"Tracy Tam: Santa Command" by Krystalyn Drown

SUPER MIDDLE GRADE MONDAYS
INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY

Tracy Tam: Santa Command

by Krystalyn Drown

Welcome to this week's Super Middle Grade Mondays Book Blitz presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books and Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours!

Today, we get up close and personal with Krystalyn Tam, author of Tracy Tam: Santa Command from Tantrum Books. Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post for your chance to win a copy of the book!

Description

Tracy doesn’t believe that Santa can deliver all of those presents in one night without a little help from science. A flying sleigh can only be powered by jet engines, and Santa’s magical abilities can only be the result of altered DNA.

In order to test her theories, she sneaks onto Santa’s sleigh and ends up at Santa Command, the place where a team of (gasp!) humans monitors Santa’s big night. When Tracy attempts to hack into their computers, she accidentally introduces a virus to their system. As a result, three states get knocked out of sync with the rest of the world (oops!).

Before the night is over, Tracy has to fix time and help Santa finish his deliveries. And she has to do it all with Santa’s magic, which she doesn’t believe exists.

Excerpt

“Okay,” Beth said as if the matter was settled. “How about we say it was magic?”

“How about we don’t?” Tracy whipped out a tiny notebook and pen and scribbled something down. “I’ve given you my hypothesis –”

“And I’ve proven your hypothesis incorrect. When that happens, you need to modify it.”

“Modify it to what?”

“I gave you an alternative theory.” Beth took Tracy’s notebook and scribbled the word ‘magic.’

Praise for the Book

"Fast-paced, entertaining and occasionally bittersweet." ~ Publishers Weekly

"Tracy Tam is an entertaining holiday read with a stubbornly scientific protagonist, a smattering of ornery 'elves', a few over-worked and over-worried Santa Command employees, one grieving and angry boy, a little bit of golden magic … and yes, I wiped away a few tears at the end." ~ D. Salerni

"Tracy Tam: Santa Command by Krystalyn Drown turns everything you thought you knew about Christmas on its head - the reluctant reader will enjoy nail-bitter page turns, while the reluctant believer gets an exciting Christmas escapade." ~ Amazon Customer

"This was a very enjoyable read, even for an adult. The recommended age range is 9 - 12 (grade level 3 - 7). I loved that the author weaved in a few surprises and magic. Nothing is quite like it seems. All of the characters were remarkably fun - except for maybe the zombie-like Santa Claus." ~ D. Coto

"This is a fun holiday read with a unique take on how the North Pole runs. Tracy is smart and strong, but with a tender heart. This is the perfect before bed story for this time of year. It'll have young readers dreaming of taking Tracy's place as she investigates who Santa is and what the holidays are really all about." ~ Amy Christine Parker

Interview With the Author

Welcome, Krystalyn. Please describe yourself in three words.

Quiet. Determined. Quirky.

Describe your book in three words.

Scientific. Magical. Santa-riffic

Tell us about your day job.

I’m a substitute teacher. I used to be an elementary teacher, but I love how subbing gives me more time to spend with my family and to write.

Which writers inspire you?

Judy Blume because she understood what it was like to be a preteen, Richard Peck because of Bel Air Bambi and the Mall Rats as well as all of his historical novels, J. K. Rowling because of Harry Potter.

What is your writing process like?

I know the beginning, a few main points in the middle, and the end. Then I sit down and write. I send one of my critique partners (Dianne K. Salerni) my chapters one by one for feedback. Once I have a rough draft, then I write an outline and revise from there.

What are you reading right now?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Again.

Do you have an author crush?

Maggie Stiefvater. The way she writes her characters leaves me in awe.

Quick questions. Physical books or eBooks?

Physical books.

Coke or Pepsi?

Pepsi.

Twitter or Facebook?

Facebook.

Song you can’t get out of your head right now?

"Bad Blood" by Taylor Swift.

Sweet or salty?

Sweet.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee.

Write on computer or notebook paper?

Computer.

