KINGDOM FROM ASHES Book Blitz!

Kingdom from Ashes (Kingdom Saga #1)
By: Megan Linski
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 1st 2015
Gryfyn Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:
Princess Bennua is to be married. The daughter of a sultan, her duty is to marry a powerful yet cruel warlord to be her husband, sealing an alliance that will scare the desert of Sahrahn into submission. But the wedding is halted in place when the infamous Raider Prince, king of thieves and leader of the dark city Ashana, threatens to take her city by force.

Sacrificing her freedom for her country, Bennua agrees to accompany the Raider Prince on his
travels if he leaves her homeland alone. Stolen from her charmed life Bennua begins to learn the
truth of what lies beyond the palace walls and the suffering that plagues Sahrahn’s people. Bennua begins to plan her escape, but the more she learns from the thieves the more she finds herself becoming one of the them...all while falling hard for their leader, the Raider Prince himself.

Add to Goodreads

Fallen from Ashes (The Kingdom Saga #2) on Goodreads
Redemption from Ashes (The Kingdom Saga #3) on Goodreads
Prince of Fire (The Kingdom Saga #4) on Goodreads

Kingdom from Ashes is now PERMAFREE!

Buy Link:
Amazon

From May 2nd to May 13th, the following sales will be held!
Fallen from Ashes (The Kingdom Saga #2) – Buy for $1.99!
Redemption from Ashes (The Kingdom Saga #3) – Buy for $3.99!
Prince of Fire (The Kingdom Saga #4) – Buy for $3.99!

About the Author:
Megan Linski is the owner of Gryfyn Publishing and has had a passion for writing ever since she completed her first (short) novel at the age of 6. Her specializations are romance, fantasy, and contemporary fiction for people aged 14-24. When not writing she enjoys ice skating, horse riding, theatre, archery, fishing, and being outdoors. She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and is an active fighter against common variable immune deficiency disorder. She lives in Michigan.

Author Links:
Website│Twitter│Facebook│Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:

A Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

BRIGHT BLAZE OF MAGIC by Jennifer Estep

Rating: A-
Synopsis:
Bad Things Always Come In Threes…

As a thief, I'm good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls.


Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families--and kill every last Sinclair. What they don't know is that I'm on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I've got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side…

My thoughts on the book:
I really loved this series, and the final installment, Bright Blaze of Magic did not disappoint. Estep really delivered with the character development, action-packed plot, and emotional moments. Everything I loved about the first two books was present in this novel as well. Lila was a terrific narrator, and the ending tied things up very nicely. This was an excellent end to the series.

Lila grew so much in this final installment, and I was so proud of her. Yea, I know she's not real, but I felt like a proud mother with all of the accomplishments she made. She's one of those characters you can't help but root for, and she just grew up a lot. I felt like we got to see a different side of Devon in this book, too, and I enjoyed getting to know him better. Learning more about Serena and Seleste's past was very interesting as well, and I absolutely adored Deah in this installment. She was so strong.

The pacing for the book was a bit slow for me. Yes, there was a lot of action, but there wasn't really a big reveal or plot twist. Sure, I was worried about who would win battles and whatever, but past that, there wasn't a lot going on to make me have a feeling of suspense. I was kept interested because the characters were evolving so much, and there was a lot of stuff going on. However, I just didn't feel a sense of urgency in this book. The writing was well done. Estep is great with descriptions, and she painted wonderful pictures of the scenery in Cloudburst Falls. The ending was perfect, and I couldn't be happier with it.

Overall, I'd recommend this book and series to anyone who is looking for a good Urban Fantasy YA novel with some real emotions behind it. The characters are easy to connect to, and Estep's ideas of Talents and a tourist town filled with actual magical beings is too intriguing to pass up.

Disney Group's Amazing Events at BEA!

DISNEY PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE BRINGS BESTSELLING AUTHORS AND TITLES TO BOOK EXPO AMERICA 2016

WHAT: Disney’s presence at Book Expo America and BookCon 2016 is stronger than ever with a powerhouse lineup of bestselling authors and titles. Throughout the Expo, guests can attend panels and events featuring Disney Publishing Worldwide’s (DPW) authors and participate in a variety of activities in the booth space, including author signings and promotional giveaways. There will also be photo, video and interview opportunities at Disney Booth #2117.

