The Curse of Time series is on offer at Smashwords! Book 1 Bloodstone is free!
Book 2 Golden Healer is currently .99c!
Are you looking for a captivating, imaginative series with a rich and mysterious world that blends fantasy, time, and emotional depth in a way that’s truly unique and compelling for teen and young adult readers?
With a fresh and lyrical storytelling voice the symbolism woven throughout the narrative gives the book a rare literary dimension. Readers are not just entertained, they’re invited to reflect, dream, and connect deeply with characters who face challenges far beyond the ordinary.
Trevor Barcroft is convinced that mystery/true crime author Brody Thompson wrote the scene in which Trevor’s father Wilson Barcroft was murdered.
What should be a simple answer to this five-year-old crime is one that neither the police nor the FBI want to uncover; and one Bernie Bouchard doesn’t want his young investigative reporter, Rascal Todd, digging into.
Warned to stay away from the investigation.. Brody and Trevor begin a dangerous quest, led by the musings of a mysterious poet who has been hiding in plain sight for decades.
What does the Poet know that keeps him in hiding? What did Wilson Barcroft know that got him killed? Why can’t Brody walk away from a meaningless and dangerous pursuit?
Q & A with Dan & Willow
You must have been delighted when Dan asked you to be co-author..
Dan: I don’t know if Willow was delighted, but I was thrilled when she replied to my first email and said she’d like to work with me. Reaching out like that was hard for me.
Willow: Marjorie I was absolutely amazed! to be honest I was worried that I would not be good enough to work with someone as established as Dan.
Then I thought I can only do my best.
How did you find writing as a team on this novel? What was the process?
Willow: To be honest it was much easier than I expected…not that I actually had expectations not having ever done this before..
We were on different continents and had a five hour time difference. With the help of Trello, email and Box all of this was new to me, we found we communicated very well and soon we were both on the same page. So to speak.
Where your surprised at how the storyline, etc, developed?
Dan: I was surprised how the plot developed after Willow started contributing the poems. At first, I thought I’d leave a placeholder and ask her to fill it in. But I started telling her where I thought I was going and her poetry often led me down a different path.
Willow: Again as I was new to all this I was so surprised at how the poetry affected where the story went and after a while we started discussing how things might happen. To be honest I thought my part was peripheral but very soon the poet and I were sucked in to the centre.
Is thriller your favourite genre to write/read?
Dan: I’ve been trying to write a true mystery, but the stories end up more complicated than what a mystery lover would expect. I like working with a group of characters and letting them lead the way.
Willow: I love a good thriller, murder mystery but until now I have always favoured sci-fi…I find that easier to write because you can make things up….after this experience I am not so sure.
Why political thriller?
Dan: Vietnam was a difficult time for me. I turned 18 three months before Nixon stopped drafting people for the war, but I knew people who served there, people who died there, and people who came home suffering in various ways. Most of them are dead. So much has been written about the war, so I was looking for a fresh approach.
I love the title Poetic Justice. I love poetry! Did that title come to you quickly?
Dan: I’ll have to let Willow handle this. I was struggling to come up with a title, and she suggested Poetic Justice and I loved it.
Willow: When we started working together the work in progress was called “Not My Job…”after the story grew and we could see what was happening, what the poet was trying to do. Dan asked me if I had any ideas for a title. I can’t remember what the other ideas were but Poetic Justice stood out…our poet was seeking justice and Trevor was too. So eventually Poetic Justice became the favourite. I think it took two emails to decide that.
You’re both active members of the blogging community. I expect this is how the connection developed
Dan: Yes, I’ve been following Willow for a long time. I love poetry. I follow a lot of poets. I thought I needed a poet who could work from prompts and handle dark material.
Willow: Yes I have followed Dan for a good while now, I have enjoyed all his books and I find his blog great fun…He even makes the tools in his workshop look glamorous. I have learnt a lot from Dan.
So when he reached out and asked me to write a few poems I thought yes! Then it grew like Topsy.
How long did the process take?
