Starscape New Release: Keyholders #3 and #4 by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

Keyholders #3: Inside the Magic by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

Oh, no! Mr. Leery has been kidnapped by the evil Queen of the Boggarts. It’s up to the apprentice Keyholders Penny, Luke, and Natalie to rescue him. Together with their links, a unicorn named Kirin, a dragon named Dracula, and a rat named Buttercup, the three Keyholders cross the border to the landinside the magic—a place where anything can happen. Will they find Mr. Leery in time?

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Keyholders #4: The Wrong Side of Magic by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

When Penny, Luke, Natalie and their links return home after rescuing Mr. Leery from the clutches of the evil Queen of the Boggarts, they find a lot of changes in Morgantown. Mrs. Bender, the principal, has decided on longer school days with no recess. The cafeteria ladies are serving up some extremely yucky food (even more than usual). And their teacher, Mr. Crandle, is giving them twice as much homework. What is wrong with all the adults in town? Could it be another scheme from the Boggart Queen? It’s up to the apprentice Keyholders to find out.

Starscape New Release: Chance Fortune in the Shadow Zone by Shane Berryhill

Now in paperback!

Chance Fortune in the Shadow Zone by Shane Berryhill

At the end of their freshman year at the Burlington Academy for the Superhuman, Chance Fortune and the Outlaws saved the universe. Though he lacks a superpower, Chance used his natural talents and quick wits to form his team, the Outlaws, into an effective fighting force.

When an apparent teleportation malfunction strands the team in the Shadow Zone, the Outlaws are put to the test once more. Teeming with supervillains exiled by the Brotherhood of Heroes, the Shadow Zone is a land of nightmares brought to life. Before long, Psy-Chick, Gothika, Iron Maiden, and Private Justice are kidnapped by the mysterious Shadowmen. Can Chance, Space Cadet, and Shocker rescue their friends and find their way home—before it’s too late?

The Genesis of City of Fire by Laurence Yep

By Susan Chang, Senior Editor

As an editor, one of the things I love to do is come up with ideas for books I’d like to read and find the perfect person to write the story. These ideas come from anywhere and everywhere: TV, magazines, web surfing, video games, comic books. One day, I was sitting at home watching an episode of National Geographic Explorer. Called “China’s Secret Mummies,” it was about ancient mummies unearthed in the Tarim Basin in Western China in 1978.

Surprisingly, these mummies had Caucasian facial features and light hair. Who were these people? What were they doing there?

Continue reading…

Inspiration, Failure, and Zombies

By E. Van Lowe

It amazes me where the inspiration for our stories comes from: a dream, a song, a fleeting image—and sometimes failure. That’s how it was for me. The inspiration for Never Slow Dance With a Zombie came out of a failed pitch.

In Hollywood we sell TV shows by pitching them. In 2004, when I was hot off the success of writing Even Stevens for the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon invited me to pitch a show idea. The idea I came up with was about a girl whose father had become a whistle-blower and the family suddenly found itself in the witness protection program. Yeah, I know. Where are the zombies? Bear with me.

Continue reading…

Dom Testa – Mountains and Plains Trade Show

Author Dom Testa makes an appearance at the MPIBA Trade Show in Denver.

Related Links:

• Club Galahad
• Big Brain Club
• Book Trailer for The Comet’s Curse by Dom Testa
• Rocket Kids ‘09–An Interdisciplinary Project
• The Comet’s Curse Educator’s Guide
• More Broccoli
• Video: Creating the Curse with Dom Testa
• Video: Dom Testa – Meet Galahad’s Crew

Video: Dom Testa – Meet Galahad’s Crew

Author Dom Testa introduces the characters from his award-winning Galahad series.

Related Links:

• Club Galahad
• Big Brain Club
• Book Trailer for The Comet’s Curse by Dom Testa
• Rocket Kids ‘09–An Interdisciplinary Project
• The Comet’s Curse Educator’s Guide
• More Broccoli
• Video: Creating the Curse with Dom Testa

Starscape New Release: City of Fire by Laurence Yep

City of Fire by Laurence Yep

Two-time Newbery Honor Award-winning author Laurence Yep kicks off an action-packed new fantasy trilogy!

