by T. A. Barron | Jan 12, 2023 | Blog, For Young Heroes, On Reading
Lessons I Learned from Merlin I have spent many, many years immersed in the life and world of Merlin. It is a magical, beautiful place, but it is also a place that has taught me a myriad of lessons about life, love, and humanity within our own world. Merlin has been a...
by T. A. Barron | Dec 28, 2022 | Blog, For Nature Lovers
How Nature Inspires Us: A Collection of Blogs from Readers While hiking in California some years ago, I found the most magnificent tree I’d ever seen—a redwood of such grandeur that I nearly fell over backward trying to see its highest boughs. As I came closer, the...
by T. A. Barron | Dec 8, 2022 | Blog, Contests, Sweepstakes
Find Merlin Sweepstakes Recent Posts Find Merlin Sweepstakes You Are the Author of Your Own Story Keeping Your Story Boat Afloat Using Mythology to Write Fantasy: Creating the Merlin Saga Myths, Magic, and Podcasting: A T. A. Barron...
by T. A. Barron | Dec 7, 2022 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes
Heroes All Around Us As all of my readers can attest, young heroes play an important role in my stories – fiction and nonfiction alike. I am often asked why this is — what is my fascination with young heroes — and the answer is quite simple: young heroes play an...
by T. A. Barron | Nov 11, 2022 | Blog, Encouraging Writers, For Young Heroes
You Are the Author of Your Own Story Today I’m inviting you to see your life as a story! Episode 6 Excerpt by T. A. Barron | Magic & Mountains: The T. A. Barron Podcast https://tabarron.com/wp-content/uploads/Life-as-a-Story-Quotes.mp3 As we journey through life,...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 28, 2022 | Blog, Encouraging Writers, For Writers, On Writing
Keeping Your Story Boat Afloat Did you know that before my first manuscript was published, I received 32 rejections? Thirty-two “no thank you”s. Thirty-two “we’ll pass.” Thirty-two “thanks, but no thanks.” That, friends, is A LOT of nos. But fortunately, not enough...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 13, 2022 | Blog, Encouraging Writers, For Writers
Using Mythology to Write Fantasy: Creating the Merlin Saga Children and young adults understand both the fun and the power of a good story. What could be more exciting than traveling without limits to other times, other value systems, and other universes? Creating...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 11, 2022 | Featured, In the Media, Interviews, Podcast
Myths, Magic, and Podcasting: A T. A. Barron Interview by Betsy Bird School Library Journal October 11, 2022 View Online | PDF Folks, I’ve been around a while. Met a lot of folks. And about nine years ago I did something I’d never done before: I finally visited the...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 29, 2022 | Blog, For Educators, For Nature Lovers, For Young Heroes, On Nature & the Environment
Congratulations to 2022’s Barron Prize Winners Each year, the Barron Prize awards outstanding young people whose actions serve as an inspirational example of the power we all have to make a difference in the world. Over the past two decades, the Barron Prize has...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 12, 2022 | Featured, In the Media, Interviews, Podcast
New Podcast Explores the Magic, Folklore and Inspiration Found in the Mountains by Teague Bohlen Westword September 12,2022 View Online | PDF The connection between fantasy and the natural world has long informed T. A. Barron’s writing and environmental advocacy, and...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 12, 2022 | Blog
Introducing Magic & Mountains “All we have, truly, all we have, is our time and our souls.” – T. A. Barron I am thrilled to announce the upcoming release of my new podcast, Magic & Mountains! This is a project that I have been eager to share for so long...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 12, 2022 | In the Media, Podcast, Press Release
Bestselling Author & ConservationistT. A. Barron Announces New Podcast Boulder, CO September 12, 2022 PDF T. A. Barron, the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of The Merlin Saga, is thrilled to announce his new podcast called Magic &...
by T. A. Barron | Aug 25, 2022 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes
Dream Chasers: 5 Things Done By People Who Achieve Their Dreams I’ve always loved a good story. Growing up in Colorado, I always dreamed of becoming a writer. To live in a mountain cabin, writing books. I dreamed up stories and poems, sometimes to avoid doing...
