Thursday, June 26, 2014

Five Glass Slippers Blog Tour, Featuring Stephanie Ricker PLUS Review!


Welcome back to Books, Cats, and Whimsy for Day Four of the Five Glass Slippers blog tour! I hope you're enjoying all the features and reviews. I know I am! 

Our "Cinderella of the Day" is Stephanie Ricker, author of "A Cinder's Tale." 
 About Stephanie Ricker

Stephanie Ricker is a writer, editor, and tree-climber. She adores the cold and the snow but lives in North Carolina anyway, where she enjoys archery, hiking, canoeing, and exploring with friends. 

Stephanie’s fiction has been published in Bull-Spec, a magazine of speculative fiction, and in four consecutive editions of The Lyricist, Campbell University’s annual literary magazine. She was the editor of the 2009 edition of The Lyricist, which won first place in the American Scholastic Press Association Contest. Stephanie’s non-fiction has been published in an assortment of medical magazines and newsletters, and her senior thesis on Tolkien was published in the 2009 issue of Explorations: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity for the State of North Carolina.

You can find out more about Stephanie and her writing on her blog: www.QuoththeGirl.wordpress.com.


"A Cinder’s Tale” by Stephanie Ricker

It’s a dangerous life, yet Elsa wouldn’t trade this opportunity to work at Tremaine Station, mining cendrillon from the seething surface of planet Aschen. Nevertheless, when a famous deep space explorer and his handsome son dock their starcraft at the space station, Elsa finds herself dreaming of far galaxies beyond Aschen's blistering heat. There is no time for dreaming, however, when danger threatens the space station, and Elsa and her fellow miners are tested to the limits of their courage.


I asked Stephanie this question about her story:

"Which of the characters in "A Cinder's Tale" is most like you in personality and interests?"

Stephanie's answer:

Hi, Jill! Thanks for your question. There are little bits of me in most of my characters, but I am probably most like my protagonist, Elsa. I too am a little bit of an adrenaline junkie, and while I don't risk life and limb at my day job, I do enjoy heights and speed. Like Elsa, I'm very responsibility-driven, and I value friends and family extremely highly. I'm blessed to have a wonderful, close-knit group of friends whom I would trust with my life, much as Elsa trusts the rest of her crew. I also enjoy tales of exploration and derring-do, an interest that I suspect Elsa shares with me. Unlike Elsa, however, I'm not terribly good with the science of propulsion or mining, and at 5'8", I can't personally relate to the woes of being vertically challenged. : )

Great answer, Stephanie! Thanks so much for joining us here today. I love your story and can hardly wait to read more about these characters in your upcoming series, The Cendrillon Cycle.
~~~

My Review of Five Glass Slippers

Rather than recap the plots of these novella-length fairy tales, I will mention their outstanding qualities. I could not choose a favorite from the bunch; each one is delightful in a different way. I honestly think most guys as well as gals would enjoy these tales—they are far from mushy. Every one has a fun plot and great characters! There is something here to please everyone.

What Eyes Can See is a Cinderella story without magic yet spilling over with enchantment! Elisabeth Brown’s warm, whimsical voice tells her story with gentle humor and honesty. This could be called a drawing-room-drama fairytale, for the conflict is entirely interpersonal and remarkably realistic without losing its sense of fun.

Broken Glass is the steampunk comedy of the collection. Filled with wisecracks and riddled with characters scrambling to make sense of their tangled-together lives, including an inept yet well-meaning fairy godmother and a scheming prince, this story from Emma Clifton will keep a reader smiling if not chuckling from beginning to end.

The Windy Side of Care is a clever political comedy with a Shakespearean flavor. Author Rachel Heffington has created a dynamic character in her Alisandra, a young woman prepared to retake her throne with the help of her power-playing godfather, come what may! Can Prince Auguste withstand Alis’s willpower . . . or her charm?

A Cinder’s Tale is sure to make converts of non-sci-fi fans, for author Stephanie Ricker has woven an outer-space saga with a remarkably appealing cast of characters! Camaraderie, high-stakes danger, and comedy sparkle on the pages of this Cinderella story, which is like a glimpse into a much larger world.

The Moonmaster’s Ball has the flavor of chilly autumn nights plus an inexplicable quality of spooky fantastical mystery. Somehow author Clara Thompson found a way to put into words the hauntingly delicious world in her imagination. Read it, visit a magical circus with Tilly the maid, and share in the shivery fun!
~~~
Kindle eBook Sale!

