THE LOST WONDERLAND DIARIES by J. Scott Savage

Something monstrous wants to exit Wonderland and enter the real world.

Lewis Carroll, author of the classic book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, secretly recorded the true story of his actual travels to Wonderland in four journals which have been lost to the world . . . until now.

Celia and Tyrus discover the legendary Lost Diaries of Wonderland and fall into a portal that pulls them into the same fantasy world as the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter. However, Wonderland has vastly changed. Some of the characters that Tyrus remembers from the book have been transformed into angry monsters.

Helped by the Cheshire Cat and a new character, Sylvan, a young rabbit, Celia and Tyrus desperately work to solve puzzles and riddles, looking for a way out of Wonderland. But the danger increases when the Queen of Hearts begins hunting them, believing the two young visitors hold the key to opening multiple portals to multiple worlds, and she will stop at nothing to capture them.

Will the crazed creatures of Wonderland escape into the real world? Can Celia and Tyrus stop them and save both worlds? Or will they be trapped in Wonderland forever? 

Opening line:

"Is it time?"

What a funny, strange, laugh-out-loud ride in a fantasy world created by Carroll and Savage! Celia and Tyrus are thrust into the iconic world of Wonderland, thanks to one of Carroll's lost diaries. Tyrus is a reader, loves imagination, and understands the world. Celia loves math and logic and not reading since she has dyslexia. 

I LOVED all the different areas of Wonderland the two characters had to get through by solving puzzles. I LOVED the puzzles! Except the math ones, which went over my head but that doesn't mean I'm not logical. haha! 

I believe any reader, young or mature, would love this book. It's compelling, smart and intriguing. 

I have a couple of favorite quotes from the book:

""Now then," Judge Dodo said, "having heard the evidence, it is my duty to inform you that, should you be found guilty, you are subject to swift and just punishment up to and including name-calling, hair-pulling, button-pushing and being forced to listen to bad karaoke.""

I had to reread that part a couple of times and I laughed every time. 

""I don't read books because I have to," he said, in a stunned voice. "I read them because I want to." 

LOVE IT!

And one last one, which is my favorite and sums up this book loverliest:

 

Thank you to netgalley and Shadow Mountain for the early read!

Hooray for awesome stuff happening to friends!

This is too cool to not post (congrats, Peggy!!). Every fall American Booksellers Association chooses books to promote in the fall and Peggy's book SKY JUMPERS is on it! Here is the link: totally awesomesauce link

Published on American Booksellers Association (http://www.bookweb.org)

Home > Titles Announced, Signup Opens for Fall Celebrate Debut Authors Promotion

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Titles Announced, Signup Opens for Fall Celebrate Debut Authors Promotion 

By Elizabeth Knapp on Thursday, May 09, 2013 

 

The relationship between booksellers and emerging authors is markedly symbiotic. While booksellers are always looking for new talent to fill their stores’ shelves, authors in the early stages of their careers hope to find someone who will enjoy –– and sell –– their books. To highlight this vital bond, Celebrate Debut Authors With Indies was launched earlier this year. On the heels of this spring’s promotion, independent booksellers have chosen 22 debut titles for the fall installment, which booksellers can sign up for now.
Two committees were formed to choose the titles –– one committee was dedicated to choosing adult fiction and nonfiction titles, and the other was tasked with selecting middle grade and young adult titles.
Numerous publishers participated by submitting up to three titles written by debut authors to be released between August and December. In order to be considered, a title had to be the first published work by the author. From the more than 50 titles received, the bookseller committees chose to feature 22 books.
“Independent booksellers play a vital role in the lives of debut authors,” said Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, senior program officer, BSI, Inc. “We wanted to showcase that. Participation in this promotion is a way for indies to demonstrate how important they are in launching careers.”
The chair of the adult debut authors committee, Betsy Burton of The King’s English Bookshop, said she and the other committee members discussed what lies at the heart of their business: good books and emerging talent. The eight booksellers began by rating the books with a one, two, or three, with one being the best. They then discussed the titles via group e-mail and by phone.
“It really just seemed to pan out the way it does in life,” said Burton. “The books that brought appeal across the board made the list. The ‘ones’ reflected the idiosyncratic tastes of the booksellers involved. We chose what we liked, not for what might sell, knowing that if we feel passion for a book, we will sell it.”
Becky Quiroga Curtis of Miami’s Books & Books, who chaired the middle grade/young adult debut authors committee, said titles for this fall’s promotion were discussed by booksellers in weekly conference calls that focused on the quality of the books and their originality, while keeping in mind what would appeal to children as well as fellow booksellers and parents.
“Lots of books would be nothing without the love and support of indies, and we feel these books should be given that love and support,” Quiroga Curtis said.”When I discover a good book, all I want to do is share it with everyone I talk to. This program is a way to do that. Once all the booksellers fall in love, we can share these books with children all over the country.”
The titles picked by the indie bookseller committees for this fall’s Celebrate Debut Authors With Indies promotion are:
Adult Fiction     

