I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SOL INVICTUS by Ben Gartner Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: SOL INVICTUS (The Eye of Ra #2)
Author: Ben Gartner
Pub. Date: February 2, 2021
Publisher: Crescent Vista Press
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 300
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
Siblings John and Sarah barely made it home last time, but in their next time traveling adventure the challenge really heats up. Surrounded by clashing cultures on the ancient Roman frontier, they must fulfill their quest to unite the emperor with his enemy, an Alemanni barbarian, or risk being stuck in time forever.
An action-packed fantasy full of sword fights, chariot chases, fearsome wild animals, and high mountain survival. For graduates of the Magic Tree House looking for a thrilling middle grade page-turner, read Sol Invictus, book two of The Eye of Ra series!
Reviews:
⭐️Gold Recipient, Mom’s Choice Awards Honoring Excellence
“Once again, Gartner deftly weaves real-life history into a compelling adventure, offering high-stakes, realistic danger and vivid scene-setting.”-Kirkus Reviews
“Gartner has a knack for action and creating compelling historical personalities . . . Middle [grade] readers who treasure ancient history with a side of adventure will welcome this fantasy story.”-BookLife Reviews by Publishers Weekly
Grab book 1 THE EYE OF RA now!
⭐️ Gold Recipient, Mom’s Choice Awards; ⭐️ Silver Medal in Children’s Adventure, 2020 International Readers’ Favorite Awards; ⭐️ Finalist, Next Generation Book Awards; ⭐️ 1st Place in both Children’s Adventure AND Grades 4th-6th, 2020 TopShelf Awards
INTERVIEW
- What is on your nightstand?
Literally? A lamp, a clock, and two chargers—one for my iPhone, one for my Apple Watch. Figuratively, as in what book am I reading? Well, by the time you read this I’m sure that’ll change, but I recently read THE VERDIGRIS PAWN by Alysa Wishingrad. It comes out in July.
- What author would you totally fan?
I was a big fan of Stephen King when I was a kid. I read most of his stuff. Oddly, I don’t love watching movies made from his books, but I do love his writing. So “simple” and he makes it seem so easy. It’s inspiring and intimidating.
Lately though, I read ECHO MOUNTAIN by Lauren Wolk and then quickly read her other books too. Amazing writer. And lately I’ve been kind of getting into novel-in-verse books, which are new to me. I read ALONE by Megan Freeman and THE MAGICAL IMPERFECT by Chris Baron and those both blew my socks off. I’ll admit I was surprised at how much they drew me in.
And although I don’t know Rick Riordan, I gotta admit that achieving his level of success does sound enticing. I don’t need to be mega-rich, but getting a movie or Netflix series of my books would be pretty awesome. A movie would be a bucket list. There’s still time…
- What makes you cringe?
Noise. When there’s too much sensory input, I get frazzled and tense. I love loud music, I can enjoy a good crowd, etc, but haphazard noise grates on my nerves. For example, when I’m writing, to get properly sucked into the flow of the muse, I need quiet. Some people listen to music, but that doesn’t work for me. I can’t have any distractions. And then, the hours just disappear.
- Do you obsessively plot out each point or just go with the flow?
Somewhere in the middle. I have an outline so I know where I’m going, generally speaking. But I’m also very much open to letting the characters or the nuances of the scene drive the plot. If that means revising my outline, so be it. Usually I don’t stray too far into left field, but if I do, that’s a great exercise too. Because even if that material ends up getting cut, at least I have a little side story that helped me get to know the characters or that setting a little more—either their strengths, their weaknesses, or their limits on what makes sense. That helps make those characters and the story real.
- Is there a word you love to use?
Mellifluous. I love how it rolls around the mouth. And I love the onomatopoeia of it. It sounds just like warm sugary sap dripping down a maple tree, the sun sparkling a rainbow through the golden amber. Hm, now I want pancakes.
Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of The Eye of Ra adventure series for middle graders (ages 8-12). His books take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something in the meantime. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, International.
1 winner will win a finished copy of SOL INVICTUS, US Only.
1 winner will win an eBook of SOL INVICTUS, International.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
2/1/2021 | Two Chicks on Books | Interview |
2/2/2021 | Westveil Publishing | Guest Post |
2/3/2021 | BookHounds YA | Interview |
2/4/2021 | Log Cabin Library | Guest Post |
2/5/2021 | A Dream Within A Dream | Guest Post |
Week Two:
2/8/2021 | Lifestyle of Me | Review |
2/9/2021 | Little Red Reads | Review |
2/10/2021 | @emmesbooks | Review |
2/11/2021 | Wonder struck | Review |
2/12/2021 | michellemengsbookblog | Review |
I like the book cover and synopsis, this sounds like an excellent book and series to share with my teen-aged grandchildren. Thank you fr sharing your author interview and book details, I have enjoyed reading about you and your work and am looking forward to reading your stories
Thank you, Bea! I hope they enjoy it.
Sounds like a wonderful read!
Thank you, Maria!
Mellifluous? Yes, it’s a perfect word!
Haha! Great minds think alike… 😉
Sounds like a great read.
Thank you, Rita!
I like the cover, it looks very nice!
Thank you, Marisela! Anne Glenn did the cover. She’s amazing. anneglenndesign.co.uk
The cover is stunning.
Agreed! Thanks for stopping by, Mary.
Very nice cover, and the book looks very interesting.
Thanks, Suzanne!
This sounds like a very good book.
Thank you, Sherry! I hope it lives up to it. 😉
Sounds like a great read I like the cover,
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.
I love the cover, can’t wait to check it out!
Nice, thank you, Dynal! Hope you enjoy it!
sounds like a fun one
Hope you enjoy it, Daniel. Thanks.
This sounds like a super good book and I love the cover too.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the adventure!