Review: Nick Muffet and the Silver Coffin by Paula Berinstein

NICK MUFFET AND THE SILVER COFFIN

Amanda Lester Stories, Book 10

by Paula Berinstein

The Writing Show

Upper Middle Grade/YA Mystery/ Time Travel

ages 10 to 16

Beware of making promises to Sherlock Holmes . . .

After promising Sherlock Holmes he'd look after his descendants, accidental time traveler Nick Muffet discovers he's spoken too soon: from his vantage point in the twenty-first century he can find no trace of Holmes's child with the cunning actress Irene Adler. His only option is to return to the past and look for himself.

But time travel is risky and Nick fears he might inadvertently cause a disaster. Still, a promise is a promise. Against his better judgment he commandeers Simon Binkle's time machine and returns to 1890.

Unfortunately his search for the elusive offspring leads nowhere and he becomes increasingly desperate. At a loss, he realizes there's only one strategy left to him, and it's fraught with peril. He must seek out Adler herself.

Securing a job at the theater where she's appearing, Nick finds himself in the perfect position to observe the actress. But Adler is not the type to make things easy, and his distance is soon compromised. That's just the beginning of his problems though. It seems Adler is involved in much more than just acting, and Nick is in far more trouble than he ever imagined.

BOOK DEPOSITORY / AMAZON / B&N / GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

I've read almost every single one of the titles in this series and never grow bored of the adventures. This one concentrates on Nick...one of my favorite character. 

One of my favorite things about this series is the mix of genres. It's always a surprise as to what direction the tale will take and imagination flows freely. The stakes are always high and the twists and turns fresh. Yet, it always holds to the mystery end of things and ties in Sherlock Holmes in some way or another. It's an original mix with characters to love and adventures to get lost in.

This tale isn't any different as Nick finds himself trying his best to keep a promise to Sherlock Holmes. As if the promise is a chore in itself, Nick has to battle other unexpected problems, which make it almost impossible to keep his promise. Of course, danger is only a step away and the solution is almost impossible to find. 

In other words, this is already the tenth book in the series, and I'm not nearly bored of it yet.

Review: Amanda Lester and the Black Shadow Terror by Paula Berinstein

AMANDA LESTER AND THE BLACK SHADOW TERROR

Amanda Lester, Detective Book 8

by Paula Berinstein

Young Adult Mystery / Time Travel

303 pages

There’s no such thing as a ghost . . . or is there? 

When a cyberattack causes a glitch in Simon Binkle’s history machine, Amanda and Nick are thrown back to Victorian London where they must confront a huge black shadow monster that’s been terrorizing the city. Suspecting that it may have something to do with Professor Moriarty, they gain entry to a high society ball they believe he’s targeting. 

Young, attractive, and vivacious, they’re the hit of the ball and no one suspects who they really are. But then the hostess is murdered and Amanda is arrested by none other than her great-great-grandfather, Inspector Lestrade, who is convinced of her guilt. 

Now, alone in the 19th century, Nick finds himself powerless to save the girl he loves unless he can pull off a miracle: find a way to enlist the help of the one man he fears, Sherlock Holmes. But success is by no means guaranteed. Holmes is asking a price that might just be too high for him to pay.

MY TIDBITS

This is the eighth book in the series, and one of my favorite.

After the troubles of book seven, the detective school is trying to continue and has moved to a new location. Amanda suffers nightmares thanks to the Moriartys. Nick is blind but determined to stay by Amanda's side. While the Moriartys are planning something sinister again, Amanda and Nick have their hands full as they accidentally are transported back in time. When Amanda is suspected of a murder, Nick is left to try to save her and hopes to find help through Sherlock Holmes.

These novels should be read in order as each one builds off of the other one. 

It was a joy to see Amanda and Nick experiencing this adventure as a team. Both, as well as the other characters, have come a long way. Of course, Amanda has her hands full. Again. And must overcome her own fears as well as put trust in Nick. Nick has also matured and settled better into his own skin, but now has to deal with other issues. Both are believable and fun to root for every step of the way.

As always, the author has laid out a nicely spun tale. While the mystery is layered and holds many surprises, this book also held another treat with the shift back in time and meeting with Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. The time travel aspects flow in very naturally, allowing imagination to take flight while still holding everything a tense mystery needs. It was simply a delight to read.


