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A Person Can Choose to be Good or Bad
Stone Dragons Kingdom follows a city of people that are dragon riders as they try and protect their city and world from destruction. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for this story was to create a situation where a villain can have a change of heart. It shows, I think in a dramatic way, how allowing other people to help you can lead down a wrong path, as indicated by the Stone Dragons Kingdom, but also on a human level, we have Belinda who focuses on all she doesn’t have, rather than what she does have. If she could only reach that light inside her, what would change?
Learning she has strong and deep powers changes Belinda. What were some driving ideals behind Belinda’s character’s development?
Belinda is a very interesting character. She stems from a person consumed with being the best, but when she isn’t, she’ll go to the extreme to show that she is the best. In her development, I wanted to show, no matter what, a person has a choice of what they want to be, either for bad or good. With Belinda, I chose to show that she was only one choice away from changing her life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Yes, but as always, they only come to light after I’ve written a story. I think the main theme of this one is redemption. The story starts out harshly for Belinda, even though others believed her to have changed, it took her a long time before she could shake her demons to find the person she wanted so much to become.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Thank you for asking! Well, The Stone Dragons Kingdom was supposed to be the last for this series, but… one of my characters had something else in mind! I’m currently writing The Spires of Dasny: 5 ~ The Northern Kingdom. It’s on pre-order now and will be released by Fall 2022.
It may not be the last of the series, either ~ the same character has been given knowledge of how their current kingdom will undergo change, and he’ll be instrumental to this change.
Author Links: GoodReads
It’s only after Seyra hears from the Truth Speaker, that she learns the truth behind Belinda. What she learns could not only destroy the Spires, but every other kingdom in their world. Belinda holds a magic so powerful, so destructive, there may be no way of stopping her.
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Belinda
Returning to Sezalor’s lair, I pause to connect to the Rocks. Splaying my hand open, I lay my palm flat against the wall immediately feeling the surge of power enter me.
“Time is short. As promised, you will have your own kingdom as long as you carry the Rock and Water energy for us to expand. We have been locked in one place for too long. Agola grew old and set in his ways, this is why you have this opportunity to expand with us. Use the energy we absorbed by the stone-encased Xi to bring our Stone dragons under control.”
A blinding flash cracks through the wall. I feel like I’m hit by lightning, my head screams in pain with an ache like it’s being crushed by an enormous hand. Behind me, the roar of Sezalor adds to the unbearable pain. Clasping both hands over my head, I beg for it to stop. Anything, please take this pain from me! Briefly, I smell burning. In my horror I look down to find myself being burnt alive before I’m hit by a wall of Water. Darkness.
Rebirth. I suck in First Breath. Expelled from the womb of Rock and Water, I stand on shaky legs and return to my chamber to dry. As my hands move the drying cloth over my body, I discover more scales covering me from my shoulders to the biceps. I grin. Large, stone scales. Who needs armor when I have these?
Stone Dragons Kingdom
With the stone dragons as its new allies, peace returns to the Spires, but not for long. An enemy seeking the Spires’ destruction rises from within under the influence of the Xi’s mind-controlling magic and the Rock and Water gods. Seyra, Queen of the Spires, finds herself in mortal danger due to the actions of this enemy but escapes in a dramatic turn of events. The Spires Kingdom makes it out of this sticky situation only to face old enemies in the form of the Xi people again, but the brave dragon riders and their beasts secure victory for the kingdom. Elated by the destruction of the persistent Xi sorcerers, the Spires make a startling discovery that would pit them against their most brutal opponents yet in their battle for survival.
Author Cheryl Rush Cowperthwait (C.R.C.) returns with her captivating tale of dragons, humans, and magic in this fourth book in the Spires of Dasny series, Stone Dragons Kingdom. With just enough backstory and new challenges, you don’t have to worry about not having enough context to understand what’s going on. The book starts with a bang. There’s a high-tension and high-stakes scenario threatening to unravel right from the get-go. But Cowperthwait is also proficient in building anticipation as she thrusts readers right into the thick of things. She knows how to set the stage and slowly dial up the tension in anticipation for what happens next.
Cowperthwait also shows impressive control over her story as she swings from one story gap to the next but keeps things cohesive and engaging. The storytelling is also compelling as Cowperthwait expertly humanizes her characters, thus making them relatable and memorable. With a simple yet beautiful and expressive writing style, the Stone Dragons Kingdom makes for a breezy and entertaining read from start to finish.
The Spires of Dasny: 4 Stone Dragons Kingdom is a riveting young adult fantasy novel. With plenty of action and thrilling suspense, readers will be drawn into the battles and feel connected to the characters while following their saga.
