Title: Topas and the Plum-Gista Stone
Author: Pat Frayne
Publication: August 9, 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Audience: Middle Grade
Synopsis:
Topaz must find out what evil sickness has befallen his old friend, Otis, the great owl. With the help of his companions, Daisy and Dooley, Topaz takes Otis to the Healing Gnomes at North Fortress. As for Topaz and his raccoon friend, Dooley, their journey doesn't end here. Grim circumstances compel them to search for a rare, precious stone know as the Plum-Gista. Their travels take them to new and mysterious lands where they will make new friends and meet unusual beings. A warning from the Spirit of Amber Tiger gives Topaz reason to doubt his own judgement as life-threatening dangers and dark magical forces close in.
Excerpt:
Author Bio:
Topaz must find out what evil sickness has befallen his old friend, Otis, the great owl. With the help of his companions, Daisy and Dooley, Topaz takes Otis to the Healing Gnomes at North Fortress. As for Topaz and his raccoon friend, Dooley, their journey doesn't end here. Grim circumstances compel them to search for a rare, precious stone know as the Plum-Gista. Their travels take them to new and mysterious lands where they will make new friends and meet unusual beings. A warning from the Spirit of Amber Tiger gives Topaz reason to doubt his own judgement as life-threatening dangers and dark magical forces close in.
About the Series:
These cleverly woven and original tales of a mystical cat, his friends, and the magical land they live in will truly captivate anyone who loves mystical stories of high adventure. The reader is drawn into the amazing Kingdom of Knownotten and introduced to unforgettable characters. The classic fight of good vs. evil is waged in a world inhabited by Fairies, Elves, Gnomes, wizards and talking animals. All of these creatures coexist in a complex and beautiful land of peril and wonder. The author has crafted a truly well-rounded and enchanting story, rich with suspense, humor and tenderness.
Excerpt:
From Chapter Five:
No one knew how long it would take to reach the Land of Strang or what to expect when they arrived. So far the journey had been easy. The path was cool and shady and nearly flat. They met no travelers along the way. Rabbits, chipmunks, mice, and squirrels were the only other signs of life they saw. These animals were not so easy to talk to or ask questions of. Quick to startle, these small creatures would scurry into hiding or run up the nearest tree trunk at the first bit of noise they heard. The following afternoon they saw a scraggly gray fox trotting through the woods. He was coming from the direction in which they were headed, although he was some distance away from the main trail. He seemed to have made a path of his own through the brush. It was just by accident that Dooley happened to see him.
“Hold up,” Dooley shouted as he hurried through a patch of dense scrubs in an effort to catch up to the fox.
“Can you stop and talk to us?”
The fox was young and Dooley thought him to be a little skittish. He noticed how often the fox kept turning his head to look behind him as if he expected something or someone to be following. Although the fox appeared to be ignoring him, Dooley continued to call out to the fox. At last he was able to get the fox's attention.
“My name is Dooley. Me, and my companions over there, are on our way to Strang. We were wondering if you could tell us how far it might be from here?” The fox gave Dooley a wary look. “That's a troubled place,” the fox said to him, stopping, finally. “Why would you go there?”
Dooley was taken aback by the fox's question. Yet it was the sort of thing he himself might ask had he been the fox. So, he answered, “The Witch of Strang has something that doesn't belong to her, and we mean to get it back.”
“You must want it badly,” the fox barked. “Were I you, I'd turn around and go home.”
“Well,” Dooley said. “It ain't that plain, but I thank you for the advice, just the same.”
“Too bad you won't take it,” said the fox. Then he sat down and began to lick at something on his hind foot. His motions were quick and urgent. It was probably the reason the fox had stopped in the first place, Dooley thought.
Again, Dooley tried to get the fox to answer his question. “How far would you say we have to travel before we reach the Land of Strang?”
“By this time tomorrow, if you keep at it,” the fox answered, getting up again.
Then, looking past Dooley, his gaze came to rest on the Dorn brothers. The boys were standing on the path next to Topaz where they had been since the conversation with the fox had begun. However, the fox seemed to be noticing them for the first time.
“It's not a place one should take children. Especially Gnome children,” the fox said, addressing his comment to Dooley. Yet, his attention was still focused on the two young Gnomes.
Dooley did not miss the note of strong disapproval in the fox's bark. Then something unreadable flickered in the fox's slanting yellow eyes. It made Dooley feel a little nervous. He wondered what the fox was thinking. “Be good enough to send them home, at least,” the fox said with a sneer.