And here she is...

Paula Berinstein (Paula B) is the author of the Amanda Lester, Detective middle-grade/YA series, which features a descendant of the Sherlock Holmes character Inspector Lestrade and is set in the English Lake District.

From 2005 to 2012, Paula produced and hosted the popular podcast The Writing Show (http://www.writingshow.com). She holds degrees in English literature and librarianship from UCLA.

You can find out more about Amanda Lester:
http://www.amandalester.net

Review: Amanda Lester and the Green Monkey Gotcha by Paula Berinstein

AMANDA LESTER AND THE GREEN MONKEY GOTCHA

Amanda Lester, Detective, Book #7

by Paula Berinstein

The Writing Show

YA Mystery

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse...

A teacher has gone rogue, Nick's sister is in danger, and Holmes is missing. The last thing the detectives need is another problem.

But now a secret warning involving a mysterious green monkey has come to light and Amanda must investigate. Too bad she won't get the chance to discover what it means. Just as she begins to make progress the Moriarty brothers reappear, and this time they're mad, bad, and unstoppable. They're also coming for her. 

MY TIDBITS

I've been an Amanda Lester fan from the moment I read the very first chapter of the very first book, and this feeling definitely doesn't change with the newest venture. Packed full of mystery, action and so much more, this book continues the series with tons of excitement and surprises.

Everything in the world of Amanda and her fellow detective students is a mess. Nick and Holmes are both missing without a trace. The only thing Amanda assumes is that they aren't together. . .unless they both killed themselves while fighting, but that's not her first suspicion. The only bright spot is the reappearance of the detective Bible. But even this positive note turns off-key as a hidden warning against a green monkey is found in the pages. Amanda doesn't get a chance to sink her teeth into this mystery too far before the Moriarty brothers return, and she is their main target.

This isn't just a mystery. This is a mystery with endless twists, engaging characters, danger around every bend, a dash of teenage drama, and even a tiny bit of something almost magical. The author has woven layer upon layer of plots and sub-plots together until it forms an exciting and oh-so delightful adventure. Every character has grit, whether good or bad, and each one comes to life with their own history and desires. But like a masterful puzzle, it all has its rhyme and reason, and slides together in the end.

I love how Nick and Holmes have developed in relationship to Amanda, and how Amanda has grown not only in relationship to her friends, but in ways which make her a real opponent to some very clever villains. Of course, she doesn't do any of this alone, but has support from her friends even when there are stumbling blocks on this end. These kids might be very talented, but they have their troubles like any other teen. And it's this which makes them easy to sympathize with and root for.

There's always something going on, and every scene holds valuable hints to be used later on. Especially the smooth and continual switch between scenes and characters, never leaves a boring moment but allows the plot to unfold from every angle. Still, there are tons of unexpected twists and surprises making it impossible to predict what will happen next.




And here she is. . .

Paula Berinstein (Paula B) is the author of the Amanda Lester, Detective middle-grade/YA series, which features a descendant of the Sherlock Holmes character Inspector Lestrade and is set in the English Lake District.

From 2005 to 2012, Paula produced and hosted the popular podcast The Writing Show (http://www.writingshow.com). She holds degrees in English literature and librarianship from UCLA.

You can find out more about Amanda Lester:
http://www.amandalester.net

Cover Reveal: Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy Coloring Book by Paula Berinstein and Anna Mogileva

Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy Coloring Book

by Paula Berinstein and Anna Mogileva

 Coloring Book

Twenty fun-to-color detailed drawings featuring characters from the popular Amanda Lester, Detective series. Designs are printed one to a sheet so you never have to worry about markers bleeding through. Includes portraits of blind sleuth Ivy Halpin, her guide dog Nigel, arch villain Blixus Moriarty, and four different outfits for budding detective Amphora Kapoor.

You can find Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy Coloring Book on Goodreads

You can see the portfolio of Anna Mogileva here.

