The Bard of Wild Rose

"The Bard of Wild Rose" is a literary work of fiction, an approximately 75,000 word fantasy novel for young adults and up.
Sixteen-year-old Holly McCarthy lives two lives, or so it seems. Her life in the earth realm attending a Wisconsin high school provides her with a loving family and friends, a good education, and her church choir. She also lives a secret life only she and her closest friends and family know about-- a life where she can travel to the fairy realm where her Druid boyfriend lives. In this realm music is more than she could ever have imagined; and, a fairy priestess invites her to come and live and study there-- a decision she fights her parents to be able to make while searching her heart to find out if that is what she wants to do.
Her boyfriend in Fairy is kind, passionate, and patient. Although he doesn't dream-call her to his realm as much as she would like, her love for him sparkles as bright as the fairy realm itself, and she knows they will have a future together. Still, living like this is confusing at times, and often seems unreal.
In the earth realm she is paired up with a new boy at school for a class genealogy project. He makes advances toward her, and she has some learning experiences that add to her distress. She not only discovers her strengths and weaknesses, but also her family history of Druid ancestors.
With many questions on her mind, Holly struggles with inner conflicts, teenage temptations, trouble with classmates, flooding emotions of love, guilt, and fear.
Although she makes mistakes, the most important issue for her is clear-- her scholastic future. But if she goes, she will not be able to come back from the magical world of Fairy for at least two years. Can she leave her home, her family, for that long?

While at the University of Wisconsin—Waukesha, I served as the literary magazine editor. I earned my Bachelor's of Arts degree in English from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Since then, I have continued to write.
After self-publishing two poetry books (under a different pseudonym) I wrote a middle-grade novel which is sold on Smashwords and other sites. It is titled "The Guardian of the Well." After that "The Bard of Wild Rose" (also available at Smashwords and other retailers), was published—a novel for young adults and older. I have recently completed a short story collection: "A-Z Bedtime Stories". It was written for ages 8-elderly.
All my writings include a mix of fantasy, spiritualism, and love. Thank you for reading.