It’s an exciting time when an author’s book launches – full of expectation, joy, nerves, and heaps of hard work doing interviews, promotions, and readings. I read Peggy Edelman’s blog this morning, and learned about two authors who deserve an extra helping hand.

The first is Chad Morris, author of CRAGBRIDGE HALL: THE INVENTOR’S SECRET. Chad is in the hospital with his nine-year old daughter, who is having a golf-ball sized brain tumor removed. His book releases today, and obviously, his priority is with his family. Writers all over the place are trying to help promote his book while he is with his daughter. There’s a great post on Chad’s blog where he talks about his daughter.

http://writingwithshellyandchad.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-more-important-dream.html

About THE INVENTOR’S SECRET:

Imagine a school in the year 2074 where students don’t read history, but watch it happen around them; where running in gym class isn’t around a track, but up a virtual mountain; and where learning about animals means becoming one through an avatar.

Welcome to Cragbridge Hall, the most advanced and prestigious school in the world. Twin siblings Abby and Derick Cragbridge are excited as new students to use their famed grandfather’s inventions that make Cragbridge Hall so incredible. But when their grandfather and parents go missing, the twins begin following a trail of clues left by their grandfather. They must find out where their family is, learn who they can trust, and discover what secrets are hidden within Cragbridge Hall.

Abby and Derick soon realize they are caught in a race with a fierce adversary to discover their grandfather’s greatest secret–a dangerous discovery that could alter both history and reality.

About Chad:

Chad Morris grew up wanting to become a professional basketball player or a rock star. (Inspired by Animal from the Muppets, he’s been banging on drums since he was eight years old.) After high school, he wrote and performed sketch comedy while going to college, and eventually he became a teacher and a curriculum writer. He lives in Utah with his wife and five kids. Chad would love to teach at Cragbridge Hall.

For more information on Chad and ordering his novel: http://chadmorrisauthor.com/

Next on the list of special releases is author Bridget Zinn. Being published was her life’s dream, and her YA novel POISON comes out next week, by Disney Hyperion. Unfortunately, Bridget died of cancer in May 2011 at age 33. Nearly four years from her diagnosis, her novel is at last hitting the shelves. Her husband, family, and friends want to celebrate her accomplishment and help get her book into the hands of readers.

About POISON

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.
Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

About Bridget Zinn

Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery, which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the “summer of love” and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was “Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect.”

For more information on Bridget and her novel: http://www.bridgetzinn.com/

Please consider helping support Chad’s release and honoring Bridget’s memory by sharing these books and spreading the word!