The Mystic Phyles: Beasts

Abigail Thaddeus lives with her grandparents in an old, spooky, ramshackle mansion. While her life is certainly unusual, Abigail finds it just plain boring. That is, until she receives an anonymous letter that sends her on a quest to research mythical creatures. With her best friend Charley's help, Abigail learns about beasts familiar (e.g. the unicorn) and unfamiliar (e.g. the bonnacon) and is shocked to discover that they may be more real than she had thought. When a threatening letter from the mysterious Board of Mystical Management arrives, Abigail has to decide whether to pursue knowledge at all costs or choose a safer path. Abigail's adventure is told through her journal entries, sketches, and beast research pages, using a scrapbook style.

Stephanie Brockway collaborated with illustrator Ralph Masiello on her debut novel, THE MYSTIC PHYLES: BEASTS. She grew up in Massena, New York, a small town on the Canadian border that often wins the distinction of being the coldest spot in the US. She is a magazine art director, a job that inspired her reverence for the marriage of beautifully crafted words and pictures. Stephanie lives in West Brookfield, Massachusetts.