Interview with Stan Swanson

Hey all!!! Well I got to do an interview with the author of the Misadventures Of Hobart Hucklebuck. Stan Swanson. Before we get to the interview here is some details about the book..Enjoy!!! 

The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck: Magic and Mayhem, by Stan Swanson

Genre: middle-grade, action-adventure fantasy

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Publication: August 7th, 2014.

Cover Artist: Ricky Gunawan

Description:

Things are not as they should be in Pennywhistle. Enchanted toasters are not toasting, enchanted 

sprinklers are not sprinkling and Hobart Hucklebuck’s origami messenger birds are suddenly 

attacking him.

Someone seems to be draining the power from all of the enchanted items in the village. But who 

could it be and why have they implicated Hobart’s grandfather?

“The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck” follows Hobart and his friends, Specks 

Spacklethack and Rosie Rumpleskirt, as they try to solve this mystery and free Hobart’s 

grandfather from the Tower of Tribulation on Mumblemonk Mountain.

The trio’s investigation into the mysterious happenings on Druid Lane gets them into hot water 

more than once and ultimately brings them dangerously close to disaster not only for themselves, 

but the entire village of Pennywhistle.

Find The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck: Magic and Mayhem Online:

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble

--

About Stan Swanson:

Stan Swanson is a Bram Stoker award finalist and author of eight books including Forever 

Zombie (a collection of short stories), Write of the Living Dead (a highly-praised writing guide 

written with Araminta Star Matthews and Rachel Lee) and Return of the Scream Queen (co-

authored with Michael McCarty and Linnea Quigley). He is also editor/publisher for Dark 

Moon Books and Dark Moon Digest. Upcoming titles include Horror High School: Return of 

the Loving Dead (the first book in a young adult horror series co-written with Araminta Star 

Matthews), Dead Sparrows (a collection of apocalyptic poetry) and The Methlands (a horror 

novel co-written with award-winning author Joe McKinney).

Find Stan Swanson Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

1.Where did you get the idea for your book?

I never have a problem coming up with ideas for books. I have a list I have added to for 

years that now probably has over 200 book ideas. My problem is that the newest idea is 

always the one I want to start writing – even if I already have something in the works. I 

have always loved the fantasy genre, so this was just one of many ideas. The trouble was 

that Harry Potter came out as I finished it. I put the manuscript on a closet shelf until 

my wife read it one day and told me I needed to finish it. Now I’m glad I did.

2.How long did it take you to write it?

I took a strange approach on this one. I actually wrote it twice. I wrote the first draft, 

then put it away for a couple of months. Then, referring only to my outline, I wrote it 

again. When I was finished, I took both versions and merged them keeping the best stuff 

and deleting other parts. It worked out well, but as you can imagine, it took a long time. 

(I also wrote both versions by hand.) The second book in the series only took me about 

six months to finish. (And, no, I didn’t write it twice. LOL.)

3.How did you come up with your characters?

I love creating characters. By the time I start putting pen-to-paper (or fingers-to-

keyboard) I know my characters well and pretty much know how they will react to any 

given situation.

4.What made you want to write a children's book?

It was really accidental. I was writing another fantasy adventure (Dragontooth) and 

suddenly realized that it was not really an “adult” novel. Since then I have enjoyed 

writing for young adults and the middle grade audience. (I have also written two picture 

books, but they have never been published.)

5.Do you have a favorite character and who is it?

I don’t really have a favorite character although Hobart might have a slight edge simply 

because he is the main protagonist. But I like all of my characters as they become real 

to me. And I know they are “real” as sometimes they do things while I am writing that I 

didn’t even expect them to do.

6.Will you be writing anymore children's books?

The second book in the Hobart Hucklebuck series is currently with the publisher and 

I have started the rough draft for the third book. I have also started two young adult 

novels. Both are in the steampunk genre which I have really come to enjoy.

Cover Reveal

Hey All!!! Well today I have a new Cover reveal. Todays cover reveal is for Gods Play by H.D Lynn.

God’s Play, by H.D. Lynn

Genre: young-adult, urban-fantasy

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release: September 18, 2014

Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson http://gothicfate.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22895484-god-s-play

The review tour is scheduled for 10.06.14 - 10.17.14; excluding weekends. If you’re interested

in participating, please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/a/curiosityquills.com/forms/d/

1OBMbZ056k5CYHdtmuilpWkMY85cdL1U9iWVYHz_SOro/viewform

Description:

Sixteen-year old Toby was trained by a family of hunters to kill shape-shifters — but he has a

unique weapon in his arsenal. With a touch of his hand, Toby can lift the magical protection shape-
shifters use to disguise themselves as human. It’s an unusual skill for a hunter, and he prefers to kill

monsters the old-fashioned way: with a blade.

