How to Slay a Dragon Cover Wins Award

Thanks to the incredible artistic talent of my publisher, Debra Dixon, the cover for How to Slay a Dragon won the 2012 Ariana Epic Award for Children's/YA Fiction, and the cover for How to Save a Kingdom is currently a finalist for the 2013 award. Now, rather than focus on the fact that this wonderful bit of recognition is for the one part of the book that I had nothing to do with, I will mention that mine are not the only covers that have done well for DD. In fact, she has over a dozen covers awaiting the decision for the 2013 Epic awards. Congratulations, DD!

A true YA book: Hanging by a Thread

Since the release of How to Slay a Dragon at the start of 2011, people have referred to my Journals of Myrth books as a series for young adults, even though, with a twelve-year-old hero, they were really intended for tweens. Now, with all of the same humor as my books for younger readers, I have released Hanging by a Thread, a book truly intended for the slightly older YA audience:

Belgore the Magnificent has been performing in Vegas for twenty years. Many say he's the greatest magician of all time, but then why shouldn't he be? He holds the same distinction on Ambrosia, the magical planet where he was born and still returns on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, the thread he has set up to pass between worlds will eventually destroy the Earth, and the only people who know his secret are three fellow magicians trapped on a prison planet far away. To escape they must turn to Cutter, the most feared prisoner at Facility Twenty-four, a man who has questionable motives of his own.

Throw in the pair of incompetent mobsters who have been tasked to stop them, the innocent family who unwittingly join in the chase, and the competition for the beautiful Rory's affections between her boyfriend, Trent, and the awkward Cloyd, and you have the makings of one ludicrous adventure.

Are We Witnessing the End of Myrth?

With the 2012 release of How to Stop a Witch by Bell Bridge Books, those familiar with the original Greg Hart series may be wondering, "Is this the last of the Journals of Myrth adventures?

Only time will tell, but for now, I hope you'll enjoy Books One through Three. Not familiar with Greg and the magical land of Myrth? You can find out all about them here.

The Bumpy Daze of Orson Buggy

Many who are familiar with my Journals of Myrth series may not know that not all of my humorous books for children fall into the fantasy genre. Orson Buggy's Lessons for Losers and Orson Buggy's Separation Anxiety , Books One and Two of the Bumpy Daze of Orson Buggy, also revolve around an ordinary twelve-year-old boy, but Orson Buggy is no hero, and no one expects him to be.

If you like to chuckle or you've ever felt like the world was out to get you, you're going to want to take a look at Orson's less-than-ordinary Middle-school life.

Amazon Best Seller: How to Slay a Dragon

Twice since its release in January of 2011, How to Slay a Dragon, Book One of the Journals of Myrth has spent a week as Amazon's #1 in all of children's fiction. Here's a sampling of what people are saying about it:

There are so many fantasy books out there in the market today, that it’s very, very rare to get your hands on one that is so different from the rest - with so many fun characters and a truly exciting plot - that when it does happen, readers should flock to their bookstores...And Bill Allen has most definitely begun a series that is completely unique and absolutely "flock-inducing."

How to Slay a Dragon is a wonderful quest fantasy starring the last person one would expect to wear the mantle of prophesized hero saving the world from a powerful dragon.

...A combination of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit, How to Slay a Dragon is a cute juvenile fantasy.

...a wordy adventure into the realm of fantasy steeped with enough action to draw you in and enough word play to keep you thinking (and laughing) along the way.

...an exceptionally good book that anyone would find endearing.

...one of the best books for middle grades I have read in a long time.

...a wonderful book full of imagination and charm.

Just Books

...Mr. Allen grabs your attention at the very first chapter
and keeps Greg running all throughout the book.

What's Bill up to right now?

• Working diligently on:
  Orson Buggy's Big Fang Theory,
  Book Three of the Bumpy Daze of Orson Buggy, due mid 2013.