Meet the characters of Journey…

Journey to Pansophigus offers up a refreshingly developed and unique cast of creatures.  The polar opposite personalities of its central characters:  Abbie, a responsible and somewhat serious salamander; Alex, a spur-of-the-moment and adventurous alligator; and Bub, the optimistic yet naïve frog, guide the reader along on a captivating adventure that finds them face-to-face with frightening villains, bumbling insects, a grumpy beaver and much more.  Below you’ll find a detailed description of each of Journey’s fascinating personalities and a sneak peek at how the author chose some of their names.

Abbie:  Journey’s heroine, Abbie is a responsible salamander with the weight of the world on her young shoulders.  Abbie’s grandfather, the mayor of Gaea, has an important decision to make…their lagoon’s water supply is disappearing and what remains is tainted.  It may be time to abandon their home.  The thought of moving leaves Abbie heartbroken.  Will she accept the town’s fate or choose to take matters into her own hands?

Alex:  A young alligator and Abbie’s best friend, Alex’s “ready and raring to go” personality often leads him into rocky situations.  Not afraid of a challenge, Alex is determined to play hero and the town’s crisis is a perfect opportunity for him to do so.  But does the intense reptile have the patience to do it right or will his unpredictable ways lead the group into danger’s mighty grip?

Akina:  The beautiful pink flamingo, Akina, Gaea’s resident tour guide, tends to stick her bejeweled beak into everyone else’s business.  Not surprisingly, Akina soon finds herself wrapped up in a secret that may soon unravel…will she reveal what she knows or keep the important news to herself?  (Akina is a Japanese name meaning “spring flower”.)

Boreas:  Legend has it that somewhere in the treacherous terrain of Mt. Kirati lives the giant snow creature, Boreas.  The monstrous, hairy beast is said to guard his “home” from all those who trespass…and legend has it, those climbers unlucky enough to cross his path, never return home.  Does Boreas truly exist or is he just a mythical figure conjured up at fireside storytelling sessions?  (Boreas is a mythological name for the Greek God of the North Wind.)

Bradley:  A portly, stubborn beaver, Bradley is determined to provide his struggling family with the food and water they need to survive.  Unfortunately, Bradley’s methods are blocking access to those same resources downstream.  When faced with the group from Gaea, will Bradley take down his barrier or ignore their cry for help?

Brenda:  It can be said that Bradley’s wife, Brenda, rules the roost.  Her kind, yet firm approach to raising her family is just what they need to make it through the long, winter months in their makeshift home near the base of Mt. Kirati.  Brenda is much more receptive to the pleas of the desperate crew from Gaea, but will she be understanding enough to put her own family at risk?

Bub:  Bub, the third member of Journey’s main trio of characters, is an energetic young frog and the pesky friend of Abbie and Alex.  “Leap before you look” is Bub’s approach to life, which often finds him face-first in a puddle of mud.  He is optimistic and fearless and his many quirks, including a love of raw onions, can be downright annoying.  But don’t judge too quickly, those same quirks just might prove useful at a very crucial time.

Epona the Bog Lady:  In the Swamp of Despair lives a being so terrifying even the dark creatures of the marshy waters steer clear of her evil presence.  But to reach the prized weeping willows, the crew from Gaea must navigate the stagnant swamp and risk facing the horrible gatekeeper.  Will they find a way to escape her grasp or will they become another ingredient in her bog stew?

Mayor Chordata:  Abbie’s grandfather and Gaea’s mayor, Chordata has an important decision to make on behalf of the town’s citizens.  Water issues have reached a critical point…he must either convince Petros Perregrim to join forces in cleaning up the river or prepare the townspeople to leave their home.  (The name Chordata is derived from the Phylum classification of salamanders)

Pansophigus:  The legendary eagle rumored to live at the peak of Mt. Kirati, Pansophigus is said to be wise and all-knowing.  If the great bird does exist, will his knowledge free Gaea from the water issues that threaten the town’s existence?  (Pansophigus is a derivative of the word "pansophical," meaning "all-wise" or "claiming universal knowledge")

Petros Perregrim:  Every memorable children’s story has a great villain, and Petros Perregrim is just about as bad as they get.  From his blatant disregard for nature’s gifts and his smelly army of minions to his nasty temperament and horrifying appearance, Perregrim is a force to be reckoned with.  When faced with a choice between good and bad, it’s no surprise which road he chooses.  Is his power too mighty to conquer or can the little group from Gaea win the day?

Pteron:  A jittery, wimpy dragonfly, Pteron unwillingly joins forces with Abbie, Bub and Alex in their pursuit for answers.  The long trek seems even longer with the whiny Pteron in tow, but his ability to fly provides a needed edge for the crew.  Will Pteron lose the attitude and perform heroic acts, or will his complaining cause the team to
                                                    go down in flames?

The Tuwakis:  Well, we can’t give this one away…you’ll just have to read the book!  But we can tell you this:  “Tuwaki” is our own fictional term meaning “earth” and “rain”.

Weaving words and pictures into a story…

Journey to Pansophigus was written by Nikki Wynn and illustrated by Daniel Shaw. These creative talents -- both products of north Harris County school districts -- teamed up to help create the cornerstone of a water conservation education program designed to encourage the enthusiastic participation of children in this issue of increasing global importance.

Nikki Wynn is the author of Journey to Pansophigus and WATER IS LIFE, an activity/ coloring book for the primary grades.

Nikki earned a degree in Journalism from Texas A&M University in 1994. She began her career in the Public Relations department of WilTel Communications, working as part of a team responsible for writing, developing and coordinating the production of their internal and external publications.

Nikki continued her career in 1997 at Ogilvy & Mather. While working in their Houston office, she helped to create, coordinate and produce award-winning print, radio, point-of-sale and internet advertising for Shell Oil, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the YMCA, Houston.

In 2000, Nikki moved to Ogilvy & Mather’s national headquarters in New York City, where she led account teams on such multi-million dollar clients as Enron, Goldman Sachs, Amtrak and AT&T Wireless.

After over three years in New York, Nikki returned to Houston to pursue her career as a freelance journalist and communications consultant with Payne Communications where she works primarily on communications programs for water, legal, and small business clients.

	Journey’s illustrator, Daniel Shaw, a graduate of Eisenhower High School, honed his considerable skills in the Advanced Visual Arts Program at Aldine’s Contemporary Education Center (ACE). Shaw has that important "inner-eye" -- a unique ability to transform vague concepts into detailed, artful illustrations.

Some new words...

It is unlikely that readers have ever seen the word "Pansophigus"…or even "Pteron," for that matter. Unfamiliar or new words are often used to name characters and places in a story. Below is a pronunciation chart for some unfamiliar words used in Journey along with some information on how they were chosen.