Cat Michaels, Writer
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Cat's Corner

Blogging About Books, Writing, Travel, Film & More

charming holiday coming of age KidLit fantasy makes santaland come alive

11/27/2016

5 Comments

 
 Imagine that: even young reindeer experience teen angst!  

Meet Fawn, a young deer with famous parents, who longs for adventure and wants to be her own person.  Her parents?  None other than THE Comet and Vixen.  Imagine the pressure growing up in the shadow of Santa Land and this famous pair <wink, wink>.

That's exactly what author Al E. Boy imagines in his charming Christmas-themed, 3-book series for middle graders and young adults,
The Adventures of Fawn.  I'm pleased to partner with Sage's Blog Tours to introduce you to Al's books and meet the author. (Hey, he used to be Santa Claus!)
Adventures of Fawn - on catmichaelswriter.com
Meet Fawn, daughter of Comet and Vixen

About the Books and Series
​

​Title: The Adventures of Fawn Series |  Author Al E. Boy | Publication Dates: 2014-2016 | Publisher: Al E. Boy | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 8-18
* Amazon *

The Adventures of Fawn series is a coming-of-age tale set in the year 1849. It tells of the adventures of Fawn, the precocious young daughter of legendary reindeer, Comet and Vixen. Initially, she has no friends and spends her days alone in the stable at Santa’s Village. She argues with her parents…wanting the freedom to go outside the Village to explore. But her parents forbid her to go outside by herself.
 
Declaring, “I don’t care how dangerous it is…I want some fun and excitement!” Fawn starts sneaking out each day. She makes friends quite readily, but just as quickly finds herself in dangerous situations.
Adventures of Fawn on catmichaelswriter.com

Book 1

Til the Last Snowflake Falls introduces the characters and finds Fawn a prisoner of a conniving sea captain intent on capturing arctic animals to sell to a New York City zoo.
 
Book 2
In The Ona Pendulum, Fawn and friends must stop an evil former-elf princess from destroying the device which enables Santa and company to live for hundreds of years. In the process, Fawn learns how young Kristoff Kringle went from making hand-crafted toys in his family’s workshop, to being an icon of Christmas and leader of hundreds of elves.
 
Book 3 
In Far And Yet So Near, a mysterious stranger gains control of Santa’s reindeer, who mindlessly march off toward destinations unknown. Fawn and her companions trail them, trying to find a way of freeing them, and encounter dangers along the way. Santa and his wizard friend, Wajic, appear in the nick of time to save the day, but explosions suddenly catch everyone by surprise. The stranger ‘reindeer-naps’ Fawn, and she’s spirited off to England…with no way of knowing if her parents and Santa are still alive, and no way of escaping and getting back to the North Pole
Meet the Author
​

PictureAl E. Boy
​Through almost 40 years as a Santa Claus, Al E. Boy developed quite a repertoire of tales to explain and answer the many questions children ask about Santa, the North Pole, his reindeer, and his friends, the elves.
It was this collection of tales which prompted him to begin writing The Adventures of Fawn. Through the young daughter of legendary reindeer Comet and Vixen, he's been able to weave an exciting, colorful, imaginative world which will delight readers of all ages!
Mr. Boy not only hopes you enjoy these tales, but make reading them part of your Christmas traditions, as well.


Website |  Facebook ​|  Amazon
Sages Blog Tour - on catmichaelswriter.com

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5 Comments

GARDENIA CURSE - MG Mystery with touches of romance, FANTASy

11/24/2016

5 Comments

 
Ahhh...a middle-grade mystery that mixes romance and fantasy. I'm all over that combination. That's why I'm excited to work with BeachBound Books to coordinate a Blog Tour for The Gardenia Curse, by C.M. Savage. The tour will run November 7 - November 28, 2016.

