Kampung Kreepy

I’ll be revealing the new cover for the final book in The Geomancer’s Apprentice series in my newsletter April 1 (I promise this is no joke). I’ll post the new cover on the website after the newsletter goes out.  If you’d like to subscribe to the newsletter, click here for details. I send it out monthly to update readers on my writing projects and sales and promotions for my books. I also include snippets on folklore and other interesting topics.  Writing book #5 has been a blast. I'm sad that Joe and Junie’s adventures are coming to an end, but this doesn't necessarily mean it'll be the last you’ll hear of them. There may be opportunities for crossover or standalone adventures in the future. This book has taken longer than most of the others, but that’s because I had many loose ends to tie up. In any case, the end is in sight. Stay tuned!

I confess I was nervous about watching Netflix’s live version of Avatar: The Last Airbender . I liked the animated series on which it’s based, and I had no idea whether Netflix could be true to that. All in all, I thought Netflix did a good job. The animated series aired on Nickelodeon for three seasons (from 2005 to 2008). I particularly liked its storyline, which was influenced by Chinese martial arts and Asian and Native American cultures. If you’re not familiar with it, the series is set in a world where the people of four nations—the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom, the Air Nomads and the Water Tribes—have the ability to “bend,” or manipulate, the elements. Peace between the nations is ensured by the Avatar, who is born with the ability to bend all four elements. Aang, a 12-year-old Air Nomad, is the latest Avatar. The Fire Nation exterminates his people as part of an effort to conquer the other nations. He survives, but goes missing for 100 years. When he returns, he befriend

5 stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love this series, featuring Jessica Sharp (Jinx), a truth finder and empath who discovers magic and a fantastical world while trying to find out who killed her parents. The adventure starts when Jinx is hired to find a missing college student. The story zips along, with hardly a slow moment. I especially liked how well-planned and intricately plotted the books are. The world-building is simply amazing. Author Heather G. Harris has created an entire realm of magic and magical beings with not only history, but also political strife and prejudices. The characters stay with you and make you care. I have to admit I shed a few tears while reading the series. And laughed quite a lot as well. It was hard to turn the last page, because I wanted so much to stay in the story. Well done. I highly recommend this series.

Five stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book hooked me in right from the beginning, when protagonist Claire Emerson celebrates her 60 th birthday. Weird things occur, starting with the massing of crows on the maple tree in her yard. And how refreshing it is to encounter a mature protagonist. Claire is recently divorced, and also concerned she has reached that point in her life where she’s past her prime. Instead, she discovers magic is real, and finds new purpose and new friends. As a woman, I found Claire real and relatable. I loved seeing through her eyes as she is drawn kicking and screaming into unimaginable new adventures and dangers. I also loved the world author Lydia M. Hawke has skillfully created, her original take on the Arthurian legends, and the book’s great cast of characters. One warning: this book is fast-paced. Claire barely had time to take a breath, and neither did I. Well done! I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I was charmed by the movie Love and Monsters (2020). Despite its dystopian themes, the movie is sweet and lighthearted, the perfect escape considering all the craziness that’s happening in the world right now. The film is set in the not-so-distant future, when the world’s defense systems blow up an asteroid headed toward earth. Unfortunately, the fallout from the incident causes cold-blooded creatures to mutate into giant monsters, which then proceed to decimate mankind. Survivors must hide from the monsters in whatever shelter they can find. Joel, the protagonist, was a normal teenager who loved to draw when the disaster occurred. He and his girlfriend were separated while fleeing with their families. Seven years later, Joel lives in an underground bunker with several other people. Every day is a fight for survival. He’s no warrior—he freezes in crisis situations—but he does well enough as a cook. One day, Joel manages to establish radio contact with his girlfriend Aimee, who liv

Spring is almost here! Ready to find your next favorite author or book?  I'm part of this March promotion featuring a fantastic collection of urban fantasy authors.  If you love urban fantasy then you'll definitely want to browse this selection of new releases, sales, and first in series. There are some amazing books to discover and new series to binge! It's on for the whole of March. Please check it out:  https://books.bookfunnel.com/faka-march/9kdtf00hca