The Unicorn Thief Blog Tour

To hit other stops on the tour click the image above!

Welcome to the Unicorn Thief BlogTour. You can check out my post on the Unicorns Of The Mist series here. Today we are lucky to have R.R. Russell with us to answer some questions. Hooray! So let's get started:

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became a writer.
I wrote my first book when I was in kindergarten. It was called Billy Bear’s First Day of School. I loved planning what was going to happen on each page, and then watching my family, my teacher, and then my classmates turn those pages, wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I was hooked! From that day on, I wanted to write books.

2) What was the inspiration for the Unicorns of The Mist Series?

My family likes to camp at Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island, and from there we can see some of the many small islands off the coast of Washington. Those islands, often encircled by mist, inspire so many questions. Does anyone live there? Who owns them? What sorts of things could be hidden on a small, private island, draped with mist?

Mysterious creatures? Maybe even unicorns?

Who better to discover such secrets than a girl who wants nothing to do with anything fantastical? A girl who wants only to stay safe in her shell with her own secrets for company.

3) Tell us about your process.

Usually I have a very general idea how I want the book to begin and how I want it to end, and some ideas for cool scenes that could take place in-between. I start at the beginning, but often after a chapter or two, I end up skipping ahead. I'll think of a scene while I'm running errands, waiting for an appointment, or trying to get to sleep at night. Then I'm itching to write it, and I'll go ahead and get a rough draft of it out as soon as I get a chance, whether it's the next thing that happens in the story or not. The order of events gets switched around during the revision process, too.

4) What does a typical writing day look like?

I don’t really have typical days. Sometimes I do set aside time for writing, whether an evening at the library or getting up early on my husband’s day off. Most days, I’m grabbing ten or twenty minutes here and there to write.

5) Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is at home, with the sound of my family doing their thing in the background.

6) Are you working on a new project? Can you tell us about it?

I’m working on another sequel to my YA novel, Venture Untamed.

7) What advice would you give others that write for children?
Live a full life. It will enrich your writing and get you through the tough times in your writing life. Take time away from writing to be alive, and your work will come alive.

Thanks so much for stopping by, R.R. Russell. It was great to get to know you a little better. 

MMGM: Flight of Blue by A.E. Howard

Published: July 24, 2012
ISBN: 1477666303
Genre: Middle grade, fantasy 

Publisher: Elder Tree Books
Themes: friendship, bravery, compassion
Add it on: Goodreads, / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: A cursed traffic light. A rip in the fabric of the world. A sorcerer injured on a quest for revenge.
Kai and Ellie embark on a journey to return the sorcerer to his home. Entangled in events that could destroy the world, Kai must choose if he will accept the role he was born to play, but isn't sure he wants.

Kai's view of the world is shattered when Reginald, an Opossum sorcerer with attitude, speaks. Reginald becomes an unwilling guide, and Kai finds himself on a journey where every discovery only leads to more questions. With time running out as the Realm of Darkness pushes through, he must learn all he can about himself and his parents' past to find a way to close the rip between the Realms before his world vanishes. But truth is more dangerous than illusion, and he finds the fate of the world resting on his ability to wield his newly discovered magic.

A page-turning blend of non-stop action and memorable characters, Flight of Blue puts a timeless theme in a modern setting where compassion, loyalty, courage, and friendship can stand in the face of great evil, and overcome.

First Line: It was one of those fall days where the air calls you outside, where leaves crunch deliciously under your feet, the sky is an impossible blue, and school, even if you like school, is pure torture.

What Others Are Saying: I don't remember a dull moment in the story. The pacing was perfect making it almost impossible to put the story down. I wanted to know what was going to happen, but I didn't want to miss a single detail in the meantime (even the chapter titles are intriguing). — Felicia Wetzig

"Evokes memories of epic adventure tales and magic realms we pretend not to imagine as adults... The story makes us think about the reality of the world in the way a good Sci-Fi book does while providing comic relief though a self important, naked Opossum." —Kate Tagai, blogger

More Bloggers Weigh In:

Brian Clopper

Crystal In Bookland

Bibliophile's Corner

What I Thought: If you're looking for a book filled with magic, talking animals, mysterious worlds and adventure, Flight of Blue is the perfect choice. I was reticent since I'd heard it compared to Narnia and Harry Potter. Don't misunderstand, I love those, I just prefer fresh new adventures with original characters and worlds in my fantasy reads. Howard delivered. This was a totally new spin on common themes of friendship, loyalty and saving the world. Kai, the reluctant hero is energetic and curious like any twelve-year-old. A great book for middle grade boys and girls. 

