Review of Jo-Kin VS Lord Terra, A Children's Book by Award-winning Author Karen Tyrrell

MEET Karen Tyrrell, award winning children’s resilience author.  Karen launches her second book in the Super Space Kids series, Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra, an action-packed FUN space adventure for kids 7-12 … into the cosmos.

Jo-Kin Battles the It  and Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra (Super Space Kids) are out NOW on Amazon and in book shops across the galaxy.

Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra

“Reluctant hero, Jo-Kin never wanted to be a Super Space Kid. Not until Lord Terra kidnaps his Commander’s little sister and starts destroying the galaxy. Jo-Kin reunites the mighty Super Space Kids for an inter-planetary hunt for Lord Terra, finally meeting in a legendary winner takes all battle on Planet Deelish-us.

Can Jo-Kin defeat the all-powerful Lord Terra?

Blast off with gadgets, robots and funky food in a hilarious outer space adventure that empowers you via teamwork, problem solving, and resilience. 

My Review of Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra

Recently I was given the pleasure of reading Karen Tyrrell's latest children's book Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra. Here is my review of this fun, action-packed book:

Once upon a time, Josh Atkins was a computer geek and science nerd. But not anymore. Now Josh Atkins is cool and life at Sunny Hills School is awesome.

So Josh isn’t thrilled to see the teenage leader of Super Space Kids, Commander Nova, turn up at his school. And the reason for Nova’s visit is bad news for everyone: You have to help save the junior Super Space Kids and stop Lord Terra from destroying planet X. If you don’t, he’ll be on his way to planet Earth to destroy us as well.

Josh, code-named Jo-Kin, has a horrible feeling that he and his partner Sam, code-named Sam-Wich, can’t win this battle against Lord Terra. But what do you do when the world is counting on you?

You have an accident and break your arm. At least that is what Sam-Wich does.

Could this situation get any worse?

Yes, because Jo-Kin needs a new partner and is teamed up with his archenemy Mitch.

Not an auspicious start to a mission to save planet Earth. Looks like we’re all doomed.

What follows is an exciting and fun adventure, full of danger, spaceships, gadgets, robots and aliens. Luckily for us, this wonderful novel reveals the power of teamwork, problem solving and resilience. Otherwise, planet Earth might not be here today and then you wouldn’t be reading this review. 

Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra is perfect for middle grade readers aged 7 to 10 years. Kids will love the adventure which is sometimes fun and sometimes full of danger, suspense and ugly aliens. This big kid loved it. The characters are great. I felt like I knew them, as if I was part of their team. Plus, the action and humor make this book an enjoyable read. I highly recommend Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra to all the kids in the universe, big or small.

Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra is the latest release from award-winning author-teacher Karen Tyrrell and is book 2 in the Super Space Kids series. There are more adventures to come. Yes, Josh Atkins, life is awesome.

Please connect with Karen Tyrrell here:

Website Facebook  Twitter

Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra Blog Tour 23 May–I June

To celebrate Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra  launch Karen is hosting Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra Blog Tour and Book Giveaway. Co-hosts will share out-of-this-world book reviews, interviews and blog posts.

Karen will zoom away signed copies of her book Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra and galactic prizes via the websites below. Please leave a comment on the websites to WIN.

23 May 2016

Amazon Launch & Book Reviews
http://www.karentyrrell.com

24 May 2016
Writing Kids Humour, Melissa Wray
http://melissawray.blogspot.com.au

25 May 2016
Creating a Hero Character, Alison Stegert
https://ali-stegert.com

26 May 2016
Creating Teacher Resources, Romi Sharp
http://www.justkidslit.com

27 May 2016
Book Review, Robyn Opie Parnell
http://robynopie.blogspot.com.au

30 May 2016
Book Review, Jill Smith
https://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com

31 May 2016
Creating Themes in Kids Books, Kate Foster
http://www.katejfoster.com/blog

1 June 2016
Illustrate a Children’s Novel, June Perkins 

https://gumbootspearlz.org

Book Giveaway

WIN two signed copies of Jo-Kin vs Lord Terra OR 3 eBooks OR signed artwork from illustrator, Trevor Salter.

For a chance to WIN prizes … Just leave a comment on any of the above websites.

REMEMBER: Leaving comments on more than one site, increases your chances to WIN a prize. 

Winners announces on 6 June.  Good luck. 

Please comment below to win prizes.

      

Jo-Kin Battles the It Blog Tour Featuring Children's Author Karen Tyrrell

Karen Tyrrell, author of Jo-Kin Battles the It, celebrates the launch of JO-KIN on Amazon, Goodreads and bookshops via a world tour … Join the FUN and win lots of fabulous prizes.

