Cassie has sent along a very
special letter sharing her feelings about seeing her book get
published and all of the amazing support she has received so far. Plus don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a bunch of swag items,
courtesy of Penguin Young Readers! Enter for a chance to win at the
bottom of this post.
Author's Note
Dear
Readers,
Ages
ago I hung a poster in my room with the words “The Circus Opens
Summer 2015” in bold letters across the top. At the time, it seemed
that Summer 2015 would never come. Now, miraculously, June 2 is here,
and Circus
Mirandus
is springing up in bookshops all over the country.
In
the story, those called to Circus Mirandus feel a change in the wind.
They hear music on the air, pipes and drums leading them toward magic
and hope and heart’s desires. Eventually they find themselves
before the gates, standing, as I am now, on the threshold of
somewhere both wonderful and unknowable.
As
people read the pages into which I’ve poured so much time and self,
I wonder what they’ll think of the world I’ve created. I wonder
if they will love it as much as I do. It’s an exciting moment,
stepping through these gates into a place I’ve imagined but never
seen.
Thank
you so much for making this journey with me. Thank you for supporting
the book. Thank you, most of all, for believing.
Cassie
Beasley
About Circus Mirandus
Author: Cassie Beasley
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: June 2nd 2015
Micah Tuttle believes in magic, even though his awful Great-Aunt Gertrudis doesn’t approve. Micah believes in the stories his dying Grandpa Ephraim tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus: the invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and the magician more powerful than any other—the Man Who Bends Light. Finally, Grandpa Ephraim offers proof. The Circus is real—and the Lightbender owes Ephraim a miracle. With his friend Jenny Mendoza in tow, Micah sets out to find the Circus and the man he believes will save his grandfather. The only problem is, the Lightbender doesn't want to keep his promise. And now it's up to Micah to get the miracle he came for. Readers will fall in love with CIRCUS MIRANDUS, which celebrates the power of seeing magic in the world.
About the Author
CASSIE BEASLEY is from rural Georgia, where, when she's not writing, she helps out on the family pecan farm. She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. CIRCUS MIRANDUS is her first novel.
Advanced Praise for
★ “On one level, the book is a fantastical circus romp… On another, it's both serious and thick with longing… A delicious confection and much more: it shows that the human heart is delicate, that it matters, and that it must be handled with care.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Circus Mirandus is not a simple story, but readers will be rewarded for delving into its intricacies. This gripping fantasy tale will have readers hooked from the opening scene to the breathtaking—and unexpected—conclusion.” —School Library Journal, starred review
★ “Beasley’s debut is a bit of its own three-ring circus, masterfully diverting readers’ attention among the pressing matter of Ephraim’s illness, the inventive descriptions of Circus Mirandus in Ephraim’s flashbacks and Micah’s visits, and the larger, more serious tragedy of those who refuse to believe…Readers will be left with…the hope…that those who still believe will always have magic in their lives.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Debut author Beasley has built an imaginative world in evocative, painterly prose, particularly the circus, and she’s filled it with compellingly multifaceted characters.” —Booklist
“Circus Mirandus blooms before the reader’s eyes…This lighthearted middle-grade fantasy is an ideal pick for those who want to be immersed in an imaginative world where there is no limit on creativity and adventure.” —VOYA
#1 on the Summer Kids’ Indie Next List!
Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers
“Circus Mirandus is magical and real—if you believe. This is one of my favorites on the list without a doubt.” —Arna Lewis, Buttonwood Books & Toys (Cohasset, MA)
“Every now and again a book comes along that completely captures my heart and imagination. Circus Mirandus is one of those books.” —Laura Donohoe, Malaprops (Asheville, NC)
“Magic, like hope and dreams, comes in many forms… A charming, tender, a hold-your-breath kind of book.” —Margaret Brennan Neville, The King's English (Salt Lake City, UT)
“This book is chock full of magic and love. Great storytelling, delightful characters—and that cover!” —Francine Lucidon, The Voracious Reader (Larchmont, NY)
“I knew I was going to love this barely a page into it. The characters are dynamic, the illustrations delightful and the story is filled to the brim with tenderness, magic, adventure and a story so brilliant that adults will want to find a child to curl up and read this aloud to.”
— Jesica DeHart, BookPeople (Moscow, ID)
Giveaway information:
There will be 5 winners,
Giveaway will run from June 2nd until
June 16th
Winners will receive:
* Signed hardcover of CIRCUS
MIRANDUS
* Audio sampler
* Animal crackers
* Bookmarks (pack of 10)
* Poster
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Contest ends: June 16, 11:59 pm, 2015
Open: United States
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
I have been seeing Circus Mirandus all over the blogosphere. So excited to read this one. It sounds unique and interesting. Wishing Cassie the best of luck!
ReplyDelete~Jess