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Manheim and Valkira two elves from Little Swiss.

Art by Duy Truong....................The cover is always the last piece of art for our books. One can draw from the experience of illustrating the entire story; and then it is effortless to come up with a inspiring idea for a cover. It is viewed in an instant--Tammy, the apple,( and later we added William Tell with his crossbow.) All with a rainbow in the Swiss Alps. We could call this "Fantasy in Blue." if we wished--but we'll stick with the title on hand.

Antique Swiss Map This beautiful miniature antique map is from "ATLAS MINIMUS Illustratus: containing Fifty-Two Pocket Maps of the World", Drawn and engraved by J, Gibson; Revised, corrected, and improved, by E. Bowen, Geographer to His Majesty. To which are added a Description of the several Empires, Kingdoms, States, and Provinces, of the known World; their Seas, Harbours, Rivers, and Mountains: With a concise account of the air, soil, and climate of each; and the government, customs, religion, and manners of the inhabitants, Published by T. Carnan and F. Newbery, London, 1774." The original measures 11cm x 8 cm or 4" x 3". It is an original antique, 241 years old. The map is on strong thick paper. The map is printed on one si...

Art by Duy Truong. My associates and I flew out to the slave camp. We arrived as the Sun began to peek over the western horizon. We could see the slavers wielding whips and forcing the prisoners to work at the break of dawn. The villagers arrived and joined us at the top of the hill. William Tell said, "Do ye hath a plan?" I said, "The soldiers are carrying whips and swords. They do not expect to be attacked with crossbows. You have the advantage." He said, "It will be over quickly." Tell and Yberg discussed it with their men. A few moments later they walked straight down the hill with the crossbows armed. The soldiers saw them coming and charged at them with their swords. When they were within range Tell gave the command, "Fire!"...

Art by Duy Truong. We circled 'round and 'round over the boat. Zeke pointed, "Your father is the helmsmen and is guiding the boat. That is why they took off the chains." The storm passed over and the raging waters began to subside. William Tell guided the boat near the rocky shore and then jumped from the boat. He gave it a big shove and the soldiers were helpless to save themselves from a treacherous current. We watched as the boat capsized and the soldiers tumbled into the deep. Alfred said, "It is their heavy armor that brought them to the bottom of the lake."

Art by Duy Truong......... Our men moved the frontal barrier aside and the defeated Austrians walked through it. We led them to a meadow and had them sit. William Tell told me that Duke Leopold had not made it to the barrier. He and a few men were in the rear and were not caught in the trap. "When Duke Leopold saw that we had trapped his men, he ran like scared rabbit." He laughed. Yberg said, "He is probably half way back across the border by now!" William Tell addressed the Austrians. "We have promised to spare your lives and accept your surrender. I hath good news for all of ye. I officially declare that thou are all freemen!"

William Tell II Portrait

William Tell

Art by Duy Truong.Duy wrote that she had a great idea about a very different bedroom scene than others she had done before, This would be the last scene in our William Tell adventure. "She wrote, " I think it will be adorable. It will be a wonderful way to finish the book." When I saw it for the first time I fell in love with it. What do you think?........... That night I tucked in my little critters as I always did. William Tell had given me one of his arrows as a memento of our friendship and I placed it on the mantle along with the other trophies. Zeke ran his paw across it. "This is William Tell's arrow. We will never forget him, will we?" I said, "We will never forget him. He was truly a brave and courageous man." I tucked him i...

Art by Duy Truong. Cedric and Zeke raced Polly down the line with dozens of hawk riders trailing behind. They bumped heads with the rock and chain that has been so successful with the scarecrows. Soldiers tumbled from their horses like rows of dominoes. This went on for nearly two hours and I raised a blue flag. Confederates shouted down the embankment to the defeated enemy, "Throw down your weapons and ye lives will be spared!" There was little hesitation. Weapons dropped to the ground with a clatter. Our men moved the frontal barrier aside and the defeated Austrians walked through it. We led them to a meadow and had them sit. William Tell told me that Duke Leopold had not made it to the barrier. He and a few men were in the rear an...

