Tag: Suzanne de Montigny

Meet Kira from A TOWN BEWITCHED by Suzanne de Montigny

June 29, 2016 / Katie L. Carroll

I have a very special guest on the Observation Desk today: Kira, from Suzanne de Montigny’s latest middle grade novel A TOWN BEWITCHED. Let’s all give Kira a big welcome!

Hi. My name’s Kira. I’m fourteen and I have a frightful tale to tell about the strangest woman I’ve ever met. She showed up at Dad’s funeral wearing a scarf and boots even though it was August and carrying an old beat-up violin case. No one knows who she is in our small town and that’s weird ‘cause I’m a violinist and we know everyone who plays since it’s such a nerdy thing to do. Speaking of nerdy, did I mention I’m a child prodigy in classical violin? Makes it tough to fit in. My BFF Charlotte is a misfit too. She was adopted from China and is the only Asian kid in town. The In-Girls and their creepy friend Travis have a hey day with us.

Anyway, so this Kate McDonough whose eyes are the same piercing blue as a wild animal, takes over the town. Within a few days, Uncle Jack’s tavern is filled every night listening to her play this mysterious Celtic music. Then everyone starts taking fiddling and step dancing lessons, even the In-Girls and their nasty friend Travis. Like what’s going on? Why does Kate McDonough have this effect on a rock-n-roll town?

Then someone starts vandalizing the town leaving scary messages and a dead bird as a calling card. The authorities notice human teeth marks in a piece of organ left behind. I know who it is – it’s Kate McDonough! It has to be because it all started when she came to town, yet no one else can see it. They’re all under her spell. But not me. I’m going to get to the bottom of this before something really bad happens…

A Town Bewitched – now available on Amazon.

About the Author:

Award winning author, Suzanne de Montigny, wrote her first novella when she was twelve. Years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with writing. A teacher for twenty years, she enjoys creating fantasy and paranormal for tweens and teens. She lives in Burnaby, B.C., Canada with the four loves of her life – her husband, two boys, and Buddy the dog. Find Suzanne at:

www.suzannedemontigny.com
https://www.facebook.com/unicorngirl52?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/sfierymountain
http://suzannesthoughtsfortheday/blogspot.com

Suzanne de Montigny Talks Unicorns and Her Newest Writings

April 11, 2014 / Katie L. Carroll

Make sure to check out my guest post about my writing spaces on the MuseItUp Tween and YA blog here and enter to win a copy of Elixir Bound as it’s the featured book on the Dragon Blog. While I was away, Suzanne de Montigny, author of the middle grade fantasy The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, stopped by to talk about her award-winning book.

Why are unicorns so important in mythology, in coats of arms, and in our imaginations? Find out why when you read Suzanne de Montigny’s The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy. And if you leave a comment at the end of this blog, you may win a copy of her e-book.

Winner of the Global Ebook Award for Best Fantasy/Alternate History, de Montigny’s story tells the unicorns’ struggle for survival when the great asteroid smashes into the earth, changing it into a moonscape, and causing the extinction of the dinosaurs – all except one, Darius the seer. Darius foresees the coming of the humans who exploit the unicorns for the healing power of their horns. When Ishmael drive nine unicorns to their death during a plague, Azaria seeks out Darius who teaches him the secret that keeps them alive, yet virtually impossible to find.

Suzanne, The Shadow of the Unicorns: The Legacy was such a moving story. Your ending was so sad. What can readers expect from you next?

I know what you mean, Katie. It makes me cry every time I read it, but the good news is it’s a trilogy and book 2 is nearly done.

There’s a book 2?

Yes, it’s called The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Deception. It happens sixty years into the future when a cruel and corrupt Great Stallion, Icharus, controls the unicorns by creating a false deity. When Ulysees and his friend Téo explore a forbidden trail, they are spotted by a human and thus begins the flight of the unicorns from danger. But are they safe from Icharus? They learn the truth from an older stallion who still remembers the old days – Danae. And the best part about this story, is they find Darius again, and not a moment too soon.

