 |
| Nikki, Jack, Catman and The Sapphire Wand |
 |
| Evila
Evila had maintained her beauty and looks
by taking from those that were captured by
faithful followers--the two most employed
were Mutanto and Howler. There were others
she had as slaves, who she had changed into
wolves...and then complained about their smell.
Nobody, really could please this evil woman.
But she had realized that those who fed her
were growing weak... She had her eye on a
small child who was known to be blessed
with a gift of immense value and had sent
for the child to be kidnapped-- the child of Ghoulina and Wishbone! 
As in the first book, the
characters drive the
story because of their
particular magic skills.
As Halloween draws near,
Nikki has another birthday! She is now 13 and she has changed! When she once again meets Ghoulina,
they will stand side by
side using their magic skills. |
Once Upon a time in Creepy Hollow, all was beautiful, bright and full of nature's blessings.but a power-hungry evil woman had destroyed everything, taking for her own use any and all magic that had once lived and nourished Creepy Hollow. Her name was Queen Evila....
She was so evil that she went after every bit of magic that she could find, including going through the Gate to find those she could use for her own evil desires... From the beginning of the book until the end, she worked to destroy and, like a vampire, feed on the magic of her world's occupants... Nobody was safe...
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| Mutanto and Howler The huge monster who looked like Frankenstein stepped forward. “Don’t hurt them,” he told the Wolfmen in a gruff and sinister-sounding voice. “Queen Evila doesn’t want them harmed. Take them through the Gate.” ~~~
The Power of the Sapphire Wand
|
By Erica M. Szabo
and Joe Bonadonna
 |
| All Artwork by Erika The following magnificent painting is my favorite! |
Wishbone, Ghoulina and Baby Ava!
Watching Tattler turn a corner and disappear from sight, Wishbone shook his head. He didn’t like nor trust him because he was not only a troublemaker but a known thief, as well.
Wishbone went back to work but a short while later he heard his daughter, Ava, crying, and before he could put his rake down, the baby’s cry turned into a loud scream. The house began to shake, the windows rattled, and even the flowers trembled. The neighbors’ dogs began to howl, cats screeched, and flocks of startled birds flew from the trees. '
Dropping his rake to the ground, Wishbone ran for the back door and into the house. Inside the cottage, pictures and paintings swung back and forth, bouncing off the walls. Dishes clattered in the china cabinet and crashed to the floor. The walls trembled and floorboards vibrated under his feet. As Wishbone raced towards the nursery, suddenly the baby’s screams stopped and the house stopped shaking. Wishbone stepped into the nursery, which was painted pink and black, and saw Ghoulina sitting in the rocking chair and cuddling their beautiful baby in her arms.
“Hannah, what happened this time?” Wishbone asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
Ghoulina, dressed in a black and purple gown, and wearing blue lipstick, smiled at her husband. “Ava saw a snake on the window sill and it frightened her,” she explained.
“What? A snake? Where is it now?” Wishbone asked with great concern.
“Oh, I grabbed it and threw it out the window as far away as I could,” Ghoulina replied.
Wishbone sighed and leaned back against a wall. “Wow, Ava’s magic is already powerful.”
“She’s coming into her magic far too early and she’s too young to understand or control it, Bob,” said Ghoulina. The young parents realized that their daughter had a rare magical gift called Vocalocity, the ability to use her voice as a sonic weapon, even when the baby was only a few days old. Whenever baby Ava cried because she was hungry or needed her diaper changed, her voice sent out a gentle ripple of vibrations.
But when she was angry or frightened, her voice became very loud and powerful. Wishbone and Ghoulina were the only ones who could quiet her, which made finding a babysitter nearly impossible. And only Wishbone and Ghoulina were immune from the power of Ava’s Vocalocity...
Only Queen Evila and her most faithful servants knew that the gossip of Springdale, Tattler, was a shapeshifter. Turning himself into a serpent was his only power, his only magical talent. But unlike the Wolfmen, who were also shapeshifters and chose to stay in wolf form, Tattler had no desire to remain a serpent permanently. He had bigger dreams than that.
