The heroes of Sean Yeager Adventures – an exciting, hidden gem book series for ages 8 to 14

Hi there, now we’ve explored the bad guys in the Sean Yeager Adventures children’s book series, let’s introduce some of the heroes who are striving to thwart Krankhausen and Vrass’ ruthless plans.

• Sean Yeager
• Emily Campbell
• The Founder – Cassius Olandis
• Major Clavity
• Agent Stafford
• Maximilian Argentus
• The Wanderer – Livia Tarvus
• ‘KB’ – Victor Kyboamski

Sean Yeager – A brave, impulsive young teen who is unwittingly pulled into an escalating conflict he knows nothing about. Sean has to find his feet in an ever-changing landscape when his home is broken into and eventually demolished. While discovering abilities and a past he knew nothing about, Sean gathers clues about his missing father. Sean always does his best to protect others and evade Deveraux’s evil clutches, often at great personal cost. Fortunately, he is protected by Agents from the Foundation, although he often wonders if they are a help or a hindrance.

Emily Campbell – A feisty, slightly older teen who befriends Sean at Kimbleton Hall. Emily uses her keen detective skills to make sense of the chaos around them. She loves animals with the notable exception of ‘the cat’. When Sean’s impulsive nature leads him into trouble, Emily is first to pick him up, calm him down, and help to figure out an escape plan. She forms a close bond with Sean, and when she meets the Wanderer she explores her own unexpected abilities.

The Founder – Cassius Olandis – A tall, enigmatic man of indeterminate age who heads up the Foundation and previously commanded the Eternal Promise. Skilled in telepathy and neural suggestion, Cassius leads by using his Aether craft skills and instructs through direct communication. Few are aware of his past and even fewer would dare to ask him. However, Cassius is becoming frail and desperately needs Sean and Emily’s help.

Major Clavity – Sometimes unfairly viewed as clumsy and prone to mishaps, Clavity is a brave and loyal Foundation Agent from a military background. Assigned important missions by the Founder, Clavity risks his life to save others. While he’s not averse to regular snack breaks, which may have contributed to his physique, he often surprises people with his skill and determination.

Agent Stafford – Initially a flashy agent with a lofty view of himself, Stafford is brought down to earth by a series of challenging missions. He enjoys the finer things in life and is said he have been extremely lucky in lotteries. During the events of Mortal Thread, we find out whether Stafford can complete the mission he has dreaded for years. And whether he’ll make it on time for one of his coverted fine dinners.

Maximilian Argentus – Built like an ox, he is known to Sean and Emily as ‘Uncle Max’. Of unknown origin, Max is the right-hand-man to the Founder. Paternal and moral, he has guided Sean and Emily for many years. In Claws of Time, Max takes an interest in Sean and Emily’s training and leads an important mission to locate Major Clavity in Central America. Max has a calm, commanding influence and is the person you would want by your side when surrounded by ruthless androbots.

The Wanderer – Livia Tarvus – In Mortal Thread, we meet Livia after Sean and Emily embark on a lengthy journey. Sworn to protect life, Livia is a Hexator of the Gaia craft. She nurtures exotic creatures at the Ranch and refuses to engage in military action against Krankhausen or Vrass. Left to her own devices, Livia runs the Ranch with a cohort of Patersons and her treasured guard bird. No one is quite sure what Livia is capable of when provoked by aggressors, least of all Sean and Emily.

‘KB’ – Victor Kyboamski – A keen surfer, KB’s laid-back nature hides a sharp mind and remarkable engineering skills. When not ‘modifying’ equipment, he enjoys experimental cookery, fast cars, faster flying craft, and ultra-secret missions. His heroes include Agents Stafford and Geist after the events of Claws of Time. If you have a problem, KB can probably help, provided of course that the Ancients approve. Incept? Who are they?

To find out more about the exciting Sean Yeager series, explore free sample e-books on Amazon, or visit the Sean Yeager Adventures website.

www.SeanYeager.com

The artwork of Sean Yeager Adventures

Hi there,

Over the years, the Sean Yeager Adventures crew has had the pleasure of working with two talented artists who have played a major part in bringing the Sean Yeager children’s book series to visual life.

Joel Carpenter https://joelcarpenter.carbonmade.com/

Joel contributed some amazing covers and story artwork in the early days. His tireless concept work was a major boost for the visual identity and feel of the series.

