The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper by Fiona Ingram - Book Blitz + Giveaway
Continuing the adventure that ended in Britain just ashort while ago, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair, with their friend Kim
Maleka, are now hunting for the third Stone of Power, one of seven mysterious
stones lost centuries ago. The third stone might be located in an ancient city,
hidden in the depths of the Mexican jungle. When their small plane crashes in
the jungle, Adam, Justin, Kim, and James are rescued by an uncontacted tribe.
James, who is wounded, must stay behind as the kids, with only a young boy,
Tukum, as their guide, make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to
find the city. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading
predators are just part of this hazardous task.
Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close
behind as the kids press on in search of the lost city of stone gods. But he is
not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible
enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to
revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must
play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge
alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before
they do?
I am a children’s author,
but up until a few years ago, I was a journalist and editor. Something rather
unexpected sparked my new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with my
mother and two young nephews. We had a great time and I thought I’d write them
a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned
book series later, I had changed careers. I have now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in
my MG adventure series Chronicles of the
Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur,
and one already for Book 3! I also teach online novel writing for aspiring
authors and I find that very satisfying. Relaxation time finds me enjoying
something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. I love doing
research for my book series. I love animals and have written two animal rescue
stories. I have two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin,
and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.
but up until a few years ago, I was a journalist and editor. Something rather
unexpected sparked my new career as an author—a family trip to Egypt with my
mother and two young nephews. We had a great time and I thought I’d write them
a short story as a different kind of souvenir…. Well, one book and a planned
book series later, I had changed careers. I have now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in
my MG adventure series Chronicles of the
Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur,
and one already for Book 3! I also teach online novel writing for aspiring
authors and I find that very satisfying. Relaxation time finds me enjoying
something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. I love doing
research for my book series. I love animals and have written two animal rescue
stories. I have two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin,
and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.
Connect with the Author here:
Snippet
Adam’s
parents would totally freak out if they knew what had really been happening on
those trips. But rightfully so. In fact, Adam was a bit freaked out himself
right now. He’d always thought a trip to Mexico would be the most fantastic
adventure, with its jungles and ruined ancient cities. Well, now they were in a
real jungle, and it was more frightening than fantastic—especially when they
had no way back to civilization and when the only adult around was hurt and
unconscious.
Character Descriptions
ADAM SINCLAIR (main hero)
Adam was just an
ordinary 12-year-old boy with no special powers or anything to make him
different from his cousin Justin. Until he went to Egypt and was appointed the
bearer of the sacred scarab and told he was part of a quest to discover the
seven ancient Stones of Power. Now, his senses are sharpened and he has dreams
and visions that guide him and his cousin Justin on their subsequent
adventures. Adam initially longed for an adventure … now he’s not so sure he
wants all this excitement because it seems as if danger dogs his footsteps.
Quote by Adam: “We
could have an adventure … just a small one.”
JUSTIN SINCLAIR (Adam’s cousin)
Justin is bigger and
better at a lot of things than his younger cousin Adam. Because things come so
easily to Justin, he doesn’t understand when other people struggle to achieve.
He can be antagonistic when things aren’t going his way, and expects Adam to
always follow him. On the plus side, he is quick to find practical solutions to
problems and will apologise when he is in the wrong (after a while…). Justin
loves food and whereas Adam will lose his appetite in times of stress, Justin
will eat to ‘keep his strength up.’
Quote by Justin: “When we were in Egypt, that’s
how things worked out. Adam did all the clever things. I just had to keep
saving everyone from certain death.”
KIM
MALEKA
Adam and Justin were aghast to find
that on the eve of their second adventure, they’d been saddled with an African
girl called Kim Maleka. Kim, who is Adam’s age, is Aunt Isabel’s foster child.
Although she entered the adventure feeling slightly at a disadvantage and with
school problems hanging over her head, Kim ended up having extremely good ideas
and has a practical side that comes in very handy. She develops great
confidence and, in the end, the boys consider her an integral part of the team.
Quote
by Kim: “Thanks, guys. I knew
you’d come get me.”
DR. FAISAL KHALID (the baddie!)
