Category Archives: Publishing a Book

Book Three is in production!

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The third book in my juvenile/action adventure series will be published in time for the Holidays.  I was not able to achieve this with Books One and Two.  I am very excited, I even have a slogan:  Go to Egypt for the Holidays….Or China…Or Greece.  Purchase an Ethan Sparks Adventure Book.

The title of my new  book is, Chase of the Mummies.  It is set in Egypt.  The reader goes on an adventure with Ethan to Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings to see King Tuts Tomb, and a cruise up the Nile.

Chase of the Mummies is a pivotal book in the series.  I think I am most proud that I have made Egypt a character unto itself.  Egypt is such a  historically rich country!

My action/adventure series now has three boks.  Escape of the Terra-Cotta Soldiers  set in China.  Revenge of Poseidon’s Trident set in Greece.  And the latest, Chase of the Mummies set in Egypt.

Children ages 9 to 14 go on an action-packed  adventure with thirteen-year-old Ethan Sparks as the narrator.  The young readers may turn the pages quickly because of the suspense.  But by the end of the story they have learned about world culture, ancient history, and the inner workings of an archaeological dig.

Dr. Gary Stickel, an modern day archaeologist has endorsed the Ethan Sparks Series.  The London Times calls Dr Stickel ” the real-life Indiana Jones”.  Below is Dr Stickel’s endorsement:

The Ethan Sparks Adventure books are fun, engaging books for young readers. They are wild rides to some of the great sites of archaeology, such as the tomb of the first emperor of China and his terra-cotta soldiers. I hope the boys and girls who read them will be inspired to get involved in real-life archaeology—maybe even on my own digs!

– Dr. Gary Stickel
“the real-life Indiana Jones”—London Times
Excavator at Achilleion (legendary birthplace of Achilles, hero of the Trojan War)
Excavator at Machu Picchu—the “lost city of the Incas”
Current project:  Co-director of the Search for Odysseus’ Palace Project, 2010.

If you would like more information about the Ethan Sparks Adventure Series, please go to:   www.ethansparksadventures.com.

The books are available on sites such as Amazon.com, bn.com and many other booksellers online.  They are also available as E-books.

On a personal note, I want to share what a gratifying mid-life experience this has been.  I spend mornings answering fan mail at spyguyethan@gmail.com.   I also maintain an Ethan Sparks  Fan Club on Facebook.

This year I was able to perform a book presentation on China for three-hundred seventh graders at the Northwest Middle School in Greensboro NC.  I also talked with the students about being a writer.  It surprised me how many seventh graders in the auditorium also want to be writers.  Many of the students performed their poetry.

In addition to this presentation, I also had thirty-six Book Signings/Readings, Book Fairs, Educator Appreciation Receptions, and Charity Events.

The fact that I am learning to balance writing and editing with promotional events proves my mid-life change of career was a life-altering decision.  I have met so many phenomenal children and their parents.  I have enjoyed many conversations with teachers, librarians, and booksellers. My world has grown so very much.

The journey I embarked upon in 2007 has taken me places I had never dreamed of.   I find this ironic, since I have wanted to be a writer since the age of thirteen.

Sorry it took so long to update my blog.

Take Care,

Nick

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Chase of the Mummies: An Ethan Sparks Adventure

Posted on by by Nick
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On July 11, 2010, I completed the first draft of Book Three in the Ethan Sparks Adventures Series! At this time, its working title is Chase of the Mummies: An Ethan Sparks Adventure.

July the 11th happens to be a benchmark date because it was Ethan Sparks’ 14th birthday. In Books One, Two and Three in the series, Ethan was 13. In Books Four and Five, he will be 14. Book Six, the last book, Ethan will turn 15 years old.

With the publication of Book Three (scheduled for November 2010), I will be halfway through the series. At this point in my career, Ethan Sparks Adventures is reaching its critical mass stage. By this, I mean that the series is really starting to catch on.

On July the 1st, my interview in the Kernersville News came out. It was featured on the first page of the Lifestyles section, complete with a photo of me and a prominent picture of Book One, Escape of the Terra-Cotta Soldiers.

When I first saw this published interview in my local paper, I realized that critical mass had begun. It was gratifying to see that my writer’s journey had reached this benchmark.

On August the 28th, I will be performing my 40th book signing at one of my local Barnes & Noble bookstores. This one is in Burlington, NC.

