The holiday season is special. Colorful lights, joyous music, delicious food, being with family and friends are traditions we all cherish. We enjoy the holidays and often recall our pleasure in celebrating them as children.

My goal in writing Ten Fingers Touching was to transport adults to an imaginary world with the same pleasure they experienced in reading magical stories as youths. Stories where the power of good conquers the forces of evil.

Our world is filled with harsh realities and there is no shortage of disturbing news, e.g., war, terrorism, cyber terrorism ― all communicated in real time via technology and social media. We crave respite from the evils we perceive and the uncertainties they create.

The power of fairy tales is that they allow us to escape from the problems of the present and dream about worlds where anything is possible. Their happy endings give us hope that what can be imagined can be achieved.

Hope is vital to the human spirit. In the words of Elie Wiesel, “Just as man cannot live without dreams, he cannot live without hope. If dreams reflect the past, hope summons the future.”

For every hardback copy of Ten Fingers Touching sold between Dec. 8 and Dec. 31, 2016, I will donate copies to the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh for domestic violence. Please send proof of purchase to ellen@ellenrothauthor.com.