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    Ten Fingers Touching
    Ten Fingers Touching
    Ten Fingers Touching
    Ebook133 pages1 hour

    Ten Fingers Touching

    By Ellen Roth

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    About this ebook

    Evil plots his return to power and Good fights to defeat Evil’s sinister plan.  Caught between them in this epic struggle are two young lovers―Martak, master of the forest, and Marianna, a beautiful  maiden and governess to Rosy, the impetuous, young princess. Evil’s desperate scheme to outwit Good and rule the Kingdom puts Martak, Marianna and the Princess at risk as they are drawn into the conflict.

    Will the soulmates realize their “happily ever after?” Martak must first unravel the curse and destroy Evil. In this land where magical forces vie for dominance, could true love be the most powerful weapon of all?

    A beautifully illustrated tale for grown-ups, Ten Fingers Touching explores the complex nature of love and fate.  It is an enchanting journey of romance, mystery and adventure. Ellen A. Roth’s debut novella is an imaginative take on a classic genre―and a treat for the romantic soul.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherGetting to the Point, Inc.
    Release dateSep 11, 2015
    ISBN9780990726814
    Ten Fingers Touching
    Author

    Ellen Roth

    Ten Fingers Touching is the first work of fiction and a true labor of love for Ellen A. Roth. The genesis of Ten Fingers Touching has rested within Ellen for some time. As a young child, she was enthralled with fairy tales and spent countless hours reading and dreaming. She devoted the early years of her professional career to the arts, studying museum curatorship and obtaining an MFA from Syracuse University. After moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1974, she became a registered art therapist and worked with emotionally disturbed and developmentally disabled children, while also earning her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education. Her experience as a mental health professional showed her how the power of imagination unlocks emotions in individuals of all ages. In 1991, Ellen co-founded Getting to the Point, Inc., a premier relocation consulting firm that specializes in helping corporations attract highly sought executive talent to Pittsburgh by better understanding and addressing the needs of the trailing spouse. She combines her business savvy and communication skills to show individuals and families the quality of life that Pittsburgh offers. Ellen has published numerous professional papers and articles. She is actively engaged in community service and is a member of the National Speakers Association. Ellen was named one of the Best 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania and honored as a Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, and is a recipient of the YWCA Tribute to Women Leadership Award in the category of Entrepreneur. Ellen shares her life with her husband, Dr. Loren Roth. She is immensely proud of her children and grateful to family and friends for their encouragement and support. 

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    Reviews for Ten Fingers Touching

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    • 4/5
      This is a unique twist on a faire tale. Ten Fingers Touching is a more grown up version of a fairy tale. More geared towards women. It focuses on Marianna and Martak. A young couple that against odds, shows that true love does exist and happy endings can come true. There is no big scary moments, despite Martak encountering a three headed sea serpent. The chapters are short and not clustered with lots of wording. Sometimes simple is best. Which is what the author did and what I really enjoyed about this book. Also, the illustrations were wonderful. They just came alive and really brought the story to life. I would catch myself at times just staring at the pictures and would have to go back and pick up again where I left off on the page. If you are into fairy tales and love stories then you should pick up a copy of this book today. This book is a treasure.

    Book preview

    Ten Fingers Touching - Ellen Roth

    pic-001pic-002pic-003

    This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and

    incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used

    fictitiously. Any resemblance in the text or illustrations to

    actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely

    coincidental.

    Text copyright © 2014 Ellen A. Roth

    Illustrations copyright © 2014 John Blumen

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

    reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any

    means, including photocopying, recording, digital scanning,

    or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior

    written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief

    quotations embodied in reviews. For permission requests or

    information, please contact www.ellenrothauthor.com/contact.

    ISBN-10: 0-9907268-0-0

    ISBN-13: 978-0-9907268-0-7

    Library of Congress Control Number: 2014916292

    Published by Getting to the Point, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA

    Printed in the United States of America * First Edition

    pic-004

    CONTENTS

    Acknowledgments

    Prologue

    Chapter One: Once Upon a Time in a Faraway Land

    Chapter Two: The Maiden and the Princess

    Chapter Three: The Master of the Forest

    Chapter Four: Exploring the Outdoors

    Chapter Five: Shadows in the Glen

    Chapter Six: Observations

    Chapter Seven: Danger

    Chapter Eight: The Magic of the Touch

    Chapter Nine: The Poem

    Chapter Ten: The Request

    Chapter Eleven: Danger Persists

    Chapter Twelve: The Decision

    Chapter Thirteen: The Moon

    Chapter Fourteen: The Sea Dragon

    Chapter Fifteen: The Stowaway

    Chapter Sixteen: Evil

    Chapter Seventeen: Destiny

    Chapter Eighteen: Revelation

    Chapter Nineteen: A Child is Born

    Chapter Twenty: Quest for the Princess

    Chapter Twenty-One: The Abduction

    Chapter Twenty-Two: The Golden Iridescent Globe

    Chapter Twenty-Three: The Climax

    Chapter Twenty-Four: The Rescue

    Chapter Twenty-Five: Reunion

    Epilogue

    About the Author

    About the Illustrator

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    More than a story, this book represents a dream come true. It brings to fruition a fairy tale that I began writing long ago. Throughout the evolution of Ten Fingers Touching, I enjoyed the support, advice and friendship of many wonderful people.