The Five Glass Slippers collection will be on sale for only $.99 in Kindle format for the duration of the blog tour (June 23-28)! 
~~~
The Grand Giveaway!

Here’s your chance to be Cinderella of the ball! One lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of Five Glass Slippers, several Cinderella-themed items (including a bookmark crafted by Belle on a Budget, a journal, and a DVD copy of the Disney movie), as well as special gifts handpicked by a few of the collection’s authors (a glass slipper cookie cutter with recipe, freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, and an Apple Tree Inn cup and saucer). This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for joining me here today, and be sure to check out the tour schedule so you don't miss a single exciting feature!

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, June 23rd | Cinderella of the Day: Elisabeth Brown
·       Blooming with Books
·       Books, Cats, and Whimsy
·       Fictionally
·       Historical Heartbeats
·       i blog 4 books
·       J.L. Mbewe
·       Not All By My Lonesome
·       Rina’s Reading
·       The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls + Review
·       To Be A Person + Review

Tuesday, June 24th | Cinderella of the Day: Emma Clifton
·       A Curious Thrill
·       A Writer’s Heart
·       Fictionally
·       Jaye L. Knight
·       Jenelle Schmidt
·       Not All By My Lonesome
·       Tales of Goldstone Wood
·       The Writer’s Window + Review

Wednesday, June 25th | Cinderella of the Day: Rachel Heffington
·       A Writer’s Heart
·       Blooming with Books
·       i blog 4 books
·       Jaye L. Knight
·       Jenelle Schmidt
·       Rina’s Reading
·       Tialla’s Tellings
·       Vonnie’s Reading Corner + Review

Thursday, June 26th | Cinderella of the Day: Stephanie Ricker
·       Books, Cats, and Whimsy + Review
·       Home of the Shabby Elf
·       Rina’s Reading
·       The Lore-Mistress
·       The Writer’s Window
·       Tialla’s Tellings
Friday, June 27th | Cinderella of the Day: Clara Diane Thompson
·       A Curious Thrill
·       Blooming with Books
·       Fictionally
·       Flowers of Quiet Happiness + Review
·       Jenelle Schmidt
·       Kathryn Elizabeth Jones
·       Tales of Goldstone Wood
Saturday, June 28th | Giveaway Winner Announced at Seasons of Humility


*Blog Tour Home: http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/p/five-glass-slippers-blog-tour.html  This is where you can keep up-to-date on the blog tour happenings, view the schedule with links, grab the tour button, etc. 

Monday, June 23, 2014

Five Glass Slippers Blog Tour: Featuring Elisabeth Brown


Hello Readers and Fellow Fairy-Tale Fanatics, all!

Welcome to Day One of the Five Glass Slippers blog tour. I am delighted to feature our first Cinderella of the Day, Elisabeth Brown, and her delightful story:





Painfully shy Arella begs her stepmother to let her stay home from the prince’s ball. But kindly Duchess Germaine is determined that her beautiful stepdaughter should be presented at court along with her own two daughters. So, dressed in a gorgeous gown and a pair of heirloom slippers, Arella catches the eye of the crown prince . . . and finds her life suddenly far more complicated than she ever desired.


About Elisabeth Brown

Elisabeth Brown has always loved words. The third of seven children, she enjoyed being homeschooled through her senior year of high school, and is now studying piano performance at Appalachian Bible College. When she’s ignoring the fact that she should probably be practicing more or doing Greek homework, you’ll find her sewing, baking, reading, singing along to basically any musical ever created, hiking through the woods, or laughing at incredibly silly puns.

What Eyes Can See is her first published story, but she also rambles at www.metaphoricalcello.wordpress.com.

I was given the opportunity to ask Elisabeth one question, and because I found her story characters so realistic, as if they might be people I know, here is what I asked: 

Were any of the characters in ‘What Eyes Can See’ inspired by people you know?

And here is Elisabeth's answer:

Hello, Jill! I don’t think that I based any character off any one particular friend/acquaintance/mortal enemy . . . but one can never be quite sure. Perhaps someone will come up to me claiming libel (or is it slander?) and whatnot for lambasting their character in my story. (My apologies, completely unintentional, et cetera, et cetera, in advance.) I do, however, have a list of friends/acquaintances/mortal enemies that are just begging to be written about (some of whom are aware of the fact, and some of whom aren’t), but none of them specifically made it into What Eyes Can See. Someday . . . someday.

