Thursday, December 19, 2024

Brooke and Piper: The Room with No Door has Been Released!

 


Brooke and Piper: The Room With No Door 

Book Two of the Brooke and Piper Trilogy has Been Released!

Just two days after their chilling adventure in the flooding tunnels beneath the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Egyptian Temple of Dendur, seventh-grade New Yorkers Brooke Robbins and Piper Lewis reunite to save a beloved American monument from terrorists’ destruction. The Room with No Door, the second book in the Brooke and Piper Trilogy, continues the story…

Since their recruitment into a generations-old secret society of women, dedicated to helping New Yorkers in peril, and with the help of a 13-year-old paralyzed science whiz, a world-famous stage illusionist, a Chinese martial arts master, and others, the girls deepen their trust in each other and rely on the skills they find within themselves and develop through never-ending challenges. Always a shadow over the girls’ lives, but bringing them even closer together, is the unexplained absence each suffers from a missing parent.

Author and artist George Woideck brings his love of New York, science, magic and adventure to this Young Adult, Urban Fantasy story of friendship, daring and resolve.


Purchase the paperback and ebook version ofThe Room with No Door here.



Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Meet Brooke and Piper


The shouts and threats grew louder as Brooke and Piper neared a turn in the rock-hewn tunnel. Peering around the corner with care, the girls witnessed a terrifying scene: the back of a man, wildly waving his fists and lecturing a woman tied to a chair. Even though tape covered the woman's mouth, Piper recognized her school’s headmistress Miss Saunders. But what most frightened Piper and Brooke was that the back legs of the chair rested just inches from the edge of a pit into which they could see no bottom. “You've had it, you old bag,“ the man screamed. “Say your prayers!“ 

...But our story begins the day before

 A seemingly chance meeting at the junk, the sign read costume, jewelry bin of Sadie's Variety Store on the Upper West Side of New York, and the two rings discovered there, brings together Brooke and Piper, thirteen-year olds from very different economic worlds of Manhattan. Brooke, a student at Public School 444 and the daughter of two science researchers, lost her mother in a lab accident that remains a mystery a year after the tragedy. Piper attends the private Laurels School on Park Avenue and has moved with her mother to a new luxury high rise near Brooke's more modest apartment. She misses her father who travels internationally for business but has not responded to frequent calls, texts or FaceTime requests. Both girls are puzzled and troubled by unanswered questions regarding the fate of these absent parents.

The two rings they now wear take them to the Egyptian Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the atrium that houses the Temple of Dendur. Using the power of the rings they enter, through the temple, a staircase to an underground passage that leads to a chamber of magic-like technology, deep beneath the reservoir in Central Park. There they meet the mysterious Ms. Thomas and Ms. Nikola who attempt to recruit them into a century-old sisterhood dedicated to aiding New Yorkers in need. Not until they rise to the challenge of saving Piper's headmistress from death by using the wonders of the chamber and the rings, are these two girls drawn into the cause. 

Their friendship grows as each new and more dangerous challenge forces Brooke and Piper to discover unknown talents and tap into unused personal strengths while questioning why they were chosen from so many young New Yorkers. 

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Recently published, Brooke and Piper is an urban fantasy, young adult novel of danger, friendship, family and magic-like science set in today's New York City. The neighborhoods, parks, streets and avenues are real. And yes, there is a Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where at one time you could enter but it is no longer possible to do so. If in New York City, visit the temple and experience the power and mystery of the structure and then explore the Egyptian galleries nearby to be immersed into the culture and history of the civilization that created it. 

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Brooke and Piper's identities of course must remain secret. And also so do the real names of the schools they attend. The locations around New York City are real and can be visited by any curious reader. This will also be true of the locations in the forthcoming sequel to Brooke and Piper, The Room with No Door. During mid afternoons in Manhattan, when schools let out, is and ideal time to view young New Yorkers just like Brooke and Piper. Who knows, one of them just might be the real girl. 

New York City is an engaging location for a young adult, urban fantasy story because of its mix of new and old. The city is constantly being reborn with locations either becoming historically preserved or subject to the wrecking ball. It's a noisy, gritty and exciting place to live or visit and to set our story

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Brooke and Piper, the Young Adult, Urban Fantasy adventure is available as a paperback or as a download on Amazon.

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Visit this blog again for updates on Brooke and Piper as well as fascinating information about the neighborhoods, landmarks, people and special places in New York City. 

George


 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdngj-sJvJyk-PieQJGbC8BpQlPiQaabUc-Q_qLNFpK6ykLCRr_o6XeISFJJXWbjlhcUOhYp0fni-DIqmRHrKnjtFrOWYNwFAnxMq5XbvJx-oxnPntaO3jVsx0ahEk8ZICsOPweEUaaReN/s1600/head+shots+004_cr_72_th.jpg

George Woideck is the author of Brooke and Piper. A former rock musician who recorded and toured, George is now a ceramic artist specializing in ceramic tile and glass mosaic public art installations. He is also welknown for his work in schools as a teaching artist in education. George is married to professor and memoirist Gail Arnoff and is a father and grandfather. He is currently working on a sequel to Brooke and Piper titled, The Room with No Door. Contact George at george@brookeand piper.com






            


             





Friday, June 26, 2020

Brooke and Piper's New York City


Brooke and Piper's Central Park

Much of the story of Brooke and Piper occurs in or near Central Park on the island of Manhattan, one of the five boroughs (counties) of New York City. Central Park was created in the 19th Century, roughly in the center of the island. Four of the five boroughs are on islands which sometimes makes traveling from one to another a bit of a chore, taking time and patience and sometimes even involving a ferry boat. 

