Ruthy Ballard

Welcome from Ruthy!

Elvia and the Gift of Passion

Third book in the Tales by Moons-light series
coming April 5, 2023!

“…The irresistible adventures of a young girl spirited away to a two-mooned planet…” — Book Life “Editor’s Pick”

“[Elvia and the Gift of Passion] is both a swashbuckling adventure and a bittersweet story of growing up. Elvia’s journey through this imaginative world [of planet Urth] is a charming coming-of-age tale woven with whimsy and warmth and will hook young and old readers alike…” — Melissa Dalley, The US Review of Books

“Teachers seeking STEAM-based stories to recommend as leisure choices that lend to further discussion and insights will find Elvia and the Gift of Passion takes an unusual leap, linking emotional and educational growth in proactive young people who don’t just explore new environments, but enter and change them with gusto.” — Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

“Ballard’s sci-fi charmer is deliciously atmospheric, building a vividly imaginative world that gently explores familial ties, friendship, courage, adventure, and curiosity.” — BookView Review

“…Ballard’s writing is lively and fun, and her character-building is a marvel; she has created rich, imaginative personalities… Additionally, Ballard weaves fascinating science facts into her narrative. By the time readers reach the story’s conclusion, full of surprising gems of irony and fate, they will be spellbound—and eager for another Urth tale.” — Blue Ink Review

“Action-packed and plot driven with enchanting settings and sensational characters, the story is a propulsive read with end-of-chapter cliffhangers, which make it hard to put down. Young readers will be delighted by Elvia’s wild odyssey told in Ballard’s lively prose and entertaining wordplay – vividly setting each scene, and making each character distinct and engaging.” — SP Review

“A thoroughly engaging planet-hopping adventure that should be a solid hit with middle-graders.” — The Prairies Book Review

“Ten-year-old Elvia Hill is convinced there was a mix-up when she was born, and devises a scheme to run away while vacationing in Tanzania with her parents… until she’s snatched away and taken to a distant world called Urth in this fantasy adventure. Ballard’s fascinating science facts and the imaginative characters she’s created are bound to keep readers enthralled.” — Deb Greenberg, Midwest Book Review

Tales by Moons-light:
Stories from before the Great Melt

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“Ballard’s writing is stellar. Her tales unfold seamlessly with inventive, imaginative plots and a creative cast of characters, both human and animal.”
— BlueInk Review

“Ballard’s fantastical collection of stories blends elements of fairy tale, fable, and sci-fi for a strikingly imaginative feat of storytelling.”
Ranked 10 out of 10 in all categories!
— BookLife Prize

Why Genetic Diversity Makes Us Strong.
Geneticist-Turned-Author Pens Magical Tale for Kids

Frankie and the Gift of Fantasy

e-book and paperback available now from WhipSmart Books

Frankie Russo has a wild and wonderful imagination, but his nagging, ambitious parents don’t appreciate it. All that changes, though, when he disappears through a crack in his bedroom ceiling and find himself on a faraway two-mooned planet called Urth. A thrilling, science-rich, entertaining romp for middle grade readers!

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“…Unpredictable, fun, and action-packed, Frankie and the Gift of Fantasy is a gift that is hard to put down,
highly recommended beyond the advanced elementary to middle grade readers it is likely to reach.”
— Diane Donovan, Editor, Midwest Book Review

Ruthy Ballard is a children’s book author, artist, and scientist. By day, she’s a professor and forensic DNA expert. By night, she romps in an imaginative playground of color and words. Her latest creation is Elvia and the Gift of Passion, a science-rich adventure story for middle grade readers.

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