Blog Archives
Anything is Possible
Love Changed Everything: The Power of Love shares your story of growing up and becoming the person you are today and how your love for your wife carried you through the hard moments. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I have enjoyed a comfortable life with a loving wife for many years.
I wanted my grandchildren in particular to know that I had worked very hard to get to where we are now. They have gone short of nothing – partly the grandparents’ fault – and seem to expect that life will always be as comfortable as it is. I wanted them to know where their grandparents came from.
I wanted ‘others’ to know that what I have has been hard won. I recall an event when we were living in Farnborough and our house just happened to have a swimming pool with a public path on the other side of a six-foot fence. I recall the day we were relaxing by the pool and overheard a mother talking to her daughter who had said, ‘Look, mum. Those people have a swimming pool.’
‘Yes’, the mother replied. ‘Some people are very lucky in life’.
I was incensed and ran down the gate to our property which they had to pass. ‘Good afternoon’, I said, calmly, although I did not feel calm. ‘I heard your little girl, admiring our swimming pool. I think you are teaching her the wrong lesson. Everything I own I have to work hard for. I had no rich parents to leave me any money. You should be telling her that if she puts her mind to it and works very hard at school and then works very hard at her career, then perhaps she too may be able to have a house with a swimming pool’.
There was no response, but I do hope that little girl got a little of the message I was trying to send.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The hardest part of my story to write openly about was the sexual attraction. My wife insisted I tone it down.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
It was important to point out to teachers what an enormous influence and responsibility they carry for caring for their charges. They should never belittle a child, even a teenager. I still feel very angry about my treatment in two schools, many years apart, because of my family’s lowly financial status. In the first instance, pre-10 years old, we never went on holidays, and the class was asked to write an account. My account was fiction and was severely punished. In the second instance at Grammar School, I was belittled and had to report to the Head because I (we) could not spare two shillings and sixpence to buy a school magazine. After humiliation, if I had had ££££££’s, I would never support the school.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
Anything is possible if you work at it and take the opportunities that may come your way, even if you doubt your ability – go for it! You’ll never know if you don’t.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Eddie, the eldest child of four, suffered at the hands of the bullies. But his father showed him how to stand up for himself. Albert taught his children that success could come even after multiple failures if they kept trying. But when he had a lung removed, he lost his job and their home. The family moved in with Grandma in her terraced house in the Colliery village of Browney. Gran was already caring for her divorced daughter’s family of three young men. Somehow they managed to coexist for over a year.
A few months later, the family was rehoused into a new housing development and their first home with hot water and an indoor loo; what luxury. Eddie was training to become an unpaid Minister in the Independent Methodist Movement. His girlfriend, Doreen, for eighteen months, was the daughter of one of the Senior Ministers in the circuit of six chapels.
When Eddie met Pam, he was employed as a University Junior Technician, and his life was turned upside down. Cupid’s arrow flew and lodged so deep that the warnings of his friends in the Chapel never got past his ears. The pair were immediately smitten; nothing could part the young lovers. It was hard to break off with Doreen and even more difficult to heed the warnings of his associates in the chapel community. Pam was a Roman Catholic, and he was warned that their faiths were incompatible.
After purposely underperforming at school GCE ‘O’ level, Eddie studied part-time at night school, and with the benefit of day release from his employment as a Univerity Chemistry Technician, he gained HNC level Chemistry certification. Then he was invited to take up a career in Technical Sales by a local supplier of scientific products and instrumentation. Within a year, he and Pam had secured a mortgage on their first home and never looked back. There were ups and downs, but love always got them through the sticky patches. Eddie and Pam are approaching their diamond wedding anniversary.
The Adventures of Jimmy Crikey: Jade the Youngest Ever Witch
Jimmy Crikey is a young boy from a distant universe that finds joy in the company of his friends and adopted family in the charming town of Roombelow. This magical realm, concealed beneath the earth’s surface, houses many mystical creatures, including Jade, an aspiring witch. As she strives to pass her tests and become a full-fledged witch, Jade utilizes her magical abilities to solve the challenges that she and Jimmy encounter. With guidance from her mentor Matilda and the Guardian Witches of Earth, Jade must find the strength to use her logic, magic, and problem-solving skills to face trials on her own. As her world suddenly transforms, Jade must rise to the occasion and fully embrace her destiny.
This is my second visit to the boundless universe of Jimmy Crikey, and I remain captivated by the seamless integration of science fiction and fantasy in this series. The author offers enough context to refresh the reader’s memory without overwhelming them, and the narrative’s consistent pacing kept me engaged until the end. Among the colorful cast of characters, Jade, the apprentice witch, stood out as my favorite. I was delighted to read a book that intensely focused on her character development. Jade evolves into a stronger character, not only developing her individual courage but also building a solid foundation for teamwork with Jimmy. Despite encountering various obstacles, both protagonists find hope amid tragedy, leaving plenty of room for further adventures.
