1 Comments on THE HOLLY KING, A Family Holiday Tale #3, last added: 11/23/2011
 | | Crescent Moon Lake in Ghost Horse Hollow |
Our story begins in the Appalachian Wilderness one hundred years in the future ...
Chapter I : Coyote Crossing Enchantment is a tricky thing, even annoying at times, especially when a fairy wand is jabbing you in the forehead. Dwoink!“Ouch! You’re hurting me!” Genevieve MacKennon bristled, while keeping her eyes obediently shut. Plink! Ploink! Thwink!“Concentrate, Miss Genevieve. Use your mind to see, not your eyes. No peeking as I circle around your head.” “Sir Finnias Glowgold, you are the best magical tutor a girl could ask for, not to mention a superior Household Light Fairy, but must you keep poking me with your dogwood twig?” “I am trying to teach you a very important skill. Wind-sight is hardly a beginner’s subject. Now, tell me what you see, what you feel, while traveling outside your body. Don’t look down right away! One fairy apprentice threw up the first time I taught her this lesson, but that was long, long ago and far away from these blue mountains,” Glowgold trailed off regretfully. “Oh, ALL RIGHT! But please stop calling me ‘Miss Genevieve.’ Everyone in Ghost Horse Hollow calls me Panther—except for you and Black Bottom the Rooster, who hates cats.” The girl stood blindly before the window, with her muddy, calf-hugging riding boots planted on the floor. With the stance of an athlete, she focused on the only sound in the room: the steady thrum, thrum, thrumming of a four-inch pair of wings alongside her head. Having aced her latest exams with her usual attention to detail, this fourteen-year-old now faced a very different kind of test, should she possessed the courage to continue. Sir Finnias was stretching her boundaries beyond the family homestead, but Panther was ready for the future. “I have no idea why the Starlight Fairy Queen assigned you such a ridiculously ferocious totem in her ceremony under the sycamore trees,” Glowgold rattled on. “I certainly would have chosen a more ladylike guardian.” “I like the nickname Panther, and everyone else does too!” The girl with the dark honey hair opened her hazel eyes and glared at her mentor. “Don’t look at me like that. You grow more and more like your mother every day, full of independent notions and rebellion. I shall always refer to you as Miss Genevieve.” Glowgold dismissed the girl’s protest by dusting off his gilded waistcoat and adjusting his wavy powdered wig. “As I was saying,” he continued briskly, “Wind-sight requires utmost mental control. Once more, if you please, from the beginning. Close your eyes and tell me what you see!” Dink! Dink! Zwink! Sir Finnias Glowg
The Opening Gallop
Through Fairy Halls an’ Woodland Dells
There reigned a Herald King,
Who played upon a silver flute
In a giant’s magic ring.
He called to life the leaf an’ blade
Of grass an’ twig an’ flower.
O’ how he loved his pretty queen
Of royal mermaid power!
Come hear the tale upon the hearth
An’ stir the pot ‘til ‘morrow,
 | | Gardening Brings the Whole Family Together! |
So many people are busy this season in the Northern Hemisphere tending their gardens. Fresh produce is in demand. If you have never attempted to grow or raise your own food, you may be pleased to learn that many items that we throw away are very useful for starting seeds. We can process some of our garbage throughout the year and save money on garden supplies while preparing for the summer harvest. At Ghost Horse Prairie Ranch in central Montana, we have a short growing season. Sometimes snow is still falling in late May! Our best bet is to start plant seeds very early indoors, so suitable containers are in big demand. Here is small list of containers for growing seeds that many folks normally toss out: - Milk Jugs cut in half with a small henge left near the handle make great miniature greenhouses
- Large Plastic Juice Jugs cut in half let in even more light for make-shift greenhouses
- Newspaper torn into four inch strips, rolled and taped, make tiny inexpensive planters
- Metal cans, cleaned and stripped of their labels, make super seed cups. Use a simple bottle opener to punch a few drain holes near the bottom
- Old tires can be turned inside out and trimmed around one rim to create useful planters for non-edible products, like cut flowers and roses
 | | Prepare Your Beds in the Fall with Organic Material and Plowing |
 | | Join the Ocean Conservancy & Make a "Sea Change" Today! |
February is the month when roses, hearts, and love come to mind as many people celebrate Valentine's Day. One of the things I love to do is to visit a beautiful, clean beach with rolling waves and circling gulls. Recently, I was blessed with an opportunity to stop by a small salt water conservation center near Manhattan Beach, California. I was so inspired by the beautiful creatures of the deep and by their intricately connected and diverse environment, that I decided this month's blog should be about what we can do to help restore and protect marine life. Saving the world's oceans is arguably the most important issue before humankind, because the health of the oceans determines the success of the global food chain. The Ocean Conservancy recently made this observation: "Providing food, fresh water, and oxygen to the world, the ocean is essential to all life on Earth, but it is in serious trouble from overuse and pollution. Ocean Conservancy believes it's time to change our national policies to protect entire ecosystems as the surest way to solve the most critical conservation challenges we face. The ocean belongs to everyone and everyone is needed