Suzy Davies's Blog: Book News, page 6

Fairytale Magic: "The Girl in The Red Cape' by Suzy Davies

What is your book about?
Brother and sister, Billy and Stella compete in the Junior Race with their dog-sledding teams. All kinds of dangers await them, not least the wolves. Their step-brother, Tom, a solitary Inuk, has angered the pack. Queen Wolf is missing. The wolves will make good their loss or seek their revenge.

At the heart of the story, Stella, a rookie musher, is on the threshold of womanhood. “The Girl in The Red Cape” is running with wolves, dancing across the virgin snow. All alone, it’s Stella against the wilderness. But sometimes an invisible power supports her. And she has her loving Gran, always by her side, and friends who encourage her.

Stella, now grown, will catch a dream…

My book is a heartwarming action adventure fairytale, that speaks of the power of family, friendship, loyalty and courage, qualities we all need to succeed in life and flourish.

What is your inspiration for the story?
My inspiration for this book comes from my reading and my childhood. I have always loved fairytales, and my favorites are those classic reads written by Charles Perrault and by Hans Christian Andersen. I wanted to write the kind of story that would appeal to children and young adults, 9 to 12 years old, and the young at heart. I decided an animal fairytale would be best. I also wanted a tale with a magical theme and one that had all the enchantment and wonder of a snowy Winter Wonderland.

My idea was to create a modern retelling of Charles Perrault’s, “Little Red Riding Hood,” complete with an endearing shape-shifting Grannie-Can-Do, and a lone wolf at the centre of the tale. Children are far more sophisticated than they were at the time the original tale was written. So, I made the mystery of the wolf more intriguing, and gave more dimension to the central character, “Little Red Riding Hood.” I decided to make this Stella a young, shy teen, about to come of age, gain in confidence, and reach for her dreams. I gave her a loving, supportive family with a helpful brother, Billy, who was close. Their relationship was inspired by siblings I know who stand by each other through thick and thin. Stella and Billy have an almost telepathic empathy between them, and the relationship is real with all the teasing and rivalry that accompanies a deep intimacy and love.

I wrote in a love interest sub-plot , which brings out the protective qualities a good brother has for his sister. This romantic aspect of my book is clean, and suitable for young people, 9 to 12, to read.

My lead characters, Stella and Billy, are three-dimensional and they do have to overcome uncertainties, obstacles and challenges in order to self-actualise. But the whole feel of this action adventure fairytale is energised and positive, with a fast pace, so they are not weighed down by their difficulties, they rise to meet the opportunities in them! I think I drew on my own life, and the challenges I faced as a young woman as inspiration here.

I wished to make a character of the setting for my story; I have always thought that people are part of their environment and that where they live influences, though does not determine, their characters. A challenging wilderness – Alaska – seemed the perfect place to bring out Stella and Billy’s characters, and to make them each, in their own way, heroes in the story. The Wales of my early childhood days influenced my writing – just like Alaska it was wild and untamed, and a fairytale setting, full of enchantment and wonder.

I agree with the great E.B.White who famously said:

“Always be on the lookout for wonder”

For me, snow always takes me back to my imaginings as a child, and to the wonder in nature. It’s with that kind of imagination that I write.

From an early age, I was an outdoorsy kind of girl. I even went horse-riding in the snow. Dog racing is a similar sport. It was easy for me to imagine the up and down motion of the sleds racing through the snow-covered terrain. When you are riding or mushing you can go to places that people can only dream of, and your view of the world is different, depending on whether you are moving at a trot or a gallop, slow or fast, going through woods or climbing up to high terrain.

Back at the converted Welsh mansion, where I grew up in an extended family, we lived with my Gran in the top floor flat, we always had snow in winter. The flat was high, high up, with huge windows, and I had a bird’s eye view of the snow for miles around. I remember being fascinated by snow-filled skies, the gleaming quality of frost on the trees and bushes in the garden, and the powder of a light dusting on the rooftops of the terraces all around. On car rides, the mountains were awe-inspiring with snow on the peaks, the fields were seas of snow, and the waterfalls, magical crystal ice-tunnels. One year, we visited my cousins in Slough. Snow had formed a high wall over the cars so we were snowed in. It was not difficult for me to imagine Alaska in the snow, and all the kinds of snow the mushers encountered.

Later in life, when I was studying Social Psychology at university, I discovered that The Inuit have an impressive variety of words for different kinds of snow because their survival depends on it. In my tale, the Mushers’ journey involves negotiating unpredicable weather and conditions; a metaphor for the journeys of our lives, where we adapt in order to thrive.

