Interview with Kelly Hess

Interview with Kelly Hess

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m about as boring as they come. J I live in Vacaville, CA (A shopping destination along I-80 between Sacramento and San Francisco) with my wife and twelve-year-old son. My favorite flavor ice cream is Vanilla, and I can typically be found wearing ratty jeans and a tee-shirt. All that creativity that is obviously lacking from my wardrobe and diet, I hope is being channeled into my writing.

2. What was it like writing this book and how long did it take you?

I very much enjoyed writing this book and it went quite quickly - a couple of months. I was really excited to go back into BlackMyst and see where things might lead after the first book. Certainly, it took an unexpected direction!

3. Where did the idea come from?

Although I think I tied up Eyes of the Enemy pretty well as a stand-alone novel, I left (intentionally or not) one giant loose end that needed exploring, and that was Fritz being in possession of the mysterious green dagger. So I just let my imagination run.

4. What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?

Developing a plot that really drives the story and excites the reader is always a challenge. Likewise, when I finally do link up the chain of events, it’s a lot of fun.

5. Do you listen to music when you write?

No. I’ve found that I write best in as quiet and non-distracting an environment as possible.

6. Where did the title come from?

The Green Dagger. Not my most creative moment. J But the dagger is at the very center of the plot, so I can’t think of what else I would have titled it. Maybe, “Fritz’s Big Adventure”?

7. What or who inspires you to write?

My son. I started writing for him. I wanted to create something that I thought he’d enjoy. He really liked what I wrote and from there, things just kind of snowballed.

8. Do you have any habits when you write?

Quiet. If I can be alone in the house when I’m writing, that’s always best for me.

9. What is something surprising or shocking about you that most people don’t know?

I suffered a brain aneurysm several years back that limited my ability to use my left side. All three books of my BlackMyst Trilogy were typed using only my right hand. This hasn’t really been too much of a problem since I couldn’t type worth a damn to begin with.

10. What was your favorite part about writing the book?

Finishing it! Seriously, there are few feelings better that completing a book.

11. What are you currently working on?

I’m writing on another YA fantasy. Not as much magic as in BlackMyst, but hopefully just as magical.

12. In your opinion, what makes a book good or bad?

Story, Plot, Characters (Not necessarily in that order).

If a writer can make me care about what’s happening in a book; make me care about the characters, I’ll read to the last page. If, as a reader, I don’t care what happens next, what’s the point?

The Tree of Water by Elizabeth Haydon

Genre:  Middle Grade, Fantasy

Source: I received a copy to help facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

The epic voyages continue in The Tree of Water, the fourth adventure in bestselling author Elizabeth Haydon’s acclaimed fantasy series for young readers, The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme.

As Royal Reporter of the land of Serendair, it is the duty of young Charles Magnus "Ven" Polypheme to travel the world and seek out magic hiding in plain sight. But Ven needs to escape the clutches of the nefarious Thief Queen, ruler of the Gated City, whose minions are hunting for him. His friend, the merrow Amariel, has the perfect solution to his dilemma: Ven and Char will join her to explore the world beneath the sea.

As they journey through the sea, Ven finds himself surrounded by wonders greater than he could have ever imagined. But the beauty of the ocean is more than matched by the dangers lurking within its depths, and Ven and his friends soon realize that in order to save thousands of innocent lives, they may have to sacrifice their own. For everything in the ocean needs to eat…

My Thoughts:

The preface hooked me.  When the author named a place” Ketchup-upon-Hamburg, South Germany”  and talked about “attending a yak milking seminar in the high peaks of Katmandont” I was hooked.  I  interrupted my husband to reread the lines to him.  I knew then I would enjoy this book because of the word play.

The author wrote the story in first person through Ven’s journals and then third person throughout the rest. Ven tells us he is from the race of people known as Nain. They live with humans in Vaarn. Here is how he describes them. “…Nain are somewhat shorter than humans, and grumpier. They live almost four times as long as humans, and tend to be much less curious, and much less adventurous. They hate to travel, don’t swim, and generally do not like other people. Especially those who are not Nain. I clearly am not a good example of my race.” The minute I read that last line I was sucked into this wonderful world. He described himself as tall for a Nain. He used sixty-eight Knuckles high as the measurement. I knew I had found an author with such a creative and imaginative mind that it left no doubt I would love this book.

The adventure begins with Ven and his best friend trying to find a fisherman to cut gill slits in their neck. Before the slits can be cut,  Madam Sharra shows up and gives him another dragon scale.  He must evade the  Thief Queen, who is the ruler of the Gated City.  Ven must travel with his friend Char and merrow friend Aariel to the bottom of the sea to find the Tree of Water. Finally, he mustreturn the dragon scale to its proper owner, the dragon it came from.  He must also avoid getting them all killed by the predators of the sea.

I loved the Reader’s guide in the back of the book.  It is aligned to the Common Core Standards. There are discussion Questions as well as Writing and Research Activities.  This is the fourth book in this series.  It read as a stand alone book.  However, I feel I missed some great adventures by not reading the first three books; The Floating Island,  The Thief Queen’s Daughter and The  Dragon’s lair.  I will be purchasing them for my shelves and reading them.    Great fantasy lover.  This is one I am not going to be able to keep on my shelves and one I may need to purchase as a giveaway prize for my students.

Three Wonderful Children's Books

Carole P. Roman has come out with two more books in the "If You Were Me and Lived in...." series.

If You Were Me and Lived in Peru
The first one is about Peru.  In this book we learn the capital is Lima and we learn the word actually means "talker.  We also learn common names for boys and girls.  If you visit you will want to know that their money is called nuevos soles. You will learn a little bit about the Incas.  You will read about some of their favorite foods such as fried guinea pig.  Peru is the potato capital where you will find about 4000 kinds of potatoes.  There is so many more cultural things to learn as you take this wonderful trip to Peru.

If You Were Me and Lived in Greece

The second book is about Greece.  Here you will learn the capital is Athens and is known as the birthplace of democracy.  Money used to be call drachmas, but now the use Euros.  Common foods are stuffed grape leaves, octopus, or grilled slabs of white cheese. You will want to have dessert which is a donut covered with honey and cinnamon.  This is where the Olympics originated.  During the Feast of St. Basil if you find a coin in your piece of cake then you will have good luck all year.

True Tails from the Dog Park by Max & Luther 

This wonderful book is a wealth of information for people who take their dogs to dog parks.  The stories are told by two dogs, Max and Luther.  You will hook kids when you read the section titled, Picky Poop Eater.  I laughed so hard when I read that Max was a poop eater.  But, he was picky.  He didn't eat his own poop, he ate other dog's poop.  These cute stories are followed by signposts or newspaper looking articles that tell you what you should or should not do,  There is definite humor the way this is written.  We are told that dogs view kids as fun toys.  The tales told from a dogs perspective are great for teaching adults and kids about dog parks.