Journey with me through a magical world (Chapter 27 | Book 3)

The 28th excerpt (including Prologue) from "Do You Believe in Miracles?"

Dec 06, 2024

Each Friday, I will send you the opening paragraphs from a chapter of Do You Believe in Miracles? (book 3). I will also break down the excerpt with comments about context, themes, and conflict. Finally, I will include writing tips. Previously, I did the same for Do You Believe in Magic? (book 1) and Do You Believe in Monsters? (book 2).

Though my series is appropriate for ages 13 and older, I’m finding that readers younger than 13 — and many who are a lot older than 13 — are enjoying it.

Here is a brief synopsis of the series: When Charlie Magus enters a fantastical world hidden deep in the forest, his life is turned upside down. The timid 13-year-old transforms into a powerful wizard wielding formidable powers.

Below are the opening paragraphs of Chapter 27 of book 3. My author’s breakdown follows this short segment.

Spoiler alert: This excerpt unavoidably contains spoilers. Don’t read any further if this is a concern.

Context: It’s time for some family reunions.

CHAPTER 27 — RETURN TO LOWERY
The time had come.
When they stepped out of the portal into the cave behind the waterfall, no one greeted them. Charlie had hoped his mom and Poppy would be there, but the cave was empty.
Charlie, Zola, Virgil, Garrick, Blue, and Killer stood in silence—four teenagers and two dogs.
Blue looked tiny now. Charlie had grown used to him being as big as a horse.
“Azura says there is much to be learned, but I don’t see us learning anything yet other than how to feel lonely,” Garrick said. “I miss Kate already. And I don’t want to get into a fight with my dad.”
“Me either,” Virgil said. “With my dad or mom.” Then he added, “I guess I’ll always call them that.”
“It’s okay,” Zola said. “I’ll always call Robert dad. He has earned it.”
“I wish I could say the same about my parents.”
“I hear you on that,” Garrick said. “Anyway, here goes nothing.”
The king of Pacchann plunged through the waterfall. The rest of them followed. They stood in the knee-deep pond. Charlie guessed it was about 8 p.m. on Tuesday in Lowery. All that had occurred during twenty momentous days in Pacchann had taken place in less than a day in their sleepy town in Upstate South Carolina.
End of excerpt.

Themes: Return to reality; hurt feelings; forgiveness.

Between the lines: Drama and trauma often walk hand in hand, but it’s only the latter that can haunt you for the rest of your life. From a literary standpoint, the trauma endured by a story’s characters can stick with readers long after they’ve finished the book. I still ache over things that happened to the main character in John Updike’s classic Rabbit series, and I haven’t read any of those books in more than twenty years.

But trauma is only one of the ways that great books leave a lasting emotional impact. They also expand a person’s worldliness, enhance creativity, encourage critical thinking, empower empathy, and sometimes even change a person’s outlook on life.

When I’m asked why I write, I typically give simplistic answers. But deep inside, I know that what happens “between the lines” is what inspires me the most.

Writing tips: This is the penultimate episode of “Journey with me through a magical world.” Next Friday, I’ll publish an excerpt from the epilogue of Do You Believe in Miracles? and that will be that.

I hope the ending to my series will be gratifying to my readers. Some might argue there are too many loose ends, with questions left unanswered and conflicts unresolved.

But that’s okay! A good ending is supposed to leave readers wanting more. It’s one of the main reasons they’ll buy your next book. 😀

Past episodes of Book 3 (Do You Believe in Miracles?)

Past episodes of Book 2 (Do You Believe in Monsters?)

Past episodes of Book 1 (Do You Believe in Magic?)

Promotional notes

Dark Circles is appropriate for ages 13 and older, but readers as young as 10 and as old as 80 have told me they loved it — sort of like the Harry Potter series or C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. This heartfelt coming of age saga has won thirteen international awards.

DARK CIRCLES (13 and older)
Book 1: Do You Believe in Magic?
Book 2: Do You Believe in Monsters?
Book 3: Do You Believe in Miracles?

All told, more than 28,000 copies of books 1-3 of Dark Circles have been purchased, with an additional 119,000-plus pages read on Kindle Edition Normalized Pages (KENP).

Jim Melvin's Realms of Fantasy

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