New in hardback. Faith-based, this first book in the Big Creek Appalachian series begins in dark places where children are traded as child brides to men who are willing to work the family farm. Innocent Emerald Ashby is assaulted and becomes pregnant. She is accused and dishonored, but when members of the community come round, surprises happen.

A captivating picture book about a very soft-spoken little girl’s ultimately successful struggle to find her own voice.

About the author The author goes by the nom de plume Leoni Robens, loves writing poems of love, valour, knights in shining armour, giants, mermaids and all sorts of fairy folks. She has won a scholarship in English and won certificates for elocution, drama, singing and handwriting. The author loves cooking, gardening, painting and singing and has sung in her mother-in-law, Heather’s choir for many shows performed on stage. Her favourite authors are George Mac Donald, William Shakespeare, Lewis Caroll, Enid Blyton, Frances Hodgson Burnett and Hans Christian Anderson and her favourite book is Alice in Wonderland. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. At present she is a housewife, but still continues writing these enjoyable poems, to entertain adults as well as young minds with some fun and magic. She believes that the “PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD” and hopes that one day her pen will bring out the best in song, dance and dramatics to be performed on stage by budding enthusiastic young actors, which would add another feather to her cape. She lives in Mumbai with her husband, son, mother and adorable pet African grey Romeo as well charming moustache Parakeets Charlie Brown and Alice Liddle. Her published books- “A Fairy’s Quill: Poetry Book for Children”, “Maguk World- Wonderland Fairy Carousel of Poems”, “The Maguk Well” & “MAGIC COMPOSITIONS! Stories reflecting sea creatures and sprites of the earth!” are quite popular among young readers. This one “THE WHISPERING WILLOWS” based on the Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame surely will not disappoint her readers. Happy Reading into the marvellous land of Mr Toady and his friends unforgettable adventures of the Wild Wood Yonder! TEARS LIKE SUMMERS TEMPEST! Tales like stories of the Wind in the Willows have secrets of trees like Willows of mystical symbolism. Different types of trees have their own meaning, depending where they grow and tales have been woven around them over the years. The wild wood creatures Mr Toad along with his friends Mr Water Ratty, Mr Moley, Mr Otter and Mr Badger show us, how true friendship is unshakable and its foundation so deep like its sustaining roots-powerful, nourishing and so strong that binds us with consolation of facing the most difficult and most terrifying challenges, also sharing moments of sweetness and tranquility. Overcoming all our temptations, vices and using our talents and usefulness to help our family and also to bring out our fruits of labour into sprawling branches of ambition, for others to share, enjoy and spread the meaning of Whispering Willows “May you cry tears so big, joyous and unpredictable like Tears of a Summers Tempest!”

The saga of Emerald Ashby is an authentic work of historical fiction. Set in the late 1920s, against the backdrop of superstition and arraged marriages in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, eighth-grade Emie finds surprising strength.

Whispers in the Willows is about people who exaggerate the truth without truly exploring the truth. Jesus clearly declares to His followers to "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." (Matthew 7:1-2 NKJV) Based on this simple statement, Whisper in the Willows depicts the people of a small Midwest town who are so ensnared in spreading rumors about an elderly gentleman who lives at the end of a dead-end street, they never take time to learn the history of this old man. It is not until a young couple moves into an old farm house next to this old-timer, Woody, that they begin to unearth the secrets of his past and resulting pains. In the process, the couple, as well as the rest of the townspeople, come to appreciate Woody for all that he contributed to the community; as well as coming together to help bury his pains of antiquity.