I'm thrilled to have Aldo Fynn, author of the middle-grade adventure, Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer, stopping by for an interview and giveaway...
Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer
by Aldo Fynn
illustrated by Richie Vicencio
11/10/13
BOA Press, LLC
172 pages
age group: 8-12 years old
All Iggy Rose wants is for the kids at the Naysayer Academy to like him, and one special girl in particular. But instead, he gets teased and taunted. Every day, he eats alone in the cafeteria and gets beaten up after school on the playground. But when a cruel prank leads to Iggy’s escape from the academy, a wild, unimaginable adventure begins.
Why is King Naysayer offering a hefty reward for Iggy’s capture? When Iggy joins forces with an eclectic cast of characters, he discovers the answer. But before he can escape from the kingdom of Naysayer, Iggy must first reclaim what is rightfully his. Does this sad, lonely boy have the courage to battle the biggest school bully, a mean headmistress, and a greedy, cruel king? Will Iggy finally believe in himself and discover his true destiny?
This quirky and fast paced story with 30+ illustrations is ideal for middle grade readers and adults looking for a different kind of hero. Kirkus Reviews called the first book in the Adventures of Prince Iggy"An entertaining fantasy with a quirky, inventive storyline that shows how things invariably turn out badly for bullies."IndieReader wrote "a charming story about finding out who you are and following your heart" and Foreword Clarion said, "Fynn is adept at making scenes come to life...while weaving an entertaining yarn." San Francisco Book Review concluded, "The book is going to be devoured by readers of any type, whether they're looking for some fun fiction, a comical read, or a page-turner."
What three words best describe Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer?
Fantasy, Quirky, Action
Can you give us your best one sentence pitch to convince readers, especially reluctant readers, to give Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer a try?
An over the top fantasy adventure where a lost-now-found prince learns that believing in himself pays off when battling evil bullies.
Grab a copy of Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer and answer the following:
favorite chapter? Chapter 13 - Prince Iggy learns about the power of believing in yourself.
favorite page? 67 - An illustration of Iggy wining a fight against mean bullies.
favorite place/setting? Miss Blackfeathers Fortune Teller Store
flip to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentence teaser: "It takes a lot of work to come up with new ways to torment Iggy. Sometimes I spend all night thinking up stuff."
What inspired Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer? How did the story come to be?
II wanted to create a story in which the hero did not have to be extraordinarily special, have amazing talent or magical powers. I wanted readers to root for an ordinary kid.
Can you tell us about your hero Iggy? What sets him apart from other MG heroes?
Readers quickly relate to Iggy. He's a regular kid. He goes to school, deals with bullies and as a result, battles with self-confidence and anxiety probably more than other MG heroes.
Besides Iggy, do you have an absolute favorite character in the series? What do you love about him or her? Did any of your characters end up surprising even you?
If I have to choose one, it would be Captain Bartholomew Swell. He's a burley man of action with a big, loveable heart. He has a mix between a British and Pirate accent and says odd things like, "This here is the best wombat stew this side of the Crystal Ocean. And, may I add, is my mum's very own recipe."
What’s next for Iggy? What kinds of adventures can we expect to find in book two?
Iggy sets sail for the Rose Kingdom to reclaim the throne from his Aunt, the evil Queen Victoria. Along the way, the wacky adventures continue as Iggy confronts a hungry shark and takes a trip to outer space. When he finally arrives at the Rose Kingdom, Iggy must enter the dreaded Tower of Decisions to overthrow the queen. The tower will test Iggy's self confidence. Will he pass the tests? Will he conquer his fears? Does he have the will to become the new King? You'll have to read the next book to find out.
Fill in the blanks:
I’m really awesome at karaoke.
I’m really embarrassed to admit that I never learned how to roller skate.
The last great book I read was Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
If you were to create and bake a cupcake inspired by Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer, what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it?
It would have to be a mix of sweet and salty - similar in concept to a chocolate covered pretzel. I would call it The Choco Bold. It would be a moist chocolate cake with coconut flakes mixed into the batter. The icing would be caramel flavored and it would be sprinkled with just a touch of sea salt on top. I can't resist anything chocolate; its rich and comforting at the same time. I added the coconut flakes to be different from other chocolate cupcakes, just like Iggy's cast of supporting characters are different. The caramel icing brings out the sweetness of the story but the salty sprinkles remind us of the bullies. You can't miss a salty flake in each bite but the sweetness still dominates. Sweet vs. salt, good vs. evil, rags to riches. And Bold - that sums up Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer.
Aldo Fynn enjoys writing wacky, fantastical stories. Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer is his debut novel. It’s the first book in the Adventures of Prince Iggy Series. He’s also written two wacky, laugh-out-loud picture books. He lives under his desk and promises he won’t come out until Book 3 in the series is complete. Which is a shame because his desk is based in Los Angeles, where it’s sunny and 70 degrees most of the year.
Win a copy of
Prince Iggy and the Kingdom of Naysayer!
BOA Press has generously offered 3 copies (two ebooks, one paperback) for three winners.
DETAILS
-open internationally
-ends 7/11/14
-there will be 3 winners: two ebook winners, one paperback winner
-must be 13+ to enter
-winners will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours
-Word Spelunking is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen prizes
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the illustrations and the storyline are awesome - can't wait to read w/my family
ReplyDeleteLOVE the cover art!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to have been chosen a winner of the print copy, I'm anxious to read and see the illustrations. Thank you
ReplyDelete