Pages from the Coloring Book

About the Amanda Lester series:
Set in England’s Lake District, the series revolves around a twelve-year-old girl, Amanda Lester, who is forced to attend a super-secret school for the descendants of famous detectives, despite her desire to pursue filmmaking. Adding to the heroine’s angst is the fact that she is ashamed of her famous ancestor, bumbling Scotland Yard Inspector G. Lestrade.

The books in the series so far:

And here she is. . .


Paula Berinstein is nothing like Amanda. For one thing, she’s crazy about Sherlock Holmes. For another, she’s never wanted to be a filmmaker. In addition, compared to Amanda she’s a big chicken! And she wouldn’t mind going to a secret school at all. In fact, she’s hoping that some day she’ll get to build one.

You can find and contact Paula here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Paula's blog on Goodreads
- The Writing Show podcasts
- Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!!!

There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy Coloring Book. Open International. These are the prizes you can win:
- One winner will win an Amazon gift card and the Amanda Lester coloring book
- 2 winners will each win a copy of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy Coloring Book

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Amanda Lester and the Gold Spectacles by Paula Berinstein with Giveaway

Today is the cover reveal for Amanda Lester and the Gold Spectacles Surprise by Paula Berinstein. The cover is designed by Anna Mogileva. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.

Amanda Lester and the Gold Spectacles Surprise

Amanda Lester, Detective #6

By Paula Berinstein

YA Detective/ Mystery

Young Adult

Release Date: 27 March, 2017

What is Professor Scribbish hiding?

Amanda and her friends have known about the mysterious Detective’s Bible for some time. But what they never dreamed was that old Lovelace Earful, Legatum’s founder and the author of the precious book, had much more up his sleeve than that.
v Now a strange pair of gold-rimmed spectacles he designed has fallen into the hands of the Moriarty brothers. But the glasses have been stolen, and it falls to Amanda to figure out where they are and get them back before . . . what? All she knows is that they’re powerful and the bad guys want them. But in order to acquire them she’ll have to penetrate a fortress where a new enemy is waiting—one who has already targeted Scapulus Holmes and is coming for her next.

What she doesn’t know is that sometimes you should leave well enough alone.

You can find Amanda Lester and the Gold Spectacles Surprise on Goodreads

You can get your copy of Amanda Lester and the Gold Spectacles Surprise for free for a limited time on Amazon

EXCERPT 

In the deepest reaches of the basements he discovered Noel in the musical instruments room. Simon wasn’t the least bit musical but Ivy was, which meant he was deeply interested in anything along that line, and what in the world was Noel doing? He’d got the top of a grand piano open and the strings were hanging out all over the place.
“Greetings,” said Simon. “That’s quite a mess you’ve got there.”
Noel looked up with a confused expression on his face. “Oh, it’s you, Binkle. Say, come over here for a minute and hold this, will you?” He held up a string.
Simon tromped over to the piano and peered inside. “What are you doing? Did something happen?”
“Just hold this please,” said Noel.
Simon grabbed the string and pulled tight.
“No, not like that,” said Noel. “Just keep it out of the way.”
“Oh,” said Simon. He felt like an idiot standing there holding a loose piano string. But he was too curious not to ask. “What are you doing?”
“I dropped something. I need to get it out.”
“What?” He peered deeper. There was a teensy tiny frog inside. “Oh, I see it. Wait, it’s alive!”
“That’s right, it’s alive, and it’s going to be a disaster if I don’t get it out. It belongs to Professor Pargeter and it’s very valuable. It’s also poisonous so don’t touch it.”
“Really?” said Simon, reaching for the animal. “How poisonous?”
“What did I just say?” said Noel slapping Simon’s hand.
“Oh, sorry,” said Simon. He withdrew the hand but stared intently at the little thing, which was obviously so frightened it was turning colors.
“Now look what you’ve done,” said Noel. “It’s brought the poison to the surface. Stand back or it will spit.”

And here she is. . .

Paula Berinstein is nothing like Amanda. For one thing, she’s crazy about Sherlock Holmes. For another, she’s never wanted to be a filmmaker. In addition, compared to Amanda she’s a big chicken! And she wouldn’t mind going to a secret school at all. In fact, she’s hoping that some day she’ll get to build one.

