Fantasy World Comes to Life for Young Adult Readers

Orange, CT (PRWEB) April 2, 2007

Dungeons and Dragons and Lord of the Rings fans looking past Harry Potter for their next good read are in luck. Sorcery, swords and monsters abound in Ethan Rappaport's fantasy novel, "The Legacy of Ogma" (ISBN 978-1419632952, BookSurge, 2006).

The story has a medieval setting and begins with Halia, a young woman forced into a life of thievery as a child. While deep within the forest, she stumbles upon an old castle in ruins. Inside she finds a crystal sphere, locked away within a protected treasure chest. Halia is puzzled by the sphere, but knows that it must contain some secret power.

In the journey that follows, Halia is joined by Xarun and Arwold, two powerful warriors, Ahriman, a sorcerer, Minaras, an elementalist, and his two apprentices, Oswynn and Thulin. The monstrous foes they must face include snake-headed goats, re-animated corpses and dragon-like mist creatures.

Throughout their travels, occasional glowing lights appear within the crystal sphere, leading the adventurers to speculate as to their meaning. Some of the travelers know more about the sphere than they let on, using it as a tool to spy on others. As the adventurers search for answers about the mysterious sphere, they travel through dense jungles and mountainous terrains, inside a glass wand and finally to a secret chamber beneath the ocean, where good and evil must battle face to face.

"The Legacy of Ogma" is the first book in Rappaport's "Weapons Trilogy," geared towards a young adult audience. As the trilogy name suggests, the books focus heavily on the weapons, which are Omga's legacy. After reading "The Legacy of Ogma," readers will no doubt have more questions about why the weapons were created and why they were hidden. These questions and more will be answered in Rappaport's second book, "Forging Paradise," due out at the end of the year. Readers are welcome to purchase "The Legacy of Ogma" at 20% off by ordering through Rappaport's website with the coupon code, RDVIEW07.

Ethan Rappaport resides in Orange, Connecticut. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a professional software engineer. He was the co-founder of StatCard Entertainment, the first company to combine smart cards and trading cards. He pursues his passion for writing fantasy/adventure stories while commuting by train to and from work at a global financial services consulting firm in New York City. "The Legacy of Ogma" (ISBN 978-1419632952, BookSurge, 2006) can be purchased through online bookstores. For more information, visit http://www.weaponstrilogy.com. Review copies available upon request. Publicity contact: http://www.readerviews.com.

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Magic and Adventure Abound in Celtic-Influenced Young Adult Fantasy Novel

Port Orford, OR (PRWEB) June 4, 2007

Readers looking for an authentic fantasy read should be delighted by the genuine blend of folklore and imagination in Jayel Gibson's "Dragon Queen: An Ancient Mirrors Tale" (ISBN 978-1933538464, Synergy Books, 2007). Gibson grew up listening to Celtic folklore and faerie tales from her Irish grandmother, a woman for whom the faerie faith was very real. This fostered Gibson's love of magic, legend and folklore, and adds considerable depth to her fantasy novels.

"Dragon Queen" is set in the mythical world of ?dracmor?, a place resembling the legendary times of Arthurian Britain. As the first book in the "Ancient Mirrors" series, "Dragon Queen" is rich in details of scenery and background information to firmly establish ?dracmor? in the reader's imagination. The heroine of "Dragon Queen" is Y?vi?, who is awakened from the peaceful slumber of death into a shattered world, only to find that her closest family and friends have ruthlessly betrayed her.

Together with the Guardians, Y?vi? must begin a treacherous search for the truth of her birthright. Y?vi? discovers that she was born of the Dragon Queen, and is given the knowledge of the powerful artifacts that will reunite the shattered kingdoms into a single world. With this unity, however, the doorway will be opened for unthinkable evil to enter the kingdoms. "Dragon Queen" shares the exciting story of Y?vi?'s journey, filled with passion, adventure and trying challenges that test the young Queen's courage and loyalty.

Gibson maintains the plausibility of her fantasy novels, not only through authentic Celtic faerie tales, but also by adapting real historical events in her writing. Fans of modern role-playing games, such as Dungeons & Dragons and World of Warcraft will also detect the more modern fantastical influences in "Dragon Queen."

