TODAY, December 17th at The Dickens Project

"When Scrooge awoke it was so dark, that, looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber. He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters. So he listened for the hour."

Continue in the steps of Ebenezer Scrooge, as twice-daily readings of A Christmas Carol guide you through Dickens ghostly carol, and all the sites his words inspired throughout The Dickens Project.

Tours begin in Dickens Square, near the main landing point.

Tuesday, December 17th: Stave Two - The First of Three Spirits

•  @ 2pm: Dubhna Rhiadra, Corwyn Allen, and Faerie Maven-Pralou
• @ 7pm: Corwyn Allen, Gloriana Maertens, and Caledonia Skytower

Presented live on Stream.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Dickens%20Project/125/118/22

WEDNESDAY, June 3rd at 7PM: "The Night Fairy" Concludes

From Amazon Best Books Review:

"You don’t have to be a follower of those mysterious winged creatures to love this unique fairy tale from 2009 Newbery Medal-winner Laura Amy Schlitz. The book’s heroine, Flory is certainly not your garden variety fairy. After losing her wings in a run-in with a bat, she must learn to survive among the hungry daylight creatures of the Giantess’s garden.   Between pesky squirrels, cagey spiders, and stubborn hummingbirds, Flory's got her work cut out for herself. But, this fearless fairy quickly learns how skills like quick thinking, diplomacy, compassion, and acts of bravery can take her farther than her lost wings ever could. The Night Fairy makes an enchanting read-aloud story, as well as a gem to be treasured in the hands of readers of all ages." 

Faerie Maven-Pralou concludes the adventure tonight, live in voice

TUESDAY, December 16th at 7PM: Truman Capote's A CHRISTMAS MEMORY

"A Christmas Memory" is a short story by Truman Capote. Originally published in Mademoiselle magazine in December 1956, it was reprinted in The Selected Writings of Truman Capote in 1963.

The largely autobiographical story, which takes place in the 1930s, describes a period in the lives of the seven-year-old narrator and an elderly woman who is his distant cousin and best friend. The evocative narrative focuses on country life, friendship, and the joy of giving during the Christmas season, and it also gently yet poignantly touches on loneliness and loss.

Now a holiday classic, "A Christmas Memory" has been broadcast, recorded, filmed, and staged multiple times, in award-winning productions.

Faerie Maven-Pralou, live in voice.

TUESDAY, September 16th at 7pm: THE SEA FAIRIES Concludes

Faerie Maven-Pralou brings us to the end of Trot and Capn Bill's adventures under the waves, in the land of Queen Aquarine.   We'll say "goodbye" to all the new fair, sea folk . . . until the next adventure, that is!

Faeirie Maven-Pralou live in voice with this charming work from American Author, L.Frank Baum.

Fun with Frank:
Baum had a flair for being the spotlight of fun in the household, including during times of financial difficulties. His selling of fireworks made the Fourth of July memorable. His skyrockets, Roman candles, and fireworks filled the sky, while many people around the neighborhood would gather in front of the house to watch the displays. Christmas was even more festive. Baum dressed as Santa Claus for the family. His father would place the Christmas tree, behind a curtain, in the front parlor so that Baum could talk to everyone while he decorated the tree without people managing to see him. He maintained this tradition all his life.

TUESDAY, September 9th at 7PM: THE SEA FAIRIES Continues

Faerie Maven-Pralou continues L.Frank Baum's adventure beneath the Pacific waves, as Trot and Cap'n Bill are seized by Zog, the Evil Magician.

Will their new aquatic friends, lead by Queen Aquarine and King Anko, save them from this scheming menace?  Or will their own wit and wisdom foil the forces of ill-intention?

Live in voice.

TUESDAY, September 2nd at 7PM: More from L.Frank Baum's THE SEA FAIRIES

Trot and Cap'n Bill have been amazed by all the things they have learned and seen in the underwater realm  of Queen Aquarine and King Anko (including an octopus who is mortified to learn that he's the symbol of the Standard Oil Company). They also encounter a villain called Zog the Magician, a monstrous hybrid of man, animal, and fish. Zog and his sea devils capture them and hold them prisoner. The two protagonists discover that many sailors thought to have been drowned have actually been captured and enslaved by Zog.  

Faerie Maven-Pralou continues their adventure tonight, live in voice.

TUESDAY, August 26th at 7:00pm: THE SEA FAIRIES Returns

We return tot he adventures of Trot on the shores of her California home, where magic and enchantment are lapping at the shore, and little Trot is eager to take a salty taste of it.  Trot and her friend Cap'n Bill spend many of their days roaming the beaches near home, or rowing and sailing along the coast.

One day, Trot wishes that she could see a mermaid; her wish is overheard, and granted the next day. Imagine what could happen next?

More joy from L. Frank Baum with our Faerie Maven-Pralou, Live in Voice.

TUESDAY, August 12th at 7pm: L.Frank Baum's THE SEA FAIRIES

The Sea Fairies was published in 1911 by the Reilly & Britton Company, the publisher of Baum's series of Oz books. Baum dedicated the book to the otherwise-unknown "Judith of Randolph, Massachusetts" — most likely one of the child readers who corresponded with the author.

