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The Weaver by Kai Strand

Posted by Nyx

Join Kai Strand, author of the middle grade fantasy book, The Weaver(Guardian Angel Publishing, December 2010), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in May on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

Kai Strand

About Kai Strand

Kai Strand is a children’s author of middle grade and young adult novels. She was born and raised in the mid-west, where she inherited a wholesome outlook on life. She lived in California long enough to become a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. They now live in Central Oregon where the most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, “Do your dishes!”

Obviously, Kai likes to write. The Weaver is Kai’s debut book. She reads a lot as well and calls it research. Kai loves to garden, and is trying out a greenhouse for the first time this year. She loves to sing. You might find her singing in Latin while browsing at Target. Most of the time she isn’t aware she’s singing aloud. She and her family love to hike and geocache. Kai walks 45 miles a month for exercise.

You can visit Kai online at www.kaistrand.com or at her blog, Strands of Thought, www.kaistrand.blogspot.com.

About The Weaver

In a town of word weavers, Mary suffers through her third year of Novice Word Weaving. Mary thinks her troubles are over when she meets a gnome-elf who grants her a wish. But instead of weaving a better story, she’s weaving strange yarn charms to accompany her still pathetic tales. Weaver

Read the excerpt!

Chapter 1

A Mother’s Shadow

Given ample sun and water, a flower grows strong and blooms full But grown in shade it is spindly, weak, and off color

Tucked in a lush valley between two snow-capped mountains was the village of The Tales. Those who lived in the village were known as Weavers. Each person in The Tales could tell stories about anything at anytime, and they often did. Prose, poetry, limericks or yarns; they told stories of all types and styles.

On a balmy spring morning, Mary Wordsmith and her mother, Abigail, made their weekly visit to the produce market.

Thumping an acorn squash, Abigail said, “At last, here’s one that isn’t going soft.” She handed the squash to Mary who absently dropped it in the basket on her arm.

Read the Reviews!

“Ms. Strand has woven a beautiful tale of her own that young readers will want to read over and over. The vivid descriptions of the town and the people allow readers to “see” the quaint village and to be there, with Mary and her family. THE WEAVER would make a perfect addition to grades 3 – 5 classrooms. After reading the book, the students could then weave their own tales and illustrate them as well. What a fun way to develop students’ creative writing skills. I wish I’d had this book when I was teaching 3rd and 5th grades. And the cover art by K. C. Snider is just perfect for the little village of The Tale.”

–Beverly Stowe McClure, author of YA historical, Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines

“…middle grade readers should be very pleased…”

–All Consuming Books

“Children’s author, Kai Strand expertly weaves together the art of storytelling and holding one’s audience captive into a spellbinding adventure of finding one’s place in the world.”

–Write What Inspires You