Synopsis: Praise for War World

“*****FIVE-PLUS STARS to War World - deliciously unpredictable fiction from an expert storyteller - it's a well-written winner.” —Publishers Daily Review

“Killer gnomes, wizards, prehistoric monsters— War World grabs readers from the first page and doesn't let go – the action is high-octane, pulling teens and adult readers alike - about as far from H.G. Wells as you can get.”—Midwest Book Review

“Spence has created an exciting world, one that sinks its claws into you - this is definitely one Sci-Fi series that I can get behind.”—Abooktropolis


One planet - 6 teenagers - a million light years of terror.
School field trips shouldn't be this dangerous.

Jeremy Austin never asked to save a planet--it's bad enough being a "B"average student as the son of a world-famous geneticist for crying out loud! He didn't ask to be attacked by Gnome assassins, didn't choose to become food for a prehistoric monster, would never have thought consorting with wizards a wise concept, and he definitely would never, ever sign up to do sword combat against the bloodthirsty Gnome King.

Note to self: say NO to portals and wormholes.

His father's expedition to a planet 2.4 million light years from Earth has gone missing. Jeremy and five high school friends embark on a rescue mission. Surrounded by an army of mercenaries, they travel through a high-tech portal and discover a nightmare planet on the other side--a violent world of alien races and man-eating monsters--a world in despair; anxiously awaiting the arrival of a savior who will defeat the evil Shadow Lord.

For Jeremy, the search for his father becomes lost in a struggle for survival... and escape from those who would put the mantel of planet savior on his shoulders.

A doomed expedition. Surrounded by aliens. Running out of time.

Note to readers: This young adult, sci fi, fantasy contains a lot of action and adventure (think Jurassic Park meets Lord of the Rings), high school teens with issues (murder, bullying and juvenile pranks gone awry), genetic engineering (the world must have a new super soldier) and survival skills put to the test (monsters, aliens and mercenaries... oh my). So if you like a fast pace, some comic banter and a mysterious, deadly world to explore, this book series is for you!

Includes preview of Book 2 of War World: Paladin.

Q & A with the Author

Q - How would you describe the War World series?
A - Survival... in the vein of Crichton's Jurassic Park. Life on planet Genesis was supposed to be controlled, safe. It's anything but... The planet's humanoid races are violent killers. War World sends a group of high school students on a field trip to hell. There is lots of action, adventure, fantasy settings, and magic. There are even nefarious government agents and an army of mercenaries who think they can go through a portal and tame the dangers of the alien planet. Right...

Q - Where did the idea for War World come from? What was the inspiration?
A - My first big novel to read as a teenager was The Sword of Shannara- that led to reading The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings novels while recuperating from having four wisdom teeth removed one Christmas. So fantasy became a favorite of mine. Additionally, I've always been a fan of Michael Crichton's novels and his technothriller movies: Westworld, Jurassic Park, Sphere- the idea of technology running amok.

War World grew out of a 'what if.'
- What if modern weapons interacted with Middle Earth?
- What would normal teenage American high school students do if suddenly thrust into a world dominated by Gnomes, Trolls, Elves, Dwarves, knights and wizards?
- What if this world was a lot like the television series, Lost? Hidden bunkers, new and old technology and a mysterious expedition gone missing.

Synopsis: Louiesa, an impoverished child, was raised by her unemployed single mother. She was employed part time as a student, earning a lucrative salary. The reason was unclear to her until she was confronted by a furious co-worker. The author explains how siblings from the exact same parents were classified differently and gives details about how children with a darker complexion were abandoned by fair-skinned parents. The author further explains in great detail, deep rooted segregation not previously exposed to the world during apartheid: how racial classification destroyed family unity and friendships. Forceful resettlement according to race destroyed family life and friendships. Apartheid was abolished for 1 day during 1985 and all races lived in harmony next to each other. For once in the history of apartheid blacks were given a privilege denied to whites. South Africa sent two contestants to the Miss World pageant representing whites and non-whites respectively. The outcome of the results stunned the National Party and the entire world. Blacks created their own entertainment with much success, attracting international stardom and subsequently departing from S.A. due to racial biases and political interference with irrational censorships. Journey with the author while experiencing her personal encounters: death penalty, gang violence, teenage pregnancies, alcoholism and starvation. She endured extreme weather conditions without proper clothing. This is truly an inspirational story of hope and transformation. Readers are invited to journey through the remarkable life of the author who dreamt of freedom from poverty barriers, worked hard towards it with dogged determination and succeeded. During the first democratic elections the ANC party did not win an outright majority due to the coloured votes. The author takes the reader on a journey into the lives of the coloured race during apartheid, sparing no detail.

Louiesa Mynhardt is a self-made entrepreneur, founding member and Managing Director of Sterling Debt Recoveries that is a leading collection agency, founded in 1998. She has a 40% shareholding in this business. Sterling Debt Recoveries provides efficient, large scale services on a commission basis to large credit-granting institutions. She is a novice author who was born in Kliptown, Johannesburg on 30 December 1957 and is married to Harold. They have two daughters: Maxine, currently aged twenty-one is studying her fourth year Medicine in Europe and Hayley, currently aged eighteen is studying Accounting in the United States.

