Cover Reveal: THE DANGER GANG AND THE ISLE OF FERAL BEASTS by Stephen Bramucci

The Mayhemmers are doing a lot of cover reveals recently, which is excellent news. The latest in our merry band is the new one from Stephen Brammuci, the sequel to The Danger Gang and the Pirates of Borneo. Look out for this one--it publishes on October the 2nd, 2018!

What It's About:
Ronald Zupan, his quick-witted fencing partner Julianne Sato, and his trusty butler Jeeves are off on another adventure. This time, they're trying to rescue the movie star Josh Brigand--who was kidnapped from his latest film premiere by the dreaded Liars' Club.

As the Danger Gang races to save their friend, they face off with a poisoning poet, a band of Roman candle-wielding thugs, and thousands of feral foxes. When their skills of deduction are put to the ultimate test, will Ronald and his pals be able to stick together long enough to rescue Josh and defeat the Liar's Club once and for all?


Fully illustrated by picture book talent Arree Chung, this hilarious, high-action series is a must-have for all adventurers.

Cover Reveal: THE BOOK DRAGON, by Kell Andrews

Beware the Book Dragon!

When I joined at Project Middle-Grade Mayhem, I was (of course) a middle-grade writer. I didn't imagine then that my next two books would be picture books, or the I would love writing for this age group that much.

But I do! And that brings me to today, revealing the cover of The Book Dragon (Sterling, October 2, 2018), whimsically illustrated by the wonderful Éva Chatelain.

Here's the beautiful front:

And the equally inviting back:

And here's what it's about:

The Book Dragon, by Kell Andrews, illustrated by Éva Chatelain

Reading is tiresome in the village of Lesser Scrump because the only words allowed must be written in dirt or scratched onto bark. Books are forbidden because the Book Dragon snatches them away at night to add to her massive hoard. But Rosehilda isn’t afraid of the Book Dragon, and she has a better idea for what to do with the Book Dragon’s stash.

Are you a book hoarder too? Confess in the comments.

Cover Reveal: THE LIGHTHOUSE BETWEEN THE WORLDS by Melanie Crowder

In the fall of 2016, Melanie Crowder and I met for the first time. We'd known each other on line (I reviewed her first novel, PARCHED, right here on Project Mayhem!) and finally got to meet in person on our way to the Virginia Library Association's annual meeting (where our books were both awarded the Jefferson Cup for Historical Fiction).

On that drive, we talked about the work we were doing. Melanie mentioned a new project that involved a lighthouse.

Now that book, The Lighthouse Between the Worlds, will meet the world this fall.

I asked Melanie what first drew her to this story. Here's what she had to say:

I grew up in Oregon, and the lighthouse that inspired the book, Heceta Head, is just down the coast highway from where my family went camping for our summer vacations. I go home to Oregon every year—I'm still a west coast girl at heart.  

I thought of the story when I was out in the wilderness, and wondering what it must have been like when the telegraph, or AC currents, or the Fresnel lens came to the West. It must have seemed like magic. And I thought—what if it was? I had no idea at the time that a portal fantasy, with characters jumping between worlds would be the result, but isn’t that the fun of writing—finding those surprises in the process? 

Here's a description of the story:

Griffin and his father tend to their lighthouse on the craggy coast of Oregon with the same careful routine each day. There are hardly ever any visitors, but they like it that way. Which is why, when a group of oddly dressed strangers suddenly appears, Griffin begins to see just how many secrets his father has been keeping. He never imagined that his lighthouse contains a portal to strange and dangerous worlds, or that a Society of Lighthouse Keepers exists to protect the Earth from a fearsome enemy invasion.

But then Griffin’s dad is pulled through the lens of the lighthouse into one of those other worlds. With his father gone, nobody from the Society is giving Griffin any answers, so he’s on his own. Armed only with a book of mysterious notes from his parents, Griffin is determined to find his dad, no matter what dangers lurk on the other side of the portal.

And here's the gorgeous cover!

You can find out more about Melanie and all her books at her website, www.melaniecrowder.net.

Cover Reveal: ANA MARIA REYES DOES NOT LIVE IN A CASTLE, by Hilda Eunice Burgos

I am thrilled to share with you the cover and a sneak peak of my debut middle grade novel, Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle, which will be published by Lee & Low’s Tu Books in October 2018.