WHO: Disney Booth #2117 will feature content tied to Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel brands, as well as a variety of imprints. In addition, select Disney Publishing Worldwide authors will participate in panels, events, and signings. The following authors will also be available for interviews including, New York Times bestselling authors Eoin Colfer(Iron Man: Gauntlet), Mo Willems (Elephant & Piggie series), Melissa de la Cruz (Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel), Alexandra Bracken (Wayfarer), Sara Shepard (The Amateurs), Shannon Hale and Dean Hale (Squirrel Girl), as well as fan favorite authors and illustrators like Ryan T. Higgins (Mother Bruce), Matt Cordell (Wish), Ami Polonsky(Threads), Dan Santat (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!: The Cookie Fiasco!), Laurie Keller (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!: We Are Growing!), and Kate Hannigan (Cupcake Cousins).

WHEN:          

DAY 1:            Wednesday, May 11

In-Booth Signing

1:00 – 1:30 PM: Ryan Higgins (Mother Bruce)

Location: DPW Booth #2117

Author Autographing

2:00 – 3:00 PM: Mo Willems (The Thank You Book)

Location: McCormick Center, Autographing Area, Table 3

In-Booth Signing

3:00 – 4:00 PM: Shannon & Dean Hale (Squirrel Girl)

Location: DPW Booth #2117

DAY 2:            Thursday, May 12

In-Booth Signing and Coffee & Pastries Reception

9:30 – 10:30 AM: Mo Willems (Nanette’s Baguette)

Location: DPW Booth #2117

Author Autographing

10:00 – 10:30 AM: Kate Hannigan (Cupcake Cousins: Summer Showers)


Location: McCormick Center, Autographing Area, Table 5

Author Autographing

11:00 AM–12:00 PM: Melissa de la Cruz (Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel)

Location: McCormick Center, Autographing Area, Table 2

In-Booth Signing

1:00 – 2:00 PM: Join Mo Willems and Laurie Keller and Dan Santatfor an event featuring Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! The Cookie Fiascoand We Are Growing!

Location: DPW Booth #2117

In-Booth Signing

2:30 – 3:00 PM: Matthew Reinhart (Frozen Pop-Up)

Location: DPW Booth #2117

In-Booth Signing and Beverage Reception

3:30 – 4:30 PM: Eoin Colfer (Iron Man: Gauntlet)

Location: DPW Booth #2117

DAY 3:            Friday, May 13

Author Autographing

10:00 – 11:00 AM: Alexandra Bracken (Passenger)

Location: McCormick Center, Autographing Area, Table 11

Author Autographing

11:00 – 11:30 AM: Ami Polonsky (Threads)

Location: McCormick Center, Autographing Area, Table 11

Author Autographing

11:30 – 12:00 PM: Matthew Cordell (Wish)

Location: McCormick Center, Autographing Area, Table 5

Authors/Illustrators Speed Dating Lunch

12:15 – 1:45 PM: Join Ami Polonsky for a speed dating lunch with children’s authors and illustrators featuring Threads

Location: W185

In-Booth Signing

1:00 – 2:00 PM: Melissa de la Cruz (Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel)

Location: DPW Booth #2117

Author Event

2:45 – 3:15 PM: Join Mo Willems, Tracey Keevan, Laurie Keller andDan Santat to discuss Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!, The Cookie Fiasco and We Are Growing!

Location: Uptown Stage

ABC/CBC Tea with Children's Authors and Illustrators

3:30 – 4:45 PM: Join Matthew Cordell for a tea with children’s authors and illustrators featuring Leaps and Bounce

Location: W185

In-Booth Signing

3:30 – 4:30 PM: Sara Shepard (The Amateurs)

Location: DPW Booth #2117

DAY 4:            Saturday, May 14

In-Booth Signing

10:30 – 11:30 AM: Alexandra Bracken (Wayfarer)

Location: DPW Book #2117

First Tsum Tsum Prize Drawing for Raffle

12:00 PM

Location: DPW Booth #2117

Author Panel

12:30 – 1:30 PM: Alexandra Bracken (Passenger) with Sara J. Maasand Susan Dennard

Location: Room W470

Author Panel

1:30 – 2:30 PM: Melissa de la Cruz (Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel) with Danielle Page and Kami Garcia

