Excerpt Tour: Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard

 

Elvia and the Gift of Passion

by Ruthy Ballard

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Middle-grade Science Fantasy

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Adventurous ten-year-old Elvia is sick of her dull-as-dishwater existence, suffocating under the stifling watch her overprotective parents. She longs for a different life, with more freedom and fun. But she gets more than she bargains for when she discovers an alarming family secret and is swept away on an adventure 64,000 light years from Earth. Tanzanian witch doctors, child-eating lions, and submarine exploration on a two-mooned planet enliven this science fiction fantasy adventure, the third in Ballard’s award-winning Tales by Moons-light series.

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EXCERPT (Exclusive Excerpt):

Lacie, having entered her week of “repositioning,” an uppy’s version of a rejuvenating vacation, was not supposed to be disturbed. In a repositioning, uppies entered a deep meditative state. She slowly lifted her lids and gazed glassy eyed at the distant wall.

“I was just thinking that life is a bit like sailing away in a boat,” she murmured dreamily.

Silence descended on the hall and her eyes drifted shut again. Getting her out of her repositioning stupor wasn’t going to be easy.

Asul shook her shoulder. “Really, Lacie,” he insisted, a little more loudly this time. “You must wake up.”

Lacie reopened her eyes. They were at half-mast. “Amdar, Amdar,” she murmured. “So far away. So much shopping to do, so little time.…”

“Buck up, Lacie, I’ve brought some Awake tea,” Asul hissed, placing a cup of steaming liquid down on the floor in front of her cushion. “And I’ll not leave until you’ve drunk it down.”

He force-fed her several sips of the powerful tea and it had the desired effect. Lacie resurfaced, as if coming awake from a long nap in the sun.

“Asul,” she murmured in confusion, as he came into focus. “Is it really you?”

He nodded. “Yes, it is, and I’m so sorry to disturb. It’s just that this is a dire situation. It’s urgent, you see. We must act quickly.”

Lacie yawned, making slow circles with her head, stretching her neck.

“It is you. But it seems too soon. Why, I feel like I just went under.”

Asul grimaced. He was going to have to tell Lacie the truth, and she wasn’t going to like it.

“You’re not quite done with your repositioning,” he admitted, “but I’m afraid it can’t be helped.”

“What?” Lacie asked.

Startled, she came fully awake and frowned.

“How long has it been? I’m supposed to get a full seven days.”

“Yes, yes,” Asul muttered. “But you know how it is. Sometimes emergencies arise. You need to leave for Finding Island as soon as possible so you’re ready for the child when she arrives. I’ve arranged for you to catch the ten o’clock ferry tomorrow morning.”

Lacie sighed with exasperation. Didn’t Asul remember how exhausting it was to complete a finding? Why, it took her at least a week to recover afterwards! No, of course he didn’t. It had been years since he’d been an uppy. Now, he ruled from above. Still... was that a Forest Green loin cloth he was wearing? Why, she believed it was! Could it be? He’d finally followed her fashion advice. He was old and skinny, but he didn’t look half as ugly when he dressed in the colors that set off his eyes.

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Children’s book author Dr. Ruth (Ruthy) Ballard is a scientist by trade who never thought she’d be one. Intimidated by science as a kid, she almost gave up on pursuing it as a career though she found it fascinating. Fortunately, a mentor stepped in and showed her the way. Now, she’s passionate about doing the same for the next generation of science shy, but creative, smart and capable kids. Her award-winning science fantasy adventures lure children in with compelling characters and entertaining, twisty plots that incorporate science in fun, accessible ways. 

When Ruthy isn’t writing, she is “Dr. Ruth Ballard,” a forensic DNA consultant and a professor at Sacramento State, where she runs a forensic biology research and training program while consulting with attorneys across the country on criminal cases involving DNA evidence. She’s also a folk artist who loves to draw, illustrates her own books, and enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and their four dogs near their home on the Oregon coast.

Links:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvNsOhYVGUl_5pHLGyLG8NA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthyBallard/

Instagram:  http://www.instagram.com/ruthyballard

Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16577223.Ruthy_Ballard

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ruthy-Ballard/author/B06Y6KVX5D

Buy Link: The Book is on sale for $0.99 during the tour

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Elvia-Gift-Passion-Tales-Moons-Light/dp/0997853212/ref=sr_1_1

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GIVEAWAY

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway