Too many ideas, too little time...

Always, new ideas are boiling in my writer's stew pot. Here are the latest books to bubble up to the top:

After finishing my trilogy, The Great Tree of Avalon, (which, I'm pleased to say, made the New York Times best seller lists), I began the final trilogy to complete my saga of Merlin and his worlds.  The result is the new Merlin's Dragon trilogy, which reveals what really happened between the final scene of The Lost Years of Merlin saga and the opening of The Great Tree of Avalon trilogy. Book I, titled Merlin's Dragon, follows the amazing adventures of a tiny little fellow named Basil... who has a future that is just as magical, heroic, and extraordinary as Merlin's. Though he has a very small body, he has a very big destiny!  Book II, called MERLIN'S DRAGON: Doomraga's Revenge, continues his epic adventures.  And Book III, titled MERLIN'S DRAGON: Ultimate Magic will call on him to show the magic, power, and wisdom of the greatest dragon of all times—if he's going to save his beloved world of Avalon.

I am also delighted to announce an illustrated compendium volume, due in 2011, titled The Book of Merlin, which will reveal many secrets and back stories about more than 150 characters and places and magical objects found in all the Merlin books! Together, these two books will complete the 12-book saga of Merlin and his worlds. (And they cap off an 18-year creative process for me ... quite a journey.)

The Day the Stones Walked, my new picture book, was recently published by Philomel. This book was inspired by my trip to Easter Island, one of the world's most remote—and most mysterious—places. In this story, I imagine what might have happened on the day people suddenly stopped carving moai, the great stone faces. And in my author's note, I explore what the environmental disaster of Easter Island might mean for the bigger island we call Earth. (Right now, I am considering elaborating on this issue in another book about our global environment—and what kids can do to help save it.) Magical, dramatic paintings by William Low bring this book to life. For more details (and to view some of the beautiful paintings), check the page on this website for The Day the Stones Walked.

I’m happy to report that The Hero’s Trail was just published in paperback. This book tells the true stories of young people of all backgrounds who have changed the world for the better. Their stories will, I hope, encourage other young people to make a positive difference—just like the amazing kids who have won the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. I am thinking about writing a sequel to The Hero’s Trail so that its message can reach even more young people.

And here's one more project that might interest you: a movie of The Lost Years of Merlin is in the works! To find out more, check the page on this website for Merlin—The Movie.

Now, time to get back to the stew pot! I wonder what's bubbling up next? Smells very intriguing…

- T.A. Barron