The Prince Who Was a Piccolo - Book Review

 The Prince Who Was a Piccolo

Written by Barbara Roman

Illustrated by Vladimir Cebu

 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BJYD1KYF
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (Oct. 24 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8359896238

About the Book:

When his father, the King, demands that the Prince be a “Royal Trumpet”, the unhappy boy brings doom and gloom to the kingdom until a mystical maiden guides him to finding his own unique music.

Barbara Roman's 'The Prince Who Was A Piccolo' teaches children about self-esteem, asserting independence, attitudes, and being comfortable with their own identity. They will also learn about different musical instruments and the influence of music on our lives and emotions. There are mystical qualities in the story as it metaphorically touches on meditation, intuition, and spiritual guidance.

Beautifully illustrated by Vladimir Cebu, this book is a rich learning experience for children, as they learn about music instruments, and ways to express their emotions.

 

What I Thought: 

 The Prince Who Was a Piccolo is a wonderful story with the subtle underlying moral value for children to believe in themself and strive for their own talents in life, whatever those talents may be.  I fell in love with the prince and his brave attitude to not give up searching for his own musical talent, even though his musical talent may not please his father the king. The story is so well written that I believe this book will become a classic in children's literature. The artwork is fantastic. This story is one of the most creative stories I've read in children's literature in several years. Kudos to the author!

 

About the Author:

 

 As Barbara Roman, I am the author of the children's books, "Alicia and the Light Bulb People in Star Factory 13" and "Hubert in Heaven - a hi-tech angel gets his wings."

Find Barbara Roman's children's books here. 

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10 Captivating Fantasy Books For Young Readers

10 Captivating Fantasy Books For Young Readers By Hgiardina & Ezvid Wiki Editorial  https://wiki.ezvid.com/m/10-captivating-fantasy-books-for-young-readers-J7iRlnKs8VQYg

Title	Author
1.	Charis: Journey to Pandora’s Jar	Nicole Y. Walters
2.	Sir Princess Petra	Diane Mae Robinson
3.	The Hob and the Deerman	Pat Walsh
4.	Fog Island	Tomi Ungerer
5.	There May Be a Castle	Piers Torday
6.	Mabel Gray and the Wizard Who Swallowed the Sun	Clayton Smith
7.	Dreamwood	Heather Mackey
8.	The Secret Life of Daisy Fitzjohn	Tania Unsworth
9.	Bad Magic	Pseudonymous Bosch
10.	The Mad Wolf’s Daughter	Diane Magras

Fun Activities For Young Fantasy Fans

• Watch some fantasy movies
• Draw wizards, fairies, unicorns, and more
• Create a Halloween costume of a favorite creature or character
• Have a board game night
• Practice a few magic tricks

How to Encourage Kids to Read

A great way to start is to get a bookshelf for your child’s room. If they have access to their own collection of books, it’ll be easy for them to read at their own pace. And if they’re looking at the shelf everyday, reading will always be on their mind. It’s also important to give your kids a comfortable place to sit. This can be anything from a rocking chair to a couch to a dedicated reading nook. If they have a space that’s just for them, it makes reading time all the more special. As they grow, your young ones will start to read more challenging books with words they don’t know. Encourage them to look up unfamiliar terms in the dictionary so they can expand their vocabulary. Finally, if you’re having trouble getting your kid interested in books in the first place, try bridging the gap between visual media and literature with graphic novels.

What is Fantasy?

No genre can capture the imagination quite like fantasy, where readers are invited to envision impossible worlds, daring heroes, and strange creatures living in the land of myth and legend. There’s a reason why so many speculative stories spellbind young readers with their tales of misfits, outcasts, and kids with untapped stores of tremendous bravery.
For young readers on the lookout for adventure, here, in no particular order, are some stunningly imaginative books that will bring out the magic in everyday life.

In the #1 spot is “Charis: Journey to Pandora’s Jar” by Nicole Y. Walters. Charis has been waiting all her life for a chance to show her stuff. Now, it’s up to the hyper-imaginative thirteen-year-old to save the world by visiting Pandora’s Jar, the place where demons and kind spirits dwell. The catch? She’s only got five days to release the spirit of Hope from the jar before mankind is officially doomed forever. With the help of a few trusty deities and her best friend Gabe, Charis has to summon up all her courage to set things right.

