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E. J. (Erica) Gore
Erica grew up in Brisbane, Australia, in the 1950/60s.
For an inwardly adventurous, but outwardly shy child, reading was a major part of life. Stories such as Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’ adventures fired her imagination and
created new worlds for her to explore. Making up stories of her own followed as a natural progression, with Erica holding storytelling sessions for her stuffed toys each evening before bed.
Having overcome her shyness by taking drama classes at her mother’s insistence, Erica became a primary school teacher. She brought her love of story into the classroom, using narrative as a base for the units of work she planned for her students. Her core belief that stories provide children with a means of engaging with, and forming deeper understanding of, the world around them proved most successful in encouraging learning.
When she retired from the classroom, Erica began to write her stories down. ‘It was as though the time was right to be writing. The ideas were there and I had to let them escape from my brain and sort themselves out on paper.’
Erica’s characters are average kids. They do not have any special powers. They do not live in any fantasy worlds. Quick wits and keen observation skills are their weapons.
The main character, Taya, is the adventurous little girl that Erica longed to be. She has the adventures that Erica dreamed of having. She is a child who wonders about things and likes to figure out puzzles. She can be a scaredy-cat and she can be amazingly brave. She and her fiend, Chris, are likeable kids with whom young readers can easily identify.
Who wouldn’t want to be out and about solving mysteries and having adventures?
Erica still lives in Brisbane with her husband and their two mischievous dogs.
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Taya Bayliss: Snake Charmer is a children's and preteen mystery story written by E.J. Gore. Chris and Taya are good friends who also happen to have birthdays that are only eight days apart from each other. Chris’ grandparents have invited the two friends to have their party at their house. It’s a great place for a party with trees, a large yard, a river, and a patio. Chris’ grandfather tells Chris that the party lights are up in the attic, and the two kids go up there to find them. There’s lots of strange stuff up there, but the spookiest thing for Taya is Fifi, a huge Carpet Python who lives in the house. Fifi likes Taya and seems to find her whenever she speaks. They also find Uncle George’s old Monopoly set. Uncle George is in jail for stealing the gold cross that was in the church, but he swore he didn’t do it. Taya thinks he might be innocent after all.
E.J. Gore’s children's and preteen detective mystery, Taya Bayliss: Snake Charmer, is so much fun to read. Taya and Chris have an important mystery to solve while they make preparations for their party, and Taya gets to meet a Carpet Python. While I’ve long been a snake fancier and have owned Burmese and Reticulated Pythons, I was thrilled to learn about this most interesting Australian python. Too many people have irrational fears of these gentle creatures, and Gore’s story is a bright light shining in appreciation of another of God’s creatures. Taya is a marvelous, intuitive sleuth and the two detectives are prodigious at what they do. Taya Bayliss: Snake Charmer is an enjoyable and satisfying mystery and it’s most highly recommended.
