In Adventures With Kazmir The Flying Camel: The Five Skies by Gina L. Vivona, readers will find enough amazing exploits to keep them turning the 121 pages and will be sad to say good-bye to the well-developed characters at the story’s end. And while I do not usually review self-published titles, I am so glad I agreed to read Vivona’s book because it was so original, entertaining and imaginative. Don’t forget, too, to visit the fabulous website with a sample chapter, fun stuff to do, a parent’s page and more! If you purchase the audiobook you will also be treated to a narration by three-time Emmy Award-winner Bryan Cranston along with wonderful, mood setting music that will transport you instantaneously to a magical land where anything can happen.

The story: involving a camel, a kidnapped prince and his power-crazed evil uncle promises action, adventure and even danger for an archaeologist’s daughter, Michael-Ann on a dig with her dad, in Egypt. Without giving away too much, I can tell you this fun fantasy takes place not only in ancient and present day Egypt, but in five unique settings known as the Five Skies. I will also share that the kidnapped prince is being held in a no man’s land only reached by collecting and piecing together five fragments of a shattered mirror. Each part of the mirror can be found in one of the Five Skies, but reaching these remote places proves more than a challenge for 12-year-old Michael-Ann and Kazmir who have taken on the daunting, perilous task of rescuing the prince. Vivona has woven a wonderful tale for pre-teens full of fluffy clouds (Rain Masters), gigantic spiders (Wish Weavers), Optionators and unimaginably inventive locales that beg to be revisited over and over because of just how amazing they are.

By the time the book ends, Michael-Ann will have experienced such a multitude of emotions and escapades that returning to the dig will certainly open her eyes to the richness of life and love with which she is blessed.

The best part: Adventures With Kazmir The Flying Camel is available as an Audiobook, MP3, paperback, Kindle, and eBook. For more information, visit www.KazmirTheFlyingCamel.com. Proceeds benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles.

So I too, wanted to share some education with my young readers and listeners. The facts in my story are true. There was a 4th Dynasty in Ancient Egypt and it does coincide with the step-style pyramid that I write about, as well as the burial facts. The gods mentioned, as well as Amaunet was a true egyptian goddess (although I give her a nickname, Shalimar). Khol was used as eye-liner, and the stones of the palace, just like Kazmir, were made from limestone. When Michael-Ann and her father travel from the Alexandria Hotel to their excavation site, there is a city named Alexandria, although I named the hotel after the city, today it would probably be a Radisson. However, I did fudge the facts on the Jeep they drove. So I’ll set that story straight right now. The first Jeep was actually a creation by Willys-Overland in response to the demand by the US Army for a four-wheel-drive reconnaissance car. It was created in 1940, 10 years after the use in my story, but Willy-Overland had been producing cars since 1908, so this is a stretch of the truth, more than a bold-faced lie. The name Jeep appeared on the first Civilian Jeep (CJ) in 1945.

Michael-Ann and her father, Prof. Neville Fraser travel from Hotel Alexandria to Giza.

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My husband and producer, Michael Woodrum, worked with Colleen on other projects and knew she was perfect for Kazmir. Colleen is an amazing and talented person full of energy. She danced from the voice of 12 year-old Michael-Ann to the voice of a tree-hugging Optionator with grace of a well-choreographed ballet. At times, I was so in awe, that I couldn’t even follow along the script. Instead, I closed my eyes and listened as Colleen brought my characters to life. A thrill I’ll never forget.

Colleen O'Shaughnessey doing the voices for Michael-Ann, Prince Ahmed, Queen Mother, Daka-la, Felicia Morgan, Gwen, Opling, Answer Head, Wish Weaver Spider.

Here’s a 13 second snippet of Colleen as the The Answer Head.

Listen to all the characters with the free complete download.

And I got him for Adventures with Kazmir the Flying Camel! Michael Woodrum, my husband and producer, worked with Steve and my other voice actor, Colleen O’Shaughnessy, on a previous project. So we sent Steve the script and he immediately heard the voices in his head. Steve went through the list of characters testing out various voices. Everyone of them were perfectly suited for the character. Then he and Colleen started from page 1 of the script and recorded right through. Often, they had conversations with themselves when the characters overlapped. I watched with amazement as they juggled from one voice to the other and then back again. A true performance!

