About the Book:
A plane crash! Lost in the jungle! Hunted by their old enemy, will Adam, Justin, and Kim survive long enough to find the Third Stone of Power? With only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, the kids make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the lost city of stone gods, where the Stone of Power might be located. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task.
Who doesn't love learning about or visiting somewhere new? She's got some great points about writing and travel!Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?
Writing about different places and countries for kids
By Fiona Ingram
In
writing about real locations, I felt very fortunate that I had been able to
visit Egypt with my two young nephews prior to writing my first middle-grade
adventure, The Secret of the Sacred
Scarab. How does one recreate for readers, especially young readers, the
sense of ‘being’ in a place? Top of the list is, of course, actually going to
the particular location.
Location is not just a geographical point
on a world map. It’s a mixture of sights, sounds, smells, sensations, tastes,
and the ambiance or atmosphere that comes with its people, history, culture,
architecture, and art. The trick in getting young readers to enjoy an adventure
in a different place or country is to help them experience it with all their
senses. Since I modeled my heroes on my two nephews, it was important for me to
get a feel for how two boys would react in such a foreign (and potentially
dangerous) environment.
I bought quite a few miniatures that really
helped me recreate the haggling scene in the Egyptian market at Esna, and these
brought back the sounds and smells of people, incense, food, spices, and much
more. The air was hot and dry. The taste of the food was unforgettable. Do you
know the best olives and cucumbers are found in Egypt? The crisp, cool, almost
sweet taste of a cucumber so juicy and refreshing that one just wants to gobble
the whole thing down. The tart tang of a black olive on your tongue … spicy yet
so tasty that one or two are just not enough. Kids always want to know what the
heroes ate or drank during the adventure and this is important, so I have
included lots of foodie details in all my books.
Book 2: The
Search for the Stone of Excalibur was also quite an easy adventure to
describe because I have visited both England and Scotland and was able to
clearly describe the different atmosphere, temperatures very much cooler than
Egypt, and the old cities, the stone castles, the air of mystery and intrigue that
surrounded this adventure. I had already spent a few amazing weeks in Scotland,
researching old castles. Ask me anything about castles … with or without
drawbridges, moats, portcullises, battlements … you name it, I visited it.
Finally, I settled upon the fabulous, fairytale setting of Dunrobin Castle, for
me an exquisite vision, as the setting for Book Two.
Book Three: The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper takes place in Mexico, Central
America, and although I would have loved the reality of an actual location,
this is when I had to rely on secondary sources available. For authors not able
to travel, secondary advice includes guidebooks, travel blogs, Google Earth,
interviews with experts, and (very importantly) research. These options
shouldn’t be considered second best in any way because even though one may be
fortunate enough to make a trip, there is hard work to be done when putting a
story on paper.
I read books by modern day explorers about their jungle
escapades and got a real feeling for just how hot, humid, dangerous and intense
the jungle atmosphere is. Absolutely exhausting to slog through the almost
impenetrable foliage. Civilization might be a quick plane trip away, but when
you’re deep in the jungle, there’s no quick route out of it. Fortunately for
me, I had the help of two experts, both of Mexican origin, to guide me in all
my descriptions.
Any location is unique and there is
pressure upon the author to describe it using all five senses so that readers
can relate to it, enjoy it, and believe in it. Young readers always ask the
most intriguing questions—the how, who, why, when, what,
and where—and I think I have covered all my bases so far in these adventures! About the Author:
Fiona Ingram is a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, she was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked her new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with her mother and two young nephews. The Chronicles of the Stone series includes, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and The Search for the Stone of Excalibur (book 2). Find out more at her Facebook page, Twitter, Blog or on GoodReads.
