Have you been writing for a long time?
Yes, mainly for fun initially. I wrote my first novel when I was eleven. I’m not sure what happened to that book, it disappeared at some point! Since then I’ve wrote a few other books, but as a hobby and not with any intention to publish them. Amelia’s Amazing Space Adventures has been my first adventure in the publishing world!
What inspired you to start a writing career?
I just kept having ideas and eventually decided to start developing these ideas into books. With Amelia’s Amazing Space Adventures, I really felt inspired to write an exciting series that would connect children to space in a fun and engaging way. Uglesnoo¾the friendly alien from Pluto¾ just popped into my head one day. From that start I added Amelia and the quest that takes him and Amelia on tremendous adventures throughout the whole solar system!
Is your book a stand-alone, or is it part of a series?
Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon, is the third book in Amelia’s Amazing Space Adventures; a series of ten books for children, set in outer space. Although it’s the third book, it can be read as a stand-alone, as there is information in the first chapter with brief reminders of the quest and what has happened in the previous books. Readers will learn from all the books that Uglesnoo’s sister is very sick. The only thing that can cure her is a repelling crystal from the planet Neptune. In order to get the crystal, Amelia and Uglesnoo need to obtain many items from various different planets, the Moon and even the boiling hot Sun!
How does your book stand out from others?
Every book is set on a different planet, or moon and Sun. I like to mix a few facts about the planet within the fantasy. In Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon, kids will learn a few facts about Mercury. Then there is the challenge, which is different on each planet. For example, on Mercury they have to get five pairs of flying shoes, which is not an easy task. Every adventure has tests and lots of problem-solving for both Amelia and Uglesnoo.
Are any of your characters based on real-life people?
Uglesnoo ¾my main alien character from Pluto ¾and most of the aliens are entirely imaginary. But Amelia, the young heroine in my series was initially inspired by both of my daughters. She has my eldest daughter’s ability to think quickly and solve puzzles. Then I gave her my youngest daughter’s strong sense of adventure and curiosity about the universe. I also added other traits to Amelia. She has many fears which she needs to conquer in order for her and Uglesnoo to get the repelling crystal; the one thing that can save Uglesnoo’s sister and the reason behind the whole space adventures quest.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Write as much as you can. Put your work away for a while. Review and edit. Do this multiple times. I’d also really recommend having a professional editor review your work, before you decide to go down the publishing route. It really highlights your strengths and weaknesses as a writer and shows you what you need to work on. Persevere, be tenacious and open to constructive criticism. But most of all enjoy the process, because you are putting something unique and creative out into the world!
About the Book
Title: Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon
Author: Evonne Blanchard
Genre: Children’s Books
Amelia and Uglesnoo land on Mercury. They meet the Merballs, the friendly aliens that live there. All goes well, until an asteroid hits their planet. Amelia and Uglesnoo find themselves in deep trouble. How will they convince the Merballs of their innocence? And how will they manage to collect the flying shoes, escape Mercury and continue their quest to save Uglesnoo’s sister?
Author Bio
Evonne Blanchard was born and raised in England. She met her husband, an American whilst they were both volunteering at a children’s orphanage in Guatemala. The writer lives north of Boston, Massachusetts with her husband and their two daughters, Lydia and Gwendolyn. Other additions to the household include a crazy puppy called Bailey, a lovely cat called Arthur, and lots of fish!
The author has been fascinated by space ever since she was a little girl, mesmerized by clips of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon. As a teenager, War of the Worlds, by H.G Wells became one of her favorite books and she adores the movie Mars Attacks.
When it came to creating her own aliens, the author decided on the warm and fuzzy type, rather than the war-like Martians. Uglesnoo, her main alien character is from Pluto. He’s very friendly and nice but a little crazy too! This was the beginning of Amelia’s Amazing Space Adventures, starring Amelia and her alien friend Uglesnoo, from Pluto in a series of ten exciting space adventures for children, ages 5-10.
Uglesnoo’s sister is very sick. The only cure is a repelling crystal from Neptune. To obtain the crystal Amelia and Uglesnoo must travel to the Moon, Sun and all the planets in the solar system.
Evonne’s favorite planet -or to be more accurate dwarf planet- is Pluto, because it has a blue sky and glaciers just like Earth! She was not happy when Pluto was downgraded. Uglesnoo, her alien creation from Pluto is still mad at the decision. “Pluto is the most important place in the solar system. It’s where everyone goes for their vacation!” He agrees with Alan Stern, a leading NASA scientist, “This definition (of Pluto as a dwarf planet) stinks…!”
The author is currently working on the fourth book in the series, Amelia, the Snapperjacks and the Molten Maze. This book is set on the Sun. How will Amelia and Uglesnoo manage to land on the boiling hot Sun, trade with the aliens, find the jars of Snapperjack honey and continue their quest to save Uglesnoo’s sister? Find out… in Amelia’s next amazing space adventure!
Book One: Amelia, the Moochins and the Sapphire Palace
Book Two: Amelia, the Venutons and the Golden Cage
Book Three: Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon
Curious about the series? Click here to find out more:
https://ameliasamazingspaceadventures.com/the-series
Links
Book One: Amelia, the Moochins and the Sapphire Palace
Book Two: Amelia, the Venutons and the Golden Cage
Book Three: Amelia, the Merballs and the Emerald Cannon
Website: https://ameliasamazingspaceadventures.com/
Editor Charlene 