Because of his special skill, Toby suspects he may be a monster himself. His suspicions deepen when

William, a jackal-headed shape-shifter, saves him from an ambush where Toby’s the only survivor.

And Toby doubts William helped him for purely altruistic reasons. With his list of allies running thin,

Toby must reconcile his hatred of shifters and the damning truth that one saved his life. It’ll take

both of them to track down the monster who ordered the ambush.

And Toby needs his unlikely alley because he has a vicious enemy — the infamous Circe, who has a

vendetta to settle against the hunters. Toby has to unravel the mystery of his dual nature. And he

has to do it on the run — before Circe finds him and twists him to her own ends.

--

About The Author:

H.D. Lynn is like Harry Potter in one way: she’s currently renting an apartment with a bedroom

under her building’s stairs. Other than this, she explores fantasy worlds through storytelling like

anyone else. She loves books with a mix of humor, adventure, and horror, and especially enjoys the

urban fantasy genre. GOD’S PLAY is her first published novel.

When not writing, she enjoys hiking, climbing, and running. She’s a voracious reader, and has found

listening to audiobooks while backpacking to be a perfect mix of two of her favorite things. She

currently lives in Connecticut, but finds herself on the road often.

Find H.D. Lynn Online:

Facebook () | Twitter () | Goodreads ()

How To Date Dead Guys By Ann Noser Guest post Take me to the River.

Hey All!!!!! Today I have a Guest post from Ann Noser author of How to Date Dead Guys. Check in out below.

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER

My goal for How to Date Dead Guys was to make everything as realistic as possible. Along with the research I undertook to make Emma's transformation from bookworm to powerful witch seem logical, I used actual locations for the settings.

At the start of the story, Emma Roberts is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire.

In high school, our state music contest was held on this campus. I’d fallen in love with the trees, as well as the river running directly through the college grounds. I thought this was a place I could feel at home, but I was wrong

We spend the next day shopping at Oakwood Mall on the other side of town.

Chrissy examines the racks of flattering jeans and hip, trendy tops. “I need something great to wear on our date tonight."

Angie tries on a series of organic, loosely flowing clothes.

I pick out a blue and green shirt and hold it up in front of me.

Chrissy frowns. “I don’t know what it is about you, Emma, but everything you wear looks exactly the same.”

I sigh and hang the shirt back on the rack.

[image: Figure 4:  Fanny Hill Restaurant and Dinner Theater]

Angie sits beside me. “Why don’t you come with us tonight? Won’t you be lonely here all by yourself?”

Chrissy throws her a horrified glare.

I hesitate a moment before answering. Could I really tag along? No, that would be stupid. “I don’t want to be a third wheel.”

“Fifth wheel, actually,” Chrissy corrects.

Then they’re off to dinner at that fancy Fanny Hill restaurant, and I don’t know what to do with myself.

[image: Figure 5:  The Beautiful Chippewa River]

[Image: Figure 6:  Chippewa River]

We cross the bridge towering over the wide expanse of the Chippewa River and dividing the college campus in half. A rosy sunset glimmers over the water. Trees line the river in both directions. Charming old mansions peek out among the leaves, shrinking from view as we leave the main campus. Close to the Fine Arts side of the bridge, I pause at a sign attached to the metal railing.

Chrissy wheels around, hands on her hips. “What’s taking you so long?”

“Check out this sign: ‘The Chippewa River is beautiful but dangerous...’ Have you ever read this before?”

[image: Figure 7:  Sign posted on the campus bridge overlooking the river]

 “Yeah, I know all about it. Some guy drowned last year trying to swim the river a week before he graduated.”

“Really?” A cool breeze raises goose bumps on my arms.

[image: Figure 8:  Putnam Trails along campus]

Head down, I blend into the Putnam Woods. I have to see what they’re doing. I creep between the tall trees high above the river until I spot the bright yellow vests of the rescue workers near the water. My feet crunch on fallen leaves as I pace back and forth, trying to get a better view. Small rocks dislodge and fall down toward the Chippewa. For hours, I watch the dogs pace along the riverbank as I curse and question myself.

Where’s Mike? How can this be happening? I never should’ve let him swim, but I didn’t know what else to do.

[image: Figure 9:  The walking bridge connecting the two halves of campus together]

In my dreams, I stand upon the bridge in the middle of a chalk-drawn pentacle, lighting Angie’s candles one by one over the river. After the last wick goes up in flame, I turn to watch the river thrash and boil. The churning waters deposit dead bodies all along the shoreline, every one of them dressed in the same red shirt Mike wore the night of his party.

Mike is dead.

