Author Archives: Tiffany Turner

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About Tiffany Turner

I am a teacher by day, writer during the evening and weekends. I've written a children's fantasy series called the Crystal Keeper Chronicles. I've learned a lot as an Independent author. I want to share that now through blog posts, interviewing fellow authors, and reviewing other children's books. If you don't see it out there, build the blog yourself. I'm hoping to create a resource for people to find quality children's books that don't always fall along the lines of mainstream.
Jan2

Interview with Charles Markee

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Author Charles Markee

To start off the year, I’ve had the chance to interview the author of the book, Otherworld Tales: Irish the Demon Slayer, Charles Markee. He is a great inspiration if you’re interested in Celtic lore. His story weaves the imagination with traditional Irish legends such as the Tuatha de Danann and Cuchulain. So, enjoy a peek into the world that Charles created and how he got there.

1) Your book includes a lot of Celtic lore and fairy tales. Why did you
choose to use them as a starting point?

My initial starting point was autobiographical. As a pre-teen, I spent summers in a cabin my grandfather built circa 1921 in San Geronimo, a rural community in Marin County, California. My two best friends and I rode bikes and explored the hills, forests and creeks. We had adventures just like the three characters in my book.

In the first two chapters, the boys seek help from an old woman the boys believe is a witch. For her Irish accent, I remembered a 1960s broadcast of an interview with the Irish poet, Ella Young, in which she described communicating with trees, animals and even rocks. I love the outdoors, so it seemed natural for talking trees to become a significant character in my book.

That Irish theme struck a familiar chord. My mother was 100% Irish, we lived in an Irish Catholic neighborhood of San Francisco and I attended a high school with primarily Irish and Italian kids. The school motto was and still is today, the ‘Fightin’ Irish.’

I had grown up surrounded by this Irish population. Curious about my heritage, I spent two years studying Celtic mythology. Most of my research uncovered tales of leprechauns and fairies, not what I wanted. Finally, I discovered a treatise titled, Cuchulain of Muirthemne, by Lady Augusta Gregory, a peer and friend of Yeats. I poured thorough this exhaustively and incorporated many tales of the great Irish hero, Cuchulain, as updated adventures for the boys and one girl in my book.

2) Have you ever been to Ireland?

Funny that you should ask. Half way through the second or third draft, my wife told me that I couldn’t very well write a story about Ireland without going there, so we did. After a few days in Dublin, we rented a car and got completely lost looking for Tara, but eventually found it. It’s a mystical place, the presumed location of the ancient castle of the king of kings. I made it the location of Queen Aine’s castle in my story. We then took a train to Belfast in Ulster and traveled through the countryside where Cuchulain fought his battles. I stood at the window most of the trip taking photos of the landscape. Later I bought contour maps of the area so I could accurately describe those places that the boys visited in their search for Irish’s sister.

3) Are there other adventures planned for Irish and his friends?

Several readers have asked for a sequel and I’m about half way through a first draft. My target release date is the summer of 2012. This time the boys discover another part of the Otherworld that exists inside Mt. Shasta in California. You can download the first chapter here: http://www.charlesmarkee.com/html/irish2.html

4) What inspires you to write?

Everything inspires me to write, especially talking to other writers. People I meet become my characters. Places I see become the environment in the story. Events I witness become portions of the plot. I’m always writing even when I’m not writing. Finally, I confess that I love the god-like ego-trip of creating a fictitious world filled with my characters who take on an existence of their own.

5) What advice would you give young writers?

Read voraciously, especially in the genre you want to write in. Get to know your target audience. Join and participate with your local community of writers. Join or form a critique group. It’ll keep you sane. And above all, keep writing.

6) In one sentence, how would you describe writing?

For me, writing is the process of producing a dream state in readers’ minds that will take them into the world I have created.

7) In closing, what other books are in the works? Events or
appearances for 2012?

In addition to the sequel about Irish and his friends mentioned above, I have a completed manuscript sitting on the shelf. It’s the story based on true events about a Hispanic girl who discovers her best friend is dying of a kidney disease and her parents refuse to allow medical intervention. It’s a story that needs to be told, but my 72 rejects tell me that it won’t succeed with traditional publishers. You can download the first chapter here: http://www.charlesmarkee.com/html/maria_summary.html

A short story titled ‘Hills like Brown Camels,’ a parody on Hemingway’s ‘Hills like White Elephants’ is published in a 2011 anthology, ‘The Sound of a Thousand Leaves.’

