Kim Batchelor's Blog
May 14, 2014
The Inspiration of Summer and Cody
Not long ago, Cody asked my name.
“Kim,” I told him as he looked directly at me, his face beaming.
With his sky-blue eyes clearly fixed on me, he asked me again. “What’s your name?” I happily repeated my response. He seemed happy to have received it again.
Cody is on the autism spectrum and his engaging me represented a transformation, a grace-filled connection. A connection to a little boy who not that long before ran through the halls of the church immersed in his own private place. Now he is a teenager who seeks out others. Wherever he is, it’s hard to miss that head of red hair.
For the past ten years or so, I have watched both Cody and his older sister Summer grow up. When they both were younger they seemed inseparable, especially those times Cody climbed into Summer’s lap during children’s time. She accompanied him to the altar and often held him while the minister spoke to the gathered group. He nestled into her lap, until his attention and curiosity often caught on something unrelated to the remarks.
The relationship of Summer and Cody influenced the Wendy and Michael characters I developed for my contemporary Peter Pan retelling, The Island of Lost Children. Wendy, while inspired by Summer, is not exactly like Summer. She is responsible for not only her brother Michael but also a rather challenging middle brother John, or JJ. Wendy’s busy and economically stressed parents have little time anymore for Michael, so Wendy steps in to do the work to engage him and improve his skills, even when she struggles with feeling disconnected from the family:
Wendy Darling did not belong with anyone. Not with her parents, who argued all the time. Not with her brother John, known in the family as JJ, who crashed and thrashed like a thunderstorm. And not with her youngest brother, Michael, who one minute fixated on the crackle of a candy wrapper against his ear and the next minute tore through whatever room tried to hold him. There were times when he slipped into Wendy’s lap and they came close to belonging with each other, but those times didn’t happen often enough.
The “crackle of a candy wrapper against his ear” came from my spouse, Ron, who worked with special needs children prior to getting a masters in special education.
It takes a village to make a character, as well as a child. I’m grateful for all those who contributed to Wendy and Michael's development, especially a brother and sister I know. Those sibling relationships are so valuable and too infrequently explored. I continue to be inspired. Summer demonstrates on a regular basis how a caring older sister can be. As he grows more independent, Cody shows everyone how far he has come.
How about a free set of stories in your inbox each month? Go to my web site to sign up for the monthly "Stories are Journeys" newsletter
“Kim,” I told him as he looked directly at me, his face beaming.
With his sky-blue eyes clearly fixed on me, he asked me again. “What’s your name?” I happily repeated my response. He seemed happy to have received it again.
Cody is on the autism spectrum and his engaging me represented a transformation, a grace-filled connection. A connection to a little boy who not that long before ran through the halls of the church immersed in his own private place. Now he is a teenager who seeks out others. Wherever he is, it’s hard to miss that head of red hair.
For the past ten years or so, I have watched both Cody and his older sister Summer grow up. When they both were younger they seemed inseparable, especially those times Cody climbed into Summer’s lap during children’s time. She accompanied him to the altar and often held him while the minister spoke to the gathered group. He nestled into her lap, until his attention and curiosity often caught on something unrelated to the remarks.
The relationship of Summer and Cody influenced the Wendy and Michael characters I developed for my contemporary Peter Pan retelling, The Island of Lost Children. Wendy, while inspired by Summer, is not exactly like Summer. She is responsible for not only her brother Michael but also a rather challenging middle brother John, or JJ. Wendy’s busy and economically stressed parents have little time anymore for Michael, so Wendy steps in to do the work to engage him and improve his skills, even when she struggles with feeling disconnected from the family:
Wendy Darling did not belong with anyone. Not with her parents, who argued all the time. Not with her brother John, known in the family as JJ, who crashed and thrashed like a thunderstorm. And not with her youngest brother, Michael, who one minute fixated on the crackle of a candy wrapper against his ear and the next minute tore through whatever room tried to hold him. There were times when he slipped into Wendy’s lap and they came close to belonging with each other, but those times didn’t happen often enough.
The “crackle of a candy wrapper against his ear” came from my spouse, Ron, who worked with special needs children prior to getting a masters in special education.
It takes a village to make a character, as well as a child. I’m grateful for all those who contributed to Wendy and Michael's development, especially a brother and sister I know. Those sibling relationships are so valuable and too infrequently explored. I continue to be inspired. Summer demonstrates on a regular basis how a caring older sister can be. As he grows more independent, Cody shows everyone how far he has come.
