The Fairies of Glendaren Hills by Susan Cupples-Munger

I'm so behind this week on posting, but I did do an interview for the GSMC Book Review Podcast.  I spoke with Susan Cupples-Munger about her children's book, The Fairies of Glendaren Hills. 

I love how I come to some of my interviews, especially this one.  I don't personally know Sue, but I used to work with her daughter, Alison, when I lived in Texas.  So when Alison posted on Facebook a couple of months ago that her mom's first book had just been published I sent her a quick message to ask if her mom might want to be on the podcast.  Alison checked with Sue, introduced us via email, and voila! a podcast was born.

Source

Spoon and Myrtle have long entertained their grandchildren with tales of fairies living in the hills that surround their home. And no matter how intriguing the stories, the children know they’re not really true…or are they?

While visiting their grandparents, Alison and Leah decide to discover the truth about the fairies once and for all, and they are delighted to discover the fairy kingdom nestled deep in the forest of Glendaren Hills. Their wonder is short-lived, however, when they realize the kingdom is threatened by plans to build a railroad. Mavin, the ruthless railroad builder, has enlisted the town mayor to help him force residents to sell their land. And Magog, a fairy-turned-sorcerer banned from the kingdom for using black magic, has his own plans to destroy the kingdom.

Will the fairy world disappear just as Alison and Leah have found it? Or will they be able to save their new friends and the kingdom from certain destruction? (Source)

This is a really sweet book about a loving, close-knit family.  It also happens to be about fairies.  And, of course, there is some drama and danger, so what's not to like?  It is a fun read, and while it is a children's book, I enjoyed reading it as an adult.  As I mention to Sue in the interview, I wish my nieces were closer so we could read it together because I think they would enjoy it.

One thing that fascinated me was Sue's story about seeing the name Glendaren Hills on a roadside and starting to make up a story about that place and the fairies who lived there, while driving home from Ohio.  She never intended to be an author, but the sign sparked an idea and the idea became this book, which is the first in a series about the creatures and humans who live in Glendaren Hills.

Genres:

• Children's Fiction
• Fantasy
• Fairy Tale

What I enjoyed:

• The Wotherspoon family and their loving quirkiness.
• Fairies.  I'm a big fan of fantasy, as I'm sure you know if you're a regular listener/reader, so introducing children to fairies and fantasies in a way that is fun and accessible makes me happy.
• The intergenerationality of the book.  I loved how Alison and Leah come to know about this world that their grandparents already know about, and how eager the are to embrace it and share the experience with family.
• That my friend Alison has a character named after her in the book (as do her siblings)

Who should read The Fairies of Glendaren Hills?

• Sue recommends it for ages 9-12.
• Families who love to read together.
• Fans of fantasy, fairies, and family stories.

Quotes:

• "[Flossie and Cricket] love to hide and watch the mortals and have concluded that some are bad, while others are good.  Spoon and Myrtle are two of the good ones in their opinion."
• "Spoon and Myrtle love the land as much as fairy folk, so they are accepted as true friends.."
• "Suddenly, the rolling pin flew up into the air and began striking Mavin on top of the head.  To their disbelief, the men saw coffee cups and plates floating from the house in mid-air.  They were mesmerized by the sound of the bells.  They looked up in wonder, just as the dishes crashed over their heads and shoulders."

Author Bio:

Susan Cupples-Munger lives in Newton, Iowa with her husband, Dave.  She enjoys gardening, bird watching and writing.

To hear the interview with Susan please click here.