Jo-Kin Battles the It by Karen Tyrrell

Jo-Kin is not only a FUN space adventure with incredible gadgets, robots, and monsters … AND kids will learn how to become HEROES in their own lives with resilience, teamwork and brain power skills.



Teachers, school counselors and parents gave *5 STAR Reviews over on Amazon HERE

Now check out Karen's Blog Tour and all the TOP authors and writers hosting this event…

Jo-Kin Battles the It Blog Tour

Blog Tour Book Giveaway
https://www.facebook.com/SuperSpaceKids

19 October 2015
Dee White 
http://writingclassesforkids.com

20 October 2015
Di Bates
http://diannedibates.blogspot.com.au 

21 October 2015
Alison Stegert
http://ali-stegert.com
Jackie Hosking 
https://jackiehoskingpio.wordpress.com/

22 October 2015
Georgie Donaghey
http://www.creativekidstales.com.au

23 October 2015
Robyn Opie Parnell
http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au

25 October 2015
Rebecca Sheraton 
http://www.rebeccasheraton.com/blog

26 October 2015
Sandy Fussell
http://www.sandyfussell.com 

27 October 2015
Jill Smith
https://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com/ 
Melissa Wray 
http://melissawray.blogspot.com.au

28 October 2015
June Perkins
http://gumbootspearlz.org 

29 October 2015
Sally Odgers 
http://promotemeplease.blogspot.com.au

30 October 2015
Kate Foster
http://www.katejfoster.com/blog

Win one of two signed copies OR one of four eBooks of Jo-Kin Battles the It OR signed artwork from the illustrator.

To qualify please LIKE Karen’s Super Space Kids book series page on Facebook
AND then leave a comment on any of the Blog stops to win. Good luck

Christmas Gifts Children Will Love For Less Than $3.50

The following covers show a selection of my fiction books available on Amazon Kindle. I write for girls and boys of all ages and interest levels, so you'll find an original story written by me for any child. My books are great Christmas gifts at less than $3.50 each. Please click on the book covers to purchase or find out more about each book.

              

            

             

Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Working With Publishers Is Great But It Doesn't Mean A Publishing Contract

Back in 2006, I worked with Walker Books on a proposed series of fairy books. I wrote the first book, received notes from Walker Books, then went away to edit and rewrite. 

Eventually, after a few months, I emailed Walker Books the revised manuscript for book 1 in my Pru the Fairy series. Unfortunately, by this time, Walker Books had learned that Lothian Books was working on a fairy series. Plus, other fairy series were being published overseas. Walker Books decided not to go ahead with my Pru the Fairy series, with the explanation that the fairy market was saturated. 

The experience of working with Walker Books and receiving notes on my manuscript is priceless. The fact that my series wasn't published is disappointing to put it mildly.

But publishing is full of stories similar to the one above. I will share another. 

In 2007, Lothian Books accepted my children's story The Pony Game for publication in its Giggles series. I was thrilled, again, to put it mildly. After talking to the publisher at Lothian Books, I submitted another manuscript for the Giggles series which the publisher was interested in publishing. Then came the news - The Giggles series was to end, with my book The Pony Game being the final book published in the series.

In spite of the "near misses" which didn't result in publishing contracts, I love working with publishers. The experience for any writer is invaluable. 

Fast forward to 2014...  

Last month, I decided to sell book 1 in my Pru the Fairy series on Amazon Kindle. I sat down to edit Pru Gets Her Fairy Wings and, to my surprise, the book needed very little editing. Obviously the work I did back in 2006 was worthwhile, even if it didn't result in a publishing contract.

I plan to sell book 2 tentatively titled Pru And A Fairy Rescue on Amazon Kindle in the coming months. From there, who knows? 

As writers, we often have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and get on with creating books. Publishing is full of successes and disappointments. I've had plenty of both. All we can do is make lemonade when we're handed lemons.

I'm pleased to see Pru finally out there in the world, rather than hiding away on my computer. Pru Gets Her Fairy Wings is currently available for 99 cents on Amazon Kindle. Please go to the following web page: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q9V2E4O/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_K4hEub00G5NTG

Here's the blurb for Pru Gets Her Fairy Wings: When Pru is kidnapped by her new neighbor, a girl named Laura, she learns the shocking truth. Pru is adopted. Her parents are human. And she is a fairy. Pru has no idea what a fairy is, let alone what it’s like to be one. And what about her real family? Her fairy parents?:

I hope the story of how Pru Gets Her Fairy Wings came to be published on Amazon Kindle inspires you to keep writing and keep persisting. I wish you much success!



