Introduction

Ever since his dad passed away, Ollie and his sister have spent the summers at their Gran's house, which unfortunately was down the street from Cody, a kid who would conveniently run into Ollie every day to bully him alongside his posse. The sting of Cody's harsh words would stay with Ollie all year, but he honestly wasn't sure what was worse, the consistent teasing or the fact that he allowed the abuse to continue.

One day, Cody finally pushed Ollie beyond his breaking point, unleashing all the pent-up anger and hurt he has held inside for years. Knowing there would be a price to pay, Ollie went looking for an escape and stumbled upon the various holes cut into the fence down the street from him at Gran's house. Knowing these holes were often used as an escape route for others, Ollie went through, only to be sent into another dimension.

This world mirrored his own in strange ways yet pulsed with both magic and danger. Forests whispered with hidden voices, streams sparkled with enchantment, and creatures both wondrous and menacing roamed freely. Ollie quickly realized that he could slip easily back and forth between the two realities and found himself often visiting this alternate dimension. Until one day the leader of the gnome clan was kidnapped, and it was up to Ollie to save them and the first of seven sacred stones, known as courage, that were stolen from the clan. The sacred stone could only be restored if Ollie confronted his own fears and proved himself braver than he believed possible, but with his allies at his side, Ollie embarked on a quest that would test his heart, will, and his own self-beliefs.

"The Sacred Stones" is the beginning of a seven-book fantasy-adventure series that will lead young readers through Ollie's journey to recover each of the lost virtues. From courage and wisdom to compassion, kindness, honesty, perseverance, and hope. Each book invites readers into a thrilling quest where Ollie and his unlikely allies must face ominous creatures, tricky landscapes, and shadowy villains. With every step, Ollie learns not only how to rescue the magical realm but also how to build the inner strength he needs in his own life. At its heart, "The Sacred Stones" series shows young readers that the virtues we often think of as impossible to reach are already within us, waiting to be uncovered, one adventure at a time.