The 2018 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion International Readers’ Choice Award has opened voting and 7th Grade Revolution is up for Best Fiction – Juvenile and I need your help to win.  From the Killer Nashville site:

Every year Killer Nashville receives hundreds of submissions for our Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards for best books of the previous year. It will take three rounds of judging by industry professionals, peers and to determine the winner(s). 
 
However, the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion READERS’ CHOICE Award is different.  This is your chance to vote for your favorites!  New titles are added daily – so check back often.  You may vote for titles in more than one genre, but you may not vote for the same title more than once. Multiple votes for the same title from the same IP address will not be counted.    Spread the word and encourage other fans to vote!

So HOW do you help? Easy … Go to  the Killer Nasvhille Readers’ Choice page and scroll down to Best Fiction – Juvenile, and click the radio button next to 7th Grade Revolution.  If you’d like, browse the other entries and vote for those books that have caught your fancy. In fact, right above the Juvenile section is Best Fantasy/SciFi/Horror where two of my publishing mates are competing: Alexandrea Weis with Blackwell and Gareth Worthington with Children of the Fifth Sun. So give them both a little click if you’d like. (You can vote for more than one book in a category, but not for the same book more than once.)

There is no need to vote in every category, so vote for what you want, scroll to the bottom and click the Continue button. It’s that easy.

From me, Dennis, Rhonda, and all the rest of the kids at Washington Academy, a great, big …

Thank you!!!

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True darkness is not something we experience often in our current existence. Headlights and taillights add to the beams from the light stanchions on the road. Indoors at night, there is the glow from the alarm clock, or the blinking of the phone, or even an air purifier emitting a blue glow. These days we have light pollution from all the artificial light sources.

Imagine walking through a hand-hewn tunnel with the light of a single torch to see by. I doubt much could be seen ahead as the tunnel narrowed.

     The tunnel narrowed and Curtis’s arm jogged against hers (Rhonda’s) as they walked.
     “Sorry.”
     “It’s all right. Getting tight here.” She took her eyes off the ground for a second and her cheeks burned when he smiled at her. Good thing he couldn’t see her cheeks turn red in the dim light.
     Their voices bounced eerily through the tunnel, echoing against the rock. She wouldn’t want to be down here alone. Scary.
     Curtis stopped and looked over his shoulder. “Single file ahead.”
     Rhonda turned. With the light from the torch playing over their faces, it reminded her of evil witch and wizard cartoons when they stood over a flickering cauldron. Dennis and Maddie brought up the rear, and they were virtually silhouettes with the occasional gleam when the light touched on their hair. “Do we want to turn some flashlights on or light another torch?”

For signed copies of 7th Grade Revolution or to purchase the playing cards, click the Revolution Merchandise button.

Now Available:
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What is an epiphany? One of its definitions is as follows: “a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.” What gave Dennis the insight he needed? His arms hurt from lifting the trap door to the tunnel.

     Dennis took a deep breath and cracked the door. He snaked through and rolled across the floor to the windowsill. Heck, he was already filthy; rolling on the floor wouldn’t hurt anything. He craned his head to look out the window and caught a glimpse of dark trousers and a hand holding a half-smoked cigarette. Good to know they weren’t on high alert.
     But what if the FBI had someone posted behind the school? He’d never make it. He crawled along the hallway. He hadn’t crawled this much since he was a baby.
     How could Silas, who had thought about everything else, forget something so key as a way to get in and out of the tunnel?

For signed copies of 7th Grade Revolution or to purchase the playing cards, click the Revolution Merchandise button.

Now Available:
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The post 7th Grade Revolution: The Epiphany appeared first on Be the Cat.

It made perfect sense for the house to have a hidden staircase because of the personality of the original owner, Silas Tucker. Since he was building at the conclusion of a war, Silas wanted to make sure he had a safe escape route. One no one else knew about. And I’m sure he used it to perplex his nephew Morgan when he came to visit.

     “Find a candle and bring me the matches.” Dennis pulled the flashlight off his carabiner clip and flicked it on. Stairs. Spider web encrusted, but stairs, despite their age.
     Trent slid on his knees next to Dennis and handed him a candle and matches. He lit the candle and pushed it through the opening to the end of his reach. The flame burned bright. Trent looked at him with a broad grin and a twinkle in his eye.
     Dennis jerked his head toward the table. “Let’s put the stuff in a trash bag and see where this baby takes us.”
     While Trent bagged the bottles and matches, Dennis reached through the opening and broke the cobwebs to clear a path. Then he poked his head and shoulders into the passageway. The stairs went both up and down. The darkness and cobwebs made it spooky, but nothing would stop him from going down those stairs.

For signed copies of 7th Grade Revolution or to purchase the playing cards, click the Revolution Merchandise button.

Now Available:
Print:  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Powells  |  Book Depository
All available Ebook Retailers

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