Elaine Ambrose

Bestselling Author, Ventriloquist, & Humorist

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“Melody” Wins Distinguished Award for Children’s Fiction

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The 2021 Independent Press Awards announced today Melody’s Magical Flying Machine by Idaho author Elaine Ambrose is the Distinguished Favorite winner in the Children’s Fiction category. Judges evaluated entries from around the world, and the Children’s Fiction category received thousands of submissions. The Awards celebrate and recognize key titles representing excellence in global independent publishing and writing.

Melody’s Magical Flying Machine is a beginning chapter book for ages 7-11. Melody is an amusing 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome. She narrates her story of meeting an enchanted bird, and they use a 3D printer to create a flying machine pulled by two dragons. She soars over the playground to amaze her friends and confront a group of bullies. Melody’s energetic talent in storytelling empowers her to educate others about Down syndrome while sharing her tall tales and strong hugs.

“The book is a joyful, well-told story that celebrates the power of imagination. Melody is an engaging narrator whose cheerful affection, knack for happiness, and zestful imagination express themselves in every line. Carolyn Zina’s pencil illustrations are beautifully textured and shaded, with a magical quality that deftly matches the text.” – Kirkus Reviews

Publishers Weekly named the book as an “Editor’s Pick” for outstanding quality and wrote about “vivid prose” and “imaginative tapestry that is Melody’s magical adventure.” The published review concluded: “This charming flight of fancy with an equally charming protagonist will delight readers who want to be both educated and entertained.”

Slant3D of Nampa, Idaho, manufactured 3D toys for the book.

The story features a 3D printer, and toys were created with a 3D printer to accompany the book. Ambrose has donated books and toys to several charities, including Special Olympics Idaho and the Ohana Day Center in Woods Cross, Utah.

Illustrations were created by Idaho artist Caroline Zina. The book is available in paperback, published by Brown Books Publishing, and in eBook and audiobook read by the author. Order from independent bookstores, online, or from the author.

Elaine Ambrose is a bestselling author of 12 books, 14 eBooks, and 4 audiobooks. During the past six years, her books have won 10 international writing awards in three genres: humor, memoir, and children’s books. More details are available on www.ElaineAmbrose.com.

Melody the Daydreamer
Melody and JuJu use a 3D printer to make a flying machine.
“Don’t forget me, Sweetie Pie.”

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.

Publishers Weekly Says Midlife Cabernet is “Laugh-out-Loud Funny”

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GION COMICS AUDIO WEB EXCLUSIVE PW SELECT SEARCH

Midlife Cabernet: Life, Love & Laughter After Fifty

Elaine Ambrose. Mill Park Publishing, $12 paper (224p) ISBN 978-0-9883980-7-8
Ambrose faces the frights, frustrations, and fancies of aging in this refreshingly honest and laugh-out-loud funny survival guide for middle-aged women. Infusing her prose with sarcastic dark humor, the author offers homespun recommendations on dating and sex, raising adult children, and the physical effects of aging—all with brazen cheer. From stressful divorces and facing Christmas alone to disastrous sexual misadventures nothing is sacred or off limits. The author’s prose is lively and entertaining, with statements like “one of the many advantages of living in the last third of life is that I don’t accept crap from anyone.” Sure to be irritated and edified, women over 40 will find a lot to like here.
Reviewed on: 07/28/2014
Release date: 03/01/2014