Art by Duy Truong. William Tell infiltrates the enemy camp disguised as a scout. His mission is to lure the Duke into a trap set by the Swiss army.......................William Tell said, "Tarry, I say! I must reach Leopold as I hath important information on Arth. My steed broke down." The taller one said, "We are from Arth and hath an important message for Leopold, too." William Tell said, "They are building it up much more than we imagined." The short fat one said, "We found that out. We must make all haste." They hoisted him aboard and they raced off down the road. We flew on ahead as we wanted to be ready for a hasty departure for William Tell. We stood outside the tent so we could overhear it all. Leopold was discussing the ...

Art by Duy Truong....................The cover is always the last piece of art for our books. One can draw from the experience of illustrating the entire story; and then it is effortless to come up with a inspiring idea for a cover. It is viewed in an instant--Tammy, the apple,( and later we added William Tell with his crossbow.) All with a rainbow in the Swiss Alps. We could call this "Fantasy in Blue." if we wished--but we'll stick with the title on hand.

Art by Duy Truong. This is a key scene in the story of William Tell. We followed the road to that led to his castle and then we spotted him. The rain had let up a bit and we could see that Ingrid had stopped him at a narrow pass called Hohle Gasse. "Get out of the way, peasant!" Gessler shouted and nearly ran her down. Ingrid said, "You must know where to find my husband. You must help me!" Gessler laid the whip to her and pushed her aside. William Tell dropped on one knee to the muddy cobblestone and set his crossbow. He muttered, "Gessler will not help ye, Ingrid. I will be the one. May the devil find his soul before the dawn." He loosed his arrow and it sailed straight and true into Gessler's heart. The dead man slumped upon his...

Art by Duy Truong. This is our first piece of art for our newest book in the series. Duy is excited about this piece, as we all are here! Aunt May served hotcakes and sausages at the breakfast table. Lord Wixby gave me a good morning kiss as he always did and read the morning paper while he ate. Mark was wearing a strange outfit with suspenders and a feathered hat. It should have dawned on me that the space-time continuum had been disrupted again. However, I paid little attention to it until I opened the front door and saw that the town had a Bavarian look to it with cute little houses and pointed roofs. A pair of soldiers sat behind sandbags on the street corner wielding bows and arrows. Mark gave a salute and nudged me. "Tammy, you m...

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A unique minimalist, symmetrical design of a deer with arrows.

A medieval pattern with selectable background variation.

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Art by Duy Truong.Duy wrote that she had a great idea about a very different bedroom scene than others she had done before, This would be the last scene in our William Tell adventure. "She wrote, " I think it will be adorable. It will be a wonderful way to finish the book." When I saw it for the first time I fell in love with it. What do you think?........... That night I tucked in my little critters as I always did. William Tell had given me one of his arrows as a memento of our friendship and I placed it on the mantle along with the other trophies. Zeke ran his paw across it. "This is William Tell's arrow. We will never forget him, will we?" I said, "We will never forget him. He was truly a brave and courageous man." I tucked him i...

Art by Duy Truong. William Tell infiltrates the enemy camp disguised as a scout. His mission is to lure the Duke into a trap set by the Swiss army.......................William Tell said, "Tarry, I say! I must reach Leopold as I hath important information on Arth. My steed broke down." The taller one said, "We are from Arth and hath an important message for Leopold, too." William Tell said, "They are building it up much more than we imagined." The short fat one said, "We found that out. We must make all haste." They hoisted him aboard and they raced off down the road. We flew on ahead as we wanted to be ready for a hasty departure for William Tell. We stood outside the tent so we could overhear it all. Leopold was discussing the ...

Art by Duy Truong.... Poster size......With this piece of art, I would like to mention that it was my hope that we could take children's illustration to a higher standard. Rather than meeting deadlines, I wanted my artists to do their very best to create a work of art that would endure the passage of time. The stories are timeless, and with any luck, these stories would be my legacy. When Duy began sending off the drafts on this one I was very excited as I could see this would be one of her classic interior scenes. At one point she asked, "What time of day is it?" I told her that I greatly anticipated light beaming through the window. Duy was a master of lighting and when one examines her art, you can see it runs through all her pieces. ...

