Fourteen-year-old
Lupe Hernandez dismisses the legend about her Mexican grandmother's
magical earrings as a silly fairytale, despite recurring nightmares
of human sacrifice. But when the earrings thrust her into the
parallel world of Ixtumea, she must confront the very thing
she shuns the most -- her cultural heritage.
Lupe's journey
takes her through a dense Mayan jungle to the damp underground
kingdom of Malvado, where a rebel leader plots to keep her from
fulfilling her destiny. She is guided by a hot warrior protector
named Teancum, who tells her about a prophecy of a long-awaited
young prophetess - which happens to be Lupe. She trains with
the Spider Goddess, who teaches her the sacred knots that bind
both worlds together, and she meets her long-lost mother, Concha,
who is now a dangerous enemy. Life as Lupe knows it will never
be the same!
Earrings of Ixtumea will be re-released by Muse It Up Publishing with a new cover in March 2012.
"Dream
balances nightmare as Lupe makes a spiritual journey, comes face to
face with living gods, and learns the truth about her parents, her own
origins, and her destiny. Author Kim Baccellia uses Lupe's spiritual
journey to frame some profound thoughts about our view of physical perfection
(and how a Latina copes in a blonde world) and how traditional beliefs
integrate with those of a faith like Catholicism. (When you're being
threatened by Tezcatlipoca, do you pray to the Virgin of Guadalupe or
to Ixchel?) Though herself a Mormon, Baccellia seems to have a good
grasp of Latin Catholic sensibilities. In a genre market (fantasy) that
is dominated by Celtic mythology and heroes drawn from a northern/western
European aesthetic, a book featuring a young Latina heroine and a culture
drawn from Native Central American and Hispanic influences is a welcome
change." - Midwest Book Review
"I highly
recommend this book for Latinos and gringos alike... it is an enjoyable
read and would be a good addition to anyone's library. Its energy is
similar to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. However,
it is not a re-write of it by any means. It is a substantial work on
its own. This book (also available as an e-book) is an excellent find
and I for one would love to see a sequel from this promising author."
- Thunder Child Review
"The
use of Latino folk tales and culture was refreshing and gave a new twist
to a familiar tale. The most well-developed character was Lupe's mother,
whose inner struggle between serving the man she loves and saving her
daughter was intriguing..." - Writer's Post Journal
"This
is a fast-paced, easy read that will not only carry you to a fantasy
land, but give you some insight into one of the fastest rising immigrant
cultures in the United States. Classic themes are recombined and made
new in this miniature saga." Huntress Reviews,
three star review ***
"I
just wanted to tell you that I recently purchased your book on Virtual
Tales and I am very impressed. I am also Latina and a former ESL teacher
(currently a fourth grade teacher) in Huntington Beach, CA. I love your
details and it is great to find literature that my students can relate
to." - Temple Salas-Yoshii
"Kim
Baccellia does a good job combining two very different worlds in her
book, Earrings of Ixtumea. This book is great for anyone 17 years and
younger!" - By The Book Reviews
"Lupe, the
protagonist of Earrings of Ixtumea, is a smart and sassy fourteen year
old living in two worlds, that of her mystical grandmother whose stories
are rooted in pre-Columbian folklore and in modern day Anglocized America.
The earrings her grandmother gives her, ones she does not want to take,
send her on a dangerous journey to the land of Ixtumea where she must
learn to accept her role as an orucula to save this world, and ours,
from destruction. The story is fast paced, with wonderfully drawn characters,
a book that could be a gateway for teenagers to read more fantasy."
- Alethea Eason, author of Hungry, HarperCollins
2007
"A very fun
book with a spunky main character, Lupe. I enjoyed the way this author
takes us to another world, and the great imagery she uses. I especially
liked Lupe, whose teenage voice is perfect for this YA fantasy. At no
inclination of her own, Lupe is swept from modern-day life into that
of her heritage. The world of Ixtumea is filled with intrigue, danger,
and it is where Lupe learns of her destiny. Kudos to this author for
a fun, imaginative book with a rich setting and an interesting plot."
- Mary
Beth Kelsey, author of Tracking Daddy Down, Greenwillow
2008
Crossed
Out
Stephanie Stewart didn't ask for her gift of guiding the deceased to
the
other side but she's stuck with it. Why can't dead people just follow
that
bright light and leave her alone? When Mr. Undead wants to use her
special
talent for his own evil purposes, her little gift becomes a major
liability.
Crossed Out was nominated for the Whitney Awards in 2011. It was also nominated in the Fantasy/Sci-Fi category of the Cybils Awards in 2010.
"Kim Baccellia mixes romantic comedy and chilling suspense into a delicious witches' brew guaranteed to bewitch young readers." - Joyce Sweeney, author of The Guardian, Holt Publisher
"Kim puts a creative, original new twist on the idea, and her plot leaves you tingling with anticipation for the next page." - Tiffany's Bookshelf
"Crossed Out is a fun read, Ghost Whisperer with a bit of the first seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer thrown in." - Romance Junkies
"Fast-paced and full of action, Crossed Out is a quick read that is full of colorful descriptive details." - Christine Marciniak, author of When Mike Kissed Emma
"Ms. Baccellia has done a wonderful job of making Stephanie jump off the pages...It had all the things I like: Boys, Mystery, Creepiness and Supernatural Ability!" - Reading, Writing and Waiting
"Crossed Out was a great read for fans of the supernatural, especially ghost stories; it's also a wonderful mystery that really makes you think about who you can really love and trust." - Reader Girls
"In Crossed Out, Kim Baccellia takes a few seemingly normal characters and puts them seamlessly into a paranormal life. At the end I was begging for more." - Mom's Not All
"The book reminded me of the Ghost Whisperer series where Melinda helps spirits crossover like Stephanie does. I really enjoyed the book and I cannot wait to read the sequel." - Books R Us
"Kim Baccellia weaves a tale of mystery and suspense guaranteed to keep the reader guessing. Every time I thought I'd figured out who everyone was and had separated the good guys from the bad guys, Ms. Baccellia threw in a surprise, a wonderfully delicious surprise, to send me down another path." - Beverly Stowe McClure, author of Just Breeze
"Crossed Out is a paranormal romance you can sink your teeth into, it's got a nicely flowing plot, with pretty likable characters. It's a compelling story, with a neat, dark and delicious twist on what you might be thinking." - Book Crazy
(Book
Cover Pending)
No Goddesses Allowed
When fifteen-year-old Jordan Lake discovers an ancient bracelet in her grandmother's house, she uncovers a family mystery that links her favorite actress, Audrey Hepburn, a romantic movie, and an aunt she never knew. Jordan hopes the bracelet will bring her love. Instead, it becomes a nightmare, unleashing the curse of Hathor, the Egyptian love goddess, who decides it's fun to mess with theMcKnight High School social scene. Only Jordan holds the key to vanquish Hathor, but will she figure it out in time to save her school and get a date to the dance?
