I'm delighted to share a guest post by Kelly Byrd, who explains about...
Writing With a Child’s Heart
by
Kelly Byrd
Writing is such a part of my personality,
history, and persona I honestly don’t know what I would do without it. Stories
and characters have crawled around my mind since I was young. My mother, with
the best of intentions, asked the pediatrician if my army of imaginary friends
was normal or not. He told her that I was a child with a vivid imagination.
Which, as all three hundred of my imaginary friends could tell you, was very
true.
When I was young, I had binders full of
scribbled stories shoved under my bed. Stories about my American Girl dolls,
stuffed teddy bears, my little brother’s obsession with hot dogs, soccer
practice, and everything else that was important to me at the time. I don’t
think I knew then that I wanted to write books for a living. Far from it—my
preferred careers ranged from teacher to microbiologist to country music star.
(All of those things fell through.)
I’m telling you all of this, dear reader,
because I truly believe that we have to make an effort to hold on to the
passions that we were drawn to as children. We so often see expression, art,
dance—whatever you choose—as child’s play. As we get older, we forget that
creative part of ourselves because life is busy and full of demands, and
something has to go. We put down our passions in search of success or family or
whatever the case may be, and I think this is a tragic loss.
My Far From Home series, including City of Lights and Great Big Ocean Sky, pursues this idea. The heroes are on a quest
to help save the Everything, a magical force that originates by people living
and creating together. The adults are often blind to the kids' trials, as
grown-ups often can be, so it’s up to the
kids to restore the magical land of LeeChee to its full glory. They take
on the task with excitement, grit, and a fair bit of nerve. Whether or not they
complete the task is locked in the pages of the books. Enter into the tale at
your own peril.
Whether or not you decide to pick up a Far
From Home book is wholly up to you, but what I encourage you to do is to go out
and make something today. It doesn’t matter what. Write a paragraph about
something (or nothing), try a new recipe, draw a picture, or create a scrapbook
page. Whatever the muses speak to you, let it out. Get messy! Help the
Everything grow!
*************************
Great Big Ocean Sky
by
Kelly Byrd
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GENRE: Mid-grade Fantasy
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BLURB:
Book Two of the Far from Home Trilogy
Catch up with Mary Jingo as she trains with her
friends in the Great Big Ocean Sky-side city of Festdelm. She may have survived
the danger in Luminos, the City of Lights, but new challenges await as she,
Teeny, Van Clare, Corb, Mikeala, and WindRunner continue their fight to save
the Everything. When a new Shadowlander comes to LeeChee, will Mary be able to
trust him—even if he is one of her closest friends?
Join Mary Jingo and her motley crew as they travel
to the far ends of the world on their quest to save the Everything.
As more of LeeChee falls under Thrall, Mary must
choose wisely. Whom will she trust? What bonds will endure? And... how did a
Yorkshire Terrier end up as a part of this crazy experience?
The answers, dear reader, await inside as we set
sail on the Great Big Ocean Sky.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
WindRunner shot into the air, following the great ‘Dragon
through the sky. Peregrina’s wake was strong and fast, and WindRunner put
himself in the center of her air stream. Mary looked around, sensing for the
other Thoughtdragons that had attacked the Garnet Revenge, but did not feel
them.
It doesn’t mean they aren’t nearby, WindRunner said.
Really?
Do not become overconfident with this power, Mary Jingo. The
Thoughtdragons are dangerous. Older even than my Kin. While I face the same
temptation as you—I am drawn to her great power—remember that Peregrina wanted
to be found. Otherwise, we would not have been able to follow her.
That couldn’t be possible, Mary puzzled to herself. She had
known where Peregrina was. Mary had made this decision to follow Peregrina,
hadn’t she? A stab of doubt hit Mary in the chest. Had they walked into a trap?
Peace, Warrior, WindRunner said soothingly. Peregrina wanted
us to follow her. I don’t think she will harm you. I think she wishes to speak
with you. Or, that is what Mikeala said to me before we left the boat.
You had a private Mindspan with Mikeala?
Yes. She told me I should take you if you wished to go.
Private Mindspans are rude when they are about someone else.
The Father says so.
WindRunner laughed in her mind.
Suddenly, Peregrina stopped in midair and whipped around.
WindRunner dove to keep from running straight into her serpentine length,
ending their conversation. Peregrina beat her wings softly to stay stationary,
and WindRunner flew around until he was face to face with the great
Thoughtdragon.
Mary’s stomach sank. The last time she had been face to face
in the air with someone like this, it had been the evil Mellie. She had won
that battle, but only barely. She was not certain she could win a battle like
that again. Peregrina was even more terrifying than Mellie. Her head was twice
the size of WindRunner. The Thoughtdragon only needed to barely open her mouth
to swallow them both whole.
WindRunner sent courage through their bond, but Mary felt
his unease. He was being strong for her, just like she wanted to be strong for
him. Peregrina spoke then to them both, her voice rich, gravelly, and musical,
like a bass note dropped beneath a perfect melody.
