Great Reviews of The Alchemist's Portrait - Part Four

Here are some great reader comments about The Alchemist's Portrait 

"Your book was great! It was one of those books where I felt as if I were in it. I loved this book and it is now one of my all-time favourites!"

"The Alchemists Portrait was a great book to read. I love mystery, adventure and scary books. You had all of them."

"I loved it!!! It's one of my favourite books of all time!"

"I absolutely loved your book, it was amazing."

"Your book was awesome."

"I really like your book because it has a very cool story line and it is exciting."

"I enjoyed The Alchemist's Portrait. I liked the characters and it was very suspenseful. It was hard to put it down."

The Alchemist's Portrait is available at most online bookstores, which you can link to here. Autographed copies are also always available directly from the author.  

 

Great Reviews of The Alchemist's Portrait - Part Three

Here's what they're saying about The Alchemist's Portrait - Part Three

"In this fast paced enactment of the classical theme of good vs. evil, the settings are vivid in detail. The characters are believable and diverse..." 

University of Manitoba CM Magazine

"Author Simon Rose combines time travel with an exciting twist, and the power of magic. Well written and fast-paced this novel will keep the reader spellbound." 

The Bookmark

"Congratulations on a great read for kids." 

CanLit For Kids Books Ltd.

The Alchemist's Portrait is available at most online bookstores, which you can link to here. Autographed copies are also always available directly from the author.  

 

Great Reviews of The Alchemist's Portrait - Part Two

Here's what they're saying about The Alchemist's Portrait - Part Two

"The Alchemist's Portrait is guaranteed to keep junior readers in suspense. Its fast paced plot will keep them reading to the end. This is a good acquisition for any library or private collection and might well augment a classroom reading program. Those who study fantasy as a literary genre might well add The Alchemist's Portrait to their teaching repertoire."


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"Harry Potter fans will find the story a satisfying remedy to their post-Phoenix blues."


The Calgary Herald 

The Alchemist's Portrait is available at most online bookstores, which you can link to here. Autographed copies are also always available directly from the author.  

 

Great Reviews of The Alchemist's Portrait - Part One

Here's what they're saying about The Alchemist's Portrait - Part One

"Complete with an evil villain, magic and suspense, Rose weaves a tale that will have young readers engaged right up until the very end."

BC Parent

"The Alchemist's Portrait is a delightful and charming read. The reader is not only quickly transported to the quiet echoing hall of the museum, but back in time to the height of the Northern European art scene of the 1600's. I absolutely loved this book! It is a definite contender for one of my favourite reads of 2003 for the 9 - 12 year old set!" 

Greenwoods' Bookshoppe, Edmonton

The Alchemist's Portrait is available at most online bookstores, which you can link to here. Autographed copies are also always available directly from the author.  

 

Writers Help and Advice: Coaching Program for Writers

Writing is by nature a solitary occupation and can be a lonely business, without the benefit of hordes of cheering fans on the sidelines. A professional writing coach is someone with whom you can consult, ask questions, send your work to and receive constructive feedback, a guide to help you with your writing as you try to build your career as a professional writer. A writing coach can help you conquer a stumbling block, help you to regain momentum and get back to your writing or make a start on a new project. 

My coaching program is designed to help you progress as a writer. You decide what you want to work on during a personalized, one on one relationship. For example, I can be your coach for just one month or we can establish a month-to-month arrangement, depending on your schedule and expectations. Just a few examples of topics we can cover during the coaching period are point of view, creating characters, developing dialogue, story structure, editing and revision, marketing and promotion and submissions to publishers. However, I am very flexible and happy to discuss your own unique requirements and areas where you feel that you may need the most help. 

In addition to coaching, on my website you can learn more about my other services for writers, such as online workshops for adults, manuscript evaluation and online workshops for children and young adults.

School Programs - Author in Residence

For my Author in Residence program, I can be at your school for a week or longer. This allows me to cover certain topics in much more depth than would be possible during a regular author visit. We can also look at working with the students on a specific project.

A week in residence can be designed however you would like, to best meet the needs of the students. Here's what a week could look like, based on a school where I spent five days working with students from grade one through seven. However, this is just an example and I am very flexible and happy to discuss your schools unique requirements with you.

