FANTASY & Historical BOOKS FOR CHILDREN, Mid Grade.,

6/25/13

JUDGE A NATION BY THE SMILES, BY THE LAUGHTER OF HER CHILDREN!
(Michaels)

M.C. Arvanitis

Author of Mid-grade Fables 

  

                          Available in e-books and Print books       

                 
    BUY AT: 


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SOON TO BE OFFERED
BOOK THREE OF M.C.ARVANITIS'S FABLES.

PIXIES OF THE FERNS; Fernella's Magic

and 

Book One of MC Arvanitis's Historical YA Books.




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For further information on upcoming books or comments on published books                                         contact Margaretarvanitis@gmail.com.


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4/26/13

SHORTS ON THE LINE


Sometimes when I am editing my brain rebells at reading the same thing over and over again I change gears and put my fingers at writing SHORTS.  These are stories of 500 to 2000 words that would have found homes in the house hold magazines if they still  published short stories. 

I file my "shorts" away, hoping to publish them someday .. and now with e-publishing I have the "on" line to hang them on.  

And sometimes luck will have it that some kind blogger will ask for a short story.. just as Jacqueline D. did for her Writing Blog where she shared both her writing and that of others. 

The challenge:  Write a short story using this setting: 
When - the future, any time in the future
Where - your choice
Who - Talia and Leon


My story, "The Magician and the Cat" starts out: 

The Magician and the Cat.
M. C. Arvanitis

Leon Zoker shook his head in disgust. "I can't believe you did that, Talia. Why do you insist on using magic? You’re gonna get us arrested with your stupidity."
"Oh stop whining, Leon. You’re so paranoid. All I did was start the fire. It takes too much time to use a fire stick."
Leon pulled nervously on one end of his long flowing mustache. In 3010, the new government had declared all magic illegal and gave their AntiMagic forces orders to round up all known magicians. When caught they were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. Now they were after his sister, Talia. He looked down the road they had come, with one hand on his personal phaser, waiting for something unforeseen to happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can read the rest of the Story at Jacqueline's blog" 
http://jdrite.blogspot.com/

And stay tuned -- More of my 'shorts" will be flying on line soon.





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4/13/13

HANK of TWIN RIVERS, three plus series. Nebraska history, 1855, pioneer life on the Nebraska plains.


HISTORICAL FICTION


My first timed series is about Nebraska pioneer history 


'HANK OF TWIN RIVERS, JOURNEY OF CHANGE'  will be out as an e-book in early spring, 2013.


Cover art by Dori Murnieks

    Thirteen-year-old Hank loses his doting mother from cholera. He conflicts with his father who believes that punishment will make a man out of a boy. His Irish Uncle Mac brings humor into his life and serves as a cushion between the two. His feeling for his pet cow, Clementine, makes life easier. When Hank’s pa decides to leave their Iowa homestead to find free land on the Platte River in western Nebraska Hank is forced to go with him. He finds travel mates in Rusty, a southern dandy and the “pain in the neck “tease, seven year old Nora. He tangles with the thieving Butler Brothers, gets acquainted with a black tracker along the Platte, and discovers the preacher's daughter, a tomboy who doesn't like boys.


The story takes place from Iowa along the Missouri River, to the trails that follow the Platte River in Nebraska, mainly on the Oregon Trail between Omaha and North Platte where the north and south Platte merge. The idea came to me while living in southeast Nebraska in the town of Fremont near the Platte River where I raised my family. Having three adventurous boys we got to know the Platte river well while exploring the river banks, and checking out old cabins long ago discarded, along with fishing for catfish, and bullheads, (good eating by the way). I wondered what it would be like for a boy to travel on the trails that led thousands of people on to California and Oregon. Thus began the story. 



Traveling along the Platte


The Platte is one of the most significant tributary systems in Nebraska. The river valley played an important role in the westward expansion of the United States, providing the route for several major emigrant trails, including the Oregon and Mormon Trails. The Platte River is formed in western Nebraska east of the city of North Platte by the confluence of the North Platte and the South Platt Rivers, leading to the Missouri River. It is a shallow muddy, broad, meandering stream with a swampy bottom and many islands and ever-changing mud bars. It was known for quicksand and considered a dangerous river to cross.









The emigrants  lived off the land, fishing, and hunting deer, antelope, elk, ducks, geese, and their staple, the colorful prairie chickens.   


                                       Other prairie creatures entertained them. 

Along the way they saw bright-eyed river otters, busy beavers, 

and the sentenal of the prairie, prairie dogs. The illusive coyotes sang Hank to sleep at night.





Large herds of buffalo (dangerous when stampeding, as Hank found out.) furnished dried manure patties known as buffalo chips for making fires.