“What you have heard is true, Your Majesty,” Tattler said. “The baby possesses magic that has not been seen in Creepy Hollow for more than a hundred years. She is strong and powerful, and she could be very useful to you.”
“Excellent!” said Evila. “How shall it be done? What do you suggest?”
It was time! No longer could evil prevail in Creepy Hollow! And with that declaration, Queen Leandra. the real queen, came back to lead the fight!
From every place, they all came to fight--from those towns which were the new targets of Queen Evila... From those places that had once been destroyed and were now being renewed through magic provided by Queen Leandra, the Princess, her daughter, and all that we now call friends! Of course, Catman was there to help. But most exciting, were the wild horses who came! They took the first advance in the great battle that was to be fought...
But their story deserves a spotlight, because the two leaders, a mare and stallion, had just had a colt... And Jack, who was brave and strong, but had no magic, all of the sudden, was discovered to be able to talk to animals! Very Cool! So, on the way to where they would fight, Jack held Champ, who he had been permitted to name, and taught him words, since he was not yet talking... Another new character deserves a mention-- He is a little dragon, whose parents were killed by Grim Witch, which is really "Queen Evila's name." Soon Jack thought of a perfect name for him--Sparky--and you'll love reading how his name was earned...
I have to admit, I fell in love with every word and character that is in this second book! The story is really amazing and the way everything was weaved together, sharing surprise after surprise is quite extraordinary. Sure, get it as a gift for your children and young adults...but do plan on reading this exceptional book yourself!
A special thanks to Erika Szabo for sharing much of her artwork of the characters, to be used on my blog...but there are still others, like Moira, who were treated cruelly by Evila, and who helped--this time in a big way--to finally rid their home of evil...
In this time of chaos in America, I couldn't help but wish that Queen Leandra and her family and friends were heading our way to drive away hate, separation, destruction, and sorrow from our land. I do know, that reading this story has been a wonderful experience--full of tragedy, yet climaxing in victory through all different types of living beings coming together in love and support.
Kudos to Erika and Joe for creating an imaginative and inspiring story suitable for all ages, starting with the middle grades and above, being able to read on their own. I told Joe Bonadonna that I noticed that there are other towns and locations on the map of Creepy Hollow... so I'm hoping for more books...We need children's books that are exciting, at the same time they have a moral to the story, don't you think? These are centered on Halloween, but not scary in anyway...and fun reading for anytime. My mind keeps telling me that this is a must-read for many reasons...so that's my recommendation for this one!
GABixlerReviews
Erika lives in New York and when her daughter moved out of the family nest, she started writing. Erika writes magical realism, fantasy novels as well as fun, educational and bilingual books for children 2-14 about acceptance, friendship, family, and moral values such as accepting people with disabilities, dealing with bullies, and not judging others before getting to know them.
Dropping his rake to the ground, Wishbone ran for the back door and into the house. Inside the cottage, pictures and paintings swung back and forth, bouncing off the walls. Dishes clattered in the china cabinet and crashed to the floor. The walls trembled and floorboards vibrated under his feet. As Wishbone raced towards the nursery, suddenly the baby’s screams stopped and the house stopped shaking. Wishbone stepped into the nursery, which was painted pink and black, and saw Ghoulina sitting in the rocking chair and cuddling their beautiful baby in her arms.
“Hannah, what happened this time?” Wishbone asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
Ghoulina, dressed in a black and purple gown, and wearing blue lipstick, smiled at her husband. “Ava saw a snake on the window sill and it frightened her,” she explained.
“What? A snake? Where is it now?” Wishbone asked with great concern.
“Oh, I grabbed it and threw it out the window as far away as I could,” Ghoulina replied.
Wishbone sighed and leaned back against a wall. “Wow, Ava’s magic is already powerful.”
“She’s coming into her magic far too early and she’s too young to understand or control it, Bob,” said Ghoulina. The young parents realized that their daughter had a rare magical gift called Vocalocity, the ability to use her voice as a sonic weapon, even when the baby was only a few days old. Whenever baby Ava cried because she was hungry or needed her diaper changed, her voice sent out a gentle ripple of vibrations.
