Sunday, January 14, 2018

Christina Weigand @CAWeigand Author of Sir E. Robert Smythe and the Lost Detective #Galactic Ambassadors Series, #Homeless, #Summer Reading Club



I’d like to welcome Christina Weigand, author of Sir E. Robert Smythe and the Lost Detective to my blog today.

RW:    How many hours a day do you spend writing?

CW:    Varies depending on the day and what else I have to do that day. Anywhere from fifteen minutes to a few hours.

RW:    Why did you decide to write? When did you submit your first manuscript and what genre was it?

CW:    After my fourth child was born and I had decided to be a stay at home mom. Even with the new baby plus a teenager and two young adults to deal with I still felt as if I needed something more in my life. I took my first writing class.

I submitted my first manuscript in 2010 and it was YA Fantasy.

RW:   Who are your favorite characters among the books you’ve written?

CW:    The twin princes, Brandan and Joachim in the Palace of Twelve Pillars trilogy.

RW:   Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story? Where did the idea come from? What genre is it? Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?

CW:   About two years ago I approached Ricci Moore. He had written a couple of scripts for a children’s series and had several plot ideas for others and was looking to age them up to Middle-grade. He was looking for an author to write the books for him. It is a Middle-grade fantasy. Sir E. Robert Smythe and the Lost Detective is the second book in the Galactic Safety Ambassadors series. The first book was Sir E. Robert Smythe and the School Bully. There will be four more books in the series that are meant to help 8-12 year-olds navigate the social issues they are confronted with.

RW:    What about your family? Do they know not to bother you when you are writing, or are there constant interruptions?

CW:   I usually write when my youngest daughter is at school, so there is no bother from her. My husband works from home but our offices are on different floors, so he tends to leave me alone also. My biggest distractions come from social media, a problem I am constantly trying to overcome.

RW:    Generally, how long does it take you to write a book? Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

CW:   Anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years. I do not have a set schedule for writing and kind of just go with the flow.

RW:   How many books have you written, how many have been published?

CW:    I’ve lost count of how many books I have written or am writing. I have eight published with two more of the Middle grade series under contract.

RW:    After you’ve written your book and it’s been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

CW:  My publisher supplies me with e-copies so I don’t necessarily need to buy it, unless I lose one of them, then I will purchase it. As for reading them, the middle grade books I have yet to read again since their publication is so recent. My YA trilogy—I have read them.

RW:    Among your own books, do you have a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

CW:  My favorite depends on the day and my mood. Somedays I like Palace of the Three Crosses: Book Two and other days I like Sanctuary of Nine Dragons: Book Three. As to favorite hero, it would have to be Joachim and later Brandan.

RW:    If I were a first-time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?

CW:    Palace of the Twelve Pillars: Book One and either of the Sir E. Robert Smythe books.

Sir E. Robert Smythe and the Lost Detective

The Plot

During summer vacation, while Anna and her brother Ben along with Bridget and her brother, Sam are participating in the Summer Reading Adventure at the local library, the town council announces that they are building low income housing for the homeless. While the housing is being constructed, a tent community has been established on an old soccer field on the other side of a haunted swamp. Sam is upset by this turn of events, but his anger is only beginning.

In the meantime, unbeknownst to them, the girls befriend Zoe, one of the homeless people living in the tents. The girls spend time together tracking down clues supplied by the books they are borrowing from the library that will eventually lead to a prize at the end of the Summer Reading Adventure.
When Bridget and Sam’s grandfather dies in a tragic car accident Sam’s anger increases. It is discovered that Zoe’s father was the drunk driver in the truck that crashed into grandfather’s car. The family lawyer reveals in the will that the farm and house have been left to the community to build low income housing for the homeless.

Sam’s anger reaches a boiling point and he directs it at Zoe and hatches a plan to get back at the people he thinks are taking away everything he holds dear.

An Excerpt

“All right. Love you mom.” Zoe kissed her mom on the cheek and ran back to the camp.

She found the book on her cot in the tent and started to head back to the park. Passing the swamp she noticed Morton the Morph, the yellow toad like creature and his small blue pear shaped panngoes playing on the edge of the swamp. One of the panngoes bounced into the swamp.

“Hey, you guys shouldn’t go in there,” Zoe yelled.

“Oh don’t worry about them. They’ll be fine, just a bunch of panngoes,” Morton answered as more of the creatures bounced into the swamp.

Zoe heard some dogs barking and one of the panngoes squealing. “One of them might be hurt. Shouldn’t you go in there and check on them.” She heard another sound, children talking and laughing. “Oh no someone’s coming. I have to hide. Mamma doesn’t want me to talk to any strangers.” The swamp would be the best place to hide, so she followed the panngoes into the swamp.

One of the bigger ones had fallen in a hole and was calling out for the others to help him. Zoe followed the sound of the crying.

* * * *

Sam stomped through the kitchen door of their two-story house. “Some animal dumped the trash cans again. Why does it only happen on the days I have to take out the trash?” He snarled as he grabbed a trash bag and a pair of rubber gloves.

“Sam, stop your complaining and get it done. We’re supposed to be meeting Hunter and Anna to go to the park for the Reading Club kick-off,” his sister, Bridget said.

“Yeah, I’d rather head over to the Gullies Swamp soccer field for a quick game of soccer. I’m sure Hunter would too. I’m too old for the reading club.”

“Well, you can’t do that.” Sam’s dad said. “Didn’t you see today’s paper? They voted to take that field on the other side of Gullies Swamp and turn it into a homeless community while they build some low cost housing for the homeless.”

“Why the heck are they doing that?” Sam said. “Where am I supposed to play soccer?”

“The high school field is open and the new field at the park.” Bridget answered.

“But we always play at the Gullies Swamp fields.”

“Well I think those fields are creepy. You have to go past the haunted swamp.” Bridget said.

“It’s not haunted.” Sam said.

“But you told me…” Bridget said.

“Bridget, how many times have I told you not to listen to your brother’s stories about the swamp?” Mom said. “He does that just to scare you so you’ll stay away. Sam, finish cleaning up the trash, so you can take your sister to the library.”

Sam grabbed the broom and stomped out the door slamming it behind him.

Christina Weigand

Christina Weigand’s a writer, wife, and mother of three grown children and a teenage daughter. She is also Nana to four granddaughters. She lives with her husband and youngest daughter in Pennsylvania after a short sabbatical in the lovely state of Washington. She has three published YA Christian Fantasy novels; Palace of the Twelve Pillars: Book One, Palace of the Three Crosses: Book Two and Sanctuary of Nine Dragons: Book Three. She also has a woman’s Bible study, Women of the Bible: A Study published. Recently the first two books in a MG Fantasy series was published, Sir E. Robert Smythe and the School Bully and Sir E. Robert Smythe and the Lost Detective with the remaining four to be published over the next year and a half. Through her writing she strives to share the Word of God and help people young and old to realize the love and mercy He has for everyone.

When she’s not writing she’s active in her local Church as a lector, Bible Study, and helping children develop a love for reading and writing. Jesus fills her home with love as she shares Him through her writing.

Book Links:





Contact Christina At:

Instagram: chrisweigand1

6 comments:

  1. Thank you for having me on your blog.

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    1. You're very welcome. Always happy to promote The Muse.

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  2. A great interview!

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  3. What a cute story idea. Love that book cover. Best wishes on your new release!

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  4. Thanks so much, JQ. I'm excited about the release of "Trouble on Sunshine Blvd." I still laugh at the antics of those folks. How do you manage to be so funny and creepy at once?

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