THE LEGENDARY MO SETO
A.Y. Chan
GENRE: Middle Grade, Martial Arts, Action, Adventure
BLURB:
Mo Seto, martial arts movie star! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? Too bad there's a height restriction to audition. But 12-year-old Modesty (Mo) Seto has never let her height get in the way before, not when she became a black belt, or when she fought the meanest boy in her class, and she’s not going to let it stop her this time! Now if only she can figure out a way to grow five inches and fool everyone at the auditions…and find time to search for her missing father (who just might be harboring a dangerous secret of his own). Join Mo on an adventure (and audition) of a lifetime and find out if powerful things really do come in small packages!
Publishers Weekly calls THE LEGENDARY MO SETO “Adrenaline pumping”, Kirkus Reviews says it “Packs a punch”, and Booklist calls it “Remarkably relatable.” Leap in and join the fun!
Purchase THE LEGENDARY MO SETO @ Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org
Excerpt:
“You’re so gonna lose,” he says, low enough that only I can hear. “’Cause . . .”
He bends his knees so he’s several inches shorter—though even in this position, he towers over me.
I feel a tiny rip in my chest, like when a balloon is pinched but doesn’t pop, that slow leak of air—hisss.
Dax knows how to hit where it hurts. Junior-level sparring is based on age and belt level, not on size. Even after vitamins, and broccoli, and jumping jacks for a year, I’m still only four-foot-six-and-a-half. Mom says the women in her family are late bloomers, but she’s barely four-foot-nine, so I’m not holding my breath.
Why do I have to be so small? The familiar thought bursts through like a weed after a rainstorm. I used to destroy Dax all the time, but ever since his growth spurt at the end of last summer, he’s beat me in the fall, winter, and spring tournaments.
That’s three. Three tourneys.
Silver is great too. Variety is the spice of life, Dad would say, as if losing gold isn’t a big deal. But in the days and weeks after, he’d be more subdued and make me train twice as long every day. Kick harder, Mouse. You must beat him next time, Mouse. Because being the best really does matter to him. A lot.
It matters to me, too. Today’s tourney, the Dost Valley Cali-wide Mid-Year Tae Kwon Do Championship, takes place right at the start of summer, and it is the biggest one of the year. I’ll show Dax.
Interview with A.Y. Chan
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
I
love anything minty, so my favorite ice cream flavor is mint
chocolate chip. The cool mint paired with the sweet chocolate chunks
is the perfect combination of flavors.
Which mythological creature are you most like?
If
I had to compare myself to a mythological creature, I’d say I’m
most like the Moon Rabbit from Chinese/East Asian mythology. The Moon
Rabbit is known for its quiet diligence, mixing magical elixirs on
the moon, away from the hustle and bustle. Like the Moon Rabbit, I
thrive in calm and solitude, working steadily on my creative
concoctions. Plus, the idea of being surrounded by a serene lunar
landscape while working on magical brews sounds like a dream!
First book you remember making an indelible impression on you.
The
first book that made an indelible impression on me was Anne
of Green Gables by
L.M. Montgomery. I talk about Anne every chance I get because her
story resonated so deeply with me. Anne’s imagination, resilience,
and spirited nature were incredibly inspiring. Montgomery’s vivid
descriptions of Prince Edward Island made me feel like I was right
there with Anne, experiencing all her adventures and misadventures.
That book ignited my love for storytelling and showed me the power of
a well-crafted character.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
Developing my plot and characters is a blend of planning and spontaneity. I start with a loose outline to give myself a direction, but I let the story evolve naturally as I write. For characters, I focus on their energy and personality first, understanding their motivations and quirks before detailing their appearance. I like to give even minor characters their own arcs and growth, making them feel like real people with their own stories.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A. Y. Chan grew up in Canada’s Greater Toronto Area reading all the middle grade and young adult books she could get her hands on. To this day, those remain her favorite genres. After achieving her black belt in Taekwondo, she explored other martial arts, such as Wing Chun, Hapkido, and Muay Thai. These days, she continues her martial arts training some mornings, writes in the afternoons, takes long walks to muddle out plot points, and falls asleep reading.
Connect with A.Y. Chan
Twitter/X ~ Instagram ~ Facebook
About Book:
Website ~ Simon & Schuster Author Page
7 comments:
Thank you so much for hosting today.
This sounds like a great story.
what inspired you to write this book?
This sounds like a good book.
This looks like a very interesting novel. Thanks for sharing and hosting this tour.
Love the cover!!!
Looks intriguing
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