Fast-paced YA sequel from Hollywood-optioned series

T. Lynn Adams’ “Lair of the Serpent” is the third installment in the “Tombs of Terror” series that has been optioned by Kevin Buxbaum, producer of “Avatar” and “Life of Pi.”

“Lair of the Serpent” transports the reader to Cambodia. When one of their friends is kidnapped, Jonathon and Severino must track a ring of criminals who deal in artifact theft and human trafficking. Caught up in the tangled jungles and ancient ruins of western Cambodia, they encounter the legend of the Nāga—demi gods who can change from snakes to humans, and who can kill with just a look from their eyes.

Not knowing what is real or who they can trust, the pair must find their friend in the most heavily land-mined jungle in the world—without becoming human slaves themselves. But their plans to free her are placed in jeopardy when they realize they must first steal an ancient jewel that is guarded by the Nāga.

“In this book, the characters are called to draw on their deepest emotional and physical reserves, said Adams. “Their friend and sister has been kidnapped and they must find her before she vanishes completely. Their ordeal, based on very real facts, tests them in ways they never wanted.”

Lair of the Serpent is available on Kindle for $7.99.

About Mormon Author T. Lynn Adams

T. Lynn Adams writes for a living and writes for her passion. She and her husband live in Montana with six children. Despite the fact that five of her children have already been classified as “teenagers,” the author still loves that age and enjoys writing clean action novels that depict emotionally strong and quick-thinking teenagers.

Ancient North American civilizations explored in novel from Utah author

"The Mounds Anomaly” by Phyllis Gunderson takes a look at evidence of ancient civilizations in North America.

“The Mounds Anomaly” correlates with the TV series “America Unearthed,” which reexamines evidence of these ancient societies.

The novel is the third from Gunderson, who poses additional questions and answers to the mysteries about these ancient civilizations, including:

·      Were 20,000 artifacts from prehistoric civilizations found in the Michigan mounds?
·      Does a cave in Illinois contain tombs from ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, Phoenicia, and Israel?
·      Are there hundreds of rock carvings that depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments?
·      How do Catholics, Mormons, and the Smithsonian Institute connect to the puzzle?

“The Mounds Anomaly” offers fact-based fiction with controversial ideas tucked into an adventure. When the heroine, Matt Howard, finds a gold coin engraved with a cryptic symbol, her life unravels. She should have put the coin in a shoebox under her bed, but Matt can’t leave it alone. The symbol guides her to the Michigan Mounds, which lead to a Smithsonian cover-up. With her teaching job in jeopardy and her ten-year-old adopted daughter in tow, Matt finds herself on a hazardous hunt to uncover forbidden history.

"The Mounds Anomaly" is available for $5.99 on Amazon.

About the author  

     Phyllis Gunderson’s interests are unsolved mysteries and offbeat archaeology. Her novels are set in the real world. Opportunities to study abroad have taken her to India, Thailand, Cambodia, Belize, Egypt, and China. Provo, Utah is her home, where eight grown children and thirty-six grandchildren keep her heart happy. Her other published books include “The Jaguar Prophecies,” “The Lights of Mahonri Moriancumer,” and “Wrinkled Missionaries.”

Book Signing Today in Ogden, Utah with 4 Authors!

BOOK SIGNING TODAY IN OGDEN!!

 

Juli Caldwell, author of Psyched, 

Shantal Hiatt Sessions, author of Agency, 

Mercedes Murdock Yardley, author of Beautiful Sorrows,

 and Wendy Knight, author of Feudlings, will be signing books today at the Eccles Community Art Center2580 Jefferson Avenue, Ogden, Utah 84401 from 3:30-5:30!

There will be books for sale, giveaways (free Amazon gift cards!), and free stuff! 

Braden Bell releases third novel, "Penumbras"

Tennessee teacher and author Braden Bell will release his third novel, “Penumbras,” on July 9, 2013.

“Penumbras” is the sequel to 2012’s “The Kindling,” which received positive reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and VOYA.

“Penumbras” follows the adventures of three almost-average seventh graders as they begin training to become Magi—warriors of the Light. However, along the way, they discover that light and dark exist in every heart, and that sometimes the most serious battles with evil are those fought inside one’s own soul.

As a middle school teacher, Bell writes naturally about the world of middle school, and the relationship between teachers and students informs this fantasy-adventure. 

Although the characters in the book are not modeled on any specific real-life counterparts, Bell is always listening for new phrases and watching for new situations that might provide fodder for the series. A particularly sad and poignant encounter between a teacher and student in the book was inspired by a real-life situation, although Bell used his imagination to embellish and make it fit the fictional reality.

The Middle School Magic series – to which “The Kindling” and “Penumbras” belong – was born four years ago, during a fierce Tennessee storm when Bell imagined a battle between the forces of Light and Dark. He stayed up all night writing—and then spent the next two years finishing and revising the first book. 

