C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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Good News and Hat’s Off Corner With Kai Strand

February 23, 2015 By C. Lee McKenzie 52 Comments

Good News

Reunited
Benji Baker is one lucky guy. He was in Australia, about to reunite with a father he hadn’t seen in years. Before the reunion, Benji went ocean kayaking where he suffered an epileptic seizure. Proof that fact is stranger than fiction, he was rescued by his father. Neither of the them knew who the other was until later.
Alligators Overhead gets a new look!

The Hat’s Off Corner Welcomes Kai Strand!

Being good isn’t so bad – oh, but it’s so good to be
bad.

Excerpt from Super Bad:
Source stepped in front of her,
balancing on the edge of the curb. He grasped her shoulders and stared her
straight in the eye. “Everything, everyone, will be all right. You have to
believe that, Sandra.”
Tears flooded her eyes again.
She hated that she didn’t believe him. “I’m scared, Source. I’m afraid Whisper
will never wake up. Or that I’ll never walk right again. I’m worried about
Mom’s state of mind. I’m scared the world will never right itself, and all this
violence will become the new normal.”
Source drew a ragged breath and
lightly dragged his thumb across her tear-stained cheek.
Closing her eyes, as though
afraid to see the full truth, she whispered her biggest fear. “I’m scared we’ll
never find Jeff.”
SUPER BAD The unexpected conclusion to the
Super Villain Academy series.
The world is in chaos. Violence and thievery reign. And with
the supers still balanced, it’s only getting worse. Without good versus evil,
the supers care less and less. In order to restore purpose, the world needs its
super heroes and its super villains, but the one who balanced them in the first
place is missing.
Sandra’s concern over finding her brother, Jeff, isn’t her
only problem. Her pathetic excuse for super powers has left her needing a new
ankle. And though she’s still very much committed to her boyfriend, Source,
she’s growing unreasonably attracted to Set, the boy who double crossed Jeff by
stealing his girlfriend.
When Sandra is taken and held as bait by kids who want to
unbalance the super world, it becomes the inciting event that changes things
for supers everywhere and forces them to answer the question, “Hero or
villain?”
***
Super Bad is scheduled for release in June, but there have been whispers
of it releasing sooner. Don’t miss out. Subscribe to Kai’s mailing list and be
among the first to know.
***
King of Bad – Jeff Mean would rather set fires than follow rules. He wears his bad
boy image like a favorite old hoodie; until he learns he has superpowers and is
recruited by Super Villain Academy – where you learn to be good at being bad.
Is Jeff bad enough for SVA?
Polar Opposites – Heroes and villains are balanced.
After Oceanus is kidnapped, Jeff learns the supers are so balanced, they no
longer care to get involved. Ironically Jeff’s superpowers are spiraling out of
control. Will they find Oci before he looses it completely, and will they find
her alive?
***

Win a $10 Amazon gift card or an ecopy of either King
of Bad or Polar Opposites. Plenty of chances to win. Open internationally. Enter
here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

When
her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her
family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her
boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died. The end.” Now an
award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to
provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for
young adult and middle grade readers and short stories for the younger ones,
Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults. Learn more about Kai and
her books on her website, www.kaistrand.com.


My Quote for the Day: “Far too many people are looking for the right person, instead of trying to be the right person.” Gloria Steinem

Do you think you could ever write a story like the Good News one of today and not be accused of using coincidence? What do you think of Kai’s latest book? Great cover, right? And what do you think of Alligators Overhead’s new cover? 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Good News, hat's of corner, Kai Strand, New Books

Comments

  1. Carrie Butler says

    March 2, 2015 at 2:54 am

    Yay! The covers look nice and matchy-matchy now. 😀

    Reply
  2. DMS says

    February 28, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    Thank you for sharing Benji's story with us. What an amazing story! I still can't stop shaking my head in wonder that the father he had never met saved his life. When coincidences like that happen in real life it is such a turn of events that people can't stop talking about it. In fiction, it is harder to get away with coincidences like that, though they obviously happen.

    I LOVE the new cover! It is so gorgeous looking and appealing. The style and colors are just very well done. The two books look awesome together! YEAH! 🙂
    ~Jess

    Reply
  3. Cathrina Constantine says

    February 28, 2015 at 2:33 am

    I got chills reading Benji's story.

