Drum roll, please…

I’m delighted to share the cover for my next book, Attack of the Killer Komodos! This is the sequel to The Mutant Mushroom Takeover and features a brand new Maggie and Nate mystery, this time in Yellowstone National Park. The designers at DKNG Studios did an amazing job and I love what they created! 

A little more about the book:

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 separates them from Maggie’s dad, Maggie and Nate must set off alone to find him. On the way, they battle more earthquakes, landslides, wolves, and other unusual creatures. While Maggie comes up with scientific solutions to their troubles, 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 each other or the park. 

Attack of the Killer Komodos releases from Simon & Schuster this fall. Stay tuned for pre-order links and an Advanced Reader Copy giveaway!

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover has been featured on several blogs lately so I thought I’d do a little round up of the reviews. Below are highlights and links! Also, keep your eyes peeled for the cover reveal of Book Two coming next week! The designers did an amazing job and I can’t wait to show you!

Blurbs about TMMT:

“It’s science at its best, with a compelling mystery, adorable characters, funny banter, and more of a “something’s in the woods” type of a horror feel. And I loved it!” – The Bookwyrm’s Den

https://thebookwyrmsden.com/2021/01/18/the-mutant-mushroom-takeover-by-summer-rachel-short/?fbclid=IwAR3DaMiG2-JSjRcN5yaKgMXPRrn8K4zZURjpcN_shhEUyoV8r_SHYhmPgk8

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover

“This is a great adventure story that kept me turning the pages. The whodunnit aspect made me want to figure out exactly what happened!” – Literacious

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover

“Mystery lurks…and a bit of science, too…in all the right twisty-turny ways to make this one simply a ton of fun to read.” – Bookworm for Kids

http://www.bookwormforkids.com/2020/11/review-mutant-mushroom-takeover-by.html

“Teachers could have a field day with this, tying it to biology and ecology. The cross-discipline potential for using this in the classroom is vast – reading, writing, and science applications. Hand this to fans of Goosebumps, science fiction, mysteries, and zombie stories as well as kids who love hard science.” – Neverending TBR

REVIEW: The Mutant Mushroom Takeover by Summer Rachel Short

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover is now available wherever books are sold and I’m a published author!! Squee!!!

So many people reached out to me today with congratulations, photos of their kids reading the book, and excitement about the release. It was great to connect with so many friends and family on social media and at the book’s virtual launch party with Interabang Books. If you missed the live event, you can watch it all here. It was a blast!

Earlier in the day, my family and I picked up some gorgeous book-themed sugar cookies from a local baker, had lunch, and got ready for the launch party and my chat with fellow middle grade author, Kim Long.

In the afternoon, I had a surprise delivery of a spectacular mutant mushroom style chocolate cake sent by an amazing group of critique partners (thanks so much Taylor, Liz, Jennifer, Kim, Shelly, and Kristen!)

Today, The Mutant Mushroom Takeover was also featured on Middle Grade Mojo, the Inked Voices blog, and a most-anticipated book list from Literacious. Yesterday, an interview I did with MG Book Village posted, and a few days before that KidLit411 did a book profile and giveaway, plus a feature article with the local newspaper.

It’s been a busy but exciting week and now my book baby is out in the world, connecting with readers, and taking on a life of its own.

To order your copy of The Mutant Mushroom Takeover from an independent book store, visit Bookshop.org or to order a signed copy visit Interabang Books.

THE MUTANT MUSHROOM TAKEOVER is featured in a Classroom Connections article today on the blog of MG/PB author, Caroline Starr Rose. In the post, I talk about ways my book can be used in an educational setting.

“There are so many fascinating and bizarre happenings in nature but unless we do some digging we don’t always find out about them. In The Mutant Mushroom Takeover, I really wanted to share my own wonder and excitement about all the strange things right under our noses.”

Read the full article on Caroline’s blog.

Classroom Connections: The Mutant Mushroom Takeover by Summer Rachel Short

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover releases in just eight days! Here are all the links in one place:

Pre-order a signed copy from Interabang Books: https://bit.ly/32tSMfl

General pre-order: https://bit.ly/3ivDYlJ

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/33vU4FX

RSVP to the Virtual Launch Party happening at 6 p.m. central time, Sept. 22: https://bit.ly/32vbL8Y

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover releases in less than three weeks! At 6p.m. on September 22, I’ll be doing a virtual launch party with a local bookstore, Interabang in Dallas. I’ll be chatting about the book with my author friend and 2018 PitchWars mentor, Kim Long. We’ll talk about the inspiration for the story, my journey to publication, and more! I hope you’ll join me!! 🍄

Pre-order a signed copy from Interabang Books!

RSVP for the Virtual Launch!

Thanks for all your support of me and my book!! ❤🍄

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover got its second trade review and it’s another great one!

Here’s an excerpt from the full article from School Library Journal:

“A fun debut novel with an action-packed climax that will leave readers eager to scope out the weirder side of nature.”

In a little over a month (Sept. 22) my debut will be out in the world! I can’t wait for readers to meet 11-year-old aspiring naturalist, Maggie Stone, and her best friend and alien conspiracy theorist, Nate Fulton, as they dive into all the strange happenings in the town of Shady Pines.

You can preorder your copy today and support your local bookstore! 🍄🍄🍄

I’m giving away an Advanced Reader Copy of The Mutant Mushroom Takeover over on Instagram!! Follow the link to enter!

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover just got a great write up from Kirkus Reviews! They called the book, “Packed to the gills with fun,” and compared it to a larger-than-life monster flick with an “abundance of STEM content.”

Having my book start its journey out in the wide world is a little nerve-racking, so it’s a wonderful feeling to get positive feedback from reviewers. Here’s hoping many more people connect with Maggie, Nate, the town of Shady Pines and all the creepy crawly things inside these pages.

Coming September 22, 2020 from Simon & Schuster. You can pre-order your copy of The Mutant Mushroom Takeover here and support local bookstores!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/summer-rachel-short/mutant-mushroom-takeover/