by T. A. Barron | Aug 17, 2022 | For Educators, For Young Heroes
Equality in Education: How to Empower Young People I have always been a firm believer in the idea that young people are capable of great things. Since 2000, when I launched the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, I have had the unique honor of seeing firsthand the...
by T. A. Barron | Jun 30, 2022 | Blog, On Nature, On Nature & the Environment
5 Unique Ways You Can Help the Environment, Every Day! Protecting the environment and saving our remaining wilderness should be a bipartisan, patriotic duty that benefits all Americans, now and forever. There is hope to save our planet from the forces of greed and...
by T. A. Barron | Jun 17, 2022 | Blog, Encouraging Writers, For Writers, On Writing
All Your Writing Questions, Answered! Other writers often ask me questions about how I started writing and for advice on their writing. I try answering your emails and Facebook posts and responding to as many writing questions as possible, but sometimes I can’t get to...
by T. A. Barron | May 24, 2022 | Blog, For Writers, On Writing
Bringing a Character to Life Making characters come alive is one of the trickiest, but most important elements of writing. When you see how they look in your mind — and can hear their voice echoing — then you’ve begun to know who they are. But it’s not...
by T. A. Barron | May 18, 2022 | Blog, Sweepstakes
“All Smiles” Comedy Writing Contest Looking for Something? Search for: CategoriesCategories Select Category Adventures of Kate (3) Adventures of Kate Excerpts (3) Articles (10) Blog (149) Book...
by T. A. Barron | Apr 22, 2022 | Blog, For Nature Lovers, For Young Heroes, On Nature & the Environment
A Magical World Nature and the environment are hugely important as inspiration to me. Not just in my writing, but also within my own personal life. While doing book events in Marin County, California (home of the wondrous Muir Woods), my host commented on the...
by T. A. Barron | Mar 18, 2022 | Books, Featured, For Educators, In the Media, Interviews, On Writing, The Atlantis Saga, The Merlin Saga
Romanian Children’s Book Festival Interview with Andrei CiobanuRomanian Children’s Book FestivalMarch, 2022PDF What inspires your stories? 1) Writing is the hardest work I’ve ever done – and also the most meaningful work I’ve ever done. 2) The best part of this...
by T. A. Barron | Mar 15, 2022 | Blog, For Young Heroes, On Reading, Quests
The Importance of Literacy (Plus a New Quest for Young Heroes!) I may be a little biased, but I believe that storytelling is one of the single most consequential talents we humans have — something unique that sets us apart from all the other creatures of this world,...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 18, 2022 | Blog, For Young Heroes
The Art of Kindness There is magic in kindness. Not rabbit-out-of-a-hat magic, but the true life-changing stuff of miracles. Genuine, heartfelt kindness creates a type of magic that is never-ending — a kind that multiplies with every person it touches. I’ve come to...
by T. A. Barron | Jan 20, 2022 | Blog, For Young Heroes, Free Downloads, Quests
The Disappearance of Dragons (Plus a New Quest) Just as I believe in the magic of this world, I also believe in creatures that we may never have the chance to meet. Take dragons for instance. A question that comes up frequently in my letters is whether I would like to...
by T. A. Barron | Dec 29, 2021 | Blog, For Young Heroes
Give Back Generously This Holiday Season Generosity, one of Merlin’s seven magical words, is a word that holds magic in itself. You see, generosity is not simply about giving a tangible gift to another person. Instead, it’s the magic of giving freely of...