Location: Room W475

In-Booth Pre-Sale/Signing

3:00 – 4:00 PM: Pre-sale event for Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel with Melissa de la Cruz

Location: DPW Booth #2117

Second Tsum Tsum Prize Drawing for Raffle

4:30 PM

Location: DPW Booth #2117

WHERE:        Book Expo America

Disney Booth #2117

McCormick Place

2301 S Lake Shore Drive

Chicago, IL 60616

ABOUT DISNEY PUBLISHING WORLDWIDE

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world's largest publisher of children's books, magazines, and apps, igniting imagination through storytelling in ever-inventive ways. DPW creates and publishes books and magazines both vertically in-house and through an extensive worldwide licensing structure. As a leader in digital products, DPW creates best-selling eBook titles and best-in-class original apps. DPW is also committed to the educational development of children around the world through Disney Learning, which includes Disney Imagicademy, as well as Disney English and other Disney-themed learning products. Headquartered in Glendale, California, DPW publishes books, magazines and digital products in 68 countries in more than 50 languages. For more information, visit www.disneypublishing.com

Follow @DisneyHyperion for up-to-date info on our booth and author activities.

Chronicle Book Events at BEA!

Books you won’t want to miss! Ask to see advances or an ARC!

They All Saw a Cat

By Brendan Wenzel

September 2016

“A joyous exploration of perspective... A perfect picture book!” —Laura Vaccaro Seeger, Caldecott Honor winning illustrator of Green

“A beautiful book about both perception and the natural world.” —Lane Smith author/illustrator ofThere Is a Tribe of Kids

“Visual storytelling at its best.” — Christian Robinson, Caldecott Honor winning illustrator of Last Stop on Market Street

"In my 20 years as a librarian and a bookseller, I have rarely seen a picture book as clever and full of depth "—Cathy Berner, bookseller, Blue Willow Books, Houston, Texas.

Hundred Percent

By Karen Romano Young

August 2016

“A brilliant and irresistible book about the sharp pains and joys of real life. Karen Romano Young is a writer like no other. She always finds the truest, most interesting paths to the heart.”—Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award–winning author of When You Reach Me

“Karen Romano Young must be twelve. There’s no other way she can possibly know what she knows about sixth grade in all its weirdness and glory.  Seen and felt and conveyed with unbelievable freshness and acuity, Hundred Percent handily performs the almost-impossible feat of offering its readers a mirror to their lives without gloom or condescension.”—Annie Barrows, New York Times bestselling author of the Ivy & Bean series

“Karen Romano Young has an unerring feel for the shifting alliances and uncomfortable intrigues of sixth graders. The voices are unique and the dialogue sparkles. Your heart will crack open as the cast of characters tries on one personality after the other, hoping to find the one that fits.” —Ellen Wittlinger, Printz Honor–winning author of Hard Love

Bunny Slopes

By Claudia Rueda

October 2016

The Wish Tree

By Kyo Maclear

Illustrated by Chris Turnham

October 2016

Loving vs. Virginia

By Patricia Hruby Powell

Illustrated by Shada Strickland

February 2017

Other goings-on at the booth are detailed below my signature. Please let me know if I can provide review copies or be of any further help.

Thank you for all you do to connect readers with great books! Have fun in Chicago!

All my best,

-Lara

Lara Starr | Senior Publicist | 415.537.4326| lara_starr@chroniclebooks.com

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+  | Tumblr | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube 

Chronicle tote bag give-aways:

·         Wed: 1:00

·         Thursday: 9:00 and  noon

·         Friday: 9:00  and noon

BEA Events / author signings:

Wednesday, May 11^th

2:00PM Booth Signing: Aaron Reynolds

o    100 free copies of President Squid

Thursday, May 12th

    10:00AM Booth Signing: Brendan Wenzel

o    posters for They All Saw a Cat

Friday, May 13^th

    10:00AM Booth Signing: Hervé Tullet

o    50 free copies of NYT Bestseller Press Here and 100 free copies of Let’s Play

Giveaways:

From our children’s list:

·         10^th anniversary Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows posters

·         Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker posters

·         Flora and the Flamingo, Flora and the Penguin, and Flora and the Peacocks by Molly Idle posters

BookCon events:

·         Coloring Station: we’ll be providing coloring supplies and postcards featuring artwork from the bestselling Fantastic Cities, a coloring book of artist Steve McDonald’s detailed line drawings of cityscapes from around the world. There will also be plenty of coloring books available for purchase

·         A photo opportunity with the adorable Tiny Cat, the sweetest and smallest pet around!

