Vonnie Winslow Crist 

The Greener Forest

by Vonnie Winslow Crist

   Fantasy stories featuring spriggans, goblins, swan maidens, angels, dragons, ningyo, and other Faerie creatures lead the reader into The Greener Forest where all is not what it seems at first glance. There is dark and light, evil and good, and uncertain dusky gray lurking between the pages of this book-- "The world is full of mystery & magic. We just need to look, listen & believe that wondrous things are still possible." -- Vonnie

Order Your Copy of The Greener Forest

Discussion Questions:  The Greener Forest by Vonnie Winslow Crist

 The Greener Forest is a collection of fantasy stories. Below are a question for each story, plus a few extra discussion questions. Vonnie loves to hear from her readers, enjoys appearing at sf/f cons, writers' conferences, school author and/or illustrator visits, and Skyping with book clubs. Contact her for more info: vonniewinslowcrist@vonniewinslowcrist.com

 1- In “Birdling,” was the gift from Acorn Cap Brown Man truly a gift? Would you want to receive it?

 2- In “Shoreside,” how do you imagine that Will discovered Hiromi was a Ningyo?

 3- In “Tootsie’s Swamp Tours & Amusement Park,” Cat gives Jess a special necklace to protect her from spriggans. Do you have any jewelry, trinkets, or rituals you use for a special purpose?

 4- “In Appleheads,” Tanner, Bucky, and Mickie have a knack for getting into trouble. What kind of trouble did you get in when you were young? Was Tanner treated fairly during both incidents?

 5- In “Blood of the Swan,” Liv places a great amount of trust in Jorund. Did you have any doubts during the course of the story that Jorund would follow through in the end?

 6- In “Weathermaker,” do you think that May’s choice to join Lung was a sacrifice for her community, genuine love for Lung, or a selfish escape out of her situation? Does it matter, given that the outcome was the same?

 7- In “Toad,” lore states that killing a toad will bring rain. Have you heard any other sayings or old wives’ tales about predicting weather?

 8- “Waiting for More” teaches the reader the value of slowing down and listening to elders. What do you wish you had slowed down to learn?

 9- Are Katy’s actions in “The Garden Shop” excusable? Is vigilante justice acceptable, or should the authorities be the only ones to judge and punish violent criminals?

 10- If you were in love with your best friend’s spouse or partner, would you be able to continue a close friendship with them? In “Angels,” do you think Victor was aware of Porter’s love for Bea?

 11- In “The Return of Gunnar Kettilson,” should, and could, Cecelia have run away from town given the abuse of Gunnar?

 12- In “Scarecrow,” do you think Brook should have interfered with Annabeth’s situation? What might have happened if he had never spoken to her?

 13- With “Blame it on the Trees” in mind, is there such a thing as love at first site? Have you ever experienced it? Could you love someone whose appearance constantly attracted negative attention?

 14- Were there any poems that you identified with? Why?

 15- What role do the trees and the forest play in these stories?

 16- Would The Greener Forest be somewhere you would like to live?

 17- Do you believe in fairies, angels, or ghosts? Why or why not? How do you decide what is real? If you believe, have you had any experiences with them?

Reviews:

  "I highly recommend this collection." - Carabosse's Library

   5 Stars - "a book that everyone, of any age would enjoy reading” - Lindsay and Jane's Views & Reviews

  "Crist is a master of metaphor" - Little Patuxent Review

  "a delightful collection of great stories, poetry and imagery" - Besotted With Books 

  "a great anthology of short stories about the Fae folk...I look forward to reading more of her stories in the future." Douglas R. Cobb, Boomtron

   "the stories in the collection leave the reader with a sense of 'what if' and the willingness to suspend (for a little while, at least) our modern logical viewpoint...and experience the fairy world that still might exist, just out of sight" - Harford's Heart Magazine

Buy The Greener Forest