Prince Dustin and Clara are again!

The third ebook within the middle-grade sequence about intrepid Clara and her pal, the valiant Prince Dustin, will probably be launched this fall. Followers of the primary novel, “Deep within the Black Forest,” and its sequel, “Secrets and techniques of the Black Forest,” will get pleasure from studying extra of their adventures within the third installment, “Legends of the Black Forest.”

Readers will recall that Daniel Lee Nicholson’s first novel was a retelling of the basic “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by ETA Hoffmann, the story which served as inspiration for the ballet we all know as “The Nutcracker.” In it, Clara turned a warrior of her personal, serving alongside Princess Sugar Plum and Queen Nordika and a military of surprising and fierce creatures.

Within the present story, Clara once more should do battle however this time, she is combating a brand new adversary: purple-eyed Serihilda, a sorceress who is decided to interrupt the evil wizard Drachenmayer out of jail. Beforehand we discovered that our good wizard Herr Drosselmeyer had a twin brother, Drachenmeyer, who was defeated by Prince Dustin and Clara and locked in jail. Serihilda has goals to launch him and crew as much as take over all the Black Forest and rule the Darkish Forces. Clara, Dustin (now a King), Sugar Plum, Nordika and Drosselmeyer muster all of the creatures they will to confront the wily sorceress and depraved wizard.

As in previous books, there are whimsical touches of magic resembling a speaking canine named Mozart and sentient toads, and loads of humor applicable for each youngsters and their dad and mom.

Inside art work by Luke Ahearn assist units the scene and tone for every chapter, whether or not it’s a sketch of snow-capped mountains or a military of marching trolls.

Included on this version are dialogue matters which offer backstory for the sequence in addition to fascinating factors for additional exploration. Dad and mom of dancers who both carry out in or attend performances of “The Nutcracker” might additionally use this sequence of books as inspiration to debate how they differ from the unique story dancers know or conversely, how they may affect new variations of the ballet (e.g. what would it not be prefer to have trolls carry out Reed Flutes?). At its coronary heart, this sequence champions Clara, giving her loads of adventures and alternatives to be the hero.

(Illustrations and canopy artwork supplied by the writer.)

Concerning the writer:

Daniel Lee Nicholson was born and raised within the Midwest and carried out in numerous productions of The Nutcracker ballet. He at the moment lives together with his spouse in Los Angeles the place he works in Media and Leisure.

Extra details about the writer and the sequence could be discovered on the writer’s web site, Fossil Mountain Publishing LLC. “Legends of the Black Forest” releases September 17, 2021.

Leigh Purtill is a ballet teacher and choreographer in Los Angeles the place she lives along with her husband and charming poodle. She obtained her grasp’s diploma in Movie Manufacturing from Boston College and her bachelor’s in Anthropology and Dance from Mount Holyoke School. She is the writer of 4 younger grownup novels from Penguin and HarperCollins. She is the inventive director of the Leigh Purtill Ballet Firm, a nonprofit novice ballet firm for adults and she or he teaches ballet and jazz to adults each in particular person and on-line, Leigh Purtill Ballet. Learn Leigh’s posts.