I’m so excited to announce the cover reveal for my debut
chapter book, THE ENCHANTED SNOW GLOBE COLLECTION – BOOK ONE: RETURN TO CONEY
ISLAND. The book releases on July 25, 2017!
It’s very appropriate that Becky is hosting this reveal
because I wrote the first early draft of the manuscript during the Chapter Book
Challenge in 2016! I participated in the challenge as an author new to the process
of writing chapter books. I really enjoyed spending the month brainstorming
ideas and writing alongside others who were pursuing the same goals and facing
the same obstacles. Next, I enrolled in The Chapter Book Alchemist course with
Hillary Homzie through Mira Reisberg’s Children’s Book Academy. Hillary’s
online course and critique helped me with character development, pacing a
chapter book, and so much more. I subsequently enrolled in the Chapter Book
Blueprint course, further refining my work. In Chapter Book Challenge 2017, I made
great progress on the manuscript for Book Two: THE LIBERTY BELL TRAIN RIDE!
I’m so grateful to the Chapter Book Challenge community –
everyone is incredibly supportive and it's heartwarming to know that an entire group
of like-minded authors is rooting for you to succeed. So thank you to Becky,
and to the rest of this wonderful community. I can't wait for next year’s
challenge and for ChaBooCha Lite in September!
So here it is, the cover, illustrated by the very talented
Callie Metler-Smith. Callie is also my publisher at Clear Fork Publishing. I’m
thankful to Callie for publishing this book series, and for contributing her
beautiful art. I love how Callie captured the Cyclone Roller Coaster that’s featured
in the story. The Cyclone is encased in the snow globe and it also forms the
background of the cover, representing the worlds inside and outside the snow
globe. I feel like Callie read my mind about what Emma and Simon should look
like – their expressions are perfect. And I’m so happy with the fonts and the
glittery snow in the globe and at the upper left corner. Callie includes so
many evocative details . . . I can’t wait for you all to see the inside
illustrations as well!
I’m thrilled to include a sneak peek of the back cover draft
text as well:
They thought it was
an ordinary sleepover . . .
When nine-year-old twins Emma and Simon shake a snow globe
from their grandmother’s enchanted collection, they’re transported back to
Coney Island, New York, on June 24, 1928. According to family legend, that’s
the day their great-grandparents meet. But if events don't work exactly as
they’re supposed to, the meeting won't take place and the twins might never be
born. After a day of adventures – from the Cyclone Roller Coaster to the
boardwalk arcade and finally to the fateful Coney Island trolley ride – will
the twins help make it happen?
I hope you’ll follow my writing journey at www.MelissaStoller.com and sign up for
my blog at www.MelissaStoller.com/blog.
And of course l hope you look for my book starting on July 25th!
Cheers to all the authors working on their own chapter books!
I look forward to reading your stories!
*****
Melissa Stoller is an avid collector of snow globes, sea
shells, stories, and other treasures. She lives in New York City with her
husband, three daughters, and a mischievous puppy. THE ENCHANTED SNOW GLOBE
COLLECTION – BOOK ONE: RETURN TO CONEY ISLAND is Melissa’s debut chapter book.
Her debut picture book, OLIVE’S MAGIC PAINTBRUSH, will be published in March, 2018,
also by Clear Fork Publishing/Spork. Melissa is delighted to be a Regional
Ambassador for the Chapter Book Challenge!
Connect with Melissa at:
Facebook – Melissa Berger Stoller
Twitter - @MelissaStoller
Instagram – Melissa_Stoller
Pinterest – Melissa_Stoller