Blog Archives
Moly’s First Adventure
The Adventures of Moly, The Time Traveling Dog: Visiting Teotihuacan, follows a resilient Beagle Terrier who finds herself homeless and struggling to survive, who is rescued and trained for a mission to travel back in time and learn about the Aztec civilization. What was the inspiration for your story?
Great question. There were a couple of sources that inspired me to write The Adventures of Moly. The first was Moly herself. She was my wife and my first dog and a lot of what happened in the first part of the book actually happened when we first adopted her. Another inspiration is my background as an educator as a history teacher, a charter school owner, and an Instructional Assistant at Roosevelt Elementary in Mesa. That background also provided a lot of material for the first part of the book. Finally, living in Arizona, I wanted Moly’s first adventure to center on a major civilization somewhat close geographically to that area. That is why I chose the Aztecs.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Valeria Leonova?
The collaboration was excellent and it is a testament to how seamless conducting business across the world wide web is. Valeria, who already has an extensive and well regarded background in illustrating children’s books, is a Ukrainian refugee living with her family in the United Kingdom. When I first sent her the draft of the book, I indicated what drawings I wanted and where they should be placed in the book. After the development of the cover and the first sketches, the process went like clockwork. She would routinely send me new illustrations to review and approve. Again, after the development of the cover and the first sketches, especially on what Moly would look like, the process went without any hitches.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
For me, it was important not just to tell an entertaining tale but an educational one as well where children in grades K-2 can learn about history and geography. Being a history teacher, I feel that the subject is neglected too much in education and children should be exposed to as much of it as possible.
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?
It is the first book in the series. The Second Book, The Adventures of Moly: Journey to Pompeii has been written and is already off to Valeria to illustrate. The cover and first drawing is already complete. It will be coming out just before the holidays. The Third book: The Adventures of Moly: Riding on the Underground Railroad will be out in the fall of 2026.
Here are my links.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | BlueSky | Website
Moly, the sweet Beagle Terrier, was feeling sad and lonely until Ferrara came to the rescue!
Now, Moly has a cozy home, lots of love, and amazing adventures.
She visits kids at the special magical school to make them smile.
And she even has a special job—traveling back in time!
Moly goes on exciting trips to different times in history to take pictures and meet new friends.
Come along and see what fun she’ll have next!
Noir Mysteries
Case Files From the Nightfall Detective Agency: The Mummy’s Vengeance follows a vampire and werewolf detective who discover a gruesome murder, leading them on a race against time to solve the case before a curse causes a global catastrophe. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Well, I was partially brought up by my Dad on Universal and Hammer Horror movies along with good noir mysteries like 1932’s and 1959’s Mummy, The Wolfman, Murder on the Orient Express, American Werewolf in London, and Laura. I wanted to create a story in that tradition. I was also influenced by modern television shows like Forever Knight and Supernatural.
Your book introduces readers to some unique and interesting characters. What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I think Tori is the one I had the most enjoyable time writing because she originally came from the time travel stories of the Jigsaw Universe and she has a strong dynamic persona coupled with the arc of coming to grips with her vampirism. Frank the Golem was probably the most challenging in this tale but you will see him develop more in the next installment of the series.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
That you can apply the human condition through the parables of these tales. That makes them educational as well as entertaining.
When will book two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
Book two: Trail of the Zombies came out last October and has generated some praise. The link is below. It takes our characters to the Tucson-Marana area a year after the events of the first book and it deals with our detectives having to solve a murder mystery before an evil organization can create an army of Zombie Slaves from the Native American students they are persecuting. This book, especially the first chapters, is very dark.
The third book of the series, Fury of the Vampire will be out this October.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Blue Sky | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
But the discovery of a gruesome murder plunges them into a race against time. At the heart of the chaos is the Eye of Aten, an ancient relic of unimaginable power capable of unleashing a deadly curse. With the help of an unusual team—including a golem with a surprising soul—Tori and Mueller must stop a fanatical cult from triggering a global catastrophe.