Art by Duy Truong.  Color art by Red Bubble artist Ahelene: http://www.redbubble.com/people/ahelene Be sure to visit her gallery and leave a comment too! Tammy Meets William Tell ( Book 5 in the Wurtherington Diary) Background color is "primrose yellow"

Art by Duy Truong. Color art by Red Bubble artist Ahelene: http://www.redbubble.com/people/ahelene Be sure to visit her gallery and leave a comment too! Robin Hood and the Magna Carta (Book 8 in the Wurtherington Diary) We were all so happy that we could not help but sing a song for Robin, the household staff, the knights, and his guests. Zeke piped a pan flute. Cedric thrummed a lute while Alfred played a zither. Polly brought out her washboard. They sang. "We like Baron Fitzwalter, a great host is he, It matters little if you are finicky. He'll find you the perfect desert, As you will stuff yourself—until you BURP! On the other hand.... We really think King John is downright unkind. We apologize if we speak our mind! We...

Valkira Portrait

Art by Duy Truong Cedric, Zeke, and Alfred, and Polly took the stage. Alfred thrummed a zither and Cedric a lute. Polly pecked a washboard. Zeke brought out a pan flute and said, "We are going to sing a song and dedicate it to the new couple!" "Hear, hear!" They sang, "William Tell, William Tell! Lived in the forest, hunted the wood Lived a life that was free. He married one day and for freedom he stood, And was happy as he could be!"

Art by Duy Truong. Shuman and Valdus raced above the scarecrows with a large rock suspended on a chain. As they whisked over their heads, the rock struck the heads of the scarecrows knocking them to the ground. "Holy cow!" said Zeke and Cedric. "That is really something! We would like to try that too. Could we?" Rupert told them to hop on a hawk and give it a try. Alfred joined them and soon the trio was knocking heads off the scarecrows in a grand manner. "Ride'm Cowboy!" they shouted each time a head rolled to the ground. Rupert said, "The soldiers left and never came back after we gave them a sound thrashing."

Art by Duy Truong........Mrs. Prescott said, "Today we are going to discuss the legend of William Tell. Has anyone ever heard of him?" I raised my hand and said, "I know the entire story, Mrs. Prescott. May I tell it to the class?" "Of course, Tammy," she said. "Why not come up front and tell us the story." I did not know where to begin as there was so much to say. I began with the signing of the Rütlischwur and a quarter hour later finished with the Pact of Brunnen. I needed to leave out the part where I was there with Zeke, Cedric, Alfred, and Polly. When my friends and I ran out to play in the schoolyard, Mrs. Prescott took me aside and said, "You told that story of William Tell as though you had been there. You are a most amazi...

Art by Duy Truong. A gentle breeze blew from the west. It would not last long as angry clouds were billowing over the mountain peaks. William Tell took careful aim.... He tested the air once again and then focused upon the apple. He released the latch and the arrow sailed across the square and split the apple in half. Walter picked up the two halves and ran into the arms of his father. The villagers embraced one another and cheered as their prayers had been answered.

The year: July 1, 1307 ( about noon) Place: Altdorf, Switzerland ( The village square) Art by Duy Truong. A gentle breeze blew from the west. It would not last long as angry clouds were billowing over the mountain peaks. William Tell took careful aim.... He tested the air once again and then focused upon the apple. He released the latch and the arrow sailed across the square and split the apple in half. Walter picked up the two halves and ran into the arms of his father. The villagers embraced one another and cheered as their prayers had been answered.

Art by Duy Truong. We walked outside to give the villagers the good news. Yberg said, "We have two new freedom fighters, Leif and Hagen. They are Austrian knaves no more and will fight for freedom this day. Let us welcome them into the new life they have chosen." Each villager stepped forward and offered a hearty handshake and embrace. "We welcome ye, friend." Zeke found his pan flute and Cedric thrummed a lute. Polly and Alfred joined in. They began to sing:

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