You can find and contact Paula here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Paula's blog on Goodreads
- The Writing Show podcasts
- Newsletter

GIVEAWAY

There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of Amanda Lester and the Gold Spectacles Surprise. These are the prizes you can win:
- a 30$ Amazon gift card
- 2 paperback copies of Amanda Lester and the Gold Spectacles Surprise

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post: Paula Berinstein and the Amanda Lester Detective Series

Today, I'd like to welcome one of my favorite Middle Grade/Young Adult mystery authors -
PAULA BERINSTEIN!!!

She's currently doing a tour, explaining exactly how she built characters, scenes and all sorts of whatnots in her books. (Follow it here: You can see the tour schedule here) I've been following them and find these posts a treasure chest of information.

Post 3. How I create Amanda’s physical world

Before I started writing the Amanda Lester series, I didn’t realize that a novelist has to be an architect, interior designer, landscape artist, and city planner. I learned fast. Fictional characters move around within an environment, and you have to create that space for them. If you want it to be interesting it has to be detailed, which means you have to imagine the macro and the micro of it and everything in between. It also has to work in the story, which means travel times have to be realistic, buildings need to be large enough to house the people and activities they contain, characters need ways to get around, and details must be plentiful and accurate.

My stories involve not just an English boarding school but the town and region that surrounds it. I’ve studded them with Neolithic tunnels, an old factory, a clock tower, a lighthouse, a boat, trains, other schools, shops, hotels, caves, churches, police stations, garages, homes, and a whole lot more. Some of these places actually exist. Most are made up. In both cases I have to know where rooms, doors, and staircases are placed; how the spaces are lit; what can be seen from various angles; how to get into and out of them; what they’re made of; what colors they are; who uses them; what they’re like during various seasons of the year; what happens when they’re beset by earthquakes, floods, and age—you get the picture.

The most complicated environment to create was the secret detective school, Legatum Continuatum. For this and all the places in the series I did a lot of photo research. I had to decide how many stories to make the school, how to lay it out, where to locate the staircases and elevators, what to do about the hospital and morgue, etc. I decided that three stories should do it. I could get all my classrooms, dorms, common rooms, kitchen, dining, administrative, medical, and so on into a building that size. The gym and assembly hall would have to reside in separate buildings, however, which my research told me was credible.

You can’t imagine how hard it was to draw the school. I wanted it to be full of odd shapes to show that it had been added onto over the more than one hundred years it had been in existence. I also had to figure out how to fit in storage areas, restrooms, hallways, a foyer, and offices. I don’t know how many sketches I went through but it was a lot. It was worth it though because the school has served me for six books so far.

The second-hardest environment I had to create was the criminals’ school. I knew it was going to be in a castle so I needed to figure out how big castles are and how to fit classrooms, kitchen, dining room, residences, and all that stuff into one. (Many castles are way too small for all that, believe it or not.) I also needed to figure out how much it would cost to acquire and fit out such a castle because I needed to finance the school. Let me tell you, that was something. I looked at tons of pictures of castles, read about layouts and square footages, examined real estate listings. (Yes, you can actually buy a castle and I would love to, but I’ll have to sell a few more books in order to make that dream come true.) Then, after I decided how big to make the castle, I needed to come up with a layout that worked in my story.

As I sketched the Schola Sceleratorum castle I realized that it was looking a lot like the detective school, and I couldn’t have that. The criminals had to be completely different from the detectives. So I tried different arrangements until my pencil was dull, but I could not come up with anything unique . . . until I hit on the idea of circles.

As you can see in the graphic, Schola Sceleratorum is composed of a huge number of round rooms and towers. To my knowledge no real castle has been built that way, but it works for me. While there’s no such thing as a typical hall in my design, I do have passages that ring the circles. These not only function as halls but as secret passages for intruders to sneak around in.

I also had to imagine the interior of Nick’s boat, the Moriartys’ sugar factory, Amanda’s mother’s house, Stencil Moriarty’s London mansion, and the Neolithic tunnels that run under the Lake District. Trust me when I say that I initially got some things wrong. English houses are not laid out the way California houses are, but I’d written the scene where Amanda goes to Stencil’s house as if they were. My tunnels are much more comfortable than real Stone Age tunnels would be (and better lit). I’m not sure the conveyor belt Amanda rides in the sugar factory would actually work either, despite the fact that I found pictures of such a device and wrote from them.

