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Screaming Against The Raging Winds
Battle Cry is a collection of poetry that chronicles your battle with chronic illness, sharing the emotional and physical toll it has taken on you through. Why was this an important collection for you to write?
This is not just a poetry collection; it is my story, my memoir, my battle cry, and as such it is perhaps the most important collection I could ever write. Millions of Americans—and even more worldwide—suffer from autoimmunity and other debilitating chronic illnesses. It is far too easy for their stories to be overlooked, being grossly unglamorous and painful in nature, and thus causing many to turn a blind eye and remain in the blissful realm of ignorance. And many who attempt to have their voices heard aren’t healthy enough or have the means to do so. I, too, felt myself screaming against the raging winds of my diminishing health while writing this collection and striving to get it published. This is a collection a decade in the making, stemming from the seed that was planted with my first diagnosis, and has been no stranger to weathering storms. As chronic illness affects a significant portion of the population, it is important for there to be representation for those living with it as well as to raise awareness of the issues and dispel misconceptions surrounding it. While every individual’s experience is different, there is a mutual understanding of pain and suffering that creates a common thread amongst humanity. And it is that unifying human connection that is so vitally important to remember, now more than ever.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you opened up about your illness. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Initially, I wrote these poems as a coping mechanism to deal with my illnesses and a life much different than what I had imagined for myself. Opening up to others has never been an easy feat for me and trying to open up to those who didn’t understand what I was going through was even more difficult. Instead, I turned to poetry throughout the years, seeking familiarity and solace in the words of others, but I was never fully satisfied. So, I wrote the words I was searching for but wasn’t finding. By writing for my own eyes, it was easier to be honest about my feelings and experiences, expressing the words I was too afraid to voice aloud and the words I needed most to hear.
There are many poems in this collection that I found difficult to reread while editing during the publication process, for there are struggles I still face today that were also present ten years ago. It’s obvious some wounds haven’t quite healed, though I continue to hope that one day I’ll be able to read this collection with dry eyes and the comfort of knowing they are simply painful memories and nothing more.
However, perhaps the hardest thing is sharing this collection with the public. I have shared many stories and poems, several of which have been published in literary magazines, but I have never shared anything so personal with loved ones and strangers alike. I’m a private person and when this collection came out, many of my friends and family commented with, “I had no idea.” It was the perfect example of how silence only breeds more misconceptions and a lack of awareness. I found a valuable lesson in those comments: nothing will change unless you speak up.
While I still have a lot of apprehension pertaining to sharing a part of me so raw and unfiltered that it’s even difficult for me to view, I ultimately decided to do so for those who need to see this vulnerability. The power of empathy and recognition of another’s pain is greatly underestimated in the world today, and there are many who can benefit from simply knowing another person understands and acknowledges the effort it takes to fight their battles. It’s something that could have helped me, and now it’s one way I wish to help others.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about chronic illness?
There are many misconceptions I have encountered over the years, from people believing chronic illness can only affect the senior population to people assuming chronic illness affects everyone equally to people thinking those with chronic illnesses are attention-seeking hypochondriacs. The plethora of misconceptions regarding chronic illness is not only hurtful to those battling it but is also quite harmful as those misconceptions can present additional societal limitations and stigmas. I find the most troublesome misconceptions are those that stem from others believing an individual’s chronic illness is a farce. Just like most things in life, people often need to see to believe, which poses a problem when many chronic illnesses are invisible to the naked eye. I have lost count of the number of times I’ve heard phrases like “It’s all in your head”, “You don’t look sick”, “You just need to push yourself”, or “It can’t be that bad.” Unfortunately, people tend not to understand unless it happens to them. Eliminating misconceptions and preconceived notions is just one of many reasons why raising awareness about chronic illness is a necessity.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
When readers close the book for the final time, I hope they have a different perspective from when they initially flipped to the first page. I hope this poetry collection broadens awareness of chronic illness and helps increase the ability to empathize, knowing that others may be suffering in a way they may not realize. At the very least, I hope this collection is a blanket of comfort for the warriors in need of one, serving as a reminder that the battles are worth fighting and comrades can be found if one is willing to look. Everyone is suffering in their own way, and I want them to know that they are not alone. As difficult as it may be to admit, none of us would be who we are today without our struggles and adversities. Pain, struggle, and strife—no matter the cause—are all a part of the human experience and should be embraced as necessary steps on the journey of one’s life. After all, storms shape pebbles just as much as the steady stream.
