Oh, he’s sly as bodkins, thick as blood, and generous as death,” Ulrica snapped in a sarcastic collection of multi-cultural sayings.
—RAKEFANG by C. J. Milbrandt
BYWAYS: Galena
COMING SOON: Ewan’s Track
From Primary to Middlegrade. We’re in the borderlands of change with the Byways series. If you’re following the story, you’ve probably noticed that the books are growing steadily longer. An intentional progression. The first thirteen books (which cover the original thirteen colonies) are primary-level chapter books. But beginning with Book #14, the threefold adventure is officially expanding into lower middlegrade territory.
For print editions, this means smaller text and a smaller trim size … in keeping with the expectations of a growing audience. (In other words, they look like “big kid books.”) For those who don’t like mismatched books on their shelves, I’ve created omnibus editions Continue reading COMING SOON: Ewan’s Track
GAME: Name that Book Cover
Tupper took a deep breath of the fragrant air and decided that waking brownstone might be his favorite of all. Brand held a taper to cinnabark and star-spice while Freydolf carefully added strips of thick, dried leaves that gave off a pleasant aroma as they smoldered.
“Scented oils work as well,” the Pred remarked instructionally. “And some kinds of perfume.”
—HARROW by C. J. Milbrandt
#amreading: Book Report
How’d I do? On May 1, I took up a crazy challenge, trying to read a Book a Day in May. How’d I do? Umm … not too shabby, but not quite 30 books. Still, the challenge yielded some intriguing changes of habit. Ones I plan to carry right on through June. Here are five of my take-aways from May: Continue reading #amreading: Book Report
ART: Brand
GAME: Name that Book Cover
#amreading: The Iron Trial
I finished The Iron Trial this morning, the first book in the Magisterium series by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. This is one of those off-to-magic-school stories and includes many of my favorite (ahem) elements. The storytelling pulled me in and kept me turning pages with just the right balance of discovery, tension, and deepening danger. Continue reading #amreading: The Iron Trial
BYWAYS: Illustrations
Every one of the Byways Books includes beautiful full-color art by my illustrator, Hannah Christenson. Here’s a sampling from Book #8, Down the Stairs: A Ewan Johns Adventure.
