The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton by Angela Shelton blog tour

& giveaway contest!

If you had a super power what would it be? Invisibility? The ability to fly? X-ray vision? What about the ability to make hats? Not regular hats but magical hats . . . hats that make people blossom, help them become the person they secretly wish they could be. Tilda Pinkerton has that ability. But will hat making help her save the universe from evil powers trying to destroy it?

Somewhere out in the Sombrero Galaxy, Tilda Pinkerton is being hunted by the Keeper of Darkness. But Tilda isn’t worried. Of course that could be because she doesn’t remember who she is or what she’s doing on the planet of Ooleeoo. Even in the middle of cosmic danger, Tilda does what she does best: creates hats that make people . . . not better, but MORE of the person they are meant to be. When the mayor of Ooleeoo bans Tilda’s hats is he just being a curmudgeon or is he secretly working for the enemy? Can Tilda figure out who she is in time to save the galaxy?

The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton is the perfect combination: it has a roller coaster ride of a story for middle-grade readers and the interesting addition of words to expand their vocabulary that will make parents (and teachers) happy. If your child is looking for a new series to enjoy The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton may be the answer to their reading wishes.

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Quiet Owl Books (July 31, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0615646778
ISBN-13: 978-0615646770
Twitter hashtag: #TildaPinkerton

The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton: Crash Landing on Ooleeoo is available in print and e-format at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and your local bookstore.



Book Giveaway Contest: To win a copy of The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton please enter using the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of this post. The giveaway contest closes this Friday, December 7 at 12:00 AM EST. We will announce the winner the same day in the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

About the Author:

Angela is an author, actor, and public speaker. She has been writing since she was eight years old. Her first novel was adapted into the movie Tumbleweeds. Angela won a regional Emmy award for her portrayal of SafeSide Superchick in The Safe Side video series created by Baby Einstein’s Julie Clark. After living in Los Angeles for over a decade, Angela left the big city for a one-light country town to marry her first love and fulfill her dream of writing books in a barn house.

Her Tilda Pinkerton books can be traced back to her childhood fear of dictionaries! Angela was a big believer in the “if I can’t spell it, how can I find it in the dicitionary to learn how to spell it” school of thought. In fact, she was so frustrated by the uselessness of dictionaries that she destroyed several during her childhood. She eventually got over her fear of dictionaries (OK, she still hates them. But she learned to hide her antagonism for word books), and began writing. Her Tilda books contain a plethora (Go ahead, look it up. At least you know how to spell it!) of wacky words and definitions to expand the vocabulary of readers in a fun way. No dictionaries involved!

Find the Author Online:

Tilda Pinkerton website: www.tildapinkerton.com

Facebook for Tilda Pinkerton: http://www.facebook.com/tildapinkerton 

Twitter: @TildaPinkerton

Angela Shelton: www.angelashelton.com

Facebook for Angela Shelton: http://www.facebook.com/AngelaSheltonFanPage

Twitter: @AngelaShelton

------Interview by Jodi Webb

WOW: We always love to hear the story of the birth of a book. How, when, and where did you get the idea for your Tilda books?

Angela: Actually, the idea of Tilda Pinkerton was presented to me during a meditation prayer. It was in 2010, January in Malibu. I was praying in the meditative way that I do and I asked what I was meant to write next. I always ask the muses (aka those little creative angels who plant ideas into our minds) because they tend to give you the best ideas. I asked what I should write next that was original, fun, and good for children and adults alike. I sat there and waited.

I heard Tilda Pinkerton collects hats in a very English accent and my eyes popped open. I announced that I loved it and wanted to hear more. Then I heard in my mind—not like hearing voices or something—Whenever Tilda Pinkerton gives you a hat, your life changes forever.

I loved Tilda from the first moment the idea of her was placed in my mind. And so Tilda Pinkerton was born, not through me but through a higher source. That’s how I work best.

WOW: Your main character, Tilda Pinkerton, is making her debut in a middle grade series. But we see that you also have a chapter book for younger readers. Did you plan to cross age groups with Tilda? How did it happen? Is the middle grade series a "warm-up" for the chapter books?

