NEW RELEASE: THe Adventures of Wonky Willy
Inspired by a real live Douglas squirrel, The Adventures of Wonky Willy is the story of brave and adventurous Willy and his escapades in the forest. Along the way he meets Isabella and her fluffy dog, Annie. Although life is the wild isn’t always easy for young Willy, with his new friends looking out for him, he thrives. Then one evening, just at dusk, a dark shadow sweeps straight toward him from between the trees. Will Isabella be able to save him? Will Willy ever make it home again?
In this delightful, heartwarming, beautifully illustrated read-aloud story for children five to ten years old, you’ll learn about squirrels, their challenging lives in the forest, and explore the meaning of love as it relates to animals.
What people are saying about The Adventures of Wonky Willy
This book takes me back to the type of book that I would have either read or have read to me as a child. It is an engaging, authentic Pacific Northwest story enhanced by finely detailed and beautiful illustrations — a pleasurable read for an adult!
Every so often a book comes along I just want to hug. This is one of them. Willy’s story is so heartfelt, his adventures so real and squirrely relatable, his happy ending (with a bit of help from his human friends) so well earned I wanted to start over when I got to the last page. The depictions of the secret rhythms and joys of the forest are told in simple, appropriate prose and still capture the essence of the outdoors. Every page spread has a stunning watercolor illustration to ooh an aah over, to study and discuss and wonder about. It won’t be just the little ones who are entranced by this book. Buy one for every kid you know and put some in the Secret Santa stockings, too.
If you, like me, cherish reading to your grandchildren, Wonky Willy is a must. My little clan was enchanted by the beautifully illustrated adventures of a backyard squirrel—a creature so relatable to little folks.
And they learned something of the life and habitat of the little Douglas squirrel—sparking wonder, questions and interest. Wonky Willy hits all the marks of a perfect children’s book—both charming and educational.
Love this book for story time. Have always been on the lookout for good books to read to kids too young to read longer prose themselves but plenty old and smart enough to understand more intricate stories. Seems like there’s a market gap. Titles like “My Father’s Dragon” or even the Paddington stories. This book is absolutely perfect for that age group, and the pictures are incredible!
This beautifully illustrated book opens a world that I thoroughly enjoyed. Although young ones will delight in it, everyone will find the tale and the pictures delightful!
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The Orchid Mantis: a psychological thriller
The Orchid Mantis follows the turbulent lives of innocent, six-year-old Skye and her adopted older sister, Amber. At first, Skye is enthralled with her new sister, but soon finds herself caught in a web of lies, fear, and deceit. Over time the stakes climb higher and higher for Skye, and just when she thinks she has the upper hand, COVID-19 strikes, the city is plunged into lockdown, and her world changes forever.
The Orchid Mantis is available on Kindle and as a soft cover book on Amazon. It is also available at Village Books in Bellingham, WA.
What people are saying about
THE ORCHID Mantis:
Great story. Six-year-old Skye is in thrall to eight-year-old Amber from the moment of Amber’s adoption. Amber is not only pretty and self-assured, but also full of ideas for excitement and adventure. Everyone adores her. Because of her traumatic past, she is given endless leeway by their parents. But as the girls grow up, the adventures become wilder and more dangerous, and unsettling events begin to accumulate.
Told from the point of view of a sister desperate to see only the best in her sibling, this is a finely drawn, chilling study of the extremes of familial passion and the bond of sisterhood gone wrong. I loved it. SS
A great read! Fascinating and unnerving plot, with characters whose flaws feel painfully real. Held my attention right up until the last exquisite sentence. JN
This book is a fascinating tale of human behavior and family dynamics rocked by narcissism.
A story filled with intrigue, suspense, love, loyalty and fear. I am not typically a fan of
thrillers, but I tend to read one every once in a while, and I am very glad I read this one.
The goal of thrillers seems to be to scare you to death, but this one actually has a story
that is thought provoking, courageous, and thrilling. Loved it!
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Finding Vera, The story of a very special, special-needs dog.
Based on true events, Finding Vera is the story of a beautiful, intelligent, and sensitive German shepherd. After a difficult beginning, Vera’s life spins out of control as she struggles to cope with her new family—two adult humans and two well-socialized, mature dogs who view her as the uncivilized punk sister. This is a story filled with anguish, joy, pain, and humor as the complexity of Vera’s character is slowly revealed. Like a phoenix, she emerges triumphant.