TOUR STOPS:
Today @ The MuffinWhat goes better in the morning with coffee than a muffin? Grab your cup of morning brew and join us today when we celebrate the launch of Fiona Ingram's book, The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. You can read our interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book. http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.comAugust 14th @ Write Like CrazyMake sure you stop by Mary Jo's blog Write Like Crazy where Fiona Ingram talks about why your child doesn't like reading and how to fix this. http://www.writelikecrazy.comAugust 15th @ Girl Zombie AuthorsCome by Christine's blog where Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on writing about different places for kids. https://girlzombieauthors.blogspot.com/August 16th @ Jessica Samuel's BlogCome by Jessica's blog today where Fiona Ingram talks about how to transform your non-reader into a reader. https://jessicasamuelsauthor.com/August 19th @ Madeline Sharples' BlogStop by Madeline's blog today where author Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts with young writers on writing and creating characters. http://madelinesharples.com/August 20th @ Mari's #JournalingPower BlogStop by Mari's blog where author Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on developing characters that children will relate to. https://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blogAugust 20th @ Bairn's BardStop by Rebecca's blog Bairn's Bard today where you can read a post by Fiona Ingram's daughter and also you can read about Rebecca's thoughts on the book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper.August 21st @ Cover2Cover BlogStop by Steph's Cover2Cover where you can read Fiona Ingram's blog post about choosing books for your kids. http://cover2coverblog.blogspot.com/August 22nd @ Look to the Western SkyCome by Margo Dill's blog Look to the Western Sky where Fiona Ingram writes about her experiences fostering (and later adopting) an illiterate African child who is now a lovely young woman who loves reading. http://margoldill.com/August 22nd @ A New Look on BooksCome by Rae's blog where Fiona Ingram writes about the joy of writing for children.August 26th @ Writing for Children with Karen CioffiCome by Karen's blog where Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on how to encourage your kids to start writing. http://karencioffiwritingforchildren.com/August 27th @ Mommy Daze: Say What??Stop by Ashley's blog where Fiona Ingram talks about helping kids read better with homeschooling. A must read as school is about to start! https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/August 27th @ Rebecca Whitman's BlogCome by Rebecca's blog where you can read Fiona Ingram's post about using computers to improve reading skills. https://rebeccawhitman.wordpress.comAugust 28th @ Jennifer's DealsStop by Jennifer's blog where she shares what she her thoughts about Fiona Ingram's incredible middle grade adventure book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. https://www.jennifers-deals2.com/August 30th @ Story Teller AlleyVisit Veronica's blog and check out her thoughts on the book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. http://storytelleralley.com/blogAugust 31st @ Mommy Daze: Say What??Make sure you stop by Ashley's blog again where she shares her thoughts on Fiona Ingram's book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/August 31st @ Rebecca Whitman's BlogStop by Rebecca's blog again where you can read Fiona Ingram's post about writing a children series. https://rebeccawhitman.wordpress.com/September 1st @ Cathy C. Hall's BlogVisit Cathy's blog today where Fiona Ingram shares the top ten things you never knew about Mexico! https://c-c-hall.com/September 2nd @ Break Even BooksCome by Erik's blog Break Even Books where Fiona Ingram talks about how to make your books both enjoyable and educational. https://breakevenbooks.com/September 3rd @ Beverly A. Baird's BlogJoin us over at Beverly A. Barid's blog where author Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on developing a children's series. http://beverleyabaird.wordpress.comSeptember 4th @ Cathy C. Hall's BlogMake sure to come by Cathy's blog again where she shares her thoughts on Fiona Ingram's book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. https://c-c-hall.com/September 5th @ Jill Sheet's BlogCome by Jill's blog today where Fiona Ingram shares her thoughts on writing for children.September 5th @ Ali's BookshelfStop by Ali's blog where Fiona Ingram talks about whether books can help children cope with life.September 7th @ Beverly A. Baird's BlogJoin us at Beverly's blog again for her thoughts on Fiona Ingram's adventurous book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. http://beverleyabaird.wordpress.comSeptember 7th @ Anthony Avina's BlogStop by Anthony's Blog where you can read Fiona Ingram's post about why a book series is so good for non-readers. https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/September 9th @ Anthony Avina's BlogMake sure to check out Anthony's blog again where you can read his thoughts on Fiona Ingram's book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/September 10th @ Misadventures with AndiCome by Andi's blog where you can read Fiona Ingram's post about why children love reading about other countries and cultures. https://misadventureswithandi.com/September 10th @ Whitman's AcademicsStop by Rebecca's blog where Fiona Ingram's talks about turning a non-reader into a reader. https://whitmansacademics.wordpress.com/September 12th@ Coffee with LaceyStop by Lacey's blog where she reviews Fiona Ingram's book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. coffeewithlacey.wordpress.comSeptember 13th @ Coffee With LaceyBe sure to stop by again when Lacey interviews author Fiona Ingram and chats about her newest book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. coffeewithlacey.wordpress.comSeptember 14th @ World of My ImaginationCome by Nicole's blog where she shares her opinion about Fiona Ingram's middle grade fiction book The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper. http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.comSeptember 15th @ Story Teller AlleyStop by Veronica's blog Story Teller Alley to read Fiona Ingram's post on how she came about to write the series The Chronicles of the Stone. http://storytelleralley.com/blog
Many thank for hosting me!
ReplyDeleteThis looks exciting for young readers
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fun book. I love how colourful the cover it.
ReplyDeleteMy eldest grandson would enjoy this.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Fiona. The book definitely sounds good. I love Egypt and travel and...
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your comments. it is a great book. Sorry I seem to be having problems leaving a comment.
ReplyDeleteThe series sounds very exciting, especially being set in various countries.
ReplyDeleteAnd it gets better as I have planned an adventure in Paris, India, Turkey and back to Africa...
Delete"Location is not just a geographical point on a world map."
ReplyDeleteThis is spot on. Love it!