to protect it. To get there, we must collaborate across political lines and with new partners from all walks of life."A few months back I visited the local library and notice a special new release: The World is BLUE by oceanographer Sylvia A. Earle. I had never heard of Sylvia Earle before, and when I read of her credentials and contributions to the history of sea explorations and conservation, I was a bit chagrined. She is one of the foremost authors and leaders in sea ecology, and one of the most prominent and highly respected female scientists alive today. She urges all of us to take care of the Earth's oceans with a fresh sense of what is at stake if we do not. Interestingly, National Geographic's recent article on the Louisiana Gulf included a message from Sylvia Earl, whose early diving career featured studies of these same waters. I was amazed by her description of the abundance of life beneath the waves just a few decades ago. It was painfully clear that much of the diversity and delicacy of the ecosystem of the Gulf had been eradicated in her lifetime. So what can we do to make a "SEA CHANGE" according to the Ocean Conservancy? Here are five simple steps:  | | We Can Restore the Oceans with Careful Conservation! |
- Don't pour harsh chemicals down the drain or into storm sewers
- Volunteer to clean a beach, shorelin
 | This Bing Fairy Image brings to mind the powerful blend of reality and fantasy found in Ghost Horse Hollow
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Some of the greatest moments from my childhood included pouring over magical illustrations in picture books in my hometown's local libraries. I fell in love with fairy watercolors and delicate drawings by artists such as Arthur Rackham, Tasha Tudor, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Beatrix Potter. Their renderings inspired me to take up pencil and brush during my elementary school days and begin a life-long pursuit of illustrating children's books. Today's artists combine photographic realism with enchanting scenes of make-believe. Computer technology has certainly enhanced the book covers of contemporary fantasies. Still, I deeply appreciate the elegant and simple beauty of watercolors and the subtle tones of yesteryear.  | This Bing Fairy Image reminds me of the character of Luka-shen,
Lady Titrimia's Eldest Green Maiden in The Fairy Lore of Ghost Horse Hollow |
Painting with watercolor requires overlapping transparent layers of color, usually starting with pale, pastel tones and working toward darker hues. With oil painting, sometimes the opposite process is employed. Darker shades are applied to the canvas first, and lighter touches are dabbed on during the final stages of composition. Watercolors, especially those involving detailed facial expressions, demand the best possible brushes that pull downward to a tiny tip. Working with water frustrates many artists, because this slippery medium is unpredictable and difficult to control. My best advice is to develop a sense of the "beading" process in which the medium forms droplets that can be shifted along the surface of very absorbent paper.  | This Bing Fairy Image calls to mind the Fairylands that surround Ghost Horse Hollow
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Use quality paper with a nice "toothy" texture and the best paints available. The better the watercolors, the more b
 | | Peace: The Smart Choice for a Small Planet |
As the world embraces another decade in the 21st Century, we must face the fact that there will soon be over 7 Billion Earth Citizens on our relatively small and fragile planet. Ecosystems, economies, oceans, and continents are decidedly in need of solutions involving restoration, preservation, and growth. Limited natural resources, particularly the availability of fresh water and rich top soil, are of global concern. National Geographic Magazine has done a very good job over the past few years in documenting the difficulties we face. The time for contention based on political or cultural differences is long past. Peace emerges as not only a conscientious choice, but also as a pathway of smart progression. All nations need to reconsider their foreign policies in order to include green energy economics and human rights for both men and women of every race, creed, and cultural background. Why? Why is peaceful co-existence so important at this precise interval in planetary history? The answer is simple: Peace implies cooperation. Cooperation equals survival, not only for our human species, but also for all the members of the bio diverse fabric of life.
 | | Ideas Change Ideas. |
Many prominent figures from around the globe have spent their lives teaching humanity that ideas change ideas. When we think differently, we act differently. Some of my favorite heroes are Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Peace Pilgrim, Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and Nelson Mandela. Perhaps one of the most inspirational heroines during the American Civil War, was Harriet Tubman, with whom I share the same birthday. We were both born on March 10th. Her involvement with the Underground Railroad was extremely courageous. She struggled to free others, in spite of terrible dangers and conflicting social opinions. At present, not everyone is in agreement that the Earth is under tremendous strain to sustain life, nor does everyone see peace as a necessary component for planetary survival; however, the time for the evolution of human behavior is at hand. We must create peace by transforming how we solve international problems and handle cultural differences.
