The Lumpy Duckling by Kai Strand
Lumpy may be hefty with a misshapen mouth, but he’s funny and the most loyal friend Wheezy could ask for. When she meets Unwanted, she casts a wish for people to be able to see her best friend like she does. Her wish nearly kills him. All the Weaver Tales are set in the same fictional village of The Tales. The villagers are called Word Weavers, because they speak in story. The same little gnome-elf, Unwanted, grants a wish in each book that makes the main character's problem worse. The books do not have to be read in any order.
Praise for The Lucky Duckling Kai Strand explores friendship, perception, and the consequences of wishes in this fast-paced read. – Mary Waibel This is a wonderful story of loyalty and friendship. It also shows how one’s fears and insecurities sometimes sabotage the good things we have in our lives. Like Wheezy, we have to learn to trust, to accept change, to be patient and understanding, and to try not to jump to conclusions. The end is most satisfying, but it’s an exciting, nerve-wracking ride getting there. The Lumpy Duckling is highly recommended for middle grade readers. – Penelope Anne Cole 
PLEASE WELCOME KAI TO BOOKHOUNDS YA
1. What is on your nightstand?
I don’t even consider getting out of bed without first checking my very cool weather clock to see what the weather is and what to expect that day. I have odd things like paper clips, the backs of lost earrings, and for some reason a small plastic vial of confetti—just in case—in a little clay pot one of my kids made years ago. But the most prized bedside possession is a thin book of Thoreau’s, On Man and Nature. I’ve always been a fan of Thoreau, but I didn’t know my mom had been too. I found the book in my mom’s office—slipped between the copies of my own books that she owned. It was an unexpected bright spot in the otherwise heavy responsibility of wrapping up her life.
2. What author would you totally fan girl?
Oh my gosh. It’s embarrassing, really. Maggie Stiefvater. I’ve ‘known’ her online forever, but I got to meet her in person last year and felt like a little kid meeting a super hero. I connected with her online before her books got really big. And then they did, and she started traveling all over the world meeting LOTS of people in person and online. And the whole time I’m still just me, so I didn’t even expect her to remember me. She was completely cool about it and was even nice enough to assure me I wasn’t acting like an idiot. But face it, I was grinning like a loon and completely tongue-tied.
3. What makes you cringe?
Excessive gore in TV shows or movies. I’ll even take that a step further and say excessive anything, swearing, sex, mushy romance. If it is over the top, it’ll make me cringe. There needs to be a purpose for it.
4. Are you worried that your google history will get you into trouble?
Heck yeah! I say this all the time while I’m googling things like ‘flammable mineral in the human body’ or ‘how to make a body cast.’
5. Do you obsessively plot out each point or just go with the flow?
I’m a total flower. As a matter of fact, it is a part of my every day life. My husband and I like to take day trips around Central Oregon. Most of the time we will plot out the trips to make sure we can do a complete circuit in a day. But now and again we tell the kids, “Today we are flowing.” Which wouldn’t be so bad if we weren’t waving our arms like jellyfish and swaying like hula girls while we said it.
Stew – the Bunny gettinginto the holiday spirit
Author Kai Strand When her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died. The end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers and short stories for the younger ones, Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Blog
Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/29/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for the fun interview questions and for featuring The Lumpy Duckling & the giveaway. I hope my bunny doesn’t start your hounds baying 😉