He is gone.

And it’s all my fault.

[image Figure 10:  The edge of the river where one might find objects floating up to the surface...]

At first I don’t notice that the river sounds hungry. Then I hear the same eerie noise from the night I brought Sam out of the river. The fierce sucking sound echoes far beneath us. I smell every plant and rock rising from the bottom of the river.

[image: Figure 11:  More gorgeous campus trails. One could spend hours here.]­­

The bridge connects the past to the present,

Emma's moment of cowardice to her growing strength,

and death to life.

For now Trisha signing off.

(All excerpts are from the book How to Date Dead Guys by Ann M. Noser)

FLASHBACK FRIDAY!!!!!

Hey all!!!

Today is Flashback Friday. In this segment I talk about old books that are considered classics. If you want to see what this weeks is keep reading.



This weeks book is......

This book was published in 1818 by Mary Shelly. Mary Shelly started writing this book when she was 18 and it was published when she was 20,she had really gone to the places mentioned in the book and she also had met an alcamist. When she was 18 she was trying to come up with the perfect storyline and Dreamt of an

 alcamist  who creates life and is horrified by his creation. She wrote a horror novel that later on in 2014 is still being found in stores and being republished every few years.

I had watched pretty much every movie about Frankinstine and still they did no justice to the book it is a gothic roller coaster of fear, death and science. I highly recommend this to those wanting a taste of the old horror novels. For now Trisha signing off.

COVER REVEAL!!!

HEY ALL!!! Well I have a very exciting post today, I have a Cover reveal for the book The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck: Magic and Mayhem by Stan Swanson.

The Misadventures or Hobart Hucklebuck


Genre: Middle Grade, action adventure, fantasy

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Publication: August 7th, 2014.

Cover artist:Ricky Gunawan.

Description:
Things are not as they should be in Pennywhistle. Enchanted toasters are not toasting, enchanted sprinklers are not sprinkling and Hobart's origami messenger birds are suddenly attacking him.

Someone seems to be draining the power from all of the enchanted objects in the village. But who could it be and why have they implicated Hobarts grandfather?

The Misadventures of Hobart Hucklebuck  follows Hobart and his friends Specks Spacklethack and Rosie Rumpleskirt, as they try to solve this mystery and free Hobart's grandfather from the tower of Tribulation on Mumblemonk Mountian. The Trio's investigation into the mysterious happenings on Druid Lane gets them into hot water more then once and ultimately brings them dangerously close to disaster not for themselves but the entire village.




  About the author

Stan Swanson is a Bram Stroker award finalist and author of eight books including
"Forever Zombie" {A collection of short stories}
Write of the liveing dead{A highly-praised Writers guide written with Araminta Star Matthews and Rachel Lee}and Return of the loving dead {Co wrote with Araminta Star Matthews}

Well I hope you all enjoyed this and check back next month for the blog tour. For now Trisha Signing off.

FlashBack Friday

Hey All!!! Well today I have something new for you. Today is Flashback Friday and so I'm digging deep into the archive for these wonderful classics, so if you want to know what this weeks Flashback is continue reading.


                                                  The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright

This book was copyrighted in 1983 and is one of the best books from the 80s in my opinion. This book is about a 12 year old girl named Amy who is tired of taking care of her younger sister that is brain damaged, and the stress that comes along with it. She decides to go stay with her aunt Clare for awhile in the old family home, while there Amy explores the old house primarily the old attic. There she finds an old Dollhouse, but this is no normal Dollhouse and the dolls inside are trying to tell her something. Something that may be the answer to a mystery that occurred years before her birth.


This is a true gem in my opinion, this book has a strong, flawless storyline along with a list of strong and  creative characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants a taste of the good old days of YA literature when scenery detail was important and plot mattered.

         Whats your favorite classic YA or children's book? Comment below and let me know, for now Trisha signing off.

Scarlet By Marissa Meyer {2nd book in the Lunar series}

Hey All!!!!!!
   
 Well I think its time for a little drum roll{Thump dun dun dun dun dunnnnnnnn}
                                    Okay so I finished Scarlet. Wow!!! Just wow, I thought that the first one was good but this one was even better this book follows an updated version of Little Red Riding Hood and her search for her grandmother in France. This book also has a Wolf as well as an update on Cinders current... uh.. er.... living conditions and her new little buddy. This book is a totally revamped version of the old fairy tail that ruined rides to grandma's house along with walks through the woods...or is that just me? Anyway I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone that read Cinder and if you haven't read Cinder yet you really should. Its a refreshing take on those boring old fairy tales. After all isn't action and conspiracy theories wayyyy better then love and all that mush???? I think so.  But for now Trisha Signing off.