About the Author

My name is Ryan Wakefield and thank you for visiting this site. I've worked primarily as a graphic designer the last 20 years, but I always dreamt about writing a fantasy novel for young readers. Since I was in grade school, I was fascinated with animal hybrids. I loved the idea of blending two or three animals together to create a magnificent new species. This fascination and my love for fantasy inspired me to fulfill my lifelong dream to breathe life into a new world young readers can explore - Jumbalot.

Jumbalot is home to froguars, wolvaraptors, pandowls, falcoyotes, and so much more. If you enjoy stories about talking animals, daring deeds, and enchanted worlds, then you will love Journey to Jumbalot!


This award-winning book is dedicated to the memory of my cat, Albert. He was my best friend for almost 13 years until he succumbed to poor health. The only thing larger than his appetite was his heart, and I miss him dearly. The main protagonist, Alby, is based on Albert and losing my friend gave me the push I needed to start writing this book.

Pets are an important part of my life and they'll always be remembered after they're gone. A major theme of this book is the importance of animal adoption; my wife and I encourage everyone to visit their local animal shelter and give them a loving home.


Ryan Wakefield

Awards Reviews

Jumbalot Blog

Jumbalot Animated Short

By Ryan Wakefield • April 27, 2026
Introducing the first animated short for my book, Journey to Jumbalot. This project features multiple clips of the main characters, Alby the housecat and his guide, the annoyingly lovable Fremmy the froguar (frog and jaguar hybrid), as they walk through a colorful forest on their way to the magnificent Kingdom of Jowla. I envisioned my book as an animated film or series while I was writing it and learning how to use Seedance 2.0 helps me bring my characters to life. Who knows, perhaps an agent or a movie studio will see one of these clips and realize that the world of Jumbalot has the potential to become much more than a book. I'm not giving up on my dream :) 🐈‍⬛ 🐯 🦝 🦊🦓

Student Book Media Kit Presentation

By Ryan Wakefield • April 27, 2026
A huge shout-out to University of South Florida Zimmerman students Regina Segovia, Nicholas Bowen, and Ashika Patel for an outstanding presentation of their final media kit project featuring my book, Journey to Jumbalot. They provided valuable ideas on promoting my book through social media, press releases, in-person events, and interactive drawing contests. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Mimi Perreault for reaching out to me about her PR Writing course’s media kit project. It’s hard to believe that I released my book five years ago. Despite winning several awards and receiving positive reviews, selling a self-published book has proven to be quite challenging. Nicholas, Regina, and Ashika showcased their creativity with excellent promotion ideas that will help me spread the word, and I am forever grateful. They have bright futures ahead of them!

2nd Draw a Jumboo Contest Winner

By Ryan Wakefield • April 13, 2025
After receiving over two dozen additional submissions from Belmont Elementary students, I decided to host a second 'Draw a Jumboo Contest.' I'm thrilled to announce that Layla Russo is the first-place winner of this second contest! Layla's imaginative drawing of a bunnybird was excellent, and I can easily envision these creatures inhabiting the world of Jumbalot. A heartfelt thank you to Layla and all the students who took the time to create their unique jumboo characters.

Draw a Jumboo Contest Winner

By Ryan Wakefield • March 3, 2025
I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to every student from Belmont Elementary for their incredible submissions to the ‘Draw a Jumboo Contest!’ It’s truly inspiring to witness the creativity and effort that went into each unique character. I’m thrilled to announce that the winner of this year’s contest is Skylar Odom ! Skylar’s imaginative use of so many different animals to create a beautiful new jumboo was truly outstanding. As a reward, Skylar receuved a Fremmy the Froguar stuffed animal, Jumboo Guidebook, and two signed copies of Journey to Jumbalot. Every other student who participated received a free signed paperback copy of the book. Your imagination and thoughtfulness have brought so much joy and excitement to this contest. Keep up the amazing work and never stop dreaming big!

Presentation at Belmont Elementary

By Ryan Wakefield • February 10, 2025
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Belmont Elementary for inviting me to speak about my preteen fantasy novel, Journey to Jumbalot, on January 30! It was a joy to meet so many enthusiastic elementary students who were eager to learn about my book and my writing process. We had a great time discussing how I used to draw animal hybrids with crayons and markers when I was their age, and how some of those early creations inspired characters in my novel. Additionally, I shared insights about my role as a multimedia designer at the USF College of Engineering. The students were particularly excited about two projects I showcased: the COE Sizzle Reel video and the Rocky mascot augmented reality Poster! COE Sizzle Reel: https://youtu.be/SLgICHgGa3I  Rocky AR Poster: https://youtube.com/shorts/KMProROL7hQ?si=AdhQsaxyRNZCvOoY

Journey to Jumbalot Sequel

By Ryan Wakefield • November 11, 2024
I’m excited to announce the title of the sequel to my award-winning fantasy novel: The Knights of Jumbalot! Alby and Professor Wizoom will return to the magical world of Jumbalot to face an unimaginable evil that threatens their existence. The Knights of Jumbalot must rise and unite to defend their world.  The book is still in its early stages, but I’ll keep everyone updated on my progress and potential release date. Alby is ready for another adventure!
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