REVIEW and INTERVIEW
Maya Mysun and the World That Does Not Exist
by PM Perry
Author PM Perry stops by for an interview and to share an excerpt from his new children’s book, Maya Mysun and the World That Does Not Exist. You can also read my review. Get your copy ON SALE for only $0.99 (save $2.00) for a limited time.
Description
Maya Mysun is a dreamer; tormented by the vision of the wraith & the event she witnessed, something she cannot reveal to anyone not even her protective twin, Jack.
Their thirteenth birthday was supposed to be the best one yet but her troubles were just beginning. An unexplainable event forces the twins to flee their home in search for a mystical monk, the protector of the world that does not exist; the world of magic.
All her life Maya had dreamt of magic but it was not supposed to be like this. On a perilous night the twins are forced to race across London, desperately trying to stay one step ahead of something dark.
Along the way they meet a rebellious runaway with an agenda of his own, discover an underground castle & a mysterious monastery with a hidden history & powerful artifacts.
Maya is scared for there's panic in magical world but determined to unravel the event that forced her to leave home; she bravely ventures deeper into a world filled with unheard of mythical beasts & challenges age-old gatekeepers. But in doing so she comes in contact with an evil long thought to be destroyed.
Discover a world of ancient prophecies & experience the beginning of a rampant adventure with twists that keep on building.
Book Video
Excerpt
Maya woke abruptly on a clear night in London.
‘Tommy that felt real, bewitchingly real,’ she whispered to her pet tortoise in his vivarium across the window. Fully awake, she hugged her soft duvet. ‘I was in these dark woods and I saw a portal appear; you know, a doorway to another world. It had an intense blue light with lightning sprouting from its edges, and it tore the woods before me. Don’t worry, nothing happened to the woods; it was like a tear in a photograph, only it was a tear in the air. Through the tear I saw a chamber with a glowing fireplace. And then a wizard walked through!’
Vivid dreams were normal for Maya, but this felt like something else. Rubbing the goosebumps on her arms, she quietly sat up and swept her brown fringe back before leaning across to pluck Tommy from his world. Excited and frightened, she cuddled the small creature and looked through the gap between the curtains behind her to see if it was still night. Her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach when she saw the otherworldly grey sky. An ungodly hour, she thought, recalling what she’d read. It was a period of uncertainty, neither day nor night, when the dark arts were at their strongest.
‘I’ve still got some time before our big day!’ She sighed, giving Tommy another embrace before returning him to his pebbles. Maya and Jack, her not so-identical twin, were about to celebrate their thirteenth birthday. But that wasn’t for a couple of hours, so she snuggled down with thoughts of presents floating in her mind. Comfortable, she gazed up at the glowing stars stuck on her ceiling and gave a quick glance to her fluffy toys before closing her eyes. It wasn’t long before images of fantasy, of wizards, kings and magic rose in her mind. The images returned like a flash flood: slow at first, then quickening until she was swept into another world.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
“... one of the best fantasy novels I've read in a long time.”
“... recommend this to any reader that enjoyed the Harry Potter books.”
“... story of talking animals and magic was not only enchanting but the best book of its kind since The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.”
“Reminded me in some way of Johnny Quest from my childhood.”
“... a great gift to a teenager who loves fantasy adventure.”
“... a clean read for kids!”
“... Entertaining story for young and the not so young.”
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
Maya has vivid dreams and believes in magic, while her twin brother Jack loves science. On their thirteenth birthday, magic and science collide, and the twins are taken on a wild adventure into the realm of Maya’s dreams. Along the way, they meet David, an orphan with a fascination for the supernatural. Together, they will form a powerful alliance and might just save not only their world but the world of magic.
The story is told from the points of view of Maya and David. We follow their separate stories until they meet in the strangest of circumstances. What starts off as a contemporary adventure quickly turns into a fantasy adventure, filled with magical creatures such as Hopper the talking monkey, Tommy the turtle girl, Achanak the fire genie, Qidan the snake girl, and the bat-like ekoers. Maya is a worthy heroine, thoughtful, kind, and compassionate. The story itself is full of twists and turns and surprise revelations. I don’t read much in the way of fantasy, but this book strikes me as being highly original. I love the descriptions and details of the Red Gate Center, the birthday cake, the book-shaped door handles, the Fountain of Knowledge … to the extent that I wish there were illustrations. In any event, I would love to see this book turned into a movie. Although this story is complete, the author leaves it open for a sequel or even a series. I can’t wait to read the next installment.
My only suggestion: change the cover to appeal to a wider age range of readers.
Author PM Perry joins me today for a quick interview about his new book, Maya Mysun and the World That Does Not Exist.
For what age group do you recommend your book?
I recommend this book for children aged 9 years and upwards.
What sparked the idea for this book?
My inspiration was my daughter and the idea to have a girl as the main character.
So, which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?
The idea for the novel came first, but it was always going to have a female lead.
What was the hardest part to write in this book?
I found it hardest to write the action sequences.
How do you hope this book affects its readers?
I hope it helps my young readers become stronger and overcome their weaknesses and fears.
How long did it take you to write this book?
Altogether, it took me about one and a half years to write the book.
What is your writing routine?
I took time off from work and wrote daily as a routine.
How did you get your book published?
I self-published my book via Amazon.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Not so much advice, as a warning: it’s a marathon!
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I enjoy spending time with my family when I’m not writing.
What does your family think of your writing?
They like it! Especially my daughter who now has a book written especially for her.
Did you like to read when you were a child?
I enjoyed reading The Famous Five series and similar novels.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I first realized I wanted to be a writer about ten years ago.
Did your childhood experiences influence your writing?
I suppose the main character’s journey reflects my own, to some extent.
Which writers have influenced you the most?
I have been influenced by writers such as J. K. Rowling and Stephen King.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I’ve heard from a few - they seem to like the story. I have a lot of great reviews!
What can we look forward to from you in the future?
I hope to develop the story further by adding more books to the series in the future.
Thanks so much for stopping by today! I’ll share my review with our readers once I get the chance to read your book.
About the Author
PM Perry is an aspiring new author who lives and works in London, where he divides his time between writing, being an entrepreneur, and spending time with his family. Surprisingly he writes both fiction and non-fiction books. Maya Mysun and the World That Does Not Exist is his first novel and is a children's magical adventure based in London.
Until recently, PM Perry was happy within his comfort zone working as a successful manager. An unexpected change shook him from the comfort zone and empowered him to author a book and tick off one of the items on his bucket list.
Writing has enabled him to discover many friends around the globe: all highly motivated and wise individuals and all chasing their dreams. Writing has also allowed him to come out of his shell and live life by undertaking new ventures - in other words, chase his dreams. Chase your dreams, try the impossible and live a little.
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