Tupper & Freydolf are making a good first impression on Skylee. Last week, I received an art-packed email with quick sketches of some of her favorite scenes from the first book in the Galleries of Stone trilogy. With her permission, I’m sharing a couple of them with you!

In a twinkling, Tupper was up the nearest tree, barely bending its thickly-gnarled branches with his scanty weight as he perched. Feet swinging, eyes roving, the lad reached for one of the blushing fruits hidden amidst green leaves. He pressed the softly-fuzzed peach to his lips, but before he took a bite, he plucked another. Freydolf thought the boy a trifle greedy … until Tupper held it out to him. —excerpted from Galleries of Stone, Book 1: Meadowsweet

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The boy knelt down to peer at each animal in turn, then looked quizzically at Freydolf. “Do they wake up?”

He grinned, and said, “Watch!” Cupping bathwater in his hands, he dribbled some over the turtle’s shell. The stone creature’s head lifted, and its eyes blinked placidly, first at Freydolf, then at Tupper, whose expression filled with wonder. As the turtle began a slow shuffle along the floor, Freydolf offered, “You try?”

Scooting closer, Tupper scooped water and let it splash onto the small feline, leaving a soap bubble on its ear. The wee point flicked, and the cat promptly sat back on its haunches and began to wash. “Oooh,” Tupper breathed. He gave the beetle a similar dousing and gasped with it came to life and swiftly skittered away.

“They’ll be able to move until they’re dry again,” Freydolf explained, sitting back to watch. —excerpted from Galleries of Stone, Book 1: Meadowsweet

Thank you, Skylee!

If you haven’t met Tupper and Freydolf yet, then you’re in for a treat. The Galleries of Stone trilogy is complete. Your adventure begins in Book 1: Meadowsweet.

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