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Let the Story Lead Itself
The Best Worst Christmas Ever follows a father and his three children trapped by a blizzard on Christmas Eve, who, after the power goes out, spend the evening on a magical adventure through their shared imagination. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
After writing five adult mysteries, I wanted to challenge myself with something completely different and decided to cross over to a fantasy. I started brainstorming ideas not long before Christmas, so it was an easy decision to choose a holiday setting. I thought it would be fun to see the story from different points of view as it progressed, and what better way to do that than to have it told by children of different ages with different ideas of what the story should be. The power outage was the only way I could think of to force bickering children to sit still and listen to each other talk. It also created more of a cozy atmosphere in the home.
Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your character’s life?
I have three daughters, all grown now, that I used to read to every night at bedtime. Much of their interactions with each other and reactions to the stories, including their likes and dislikes, found their way into the voices of the children in this story.
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 had my first novel all planned out, but by the third chapter, it had taken itself in a totally different direction, and I never used most of what I’d plotted in advance, so I’ve learned to just let the story lead itself as I write. Virtually all of the events in this book were the result of ideas that only entered my mind while writing the chapter before it. It’s surprising how different parts end up fitting together even without following an outline.
What is the next novel that you are working on, and when will that be available?
I wrapped up my five-mystery series in a way that would make it unfair to the characters to bring them back and put them in harm’s way again. Now, though, I’ve had several requests to write a prequel, including one from my editor. It’s an intriguing idea that I may pursue this winter, but at this point, it’s only a concept that will require a lot of gray hair to bring to reality, so the release of an actual book is hard to imagine at this stage.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The Best Worst Christmas Ever
Thomas J. Thorson’s The Best Worst Christmas Ever begins as a simple snowbound family story and unfolds into something much more. Part adventure, part fairy tale, and part rediscovery of wonder. It starts with a family trapped by a blizzard on Christmas Eve, stripped of their digital comforts and forced to reconnect. A father and his three children, Parker, Candace, and little Lily, turn an ordinary night into an extraordinary one through shared imagination. What begins as storytelling by candlelight transforms into a magical journey involving Santa, fairies, lost treasures, and lessons about love, courage, and the true meaning of Christmas.
This book felt like it should be read by a warm fire while the world outside howled with snow. Thorson writes with a gentle humor and sincerity that caught me off guard. The story within a story, the family inventing a Christmas adventure together, reminded me of my own childhood, of times when imagination bridged every gap. The characters felt real, especially the father trying to keep the holiday spirit alive amid chaos. His patience, the kids’ bickering, and the messy dinner they invent, all felt honest and familiar. I liked how the writing never rushed. Each moment had room to breathe.
But what really surprised me was how emotional it became. There’s whimsy in the magic and humor in the dialogue, but there’s also depth. The story nudges you to think about connection, about how the simplest acts like sharing stories, and helping one another can turn a night of disappointment into one of wonder. I felt nostalgic, and a little wistful, reading it.
By the end, I found myself smiling. The Best Worst Christmas Ever isn’t flashy or cynical. It’s a small, heartfelt book that believes in kindness, family, and imagination. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves cozy stories with a touch of fantasy, parents reading aloud to kids, readers who still believe in a bit of Christmas magic, or anyone who just wants to feel good for a while.
Pages: 164 | ASIN : B0FM8HYSG1
We Are Not Promised Tomorrow
The Long, Lazy Summer follows a young boy who spends one last summer with his terminally ill mother, which deepens into lessons about love, loss, and the beauty of small moments. What made you write a story about this topic? Anything pulled from your life experiences?
Most of the children books I write are fiction fantasy with a lot of humor. The last few years, I’ve watched the Newbery Awards, and the books that won usually have a more serious tone to them. That really is the main reason I tackled this subject matter. I’ve had friends and family who have died of cancer, so that’s mainly why I focused on this area.
Surprisingly, real life ended up imitating art. My illustrator ended up finding out she had cancer when I was ready to start this book. She’s fine now, but this book almost didn’t happen. Then I faced my own mortality as well when I had heart problems this year. The ending of the book reflects the kind of thoughts running through my head at that time period.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The main ideas that were important to me were:
- Honesty of emotion. How would any adult feel going through that – facing their mortality and how do you explain that to a child?
- Love – what do we leave our loved ones after we are gone?
- Legacy – if you have a limited time left, what would be important to still do before you go? What do you want to be remembered for?
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your story?
None of us are promised tomorrow. Look around you – are you living the life you truly wish to live? What do you think your loved ones will remember as being the most important part of your life?
I hope the Wonders of Childhood & Beyond series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
This series is intended to be unusual and perhaps unexpected. If the reader can learn to look at the world in a way different than they have before, then I will have done my job well as a writer.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Instagram | Facebook | Website
For some of us, the greatest love and memories that we will hold in our hearts our whole lives through are the ones we experience and share with our parents.
They are part of our earliest memories and shape the lives we learn to live. They are our whole world, and when they leave us – when they pass over to the other side where pain and death can no longer touch us, we are left with an emptiness we can never again fill. To lose a parent is like losing a limb – you remember it being an essential part of your life even though it is no longer there. In many ways, you can still feel their spirits nearby, but they have moved beyond this realm where our five senses reign supreme and register into other senses of extraordinary perception we never knew we had.
For Raymond, it’s simple. He spends a beautifully long, lazy summer with his mother that he will never forget. His last one with her.
Nobody is promised forever. Any of us could leave this world at any moment. That being the case, what kind of memories would you leave your loved ones if you had a choice?
The Long, Lazy Summer (Wonders of Childhood & Beyond)
The Long, Lazy Summer is a tender and heart-tugging children’s book told through the eyes of a young boy named Ray, who spends one last summer with his terminally ill mother. What begins as a string of playful, simple days filled with scavenger hunts, zoo games, gardening, and homemade forts slowly deepens into lessons about love, loss, and the beauty of small moments. The narrative captures both the joy of being loved and the ache of knowing that time is running out. The season ends with the mother’s passing, but Ray carries her words, memories, and love into adulthood, forever changed by that golden stretch of days.
The writing is warm and straightforward, but the emotions beneath it are rich and deep. I could feel the sunshine in the happy scenes and the heaviness in the quiet ones. What I loved most was how the story balanced light and shadow. It never wallowed in sadness, but it didn’t shy away from it either. The metaphors, like sunflowers and butterflies, weren’t just pretty images; they stuck with me. And there’s something about the way Sayre writes dialogue between mother and son that’s simple, but the love comes through so strongly.
This is not a picture book you can read with dry eyes. The pacing lingers in places, and at first I thought it might be too gentle for my taste, but that rhythm fits the story’s heart. This isn’t about rushing to a twist or a big finale. It’s about letting each moment breathe, like the last summer evening before school starts again. The ideas like living fully, making memories, carrying love beyond loss aren’t new, but the way they’re told here feels fresh because they come through a child’s eyes. That innocence turns the whole thing into a bittersweet reminder of how fragile and beautiful life is.
I’d recommend The Long, Lazy Summer to parents, grandparents, teachers, and anyone who believes in the power of stories to start conversations about love and loss. It’s especially good for families looking to help children process grief in a gentle way. It’s also for grown-ups who need a reminder that even in goodbye, there’s a kind of forever.
Pages: 113 | ASIN : B0FG23Y128
Home
The Dragon Way Home follows a lonely Australian boy who meets a sand sculpture of a dragon that comes to life, takes him on a wild adventure, and teaches him some valuable lessons. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I used to live on the Gold Coast and often watched sand artists making dragon sculptures. When I moved to China, I always loved visiting the Dragon Temples. Those were my two main influences.
In many coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
The settings are definitely part of my story, but a broken family and flying dragons are pure fiction.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to explore the idea of “home” through the eyes of a child. I also wanted him to come from an imperfect family–not a bad family–just one that didn’t fit the fairytale version of perfection.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I have just finished “Yowie Dreaming: A Tale of Friendship and Adventure”. It is about a teenage girl who discovers a baby Yowie (Australia’s Bigfoot) in her backyard.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
He must deal with four eccentric dragons. Also, he must survive a hot air balloon crash, a cyclone and getting lost in Shanghai. And that’s just the beginning!
Will he find his dad? Will he ever feel that he is truly home?
A book that will delight emerging readers and keep them engaged to the last page.
Also suitable for dragon lovers of any age.
The Dragon Way Home
The Dragon Way Home is a magical, heartfelt middle-grade novel that follows Jamison, a lonely Australian boy desperate to reconnect with his father in Paris. When a sand sculpture of a dragon named Littus comes to life, Jamison’s quiet beach day turns into a globe-trotting journey via a magical hot air balloon, tropical villages, mystical caves, and bustling metropolises, all guided by dragons of every temperament. Along the way, he meets fiery personalities (literally), faces emotional trials, and most importantly finds his way home, in more ways than one.
From the very first chapter, I was hooked. James has this rare ability to slip from breezy realism to mythic magic without missing a beat. One moment, you’re sitting with Jamison at Surfers Paradise beach, watching a sand artist create a dragon. The next, that dragon is speaking, glowing, and offering to take you across the world to see your dad. And somehow, it all feels totally plausible. Littus, the baby dragon sculpted from sand, is easily my favorite character because he is vulnerable, funny, and strangely wise. The scene where he says, “Power doesn’t come from size; it comes from the heart and mind,” actually made me pause. It’s soft, sweet stuff with teeth.
There’s also a deeper sadness underneath all the fantasy that really caught me off guard. Jamison isn’t just on an adventure; he’s grieving the life he lost when his parents split. His pain isn’t dramatic, but it’s everywhere: in the microwave dinners, the absence of rules at home, the silence when he thinks of his dad. When he finally bursts into tears with Littus after the dragon gets vandalized by teens, I felt it in my chest. The emotional beats don’t scream; they hum just below the surface, and that restraint is what makes them land harder.
