Curling Up With A Good Book: Blog Tour, Interview, and Giveaway: Alexander Drake (Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows)

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Blog Tour, Interview, and Giveaway: Alexander Drake (Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows)

Alexander Drake's Extraordinary Pursuit

Meet Alexander Drake, a curious young man living in a drab, oversized mansion with his secretive father. He spent his days playing alone. In the back of his mind he wondered what happened to his mother, and why his father was tight-lipped about the past; but secrets have a way of getting out. It all started with a stay at his grandmother’s cottage. Alexander found strange clues tucked away in his father’s old bedroom. With a mysterious key and several maps in his pack he set off on an innocent search for answers about his family. When he discovered a secret passageway the search took a dramatic turn. He suddenly worried about what was searching for him. Alexander was being hunted by a sorcerer from his father’s past. Answers lead to more questions and the journey of his life. Join Alexander for a thrilling adventure in Azra’s Pith, a place of beauty and magic… but beware—something evil lurks in the shadows.

The Return of General Drake

When Alexander arrived in Verhonia, something went terribly wrong. A dark spell delivered from the mountains of Acadia sent him on a dangerous journey in the middle of the night. As he marched into the mountains, the great city of Verhonia was ambushed and burned to the ground by Roman's army of vicious giant murks. With the safety of the realm in jeopardy, General John William Drake was asked to come back to Azra's Pith. He swore he would never return. But after discovering his son was under a spell and in the grips of a dark sorcerer, he had no choice. Things take a wild turn in the mountains, with runaways, a hungry wolf and a mysterious, young empyrean wizard thrown into the adventure. A tight race against time and evil is in full swing. With faith and a little magic, they just might come out on top.

Author Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows

Being the frizzy-haired tomboy with buck teeth gave me a slight case of shyness as a kid. A colorful imagination meant escape and adventure at the drop of a hat. Over the years I learned that the insecurities I carried around were a waste of time. I still prefer a football game to a manicure any day of the week. That indispensable imagination has found its way into my writing providing a sense of joy and a true purpose.

What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

Kids inspire us to do the darndest things, don’t they? When my son was born I started writing stories to read to him. The stories morphed in to my first book, then a series… and I’m still writing.

Who is your favorite character in the book?

It is hard for me to pick a favorite; which probably why it changes from time to time. Julien, one of the empyrean wizards is my favorite at the moment. It could be because I’ve been staring at General Drake’s cover (He is the giant owl). He is wise and kind hearted. He loves to joke around, and he’s always in the moment. I like to think he represents the good in us.

My kids love Ferdinand the hopper. He is kind of silly (even though he is certainly not trying to be.) He is a little uptight and temperamental; but he is a loyal friend and too brave for his own good. He can always be counted on to do what is right.

Which came first, the title or the novel?

Definitely the story, I completed the book and titled it “The Realm of Azra’s Pith”. After being told how lousy the title was a couple times over I decided “Alexander Drake’s Extraordinary Pursuit” might be better. It suits the story perfectly.

What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

The scene that carries the most significance would be when Alexander takes a flying leap into the tree and leaves everything he knows behind him. There are other proud moments; but I don’t want to give the ending away…

Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

Perseverance and patience are absolutely necessary. Impatience is a quality I dislike in myself. This is a process from the first word written to the final edit and not being patient can destroy the quality of your work.

What do you like most about the cover of the book?

Funny you should ask… I have brand new covers designed by the extremely talented Nicole Cardiff. I can’t stop looking at them. A good cover can help tell the story in a major way. It puts a visual on the story before the reader has opened the book. I think Both Alexander Drake and General Drake and covers that do just that.

What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2013?

This is a tough one because I have had my head buried in my laptop writing. I need to pay more attention to what others have out there. I am certainly open to suggestions.

What was your favorite book in 2012?

“Life of Pi” was a Bellows favorite, and *sigh* I was all wrapped up in “The Hobbit” again. I’m sure it is because of the movie; but I spent a lot of time listening to the audio version in my car and read my dusty old book… it just never gets old!

What’s up next for you?

Well I hope to complete the series with part three, “The Butterfly Curse”. My goal is to have it out in July. Then I plan to get started on a new series I have been tossing around in my head.

Is there anything that you would like to add?

Please stop in and see the new book covers. You can catch them on my website, Wild Child’s website, and online retailers like Amazon… etc. Thank you so much for having me here!