How about a free set of stories in your inbox each month? Go to my web site to sign up for the monthly "Stories are Journeys" newsletter
March 10, 2014
Imagining Neverland: A Conversation with Author Heather Killough-Walden
Heather Killough-Walden counts 6 series and trilogies and multiple books within each of these in her body of work as an independent author. I got to know her first Neverland book while researching the market for my own book,
The Island of Lost Children
, based on the Peter and Wendy story. Heather’s
Forever Neverland
is for young adults (YA) while I intended my book for middle grade readers. I enjoyed reading her modern take on the story, with Peter on a motorcycle and Wendy and her brothers dealing with the aftermath of their time with him.
Heather and I are visiting in a virtual Victorian parlor something like this one drinking hot Irish Breakfast tea (Heather’s with soy milk) and nibbling on sugar-free dark chocolate bars. Come and sit down, have a cup, and listen in on the conversation.
Heather’s latest book in the series, Beyond Neverland , is available on Amazon.
KB: Heather, you have an impressive body of work—series on werewolves and warlocks and other beings that lurk in the night. I understand that you started with a vampire series and your writing career took off from there. Where did your original vampire(s) come from?
HKW: I fell in love with The Count from Sesame Street when I was very little. My fascination with the night-dwelling be-fanged just grew from there.
KB: What I like to focus on in my blog conversations is exploring what inspires us and where our imaginations take us. What would be the most interesting inspiration you can describe for any of your numerous books/characters/settings?
HKW: Well… I’ve been all over the world, but I guess there’s no place truly as interesting as a person’s imagination. My dreams give me a lot of ideas for characters. Sometimes inspiration just strikes out of the blue, with no provocation. Music can also trigger images, as I like to create music videos in my head when I listen to songs. I was listening to Mitternacht when I saw Roman D’Angelo for the first time – gracefully hacking and slashing his magnificent vampire way through his enemies to reach the throne he occupies now.
KB: I’m interested most of all in your two Neverland books: Forever Neverland and Beyond Neverland , which you recently released. What sparked your interest in re-imagining that story?
HKW: I’ve always felt unsatisfied with the book. I felt as if it opened a door and then wouldn’t let anyone through. It was full of possibilities left unexplored, and fantastic things undiscovered. Especially when it came to Hook. I had never in my life read a more two-dimensional character. I very much felt there was so much more to him than, sadly, because of the way the book was written, anyone even cared to learn. And then I saw the 2003 production of Peter Pan with Jason Isaacs, and that sealed it. It was time for me to tell Neverland’s real story.
KB: How did you decide to age and “modernize” those characters?
HKW: You write what you know. I didn’t live in Victorian times and I had no desire to reawaken the overly romanticized version of them – they were anything but romantic, after all. They were misogynistic, ignorant, disease-ridden, and backwards. So I brought the characters into a time where they could fully develop and then I sat them down and said, “Okay. Tell me your stories.” And so they did. Hook’s was especially gratifying.
KB: One of the most compelling aspects of your book—and this is something that struck me after I finished reading it—is how Wendy’s storytelling is being stripped away from her. I find that aspect of the story powerful and incredibly tragic. So Wendy’s “story inspirations” (Peter, Hook, etc.) rescued her. I’d like to hear your thoughts on that aspect.
HKW: It’s exactly what you said. Society attempts to strip away the magic from us, the imagination. The result is a kind of death. This happens to millions of people every day and no one gives a thought to how tragic it truly is. I wanted people to see it – and understand it. Fortunately for Wendy, her imagination was strong enough to step in and save her.
KB: I realize after reading your work how Wendy’s storytelling ability has mostly “flown” under the radar.
HKW: There are so many talented people out there whose stories will never be read due to the circumstances of how our literary society is set up. Traditional print publishing made it next to impossible. EBook reading devices made it a little easier, but now that market is so flooded, all of those truly talented people are drowning in a sea of people who think they are talented but perhaps are not so much. So the result is the same. Thousands, if not millions, of magical imaginations go unnoticed. I just wanted to shed light on one – just one – and hopefully help some readers to comprehend that if Wendy’s stories are never heard by society, then maybe there are others who aren’t being heard? Perhaps we should attempt to listen a little harder?
KB: Given that Kathy Rigby is still touring in Peter Pan, what do you think makes this story so compelling?
HKW: Well, to be honest, I can’t see the appeal in a woman playing Peter Pan. At all. However, I think just about everyone sitting in the audience has experienced the desire to fly. All it takes is faith, trust, and pixie dust, right? Who wouldn’t get on board with that?
KB: What would your Neverland look like?
HKW: If you’ve read the book, then you know. (smiles) But if you’re asking me what my own fantasy world would look like… Wow. I’m afraid even I am not a good enough storyteller to convey such wonder.
Heather and I are visiting in a virtual Victorian parlor something like this one drinking hot Irish Breakfast tea (Heather’s with soy milk) and nibbling on sugar-free dark chocolate bars. Come and sit down, have a cup, and listen in on the conversation.
