fantasy

Middle Grade Fiction Has Two New Award-Winning Novels

ByMichael Thal December 7, 2016

Earlier this month the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards announced its winners in its Middle Grade Fiction category. Taking First Place was Star Sapphire and the Land of Gems: The Crystal Cavern (Book3) by Anthony Pardoe. The Second Place winner was Koolura and the Mayans (Koolura Series Book 3) by Michael Thal. The Royal Dragonfly Book…

Liz Keel’s Inspiration for Enlightenment

ByMichael Thal November 10, 2016

After losing everything, all seventeen-year-old Thea wanted was to be a normal teenager. Instead, she was attacked by a mysterious creature she thought only existed in fairy tales. Now thrown into the unknown realm of Faey, Thea is forced to determine the difference between reality and fantasy, in a world ruled by a dark elite…

The Sailweaver’s Son

ByMichael Thal November 9, 2016

Tak Spinner, the 15-year-old son of Taktinius Spinner, the Royal Sailweaver, is a mischievous boy who enjoys sailing his airship, the Arrow, in and around the Kingdom of Spire testing the security of the Royal Fleet, to their continuous annoyance. One day, Tak follows the Vigilance, commanded by Captain Adam Strake. Since Etherium, Tak’s home…

Book Blast: 2016 Books by SCBWI Authors

ByMichael Thal October 19, 2016

The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCWBI) is holding its annual six-week Book Blast promotion that started October 10 and will continue until November 18, 2016. Book Blast highlights traditionally and independently published books on individual author pages. Picture books for young children, chapter books for older readers, middle grade novels and young…

Enchanted Book Promotions Presents: The Resistance Duchess

ByMichael Thal October 18, 2016

The Resistance Duchess, a YA fantasy, is the second book in The Resistance series where Garritt’s twin Baylee takes center stage. Baylee has a hard time being a leprechaun, but when she is captured, she must figure out if she wants to be a normal teenager, an elf for her people or a ruler of…

A Look at “Rex”- A YA Fantasy

ByMichael Thal October 4, 2016

In seventeen year old Dakota Kekoa’s line of work, a job can go bad in a split second. And when a job goes bad, people die. Suspended from working as a tax collector in her draconic family’s protection racket, Dakota is assigned a secret mission from her grandfather. A foreign queen has offered a grave…

The Sailweaver’s Son- a YA Fantasy

ByMichael Thal September 27, 2016

Book Trailer About the Book Title: The Sailweaver’s Son Author: Jeff Minerd Genre: MG/YA Fantasy The Sailweaver’s Son combines traditional fantasy with a dash of steampunk and takes young readers to a unique world—Etherium. A world where mountains rise like islands above a sea of clouds and adventurers travel the sky in sail-driven airships. When…

SCWBI Summer Reading List could boost kids’ reading ability

ByMichael Thal July 28, 2016

School in Los Angeles begins August 16, 2016. It’s been a long hot summer, so slow the pace a bit, kick back, and read a book. It’s so important that the reading skills of children remain sharp. According to an article in Reading Rocks, “Summer Reading Loss,” thirteen academic studies covering 40,000 students discovered that…

Koolura Series character Leila Marvi speaks out

ByMichael Thal July 27, 2016

Leila Marvi is deaf. She’s also the main character in Koolura and the Mayans, and a secondary character in Koolura and the Mystery at Camp Saddleback. She has a few things to say about herself, BFF Koolura Akopyan, and the two novels she appears in. Can you tell us a little about yourself? My name is Leila Marvi….

Heroes of Arcania

ByMichael Thal July 14, 2016

Nova Benson, an Arcania high school student, is big sister to Starling, best friend to Henry, and has teen problems like homework, boy crushes, and hiding a gift she does not want the world to know about. Not even Henry knows Nova is invulnerable and has super strength. But its all for naught when Nova,…