Heheheh . . . Hmm. This could turn into something quite interesting! Didn't mean to open a can of worms here, but it makes for ever-so-exciting blog fodder, don't you think?

Now, I will be reviewing the entire book later this week, so I withhold all most comment on Elisabeth's delightful, charming story until then, but I do advise all readers to snap up Five Glass Slippers for your Kindle today, because . . .

  . . . just LOOK at this amazing offer, good today (6/23) through Saturday (6/28)!

Purchase your copy HERE!
And furthermore . . .

Here’s your chance to be Cinderella of the ball! One lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of Five Glass Slippers, several Cinderella-themed items (including a bookmark crafted by Belle on a Budget, a journal, and a DVD copy of the Disney movie), as well as special gifts handpicked by a few of the collection’s authors (a glass slipper cookie cutter with recipe, freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, and an Apple Tree Inn cup and saucer). This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for joining me today! Be sure to come back Thursday to meet our fourth guest and read my book review, and check out this blog tour guide to make sure you don't miss any stops on the tour. Bye!

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, June 23rd | Cinderella of the Day: Elisabeth Brown
·       Blooming with Books
·       Books, Cats, and Whimsy
·       Fictionally
·       Historical Heartbeats
·       i blog 4 books
·       J.L. Mbewe
·       Not All By My Lonesome
·       Rina’s Reading
·       The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls + Review
·       To Be A Person + Review


Tuesday, June 24th | Cinderella of the Day: Emma Clifton
·       A Curious Thrill
·       A Writer’s Heart
·       Fictionally
·       Jaye L. Knight
·       Jenelle Schmidt
·       Not All By My Lonesome
·       Tales of Goldstone Wood
·       The Writer’s Window + Review
Wednesday, June 25th | Cinderella of the Day: Rachel Heffington
·       A Writer’s Heart
·       Blooming with Books
·       i blog 4 books
·       Jaye L. Knight
·       Jenelle Schmidt
·       Rina’s Reading
·       Tialla’s Tellings
·       Vonnie’s Reading Corner + Review
Thursday, June 26th | Cinderella of the Day: Stephanie Ricker
·       Books, Cats, and Whimsy + Review
·       Home of the Shabby Elf
·       Rina’s Reading
·       The Lore-Mistress
·       The Writer’s Window
·       Tialla’s Tellings
Friday, June 27th | Cinderella of the Day: Clara Diane Thompson
·       A Curious Thrill
·       Blooming with Books
·       Fictionally
·       Flowers of Quiet Happiness + Review
·       Jenelle Schmidt
·       Kathryn Elizabeth Jones
·       Tales of Goldstone Wood
Saturday, June 28th | Giveaway Winner Announced at Seasons of Humility


*Blog Tour Home: http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/p/five-glass-slippers-blog-tour.html  This is where you can keep up-to-date on the blog tour happenings, view the schedule with links, grab the tour button, etc. 

Friday, June 20, 2014

Literary Blog Party-time!!!

Blogger Joy Chalaby is throwing a literary blog party this week, and I joined in today! This is the link to her blog if you are interested in joining the celebration of great books.

Here is Joy's intro to the book party:

Today's literary theme for the tag is: "Historical Classics". Please join in! Here is how you can join in and have fun with this party: copy the tag questions and respond to the questions on your own blog, making it all uniquely your own! Then, to add to the life of things, via the linky pool in each tag post, have fun mingling, visiting each other's blogs and getting to know one another better! The first few questions are a bit introductory, and then we will dig right in into the topic of historical/period drama classics. It will be a lot of stimulating, literary fun. . .

And here are my answers to her questions:
"Historical Classics" Tag
Q--Tell us  a little bit about yourself, your tastes, and the little hobbies and things that your readers probably don't know about you!

A--Have I ever mentioned that I've been an animal fanatic since the time I could walk and talk? Currently I have three spoiled cats, but I have owned and loved many other pets. I used to raise Peruvian guinea pigs and show them at our county fair. Somewhere I have a collection of faded ribbons . . .

I also love history and enjoy antiquing--although these days I prefer just-looking over buying. Our house is filled with enough pretty things already from our years in England! I inherited several antique quilt tops pieced by my great-grandmother and am attempting to hand-quilt them. I finished the oldest one a few years ago and am currently laboring on the second, a bow-tie quilt from the 1930's.

