The Wondersmith is a spooky Christmas story by Fitz-James O'Brien. O'Brien was an Irish author often considered one of the forerunners of the sci-fi genre. Excerpt: "Zonela was surely not of gypsy blood. That rich auburn hair, that looked almost black in the lamp-light, that pale, transparent skin, tinged with an under-glow of warm rich blood, the hazel eyes, large and soft as those of a fawn, were never begotten of a Zingaro. Zonela was seemingly about sixteen; her figure, although somewhat thin and angular, was full of the unconscious grace of youth."
Have you ever wanted to host a gathering that could have walked right out of the pages of your favorite fairytale? Have you ever wandered the woods hoping to discover an elven feast or a secret scroll? Do you want the ability to design meaningful gatherings for any purpose? Welcome to Fairytale Gatherings! In this book, you will be guided through the steps of using storytelling structure to design your own personalized and magical gathering. Miss Wondersmith leads the way with her sketched ideas, easy-to-understand text, and real-life examples of the magical gatherings she creates and shares with strangers. Now you, too, can create gatherings infused with deeper meaning and beautiful craftsmanship. Part sketchbook and part portfolio, you'll feel as if you're peering over her shoulder to watch all of the components come together before your eyes. This would be a great resource for party planners or event coordinators of any faith background as her approach is not tied to any specific spiritual or religious traditions (unlike the vast majority of books about ceremony and ritual.) It's an especially helpful resource when considering the need to plan for an atypical event such as a non-traditional wedding ceremony, pet memorial, or full moon celebration. Finally, it's a fun dive into the imagination of a woman who thinks decidedly outside the box. 60+ pages of magic await you.
This exquisite anthology welcomes you into an enchanted realm rich with myth, mystery, romance, and abounding natural beauty. Gorgeous fine art and photographs, literature, essays, do-it-yourself projects, and recipes provide hours of reading, viewing, and dreaming pleasure along with a multitude of ideas for modern-day living and entertaining with a distrinctive fairy touch.
Created as a companion to the Herbal Academy's Botanical Skin Care Course, we've captured many of our favorite tried-and-tested skincare recipes into one delicious herbal book. Whether you're looking for a rich cream to pamper your face, a soothing salve for minor first aid, or topical support for a chronic skin condition, we've got something for you here. By the time you work your way through this recipe collection, you'll have a full cupboard of incredible botanical skincare products to share with your friends and family--and maybe even your pets and neighbors, too.
In the decade that followed his emigration to the United States in 1851, Fitz-James O'Brien (1828-1862) produced a steady stream of contributions to American newspapers and magazines. As short story writer, essayist, poet, dramatist, reporter, reviewer, drama critic, and editor he won reputation as one of the ablest young writers in New York City, displaying what one contemporary termed an 'extraordinary' talent. But soon after his early death from complications of a battle wound, the sense of wonder at O'Brien's prolific accomplishments began to dissipate. In 1881 his friend William Winter brought out The Poems and Stories of Fitz-James O'Brien, a one-volume collection that spared him the oblivion that awaits even the ablest magazine writers. That book, with reprintings derived from it, has formed almost by itself the basis for O'Brien's lasting reputation. In the early decades of the twentieth century O'Brien continued to be admired as the most significant practitioner in the short story in the United States of the 1850s. However, since then the recognition of his achievement has focused on a few tales of the macabre and the supernatural. He is now remembered in two unrelated contexts: as a colorful member of the 'Bohemian' circle that flourished in New York City in the years prior to the Civil War, and as author of such stories as 'The Diamond Lens,' 'The Lost Room,' and 'What Was It? A Mystery.' The present volume re-introduces the fiction of Fitz-James O'Brien to modern readers by presenting fourteen of his works, five here reprinted for the first time, that together suggest the development and range of his accomplishment as a short story writer. Additionally, editorial commentary on individual stories reveals O'Brien's attunement to the fashions, fads, interests, and concerns that manifested themselves in his adopted city and country. Though immersed in the details of his own era, O'Brien cherished a belief that some of his writings would live beyond it. The present collection offers evidence that, not only for his vivid contemporaneity but also for his innovativeness and technical skill, the young author's hope for lasting memory as a writer of short fiction was well founded. The volume comprises, first, an introduction that sketches O'Brien's literary career and traces his development as a fiction writer. The stories appear next, arranged chronologically in the order of their publication. Each is preceded by editorial commentary that affords information about its place in the author's career and identifies events and circumstances surrounding its publication. O'Brien's frequent references to persons, places, books, and events that may require identification are explained in the notes that follow each story. A bibliography and an index conclude the volume.