Angela: The plan is to write a vocabulary builder with a character you grow up with—literally. So as you learn to read, the more you can learn about Tilda and her adventures from the picture book to the big book.

The middle grade book is a bit of a warm up, yes. It tells the history of where Tilda originated from and what started her on her hat making journey. The chapter books for K-3 take place when Tilda has already made it to Earth. So, the younger readers actually know more about Tilda’s future than the older readers do.

I’ve been around a lot of children at a lot of different ages and have seen how they love to advance. If they are reading a book series, they are very proud of the fact that they are on book four and their little sibling is only on book one. They love knowing more about a character than their friends do too. By switching things up and having the younger books be in the future, I let the little ones in on a few more secrets. There will also be a picture book series that tell the big book stories in very simple terms with gorgeous artwork.

WOW: Why do you think Tilda appeals to such a wide range of ages?

Angela: I think Tilda appeals to all ages (so far 50+ are her most popular readers!) because the theme of finding ones inner strength while good battles over evil is universal and ageless. Plus, I think everyone loves hats and what better hats to have than a magical hat given to you by Tilda Pinkerton?

I wrote what I wanted to read and what I’d want to read to my little ones. A story that makes you think while inspiring you to learn new bigger words and concepts is right up my alley.

WOW: Do you have a preference for writing chapter books or middle grade? What are some of the challenges presented by writing for each age group?

Angela: I absolutely love writing the chapter books. They are quick, fun stories loaded with life lessons and educational lessons—thank you to the elementary school teachers who are helping me on them. The chapter books focus on Tilda’s magical hats helping with various jobs so they definitely have more of a simple focus than the larger books.

But honestly, the big books are my favorite. I love that Tilda started making hats in the Sombrero Galaxy—and that there really is such a place. I love getting to write about nebulas and it pleases me to no end that things like the water bears and bionic bugs really exist!

It was decided that Tilda should first appear in the big books since it tells her history. The chapter books officially launch in March, 2013. Then I get to write my hands off for quite a few years it looks like—assuming readers love Tilda as much as I do. There are 26 chapter books mapped out and so far 5 big books. So, we shall see!

WOW: You absolutely have to tell us how you got such an incredible book cover! How important do you think a book cover is in children's literature? How did you get so much input when the rule is that, unless they are also the illustrator, authors get little or no say in illustrations, book covers, etc?

Angela: I begged. I pleaded with the painter to paint it and I pleaded with the publisher to pay for it. I discovered Shanna Trumbly, the amazing painter from Trumbly Designs in Oregon where I bought a few of her pieces. Much later, after I had finished Book One of the Tilda series, an Oregonian friend reminded me of Trumbly as I was beginning the cover design process with the publisher.

I emailed Shanna from her website and told her about the book and asked her if she worked on commission. Sadly, she replied that she did not work on commission but the book sounded very interesting. The next day she emailed me back saying that she’d had a dream of a green hat and wanted to know more about my book!

From how Tilda was born, I bet you can understand how excited I was that a dream had inspired her. I told her all about Tilda and voila she said she would paint the cover. Then I had to go get it paid for. But when the group at Quiet Owl saw Trumbly’s work, it did not take long to convince them that she should paint Tilda.

WOW: Your book has an unusual vocabulary facet. Why did you decide to include so many "50 cent words" in your book?

Angela: I had problems with big words as a child. Even though I was always placed in the advanced classes and gifted kids programs, I had a serious disdain for the dictionary. I slowly lost that as I got older, along with my fear of admitting I did not know a word used in conversation. I used to get so frustrated and angry at not knowing a word. Now I’ll pull out my Iphone and ask what a word means.

I wanted Tilda Pinkerton to be a fun vocabulary builder for kids and adults as well as a beautiful adventure. And of course, as an author I get to live through Tilda, who has a much better vocabulary than I do.

WOW: How are you reaching out to your potential audience? How are you making your book appealing not only to children but also to parents and teachers?