 

Snap Magic Blog Tour Starts Next Monday

About Snap Magic

Something weird is going on...very weird. 
Long black hairs keep sprouting from Lily’s chin and her dad is looking more and more like a Yeti. Just what’s behind this fuzz fest? And is Lily really turning into a witch like her neighbor, Mrs Swan?
Now the prettiest and meanest girl in class is threatening to tell the whole school, including the cute new boy. Can Lily put her desperate plan into action before the school bully strikes?
And will the magical solution Mrs Swan offers work?
After all, what’s the worst that could happen?
A bewitchingly funny coming-­‐‑of-­‐‑age story about secrets, bullies and pumpkin soup – ideal for 9-­‐‑12 year olds.

“Snap Magic began while recalling embarrassing tween memories one Sunday morning amidst laughter and aha moments.” Angela Sunde

Edited by Catherine McCredie – former senior editor with Penguin Group Australia, specializing in children’s and young adult books.

About the Author

Angela Sunde is a Gold Coast based author who spent her childhood jumping puddles and climbing trees in her family’s vast orchard. Awarded a May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Fellowship in 2013, Angela is the author of Pond Magic (Penguin Group Australia), and illustrator of The Coral Sea Monster – winner of the Write-­‐‑a-­‐‑Book-­‐‑in-­‐‑a-­‐‑Day Award 2011. Formerly an award-­‐‑winning language and literacy teacher, Angela enjoys helping others uncover the magic and humor in daily life through school and library workshops.
And she can still climb trees…

Angela Sunde is available for interview. Please contact her directly at angelasunde@live.com.au

Blog Tour Details

Monday 13 October
Kids Book Review – Writing a sequel, how the two books are alike and different, working with the same editor
http://www.kids-bookreview.com/

Tuesday 14 October 
Sheryl Gwyther – The pros and cons of independent publishing 
http://sherylgwyther.wordpress.com/

Wednesday 15 October 
Robyn Opie Parnell – Interview about characters and/or themes
http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au/

Karen Tyrell – A book review  
http://www.karentyrrell.com/

Thursday 16 October
Alison Reynolds – Interview about the creative process 
http://www.alisonreynolds.com.au/

Friday 17 October
Chris Bell – Story vs character interview 
http://www.chrisbell.com.au/

Saturday 18 October
Dimity Powell and Boomerang Books – A book review 
http://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com.au/
http://blog.boomerangbooks.com.au/

Sunday 19 October
Sandy Fussell & The Reading Stack – A book review & Questions http://www.sandyfussell.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.thereadingstack.blogspot.com.au/ 

Monday 20 October
Aussiereviews – Meet My Book Interview
http://aussiereviews.com/

Tuesday 21 October
Dee White – 5 tips on writing a sequel you’re independently publishing and a book review
http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com/

November Robyn Opie Parnell – A book review 
http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au/

Big Hug Books Blog Tour With Author Shona Innes - Coming Soon!

Blog Tour Dates:

Mon 14th April
Writing Children's Books with Robyn Opie Parnell
http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com.au/

Tues 15th April
Booktopia
http://blog.booktopia.com.au/

Weds 16th April
Children's Books Daily
http://childrensbooksdaily.com/

Thurs 17th April
Kids Book Review
http://www.kids-bookreview.com/

Fri 18th April
Buzz Words
http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/

If you'd like a sneak peek of the Big Hug Books, please visit the following links:

Big Hug Book - Friendship is Like a Seesaw
http://www.fivemile.com.au/catalog/new-releases/big-hug-book-friendship-seesaw 

Big Hug Book - Life Is Like The Wind
http://www.fivemile.com.au/catalog/new-releases/big-hug-book-life-wind  

I especially like Life Is Like the Wind. 

You'll find out more next Monday. See you then.

Love and Light,
Robyn Opie Parnell

I've Been Tagged!

I remember playing tag when I was a kid. I remember trying to not get tagged. When someone's fingers reached out to tag me, I'd try to get away or try to bend my body so the tagger couldn't touch me. Times have changed. This time, I didn't mind being tagged at all. This time, the kind of tag I’m talking about involves authors sitting at their computers tagging each other to answer 4 questions.

Thank you, Sally Murphy, my lovely and talented writer friend who tagged me. Sally Murphy is an Australian children’s author and poet, who has had thirty books published, including verse novels, picture books and educational titles. You can read Sally's Tagged! post here. 

At the end of my post today, I'll tag two other authors who will answer the same four questions next Monday. Then they'll tag two or three more authors. And so on...

Thanks again, Sally, for tagging me. Good luck with your books and work in progress (historical novel for upper primary aged readers). See I read your post!

Now it's my turn to answer the questions. 

Q1: What am I working on?

