Longhorns and Outlaws Virtual Book Tour

Jan. 25, 2009 - PRLog -- Linda Akomitis will be appearing in the following places during the Virtual Tour for Longhorns and Outlaws, an historical novel set in the old west:

   * March 11th — Virtual classroom visit with Mrs. Patricia Oelerich's class at Stuart Place Elementary School in Harlingen, Texas.
   * March 12th — Virtual classroom visit with Ms. Susie Houston's class at Derry Elementary School in Point Isabel, Texas.
   * March 12th — Guest author on the Igniting Imagination With Nellie Jacobs show on BlogTalkRadio at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/igniting-imagination
   * March 16th — Interview at Oklahoma historian, Sue Shcrems', Western Americana: History of the American West blog at: http://westernamericana.blogspot.com/
   * March 17th — Interview with Steve M in the United Kingdom at his Western Fiction Review blog:  http://westernfictionreview.blogspot.com/
   * March 18th — Interview with Jill Tulo at the Well Read Child blog at:       http://wellreadchild.blogspot.com/
   * March 19th — Interview with Natasha Maw at the Maw Books Blog at:   http://blog.mawbooks.com/

BOOK SUMMARY:
Longhorns and Outlaws  is historical fiction for young readers aged 8 to 14. Sign up to be notified when it's released!

Twelve-year-old Lucas Vogel has lost his parents in the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. Now, eight months later, his older brother, Gil, has shown up to drag him off to the frontier chasing beeves and looking for their Cousin Henry.

Lucas, a Pinkerton Agent-in-training, would rather be looking for outlaws than learning to ride a horse in the thick dust following a cattle drive.

However, Lucas soon discovers the buttes of Montana and the Big Muddy make great outlaw hideouts and he finds himself deeper into outlaw adventures than he's ever imagined when he encounters the Sundance Kid. Then, there's the uncanny familiarity Lucas feels when he sees the poster of Dutch Henry. Could it be?

But of course, Gil thinks he's imagining things. Will his brother ever realize he's growing up—or give him some say in their future?

REVIEWS OF LONGHORNS AND OUTLAWS:

Resource Links listed Longhorns and Outlaws as one of the Best Books for 2008 in Fiction for Grades 3 - 6. Resource Links says: "Linda Aksomitis has written an outstanding historical novel for young readers..."

CM Reviews says: "Aksomitis establishes the archetype of the wide-eyed boy amid the vast, undiscovered American frontier by using vibrant descriptions of the landscape and animated supporting characters."

Wainwright Star Chronicle says: "Aksomitis weaves together a rich cowboy tapestry of horses, cows and ranch life..."

Prairie Fire Magazine says: "Young readers who are interested in cowboys, horses, or outlaws will enjoy Longhorns and Outlaws, and they'll learn a lot about life in the early 1900s at the same time. "

Children's Bookwatch says, "Longhorns and Outlaws [is] a great western fiction for young children about to move onto standard chapter books."

McNally Robinson says Longhorns and Outlaws is "A touching coming-of-age story and a fine account of frontier life in the early 1900s."

Longhorns and Outlaws was one of only five novels for readers aged 9-12 featured in the 2008 McNally Robinson Books of the Season catalogue!

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Linda Aksomitis is the author of 19 books for adults, young adults, and children, plus has over 1000 publications in magazines, journals, newspapers, and on the Web. She's the online instructor for the Library Training program at Credenda Virtual High School & College, and the online course, Introduction to Internet Writing Markets. She has a Master of Vocational/Technical Education degree (Adult Education) from the University of Regina.