"McCauley’s heady debut may be classic high fantasy, but her worldbuilding is so rooted in the natural world that it feels unearthed rather than invented." BookLife Review by Publisher's Weekly " Alderelm is a touching, intricate fantasy story… written in a lovely, lyrical style. You’re sure to meet strange creatures, stunning lands, and stirring emotionality in this one.” —Addison Ciuchta , Independent Book Review In the land of Laurantis lies Alderelm, one of the seven ancient forests of the world, which chronicles the history of all creatures—flora and fauna, great and small. Here, faeries known as Treeans dwell among the white-barked trees. When disaster strikes, a young Treean named Littleleaf Leadtree embarks on a quest to protect Earth’s memories by protecting the Sakatu, the World Tree Seed. Fortune presents her with an eclectic group of companions: a Puman and Coyotl elf, two human brothers from Seayr, and Tullkaee, a noble Daunan huntress. Together, they must travel to protect the precious seed from the sinister forces of Geul, who would garner power from its destruction. Embark on a magical journey amidst the beauty of the natural world, where faeries, elementals, and elves coexist alongside humans, and unexpected friendships form in this literary, textured tree tale. Ellis McCauley is an indie author passionate about creating imaginative stories from Nature's perspective. She lives in the Palouse region of eastern Washington, where mima mounds tickle the feet of rolling hills that stretch out to the horizon and kiss the sky with the help of ponderosa pines. "Alderelm is a touching, intricate fantasy story... written in a lovely, lyrical style. You're sure to meet strange creatures, stunning lands, and stirring emotionality in this one." Addison Ciuchta, Independent Book Review "McCauley's heady debut may be classic high fantasy, but her worldbuilding is so rooted in the natural world that it feels unearthed rather than invented." BookLife Review by Publishers Weekly "Alderelm is a fantasy novel that stirs the imagination with every page." Leslie Coccia, OnlineBookClub.org "Alderelm is a touching, intricate fantasy story... written in a lovely, lyrical style. You're sure to meet strange creatures, stunning lands, and stirring emotionality in this one." -Addison Ciuchta , Independent Book Review Ellis McCauley is an author who draws inspiration from the subtle nuances that characterize everyday life. With a love for classic literature and a deep appreciation of nature, she crafts stories with a naturalist's eye and a daydreamer's imagination. Approaching life with humor and sincerity allows her to grapple with humanity while cherishing the natural world, all in the gentle escape of a narrative where folklore might hold all our truths. Living in Eastern Washington, where the serene panorama of the Palouse meets the raw terrain of the Scablands, she invites you into her realm. Rain McCauley is a 2D digital animator, illustrator, and screenwriter whose imaginative worlds are deeply inspired by her fascination with astrobiology and ecology. Driven by a love for storytelling that blends scientific curiosity with the magic of fantasy, Rain invites audiences to explore the unknown.Based in Eastern Washington, Rain is an active collaborator on a diverse array of creative projects. She storyboards and animates for Rocket Boy Studio, brings characters to life as an animator for Dream Arc Studios, and has contributed her talent as an intern for ArtEd Washington, whose logo she also designed. Her creative reach extends into the realm of audio as well, where she works on sound design and editing for Alderelm's audiobook.Beyond her professional collaborations, Rain pursues personal passions through Within the Blue Comics and the YouTube series 42PoppyBrox, continually expanding her artistic horizons. Whether she is animating, illustrating, creating cover art for a book, writing scripts, or designing soundscapes, Rain McCauley's work is a culmination of her yearning to explore the unknown and her appreciation for the world around her.