Dan: I started playing with the idea early in 2024. I reached out to Willow in May and we’ve been at this for a year.
What advice would you give emerging authors?
Dan: I don’t feel qualified to offer advice, but I’d certainly tell people to listen to their characters. I know that sounds silly, but when I’ve tried to stuff my characters into a pattern I think will work, it never does.
Willow: I agree with Dan.
Willow this is your 1st novel! How do you feel?Would you do it again?
Yes I definitely would like to. Also if Dan needs a poet or anything again ….yes I would.
Who’s the pantser & who’s the plotter?
Willow: Dan is definitely the plotter he knows exactly where his Characters and Plots are going.
I write stream of consciousness all the time whether it’s poetry or prose. I do the research, read the plot but then I just write the poetry or story… I hear it in my head.
Excerpt
Trevor parked in the lot behind the restaurant. Inside, one man was seated at the bar. He resembled the headshot on the book jacket, but that was dated.
“Excuse me, are you Brody Thompson?”
“Yes, I am.” Brody tipped his beer to the stranger.
“I’ve been looking for you, Mr. Thompson. I heard I might find you here.”
“You have a reliable source. Mr….”
“Barcroft, Trevor Barcroft. Does that name ring a bell?”
“I can’t say that it does. Mr. Barcroft, I’m self-absorbed enough to think that you’ve read one or more of my books. Am I correct?”
“One of your books, yes. Harlan Springer’s Cash Call.“Brody put his glass down.
“That’s interesting. That was my second novel. Did you find it in a little free library somewhere?”
“No, a friend of mine gave me a copy. He said he thought I might find it interesting.”
“Did you?”Trevor pulled the stool next to Brody away from the bar. He noticed Brody’s near-empty glass. “Can I buy you a beer, Mr. Thompson.”
Brody nodded. Trevor pointed to Brody’s glass and asked the bartender for any good local IPA for himself.
She poured him a taste of Rock River IPA. “How’s this? It’s fairly new,”
“That’s nice.” She filled a chilled glass, and a new glass of Dos Equis for Brody.
“That’s on my tab, Miss.”
“You can call me Joy.”
“Thanks Joy.” Trevor took a sip of his beer.
“Mr. Thompson…”
Tiring of the formality, Brody interrupted. “Please, call me Brody. Do you go by Trevor?”
“My friends call me T-Bar, but Trevor works.”
“Fine Trevor. Please continue.”
“The reason I asked if my name is familiar to you is that your book includes a scene about my father.”
“Barcroft?” Brody looked away in thought. “I’m sorry, Trevor but I’ve written eighteen books, and I ended the Detective Springer series after five. I don’t recall all my characters. Barcroft is an interesting name, I may have used it, but I assure you, my characters are all fictional. I didn’t know your father.”
Trevor took a longer drink of his beer. He wiped his mouth with a small cocktail napkin. “Brody, on page one-hundred-eighty-two of Cash Call, your detective removes a piece of evidence from a crime scene. A piece of evidence that would have linked the murder of a character named Harry Wilson to a mob boss named Carmine Arletti.”
Brody finished his original beer and took a sip of the fresh one. “Your memory of my book is superior to mine, Trevor. Like I said, the book is fiction, and I wrote it ten years ago.”
“Harry Wilson was my father.”
“I don’t follow.”
“My father, Wilson Barcroft was murdered in Pittsburgh by a mobster named Roland Fisch. The police couldn’t prove Fisch did it because a weapon was never found. A witness heard the shots. He told the police that as he was running over to check the body, he saw another man run over from across the street. That man picked up a gun, two shell casings and left. That’s exactly what happens on page one-eighty-two.”
Brody gave Trevor a quizzical look. “I remember the scene, now. My detective wanted the gun to exchange for some information from the mob boss about a different case he was working on.”
“Exactly, and the murder of my father was never solved.”
*********
Bios.
Dan’s Bio
Dan is retired from a 42-year-long career in systems development and other technology and began writing his first book the next day.
