Karen’s latest book is Evan’s Stormy Voyage.
Visit her website at www.weaveofsuspense.com.
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I am so excited about your new children’s book, Evan’s Stormy Voyage. Can you give us a book blurb so others will know what it’s about?
Evan’s Stormy Voyage
by Karen Charles
Eight-year-old Evan has never crossed an ocean before.
When his parents tell him they are leaving New York for West Africa, everything familiar slips away in a blur of crowded docks, towering cargo ships, and tearful goodbyes beneath the Statue of Liberty. Soon, Evan finds himself aboard a freighter crossing the Atlantic—a floating world of roaring engines, endless water, mysterious passengers, and adventures around every corner.
At first, the voyage feels magical. Evan explores the ship’s library, watches flying fish skim the waves, spots whales from the bridge, and celebrates his birthday on the open deck, lit by strings of lights. But the journey grows far more complicated when Evan meets Mateo, a quiet boy with secrets of his own.
As storms pound the ship and hurricane-force winds churn the sea, the boys form an unlikely friendship over puzzles, model ships, and long conversations about leaving home behind. Yet when Evan’s treasured airplane kit suddenly disappears, suspicion threatens to destroy the bond they have built.
Far from home and surrounded by the vast Atlantic, Evan must learn that courage is not about being fearless. It is choosing kindness when hurt runs deep, forgiveness when trust is broken, and compassion when someone needs it most.
Filled with unforgettable characters, breathtaking ocean scenes, and heartfelt moments of friendship, Evan’s Stormy Voyage is a rich coming-of-age adventure that celebrates empathy, resilience, and the power of human connection across cultures. Perfect for readers who love emotionally rich adventure stories, this second book in the Evan’s Adventures in Africa series invites children into a world of discovery they will never forget.
Can you tell us a little about the main characters in your book?
The main character in Evan’s Stormy Voyage is eight-year-old Evan, a curious, adventurous boy traveling with his parents from New York to Africa aboard a freighter. Evan is excited about the voyage, but he also faces real challenges along the way—from a frightening storm at sea to learning to handle disagreements, admit mistakes, and forgive.
One of the most important supporting characters is Mateo, the boy who shares Evan’s cabin. Mateo is traveling to Ghana to live with his grandparents. Although the boys begin the voyage as strangers, they quickly become friends. Their friendship becomes the emotional heart of the story. They build a model pirate ship together, explore the freighter, share adventures, and experience a conflict that tests their friendship.
Evan’s parents are another important part of the story. They provide Evan with the security and encouragement he needs while still allowing him to experience the voyage and learn lessons for himself.
Captain Morales introduces the boys to the fascinating world of the ship. Through him, they get to visit the bridge, learn how the freighter operates, and discover what life at sea is really like.
I also think of the ship itself almost as a character. It carries Evan away from everything familiar and into a completely new world—across the Atlantic, through a dangerous storm, and eventually to West Africa’s coast.
What I especially love about these characters is that they offer young readers more than an adventure. Through Evan and Mateo, children see friendship, courage, honesty, forgiveness, and the experience of saying goodbye to someone they have grown to care about. At its heart, Evan’s Stormy Voyage is not only about crossing an ocean. It’s about how a journey can change us.
Where and when does this book take place?
This book is set aboard a freighter making the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa.
They say all books have at least one pivotal point where the reader just can’t put the book down. What is one of the pivotal points in Evan’s Stormy Voyage?
The first pivotal point in the book could be when the hurricane begins.
Does your book carry a message?
- Courage doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid. Evan can feel scared, uncertain, or overwhelmed and still keep going. That gives children a healthier picture of bravery: I can be afraid and still be brave.
- Storms are temporary. The voyage can become a gentle metaphor for difficult moments in childhood. When things feel chaotic or frightening, children can learn that they can make it through and eventually find calmer waters.
- Trust yourself and keep moving forward. Evan’s journey can encourage children to listen to their inner voice, make choices, and discover that they are more capable than they initially realize.
- You don’t have to face hard things alone. The story includes people who help Evan, reinforcing that asking for help isn't a weakness—connection is part of courage.
- Adventure can come from uncertainty. The storm isn't simply an obstacle; it changes Evan and teaches him something. Children can come away seeing challenges not just as things to escape, but as experiences through which they grow.
The feeling I'd want children to leave with:
“I can handle hard things. Even when I'm scared or don't know what will happen next, I can keep going, ask for help, and trust that I can find my way.”
And emotionally, I’d want to leave them feeling brave, hopeful, comforted, and curious—not that storms are nothing to fear, but that they are not bigger than the child facing them.
That could become a particularly strong central message: “Every child has a stormy voyage sometimes—and every child has the courage to navigate it.”
What’s your next project?
Evan’s Gift is the first book in the series, and then Evan’s Stormy Voyage. Coming soon is Evan and Elmer’s Adventures in Africa, which is about Evan and his pet monkey. The next book will be about Evan’s adventures with his dog, Tippy.
Where can we pick up copies of Evan’s Stormy Voyage?
Where to purchase the book: (links)
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/evans-stormy-voyage
Where to find Karen:
https://www.weaveofsuspense.com/post/coming-soon-book-two-in-the-evan-s-adventures-in-africa-series
Is there anything you’d like to tell your readers and fans?
If you want to write a story of your own, don’t be afraid to use your imagination! You don’t have to know the whole story when you start. Just begin, have fun, and let your characters take you on an adventure. And remember—your story is special because only you can tell it.
