"Bunky didn't know why the sky was blue, and why the clouds were white, but he knew that he loved the sky, and he loved the clouds. He loved them so much that he would be content to gaze at them forever."
-from "Bunky and the Summer Wish" by Aleksandra Tryniecka (p.1)
Dear Readers!
May the bunkificent summer 2024' begin! July 16th marked the publication of my third book, and the second novel dedicated to my beloved literary character Bunky, entitled "Bunky and the Summer Wish" (Wipf and Stock/ Resource Publications). I cannot wait to tell you about my novel! The magical joruney of writing the second volume of Bunky's adventures lasted throughout the past three years. At last, I am so happy to share with you the result of my work - Bunky's new story, hoping that it will accompany you during this summer!
"Bunky and the Summer Wish" is an over 300-page novel dedicated to Readers of all ages - just like the first volume - "Bunky and the Walms" - it consists of multilayered narratives with which both the youngest and older Readers can identify. Once again, happy, witty, and carefree thoughts and events will be intertwining with deep reflections about life and our place in the universe - all told from the perspective of the childlike, honest and noble Bunky and his friends, including his cousin Rodney, his beloved Rosalia, Plum, Maurice and Rudolph the Reindeer. The Readers will have a chance to reunite with the characters they encountered in the first volume of Bunky's story, but also they will be able to make new literary friendships with the characters inhabiting the North Pole, including Walnut the Pony. Doctor Beige, a flying squirrel from Walmland, will also make his debut appearance as a scholar and learning enthusiast - he is actually the figure whom you, the Readers, requested to appear in the story, and I am so grateful for that! Every character appearing in the plot has an important place in my heart. The Readers who are familiar with Bunky know that I sewed my characters, and they are literally living with me. Bunky even has a YouTube channel and he invites you to subscribe to follow his adventures in our world:
Doctor Beige is the actual plush toy travelling with me during the academic year whenever I am attending a conference! He always brings me comfort and good luck! I would like to express gratitude to my Readers for insiting on including Doctor Beige in the story, as it is, indeed, impossible to imagine Bunky's world without him.
I believe that "Bunky and the Summer Wish" is the first holiday novel in which the Readers can follow Santa Claus to the North Pole in the summer! In my novel, the North Pole has a symbolic meaning, becoming an enchanting place where only goodness and peace reside. Santa Claus, too, is a symbolic figure becoming Bunky's unique guide, yet I endowed him with very humanlike qualities once again. Even though kept in a convention of magic realism, "Bunky and the Summer Wish" is a deeply relatable story, with characters who live in a magic world, yet experience their lives and emotions as fully-fledged individuals.
"He instantly thought that it would be an easy task, for he had been already facing other more difficult challenges from which he emerged fully victorious, including rowing a boat on the lake of lilies and knitting a sweater."
-from "Bunky and the Summer Wish" by Aleksandra Tryniecka (p. 29)
As Bunky receives a letter from Santa Claus inviting him to visit the North Pole during the summer holidays, his task will be even more demanding than the one appearing in the first volume, for he will embark on a journey towards becoming the Hero of his Own Life - the most beautiful and difficult journey on which we are all invited every day. Not only will Bunky strive to bravely study for and participate in the Golden Decimal Mathematical Contest, but also he will learn to discover his actual self-worth - the notion that we often brush aside in our lives, yet the notion that is of paramount importance as we experience life, follow our dreams and build new friendships and connections. The quality of our lives depends upon it.
On the one hand, "Bunky and the Summer Wish" is an adventurous tale of the little brave Bunky but, on the other hand, it is also a story of the power of friendship and the importance of building, sustaining and seeing one's self-worth in the world often strewn with challenges and disappointments. "Bunky and the Summer Wish" proves that the world does not have to take this particular gloomy shape, as the pathway leading towards goals and dreams starts in our minds and ends in our hearts and only these two are responsible for shaping our reality and our limits. It also argues that it is possible to face the world with courage and faith at any age, as if the entire life was starting again today.
"One cannot be afraid while standing in the sun," thought Bunky and felt that sunrays were filling him with inner conviction that everything would be alright."
-"Bunky and the Summer Wish" by Aleksandra Tryniecka (p. 86)
Bunky is an essentially childlike character, yet this is the core of his inner strength and conviction that he can eventually overcome his supposed shortcomings and become the Hero of his Own Life. While writing this book and having in mind both my youngest and older Readers, I was convinced, just like Bunky in the story, that in order to face the world one needs to preserve childlike beliefs and mindset. In fact, as Bunky will discover, there are no shortcomings in his plans, actions and feelings, and each supposed failure can be received as an experience paradoxically bringing one closer towards a dream and realisation that we have a substantial value in our lives.
I believe that words and stories physically shape our reality, therefore I share with you this book without fear that it would leave a gloomy mark upon our already difficult world. I leave it in your hands with a firm conviction that it can pave the way for the reality filled with empathy and faith that there is enough strength, courage, nobility and kindness for each of us - for deep down inside, we all want the same.
Dear Readers, I would like to invite you to reach for your copy of "Bunky and the Summer Wish".
I also invite those of you who are not familiar with Bunky's story to reach for my first novel "Bunky and the Walms: The Christmas Story" (2021, the Winner of the Book of the Year 2021' from the Chrysalis BREW Project).
I am very grateful to my Publisher, Wipf and Stock/ Resource Publications, for publishing "Bunky and the Summer Wish", and I would like to express my gratitude to the amazing Reviewers of this book:
Anna Kędra-Kardela, Ewelina Prażmo, Maria Pirgerou, Christopher Stern,
Ismael S. Rodriguez Jr., Ibrahim A. El-Hussari, Bruce Gatenby and Gregory Papanikos, as well as to Philip Habel for his excellent remarks and support.
I am very grateful to my Family, to Bunky in my life, and I am so grateful to you, Dear Readers!
As I always believe, the journey would be incomplete without you - it's all for you!
This book is the meeting point between us, and I hope that you will enjoy our bunkificent journey!
I am also truly honoured to share that on July 25th 2024 "Bunky and the Summer Wish" received the BREW Seal of Excellence Award from the Chrysalis BREW Project - I am beyond grateful for this distinction!
I hope that Bunky will always be your ray of sunshine.
With love and gratitude,
Aleksandra, Bunky, the Bunky Princess, Rodney, Maurice, Plum, Rudolph the Reindeer, Walnut & Doctor Beige
Moreover, I would like to express my gratitude to my amazing Fellow Author and Friend,
Ismael S. Rodriguez Jr., for writing this bunkificent review of "Bunky and the Summer Wish":
Dear Readers, I invite you to reach for your copy of "Bunky and the Summer Wish" below - each copy travelling to your homes means that more Readers will encounter Bunky.
Each copy travelling to your homes is my greatest joy that I can share my literary world with you!
I hope that you will always feel at home in Bunky's fairyland!
We also invite you to scroll down the page in order to find our Worldwide Creative Contest (deadline: August 31st 24') and watch the Official Book Trailer.
"Bunky and the Summer Wish": The Official Book Trailer:
WORLDWIDE CREATIVE CONTEST FOR OUR READERS: UNTIL AUGUST 31st 2024'!
From the left: my literary characters - Maurice the Cat, Little Wolf Plum, the Bunky Princess, Bunky, and Rodney.
In the centre: Mr. Spruce - the new character.
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