• The Cartographer of No Man’s Land, by P.S. Duffy (Liveright, W.W. Norton)
• The President’s Hat, by Antoine Laurain (Gallic Press, Consortium)
• The Night Guest, by Fiona McFarlane (Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan)
• Burial Rites, by Hannah Kent (Little Brown, Hachette)
• The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion (Simon & Schuster)
• Monument Road, by Charlie Quimby (Torrey House Press, Consortium)
• The Last Animal, by Abby Geni (Counterpoint, Publishers Group West)
• The Gravity of Birds, by Tracy Guzeman (Simon & Schuster)
• The Residue Years, by Mitchell Jackson (Bloomsbury)
• The Lion Seeker, by Kenneth Bonert (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Adult Nonfiction             

• Knocking On Heaven’s Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death, by Katy Butler (Simon & Schuster)
• The Faithful Scribe, by Shahan Mufti (Other Press)

Middle Grade

• Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit, by Octavia Spencer (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
• Rooftoppers, by Katherine Rundell (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
• Sky Jumpers, by Peggy Eddleman (Random House Books for Young Readers)
• The Twistrose Key, by Tone Almhjell (Penguin)

Young Adult      

• All Our Yesterdays, by Cristin Terrill (Disney)
• Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy, by Elizabeth Kiem (Soho Teen)
• Gated, by Amy Christine Parker (Random House Books for Young Readers)
• How to Love, by Katie Cotugno (HarperCollins)
• If You Could Be Mine, by Sara Farizan (Algonquin Young Readers)
• Jumped In, by Patrick Flores-Scott (Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt BYR)

To qualify for this special promotion, stores must select a minimum of six titles and agree to feature the titles through in-store displays, on their e-commerce sites, and via newsletters and social media.
Electronic files to help with booksellers’ marketing efforts, including shelf-talkers, are available in the Bookseller DIY.

 In the coming weeks, author videos will be added to the DIY, for booksellers to share with their customers individually or as a playlist.
All ABA member bookstores, including those that did not participate in the spring promotion, can access full details of the fall offer and sign up here. The sign-up deadline is August 1.
ABA bookseller members will be able to meet many of the fall debut authors at an autographing reception in the ABA Indie Bookseller Lounge at BookExpo America on Friday, May 31, at 4:45 p.m. Watch for details in upcoming issues of Bookselling This Week.
Below is a list of the members of the bookseller committees that chose this fall’s debut titles:

Titles Announced, Signup Opens for Fall Celebrate Debut Authors Promotion

By Elizabeth Knapp on Thursday, May 09, 2013

Printer-friendly version

The relationship between booksellers and emerging authors is markedly symbiotic. While booksellers are always looking for new talent to fill their stores’ shelves, authors in the early stages of their careers hope to find someone who will enjoy –– and sell –– their books. To highlight this vital bond, Celebrate Debut Authors With Indies was launched earlier this year. On the heels of this spring’s promotion, independent booksellers have chosen 22 debut titles for the fall installment, which booksellers can sign up for now.
Two committees were formed to choose the titles –– one committee was dedicated to choosing adult fiction and nonfiction titles, and the other was tasked with selecting middle grade and young adult titles.
Numerous publishers participated by submitting up to three titles written by debut authors to be released between August and December. In order to be considered, a title had to be the first published work by the author. From the more than 50 titles received, the bookseller committees chose to feature 22 books.
“Independent booksellers play a vital role in the lives of debut authors,” said Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, senior program officer, BSI, Inc. “We wanted to showcase that. Participation in this promotion is a way for indies to demonstrate how important they are in launching careers.”
The chair of the adult debut authors committee, Betsy Burton of The King’s English Bookshop, said she and the other committee members discussed what lies at the heart of their business: good books and emerging talent. The eight booksellers began by rating the books with a one, two, or three, with one being the best. They then discussed the titles via group e-mail and by phone.
“It really just seemed to pan out the way it does in life,” said Burton. “The books that brought appeal across the board made the list. The ‘ones’ reflected the idiosyncratic tastes of the booksellers involved. We chose what we liked, not for what might sell, knowing that if we feel passion for a book, we will sell it.”
Becky Quiroga Curtis of Miami’s Books & Books, who chaired the middle grade/young adult debut authors committee, said titles for this fall’s promotion were discussed by booksellers in weekly conference calls that focused on the quality of the books and their originality, while keeping in mind what would appeal to children as well as fellow booksellers and parents.
“Lots of books would be nothing without the love and support of indies, and we feel these books should be given that love and support,” Quiroga Curtis said.”When I discover a good book, all I want to do is share it with everyone I talk to. This program is a way to do that. Once all the booksellers fall in love, we can share these books with children all over the country.”
The titles picked by the indie bookseller committees for this fall’s Celebrate Debut Authors With Indies promotion are:
Adult Fiction     

