Welcome to Fairy Falls! Don't Forget to Pack the Bug Spray...

In book two of Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls, Blackflies and Blueberries, I wrote about Hart Stewart—a teenage psychometrist who has no problem ‘reading’ the absorbed energy from an object like a ring or watch but struggles with the most basic reading skills. He finds a ring that pulls him into the past to witness a woman’s murder that has gone unsolved for over a year. That woman was Diana MacGregor’s mother, and when Diana discovers that Hart is in possession of the ring and shares the intimate details of her mother’s murder through his psychic ability, Diana strikes a deal with him. She’ll teach Hart how to read and write if he helps find her mother’s killer.

Blackflies & Blueberries, Book 2; Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls

The only witness left to testify against an unsolved crime in Fairy Falls isn’t a person…

City born and bred, Hart Stewart possesses the gift of psychometry—the psychic ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them. Since his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Hart has endured homelessness, and has learned ways to keep his illiteracy under wraps. He eventually learns of a great-aunt living in Fairy Falls, and decides to leave the only life he’s ever known for an uncertain future.

Diana MacGregor lives in Fairy Falls. Her mother was a victim of a senseless murder. Only Diana’s unanswered questions and her grief keeps her going, until Hart finds her mother’s lost ring and becomes a witness to her murder.

Through Hart’s psychic power, Diana gains hope for justice. Their investigation leads them into the corrupt world threatening Fairy Falls. To secure the town’s future, Hart and Diana must join forces to uncover the shocking truth, or they risk losing the true essence of Fairy Falls forever.

Excerpt: 

For over a year now, Diana had wondered, prayed, and longed for any information regarding her mother’s murder. And now this guy shows up, who claims he has these psychic powers that can communicate with objects. Objects like mom’s ring. Diana pressed her lips together. An object that had been there, at the scene of the crime, a viable witness to a heinous act. It all seemed so far-fetched, so out there. Yet what did Hart have to gain from all this? This wasn’t a fortune telling session, this was real. So was Hart for real?

“Who are you, anyway?” Brook asked. “The sorcerer’s apprentice?”

Hart threw her a strange look. “No. My name’s Hart Stewart. I’m Gertie Ellis’s great-nephew.”

Diana snapped out of her self-induced trance. Gertie Ellis? Not the same Gertie Ellis who was Dan Boone’s only alibi? No. This is all too much. It was information overload to the power of ten. Diana thought she heard Donovan mumble ‘Uh-oh’ as he took a step back. He swung the golf club behind his back, as if anticipating her next move, but Donovan would have never have guessed what was about to happen next, because what came out of her mouth shocked even Diana. “Name your price, I’ll pay you whatever you ask. You can even have my car, if you want it.”

Donovan dropped the golf club.

Brook gasped.

Hart snapped his head back. “Pay me? Pay me for what?”

“To find my mother’s killer,” Diana replied. “Let’s face facts. You’re the only person who has these special psychic connections and no one else has been able to solve her murder. Look, I’ve got all the information on my mother’s murder, I’ve kept impeccable files, know the suspects, and can help you get anything you’d need. What do you say?”

“Your...your car?” Donovan muttered.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Brook asked, concerned.

Diana held her hand out toward Hart. “Do we have a deal?”

Dumbfounded, Hart looked at Diana’s offered hand, then glanced back to her face, searching for a hint of sincerity. He nodded. “I’ll help you, if you help me.”

Startled, Diana arched her thin, fair brows. “Help you? How?”

Hart took a deep breath. “My mother was murdered too. In Toronto, just over a year ago, in our apartment. Nothing was taken. She had no enemies to speak of and we weren’t rich. All I have is a letter my great-aunt kept from when mom was my age. Maybe it will help answer some questions, maybe it won’t.”

Diana nodded. “So what does it say?”

Hart cast his eyes to the ground. His face reddened, his hands balled at his sides. He took another deep breath. “I...I don’t know,” he replied, his voice cracking. “I can’t—”

Diana inclined her head. “Can’t what?”

Hart’s eyes locked with Diana’s. His chin trembled as he whispered, “Read.”

Silence, except for the sudden, chilly gust of wind coming off of the lake.

Donovan broke it. “Dude, did you just that say you can’t—”

“Donovan!” Brook elbowed him in the ribs. “Don’t be so insensitive!”

Donovan rubbed his side, and nodded. “Dude, you’re illiterate?”

Brook rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I meant, you bonehead.”

Diana ignored her friends and got straight to the heart of the matter. “Then I’ll teach you to read. We’ll help each other. That way, I’ll get what I want, and you’ll get what you want.”

Blackflies & Blueberries, Book Two Buy Links:

PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

Milestone Birthday and Fresh Starts…

If you’re reading this post on February 2^nd, this day marks a milestone in my life. I turned 65, and I’m now officially a senior citizen. Yay, me! Yes, being well-aged and full of wisdom from the past six and a half decades, I qualify for my Canadian Old Age Pension, as well as a slew of other benefits our government passes on to their seniors. The other milestone in my life is a new knee that’s long overdue after 50 years of knee pain issues and two previous surgeries. Darn those school sports in the 70s! In retrospect, I should have never tried a new long-jump technique that I discovered in a book I found in the school’s library without consulting a teacher! Wink. As mentioned in my January 5^th post HERE, a LOT went on in 2025 that cleared my slate from the past, so I could rebuild my personal and author life for 2026, and beyond.

