Showing posts with label middle grade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label middle grade. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

What's under Atticus Everheart and Draco Dracul's beds?


What’s Under the Bed…

We’re entering the bedroom of three school-aged boys, so a mask and a pair of gloves are a good idea.

Atticus Everheart shares a room with his two older brothers. So it’s not a big surprise that several of the lost socks under Atticus’s bed are two times too big for him. There’s also an empty potato chip bag, a soda can, a pair of red boxers (another article of his brother’s clothing), Legos, a magnifying glass, the fingerprint brush from his brother’s detective bag, his skateboard, and the backpack he never leaves home without. Atticus knows about the last two items. There’s also a family of dust bunnies that have been hiding from the vacuum for at least a year now.

A few blocks away, on Tepes Lane, you’ll find Dracul manor and Drago Dracul. Under his bed are empty blood bags, candy wrappers, rubber spiders, a comb, and a bow tie. There’s also a copy of Thirteen Ways to Blend in with Humans, a must-have book according to his grandfather. There is also the glow-bat stuffed animal his mom gave him when he was three and afraid of the dark (Drago will deny ever being scared of such things), and the mouse Drago believes he compelled to leave the manor. The mouse rather likes having the glow-bat there to keep him company.

What would we find under your bed? (Mine has a few dust bunnies—they’re not related to the ones under Atticus’s bed.)


What readers are saying!

"It's the perfect Halloween read as it presents creepy elements without being scary or dreary. I loved the characters and the mystery." - The Real Word to Sam

Atticus is a cute kid and the other supporting characters were interesting and funny. I could totally picture this as a movie!" - Goodreads Reviewer


Sometimes it takes an ordinary ten-year-old to save the day.

Book Blurb:

Nothing frightens Atticus Everheart more than monsters, thanks to his older brothers, who often threaten to feed him to the beastly creatures.

Fearing that’s what they will do if he doesn’t replace the book he accidentally ruined, he takes a job tutoring a boy in his neighborhood.

Although nervous about the job, Atticus soon discovers there’s a lot more in store for him than teaching. Never in a trillion years would he have imagined he’d be hiding from monsters, working with ghosts, or searching for werewolves and witches. He’s not brave, and he has no plans to change.

Until he’s forced to.




Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Friends to the End bonus Scene


Hi, Lovely Readers!

The birthday of my middle-grade action/advaenture Friends to the End is this month, and I thought it would be fun to re-share a bonus scene written from Morgan's POV. This scene shares with you what she found related to Grimace Grove Cemetery and Wayward Lane. 

Happy reading!


FRIENDS TO THE END

by C.L. Colyer

Bonus scene from Morgan’s POV

 

Morgan grabbed a can of soda and headed to her dad’s study to use his laptop. If her brothers wouldn’t tell her more about the vanishing house, she’d search the internet. She sat in the big leather chair, pulled her auburn curls into a low ponytail, and typed ‘vanishing house + Wayward Lane’ into the browser. The top result led to a real estate company, but others caught her eye. She clicked on one of them. A post from a popular ghost-hunting TV show filled the screen. The opening hiss of the soda can pierced the silence in the study. Morgan took a sip before leaning forward to read the article.
 

What Lurks in the Dark on Wayward Lane?

 

About an hour outside of Chicago, tucked between the homes along Wayward Lane, is Grimace Grove Cemetery, one of Illinois’s most haunted graveyards. Visit one day and you may see white lights floating between the tombstones, while on another, hazy human-like figures standing by the fence. Listen closely and you may hear the whispers of people long dead. But the strange phenomenon doesn’t stop at the graveyard. Visitors to the area have reported other bizarre sightings, none of which can be explained by experts. Who and what might be the cause of these unexplained events? We took a closer look at the town's sordid past and recorded it below—you be the judge. 
 
