Mama Diaries

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Book Release, Question of the Month, Winners of Give Away


Lots of stuff going on at my pad, today. First, I'd like to let you all know about a  new Middle Grade book that will be released on December 1, 2015. It's called The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow. It's by my blog buddies, Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson. It looks so cute! I can't wait to get my copy!



Release date: DECEMBER 1, 2015


MIDDLE GRADE/ ages 10 and up

ISBN: 978-0-385-74471-3

Authors: Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson

Illustrator: Roman Muradov

Publicity contact: Samuel Terris sterris@penguinrandomhouse.com

 

 

 

Eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow is less than thrilled that her family is moving thousands of miles from civilization to the quiet country town of Ashpot, Connecticut, where she’s absolutely certain she’ll die of boredom.

 

As if leaving Manhatten and her best friend, Lizzy, the only other member of the elite Detective Mystery Squad, weren’t bad enough, Fairday is stuck living in the infamous Begonia House, a creepy old Victorian with dark passageways, a gigantic dead willow tree, and a mysterious past. 

 

Before she can even unpack, strange music coming from behind a padlocked door leads Fairday up a spiral staircase and into a secret room, where she finds an ancient mirror, a brass key, and a curious portrait of a red-haired lady. These seemingly unrelated items prove to be the first in a series of clues that takes Fairday, the visiting Lizzy, and their new squad member, Marcus, on an amazing adventure.

 

Can the members of the Detective Mystery Squad piece together the puzzle before it’s too late? Or will whatever’s causing trouble find Fairday and her friends first? 

 

 

Catch the Book Buzz...

 

"I really enjoyed this book. It was a marvelously done, debut, thriller novel. Ms. Robinson and Ms. Haight are great authors that really pull you into their story. I couldn’t get out until that final sentence. And, by then I wanted more. To say I want a second book is an understatement. The writing style is compelling, and makes me feel as if I was there with Fairday and her friends. I really like the illustrations in the book. They are like the ribbon on a present, or the icing on the cake. I give this book five out of five bookworms!"
~ Erik Weibel/ This Kid Reviews Books  

 

"Mixing realism and fantasy, Haight and Robinson’s debut opens with 11-year-old Fairday’s move from Manhattan to a small town in Connecticut, where her relentlessly cheerful parents plan to turn a dilapidated Victorian into a bed and breakfast. No sooner has the family arrived than eerie sights and sounds begin to haunt Fairday. The house turns out to hold dark secrets that everybody in town suspects but nobody can explain: a perfect mission for Fairday and her best friend Lizzy’s Detective Mystery Squad (DMS)."
~ Publishers Weekly

 

"Fifth-grader Fairday Morrow's new home lives up to its spooky reputation, but she and her companions in the Detective Mystery Squad find out why. At Begonia House, strains of bagpipe music issue from behind a padlocked door, grains of sand in an hourglass have stopped falling, and a malevolent weeping willow looms in the backyard. A magic mirror shows an invisible door; a wardrobe hides secrets and a portal. Ruby Begonia vanished more than 50 years ago. Is there also a ghost? Fairday has a new, helpful friend in classmate Marcus, and her best friend Lizzy can visit on weekends to help solve the mystery. What more could readers want?"
~ Kirkus Reviews

Jessica Haight is a true New Englander, with a deep desire to be near the ocean and a love of the four seasons. She enjoys drawing while standing up and cultivating magic in her garden. She easily floats away in the pages of a good story and is still waiting for her owl from Hogwarts.

 

 

Stephanie Robinson lives with her husband in a quiet town, though not as quaint as Ashpot. After teaching fifth grade for almost fifteen years, she is now enjoying her role as a school media specialist. 

 

Links:

 



@DMSfiles




Second, it's time for the question of the month, hosted by Michael d'Agostino. This month's question is, "What social custom bothers you that you would you like to get rid of?"

Well, I have two. Both are social greetings. The first is that thing European people do, where they kiss each cheek when they greet. What's that called? Fortunately, it's not done in the United States, but my relatives are from Europe, and I have to deal with that every time I see them. I'm so worried I'm going to break my nose when I do it. My second is the deal where guys kiss my hand when they greet me. I really, really, really, dislike that! I have a thing against womanizers, and when a guy does that, I put him right in the womanizer category. So, if you meet me, please do not do that European greeting thing, and please do not kiss my hand!



