When she wakes in her aunts’ cold cabin on the shore of Enchantment Lake, Francie remembers: everything about her life has changed. Or is about to. Or just might. Everything depends on the small, engraved silver box that she now possesses—if only she can follow its cryptic clues to the whereabouts of her missing mother and understand, finally, just maybe, the truth about who she really is.
Francie, it turns out, has a lot to learn, and this time the lessons could be deadly. Her search for answers takes her and her best friends Raven and Jay as far afield as an abandoned ranch in Arizona and as close to home as a sketchy plant collector’s conservatory and a musty old museum where shadows lurk around every display case. At the heart of it all is a crime that touches her own adopted North Woods: thieves dig up fragile lady’s slippers, peel bark from birches, strip moss off trees, cut down entire forests of saplings to sell for home décor. But Francie is up against no ordinary plant theft. One ominous clue after another reveal that she possesses something so rare and so valuable that some people are willing to do anything to get it. When Francie’s investigation leads her into the treacherously cold and snowy North Woods, she finds out that she too is being pursued.
Print Length: 216 Pages
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-10: 1517909680
ISBN-13: 9781517909680
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
The Silver Box is available to purchase at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Thrift Books, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your reading list on GoodReads.com.
Book Giveaway Contest
To win a copy of the entire The Enchantment Lake Mystery series, including The Silver Box, please enter using Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. Giveaway ends on October 18th at 11:59 PM CST. We will announce the winner the next day on the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!
Praise for The Silver Box
"Margi Preus shows her deep knowledge of and appreciation for Minnesota while telling an engaging story with puzzles and action and heart. The Silver Box is truly a celebration of our state—from its North Woods to its Twin Cities landmarks." — Kurtis Scaletta, author of Lukezilla Beats the Game
"A modern Nancy Drew replacement grounded in current technology but largely reliant on brain power and courage." — Kirkus Reviews
About the Author, Margi Preus
Back when such things were done, Margi enjoyed traveling, speaking, and visiting schools all over the world. Now mostly at home in Duluth, she likes to ski, hike, canoe, or sit quietly with a book in her lap.
You can follow her online at: https://www.margipreus.com/
Twitter: @MargiPreus
Instagram: @MargiPreus
--- Interview by Nicole Pyles
WOW: First of all, congratulations on finishing The Silver Box, the third book in your The Enchantment Lake Mystery. What was it like for you to finish the last book in this series?
Margi: I didn’t know I was finishing the series until I got to the end of this third book and realized I had. Originally I had intended to do four books, one for each season: Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. But, actually, it probably works out for the series to consist of three books, because, honestly, there really are only three seasons in the north country: Fall, Winter, and Summer. Winter is usually a long, increasingly miserable slog, and then one day it is suddenly summer. Many people claim northern Minnesota has only two seasons: Winter and Bad Sledding.
That probably didn’t really answer your question.
WOW: It did! Sometimes we can't help but realize we've found the end to our stories. How did you first get the idea for writing this series?
Margi: I have a cabin in northern Minnesota and along the shore there used to be a twisty, dusty, bumpy, sandy road. Some people wanted to “improve” things by getting a paved road (also wider, flatter, less curvy). There were two camps: for and against the "improvements," and emotions got so heated that I wondered what would happen if my neighbors started killing each other over it. The idea for a mystery was born. In reality nobody was killed, and the story ended up going off in its own direction (as stories often do) and became not so much about that road issue after all. But that’s what started it.
WOW: We can get so territorial about our home turf! I loved how you used that tension to inspire your story. How has COVID-19 impacted your writing schedule, if at all?
Margi: Like a lot of people I got a bit stalled. I know many writers who have not been writing, or took a break from it, but have channeled their creativity in other ways: painting, cooking, baking, gardening, redecorating . . . it’s all creative work, and I think it’s good for us to do something different, and develop some new pathways in our brains.
WOW: I totally agree! Each creative outlet feeds another. What books did you read when you were at the age of your readers?
Margi: Nancy Drew, of course! But I am old enough that when I was about that age, there was not the plethora of books for young readers as there is today, and no genre like YA. I was a fan of Judy Blume and Harriet the Spy was a favorite. Also Island of Blue Dolphins. But when I got old enough to be able to read adult books, that’s pretty much what I did. I remember reading A Tale of Two Cities and Jane Eyre, for instance, at about the age of my readers. I probably missed a lot, but I loved those books to pieces. I also managed to get my hands on some pulp fiction that my parents didn’t approve of. So that really motivated me to read a lot.
WOW: You had such eclectic tastes in books at that age! What are you currently working on that you can tell us a bit about?
Margi: I have had three books come out in 2020, two of them just as the world was shutting down. Village of Scoundrels, inspired by the true story of WWII village that sheltered hundreds of Jewish children and teens rescued from French concentration camps. And The Littlest Voyageur, about a red squirrel who stows away in a voyageur canoe.) So I’ve been in a little bit of a scramble, trying not to let these books sink into oblivion . . .alas.
WOW: That must be so exciting to have them coming out all at once! What do you hope readers take away from reading this series?
Margi: I always hope that kids will be inspired to go outside! I am a lover of the Northwoods, of wilderness, of waterways—I hope that comes through in my books—and I would be very happy if these books inspired a kid or two to want to explore the out-of-doors.
