COFFEE BREAK BOOK REVIEWS: Dwight Karkan’s Debut Novel: Bixby Timmons and the Dragonthorp Riddle

Written By Molly Shaffer

Welcome Dwight Karkan:

What do Kim Impossible, Hermione Granger, Katniss Everdeen, and The Goonies all have in common? Well, if you mix elements from each of these incredible coming of age stories, along with their edge-of-your-seat adventures, you wind up with Bixby Timmons. Last week, I had the privilege of sitting down with the creator of this incredible story, Dwight Karkan, and I was amazed by his down-to-earth personality and dogged determination to bring Bixby to the world one riddle at a time. 

Who is Bixby Timmons?

Bixby is a fourteen-year-old girl struggling with her family’s move from their once-beloved home into the mansion of a missing billionaire, Cody Dragonthorp. Through Bixby’s love for riddles and puzzles, she is determined to solve the greatest mystery of her time: what happened to Cody Dragonthorp. With the help of some new friends, Bixby is able to unlock part of the mystery, but in doing so, she is plunged into a dangerous game where solving riddles is no longer about having fun but about survival.

What is Bixby’s Legacy?

Of all the questions I asked Dwight about his debut novel, the one that stood out to me the most pertained to Bixby’s legacy. Dwight had various answers to this question: to honor the students he is privileged to invest in as a youth pastor, to tell a story about mysteries and riddles, and to showcase the incredible women in his life. Though his final answer to this question, gave me goosebumps. 

Dwight’s daughter, Selah, was diagnosed with leukemia, and instead of allowing the disease to ravage his family, Dwight decided to use the darkness to bring a little light into this world. Selah is a strong fighter who encourages her father to keep pushing through hardships with each spinal tap she faces. Dwight and his wife were inspired by Selah’s hope, and they decided to donate the proceeds of Bixby Timmons and the Dragonthorp Riddle to THON: “a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer.”

This kind of authenticity and generosity gives me hope, as well. Perhaps it will inspire you, too, dear reader.

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about Dwight Karkan and his incredible character, Bixby Timmons. If you’d like to read this great book and give back to children and families impacted by childhood cancer, click the link below to buy Dwight’s debut novel. If you’d love to follow along with Selah’s journey, click the link for her Facebook page, and if you can’t get enough of Bixby Timmons, click her Facebook link, as well.

See you next time on Coffee Break Book Reviews. TTFN: ta, ta for now! 

Links:

459CF8CE-55C9-4D59-8EC6-EFBA0DBDD709.png
Molly Shaffer
Previous

Little Lost Girl
Next

The Truth About Being Disabled