Vanover, New England, 1877.

Five young adventurers and the eccentric Professor Peabody step through an impossible portal into the Polycosmos, where every realm has its own laws—and even a small mistake may carry dreadful consequences.

When Jules is taken by slavers in the black sands of the Colorless Kingdoms, the Inklings must cross a world of pirate skiffs, ancient drakes, enchanted objects, strange fae creatures, dangerous bargains, and transformations that reveal more than appearances. Edgar becomes a furry willowpillar who insists he is still a grizzly. Charlotte sprouts butterfly-like wings. And fifteen-year-old Mary Doyle discovers that something far darker has crossed the threshold with them—and has chosen her not merely as prey, but as a soul to corrupt.

Darkly whimsical and atmospheric, Of Inklings and Willowpillars blends the storytelling spirit of classic children’s fantasy with historical detail, eccentric humor, fairy-tale wonder, peril, and darker YA/adult crossover stakes. It is Book One of The Chronicles of Ber’Ebrin, a 21-book historical portal-fantasy series spanning strange realms, generations, and changing eras.

Content Note: Fantasy violence and death; child abduction and enslavement; supernatural corruption and coercion; alcohol and gambling; peril involving children; and non-explicit older-teen romantic/sexual themes involving magical coercion.

Production Transparency: The novel’s prose is entirely author-written. Generative AI was used to create visual elements incorporated into the cover and certain branding artwork from the author’s sketches and prompts, followed by manual compositing and editing in Clip Studio Paint. AI tools were also used during proofreading, period-accuracy review, and continuity checking. No story prose was generated by AI.