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"But will the island not be saved if I return to bring word of trouble?" On the precipice of manhood, Mossy longs to join the other boys in The Week of Knights. Yet when an evil army threatens to destroy all he knows and loves, the future king of Cab Nilres is pressed to decide not only his own fate, but also the fate of his home. Will Mossy fulfill the ancient prophecies? Will all be lost if he fails? Journey with Mossy as he discovers the depths of his roots, the origins of his namesake, and his place within the kingdom.
Ian M. Anderson is a high school educator who considers it an honor to read and write alongside his students. He loves Jesus, drinks coffee, tends small trees, and lives in Central Kansas with his wife and their three sons. He blogs at ianmanderson.blogspot.com and tweets occasionally @ian_writes.
“A Mossy Story is a mythological, fantastical short story full of subtle insinuations, symbolism, and analogy; vivid descriptions of scenes and yet room to supplement details with one’s own imagination. Strong emotions accompanied my reading of the tale; I felt exquisite pain and yet breathtaking hope at the same time. A reader could peruse this story repeatedly and seize fresh nuances each time.”
—Megan Warner, President, Keystone Appraisals
“The writing in A Mossy Story truly sings. It exhibits some of the best characteristics modeled by Lewis and Tolkien in that the story is simple and engaging enough to enchant children while also containing a depth of thought that compels adult readers to ponder important questions about life and love. A Mossy Story is a great story for parents and children to read and reread together.”
—Christian Dashiell, Editorial Fellow, Fatherly
“Readers of all ages will find comfort in Mossy’s journey, for it reflects the search of the whole community for purpose and connection to the world around them. Anderson’s lyrical prose underscores the mythic and spiritual journey of Mossy, the community, and the land they inhabit, reminding us all that we are part of something larger than ourselves.”
—Felicia Squires, Associate Provost and Dean of Faculty, Corban University
“With a pinch of Richard Powers, a dash of C. S. Lewis, and a sprinkle of J. R. R. Tolkien, Ian Anderson has cooked up a delicious stew of a story, a taste of magic to nourish you and your magical children, wide eyed with wonder, snuggling in close. This is hearty fare, second breakfast by a hearth in the Shire. Come warm yourself.”
—Boyd Bauman, author of Scheherazade Plays the Chestnut Tree Café
“This is a rousing adventure for the whole family that begs to be read aloud. Equal parts action packed, emotional, and contemplative, this is a story worth reading again and again. I was completely swept away to Mossy’s island kingdom, following him through the unknowable forests and mountains in search of something that would save his island from invaders and teach him his place and purpose in the world. Isn’t that what we’re all searching for?”
—Amy Brownlee, District Librarian, Public Schools, Sterling, Kansas
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