Yes, I found two publishers willing to take my back list, and future books when my former publisher decided to close up shop by the end of 2025. And yes, we managed to get those second editions published and marketed by the end of the year. My new Canadian publisher, Pandamonium Publishing House also ran a Fairy Falls writing challenge open to the elementary schools I contacted in my area for grade four through to grade eight with the theme, The Day I Heard an Animal’s Thoughts. The winner of the contest received a prize basket which included a signed copy of Lost & Found, a bookmark, a journal, fancy pens, a winner’s certificate, a plush cat toy, and cozy blanket. The winner was announced the first week of December 2025, and it was my privilege to deliver the prize to grade eight student Lexi R. of Erie Migration Elementary School in Kingsville, Ontario. Way to go, Lexi!

If you’re curious, below is Lexi’s winning submission (in its original format to preserve the author’s
authenticity and voice), and judged by a panel at Pandamonium Publishing House:

When I woke up, my palms were sweaty and my right cheek burned with pain. I slowly sat up from the cold, hard ground, my head throbbing and my vision blurring slightly. I bring my hand up to my face, gently touching the cut on my right cheek. The wound wasn’t deep, but it still stung. When my vision came back, I looked around to take in my surroundings. Tall, dark green pine trees surrounded me. They seemed to tower over me, like sky scrapers in a city. Where am I? I thought to myself. That’s when I remembered; I had gone on a walk in the forest to clear my mind. I must’ve tripped and scraped my face on something before passing out. I looked around, and just to my side was a jagged rock that I must’ve hit my face off of. I was busy trying to remember how deep through the forest I was when I heard rustling in the bushes behind me. My stomach dropped as I realized I wasn’t alone in the forest. I whipped around, startled by the sound. But there was no need to be startled, because standing in front of me was a deer, it’s burnt caramel-colored fur almost shimmered because of the cracks of sunlight peeking through the pine trees. The deer’s innocent eyes looked directly into mine, and I realized that something was very wrong. The deer’s bones seemed too visible, like it hadn’t eaten in days. “I need help.” My eyes grew wide as I heard those three words echo in my head. “Did you just-” I paused, unable to even comprehend what just happened. “Us forest animals, we need help. People from your community keep ruining our forest and stealing our food.” The dear lowered it’s head in disappointment and defeat. My heart shattered just looking at the starving deer standing right in front of me, as well as for the other animals suffering with the same problem. It had never occurred to me how much humans could be affecting animals and their environments. “I’m so sorry that this is happening to you. Is there.. anything I could do to help?” I asked. The deer raised its head. “Yes, helping us would be greatly appreciated.” Right afterwards, I immediately tried to do as much as I could to help. I created posters and flyers about how we should stop ruining the animals homes and lives, and instead we should do everything we can to save their habitats and keep them safe in the future. I decided to start a volunteer group to spread awareness for the animals, and we started fundraisers to help them. Weeks later, I was taking a stroll in the same forest when I heard someone talking in my head. “Thank you for everything. We owe you very much.” The deer bowed its head, this time in respect. Before I could say anything, the dear bounded away, deep towards the core of the forest.

Boy, I’m glad that I didn’t have to judge. I’d probably have picked all the submissions. LOL! Seriously though, I loved Lexi’s story and her commitment to nature and the environment. We need more empathetic and kind kids like her who know they will have their hands full cleaning up the mess past generations have created. I’ve also realized through this contest that I need to focus on getting back into the habit of writing at least three to four times a week. I’ve severely slacked off my writing discipline this past year with all the juggling I had to do finding new publishers for all my books. It’s been a roller coaster year for sure!

Now that the craziness of 2025 is behind us, I usually put my books on sale for the entire month of February to celebrate my birthday. However, since the first book in my young adult time travel adventure series is permanently free, I thought I’d showcase The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis ebook in case you haven’t had a chance to download it. Here’s the blurb and an excerpt to whet your reading appetite…

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book One:

Children are the key to our future. And now, they are the only hope for our past.

When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her classmates land themselves in hot water after a cafeteria food fight, they're assigned to yard duty as punishment. After the kids uncover a mysterious stone arch hidden in the overgrown backyard owned by the Witch of White Pines, they learn that it's an ancient portal created by the lost civilization of Atlantis.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus, Amanda and her reluctant companions are swept into the secret world of the Timekeepers: legendary guardians entrusted with preserving history from a sinister force known as Belial. Their first mission? Travel back to 13th-century England to ensure a young Robin Hood fulfills his legendary fate.
But time travel comes with strict rules, and one wrong move could rewrite the past... and erase the future.

Packed with high-stakes adventure and a touch of ancient magic, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS AND THE ARCH OF ATLANTIS is the first book in Sharon Ledwith's series of novels for middle grade readers and adults alike.

Excerpt:

They were almost inside the glowing archway. Its light felt warm and welcoming, like the rising summer sun. Treena stuck her thumbs in the straps of her khaki backpack as if it doubled as a magic parachute. Amanda mimicked Treena and grasped the straps on Jordan’s backpack that she was still wearing. Ravi was the only other person wearing one, so all the rest had nothing to break their fall if that light suddenly cut them loose.

The brilliant, fathomless glow swallowed Amanda, blinding her. Calm and silence overrode her senses. In that moment, two things happened—Amanda sensed that there was no separation between her and the others—as if they were all connected by these tiny threads of light. Second, she started to feel as though she were free falling, moving fast and out of control. She regained her vision, just as the white light exploded into a whirling rainbow.

Drake laughed. “Wicked! This feels like a ride at Disneyland!”

