Backcover Description: Product Description This is a fantasy novel. It takes you to places you’ve never gone before. This story gives a new meaning to the word wizard and reveals the true magic inside each of us. It is the tale of a kingdom without a king, and of the young man who is born to be that king. It is the tale of a sword. It is the tale of a man from one world, who is transported to another world—a world under threat—a world that only he can save.
It is a tale of magic, but in a world where magic is derided as superstition and does not know that it needs to be saved. And it is the story of a mentor who is so jealous of his protege’s achievements that he could end up proving more deadly than any enemy.
Book Review/s to share: Jack R. Sorenson, author of "the Child of the Shadows" is a truly amazing young man. In spite of many handicaps and misfortune, he has accomplished more than I probably ever will. His persistence and success should be a lesson to any of us who struggle for whatever reason!
writerJack: Harry Potter inspires special-ed alum to publish POD fantasy novel
By David Rothman
nullDid you see the writerJack image in the right column of the TeleBlog this morning?
Jack Sorenson, logging on from Los Gatos, California, is one of our more memorable visitors. A former special-education student with a serious back injury and learning disabilities, he struggled with words and still has difficulty.
But Harry Potter, along with a computer, awakened a love of writing.
Jack wanted to borrow J.K. Rowling’s characters for his own novel, but with copyright hassles in mind, I encouraged him instead to aim for a wizard book of his own.
Now, as a POD book, Jack’s Child of the Shadows is available from Amazon.com and BN.com. among other places.
The healthy side of the Potter phenomenon
“This story gives a new meaning to the word wizard and reveals the true magic inside each of us,” says the Amazon listing. “It is the tale of a kingdom without a king, and of the young man who is born to be that king.”
I’m happy for Jack. Perhaps parents of kids with learning disabilities can buy the 513-page book and use it to inspire their own children. This is the healthy side of the Harry Potter phenomenon.
The dark side
But will Harry Potter help literature in the long run? Might the series actually be a form of literary tyranny—with media-driven buying impulses counting more than genuine love of the books?
In Harry Potter and the Death of Reading in the Washington Post, book reviewer Ron Charles mentions “the static characters” and “pedestrian prose” and further observes: “Potter mania…trains children and adults to expect the roar of the coliseum, a mass-media experience that no other novel can possibly provide.”
Charles observes: “Like the basilisk that terrorized students at Hogwarts in Book II, “Harry Potter” and a few other much-hyped books devour everyone’s attention, leaving most readers paralyzed in praise, apparently incapable of reading much else.”
Along the way, Charles notes a 1994 study reporting that five authors accounted for more than 70 percent of fiction sales.
“There’s not much reason to think that things have changed,” Charles says. “As Albert Greco of the Institute for Publishing Research puts it: ‘People who read fiction want to read hits written by known authors who are there year after year.’”
Back to Jack
Meanwhile, I’m happy for Jack despite my concerns about the $34 price of his book and use of the problematic PublishAmerica. May he write and on! The issue is, How many people will read him or, for that matter, other obscure writers?
Long Tail believers may counter that literature is alive and well—with an increasing number of titles appearing as e-books and POD titles. And in fact, I suspect that Amazon.com sales figures would suggest a better spread of fiction sales than the 1994 study suggests. Still, I’m not entirely sanguine about novel-reading—not in the wake of NEA studies and other evidence. I could go into my reasons in depth, but I’ll end this post here. What do you think?
Related: Blog devoted to Jack’s book. Also see newspaper column about Jack.
Third Generation Los Gatan Jack R. Sorenson's Fantasy Novel
Inspired and imaginative, The Child of the Shadows is Jack R.Sorenson's fantasy story of magic, growth, hope, and the classic issues of good and evil.
Folks who enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series will find many things to like in this book as well, as it shares some of the hallmarks: the use of enchantment and the element of "another world" being among them.
Best of all in this tome is character development. The individuals we meet are complex and intriguing, all with several dimensions to them. In Child of the Shadows, the main players are not always what they seem at first glance - or second, or third.
A month or two ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Jack in person and talking with him about his book, about Los Gatos, ghosts and some neat history of the town. He has a wonderful "sense of story" that he's putting onto paper and I expect to see his current work become a series in a short period of time.
I promised Jack I would read his book and write about it in my Live in Los Gatos blog. At the current time, I'm only halfway through the very long (500 + page) novel. With several open books on my nightstand at once, nothing is consumed too fast, but this one is worthy of a mention for your holiday gift list - well before the end of the year, by which time I'll have finished it!
Where to find the book? It's available at the Los Gatos Public Library and online at Amazon.
Jack Resume-
Published In Fantasy/Fiction/Horror/Non-Fiction
About the Author: Published In Fantasy/Fiction/Horror/Non-Fiction Accomplished author Jack R. Sorenson Author: Jack R. Sorenson: I live in California in a small Town nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains and San Jose California the heart of Silicon Valley its called Los Gatos. Published Works: 2007 the child of the shadows novel by publishamerica media says my 513 pages novel- I’m the Better part to Harry Potter 2007.
2008 Sword of Eibhlin by Black Rose writing -2008 Desirae’s War novel and To Raven With Love novel by Skyemark Gothic Horrors 2009 Odd Minds book publisher/published my short flash fiction/horror stories-To Waters Creek –Killer’s Eyes– I wish I were a princess– The darkness-and now Published The Dead wind of Night-And -Internal Glory-Crazy Horse Rides the Wind–Child. Non-Fiction Old Building on West main St. by Twisted Dreams book publisher-Eibhlin and her Dragon novel by Publishamerica- Anthology. (Curses include my writing as me). -Just published- by Odd Minds-Publishing works are for my huge novel Jack School of Shines. (Published) Category: Dreams and the Supernatural, Jack Sorenson Demented Dreamscape to Withersin-Nightfall cloaked with Terra.(Published). Self Published- Never Alone- Published Over the Edge Published-Whiskers and Owls-Published- The Prophecy-Published Ghost in Los Gatos-Published A Night with Evil-Published-The Wizard Light.
Authors Movies: A.C.E. PRODUCTIONS! Producer Amy C. Chapman Has taken the Magical Woods A.C.E. PRODUCTIONS Web-site -Sci-Fi/Mystery ‘MAGICAL WOODS’ Production starts in 2010. Indie. Movies. Cari Breske L.L.C. Harrah, Oklahoma US Cleopatra Perry Productions: Has taken Ally Grows up. and- Her eyes are in Hitler Graveyard.
Iam working with a German CO. with Kristina Boubareva Melusina- will be the next, After it releases. After that we can start with Melusina the woods Marmaid. Melusine the White Dragon.
Top 40 people to watch on Twitter, Jack R. Sorenson
Email to share: jacksorenson@comcast.net
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