Which brings me to another point. Thank goodness a writer has license to play with geography and other environmental characteristics. While there are quarries in the Lake District, none actually exists in Windermere. I made mine up. Nor is there a little church outside Penrith that connects to an underground network, nor a Lake Enchanto like the one that borders Legatum (although there is a Lake Enchanto in Agoura, California, near my house). On the other hand, there really are factories like the Moriartys’ sugar plant along the Thames near the London City Airport, there really is a zoo near Windermere, and Simon’s London adventures in Book 6 are based on the actual layout of the city.

I don’t know if every novelist designs environments the way I do. I know from the maps in many books that writers work out the geography of their environments, but I’ve never heard anyone mention designing a manor house or a castle or a zoo. Writers, please share! Inquiring minds and would-be architects want to know!

Tomorrow I will discuss the villains of Amanda’s world.


All about. . .


Paula Berinstein is nothing like Amanda. For one thing, she’s crazy about Sherlock Holmes. For another, she’s never wanted to be a filmmaker. In addition, compared to Amanda she’s a big chicken! And she wouldn’t mind going to a secret school at all. In fact, she’s hoping that some day she’ll get to build one.

You can find and contact Paula here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Paula's blog on Goodreads
- The Writing Show podcasts
- Newsletter

The Amanda Lester Series

The Amanda Lester series is a Middle Grade/ Young Adult Mystery series.
The series contains 5 books so far and at least 2 more books are planned. The first four books are also available bundled in a box set. And the first book is also available in audiobook format. The currently published books are:
- Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy (Amanda Lester, Detective #1)
- Amanda Lester and the Orange Crystal Crisis (Amanda Lester, Detective #2)
- Amanda Lester and the Purple Rainbow Puzzle (Amanda Lester, Detective #3)
- Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret (Amanda Lester, Detective #4)
- Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus (Amanda Lester, Detective #5)

The First book in the series:

Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy

 (Amanda Lester, Detective #1)

by Paula Berinstein

Amanda Lester wouldn’t be caught dead going into the family business. Her ancestor, Sherlock Holmes’s colleague Inspector G. Lestrade, is a twit. Nevertheless her parents refuse to see his flaws, and she’s going to a secret English school for the descendants of famous detectives whether she likes it or not.

When Amanda arrives at the dreaded school, she considers running away—until she and her new friends discover blood and weird pink substances in odd places. At first they’re not sure whether these oddities mean anything, but when Amanda’s father disappears and the cook is found dead with her head in a bag of sugar, they’re certain that crimes are taking place.

Now Amanda must embrace her destiny and uncover the truth. The only snag is that arch-villain Blixus Moriarty, a descendant of Holmes’s nemesis Professor James Moriarty, might be involved, and he doesn’t like nosy little girls interfering in his business.

You can find Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy on Goodreads

Get the e-copy for free!
The e-copy of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy is free now on all vendor sites! Grab your free copy here:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- Smashwords

Get the Audiobook!
You can buy the audiobook of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy here:
- Audible
- Amazon
- iTunes

Listen to a sample of the audiobook here on Soundcloud.

All five books in the series

Buy the whole series on Amazon!
The first Amanda Lester book is free and book 2, 3, 4 and 5 are only 0.99$ per book or can be bought as part of a box set. Links to each book on Amazon are below:
- Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy (Amanda Lester, Detective #1)
- Amanda Lester and the Orange Crystal Crisis(Amanda Lester, Detective #2)
- Amanda Lester and the Purple Rainbow Puzzle (Amanda Lester, Detective #3)
- Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret (Amanda Lester, Detective #4)
- Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus (Amanda Lester, Detective #5)
- Amanda Detective box set Books 1-4
- The Amanda Lester series page

The Amanda Lester books on other vendors
The Amanda Lester series is also available on other vendor sites. Get the books on B&N, Kobo, iTunes and Smashwords.


This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 30 January till 5 February. You can see the tour schedule here

GIVEAWAY!!!

