Elaine Ambrose

Bestselling Author, Ventriloquist, & Humorist

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Elaine Ambrose

Publishers Weekly Names Children’s Book as “Editor’s Pick”

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Illustration of Melody

Professional reviewers from Publishers Weekly reviewed Melody’s Magical Flying Machine by Idaho author Elaine Ambrose and awarded the book with a “lightning bolt” designation, indicating an “Editor’s Pick for a Book of Outstanding Quality.”

Publishers Weekly is the international news platform of book publishing and bookselling. It was founded in 1872 and published continuously since then and includes business news, reviews, bestseller lists, and commentaries.

The review to be published in the BookLife feature of the November issue of Publishers Weekly noted that: “Award-winning humorist, memoirist, and children’s author Ambrose adds another hit to her roster with a third children’s book.”

The story is narrated by a girl with Down syndrome. She meets a talking bird, and they use a 3D printer to create a magical flying machine to soar over the playground, scare a group of bullies, and prove that Melody is brave and magnificent. Besides her tall tales and colorful stories, she also shares facts about Down syndrome.

The review gave A ratings for copy and editing and an A- for illustrations. The review mentioned “vivid prose” and “imaginative tapestry that is Melody’s magical adventure.” The review concluded: “This charming flight of fancy with an equally charming protagonist will delight readers who want to be both educated and entertained.”

This positive review follows another national critique by Kirkus Reviews that wrote the book “is a joyful, well-told story that celebrates the power of imagination.”

Ambrose will introduce the book in the Boise area on November 14 with an Open House at SpurWing Country Club in Meridian. Social distance requirements will be observed. Participants can register, pay in advance, and come inside to receive autographed copies and 3D toys created for the event. Proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Idaho.
Melody’s Magical Flying Machine will be available in November in paperback, eBook, and audiobook read by the author.

Open House and Virtual Book Premiere Party Nov. 14

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After organizing and hosting more than a dozen public premiere parties for new books, I’m going drive-by and virtual. That means no cake, no readings, no signings, no live music, and no mingling with guests, but we’ll be cautious against the coronavirus. Let’s plan on festive parties in person next year.

Melody’s Magical Flying Machine will be introduced on November 14 through online and Open House options. You can order books and 3-D toys to be mailed, or stop by The Club at SpurWing in Meridian from 2:00 – 4:00 pm to pick up autographed books and toys from me.

Details are on this Eventbrite link:

Melody’s Book Premiere Party.

At the Open House, I’ll have copies of 12 of my books for your holiday and Christmas shopping.

Proceeds from the November 14th event will benefit Special Olympics Idaho.

3-D Toys Created for Children’s Book

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Video shows 3-D printing of the doll toy for Melody.

Melody is coming! A new children’s book titled Melody’s Magical Flying Machine introduces 10-year-old Melody, an amusing girl who loves to imagine and tell stories, give strong hugs, and share knock-knock jokes with her brother. She also has Down syndrome.

After a bad day at school, she escapes to her safe place beneath a catalpa tree and meets a magical talking bird. They use a 3-D printer to create a flying machine so Melody can fly through the air, amaze her friends, and chase a group of bullies. Through her adventures, Melody discovers her strength, resilience, and joy.

Slant 3D Printing in Caldwell, Idaho, was commissioned to design and manufacture 3-D toys to accompany the book, eBook, and audiobook. The company features state-of-the-art design, prototype manufacturing, and production of complex products for clients across the country. The finished toy resembles the illustration of Melody and details include her eyeglasses.

3-D toys in a Fairy Garden.

The book contains a dozen charming illustrations by Idaho artist Caroline Zina. Two illustrations were used for the 3-D toys: the girl and the shell that became the flying machine. The toys are three-inches high, light-weight, and sturdy enough for active children to use during storytelling activities with the book.https://elaineambrose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/img_2329.mov

The book premieres in November, and the paperback and eBook are available for pre-order. The audiobook read by the author will be available on November 10. The author is organizing a premiere party on Saturday, November 14. The book and two toys will be sold for $25. Individual books and toys also can be purchased. Proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Idaho.

20_52062_CVR_SoftProof Click this link to see the back and front cover.

