8th YAppiest Giveaway! “The Lost Code” by Kevin Emerson

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Adventure, Atlantis, Book Reviews, YAppiest, Young Adult

Tags

Adventure, Atlantis, BioDome, Book One of the Atlanteans, Dystopian, Ecology, Global Warming, Kevin Emerson, The Lost Code, YAppiest Day on Earth, YAppiest Giveaway, Young Adult

17 YA AUTHORS + DISNEYLAND = THE YAPPIEST DAY ON EARTH!

If you couldn’t make The YAppiest Day on Earth, never fear! The YAppiness keeps rolling with epic read giveaways by each of the 17 authors.

This is the 8th YAppiest Giveaway! For a chance to win a FREE copy of this book, see the “Here’s How” section below. The rules have changed slightly, so read them carefully. For a complete list of upcoming giveaways, go here.

“The Lost Code” Book One of the Atlanteans

It’s 2086, after the Great Rise, when the oceans rose, the ozone layer disintegrated, the sun turned deadly, and civilization unraveled into a harsh fight for survival.

15 year-old Owen Parker is familiar with hardship. He and his father have subsisted in an underground community called The Hub—beneath the sun-baked wasteland, once part of the United States—for as long as he can remember.

Owen’s never been lucky, that is until he wins the coveted Camp Eden summer camp lottery. Out of the thousands of entrants, Owen gets the opportunity to spend an idyllic summer in a world “like it was” before the Great Rise.

Camp Eden is located inside the EdenWest BioDome, an oasis of pine trees, cool water, that’s complete with 1950’s rustic summer camp charm. Only the wealthy can afford to live in biodomes, the only habitable environments safe from the sun’s deadly rays. Camp Eden is exclusive, even for those who can afford the price.

But Camp Eden isn’t as perfect as it seems.

Owen discovers this the hard way. An unfortunate drowning incident in Lake Eden results in weird wounds that appear on his neck. At least Owen thinks their wounds until Lilly, the gorgeous lifeguard, warns him to keep them secret. Owen soon learns that the “wounds” are a biological evolution, and they are the catalyst for his uncovering the secret buried deep beneath the lake. A secret from the distant past that is powerful enough to save the ailing planet.

The camp’s location is no coincidence, and sinister happening behind the summer camp facade are proof that the people running Camp Eden have ulterior motives. Owen won his camp scholarship based on his potential for unlocking the mysteries of the ancient civilization. And there are those who will do anything to posses that power. Owen soon realizes that the only way he can save the world is to escape from Camp Eden alive.

Edge-of-Your-Seat Adventure That’ll Rock Your World

What if Atlantis was real, and it’s lost technology could save the human race from imminent extinction? This is the fascinating, and shockingly plausible premise of “The Lost Code” Book One of the Atlanteans.

An advanced civilization fell thousands of years ago because of their misuse of power. To prevent the same thing from happening again, they sequestered their knowledge. Knowledge that Owen thinks can save their dying planet. But even if he can unlock the lost code to the secret knowledge of Atlantis, what is the price for exposing that power to the world?

Before the beginning, there was the end.
Three chosen to die.
And should the time come again when masters seek to bend the terra to their will, then the three shall awaken and save us all.

What I love about this book, besides the quirky characters, spot on summer camp scenes, steamy romance, and edge-of-your-seat suspense … is the way Kevin Emerson weaves scientific truths through the story to ground it in reality. The result is a bulletproof suspension of disbelief.

I’m super excited that “The Dark Shore” Book Two of the Atlanteans is already available. I’ve ordered my copy and can’t wait to find out what’s in store for Owen and Lilly!

Want to win an Author Signed Copy?

I have a special treat for one lucky winner… a band new copy of The Lost Code, Book One of the Atlanteans, signed by Kevin Emerson!

Here’s how to win…

NOTE: The FREE giveaway of a copy of this book is open to residents of the United States only, due to shipping costs. My sincere apologies.

Leave a comment on this blog–explaining WHY you want to read this book— by midnight, August 7th (1 entry).
Tweet about this giveaway, including #yappiest in your tweet (1 entry).

I’ll tally the entries and choose a winner, then announce it on this blog on Saturday August 10th. Good luck!

Stay tuned for more YAppiests Giveaways!