by T. A. Barron | Dec 9, 2021 | Blog, For Young Heroes, Free Downloads, Quests
A New Quest for Young Heroes: Solving World Hunger In a time usually known as a time of abundance, we often forget about the problems that so many of our fellow humans face: food insecurity. Imagine having to make a choice between food or life-saving medicine,...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 28, 2021 | Books, Featured, For Educators, In the Media, Interviews, The Merlin Saga
T.A. Barron: From Colorado to Camelot by Teague Bohlen Westword October 28, 2021 Original Article...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 28, 2021 | Featured, For Educators, In the Media, Interviews, On Nature, The Merlin Saga, Young Heroes
A Giant Interview with T. A. Barron by Elizabeth Bird A Fuse #8 Production An SLJ.com Blog October 28, 2021 Original Article | PDF Years and years ago, a fine fellow by the name of Tom (or T. A.) Barron took me to the Bemelman’s Bar in the Carlyle Hotel in New York...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 28, 2021 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
GIANT EXCERPT BIG FEET “Seventeen boulders!” crowed the midwife Gargolyn. Though she herself was a giant, she strained to lift the squirming baby in her hands. “That’s a hefty weight for a newlyborn, even for a giant.” Turning slowly in the sunlight, Gargolyn observed...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 26, 2021 | In the Media, Press Release, The Merlin Saga
The long-awaited prequel to the bestselling saga is here… Boulder, CO October 26, 2021 PDF ★ “Shim is a wonderfully relatable character imparting a message of empathy that should resonate long after the last page turns. Simply delightful.” – Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 20, 2021 | Blog, Books, On Reading, The Merlin Saga
GIANT Virtual Book Tour I’m thrilled to announce that my latest book, GIANT: The Unlikely Origins of Shim, a prequel to The Merlin Saga featuring Shim, is coming to bookstores everywhere on October 26th. In honor of this magical opening to a story that means so...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 12, 2021 | In the Media, Press Release, The Merlin Saga
T. A. Barron Unveils Redesigned, Interactive Website Boulder, COOctober 12, 2021PDF NEW WEBSITE FOR BESTSELLING AUTHOR & CONSERVATIONIST OFFERS ELEMENTS FOR READERS, EDUCATORS AND NATURE LOVERS ALIKE T. A. Barron, the award-winning and New York Times bestselling...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 1, 2021 | Blog, For Young Heroes, Free Downloads, Quests
Introducing Quests for Young Heroes Nature is my great friend, wise teacher, and true healer, as well as my enduring inspiration. That is why I am thrilled to announce a brand new series on the website: Quests. It is my hope that by embarking upon these quests, young...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 1, 2021 | Blog, For Young Heroes
Tapping Into the Heroic Potential of Every Child I’m often asked why I chose to write about the early years of the great wizard, Merlin. What really made me fall in love with stories of young Merlin was the realization that Merlin, the original wizard and the...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 20, 2021 | Blog, For Young Heroes, News
Congratulations to the 2021 Barron Prize Winners! Each year, the Barron Prize awards outstanding young people whose personal stories and service work act as inspiring examples of the power we all have to make the world better. During a most difficult time in our...
by T. A. Barron | Aug 23, 2021 | Blog, Encouraging Writers, Sweepstakes
Giant Courage Writing Contest Looking for Something? Search for: Get News! * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name * Connect with Me CategoriesCategories Select Category Adventures of Kate Excerpts (3) Articles (7)...
by T. A. Barron | Jul 28, 2021 | Blog, Encouraging Writers, On Reading, On Writing
The Power of Stories Writers have a special power — the power of stories. Authors, at their very core, are storytellers. When we publish a book, we invite readers into a different world and tell them about what they’ll find there. Storytelling is an art form...
by T. A. Barron | Jun 21, 2021 | Blog, Fantasy, On Reading
The Magic of Reading What makes a book ‘worth reading’, to me? I read everything that interests me … which is quite a lot! Of course, I’m extremely fond of great nature writing, but I have long loved biographies of amazing people, and...
by T. A. Barron | May 25, 2021 | Blog, Encouraging Writers, For Young Heroes
One Step Closer to Your Dream “A life — whether seamstress or poet, farmer or king — is measured not by its length, but by the worth of its deeds, and the power of its dreams.” — MERLIN: The Mirror of Fate To be a writer has always been my dream. My first creations,...
by T. A. Barron | May 20, 2021 | Book Excerpt, Nature Book Excerpts
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK EXCERPT The Gift of Enos Mills Downloadable PDF When Enos Mills returned to his homestead cabin one day in the late nineteenth century, he sat on his porch and gazed across the valley at the towering ridges of Mount Meeker and Longs Peak....
