Books with author W. D. Newman

While spending the summer with their grandparents on a remote farm in South Carolina, Ben Alderman and his sister Casey uncover a hidden world of magic; a world their grandmother is secretly visiting. It is a world where elves and dwarves are locked in mortal combat against a witch who is trying to free the last surviving wizard from exile. The witch has been defeated once before but with the combined power of the wizard, no one will be able to stand against them. Much to Ben's dismay, he learns that he is the one foretold in the ancient elfin prophecies to bring about the downfall of the witch and save this exciting new world from destruction.

While spending the summer with their grandparents, on a remote farm in South Carolina, Ben Alderman and his sister Casey uncover a hidden world of magic; a world their grandmother is secretly visiting. It is a world where elves and dwarves are locked in mortal combat against a witch who is trying to free the last surviving wizard from exile. The witch has been defeated once before, but with the combined power of the wizard, no one will be able to stand against them. Much to Ben's dismay, he learns that he is the one foretold in the ancient elfin prophecies to bring about the downfall of the witch and save this exciting new world from destruction.

This novella for younger readers features a first grade boy and girl growing up in Utah in 1972 who share a common birthday and a love of puppetry and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Glenn is the fastest runner and the fastest reader in the first grade, until the new girl, Janet, bests him at both. When the only person who could be your twin is the new girl in school, that's difficult for Glenn -- because the guys will never let her play on their team! When Janet’s family survives a house fire, Glenn discovers that, in times of need, a rival can become an ally. Glenn and Janet watch Mr. Rogers, make puppets together, and create their own Neighborhood of Make-Believe. But when they argue about their religions, can these “make-believe twins” remain friends if they each insist they’re right? Set during the Space Race of the early 1970s, Make Believe Twins tells a story of how friendly competitors can sometimes become real friends, growing up through friendship, and finding loyalty. This can be a real message of hope for children in today’s society, as they see little but division from the adults all around them, as they discover, in true child like fashion, that we are much closer together than we are far apart. AN EARLY GRADES READER

This novella for younger readers features a first grade boy and girl growing up in Utah in 1972 who share a common birthday and a love of puppetry and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Glenn is the fastest runner and the fastest reader in the first grade, until the new girl, Janet, bests him at both. When the only person who could be your twin is the new girl in school, that's difficult for Glenn -- because the guys will never let her play on their team! When Janet’s family survives a house fire, Glenn discovers that, in times of need, a rival can become an ally. Glenn and Janet watch Mr. Rogers, make puppets together, and create their own Neighborhood of Make-Believe. But when they argue about their religions, can these “make-believe twins” remain friends if they each insist they’re right? Set during the Space Race of the early 1970s, Make Believe Twins tells a story of how friendly competitors can sometimes become real friends, growing up through friendship, and finding loyalty. This can be a real message of hope for children in today’s society, as they see little but division from the adults all around them, as they discover, in true child like fashion, that we are much closer together than we are far apart.

Growing up, making choices, being responsible for yourself and the choices we all make might seem everyday to some, but for 12-year-old Sandy, it is a new and liberating experience. Sandy has grown up under the influence of her widower, rugby-coach father and her athletic older sister Roxie. When her father and sister go to England for a rugby tournament, they leave Sandy in the care of her three great aunts, referred to in family lore as the “weird sisters.” The mysterious Weird Sisters have not been seen in years; or so Dad says. Each of the aunts espouses a different faith -- Catholicism, Mormonism, and Unitarianism -- and yet they respect and support each others' practice, while Sandy views them as the outside seeker of truth she truly is. Sandy enrolls in a literature course, dance classes, and winds up in a community musical production, abandoning the girls’ soccer team with which she is supposed to be playing. During her three weeks with her aunts, and never having attended any religious services before, she takes part in services and activities at each of her aunts’ churches, finding things that she admires as well as things that confuse her. Her identity of self is to be forged during these three weeks -- striking while the metal is hot, so to speak -- an identity that she will take the remainder of her life to fashion and finish. Reading level of 10+ to adult. (5th Grade and older) Grades: 5+ Age Group: 10+

Sunday is when George and his grandma make their favorite cookies together. However, on this Sunday, George's grandma doesn't feel well and stays home. George decides to make their cookies by himself to make her feel better. Everything is going great until he sees what is on the back of the recipe card: "DON'T FORGET THE SECRET INGREDIENT!"What is the secret ingredient?That's what George is determined to find out so he can make the cookies and help his grandma feel better!

In this second book of the "Pirates" series, Pirate Hannah becomes the Captain of her own vessel and is challenged to "bring healing to many and grace to all." She and her crew experience numerous adventures and meet mysterious characters as the legends of our world intertwine with those of Pirate Hannah's. Like the first book in the series ("The Incredible Adventures of Pirate Zach"), Pirate Hannah learns lessons about faith, trust, honesty, humility, and other virtues as she pursues her mission. This book is designed to be read to children of all ages and contains a number of full-color illustrations made by the author.

Sunday is when George and his grandma make their favorite cookies together. However, on this Sunday, George's grandma doesn't feel well and stays home. George decides to make their cookies by himself to make her feel better. Everything is going great until he sees what is on the back of the recipe card: "DON'T FORGET THE SECRET INGREDIENT!"What is the secret ingredient?That's what George is determined to find out so he can make the cookies and help his grandma feel better!