The gangsters who visited the town for rest and relaxation during prohibition were known to cause trouble—illegal trouble. Is the shadowy cigar-smoking man who has been spotted in the middle of the street one of the former gangsters? Witnesses describe him as a stout guy, wearing a suit and a bowler hat like the ones worn back in the 1920s. A woman even claims he called her the “bee’s knees” as his spectral form blinked in and out of view. Is he the ghost of Franky—on the lam—Hood? You tell me.
 
Equally as disturbing as the ghost of a gangster are the reports of a phantom Model A roadster that barrels past oncoming traffic, leaving in its wake the roar of men’s laughter and machine gunfire. My money is on these men being more of the mobsters who used to frequent the neighborhood. 

 

Reports of a young woman dressed in fringe and pearls, dancing the Charleston in the middle of the road are common. Drivers who stopped to tell her to get off the road swear that she vanished into thin air when they rolled down their windows. Eyewitnesses later matched her image to photos of Mary Porter, a nineteen-year-old flapper who died in a car accident on that exact stretch of the road in April 1923. She had been on her way home from a popular speakeasy, where she worked as a flapper.
 
But perhaps the most intriguing of the legends surrounding Wayward Lane is that of the disappearing house. This ghost hunter hasn’t found proof that the house, which is often described as an old Victorian-styled home with a long front porch, ever existed on the physical plain. But locals insist this home, known for having housed a venerated Civil War hero, burned down in the 1870s and that it, along with his wife, refuse to let go.

 
The mystery surrounding the house and its occupants may never be solved. Are the locals correct in saying that this house is occupied by the ghost of its last resident? Did her unwavering belief that her husband would return from the war and her determination to be there when he did trap her and the house in a time loop? Romantic? Yes. True? I’ll let you be the judge.

 
No wonder Morgan’s brothers refused to talk about the house and why her parents had forbidden her to search for it. Clearly, they believed the stories––maybe even thought she’d be kidnapped or swept away by the ghosts that lived there. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Adults can be so gullible sometimes.
 
She clicked back to the search results. The next blog post had similar information about Wayward Lane and Grimace Grove Cemetery. A chill went through her. It also confirmed what her brothers had warned her happened to anyone inside of the house when it vanished: 
 

Rumors of people disappearing along with the house date back to the Civil War, when a soldier was last spotted entering that home and was never seen again. Others are believed to have met the same grim fate when they went to investigate decades later.  

 
Every article, post, and newsletter Morgan read had a slightly different version of the legend, but the result was always the same. Wayward Lane was haunted. Decade after decade, dozens of people had witnessed things they couldn’t explain. Morgan let out a low whistle. Ghosts existed, and she lived within biking distance of the second most haunted location in Illinois.


She couldn't wait to tell Zach the exciting news.


📚 📚 📚

2021 Best Middle-Grade Finalist – N.N. Light Book Awards

 

“A compelling, gripping nail-biting page-turner. You’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting...dreading?... what happens next. I know you won’t be able to put the book down (I couldn’t).” ~ Allan Woodrow, bestselling author of over 30 books for children

 

“Friends to the End is a wonderful middle-grade paranormal mystery from start to finish ~ N.N. Light Book Heaven



Read FRIENDS TO THE END today

Amazon | Apple | Barnes & Noble | More Locations

Add to Goodreads



The inspiration behind Grimace Grove Cemetery is loosely based on stories surrounding White Cemetery that I had heard as a teenager. Friends to the End is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of my imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales are entirely coincidental. 

 

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

The Spooky Season is Almost Here. Cue the music!



Hi! I'm so glad you stopped by! With the spooky season fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to share the soundtrack for Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor and Monster Hunter?! This is a collection of songs that popped into my head when I was writing this humous middle-grade novelThese songs also make a great playlist to listen to while reading the book. Enjoy!! 

 1)  Monster Mash 



2)  Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon. 



3)  The Skeleton Dance


4)  Superstition by Stevie Wonder 

 
5)  Funeral March of the Marionette by Charles Gounod 


6)  Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival 



7)  The Monsters Hop 



8)  Theme from ‘the Munsters’



8)  Season of the Witch by Donovan




🦇 About the book 🦇


Title: Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor and Monster Hunter?