Thanks for visiting us today, Krystalyn!

Freebie

Download the FREE Teacher's Resource Guide (Grades 3-5) for Tracy Tam: Santa Command, including vocabulary words from the story, discussion  questions, writing prompts, and an art project that can be done alone or in groups.

About the Author

Krystalyn spent thirteen years working at Walt Disney World in a variety of roles: entertainer, talent coordinator, and character captain. Her degree in theatre as well as many, many hours spent in a dance studio, helped with her job there. Her various other day jobs have included working in zoology at Sea World, as an elementary teacher, and currently as a support technician for a website. In the evenings, she does mad writing challenges with her sister, who is also an author. Krystalyn lives near Orlando, Florida with her husband, son, a were cat, and a Yorkie with a Napoleon complex.

Giveaway

Enter the blitz-wide giveaway for a chance to win an ebook copy of Tracy Tam: Santa Command by Krystalyn Drown.

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"Strange Country Day" by Charles Curtis

SUPER MIDDLE GRADE MONDAYS
GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY

Strange Country Day

by Charles Curtis

Welcome to this week's Super Middle Grade Mondays Book Blitz presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books and Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours!

Today, we get up close and personal with Charles Curtis, author of Strange Country Day from Tantrum Books. Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post for your chance to win a copy of the book!

Description

Alexander Graham Ptuiac, the son of an inventor, wants to play for the school’s football team. During tryouts, and under the watchful eye of the team’s coach, he suddenly manifests mysterious superhuman powers. Alexander makes the team, but not before the some ill-intended adults take notice, putting his life in danger.

Alex struggles to suppress and control his strange new abilities, worried about exposing his secret and being kicked off the football team. Then he befriends Dex, a diminutive classmate who can somehow jump as high as ten feet in the air. Seems Alex isn’t the only one at school with a secret.

As the school year unfolds, Alex will find himself the target of bullies, holding hands with his first crush and discovering the shocking truth about himself and his parents.

Praise for the Book

"The only thing stranger than Strange Country Day, are the kids sitting next to you in class. Meet the next generation of mutant superheroes. When you attend this school, you're signing up for a whirlwind of mystery and mayhem. This story captures both the turbulence and confusion of being 13, and dealing with superhuman powers ... a wicked combination. Strange Country Day certainly lives up to its name." ~ DJ MacHale, author of Pendragon and The SYLO Chronicles

"High energy, high-cool adventure! If only all schools were this strange and exciting - but how many of us would survive?" ~ Greg Bear, Hugo- and Nebula-award winning author of Moving Mars and Darwin's Radio

"Great book for the kids!" ~ Roshni

" ... this is an enjoyable read and I think kids (especially boys) ages 8+ will enjoy Alex and his strange adventure." ~ Tonja Drecker

"Great book for my teenage son!" ~ Jason

Guest Post by the Author

Write What You Know

As a young 8th grade writer who published his first story in my school’s literary magazine, I was always encouraged to write what I know.

So when I sat down to write Strange Country Day, I immediately knew my protagonist, Alexander Graham Ptuiac, would be a tall, skinny sports-loving new kid just starting middle school and trying to fit in. That’s because, at the age of 12, I was a tall, skinny sports-loving new kid just starting middle school and trying to fit in.

Alex’s first day of school starts out with a bang: During 7th grade orientation, he’s pulled into a room with his classmates for a ritual known as "Fresh Meet Friday". When the event turns into a riot involving the older 9th graders, Alex discovers he has previously unknown superhero-like powers that propel him to punch the ringleader in the nose.

Unfortunately, my first day of middle school wasn’t nearly as mind-blowing as Alex’s, but I did draw a little bit from experience. I attended a private school where I was one of many new kids faced with making friends with a whole new group of students, many of whom already knew each other. Luckily, there were no hazing rituals I was forced to participate in (unluckily, I didn’t have comic book-like powers, either), but in Strange Country Day, I tried to capture that same nervousness I felt about walking into a – well – strange environment, trying to fit in and attempting to adjust to an increased workload and new schedule.

