The Legend of Greyhallow releases in less than four months (coming July 18, 2023 from Simon & Schuster)! That means it’s pre-order giveaway time! Since the premise of the book involves the kids entering into a blockbuster movie (and bringing all sorts of fantastical characters into their quaint mountain town), I thought a movie-themed giveaway would be fun!

Starting now, everyone who pre-orders The Legend of Greyhallow will be entered into a monthly drawing for a chance to win a movie ticket. The ticket will be delivered digitally to your email from Fandango and available to use at theaters everywhere. The first giveaway will be held on April 15th so make sure you get entered in time for the most chances to win. Each pre-order will also receive a signed bookplate (to add to your hardcover copy of The Legend of Greyhallow when it arrives on July 18), and two fun book-themed stickers!

To enter the giveaway: Pre-order The Legend of Greyhallow (available for pre-order anywhere books are sold), then fill out this super quick and easy form.

That’s all! Thank you so much for pre-ordering your copies!! If you’re curious why pre-orders are so important to authors, here’s an informative article from Book Riot.

More about The Legend of Greyhallow:

Twelve-year-old Ainsley Galloway and her ten-year-old brother, Tobin, have just moved to the small, picturesque mountain town of Lowry. The town is famously the setting for the blockbuster Legend of Greyhallow trilogy and there are traces of the films wherever they go. Ainsley’s parents even bought the film director’s former home, which they dream of turning into an inn that caters to fans eager to check out the local Greyhallow Movie Festival. 

But when Ainsley and Tobin are fooling around in the attic of their new home, Ainsley unleashes something. Something she doesn’t quite understand. And suddenly, purple mist is flooding the town, she’s receiving cryptic messages from strangers in medieval garb. Oddest of all, the enigmatic director of the Greyhallow movies, who’s been missing for years, has a message for them.

Ainsley and Tobin have opened a passage between the very real magical world of the movies and their own. In a swirl of shifting loyalties, capricious creatures, and movie trivia, Ainsley and Tobin have to figure out what to do—and who to trust—in order to save them all.

February 1 is World Read Aloud Day and this will be my third year to participate. It’s always so fun to virtually visit classrooms all over the country (and sometimes world). I love reading to students and answering their questions about my books and the path to becoming an author. The kids always impress me with their originality and insight.

I’ll be speaking to schools around Texas, Washington, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan, and New York! I’m excited to connect with so many young readers and hopefully spur on their love of books.

My advanced reader copies of The Legend of Greyhallow have arrived! I’m so excited to share this story with readers.

If you’re a librarian, bookseller, or book reviewer, reach out to me about getting an ARC (supplies are limited but I’ll do my best!) An e-ARC is also currently available on Edelweiss and should be coming soon to NetGalley.

The Legend of Greyhallow officially releases from Simon & Schuster on July 18, 2023. You can pre-order your copy now and also add it on Goodreads.

More about the book: “Disney’s Enchanted gets a Lord of the Rings twist in this fantastical middle grade adventure about two siblings who must close the portal to a magical realm that inspired a popular movie franchise before their own world is conquered by emerging foes.

Twelve-year-old Ainsley Galloway and her ten-year-old brother, Tobin, have just moved to the small, picturesque mountain town of Lowry. The town is famously the setting for the blockbuster Legend of Greyhallow trilogy and there are traces of the films wherever they go. Ainsley’s parents even bought the film director’s former home, which they dream of turning into an inn that caters to fans eager to check out the local Greyhallow Movie Festival. 

But when Ainsley and Tobin are scoping out the attic of their new home, Ainsley unleashes something. Something she doesn’t quite understand. And suddenly, purple mist is flooding the town, she’s receiving cryptic messages from strangers in medieval garb. Oddest of all, the enigmatic director of the Greyhallow movies, who’s been missing for years, has a message for them.

Ainsley and Tobin have opened a passage between the very real magical world of the movies and their own. In a swirl of shifting loyalties, capricious creatures, and movie trivia, Ainsley and Tobin have to figure out what to do—and who to trust—in order to save them all.”

I’m so excited to announce that my next middle grade novel will hit shelves in 2023! This story has been on my mind for years, and I can’t wait to share it with readers! Keep an eye out for more updates in the coming months.

Want a signed copy of my next book, ATTACK OF THE KILLER KOMODOS? Here’s how: I’m sending signed bookplates and a wilderness-themed sticker to everyone who pre-orders a copy. All you have to do to claim your freebies is fill out this quick form: https://tinyurl.com/3d9254zr

I’ll also be signing copies in person at Interabang Books in Dallas at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14 (https://tinyurl.com/25mtcu5p) and Best of Books in Edmond, OK at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16 (https://tinyurl.com/56c6wyap). If you’re in the area, I’d love to see you there. PLUS, I just ordered some sure-to-be-delicious Komodo dragon sugar cookies for the party!

