KETK NBC - J. K. Hawkins interview with Bob Brackeen
🔗 http://www.ketknbc.com/new/13-year-old-author-visits-tyler
J. K. Hawkins is a thirteen-year-old author from Northeast Texas. She is a first time children’s book writer who developed her most notable character, Alice, at the young age of eight. Since then she has written twenty stories for the My Weird Family Series, the first of which is My Vampire Cousin. Other books include My Weird Family Series: My Vampire Cousin, 2nd Ed. and My Weird Family Series: My Werewolf Brothers. The author’s hobbies include soccer, hanging out with friends, and listening to music.
<p><em style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;">After centuries of religiously motivated war, the world has been split in two. Now the Blessed Lands are ruled by pure faith, while in the Republic, reason is the guiding light—two different realms, kept apart and at peace by a treaty and an ocean.</em><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;">Children of the Republic, Helena and Jason were inseparable in their youth, until fate sent them down different paths. Grief and duty sidetracked Helena’s plans, and Jason came to detest the hollowness of his ambitions.</span><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;">These two damaged souls are reunited when a tiny boat from the Blessed Lands crashes onto the rocks near Helena’s home after an impossible journey across the forbidden ocean. On board is a single passenger, a nine-year-old girl named Kailani, who calls herself “the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky.” A new and perilous purpose binds Jason and Helena together again, as they vow to protect the lost innocent from the wrath of the authorities, no matter the risk to their future and freedom.</span><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><br style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;" /><span style="color:rgb(24,24,24);font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;line-height:17.563634872436523px;">But is the mysterious child simply a troubled little girl longing to return home? Or is she a powerful prophet sent to unravel the fabric of a godless Republic, as the outlaw leader of an illegal religious sect would have them believe? Whatever the answer, it will change them all forever… and perhaps their world as well.</span></p>
KETK NBC - J. K. Hawkins interview with Bob Brackeen
🔗 http://www.ketknbc.com/new/13-year-old-author-visits-tyler↗
CBS 19 coverage of book signing (10/19/2008)
🔗 http://cbs19.tv/Global/story.asp?s=9200235↗
KLTV 7 - Longview - J. K. Hawkins interviewed by Bob Hallmark
🔗 http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?s=10567847↗
Kilgore News Herald coverage of book signing 2008
🔗 http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2008/1015/front_page/005.html↗
J. K. Hawkins won the Book of the Week award from Blurb! (4/29/2009)
🔗 http://www.blurbradio.com/featured.html↗
The Midwest Book Review:<br /><br />Sometimes when your parents don't mention your family, it may be for the best. "My Vampire Cousin" tells the story of Alice, a twelve year old curious about her family history. When she ventures where her mother told her not to go, she soon finds that her relatives are not exactly what you would call normal, or even alive... "My Vampire Cousin" is a fine introduction to author J.K. Hawkins' spooky world. Also available and highly recommended is the sequel, "My Werewolf Brothers". <br /><br />Reader Views www.readerviews.com:<br /><br />Reviewed by Brenna Bales (age 11) for Reader Views (3/09) <br /><br />This exceptional novel by J.K Hawkins is both thrilling and humorous. The outstanding storyline, along with the main theme of the story, create a tale that I know many kids will really enjoy reading. <br /><br />The story's main character, Alice, is strong, and confident, and smart. This is what all kids look for in a fairy-tale. They can easily imagine themselves as the character, fighting off the vampires, and reacting to finding out that their whole family is made up of mythical creatures. This book is probably for children ages 8-10, but any kid who loves a great adventure story will adore this book. <br /><br />In the story, Alice finds out that her family is not only dead, but the living dead! As she escapes from all the vampire teeth coming at her, she discovers that no matter what types of creatures your family is made up of, you can still love them. It is a superb work of fiction that any child will find irresistible to put down. <br /><br />The overall plot of the book is very intriguing, and kept my attention throughout. It did have some parts that went a little too fast, or confused me as to what was happening. No book is perfect though, and it amazes me that the author is only 12-years-old! Her writing is stunning! <br /><br />The cover of the book looks very spooky, but that famous saying to not judge a book by its cover applies here nicely. The book was very captivating, and J.K. Hawkins is an amazing author. <br /><br />I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series, and any of the other books that she has written. I give "My Weird Family Series: My Vampire Cousin" by J.K. Hawkins a 5 out of 5. <br /><br />Allbookreviews.com:<br /><br /> My Weird Family is about a young girl of twelve who finds out that her long-lost relatives are in fact, monsters. The story portrays Alice Trivett as a true adventurer with a quick wit and attractive personality. After stumbling accidentally-on-purpose into a haunted castle, she comes across her vampire cousin and learns things about her family that she hadn’t known before. Alice has to decide whether she has enough curiosity to continue on the path of monsters and vampires or to return back to the human world, something that no one has ever been able to do before. <p></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"></span> </p> <p></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><span> </span>J.K Hawkins’ has a very developed and hilarious writing style. Her story, My Weird Family, reminds me of the types of stories that made me fall in love with reading when I was younger. Although targeted at a slightly younger audience than myself, her quick one-liners would make even the oldest of readers smile if only for a moment. All of her fictional characters have realistic personalities with quirks and pet peeves. It is these types of traits that make one story stand out more than others. My Weird Family is definitely a stand-out kind of story. </span></p> <p></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"></span> </p> <p></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><span> </span>J.K Hawkins is a first time children’s book writer who created her first character, Alice, at the age of eight. She is now the author of the, My Weird Family Series, which includes twenty stories, including My Vampire Cousin. Her favourite hobbies include writing and playing soccer. </span></p> <p></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"></span> </p> <p></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><span> </span>In conclusion, My Vampire Cousin, is creatively written and inspires the imagination of it’s readers. Highly Recommended, for young readers who want a memorable read that will inspire their own creativity. </span></p> <p></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"></span> </p> <p></p> <p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Nicole Harris, Allbooks Reviews www.allbookreviews.com</span></p> <p></p>