Kids With Anxiety are Not Alone
In Cameron and the Shadow-wraiths, a young boy finds himself in a battle to save his friend from the clutches of otherworldly entities as he fights an inner battle with anxiety and self-doubt. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This was important because my son struggled with anxiety for many years. In fact, his anxiety became so severe, I had to quit my job as an engineer and homeschool him. When I asked him what the daily panic attacks feel like, the level of hopelessness and dread he shared with me was shocking. I knew I needed to tell this story so other kids would know they are not alone. While writing this book, I worked with a team of child psychologists. They read the book, then gave me all of their anxiety coping strategies, terminologies, and breathing exercises they use with their patients. I wove all this information into the story. So, when a child with anxiety reads this book, they’ll not only hear the teachings of their therapist in the story, but will also see the main character, Cameron, put the anxiety coping strategies into use, sometimes successfully, and sometimes not.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
In writing this book, I gave the main character my son’s anxiety symptoms, and as I wrote the book, I realized that I’d felt some of these symptoms when I was a kids . . . that was unexpected. This helped me as I could more easily put myself in the head of Cameron as he was struggling with his fears.
I find the world you created around Cameron fascinating. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
I’m a HUGE fan of the movie Goonies, but I also love it when fantasy intersects with the real world. So my goal was to merge these two world together, kinda like a mashup of Goonies, Gremlins, and Stranger Things. I chose New Orleans because I was going to include some information about Ley Lines, and there is an intersection, or a vortex, near New Orleans, but as I wrote, I realized that I didn’t need to include the Ley Lines information; kids don’t care why the monsters are there in the swamps of Louisiana; they just want to go on an exciting ride. I’m hoping that’s what I gave them.
Can fans look forward to a third installment? If so, where will it take Cameron next?
There is a third book in the series, called The Gargoyle’s Revenge. I’m working on other things right now, so I don’t know when I’ll put quill to parchment for this book . . . hopefully soon.
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Shadow-wraiths from Agartha have crossed over to Earth and are executing an evil scheme, starting with abducting Cameron’s friend, Jessie. Because of last year’s battle with Malphas and his monster horde, everyone thinks Cameron is a heroic figure who can easily save Jessie from the clutches of the terrifying wraiths, everyone, that is, except for Cameron. His anxiety, or his Beast as he calls it, is still very much a part of him, filling him with fear and uncertainty. But Cameron knows, he has no choice. He must save his friend, even if it costs him his life.
With his friends at his side, Cameron will journey across the swamps of New Orleans, confront an army of alligators, battle against shadow-wraiths, and watch a dear friend perish before he finally reaches his goal, the Swamp of Forgotten Souls. At the Swamp, Cameron will be forced to confront his fears and failures in order to use the Earth-magic he desperately needs to save all his friends.
But does he realize Malphas is watching from the Void and waiting for Cameron’s failure?
Just like in Facing the Beast Within, Cameron must confront his anxiety, his Beast, while fighting an army of Shadow-wraiths in a hopeless battle to save his friends.
Buckle up and get ready for a thrilling ride.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/03/21/kids-with-anxiety-are-not-alone/
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