But when she was angry or frightened, her voice became very loud and powerful. Wishbone and Ghoulina were the only ones who could quiet her, which made finding a babysitter nearly impossible. And only Wishbone and Ghoulina were immune from the power of Ava’s Vocalocity...
Only Queen Evila and her most faithful servants knew that the gossip of Springdale, Tattler, was a shapeshifter. Turning himself into a serpent was his only power, his only magical talent. But unlike the Wolfmen, who were also shapeshifters and chose to stay in wolf form, Tattler had no desire to remain a serpent permanently. He had bigger dreams than that.
“What you have heard is true, Your Majesty,” Tattler said. “The baby possesses magic that has not been seen in Creepy Hollow for more than a hundred years. She is strong and powerful, and she could be very useful to you.”
“Excellent!” said Evila. “How shall it be done? What do you suggest?”
~~~
From every place, they all came to fight--from those towns which were the new targets of Queen Evila... From those places that had once been destroyed and were now being renewed through magic provided by Queen Leandra, the Princess, her daughter, and all that we now call friends! Of course, Catman was there to help. But most exciting, were the wild horses who came! They took the first advance in the great battle that was to be fought...
But their story deserves a spotlight, because the two leaders, a mare and stallion, had just had a colt... And Jack, who was brave and strong, but had no magic, all of the sudden, was discovered to be able to talk to animals! Very Cool! So, on the way to where they would fight, Jack held Champ, who he had been permitted to name, and taught him words, since he was not yet talking... Another new character deserves a mention-- He is a little dragon, whose parents were killed by Grim Witch, which is really "Queen Evila's name." Soon Jack thought of a perfect name for him--Sparky--and you'll love reading how his name was earned...I have to admit, I fell in love with every word and character that is in this second book! The story is really amazing and the way everything was weaved together, sharing surprise after surprise is quite extraordinary. Sure, get it as a gift for your children and young adults...but do plan on reading this exceptional book yourself!
In this time of chaos in America, I couldn't help but wish that Queen Leandra and her family and friends were heading our way to drive away hate, separation, destruction, and sorrow from our land. I do know, that reading this story has been a wonderful experience--full of tragedy, yet climaxing in victory through all different types of living beings coming together in love and support.
Kudos to Erika and Joe for creating an imaginative and inspiring story suitable for all ages, starting with the middle grades and above, being able to read on their own. I told Joe Bonadonna that I noticed that there are other towns and locations on the map of Creepy Hollow... so I'm hoping for more books...We need children's books that are exciting, at the same time they have a moral to the story, don't you think? These are centered on Halloween, but not scary in anyway...and fun reading for anytime. My mind keeps telling me that this is a must-read for many reasons...so that's my recommendation for this one!
GABixlerReviews
Erika lives in New York and when her daughter moved out of the family nest, she started writing. Erika writes magical realism, fantasy novels as well as fun, educational and bilingual books for children 2-14 about acceptance, friendship, family, and moral values such as accepting people with disabilities, dealing with bullies, and not judging others before getting to know them.
MAD SHADOWS: THE WEIRD TALES OF DORGO THE DOWSER, is my first novel, published by iUniverse. It's epic Heroic Fantasy with a film noir edge. It can be purchased from Amazon.com in both paperback, hardcover and Kindle editions. (Winner of the 2017 Golden Books Reader's Choice Award for Best Fantasy.)
THREE AGAINST THE STARS is my second novel, an old-fashioned space opera published by Airship 27 Productions. It's available now from Amazon.com, in both paperback and Kindle editions.
THE MECHMEN OF CANIS-9 is my seventh novel. This is the long-awaited sequel to my "Three Against The Stars." It's an action-packed interplanetary adventure that pays tribute to every sea- and space-faring story that inspired it.
