Best Selling Books by Lisa Mantchev

Bertie thinks that to complete her quest to have a true family she need only reunite her father, the Scrimshander, with her mother, Ophelia, but complications arise and she is torn between her responsibilities and the dream of flying free, just as she is torn between Nate and Ariel.

“Sweet, upbeat, and refreshing.” —Kirkus Reviews From the author of Strictly No Elephants comes an adorable picture book that tells the timeless tale of a little girl who’s on a mission to convince her big sister to play with her! For Lizzie, the perfect afternoon is one spent playing with her big sister, Jane. But it’s tough being the little sister. Jane is always busy with activities and play dates. And so she hatches the perfect plan to show Jane just how much she loves her. Each day of the week Lizzie works hard sketching and planning, waiting until Saturday when she can reveal her grand surprise to Jane: it’s Sister Day, a celebration of imagination and sisterhood. This sweet and whimsical story perfectly captures the special bond between sisters.

Cats and dogs will never get along, right? WRONG. Author of Strictly No Elephants Lisa Mantchev and bestselling illustrator EG Keller explore an unexpected friendship in this funny and sweet picture book. The upstairs cats and downstairs dogs in a tall, twisty-turny house are kept apart because their humans assume dogs and cats won’t get along. But when an opportunity presents itself, the bolder cat goes through a door that is left open. Will there be hissing, barking, and chasing—or an unexpected friendship?

"A sunny, smart, tongue-in-cheek tale." --The New York Times Book Review "Sweet and affirming." --Kirkus Reviews When the local Pet Club won''t admit a boy''s tiny pet elephant, he finds a solution--one that involves all kinds of unusual animals in this sweet and adorable picture book. Today is Pet Club day. There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants are allowed. The Pet Club doesn''t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it is time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend. Imaginative and lyrical, this sweet story captures the magic of friendship and the joy of having a pet.

The fantastic first novel in Lisa Mantchev''s Theatre Illuminata trilogy Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. The actors are bound to the Théâtre by The Book, an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of the actors, but they are her family. And she is about to lose them all because The Book has been threatened, and along with it the Théâtre. It''s the only home Bertie has ever known, and she has to find a way to save it. But first, there''s the small problem of two handsome men, both vying for her attention. Nate, a dashing pirate who will do anything to protect Bertie, and Ariel, a seductive air spirit. The course of true love never did run smooth. . . . With Eyes LIke Stars, Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.

“Directly personal and visually dramatic.”—Booklist “Carries a deeper and more important message about considering others’ circumstances in light of one’s own privileges that many kids may benefit from hearing.” —BCCB “A satisfying storytime read-aloud about the gift of giving and sharing.” —School Library Journal From the author of Strictly No Elephants comes a sweet picture book that explores themes of selflessness and empathy when a girl has the chance to make just one wish. In the grass, a girl finds an extraordinary thing that gives her…just…one…wish. She asks her those around her what they would wish for in her shoes, but nothing seems quite right. What will her perfect wish be? In this pitch-perfect picture book, Lisa Mantchev takes the concept of a magic wish and uses it to explore real world empathy, kindness, and good will.

From the critically acclaimed author of Eyes Like Stars We are such stuff as dreams are made on. Act Two, Scene One Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn''t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world. Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between— Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril. Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear. When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre''s caravan, using Bertie''s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie''s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie''s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it''s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess''s lair? Once again, LISA MANTCHEV has spun a tale like no other—full of romance, magic, adventure, and fairies, too—that readers won''t want to put down, even after the curtain has closed.

“Breathtaking.” —School Library Connection “Enchanting art.” —Publishers Weekly Journey meets Pearl in this transcendent picture book about a mermaid finding her forever home, created by the author of Strictly No Elephants, Lisa Mantchev, and The Bear and the Piano author-illustrator David Litchfield. When a boy is out swimming and looking for fish, he meets a mermaid instead. She is all alone. He welcomes her to his home and his circus family. Though she misses the ocean, she feels she has found a new family and home. With lyrical text and luminous artwork, Remarkables is a story of friendship and finding home. What a remarkable place the world is.