Dooley waited for the fox to explain this last comment, but these were the fox's last words, before he turned away to start off in another direction altogether. Dooley scratched his head with a forepaw while he watched the fox disappear into the thick brush. What was that all about?
No one knew how long it would take to reach the Land of Strang or what to expect when they arrived. So far the journey had been easy. The path was cool and shady and nearly flat. They met no travelers along the way. Rabbits, chipmunks, mice, and squirrels were the only other signs of life they saw. These animals were not so easy to talk to or ask questions of. Quick to startle, these small creatures would scurry into hiding or run up the nearest tree trunk at the first bit of noise they heard. The following afternoon they saw a scraggly gray fox trotting through the woods. He was coming from the direction in which they were headed, although he was some distance away from the main trail. He seemed to have made a path of his own through the brush. It was just by accident that Dooley happened to see him.
“Hold up,” Dooley shouted as he hurried through a patch of dense scrubs in an effort to catch up to the fox.
“Can you stop and talk to us?”
The fox was young and Dooley thought him to be a little skittish. He noticed how often the fox kept turning his head to look behind him as if he expected something or someone to be following. Although the fox appeared to be ignoring him, Dooley continued to call out to the fox. At last he was able to get the fox's attention.
“My name is Dooley. Me, and my companions over there, are on our way to Strang. We were wondering if you could tell us how far it might be from here?” The fox gave Dooley a wary look. “That's a troubled place,” the fox said to him, stopping, finally. “Why would you go there?”
Dooley was taken aback by the fox's question. Yet it was the sort of thing he himself might ask had he been the fox. So, he answered, “The Witch of Strang has something that doesn't belong to her, and we mean to get it back.”
“You must want it badly,” the fox barked. “Were I you, I'd turn around and go home.”
“Well,” Dooley said. “It ain't that plain, but I thank you for the advice, just the same.”
“Too bad you won't take it,” said the fox. Then he sat down and began to lick at something on his hind foot. His motions were quick and urgent. It was probably the reason the fox had stopped in the first place, Dooley thought.
Again, Dooley tried to get the fox to answer his question. “How far would you say we have to travel before we reach the Land of Strang?”
“By this time tomorrow, if you keep at it,” the fox answered, getting up again.
Then, looking past Dooley, his gaze came to rest on the Dorn brothers. The boys were standing on the path next to Topaz where they had been since the conversation with the fox had begun. However, the fox seemed to be noticing them for the first time.
“It's not a place one should take children. Especially Gnome children,” the fox said, addressing his comment to Dooley. Yet, his attention was still focused on the two young Gnomes.
Dooley did not miss the note of strong disapproval in the fox's bark. Then something unreadable flickered in the fox's slanting yellow eyes. It made Dooley feel a little nervous. He wondered what the fox was thinking. “Be good enough to send them home, at least,” the fox said with a sneer.
Dooley waited for the fox to explain this last comment, but these were the fox's last words, before he turned away to start off in another direction altogether. Dooley scratched his head with a forepaw while he watched the fox disappear into the thick brush. What was that all about?
Author Bio:
Pat Frayne, a retired registered nurse with twelve grandchildren, lives in a small town in Arizona with her husband, Ron and their dog, Charlie, a black lab mix. Her action adventure mysteries take place in mystical lands inhabited by Fairies, Elves, Gnomes, Sprites, Ogres, witches, wizards and other mystical beings. While written for children ages eight through twelve, many adults have greatly enjoyed these stories.
Tour Stops:
January 7th A Buckeye Girl Reads
January 8th Hanging With Bells January 9th Angels Are Kids & Fur Kids
January 10th Wanted Readers January 11th Amys Booket List
Giveaway:
Thank you to Pat Frayne for generously offering a chance to win a Topaz and Plum-Gista Stone t-shirt. This giveaway is open to US/Canada residents only. Please use the rafflecopter form below.
Tour Stops:
January 7th A Buckeye Girl Reads
January 8th Hanging With Bells January 9th Angels Are Kids & Fur Kids
January 10th Wanted Readers January 11th Amys Booket List
Giveaway:
Thank you to Pat Frayne for generously offering a chance to win a Topaz and Plum-Gista Stone t-shirt. This giveaway is open to US/Canada residents only. Please use the rafflecopter form below.
Thanks for being a part of the tour!
ReplyDeleteSOoooooooo LOVE this Series! Children will love Topaz and his friends adventures!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Pat; wishing you lots of Sales!
hugs, Kari Thomas, www.authorkari.com
Thanks, Kari, I enjoy writing about my mystical hero.
DeleteThanks and hugs to Wanted Readers for hosting my book for the Book Blog Tour. Pat
ReplyDelete