Little Creatures

Genre: Children’s Science Fiction

and Fantasy

What if your curiosity unlocked a hidden world? Can a science-loving girl save a place where magic rules?

Synopsis

When twelve-year-old Zowie Lillian Saintclair moves from bustling Houston, Texas, to the quiet town of Greenwood, Arkansas, with her family, everything seems normal until she begins to spot little creatures that only she can see hiding in the shadows of her backyard. And just as she thought things couldn’t get any more bizarre, she discovers something otherworldly living within her bedroom walls. That’s when she realizes her life is about to change in ways she never imagined.

Perfect for readers of all ages who love fantasy, adventure, and a smart heroine who isn’t afraid to explore the unknown.

Excerpt

When Zowie’s first day of school ended, she stepped off the bus and waved at her three neighborhood friends. “Wanna come over later?” she called out to them.

They nodded, then waved back, and left for their separate houses.

Zowie was greeted by her grandmother the moment she came inside. “Hello, sweetheart,” she said with her arms outstretched. “How was your first day at school?”

She quickly hugged her, feeling grateful that her seventy-five-year-old grandmother had come to live with them after her husband, who Zowie called Pappa Earl, had passed a year ago. At least now, she didn’t have to get off the bus and come home to an empty house. Before, she’d have to wait a little over an hour for her parents to get home from work. When her father had gotten the new chemist position at a hospital here, her mother, who was an attorney, transferred to a new firm. With their busy schedules, Grandma Pearl, who was Daniel’s mother, was a godsend to the family.

“It was great,” Zowie excitedly said. “I got an A on my science quiz.”

“That’s wonderful, dear,” the thin, gray-haired woman said, then pulled from their embrace, facing Zowie with a smile. “I’m so proud of you.”

Zowie smiled back. “Thanks, Grandma.”

The elderly woman gestured to Zowie, motioning her to follow. “Come with me to the kitchen, dear. I’ll make you an after-school snack.”

Zowie stopped on her way to the kitchen and fed Oscar the goldfish. She noticed Biscuit watching with his eyes tracking the fish’s every move.

“Don’t even think about it,” Zowie told the cat. “Oscar is not on the menu.”

The long-haired cat meowed, then turned and trotted away.

Pets and Friends

After Zowie fed her goldfish, she devoured the PB&J sandwich and downed the glass of milk her grandmother had made her. “Grandma,” she began, “is it alright if Benny, Cooper, and Lani come over for a while?”

“Do you have any homework?”

Zowie shook her head. “Nope.”

“Then I don’t see why not.”

“Thanks.” Zowie flashed her grandmother with a bright smile. “You’re the best.”

She lightly patted Zowie on the cheek. “You’re welcome, dear.”

An hour later, Zowie met her friends outside. Bean tagged along.

Benny, who was the tallest of the four, greeted Zowie with the group’s secret handshake that ended in a fist-bump. “Hey, Zoe. Whaddya think of your first day?”

“It was good,” she said, smiling broadly. “And your sister was right about Mrs. Crandall. She’s the coolest science teacher.”

“Yeah,” he replied, nodding his head. “I thought so too.”

Zowie liked hanging out with Cooper and Lani, but she had more in common with Benny. He was a science nerd like her. All three looked up to him as the group leader. They referred to themselves as the four amigos.

Benny, who had relocated from Chicago four years ago, lived in the house next to Zowie’s with his mom Carol, older sister, Karla, and his little brother, Kaysen. His dad had died of pancreatic cancer a year ago, leaving Benny to be the man of the house. Benny was a brave kid, the type who kept his promises and who would have your back no matter the circumstance. This summer, he’d stood up to a ninth grader who had been bullying Cooper.

One hot summer afternoon while swimming at the city pool, Benny had finally had enough. Jason McCully, aka “the bully,” had been tormenting Cooper for the last two years. He teased him relentlessly over his unusual pale complexion, name-calling him Casper the Ghost. Not only was Cooper pale, but he was also skinny as a rail and covered head-to-toe in freckles. But that day, Jason McCully had taken it too far when he’d purposely tripped Cooper. It resulted in a broken nose. But Cooper hadn’t been the only one that suffered a broken nose that day. The bully had ended up with a broken nose and a fat lip. That was the last time Cooper was bullied, thanks to Benny’s bravery and his mighty fists.

