The Splendidly Spectacular Circus of Starzborough: The City of Smogg by Michelle Path illustrated by Hannah Purkiss

5/7/2018

Multi-volume children’s author Michelle Path introduces us to her latest in the Circus series The City of Smogg:
Smogg is a concrete jungle devoid of plants and animals. The city’s inhabitants live a mundane life and have never even ventured outside of the city walls. However, when Calvin Callioni and his Most Splendidly Spectacular Circus of Starzborough come to visit, Smogg’s citizens soon discover that their leader has been suppressing them. They begin to question what lies beyond the city gates and start to rebel, spurred on by the larger-than-life ringmaster and his merry troupe of circus performers and animals. Will the citizens finally wake from their reverie after all these years?

I really enjoy the books for children that Michelle Path writes. She works hard to make sure kids will love them and the books are made to encourage conversation between child and parent. Many good lessons can be explored in the conversations.
There are many colorful illustrations that highlight the story quite well. The story has humorous and sad aspects. The citizens of Smogg are a very sad lot. The circus brings much more than a few short-lived moments of excitement. The citizens of Smogg find freedom and a new sense of life they hadn’t enjoyed before.
I give The Splendidly Spectacular Circus of Starzborough: The City of Smogg a score of 5.0 Stars!
I have reviewed several of Michelle’s books including the first Circus of Starzborough: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/-the-most-splendidly-spectacular-circus-of-starzborough-by-michelle-path

You can buy this paperback book:
https://www.amazon.com/Most-Splendidly-Spectacular-Circus-Starzborough-City-of-Smogg
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Most-Splendidly-Spectacular-Circus-Starzborough-the-city-of-smogg
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34638698-the-most-splendidly-spectacular-circus-of-starzborough-city-of-smogg

You can follow Michelle Path:
Twitter: @mimilovesu
http://michellepath.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/Michelle-Path
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Michelle_Path

Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

40 Comments

Michelle Path link

5/7/2018 11:28:54 pm

Thanks for reviewing my book. The inspiration behind the story was to bring awareness about our hectic lives. We can easily forget about nature and what the fundamentals of being human is all about. I also like to bring awareness about caring for the environment. Nature is a beautiful thing and we should never forget about the important roll it as well as being in contact with animals, plays in our lives and our existence. I am currently working on a 3rd book in this series.

Mark

5/8/2018 12:01:12 am

I love the books you write for children. I think this book delivers your message quite well.
How long have you been writing books for children? Do you feel you were born to be a writer?

5/8/2018 01:49:17 am

I've been writing for children since I was a teenager although initially I thought I was more suited to writing for adults. I love creating stories for children as you can let your imagination run while. It was as a teenager that I knew I was born to be an author. My mum always provided me with books as a child and I was an avid reader and when we were asked to write and illustrate a children's book in primary school it sparked the urge to be a writer.

5/8/2018 12:22:38 pm

That is really neat finding a purpose for your life as a teenager. Good on your mom for providing you with books from an early age.
Tell us how your writing has changed since that first book you wrote and illustrated while in primary school.

5/9/2018 06:55:25 pm

Having been supplied with books as a child is one of my fondest memories of childhood. I wish that for every child; to be passionate about books and reading.
I've grown as a writer since in primary school. It was in high school when I attempted to write my first novel - a comedy about a school camp. Unfortunately the house burnt down and the story was lost forever. I discovered fantasy books after that like Terry Brooks and the Elfstones of Shannara. My writing then took a fantasy direction which still influences my writing today. I enjoy creating unique characters and worlds to capture children's imagination. I also try to bring awareness of caring for the environment and animals in my stories if I can as this motivates me to write and helps me to come up with new concepts and ideas.

5/9/2018 07:20:23 pm

It sounds like you were born to be a writer! I love fantasy almost as much as sci-fi.
You have written quite a few books for young children. You have also written one for older kids, pre-teens perhaps. Tell us about "Rory Aqua Adventure Man", it is longer and different in many ways from what you normally write. Will there be more in that age category?