At #2, we have Diane Mae Robinson’s “Sir Princess Petra.” Even Princesses get bored of being pampered sometimes. In this series, nine-year-old Petra decides that she wants to become a knight. But even though she’s got courage and cunning to spare, knighthood comes with its own set of pressures and obstacles, like having to silence a dragon and visit the spooky Forest of Doom. If she can overcome a few kooky quests, she’ll find her true place in the kingdom.

At #3 is “The Hob and the Deerman” by Pat Walsh. Crowfield Abbey is a peculiar place. It’s a portal, of sorts, between the world we know and the Otherworld, a place where demons, boggarts, and all kinds of creatures freely roam. When Walter, a “hob” spirit, returns to find everything in disarray, he knows he needs to take action to help put all the troubled spirits in the abbey to rest. But it will take a lot of help, and a lot of courage, to cross paths with the Deerman of the forest and live to tell the tale.

At #4 is Tomi Ungerer’s “Fog Island.” No one ever returns from Fog Island. It’s a place shrouded in mystery, a place that Finn and Cara have been warned against visiting. But when the two siblings disobey their father and head for the far-off island, they’re in for more than they bargained for. Is the ancient place just a pile of ruins? Or is there a deeper mystery lurking, something that only the mercurial Fog Man can unlock?

For #5 we have “There May Be a Castle” by Piers Torday. Eleven-year-old Mouse knows he shouldn’t have survived the car crash when he was thrown from the vehicle during a Christmas Eve drive to his grandparents’ house. He woke totally fine, but in a world he barely recognized. With the help of a magical sheep and a sardonic talking horse, he’ll need to find his way to the castle if he wants to regain entry to his own life. That is, if this place everyone speaks of is more than the stuff of legend.

Coming in at #6 is Clayton Smith’s “Mabel Gray and the Wizard Who Swallowed the Sun.” The people of Brightsbane have had a rough time ever since the eternal night started. After a wizard took away the daytime from the land, he decided he needed to come back to steal a book of magic spells that holds the key to the township’s total destruction. Luckily, a spirited orphan named Mabel is going to set things right.
If she can summon up the courage to deal with a series of fantastical creatures and hair-raising quests, she might find a way to break her hometown’s terrible curse forever.

At #7 is Heather Mackey’s “Dreamwood.” Runaway Lucy has a fair amount of experience with supernatural forces. Her father is an expert on the subject, and she’s on a quest to find him and bring him back so she doesn’t have to go to that dreadful boarding school anymore. The problem is, her father isn’t where she thought he’d be. Could it be that the enchanted forest of Dreamwood proved too powerful a match for him? There’s only one way to find out: by heading into the heart of the living grove, no matter the consequences.

Coming in at #8 is “The Secret Life of Daisy Fitzjohn” by Tania Unsworth. Some might call Daisy’s life unusual: her best friends are a talking rat and a ghost, and she lives in an old estate that’s slowly falling apart. When her mother leaves on a strange expedition and doesn’t return, Daisy knows she can’t hide within the walls of Brightwood Hall any longer. She’ll have to do what it takes to save her home and keep her family together, with only the help of her eclectic sidekicks to guide her.

At #9 we find Pseudonymous Bosch’s “Bad Magic.” Clay knows there’s no such thing as magic. He’s seen a million sleight-of-hand shows and he knows they’re just tricks. That said, there are a few things happening at Earth Ranch that he can’t explain. Clay was supposed to be sent to the rehabilitation camp to be “scared straight.” But there’s more at work here than a few obstacle courses and hikes. For one thing, he’s having conversations with llamas.
For another, he may or may not have just seen a ghost. If there’s magic on Earth Ranch, Clay needs to make sure it’s not the deadly kind. If he can make it off the volcanic island without causing an explosion, he’ll count himself lucky.

