The Hebredene Journals Paperback - 2008

Nestled between each today passing into its tomorrow, a wee speck of time awaits. It is shorter than a minute, briefer than a second. Imagine the smallest amount of time, and then divide it by a million billions. This very small piece of time is known as the Midnight Slice. While few understand the phenomenon, the smartest of the smartest describe the Midnight Slice as the ever-smallest quantity of time with the ever-greatest potential. Within this micro-smidgeon itself, the most ominous perils lurk amongst the greatest opportunities. As Cristopher M. Bartholomew laments about his forgotten fourteenth birthday, the power of the Midnight Slice strikes with a vengeance. Cristopher awakens blinded and paralyzed in the Tower of the Lost, twenty thousand kilometers from his home, an island hidden in the Canadian Maritimes. Written by a Child Psychiatrist with a Registered Nurse, both with extensive expertise in child development, family systems, special education, and developmental disabilities, The Hebredene Journals ~ Book One: Tales from the Villa is the first book in a series of the time travel stories of Cristopher M. Bartholomew. During his quest to find his family, 14-year-old Cristopher discovers the world of Journeychron lore. The pursuit of his legacy as a Guardian of Time is met with wondrous discoveries, countless perils, and daring adventures. True to its genre of fantasy, the rousing narrative is told in an original and lyrical first person style, sure to be favored by the young, contemporary reader. The memorable characters found in The Hebredene Journals embrace hope and altruistic fervor in a world plagued with evil. The story highlights teen issues of self-esteem, familyrelationships, conflicting choices, and new friendships, while developing a strong sense of self in the face of loss, fear, and trauma. While some might believe the series to be another of the many magic-infested, dragon-slaying, ghost-filled books capitalizing on the brilliant, blockbuster series of J.K. Rawlings, the author takes a scientific rather than witchcraft path. But what makes Tales from the Villa truly a standout among the many other recent offerings for young readers is the lyrical, first-person style, which contains prose almost musical in its nature. Like any good story, there are villains and other nasties, all set in a fantasy world where Cristopher learns of his legacy as a Guardian of Time. But once again, the author approached the story differently, this time from the viewpoint of science. Rather than take the path of previous writers, the author wove his interpretation of string theory throughout the story, adding engaging elements, which are both creative and truly original. Cristophers story is about youth, family, and how a young person attempts to overcome the pitfalls and challenges of growing up. Book One: Tales from the Villa contains three appendixes at the end of the story to assist the reader with special words and terminology. As the story begins on the island of North Hebredes hidden in the Canadian Maritimes, Appendix One contains the American counterpart of Canadian words used throughout the text. Appendix Two is a Character List in the order of their introduction in the story. The third and last appendix provides an extensive Glossary of special words used in Book One.