Welcome to the Official Blog Tour of:

THE DREAMSTONE,

Book Two in The Dream Keeper Chronicles

A thrilling fantasy-adventure series for middle-grade readers!

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Don't forget to check out the GIVEAWAY

at the bottom of this page for a chance

to win one of over 30 prizes! 

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DREAMS: 

Dorothy called it Oz, 

Alice called it Wonderland, 

but Nightmares call it HOME. 

When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.

SYNOPSIS:

In Book 1, The Dream Keeper, Parker and Kaelyn discovered that Dreams was a real place that everyone visits while they sleep. An evil nightmare named Fyren took control of the gateway to that world. Parker and Kaelyn teamed up with Gladamyr, the only dream keeper to escape capture by Fyren, and together they save Dreams from Fyren’s rule. After the defeat of Fyren the children return to Awake to find Mab, Fyren’s next in command, has dreamnapped Parker’s mom. 

The story continues in Book 2, The Dreamstone, as the children return to Dreams to save Parker’s mom. Finding her, however, is not their only problem. Mab has waged a war on the Crossing and has sent an army of dragons to bring it down, nightmares have been released from prison, and Gladamyr has lost his powers to shape-shift. Parker, Kaelyn, and Gladamyr must once again defy all odds to set things right and save Parker’s mom before it’s too late.    

In Praise of THE DREAMSTONE:

“The Dreamstone, by Mikey Brooks, is a wild stallion of a story: fast, thrilling, and unpredictable. I was hooked in chapter one. If he can snare the attention of an old reader like me, he’ll have kids sneaking this one into class underneath their text books…If this one isn’t a kid-pleaser, I don’t know what is.” –Michelle Isenhoff, author of the Divided Decade Trilogy and the Taylor Davis Series.

“This really is a cracking novel. Action-packed and spellbinding!”—Cas Peace, author of The Artisans of Albia series.

"If you like the Percy Jackson, Fablehaven, or the Harry Potter series, you'll love this!" –An Amazon Reviewer.

AUTHOR BIO:

Mikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as an adult. On occasion you’ll catch him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including the best-selling ABC ADVENTURES: MAGICAL CREATURES and BEAN’S DRAGONS as well as the middle-grade fantasy-adventure series THE DREAM KEEPER CHRONICLES. His art can be seen in many forms from picture books to full room murals. He loves to daydream with his three daughters and explore the worlds that only the imagination of children can create. Mikey has a BS degree in English from Utah State University and works full-time as a freelance illustrator and cover designer. As a member of the Emblazoners, he is one of many authors devoted to ‘writing stories on the hearts of children’. He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast. You can find more about him and his books at: www.insidemikeysworld.com

Now Available in Audiobook!

BOOK LINKS:

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1939993237 

Hardback: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1939993229

eBook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GP33YZO

ISBN:

Hardback: 978-1-939993-22-9, Paperback: 978-1-939993-23-6, eBook: 978-1-939993-24-3

PRICE:

Hardback: $19.95, Paperback: $12.99, EBook: $2.99.

 

Excerpt from: THE DREAMSTONE:

Parker watched as the ambulance with his mother inside drove away. He had expected the medics to barrel down the street with sirens blaring and lights flashing, but instead they drove calmly. The cold night air hurt his throat, at least, he told himself it was the air. Whenever Parker tried to hold back his emotions he got a pain way back in his throat. Kaelyn held his hand, but it didn’t really help. All he could think about was Mab and how she’d taken his mom.

The former ruler of Dreams was vicious and cruel. He had seen what she was capable of when she cut the arm off Mentia, the psychotic clown that chased him and Kaelyn through the vaults. The only thing that guy did was laugh at her. Parker could only imagine the things Mab could do to his mom. Now that Fyren was gone, Mab had a host of nightmares at her command. He shuddered, thinking about the creatures he had seen during the battle in Éadrom.

“Parker, we’ll find her,” Kaelyn said, trying to comfort him.

“How are we supposed to do that?” he snapped. Kaelyn pulled back, and immediately he felt bad. Heck, she had just lost everything she had ever owned—another gift from the nightmares of Dreams. They had burnt down her house and almost burnt the two of them in the process. Kaelyn had nothing. Not even a picture to remind herself of her dead parents. Yet here she was, the one comforting him. It wasn’t as if his mom was dead, she was just kidnapped, or dreamnapped. “Look, I’m sorry.”

