We are so excited to share our project, The Tales of Bracken Glen with you! 

 

We're creating a series of beautifully illustrated Scottish storybooks that follow the adventures of a clan of charming, mischievous wee beasties with much insight, banter and lore to impart. These tales are set in the braes, woods, and hidden nooks of the enchanting Bracken Glen, bringing a touch of magic to readers everywhere.

Alongside the storybooks, we're developing an online storytelling platform. This will be a wonderful space where the tales of Bracken Glen can come alive, engaging audiences and allowing them to dive deeper into the world of our critters.

Your support will help us bring these stories, the world and the whole brand to life and create a truly special experience.

Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a real difference. If you're able to, please consider backing our project or sharing it with your friends and family. Thank you for being a part of this adventure! See below for more details and reward info.

The funding goal is 27th Sept, because, you know....Equinox, harvest season fruitfulness, and the end of a moon cycle energy are just utterly delicious and we're cool like that 🌝🥧🌹 however, the campaign will remain open.

 

How We Started

Hello!! The poems and stories are created by me, Donna, an actor and storyteller, and are inspired by the hand-made creatures from a joint venture with my wonderful late mum Elizabeth, a needle-felt artist who shared a love of magic, lore, nature, animals and whimsy. Her felted creations brought her and their recipients much joy, journeying to homes all over the world, with some short tales from me adding to the magic and planting the seed of them eventually becoming storybooks.

That moment has arrived. Huzzah! A year and a half of writing and tweaking, storyboarding, gathering, holding out for and aligning with the right editor and illustrator, as well as allowing space for every moment on a very emotional and personal journey, guided by lessons and gifts not taken for granted, and a deep need to create and share. 

The intention of this project is to cultivate a warm and welcoming world of enchantment and wonder, with fun, relatable characters (animal, ethereal and human) based on Scottish folklore, whose many adventures and companionship offer moments of comfort, uplift, insight and laughter, with lessons and themes to guide and inspire through illustrated storybooks and an online storytelling platform.

 

What is on the way and where the funds will go: 

The first storybook is complete and ready to be sent to our wonderful illustrator, with the next ones ready for editing. This will be a collaborative world building project between author and artist, with ongoing book releases, online tales and experiences.

So, there are 2 parts. Printed books and a storytelling web series, with the priority of fund distribution being the release of the first set of books and all that involves.

Part One. Our illustrator Sarah will not only bring The Glen and clan of curious characters to life and to the page, but create the logo and all branding elements that will weave the warmth and whimsy of Bracken Glen through our various platforms and products. 

This is a self-publishing venture and as mentioned, will offer an ongoing series of storybooks and more, for all ages, with funds covering the initial cost of editing, eco-conscious printing, distribution, audio recording and marketing and any extras going to the pot for the next releases. 

Part Two. A small portion of the budget has been set aside to expand on equipment & props for the online home. This friendly and engaging storytelling space will be a hearth for the Bracken Glen World where listeners and viewers will get to know and go on adventures with the many creatures and beasties living there, along with visits to some fascinating human “Friends of The Glen” with their own lessons and magic to share.

You’ll be helping to not only publish books, but to build the brand, and bring the world to life.

 

THANK YOU so much for reading, for following along and for supporting this project. You are appreciated! This world has been in my heart and on my mind for a long time, with a living, breathing life-force all its own thanks to some endearing wee beasties with a constant stream of delightful chatter I look forward to sharing! Peace and plenty to you, and may the Trows always return your cutlery! With gratitude, Donna 💖

 

 

🧚🧌🧜🧝🌲

"Seeeeee, I told the nice people all about you! Now, let's all take some quiet time in the woods. In separate spots for now, quiet time, aye, just a wee day, and we'll gather again soon! Ok, poppets? Okaaayyyy. See ye after"

 

 

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REWARDS: Goodies and gratitude

There are tiers to cater for UK, US and Canada shipping for this crowdfunding stage of the project, as well as a digital option for our friends and supporters in other countries. Please make sure you select the right reward that includes the shipping cost. You will also find donation rewards for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital and Plant A Tree with National Trust for Scotland and the option to pledge without a reward if preferred.

--> Please be sure to add your shipping address so rewards can be shipped when fulfilment comes around!

**The goal is £5500 to get the project off the ground, with a stretch goal of £7500, which if reached, an illustrated Bracken Glen bookmark and sticker will be included with all print bundles for UK, US & Canada, and an extra £10 donated for each £50 and above bundle to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital.

