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AUTHOR BIO
LONG BIO: Samantha M Clark is the award-winning author of THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST and ARROW (both published by Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster) and AMERICAN HORSE TALES: HOLLYWOOD (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House), as well as the GEMSTONE DRAGONS chapter book series (Bloomsbury). She has always loved stories about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. After all, if four ordinary brothers and sisters can find a magical world at the back of a wardrobe, why can’t she? While she looks for her real-life Narnia, she writes about other ordinary children and teens who’ve stumbled into a wardrobe of their own. In a past life, Samantha was a photojournalist and managing editor for newspapers and magazines. She lives with her husband and two funny dogs in Austin, Texas. Samantha helps other writers through her Your Writing Mentor newsletter and explores wardrobes every chance she gets. Sign up for news and giveaways at www.SamanthaMClark.com. Follow her on BlueSky @samanthamclark, Twitter @samclarkwrites, Instagram @samanthamclarkbooks, Facebook at SamanthaMClarkAuthor, and Pinterest at SamClarkWrites.
SHORT BIO: Samantha M Clark is the award-winning author of THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST and ARROW (both published by Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster) and AMERICAN HORSE TALES: HOLLYWOOD (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House), as well as the GEMSTONE DRAGONS chapter book series (Bloomsbury). She lives with her husband and two funny dogs in Austin, Texas, and helps other writers through her Your Writing Mentor newsletter. Sign up for news and giveaways at www.SamanthaMClark.com. Follow her on BlueSky @samanthamclark, Twitter @samclarkwrites, Instagram @samanthamclarkbooks, Facebook at SamanthaMClarkAuthor, and Pinterest at SamClarkWrites.
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BOOKS
Gemstone Dragons series
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Ages: 7+
Genre: Chapter book fantasy series
Topics: Friendship, Insecurity, Confidence, Environment, Mistakes
Gemstone Dragons 1: Opal’s Time To Shine: ISBN 9781547608881 (paperback)
Gemstone Dragons 2: Ruby’s Fiery Mishap: ISBN 9781547608928 (paperback)
Gemstone Dragons 3: Topaz’s Spooky Night: ISBN 9781547610891 (paperback)
Gemstone Dragons 4: Emerald’s Blooming Secret: ISBN 9781547610921 (paperback)
Illustrators: Janelle O. Anderson and Hollie Hibbert
Perfect for fans of Unicorn Princesses, this sparkly new chapter book series stars a group of adorable dragons each with their own special gemstone magic. In an enchanted world full of magical creatures, a group of Gemstone Dragons live in Sparkle Cave deep inside Mineral Mountain. Each dragon has a unique magical power that comes from their gemstone, and while the powers are fun, sometimes they get the dragons into trouble. But there’s no problem the Gemstone Dragons can’t overcome by working together.
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Praise for Opal’s Time To Shine
“A magical world featuring an uncertain but determined heroine sure to charm.” ~Kirkus Reviews
“Sparkly and kind, this early chapter book shines as bright as the titular dragons’ gemstones. Young dragon-lovers will devour this sweet, happy treat and look eagerly for future installments!” ~Joy Preble, Children’s Programming Director, Brazos Bookstore
“I want to live in this dazzling world where dragons fly over crystal fields, mountains hold untold magic, and friendship shines brightly even in the face of danger. A sparkling jewel of a story!” ~Kamilla Benko, best-selling author of The Unicorn Quest series
Praise for Ruby’s Fiery Mishap
“A solid sequel and a hug for overthinkers.” ~Kirkus Reviews
Arrow
Out now from Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster
Ages: 8+
Genre: Middle grade fantasy
Topics: Environment, Deforestation, Friendship, Acceptance, Disabilities, STEM
ISBN 9781534465978 (hardcover), 9781534465985 (paperback), 9781534465992 (ebook)
Cover design: Laurent Linn, illustration: Justin Hernandez
Mad Max meets The Jungle Book with lots of Fern Gully in this novel about Arrow, a 12-year-old boy with a limb difference, who has grown up the only human living in a lush forest oasis in a dry and arid future world where the rich live in stilted cities and industry has devoured nearly all the trees. This patch of rainforest survives behind a magical curtain that keeps it hidden from those who would exploit it. But the magic has started to deplete, and the veil that shields the forest has begun to shred. When people from the outside world find the cracks in the magic, they discover a place they have only seen in dreams—dense and green with water in the air. Arrow is intrigued by these new humans, the first of his kind he’s ever seen, but their arrival sets off a chain of events that will lead Arrow to make a devastating choice: be accepted by the people or save his home from being destroyed.