Q--Books! We really do love them. . . but we all have preferences of what kind of books we love best. What is your favourite genre to read from (and to write in, if you happen to be a writer too)? Could you tell us why?


A--I must give two answers here. My favorite genre to read is fantasy, particularly YA fantasy. I have loved fairy tales for as long as I can remember, and I fell in love with Aslan (and therefore with Jesus) at age 8. My favorite genre to write is historical fiction. I love bringing the past to life by portraying ordinary people living during extraordinary times.

Q--Are you fond of classic literature or do you generally find them too "dry" and hard-going for your tastes? Alternately, how much of your reading diet consists of books written by authors of the 21st century? Are you more fond of the old books or the new. . . or maybe a little bit of both?

A--My enjoyment of classic literature depends entirely on the author and book. I enjoy some Dickens but not all. I loved The Count of Monte Cristo but found The Man in the Iron Mask appalling, so Dumas is also hit-or-miss. I admire Dostoyevsky but wouldn't care for a steady diet of his work! I would say about a third of my reading diet consists of 21st-century authors, mainly books written by friends or acquaintances. And regarding fondness, a little bit of both.


Q--What is your favourite historical time period and setting? How did you come to be especially interested in it? Would you be happy to live in that time-period or era? 

A--I find it hard to choose a favorite historical time period or setting. At present I am most interested in late-18th-century France, but I have written several books and novellas set in England, Scotland, and the U.S. from the 1500's through the late 1800's. My first attempt at writing fiction was set during the 1920's. We shall see if I ever attempt to retake that idea! Many things spark my interest in a setting, particularly traveling there. I can honestly say that I am content to live in the age of indoor plumbing and have done. :-D

Q--List three of your favourite classic authors (authors from the 1500s and up to the very early 1900s such as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain etc. . . )? What makes you love them so much?



A--Edith Nesbit's children's fantasy books are favorites--they delight my soul. I enjoy L.M. Montgomery--her characterizations are marvelous. May I choose Rafael Sabatini? The 1920's are maybe not early-1900's enough . . . but he buckles my swash like none other.

Q--What type of "Historical classic" is your favourite: Adventure and exploration, romance, mystery, social, memoir, or political?


A--My favorites are adventure/political with a touch of romance.

Q--Share some of your most well-loved heroines from historical novels in literature, and why you love them so much! What virtues/traits in them would you like to attain yourself? 


A--I greatly admire Jane Eyre's courage in living her faith and can relate to her struggles with inferiority. I admire Anne Elliot's servant heart in Persuasion, and I can relate to her indecisiveness. I love Emma Woodhouse because she is such a flawed busybody (like me) but matures into greater wisdom.

Q--Who are your favourite heroes from historical literature? (You may share up to five). What makes them stand out among the rest as special?

A--I love Mr. Knightley because he loves Emma enough to confront her honestly, and he treats his tenants with respect. I love Captain Wentworth because he is resentful and petty, but also honorable and faithful to Anne. I love Sydney Carton because he is so terribly flawed yet has a hero's heart. You can probably tell that my favorite literary characters are those most like real people. 

Q--List your favourite "classic" novels. . . (as this is a painful question, you may list more than one!)

A--A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I could go on and on, but I'll stop with two. You're welcome. :-)

Q--Which period-drama movies, (adaptions from historical classic works of fiction), fall under your favourite pile? Do you prefer the more modern adaptions or the old ones? Faithful renditions, or the more exciting ones?

A--I have seen several excellent adaptions of Jane Eyre over the years. I love North and South and Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. And the 1990's BBC rendition of Pride & Prejudice is the best ever. I also like the BBC adaption of Emma with Kate Beckinsale. The old Ronald Coleman version of A Tale of Two Cities is still a favorite. And the most recent adaption of The Count of Monte Cristo was good--but the book is better. I wish someone would do an update and faithful version of Scaramouche.

