The New York Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy author of the Avalon series introduces the prequel to the beloved and enduring classic The Mists of Avalon in this mesmerizing epic of one woman’s legendary role at a turning point in history. In a Britain struggling to survive Roman invasion, Eilan is the daughter of a Druidic warleader, gifted with visions and marked by fate to become a priestess of the Forest House. But fate also led Eilan to Gaius, a soldier of mixed blood, son of the Romans sent to subdue the native British. For Gaius, Eilan felt forbidden love, and her terrible secret will haunt her even as she is anointed as the new High Priestess. With mighty enemies poised to destroy the magic the Forest House shelters, Eilan must trust in the power of the great Goddess to lead her through the treacherous labyrinth of her destiny.

Following divorce, Fraser resolves to stay in the small mountain town where her son's father lives, but it soon proves too claustrophobic. She finds relief a world away in a small house up a winding road tucked so far into the forest one forgets it is technically still in town. It's in this small and remote forest house, both buffered and enveloped by endless wilderness, where she slowly rebuilds. The life she carves out for herself and son Dylan is harsh at times and lyrical at others. The physical landscape feeds her—with its trees and animals, firewood, barbed wire and rugged unforgiving demands—while her internal self brims over with favorite passages culled from beloved books…and also with immense guilt about pulling her son into the confusing and messy reality of divorce. Of course, it is complicated reflection, as our lives often are. No moment of reveling goes unpunished by self–reproach: how dare she be happy for the quiet afforded her when Dylan is with his dad. Is it okay to be happy? Shouldn't she be sadder? And her past is not past at all. Her history and the history of her family are very much alive in her, and memories crop–up unbidden, providing hints of explanation, that both prop her up and damn her. It is when all these gremlins hound her that she turns to what is outside her door. This is a literary gem for anyone who has navigated the treacherous waters of loss and rebuilt a life, for those who love an expanse of sky, and for those who carry books in their mind.

Following divorce, Fraser resolves to stay in the small mountain town where her son's father lives, but it soon proves too claustrophobic. She finds relief a world away in a small house up a winding road tucked so far into the forest one forgets it is technically still in town. It's in this small and remote forest house, both buffered and enveloped by endless wilderness, where she slowly rebuilds. The life she carves out for herself and son Dylan is harsh at times and lyrical at others. The physical landscape feeds her—with its trees and animals, firewood, barbed wire and rugged unforgiving demands—while her internal self brims over with favorite passages culled from beloved books…and also with immense guilt about pulling her son into the confusing and messy reality of divorce. Of course, it is complicated reflection, as our lives often are. No moment of reveling goes unpunished by self–reproach: how dare she be happy for the quiet afforded her when Dylan is with his dad. Is it okay to be happy? Shouldn't she be sadder? And her past is not past at all. Her history and the history of her family are very much alive in her, and memories crop–up unbidden, providing hints of explanation, that both prop her up and damn her. It is when all these gremlins hound her that she turns to what is outside her door. This is a literary gem for anyone who has navigated the treacherous waters of loss and rebuilt a life, for those who love an expanse of sky, and for those who carry books in their mind.

The New York Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy author of the Avalon series introduces the prequel to the beloved and enduring classic The Mists of Avalon in this mesmerizing epic of one woman’s legendary role at a turning point in history. In a Britain struggling to survive Roman invasion, Eilan is the daughter of a Druidic warleader, gifted with visions and marked by fate to become a priestess of the Forest House. But fate also led Eilan to Gaius, a soldier of mixed blood, son of the Romans sent to subdue the native British. For Gaius, Eilan felt forbidden love, and her terrible secret will haunt her even as she is anointed as the new High Priestess. With mighty enemies poised to destroy the magic the Forest House shelters, Eilan must trust in the power of the great Goddess to lead her through the treacherous labyrinth of her destiny.

Honest musings draw readers into the vortex of reflection and renewal A gentle heart and questioning mind ponder the verisimilitudes of life The joys and peace derived from observing nature, the shared intimacy and bonds of lovers, friends and family, the rich experience and adventure of travel, ruminations on an eclectic medley of issues and topics comprise this latest reflective anthology of poet Nancy J. Puglisi. Her poems capture moments that give birth to beautiful memories evoking the readers own emotions and reflections. Poems such as Flashing Light, Watching, and Forest Music reference experiences shared by many who direct their attention to the natural world. The depths of love and passion are expressed in poems such as Delightful, Surprise, Seeing, and Together. Mothers Day, Brothers, Nantucket Friends, and Remembering the 50s focus on the ties of family and the precious connections with friends. Despite the gentle tenor of many of her poems, Puglisi confronts the reader with her thoughts and feelings on several controversial topics prompting the reader to examine his or her own position. Dont Ask Dont Tell, In Defense of What, and Our Non-Civil Union address controversies surrounding and within the arena of gay rights while poems such as Depleting Resource, questioning energy production and consumption, or Emotional Roller Coaster which contrasts the fleeting joy of the holiday season with the reality of human suffering, highlight the complex issues and often harsh realities of life. Puglisi has honed her thoughtful approach to observing life through her examination of a variety of philosophies, most notably Buddhism, which is reflected in selections such as Breathing, Breath, and Contemplation. She is inspired to consider the value and beauty of everyday realities common to many. Her relaxed style and down-to-earth approach to poetry provides a very readable quality to her work that can be appreciated by even the most confirmed poetry-phobe. Use the images and emotions Puglisi shares in this newest collection to inspire your own journey of reflection and renewal. Puglisi is also the author of Fishing Without A Hook, Catching Moments At Work, a similarly reflective anthology of poetry related to the ups and downs of the work experience.

In a tale set in Druidic England, Eilan feels torn between her love for a young Roman soldier and her inner need to become a priestess for her Goddess