About The Author: 

A.E. Howard

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Who: Once upon a time there was a little girl who read a book and thought, one day, I’ll find another world. Many years later, after a near death experience at a traffic light, she passed a possum dying on the side of the road. She stopped, and with its dying breaths, the possum imparted a tale so wondrously strange, she drove home realizing the new world she’d been searching for was right there all along. So she embarked on a quest of mythic proportions, traveled far and wide to the farthest corners of this world to uncover its secrets. Now she’s bringing the story to you.

MMGM NW Authors: Wildwood by Colin Meloy and Illustrated by Carson Ellis

About The Book: The first book in the epic middle-grade fantasy series full of magic, wonder, and danger—nothing less than an American Narnia—from Colin Meloy, lead singer of the highly celebrated band the Decemberists, and Carson Ellis, the acclaimed illustrator of the New York Times bestselling The Mysterious Benedict Society.

First Line: How five crows managed to lift a twenty-pound baby boy into the air was beyond Prue, but that was certainly the least of her worries.

Love This Line: “As she walked, she breathed a quick benediction to the patron saint of sleuthing. "Nancy Drew," she whispered, "be with me now.”

Carson in her studio.

Illustrator: Carson Ellis   
Website
Twitter: @cfellis

Carson Ellis was born in 1975 in Vancouver, Canada. She was raised in suburban New York and college-educated at the University of Montana in Missoula, where she earned a BFA in Painting in 1998.

Carson has been a babysitter in New York, a hot dog vendor in California, a chairlift operator in Vermont, an artist's model in Montana, and a cocktail waitress in Minnesota. These days she is happy to be an illustrator in Oregon, providing art for such bestselling books as The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket, and Wildwood by Colin Meloy. Additionally, she is the illustrator-in-residence for the band, The Decemberists, and has created art for their album covers, t-shirts, websites, posters, and stage sets. Each fall she teaches a free twelve-session drawing workshop for teenagers at the Portland Art Museum.

Carson lives in Portland with her husband Colin, son Hank, and Window the cat. —Website

What Others Have Said: "Meloy has created a tale that combines fantasy, an eco-fable, and a coming-of-age story. Have the book available so listeners can peruse Carson Ellis's fantastic illustrations that perfectly capture Meloy's fantasy world." —School Library Journal

"Sometimes things get almost too Portlandy, as though the characters from the brilliant TV satire “Portlandia” have gotten lost in Narnia. Picture Fred Armisen squinting from behind his glasses as he smugly informs the killer coyotes that he’s actually, you know, a pacifist." —New York Book Review


What I Thought:
     Where to start?  I put off reading the book, mainly because I'm a slow methodical reader (it's 560 pages). Then after reading the first page I knew this would be a book that I would pause and reread sentences just to hear the music, so again I put it off. This book is not only lyrical at times, I hear music crescendoing off the page. It didn't surprise me...after all the author is Colin Meloy vocalist and songwriter of the Decemberists. 

I love the "Impassible Wilderness" that Meloy creates and the fact that it's just outside Portland. The animals and adventures are tangible enough to make me wonder if "IM" actually exists. The breadth of the story brings on a sense of a timeless classic. I thoroughly enjoyed Prue and all the quirky Portland-like characters. (Of course, I'm a huge Portlandia Fan.) I suppose it could have been a bit shorter, but then again, I'm not sure what I would have cut. I recommend this great NW read as the perfect read-aloud to kids, boys and girls! It will have them begging for one more page, please?

 About The Author: Colin Meloy
Website
Book Website
EW Author Interview
Twitter @colinmelo
Facebook

Colin Patrick Henry Meloy (born October 5, 1974) is the lead singer and songwriter for the Portland, Oregon folk-rock band The Decemberists. In addition to his vocal duties, he plays acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bouzouki, and percussion. As of 2005, Meloy has written a 100-page book on The Replacements' fourth album, Let It Be, released as part of the 33⅓ series.

Meloy was born in Helena, Montana. His sister is Maile Meloy, an author often published in The New Yorker. He first attended the University of Oregon before going to the University of Montana, where he majored in creative writing. He then moved to Portland, where he met future bandmates Jenny Conlee and Nate Query. Prior to being in The Decemberists, Meloy was the lead singer and songwriter of Happy Cactus and Tarkio, both indie/folk bands from Montana. —Goodreads
The Sequel Under Wildwood  was just released in September 25th!

Can't really talk about the book without sharing some great songs by the Decemberists...
  
After you have enjoyed the below videos you have got to check out the other MMGMers in my  sidebar who all have some awesome reviews for you.





I will be featuring NW middle grade authors over the next several weeks. Here's a peek at what's coming up...