by T. A. Barron | May 20, 2021 | Book Excerpt, Nature Book Excerpts
TO WALK IN WILDERNESS EXCERPT From Day 3 Rain, relentless rain. The downpour at Little Gem Lake continues unabated all through the night and well into the next day. At times fog rolls in, so thick that the ground a few feet outside our sopping tent becomes nothing...
by T. A. Barron | May 13, 2021 | Book Excerpt
THE WISDOM OF MERLIN EXCERPT Courage Courage is essential. How else can we dream of who we can become and what we want for the world? And it also takes courage to turn those dreams into reality. You see, life can have great meaning—but only if we discover that meaning...
by T. A. Barron | May 6, 2021 | Adventures of Kate Excerpts, Book Excerpt
THE MERLIN EFFECT EXCERPT Farther from shore, nearer to death. With every pull of her paddle, Kate recalled the much-repeated warning about these waters. Yet today felt different. Today the sea looked tranquil, even inviting. Her arms, brown after almost a month in...
by T. A. Barron | May 6, 2021 | Adventures of Kate Excerpts, Book Excerpt
HEARTLIGHT EXCERPT Kate spun around when she heard the crash. “Cumberland!” The golden retriever had Grandfather pinned on the kitchen floor. She dashed over and pulled the dog away, but not before he gave his victim one last slobbery kiss....
by T. A. Barron | May 5, 2021 | Book Excerpt, The Atlantis Saga Excerpts
ATLANTIS LOST EXCERPT 1 A Gentle Wing Music had always filled her thoughts—even before she was born. During all her months in her mother’s womb, Omarya heard music everywhere. Songs hummed in her still-forming ears, danced to the cadence of her mother’s heartbeat, and...
by T. A. Barron | May 5, 2021 | Book Excerpt, The Atlantis Saga Excerpts
ATLANTIS IN PERIL EXCERPT 1 Revenge Far, far away from the isle of Atlantis . . . something stirred in a place where no creature had ever stirred before. That place, in the most remote reaches of the spirit realm, was a bottomless pit darker than the darkest void....
by T. A. Barron | May 5, 2021 | Book Excerpt, The Atlantis Saga Excerpts
ATLANTIS RISING EXCERPT A Distant Melody That morning, you had no idea of all the momentous changes to come. Very soon, you learned. And then you traded your life and everything you ever loved for that little bit of magic—a truly terrible price. And I am to blame for...
by T. A. Barron | May 5, 2021 | Adventures of Kate Excerpts, Book Excerpt
THE ANCIENT ONE EXCERPT First, God created Rain. Then Drizzle. Then Mist, then Fog. And then: More Rain. Kate smiled soggily at her own adaptation of the story of creation, Oregon style. Her sneakers were wet enough that they squelched like sponges as she walked. She...
by T. A. Barron | Apr 27, 2021 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes, On Nature & the Environment
Volunteering with Children: 10 Ways to Encourage Kids to Give Back The ability of young people to help change the world for the better has been a source of joy and hope for me for many years. If you’ve ever been a reader of my blog or a follower of my work, you know...
by T. A. Barron | Mar 19, 2021 | Blog, For Nature Lovers, For Young Heroes, On Nature & the Environment
How a Butterfly Can Change the World The Butterfly Effect is one of my favorite concepts. In fact, I’ve even written about the power of a butterfly’s wings in my novel, Heartlight. If you’re unfamiliar with the Butterfly Effect, it is a theory of causality...
by T. A. Barron | Mar 2, 2021 | Blog, Encouraging Writers, For Nature Lovers, For Writers, On Nature & the Environment, On Writing
Nature as a Character Making characters come alive is one of the trickiest but most important elements of writing. Before I start to write, I usually take extensive notes about each character. I then expand that description even further as I get to know them better...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 9, 2021 | Blog, Contests, Encouraging Writers, For Nature Lovers, On Nature & the Environment
Love of Nature Photo Contest Looking for Something? Search for: Get News! * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name * CategoriesCategories Select Category Adventures of Kate (1) Adventures of Kate Excerpts (3)...