 

A wee glossary

Fair Bonnie: Very lovely, beautiful, charming

Awfy Braw: Rather fine, grand, dashing

Yir a Guid Yin: You’re a good one (this is used with much affection)

Yir a Wee Cracker: You really are particularly fine, rather splendid, in fact!

What a Belter: Extraordinarily fabulous!

Happy As a Dug Wi Twa Tails: Happy as a wee dog with two tails to joyfully wag

Peace an Plenty: A heart-felt blessing. Harmony and abundance

A Cup o Kindness: A toast, to our kin. An honouring. A thank you. A blessing.

Oh It’s Yirsel. Guid tae See Ye: Oh, it’s you! How lovely to see you!

Grandmother Oak: A wise elder in The Glen on whom Owl has a favourite branch

Ghillie Dhu: A nature spirit in Scottish folklore who helps and guides children

 

£10 - The Clan Thanks Ye

Thank you for helping bring our project to life. Your name will be added to a backer page on our website & mentioned on our socials

 

£20 – Ghillie Dhu’s Gift

Donation made in our name to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital

 

£20 - Grandmother Oak’s Gift

Plant a Tree in our name with National Trust for Scotland

 

£20 - Och, Yir A Guid Yin 

Digital Bracken Glen poem

Thank you letter from the author

Updates, mention on website & socials

 

£25 – Fair Bonnie - UK

£37 – Bonnie o’er the water - US/Canada

Printed copy hot off the press, ready to read

Printed Bracken Glen poem

Thank you letter from author

Updates, mention on website & socials

Books include audio & video of story

 

£35 – Awfy Braw - UK

£47 – Braw o’er the water - US/Canada

Signed copy hot off the press, ready to read

*Thank you letter from Mirren Mouse

*Certificate of Appreciation from The Glen

Printed Bracken Glen poem. 

Thank you letter from author

Updates, mention on website & socials

Books include audio & video of story

 

£35 – Yir a Wee Cracker - Digital Bundle

Story in ebook format

Audio recording of story

Video recording of story

Bracken Glen poem

Thank you letter from the author

Thank you letter from Mirren Mouse

Certificate of appreciation from The Glen

Updates, mention on website & socials

 

£50 – What a Belter – Brownie’s Bundle - UK

£62 – Belter o'er the water - US/Can

Signed copy hot off the press, ready to read

*Illustrated Brownie Affirmation Card

*Illustrated Bookmark

*Illustrated Sticker

Printed Bracken Glen poem

Thank you letter from author

Thank you letter from Mirren Mouse

Certificate of Appreciation from The Glen

Updates, mention on website & socials

Books include audio & video of story

 

£75 – Happy As a Dug Wi Twa Tails - UK
£87 - Dug Wi Twa Tails o'er the Water - US/Can

Signed copy hot off the press, ready to read

*Tote Bag

*Guided Woodland Meditation

*Personalised thank you video message for person of your choosing

Printed Bracken Glen poem

Thank you letter from author

Thank you letter from Mirren Mouse

Certificate of Appreciation from The Glen

Illustrated bookmark, Sticker, Brownie Affirmation Card

Updates, mentions on website & socials

Books include audio & video of story

 

£100 – Peace an Plenty – UK Only

3 x Printed copy hot off the press, ready to read

3 x Bookmark

3 x Printed Bracken Glen poem

3 x Thank you letter from Mirren Mouse

3 x Certificate of Appreciation from The Glen

*This will be 3 individually wrapped sets sent together.

Updates, mentions on website & socials

Books include audio & video of story

 

£275 – A Cup o Kindness – UK Only

Donate 10 books to places of your choosing, or have them all sent to you. You can also allow us to choose local children’s facilities and donate them in your name. UK only.

Letter from Mirren Mouse & Bookmark with each

Updates, mentions on website & socials

Books include audio & video of the story

 

£300 – Oh, it’s Yersel. It’s Guid Tae See Ye!

In person visit and storytelling experience with the author at your school/library/event (Scotland only).

This will include: A reading of the story, and more interactive creature tales. Q&A about all things Bracken Glen. Bookmarks & Stickers for all attendees. 

1 x Signed copy of the book

1 x Printed Bracken Glen poem

1 x Thank you letter from author

1 x Thank you letter from Mirren Mouse

1 x Certificate of Appreciation from The Glen

Updates, mentions on website & socials

Books include audio & video of story

 

STRETCH - If the stretch goal of £7500 is reached, an illustrated Bracken Glen bookmark and sticker will be included with all print bundles to UK, US & Canada, and £10 donated for each £50 and above bundle to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital.