Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

LOUISE WANNIER is an author, artist, and creative entrepreneur. As a visual artist and photographer, she attempts to capture and present the energy and spirit she observes and feels in our complex world. Her work has been exhibited at galleries and museums nationwide and appeared in the book Less Clutter More Life. She has built four companies and advised many others in industries from Education Technology to Fashion Design and is currently creating her own textile art prints and collections for fashion and the home under the label LOUIS JANE™. A graduate of the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising in Textile Design, she also holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School and a BS in Astronomy from the California Institute of Technology. She feels very fortunate to be “Safta” to nine grandchildren. To learn more, visit LouiseWannier.com.

In THE HAT DIARIES: Escape From the Adventure, Nadine Haruni culminates her action-packed trilogy with a story reflecting the power of friendship and the interconnectedness of family across generations. Book three opens with Ryan and Shadow in Aachen, Germany, on October 13, 1944. Despite repeated warnings from Merlo, Ryan made the terrible mistake of overstaying the 60-minute timeframe allotted to complete each Adventure. Right after Violet stepped through the Portal to return home, he dropped his diary, a precious written record of all his Adventures. He thought he’d have enough time to grab it before the countdown timer shrieked. Instead, as he picked up his diary, Ryan watched in horror as the massive red Portal door shut, leaving him stranded amidst the turmoil and danger of battle during World War II.     THE HAT DIARIES: Escape From the Adventure is told from the perspective of three different narrators: Ryan, Merlo, and Violet. As the tension mounts, the story reveals a secret Merlo has been carrying for most of his adult life, one that is weighed down by guilt. As Sergeant Hank and Ryan set out on a journey fraught with danger, navigating through war-torn landscapes, Escape From the Adventure raises intriguing questions: Is it possible to prevent a tragic event from happening again? And if the course of history can be altered, at what cost?                  Through it all, readers will continue to root for Ryan Rigbee, a relatable and remarkable teen. While THE HAT DIARIES: Escape From the Adventure marks the end of the trilogy, Ryan and his magical Adventures will live on.   

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

Evie can't believe she's made it to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. After fleeing the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Evie's family is still poor and reeling from devastating losses. She could have never guessed that the sport she took up to escape her reality would lead to this. Now, she's competing in gymnastics on Team USA, with some of the greatest athletes in the world like track and field star Jesse Owens. But all is not as it seems in Berlin, a city now ruled by the Nazis and their tyrannical leader, Adolf Hitler. And Evie has secrets of her own. With two other Olympic athletes, who each have their own reasons for despising the Nazis, Evie has been recruited for the biggest heist of the century by a mysterious criminal mastermind, who intends on robbing the Nazis right under their noses. But Evie didn't count on being stuck with an inquisitive Youth Services Host, Heinz, who is determined to follow her every step while concealing his own deadly secret. And she didn't count on discovering the truth behind all of the glittering fanfare of the Olympics: the Nazis are harshly persecuting Jewish people and preparing for a devastating war. When the time comes, Evie is forced to face the reality around her, and the horrors that the Nazis can't quite hide. She must learn how to see the truth beneath the mirage and choose between what's wrong and right -- and what it might cost her. The timeless #1 New York Times bestseller REFUGEE in a stunning newgraphic novel adaptation!Josef is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world... Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America... Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe... All three kids must endure harrowing journeys. All face unimaginable dangers. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end. Refugee is a modern classic that has spent over 5 years on the New York Times bestseller list and garnered several awards and much acclaim. Brought to life with rich, gorgeous illustrations by artist Syd Fini, this hotly anticipated graphic novel will attract a whole new generation of fans.

Those unrecognized moments when Fall is setting in and again this year you woke up not realizing the leaves have fallen from the trees. A major part of the story is now missing from your moments of all things right now.

Thanks for being part of the conversation…Welcome to Forest Stories.  A series of short-winded adventures within a collection of skyscraping trees stuck feet first in Georgia Clay right here in Carolina.  It’s been a huge part of my daily writing journey for over 33 years.I’m the Poet In The Forest.  A children’s series written and recorded in the 1990s.It’s grown into multiple podcasts that reach around the world.None of it would be possible without this forest in South Charlotte, NC.At the base of Heartbreak Hill sits a sign that reads Rainbow Forest.  It’s time you meet what’s inspired several generations.Long before the paved paths decorated with colorful homes colonized around this beautiful lake, slow moving streams, flatland swamps and array of natural animals, there were families and business owners who are said to have raced into this area for the beauty of the land, wild roses, migratory birds and grapevines. Those before me either forgot to write about it or its buried somewhere inside a family tree.  Thanks for being part of the conversationThis week, the writers canvas unveils the missing mysterious working gloves.

A community touchstone and a reminder that the best way to a better future is to create it together… united. The conclusion to the New York Times bestselling All Because You Matter trilogy,TOGETHER,UNITED by Tami Charles and illustrated by Bryan Collier, is a profound and inspirational message of unity. A lyrical and astounding proclamation of unity and love, this stunning picture book serves as a reminder and a clear declaration that together, we are all part of something much greater. Courageous and bold, this final follow-up to the New York Times bestselling All Because You Matter and acclaimed We Are Here is a message of optimism: that alone we are strong, but together we are unstoppable! Tami Charles’ powerful and rhythmic text reminds young readers of their brilliance as individuals and the immense power they hold when their voices come together as one. Breathtaking illustrations by renowned artist Bryan Collier, evoke the beauty and wonder of how we are all connected together in the world and our ability to change it for the better.

Those unrecognized moments when Fall is setting in and again this year you woke up not realizing the leaves have fallen from the trees. A major part of the story is now missing from your moments of all things right now.

Claribel Ortega returns to her much beloved middle grade series Witchlings with the fourth book, SCEPTER OF MEMORIES. In this new book, evil dwells in Ravenskill and it’s up to the Spares to prevent it from taking over. Seven, Thorn, and Valley are determined to stop Ambert Lophiifor’s plan of taking over the Twelve Towns. With Seven’s Uncle powers and their new coven behind them, surely they’ll be able to defeat him at last. But strange things are happening around Ravenskill—the Witchlings’ allies are starting to forget them! When the Witchlings are charged with the crime of practicing unnatural and dangerous magic, no one is there to come to their defense. Without any support, the Witchlings are forced to flee beyond the borders of the Twelve Towns and into the swirling grey mists of the Enchanted Grim, hoping to find the one witch who might have the knowledge and power to help them: Delphinium Larkspur. The Grim is an uncharted wilderness filled with monstruos, where no normal witch would ever be able to survive. But there’s nothing normal about the Witchlings, their courage, or their friendship. Together with their Nightbeasts, they are determined to find a way to save their home. Even if it means embracing the monstruos within themselves.