As alliances crumble and supernatural forces clash, Tori and Mueller face their most dangerous enemy yet. Can they contain the curse, or will the world fall to the Mummy’s Vengeance?
Mussolini’s Puppet Government
Jigsaw: Beginnings follows a group of students on a trip to Italy who stumble into the secrets of a WWII teleportation experiment, forcing them to unravel a conspiracy where history and the present collide. What were some sources that informed this book’s development?
Excellent question. I did a great deal of research on the Italian Resistance Movement, OSS espionage and Holocaust rescue efforts at the time and general area, Mussolini’s Puppet Government in Salo following his rescue by the Nazis in 1943, and overtures to get Spain to join the war on the Axis side. I felt these were neglected parts of history that needed greater exploration. I also have visited Voltri on two occasions when I was younger. My Great Aunt and Uncle (my Grandmother’s brother) lived there and I wanted to make this a quasi-tribute to that side of the family. I also drew from personal experiences and other people I know like my parents, grandmother, siblings, and friends to fill in the character development. The names of the student’s characters came from children that attended the charter school I once owned.
Colonel Angelo and Professor Klein are morally complex characters. How did you develop their motivations?
Klein represents that part of history where Conservative Jewish Palestinians had, at first, a productive relationship with Mussolini’s Government in the 1920s and 1930s. As Italy’s government became more openly Anti Semitic in its subservience to Hitler, Jews who thought Mussolini had backstabbed them were more prevalent. That is how I developed Klein. I do not want to say much about Angelo here because he has an arc that readers would see in the second and third books in the series, Warheads and Full Circle and I do not want to spoil that.
The Italian settings feel incredibly vivid. Did you visit these locations, or was your research primarily historical?
As mentioned in the first question, I have visited Voltri and Genoa several times. While I based some of the scenes on personal experience like visiting the Villa and going to the Genovese port, I did still have to research the areas and the history to fill in the gaps and round out the historical plot of the story.
Were there any real-life wartime experiments that influenced the teleportation aspect of the story?
Not to my knowledge. I know there were rumors of the Philadelphia Experiment in the 1940’s and the German time machine Bell program but those did not influence the plot.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Website | Amazon
High school history buffs Noah Patterson and Mariah Fischer can’t wait to get to Italy. Their plan? To explore as much as they can and have loads of fun. What they face, however, is mind-blowing when they get shot at by the Italian Black Brigade.
Running for their lives, they quickly realize that they’ve somehow been transported to Italy, circa 1943. But how?
Humiliated by defeat and rescued by Hitler, Mussolini plans to win the war at all costs. Pushing forward relentlessly, he has a secret weapon: teleportation. But a failed experiment with the device draws Noah and Mariah back in time. Now they must find a way to stop Mussolini’s “New Roman Empire” and return to the present they know—if it’s still there.
The fight for reality starts now…Jigsaw Beginnings is an adrenaline-driven, YA time travel series perfect for action and adventure enthusiasts.
The Adventures of Moly: The Time Traveling Dog: Visiting Teotihuacan
In The Adventures of Moly, The Time Traveling Dog: Visiting Teotihuacan by David Alyn Gordon, readers are introduced to Moly, a resilient Beagle Terrier who finds herself homeless and struggling to survive. Scavenging for scraps and drinking from lawn sprinklers, she roams the streets until a group of rescuers brings her to the Maricopa County Animal Care Shelter. It is here that she catches the attention of Director Ferrara and Technology Supervisor Chadwick, two employees of the Falcone Foundation, an undercover research facility hidden beneath Arizona State University. Their mission? To find the perfect canine candidate for a unique and highly classified program. Moly fits the bill. Ferrara takes her home, offering her the comfort and care she desperately needs, but Moly’s new life is far from ordinary.
Ferrara and Chadwick train Moly in not one but two extraordinary roles. By day, she becomes a therapy dog for children at the Renaissance Academy, where Ferrara works as a student counselor. However, her second role is even more astonishing; Moly is tasked with traveling through time to ancient Teotihuacan, now part of modern-day Mexico. Her objective: to document her encounters, capturing images and videos of the Aztec civilization. But as Moly embarks on this thrilling mission, questions arise. Can she navigate an unfamiliar world alone? Will she safely return to the present?