“Penumbras” is available on Amazon.

About the Author:

Braden Bell teaches theatre and choir at Harding Academy. He holds a Ph.D. from NYU and worked at the Nashville Children’s Theatre before moving to his current position. He and his wife are the parents of five children and live on a quiet, tree-lined lot. “Penumbras” is his third novel

Kansas City-based author to release third novel

Set on a fictional island in North Carolina, “Whisper Island” tells the story of spunky 12-year-old Primmy Hopkins, who dreams of joining the U.S. Life-Saving Service when she grows up. She wants to rescue shipwreck victims from the treacherous Atlantic waters, just like Pa and her brother. As friends and family remind her, there’s one problem: in 1913, no females are allowed into the Service.

Her mother, who left Whisper Island when Primmy was three, unexpectedly asks to meet Primmy.  The visit is a disappointment from start to finish and Primmy leaves feeling that her mother disapproves of everything about her, especially her dream of being a Life-Saver.

Back on Whisper Island, Primmy’s more determined than ever to do something important and courageous. A treacherous storm offers her the opportunity to do just that. 

“The first time I visited the Outer Banks, I learned about the work of the U. S. Life-Savers and was impressed with their bravery,” said Pickett. “When I learned that women were not allowed to serve as Life-Savers, I knew I had a problem for a spunky girl to overcome. I named her Primrose Estella and gave her a personality completely unlike her fancy name. She’s just plain Primmy and she’s determined to do something important and courageous.”

Kansas City author Anola Pickett will release her next novel, “Whisper Island,” on July 9, 2013. The book is currently available for preorder on BooksAndThings.com, Amazon, and BarnesAndNoble.com.

About the Author:

Anola Pickett comes from a family of storytellers. Even her name has a story: it’s a combination of her two grandmothers’ names—Ann and Ola. In third grade Anola discovered that writing down stories was fun too. In college she combined her love of reading and writing and earned a degree in English and creative writing from Webster University. After spending several years as an elementary and middle school teacher, Anola worked as a school librarian. She is also the author of 2011’s “Wasatch Summer” from Bonneville Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort Publishing & Media.

Now she writes full-time at her home in Kansas City. She fills her spare time with friends, gardening, swimming, needlecrafts, and reading. She and her husband enjoy traveling, especially to Hong Kong, where their son Gerry Doyle is a journalist.

Recent college graduate to release third and final novel in trilogy

Utah-based and recent college graduate Heather Frost will release her third novel, “Guardians,” on July 9, 2013.

“Guardians” is the third and final installment in the “Seers” trilogy, which has followed 18-year-old Kate Bennett on her journey as a Seer.

Based in New Mexico, “Guardians” brings the Seers series to a close as Kate undertakes a dangerous mission to destroy the Demon Lord before he comes to power. Patrick, her immortal Guardian and love of her life, has glimpsed her fate; confident that Kate’s destiny is to die fighting the Demon Lord, he will go to any lengths to keep her safe—even from herself.

“Guardians” brings Kate’s tale to a startling and exciting conclusion, and is filled with love and heartache, danger and triumph, loss and redemption.

“A good story never really ends, as long as people keep reading it,” said Frost. “I’ll never be able to forget the time I’ve spent with these characters, creating this world and sharing it with so many amazing fans. Even though Kate’s story is over, I hope that readers will always remember something that the story gave to them—be that a friend, an emotion, or a memory that anything is possible.”

“Guardians” won’t be in bookstores until July 9, but it is available for pre-order right now on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and BooksAndThings.com.

About the Author:
Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised in a small Northern Utah town. She is the second oldest of ten children, and has always been an avid reader and writer. She’s a Snow College and, most recently, Utah State University graduate. She enjoys playing the flute, listening to all types of music, and watching a wide variety of movies. Ever since she wrote her first short story—at the age of four—she has dreamed of one day becoming an author. Her second book, “Demons,” was a 2012 Whitney Award Finalist. To learn more about Heather and the “Seers” trilogy, or to send her a message, visit www.HeatherFrost.com.

Check out the other books in the Seers trilogy-

Book 1- Seers - Kindle $6.99

For Kate Bennet, surviving the car wreck that killed her parents means big changes and even bigger problems. As she begins to see auras and invisible people, Kate must learn to trust Patrick O'Donnell, a handsome Guardian, or risk her life being overrun with Demons. She soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble.

 

Book 2- Demons- Kindle $5.15

Kate's life is far from normal. She can see Auras, her boyfriend is immortal, and her powers make her a target. But now that the Demon Lord is hunting her, things are about to go from dangerous to truly deadly. Packed with action, mind-blowing plot twists, and characters you can't get enough of, this is a fast-paced, heart-pounding read from cover to cover.