Debut Children's Author Publishes First Novel, CHAINED

Online, April 21, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Debut author Lynne Kelly celebrates the release of her first children's novel, CHAINED, about a captive elephant in India and her keeper who have a friendship stronger than any lock, shackle, or chain.

Ten-year-old Hastin's sister has fallen ill, and his family must borrow money to pay for her care in the hospital. To work off the debt, Hastin leaves his village in northern India to work in a faraway jungle as an elephant keeper. He thinks it will be an adventure, but he isn't prepared for the cruel circus owner. The crowds that come to the circus see a lively animal who plays soccer and balances on milk bottles, but Hastin sees Nandita, a sweet elephant and his best friend, who is chained when she's not performing and punished until she learns her tricks. With the help of Ne Min, a wise old man who seems to know all about elephants, Hastin protects Nandita as best as he can. Still he wonders-will they survive long enough to escape?

"I've always loved reading," Kelly says, "and as a mom and a teacher (I taught special education in Spring ISD), I fell in love with children's literature all over again. But it wasn't until I got the idea for CHAINED that I was inspired to write. It wasn't easy to turn the idea into a good story, but once I started writing I found that I really enjoyed it, so I kept working on it while learning all I could about writing."

CHAINED debuts May 8th from Macmillan/Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. The author will discuss and sign the book on May 12th at Blue Willow Bookshop starting at 2:00 PM. More events and information are available at www.lynnekellybooks.com.

Lynne Kelly grew up in the Spring Branch area and now lives in Spring. When not writing, she works as a sign language interpreter all over Houston.

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Publicist contact:
Elizabeth Mason
elizabeth.mason@macmillan.com