She gave a smile. “It’s okay. Really. I understand.”

“Parker,” his dad called from the car. Parker turned to see his dad was ready to leave. What a jerk! Parker glared at him.

His dad lowered his cell phone for a second. “Look, I’ve talked it over with Zelda and I want you to come and stay with me for a while—at least until your mom is better.”

“No thanks.” Parker turned his back.

“Parker, I don’t have time to argue. Remember—I’m still your father.”

“You sure act like it.”

“I’m acting like it now.”

“You can’t even get out of your car!” Parker shouted. “You can’t even put down your freaking phone. Mom just went off in an ambulance, and you’re more concerned with your stupid work. I’m staying here! I’m not going with you!”

“You’ve got ten minutes to get a bag.” His dad went back to his phone, not giving a sign he had heard a word Parker said.

Parker turned on Zelda. “Did you say I would go with him?”

Kaelyn’s aunt stepped back, worry crossing her face. “Parker, he’s your dad, and who else is there?”

“You can stay with me. Where else are you going to go?” The second he said it Parker wished he hadn’t; or at least tried to sound more tactful. He knew that Kaelyn was handling the fire okay, but Zelda was on the brink of tears anytime someone mentioned the fire or what she lost in it. “I’m sorry . . . really . . . .”

“Parker, I understand, so please, don’t apologize.” Zelda tried to reassure him with a smile. It didn’t really work. Her face was still smudged with black soot, and there were visible tear lines down her cheeks. He at least had a place to go, but Kaelyn and Zelda were homeless. “Your place is with your dad, our place is . . . .”

“Where are we going, Zelly?” Kaelyn asked. They waited for an answer but Zelda only shrugged.

“Look, if I have to go to my dad’s there’s no reason you can’t stay here. Really, my mom wouldn’t mind. Anyway, it doesn’t matter where I sleep. I have to get back to Dreams.”

Zelda looked concerned. “Are you sure, Parker?”

“Dead sure! My mom may be a cold hearted person in the courtroom, but she’s at least human at home—well, when she’s not turning off my video games.”

“Can you call your house when you’re ready to go back?” Kaelyn asked.

“You can count on it, Kae. We’ve got to talk to Gladamyr—I need to find my mom.”

“I know.” Kaelyn gave him a hug.

Parker looked at both Kaelyn and Zelda. He could tell having a place to stay tonight brought them a little comfort, but he still wished he could stay. He thought of his friend and physiatrist, Dr. Gates. He was like the father his own would never be. He wished right now Dr. Gates were here. “Can you explain to Gates what’s going on when he decides to get his butt over here?”

Kaelyn smiled. “You can count on it.”

“Come inside and I’ll show you around. Apparently I’ve got ten minutes.”

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10 winners will receive a gift bag with numerous signed books marks, 

collector cards, wrists bands, and a handmade dream key necklace.

Paperback Books:

Can You Survive? Treasure Island, by Blake Hoena

The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer, by Lisa Cole Orchard

Color of Freedom, by Michelle Athearn Isenhoff

Explorer X-Alpha, by Lm Preston

Gangsterland, by Ansha Kotyk

Cycles, by Lois Brown

Andy Smithson: Blast of the Dragon’s Fury, by L.R.W Lee

Princess Kandake, by Stephanie Jefferson

Weight of the Crown, by Stephanie Jefferson

Arrow of the Mist, by Christina Mercer

Cassidy Jones, by Elise Stokes

The Seventh Attendant, by Elise Stokes

Curse at Zala Manor, by BBH McChiller

The Curse of the Double Digits, by Lynn Kelley

Into the Forest and Down the Tower, by Ann T. Bugg

Off to Camp and Discovering Art, by Ann T. Bugg

Agency, by Shantal Hiatt

Psyched, by Juli Caldwell

Ragesong, by J.R. Simmons

EBooks:

Secret Sisters Club, by Monique Bucheger

Trouble Blows West, by Monique Bucheger

The Alien Mind, by Virginia Jennings

The Last Time Keepers, by Sharon Ledwith

Frogs & Toads, by Stacy Lynn Carroll

Nexus Point, by Jaleta Clegg

Warrior Beautiful, by Wendy Knight

Shahira and the Flying Elfs, by Anna del C Dye (PDF)

 


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The Dream Keeper - Guest Post and Giveaway!

