SUPER MIDDLE GRADE MONDAYS BLITZ: Tracy Tam: Santa Command - Author Spotlight & GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to this week’s Super Middle Grade Mondays Book Blitz
presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books!

Today, we get up close and personal with

Krystalyn Drown

author of Tracy Tam: Santa Command
from Tantrum Books.

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

Krystalyn spent thirteen years working at Walt Disney World in a variety of roles: entertainer, talent coordinator, and character captain. Her degree in theatre as well as many, many hours spent in a dance studio, helped with her job there. Her various other day jobs have included working in zoology at Sea World, as an elementary teacher, and currently as a support technician for a website. In the evenings, she does mad writing challenges with her sister, who is also an author. Krystalyn lives near Orlando, Florida with her husband, son, a were cat, and a Yorkie with a Napoleon complex.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

Describe yourself in three words.

Quiet. Determined. Quirky.

Describe your book in three words.

Scientific. Magical. Santa-riffic

Tell us about your day job.

I’m a substitute teacher. I used to be an elementary teacher, but I love how subbing gives me more time to spend with my family and to write.

Which writers inspire you?

Judy Blume because she understood what it was like to be a preteen, Richard Peck because of Bel Air Bambi and the Mall Rats as well as all of his historical novels, JK Rowling because Harry Potter.

What is your writing process like?

I know the beginning, a few main points in the middle, and the end. Then I sit down and write. I send one of my critique partners (Dianne K. Salerni) my chapters one by one for feedback. Once I have a rough draft, then I write an outline and revise from there.

What are you reading right now?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Again.

Do you have an author crush?

Maggie Stiefvater. The way she writes her characters leaves me in awe.

Quick questions:

Physical books or eBooks? Physical books

Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook

Song you can’t get out of your head right now? Bad Blood by Taylor Swift

Sweet or salty? Sweet

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Write on computer or notebook paper? Computer

Tracy doesn’t believe that Santa can deliver all of those presents in one night with out a little help from science. A flying sleigh can only be powered by jet engines, and Santa’s magical abilities can only be the result of altered DNA. In order to test her theories, she sneaks onto Santa’s sleigh and ends up at Santa Command, the place where a team of humans monitors Santa’s big night. When Tracy attempts to hack into their computers, she accidentally introduces a virus to their system. As a result, three states get knocked out of sync with the rest of the world. Before the night is over, Tracy has to fix time and help Santa finish his deliveries. And she has to do it all with Santa’s magic, which she doesn’t believe exists.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound | iBooks | Google Bound | BAM

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

M9B/Tantrum Books TWO FOR THURSDAY BLITZ: Tracy Tam: Santa Command by Krystalyn Drown & Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show by Steve Bryant + GIVEAWAY!

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:

Tracy Tam: Santa Command by Krystalyn Drownand
Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show
by Steve Bryant

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

Tracy Tam doesn't really believe in Santa Claus, at least not like the rest of us do. She also doesn't believe that Santa can possibly deliver all of those presents in one night, to children around the world, without a little help from science. A flying sleigh can only be powered by jet engines, after all, and Santa’s magical abilities can only be the result of altered DNA. How else could he know what every little girl and boy wants for Christmas and who has been naughty or nice? In order to test her theories, Tracy sneaks onto Santa’s sleigh then ends up at Santa Command, where a team of (gasp!) humans monitor Santa’s big night. When Tracy attempts to hack into their computers, she accidentally introduces a virus into the system. As a result, three states get knocked out of sync with the rest of the world (oops!). Santa won't be able to deliver all the presents in time! Now, Tracy must fix time and help Santa, but she has no idea how. How can a girl who doesn't believe help Santa and save Christmas before it's too late? With a little Christmas magic, of course!

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

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“This is an adorable story and took me back to my childhood when i would stay up late and see if could catch Santa.” – Jan, Jrs Book Reviews

“Tracy Tam is an entertaining holiday read with a stubbornly scientific protagonist…” – Dianne, Author

“…packed with fun surprises and zany flips that turn expectations into wonder.” – Kim, Kim's Critiquing Corner

Krystalyn spent thirteen years working at Walt Disney World in a variety of roles: entertainer, talent coordinator, and character captain. Her degree in theatre as well as many, many hours spent in a dance studio, helped with her job there. Her various other day jobs have included working in zoology at Sea World, as an elementary teacher, and currently as a support technician for a website. In the evenings, she does mad writing challenges with her sister, who is also an author. Krystalyn lives near Orlando, Florida with her husband, son, a were cat, and a Yorkie with a Napoleon complex.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

Lucas Mackenzie has got the best job of any 10 year old boy. He travels from city-to-city as part of the London Midnight Ghost Show, scaring unsuspecting show-goers year round. Performing comes naturally to Lucas and the rest of the troupe, who’ve been doing it for as long as Lucas can remember.