Heather’s latest book in the series, Beyond Neverland , is available on Amazon.
KB: Heather, you have an impressive body of work—series on werewolves and warlocks and other beings that lurk in the night. I understand that you started with a vampire series and your writing career took off from there. Where did your original vampire(s) come from?
HKW: I fell in love with The Count from Sesame Street when I was very little. My fascination with the night-dwelling be-fanged just grew from there.
KB: What I like to focus on in my blog conversations is exploring what inspires us and where our imaginations take us. What would be the most interesting inspiration you can describe for any of your numerous books/characters/settings?
HKW: Well… I’ve been all over the world, but I guess there’s no place truly as interesting as a person’s imagination. My dreams give me a lot of ideas for characters. Sometimes inspiration just strikes out of the blue, with no provocation. Music can also trigger images, as I like to create music videos in my head when I listen to songs. I was listening to Mitternacht when I saw Roman D’Angelo for the first time – gracefully hacking and slashing his magnificent vampire way through his enemies to reach the throne he occupies now.
KB: I’m interested most of all in your two Neverland books: Forever Neverland and Beyond Neverland , which you recently released. What sparked your interest in re-imagining that story?
HKW: I’ve always felt unsatisfied with the book. I felt as if it opened a door and then wouldn’t let anyone through. It was full of possibilities left unexplored, and fantastic things undiscovered. Especially when it came to Hook. I had never in my life read a more two-dimensional character. I very much felt there was so much more to him than, sadly, because of the way the book was written, anyone even cared to learn. And then I saw the 2003 production of Peter Pan with Jason Isaacs, and that sealed it. It was time for me to tell Neverland’s real story.
KB: How did you decide to age and “modernize” those characters?
HKW: You write what you know. I didn’t live in Victorian times and I had no desire to reawaken the overly romanticized version of them – they were anything but romantic, after all. They were misogynistic, ignorant, disease-ridden, and backwards. So I brought the characters into a time where they could fully develop and then I sat them down and said, “Okay. Tell me your stories.” And so they did. Hook’s was especially gratifying.
KB: One of the most compelling aspects of your book—and this is something that struck me after I finished reading it—is how Wendy’s storytelling is being stripped away from her. I find that aspect of the story powerful and incredibly tragic. So Wendy’s “story inspirations” (Peter, Hook, etc.) rescued her. I’d like to hear your thoughts on that aspect.
HKW: It’s exactly what you said. Society attempts to strip away the magic from us, the imagination. The result is a kind of death. This happens to millions of people every day and no one gives a thought to how tragic it truly is. I wanted people to see it – and understand it. Fortunately for Wendy, her imagination was strong enough to step in and save her.
KB: I realize after reading your work how Wendy’s storytelling ability has mostly “flown” under the radar.
HKW: There are so many talented people out there whose stories will never be read due to the circumstances of how our literary society is set up. Traditional print publishing made it next to impossible. EBook reading devices made it a little easier, but now that market is so flooded, all of those truly talented people are drowning in a sea of people who think they are talented but perhaps are not so much. So the result is the same. Thousands, if not millions, of magical imaginations go unnoticed. I just wanted to shed light on one – just one – and hopefully help some readers to comprehend that if Wendy’s stories are never heard by society, then maybe there are others who aren’t being heard? Perhaps we should attempt to listen a little harder?
KB: Given that Kathy Rigby is still touring in Peter Pan, what do you think makes this story so compelling?
HKW: Well, to be honest, I can’t see the appeal in a woman playing Peter Pan. At all. However, I think just about everyone sitting in the audience has experienced the desire to fly. All it takes is faith, trust, and pixie dust, right? Who wouldn’t get on board with that?
KB: What would your Neverland look like?
HKW: If you’ve read the book, then you know. (smiles) But if you’re asking me what my own fantasy world would look like… Wow. I’m afraid even I am not a good enough storyteller to convey such wonder.
January 16, 2014
The Mystery of the Night Sky
I’m partial to the moon. Not much of a surprise for those people who know me and I’m not unique in this partiality. I’ll never forget seeing the white orb for the first time through a telescope and being in awe of the fact that a heavenly body hung so seemingly close to where I stood that night. And I’m amazed by the dazzling full moons that sit just above the horizon, interrupting whatever thoughts are running through my head at that moment. The first novel I wrote had the title, Water from the Moon, borrowing a line from the movie, The Year of Living Dangerously—something you can never have. And if I see a moon on a book cover, I’m immediately drawn to it, which is why I put one on the cover of my first book.
