Questions from Readers About Merlin

Questions from Readers About Merlin

Questions from Readers About Merlin When I began my magical journey with Merlin many years ago, I had no way of knowing that the world would be as intrigued and enthralled by his origin story as I was. I hoped, of course, that it would resonate with readers and draw...
Magical Origin Stories, Written by Readers

Magical Origin Stories, Written by Readers

Magical Origin Stories, Written by Readers Exploring stories of untold beginnings has always appealed to me as a writer. The Merlin Saga began after I wondered about the early life of the man who became the wise and powerful old wizard we know so well from the tales...
Lessons I Learned from Merlin

Lessons I Learned from Merlin

Lessons I Learned from Merlin I have spent many, many years immersed in the life and world of Merlin. It is a magical, beautiful place, but it is also a place that has taught me a myriad of lessons about life, love, and humanity within our own world. Merlin has been a...
Heroes All Around Us

Heroes All Around Us

Heroes All Around Us As all of my readers can attest, young heroes play an important role in my stories – fiction and nonfiction alike. I am often asked why this is — what is my fascination with young heroes — and the answer is quite simple: young heroes play an...
Introducing Magic & Mountains

Introducing Magic & Mountains

Introducing Magic & Mountains “All we have, truly, all we have, is our time and our souls.” – T. A. Barron I am thrilled to announce the upcoming release of my new podcast, Magic & Mountains! This is a project that I have been eager to share for so long...
Bringing a Character to Life

Bringing a Character to Life

Bringing a Character to Life Making characters come alive is one of the trickiest, but most important elements of writing. When you see how they look in your mind — and can hear their voice echoing — then you’ve begun to know who they are. But it’s not...
The Art of Kindness

The Art of Kindness

The Art of Kindness There is magic in kindness. Not rabbit-out-of-a-hat magic, but the true life-changing stuff of miracles. Genuine, heartfelt kindness creates a type of magic that is never-ending — a kind that multiplies with every person it touches. I’ve come to...
GIANT Virtual Book Tour

GIANT Virtual Book Tour

GIANT Virtual Book Tour I’m thrilled to announce that my latest book, GIANT: The Unlikely Origins of Shim, a prequel to The Merlin Saga featuring Shim, is coming to bookstores everywhere on October 26th. In honor of this magical opening to a story that means so...
The Magic of Reading

The Magic of Reading

The Magic of Reading What makes a book ‘worth reading’, to me? I read everything that interests me … which is quite a lot! Of course, I’m extremely fond of great nature writing, but I have long loved biographies of amazing people, and...

To Walk in Wilderness Excerpt

TO WALK IN WILDERNESS EXCERPT From Day 3 Rain, relentless rain. The downpour at Little Gem Lake continues unabated all through the night and well into the next day. At times fog rolls in, so thick that the ground a few feet outside our sopping tent becomes nothing...

The Wisdom of Merlin Excerpt

THE WISDOM OF MERLIN EXCERPT Courage Courage is essential. How else can we dream of who we can become and what we want for the world? And it also takes courage to turn those dreams into reality. You see, life can have great meaning—but only if we discover that meaning...

Atlantis Lost Excerpt

ATLANTIS LOST EXCERPT 1 A Gentle Wing Music had always filled her thoughts—even before she was born. During all her months in her mother’s womb, Omarya heard music everywhere. Songs hummed in her still-forming ears, danced to the cadence of her mother’s heartbeat, and...

Atlantis Rising Excerpt

ATLANTIS RISING EXCERPT A Distant Melody That morning, you had no idea of all the momentous changes to come. Very soon, you learned. And then you traded your life and everything you ever loved for that little bit of magic—a truly terrible price. And I am to blame for...
Getting the Most out of Gratitude

Getting the Most out of Gratitude

Getting the Most out of Gratitude I was once asked by a reader, “If you had to choose a favorite word, which would it be?” As a lover of language, I took this question very seriously! After spending some time thinking it over, I gave my answer: If I had to...
Celebrating Everyday Heroes

Celebrating Everyday Heroes

Celebrating Everyday Heroes The heroic people around us may not have super powers — at least, not the kind that allows them to read minds or leap tall buildings — but the qualities they possess and the powers they have to do good are very real. Heroes are people who...
10 Great Stories to Read Right Now

10 Great Stories to Read Right Now

10 Great Stories to Read Right Now I was in my twenties before I discovered and fell in love with J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. A little later in life than many other Tolkien fans, perhaps, but it was absolutely the right time for me — reading his richly...
Merlin’s Final Magical Word: Love

Merlin’s Final Magical Word: Love

Merlin’s Final Magical Word: Love “It’s the most magical word of all. And it’s also the most varied – simple or complex, hidden or revealed, painful or joyous… That word is love.” THE WISDOM OF MERLIN: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life Love is magical. In one or...
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Gratitude

Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Gratitude

Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Gratitude At this time of year, the idea of Gratitude — one of Merlin’s most potent magical words — is never far from my mind. After all, with a holiday named “Thanksgiving”, it’s only natural that the holiday season inspires us to recall...
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Courage

Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Courage

Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Courage Merlin has been a part of my life for more than 20 years. Though he may be but a mythical being to some, and a great character in an epic story for many more, after more than 12 books devoted to his life and the telling of...
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Belief

Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Belief

Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Belief “Belief is a powerful elixir. It offers strength, renewal, and peace to those who drink it. And your cup can be forever refilled.” Belief, one of Merlin’s seven most magical words in the universe, can give us comfort in times of...
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Hope

Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Hope

Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Hope Hope requires courage. Darkness, despair, anger, destruction—the images of these things feature daily in our media. No matter where we look, we’re met with images that leave us questioning. We’re left feeling hopeless, without...