Here is the official synopsis:

The Penderwicks meets In the Heights in this sparkling middle-grade debut!

Her last name may mean "kings," but Ana María Reyes REALLY does not live in a castle. Rather, she's stuck in a tiny apartment with two parents (way too lovey-dovey), three sisters (way too dramatic), everyone's friends (way too often), and a piano (which she never gets to practice). And when her parents announce a new baby is coming, that means they'll have even less time for Ana María. 

Then she hears about the Eleanor School, New York City's best private academy. If Ana María can win a scholarship, she'll be able to get out of her Washington Heights neighborhood school and achieve the education she's longed for. To stand out, she'll need to nail her piano piece at the upcoming city showcase, which means she has to practice through her sisters' hijinks, the neighbors' visits, a family trip to the Dominican Republic . . . right up until the baby's birth! But some new friends and honest conversations help her figure out what truly matters, and know that she can succeed no matter what. Ana María Reyes may not be royal, but she's certain to come out on top.

This book started out as a short story where three sisters worried about the possibility of getting a brother now that their mother was pregnant again.  It was inspired by my experiences when I was six years old and my younger sister was born.  Like Ana María, I have three sisters, my parents are from the Dominican Republic, and I grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City.  I also loved reading and school, but I never read any books about kids who were like me: bilingual, living in a small apartment with a large family, with many extended family members in another country.  So I decided to write one of those books myself.  Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle features a feisty girl who struggles to open her heart and her mind to what’s really important in life: family, friendships, and beautiful music.  Illustrator Lissy Marlin did a fantastic job capturing Ana María’s essence and neighborhood in this dynamic cover, which I am happy to share with you now  .  .  .    

And here is an exclusive excerpt:

     I walked down the hallway to the living room.  Doña Dulce was not alone.  As I came into the room, three people dressed in business suits stood up from the plastic-covered sofa where they had been cramped together.  One young woman and two gray-haired men.  My teacher shuffled toward me and took my arm.  “This is Ana María, one of my best students,” she said.

     “Hola, Ana María,” the woman said.  “Do you speak English?”

     “Of course,” I said.  I squinted at her, then remembered that Gracie always said that was my are-you-an-idiot look, so I quickly opened my eyes wide.

     “Oh, wonderful!” one of the men said.  “My name is Alan Flynn, and these are my colleagues Ms. Alonzo and Mr. Smith.  We’re from the Piano Teachers’ Association.”

     This was weird.  Every year Doña Dulce took her students downtown to be tested by the Piano Teachers’ Association.  We each brought a list of about ten pieces we had memorized, and the association judge picked a few for us to play.  Doña Dulce said this was how we knew we were really learning, and not just enough to satisfy her.  This past year I scored a 92, and Sarita got a 99, even though she probably deserved a 100.

     “The testers have been so impressed with the quality of Mrs. Sánchez’s students that we have invited her to bring two performers to our Winter Showcase.  Are you familiar with the Winter Showcase?”  I shook my head, and Mr. Flynn continued.  “We cosponsor it with the Eleanor School, and top piano students from all over the city perform at Lincoln Center.”

     The Eleanor School!  Would the scholarship people come to the showcase?  Could this help me get a full ride?

     “So,” Mr. Flynn said, “we will observe your lesson today and later select the two students who will perform.”

     “Okay,” I said.  I just stood there, not sure what to do next.  I couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility of that scholarship.

     “Come, come, sit down.”  Doña Dulce ushered me onto the piano bench.  She took her usual seat in the chair beside me.  The plastic on the couch grunted when the three visitors sat back down.               “Let’s start with Schumann.  ‘The Happy Farmer.’”

      I was relieved to hear that.  When I first learned to play “The Happy Farmer,” I struggled with some of the chords, but not anymore.  I started loudly with my left hand, softly with the right.  My fingers bounced on the keys, hitting the right notes on tempo, switching the dynamics at the correct moments, ending with a soft, slow chord.  By the time I finished, I had forgotten all about the Piano Teachers’ Association people.  But then I heard papers rustling and whispered voices, and, right away, I remembered.  “Very well executed staccato,” one man murmured.  “Great rhythm,” the woman said.  I looked at Doña Dulce without turning my head.  She was looking at me too.  We both smiled.

