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Middle Grade Fiction Has Two New Award-Winning Novels

ByMichael Thal

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…

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The Enchantress Detective

ByMichael Thal

Elle Chambers is a witch detective who works for Edinburgh’s coven. So when Ferguson Black, a Scottish solicitor and werewolf goes missing, its Elle’s job to find him and ensure this dangerous supernatural being doesn’t hurt anyone. Elle’s liaison with the coven is Rebecca, a powerful witch who keeps her “supplied with investigation jobs that…

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Liz Keel’s Inspiration for Enlightenment

ByMichael Thal

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…

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Spotlight on the Cedar Creek Mystery Series

ByMichael Thal

The Cedar Creek Mystery Series by Anne Louder McGee consists of three books—The Mystery at Marlatt Manor, The Mystery of the Missing Ming, and The Mystery Beneath Midville Museum. McGee’s Cedar Creek Mysteries are an episodic series where each story is self-contained, but her books feature the same primary characters and independent storylines. Mystery at…

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Book Blast: 2016 Books by SCBWI Authors

ByMichael Thal

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…

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Guarding Charon

ByMichael Thal

Grace Adams’ life in small town Texas has been a living hell for the twenty-two year old brunette. While in high school she dated school hunk Bruce Davis, son of the town’s ruling family. After their senior prom, Grace wanted nothing to do with him, who turned out to be a brutal and controlling misogynist….

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A Time Travel Tale about the Salem Witch Trials

ByMichael Thal

Netti hung from the hanging tree, her body limp and swinging. It’s 1692 Salem, Massachusets with the infamous witch trials under way. Netti was a sweet and innocent young woman who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Her crime: She knew how to turn herbs into oils. Neighbor Jonas Hale believed the girl was actually brewing potions…

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Love (The Allure Chronicles #4)

ByMichael Thal

    Purchase on Amazon Purchase on iBooks Purchase on Google Play Add it on Goodreads   There is nothing more powerful than love. Daisy and Owen never catch a break. After being torn apart by the powerful and ruthless Elders, the sweetness of their reunion is tempered by the knowledge that Daisy’s emotions may…

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SCWBI Summer Reading List could boost kids’ reading ability

ByMichael Thal

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…

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Koolura Series character Leila Marvi speaks out

ByMichael Thal

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….