Unleashing the Power of Imagination
Imagination is a superpower.
I write for middle-grade readers. Find out why.
Imagination, in a child’s world, is as essential as breathing. Watch a child construct an art piece. Listen to a child invent dialogue between two action figures. They are using their superpower–imagination.
Imagination and fantasy are inseparable partners. Who hasn’t ridden along with a story’s protagonist? We imagine ourselves as Captain America, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, or Bat Girl. These imaginative journeys help young readers develop emotional intelligence as they relate to the protagonists' triumphs and struggles.
Visualising and connecting the fantasy world and their experiences enriches their cognitive skills, fostering growth and understanding.
Those Vikings and Those Giants feature Karl, Finch and Erika, who are middle-grade children. They face extraordinary problems but solve them using common sense, cooperation, and thinking outside the box.
Middle-grade children love solving problems. Imagination is their secret weapon. Engaging with imaginative stories teaches them to approach challenges from different angles, think creatively, and find innovative solutions.
Middle-grade fantasy stories transport readers to enchanting and immersive worlds. The Viking world has many cultural and geographic mosaics, which I reimagined for middle-grade children by tapping into sights, sounds, and aromas.
One scene in Those Vikings takes place in a small village. Rather than describe what visitors might see, I took them on a tour of the farm, the fields, and the nearby forest. Sounds and aromas became the main drivers of the description. The action took place around wandering, pecking chickens.
Middle-grade readers fall into an in-between bracket. Picture books are behind them, and many are tackling their first chapter book. Young Adult Fiction and its greater depth of concepts looms, but they are not there yet.
Besides an over-arching theme, two main concepts drive my writing. I aim for scary and exciting.
Another scene in Those Vikings has Karl’s Dad, Finch and Karl hiding from Vikings in a lonely cottage. The night sounds outside the cottage played a crucial part in the scene. A single candle lighted the cottage interior. Karl’s Dad hears a noise outside. Fearing it may be Vikings, he gets the boys to sneak outside and use the darkness to escape.
The Viking villains are a treasure trove of complexity and fascination. Ulf, the main antagonist in Those Vikings, is nasty. The scary part is imagining his level of nastiness, i.e. how low he could go. The exciting episodes feature Karl, Finch, and Erika getting the better of him.
Imagination is the key that unlocks the magic of middle-grade fantasy literature. My stories offer vibrant imagery, captivating worlds, and unforgettable characters. So let your imagination soar and immerse yourself in the wonders of my middle-grade fantasy literature! Adult readers are more than welcome.