“It feels better than that!” Jordan replied. “I’ve been to Disneyland twice, and there’s no ride that even comes close to this!”

“It’s as if we can fly!” Treena shouted, doing a somersault in mid-air.

“It does feel wonderful, doesn’t it?” Melody said dreamily.

Amanda grabbed both ankles and flipped herself over. She giggled. This freedom, this feeling, this flux was awesome. The huge, spiraling rainbow surrounding the group of seven gently juggled them in mid-air like floating balls in a never-ending lottery game. She glanced over at Jordan’s uncle. His cheeks were sucked in, and his body flopped one way then another like a fish out of water.

“Is your uncle okay, Jordan?” she asked.

Jordan maneuvered over to his uncle by spreading his arms and legs wide as if he were a free-falling parachutist. He grasped his uncle’s shoulder and shook him. “Uncle John? Uncle John! Don’t make me slap you again!”

He reached over, grabbed Jordan, and kissed him on the forehead. “It’s all true, Jordan! It’s all true!”

Jordan squirmed. “What’s true?”

“Time flows through us,” he answered, his voice cracking as if he were a young boy again.

The whirling rainbow burst into shards of light, and they all touched bottom.

It felt soft—like a cushy trampoline—as Amanda, her classmates, Melody, and Professor Lucas bounced easily until they all stood still. Then the ground became solid again. Polished marble walls and finely crafted pillars materialized through the fading light. A sudden high-pitched buzzing noise made her wince. Everyone seemed to hear it too; they cringed in unison. The sound of waves crashing against a shore replaced the buzzing, and a set of deep purple curtains miraculously appeared in front of them. Amanda rubbed her eyes. In the time it took her to take a breath, the curtains were drawn. The brilliant white light that had pulled them into the stone arch now hovered between the open curtains. It started to radiate out, then draw in, out, then in, changing its shape with each rhythmic movement, until it finally transformed into a woman.

The woman was beautiful in an otherworldly way. She had long, fair, flowing hair adorned with quartz crystals. Piercing blue eyes stared back at Amanda like she was peering into her soul. She had a long narrow face with high cheek bones that tapered down to a firm chin. Her nose was long and slender. Amanda smiled at her. The woman smiled back. Her teeth were white, small, and even. She was perfect in every way. A rich-blue sleeveless linen robe adorned her slim body, accentuating her ivory skin.

I wonder if she’s a princess. Amanda didn’t doubt it, especially with all the jewelry the woman wore. A sparkling metallic snake bracelet wound around her left arm, a string of gleaming pearls and shells hung around her neck, and a silver belt strewn with various green, blue, and red gems hugged her waist. The only piece of clothing that didn’t seem to belong was a plain pair of woven sandals.

Melody pushed Drake behind her and took a few steps forward. “I demand that you tell us where we are!”

The beautiful woman gave Melody a gentle smile, and nodded. She opened her arms wide and said, “Welcome to the Temple of Poseidon, in the City of the Golden Gates.”

Melody jerked. “I-I beg your pardon?”

“Atlantis,” Professor Lucas answered in a whisper. “We’re in Atlantis.” 

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK: https://books2read.com/u/4NE2kx

Are you celebrating any milestones this year? Did you change your life around so that it looks unrecognizable from last year? I’d love to read your comments. Cheers, and as always, thank you for spending your time reading my blog! 

Expect the Unexpected this Holiday Season...

We’re now full throttle into the holiday season, and I’d thought I’d share an interview I did with my Canadian publisher, Lacey Bakker, who owns Pandamonium Publishing House, and just celebrated their 10^th Anniversary this past October. Woohoo! Congratulations to Lacey, and all the authors and staff for this amazing accomplishment! This interview was originally done live on Instagram, so below is the transcript. Enjoy…

1) When you started writing Lost and Found, did you immediately know you were going to write a series or did that happen later in your process?

You know, I thought I might be writing a series with the same group of characters, but the original idea took a turn for the better. I wrote Blackflies and Blueberries first, which was inspired by my experience as a tutor for the Muskoka Literacy Council, and a real-life psychometrist who my daughter personally knew. I was going to play off this series (think like Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys). Then, I got a job at the local animal shelter, and everything came together. This was the book that needed to go first in the series, needed to be told, and comes from my heart.

2)  Why did you choose to set multiple stories in the same town, and what makes Fairy Falls special as a backdrop for your stories?

This town is really the attraction of the series, and the glue that connects all the stories. Fairy Falls seems to bring out the latent or dormant psychic abilities in the relocated teen characters of each book. There’s a reason for that, which I explain more in the third installment, Sticks & Stones. Let’s just say that the Druids who founded Fairy Falls in the 1800s had something to do with harnessing the power that lies underneath this quiet tourist town.

My intention for this series is to pass the baton to a new generation who are more plugged in or in tuned with their intuitive and psychic abilities. It’s kind of like ripping the veil away from what’s been there all along.

3)  Animals play a huge role in your first book. How do you capture their personalities so vividly, and are any based on pets or experiences from your own life?

Actually, I based all the animal characters in Lost & Found from my job as an animal care attendant, and searched for any small quirks in their personalities to create the unique furry characters you see in my book. While tending to the animals at the shelter, I found myself wondering what they’d say? How would they act and sound? What did they really think of humans? So, chasing down the animal voices frolicking in my head, I wrote their story.

4)  If you suddenly had a psychic power from one of your characters for a day, which one would
you pick and what would you do first?

