Cowboy Johnson's Desert Oasis

Growing up in displaced circumstances and enduring long, dreary winters, I fantasized about how wonderful Christmas could be. The magical Christmases I created in my imagination comforted me at Christmas time and throughout the year. More magic collected in my heart each year and fed my lonely soul with hope and wonder. A meager Christmas dinner and hungry, arguing relatives all faded away as I watched falling snow twinkle outside like diamonds. I built castles in my mind and peopled them with beings that had warmth, wisdom, generosity and went on adventures. The seeds of those fantasies never faded. They grew and lived on as hope held on tightly to my soul through barren, snowy Christmases. Their magic left a colorful, imaginative Kingdom behind that I could enter, and often did, long after I'd escaped the reality of my beginnings. The time came when I felt compelled to draw and write to keep the magic of the Crones, Box Keepers, and the Others peopling the Kingdom Of true Believers In Imagination alive. I mapped out the Kingdom of True Believers in Imagination, the characters and their stories. All of them flourished and grew beautifully while I wrote, drew, and aged- yes, that too- Yes, I came to know all of the inhabitants very well....The Crone's wisdom. The Box keeper's rescue missions. The Others, with all their flavors, sizes and talents. The people around me encouraged me to share the stories they so enjoyed with others, so I began to think that others might enjoy the beings, the spiritual helpers that peopled the Kingdom of True Believers in Imagination, and come away with their own Hopes, Wisdoms and Laughter, too. It took years and time to collect and illustrate the characters and their adventures in order to begin putting this spectacular Christmas book together. I so admired the beautiful vintage 1950's Christmas books, and so I wanted fairy tales and funny, clever, positive short stories framed in wonderful illustrations for the young at heart reader. And in the doing of it, each story became a simple play, easy to act out. Please accept my invitation to enter The Kingdom of True Believers in Imagination with me, where allegory, humor, beauty, and laughter abound while we adventure together.