All posts by C. J. Milbrandt

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BYWAYS: A Peek at Book #7

April 9, 2015PreviewBook 07: Across the Line, Character: Ganix Johns, Character: Hurlock, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Up the Mountain A

While Ganix watched, purple fire bloomed in the magician’s bare hands, and he sent it whirling over his head. The flames turned into a dragon that twisted through the air. Shoppers stopped to stare. Some clapped. A few tossed coins into a basket at the edge of the stage, and Hurlock thanked them with a smile.

—excerpted from Byways, Book #7: Across the Line

A Ganix Johns Adventure. I’ll be working through final flourishes on the seventh of the Byways books over the next couple weeks. Hardly a chore. Ganix gets into the most fascinating fixes! We’re closing in on the May release of the next batch of three Byways books, and I can’t resist sharing a few snippets and sneak peeks. Today, I’ll show off part of the cover sketch for Ganix’s next story—Across the Line. Continue reading BYWAYS: A Peek at Book #7 →

ART: Tupper [Galleries of Stone]

March 31, 2015Art GalleryArt: Cast Portraits, Character: Tupper MeadowsweetC. J. Milbrandt

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With Rimbles close on his heels, Tupper chose a roundabout way into the galleries, springing lightly down one set of stairs after another as he followed them into the heart of the mountain. He couldn’t have explained why he knew his master was in the deeper galleries. He just did.

Acting upon this certainty, Tupper jogged along a columned passage, lantern held high, key thumping against his chest in time with his heartbeat.

—excerpted from Galleries of Stone, Book 2: Harrow

Tupper Meadowsweet. From time to time, I’ll be sharing sketches and illustrations from Galleries of Stone on this blog. These art posts include pieces I’ve commissioned, as well as gift art. Today, I’m featuring a lovely digital painting of Tupper, who loves delving deep into the Statuary’s many passages. Continue reading ART: Tupper [Galleries of Stone] →

BYWAYS: New Jersey

March 30, 2015State FactsBook 03: Over the Bridge, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Byways Entries

Every Byways book is a story, but it’s also a game. There’s an educational element to this series of kids chapter books. Details in each story are borrowed from its assigned state. (As in the United States of America.) Byways will work through all fifty in order of ratification, so Book #3 covers our third state—New Jersey. Sharp-eyed readers will spot cities and towns, icons and emblems, famous firsts and claims to fame. Hide and seek. Search and find. Fun and learning. Continue reading BYWAYS: New Jersey →

BYWAYS: A Peek at Book #5

March 25, 2015PreviewBook 05: Inside the Tree, Character: Ewan Johns, Characters: Tamaqua & JuniataC. J. Milbrandt

Book 02, Aboard the Train

“Girls, this is important,” Ewan said, talking fast. “The quickest way to reach Mister Nathan is if I carry both of you.”

“Two is too heavy,” Tamaqua said.

“Not if I Change.”

—excerpted from Byways Book #5: Inside the Tree

A Ewan Johns Adventure. I’ve been busy behind the scenes getting the next batch of Byways books ready for their May release. The fun part is definitely working with Hannah Christenson on cover illustrations. Today, I’ll share a sneak peek of an early sketch for the cover of Inside the Tree. Continue reading BYWAYS: A Peek at Book #5 →

BOOKS: Durham, Ehrlich, and Lloyd

March 24, 2015Library ShelfC. J. Milbrandt

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Library Day. When I’m looking for books to read, I usually aim straight for the “middlegrade” section of my local library. I love (reading and writing) family-friendly adventures, so I reach for #kidlit. Here are the titles I chose this week. Continue reading BOOKS: Durham, Ehrlich, and Lloyd →

BYWAYS: Hometown Challenge [Australia]

March 23, 2015Postcards & NotecardsHometown Challenge, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Byways Entries

International Support. The Byways books may key off of the fifty states as their threefold adventure unfolds, but that doesn’t mean the race is limited to American fans. Much to my delight, a bundle of international postcards arrived from a reader in Australia! The photographs of Armidale in New South Wales show several facets of the city she calls home. Take a look… Continue reading BYWAYS: Hometown Challenge [Australia] →

CHIT-CHAT: Where’s My Editor?

March 19, 2015AnecdoteBook 02: Aboard the Train, Character: Ewan Johns, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

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Spotted in SCBWI. When I flipped through the latest issue of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators magazine, my attention was snagged by an article called “Where’s My Editor?” by Kim Childress. Why? Because she’s one of my editors for the Byways books! Continue reading CHIT-CHAT: Where’s My Editor? →

RAKEFANG: Barnes & Noble and Kobo

March 4, 2015Book NewsBook 3: RakefangC. J. Milbrandt

Good News! Rakefang is now live in the digital bookstores at both Barnes & Noble and Kobo. Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Galleries of Stone 03_Rakefang by CJMilbrandt

Rakefang finds Tupper Meadowsweet a young man by Flox reckoning, but he no longer fits in with his own people. Wild hair, stealthy grace, and foreign fashions make it obvious that he’s lived with Pred since boyhood. For three years, he’s been on the lookout for Continue reading RAKEFANG: Barnes & Noble and Kobo →

CHIT-CHAT: Adopt a Word

March 3, 2015AnecdoteSeries: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

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I’ve been following wordnik since my first days on Twitter, participating in their (now defunct) daily challenge to use their Word of the Day in a sentence. I have fond memories of silly word-related contests, and I often retweet their List of the Day. Hey, I even won a wordnik t-shirt! So it’s only natural that when they began putting words up for adoption, I jumped at the chance to Continue reading CHIT-CHAT: Adopt a Word →