Title: King of the Mutants
Publication date: October 21, 2014
Publisher: Tantrum Books/Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Samantha Verant
Purchase Links:
Can one boy stop a nefarious plot to turn kids into
super-mutants?
Maverick Mercury enjoys his life as the sideshow attraction
known as “Gator Boy” at Grumbling’s Traveling Circus and Sideshow.
His freakish mutations are the result of some billionaire
geneticist’s experiments gone awry. But life as a mutant is about to get worse,
as Maverick uncovers a plot to kidnap kids, turns them into super-mutants, and
sells their powers to the highest bidder.
Now, Maverick is on a mission to find the mad scientist who
may have created him and destroy his sinister plans!
Guest Post
In my twenties, I read a book called Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, which has haunted me to this day. And I’ve also always loved The Wizard of Oz.
One morning, I woke up from a crazy dream. In it, there was a circus, some very mean ‘munchkins,’ and a twelve-year-old mistreated sideshow attraction.
Inspiration hit. I wanted to tell a story with heart, like Katherine’s book, but one that wasn’t so dark and haunting. For kids.
The research began! That day, I ran out to my local Barnes & Noble and bought Todd Browning’s Freaks (one of the most disturbing cult films I’ve ever seen), as well as a book called American Sideshow by Marc Hartzman, which became my bible for this book.
Alas, King of the Mutants was born. I tip my hat to both authors, who inspired the concept, which I liken to The Wizard of Oz...on steroids.
As for Maverick, otherwise known as "Gator Boy," his mutations just came to me, mostly because I wanted him to be tough and cool.
I didn’t write King of the Mutants with the intention of spreading a message, but it does carry one: We are all unique and we have to be happy with who we are-- in the skin we are in, even if our backs are ribbed.
After all, if we were all ‘normal,’ the world would be an awfully boring place.
I think kids (and adults) can relate to this.
#weneeddiversebooks!
ABOUT
SAMANTHA VERANT:
Samantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed
oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, French chef.
Over
the years, she’s visited many different countries, lived in many places, and
worked many jobs— always on the search for the one thing that truly excited her.
Then, one day, she found everything she’s been looking for: a passion for the
written word and true love. Writing not only enabled her to open her heart, it
led her to southwestern France, where she’s now married to a sexy French rocket
scientist she met over twenty years ago, a stepmom to two incredible kids, and
the adoptive mother to one ridiculously expensive Bengal cat.
When she’s not
trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées, tasting wine in American-sized glasses,
or embracing her inner Julia Child while deliberating what constitutes the
perfect boeuf bourguignon, Samantha is making her best effort to relearn those
dreaded conjugations.
Giveaway
· Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of King of the Mutants by Samantha Verant (INT)
· Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of King of the Mutants by Samantha Verant (INT)
Would love to read this aloud in my homeschool! I know my boys would get a big kick out of it!
ReplyDeleteWould love to read this book looks interesting.
ReplyDelete