Finally, at #10, is “The Mad Wolf’s Daughter” by Diane Magras. When Drest’s family of male warriors is taken captive, she finds herself in a unique position. All her life, her father and brothers took care of her. Now, she’s got to free her kin with the help of a witch, a soft-spoken knight, and her own fierce courage. With a mysterious bandit out to get her and her sense of independence growing by the day, Drest will find herself taking chances, slaying personal demons, and doing things she never dreamed herself capable of.

https://wiki.ezvid.com/m/10-captivating-fantasy-books-for-young-readers-J7iRlnKs8VQYg

From her Forest, Author Diane Mae Robinson Brings her Irrrational Dragon to Visit

From her Forest, Author Diane Mae Robinson Brings her Irrational Dragon to Visit... Fellow writer and Canadian, G. Mitchell Baker, created a wonderful post with his interview of me. See G.  Mitchell's author information below. Re-blog from: http://www.gmitchellbakerauthor.com/interviews-with-authors-and-friends/from-her-forest-author-diane-mae-robinson-brings-her-irrational-dragon-to-visit     Diane Mae Robinson Today it is my great pleasure to welcome writer friend and Canadian author Diane M. Robinson who has said about herself, Ever since I was a child, I named things. Trees, cars, houses, clouds and of course, all the family pets. Every thing deserves a proper name in my view. My ladder even has a name: Harold H.Handover. Indeed, you will find, as I have, Diane is an incredible person, as well as an incredible author of children's books. For example, the incredible person I have come to know has studied at Institute of Children's Literature and teaches acrylics, watercolor, and clay sculpture as the St. Paul Visual Arts Center. She also serves on committee for the Friends for World Development, volunteering  to help coordinate sustainable programs in Indore, India regarding schools, tea plantations, weaving/sewing centers, milk co-ops, and community meeting halls. She has also volunteered for Kindness in Action to provide dental care for the poor in outlying areas in Honduras and Guatemala. Indeed, a very special person, who happens to be an incredible author as well. 'Incredible' came to mind when I learned that Diane as an author has earned, and is the recipient of the 2012 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award (literary arts); the 2012 Purple Dragonfly Book Award; the 2013 Readers' Favorite International Book Award; the 2013 Sharp Write Book Award; the 2104 Readers' Favorite International Book Award; the 2015 Children's Literary Classics Seal of Approval; and, the 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award in the genre of fantasy/adventure children’s chapter books. Books one and two in The Pen Pieyu Adventures series have won 6 international book awards and one provincial award. What makes Diane Robinson an incredible author, is that she is a multi-award-winning children's author, writing Instructor and tutor at Creative Writing Institute. Before diving into the interview, I thought to complete this introduction, only after listening to Diane read in her own words. DMR: Over the last several months, Longstride Castle had become quite accustomed to having the only Princess Knight, well, the only knight actually, in the lands of Pen Pieyu. The king and queen held many parties in Petra's honor, and royals and peasants alike acknowledged the Princess Knight's kindness and bravery and brought what gifts they could to the castle, although the gift bearing seemed to have slowed of late. Petra was not concerned with the parties or gifts as much as she was eager to practice all her knight skills : jousting, fencing, javelin throwing, steed grooming and maintenance, running, armour polishing, and, of course, onion-throwing to hit the mark. She also kept up with her Highland dance lessons, just because she liked it. Longstride Castle had also become quite accustomed to having a dragon in the kitchen since Snarls had become master barbecue connoisseur. The royal rule book said nothing about a dragon in the kitchen, only that the master barbecue connoisseur must provide a very hot fire available for barbecues at a moment's notice. The castle parties flourished as Snarls roasted to perfection his specialties: skewed onion-turnip pom-poms, onion-broccoli no-where-to-be-seen, and, of course, onion omelette ta-da.' GMB:  And with thoughts of castles and royals, and Diane's incredible presence, both here and in the writing community, I ask her now, to share with us something about her presence … a little about herself. DMR:  I live in a small town in central Alberta, on an acreage with horses and dogs, and tons of gardening projects to keep me busy in the summer. Winter weekends are my writing time. During the week, I work at a busy dental office, teach art lessons after work, and I am a part-time writing instructor at the Creative Writing Institute. Yes, I need more hours in a day. Since my first book in The Pen Pieyu Adventures series (children’s fantasy/adventure chapter books) was published in 2012, I have been working hard to create a presence in the writing community--to reach further areas in Alberta and beyond.  It’s a lot of work and a slow road, but every year my presence multiplies. Locally, and in surrounding towns and cities, I have been doing school author visits since the first book release, and with each new book release I often return to the same schools. I’ve done a few author lectures to adult groups wanting to know about the publishing/writing process. This year, I was asked to visit the Slave Lake Library in August, and in October I will tour southern Alberta through bookings with the Young Alberta Book Society. Yay! Road trips!  GMB:  And you have received wonderful reader reviews as well... DMR: Yes ... and for example, Grady Harp, Hall of Fame, Top 100 Reviewer, said about Sir Princess Petra’s Talent: Canadian author Diane Mae Robinson freely states `My mission in life is to inspire children to believe in the magic within themselves, to become heroes, and to accomplish great things' and to that end she is proceeding with her series of richly detailed imaginative fantasies focusing on a young princess who feels the need to be a knight. Though young and new to the field of publishing the author has already been awarded honors and medals. Diane keeps the book short (a true plus for young readers) and makes her dialogue full of contemporary humor with just the right touch of lightness. In other words, Diane has mastered this genre. Or as other have said, her books are `amazingly fresh, charmingly funny, and embrace timeless values kindness, understanding, and respect'. Highly recommended. GMB: Wonderful, Diane ... and what would you consider the greatest inspiration you have experienced to date? DMR: I have several great inspirations that have happened to me as a writer. The first inspiration was finally receiving a traditional publishing contract after 27 rejections and 9 years of researching the markets, query letters, submissions, near contracts, signing