In order, DNA Thief – with its amazing flying car and Sean Yeager’s DNA trace. Hunters Hunted – Sean and Emily discover the mysterious ruined cottage. Also from DNA Thief – Clavity and Sean narrowly avoiding the burglars’ van. Agent Rusham and Major Clavity race to Sean Yeager’s house. Brigadier Cuthbertson on hearing bad news at Foundation Control.

Andy Dodd – http://www.andydoddcartoons.com

More recently, Andy created some incredible covers for the next two Sean Yeager episodes which helped to signal the slightly older target readership as the series developed. Andy also brought some amazing light effects to the cover designs.

Claws of Time – Sean Yeager seizing the life-cog inside an ancient templ. Mortal Thread – someone activating a device using an orange crystal.

Looking ahead to the next episode – Sean Yeager Blade of the Quel – once the plot is well progressed, concepts and work on the next SYA artwork are sure to follow.

Sean Yeager Adventures is an exciting children’s action, adventure, sci-fi series. It follows the journeys of Sean and Emily as they seek the truth about their fathers while trying to save the Earth and themselves from a ruthless enemy.

For more information visit: http://www.seanyeager.com

Sean Yeager titles are available worldwide from Amazon and Ingrams affiliated retailers in UK and US English versions.

Please share this article and the website link to help spread the word. Sean Yeager Adventures is an independent labour of love which began in 2012. We take great care to provide high quality reading for young readers (8 to 14) guided by young readers. Free sample e-books are regularly available for Kindle on Amazon, or use the Look Inside book feature.

The bad guy characters in Sean Yeager Adventures

Hi there, here’s a quick tour of the bad guys in the exciting Sean Yeager children’s action, adventure book series for ages 8 to 14. Acquiring and leading their many helpers and ‘volunteers’ are:

• Egbert Von Krankhausen
• Darius Deveraux
• Vrass
• Seventy-one

Egbert Von Krankhausen – A wealthy international businessman with a sideline in criminal dealings. Early in the series, he is responsible for the burglary on Sean Yeager’s house. After his failure to give Deveraux what he wanted, Krankhausen is taken virtual prisonner and ‘encouraged’ to work on Deveraux’s evil plans. As a result, Krankhausen is seldom seen in public and has pleaded repeatedly for daylight and a vacation.

Darius Deveraux – Fair of skin and hair with blood-red eyes, Deveraux has a mysterious past. He runs Vrass’ expanding commercial and human empire in a ruthless manner. However, he is far from free and frequently feels the wrath of Vrass’ impatience. Wanted by the Foundation for years, Deveraux has an uncanny ability to fake his presence and slip away from danger. For a considerable time, he lived on a stealth submarine in international waters. Lacking any concern for human suffering, Deveraux is a very dangerous customer.

Vrass – Telepathic and alien in origin, Vrass is a Vuloz creature with a serious grudge against humanity. All most people see of Vrass are three black, penetrating eyes of malice in their mind’s eye. Vrass’ whereabouts are unknown and it is believed to be capable of spawning new Vuloz spores, swimmers, and warriors. Aquatic by preference, Vrass and the Vuloz are capable of rapid evolution and bio-engineering with dangerous results.

Seventy-one – An androbot of biological origins, Seventy-one is Deveraux’s chief aide. As if with most of Deveraux’s personal staff, its body was grown to order and fitted with technology. Seventy-one communicates directly with other androbots (controllers, warriors, scouts, sowers, and infected people known as sleepers) and relays Deveraux’s orders across his growing empire. Incapable of emotion, Seventy-one’s bio-electrical brain is ‘trained’ to interpret language literally with many misunderstandings.

Next time, we’ll explore the heroes and helpers in the SYA universe.

For more information about the Sean Yeager Adventures book series visit:

www.SeanYeager.com

What makes a story plot work? Pointers for plotting.

Hi there, now I am in plotting mode for Sean Yeager Blade of the Quel, here are some thoughts on what to consider when devising and reviewing the plot of your next story. Gathered from various sources and personal experience, I hope you find these pointers helpful in your story plotting.

• Characters drive plot
• Plots as sequences of actions and consequences
• Unexpected challenges or barriers enrich a plot
• Red herrings matter
• Line up an unexpected twist or three
• Know your resolution outline early
• Flow charts, notepads, and whiteboards are your friend
• Keep it plausible

Characters drive plot – What the characters want, how they go about getting what they want, and what their capabilities, drive the backbone of any story. If you map out the sequence for each major character it will help drive the substance of a story plot. Obviously, stories focus on what the characters do and how they interact, and this is shaped by their drives, their motives, their capabilities/weaknesses, and agendas. In addition, characters should evolve in their outlooks and behaviours after major experiences and during a series. It keeps things interesting for everyone if we care about the characters and ‘how’ they progress towards their goals. In fact, I would say ‘how’ is possibly the most important aspect of all. As in a character overcoming weaknesses and challenges that are unique to them, so that we care.

