Monday, March 3, 2014

Book excerpt for MG action/adventure novel Two Degrees from Zero by M.J. Stewart

Today features a book blurb and excerpt from the middle grade action/adventure novel, Two Degrees from Zero: Snowboarding Adventure by M.J. Stewart.

As part of the virtual book tour, M.J. will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour stops and leave comments there, too.

Author bio:
M.J. Stewart is a Colorado author and lives in Colorado Springs. Her love for the outdoors has provided many exciting adventures and include downhill skiing, biking, hiking, camping, and nature photography.

Blurb for Two Degrees from Zero:
Thirteen-year-old Derek’s cool snowboard adventure does a dangerous rewind, because his Burton Hero board holds the key to an unsolved crime.

Two Degrees From Zero is a story that opens up the world of snowboarding and surviving hazardous winter conditions in Keystone, Colorado.

Derek, his mom, and teen friend Janae (The Clan) are invited on a snowboarding vacation by his mom’s new romance Thomas. A blizzard hits during a sleigh ride and dinner at an isolated yurt miles from Keystone. The Clan accepts an offer from two arrogant snowmobilers for a way home. But to The Clan's dismay instead of going home, they are abandoned in a creepy backwoods cabin.

Derek and Janae sneak out of the old cabin and make a dangerous trek across a white wilderness to find help while the snowmobilers are on the loose. Just as the teens find temporary shelter in an old car, another blizzard rages all night, leaving them hopelessly stranded. And their adventure has only begun.

Derek and Janae must escape the frozen ravages of the blizzard. Derek’s determination to save The Clan while outwitting the thieves is unstoppable. And the thieves are just as determined to find Derek’s snowboard because of the valuable information hidden on the board.

Excerpt from Two Degrees from Zero:
Shelter for the evening appeared in the form of an abandoned car hunkered in the deep snow.

“What the heck?” As he got a better look, the form reminded him of his family’s old car—the Pontiac his dad owned as a young man. And the same metallic blue gleamed in the setting sun.

Derek did an awkward happy dance on one foot. “Looky-look. Maybe our luck is changing. The miracle we needed.” Shelter from the biting wind, relief for his swollen ankle, and a place to rest his aching muscles.

Janae burst out in shrill laughter. “If we can get the doors open, we can drive home.”

But the more Derek checked out the car, the more his heart sank. I can’t do this, I can’t. Suddenly, his feeling of relief turned to anger, and emotions overtook his tired, weak mind. He stepped backward and turned from the car.

“What’s wrong now?” Janae asked.

“I can’t do this.”

“Can’t do what?” Janae asked.

“That car. It’s just like my dad’s old car. I can’t get in,” Derek said. He froze in his tracks like a marble statue a few feet away.

“I don’t understand. What is your problem. We’re kinda desperate, and we don’t have a choice. We’ll be in trouble tonight if we don’t have shelter,” Janae reminded him.


“You can sleep inside, but I’m not. I’ll have nightmares about him again. I can’t,” Derek said.

Links:


9 comments:

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thanks for hosting!

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a good read.

MomJane said...

What an exciting story. YA's will love it. I will enjoy it too.

Stormy Vixen said...

Enjoyed the excerpt! Thanks for sharing it and the giveaway. Sounds like a really good book. evamillien at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Thanks for stopping by today. I am enjoying meeting all these new people. Thanks for hosting.

Patrick Siu said...

I have enjoyed learning about the book. Thanks for sharing it.
psiu@ live.com

bn100 said...

Interesting book

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Dee Jannereth said...

I am anxious to read this and the excerpt was a great "hook". So happy for your new book and looking forward to reading many more.

Mary Preston said...

I must bring this to my daughter's attention.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com