my first contract only to have that publisher forfeit the contract after a year, and then receiving another traditional contract within months of the previous one. The second great inspiration happened 6 months after my first book was published, and that was winning the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Arts Award (literary arts), which included a big honking medal, a hoopla event at Governor House in Edmonton, and a $10,000.00 cheque. After this first award, the books have gone on to win six international awards. All of these milestones confirmed to me that I was on the right track of wanting to be a writer. Patience and believing in yourself is definitely a virtue for any writer. GMB: Where and/or how do you find or, does inspiration find you? DMR: It’s kind of a joint effort. When I’m mentally and creatively ready to start a new book, I just have to wander off into my forest. Then it’s like characters jump out at me from the trees. I know, it sounds strange, but when my imagination runs free I see different character images emerge in the tree barks. As I see these same images over and over throughout the months, think about the emerging characters and make notes, the characters start to come to life. When I have a good idea of the characters, the story starts to write as if dictated from the character’s point of view. When I explain this jumping-out-of-tree-bark-character idea to kids at my school author visits, they get it. Hmmm, this could only mean I have a childlike mind. Somehow, I’m okay with that. GMB: What is your favorite genre to write … to read? DMR: I only write children’s chapter books in fantasy/adventure. Well, then there’s my grammar book coming out, but in a fun way it is a fantasy/adventure as all the characters of my fantasy series are giving the grammar lessons. My favorite books are the classics: Wuthering Heights, Anna Karenin, The Scarlett Letter, Jane Eyre, and Great Expectations, to name a few. To me, these writers had a classy flair for writing. I also like adult fantasy, adventure novels, and of course, children’s books. GMB: What aspect of a story appears first when contemplating a new project: a character, the plot, or the title? DMR: Definitely the characters. I work for months with my characters, getting to know them inside out, writing notes, and drawing images. Once I know the completeness of them, the story just starts to flow, as if the characters are in control, telling me the story themselves. GMB: Has your own life influenced your novels? How have your novels influenced your life? DMR: Petra Longstride, a nine-year old princess knight, is the main character of my series, The Pen Pieyu Adventures. She is feisty, adventurous, rebellious, but kind hearted and non-judgmental. People who know me think that Petra is me, especially the rebellious part. Okay, maybe. My books have influenced my life to always strive to make my writing better, to always learn from the great writers, to never give up on my dreams. I also like to help new writers in children’s lit and that’s why I love my job as a writing instructor teaching the Writing for Children course. GMB:  Who is your favorite character that you have created? Moreover, why is this character a favorite? DMR: One would think that Petra would be my favorite. She is very cool, but her dragon sidekick, Snarls, seems to steal people’s hearts. He’s a scaredy-cat, lippy dragon, who is also the royal chef and barbeque connoisseur at the palace. He’s also Petra’s royal steed. Together they go on adventures where Petra takes the lead, but Snarls’ antics are hilarious. He’s the nuttiest dragon I know, and his dragon fire is defective, which leads to all kinds of comical situations. He’s a real show stealer, unpredictable, and a wannabe main character. He’s been a pain in my side since I tree-bark met him. Oops, better be careful, he can read now too. GMB: Tell us about your newest release or a project you are working on. DMR: The 3rd book in The Pen Pieyu Adventures series will be released within a couple months. I’m working on three other projects. My grammar book, Grammar for Kids and Dragons, will be the next book up for publication in 2016. I’m going to start writing book four in The Pen Pieyu Adventure this winter. I’m also co-writing a children’s picture book series with a local writer—this project will take some time to get into place. GMB: If I were a publisher, I believe my first question would be, “Why were you chosen to write this story?”  How would you respond to the inquisitive publisher? DMR: Like I have a choice, living with an irrational dragon in my forest. GMB: If you could be anyone in the world, space, and designated realm or dimension, who would it be … why? DMR: I would be Billbo Baggins from Lord of the Rings. His adventure was incredible, heart- wrenching, and a true test of character. He accomplished the hardest and most amazing feats to save the shire and other realms. Billbo is the epitome of the word ‘noble’ and that is an honorable way to go down in history. GMB:  Diane thank you for a wonderful interview ... I really appreciate you taking the time to visit with us today. Is there anything you would like to leave us with ... about you, about your wonderful body of work?  One of my favorite quotes is "Be in the world what you want the world to be."  GMB:  That is so super Diane ... what a great thought to leave us with ... Thank you for visiting. It has been my privilege to host you here in the Anything But a Tired Barn ... a great pleasure to share your world ... a world that you want to be in. I hope you will visit again soon. Now, for everyone who will now agree with me that Diane is in deed a Special Person and Incredible Author, please continue to visit Diane, and support her writing efforts by continuing to join her in her special and incredible world. To do so, please reply on these links and continue to visit and engage and engage and engage... Thanks again Diane, Cheers and Be Well... GMB Website Link: http://www.dragonsbook.com Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Diane-Mae-Robinson/e/B007DKO8SK Publisher Link: Book One Tate Website http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-264-5  Book Two Tate Website: http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781625106827   Host Author, G. Mitchell Baker  http://www.gmitchellbakerauthor.com/interviews-with-authors-and-friends/from-her-forest-author-diane-mae-robinson-brings-her-irrational-dragon-to-visit This is where we write, appreciate and write some more. From the story telling to the odd question and answer between Authors and Friends. Please join in as we all get to know one another a little better...  GMB. Novels by G. Mitchell Baker include: ANNT: Axiom III & IV (2015); The Consistency of Emerson (2015); ANNT: Axiom I & III (2015); "The Involvement of Emerson" (Second Edition 2015); "Lethal Believers: The Innocents" (2013); and "Lethal Believers: DVM" (2013).  More reviews and information about Diane's dragon books for children: http://www.dragonsbook.com