Steve doing the voices of Kazmir, Farouk, Mosaic, Prof. Neville Fraser, Optionator, Puffinhuffer, Question Head, The Great Hammer Shnail, Helmet Head, Somebody

Listen to this Farouk with the evil Farouk and Mosaic the Great Wizard. Steve is both characters!

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Michael recorded the voices (more on that later), added just the right sounds to intensify the experience, and layed in the music by Bill Brendle to create the emotion. Music is a powerful thing and here it’s paired with strong visuals and the spoken word. I am still so tickled about the outcome of this project. The production is truly outstanding and it’s due to all the amazing talent that went into it and how Michael pulled it all together.

Michael in the Studio

If you haven’t heard it yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. Download it free now.

And Bill Brendle understands this concept. Watching movies as a kid, he would run to his piano in his room during commercials and try to figure out the part he just heard as the car went off the cliff and crashed. This was the beginning of training his ears. As he got older, he saw more movies, and recreated more parts. When he first saw Star Wars, the music struck him as another character, leading him through the film. Then he noticed Danny Elfman’s name (one of his favorite performers from Oingo Boingo) popping up on films like Beetle Juice and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. He, like me, loved that Elfman could cross over into this world and it gave Bill the encouragement to go forward in this career.

Bill looks at writing melodic themes as a texture and he did just that for Kazmir. When I hear words, I create pictures in my mind. When Bill read the script, he heard music. He saw an opportunity to underscore the narration and lead the listener through the world’s that I created, from Ancient Egypt to the Five Skies. He created a theme for each character that repeats when that character appears. Due to budget, Bill composed everything using technology, but the result is the sound of traditional scores. “Combining different layers of art in an all-encompassing piece is true art,” says Bill.

I’m looking forward to the day that I can tell Bill, “Hey, we’re making the movie. Bring in the real orchestra!”

Bill Brendle, composer extraordinaire

Here’s one of my favorite pieces that we call Traveling Music that was played when Michael-Ann is flying on Kazmir’s back.

Here’s another snippet of the The Optionators. To me, it sounds just like what they would sound like walking along their tree limb paths.

Hear the complete audiobook for free and tell me it’s not one of the best scores you’ve ever heard.

Michael and Kazmir flew above the flame, steam, and gushing lava to reach the side of the Crystal Tower. They turned sharply upwards and flew along the wall. They could see their small figures reflected back at them in its smooth, glistening surface until they finally reached a narrow window at the very top of the tower. They darted inside the small room and Michael climbed off Kazmir’s back. She warped to full size immediately and steadied herself as she stared through the crystal floor to the black ground, hundreds of feet below. The sky outside was turning from a burnt orange to a crimson red, and the crystal walls danced with the changing colors.

Read about the First Sky and how the Skies were created.

Listen to the chapter Crystal Tower, or download the full audiobook free.

Read about the First Sky and how the Skies were created.

Listen to the eleventh chapter Somebody, or download the full audiobook free.

One of the creatures in this Sky came to me while on a weekend getaway in Big Bear. The cabin had a knot in the wood paneling that was very interesting. It looked like a creature that was supported from around its belly by a long elastic strap. I imagined this creature boinging down to touch the ground, maybe planting something, before boinging back up high in the sky, then boinging down again. Hence, the Boinalongs were born. Of course, the Boingalongs are just one of the many creatures who help the rain grow. It’s truly a team effort. Listen for yourself.

How to do a Rain Dance when you don't have Boingalongs

Read about the First Sky and how the Skies were created.

Download the full audiobook free.

In Chinese Taoist thought, Metal attributes are considered to be firmness, rigidity, persistence, strength and determination. A creature of Metal is controlling, ambitious, forceful and set in their ways as metal is very strong; and they are self-reliant and prefer to handle their problems alone. However the metal creature can also appreciate luxury and enjoy the good things in life. The Wish Weaver has strong impulses and generative powers and can bring about changes and transformations for those who come into contact with her.

Metal has always been one of my favorite materials. It can be bent and shaped for function and beauty. A master at this is sculptor Brad Oldham. Wow, the life he could bring to the Wish Weaver gives me goose bumps.

Wish Weaver, illustrated by Jay Vigon

Read about the First Sky and how the Skies were created.

Listen to the Wish Weaver chapter, or download the full audiobook free.