    I love your cover makeover!! And congrats on your new release!!!

    Reply
  4. Joylene Nowell Butler says

    February 27, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    Benji's story gave me goose bumps! Awesome. Congratulations to Kai. Wonderful cover.

    Reply
  5. Medeia Sharif says

    February 27, 2015 at 3:30 am

    Congrats to Kai and I adore your new book cover. It matches better with the second book.

    Reply
  6. Tyrean Martinson says

    February 26, 2015 at 7:26 pm

    Amazing news story – I think in fiction it would be hard to pull off without a huge amount of backstory/set-up.
    The new cover is seriously swEEt (imagine a high-pitched teen call-out on the "E")!
    And, congrats to Kai – those books look fun to read!

    Reply
  7. Nick Wilford says

    February 26, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    Fantastic news story. Congrats to Kai. And the new cover is looking good – it goes very well with your new release.

    Reply
  8. Shannon Lawrence says

    February 26, 2015 at 8:47 am

    Super villains can be so much more interesting than super heroes!

    Reply
  9. Loni Townsend says

    February 25, 2015 at 10:15 pm

    I like the new look, Lee! And that's a pretty amazing story about the boy and his dad.

    Grats, Kai!

    Reply
  10. LynNerdKelley says

    February 25, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    What an amazing true story. No, I don't think I could get away with a coincidence like that in my stories.

    I like the new Alligators Overhead cover. Very cool!

    Congrats to Kai. I love how she got started with her storytelling, entertaining her own boys when the electricity was out. That's a neat beginning, especially with her boys as a test group, giving her their feedback!

    Reply
  11. Empty Nest Insider says

    February 25, 2015 at 8:42 am

    What a heartwarming father-son introduction! Your new book looks great, and I love how you coordinated Alligators Overhead with it! Congrats to Kai!

    Julie

    Reply
  12. dolorah says

    February 25, 2015 at 5:06 am

    Wow, loved your good news fact. Sometime the truth is really strange.

    Reply
  13. Karen Lange says

    February 25, 2015 at 3:03 am

    Wishing Kai all the best! Thanks for sharing the good news story too. Have a great rest of the week! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Carol Kilgore says

    February 25, 2015 at 12:37 am

    The story about Benji is incredible! And Kai's book sounds cool.

    Reply
  15. DL Hammons says

    February 24, 2015 at 10:44 pm

    You always have the best covers! 🙂

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      February 24, 2015 at 11:59 pm

      Thanks, DL. That's very nice to hear.

      Reply
  16. Patricia Lynne says

    February 24, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    Good way to reunite! LOL

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      February 25, 2015 at 12:00 am

      Just try writing something like that and hear what the critics have to say! 🙂

      Reply
  17. debi o'neille says

    February 24, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    I really liked the first cover to Alligators Overhead. Can I ask why you are changing it?

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      February 25, 2015 at 12:01 am

      I liked it, too, but with a sequel I felt the books needed to be alike.

      Reply
  18. Lady Lilith says

    February 24, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    What a way to re-unite. I bet this makes it to the top of the list of best family reunions ever.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      February 25, 2015 at 12:01 am

      Imagine how they felt discovering they were father and son! Wow!

      Reply
  19. Chris Fries says

    February 24, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    I love the quote of the day!!! And cool cover!

    And how weird and cool is the father-son rescue?!?!?

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      February 25, 2015 at 12:02 am

      Thanks, Chris. Some quotes are so inspirational. Glad you like the cover.

      Reply
  20. Bish Denham says

    February 24, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    That is truly amazing about father rescuing son. LOVE the new cover for Alligators Overhead, nice and sinister. Congratulations to Kai, her books sound interesting, indeed.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      February 25, 2015 at 12:03 am

      I know what you mean about amazing. Glad you think the change is good on my cover, and I'm wishing Kai the best on her new books.

      Reply
  21. DEZMOND says

    February 24, 2015 at 9:27 am

    it's a really great new alligator cover… love the upper fonts that they've used!

    Reply
  22. Rachna Chhabria says

    February 24, 2015 at 6:49 am

    Love the covers of Alligators Overhead and Super Bad.

    Reply
  23. Stephen Tremp says

    February 24, 2015 at 5:41 am

    Good luck to Kai and Super bad! And the new cover is great. Really, it is. Change is good and sometimes you have to do something different to shake things up.

