Bubba and Squirt's City of Bones Author Interview and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones
Written by Sherry Ellis
Ages 8+ | 104 Pages
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press | ISBN-13: 9781939844989

Publisher’s Book Summary: Bubba and Squirt are back for another rousing quest as they travel through the mysterious vortex to Paris, France. It’s another wild adventure as they track down art thieves, encounter terrifying monsters, and discover the whereabouts of their missing father. Will they make it out alive or join the rest of the skeletons in the City of Bones?

Coming Soon: The fourth book in the series, Bubba and Squirt’s Shield of Athena, will be released on May 7, 2024, and the final book, Bubba and Squirt’s Legend of the Lost Pearl, will be released in September 2024.

Available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sherry Ellis is an award-winning author and professional musician who plays and teaches the violin, viola, and piano. When she is not writing or engaged in musical activities, she can be found doing household chores, hiking, or exploring the world. Ellis has previously published Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China; Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure; Don’t Feed the Elephant; Ten Zany Birds; That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN; and That Mama is a Grouch. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

For more information about her work, she invites you to visit her website at www.sherryellis.org.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life is What It's Called - The cover of Bubba and Squirt's City of Bones depicts a mysterious underground tone, what is the excitement and fear level for this book?

Sherry Ellis - Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones is a bit darker than the previous two books in the Bubba and Squirt Adventures series. After Bubba and Squirt are whisked through the mysterious vortex to Paris, France, they find themselves in the city’s creepy underground catacombs—pictured on the cover. This is where they encounter the art thieves for the first time. Later, after they step through an unusual portal, they find themselves in a cave system which is the world of the gargoyle and the evil jaguar-man, Kanaima. It’s spooky and action-packed, but at a level that’s still appropriate for younger middle-grade readers.

Life is What It's Called - What age range would you recommend for this book?

Sherry Ellis - Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones is appropriate for readers in grades two through six. Readers familiar with the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne will find it’s a step up from the earlier books of the series, but not as advanced as the Harry Potter books. It’s a good bridge between the two, and perfect for reluctant readers.

Life is What It's Called - What will readers learn about while reading your story?

Sherry Ellis - Readers will learn about the history of the catacombs, the various landmarks, museums, and points of interest in Paris, the work of famous artists, and some French folklore and words.

Life is What It's Called - What was your favorite scene to write and why?

Sherry Ellis - My favorite scene is Bubba and Squirt’s arrival in the catacombs. Having visited the catacombs myself, it was fun to write about the creepiness of the place using all the senses. I also enjoyed writing the scene where the bones come crashing down, and Bubba uses is power of telekinesis to bring them back to order.

Life is What It's Called - Do you relate to any of the characters in this book?

Sherry Ellis - I can’t say I see myself in any of the characters. Simone would be the closest since she’s like a mother figure. Bubba and Squirt, on the other hand, are like my own children when they were young. Bubba is the precocious adventurer while Squirt is the older, cautious, mature sister.

Life is What It's Called - How does Bubba and Squirt's City of Bones differ from others on the market?

Sherry Ellis - Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones appeals to readers who are advancing out of early chapter books but aren’t ready for the longer books by Rick Riordan or the Harry Potter series. I like to think of the Bubba and Squirt Adventure books as a “bridge” series. I’ve been told that reluctant readers enjoy the Bubba and Squirt books because they’re action-packed, fast-paced, and not too long. The other unique thing is that all the books of the series are not only packed with adventure, but also educational. The back material for Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones includes additional information about the catacombs, the real-life art thieves, a list of books to learn more, a glossary of French words and numbers, a map of France, and a recipe for crepes.

Life is What It's Called - Can you share about your experience as a writer?

Sherry Ellis - I have been writing for almost twenty years. After this year, I will have had 4 picture books, 5 middle-grade books, and stories in 2 anthologies published. I’d have to say my favorite thing, after writing, “the end” on a manuscript, is doing school visits. I love meeting the kids and seeing their excitement about reading books!

Life is What It's Called - What writing projects are you working on next?

Sherry Ellis - I’m working on the final edits of Bubba and Squirt’s Legend of the Lost Pearls, which will be the last book of the Bubba and Squirt Adventures series. It’s scheduled to be released by Dancing Lemur Press in September 2024. (Bubba and Squirt’s Shield of Athena will be released in May 2024.) After that, who knows?

Thank you for having me as a guest!


GIVEAWAY

Enter the giveaway for the chance to win an autographed copy of Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones and a $50 Amazon gift card! 

Bubba and Squirt's City of Bones: Book Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Sherry Ellis. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.