• The Cartographer of No Man’s Land, by P.S. Duffy (Liveright, W.W. Norton)
• The President’s Hat, by Antoine Laurain (Gallic Press, Consortium)
• The Night Guest, by Fiona McFarlane (Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan)
• Burial Rites, by Hannah Kent (Little Brown, Hachette)
• The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion (Simon & Schuster)
• Monument Road, by Charlie Quimby (Torrey House Press, Consortium)
• The Last Animal, by Abby Geni (Counterpoint, Publishers Group West)
• The Gravity of Birds, by Tracy Guzeman (Simon & Schuster)
• The Residue Years, by Mitchell Jackson (Bloomsbury)
• The Lion Seeker, by Kenneth Bonert (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Adult Nonfiction             

• Knocking On Heaven’s Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death, by Katy Butler (Simon & Schuster)
• The Faithful Scribe, by Shahan Mufti (Other Press)

Middle Grade

• Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit, by Octavia Spencer (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
• Rooftoppers, by Katherine Rundell (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
• Sky Jumpers, by Peggy Eddleman (Random House Books for Young Readers)
• The Twistrose Key, by Tone Almhjell (Penguin)

Young Adult      

• All Our Yesterdays, by Cristin Terrill (Disney)
• Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy, by Elizabeth Kiem (Soho Teen)
• Gated, by Amy Christine Parker (Random House Books for Young Readers)
• How to Love, by Katie Cotugno (HarperCollins)
• If You Could Be Mine, by Sara Farizan (Algonquin Young Readers)
• Jumped In, by Patrick Flores-Scott (Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt BYR)

To qualify for this special promotion, stores must select a minimum of six titles and agree to feature the titles through in-store displays, on their e-commerce sites, and via newsletters and social media.
Electronic files to help with booksellers’ marketing efforts, including shelf-talkers, are available in the Bookseller DIY. In the coming weeks, author videos will be added to the DIY, for booksellers to share with their customers individually or as a playlist.
All ABA member bookstores, including those that did not participate in the spring promotion, can access full details of the fall offer and sign up here. The sign-up deadline is August 1.
ABA bookseller members will be able to meet many of the fall debut authors at an autographing reception in the ABA Indie Bookseller Lounge at BookExpo America on Friday, May 31, at 4:45 p.m. Watch for details in upcoming issues of Bookselling This Week.
Below is a list of the members of the bookseller committees that chose this fall’s debut titles:
Adult Committee
Betsy Burton, The King’s English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, Utah (Chair)
Sheryl Cotleur, Copperfield’s Books, Sebastopol, California
Aaron Curtis, Books & Books, Coral Gables, Florida
Sherri Gallentine, Vroman’s Bookstore, Pasadena, California
Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Joan Grenier, The Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, Massachusetts
Mark LaFramboise, Politics and Prose Bookstore, Washington, D.C.
Jenn Northington, WORD, Brooklyn, New York
Children’s Committee
Becky Quiroga Curtis, Books & Books, Coral Gables, Florida (Chair)
Ellen Scott, The Bookworm of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
Christopher Rose, Andover Booktore, Andover, Massachusetts
Kyle Warren, Boulder Book Store, Boulder, Colorado
Lauren Pew, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, Arizona

- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/titles-announced-signup-opens-fall-celebrate-debut-authors-promotion#sthash.b7JYxLGj.dpuf

