Kelcie Murphy And The Academy For The Unbreakable Arts

February 27, 2022 by Irish American Mom 58 Comments

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Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts is a skillfully crafted middle grade novel inspired by Celtic mythology.

This magical book is the creation of Erika Lewis, who has a passion for storytelling set in mystical places. And where will you find more magical and mystical places on earth, other than on the British Isles, which includes the islands of Ireland and Britain.

With standing stone circles, old forts, fairy trees and many mystical legends, this debut middle grade novel draws on Celtic culture to create an intriguing plot to captivate young readers.

Girl with text on book cover — Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts

Today, I'm delighted to share a giveaway for a copy of this newly published book. But before we get into the details of how to enter our sweepstakes, let's first explore the story of Kelcie Murphy.

Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts by Erika Lewis

Kelcie Murphy is a foster child who doesn't quite fit in and feels like an outsider.

But Kelcie is transported through a mystical portal into a magical Celtic world where she enrolls in the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts.

It's there that she meets Scáthach (pronounced scaw-hock), the legendary teacher of Celtic heroes.

Kelcie must pass a series of gruelling tests that take her to the brink both physically and mentally. She learns that a true warrior must have great self belief.

Kelcie is inspired to find her parents and discover her true identity. At the school she discovers she is a Saiga, an ancient being from the Otherworld.

But Saiga's are considred to be secretive and are often shunned. The Otherworld's most infamous traitor belonged to the Saiga. Kelcie must discover if it is her destiny to be a hero, or a villian. But above all, Kelcie is determined to be a survivor.

Ruined castle on a rock by the ocean with text banner — Dunscaithe Castle Isle of Skye

This middle grade book if brimming over with magic, intrigue and suspense. It's a tale about being different, about not fitting in, and about the power of friendship - universal themes that resonate with so many middle school age readers.

Publication is set for March 1st, just in time for Women’s History Month and Irish History Month. It's a perfect story for young readers who are interested in Celtic and Irish heritage - a great way to celebrate Irish culture with family.

About Erika Lewis

Erika Lewis is passionate about ancient mythologies since her student days when she studied Celtic mythology in England.

Now, she draws on these ancient myths and legends to create her own fantasy novels for readers of all ages.

During her travels around the British Isles, Erika found herself captivated by the standing stones, fairy mounds, and ancient ruins found dotted all over the countryside.

On the Isle of Skye she visited the ruins of Dunscaith Castle, which is reported to have been the home of the legendary warrior queen Scáthach around 200 BC.

Scáthach, means "Shadowy" in Gaelic, and she is said to have trained the greatest warriors of that time.

Erika was captivated by the idea of a powerful female warrior and this tale inspired her to create The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts.

Erika Lewis grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, and spent summers with her grandparents in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Today she calls Los Angeles, California home, but is drawn to magical places and loves to travel, wandering through old ruins, and visiting museums and graveyards.

Praise for Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts:

Here you'll find some wonderful book recommendations from other writers and readers of this first Kelcie Murphy novel.

“Be prepared, it will be hard to take a break from Erika Lewis’s Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts. The action leaps off the page, rich in ancient Celtic mythology and taut with emotion, with characters who are flawed, human, and awesomely gifted. Middle-grade readers with a thirst for high adventure with all the feels, in the tradition of J. K. Rowling, Tamora Pierce, and Lloyd Alexander, have reason to rejoice.”

~ Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Wonders series.

“You’ll be on the edge of your seat while reading, and while waiting for more to come in this rich and engaging world. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and the Harry Potter series.”

~ Janet Fox, award-winning author of The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle

“Fast-paced and oh-so-fun, this exciting story celebrates the importance of friendship and the power of kids’ choices. I couldn’t put it down!”

~ Alyssa Colman, author of The Gilded Girl

“With vivid world-building and a marvelous blend of mythology and magic, Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts is a rip-roaring ride pulsing with the heart of its fierce and tenacious heroine! The opening installment of this epic new fantasy series will leave readers clamoring for more.”

~ Alysa Wishingrad, author of The Verdigris Pawn

“Move over Hogwarts, there’s a spellbinding new school in town. Enroll yourself for myth, mystery and magic. Not to be missed!”

~ Cavan Scott, New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: The Rising Storm

Fairy circle with text banner — Fairy Glen at Uig Isle of Skye

Where To Purchase Kelcie Murphy And The Academy For The Unbreakable Arts

Good news! This new middle grade fantasy novel is being published on March 1st.

It's available through the Starscape Macmillan Publishers website.

You can also learn more about Erika's writing through these links...

Visit her website at https://erikalewis.com/
Twitter: @ErikaElyLewis
Facebook: @TheErikaLewis
Instagram: @erikaelylewis
TikTok: @erikalewisauthor
Goodreads: Erika Lewis | Goodreads

The Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a copy of Kelcie Murphy and the Academy of the Unbreakable Arts by Erika Lewis.

To enter simply leave a comment on this blog post by noon Eastern Time on Saturday, March 5th, 2022.

Any comment will do. What you write does not affect your chance of winning, but if you need inspiration why not tell us if you have ever visited a mystical place in the British Isles.

If you live in Canada or Ireland, then please answer the following question in your comment by typing A, or B for the correct answer ...

Ireland is one of the Celtic Nations.

A. True

B. False

A winning comment will be chosen randomly. Remember to leave your e-mail so that I can contact you should you win. Your e-mail won’t be published, just used to contact our lucky contestant for mailing of the prize.

The winner will be announced on Saturday, March 5th, 2022, at the bottom of this blog post.

You may check out Irish American Mom’s complete terms and conditions for sweepstakes’ entries here.

Thank you to all who support this giveaway and share it with family and friends.

And many thanks to Erika and her publishers Starscape Macmillan for supporting this giveaway by sponsoring this prize.

Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.

Update - Winner Chosen

Our winners have been randomly chosen using the Pick Giveaway Winner Plug-in for WordPress.

And the lucky reader is ….

Graham

I’ll send an email to arrange mailing of his prize. A big thank you to everyone for supporting this giveaway by leaving comments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every comment.

Thank you all for supporting our Irish American community.

Stay tuned for more stories and giveaways over the coming weeks and months.

Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

Mairéad -Irish American Mom

Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th

Mairéad - rhymes with parade

Disclosure: I don't have any financial connection with Starscape Macmillan or Erika Lewis. The links above for purchasing this book are not affiliate links. This post reflects my honest and unbiased thoughts about this work.

Book cover and author images published courtesy of Starscape Macmillan, and other images courtesy of Canva Pro Graphics.

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