Available from Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Voices-Sound-Thousand-Leaves/dp/1463740220/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325276789&sr=1-1

I’m working on another short story for the 2012 anthology. It is titled ‘The Bear’ and it’s based on an event in the life of my father-in-law who was a bear guide in the Shasta/Siskiyou County mountains for 30 years.

As the coordinator for the North Bay Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), I plan, provide speakers and host quarterly meetings in the Santa Rosa area for children’s book writers.

***Charles Markee is the author of Otherworld Tales: Irish the Demon Slayer. Link to the book review here. His website is located at www.charlesmarkee.com.

Dec31

#SampleSunday Jan. 1, 2012 Sneak Peek Into Dragonfire

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I’ve been busy writing the third book in my Crystal Keeper Chronicles, The Lost Secret of Dragonfire. Here is a sneak peek into my current draft. The last look was in May 2011. Wanda had her little brother break her crystal pendant. So, she was off to visit master miners and makers of crystal pendants, the dwarves.

A Look Into the third book of the Crystal Chronicles: The Lost Secret of Dragonfire:

There was a sudden flare of light. Then, I saw standing in front of us, a shaggy man as tall as me. He had a long, brown beard, a bulbous nose, and beady brown eyes. His eyebrows were beyond bushy, and he held a torch flooding the corridor with enough light to make the crystals glint in all directions. His cloths looked like a peasants drawing from one of my fairy tale books. You know, long following sleeves, vest, drawstring at the collar, and brown baggy pants. But the most distinguishing thing was his hands. They were large and beefy. It made him look out of proportion. I saw the glint of boots under the cuff of his trouser.

“Welcome to the City of the Dwarves. For a human child, to be this close, you must be a Crystal Keeper and on fairy business. I’m Clarkson. The Watch for the Western Edge of the Dwarf Capital. Be what business ye on?”

I cleared my thought and stood up a bit. I tried to sound official by saying, “I am a Crystal Keeper of the Western Realms of Fairy. You are right. I have come on fairy business. I be named Wanda.” Flashbacks of the visit to the Renaisance Fair came flooding back to me. I pointed down at Brewford. “This is my cat sorcerer and assistant, Brewford.”

And instructor, guide, and general reference for advice. Brewford nodded. His head voice was filled with cat dignity.

“What is it that you wish of the Dwarf Kingdom?” The dwarf folded his arms. “It is my job to find the best resource to guide ye.”

I couldn’t continue with the Faire language. I was going to have to switch to normal talk. “Well, Clarkson, my little brother totally broke my crystal. I need a new one. My unicorn guide said this was the best place to come.”

He answered with a gruff affirmative that ended in a grin. “Good to switch into the informal language. I was never good at it in school, you see. Your unicorn was right. We supply the Fairy World with most of their crystals for Keepers, healing, building, and pretty much anything else that could be needed. If a dwarf knows anything, it’s crystals, stones and the earth. It is our speciality. If you need it, we can mine it.” He gave me a wink and motioned to follow. “I think the Dwarf King would be interested in hearing your problem. Maybe you can help us with ours.”

We did notice a magical imbalance in the paths on the way here Dwarf Clarkson. Brewford had taken the lead in front of me. He slipped right next to the dwarf. If I’m not mistaken, the energy flow is being interrupted. Have you found the source?

“That is the problem Cat Sorcerer. We can’t find the interruption point. If we knew where it was, we could fix the imbalance. It’s as if someone has found a way to divert power from the paths, and it’s starting to affect the roots. We need to find it, or the fairy paths themselves will start to collapse. The Fairy World would be divided permanently from the Real World. The imbalance could destroy both worlds.”

There was a tisk, tisk from Brewford. It is more serious than I thought. You’re right in taking us to the Dwarf King. I’m going to need to ask some questions as well.

This sounded like some kind of Fairy Armageddon. I had to get this straight. “Do you mean, the Fairy Paths would collapse? Be destroyed? How would the fairies travel and communicate?”

