New Classics author, Susan K. Marlow, has not written only Thick as Thieves (New Classics featured book and free study guide). She actually has an entire series for middle-grade readers called the Circle C Adventures. The last two books (7 & 8) just released and contain collections of fun, Old West short stories. The best news is you don't have to read the other books in the series to enjoy plucky Andi Carter's adventures in these books. One of the stories involves a . . . tarantula. Let's hear from Susan how this came about.

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A story about a spider? Seriously? Never would I have dreamed of writing a story for kids about a tarantula. After all, seeing tarantulas all over Indiana Jones's back in the first movie just about creeped me out. NEVER! They are just . . . too creepy.

Fast forward many, many years. My daughter and her family moved to the California foothills, where I was introduced to California ebony tarantulas. We arrived in October, the height of tarantula mating season, and I kid you not. These spiders were all over the place, especially at dusk. Signs on the county roads read "Watch Out for Tarantulas," which meant "Please don't run over our tarantulas!"

Yes, the foothills folk love their gentle, fuzzy ebony tarantulas. My grandkids went crazy over them, and when eleven-year-old Susie began playing with them, I decided that my main character, ranch girl Andi Carter, needed a pet tarantula. The story can be found in book 7, Other Tales from the Circle C Ranch. The title is "Tarantula Trouble," a hilarious retelling of what happens when Andi tries to keep "Ebony" as a pet.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

I want to introduce readers to these fun books, so I am giving away a set of books 7 and 8 to two winners. And . . . a delightful Aurora "stuffie" named after Andi's tarantula, Ebony, as part of the prize package. My granddaughter loved him when I grabbed her to model for the giveaway. Ebony is soft and squishy, pretty much like a real tarantula (they are super fragile and delicate, and soft to the touch). I know this because I now let them crawl all over my arms (a far cry from my Indiana Jones movie experience).

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

This special giveaway runs one week, April 16 - April 23 @ 5pm Central Time.

And here is the bonus prize. Everyone who enters the giveaway receives the audiobook story "Tarantula Trouble" just for entering. After the two winners are drawn, I will send out a follow-up email to all of the entrants with a link to the free download "Tarantula Trouble" audiobook.

Enter the giveaway by clicking the button. You can earn bonus entries by sharing the giveaway with your friends, and by watching a couple of really short videos: 1) My Andi look-a-like (Susie) playing with her two California tarantulas, and 2) How to ride an 1800s penny-farthing bicycle, which is what Andi attempts to do in the story "A Close Call" from book 8, More Tales from the Circle C Ranch.

Enter the Giveaway

PURCHASE THE BOOKS

If you don't care for giveaways and you don't want a tarantula stuffie, you can go straight to the Circle C webstore and buy a two-book set of the books. I have some copies that I'm not using for giveaways and contests, and you are welcome to buy them. (However, I do not have any Ebony tarantula stuffies to sell.) I'm sure you are not sorry to hear that! 🤣

Buy the Books

COMING MAY FIRST!

A little peek at what is coming up as a "Kick Off for Summer" during the entire month of May. It's a Circle C Writing & Art Contest, sponsored by my publisher, Kregel Publications and yours truly (Susan Marlow). You do not need to know anything about the Circle C books, as the prompt is generic and not dependent on knowing the stories. So, anyone may enter!

You may choose between the writing category (if you like to write stories or poems) and the artwork category (if you are better at expressing yourself through art). There will be six winners from the two categories (Art and Writing). I can't wait to tell you more!

Unfortunately, I will not be able to tell you when it launches, as we New Classics authors take turns sharing with our lovely subscribers. If you are super interested in having your child participate in this contest (ages 8-14), please sign up for my Circle C Newsletter. I will send an email to launch the contest toward the end of the month. Or you can always check my website CIRCLECBOOKS.COM starting May 1. I'll put a link on the home page to the contest.

. . . is the author of the Circle C and Goldtown Adventures series, historical adventure novels set in the Old West of California. She is a 20+ year homeschooling veteran and loves to engage with readers at homeschool conventions and on her blog. Her New Classics book, Thick as Thieves, includes a free study guide that you can download for free. ️ Check out the first two chapters of Thick as Thieves.

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