A Winter Solstice Fantasy

Santa here.  Hey, Jane’s got a story here about Shell and Grayhorn SilverAntler.  Oh, you haven’t met Grayhorn yet, but he’s another magical friend.  Anyway, this story is done up in Abracadabra House dolls.  No, wait — Jane wants you to know that her friend Lisa Mathias at Journey School Stories creates these dolls.  Not Aunt Elin?  Now I’m confused!

Anyway, here is the tale, created on the Winter Solstice!

Shell on Grayhorn SilverAntler

On a bleak icy Midwinter’s Day, Shell Wakefield rides with her friend Grayhorn SilverAntler out into the bone-chilled fields.

Shell and Grayhorn encounter the hens

A herd of giant hens roams the weary field, pecking open rotting pumpkins and jabbing at the frigid innards. A frightening sight!

Shell and Grayhorn SilverAntler remain steady, watching this amazing scene. Who would have ever expected that giant hens would have “a field day” through the Hundred Acre Wood Farm Community gardens!

Miracle of spinach

The more Shell and Grayhorn gaze, the more wonders they spy–everyday miracles of a row of spinach poking forth despite the freeze.

A radish too ...

… and even a perfect radish.

Shell - doll by Lisa Mathias

“So much is hidden away in all these tired rows–” Shell begins.

“Plenty, even with the giant hens,” Grayhorn says. “Amazing indeed!”

“And not just greens–” Shell gasps, “Oh, Grayhorn–look over there!”

Calendula!

… A row of newly blooming calendula cheers on the tiny life of the emerging winter sun.

Free Ebook copy of Because Of The Red Fox

Hello, Jane here! I’m working as much as I can on Because Of The Red Fox, planning on finishing this draft by 11:59pm on January 31, 2012. My intention is to launch the book sometime in early Summer.

My plan is to do a samurai-sword final rewrite in February, and then get the book formatted for publication, doing a bunch of copy-editing along the way (that is, I’m going to make sure my grammar’s good and the words are spelled correctly and my punctuation works!).

Do you want to help me get this book into the best shape I can? Here’s how you can help!

All you have to do is read the installments of the book. If you are so inspired, please make comments on what you like or don’t like in the story, or offer suggestions, or anything else. If I change (or keep!) something that was due to your comments I’ll (1) acknowledge you in the book (you know, in those thank you sections some books have), and (2) send you a free ebook copy of the finished Because Of The Red Fox.

Does that sound good? I hope to hear from some or all of you!

In the meantime, enjoy the next “Leaf”: Abracadabra House.