This blog post. Seriously, I'm always working on something. Last Friday, I finished editing a chapter book for children aged 7+. As far as I'm concerned the story is ready for submission. But first I want to read the story through from start to finish to make sure it is really ready for submission. I want to check for any previously unnoticed typos or errors. Sometimes typos or errors sneak through from draft to draft because we have a tendency to read what we think is there, rather than what is actually there. I hope to spot any mistake. I also want to make sure I'm absolutely happy with the story. Then, I'll submit the manuscript to a publisher. 

I confess that this manuscript is my silliest story and one of my favorites. It's fun, humorous, action-packed... After all, the title is My Mum's An Apple. I will self-publish this story with illustrations through Amazon Kindle if a publisher doesn't bite. One way or another, Noah will declare to the world, My Mum's An Apple. 

After that, I'll probably submit a picture book to a publisher. Then... Who knows? 

Q2: How does my work differ from others in its genre?

Most people aren't mad enough to write a children's book called My Mum's An Apple.

My crazy sense of humor makes some of my work different. Best Book Ever and Best Joke Ever are both humorous stories. Firstly, I write for my own fun. I don't mean to sound selfish. I'm not. I believe if I write for my own fun, if I enjoy a story, my readers will enjoy the story too.

At other times, I can be quite serious in a book, like with Maya and the Crystal Skull. My Maya series includes many of my interests, such as spiritualism, quantum physics and the Ancient Maya.

All of my main characters are a bit like me. All of my main characters draw from my experience. Best Joke Ever is based on a true event, which involved my two brothers. Like all authors, what makes me different is me. I am what I bring to a story. I am what makes my stories different. There is no one else quite like me. 

Q3: Why do I write what I write?

I write to instil a love of reading in children. If children grow up to love reading, at any time during their lives, they will be able to escape into books and be happy. That's why I like to write humorous stories. I want to create fun, joy, happiness.

I also write to make the world a better place. My stories are always positive. At least with my books, I only add positive energy to the world. For example, in my books, I promote a love of animals and the environment, good always wins, and my characters learn and grow. Children can learn new things from my books. (So can adults too.) Most importantly, my stories are fun, entertaining, interesting. 

You'll have to read my books to find out more. If I keep explaining here, this could be a very long post. 

Q4: How does my writing process work?

Every story starts with an idea. So an idea pops into my head. I think about the idea for a while to see if the idea inspires a story. At this stage, I don't sit down to write. I let my mind mull over the idea until, like magic, my mind gives me skeletons of the characters and plot. 

With longer stories, like Maya and the Crystal Skull and Maya and the Daring Heist, I sat down and plotted the entire stories before I began to write the novels. Maya and the Crystal Skull was my first attempt at a long novel, around 40,000 words. I plotted first to make sure I would be able to complete a full length novel. Plotting first also meant that I wrote the first draft of Maya and the Crystal Skull in 6 weeks. I never got stuck. I always knew where I was going. 

Every morning, I have a cup of tea, then I meditate for 30 minutes. After meditation, I make another cup of tea and sit down to start writing. By this time, it's about 8.30 am. I usually write until lunch time. Some days, I continue until about 2 pm. The rest of my day is spent on emails, social media, promoting, marketing, housework and other chores. 

I hope you enjoyed my answers. I enjoyed being involved in this game of tag. Now I get to tag three other authors, who’ll answer the same four questions next Monday. I'm looking forward to reading their answers. I love to learn about other writers, how they come up with their ideas, how they work and so forth.      

Firstly, I'm tagging DC Green, who is the funny, brilliant author of Monster School. I had the privilege of assessing/editing Monster School and I loved it from the first word to the last. Thankfully, DC is currently writing the second book in the series, so the last word won't actually be the last. Okay, let's get back to DC.

Surf journalist DC Green has won multiple big awards, had thousands of articles published in over forty countries and roamed the world’s greatest surf spots with the likes of eleven-times world champion, Kelly Slater. Children’s author DC Green has won two very small awards, had six children’s novels published in one country and Kelly Slater no longer returns his calls. His latest novel, Monster School, has been described as ‘Hogwarts for monsters’, ‘gloriously grotesque’ and ‘hilarious’. It features a vampire with attitude, a socially-challenged zombie and a giant spider called Bruce! 

For more DC stuff, check out: www.dcgreenyarns.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/DCGreenAuthor.

Secondly, but only because of alphabetical order, is Karen Tyrrell, the amazing, talented author of Bailey Beats the Blah. Karen is an inspiration. She turned a bad experience in her life into a golden opportunity to fulfill her dream of being an author. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade. So, with no further ado, I'm tagging Karen Tyrrell.

