Friday, June 13, 2014

Storyteller's Journey

Photo Credit: Public Domain
       2014 Summer Reading List

     Once again it's time to feature my annual summer reading list. Click on the title of each novel to link to the book review on this blog's meme: Bibliophile's Corner.

Listed in random order, my favorite MG novels since last fall:

The Whatnot, by Stefan Bachmann

Wildwood ~ Imperium, by Colin Meloy

Flora & Ulysses, by Kate DiCamillo

The Twistrose Key, by Tone Almhjell

The Year of Shadows, by Claire Legrand

From Nowhere to Norvelt, by Jack Gantos

The Nethergrim, by Matthew Jobin

Paperboy, by Vince Vawter

Under the Egg, by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two,
by Catherynne M. Valente

Note: I'll be away from Writ of Whimsy for a few weeks, but will be posting occasionally on my auxiliary blog, The Shy Shutterbug, if you'd like to check up on me. We're overdue for a vacation!

Happy reading, everyone, and have a sensational summer!

(Since I'll be away from my blog for a while, I'm turning off comments.)

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Whimsical Word of the Week

Thundersquall -
(n.) a gusty rainstorm accompanied by lightning and thunder.
Example: The family's camping trip was ruined by the rain and lightning of the thundersquall.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Bibliophile's Corner

Mouseheart
by Lisa Fiedler

Amazon Description:
The Warriors series meets Redwall in the first book in an epic animal adventure series set in the subway tunnels of Brooklyn.

Hopper is just an ordinary pet mouse before he escapes. Soon he finds himself below the bustling streets of Brooklyn, deep within the untamed tangles of transit tunnels, and in Atlantia, a glorious utopian rat civilization.

But all is not what it seems. Though Hopper is treated as a royal guest, he misses his siblings that he lost in the escape attempt. That, and Atlantia is constantly threatened by the rebels who wish to bring the city to its knees. And there are cats everywhere in Atlantia, cats that leave the citizens unharmed & #8230; and no one can seem to answer why.

Soon, Hopper is caught in the crosshairs of a colossal battle, one that crosses generations and species. As the clashes rage, Hopper earns terrible, extraordinary secrets: Deadly secrets about Atlantia. Painful secrets about his friends.

And one powerful secret about his destiny.

My Thoughts:
Lisa Fiedler has penned a wonderful animal adventure/fantasy novel - the first in a series. The underground subway setting of Atlantia and the twists and turns in the exciting plot, are what made this middle grade story so special for me. And, like many children's books that feature anthropomorphic animals, the author skillfully weaves themes of substance, using her colorful characters, into the storyline of Mouseheart. They include: family, friendship, and trust. I would definitely recommend Mouseheart to readers from the ages of eight to twelve.

To visit the website for Mouseheart, click here: http://www.mouseheart.com/

Friday, June 6, 2014

Storyteller's Journey



                                COVER REVEAL!

It's been nearly seven years since the seed for the yuletide story of The Scandinavian Santa plopped into my mind on a dark December day. I'd been brooding in my studio about how sometimes life can be so difficult when, for some unknown reason, I thought of my great-grandfather: Peter Swanson. (My Norwegian ancestor on my mom's side of the family turned out to be the inspiration for my protagonist.) To say I'm grateful for the way life has turned around for me, would be an understatement for sure. It's not only this book that's made a difference in my life, it's the strength I had to muster to deal with a myriad of struggles all along the way on my storyteller's journey. I am thrilled with my debut book; this experience has been extraordinary. Here is the flap copy description of our picture book/storybook, that my husband - Michael Lindstrom - so masterfully illustrated:

     Journey to the enchanted land of Scandinavia, where, nestled in the Nordic Forest, lives Santa Swanson. Each winter, this nephew of St. Nicholas has his own Christmas Eve delivery to make - but what that is, and to whom, has long been hidden. With the help of two mischievous flying polar bears, Gunnar and Ludvig; a rescued golden eagle, Lars; and a host of other whimsical creatures; Santa Swanson prepares for his annual sleigh ride down Viking Valley!
     Delight in this yuletide adventure, complete with a fanciful ice skating party, a rustic holiday feast, and an unexpected reunion with Santa Swanson's famous uncle. In the midst of all this wonder, the forest friends learn a heartwarming secret from a Christmas angel revealing the magic of generosity.

The Scandinavian Santa will be available in September 2014 in hardcover and ebook (Amazon, B&N, Apple) from Deeds Publishing.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Whimsical Word of the Week

Yakamoz -

(n.) the reflection of moonlight upon water.
Example: If not for the night's yakamoz, the pirate ship would have gone undetected.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Bibliophile's Corner

Under the Egg
by Laura Max Fitzgerald

Flap Copy Description:
Only two people know about the masterpiece hidden in the Tenpenny home - and one of them is dead.

The other is Theodora Tenpenny. Theo is responsible for tending to the family's two-hundred-year-old town house, caring for a flock of unwieldy chickens, and supporting her fragile mother, all on her grandfather's legacy of $463. So, when Theo discovers a painting in the house that looks like a priceless masterpiece, she should be happy about it. But Theo's late grandfather was a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and if the painting is as valuable as she thinks it is, then her grandfather wasn't who she thought he was.

My Thoughts:
Under the Egg is the debut middle grade novel for Laura Max Fitzgerald, and one of my new favorites. There is so much to like about this book, I'll just say, consider these elements: priceless art, a treasure hunt, Holocaust survivors, redemption, and a protagonist who is a bookworm. I know, awesome, right? Well, it is. Not only that, Under the Egg includes the depth and complexity of an adult novel, and is written with extraordinary and exquisite style. I would highly recommend this upper middle grade novel to readers from the ages of eight to eighty!

To learn more about the author, Laura Max Fitzgerald, click here: http://www.lauramarxfitzgerald.com/