5/9/2018 09:00:39 pm

Rory Aqua Adventure Man is a chapter book for kids. It is about a toy who is wanting a new home. Eventually he finds a home with a girl named Emily. Unfortunately on a trip to the sea Emily forgets him and he is washed out to see and finds himself on an epic adventure to find his way home. Along the way he meets lots of interesting characters and finds himself in some strange situations. The story also has a subtle, underlying theme of caring for the oceans. My new release book Corallai is also a chapter book. I love writing longer stories. It is perhaps more suited to me to write longer stories as I love describing things and find it tricky to condense stories to suit a younger audience. I have a few other stories that I am working on that will be chapter books or stories for older children with around 3000 words and illustrations for kids transitioning from picture books into stories with more emphasis on words. Stories like The Most Splendidly Spectacular Circus of Starzborough 1 & 2 are examples of these kind of books.

5/9/2018 09:09:59 pm

Chapter books for an older audience, I like it. Are you thinking about eventually writing that dream fantasy book or series? I would love to see that. Are there other genres and age groups you would like to write for?

5/10/2018 07:27:51 am

I do have a fantasy book I am working on currently. I am not sure if it will work out but I have done a few chapters on it. I would love to write a book for teenagers /YA, (I've got a darkish fantasy story I've begun). I've also got another book I started a few years ago. I keep coming back to them as inspiration strikes.

5/10/2018 01:23:38 pm

That is exciting to hear. I hope you complete them both. That leads to my next question.
Do you ever experience writer's block and how do you handle it? What doesn't work for you and what does? What is the oddest method of overcoming writer's block you have come across?

5/10/2018 07:26:24 pm

Thanks. They are a work in progress but I hope to finish them eventually. I do get writer's block especially if I am stressed. If I can't find inspiration I sometimes just don't write. The other thing I do is try to just write at least one sentence. I have several stories on the go at once so sometimes it is as simple as working on something I haven't worked on for a while. I don't really have any odd methods for overcoming writers block. The one funny incident that comes to mind was when I was out shopping with my mum who has shrunk a lot as she got older (she used to be taller than me). I said to her that I could just pick her up and carry her in a shopping basket and it inspired me to write a fairy tale story called The Witch in the Crochet Bag. I hope to get his published some day. Sometimes just interacting with people or spending time walking the dogs or riding my horses can release writer's block.

5/10/2018 07:32:24 pm

That seems like a good idea to have more than one project going at a time. A good way to defeat writer's block.
Are you a plotter or a pantser in your writing? It seems like it could be a problem keeping the different story lines straight. How do you do that?

5/11/2018 01:30:12 am

It depends on what I am writing at the time whether I plot it out. If I come up with something new I usually jot down notes. Sometimes the stories write themselves other times I have to consciously develop them.
Some stories I am writing tend to stay in my head and I can just go back to them. Others I have to reread to get back into them. I am not good at remembering things sometimes so I have to check back on details. The main story usually stays with me though.

5/11/2018 09:15:24 am

It sounds like you are a hybrid writer, the more intricate the work, the more plotting you do.
How about style sheets and character sheets? Will you used those on your biggest books planned for?
Do you bounce ideas around with only writer friends or do you discuss plot problems with non-writer friends also? Do you have beta-readers or a critique group?

5/11/2018 07:57:16 pm

I guess you could call me a hybrid author! I don't use style or character sheets. Before I write the characters are usually in my head and I know who they are. I sometimes write ideas down in the early stages so that I don't forget. I work in my head a lot. There is a lot going in in there! When I write I see what is happening as if I am watching a movie or reading a book. Sometimes I bounce ideas off other people or discuss concepts and storylines off friends etc but I mainly work solo. I should probably write character sheets for some of my chapter books as I have found it hard to go back and remember what they are like (particularly with my dark fantasy story I am working on). I don't have a writing group or anything here. It would be something that I would love to be a part of though.

