– Coming October 15, 2024 –

OLAF AND ESSEX

Illustrations: Xiao

Olaf and Essex

Upper Middle Grade Contemporary fantasy

In an alternate New York City, witches live amongst us, distrusted and scapegoated by the “Conflict Resolution Department.” A pair of disgruntled witches, Mabel Blackthornudder and her husband, Harvey, kidnap the Chief Magic Detector’s infant daughter. Intent on filming a ransom video in Central Park to force him to dismantle the Magic Detection Unit, when a huge bear appears, Harvey and Mabel are suddenly more interested in not getting eaten by a wild animal.

Olaf, the bear, bonds with the baby. He’s overcome with the need to protect her, as his mother was killed when he was a cub. When he and his best friend Essex, a fox, find who they presume to be the parents and attempt to return the baby, they witness Mabel, in a fit of pique, turn Harvey into a frog.

Mabel realizes the baby is an “amplifier”—never before had she been powerful enough to turn her husband into an amphibian! All her lofty goals of helping her fellow witches fly out the window, and she’s consumed with lust for power.

With help from a Shakespeare-loving tree, a pair of (relatively) good witches who’ve tangled with Mabel over many lifetimes, and the spirits of Olaf’s and Essex’s loved ones, the animals set off to find the baby’s mother. Like many twosomes in charge of a baby, they argue over how best to care for her. But when Mabel transfigures herself to look like the mother, and the Chief Magic Detector discovers his daughter is the “amplifier” needed to power the department’s “Vocal Cord Eradicator,” Olaf and Essex must put their differences aside to save the baby and the witches of New York.

RELEASING OCTOBER 15, 2024

Illustrations: Xiao

Praise for Olaf & Essex

“This funny, sentimental, and heartfelt tale highlights the importance of family, multi-species or otherwise…entertaining and emotional…tugs at the heartstrings before it ends with a memorable denouement.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Will entertain children and adults alike . . . a beautifully warm and heartfelt story that will stay with readers long after they finish it.”

IndieReader

“Utilizes atmosphere, humor, and character to deliver a delightful and thrilling adventure . . . heartwarming and humorous…gorgeously penned with heartfelt dialogue…a captivating read filled with themes of bravery and friendship.”

Readers’ Favorite

“This delightful adventure introduces you to a cast of characters that are not just intriguing but masterfully crafted to draw you in deeper with every page.”

Midwest Book Review

“Xiao’s black and white illustrations bring the story’s animals to vivid life, making this heartwarming tale a delightful read for both children and the young at heart.”

BookLife

“I read this with my 9 year old. She was absolutely captivated by this story.

“My son didn’t want me to stop reading and flew through it in two sessions.”

“I read this book with my 6 year old son and he ABSOLUTELY loved it! The bear was his favorite. Every page he was excited to find out what mischief was coming next! The illustrations were stunning as well.”
Reviews on NetGalley

“Calkosz describes a magical world with the ease of the everyday, delivering a nice balance of entertainment and themes with deeper meaning. Olaf and Essex leads readers on an epic quest to help and protect the vulnerable, leaving readers with thought-provoking questions on belonging, found family, and friendship.”

  • Plot/Idea: 10
  • Originality: 10
  • Prose: 8
  • Character/Execution: 10
  • Overall: 9.50
The BookLife Prize