Thank you so much to my much loved friend and talented author Sally Cronin, for being my guest here today to introduce her new book, Tales from the Garden. It’s full of wonderful, and sometimes wistful tales, as well as gorgeous photos. It’s joyful to move to exciting new climes but also a little sad to leave behind old friends. This is a beautiful book. I’ve been dipping into it now and will review later, but already I recommend it heartily. I’ll be back to normal transmission here tomorrow by the way, and catch up with comments, but for now Sally’s in charge. Over to you Sal!
Tales From The Garden – Behind the scenes – by Sally Cronin
My deep thanks to my friend Jo for hosting me today. Also for all her support over the last two years for my blog and other projects that I have been working on.
We are leaving our house here in the mountains at some point as soon as we have sold it and will be returning to Ireland and dare I say; more rain than I care to mention. The realisation that I would have to leave this beautiful mountain garden with sun filled summers and dry and sometimes snowy winters; was the inspiration behind the stories that are a record of all the features that I have come to love. Tales from the Garden began as a weekly short story series but the response was so positive I decided to publish as a permanent record. This is particularly important as many of the statues are simply too heavy to move and will have to remain with a new family that they will watch over.
Until the spring of this year we had a wonderful gardener who came in three times a week for a couple of hours and took care of the basics. We inherited Antonio with the house in 1999 and in total he worked in this garden for 47 years. He used to be a beekeeper up in the hills where the wild flowers add such a delicate flavour to the local honey. However, his wife’s ill health resulted in a need to work part-time and close to home. Hence our great luck in having him as a permanent part of the family. At age 82 he decided that he would like to retire. After issuing strict instructions about the lavish care he expected for this garden he had cared about for nearly 50 years; he left us to find our own green thumbs.
Our dog Sam arrived with me from Ireland by car in 2003 when I moved across permanently. He took to Antonio immediately and they would spend all morning in the garden together. Sam would supervise the watering, picking of the tomatoes, chasing of squirrels and general mischief making. The garden is the quieter for both their departures, although I sometimes feel eyes on me from Sam’s favourite bush behind the pool house!
Sam features in the book of course despite already having his own autobiography. He is The Last Emperor and is one of the stories that I found the most difficult to write. Here he is in his imperial glory.
Tales from the Garden is a collection of fairy stories and 80 illustrations, for children of all ages, from five to ninety-five that will change the way you look at your garden forever.
The tales reveal the secrets that are hidden beneath hedges and trees and you will discover what really happens at night as you sleep unaware in your bed. Stone statues and those hidden worlds within the earth are about to share their stories.
The guardians who have kept this sanctuary safe for over fifty years will allow you to peek behind the scenes of this magical place. They will take you on a journey through time and expand your horizons as they transport you to the land of fairies, butterflies and lost souls who have found a home here.
Sally Cronin spent a number of years in each of the following industries – Retail, Advertising and Telecommunications, Radio & Television; and has taken a great deal of inspiration from each.
She has written short stories and poetry since a very young age and contributed to media in the UK and Spain. In 1996 Sally began studying nutrition to inspire her to lose 150 lbs and her first book, Size Matters published in 2001, told the story of that journey back to health. This was followed by another seven books across a number of genres including health, humour and romance. These include Just Food For Health, Size Matters, Just an Odd Job Girl, Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story, Flights of Fancy anthology, Turning Back the Clock and Media Training.
For the last two years Sally has written a daily blog covering the subjects close to her heart including writing, health and music: Smorgasbord Invitation – Variety is the Spice of Life. You can link to it from here: smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com.
Thank you again Jo for all the support and friendship and for inviting me to guest here today.
It’s an honour to have you here Sally – thanks for being here. Friendship aside, you’re a formidable scribbler and newscaster, and for that you have my undying admiration.
Thank you so much Jo.. love being over here on your blog and cannot thank you enough for all your friendship and support in the last two years.. You were the first to like one of my posts back in November 2013 and been with me every step of the way.. ♥♥
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
My thanks to Jo for posting one of the final guest posts in the book launch which talks about the inspiration behind the book in the first place and also the star of The Last Emperor.. Sam.. Thanks Jo.. love and hugs
Reblogged this on mira prabhu and commented:
Sally Cronin’s “Tales from the Garden” is a collection of fairy stories and 80 illustrations, for children of all ages, from five to ninety-five that will change the way you look at your garden forever….please, if you have children (little or grown) who love the magic that happens in a well-cared for garden, please consider introducing them to this gorgeous book.
Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes detail – a story all by itself. I love the picture of Sam with his wreath of “laurels.” I’ve enjoyed each story I’ve read about the magic in Sally’s Garden. 😀
I will have to definitely get this book. I loved the Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story. I still need to do a review on it. I ashamed to say I haven’t done that yet. I read it last year, or early this year. It was a wonderful, sad and loving story of a very lucky pup who found his very own very loving people and friends. Human and animal.
Reblogged this on chrllrobb and commented:
Another wonderful book coming out by Sally Cronin. I have read the Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story. If you like a good dog story, then you will like this book. It is the true story about Sally’s dog, she and her husband got as a puppy. It is a tale of his traveling from Ireland to Spain and meeting new animal friends and losing some of those friends. The lovely garden he lords over and is his final resting place. It is a story of his love for his humans, and his human’s love for him. This new book sounds like another great story of the same garden. And all of the visitors and stories that are there.