Titles Announced, Signup Opens for Fall Celebrate Debut Authors Promotion

By Elizabeth Knapp on Thursday, May 09, 2013

Printer-friendly version

The relationship between booksellers and emerging authors is markedly symbiotic. While booksellers are always looking for new talent to fill their stores’ shelves, authors in the early stages of their careers hope to find someone who will enjoy –– and sell –– their books. To highlight this vital bond, Celebrate Debut Authors With Indies was launched earlier this year. On the heels of this spring’s promotion, independent booksellers have chosen 22 debut titles for the fall installment, which booksellers can sign up for now.
Two committees were formed to choose the titles –– one committee was dedicated to choosing adult fiction and nonfiction titles, and the other was tasked with selecting middle grade and young adult titles.
Numerous publishers participated by submitting up to three titles written by debut authors to be released between August and December. In order to be considered, a title had to be the first published work by the author. From the more than 50 titles received, the bookseller committees chose to feature 22 books.
“Independent booksellers play a vital role in the lives of debut authors,” said Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, senior program officer, BSI, Inc. “We wanted to showcase that. Participation in this promotion is a way for indies to demonstrate how important they are in launching careers.”
The chair of the adult debut authors committee, Betsy Burton of The King’s English Bookshop, said she and the other committee members discussed what lies at the heart of their business: good books and emerging talent. The eight booksellers began by rating the books with a one, two, or three, with one being the best. They then discussed the titles via group e-mail and by phone.
“It really just seemed to pan out the way it does in life,” said Burton. “The books that brought appeal across the board made the list. The ‘ones’ reflected the idiosyncratic tastes of the booksellers involved. We chose what we liked, not for what might sell, knowing that if we feel passion for a book, we will sell it.”
Becky Quiroga Curtis of Miami’s Books & Books, who chaired the middle grade/young adult debut authors committee, said titles for this fall’s promotion were discussed by booksellers in weekly conference calls that focused on the quality of the books and their originality, while keeping in mind what would appeal to children as well as fellow booksellers and parents.
“Lots of books would be nothing without the love and support of indies, and we feel these books should be given that love and support,” Quiroga Curtis said.”When I discover a good book, all I want to do is share it with everyone I talk to. This program is a way to do that. Once all the booksellers fall in love, we can share these books with children all over the country.”
The titles picked by the indie bookseller committees for this fall’s Celebrate Debut Authors With Indies promotion are:
Adult Fiction     

• The Cartographer of No Man’s Land, by P.S. Duffy (Liveright, W.W. Norton)
• The President’s Hat, by Antoine Laurain (Gallic Press, Consortium)
• The Night Guest, by Fiona McFarlane (Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan)
• Burial Rites, by Hannah Kent (Little Brown, Hachette)
• The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion (Simon & Schuster)
• Monument Road, by Charlie Quimby (Torrey House Press, Consortium)
• The Last Animal, by Abby Geni (Counterpoint, Publishers Group West)
• The Gravity of Birds, by Tracy Guzeman (Simon & Schuster)
• The Residue Years, by Mitchell Jackson (Bloomsbury)
• The Lion Seeker, by Kenneth Bonert (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Adult Nonfiction             

• Knocking On Heaven’s Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death, by Katy Butler (Simon & Schuster)
• The Faithful Scribe, by Shahan Mufti (Other Press)

Middle Grade

• Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit, by Octavia Spencer (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
• Rooftoppers, by Katherine Rundell (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
• Sky Jumpers, by Peggy Eddleman (Random House Books for Young Readers)
• The Twistrose Key, by Tone Almhjell (Penguin)

Young Adult      

• All Our Yesterdays, by Cristin Terrill (Disney)
• Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy, by Elizabeth Kiem (Soho Teen)
• Gated, by Amy Christine Parker (Random House Books for Young Readers)
• How to Love, by Katie Cotugno (HarperCollins)
• If You Could Be Mine, by Sara Farizan (Algonquin Young Readers)
• Jumped In, by Patrick Flores-Scott (Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt BYR)

To qualify for this special promotion, stores must select a minimum of six titles and agree to feature the titles through in-store displays, on their e-commerce sites, and via newsletters and social media.
Electronic files to help with booksellers’ marketing efforts, including shelf-talkers, are available in the Bookseller DIY. In the coming weeks, author videos will be added to the DIY, for booksellers to share with their customers individually or as a playlist.
All ABA member bookstores, including those that did not participate in the spring promotion, can access full details of the fall offer and sign up here. The sign-up deadline is August 1.
ABA bookseller members will be able to meet many of the fall debut authors at an autographing reception in the ABA Indie Bookseller Lounge at BookExpo America on Friday, May 31, at 4:45 p.m. Watch for details in upcoming issues of Bookselling This Week.
Below is a list of the members of the bookseller committees that chose this fall’s debut titles:
Adult Committee
Betsy Burton, The King’s English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, Utah (Chair)
Sheryl Cotleur, Copperfield’s Books, Sebastopol, California
Aaron Curtis, Books & Books, Coral Gables, Florida
Sherri Gallentine, Vroman’s Bookstore, Pasadena, California
Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Joan Grenier, The Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, Massachusetts
Mark LaFramboise, Politics and Prose Bookstore, Washington, D.C.
Jenn Northington, WORD, Brooklyn, New York
Children’s Committee
Becky Quiroga Curtis, Books & Books, Coral Gables, Florida (Chair)
Ellen Scott, The Bookworm of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
Christopher Rose, Andover Booktore, Andover, Massachusetts
Kyle Warren, Boulder Book Store, Boulder, Colorado
Lauren Pew, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe, Arizona

