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Literary Awards
October 18, 2021
Journey to Jumbalot Wins Multiple Literary Awards!
The 2021 book awards season is officially over and I'm happy to announce that Journey to Jumbalot has won multiple literary awards! Below is a complete list of each award:
- 2021 Royal Palm Literary Award Competition: Gold Award for Published Fantasy
- Mom's Choice Awards: Gold Recipient for excellence in family-friendly media, products, and services.
- Global Book Awards: Silver Medal for Children's Action and Adventure Category
- Purple Dragonfly Book Awards: Honorable Mention for New Author (Fiction Category)
It's a wonderful feeling to receive numerous awards from prestigious organizations. I started writing this book soon after I lost my cat and best friend, Albert, to poor health. He inspired me to follow my dream to write a children's book and I felt compelled to base the main character on his memory. Albert will live on through this book and many others I plan to write in the future.
The Latest Jumbalot News!
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!