It’s worse than that Wanda. Brewford’s head voice actually held a note of concern. The fairy paths connect the World of Fairy, but it is also the conduit for all of the Fairy Magic. Without the Fairy Paths functioning correctly, Fairy World magic will be cut off or worse, fade from the World of Fairy.

“And the World of Fairy,…” I left it hanging in the air as it started to settle into my mind.

“…would die.” Brewford’s words were more chilling than the air around me.

Oh boy. Not good. I hope we could find this Dwarf King fast. I was right that I felt a need to go quickly.

We arrived at the corridor end. It opened up to the glow at the end of the tunnel, and I couldn’t speak. We were in a cavern, the largest crystal cave I had ever seen. The walls were lined with crystals and structures of crystal, stone, and rock. It was beyond cave dwelling and cave man like. It was a catacomb of crystals and caves.

In and out of different level openings, dwarves moved in and out. Some had beards. Some had long walking sticks, carts, baskets, and even small mules. The rush of industry was about this place, and dwarves were everywhere.

“Welcome to Geldenar”, said Clarkson. He waved his hand about and grew with a big smile. “I can tell this is your first visit to the Dwarf Nation. Your eyes are huge. Glad that you seem impressed.”

Look for other sneak peeks and release information for The Lost Secret of Dragonfire through this blog.

**The Crystal Keeper Chronicles are available on Amazon.com as paperback or Kindle editions.
Also available on Smashwords.com.

Dec31

What Is Success? Looking At What Makes Your Book Important

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The end of the year, you always look back. What I seem to be looking back on is the success I’ve had as an Indie Children’s author. Really pondering, if I had any success at all.

Then, I downloaded an ebook to help with that ever elusive book marketing that all authors are faced with. Again, I think of the choices I made choosing a drama degree instead of marketing which would have fed my love of promotions back in college. I smile about this as I turn back to the ebook. After all, I didn’t find out about this fact until my senior year. Who would change majors then? I get back to the book.

Advanced Book Marketing by E.J. Thornton states an idea. I was considering the answer to being successful as an author. Was I successful? When I read it, I felt the “Ah Ha” moment take hold. At the 9% point in the book, noting of course it’s an ebook, is this quote:
“The third and most important objective of a book is getting it read by someone other than your mother!”

Really, it goes on to state how important it is. In fact, it is the single most important reason why someone writes, that someone, a magical reader that might like and enjoy it, will read your story, book, article, manifesto. And I agree. It is the most important reason in the end. Not that an editor reads and buys it or that you self-publish it, but that you’ve gotten it to the masses of readers out there to read. If you write it and publish it, it will get read.

This brings me to the point of what is success? In terms of being a writer, it must be that someone reads your book. So, if this be true, than anyway that you can get people to read your writing makes it a success. Whether you self-publish, get signed by a small or micropublisher, or even one of the Big 6 publishers, your book will get read. But then, it comes down to numbers. You want a grand, large, mammoth, sizable, humongous, gargantuan amount of people to read your book.

So, then one must reflect, am I successful?

Step one: Yes, you are successful if you have published and people are reading your book. It’s out there, no longer on your shelf collecting dust, or waiting for months in a slush pile at the bottom of an editorial assistant’s desk. Good start.

Step Two: Do you have an internet presence? Website, blog, listings at multiple websites? Interviews on blogs, book reviews, and even the very occasional email or message from an actual reader(of course being the cause for great celebration when ever you get one) all spell success.

Step Three: How great is your success? The measurement of how grand all this is depends on what you want to do with your writing. Of course, having it recommended by the Oprah Book Club might be considered more successful than an interview on a Mom Book Club blog. But, a mention is a mention. Word of mouth is key. The internet is a big mouth. Cram it full of things spoken about your book and soon, hopefully, it won’t shut up.

Did I make it? Am I successful? I answer loudly for the world, yes. 2011 has been an up and down year of success for me. I’ve done interviews, got a few more reviews, sold some books, and participated in a book festival. This all measures as something to promote myself and my books. It’s out there. People are reading it. Oh yes, books. I have two now.