Very Unusual Character Interview.

This is a re-post from my hilarious friend's, Sue Morris, blog site. Her interview questions are very creative, and, sometimes, a bit unusual. If you have read my books, this character interview should get you chuckling.

Kid lit Reviews would like to welcome some of the cast of characters from The Adventures of Pen Pieyu, Book 2: Sir Princess Petra’s Talent. They rode onto the studio set and demanded, uh requested, an interview–a long interview–and we are more than peeved, uh pleased, to bring that to you now. **before Snarls burns down the set**

Snarls the Dragon, I heard, from a reliable source, you were not going to be in book 2. How did you change the author’s mind?

Where do you people get your information? That’s not true! You are celebrity hounding!  I was always and will always and forever and ever be in that humiliating-me-by-making-me-wear-a-pink-tasseled-saddle writer’s books!  **snort** . . . oops . . . **fire & smoke**. . . errrrr . . . . ouch!

“Writer’s” books. Do you not know the name of your writer and best friend?

Yah, I know her name. “Diane The Embarrasser.”

Folks have been calling her “Diane the Embarrassed!”  *hehe*

~~~~

Sir Princess Petra, what would have been your steed had Snarls not been in book 2?

Well, the royal mule, Heinz Backfire, is quite fuzzy and cute, and he’s not even very mulely-like—he listens. Well, he is a little stinky, and a bit short, but he’s not a fire hazard, you know what I mean?. . . hmm . . . I might have picked him.

Snarls,  any response to this?

What?? (crossing arms, looking the other way) NO!!! YES!! Heinzy Backfire does nothing but backfire air out his rear end. What kind of steed does that? Sheesh!

Uh, one that does not blow fire out of its nose?!

~~~~

Princess Petra, do you have any nicknames by other kids, maybe something like, perhaps, “PP?”

