Daydreams on the Sherbet Shore

by J.D. Estrada

Beyond your waking life and tucked gently between your slumbering eyes and the heart of your soul, there lies the Sherbet Shore. The land where it is located is called Dræm; it’s past Rælity and a bit to the left of the Sea of Hope. In this magical land, it’s not that dreams come true; it’s that we become our dreams. There’s the Kung-Fu Circus, the Parched Pumpkin, the Down Pond and dozens of other places that we discover and create, one wonder at a time. You can drink Curiosity Cola, taste Peppermint Rain or simply enjoy a ride on a dragon ship, a kangaroo, or glide across fields on soapy skates. So feel free to drop on by. After all, life is just a dream. J.D. Estrada is a Puerto Rican author who writes novels, poetry collections and connects with people through all sorts of social media platforms and his blog For Writing Out Loud. This is his first collection of young adult short stories and his tribute to the healing and unifying power of dreams and the joys of embracing our inner children.

92 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2015

About the author

After years of working in advertising, I figured there were better ways to write fiction. Born on August 13th, I share birthdays with Alfred Hitchcock and Fidel Castro... an interesting coincidence since mom is Cuban and I love a good story.

Truth be told, ever since I was a kid I dreamt about being an inventor, I just didn't know I'd end up doing it using words. Where some people choose to invent new products, I’ve chosen to invent worlds through words.

In college, I studied psychology for 3 years before realizing that if I finished, I'd need a psychologist for myself. Not being too enticed by the whole full circle nature of that trajectory, I switched to Marketing, Advertising... and Psychology. Seems I just couldn't let it go.

A lover of Science Fiction and Fantasy, I’ve always loved writing and connecting with people. Mind you, although I love these genres, my reading tastes are as eclectic as my musical passions. So from rock to salsa to classical music, I also read and write in a variety of genres and am just as satisfied writing a review or a poem as I am working on my next novel. My obsession with the human aspect of who we are is deeply embedded in most of my work and my first book is no exception. Only Human is the first link within the Human Cycle, a three-book exploration of humanity through fiction.

I’m currently working on several projects, consistently put out free material on the blog (jdestradawriter.blogspot.com) and I rant with zest on Twitter via @jdestradawriter. I also have and instagram account (@jdestradawriter) if you want to see what I’m getting up to or what delicious beer I may recommend pairing with the book your reading.

My favorite band is Pearl Jam, I was born in Puerto Rico, I bodyboard and to me, playing a guitar is as therapeutic as a bleeding into a notebook with my pen. So by all means, visit, say hi and connect.

Peace, love and maki rolls.

JD

Reviews

[Mariah Roze · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author to read with my hometown Young Women's Book Club.

I enjoyed this short, fun read :) It was extremely creative and truly fit the purpose of feeling like a dream!
Sometimes, especially the first chapter I had a hard time figuring out what was going on. The characters just appeared in the book without much of an introduction, so I had a hard time understanding who they were and what they represented. Also, what were their personalities like and what did they look like. I loved the author's amazing creativity in this book! He had so many fabulous ideas! I just wish they were further developed and explained, because at times I felt the thoughts were not completed. What I realized later on was the thoughts were completed, but through poetry. I LOVED the poems at the end of the book. JD (the author) writes AMAZING poems! I wish the poems were the introduction to every chapter. That way there was a little bit of introduction of the locations and the characters. I plan to read some of JD's poetry work! I bet it is fabulous :)

Overall, I enjoyed the book and it really felt like dreams :)

[Sunshine Somerville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Truly dream-like. A bit “Alice in Wonderland” but quirky in a unique way.

[Onika Howdyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift from a friend who highly recommended it. This book was a fun, sweet read. It was short, less than 70 pages, following a woman and who she encountered in her dreams. There was a lot quirky writing, schticks and just fun dialogue. I would recommend it as a palate cleanser for in between more serious reads. it really gives you the giggles and smiles with every page turn.

[Bianca Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

JD Estrada is about to launch a new book:- Peace, Love, and Maki Rolls: A Guide to Creative Kindness...so, before he does, I'd like to offer a little creative kindness of my own. Or perhaps less of a kindness and more of a respectful salute that is long overdue.

I discovered JD Estrada on Twitter about 5 years ago, and it has been a pleasure interacting with him, reading his insightful blog posts, following his writing journey, and generally being in the company of a genuinely decent human being.

Last year, when the hurricane devastated JD's hometown in Puerto Rico, he could have lashed out angrily at the lack of support from PR's apathetic allies, but instead he chose to donate his books in an attempt to draw attention and support for the cause. I was one such worthy recipient, and, while I'm still reading and haven't read them all yet, I do know without a shadow of a doubt that neither JD Estrada, the person, nor the writer, will disappoint you.

Cheers, JD, for being an upstanding human and writer. Long may you entertain and inspire us with your words.

[Kelsey Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for the Young Women's Book Club. I chose to give this book three stars because I liked that the book was very creative and dreamlike, fitting the theme perfectly. However I had a difficult time following who all of the characters were because the transitions between stories made it difficult pick up where the last dream left off. The poems at the end of the book were very good. Thank you J.D. for sending us your book!

