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Bad Fairy Strikes Again – New Release @ElaineKAuthor #middlegrade #fantasy

***NEW RELEASE***

***99 CENTS***

 

 Series: A Bad Fairy Adventure (Book 2)

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Pages: 60

Ages: 7-12

 

BLURB:

Will Thistle ever escape the nickname Bad Fairy?

Thistle Greenbud thought the nickname Bad Fairy was behind her, but she can’t escape it. Someone is spreading a rumor about her that just isn’t true and can ruin all of her hard work in getting into Advanced School. What fairy would do such a thing?

As if that’s not bad enough, Thistle’s dad goes missing. Not a single fairy in Tinselville has seen him. He’s vanished like pixie dust. Her mom is distraught, and Thistle is worried. Where could he be?

Thistle and the Flutters, along with Dusty and Moss, are on both cases. Can they find out what happened to her dad and solve the Bad Fairy rumor? Thistle hopes so!

 

BOOK LINKS:

Amazon / Nook / iBooks / Goodreads

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I was so happy to have a chance to read an early copy of this book. My reaction, “4.75 stars- Pretty deep stuff in a fluffy sweet package.” Click here to read my full review.

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Thistle (aka Bad Fairy) Chats with Dusty:

Thistle and Dusty used to be fairy enemies, each trying to
pay the other back for something they did to each other. But then a twisty
devastated their home of Pine Cone Grove and all that changed. They helped out
their fellow fairies side by side and are now, much to the astonishment of the
members of Thistle’s Flutter Club, friends.

 

Thistle: I had fun at the Spring
Festival.

Dusty: So did I! You looked very
pretty.

Thistle: *blushes* Thank you.

Dusty: What was your favorite part
of the festival?

Thistle: Tricking Moss and Lacey.

Dusty: *snickers* Once a bad fairy,
always a bad fairy.

Thistle: *crosses her arms* Hey, I’m
not a bad fairy!

Dusty: I know. I was just teasing
you.

Thistle: Well, it’s not funny, not
since someone is spreading rumors about me doing something really bad
that I didn’t do.

Dusty: I’m sorry. And I promise that
we’ll find the fairy who is spreading those rumors about you.

Thistle: Thanks. *sighs* So, what was
your favorite part of the Spring Festival?

Dusty: Hanging out with you and
looking at all the booths.

Thistle: I wish we could go back to
that day, before the rumors and before my dad went missing.

Dusty: That reminds me, I need to
check in with Sheriff Webbing to see if there’s any news on your dad. I’ll be
back soon!

*Dusty zips off*

Thistle: *shouts* OKUM-SOKUM!

EXCERPT:

“Hi, Thistle!”

The voice startles me, and I turn to see Dusty Withers.
Boogles! Dusty and I were once rivals. He and his sidekick Moss Kelp always
caused trouble and made me get blamed for it, earning me the nickname Bad
Fairy. After a twisty hit, destroying much of our grove, Dusty, Moss, and the
Flutters worked together to rebuild homes. Dusty and Moss proved to us they
changed. Since then, Dusty and I have become friends.

Ssh! Don’t tell anyone. That’ll be our secret for now.

I smooth down my skirt. I’m wearing a strawberry-colored
top and a green web skirt, making me look as though I’m a real strawberry, only
upside down. I hope he doesn’t notice. “Oh, hi,” is all I manage to say.

Dusty steps closer. “Do you want to share lunch with me? I
have a coverlet we can use, and food, of course.” He holds up a basket and
looks at me with hope bright in his brown eyes. I can’t help but notice how
cute he looks wearing a vine crown over his curly brown hair. He’s wearing a
clean shirt and knickers with brown leggings. Before, he used to wear ratty
shirts and dirty shorts from playing rough and getting into mischief.

Secretly, I want to go with him, but I can’t. Only Lacey
knows Dusty and I are hanging out.

“I…uh…” Fuddlebug! I can’t talk.

I try again. “I’m sorry, but I promised to eat with my mom
and dad.” My wings droop. “Then I have a Flutter Club meeting.”

Dusty puts on a grin, and says, “Moss and I could join you at
the meeting.”

“Sorry, but it’s a Flutter girls thing. I know you and Moss
are Flutter Helpers, but everything is good. If we need you two, we’ll call you
to a meeting.” I try to calm the twitching in my wings.

“Okay.” He smiles and gives me a wink before walking away.

He winked at me! Flea bumpies form on my skin.

Get Book 1 for 99 CENTS!

BAD FAIRY: Amazon / Nook / iBooks / Kobo

~

***GIVEAWAY*** 

PRIZES: 3 signed paperback picture books (Pea Soup Disaster, The Missing Alphabet, Slow Poke), three handmade bookmarks, plus a goodie bag and worksheets.

Eligibility: International

GIVEAWAY LINK: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76132e0224/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elaine Kaye is the author of A Bad Fairy Adventure series AND A Gregory Green Adventure series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story Pea Soup Disaster.

Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home. She is a grandmother of three boys.

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This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads, VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

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#blacklivesmatter Excerpts Promotion

New Book, Old Poem for #blacklivesmatter

Below is a short story and poem I wrote for a blog contest 2 years ago. I came in 3rd and was very pleased. Please click here if you’d like to read the other wonderful submissions in the contest. They have nothing to do with #blacklivesmatter. The theme of the contest was Fall and Winter.

I felt like this was a good time to share this story here. Though the title speaks of the fall season in 1954, the fictional story I’ve written wouldn’t have taken place until 3 or 4 years later at best (most likely much later). I chose the title year of 1954 because that’s the year the supreme court ruled that segregation in schools was unconstitutional. For my story, I imagine the law changing in May, and in the Fall, a young black woman finds herself the only black student in an all-white school.