The book is receiving excellent reviews from national reviewers, professionals, and children who enjoy chapter books written for ages seven through eleven. Kirkus Reviews wrote, “Melody’s Magical Flying Machine is a joyful, well-told story that celebrates the power of imagination.”

“Melody” Ready for Pre-Order in Paperback and eBook Formats

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Sample eBook page for “Melody’s Magical Flying Machine”

Melody’s Magical Flying Machine is almost ready to fly into the hands and hearts of adults and children eager for a positive, imaginative story. The book, eBook, and audiobook read by the author will be available in November, but orders are being accepted now.

Click here for the paperback edition available for pre-order.

Click here for the eBook edition for Kindle.

The story features a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who meets an enchanted talking bird. Using a 3-D printer, they create a magical flying machine pulled by two dragons so she can soar freely through the air, amaze her friends, and scare a group of bullies. Kirkus Reviews wrote “the book is a joyful, well-told story that celebrates the power of imagination.”

Kirkus Reviews wrote illustrations by Idaho artist Caroline Zina are “beautifully textured and shaded, with a magical quality that deftly matches the text.” The manuscript was professionally edited and published by Brown Books Publishing. The author employed the assistance of five children between the ages of eight and twelve to make suggestions and approve the final version. Talented people at DesignWorks Creative in Boise designed the interior layout for the eBook. With the release in November, the author will offer 3-D toys for purchase to accompany the book. The toys are being manufactured by Slant 3D in Nampa. The audiobook will be produced by Drew Allen Brown of Nampa. The cover art by Wayne Anderson is courtesy of Bridgeman Art Gallery in New York. Proceeds from the initial launch in November will be donated to Special Olympics Idaho.

Menopause Still Sucks after a Dozen Years

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Elaine Ambrose, author, “Menopause Sucks” – 2008

I hosted the premiere party for Menopause Sucks twelve years ago on August 8, 2008 in Eagle, Idaho. I was divorced then, and my children helped me organize the event. The book was cowritten with bestselling author Joanne Kimes, and my literary agent was Andrea Hurst. The publisher was Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Since then, I’ve written and/or published 14 more books, two grandbabes were born, I met a guy I call Studley, and we moved to a golf course. Menopause sucks less.

Here are some excerpts from Menopause Sucks.

Warning: Over 38 million women are going through menopause, and some of them are really irritated. If you’re one of them, you know that it’s a crying shame that you could live to be 100 but only twenty of those years come with youthful vigor, shiny hair, smooth skin, multiple orgasms, and a flat stomach. To understand what is happening to your mind and body, just put down that shotgun and find a cool spot to read the book Menopause Sucks by menopausal maniac Elaine Ambrose. You’ll find answers and laughs as you learn about hot flashes, incontinence, hair loss, age spots, flatulence, mood swings, and hot sex after forty. This isn’t your mother’s medical manual.

While it is better than dying too young, living past forty often comes with unpleasant and bewildering challenges. For the most part, every single symptom of menopause is caused by one reason, and one reason alone: hormones. It seems that your body makes several different kinds of hormones that love to cavort through your body and play havoc with your sanity. Two major players are called estrogen and progesterone. In medical terms, estrogen is produced in your ovaries and acts as a chemical commander in chief, telling your female body what to do. In not-so-medical terms, imagine a teeny tyrant running through your brain yelling, “Grow pubic hair now!” “Ovulate from the left ovary!” or “Make that boob bigger than the other one!” As with most power-hungry rascals, estrogen likes to change the rules every now and then just to confuse you.

As perimenopause begins, your ovaries are tired of taking orders, so they decide to reduce the production of estrogen. “Attention All Sectors. Estrogen is leaving the body. Farewell party at noon in the pituitary gland.” Then all hell breaks loose and you start to experience symptoms of perimenopause. The fact that you live through this chaos is definite proof of your magnificence. A lesser species would have become extinct millions of years ago.

It’s a rather cruel trick of nature that you could be raising teenagers and caring for aging parents while your Generalissimo Estrogen is barking orders at your female parts, your Busy Bee Progesterones are frantically fixing up the uterus for the Sperm and Egg Combo, and your Naughty Testosterone is working your libido like a tigress in heat.

Need more sassy information? Read the book! I have some and would love to autograph one and send it to you for only $10. Email me at Elaine@test.elaineambrose.com.