Now, if I may speak directly to the readers:
Dearest warrior,
Thank you for picking up (or considering) this book and joining me on this journey. Thank you for having the courage to fight your daily battles, even when they go unrecognized. I understand the pain and I see you. You are so much stronger than you realize, and you continue to inspire me every day.
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but you will win the war.
You are not falling apart,
you are falling together.
In her debut poetry collection, Jennifer Sara Widelitz guides us along the unpredictable path of living with chronic illness, through the front lines of wars waged within, and to the heart of human courage. Told in five parts, Battle Cry begins with the innocence-laced time before, halted by the sudden onset of illness—the momentous event in one’s life that changes everything. The journey continues with a soothing interlude of healing interrupted by pain-stained relapses, concluding with the strength and resilience accumulated through years of endurance. Accompanied by whimsical illustrations from Jennifer’s own hand, these poems reminisce on lost childhood innocence, teach gratefulness for the rain, cycle through the seasons, persevere through struggles, and rise from the flames even stronger.
Interweaving themes of fairy tales and myths, loss and grief, pain and suffering, love and hope, resilience, and more, Battle Cry is a testament to the warriors fighting unseen battles and any survivor of the human condition. Like its namesake, this collection is a battle cry—a call to arms—that is bound to echo through the generations.
Weaving Reality, Legend, And Fiction
The Swords of Blood and Gold follows a deep-sea diver that is the prime suspect in a series of murders committed by a supernatural killer, and he must find a way to stop it. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I wanted to write a story weaving reality, legend, and fiction, and I was waiting for an interesting character with an unusual livelihood.
Then I met Jon Sherman (in my mind) shortly after learning about the Merchant Royal, a 17-century English merchant ship lost at sea in 1641. The ship sank carrying 100,000 pounds of gold, 400 bars of Mexican silver, and nearly 500,000 pieces of eight and other coins. Nothing known to men has ever sunk carrying more wealth. I was hooked instantly, and everything flowed naturally from there.
Since Jon was a deep-sea treasure hunter, he needed to find something lost at sea, and I needed to give him a live-or-death reason for it. I was fascinated by the story, and the first draft just poured out of me.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the stories theme?
I dived headfirst into deep-sea treasure hunting, and that was a lot of fun. I figured this subject would be new to some readers, and the challenge was to present this world in detail without making it didactic.
I also studied Chinese history and legends to intertwine reality and fiction. I did have an advantage here since my awesome wife is Taiwanese, and we’ve been married for twenty years.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Good question. Some readers will notice that the book’s themes are centered around the villain, Jun Tao.
The story exposes love versus justice, the relationship between understanding and forgiving, and the yearning for redemption. Each reader will have a different experience with the book, and some will unearth more profound layers of meaning from its pages.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The Crystal Canvas. It follows Jon Sherman (the main character from The Swords of Blood and Gold) on a new adventure, racing against time, supernatural forces, and ancient relics. I’m hoping to release it in December 2022.
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Deep-sea treasure hunter is the splashy job description on his LinkedIn page. Pretentious or not, Jon Sherman and his Deep Blue Marine Exploration crew are the best in the business. But a nasty disagreement with his boss suddenly leaves Jon without a job.
When his ex-teammates salvage five chests from the bottom of the ocean, a supernatural killer wielding a mysterious weapon murders the entire crew, and Jon becomes the prime suspect. Overnight, detectives are after him while a masked murderer goes on a rampage, trying to kill Jon and everyone he cares about.
Jon teams up with the daughter of his late boss, and they tumble down a path that uncovers centuries-old secrets and the nature of the killer’s deadly weapon.