Synopsis: The family adventure of a lifetime begins!

Book One of the Epic Steampunk Series, "The Jupiter Chronicles"

It is the year 1892 and Ian and Callie Castillo have had to suffer the hardships of a single parent family since their father went missing five years ago. Since then Ian has refused to use the last gift that his father left the wounded boy; a telescope that sits collecting dust in the attic.

When Callie decides to peer through its murky lens it activates the device and sends the Castillos to the steam-powered floating cities of Jupiter where they discover the secret behind their father's disappearance. But can they uncover the secret behind the Red Spot and save the Jovians before the Martians launch their attack?

Synopsis: When Dreamer and Lily return to FeyTerrah, they bring along a large number of fey descendants from Otherworld. Sir Elo and Dreamer share with King Solren information that could influence the future between the two worlds. The king arranges a council meeting and commissions Dreamer and Lily to invite the other kings and representatives of the dragon race to the event. During their journey, Lily learns the entire history of the magical Ninatlee necklaces. The dragons reveal a startling secret about the Riverlord family. After meeting Rachel’s family, Dreamer discovers that Lily may possess astonishing powers that could free them from the mysterious spell on the necklaces. And, that the cost of breaking the spell might be very high.

Synopsis: In this Christmas novella set in the year 1818, a plucky little girl must contend with a mischievous ghost at Rosings, an English manor-house.

Sofia-Elisabete is “[a] sparkling, robust young hero with a distinctive voice—a real winner” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).*

Colonel Fitzwilliam and his eight-year-old daughter, Sofia-Elisabete, pass a winter’s month at Rosings, the estate of his aunt, Lady Catherine. There, the Colonel must help his illegitimate child, who is half-British, half-Portuguese, navigate the prejudices of their world as his outspoken daughter clashes with the imperious Lady Catherine.

One evening, on the first day of Christmas, they hear the tale of the mysterious Rosings Ghost who, centuries ago, vexed the inhabitants of Rosings during the twelve days of Christmas. The next morning strange things begin to happen. Why has the Rosings Ghost returned now? Why does a furious Lady Catherine blame Sofia-Elisabete for all of the ghost’s pranks?

Will our girl hero Sofia-Elisabete, with the help of her father, uncover the real secret of the Rosings Ghost and put an end to its tricks?

The Sofia-Elisabete series, in part, reimagines the life and destiny of Colonel Fitzwilliam, the curiously evasive and opaque character in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. To read more about this special father-daughter relationship, see I, Sofia-Elisabete, Love Child of Colonel Fitzwilliam: A Perfect World in the Moon,* a novel, by the same author.

Synopsis: The legend spoke of a new threat, a devastating war that could destroy the Gypsy race - unless the gifted children could prevent it…

Clara’s excited. It’ll soon be Christmas break. Two weeks off with cosy lie-ins, delicious hot chocolate and presents to be unwrapped. Not to mention being able to shape-shift to her hearts’ content. But, her friend, Luke, has disappeared off the face of the earth and she longs to know what’s happened to him.

Luke’s a Gypsy. He was on the road with his clan when their convoy was viciously attacked. Fleeing the ensuing chaos, Luke finds himself desperate and alone. Not able to trust his own kind, he makes his way to the only non-Gypsy he knows, Clara.

While dodging Luke’s pursuers, the re-united friends try to figure out why someone wants to possess Luke so badly. Do the answers they seek lie within the Gypsy council, who have unexpectedly called a clan gathering for Christmas Eve?

Facing terrifying Gypsy armies, and battles against ‘old magic’, can Clara and Luke outsmart the enemy and realise their destiny to save the Gypsy race?

In this fourth book of the ‘Full Moon’ series, Clara and Luke must find the courage to confront overwhelming odds. If you enjoy Neil Gaiman or Rick Riordan fantasy adventures, then you’ll love this book from Litpick Top Choice Award winning author, D.A. McGrath.

Synopsis: This fairytale illuminates the role of groundhogs in American Folklore, telling the story of Hoagie Prophecy, a groundhog with special powers. As a relative of Punxsutawney Phil, he knows when the winter will end. As a member of the Prophecy clan, he protects eternity for the wilderness. However, the men in the Groundhog Club want control of the groundhog clan's shadows, the secret to their lifespan. The Groundhog Club will not stop until they absorb the shadow of every forest animal, for possessing shadows enables them to live in The Underworld like eternal monsters. Hoagie and his ragtag gang of friends embark on a mysterious quest to restore the wilderness and reclaim the groundhog's duty to protect eternity. Sam, a boy at home in a nearby cabin, must help discover The Underworld and defeat the Groundhog Club. If the adventure is unsuccessful, the forest is doomed.