But there’s something Lucas doesn’t know.

Like the rest of Luca’s friends, he’s dead. And for some reason, Lucas can’t remember his former life, his parents or friends. Did he go to school? Have a dog? Brothers and sisters?

If only he could recall his former life, maybe even reach out to his parents, haunt them.

When a ghost hunter determines to shut the show down, Lucas realizes the life he has might soon be over. And without a connection to his family, he will have nothing. There’s little time and Lucas has much to do. Can he win the love of Columbine, the show’s enchanting fifteen-year-old mystic? Can he outwit the forces of life and death that thwart his efforts to find his family?

Keep the lights on! Lucas Mackenzie’s coming to town.

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

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“It's a fun story with wonderful, unique characters.” – Lisa Cresswell, Author

“a great twist on the usual paranormal novels.” – Erika, WS Momma Readers Nook

“The characters are lovable, the adventure is great, with some comedy mixed in.” – Sarah, Aphonic Book Reviews

Steve Bryant is a new novelist, but a veteran author of books of card tricks. He founded a 40+ page monthly internet magazine for magicians containing news, reviews, magic tricks, humor, and fiction; and he frequently contributes biographical cover articles to the country’s two leading magic journals (his most recent article was about the séance at Hollywood’s Magic Castle).

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Complete the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR: Tracy Tam – Santa Command by Krystalyn Drown - TOP TEN + GIVEAWAY!

Hello! I know it might seem a little early, but today we're really excited to be featuring Tracy Tam - Santa Command by Krystalyn Drown. Krystalyn stopped by to give us her Top Ten Christmas Movies, and we hope you love her list as much as we did! She's got some really great movies and TV Specials that always bring back a lot of great memories.

There's also a giveaway for (5) digital copies of Tracy Tam - Santa Command, so make sure to enter via the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post. And also don't forget to visit all of the other fantastic stops on the tour! You can find the tour schedule by clicking on the banner above.

About the Book

Title: Tracy Tam - Santa Command

Author: Krystalyn Drown
Publication Date: October 22, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC

Synopsis: Tracy doesn’t believe that Santa can deliver all of those presents in one night with out a little help from science. A flying sleigh can only be powered by jet engines, and Santa’s magical abilities can only be the result of altered DNA. In order to test her theories, she sneaks onto Santa’s sleigh and ends up at Santa Command, the place where a team of humans monitors Santa’s big night.

When Tracy attempts to hack into their computers, she accidentally introduces a virus to their system. As a result, three states get knocked out of sync with the rest of the world. Before the night is over, Tracy has to fix time and help Santa finish his deliveries. And she has to do it all with Santa’s magic, which she doesn’t believe exists.

About the Author

Krystalyn spent thirteen years working at Walt Disney World in a variety of roles: entertainer, talent coordinator, and character captain. Her degree in theatre as well as many, many hours spent in a dance studio, helped with her job there. Her various other day jobs have included working in zoology at Sea World, as an elementary teacher, and currently as a support technician for a website. In the evenings, she does mad writing challenges with her sister, who is also an author. Krystalyn lives near Orlando, Florida with her husband, son, a were cat, and a Yorkie with a Napoleon complex.

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

 Krystalyn's Top Ten Christmas Movies

I love Christmas movies and can often be found watching them at every time of year. Here are some of my favorites.

A Muppet Christmas Carol – This was a brilliant TV special. Sadly, several songs were cut out of the DVD release due to copyright issues.

 

A Muppet Family Christmas – I watch this movie every year on Christmas Eve just to hear the song “One More Sleep Til Christmas” on the right day.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – A young Fairuza Balk stars in a perfect retelling of a perfect book.

A Charlie Brown Christmas – Charlie Brown is my hero.

Elmo Saves Christmas – It's narrated by Maya Angelou. Need I say more?

Eloise at Christmastime – The Eloise movies are pretty great adaptations of the books. Plus they star Julie Andrews as Nanny.

Elf – I love the references to the old Rankin Bass specials

All of the Rankin Bass specials – These signified Christmas to me when I was a child. Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Prancer – Just like Tracy Tam, all you have to do is believe.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular – I discovered this a couple of years ago on Netflix. While it's not really a movie, it's so much fun.

Whether they are old or new, animated or live action, all of these have special places in my heart, and every one is guaranteed to put me in the Christmas spirit.

 The Giveaway!

Giveaway Information:  Winner will be drawn November 21, 2014

Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Tracy Tam: Santa Command by Krystalyn Drown (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by! 

--Ashley & Paul