SUMMER'S DREAM
Now Available!
Summer's Dream
Playfully mysterious and sweetly sublime, Summer’s Dream by author illustrator Sandi Morscheck is a “good-natured” and beautifully crafted coming of age fable for young readers. Complemented with meticulously detailed artwork, Morscheck, an environmentalist and high school science teacher, offers informative tidbits and real life truths about the flora and fauna of an enchanted forest.
Summer is much too busy to be nice to her little brother. Charlie can be such a pest, but when her mother buys her a new dress, Summer allows Charlie to tag along. She’d much rather show off to her girlfriends, Sheila, Maxi, and Connie, and catch the attention of Jackson, who is by far the cutest boy in school. She invites everyone to her thirteenth birthday party and no one shows up. She can’t figure it out, and cries herself to sleep. When she awakens to find herself in a beautiful meadow, she decides to teach them all a lesson. She’ll make a new home in the enchanted forest where she soon learns that she can talk to animals and Lila the Chickadee keeps an eye on her. Old habits pop up and soon enough, Summer’s tongue spoils the fun, which lands her in a heap of trouble. In a curious sequence of events, she loses her guide, her way—and the creatures of the forest aren’t being especially helpful. Grandfather Tree is good for wisdom, but there’s danger lurking and it isn’t until Summer has a change of heart that she’ll be embraced by the wildlife and have a chance of making her way home.
To order your copy CLICK SUMMER'S DREAM $18.95
Reviews
"an uplifting feel-good book for people of all ages"; Jeanie.
Author Visits
Invite Sandi Morscheck to come to your facility to talk about her book, facilitate a creative writing activity, discuss the pros and cons of self-publishing, conduct an art lesson, explore the illustrations in Summer's Dream, or read a few chapters from Summer's Dream.
Prices for the Dallas Area - 1 Hour + 2 copies of Summer's Dream = $150; 1/2 Day + 4 copies of Summer's Dream = $375.
Book Signings
Host a Book Signing. Invite your friends over so they can get their signed copy of Summer's Dream. You'll get your copy free or elect a cash bonus for each book sold. Contact info is located in the green footer below. [Offer available in the Dallas / Fort Worth Area]
Author’s Notes
The artwork in Summer’s Dream was compiled from a series of sketches and paintings that were initially created as I was experimenting with different media and techniques. Because they all had a special “dreamy, lazy, summer day” quality, I began collectively calling them my Summer Series, and named the girl Summer as a play on words. When all the artwork was complete, my older brother, Scott, said I needed to write a story about the artwork. Ten years passed before I wrote Summer’s Dream. The book wouldn't be the same without all eight pieces of artwork, which appear in full color within the book.
The color pencil sketches were completed first as an attempt to use color with animals and forest scenes, and began with “Lila”, which is the picture of the bird. In “The Entrance”, Summer is sitting at the entrance to the Enchanted Forest. In this sketch I was experimenting with shadowing, while creating the stark contrast between forest and field. “The Bridge” furthers this exercise as the scenery is filled with vegetation, birds and wildlife. The movement of water in the stream is added as a new challenge. “The Pool” was drawn with the perspective from the treetops and looking down on the waterfall through the tree branches.
The oil paintings include “The Blessing”, “The Cabin” and “The Rainbow”. In “The Blessing” I wanted to create the symbolism of a guardian angel or fairy watching over a young girl. So I placed Summer, sleeping in a bubble, while Lila the Fairy pours out fairy dust from a golden chalice. I used gold glitter in the paint to create a sparkling effect, and used clear glitter as it hit the bubble and was transmitted inside the bubble. Central to the theme, The Blessing was used for the cover. “The Cabin” and “The Exit” were inspired by a day trip to East Texas.
Finally, “The Grandfather Tree” was my first attempt with acrylic paints. This is the largest painting in the collection being 24” x 36” and took me three months to complete. The faces in the rocks along the stream on the right side of the painting were not intentional, nor were the personified characteristics of feet, arms and belly button in the Grandfather Tree. Because of its amazing detail, this image was chosen as the artwork for the back cover. Using the illusion of transparency, the book's abstract is written on top of the image. Inside the book, this painting takes up two full pages.
Summer’s Dream was written about 12 years ago with the core of the story and all the main characters completed in about 2 weeks. Following this 2-week period, I spent time filling in the story with action, movement and scenery. Alfie was added in the story about a year later in memory of my mother’s dog. This fable is written in 3 parts with the 1st and 3rd parts mirroring each other, and written in 3rd person. The heart of the book is written in 1st person. Summer, the main character, thinks to herself throughout the story, and her thoughts are written in italics. Many of the events that take place in the Enchanted Forest are based on real experiences, and some have been embellished to enhance their interest. While you read the book, see if you can guess which events were greatly embellished and which ones were placed in character.
Placing the artwork in the book was a challenge. Most of the original pieces were too large to scan, and 35-mm photos and digital cameras of the day did not produce satisfactory images. However, with today’s technology, digital cameras have advanced enough to produce pretty good images of my artwork, which has allowed me to publish this book exactly as I envisioned.
Novel Study
A Novel Study for Summer's Dream is now available with or without Biblical Connections. Email me or call me to complete your order. Online ordering will be available soon.
© All artwork from my book is copyrighted. It is unlawful to copy my artwork in any manner or for any reason without my written authorization.