 

Hello friends! Today I have the honour and pleasure of hosting a guest post and GIVEAWAY by my lovely friend and wonderful author MIKEY BOOKS!

For those who don't know Mikey, here's his author Bio:

Mikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as adult. On occasion you’ll find him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including BEAN’S DRAGONS, the ABC ADVENTURES series, and author of the middle-grade fantasy-adventure novel, THE DREAM KEEPER. He spends most of his time playing with his daughters and working as a freelance illustrator. Mikey has a BS degree in Creative Writing from Utah State University. He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast.

I had the great privilege of meeting Mikey at Rhemalda Publishing's first ever Got Stories? conference in Salt Lake City in June 2012. We got talking, and once I returned home to the UK, we carried on the friendship through email and Facebook. When he was looking for a copy-editor to help him prepare The Dream Keeper for publication, he came to me. I was honoured to work with him, especially as The Dream Keeper is such a brilliant book!

Dreams: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.
When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?

SYNOPSIS:
Loser—the most frightening word to ever be uttered in junior high school. Even the coolest kids are afraid of being associated with it. 14-year-old Parker Bennett is no exception. He can’t even be himself around his friends for fear they might not accept who he really is. When circumstances force him to team up with Kaelyn Clarke, the biggest loser in the ninth grade, Parker has to decide what is more important; protecting his social status or saving the world. Nightmare named Fyren has taken over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, with the intention of controlling mortals, and it falls on Parker, Kaelyn, and Gladamyr – the Dream Keeper – to stop him. They learn being called a loser is no longer a fear, when compared to the terror of real nightmares.

In Praise of THE DREAM KEEPER:
“This really is a cracking novel. Action-packed and spellbinding!”—Cas Peace, author of the Artesans of Albia series.

So you see, I am already a fan of Mikey's work. Below you will find links to where you too can connect with Mikey, and also links to The Dream Keeper on Amazon. Oh - and don't forget the GIVEAWAY! You'll find the entry form at the bottom of the post. But now Mikey would like to share some of the thoughts that were going through his mind while he was planning and writing The Dream Keeper. Over to you, Mikey!

 

The Darker Side of Dreams

By: Mikey Brooks

 

I am excited to announce the release of my middle-grade fantasy THE DREAM KEEPER. It is an action-packed adventure with a toe in both the real world and the fantastic. When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?

One of the most thrilling things that came from writing THE DREAM KEEPER was being able to delve into the nightmares of children. It was fun to explore the realms that scare kids. One thing that I’ve been asked is, how do you know when the ‘scary stuff’ is too much?

I believe kids can handle a lot more than we give them credit for. Look at the Harry Potter books; there is some scary stuff in there that kids didn’t pick up on because they think differently than adults. They don’t worry, like a parent, about losing a child to a dark wizard. Adults fear tangible things that may or may not happen, like death, an attacker, a break in, a terrorist act, and natural disasters. All these things have happened and we as adults fear they could happen to us. That is what is scary for adults. Sure kids have similar fears too, but it is the unknown that is scary for kids. Not knowing is worse than knowing. They fear the dark intangible things.

When I write to scare kids, I try to emphasize the dark hidden things. I try to look at what kids are afraid of and set that as my goal. While I was writing THE DREAM KEEPER I did a lot of research into what kids are afraid of. What I found interesting is the number one thing kids are afraid of is the dark. Kids are afraid of the unknown. They fear what might be there hiding. I built off that fear in creating the nightmares for my book. I did find myself pulling back on some of the scenes in the book, but only when I found myself questioning if that was just too freaky or not. Mostly I ignored it, knowing I’m a wimp compared to most kids.

Mikey. 
 

Thanks for sharing that, Mikey, it's always fascinating to hear the mechanics of how an author decides what to write. And now that everyone's read your guest post, and heard so much about the book, I think it's time to read an excerpt! And people, below the excerpt are all the links you'll need to buy The Dream Keeper. Please don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY to win a SIGNED COPY of The Dream Keeper!