Hans Christian Andersen’s wonderful fairytale descriptions of snow in “The Snow Queen” inspired me to make the scenes, sometimes with powder-like “dust from the cosmos,” and sometimes with high walls of snow, or vast ocean-lakes of snow, sound beautiful. I have always loved travel, and I wrote the story not only with the reader’s eyes at ground level, but also introduced aerial views of the landscape to give the journey dream-like interludes and a panoramic effect. I have always loved traveling by plane, including light aircraft, and this experience came in useful in helping me make the story.

The illustrations, by Michele Bourke, bring out the magical elements of Alaska’s scenery and its wildlife in a wonderful way. Below is the book cover and some of the illustrations in the book, Copyright Michele Bourke, 2019, All Rights Reserved.


Watching nature programmes featuring Alaska inspired me to feature the wild animals and birds: caribou, moose, bears, wolves, goats and eagles found in the area in my descriptions. I wanted to capture Alaska’s quiet, natural wild beauty.

Michele Bourke encouraged me to weave in something about the Alaskan Triangle. So here is the paradox; Alaska is the kind of place where you may find yourself even if folks think you are lost. This reminds me of the famous line from Tolkien:

“Not all those who wander are lost.”

The Northern Star in my story is a motif that stands in for one’s inner voice, that quiet subtle voice that says someone is headed in the right direction. Looking at the night sky has always been an inspiration to me. It’s that feeling of wonder again. There’s a shooting star in the story. For me this is a symbol of hope and dreams to be fulfilled. I have gazed at the firmament and made wishes. Doesn’t everyone? I’m inspired by the idea of a Greater Power in the grand scheme of things.

The character of Alaska in the story reveals the interplay of light and dark, sunshine and shadows. And there are mystical elements which draw on traditional folk tales.

My inspiration for my dog characters came from the movie, “Dances with Wolves,” and I “heard” the music score in my head as I was writing. In particular, I wanted to show the bonds between animals and humans and their interdependence.

The harmony between dogs and humans contrasts with the conflict between humans and the wolves; this helps to build tension and excitement in the story.

Black-Claw The Raven is my favorite animal character who is the most magical. He comes from the old mansion where I lived as a child; we always had ravens and there is something endearing about them. But I am also pleased with little Tag, The Fox, who brings the magic of The Northern Lights to the race. My idea for him came from an old Nordic folk tale.

When I write, my stories are always character-led, and I fill in the details from there.

I read around everything I could about the race itself – The Junior Iditarod – then I took courage in both hands, and decided to approach a celebrated Alaskan sportswoman who could advise me on some factual details.

Anna Stephan, Champion Musher and Winner of The Junior Iditarod 2019, was so generous in her support of me, and she agreed to be the consultant for the factual elements of my story. She informed me of the importance of the partnership between Mushers and their dogs:

“Look after your dogs, and they’ll look after you.”

It was such a thrill to collaborate with Anna, and a humbling experience when you see what she has achieved.

What do you hope readers will take away from reading your story?
My professional background in teaching and life-coaching is useful when I am writing stories, and I hope that the values in this book are uplifting, encouraging and inspirational to young minds.

I hope that readers will get a “can-do” approach to life challenges and opportunities as they read the book, at the same time as being entertained by the fairytale. For Alaskans who read the book, I hope they will see something of the magical world they know within the pages. And to those from farther afield, I hope they will be captured in its spell. I know that the story will appeal to lovers of nature and of animals. And I think that those who like animated movies especially Disney, will love the tale. My story will be of interest to homeschoolers who want an appealing story to key in to their Geography, Culture, Nature, Science, Sport, Art or Lifecoaching lessons.

I would like “The Girl in The Red Cape: A Mystical Sled Ride” to be in the hands of readers all over the world. What will happen in the future? Who can tell?


Author Suzy Davies
Suzy Davies is a Children’s Author and Writer of Fairytales. She became fascinated with language at an early age, and started to write at the age of six. Writing has been a constant all her life, and “The Girl in The Red Cape: A Mystical Sled Ride,” is her seventh book. She is a little bit superstitious about this, since seven is her lucky number!

Suzy lives and works in Florida with her husband who is a writer, and two semi-wild cats.

Suzy would like to thank Elizabeth at Authors’ Lounge (The Readers’ Magnet Club) for inviting her as a guest author. Her book is available for sale on Amazon Worldwide in Kindle ebook, Kindle Unlimited and in Paperback. You can check out more about her on Goodreads.

Author’s Links: Goodreads , Amazon

How to Create Atmosphere in Children's Books.

What is atmosphere? How do we craft a story so that it is evocative? In this article, I will show you how I achieved this aim in “Snugs The Snow Bear,” my debut children’s book.

Atmosphere in a book is the way in which we describe how it “feels” to be in the company of the characters in our book, the most important character being the lead or the hero. We can create a backstory early on in our book to situate the character, and convey information about him. Make him larger than life and memorable! Don’t show all of him, just enough to whet children’s appetite! By showing forth our lead character through the eyes of others, we give him credibility, and kids know something of his personality traits early on.