"My goal is to leave readers of any age with a smile, a sense of connection and satisfaction," says Gibson. "I would like them to walk away with a desire to return to the 'Ancient Mirrors' universe, just as they would an enjoyable vacation spot."

Readers who do long to return to the "Ancient Mirrors" universe can pick up a copy of "The Wrekening," the series' second novel, available now in local or online bookstores. "Damselflies," the third installment in the series will be available November 1, 2007.

About the Author

Jayel Gibson resides in Port Orford, Oregon. After teaching elementary school, she retired from education to devote herself to a full time writing career. Gibson is also the creator of the popular writers' workshop "From Brainstorm to Book and Beyond."

"Dragon Queen: An Ancient Mirrors Tale" (ISBN 978-1933538464, Synergy Books, 2007) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit http://www.ancientmirrors.com. Publicity contact: http://www.readerviews.com. Review copies available upon request.

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Lil' Teammates Fill Toy Void for Young Sports Fans

Avon, OH (PRWEB) February 1, 2011

Millions of sports fans across the country can?t wait for the day when they can share their enthusiasm with their young son or daughter. For many, Party Animal Toys has brought that day closer with their line of collectible sports toys. Lil? Teammates are 3-inch vinyl figures available in various positions for the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and over 50 colleges. Their small size and slightly exaggerated features, which manage to come across as both tough and cute at the same time, help attract their target market, namely 4 to 11 year olds.

?We?ve been making licensed sports products for over 20 years,? says Jim Cantrall, president and owner of The Party Animal, Inc., ?but one day I realized there just isn?t much out there for little kids, especially when it comes to sports fan toys or action figures.? That void led to the company?s creation of Lil? Teammates, which debuted in February of 2010 to critical and commercial success.

?We ended up selling almost 40% over our initial sales forecast for last year,? says Cantrall. ?That often left us scrambling to keep up with demand.? The company quickly found that it wasn?t only kids the Lil? Teammates appealed to. ?During the Christmas season we heard from a lot of moms who told us these made perfect stocking stuffers, and dads love their team authenticity and detail.? In a short time, the Lil' Teammates toy line has become a winner with sports fans of all ages. ?The figures and concepts are right on,? says Tony Lott, a 51-year-old collector. ?(Party Animal Toys) has hit on a quality figurine with great detail that most companies have failed. They?re the perfect size!?

Even though their appeal stretches beyond their target market, Lil? Teammates stand alone as sports toys geared toward the kindergarten set. While there are a few examples of collectible sports figures, such as McFarlane?s Sports Picks, none attract the attention of younger children the way Lil? Teammates do. ?It?s great if some people just like collecting them,? says Cantrall. ?But what makes these toys unique as sports collectibles is their playability. These are durable figures with moveable parts that are meant to be knocked around and played with. That?s what kids love about them. They don?t have to be just stuck on a shelf.?

Series 1 of the toy line, currently available nationwide in team shops, retail stores and online, is comprised of seven different figure molds, including a quarterback, baseball pitcher and hockey goalie. With all the different teams available, the series actually totals over 200 figures in all, but it doesn?t end there. Along with the recently-introduced Lil? Teammates Throwbacks, and a limited edition figure called ?The Ref,? the toy line will further expand this spring with the release of its second series.

Lil? Teammates Series 2 will feature several new figures including a football lineman, baseball catcher, and basketball defender. Each figure will also feature more articulation to enhance their posing ability and playability. In conjunction with the toys, http://www.lilteammates.com was created as a place where kids and fans can go to register their figures, play games, win free prizes and learn more about their favorite teams. Visit that site for more information on Lil' Teammates.

ABOUT THE PARTY ANIMAL

The Party Animal,Inc., of Avon, OH, is a leading manufacturer of quality flags, banners, collectible toys and other fan product for the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and over 70 colleges and universities. Founded in 1989 by James Cantrall, The Party Animal has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a manufacturer of wedding and party signs. The company is now a licensing industry leader with over 1500 unique products that prides itself on having ?the best customer service in the business.?

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