“Mrs. Crandall is one hot teacher,” Cooper interjected. “I hope I’m in her class again next year.”

“Coop,” Lani began, addressing him by his nickname. “You’re such a weirdo. She’s like thirty years older than you.”

Cooper shrugged his bony shoulders. “So? I still think she’s hot.”

Lani, who had lived next to Cooper since her parents had moved from the Philippines when she was two, shot Cooper an irritated look.

“Whatever, Coop,” she sighed, then pushed a strand of her short, inky hair behind her ear.

“As I remember,” Cooper began, flashing her a mischievous grin, “you were crushing on our gym teacher just last year. And isn’t he like fifty or something?”

“Haha,” she snidely remarked, then punched him in the arm.

“Ow…” he yowled in pain. “Dang, Lani. That hurt.”

She rolled her eyes. “You big baby.”

“Are you sure you two aren’t related?” Benny said, shaking his head. “You act like siblings.” He jogged ahead, gesturing for them to follow. “Come on. Zowie and I are going in the backyard to look for cicada exoskeletons.”

“Gross…” Lani made a face like she’d bit into something sour.

“Cool!” Cooper fist-pumped the air. “I’m game!”

Look in the Tree

While they searched the trees for cicada shells, Zowie caught a glimpse of something moving out of the corner of her eye. She turned to get a better look and quickly placed a hand over her mouth. It was a tiny elf-like figure clinging to the tree. Although it was only inches away, it was barely visible. It was camouflaged in leaves, blending in with the tree, except for its green face and charcoal eyes. The little creature was feral looking, but also cute in a creepy way.

She took a couple of steps back and pointed. “L-Look…” she mumbled into the palm of her hand.

Bean noticed the creature and abruptly started barking.

Benny noticed the dog’s reaction, then Zowie’s shock-white face. “What is it, Zoe?”

“T-There,” she said, still pointing. “Don’t you see it?”

Although Benny’s face was close to the creature, it was invisible to him. “I don’t see anything.” He continued to search over the tree. “All I see is bark.”

The little elf-like creature grinned at Benny, flashing a mouthful of pointy teeth, then quickly scampered up the tree.

Bean continued to bark with his front paws pressed against the tree.

“There it goes!” Zowie called out, looking between Benny and the tree. “You see it?”

Lani came over. “What are you guys looking at?”

“Hey,” Cooper chimed in, moving next to Lani. “Did you guys find a cicada?”

Benny ignored them and stared at Zowie curiously. “Whaddya see, Zoe?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Lani swiveled her head between Zowie and Benny. “What are you two going on about?”

“Zoe saw something on the tree,” Benny said. “And obviously, so did Bean.”

“It’s okay, boy.” Zowie knelt and patted the dog. “It’s gone now.”

“What was it?” Cooper asked, eyes wide with interest.

“If I tell you,” Zowie said, “promise you won’t laugh.”

Lani offered her pinky finger to Zowie. “Let’s pinky swear.”

“Okay but keep an open mind.” Zowie curled her pinky around Lani’s. “And what I’m about to say goes no further than the four of us, K?”

Lani and Cooper nodded in unison.

“Come on, Zoe,” Benny said. “We’re your best friends.”

What Did She See?

She nodded. “Okay, here goes nothing. It was,” she paused and took a deep breath, “some kind of little creature. It resembled a tiny woodland elf. The thing couldn’t have been no taller than five or six inches at best.”

“Was it the Keebler Elf?” Cooper mockingly said.

Lani elbowed him in the ribs. “It’s not funny, Coop.”

Cooper winced. “Jeez, Lani. I was just kidding.”

“Guys…,” Zowie furrowed her brows. “I’m being serious.”

“Sorry, Zoe,” Cooper said apologetically. “This creature you’re describing sounds tiny. It’s about the size of my collection of Star Trek figurines.”

Lani smirked. “You mean your doll collection.”

“They’re not dolls.” Cooper frowned at Lani. “They’re action figures.”

“Whatever.” Lani rolled her eyes, then focused on Zowie. “So, where’d this thing go?”

Zowie pointed to the top of the tree. “It’s hiding somewhere up there.”

Benny suddenly got an idea. “Zoe, do you have a ladder?”

She nodded. “My dad has one in the garage. Why?”

“Do you think he’d mind if I borrowed it?”