As I look towards the next year, it is filled with the promise of getting my third book out there for others to read. Key to this thought, I have a third book I’m working on. This leads to my overall thought that drives me to keep going, keep writing. Nothing will happen if you don’t do that.

And who knows? With a New Year ready to break forward, anything could happen. But mostly, I’ll keep writing. After all, I have readers waiting for a third book. I don’t want to disappoint them. And that’s the greatest measure of success. I’ve got readers.

Dec29

Caterpillars Don’t Check Email-A Cutting Edge Epicture Book

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Caterpillars Don't Check Email by Calee M. Lee

Looking for a way to charm the little one over and over? Take a look into this new Epicture Book. Caterpillars Don’t Check Email captures the imagination. It propels you into the world of a caterpillar and a little girl, and what a caterpillar really wants.

A little girl and caterpillar meet. What do they want? Definitely not email, coffee, or a carrot. This picture book leads you to the realm of possibilities, and leaves you with a message you’ll want to share on your Iphone again and again.

The illustrations are photos of the girl and caterpillar on their adventure. The photos capture some classic moments as she tries to please the caterpillar. Attempt after attempt fail. After much trial and error, the girl discovers the final truth of what a caterpillar really wants. You’ll discover the secret too if you read this lovable tale of fascination with nature.

**** 4 Star Rating
Available on Amazon.com

Dec25

#SampleSunday Dec. 25, 2011 “Is Santa Claus Real?”

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I have been working on a short story/picture book for the last few years. This summer, I entered one of the working drafts in a writing contest. Out of 700 entries, I was a shortlisted winner! Here is the draft I entered below. For editors, yes, I am shopping for a publisher. I still think it can be fine tuned to make it a great picture book.

I present to you now, the winning entry draft of:
Is Santa Claus Real?

“Is Santa Claus real?” asked my best friend Jake. We were both on the playground. Recess had run a bit late. Others started to surround us as we sat on the slide. Christmas was coming, and we just couldn’t wait.

Jake had a gleam in his eye as he looked at me. “Well, what do you think?”

I thought for a moment, this was a good debate. “I don’t know if he’s pretend?” I scratched my head just then. It seemed I created a pause that was filled by more outbursts from others around us.

Our partner in crime since Kindergarten came up to see. “Could it be true?” asked Jean. She looked a bit worried as she leaned in to me.

“Is he a fake?” piped in her little sister, Christine, who always tagged along in everything.

“Santa’s for Real!” insisted a kid jumping down. “No mistake. He brought me a stuffed seal.”

“I got an iPod. It’s what I asked for,” agreed Jean. “He’s got to be real.”

But Jake wouldn’t give in. He was onto something he seemed to believe. He interrupted loudly, “We don’t really see him except on T.V. Between all of you, that sounds fishy to me.”

I jumped into the debate helping Jake’s side. “What about the mall? There are too many Santas all dressed up all through town. They all can’t be him.”

“Unless it’s magic,” said little Christine. Her eyes were round and she smiled at her revelation.

A girl named Doris said with some hope. “What about the reindeer?”

“Don’t see them either,” said Jake.

“We can’t give up hope,” said Jean, holding little Christine’s hand. “Santa is real.”

The bell rang just then. We walked to line with a bit of regret. The debate about Santa hadn’t been settled yet. So, we decided to ask our teacher.

Pointing at me Jake said fast, “You can ask Mrs. Thompson, cause’ your the teacher’s pet.”

We hustled into our Third Grade class. I raised my hand and asked my teacher before class began. “Is Santa Claus real?”

She answered with a plea,”I can’t say a thing. I’m sworn to secrecy. Now, let’s get back to work. You want to be good, don’t you?”

All of us nodded. I wasn’t sure if she knew how the secret worked. To be safe, I got right to work.

I would think a teacher had connections to know every answer. But, a secret was a secret. I knew she wouldn’t budge. But I wanted to know the answer, even if there never was.

At home I asked Mom, Dad, Aunt Fran and Uncle Tim. Every time I asked one of them they gave me a big smile and said, “We’re not talking about him.”

That night, I lay awake in bed thinking. There had to be a way to get to the truth.

