T4T: Curse of the Granville Fortune and King of the Mutants!

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

Curse of the Granville Fortune by Kelly Hashway and
King of the Mutants by Samantha Verant

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Find the fortune, break the curse!

The hunt is on for an ancient treasure tied to nine-year-old J.B.’s family history. He’s been having visions that make him sweaty, lightheaded, and certain he’s turning into some kind of freak—or worse, going insane. But things are worse than he imagined. The visions stem from a family curse. An ancient ancestor was accused of stealing the massive Granville fortune, and now J.B.’s entirely family will suffer.

To break the curse, J.B. must find and return the Granville’s stolen property. But he’s not the only one searching for the treasure. As he sets out on his journey through a dark and foreboding forest, he’ll battle his worst fears and fight terrifying creatures along the way. And when he meets two others who share the missing pieces of his visions and suffer from the same curse, the three soon realize they need to work together to break the curse before it’s too late.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | iBooks | Google Play | BAM | IndieBound

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“The perils in the forest and a fast-paced storyline make this a great middle grade read.” – Medeia, Author

“There’s plenty of action for young readers.” – Beverly, Author

“Definitely pick this one up for your youngster and give them something awesome to read” – Erika, WS Momma Readers Nook

Kelly Hashway grew up reading R.L. Stein’s Fear Street novels and writing stories of her own, so it was no surprise to her family when she majored in English and later obtained a masters degree in English Secondary Education from East Stroudsburg University. After teaching middle school language arts for seven years, Hashway went back to school and focused specifically on writing. She is now the author of three young adult series, one middle grade series, and several picture books. She also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she isn’t writing, Hashway works as a freelance editor for small presses as well as for her own list of clients. In her spare time, she enjoys running, traveling, and volunteering with the PTO. Hashway currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, daughter, and two pets.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Can one boy stop a nefarious plot to turn kids into super-mutants?

Maverick Mercury enjoys his life as the sideshow attraction known as “Gator Boy” at Grumbling’s Traveling Circus and Side show.

His freakish mutations are the result of some billionaire geneticist’s experiments gone awry. But life as a mutant is about to get worse, as Maverick uncovers a plot to kidnap kids, turns them into super-mutants, and sells their powers to the highest bidder.

Now, Maverick is on a mission to find the mad scientist who may have created him and destroy his sinister plans!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD |IndieBound | Google Play | BAM | iBooks

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“It was fun, witty, and all sorts of crazy.” – Leanne, The Reading Slump

“Overall, this is a fun read and a story any one can enjoy. If you like the idea of crazy circus people/mutants/scientists and adventure then I recommend that you pick this story up!” – Aisazia, Originique Quanimity

“…there aren't enough boys with tails in contemporary literature.” – Carrie, Author

Samantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, French chef. Over the years, she’s visited many different countries, lived in many places, and worked many jobs— always on the search for the one thing that truly excited her. Then, one day, she found everything she’s been looking for: a passion for the written word and true love. Writing not only enabled her to open her heart, it led her to southwestern France, where she’s now married to a sexy French rocket scientist she met over twenty years ago, a stepmom to two incredible kids, and the adoptive mother to one ridiculously expensive Bengal cat. When she’s not trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées, tasting wine in American-sized glasses, or embracing her inner Julia Child while deliberating what constitutes the perfect boeuf bourguignon, Samantha is making her best effort to relearn those dreaded conjugations.

Connect with the Author: Website | Book Site | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Interview with Samantha Verant, Author of King of the Mutants

Today, we are so happy to have Samantha Verant here to answer questions about herself and her newest Middle Grade novel, King of the Mutants. Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!

Hi, Samantha! Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself. 

