Willow Chronicles, book I, coming in 2026

Vodneek /ˈVODƝIːK/ is a mythical creature from Czech folklore. It is a spirit of the river that lures people, especially children, into the water to drown them and to steal their soul.

The first book in the Willow Chronicles series tells a story of Mikli, a twelve year old vodneek that wants to do just that – drown people and steal their souls to secure his family’s fortune. But, things take an unexpected turn when he finds a soul of a drowned cat. He reconnects it with its human owner, and soon, he starts seeing the world above his river quite differently than he used to.

The Vodneek is a coming-of-the-age story, dealing with prejudice, sterotypes, and racism. It highlights the best things about being human (whether you live above water or under it), and it focuses on the perseverance of the human spirit, especially when things are really tough.