K/1/2 Story Creation

This highly interactive presentation explores story structure relating to the creation of a well-defined beginning, middle and end. Using a series of seemingly unrelated objects, students participate in creating a story in what is always a lively and fun filled session. Although this exercise is done as a group, afterwards students are so enthusiastic that they want to create their own illustrations to go with the story and expand on the narrative that we have created together. In the weeks after my visit, some schools have added the children’s pictures to the story, as they create their own books and design covers for them. These have often been displayed in the classroom or sent home to parents.

Grade 3 Fantasy Realms and Creatures

In two sessions, we discuss the elements of fantasy and the many creatures and characters that inhabit the fantasy realm. In The Emerald Curse, the main villain has created monsters in his laboratory, combining some of the most fearsome creatures on earth. Most students are very familiar with monsters and strange creatures from mythology, books and movies and really enjoy the workshop where they get to invent their own unique mythological creature along with its powers, enemies, diet, habitat and the fantasy kingdom where it lives.

Grade 4 Superheroes

The Emerald Curse involves a young boy who is propelled into a strange comic book dimension, to save his grandfather, the world's greatest comic book artist and writer. The novel was influenced by the comic books and superhero adventure stories I read whilst growing up. In two sessions, we explore the superhero genre, before students create their own superhero, complete with costumes, powers, secret identity, headquarters, friends, family and one or more archenemies. They are also encouraged to draw their creation and some may even write a short story.

Grade 5/6/7 Time Travel, Historical Fiction and Writing Strategies

The Heretic's Tomb, The Sorcerer's Letterbox and The Alchemist's Portrait are time travel stories. These sessions look at where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories. We examine how history has served as inspiration for authors and filmmakers and learn about the importance of historical research. Students will then invent their own time machine or device, paying attention to detail and to the need for authentic historical settings. We also explore how to write gripping fiction and cliffhanger endings.

Grade 8 The Shape of Things to Come

The events described in The Clone Conspiracy may be science fiction, but cloning has become very much science fact in recent years. These sessions examine how much technology has developed in the last one hundred years, how the pace of change has rapidly accelerated in recent decades and challenges students to contemplate what types of technology we may expect to see in the century to come.

Grade 9 People Plotting: Creating Memorable Characters

Without people there is no plot and characters are at the heart of any story. In these workshops, we explore where writers get ideas for the people in their stories, the many methods of creating strong characters and how to use descriptive language to build them. Students invent their own unique characters and also learn how to write effective and engaging dialogue for their creations.

The the above scenario is merely a guideline as to what a week in residence could look like and I am very happy to discuss your school’s unique requirements with you. Contact me directly for details of fees and availability for Author in Residence at info@simon-rose.com.

Great Reviews of the Clone Conspiracy - Part Three

Here's what they're saying about The Clone Conspiracy - Part Three

Here are just a few of the great comments from readers of The Clone Conspiracy.

"I thought it was AWESOME!"

"You have to read this! It's a must read. Seriously!"

"It's a real page turner."

"The Clone Conspiracy rules."

"I loved the book. Can't wait until you write your next story."

"I just finished the Clone Conspiracy, even though I just got it today. I couldn't put it down! It was great!"

"I really loved The Clone Conspiracy."

The Clone Conspiracy is available at most online bookstores which you can link to here. Autographed copies are also always available directly from the author.  

Great Reviews of The Clone Conspiracy - Part Two

Here's what they're saying about The Clone Conspiracy - Part Two

"... a must-read dedicated to unravelling the mystery surrounding human cloning, brain transplants and clandestine laboratories." 

The Calgary Herald

"... an exciting story, especially for reluctant boy readers." The Georgia Strait

"With all the news about genetic engineering currently in the media, this story will appeal to today's young readers ... The action is fast paced and scary enough to keep readers hanging on to every word."

Children’s Literature Review

The Clone Conspiracy is available at most online bookstores which you can link to here. Autographed copies are also always available directly from the author.  

Great Reviews of The Clone Conspiracy - Part One

Here's what they're saying about The Clone Conspiracy - Part One

"Smart kids outwit evil scientists in this mini-science fcition thriller dealing with clones, implanted embryos and personality downloads. As long as they realize this science IS fiction, kids can enjoy the fast paced action - each little chapter a real cliffhanger."
Victoria Times Colonist


"The Clone Conspiracy definitely finds its mark ... Rose has done a magnificent job with this fast paced medical science mystery."

