In less than a month, my dream of writing a fantasy novel for young readers will become a reality. Journey to Jumbalot has been a labor of love for a few years and it was a great feeling holding the first paperback print proof in my hand.

Since I was young, I envisioned creating a fantasy world filled with colorful, hybrid creatures. I thought, "I want to see a world similar to Oz, Wonderland, and Middle Earth, but inhabited with unique animal hybrids."

The main character, Alby, is a housecat based on my cat named Albert. Albert was a plus-sized cat and he was my best friend for 13 years. It was difficult to say goodbye when he succumbed to poor health, but losing him pushed me to follow my dream. After years of fantasizing about writing a fantasy novel, I sat down in front of my laptop and finally began breathing life into a new world called Jumbalot. The character of Alby is my way of honoring Albert's memory and he is missed dearly.

Journey to Jumbalot will be available on February 1 (Amazon and other retailers) in both ebook and paperback formats!

Journey to Jumbalot