The parade of dragons Jamison meets is a brilliant device for exploring different cultures and ideas. Iawo, the ancient, grumpy dragon from the Solomon Islands cave, scared the crap out of me at first. But then he turns out to be fiercely protective, and he literally shields a whole village from a storm with his body. Jinlong, the Chinese fire dragon, brings speed, elegance, and wisdom. And Tesson, the crystal French dragon who shapeshifts into a Parisian woman with Swarovski accessories, absolutely stole the show for me. Her dry sass and grace under pressure made her unforgettable. Plus, the way she guides Jamison through a literal and emotional maze to find his father was so well done.
The final chapters in Paris are warm and satisfying. There’s no huge battle, no earth-shattering twist. Just a boy rediscovering his place in the world, helped by the most unexpected of allies. I got misty when Jamison stood frozen in front of the Eiffel Tower, realizing he’d made it. And the reunion with his dad was messy, real, and absolutely earned.
If you’re someone who loves gentle fantasy, emotional coming-of-age stories, and dragons that feel more like mentors than monsters, The Dragon Way Home is for you. This book would be perfect for middle-grade readers, sure, but also for adults. It’s a reminder that magic exists if you’re still willing to believe in it and that sometimes, finding your way home means leaving it first.
Pages: 50 | ASIN : B0DRZ3L1B9
Universal Theme of Love
Bella & Chantey: Mama Wants a Blue Mushroom follows a pig and her macaw sidekick as they set out on a rainforest adventure to find a rare mushroom. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
We work with the Ngäbe people who live on the Comarca or reservation where I had the story take place. The children do not have children’s books per se, and I wanted to write some stories for them and include their environment.
What is it that draws you to write children’s literature?
I love to watch young children learn about new places, different countries, and people in the world. I also enjoy seeing children being entertained and laughing over stories. I place educational material in the backmatter of my books to educate the children besides giving them an entertaining story. I also try to have a universal theme of love, family, or learning experience that children can see themselves in or identify with the story.
The artwork in your book is wonderful. What was the collaboration with illustrator César Meléndez like?
César is excellent to work with. He has unique ideas for illustrations and is very realistic in his drawings. He has emotions in animal faces and does a fantastic job with water scenes. He asks for suggestions and always asks if they are ok. An excellent fit between author and illustrator- we think alike.
Can fans expect to see more adventures featuring Bella and Chantey? What are you currently working on?
I am working on a chapter book with main characters from the Ngäbe Comarca, Double Trouble on the Comarca. Benny the Boa is an adapted Ngäbe folklore story, which is almost completed, and yes, a second book with Bella and Chantey, also taking place on the Comarca.
I had some people from a nearby church ask if I could write a children’s bible story picture book, so I have done that, and it is currently at a traditional editor to see whether they will accept it. Another editor I work with said if it’s not accepted, go ahead and self-publish it because she likes the story.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Rooted: A Mature Tree’s Journey
Rooted: A Mature Tree’s Journey invites readers to see nature through a lens of empathy and wonder. This heartwarming tale follows Dendro, a tree maturing in both age and spirit. As he grows, he notices changes in his voice and appearance, becoming more sociable and enjoying the camaraderie of his forest companions. Dendro delights in the laughter of children playing beneath his branches and the quiet moments of people resting in his shade. Nearby, a young tree begins its journey, preparing to choose its own name—a milestone that excites Dendro. Yet, the story takes a somber turn when a red X is painted on Dendro, marking him for removal. Two devoted siblings, who cherish the tree as a cornerstone of their adventures, rally to find a way to save him.
Tammy Cranston’s storytelling shines with originality and charm, offering a rare perspective by narrating through Dendro’s eyes. Readers are immersed in the life of a tree, experiencing both joy and hardship, from the warmth of a hug to the pain of bark scarred by carvings. Cranston’s writing is precise yet evocative, delivering thoughtful lessons accessible to young audiences.
Themes of respect for all living beings and the value of peaceful problem-solving resonate deeply. The siblings’ efforts to rescue Dendro demonstrate the power of compassion and creativity, even in difficult circumstances. The story flows at a measured pace, engaging readers without rushing. Along the way, Dendro’s kindness shines, especially in a poignant moment when he supports another tree facing similar challenges.
The illustrations complement the story beautifully, bursting with vivid colors and expressive details. They transform the trees into characters that feel alive, adding depth and cheer to the story. The book’s originality and educational merit make it as informative as it is entertaining.
Rooted: A Mature Tree’s Journey is a touching and imaginative children’s book. It explores growth, change, and the importance of treasuring the natural world. This book is a delightful blend of creativity and heart, leaving readers of all ages with a deeper appreciation for the environment and its many stories.
Pages: 31 | ASIN : B0DLDDJ2FB
LITERARY TITAN 