He’s married, the father of one child, and although there are no pets around today, he and his wife have had four Irish Setters and a handful of Tuxedo cats over time.
Dan is the author of the Dreamer’s Alliance Series and the Rascal Todd Mysteries.
When Dan isn’t writing, you might find him in his woodshop, working around the house, or walking around with a camera.
He also might be having a beer with friends and some of those encounters have inspired the fictional bar stories on his popular blog—NoFacilities.com
Willows Bio
London born Willow Willers is retired and lives in Berkshire, Southern England.
Along with her husband and a steady stream of foster dogs mainly Guide Dogs for the Blind. Willow is mother to three sons all grown and flown and two fast growing grandsons.
Writing, poetry and prose have always been her passion in fact she wrote her first pieces before she was eight.
After two life changing accidents Willow started writing in earnest and has found it a life saver.
Congratulations to author D. L. Finn on her latest release, Sounds In The Silence. I really enjoyed!
Book Overview
A dual timeline where murder has consequences forty years later for the living—and the deceased.Maria and Logan Davis stumbled upon the perfect old house by a secluded lake—a prime candidate for their dream inn. They knew a renovation was involved but didn’t expect a persistent ghost that pleaded to be found. Determined, Maria delved into the mystery, only to uncover a haunting love story and murder from the Roaring Twenties. Yet, the young couple’s curiosity shifts to fear when they realize someone is taking a dangerous interest in their barn. With time ticking away, they must unravel the secrets of their home’s past before it’s too late.
My Review
This is such a heart warming mysterious story with romantic, and ghostly elements.
A trapped ghost Helen is unable to get her message about her husband Charles across to the new owners of the inn, Logan and Maria. Terrible past events happened. She fears for Logan and Maria’s safety and wants justice to prevail so she can find happiness in the afterlife.
I really enjoyed this tale. The premise for the story is fantastic. It is told in a dual time style between the 1920’s, (mention of bible bashing and condemnation of drinking during prohibition,) and the 1960’s. The characters both human and furry… (there are two dogs and two cats too,) are well drawn out and the good guys are ones you can root for and sympathise with.
The initial ghost discovery wasn’t as eerie as I expected but the ghost is a friendly one.
It is quite exciting in parts with grim discoveries, a mysterious letter and gun shots firing!
Highly recommended for readers of mysteries, ghost tales with a romantic element running throughout the narrative.
D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.
FANTASTICNEWS! It is release day for Richard Dee’s Where’s Lizzie….
Blurb
𝐈𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.A missing child, a family full of secrets. Douglas was only gone for an hour. He left his wife and baby daughter in their broken-down car while he went for help. After all, they were safely parked in a layby. When he returned, his car had vanished. He found it, crashed into a tree, further down the road. wife was now in the passenger seat. She’d hit her head in the accident and lost her memory. Worse than that, his daughter was missing from the back seat. Who has her? Why do they want her? Will he ever see her again? Someone knows the truth, but is anyone ready for the truth to come out? 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧… 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬.
Book review
Fabulous new book from Richard Dee! He really is such a prolific and versatile author who is able to deliver imaginative and engaging stories in many genres including scifi, fantasy and now thriller.
A well plotted and intriguing story about a father’s quest to find his missing one year old daughter, Lizzie, and his hopes to rekindle the love of his wife after her memory is lost following on from a mysterious road accident. Absolutely loved the ending and the little alternating chapters which filled in the details about the love and family life of the two main characters, Douglas and Rom. And the twin sister dynamic of Rom and Bec and details of their overbearing, dominant father Archie and his charity work added extra mystery and unexpected twists and turns to this story.
I really enjoyed reading.
Highly recommended for thriller, mystery readers with a well devised human interest aspect and plot.
My rating 5 stars.
Release date 1st June, 2024.
About the author
I’m Richard Dee and I’m from Brixham in Devon.
I write all kinds of speculative fiction, from Science Fiction and Steampunk to sci-fi crime and psychological thrillers.
Forty years at sea gave me the ideas, I just changed the names and set them in the future or in an alternative now.