Memoir: Something To Hold by Katherine Schlick Noe 

Fiction Novel: The Ring of Leilani by Annie Crawford

Memoir: Animals Welcome by Peg Kehret

Nonfiction: Camp Out! by Lynn Brunelle

Historical Fiction Novel: Pebblehoof by Jason Black

Lastly, a shout-out to Cafe Solace, a local NW small business, who's running a Movember Special to support prostate cancer. Check it out here.

The Varity Gallant Tale by M.L. Welch

About Book One: Verity Gallant is a lonely little girl who doesn't quite fit in. But when a mysterious stranger hands her an ancient book, everything changes. Suddenly it's up to her to solve the riddle of an ancient pledge and protect her family from the evil Mistress of the Storm. What hope does she have against a witch so powerful she can control the wind and create storms at will? Luckily, Verity does not have to face her enemy alone. As events begin to spiral out of control, she finds two loyal and steadfast friends to stand by her side.

The Storm is coming. And it will change Verity's life forever.

One Review: "The setting and cast of characters are so richly described readers will see the scenes, which cut from one to another, as if watching a movie. For those not content to stay on the surface, there are psychological depths to plumb, a point made in a regrettably didactic last chapter.
"This is an exciting debut—with the promise of more to come—that will leave readers clinging to their seats, or masts, as the case may be."
-Kirkus

About Book Two:After a wonderful summer of sailing, Verity Gallant just wants life to stay the same forever. But as she should know by now, not everything in life turns out as we would like. The land is shifting beneath the ancient harbour town of Wellow, causing mysterious caves to appear in cliff faces, terrifying rock falls, and dangerous landslides. And the earth isn't the only thing crumbling . . . Verity is thrilled that Jeb has returned, but their feelings for each other threaten her friendship with Henry and Martha.


Verity and her friends are embroiled in a tale of evil, intrigue, and lost love, as a powerful force works its way towards Wellow, hell-bent on putting an end to all happiness. The Heart of Stone is the key, and the race is on to find it.

The Setting: "The town of Wellow lay still and expectant under a silent sky. Above the bay, its houses clung to the curved cliff-face. The small white fishermen’s cottages clustered round the harbour. Further up, the stone villas grew larger and more ornate as they ascended. At the top, the Manor dominated the skyline to the west, while to the east was Priory Bay College." -Mistress Of The Storm

Verity Gallant

The Lead Character: "Verity did not match the rest of the Gallants. Her solemn little face with its pink cheeks and charcoal eyes wavered constantly between very pretty and very plain. But it wasn’t just her looks. Like all good parents, Verity’s mother and father had lined up the full range of appropriate activities for their daughters: horse-riding, piano lessons, dance classes, choir practice . . . the list ran on and on. Poppy seemed to love them all, and Verity didn’t want to be ungrateful, but sometimes, when she was walking down the hill, she caught herself looking out to sea and wishing it was possible to pick herself up in the air and fly away. To feel the wind in her hair, and dirt on her face."    

                                                              -Mistress Of The Storm

One Great Line: "Not everything in life turns out as we would like. But things can change." -Mistress of The Storm

What Others Are Saying: "Verity is a sympathetic and engaging heroine, and readers will appreciate her friendships and relationship with Poppy, who becomes more sympathetic and supportive as the story evolves. Verity’s grandmother is a threatening, looming presence, and her meek parents add a touch of humor. Fantasy fans will enjoy discovering along with Verity that behind everyday small-town life is a world that offers hidden magic–and not-so-hidden danger." -School Library Journal

“A really gripping magical debut with a strong girl heroine.” -The Book Seller


What I Thought: As you can probably already tell, I'm totally in love with the setting and main character. The setting is along the seacoast, one of my favorite places in the world. Verity is not your normal lead character, she feels like the odd one out most of the time. The friendships between Henry, Martha and Verity are honest in that they go through their own set of struggles. Anyone who loved Over Sea, Over Stone by Susan Cooper will feel right at home in Verity's world. Of course after reading about half of Heart of Stone, I realized I wanted to read the first in the series, Mistress of the Storm. So I am currently reading that and will finish Heart of Stone after. This tale is filled with mystery, adventure and magic. At the heart is the understanding that stories are not only important, they are powerful. Even more exciting is that there are two more books in the series to come out over the next couple of years.


About The Author: M.L. Welch

Website


Publisher: Random House


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David Fickling Books

Who: M. L. WELSH spent her formative years in the sailing town of Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. The tightly bound community, maritime history, and captivating landscapes of the southern island were all sources of inspiration for the fictional town of Wellow in which Mistress of the Storm and Heart of Stone are set. Melanie lives in Suffolk, near the seaside town of Southwold, with her husband Lucien and their two sons, Joe and Ben.

Don't miss the other great MMGM reviews! You can find them in my sidebar!