A children's book by David G. Hepworth

About Dave

 Excerpt

Have you ever noticed when people gather around a campfire, two things happen? Someone always finds a stick to poke into the fire and eventually the campfire stories begin. It doesn’t matter where you live or how many people are gathered, it’s always the same.

Tess Magee’s family was no different. Every time they sat around the campfire, her dad and grandma would poke at the fire with long sticks they called remote controls. As soon as the fire settled down to a glowing bed of embers, the roasting of marshmallows began and the stories followed. Sometimes she found the stories scary, but more often than not they were tall tales from the past that always gave you something to think about. It was one such night when Tess first heard The Blackburn Legend.

Her entire family, including cousins Matt and Amy McDonald, had joined Grandma and Grandpa at the family cottage for the July long weekend. As was always the case on such occasions, the arrival of sunset meant it was time to build a campfire. It was one of their family traditions. Not only did sitting around the campfire provide a relaxing end to the day’s activities, it meant roasted marshmallows would soon follow.

In record time, Grandpa and her dad soon prepared a roaring blaze in the fire pit. One by one they assembled their lawn chairs around the campfire and began talking over the events of the day. As usual, the adults were busy pushing the burning logs here and there with their remote controls. Tess always found their antics amusing. Whenever she questioned why it was necessary to continually move the logs around in the fire, she was always told the same thing; it was the only way to prepare a perfect bed of coals for roasting marshmallows. Although their explanation sounded reasonable, their actions often looked more like a competition than anything else.

Her dad would move a log into one position and within seconds Grandma would move it to another because she thought her spot for the log was better. Kids, of course, were strictly forbidden from using the remote controls. It was “just too dangerous,” they were told. Although she understood the reason for the rule, she often felt the truth had nothing to do with danger. To her, it was simply because the adults wanted to reserve all the fun for themselves. After all, she reasoned, if poking a stick into the fire is so dangerous why do it at all?

Slowly, the blazing reds and yellows of twilight faded from the evening sky. Everywhere around them crickets sang their familiar tunes and fireflies busily made their way through the tall grass along the pathway to the lake. Far off in the distance night birds called to each other and before long twilight gave way to darkness. Then, almost magically, the sky was completely transformed into a sea of sparkling diamonds set against a backdrop of luxurious black velvet.

By this time, the marshmallows were long gone and the roaring fire that was in front of them earlier had been reduced to a flat bed of hot coals. As each of them sat thoughtfully staring into the dying bed of embers, someone asked Grandpa to tell a story.

At first, it seemed as though Grandpa hadn’t heard the request. He methodically poked and prodded the coals a couple of times, leaned back in his chair and looked up toward the stars. He studied the heavens for what seemed the longest time, as if looking for something to show them. Then, he slowly stoked the embers a few more times and began to speak.

Years ago, somewhere back in the hills, there was an old man who lived in a rustic log cabin. Although no one knew his real name, folks in this region came to know him as “old man Blackburn.” The old man was a gifted artisan noted for the beautiful violins he made. Since there was no electricity available in those days, all his instruments were completely crafted by hand without the aid of power tools. Some believe he even produced the varnish he used to finish his instruments. Over time, rumours about him gradually began taking on an aura of mystery. Soon, the story of his life became known as “The Blackburn Legend.”

According to the legend, every few months the old man would hike out of the forest with a beautiful violin under his arm....

There are book reviews and there are book reviews, but it's the reviews by children who have read the books that are they most valuable.  It's one thing for an adult to read a children's book and comment, but it's the viewpoint of a young reader that provides the motivation for one to continue spinning their tales. Children have no limits on their imagination - it's their comments that are valued the most. Below are a couple of motivating comments received from young readers:

I really am a fan of your book "Secrets of the Meadow." I love how you decided to make the main character a little girl. I would have to say my most favorite part of the book was when Tess realized she could hear the trees humming. I also loved the part where she met the old man and they sat by one of the humming trees. I would have to say that your book was one of the best books that I have ever read....Stephanie

I just finished our second book: Secrets of the Meadow. I loved all the pictures you put in it. I'm going to tell you my favorite part of the book.

"It was a beautiful morning. The deep blue of the overhead sky stood out in contrast to the dull green of the thick damp forest. There had been a heavy dew overnight and the surrounding vegetation was beaded with tiny droplets of water. In front of them, the lake was as smooth as glass. The morning fog had all but disappeared, save for some small wisps of mist that continued to slowly drift upward from the surface of the water. Far off in the distance, the wail of calling loons echoed through the valley. It was shaping up to be a gorgeous day!"

