In 1914, the renowned artists George Bellows and Frederick Waugh organized
an art show on the remote island of Monhegan, Maine. The ancestral land of the Dawn People. It commemorated the 300th anniversary of
Captain John Smith’s arrival in 1614. (They did not mention that Tisquantum
was on board the same vessel.) During the celebration, Bellows painted two mysterious portraits of a
young girl matching her color tones to musical notes. Waugh, a famous seascape painter, turned to the
woods and discovered fantastical tree creatures he named Munes, and devoted two
years of his life to drawing their pictures. He published the illustrations in
a book called The Clan of Munes, but WWI
broke out and almost all of the copies were destroyed - except for one - the one he gave to the girl in the portraits.
Nearly 100 years later, twp portraits begin to reveal their hidden meaning. Twelve year old Sarah and her younger brother Jamie go to the island when their father is hired to research the paintings for the anniversary of an art show. Before leaving Sarah notices a hidden secret in the paintings.
During their stay in the cottage on the island, the children discover the forgotten book Clan of Munes in the attic and decide to go into the woods to search for the
Munes while their dad is still asleep.
An epic adventure beyond their wildest dreams begins as they journey
from the depths of the root kingdom to the top of the stone tree before the
judgment hour arrives. By seeing their
reflection in the Munes, they learn the secret wisdom that gives them strength to
restore the light and warn the village below.
But, most importantly they learn that by coming in tune with their inner
harmony they can change the world.
Look for The Rise of the Munes, a middle grade novel, coming soon!
Thank you to the over 9,401 people who have already come to the website as of 6/07/2013!
Some of the Munes recently photographed on Monhegan Island, Maine!
Some have also been photographed at Walden Pond!
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| Frederick Waugh, George Bellows & the Lee family at the celebration on Monhegan Island, Maine, 1914 |
Nearly 100 years later, twp portraits begin to reveal their hidden meaning. Twelve year old Sarah and her younger brother Jamie go to the island when their father is hired to research the paintings for the anniversary of an art show. Before leaving Sarah notices a hidden secret in the paintings.
During their stay in the cottage on the island, the children discover the forgotten book Clan of Munes in the attic and decide to go into the woods to search for the
Munes while their dad is still asleep.
An epic adventure beyond their wildest dreams begins as they journey
from the depths of the root kingdom to the top of the stone tree before the
judgment hour arrives. By seeing their
reflection in the Munes, they learn the secret wisdom that gives them strength to
restore the light and warn the village below.
But, most importantly they learn that by coming in tune with their inner
harmony they can change the world.Look for The Rise of the Munes, a middle grade novel, coming soon!
Thank you to the over 9,401 people who have already come to the website as of 6/07/2013!
Some of the Munes recently photographed on Monhegan Island, Maine!
Some have also been photographed at Walden Pond!
P. Kent Royka attended the Society of
Children's Book Writers and Illustrations
National Conference in New York!
So every good blog needs a teaser so here it is!
Everything in the story The Rise of the Munes is real! That may sound strange but...
There is a lost children's book that was found.
There are Munes and they have been photographed.
(one is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art now!)
Yes, there really is a White Rabbit and a Fox!
And most importantly, there really is a house
in the woods on 8 miles of walking trails
that was built for only the children's stories to live in.
It has recently been discovered.
It is called Holdenwood and the person who built it had artists for
over 25 years put all the children's stories on and in the house.
No one has ever lived in it. Only the stories.
You will have to read The Rise of the Munes
to find out more about this special
place!
Children's Book Writers and Illustrations
National Conference in New York!
So every good blog needs a teaser so here it is!
Everything in the story The Rise of the Munes is real! That may sound strange but...
There is a lost children's book that was found.
There are Munes and they have been photographed.
(one is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art now!)
And most importantly, there really is a house
in the woods on 8 miles of walking trails
that was built for only the children's stories to live in.
It has recently been discovered.
It is called Holdenwood and the person who built it had artists for
over 25 years put all the children's stories on and in the house.
No one has ever lived in it. Only the stories.
You will have to read The Rise of the Munes
to find out more about this special
place!
