By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
The new title from Hardisty author T.L. Jenkins has hit bookstore shelves, and the author will be doing a local book signing at The Purple Platypus Bookstore in Castor on March 14th.
The latest title from Jenkins is the first of a new series, as well as the first with her new publisher Austin Macauley Publishers. The book, entitled Tears of the Dragon: Love and Sorrow, was released on Dec. 12th, 2019 and is the first in what is hoped to be a four-book young-adult series by Jenkins.
From the synopsis released by the publisher:
“Meara Lovechild is anything but normal. Normalcy doesn’t apply to someone who has been blind from birth and diagnosed autistic at the age of two, unable to be touched by anyone—even their parents. After being home-schooled all of her life, Meara is unexpectedly thrust into the school system at the age of thirteen and learns the true brutality of teenage bullying. But upon being brutally beaten, a previously unknown gift is awakened inside her.
“Without forewarning, Meara finds her life turning upside down as her new-found powers are just the tip of the iceberg she now seeks to explore. A deadly family secret sends her already-turbulent life on a tailspin of lies and deceit, as a deadly assassin sets eyes on destroying everything she holds dear—starting with her father.
“An intriguing read sure to captivate audiences from beginning to end, Tears of the Dragon: Love and Sorrow will remain a family favourite for years to come.”
Jenkins, whose other works have tended to be written for adult audiences, wrote the Tears of the Dragon series after the young granddaughter of a friend approached her, asking her to write a book that she could read. Jenkins was happy to help out with the request, and over a three-month period she wrote the first book in the series.
Jenkins credits her husband for getting her back into writing after a lengthy absence.
“I was writing when I was in school, mostly it was poetry,” said Jenkins. “Then I lost track of that when life started coming around.”
Eventually, Jenkins put together a book of her poetry as a Christmas gift for family one year. Her husband read the poetry book and pushed her back into writing.
“Sometimes you need to have that backing, or you lose track or just give up,” said Jenkins.
Jenkins’ first works were self-published through one of the many web sites that offer the service online. Eventually she decided to look around for a publisher that offered more services, and she found New York-based Austin Macauley.
“I had no idea what to do with my books,” said Jenkins. “A friend of mine told me to go to an actual publisher…I went online and started looking at what other publishers are out there. I sent (Austin Macauley) the first chapter of my teen novel. They got back to me within a week looking for the rest of the book.”
Jenkins’ book is for sale at the Purple Platypus in Castor, and Jenkins will be at the store signing books on March 14th from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Jenkins and The Purple Platypus owner Lynn Sabo are both excited to be able to share an event like this to the community of Castor.