Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Mark Powers (Author), Tim Wesson (Illustrator) - Spy Toys - Book Review

The world's leading toy manufacturer makes playthings for the rich and famous, and every toy they create contains a tiny computerised brain and a unique personality. These toys are seriously awesome! But every so often there's a faulty toy ... 

Dan is a Snugaliffic Cuddlestar bear - he should be perfect for hugging. But because of a faulty chip, Dan is so strong he could crush a car! Thrown on to the rejects pile, he meets Arabella, a Loadsasmiles Sunshine Doll, who has a very short temper and is absolutely NOT good with children. Soon Dan, Arabella and Flax (a custom-made police robot rabbit gone AWOL) are recruited by the mysterious Auntie Roz, and together they make up THE SPY TOYS. 

Their first mission: to protect the prime minister's son from being kidnapped ...!

Another sparkling book to hit the shops this coming January (2017), is Mark Power's illustrated adventure "Spy Toys". It's a sparkling and glitzy affair; Tim Wesson's illustrated genius has produced the great book cover as well as the fantastically dreamt up illustrations inside. This is the first crazy story, as part of this new series, that keeps on hugging; it's a cross between "Toy Story" and a malfunctioning Rambo toy. This is another crazy caper make no mistake, but it is just how we like it! 

In this book, we enter the world of toy making in a bizarre and twisted world of Snaztacular Ultrafun, the world's biggest toy manufacturer. However, this is not just any toy manufacturer as every toy contains a tiny computerised brain that gives toys a realistic personality, so what could go possibly go wrong? Dan, a Snugliffic Cuddlestar bear, that's what could possibly go wrong as he has a faulty chip and is thrown on the reject pile. Once there, he is invited, along with a Loadsasmiles Sunshine doll and a robot rabbit named Flax, to join the ‘Spy Toys’. 

Their first mission is an action packed ride with fantasy spills around every turned page. The story will bring sunshine and joy to every reader (although perhaps not from Arabella the sunshine doll) with laughter and humour for the middle-grade audience and beyond. Once a dreamer and now a writer, this author has produced one of my favourite books to be published next year. The characters are loaded with an idiotic and quirky charm that will leave you smiling all day. 

I loved the scene in the book with the McBiff Triplets as it is outrageous, cinematic and fantastic to read. This is a great book which is easy to read - even with an almighty 200 or so pages. It will hold everybody's attention in a vice-like fantasy bubble, even the reluctant readers will not be able to put it down. You will run through this plot with the same excitement and adventure of an overactive toy rampage, but with a unique twist that just keeps on giving like Santa on Christmas day.  

Does your child like playing with apps as well as reading? If so, then check out the new free Spy Toys game app and help Dan to avoid the toy factory rejects pile in this free fun app game: bit.ly/SpyToysApp

Make sure you check the website: Spy Toys for other fun stuff as well. 

Play time is over get reading.... 

New Brand Release: Tom Percival - The Spell Thief /The Great Troll Rescue (Little Legends) - Mini Review

Welcome to Tale Town, a faraway kingdom, full of extraordinary children that you might literally recognise. Pop all of the fairytale characters you know and love, and whisk them together slowly to make new epic adventures. This is a wondrous world full of dragons, fairies and talking trolls, where magic and mayhem and mystery crackles through the air. It is a fantastic new series by the multi-talented Tom Percival. 

The first two books have already been published and are aimed at a younger audience for age 5+. The third book, Genies Curse, will hit the shops in fairytale land on the 28th July, 2016. These are fantastically written, exciting stories that have a classic fairytale feel style and wonderful eye-catching illustrations by Tom.

The idea for Little Legends was developed by Tom Percival and Made in Me, a digital creative studio exploring new ways for technology and storytelling, to inspire the next generation. The brand will launch simultaneously a physical paperback and ebook, and a interactive game for children available from the App Store.  It is a great  family entertainment package, ready and waiting for you all to access! Check them out Here!

Jack (of the beanstalk fame) and his magical talking chicken, Betsy, have always been great at making new friends. But when Jack spots Anansi, the new kid in town, talking to a troll in the Deep Dark Woods, everything changes. Everyone knows that trolls mean trouble, and Jack will do anything to prove to the rest of his friends that Anansi is a troll spy. Even if that means using stolen magic!

What starts as an adventure ends in disaster when Rapunzel, Anansi and Jack and his talking chicken, Betsy, are captured by a wicked witch and locked up in a tower! It's up to Red (the sustainable woodcutter's daughter) to save the day. With the help of the witch's servant, Ella, and her magical fairy god-brother, can Red save her friends and all the other magical creatures the witch has kidnapped - including a fearsome troll?

Guest Post by Stephen Bennett - Writing App Goes Free as Survey Shows Internet Leading Distraction for Writers‏!

A survey of 1000 US writers has found that the Internet is the biggest distraction preventing them from writing.