ATTACK OF THE KILLER KOMODOS is perfect for 4th-7th graders who love mystery, sci-fi, or adventure books.

More about ATTACK OF THE KILLER KOMODOS:

“This exciting second book in the Maggie and Nate Mystery series follows the friends to Yellowstone National Park where they must track down a deadly creature amidst a series of natural disasters.

Having rescued her town from zombifying mutant mushrooms, eleven-year-old Magnolia Stone is ready for her next adventure! Maggie and her best friend, Nate, head to Yellowstone National Park to visit Maggie’s park ranger dad. But when the kids bump into a rogue Komodo dragon, a dangerous predator that shouldn’t even be in the park, and a major earthquake leaves Maggie and Nate stranded, they set off to figure out what’s going on and to reunite Maggie’s family once again. 

While Maggie comes up with scientific solutions as they battle earthquakes, landslides, wolves, and other unusual creatures, Nate focuses on conspiracy theories and getting stellar footage for his YouTube channel. But only by combining their skills will they have any hope of saving Yellowstone or each other.”

Pre-order links:

Interabang Books: https://www.interabangbooks.com/book/9781534468689

Best of Books: https://www.bestofbooksok.com/book/9781534468689

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1534468684?tag=simonsayscom

Simon & Schuster: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Attack-of-the-Killer-Komodos/Summer-Rachel-Short/A-Maggie-and-Nate-Mystery/9781534468689

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME! Everyone who pre-orders Attack of the Killer Komodos will receive a high-res download of this gorgeous Komodo dragon art by Christie Renfro. (My picture doesn’t do it justice!) On top of that, you’ll be entered to win the Grand Prize which includes: a Komodo dragon figurine, The Ultimate Survival Guide for Kids, two paracord survival bracelets, outdoorsy stickers, plus a signed nameplate to affix to your hardback copy when it arrives.

To Enter: Pre-order Attack of the Killer Komodos (available anywhere books are sold), then fill out this form: (it’s super quick!) https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLScnvpnpHyTLUb…/viewform

You’ll be emailed the Komodo dragon art and will also be entered into the drawing for the Grand Prize.

Giveaway ends April 30 @ 5 PM CST, US Only

Summary of Attack of the Killer Komodos:

This exciting second book in the Maggie and Nate Mystery series follows the friends to Yellowstone National Park where they must track down a deadly creature amidst a series of natural disasters.

Having rescued her town from zombifying mutant mushrooms, eleven-year-old Magnolia Stone is ready for her next adventure! Maggie and her best friend, Nate, head to Yellowstone National Park to visit Maggie’s park ranger dad. But when the kids bump into a rogue Komodo dragon, a dangerous predator that shouldn’t even be in the park, and a major earthquake leaves Maggie and Nate stranded, they set off to figure out what’s going on and to reunite Maggie’s family once again. 

While Maggie comes up with scientific solutions as they battle earthquakes, landslides, wolves, and other unusual creatures, Nate focuses on conspiracy theories and getting stellar footage for his YouTube channel. But only by combining their skills will they have any hope of saving Yellowstone or each other.

Perfect for kids 8-12 who love mystery, adventure, and weird nature. Coming 9/14/21 from Simon & Schuster, Books for Young Readers.

The Advanced Reader Copies for Attack of the Killer Komodos just showed up on my doorstep! Squee! 🦎 ARCs are sent out in advance to book reviewers, librarians, and bloggers to help get the word out about new books. They’re a fun step in the publication process, and I’m thrilled to have received my box from Simon & Schuster. The real deal version of Attack of the Killer Komodos releases Sept. 14, 2021 and will be a hardback (not paperback like the ARCs).

About Attack of the Killer Komodos:

Perfect for fans of Stranger Things and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, this exciting second book in the Maggie and Nate Mystery series follows the friends to Yellowstone National Park where they must track down a deadly creature amidst a series of natural disasters.

Having rescued her town from zombifying mutant mushrooms, eleven-year-old Magnolia Stone is ready for her next adventure! Maggie and her best friend, Nate, head to Yellowstone National Park to visit Maggie’s park ranger dad. But when the kids bump into a rogue Komodo dragon, a dangerous predator that shouldn’t even be in the park, and a major earthquake leaves Maggie and Nate stranded, they set off to figure out what’s going on and to reunite Maggie’s family once again.

