“The Vesuvius Escapade” by Maureen Cardoso coming in 2014

In “The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One),” Maureen Cardoso is the Kingsley's youngest daughter. As a child, she dreamt of being a scientist; she followed current discoveries and was fascinated by DNA sequencing, molecular structures, and genomes. By age ten, she had memorized the periodic table of chemical elements. In spite of her scientific side, she carried strong artistic traits that led her to write poems, stories and children’s books.

Maureen studied macro-biology but interrupted her degree to have Philly, her firstborn. She always carried a pen and paper with her because she was also a writer. Paulo, her Brazilian husband, tried to give her an electronic pad or tablet, but she preferred her paper notepad, claiming that a true writer will use napkins if necessary. A small, local publishing company had picked up some of her children’s books. Still her hope was that someday her books would make it across the isle, into the hands of one of the more prominent publishers of London.

With the advent of electronic publishing, Livre Press, Inc. is making Maureen's books available for download on Amazon, iBooks and Barnes & Noble in 2014. Watch out of the announcement.
Here is a sample of Maureen's writing: the Preface for the first book she ever published, “Voyage One: The Vesuvius Escapade.”

 

Preface

At age 10, I wrote a song about a little gnome who loved to row his boat on the sea waters under the moonlight.  He loved the moon because he thought it was made of vanilla ice-cream, so he followed its reflection on the ocean hoping to reach that inexhaustible supply of his favorite dessert.

My sister Esther and I grew up hearing fantastic stories about gnomes, my favorite being one whose name was Laddy Dah. Our dad, Phil Kingsley, was quite the old Irish story teller. It is no wonder that at age 10, Laddy and his family were alive in my imagination. His wife’s name was Lynda and they had three kids: Lyle, 11, Lilly, my age, and Cousin George, 12. Dad’s stories were animated and rich in content. Laddy was always at the center of them.

When my first son was born, I began to cogitate on the idea of writing and illustrating Dad’s stories so they would be preserved for our family. I thought of a kids’ book format where each chapter would be a voyage and Laddy would be the guide to take you, dear reader, through amazing imaginary places. This story is the beginning of your journey. There are many more to come from Dad’s story repertoire. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did growing up and as much as I enjoy telling them now.

Maureen Cardoso
8/28/2003

Excerpt From “Voyage One: The Vesuvius Escapade”

2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is not permitted except with written authorization from Livre Press, Inc.

The Hobbit in real life?

(or in the case of "The Conjunction of the Realms, Part One" could it be “Laddy” in real life?)


Another one of Paulo Cardoso’s documentaries: the archaeological discovery of a very small humanoid-type, possibly a contemporary of humans, but supposedly now extinct. Or perhaps they are visible only with the mind’s eye.

Homo floresiensis (“Flores Man,” nicknamed “hobbit” and “Flo”) is a possible species, now extinct, in the genus Homo. The remains were discovered in 2004 on the island of Flores in Indonesia. Partial skeletons of nine individuals have been recovered, including one complete cranium (skull). These remains have been the subject of intense research to determine whether they represent a species distinct from modern humans, and the progress of this scientific controversy has been closely followed by the news media at large.

This hominin is remarkable for its small body and brain and for its survival until relatively recent times (possibly as recently as 12,000 years ago). Recovered alongside the skeletal remains were stone tools from archaeological horizons ranging from 94,000 to 13,000 years ago. The discoverers (archaeologist Mike Morwood and colleagues) proposed that a variety of features, both primitive and derived, identify these individuals as belonging to a new species, H. floresiensis, within the taxonomic tribe of Hominini. The discoverers also proposed that H. floresiensis lived contemporaneously with modern humans on Flores.

To find out more about this particular documentary and the other documentaries from Paulo Cardoso, please visit livrepress.net to purchase a copy of "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)."

More Positive Reviews for "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)"

Today I would like to post another positive review from Amazon.com and respond:

Fantasy: a Fun, Happy, Read with Depth September 14, 2013

By S. McMullen

Format:Kindle Edition

This book surprised me. I am not a fantasy genre fan but I enjoyed reading this book. It takes you on a journey between the real world with its beauty and wonder and the world of imagination. There is enough science fiction thrown in to make you buy into and consider alternate realities. Perhaps this alternate world has more truth in it than the world we think we live in.

Dear S. McMullen:

Thank you so much for your review. A lot of research went into The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One), to make it as believable as it can possibly be. Even the archeological findings of the homo floresienses, proving the existence of a newly discovered species with human characteristics but of a much smaller stature, served well to have readers ask the very question you did on your review: could this alternate world be true? I hope The Conjunction of the Realms series can inspire young and old to abandon for a moment this cynical world we live in and enjoy a magical and unforgettable adventure to the world of imagination.

