On the Wings of the Swan

On the Wings of the Swan is the first book in the Treasury of the Lost Scrolls series that chronicles a period of time in the life of a fairytale kingdom. A wandering traveler happens upon old, forgotten scrolls. This first book covers the information contained in the first three scrolls and tells of a time when magical creatures once lived among the people by the mighty River of Gold. When circumstances required the Queen of Wishes to leave, she wished a great treasure of gold into the river. This first story begins the tale when an innocent girl’s self-sacrifice sets in motion a chain of events leading to the reawakening and reclamation of the kingdom’s true and noble ruler, the heightening of the magical forces of good and evil that influence this place and the intensification of the perilous path of the young heroine. It is when Merryrose, the heroine, cuts off her long, golden braid for use as a lifeline to save the grumbly, grumpy, grouchy old man from drowning that she attracts the attention of Orella, the Queen of Wishes. The prominent role of right thinking on behalf of others is underscored by the presentation of a Golden Key to the heroine by the Queen of Wishes. The Golden Key carries powers from Casimiria, the Land of Wishes, to help “open hearts”. Qualities of kindness, compassion, mercy and generosity are highly prized and supported in the Land of Wishes. The nemesis, Drufia, whose paths of destruction and selfish power are threatened by the increasingly powerful force of positive change, sets her sights on foiling any wide-eyed, optimistic adventures of Merryrose. It is learned that Drufia had placed herself as a barrier to progress before when her role in silencing the ruler of this Kingdom is revealed. As the malevolent reach of Drufia extends, so too must the forces which would keep her in check. The majesty of the Royal Swan coupled with the benevolence of the fairy Munya, confer an expectation of safe passage for Merryrose despite the negative forces around her. The magic of legions of good fairies, magic wands, and a silver wish box serve to protect the extraordinary piece of this heroine’s unexpected journey.

Rosemarie Gulla has worked as an educator for more than 30 years. She lives in Carrboro, North Carolina. Gary Undercuffler is an illustrator who has worked on a wide variety of books, textbooks, and magazines. He lives in Pennsylvania.