[Marilyn Ward]

A recommended fun read

Excellent read with good characters and humour , found myself laughing out loud, and that's not like me, well done J. D. ESTRADA

[Francisco Muniz · Rating 3 out of 5]

J. D. Estrada invites us to the realm of his dreams, which he presents as his own wonderland. Through his narrative, he makes the absurd and fantastical seem believable and fun. The narrative’s simplicity makes the book one of those I enjoy while I want a break from much longer books (which I do like too). My favorite part, I would have to say was the Kung-Fu circus, with its flaming dragon and the dancer who controls fire, among other interesting entertainments. I only wished I had read the poems before the story since they gave me a better glimpse of the characters. All in all, the book reminded me of my own realm of dreams and the many stories that so many of us get to enjoy but not always share with others. Fortunately, Mr. Estrada wrote a fraction of his endless dreams to share it with others, which could be the beginning of future invitations to the real of "Draem," as he calls it.

[Amarinske · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow, this felt just like a daydream.
The first time in ages I actually liked the whimsical writing. It was the perfect little escape from everyday life.
And I loved the poetry at the end and the fact that characters from Only Human popped up in this short story. these cameos were fun and funny.
The little book felt like an extension of the Human Cycle as the Lucid has an important role in it. I found it almost a shame our darling Nathaniel Runnels didn't get a cameo.

there was one thing though, a thing that also happened in Only Human in a way, which is: (in this case) interpunction mistakes. in the other book it was a few grammatical errors.
This is definitely a thing to subtract stars for and because of the way the mistakes appear I'd recommend an editor. This is something that doesn't have to go wrong.

[J.D. Estrada · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I gave myself a read. I've always been fond of this project and wish it'd get to more people, though I know there are areas of opportunity. As is, to get the most benefit and enjoyment from these short stories, you need to have read some of my other works or know me. There are a lot of moments I'd forgotten that were actually very charming and I did enjoy it a lot, though I was able to see stuff I will be tweaking just to make it more accesible to a larger audience, make it clear these are separate short stories and not a book with chapters, and other tidbits. I think many of the issues I could have with the series I've adjusted for the second volume, but we'll have to wait, publish and see what you think. Also giving myself a 3 because although it's good, I can do better, and I will.

[Limaris Vargas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a while I haven't read from one of my favorite local authors. This book was quite interesting. Is so whimsical and magical, and like most people say, it does give Alice in Wonderland vibes.

How vast and creative JD is when creating this magical world where you're dreaming and, at the same time, living and experiencing these dreams your subconscious mind creates. This could be a nice read for children to allow them to use and feel their imagination.

I like the poems where you get to know more about who the characters are and the places they've traveled. There is one quote at the end of the book that I loved that says, "Life is good and so are dreams. The more we share both, the richer our lives." Nothing more truer than that.

[Anais Chartschenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daydreams on the Sherbet Shore is a whimsical, strange, and fun collection of short stories. I suggest these for any insomniac who has given up on their own dreams for the night. Delve into the world with tickle soda, the world with a lovely sidekick who carries a heart compass, a world where worry wolves do not win for once.
Reminiscent of Beetleguice or Alice in Wonderland, this series would translate well to film.

My only warning is Estrada relishes in providing details for delicious treats through out. You may find yourself prowling the kitchen for cookies at 2 am. But you were giong to do that anyways, insomniac.

[Kendra Melsness · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the world building aspect of your book. I was able to truly feel transported to a magical land. However, I thought that the world building was the best part of the story. I did not really find myself drawn to the story, and it did not feel cohesive or completed to me.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories is creatively crafted to draw the reader into the world of Draem. As with most dreams, where one ends is usually not where the next one begins.

J.D. is an overworked character whose boss is Faet. Together with his dream time friend, Claudette, the Sherbet Shore has become an endless expanse filled with exciting adventures and unusual creatures. Picnics, parties, and a trip to the circus. In dreams, anything can, and does, happen.

Not all adventures are happy, though. Queen Jane has found herself in the deeply depressing city of Malaise. With a droplet of shed tears, J.D. and friends locate the moving-city, but rescuing Jane becomes much more difficult.

I love the tongue-in-cheek references hiding here and there between the asparageese, rhubarb wire, and worry wolves. You will never guess what the spandex candy was used for. Everyone is invited to step aside and allow her inner child to join the continued creation of a silly world found in the hearts of dreamers around the world.

I am curious what adventures J.D. has dreamt up for the next book…

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daydreams on the Sherbet shore by JD Estrada is all the weirdness of dreams wrapped up in a nice, neat package. It doesn’t make sense in just the right way, and there are plenty of puns (asparageese, anyone?) that are sure to keep you interested and entertained in the land of Draem.

Kung-Fu Circus? Check. Walking fish? Check. My recommendation? Check and double check! The originality alone is worth five stars. Add in great characters and cool concepts, and you’re off the charts.

The plot is simple and engaging: JD and Claudette explore the land of Draem, finding outstanding oddities along the way.

If you want a quick and enjoyable read, then take a stroll on the Sherbet Shore and embrace the chaos! I’ll be reading more from Mr. Estrada.

[Janessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for my book club. While I like the general idea of the book, I thought that it would have been more beneficial for the poems to be before the start of the chapters to introduce the characters. I thought the poems were a wonderful description of the characters and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I was confused as to why they were just thrown at the end of the book. The transitions from chapters were a tad unorganized in my opinion. Other than that, thank you for sending us books and I hope you appreciate my opinion.