The Story Behind Mary Poppins ~ “Saving Mr. Banks”

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Disney, Disneyland, Movies, Walt Disney

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Dancing Penguins, Dick Van Dyke, Elizabeth Fais, Emma Thompson, Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins, Movies, P.L. Traverse, Saving Mr. Banks, Tom Hanks, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Family Museum, Walt Disney Studios, WDFM

The Trailer That Stormed the Twitterverse

A couple of weeks ago, news of the just-released trailer for a new movie about Walt Disney stormed the Twitterverse. That’s how I first heard about “Saving Mr. Banks”, the untold story behind Walt Disney’s acquisition of the rights for “Mary Poppins” — the much-loved children’s book by P.L. Traverse.

P.L. Traverse’s Mary Poppins books were loved by many, well before Walt Disney turned the first book in the series into a major motion picture in 1963.

But the whole world fell in love with Mary Poppins, when Julie Andrews starred in the leading role opposite Dick Van Dyke. The Sherman Brothers’ musical score had everyone singing the hit songs Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Spoon Full of Sugar, Step in Time, and Feed the Birds, to name a few.

Maybe it’s because so many of us grew up loving this story and its characters (even the dancing penguins!), that the trailer about the untold story behind the personalities that brought this story and film to life sparked a reaction similar “the tweet heard round the world.”

Characters Need To Be Larger Than Life

Anyone who’s seen Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color on TV (or became addicted to the reruns), is familiar with Walt Disney, the man: his voice, his mannerisms, and demeanor. So, it would be a hard-sell for any actor to fill those shoes. The same could be said for P.L. Traverse, if we were as familiar with her as we are with “Uncle Walt.”

I admit, that at first I was taken aback by Tom Hanks‘ impersonation of Walt Disney. My internal editor said things like, “Walt Disney didn’t talk like that” and “Walt Disney wasn’t that demonstrative.”

Then I took a step back and realized that P.L. Traverse probably wasn’t as pinched and twitchy as Emma Thompson‘s impersonation either. I finally realized that, much like the characters in the stories we write, the characters in movies have to be larger than life to be interesting.

Along with the characterizations of Walt Disney and P.L. Traverse … I’m sure embellishments were added and (or left out), to make the “story” screen-worthy. I’m OK with that, for the sake of an engaging (based-on a true) “story”. How about you?

A Sneak Peak at “Saving Mr. Banks”

To Learn More About the REAL Walt Disney…

If you are captivated by Walt Disney (the man) and all he accomplished, you should most definitely visit the Walt Disney Family Museum (WDFM) in the San Francisco Presidio. Trust me. It’s not like any museum you’ve ever been to. You will be amazed. You can find out more on my blog post about the WDFM here.

7th YAppiest Giveaway WINNER! “Let the Sky Fall”

23 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

17 YA AUTHORS + DISNEYLAND = THE YAPPIEST DAY ON EARTH!

The 7th YAppiest Giveaway! is for Let the Sky Fall, by Shannon Messenger. This book blew me away, and I know it will do the same to you.

And the Lucky Winner Is…

… Drum roll and wind song …

~oOo~

Barbara

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

*** Unleashes a whirlwind of confetti! ***

~oOo~

I’ll contact you via email for your address.

Coming Up Next!

The 8th YAppiest Giveaway! for The Lost Code, by Kevin Emerson is just around the corner, so…

Stay Tuned!

For a complete list of YAppiest Giveaways, go here.

Lost History: Central Park’s First Tavern, That Became a Convent, Then a Hotel

19 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Historic, Lost History, New York's Central Park

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Catherine McGown, Central Park, Civil War, Colonial Assembly, Elizabeth Fais, Harlem, John Dyckman, McGowan's Pass, McGown's Pass, McGown's Pass Tavern, Mount St. Vincent, Mount St. Vincent Hotel, New York City, Patrick McCann, Sisters of Charity, St. Vincent de Paul, William H. Vanderbilt

“Lost History” Blog Series

I did quite a bit of research in an around New York City’s Central Park for my young adult (YA) novel. I was amazed by the history there, some of which is all but lost. The stories I uncovered were so fascinating, I’ve decided to do a blog series on them. The Lost History blog series isn’t connected to my YA novel, except for the Central Park location. These are stories rich in character that deserved to be told and remembered. [image: morguefile.com]

Central Park’s First Tavern

There are very few taverns that have been turned into convents. And fewer still that, once they became convents, later returned to their tavern status–also known as hotels in later years. New York City can boast of such a rare site, located in the Northern region of Central Park, no less. In an area that became known as McGown’s Pass (also known as McGowan’s Pass). [Postcard of McGowan’s Pass Tavern, early 1900’s]

Yes, this is the same McGown’s Pass that was taken over by the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. If you missed my recent post on that bit of lost history, you can read about it here.

