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:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1127235810
Contact
Christina At:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/@CAWeigand
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/caweigand
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/chris_weigand
Instagram:
chrisweigand1