 I loved that part so much. I loved the explanation of how the morning was. I have a question. How many books have you written? I was just wondering because I want to read all of your books. I also like when Tess finds out that Old Man Blackburn's real name was James Sidney Blackburn.
I can't wait till I get my hands on another book of yours....Sydnee

Hepworth's newest children's book, Secrets of the Meadow, will take adults back to their own campfire story nights with Grandpa's "scary" stories as they read it chapter by chapter to young children. Children will wonder wide-eyed at the mystery of The Blackburn Legend.

The Magees are off once again to the country cottage. After marshmallows and watching stars squinting and twinkling in the night sky, Grandpa tells a tall tale as the fire dies down: the legend of gentle "old man Blackburn" and his beautifully handcrafted violins. Grandpa explains that "old man Blackburn" created his famous violins out of an unknown, but lovely, wood. He explains that the old man and his violins receded into local legend and that the old man's cabin was never found, nor the special wood he used ever discovered.

The Magee sisters, Tess and Mindy, organize an expedition with Grandpa and their cousins to search for the mysterious cabin, hoping to discover the legend is true. Tess finds more than she expects to find after repairing an unusual old chair she found under a gnarled pine. She learns the story behind the legend of  "old man Blackburn" and his famous singing violins. Adults and children alike will find themselves smiling as they read Secrets of the Meadow.

With a bit of polish, Hepworth's books could become the new Chronicles of Narnia.

4.5 out of 5 singing violins

Reviewed by True North, gottawritenetwork.com
July 10, 2007 

There was a singer they used to describe as “A little bit country; a little bit rock and roll.” I liked that.  Anything that doesn’t quite fit a category always generates a promise of freedom, as if we can expect it to take off in any direction. I thought of that when I read Dave Hepworth’s new children’s book, Secrets of the Meadow.  It’s a little bit mystery; a little bit down-to-earth family story, and the mixture works.

From the time we find young Tess Magee enjoying a bonfire with her parents, grandparents, older sister Mindy and two small cousins, healthy family interaction serves as a unifying thread throughout the book.  In the process of getting safely through vacation days, valuable lessons are learned. While supervising adequate preparations for a hike in the woods, Grandpa teaches sensible precautions in case of emergency, safeguards against getting lost, and all of these important messages are neatly integrated into the story.

By writing these books for his grandchildren, the author is continuing a family tradition he learned during his childhood in Ontario – the tradition of spontaneous story telling. That is a very rare art in our day, when most parents read to children instead of making up stories as they go along. In the book, Grandpa loves to spin yarns for the children, and he almost outdoes himself with the fictional “hoop snakes,” but the first story he tells at the campfire is a legend with the ring of truth to it. It is the story of an old man who lived in isolation in the nearby woods in the 1930’s. He made violins of amazing quality, but no one knew his secret. He was seen only on rare occasions when he emerged to sell a violin. Eventually he disappeared and his cabin was never found.

Hardly the kind of mystery that would keep one glued to a book?  Well, soon after receiving Secrets of the Meadow I had a wakeful night, so I decided to begin the book.  To read for a few minutes will usually make a person doze off. It didn’t work.  The book kept me awake until the last chapter.  Any children’s book that will keep an adult alert from three a.m. to four a.m. has something.

The plot may not be deep, but the human interest greatly enriches the story. It is a pleasure to meet a Grandpa so devoted to entertaining and teaching his grandchildren, and one with so many imaginative techniques for doing so. The lost cabin provides just enough of a mystery that I really wanted it to be found, and the story moves right into the mystic realm when Tess has a strange psychic experience in which she meets the old violinmaker.

This incident is cleverly linked to the major theme of the book, conservation of the environment. It would be hard to find a lesson more important to children today. Tess has a remarkable affinity for nature. When she discovers that the secret of the old man’s violins was in the wood, and realizes the mysterious “humming trees” are almost extinct, she sets out to reclaim those trees. She also finds the purpose of her life, to become a forestry specialist. It is a satisfying conclusion.

The writing in this second book by David Hepworth is more arresting that in his first one. Descriptions are often colourful. The photo on the cover is splendid. One can almost hear what Tess in hearing in that picture. This tradition Hepworth is establishing of publishing books for his grandchildren is a fine project, and there are two more grandchildren coming up. Can we expect at least two more books?

I have only one question.  What on earth happened to the chair?  It was a clever touch, using something the old man had actually made to link past and present, but to have it disappear as he did…Now, there’s mystery.

Secrets of the Meadow is published by Timber Ridge Publishing, 2007.

Other books by Dave 

(5.5"w x 8.5"h)