Mayre Griffiths, nicknamed Trot, is a little girl who lives on the coast of southern California. Her father is the captain of a sailing schooner, and her constant companion is Cap'n Bill Weedles, a retired sailor with a wooden leg. Trot and Cap'n Bill spend many of their days roaming the beaches near home, or rowing and sailing along the coast. One day, Trot wishes that she could see a mermaid; her wish is overheard, and granted the next day. 


Faerie Maven-Pralou Live in Voice.

TUESDAY, August 5th at 7pm: L. Frank Baum's AMERICAN FAIRY TALES

Our Faerie has returned from her travels!  And she's brought L.Frank Baum, the Master of Oz,  with her!

Tonight Faerie shares selected tales from Baum's 1901 collection of twelve fantasy stories "American Fairy Tales."

Most people don't realize how huge the Frank Baum canon really is.  Like Arthur Conan Doyle, and J.M. Barrie, the entirely of Baum's work tends to be overshadowed by what is considered his magnus opus.

He is best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He wrote thirteen novel sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and a host of other works (55 novels in total, plus four "lost" novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, an unknown number of scripts, and many miscellaneous writings), and made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen. His works anticipated such century-later commonplaces as television, augmented reality, laptop computers (The Master Key), wireless telephones (Tik-Tok of Oz), women in high risk, action-heavy occupations (Mary Louise in the Country), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work).

Live in voice.

TUESDAY, April 8th at 7:30PM: THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND ... Concludes

Faerie Maven-Pralou concludes Catherynne M. Valente's adventure this week, live in voice.

“[Fairyland creates] a world as bizarre and enchanting as any Wonderland or Oz and a heroine as curious, resourceful and brave as any Alice or Dorothy. Complex, rich and memorable.” -- Kirkus, Starred Review

“A glorious balancing act between modernism and the Victorian Fairy Tale, done with heart and wisdom."  —Neil Gaiman, Newbery Award-winning author of The Graveyard Book

TUESDAY, April 1st at 7 PM: THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND ... Continues!

“A glorious balancing act between modernism and the Victorian Fairy Tale, done with heart and wisdom."  —Neil Gaiman, Newbery Award-winning author of The Graveyard Book

“September is a clever, fun, stronghearted addition to the ranks of bold, adventurous girls.  Valente's subversive storytelling is sheer magic." —Tamora Pierce, author of The Immortals series

“A mad, toothsome romp of a fairy tale -- full of oddments, whimsy, and joy." -- Holly Black, author of Zombies vs. Unicorns and the Spiderwick Chronicles

“When I saw that this book reminds me simultaneously of E. Nesbit, James Thurber, and the late Eva Ibbotson, I don't mean to take anything awy from its astonishing originality.  It's a charmer from the first page, managing the remarkable parlay of being at once ridiculously funny and surprisingly suspenseful.  Catherynne Valente is a find, at any age!" -- Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn

“[Fairyland creates] a world as bizarre and enchanting as any Wonderland or Oz and a heroine as curious, resourceful and brave as any Alice or Dorothy. Complex, rich and memorable.” -- Kirkus, Starred Review

"This book is quite simply a gold mine." -- Booklist, Starred Review

Faerie Maven-Pralou continues the adventure this week, live in voice.

THURSDAY, March 27th at 7:00pm: SEANCHAI LIBRARY TURNS SIX!

In 2008 our founder, Derry McMahon, founded the West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center into what would become the Seanchai Library.  Who knew?  Thousands of stories and thousands of hours later, Seanchai Library can be proud of six years of bringing stories of all kinds to life in Second Life through live voice presentations.

Join the Seanchai Staff tonight, as we celebrate six years of the power of stories and the spoken word, live in voice.

TUESDAY, March 25th at 7:00pm: THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND .... Continues

The Marquess co-opts her to retrieve a magical sword from the deadly Worsted Wood and holds the Wyvern and Marid hostage, September sacrifices everything to save her friends. Told by an omniscient narrator who directly engages readers, the densely textured text deftly mixes and matches familiar fairytale elements, creating a world as bizarre and enchanting as any Wonderland or Oz and a heroine as curious, resourceful and brave as any Alice or Dorothy. Complex, rich and memorable. 

Faerie Maven-Pralou shares more form this remarkable adventure, live in voice.

TUESDAY, March 18th at 7:00pm: THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND ... Continues

"In this modern fairytale, an insouciant, “somewhat heartless” 12-year-old girl from Omaha visits Fairyland and accepts a quest to rescue its inhabitants from the rule-mad Marquess. September’s father’s in the army, and her mother works a factory shift. When the Green Wind arrives at her kitchen window and invites her to Fairyland, the “ill-tempered and irascible” September eagerly accepts. Soon she’s flying on the back of the Leopard of Little Breezes, while Green Wind warns her she may be “ticketed or executed, depending on the mood of the Marquess,” if she tramples on any rules. Also, she must be prepared to make sacrifices and she must never tell her true name. After solving a puzzle, September passes into Fairyland, encounters myriad fantastical creatures and meets her soon-to-be helpers, a red dragonlike Wyvern and a blue jinnlike Marid. When the Marquess co-opts her to retrieve a magical sword from the deadly Worsted Wood and holds the Wyvern and Marid hostage, September sacrifices everything to save her friends."
--Kirkus Review

Faerie Maven-Pralou continues this vibrant adventure by  author Catherynne M. Valente, live in Voice.