The concept of a time-traveling dog is undeniably unique, blending adventure with education. While I found the idea of Moly as a therapy dog heartwarming and well-suited for young readers, I was perplexed by the decision to send her unaccompanied on such a risky historical expedition. The logistics of her mission raised questions: Why would Ferrara and Chadwick entrust such a critical task to Moly rather than undertake it themselves? The uncertainty surrounding Moly’s well-being and the potential dangers of time travel left me with mixed emotions.
That said, Gordon masterfully incorporates historical elements into the narrative, making learning about the Aztec civilization an engaging experience for children. The storytelling is accessible, seamlessly weaving historical facts into Moly’s adventure without feeling like a lesson. Young readers will absorb knowledge effortlessly, drawn into the rich culture and daily life of Teotihuacan’s past inhabitants.
The vivid illustrations by Valeria Leonova, which appear on every page, add to the book’s charm. The colorful, dynamic artwork enhances the story, capturing the reader’s imagination while providing visual context to Moly’s journey. The illustrations perfectly complement Gordon’s storytelling, making the book even more immersive for young audiences.
David Alyn Gordon’s background as a social studies teacher, principal, and founder of the Grand Canyon College Preparatory Academy in Tempe, Arizona, is evident in his approach to blending entertainment with education. Through Moly’s adventures, children are introduced to historic landmarks and cultures in a way that feels organic and exciting.
The Adventures of Moly, The Time Traveling Dog: Visiting Teotihuacan is a creative and engaging read. It offers young audiences both an entertaining story and an insightful glimpse into history. With its vibrant illustrations and unique premise, this book will surely capture the hearts of children who love animals, adventure, and discovering the past.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0DHV8HVXB
Case Files From The Nightfall Detective Agency: The Mummy’s Vengeance
Following the groundbreaking discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922, mummies and the ominous curses they carried became an obsession. For archaeologist Trevor Grantham, the allure was not just the thrill of unearthing history but also the opportunity to cement his reputation within his field. His benefactor, the obscenely wealthy Malcolm Thorne, had far less noble motivations, status, wealth, and notoriety. Fast forward five years, and Thorne meets a gruesome end at a museum gala, murdered on the very night Grantham’s latest find is unveiled. As the suspect list grows, Dr. Abraham Mueller an undead werewolf from ancient Egypt and his supernatural team enlist the help of a few familiar faces to unravel the mystery of the Mummy’s vengeance.
Case Files From the Nightfall Detective Agency: The Mummy’s Vengeance by David Alyn Gordon delivers a fast-paced and exhilarating supernatural mystery. Though novella in length, the story packs a formidable punch, weaving together supernatural lore, ancient curses, family tensions, and the timeless downfall that comes with an insatiable thirst for power. Gordon masterfully balances the fantastical elements without veering into absurdity, maintaining a lighthearted tone while constructing a compelling and immersive narrative.
Mueller, serving as the de facto leader, is a particularly nuanced character. Despite his supernatural origins and formidable abilities, he remains composed and cerebral, his wisdom shaped by centuries of existence. He takes great care in mentoring his team, Frank, the steadfast golem, and Tori, a newly turned vampire fully aware that any loss of control could lead to catastrophe. While the supporting cast is not as intricately developed, each character serves a clear purpose, navigating the story’s labyrinthine twists with precision.
Finding a novel that seamlessly blends multiple genres without losing coherence is rare, but The Mummy’s Vengeance achieves this feat effortlessly. Gordon crafts a story that is equal parts mystery, adventure, and supernatural intrigue, never allowing any element to overshadow the rest. The journey to the book’s conclusion is as enjoyable as it is unpredictable, culminating in a final twist so unexpected it cements the story’s strength as a truly effective mystery. Readers looking for a thrilling, genre-bending read will find The Mummy’s Vengeance an absolute delight.
Pages: 132 | ASIN : B0CKLKLK6G
LITERARY TITAN 