A classically trained mezzo-soprano, at the age of fifteen I auditioned at The Chicago Academy for
the Performing and Visual Arts for voice, got in, but ended up choosing theater as my major. When my family moved to Boston the following year, I stayed involved in the acting community, but thanks to an awesome teacher, art became a big part of my life. A triple threat, I could sing, act (like a clown), and draw. But I couldn’t do all three things at once, or so I thought. Alas, once high school came to an end, it was on to Syracuse University, where I traded in arias and monologues for advertising design. After graduating from Syracuse with honors, I’ve worked at some of the biggest agencies in Chicago.

Over the years, I’ve traveled the world, lived in many places, and worked many jobs. I’ve had many successes, and a couple of failures — always on the search for the one thing that truly excited me. Then, one day, I finally found everything I’d been looking for: a passion for the written word. Thanks to writing, I can sing on the page, act out scenes, and design new worlds. I now live in southwestern France, where I’m married to a French rocket scientist...and writing wacky stories.

               

Tell our readers a bit about KING OF THE MUTANTS.

Maverick Mercury is the sideshow attraction known as “Gator Boy” at Grumbling’s Traveling Circus and Sideshow. Despite being routinely kicked around by the other performers, Maverick has always been comfortable in his skin. That is, until he overhears Burt Grumbling talking about him behind his reptilian-like back. Seems Maverick’s freakish mutations are the result of some billionaire geneticist’s experiments gone awry. Apparently, this guy kidnaps kids, turns them into supermutants, and sells their powers to the highest bidder. Now, Maverick is on a mission to find the mad scientist who may have created him. All he has to do is steal some wheels from Burt, escape the clutches of one-eyed Yorgi and his gang of killer clowns, and make his way from some Podunk town in Florida to the Big Apple.

            

          

How did the idea of the story come to you?

Two stories influenced King of the Mutants. In my twenties, I read a book called Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, which has haunted me to this day. I’ve also always loved The Wizard of Oz. One morning, I woke up from a crazy dream. There was a circus, some very mean ‘munchkins,’ and a twelve-year-old mistreated sideshow (but sweet) attraction. Inspiration hit. Alas, King of the Mutants was born.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m half plotter, half panster. I don’t write an outline per se, but I do write down key plot points on Post-it notes and then arrange them in a chapter-like format. Then, I sit down at my trusty computer and write, letting the rest of the story unfold as it comes to me. I suppose there is a method to my madness. Mwa-ha-ha!

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Lately, it’s been finding the time to write. This will change soon, though! I have three drafts begging for attention.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Coffee!!!

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins...in French. (It’s my step-daughters book!)

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

How much fun would it be to spread your wings and soar above the world like a bird? I’m going with flying. Whee! Care to join me?

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Parasitic twins. It was book research, I swear! I went a little wacky in one scene in the book, scaring the pants off a few of my beta readers! This scene has now since been changed. There are no parasitic twins in King of the Mutants.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... on an adventure gathering material for my next book. 

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

First off, I’d like to thank the awesome Georgia McBride, my publisher, for taking Maverick’s story from a crazy dream into a not-so-crazy reality. I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Month9/Tantrum Books family, where there is no dysfunction, just fun (and a whole lot of support)! 

I’d like to thank my editor, Ashlyn Yuhas, who helped polish this story up one page at a time, and whose enthusiasm for Maverick’s story was contagious. Likewise, I’d like to thank the Month9Books team, with a special shout out to Jennifer Million, Candace Y., Jamie Arnold, Brooke Hamilton, and the amazingly talented illustrator that is Zachary Schoenbaum. (Seriously, what a cool cover!) 

A heartfelt thanks goes to two amazing writers who believed in Maverick from the get-go and were with me on this entire publication journey. Angela Cerrito and Stephen Eastman, thank you for your critiques and for pushing me (and the story) onwards. It’s been a crazy ride!

Thank you to my beta readers Lisa Kelly Eason, Becky Wojahn, and Michael Morrel, who embraced the madness and delivered thoughtful critiques. A big hug goes to Kelly Polark and Carrie Harris, who cheered Mav on and urged me to bring back the tail! Well, thanks to everybody mentioned above, I did it. The tail? It’s back.

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