Christmas Stones & The Story Chair

by Justin Isherwood

Hardcover $26(limited quantities available) Softcover $16
ISBN 1891609041

Christmas Stones & The Story Chair- a farmboy narrator introduces the reader to the great uncles and aunts of a farm family as they give the gift of story to the next generation. The tales are revealed by an award-winning writer, Justin Isherwood. The story chair is real.

"The custom of my family is to tell stories at Christmas. Specifically, stone stories. Tales whose nativity and metaphor, narrative and scene, are rooted in what appears to the casual observer unremarkable stones. Every year we gathered... to hear the stones."

History is retold through the gift of story at Christmastime when award-winning writer Justin Isherwood places the farm's great aunts and uncles upon the hard seat of the embellished, painted story chair and they transfer their homespun tales to the next generation. Tales told through stones.

"In my family it was this chair that raised us up and made stories of us, despite we were no else but farm folk. When set in our midst, the noise of us ceased, children unaccountably grew quiet, menfolk hushed their politics. Wars, if there were some, went off so far in the distance as to momentarily cease. In the presence of this chair it seemed all creation slowed and drew near with us. The cows listened, the trees crept close crowded with expectant birds, the children folded their knees beneath their chins-- all waiting to hear. Jupiter was seen eavesdropping at the window... Every Christmas it was so. The story chair was brought forth, set in the center of the parlor and the stories began..."

This Wisconsin writer creates a new tradition of holiday giving and a book to be enjoyed year round.

Justin Isherwood is a fifth generation farmer and author of The Book of Plough and The Farm West of Mars. His award-winning writing style and wry observations have appeared in numerous national and regional publications. He and his wife live in Plover, WI.