My Story Behind the Story

 

I’ve written about how, a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, before the first Enterprise took flight, before the TARDIS was stolen, there lived a sickly child. And, as it turns out, this sickly child read a lot.

Way back then, I lived in the wild, wild west on the front range of Colorado. Colorado Springs was small then, full of open spaces. The public library was way, way on the other side of town. There were no bookstores. The only library available to me was my school library. I checked out every book I could read. By fourth grade, my favorite authors were Anne McCaffery (dragons are my Patronus!) Jack London, and Charles Dickens. 

One of the first and favorite books was Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens. You may remember, Charles Dickens wrote the story in part to expose the hypocrisy and cruel treatment of orphans in mid-19th century London. Dickens blended a grim realism with satire to describe the effects of industrialization, creating a story of an innocent child trapped in a life with no hope. What better story to entertain a sickly child!

One of my favorite characters in Oliver Twist was Jack Dawkins, otherwise known as the Artful Dodger, the snub-nosed, flat-browed, common faced pickpocket and leader of the gang of child criminals. He was not without heart, however.

It is the nature of reading that every story we’ve read stays with us, and its characters become a part of our lives. We are the product of all the stories read and lived. Even as we become characters in each other’s story. These stories settle within us, blend with our experiences – for why else could we become so attached to these characters, unless we see them as friends– and work their magic on us. They engage, and encourage, and guide.


Of course, as every reader and writer knows, such persistent characters ooze to the surface in some form in our own expressions of art and life. Many light years down the road, when I read about the history of San Francisco, about the plight of the poor and that gallery of characters that walked those cobbled streets along the Barbary Coast, it was no accident that I envisioned the Artful Dodger meets the wild, wild west.

So, at long last, in honor of my old friends, coming October 6, 2026 from Charlesbridge Moves! 

The Barbary Chronicles: The Lost Prince 

Introducing my character,  Jack London:

Eleven-year-old Jack London holds her own among rascals, ruffians, and thieves in this rollicking adventure story set in 1870s San Francisco.

Oliver Twist meets Deadwood in this action-packed novel for ages 9 to 12 set against the backdrop of San Francisco's notorious Barbary Coast.

No one plays the game like Jack London. Only eleven years old, she can pickpocket and flummox any unsuspecting rube who wanders into the muck of the Barbary Coast.

All Jack's skills are tested when one of her own falls ill and she pinches a gold pocketwatch to pay for a doctor. The watch belongs to the richest man in San Francisco, and it plunges Jack into a whole world of trouble. She soon finds herself on the run from rival gangs, corrupt coppers, and the ruthless, self-proclaimed King of the Barbary Coast.

Jack may be little, but she's clever and bold. With the help of a devoted stray dog, a kidnapped prince, and the scummiest ex-best friend ever, she'll do everything she can to save her town and her found family.

 No one plays the Game better than Jack London!

 Thank you for reading and celebrating with me! You can find pre-order information here! 

-- Bobbi Miller