Was Santa for real down to his black boots? I climbed out of bed. I sneaked downstairs and out the back door. In my backyard, I gazed at the sky trying to find north. You can guess why.

If Santa had magic I figured he’d see my quest for the answer for curious kids like me.

I shouted:
“Hey you, Santa!
Do you really exist?
Please give me a sign
And keep me on your list.”

Suddenly, I grew tired. I tried to lie down. Before I closed my eyes,

I heard a jingling sound. I awoke in my room not sure what had gone on.

I felt a note in my hand, and sat up in my bed.

Quickly I looked, and this is what it said:
“Listen carefully, all children
If you want to believe
Look up at the sky
On all Christmas Eves.
You may not see Santa
Or his reindeer, or sleigh,
But believe he exists
And he’ll never go away.”

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!
-Tiffany Turner.

Crystal ClusterTiffany Turner is the author of the Crystal Keeper Chronicles. Her books can be found at Amazon.com.

Dec20

An Otherworldly Adventure for the Young at Heart

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Otherworld Tales: Irish the Demon Slayer by C.T. Markee

You’re an average kid hanging out with your friends. Then, weird things start to happen. Boulders try to run you over. The trees start to talk to you. Then, you’re cornered by a lady that seems like a witch from a fairy tale. Could it be real?

Otherworld Tales: Irish the Demon Slayer by Charles Markee starts out like any other day. Riding bikes on trails near their houses, a group of boys race their BMX bikes. Pete, nicknamed Irish, hears a warning voice before a boulder comes out of nowhere and almost kills them. Thinking it was an earthquake, the boys head home until they run into a strange old woman. She talks of Celtic legends as if they are real.

But when Irish’s sister, Kathy, goes missing, the prophecy from the old woman seems to come true. Irish must face the demon Abaddon and find his sister. Journeying into the Otherworld, Irish and his friends, Streak and Huff, soon discover a hidden world with the Queen of the Sidhe. They must overcome obstacles, warriors, and learn from each other to save the world from a terrible demon.

This is a great adventure for anyone who loves Celtic lore. From Ogham sticks to the Tuatha de Danann, Markee twists in Irish poetry appearing on a helpful Ogham stick to meeting the legendary Celtic warrior, Cuchulain. The legends mix into an adventure story packed full of fighting, suspense, and cheering for the good guy.

I really enjoyed the Celtic references in this book. It really made it fun. I think some of the explanations might have slowed the pace, and some of the kid character’s dialogue needed more variety in the slang. But overall, it’s a fun read for those that like a great adventure.

**** 4 Star rating
Available as ebook or paperback on Amazon.com. Also available as an ebook on Smashwords.com.

*Read an interview with Charles Markee.

Nov23

The Passing of Anne McCaffrey: A Legend of Sci-Fi

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Anne McCaffrey passed away today. I keep searching for ways to express the feelings. I can start with the shock. This is an ending of an era. She created one of the best Sci-Fi/Fantasy worlds. The world of Pern is classic Sci-Fi with dragon riders, harpers, wyrs, and other terms that bring back fond memories. I loved her Crystal Singer and Acorna series. When I listed authors that I enjoy, she is on the list. Always.

I feel so fortunate I got to meet her once. She attended a book signing in the mall where I worked in Sunnyvale, CA. My family waited in line for two hours. I was scheduled to work, but my mom and sister knew how much I loved her books. So they stood in line for me.

Later, I took my lunch off to stand in line with them for another 20 minutes and got to meet her. She signed her current book, The Rowan(1991), and one other book. I brought the first book of the Dragon Rider Series in comic book form. OK, so it was the early 90s. That’s what I had at the time.

I remember her being very nice, a bit like anyone’s grandmother. In fact, she talked a lot of like “Grandma Kettle”. She seemed very down home and country like, and was very easy to talk to.

I read The Crystal Singer while I was going to school in Paris. I paid the $60 tax to get it into the country. All English books have this huge fee. I was desperate for good Sci-Fi. It was 1992, and the internet was not established. I had to get books the old fashioned way, shipped from home by relatives. It was worth it. I followed the rest of the series, and still comment about being “lost in crystal” if I get too absorbed by something.