All my work is fuelled by black coffee and homemade digestive biscuits.
You can keep up with me at https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/ where you’ll find free short stories, regular features on writing, book reviews and guest appearances from other great authors.
I can also be contacted at richarddeescifi@gmail.com
Thank you so much to Brenda for this wonderful review of Bloodstone. Truly makes me so happy!
Bloodstone: The Curse of Time by MJ Mallon is a captivating and unique young adult novel that blends contemporary fiction with elements of fantasy and mystery, resulting in an engaging and imaginative reading experience.The story follows the life of fifteen-year-old Amelina Scott, who finds herself swept into a world full of secrets and ancient prophecies after the disappearance of her father. As she delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding her family, Amelina discovers her own hidden powers and begins to unravel the secrets of the bloodstone. In a race against time, she must navigate her way through a web of riddles and challenges, while also facing personal dilemmas and forging unexpected alliances.
Brenda Marie Fluharty is a Spiritual Life Coach, dream interpreter, a past-life therapist, a freelance writer, blogger, poet, art lover, pet owner, and author. Brenda is a Reiki Grand Master and energy healer. She has studied several Spiritual practices. Brenda has a Master’s Degree in Metaphysical Science from the University of Metaphysics. Brenda loves to share her knowledge, wisdom, and life experiences through her writing. She has been blogging for over 20 years. She is the author of several dream journals and Writing Through the Soul. View all posts by Brenda Marie Fluharty
Thank you so much to fabulous fellow YA author Chantelle Atkins for inviting me to contribute to these wonderful character interviews on her blog. Follow the link below to Chantelle’s blog to read the full interview at source.
Welcome to a new feature on The Glorious Outsiders where I’ll be interviewing unique characters from other people’s books! You’ll find a character interview at the start of each month and today, I’m chatting to Amelina Scott from the YA series, The Curse of Time. I’ve read and enjoyed Bloodstone and will be starting Golden Healer very soon. So, let’s find out what Amelina has to say!
1. How old are you?
I am sixteen now. My story includes flashbacks to my thirteenth birthday when my dad disappeared. Since then, nothing has been the same.
2. where do you come from?
Believe it or not, I originate from this long line of Krystallos (crystal) magicians. It came as a shock to me when I discovered that.
3. where do you live? Describe it to us
I live in Cambridge in the UK, in a normal suburb. Don’t let that fool you! Our house has a hexagonal hallway, with a magical attic study, overseen by a key that talks and there is a much needed lookout point on the upper floor. If you visit, check out the clocks and the mirrors, too. You will find some mysterious surprises! Our house and the surrounding land is creepy and oppressive. I swear the house is a living entity; it makes a lot of grumbling, whispering noises! As our circumstances changed – with Bloodstone magic – the house reflected this by becoming altogether quieter.
Nearby, a short walk takes you to the river and the train tracks, where there is a pathway representing light and darkness. At the beginning, my mother warned me off going there, but how could I resist when there is a magical crystal cottage hidden there?
Wow, this captured my attention from the beginning with such an intriguing prologue and kept me enthralled throughout.
17 year old Harper is determined to solve an eighteen year old crime mystery, with Abigail being the first in a series of murder victims, in a small town. Abigail’s sister Emily says she is missing and ‘Something took her.’
Harper is a great character, brave, determined and so well written. I really enjoyed reading about her and felt sympathetic to her plight. And her family dynamics added an extra layer of interest in this story.
There are many warnings, and dreams which would make most teenagers run a mile but Harper stays resolute in her intention. She meets some seriously creepy characters along the way including the beguiling Gideon and his creepy brother Elijah.
Many mysteries are revealed towards the end of the book explaining why she was so compelled to dig deeper putting her own safety at risk. And there are some loose threads to be further explored in the second book.
Denver Falls crosses genre boundaries, being both a crime/murder mystery with a definite supernatural/paranormal feel to it with the mention of Shadow people, wraiths, the scene in the forest, the underground mine, and the weirdly dated poetry book and what follows. At the drunken bonfire the (Natives) issue a creepy warning to the kids to scare them off as they … ‘Anger the forest,’ says old man.