     The rest of the lesson went by quickly.  Every time I stopped playing I heard positive comments from the association people.  Then I would sit up a little taller and play a little louder for the next piece.  Not to brag, but by the time I played my last piece, I probably sounded like Sarita.  Doña Dulce also had me play a few scales and arpeggios to show that I had the basics down.

     When my hour was over, I stood up.  I wondered if I should just leave or turn around and say goodbye.

     “It was very nice to meet you, Ann Marie,” Mr. Flynn said.  He held his arm out and shook my hand just like a grown-up.

     “Ana María,” I said.

     He looked puzzled.

     “My name.  It’s Ana María, not Ann Marie.”

     Mr. Flynn lifted his chin, frowned, and said, “Ohhh.”  He looked a little annoyed.

     Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, I thought.  Maybe I won’t get picked now.

I hope you enjoyed this excerpt, and I look forward to sharing the whole book with you in October!

Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle is available now for preorder at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

On Knowing Enough To Know That We Don’t Know It All [PLUS EXCLUSIVE COVER REVEAL] by Stephen Bramucci

Five months ago, my publisher, Bloomsbury, told me they wanted to change the title of my first book. The idea was a shock to the system. The book had always been called Ronald Zupan and the Pirates of Borneo!, and I was deeply enamored with the Indiana Jones-ish, pulpy feel of that title.

As it turned out, the Bloomsbury team still wanted to keep the  “and the Pirates of Borneo!” bit—it was the narrator’s name they wanted to cut, in favor of something that would include the book’s other main protagonist, 11-year-old Julianne Sato. Something like The Adventure Crew and the Pirates of Borneo! or The Daring Duo and the Pirates of Borneo!

If there was a combination of adjective and noun, you can bet I tried it.

The Thrill Brigade.
The Peril Squad.
The Hazard Team.

Nothing felt quite right. My editor, Mary Kate Castellani, waited patiently.

In June, I flew to Thailand with my girlfriend. On the first day of the trip, riding in the back of a tuk tuk on the way to a train station, I was finally able to separate myself from the old name. To detach a little. I could see that for all of Julianne Sato’s hard work in the novel, leaving her out of the title would be a slight.

Almost instantly, a new title popped into my head, as if it’d been waiting there all along. I turned to my girlfriend. “The Danger Gang and the Pirates of Borneo!”

She was counting bills to pay our driver. “I like it.” She flashed me a smile. “Actually, I really like it.”

I repeated the title as we bought tickets. I muttered it again as we boarded a 1940s-era train. That night, I emailed the title to Bloomsbury.

Their reply came the next day: Everyone was all in on the Danger Gang.

***

A few weeks ago, I was chatting with my friend Jarret Myer, one of those rare folks whose expertise is having a sense of what’s cool. I told him that story because we were talking about how collaboration is essential to making art and sometimes you have to be willing to bend. Or at least I thought that was the point, until I started to leave and Jarret stopped me.

“Just so you know,” he said, “the new name is way better.”

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Put it this way: I’d pick ‘The Danger Gang’ up before I’d pick up the other one.”

When Jarret said it, I realized that I agree with him. The new name is more inclusive and fits perfectly with the book’s themes. It’s more big-hearted in its worldview. Ronald often idealizes himself as a solo hero, but in reality he’s not. Since he writes the book from the first person, past tense—after realizing that he couldn’t have succeeded on his mission without help—there’s no excuse for the old title.

I don’t put much stock in the notion of an author with a “singular vision.” I think we, as writers, can be overly rigid about our ideas and become myopic. The best luck we can strike is finding collaborators who will catch our blind spots. People who will urge us, as Mary Kate did when I was hesitant about the title change, to “Take some time and really think about this.”

We all like to talk about the writer’s toolbox. Perhaps one tool that too often gets neglected is the ability to recognize when someone else knows best.

***

With all that said, I’m thrilled to share the cover for The Danger Gang and the Pirates of Borneo. Like Ronald’s adventure, it hasn’t been a solo expedition. The illustrations (on the cover and inside the book) were done by the astoundingly talented Arree Chung—who has added constantly to the project by bringing awesome ideas and superb imagery to the table!