You’re funny. Why would anybody call me ‘PP’?  That would be rude. My initials are P.B.L. for Petra Brettania Longstride named after my Nan, Brettania May Longstride. You know, the storyteller. NOBODY calls me ‘PP’ and gets very far around here. Are you calling me, ‘PP’? Or are you just asking?

Why, just asking, of course, your highness, er  Your Knightly Highness.

All the better for you, I’d think.

Uh, okay, okay. Snarls, any nicknames?

No, but some people call Petra . . . ready for it? . . . Coyote.

Why Coyote? Does she occasionally howl?

Of course I don’t howl. I’m a knight! Well, I do have very messy hair–I think that’s why they call me Coyote. What kind of knight has time for silly nice hair?                                            

~~~~

Princess Petra, this question is for Snarls.  Story Book Times ran a feature– Excuse me! Who are you?

I am the King’s magician **waving arms around** and I am here to stop this nonsense!

Someone get this clown out of here.

Hey, let go of me! Why I–

Thanks Bograt.         

As I was saying. Story Book Times ran a feature story on the writing of book 2 and mentioned your behavior, specifically you went missing for long periods of time during the editing phase, causing a longer release date. What do have to say about this?

Well, I nearly had my foot chopped off by a wayward axe—that took awhile to heal. Then I had a crocodile to train at my cousin’s house. After that, Snarls had a bad rash on his backside that he couldn’t reach and I had to take care of . . .oh, you were asking Snarls.

Yes , Princess, again, the question is for Snarls.

Thanks a lot, “PP”. Way to go. Let the world know about my, umm . . . predicament. Darn nasty, itchy rash had me floating in the moat for weeks.                                                                   

~~~~

Princess Petra, this question is for you. You have met many oddball characters on your trips through the forest. Who is your favorite, least favorite and why?

Now look what you started? You got Snarls calling me “PP”. Really! I shouldn’t even answer your questions anymore if you’re going to make trouble. **thinking**  I guess I like Prince Nastybun the most because he danced with me. I don’t like that giant hawk that lives in The Forest of Doom—that hawk thinks he can just dive-bomb people. And besides, that hawk hangs out with a bunch of bees. I hate bees.

Thank you, and I am so sorry Snarls has adopted the nickname PP, your Highness PP.

Are you calling me “PP” and laughing at me?

I am laughing your magician over there, waving his hands like he has powers outside the book.

He is my father’s magician, not mine. Knights do not need magicians.

Snarls, who are your favorites and why?

I like Bograt. She doesn’t yammer on and on, and she likes onions, and I like onions. I need onions so I can create my world-famous onion recipes. You do know that I have a world-famous-onion-chef resume, right? I don’t much care for King Asterman—he’s kind of uptight, you know?

So, this King Asterman does not like any of your onion recipes? Speaking of onion recipes, what is the most common reaction when others eat your concoctions?

Well, of course, he does, everybody loves my cooking! I’m a world renowned chef  . . . what did you hear about my concoctions?

Uh, King Asterman, he said—

King Asterman is a blunder head!

Hm. Moving on. King Longstride,  what is it like having a daughter who is also a knight? Petra is the first female knight and the first knight–the only knight–in the Kingdom?

It’s tough. What can I say? We’ve tried and tried to get her to behave like a normal princess—nada, nothing, not happening. If this is what the next generation is going to be like, well, the soldiers will put on aprons and girls will be fighting evil forces. It’s preposterous! I don’t know what the world is coming to!

Your Kingship, since the world has always been run by men, up to this point, and your kingdom is a mess, with dragons as steeds and all, would it not be worth a try having females run the things and have the males take over the household?

Little girl, my kingdom is not a mess! You are a loony! 

I beg your pardon!

It is so granted!

Huh? I wasn’t asking for forgiveness.  **never again will I interview characters. who’s loony?**

My wife, the Queen, has fainted at your aside. How dare you!

