The Book Of Four Journeys

There’s a point when a path turns and something unfamiliar comes into view. THE BOOK OF FOUR JOURNEYS by @veronicadelvalle.author brings together four stories that begin at that very moment.

THE BOOK OF FOUR JOURNEYS brings together four short stories connected by the idea that every adventure changes the one who takes it. Alfalfa Spooly steps past the familiar while carrying out a risky mission, Mumik and Pimnik travel separate paths in search of one another, Neboo McCloudy overcomes his fears while pursuing a mysterious treasure, and Lincoln Jax follows a trail toward a hidden kingdom that could hold important answers. Each story blends unpredictability, unusual characters, and the quiet courage that comes with exploring the unknown.

Veronica del Valle is the author of The Word-Keeper and The Book of Four Journeys. She earned an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University and has worked as both editor and writer in London and Argentina. She has also taught creative writing at Universidad de San Andrés. Now based in Buenos Aires, she continues to explore her love of language and imaginative storytelling.

My review

4.5 stars

(Find this review on Amazon, instagram, facebook, storygraph, goodreads, fable and bookmory)

Very sweet and filled with valuable lessons. It's magical and cozy but not focused on the regular trendy magical creatures or characters. This is more of a Ghibli kind of magic with a hint of Roald Dahl. My favorite tale of the 4 was Neboo McCloudy perhaps because I am grumpy as he is, always in search of a great treasure until realizing what a great treasure truly is. Other characters and journey address other treasured values. It's about wisdom, friendship, doing good, reaching out, hopeful journeys that make us feel good. Has simple but fun illustrations.

More at her website: https://veronicadelvallebooks.com/

@therealbookgal #middlegradefiction #kidlitreads #mgadventures #shortstorycollection #youngreaderscommunity #bookstagramkids #readingforkids #childrensbookshelf #veronicadelvalle #amreadingmg #thebookoffourjourneys

Amazon: https://bit.ly/47XykFd

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58025684-the-book-of-four-journeys

Four young travelers step past the edges of what they know and into places where anything can happen. #MiddleGradeReads #KidLitMagic #AdventureStories #ReadersOfInstagram #StoryDiscovery #ImaginativeReads

Writing Process & Creativity

How did you research your book?

The Book of Four Journeys grew out of my fascination with the idea of the hero’s journey —that timeless mythic pattern that reveals how every adventure is, in the end, a path toward self-discovery. I wanted to explore what that means for younger readers today, in a world that often feels both vast and uncertain.

Where do you get your ideas?

Honestly, I don’t really know. Everywhere around me. Everywhere within me, too. I’m not sure.Sometimes ideas come from things I’ve read, people I’ve met, or places I’ve travelled to. Other times, they seem to rise from somewhere deep inside, very much uninvited.I often wonder where ideas truly come from; they feel less like something we invent and more like something we stumble upon.

What sets your book apart from others in your genre?

The reader will not find any dragons, wizards or witches in this book, but that doesn’t mean it is not filled with the most peculiar and unexpected characters, like Alfalfa Spooly, a postman who will dare cross the threshold into the unknown to carry out a menacing mission. Mumik and Pimnik, a brother and a sister who will explore unknown territories as they set about finding each other. Neboo McCloudy, a grumpy creature ready to weather his biggest fears so he can discover an otherworldly treasure. And Lincoln Jax, an orphan girl in search of a kingdom that holds the answer to everything she is looking for.

What helps you overcome writer’s block?

I go for a walk; movement somehow frees the story. There’s something about being outside, and in motion, that untangles whatever was stuck on the page.

What’s your favorite compliment you’ve received as a writer?

My favorite compliment comes when a child says they loved the story, or that it helped or inspired them. There’s a raw, unfiltered honesty in a kid’s reaction. There’s no polish, no pretense, just the truth. It’s the ultimate review.

Your Writing Life

Do you write every day? What’s your schedule?

Where do you write—home, coffee shop, train?

Any quirky writing rituals or must-have snacks?

I try to write every day. Discipline is very important to me, even if some days I only manage one very bad sentence. If I waited for inspiration to come, I suspect I’d still be curating an exquisite collection of half-written stories.

It might sound painfully boring, but I always write in the mornings at my desk in complete silence, with (this bit is less boring; and it’s essential and delicious) mate —a traditional Argentine tea— always by my side.

Although I’m no illustrator, I like to sketch characters, places, and maps on paper. Then I pin them to a moodboard above my desk, so the world of the book I’m writing stares back at me while I work.

Behind the Book

Why did you choose this setting/topic?

As I said above, this book grew out of my fascination with the concept of the hero’s journey; the idea that every great adventure, no matter how far it takes you, is ultimately about finding out who you are.

From Gulliver’s Travels to The Odyssey and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I’ve always been fascinated by how these stories chart the outer world as a reflection of the inner one; how every voyage, no matter how distant, mirrors a deeper transformation within.

If your book became a movie, who would star in it?

If my book became a movie, I’d love it to be a Studio Ghibli film. Their worlds feel lived-in, and their magic is quiet and true and woven from wonder.

Which author(s) most inspired you?

I’d say there are three —no, four— authors who’ve inspired me the most:

E. B. White, for his love of the English language, and because he taught me that children are among the most attentive and intelligent readers, making them an audience that deserves the writer's best work. He said, "Anyone who writes down to children is simply wasting his time. You have to write up, not down." Those words have always stayed with me.

Philip Pullman, because there’s a kind of yearning in his writing that tugs at your heart —a deep hunger for life, for love, for knowledge and for adventure.

Roald Dahl, because he’s unapologetically himself —bold, mischievous, idiosyncratic, and delightfully unafraid.

And Dr. Seuss, for his wild, limitless creativity and the rhythm and joy that make his words leap off the page. He reminds me that nonsense can make perfect sense and that imagination can be a form of courage.

Fun & Lighthearted Qs

What’s your go-to comfort food?

Anything homemade: a warm oatmeal cookie, a delicious spinach pie, freshly baked bread. If it’s homemade with love (and good music playing in the kitchen while you cook), it’s comfort food in the truest sense.

What are you binge-watching right now?

My daughter and I are watching the three Paddington movies on a loop. I love them —I love the Michael Bond books too, of course— but the films are equally delightful.

If you could time-travel, where would you go?

I wouldn’t travel in time, but I would love to visit a parallel universe. Maybe one where imagination is the main currency and dreams are taken incredibly seriously.

What 3 books would you bring to a desert island?

I’d bring Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy… And Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (because even on a desert island, it reminds you that life is an adventure.)

What’s something that made you laugh this week?

My daughter, Tomiko. She’s nine and has the wittiest, most outlandish sense of humor —it’s like Monty Python but in a nine-year-old version.