I’m a very lucky person. I’ve been extremely fortunate in having a wonderful family and happy memories that I treasure.
In my younger days, I could always rely on my parents to fill my needs – not necessarily all my wants – but I never had to go without food, clothes, or shelter. More importantly, their attention, love, and care never wavered, even when I was a pain in the arse.
It wasn’t until members of my family began to pass away that I realized just how much I took them for granted. On Christmas morning in 2006, I decided to honor their memories by writing a story with characters named after my father (Vernon), uncle (Gerald), and brother (Tom). A couple of years later, I added my mom (Allison).
They were gone but would never be forgotten!
Hence, Gerald and the Wee People became my attempt to cherish these special people in a way I thought would make them proud. Over two to three years, my original short story gradually expanded into a fantasy novel for kids ages nine and up. I was freelancing for a couple of newspapers at the time and worked on the manuscript during my “free time.” Needless to say, it was a slow process.
I’m a pantser, so the story remained an open slate for me, developing and coming together as I went along. It was pretty mind-boggling rereading a newly completed chapter and thinking, Gee, where did that come from? Where do I go from here?
I tried to use humor, adventure, and lots of dialogue to impress on the readers the merits of trust, friendship, and working together to achieve a goal. After Gerald and Vernon tumble into the world of the Wee People, they aid the residents in their fight against the misshapen ones while also trying to devise a plan to outsmart a forest god intent on destroying all life.
The boys encounter a mystical far-seer named Sheela, who decrees that the fighting will never end until the boys fulfill an ancient prophecy filled with many dangers and obstacles. Against their better judgment, Gerald and Vernon embark on a quest accompanied by Sheela and five other companions into the volcanic realm of Miach, the forest god. Their task: defeat the demented god and restore peace. However, not everything goes as planned.
Excerpt from Gerald and the Wee People
This time the illusion did not stop when he mentioned the forest god being up to his old tricks because this time, it wasn’t an illusion. The scorching walls blistered their hands. The hot air parched their throats. The sticky floor burned their feet through their shoes. A distant sound like the laughter they had heard earlier echoed through the cave’s passages.
Cian fell to his knees, crying out in pain as the scalding liquid burned his skin. “I can’t go on. Just leave me here to die,” he begged.
Tomas reached out to his brother to help him stand up. It was no use. Both of them were too weak and exhausted. In a weak voice he rasped, “You all go on. I’ll stay with Cian. I can’t go another step anyway.”
No one else said a word. The other boys were too tired to talk, too tired to walk, too tired to care.
This was not supposed to be happening. Gerald did not remember this from his nightmares. Something was wrong. He yelled to whoever was listening, “Did we take a wrong turn or something? Stop it, Miach, stop it! You want me. Leave my friends alone.”
His words just made matters worse. The scampering, unseen creatures came out of nowhere. They did not run past this time. Instead, they scampered back and forth, pinching and biting the legs and arms of Gerald’s companions. For some strange reason, though, the creatures did not bother him.
“Stop it, stop it now,” pleaded Gerald. “Please. I’ll do anything you want, Miach.”
Laughter echoed through the cavern as a voice inside Gerald’s head hissed, “Anything I want, huh?”
***
Be sure to get a copy of Gerald and the Wee People to find out how Gerald and his companions escape from Miach’s volcanic realm.
In my younger days, I could always rely on my parents to fill my needs – not necessarily all my wants – but I never had to go without food, clothes, or shelter. More importantly, their attention, love, and care never wavered, even when I was a pain in the arse.
It wasn’t until members of my family began to pass away that I realized just how much I took them for granted. On Christmas morning in 2006, I decided to honor their memories by writing a story with characters named after my father (Vernon), uncle (Gerald), and brother (Tom). A couple of years later, I added my mom (Allison).
They were gone but would never be forgotten!
Hence, Gerald and the Wee People became my attempt to cherish these special people in a way I thought would make them proud. Over two to three years, my original short story gradually expanded into a fantasy novel for kids ages nine and up. I was freelancing for a couple of newspapers at the time and worked on the manuscript during my “free time.” Needless to say, it was a slow process.
I’m a pantser, so the story remained an open slate for me, developing and coming together as I went along. It was pretty mind-boggling rereading a newly completed chapter and thinking, Gee, where did that come from? Where do I go from here?
I tried to use humor, adventure, and lots of dialogue to impress on the readers the merits of trust, friendship, and working together to achieve a goal. After Gerald and Vernon tumble into the world of the Wee People, they aid the residents in their fight against the misshapen ones while also trying to devise a plan to outsmart a forest god intent on destroying all life.
The boys encounter a mystical far-seer named Sheela, who decrees that the fighting will never end until the boys fulfill an ancient prophecy filled with many dangers and obstacles. Against their better judgment, Gerald and Vernon embark on a quest accompanied by Sheela and five other companions into the volcanic realm of Miach, the forest god. Their task: defeat the demented god and restore peace. However, not everything goes as planned.
Excerpt from Gerald and the Wee People
This time the illusion did not stop when he mentioned the forest god being up to his old tricks because this time, it wasn’t an illusion. The scorching walls blistered their hands. The hot air parched their throats. The sticky floor burned their feet through their shoes. A distant sound like the laughter they had heard earlier echoed through the cave’s passages.
Cian fell to his knees, crying out in pain as the scalding liquid burned his skin. “I can’t go on. Just leave me here to die,” he begged.
Tomas reached out to his brother to help him stand up. It was no use. Both of them were too weak and exhausted. In a weak voice he rasped, “You all go on. I’ll stay with Cian. I can’t go another step anyway.”
No one else said a word. The other boys were too tired to talk, too tired to walk, too tired to care.
This was not supposed to be happening. Gerald did not remember this from his nightmares. Something was wrong. He yelled to whoever was listening, “Did we take a wrong turn or something? Stop it, Miach, stop it! You want me. Leave my friends alone.”
His words just made matters worse. The scampering, unseen creatures came out of nowhere. They did not run past this time. Instead, they scampered back and forth, pinching and biting the legs and arms of Gerald’s companions. For some strange reason, though, the creatures did not bother him.
“Stop it, stop it now,” pleaded Gerald. “Please. I’ll do anything you want, Miach.”
Laughter echoed through the cavern as a voice inside Gerald’s head hissed, “Anything I want, huh?”
***
Be sure to get a copy of Gerald and the Wee People to find out how Gerald and his companions escape from Miach’s volcanic realm.
Available at Amazon.com
Print – https://www.amazon.com/Gerald-Wee-PeopleBookone/dp/
1480210617
Kindle - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JKMT0Q
Universal link - http://viewbook.at/geraldandtheweepeople
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Greta-Burroughs/e/B003N3F5AQ
Print – https://www.amazon.com/Gerald-Wee-PeopleBookone/dp/
1480210617
Kindle - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JKMT0Q
Universal link - http://viewbook.at/geraldandtheweepeople
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Greta-Burroughs/e/B003N3F5AQ
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