Summer Newsletter

July 10th, 2018  

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the first Vinetrope Adventures’ newsletter.  I hope it will entrance and delight you! I am Sherry Ross, author of Return of the Vinetropes , which is book #1 in my original fantasy/sci-fi trilogy The Vinetrope Adventures , meant for older children, teens and anyone young at heart who loves a good tale. It’s a story about our shared hopes, dreams and fears. I have brought the fairytale, full circle, into the present, with plenty of humor, adventure, worries, woes and moments of wonder. If you love talking, intelligent animals—this is the book for you. If you like a mystery to be solved with big themes about who we are and where we are going, then read my story. If you can imagine the wee-folk returning, and wonder how and why, and then imagine that they can master technology better than us, a technology that will become a mysterious source of clean energy, then come imagine this world with me. It is a brand-new kind of Fairyland. It’s Vinetropeland! 
My newsletters will be monthly to start and will offer fantasy-inspired crafts, recipes, reading suggestions, poetry, news about creative contests for kids and teens (keep reading for details), and more! Some may have short stories about the characters in my book, puzzles to solve or a quiz to take. These newsletters will be a bridge to my website where you can learn more about the trilogy, read more about me, and get all the necessary details you need to enter our contests. There is also an events calendar so that you can keep track of where I will be speaking next, with the newsletters informing you of the most recent venues. In the future, my newsletters will contain links to my website where the recipes, crafts, etc. can be found. For example, if I have included an original short story, it will   begin in my newsletter and continue on my website—you’ll just follow the link! But for now, enjoy this long full-length , content-rich sample of what my newsletters have to offer.

I want the pages of my newsletter to be enriched with what I call the “Three M’s”—Magic, Mystery and the Motivation to be creative. They will entertain and will be visually beautiful with lots of images. My hope is that my readers and visitors will be able to relax and escape, for a moment, the pressures of life, of school and work, and enter the world of vinetropes, which I envision as a gateway into a modern-day “Wonderland.”   
*To subscribe to my future newsletters, click here .

*Bloggers, if you are interested in reviewing my book, please contact  [email protected] for a press package.

So now, the big question: What are “vinetropes?”

Vinetropes are fairy-like people who have mysteriously returned from the past.
“Lucinda Vinetrope, my vinetrope protagonist.” 
Illustration by Julie Bell
They have returned from hibernation with a deeply rich and ancient past on Earth and with the power to master technology, harness and create clean energy, gift the ability of speech and higher intelligence to some animals, and build great civilizations. Who these vinetropes really are is a mystery to be solved, but the way they will impact our human world is immense. That is what my first book, Return of the Vinetropes , is all about: the return of the fairies of lore to the modern world. I have envisioned a world that explains where they came from. It introduces readers to the existence of this ancient world, in which fairies originated, and unravels some of the history of what happened to them. It is a contemporary tale in which the sci-fi elements add “believability” and strength to the premise. I wrote it for older children and teens and I believe many adults, who also long for a brand new here-and-now fairytale, will enjoy it too. (I promise, it will all make sense once you read the book!)

A Bit About the Plot:

It all begins, when 12-year-old Sara, who has lost her mother to cancer, and Lucinda Vinetrope, the lonely fairy who finds herself born full-grown and stranded in Sara’s backyard, meet and form a special bond. Together, with a cast of enchanting characters —such as the brave and wise owl, Owletta; the humorous squirrel brothers, Ekle and Apkin; Sara’s teenage brother Steven; Jamuna, Sara’s new human friend, who has the gift of prophecy; and even a flock of talking seagulls—they  set out on a journey to find out if other vinetropes exist. And if they do, if the vinetropes have returned in force, might not their evil counterparts return as well? Their pilgrimage leads them into a struggle that will eventually involve the very safety of our earth.
“A glimpse at the vine trope's evil counterparts.” 
Illustration by Julie Bell
Return of the Vinetropes is a roller coaster ride of emotions that takes the reader into an unpredictable future. If you’ve loved such books as The Narnia Chronicles or A Wrinkle in Time , and you would like to imagine it all happening right now, in our complex and modern world, in our very back yards, then you will love this story! It is a truly 21st Century “fairytale.”

About the Illustrator:

What I think makes my book extra special are the amazing illustrations by Julie Bell. There are 12 full-page, full-color plates in the book and drawings within each chapter. Julie Bell is a world-renowned, award-winning fantasy and wildlife painter. Winner of two Chelsea Awards and numerous Art Renewal Center Salon awards, Julie was the designer of the popular series Dragons of Destiny by Mark E. Tyson. Her work has appeared on calendars, comic books, trading cards, posters, album covers, and in major advertising campaigns. I am so lucky and so proud that she has illustrated my book.