5/11/2018 08:48:27 pm

I mentor several teenagers who want to be writers, two of them create elaborate character sheets and even make drawings of them. A writing group could be fun, maybe you should start one. There are a lot of writers in Australia.
Have you ever spoken to a group of new writers? Perhaps a college or high school class in creative writing? Have you been mentored by a more experienced writer? What are three things you wish you knew as a beginning writer?

5/11/2018 10:32:48 pm

My method of writing can be a bit disorganized but it works for me. I have spoken to a group of emerging writers. They were wonderful to talk to and so enthusiastic. I met an author at this writing group who has become a friend of mine. She has been wonderful support as she was further along in her writing career. We support each other and inspire each other. Writing and being an author can be an up and down experience so it helps to have someone to talk to who is having similar experiences to myself. I would definitely do more speaking events in the future.
Thee three things I wish I knew before becoming a writer was how difficult the journey can be especially being an indie author. I wish I was a bit smarter in some of the choices I made when I was first published especially ensuring to have the rights to the illustrations. This did not seem that important when I first started out but it has hindered some of my marketing. I would have liked to use the images to make bookmarks and other items to sell with the books especially my Xalien the Purple Alien series. The third thing would be to understand what my motivation to write would be. When I started I just wrote but now the reason for a lot of my work is to help children have an appreciation for nature and animals and to help nurture a love of reading. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I don't regret anything I've done so far and I love the fact that you never stop learning as you write. I am certainly a better writer than I was when I first started. I am sure there is still a lot to learn and improve on along the way!

5/11/2018 10:43:57 pm

Wonderful that you have a writer friend. It is great to have someone who understands all the lingo and everything else that goes on in your field.
Rights is a very important issue. Are there any particular publishing practices you consider especially unethical?
What do you think are some common traps that beginning writers fall for?

5/11/2018 11:15:13 pm

I had one independent published hound me with constant phone calls and would not take no for an answer. They were apparently linked to one of the "big 5" publishers. I think that is very wrong. They were a self publishing company with a bad reputation. That is really unethical when publishing companies try to take advantage of authors. It is easy to fall prey to them if you don't know what you are doing. I suggest you research any publishing company before you agree to publish with them. This is also a common trap for beginner writers. Everyone dreams of making it and getting offered a contract. This rarely happens easily. Always do your homework. Self-publishing is hard work. The easy part is publishing your work, the hard work comes after (and in the lead up to publishing), when you have to market your books, find reviewers and make a name for yourself and your book.

5/11/2018 11:21:21 pm

Have you gone through the querying process? Everything I have heard says it is quite difficult? What kind of research is involved for that?

5/12/2018 01:18:37 am

I haven't sent queries out. before. I usually apply when submissions are open. Perhaps it is something I will explore though. I will have to read up on how you write a query letter.

5/12/2018 12:24:20 pm

How about competitions. Do you enter them and why?
What was the best money ever spent to enhance your career as a writer? Are there any reference books you keep close at hand?

5/12/2018 07:39:41 pm

I do enter competitions. So far I've entered books into The Purple Dragonfly Awards, The Wishing Shelf Awards and New Apple Book Awards. The reason is to gauge how my books stand up to the rest, to make sure I am doing the right thing and that my messages are being heard. Also it is good exposure for my books. I also actively seek reviews and parenting review sites like Bizziebaby in the UK. The best money I have spent on my writing is actually self-publishing my books and getting them out there for children to read. That in itself has been a dream come true and I am grateful that I have been able to publish my stories and bring them to life. I don't have a single go to reference for my books but I do keep up with news and ideas through Ingrams newsletters and do lots of reading and research on the net. There is a wealth of knowledge out there to help an author along the way.

5/12/2018 08:10:08 pm

That is so exciting that you have won those awards. Let’s turn the corner now. How important is it to have an alternate activity specifically something not related to writing. What would that activity be for you? How often do you break from writing?