“Well, you followed me out here, Shadowlander. What is it
that you want?” She slithered her great head to the side as she said this, and
Mary felt and smelled the Thoughtdragon’s untamed power. It blotted out her
fear.
“I need your scales. Three of them. We need them in LeeChee.
The Everything is shrinking, and I am fighting with the Resistors. We are
trying to save it,” Mary said, breathing deeply. She spoke clearly and with
confidence. “Please help us, great Peregrina.”
The ‘dragon shook her head and laughed.
“Save it? Save the Everything with my scales? Child, in your
tiny mind, I might as well be the Everything. You cannot save the Everything
with the Everything. And that world, that island, has been pitiful and beyond
saving for many annuals now. Your Keeper is the size of a child. Don’t you see?
It is lost. Go home to your dark, dark world and leave us in peace. Your People
are causing the problem anyway.”
“My People?” Mary responded, trying to hide the hurt in her
voice.
“Yes—you Shadowlanders. The Everything is created in the
Shadowlands. It cycles up and up to places like LeeChee to be kept safe. Over
time, it drifts back down to the Shadowlands and the cycle continues, with the
ebb and flow of time. Do they not teach you anything in school down there?”
Peregrina paused and turned her livid golden eyes to WindRunner.
“And you, the Lumon’s son. Bound by oath to protect a girl
from the Shadowlands. Why have you done this?”
“She can save us,” WindRunner blasted back.
“Can she?” Peregrina replied with a grin on her giant mouth.
“How? It is the greed of her People that has caused the blight in your lands.
They don’t go outside anymore. They are trapped in their own heads, in their
own tribes. They don’t listen to each other. They hardly interact with anyone
who doesn’t think exactly how they do. How does one child heal rifts and tears
that are hundreds of years old? This is why the Everything shrinks. Do you not
know, WindRunner, son of Spearwing? Or are you all much too blind to see it?”
“Mellie is to blame for the Void. Mellie has been warping
the Everything to her own purposes,” Mary said, yelling across the distance.
“Fool! Mellie was once like your precious Mikeala. As tall
as a mountain and charged with keeping the Everything and the flow of the
Cycles safe. She could no more turn the Everything into the Void than I can. It
is against her nature. But to regain her former strength and form, she may have
been tempted to help someone corrupt the Everything. The Void is powerful, even
if it is unnatural. She may be helping the flow of the Void, but no, no. She
did not create it.”
“Her scars,” Mary said to herself and WindRunner, thinking
of the marks that marred the woman’s face. “Her scars are from the Void.”
“Yes,” Peregrina said. Her hearing must be excellent to
perceive Mary over such a distance. “Yes. She has paid dearly in service to the
Void.”
“You must help us,” Mary cried desperately. “Mikeala said
you brought me out here to talk to me. Help me. I know you can.”
The giant Thoughtdragon swirled her body in the air in front
of Mary. Small flames burst from her mouth when she laughed. Mary could feel
their heat as they crackled in the air.
“Why would I help you? As I said, the greed of your people
is what is causing LeeChee to die. It will grow dark and cold and fade, and me
and my kind will visit it no more. And your land will suffer, Mary Jingo. As we
have all suffered.”
“Please—you cannot let this happen.”
“How dare you!” Peregrina boomed. Her jaws opened wide. “How
dare you accuse me of letting anything happen. It breaks my very being to know
that LeeChee will fall into darkness and the Void, but I cannot intervene. Your
People, you Shadowlanders, with your pride and your lack of imagination, your
desperation for profit. You will kill LeeChee. I allowed you to follow me here
because I wanted to see your face before I send you back to that darkened world
of the Shadowlands. You don’t belong in LeeChee, Mary Jingo. You will only make
things worse.”
Peregrina dove towards Mary and WindRunner, spinning her
long body in the air and flapping her wings hard. WindRunner, always ready for
attack, spun out of the way, as Mary gripped the handholds. She cast for
Peregrina’s power, but found herself blocked from it.
WindRunner. She has shielded me. I cannot channel or
control.
Sensing Mary’s fear, WindRunner burst through the air, the
giant ‘dragon following swiftly behind. Peregrina was bigger, which WindRunner
used to his advantage, banking and turning quickly through the air, making it
hard for the Thoughtdragon to follow. Mary found herself dizzy and out of
sorts, casting about for ideas. WindRunner blasted a mighty caw at the
Thoughtdragon and watched as a jet of light shot from his beak and hit
Peregrina squarely between the eyes. She roared angrily, then continued her wild
pursuit.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Stories have crept around the halls
of Kelly Byrd’s mind since she was a little girl. Not even the combined will of
her two loyal pups, her devoted husband, and all her house plants could keep
her from putting this story into the world. You’ll find this happy crew in
Nashville. Tennessee.
Website
Blog
Instagram
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