Q--Which historical classic has inspired and influenced you the most?

A--Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte


Q--Give a list (preferably with pictures!) of your favourite period drama costumes (hats, hoops, gloves, parasols, etc) and from which movie/character they come from.

A--Sorry--but I don't have time to research pictures for this one! Maybe I'll do it another day. I love the costumes in The Scarlet Pimpernel movie with Anthony Andrews. They are awesome. And the BBC Austen movies are also marvelous.

Q--How accurate do you think classic authors were about depicting history and accuracy of different cultures? Were they sometimes prejudiced or melodramatic in their descriptions, or do you think they often had a point to make? 

A--Since many of them wrote about the era and setting they lived in, I would imagine they were accurate yet biased in their views, just like we are now. And every author writes from his/her personal worldview and has something to say about the world and the meaning of life.
 
Q--Think of the funniest "scene" in either a book or movie from classic literature, and share the quote/picture below (Gifs and animations allowed!)

A--The Austen movies are full of them! I do love the dynamic between Mr. and Mrs. Bennett in the BBC P&P--and Mr. Collins's proposal scene is classic. 

Q--Which villain of historical literature strikes the most dread and loathing in you?
A--Probably Javert from Les Miserables. He was tragic and terrifying in his adherence to the letter of the law.

Q--How many Charles Dickens novels have you read? Do you enthusiastically love his stories, or sob in misery over them, or worse get bored by them?

A--Three that I can think of at the moment. I adore A Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol. However, Bleak House was often a chore, and I haven't been eager to pick up another. Most of his stories are too rambling for my taste. 

Q--Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, or Elizabeth Gaskall?

A--Jane Austen, because she wrote several of my favorites.

Q--Favourite French Revolution novel?

A--Easy! A Tale of Two Cities.

Q--North and South or Pride and Prejudice? Mr. Darcy or Mr. Thornton? 

A--Pride and Prejudice, although I possibly prefer Mr. Thornton as a hero.

Q--Which historical classic struck you with the most sense and depth of faith and the author's perception of morality, ethics and the Christian walk? Can you share a little bit about it?

A--Jane Eyre. I recently studied it in depth for a literature class I taught and was blown away by the depth of symbolism in the novel. I had read it twice before and never realized its depth.

Q--Who is your favourite side-kick (secondary character) in literature of this genre?

A--Um. Wow. I am drawing a blank. Maybe Harriet Smith? She made me laugh.

Q--List five "Historical Classics" you are especially looking forward and eager to read in the near future.

A--This is easy, since I am teaching a World Literature class this year. I am going to cheat by including one book I just finished yesterday:
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
The Iliad by Homer
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini (this one is just for fun!)

Q--What was the first historical classic novel you ever read and how did it strike you?

A--I'm not altogether sure--it's been a while!  I adored Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom, and they are still my favorite Louisa May Alcott novels. Does she count?

Q--What would inspire you to pick up a historical piece of literature - namely a "classic"? Do you believe it is important for our generation to get back to reading the classics? What do you believe are both the benefits, negatives and overall effects of treasuring historical stories written by authors of the past?

A--My most frequent "inspiration" in recent years has been teaching literature classes for our local home school co-op. This has kicked me back into reading quality literature, and I know the deep study of style, symbolism, and characterization has affected my own writing ability. I teach this class because I strongly believe that reading classic literature increases understanding of humanity and history. We can better understand the present through knowledge of the past. As a believer, I have gained through fiction a deeper understanding of beliefs and societies outside my immediate life experience.

Thank you for this fun Q & A, Joy!

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

What I Am Currently Reading

