We are pleased to announce the publication of a new edition of Teresa Bassett’s
award-winning time travel novel The Time Crystals, her second under the
Authors Reach banner.
The Time Crystals is a mystery adventure suitable for adults and children alike.
It tells the story of twelve-year-old Clara Callenick, who is astonished to
discover a time portal within an overgrown mine shaft on her family’s land. She
is charged with a desperate mission: at all costs, she must stop the evil Derek
Maunding from buying the mine and possessing its secrets. At stake: not only
Clara’s future, but the future of the world.
Originally published by Books to Treasure last year, Teresa’s novel manuscript
had already attracted attention, reaching the final five in Amazon’s
Breakthrough Novel Award, Young Adult category. The prize for getting to this
stage was a review in Publishers Weekly, who described the story as a “thrilling
time travel page-turner.” To Teresa’s amazement, her manuscript went on to
win $5000 in a US contest named The Next Novelist, which ran for one year.
“My main aim was to write an exciting adventure,” said Teresa, “but my novel
also explores the importance of friendship and family, and of caring for our
precious planet.”
Teresa’s book has strong local connections for her, with a setting inspired by
her real life childhood home. “I was born on the site of a former tin mine,” she
said, “in a village near St Austell, Cornwall. As a child, I spent many happy
hours playing among the tin and clay mine workings, back when running
around outdoors was most kids’ favourite pastime. I often wondered what might
lurk in the mine tunnels and shafts beneath my feet, and loved to dream up
fantastic adventures.”
“The Time Crystals is very special to me,” said Teresa, “and I’m proud to be
releasing this new edition with Authors Reach. The timing is good, because I’m
currently hard at work on the second book in the series, working title Flight of
the Bluebird. All being well, it should be in the hands of readers early next
year.”
The Time Crystals is available as a paperback or ebook from Amazon, and may
also be ordered via the usual channels from bookshops.
Book links:
Connect with Teresa:
Publishers Weekly review of The Time Crystals
In this thrilling time travel page-turner, four kids from rural England learn that
no less than the fate of the world as we know it will be determined by them.
Or, more specifically, by 12-year-old Clara Callenick and how good she is at
convincing her grandmother not to sell land that has been in the family for
generations. There is only one problem: Gran has already agreed to sell the
land to Derek Maunding, a conniving local businessman.
For Clara the trouble all starts when she is overcome by sudden, wrenching
headaches that mysteriously occur at specific but inexplicable times. The
searing pain occurs at the hours of 1:11 am, 2:22 am, 3:33 am, and so on, every
eighth day. At the same time, there are bright, multicolored lights that rocket
skyward from the opening of an abandoned tin mine on Gran's property.
Of course Clara is hesitant to talk with anyone about the weird events, but she
finally relents, telling school friends Rob Hocking, Hayley Shezell, and Mick
Amar. Together they decide to investigate by going down to the mine opening
and awaiting the expected light show.
What ensues is a series of hair-raising, edge-of-your-seat events culminating in
a delightful story that packs a powerful values punch relevant to both young
and not-so-young adults.
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