I just finished reading the first book in the Erec Rex series by my good friend and author Kaza Kingsley. Quite imaginative, this book is a fun read that kept me waiting until the end to find out the truth about Erec’s past. The best parts of the book are easily the first chapter, which features a woman of remarkable proportions guarding their front door while perched on a plastic chair, and an alarm clock which literally kicks Erec awake. I also quite enjoyed the ending of the book, which especially promised more in the series to come and left me hanging in a way. It struck me as a wonderful blend between Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and a touch of Alice in Wonderland, with lots of adventure and elements completely unique to the series thrown in.

Overall, check out this book– it’s in nearly every Barnes and Noble and Borders right now as well as Amazon, so you can’t miss it. Also, before the new year, check out the second book Erec Rex: The Monsters of Otherness- but jump to the copyright date first. It’s the first book to see (c) 2008 on the inside! Signals the new year is approaching… Congratulations to Kaza for a wonderful story and an intriguing beginning to a new children’s series.

1 comment »
Posted in Authors, Reviews
Tags: 2008, boarding school, Books, Erec Rex, Kaza Kingsley

I realized this morning that I never posted anything about the Texas Book Festival weeks ago. I went there to meet with authors and mingle with other book-minded people. There were plenty about, an entire schedule of big names including Rick Riordan, the big kids author of the moment who is writing the Percy Jackson series.

There was secret service everywhere, because Jenna Bush and Lynn Cheney were coming. I almost ran into all these guys with suits, little diamond collar pins and curly headphone wires. They were serious. I went to the end where Jenna was going to come in, without knowing where I was, and they were all looking at me, a whole group of them and police. I realized she would be coming from that street because it was filled with black SUV’s. I spun about and started right off in the opposite direction.

I went there hoping to see Rick Riordan, Kimberly Willis Holt (I won an autographed book from her 2 weeks ago), Jenna Bush and meet with April Lurie, who I have met over email. I ended up seeing none of those, but I did get to see Rick Yancey, Sherman Alexie, Neal Shusterman and this oddball:

One of those things you only get to see in places where authors congregate.

3 comments »
Posted in Authors
Tags: april lurie, Authors, Books, jenna bush, kimberly willis holt, rick riordan, sherman alexie, texas book festival