THE FALL OF ’54

Images sourced from Pexels.com. Design by Toi Thomas.

Shay stared at the blank paper and sighed. The bell would ring soon, and she’d have nothing to turn in. “Write something,” her teacher had said, “something that the season inspires in you.” Shay had watched as her classmates, the children who looked nothing like her, all dove into their assignments with glee.

“If only they were me,” she thought, as she turned and stared out the window. Shay fought the smile threatening to lift the corners of her mouth when seeing another class at play. How happy they all looked. Running and jumping around. And then, she saw something that brought on a new battle.

Shay fidgeted in her seat, twisting her frown into the semblance of indifference as she watched the children begin to pick up leaves. Back and forth they ran, sharing and trading, all trying to gather as many unique samples as possible. Two boys gathered close to the window could be overheard, “This one’s almost the color of my boots and this one has streaks of red. “

Shay repeated the words in her head, “the color of my boots and streaks of red.” She looked around the room, for the first time noticing the seasonal decorations. She even dared to glance at the flyer for the Harvest ball to be held at the end of the week, the ball no one had expected her to attend. Who could she possibly go with anyway? No one else looked like her.

The ticking of the clock snapped Shay back to the urgency of her assignment. “Write something that the season inspires in you.” If she didn’t write something soon, she’d be in trouble and sent to detention again. At least this time, she’d actually have done something to earn it.

Shay sighed heavily and picked up her pencil. When a girl nearby looked her way, Shay turned her eyes and focused on her paper. With one more glance at the children outside, Shay began to write. When the bell rang, Shay turned in her paper.

With his red pen in hand, Shay’s teacher decided to start with her paper.

Red, and yellow, and orange, and more,
All the colors, from sky to floor.
Heaped, and swept, and piled, and raked,
A mother yells, “For goodness sake!”

Floating and flying, drifting on by,
A mosaic scattered across the sky.
Gathered and bundled, twisted, and tied,
A perfect decoration, out or inside.

Smooth or cracked, pointed, or flat,
Tiny and round, thick on the ground.
Brown, and copper, walnut, and cherry,
Gold, and plum, rustic and merry.

Colors and shades, hues galore,
The beauty of fall, they all adore.
The colors of fall on things that don’t speak,
The colors of race, so long left weak.

Colors adored for decoration,
Colors singled out for oppression.
Colors of nature deemed a beauty to see,
Why can’t they see that beauty in me?

When Shay’s teacher was finished with her paper, he placed the red pen in his drawer.

The Fall of ’54 – 2018 Copyright © Toinette J. Thomas

Also, I’ve written and illustrated another children’s book. I actually wrote it two years ago but never illustrated it. I wrote it to help me cope with issues I’ve seen and am experiencing. I’ve always used my writing to help me cope and this was meant for just that. I never had the intention to share this with anyone. I wrote this for myself and did not consult beta readers or editors. I’m only putting it out now because I want the world to be clear about where I stand. As an author, we are told not to get political unless we write about politics for fear it will cost us readers. At this point, any readers who don’t get the #blacklivesmatter movement probably weren’t supporting me anyway. So, here it is…

It’s cold outside, why can’t I wear a hoodie?

Why do people follow me at the store?

There’s no easy way to explain racism, especially to young kids, but the sooner kids learn the truth, the better they can combat it and work to help make changes.

This is a light, yet serious, story about perceptions. This book was written to help parents start the race conversation with their children, whatever their race or skin color may be.

Don’t avoid the race talk. As with many things in life, if you don’t talk to your kids about race, someone else will. Someone else may shape your child’s point of view on race, if you don’t.

Amazon.com– $2.99 eBook | $9.99 Paperback

Add this book to your Goodreads.com bookshelf here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

This post contains affiliate links; see the About page for details.

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IWSG

#IWSG May 2020: Getting into the zone

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Optional Monthly Question: Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?

I don’t believe I have anything specific that helps me to get in the zone. Sometimes I’m there, but most of the time I’m sitting around waiting to get there. I guess that’s what I call the Muse coming alive, which by the way, happened in a major way last month. Otherwise, I’d say that sometimes listening to music helps me find inspiration to complete a scene I’m having trouble with. I usually like to keep a variety of soundtracks on hand since they seem to be full of songs that convey very specific emotions and themes, such as fear, love, hatred, passion, war, and so much more.

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Sorry, I didn’t have time to put my monthly updates together, again. I gotta stop dropping the ball, but, in all honesty, I’ve just been distracted by the next bit of info I have to share. I will say that I read a book by Allie Marie, local to my area, and really enjoyed it. The review is worth checking out. (link is broken 🙁 )

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Now, on to the personal updates.

I don’t know how I did it, but I wrote and illustrated a children’s book about being in quarantine last month. Now I have to figure out what to do with it, and I’m hoping some of you will help. I know this is very last minute, but since next Tuesday, yes that’s May 12, is #GivingTuesday I figured that would be a good day to offer a free ebook and a fundraising giveaway. I want people to enter my giveaway for a chance to have me give $20 to the cause or charity of their choosing.


If anyone out there would be willing to share this next week, on your blog, or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram… I’ll take anything really, simply comment below or on my Contact page, and I’ll email you the details this weekend when the book launches.

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What do you do to get in the zone?
Can you help spread the word about my book and fundraiser?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will stop by your blog.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Feather Stone,
Beverly Stowe McClure,
Mary Aalgaard,
Kim Lajevardi, and
Chemist Ken!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #39).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords