Hi everyone. Today I am featuring a book tour around "Upas Street: Shocking Specter" by: Sherrill Joseph. She is hosting a guest post here on my blog along with a sneak peek from her newest book. Check out all the details below along with a giveaway at the bottom. Happy reading :).
Q: How did your childhood experiences with reading and writing influence the creation of the Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series?
A: I was a shy kid with poor reading skills in my early elementary school years. But then in the fourth grade, I discovered Nancy Drew mysteries in my classroom’s library corner. I couldn’t stop reading them and remain convinced that the girl sleuth helped me become a better reader. I walked to my neighborhood library weekly to get as many books as possible, which was only five. All my allowance money went toward buying those mysteries. I still proudly display the entire set in my living room bookcase. That same school year, I started writing mini adventures for my hero and BFF so I could control the level of danger she encountered—“No Nancy! Don’t go down those dark cellar stairs!” I even made shoebox dioramas of scenes from her mysteries. The Hardy Boys and Phyllis A. Whitney mysteries followed. Nancy Drew inspired young me to become a published children’s mystery writer someday. She’s my best literary friend and writing muse.
Q: Beyond childhood, who or what inspired you to become a writer?
A: Many people and experiences inspired me. The love I found for reading and writing during elementary school followed me into college. I graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from San Diego State University with a B.A. in English, where I took a deep dive into the classics of literature. It was love at first page! A teaching credential and M.A. in education followed so I could pursue a career as a literacy teacher. My responsible, role-model students in grades K to 12, who proudly possessed various abilities, disabilities, races, cultures, and interests, greatly inspired my writing. I strongly believe that kids need to find themselves and others unlike themselves in books if every child is to become an accepting, anti-racist world citizen with a respectful, broad worldview. My biggest challenge to begin writing mysteries was finding enough hours in the day as an adult since I was raising a daughter, teaching elementary school full-time, and going to school nights. But once I retired in 2013 after thirty-five years in the classroom, my characters and their stories started bubbling to the surface. They haven’t stopped. Sometimes, they wake me up, pushing me to open my laptop and get busy.
Q: How does your teaching career influence or inform your writing?
A: I read and wrote alongside my students to model what good readers, writers, spellers, vocabulary builders, grammarians, and respectful citizens do.
In my last year of teaching, one of my students challenged me to write a better story than the one we were reading. Accepted! I resolved to revive my childhood dream. So, at the end of that 2012-13 school year, I retired from teaching and opened my laptop; the Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series sprang to life. My students became the prototypes for my detectives. From kids, I learned that they love arresting book covers; tables of contents and chapter titles to help them find their places; polite, responsible, intelligent characters they can relate to and strive to emulate; challenging plots; maps and graphics; recipes; many genres (not just fantasy); fun for escaping and facts for grounding; vocabulary context clues; and, history brought to life. I try to provide many of those elements in each book. From teaching, my knowledge of English conventions and reading and writing skills compels me to produce what I hope are books that are examples of good writing for young readers..I also learned to show in all my mysteries that kids deserve respect. Children can become comfortable world citizens, regardless of their socioeconomic levels, neighborhoods, or ethnicities. Kids are smart, have valuable thoughts and experiences that need harnessing, and possess amazing insights that often escape adults; hence, my polite, respectful, diverse sleuths were born, modeled after my former students. Like teachers, children’s authors are in a unique position to teach kids valuable life skills. We have the power to shape the future through the next generation.
Do you dare enter Dr. Frankenstein’s la-BOR-uh-tree?
Upas Street: Shocking Specter
The Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries Book 6
By: Sherrill Joseph
Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal Mystery
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From Chapter 16, “Burning Thoughts”
Background: The four Botanic Hill detectives are having dinner with their Llanfair hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Llewellyn. There was one night to go before the new moon and the specter’s likely appearance, so this evening should be relaxing . . .
The detectives took turns filling the couple in on all the clues and leads they had gathered so far. As usual, Lanny was quick to remind everyone that evidence was scarce so far, but they hoped they were on the right track.
The diners also discussed the day’s unlocked-door issue at the tower museum and were glad the problem seemed under control now. But it would be critical to find out who made a duplicate key and why.
As Moki was reaching for dessert, a powerful, clanging sound began.
The Llewellyns pushed back their chairs immediately and headed for the front door.
Mrs. Llewellyn turned around to the detectives. “It’s a warning bell coming from the village church. Something terrible must have happened! Come with us, quickly.”
Everyone abandoned the dinner table and bolted outdoors. Smoke was already clogging the air, and the group heard a roaring sound. But they continued toward the source. Soon, they joined other villagers, who were shouting and gathering in the town square.
The detectives noticed a large wooden structure on fire! The fire brigade was on the scene trying to douse the tall flames.
“What’s burning?” Lanny asked anyone who would answer.
“Our St. David’s Day festival stage!” said a young woman with a catch in her voice. “We thought building it early would be a good idea, but . . . ” She shook her head.