A Little About Myself:

I grew up in a family of artists and writers. My dad, Leon Lazarus, wrote over 800 comic stories in the early years of his career and started out writing for Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame. He then went on to write for many magazines, Golden Books for children and detective novels. I have a book of poetry to my credit, Seeds of the Pomegranate , and a cookbook, The Sorrell Ridge Cookbook , but Return of the Vinetropes is my first novel. (Yippee!) I am also an editor, love to create fantasy and fake food sculptures, and have a passion for fairy gardening.
Here's a tip: Instead of digging out your old stump, use it as a pedestal for a fairy kingdom! I will show you my fairy village display and other magical gardening tips in my up-and-coming newsletters.
The "vinetrope" doll in this picture is a prototype I made years ago as my first concept for a vinetrope, years before writing Return of the Vinetropes . She has changed appearance-wise a lot since then, but she is part of my "vinetrope history!"
Looks good enough to eat doesn't it? This food sculpture is made of Sculpey (a baked polymer clay), plaster, paint, and varnish. This is my "caviar" sculpture.
I will also provide some tips on how to create enchanting garden vignettes, recipes, and crafts that would work in every fairytale. It's one of may favorite hobbies. I'm very excited to share my ideas and passions with you so stay tuned!

The Poem:

I’d like to share a poem from the book. Lucinda Vinetrope, my “fairy” protagonist, is also a 'Master Rhymer' for her people. Her poems are a way of remembering and recording history. She both charms and informs with a string of impulsive poetry throughout the book. My poems are part of my homage to Lewis Carroll (the mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), who wrote the Alice in Wonderland books and is famous for his delightful and humorous poetry throughout his tale. 


Here is the “Friendship Poem” that Lucinda creates for Sara shortly after they first meet:
“When a friend is a friend
Like you are to me
You see joy in their eyes
When you do splendidly
And you feel quite the same
When they’re doing grand,
It makes you feel useful
To give them a hand…
A slap on the back
An encouraging phrase
Can keep you full charged
For several days and
Pull you right through
To the light at the end--
Well that’s what I get
From Sara
My friend.”
“Sara and Lucinda.” Illustration by Julie Bell

The Recipe:

My newsletter recipes will be delicious and not ridiculously complicated. I want teens to basically be able to do them on their own, and many, for middle school kids, can also be done alone or with adult supervision when needed. The parent is always the best judge of what they’re kids are ready to do. What will make my recipes special—besides tasting good and being healthy—is the presentation – the unusual ways in which they are decorated. They will look like something right out of a fairy tale or as if they were made for an elven table. Their fantastical presentation will make them the show stopper for any dinner or special event. They will make beautiful center pieces for the table…that you can then eat!

Asian Rice with Sautéed Veggies under a Carrot Forest

Serves: 6-8 as side dish
Cook time : 30 minutes
Calories: 176—235 cals. (depending on serving size within the 6-8 range)

What’s nice about this dish is that it includes 5 cups of veggies and only 2 cups of rice, so it’s low in starch and offers plenty of vegetables per serving, yet it still serves as a great rice dish. The hoisin gives a wonderful Asian flavor to the dish. Feel free to adjust the hoisin measurement to your liking, but 2 tablespoons is a good guide.
The Ingredients:
2 cups cooked brown or white rice
1 cup chopped onion 
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped red peppers
2 cups green peas
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons of Sun Luck Hoisin Sauce
2 tablespoons of agave nectar 
½ cup of water
Sea salt to taste
​
To Garnish:
½ cups green peas to sprinkle on top
2 raw carrots used to make 6-8 freshly-cut carrot sticks for the tree trunks (about 4 inches long)
Fresh Italian parsley for the tree tops
The Instructions:
Cook the rice and green peas separately prior to cooking the main mixture. 

In a skillet pan add the olive oil, minced garlic, agave nectar, onions and a pinch of salt. Sauté the onions over medium-high heat until they become soft and a bit translucent. Add small amounts of water when the oil begins to dry up so that you don’t have to keep using more oil. (This is an easy trick to reduce the calories.) Once the onions are ready, add the carrots and red peppers. Continue to cook, using water if necessary, until the carrots and peppers are cooked through, but still firm. Add the cooked peas and mix the ingredients.
Lastly, add the hoisin sauce and the rice and mix everything together until well-blended. ​
To finish your forest…pour the rice mixture into a medium sized serving dish, creating a mound shape. (Use a pretty earthy-looking serving dish to add to the effect.) Make the “trees” of your carrot forest by sticking the carrots sticks into the top of the mound to serve as tree trunks. Then carefully add small bunches of fresh parsley on top of and in between the standing carrots to make the tree tops. Garnish the outskirts of the dish with the left over green peas. Serve and wait for compliments. (Even picky vegetable eaters will want to try this one.)
This is what the finished product looks like. Enjoy! 

(If you choose to try this recipe out yourself tag us in pictures on social media or email us photos!)

