Don't Die, Dragonfly (The Seer Series) [Paperback]

Linda Joy Singleton (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Seer Series | Publication Date: September 8, 2004

After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny-Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco.

Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head . . . or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger.

Editorial Reviews

Review

.,." tingly and otherworldly enough to keep 'em hooked. The cool cover will help draw new readers and maintain those already into the series."

From the Author

I've always been fascinated with psychics and ghosts. I came up with the idea of a psychic "Nancy Drew" over 20 years ago. The original title for THE SEER was "Psychic Sleuth" but when I sold the idea to Llewellyn/Flux, they suggested THE SEER -- which I liked better. My editor was so excited by this series proposal in 2003 that she offered me a contract on only 50 pages. Then I had to hurry and finish the book -- it took three months. I usually take about 6 months to finish a book.

I'm often asked if the characters are based on anyone I know. Dominic is easy because he's based on my husband, who is an outdoors guy who loves animals and rides horses. Josh is based on an old boyfriend who was apprenticed to a master magician. Sabine isn't based on anyone. She came to me in dreams like a separate person who wanted her story told. When I imagine her, it's like she's standing next to me, watching to see what I'll write next.

Originally the series was only going to be 3 books. Then it was honored by YALSA (librarians) and I was asked to do a 4th book. More readers wanted another book, so I begged my publisher for a 5th book, and was contracted for #5 FATAL CHARM. That book was supposed to end the series. Still...it didn't feel over for me, so I left the plot about Josh open, hoping to write one more book. I was so excited when a new editor took over and asked for the 6th (and final THE SEER) MAGICIAN'S MUSE. It came out Oct. 2010 and ends the series in a very romantic way.

But the fun isn't over yet...remember the Goth Girl, Thorn? Well in 2012, she gets her own book (and hopefully a series if the books sell good enough). I've already written it and the tentative title is: GOTH GIRL MYSTERIES: #1. GRAVE SECRETS.

Stayed tuned by checking my website LindaJoySingleton.com and also my Facebook under my full name. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (September 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738705268
• ISBN-13: 978-0738705262
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

From Linda Joy Singleton:

When I was 9, I wrote a short story about a cat named Taben and stapled it into a "book" with pictures, too. A year later I rewrote the book, writing it neater, adding chapter titles, and putting games in the back. I didn't know it then but I was "revising" my work, an early step to learning how to become a writer.

When I was 14, I challenged myself to type a chapter a day over my 2 week Christmas vacation, and I finished a book (200 pages) in two weeks. This was an important achievement to me because I proved to myself that I could finish a book. Up until then I had many starts but only one "finish."

So you'd think I was poised to become a young published author? Maybe...but life jumped ahead of my dreams. I started working at age 17 plus had a short marriage. I didn't dust off my writing dreams until I was 27 and a mother of toddlers. I started off small, writing in the evening when my husband was home to help with the kids. By the time they were in school, I had a schedule of writing in the mornings. I sold my first book when I was 30, a chapter book called ALMOST TWINS. Someday (when I'm quite famous) this will be my more rare book since only a few thousand were ever printed and it was only sold in school book fairs. My first book never made it to bookstores.

My 36th book, THE SEER #6. MAGICIAN'S MUSE, came out in 2010. And in 2012, a spinoff from THE SEER starring Thorn, BURIED, comes out in March. Also, I'm working on a big world-creating book now that will be my biggest achievement yet...stay tuned for more dreams coming true.

Read short stories and enter a contest here: www.LindaJoySingleton.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars W-O-W-! This is not to be missed!, October 13, 2004

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don't Die, Dragonfly (The Seer Series) (Paperback)

Sabine Rose's psychic gift got her kicked out of her last school and sent to live with her grandmother, Nona, who also has the "family gift". So Sabine hides her abilities in her new school, pretending to be normal. She is on the school newspaper staff and helps Manny with his Mystic Manny column. Her best friend is a cheerleader and Sabine often helps the entire squad with their practices and banners. She has a fabulous new boyfriend, Josh, that she met while saving his life (and he will never find out how she knew he was in danger if she has anything to say about it.) It sounds as though Sabine has everything a normal teenager could ever wish for.