To fight back, Jon must employ his treasure-hunting skills to locate the only blade capable of challenging the mighty adversary. But will that be enough to survive a deadly journey riddled with supernatural forces, unexpected romance, and surprising self-discovery?
Read this supernatural thriller today!
“A charismatic cast and peppered with edge-of-your-seat action scenes” — Lisa Howard
“This book will leave you thinking about its contents for days” — Amber Lilyquist
It Was An Experiment
Fall of Titan follows an astrophysics cadet who uncovers the key to the seven realms and is forced to choose between saving her home or the device. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
That is a funny story. Until 2018, I thought I would never write Science Fiction. Not because I didn’t like it. I grew up watching Science fiction movies and TV shows but never read a lot of books in this genre. I loved the shows and I am a big fan of Star Trek. I always wrote mystery, thrillers and suspense and thought that was it. I would never write any other genre. But in 2018, it was during Christmas holidays and I had just finished the final draft of Haunted and sent it to the editor. Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about it and I get this idea of this young girl who is curious and goes out of her way to find this mythical device that is split into seven parts. I remember going to my laptop and writing out the summary of the book and that was the beginning of the Realm saga.
Emmeline Augury is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The main thing was creating a female character who inspires and motivates the reader. She is trying to be more, prove herself, and wants to break out of her constraints. Several readers have written to me saying stories like this would inspire young and adult readers to explore and do more with their lives. I felt like Emmeline should be someone who appeals to readers of her age. She is smart, creative and very driven. But her actions led to deadly consequences – showing that she is not perfect. None of us are.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
This the first time I had attempted to write science fiction. Mainly I wanted to see if I could do this. Write a science fiction. It was an experiment. If the first book hadn’t been developed well, I would have dropped it and moved on to another book.
Fall of Titan allowed me to expand my imagination and its publication and positive reviews was a sign to me that I could do this. I do not mean to be negative. I had a lot of fun writing this book. But I had my doubts. I write fiction, in crime thrillers or mystery there are certain limitations. You have to stick with the general norms. With this series, I had the chance to mix science fiction with mythology. I have never done that before. It opened doors for adventure, action, mystery and of course love and relationships between the characters which I feel has added so much to the books.
I think the last thing was the characters. I usually have a limited set of characters in my books. But this series has multiple characters, and sometimes it is hard for people to follow them (I get that.) But there is a reason for that. Emmeline, though smart and strong cannot do everything and the premise of this story is extensive. Also, telling the story only from her angle was not what I wanted. The multiple characters in the books help me expand the plot and make it more interesting for the reader. It also added more fun to the book, because I could introduce different character traits.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Poseidon, the second book in the series was released in December 2021. The next book is Icarus (Realm book 3) is on preorder and will be out this Christmas eve (24th Dec 2022).
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Creativity Inspires Creativity
The Magical Tarot Deck follows a magical family who is targeted by a stranger that stole a tarot deck, allowing him to attack the family from afar, they must find out who it is before they disappear. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Clearly, I love tarot cards! How they work, the different decks! This is how the Madigan Chronicles came into existence all those years ago. The thought that it would be so cool if the main characters represented the Major Arcana and what would happen if the cards came to life and got used against them. It started as a screenplay for a movie, but it was too complex for an hour and a half story. Many years later it had changes completely, but “the Magical Tarot Deck” did end up being the main focus of a whole book!
What was your inspiration for the interactions and backstories of their characters?
This is a difficult question. I get inspired by many things and it’s something I actively pursue. I’m a big believer that creativity inspires creativity, so I like to do things that touch on my stories. Long walks in a forest or along a beach. Make spells, which I sell on my website http://www.underthewitcheshat.com . Life is about experiences, and writing is molding these experiences, observations, feelings— mix it with a healthy dose of fantasy and create characters and stories. It’s an opportunity to explore dualities in us, as a re-occurring theme in my books is ‘balance’. There are always two sides to a coin!
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
I generally know where a book is going, but I leave plenty of room for surprises when I write. This will eventually be a six-book series and even though I know how it must end, story lines have been changing along the way. If I plot in too much detail, I lose interest in the story. I like to be taken on a ride sometimes with what goes on in my head!