I notice this more in summer, but not exclusively. Just the other evening, after a string of bitter cold nights, I stood in my backyard and felt that something that’s almost indescribable. Or maybe it is describable. This is what I wrote from the perspective of my Wendy character in The Island of Lost Children :
[Wendy] sensed old spirits pressed into the cracks of their brick walls as she passed them. And if she took her time and the night began to fall and the moon hung silver over them, something outside the world she lived in but not really frightening hovered near her. She didn’t need to look up to know it was there.
Some nights, though, have a feature that doesn’t require a moon, a mystery more mysterious without its light. My grandparents lived in a place and at a time when light pollution wasn’t a consideration and when I was young, elementary age, I recall the mystery in that near-solid darkness. Objects around me appeared as the slightest silver, as if they drank up every bit of light from the stars, if they could be seen at all. That included all of us, my sister and cousin and I on the swing set, dipping and rising through the sea of evening. Something outside this world but not really frightening hovering nearby.
I’m convinced that all fairy tales are born in those moments of pure darkness or those saturated with pure moonlight. All stories of danger and wonder and full of the fantastical.
One last image I have of night that’s been in my head since I was very young: I’m standing in a neighborhood of brick houses looking down a street at a full moon. It is very late (or perhaps very, very early) and everything is saturated with moonlight. I’m not sure where that street leads and what that moon illuminates, but even though I suspect I’ll never know the answer for sure, I believe that’s the place where I’ll find all the stories I want to tell.
I notice this more in summer, but not exclusively. Just the other evening, after a string of bitter cold nights, I stood in my backyard and felt that something that’s almost indescribable. Or maybe it is describable. This is what I wrote from the perspective of my Wendy character in The Island of Lost Children :
[Wendy] sensed old spirits pressed into the cracks of their brick walls as she passed them. And if she took her time and the night began to fall and the moon hung silver over them, something outside the world she lived in but not really frightening hovered near her. She didn’t need to look up to know it was there.
Some nights, though, have a feature that doesn’t require a moon, a mystery more mysterious without its light. My grandparents lived in a place and at a time when light pollution wasn’t a consideration and when I was young, elementary age, I recall the mystery in that near-solid darkness. Objects around me appeared as the slightest silver, as if they drank up every bit of light from the stars, if they could be seen at all. That included all of us, my sister and cousin and I on the swing set, dipping and rising through the sea of evening. Something outside this world but not really frightening hovering nearby.
I’m convinced that all fairy tales are born in those moments of pure darkness or those saturated with pure moonlight. All stories of danger and wonder and full of the fantastical.
One last image I have of night that’s been in my head since I was very young: I’m standing in a neighborhood of brick houses looking down a street at a full moon. It is very late (or perhaps very, very early) and everything is saturated with moonlight. I’m not sure where that street leads and what that moon illuminates, but even though I suspect I’ll never know the answer for sure, I believe that’s the place where I’ll find all the stories I want to tell.
January 7, 2014
Lily's Resolutions
Lily came to the island when she and her mother weren’t getting along, whispering her frustration to the wind that she wanted to fly away, thinking that flying away meant getting on a plane and going to China, where she was born. She didn’t know that a flying boy would answer that wish, but not take her to exactly where requested. Lily knows she will go back to her mother and her home someday, but not before she can find a way to tell her mother why she’s frustrated. She can’t really figure out why herself. It will probably take a year.
By the end of the year, she wants to go back to China. Her mother said they would travel back there one day, but didn’t say when, just that it wouldn’t be in 2014. So Lily is sure that she wants to find a way to go there herself, and find out the story of her life and her before family.
It might not be as important, but in tennis, Lily wants to improve her backhand before 2014 is over. She might get some feedback on her backhand from the flying boy in exchange for helping him work on his bicycle kick. To be honest, her friend Cholena will probably be more help.
By the end of the year, she wants to go back to China. Her mother said they would travel back there one day, but didn’t say when, just that it wouldn’t be in 2014. So Lily is sure that she wants to find a way to go there herself, and find out the story of her life and her before family.
It might not be as important, but in tennis, Lily wants to improve her backhand before 2014 is over. She might get some feedback on her backhand from the flying boy in exchange for helping him work on his bicycle kick. To be honest, her friend Cholena will probably be more help.
January 3, 2014
Peter the "Flying Boy"'s "Resolutions"
Peter really gets irritated that the pirate captain disappeared from the island and he doesn’t know where he’s gone. The last time he saw him it was after the pirate captain had peppered the island with stinky pirate clothes after they'd been defeated in another battle with the lost children. The pirates didn’t stand a chance. They ate the sleeper strawberry shortcake left for them on the deck of their ship that Bellatresse and the other fairies made for the lost children after one of the pirates stole their hair jewelry to use for cannon target practice.
So Peter wants to find the pirate captain and the rest of the pirates by the end of the year, because there’s no doubt that wherever they are, they’re up to no good. When you look up, you'll probably see signs of him.
