Get your copy for just $9.99
Have you ever wanted a robot for a best friend? Enter the world of Leviathan Jones, a boy who is a mystery to all of Nautilus Castle as well as himself. The Queen and the Princess don’t like him. The King ignores him. If it weren’t for Grogan, the royal inventor and Brody, Leviathan’s robot bodyguard, he’d have no one to talk to. But that’s all about to change…..
Interview with SCBWI and Michele Beresford
https://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/2024/10/book-birthday-blog-with-michele.html
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
When I was about eleven, I started dreaming of characters who would come and tell me their stories. A favorite English teacher recommended that all of our class that year keep a journal by our bed so we could write down anything we felt was important before bed. I started writing down the stories that characters came to tell me. I’ve continued to do this throughout my life. For Leviathan Jones and the Sea Witch, it was Brody who first came into my dreams and told me of a boy who needed his story to be told.
What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?
As I wrote and then later illustrated this book, I came to see that this wasn’t just a book about good hearted robots and a boy. This story is about what a real family looks like. That’s what I want my readers to understand. This graphic novel is the first of 3 books that, on the surface tells a story of an epic sea adventure. As readers follow along, Leviathan is chasing this idea about what family is ‘supposed’ to be. He comes to realize that Brody, Grogan and the robots have shown him the meaning of friendship, loyalty and love. He sees that Brody may be made of metal but he would do anything for Leviathan. Families come in all shapes and sizes and colors and circumstances. It’s the love that counts. That’s what I hope readers will understand at the end of the series.
What inspires you to write and illustrate?
Since 2009, I have written other genres of books under a pen name. When Covid sent everyone into lockdown, my grandson, Finn inspired me to invent a rhyming game. We played it so much that it eventually became the book, Huggy, Muggy Do. Finn and I are listed as co-authors on that book. Since that book, I’ve found that I like telling stories for children of all ages. To get back to the question, what inspires me? I guess you could say this new generation in my family does. I also have a love of painting and drawing. Writing children’s and tween books lets me enjoy that part of me as well as an illustrator.
What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?
Leviathan Jones and the Sea Witch: A Graphic Novel Part 1 will be exclusively available as a printed novel through my website www.micheleberesford.com. The ebook will be available for Kindle. I usually publish all of my books with a very wide reach. This is my first graphic novel and I am hoping to do some book signings and meet my readers. Since I’m also the illustrator, I’m offering to do a drawing workshop featuring the characters from the book with every book signing.
What’s next for you?
I am already working on drawing book 2 in this series. I hope to release book 2 for the summer of 2025 and then the final, third book will be available for Christmas/Yule of 2025. Since Leviathan Jones and the Sea Witch is also a novel, I am writing the sequel to that book which I hope to release in early 2026. Then, more graphic novels will follow.
More about the book . . .
The only thing that Leviathan Jones has known is a lonely life within Nautilus Castle. He’s been given the highest room in the tower away from the royal family. The townspeople whisper of secrets and the mysterious boy. Some say Leviathan is royalty. After all, he has a faithful robot, (Brody) just like the rest of the royal family. Some say the boy is dangerous; maybe even a sea monster.
Leviathan’s life changes overnight when a mystical package arrives addressed to him, followed by the song of mermaids. It will take an army of insect robots to help Leviathan escape the castle, retrieve the strange package and take the first step to knowing who he truly is.
Publisher: Beresford Media and Barefooted Friar Publishing
More about the author . . .
Michele Beresford is the author of several children’s books including, Huggy, Muggy Do, Mr. Kiwi: Trouble With Mr. Mow-It-All and Leviathan Jones and the Sea Witch (novel). When she isn’t writing and illustrating, she is a harpist and music teacher. Michele lives in Michigan with her family and her mysterious, black cat Gigi. She often leaves cake and tea out in her garden for the fairies (just in case) and loves to collect moonbeams in a jar during her evening kayaks.
https://micheleberesford.com/
Instagram: WriterHarpist
Posted by Christy Matthes at Tuesday, October 01, 2024
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: Book Birthday Blog, illustrator, Michele Beresford
The new graphic novel is coming out in October! Check out the final cover.
That’s right! Thank you to everyone who emailed me or spoke to me at shows. I LOVE feedback. Fans of the novel, Leviathan Jones have made it clear they’d like a GRAPHIC NOVEL and so, I’m spending my summer making that happen. Look for a release sometime in October 2024
In the mean time, here’s a sneak peak of the rough draft
For those who have purchase (or will purchase) my ebook, “The Fairy Harp Book: How to Play Harp Like a Fairy”, here is a link to a quick introductory lesson and a demo of how to play the first two songs.
Don’t forget, you can get YOUR copy instantly and you could be learning to play your harp today.
Get a copy of the book here
Meet Michele and watch the video of how to play the first two songs
Leviathan Jones has never played the pirate card game Davey Jone’s Locker. He has never had a sword fight with a shark or read a treasure map with a dangerous sea witch. The only thing Leviathan has known is his lonely life within Nautilus Castle.
Leviathan has been given a room in the highest tower away from King James, Queen Eliza and the insufferable Princess Amelia.
Some people even wonder if in secret, Leviathan is a sea monster.
His life changes overnight when a mystical package arrives addressed to him followed by the song of mermaids. Grogan, the royal inventor insists that Leviathan be allowed to open the box but Queen Eliza banishes Lev instead. With the help of Brody, Lev’s best friend and robot bodyguard, Grogan, and new friends, Leviathan is about to enter an underwater world filled with a secret treasure map, pirate sharks, and a world and destiny that has long awaited his arrival.
This new book by Michele Beresford is perfect for tween aged readers and also is great for families to read together! Leviathan Jones is available at libraries, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and also via this website. Just email harpymichele@gmail.com for a signed copy. Ebook versions are also available wherever you buy ebooks. $14.99
Huggy Muggy Do was a joy to write with my grandson, Finn. Recently, I converted it to a script for a short film. Thank you Multidimension Independent Film Festival. So proud to be a finalist.
To celebrate the reading of The Graveyard Lullabies, I’ve created a free art video/game called, “Roll-A-Graveyard.” This is a good example of the kinds of art classes that I have on my Patreon page every month.
Have you ever been on the edge of a storm and thought you heard the faint sound of singing? Have you ever thought you heard a lovely little tune while walking past the cemetery?
Here is the story of Ameli, the ghost and her very first All Hallows Eve…..
Episode one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtJNCxzkzME
Episode two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d73-yq_rFv0
With as little as $1/month (or more) you can get character sketches, illustrations, exclusive and early access to new stories and videos from Michele on her Patreon page.
Kids! Learn the creative process with Michele and take her monthly art class.
Join Michele Beresford in her art and creative writing adventures.
Here is the cover concept for my new YA novel, Sparkling Pines High
Finn and I will be signing copies of Huggy Muggy Do on Thursday, July 29 at 6pm. Come out and buy a book, sing a few songs and show us how YOU Huggy Muggy Do!
Michele Beresford 