The Danger Gang and the Pirates of Borneo will be released in early August 2017.

Cover Reveal & ARC Giveaway for Marissa Burt's A LEGEND OF STARFIRE!!

The first time I noticed former Project Mayhem contributor Marissa Burt was on the Absolute Write message boards. I noticed her because her avatar was the cover for STORYBOUND, her (then) soon-to-be-released debut MG novel.  Marissa had won the debut author lottery with her amazing cover by Brandon Dorman, though, to give credit where credit is due, the artist had an incredibly rich world to work with in Marissa’s debut fantasy duology, set in a boarding school for fairy-tale characters.

 

STORYBOUND's follow up, STORY'S END continued the awesome cover luck with a contrasting cover that carried through the same sense of wonder and excitement.

When the first book of her second duology came out in October, it was clear Marissa had some serious MG cover mojo. The gorgeous cover of A SLIVER OF STARDUST, a Mother Goose-inspired fantasy, was done by Jakob Eirich, and it immediately drew the interest of my household’s resident 10-year-old.

So how to follow that up? Because A LEGEND OF STARFIRE is due out in October. Could Marissa’s amazing cover-streak hold?

In fact, it did! A LEGEND OF STARFIRE’s cover is as intriguing and evocative as all her others. Before the cover reveal (and ARC giveaway!), here’s a description of the book.

Apprentice Fiddler Wren Matthews thought she wanted nothing more than to resume her alchemy lessons at the Crooked House. But an urgent appeal from a friend sends her to the steampunk otherworld of Nod where stardust is mysteriously disappearing and horrific nightmares threaten everything the colony of Fiddler Magicians has built. Aided by her friends, Wren braves danger from the power-hungry leaders within the city walls and battles the half-animal, half-machine experiments-gone-wrong without in an effort to solve the mystery before the magic of Nod is lost forever.

So are you ready for the cover of this fantastical steampunk MG?

Here it is….

So if you’d like to win a signed ARC of A LEGEND OF STARFIRE, just leave a comment and tell us about some of your favorite middle grade covers!   

Out of Hiding … Cover Reveal for The Morrigan’s Curse by Dianne K. Salerni

Like many authors, I spend a lot of time imagining what the covers of my books will look like before I see them. In the case of the Eighth Day series, my mental images were wrong every time, but the actual covers were so much better than anything I imagined!

The cover of The Morrigan’s Curse might be my favorite one of all. There are, of course, ties to the other two: The title is integrated into the design. Jax is still running. (Poor kid.) There are everyday items abandoned in one corner, symbolizing an ordinary life left behind. But this cover is also different from the first two. It’s the first to feature any characters other than Jax – and the first to illustrate a specific scene in the book.

So I asked Heather Daugherty, Senior Designer at HarperCollins, and Mike Heath, the cover artist, to join me in presenting this cover reveal, because I had questions for them both.

1. For Heather: This is the first time the cover depicts an actual scene from the book. Why this scene? What are the most important elements in this cover for attracting readers?

This particular action scene from the book stood out to me as a real attention grabber for readers, and I thought the description of the setting and the architectural features in this scene would be very dynamic on a book cover. I think the action happening on the cover with our "bad guys" and the blue fireballs Addie is throwing are lots of fun! Who doesn't love blue fireballs?! And I think the genius idea Mike had to turn the title letters into hanging lights is something any reader will notice right away, and find very different and pretty cool.

 2. For Mike: The geometric patterns are fascinating, from the tiled floor and the different levels of the staircase to the ceiling molding and the title hanging perpendicular. How do all these angles work to draw the eye where you want it to focus? 

When I was pitching ideas for this series, I thought it’d be unique to integrate the title into the artwork in a fun way—and fortunately, I was selected to help with these titles! The Morrigan’s Curse presented a new challenge because we wanted to use an indoor setting and that immediately meant we would have challenges fitting a long word like "Morrigan" in a small space. The last two books had the fortune of being in large spaces like tunnels or streets but this had to work on a staircase. That being said, I immediately thought of M.C. Escher as he has some very interesting use of space in his work. Additionally, Heather, the cover designer, was drawn to the "never-ending" staircase room from the Harry Potter series, so with those inspirations in mind I began designing the space.