Wow, can’t wait. What else is on your plate?

The minute I submit this story, I will rehash my tale about a child prodigy in classical violin growing up in the town of Hope, British Columbia. She and her best friend, Charlotte, a girl adopted from China into a white family, are bullied at school, and to make matters worse, Kira’s dad just passed away from cancer. When Kate McDonough, the red-headed fiddler takes the town by storm with her mysterious Celtic music, only Kira suspects who’s been vandalizing the town, leaving dead and gutted birds as a calling card…

Oh, gives me goosebumps.

Me too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St9OsyK974o&feature=youtu.be

Suzanne, where can we buy The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy?

At the following links: Amazon, Kobo, MuseItUp, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, iBooks.

And if someone wants to follow you on FB?

Easy.

http://www.facebook.com/unicorngirl52

Thanks, Suzanne. It’s been really interesting. I wonder who that red-head is.

I’ll never tell.

Readers, don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy.

Book Blast for The Shadow of the Unicorn by Suzanne de Montigny

December 4, 2013 / Katie L. Carroll

I’m very happy to host Suzanne de Montigny’s fabulous middle grade story The Shadow of the Unicorn (see my Goodreads review here). Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card or Pay Pal cash!

Title: The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy (The Shadow of the Unicorn, Book #1)

Author: Suzanne de Montigny

Recommended age: 9+

Summary

A loud, hissing sound filled the air. The unicorns looked up, their eyes filled with horror.

Azaria, a unicorn colt, is intrigued when the young clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a terrifying change in the world. When a giant fireball smashes into the earth, the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. Danger of a more sinister nature threatens when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle in the valley and their leader, Ishmael, discovers the healing power of the unicorns’ horns. Azaria, now a young stallion, must use his wits to save the herd from complete extinction.

* #1 in the Animals in their World list on Goodreads Listopia *

* #1 in the Christmas Stocking Stuffers list on Goodreads Listopia *

Winner of the 2013 Global E-book Award for Best Fantasy/Alternate History

The Buzz

“Kudos to Ms. de Montigny for writing an original variation on the fantasy epic–unicorns intermingling with dinosaurs! The book’s themes include the humane and environmental concerns that Watership Down and the films of Hayao Miyazaki have in common. If you have a middle grader or are just young at heart, pick up The Shadow Of The Unicorn.” ~ 5 Star Review, Stuart W., Amazon

“The Shadow of the Unicorn is a must-read for all unicorn lovers, but even more so for the ones, like my self, who hadn’t read anything about them yet. It is a thrilling and encouraging story about a young unicorn that has to save his herd after a meteor nearly destroyed their environment and killed the dinosaurs. Suzanne de Montigny created a compelling universe with believable characters and a great adventure story to challenge them with. While the story finishes in this book, I can’t wait to read about the new adventures the unicorns will face..” ~ 5 Star Review, Antje H., Amazon

“This story pulled me in with a beautiful portrayal of a time and place where unicorns and dinosaurs live side by side. It moved me forward with unexpected twist and turns (a requirement in any good story). I found it hard to put the book down and was totally engaged in seeing the young characters (unicorns and dinosaurs) survive and grow because of the challenges they faced.” ~ 5 Star Review, NW Harris, Amazon

“I just finished reading The Shadow of the Unicorn. What a story teller Suzanne de Montigny is. She combined unicorns with dinosaurs and spun a tail of magic that kept me turning the pages, not to mention throwing in an evil that came in the form of a human! What an enjoyable story – and here I thought these mystic animals were extinct. I just didn’t know what to look for!” ~ 5 Star Review, Penny E., Amazon

“What a delightfully unique book. Unicorns and dinosaurs facing changing conditions. Darius is a young dinosaur capable of seeing the future. Azaria is a young unicorn who becomes a friend and learns from Darius. Yes, there are humans in this book. They are the villains of the story. Greedy beasts. I think both boys and girls will love this story. Very quick paced and easy to read. A delightful story, and I look forward to more from this author.“ ~ 5 Star Review, DM Lawrence, Amazon