This novel illustrates some of the potential challenges of adopting a shelter dog, and the intensely rich and rewarding experience of working through the issues. Layered with a deep understanding of dogs, the author brings the dogs’ points of view to life.
Finding Vera is available through Amazon.com, at Village Books in Fairhaven, Bellingham and at Village Books in Lynden, WA.
What people are saying about
Finding Vera:
“This book is the best dog-related novel I’ve ever read, and I also learned more from it than any other. Experienced and inexperienced dog guardians alike will be impressed by the writer’s depth of knowledge and understanding of dogs’ relationships with other dogs and with humans. It’s a deeply felt and emotionally compelling story based on the author’s life with three very different dogs. Even though it’s obvious the author was more experienced than most dog lovers and dog trainers when she adopted Vera, she articulately conveys how much she learned from the drama-filled years she had with these three amazing beings.”
“An excellent story of the effort it takes to rehabilitate a dog. Adopting an adult dog that has been confined and mistreated, Kerry lays out all the joys and sorrows that come with trying to train the dog to integrate into a loving human family. All does not go as planned. She is able to go just so far with Vera but in the end it is she, her family and her other dogs who must adapt themselves to this new dog in their midst. Anyone who is thinking of adopting a project dog should read this book.” Edwina Kleeman.
“I think Kerry did a better job than Garth Stein of writing from a dog’s point of view. Even the distinction between the experience of the loved and wanted dog and the abused dog was artfully done–interpreting sensory information differently based on their level of trust. The story itself was wonderful. This was a hugely ambitious debut and she slammed it out of the park. Well done!” Kristin P Noreen.
“What do you do when that dog at the shelter starts losing her mind from stress and boredom? You know the one. Vera, that sweet, troubled German shepherd you’ve walked for months as you volunteer there? The one you’ve quietly fallen in love with? What do you do when the shelter staff begin to mutter that it might be time to end it? You take her home, of course. Never mind that you don’t want a third dog. Never mind that Vera is a “reactive dog”: she doesn’t have a clue about doggie politics, and resorts to aggression whenever she is overwhelmed. Because you are convinced you can rehab her.
Sophie and her husband Jake adopt Vera, and so begins the challenging and frustrating work of finding a place in the family for a high-needs dog. Sophie’s determination is sorely tested along the way, but with kindness and consistency, support from Jake, and a boatload of sheer bloody-mindedness, she brings Vera into the fold.
Ultimately, this is a story of triumph. At times heartwrenching, and always beautifully written, it is a must-read for dog lovers.” Sabine Sloley.
“I can’t say enough good about this book. Having recently adopted what feels like the fearful equivalent of Vera, the entire story speaks to my soul. It is wonderfully written, with so much heart and emotion pouring through every page. The beauty of “hearing” the dogs’ perspectives as well as those of their humans gives insight and reminds us to consider that dogs aren’t just being stubborn, or mean, or stupid when they don’t do what we expect them to. There may be experiences we can never know about their pasts that cause them to relate to the world in the way they do. For the reader who might not be so versed in canine body language, it’s also an excellent lesson in what to look for during real life dog interactions. What more could you want? Laughter, tears, frustration, and knowledge all in one place. And of course, DOGS! The very best kind of people.” Grumpyoldperson.
“Kerry does an amazing job portraying life with a “reactive” dog. Her eloquent storytelling draws the reader into the lives of Vera and her adoptive family, both human and canine. The perspectives of the canines in the story are enlightening, enabling a reader to “get into” the mind of the dogs, thereby garnering a greater understanding of our canine companions. The descriptions of canine body language and positive training techniques are interwoven into the story, giving the reader the added bonus of an education in dog training while enjoying a good read. The story is a realistic portrayal of the sacrifices, time, persistence, devotion, and love required to give a dog like Vera a chance at living a good life. Anyone who is contemplating adopting a dog with a potentially less than perfect history will benefit from this heartfelt, honest story. Finding Vera is a must read for all dog lovers, dog trainers, and even non-dog people who just want to enjoy a beautiful story.” SL
Check out Amazon.com for more 5-star reviews!
Upcoming Novels: The Pendant book 1: Up in the mountains. Book 2: Under the sea.
I’m currently working on rewrites and edits on both of these psychological thrillers. I can’t wait to finish and publish them. They give the reader one long, tense, exciting ride!
Kerry Claire and dogs 