In the past few years, I’ve often joked about how my interests in those days – I visited a comic book shop once a week to pick up my stack and played the card game Magic: The Gathering every day at lunch – are suddenly trendy now and lamented about how I would have been much happier if I’d been a middle schooler in 2015. But I realize now just how influential both were on my creativity and imagination.

The other huge influence? Sports, of course. I spent countless nights in front of the television (I promise, Mom and Dad, it was after my homework was done ... most of the time) or at one of the many New York stadiums/arenas, taking in any and all Mets, Giants, Knicks or Rangers games I could watch. I always wish I could go back in time and tell my middle school self that one day I’d find myself in the press box at those very same arenas and stadiums. Middle School Charles would be blown away.

The one thing that truly separates me from Alex? With the help of those aforementioned powers, he ends up joining his school’s football team as a quarterback. Despite my love for the game of football, I didn’t have half the athleticism to even begin to think about playing on the gridiron.

But hey, adults – especially authors – are allowed to reimagine their pasts too, right?

About the Author

Charles Curtis is a writer and journalist based in New York City. He has reported and written for publications including NJ.com (where he is currently the site’s sports buzz reporter), The Daily, ESPN.com, ESPN the Magazine, Bleacher Report, TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. Charles has covered the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, golf, tennis and NASCAR. He has also written about television, film and pop culture.

In addition, Curtis has also written, produced and was featured in videos for ESPN.com and The Daily. He has made radio appearances on stations including 92.9 The Ticket in Bangor, Maine, WLIE 540 AM in Long Island and on morning shows across Canada via the CBC.

Giveaway

Enter the blitz-wide giveaway for a chance to win an ebook copy of Strange Country Day by Charles Curtis.

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"Joshua and the Lightning Road" by Donna Galanti

SUPER MIDDLE GRADE MONDAYS
INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY

Joshua and the Lightning Road

by Donna Galanti

Welcome to this week's Super Middle Grade Mondays Book Blitz presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books and Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours!

Today, we get up close and personal with Donna Galanti, author of Joshua and the Lightning Road, the first book in the series from Tantrum Books. Coming soon: Joshua and the Arrow Realm. 

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Description

Stay away from the window, don’t go outside when it’s storming and whatever you do, do not touch the orb.

Twelve-year-old Joshua Cooper’s grandpa has always warned him about the dangers of lightning. But Joshua never put much stock in his grandpa’s rumblings as anything more than the ravings of an old man with a vast imagination. Then one night, when Joshua and his best friend are home alone during a frightful storm, Joshua learns his grandpa was right. A bolt of lightning strikes his house and whisks away his best friend - possibly forever.

To get him back, Joshua must travel the Lightning Road to a dark place that steals children for energy. But getting back home and saving his friend won’t be easy, as Joshua must face the terrifying Child Collector and fend off ferocious and unnatural beasts intent on destroying him.

In this world, Joshua possesses powers he never knew he had, and soon, Joshua’s mission becomes more than a search for his friend. He means to send all the stolen children home - and doing so becomes the battle of his life.

Book Video

Excerpts

Praise for the Book

"Vividly imagined characters in a gripping action fantasy that never lets you go until the very last page." ~ Jenny Nimmo, New York Times  bestselling author of the Charlie Bone series

"Joshua and the Lightning Road is a heart-pounding thrill ride full of unexpected twists and turns from start to finish." ~ The Midwest Book Review

"Action-packed adventure…futuristic creatures and ancient myths…an exciting combination." ~ Goodreads Reviewer

"Imaginative, vivid, and dazzling … Richly atmospheric…From the initial flash of lightning to the book’s electrifying end, Galanti’s eerie Lost Realm of Nostos is fresh, scary, and deep. Joshua and the Lightning Road is a juggernaut of a thrill ride, hurling the reader through chills, thrills, horror, and hope - perfect for the young adventurer in your life!" ~ Amazon Reviewer

" … so vivid. I could feel, smell and envision the setting … all the right characteristics of a great main character – brave, smart and kind." ~ This Kid Reviews Books

"Fast paced and intriguing … I look forward to reading the next book in the series!" ~ Lizzy’s Book Review

The Lost Realm in the world of Nostos (map by Al Sirois)

Interview With the Author - Would You Rather

Would you rather never be able to speak again or always have to say everything that is on your mind?