by T. A. Barron | Jan 14, 2021 | Blog, Contests, For Nature Lovers, For Young Heroes, News, On Nature & the Environment
Giving Hope and Giving Back It takes a community to make a difference. In the spirit of Merlin’s magical word, Generosity, last month I hosted the Giving Hope for the Holidays charity contest, where I encouraged my readers to share charities and organizations...
by T. A. Barron | Dec 18, 2020 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes
Making a Difference in the World I believe passionately in the power that young people have to change the narrative of the future, and the most powerful step adults can make towards a better tomorrow is to foster that hope and drive in our young people. Making sure...
by T. A. Barron | Dec 8, 2020 | Blog, Contests, For Nature Lovers, For Young Heroes, On Nature & the Environment
Giving Hope for the Holidays Looking for Something? Search for: Get News! * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name * CategoriesCategories Select Category Adventures of Kate (1) Adventures of Kate Excerpts (3)...
by T. A. Barron | Nov 17, 2020 | Blog, Personal Writing
Getting the Most out of Gratitude I was once asked by a reader, “If you had to choose a favorite word, which would it be?” As a lover of language, I took this question very seriously! After spending some time thinking it over, I gave my answer: If I had to...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 20, 2020 | Blog, Encouraging Writers, For Writers, On Writing
How to Become a Better Writer Using Villains I often receive letters and messages from fans asking for writing advice, and I do my best to point them toward the many resources for writers on my website. But as we move closer to Halloween, I thought I’d offer those...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 8, 2020 | Blog, Contests, Encouraging Writers, For Writers, On Writing
Once Upon a Villain Looking for Something? Search for: CategoriesCategories Select Category Adventures of Kate (1) Adventures of Kate Excerpts (3) Articles (9) Blog (147) Book Excerpt (22) Books (48)...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 22, 2020 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes, Personal Writing
How Do You Spread Kindness? I believe that kindness is an altogether different entity from being nice. The sad truth is that you can be nice out of politeness while still thinking mean thoughts. However, to truly be kind, you must care about your fellow man (or...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 14, 2020 | Blog, For Educators, For Nature Lovers, For Young Heroes, On Nature & the Environment
Congratulations to 2020’s Barron Prize Winners! Each year, the Barron Prize awards outstanding young people whose personal stories and service work act as an inspiration example of the power we all have to make the world better. 2020 marks the 20th anniversary...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 9, 2020 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes, On Nature & the Environment
What is Your Labor of Love? 8 Simple Ideas To Make the World Better What does it mean to be kind? Is it simply about minding your manners and going through the motions? About doing what’s expected of us, and nothing else? Is kindness merely the absence of...
by T. A. Barron | Aug 10, 2020 | Blog, Books, Free Downloads, On Reading
Magical Background Images for your Video Calls Have you been using video chat applications like Zoom to talk to friends and family during this period of social distancing? Perhaps you’ve been dreaming of hosting your very own virtual book club? If so, here are a...
by T. A. Barron | Jul 27, 2020 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes
Celebrating Everyday Heroes The heroic people around us may not have super powers — at least, not the kind that allows them to read minds or leap tall buildings — but the qualities they possess and the powers they have to do good are very real. Heroes are people who...
by T. A. Barron | Jul 6, 2020 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes, Sweepstakes
Heroes Every Day Looking for Something? Search for: CategoriesCategories Select Category Adventures of Kate (1) Adventures of Kate Excerpts (3) Articles (9) Blog (147) Book Excerpt (22) Books (48)...
by T. A. Barron | Jun 23, 2020 | Blog, Books, For Young Heroes, Personal Writing
Merlin’s Guide to Living Your Best Life Back in 2018 I wrote a blog post which began, “These are dark times. In our country and our world, we’re surrounded by divisiveness, greed, mean-spiritedness, hatred, cynicism, fear, and rage. So much so, the darkness sometimes...
by T. A. Barron | Jun 21, 2020 | Blog, Contests
#ShowYourShelfie Looking for Something? Search for: CategoriesCategories Select Category Adventures of Kate (1) Adventures of Kate Excerpts (3) Articles (9) Blog (147) Book Excerpt (22) Books (48)...
