Wednesday posts generally feature decorating, health,
or family budget articles. Today we’re veering from the norm, in part because
today is the birthday of the real mom of Jack, Zoe, and Chase (Happy Birthday,
Jen!) So it seemed a fitting day to announce the publication of The Magic Paintbrush.
Back in 2009 Lois Winston (who recently became a USA Today bestselling author!) came up with the idea for a chapter
book for young readers. Shortly after she finished writing it, she sold the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, and as all of you know, her life
has pretty much been centered around yours truly ever since (with the occasional
detour to bring other characters into the world when I allows it.)
Frankly, she pretty much forgot about The
Magic Paintbrush.
Until she recently remembered it…
With
all the war and turmoil currently going on in the world, she thought it was time
to shake the dust bunnies off The Magic Paintbrush and make it available to young readers.
Without
being preachy, The Magic Paintbrush addresses the issue of
differences, in this case, a kingdom that is all pink at war with a kingdom
that is all blue for longer than anyone can remember—so long that no one even
knows what started the feud. It takes two children from another land to point
out to the rulers of both kingdoms how we're really all the same inside and the
benefits to getting along.
Now
if only people in the real world would do likewise…
The Magic
Paintbrush
When nine-year-old Jack and his seven-year-old sister
Zoe are snowed in for days with nothing to do, their complaints land them in
every guy’s worst nightmare—the kingdom of Vermilion, a land where everything
is totally pink! At first Jack is mistaken for a spy from the neighboring kingdom
of Cobalt, but Zoe convinces Queen Fuchsia that they’re from New Jersey and
arrived by magic.
Queen Fuchsia needs a king, but all the available
princes in Vermilion are either too short, too fat, too old, or too stupid.
Jack and Zoe suggest she looks for a king in Cobalt, but Vermilion and Cobalt
have been at war since long before anyone can remember. Jack and Zoe decide
Vermilion and Cobalt need a Kitchen Table Mediation to settle their
differences. So they set out on an adventure to bring peace to the warring
kingdoms—and maybe along the way they just might find a king for the queen.
The
Magic Paintbrush is suitable for
children eight years of age and up to read on their own. Younger children will
enjoy the story if it’s read to them. You can read an excerpt here.
Buy Links:
ebook:
This is awesome, Lois. :) I'm so glad you published it at last.
ReplyDeleteBrava! I have a few friends in the children's literature world & I will be pleased to share this link.
ReplyDeleteSounds colorful & FUN!
Jan Godown Annino
Bookseedstudio
It sounds like a really good book, Lois. I'd sat on the idea for my THE SHERLOCK HOLMES DETECTIVE CLUB for six years before I got around to writing it. I have another middle-grade book, too, that I've been thinking about digging out. I started that one at least ten or more years ago. Alas and alack, time does have a way of getting from us, doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barbara!
ReplyDeleteJan, thanks so much for passing along the link to the blog!
Gloria, if we could only find a way to clone ourselves, right? Think of all we'd accomplish!
Congratulations on publishing your children's book, Lois. It sounds like it will teach children a valuable lesson. What a great idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Haley!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a versatile lady!!!! Thelma Straw in Manhattan
ReplyDeleteThanks, Thelma and Angela!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful book, Lois ~ Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Connie!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on this one, Lois! Looks good, and I love the cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bobbi! The cover was quite a learning experience, and I'm very happy I have such a talented son who was able to help me create my vision for it. I couldn't have done it without his technical expertise.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad there are other grandmas who don't bake or knit. This is one I shall read to my Princess Ella when she's old enough to understand. So much fun, Lois. And what a great idea. A good story is a terrible thing to waste.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Polly! I hope Princess Ella enjoys the story. (And it might give you a few good laughs, too!)
ReplyDelete