Blog Archives

Dragons, Princes & Fairies - New MG Magelica fantasy has it all

4/12/2017

Dragons and princes and fairies, oh my! Young readers will encounter these and more in Magelica's Voyage to a Land of Fairies, a new middle-grade fantasy by Canadian author Louise Courey Nadeau.

This third book in Nadeau’s trilogy about green-haired Magelica, Prince William, and Odin (a bird-like ball of purple features), whisks readers away to the land of fairies. Nadeau’s chapter book is perfect for early readers at 31 brightly illustrated pages. Its themes of family, courage and goodness are reinforced by thoughtful, kid-friendly questions at the back of the book that will guide young readers to rich discussions.

I’m pleased to partner with BeachBoundBooks in coordinating a Book Blast for Louise Courey Nadeau's Magelica's Voyage to the Land of the Fairies. Please read on to find a book preview and meet the author.

Hey, before you go, don’t forget to scroll to the very end and enter for a chance to win $50 Amazon Gift Card or Pay Pal Cash. Hurry! Giveaway ends on 26 April!

About the Book

Title: Magelica's Voyage to the Land of the Fairies

Author: Louise Courey Nadeau
Illustrator: Nathan Heinze
Publication Date: April 2017
Publisher: Magelica Inc.
Number of Pages: 35
Recommended Ages: 5 to 10

Five-Star Readers Favorite and Story Monster approved!

Summary

Magelica's Voyage to the Land of the Fairies is finally out! Put on your magical necklace and join Magelica and her friends as they discover that fairies are real and that love is the most powerful magic of all!

In this adventure, the third of the Magelica series, rainbows light up the sky as Magelica and Prince Will embark on an voyage to uncover the mystery of her past. Empowered on her quest by her chosen mother, Magelica and friends follow the secret scroll to the Land of the Fairies. As they make their way through the forest, fear gets in the way and courage is tested.

Magelica's Voyage by L. C. Nadeau - catmichaelswriter.com

Odin, Prince Will and Magelica search for a magic portal

About the Author

Louise Courey Nadeau

Canadian author Louise Courey Nadeau is a wife, mother to two girls and two boys, and the creator and author of the Magelica adventure/fantasy trilogy. This former marketing and advertising executive is a charity fundraiser, painter, and gardener whose passions keep growing. Louise's dream is to create a bond with children and their caregivers around the globe. She aims to make a difference by entertaining them with exciting stories that stimulate their imagination and help them discover the power of their own magic.

According to the author, "Magelica's Voyage is inspired by my life, my family, and the special people and places I love.

My characters are reflections of the person I am - the wacky part, the funny part, the philosopher, the teacher, the caretaker, the chosen mom, the giver, and of course, the dreamer. When you fly with Magelica, the possibilities are endless and there is magic all around."

To learn more about Louise Courey Nadeau, please visit Magelica's Voyage website at Magelica.com. You can also follow Magelica on Faceook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Magelica books and necklaces are available on amazon and selected retailers.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Book Blast Giveaway

Prize: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card or $50 PayPal cash prize (winner’s choice)
Giveaway ends: April 26, 11:59 pm, 2017
Open to: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Louise Courey Nadeau and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Out of the fog and learning to grieve

4/6/2017

16 Comments

It's nearly six weeks since dad passed. I've been quiet on the blog and social media. I've been quiet in my heart, too. Trying to find my way back to a normal life, whatever that means now that I’m an ‘orphaned’ baby boomer.

Last month, I experienced my personal brand of March Madness. It wound round my heart with tears and smiles of loved ones now and remembered. It meant heading to the beach to find peace.

I am blessed to be lifted up by caring friends, neighbors, and my church family. They tell me grief is a journey unique to every person. It cannot be rushed. I cling to this, telling myself it gets better every day.

I do fairly well during the day, but sleep often eludes me. Nights can be long and restless. My mind will not shut off, and thoughts pushed aside during the day came back to shout at me.

There is the business of death to attend with closing dad's life. I’m grateful for my three siblings. We divide mundane but necessary legal and financial tasks. Hours on the phone cancelling and updating accounts. A gazillion forms to fill out and file. The wait for lawyers and courts to process all this paperwork.

There is the journey of grief. When mama passed six years ago, it felt easier because I wanted to stay strong for dad. Now he's gone, so that barrier has disappeared. Nothing to keep me from falling apart.

Ordinary things come out of left field and collide with my heart. Hearing his cheery, Dad here. Calling to see how you’re doing!, on old voice mail messages stops me cold. I am reduced to a puddle when I see empty rows of monthly expenses forever waiting to be entered on the spreadsheet I keep for his 2017 taxes. I can't bring myself to erasing any of these things.

It becomes too much. JM and I escape to Kure Beach, a quiet coastal village two hours from our North Carolina home. There we find the perfect combination of gentling down and keeping active.

Out of the Fog; Learning to Grieve - catmichaelswriter.com

Looking to the past: Colonia-era home - Historic Wilmington, NC

Touring nearby Fort Fisher Civil War battlefield and historic homes in Wilmington, NC, remind me of the passage of time and our fleeting existence on this earth. I find comfort knowing those who lived centuries ago left pieces of their life still remembered today.

Old cemetery: Southport, NC

And that cluster of infant graves in the old-timey Southport cemetery!

It tugs at my heart more than a century later.

These babies died before they had a chance to live, but their names are not forgotten in this peaceful resting place.

I think how lucky I am to be alive on a beautiful spring day.

Spanish Moss: Airlie Gardens

Airlie Gardens brings hope in its sheer beauty and sleepy plants bursting with new life from their winter rest.

The Garden's prize 400-year old oak and acres of tree-lined trails drip with Spanish moss and eye-popping azaleas. They stand majestic and proud.

Mother Nature and the Creator at their best.

The North Carolina Aquarium is a place of pure joy.

Jellyfish

Shark Tank

Exotic Marine Life

I smile at stingrays in the touch tank and watch hundreds of exuberant school kids explore, overjoyed to be out of the classroom. During the 20-minute shark tank show, tired chaperones welcome the break and rest their weary feet. "I wish I had their energy," one chaperone tells me with a tired smile.

Best of all, the ocean is my place of rejuvenation and peace. The weather is too chilly to sit on the beach, and the wind wants to blow us off the island. But we take the short stroll from our rental cottage to walk for miles every day on the solitary hard-packed sand. Crashing waves and squawking seabirds drown out the world.

A quiet refuge: Kure Beach, NC

The sun and salt work their magic.

The fog is lifting.

I still have a way to go, but I’m on my way to feeling whole again. Beyond-grateful for your company on this journey.

How do you recharge when you're depleted? Do you head to a happy place? Stay quiet inside yourself? Pet a puppy? Hold a baby? Please share your ideas for coping in the comment section.

Photos: Cat Michaels, with Panasonic Lumix GX7 and iPhone 6s

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Cat's Corner

Dragons, Princes & Fairies - New MG Magelica fantasy has it all

About the Book

Book Blast Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Out of the fog and learning to grieve

Cat Michaels

Meet Cat
INSIDE the pages

Archives

Cat's Corner

Dragons, Princes & Fairies - New MG Magelica fantasy has it all

​About the Book ​

Book Blast Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Out of the fog and learning to grieve

﻿Cat Michaels﻿

Meet Cat ​INSIDE the pages

Archives

About the Book

Cat Michaels

Meet Cat
INSIDE the pages