Growing Bookworms – Meet children’s fiction and adult fiction and non-fiction author, Toni Pike and a review #growingbookworms #childrensfiction #bookreview

Today, I am delighted to introduce children’s and adult fiction author, Toni Pike. Toni is a prolific writer with at least two non-fiction books, six adult thrillers, one women’s fiction, and two children’s books, all available from Amazon. Today, we are focusing the discussion on Toni’s two children’s books in the Brody Cody series. I’ve read both and they are wonderful for middle school children.

I love your books about Brody Cody as they are filled with excellent, age-appropriate humour without resulting in facetious child characters which is a pitfall with many modern children’s books. Is there any particular children’s book author whom you admire and consider to be a role model for your writing?

Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Robbie – I’m delighted that you liked my characters. That means so much to me, coming from such a wonderful writer.

Roald Dahl is my favourite children’s author – his irreverent stories and characters are so wickedly delightful, and his plots are so beautifully constructed. I find children love this irreverence, and I was horrified to read recently that his stories were to be “sanitised” for the modern world. I think young readers could only benefit from enjoying his classic stories.

One of my other favourite role models is Judy Blume – I love the characters and familiar situations in “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”

Is Brody Cody entirely fictitious or are some of his characteristics based on real life models?

I always say that they are entirely a figment of my imagination – but quite a few aspects of Brody’s character are drawn from various real-life situations. In particular, I drew on memories of my own children and their friends, and also some snippets and ideas from children I taught at school. Having said that, nothing would be recognisable. I also drew on my own experience of childhood – even though that was a very long time ago! Two examples were Brody’s reluctance to get involved with extra-curricular activities, and also his insecurities, things Brody and I have in common.

How do you go about ensuring the language and flow of ideas in your children’s books are appropriate for the target age group?

Whether it’s for adults or children, I always try to write fast-moving stories that are plot-driven to keep the reader turning the page. That style seems suit me best, and it’s one of the reasons I like writing thrillers. To keep the language age-appropriate, I tried to think of how my children spoke when they were that age. I also made sure I used simple words and sentences, and always attempted to add humour. The setting was Australia, which of course is my home, so I knew the local idioms. I didn’t worry too much about the latest slang expressions – I tried to avoid that.

The theme of your first book, Brody Cody and the Stepmother from Outer Space, is very relevant in our modern age of frequent broken families and remarriages. Was there anything specific that compelled you to write this type of story? What were your aims with this book?

I wanted to write about a little boy who had lost his mother, because that immediately created sympathy for the character. I wanted it to be both scary and funny, but to have a very positive message about children and parents. I know there are a lot of blended families these days, so I hoped it would strike a chord but also be something all children could enjoy.

What are your goals for the Brody Cody series? Can we expect another book in this series soon?

I have a list of ideas for future Brody Cody stories, and want to add to the current two-book series. However, I also love writing books for adults, and I’m currently working on another thriller – which is still at a very early stage. I feel torn between the two, and don’t want to disappoint my grown-up readers who’ve followed me for a few years now. So, for the moment, I think my adult writing is winning.

Books for children are harder to market than books for adults. How do you go about marketing your books and what works best for you?

Attracting readers for the series has been far more difficult than I anticipated – much more so than for adult books. Of course, that’s only my experience and other writers may not find that. I was thrilled with the response from those who did read them, and many of the reviews were wonderful. But I would prefer to find a wider audience.

I use the same techniques for marketing that I used for my other books The first essential is to have some reviews – and I send out advance copies for that. I enrol my books in Kindle Unlimited, and have both the ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon. I find reads on Kindle Unlimited account for a fair proportion of my royalty income. Occasional free days, especially for the first book in the series, helps to boost subsequent sales of all books in the series and also helps to get some reviews. I also use Amazon sponsored ads, targeting similar books and authors. I do, however, keep a tight rein on my budget for that.

The best marketing tool of all, though, is a supportive writing community. I’ve become good friends over the last few years with other writers like yourself from all over the world, and supporting and sharing each other’s writing and blog posts is a great way to spread the word. Your Growing Bookworms series about children’s writing is a great inspiration for children’s writers, and a great learning tool for parents.

