Balancing Wonderland Series
Balancing Wonderland
Book 1
Everyone knows the story of the girl who fell down the rabbit hole. But here’s the thing about a story that has been told over and over again… it changes. This is especially true, when the original, however entertaining, is not as close to the truth as it should be. You may be wondering why I’m telling you this. Good. You should wonder about such things. To be lacking in wonder is to be… well not mad, that’s for certain. All we have is the ability to wonder. And responsibility. For we are the Keepers of Wonderland. We are the ones that bring Balance when the very fabric of reality is threatened. Let me tell you then, of the real reason Alice was brought to Wonderland. Because despite what you may believe, it was no accident that the “White Rabbit” crossed her path. You see, in Wonderland, nothing is ever an accident.
Second Edition. Previously released under the name R. N. Torres.
Want to buy your books in person? You can find them HERE if you're in the Sacramento area.
When Time Runs Out - Book 2
Print Release 2025
Alice and the Mad Hatter team up again, but this time they're tracking the Head Hatter. With only a mad clue from the maddest man in all of Wonderland, the two dive through the Looking Glass and end up in a Wonderland far in the past.
It should be easy to find one missing Head Hatter, right? It should be no problem as long as Hatter and Alice can work together, avoid getting caught by the guards, and stay away from pastry signs that say "Eat Me".
The mission sounds simple: find the Head Hatter and get back before time runs out.
Zenith of the Moon - Book 3
Print Release 2026
There was a time when Wonderland was strange. Stranger than we ever imagined. Magic was wild and feral and sometimes caused the lines of reality to blur. In this story, things that shouldn't be possible, become so, and a wolf that once reigned over her mountain forest finds herself thrust into the world of humans.
Now, Ylva must find the Sorceress that stole her form, or risk living out her days trapped in a frail human body, never to feel the wind in her fur again.
More Balancing Wonderland Titles Coming Soon!
These are all currently in the works, but I'm currently focusing on other projects. More titles will be added. Release dates to be determined.
After Wonderland
Read the first chapter here.
Xenophobia In the Looking Glass
The Looking Glass was once ruled by a dark and demented man. This is the story of how he lost his tyrannical grip.
Dormouse, Master Locksmith
You asked for it! An entire book featuring the Dormouse and how he came to be the greatest lock picker in all of Wonderland!
Yearning for Change
The Red Queen's origin story (not to be confused with the Queen of Hearts).
Other Publications
The Retired Spy, and Other Unconventional Spy Stories
August 5, 2022
Being a spy doesn't always go smoothly. Heck, sometimes it backfires horrendously. These short stories give an insight into the not so glamorous side of being a spy. Things go wrong. People's feelings get hurt. And sometimes, the mission is not the most important thing on your mind. These shorts range from dark to light hearted and everything in between. With five stories to read through, there's sure to be something for every reader to enjoy.
As Luck Would Have It
November 29, 2021
A Children's Book
Have you ever wished for something? Wishes can be made for good or bad, and the Wish that carries it out knows the job they should carry out as soon as they get their name. But what happens when a Wish is given a name that could go either way? How can they carry out their missions? How do they know if they should do something good or... something bad? Follow along with Luck, as he figures out the difference between good and bad on his own, and just how important his name really is.
As Luck Would Have It - Bedtime Story Edition
July 16, 2022
A Children's Book
Have you ever wished for something? Wishes can be made for good or bad, and the Wish that carries it out knows the job they should carry out as soon as they get their name. But what happens when a Wish is given a name that could go either way? How can they carry out their missions? How do they know if they should do something good or... something bad? Follow along with Luck, as he figures out the difference between good and bad on his own, and just how important his name really is.Now in bedtime story format! This book is the same great story available in the full color picture book format, with a lot more text for the adventurous reader. If it's bedtime and you want to share a feel good story with a lesson, there are just enough pictures to keep them entertained while they nod off to sleep.
The Camping Trip
May 29, 2022
Short Story based on real life events. Released under separate pen name (Roxanne Rites).We don't always recognize being in an abusive relationship, and even when we do, it can feel like we're trapped, with no way out. This short story is based on real life events. It's a snapshot of a single evening, and the events that led to the realization that we are more than what our abuser tells us we are.
Works in Progress
Here's what I'm currently working on. If you feel so inclined, read a chapter and drop a comment, or send me an email and let me know what you think!
The Shadows Are No Place For Love
Cyberpunk
Contains adult content and may not be suitable for all ages.