I used white and black because of the book descriptions and this also gave the space a slightly creepy feel which was what we were after. Additionally, I was wanting to create a staircase that you couldn’t see the beginning or end to add to the mystery. Finally, I thought it’d be extra creepy to have portraits on the walls all staring at the viewer with cold expressions! After the space was designed to accommodate large title letters right in the middle of the composition, we began playing with how the title sat in the space. We did everything from hanging it like a chandelier with all letters at different angles and heights to laying it on the banister of the staircase etc. The final composition was the most readable to everyone reviewing the art. Once we had the space layed-out, it was time to light the scene. Lighting is VERY important to most artists and this cover was no exception. We used a mixture of cold outdoor light mixed with hints of warm incandescent lighting which gave a nice balance to the image. I also like using haze to separate elements and this again helped with readability to our title.

 3. For Mike: What is your favorite part of the design process — the conception for the cover as a whole or putting in all the details that make the image so rich (ex: the architectural details, the creepy artwork on the walls)? 

My favorite part of the illustration process is finding the space with which I’m telling my story in. My work is very much about characters IN a setting and these covers had so many fun elements to work into the final artwork. I usually build anywhere from 1-3 different designs and then spend a while tweaking the final location with color, lighting, and other little details like props that contribute to the mood or story moment. I spend most of my time building ‘virtual’ sets for my covers—meaning, I design the architecture in a 3D program and use a high-end render engine called Vray to help me create my composite images. I typically finish the image by conducting photo shoots with models and then create a final composite in Photoshop. Again, it’s about telling a story with great settings, characters, and action for me.

Thank you, Mike and Heather, for sharing this design process. Before I share the cover, I want to say that I’d really love to live in this house. Well, vacation there, at least. But I’d have to remove the wall art or I’d have nightmares.

*

*

*

Publication Date: January 26, 2016

Synopsis: 

The age-old battle between Kin and Transitioners is escalating and now the Kin have a new weapon: Evangeline’s younger sister, Addie. With magical Emrys blood flowing in her veins, Addie is the Kin’s best chance to break the Eighth Day spell, which will unleash chaos upon the world. Riley and the Crandalls are trying to get her back, but it might mean sacrificing thousands of lives in the meantime, which is an impossible decision to make. As Evangeline’s vassal—sworn to protect her and her people—Jax won’t accept letting Addie’s fate hang in the balance, so he puts it all on the line with a risky plan of his own.

            Addie isn’t aware of the war at her heels, or the threat that the Kin pose, but enjoys finally being allowed to use her magic. No longer in the shadow of her sister, Addie finds herself a key part of the Kin’s plan. But when Jax shows up, attempting to rescue her, the Kin pounce—making Addie realize that she’s been walking a fine line between control and utter oblivion.

            And that’s not all. The Morrigan is on the loose, pushing both sides of this fight toward annihilation. The conflict is raging, but on which side will Addie stand? With the stakes higher than they’ve ever been, Jax, Riley, and Evangeline must confront the possibility of losing Addie to save the world.

Birth of a Cover Design: A Step-by-Step Reveal of BOUNDERS by Monica Tesler

Welcome to the

BOUNDERS Cover Reveal and Interview with Cover Illustrator Antonio Caparo

a guest post by Monica Tesler

I am so excited to reveal the cover for BOUNDERS, the first book in my debut middle grade science fiction series coming in early 2016 from Simon & Schuster/Aladdin. And I’m particularly delighted to share the cover here at Project Mayhem.

A few years ago, just as I was jumping into the query trenches with BOUNDERS, I entered a contest at Project Mayhem hosted by former Mayhemmer, Mike Winchell. As one of the top finalists in the contest, I won an opening pages critique from current Mayhemmer, Dianne Salerni. Her feedback was instrumental in helping me mold BOUNDERS into the book it is today. So when I prepared for the cover reveal, I knew Project Mayhem would be the perfect place.

I am so happy that Antonio Caparo, my incredibly talented cover illustrator, agreed to answer a few questions about his work and the design process behind the BOUNDERS cover. When I first saw the cover art, I was blown away. The illustration is stunning, unique, and perfectly captures my book and its characters.