While Maggie comes up with scientific solutions as they battle earthquakes, landslides, wolves, and other unusual creatures, Nate focuses on conspiracy theories and getting stellar footage for his YouTube channel. But only by combining their skills will they have any hope of saving Yellowstone or each other.

Perfect for 8-12 year olds who love mystery, adventure, and weird nature! You can pre-order your copy of Attack of the Killer Komodos at: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Attack-of-the-Killer-Komodos/Summer-Rachel-Short/A-Maggie-and-Nate-Mystery/9781534468689

Once upon a time, I was perusing the internet and stumbled upon a 1980s documentary about the strange habits of fungi. This led to the discovery of a particularly sinister variety: Ophiocordyceps, AKA the Zombie Ant Fungus. (2023 Update: Yes, this is the same fungus in the new HBO series, The Last of Us. I’ve yet to see it, but know the show is based on a video game of the same name).

While zombies are a staple in sci-fi movies, this parasitic species is the real deal and was a major inspiration for The Mutant Mushroom Takeover. Carpenter ants infected by Ophiocordyceps grow hideously ugly stalks from the back of their little heads. These fungal stalks seize control of the ants’ nervous systems, and force the poor ants to bite down on a leaf near their colony. After that, the bulb at the top of the stalk bursts and rains down infectious spores on the rest of the colony, making legions more zombies in one fell swoop. Insidious, right? I thought so too and wondered what it would be like if Ophiocordyceps didn’t just infect ants, but an entire town. One question led to another and thus The Mutant Mushroom Takeover was born.

Nature can be creepy but it’s also brimming with wonder and curiosity-inspiring morsels. And sometimes they’re one in the same.

Today, my kids drew some art inspired by The Mutant Mushroom Takeover. I particularly love the mutant cornstalk my daughter added and the spores raining down over a town drawn by my son. These are rough times, people.

You can find out more about the Zombie Ant fungus here or grab a copy of The Mutant Mushroom Takeover to see what happens when it attacks a small Texas town and the last line of defense is an 11-year-old aspiring naturalist and her YouTuber and alien conspiracy theorist best friend. You’ll never see mushrooms the same way again!

ATTACK OF THE KILLER KOMODOS, The sequel to The Mutant Mushroom Takeover, is now available for pre-order! This next Maggie and Nate Mystery is set in Yellowstone National Park and features more adventure, humor, real science, and strange creatures including some very unusual Komodo dragons. Attack of the Killer Komodos releases on Sept. 14, 2021 and when you pre-order, the book will arrive in your mailbox on (or sometimes even before!) publishing day!

Pre-orders are super important for new authors. They let book buyers, like Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and your local independent bookstores know that there’s interest in a title. Without pre-orders, bookstores aren’t as likely to stock copies of a book.

If you or your kids enjoyed the first book in the series, I think you’ll love this next story. It’s a brand new mystery with some of the same characters and a few new ones. (And if you haven’t read The Mutant Mushroom Takeover yet, there’s still time!) Here’s a quick synopsis of Attack of the Killer Komodos:

“Having rescued her town from zombifying mutant mushrooms, eleven-year-old Magnolia Stone is ready for her next adventure! Maggie and her best friend, Nate, head to Yellowstone National Park to visit Maggie’s park ranger dad. But when the kids bump into a rogue Komodo dragon, a dangerous predator that shouldn’t even be in the park, and a major earthquake leaves Maggie and Nate stranded, they set off to figure out what’s going on and to reunite Maggie’s family once again. 

While Maggie comes up with scientific solutions as they battle earthquakes, landslides, wolves, and other unusual creatures, Nate focuses on conspiracy theories and getting stellar footage for his YouTube channel. But only by combining their skills will they have any hope of saving Yellowstone or each other.”

Thanks so much for all your support!

https://www.interabangbooks.com/book/978153446868

https://bookshop.org/books/attack-of-the-killer-komodos/9781534468689

I’m so excited that The Mutant Mushroom Takeover is nominated for a Reading the West Book Award!

The Reading the West Book Awards are sponsored by the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association and honor the best books set in one of the states represented by the association, or created by an author in the region.

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover is set in the fictional town of Shady Pines, Texas and is inspired by the piney woods region of East Texas where I spent my earliest years.

Some of my first memories involve way too many daddy long leg spiders in a neighbor’s bathtub and a rattlesnake on our front porch. Maybe that’s why spiders and at least one snake make a cameo in The Mutant Mushroom Takeover!

Nominees