Today’s post is going to be a little different!
I won Shadow of the Oak by Eric Edstrom from a giveaway on Sherry’s blog fundinmental.
I’ve read his Undermountain Saga and this is a bit different.
Young folks and us older folks will love this first chapter in the Sal Van Sleen Series. I did!
For today I am doing an interview with Cole, my son. He read the book and we had a lively discussion about it. He’s 18 years old and I thought it would be fun for you, the readers, to get both of out thoughts about it.
To add to the fun, Eric is offering three paperbacks to three lucky winners! You can enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post. But don’t skip ahead. This interview is fun!
Mushkobewun, WI, 1986
My name is Sal Van Sleen. I live in Boringsville, Wisconsin, also known as Mushkobewun. To give you an idea of how little is going on in this town, consider that my friend Billy and I pretty much spend our summers messing around at the Little Hickory dam.
Exciting, huh?
That was until my girlfriend’s little sister, Chrissy, got abducted by a nasty, supernatural … thing.
I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t just let something like that go…
My Review
I felt like a kid again! Eric’s written a story that takes you back. For me, way back! I used to hang out at a decrepit bridge on the bank of a creek near my house when I was young.
I still remember the sounds of water tumbling over rocks, seeing butterflies and dragonflies flitting through the tall reeds. And the cattails, oh those glorious cattails. We couldn’t wait to get our hands on those. Used to whack each other with them and come home with fluffy white seeds all in our hair.
What we didn’t have was the thing in this book. It’s mean and nasty and not to be toyed with.
When it attacks Chrissy, she ends up contaminated by it and is lying in the hospital.What started as a fun day at the dam, discussing comic book strategies, becomes a journey to capture or kill the creature, and hopefully find a cure for Chrissy.
I really enjoyed the interaction between Sal, Billy, and Becca.They are very different from each other, and while that causes friction at times, they do stick together where it matters. True friends through thick and thin.
Once Billy and Becca believe Sal’s story of the creature, they put their heads together and come up with a plan that lands them in the pickle of all time!
I loved this story. I want more!
And now, enjoy the interview!
So tell me Cole, how did you like Shadow of the Oak?
Cole: I thought it was great! It read really fast and felt like I was watching a movie, something like Goose Bumps.
Me: I loved it too. I could see it all so clearly. Wish you could have seen the creek where I grew up. You’d really get a sense of the area these guys hung out at and how easily you could believe in this creature being there.
Is there a character you liked the most and why?
Cole: Yes, Billy. He felt like the most complex of the trio. Liked his view of Becca changing, changing…throughout the book.
Me: I’d have to say Sal. He stuck to his guns about the creature, even when his friends didn’t believe him. Also, I had fun watching him fumble around with his crush on Becca.
What made you laugh?
Cole: Billy, when he was designing the dresses instead of working on the comic books.
Me: That was funny. What made me laugh was Becca and how she knew these two boys way better than they thought.
Was it a fast read? Easy to follow?
Cole: Yes, very fast and creative. Read it in about an hour and didn’t want it to end yet.
Me: Yeah, took me about that long too. It just flew by and now I wish I could rush over to Amazon and get more!
What was your favorite part?
Cole: When the monster started to go up…oops, can’t tell you that.
Me: I know! That was crazy. I remember you saying how hopeless the situation was.
Would you read more of this series?
Cole: Yep. I’m curious as to what could possibly happen after the Chupacabra incident.
Me: Me too. Wonder what kind of pickle they could get into next.
What would you like to see happen in the next book?
Cole: I would like to see how Sal’s dad could be thrown into the mix.
Me: Good one. He does seem to share something special, almost secret, with Sal. As for me, I’d like to see something happen at the dam again, maybe some kind of sea monster the next time.
Cole’s rating ~ 5 Chups!
My rating ~ 5 Chupies!
Well, there you have it folks! We both agree on some things and definitely agree that we loved the book!
Giveaway
Eric has offered three paperbacks for my giveaway!
US Only. Sorry to my International friends.
To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question, Can you remember the first book you read?”
Giveaway ends Feb. 28th.
Thank you and Good Luck!
Wait a minute!
This just in!
Eric has a sale going on right now on Amazon!
You can purchase Undermountain, the first book in The Undermountain Saga, for 99 cents right now on Amazon!
And another thing!
He’s also having a giveaway on Goodreads!
Book Giveaway
Winners will get all three books!
The UndermountaiN Saga by Eric Edstrom
Giveaway ends March 18, 2013.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
About the Author
Eric is an author, songwriter, husband, father, and guitarist. He is the author of Undermountain, Afterlife and Starkiller, the YA science fiction series The Undermountain Saga.
Eric loves working out with kettlebells and eating pretty much anything with peanut butter.
Eric has a featured article just published: http://www.kalkion.com/news/1736/scie…
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5408492.Eric_Edstrom
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ekedstrom
Books by Eric Edstrom.
Click on the covers to purchase.
Sal Van Sleen Series
Undermountain Saga
*****For all of my giveaways go