There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of the Amanda Lester series. These are the prizes you can win:
- One winner will win all 5 Amanda Lester books in paperback.
- Two winners will win a set of all 5 Amanda Lester books in e-format.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post: Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy by Paula Berinstein Giveaway

This is my stop during the book blitz for the audiobook for Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy by Paula Berinstein. The audiobook is narrated by Allan Corduner. Allan Corduner has narrated multiple books, one of them being The Book Thief and he does the voice of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter videogames. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 24 till 30 October. Every day there will be a different guest post in which Paula talks about the process of making the audiobook. You can view the blitz schedule here.

  AMANDA LESTER AND THE PINK SUGAR CONSPIRACY

Amanda Lester, Detective #1

 Written by Paula Berinstein Narrated by Allan Corduner Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins MG Mystery/ Detective 

September 27, 2016

A reluctant detective, a criminal mastermind, and sugar? Amanda Lester wouldn't be caught dead going into the family business. Her ancestor, Sherlock Holmes's colleague Inspector G. Lestrade, is a twit. Nevertheless her parents refuse to see his flaws, and she's going to a secret English school for the descendants of famous detectives whether she likes it or not. When Amanda arrives at the dreaded school, she considers running away - until she and her new friends discover blood and weird pink substances in odd places. At first they're not sure whether these oddities mean anything, but when Amanda's father disappears and the cook is found dead with her head in a bag of sugar, they're certain that crimes are taking place. Now Amanda must embrace her destiny and uncover the truth. The only snag is that arch-villain Blixus Moriarty, a descendant of Holmes's nemesis Professor James Moriarty, might be involved, and he doesn't like nosy little girls interfering in his business.

You can find Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy on Goodreads You can buy the audiobook of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy here: - Audible - Amazon - iTunes Listen to a sample of the audiobook here on Soundcloud

Get the e-copy for free! 

The e-copy of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy is free now on all vendor sites! Grab your free copy here:

 Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Kobo - Smashwords

GUEST POST

So You Want to Make an Audiobook, Post 6: Post-production

The Amanda Lester, Detective Odyssey with Paula Berinstein

Recording an audiobook doesn’t end on the last day in the studio. You have to edit and check listen, both detailed and time-consuming jobs.

In order to comply with ACX’s technical requirements, you must submit each chapter as a separate file. You also have to create files for the opening and closing credits and provide a sample of up to five minutes, all governed by requirements such as decibel range, compression, and so on. It’s fiddly stuff! Add to that the fact that it’s easy for the actor to misread something or the editor to forget to chop out a cough and there’s a lot to do.

As the team was going through the files, they discovered a few problems. Chris told me that Allan would have to come back into the studio and re-record some stuff. He was scheduled to return for another project in a few weeks. Did I want him to come in specially for my project or could I wait? I could wait.

About three weeks later Allan rerecorded the passages and David Griffiths, the editor (who did an amazing job!), took over. The next thing I knew I had thirty-something audio files (actually sixty-something if you count both the .wav and .mp3 files) in my Dropbox folder. I was scared to death. My shiny new audiobook was waiting for me and I was afraid to listen.

I needn’t have worried. Allan had worked such magic on Amanda that I barreled through the whole thing, stopping only to exclaim, “OMG, that is brilliant!” about a thousand times. I found only one problem: he had repeated a line. I asked Strathmore to fix it (easy peasy), and then it was time to upload my files to ACX, where I’d established a DIY account.  

I logged into my account and started the uploads. Ugh, what a dummy. I was in such a hurry I started the upload for every file at the same time! A few of them actually completed and then the whole thing froze. Well of course it did. I had overloaded the system. I cancelled everything that hadn’t completed and uploaded thirty-something files one by one. Then I uploaded the beautiful cover Anna Mogileva had completed a few months before and sat back to wait up to three week for a verdict.

I was lucky: I heard back in about a week. By that time the book was already listed on Audible. It popped up on Amazon and iTunes a couple of days later. There was a bit of an issue with the age range in the target audience categories, but we got that resolved quickly. (Audible had put it in the five- to seven-year-olds section. You can now find it in the 11-13-year-olds section, which they consider teens).

I just found out that you can also get the audio Whispersynced to your ebook (which means you can switch between the text and the audio without losing your place), and that that version of the audiobook costs waaaaaaay less than the standalone one. I mean like $3.47 as opposed to $24.95! You can get that on Audible and Amazon but not on iTunes. I guess that makes sense since Audible and Amazon are so well integrated.  

