Authorpreneur Dashboard – Tobey Alexander
Timothy Scott: Shadow Island (sample)
Children's Books
In our world, twelve-year-old Timothy Scott fades into the shadows. Bullied and ridiculed he discovers an enchanting world hidden behind an antique mirror and in a heartbeat everything changes. Can he become a hero and save a world from a sinister darkness? After another sleep filled with nightmares and a day being picked on by the school bullies, Timothy Scott longs for escape. When his only real friend, a voice only he can hear, offers him the chance to travel to a new world, it's an offer he cannot turn down. As Timothy finds himself dragged through an antique mirror, he discovers a fantastic and enchanting world he never knew existed. Despite the amazing creatures he discovers and adventures he embarks on, there is something looming in the shadows, something he is already familiar with. When Timothy learns the monster from his recurring nightmare is in fact real, he must make an impossible choice. His newfound friends call on him to become their hero and face the rising evil that threatens to destroy their world. Is he strong enough to become the hero they need, or is it all too much for a young boy to handle? Shadow Island is the first in the Behind The Mirror coming of age fantasy series filled with magic, enchantment, fantastic creatures and heart. Fall in love with an outcast boy and watch him grow as he fights against his own insecurities and fears.
Book Bubbles from Timothy Scott: Shadow Island (sample)
Welcome
Having focussed mostly on "older" audiences, I was determined to create an adventure for all ages and generations. When crafting Tim's adventures I wanted a story that connected with young and old. I pictured this being shared by families and will confess to "beta" testing the entire story on my own three children. This was very much a family discovery as I wrote the story and a lot of inspiration came from our time sat with my notebook on the floor of my two son's bedroom with my daughter and wife gathered around as we bounced ideas around. While I may have scripted it all and pulled it together, there is something of each of them in the story. Without them I wouldn't have created something so rounded and dynamic, it would have been my interpretation and expectation. This is a family story written, ultimately, by my family and I.
Tim's Parents
The inspiration for Timothy comes from my own son (he was eight when I started writing this). He, like me, is on the autism spectrum and is often ostracised by his peers. With this series I wanted to have him involved in the process of writing it but also to give him a hero a he could look up to. I suppose, in a very naughty dad way, I've created a version of my son so that he ends up looking up to himself as the hero without even realising it. Family was always an important factor in crafting the story. As the series develops I wanted to explore the wider family unit, but this is Tim's story in Shadow Island and focuses very much on him learning how strong he can be when he believes in himself.
Nightamare
Very early on I wanted readers to know where the fear comes from. As a twelve-year-old boy, Timothy sees this dream over and again, always alone at night. It was important for you to be thrown into that same dream as your first introduction and see Tim at his most vulnerable. We've all had those inescapable nightmares so I hope you can relate to the fear he feels, especially as he is still young and still learning.
Dark Curses: Iceman
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
War is not the only threat. 1941. The world is consumed by war and conflict. For Stanley Grand and Hazel Johnson, their paths meet purely by accident. After another night of German raids, London is in tatters and Stanley, freshly returns from the front line in France, finds himself haunted by his early return. Seeking time alone he stumbles across an ancient crypt buried beneath Westminster Abbey. When their paths cross, neither could expect to be accused of burglary and implicated in a street-criminal's murder. Without warning the unlikely duo are dragged into a world of secret church covens and an aristocrat who seeks to unearth something that would threaten the world more than the war. With no choice, Stanley and Hazel must come together and face an unspeakable creatur forgotten from history, the Iceman. Discover the world fo Dark Curses and the secrets that remain hidden from all but those who would seek to protect humanity.
Rough-Cut Book Bubbles from Dark Curses: Iceman
The Iceman
I was inspired to write this being a fan of the old-style adventure/horror films like The Mummy and Indiana Jones. That being said I wanted to use something we hadn't seen before. Considering all of the veritable curses that exist in the world I wanted to avoid repeating what we've all seen and read before. During my research I found so many intriguing elements (some of which I've saved for later books) but the Iceman caught my attention. There's a lot of artistic licence in this but I remained obsessed with filling in the gaps with my imagination for what is a very real part of human history. While this isn't a specific story about the infamous Iceman, everything about it is inspired by the chance discovery of a human body in 1991.
