C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 71

Good Backup. Cover illustrations are all-important when it comes to digital books (and Hannah Christenson does an amazing job with the Byways series). But print editions need that little extra: back covers. Take a look at the details we included on the flip side of every Byways Book.

All the Byways Books are available as affordable paperbacks or in durable hardcover library editions. You can find them wherever books are sold. Add them to your home, school, or library bookshelves!

This is a slender volume I picked up at the library. Two chapters in, I knew I was in kindred spirit territory and ordered my own copy. A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowder is a story of sisters that reads like poetry. Gorgeous language. Exotic setting. #OnMyBookshelf

I’m continuing a series of posts that offer a peek behind the Byways header. On a related note, do you recognize the four creatures it features? From top left, circling clockwise, they are a unicorn, a griffin, a dragon, and a phoenix. The topmost animal changes out from book to book. In this case, we have an eagle, representative of Ian Johns, who can Change into a golden eagle.

Today, I’m offering a peek at purple mountain majesty from Hannah Christenson’s cover illustration for Byways Boo...

From the author of The Twistrose Key. I love finding out that an author who wrote a story I enjoyed has a new book coming out. Since Tone Almhiell charmed me with her world-building in The Twistrose Key, I pre-ordered her latest middlegrade adventure, which is due to release in August 2016. Can’t wait to be carried back to the world of Sylver!

My review of The Twistrose Key

Snobbish airs, grandiose words, foppish clothes—Aurelius didn’t deviate one bit from his usual presumption.

—HARROW by C.J. Milbrandt

Have you read the Galleries of Stone trilogy?
Add the books to your shelves on GoodReads!

I love the Byways header, which features some of the magical, mythical creatures inhabiting Libery’s wild places. It adapts its hues to suit the setting. It shifts like a Changer to show which brother’s story you’re holding. (You noticed that, right?) AND, it blocks a good portion of Hannah Christenson’s cover illustrations. So I thought you might enjoy a peek at unseen things. Over the next several weeks, I’ll show you what’s going on behind the scenes.

Byways Book #1, On Your Marks: The A...

Big batch of books went out to GoodReads winners this morning. Have you had luck signing up for their giveaways? I have three Byways titles in their giveaway queue at the moment. Head on over, drop your name in the proverbial hat, and friend/follow me while you’re at it. CJMilbrandt on GoodReads

EDIT: Links to the current Byways giveaways on GoodReads:

Ending on July 15:
Byways #5 – HERE
Byways #6 – HERE
Byways #7 – HERE

Ending on August 1:
Byways #8 – HERE
Byways #9 – HERE
Byways #10 – HE...

Two years ago today, the Byways series was “born on the 4th of July.” On Your Marks: The Adventure Begins kicks off a three-way storyline that follows the courses of three brothers. Ewan, Zane, and Ganix take sibling rivalry to new lengths as they race each other across their homeland. While Liberty isn’t anything like the USA, each book in the unfolding tale takes its cue from one of the fifty states. That educational twist sets these children’s chapter books apart, proving that learning ca...

A new week, a new sale! The Byways Summer Reading Sale continues with the e-book version of Ewan’s adventure—Inside the Tree. You can add Book #5 to your virtual library for just $1.99 (normally $4.99).

Inside the Tree: A Ewan Johns Adventure

As always, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can read this book for free in the Kindle Online Lending Library. Keep checking back for more deals all summer long. ~CJ

The Byways Summer Reading Sale continues with a sale on the e-book version of Ganix’s first solo adventure. You can add Book #4 to your virtual library for just $1.99 (normally $4.99).

Up the Mountain: A Ganix Johns Adventure

As always, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can read this book for free in the Kindle Online Lending Library. Keep checking back for more deals all summer long. ~CJ