I loved the scene with Harper dancing under the moon with Gideon and I enjoyed the romantic aspect of the story.
The ending is complete but allows for a nice introduction to the second book in this series, with hints at what is to come.
Highly recommended. 5 stars, fantastic debut novel. Definitely my kind of read!
I’d also like to mention that the narrator of the audiobook did a fabulous job and really brought the tale to life. 5 stars to her too!
The above link takes you to my new bookstagram account which I started recently. Please follow, like and share to support indie, and small press authors. Thank you.
After a near cataclysmic worldwide event shook the foundations of society and unleashed numerous supernatural hazards onto the Earth, twins Quincy and Lilly just want to lead their lives as normally as possible. However, this proves to be quite difficult. The twins are the heirs of legendary horror writer and occultist W.A. Swansong, who has been declared a prophet now that many of his gruesome creations appear to really exist.
When a mysterious inheritance falls into the twins’ hands, a strange and violent secret organization becomes hell-bent on finding them. Quincy and Lilly are forced to flee their hometown of New Orleans, leading them on a wild, supernatural chase throughout the southern United States. With only a handful of allies and a trapped Fire Vampire named Tim, the twins uncover a great mystery tied to their inheritance, the source of ll pandemonium, and even the true origins of mankind.
My review:
Many thanks to the author for an ARC copy. Apologies for taking a while to review.
I loved this. I loved how crazy it is… The characters of Lily and her twin brother Quincy are awesome, as is the Fire Vampire, Tim. I especially liked Tim and his character arc was just brilliant. It’s a very fast-paced read and there are times where you shift from the twins to Sean’s scenes and you kind of go, whoa… hold on there… whose this? And what’s about to happen now? This took a bit of getting used to… But, I guess it’s intentional. It’s the kind of novel that will have you gripping your seat, or howling with laughter.
The strengths of The Swansong Conspiracy lie in the characterisation, (particularly via the dialogue,) the humourous and engaging plot and the well written action scenes. The banter between the twins is spot on. There are also some amazing descriptions in the book and the story is unusual and weird but in a good way.
So, a definite recommend for me especially if you would like to read something a little less ‘normal.’
While reading The Swansong Conspiracy I kept on having this sensation as if an animated reel of all these ghostly, strange, horrific and dangerous characters was going on in my head. I can see The Swansong Conspiracy transferring well to film. Great debut, Mr. Vossen. Highly imaginative. I’m impressed.
My rating: 5 stars
Author Bio:
Nick Vossen was raised on blockbuster films from the 80s and 90s as well as fantasy and sci-fi novels, comics and games. No matter the medium, his love for storytelling grew ever larger. Having always had a fascination with the fantastical and weird, he quickly grew fond of authors such as Terry Pratchett, H.P. Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman and many more. During the winter of 2017 Nick released an anthology of short, weird fiction entitled The Fissures Between Worlds, which delves into the strange places on Earth where time does not flow as it should. It was received quite favourably, and so Nick’s desire to tell more stories grew. He has since been privileged to appear in several other anthologies, magazines and short story compilations and has quite a few projects still in the works. His biggest fascinations and inspirations are old forgotten woodlands, the deepest depths of the oceans and the unsettling, uncanniness of retro futurism.
Nick graduated in Media- and Culture studies at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. He is currently working as a freelance creative writer and author. He also frequently works on projects in the Dutch indie-film industry, putting his talents to use in art-direction, set-dressing and of course screenwriting. His first novel, The Swansong Conspiracy (book 1 of the Eldritch Twins series) is set to be released at the end of 2020 by Parliament House Press. The book will offer a unique blend of coming-of-age comedy, supernatural horror and mystery.
“Hi, you in crowded stressed old London from me in the peaceful perfect Cotswolds. Massive change of plan. I’m in love. Craig’s gorgeous, sexy, intelligent. Paradise here. Staying forever.”