 

Karen Tyrrell, award-winning Brisbane author is passionate about mental health for kids and grown-ups. In a previous life Karen taught primary school both in Sydney and Brisbane including Gifted & Talented classes. Now Karen goes out to schools and libraries as an author-teacher delivering interactive pantomimes, story-telling sessions and creative writing workshops. Karen has appeared on TV and ABC radio.
 

Her picture book, Bailey Beats the Blah (2013) won ★★★★★ reviews from child psychologists, mental health CEOs and school counselors. Karen’s junior novel empowers kids with resilience skills, launches in May, 2014.
 

Download FREE kids activities and teacher notes from www.karentyrrell.com

Next Monday, DC and Karen will be answering the same four questions and tagging more authors. But, for now, I wish everyone a wonderful week. May your week be filled with much love and blessings.

Out now!
Robyn's #1 best-seller Show Don't Tell: The Ultimate Writers' Guide

Best Book Ever - A 5-Star Review From Vickianne Caswell

Best Book Ever written by Robyn Opie Parnell  

Synopsis: Sam hates to read. She hates books. Unfortunately for Sam, her family are bookworms, her mom writes children's books and her teacher thinks reading is important. Every day is a battle for Sam to avoid reading and to keep her secret. Life gets so bad, Sam is ready to move to Antarctica. Instead, Sam is about to have the most embarrassing experience of her life. Will she survive?  

Review: The story is about a girl who comes from a family of readers, though she is not one of them. Her mother is an author and while some children would be proud, she finds it embarrassing. The book helps show the reader that just because they have a disability, it doesn't mean they need to be embarrassed. The story is well-written, humorous in many spots and in the point of view of the teenage character. Her dog Hound is also a huge delight and does a great job supporting her as comic relief with his affliction. There were some parts in the story that I did not see coming and they were hilarious! My daughter could not stop laughing throughout the book and it was hard to put the book down. We look forward to reading more of the author's stories and hope they are just as much of a delight as this one was. 

5 Star Review

Please visit Vickianne's website to read the original review - http://vickianne-caswell.weebly.com/7/post/2013/11/best-book-ever-written-by-robyn-opie-parnell.html 

Best Book Ever can be purchased from Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Best-Book-Ever-Robyn-Parnell-ebook/dp/B0071642I2

Thank you for the great review, Vickianne.

Interview with Goldie Alexander Part One

Goldie Alexander has authored 75+ books for adult and young readers of all ages. In the following interview, Goldie talks about her latest two novels for readers aged 9 to 12 Neptunia and Cybertricks 2043, and the junior novel Gallipoli Medals.

Q. You are in the unusual position of having three books out at the same time. How did this happen? 

It was just one of those extraordinary co-incidences. I had written the first drafts of Cybertricks 2043 and Neptunia some time ago. No publisher picked them up, possibly because at that time they were interested in reality fiction. In 2012 when Roger Furness of Five Senses Publications picked up The Youngest Cameleer and then eSide: A Journey through Cyberspace he also took my next two novels.

Gallipoli Medals is published by the Anzac Society. This junior novel was intended to come out three years ago, but the lady who looked after the publishing side of the company died and the project was put on hold. 

I think these stories should inspire anyone who has a text presently rejected not to lose heart. Of course, when I resubmitted, after such a stretch of time, I was able to edit and rework.

Q. How did these ideas form and grow? What inspires your stories?

Most of my ideas come from what I read, what is happening around me, movies and TV, conversations I listen to on trams and trains, my own grandchildren and what children suggest when I visit schools. I am a magpie who uses everything I come across as "grist for my mill". I try to write stories that I would have enjoyed reading when I was the same age.
 
Here is something about these latest books. 

Neptunia: Cassie Georgiana Odysseos has the potential to become an Olympic swimmer. However, after her parents separate, her training is interrupted when she and her little brother Timmy are sent to live with elderly Mike and Peg Calypso in Ithaca, a small country town without a training pool. Asked to deliver an important message to the underwater city of Neptunia, Cassie must use all her strength, strategy and spirit to survive a marathon swim. But can she overcome King Neptune’s terrifying obstacles?
 
Cybertrick 2043: It is 120,43 AD, and Pya, Zumie, Jafet and Trist live in tiny Cells cared for by tutor-holos only able to communicate via an avatar. Pya narrates how the giant computer ComCen sends their actual bodies back to the mid 21st Century where they meet Rio and Charlie. But if they manage to survive in an increasingly dangerous world, can they also achieve Independence and Cooperation?
 
Gallipoli Medals: Major Peter Romsey contacts Jaxson’s dad to ask if some medals he found in an op shop could possibly belong to the Donoghue family. Intrigued by the story of his great, great uncle being part of the Great War, and what happened to him after that, Jaxson reads about Gallipoli. As a result his close friendship with Abi wavers. Even if this conflict took place ninety odd years ago, Abi’s family are Turkish. Does this make Abi his enemy?

