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Kids With Anxiety are Not Alone
In Cameron and the Shadow-wraiths, a young boy finds himself in a battle to save his friend from the clutches of otherworldly entities as he fights an inner battle with anxiety and self-doubt. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This was important because my son struggled with anxiety for many years. In fact, his anxiety became so severe, I had to quit my job as an engineer and homeschool him. When I asked him what the daily panic attacks feel like, the level of hopelessness and dread he shared with me was shocking. I knew I needed to tell this story so other kids would know they are not alone. While writing this book, I worked with a team of child psychologists. They read the book, then gave me all of their anxiety coping strategies, terminologies, and breathing exercises they use with their patients. I wove all this information into the story. So, when a child with anxiety reads this book, they’ll not only hear the teachings of their therapist in the story, but will also see the main character, Cameron, put the anxiety coping strategies into use, sometimes successfully, and sometimes not.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
In writing this book, I gave the main character my son’s anxiety symptoms, and as I wrote the book, I realized that I’d felt some of these symptoms when I was a kids . . . that was unexpected. This helped me as I could more easily put myself in the head of Cameron as he was struggling with his fears.
I find the world you created around Cameron fascinating. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
I’m a HUGE fan of the movie Goonies, but I also love it when fantasy intersects with the real world. So my goal was to merge these two world together, kinda like a mashup of Goonies, Gremlins, and Stranger Things. I chose New Orleans because I was going to include some information about Ley Lines, and there is an intersection, or a vortex, near New Orleans, but as I wrote, I realized that I didn’t need to include the Ley Lines information; kids don’t care why the monsters are there in the swamps of Louisiana; they just want to go on an exciting ride. I’m hoping that’s what I gave them.
Can fans look forward to a third installment? If so, where will it take Cameron next?
There is a third book in the series, called The Gargoyle’s Revenge. I’m working on other things right now, so I don’t know when I’ll put quill to parchment for this book . . . hopefully soon.
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Shadow-wraiths from Agartha have crossed over to Earth and are executing an evil scheme, starting with abducting Cameron’s friend, Jessie. Because of last year’s battle with Malphas and his monster horde, everyone thinks Cameron is a heroic figure who can easily save Jessie from the clutches of the terrifying wraiths, everyone, that is, except for Cameron. His anxiety, or his Beast as he calls it, is still very much a part of him, filling him with fear and uncertainty. But Cameron knows, he has no choice. He must save his friend, even if it costs him his life.
With his friends at his side, Cameron will journey across the swamps of New Orleans, confront an army of alligators, battle against shadow-wraiths, and watch a dear friend perish before he finally reaches his goal, the Swamp of Forgotten Souls. At the Swamp, Cameron will be forced to confront his fears and failures in order to use the Earth-magic he desperately needs to save all his friends.
But does he realize Malphas is watching from the Void and waiting for Cameron’s failure?
Just like in Facing the Beast Within, Cameron must confront his anxiety, his Beast, while fighting an army of Shadow-wraiths in a hopeless battle to save his friends.
Buckle up and get ready for a thrilling ride.
Cameron and the Shadow-wraiths: A Battle of Anxiety Vs. Trust
In Cameron and the Shadow-wraiths: A Battle of Anxiety Vs. Trust, author Mark Cheverton presents the second installment in the Order of the Stones series, inviting readers back into the world of Cameron Poole, a seventh-grader at Camp Pontchartrain. Last summer’s experiences at camp left Cameron as an unexpected hero, but now he finds himself wrestling with an all-too-familiar adversary: anxiety. Despite the high regard of his peers, Cameron’s internal struggle clouds his self-perception, focusing his attention more on perceived failures than on his capabilities.
Even as a newcomer to the series, I found the book accessible and engaging, with sufficient background information provided to understand the characters and their journey. Cheverton skillfully portrays anxiety through Cameron, a character who resonates with those who experience similar challenges. The depiction of anxiety is nuanced, capturing its diverse manifestations and incorporating realistic coping strategies into the narrative without coming across as didactic.
The supporting characters enrich the story significantly. Figures like wise Mrs. Chakote, tech-savvy Bobby, and dependable Leonard add depth and diversity to the cast, paralleling the variety of magic in the story. Action sequences stand out with their vivid, almost cinematic quality, while the plot progresses at a steady pace, making for a captivating adventure that goes beyond mere fantasy. The integration of Chakra crystals, a fascinating element of the magic system, presents an opportunity for further exploration into practices like cleansing or recharging, enhancing the depth of the author’s richly imagined world.