Oh, that’s easy! I’d love to communicate with animals like Meagan does. I know it’s an attainable skill if you study under someone who teaches this ability. Maybe one day, I may take the course and see what materializes.

As for what I’d do first? Be of service to a local animal shelter. I’d read as many of the animals’ energies as I could. I’d try to bring some comfort, healing or peace to them, and find out how they came to arrive at the shelter. I’ve seen so many stressed out or fearful animals, it may help to walk in their paws, and see how I can help them adjust to a situation they did not ask for.

5)  Your books feature such distinct characters. Do you start with the story first or the characters, and how do you bring them to life on the page?

Both, actually. The seed idea comes from either an experience – like the animal shelter or being a tutor for literacy – and then the characters arrive, ready to go, and let their story be told. I used to live in cottage country, so I had the perfect backdrop and experiences for the series. I do have a rough idea of the story, and where it’s going, but it is a process, and sometimes those characters can take over and run the show.

Bringing characters to life is actually easy for me. However, put them in with other characters, and you need to make each voice unique and believable. So, I give my characters’ flaws, challenges, and adversities in their day to day lives. These are the traits readers need to connect with, feel their pain, and relate to, or you’ve lost the point of telling a story.

6)  Do you have any unique habits, rituals, or quirky tricks to get into the “zone” when writing your books?

A dram of scotch. Just kidding. I used to light a stick of incense before I sat down to write, but my hubby complained of the smell. LOL! I still do it when I can, and sage my room once a week when I’m in the writing mode. Call me eccentric or call me a witch. Either way, I’m good with that. Calling in any angelic or esoteric help works for me too.

7)  What’s the strangest or most random source of inspiration that ever sparked a scene, character, or book idea?

A dream gave me the idea for the first young adult series I created which I called The Last Timekeepers. However, for Lost & Found, it was a cat we had named Shadow who set the stage for the lunging scene in the book. Trust me, when you need to use welding gloves to transfer a cat from a dirty cage to a clean one, your anxiety level goes ballistic. Another scene that comes to mind is getting revenge on my son’s then-girlfriend by, let’s just say, getting baptized by a murder of crows. It was so satisfying to write!

In Blackflies & Blueberries, the strange dome-like house that the main character’s great aunt lives in, is a source of inspiration because it was a real cottage on the lake where we used to live. Life imitates art, right?    

8)  If someone is curious about starting a series or writing their first novel, what’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you?

That the whole writing process is a journey, not a destination. Cliché, but true. Whether you’re writing a series or a trilogy or a stand-alone novel, be in it for the long haul. Book series could take you well over two decades or more. Trilogies, maybe one decade or more. Even that stand-alone novel could take you years to write, depending on the genre and research needed to fill its pages. Check in with yourself every so often by revamping your writing plans, getting real about what kind of writer you want to be, and how to show up in the world. Remember that slow and steady progress assures success, and to be your authentic self. Always.

If these books piqued your interest or you know of a reader in your life who’d love to dive into this series, and discover Fairy Falls for themselves, please check out the links provided. Welcome to Fairy Falls. Expect the unexpected.

Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mystery Series:

Lost & Found, Book One Buy Links:

PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

Blackflies & Blueberries, Book Two Buy Links:

PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. Cheers, and thanks for reading my blog! You can connect with me, learn about my books, grab some free downloads for a short story, writing tips, or fun family recipes at my website: www.sharonledwith.com

Let Your Summer Reading Begin with a Visit to Fairy Falls…

It’s been eleven years since we moved from our cottage-turned-lake-house to the burbs of a historic southern Ontario town on the Detroit River, yet I can still feel the pull of the former cottage country lifestyle reel me in, especially during the summer months. Why? It wasn’t because of the blackflies! LOL! The truth is I found that life was slower up there in retrospect, and getting to live so close to nature was a privilege and blessing. However, Hubby and I knew the time was ripe to move, and let someone else enjoy the home we built by the lake. So, we sold the old homestead, complete with a westerly view to die for, pulled up our stakes, and moved to a warmer climate to be closer to family, and new opportunities for us.

Do I regret moving? Sometimes. That’s one of the reasons why I created the fictional tourist town of Fairy Falls. It was a place where I could set my teen psychic mystery series, Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls around the beautiful Canadian cottage country landscape that I left behind. By doing this I was able to share my experiences, and expand my imagination through my psychically-gifted characters using the art of storytelling as a means of conveyance. Fairy Falls is now a place where I can visit anytime I choose, without the need of purchasing a can or two of bug spray. Wink.

Setting the series was the easy part. Write what you know, right? So I took in the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, emotions, and feelings of where I used to live, and added the challenges and obstacles of what it would be like for an uprooted teenager possessing a psychic ability to adjust to the day-to-day living in Fairy Falls, then gave them a mystery to solve. Meagan Walsh, the protagonist from Lost and Found tells us what she thinks of Fairy Falls right off the bat: “This town sucks!”, and she goes on to describe it as ‘a small, boring northern tourist town’. If only Meagan knew what life had planned for her in this magical place!

Speaking of magical, if you’d like to pay a visit to Fairy Falls during this summer (or winter if you live in the southern hemisphere), and feed your need to read at the same time, please consider curling up with one of my books. Here’s a glimpse into my cottage country mysteries…

Lost & Found, Book One:

Fairy Falls was bores-ville from the get-go. Then the animals started talking... 

