Tag Archives: Daily

Read an Excerpt From ‘Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics’

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That wacky game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, is back! That’s right, a puzzle-packed sequel to the award-winning New York Times bestseller Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library is in stores now.

This time, Mr. Lemoncello has invited teams from all across America to compete in the first ever Library Olympics. But something suspicious is going on . . . books are missing from Mr. Lemoncello’s library. Is someone trying to censor what the kids are reading? In between figuring out mind-boggling challenges, the kids will have to band together to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Can Mr. Lemoncello find the real defenders of books and champions of libraries? Packed with puzzles, clues, and thrilling surprises, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics is one action-packed read.

Read the first chapter from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics

[gview file=”https://boyslifeorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/lemoncello-library-olympics_excerpt-for-boys-life.pdf”]

© 2016 by Chris Grabenstein. Published by Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

Eagle Scout Sean Fay Wolfe Writes Minecraft Novel

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Sean Fay Wolfe, an Eagle Scout from Troop 1 in Kingston, Rhode Island, recently published his first novel, Minecraft: Quest for Justice, an action-adventure novel set in the world of the popular videogame Minecraft.

The novel is the first in a series of books called the Elementia Chronicles. It tells the story of a player named Stan who has never played Minecraft before. He learns how to play the game while making many new friends, but he soon realizes that the older players of the game look down upon the newer players as second-class citizens. When Stan decides to take a stand against this injustice, he ends up on a quest to lead an uprising against the prejudiced older players and their tyrannical King.

Sean took some time out of his busy schedule to chat about his book, Scouting and computer programming.

 


BZ: What can you tell us about the Elementia Chronicles ?

The Elementia Chronicles is a trilogy that takes place on a Minecraft server called Elementia. The first book, Quest for Justice, tells the story of a player named Stan who has never played the game before. He learns how to play the game while making many new friends, but he soon realizes that the older players of the game look down upon the newer players as second-class citizens. When Stan decides to take a stand against this injustice, he ends up on a quest to lead an uprising against the prejudiced older players and their tyrannical King. A summary of Books 2 and 3 of the trilogy can be found on my website www.sfaywolfe.com.

BZ: Where did you get the idea?

I got the idea from playing Minecraft on online servers. As I played, it occurred to me that since the game of Minecraft really has no plot or mandatory goals, and is just an open world where players can interact with the environment and each other, it would be an interesting setting for a story. While the overall story of the book is made up, many character interactions and dialogue are based on what I’ve experienced on the servers. I started writing Quest for Justice in 9th grade.

BZ: Are you a big Minecraft fan?

Yes, I am a huge Minecraft fan. I’ve been playing since the official release of the game in late 2011, and when I first played, I was immediately hooked. While I don’t get to play as often as I used to nowadays, I still really enjoy it, and it is my personal favorite videogame.

BZ: How long have you been writing?

I have been writing short stories for as long as I can remember.

BZ: How did your days in Scouting help you with your writing.

Since publishing the book, I’ve been invited to many schools to give talks on my writing process. My experience as a Den Chief has been instrumental in teaching me how to talk to students in an engaging way.

BZ: What’s up next for you?

My next immediate goal is to publish The Noctem Ascension, the second book of the Elementia Chronicles, in January 2015. Then finish the trilogy with Herobrine’s Message, sometime in late 2015. After that  I have dozens other ideas that I would like to write about, probably starting with a standalone novel called The Legacy of the White Katana. I would love to be an author full time, and I plan to go to college to study creative writing and computer programming.

BZ: Aside from writing, what do you do in your free time?

I have many interests in my free time. I love computer programming, and I have programmed many popular games on the online programming environment Scratch (that’s actually where my self-publishing company, Diamond Axe Studios, originated). I also enjoy drama club, working out, music and, of course, Boy Scouts.

BZ: Who are some of your favorite authors/books?

I have too many favorite books to count, although if I had to pick, I’d probably say Harry Potter. While I was writing, I found J. K. Rowling to be a big inspiration to me, as my writing style is similar to hers.

BZ: How did you get started writing?

I first got excited about creative writing in first grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Kidd, had us write short stories all the time. I remember having a lot of fun coming up with new stories.

Buy a copy of Minecraft:Quest for Justice here.

Win An Autographed Copy of ‘Saltwater Taffy’ by Eric DelaBarre

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To celebrate 700 Feet of Terror, the brand-new Boys’ Life short story by Eric DelaBarre, we’re giving away 10 autographed copies of the author’s novel, Saltwater Taffy. Plus, the official Saltwater Taffy “SAWEET” hoodie sweatshirt.

Saltwater Taffy CoverSaltwater Taffy follows the lives of five friends as they uncover a treasure map that once belonged to the ruthless New Orleans pirate, Jean Lafitte. The discovery thrusts them from one treasure hunting adventure to the next as they try to out-wit, out-think and out-maneuver everyone from the one-legged junk-yard man and an overbearing town bully, to the creepy old man living at the top of the hill.

 

The contest has ended. Congratulations to all the winners.

Don’t Miss the William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Boxed Set

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You may think that Star Wars and William Shakespeare don’t have much in common. But you’re wrong.

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars is an incredible series that retells the epic Star Wars tale in an entirely new way — as a Shakespearean play. The series includes three books: Verily, A New Hope; The Empire Striketh Back; and The Jedi Doth Return.

Now, you can own all three, plus a massive full-color poster in the Royal Imperial Boxed Set, in stores Oct. 28. Can’t wait that long? Head over to ShakespeareStarWars to get s sneak peek at the set.