“An exuberant picture book…Fabulously fun artwork…Fighting crime definitely takes imagination.” —The Wall Street Journal “This tale offers the refreshing twist of sibling friendship that parents will applaud. Jinx and the Doom will captivate readers with their irresistible fun.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Jinx and her little brother, the Doom, are pretty typical kids—except when they turn into superheroes and fight crime—in this relatable celebration of siblings and imagination by the author of Strictly No Elephants. A typical day for Jinx and the Doom looks like this: wake up, eat breakfast, brush teeth—then FIGHT CRIME! These rambunctious kids used to fight each other, until one day they realized that they could use their powers for good instead of evil. So now they protect the planet! Defend the innocent! And then stop to have lunch. Bright cut-paper, comic book–style illustrations highlight the power of imagination and the joy of having a sibling to play with.

“Kids will love this tiny little protagonist who dares to dream big.” —Booklist “The little narwhal from Strictly No Elephants gets her own story…Equally good as a stand-alone or for fans of the first book.” —School Library Journal In this charming companion to the award-winning picture book Strictly No Elephants, a tiny narwhal discovers that sometimes the difference between staying home and a big adventure is a group of loving friends. Red front door. Potted plant. Umbrella stand. Piano. Red front door. Potted plant. Umbrella stand. Piano. That’s what the world looks like from inside Tiny Narwhal’s fishbowl. It’s not very exciting. She dreams of the world beyond: endless blue sky, tall buildings, a bridge. But Tiny Narwhal hasn’t any feet and doesn’t know the street names. And what if it’s cold outside? What this little narwhal does have, though, are good friends. With the help of her boy and his friends, plus a penguin, bat, and giraffe, Tiny Narwhal finally feels brave enough to go on an adventure. Someday, Narwhal features the same adorable cast of pets and sweet, lyrical language as Lisa Mantchev’s beloved Strictly No Elephants.

When the surgeon who provided her with a clockwork heart is put on trial for murder, Penny Farthing''s parents are kidnapped and Penny and her brother receive a ransom note demanding the research her parents kept on the procedures of her surgery.

Welcome to Cyrene, a city where energy is currency and music is the lifeblood of its young citizens. Everyone lives on the grid, and the residents of the world''s largest playground are encouraged to pursue every physical and emotional pleasure imaginable. Vee is the lead singer of the Sugar Skulls, an all-girl band that is Corporate''s newest pet project. Micah haunts the city like a ghost after an overdose of a deadly illegal street drug knocks him off the grid. When Micah and Vee forge an immediate, undeniable connection, their troubled worlds collide. Trading concert stages for Cyrene''s rooftops and back alleys, they have to evade vicious thugs and Vee''s possessive manager as they unravel the mysteries connected to their dark pasts. And before the curtain falls, Micah and Vee will bring the city to its knees in their desperate bid for love, home, and a future together.

Rule Number One: Don''t get attached. Trick St. John clawed his way out of the worst gutters of London to occupy the most prestigious piece of real estate in Beverly Hills. Another one of Roman Scipio''s progeny, he''s the bastard with the most to prove. On paper, his money comes from Big Pharma, medications he''s developed and marketed for the human population. But in the VIP suites of nightclubs like Scion-and the residence his working girls refer to as the McMansion-illicit street drugs like Tranq rake in just as much cash. It''s a luxe lifestyle, custom-tailored to his every whim, inherently dangerous, and deliberately devoid of romantic entanglements. But when a group of vampire revolutionaries called the Legacy start attacking his friends and trying to replicate his work, Trick can no longer afford to ignore the one person he''d most like to avoid. Rule Number Two: Don''t f-ck where you sleep. Dropped as a misguided birthday gift into the lap of Hollywood''s top dog, Tes Nicolae finds herself in the unenviable position of being Trick''s one-hit wonder. That first time might have been the only time, but it nets her a regular blood doll gig at the Friday Night parties, and Trick''s formidable shadow is the perfect place to hide. A red-gloved stranger has other ideas, though, stealing her away to a hotel suite where she learns there''s absolutely nothing for her on the other side of death: not heaven, not hell... Because those things were shattered eons ago, and she and Trick are just two more pieces of the celestial puzzle. Rule Number Three: Get the job done. Suddenly, it seems that every dark force in Los Angeles is in the market for Tes''s blood, and Trick''s the only thing standing between her and certain death. As the Devil tries to reconstruct Heaven and the Legacy seeks to bring humanity to heel, two street rats born centuries apart will have to break down the barriers between science and faith, human and immortal, the very essence of Light and Dark if they want to survive the coming dawn.