McGown’s Pass Tavern

Long before Central Park was built, people traveling to and from New York City (which was considerably smaller back then), stopped to rest and partake of refreshment at taverns in the rural vicinity of Harlem. The earliest tavern in the area was built in 1684 around present-day 106th Street. This property was later purchased by John Dyckman, and the Colonial Assembly met there in 1752. In 1759, Dyckman sold the tavern, along with 10 surrounding acres, to Catherine McGown, the window of a Scottish Sea Captain. [image: McGown’s Pass Tavern, circa 1899]

For whatever reason, the nearby pass soon became known as McGown’s Pass, and the name has remained ever since. Catherine and her son operated the tavern until the 1840’s, when it was purchased by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Tavern that Became “Mount St. Vincent”

The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul developed the site into a thriving religious community that they called “Mount St. Vincent.” By the mid 1850’s there were more than 70 sisters living in the convent, operating a boarding academy for young ladies and running a free school for children in the surrounding area.

The New York State Legislature approved the acquisition of the land for Central Park in 1858. Two years later (approximately the date of the photograph above) the sisters were forced to leave The Mount. The buildings were used as offices for park commissioners until the Civil War (1861-1865), when they were used as a military hospital. The sisters returned to help nurse the wounded, but after the war the building were returned to their original use as a tavern (hotel).

The Mount St. Vincent Hotel

The Mount St. Vincent Hotel ran in the old McGown house and convent property (1866-1881), and became the gathering place for politicians and wealthy sportsmen, such as William H. Vanderbilt.

After a fire in 1881 destroyed the wooden Mount St. Vincent buildings, a new and much grander hotel was erected over the same foundation. The new “refreshment house” was rebuilt in the Carpenter Gothic style used throughout Central Park, and continued to operate until 1915. Sometime after 1890, the Mount St. Vincent Hotel was renamed the McGown Pass Tavern, coming full circle back to its original roots. The following photograph is of the rebuilt tavern, circa 1883.

The tavern continued to be a popular destination spot through the turn of the century–open every day of the year, and known for music and dancing that continued into the wee hours of the morning. In 1915 the city took back the property from the lessee, Patrick McCann, and sold all the goods for payments due. In 1917 the tavern was torn down, and a rich piece of Central Park history vanished. [Images courtesy the New York Public Library unless otherwise noted.]

Today

All that remains today of the tavern is the remnant of an old stone foundation that is visible at the Central Park’s composting site (where the tavern once stood). In honor of the Sisters of Charity, a plaque marks the location where their religious community flourished.

7th YAppiest Giveaway! “Let the Sky Fall” by Shannon Messenger

15 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Book Reviews, Paranormal, YAppiest, Young Adult

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Book Review, Elizabeth Fais, Let the Sky Fall, Paranormal, Romance, Shannon Messenger, Sylph, YA, YAppiest Day on Earth, YAppiest Giveaway, Young Adult

17 YA AUTHORS + DISNEYLAND = THE YAPPIEST DAY ON EARTH!

If you couldn’t make The YAppiest Day on Earth, never fear! The YAppiness keeps rolling with epic read giveaways by each of the 17 authors.

This is the 7th YAppiest Giveaway! For a chance to win this awesome book, see the “Here’s How” section below. For a complete list of YAppiest Giveaways, go here.

“Let the Sky Fall” by Shannon Messenger

VANE WESTON is tired of everyone telling him he’s lucky. Lucky not to have died in the category five tornado that killed his parents. Lucky to have survived without a scratch. But how is it lucky that he can’t remember anything about his parents or his life with them before the tornado ripped them away? All he remembers of that dark day is the captivating face of a dark-haired girl. The girl who’s whispered on the winds of his dreams ever since. How is it lucky to be in love with a girl who’s probably just a hallucination, when he hopes against hope that she’s real?

AUDRA is real, and she lives under the weight of a dark secret. She’s not human, but that’s why she’s driven toward atonement. She’s responsible for the death of Vane’s parents, and her father who was their guardian. Her guilt and sense of duty drove her to take over her father’s duty of protecting Vane’s life, as his guardian. She’s a sylph, an air elemental who walks on the winds, understands its songs, and manipulates its powers.

