The Christmas Stone

Abandoned at the age of two, Brân Finch anxiously waits for a family to take him in. But each year, the Elfin boy is passed over. Can it be that his strange resemblance to the evil sorceress Maggie Crow has something to do with it? Brân leaves the orphanage and ends up picking pockets to survive. On one occasion, he is forced to escape imprisonment by jumping into a raging river. The river takes him to the small village of Eve's Crossing. Each Christmas Eve, this village shines a special light that helps guide Mr. Kringle and his reindeer safely back home. The light comes from a special stone known as the Christmas Stone. Brân learns that Maggie Crow has taken the stone. Without its light, Mr. Kringle and his reindeer would perish. Christmas Eve, as we know it, would come to an end. Brân agrees to help the villagers. With the help of four other elves, he makes his way to the witch's house. But to get there, the group must cross through a mysterious forest where the trees feed on the blood of living creatures. Can the five elves make it safely through these woods without becoming victims? Can Brân return the Christmas Stone to Eve's Crossing before midnight and rescue the five villagers taken prisoner? And what about his close resemblance to Maggie Crow? Is it possible that he is actually related to this sorceress and her family? Find out what happens when Brân confronts the only person who may hold clues to his past and to the reason why he was abandoned at such a young age.

Abandoned at the age of two, Brân Finch anxiously waits for a family to take him in. But each year, the Elfin boy is passed over for others.

Can it be that his strange resemblance to the evil sorceress Maggie Crow has something to do with it?

Brân leaves the orphanage and ends up picking pockets to survive. On one occasion, he is forced to escape from five guards by jumping into a raging river.

The river takes him to the small village of Eve's Crossing. Each Christmas Eve, this village shines a special light that helps guide Mr. Kringle and his reindeer safely back home. The light comes from a special stone known as the Christmas Stone.

Brân learns that Maggie Crow has taken the stone. Without its light, Mr. Kringle and his reindeer would perish in the canyons below. Christmas Eve, as we know it, would come to an end.

Brân agrees to join four other elves in getting back the stone. Together, they make their way to the witch's house. But to get there, the group must cross through a mysterious forest where the trees feed on the blood of living creatures.

Can the five elves make it safely through these woods without becoming victims? Can Brân return the Christmas Stone to Eve's Crossing before midnight and rescue the five villagers taken prisoner? And what about his close resemblance to Maggie Crow? Is it possible that he is actually related to this sorceress and her family?

Find out what happens when Brân confronts the only person who may hold clues to his past and to the reason why he was abandoned at such a young age.

Richard Flores (aka Floris) is a native Californian, currently living in Southern California. He fell in love with reading at an early age, thanks to the many books gifted to him as a child. As he grew older, he and his brother enjoyed many Saturdays skateboarding to the local library.

During his middle school and high school years, Richard would spend many of his lunch breaks in the school library, either reading for pleasure or getting a head start on his homework.

Richard recently retired as a community college professor. He now spends his time traveling and writing from home. The Christmas Stone is his first book available in print, although he has written and published several educational workbooks in computer literacy and office applications during his teaching career.