Praise for Arrow
“ARROW is a richly imagined fable about the need to connect with people of divergent tribes…and thereby heal a wounded planet. Clark blends fantasy and science into a lush and timely tapestry that enlightens and enchants.” ~Susan Fletcher, author of the award-winning Journey of the Pale Bear
“ARROW is a compelling adventure about resilience, hope, and learning to trust your own heart.” ~Lynne Kelly, author of the award-winning SONG OF A WHALE
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- See the ARROW page for more about this book
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The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast
Out now from Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster
Ages: 8+
Genre: Middle grade contemporary fantasy
Winner: SCBWI 2019 Texas/Oklahoma Crystal Kite Award
Translated into three languages
Topics: Courage, Insecurity, Fears
ISBN 9781534412552 (hardcover), 9781534412569 (paperback), 9781534412576 (ebook)
Cover design: Laurent Linn, illustration: Justin Hernandez
In THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST, a boy wakes up on a mysterious beach where everything’s scary and he doesn’t know who he is or how he got there. After a bright light shines over the Green Wall of trees, the boy gathers up his courage and follows it, hoping to find answers and his family. But when he discovers the terrifying truth, he must face his biggest fear—going home.
Praise for The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast
“This debut novel should be savored for its atmospheric setting, ominous tension and the beautiful way it brings light to the darker parts of childhood.” ~BookPage
“An unforgettable, life-affirming tale.” ~Booklist
“Clark writes with a lyrical and appealing rhythm, as she viscerally explores childhood emotions of fear and anxiety relating to bullying, abandonment, and getting lost.” ~Publishers Weekly
“Clark’s melodic prose, packed with otherworldly imagery and affecting repetition, effectively sets the boy’s fears in a larger context. … This first novel from Clark offers unusual imaginative and emotion-driven introspection, earning its several allusions to The Little Prince.” ~Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Weighty themes like courage, love, will, and care for the defenseless haunt this archetypal journey. … With a sharp focus on the isolated protagonist and his internal struggle, it is character development that shines most clearly, though the external environmental dangers and the mystery keep the suspense taut. … A poignant story.” ~School Library Journal
“Lyrical and hauntingly beautiful, this is a story for everyone who’s had to learn to face their fears.” ~Jennifer A. Nielsen, New York Times best-selling author of THE TRAITOR’S GAME
“[A] well-crafted mystery thriller…[that] speaks to the deepest level of heart and psyche, about facing the worst that fear has to offer, about determination and force of will, and about how the threads of love joining families together refuse to fray.” ~Susan Vaught, Edgar Award-winning author of ME AND SAM-SAM HANDLE THE APOCALYPSE
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- Resources for THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST
- THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST Praise Sheet
- Download THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST media kit
American Horse Tales: Hollywood
Out now from Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House
Ages: 7+
Genre: Contemporary
Second book in a series about girls and their horses
Topics: Animals, Movies, Girl Empowerment, Confidence
ISBN 9780593225271 (paperback)
Cover illustration: Kelley McMorris
Set in modern-day California, this American Horse Tale is the story of a young girl who, along with her family’s horse, is destined for the big screen. Juniper is a young girl who dreams of making it big in the movies along with her horse, Able. In particular, Juniper is obsessed with getting Able onto her favorite television show, Castle MacAvoy, and will do anything, even slay dragons, to make that happen.