The Fairy Falls Animal Shelter is in trouble. Money trouble. It’s up to an old calico cat named Whiskey—a shelter cat who has mastered the skill of observation—to find a new human pack leader so that their home will be saved. With the help of Nobel, the leader of the shelter dogs, the animals set out to use the ancient skill of telepathy to contact any human who bothers to listen to them. Unfortunately for fifteen-year-old Meagan Walsh, she hears them, loud and clear.

Forced to live with her Aunt Izzy in the safe and quiet town of Fairy Falls, Meagan is caught stealing and is sentenced to do community hours at the animal shelter where her aunt works. Realizing Meagan can hear her, Whiskey realizes that Meagan just might have the pack leader qualities necessary to save the animals. Avoiding Whiskey and the rest of shelter animals becomes impossible for Meagan, so she finally gives in and promises to help them. Meagan, along with her newfound friends, Reid Robertson and Natalie Knight, discover that someone in Fairy Falls is not only out to destroy the shelter, but the animals as well. Can Meagan convince her aunt and co-workers that the animals are in danger? If she fails, then all the animals’ voices will be silenced forever.

Lost & Found Buy Links:

PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀

Blackflies & Blueberries, Book Two:

The only witness left to testify against an unsolved crime in Fairy Falls isn’t a person…

City born and bred, Hart Stewart possesses the gift of psychometry—the psychic ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them. Since his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Hart has endured homelessness, and has learned ways to keep his illiteracy under wraps. He eventually learns of a great-aunt living in Fairy Falls, and decides to leave the only life he’s ever known for an uncertain future.

Diana MacGregor lives in Fairy Falls. Her mother was a victim of a senseless murder. Only Diana’s unanswered questions and her grief keeps her going, until Hart finds her mother’s lost ring and becomes a witness to her murder.

Through Hart’s psychic power, Diana gains hope for justice. Their investigation leads them into the corrupt world threatening Fairy Falls. To secure the town’s future, Hart and Diana must join forces to uncover the shocking truth, or they risk losing the true essence of Fairy Falls forever.

Blackflies & Blueberries Buy Links:

PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON ׀

Coming Soon through Pandamonium Publishing House:

Sticks & Stones, Book Three:

The healing needs to leave the circle for all to be whole.

Fourteen-year-old Thane Berg never asked to move to Fairy Falls—or to live with the father he barely knows. But when he starts manifesting strange powers—bending tools, levitating rocks, and moving objects with his mind—his world turns upside down. His psychic ability, psychokinesis, grows stronger and harder to control with every emotional spike. As if navigating a new school and a strained relationship with his gay father weren’t challenging enough, Thane must also keep his powers hidden while grappling with secrets from the past.

With the help of an eccentric neighbor, Thane begins to understand his paranormal gift. A mysterious book—tied to an ancient Druid and discovered in the school library—may hold the key to his powers. But things take a darker turn when he and three new friends stumble upon an illegal marijuana grow-op on his grandfather’s rural property. The operation is poisoning the land—and something far older and more magical than anyone suspects.

Now, Thane must harness his unstable abilities to protect his friends, heal the damage done to the forest, and preserve the mystical legacy of Fairy Falls. If he fails, he risks losing everything—and everyone—he’s come to care about.

There you have it! Great summer (or winter) reading material at your fingertips. Have you ever visited a small town while on vacation and felt at home there for some reason? If you could choose a psychic ability, what would be your choice? I’d love to read your comments. Cheers, and as always, thank you for spending your time reading my blog!

Authors: Just Keep Showing Up…

I’m the type a person who, once I commit to something, I’m all in. Especially if my heart has anything to say about it. Let’s talk writing for instance. At the beginning of 2025, I was faced with a dilemma. My publisher was closing at the end of the year, and I had to take action if I wanted my books to continue to show up in the world. So, I queried (not fun, but a necessary task) a couple of publishers based on referrals from my author friends. Within a month, I signed on with two publishers! The first publisher, Pandamonium Publishing House for my teen psychic mystery series, Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls (read more about that news HERE), and the second publisher, Next Chapter for The Last Timekeepers young adult time travel adventures. Once I signed both contracts, the stress literally rolled off my shoulders. Woohoo!

That said, I know I’m in it for the long haul. As mentioned, I’ve got two young adult book series on the go—four done in the time travel series, and three completed in the teen psychic tales. What you don’t know is that I’ve got nine more to write in total. Stating this fact shows I know it’s going to take years before each series is completed. Honestly, what was I thinking?

Keep in mind I’ve had to learn that patience is my friend, not foe. I removed myself from the hustle culture a few years ago, and feel much calmer, more focused, and less stressed. If you’re familiar with the Tarot cards, there’s one particular card that I visualize in my mind to help me keep showing up. It’s the seven of wands, and the energy this card carries is one of valor, of holding firm, and of having the advantage in spite of the stiff competition facing you. I’ve embodied this card’s meaning many times throughout my author and personal life. To have the courage to work through adversity and all sorts of pressure. It’s determination, perseverance, and a sense of purpose wrapped up in a gift with a bow. This card reminds me not to give up the struggle, and that if I make the effort, I will achieve victory.

As writers, sometimes obstacles are placed in our path (like losing your publisher) just to enhance our ability to use our skills and wisdom wisely. Take the amount of times a writer has been rejected, and you get the gist. It’s a test for us to see if we can truly handle what we believe we can accomplish. To keep showing up is a testament to your dreams and goals. I mean, why did you come to the earth plane anyway? You showed up here for a reason. Figure out what that reason is, and make things happen in your life.