All the best!

- Sandra Alex

The above image is copyrighted by Livre Press, Inc. and is not available for reproduction without written permission from the author. 

2013 © Livre Press, Inc.

 

Positive reviews for "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)"

It is not everyday that you fill your heart with courage to publish a book and a month later find amazing reviews posted by the readers. The next three blog posts will be devoted to these reviews, along with my comments.

This post came from Dream Detective on Amazon:

“dream detective” (Los Angeles, CA) – See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase (What’s this?)

This review is from: The Conjunction of the Realms (Part 1) (Kindle Edition)

The Conjunction of the Realms is quite unlike anything I have ever read, even though as a college literature instructor I have read hundreds of books considered to be in the genre of fantasy. At first, I was surprised that the writing was unabashedly non-formulaic, or expected. Before I could consider another question, I was caught into the intrigue of the magical characters and their world–which really is “the conjunction of realms” between a believable family in the 21st century and the many spirit creatures and understandings they encounter and interact with. The story line continues to broaden and draw you in, and what you will discover will both delight you and release your inner child to consider the possibilities of the world that we live in. The illustrations are winsome and lovely….I can’t wait for Part II!

Dear Dream Detective:

What an inspiring review! It is so encouraging to find out that you enjoyed the story and was caught in the conjunction of the two realms: imagination and our perceived reality. To portray a 21st century family was a huge part of the plot. Most magical stories have their origins in the past, so no wonder they are not believable. I wanted the readers everywhere to realize that the world of imagination is alive and well! And it is also very accessible. Anyone can go on an adventure. Thank you so much for your kind words, and if all goes well, Part Two will be released August 2014. All the best!

Sandra Alex 

The Various Types of Gnomes: 5. The Scandinavian Brothers

The two comedic gnomes who complete each other’s sentences, Barbegazi and Vatir, are from Scandinavia. They dress like the peasants of Villands Vånga and wear oversized wooden clogs. Villands Vånga is the name of a very small Swedish farm town.
To find about more about Barbegazi and Vatir, and their adventures with the Kingsley family, you can buy “The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)” on Amazon.com and on Kobo.com.

2013 © Livre Press, Inc.

2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

Koalani, the Detective Nixie

Koalani was  a beautiful nixie, even considering her bright green hair and green teeth. She wore skirts  made of rose petals, and a blouse of interwoven seaweeds; mother-of-pearl jewelry adorned her necks and wrists. Although they carry the same powers as the fairies and exhibit many of the same characteristics, nixies are actually water fairies, abiding mostly in fresh water lakes or in the rivers.

Koalani grew up hearing detective stories from Shannia’s grandfather, Watson. Murder mysteries from the past intrigued her. For those who don’t already know, Watson was the gnome in England who inspired a legendary Scottish writer from the late 1800′s to write stories about a pipe-smoking, magnifying-lens carrying, cap-hat and cape-wearing detective.

To find about more about the Koalani, Shannia and Roxy, and their adventures with the Kingsley family, you can buy "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" on Amazon.com.

 
2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

The Various Types of Gnomes: Half-Chilean-dwarf and half-menehune

Kon-Tiki

Kon-Tiki was born of a Chilean dwarf mother and a Polynesian Menehune father. His parents faced quite the controversy in their day when gnomes did not intermingle with dwarves; the fruit of their union, however, was the extremely intelligent, witty, exotic and adventuresome Kon-Tiki. He grew up to be quite the character, friendly to all, with a warped sense of humor that he still possesses.

To find about more about Kon-Tiki and his adventures with the Kingsley family, you can buy "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" on Amazon.com.

2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

The Various Types of Gnomes: 3. The Menehunes

Another group of gnomes, those responsible for the beaches, the dunes, the valleys and the Pali in the Pacific Islands are the Menehunes. These incredibly smart creatures each perform duties related to their respective area. It is said that Menehunes sailed from New Guinea to the Marquesas Islands, continued their voyages to Easter Island between Tahiti and the coast of South American Chile, and later arrived in Hawaii. To this day man cannot explain how the legendary structures found in Easter Island or the fishpond wall at Niumalu on the mountains of Kauai were constructed. Many believe that humans could not have built some of these ancient sites.

Some believe that the Menehunes have left Hawaii and moved on to Tahiti and then New Zealand. Even though gnomes live in a realm not visible to the human eye, a realm that is not bound by physical distance, there is documented proof that Menehunes can still be seen with the mind’s eye at isolated sites in Maui and in Kauai.

