KCU Pitchfest Showcase 2023 (Top 50)

The Stone of Shiro - Book One

Cale, a shy young Mushling wants nothing more than to escape from the chaos in his life! His part-time job barely covers his expenses. He lives with a bunch of loudmouthed and unruly housemates. He’s grumpy and tired all the time, and he’s falling behind at school. Even his BFF leafhopper is getting cranky with him. But, when he witnesses the theft of the life-giving Stone of Shiro, the present chaos in his life is no longer a priority. Now his boss wants him dead, his beloved leafhopper vanishes, and the missing stone becomes HIS problem! Cale finds himself teaming up with two friends on a desperate quest to find the precious stone, before their world ceases to exist.

My Why:

The tale of The Stone of Shiro, as with so many passion projects, has been a work in progress for years. My childhood in the Belgian Congo exposed me to the wonders of bandes dessinées such as Tintin, Spirou, Asterix and Les Schtroumpfs. I was hooked and became an inveterate reader of comics. Years later and encouraged by my children, I began creating my own fantasy stories. And then, serendipity struck and the idea of a fragile fantasy world of tiny anthropomorphic beings, the Mushlings, Toadies and Bog Mutants came to me. Over time, they’ve kept me writing, deliberating, cussing, and re-writing! But never have I considered giving up on them! Now, finally, with the skills of the right illustrator, The Stone of Shiro has become a reality.