Avalon, Hit Book Series For Girls 8 to 12, Launches: 'Heart of Avalon,' 10th Avalon Title in Brings To 1,000,000 Copies In Print

(PRWEB) October 2, 2005 -- “Welcome to Avalon, a world where magic is real and friendship is everything,” says Rachel Roberts, author of the hit book series for girls 8 to 12, as she launches her newest book in the hit Avalon series for girls: “Heart of Avalon.”

“Heart of Avalon,” is making its way to bookstores as the sleeper Avalon hit book series approaches one million copies sold with the latest of her mystery tales, furthering the continuing magical saga of three young girls whose adventures entertain and inspire a continually growing nationwide readership of 'tweens, the popular term for children before their teenage years when they are between teenage and younger years.

This fall, Client Distribution Services, Inc. (CDS) releases “Heart of Avalon,” the 10th book in the successful “Avalon” book series for 'tween girls. With nearly 1,000,000 books sold so far at retail and upwards of 8,000 visits a day to the website: avalonclubhouse.com, “Avalon” is poised for breakout 'tween success. Published by CDS Books, based in New York City, “Heart of Avalon” is the fourth in the “Quest for Magic” series, which followed the six-book “Web of Magic” series by the prolific and talented Rachel Roberts.

'Tween girls across the country have been enchanted with this mystical series with adventurous story lines that involve magic, music, friendship, animals, and nature. Written by Rachel Roberts, Avalon brilliantly blends adventure, girl power, friendship and magic into a spellbinding fantasy series that has spun success with the retail industry. Avalon follows the adventures of a trio of 13 year-old girls, Adriane, Emily and Kara, who bring readers into a magical, secret world of wondrous awe, mysterious creatures, and good versus evil.

The three girls carry the story of Avalon to young girl readers in compelling adventures that spotlight their love of animals, deep friendship for each other and dedication to protect the weak and choose right over wrong.

Roberts, whose imagination has created a world where three young girls are empowered by their confidence, kindness and cunning as together they battle the forces of evil to protect animals and each other amid the heart pounding challenges they face.

The author, an animal rights activist, brings to her readers a sense that they can make a difference in the world by caring for animals and each other. She often corresponds with readers who take the time to write.

Roberts says, “The Avalon books are intended to entertain, but they also show girls that friendship, teamwork, responsibility and appreciation of their own uniqueness are important. I find that the fans of Avalon are inspired by the books characters. In the letters I receive and answer, I see that readers of the Avalon series are smart, creative, and wonderfully imaginative. They inspire me.”

Avalon includes fantasy worlds of fast paced excitement, mysteries, wonderful settings and inspiring young people whose heroic quest is achieved by using their wit and intelligence as they search for intelligent solutions to the problems they face.

Avalon follows the adventures of three very different girls, the unlikeliest of friends, all drawn to a secret place deep in the woods. There, in what used to be a wildlife preserve, they find a portal to another world through which strange and magical animals have emerged, searching desperately for the magic that will keep them alive. The animals are peaceful and good, but what follows them through the portal is pure evil. The girls embark on a journey to become mages as they search for the source of magic: the hidden, enchanted land called Avalon. The secrets the girls uncover will endanger them, and the friends they make, both human and otherworldly, will change their lives forever.

Red Sky Entertainment, the exclusive worldwide licensor of Avalon, said nearly 1,000,000 copies of the nine previous books comprising the “Avalon - Web of Magic”, and “Avalon – Quest for Magic” series have been sold through over 4,000 retail outlets and Scholastic's in-school book clubs.

Robert Mandell, Chief Executive Officer of Red Sky, said, "Avalon presents themes that absolutely resonate with today's tweens--fantasy, adventure, danger, music, and humor. The Avalon series is entering its most dramatic and dynamic time and we are poised for tremendous success. An Avalon feature film is in development and other exciting extensions of the Avalon story will soon be available to Avalon fans.”

Mandell, whose Emmy winning TV entertainment credits range from the “Galaxy Rangers” to the “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” series, said, "An important characteristic of Avalon is storytelling that ignites imaginations, builds loyalty and drives entertainment industry interest."

"Books are a wonderful and powerful way to build a multiply dimensional dynamic brand for kids,” said Mandell. “The creative content in the Avalon series is richly developed to be able to extend the characters and worlds across multiple levels of marketing and licensing. We also build brand loyalty at the consumer level as well as awareness at retail.”

He added, “The Avalon books are extraordinarily successful and fast becoming a cultural phenomenon. Additional Avalon books will be published in the years ahead. The Avalon website will also carry new and exciting information about the Avalon books continually.”

Fans of Avalon can learn more about the series at www.avalonclubhouse.com .

Avalon has had a series of successful retail promotions with Borders Books and Music and Barnes & Noble including a multiple city touring show featuring live music, prizes, as well as music CD giveaways featuring songs from the magical band “Be*Tween,” produced by Sony Wonder.

Avalon is also partnered with NAHEE, the youth division of the National Humane Society, as a vehicle to inform tweens and teens about animal rights and environmental issues.

Red Sky Entertainment, based in Los Angeles and New York City, is a company engaged in the development, production, and licensing of branded children's and family properties built upon a foundation of publishing and innovative and cooperative marketing and licensing programs.

In addition to the Avalon series, Red Sky's properties include “Ringworld,” based on the award-wining science fiction classic book by Larry Niven; The Wompkees™, based on the magical world of elfin creatures; The Galaxy Rangers, a 65-episode anime space western adventure, as well as other publishing properties; Web Warriors; R.U.S.T. - Robotic United Street Team; Major Weirdo, Dragon Hunter; Eden and Stages books for teens.