Sometimes just showing up means carving out that fifteen minutes a day to write your story or even a blog post. Do up a few ad blurbs for the books you’ve already written and published, and do some marketing. Back lists sell new books, right? Plot and plan that next novel. Meet with other writers and network or brainstorm. Reach out to your local bookstore, and see if they’ve got any author events planned. Jump in with both feet, and share your reading wares with the local libraries or schools. Donate copies of books to charities like Ronald McDonald House Charities to enhance their libraries and raise spirits. Be courageous and brave, like the figure on the seven of wands, who takes the bull by the horns, and soldiers on.

In this writing business, it’s easy to feel daunted, to retreat, to feel overwhelmed, and not know what the next chapter of your life will bring. I have at times too. Just take a breath, step back from the action periodically, reassess your plans and goals, then take back your place, and know you have the advantage even if you don’t realize it. Because, trust me, you do.

How about you? Have you ever let the competition get to you? Let me know if you’ve ever felt at a disadvantage in your writing life. Do you cut your losses and withdraw from your dreams and goals? Would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you! 

A New Publisher, A Rebrand, and Another Chance to Reach Readers…

If you’ve been following my blog or my social media accounts, you may know that I’ve got to the end of this year (2025) to find another publisher who would be willing to breathe new life into my back list, and publish future books. I gave myself the grace to be sad when I heard the news that my present publisher will no longer be excepting submissions, and will pare down their promotion and marketing by the end of 2025. Authors need growth. We also need challenges. So, I decided to shake up my author life, and start the query process early so my books can have another chance to reach new readers, and hopefully keep the ones I’ve got.

The thought of querying again—after being with my current publisher for ten years—made my teeth itch and body convulse. Augh. But, like anything, it takes some gumption and a good deal of action to make things happen in your life. I knew I had a slight advantage being in the publishing game for a while, so I reached out to a few of my author friends to see who they were published with, and if I could use their name when submitting my query. Since it’s a small world in this business, I got the green light from friend Regan W.H. Macaulay, and submitted my Canadian book series to Pandamonium Publishing House based in Ontario, Canada. I made the decision to split up my two series, The Last Timekeepers young adult time travel adventures, and Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls teen psychic mysteries because I’ve learned the hard way that you don’t put all your eggs (your books) in one basket (same publisher) in case they close or go bankrupt. This happens far more often than you know, so authors are left scrambling to find another publisher.

This is where miracles happen. Not a day went by when Pandamonium Publishing House emailed me back to schedule a Zoom meeting with me, and talk about the possibility of signing with them. The meeting lasted over an hour, and needless to say, they were ready to sign me to publish my two existing books from Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls: Lost and Found, and Blackflies and Blueberries. Woohoo! They’ll also take on future project in this series of five, so it’s nice to find a wonderful home for these books. My two Fairy Falls books should be republished by the end of May, and I couldn’t be happier finding a new home for them.

 If you’re in the process of searching for a new publisher, make sure that you look for a different
experience than the one you’ve had with your previous publisher. There’s a reason why they closed their doors. Do your due diligence, and see what other publishers offer to republish your back list, and take on new submissions. For instance, ask if they add extra bonuses at the back of your book, like reading guides for teachers or discussions for book clubs. Will they develop and execute a promotional campaign, including social media outreach, collaborations, and cross-promotions? What about coordinate tours, author interviews, and book signing events? Do they create and distribute promotional materials such as graphics, press releases, and excerpts? Lots to think about before choosing the right publisher to re-release your book babies. Right?  

That said, it’s been a strange and stressful start to this year with personal and family challenges to deal with, scheduling an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon for my knee replacement (looks like August or September), and allowing myself to grieve a tragic loss. I look forward to a new author life with a new publisher, and hopefully connecting with new readers. If you’re an author, has this circumstance ever happen to you? If you’re a reader, do you follow your favorite authors to their new publishing homes? Would love to read your comments. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!

Book Spotlight: Peter Little Wing by Canadian Children's Author Regan W. H. Macaulay...

I recently released my first ever middle-grade novel. I’m so incredibly excited and proud...it was about 20 years in the making.

I wrote Peter Little Wing (book one of an upcoming series of four novels for readers 8 and up) shortly after my first visit to Aotearoa New Zealand. I went there as a pre-wedding honeymoon with my then fiancé, now husband, Kevin. To say this place was inspiring—the gorgeous landscape that one can only attempt to capture in photographs and video, the wildly fascinating creatures (mostly birds!), and warm, friendly people (who often call themselves kiwi—after their national icon, the kiwi bird)—it had my imagination bursting with possibilities. The characters came first, and their locations: the New Zealand National Aquarium in Napier, Hawke’s Bay’s art deco town, and the facility next door called Marineland (which I called Marine Rescue in the book). These were to be critters from captivity, but their quest would see them stranded in the wilderness, that much I knew. 

I crafted a story of adventure—a quest to save the grandfather of a kiwi named Peter, but I also infused the book with truths about a real place. And the characters were all real and very unique animals, often endemic to New Zealand. I want readers to find out about this wonderful place and the creatures who inhabit it, while they’re whisked away on a journey that these uncommon and endangered creatures take—an adventure not dissimilar to the one Kevin and I embarked on all the way back in November of 2003.

And so, it came to be that a story about Peter, a captive Southern Fiordland tokoeka kiwi, and his friends from the National Aquarium and Marine Rescue—Onion, a little blue penguin with an inner-ear imbalance; Tim, a tuatara with Generalized Anxiety Disorder; and Rangi, a kea with clipped wings—and their quest through the unfamiliar wilderness of New Zealand in search of three ingredients needed to create an elixir to cure Peter’s ailing grandfather, Nandy Enzo, flowed out onto my laptop screen. After years of rewrites, submissions, notes from editors, publishers, and beta readers, more revisions, and lots more rejections, I found a home for Peter Little Wing, and the book is out in the wild!