*Half of all proceeds go to the Third World Eye Care Society, a group of eye specialists who travel to third world countries with thousands of pairs of glasses and perform eye surgery for free.*

About the Author: Suzanne de Montigny

Suzanne de Montigny wrote her first unicorn story at the age of twelve. Several years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with unicorns. The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, is her first novel. Suzanne lives in Burnaby, B.C. with the three loves of her life – her husband and two boys.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)

Contest runs: December 2, 2013 to January 1, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Suzanne de Montigny and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet Darius from The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy by Suzanne de Montigny

April 29, 2013 / Katie L. Carroll

Today is a very unique interview of Darius, a character from Suzanne de Montigny’s MG novel The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy (see my Goodreads review here). Welcome, Darius!

Interview With A Dinosaur, And No, It’s Not Barney

Today, I have the privilege to interview, of all things, a dinosaur. No, it’s definitely not Barney. This one’s named Darius, and he’s the only dinosaur who survived the great asteroid. Readers, if you leave a comment, you have a chance to win a copy of Suzanne de Montigny’s e-book The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy.

Darius, what was life like before the asteroid struck the earth?

It was beautiful, Katie. There were thousands of us living in this beautiful valley full of rich foliage and a tall waterfall that spilled into the bluest lake you ever saw below. I was happy there with my mother Maresa. Then, one day, we had visitors from another valley. They were the strangest creatures I ever did see. They had thin legs, were pure white, and had a spiral horn.

Do you mean unicorns or white rhinos?

Unicorns, of course. And they came to see me. Saul, our leader, had summoned them because I was having strange spells.

What kind of spells?

It’s hard to explain, really. Something would overtake me and I’d be off in another world – a future world, and I didn’t like what I saw.

What did you see?

Everything had changed. The plants had changed, a lot of animals had died, and there was a new two-legged creature that was more dangerous than the Rexus. Then, one day, not too long after, a huge fireball struck our world, blotting out the sun and creating terrible storms. Most of the plants died and so did my dinosaur friends. I was the only one who survived.

How terrible for you. What did you do?

That’s when the unicorns found me just as my mother Maresa was dying. They took me back with them and raised me up…until the humans came.

What happened when the humans arrived?

I was terrified. I fled because I knew I had a destiny to fulfill and that they’d stop me from doing it.

Where did you go?

Back to my own valley. Sigh…it was so beautiful. Different, but still beautiful, except I was all alone. It was really difficult. I really missed Maresa. Then Azaria, my closest friend found me again.

You must have been very happy.

Only for a brief moment because he told a tale that sent shivers up and down my spine.

What did he say?

He said that the humans had captured one of the herds and was murdering them by using the power of their horns to heal people.

So what did you do?

The only thing I could. I taught Azaria the secret that had kept me alive all this time

What was it?

I can’t say. You have to read the book to find out.

What? Why you meanest dinosaur, you!

Haha! Not really, because for every book that’s sold, 20% of the proceeds go to the Third World Eye Care Society.

The Third World Eye Care Society? What’s that?

It’s a group of doctors who travel to third world countries bringing lots of eyeglasses and performing surgery for free.

Oh, well that’s okay.

Yeah. It’s amazing how they restore the vision of so many people who would otherwise be blind. Anyway, I have to go back now. I’m needed.

Okay, but where can we find the book?

You can buy it on Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/unicorntale

Or:

Muse It Up Publishing at http://tinyurl.com/museunicorn

And if you want to watch the booktrailer, here it is:

http://youtu.be/St9OsyK974o

Awesome. And, BTW…oh my gosh, he just slipped back into the book. Darius? Darius? How did he do that? I didn’t even have a chance to thank him. Anyway, readers don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy. Farewell, my friend.

SUZANNE DE MONTIGNY wrote her first unicorn novel at the age of twelve. Several years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with the unicorns. As a teacher in Vancouver, B.C., she learned she could spin a good tale that kept kids and teachers begging for more. The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy is her first novel. She lives in Burnaby, B.C. with her husband and two boys.