Victoria Bastedo

I was born in Kansas City, Mo, in the very early sixties. Called the City of Fountains, one of my favorite memories is when my mom took us kids to play in one of the fountains. We climbed on the horses. Stood on the spewing nozzles. Threw in pennies and dived for them again with our eyes closed. But while my siblings tried to invent crazy near-dangerous fountain feats, I played to the side, my mind busy. I was inventing an adventure, with some high fantasy elements. The journey to becoming a writer has been a fun one for me. God blessed me with an active imagination characterized by the glazed-over-fogged look on my face. I'm a Christian, a wife, and a mother of six and now a proud grandmother. Kirkus said of my book, Mini-Droids and Tea: "Bastedo (The Time Mechanic, 2018, etc.) generously packs this short, delightfully eccentric novel with drama: Penelope’s tea shop just barely makes ends meet, and she’s doggedly pursued by a creepy stalker who won’t take no for an answer. And Colepepper suspects he’s under surveillance, potentially by a business rival, and that his ever popular devices have been “hijacked.” The author’s story is artfully outlandish—somehow both deeply implausible but also entirely authentic. The quirky plot almost reads like a comic fairy tale—even the names of the two protagonists have a cartoonlike character to them. Bastedo achieves a comic lightheartedness that rises above simple frivolity—Penelope in particular is a complex, layered character, both fiercely independent and earnestly vulnerable. The result is a charmingly readable effort, humorous and tender. A sweet, spirited tale of love rediscovered." Here's a recent praise quote of my Young Adult Fantasy, Roots Entwine. (Self-Publishing Review: http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/2016/02/review-roots-entwine-by-victoria-bastedo/) 'Roots Entwine by Victoria Bastedo is an entertaining and heartfelt young adult fantasy adventure. Young adult fantasy adventure novels, when done well, make for exciting reading. But the good ones offer more. Roots Entwine does just that. This novel isn’t just about the king’s mission. It’s about discovering that no matter how gifted one individual is, he alone can only accomplish so much. If he works with others that helps the greater good. This is a wonderful lesson. All too often in life, many of us can feel alone. It takes courage, confidence, and trust to learn to rely on others. Joaquin and his teammates learn this over the course of their mission. And the best part, Bastedo doesn’t beat the reader over the head with this message. The story is the message and most won’t even know that they are learning a valuable life lesson. The author never forgets that Joaquin is only fifteen. He doesn’t sulk about his gift, but he doesn’t always make the right decisions. That’s good, because not many teenagers, no matter their intelligence and gifts do. This aspect makes it easy for readers to relate to the boy with special powers. He’s easy to cheer for and to forgive when he does make a mistake. The driver of this story is the plot. Bastedo provides enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. As the excitement builds, the reader starts to realize that not everything is as it seems. The major twist at the end leaves hope that the story isn’t over. Could a sequel be in the works? Roots Entwine is packed with action that will keep the reader’s interest. Young adult readers will cheer for the boy who’d remained hidden for most of his life to finally find his way.'