๐Ÿ“š A Bookish Chat with 'A Nick of Time' Mike DiCerto | Author Interview | #AuthorInterview #BlogTour #Interview



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Today we welcome Mike DiCerto to The Writer's Life e-Magazine! Mike is the author of the middle grade fantasy, A Nick of Time. This interview is part of his A Nick of Time Blog Tour by Pump Up Your Book. Enjoy!

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Since his childhood Mike Di Certo has always harvested his work from the abundant crop of his imagination. From the wild and hilarious Rock and Roll space adventure Milky Way Marmalade, to the child-like wonder of his middle grade series, The Adventures of Rupert Starbright (The Door to Far-Myst, The Secret of My-Myst and The Ghosts of Winter Joy) Michael’s passions play out on the pages. His love of animals, his family, gardening, travel, movies, VR, history, Yoga, reading and music guide and influence his life and his writing.

His latest book is the middle grade fantasy novel, A Nick of Time.

Visit his website at www.ruperstarbright.com or connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.

 


TWL: Welcome to The Writer's Life!  How did you come up with the idea to write your book?

Mike: Twenty years ago I wrote a spec script for an animated feature called The Zodiacs. It sat collecting dust for years. I was pondering my next Rupert Starbright adventure and was chatting with Willette Klausner- the producer who optioned the first three Starbright books and I pitched the idea of adapting The Zodiacs to a Rupert adventure. She loved the idea and that motivated me to run with it. So I did and the book has far greater depth and heart than the screenplay did.

TWL: Can you give us a short excerpt?

Mike:

Rupert stumbled back in fear and felt both of his feet

hit swampy ground. He tried to pull himself back out but

was sinking, too quickly, into a soupy, grassy pit. In seconds,

he was knee deep in the mud.

He grasped at the long strands of grass, hoping he could

pull himself to safety. The grass just came loose in his hands,

and he began to sink deeper.

“Bird! Help!” he cried out.

The green ghostly monster flew off towards the treeline,

illuminating the swaying grass in pools of verdant light.

Then it was gone, and the world was dark.

Rupert heard his bird flapping helplessly around him.

Deep and dark fear filled his mind, but he knew that fear

killed the imagination. He closed his eyes and tried to Imagine

a way out, but he felt his body slip deeper, up to his waist.

Stay calm, Rupert. Stay calm. Use your Imagining!

He wasn’t sure if the voice in his head was his own,

but he knew it was giving him good advice. Calm the thoughts.

Quiet the fear. Use your Imagining.

Lower he sank. He was up to his chest in muck—thick,

sucking mud that felt like arms, pulling him deeper. His

fear was inching toward panic. As much as he battled it and

tried to Imagine a way to save himself, the glimpses of ideas

popped away like bubbles in his mind.

He thought about his grandma. His mom and dad.

About Rainn.

Pie O’Sky! Maybe Pie O’Sky could help!

He tasted grassy, dirty water on his lips. His nostrils

filed with the scent of rotted plants and wet soil. Then his

eyes burned. The sound of the bird’s frantic flapping grew

muffled. And then was gone.

He was completely under the mud, and the swampy

fingers would not let him go


 

TWL: What part of the book was the most fun to write?

Mike: Its all fun but in this case I would say the dozen original songs I wrote were great fun.

TWL: What’s one fact about your book that would surprise people?

Mike: I would guess the fact that it began as a screenplay 20 years ago.

TWL: What other books are you working on and when will they be published?

Mike: I have two books of a YA Science fiction/romance series called NOBLE X. No publishing locked yet. I am also working on book 5 of The Adventures of Rupert Starbright. Pondering a sequel to my first book, Milky Way Marmalade which will have its 20 year anniversary in 2023.


 

TWL: Finally, what message are you trying to get across with your book?

Mike: As all Rupert books do- it shows how imagination, love and compassion can make the world a better place.

TWL: Do you have any final words?

Mike: Please read the books of lesser or unknown authors. Like my books for example! There are many gems out there waiting for love.  The Rupert books are very exciting, colorful and memorable. Read the books before the movies come out!


The Writer’s Life

Thank you for visiting and reading!

Feel inspired? Have you read this book? Let us know your thoughts!

 

 


Title: A Nick of Time
Author: Mike DiCerto
Publisher: Zumaya Publications
Pages: 295
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Blurb:

It’s New Year’s Eve in Graysland, but when the final second fails to come Rupert Starbright finds his entire town frozen in time. Rupert and his school crush Rainn Evertree must travel to the Land of Annum to retrieve the stolen second from the nasty and evil Epoch. They will explore a wild, imaginative, and musical world where all the characters of the Zodiac join Rainn in helping Rupert in his most colorful and challenging adventure yet!

A Nick of Time is thoroughly entertaining and a fun read, this should be made into a Pixar animation!” – Amazon

“All kids should be encouraged to read this unique series and use their imaginings as well! It’s the power of positive thinking for the young adult set. Highly recommend!” – Amazon

Book Information

Release Date: August 16, 2021

Publisher:  Zumaya Publications

Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1612710990; 295 pages; $11.70; eBook $4.99 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/3vSNQ1x



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