Catherine Weaver - Opening Doors to New Worlds

Catherine Weaver grew up in Northern California and decided to use the inspiration of the Golden State's landscape to create an entirely new universe for readers. It has its own alternate history of California filled with griffins, amazons, magicians, and leprechauns. Weaver manages to connect this alternate universe to our own in the pages of her book "Gold Dust" which successfully gives middle readers a tale packed with imaginative and magical themes. Her writing has managed to weave together one of the most original stories to come around in quite a long time and although written for a younger audience, readers of all ages will find something to take away from this adventurous world sprung from the mind of a California dreamer.

Weaver's family ties to California stretch back five generations and many members of her family were or are writers, poets and artists. From a young age she discovered works like "The Lord of the Rings," "Stranger in a Strange Land," "1,001 Arabian Nights" and others which set her on a creative path. She received professional training in music, theater and dance which resulted in her ability to play the trumpet, sing in choir, perform Shakespeare, dance in any style and is also a professionally trained mime. Through it all she recognized her skill to tell a story and added writing to her long list of artistic credentials. One day while marveling at the beauty of her native California she realized there was a lack of stories which took place in the culturally and story rich state. Catherine Weaver saw a hole and she immediately set out to fill it and lucky for us she planted a story as equally rich in flavor as the landscape which inspired it.

"Gold Dust" is the story of Alex Lee, a young girl with her attention on homework, boys and her recently changed mother. Alex's mom is completely lifeless when she comes home from work and her normal cheerful self when she calls home from work. Alex is clueless as to the cause and one day meets a leprachaun named Martin that injects a bit of magic into her life that leads to her discovery of an entirely different version of California that is somehow tied to her mother. Transporting herself to another world and mastering the use of magic through exercising her imagination and helping others along the way, all lead to Alex's empowerment and the betterment of two worlds because of it. The book reminds you of "Alice in Wonderland" or "The Chronicles of Narnia" in its use of transporting the main character from one world into another, yet the way it is done and all that follow are very unique. Weaver is able to make a world of griffins, leprechauns and magic seem utterly acceptable and completely appropriate to the story. She has you believing that gold does contain magical properties and that some trees have beautiful spirits living within that can carry you to a more magical version of the world you're living in. 

This story is important because it offers readers the idea that the world does not have to be lifeless and dull, that instead it is filled with wonderful, magical beauty and adventure. It sparks the imagination, encourages us to be better and not only make our world better but be on the look out for other worlds. Catherine Weaver has constructed an entire fantasy world and built a bridge to it that, although newly erected, will continue to carry adventurous dreamers across for many years to come. "Gold Dust" is the first in a series of books starring Alex Lee and I am sure this gifted author will give us more magic, more imagination and through a little more gold dust, she just might start another Gold Rush in California.

For more information on Catherine Weaver:
Her Blog: http://islandofcalifornia.blogspot.com 
Her Book: http://thebookcity.com/cweaverbooks.html 

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