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
I loved this book!! Awesome interview. I still want to enter for the paperback. Excellent all around post.
Thanks Sherry. Cole sounds like the adult and I sound like the kid!!
Don’t forget to enter the Goodreads giveaway too!
I know. Cole was awesome. I loved it. I did enter the Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks for mentioning it.
Thanks so much Laura (and you too Sherry!). This has got to be the most fun review I’ve seen. I love the interview with Cole. The good news is that there are more Sal adventures coming. After all, there has to be a reason that a bat monster appears in Mushkobewun.
This review makes me want to drop everything and get back to it, but I’ve got to get my current novel finished first.
Anyway. Thanks so for the support, and I’m thrilled you loved my “silly little tale” about some friends getting into mischief back in the 80s. It’s hilarious that you used to hang out by an old bridge and have cattail fights, BTW.
Good luck to all who enter the giveaway!
You’re most welcome Eric and thank you for letting me host your giveaway!
Keep on writing and I’ll be waiting:)
Really great interview Laura!!! You have a way of making them fun and informative! Lots of love, Emily
Love ya Emily! I have so much fun writing the reviews -I get so excited to tell about the books!
green eggs and ham!
oh my email is bashashhazbaz(at)yahoo(dot)com
I do not like them Sam I Am!
Well, I don’t remember the first book I ever read. But it had something to do with a duck and a sweater. I was really little. lol
emerald_barnes(at)yahoo(dot)com
Mine was a book about a baby and momma hippo and I’ve tried to google the book but can’t get anywhere as I can’t remember the title or author!
I know what you mean! My grandma used to have that book, so I’m hoping she still does. It’s kinda driving me crazy now. lol
I can’t remember what the first book I read was. I learned to read at 4 and am now quite a bit older. I do have several of my favorite books from childhood in a special place on the bookshelf.
alisa.ables@gmail.com
I have a bunch of my favorite childrens books too!
Hmmm, Green eggs and ham and it’s still one of my favs!
emilymarie070750@gmail.com
How about Are You My Mother. Remember the baby bird!
I was an early reader, I started reading fairly well unassisted at three! Unfortunately, no memories. I do remember the books I loved most as a child were the Nancy Drew series. I read and reread those books till I could recite them! Hope I win the drawing, looks like a great book.
Aah. Nancy Drew:) No girl would be complete without reading them:)
Hmmm, Where The Wild Things Are & Green Eggs and Ham were both favorites when I was little. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
luvs2read4fun(at)gmail(dot)com
I just remembered another one of my first reads. It was Billy Whiskers, about a billy goat.
I started reading before I went to school, so I don’t have a clue what the very first book might have been. (The first “thing” I read was a beer billboard I could see out the front window of our house.) But then I went through that period of “reading is boring” which lasted until about 4th or 5th grade. I was big into the Hardy Boys, but I think the FIRST “real” book I read was called “Beautiful Joe” about a really ugly dog named Joe. I read it because my best friend’s name back then was Joe, and my classmates thought it was funny that Beautiful Joe was really an ugly dog! I recently saw it for sale on Amazon, so apparently it’s still around!
acwa(at)netscape(dot)com
I read one about a labrador with a big head called, Meathead. Loved that story:)
What kind of beer was on the billboard?
That would really put a strain on the old brain to try remembering what kind of beer it was, but it was in Lansing, Michigan, and we moved to the west coast when I was 5, so it probably wasn’t anything I ever saw again! For some reason, though, I seem to recall the word “Milwaukee” in the ad, for whatever that’s worth. BTW, I was assigned to do a book report, which is why I chose “Beautiful Joe”. The title just jumped out at me because of my friend Joe. When I had to get up in front of the class to read my book report, the whole class was cracking up… except for Joe. For some reason, he didn’t think it was funny at all!
The first book I ever read was “Black Beauty”. I was about 10 years old and read it in two days.
I loved that book. Another one was National Velvet and all of Walter Farley’s Black Stallion books!