·         Game table: Come challenge our Game Master to one of our newly released games. Winners will walk away with a free 2016 Chronicle Books tote bag.

BookCon give-aways

·         Pharos Gate by Nick Bantock postcards

·         642 postcards

·         Happiness Is. . . by Lisa Swerling and Ralph Lazar buttons

·         Let’s Play by Hervé Tullet door hangers

·         The Doorway and The Deep by K.E. Ormsbee bookmarks

·         Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherry Duskey Rinker posters

·         We Need Diverse Books posters

We will also have the following raffles:

·         Win a set of all 10 copies of Ivy and Bean, signed

·         Win a set of our newest mindfulness and wellness books

·         Win a set of our 642 series and Happiness Is. . . series

Cornell Lab Publishing Group Takes Flight at BEA!

BEA: Booth 2163A

BOOKCON: Booth 2164

Web links:

www.cornelllabpg.com

persnickety-press.com

THE CORNELL LAB PUBLISHING GROUP TAKES FLIGHT

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the world-renowned scientific authority on birds, commemorated its 100-year anniversary with the founding of the Cornell Lab Publishing Group. The Cornell Lab advances scientific discoveries and inspires and engages more than 20 million people each year to connect with birds and the natural world. The Lab offers live webcams, cutting-edge bird identification apps, school programs, and participatory citizen- science programs aimed at nature enthusiasts, including more than 80 million Americans who enjoy, observe, photograph, or feed wild birds (USA Today, March 2014); the fastest new growth segment is youth.

“This new trade publishing initiative furthers the Cornell Lab’s mission of nurturing new generations in the appreciation and care of birds, setting the stage for environmental custodianship,” says John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Cornell Lab. Adds Brian Scott Sockin, author and CEO / Publisher of the Cornell Lab Publishing Group, “Birds resonate with people of all ages because they offer an instant portal to the natural world, fascinating and readily accessible. Our goal is to create emotional connections between people and nature through birds, whether that inspiration turns to lifelong birding as it often does, or simply to make them aware and more tuned to nature. Our tools are those of the trade, but also steeped in real science packaged in the most appealing ways—insightful storytelling, stunning illustration and photography, and fun, engaging activities. After all, ‘science is the new cool,’ and we’re all over this.”

The Cornell Lab Publishing Group begins rolling out releases in Spring 2016, kicking off with the second edition of Oprah-selected Don Kroodma’s Backyard Birdsong Guides (4/13/16). This will be followed by the first in an exclusive children’s book series by New York Times bestselling children’s author Jane Yolen, On Bird Hill (5/10/16), and an interactive tween journal filled with crazy and fun activities, Bird Brainiacs (5/10/16). Dovetailing spring releases, the publishing group marries birding to adult coloring book uptrends with the release of two upscale adult coloring books. The first, Birds of Paradise: A Coloring Expedition, is based on the world-renowned Birds-of-Paradise expedition by the original team leader, Edwin Scholes, and National Geographic photographer Tim Laman, the explorers behind one of the mostly highly-lauded sets of nature film clips on YouTube (more than 12 million views). The second, America’s Favorite Birds: 40 Beautiful Birds to Color, includes lavishly detailed drawings of birds selected by more than 250,000 votes from birders across North America.

“Through this imprint, we are greatly expanding the scope of the Cornell Lab’s existing publishing efforts to include fiction and non-fiction family and children’s book offerings. This natural extension of the Lab’s history of sharing science with the public is an exciting endeavor for me professionally and personally, as well as for our entire team,” shares Sockin. “The response from booksellers, educators, and librarians about our Spring and Fall 2016 titles has been warm and welcoming, and we look forward to continuing to create high quality books for children and families that encourage a love of birds and appreciation for nature.”

Books are distributed by Legato Publishers Group, a division of the Perseus Books Group. “The Cornell Lab Publishing Group has been a wonderful addition to our family of publishers, and we are proud to see titles that entertain and delight with gold standard science behind them,” says Jeff Tegge, President of Legato.

