About

What happens when there are no Guardians left to protect the city?

For the most part, humans live their lives blissfully ignorant of magic and the shadow creatures that slip across into our world. We have the Guardians to thank for this. For centuries, grotesques and gargoyles have been created to protect us from evil.

In Olivia Stone and the Trouble with Trixies, the grotesques of St. Giles Old Priory School become statue-trapped and are removed from the roof of the school. When the city is unprotected, the monsters move in.

The same event that trapped the guardians has left twelve year old Olivia, broken and stripped of her confidence. It has also unwittingly placed her on the front lines in the battle between good and evil. The only ones left in a position to defend the people of Haven from the deadly pranks of the maleficent trixies are Olivia and Yip, the smallest living grotesque ever carved.

Olivia Stone and the Trouble with Trixies is a book ideally suited to young competent readers and teens who want to read a fast paced, suspense fuelled fantasy adventure that is laced with humour and mystery. It pits two very unconventional heroes against a hoard of surprisingly villainous monsters. The book is also an excellent escape into a world of subtle magic for older readers who are still young at heart.

All that glisters is not gold. Shakespeare - The Merchant of Venice 1596

Not all heroes are pretty and sometimes the monsters hide behind a veil of innocence and beauty.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

"Coraline used to be my favourite book but I bought your book on Saturday and read it Saturday night."
Theresa
   (11 years old)

"I absolutely loved this book !! I thought I would just read a few chapters but from the very first chapter it had me wanting more . I couldn't put it down and had to read until the end . Can't wait for the second book teenagers will love this book."
   Beth Donovan
(Goodreads review)

Four Stars "This is a great story that I can recommend to anyone who likes a fast-paced middle grade read. It was an exciting read and at times I felt as though I had an adventure/sci-fi movie playing out in my head.

The Trixies are a nasty group of characters that get out of hand and wreck havoc on the town because the forces that had held them in check are suddenly removed. It’s Olivia’s accidental involvement that gives hope to the one remaining ancient Guardian.

The dynamics of Olivia Stone’s group of friends at school and her interactions with teachers rings true in both dialogue and action. The main thing that I liked about the story was that no matter what happened to Olivia, with all of her problems, she kept on trying to help her new and very strange friend Yip, and the town, survive."
M Bueno
   (Goodreads review)

Four Stars "This book is aimed squarely at the middle-grade (or junior fiction) age level and I think it hits the mark. The story line keeps moving, and there is plenty of action and suspense to keep the reader interested and wanting to proceed to the next chapter, which of course, is the ultimate aim for the author. It sometimes even has elements of a junior Stephen King novel, without being too graphic for sensitive children.
It should appeal to confident readers; however, I believe that even children in the age group who struggle with reading would enjoy it being read to them."
Debra Clewer
(Goodreads review)

"Your book is my new favourite book."
Phoebe M
(10 years old)

..."I finished reading it over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed this dark, suspenseful story of 12 year old Olivia, and her race to save her town and those she loves from the dangerous escapades of the maleficent trixies..."
Book Worm
with Jenny Barry

Five Stars "I thoroughly enjoyed Olivia Stone and the Trouble with Trixies and look forward to other books in the series. This was a fun read with a feisty female lead, lots of life-and-death peril, and a good dash of magic thrown in to make it the complete package. The story is satisfying and the characters are well drawn. Jeffery E Doherty has done a great job as both author and illustrator of this book..."
Jenay ds
   (Amazon review)

Four Stars "The pacing was excellent and the story line engaging. Olivia was a well-fleshed out character. A typical good versus evil theme, but presented in a unique fashion. I read the book in one sitting, so the story kept pressing me on from chapter to chapter...  I would definitely recommend this book to young people for a fantastical journey of not just good vs. evil, but also a journey into discovery about and belief in oneself, using disability to advantage, and learning just how strong one can be in the face of adversity."
   Lou
   (Amazon review)

Five Stars "This was a great read. Every chapter holds suspense and leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next. Not the usual Trixie tale."

   Gail Kamer
(Amazon review)