Books with author James Malcolm Benson

“Whimsy is the current that runs throughout this beguiling tale. It comes in and goes out like the tide—bringing with it the lure of the unknown, and as it recedes, taking with it a bit of melancholy. It is the best kind of story; one you’d like to believe is true. Logic might tell you it isn’t. Hope might ask you to reconsider. In the end, the difference may simply be which organ you consider the most important—your brain or your heart.Should you be on the lookout for a compelling chronicle, void of the mayhem and malevolence that often attends such tales today, take it upon yourself to unravel the Mystery on Widow Island. I bet you’ll be glad you did. Illuminating more of the story's plot would spoil the many revelations that follow. Simply be advised that it bears a degree of literary kinship with The Shape of Water and Cocoon.” —Jake Bishop, Pacific Book Review

James, a Pacific Northwest fiction author, lives on Harstine Island along the shores of Puget Sound. He was always fascinated by the busy life of ants as a child and began his storytelling with family in the seventies. The first book wasn’t written until the mid nineties. He went to grade schools and did some reading in class, with overwhelming positive reactions from the students. While the children’s book became an ANThology, the story is an enjoyable tale appreciated by young and old alike. This is James second ongoing series publication. Phoenix Quest; The Medallions, The Ring and The Feather, an adult fantasy fiction was released in 2011.

Everyday life is turned upside down in the quiet community when stories of a naked stranger roaming the eastern shores of the island spread like most rumors do. Reports of the incident were startling and the mystery wasnt easy for anyone to explain. As the investigation moved forward, following several sightings by local residents, the uncomfortable situation only created more questions than answers.

When nine educated ants escape the confines of their ant farm and enter the natural world for the first time, they begin a naive adventure with enough chaos to last a lifetime. Their creative nature helps to minimize many of the unexpected trials and tribulations along their legendary journey. This eight book series explores the importance of family, the value of friendship and overcoming the struggles of survival in the wild. The keys to their success or failure depend upon their unity, determination and a belief that anything is possible.

Uniting the five colonies was critical for the freedom fighters to overcome the dominance of the Black Queen. Standing together they had a chance to determine their own destiny, but apart there was little hope of escaping the tyranny of Casandra's ghastly domination, and with Silver City's queen lost in the storm, there was no one else who could convince the outlying colonies to stand against the two wicked sisters. The termite queen couldn't do it, since she was a natural born enemy and no other ant held a high enough rank to address such issues with ruling monarchs. Queen Amy had to be found before it was too late to prevent the looming annihilation of her colony or others and the freedom fighters were using every resource at their disposal to find out what happened to their influential queen, who was brave enough to defiantly stand against her own mother.

The flag was flapping, held high in the air by Ricky, as the ants rounded the corner of the barn on their new mission to save Rusty from the wrath of the queen. Ricky couldn't have been happier, after missing out on the last adventure because of his sore leg. Digger and Luna raced across the dirt behind the barn, along with their forty passengers. The rescuers were on their way to the expanse of the field and the forest beyond, which held the bleak colony of the Black Queen. The rabbit and the mouse kicked up a cloud of dust as they galloped toward the fence line encompassing the grassy meadow. The ants had become very familiar with the sights of the field, having spent so much time exploring it from the ground or in the air on their past adventures. While most of the ants had experienced the wild ride on the two critters, there were a few rookies, who spent as much time in the air as they did sitting down. The new recruits hung on for dear life, as they entered unfamiliar territory for the first time.

Everyday life is turned upside down in the quiet community when stories of a naked stranger roaming the eastern shores of the island spread like most rumors do. Reports of the incident were startling and the mystery wasn't easy for anyone to explain. As the investigation moved forward, following several sightings by local residents, the uncomfortable situation only created more questions than answers.