In a world run by mega corporations, money talks, and people disappear faster than the click of a button. Magic and cyber-ware have found a way to coexist, and people spend as much time in VR as they do in real life. Sam thought her life as a lawyer was complicated. But when her brother's life is at stake, she jumps headfirst into the world of shadows. She's willing to do anything to find him, but when she starts falling for a dark ops runner she has to decide where her loyalties really lie.
Renegade Mages
High Fantasy
Magic is born to the wielder, and should be used uninhibited. Or so it used to be. The rule of the land now prohibits the free use of magic, the law of the land requiring registration and shackling of abilities. Mages are being herded into camps and forced to register; allowed only to use magic deemed necessary for their station in life. But a band of Renegades has decided to buck the system. They are determined for magic to be free, not a currency to be dolled out by the wealthy.
Solace Disrupted
Fantasy
Hundreds of years ago, the Princes of Solace protected the lands against the three demons of the Red Tower. After centuries of war, the Princes of Solace finally sealed the demons in their tower and the land knew peace. But memories fade, and eventually even the Princes forgot the horrors of the Demon War. Now, the Princes bicker and argue, and when one of their own is murdered, all of Solace is thrown into upheaval as the fortifications in the Red Tower begin to crack and crumble.
The Wolf Inside
Fantasy
Contains adult content and may not be suitable for all ages.
There are no such things as werewolves. At least, that's what Princess Reihlu was told her entire life. And she fully believed it, until she was trying to escape her evil husband and found herself face to face with a creature from a nightmare. Now it seems like everyone she thought she could trust is suddenly keeping secrets and her husband is certain she's hiding something he wants. Reihlu is determined to win back her kingdom but it looks like she'll have to do it on her own.
The DA Files (A Succubus (anti)Heroine Dramedy)
Low Fantasy
What happens when you put a know it all sniper with a down to earth detective? The makings of just another crime drama. But that's not what this is. Eli isn't just a sniper. She's part of an agency created solely to keep angels and demons from tampering with Free Will. Humans aren't supposed to know they exist. Any they wouldn't, if Eli hadn't accidentally bound herself to the soul of a human detective.
On the Chopping Block
Fiction
Life at court can be complicated, but Kallayah made it seem easy. She had a loving husband, wonderful friends, and few she would consider enemies. How then, did she come to find herself on a chopping block? They say before you die that your life flashes before your eyes. So it was, as the executioner picked up his axe.
This work is completed.
Release date TBD.
Lola and the Misfit Vigilantes (A Steampunk Western)
Steampunk Western
Ten year old girls are supposed to wear frilly dresses, be polite, and absolutely, under no circumstances, should they consort with miscreants on the wrong side of the law. But Lola is exactly the misfit her father warned her about. When Lola discovers that she and her friends might hold the key to re-awakening an ancient magic, the misfits embark on an adventure that threatens to destroy not only them, but their entire way of life.
The Hunt
Fantasy
Serie wants nothing more than to be normal. But how exactly does one blend in with blue skin and horns? Easy, they stay out of sight and avoid being noticed. That should be easy when Serie has an entire brothel of women looking out for her. She manages it perfectly, until the day one of her friends is threatened, and Serie lets out more of her darkness than she wanted to show. Now, she's cast out from the only home she's ever known and finds herself being hunted by more than just the sins of her past.
This story co-authored with Michael Egolf.
The Chosen One (And Other Story Clichés)
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High Fantasy
I started this book in high-school, when falling through old books and being the magical chosen champion weren't as cliché as folks think they are now. I've decided to leave this book largely as it was when I wrote it, because despite my word choices and character development having improved with age (I hope), I'm rather fond of these old characters. Hopefully, I'm able to find the missing last chapters - I know I wrote them long ago, and promise to finish this for the love of story clichés.
R. N. Popa
Published Author; Constant Dreamer
Story of R. N. Popa
Writing has always been my escape and my passion. At times, it was what saved me. I never thought of writing for anyone other than myself, until a dear friend believed in me enough to ask for the next chapter.
Ever since then, whenever I get a moment to myself that doesn't involve my two opinionated Schnauzers or the mad dash to survive in my day job, I find myself drawn back to the keyboard. There, I create worlds, and populate them with characters struggling with what you and I struggle with every day, though perhaps not always in a familiar setting.
I have written under a prior pen name (R.N. Torres), but life saw fit to throw me a curveball so I decided to take my grandmother's last name for my authoring. She always thought I would do great things, and I hope one day to prove her right.
Kender adage
"Every path is the right path, except when it's the left fork."
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