Peter also wants to find the girl who tells stories. And to improve his bicycle kick in soccer so it’s not just about being able to fly and he can show some real skill.
So Peter wants to find the pirate captain and the rest of the pirates by the end of the year, because there’s no doubt that wherever they are, they’re up to no good. When you look up, you'll probably see signs of him.
Peter also wants to find the girl who tells stories. And to improve his bicycle kick in soccer so it’s not just about being able to fly and he can show some real skill.
January 2, 2014
Wendy Darling's Goals for the New Year
When she considered what she wanted to accomplish by the end of the year, Wendy Darling decided, “I’ll read 100 books.” After she thought about it for a while, maybe 36 made more sense—three books per month, at least. More in the summertime, when she’s not in school. Fewer when school is in session. Still, 100 books would be great to read.
By the end of the year, Wendy wants to write at least three short stories. (Some of her stories will be posted on The Island of Lost Children web site .) And she wants the stories she tells her brothers at night to be more compelling so they’ll get in bed quicker to hear them.
Wendy wants to bring her grade up in biology from a B+ to an A. And more than anything, she wants to work with Michael, especially to help him speak. Right now, he only repeats what other people say. And he groans a lot.
As Wendy sits at her bedroom window, thinking about what the year will bring, she studies the city lights and the sky and stars and especially the moon that throughout the month slowly appears then narrows into a sliver before disappearing completely. At her bedroom window, she wishes for something different, a different place to live, to know what hides in the haze or sits in the leaves of the bushes that survive the winter or the pine needles of the evergreens. Is it too much to hope by the end of the year to know something about all those hidden things?
Look. It's snowing.
By the end of the year, Wendy wants to write at least three short stories. (Some of her stories will be posted on The Island of Lost Children web site .) And she wants the stories she tells her brothers at night to be more compelling so they’ll get in bed quicker to hear them.
Wendy wants to bring her grade up in biology from a B+ to an A. And more than anything, she wants to work with Michael, especially to help him speak. Right now, he only repeats what other people say. And he groans a lot.
As Wendy sits at her bedroom window, thinking about what the year will bring, she studies the city lights and the sky and stars and especially the moon that throughout the month slowly appears then narrows into a sliver before disappearing completely. At her bedroom window, she wishes for something different, a different place to live, to know what hides in the haze or sits in the leaves of the bushes that survive the winter or the pine needles of the evergreens. Is it too much to hope by the end of the year to know something about all those hidden things?
Look. It's snowing.
December 11, 2013
This Week's Happenings on Island
Every week the web site is updated on Island goings-on. I thought I'd periodically share some of these event schedules to keep you up on the activities. If you find yourself with time on your hands and plans to travel there, go to http://theislandoflostchildren.com/ev... for the latest update.
Events on the Island, Week of December 9:
The Island is bustling as preparations are at hand for the upcoming holidays. Lightning bugs are being strung around all the fairy huts and, with the pirates missing, even the tree houses are being illuminated. Feel free to join in the celebration, as appropriate. Contact Millicent Kelpie for more details.
Monday:
10:00AM Tryouts for hummingbird caroling choir. Good singers meet at the bumblebee music hall; singers with lesser vocal abilities should gather at the bullfrog cavern.
6:00PM Pot luck supper at the clearing. Please bring something other than pineapples and casseroles with ingredients that are prone to escape.
Tuesday:
8:00AM Fairy Pilates at the Mermaid Lagoon. Mermaids will refrain from critiquing performance.
4:00PM Pirate book club: cancelled. Brenda the Bookseller is accepting returns of The Notebook if you were participating.
Wednesday:
11:00AM Lightning bug collection followed by lunch. Sprites only.
4:00PM Afternoon tea. Lemon verbena and nettle tea and finger sandwiches. Second reminder: sandwiches do not contain actual fingers.
Thursday:
2:00PM Merry K makeovers hosted by Clive the Pixie.
6:00PM Stringing of popcorn and cranberries for hanging in trees. Not intended for personal decoration. This means you, Gerald.
Friday:
10:00AM Final preparation for first evening of celebration. Orders for tomorrow’s invisible dinner should be given to Millicent Kelpie by noon today.
8:00PM Peter begins lighting of lightning bugs. Fairies should be in formation by 7:30PM.
Saturday:
10AM Brunch courtesy of the Junior Fey League—spider egg omelets, grub jelly and croissants. Please RSVP.
2PM Soccer game. Lily coaching Team A; Peter coaching Team B. Winner goes to semifinals of World Cup.
6PM White Elephant gift exchange. Elephants should be miniatures and not full size.
7PM Invisible dinner and awards ceremony. Performance by Jay Bee and the Buzzers.
