two of my writerly friends have books that
launched this week! first is THE STOLEN ONE
by suzanne crowley. i really loved this read and
you’ve seen the stunning cover before, by chris
borgman, the same talented photographer who
created the SILVER PHOENIX cover.

from booklist :

Set in Elizabethan England, this novel tells of
16-year-old Kat, who has grown up in a country
cottage under the care of a foster mother. After her
death, Kat goes to London in hopes of learning her
parents’ identities. There she is taken under the wing
of Queen Elizabeth I, and soon a rumor swirls through
court that Kat’s mother is the queen herself. The mystery
of Kat’s past is intertwined with the always-involving
question of whether her heart lies with one of the handsome
rogues at court or with a young farmer back home.
Interspersed with Kat’s first-person narration are passages
from a secret journal, written years before. Though readers
unfamiliar with Tudor history may find themselves lost at times,
particularly in the journal entries, all becomes clear in the
concluding chapters. An author’s note identifies historical
details that inspired the novel. Historical-fiction fans will find
Kat a strong, engaging heroine and her story a compelling one.
Grades 8-12. –Carolyn Phelan

learn more about suzanne : http://suzannecrowley.com

and amazon linky love!

and next is a middle grade book by grace lin, which
like Silver Phoenix utilizes chinese myth and folklore
and features a plucky heroine, minli! the book has received
many accolades including three *starred reviews* and
was also named as one of the top ten sf/fantasy books
for children in booklist–before it was even released!

*Starred Review* In this enchanted and enchanting
adventure, Minli, whose name means “quick thinking,”
lives with her desperately poor parents at the confluence
of Fruitless Mountain and the Jade River. While her mother
worries and complains about their lot, her father brightens
their evenings with storytelling. One day, after a goldfish
salesman promises that his wares will bring good luck, Minli
spends one of her only two coins in an effort to help her family.
After her mother ridicules what she believes to be a foolish
purchase, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon,
who, it is told, may impart the true secret to good fortune.
Along the way, she finds excitement, danger, humor, magic,
and wisdom, and she befriends a flightless dragon, a talking fish,
and other companions and helpmates in her quest. With beautiful
language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical
land. Stories, drawn from a rich history of Chinese folktales, weave
throughout her narrative, deepening the sense of both the
characters and the setting and smoothly furthering the plot.
Children will embrace this accessible, timeless story about the
evil of greed and the joy of gratitude. Lin’s own full-color drawings
open each chapter. Grades 3-6. –Andrew Medlar

grace is running many fun book release activities
on her blog as well as facebook fan page!

amazon linky love!

ALSO ello is running a contest to win a copy of
grace’s book. you just need to link to the contest
as i do here or mention in a blog comment!!

congrats to both suzanne and grace on their
book releases!!