What can readers expect in book 3 and when will it be available?
“The Wand” the Madigan Chronicles #3 is available! In the third installment of the Madigan Chronicles, the struggle to keep the elemental powers safe continues, and the family dramas deepen.
Ceri has a hard time finding the balance as the Keeper of the Land in Fairy and being human. Alienating her daughter, who finds a dangerous friend in Mab, the Queen of Fairy.
In the meantime, Maeve must face up to her teenage trauma and wrestles with accepting her true self. Bridget does her utmost to help her twin, to make up for some of the pain she had caused by leaving her behind all those years ago. At the same time, she is forced to take on a responsibility she never wanted and upsets the entire family in the process.
Currently I’m writing “The Cup” the Madigan Chronicles #4 in which the world expands, and we also get to know more about Luna and Freya.
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The Magical Tarot Deck is comprised of twenty-two cards, and on each card, a family member is illustrated. When a question is asked and a particular card comes to life, the person on the card gets ripped from wherever they are in their current life, until they fulfill the question.
Any Fan of a True Crime Book
The Answers You Seek follows a man who returns to his hometown for his father’s funeral and discovers that his father may have a connection to a swingers club and a murder. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My own father had several affairs before leaving my mother in 1994 after 30 years of marriage. Much like Toby’s relationship with his father in the book, there were many unanswered questions in the end. I did have a strong relationship with my father by the time he passed in 2016. But in 2018, my mother revealed some information I had never known about him. So, I started writing this book as a way to deal with my anger and grief.
Toby Kipton is an intriguing character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Toby is a fictionalized version of my younger self. True to the book, there was a time when no one would tell me anything about my father’s life because “it was in the past” or because “I was too young.” Those early chapters in the book before the murder takes place are almost biographical. I never stalked anyone, but at one time, I did google the name of one of his long-time mistresses just to see if I could find out anything about her.
As for Toby’s obsession with the murder of his neighbor, any fan of a true crime book or television series can relate. I fictionalized the details of a real unsolved murder that happened in my hometown and just
wrote Toby into the middle of it.
I enjoyed the mystery at the heart of this story. Did you plan the mystery or did it develop organically while writing?
Around the same time my mother told me something I never knew about my dad, I became intrigued with the unsolved murder of a woman in my hometown. Some of the details of her murder involved a swingers club which I thought was so bizarre since I’d never known that was happening right there where I grew up. Most of the theories and details in the book, like the one about the body being stored in a fast food restaurant’s freezer, are based on real details related to the case. So, I adapted all of that into the book to create the mystery element while Toby is also seeking out the answers to his questions about his father’s past. The real murder remains unsolved to this day.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
This was the first time I’d written a mystery and I really enjoyed it, so I’m working on another one. I hope to adapt my new book into a series. The lead character is trans and is an investigative journalist.
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It only gets stranger and more dangerous from there.
Toby becomes obsessed with his father’s mistress, a woman with whom his dad carried on a secret twenty-year affair. Unraveling the truth leads him deep into the nest of intrigue and vengeful gossip that plagues any small town, and soon Toby uncovers evidence that may tie his father to a local swingers’ club—and murder.
Longing And Limerence
Glissando follows a divorced woman who is successful in her career and is ready to try her hand at love again, what she ends up with is two men and some big life decisions to make. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I was in a community jazz band in northeastern Pennsylvania (I play alto sax) and just like any other group of people, there were relationships formed, wished for, begun and discarded. When love and lust were put against a backdrop of jazz, this became fascinating to me.
Ellie recovers from her divorce and builds a good life for herself before getting involved again. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
She’s flawed. She knows better, but doesn’t always choose to do the things that will help her evolve. It was important to show a smart woman who was nevertheless stuck in her bad decisions.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Longing and limerence; loneliness and companionship; and ultimately, seeking the right, loving partner.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Thanks for asking! It’s a noir mystery about a sax player who falls to his death, but the question remains: accident or murder? The protagonist is once again a woman, and she goes to Russia to find a very rare jazz record. Once there, she learns more about the jazz world and what likely caused the death of the sax player. Like it or not, she finds herself involved in the investigation. It’s out in December. Watch this space: https://bit.ly/DebbieBurkeAmazon.