To find about more about the Menehunes and their adventures with the Kingsley family, you can buy "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" on Amazon.com.

2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

The Various Types of Gnomes: 2. The Saci Pererê

Some gnomes are pranksters, like the mythical Saci Pererê who lives only in the Brazilian folkloric legends. Commonly known as Saci, this one-legged little dark child smokes a pretend pipe and wears a red cap. His red cap gives him magical powers such as being able to appear and disappear. Saci is famous in Brazil for startling people and playing pranks. One of his favorite pranks is to braid horses’ tails at night. Those who find their horses with braided tails in the morning know that Saci has been there, playing with the animals. He also loves to jump into small whirlwinds and spin, but don’t get him near the water. Saci Pererê can’t stand being in the smallest brook or the largest river. Ironically, he lives near the Amazon River.

To find about more about Saci Pererê and his adventures with the Kingsley family, you can buy "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" on Amazon.com.

2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

The Various Types of Gnomes: 1. The Leprechauns

Gnomes are responsible for watching over the forests, the beaches, the dunes, the deserts, the mountains, and all the animal creatures that inhabit them. The guardians of the forests in Ireland are the Leprechauns. They are well known for their intelligence, craftsmanship and humor. Their humor was always present—gnomes find most situations funny—but ever since the Leprechauns learned to drink Irish beer from the humans and began producing their own home-brew poteen, belly-laugh attacks surged throughout the community. A laugh attack is synonymous to uncontrollable laughter; a belly-laugh attack is the same thing but “boisterous.” Because of laughter’s highly contagious nature, the Leprechauns’ humor is, to this day, at an all-time high. They are about twenty-two inches tall, or fifty-six centimeters, and live in small cottages usually located at the foot of large oak or elm trees.

To find about more about Leprechauns, you can buy "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" on Amazon.com.

2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

Preface for "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)"

I decided to add here the Preface for "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" so that those who wish to read it have an idea of the some of the topics this book covers. It is a kids' book, but hopefully the fantasy genre will intrigue parents and grandparents who are determined to create a better world for the next generation. When you see Phil Kingsley mentioned, please know that he is a father and a grandfather. He will lead you along with his family on a thrilling adventure to the world of imagination.

To buy this book, please click here.

Preface

One of the reasons why I envisioned the adventures of the Kingsley family—who they are and what that they do—was to take you on a journey to the realm of imagination. Although the existence of the realms can be a debatable subject among many, much less a “conjunction” of the realms, the world of imagination is there for you and me to construct. People reading this book will find a piece of themselves in it, because imagination and creativity live inside all of us. You don’t need to have special powers or be magical. It is available to anyone who dares to believe.

Besides imagination, there is another reason why this book was written: for families. The most important aspect of the entire book is the love that binds families together; blood families or families of the heart.

A family filled with love will be unstoppable, like Phil Kingsley’s family. For those who do not have a blood family, I challenge you to choose your family of the heart—those who love you for who you are and are there for you through thick and thin. Families of the heart are as real as blood families because love is what binds us together!

The wisest man to walk the earth once said that love is as strong as death. I’d say it’s stronger! Not even death can put love asunder. Does that mean that the end of death can come about when love grows that strong? I put that one before you and ask: why not?

Sandra Alex

January 28, 2013

2013 © Livre Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No duplication in whole or in part without written authorization from the publisher.

Writing for Preteens brought back memories of being eight-years old

When I started The Conjunction of the Realms, since I was writing for preteens, my memories brought me back to the time when I was eight. I began missing my family in Rio de Janeiro. We were three kids living with our parents in a very small Copacabana apartment. Every night our dad would come to the tiny room where the three of us were laying in bed, and would tell us original and hilarious stories. Sometimes, when he was really tired, he would just say—and I will attempt to translate from the Portuguese: “Once there was a cat named Lee who let out a fart for you three.” And leave the room. The three of us would be there whining, complaining, hoping he would come back and tell us a real story. It never worked. Not once.

For my 9th birthday, he asked me what I wanted. "The entire Disney collection with all the cartoon characters, and the entire Jules Vernes collection." I was hungry to read! We were not rich. Such collections would have cost him a fortune. Instead, he went through the trouble of finding an original Adventures of Donald Duck book and a hard copy of Twenty Leagues Under the Sea, both translated into Portuguese. It wasn’t a collection, but those two books were the best birthday present ever. My love for reading began to flourish. In that same year, I went on to read the entire Monteiro Lobato collection, the kids' Bible, The Indian Anhangüera, and other great pieces of Brazilian literature. "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" has a slight literary resemblance to some of these authors. I would not dare compare me to any of them, but rather thank them for their inspiration and originality.