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 | | Garlic is the King of the Kitchen! |
During the Holiday Season in the magical world of Ghost Horse Hollow, Lady Hannah MacKennon is busy in the homestead kitchen creating magical meals. The fairies drift and flutter in and out the pantry helping the busy MacKennon family prepare for the Winter Solstice Celebration. Each cake & cookie, pastry & pie, fritter & festive treat is made with love and joy. Magical meals are connected to the intentions and reflections of the cooks. Just as in the movie Chocolat with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, the Ghost Horse Hollow chefs add a touch of enchantment to their kitchen offerings. Cooking is a process through which healing and grace are transmitted to those who are sitting down to enjoy the feast.  | | Pumpkin Bread with Pecans and Baked Apples makes a wonderful Holiday Dessert! |
Another amazing motion picture that links food and human emotions is Like Water for Chocolate, in which the lovely young cook pours her heart out in her delicious creations. A Walk in the Clouds is also an excellent romantic film intermingling the making of wine with a young couple's awakening passions. Keanu Reeves is the star. Interestingly, both of these richly entertaining stories were brought to life by director Alfonso Arau, who demonstrated his appreciation of the link between reality and both conscious and sub-conscious thought.  | | Fairies Love to Guard their Magical Brews! |
The Ghost Horse Hollow adventures are full of homestead delights such as butter biscuits, cornbread, bean soup, and dragon coffee. Visit the website www.ghosthorsehollow.com for some of the special recipes from Lady Hannah's Fairy Cookery, including Three Toe the Bear's hot cocoa topped with wild flowers. Magical meals are beautiful to behold! Next time the Holiday dinner seems a bit overwhelming, try dedicating each dish to a unique and uplifting quality like Hope, Gentleness, Kindness, and Courage. The meal will be magic indeed with surprising results for you and your guests! For a happy beginning try the recipes from the Enchanted
This past September, I had the good fortune to visit Lewis & Clark Middle School in Billings, Montana. Librarian Elizabeth Waddington hosted my presentation for a special group of 7th and 8th Grade students. What a wonderful time I had sharing the Ghost Horse Hollow adventure series at this terrific school! The library was beautiful and inviting with a bank of windows overlooking a peaceful courtyard. The Holly King made a grand splash as the opening event for the library's Lunch and Learn program. Visiting schools is one of my favorite things to do as a writer for Middle Grade fiction.
The students and I talked about some of our favorite books like Julie of the Wolves, Eragon, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and The Hobbit. We also discussed the changing world of reading due to the fast-paced Internet. I am finding that people today prefer shorter sentences, simpler phrases, and crisper dialogue. I believe this is due to the trend of reading small computer screens very quickly. Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson would surely have to edit their manuscripts these days. Classic children's literature is very wordy compared to contemporary children's literature. Still, I think young readers in the 21st Century appreciate thoughtful, powerful writing. Readers tend to quest for ideas and insights. Not every reflection can be conveyed in a few words. Computer screens compel the viewer to think is short bursts. Opinions and reactions crystalize almost spontaneously, in order to filter the wide field of bombarding Internet information. As technology changes, reading and thinking transform to match the pace of communication. 