by T. A. Barron | May 4, 2020 | Blog, For Educators
Celebrating Educators… Now, More than Ever! Each May during Teacher Appreciation Week, educators across the nation are thanked by students and parents for all the things they do to provide support and guidance within their schools and individual classrooms. And...
by T. A. Barron | Apr 28, 2020 | Blog, Books, For Nature Lovers, Free Downloads
Tree Girl Activity Sheets Dear Parents, Educators, and Caregivers, These Tree Girl activity worksheets were created as part of my Tree Girl read-along video series to be enjoyed by children of all ages. Each chapter presents something fun and new to learn about or...
by T. A. Barron | Apr 9, 2020 | Blog, For Nature Lovers, On Nature & the Environment
Seven Ways You can Participate in Earth Day 2020 from Home “Intellectually, we finally have come to understand that the wealth of this nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity. Take...
by T. A. Barron | Mar 26, 2020 | Blog, Books, On Reading
10 Great Stories to Read Right Now I was in my twenties before I discovered and fell in love with J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. A little later in life than many other Tolkien fans, perhaps, but it was absolutely the right time for me — reading his richly...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 25, 2020 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
THE BOOK OF MAGIC EXCERPT Warning to the Reader Pray, take care with this book! You see, it contains the secret journal of the great wizard Merlin. Over the centuries, others contributed their share — while still others sought to capture Merlin’s magic for...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 20, 2020 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
THE ETERNAL FLAME EXCERPT The Unmaking Knife Kulwych’s chortle, while no louder than the thin stream of water trickling down the cavern wall, was unmistakably mirthful. He rubbed his pale white hands together. In the throbbing light of the crystal beside him —...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 20, 2020 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
THE DRAGON OF AVALON EXCERPT One Dark Night A flame vent erupted on the cliffs, blasting the darkness like an angry dragon. Then another. And another. All across the cliffs, among the highest in Fireroot, tongues of fire shot upward, licked the air, then vanished...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 19, 2020 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
SHADOWS ON THE STARS EXCERPT The Greatest Power Deep underground, in a cavern of dark shadows, something even darker hovered in the air. Slowly it spun — a venomous snake of smoke. As it twirled, the air around it crackled with black sparks. And wherever its tail...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 18, 2020 | Blog, Personal Writing
It’s Good to be Good — Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Random Acts of Kindness Week, or ‘RAK Week’ for short, celebrated every February, is all about making small, intentional acts of kindness a part of your routine. But more than that, having an entire week...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 13, 2020 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
ULTIMATE MAGIC EXCERPT For a big surprise, I look for a small mystery. Basilgarrad lifted his enormous head, scanning the rolling meadows that reached to the distant trees. His dragon’s eyes glittered as his powerful shoulder muscles tensed. Both of his furled...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 13, 2020 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
DOOMRAGA’S REVENGE EXCERPT INOT SO SMALL ANYMORE Having been very small, I can truthfully tell you that size doesn’t matter at all. Except when it does. The wrathful roar exploded—so forcefully it toppled a grove of ironwood trees, emptied a flowing river,...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 12, 2020 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
THE DRAGON OF AVALON EXCERPT The Pebble Look here, I know it sounds far-fetched—impossible, even—that such a huge story could have such a tiny, unremarkable beginning. Call me a liar if you like. But that’s how it was. I know, believe me. Just as I know more...
by T. A. Barron | Jan 13, 2020 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
A WIZARD’S WINGS EXCERPT Wings, take me back! How often have I dreamed, in the centuries since that day, of returning to that place and time, of facing once again the choice that changed everything. Such longing, though, is useless. An idea this is lost may yet...
by T. A. Barron | Dec 21, 2019 | Blog, Personal Writing
Merlin’s Final Magical Word: Love “It’s the most magical word of all. And it’s also the most varied – simple or complex, hidden or revealed, painful or joyous… That word is love.” THE WISDOM OF MERLIN: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life Love is magical. In one or...