Plots as sequences of actions and consequences – It can be useful to use flowcharts to map out sequences of major events. This can consist of chains of events and what characters do as a result. Whether as parts of an overall plot, an arc for each character, or as the spine of the whole story. This can also evolve and act as a rough guide as the writing progresses and new thoughts arise (driven by characters and fresh ideas). Nothing has to be 100% set in stone until the final draft, but 60 to 80% firm helps. Write in pencil or wipeable marker – easily amended.

Unexpected challenges or barriers enrich a plot – As a plot technique, devising the barriers (challenge/solution cycles), particularly in mid-story, can be tough. Beginnings and endings tend to be easier in my experience. One approach I find useful is to think about the worst, best, and most unexpected things that could happen to characters as a result of their previous actions or plot events. Putting your characters through the ‘wringer’ can lead to great interactions and fun writing. Where do they need to go? Why? What compels them to take deviations along the way? And what stops them in their tracks – forcing a change of some kind?

Red herrings matter – As the writer, being aware of possible continuations and signalling that the characters are human and consider them can be very useful. Introducing dead-end clues or explorations within the plot is a great way of introducing humanity to the characters and the next layer of plot surprises. Few people in life go directly from start to outcome without distractions and setbacks along the way.

Line up an unexpected twist or three – To keep a reader turning pages there are many ingredients – quality, pace, wit, subject matter, caring about the characters etc. To encourage readers to finish a book and read more in a series requires the ‘not knowing what’s going to happen next’ aspect in a work. If a story is too predictable, it will usually be weaker as a result. So, throw in some planned surprises at intervals in the story. These can also help overcome the ‘flabby middle’ issue many books suffer from.

Know your resolution outline early – Some people like to be ‘pantsers’. I confess to being very much the opposite. Either way, its important to know what the story is building up to and at least the options you have in mind for how the story’s central conflict will be resolved. I say options, because foreshadowing and plausibility are important in the plotting and writing. There can still be different possible outcomes given realistic factors explored in the story, but it is important to know where you are heading – or you’ll never get there.

Flow charts and whiteboards are your friend – Whatever works in taking ideas down and exploring where they can lead. Again, nothing is set in stone until the final draft. I find mapping out complex plot lines helps. Also, getting away from the screen for plotting, and having a folder with various sections that I build up during plotting and preparing to write. It includes various headings – Characters, Plot Outline, Backstory, Includes, Questions to self, Brainstorm pages, Detailed scene by scene workings, Twist ideas, Writing prompts etc.

Keep it plausible – Bottom line, avoid deus ex machina and variations. No reader likes a character doing something completely out of character ‘just because’. Or a happenstance coincidence that is unlikely. Far better to have chains of cause and effect that make sense within the story’s logic. It is still possible to explore interesting areas, depending on the genre and to have an unexpected outcome. However, ‘the butler’s unknown son’s aggrieved lover did it’ is plain annoying. It’s right down there with ‘it was all a dream’. And Harry Potter fans skip a paragraph – ‘love conquers all, just because’ is copping out and a form of deux ex machina. A protective magical object/spell would have worked better and would have been easier to explain. e.g. Harry’s parents used an ancient ‘love pact’ spell which only works if one of them dies protecting Harry and by all wearing an object – thus Harry was a) saved b) splintered Voldemort’s soul without him knowing due to the spell and object he was wearing. I could go on, but please consider the main point – story logic needs to make sense. It can still be elaborate. Just because, is not a satisfying or plausible explanation for a major plot point after thousands of pages. And core plot implausibilities / inconsistencies are just plain annoying. Avoid them by explaining ‘how’ in plausible terms consistent with the story’s build up.

Above all, have fun plotting. I know some people find it tough to plot a story – and it is as with anything really worthwhile, but a good story will develop given time and repeated effort. Some people don’t plot at all – not sure how they manage that – and all speed to their writing! Personally, I think of it as designing the film I want the book to be. And until I am convinced a plot would make a good film, I don’t start writing the book. I figure that if the spine of the plot is good enough, the rest of the book can be refined and polished over the many editing passes that follow the first draft.