EXCERPT FROM BOOK:

Parker was about to assassinate the general of the goblin army. It wasn’t murder, it was an assignment. He tried to justify what he was about to do as he jumped from the rooftop and landed just above the battlement wall. It was the perfect spot to scout the camp. The goblins filling the keep were everywhere, sharpening blades and axes or gathering weapons for the impending battle. Parker noticed a large troll in the right hand corner of the space below, hammering solidly on a sword large enough to split three men into six. He spotted his target.

The general of the goblin army was a large brute with golden braids hanging down his chest. He was the one who had ordered the burning of Parker’s home village. The one who had ordered the death of Parker’s family and friends. This monster, this villain, was the reason Parker had set out on his journey to seek vengeance upon the unjust. This was the creature responsible for Parker swearing allegiance to the Mightercore army, who quickly gave him the role of assassin-scout.

Parker maneuvered his way down the wall, careful not to move too fast or his invisibility cloak would lose its power. He placed his foot in one crevice, then his hand in another. After a few moments of skilled climbing, Parker found himself precariously positioned just behind the golden haired brute, leaving only a small distance between him and his foe. In a quick session tactic, Parker could ignite his blade with the magic of the Mightercore and his target would be no more. He positioned himself to strike, raising his sword and whispering the incantation that would release the blade’s power—

“Parker.”

He ignored whoever was calling his name; they did not matter. All he saw was the villain before him. The completed spell ignited Parker’s sword with a blazing haze of blue fire, and he had to act fast.

“Parker!”

The loud call startled him and he swung too late. The goblin general had already turned and he struck, forcing Parker back against the rocky battlements. Parker parried the attack and thrust forward with a low slash. The general sidestepped and lunged forward again. Parker parried and rolled away from the wall. A lightning spell was the only magic he had left. If he could find enough time to call out the incantation, he could have the general radiating electrons from every appendage.

He rolled until he was a good ten feet from his opponent, then quickly stood. Lifting his hand into the air, he called down the lightning. The sky filled with a brilliant white light, and the crack of thunder reverberated off the walls. Parker briefly closed his eyes then opened them, praying he had hit his target. As the white dust began to clear, he made out an image before him. He peered at it, his heart thumping.

The screen went black.

“Parker, I’ve called you three times. Now get off that machine and go do your homework.”

EMAIL MIKEY: insidemikeysworld@gmail.com

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Mikey-Brooks/e/B00B8ICZ4W

Blog: http://writtenbymikey.blogspot.com/
Podcast: http://www.foreverwriters.com/category/podcast/
Goodreads at: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17727253-the-dream-keeper  
Facebook at: http://facebook.com/writtenbymikeybrooks
Twitter as: @writtenbymikey
WattPad: http://wattpad.com/MikeyBrooks

BOOK LINKS:
Hardback: http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Keeper-Mikey-Brooks/dp/1939993016
Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939993032
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-Keeper-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00CPE0PT0
Paperback Create Space: https://www.createspace.com/4260677
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17727253-the-dream-keeper
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115262781?ean=9781939993014

TITLE: THE DREAM KEEPER
ISBN:
Hardback: 978-1-939993-01-4, Paperback: 978-1-939993-03-8, EBook: 978-1-939993-02-1
PRICE:  (US)
Hardback: $19.95, Paperback: $12.99, EBook: $4.99.
PRICE: (UK)
Paperback: £852, EBook: £3.30.

THE DREAM KEEPER GIVEAWAY!! ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED COPY!!



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Coming Up With Ideas

Hello everyone, and may I take this opportunity to wish all my friends, followers, fans and fellow book lovers a very Happy New Year!

Today I am privileged and excited to be kicking off 2013 by welcoming onto my blog my lovely friend and fellow writer Mikey Brooks. This is a first for me, because I haven't before hosted a guest on my blog. It's high time I did and I'm so very pleased that my first guest is Mikey.

Mikey and I met in June 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah, at Rhemalda Publishing's 'Got Stories?' reading and writing conference. We didn't have too much time to get to know each other then, but the spark of friendship and kindred spirit was born. Since then we have worked together, and I have come to realize what an undiscovered talent Mikey is. Not only in his writing (watch out world - Mikey has some great novels to share!) but also as an illustrator. Having dabbled with "art" in a very superficial way myself, I know how hard it is to produce something good. Not only is Mikey's artwork appealing and pleasing to the eye, it also has an irresistible quality that makes you want to see more. I'm sure you will agree when you see the examples further down this post. 

