Win A Copy Of Our Book!

This blog is devoted to the fantastic and fun. Today, two characters from Because Of The Red Fox introduce a giveaway of their book … Deadline for entering the drawing is Sunday, Nov. 11!

oakgypsy
Oak and Gypsy Belle – dolls made by Lisa Mathias of Journey School Stories (http://www.luckyfarm.us/)

Oak: Greetings! Oak and Gypsy Belle here. We’re two characters in the magical nature novel, Because Of The Red Fox. We won’t tell you exactly who we are, because, well … that might be considered a spoiler! In any case, we wanted to let you know about Herbal Roots zine and a cool giveaway they are hosting of our book.

Herbal Roots zine is an amazing monthly ezine that shares an herb a month with kids and kids at heart.  It’s full of fun projects, enchanting artwork, lots of herbal knowledge and wisdom, stories, games, and so much more. Each month features a particular herb or tree and its medicine.

My partner Gypsy Belle is an herbalist and wise woman, and she just loves this ezine. She co-teaches a Forest Kids camp in the Otherworld, and always has an issue or two on hand to share with the kids who attend. You can often hear them singing the songs about the herbs and their medicine. I’m looking forward to hearing them sing the song of this month’s medicine plant!

Gypsy Belle: That’s because this month’s Herbal Roots zine is devoted to Oak! (she starts to sing “Harvest Oak Bark Now”). I never thought of you asbeing  very plant-y, Oak!

Oak: Hm, yes. You might call that my understory …

Gypsy Belle: Ugh! Leave the bad puns to Shell!

Oak: A-corny Shell?

Gypsy Belle: No. Oak. No. More. So, Readers, what Oak has been trying to tell you is that right now you can enter a giveaway to win a copy of Because Of The Red Fox.  You can also read a lovely review of our book. How cool is that!

Oak: Readers, head on over to Herbal Roots zine, and check out the scene. And be sure to enter the giveaway! Maybe you’ll be the one who wins us (well, in the book).

Gypsy Belle: Jane will autograph the copy, too!

Oak and Gypsy Belle: Good luck!

Click here to find out about the Because Of The Red Fox giveaway at Herbal Roots zine. Enter the drawing by Sunday, Nov. 11!

 

 

What *Does* The Fox Say?

(In this post, two characters from the children’s fantasy novel, Because Of The Red Fox, have their say)

Shell: Shell Wakefield, here. I’m, uh, the main character in this book that just came out that tells about a very unusual day (and night) in my life. Wow, it feels really weird to type this! I mean, how would you feel if someone started writing about your life, and then made it into a book?

Anyway, folks who know about my story have been telling me I have to see this music video that’s gone viral. The music video is called The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?) by a Norwegian comedy duo called Ylvis. They are two brothers named  Bård and Vegard Ylvisåker (Bard? Wow, that’s a coincidence!). You probably all know about this video.

Yesterday I finally watched it. It’s a totally fun and whacky video! Then I got Leaves to watch it with me, and he started dancing in the woods … just like all the bard foxes do in our book. Bard foxes! And in fact, I think those folks dancing in the woods with the singers are the bard foxes!

And then Leaves said he had to have a chat with Tony the Pony, but that Santa (my cousin) should bring her ham radio, and transmit what he says in Morse code, since she knows Morse code, thanks to being an Amateur Radio Operator and all (that’s in our book too).

So I have this crazy, funny feeling when I think about The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?), because some of it feels very familiar, like it could have come out of our story, Because Of The Red Fox. Leaves is a mystery, after all. And he watches over me. sort of, and then there’s this angel bird feather I have … Really, it’s all in our book.

What do you think, Leaves? What does the fox say?

Leaves: Wa-wa-way-do, of course! What does the fox say? Our book has everything to say about what I say! Even so, this video does indeed shed a little extra light onto moi, and my way with words.

Shell: Hm! You don’t say!

Leaves: And on you as well. In the video, isn’t that Bert the Gamesmaster reading to you as a little child? And there’s that hound …. And that elephant person at the beginning has to be the Green Knight in disguise.

Shell: That’s stretching it, Leaves! Maybe. … So, it’s weird to be in a book that’s published. But it’s even weirder to see elements of our tale in a video that’s been viewed by millions! Leaves, you are an ancient mystery.

Leaves: So are you, Shell!

Shell: I have a feeling we all are, including you, dear Readers. Anyway, check out the video, read our book (or the other way around), and let us know what you have to say!

Wow, The Book Is Here!

12-year-old Shell Wakefield finds her friend Leaves the Red Fox just outside the forest ….

Shell: Oh, my gosh! Leaves, it’s finally happened!

Leaves: Hm? What? I’ve just been enjoying all the wild wind out here … blowing leaves around. Blowing me around!

Shell: That’s just it. I think Jane has–

Leaves: “Blown it?” ha ha.

Shell: No! Of course not. Or at least, I hope not …

Leaves (brushing against her hand): What is it, Shell? You seem pretty rattled.

Shell: Well, it’s just that …

Leaves: Just what?

Shell (deep breath): Jane’s just released her book, Because of The Red Fox. But it’s really our book, isn’t it.

Leaves merely nods.

Leaves (after a silent minute): Does that bother you?

Shell: Does it bother you?

Leaves: No, of course not. I’ve said all along that I’m “read”.

Shell shakes her head.

Shell: Well, then. I may as well get used to … fame … or something. To being “read”.

Leaves: It’s okay, Shell. You’ve been read all along. And, to all of you reading this post, thank you for your interest in Shell, myself, and the rest of the gang. Be sure to download the free three chapter preview of our book, I don’t show up in an obvious way in that excerpt, but I’m definitely there.

Shell (waving to all of you): If you get the book, do let us know what you think. Bye for now, everyone!  This is Shell Wakefield and Leaves the Red Fox signing off to take a look at that stack of books Jane is carrying under her arm …