Mystery at the Phoenix Festival, Book cowritten with Children, now Available

May 3, 2012 - PRLog -- MT. AIRY, N.C.: Laura Wharton, author of critically acclaimed Leaving Lukens, has written a children’s book with Jake and Nicole Spanton, two children who approached her with their story idea. The book is geared toward children ages 7-12 and perfect for home-schooled children like the main characters are in the story.

In this book, two children traveling with their parents and service dogs in an RV across country share their love of Christ with children in hospitals and others they meet; but when their two dogs are dog-napped, their faith is put to the test.

“As are all children, Jake and Nicole have wonderful stories to share,” explains Wharton. “What’s extraordinary about this story is that it was based on a mission trip the children and their parents are planning on taking some day (though we’ll hope the dogs aren’t dog-napped along the way.)”  

About the Authors
Laura S. Wharton is the author of books for children such as the Mystery at the Lake House series (http://www.JockAveryAdventures.com), which she is co-writing with her 10-year-old son. She also is the author of two historical novels for adults. Her first, The Pirate’s Bastard, is set in colonial North Carolina around Brunswick and Wilmington. It was nominated for the 2011 Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction. Her second adult title, Leaving Lukens, is set in a small, disappearing village of Lukens on the North Carolina coast near New Bern and Oriental during 1942. Leaving Lukens was recently named Reviewer’s Choice by the prestigious book reviewing organization, Midwest Book Reviews. All of the North Carolina author’s books are available in paperback or e-book formats, and she has other titles coming out soon for children, and a few more in the research stage for adults.

Jake and Nicole Spanton
Jake and Nicole Spanton are the model children for the story, Mystery at the Phoenix Festival. Both are as active as the characters portraying them in the book, and their faith is just as strong. When the children’s parents approached Ms. Wharton to help them craft this amazing story of a family on a mission of faith, she readily agreed and molded their story outline into the book it is now. Read more about Jake and Nicole’s adventures at www.JakeandNicole.com.

To learn more about Laura S. Wharton or her other books, visit www.laurawhartonbooks.com.


Advanced Review
“As we raised our boys, my wife and I were constantly searching for books that would connect God's truths to our children in creative ways. Those books were few and far between. Mystery at the Phoenix Festival is that kind of book. The parents in this story, Bruce and Cari, have a tremendous heart for God and a desire to instill that legacy in their children. This book is a great way for children, and their parents, to grow spiritually and together as a family.”
Dr. Hank Williams
Senior Pastor at Boiling Springs First Baptist Church
South Carolina


Mystery at the Phoenix Festival
Authors: Laura S. Wharton with Jake Spanton (Age 12) and Nicole Spanton (Age 15)
Publisher: Broad Creek Press
Publication Date: May 15, 2012
Price: $9.99, paperback
Format: 5 x 8 paperback and e-books for every e-reading device
Books are available wherever good books are sold (brick and mortar and online).
Wholesale orders available through Ingram.
ISBN: 978-0-9837148-8-0
Audience: Middle Grade, ages 7-12 (Perfect for home-schooled children, too)