As a Gale Force guardian, Audra gave up everything to protect Vane. But then in an instant of panic, Audra unwittingly reveals Vane’s location to the enemy who murdered their families and has been hunting them ever since. The Stormers are on their way, and Audra can’t bear to fail again.

Audra makes hard choices, to prepare Vane for the impending battle. However, in the process of awakening his sylph powers, their love sparks to life. For Audra, giving in to her desire would brand her as a traitor and an outcast.

A Gusty Romance Charged with Adventure

Let the Sky Fall is a captivating romance set in the desert region of California’s Coachella Valley. The intense climate accentuates the volatile game our heroes have been thrust into, while mirroring the volatile nature of their emotions for one another. I grew up not far from Coachella Valley, and can attest to the authenticity of the world through which Shannon Messenger so deftly weaves the supernatural elements of this story.

Vane and Audra are as authentic and engaging as their world. Vane’s laugh-out-loud teenage snark is the perfect balance for Audra’s intense Type-A determination. The story is told from the alternating points of view of Vane and Audra, giving us an intimate look into their beliefs, motivations, and conflicts.

Vane is seventeen, snarky, and kind of lazy. His troubled dreams of a strange girl interfere with his connecting with any girl he tries to date. So he is blown away (pun intended) when Audra appears in his bedroom, obviously real–if a little creepy:

Now I just have to deal with the passed out, scantily clad girl on the floor of my room who’s most likely a supernatural creature.
Riiiiiiiiiight.
No clue what to do about that one.

Audra is seventeen, and older than her years from the burden of responsibility. Against all odds she convinces Vane of his sylph heritage and destiny, but as his powers emerge, so do Vane’s memories. Memories Audra is afraid he’ll recover, because then he’ll know she was responsible. Responsible for alerting the Stormers who killed his parents and her father.

The climatic fight turns a surprising conclusion and an unexpected hope for Vane and Audra. I can’t say any more without risking a serious spoiler, that you’ll hate me for later.

What I can tell you is this…

After reading this story, you’ll never think of the wind as “just wind” again. You’ll catch yourself listening for its song, and trying to interpret its call. You’ll wonder if the Gale Force guardians are out there protecting you, or if the Stormers are on their way…

I’m already waiting for the next book in this series–Let the Storms Break (March 2014)–to find out what lies in store for Vane and Audra.

Want to win an Author Signed Copy and SWAG?

For one lucky winner… an author signed copy of Let the Sky Fall and exclusive SWAG!

Here’s how…

NOTE: The FREE giveaway of a copy of this book is open to residents of the United States and Canada only, due to shipping costs. My sincere apologies.

Leave a comment on this blog by midnight, July 21st (1 entry).
Tweet about this giveaway, including #yappiest in your tweet (1 entry).

I’ll tally the entries and choose a winner at random, then announce it on this blog on Tuesday July 23rd. Good luck!

Stay tuned for more YAppiests Giveaways!

Chill Out in the “Rain Room”

12 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Amazing but true!, Science, Summer, Technology

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Barbican, London, MoMA, New York, Rain Room, Random International, Science, Technology, The Creators Project

It’s July … and in many places it’s HOT!

Wouldn’t it be great to get a reprieve from the heat with a walk in the rain … whenever you wanted … and not get wet?

You can…

In Barbican, London there’s a place where the weather is inside. A room where it’s perpetually raining, where you can always experience the cool and calming effects of rain. Without getting wet.

Walk in the Rain without Getting Wet

How’d they do that?

Short answer:

The Rain Room is a 100 square meter area that uses 3D tracking cameras to map your presence, allowing you to walk and move through the continuously falling water without getting wet.

Longer (and more interesting) answer:

How do you stay cool when the temps rise?

6th YAppiest Giveaway WINNER! “The Infects” by Sean Beaudoin

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Fais in Book Reviews, Giveaway, Winner!, YAppiest, Young Adult, Zombies

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Elizabeth Fais, Sean Beaudoin, The Infects, Winner, YAppiest Giveaway, Zombie Apocalypse, Zombie Rules, Zombies

17 YA AUTHORS + DISNEYLAND = THE YAPPIEST DAY ON EARTH!

The 6th YAppiest Giveaway is for an author signed copy of The Infects, by Sean Beaudoin. A smart, irreverent zombie apocalypse tale with an ending you won’t see coming!