Ethan & The Reign of Fear
Nine-year-old Ethan is having the worst year of his life. His mum has remarried, his new stepfamily is unbearable, and the kids at school have turned on him. So when a rampaging Minotaur kidnaps his only friend in the middle of a thunderstorm, Ethan dives through the glowing portal in his bedroom to rescue him.
The portal hurls Ethan into a swamp world besieged by Thunder Hoof, a storm lord who feeds on fear and commands an army of monsters. Hailed as the kingdom's last hope, Ethan is forced into an uneasy alliance with the queen's sharp-tongued advisor, Runa. Together they must cross a treacherous swamp teeming with creatures eager to devour them, and infiltrate Thunder Hoof's mountain fortress.
But as Ethan's courage is tested, he learns that Thunder Hoof's true weapon isn't the storms he wields. It's fear itself. To save his friend and the kingdom, Ethan must confront the darkness within him, or risk becoming the very monster he is fighting.
A middle-grade fantasy adventure. 80,000 words. Ages 8-12. Standalone with series potential. For fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls.
Untitled Novel Two
A lonely young boy discovers his nightmares are being harvested by an evil god intent on destroying the universe. A coming of age story about fear, identity, and what we find when we finally face the dark.
Currently in development.
FAQ
What age group is Ethan and the Reign of Fear for?
Ages 8-12 / Years 3-7.
Is this a series or standalone?
It's a standalone story for now, though there's room for more.
What are the main themes?
Ethan spends the book confronting the thing he's most afraid of, and slowly realising that fear itself is the real enemy, not the monsters chasing him. Along the way he has to figure out what courage actually feels like, what friendship costs, and how to belong somewhere that doesn't feel like home yet.
The book was written to show children what courage actually looks like from the inside.
How long is the book?
I come from the film word, and I think of each chapter more like a scene from a movie. So, whilst the book is 80,000 words, it contains short propulsive chapters that are often 4-10 pages in length, perfect for readers looking to take on a more complex book.
Is this appropriate for anxious or sensitive children?
Yes. The book was written for children who needed to see courage modelled honestly. It deals with fear and anxiety in an empowering way rather than avoiding the subject.