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.

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!

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

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!

It was a wonderful experience accepting my book’s gold medal on stage at the annual Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. Journey to Jumbalot won a gold medal within the preteen fantasy category last year, but I was unable to attend since my wife and I were both sick with pneumonia. I’d like to thank the event organizers at Readers’ Favorite for allowing me to accept my award this year on stage - it meant a lot to us both! We also attended the massive Miami Book Fair and enjoyed chatting with several fellow authors.

"A Colorful Fantasy with Wondrous Characters in a Strange Land." - Kirkus Reviews

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The BookFest Awards are held twice a year and I was recently notified that Journey to Jumbalot was the recipient of a 1st place award within their Fantasy and Magic category! It feels wonderful to learn that this is the fifth literary award my book has won, and it gives me the push I need to continue the story of Alby and his adventures in Jumbalot. Learn more about the Bookfest Awards and by visiting their website: Book Awards - Fall 2022 First Place - The BookFest

I'm thrilled to announce that an audiobook version of Journey to Jumbalot is currently in production and will be released in early spring via Audible and other vendors! The audiobook will be brought to life by Bill Lord, a professional narrator and owner of Nothing Rhymes with Orange Studio. He's a recipient of an Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award and reads fiction and non-fiction for major and indie publishers. Learn more about Bill Lord's studio by visiting his website: https://www.nothingrhymeswithorange.us