Please read on to meet the author, read an excerpt for her story, and enter for a chance to win a $25 gift card and Book Prize Pack.  Good luck!
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About the Book

Title: The Gardenia Curse | Author: C.M. Savage | Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy | Number of Pages: 158 | Release Date: October 26, 2015

Book Description: Thirteen-year-old Eva Thomas finds herself in a life threatening mystery when her dreams become real. Night after night, she is transported to Dreamland, where an evil being, the Shadow, wants her dead. Can Eva save herself and her dreams before it’s too late? Exhausted from troubled sleep, Eva stumbles through her days in a new town where her grandmother is known as an eccentric and in a new school where a bully has decided Eva needs to be put in her place. Eva is left feeling alone and uncertain until she meets Alice, a quirky classmate with non-stop questions about Eva’s family. Is Alice a friend or is she after something more? 

In Dreamland, Eva is constantly on the run from the Shadow, even after she meets Herman, her dream-guide. Will Herman be able to protect Eva from the Shadow and shed some light on why the Shadow wants her dead? Or are Eva’s dreams destined to remain a nightmare? 

Mystery, evil and a touch of romance—all in a night’s dream.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Saguaro Books

What others are saying...

"In The Gardenia Curse, Eva’s adventure unfolds like a gardenia blossom, a little at a time, getting more intriguing with each pedal that unfurls until finally the full thing is open to enjoy." - Amazon Review 

"The Gardenia Curse is an exciting middle grade fantasy that easily captivates readers with it's imaginative plot and interesting characters." - BeachBoundBooks 

"The author really captures your mind and heart. I am looking forward to the authors second book to see what happens next!" - Amazon Review


About the Author

cmsavage

C. M. Savage began writing at a young age. She used a typewriter and crayons to write and illustrate her first book when she was in second grade and continued to write off and on through college. After traveling, she enjoyed working with birds of prey, mammals and endangered Hawaiian birds. She is a second degree black belt in Taekwondo, enjoys crafting and having fun with her family. She recently moved back to Bend, Oregon with her husband and two daughters. The Gardenia Curse is her debut novel. She is now working on the sequel.

Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Blog Tour Prize Pack Giveaway

2016-10-241 

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize(winner’s choice), a copy of The Gardenia Curse, and a Book Flower.
Giveaway ends: November 28, 11:59 pm, 2016
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, C.M. Savage 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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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5 Comments

Tis Gratitude Season...Family, Friends Blessings

11/19/2016

2 Comments

 
For more than two decades, my husband, JM, and I share Thanksgiving with a group of Holiday Orphans.  Like us, their families are too far away to visit, so we celebrate with this extended family of dear people who live nearby.

One couple loves to mash potatoes and roast turkey. 
Aren't we lucky!  We bring a ton of sweet taties and green-bean almondine casserole.  Others contribute dessert, wine, salads, rolls, and more.  Everyone pitches in for an amazing feast of food and friendship.
Family, Friends, Blessings_catmichaelswriter.com
I’m all for change and doing things in different ways, but I love the customs of this holiday.  One year, we brought different side dishes to the Thanksgiving table, but everybody missed those tried-and-true favorites.  

Isn’t it funny how little things grow into cherished traditions? Yesterday, I listened to conversations at the salon as I got my hair cut.  People recited their Thanksgiving menu and discussed every aspect of their family gathering with the reverence of a sacred litany.


​It's also a tradition for us to dig out timers and extension cords to set candles in the windows.  Their glow beginning Thanksgiving evening kicks off our winter holiday season.  

And then there are gifts to buy and wrap, cards to address (yep, still do a few personalized, greeting cards), decorations to dress inside the house and around the garden, donations for the food drive, practice for the annual community Messiah concert….the list goes on.  I could make myself go crazy trying to do it all.
Family, Friends, Blessings: catmichaelswriter.com
But I don’t want to be a captive of The List.  I want to take time to savor the here and now. The spirit of giving and gratitude of this beautiful season.  

So before the checkout line at Harris Teeter snakes out the door, I want to stop and appreciate this season of gratitude. That includes a huge thanks to YOU for supporting my writing journey. 

