I just saw my book review by Kirkus Review. I’ve also been viewing other reviews on Goodreads.com. Sometimes an author is nervous about what others think about their work. But when you put yourself out there, it is bound to be liked by some, and not by others. I like readers to read reviews and maybe even check out the first few pages of the book on the Inside Feature on Amazon or digital search on Google. Sometimes by reading the book itself, you can tell if you like it from the first chapter or so.
Personally, I can’t get through Jane Austin. I hated “Catcher in the Rye”. But I love Anne Rice, Melissa Marr, and even the Twilight series. I really don’t think Stephanie Meyer is a bad writer. She gets the storytelling job done. How it is done, is often a personal choice in style, word choice, and how a writer perceives the world. If you love a book, say so. If you hate a book, say so. Isn’t free speech grand?
Here is the link to the Kirkus Review for THE LOST SECRET OF THE GREEN MAN: Link Here
It’s here! The second book of the Crystal Keeper Chronicles was just released. “The Lost Secret of the Green Man” takes Wanda into the new realms of friendship.
Wanda tells it how it is.
“My closest friend had been Michelle. We’d been buds since Kindergarten, and then she moved away last summer. Sometimes I’d email her, but it wasn’t the same as talking in real time. The fairies kept me from being totally lonely, but sometimes a Crystal Keeper needs other friends, human friends.”
Here’s a Quick Summary:
Who’s got time for homework when your problems involve evil sorcerers? Wanda should be studying for a quiz, avoiding the bullies at her new school and living a normal tweenage life. But, she is called upon once more to be a savior of the fairies, a protector of the fey, a Crystal Keeper. Bees are dying, fairies are missing and nobody knows why.
Wanda and her new friend, Edina, visit a crystal store to search for clues. They read about the Green Man, a forest king who Wanda thinks could be the key to solving the mystery. But, when a unicorn appears in her bedroom, the mystery just seems to deepen. Perhaps by asking the right questions, she can find the answer to the crisis. Or will she just end up in peril herself?
“The Lost Secret of the Green Man” can be purchased at Amazon.com and at Barnes and Noble.com. Both the paperback and a new hardback edition are available. Ebook editions will be available soon.
Every Thursday night at 8pm, my friends and I would be riveted to the TV to watch the next episode of Fame, the TV series in the early 80s. It was the precursor to American Idol, Glee, and High School Musical. I shared my ups and downs with the characters that seemed like my friends after two seasons. Coco, Doris, Julie, Leroy, Danny, and Bruno were my idols for growing up.
I recently bought the first and second season of the show from Amazon. I also bought the only album released by “The Kids from Fame”. I’ve been watching episode after episode for over a month now. It’s like returning to the past, a strange kind of reunion with my old friends.
I must say, the show still holds up. Some 80s shows are coated with a lot of syrup. But “Fame” always had an edgy sense for telling a tale, and dealt with controversial subjects that still are around today.
So, then I began to wonder. What happened to all of them? Many of the cast members were playing kids that wanted to go on to show biz. Did they? One of the more famous, Lori Singer who played Julie, became famous after the series ended. Lori Singer played opposite Kevin Bacon in “Footloose” which basically sealed her into Trivia Pursuit games for the 80s set. But what about the others? What happened to the Kids from Fame?
I’ve been looking them up. The first thing that shocked me is that Gene Anthony Ray, who played Leroy, died of a drug overdose in 2003. That fact still makes me upset. I see all the energy and talent, and can’t believe he’s gone. Valerie Landsburg, who played Doris, continued to do some acting and walk on parts. She’s started to direct and put out an album called “Valerie Landsburg: Grownup” in 2003. She even has her own acting workshop and tours the country coaching people in acting.
Bruno was the most interesting. Lee Curreri, who played Bruno in the movie and the TV series, has been getting attention from the movie remake. Like his character, he has become a composer for several movies including California King(2008) and I Tried(2007).
It just makes me reflect on the fact we all grew up. All the stars and people that worked with the show have gone on to other things. But it was so different than other shows, more of a cross between American Idol and High School Musical. Lori Singer could really play the cello. She was a child prodigy and has gone on to be a concert cellist. Valerie Landsburg seems to be happy with her course in life teaching her acting craft with acting tours called “Wholeacting”.
These characters were like friends to me. Growing up, you need characters to make the mistakes and then try to find a solution. It helps with the heart ache or other problems of growing up. Someone has gone through it and you’ve seen the consequence. Do you want the same thing to happen to you?
I think that’s why I wanted to know what happened to them. You’re always wondering growing up, will I be ok? What will the future be like? Well, sometimes reality doesn’t turn out the way we want it to. But sometimes you just want to know what happens.
The Fame Kids all grew up, and so did I. And things did turn out ok, or at least I survived the growing up process. Really, that’s all you can do.
Having found a cyber-cafe, I can finally comment on my research adventures in Munich. I’ve finally adjusted to the time here, and have been traveling about the countryside. I’ve been to different castles and gardens, and even up an Alpine Ridge. It’s amazing the clarity of thought one can have at 6,000 ft.
I’ve been updating my adventures at my Facebook account. Sometimes that’s all I can manage when hooking up with my cell phone.
What I’ve found is amazing scenery, lots of friendly helpful faces, and maybe a story or two. The biggest thing I’ve found that helps is observation. Watching the people and the body language helps me understand beyond the German phrases, which I know little of.
Stories are everywhere. Observing a mouse scampering around the famous Augustine Beer Hall has given me an idea for a new short story. Visiting the famous Neuschwanstein Castle has given me an insight to a creative mind of a King. Braving my fear of heights and going to the top of the Untersburg made me feel on top of the world. Plus, I found some of the best research so far on the Fey, dwarves.
