Award-Winning Author, Stacy A. Nyikos,
Pens Debut Children’s Novel, Dragon Wishes
Author Turns Personal Tragedy into Novel
Tulsa, OK – October 28, 2008 – What began as an exciting day of sledding one wintery day five years ago, turned into tragedy. Author, Stacy A. Nyikos, watched helplessly as her daughters – at the time two and four – crashed into the back of a parked horse trailer. “When they crashed into that trailer, my world came to a crashing halt,” Nyikos said.
Although her daughters survived, Nyikos’ life changed forever. The near death of her children became a mountain of grief so large, she felt she could never get over it. It was writing that became her guide up the steep path to recovery. Turning the experience on its head, she asked herself what would happen if a child lost both of her parents, how would she deal with such an overwhelming tragedy. A story was born, Dragon Wishes.
Nyikos will be launching Dragon Wishes, speaking at the following events in November:
Nov. 15, 2008 California Library Association Conference
Cultural Diversity Panel, 3:30-5:00pm, San Jose, CA
Nov. 17, 2008 California Library Association Conference
Panel Discussion on Writing, 10:30-11:45am, San Jose, CA
Nov. 21, 2008 National Conference for Teachers of English
Panel Discussion on Writing for a New Generation, 11:00-12:45pm, San Antonio, TX
About the Author – Stacy A. Nyikos
Stacy A. Nyikos, from Bixby, Oklahoma, is the author of three children’s picture books, Squirt (Stonehorse 2005), Shelby (2006), and Dizzy (2007), and a debut middle grade novel, Dragon Wishes (Blooming Tree Press 2008).
Her books have won the Arizona Authors Literary Contest, Mom’s Choice Awards, and been chosen as a finalist in ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year. Stacy has spoken at numerous conferences and reading festivals, such as the St. Petersburg Reading Festival. She has also given over 100 author presentations to children ages 4 – 16 on the writing process and the role of facts in fiction. For more information, visit her website: www.stacyanyikos.com .
ABOUT – Dragon Wishes
Dragon Wishes (ISBN 1-933831-11-1 ), Blooming Tree Press, October 23, 2008. Eleven-year-old Alex is searching. So is Shin Wa. They both need to find a path out of the darkness that surrounds them. Shin Wa’s journey leads her to the Black Mountains in far northern China. There she discovers more than just the last surviving dragons. She finds a way to save mankind. It all lies in a single pearl of wisdom. The gem is also the key to Alex’s own journey. It travels through the ages and into the hands of the struggling young girl and her sister. Alex struggles to unlock the pearl’s secrets. Only they can lead her out of the darkness and into a new life.
“Dragon Wishes is about pearls of wisdom, dragons, soccer, Chinese dumplings, migrating whales, ancestors, joining hands against adversity, reaching goals, fear, risk, desire, death and surprise. Mostly, it’s about leaving home only to realize that home is not a place but a circle of friends, in and strangers who are bound together by the light, silvery web which unites us all in giving and caring. You will laugh and you will cry. You will fall in love with Alex, Isa, Maddie, and their polyglot circle of family and friends.” – Belle Yang, Author of Hannah is My Name.
“A tender story of a girl who deals with loss. Stacy Nyikos is a new talent to watch.” Anna Myers, author of Spy!
# # #
