Beach novelist Pattison Telford creates fantasy world of magic in latest book

By JOSHUA McGINNIS

In a world full of traffic jams, meal prep, and high taxes, one Beach resident’s newest novel offers an escape featuring demonic carrots, rogue knife-slingers, and a dangerous conspiracy.

“I write something that I would like to read myself,” Pattison Telford said in a recent interview with Beach Metro Community News.

Telford has called the Beaches home since moving to Canada from the United Kingdom with his wife in 2001. Twenty-five years and two children later, the family continues to live in the neighbourhood.

In May, Telford released his latest novel, Sala Doon and the Demon Carrot. It is his sixth fantasy novel and the third installment in his popular Minimus Mu Adventures series.

The novel follows Sala Doon, a roguish knife-wielder, and Catriona Sun, the only magic-wielding human in the realm. Along with an eclectic crew, they travel across 19 queendoms and become entangled in a bizarre conspiracy involving carrot-worshipping zealots, ancient perils, and a demonically possessed root vegetable.

“Fantasy is the genre that I began to be fascinated with early on, around the time I was 10. It’s the most deeply ingrained set of stories that I like to read,” said Telford.

Catriona Sun is the only human with magical abilities in the novel, a theme that has remained consistent throughout Telford’s writing.

“It’s a world full of magic, but it’s not a world full of magic people.”

Telford began writing novels after years of creating board games and immersing himself in fantasy lore. When he found himself with free time during his kids’ sports practices, he picked up a pen.

“I first started writing because I was sitting around at my son’s basketball practices,” he said. “So instead of driving them and then just sitting in my car for two hours, I began writing, but it was always something I wanted to do.”

His first book took about two and a half years as he learned the tools of the trade.

“It took a while to get the first one going, to learn a bunch of craft and to figure out how to publish and get formatted, and how to create a cover,” he said.

Telford first introduced readers to his modern fantasy world with The Redferne Family trilogy—Shadow Over Loch Ghuil, Sky Lanterns Over Nether Ides, and Whispers Under Middle Ides—which follows three siblings fighting corporate tech interests to protect world magic.

In 2023, he began writing Master Thorn and the Red Bean Princess, introducing reader favorites Minimus Mu (an orphaned giant) and Master Thorn (a cranky travelling cutlery merchant) on a rescue mission across 17 kingdoms. He followed that success with Master Thorn and the Mothers of Midnight before launching Sala Doon.

For his cover art, Telford hired Darin Morrison-Beer, a local artist and longtime friend of the family.

“Working with Pat is a pleasure because I feel like he is a unique mind in the sense that he can build worlds,” said Morrison Beer in an interview with Beach Metro Community News.

“It’s mind-blowing to read all of his books and know that all of those characters come completely from his own imagination. It’s truly impressive how he’s been able to keep track of all his worlds and characters.”

For feedback on his early writing, Telford turned to local students at Glen Ames Public School. He gave drafts to a neighbour, who is a teacher, to share with her classroom.

“I had a list of, like, 10 questions: What part do you like the most? Who are the characters? And then they just responded, and that allowed me to fix some things up or change a few things around,” he said. “Later on, when it was published, I brought the students copies of the printed book.”

While the stories are aimed at young adults and adults, Telford said they can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. The books do not contain profanity or sexual content, according to the author.

Telford remains excited about where his imagination will take him next, noting that he often lets the narrative guide itself.

“You get really involved with the characters and try to make the story as interesting as possible,” he said. “A surprising thing is that I don’t have everything super plotted out. I find when I’m getting close to the end of writing the book, I stop, and I almost think to myself, ‘Oh, I wonder what’s going to happen.’”

For anyone curious about getting into fantasy writing, Telford encourages them to enjoy the journey rather than focus solely on reaching a massive audience.

“If you could write stories and just appreciate the writing process and appreciate a small audience, then that’s a perfect way to start,” he said.

Telford’s fantasy novels are available as e-books through major platforms, including Amazon and Kobo, and as print-on-demand paperbacks online or by order through local bookstores.