Bibliophile's Corner

The Thickety
Well of Witches
by J. A. White

Amazon Description:
The third novel in the Thickety series, Well of Witches, is an epic quest on the edge of a magic crusade, into an enchanted kingdom with new kinds of magic, old enemies, and only one way out.

Kara and Taff know that only Grace Stone has the power to reverse her terrible Last Spell on their father and in order to save him, they have to rescue their foe from the Well of Witches first. Forgiving Grace should be the hardest part of their journey…but soon the children are confronted by creatures called the Faceless, mysteries as old as magic, and an ancient secret that threatens their very lives.

Back in the World, a war against magic is brewing that endangers everyone they care about. Can Kara and Taff find Grace, find their way out of the Well, and make it back to their father in time?

My Thoughts:
J. A. White has penned another well-written and entertaining novel in The Thickety Series. Well of Witches includes compelling characters, an Old World setting, & a quintessential fantasy plot, making this upper middle grade novel a must read for lovers of enchanting, magical tales. I highly recommend Well of Witches to readers aged eight to eighty!

Click here to learn more about the author, J. A. White.

                       Happy Halloween!

Storyteller's Journey

Photo Credit: Public Domain

         Why I Believe in Ghosts

Ghosts have fascinated me for a long time. The intrigue has nothing to do with Halloween, it has to do with my own paranormal encounter. Really!




Many years ago, right after my maternal grandmother passed away, I purchased her small home. (I was extremely close to my grandmother and had lived with her in that house while attending Clark College.)

One autumn afternoon, not long after I'd moved into the quaint house, I found myself in the throes of a personal crisis. I'll not go into it here, but suffice it to say, it was a monumental time in my life. I was lying on the very bed that had been my grandmother's, in the bedroom that a few months prior to that day had been hers, when I saw her - my dear grandmother! Her spirit was standing in the corner of the room. Her appearance filled my soul with love and peace. Somehow, I knew I would get through the difficult situation I was experiencing - which I did.

Since that day, decades ago, she's appeared to me one more time - in the house where I now live. Again, it was an emotional time, and again, her presence encouraged me with peace and love. I truly miss her.

Psychology was a course I enjoyed while in college. I know a bit about what psychologists say regarding these sorts of experiences. Stress, mental illness, etcetera can contribute to a person seeing an illusion of a lost loved one. What I saw was no illusion - it was my grandmother.

My belief in ghosts has only added to my already fertile imagination, and helped immensely when I sit down to create a story. It's no coincidence that the protagonist in my middle grade novel, Livvi Biddle, has supernatural powers and also sees ghosts and angels.

It is often said to aspiring authors, "write what you know." As you can see, writing about ghosts is something I feel I know a little bit about.

Men and women have long pondered over the possibility of an afterlife, time travel, and even ghosts and angels. On this Halloween weekend I've chosen to share my personal paranormal encounters with you!

                            Happy Halloween!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Bugwhiffle - (n.)
a silly or unimportant idea.
Example: It mattered not how creative the apprentice's ideas were, his master considered them all bugwhiffles.
(From the Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary)

Bibliophile's Corner

The Girl Who Drank the Moon
by Kelly Barnhill

Flap copy Description:
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.

My Thoughts:
The Girl Who Drank the Moon is an incredibly intricate tapestry of character, plot, and setting. However, the heart, or theme, of the story takes center stage on every page: Love. Ms. Barnhill has created a timeless tale for children that is not only captivatingly fantastical, but heartwarming and inspirational. I highly recommend this upper middle grade novel to readers from the ages of eight to eighty!

NOTE! In January 2017 this enchanting novel won the Newbery Medal!

Click here to learn more about the author Kelly Barnhill.

Storyteller's Journey

Photo Credit: Public Domain

     Consistency as a Scribe

As I mentioned in last Friday's post, I was scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday of this week - all went well. However, I do have to take it easy for several days, which means staying off my feet for as much as possible. It would have been a great excuse to take a break from writing, but I felt if I went down that path I might lose the momentum I've worked so hard to maintain.



I believe it's important to write every day. But there are a variety of ways to do that. Here's my list to maintain consistency as a scribe:

Write/Pen:

*A blog post

*A magazine article

*A poem

*A journal entry

*A short story

*A chapter for a new project

*A letter to a friend

*A to-do list

*A comment on your favorite blog

*A new bio

*A synopsis

*A query letter (Which is one of the items I worked on this week!)

The possibilities for the scribe to maintain a daily writing regime are endless. But, why is it important to write in a variety of ways?

Because sometimes location, commitments, or physical predicament require us to pursue our writing in a different fashion. Then too, it's good to just mix up our routine occasionally - it can rejuvenate creativity. (In my case, my routine got mixed up for me!) It can also ensure a scribe's passion for writing remains fresh, not humdrum.

Woody & Stick have been my constant companions this week. I was doing so well that, unfortunately, I overdid my post-op exercises and strained my left leg. Must adhere to my surgeon's instructions better!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Biffsquiggled - (adj.)
feeling puzzled, or confused.
Example: The schoolmaster left the young boys biffsquiggled with his rambling lessons.
(From the Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary)


Reminder! Click here for the link to my current giveaway. One lucky person will win a signed copy of my book: The Scandinavian Santa!

Bibliophile's Corner

The Gallery
by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Flap copy Description:
It's 1929, and twelve-year-old Martha has no choice but to work as a maid in the New York City mansion of the wealthy Sewell family. But, despite the Gatsby-like parties and trimmings of success, she suspects something might be deeply wrong in the household—specifically with Rose Sewell, the formerly vivacious lady of the house who now refuses to leave her room. The other servants say Rose is crazy, but scrappy, strong-willed Martha thinks there’s more to the story—and that the paintings in the Sewell’s gallery contain a hidden message detailing the truth. But in a house filled with secrets, nothing is quite what it seems, and no one is who they say. Can Martha follow the clues, decipher the code, and solve the mystery of what’s really going on with Rose Sewell?

My Thoughts:
When I discovered that the award-winning author of Under the Egg had penned another children's novel I purchased my copy that day! And while an author's previous publishing record doesn't always assure a reader of another tantalizing tale, The Gallery delivered big time. This scrumptious blend of genres includes one part historical fiction, one part art history, and one part mystery, with plenty of pure entertainment throughout its 300+ pages. Laura Marx Fitzgerald's middle grade novel is written with all the expertise of a master storyteller and is one not to miss. I highly recommend The Gallery to readers - and art lovers - from the ages of eight to eighty!

Click here to learn more about the author, Laura Marx Fitzgerald.