The Hole in the Sky

Genre: Young Adult

Title: The Hole in the Sky

Author: Barbara A. Mahler

“The red-head is back! It’s the beginning of the end...”

A world of magical beings and all-too-human mistakes- People of good and evil- A choice between unimaginable wrong and endless hardship. Thirteen-year-old Kaela Neuleaf faced with all these dilemmas when she falls from “a hole in the sky”, or rather the floor of her bedroom closet back home.

Upon arrival, she is immediately recognized and hailed as “the red-headed girl”. Kaela has many friends in this strange land, but numerous enemies as well. She must recognize both if she is to complete her quest and live to tell the tale.

In a realm where a bitter plant can close the heart forever and tigers cry tears the size of diamonds, Kaela must learn to trust and to gain trust from the unlikeliest of places.

Barbara A. Mahler’s homes in Boulder, Colorado and Malibu, California might have been her inspiration to write about the two separate homes Kaela now has, on opposite sides of the hole in the sky. The author has brought together the joy that bonds a family together and the bitterness of betrayal by your most trusted companion in a surprising twist of wit and humour. Her first novel, The Hole in the Sky, reveals how love and treachery can transform a world so similar to our own.

This book is suited for anyone with a taste for adventure and a yearning for fantasy. It is highly recommended by Boyu Huang, Allbooks Review.

ISBN number: 0-9816764-0-5

Publisher: Sea Turtle Publishing

Number of pages: 300

Price: $20.95

Sept. 2009

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)

Barbara A. Mahler

Boulder, Colorado USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

The Hole in the Sky

Sea Turtle Publishing

Tell us about yourself:

I have practiced Traditional Oriental Medicine for over 20 years I have a general practice, but I specialize in supporting people with cancer and people with chronic illness. One of my favorite healing tools is story telling.

When was the book released?

October 20, 2009 release

Give us an overview of your book.

Thirteen-year-old Kaela is struggling with grief and anger after her mother’s death. She longs for a magical life. When her wish is answered she and her cousin, Shawn, are transported to a world that has long awaited the arrival of “the red-haired girl” to break an ancient curse. Kaela and Shawn set out on a heroic journey to rescue a baby from an evil warlord. In order for the cousins to succeed they must draw on deep wells of courage and love to confront their own fears and uncover the hidden magic that has always been inside of their hearts.

What inspired you to write this book?

There were many rivers of inspiration that came together around the same time that finally drove me to sit down and actually write a book. There was my own journey through loss, the grief in so many people’s hearts after the 9/11 attacks and my own yearning for creative expression. I fully expected to write a non-fiction book based on my experiences as a healer, but instead character after character came to me in the wee hours of the morning and told me of their lives on the other side of the hole in the sky.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

Kaela is a seemingly ordinary thirteen-year-old American girl. She doesn’t appear to have any extraordinary powers except a willingness to stand up to bullies and defend weaker kids. She even thinks she is something of a loser. I have found that the kids immediately identify with Kaela and they are happy to take the journey with her.

On her quest Kaela sees the events through the eyes of ‘good guys’ and ‘bad buys’ and discovers that good and evil live inside everyone and are moment to moment choices rather than an ultimate battle that will eradicate evil for once and for all.

Where can people buy your book?

After October 20, it will be available through all bookstores in the US. It is also available online at Amazon and the website www.theholeinthesky.net

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

I am happily working away on the sequel. I expect to be done with a crummy first draft in about 6 months. Then there is a great deal of editing and all the actual steps involved in bringing a book to press.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

My book is published by a small independent press. The publisher sought my input on cover design, font styles and illustrations. It was and is a wonderful team effort. I think this whole thing should be fun.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

I am just getting started, but my approach is for each person that buys this book to feel that they have received something to treasure. Often when a kid buys one of my books I see them hold it to their chest as though it is something of value to them.

To write this book and receive countless words of feedback has taken a great deal of determination and a willingness to swallow my pride. I know that a product is only about ten percent of making successful sales. I am doing a little bit of marketing every day to make sure that the people that actually want to read this book know about it.

I have found in my life that if I focus on service, care and doing the very best job I can somehow the money takes care of itself.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

Sea Turtle Publishing located Allbooks Reviews.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

I greatly appreciate anyone that helps writers get their stories out to the public. I know there are many, many people that will love my book and having one more tool to help this story reach the right people is a gift.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Thank you for your time.