NBTM Virtual Book Tour + #Giveaway: PEOPLE OF THE SUN by Ben Gartner @BGartnerWriting @GoddessFish

 

PEOPLE OF THE SUN

by Ben Gartner

GENRE: Middle Grade, Action Adventure, Time Travel, Historical Fiction

BLURB:

The explosive reveal about who John and Sarah really are and why they’re traveling through time, with their most gut-wrenching challenge yet.

In the time of the Aztec, a scoundrel named Cortés arrives and the kids are forced to make an extremely difficult decision: If you could change history, should you? For more twists, more danger, and more fun, read the third book in The Eye of Ra series, People of the Sun!

BUY LINKS

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Local bookstore ~ Everywhere else

Excerpt:

This was too weird, so it had to be happening for real. If it made no sense at all, then it had to be real. That was what John had come to expect of their life ever since he and Sarah entered that cave in Colorado and traveled back in time to the ancient Egyptian town of Saqqara. Then, later, traveled through time again, from the museum in Washington, DC, to the ancient Roman frontier town of Aventicum.

Abnormal was their new normal, and seeing these two people—if that’s all they really were, and not gods—speaking of Aten and telling them they were needed again . . . John shrugged. It had to be true.

Something in his bones told him: It has to be true.

He thought all this out before the earth trembled again, and he matched the stare of the older man. John’s hand reached to the pendant he always wore around his neck. The eye of Ra.

The tremor stopped and immediately John asked, “How d’we go back?”

The old woman grinned. “Always so precocious.”

The old man laughed. “Agreed. Some things never change.” He winked at the woman.

“If you are who you I think you are, then prove it.” Sarah crossed her arms and pivoted back to confront these strangers head-on.

“What exactly is going on here?” Aunt Lorraine asked. “Do you know each other?”

“That necklace isn’t what you think,” the old man said, looking at John fidgeting with his pendant.

John felt the warmth of the pendant on his chest. He could trace it in his sleep, and in fact had done just that many times in his dreams—over the brow, around the almond-shaped eye, down the arc with the curlicue finish, then the final straight line with the knifelike edge. The eye that could transport them through space and time.

Interview with Ben Gartner

Can you describe your dream home?

Well, I’d love a cabin in the mountains. But, not too far remote. I still appreciate the conveniences of grocery stores and not having to plow a long driveway.

If we were to come to your house for a meal, what would you give us to eat?

First, I’d ask if you have any dietary restrictions. Second, it would depend on the season. But let’s just hope it’s a nice summer day, COVID isn’t a thing, and we could lounge around in the backyard while the BBQ sizzles away. Maybe a nice cucumber, tomato, and goat cheese salad to go with what’s on the Q.

Or, if you were a literary friend, perhaps I’d prepare the tilapia barley stew recipe from ancient Egypt included in the back of The Eye of Ra. For dessert, we’d have libum cheesecake from ancient Rome, covered liberally with honey—the recipe from the back of Sol Invictus. And to finish the culinary tour, I’d let you try some xocolatl from the Aztec—the recipe at the back of People of the Sun.

Tell us about the absolute BEST fan letter you have received.

Hands down, the best fan mail is from kids. I absolutely love their candor and enthusiasm. One student in particular sticks out in my mind. It was a flipgrid “thank you” for visiting his class. He said to me, with deep sincerity and a look in his eyes like the book had literally changed his life, that my book made him want to read more and more books, that he didn’t know there were books like mine out there. Of course, I was deeply flattered and moved to chills. That was awesome. Remembering it still makes my arm hairs rise and gives me that warm, good feeling of accomplishment.

Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

I was going to do just that for Sol Invictus before COVID hit! We had tickets to go to Switzerland. Of course, for the beautiful mountains, scenery, and culture, but I also wanted to visit the ancient Roman gladiator arena at Aventicum, in the modern town of Avenches. We rescheduled our trip a few times and are really, really hoping we get to go in the summer of 2022.

Who designed the book cover for the book you are touring?

Anne Glenn! She is spectacular. You can find her online at anneglenndesign.co.uk.

Thank you for having me on your blog! If people would like to learn more about me or my books, the best place to find me is my website

I’m also active on Twitter

A bit less on Instagram

And I’m really bad at Facebook

My books are available wherever books are sold! Again, thanks for having me.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of The Eye of Ra time travel adventure series for middle graders. His books take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something in the meantime. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys. https://BenGartner.com

WEBSITE ~ TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ INSTAGRAM

Giveaway:

$50 Amazon/BN GC

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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