I am so grateful to Becky Carnigan, the Community Relations Manager at the Greensboro Barnes & Noble for her continuous support in scheduling book fairs and book signings. Also, Renee Johnson in High Point, Susan Ellington in Burlington, and Jane Derian in Winston-Salem.

I was also privileged to perform a “China presentation” at the Northwest Middle School in Greensboro on June the 9th.

My presentation, which I gave to 300 7th graders, was a lot of fun for both the kids and myself. I told the kids stories about my China experience with a Powerpoint that featured actual photographs of my China trip. Afterwards, the 300 7th graders and I had an invigorating Q&A. What a rush that was!

My heartfelt thanks go out to Ms. Tammy Balser, who is in charge of Social Studies for the 7th grade at Northwest Middle. My presentation was part of her seventh grade curriculum about Asia.

I would also like to thank my publicist, Ellen Berry, for all of her insight and expertise in putting together such a phenomenal Powerpoint presentation. Thanks to her, it was a major success!

My next step in my writer’s journey is for Book Three to go through its editorial process. I anticipate that this round will go much more smoothly than Book One and Two, now that I’m in my groove. I’ll let you know!

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The Powers That Be Made Me Change the Title of Book Two

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Up until a few days ago, the title of the second book in the Ethan Sparks Adventures Series was Drowning in the Oracle of Delphi. Just days before the book is due to go “live” in mid-February,  the powers that be made me change the title. The new title is: Revenge of Poseidon’s Trident. Which one do you like better?

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Book Two is Going Live!

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Book Two in the Ethan Sparks Adventure series goes “live” before the end of January, 2010. It’s title is Drowning in the Oracle of Delphi.

The Back Cover Synopsis is:

From the moment Ethan Sparks lands on the Greek Island of Santorini, he thinks his assignment for The Young Explorer Magazine is a bad joke. The thirteen-year-old reporter is covering his dad’s latest archaeological dig—and it’s a weird one.  A modern-day oracle in Delphi has uttered that Poseidon’s Trident really exists. Now Ethan’s father believes the Trident is buried in a volcanic ledge under the Aegean Sea.  Dr. Sparks wants to use the latest underwater archaeology equipment to find the Trident, but his usual backers refused to fund such a ridiculous expedition.  When Spiros, a wacko billionaire comes up with the cash, Ethan wants to know why.  In his investigation with his new friend, Nico, the junior spies uncover a secret organization that would sooner kill the boys than let them reveal the truth.  It will take a lot more than spy-guy skills to escape being shark bait.

The series website can be found at: www.ethansparksadventures.com. The website will also go “live” before the end of January, 2010. Ethan can be emailed at spyguyethan@gmail.com. He will answer all emails.

The Third Book in the Juvenile Action / Adventure Series is currently being written. This time Ethan’s adventure is in Cairo, Egypt. The publication date we are striving towards will be June 15, 2010. It’s title is: Uncovering the Buried Pyramid.

Book Four is already on the drafting table. Unhinging the Secrets of Stonehenge will hopefully come out in time for the 2010 holiday season.

At this time, a location for Book Five is still not known. An E.S.L. teacher I met while doing a book signing at a Teacher’s Appreciation Reception at the Greensboro, NC Barnes & Noble suggested that Ethan go on one of his adventures at a Latino locale. Great idea! Does anyone know of an exciting archaeological site in a country where Spanish is spoken? Please comment on this blog, or e-mail spyguyethan@gmail.com with any suggestions.

Book Number Six will show Ethan at home in Chapel Hill, NC. Readers will get to meet his mom and older brother, Carter, and Ethan’s best friend Drew.  We will also visit the Research Laboratories of Archaeology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And then it’s off to a Native American dig on the grounds of an old plantation. This great example of a grand North Carolina plantation built in 1860 becomes much more than a routine dig. Ethan discovers that a murder occurred there 150 years ago, and in his last investigation as a reporter for The Young Explorer magazine, he solves it. The last book in the series is eerie with spirit photography, a chilling motive for murder, and some cool forensics. It’s a real period piece, and very spooky.

Can you tell that I’m having fun writing this series? Kids find the stories a blast to read, and they’re learning about a foreign culture, embracing diversity, history, and the inner-workings of an archaeological dig.