Author: C.L. Colyer

Cover artist: Diana Carlile

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Genres: Middle grade, fantasy


Sometimes it takes an ordinary ten-year-old to save the day.

 

Book Blurb:

Nothing frightens Atticus Everheart more than monsters, thanks to his older brothers, who often threaten to feed him to the beastly creatures.

Fearing that’s what they will do if he doesn’t replace the book he accidentally ruined, he takes a job tutoring a boy in his neighborhood.

 

Although nervous about the job, Atticus soon discovers there’s a lot more in store for him than teaching. Never in a trillion years would he have imagined he’d be hiding from monsters, working with ghosts, or searching for werewolves and witches. He’s not brave, and he has no plans to change.

 

Until he’s forced to.


🦇 What readers have to say 🦇


5+-stars  “If you love quirky fantasy adventures, you’ll want to read this book.” – N.N. Light Book Heaven

 

5-stars. “Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor, and Monster Hunter? was a spooky and delightful read.” – Long and Short Reviews. 

 

5-stars.  “The atmosphere of this book is wonderful. I really loved discovering the world created by C.L.Colyer.” – A Blue Box Full of Books Goodreads



Read Atticus Everheart’s story today!

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple ~ Other Retailers

Goodreads ~ Bookbub



I'd love to hear from you. Do you like this time of year? What's your favorite spooky song, movie, or book?

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

What Lurks in the Dark on Wayward Lane?



Hi!

Today I have a bonus scene from my middle-grade action/adventure Friends to the End written from Morgan's POV. This scene shares with you what she found related to Grimace Grove Cemetery and Wayward Lane. 

Happy reading!


FRIENDS TO THE END

by C.L. Colyer

Bonus scene from Morgan’s POV

 


Morgan grabbed a can of soda and headed to her dad’s study to use his laptop. If her brothers wouldn’t tell her more about the vanishing house, she’d search the internet. She sat in the big leather chair, pulled her auburn curls into a low ponytail, and typed ‘vanishing house + Wayward Lane’ into the browser. The top result led to a real estate company, but others caught her eye. She clicked on one of them. A post from a popular ghost-hunting TV show filled the screen. The opening hiss of the soda can pierced the silence in the study. Morgan took a sip before leaning forward to read the article.
 

What Lurks in the Dark on Wayward Lane?

 

About an hour outside of Chicago, tucked between the homes along Wayward Lane, is Grimace Grove Cemetery, one of Illinois’s most haunted graveyards. Visit one day and you may see white lights floating between the tombstones, while on another, hazy human-like figures standing by the fence. Listen closely and you may hear the whispers of people long dead. But the strange phenomenon doesn’t stop at the graveyard. Visitors to the area have reported other bizarre sightings, none of which can be explained by experts. Who and what might be the cause of these unexplained events? We took a closer look at the town's sordid past and recorded it below—you be the judge. 
 
The gangsters who visited the town for rest and relaxation during prohibition were known to cause trouble—illegal trouble. Is the shadowy cigar-smoking man who has been spotted in the middle of the street one of the former gangsters? Witnesses describe him as a stout guy, wearing a suit and a bowler hat like the ones worn back in the 1920s. A woman even claims he called her the “bee’s knees” as his spectral form blinked in and out of view. Is he the ghost of Franky—on the lam—Hood? You tell me.
 
Equally as disturbing as the ghost of a gangster are the reports of a phantom Model A roadster that barrels past oncoming traffic, leaving in its wake the roar of men’s laughter and machine gunfire. My money is on these men being more of the mobsters who used to frequent the neighborhood. 

