Over the years as a short story writer and novelist, I’ve met some wonderful authors, both on line and in person. It’s time to tell you a little about some of them. Today’s choice is the wonderful Dawn Knox. I recently read and reviewed her quirky novel, The Crispin Chronicles on Amazon and Goodreads. I’m including my review as well as a link to this lovely and very different view of a very special garden. If you enjoy one of those books that keeps you smiling, here it is.
Like me, Dawn’s a Pocket Novelist, writing for My Weekly. We first me about 4 years ago on line and I’ve read about five of her books, enjoying every one. She’s a talented and versatile writer as well as a friend.
Dawn Knox
Dawn spent much of her childhood making up stories filled with romance, drama and excitement. She loved fairy tales, although if she cast herself as a character, she’d more likely have played the part of the Court Jester than the Princess. She didn’t recognise it at the time, but she was searching for the emotional depth in the stories she read. It wasn’t enough to be told the Prince loved the Princess, she wanted to know how he felt and to see him declare his love. She wanted to see the wedding. And so, she’d furnish her stories with those details.
Nowadays, she hopes to write books that will engage readers’ passions. From poignant stories set during the First World War, to the zany antics of the inhabitants of the fictitious town of Basilwade; and from historical romances, to the fantasy adventures of a group of anthropomorphic animals led by a chicken with delusions of grandeur, she explores the richness and depth of human emotion.
A book by Dawn will offer laughter or tears – or anything in between, but if she touches your soul, she’ll consider her job well done.
She has been a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards for 2017 and 2020, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards 2018 and Independent Author Network Book of the Year Award 2018.
Dawn has also written two plays about the First World War, which have been performed in England, Germany and France.
This is my review
5.0 out of 5 stars An Entrancing Journey Through The Garden of ImaginationReviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 September 2022
This is not the usual material I read, but once started I was captivated by the clever storytelling of a place where strange people, animals and other creatures live in their special joyous world. I say ‘joyous’ as that is my feeling as I read each chapter, a self-contained adventure about Crispin the gnome and his otherworldly companions.
The Crispin Chronicles is an adult flight of fancy into Dawn’s quirky, funny and intriguing dream world. I wonder if the many garden ornaments here are actually in her back yard, hiding in plain sight, plotting their next day’s frolics.
I loved the green-breasted robin who is afraid of heights and the seven inch wide-screen television bought by a young gnome using a loan-shark called Peggy the Pram. There are so many wonderful characters in this novel, each unique and captivating in their own ways. Thoroughly recommend this to anyone looking to really enjoy a different view of life.
Alan C. Williams - Author 