    Reply
  24. Donna McDine says

    February 24, 2015 at 1:38 am

    I always enjoy Kai Strand's books. Wow, being saved by your father that you haven't seen in years. Talk about an exciting reunion!

    Reply
  25. Pat Hatt says

    February 24, 2015 at 12:19 am

    Wow, truth is stranger than fiction sometimes. Great cover indeed!

    Reply
  26. Christine Rains says

    February 23, 2015 at 11:29 pm

    What a wonderful story. Such a weird coincidence! Life is more shocking than fiction sometimes.

    Congrats to Kai, and to you on the awesome new cover!

    Reply
  27. Chrys Fey says

    February 23, 2015 at 10:48 pm

    That's an amazing new cover! I love how the alligators are peeking out of the water.

    Reply
  28. Elizabeth Seckman says

    February 23, 2015 at 8:41 pm

    Congrats to Kai! Love the new look for Alligators.

    That story is amazing. If I wrote that in a story, I would wonder…will people think I am just being hoaky?

    Reply
  29. Roland D. Yeomans says

    February 23, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    I love the Gloria Steinem quote. Definitely something to try and live by! Kai, best of luck with your new book. And Lee, your new cover is really intriguing.

    Reply
  30. Beverly Stowe McClure says

    February 23, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    The new cover is great, C Lee. Looking forward to reading the new book too. Trying to catch up.
    You're new book is great too, Kai. Another villain book to read. Yay.

    Reply
  31. Angela Brown says

    February 23, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    I don't even want to think of what it would take to calculate the odds that of all the people to rescue that young man would be the father he was about to meet. Such things as this are a wonderful reminder that there are just some things that we don't understand… and that's okay.

    I LOVE the old cover but seeing the two covers together make me want to e-hug them both. Very cool.

    And three cheers to Kai for SUPER BAD. I think the cover is awesome!

    Reply
  32. Peaches D. Ledwidge says

    February 23, 2015 at 6:03 pm

    Benji's story is amazing.

    Congrats, Kai. Seems as though you were destined to tell stories.

    Reply
  33. Southpaw HR Sinclair says

    February 23, 2015 at 5:31 pm

    Congratulations to Kai.

    Truth is so weird!

    I love you're new cover. I liked the old one too, it had a nice retro feel to it.

    Reply
  34. Cherie Reich says

    February 23, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    Congrats to Kai!

    Love your new covers, Lee!

    Reply
  35. Kai Strand says

    February 23, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    Crazy story of coincidence! I love Alligators new look. The series is well covered. Thanks for sharing Super Bad and the giveaway today. Cyber High Five! Good luck to everyone who enters.

    Reply
  36. Julie Flanders says

    February 23, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    Love the new cover. The books look fantastic side by side. Congrats!
    And congrats to Kai as well.

    Reply
  37. Susan Gourley/Kelley says

    February 23, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    Great new cover! Amazing true story. Congrats to Kai.

    Reply
  38. Michelle Wallace says

    February 23, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    Alligators Overhead's new cover? Smashing!
    Love the matching covers!
    Congrats to Kai!

    Reply
  39. Sarah Foster says

    February 23, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    That story is so cool–I love freaky coincidences. Love the new cover!

    Reply
  40. L. Diane Wolfe says

    February 23, 2015 at 1:59 pm

    I love the new cover. Both are beautiful.

    Reply
  41. SA Larsenッ says

    February 23, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    That is such a cool story about Benji! Wow… I'm all fangirl over your covers, C.Lee! Totally cool. And a big congrats to Kai, again!

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      February 24, 2015 at 11:59 pm

      You're fab, Sheri. Thanks.

      Reply
  42. Natalie Aguirre says

    February 23, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    Congrats to Kai on her book! And I love your quote. It's something I really need to hear today.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      February 24, 2015 at 11:58 pm

      So glad you found the quote helpful.

      Reply
  43. Alex J. Cavanaugh says

    February 23, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    That is one lucky dude. And what are the odds his father would save him?
    Congratulations to Kai.
    And awesome new cover for Alligators Overhead! Now the two books match.

    Reply
    • C. Lee McKenzie says

      February 24, 2015 at 11:58 pm

      Yes. I like that they seem to go together now.

      Reply

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