Feather aka denise bertrand has worked with children for over forty years as a drama educator, writer, director, and producer of original shows based on children’s and teens’ ideas, opinions, intuitions, and dreams. In addition to living in Canada, Sicily, France, and the US, she spent fourteen years teaching creative communications in Singapore and Thailand to over 200 children a week!
Denise received a Canada Arts Grant to tour China and Hong Kong with an electronic bodysuit that outlined meridians and acupuncture points. The performance, in the dark, was called Dance of Light.
Feather has opened Drama Clubs in Toronto, Salt Spring Island, Thailand, Cranbrook, and Jaffray, BC. She continues to teach theatre and loves co-creating with children.
In 2009, feather became a certified intuitive guide, and she continues to support adults with their personal growth. Her home base is a small intentional community in British Columbia, Canada.
www.denisebertrand.com
www.air-feather.com
Once Upon A Solar Time
by feather aka denise bertrand
Imagine being able to transform your body into a butterfly and flit around, unhindered by the earth’s gravitational pull. Lilac and Azure (nicknamed Girlfriend and Neighbour), two fourteen-year-old girls, can do just that. Born into The Echoes of the Sun Community—a futuristic world where violence is barely a blip on the radar—the best friends and talented shape-shifters are expanding their powers in this highly-imaginative fantasy story with science fiction blended in the mix.
Tutored by their guide, solar leader, Relaxella (The She to those outside her inner circle), the Echo Youths set off on a journey through the Woods of Facuzi to reach the Realm of Thagara. They’re on a mission to activate the Golden Bow, a magical symbol that will bring unity and freedom to all, banishing fear forever.
At the same time, Tesshu and Kaleb (twenty-one-year-old men) embark on another type of adventure led by The She. They participate in a video-like game called Point-by-Point. Each one is training his mind to embrace Solar Consciousness.
As these parallel journeys unfold and eventually intersect, a shadowy group called The Vog threatens to derail the vision held by Relaxella and the benevolent members of The Echoes of the Sun Community.
BOOK LAUNCH at River Bookshop Amherstburg Ontario February 23, 2023
Fun and friendly Podcast
If you want to know more about my novel have a listen to this fun and friendly interview with Lynn Thompson of Living on Purpose podcasts. Lynn (who is also my editor) and I sat on a bench on a sunny day in February in Newmarket, when I was visiting Ontario.
A great listen while you are taking a walk in nature.
https://theonpurposepodcast.podbean.com
REVIEW
Once Upon a Solar Time, is a delightful fantasy read. Denise’s creative and imaginative writing set up a story of hope for the future. The unique characters have varied talents and abilities to support their aim of finding peace first within themselves, and then within their community.
A believable world speckled with supernatural elements keeps the reader intrigued and curious. A calm and composed Solar Leader, who lives with ease, provides guidance and support to the young adventurers and main characters, two 14-year-old girls who are best friends. As well, two 21-year-old young men are also being guided by the Solar Leader to help them navigate a video-like game that brings many a twist and turn. The author is very detailed and specific about the thought processes and feelings experienced by the youth.
The character Tesshu is recalling a particular moment in his life; “I am a six-years old, lying in a large room in a hospital bed twice as long and wide as my skinny body. A thick-walled oxygen ‘tent’ of opaque plastic encases me…it’s causing fear. I must escape.” Short, crisp sentences move these frantic images along, like being a child trying to control their labored breathing.
Denise’s love of nature is evident in how she describes the gardens, flowers, scents, wind, and sun in various settings. The ‘ant’ characters also go on their own entertaining journeys as they explore the underworld. I think it very clever that Denise aka Feather brings in the ‘consciousness of ants’ from time to time, in fact every chapter in part one, start with a quote about ants. I am now fascinated by ants!
There are several messages throughout this winding tale of searching for more meaning. One that resonates with me “Any actions that propel negative frequencies—and discord—eventually find a way to balance back to the light.”
This novel project has been a labor of love over many, many years. Thank you, Denise, for persisting and writing and re-writing to bring us a remarkable story of striving for betterment.
The fact that Denise recently crossed paths with an old friend of hers, Lynn Thompson, who became the editor of Once Upon a Time, is also remarkable.
Marissa Bastidas