Wonders can be found when you travel, or at least, ideas for more stories. I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for more. You never know what you can find on vacation, besides the wonderful rejuvenation of the soul.
I’ve been in shock for the last several hours. I think of the memories and music Michael Jackson has brought, it brings back feelings of when I heard on the news of a guy named Elvis Presley dying.
I’ve had trouble concentrating writing today. I just stopped when I heard the news today at 4pm. I’ve not been able to do work the rest of the day, it’s been such a shock. So, I thought I should get some of the feelings out in my blog. At least that way, I’m writing.
Michael is being dissed left and right on many message boards right now. There are a lot of positive things too and memories. I was wanted to add to the memories being shared. I think the whole world has them.
He was a true musical hero to many. I do hope he is remembered for his music and what he brought to the world. I hope most of the negativity and bad press died with him today, and he’s remembered for the music he brought to this world.
It’s possible that some of the things that happened in his childhood caused later problems. Maybe he should have got more help. Thinking that boys sleeping in the same bed was normal could have meant something had made him feel it was normal. Sleeping could have meant getting some z’s.
But I’m going to remember him for the memories. It’s what I’ve been doing since most of the scandals started in the mid-2000s. My favorite moment is probably at the peek of “Thriller” being released. It was the Summer of 1983. There was nothing cooler than roller skating to tracks off the album when going out as a 12 year old. Yeah, complete with disco ball and lights playing during the roller skating. Yes, my blonde hair was feathered. And if anything like “Beat It” or “Billie Jean” came on, it was a fast skate. He was truly the King of Pop.
I still have the vinyl of “Thriller” in storage along with my other records. I’m glad I held onto it.
Just available, a new book trailer for the first book in the Crystal Keeper series. The first book, “The Lost Secret of Fairies” is the start of Wanda’s adventures as a Crystal Keeper. Look for the second book, “The Lost Secret of the Green Man” to be released this summer.
There are a couple of ways to tell spring is coming. The children start to forget what you tell them. Flowers start to appear in the garden. Trees burst into bloom, and the monarch butterflies start to appear. If you are lucky, hundreds to thousands might start showing up to make the announcement; spring is here.
So today at the day job during PE, my students and I are assaulted by bombarding butterflies. They dip and dart in all directions, taking my thoughts away from work, the economy, and normal adult worries. My students comment if the frisbees they are practicing with might collide with a monarch or two. I notice how the butterflies glide up over each child, flitting on an errand that only they can accomplish in their short 2 weeks of life.
Could they take me with them? Away from school? Away from work? When is Spring Break again anyway? “Back to practice kids.” The cold wind still blows around the field, carrying one butterfly into another. Just stopping to watch another glide by, I notice some are morning cloaks and others are cabbage butterfly white.
Spring is here. The green hills call. 2 1/2 weeks until Spring Break remain. Testing is in 3 weeks. Get the kids back in the classroom. Continue with the list of standards, homework everyday, and building the new workers of tomorrow. But I think of the butterflies of today. Just a moment that I stopped to watch them soaring on their way to welcome spring.
St. Patty’s is a special day of Irish Heritage in the US and Ireland. Though it is most often associated with the famous St. Patrick that brought Christianity to Ireland, it is also famous for wearing green, leprechauns and four-leaf clovers. The pot of gold signs with rainbows may decorate the office, but where did all the leprechauns come from? Why are they connected to the Irish?
Leprechauns are one of the most famous fairies or fey in Irish myths. The legends tell of Leprechauns being solitary shoemakers. According to Sir Walter Scott’s book “Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry”, they are also confused or combined with two other fairies, The Cluricaun and the Red Man. The Cluricaun tends to drink the ale away in the cellar while the Red Man enjoys doing practical jokes. Sometimes they are considered the happy brothers of the Leprechaun.
The Leprechaun legend continues with tales of becoming rich if one can find the Leprechauns gold from selling his shoe wares. Later in legends, the rainbow became a marker for the hiding spot of the Leprechauns acquired treasure.
Whether you find gold, Leprechauns, or at least a chance to spy a rainbow on St. Patty’s Day, wear green in the tradition of showing support for Irish Heritage. It’s a way to share your history or even join in the fun that the Irish Culture loves to do, sing, dance, and be merry. May there be luck for you this day!
Tiffany Turner is the author of a new fairy series called The Crystal Keeper Chronicles. Her first book entitled “The Lost Secret of Fairies” is available through Trafford Publishing and Amazon.com. The second book in the series “The Lost Secret of the Green Man” will be released this summer.
References:
“Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry” by Walter Scott. Original published date 1888.
“Encyclopedia Mythologica: Fairies and Magical Creatures” by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda.
UPDATE: This original post is from 2009. I’m going to add a link to the book that was mentioned above. It came out in the summer of 2009.
All Crystal Keeper books at Amazon.com!
The Lost Secret of the Green Man is the second book in the Crystal Keeper Chronicles. Wanda is a Crystal Keeper, kid helper to the fey in her local area, and she needs the help of the Irish Leprechaun to solve the problem of why bees are dying. Can she find help in time? And what is it with her talking cat?
Join Wanda in her final adventure, The Lost Secret of Time, out in May 2018. This is the final book in the Crystal Keeper series and will answer all the final series of being a Crystal Keeper. Follow this blog to get all the updated info of it’s release!
“The Lost Secret of the Green Man” can be purchased at 
The Indie Children's Authors Connection 