Sorry?

 ~~~~

Okay. King Longstride, your Queen is awake. Now tell us, why all the Royal Rule Book changes?  The first in centuries?

Hello Dear. Feeling better, dear? To answer your silly question, how else should a king deal with this Princess Knight fiasco—the first ever?

“Princess fiasco.” Your daughter has broken through the stone ceiling!

Yah, that’s it. Tell a king how to run his kingdom, will you? Why, if you ever visit, you’ll be thrown into the dungeons to think about your silliness for a while.

Good thing I am not in your kingdom then, which is not real, by the way.

NOT REAL! BLASPHEMY! You know not of what you say.

Speak.

Do not tell me when to talk!

No, the phrase is “You know not of what you SPEAK.”

SPEAK! How dare this creature. Check the Rule Book on dealing with horrible creatures outside of the kingdom, AT ONCE!

~~~~

Speaking of your rule book, again, have you been able to accomplish your goals with these changes and additions to the book? 

Not yet, but the royal magician and the royal councilman have agreed to put their great minds together and come up with something fast, or else!

“Or else” sounds drastic. I am surprised a King of your stature would rely on magicians and politicians to take care of a problem, let alone a perceived problem about your princess.

**whispering to royal councilman** Find out where she lives and bring her to me.

~~~~

So King,  you and your wife cannot handle your daughter and this “troubling” problem (troubling in that there is really no problem). Petra is a knight. A knight protects the kingdom. Petra is a princess and will be the next Queen, whose job it is to protect the kingdom. Where is the problem?  The two careers are basically the same.

No problem, you say?  **whispering to royal magician** (whiisss, isssss, whissssy)

Get the magic man off the stage.  Nice try King.

**whispering** (Is she right? No, yes, which is it? What do you mean she makes sense! You run the, uh, you write the royal rule book. Oh, my! Then what should I say?)

.Is there something you would like to say, your Majesty?

No. Yes, there is! *whispering* Yes, I want to say that Petra is a great Princess, but we do not need any knights in my kingdom. Problem solved.

Really, your kingdom does not need protection?

Maybe at night, but Petra’s bedtime is 9 PM. She cannot patrol the grounds.

.

Daddy! Snarls watches over the kingdom at night.

.

.

There then! No knights needed. Petra hang up your costume. No further books are needed. The series is done! This “interview” is done!

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King Longstride, sir! You do not have control over the series. You are my character and exist at my leisure.

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Who is this woman? Why is she telling me what will happen?

King Longstride, she is your author.

My what?!

Your author. She writes your story, controls what you do, what you say, and also for everyone else in and out of your kingdom.

So, she controls you!  Don’t faint dear, it will be alright. Royal Councilman, catch my wife!

Ah, no, only the characters in her books, like you.

I am no one’s CHARACTER! You shall be fined for such slander!

~~~~

Send me a bill. Moving on, who influenced you to make these royal rulebook changes and why did you give in to her, uh him?

Why do you presume that my wife can tell me what to do? I am the king! Who told you such a thing? Did she tell you that?

I did not mention the Queen.  Could this ghost ruler be Bograt, or the maybe the magician you just whispered to? Who are you hiding? Another author?

NO! I am the king! I can do what I want! Stop pestering me! GUARDS!

Let’s ask your wife. Queen Longstride, how do you feel about your daughter trailblazing for all woman by being the first knight in any kingdom?

Ohhhhh, I don’t feel so good . . .

Do you need a doctor?  A magician? A councilman-politician?

I need my daughter to act like a princess! . . . ohhhhh, everything’s twirling, twirling . . .

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Queen Longstride are your fainting spells due to a real condition or is this your attempt to manipulate Petra?

PLOP!

She is out like a light, again!  And on my foot. Can someone remove the Queen from my foot?

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Royal councilman, here, poke her with this scepter.

Thank you, King Longstride.

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Yes, Snarls, I am coming back to you. How do you feel about the following statements:

1. You are an impatient dragon.

That’s not true, I am not imp. . . whatever.

2. You are a gourmet cook who loves to binge on Mars Bars.

You news hounds, you’re all alike. Okay, I’ll tell you a story. I went to visit this girl I like—her name is, Babbling Suzy, and she doesn’t cook. All she had was these Mars Bars things to eat.  Now, through no fault of my own, I am (shhhh) an addict. We don’t have Mars Bars things here. I’m crawling out of my hide. I NEED THEM. HELP!

Uh, yes or no would have been okay! Blaming others for the crack in your character. Is this the real reason the editing took so long? {Corrected the response, which was fine, since that is how I talk but you wanted it changed so I changed it. Now please stop threatening to pull the interview. okay, Ms. picky author?!}

Why NO!

Were the long absences due to your addiction?

