New Children's Novel Inspires Reluctant and Dyslexic Readers

    AUSTIN, TX, January 13, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Award-winning author Don M. Winn announces the release of The Lost Castle Treasure, a children's medieval fantasy novel. This much-anticipated sequel to Winn's The Knighting of Sir Kaye will captivate young readers with its exciting plot, likeable characters, and entertaining illustrations. Most compelling is Winn's sympathetic treatment of Kaye's dyslexic best friend Reggie, who develops into a resourceful hero of self-reference for struggling readers.

Given the high rate of illiteracy in the Middle Ages, was dyslexia really an issue back then? Not necessarily, Winn admits. People could live their whole lives without reading a single word. But the distinction between readers and non-readers gradually became as sharply defined as the difference between peasants and the land-owning nobility.

As someone who has been taught to read, but has tremendous difficulty doing so, Reggie stands with a foot in both worlds. This gives him a unique historical perspective, but more importantly, Reggie becomes a character that struggling young readers will immediately identify with.

At-risk readers and dyslexics are rarely presented with successful depictions of characters like themselves. As a dyslexic himself, Don Winn was forced to develop his own methods for managing his difficulty and knows first-hand what readers like himself require. In addition, Winn's charming book portrays Reggie uncovering some of the hidden strengths that accompany his dyslexia. Winn says that "doing things differently is rarely recognized as a strength in standard educational settings, but this is something that can be changed in society by cultivating awareness."

The Lost Castle Treasure continues the award-winning Sir Kaye saga with another fast-paced adventure. Twelve-year-old knight Kaye Balfour must win an unfair wager by finding a missing treasure before rival knights cause him to lose his knighthood forever.

Baffling clues, secret passages, and mysterious happenings abound, but the real treasure lies in Winn's compassionate portrayal of Reggie. Always the underdog, Reggie deals with feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy, and failure, but the mysteries accompanying the quest to find the lost treasure give Reggie a chance to realize that he is not defined by his learning difficulties and that dyslexia does not impede success. Winn's deep sympathy for the struggles dyslexic students endure shines throughout every page of this story.

Reluctant readers will enjoy the book's smoothly-written, humorous prose and the engaging illustrations. The Lost Castle Treasure is now available in paperback through Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com and Progressive Rising Phoenix Press.

About Don Winn
Don Winn is the author of the award-winning children's novel The Knighting of Sir Kaye. Additionally he has written ten award-winning children's picture books, including Superhero; Space Cop Zack, Protector of the Galaxy; and The Higgledy-Piggledy Pigeon, which also deals with dyslexia.

Don has been writing for over 20 years. His whimsical poetry and prose served as a natural springboard for his transition to writing children's picture books. He enjoys speaking with children on school visits and at the students' request, he began writing books for older readers. This resulted in the launch of the Sir Kaye Adventure Series. Don is a sterling example of tenacity and persistence (not unlike Sir Kaye). He has overcome many obstacles, including dyslexia, in order to achieve his dream of being an author. He shares many of his personal experiences on his blog in the hope that it can be of help and inspiration to others.

Review copies and interviews available on request.
Author website: http://www.donwinn.com
Publisher website: http://www.progressiverisingphoenix.com/
Facebook Author page: http://www.facebook.com/authordonwinn
Read Don Winn's blog: http://cardboardboxadventures.wordpress.com/
For media inquiries, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Progressive Rising Phoenix recognizes that the publishing industry has changed. Our program is not a fit for every author. We offer a co-op environment and print options that authors can not obtain on their own. Authors cover production cost, receive higher royalties, and larger discounts. We're building a select list; for this reason we do not solicit authors, but do accept submissions.

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