Along the River of Zurisees
The Journey of Geminii & Pipsy Lee
Earthquakes. Fires, Storms. The world is shifting beneath their feet.
In this sudden darkening age of nature's fury, Geminii discovers the cause is far more sinister than he could ever imagine. After he and Pipsy Lee survive an earthquake in the forest, a whimsical Seer arrives in Aura to inform the boy that his sister is being hunted by an ancient evil known as Bennu, and they must accompany him north to escape its fury.
Geminii is determined to keep his sister safe as they weather the storms of Bennu’s rage. But as Pipsy Lee’s health wanes and the Seer's plan to defeat Bennu slowly comes to light, Geminii will need to summon all the courage he can to face what he must and accept the role he plays in Pipsy Lee's fate.
When the world fractures, their bond must hold.
Along the River of Zurisees is an epic adventure about the journey of a child who has epilepsy, and a testament to the strengh of the sibling bond in a time of suffering.
Jam-packed with anagrams and ancient superstitions, this fantasy story will tug at your heartstrings and leave you in stitches! With surprises at every turn, light-hearted humor, and fantastical characters to light the way, you’re invited to dive into deep waters that wind along the river of seizures.
Origin Story
The inspiration for Along the River of Zurisees can be traced back to my childhood and the experience of growing up alongside my sister, who was diagnosed with leukemia. Together, we attended Camp John Marc and spent time at Cook Children's Medical Center—places that would later become important parts of my life and artistic career.
Although the novel is not autobiographical, it was shaped by many of the questions and emotions that siblings often experience when someone they love is living with a serious illness. In the story, the illness takes the form of epilepsy rather than cancer, allowing the narrative to explore those themes through the lens of fantasy and adventure rather than medicine or hospitals.
Years ago, I began wondering whether I could tell that kind of story in a world where diagnoses, hospitals, and medical terminology didn't exist at all. After a camping trip in the mountains with my sister, the idea began to take shape.
I drew a map of the brain and transformed it into a landscape of forests, mountains, deserts, and rivers. Then I started playing with words related to epilepsy and the brain—seizure, convulsion, aphasia, cognition, cerebellum—scrambling and reshaping them until names like Zurisees, Pipsy Lee, and Gnoctinio emerged. Drawing inspiration from ancient beliefs and folklore surrounding epilepsy, the world gradually came to life.
At its heart, Along the River of Zurisees is not a story about illness. It's a story about courage, resilience, friendship, and the bond between siblings. While the circumstances may differ from one family to another, many of the experiences that inspired the story are shared by families navigating challenges of all kinds.
I hope you enjoy the adventure as much as I enjoyed creating it.
And if you happen to meet the Seer, the centaur, or Bacchus along the way, please give them my regards.
- Veronica