 

Reports of a young woman dressed in fringe and pearls, dancing the Charleston in the middle of the road are common. Drivers who stopped to tell her to get off the road swear that she vanished into thin air when they rolled down their windows. Eyewitnesses later matched her image to photos of Mary Porter, a nineteen-year-old flapper who died in a car accident on that exact stretch of the road in April 1923. She had been on her way home from a popular speakeasy, where she worked as a flapper.
 
But perhaps the most intriguing of the legends surrounding Wayward Lane is that of the disappearing house. This ghost hunter hasn’t found proof that the house, which is often described as an old Victorian-styled home with a long front porch, ever existed on the physical plain. But locals insist this home, known for having housed a venerated Civil War hero, burned down in the 1870s and that it, along with his wife, refuse to let go.

 
The mystery surrounding the house and its occupants may never be solved. Are the locals correct in saying that this house is occupied by the ghost of its last resident? Did her unwavering belief that her husband would return from the war and her determination to be there when he did trap her and the house in a time loop? Romantic? Yes. True? I’ll let you be the judge.

 
No wonder Morgan’s brothers refused to talk about the house and why her parents had forbidden her to search for it. Clearly, they believed the stories––maybe even thought she’d be kidnapped or swept away by the ghosts that lived there. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Adults can be so gullible sometimes.
 
She clicked back to the search results. The next blog post had similar information about Wayward Lane and Grimace Grove Cemetery. A chill went through her. It also confirmed what her brothers had warned her happened to anyone inside of the house when it vanished: 
 

Rumors of people disappearing along with the house date back to the Civil War, when a soldier was last spotted entering that home and was never seen again. Others are believed to have met the same grim fate when they went to investigate decades later.  

 
Every article, post, and newsletter Morgan read had a slightly different version of the legend, but the result was always the same. Wayward Lane was haunted. Decade after decade, dozens of people had witnessed things they couldn’t explain. Morgan let out a low whistle. Ghosts existed, and she lived within biking distance of the second most haunted location in Illinois. 

 

She couldn’t wait to tell Zach the exciting news.


📚 📚 📚

2021 Best Middle-Grade Finalist – N.N. Light Book Awards

 

“A compelling, gripping nail-biting page-turner. You’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting...dreading?... what happens next. I know you won’t be able to put the book down (I couldn’t).” ~ Allan Woodrow, bestselling author of over 30 books for children

 

“Friends to the End is a wonderful middle-grade paranormal mystery from start to finish ~ N.N. Light Book Heaven



Read FRIENDS TO THE END today

Amazon | Apple | Barnes & Noble | More Locations

Add to Goodreads



The inspiration behind Grimace Grove Cemetery is loosely based on stories surrounding White Cemetery that I had heard as a teenager. Friends to the End is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of my imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales are entirely coincidental. 

 

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Middle Grade Book Fair


Who loves a book fair?

Me! Me!
And I know you do too!

I teamed up with award-winning authors to bring you a book fair geared toward young readers and to adults who are kids at heart. I have to admit, my go to genre when I need something light and fun and sometimes even a little spooky is middle-grade. So I'm excited to be a part of this book fair.



And be sure to check out my books while you're there!

Friends to the End
Genre: MG Ghost Story, Coming of Age

Reluctant Reader Approved!

“A compelling, gripping nail-biting page-turner. You’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting...dreading?... what happens next. I know you won’t be able to put the book down (I couldn’t).” ~ Allan Woodrow, bestselling author of over 30 books for children.

~~~


Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor & Monster Hunter?
Genre: MG Fantasy

5+-stars  

If you love quirky fantasy adventures, you’ll want to read this book.” – N.N. Light Book Heaven

 

5-stars

Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor, and Monster Hunter? was a spooky and delightful read.” – Long and Short Reviews. 

~~~



I'd love to hear from you! What's your favorite kids book? 