Central Park is the go to place for tourists and New Yorkers alike to find a bit of nature away from the noise of the busy city. It's stocked with playgrounds, walking paths, woods and meadows. 
Central Park Looking North (Uptown)

The City is Always Nearby


A Great Place to Stroll

The Bow Brudge

 In addition to nature you can find a castle...


Belvedere Castle

 A Carousel....



The Central Park Carousel

A Reservoir...

The Reservoir, Central Park's Largest Body of Water
Two Skating Rinks...

Wolman Rink

A Museum...


The Metropolitan Museum of Art

 Another Museum Just Across Central Park 



The American Museum of Natural History
Waterfalls...






And the Central Park Zoo





Beautiful in the Fall...




Riverside Park is 
Another Great Park
That is Featured
in the book Brooke
and Piper...






And You Can See
from this Map that 
Central Park is Close
to the Upper West Side
Where Brooke Goes
to P.S. 444 and to
the Upper East Side
Where Piper Attends
The Laurels School...


The West and East sides of Manhattan and Central Park

If you're not a New Yorker I hope you can visit soon and experience Brooke and Piper's neighborhoods and Central Park.

George


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdngj-sJvJyk-PieQJGbC8BpQlPiQaabUc-Q_qLNFpK6ykLCRr_o6XeISFJJXWbjlhcUOhYp0fni-DIqmRHrKnjtFrOWYNwFAnxMq5XbvJx-oxnPntaO3jVsx0ahEk8ZICsOPweEUaaReN/s1600/head+shots+004_cr_72_th.jpg

George Woideck is the author of Brooke and Piper. A former rock musician who recorded and toured, George is now a ceramic artist specializing in ceramic tile and glass mosaic public art installations. He is also welknown for his work in schools as a teaching artist in education.  George is married to professor and memoirist Gail Arnoff and is a father and grandfather. He is currently working on a sequel to Brooke and Piper titled, The Room with No Door. Contact George at georgewoideck@gmail.com. Visit Brooke and Piper's website at brookeandpiper.com.


Thursday, June 11, 2020

The Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art



                             The Temple of Dendur

One of the delights in visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is entering the glass enclosed atrium that houses the Temple of Dendur. Although the temple is not large it demands your attention the second you view it. And it does draw you closer; you find it impossible to take your eyes from it. 
But first, to find your way to the atrium and the temple, you must first walk through the museum's Egyptian Galleries with one of the greatest collection of artifacts from that empire's 3000 year history. You'll see mummy cases (without the mummies unfortunately), sculptures of gods and pharaohs, walls of hieroglyphs, pottery and items used in daily life during ancient times. 

Hieroglyphs on a Wall of the Temple

After walking through the galleries and viewing the vast collection, you enter the atrium. It seems that all the wonderful art you've seen so far was just a prelude to the temple itself. The temple stands on a raised platform; before it is a stone pylon and before that, a pool of water. Natural light illuminates the scene. 

The Temple of Dendur and Pylon



Although the atrium is not a sanctuary in the modern sense, there is a hush and a feeling of awe when viewing the temple. Several Egyptian sculptures are also displayed in the area. 


Dendur and Sculptures at Night


The Temple is divided into three rooms. The innermost was the area that the very private religious ceremonies worshipping the goddess Isis were performed. Ancient Greek and Egyptian religious activities were not public affairs and because of that were filled with mystery. 

The Entrance to the Temple
Carved in a wall of the temple is a scene that shows the Roman emperor Augustus bringing offerings to the Egyptian gods Horus and Hathor.  Egypt at the time this temple was built was part of the vast Roman Empire and the emperor was looked upon as a pharaoh. 

Emperor Augustus (Right) Bringing Offerings to gods Horus and Hathor

In ancient times Egyptian and Greek temples and sculpture were colorfully painted and traces of paint can sometimes be found after centuries. Below is an artist's illustration of how the above panel may have looked two thousand years ago. 
What the Carved Wall May Have Looked Like When OriginallyPainted 

The temple was brought over, stone by stone, as a gift from Egypt to the American people more than 50 years ago. The temple needed to be moved because of the rising waters of Lake Nasser, the reservoir created by damming the Nile River. The U.S. government awarded the temple to the Metropolitan Museum of Art which constructed the special atrium to house it. Below are several drawings from the Nineteenth Century showing the temple in its original location. 




There are many online resources to learn more about the art and culture of ancient Egypt. The Metropolitan Museum of Arts' website is metmuseum.org. Enjoy exploring. 


George

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdngj-sJvJyk-PieQJGbC8BpQlPiQaabUc-Q_qLNFpK6ykLCRr_o6XeISFJJXWbjlhcUOhYp0fni-DIqmRHrKnjtFrOWYNwFAnxMq5XbvJx-oxnPntaO3jVsx0ahEk8ZICsOPweEUaaReN/s1600/head+shots+004_cr_72_th.jpg

George Woideck is the author of Brooke and Piper. A former rock musician who recorded and toured, George is now a ceramic artist specializing in ceramic tile and glass mosaic public art installations. He is also welknown for his work in schools as a teaching artist in education.  George is married to professor and memoirist Gail Arnoff and is a father and grandfather. He is currently working on a sequel to Brooke and Piper titled, The Room with No Door. Contact George at georgewoideck@gmail.comVisit the website at brookandpiper.com.