Juliet, concerned that her younger sister has fallen for the charismatic Craig, leader of the Wheel of Love, sets off for the Cotswolds to investigate the mystery.
She arrives at Craig’s community hoping to rescue Zoe. But romance, mystery & suspense await her as intrigues, liaisons & relationships flare, flourish or fizzle out quickly in this close circle of men & women; & despite her reservations Juliet is drawn into the Wheel of Love – with completely unforeseen consequences.
My review
Mystical Circles by S.C. Skillman is a mystical novel which explores relationships between men and women in an unusual cult community.
Its strength lies in the depiction of a whole host of characters who are all strange to a degree. I particularly enjoyed Craig the charismatic leader but was quite perplexed by the author’s lack of investment in the character of Zoe who Juliet, (her sister and the main protagonist,) is supposedly intent on saving from the clutches of cult leader, Craig.
There is very little interaction between the two sisters. Instead the world building and characterisation centres upon the odd quirks and habits of the rest of the characters. Perhaps this is an intentional decision on the part of the author. I tend to think that maybe it is. If you read Mystical Circles you’ll realise that Juliet’s initial ‘real’ reasons (both personal – her sister and professional – her work as a journalist,) become less urgent than her need to perhaps understand herself and her own motivations and desires.
It is a difficult book to review without including massive spoilers so I will say just this, the revelations at the end of the book took me by surprise and also seemed quite forced. But, having thought about it deeply I realise that the author was most probably illustrating that life can be confusing and changeable and partnerships are driven by more than passion. With two choices do we decide to take the safe, or the more dangerous path? Or, is the decision taken away from us?
Either way the ending was indeed strange but overall I enjoyed Mystical Circles for these reasons:
I am questioning my own spiritual life at the moment and books that make me reflect upon life stay in my memory long after I’ve finished reading them.
I believe there is a sequel – A Passionate Spirit and more to come from S.C. Skillman.
My recommendation: If mysticism, the meaning of life and philosophical questions appeal then dive in but if you prefer a fast-paced narrative this might not be for you. This is a slow, thoughtful read with much to recommend it.
Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’
“This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage. A captivating tale!” – Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor)
Meet Andorra Pett; with her trusty sidekick, she’s taken over a derelict cafe. On a mining station. It just happens to be orbiting Saturn! She’s hoping for a fresh start, away from all the drama of her old life. It’s a chance to relax and start again in a place where nobody knows anything about her or her past. But the cafe holds a secret, and secrets have a habit of coming out; whether you want them to or not. And being accident prone doesn’t help. The more you try to pretend that you know what’s going on, the worse it gets. Andorra’s plans for peace and quiet get lost amid the revelations and skulduggery and she soon realises that the fate of the whole station lies in her hapless hands. In space, you can still trip over your feet; the question is, will you land upright?
My review:
This is about as different as it gets in terms of sci/fi murder mystery sleuthing. For a start it is set on Saturn in a café frequented by miners, with lots of gossip and dodgy goings on and a body hidden in a freezer. It is imaginative and I like imaginative!The author himself has described it as an ‘Agatha Raisin in space.’
Who killed the previous owner of the ‘Ucky Strike Cafe’ which has lost its L?
It seems that Andorra might be the one to find out. There is a light-hearted feel to this novel and plenty of moments that made me laugh right from the start:
Also there are some interesting, (exclamation, exclamation,) revelations LOL… that I didn’t see coming at all and who would have guessed the culprit? Not me…
Andorra comes across as a likeable character who is looking for love and (sometimes tries too hard to find it .) Can she find love now she has escaped the hurts of her past? The supporting characters are believable and the story is well-written and engaging.
Even though it is Sc-fi it is a cozy Sci-fi, so don’t let that put you off if that might.
Do check out Richard’s website. He has written an enviable collection of books and is a fantastic supporter of independent authors with his Indie Showcases.
My recommendation: Read it! 5 stars. Enjoyable read.
M J Mallon YA Author and Poet 