  

First of all, Antonio, I have to tell you how much I love the BOUNDERS cover! I can’t imagine a more perfect illustration to introduce this story and these characters. So thank you! And thanks for answering a few questions. Kicking things off, how did you get started in cover illustration?

I studied Graphic Design at the Superior Institute of Design in Havana. On the first year I found a book at the Institute’s library: Guide to Fantasy Art Techniques. It contained interviews to some of the most prolific artists of the moment: Jim Burns, Chris Foss, Boris Vallejo, Syd Mead. I was totally blown away and that defined a path for me. I would do Graphic Design, Comics or Animation on my professional life but illustrating Sci-Fi and Fantasy books became a passion and an obsession for me.

Well I’m very happy that it did! On the business side of things, who do you work with at the publishing house? And how does the process get started?

The process starts at my agency. They contact me about a possible project. Apart from dates, budget and terms they usually share some basic information about it to see if I’m interested and if I agree then I get in touch with the publishing house, most frequently the Art Director to discuss the project in detail.

I’m often asked—and I’m curious myself—how is the scene or image for the cover determined? How much direction are you given from the publisher?

This varies depending on the project. Sometimes they just give me a rough concept of what they want, others they give me a more precise description of a scene, main characters, general tone and sometimes I get total freedom to present my own ideas. Most Art Directors send me samples from both my portfolio with the pieces they like the most and from other covers in the market.

How much information I get varies from project to project. Some Art Directors share the entire manuscript to read and sometimes I can’t get more than a brief description to work with.

Now moving on to BOUNDERS, could you describe your actual design process for the cover?

I had the opportunity to read the entire manuscript so I was lucky to have a great input from the book and its fascinating characters. The more I can read into a book the more ideas will come to my mind. I ended up doing four different sketches. I always use ballpoint pen on a sketchbook to doodle the first concepts, it is the fastest way for me to put the ideas out of my mind.

Then I re-drew the most promising ones with graphite pencil, scanned them and added some quick splashes of grey and cyan in Photoshop to define lights and shadows before sending the sketches to the Art Director.

As you can see here I was so fascinated by the idea of the spheres of light that I went ahead and created a batch of light spheres ecosystems in a 3D program that I used both in the sketches as in the final image.

The selected one -which happily was also my favorite- got a color treatment with the final color palette and after a final review and some minor adjustments from the publishing house I got approved to proceed to finals.

So the process for the final image started. I placed the final sketch in a separate layer in a Photoshop file and having it as a guideline I started to build the final image from the background -back wall, station structures- up to the foreground -kids, spheres of light and effects-

There is so much energy and movement in the BOUNDERS cover. How do you bring those elements into an illustration?

The first roughs I did were a bit static and I felt they didn’t catch the feeling of the book quite right. So I started by twisting the horizon. It is a simple technique that helps accent the sense of action and peril. I also exaggerated the body poses cheating gravity a bit but without making them look like superheroes because above all I wanted them to look as regular kids. I also played with dynamic compositional lines trying to connect one element to another  with a sort of musical rhythm to make the viewer spins around the cover. Also the light played an important role here. For an image with so much movement as this one you need a clear focus point to connect and organize all the elements together.

That is so cool! I loved getting a behind-the-scenes peek at how the BOUNDERS cover was created. What do you like most about being a cover illustrator?

I have done different kinds of illustrations from school textbooks to advertising but the possibility to create a single image that encompass a story is specially challenging and exciting. A cover is a door into the book and getting it done right is a difficult task. You need to show a bit of a story or magnetic characters -but not too much- that hook the readers and make them want to know more, to travel inside the pages.

That is a perfect way to explain the importance and magic of a cover, particularly for middle grade books! Where can we find out more about you and your incredible work?

My personal website is:

http://www.antoniocaparo.com/

And this is the site of my agency, Shannon Associates:

http://www.shannonassociates.com/artist/antoniojaviercaparo

And my personal blog:

http://antoniocaparo.blogspot.ca/

Thanks so much for answering a few questions and sharing your art, Antonio! I am so happy that we got the chance to connect over the terrific cover you created for BOUNDERS!

And now, find out more about BOUNDERS and see the final cover!