Author Links: Website | GoodReads | Twitter
Healthy For Both Body And Soul
Scared to Swim follows a young child who is eager to learn how to swim but is fearful of the busy swimming pool. What was the inspiration for the idea behind Lillian’s character?
First of all, I must advertise that Finland is indeed a country with thousands of lakes. Much of the summertime is spent on the shores of the lakes and by the sea, and the use of swimming pools is active during the winter. For this reason, good swimming skills are essential for the safety of children.
There are, of course, other good reasons. Swimming is healthy for both body and soul. I learned to swim when I was very young. I immensely enjoyed the lakes and summer nature when I spent my childhood in a small rural village in Finnish Lake District. And diving was fun!
I was the oldest child in my family, so I also participated in teaching younger siblings to swim. I was a popular swimming teacher because I always kept my promise and never loosened my grip unless it was mutually agreed. The feeling of being in safe hands is most important when a child learns something new and challenging.
In indoor swimming pools, a child may be afraid of the hustle and bustle around them. Loud noises are unpleasant for many, too. In particular, shy and sensitive children suffer, and a pleasant thing can turn uncomfortable and scary. With this book, I wanted to help every real-life Lillian. Over the years, I’ve met many of them.
The Little Fears series gives young readers the tools needed to handle fear. What is a key tool shared in this book that will be built upon throughout your series?
Six books have already been published in the Little Fears series, and more are on the way. The fears they talk about are very different and of various sizes.
But, regardless of what the others say, every fear exists for the child. This unpleasant thing can cast a shadow on the child’s whole life.
The key tool that unites these Little Fears stories is a two-way solution. It involves a helpful adult who takes the child’s fear seriously and seeks a solution. It also includes the child’s opportunity and ability to express the concerns instead of drawing back and feeling left alone with the trouble.
Creating an atmosphere of trust, rather than downplaying grief, is important for the adults to remember. This change of attitude may take time, but it is worth working with. At its best, it can save children a lot of harm for the rest of their lives.
In many cases, the reactions of adults surprised me when I presented the Little Fears series at international book fairs, for example. I have met people who have come to seek advice for the parental challenges of their daily lives or asked me to write a new book about some of the fears connected to their families. I have also encountered those adults who burst into tears and said they would have needed a similar book when they were children. Their fears may have plagued them until the adult years.
What is a common fear young children have about swimming and how can parents help them overcome it?
Although children generally enjoy water games, the situation may change as the playing becomes a lesson in swimming. Performance pressures hamper a relaxed attitude towards learning a new skill. Children may compete to see who is the quickest to learn, the bravest in diving, or who swims fastest. A joyful hobby turns into a tough competition.
The children may also fear that they will be a disappointment to their parents or swimming instructors. The family may have traveled a long way to swim on the beach with high expectations. Or swimming course has been an expensive parental sacrifice that should result in some achievement. Failure can make a child feel utterly disappointed and give up the effort for good.
Children also have concerns about their safety. What if I sink under the surface and no one notices? What if I draw water into my lungs? What if no one hears me screaming for help? Fears like this are, in my opinion, the most serious because they are related to the child’s basic safety.
There are a few simple things to keep in mind for parents. Learning any new skill requires time, patience, and a safe environment. It is best to forget all about performance pressures and unnecessary requirements. The grown-ups must focus on making the children feel protected and happy to practice the new thing at their own pace.
What is the next book in the Little Fears series?
After the present six books in the Little Fears series, it’s time to introduce two new books later this year – both illustrated again by a very creative Catty Flores, who has an eye for the child’s view of the situations. Both stories, “Noise All Over” and “The Giant Legs,” talk about celebrations and crowds in separate ways.
In the first one, “Noise All Over,” the Dinosaur Rock Band concert for children turns out to be an unpleasant surprise for the little Liam. The loud music is painful to his sensitive ears, and the only solution is to escape! There are other noisy elements in the book as well, to make it possible to discuss this problem with children.