Together, this unusually diverse group of friends traverse the length of the South Island of Aotearoa, all the way across the Cook Strait and back home to the North Island. They learn what they are all capable of in the wild of the wop wops, and what the world beyond the "Walls of Shadows" of Peter’s habitat is all about. And I finally had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs—the digressions, and the main but multiple paths—of taking a book from inspiration through to publication, and now beyond.

Allow me to share a bit of the story with you now…specifically, the second half of Chapter 1. It should give you an idea of where the story goes from there. 

An excerpt from the second half of Chapter 1:

"We can't expect much help from the humans. They just don't know what's wrong—" Nandy Enzo sneezed and a shiver like ice ran along Peter's spine. Nandy's brown, wilting feathers swelled, then fell again as he heaved a sigh.

Peter swayed on the spot. He opened his beak as he searched his mind for words. Nothing came out.

"I'm just a bit knackered is all, don't fret. Come back later and we will sing some stories..." And his grandfather was asleep.

Peter turned and climbed out of the burrow, his cheeks burning and his insides churning. As he breached the den hole,

Peter was met by the rest of his kiwi family. They circled around and watched him closely. He explored the expressions on their faces—their collective gaze was heavy.

Peter opened his beak. "I...I didn't know what to say to him."

Bess rushed up and put her neck around his in an embrace. "You didn't have to say anything." Her voice shook.

Peter pulled away. "I should have said something while he was still awake."

"It's all right, Peter." Uncle Lloyd took a step towards him. Peter did not find his uncle's hesitant tone reassuring.

"I thought I could be braver than all our kiwi ancestors from Nandy's stories." Worry ate at the edges of Peter's skin. "When it really mattered, I couldn't say anything." Shame drizzled from the top of his head to the tips of his toes like an electric sweat.

"Hmph!" Ms. Elsa sniffed, interrupting whatever reply Bess might have given. "I doubt the humans' foul medicines jammed into the side of his beak or injected into his thigh, or anything fancy like that will cure Enzo. No, no! It didn't work for Louis, so it won't work miracles now."

Peter bristled upon Ms. Elsa's mention of his father. "But there must be something we can do." Peter held back a glare as an anxious pick stabbed at his heart.

"Us? A heap of captive kiwi? I suppose a young upstart like you will succeed where even our human caretakers have failed. Ha!" Ms. Elsa snorted, dislodging a bit of dirt from her nostril, sending it through the air towards the burrow. It landed neatly along the top rim of the entranceway.

Peter couldn't help but peek at it with a sideways glance. Normally, he would have to stifle a chortle, but this time the mood felt too somber. "But you just said their human medicines aren't going to work!" Heat inflamed Peter's face. He struggled to keep his voice even.

"The boy's right, on that count." Ms. Elsa was apparently oblivious to her dirt-booger projectile. "The humans are ignorant. We're going to have to figure out a way to tell them what Nandy Enzo requires."

"How in the name of Nature are you going to do that?" Lloyd's voice rose with every word he spoke. "You going to walk up to a human when they come in to do maintenance and just natter at them? Think they'll know what you're on about?"

"What do you suggest?" Ms. Elsa puffed out her aging feathers. They vibrated with hostility.

"It's just silly is all. I don't have any idea what we should do."

Aunt Myrtle joined in, a hint of sarcasm tainting her voice. "That's very useful." She then turned her attention to the fussing and grooming of Uncle Lloyd's feathers, despite his protests.

Peter sighed loudly. "Do you know what he needs?" There was a significant pause while Peter waited. "What would you tell the humans to do, if you could?"

Ms. Elsa cocked her head. She scratched at the ground with two of her toes, making circular patterns in the earth, while Peter's patience grew thinner. Then she hummed a tune. Peter thought he might have recognized it. Had he heard this tune while inside his egg? Did Nandy Enzo used to sing him to sleep this way? Ms. Elsa snapped her head back up, and her beak wagged. "It's a matter of ingredients."

"What ingredients?" Peter took a quick step forward.

"That's the difficult part. The song is from the time of our ancestors from the wop wops. It's been going
round and round in my head for days, now. It must have the answers we need! But none of you have ever seen or smelled the items mentioned in this song. You were all born in captivity. I haven't likely, either. So, I do not know the names for these ingredients, boy."

Peter's gizzard rose at Ms. Elsa's mention of never having smelled or seen items from the wild. Peter's secret surfaced in his mind, but his heart sank. "What good is that to us, then?"

"Now, now, boy, try to be patient! Patience is a virtue every winged creature on the islands should have in abundance. Patience and caution. Caution and precaution. Precaution and prudence and vigilance. Constant vigilance!"

Peter felt his eyes roll and quickly stared back at the ground. He lifted his face to Ms. Elsa again. "Is there anything you can tell us about the ingredients? Any clues?"

"Yes, yes, of course, boy! Now, let me see...it's a rhyme in three verses. We've all heard it. Haven't the foggiest what it means, but I'm sure it's important:"

Remember kiwi, when under the weather,
Take this mixture in perfect measure:
Meal from the dust of the oily wood tree, Gold-banded stabber-folk make remedy
Bid farewell to the germs on your insides,
Say goodbye to the bugs on your outsides.

Peter was dumbfounded by the sing-song lullaby.