Lanny looked at the squad. “Are you guys thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Yep,” replied Lexi. “The Shocking Specter did this to distract everyone. It’s on the run—a day early!”
Lanny exhaled. “Ugh! And it’s got a jump on us.”
Rani tugged on Lanny’s sleeve. “Then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go after it.” The athletic girl raced ahead without waiting for a reply. Her three friends followed.
The Shocking Specter likely had a good head start, so the squad decided to go right to the cemetery and tower, ignoring the pond and bridge. The detectives traversed the grassy field in record time. No villagers followed them. Upon reaching the cemetery, Lanny told Moki and Lexi to check there while he and Rani would see if there was any trouble at the tower or its back door.
Soon, the four met between the two destinations.
Lexi held up a large corpse candle. It was a duplicate of the one Lanny had found in the pond, only hers was sparkling a bright red. “We found it by Scotty Roberts’s grave! And congratulations, Moki, for not complaining about returning to your least favorite spot in Llanfair.”
Without waiting for Moki’s reply, Rani said, “The tower museum’s door is still locked, thank goodness, but the doorknob’s loose as if someone’s been tugging on it. And we found a speck of its costume on the bush going down the steps!” She smiled and held up a few threads of fabric, brilliantly glowing green in the dark.
“Hey, guys. Look out there!” Lanny said, pointing.
Far off in the deserted meadow, running northwest toward the dense woods, was the Shocking Specter. It glowed a ghastly green from head to toe, shimmering and pulsating like an animated, computer-generated image. Just as Lanny was going to suggest they follow it, the apparition vanished— as if its lights had been switched off!
BLURB:
Do you dare enter Dr. Frankenstein’s la-BOR-uh-tree?
A fearless quartet of teen sleuths, the Botanic Hill detectives, travel to Llanfair, a fictitious Welsh village in present-day California, to solve the mystery of the Shocking Specter.
The green-glowing apparition reportedly roams the countryside, setting fire to buildings and meadows during the new moon. The occurrences began shortly after a motion picture stagehand Scotty Roberts’s accidental death by electrocution in this case inspired by the filming of Universal Pictures 1931 classic horror movie Frankenstein.
Supernatural?
Coincidence?
Or is criminal activity at work?
And why, nearly a century later, has the Shocking Specter returned?
Readers will enjoy learning about real-life horror film star Boris Karloff, Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, other key players in the movie’s production, and some early Hollywood cinematic history. Our fabulous four might need to kick some monsters to the curb to solve this challenging mystery!
For ages 9 to 14. Adults like this series, too! My present-day Middle-Grade mysteries have a twist of history, this time, harking to the filming of 1931's Universal Pictures classic horror movie Frankenstein. It is not within the Young-Adult genre that serves ages 14 to 18.
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What readers are saying:
“Follow our detectives to the fictitious Welsh settlement of Llanfair, California, as they chase a green-glowing specter and get caught up in a riveting mystery that will introduce young readers to the magic of old Hollywood horror movies. Kids will stay intrigued from start to finish.”
--KIMBERLEY KRAMER, Literacy Specialist, Saint Katharine Drexel Academy, San Diego, CA
“I loved this book and could not put it down! I loved learning about the Hollywood monsters from the old-time days and meeting the people of Llanfair. You will not be sad that you chose this book to read.”
--SOPHIA O., age 10, San Diego, CA
“As a professor of History of Film and Monster and Character Makeup Design, I was intrigued from the first page of this book! The Golden Age of Hollywood is brought to life in the eyes of the young protagonists through their exploration of Universal Studios’ Frankenstein franchise. Joseph not only captured my attention with the charm and intelligence of her four detectives but had me searching for clues and secret messages (Easter eggs) to unravel this horror-movie-inspired mystery. Joseph includes facts about Boris Karloff that I did not know, which delighted me to no end. Jack Pierce may have never received an Oscar for his iconic makeup designs, but he gets a wonderful tribute through this exciting story. A must-read for mystery lovers and film buffs of all ages.”
--SHARON LYNN, award-winning author of A Cotswold Crimes Mystery series; aka SHARON BOLMAN, Senior Professor of Digital Video and General Education, University of Advancing Technology, Tempe, AZ
Don’t miss the rest of the series!
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Sherrill Joseph
Sherrill Joseph was a shy kid whose BFF was Nancy Drew. From her, the author learned to seek adventures, be kind and fair, help others everywhere, and become a mystery author someday.
Convinced early on that she was an architect in a former life, Sherrill was receptive to the magic of her Southern California neighborhood’s historic houses. To this day, she dramatizes those old “castles,” filling them with mysteries, staircases, a ghost or two, and exaggerated occurrences.
The author graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from San Diego State University. Once retired in 2013 after teaching kids for thirty-five years in the San Diego public schools, the inner child in Sherrill created the multi award-winning Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series so her grandkids and all kids can gallop with her and her four forever-thirteen-year-old sleuths in their standalone cases after clues to nab the bad guys.
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I enjoyed reading the excerpt. Sounds like a great book.
Great interview. This looks really good. Thanks for sharing.