AND NOW FOR SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
As everyone knows, my blog is dedicated to bringing you information about unusual or endangered animals around the world. This week’s
post is going to be entirely different. I am going to shamelessly plug my second
book, The Gift of Sunderland. As with The Sword of Demelza, The
Gift of Sunderland is running rampant with the flora and fauna of
Australia. There will also be a glossary in this new book, and there will be
web links for the youngsters (and the adults), so you can see what the critters
look like in the wild.
I am working on a final draft, but I figure why not
introduce two of the main characters. Below is a portrait created by my very
talented illustrator, Guy Atherfold (http://www.guyatherfold.com). The tall
creature is Waylond. He’s a Numbat. The short critter is Fergal. She’s a
wonderful little Quoll who Waylond saves from a raging river. He doesn’t realize
it at first, but he’s going to be very taken in with her as we move along in
the story.
So let’s hear a bit from Waylond himself. I hope you enjoy his
introduction, and if you are so inclined, send me an e-mail at Jeanne.rogers22@gmail.com and I
will put you on my mailing list. Simply put The Gift of Sunderland in the
subject field, and tell me you would like to receive updates. You’ll be one of
the first to be informed as to the release of this new, action packed,
fast-paced adventure where endangered animal heroes roam the pages! J
I hope to see you in Sunderland!
“I am
Waylond of Acadia, Son of Roland, Guardian of the Forest.” The candlelight in
his room is dim, but the black band of fur on his face accents his sparkling,
black eyes. It has been a long time since he has had a guest, and although he
typically shuns visitors this one he welcomes. The spotted Quoll, named Fergal,
listens carefully, a pen and paper in her paws are at the ready. She doesn’t
want to miss a thing.
“Tell me,
Waylond,” Fergal begins, “what is the status of your relationship with your
brother. I believe his name is Kailond. Is that correct?’
“Yes, that
is correct,” Waylond replies. “Our relationship is strained at best.”
“Hmmm.
Sunderland is abuzz with speculation about what it was that drove the two of
you apart.”
“My brother
and I did not see eye to eye,” Waylond said. “My father’s announcement that
Guardianship of the Forest would be passed to me caused friction.”
“Yes,
friction is saying the least!” Fergal clears her throat and stifles a giggle,
which she is prone to. She rubs a paw along her snout, and does her best to
strike a serious pose. “Well, he must have been pretty angry with you for
burning down the family tree.” She leaned forward, anxiously waiting for his
answer and searching his snout for any hint of emotion. There was none. “Why
did you burn down the tree?”
“I was
devastated,” Waylond said. “My father was dead and I was left to sort things
out. I realize now that I wasn’t ready.” Waylond shifts uncomfortably in his
wingback chair.
“Ready?”
“Yes, at
the time I believed that I was not prepared to take on the responsibilities of
Guardian. Sunderland and the surrounding lands are vast.”
“I see,”
Fergal said, tapping her pen on her pad of paper. “So you thought it best to
wander into the Forest and leave the creatures of the Forest without a
Guardian?” Fergal tightened her jaw. She felt that it would be necessary to be
straightforward with her questioning. She was a stickler for the facts. She
would print nothing less than the truth. In Fergal’s opinion, the honest story
is always the best story.
“I did what
I had to do,” Waylond said.
Fergal
thought she heard a hint of sadness in his voice.
“Yes, you
did, and the rest of us went along for the ride. Didn’t we?” She persisted. “We
all found out what we were made of, whether we liked it or not.” She put her
pen down and stared at the mighty Numbat. “We did our best, Waylond. Didn’t
we?” The love in her heart made her smile. She examined the Numbat who had
become more to her than just a friend. Maybe
I won’t print this quite yet, she thinks to herself . . .
THE GIFT OF SUNDERLAND
By J.E. Rogers (Jeanne E. Rogers)
A rift has been created in the Ayers’ lineage. Roland Ayers,
the Great Numbat and Guardian of the Forest, must pass on Guardianship. His
decision will tear two estranged brothers further apart, causing the Forest to
rise from its long sleep.
Waylond of Acadia, is one of the main characters in The
Gift of Sunderland, the second book in the Australian Fantasy Adventure
Stories.
Written by, Jeanne E.
Rogers, it will be released prior to the end of 2014.
NUMBAT
The
Numbat is a small colorful marsupial, which is also known as the banded
anteater. It has a finely pointed nose and a bushy tail. Like other anteaters,
the Numbat has a long sticky tongue. Once upon a time, it could be found across
the southern regions of Australia. However, now its range is restricted and it
is considered ‘endangered’ on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of
Nature) list.
Photo credit:
http://www.arkive.org/eastern-quoll/dasyurus-viverrinus/image-G107383.html
QUOLL
The Quoll is a marsupial that is carnivorous. It will eat
small mammals, birds, lizards and insects. Its numbers have declined since
Australia was colonized, and one species has become extinct. Urban development
and poison baiting are the major threats to the Quoll. Depending on the
species, they are listed as ‘threatened’ and ‘endangered’ on the IUCN list.
My sincere thanks to ARKive.org for the picture of the Numbat and the Quoll.
I hope you enjoyed this week's post. Don't forget, sharing is caring! :-)
Jeanne E. Rogers, Award Winning Author
The Sword of Demelza, Middle Grade Fantasy Where Endangered Animals Roam the Pages!