With decadent fairy-tale rhetoric, wild child Gnall depicts a harrowing coming of age, luring us to indulge our anima.

The Heart of the Forest: Book One of the Dragon Valley Series By: Abi Cooper The amulet of the last queen was meant to be a symbol of hope and unity. Shattered in the devastating war brought on by ancient monsters, the pieces representing the seven races were divided amongst their people, becoming broken reminders of the past. Now with yet another war looming on the horizon, old foes are rising once again to finish what they had started. The resurgence of dark power causing a shift in the valley. A young woman must restore the amulet if there is to be peace in the land once again. But to do so, she will first have to find the lost pieces and uncover the truth of its nature. The fate of the world depends on it, but will it be enough to stop the demon who stands against her? With the help of new friends as well as old enemies, she just might have a chance.

Once upon a time, in the story called "The Heart of the Forest," the main characters were on a big adventure. They had been through many exciting things, and now they were facing something very mysterious. They came across a special rock that made them wonder what it could be. They show empathy and never give up by helping a sad troll, a worried unicorn, and a sad dragon. And because of that, the magic stone can understand all feelings because of what they did. And guess what? They did it! They were super duper successful in their mission to give the shiny stone back to the king of the forest. And you know what happened next? Peace, tolerance, and compassion spread all over the world! It was like magic! Everyone started being nice to each other and getting along. Yay for happy endings!

In the Old Country, they called them the Gentry: ancient spirits of the land, magical, amoral, and dangerous. When the Irish emigrated to North America, some of the Gentry followed...only to find that the New World already had spirits of its own, called manitou and other such names by the Native tribes. Now generations have passed, and the Irish have made homes in the new land, but the Gentry still wander homeless on the city streets. Gathering in the city shadows, they bide their time and dream of power. As their dreams grow harder, darker, fiercer, so do the Gentry themselves--appearing, to those with the sight to see them, as hard and dangerous men, invariably dressed in black. Bettina can see the Gentry, and knows them for what they are. Part Indian, part Mexican, she was raised by her grandmother to understand the spirit world. Now she lives in Kellygnow, a massive old house run as an arts colony on the outskirts of Newford, a world away from the Southwestern desert of her youth. Outsider her nighttime window, she often spies the dark men, squatting in the snow, smoking, brooding, waiting. She calls them los lobos, the wolves, and stays clear of them--until the night one follows her to the woods, and takes her hand.... Ellie, an independent young sculptor, is another with magic in her blood, but she refuses to believe it, even though she, too, sees the dark men. A strange old woman has summoned Ellie to Kellygnow to create a mask for her based on an ancient Celtic artifact. It is the mask of the mythic Summer King--another thing Ellie does not believe in. Yet lack of belief won't dim the power of the mast, or its dreadful intent. Donal, Ellie's former lover, comes from an Irish family and knows the truth at the heart of the old myths. He thinks he can use the mask and the "hard men" for his own purposes. And Donal's sister, Miki, a punk accordion player, stands on the other side of the Gentry's battle with the Native spirits of the land. She knows that more than her brother's soul is at stake. All of Newford is threatened, human and mythic beings alike. Once again Charles de Lint weaves the mythic traditions of many cultures into a seamless cloth, bringing folklore, music, and unforgettable characters to life on modern city streets. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

“With precise, stunning photographs and a distinctly literary narrative that tells the story of the forest ecosystem along the way, The Living Forest is an invitation to join in the eloquence of seeing.” —Sierra Magazine From the leaves and branches of the canopy to the roots and soil of the understory, the forest is a complex, interconnected ecosystem filled with plants, birds, mammals, insects, and fungi. Some of it is easily discovered, but many parts remain difficult or impossible for the human eye to see. Until now. The Living Forest is a visual journey that immerses you deep into the woods. The wide-ranging photography by Robert Llewellyn celebrates the small and the large, the living and the dead, and the seen and the unseen. You’ll discover close-up images of owls, hawks, and turtles; aerial photographs that show herons in flight; and time-lapse imagery that reveals the slow change of leaves. In an ideal blend of art and scholarship, the 300 awe-inspiring photographs are supported by lyrical essays from Joan Maloof detailing the science behind the wonder.

While trying to outwit the soldiers who are occupying their small town, Daniel, who cannot lie, and Emily, who discovers she has magical powers, are drawn to an island in the heart of the forest where townsfolk have been warned never to go.

In the heart of the forest during a holiday winter long ago, Beth made her snow angel and a special wish! When winter ends and the snow melts, Beths angel travels from spring to summer and then to fall adventures. Be there when the angel returns for the first snow in the heart of the forest. An enchanting storybook filled with dreams, imagination and wonder. www.thespiritualgarden.com