Front Royal Author Brings Irish Folklore to Life with a Talking Dog and a Magical Secret

What if the family dog could talk? And what if that seemingly ordinary pet was hiding a centuries-old secret?

That’s the beginning of an adventure created by Front Royal author Kayla Stone in her new book, The Secret of Bramble Hollow, a fantasy story that combines Irish folklore, friendship, courage, and a little magic.

Stone recently visited the Royal Examiner studio to discuss the book, her inspiration, and the personal experiences that have shaped her writing.

The book, scheduled for release Monday, November 16, follows 10-year-old Emalynn Byrne, who lives with her family on a quiet farm in County Wexford, Ireland. Emalynn has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and knows what it’s like to face challenges and work harder to be taken seriously.

But she is also brave, curious, and determined, and she asks questions until she gets answers.

Her closest companion is Clover, a scruffy black-and-white dog she receives for her birthday. At first, Clover seems like any other pet, but something extraordinary about her is still a mystery to Emalynn.

Beyond an old stone wall at the edge of the family’s farm lies a mysterious woodland and a ring of ancient stones. When Emalynn ventures into that hidden place, she discovers that Clover can talk.

And that’s only the beginning of the secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Inspired by the Magic of Ireland

Stone drew inspiration from her own experience living in Ireland, a place she remembers for its beauty and rich folklore.

“It was a very magical place for me when I was living in Ireland,” she explained. “There’s a lot of folklore over there.”

That folklore plays an important role in the story.

Clover isn’t simply a talking dog. She is a púca, a shapeshifting spirit from Irish mythology that can appear in different animal forms.

In Stone’s fictional world, Clover’s mysterious abilities are connected to the ancient ring of stones hidden beyond the farm.

During the interview, Stone explained that Clover can initially speak only when she and Emalynn enter that special place. What happens beyond that, she wasn’t quite ready to reveal.

The story is intended for middle-grade readers, generally ages 10 and older, although Stone hopes its themes will appeal to readers of different ages.

“It’s about courage, and it’s about friendship, and it’s about kindness,” she said.

Emalynn’s physical differences are part of her story, but they do not define everything about her. Stone describes the character as someone with a strong spirit, determined to discover what lies beyond the familiar world around her.

The author hopes readers will connect with Emalynn as she learns more about herself, her family, and the unusual companion who shares her adventures.

The Secret of Bramble Hollow is the first installment in what Stone plans to make a five-book series.

Rather than introducing an entirely new cast with each book, the series will follow Emalynn and Clover as their adventures continue and more secrets about Bramble Hollow are revealed.

The stories will continue drawing on Irish folklore, giving Stone plenty of possibilities for the magical world she has created.

Writing Through Life’s Most Difficult Moments

Although The Secret of Bramble Hollow is a lighthearted fantasy adventure, Stone’s writing career has also included deeply personal subjects.

Her books reflect different sides of her life, from humor drawn from her professional experiences to the heartbreak of losing her daughter.

Stone spent nearly 20 years working in homeowners association management, an occupation that provided the material for her humorous memoir, Dear Management, I Need to Report My Neighbor.

The book looks at the sometimes amusing, frustrating, and unpredictable situations that arise when managing residential communities.

Stone has since started her own business in the same field, giving her firsthand knowledge of the people and situations she writes about.

But another of her books comes from a much more painful place.

Twenty-One Days and Forever: Amanda’s Story tells the story of her daughter Amanda, who died from COVID-19 in 2021 at age 31.

Stone released the book on the fifth anniversary of her daughter’s death, following years of emotional work.

She acknowledged that writing it was difficult and required her to confront memories and feelings she was still trying to understand.

“I miss her deeply every day,” Stone said.

Losing a child, she explained, changes a person’s life in ways that are difficult to describe. Everyone experiences grief differently, and there is no single way to move forward.

“Everyone grieves differently, so you can’t judge somebody’s grief or their acceptance of how they move on, move forward,” she said.

For Stone, writing became a way to preserve Amanda’s memory while also sharing the experience with others who have suffered similar losses.

The book is not simply about death. It is about Amanda’s life, the love her family continues to carry, and the difficult process of learning how to live with loss.

Stone hopes it offers readers facing their own grief understanding.

During the interview, she also shared something she discovered after Amanda died.

While going through her daughter’s belongings and online accounts, Stone found video blogs Amanda had recorded and posted on YouTube.

Those videos let her see her daughter’s face, hear her voice, and watch her smile and laugh again.

The discovery reinforced for Stone how important it is to preserve family memories, especially the ordinary moments that may seem unimportant at the time.

That experience has influenced her belief in the power of storytelling, whether through a deeply personal memoir or an imaginative adventure for children.

A Different Kind of Story

Moving from a book about grief to a fantasy adventure might seem like a dramatic change, but both reflect Stone’s desire to create stories that connect with readers.

Her author website describes her writing as inspired by loss and hope, aiming to bring comfort, encouragement, and enjoyment to others.

The fictional world of Bramble Hollow lets her explore those ideas through characters who face challenges, make discoveries, and learn to depend on one another.

Stone said the writing process itself takes considerable work.

She described going through numerous revisions of her books, sometimes starting over completely before finding the right direction.

The effort is worthwhile when the finished story takes shape, and the characters become real in the author’s imagination.

In The Secret of Bramble Hollow, that imagination takes readers down a quiet Irish path, past a forbidden wall, and into a woodland where an ordinary afternoon can turn into something extraordinary.

And for young readers, Stone hopes the adventure will be more than just an entertaining story.

At its heart, the book is about friendship, accepting differences, believing in yourself, and finding the courage to face the unknown.

A New Series With Local Connections

Stone is preparing for the November 16 release, with plans to continue developing the Bramble Hollow series.

She has also created a companion Bramble Hollow Coloring & Activity Book, scheduled for release alongside the novel.

Closer to home, Samuels Public Library in Front Royal is expected to add The Secret of Bramble Hollow to its collection, making the story available to local readers.

Stone has also discussed providing copies for the library’s youth writing activities and hopes to participate in additional community events to share her books.

The novel will be available through her website, with print and digital editions planned.

For Stone, becoming an author has been a journey she once imagined but wasn’t sure she would complete.

She has always enjoyed reading and writing, but turning those interests into finished books required determination, patience, and a willingness to share personal parts of her life.

Now, with several published works and an ambitious new fantasy series underway, she has found another way to connect with readers.

The adventures of Emalynn and Clover may take place in a magical woodland in Ireland, but the lessons behind them are familiar wherever people live.

Friendship matters. Kindness matters. And sometimes the courage to discover something new begins with taking one step beyond what is familiar.

Readers can learn more about the book, Stone’s other published works, and upcoming releases at www.KaylaStoneBooks.com.

Town Talk, sponsored by National Media Services, Inc., is a Royal Examiner series that introduces you to local entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, and public officials shaping Warren County. Conversations cover a wide range of topics about our community and the people making a difference.