As I keep thinking of this question the only book that keeps popping into my head is It by Stephen King. I read this book when I was 14 so I know it isn’t the first book I read but I guess its the only one that stuck. lisa5018(at)gmail(dot)com
IT was so scary. Better than the movie, for sure!
I cannot remember the first book I ever read, I was so young haha. I do remember reading the book This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie. I absolutely loved the song when I was little so my mom got me the book 🙂
lakeyg@yahoo.com
I didn’t know it was a book!
I’m going to guess on this one, but I’ll say either a Stephen King or Danielle Steel. Two total opposites I know, but it kept my mind goin…
Thank you for the chance today.
Sebrina_Cassity at yahoo dot com
Sounds like we started reading the same type of books:)
I’m not sure what the first book I read at 3 or 4 was. I know I loved Dr Seuss books. The 1st book that made a major impact on me was Little Women. I preferred Trixie Belden stories to hardy boys and nancy drew.
These books sound really interesting. I’ve entered here and over on GRs. tasha@tasha-turner.com
I was hooked on Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion Series. I know, I’m a cliche! A young girl and her horses:)
I never read The Black Stalion series… I’ve heard good things about them but they didn’t hit my radar in my early reading days.
Not sure what my first book as a kid was but as an adult it was Stephan Kings novel The Stand.
I loved the book. The movie wasn’t bad. My sister says it’s the worst of all his books. Go figure. We all have different taste!
This post was so fun. I love the interview with Cole to see his thoughts as well. The first book I remember reading was Curious George goes to the Hospital. My sister also taught me to start writing in the back of it. Unfortunately I don’t still have it 🙁 Jaclyn @ JC’s Book Haven
That’s so cool. Wish you still had it. That would be something to pass on to your kids:)
Me and Cole had a lot of fun and laughs with the interview. He’s more adult than I am! lol
I can remember the first book I read as an adult…Summer sisters by Judy Blume!!
Josiehink122026 at gmail dot com
I like Judy Blume. I’ve been trying to remember my first romance read. I believe it was Shanara or something like it. I read it in one sitting.
morgandrake@msn.com
I believe that it was the kitty that lost its mittens.
But I miss my mittens! I remember a book like that.
I can’t remember the very first book I ever read but I remember reading Mother Goose and other fairy tales as a little one. I know I remember I when the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar first came out when i was in Kindergarden and I wanted to read that book so bad but every time I wanted to get it someone else always got it. I finally got to read it when I was looking in Barnes and Noble and came across it a few years ago. LOL
My email: TwistedPixie7{at}gmail{dot}com
That’s too funny. All those years later:)
I remember going crazy over a book and never getting to read it becuase some other kid got it first. That’s when I made my mother get me a library card!
I don’t remember the first book I read. kaylalone@yahoo.com
How about the first one you do remember. You’ve got me curious:)
The first book I ever read would have probably been something by Jan & Stan Berenstain- I sure loved those bears as a child;) I can’t wait to check THIS author out- Thanks!
I would guess that one of the first books I read as a child was something by Stan & Jan Berenstain- I certainly loved those bears;) I can’t wait to check out Eric Edstrom’s books- thanks!
The first books I read when a was about 3 or 4 were The Berenstein Bears or Serendipity series. I love them still. My first actual book was either The Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith or Little Women by Louisa May Alcott at 7. Thank you for this amazing giveaway and the chance to win!
I can remember reading the primers in elementary school but the first book I recall the name of was The Boxcar Children. Great interview!
khzarrugh at gmail dot com
Hmmm I think See Jane Run was the first book I remember reading. I did not read for pleasure until I was an adult. And my first book I choose to read was Piers Anthony – Adept series because there was unicorns 🙂 Book sounds great and I’d love to share it with my son 🙂 He loves books, but especially if it is exciting! Also would love to share with my high schoolers, it is always great to get them interested in something besides trouble 🙂
Cassandra (closkot at hotmail dot com)
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