“The Giant Legs” may be a surprising name for a book about fears. It tells about Elliot, who doesn’t like family gatherings. At Grandpa’s party, he feels uncomfortable in the noisy group and escapes to the attic. His uncle finds a way to lure him back to the others. The crowd looks less scary when Elliot observes it while walking on high stilts! These old playthings, wooden legs, provide many fun moments for the entire party, and Elliot is no longer afraid to participate in the joint celebration.
Adults should remember that parties and crowds may look very different when viewed from a child’s gaze level – and sound different as a child listens to them.
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Lillian wants to take swimming lessons, like some of her friends.
However, it’s very noisy at the swimming pool, especially in the children’s pool, where things can get wild at times. It frightens Lillian and makes her back away from the pool.
“What if I sink to the bottom and no one notices?” Lillian says, worried.
Once Dad and Lillian start practicing together, she conquers her fear of swimming.
I Had The Most Amazing Dream
Believe follows a 13-year-old girl who is transported to the land of believers and magic, where she meets new friends and embarks on a great new adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My inspiration actually came from a dream I had. After previously self-publishing two books relating to my time during the COVID pandemic, a friend asked me if I’d ever thought about writing a novel. Having only written the diaries, poems, and short stories before, I didn’t believe I had the ability to write a novel.
Then, one night I had the most amazing dream about a crazy holographic professor who ate sticky, sparkly-green Christmas tree marshmallows, and Professor Mortley was born. I sat down to write about him, and my mind was flooded with all the characters from Believe and their stories. My fingers couldn’t type fast enough.
I felt that kids everywhere had had such a tough time with the pandemic and all the other horrors and difficulties going on in the world today, that I just wanted to write a world for children and adults to escape to and warm their hearts. Believe was written to bring big, beautiful smiles to all its readers.
Abigale starts off life in the world of grayness and non-belief and becomes one of the believers. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I want to convey to the reader that it does not matter where you come from or what you were before, if you believe in yourself, you can do anything and achieve anything. Having grown up and loved Disney my whole life, I wanted the characters to emulate the Disney feel. I wanted the good to be very good but be floored enough to be tempted by the bad, and the bad to be bad enough to dislike, but still, show signs of hope that one day they will change.
It was really important to me that the characters displayed real feelings. For example, how even the best of friends can sometimes be envious of each other and that we can all make bad decisions for the right reasons.
Abigale, especially, needed to hold the driving ideal that even though she was born a Never-Believer, that deep within her if she believed in herself and believed in her friends, one day she would find where she truly belonged.
I think when writing family, magical fantasy books, as Believe is, there is a delicate dance between including enough reality for readers to relate to and enough magic for them to escape and be wistful about. I hope that Believe has achieved all these ideals.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The power of friendship and its many forms was an important theme for me, as well as the ability for friends to feel like family. I want to convey that friendship is a powerful and beautiful relationship for both the young and old, even if the relationships are not always smooth sailing. I wanted to show that friends forgive, love, lie, share, and cry, they catch you when you fall, surprise you and inspire you. And those relationships that have the peaks and the troughs, are the ones that are the strongest.
I also want to share that you should never judge a person until you have walked in their shoes. Aunt Violet goes through a massive transformation throughout the story and is miles from where her character first starts out. People can change and people hide very well what was always there from the beginning. You just have to look hard enough.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have just finished the first draft of the second book in the Believe series. I am hoping that it could possibly be ready for release by Christmas, but I see where the editing takes me. I am super excited as it has taken the characters on an amazing journey, and I have included some twists and turns that hopefully no one will see coming!
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Abigale Johnson was born a Never-Believer, in a world full of greyness: no Christmases, no birthdays, no smiling and most definitely, no magic. That all changes with a fateful train journey when Abigale is catapulted into the world of the Believer Fae. A crazy, holographic professor, an enchanted train, and new magical best friends, combined with the tinkering of first love, a wicked queen and a host of lost family secrets all await you, in a story that is likely to become part of your heart forever.
LITERARY TITAN 