The Craft:

In our next newsletter we will introduce our first vinetrope-inspired craft. The crafts will be doable by most 10-year-olds and up and many can be enjoyed by younger kids with parental supervision. Our first craft will focus on how to decoupage everyday items and transform them into objects of beauty. Here is a sneak peak...
Even empty jars, like a used pasta sauce jar, can be transformed into something special! More details to come in my second newsletter so make sure you check it out!

Enter Our Summer Contest!

On June 28th, we launched our first creative contest for kids and teens! It’s the perfect summer project to participate in if you’re an artist at heart, like to draw, or if you’re just a true fan of Return of the Vinetropes . The contest is to draw a brand new vinetrope character that you created! You can use pencil, charcoal, markers, ink or you can use a mixture of these media.
 
There will be two age groups categories of winners. One is for middle school students and the other for high school students. There will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners for each age group. The winners will be notified on September 14th via email. The winners will be publicly announced on vinetrope.com and on the official Vinetrope Adventures social media accounts after we’ve confirmed with our winning contestants. We will also be publishing the winning drawings for everyone to see! The contest is live now and ends August 31st, 2018 at 12:00 pm EST.
First Place Winners:
Each will receive a swag bag filled with magical goodies which will include…
• A $500 Amazon gift card
• A set of 150 artist’s quality colored pencils
• A copy of “ Colored Pencil Painting Bible: Techniques for Achieving Luminous Color and Ultrarealistic Effects ” by Alyona Nickelsen
• A set of artist quality drawing pads 
• A set of artist lead pencils 
• A leather journal for ideas and sketches
• A copy of “ Arthur Rackham: A Life with Illustration ” by James Hamilton
• A signed, limited edition Return of the Vinetropes poster 
• A signed winner’s certificate 
• A letter from Author Sherry Ross
 
Second Place Winners:
Each will receive…
• A $100 Amazon gift card
• A copy of “Arthur Rackham: A Life with Illustration” by James Hamilton
• A leather journal for ideas and sketches
• A signed, limited edition Return of the Vinetropes poster 
• A signed winner’s certificate 
 
Third Place Winners: 
Each will receive…
• A $50 Amazon gift card
• A signed, limited edition Return of the Vinetropes poster 
• A signed winner’s certificate ​​
Kathryn Carter, Author of Summertime with Lizzie B Hayes, Dasia Edmond, Author of Girls Don't Play Football, and me at the IABX 'The Author Speaks' event.

Events:

On June 20 th I attended the Independent Authors Book Expo’s Author Speaks event with two other children’s authors. We talked children’s themes, writing blocks, illustrations and more. I had a great time and look forward to seeing the IABX team again at the Annual Independent Authors Book Expo on September 29 th at the Warinanco Sports Center in Roselle, NJ. ​
I would also like to offer local schools in Northern and Central New Jersey a free and lively presentation about my writing process with such subjects as: how I researched my book for the sci-fi elements, which includes some very interesting and little-known science facts, what it was like working with a famous illustrator and a slide show of illustrations from the book and from the natural sciences. I will share some of my childhood experiences: for example, I was the worst reader in my second grade class and almost got left back! I love to generate lively conversation. So, if you read Return of the Vinetopes and liked it, you can let your teacher or librarian know!

If you'd like to book me for an event, you can find more info here .

Book Reccomendations:

FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS: 

The Next Full Moon by Carolyn Turgeon
This thoroughly compelling, gorgeously told tale begins as the weather turns warm enough to swim in the local lake. Ava is on the brink of her twelfth birthday, and her crush, Jeff, is most definitely taking notice of her. Everything is going beautifully. Until Ava starts to grow feathers—all over her shoulders, arms, and back. Horrified, mortified, and clad in a turtleneck, she hides out in her bedroom, missing her dead mother and worrying about the summer, and the rest of her freakish life... Carolyn Turgeon has a gift for imagining magical worlds. In Ava’s case, this otherworldly place belongs to the Swan Maidens, one of whom is Ava’s mother. Ava goes back and forth between middle school and this magical realm, taking the reader along for an exhilarating, extraordinary ride.


FOR TEENS: 
​
The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
"Robyn Schneider’s, The Beginning of Everything, is a witty and heart-wrenching teen novel that will appeal to fans of books by John Green and Ned Vizzini, novels like the Great Gatsby and the Catcher in the Rye. Varsity tennis captain Ezra Faulkner was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before – before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with unpredictable new girl Cassidy Thorpe.”

School Library Journal says:
“.. this is a wonderfully told story. The dialogue moves the plot along at a fast pace, and Ezra, with all his flaws, is a character to whom readers can relate. Teens won’t want to put this one down.”
You may reach me with questions about my book at [email protected] 

For press-related questions, to receive a press package, or to book me for an event, please contact  [email protected]

Visit www.vinetrope.com for more info
 
To purchase the book on Amazon, click here .