Pages: 211 | ASIN : B09BTG9DLR
Kraken Crew
The Kraken motley crew of pirates have big plans to sail to Mount Doom and steal the gold treasure from the fierce dragons. This dangerous mission has never been accomplished before but Captain Kraken knows his crew is up to the job and with teamwork they can reach the island and get the gold. Banshee, Storm Boy, Elf Witch, and parrot sail the ship with Captain Kraken. Together they encounter several dangerous obstacles and each time, a member of the ship uses their special skill to help the crew escape. When they reach Mount Doom, it looks hopeless as the swarm of dragons comes out and attacks. Can the crew use teamwork and defeat the dragons or will they too end up at the bottom of the sea?
Kraken Crew is written and illustrated by Dan Malster. This picture book is written in a fun rhyme scheme that will draw in children and keep their attention. There is a good balance of scary situations with fun and laughter with the crew. The illustrations that go with the text are fantastic. The artwork is bright and colorful, the images have a lot of details that you can pick out from each scene. Each page has something hidden, a mouse, a worm, or a fun detail to highlight the power each crewmate has. My favorite little detail was the list of ship rules when the crew is eating, number six is “Captain’s hat is not a toilet!”
The moral messages presented in this creative story make this fun book spectacular. Malster shows that everyone has special talents that can be helpful and every person is valuable. He also shows that teamwork is needed to accomplish big goals, that no one person can do everything themselves.
Kraken Crew is a magical children’s fantasy picture book for kindergarteners and young elementary students. This enchanting story will enthrall children with musical rhymes and dramatic artwork.
Pages: 36 | ISBN : 1739824601
Lucky the Leprechaun on the Loose
Lucky the Leprechaun comes to visit children from the first of March untill Saint Patrick’s day. In this short time, he stirs up as much mischief as he can, without being destructive, to make children laugh. He loves to bring a smile to the face of children by leaving notes, hiding toys, playing pranks, and even making a mess now and then. If you see a rainbow you know he is near, watching and waiting for the next time to appear.
Lucky the Leprechaun on the Loose by author Maria Cedolini Thompson is a fantastic picture book that tells the story of Lucky in a style similar to the Elf on the Shelf story that children love. Lucky hides and causes mischief around the house and the school classroom. None of his antics are dangerous or damaging, but simple fun pranks that children will relate to and find entertaining.
What I loved about this magical children’s book is the writing style. Each page is written in the style of a poem, and they all flow together to tell the story. Many children’s books rhyme, but this feels like each page is a unique poem telling the mystical story of Lucky. The beautifully drawn illustrations by Daria Shamolina bring the words to life. Lucky’s personality jumps off the page and will make children want to run along on adventures with him. The colors and whimsical style are eye-catching and integrate seamlessly with the story.
Lucky the Leprechaun on the Loose is a remarkable picture book about leprechauns and the fun they have leading up to St. Patrick’s day. The unforgettable poetry and remarkable illustrations will make this children’s book a favorite for years to come. Teachers and caregivers will find this to be a great read-aloud and introduction to the holiday of St. Patrick’s day for preschoolers and young elementary students.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B09MGFHSLQ
Erift’s Journeys: Secrets of The Sealed Forest
Joseph and Eric can’t wait to start their summer vacation filled with video games and pizza ’til sunrise. But when the two best friends receive an unexpected invitation to try out the most anticipated game of the year at an exclusive tropical island resort, they jump at the opportunity. However, once they arrive, they are thrown into a fantastical adventure where nothing is what it seems. Friends and foes must be sorted, puzzles deciphered, and their own hidden abilities discovered. They will have to fight with all they have because life is not a video game, and there’s no respawning.
In Erift’s Journeys: Secrets of the Sealed Forest, author J.T. Tenera gives us a “finding one’s true self” adventure filled with action and video game references. The main characters go through various settings trying to stop an evil force from being released into the world. There are moments of calm in the book while the main characters enjoy a tropical vacation and meet new friends, followed by fast-paced danger when they encounter enemies much stronger than they are. The heroes are never guaranteed a win in their fights and end up seriously hurt at times. Characters “level up” throughout the book, just as video game characters would. In fact, the book is filled with references to video games – “tutorials” where they learn about hidden abilities and magic spells, new weapons and items found during quests, and a band of characters with specialized skills.
Younger readers may also connect to game streaming references, with one of the main characters trying to build a subscriber base. I felt at times there were many cryptic messages and long-winded explanations that didn’t add much to the storyline. Young readers will find characters they can identify and relate to, such as the arrogant, wealthy classmate with a posse and a slightly crazy scientist/professor with exploding inventions.