The survey undertaken by Stop Procrastinating, the website blocker and productivity tool, found that 42% of writers claimed to have turned to browsing the internet for inspiration only to be lose hours reading articles or watching YouTube videos.

The survey found that digital distractions such as emails, social media and the Internet were also most likely to prevent them from writing.

Most interesting is what they were viewing. Most writers didn’t turn to the great works for inspiration, but were more likely to watch YouTube videos of comedy acts or cats and other animals doing funny things. 45% of those who said they were distracted by the internet from writing said they had watched a funny animal video at least once to help get them through a creative block.

32% of respondents claimed the level at which the internet distracted them from writing was significant and worrying.

Of all respondents 42% said they had tried to concentrate on writing for more than a week only to be distracted at some point by the internet.

45% said they had lost their chain of thought because they checked and responded to an email or social media alert while they were trying to write.

Some 33% said visiting distracting websites or social media cost them at least an hour a day in lost productivity or writing time.

Tim Rollins, Stop Procrastinating director, said: "We have made Stop Procrastinating free today in order help writers beat their Internet distractions and get more writing done. The Internet, social media, emails are pervasive and eating into our quality time. We need urgently to put ourselves back in control. 

"Writers have always had distractions, but they have never had to deal with a technology that is everywhere at once and influences every part of our lives. It is unprecedented the level of intrusion and distraction that today's writers have to cope with," he said. 

About Stop Procrastinating:

Stop Procrastinating is an Internet blocking and productivity application. It is compatible with Mac OS and Windows. It allows users the option to block the Internet for a period of time in three ways, depending on how much self-discipline they have.

Option 1 allows users to block the Internet for a set amount of time, but they can get back online if they reboot their computer.

Option 2 allows users to block the Internet for a set amount of time, but prevents access to the internet even if they restart their computer. They have to wait until their chosen time is up to reconnect.

Option 3 allows users to input into a black list specific websites they wish to block, such as Facebook or Twitter, and to stay connected to the Internet.

Stop Procrastinating also gives users the option to write down their works goals before disconnecting from the Internet. Research has shown this to be a powerful aid to motivation. It also allows users to chart their progress over time, which helps users see how much more work they are getting done.

Kindle Book Plug: Peter Quatrine - The Chronicles of the Dragon Sisters

Hello reader,

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Peter Quatrine. I’ve
recently published my debut novel on the Amazon Kindle store.  Mr.
Ripley has very kindly offered me the use of this blog post to help
promote the novel.

The book is entitled “The Chronicles of the Dragon Sisters,” the first
in a series about teenage twin sisters Eva and Jane Fonten.

The estranged twins move from London to a bizarre country house, rife
with dragon decor and motifs.  Follow their adventures as they are
drawn into fantastic and dangerous worlds as they begin to learn of
their heritage and themselves.  The developing relationship between
the girls and their immediate and extended family is a central theme
in the unfolding saga.

Barry Cunningham, publisher and MD of Chicken House, kindly notes in
his 4* Amazon review: “I was lucky enough to read this early - it's a
really excellent story, and I love the Dragon Sisters.  It's not so
common in fantasy to find great girl characters, and these are truly
intriguing in a fantastic and strange adventure.”

If you like contemporary fantasy perhaps you might like to give it a
try.  If you’re a Prime user you can borrow it for free, or buy it
for a £1 or $1.55.

Previews are available for your reading pleasure. The work can be
downloaded onto anything that carries the Kindle app.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Chronicles-Dragon-Sisters-ebook/dp/B00AHE5XCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355527291&sr=8-1&keywords=the+chronicles+of+the+dragon+sisters

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Chronicles-Dragon-Sisters-ebook/dp/B00AHE5XCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355527291&sr=8-1&keywords=the+chronicles+of+the+dragon+sisters

Thank you very much,

Peter A. J. Quatrine

Patrick Carman - Dark Eden - Watch The Beginning - A New Way To Read

About

Synopsis When Will Besting approaches Fort Eden for the first time along with six other teens, he knows something isn't right. With more terrifying secrets at every turn he discovers a hidden fear deep inside himself, a dark mystery a thousand years in the making, and the unexpected girl of his dreams. But can he save everyone from a madman before it's too late?

                

Dark Eden -- where fear is the Cure.

Dark Eden is both a traditional book and an immersive multimedia app. It's for every kind of reader.

See who developed the DARK EDEN mobile app experience here.                                   Experience DARK EDEN as a traditional novel written by a gifted storyteller at the peak of his powers. Get inside Will Besting’s innermost thoughts as he wrestles with his darkest fears during his terrifying stay at Fort Eden. New York Times-bestselling author Patrick Carman casts a spell that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Mobile App

Step inside the world of DARK EDEN with maps, videos, audio diaries, and journal entries that tell the entire story. It’s like nothing you've ever experienced. The entire 14-episode experience is $9.99. Or purchase only the episodes you want for $.99 each (episode one, The Arrival, is free). All purchases are in-app.