Never have to speak again! If others knew all my crazy thoughts, I might not have any friends or family left. Ha ha! At least I could still write. J

Would you rather be able to read or be able to read minds (but be illiterate)?

Read, absolutely! To read means to explore other worlds, create movies in your mind, find deeper meaning in life, experience self-awareness, and go through transformations. I would be afraid to read minds to see truly what people are thinking. I definitely do not want to know what goes on in many people’s heads (especially my son’s)! Besides, it’s more fun to imagine what is in other people’s heads and create character stories about them to entertain myself.

Would you rather be able to speak fluently every language in the world or be the best in the world at something of your choosing?

Be the best in the world at…playing the violin! I can challenge myself to learn new languages, but I’ve always dreamed of having musical talent – and I adore the violin. Writing and music go hand in hand for me and I want to play and inspire myself, and others.

Would you rather read only one book over and over for the rest of your life or read as many as you want but never remember what they’re about?

What a terrible dilemma! As many as I want. Even if I don’t remember them, at least I can experience new worlds through them in the moment.

Would you rather only the first page of a book or the last page?

Definitely the last page! I have a habit of flicking to the back and reading the last line of a book I pick up to possibly buy. If that last line pulls me in and connects to the first line then I am good to get it!

Would you rather read 5 pages per day or 5 books per week?

5 pages per day. I am a speed reader and if I were to read 5 books a week, I know I would skim them and not get the full experience each one. To read 5 pages a day I could immerse myself in the story, slowly, and reflect on it and its journey.

Would you rather read only one genre forever or never read the same genre more than once?

I would rather never read the same genre more than once. I lost my love of reading when I became an author and couldn’t figure out why. Then a friend made me aware that as an author I now needed to expand what I read. She was right! I had always read the same one or two genres and had simply gotten bored. Now I like to sink into books that challenge me in new ways, to read things I never would have before: non-fiction, science fiction, historical, horror, etc. In reading across genres it helps me expand my skills as an author and also brings a richness to my own writing.

Would you rather be invisible or be able to read minds?

Invisible! Then I could sneak around and grab private conversations of people to churn my brain with ideas for stories! (a spy but for educational purposes, of course).

Would you rather never use the internet again or never watch TV again?

That’s easy. TV.I am not much of a TV watcher – and could always catch up on my favorite shows on the internet through Netflix.

Would you rather have one wish granted today or three granted in 10 years?

Definitely three in ten years. My desires and needs may change across the years. Something I desire today, may not work out for tomorrow!

Would you rather know it all or have it all?

Have it all. If you have it all, that’s wonderful to not worry about material things and still explore the world to seek knowledge and meaning – and know it’s a vast, never ending tide of information. But if you know it all, what left is there to discover? Life would be very boring. There would be no challenges! No amazing discoveries! No transformations! It would be a life without curiosity and that would be a very sad life indeed.

About the Author

Donna Galanti attended an English school housed in a magical castle, where her wild imagination was held back only by her itchy uniform (bowler hat and tie included!). There she fell in love with the worlds of C. S. Lewis and Roald Dahl, and wrote her first fantasy about Dodo birds, wizards, and a flying ship. She’s lived in other exotic locations, including Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. She now lives with her family and two crazy cats in an old farmhouse, and dreams of returning one day to a castle. Donna is the author of the Joshua and The Lightning Road series (Month9Books) and blogs at Project Mayhem.

Giveaway

Enter the blitz-wide giveaway for a chance to win an ebook copy of Joshua and the Lightning Road by Donna Galanti.

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