5/12/2018 09:34:10 pm

It is very important to have alternate activities. I am generally an outdoors kind of person so I usually start the day with walking the dogs. Exercise is good for the soul. It relaxes me and keeps me fit and healthy, mentally as well as physically. I also own and ride horses. They are an amazing animal and I love spending time with them. They are an inspiration to me and are incredibly kind and intelligent. I also enjoy gardening or going out to see live bands or the theatre. All these things inspire me to write and it is the basis for all my stories, kindness and a love for nature and animals. I also run a business Purple Pony Pets where I create dog collars and horse accessories as well as a line of animal / nature themed jewelry and giftware. I try to write every day but sometimes I am too busy to find the time. If I have no inspiration I tend to spend time outside or working on my business. Having a lot of different interests keeps my writing flowing. Sometimes I can write a lot, other times it is just revising or just playing around with ideas.

5/12/2018 09:56:45 pm

You are a very busy person. I appreciate your perspective on horses. I have never known a horse for an extended period of time. They can be so big, and somewhat intimidating.
Do you read children's books by other authors? What kind of books do you read for fun? Is it hard to read a book for fun only? Is your author mind always analyzing everything you read? Is there a genre you would like to read, but haven't yet?

5/13/2018 12:34:37 am

I do read children's books by different authors sometimes. I recently read a lot of Roald Dahl books which I'd never read before. I like to check out what is new and what other authors are writing about to keep my writing current.
For fun I like to read biographies. I don't get a lot of time to read because I am so busy but I still enjoy sitting down with a good book. I've read books in almost every genre. I like to read a diverse section depending on what catches my eye or imagination. I've even read space books in the past which is not really my thing.

5/13/2018 11:57:21 am

Very interesting. Is there a book that has ever changed your mind about a topic or genre? Are there any books you think every author should read in children's lit or outside of kid lit?
Have you ever thought about taking a break from writing, what would you do during that time?

5/13/2018 07:33:22 pm

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton opened my eyes to the genre of fantasy. It really made an impression on me. I think that is where my ambition to write fantasy stories first came from. I think the classics like Dr Seuss and Roald Dalh are good books to read as a children's author. The scope of imagination especially in Dr Seuss is incredible. The books are timeless. Classic fairytales and stories are also a good foundation for a children's author.
I have taken breaks from being an author, however I think being away from it at this stage when I am relatively new is not a good idea. The social media aspect is so important and I do love to keep connected with my followers and people who enjoy my books. If I were to completely take a break from writing I would focus on my business as I love creating dog collars and items for animals. I've always loved sewing and handiwork so that would be a great way to keep busy. I'd have more time to put into that. I've pretty much got a perfect work / leisure balance so spending time with the horses and working around home would keep me busy. If I could go away for a while over Winter that would be great; somewhere warm near the beach as I love the ocean. So a holiday away would be lovely.

5/13/2018 08:08:20 pm

Excellent, thank you. Warm beaches call me in the winter also. I have answered that call only once.
There is another activity that has taken some of your time, riding horses and competing in Dressage. What is that and are you still doing competing? Have you ever thought about other types of competition such as a rodeo?

5/13/2018 10:56:21 pm

Dressage is when you do a series of moves and get scored accordingly. It is great for training too and keeps me motivated and interested in the sport as there is always something to improve on. I do still compete, usually only during the warmer months as I hate the cold and Winter. I have done some showing in the past but since I broke my leg and ankle (as a result of housing development where machines came along and spooked my horse), I am unable to do that as much. I use showing to take the young horses out to get them used to things which involves running them out for the judge and I cannot run anymore. I would like to try Western riding which looks like a lot of fun. Or endurance. I've recently ridden with an endurance rider who broke in my young horse Wizard. That was so incredibly. Riding along trails and a trot and canter and the feeling of being free was just incredible. I hope to be able to move one day to a more suitable place for horses now that the council has ruined my place with housing development. I is becoming dangerous to ride where I am now.

5/13/2018 11:16:09 pm

Thank you for sharing about the horses. Now back to books. When you start writing a book, do you start on a computer, typewriter, or a pad of paper?
Do you consider yourself a full-time writer or part-time?

