FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Emily is back!
Liz Kesslers New York Times best-selling series continues with the half-mermaid embarking on an icy and perilous journey to the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Strange storms are blowing up from the ocean, caused by the nightmares of Neptune, King of the Sea. Convinced that his dreams herald an approaching threat, Neptune enlists half-mermaids Emily Windsnap and her friend Aaron for a top-secret mission to find and eliminate the source of the trouble. But Emily and Aaron quickly get in over their heads in the frigid waters of the frozen North. Deep within an alpine lake whose magical reflection shows what could be rather than what is, the two discover a trove of stolen memories and Neptunes darkest secret. Double crosses and double takes abound in Liz Kesslers fifth magical mermaid adventure.
Liz Kessler is the author of the New York Times bestselling series about Emily Windsnap, as well as three adventures about Philippa Fisher and her fairy godsister. She is also the author of the middle-grade novel A Year Without Autumn. Liz Kessler lives in England.

ON SALE FEBRUARY 12, 2013

HC: 978- 0-7636-5824-3 E-book: 978- 0-7636-6196- 0 $15.99 288 pages Ages 812

Illustration copyright 2013 by Sarah Gibb

Q & A with Author

Q : It has been a little while since the last

Emily Windsnap book, and you have had the chance to work on some other fiction projects like A Year Without Autumn for middle-grade readers. What made you want to come back to this character?

A:

Id had an idea in the back of my mind for a few years that Id love to write a mermaid book set in the frozen Arctic. So even though I love writing stand-alone books that deal with completely different subjects, that idea has been bubbling away in the background. Theres something quite special about Emily for me, and it was wonderful to dive back into her story and hang out with all those characters again!

Q : Emily is very lucky, because she has

Photo by P. Baraloto

some very close friends that care about her and help her solve mysteries and get out of trouble! What is your definition of a true friend?

A: A true friend to me is someone who you

know will be there for you. It doesnt matter if you havent seen them for months if you are in trouble, theyll be there. And you are the same for them. Its also someone who understands you and gets you, so that you often only need to say half of something and they know what youre talking about. Its someone who makes you laugh, who keeps your secrets, and whom you can trust with anything.

Q : Who has been your favorite character

to write in the series, and why? Are there any characters that you particularly relate to, or that people would say they can see you in?

Q : You hear from Emily fans all the

time. Is there anything that they say about your writing, the characters, or the stories that particularly moves or delights you?

A: Millie is always fun to write. I have a

lot of fun with her. Mr. Beeston is an interesting one to write as well. I think he has undergone quite a journey throughout the series, and thats really enjoyable to write. Ultimately though, I have to say that Emily is probably the most fun because shes the one who gets up to most of the adventures! Even though I never realized it, my dad pointed out to me a while ago that Emily is actually quite a lot like me. So maybe thats why I enjoy going on adventures with her so much!

A: I love it when a reader tells me

that they can relate to one of my characters especially if that has given them a feeling of strength or positivity about themselves. I also really love to hear that a reader has enjoyed my books so much that they felt as if they were right there in the story. One of my favorite things is when readers tell me that they would like to be Emilys best friend. And it melts my heart completely if they tell me (as a few have done) that they believe if Emily met them, she would like to be their best friend. I just love that they get so involved in the stories, or that they have enjoyed them so much that they are moved to write to me at all. Its very touching, and Im very grateful. (And yes, I always reply!)

Q : Without spoilers, can you tell us a

little bit about what Emily is up to in her fifth underwater adventure and what readers can expect?

A: Emily is sent on a scary and top-secret

mission to the arctic northern seas. She has to face some of her biggest tests yet. She will meet a new character, whom I hope readers will fall in love with like I did. Readers can expect trouble and adventure and mysteries to solve. They can expect that Shona will be the best friend that she always is. And of course, they can expect to find out what happens next between Emily and Aaron.

Q : What are you most proud of about the

Emily books?

A: Emily herself. I love her loyalty, her

bravery, her willingness to go for it when faced with seemingly impossible tasks. I am proud of everything she does and I hope that she inspires some of her readers to be as brave and loyal and adventurous as she is!

Dive In to All of Emilys Adventures!

The Tail of Emily Windsnap

HC: 978-0-7636-2483-5 PB: 978-0-7636-6020-8 E-book: 978-0-7636-5240-1

Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep

HC: 978-0-7636-2504-7 PB: 978-0-7636-6018-5 E-book: 978-0-7636-5241-8

Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist

HC: 978-0-7636-3330-1 PB: 978-0-7636-6017-8 E-book: 978-0-7636-5242-5

Emily Windsnap and the Sirens Secret

HC: 978-0-7636-4374-4 PB: 978-0-7636-6019-2 E-book: 978-0-7636-5247-0

Emily Windsnaps Fin-tastic Friendship Book

PB: 978-0-7636-3960-0

Emily Windsnap: Four Sparkling Underwater Adventures

Boxed set: 978-0-7636-6295-0

Praise for the series

2.2 million Emily Windsnap books in print in the U.S.

Charming. The Wall Street Journal Light, imagination-tickling fare for middle-grade girls. Booklist Should capture the attention and hearts of girls who love adventurous, romantic tales encased in charming fantasy elements. KidsReads