I am also interested in what I perceive as the two important issues for our times - climate warming and tyranny. I believe that food is children’s sex, and what my protagonists eat become symbols of the strange worlds they enter.

Q. Your characters are strong and resourceful. You always have girls in powerful, leading roles, regardless of age. Is the female protagonist a preference of yours? If so, why?
 
In The Youngest Cameleer I am writing as a 14 year old Muslim boy. Killer Virus and Other Stories has ten varied stories about boys, all aged 13. Space Footy and Other Stories has ten stories about boys aged 12. I use the gender that best suits a situation. However, my four Dolly Fictions, which is where I got started, demanded strong resourceful females, and I think that concept has stayed with me. However, Gallipoli Medals is all about boys. Cybertrix 2043 features the "Hatchlings" two girls and two boys: Pia, Zumie, Jafet and Trist.

Q. Your novels are character driven. How easy/difficult is it to create characters who carry the whole story?

Creating characters is the most important element of a story. Once a writer has established a character’s likes, dislikes, his or her settings, conflicts and needs, the plot is almost written for you. Can I give some examples from my own work?
 
In Neptunia, Cassie Georgina Odysseos aims to be an Olympic swimmer, and is thwarted by her circumstances. She has to undergo a number of physical and mental trials to be proved worthy of the task.

In Cybertrix 2043, the "Hatchlings" must undergo amazingly difficult adventures before they achieve the desired Independence and Cooperation.

In Gallipoli Medals, Jaxson has to understand what happened to Great Great Uncle Jack in WW1 and overcome his own misgivings about Abi before he can resume their friendship.

Q. Adventure, personal challenges, mystery and suspense fill your writing, while your themes are many and varied. How do you choose what you are going to write about?

I move between adult, young adult and books for younger readers, and I try to vary them so I won’t get bored. I choose themes that will involve a particular reading level. 

For example, my latest YA novel Dessi’s Romance (www.indra.com) concentrates on issues that interest 18 year old teenage girls. In my forthcoming verse novel In Hades, which will appear late next year from Celapene Books, the issues are perhaps more profound, as my hero and heroine are already dead. I suppose I am looking at "lives not so well lived", looking at remorse, love and redemption. This manuscript is based on Homer’s Odyssey which is also the basis of Neptunia. Though Cybertricks 2043 is set in a dismal future, the adventures my four youngsters go through are very scary. I get stuck on an idea and there’s no rest until I carry it through. I sometimes wonder what I would do if I didn’t write. The thought is too horrible to contemplate.

Part Two of this interview will be uploaded tomorrow. Please come back for more. See you soon.

Interviewing Robyn Opie Parnell

The following excerpt is taken from an interview conducted by Vickianne Caswell. Thank you, Vickianne, for interviewing me and allowing me to reprint this excerpt on my blog. Please CLICK HERE to read the original interview on Vickianne's website.

Today's interview is with children's author, Robyn Opie Parnell. Robyn also goes by the name Robyn Opie. Robyn has published many books. You will find a small list of them below as there are currently 90 books in publication. Robyn's writing career consists of writing children's books (both fiction and non-fiction) and family screenplays. Robyn currently lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

Vickianne: What inspired you to start writing?

Robyn: When I was fifteen, my English teacher gave me an A for every essay I wrote. One day, as he handed me back an essay, he said, “You should be a writer.” At the time, I hadn’t given any thought to people writing books. I only thought about the characters and the stories. Thanks to my English teacher I realized I, too, could write a book. So I did!

Vickianne: Tell me a little bit about you, in brief.

Robyn: I’m the author of 90 published books, most of which are children’s books. From 1994, I spent about five years reading every book I could find on writing children’s books. I also did two courses, one on picture books and the other on writing for children. My first three children’s books, Jen Stays Inside, People Need Trucks and My Bike were published in 1999 by Macmillan Education. Three of my homework assignments – three short chapter books – which I completed for the writing for children course were published by Macmillan Education in 2000. Nowadays, I have a strong interest in spiritualism. In 2010, I had my first experiences as a psychic medium. Yes, I can talk to dead people. I’m the Treasurer of the Spiritual Mission of Noarlunga Inc. On a personal note, I’m married to writer/composer/director Rob Parnell.

Vickianne: Tell me a bit about your latest book: 

Robyn: Technically, my latest book is The Easy Way To Write Picture Books That Sell. Hopefully the title says it all. My latest fiction book is Best Team Wins, a humorous story about who's best at cricket: the boys or the girls!