“Don’t you know it’s Snow Bear–he doesn’t eat people–he’s a friendly bear–not at all like other white bears! You know, for a bear, Snugs is easy to get along with… I know bears who claw and growl, but Snugs doesn’t.”

“Now, how could anyone, with a name that sounds like snug, and a hug, be fierce, eh? Snugs is a real softie…”

“Sir, I’ve known him since I was born! We’ve played snowball, and built snow- houses together that are called igloos, and once, when one of Santa’s reindeer was sick on Christmas Eve, Snow Bear stepped in to help with the presents …he’s very kind, and clever, and strong, you know!”

Now we need to create a setting that will show forth this character, Snugs, to best advantage. We always associate snow bears with their natural environment, but how about if we put this snow bear, Snugs, in an old lighthouse on a wintry day? How about if we introduced him to a old wise man–a lighthouse keeper. Snugs is young with off-white fur, and the lighthouse-keeper is an old grandfather with gray hair!

Now, we have cast Snugs as a kind of bear-child visiting an elder! All children can relate to that.

“Snugs! Ha Ha! I’m so glad you’ve come!” said the very old, and very gray Mr. Merryweather.

How do we set the scene so it is enchanting to young minds? Remember, a place can also have personality. Here we need to consider all the ways we “interpret” our surroundings–through our eyes, ears, through touch and smell. We have to put the reader into the setting. Remember–it is always good to write about what you know, and lighthouses and the sea have always been a draw for me, ever since I was a child.

Sight:

“The lighthouse looked out onto the big, bright blue ocean. Snugs saw some sailing boats going out to sea, and he waved.”

Touch:

“Trudge, trudge, trudge, James’s legs were aching … higher and higher, slower, and slower still, they climbed …”

“He extended a giant weathered hand, and hugged Snugs with an iron grip that almost swallowed the little bear up.”

Smell:

I create the suggestion of smell with one that is likely to be familiar to children–the memory of hard-boiled eggs cooking.

Hearing:

“A little later, Snugs heard a strange sound, through the lighthouse walls. The moose were fast asleep, and they were snoring. Snugs heard the sound of the sea.

It was high tide, and the sound of the waves coming in sounded like the breath of an enormous dinosaur.”

A final touch is to get kids eager to go to bed with this cinematic description. Notice we have a combination of a long shot, a medium range shot and a close-up. I employ a combination of vision and sensation.

“Round the lighthouse, on the opposite side to Snugs’ room, Mr. and Mrs. Merryweather put down the blinds and blew out the candle. They were very tired, and tomorrow was Christmas Eve on The Isle of Wight.”

In the next chapter, which opens outside the lighthouse, again I use a combination of “camera shots,” but this time I let the reader take in the “new scenery” outside the lighthouse. Point of view adds another dimension to the scene. Although Mr. and Mrs. Merryweather look out on the same scene, what they perceive is different from what Snugs notices. This, of course, is how we show forth character and emotion.

The Merryweathers are concerned about the rough sea. Snugs is excited about the snow! We notice what is important to us!

“When they looked out of the lighthouse windows Mr. and Mrs, Merryweather saw that the sea was very rough and gray.”

“When little Snugs looked out he saw that the roofs of the cottages, that nestled close to the lighthouse, were now completely white. At ground level, sleet was blowing over the garden, and along the paths. It wouldn’t be long before The Isle of Wight would be snow white – he was sure about that!”

When I wrote Snugs The Snow Bear, I wanted to capture the thrill children have when they first see the snow arrive! As one of my favorite authors, E.B White suggested, "Always be on the lookout for wonder."



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Copyright Suzy Davies, 2020 All Rights Reserved. Cover Design Copyright, Peter Hall 2016. All Rights Reserved. No copying of “Snugs The Snow Bear” text or cover image without the written permission of the copyright.

Celebrate The Seasons

Today is a day for Laurie Shanholtzer, acclaimed Artist and Educator and I to have a celebration of our very own.

I don't know Colin Ridyard, but he has just reviewed our Children's Poetry Book! I have to say, I am thrilled and stunned that he has compared our book to none other than Robert Louis Stevenson's, "A Child's Garden of Verses"

This book reviewer is also a writer, and you can tell by the thought, feeling and appreciation he has put into his review, that he really gets our work!

I have to say, my poetry is inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson, and I have endeavoured to make my poetry relevant to this modern day. Here is an excerpt from his review, which you can read on his author site, and on Amazon U.K.

"Like Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, I have no doubts whatsoever children, parents and grandparents will still be reading “Celebrate the Seasons” 135 years from now and probably for hundreds of years beyond. The blurb on the book rightly says it celebrates “holidays, sports events and treasured days at leisure with family and friends”. Without giving too much away, it takes you on an enchanted journey into timeless magical odysseys where little girls can be princesses, little boys can sit fishing by a river, little children play out in the warm wintry snow and then go home and curl up in front of a huge roaring log fire, safe and secure in the knowledge someone will always be there for them."

