Sandra Alex's Blog, page 2

Another Positive Review

National Emmy Award winner Frank Radice, television producer and co-author of Random House’s pop-up book “Sam Katz on the Loose,” said:

“As an author of content for kids I know the difficulty of creating a world that is intriguing, engaging and fun. ‘The Conjunction of the Realms’ has achieved that goal, and gone way beyond, in both originality and beauty. It is a giant leap for the genre. This has great ‘Legs!’”
The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One) is available for sale at:

- Amazon.com
- Amazon.co.uk (currently discounted! Only £2.00)
- Barnes & Noble
- iBooks from Apple
- Kobo

You can also Like us on Facebook or follow Sandra Alex here on Twitter or on Google+.

Why Northern Ireland

Beginning October 10, 2013 and continuing for the next thirty days, “The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)” is being discounted on Amazon.co.uk.

Why is this promotion taking place in the United Kingdom and not in the United States?
When I started writing The Conjunction of the Realm’s first volume, I imagined the story to occur in a magical location, filled with beauty and mystique. A place where the existence of creatures from a different realm was still considered a possibility and bedtime stories never stopped being told; a place where forests, caves, and waterfalls could be found all around. Ireland was my first pick. There Leprechauns are as close to real as rainbows, and there just might be a pot of gold hiding somewhere. Then suddenly my focus shifted to Northern Ireland. Searching the internet, I stumbled upon Glenariff, the most beautiful of the nine Glens of Antrim, sometimes known as the Queen of all the glens. Besides Glenariff and Waterfoot, the cities of Belfast and Hillsborough became strategic locations for The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One). Later, with the advent of Google® Maps, I was able to virtually visit each one of these places and carefully examine them from my MacBook® Pro’s screen. I even had the strange experience of seeing one of these locations in my mind’s eye (Dark Hedges) before I knew it existed.

Northern Ireland also appealed to me because of The Troubles’ history in the late 1960’s, leading to the Bogside Massacre of 1972, or as it became famously known: “Bloody Sunday.” Yes, the same “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” sung by Bono and the U2 band. My heart had always gone out to the people of Northern Ireland. I imagined depicting this beautiful place filled with wonder, where the importance of relationships is paramount, and the love of family surpasses all remaining friction. I imagined my little book making an impact in the lives of those Northern Irish children and families, and eliminating any possibilities of future conflict. Quite the imagination I have, and yet, why put a limitation on it? Why not think big? I began writing, picturing myself in Glenariff, describing each location as best as I possibly could, knowing that since a conjunction of the realms was taking place in the Northern Ireland of my book, the reader would find some aspects from the realm of imagination superimposed on the current state of things, which some refer to as reality.

As if all of the above was not reason enough to have Northern Ireland be the perfect location for The Conjunction of the Realms, this next discovery was about to astound me. Writing Chapter 4, I came to a stand still and began questioning myself: “Why write a book? You’re not even a writer! Who do you think you are?” The wave of discouragement was so strong that it halted my writing for a couple of years. One day, while doing a research for Disney on the 2005 release of “Chronicles of Narnia,” I began studying the life of C.S. Lewis. The first sentence read: “Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland…” At that moment I knew it was no coincidence. The Conjunction of the Realms needed to be written. Thanks to C.S. Lewis and his inspiring legacy which has blessed and continues to bless children all over the world, my goal of blessing the children and the families of Northern Ireland grew stronger and stronger, enough to help me finish the first installment of the series.

More Positive Reviews for "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)"

Today I would like to post another positive review from Amazon.com and respond:

Fantasy: a Fun, Happy, Read with Depth September 14, 2013
By S. McMullen
Format:Kindle Edition

This book surprised me. I am not a fantasy genre fan but I enjoyed reading this book. It takes you on a journey between the real world with its beauty and wonder and the world of imagination. There is enough science fiction thrown in to make you buy into and consider alternate realities. Perhaps this alternate world has more truth in it than the world we think we live in.

Dear S. McMullen:

Thank you so much for your review. A lot of research went into The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One), to make it as believable as it can possibly be. Even the archeological findings of the homo floresienses, proving the existence of a newly discovered species with human characteristics but of a much smaller stature, served well to have readers ask the very question you did on your review: could this alternate world be true? I hope The Conjunction of the Realms series can inspire young and old to abandon for a moment this cynical world we live in and enjoy a magical and unforgettable adventure to the world of imagination.
All the best!- Sandra Alex

The above image is copyrighted by Livre Press, Inc. and is not available for reproduction without written permission from the author. 2013 © Livre Press, Inc.

 

Positive reviews for "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)"

It is not everyday that you fill your heart with courage to publish a book and a month later find amazing reviews posted by the readers. The next three blog posts will be devoted to these reviews, along with my comments.

This post came from Dream Detective on Amazon:


“dream detective” (Los Angeles, CA) – See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase (What’s this?)

This review is from: The Conjunction of the Realms (Part 1) (Kindle Edition)The Conjunction of the Realms is quite unlike anything I have ever read, even though as a college literature instructor I have read hundreds of books considered to be in the genre of fantasy. At first, I was surprised that the writing was unabashedly non-formulaic, or expected. Before I could consider another question, I was caught into the intrigue of the magical characters and their world–which really is “the conjunction of realms” between a believable family in the 21st century and the many spirit creatures and understandings they encounter and interact with. The story line continues to broaden and draw you in, and what you will discover will both delight you and release your inner child to consider the possibilities of the world that we live in. The illustrations are winsome and lovely….I can’t wait for Part II!