Cameron and the Shadow-wraiths is a compelling tale that intertwines the themes of overcoming anxiety and epic fantasy. Cheverton’s storytelling is effective in conveying the emotional journey of the protagonist, demonstrating that anxiety, while challenging, can be confronted and overcome. This book, appropriate for readers aged 10 and up, merges fantasy elements with real-world issues, creating an engaging narrative that encourages awareness and understanding of anxiety.
Pages: 254 | ASIN : B0CBG5PHFT
Monsters Have Feelings
Monsters Need Breaks Too! follows well-known monsters who, after a hard day of work, doing whatever it is monsters do, need some downtime to process their own feelings and just relax. What was the inspiration for your story?
After the Pandemic, it felt like the world just hit the ground running as everyone around me, myself included, was getting back into activities and making themselves busy again. I saw my kids struggle to get back into the routine of schedules and places to be. We were talking about how to create balance in our lives again after such an upheaval, and taking more frequent breaks was one of our ideas. I often use drawing as a way to take a break and reset. During one of my fun drawing breaks, I began drawing cute monsters and started with the Lochness monster. I thought it would be funny to imagine the Lochness monster taking a bath in a tub. Soon after I imagined the Kraken with an ice cream and drew him under the sea with sunken ships. I would post my images on Instagram with funny captions because they made me laugh, and I thought others would find it funny as well. This book started with a few funny illustrations, but as I looked at the images, I started to imagine the pictures as snapshots of the story. What had happened before this scene, and why would the Lochness monster be taking a bubble bath? Why would Kraken be eating an ice cream? Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by monsters, mythical creatures, and cryptids, and love to think about them being a lot like us. It was funny to imagine what kinds of things would be frustrating to monsters, and then my book grew from there.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted the idea that monsters were a lot like us to really come through in the story so that anyone could identify with the emotions in the book. I think using monsters gives the story a universal reach because there are no limitations on who could see themselves represented in the story. I liked the idea that monsters have feelings and that sometimes their feelings get hurt, or they get frustrated like we do. Secondly, I really wanted the readers to think about ways they can take breaks in their own lives when they get overwhelmed or are feeling uncomfortable emotions. I wanted to help the reader brainstorm in a humorous way, things they could do to reset.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
This is my first book, and some of my goals were simple at first; to simply accomplish the task of writing, illustrating, and publishing a book. Beyond that monumental goal I set for myself, I wanted the illustrations to tell most of the story, and I wanted my story to be clear and well-written. This was a huge learning experience for me. I’ve been illustrating for years and have written many stories in my life, but I’ve never shared them with the public until now. This was a major milestone for me as I’ve wanted to publish a children’s book since I was in college. It was one of those dreams in the back of my mind that would come and go. I took some courses during the pandemic and afterwards that introduced me to the tools needed to accomplish this goal, and I was finally able to bring it to life!
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
I am currently working on another book in this series that is called (for now) Monster Problems from A-Z: Addiction to Zoning Out. We loved reading books to our children, and I really appreciated writers who wrote funny books that we could laugh with and also books that were geared toward the parents, too. Books that are fun for kids and parents to read together promote more interaction and conversation and is a BIG goal in writing the Monsters series.
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As we journey through the pages of this book, we’ll meet a captivating array of monsters, each indulging in their preferred break time activities. The vibrant illustrations, lovingly crafted by the talented artist and author Stacie Green, bring these creatures to life in the most enchanting and adorable way imaginable. With a touch of humor and a sprinkle of fun, the artwork adds an extra layer of joy to the story, captivating young readers and igniting their imagination.
Monsters Need Breaks Too! is an invitation for children to embrace the importance of self-care and discover their own unique methods of finding joy and tranquility. Through the magical adventures of these marvelous monsters, children learn that moving their bodies, indulging in breaks, and expressing themselves through art are all essential ingredients for a happy and balanced life. We all experience moments of grouchiness and feeling down, but by practicing self-care and taking breaks to improve our moods, we can find our inner joy once again.
So, let us join these lovable monsters on their journey as they impart their wisdom and teach us valuable lessons about the power of self-care and finding happiness. Within these pages, we’ll discover that everyone, even monsters, needs a break now and then, and that taking care of ourselves is truly a magical endeavor.
LITERARY TITAN 