The Secret Land of Dawn
A Fantasy
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
-INTRODUCTION-
LAUREN DISCOVERS THE
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little girl named Lauren, who lived in a red brick house with her father and mother, two brothers and a sister. Her home was surrounded by large shade trees, a green lawn and bright colored flowers.
She was a very good child, helping her mother with the chores and sometimes looking after her brothers and sister. When spoken to by her mother she answered yes mam and no mam, please when she asked for something and thank you when she received it.
Lauren enjoyed doing many things. She liked to play in the back yard, ride her bicycle, go swimming, watch children’s programs on TV, attend school, go to church on Sunday, and play with her toys, but what she liked to do best of all was read books. She read big books and little books and books of all sizes in between. Sometimes her mother read exciting stories to all of the children, and that was very special.
One night, before it was time to go to sleep, she was propped up in her bed reading a favorite book, when suddenly the room was filled with a bright light, and standing right beside her bed was a fairy clothed in silver gossamer lace. She had a gold crown on her head and a jeweled scepter in her right hand. At first Lauren was frightened. She wanted to pull the covers over her head. Instead, in a very tiny voice she asked, “Who are you?”
“I am Queen Avalon from the
Because there was a smile on the fairy queen’s beautiful face and, she looked so kind, Lauren asked, “Where is the
“It is far, far away”, replied Queen Avalon. “Would you like to go there?”
“Yes, yes,” Lauren almost shouted. “It sounds so wonderful, but I would have to ask my mother first.”
“Well”, the fairy frowned, “I don’t know about that. You know grown up people don’t believe in fairies.”
“But my mother reads us stories about elves and fairies and trolls and dragons; so I’m sure she believes in fairies. Fairies are always good and kind and helpful.”
“It is true that fairies are always good,” affirmed the Queen. “I’m sure your mother would trust me to take you to visit the
Lauren thought about this for a moment. “I suppose so,” she said almost in a whisper. Then she noticed that the fairy had turned around and seemed to be fading away. “Please, don’t leave,” she said. “Maybe I could go with you for just a few minutes, because it isn’t quite time for me to say my prayers and turn out the light and go to sleep. How do we get there?”
Quickly, before Lauren could change her mind, Queen Avalon bent down and wrapped a shimmering silver shawl around her shoulders.
Now to this day Lauren can’t remember what happened next. Suddenly, they were high in the sky traveling toward the moon. It was a lovely feeling. Far below lights twinkled in the houses, and she wondered if anyone had missed her? But it didn’t matter, they would be back in a few minutes, because she had told Queen Avalon that is was almost time for her to go to sleep.
Then something strange happened. They were no longer flying in the night sky, and the moon was gone. They were standing in the most beautiful place Lauren had ever seen. Queen Avalon announced, “We have arrived in the
A whole crowd of fairies came flying to meet them. “Welcome home Queen Avalon,” they said, as they fluttered around her.
“These are some of my subjects, and they have come to meet you. Would you like to visit my palace and have lunch?”
“Oh, yes,” Lauren exclaimed.
“Well, we will fly there together”. The other fairies clapped their hands and began singing a song about Lauren, which they had just composed. It went something like this.
Lauren, Lauren how we love you,
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Book Details
About the Book
The book was written for four of my grandchildren, Lauren, Ryan, Andrew, and Rachel McCleary. The first chapter was written on a whim to thank Lauren for inviting me to a chocolate party at her school. She loved the story. Her mother insisted that I write a short story for each child. Considering the task, and after much thought, I decided to continue Lauren’s story and include her siblings in the adventure. With no intention of writing a long story, I found, as one chapter followed another, it seemed to have a life of its own. Chapters were given to the children as they were written. Whenever I visited the McCleary children, they would meet me at the door with, “Granddaddy, do you have another chapter?” Family, friends and other children, read and loved the story and encouraged the author to publish it.
The author has written 2 sequels, THE TROLLS FORTRESS and THE QUEST FOR THE MAGIC WAND.
The story is filled with high adventure involving the children with fairies, elves, giants, trolls, dwarfs, seers, wizards, witches, talking animals, and magic charms. The children are brave, clever, and resourceful. Routinely, the reader is left in suspense, waiting to see how a difficult situation in one chapter is resolved in the next. This book is suitable to read to young children ages six and older.
About the Author
Allison Richard Peirce spent his formative years in the Davis Mountain ranching country of West Texas. He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in chemical engineering. A varied career followed, which began with four years in industry, three years in the United States Navy (World War II), instructor in chemistry at Texas Western College (now UTEP) for seven years, followed by a stint of fourteen years as a stockbroker. Returning to his true love, chemistry, he worked for Harris County, Texas (Houston) in their Pollution Control Department for twenty-three years, beginning as director of the laboratory, advancing to assistant director of the department, and serving as director of the department for the last fifteen years of his employment. After retiring in 1992, he pursued his hobby of woodworking.
In his family, the art of storytelling was a part of their culture. His mother, like the Pied Piper, could mesmerize a roomful of children with her make-believe tales. He entertained his five children with bedtime stories, and now, drawing on his own imagination, has created a fantasy story for four of his nineteen grandchildren.
At Purdue, he was elected to membership in the literary honorary, Scriveners, a group of young writers.