What a journey this has been for me as well! Since the age of thirteen I have wanted to be a writer, and it took Ethan to drive me there. And he doesn’t even have a driver’s license yet!

Hope you enjoy reading about it on this blog, the website and the book series itself!

Finally, I would like to thank my publicist, Ellen Berry (no relation). Ellen has kept this 55-year-old young and in touch with technology. Who would have ever thought I’d be blogging? Honestly, I didn’t even know what a blog was until recently. The wonderful thing about Ellen is the way she can juggle all the support system that I need. She’s great at revision, website creation, logo design, and marketing — she’s turned Ethan Sparks Adventures into Ethan Sparks Enterprises.  Thank you, Ellen. I also want to sincerely thank Aric Johnson for his editorial genius, Sara Drake for her incredible contributions to the development of this series, and Russ Palmer for his wonderful insight into Greece and very clever and promising ideas. Last, and most importantly of them all, my supportive wife Jenn who pretends not to notice when I converse in all my different characters’ voices.

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A Writer’s Dream

Posted on by by Nick
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I am very excited. My brother, Paul, started an Ethan Sparks / Nick Barry Fan Club on Facebook. To become a fan, please sign onto Facebook, type in ‘Ethan Sparks/Nick Barry’ in the Search box and click the “Become a Fan” button.

Launching the The Ethan Sparks Adventure Series has been the realization of my dream. Book One, Escape of the Terra-Cotta Soldiers, set in modern day China, is selling more books than I ever imagined. Book Two, Drowning in the Oracle of Delphi, is being edited and should be out in two months or so.

In Book Two, Ethan Sparks is in Greece. The inquisitive 13-year-old is on his second assignment as a reporter for The Young Explorer magazine. This fast-paced action/adventure for juveniles ages 10-14 takes the reader on a roller coaster ride in Santorini. Kids are emailing Ethan every day at spyguyethan@gmail.com.

The kids email saying what a “cool dude” Ethan is. They all want to know when Book Two in the series is coming out. A truly phenomenal sign.

This is the type of sign that already has me writing Book Three, Uncovering the Buried Pyramid. In this one, Ethan is on another adventure with his father, an esteemed archaeologist. This time they’re in Cairo, Egypt. I plan to have this book out in June 2010 — just in time for the summer reading list.

The fact that middle-school teachers and librarians endorse this series, and subsequently parents approve of their children reading it, makes it all worthwhile for me.

I’m thrilled that I have created a series that kids want to read. Kids reading is my cause – especially the 10-14 year olds.

So you see, I’m living my dream. I awake every morning with purpose and drive. Even I’m looking forward to Book Four, Unhinging the Secrets of Stonehenge. Stonehenge predates the Ancient Egyptians. It’s a fascinating locale. But I know that Ethan has to go on a fast-paced adventure there to keep the kids reading.

The first four books in the series takes our hero, Ethan Sparks,  on adventures to exotic locales such as China, Greece, Egypt and Britain… so far…

At a local Barnes & Noble Educator Appreciation Reception, where I was a keynote speaker, an English as a Second Language teacher suggested that I take Ethan on an adventure in a Latino locale. Great idea! I’m thinking Chile or Peru, or maybe the rainforest, or even Machu Picchu.

If you have any suggestions, please comment on this blog or email me at spyguyethan@gmail.com to offer your suggestions.

I know that Book Six, the last in the series, will take place in North Carolina. We’ll get to meet Ethan’s mom and older brother, Carter, his best friend Drew, and his two Dachsunds, Schnitzel and Strudel. A culinary joke, given the fact that Isabella Sparks, Ethan’s mom, is a cookbook author and has her own show on the Cooking Network.

In Book Six, we’re on a Native American dig up in Boone, NC. And all because Dr. Sparks, Ethan’s dad, heads up the Research Laboratories of Archaeology at U.N.C. The Sparks’ home town is in Chapel Hill, NC.

I do not have a title for Books Five and Six yet. Again, any suggestions? If I choose your suggestion, I will send you a personally inscribed and signed set of the entire series.

One more thing before I hit “Enter”. I plan on writing a surprise last Ethan Sparks book. In this adventure, Ethan is 17 and on a solo sail around all the continents. His final farewell until it’s time to think about colleges. Don’t have a title for this one either – any suggestions?

Well, enough for now dear Blog Reader. Talk to you soon. Until then, take care and thank you.

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