I read she lived in Ireland and wrote her stories. That would be so fabulous. To live in a castle and write Sci-Fi/Fantasy. So, I strived to be a great creator of worlds. It’s the one thing my favorite writers of fantasy would do; create the world you could get lost in.

So, as I wrote my first book, The Lost Secret of Fairies, I tried to create a world my readers could be engrossed by. I worked on my second book, The Lost Secret of the Green Man, while visiting Ireland. In the back of my mind, I would imagine Ms. McCaffrey working away creating her books. I was going to do that too.

I’m working on my third book in my own fantasy world now. It involves crystals too. I hope that this is a fitting tribute. To write as many books as possible, leave a legacy, and become a legend. Isn’t this what we all strive to do as a writer? Thank you Anne McCaffrey for your books and inspiration. I want to be like you when I grow up. I’m 43. Still a long way to go. *wink*

Oct30

A Book for the Wereperson at Heart

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Year of the Werecurse-Werewhat? by Debi Faulkner

October is the month for spooky, creepy fiction. If you like that plus a touch of some ole’ fashion normal kid problems, this book is for you. Imagine moving to a new town. Your family just inherited a mansion and for some reason, the villagers are afraid of you. Welcome to the world of Jack Henry, your average geeky 11 year old, that loves comic books and a glance at beautiful girls from afar. His only problem was waiting for the new copy of a thriller comic book in the Gargoyle Knight series. You know, simple preteen problems, until he came to Whereville.

Now, something strange is going on with his family. His new house can’t stay in the same pattern for long, making it a clear adventure just to go to the bathroom. But more unravels when the full moon arrives. Can he keep his family safe from their own were curse? Will the villagers ever treat him normal? Or is that impossible with a family that is clearly cursed with an unusual ability? You be the judge in this new take on what it is to be “Were”.

If you love the Goosebumps series or books like it, you’ll enjoy this interesting way of looking at werepeople. Werewolves tend to be the most written about wereanimal. But what if there were more types? Peacocks? Sea Turtles? Sloths? It does create a bit of a family problem, especially since the curse seems to be affecting his parent’s ability to judge what is safe versus unsafe. The main character, Jack Henry, seems to be the only one aware of the problem until he finally convinces his sister being a werepeacock is a bit different. Of course, one can infer it’s part of the curse.

This book kept my attention until the end. And I did enjoy the conflict of the Science teacher and town bullies out to get the poor, Jack Henry. Miserable underdogs appeal to me.

If you like a story to get you into the Halloween mood and that could take you through the next few weeks, this is a book to start now. As many good horror fiction tales, it goes through a good portion of the school year, making it a great read all year long. A definitely enjoyable children’s horror fiction that turns Jack Henry into a were-Harry Potter hero.

**** Four Star Rating

Available in Amazon.com and Smashwords.com ebook editions.

Oct29

#SampleSunday Oct. 30, 2011 Pumper Continues His Quest: A Halloween Exclusive

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Pumper the Pumpkin: A Halloween Tale by Tiffany Turner

Last week, I posted the beginning of my new Halloween Tale, “Pumper the Pumpkin”. This is a short story for children from 3-8 years old. Pumper was off on his quest to become a jack-o-lantern when he met another pumpkin with the same dream, Mirabel. Together they headed off to try to find a way to become jack-o-lanterns. They were given a clue by a scarecrow to check another part of the pumpkin field. This is where our tale left off. Now, we return to “Pumper the Pumpkin”:

And off they went, up and down, and all around, until they reached the other end of the field. There they found a crow.

“Where are you off in such a hurry,” said the crow.

“To find someone to carve us,” said Pumper. “Do you know someone who can?”

“I think I might have seen a family down at the other end of the field by the farm house. Maybe if you check there, one of the children may want to carve you.”

So off they both went, up and down, and all around the drying vines and dirt clogs to the farm house. There, they saw a small family. A boy and girl were looking among the vines and dirt clogs.

“I don’t see any pumpkins left,” said the girl.

“Maybe we’re too late,” said the boy.

“Wait,” shouted Pumper. He slid and jumped as fast as he could.

Mirabel slid and jumped right behind him. “Wait, we’re still here.”