I thoroughly enjoyed my return journey into Jimmy Crikey’s enchanting universe, and this latest installment is nothing short of remarkable. I eagerly anticipate a resolution to Annison’s situation in a future volume of a courageous young girl spreading her wings. The Adventures of Jimmy Crikey: Jade, the Youngest Witch Ever by Wallace E. Briggs is an incredible tale of a brave young girl coming into her own. This latest addition to the Adventures of Jimmy Crikey series is a must-have for any library and perfect for those who love unique settings, tales of magic, and stories of girl power.
Pages: 261 | ASIN : B0BMGJPJBJ
Adventures, Monsters and Magic
The Emerald Lake follows an orphaned alien living on Earth as he sets off to save an underwater race from flesh eating, fire breathing serpenta and save his first love. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The original story arose from a need to keep a small group of youngsters (newfound friends of my five-year-old son) occupied (quiet) as they sheltered in our crowded beach tent during a holiday shower. Within the group was one ginger-headed boy, the smallest in the group, who was being ordered around (bullied) by the bigger boys. My story was intended to show that bullying is bad but can be overcome. I needed him to overcome the challenges. The story needed adventures, monsters and magic. And so Jimmy Crikey was born and among his friends were the four witch guardians of Earth’s realms.
What was the inspiration for the culture of your characters? Is it modeled after any particular society?
The inspiration was an idealistic concept of a race of people living together democratically in a caring environment with a minimum of antagonism.
What was one scene in the novel that you felt captured the morals and message you were trying to deliver to readers?
The way a small group of beings, the Aquamites, banded together in the Emerald Lake, to overcome a stronger, dangerous foe. The young Aquamites placed their own lives in danger for the benefit of their own peoples. There was no magic to help them. They had to act using their own skills before Jimmy and the witches could act.
Will there be another book in the Jimmy Crikey series, and when will it be available?
The Story continues. One of the characters, Jade, the young apprentice witch, pleaded with me to write her story. She was convinced that if I didn’t she would die if readers did not know about her.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
The underground Emerald Lake, the home of the Aquamites, is invaded by a flesh-eating, fire-breathing serpent, which is impervious to the magic of the four guardian witches. Matilda, the chief witch, asks for Jimmy’s assistance.
Jimmy accompanies Elwinn, witch guardian of everything associated with water, to visit the Emerald Lake. They arrive at a plausible plan to capture the serpents in a spider’s web net.
Their strategy is complicated because Jimmy cannot breathe underwater unless included in Elwinn’s bubble. Several of the strongest young Aquamites agree to act as live bait to entice the serpents into a lake in an extinct volcano’s caldera.
Once the serpents are lured into the volcano’s lake Jimmy, with the help of his starship SR3 and XRU, the intelligent computer/navigator, the reptiles are ensnared in a Golden Orb spiders’ web net, ready to drag the creatures into the cold depths of deep space. During the operation to rid the Aquamite’s world of serpents, Annison is seriously injured when one serpent takes a big bite out of her lower tail. She is dying from the loss of blood. The witches do not have the power to help. There is no time to get her to Jimmy’s home plane of Attalia for advanced surgery.
All appears lost until Lord Oron reveals his true identity. Lord Oron is one of the Lords who serve the all-powerful Master. The Master could save Annison, but he refuses to bring a subject back to life from the dead. Can Lord Oron persuade the Master to intervene and save the life of Jimmy’s first love, Annison?
The Emerald Lake
Join Jimmy Crikey in the fourth installment of The Adventures of Jimmy Crikey: The Emerald Lake. Readers follow Jimmy as he goes on an all-new adventure in this spellbinding world of magic. Jimmy, an alien orphan from another planet, now living on Earth alongside the four witch guardians, sets out to help the Aquamites. When fire-breathing serpents threaten the Aquamites, Jimmy and his friends must use their wits to protect the merfolk from utter destruction.
Author Wallace Briggs brings magic and the characters in the story to life in this magical adventure. Jimmy’s character is an enjoyable one to follow, as we’ve seen him struggle with finding his place on Earth and now we watch as he struggles with the awkwardness of being a teenager and falling in love for the first time. I enjoyed watching the characters progress through the series and seeing friendships blossom.
The author does a great job of giving the reader just enough information to be able to read this book and still understand what is going on without having read the first books in the series. Briggs provides a beautifully detailed world that you can clearly imagine the scenes in your mind. The plot moves at a smooth pace, and there are some tense scenes that will have you quickly flipping through the pages. This is the perfect book for young readers to immerse themselves in and let their imagination run wild.
Author Briggs provides a great balance of magic, fantasy, science, and friendship, making this a thrilling read that you won’t want to put down. I look forward to seeing what’s in store for Jimmy and his friends on their next adventure. I highly recommend this enticing book to teen and older elementary grade readers who are looking to go on a fantastical adventure.
Pages: 170 | ASIN : B09VDNTFB4