Erift’s Journeys: Secrets of The Sealed Forest ends with many questions unanswered. This is the perfect lead-in to the next book in the series. This coming-of-age novel for young adults will entertain them with action and adventure on a topic they love, video games.
Pages: 297 | ASIN : B09DMFR44V
The Intra-Earth Chronicles: Book I: The Two Sisters
The Two Sisters, by author Kara Jacobson, is the first book in the Intra-Earth Chronicles series. The story follows the path of two sisters, Adrianne and Sasha, who endure a nuclear fallout in the distant future and are forced apart when the ground splits open and seemingly swallows Adrianne into an abyss.
Although Sasha does not know if Adrianne is dead or alive, we know Adrianne is somewhere deep within Earth and is on the run. The Two Sisters is action-packed and very fast-paced as it takes the reader on a journey into a deep and unknown part of the Earth. Little do we know that this story also takes us on a ride into exploring the unique bond that is sisterhood.
This fantastic book was a very quick read and each chapter ended with an invisible lure pulling you to the next page. I found it difficult to put the book down and thoroughly enjoyed following both sisters as they embark on their own unique missions. It was also easy to imagine each character’s personality even without much description, which is something I find difficult for authors to do.
This heartwarming story focuses on the bond between two sisters. Even separated and not knowing if the other is alive they fight to find them. Sasha refuses to give up on her sister and is willing to take any journey necessary to find her in the ravine.
The only thing I felt that was missing in this entertaining book is more character development. This could be due to the fact this is going to be a series of books and the author was just introducing characters to readers with plans to develop them further in other books.
The Two Sisters, book one of The Intra-Earth Chronicles, is an exciting and fast-paced sword and sorcery novel for middle-grade children. The action and adventure that the characters experience will keep children engaged and waiting to see what happens next.
Pages: 88 | ASIN : B09R6ZZHRM
The Heath Cousins and the Ruby Lantern
Heath Cousins and The Ruby Lantern by Eileen Hobbs is an enchanting adventure tale where we are taken into a whimsical land with the main character Addie. B, a bright and imaginative child who with the help of a moonstone ring can translate other languages. Addie and her mother head out to do some shopping, during their adventure Addie spots an opening into another world, which she had visited before. In this world there is a garden of choice which leads them to Ambra, the main part of this other world. Addie enlists the help of her cousins, then they head off on a whirlwind adventure where they solve problems and discover clues that cause them to be riddled with curiosities and ensure many more visits to the garden of choice in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this imaginative adventure novel by author Eileen Hobbs. This is a classic adventure story that took me back to my own childhood and filled with me the same sense of wonder that I had back then. Overall, I found the characters to be charming and a joy to follow through this adventure. I liked the author’s voice and enchanting atmosphere that she effortlessly creates in this novel.
While I heartily enjoyed the story, I felt that the child sometimes felt older than their age, hopping on planes and running off on their own. But how else would you find yourself into and out of these compelling adventures.
Heath Cousins and The Ruby Lantern is a book I can see myself reading as a child, curled up at night with a night light, reading until I fall asleep. This is a well crafted and fun sword and sorcery story that will appeal to anyone looking for a timeless children’s fantasy story.
Pages: 166 | ASIN: B08XTST3MZ
Mysteries and Magic
The Mysterious Pool follows a group of friends who uncover secrets in an hold house that send them on a wild adventure. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
As a child I’ve always loved reading stories on mysteries and magic as most children do, and as did my late son, Leigh. So he is foremost in this adventure with his friends.
I enjoyed how authentic the children felt in your story. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Of course, Leigh relates to my late son and the other characters, Tara and Cosmo are losely based around his real life friends. The persona of the characters are carried over from my picture book series, Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures. Aimed for the younger reader, these little stories carry an important message on how life in a wheelchair can have its challenges.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Apart from keeping “The Mysterious Pool” fun, adventureous and enlighting, it carries an important message thoroughout the story – to instil confidence in children, particularly for those with limited mobility. I hope this is achieved after reading the story and they come away with a positive outlook and an appetite to learn more.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Book 2 in “Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures” will be out this year (2021). Again it will carry an important message.
There will be three books in this series, each covering different aspects wheelchair users have overcoming a particular problem.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Join Leigh and his fifth-grade school friends, Tara and Cosmo as they visit a mysterious house in the woods.
What treasures are revealed that will shock and astound them, and inadvertently uncover a hidden family secret?
Leigh doesn’t let his wheelchair hold him back from exploring with his friends, and as the events unfold, he experiences an amazing encounter that will leave him wondering and open his mind to new ideas.
If you love animals, exploring caves and magic, then you’ll love The Mysterious Pool.
A Leigh and Friends Adventure story.
LITERARY TITAN 