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MORE OF HANK'S STORY



Book Two

The Eagle’s Nest



                                                         Cover art by Dori Murnieks

Hank, now fifteen, views the growth of Pa's trading Post, Twin Rivers, from a tall tree along the Platte River he calls his eagle's nest. He shares his eagle's nest with Becca, the preacher’s daughter, who changes her mind about liking boys. A school marm comes to town disrupting his relationship with Pa, which becomes worse when Pa takes a vote on sending escaped slaves back to their plantation. 

When caught in a blizzard Hank comes face to face with the legendary Wild Woman. 
He conflicts with a hard-drinking city boy who shoots his gun into the air and races his buggy through the streets endangering Becca's little sister. 



Much to the displeasure of Preacher Twiddle, and the school marm, who is to be his stepmother, 

Hank makes friends with a Pawnee boy. 
 When she convinces Pa to send him away to get a 'proper' education 
he rebels and runs away following the Horse Wranglers.  


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Book Three

Riding With the Wranglers 





(Cover pending)


While Hank joins the wild horse hunters to find a horse he can call his own, Becca's father takes her away from Twin Rivers back to Missouri. When he comes home to find her gone, Hank joins up with Hoss Smith and his Wranglers to help drive the herd to Texas. They follow the Chisholm Trail through Kansas and Oklahoma into Texas. He figures he can head to Missouri from there to find Becca. His search takes him through the Ozarks where his wounds from a bear attack is healed by an Ozark witch. He witnesses a battle of the Civil War, and meets up with his old friend who he finds wounded on the battlefield. A wild, hair-raising trip on stagecoaches, and steamboats takes Becca and Hank back to Twin Rivers where he finds changes in his family.

 (Book two and three will be launched sometime in 2013)






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 (Fourth of the series,  BECCA'S STORY  is now in the writing.)  


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3/18/13


4 FACTS ABOUT GIANT PANDAS

(Could these pandas be ELPanda Paws siblings?)


Fact Number One
The panda offspring, also known as the giant panda to distinguish it from the unrelated red panda, stays with its mother from one and a half to three years.

Fact Number two
The giant panda is the rarest animals in the world.

Fact Number three
Giant pandas live in mountain ranges in central China’s Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces.

Fact Number four
The giant panda is listed as endangered in the World Conservation Union's (IUCN's) Red List of Threatened Animals.
                                      http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/panda/37997.htm

So why did I choose a panda to write about in my first fantasy fable? 

Every child loves to read about Panda bears. That is why I chose it to be one of the protagonists in my early to mid grade Five Star rated Fantasy (Fable) ‘THE LEGEND OF ELPANDA PAWS’. The plot takes place around Christmas but it is by no means a read only at Christmas book, but a year round read.

Cover by Mariah Matthews

When a baby panda is cruelly snatched from its mother, the crime is felt far away in ELVanland where elves create the Love Bears that Santa delivers to sick children around the world. Only now this wonderful holiday enterprise is threatened by an epidemic of sadness called Negative Disease. The Love Bear production at the factory comes to a standstill. Can ELVina, head production officer, solve the problem in time to make the bears Mr. Claus needs?

What others are saying about THE LEGEND OF ELPANDA PAWS

Connie Reads: This book is delightful for the adult reader as well as for children. This creative writer gives a good life lesson as well as a good story. Looking forward to more of her writings.

Jean Booksessed: I think children will greatly enjoy this story and their parents won't mind reading it either. I think that there are also some good lessons about being positive and doing the right thing. I also love when a story has a happy ending.

Patsy B: The story had enough mystery and spice to keep me reading. I wanted to know what happened, and was happy with the resolution.

Dukie: Keeps your interest. Has a lesson involved. Encourages good and kind loving thoughts in helping young children to think out problems.

Alan Naye: The author creates an entertaining original tale that--without giving away any spoilers--teaches us that doing the right thing, even if it means making sacrifices, can overcome the most pessimistic thoughts. This is a fun read for both children and those of us who are children at heart

Paul Worthinton Jr:  A roller coaster ride -You will love it!

Dskosu: A joy to read. The Legend of ELPanda Paws is a great read for not only younger readers but adults as well.

Miss Mac: The author weaves a compelling tale of good overcoming evil that holds the reader's interest throughout the adventure.

Mariah: I recommend this for young e-readers. It's a delightful tale of adversity and how love triumphs over all. Easy reading for the little ones, about misguided Uglies, cute little Itzuses...and a Panda bear who is shipwrecked on a North shore and rescued by a community of Elves.

Karleene Morrow: This fun, imaginative book was joyful even for an adult to read. Made me wish my kids - or grandkids - were still little so I could read it to them. The author has a big child inside her.