WATERS OF DARKNESS, co-authored with David C. Smith, (Dark Muse, Call of Shadows, Fall of the First World Trilogy), is a swashbuckling pirate adventure of swords, sorcery, and Lovecraftian horror. It's now available in both paperback and Kindle editions thru Amazon.com
MAD SHADOWS II: DORGO THE DOWSER AND THE ORDER OF THE SERPENT, my fourth novel, has just been published. It's another Heroic Fantasy with a film noir twist, with more magic, murder, mystery and mayhem all brought to you courtesy of Dorgo the Dowser. This volume includes a greatly revised and expanded version of "The Book of Echoes," which first appeared in the Kindle anthology, "Azieran Presents Artifacts and Relics: Extreme Sword and Sorcery," published by Heathen Oracle.
THREE GHOSTS IN A BLACK PUMPKIN is my first collaboration with acclaimed author and illustrator, Erika M Szabo. This is also my first children's book, appropriate for ages 6 - 14, and adults may enjoy it, too. This is fantasy about two cousins, Nikki and Jack, who find a talking wind chime in the shape of a silver skeleton named Wishbone Jones, and a black pumpkin in which the ghosts of the three good Wishmothers have been imprisoned. To free them, Nikki Jack travel to the magical world of Creepy Hollow, where they face all sorts of dangers and tests, and along the way, learn a few lessons about life and growing up. (Winner of the 2017 Golden Books Judge's Choice Award for Best Children's Fantasy.)
THE POWER OF THE SAPPHIRE WAND is the sequel to Erika M. Szabo's and my children's fantasy, the award-winning "Three Ghosts in a Black Pumpkin." Return with to Creepy Hollow with Nikki and Jack. Join with them and their old friends, Wishbone, Ghoulina and Catman as the race against time to save the ecology and environment of Creepy Hollow from Evila the Grim Witch and her minions, the giant Mutanto and his werewolf henchman, Howler. Find out the truth behind what really happened to Nikki's parents 12 years ago.
THE BLOOD OF THE LION, my first sword and soul heroic fantasy tale, appears in the Sword and Soul Fantasy anthology GRIOTS 2: SISTERS OF THE SPEAR, edited by Charles Saunders and Milton Davis. Available thru Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle editions.
For Janet Morris' long-running "Heroes in Hell series, my stories WE THE FURIOUS, and UNDERTAKER'S HOLIDAY (this one in collaboration with Shebat Legion) both appear in POETS IN HELL volume 18. My story, Hell On A Technicality, appears in Doctors in Hell, volume 19, and my story Pirates of Penance appears in Pirates in Hell, volume 20. All are available in paperback and Kindle editions.
My story, Sinbad and the Golden Fleece, appears in the shared-world anthology, Sinbad: The New Voyages, Vol 4, published by Airship 27 Productions. Available in paperback and Kindle editions from Amazon.com.
My story, The Dragon's Horde appears in Heroika: Dragon Eaters. This is a brand-new series of all-original Heroic Fantasy tales created and edited by author Janet Morris and published by Perseid Press. Available in paperback and Kindle editions.
My collaboration with Shebat Legion, "Samuel Meant Well versus the Little Black Cloud of the Apocalypse," appears in the shared-world anthology, SHA'DAA TOYS.
My story, Queen of Toads, along with 12 other spooky tales, appears in the Kindle Bundle Rabbit bundle-pack, HERE BE GHOSTS.
My short story, "Queen of Toads," appears in Here Be Ghosts, a Kindle anthology of horror stories of all kinds.
AS EDITOR:
"Hello, My Name is Max, and I Have Autism: An Insight into the Autistic Mind," written and with drawings by Max Miller. Foreword and Afterword by his Mom, Rebecca Miller. Available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
"Being Max's Mom," by Rebecca Miller. This is Rebecca's very personal story of bringing her son, Max, into the world, of his being diagnosed with autism at the age of 4, and how she fought to do the best and find the best for her son. Available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
"Libertine: Awakenings," a wonderful psychosexual drama written by Cat Ravenelle.
"The Kitchen Imps," and "Tales of Erana: The Warrior's Curse," by A.L. Butcher.
"Vampire Therapy: The Chronicles of the Cat's Ass Boutique ~ Seasons and Reasons ~" by Shebat Legion, as well as her children's book, "The Fork Tree."
"Metoo, The Annoying Little Sister," by Erika M. Szabo.