Lucien Altaira has been roaming the earth since he fell, wearing the same face and making the same Deal: your soul in exchange for what you most desire in this life. But humans are a race that Lucien holds in no high esteem, seeing as how they were God''s chosen, the source of all his troubles since the beginning, and not a single one has ever proved useful to him. Until now.Lumen Scipio has spent her life hidden away in convents, locked up in libraries, and protected by the most formidable vampire family on the planet, but it wasn''t until she shared a kiss with the Devil that she had any desire to break away from the blood-ties that bind. Selling her soul to guarantee her family''s safety might not have been as selfless as it seemed, but as Lumen falls head-over-heels for the enemy, she must find a way to protect the world from the most destructive weapon in Heaven''s holy arsenal: herself. Soon, Lumen''s caught up in a game of secrets and manipulation, the center of a celestial standoff an eternity in the making, because the archangels have awoken, the apocalypse is nigh, and the world''s only hope lies in saving the one divine being who fell hardest of them all: Lucifer.

In the span of just four years, FANTASY MAGAZINE has quickly become one of the premiere fantasy venues for short fiction, and this anthology contains some of the best of those stories from its first two years. With contributions from both the established and the new, ranging from genre to mainstream, WORLDS OF FANTASY promises to open new doors to new worlds.

Weird Tales is the original storytelling magazine of the dark and fantastic. This issue: our Spring Steampunk Spectacular features Cherie Priest on her airships-and-zombies epic Boneshaker; an exclusive excerpt from Boilerplate, the biography of a 19th-century robot soldier; an unforgettable novelette from Lisa Mantchev & James L. Grant; awesome cover art by Molly Crabapple; and much more! FICTION: "Love, Must" by Kurt Kirchmeier -- "Hungry Ghosts" by Jay Lake -- "The Gingerbread House" by Kater Cheek -- "Dedalus and the Labyrinth" by J.M. McDermott -- "As Recorded on Brass Cylinders: Adagio for Two Dancers" by James L. Grant & Lisa Mantchev FEATURES: "Book of the Century" -- Cherie Priest breaks down the whys and wherefores of a Civil War-era steampunk Seattle. "The Secret Mechanical Man" - Meet Boilerplate, the robot who rode with Teddy Roosevelt! Creators Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett give us the scoop in this exclusive from their new book.

So step into my world where I''m the dreamer and the dream... A year ago, Lourdes Chase lost two months of her life to a kidnapping nightmare that she''s only now piecing together. She arrives in California with every intention of tracking down those responsible, but when she wakes up in a strange motel room with no recollection of how she got there, it''s a blue-eyed, fast-talking stranger who offers an assist. Then a chance audition at a downtown nightclub drops her in the proverbial lap of everyone''s favorite immortal rocker... Xaine is the poster boy of hedonistic infamy, from his supercar to his Palisades mansion to his record label, Apocalypse. But his life abruptly shifts gears from Grammy Awards and blood dolls to police statements and coroners'' reports when dead blond girls start turning up on his property. Everyone is quick to accuse the resident vampire, and with a list of enemies that dates back four centuries, only his newest opening act can clear his name and help him figure out who''s behind the murders. Within days of meeting, Xaine and Lore are caught up in a web of intrigue, pursued by fallen angels, sin-eaters, reapers, and a coalition of vampires with a deadly agenda. Virtue and Vice, Light and Dark, they will have to battle their every demon to vanquish the ghosts that haunt them both. But fame and fortune come at the cost of anonymity, and when a powerful enemy can see Lore''s every move projected across the television screen, it''s Hollywood''s biggest bad-boy who becomes her only hope.