Available both in print and e-book, you can buy it at these links:

 Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JEWTR2
 Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Legend-ELPanda-Paws-ebook/dp/B007JEWTR2/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1343741337&sr=1-3-fkmr1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-legend-of-elpanda-paws-m-c-arvanitis/1108487178?ean=2940032991939&itm=1&usri=the+legend+of+elpanda+paws+pawshttp://www.smashwords.com/books/view/120937

 Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/120937
How can you make your kid smile?
Read the book to him or her. 


How can you make me and ELPanda Paws smile?
Leave a review after you read our book! 









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11/27/12

Fables, mid grade, fantasy, mermaids, elves, selkies, PandaPREVIEW OF BOOKS BY M. C. ARVANITIS



FABLES  by M. C. AVANITIS

WHAT IS A FABLE?


 A brief tale embodying a moral using fantasy legends and mythical creatures, such as Mermaids, Elves, Pixies, Selkies, Leprechauns, Fairies, Imps, and other known characters. Some not so well known join in, such as Trows, Snergs, Gwilon, the Goat gwitihn, and the shape shifter, Puk-Wud-Jie.

My Fables include all of these and in addition I introduce other characters who live only in my mind, such as the Itizus, Sadie Squaette, and the evil Ughlies. Each fable holds exciting adventures and has a hint of romance.

These Fables are for young to mid-grade reader, and for non-reader listeners. Written in short chapters they are perfect for teacher reading to her students. I have published the first two both in e-books and print books. Number three, PIXIES OF THE FERNS, Fernella's Magic (where I introduce the shape shifter, Puk-Wud-Jie) will be on the market in early summer. 

The Legend of ELPanda Paws


Cover by Mariah Matthews

Links

E-book can be found at
The story takes place in the North Land, near the Bering Sea coast. For hundreds of years The Claus Corporation has contracted with the ELVanites to make the Love Bears, which are delivered to seriously ill children of the world. In order to insure that each bear carries love and comfort to these children only Elves with love and happiness in their heart can make the bears properly. Negative feelings are discouraged in ELVanland.

ELVina, head of production Manager, finds her elf workers suddenly afflicted with the negative disease, an illness that makes them slow and careless. They whine and break into tears at the least little happening. "What is going on, ELVina?" Inspector ELMonte asks. "I have never seen so many unacceptable bears come from this factory before. The work is sloppy and certainly will not pass Mr. Claus's standards."

ELVina knows that if the Love Bears are not made in time The Claus Corporation will not renew their contract for next year. No contract---no work; no work---no pay; the ELVanites will starve. Something is wrong in ELVanland. Something is terribly wrong! She must find out what is causing the Negative Disease.



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         "FORBIDDEN WINGS, A MERMAID'S STORY" 

Cover art by Mariah Matthews



The story takes place  in the Hildaland, hidden city near the coast of Rowsey. Nadeea, is different from the other mermaids but has been protected by her parents, King Eric and Queen Eldora. When they and the other adult Mers are enslaved in the pearl oyster beds at the bottom of the North Sea by Sea Lions, she must live in hiding with the other Mer children. 

Bullied by the leader of the young Mers, She find life unbearable. When she meets fairies, Cassandra and Alex, and sees their beautiful wings, she longs for wings too. Sir Cecil, the Snerg, takes her  on a long dangerous journey, crossing the battle field of the evil Trows to the home of the Damselflies where she may find wings. But when the Selkies declare war on the Sea Lions she is torn between joining them to save her family or waiting for wings. Are wings more important than saving her family?

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PIXIES OF THE FERNS; FERNELLA’S MAGIC
(publication pending) 

It begins with this rough draft sketch of the cover. 
(Designed by Mariah Matthews) 

This fable takes place in the mountains of Oregon, and tells of the adventure of Fernella Fabrizio, a young Pixie who is the seventh child of a seventh child. Each Seventh Pixie has some kind of magic and Fernella must find hers before her father will give his blessings to her marriage with Freddie.

When humans threaten the Fern Pixies’ home, Fernella and Freddie fly off to find a new place to build Fernville. An accident leaves Freddie badly hurt. Fernella braves the wilds of the Mt. Hood foothills to find help. She faces Imps, moles, blizzards, and floods, that take her further away from Freddie. In despair she tries to find her magic. She connects with the shape shifter, Puk-Wud-Jie, who helps her find it, but what good is magic if she doesn’t know how to use it?

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If you do read my books, please email me at Margielyn@aol.com and if you will,  leave a review at the link where you bought them.   (May your heart be blessed!) 
   
THANKS -- Margaret Arvanitis. 

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