Last, but not least, the winners of my give away have been selected. Congratulations to Chrys Fey and Nick Wilford, who have won copies of Ten Zany Birds. Congratulations to Dawna who has won a copy of That Mama is a Grouch, and congratulations to Tracy Terry, who will be receiving a copy of That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN! 


So, what social customs do you dislike?

 

 

38 comments:

  1. Big congratulations to Jess and Stephanie! Hosting them this Wednesday.
    I don't kiss anyone but my wife and my mother on the cheek. Promise.
    And congratulations to the winners of your book.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Alex! We are so excited for December and all the wonderful stops on our tour. :)
      ~Jess and Stephanie

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    2. I'm so glad to know that if I meet you, I don't have to worry about any awkward kisses!

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  2. Congratulations to Jess and Stephanie!

    Congrats to winners!

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  3. Congrats to them and the winners too. Oh that cheek thing I'd run from, blah. The hand thing I never get either, germy as can be lol

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    1. Thanks, Pat! Your comment is too funny. :)
      ~Jess and Stephanie

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    2. I'm okay with hugs, but not all the kissy stuff.

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  4. I never know what to do with the cheek kissing when someone goes to do it.

    Thanks so much for sharing about Fairday's story. Stephanie and I really appreciate it! :)
    ~Jess

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  5. So if I ever meet you, I'll kiss your hand and then kiss you on each cheek.

    Love,
    Janie

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  6. Wow! what wonderful books and your reviews are awesome.
    Loved your question of the month post.Congrats to the winners of the book give away.
    Yvonne.

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    Replies
    1. The book has gotten many good reviews. I can't wait to read my copy.

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  7. Congrats for Jess and Stephanie! I've been waiting for their book to come out!

    And yay for Ten Zany Birds! I can't wait to get it and read it with my nephews. :D

    I wouldn't want to do the whole kissing cheek thing and wouldn't want a guy to kiss my hand. Boundaries, please! I stay in my bubble, you stay in yours. LOL!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Chrys- Thanks for your sweet words. We are glad you have been looking forward to the release of our book. :) ~Jess and Stephanie

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  8. I always kiss with my friends, and here in my country we actually do it three times :)

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  9. A great book by Jessica and Stephanie, I really enjoyed The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow.

    So delighted to have won, I know we are going to love this one as much as your other books.

    Ah yes, social kissing. What a nightmare. A typical Brit, what's wrong with a good old fashioned hand shake? But then again (sighs) this is not without its own etiquette.

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    1. Tracy- Thanks for chiming in and recommending our book. We appreciate it! Congrats on your win. :)
      :) ~Jess and Stephanie

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    2. I prefer handshakes, too.

      I mailed the book. I hope you enjoy it!

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  10. Social kissing between strangers. Yeah, I'd like that one to go away.
    Especially when I ride the bus.

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  11. I won your book! Yay!! Thank you so much Sherry, really looking forward to it!. Social customs..hmm we have many here..I was going to say queuing, but it's when people queue badly, that gets on my nerves. Move up!!

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    1. Queuing? I'm not familiar with that.

      Hope your little ones enjoy the book!

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  12. Congratulations to Jess and Stephanie! Their book sounds interesting.

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  13. I adore Jess & Stephanie, I've been following their blog for quite some time. I'm thrilled for them that their book is ready by the sounds of it my Valentina would love it xox ♡

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    1. Launna- We adore you too! We love your blog and are always happy to have you visiting ours. We hope Valentina likes Fairday's story. :) ~Jess and Stephanie

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    2. They have a great blog! I enjoy reading it, too.

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  14. I wonder if my nephew (the eldest one) would enjoy that book. Since Christmas and his birthday are a day apart, I might just buy him the book for one of the other.

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    1. Liz- Thanks for thinking of our book for your nephew. We are not sure how old he is, but it is a great book for boys or girls. :) ~Jess and Stephanie

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  15. Thanks for picking me as a winner! My kid will appreciate Ten Zany Birds.

    That book looks like fun. Everyone loves a mystery in a creepy old house.

    I think of kissing on the cheeks as very French. They like a lot of physical contact, but it always felt a bit awkward to me, especially when greeting extended families that I was staying with while on exchange trips in school. Kissing a lady's hand is something I imagine happening in a medieval castle - who does that! It does sound slightly sleazy.

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    1. I hope your young one enjoys the book!

      My European relatives are from France, so you're probably right about the kissing of cheeks being French. I'm so glad we don't do that here in the States!

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    2. Nick- Thanks! So glad that The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow looks like fun. Creepy houses are awesome! :)
      ~Jess and Stephanie

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