​There's so much in my writing life to be grateful for this year, and YOUR support and encouragement helped me get there.  Here's a sample of what's going on:
​
#KidLitJoy Holiday Giveaway
My writerly friends and I are sponsoring a giveaway through 15 December. We're building community, having fun, and giving one lucky reader a brighter holiday with a $500 Amazon Gift card.  Hey, that could be YOU, so enter below today!
​
Enter the #KidLitJoy $500 Giveaway
Magical Aquarium_catmichaelswriter.comP
The Magical Aquarium
My fantasy for beginning readers is ready for pre-order on iTunes. So excited! I'm a huge Apple fan, and this is my first  e-book with them.

Pre-Order The Magical Aquarium on i-Tunes

​Sweet T and the Turtle Team
 
The third book in my series for beginning readers is on track for a late-spring print publication.  A digital version will not be far behind.  

Take a peek at a sketch Irene Jahns is working on for this tale set on fictitious Gull Island along the North Carolina shore.

Yep, Fuzzy is back, and this beloved blue stuffy gets into mischief again.  He really gets TANGLED up (HINT!).

You'll also meet Charlie, a fiesty puppy  who will win young readers' hearts, too.
Family, Friends, Blessings: catmichaelswriter.com
Sweet T and the Turtle Team: Find Fuzzy again, meet Charlie

This writing journey is a bumpy road ride, and I am beyond grateful for your company.  Could not/would not want to do it without YOU!  

W
ishing you a terrific Thursday where ever you roam. If you observe this holiday, I hope you are with folk you hold dear and enjoy Thanksgiving together to the max! 
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BTW....In the spirit of making time for family and friends, my last blog for 2016 will be 12 December.  I'm taking a break to savor the season.  Cat's Corner will return on 9 January, ready for a new year, new opportunities, and more good things to come.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Like what you see?  
Don’t miss a post!
Send this blog to your RSS feed or email. 
Subscribe


Join the fun; join my tribe!
Get monthly updates, special offers, fun stuff.

Kids: download your FREE printable coloring pack based on Cat’s books
AND
Young at Heart: download Cat’s special short story
Driving Down to Dillon:
A Mini-Tale of Love and New Beginnings

P.S.  I HATE spam. Your email is safe and confidential.

join cat's tribe of readers

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2 Comments

Get in holiday spirit with KidLitJoy $500 Holiday Giveaway and new ebook fantasy for young readers

11/12/2016

4 Comments

 
November is a time for giving thanks, and I am so thankful to YOU for supporting my writing. To show my appreciation, I’m excited to announce two special offers:
  • The Magical Aquarium: my first digital chapter book for early readers is now available for pre-order on iTunes 
  • #KidLitJoy: GINORMOUS Kid Lit Community Holiday $500 Giveaway starts 15 November and ends 15 December.
Lots going on!  Please read on for details and join the excitement.
​

Visit The Magical Aquarium
​
Picture
The Magical Aquarium - catmichaelswriter.com
A talking whale? A vegetarian shark?  

You’ll find them and more in The Magical Aquarium, my new digital chapter book fantasy for beginning readers. 
 
<Pinching myself here> This Apple fangirl is over the fruity moon!

​The Magical Aquarium passed Apple's strict inspection process and is now on i-Tunes for pre-order.  Something I always hoped to achieve one day! 
 
The tale burst into my imagination.  Once I decided to learn how to create an e-book optimized for Apple devices, I couldn’t help myself! Words flowed, images popped into my head, and tech gremlins crumbled.
The Magical Aquarium goes on sale 5 December, but you can have a sneak peek and pre-order your copy now on iTunes.  Can't wait for you and your young readers to see it!

Preview, Pre-order
The Magical aquarIum on i
-tunes


​#KidLitJoy ...  

Kid Lit Community $500 Holiday $Giveaway$


Want help with your holiday spending?

I’m teaming up with writer pal C.L. Murphy and a ton of Kid Lit creative pals to spread cheer, find new friends, and host a holiday mega-giveaway of a $500USD Amazon gift card. 
 
How'd you like that gift card in your holiday stocking or under your dreidel?