NO!!

Were you on a chocolate binge when the author was trying to edit the last few pages and needed your help?

NO!! Okay, okay, okay already! It’s not Babbling Suzy’s fault! That’s what you want to hear, right?

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Princess Petra seems to walk next to you on much of her journeys, rather than ride. Illustrations often prove this. Hey! Don’t argue, just answer please. And no fire!

Oh My Holy Grail, you are annoying! Okay, I’ll tell you. It’s kind of embarrassing. Will you keep it hush-hush?

Sure. *rolling eyes*

It’s that ridiculous rash thing–it’s all over my backend and backside. I just can’t seem to get rid of it—even with the royal magician’s special salve. I think I might be allergic-like to the pink-tassel saddle. Considering the rash is embarrassing enough, just think how I feel about wearing a pink-tasseled thing?

A rash, you say. And you went to a magician to help with this rash.

Of course. Where else would the author send me?

Hm,  to a doctor in the dragon world, your world?

Yes I can, but I’m not going to. Ha!

Again with the magician! Really, your powers do not work outside of the book.   Didn’t the author explain this to you?

I’ll get it right sooner or later.

What spell are you trying to cast?

I’m testing out a spell where the villain’s toes fall off. Ha,ha!

And you think I am a villain?

Who said anything about you? Now that I know you may be a villain, that spell should come in handy.

I am simply a book blog hostess, asking questions of characters in a new book.

What’s a blog hoser, er. . . um . . . hostess?

You do realize you are just a character, a figment of your author’s imagination?

The king is right—you are silly!

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Sir Princess Petra, please give us a hint about what is to happen in book 3?

It is about time you called me by my official name. Now, Father has written new rules, I know he has. On his writing desk, I glimpsed the words: Mission; Falling-Off Toes; The Kingdom of the Boogy Gobees; and Carpenters (whatever that is). Who knows what’s up. I’ll be ready. Ha!

I am sure you will, your Knightly Highness, I am sure you will.  How many more books before your story is finished? 

I’m in a story? Whoa!

Whoa, indeed! You are a figment of an author’s imagination (in case you were not reading the last question).  

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**whispering to royal councilman**  What in all the kingdom is she talking about?

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Thank you for reading this interview. I want to thank the Pen Pieyu characters for stop–  What? Really? *sigh*

Okay. Okay, Alright!  Snarls, here is your last question. Because of a rock you became the royal steed.

That’s a statement!

**why did I agree to this**  Here is a question. How did that rock trap your tail in book 1?

Really? Do you have to know everything? . . . Okay, I’ll tell you. It was my first real fire-blast from my nostrils. And it was big, I mean, HUGE! Very professional. That is until the blast hit the rocks above my cave. Darn embarrassing predicament I got into there.

I’ll say it’s embarrassing.  Speaking of embarrassing, why can you not control your fire?

Well, actually, I was an early fire-breather—just 3 years old. That could be the reason the fire is not so, well, refined yet.

An early fire-breathing dragon?

OH, you wrote the question wrong and so I misunderstood it.

Really?!

Okay, truth is I was a late-fire breather, according to the dragon growth chart. My aim in not yet perfected and sometimes when I sneeze . . . ah-ah-CHOO!

.

Ah, crud! SOMEONE CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, QUICK!!

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Well, thank you, I think, for stopping by! *and ruining the set*

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What, my dear, did you say?

I said thank you, King Longstride and company, for stopping by what . . . is . . . left . . . of the set.

Oh, you are welcome, dear. 

Me, too. Sniff-sniff, So sorry. And this was my first interview.

*And your last.*  Hey! Watch the fire, pal!

Thank you for having us. I apologize for my trusted steed, Snarls. He really makes a better steed than a dragon. Please read our newest book in the Adventures of Pen Pieyu, Book 2:  Sir Princess Petra’s (that’s me) Talent.

You can get a copy at Amabiga, Barbs & Nobility, and the Castle Gift Shop. Oh, and probably a few places in your world, too.

ALL ILLUSTRATIONS BY SAMANTHA KICKINGBIRD, the official illustrator for The Adventures of Pen Pieyu Series.

To read an excerpt from Book 2 of the Pen Pieyu Adventures: Sir Princess Petra’s Talent, click HERE!

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For more information of my dragon books for children:

http://www.dragonsbook.com