What was the Secret? Who will eat from the Poisoned Apple? What happens next..read on to find out..
Hello – On July 17th, 2026 the second book in the series will be released by Austin Macauley Publishers. I have a handful of author copies sent to me, which I’m happy to send reviewers and reading groups so I can hopefully get reviews and comments prior to the official launch day. Also happy to offer 5 free signed copies to readers within any reading groups which you can offer as any ‘prize’ or ‘gift’ (Please subscribe to my page with your details and I will be in contact).
The Mid-grade YA thrilling adventure series starts with action, twists, turns and ultimate danger
Eleven-year-old Aime Snave and her little brother, eight-year-old Oro, prepare for summer camp at the School of Fruit Learning. Accompanied by Aime’s best friend Gramon and Oro’s friend shy, little Violer, the foursome enters a mysterious world full of mystery and hidden magic. While at the school run by strict headmistress Mrs. Blackfruit, the children meet a new friend: inquisitive Semia, who is certain that all is not as it seems. Navigating the many teachers of the school, all of whom seem to harbor deep secrets, the five soon discover that they are part of something much larger than they ever could have imagined. History soon begins to repeat itself, with five young children caught in the middle of its deadly wake.
Pentagon Pirate Gang: Secrets of the Orchard by J.W. Nelson is an engaging read which focuses on a tightly knit group of five friends (the Pentagon) as they struggle to uncover the truth about the Hogwarts-style school and its mysterious past. The story is well-written, with substantial world-building and deep characters. There are no easy answers for brave Aime, her perceptive brother Oro, athletic Gramon, intrepid Semia, or sweet little Violer, who all find themselves in the midst of a mystery with far-reaching consequences. Instead, the Pentagon Pirates must work together to discover the truth in a world where uncertainty reigns supreme.
There is so much good to say about this book. Even minor characters and villains have depth, especially the malefic Mrs. Blackfruit and her paramour, Mr. Thornby. However, there are so many characters that it can be difficult at times to keep everyone straight. A bit slow getting started, the book truly finds its stride as the school sporting events begin, and the pace gets more intense as the plot thickens. The complex mystery ends on a serious cliffhanger, leaving the reader dying to know what will happen to the Pentagon Pirates next.
A rich world with a myriad of mysteries at our fingertips, Pentagon Pirate Gang: Secret of the Orchard is suitable for readers 12 and up who love a complex setting. The book contains minor language, and children regularly find themselves in harm’s way. A deep setting with memorable characters, an engaging plotline, and unsolved mysteries that challenge the reader to think outside the box, of the Pentagon Pirate Gang.
For the sake of remembrance and just returning from my mother’s homeland in Jamaica, it reminded me of Ian Fleming, his books on Jame Bond (007) and the fact he has a Hotel called Goldeneye near Ocho Rios means I couldn’t resist re-telling the first Bond movie shot mostly in Jamaica some 61 years (released October 1962).
So here is my poetic repost of that first encounter with the ‘Man with the Golden Gun, who ‘Died/lived Twice’ and faced his first real enemy in the shaped of the ham-fisted Dr No.
I wonder who will fill next fill the 007 shoes and what dangers lie in wait for them …
THE FIRST IN THE SERIES (COVERING THE BOND MOVIES) – this is my own title v- enjoy…feedback..respond..
NO WAY…
It was an EON ago when it began
Nineteen sixty-two I believe
Broccoli and Saltzman had a plan
And there he was Mr. Sean Connery
From the pen of Mr. Fleming
Films that set the spy world alight
Cinema goers followed the sparkle like lemmings
Off the cliff of entertainment, into the night
In Jamaica an inspired Fleming wrote
They filmed Dr. No there
The exotic location was worthy of note
The choice, like Bond, was a dare
Bond fought ‘the hand’ of crime
Used the tricks of the trade
Ursula shone like a coin, a dime
Beauty met beauty; in Jamaica it was made
With action, pace and the one liner
Delivered to the enemy and the viewer
Followed by the baddie with a shiner
As Bond sat in a bow tie, eating from a skewer
With a nod and a wink
Good triumphs over evil
Facing the barrel of a Walther also makes one think
The third Bond Film still ranks in the memory for several reasons. The gold painted lady, the ‘ejector seat’ stunt and ‘that Jag’, then Bond on the table coming perilously close to becoming a soprano and not living to ‘sing that particular tale’.
At Christmas approaches I’m sure we’ll see the usual catalogue of Bond movies to remind how the whole ‘spy movie’ thing got started and seems here to stay.
‘There’s no mystery to Black History‘ (that’s my little poetic saying). Parents from Jamaica. I have traced my ancestry back to the point when slavery was just abolished (around 1834).
And now nearly 200 years later in the UK my son and daughter are just learning about Black History in school. Wow. Is this ‘Titantic’ ship starting to turn? Who know, hopefully for everyone of colour, wherever we are all are, whatever status we hold, just maybe there are slivers of light appearing amidst the once long and eternally dark tunnel, that we have been treading.
As a would be poet, below is my first take on the many wonderful black inspirational people that have had endure; so people like me, don’t have to as much. More to follow throughout October (and maybe beyond) on other topics.
WHO ARE WE? (starting with the past)
We could be the person on the bus
Your name may be have been Rosa Parkes
Your life made to suffer by the colour of your skin
Yes; they have tried to keep us hidden; into the dark
We were the people without a voice
But Martin Luther made them hear
Look what they did to our dear proud brother
Because he made ‘them’ see what they all feared
We are the ones that move fast
Yes; Jesse Owens showed the dictator this
In the face of complete and utter oppression
It’s something that hasn’t quite fallen over the precipice
We have own Marvel Man from the past
No wheelchair in sight; but his name has an X
A voice for black empowerment
And contrary to many he wasn’t always vexed
A personal mentor; the first black female poet
If you don’t know; Phillis Wheatley was her name
George Washington recognised the talent
For every poet; she should be in your ‘hall of fame’
We need to be like our once enslaved Frederick Douglass
He fought to support those via the abolition of slavery
Putting pen to paper for all to read
His life, his very own Black History
We are the ones that Marshall the Good
Overturn the wrong for the right
Winning against segregation for the learning to occur
We thank him for providing; ‘out of darkness’ we too now have light
We are among the ‘greatest’ ones that had to rumble
The man with fists and feet of flight
Yes Cassius/Muhammed Ali knew how to move
You couldn’t stop him talking either; any day or night
We are the ones that have had to ACT
Mr. Poitier the consummate pro; won an Oscar
Imagine that in an era for his accolade
Showed that black people could also raise ‘the bar’
We should be Harriet Tubman the saviour
Literally saving over 300 enslaved souls
Nursing her community to a better educated life
She was dedicated, selfless and bold
We are the forerunner’s to make things happen
From a seat of power to make the change
Shirley Chisholm started the political race
And now her stepping stones has put us on the front page
We are the entrepreneur’s with a million in the bank
Madam C J Walker knew how to make ‘hair pay’
Making jobs for over 3,000 people at that time
Means we continue to use her genius every single day
We are everyone, everything, just like you
We have beautiful, hair, colour, skin and eyes
We are proud, clever, funny with intelligence
We are here, we are all together, let’s all keep aiming for that prize…
JWNelson309 Blog 