    I am deeply grateful to my editor, Steve Fine, and my illustrator, John Blumen—two exceptionally gifted individuals whom I did not know at the beginning of this project.

    Steve dedicated himself to editing the manuscript with skill and sensitivity. His thorough reviews of many drafts taught me to be a better writer. John’s extraordinary talent and magnificent illustrations breathed life into the characters. Every time I look at the cover, I smile. I treasure not only Steve’s and John’s significant contributions but their friendships as well.

    Special thanks go to celebrated mystery writer Jeffrey Siger for encouraging me to publish the story and to share it with others. I am also very grateful to Ramona DeFelice Long and Beverly Loy Taylor for their diligent, specialized editing pertaining to content and grammar, respectively. Other professionals who read the manuscript and offered helpful insights include Rachel Ekstrom and Kelly Rottmund.

    My company, Getting to the Point, Inc., has a wonderful book club. Many thanks to the members who read the story and especially to those who provided detailed critiques including Kathy Azar, Mary Frances Cooper, Joanna Huss, Colleen Schabdach, Ann Zalla and, above all, Lida Larsen.

    I am indebted to author Raymond Vennare for the introduction to Steve Fine and to author Nancy Martin for the introduction to Ramona DeFelice Long.

    Finally, I appreciated the valuable comments from my children, Alexandra Kahn, Elizabeth Roth and Dr. Jonathan Roth. Most of all, I thank my husband, Dr. Loren Roth, for sharing with me the joy that true love brings to life.

    pic-005

    Prologue

    Ten toes overlapping

    Ten fingertips pressing

    Five senses blending

    Two hearts merging

    Minds converging

    Each half-soul swirling

    In the universe

    Unites and pours into

    One seamless skin,

    A perfect whole.

    pic-006

    Chapter One

    ONCE UPON A TIME

    IN A FARAWAY LAND

    The malice that fed Evil simmered inside him as he impatiently gazed skyward. He had waited far too long for this meeting. In contrast, Good was in no rush to appear. She bided her time before bursting through the Heavens on a magnificent chariot drawn by four white, winged horses with long tails and flowing manes, leaving a dazzling display of white crystals in her wake. Draped in a white gown, Good was a handsome woman with natural beauty etched by years of wise governing and maturity.

    Slithering out from the shadows, Evil quickly morphed from a small, spiky reptile into one of his infinite incarnations—a fierce, 50-foot-tall dragon that reared on two legs, breathing smoke and fire and roaring with wicked intent. Just as suddenly, the dragon twisted like a corkscrew, emitted a high-pitched whirring noise, and then spiraled downward into a new form—a thin, angular man in courtly dress that gave him a pleasing appearance, belying the evil glint in his eye.

    Good burst through the Heavens on a magnificent chariot drawn by four white, winged horses with long tails and flowing manes, leaving a dazzling display of white crystals in her wake.

    Good and Evil confronted one another at the confluence of the three rivers, where two mighty bodies of water joined together to form a third.

    How did this fateful meeting come about, and where would it lead?

    Evil had long been banished from the Kingdom by the forces of Good. After so many years in exile, his mounting rage had reached a crescendo, and he was more determined than ever to regain his presence and power. As he had done at least once each century for millennia, he petitioned for a meeting with Good, and she granted him a brief reprieve from his expulsion.

    Standing face to face with Evil, Good eyed him with disdain.

    So wonderful to see you after all these years, my esteemed opponent, Evil began, accentuating his sarcasm with a deep, mocking bow.

    Good was not amused. State your purpose for requesting this meeting, so I may be done with you and on my way, she commanded.

    Undaunted, the elegantly dressed man pressed on. The people of this realm no longer deserve your protection, Evil asserted. Your subjects are not as good or as virtuous as you would like to believe. They only restrain their impulses. If you have so much faith in the people under your influence, why do you still fear a test of their worthiness?

    Good had resisted this taunt for generations, but on this particular day she considered his thoughts before responding. You are no wiser than when we last met many years ago, she replied. "The passing of time does

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