Everyone
loves to hate a baddie and the most wonderfully menacing character is the evil
Dr. Khalid, head of the Egyptian Museum. He is highly intelligent, odiously charming, and completely
ruthless. Pivotal to the plot, Dr. Khalid is
smooth, suave, compellingly hypnotic; he is the boys’ Nemesis, with eyes, ears,
and loutish henchmen all over the place. He pursues the cousins from the time
they set foot in Egypt in all their adventures in search of the Seven Stones of
Power. He is not the arch-villain,
however; he works for someone far more powerful and sinister.
Quote by Dr. Khalid: “I …
Faisal Khalid … I will change
history.”
ISABEL SINCLAIR (the boys’ aunt)
She is not
afraid to dig for the truth and expose it; politics and social issues rank high
in her interests. Isabel treats her nephews like young adults and expects the
best from them. It takes her a while to accept that the quest and the Seven
Stones of Power exist, but once she does, she is supportive of the boys’ role
in finding the remaining stones. Isabel is also instrumental in keeping the boys’
cover story intact each time they go on another leg of the quest. Secretly,
Adam and Justin hope she never has her own kids because they consider
themselves the sons she never had. Adam is especially close to his aunt.
Quote by Isabel: “We’re
not looking for trouble, lost archaeologists, or hidden treasure. We’re going
on a nice, safe tour with nice, safe people and that’s all. Adventures only
happen in books.”
JAMES KINNAIRD (the boys’ archaeologist
friend)
Archaeologist
James Kinnaird is the only son (and child) of the Scottish Earl of Strathairn
and is not really interested in swanking around being an earl’s son,
living the high life, doing a bit of
fishing and hunting on the side. Tall, handsome, late thirties, with dark hair
and blue eyes, James was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but all he wants
is to fulfil his dreams of uncovering and preserving history’s mysteries. He
makes a point of searching for things considered mere legend. This has become
his trademark, in a way.
Quote by James: “I’m counting on you both to help me. This is just the beginning.”
KOTZ
Kotz is the tribal
elder and leader of the Jaguar people, the uncontacted tribe that rescues Adam,
Justin and Kim when their plane crash lands in the Mexican jungle. Kotz is aware of the outside world and does all he can to shield his
people from the dangers of contact with modern society. He is wise, and tries
to help the kids find the Third Stone of Power. Kotz is
also a shaman of the tribe, and one of the ‘ah k’in’ or day keepers, the keepers
of the history of the Mayan people. He can also interpret dreams and omens.
Quote by Kotz: “Perhaps
one day there will be no more jungle and no more animals and birds.”
TUKUM
Tukum is Kotz’s
grandson. He is proud boy aged 12, and comes across as arrogant.
He is skilled in tracking and hunting. He and Justin get off to a bad start and
clash several times. Tukum is absolutely vital to the kids’ survival and he
helps them in many ways. He has a quaint way of looking at things. Tukum loves
to learn new words and ultimately wants to learn to read English.
Quote by Tukum: “It
is better to be alive and called a nasty, smelly monkey than be dead.”
TEZCATLIPOCA (another baddie!)
Also known as Smoking Mirror, Tezcatlipoca has dreams of
re-establishing the old Aztec Empire, and is prepared to go to any lengths to
achieve this. He proves to be a formidable adversary to both Adam and Dr.
Khalid. Adam in particular is in grave danger from this man. Tezcatlipoca is
not interested in getting the Third Stone of Power for himself; but he is
interested in anything that will cement his hold on superstitious people who
believe him to be a god, even if it means a human sacrifice!
Quote by Smoking Mirror: “But we know that underneath the skin, just scratch the surface,
people want blood, the old violent
way, the worship of hungry gods.”
JUAN
Juan owns
the plane that Dr. Khalid sabotages to delay the kids getting to the Third
Stone of Power. He is loyal and brave, and wants to help Isabel save the kids
and James. His moment comes when he is absolutely vital to the rescue. He can’t
believe his luck!
Quote by Juan: “This
is so exciting. It is like the Hollywood action movies. I feel like Mr. Arnold
Schwarzenegger or Mr. Sylvester Stallone. Maybe even The Rock!”
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