Return to the magical world of Nevermoor in the second book of the New York Times bestselling series, a treat for all fans of magic and Wunder. Morrigan Crow has escaped her deadly fate and found a new home in the fantastical city of Nevermoor. She has also discovered that she has a strange and magical ability. But will her unique talent be a blessing or another curse? Now that Morrigan and her best friend Hawthorne are proud scholars in the elite Wundrous Society, she is sure that she's found a place to belong at last, but life is far from perfect. Can Morrigan prove that she deserves to be in the Society - or will an unexpected new enemy ruin her new life? Morrigan's adventures continue in Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow Praise for Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow: Winner Dymocks Book of the Year 2018 Winner QBD Children's Book of the Year 2018 Winner Book of the Year, Australian Book Industry Awards 2018 Winner Book of the Year for Younger Children, Australian Book Industry Awards 2018 Winner The Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year, Australian Book Industry Awards 2018 Winner Book of the Year, Indie Book Awards 2018 Winner Children's Category, Indie Book Awards 2018 Winner Nielsen Booksellers' Choice Award, Australian Booksellers Association Awards 2018 Winner Best Children's Fiction, Aurealis Awards 2017 Winner Younger Fiction, Waterstones Children's Book Prize (UK) 2018 Winner Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction, Cybils Award 2018 Winner West Australian Young Readers' Book Award, Younger Readers, 2019 Winner South Australian Premier's Award, 2020 Winner Adelaide Festival Children's Literature Award, 2020 Shortlisted The Readings Children's Book Prize 2018 A CBCA Notable book Voted #1 in the Dymocks Kids' Top 51 'Unexpected, exciting and funny.' - Judith Rossell, ABIA Award-winning author of Withering-by-Sea 'Exciting, charming, and wonderfully imagined, it's the sort of delightful, grand adventure destined to be many a reader's favourite book.' - Trenton Lee Stewart, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Keepers 'It really is brilliant, with an engaging plot, plenty of twists, memorable characters and a marvelous sense of humour. Pick it up and the hours disappear, just like magic.' - Daily Telegraph 'An exciting and charming middle-grade read that will hook readers aged 10 and up with intricate imaginative detail and its sheer energy ... a compulsively readable romp.' - Books and Publishing
New Authors and collections. Following the great success of our Gothic Fantasy, deluxe edition short story compilations, Ghosts, Horror, Science Fiction, Murder Mayhem and Crime & Mystery this latest title crawls with the dark fingers of terror, the chilling sensation of another presence sitting alongside you while you read the tales of horror laid out before you. Contains a fabulous mix of classic and brand new writing, with authors from the US, Canada, and the UK. New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: E.E.W. Christman, Morgan Elektra, Damien Angelica Walters, Michaël Wertenberg, Lucy A. Snyder, Stephen Kotowych, Kay Chronister, Michelle Muenzler, G.L. McDorman, Cody Schroeder, Jason L. Kawa, Daniele Bonfanti, Desmond Warzel, Carolyn Charron, Trisha J. Wooldridge, Mariah Southworth, Oliver Smith, Matthew Gorman, and Angela Sylvaine. These appear alongside classic stories by authors like E.F. Benson, F. Marion Crawford, Elizabeth Gaskell, M.R. James, Bram Stoker and more.
