Myth-Ing Persons

If you've read middle-grade novel Bully Dogs, you know the main character, Fran Reed, is a big reader. She loves a good story just as much as I do! Here are two books Fran likes. They're real novels, so you can read them, too!

T. H. White's The Sword in the Stone
The Sword in the Stone is a retelling of the legend of the young King Arthur. The boy Arthur (known as "Wart") becomes Merlin's student after an encounter in the forest. But Merlin is no ordinary teacher as Arthur learns after being transformed into a fish, dueling with a witch, and being captured in a giant's castle. This adaptation is full of fun, wit and charm and likable characters. While this humorous adventure fantasy is written in Old English, it's easy enough for children to understand.

Robert Asprin's Myth-Ing Persons
This is book 5 in the series The Myth Adventures of Aahz and Skeeve, partners whose best intentions always seem to land them in a heap of trouble. In Myth-ing Persons, it's Aahz who gets into trouble after heading off to another dimension to round up some crooks and it's Skeeve and friends who must come to the rescue. The entire series is witty, funny and fun-to-read.

If you're new to the series, do start with book 1: Another Fine Myth. If you like a good pun and fun fantasy adventure, you won't be disappointed.

Meet the Three Musketeers!

Have you met the Three Musketeers? Not the legendary figures from the famous novel by Alexandre Dumas—I’m talking about the black Labrador, the cocker spaniel, and the golden retriever!

Aramis, Porthos, and Athos are the Three Musketeers in my middle-grade novel Bully Dogs, the canine trio who give Fran Reed three times the trouble nearly every day on her way to school!

Here’s a picture of the four-legged Musketeers by Bully Dogs artist Phyllis Emmert:
And here’s what the same kind of dogs look like in real life:
*If you click on a photo you can see more pictures of black Labradors, cocker spaniels, and golden retrievers!
A black Lab cozies up for a nap (image from Labster.net, the Labrador Retriever Daily Photo Blog).

Two happy cocker spaniels smile for the camera (image from Scooterthecocker.com, Scooter's American Cocker Spaniel Pictures).

A golden retriever shows off its great golden fur (image from BreederRetriever.com, Your #1 Resource for Dog and Breeder information)!