“Do you hear something?,” said the boy turning to the girl.
Mirabel jumped up in the air. “We’re here.” Mirabel jumped as high as she could. “We want to be carved.”

Pumper jumped in the air. “We’re over here”.

Will they find someone to carve them in time?

To find out, you can get your own copy of Pumper the Pumpkin, link to Amazon.com or Smashwords.com. Happy Halloween!

Oct23

#SampleSunday October 23, 2011 Pumper the Pumpkin, A New Halloween Tale

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Pumper the Pumpkin: A Halloween Tale by Tiffany Turner

For years, I’ve been working on a Halloween Tale about a little pumpkin that has one wish, to be a Jack-o-Lantern. This year his wish comes true. Pumper is the last pumpkin left in the pumpkin patch. All he wants to be is a Jack-O-Lantern to light the way for trick-o-treaters so they don’t get scared on Halloween night. With his friend Mirabel, his dream comes true as this family friendly tale unfolds.

Pumper was a character I created when I was 10 years old. It was a school assignment to write a Halloween story while I was in Fifth Grade. The original story was my exploration in character development and early chapter books.

Pumper’s first adventure is a bit strange, with the loss of his entire family due to high school bullies that smash them in the middle of the night. Thinking that was too scary, I took that out as an adult, and came up with a quest adventure to replace some of the previous ideas.

Here is an excerpt from the beginning of Pumper the Pumpkin:


Once upon a time, there was a small pumpkin left in the pumpkin patch on Halloween Eve. All the other pumpkins had been picked and given good homes. But Pumper the Pumpkin was the only one left of all the pumpkins that had been before.

He wanted to be a Jack-o-Lantern. It was his one wish, to be all lit up on Halloween night, bright and shiny, so all of the Trick-o-Treaters could say “Hi” and not be afraid.

He was feeling rather sorry for himself when he heard some crying out in the distance.

Who could that be? He was the only one left in the patch? Or was he?

He headed off slowly in the direction of the crying. He slid over drying vines and dead leaves. There were holes and ditches where all the pumpkins had been on display.
He went up, and then down. He went sideways, and around. And then he arrived where the crying had started.

It was a girl pumpkin, all alone. She sniffed when she saw him. “Who are you?”

“My name is Pumper. What’s yours?”

“Mirabel.”

“Nice to meet you.” He nodded and asked, “How come you are all alone in the pumpkin patch?”

“Because no one picked me for their pumpkin. All I want to be is a Jack-o-lantern. It means so much to be lit up so all the Trick-0-Treaters will say ‘Hi’ and not be scared.”

“Wow! I thought I was the only one. I thought I was all alone in the pumpkin patch.”

“Me too,” sniffed Mirabel.

“Maybe we can work together to find someone to make us into Jack-o-Lanterns.”

So off they went to look for someone that could turn them both into Jack-o-Lanterns.

They went up and down, around and between drying vines. Then they spotted a maze of corn. The farmer had cut paths throughout the cornfield. Maybe someone was still exploring their way out. After all, the sun wasn’t down yet.

So they went into the maze. They went around and down through husks of corn. They went slow and fast until they found the middle. In the middle was a scarecrow.

“Hello Mr. Scarecrow,” said Pumper. “We’re trying to find someone to carve us for Halloween. Could you carve us please?”

“I should think not,” said the scarecrow. “My job here is to make sure the crows don’t get any of the corn in the maze. There is still plenty to do, and I don’t have time to do any carving. What you need is a nice boy or girl to carve you. There might be one or two still left at the other end of the field. The sun isn’t down yet, and many people look all the way until it is dark.”

“Thank you friend Scarecrow,” said Mirabel. “We’ll go see what is at the other end of the field.”

And off they went, up and down, and all around, until they reached the other end of the field. There they found a crow.

A Note on the cover art: I drew the cover and used GIMP to complete the project. My husband, Keith, helped with final touches. The drawing of Pumper was developed when I was 10. Each year, I would carve him from my chosen pumpkin with the same eyes and face. One year I got creative and used paper to create his facial features. He lasted until Thanksgiving that way. Now Pumper will live forever in this Halloween Tale.

**Pumper the Pumpkin is available as an ebook at Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.