Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Alligators Overhead

My friend Lee is here today to talk about her new book, Alligators Overhead. Lee has been kind enough to offer two e-copies of her book in any format for a contest here at Project 52. To win make her book cover your profile picture on any social networking site, just leave a link below. Random.org will choose winners!


Thanks for letting me talk about my book on your blog, Beth. I appreciate this opportunity a lot.

Here’s what the book is about.

Alligators, witches and a spooky mansion aren't your average neighbors unless you live at the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville. The town's bad boy, Pete Riley, may only be twelve, but he's up to his eyeballs in big trouble, and this time he isn't the cause. This time the trouble arrives when a legendary hundred-year-old mansion materializes next door and the Ornofree alligators declare war to save their swamp from bulldozers. Things only get worse when Pete's guardian aunt and several of her close friends vanish while trying to restore order using outdated witchcraft. Now Pete must find the witches and stop the war. He might stand a chance if his one friend, Weasel, sticks with him, but even then, they may not have what it takes.

About the author:

C. Lee is writer who captures the pulse of adolescent confusion in her Young Adult fiction, Sliding on the Edge and The Princess of Las Pulgas. She admits to revealing a lot of her Old Adult confusion while doing that. Alligators Overhead is her first Middle Grade novel. She lives in California with her husband and assorted animals at the edge of a redwood forest. Lee blogs at The Write Game and she’d love a visit at her website.

So why alligators? I’m asked that question a lot. My answer is, “Why not?” After all, cats have been done. Dogs have been done. Horse stories are everywhere. There are only a few stories with alligators out there. I know they’re not cuddly and cute critters, but they are fascinating when you know a bit about them.

They’ve been around 65 million years! That’s a whopping long time, don’t you think?

In the 1980's American alligators were limited to the Everglades National Park in Florida. They were in danger of extinction because of human beings. Once they were protected, they made a major come back. I like critters with stamina. They remind me of writers.

Park rangers and other people that are far braver than I am go out at night into the swamp and count alligators.
I asked, “Why?” And in kind of a loud voice of disbelief.
“Because their eyes glow in reflected light, and we can see them better than during the day.”
“Oh, of course, why didn’t I think of that?”
(As a side note, I didn’t volunteer to count any alligators). Thanks for letting me talk about my book on your blog, Beth. I appreciate this opportunity a lot.

You can get a copy of Lee's book now here:
B & N
SMASHWORDS




11 comments:

  1. You have made me feel so "pink" today, Beth. Thanks. I really do appreciate your letting me visit and talk about Alligators Overhead.

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  2. This book sounds so awesome, Lee. All the perfect elements for a MG story!

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    1. Thanks, Jessie. Appreciate your taking the time to leave a comment here.

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  3. Yes, why not alligators?! Good luck, Lee!

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    1. Glad you're on my side in this alligator story decision, Catherine. Cats can't always be the lead characters!

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  4. LOL, Lee, you didn't want to count alligators in the dark? I can't blame you. ;)

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    1. Not in this life time, Kelly! I really don't care how many there are.

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  5. That's definitely a long time! Alligators are interesting animals.

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    1. They are interesting. I wish they weren't so darned ugly, but then I suppose they wouldn't be so resilient.

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  6. Hi Lee! Hi Beth! *waves*
    They count alligators at night because their eyes glow? Cool! But I'm not as surprised by the method as the fact that anyone would ever need to count alligators at all!
    Love the book, Lee. Best of luck with all your publishing dreams. :-)

    (P.S. Beth: Answering your question from my blog -- I was born in the US and moved to Egypt after college.)

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    1. Very cool! I guess the counting must be done, but not by me.

      Have to announce two winner, right?

      Here you are: Jessie and Eagle. Hope you enjoy the book.

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