In Stone Series: Energy in Stone

Willow is Lily Ann Bud closest confidante until the mysterious Colleen Harrison befriends her. Colleen teaches her about nature and she realizes there is more to the elderly Mrs. Harrison than meets the eye. But it's Colleen's final lesson that has the greatest impact on Lily's world.

Pea Peckle, one of the Fey, introduces Lily to enchanting spirit beings that strengthen her link with the planet and expands her view of the universe. Nature fairies may have funny names but they are only silly sometimes. Lily's quest for the Spiritstone's next caretaker is plagued with nightmares and loss, but when she alone sees the violet spark the stakes are raised.

Uncertainty of her worth, sanity, and strength haunt Lily even after each new achievement. Can Lily stop the menacing phantom that threatens everything she hold dear? Will Lily's soul offer the answers that her mind refused to believe? Will Lily recognize the 'Energy In Stone'?

'Energy in Stone' ~ a magical garden of fantasy ~ the first in Lily's odyssey with nature.

Excerpt:

After taking another bite of my sandwich, I dug the miniature stone bear out of my pocket, and set it down on the table beside her plate. Watching her carefully, I saw the smile leave her face as her mouth turned into the shape of an O.

A tiny gasp slipped out, and then she excitedly asked, "Where did you get this?"

Quickly, I asked, "Do you see it?"

Colleen forgot the rest of her fruit as she picked the relic up, and peered at it very closely. She stared quite intently without saying anything, but the smile crept slowly back onto her face as I saw dazzling light reflected in her eyes. Her expression became radiant, and I questioned, "Colleen?"

She hastily pulled the bear from her vision, and handed it back. What was that all about? I said, "You looked a million miles away."

"Did I?" She picked up her fork, stabbed a piece of pineapple, and then before putting it into her mouth, she said very casually, "Where did you say it came from?"

"I got it at the very first thrift sale we went to last Friday. You saw something, didn't you?"

She was noncommittal, but asked, "What did you see?"

"The light at its center, well...did you?"

She must have seen something with the way she reacted. It seemed as if she was choosing her words carefully, as she said, "Yes, I believe I did."

"Good, because Mom just glanced at it and said it was cute, as if there was nothing really very special about it at all. I have been carrying it in my pocket since I got it."

"Out of curiosity, how much did you have to pay for the bear?"

Proudly, I beamed, "Fifty cents."

Colleen giggled, and sat back in her chair with her hands over her mouth rocking forward and backward, in a giddy thrall. I was becoming exasperated with her behavior. Her quick change of mood was confusing. Normally, she was a lot easier to understand. As she continued her giggling, several times I heard her say, "fifty cents," and each time she giggled a little harder.