Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard

Adventurous Elvia Hill is fed up with her overly cautious parents, who lost her older sister, Jane, to cancer.

Welcome to one of the May 11th stops on the blog tour for Elvia and the Gift of Passion by Ruthy Ballard with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

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About the Book

Elvia and the Gift of Passion
Tales by Moons-Light
by Ruthy Ballard

Published 3 April 2023
WhipSmart Books

Genre: Middle Grade Science Fantasy
Page Count: 374
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

Adventurous ten-year-old Elvia is sick of her dull-as-dishwater existence, suffocating under the stifling watch her overprotective parents. She longs for a different life, with more freedom and fun. But she gets more than she bargains for when she discovers an alarming family secret and is swept away on an adventure 64,000 light years from Earth. Tanzanian witch doctors, child-eating lions, and submarine exploration on a two-mooned planet enliven this science fiction fantasy adventure, the third in Ballard’s award-winning Tales by Moons-light series.

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Excerpt

“What will you call her?” the woman asked, whipping the doll from Elvia’s hands, and, in one liquid motion, wrapping it up in a colorful scarf. “I’ll throw in this beautiful kanga for free so you can carry your baby on your back, like women do here.”

Sally raised an eyebrow in annoyance. The pushy woman was a skilled salesperson. No doubt she’d sold many of her wares in such an underhanded way. Still, she withdrew her wallet. She couldn’t very well deny Elvia the doll now.

Elvia considered her options. She briefly thought of calling the doll Mary or Ann, but she immediately decided against it. Lots of girls had dolls with common names. Instead, hoping for something more exotic, she probed the shopkeeper for suggestions.

“What’s a good Tanzanian name?” she asked eagerly. “She’s a local doll, so she should have a local name.”

The woman cocked her head to one side, deliberating. Several seconds ticked by as she appraised the little American girl who stood before her. The little red-haired American girl, who wanted a Tanzanian name for her new doll.

A lizard scurried across the floor and up one wall. A caged cockatoo, in a corner, let out a screech. Elvia waited, her face alight with anticipation. Sally thought, “Fifty dollars for a cloth doll that looks like it won’t last a week!” She wondered, “Was it really crafted by a Tanzanian woman who needs the cash to feed her family? Or was it imported from overseas?” The doll had been made in China and shipped to Tanzania on a huge container ship. She was suddenly sure of it.

“Mchawi,” the woman finally said, with a resolute nod, helping Elvia situate the doll between her shoulder blades, snug within the kanga. “Yes, I think that is a very good name, young one. A perfect name, in fact.”

Elvia repeated the strange name several times (“Mmm-Chah-Wee… Mmm-Chah-Wee… Mmm-ChahWee”). It was the kind of name a Zulu child might have! She loved it.

Sally, now fully resigned to spending the money, agreed that it was a fine name. As she completed the transaction and headed for the door, she gave herself a little pep talk. “It’s a lot to pay,” she told herself. “But I did the right thing. I know I did.”

What Sally didn’t know—and would have been horrified if she had—was that “mchawi” was the Swahili word for witch, and how important that would become, later on, when Elvia vanished and they tried to get her back

About the Author

Children’s book author Dr. Ruth (Ruthy) Ballard is a scientist by trade who never thought she’d be one. Intimidated by science as a kid, she almost gave up on pursuing it as a career though she found it fascinating. Fortunately, a mentor stepped in and showed her the way. Now, she’s passionate about doing the same for the next generation of science shy, but creative, smart and capable kids. Her award-winning science fantasy adventures lure children in with compelling characters and entertaining, twisty plots that incorporate science in fun, accessible ways.

When Ruthy isn’t writing, she is “Dr. Ruth Ballard,” a forensic DNA consultant and a professor at Sacramento State, where she runs a forensic biology research and training program while consulting with attorneys across the country on criminal cases involving DNA evidence. She’s also a folk artist who loves to draw, illustrates her own books, and enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and their four dogs near their home on the Oregon coast.

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Giveaway Alert!

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon B&N gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.