Book Challenge Day 4: Favorite Book of Your Favorite Series

Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark

I love the first two books of this series, but the first one is my favorite. I loved the Stonecutter's Tale, the spooky rides after dark and the creepy rhymes of Maleficent. When I first discovered this book, I had returned from the Disney College Program, and I missed the atmosphere of the Disney Parks and all that they stood for. I picked this book up, and I was back in my second home. The epic battle of good and evil, the diseny trivia, and the endearing characters made this book a favorite on my book shelf and a reread every year or half year since. When I go back to the parks, I will look for the Kingdom Keepers quests and imagine that five kids saved the park from Malificent and saved the world with The Stonecutter's Quil. 

Book Challenge Day 3: Your favorite series

The Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson

There are so many reasons why I love this series. Not only does it put me back in my second home, The Disney Parks, but it is also an epic adventure with the most feared Disney villains. The first book introduced me to the Stonecutter's tale, which I had never heard before. The second book took place in the park where I used to work, Animal Kingdom and taught me the original story behind the scariest villain in Fantasia. With each book I learn more about the Disney parks, the Disney characters and conquering fear. The powerful themes and the clever characters will stay with me for a long time. Kingdom Keepers has the spirit of Disney, the structure of adventure and the important lessons that heroes teach us with each story we learn. 

Ridley Pearson & Rick Elice - Peter and the Starcatcher signing event

I had the amazing honor to meet both Ridley Pearson and Rick Elice today at the Tattered Cover at the 16th street mall in Denver. It was really neat to hear them talk about the play, and what it was like to create a script from a novel as well as the process of sharing a story and transferring it to another form of media. I was really nervous bringing my Kingdom Keeper book, but I actually talked with Ridley Pearson about the series and the Disney Parks for a while. 

Listening to successful writers is an inspiring experience, and it reminds you to never give up on your dreams. Since I have done both script writing and novel writing, it was really neat to have two people in the industry talk about the different mediums and how they work. The event itself was entertaining and rewarding, giving me a new perspective on story telling, character building and the world of both author and screenwriter. 

I also had the honor of taking a picture with Ridley Pearson after the book signing. 

All in all, it was one of the best days of my life! 

Fireworks

We held hands as the sky lit up with reds, oranges and blues. It was funny how one little vacation and one small moment out of all that time guarding the parks would be so perfect. As the music played, the fireworks danced, and Cinderella's castle became an outline compared to the bright lights and smoke. I knew Finn was smiling without even looking at him. Wayne would be somewhere cheering with each sucessful boom in the sky. 

"Amanda? You ok?"

Finn looked at me, and I realized that I had a single tear in my eye. After all we'd been through. After Maleficent, Chernabog, Ursula and Frollo, Finn and I had been able to conquer any obstacle in our way and honor Walt Disney's dream to keep the parks a safe and happy place. 

"I'm fine." I said. I could feel my cheeks burning. If Jez were here, she would have never let me hear the end of this. 

"You sure?"

I squeezed his hands and nodded. 

"It's just nice to know the parks are safe."

Finn gave me a lopsided grin and nodded.

"Yeah. Old Wayne can finally relax."

A sequence of cracks turned our attention back to the castle. Th grand finale was in full swing. As the music reached a crescendo, I decided to join the fun. With a small spell, a bright blue firework burst in the shape of a star after all the fireworks were over.

"You did that didn't you?" Finn asked me.

"Well, I am a Fairlie aren't I?"

"Oh yeah? Well I'm superman!"

In a way, he was. By saving the parks from the Overtakers, Finn was a true hero and he'd always be in my eyes.