Since his childhood Mike Di Certo has always harvested his work from the abundant crop of his imagination. From the wild and hilarious Rock and Roll space adventure Milky Way Marmalade, to the child-like wonder of his middle grade series, The Adventures of Rupert Starbright (The Door to Far-Myst, The Secret of My-Myst and The Ghosts of Winter Joy) Michael’s passions play out on the pages. His love of animals, his family, gardening, travel, movies, VR, history, Yoga, reading and music guide and influence his life and his writing.
His latest book is the middle grade fantasy novel, A Nick of Time.
Visit his website at www.ruperstarbright.com or connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.
Thanks for this interview, Michael. Congratulations on your new book! Would you say it’s been a rocky road for you in regards to getting your book written and published or pretty much smooth sailing? Can you tell us about your journey?
A NICK OF TIME is book 4 of my Adventures of Rupert Starbright series, so Zumaya Publications was going to publish it. The writing itself is always a journey and a joy. I can dilly dally and procrastinate when I am trying to decide what my next project will be but once I get going I can be very disciplined as a writer.
When not writing, what do you like to do for relaxation and/or fun?
I love to tend to my rooftop garden, where my main focus in chili peppers. I also dabble with the guitar. I enjoy watching the NY Mets play and my wife and I are fans of a handful of TV shows. Mostly I enjoy sitting on my roof, listening to music and pondering.
What makes your book stand out from the rest?
The audacity of my imagination. I was blessed with a potent one and in explodes on the pages of A NICK OF TIME.
Can you give us the very first page of your book so that we can get a glimpse inside?
“Ten…nine…eight…!”
Old Year Square shivered along with the folks of Graysland
as they counted down the final seconds of the fading
year. Frigid winds swirled and swished around the
heads and legs of the dozens and dozens who had arrived
in the square to greet the newest year. On that wind raced
herds of dead leaves that crunched and scraped along
the stones. It was Graysland, after all, and here the leaves
fell across all the months.
Rupert Dullz stood, his gaze fixed on the giant metal
bellberry leaf that sat atop the tall silver Yearling pole,
waiting for the countdown to finish. Around him stood
his parents, Polgus and Olga, and his grandma Folka,
who was bundled up in a brown coat and hat so thick
she looked like a bear.
“Seven…six…!”
The numbers shouted by the crowd sent clouds of
steam into the chill night air.
Folka leaned close to Rupert and whispered, “Did you
make a wish for the New Year, sweetie?”
Rupert nodded and felt his face grow warm with a
blush. A very specific wish had been floating around his
head for the last few months. Ever since school began in
September, he had noticed a new girl in his sixth-grade
class. He wondered if she had noticed him.
If your book was put in the holiday section of the store, what holiday would that be and why?
It has a New Years theme so definitely around the Christmas-New Years time of year.
Would you consider turning your book into a series or has that already been done?
Already done!
When you were young, did you ever see writing as a career or full-time profession?
I have been writing stories since I was five years old.
What’s next for you?
Another Rupert book of course as well as a possible sequel to my first novel, Milky Way Marmalade. I also continue to produce episodes of my podcast, STOOPS OF ATLANTIS where I tell true tales of growing up in East Harlem, NY during the crazy 1970s and 80s.
It’s New Year’s Eve in Graysland, but when the final second fails to come Rupert Starbright finds his entire town frozen in time. Rupert and his school crush Rainn Evertree must travel to the Land of Annum to retrieve the stolen second from the nasty and evil Epoch. They will explore a wild, imaginative, and musical world where all the characters of the Zodiac join Rainn in helping Rupert in his most colorful and challenging adventure yet!
“A Nick of Time is thoroughly entertaining and a fun read, this should be made into a Pixar animation!” – Amazon
“All kids should be encouraged to read this unique series and use their imaginings as well! It’s the power of positive thinking for the young adult set. Highly recommend!” – Amazon
Book Information
Release Date: August 16, 2021
Publisher: Zumaya Publications
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1612710990; 295 pages; $11.70; eBook $4.99
Amazon: http://amzn.to/3vSNQ1x
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