Manitoba Library Association 

"This 88 page novel will appeal to boys who like a good mystery - with a twist!" 

CanLit for Kids

The Clone Conspiracy is available at most online bookstores which you can link to here. Autographed copies are also always available directly from the author.  

Online Writing Workshops for Children and Young Adults

With my Online Workshops for Children and Young Adults, through a series of e mail assignments, details of which are available here, we explore where ideas come from and how to turn them into stories, basic story structure, plot development, creating characters, developing dialogue and more to help develop writing ability. A set of workshops can be started at any time. Following registration, all assignments are sent by e mail and are completed at your own pace, to be sent to me by return e mail. There is no time limit and participants may take as long as they wish to complete their full set of workshops.

Check out Online Workshops for Children and Young Adults today.

What's it all About? The Historical Background to The Alchemist's Portrait

Magic, Mayhem, Murder - The Alchemist's Portrait is a time traveling thrill ride for young readers.

'A school trip to the art gallery at the city museum leads Matthew into an eerie meeting with Peter Glimmer, imprisoned inside his own portrait by his villainous uncle in 1666. Entrusted by Peter with recovering the one object that can save the world, Matthew is sent hurtling over 300 years into the past. Encountering magic, mayhem and murder, Matthew also has to contend with Peter's uncle, the ruthless and seemingly immortal Nicholas Van der Leyden, at every turn, in a desperate race through time to save the future.'

On my website, you can learn more about the historical periods depicted in the novel, including seventeenth century Amsterdam, the French Revolution, the American Civil War and the Russian Revolution, as well as links to the history of alchemy and to the famous paintings and portraits mentioned in the story. 

The Alchemist's Portrait is available at most online bookstores which you can link to here. Autographed copies are also always available directly from the author.  

Precariously Leaning Towers of the World - The latest article at Dark Roasted Blend

Check out the latest article at Dark Roasted Blend, entitled Precariously Leaning Towers of the World.

Many people are familiar with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the most famous buildings in the world. Before restoration work took place between 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees, but this has now been reduced to just under 4 degrees. However, there are many other leaning towers around the world, and this article takes a look at some of them on Dark Roasted Blend.

Precariously Leaning Towers of the World is now published at Dark Roasted Blend, among the finest locations online to find the weird, the wonderful and the fantastic, crammed with great articles, stunning photography, plus fabulous new content which appears daily.

School Programs - Study Guides and Classroom Resources

Each of my novels can provide teachers with a wide variety of ways to explore projects in the classroom with their students. Check out the study guides and classroom resources for my novels here on my website. 

The Fun Stuff and Puzzles page features word searches related to the text and character names in each novel, plus you can also access The Super Scavenger Search, where the answers to a series of mind boggling questions are hidden in different pages all over my website. Class sets of books are also always available from me directly at discounted prices, depending on the number of books ordered. 

School Programs - Author Visits, Workshops and Presentations

An author visit to a school can be highly inspirational, inviting children to unlock their own creative potential, whatever form that may take, and encouraging them in their own writing. Younger students especially are almost always thrilled to meet a published author, particularly if they have read their books.

I offer a wide variety of presentations for grades three to eight, but can work with grades one and two as well. I cover such topics as where ideas come from, story structure, editing and revision, character development, time travel stories, history and research, plus many other aspects of the writing and publishing world. I will present to around one hundred students at a time, although the smaller the audience the more participation from children, as a rule. We can also look at workshops with smaller groups or individual classes. I am very flexible and able to modify material in consultation with teachers and librarians. 

For my Author in Residence program, I can be at your school for a week or longer. This allows me to cover certain topics in much more depth than would be possible during a regular author visit. I have also worked on playwriting with the Calgary Arts Summer School. Each of my novels can provide teachers with a wide variety of ways to explore projects in the classroom with their students and you may find some suggestions on the Study Guides and Classroom Resources page and class sets of books are also always available from my online store.

For a list of available presentations, visit the Presentations and Workshops page. However, please note that this list is by no means exhaustive and I am very adaptable. I am always pleased to work with teachers and librarians to build a group of sessions best suited to your students. Contact me directly for details of fees and availability for school and library presentations at info@simon-rose.com.