- See more at: http://www.bookweb.org/news/titles-announced-signup-opens-fall-celebrate-debut-authors-promotion#sthash.b7JYxLGj.dpuf

CASE FILE 13: ZOMBIE KID by J. Scott Savage

You hold in your hands a very dangerous record.

I have collected every side of the story and every piece of evidence on case number 13. Now, in this file, you will find all you need to follow the dark adventures of Nick, Carter, and Angelo, three boys who possess an unhealthy obsession with monsters, in a town so grisly, so horrific—

Whoa, whoa, whoa. You're telling it all wrong, dude. You make it sound like it's a scary story.

Ahem. Well, Nick, it is a scary story. In this volume alone, there are voodoo queens, graveyards—even the dreaded Zombie King himself.

Yeah, but there's also the part where Angie gets mashed potatoes all in her face, and the part where I use my cool zombie powers to—

All right, point taken. Now, if you don't mind . . .

You hold in your hands a very dangerous, very funny record, detailing the hilarious adventures of three boys who have an awesome obsession with monsters. This is the first volume. Read on if you dare. . . 

First line:
"Please relax and make yourself comfortable."

BOY BOOK ALERT! 
Boys of all ages will love this book. It has puns and grossness and zombies. Seriously, what boy can pass that up? My 10 year-old loved, loved, loved it. And told me I HAD to read it.  So I did. But I decided to give said child a chance to review this book for me. Take it away, Zachariah!

"I thought Zombie Kid was awesome because there were zombies in it. I liked it because it was funny and creative. My favorite character was Angelo because he's the oldest one and he likes reading. Pretty much without him, Nick would still be a zombie forever. I liked the magic and ideas and scenes people probably wouldn't think of."

And there you have it. Honest, hard review from a fourth grader.




 

Writers on Wednesday~ Peggy Eddleman

Peggy Eddleman's debut MG novel SKY JUMPERS is due out in the fall this year! I'm so excited for her.


Enjoy today's post:

Give us your elevator pitch.
Hope is a girl living in a post-apocalyptic town where inventing means everything, but she can't do it. When bandits invade and her entire town is threatened, inventing won't save them, but the daring and risk-taking that usually gets her into trouble just might.

What’s your favorite snack?
Peanut M&Ms

What is your most memorable high school experience?
Performing with the Drill Team during halftime at a football game while it was snowing. Let's just say that our routine turned into an extreme sport, and the run-leap-land in splits finale slid us ten feet forward, like we were sledding. It was the best run-leap-land in splits-sled finale EVER.

What was the first book that turned you into a reader?
I honestly have no idea. I'll tell you which book turned my kids and I into read-together-every-night readers, though. It was James Dashner's Jimmy Fincher series (A Door in the Woods, A Gift of Ice, The Tower of Air, and War of the Black Curtain). We were hooked! And by the time we got to the end of the series, we had formed a habit that we've continued for years.

Are you a night owl or early bird?
Both. Although I'm leaning more toward early bird now. I love being up and working while everyone's still sleeping!

What is your favorite meal?
Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Ciabatta bread.

What do you never leave home without?
Hands down, my smart phone. Not only can my family call/text me, but if I'm ever stuck waiting somewhere, I can make my time useful (including being able to read a book on my Kindle app!).

Do you have any pets?
Yep! A black cat who is actually too afraid to cross anyone's path.

What is one piece of advice you would give aspiring writers?
To learn how to take criticism/critiques well. Don't see them as an attack on your book (or on you!), but as an opportunity to improve your book and to improve your craft. You can never stop learning in this profession, and the best way to do that is to always use critiques to your best advantage.

What are you goals for 2013?
I have a lot of goals for 2013, but the main ones are to work with my editor on book 2 in the SKY JUMPERS series until it shines, and to write a killer book 3 (and hope it doesn't kill me in the process :)).

Peggy

SKY JUMPERS book 1: THROUGH THE BOMB'S BREATH
(Random House Children's, Fall 2013)
http://peggyeddleman.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @PeggyEddleman