Sally is such a wonderfully nice person and friend, isn’t she! Pressed to reblog in a bit. Hope you’re doing well, JO!! Take care and have a great weekend 🙂
What a fantabulous interview Jo and Sal! I just love listening to Sally’s stories about her exciting travels and past life. We shall have new tales from Ireland! xo hugs to both of you! ❤
Lovely introduction Jo, and I really enjoyed reading more about your life in Spain Sally. Sam is absolutely gorgeous, what an adorable photo 🙂 I have your book ready to read and also wish you the very best with your move to Ireland… Love & hugs to you both 🙂 ❤
December 11, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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December 16, 2015 at 2:43 pm
Thanks for sharing Charles! 🙂
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December 16, 2015 at 2:44 pm
You’re welcome. 🙂
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December 11, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Thank you so much Jo.. love being over here on your blog and cannot thank you enough for all your friendship and support in the last two years.. You were the first to like one of my posts back in November 2013 and been with me every step of the way.. ♥♥
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December 16, 2015 at 2:45 pm
It’s a pleasure having you here Sally! I love all you write, and that’s not because you’re my bestie – although that is fabulous too. HUGS! XX
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December 11, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
My thanks to Jo for posting one of the final guest posts in the book launch which talks about the inspiration behind the book in the first place and also the star of The Last Emperor.. Sam.. Thanks Jo.. love and hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 11, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Sally! Congratulations – I am reblogging. Hope Tales from the Garden spreads around our planet. Much love, MIra
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December 11, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Thank you so much Mira and hope that all is well with you.. love and hugs Sally
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December 11, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Reblogged this on mira prabhu and commented:
Sally Cronin’s “Tales from the Garden” is a collection of fairy stories and 80 illustrations, for children of all ages, from five to ninety-five that will change the way you look at your garden forever….please, if you have children (little or grown) who love the magic that happens in a well-cared for garden, please consider introducing them to this gorgeous book.
LikeLiked by 2 people
December 11, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Thank you for sharing Mira.. XX
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December 11, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Thanks for sharing the behind the scenes detail – a story all by itself. I love the picture of Sam with his wreath of “laurels.” I’ve enjoyed each story I’ve read about the magic in Sally’s Garden. 😀
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December 11, 2015 at 7:43 pm
Glad you enjoyed Diana..he actually sat very still for that photograph and was very reluctant to have it removed.. ideas above his station.. hugs
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December 11, 2015 at 7:06 pm
What a great example of bloggers helping each other this is 🙂
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December 11, 2015 at 7:43 pm
I would say that the support from amazing writers and bloggers over the last two years has definitely kept me moivated and ready for another year.
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December 11, 2015 at 7:14 pm
Great capture of a farewell, poignant and well scribed but must be heart-rending!
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December 11, 2015 at 7:45 pm
It is still sad for us but he lives on in his autobiography and as the Last Emperor and of course always in our hearts.
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December 11, 2015 at 7:53 pm
We lost a much beloved Border Collie last year and this was her epitaph http://involution-odyssey.com/2014/10/20/dog-days-eclipse/ I still see her every morning!
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December 11, 2015 at 8:02 pm
Loved it Philippa and have left a note there. hugs
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December 11, 2015 at 7:50 pm
Great to see Sally’s book here too. Perfect for the season! Thanks, Jo!
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December 11, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Thank you Olga.. hugs.. X
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December 12, 2015 at 2:14 am
I will have to definitely get this book. I loved the Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story. I still need to do a review on it. I ashamed to say I haven’t done that yet. I read it last year, or early this year. It was a wonderful, sad and loving story of a very lucky pup who found his very own very loving people and friends. Human and animal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 12, 2015 at 2:25 am
Reblogged this on chrllrobb and commented:
Another wonderful book coming out by Sally Cronin. I have read the Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story. If you like a good dog story, then you will like this book. It is the true story about Sally’s dog, she and her husband got as a puppy. It is a tale of his traveling from Ireland to Spain and meeting new animal friends and losing some of those friends. The lovely garden he lords over and is his final resting place. It is a story of his love for his humans, and his human’s love for him. This new book sounds like another great story of the same garden. And all of the visitors and stories that are there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
December 12, 2015 at 3:37 am
Reblogged this on BOOK CHAT.
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December 12, 2015 at 3:37 am
Sally is such a wonderfully nice person and friend, isn’t she! Pressed to reblog in a bit. Hope you’re doing well, JO!! Take care and have a great weekend 🙂
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December 12, 2015 at 8:45 am
What a fantabulous interview Jo and Sal! I just love listening to Sally’s stories about her exciting travels and past life. We shall have new tales from Ireland! xo hugs to both of you! ❤
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December 12, 2015 at 7:21 pm
[…] Source: Tales from the Garden – Guest Post by Sally Cronin […]
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December 16, 2015 at 1:31 am
It looks like a really lovely book and Sam is beautiful. Best of luck returning to Ireland. It may rain but there’s a lot of green. 😉
Cheers
MTM
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December 16, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Lovely introduction Jo, and I really enjoyed reading more about your life in Spain Sally. Sam is absolutely gorgeous, what an adorable photo 🙂 I have your book ready to read and also wish you the very best with your move to Ireland… Love & hugs to you both 🙂 ❤
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December 16, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Thank you lovely Sherri – love and hugs right back at ya! ❤ 🙂
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December 17, 2015 at 8:35 am
Thanks Jo! xxxxxxxxxx
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