Thirteen years ago, Earth Force, a space-military agency, discovered a connection between brain structure and space travel. Now EarthBound Academy has recruited the first group of cadets, Bounders, to be trained as aeronauts and experts in quantum ship bounding—traveling anywhere in the universe in a split second.

Twelve-year-old Jasper is in the first group sent out to space. After being bullied back on Earth, Jasper is excited to serve in Earth Force and connect with the other cadets. At the Academy, Jasper and his new friends have a blast playing in the sensory gym and riding the suction chutes that connect the space station structures, not to mention learning about new technologies and taking classes on the proper use of jet packs.

But soon Jasper learns that they haven’t been told everything about Earth Force. The cadets weren’t brought to space to become perfect aeronauts, but to learn a new, highly classified tech that allows them to quantum bound . . . without a ship. And that might not be the only secret that Earth Force has been keeping—the new technology may have been stolen, and the original owners want revenge.

When Jasper and his friends discover the truth about why Earth Force needs the Bounders, they are faced with a choice: Do they rebel against the Academy that brought them together? Or do they fulfill their duties and protect the planet, no matter the cost?

With an alien threat on the horizon, they don’t have much time to decide.

  

Monica Tesler lives in a coastal community south of Boston with her husband and their two boys. She is the author of BOUNDERS, a new middle grade science fiction series coming in early 2016 from Simon & Schuster/Aladdin. You can find her online at www.monicatesler.com and on twitter as @MonicaTesler.

Cover Reveal & Giveaway for A SLIVER OF STARDUST, by: Marissa Burt

**Update: Three winners for the ARC giveaway have been selected through rafflecopter's random number generator and notified. Thanks so much to all of you for reading Project Mayhem's blog and for entering the giveaway! I'll let you know of other ARC giveaways for A SLIVER OF STARDUST via my twitter or facebook page. Happy reading! M**

You Guys.

I am beyond excited to reveal the cover for my next book, A SLIVER OF STARDUST.
...
Many, many thanks to the extremely talented people behind this gorgeous cover: to Jakob Eirich who created the jacket art, to David Coulson who did the lettering, and to Michelle Taormina who designed the jacket, and to everyone else on the Harper Team who continues to overwhelm me with their brilliant creative work.
...
But wait! Before you see the cover, a little bit about the story from the jacket copy:

I am a gold lock.

I am a gold key.

However high and low you hunt,

You'll never find me.

Wren Matthews outgrew nursery rhymes a long time ago. Little did she know that songs of twinkling little stars and four-and-twenty blackbirds are the key to the ancient magic of stardust - a magic that only a few people can see and use. And Wren is one of them.

Wren has always preferred to stick to herself. But when she is invited to the faraway fortress where an ancient order has long studied and guarded the stardust, she doesn't hesitate to accept.

Soon Wren is swept up in strange dreams, buried secrets, and rumors that an old enemy is plotting his return. As she tries to master her new abilities, Wren only knows one thing for sure. there's magic in the world - and it's waiting for her.

In the stars, a world of wonder and

magic awaits...but it is in grave danger,

and only Wren can save it.

...

And now...

And, because I want you to see how fantastic the back of the cover is:

Wow. I just can't stop gushing about it...prepare yourself for exclamation points! The aurora! The fantastic details! The glow of the lights in the Crooked House! The excitement on Wren's and Simon's faces! The shadows and spray of the water! The wingspan of Wren's falcon! I love Wren and Simon and their story so much and am so delighted that this cover captures the spirit of their adventure.

Count down the days with me until A SLIVER OF STARDUST will make its way into the hands of readers on October 20, or you can pre-order it now at Amazon!

But if you can't wait that long, enter below for a chance to win one of three ARCs that I'm giving away. Tweet or facebook about the giveaway every day from now until Friday 2/27 for more chances to win. This giveaway is open to US addresses only, and I'll send out the ARCs as soon as they become available.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal -- The Last Enchanter

The Last Enchanter 

by Laurisa White Reyes

One year and ten days ago--right here on Project Mayhem--I posted a review and giveaway HERE of The Rock of Ivanore, book one of the Celestine Chronicles series. Today, I am excited to share the cover reveal of book two: The Last Enchanter. 

The Last Enchanter is scheduled to be released October 15th, 2013. The paperback version of The Rock of Ivanore will also be released that day.