Events on the Island, Week of December 9:
The Island is bustling as preparations are at hand for the upcoming holidays. Lightning bugs are being strung around all the fairy huts and, with the pirates missing, even the tree houses are being illuminated. Feel free to join in the celebration, as appropriate. Contact Millicent Kelpie for more details.
Monday:
10:00AM Tryouts for hummingbird caroling choir. Good singers meet at the bumblebee music hall; singers with lesser vocal abilities should gather at the bullfrog cavern.
6:00PM Pot luck supper at the clearing. Please bring something other than pineapples and casseroles with ingredients that are prone to escape.
Tuesday:
8:00AM Fairy Pilates at the Mermaid Lagoon. Mermaids will refrain from critiquing performance.
4:00PM Pirate book club: cancelled. Brenda the Bookseller is accepting returns of The Notebook if you were participating.
Wednesday:
11:00AM Lightning bug collection followed by lunch. Sprites only.
4:00PM Afternoon tea. Lemon verbena and nettle tea and finger sandwiches. Second reminder: sandwiches do not contain actual fingers.
Thursday:
2:00PM Merry K makeovers hosted by Clive the Pixie.
6:00PM Stringing of popcorn and cranberries for hanging in trees. Not intended for personal decoration. This means you, Gerald.
Friday:
10:00AM Final preparation for first evening of celebration. Orders for tomorrow’s invisible dinner should be given to Millicent Kelpie by noon today.
8:00PM Peter begins lighting of lightning bugs. Fairies should be in formation by 7:30PM.
Saturday:
10AM Brunch courtesy of the Junior Fey League—spider egg omelets, grub jelly and croissants. Please RSVP.
2PM Soccer game. Lily coaching Team A; Peter coaching Team B. Winner goes to semifinals of World Cup.
6PM White Elephant gift exchange. Elephants should be miniatures and not full size.
7PM Invisible dinner and awards ceremony. Performance by Jay Bee and the Buzzers.
December 4, 2013
Lily Meets Peter
There she is. Peter dipped low, careful not to be seen, and soared to the small dark spot on the rooftop that not many people would be able to make out. The girl sat back on her elbows, barely moving except for her billowing black hair. As he came closer her eyes fixed on him, and she stood, lifting a pink backpack stuffed to bursting, which she pulled over her shoulders.
Peter landed softly on the roof so as not to disturb those who were sleeping inside. “Are you ready?’
“Yes.” The girl didn’t seem to have any doubts.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Can we go now?”
This one will be trouble, he thought. He held out his hand. “All right. Hold on to me.”
“Wait, why do I have to hold on to you?”
Peter started to say something but instead placed two of his fingers into his mouth and blew. It took two more times before the high-pitched whistle brought the whine in the air like an insect and the spark of lights that cascaded over the girl like falling stars.
The girl wavered where she stood, and then fell forward. “Whoa!! What was…?” Her legs lifted and she tentatively reached out. She drifted for a few seconds, then extended her arms in front of her and accelerated away from him.
“Hold on!” Peter shouted. “Stop! You don’t know where you’re going!”
“Then, hurry up!” The girl headed directly toward the sliver of moon, exactly the direction he wanted her to go. Peter paused for a moment to wonder briefly about who remained behind in that house. Then he shot upward, an insignificant blip on a radar screen, before converting to a narrow streak across the evening sky as he caught up with the girl who'd already flown far ahead of him.
The Island of Lost Children is available as an ebook and on Amazon. Take a look. I'd love to know what you think.
http://theislandoflostchildren.com/th...
Peter landed softly on the roof so as not to disturb those who were sleeping inside. “Are you ready?’
“Yes.” The girl didn’t seem to have any doubts.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Can we go now?”
This one will be trouble, he thought. He held out his hand. “All right. Hold on to me.”
“Wait, why do I have to hold on to you?”
Peter started to say something but instead placed two of his fingers into his mouth and blew. It took two more times before the high-pitched whistle brought the whine in the air like an insect and the spark of lights that cascaded over the girl like falling stars.
The girl wavered where she stood, and then fell forward. “Whoa!! What was…?” Her legs lifted and she tentatively reached out. She drifted for a few seconds, then extended her arms in front of her and accelerated away from him.
“Hold on!” Peter shouted. “Stop! You don’t know where you’re going!”
“Then, hurry up!” The girl headed directly toward the sliver of moon, exactly the direction he wanted her to go. Peter paused for a moment to wonder briefly about who remained behind in that house. Then he shot upward, an insignificant blip on a radar screen, before converting to a narrow streak across the evening sky as he caught up with the girl who'd already flown far ahead of him.
The Island of Lost Children is available as an ebook and on Amazon. Take a look. I'd love to know what you think.
http://theislandoflostchildren.com/th...
