Characters

Writing children’s books can be a rewarding and fulfilling career path, but it’s not without its challenges and misconceptions.

Samo raised a threatening fist. Smoke rose from Try-el’s nostrils as he said, “You’ve just proved my point.” Excerpt from the Caves of Wonder

Children’s literature has long captivated readers with its timeless stories, unforgettable characters, and magical worlds. Within these narratives, we often encounter classic tropes – recurring themes or motifs that have become familiar over time.

The hoofbeats stopped. There was some heavy breathing but no sounds of alarm.“Dee? Come out from those bushes. You called us.” A familiar voice that resonated like an oboe rang out.

“No, no, no,” Samo was saying as Dee came around the side of Samo’s cart thirty minutes later. “You must bring your arm forward like you’re throwing a ball as hard as you can.”

“A loud pop filled the air and the horse shied. Lucy stared into the astonished face of a dragon, dominated by a pair of bushy eyebrows over large eyes swirling with jewel tones.

“Wait!” Dee held an arm out to prevent Yidi from descending the staircase. “What are we up against here, really? Is it a man or a beast? If it’s an actual tiger, is this wise? Will it be friendly?”

Shuka is a demi-goddess also known as the Vermillion Bird of the South. In her animal form she’s a firebird. In her human form, she is small and lithe, and moves as if gravity is just a suggestion.

When we first meet Yidi in The Silk Road he’s a royal pain in the backside – an entitled pipsqueak who relies on his power to have someone executed with a snap of his fingers to get his own way.

“Encouraged by her first small success, Lucy cupped her hands and summoned a ball of fire. It appeared as a flickering ball of light and squirmed excitedly in her hands.”