The Winter Elf. Grace Anne

      

      ENDORSEMENTS

      “I have now read this book several times and have marveled at its unusual power. The Winter Elf can only be described as a masterpiece of children’s literature. Grace Anne has created a one-of-a-kind tool for anyone who loves a child. And before the story even begins, the author’s Letter to Grownups—a quick message to the book’s likely narrators—has value well beyond the price of the book. Seriously.”

      —ANDY ANDREWS, New York Times bestselling author of The Traveler’s Gift, The Noticer, and creator of WisdomHarbour.com

      “All good fairy stories show us who we are and help us to understand the world in which we live. As Tolkien says, they hold up a mirror, showing us ourselves. The Winter Elf is a very good fairy story. Charming and disarming, it takes us into an enchanted world so that we can see the pain and suffering of this world more clearly. It is a gift for suffering souls of all ages which edifies the troubled soul even as it heals the broken heart.”

      —JOSEPH PEARCE, author of Further Up and Further In: Understanding Narnia and Frodo’s Journey: Discover the Hidden Meaning of The Lord of the Rings

      “As a child psychologist, this is now on my most recommended book list for parents to read to their children. The Winter Elf will delight and win fans. It is a winsome tale of healing which leaves the reader in a spirit of cherished reflection and loving comfort.”

      —DR. TRINA YOUNG GREER, Psychologist, Founder and Executive Director, Genesis Counseling Center, Hampton, VA

      “Grace Anne’s love for children, fairy tales, and the deeper truths they convey shines through every page!”

      —CHRISTIN DITCHFIELD, author of the best-selling A Family Guide to Narnia

      “The Winter Elf is a beautiful reminder that bringing our fears and hurts into the light means that the darkness no longer has the same power over us. As the wise elf shares his ancient saying, we all gain a solid reminder of the best way to bear a burden: by sharing it with those who love us. This story speaks to the hurting child in all of us with a message of redemption and healing.”

      —KIM NISBETT, Director, Fine Linen Theatre, Rolla, MO

      “At once both a moment in time and timeless, The Winter Elf is the best sort of fairy tale. Grace Anne’s prose echoes the cadences and rhythms of Lewis, Potter and Dahl—clean, exact, and evocative—providing just the right touches of precise description to create that moment in time when her young hero Clara most needs guidance—and a gentle reminder that faith is a kind of magic, no less real merely because it defies explanation. Clara’s journey is simple yet profound and will no doubt touch hearts and souls for many ages to come.”

      —DR. DANIEL REARDON, Associate Professor of English, Science Fiction & Fantasy Literature, Missouri University of Science and Technology

      “A good story with a timeless message is hard to find but Grace Anne has conjured up a tale that will become a family favorite. The Winter Elf helps children understand they can learn and grow even when life seems harsh.”

      —JOANNE F MILLER, speaker, artist and author of Creating a Haven of Peace, What If It Were Possible? and Be Your Finest Art

      “Grace Anne has achieved the enchanting task of what George MacDonald called inventing ‘a little world of one’s own.’ Fans of fairytales will recognize her winter world, for it works a peculiar magic, making us long all the more for the good, the true, and the beautiful.”

      —ANDREW LAZO, MA, editor of Mere Christians: Inspiring Encounters with C.S. Lewis, and of Early Prose Joy, Lewis’s first spiritual autobiography

      “Riddled with pithy wisdom, yet also woven into a rich storyline, The Winter Elf is sure to both inspire and challenge. It will no doubt become a favorite therapeutic resource for those who work with children, as it has all the elements of a classic. Highly recommended!”

      —KENYON KNAPP, Ph.D, Dean, School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University

      “Grace Anne succeeds in painting a stirring portrait of loss and pain by using a palette of friendship, compassion and hope, all on the canvas of a classic children’s fable.”

      —JAMES DUKE, President, Act One, Inc., Hollywood, CA

The Winter Elf

      GRACE ANNE

      NEW YORK

      LONDON • NASHVILLE • MELBOURNE • VANCOUVER

      The Winter Elf

      © 2021 Grace Anne

      All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

      Published in New York, New York, by Mount Tabor Media, an imprint of Morgan James Publishing. Morgan James is a trademark of Morgan James, LLC. www.MorganJamesPublishing.com

      ISBN 9781642795349 paperback

      ISBN 9781642795356 case laminate

      ISBN 9781642795363 eBook

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2019937654

      Cover Design by:

      Megan Dillon

       [email protected]

      Interior Design by:

      Chris Treccani

       www.3dogcreative.net

      Cover design work by Drew.graphics

      Photography by AlyssaJeanStudios.com

      This book is dedicated to the thought of a child and kindred spirit who might cherish the story as much as I do. He or she has been my reason for writing from the beginning. I decided I never much cared if my books succeeded greatly, if only they reached this one soul. Thank you, dear heart.