MMGM: INTERVIEW w/ ELIZABETH BELLOWS

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Welcome to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM), a weekly event hosted by author Shannon Messenger. For a list of other MMGM posts, click HERE.

ALEXANDER DRAKE'S EXTRAORDINARY PURSUIT
Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows
Wild Child Publishing
110 pp.
E-book

Alexander Drake is a curious young man. He lives in a drab, oversized mansion with his secretive father and spends his days playing alone. Where is his mother? And why is his father so tight-lipped about the past?

But secrets have a way of getting out. And a stay at his grandmother's cottage provides strange clues to his father's past. A past Alexander is determined to find out about.

With a mysterious key and several maps in his pack, he sets off on an innocent search for answers about his family.

The discovery of a secret passageway opens the door to dangers, and wonders, unimaginable. And each answer leads to more questions and the journey of his life.

Join Alexander for a thrilling adventure in Azra's Pith, a place of beauty and magic... but beware--something evil lurks in the shadows.

onan innocent search for answers about his family.

The discovery of a secret passageway opens the door to dangers, and wonders, unimaginable. And each answer leads to more questions and the journey of his life. an innocent search for answers about his family.

The discovery of a secret passageway opens the door to dangers, and wonders, unimaginable. And each answer leads to more questions and the journey of his life.

Join Alexander for a thrilling adventure in Azra's Pith, a place of beauty and magic... but beware--something evil lurks in the shadows.

 AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

1.  Tell us about your book in one sentence.

Alexander Drake was searching for answers about his mysterious family… when he discovered a secret passageway he worried about what was searching for him.

2.  What inspired you to write this story?

Shortly after my son was born I had the idea to write stories to read to him. What started out as a short story blossomed into an entire series centered on imaginary characters I have carried with me since childhood.

3.  Share a little about your road to publication.

Oh, the hills and valleys... it was a long road!  I wrote “The Realm of Azra’s Pith”, that was the original title in 2006. It was picked up by a publisher in 2007; after months of anticipation for the release date the publisher folded. Let’s just say I felt a bit deflated; but you can only wallow in self pity for so long. I got back on the horse and started on my first revision. Several rewrites and a title change later “Alexander Drake’s Extraordinary Pursuit” was ready for another round of submitting to publishers. It was picked up by Wild Child publishing in 2009 and released June of 2011. Of the many lessons I learned in this process, one stands out the most – being a writer takes the patience of a jedi… I’m still working on it.

4.  What books did you enjoy reading when you were younger?

I was a huge fan of portal stories; naturally C.S Lewis was my favorite. I had a short attention span as a kid (pretty sure I still do).  I had to see a reading specialist because focusing on what I was reading was a challenge. When I read “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” for the first time I hung on every word. I opened the book and was in Narnia.  I was enchanted by idea of a portal to another land in a wardrobe and spent more time than I’m willing to admit searching for portals in my closet.

5.  What do you enjoy reading now?

These days I read a lot of Wayne Dyer, Neale Donald Walsch and some others. Of course, I go back to my favorites like “James and the Giant Peach” and “The Hobbit” to read to my kids.

6.  What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m hoping part 2, “The Return of General Drake” will by out by the end of the year. Part 3, “The Butterfly Curse” is almost done; though I’m sure there will be revisions… lots and lots of revisions. 

EXCERPT:

Ferdinand finally stopped, allowing Alexander to catch up. “Did you bring the key with you, young man?”

“Oh, yes! Is this what you’re talking about?” Alexander pulled the strange key out of his pocket. The sparkle and beautiful chiming intensified in his hands.

Ferdinand was mesmerized. “I haven't seen that key since....” The frog's eyes gleamed. It was apparent he had a connection to the key. “Let’s see if it still works.” The creature disappeared into a thick fern.

Alexander pushed the fern back to find him rubbing his long-fingered hands together with anticipation in front of a large dead tree.

“Okay, it’s a dead tree. What are we doing here?”

“Hush!” Ferdinand whispered with a sting in his tone. “We must watch for the Passageway. It appears; then it's gone at the blink of an eye.”

Within seconds, the rays of the sun shot through gaps in the surrounding trees onto the thick trunk. A small portion at the base took on a brassy tone, and radiant emerald leaves instantly sprouted from every curvy branch.

“It’s—it’s—magic—it has to be! Amazing! ” Alexander gasped. This was the tree in his dreams.

A glowing light beamed through the center, forming a slit barely large enough for the key to fit in. Alexander brought his hands to his face, partially covering his eyes. “I—I can't believe this is happening!”

“Alexander, hurry—the key—put it in!”

Alexander fumbled with the key and quickly slid it in the slot. The key turned on its own, without the help of Alexander's nervous fingers. Almost immediately, a portion of the tree dissolved into the tiny specks of light Alexander knew all too well. They danced in celebration, creating an intense energy field.

“Come, Alexander—we must move quickly!” Ferdinand took a blind leap into the specks of light and disappeared.

“I'm afraid!” Alexander was frantic. He had visited this tree in his dreams many times before. Could his mother have been trying to tell him something? “This is crazy! What have I gotten myself into?”

      This was far beyond anything Alexander could have ever imagined, but his heart ached for his mother, and he wanted answers. He knew if he truly wanted things in his life to change, this was something he must do. He closed his eyes and took a flying leap into the tree.