5/13/2018 11:59:18 pm

If an idea comes to me while I am away from the computer I will first jot down notes if I think it is something that I am going to forget. I do the actual writing on a computer. It is a lot easier to edit etc on there and store my work. I actually enjoy typing away at the keyboard. I used to be shocking at typing when I was at school but now I am quite quick and can touch type. I like that you can review and edit your work without having to completely rewrite it like back when there was only typewriters or handwriting. I would love writing to be a full-time job but at the moment I consider it part-time. I view it as one of the businesses I run and it certainly is a priority to keep it going just as much as my pet business. I also have my own publishing company Purple Pony Publishing where I hope to publish my future stories from. It is a learning curb but one that I am enjoying. My new book Cody the Pony Goes to Pony Club is the first book released through my own company.

5/14/2018 12:54:25 am

I had the honor of reviewing "Cody, the Pony, Goes to Pony Club". It is a very cute book. Nobody can claim you are not a modern writer.
Do you use special writing software, such as Scrivner or something else, or regular word processing software?
When you are writing does it strengthen you or do you feel tired and worn out after a session of productive writing? On average, how long is a writing session?

5/14/2018 07:56:16 pm

Thanks. I love being able to write about my own pony and make it into a story for children to enjoy. Having a pet is a wonderful experience for a child.
I used Microsoft Word for my writing. I find it quite easy to use and suits my requirements. I am not computer savvy at times so I find this quite user friendly.
In terms of writing sometimes it fires me up, especially when the words flow easy. Other times is it tiring. When I have to force the words out writing and I can have a love hate relationship. If the words flow I can write steadily all day if necessary. I've written a complete story in a matter of hours. Others times writing is a long drawn out process. I often have to research things on the internet so this slows me down, however it also can motivate me and inspire me. You can probably tell that I am not a writer who has a set time schedule or method. But there is a method to my madness. When the words flow readily I work for as long as they keep coming. Sometimes when it doesn't happen it is best for me to do something else.

5/14/2018 08:40:27 pm

A lot of authors find it difficult to promote their books. They feel uncomfortable with that side of the business. Is that a problem for you? Do you find it hard to get readers to leave a review? Is there any one thing that works better for you than another in terms of promoting your own books?

5/14/2018 11:30:08 pm

I do find it hard to promote my books. I have a few reviewers that I use to promote books but it is especially hard as an Indie author to find reviewers willing to review my books. I am active on social media and I try to make it interesting in my efforts to get exposure for my books. It is a fine line between getting people to check out my books and to be too pushy. I genuinely enjoy chatting to people and am happy to do so. It is difficult to get readers to leave reviews. Before I became a published author I had no idea the impact a review can have. I am guilty of not leaving reviews either but now that I understand how important they are a make a conscious effort to leave reviews after buying not only books but other products. I think that using flyers etc are a good way to promote my books. It is a way to show people what you have to offer and give them a bit of information about the books I have available. I use this technique quite a bit on social media or to send out to bookshops and libraries.

5/14/2018 11:34:35 pm

I have been doing more of that myself.
My day is about done. I have really enjoyed our conversation. I have a new book review going live tomorrow. Is there anything you wished I would have asked? Is there anything else you would like to say?

5/14/2018 11:51:17 pm

Thanks so much for interviewing me. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. You asked some very specific questions on a wide range of issues that authors / writers have. Hopefully both potential readers as well as other authors can see what it is like to be a writer and what it takes. I will always write from the heart to encourage readers of all ages to read books. Reading is a vitally important skill to have no matter what age you are and it should first and foremost be an enjoyable experience. I look forward to reading your next review!

5/14/2018 11:59:07 pm

Thanks Michelle.
Of course, with this marvel of the age, this internet thing, anyone can come along in the future and ask their own questions and continue the conversation.
Say to Cody for me.

The Splendidly Spectacular Circus of Starzborough: The City of Smogg by Michelle Path illustrated by Hannah Purkiss

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