ITS EASY-PEASY TO ENTER:
  • Sign into the Rafflecopter app below with your email or Facebook account. 
  • Find a list of actions to take that earn giveaway points, which increase your chance at the final grand-prize of $500.00. Actions include visiting an author Facebook page (we hope you'll 'like' it too!) or following an author on Twitter.  
  • You decide which actions to take AND how many: enter one or complete all of them at one sitting, depending on how much time you have. You can even enter a few actions daily, and then return another time to add more.
  • Rafflecopter keeps track of your entries and tallies them.  Just use the same log in to access the giveaway each time.
  • The giveaway runs from 15 November through 15 December. 
  • Rafflecopter randomly selects a winner once the giveaway ends, and I'll announce the winner here on Cat's Corner once the winner is confirmed and accepts.

 See? Not hard -:D  Contact me if you have questions. Good luck, y'all, and thanks for participating!
Picture
a Rafflecopter giveaway
TERMS & CONDITIONS: There is NO purchase necessary to enter or win. One winner will be randomly drawn using the Rafflecopter software app within 48 hours and notified by email once the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Prize valued in US Dollar (USD). Winner must have a valid email address attached to their Amazon account in order to receive eGift card.

​#KidLitJoy is sponsored by these awesome Kid Lit creatives:​
C.L. Murphy
Cat Michaels
Melinda Kinsman
Rhonda Paglia
Kristen Lamb
Stacie Theis
Jim Milson
Lisé Chase
Kimberly Sentek
Barbara Mojica
Tracy Bryan
Peggy McAloon
M.L. Barnes
Meg Dendler
Jill Cofsky
Kate Larkinson
Rosie Russell
Sondra Rhymer
E.J. Gore
Dynomike Books
Rebecca Lyndsey
Joyce Mitchell
Sarah Hill
Sharon Powers
Nelson Suit
Bonnie Dani
Subhash Kommuru
D.A. Hawes
Laura Lee Scott


​Thanks for stopping by.  Like what you see?  

Don’t miss a post!
Send this blog to your RSS feed or email.
Subscribe



Join the fun; join my tribe!
Get monthly updates, special offers, fun stuff. 
Kids: download your FREE coloring pack based on Cat’s books 
AND 
Young at Heart: download Cat’s special short story penned just for you
Driving Down to Dillon:
A Mini-Tale of Love and New Beginnings
​

P.S.  I HATE spam. Your email is safe and confidential.
Join Cat's Tribe of Readers
Subscribe
4 Comments

Currently Fall Blog Hop - Find your autumn inspiration

11/7/2016

16 Comments

 
Brilliant foliage. Grinning jack-o-lanterns.  Hot apple crisp.  Fall is in the air (for us in the northern hemisphere, that is). To celebrate the season, my writerly pals and I are sharing autumn moments in the C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y  Fall 2016 Blog Hop. 
 
Please have a read and enjoy.  Then visit the #Gr8Blogs listed at the end of this post for more C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y autumn goodness.  Hey, we'd love to have you tag on with your own currently post, too!
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C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y  Grateful
Our family missed the brunt of Hurricane Matthew in October.  We escaped with only a few anxious moments and tons of rain. However, Matthew ravaged the Caribbean and coastal cities from the Carolinas to Florida.  Our neighbors in North Carolina counties south of us experienced devastating river flooding a week after Matthew veered to sea.  Homes and schools remain flooded and have been closed as long as three weeks later. Many families lost everything. My heart goes out to everyone who suffered in Matthew’s wake.

C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y  Reading
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Too much of a good thing --- I hit the audiobook download jackpot. No way I could tackle three books in two weeks, so I had to pick just one.

I chose The Last Painting of Sara De Vos, by Dominic Smith, and was delighted to find a smart, captivating tale.  

I loved its two narrators voicing male and female protagonists.  Their audio helped me jump between modern times in Sydney and New York to the titular artist’s 17th-century Holland. It's a trifecta of two strong women and their relationships in different centuries with art history and mystery linking them all together. 
​
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Cracked Magic, by Mari Lumpkin

​I love fantasy and girl power, so I hit the middle grade jackpot when I won a copy of Mari’s latest book. 

