…languages, witty retorts, and running from a fight.
Now he is faced with his first days in high school…
…Is there anything worse than high school?
When a clever, peace-making verbal volley failed, and the guy pulled a switch blade, Iggy took off. A locket he wore warmed up. Suddenly, he wasn’t in Susquehanna, PA anymore. Before he could gather his wits…
…someone had tackled him.
Pinned on the ground, his assailant bade him, be quiet. Something was going on just up ahead. A horrifying-looking knight in black armor, and a strange looking creature were locked in battle.
The knight won.
The large dog-bird beast, lay dying. Iggy sensed evil had won. When the man let him up, they eased forward to see if the dog-bird beast was dead.
No. And with its dying words…
…the warrior gave Iggy his swords.
And thus, Ignatius adventure began.
***
***
About the Author
Months of self-induced isolation to protect loved ones from exposure to Covid-19 led Emergency Medicine Physician David Mucci to create a fantasy world as an outlet to manage pandemic stress and support his own mental health. The resulting novel, Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw (St. Bart’s Publishing, October 2021), tells the tale of an impossible mission led by an unlikely hero – a relatable feeling for many figuring out how to survive unprecedented circumstances in 2020.
Accustomed to acting quickly to save a life or manage an urgent health situation by applying the knowledge and experience gained over his nearly 40 years in emergency medicine, Dr. Mucci deeply felt the impact of the pandemic in the ER.
“Amongst widespread unknowns, without comparable experiences to help manage patient outcomes while trying to keep up on ever-changing medical news to treat suffering patients, the pandemic was a higher level of stress to endure. Coupled with the deep fear of bringing a deadly virus into my home after ER shifts, I needed to dig deeper than TV binges or reading books to cope and to remember the potential each person has to be a hero in everyday life,” said Mucci.
The product of his creative outlet is the coming-of-age story of 15-year-old Ignatius, “Iggy”, who is thrown into a world of unknowns, transported to a medieval world filled with magic. Based on research of myths and legends, Mucci created The Kingdom of Skye, the setting for Iggy to develop special powers and accomplish quests to fight evildoers and find his way home.
According to Mucci, Iggy must learn to trust a diverse set of characters but also learn to believe in himself and grow; much like as a medical provider, Mucci had to trust himself, trust his colleagues and learn how to adapt during the pandemic. The first in a planned 5-part series, Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw is YA fantasy suitable for both teens and adults as it gently reminds readers that they are responsible for their own destiny, and that sometimes the most unexpected people can be the best teachers.
At 67 years old writing a YA Lit fantasy series, Mucci is also proving that there is no limit for being creative. “The only limitation is the one that you place on yourself and on your imagination,” says Mucci.
***
Author Links
Website: https://damucci.com
https://www.facebook.com/da.mucci.3
***
***
Book Link
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ooqGwz
***
B for Bookreview 