The second reason why I wrote a book...

The second reason for this book: when I began writing, I wanted to reveal a world where neither children nor adults needed to have special magical powers to accomplish great feats. In other words, I wanted to unlock the power of imagination that lives inside each one of us. The Conjunction of the Realms introduces the young reader to a place where those who live in the realm of imagination and those who live in the world of humans can interact and go on adventures together to solve mysteries, defeat enemies, and create new worlds together. If, after reading this book, a young adult embarks on a journey of discovery to unveil mysteries, or seeks to better understand and know the invisible intelligence that has created us, or realizes that the creativity that lives in us came from the creator of all things, and that nothing is impossible to those who believe, then my second goal for writing this book will have been accomplished. Imagination and creativity are gifts that every human being is endowed with from their creator. I hope that "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" provokes the youth of our world to not believe in limitations, to not ever second guess themselves, and to know that each one is destined for a great future, one that they can create with their imagination, one that will be free from the tentacles of evil and perversion.

TCOTR's First Review and Viewers Also Bought...

I didn't think that my little eBook would be so quickly spread on Amazon.com's site, but it is picking up momentum. What a thrill!

It got one five-star review today, and it is on the first page of recommendations with the book "The Case for Christ," by Lee Strobel, which has sold over a million copies.  I am attaching the pictures to prove it.

The review read:

"This book is awesome. Great for all ages, children all the way to grandparents. It is a fun adventure story about all sorts of creatures and the battle between good and evil. It is a very good read and I would recommend it to anyone."

"The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)"

"The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)" is finally published

On August 3, 2013, the first edition of The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One) was published. To put it simply, it is a thrilling adventure to the world of imagination for the whole family to read together or for those coming of age to enjoy reading on their own. I thought it would be a huge accomplishment after ten years of writing, re-writing, seeking for an illustrator, designing covers. Except... my work has just now started. Now I get to switch hats for a while and begin the marketing campaign for this book, which is currently available only on Amazon.

On December 1, 2013, iBooks and Barns & Noble will carry it as well. I will definitely post it here.

Easter Island Map

I found this map of Easter Island on Wikipedia. It is amazingly detailed with all of the locations outlined. Hanga Roa is where most ships and boats dock. Ahu Tahai, mentioned in "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)", is close to it. There are five moai on that particular Ahu. The following picture depicts it well. One of them is mostly defaced.

Seeing Dark Hedges before I knew it existed

When you write, things come to your mind's eye first or as a feeling, and you try to put it into words. In describing the way to the Kingsley's cottage, I saw this road where the trees were embracing each other, letting a few rays of sunlight through. I may have described it as tree-tunnel. Well, while traveling through Northern Ireland via Google Maps and Google Earth, I found a location called Dark Hedges. It looked so much like what I had described in "The Conjunction of the Realms (Part One)"... Searching for photos, I found this one. Now the question is, do you think we can travel with our imagination and see things?

Finished Writing, Now Off to Edit, Illustrate and Publish!

On July 19, 2012, I finished the first book of an upcoming trilogy that will soon become known to many. In 2003, my daughter and I started to put together ideas, name characters, create a world. She was 11 at the time. We wrote the first few chapters together. As time went by, she grew out of our book and became interested in less childish themes.

Nine years later, after going through writing dry spells, it is written. There are approximately ten people reading it right now for the readers' evaluation phase. In the mean time, I have met with a book cover designer and am looking for an editor. The illustrations are few. One of my friends showed interest in coming up with some of the characters and scenes. If he can do it, that will be a dream come true.

After this first book is edited, my goal is to e-publish it on three platforms: iBooks, Amazon and Barnes & Nobles' Nook, and translate it into Portuguese for a Brasil release. Depending on the amount of sales from the electronic world, a paper version may materialize.

The truth is that I am not even a formal writer. English is my second language, but it has been a dream of mine since age sixteen--way back in the stone age--to write a fictional book that depicted how families interact in an environment filled with magic and dreams.

Below is the family that started it all: Laddy, his wife Lynda, their kids Lyle, Lilly and Cousin George. For now, I will leave it at that... as time goes by, this blog will become a place where I can discuss with all of the readers more about the first book, and give hints, sometimes spoilers, on the second one of the trilogy which is now underway.

Hopefully, this enchanted world that my daughter and I created will become a place where we can all unlimitedly visit with our thoughts and witness the triumph of light over darkness, love over hatred, life over death.