As we watched the book trailer for the Ghost Horse Hollow adventure series on the overhead projector, I thought about how important it was in today's book market to provide visual stimulation. Our modern world conveniently showers the average reader with pictures, video clips, and tantalizing commercials. The students at Lewis and Clark Middle School reminded me, however, that good readers will always enjoy creating their own pictures inside their minds. The infinite world of the imagination is yet alive and well. These curious, bright 7th and 8th Graders, and their marvelous librarian Elizabeth Waddington, are still devoted to good books and thoughtful writing. I am blessed to h
What makes characters come to life in a fantasy series? Is it their physical descriptions or their patterns of speech that spark the imaginations of curious readers? Perhaps we are enchanted by a character’s resourcefulness or bravery in the face of terrible odds. Our favorite personalities engage us in a single paragraph. The character of Miss Genevieve MacKennon caught my attention as a writer from the very first chapter. I fashioned many of her features and qualities after the actress Ellyon Elestial, who served as a young teen sounding board for the Ghost Horse Hollow series, as well as the model for our popular book trailer.  | Panther MacKennon on Elestial's Opal Moon
Illustrated by Steven E. Lillegard |
Many contemporary musicians also inspired me to create a character with grit, independence, graciousness, and intelligence. I listened to Avril Lavigne’s Let Go album, Green Day’s popular hit song “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, the Jonas Brothers, and Jewel, while searching for a Middle Grade/YA romantic element to add to Miss Genevieve’s scenes. I always imagined the action in the book saga unfolding as if I were seeing a major motion picture, complete with a background score, unfolding before my eyes. Spending much of my life choreographing dances helped me with this process. The book trailer on Youtube features a terrific score by Nashville composer Jason Morant, whose work evokes the strength and courage of the twelve- year- old apprentice to Lady Titrimia, the Starlight Fairy Queen. One of my favorite movies that encompasses awesome musical themes, as well as startling characters, is The Lord of the Rings directed by Peter Jackson.  | Filming the book trailer for The Holly King on location at Ghost Horse Prairie Ranch
Enjoy the video on our Youtube Channel! |
Genevieve’s original name was Pheonyx. Shortly after I had typed four or more chapters of The Holly King, a friend casually informed me that J.K. Rowling had written another book in the Harry Potter series that was entitled The Order of the Pheonix. I thought the name of my heroine would then be considered too common, yet I felt inspired to keep the first letter “P” for my character. After much contemplation, the name Panther was born. Panther is a fresh and distinct young leader, with hope and a wild strength that blesses all she embraces. It is a delight to write her dialogue and to witness the exciting scenes in which Panther’s character triumphs! I greatly appreciated the support of the Kentucky Foundation for Women for assiting me with a grant to devel
A Grasshopper & a Mosquito Share a Piece of Crested Wheat Grass by Monica Bedsole There are so many tiny things of great value in the world of Nature that we tend to overlook! Their importance to our sustainment, nourishment, and healing is undervalued by civilization. From wild flowers to wild grasses, from herbs to seeds, from raindrops to top soil, the small pieces of the Web of Life gives us our food, our water, and our future. Each person on our planet should be taught to respect Nature and to cherish our planet. This wondrous globe is our home and the more we all know about Earth science and green economics the better. Landscape View of the Montana Prairie by Monica Bedsole Some people respect only money. Some people respect only power. Some businesses and governments focus on their survival through destruction and consumption, rather than through conservation and preservation. These limited perspectives are crippling the planet. The little things in Nature remind us all that everyone is responsible for solving garbage, energy, and pollution issues. A shift is happening across each continent, in which human beings are becoming increasingly aware that they must embrace our dependence on the health and diversity of our ecosytems. It is necessary for all nations to look beyond money and power into a horizon of peace and cooperation in order to preserve life on Earth.
 "I Stand" was written last night after watching Avatar once again and reflecting on the Gulf oil crisis. This poem is a tribute to those citizens in the region that are doing all they can to protect and clean the beaches and wildlife areas which are being contaminated by tar balls and drifting sludge. I admire these Americans for their courage and their love for the shores and magnificent marine life of their homeland. A green and blue Earth is a healthy world, with diverse, well-managed ecosystems and massive territories for wilderness. We must set aside more Nature conservatories for posterity, allowing for educational excursions, quiet tours, and non-disruptive recreation. The oceans, in particular, should include additional pristine park lands and preserves. We also must work together for the benefit of all nations in the development of clean, green energy and the non-invasive management of natural resources. The term "non-invasive" suggests that human beings should not disturb the soil, air, and water of a region in order to extract minerals or fossil fuels. Bristol Bay in Alaska, is in particular peril at this time, and I urge my blog followers to learn more about this important Native salmon watershed. The Natural Resources Defense Council offers many informative articles : www.nrdc.org/naturesvoice. The Ghost Horse Hollow adventure series continues to stand for family entertainment, environmental awareness, and the resurgence of old traditions that fostered humankind's sense of honor with regard to our planet. Please feel free to share this poem with others. I am delighted to stand with you. Anne Severn Williamson. The first photograph was taken by our Intern Monica Bedsole. The other photographs on this blog are from iStock. They are a part of our Book Trailer "The Song of the Earth."
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Thanks so much for sharing this blog! I have supported The Arbor Day Foundation for many years. They have a wonderful selection of trees and shrubs for sale each year!