By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
LOCAL artist Glenda Wise will be launching a series of six children and young adult books at the Belgrave Library at 10.30am on Saturday 21 May.
The ‘Fairy Green’ and ‘Pearls of Wisedom’ book series are a collaborative effort between Ms Wise and a local author, Michael Kelly.
“About 10 years ago, I began painting a series of pearl fairies, which grew in number to over 60,” she said.
“Mike had written these stories for children with the theme for a better future for planet earth.”
Michael Kelly was unable to see his and Ms Wise’s project comes to life as he was taken by cancer in September 2009.
The books are part of a larger project to have children and young people, parents, teachers, business and ideas people everywhere connected through these stories and later online portals working to improve the future of the earth.
“He wanted to connect children all over the world by means of storytelling and ultimately technology, so they would become aware of the future of their planet and work together as they grew up with more sustainable thinking,” Ms Wise said.
Last year, Mr Kelly’s widow, Andrea, gifted Ms Wise the rights to the stories so she could finish their work and complete the project.
Four of the six books will be launched at a special event at the Belgrave library where all children in attendance are invited to dress as fairies, pixies and elves with a prize for best in each category.
Ms Wise will present the books and speak about her life as an artist, and display her paintings and illustrations.