Dear Dream Detective:

What an inspiring review! It is so encouraging to find out that you enjoyed the story and was caught in the conjunction of the two realms: imagination and our perceived reality. To portray a 21st century family was a huge part of the plot. Most magical stories have their origins in the past, so no wonder they are not believable. I wanted the readers everywhere to realize that the world of imagination is alive and well! And it is also very accessible. Anyone can go on an adventure. Thank you so much for your kind words, and if all goes well, Part Two will be released August 2014. All the best!

Sandra Alex 

The Legend of the Pink Dolphins

Occasionally Pink lake’s reflection looked pink, especially when the sunset and clouds’ positions were just right, but most likely the lake's name was inherited from the old legend of the pink dolphins. There was a time when dolphins played in those waters. The swimming mammals were exactly like the endangered species of fresh water dolphins found in the Amazon River; they are called Pink Amazon River Dolphins because of a light pink tinge in their almost white skin pigmentation. Many young men growing up in the Glenariff area, including Phil Kingsley, cringed at the thought of having to call the lake such a girly name.

Paulo Cardoso made a few documentaries on preservation projects in his homeland of Brazil. One of his films featured Brazilian ecologists’ efforts to save the endangered pink dolphins of the northern river.

Legend tells that these pink dolphins appeared in Northern Ireland in the early 1900’s. These were not ordinary animals, but creatures endowed with powers to communicate with humans and supernaturally carry them from the material world to the realm of imagination and back. Some say they used to live in Pink lake at a time when fairies and gnomes and other creatures of the sort were visible to the human eye.

To find out more about the endangered pink dolphins and their adventures with the Kingsley family on Pink lake, you can download "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" ebook in the U.S. on Amazon.com or Kobo.com, in Canada on Amazon.ca, and in the U.K. on Amazon.co.uk.

2013 © Livre Press, Inc.Copyright © 2013 by Livre Press, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part not authorized without author's written permission.

The Various Types of Gnomes: 5. The Scandinavian Brothers

The two comedic gnomes who complete each other’s sentences, Barbegazi and Vatir, are from Scandinavia. They dress like the peasants of Villands Vånga and wear oversized wooden clogs. Villands Vånga is the name of a very small Swedish farm town.
To find about more about Barbegazi and Vatir, and their adventures with the Kingsley family, you can buy “The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)” on Amazon.com and on Kobo.com.

2013 © Livre Press, Inc.
2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

Koalani, the Detective Nixie

Koalani was  a beautiful nixie, even considering her bright green hair and green teeth. She wore skirts  made of rose petals, and a blouse of interwoven seaweeds; mother-of-pearl jewelry adorned her necks and wrists. Although they carry the same powers as the fairies and exhibit many of the same characteristics, nixies are actually water fairies, abiding mostly in fresh water lakes or in the rivers.

Koalani grew up hearing detective stories from Shannia’s grandfather, Watson. Murder mysteries from the past intrigued her. For those who don’t already know, Watson was the gnome in England who inspired a legendary Scottish writer from the late 1800′s to write stories about a pipe-smoking, magnifying-lens carrying, cap-hat and cape-wearing detective.

To find about more about the Koalani, Shannia and Roxy, and their adventures with the Kingsley family, you can buy "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" on Amazon.com.



 
2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

The Various Types of Gnomes: Half-Chilean-dwarf and half-menehune

Kon-Tiki

Kon-Tiki was born of a Chilean dwarf mother and a Polynesian Menehune father. His parents faced quite the controversy in their day when gnomes did not intermingle with dwarves; the fruit of their union, however, was the extremely intelligent, witty, exotic and adventuresome Kon-Tiki. He grew up to be quite the character, friendly to all, with a warped sense of humor that he still possesses.

The Various Types of Gnomes: 3. The Menehunes

Another group of gnomes, those responsible for the beaches, the dunes, the valleys and the Pali in the Pacific Islands are the Menehunes. These incredibly smart creatures each perform duties related to their respective area. It is said that Menehunes sailed from New Guinea to the Marquesas Islands, continued their voyages to Easter Island between Tahiti and the coast of South American Chile, and later arrived in Hawaii. To this day man cannot explain how the legendary structures found in Easter Island or the fishpond wall at Niumalu on the mountains of Kauai were constructed. Many believe that humans could not have built some of these ancient sites.

Some believe that the Menehunes have left Hawaii and moved on to Tahiti and then New Zealand. Even though gnomes live in a realm not visible to the human eye, a realm that is not bound by physical distance, there is documented proof that Menehunes can still be seen with the mind’s eye at isolated sites in Maui and in Kauai.

To find about more about the Menehunes and their adventures with the Kingsley family, you can buy "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" on Amazon.com.



2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

The Various Types of Gnomes: 2. The Saci Pererê

Some gnomes are pranksters, like the mythical Saci Pererê who lives only in the Brazilian folkloric legends. Commonly known as Saci, this one-legged little dark child smokes a pretend pipe and wears a red cap. His red cap gives him magical powers such as being able to appear and disappear. Saci is famous in Brazil for startling people and playing pranks. One of his favorite pranks is to braid horses’ tails at night. Those who find their horses with braided tails in the morning know that Saci has been there, playing with the animals. He also loves to jump into small whirlwinds and spin, but don’t get him near the water. Saci Pererê can’t stand being in the smallest brook or the largest river. Ironically, he lives near the Amazon River.

To find about more about Saci Pererê and his adventures with the Kingsley family, you can buy "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" on Amazon.com.






2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.