Ella stops to watch a group of boys play cricket. She asks if she can join in their game. They react as if she's a zombie asking to join the church choir! According to the boys, girls can't play cricket. Ella will ruin their game. The boys' comments make Ella so cross that she agrees to a boys versus girls cricket match. But there's a big problem. Ella doesn't have a cricket team. She has to find a team by the end of the week – a team good enough to beat the boys! Again Ella encounters a big problem. She can't find other girls who play cricket. She has to teach the girls and turn them into cricket stars in time to beat the boys. Ella faces another problem. Her team is one player short. Who will she get to fill the gap? Her friend Madison? Her Aunt Anna? Jessie the dog? Don't be silly, dogs can't play cricket! On the big day, the best team wins... Is it the boys' team? Is it the girls' team? Who is the secret weapon?

Vickianne: Tell me more about your love for animals and the pets that you have now.

Robyn: I have a dog named Wally and a cat named Ludo. They are both 14 months old. There are photos of Wally and Ludo on my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/robyn.opieparnell.3. One of my passions is animals. I support several charities that help animals. People can help themselves but animals are helpless. Animals depend on us. We can destroy animals and their habitats, or we can protect animals and their habitats. Animals can’t speak for themselves. Animals can’t fight for their rights. It’s really up to us.

Vickianne: Tell me more about your love for sports and what brought on the interest for each of these?

Please CLICK HERE tor read the rest of the interview.

Interview With Award-Winning Author, Publisher And Martial Arts Expert Paul Collins

Paul Collins has written around 150 books and 140 short stories. He is best known for The Quentaris Chronicles (The Spell of Undoing is Book #1 in the new series), which he co-edits with Michael Pryor, The Jelindel Chronicles, The Earthborn Wars and The World of Grrym trilogy in collaboration with Danny Willis. Paul’s latest book is The Only Game in the Galaxy, book three in The Maximus Black Files. A trailer for the series can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S-eKDYqpEs 

The Beckoning is Paul’s first adult novel.

He is also the publisher at Ford Street Publishing.

Paul has been short-listed for many awards and won the Aurealis, William Atheling and the inaugural Peter McNamara awards. He recently received the A Bertram Chandler Award for lifetime achievement in Australian science fiction. He has had two Notable Books in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards.

He has black belts in both ju jitsu and taekwondo – this experience can be seen in many of his books.

And in his spare time, Paul fits in interesting interviews on blogs like this one. So over to the questions...

You’re currently promoting not one but two books. Can you tell us a bit about them?

The Only Game in the Galaxy is book #3 in The Maximus Black Files trilogy.  It’s both a print book and ebook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FDJXF0K

Special Agent Maximus Black excels at everything he attempts. Recruited by the Regis Imperium Mentatis when he was just fifteen, he is the youngest cadet ever to become a RIM agent. Of course, being a certified sociopath helps. He rises quickly through the ranks, doing whatever it takes to gain promotion. This includes murdering the doctor who has certified him, as well as a RIM colonel who Black deems to be more useful dead than alive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S-eKDYqpEs

In the three years Maximus has been with RIM he has only met his match once: Anneke Longshadow, another RIM agent. Every bit his match, Anneke eludes the traps Black sets for her. Born on Normansk, a planet with 1.9 gravity, Anneke is more than capable of defending herself against Black’s hired help, the insectoid Envoy, his professional mercenary and hitman, Kilroy, and a plethora of other bad guys.

Maximus needs to find three sets of lost coordinates to rediscover an armada of powerful and unbeatable dreadnoughts, long since put into mothballs by the sentinels whose job it is to keep peace and harmony in the ever expanding universe.

Power-hungry, Black usurps the throne of Quesada, a powerful crime syndicate. His ultimate aim is to replace the Galaxy gatekeepers, RIM, with his own organization.

Matching him step by step, Anneke collects as her allies all those who Maximus has deposed in his march to becoming ruler of the universe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4tTn_WXCiw

The Beckoning is a horror novel published by Damnation Books. It’s just been released via Amazon http://tinyurl.com/ny6urwy.  I wrote it about 30 years ago and sent it around major publishers. No one was interested in taking it on.

Over the years I typed it up again and saved in onto my first computer. It’s been on 3.5 discs, floppies, CDs, zip drives and USB sticks. I occasionally revised it and tried selling it to no avail. I was reading Buzz Words recently and saw that Damnation Books was open to submissions. With nothing to lose I submitted the first three chapters. They asked to read the entire MS and within two weeks had accepted it.

Unbeknown to the Brannigan family, a religious guru by the name of Brother Desmond has lured them to Warrnambool where he has set up headquarters. His Zarathustrans follow the principles espoused by Nietzsche.