“Giving back is an essential element of the imprint and we are making every book sale count,” shares Sockin. In fact, a full 25% of the net proceeds from every Cornell Lab Publishing Group book purchase will support projects such as children’s educational and community programs, examples of these programs which include: the BirdSleuth K-12 curriculum used in classrooms across the hemisphere; Celebrate Urban Birds, which has worked with 9,000 community-based organizations, 88% of which reach underserved audiences; and Bird Cams, which brings live, close-up views of birds to millions into classrooms and homes around the world.

About the Cornell Lab:

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds. Our hallmarks are scientific excellence and technological innovation to advance the understanding of nature and to engage people of all ages in learning about birds and protecting the planet. birds.cornell.edu

IncrediBuilds:Sneak Peek at BEA!

INCREDIBUILDS, A NEW 3D MODEL LINE,

LAUNCHES AT RETAIL JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER

--MULTIMEDIA PUBLISHING COMPANY, INSIGHT EDITIONS,

TAKES LEAP INTO THE TOY AISLE--

San Rafael, California (May, 3 2016): Multimedia publisher Insight Editions is launching a new line of 3D wood models and educational guidebooks called IncrediBuilds. Available at leading retailers, including Barnes & Noble, this new innovative building line includes a wide variety of assemble-it-yourself, customizable, freestanding 3D wood models and companion books and booklets that features some of today’s hottest characters, monuments, and animals. Composed of Earth-friendly FSC-certified wood, IncrediBuilds also offer an eco-friendly building alternative that doesn’t require glue or cumbersome tools and is easy to color and customize, resulting in artwork ideal for display.
“The IncrediBuilds line builds off of our experience in creating engaging and visually immersive experiences beyond publishing with the launch of a crafting line that stimulates creativity, imagination, and learning,” says Raoul Goff, Publisher and CEO. “We’ve developed a quality product that opens the door to a greater, more creative world for those young and old. By encouraging kids to explore, design, and build, IncrediBuilds also helps foster an early love of STEAM.”

Crafts and activities offered with a line like IncrediBuilds that reinforces Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) help prepare kids for the real world by building important spatial, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. IncrediBuilds also encourages children to express their artistic side. “Parents feel good about activities that support STEAM, such as the IncrediBuilds, because they recognize the developmental benefits of the product,” Raoul Goff, Publisher and CEO, adds.

Children, adults, and hobby-enthusiasts can construct their own IncrediBuilds alone or with friends, making them the perfect rainy day or party activity. No glue or tools are necessary to build the unique models, and each set comes with instructions and decorating tips.For added value, some sets also feature a deluxe hardcover book filled with fun facts, full color illustrations, and coloring and crafting ideas for customization.
IncrediBuilds will be available July 2016 at  nationwide at leading retailers including Barnes & Noble, ranging in price from $14.99 to $19.99). For more information about the line, please visit http://www.IncrediBuilds.com or follow/like us on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IncrediBuilds
Twitter: @Incredi_Builds

 About Insight Editions
Insight Editions celebrates cultural milestones in film and television, gaming, music, art, comics, and sports through immersive and imaginatively designed books, collectibles, journals, scrapbooks, and other innovative offerings. By combining the highest quality production values with the time-honored traditions of publishing rich subject matter, Insight Editions is committed to creating unique products that offer readers engaging new ways to experience their favorite films, games, or artists. Beautifully designed and informative, products from Insight allow fans to learn and use their imagination to create and expand beyond familiar worlds. In 2016, Insight Editions launched IncrediBuilds, a 3D wooden modeling line that features some of today’s most popular characters, monuments, and animals.

Book Expo America Coverage

To all my wonderful readers:

Are you looking for 2016 BEA coverage? Then look no further! Fall Into Books will be at BEA, covering the entire expo. I will sit down with publishers, authors, and maybe even a few other book bloggers, in order to let you guys know about the newest trends in the book world. I am so excited to get this opportunity, and I can't wait to share everything I learn with you all. If there are any types of content or any people/groups/companies you'd like to know more about, please comment here and let me know. I'll do my best to get you the information you asked for! Also, there will be a giant giveaway after the Expo is done, so stay tuned for that! For those of you who are also attending BEA, I hope to meet you there!