Please join me tomorrow for my thoughts on the audiobook as art.

And here she is. . .

PAULA BERINSTEIN!!!

Paula Berinstein is nothing like Amanda. For one thing, she’s crazy about Sherlock Holmes. For another, she’s never wanted to be a filmmaker. In addition, compared to Amanda she’s a big chicken! And she wouldn’t mind going to a secret school at all. In fact, she’s hoping that some day she’ll get to build one. You can find and contact Paula here:

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads - Paula's blog on Goodreads - The Writing Show podcasts - Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!!!

There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz for Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy. These are the prizes you can win: - 2 audiobook copies of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy - 2 amazon gift cards of 15$ For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter givea
way

Cover Reveal: Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus with Giveaway

Today is the cover reveal for Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus by Paula Berinstein. This cover is designed by Anna Mogileva. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.

Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus 

Amanda Lester, Detective #5

By Paula Berinstein

YA/Upper MG Mystery/ Detective

COMING. . .

NOVEMBER 1st, 2016!

It only takes a moment to spill a secret.

The detectives have managed to keep Legatum Continuatum's secrets safe for more than a hundred years, but that could soon change. Amanda and her friends have discovered that the red spiders of Ambleside possess a talent that could expose everything.

Unfortunately, Amanda's new stepfather knows about them too, and his plans are deadly. The kids try to get to the spiders first, but their attempt to save them just complicates matters. Then Amanda disappears and it falls to her friends to save the day. If they fail, she could die. The situation has never been more critical. The problem is that only one person knows how to find her, and they don't trust him.

You can find Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus on Goodreads

You can pre-order Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus here:
- Amazon

Get the first Amanda Lester book for free!
Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy is free! Get your copy of the first Amanda Lester book here:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- Smashwords


About the Author:
Paula Berinstein is nothing like Amanda. For one thing, she’s crazy about Sherlock Holmes. For another, she’s never wanted to be a filmmaker. In addition, compared to Amanda she’s a big chicken! And she wouldn’t mind going to a secret school at all. In fact, she’s hoping that some day she’ll get to build one.

You can find and contact Paula here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Paula's blog on Goodreads
- The Writing Show podcasts
- Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!!!

There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of Amanda Lester and the Red Spider Rumpus. One winner will win a 30$ amazon gift card.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
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Excerpt: Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy by Paula Berinstein with Giveaway

This is my stop during the blog tour for Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy by Paula Berinstein. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 18 till 31 July, you can view the complete tour schedule here.

Facebook group event
On 28 July, Paula Berinstein will do an event in the Blind Date With a Book Facebook Group. There will be giveaways, discussions and more!

Start this series for free!
You can get Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy for free at Amazon, B&N, Kobo or Smashwords!

Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy (Amanda Lester, Detective #1)

by Paula Berinstein

Genre: Mystery/ Detective/ Fantasy

Age category: Middle Grade

Amanda Lester wouldn’t be caught dead going into the family business. Her ancestor, Sherlock Holmes’s colleague Inspector G. Lestrade, is a twit. Nevertheless her parents refuse to see his flaws, and she’s going to a secret English school for the descendants of famous detectives whether she likes it or not.

When Amanda arrives at the dreaded school, she considers running away—until she and her new friends discover blood and weird pink substances in odd places. At first they’re not sure whether these oddities mean anything, but when Amanda’s father disappears and the cook is found dead with her head in a bag of sugar, they’re certain that crimes are taking place.

Now Amanda must embrace her destiny and uncover the truth. The only snag is that arch-villain Blixus Moriarty, a descendant of Holmes’s nemesis Professor James Moriarty, might be involved, and he doesn’t like nosy little girls interfering in his business.