Brother Desmond knows that the power within Briony Brannigan is the remaining key he needs to enter the next dimension. With her power in his control, he will have access to all that is presently denied him. He conjures a being that unleashes a cold snap and murders Matt’s wife. Luckily for Matt, he’s out that night, letting off steam with some friends.

He arrives home to find his daughter, Briony, collapsed at the bottom of the stairs, and his wife’s frozen body upstairs.

Briony is led into the sect by Brother Desmond’s disciples. She is easily manipulated, or so the Zarathustrans believe. Matt tries to drag her out of the headquarters with a Care and Protection Application. Unfortunately for him a precedent has already been set in Sydney and the law is unwilling to enter Modewood in fear of litigation.

Matt calls on Clarissa Pike, journalist and former psychic friend of his wife’s. Together they gain access to Modewood, only to find they’re in way over their heads.

Better prepared, with psychic shields and other protection devices, they enter Modewood under cover of darkness and there begins a fight to the death with Brother Desmond’s legion of the Undead.

What major changes to the publishing industry have you seen during your career?

The Digital Age has basically turned the book industry upside down. There are pluses and minuses. I see a minus in the fact that booksellers are closing their doors because people can get books quicker and cheaper via the internet; libraries that once bought books now can borrow from other systems – not only print but digital. So a cluster of libraries these days needs only one book to share, whereas once upon a time individually they would each purchase copies. Authors obviously miss out on royalties, publishers miss out on sales. Via the Internet people can self-publish virtually without financial outlay. Unfortunately, these books are generally unedited and poorly written. People purchase them for as little as $1 – often for free. This obviously takes away sales from writers whose careers rely on sales, it deducts from publishers and booksellers – it affects many, many more people.

Pluses include getting a wider distribution for titles. For example, Amazon that would not stock my Jelindel Chronicles now promotes them. Print-on-Demand is great in as much that many out-of-print books can now be purchased. The downside is for everyone purchasing an old book, a newer author is missing out on a potential sale. We’re seeing major companies swallow one another up, and lists shrink. Major publishers are trying to eliminate their B lists, which of course affects thousands of authors across the world, not to mention editors, sales reps, etc, who are now without authors and books to deal with. This is a huge topic, one that can’t be fully answered here.

Your books usually have humor, either black or otherwise. How important is this to your work?

Humor is a natural ingredient that authors either have or they don’t. I never deliberately set out to write comedy. I might think of a line that makes me laugh as I type it. Sometimes editors take these lines out, so perhaps they’re not funny to everyone. Humor is a very subjective thing.

Having said that, I did set out to write one humorous book, and that was The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler (Celapene Press).

You’re both an author and a publisher. Do these occupations conflict? You also have Creative Net, a speakers’ agency. How do all these meld?

I generally have to prioritize. If there’s a publishing deadline and I’m behind in editing a book, all else has to be put aside. If I’m writing a series such as Lucy Lee and the editor reminds me I still owe two books, the publishing activities have to step aside. When librarians email me to book an author or illustrator for their school, I drop everything and get on to it immediately. So it’s a constant juggling act. Cross-subsidization is the only way forward in this industry, so far as I can see. All of these career paths aren’t hugely successful by themselves, but together they work very well. As an example, I don’t charge libraries a booking fee, which is a big saving to them. But by offering this service, librarians go to the Ford Street site and see the books I have on offer. On occasion, they offer work to authors and illustrators who I publish, so I’m helping promote both my authors/illustrators as well as sell their books via Creative Net.

What are you concentrating on now? And your plans for the future?

I’m writing the final Lucy Lee books for Macmillan’s Legends in Their Own Lunch Box series. There are six Lucy books, with maybe more to come if the series takes off.

I’d love to work from a proper office rather than my home. I think that’s the next big stage for me. I don’t really have any time to write books these days. Maybe I’ll write some Jelindel short stories – I have a novella sitting on my desktop glaring at me to finish it.

http://fordstreetpublishing.com/ford/index.php/ford-street-titles/books/111-dragonlinks

I also have a series called Broken Magic. This is on submission right now. I have one or two novels lying about that I think are publishable, but that’s all I have. As mentioned, maybe I’ll write some more Lucy Lee books if the series is a hit – they’re not much longer than short stories and are fun to write.

http://www.macmillan.com.au/primary31/site/libraries/Search+results?open&template=domPrimary&query=Paul%20Collins

Ford Street Publishing: www.fordstreetpublishing.com
Paul Collins: www.paulcollins.com.au
The Quentaris Chronicles: www.quentaris.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fordstreet
twitter: http://twitter.com/fordstreet

Thank you to Paul Collins for this fascinating interview. It's interesting to read about Paul's different roles as author, publisher and speaker's agent.

All the best Paul. We wish you every success!