Angela: Finding new readers via blogging has been working well. Thank you, WOW!

Tilda is also reaching more children through the teachers that I’ve worked with on the books. I reached out to a group of local elementary teachers on the chapter books to help me with the teacher’s guides.

Teachers and parents love that there are teacher guides that go with each chapter book. We’ve tested them out on a group and I’m working with a group of teachers to make sure I make their lives easier by adding all kinds of things they can use in their classrooms, including many reproducables – a thing I did not know about before Tilda’s Teachers began helping.

WOW: What's up next?

Angela: I have new things for kids and adults!

Book Two of The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton has begun and it is one wild ride. Tilda’s chapter books for K-3 are launching in March along with a smart board website for teachers.

I write the most in the winter and have two other books in the works for adults. One is about my decade as a model in the fashion industry – that’s some mommy private time reading! I also have another book about how four French chairs saved their owner from a sociopath. The chairs tell the story and it has been very fun to write since each chair is very opinionated. One of them only wants male models to sit on her. It’s definitely not a kid’s book.

I love to write for younger readers, but there is always naptime . . .

WOW: I can see your model and French chair books are definitely going to have to visit different blogs for their WOW blog tours!

---------Blog Tour Dates

Monday, December 3 (today!) @ The Muffin
Stop by for an interview and book giveaway!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Thursday, December 6 @ Words by Webb
Wondering what The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton is all about? Stop by for today's review.
http://jodiwebb.com

Friday, December 7 @ Cathy C. Hall
Learn how dinosaurs affected Angela Shelton's writing and enter to win a copy of her middle grade fantasy The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton.
http://www.cathychall.wordpress.com

Monday, December 10 @ Kid Lit Reviews
Angela Shelton, author of the Tilda Pinkerton books, is revealing a secret all children's authors should know: why teachers are an author's most valuable supporter.
http://kid-lit-reviews.com/

Thursday, December 13 @ Joanna Celeste
Need a great book for the tween in your life? Stop by for a review of The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton.
http://www.joannaceleste.com

Friday, December 14 @ Mother-Daughter Book Club
Learn about the challenges of writing fantasy for children from author Angela Shelton and win a copy of her latest book middle grade novel The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton.
http://www.motherdaughterbookclub.com

Monday, December 17 @ Read These Books and Use Them!
Stop by to learn more about author Angela Shelton and the wacky Tilda Pinkerton! Also, enter to win a copy of The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton.
http://margodill.com/blog/

Friday, December 21 @ Joanna Celeste
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a space warrior...who also happens to make magical hats? If so, today's your chance to meet Tilda Pinkerton, star of the middle grade fantasy book The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton.
http://www.joannaceleste.com

Thursday, December 27 @ It’s About Time Mamaw
Don't miss a visit with Angela Shelton, author of a most unusual middle grade reader. You also have a chance to win The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton.
http://itsabouttimemamaw.blogspot.com

Wednesday, January 2 @ Buried in Books
Want an attitude adjustment for 2013? You need a hat! Angela Shelton, author of the a middle grade fantasy about a hat maker named Tilda Pinkerton shares the power of hats today. She's also giving away a copy of The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton.
http://wwwburiedinbooks.blogspot.com/

Thursday, January 3 @ Buried in Books
Don't miss a review of The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton and your LAST CHANCE to win your very own copy!
http://wwwburiedinbooks.blogspot.com/

Monday, January 7
We're calling out the experts today! Stop by for a review of The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton by a children's librarian. Don't miss your LAST CHANCE to win a copy!
http://geolibrarian.blogspot.com/

To view all our touring authors, check out our Events Calendar. Keep up with blog stops and giveaways in real time by following us on Twitter @WOWBlogTour.

Get Involved!
If you have a website or blog and would like to host one of our touring authors or schedule a tour of your own, please email us at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.

Book Giveaway Contest: Enter to win a copy of The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. We will announce the winner in the Rafflecopter widget this Friday, December 7.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!