"Beautiful" says Professor of English!

Thrilled to see that I have a book review on Amazon from L.C.Barlow, a Professor of English with an M.F.A in Creative Writing. Giving my book, "The Girl in the Red Cape: A Mystical Sled Ride," a 5-star rating she compares my book to J.K Rowling's, "Harry Potter" and "The Icabog"

I have to congratulate my co-worker and artist, Michele Bourke, for her wonderful illustrations. And let's face it, the whole point of illustrations and writing is that the hermeneutic gap between them, i.e the gap in meaning is where a writer gives space for the reader's own imaginings.

Night Lights

Night lights, life-enhancing,
Skipping the streets, the rhythm of the beats,
We’re night dancing.

Criss-cross, over the water,
Hand in hand,
Woman and man,
Son and daughter.

New York, New York, is calling,
Bright lights all beam,
Where dreamers all dream,
“And I think I’m fallin.”

Night lights, music on the breeze,
All sing and dance,
All find romance,
It’s the music that we feel.

Night lights, shadows and light,
Colors, n’ vibrations,
Colors n’ sensations,
N’ All that jazz.

Cars doin’ the Bosanova,
Me and my girl,
Givin it a twirl
Over and over.

Night lights,
The rhythm and the sway,
It’s the music of the streets,
People who we meet,
Doin' it our way.

Night lights,
Up in the sky,
The stars come out tonight,
An’ our hearts take flight.
Jus’ You ‘n me
In the city streets ..
Tonight …

Copyright Suzy Davies, September, 2020.

Amazon Book Review

Humbled and thrilled with the most recent review for "The Girl in the Red Cape: A Mystical Sled Ride," Childrens Book, written by yours truly and illustrated by Michele Bourke.

From the illustrations to the creative and adventurous story, this is a beautiful book. Love that it has a strong female protagonist and is a whimsical and well-written page turner. If you enjoy Harry Potter or The Icabog, I highly recommend.

The Girl In The Red Cape - Author Interview

https://scribblingsofasouthernbelle.c...

Amazon Book Review

5-stars for "Celebrate The Seasons" by Suzy Davies and Laurie Shanholtzer

This is a 'STUNNING' poetry book in so many ways. The beautiful words of the poetry took me back to so many memories as a child. Going fishing with my dad and spending time at the beach. Even the poems about Christmas time flooded back very fond memories. What brings this book together are the unbelievable illustrations throughout. They really are incredible! The detail and the warmth of the illustrations combined with the poetry are brilliant. Loved it!

Amazon Book Review

5-stars for "The Girl in the Red Cape: A Mystical Sled Ride" by Suzy Davies, illustrated by Michele Bourke


Customer Review
Dan Santos
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, the secrets of Little Red Riding Hood
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2020
From time to time the child in us revisits the fairy tales which have been there like forever. I don’t know about you, but I often wonder if a particular fairy tale holds meanings we missed as children. The temptation to reread it grows stronger when little details come to haunt us. Such is the case with Little Red Riding Hood.
It fascinated and even scared me the first time I heard it. A precocious (and frankly a little pain in the butt) kid, I began to ask questions. What illness did her grandmother have? Why didn’t an adult accompany her through the dangerous woods? What’s with the cape and the hood? Who was that girl anyway?
It seems I wasn’t alone in my search for answers to my troubling questions. Suzy Davies decided to tackle the revisit and answer many of the questions. As a parent, I could have predicted the first answer: the kid was a teenager. Sometimes that explains a lot of erratic behavior. But the author went further. She had a name: Stella. And she had an interesting story.
Suzy Davies built a modern day children's book around this traditional fairy tale. She has a tremendous imagination and knows how to tell a story. Moreover, she kept it within the realm of eight to ten year olds. So it is safe to share it with your little ones. And, oh yeah, it has illustrations!
So here’s your chance to begin answering all those questions. It’s a perfect early reader, or even a book to read to your kids at night. Do people still do that?

Don't ...

Don’t look, don’t look,
there’s looting on the streets.
Don’t feel, don’t feel,
don’t watch your brothers bleed.

Don’t say, don’t say,
don’t breathe another word.
Don’t hear, don’t hear,
don’t tell’ em what you heard.

Don’t think, don’t think,
remembering what’s the truth.
Mindfulness, bearing witness,
is something - not for you.

Don’t ask, don’t ask,
why changes never come.
Don’t cry, look to the sky,
for all the things you’ve done.

I said, don’t touch, don’t touch,
the lives beside your own.
Don’t pray, and never say
each heart’ll have a home.

Copyright, Suzy Davies, 2020.