New Release Spotlight: Creative Writing Skills by Lexi Rees

Creative Writing Skills: Over 70 fun activities for children by Lexi Rees

Discover the secrets to becoming an amazing author

• Find your creative spark
• Grow your skills and confidence
• Have more fun with your writing

Packed with top tips, this awesome workbook has everything you need to know about creating colourful characters, perfect plots, dynamite dialogue, and lots more …

Amazon UK      Amazon US 

Lexi Rees writes action packed adventures for children. As well as the Creative Writing Skills workbook, the first book in The Relic Hunters Series, Eternal Seas, was awarded a “loved by” badge from LoveReading4Kids and is currently longlisted for a Chanticleer award. The sequel, Wild Sky, will be published in November.

When not writing, she’s usually covered in straw or glitter, and frequently both.

She also runs a free club for kids designed to encourage a love of reading and writing which you can check out here https://lexirees.co.uk/kidsclub/

Website https://lexirees.co.uk/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LexiAuthor/

Twitter https://twitter.com/lexi_rees

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lexi.rees/

Win 2 copies of Creative Writing Skills –

Choice of paperback or pdf for UK winners and pdf for international winners.

https://kingsumo.com/g/gw6isv/creative-writing-skills-workbook

New Release Spotlight & Review: Space Dragons by Robin Bennett

Space Dragons

If Stan Pollux had known he would be spending his summer holidays in the outer reaches of our solar system, he would have put on different underpants.

But when he gets kidnapped by the Planet Dragon Mercury, most things suddenly seem small and insignificant. Stan finds himself in a universe of dragons who had once ruled the skies as gods: Mars, Venus, Saturn and even Uranus way out back. This is shaping up to be the best summer holiday in the history of the cosmos until Stan discovers his stupid sister is missing and that Pluto (AKA Hades) is trying to use her to destroy the Solar System. And it will be all Stan’s fault if he doesn’t get Poppy back.

So, all Stan has to do is learn how to fight like a hero in space armour, defeat the dragon god of the Underworld, Hades, rescue his sister and save the world. All before his parents realise she is missing.

Amazon UK      Amazon US 

Stan Pollux is a year seven pupil at Long Wittenham Primary School. Interested in space, he's a boy lucky enough to own a telescope. He also has a little sister called Poppy who likes taking his belongings. One day, whilst rummaging in his bedroom his sister knocks over the telescope. Stan soon finds out something isn't quite right with his treasured belonging as he peers into the eyepiece... 

Space and dragons are popular themes and together, the author has blended them into a well-crafted story which should resonate with many children. As someone who grew up with a younger sibling, six years younger than myself, I definitely identified with Stan's annoyance at his sister's snooping around his bedroom! Yet, the story promotes the joy of having a close family and I liked how Stan looked beyond his irritation and became the protective big brother. 

Targeted at children between eight and twelve years old, but I feel this novel has a slightly wider reach based on my own personal experience with my son. Myself, I particularly liked the humour injected within the story:
'It was the sort of summer's day that you only get once or twice a year in England.'

As well as the creative way the author blended two popular themes together with an added twist.

As readers view things differently, I know for a fact the things I laughed at are different from what my son has found funny so far.

As I write this review, my son (Ogmoe) is at the 60% point in the e-book version and is really enjoying it. He found the book difficult to get into at first because the introduction didn't pique his interest, but once Stan's adventures began around chapter three, his Kindle has become his new 'best friend' again. As a young reader, he has just finished year seven at school (Norway), so relates to Stan and his interests in astronomy and PC games… The space-related information and facts are nothing new to him, but with the inclusion of the dragons and mythological references, he's now absorbed within the narrative, laughing out loud and telling me he doesn't want any spoilers from me now that I've finished reading Space Dragons. After the shaky start, I'm pleased he's fully invested in finishing this adventure with the same enthusiasm he's had for his favourite books (Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter and the William Wenton series by Bobbie Peers)

Overall, a big thumbs up from our household and we look forward to more adventures featuring Stan and Poppy in the future? 

***review copy generously received courtesy of the publisher Monster Books***

Robin Bennett is an author and entrepreneur who has written several books for children, adults, and everything in between. Listed in the Who’s Who of British Business Excellence at 29, his 2016 documentary "Fantastic Britain", about the British obsession with fantasy and folklore, won best foreign feature at the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards, and his first book for young adults, Picus the Thief, won the Writer's News Indie Published Book of the Year Award in 2012. Robin is also a director at Firefly Press

Twitter 

Giveaway to Win 10 x Hardcover Copies of Space Dragons – UK Only

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Release Spotlight & Review: Eternal Seas by Lexi Rees

Eternal Seas by Lexi Rees

Such a small parcel

shouldn’t cause experienced

smugglers much trouble,

but this parcel is far from normal.

Chased across the seas, Finn and Aria must solve the

mysteries within the parcel. 

What does it mean? Who should they trust?

What will happen?

The fate of an ancient people depends on them

and time is running out ...

 http://viewbook.at/EternalSeas

I don't normally review children's books, although I do spend much time trying to find books to appeal to my son. As he fits the target age for Eternal Seas he's been reading along with me and offers some of his own thoughts which I've included.

Finn and Aria live an idyllic life with their father, Ragnar aboard the Alcina. However, when they sail to Izmarli to pick up a parcel, both children are wary because it isn't a safe island to visit. Yet despite their initial fear, it soon becomes apparent, they are meant to be there...

An exciting sea-bound fantasy, Finn and Aria's adventure is fast-paced and perfect for inquisitive minds. Complementing the descriptive narrative are illustrations which offer the reader a lovely visual to describe new destinations or objects are mentioned.

The ending is satisfying as Finn, along with Aria complete the task after an action-packed journey across the seas. Everyone who has loved this book will be eager to follow up on the tantalising teaser left by the author which lays the foundation for the next instalment in the Relic Hunters series.

As a mature reader who read Enid Blyton's books at a similar age to the target audience, Eternal Seas washed a nostalgic feeling over me. I loved and devoured all the adventure books she wrote especially the Famous Five series and The Sea of Adventure. I particularly like how similar books I enjoyed as a child are available to my son with a more contemporary feel to them.

Although aimed at the nine to twelve age group, I feel younger readers would enjoy this book too; either by reading it themselves, along with an adult or as an audiobook, if it's an option. Overall, Eternal Seas has a wide appeal and bravo to author Lexi Rees for writing this delightful escapade.

4 stars

***arc received courtesy of via the publisher Troubador***

Lexi Rees spends as much time as possible sailing and horse riding, both of which she does spectacularly badly. Attempts at writing whilst horse riding have been disastrous, so Eternal Seas was written on a boat; the storm described in the book was frighteningly real.

www.lexirees.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/LexiAuthor

https://twitter.com/lexi_rees