Sure to appeal to fans of Rick Riordan and Eoin Colfer, this action-packed tale takes readers on an unforgettable journey through an alternate version of our world in 1941—a world filled with magical beings such as dragons in human form, tiny “lap griffins,” reincarnations of legendary Chinese warriors, Japanese folk creatures, and goddesses in disguise.

When her older sister dies trying to prevent the theft of one of her people’s great treasures, twelve-year-old Scirye sets out to avenge her and recover the precious item. Helping her are Bayang, a dragon disguised as a Pinkerton agent; Leech, a boy with powers he has not yet discovered; and Leech’s loyal companion Koko, who has a secret of his own. All have a grudge against the thieves who stole the treasure: the evil dragon Badik and the mysterious Mr. Roland.

Scirye and her companions pursue the thieves to Houlani, a new Hawaiian island being created by magic. There, they befriend Pele, the volatile and mercurial goddess of volcanoes. But even with Pele on their side, they may not be able to stop Mr. Roland from gaining what he seeks: the Five Lost Treasures of Emperor Yu. Together, the treasures will give him the power to alter the very fabric of the universe.

Download your own City of Fire poster and see the trailer here!

Book Trailer: City of Fire by Laurence Yep

Two-time Newbery Honor Award-winning author Laurence Yep kicks off an action-packed new fantasy trilogy

Sure to appeal to fans of Rick Riordan and Eoin Colfer, this action-packed tale takes readers on an unforgettable journey through an alternate version of our world in 1941—a world filled with magical beings such as dragons in human form, tiny “lap griffins,” reincarnations of legendary Chinese warriors, Japanese folk creatures, and goddesses in disguise.

When her older sister dies trying to prevent the theft of one of her people’s great treasures, twelve-year-old Scirye sets out to avenge her and recover the precious item. Helping her are Bayang, a dragon disguised as a Pinkerton agent; Leech, a boy with powers he has not yet discovered; and Leech’s loyal companion Koko, who has a secret of his own. All have a grudge against the thieves who stole the treasure: the evil dragon Badik and the mysterious Mr. Roland.

Scirye and her companions pursue the thieves to Houlani, a new Hawaiian island being created by magic. There, they befriend Pele, the volatile and mercurial goddess of volcanoes. But even with Pele on their side, they may not be able to stop Mr. Roland from gaining what he seeks: the Five Lost Treasures of Emperor Yu. Together, the treasures will give him the power to alter the very fabric of the universe.

http://us.macmillan.com/cityoffire-yep

Download your own City of Fire poster here!

Zombies, Chinese Food, and Showers (and not necessarily in that order)

By David Lubar

Nathan Abercrombie was born in a Chinese restaurant and baptized in a bathroom shower. It all started on Mott Street in Manhattan. I was at a Wo Hop with my wife, celebrating our 30th anniversary (It’s a little known fact that the traditional 30th anniversary gift is duck skin).

My publisher was there, too (yet more proof that Tor is very family-oriented). We were discussing ideas for a middle-grade series when Kathleen Doherty mentioned that zombies were going to become very popular. This was well before the recent crop had staggered into view. (Kathleen has an eerie ability to see into the future).

Continue reading…

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Video: Creating the Curse with Dom Testa

Author Dom Testa talks about everything from the future of humanity to the perils of getting a haircut in space… and all on an empty stomach.

For more information about The Comet’s Curse, visit tor-forge.com/thecometscurse.

Related Links:

• Club Galahad
• Big Brain Club
• The Comet’s Curse on Facebook
• Book Trailer for The Comet’s Curse by Dom Testa
• Rocket Kids ‘09–An Interdisciplinary Project
• The Comet’s Curse Educator’s Guide
• More Broccoli