Best of luck and have fun writing.

D.M. Jarrett

For more information about the Sean Yeager Adventures children’s book series visit:

www.SeanYeager.com

Free Sean Yeager Adventures e-books

In the run up to the festive season, we are pleased to offer Sean Yeager e-books free on Amazon to help your buying decisions. Over the coming weeks, check out the sites for free sampler e-books of all four Sean Yeager children’s books and find out why young readers love the Sean Yeager Adventures series. Use the search term ‘Sean Yeager Adventures’ to find all the titles on offer or click on the links below. These e-books are also free every day with Kindle Unlimited, and the first two titles are available in full in e-book format.

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=sean+yeager+adventures&ref=nb_sb_noss

US: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sean+yeager+adventures&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Website: http://www.SeanYeager.com

Try before you buy into an exciting series of action, adventure stories that chart Sean and Emily’s quest. Written for readers from ages 8 to 14, the Sean Yeager book series has four episodes in print. Each story is self-contained and builds on the earlier episodes to take the reader on a rollercoaster ride unlike any other. Age appropriate and with themes of spies, adventure, quests, and mysteries, Sean Yeager books are designed by young readers for young readers. The print versions are larger than standard paperback sizes and have attractive matt covers. Each year, we review reader feedback and update the series, which means the current editions are the best they have ever been.

Please tell your friends and family to help spread the word about Sean Yeager Adventures. SYA is a real life labour of love, and in 2022 we celebrate our tenth anniversary.

Best wishes

The SYA team

Sean Yeager Adventures – the story so far

Hi there, here’s a quick run down on what to expect from the stories in the Sean Yeager Adventures series. As well as spies, gadgets, robots, aliens and action, there’s a plot that runs through the series from episode to episode. Written for ages 8 to 14, the series is age appropriate and designed to be easy to read. It also has deeper themes that develop throughout the series.

In the DNA Thief, Sean Yeager’s life is interupted by a burglary which leads to a hair-raising attempt to recover his lost belongings. Sean is introduced to the Foundation and a world he knew nothing about. For some reason, Sean’s DNA is the prize.

In Hunters Hunted, Sean meets Emily Campbell at a country safe house. Together, they investigate the mansion and find clues to a mysterious treasure and Sean’s father. Meanwhile, enemy forces close in around their new home and pursue them.

In Claws of Time, the wheels fall off the Foundation’s operation. Sean and Emily embark on a mission to save Major Clavity and encounter far more than they bargained for. Across the world, satellites are crashing and the clues lead to Darius Deveraux.

In Mortal Thread, Sean and Emily must find a way to save the Founder. However, the Foundation is divided and Deveraux’s forces have seized the initiative. Agent Stafford is assigned the mission he has long dreaded, while Sean and Emily search for the Wanderer and help from the US.

Thanks for making it this far. If this series looks appealing, please help to spread the word. Thanks in advance for your help. This series is designed to be intelligent, entertaining, and to prompt readers to research real world history and science while encouraging boys in particular to read more.

Sean Yeager Mortal Thread is live!

Sean Yeager Mortal Thread cover

After months of pandemic writing, editing and tweaking, it’s finally here! Sean and Emily must find the Wanderer in order to save Cassius Olandis and all life on Earth as we know it. But who can they trust?
A page-turning, fast-paced, action, adventure, sci-fi story for children aged 7 to 12. Age appropriate for grade 4+ readers.

Sean and Emily seem to have everything under control until their ship decides to crash land. When they are instructed to find the Wanderer, they begin an exciting voyage of discovery spanning Europe and the USA. While Vex Lauricus and Agent Stafford attend to the demands of their superiors, can anyone stop Darius Deveraux expanding his vice-like grip on the western world? Sean and Emily encounter more than they bargained for in an adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Sean Yeager Adventures is an action-packed, fun-filled series that will entertain children, middle school students, and young teens alike.

Click “Buy Now” to order the Sean Yeager Adventures series today!

Books in the Sean Yeager Adventures series:

– Sean Yeager and the DNA Thief
– Sean Yeager Hunters Hunted
– Sean Yeager Claws of Time
– Sean Yeager Mortal Thread

For more information visit: www.SeanYeager.com

Cover reveal – Sean Yeager Mortal Thread

Coming soon. The plot deepens.

Vex is on the loose, but so is Agent Stafford. Can anyone save the Founder?