I am just starting to work on outlines for new writing projects (too secret to divulge at this point, of course!), and I'm grateful for inspiring literature to read during this idea stage. I have a stack of books to read for the world lit class I will be teaching this coming school year--far more than I can possibly complete during a busy summer--but I shall at least sample most of them!

Such as Death Comes for the Archbishop, by Willa Cather. A most unusual book! I doubt any modern publisher would look twice at such a novel, for it is quite episodic, broken into sections of two or three chapters, each presenting an adventure or episode in the life of Bishop Jean Marie Latour, a missionary priest in New Mexico in the mid-1800's. The characterizations in this book are marvelous, and the descriptions make me want to see New Mexico again. Which is odd, since I cannot say I was terribly fond of the place during the six months I lived there back in 1988. I do love Southwestern architecture and artwork, however.

I started reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell aloud to our son while he worked on projects for his drawing class this spring . . . but we didn't make much headway, and and now Pete will graduate next weekend. We completed The Pinhoe Egg earlier this semester, but I think Pete lost interest in poor Mr. Norrell. I have read the book before, around eight years ago, and it definitely is a hefty tome. Not sure I will finish it again on my own.

On my Nook, I am reading Paradise Valley, by Dale Cramer. Confession: I am decidedly not a fan of Amish books, as a rule. But this one is set during the 1920's in northern Mexico--quite a change from the average bonnet book, I believe. It is still free on Nook and Kindle, if you're interested.

And for research purposes I am studying Napoleon Bonaparte, by Alan Schom. My husband is a great reader of biographies, particularly those of military leaders. Although biographies are seldom my first choice of reading material, I do enjoy them on occasion. This one is rather interesting, and I am learning much information that should come in handy for Book #2.

But you know what? As soon as I finish one of the above books, I intend to chuck scholastic achievement and dive into The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan. I have fallen rather behind in that series, and a little mindless fluff will do me some good. Heh.

So what are y'all reading these days?


Oh, and um, yes, I am having a "mother-moment." I was supposed to send in a baby photo for Pete's post-graduation party and picked this one. Wasn't he cute? I embroidered that "P" and the penguin on his hoodie-jumpsuit . . . seems like just the other day.

What happened to my baby? He kind of grew up, and now he is a tall young man with a beard. But then, raising them to be adults is the point of parenting, after all. :-)

(Okay, end of mother-moment. Back to author mode.)

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Cover Reveal for FIVE ENCHANTED ROSES

I am delighted to be part of this cover reveal. What an amazing opportunity for aspiring authors! I have loved fairy tales for about as long as I can remember, and imaginative retellings breathe new life into the old tales. I can hardly wait for everyone to experience Five Glass Slippers in just a few weeks . . .

At long last, here is the gorgeous cover you have all been longing to see:



Rooglewood Press is delighted to introduce their second fairy tale novella contest—
Five Enchanted Roses
a collection of “Beauty and the Beast” stories
The challenge is to write a retelling of the beloved fairy tale in any genre or setting you like. Make certain your story is recognizably “Beauty and the Beast,” but have fun with it as well. Make it yours!
Rooglewood Press will be selecting five winners to be published in the Five Enchanted Roses collection, which will be packaged up with the gorgeous cover you see displayed here. Perhaps your name will be one of the five displayed on this cover?
All of the contest rules and information (how to enter, story details, deadline etc.) may be found on the Rooglewood Press website. Just click HERE and you will go right to the page.

Rooglewood Press’s first collection, Five Glass Slippers, is available for pre-order now and will be released on June 14. Do grab yourself a copy and see what these talented writers have done with the timeless “Cinderella” tale!

Blog Button:
Be sure to snap up this blog button, add it to the sidebar of your blog page, and post it on Facebook too. Let the news spread far and wide!

http://www.rooglewoodpress.com/fairy-tale-collections
Cover Illustration Credit:

This cover illustration was rendered by Julia Popova, “ForestGirl.” You can find out more about this gifted artist on her website: www.forestgirl.ru

And now, let the creativity begin!