Bellatresse the Peculiar Fairy
Bellatresse the Fairy was one of my favorite characters to create. She has some similar personality traits as her friend, Tinkerbelle (from this point known on the blog as "TB") and they regularly socialize. Bellatresse just seems to take TB's traits up a notch, while often being quite certain that she knows what she's talking about even when she's not.
Following is the point where Bellatresse is introduced in the story. More information on where to get The Island of Lost Children follows.
Wendy heard the repeated ripping sounds before she reached the classroom where Michael sat at his desk participating in his usual ritual of opening and closing the Velcro on his backpack. Ms. Ellen, the aide, sat in a desk facing him.
“Hi, Wendy.” Ms. Ellen placed her hands over Michael’s for a moment and he started to resist. “You can stop now, Michael. Your sister’s here. Take this with you and we’ll start again tomorrow.” She picked up a few pieces of paper and handed them to Wendy. Finally Michael realized his sister had come to pick him up and he jumped up from his seat.
“Come on, Michael.” Wendy held out her hand to take his.
Ms. Ellen stood. “Wendy, tell your mother that Ms. Duncan wants to have a teacher conference with her soon since she missed the last one.”
“I’ll tell her. She has to work a lot now.”
“I know, sweetie. It’s just that Ms. Duncan has some important information on Michael’s progress.”
“Okay. I’ll tell her.”
“And here’s a note.” Ms. Ellen held out another piece of paper. “Make sure she gets it, okay?”
“Okay. We’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Bye, Michael.” Ms. Ellen waved and Michael moved his hand slightly, his gaze exploring the ceiling above his head even as Wendy guided him into the hallway.
As Wendy and Michael started out the door of the school, Wendy began to feel a little nervous, especially when they reached the exit from the school grounds. Whoever might have taken Lily might be out looking for other girls and boys. Even though the park just ahead was partly hidden by shrubbery, Wendy thought it would be better to cut through it to get home more quickly. Just as she approached the clearing in the middle of the park, a section surrounded by bulky hedges, she heard chattering coming from the bench in its middle.
Wendy first caught sight of the back of the chatterer's head, covered with wisps of golden hair that fell this way and that. As she walked around the bench, Michael in tow, she found a very willowy girl dressed in bright green tights and a sleeveless dress of lime colored gauzy scales, a girl who, on second look, appeared to be older than a child, yet her voice was quite high pitched.
Seeing Wendy and Michael, the girl abruptly stopped talking.
“Are you okay?” Wendy asked her.
"Yes. Are you okay?"
Was she echoing or mocking Wendy? "Yes," Wendy answered her.
“Okay, okay, okay,” Michael whispered and he briefly looked over at the girl on the bench.
Wendy didn't say anything and the girl didn't say anything. She ignored Michael and glared at Wendy with eyes that were an unusual shade of green.
In a quick motion, the girl folded her legs underneath her on the bench. “Did you come from there?” she whispered, glancing back toward the school.
“Yes. I’m a student.”
The girl’s eyes doubled in size. “So you’ve seen him.” The girl grimaced, closed her eyes tightly before unfolding her legs, sitting down on the bench and resting her hands on her newly made lap.
“Who have I seen?"
Her eyes opened wide again. “Him. You should be careful.”
The little girl's behavior startled Wendy. "Little girl, do you need some help finding your way home?”
“You are the one who needs help, student! I know where I live. Second star on the right."
The girl had quite an imagination. “What’s your name, little girl?”
“Bellatresse is my name, little student.”
“And why do I need help?”
“Because he is there.”
Wendy startled. “Who is he?”
The little girl shook her head and refused to say more.
“Are you sure you don't need some help getting home, Bellatresse?”
Bellatresse's face screwed into a stern expression. “I know perfectly well how to get home. Now shoo! He will find us if he hears us talking.”
Wendy didn't want to leave the girl alone but she also didn't want to spend much more time talking with her. Just as she and Michael started toward home, a loud buzzing noise surrounded her, and she looked back to find an empty bench and the slightest wisp of dust hovering over it.
The Island of Lost Children is now available for Kindle and hardcover, or both as part of Kindle match, and the paperback and other formats are coming in 2014. I'd love you to read it and to find out what you think:
my link text
Following is the point where Bellatresse is introduced in the story. More information on where to get The Island of Lost Children follows.
Wendy heard the repeated ripping sounds before she reached the classroom where Michael sat at his desk participating in his usual ritual of opening and closing the Velcro on his backpack. Ms. Ellen, the aide, sat in a desk facing him.
