Cape Teacher Hopes to Publish Fantasy Book Series

Inspiration for a series of children's fantasy books struck T.F. Pumphrey, a teacher and Cape resident, when she was pregnant with her first daughter, Madison. Painting a whimsical, multi-colored rocking chair, she envisioned it would “become a thinking chair where all manner of child-like fantasies could unravel.” 

The magical rocking chair transformed the life of a wife, mother and teacher into a writer. Her story, Drake’s Story Stone, is an inspirational adventure that takes readers to a mesmerizing world.

A child named Drake must leave the safety and comfort of his home in Cape Coast (Cape St. Claire) in Maryland, and use his newly found abilities to save the world of Kropite from evil, as well as find his missing sister, Bailey. A daunting series of tasks awaits Drake.

T.F. credits her editor, Marie Pickett, also a Cape St. Claire resident, with helping her grow as a writer and hopes to get the books published soon.

Growing up in an Army family with three children, T.F. lived in places such as Italy and Germany before settling in the Annapolis area. She attended where she met Brian Pumphrey and they later married. They both attended the University of Maryland at College Park, where T.F. obtained a degree in education. Later, she earned a master’s degree in library science. She and Brian married shortly after graduation, and bought Brian’s grandmother’s cottage home in Cape St. Claire.

According to T.F., the characters in her book series are based on family, friends, and even some extraordinary students she's had during the past 14 years while teaching. Drake, the main character was inspired by her husband, whom she calls her personal “hero” and her “superman.”

“He is amazing and is the biggest inspiration for my main character,” she said.

In addition to her husband, some of Drake’s qualities are also drawn from boys that T.F. grew up with or has taught through the years. And Bailey, Drake’s missing sister, is based on characteristics of the Pumphreys' younger daughter, Rori.

Many Cape students helped create the names and powers for the fanciful creatures in Drake’s tale, and are mesmerized by them. During Drake’s journey in Kropite, he meets several powerful and bewitching creatures. "Migisi" is a “Mezork," a combination of a white tiger and a dragon, 30 feet long from head to tail, and can breathe fire!

The evil villain in the story is “Koozog.” He is a hateful creature in the form of a very large grotesque man, but he isn't really human. He uses a cane to walk, and smells quite awful. He also steals children’s imaginations for his own personal enrichment. Drake’s challenge is to conquer this wicked brut in order to save Kropite and his sister.

T.F. described how her fantasy book series was derived from her creative teaching techniques. She believes in “showing, not telling” as a teaching method to inspire her students. She incorporates aspects of her story into her classroom curriculum so that the students “get to go on the adventure” along with her.

Last year, students created a journal of artwork and reviews about Drake’s Story Stone. The journal includes touching personal tributes prepared by students to express how they feel about the tale.

“It’s super cool that our teacher is writing a book," said student Allison Shipp of Cape St. Claire. "I love it when she reads to us. I think everyone will like the book and not want to put it down.”

For more information, see the Drake's Story Stone website.