Lavender Blue and the Faeries of Galtee Wood

by Steve R. Richardson, Larry MacDougall (Illustrator)

Overview

When Lavender Blue learns that the Banshee, the faerie messenger of death, will soon visit her best friend Rose, she makes a desperate wish on a star. Her prayer for a chance to save Rose is granted by the faeries of Galtee Wood, and Lavender finds herself entangled in an ancient and magical quest that will lead her through the perilous faerie realm. As Lavender races to reach her best friend before the Banshee, she finds herself facing more and more dangers than she could have imagined, dangers that will test her wits, her courage and her love to the limit. Can Lavender find the strength to overcome the magical dangers and dark faeries in time to save Rose? Or as the blackness of night veils the woods, will the piercing cry of the Banshee warn that she is too late?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780978642259
Publisher:	Impossible Dreams Publishing Company
Publication date:	12/06/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	75
File size:	9 MB
Age Range:	9 - 13 Years

About the Author

Steve Richardson lives in Albuquerque, NM, growing up in Las Cruces, NM where he was raised by two professors and six amazing sisters and brothers. He graduated from New Mexico State University in 1993 living for three years at the Grand Canyon and briefly in Grand Junction, CO before heading back to NM. Steve is currently the New Mexico Manager for M.J. Thomas Photography based in Grand Junction, CO.In his early 30's after the loss of several family members, Steve turned to writing to help him express the intense spiritual emotions experienced during this dark time in his life. Bringing purpose to those who had passed on became very important to him.Currently, he is the author of four other books. His picture book Billy's Mountain was published in 2006. Canlandia, illustrated by Fiona Sansom is due out in 2014. Other books soon to come are Paisley Rabbit and the Treehouse Contest, illustrated by Patricia MacDougall, Legend's of New Mexico, illustrated by John Walker and Alexander Trout's Amazing Adventure.Lavender Blue and the Faeries of Galtee Woods recently won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for best book in the category of Juvenile Fiction.Larry MacDougall was born and raised in Canada near Niagara Falls. He lives close to the woods and really likes to draw and paint trees,Several other book projects Larry has worked on recently include The Secret History of Hobgoblins by Ari Berk, Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia by Christopher Paolini and the Secret History of Giants by Ari Berk.

Editorial Reviews

Michael Wm. Kaluta, world-renowned book illustrator, winner of the 2003 Spectrum Grandmaster Award and inducted into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame. PJ Lynch, illustrator of Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and many other top selling book. Bob Eggleton winner of 8 Hugo Awards also endorsed it on his Facebook page recommending people buy the book.

Lavender Blue won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for best book in the category of Juvenile Fiction. Kirkus will be reviewing it soon.

"A lovely story with charming illustrations..." Kirkus Book Review

 Inspired by the real-life Galtee Woods and Lismore Castle, the story is beautifully crafted, with a believable mixture of fay folk, both good and evil. Although the chapter book is exquisitely illustrated.  - Kirkus Book Review

The paranormal elements are engaging, as are the book’s reassuring, simple morals of loyalty and doing anything for your friends.  - Kirkus Book Review

From the Publisher

2014-01-28
Photographer Richardson wrote this, his impressive debut, to help process his grief. Lavender Blue is devastated to learn that her friend Rose O'Brien doesn't have long to live. Vowing to the stars that she will do anything to prevent Rose's death, Lavender falls asleep clutching a rosebud but awakens feeling peaceful and holding a necklace and charm instead of the rosebud. Her teacher, Professor Priddle, consults a volume on the history of the faeries of Galtee Wood and concludes that the symbol on the charm represents the golden rainbow. He believes that the faeries consider Lavender blessed and are trying to communicate with her. Professor Priddle gives her a pouch filled with iron dust to ward away evil faeries. She starts to walk home when she sees a rainbow peek through the clouds. Wondering if it's a sign, she runs toward it and encounters a leprechaun, who tells her that if she delivers the necklace to Rose by midnight, her friend will be saved; if not, Rose will die. Thus begins Lavender's journey through the Galtee Wood, by turns worrying, terrifying and occasionally joyous. Just when Lavender gives up all hope, she meets the beautiful faerie queen, Wisteria. Inspired by the real-life Galtee Woods and Lismore Castle, the story is beautifully crafted, with a believable mixture of fay folk, both good and evil. Although the chapter book is exquisitely illustrated—MacDougall's watercolorlike drawings are one of the book's main attractions—it shouldn't be mistaken for a picture book, since the subject matter will be too disturbing for younger children. Despite the serious subject matter, the book just narrowly avoids being morbid or too sad. Rose's undisclosed illness is puzzling, most of all to Lavender, who isn't quite convincing as the heroic protagonist the faeries consider her to be. Although she claims to be devoted to her dying friend, she is too easily distracted and excessively gullible. Nonetheless, the paranormal elements are engaging, as are the book's reassuring, simple morals of loyalty and doing anything for your friends. A lovely story with charming illustrations, though it may be disturbing for some younger readers.

Kirkus Reviews