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Kirkus Reviews

October 14, 2023

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

- Kirkus Reviews

Every self-published author appreciates a positive book review, but to receive an excellent review and endorsement from Kirkus Reviews is beyond exciting! I submitted my book to Kirkus a few months ago and it was well worth the wait.

Read their full review today: 
JOURNEY TO JUMBALOT | Kirkus Reviews


Read additional book reviews

The Latest Jumbalot News!

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
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!
By Ryan Wakefield December 1, 2023
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.
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