BLOGWORDS – Wednesday 24 April 2019 – WREADING WEDNESDAY – FEATURED BOOK EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY– RES-Q TYLER STOP by JUNE MCCRARY JACOBS
WREADING WEDNESDAY – FEATURED BOOK EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY – RES-Q TYLER STOP by JUNE MCCRARY JACOBS
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for RES-Q Tyler Stop by June McCrary Jacobs with JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: RES-Q Tyler Stop
Series: Tyler Stop, Book 1
Author: June McCrary Jacobs
Publisher: JMJ Story Stitcher Books
Release Date: April 22, 2019
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
THE BLURB
It’s the summer of 1968 in Sonoma County, California, and eleven-year-old Weston Gregg and his nine-year-old sister, Wendy, are looking for fun things to do during their summer break from school. When they discover some abandoned rabbits, they hatch an idea to make a positive difference for animals and people in their small town of Tyler Stop.
They decide to form ‘Rescue Each Species-Quickly’, or RES-Q Tyler Stop.
There are challenges to face as they move forward into their new venture, including standing up to someone who is targeting Weston’s friends for being different and a painfully bad decision.
Will Weston have to handle these issues on his own or will he learn to accept the advice and wisdom shared by some important people in his life? Join Weston and his family and friends as they share some adventures and learn and grow together in RES-Q Tyler Stop.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
“Adventure has no end in this tale, where a heart for animals inspires and surprises await around every bend. . . . The characters and the situations they face come across realistic, and the scenes develop naturally. Not only does the author keep a nice paced plot rolling along but adds interesting and practical information about animals and ways to handle certain situations along the way. It makes for a fun mix of fiction and fact.
This appears to be the first book in the series, and I’m eager to see where the RES-Q Tyler Stop adventures will head to next.” ~ Tonja Drecker, Author of Music Boxes
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
EXCERPT
CHAPTER THREE
Foster Family
When they turned into their driveway, Diamond barked and ran around in circles. Weston woke up and yawned. He nudged Wendy to wake her up and mumbled, “We’re home.”
Dad pulled the truck under the shade of a huge oak tree near their house. Both children snapped off their seatbelts and stretched.
“Wendy, take Diamond to her pen for a few minutes until she settles down. I don’t want her to upset the rabbits with her noise and excitement. Weston, go get seven large towels from the rag bin in the shed. We’re going to soak the towels in cold water and then hang them over each pet carrier, including Ruby’s.”
“Got it, Dad. And thanks for letting Wendy and me be foster parents to the rabbits. I promise we won’t let you and Mom or the rabbits down.”
Dad ruffled his son’s thick brown hair and said, “You’ve proven you can be trusted, Weston. Your word is as good as gold to me.”
When he heard his dad’s words, Weston felt pride swell in his heart. Almost nothing made Weston feel better than to please his dad.
He cleared his throat.
“I’ll go get those towels now, Dad.”
The three of them set up the damp towels for the rabbits. Wendy filled every animal’s water bottle with cool water from the extra refrigerator they stored in the shed. They set up Ruby’s cage at the end of the row of foster rabbits.
Weston washed lettuce leaves and carrots for the rabbits and Emerald, the turtle, and brought them out to his father. Diamond and Pearl were given their favorite pet foods and some cool water, and things soon settled down in the pet section of the yard.
The afternoon heat was stifling, so the family went inside to sit in front of the fan and relax. Dad read a book while Weston and Wendy played several games of checkers and Go Fish. Around four, Dad stood up.
“Let’s start dinner for your mother since she’s worked all day and didn’t get to go out for burgers.”
“I like helping in the kitchen,” Weston said.
“Ew. Boys are not supposed to like cooking!”
“Wendy, I’m surprised at you. You know your papa does all the cooking at their house, and I love to help out with meals, too. We’re both just grown-up boys.”
Wendy blushed and turned to her brother.
“Sorry about that, Weston.”
“It’s all right. Maybe I’ll grow up to be a chef, so now’s the perfect time to start learning.”
“I learned to cook before I met your mother. It’s a good thing, too, or I would have starved while I was a bachelor.”
Everyone chuckled as they washed their hands and put on their aprons.
“What should we make?” Weston asked.
“I think a crisp, cold salad would hit the spot today,” Dad said.