My review of Brody Cody and the Stepmother from outer space

This book is a hilarious and fun read for young readers aged 7 to 13 years old. It is quite reminiscent, with its quirky and slightly dark humour, of Roald Dahl’s books, in particular, it reminded me a bit of James and the Giant Peach where James’ parents are eaten by a rampaging rhinoceros.

Cody, the young hero if this book, is raised by his relaxed and nonchalant father after his mother is mowed down unexpectedly by a runaway bus. Cody is spared because he flies out of his pram and across into the hands of the police constable who catches him like a baseball.

Cody is a happy boy who lives with no rules and little parental intervention. His father works from home in the afternoons, and is not given to checking on Cody’s homework or making sure it is done. They have an interesting diet too that comprises of sweet and sickly cereal in the morning and some fabulously unhealthy father created meals in the evenings.

Cody is happy and doesn’t believe he needs a mother like other children have. He has freedom and he is happy living with his father.

One day, Cody’s father needs to go away to an out-of-town conference. Cody cannot go with him and is sent to his friend’s home for this period. Cody’s friend has a mother and she sets about trying to mend Cody’s lackadaisical ways. Just before Cody is due to go home, he gets a quick call from his father telling him he has met and married a woman he met at the conference.

Cody is horrified and returns home quite determined to reject this new mother, but things don’t go quite according to plan. Cody discovers things about his new mother than lead him to believe she is an alien.

This really is a rollicking good story and young children will love it.

My review of The Magnus Covenant

The Magnus Covenant is an exciting thriller that starts of with an unusual and strange murder. From there the excitement and pace just keep increasing, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Jotham Fletcher and his girlfriend, Antonella Pavoni, a lecturer at the University of Rome, arrive at a famous Catholic Church where Jotham is expecting to deliver a lecture about Simon Magnus just in time to view the body of an elderly man in a black cape who may have committed suicide. As an expert on Simon Magnus, a cult leader from the time of Jesus, who thought he should be the head of the church and who was believed to have been a magician, Jotham mentions to the police the similarities between the deaths of Simon Magnus and this old man. Unfortunately, Jotham’s comments and interventions make him a prime suspect for murder.

Jotham does give his lecture and is the recipient of an extraordinary question from a journalist who subsequently disappears. He is also the recipient of antagonistic comments from a young Catholic brother who is also a member of the audience.

Shortly after the delivery of the lecture, Jotham is kidnapped and becomes embroiled in a complicated intrigue involving the members of the Simon Magnus cult, which has been in existence for 2,000 years, a brotherhood of extreme Catholics and a wealthy individual who may be the cause of all the agitation through the discovery and restoration of an ancient document. Jotham quickly realises that he can’t trust anyone he knows or meets and that his life is in danger.

Jotham is a great character. He has suffered personal loss through the deaths of his wife and child and is struggling with his faith. He’d thrown himself into researching Simon Magnus as a distraction from his loss and emotional turmoil. The deception of many people around him comes as a complete surprise to Jotham and he gets himself into a mess. He is able to pull himself together, discover his survival instincts and set about unravelling the intrigue all around him.

I thought the plot of this book was clever and interesting and the action kept me interested throughout.

About Toni Pike

Toni Pike is a multi-genre author who enjoys writing page-turning fiction for adults, hilarious books for children, and non-fiction. She also loves travelling and being with family and friends. She lives in Australia and firmly believes that coffee and long walks are an essential part of any day.

Do you like books that you can’t stop reading? Pike is the author of LINDA’S MIDLIFE CRISIS, DESOLATION BLUFF, DEAD DRY HEART and The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series: THE MAGUS COVENANT, THE ROCK OF MAGUS, THE MAGUS EPIPHANY and HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS.

The Brody Cody Series is for children aged 6-9: BRODY CODY AND THE STEPMOTHER FROM OUTER SPACE and BRODY CODY AND THE HAUNTED VACATION HOUSE.

She’s also the author of two non-fiction books. THE ONE WAY DIET is a no-nonsense guide to losing weight. HAPPY TRAVELS 101 is a short book of travel tips with advice for anyone who wants to travel overseas.

To find out more, her website is tonipike.com.

About Robbie Cheadle

Award-winning, bestselling author, Robbie Cheadle, has published thirteen children’s book and three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

The ten Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.

Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews. https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/