Sunday, August 26, 2012

Guest blogger, C. Lee McKenzie


I'm delighted to host the lovely, C. Lee McKenzie today as a part of her Swamp Hop. 




You may know Lee as the author of YA books such as Sliding on the Edge and The Princess of Las Pulgas, but she also writes for middle grade audiences with her new title Alligators Overhead.


Welcome, Lee!

"Thank you so much for helping me out with the launch of my first middle grade book. I really appreciate your support and it's great to be here on your blog today."




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only get worse when Pete's guardian aunt and several of her close friends vanish while trying to restore order using outdated witchcraft.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.

Alligators Overhead is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

About the author:
A native Californian, C. Lee McKenzie lives on the edge of a redwood forest with her husband and assorted cats. When she's not writing or blogging she's hiking or practicing yoga. She usually writes young adult fiction that deals with contemporary, realistic issues. In Sliding on the Edge (2009) she dealt with cutting, and in The Princess of Las Pulgas (2010) she wrote about a family that loses almost everything and has to rebuild their lives together. Alligators Overhead is her first Middle Grade novel. Lee blogs at The Write Game and you can learn more about her and her work here.


Thanks again for stopping by. Wishing you all the best with the launch!


46 comments:

  1. Ooh, I think I read about this book on another blog, but I didn't remember about the witches using outdated craft bit. Sounds very interesting! Congratulations and best of luck with this book, too, Lee. :)

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    1. Thanks for the visit, Claudine, and for the good luck wishes. I appreciate that.

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  2. Ruth, thanks for introducing me to a new author (to me). I love the phrase "SWAMP HOP"! Sounds like you're having a great book launch, C. Lee McKenzie.

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    1. Hi Laura. I am having a great launch and it's all about the bloggers who have showed up to lend a hand. Ruth's been a super supporter by letting me be here. Thanks for your comment.

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  3. This book looks like so much fun!

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  4. I bought this to read to my daughter.

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    1. Hi Kelly. Thanks so much. I hope your daughter enjoys the adventure!

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  5. Hi Lee! Good luck on the Swamp Hop--what a great blog hop title! Alligators Overhead sounds like a great MG story--I know I was fascinated by alligators and witches when I was a kid. :)

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    1. Alligators and witches . . .what a combination, huh? My family is looking at me a bit strangely these days, wondering if I'm really who I say I am. Appreciate your stopping in to say hi.

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  6. This sounds like an awesome read.

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    1. Hi Madeleine! Thanks for joining in the Swamp Hop with your comments.

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  7. This one's on my list. Thanks for spotlighting it Ruth. Great pictures ... I have a fondness for swamps too, as you know. I just posted some photos this weekend.

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    1. I'll have to find those. I'm very big into swamps now. Thanks Vijaya.

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  8. I don't know about swamps, but those gators make me want to jump up and run---all the way to the store to read the rest of the story.

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    1. Nice. Very nice. I got a kick out of your comment. Let me know what you think!

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  9. Thanks for featuring Lee's book, Ruth. I'm seeing Alligators Overhead mentioned everywhere - I'll have to take a look!

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    1. Hi Victoria. Great to meet you here. Hope you enjoy the book.

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  10. Love the title. The book sounds a like a great read for MG readers. Haven't checked out your books before, and I like the issues they deal with. Good luck with your book launch!

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    1. Thank you Patricia. I'd love to hear from you if you do check out my books.

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  11. This sounds wonderful. I have alligators in a couple of pb mss so I'm drawn to this even more.

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    1. Oh, send me your covers! I'm posting as many alligator books on my fb page as I can find.

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  12. Sounds like an intriguing story! Thanks for sharing, Ruth! :)

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  13. I just read about this book on another blog today so the hop seems to be working:-) Thanks for stopping by my blog today-was great to see you there! I think I'll have to read this swamp book~cheers

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    1. I hope people enjoy this Swamp Hop. I've had a lot of blogger support.

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  14. I am a middle school English teacher, so I'm always interested in finding good books that will interest my students. This sounds very interesting!

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    1. A 5th grade teacher reports that her class enjoyed it a lot. That was very good to hear.

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  15. So glad to have met you through Lee's Swamp Hop! Does this make us Swamp Sisters? Congrats again Lee!

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    1. I'm chuckling. Swamp Sisters. Of course that's exactly what this has made us!

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  16. Swamp hop, I love it! C.Lee, your book sounds so fun!

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    1. Thanks Lydia. Appreciate your stopping in to comment.

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  17. Thanks, Ruth, for the intro to Lee! I love the name of the hop. So clever! :)

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  18. Great to see C. Lee here. She's set up a fabulous blog tour!

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  19. My goodness, Lee is everywhere these days! Gotta love the gators. :)

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  20. Bogs, witches, alligators! Sounds like the recipe for a successful story to me!

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  21. I think the thing I love the most is that all the adults get into trouble and the kid-hero must save them. Such a great idea for an adventure!

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  22. Hello Ruth! How're you doing? How cool that you're part of Lee's swamp hop! I love Alligators Overhead. She's such an awesome writer.

    Now that August is over, I hope Lee is getting some R&R!

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