​Cracked Magic is enchanting in every sense of the word.  Kids will LOVE it.  Me, too!


C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y  Watching
My guilty pleasure: PBS’s season two of Poldark, a combination swashbuckler/adventure/romance set on the stunning Cornish coast in the late 1700s. 

via GIPHY

​​Based on books by Winston Graham, the story revolves around the titular hero, who returns from fighting in America’s Revolution to find his father dead, his copper mines and fortunes dried up, and the love of his life engaged to his cousin.  Stunning scenery, great acting, and a ripping plot.  Aiden Turner, who plays Poldark, caused the UK to come to a standstill in Season 1 with his shirtless scything scene. 

​Warning:  Addictive!

C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y  Thinking About
Sweet T and the Turtle Team
​

I’m still polishing Sweet T and the Turtle Team’s manuscript. At 4,000 words, Book 3 in the Sweet T Tales is now at the lower age range for a middle-grade classification; upper end for beginning readers. Just three more elusive chapters to write before moving into production for a spring 2017 publication.   

Hey, here's a sneak peek at an illustration watercolor artist Irene Jahns is creating.  Meet Aunt Mae and Billy; you already know Jenna (center) and Sweet T.  Yep. That's a pelican, but you'll have wait to find out why it's with the children (Fuzzy, too!)
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Preliminary sketch: "Sweet T and the Turtle Team" drawn by Irene A. Jahns

​C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y  Anticipating
The Magical Aquarium

A talking whale?  A vegetarian shark?  You’ll find them and more in The Magical Aquarium, my standalone fantasy chapter book for early readers.  I pulled out all the stops and let my imagination run wild.  This G-rated yarn is pure fun while reminding children to appreciate the ocean and its creatures.

Stay tuned to learn how YOU can pre-order
The Magical Aquarium on iTunes!
Picture
Cover art: Natali Snailcat/Shutterstock

Fanastic Beasts
This Potterhead must CANNOT WAIT for Newt Scamander and his Fantastic Beasts to open on 18 November.  Trailers look amazing, and I long to be carried by JK's magic again!  Plus, don't you just adore Eddie Redmayne!

via GIPHY


C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y  In My Camera Lens

FALL!
 
     MORE FALL!!
 
          MERCY, I LOVE FALL!!!

Hope you'll fall for fall, too, when you join me on a stroll in my part of the world in my 58-second video, Hello Autumn. ​You bring a warm brew; I'll bring the beignets.  

C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y  Making me happy
Picture
Woot!  Woot!  It’s a girl!
​
I’m excited about my 3rd Niecelette arriving in April 2017….right on the heels of Nephews # 2 and #3 debuting this fall. 

​I am one lucky Auntie!


Thanks for stopping by! For more C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y - Fall Moments, visit these #Gr8blogs below. 
 
And hey, if you have your own family-friendly 
Currently post, please add your link in the comments section. We’ll visit your blog and give you some blog love.
 

Auden Johnson

Julie Gorges

Carmela Dutra

​Fairy Tales Imagery

Corrina Holyoake


Thanks for stopping by.  Like what you see?  
Don’t miss a post!
​Send this blog to your RSS feed or email.
Subscribe


​​Join the fun; join my tribe!

Get monthly updates, special offers, fun stuff.  New readers receive a FREE downloadable mini-tale penned just for the young at heart:
Driving Down to Dillon:
A Mini-Tale of Love and New Beginnings

P.S.  I HATE spam. Your email is safe and confidential.

Join Cat’s Tribe of Readers

   Twitter   Facebook   Pinterest   Goodreads   Amazon   Instagram

16 Comments

    Cat Michaels

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  • Welcome!
  • Cat's Books
    • Sweet T and the Turtle Team >
      • Just Between Sam and Me
    • Finding Fuzzy: A You-Decide Tale of a Lost Friend
    • Sweet T and the North Wind
    • The Magical Aquarium
  • Cat's Corner: Blogging About Books, Writing, and More
  • Meet Cat
  • Author Visits
  • FREE STUFF in the Kids' Zone
  • Contact Cat