“Yeah. We could add some cold tuna fish salad and boiled eggs to it,” Wendy added.
“Let’s check out the fridge to see what your mother has left in there for us.”
SPECIAL TOPIC – TEN BEHIND-THE-SCENES FACTS
1.) Weston and Wendy’s father is Glen Gregg. He is named Glen with one ‘n’ after one of my favorite singers/guitarists from the 1960s and 1970s, the late Glen Campbell.
2.) A few of the children throughout the story are named in honor of some of my childhood and adult friends, such as Sandy, Tammy, and Debra.
3.) Weston’s nine-year-old sister and loyal sidekick just happens to have some of the same hobbies I enjoyed at the same age. I loved to cook, make paper dolls, paint, draw, play with my dolls, read, and go on adventures with my Girl Scout troop and church youth group!
4.) In one of the scenes in the book, Weston and Wendy want to go watch TV after dinner. Weston reminds Wendy they need to turn on the television set so it can warm up in time for their show. We had an old television at home that seemed like it took forever to warm up before the picture would come in on the screen. We really had to plan ahead when there was something we wanted to watch at a particular time!
5.) In the opening scene of the book, the Greggs are volunteering at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds by cleaning out the exhibition hall used for small animals. This fair, held each summer in Santa Rosa, California, originally opened in 1936.
6.) The woman who owns the drive-in where the Greggs bought their hamburger lunch is named ‘Miss Ilita’. The real Miss Ilita was my aunt. Besides being a kind, loving person, Aunt Ilita was a fantastic cook; so I decided to name this character in her honor.
7.) I love summertime flowers, and my favorite flower is the dahlia. When Wendy and Weston want to create a bouquet from their mother’s flower cutting garden, they cut an arrangement of dahlias, Shasta daisies, and zinnias—three of my favorite summer flowers to grow in Northern California!
8.) The veterinarian’s assistant in the story, Joanne, was named for a dear friend who passed away much too young from colon cancer. My friend was a devoted mother and grandmother along with being one of the best teachers I ever observed. I still miss Joanne to this day, and naming a character after her was my tribute to this wonderful woman.
9.) Wendy and Weston are treated to a camping trip up at Lake Tahoe with their grandparents, Nana and Papa Gregg. I chose this setting for their vacation because Lake Tahoe was one of my favorite vacation spots as a child and teen. The scenery is breath-taking. The sky was the prettiest blue you have ever seen—except for the color of the lake’s water which is an even deeper blue than the sky! {The water in Emerald Bay is a stunning green.} The pines send out a strong fragrance which I can still recall. Swimming in the lake was fun, but boy was the water cold. Brrrr. The days are hot up there in the summer, but the nights are cool and refreshing.
10.) The new school librarian at Tyler Stop School is named Miss Wesley in honor of my third grade teacher. I was in Miss Wesley’s class for about three-fourths of a year until I changed schools. Miss Wesley was a brand new teacher, and her students adored her. She was kind and patient, but I think what I remember most about her was her beautiful smile. She actually smiled at us throughout the day which was a change from my previous teachers who were less demonstrative toward their students. Thank you for showing us you were glad to be our teacher, Miss Wesley!
THE AUTHOR
‘RES-Q Tyler Stop’ is June McCrary Jacobs‘s first middle-grade book. June is a retired elementary school teacher and literacy mentor who is fond of California history and children’s literature. She especially loves to write, read, and blog about middle-grade fiction and non-fiction on her ‘Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic’ blog.
In addition to writing inspirational romance books and stories for adults {A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom, 2013; Robin’s Reward, 2015; Handmade Hearts, 2019}, June’s original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs in the past decade.
When she’s not writing, reading, blogging, or sewing, June enjoys cooking, walking, visiting art and history museums, and touring historic homes and gardens.
One of her most memorable and thrilling childhood adventures was her ride in the Goodyear blimp as it floated over Long Beach, California. She can still remember the people on the beach waving to her as she zoomed past them.
LOOK FOR MORE TYLER STOP BOOKS COMING SOON!
CONNECT WITH JUNE: Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Goodreads Blog | Amazon
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will win
- $20 Amazon gift card (US/International)
- Signed Paperback Copy of RES-Q Tyler Stop (US only) or Digital Copy (International)
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below.
Giveaway will begin at midnight April 22, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 29, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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