However, Sabine still sees ghosts, spirit guides, and visions. Josh's best friend is jealous of her. Dominic is Nona's newest house guest with his own special talent. Someone vandalized the school and some things have been stolen as well.

Manny has always wished he had some sort of psychic talent. Even though he does not, he is still very good natured and keeps an open mind. He knows Sabine is more than normal and confronts her with it. Once she opens up to him, Manny introduces her to Thorn. Thorn likes the Goth look. It keeps people from getting too close to her. Thorn has her own special "gift". Manny, Thorn, Dominic, and Sabine, team up to investigate the vandalism and theft. But someone knows Sabine is out to locate the vandalizer and begins to frame her for it all. In addition, Sabine keeps having visions of a teen girl with a dragonfly tattoo on her wrist being surrounding by danger and death. Somehow Sabine must prove her innocense and warn the mystery girl with the tattoo without revealing her psychic gift to everyone.

***** W-O-W-! You will not want to put this awesome book down! Sabine, Thorn, Dominic, and Manny make a wonderful investigation team. Just think of all the things this group could do if they stay together. It is better than the TV show "Charmed" could ever be. I cannot wait until book two, "Last Dance" comes out. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars be yourself!, September 18, 2005

By 

Elizabeth Slater (North Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Don't Die, Dragonfly (The Seer Series) (Paperback)

Sabine Rose is trying to fit in with the students in her new school. She lives with her grandmother. Her psychic abilities forced her out of her last school, so the last thing she wants is for the visions to begin again. This time she's in with the crowd - her best friend is a cheerleader and she hangs out with the team. She's on the journalism team with Manny, who writes a column for the high school newspaper. Manny introduces Sabine to Thorn, who is also gifted in her own way. When Sabine is framed for the thefts, Sabine and Thorn team up with others to discover who is vandalising the school and stealing from the classrooms. In the midst of all of this, Sabine keeps having visions of a dragonfly tattoo - and the person with it is in danger. How can she prove her own innocence and prevent disaster while preserving her sanity and secrets? A lively YA novel with the paranormal elements, this novel touches on many of the teen issues and how these characters come to term with their lives. I look forward to the next in this Seer series, Last Dance.

36 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Concept, Bad Editing, April 28, 2006

By 

Temi-Tayo A. Shonoiki "Changeling" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don't Die, Dragonfly (The Seer Series) (Paperback)

Don't get me wrong, I love the plot, the whole idea for a book about a teenager who has psychic powers and an ability to see ghost and spirits and predict or visualize future events, is a great idea. The Title(s) are amazing, and the Book covers, in my opinion, are the best of all her series'. The biggest problem i had with this book, is there were soooo many typo's in it, i mean i know it's not a college level book but does it have to have so many typos in it.. and it was edited, so why is the book that sloppy? another thing that bothered me was how underdeveloped the characters were, i mean even Sabine was foreign to me, and it was her story! when you write in the first person, the only way someone can connect with the character is by telling us about how she feels, what shes thinking about, stuff like that.. you did some of that but you didn't do it enough.. also you didn't describe the characters very well. Like, I'm still trying to figure out how Sabine, Manny, Nona, Penny-love, Dominic, Josh, Evan, Danielle.. Pretty Much everyone looks like! looks are a big part of how a reader connects with the characters! Also, there were a lot of "scenes" in the book but they weren't very descriptive, I'd rather have a few scenes that explain the emotions and movements and thoughts of the characters, then a bunch of scenes with tons of chit chat in them but no substance. One last thing that got to me was how the history of Sabine's family wasn't elaborated on, there was a little talk about it being long but it would've been nice to hear about at least one family member and what happened to them.. like a story from Nona about a long lost relative. All and all i did like the book, and will pick up the next one, in the hopes that the series will improve a bit.