I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of magic and fantastical things existing around us without our knowing it. Everywhere I go, everything I experience…my brain immediately goes to a bunch of “what if?” questions. When we visited Colorado and had lunch in the shadow of a mountain, while my wife was marveling at the beauty of the mountain, my brain’s first three thoughts involved a hidden alien base, a previously-unknown volcano, and a portal to a hidden world teeming with mystical creatures. I always say I try to write fantasy for those who say they don’t like fantasy, because I believe everyone likes fantasy…they just might not know what kind they like!!
Jen Aston’s small-town life suddenly changes when she barely escapes three attempts on her life. Jen owes her life to the secretive new PE teacher, Coach Doyle, who has miraculously appeared to save her every time. Doyle has fighting skills fit for a martial arts movie and reflexes just this side of impossible, but how long can he keep them safe?
While Jen is falling for Doyle, her younger sister Ellie is shocked when she discovers something otherworldly in the coach’s barn, convincing her that Doyle is definitely not a PE teacher. Ellie does not like secrets being kept from her, and is determined to unravel the enigma that is Coach Doyle. The truths that will be revealed, however, will change all their lives forever....
This is the book that, for me, started my love for fantasy books. My 4th-grade teacher recommended it to me because she saw how creative I was, and she thought it would be right up my alley. So, I went to the school library, checked it out, and devoured it that night.
The story introduced the idea of parallel worlds to me, which at the time blew my mind. Parallel worlds now feature heavily in my writing, and I can trace my fascination back to Narnia.
Lucy steps into the Professor's wardrobe - but steps out again into a snowy forest. She's stumbled upon the magical world of Narnia, land of unicorns, centaurs, fauns... and the wicked White Witch, who terrorises all. Lucy soon realises that Narnia, and in particular Aslan, the great Lion, needs her help if the country's creatures are ever going to be free again...
Shortly after I finished the Chronicles of Narnia series, my teacher suggested I try The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper. I grabbed what I thought was the first book—only learning later that it’s actually the second book in the series—and quickly fell in love. An 11-year-old boy learning he has magical powers and is the world’s last chance? Yes, please!
I also really enjoyed Merriman. I have a soft spot for mysterious mentors, which is why my character of Doyle is written like that in my first book.
On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift-- that he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. At once, he is plunged into a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle between the Dark and the Light. And for the twelve days of Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for Will is full of wonder, terror, and delight.
A Wrinkle in Time might be viewed more as sci-fi than fantasy, but to me, the two genres are inextricably linked. Wrinkle in Time is soft sci-fi, but there are definitely fantasy elements to it.
Again, the idea of parallel universes sucked me in and wouldn’t let go. I really enjoyed Meg and Calvin’s relationship, and especially liked that the popular athlete fell for the nerdy girl, completely going against stereotypes. I’m not much of one for relationship tropes; I like when things go against the grain, or pleasantly surprise you because you didn’t see it coming.
Puffin Classics: the definitive collection of timeless stories, for every child.
We can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts.
When Charles and Meg Murry go searching through a 'wrinkle in time' for their lost father, they find themselves on an evil planet where all life is enslaved by a huge pulsating brain known as 'It'.
Meg, Charles and their friend Calvin embark on a cosmic journey helped by the funny and mysterious trio of guardian angels, Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which. Together they must find the weapon that will defeat It.…
I’ve heard people say “This isn’t fantasy”, which confuses me. A story about miniature people living in your walls and stuff, who “borrow” items to furnish their homes and lives? Sounds pretty fantastical to me!
This book really made me think about what could be hiding right under my nose. Before I read this, I’d never really considered the possibility that there could be things in our world that we have no idea about. That helped form the core tenet of my trilogy: extraordinary things can be hiding amongst the ordinary ones.
Puffin Classics: the definitive collection of timeless stories, for every child.
'Don't move!' said a voice, and the voice, like the eye, was enormous but somehow, hushed - and hoarse like a surge of wind through the grating on a stormy night in March. Arrietty froze. 'So this is it,' she thought, 'the worst and most terrible thing of all: I have been "seen"!
The Borrowers live in the secret places of quiet old houses; behind the mantelpiece, inside the harpsichord, under the kitchen clock. They own nothing, borrow everything, and never forget their most important rule: you must never,…
I’d already read the first few Shannara books when I stumbled across this book in the library. Again, the idea of a parallel world—where you can just buy an entire magical kingdom—was too good for me to pass up.
This was the first “quirky” fantasy I’d ever read. Most of them had comical moments, but still took their story seriously. This book—and series—is not what I would call a laugh-fest, but it’s definitely much lighter in tone than most fantasy novels, and showed me that you can inject a lot of humor and absurdity into a fantasy book—something I employ in my own books.
Here in his first non-Shannara novel, Terry Brooks has written a gripping story of mystery, magic, and adventure—sure to delight fantasy readers everywhere.
Landover was a genuine magic kingdom, with fairy folk and wizardry, just as the advertisement has promised. But after he purchased it, Ben Holiday learned that there were a few details the ad had failed to mention.
The kingdom was in ruin. The Barons refused to recognize a king, and the peasants were without hope. A dragon was laying waste the countryside, while an evil witch plotted to destroy everything.
Neuroscience PhD student Frankie Conner has finally gotten her life together—she’s determined to discover the cause of her depression and find a cure for herself and everyone like her. But the first day of her program, she meets a group of talking animals who have an urgent message they refuse to share. And while the animals may not have Frankie’s exalted human brain, they know things she doesn’t, like what happened before she was adopted.
To prove she’s sane, Frankie investigates her forgotten past and conducts clandestine experiments. But just when she uncovers the truth, she has to make an impossible choice: betray the animals she’s fallen in love with—or give up her last chance at success and everything she thought she knew.
Frankie Conner, first-year graduate student at UC Berkeley, is finally getting her life together. After multiple failures and several false starts, she's found her calling: become a neuroscientist, discover the cause of her depression and anxiety, and hopefully find a cure for herself and everyone like her.
But her first day of the program, Frankie meets a mysterious group of talking animals who claim to have an urgent message for her. The problem is, they're not willing to share it. Not yet. Not until she's ready.
While Frankie's new friends may not have her highly evolved, state-of-the-art, exalted human brain,…