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Book Tour & Giveaway: Chupacater and the Haunted Piñata by George Lopez & Ryan Calejo

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the CHUPACARTER AND THE HAUNTED PIÑATA by George Lopez & Ryan Calejo Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: CHUPACARTER AND THE HAUNTED PIÑATA

Author: George Lopez, Ryan Calejo, & Santy Gutiérrez (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: May 30, 2023

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 320

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/CHUPACARTER-AND-THE-HAUNTED-PINATA

In this hilarious follow-up to ChupaCarter, world-famous entertainer George Lopez delivers a spooky tale of mystery, revenge, and friendship starring 12-year-old Jorge and Carter, the fearsome but friendly Chupacabra!

Inspired by his own childhood and packed with clever illustrations, George Lopez's sequel to ChupaCarter sees Jorge finally feeling at home in his new town, thanks to his awesome friends Liza and Ernie—and especially Carter, the chupacabra.

New kid Jorge is shocked to learn that his beastly friend Carter isn't the only legendary creature in Boca falls. Every few years, the town is terrorized by a haunted . . . piñata? Rumor has it that the petrifying party decoration floats around setting eerie fires to avenge a long-ago betrayal. Jorge can't help but laugh, until a rash of green fires forces the townspeople to consider moving away, including the parents of his pals Ernie and Liza!

With Carter at their side, the three friends are in a race against time to catch the real culprit before they're separated forever . . . or the whole town is set aflame. Which will come first?

 

Get Book 1, CHUPACARTER now!

 

My thoughts...

I'm halfway through this entertaining and humorous children's book. Jorge and his friends are searching for an arsonist. It may or may not be the dreaded, terrifying haunted piñata, which makes an appearance in this small town every six years. Together with Carter, their chupacabra friend, Jorge and his friend muster up the courage needed to chase down the clues, many with laugh-out-loud outcomes. They haven't yet found the culprit, but I'm excited to continue reading to see how the rest of the story unfolds.

Oh, and I can't forget to mention the lively illustrations sprinkled throughout the book. 


About George Lopez:

George Lopez is a New York Times bestselling author, stand-up comedian, actor, and talk show host. He made waves as the star of the most successful English-language prime-time television series about Latin Americans in recent history. His successful stand-up comedy showcases his idiosyncratic point of view and impeccable comedic timing. He lives in Los Angeles.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 

 



About Ryan Calejo:

Ryan Calejo is an award-winning author born and raised in sunny south Florida. His critically acclaimed Charlie Hernández series has been featured in half a dozen state reading lists and has earned starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, was a Texas Bluebonnet Master List Selection, and won an International Latino Book Award, a Sunshine State Young Readers Award, and a Florida Book Award (Gold Medal). He lives in Miami.

 

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon


Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a finished copy of CHUPACARTER AND THE HAUNTED PIÑATA, US ONLY.

Ends June 20th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/22/2023

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Review or Excerpt/IG Post

5/23/2023

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt/IG Post

5/24/2023

yabookscentral.com

Excerpt/IG Post

5/25/2023

Log Cabin Library

Excerpt

5/26/2023

onemused

IG Post

5/27/2023

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

Week Two:

5/28/2023

@allyluvsbooksalatte

Review/IG Post

5/29/2023

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

5/30/2023

@bookish_cherie

Review/IG Post

5/31/2023

Lifestyle of Me

Review

6/1/2023

Jeff_of_allmedia

IG Review

6/2/2023

Confessions of the Perfect Mom

Review/IG Post

6/3/2023

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

Week Three:

6/4/2023

@froggyreadteach

IG Review

6/5/2023

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post

6/6/2023

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

6/7/2023

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

6/8/2023

FUONLYKNEW

Review

6/9/2023

Carly Sunshine Books

Review/IG Post

6/10/2023

The Book Countess

Review/IG Post

Week Four:

6/11/2023

@pagesforpaige

IG Review

6/12/2023

@stargirls.magical.tale

IG Review

6/13/2023

Jaime_of_gryffindor

Review/IG Post

6/14/2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

6/15/2023

Author Z. Knight’s Guild

Review/IG Post

6/16/2023

Books With a Chance

Review/IG Post