I can't wait to see where this truly EPIC story will take us this time!

Synopsis:

Months have passed since Marcus and Kelvin succeeded in their quest to find the Rock of Ivanore. Kelvin is living as royalty in Dokur, and Marcus is studying magic with Zyll. When Fredric is murdered and Kelvin becomes king, Zyll and Marcus head for Dokur in hopes of protecting Kelvin from meeting the same fate, though it quickly becomes apparent that none of them are safe, and Marcus has had disturbing visions of Zyll's death. With the help of his old friends Clovis and Bryn, joined by new friend Lael--a feisty girl in search of her mother--Marcus uncovers a powerful secret that will change the course of his life forever.

And as a special treat . . . 

THE PROLOGUE: 

  

Lord Fredric, ruler of Dokur, stared out his window toward the sea. The sounds of the cutting and hammering of wood, and of men shouting came to him on a crisp salty breeze. Below in the bay, Dokur’s navy was busy rebuilding their ships. Eight months earlier Fredric’s own son had led the Hestorians to these very shores, and Dokur had nearly fallen by their swords. But soon these ships would set sail for the mainland and take revenge on them.

Fredric heard the door behind him open. The gentle clinking of crystal against silver was the only introduction the visitor needed.

            “Is it time already?” Fredric asked without turning. “I would like a little wine to soothe my nerves before bed.”

            Arnot filled a goblet and handed it to his Lord with a slight bow. Fredric downed the contents, and then returned the empty goblet.

“I fear I have grown too old for battle,” said Fredric, crossing the room to his bed. “These eyes have witnessed too much bloodshed, too much suffering.”

            He held out his arms while the sable-skinned attendant removed his royal robe and replaced it with a linen nightshirt. Once Fredric was dressed, Arnot went to the bed and pulled back the covers. “Your bed is prepared, my Lord.”

            Fredric rested his hands on the edge of the mattress. “My stomach,” he said. “It bothers me so.”

            “Perhaps you should rest, Sire,” replied Arnot.

            Fredric rubbed his stomach and then raised his hand to his forehead where beads of sweat had formed.

            “I am not well tonight,” he continued, sighing. “But such is to be expected at my age.”

            Suddenly, Fredric clenched his teeth together and his hands balled into fists against the mattress. He groaned as his entire body began to shake. Fredric grabbed the quilt in both fists and pulled with such force that the fabric tore. A moment later he dropped to his knees, gasping for air.

            “I am in pain,” he cried. “Fetch my doctor!”

            Arnot remained where he stood with his back to the colorful tapestry that hung ceiling to floor against the wall. He stared at Fredric with cold eyes.

            “Arnot,” called Fredric, reaching for the attendant with both hands. “Please help me!”

            A faint smile appeared on Arnot’s lips—so faint that Fredric wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. When the attendant finally crossed the room to the door, Fredric felt relieved that help would be found. He lay down on the floor, too weak now to lift himself into the bed.

            “Tell my doctor to hurry,” he whispered. “Tell him I am very ill.”

            Arnot looked back at Fredric. The smile on his lips was now unmistakable, and there was a look of pleasure in his face.

            “You are not ill,” he said coolly. “You have been poisoned.”

            Then Arnot slipped through the door and shut it quietly and securely behind him.

*********************************** 

Feel free to stalk Laurisa White Reyes at the following spots:

• Website
• Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter

 
Add The Last Enchanter to your Amazon wish list HERE

Find it at B&N HERE 

Add it to your Goodreads list HERE 

 

STORY'S END Cover Reveal and Giveaway!

And the WINNER, chosen by Rafflecopter's random number generator, is: STACEY MOORE!  I'll e-mail you to get your mailing info from you, Stacey.  Thanks again, everyone, and happy summer reading!

***

Hello Mayhemers!

I am thrilled to share the cover for Story's End with you!  Get ready to be amazed!  Brandon Dorman,  Alison Klapthor, and the entire team at HarperCollins Children's once again did a tremendous job!

I'd also love to give away an ARC of Story's End to one lucky reader.  If you'd like to enter, fill out the form below.  As soon as ARCs are available (I'm thinking July or August), I'll happily send one out to the winner!

Thanks for stopping by! a Rafflecopter giveaway