Mikey has some great tips in his post about where you can find ideas to fuel your writing muse. He also has a GIVEAWAY going on over at Goodreads - details at the bottom of his post, so don't miss it! I will hand over to him now and let him tell you all about his work. Take it away, Mikey! 

Coming up with Ideas

By: Author/Illustrator: Mikey Brooks

 

The idea of Bean’s Dragons actually came from my three year old daughter. One day I was standing in the dining room and she started yelling at someone in the living room. When I went to see who it was the only person in the room was her. She explained to me that her dragons were jumping on the couch and she had told them over and over to get down. Playing along with her imagination, I opened the front door and asked her dragons to go home. Fortunately they never did.

 

I believe ideas for stories can be found anywhere. We just have to be open to receive them when they do. The best way to keep your ideas flowing is to be doing other things than writing. I know this might sound off the wall, but it’s true. You need to immerse yourself in all things creative. Watch a few shows, read a few books, hang out with kids and ask them to describe crazy things like the tickle monster, or even draw a picture. Ideas really can be anywhere.

 

Once I have an idea I find it helpful to write it down. I have a notebook on my nightstand that has a pen next to it. Sometimes I’m woken by fantastic dreams or ideas that I think will be great to write about. Sometimes I can’t read the scribbled notes in the morning, but most of the time I get the hint of what I was trying to say. I think it is important to have a notebook, or something for you to collect ideas on, with you all day long. Fortunately I have a smart phone now and can jot down notes anytime in it. Before my phone I used to write on the backs of napkins, scrap paper, even toilet paper. Ideas for my middle grade book The Dream Keeper, started as a dream I had one night. I wrote down what I remembered from it and then later when I was at work I began to sketch out notes on cake order forms (yes, I work in a bakery).

 

 Now that you have an idea, should you work on it right away? If you are not working on something currently, then yes. If you already have a work in progress, then file those ideas away. Sometimes I will take the idea and write out a few scenes, maybe even an outline before I file it away. That way I have something a little more to bridge from later. Don’t let the surge of ideas keep you away from finishing your current project. Idea drawers are great!

I started writing Bean’s Dragons immediately after I saw my daughter playing with her imaginary friends. I was also working on my middle grade book at the time so I never got around to finishing it. Once I was able to focus on just the picture book, I wrote out the story line and started to create the pictures of the dragons. Here I used a lot of my daughter’s help. Working with kids can be amazing fun. If you ever have a chance to do it, do it.

 

My daughter helped me pick out all the colors for the dragons and even helped with what they looked like. This was really a joint effort. As I was drawing out the dragons, more ideas for the story came into my head. This goes back to my previous statement that drawing helps with ideas. It didn’t take long to change up the story a bit to fit in what the drawings had given me. In the end I think it turned out to be a terrific book that is a fun read.

I hope you found this bit of information helpful. For other tips on writing, illustrating, and more visit: www.insidemikeysworld.com or my blog at www.writtenbymikey.blogspot.com.

If you have a question, don’t hesitate to ask.
You can find me on Goodreads at: http://www.goodreads.com/InSideMikeysWorld
on Twitter: @writtenbymikey 
on Pinterest at: http://pinterest.com/writtenbymikey/
and on Facebook: as Mikey Brooks,
or email me at: insidemikeysworld(at)gmail.com.          

You are invited to check out Bean’s Dragons and my other books, including the newest release: ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures at www.insidemikeysworld.com or on Amazon.

 

 And thank you Cas Peace for allowing me to give a guest post on your blog. I don’t need to say this because anyone following Cas’s blog already knows how amazing she is, but for those of you who don’t, Cas really is an amazing friend and colleague and I am grateful for her and all she does. Now go check out her books, because they are awesome too!

 

About the Book: Bean’s Dragons.

Have you ever had a dragon in your house? How about a dozen? Bean is a little girl with an imagination that is creating quite a mess. Although Bean loves each of her dragons, she forgets how untidy they can be when having so much fun. When Bean's parents discover what's happened in their short absence, Bean finds herself the blame of the dragons' giant mess.

You can find more about Bean’s Dragons at: http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/beans-dragons/

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There is also a GIVEAWAY on Goodreads for Bean’s Dragons and for ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures. Make sure to enter soon, the contest ends on January 26^th!

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