You can find Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy on Goodreads

Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy is free now on all vendor sites! Grab your free copy here:
- Amazon
- Amazon Paperback
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- Smashwords

EXCERPT

Headmaster Thrillkill and Professors Stegelmeyer, Scribbish, and Ducey were all outside waving their arms and shouting directions at the firemen, who did not look amused. Thrillkill seemed to be holding a hair dryer, which Amanda thought particularly odd. But what really stood out was Professor Bill Pickle, the textual analysis teacher. Amanda had heard the older students describe him as an annoying, Latin-spouting, bow tie-wearing, grammar-correcting ponce, whatever that was. He seemed to be moaning and wailing and wringing his hands. Could he have been injured? She couldn’t see how. He looked perfectly fine. There were no paramedics at the scene and no one was paying any attention to him. Perhaps something important to him had been damaged. Of course. His car.

Everyone knew about Professor Pickle’s car. You couldn’t get within a mile of the school and not hear about Professor Pickle’s car. It was a classic Triumph Roadster that he treated like a Michelangelo sculpture. You’d swear he polished the thing as if it were the Hubble Telescope mirror just so he could admire himself in its reflection and take selfies in its light. It was even said that the man sterilized the engine as if he were administering a high colonic. And he’d given it some sort of silly name. Gorky? Girly? No, Gherkin. It was definitely Gherkin. Well, of course. The man’s name was Pickle.

What was really neat about the car wasn’t all that flash though. It had a way cool rumble seat. Amanda had wanted to ride in a rumble seat ever since she’d read the early Nancy Drew books, in which the girl sleuth had driven a blue rumble-seated roadster. It was said that Professor Pickle took his car out for a long drive every Sunday wearing a jaunty cap and special driving gloves, with his golf clubs ensconced in the rumble seat.

Amanda didn’t know anything else about the man. The students didn’t take Textual Analysis until their third year, so she wouldn’t be in his class for quite some time. He did seem to cut a ridiculous figure, but she didn’t want to jump to any conclusions about him or his car. She should be methodical about this investigation and let the evidence speak for itself, just as Professor Scribbish had instructed.

Get the box set with the first four books in this series!

Amanda Lester box set (Amanda Lester, Detective #1-4)
by Paula Berinstein
Genre: Mystery/ Detective/ Fantasy
Age category: Middle Grade/ Young Adult
Release Date: July 4, 2016

Blurb:
"Sherlock Holmes meets Nancy Drew meets Harry Potter."

This set includes all four Amanda Lester, Detective books from the first year at the Legatum Continuatum Enduring School for Detectives.

Book 1, Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy
Book 2, Amanda Lester and the Orange Crystal Crisis
Book 3, Amanda Lester and the Purple Rainbow Puzzle
Book 4, Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks' Secret

Amanda Lester wouldn’t be caught dead going into the family business. Her ancestor, Sherlock Holmes’s colleague Inspector G. Lestrade, is a twit. Nevertheless her parents refuse to see his flaws, and she’s going to a secret English school for the descendants of famous detectives whether she likes it or not.

When Amanda arrives at the dreaded school, she considers running away—until she and her new friends discover blood and weird pink substances in odd places. At first they’re not sure whether these oddities mean anything, but when Amanda’s father disappears and the cook is found dead with her head in a bag of sugar, they’re certain that crimes are taking place.

Now Amanda must embrace her destiny and uncover the truth. The only snag is that arch-villain Blixus Moriarty, a descendant of Holmes’s nemesis Professor James Moriarty, might be involved, and he doesn’t like nosy little girls interfering in his business.

Follow the exciting adventures of the girl who learned that sometimes you need to be part of something larger than yourself.

You can find Amanda Lester box set on Goodreads

You can buy the Amanda Lester box set here:
- Amazon
- Amazon UK


All About. . .

PAULA BERINSTEIN!!!

Paula Berinstein is nothing like Amanda. For one thing, she’s crazy about Sherlock Holmes. For another, she’s never wanted to be a filmmaker. In addition, compared to Amanda she’s a big chicken! And she wouldn’t mind going to a secret school at all. In fact, she’s hoping that some day she’ll get to build one.


You can find and contact Paula here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Paula's blog on Goodreads
- The Writing Show podcasts
- Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!!!

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy. Open International. These are the prizes you can win:
- One $40 Amazon gift card
- Two copies Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy (hardback edition)
- One copy Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: The Illustrated Edition (hardback)
- One Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Book 1 Audible – Unabridged, narrator Jim Dale
- One Nancy Drew videogame from Her Interactive (winner's choice).
- One surprise book, you pick the genre. Paperback only.


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