Environmental issues are also part of these stories and my characters either take a stance or become informed about issues. I’d also be thrilled if these stories inspired kids to want to learn more about any of these issues or maybe get involved.
Of course, mainly, I just hope my readers enjoy the story!
WOW: I'm sure they will! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today and best of luck on your book!
--- Blog Tour Dates
October 12th @ WOW! Women on Writing
What goes better with coffee in the morning than a muffin? Stop by WOW's blog The Muffin and join us as we celebrate the launch of Margi Preus's book The Silver Box. Enter to win a copy of her entire Enchantment Lake Mystery series.
October 13th @ Mindy McGinnis
Join Mindy McGinnis as she interviews author Margi Preus about how she came up with the idea of The Silver Box and the Enchantment Lake Mystery series.
October 14th @ Bring on Lemons
Visit Crystal's blog today and read her review of Margi Presu book The Silver Box, book three in The Enchantment Lake series.
October 14th @ Reviews and Interviews
Join Lisa as she interviews Margi Preus and finds out more about this incredible author!
October 16th @ The Frugalista Mom
Visit Rozelyn's blog today and read her review of The Silver Box, book three in The Enchantment Lake series. You can also enter to win a copy of the entire series!
October 17th @ Carrie Sorens' Blog
Visit Carrie's blog and read author Margi Preus' guest post about raising big questions for readers to ponder (that don't always have an answer).
October 18th @ Fiona Ingram's Blog
Stop by Fiona's blog and check out a spotlight of Margi Preus' book The Silver Box. You can also enter to win a copy of the whole series!
October 20th @ The Faerie Review
Join Lily as she reviews The Silver Box, book three in The Enchantment Lake middle-grade series.
October 20th @ Susan Uhlig
Join us today as Susan reviews The Silver Box, book three in The Enchantment Lake middle-grade series.
October 21st @ Lady Unemployed
Visit Nicole's blog today where you can read Margi Preus' guest post about how all writing is political and how to weave local or national issues into storytelling.
October 21st @ The Frugalista Mom
Rozelyn goes live on Facebook with author Margi Preus. Join them as the author talks about her wonderful middle-grade mystery series.
October 22nd @ The Knotty Needle
Visit Judy's blog today and read her review of The Silver Box, part of the Enchantment Lake middle-grade series.
October 24th @ Carrie Sorens' Blog
Join Carrie again where you can read her review of The Silver Box, part of the Enchantment Lake middle-grade series. You can also win a copy of the series too!
October 26th @ Kathleen Pooler's Blog
Join us at Kathleen's blog today where she will be featuring author Margi Preus and her book The Silver Box.
October 29th @ It's Alanna Jean
Stop by Alanna's blog today where she shares Margi Preus' guest post about finding inspiration out the window.
October 30th @ Lori Duff Writes
Join Lori Duff as she reviews Margi Preus' book The Silver Box, the third book in the Enchantment Lake mystery series.
November 1st @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Visit Anthony's blog today and read his review of The Silver Box, book three in The Enchantment Lake series.
November 2nd @ World of My Imagination
Join Nicole as she reviews The Silver Box, book three in The Enchantment Lake series. Also, you can enter to win a copy of the whole series.
November 4th @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Join Anthony's blog again today and you can read his interview with author Margi Preus.
November 4th @ Crafty Moms Share
Join Carrie as she reviews The Silver Box by author Margi Preus, the third book in the Enchantment Lake mystery series.
November 5th @ Bev. A Baird's Blog
Join Bev as she reviews The Silver Box by author Margi Preus, the third book in the Enchantment Lake mystery series. Don't miss her review of this charming middle-grade fiction series!
November 7th @ BookMama789
Join us over at Jean's Instagram page as she reads and reviews The Silver Box by author Margi Preus, part of the Enchantment Lake mystery series.
November 8th @ Shoe's Stories
Join Linda at her blog today and read her review of The Silver Box by author Margi Preus, part of the Enchantment Lake mystery series.
November 9th @ Always in the Middle
Visit Greg's blog today and read his review of The Silver Box by author Margi Preus. You'll love hearing about this middle-grade mystery series.
November 11th @ Bookapotamus
Join Kate as she reviews The Enchantment Lake mystery series, part of The Silver Box blog tour. You'll love hearing about this middle-grade mystery!
November 13th @ Choices
Join Madeline as she features Margi Preus' book The Silver Box on her blog today. You'll definitely want to add this book to your reading list!
November 14th @ Reading in the Wildwood
Visit Megan's blog today she reviews The Enchantment Lake mystery series, part of The Silver Box blog tour. You'll love hearing about this middle-grade mystery!
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
To win a copy of the entire The Enchantment Lake Mystery series, including The Silver Box, please enter using Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. Giveaway ends on October 18th at 11:59 PM CST. We will announce the winner the next day on the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!
I look forward to reading your books.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this inspiring interview. I enjoyed reading it while I revise my 2nd draft of a novel in-progress (middle-grade).
ReplyDeleteNancy Drew in current technology sounds good..
ReplyDeleteMargi Preus is a new author to me, but I look forward to reading this. I always love meeting new authors. Thanks to this blog for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity. I would love to read your novel.
ReplyDelete