“Hi, Wendy.” Ms. Ellen placed her hands over Michael’s for a moment and he started to resist. “You can stop now, Michael. Your sister’s here. Take this with you and we’ll start again tomorrow.” She picked up a few pieces of paper and handed them to Wendy. Finally Michael realized his sister had come to pick him up and he jumped up from his seat.
“Come on, Michael.” Wendy held out her hand to take his.
Ms. Ellen stood. “Wendy, tell your mother that Ms. Duncan wants to have a teacher conference with her soon since she missed the last one.”
“I’ll tell her. She has to work a lot now.”
“I know, sweetie. It’s just that Ms. Duncan has some important information on Michael’s progress.”
“Okay. I’ll tell her.”
“And here’s a note.” Ms. Ellen held out another piece of paper. “Make sure she gets it, okay?”
“Okay. We’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Bye, Michael.” Ms. Ellen waved and Michael moved his hand slightly, his gaze exploring the ceiling above his head even as Wendy guided him into the hallway.
As Wendy and Michael started out the door of the school, Wendy began to feel a little nervous, especially when they reached the exit from the school grounds. Whoever might have taken Lily might be out looking for other girls and boys. Even though the park just ahead was partly hidden by shrubbery, Wendy thought it would be better to cut through it to get home more quickly. Just as she approached the clearing in the middle of the park, a section surrounded by bulky hedges, she heard chattering coming from the bench in its middle.
Wendy first caught sight of the back of the chatterer's head, covered with wisps of golden hair that fell this way and that. As she walked around the bench, Michael in tow, she found a very willowy girl dressed in bright green tights and a sleeveless dress of lime colored gauzy scales, a girl who, on second look, appeared to be older than a child, yet her voice was quite high pitched.
Seeing Wendy and Michael, the girl abruptly stopped talking.
“Are you okay?” Wendy asked her.
"Yes. Are you okay?"
Was she echoing or mocking Wendy? "Yes," Wendy answered her.
“Okay, okay, okay,” Michael whispered and he briefly looked over at the girl on the bench.
Wendy didn't say anything and the girl didn't say anything. She ignored Michael and glared at Wendy with eyes that were an unusual shade of green.
In a quick motion, the girl folded her legs underneath her on the bench. “Did you come from there?” she whispered, glancing back toward the school.
“Yes. I’m a student.”
The girl’s eyes doubled in size. “So you’ve seen him.” The girl grimaced, closed her eyes tightly before unfolding her legs, sitting down on the bench and resting her hands on her newly made lap.
“Who have I seen?"
Her eyes opened wide again. “Him. You should be careful.”
The little girl's behavior startled Wendy. "Little girl, do you need some help finding your way home?”
“You are the one who needs help, student! I know where I live. Second star on the right."
The girl had quite an imagination. “What’s your name, little girl?”
“Bellatresse is my name, little student.”
“And why do I need help?”
“Because he is there.”
Wendy startled. “Who is he?”
The little girl shook her head and refused to say more.
“Are you sure you don't need some help getting home, Bellatresse?”
Bellatresse's face screwed into a stern expression. “I know perfectly well how to get home. Now shoo! He will find us if he hears us talking.”
Wendy didn't want to leave the girl alone but she also didn't want to spend much more time talking with her. Just as she and Michael started toward home, a loud buzzing noise surrounded her, and she looked back to find an empty bench and the slightest wisp of dust hovering over it.
The Island of Lost Children is now available for Kindle and hardcover, or both as part of Kindle match, and the paperback and other formats are coming in 2014. I'd love you to read it and to find out what you think:
my link text
November 6, 2013
The Story Behind "The Island of Lost Children"
My writing a story based on Peter Pan has its origins in convincing my younger sister and my childhood friend Charlotte that I could read the secret messages that PP left in the sidewalk in front of our respective homes. They frankly weren’t buying it, especially when one "message" turned out to be a couple of squashed doodle bugs. After a while, I started to believe my own imagined interpretations and I have to admit I've had a soft spot for the story well into adulthood.
After finishing the middle grade novel, The Mists of Na Crainn (out in 2014), I decided to continue writing for children when the story of Wendy and Peter, a girl forced to grow up too soon meets the boy who never grows up, appeared somewhere in my imagination. I look forward to releasing The Island of Lost Children on November 19.
Just as an FYI: I no longer receive and interpret communication from Never Never Land. Although I have been known to see Alice's white rabbit hiding in my backyard.
After finishing the middle grade novel, The Mists of Na Crainn (out in 2014), I decided to continue writing for children when the story of Wendy and Peter, a girl forced to grow up too soon meets the boy who never grows up, appeared somewhere in my imagination. I look forward to releasing The Island of Lost Children on November 19.
Just as an FYI: I no longer receive and interpret communication from Never Never Land. Although I have been known to see Alice's white rabbit hiding in my backyard.
