Grandfather Stories Magic with a Native American Flair - by Ed Solomon - Book

As you probably already know, from the various titles we have released or from his regular column in Linking Ring Magazine, Ed Solomon has a real talent for weaving interesting or emotionally impacting magic with equally as touching stories. This book of magic storytelling takes on a different format than his other books. First, Ed shares the STORIES and leaves it to you to ponder and mull them over for a bit before he presents his one suggestion for the effect and method at the end of the book.

These stories all have a Native American flavor to them, and are bound to both inspire and delight.

The Grandfather Stories is an unusual book. As you know, Ed Solomon is really one of the kinds of storytelling magic. Usually, he presents a story and then shares his idea and method. In this book, Ed has created a vehicle for your OWN creativity FIRST.

To be sure, Ed does share his own ideas about what magical effects will go best with each story, and how they are done, usually by the simplest methods possible so you can focus on the presentation, however, he does that at the END of the book. The first 10 stories in the book are presented as just that stories. Sometimes the magic within them is explicit, other times it is implied. But these first 10 stories allow you to think about what YOU would do with them until you reach the end. Only then, in 10 little Indian fashion- does Ed share his thoughts about the magic and the method.

Ed also offers several bonus stories and magical routines in the end for some charming, moving, spiritual tales all with a Native American Flavor.

From The Foreword by Leslie Melville, author of Magictales:

In November 2007,Duncan Williamson died. Duncan was a Scottish traditional 'traveler' storyteller and over the last thirty years, perhaps the most powerful influence in the revival of Oral Storytelling in the United Kingdom.

Aided by Linda, his American, second wife, he had several books published. He would record the stories on tape and she transcribed them for publication. Duncan traveled extensively throughout the U.K. and Europe, performing at storytelling festivals and gatherings. Ten years ago, he was invited to the U.S. to tell his traditional tales at the Jonesborough National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee. I knew Duncan personally and like many in Britain, have told his stories and benefited from his influence. In storytelling terms, Duncan Williamson truly was a national treasure.

In a recent U.K. magazine article, leading English storyteller Amy Douglas wrote a moving tribute to Duncan and in it, she included one of his own tales. I sent the article to Ed because I thought he would be interested in knowing about Duncan and I also felt that he would enjoy the story around which Amy weaved her tribute. I suggested that the tale nicely complemented the stories in his book of "Grandfather Tales."

Ed obviously thought so too and asked me to re-write the piece for inclusion by way of a foreword to his book. To be asked to make a contribution to a work of Ed Solomon's is indeed an honor and I am delighted so to do.

However I must remind you that the story you are about to read is Duncan Williamson's tale as interpreted by Amy Douglas, the girl that he 'mentored' and who often described him as her 'third grandfather'! My role is merely that of someone privileged to have shared stories with both Duncan and Ed, both supreme masters at their craft; and to bring a sample of the creation of one to the excellent work of the other. Had they met, I know they would have been great friends.

The rest of the material in this book is of course by Ed Solomon. his stories are inspiring as always. The tricks are simple and effective. It is my sincere pleasure to commend this work to you.......

This book is a very full and satisfying 80 pages, following the same format as Ed's recent books- Money Matters, What Lies Behind and Tales From The Heart.