves and trolls)

 

Cosmetic dentistry would include the application of teeth tarnishing gel, multiple tooth extractions for that gap-toothed growl, and a take home kit for halitosis—bad breath to the max.

 

Okay, there you have it. A writer’s mind at work—all while wearing a paper bib and drooling most profusely.

 

Now it’s your turn! (No, not to drool—to write!)

Open the door, if you dare, and let your imagination out for a bit of fun. I’ve shown you ways a dentist might “operate” in the goofy monster world that I’ve created for my #MonsterOrDieBooks.

 

 

YOUR TURN:

  1. Choose a setting for your story. (Feel free to use my monster world if you’d like.)
  2. Create a character.
  3. Fill in the blanks on how he/she looks and acts.
  4. Now write a story with this character. Keep thinking until you discover a problem. Such as: What if the monster dentist had to extract teeth from a crazed werewolf during a full moon? (Check out the classic picture book Dr. DeSoto by William Steig to read how this author wrote a similar story.)
  5. Finally, tell how the character tries to solve the problem. Does she do it—or not?

 

Presto! You’ve written a story! That’s how you make magic happen—one word at a time!

I’d love to hear about some of your characters. 🙂

Here’s to monstrous reading & writing!!!

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

Debut Middle Grade Fantasies

Two new out-of-this-world reads that released in January!

BOUNDERS by Monica Tesler.

BoundersMG_Fantasy

In the not-too-distance future, a group of specially gifted students visits Earth Force Academy for the first time. Here they begin to learn how to use their talents. They also learn of the grave dangers facing humanity. This is an action-packed story with an entertaining, diverse group of characters to root for in an out-of-this-world adventure. Intrigue, suspense, surprises, and appealing characters all add up to make this a winning middle grade read!

 

SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB by Patrick Samphire.

SecretsDragonTomb

In 19th century Mars, an unlikely young hero finds himself (and his family) caught up in the middle of a plot by a nefarious celebrity seeking to rout an ancient dragon tomb. The hero must stop the villain from uncovering the tomb’s secrets and free his family, all while facing dangerous Martian creatures and evil combatants. This is a truly humorous and inventive read.