Suddenly, Bess chimed in. "Yes, I've heard this! You used to sing it to me, Mum." She nuzzled against Aunt Myrtle's side and proceeded to sing the second verse.

Add the muscle of this animal chest,
With colours bright as sunset in the west. Grind its stone armour and extract you'll find, And salt from the ocean for gizzard to grind. With vitamins, you'll be rejuvenated,
From lethargy, you'll be liberated.

Aunt Myrtle picked up the tune:

Gather the petals of the crimson bloom, Collect its dust 'fore the stabber-folk consume. Petals like star bursts stem the bleeding,

Fine powder dust gives pain no feeling. Stir and warm each item overnight,

And then you will find that all is put right. "And that's all."

"That's more like a riddle than a nursery rhyme," Peter muttered. Might as well just retell old history tales to Nandy and see if that does him any good. "How is anyone supposed to figure that out?"

"Don't be a hard case, boy. You've far too much bitterroot in your blood for such a young one." Ms. Elsa snorted.

"But the humans won't recognize these ingredients." Bess glanced at Peter with a glint in her eye that told him arguing would do no good. "Humans aren't in touch with The Deep Understanding. They've drifted away from it."

"Oh, she's right," said Uncle Lloyd after a prolonged but not unusual absence from the conversation. "They never see what's right in front of them."

"I'm not sure we'd do better. How would we recognize anything outside of our habitat?" When Bess glanced at Peter again, he thought of his adventures she was helping him keep secret. A song he often heard playing throughout the Aquarium during the nights of his escapes jumped to mind.

Hit the trail, down an old dirt road.

"That's just fine. I've always said it's too dangerous out there, anyway. Best to stay in here where we belong." Ms. Elsa's eyes flashed over Peter. He felt a sting in her stare. Did she know about his nighttime escapes?

"Look now, how does any of this help my Da? We can't just let him cark it..." Lloyd's voice trailed off.

The rest of the family continued to squawk on about the terrors of the world outside and all the fearful things they'd find if they were out among the non-captive creatures of the wop wops— the ingredients Nandy Enzo required surely being just as dangerous in some unknown way.

Peter stalked off, allowing the dilemma to sink in without the pressure of the family. He knew that there was no way to communicate these needs to the staff at the Aquarium. Even if they could, the humans wouldn't make any sense out of these clues. They were only human beings, after all. An idea gnawed at him, returning him to his memories as a chick.

***

"I should like to go outside on a real adventure to the wop wops—out into the middle of nowhere." Young Peter quickly suppressed a yawn.

"Perhaps someday you shall, Peter Little Wing," replied Nandy Enzo. "But remember this—captivity is not a bad place. Inside can be good in some ways and bad in others, but so can the wop wops. Whether you are captive or wild, always listen to the voice inside you with an unfettered heart. It will tell you what you need to know with a clarity that Ms. Elsa's tall tales never will!"

Peter watched his Nandy Enzo chortle and sigh between drooping eyelids. Nandy pushed in more warm feathers and twigs around him, then he whispered to Peter one last time before sleep sped him away to the land of dreams.

"Ah, little one. If only your parents had lived to see what a brave and intelligent kiwi you are growing up to be."

***
...Shoved off, the song continued to play in Peter's mind…on my own.

l have to unriddle the riddles. l'll go into the wop wops and

find the ingredients. But l won't go alone. 

Get your copy of Peter Little Wing directly from my website (especially if you want a signed copy!): https://www.reganwhmacaulay.com/peter-little-wing.html

…from Pandamonium Publishing House: https://pandamoniumpublishing.com/product/peter-little-wing-pre-order-for-february-6-2023/

 …and anywhere online, including Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Little-Wing-Regan-Macaulay/dp/1989506658/ref=sr_1_1?crid=380CJPPZKLGM5&keywords=Peter+Little+Wing+by+Regan+W.+H.+Macaulay&qid=1674148126&sprefix=peter+little+wing+by+regan+w.+h.+macaulay%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-1

Regan W. H. Macaulay is a multi-award-winning author of novels, short stories, children's literature, and scripts.

Writing is her passion, but she's also a producer and director of theatre, film, and television (Triple Take Productions). She is an animal enthusiast as well, which led her to become a Certified Canine and Feline Massage Therapist (Kuri K9 Massage).

As an author, Regan spins fun-filled tales with whimsical characters that charm and delight readers. Her carefully crafted narratives, filled with enchanting characters, offer new vocabulary and gentle wisdom.

Each adventure portrays unique animal characters and weaves in teachable moments.

Regan hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she lives with her husband, Kevin, Chihuahua Raxl, Siamese cat Jacobi (Jack), and an assortment of amphibians and fish. 

Her award-winning picture books include Mixter Twizzle’s Breakfast, Beverlee Beaz the Brown Burmese (and Beverlee la chatte de Birmanie), Sloth the Lazy Dragon, and Libby the Lobivia Jajoiana (all from Mirror World Publishing), Merry Myrrh the Christmas Bat, Tamara Turtle’s Life So Far, and Chloe the Unfeathered Parrot (Pandamonium Publishing House), and Dog Band (Iguana Books).

She also writes books and short stories for adult readers, including her Trilogy of Horrifically Half-baked Ham: Space Zombies! (based on the feature film Space Zombies: 13 Months of Brain-Spinning Mayhem! available on DVD and Amazon Prime), They Suck, and Horror at Terror Creek.

Find Regan:

Website: https://www.reganwhmacaulay.com/  

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