by T. A. Barron | Nov 28, 2019 | Blog, Personal Writing
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Gratitude At this time of year, the idea of Gratitude — one of Merlin’s most potent magical words — is never far from my mind. After all, with a holiday named “Thanksgiving”, it’s only natural that the holiday season inspires us to recall...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 23, 2019 | Blog, Personal Writing
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Generosity Generosity, as described by Merlin in The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life, is not giving others what they want. Rather, it’s giving away what you yourself want.When you think about very young children...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 16, 2019 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
THE MIRROR OF FATE EXCERPT Many are the mirrors I have examined; many are the faces I have seen. Yet for all these years — lo, all these centuries — there is but one mirror, with one visage, I cannot forget. It has haunted me from the start, from that very first...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 16, 2019 | Blog, For Young Heroes
Congratulations to 2019’s Barron Prize Winners! Each year, The Barron Prize celebrates outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. These inspiring, public-spirited young people from across North...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 12, 2019 | Blog, Books
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Courage Merlin has been a part of my life for more than 20 years. Though he may be but a mythical being to some, and a great character in an epic story for many more, after more than 12 books devoted to his life and the telling of...
by T. A. Barron | Aug 27, 2019 | Blog, Books
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Belief “Belief is a powerful elixir. It offers strength, renewal, and peace to those who drink it. And your cup can be forever refilled.” Belief, one of Merlin’s seven most magical words in the universe, can give us comfort in times of...
by T. A. Barron | Aug 22, 2019 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
THE RAGING FIRES EXCERPT Prologue The mists of memory gather, the more with each passing year. Yet one day remains as clear in my mind as this morning’s sunrise, although it happened those many centuries ago. It was a day darkened by mists of its own, and by...
by T. A. Barron | Aug 22, 2019 | Articles, Books, Featured, In the Media, On Writing, The Merlin Saga
Merlin and Me: Thirteen Books Later by T. A. BarronThe Horn BookMay 2015Original Article | PDF On a cold Colorado night twenty-one years ago, I woke up suddenly. A vivid dream had possessed me—a dream of a boy, half drowned and only barely alive, who had washed up on...
by T. A. Barron | Jul 31, 2019 | Blog, For Young Heroes
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Hope Hope requires courage. Darkness, despair, anger, destruction—the images of these things feature daily in our media. No matter where we look, we’re met with images that leave us questioning. We’re left feeling hopeless, without...
by T. A. Barron | Jul 31, 2019 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
THE SEVEN SONGS EXCERPT Prologue How the centuries have flown … Faster, by far, than the brave hawk who once bore me on his back. Faster, indeed, than the arrow of pain that lodged in my heart on the day I lost my mother. Still I can see the Great Council of...
by T. A. Barron | Jul 24, 2019 | Book Excerpt, The Merlin Saga Excerpts
THE LOST YEARS EXCERPT Prologue If I close my eyes, and breathe to the rolling rhythm of the sea, I can still remember that long ago day. Harsh, cold, and lifeless it was, as empty of promise as my lungs were empty of air. Since that day, I have seen many others, more...
by T. A. Barron | Jun 20, 2019 | Blog, Personal Writing
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Knowledge “The important thing is not to stop questioning.” —Albert Einstein Knowledge, one of Merlin’s magical words, is so much more than just the things you learn by sitting in a classroom. The truth is, Knowledge is...
by T. A. Barron | May 21, 2019 | Blog, Books, For Educators, Personal Writing
Merlin’s Seven Magical Words: Wonder Wonder, one of Merlin’s Seven Magical Words, is more than just something that we stumble upon from time to time. There is intentionality in Wonder, though it is not something you seek. It calls you to question, to...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 17, 2018 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes, News
Congratulations to the 2018 Barron Prize Winners Since 2001, The Barron Prize has been awarded to more than 100 young people whose projects make a positive difference in the world. This national award is meant to highlight the idea that every single one of us —...
by T. A. Barron | Jul 30, 2018 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes, Free Downloads
Celebrating Summer Sparks! When you think “summer” you likely think of long lazy days… maybe it puts you in mind of holiday beaches, or fun family camping, or perhaps it simply signals it’s time to shed your winter layers and savor the warm...
by T. A. Barron | Apr 15, 2018 | Blog, Books, For Educators, On Reading, Videos
Celebrating American Sign Language Day On April 15th, 1817 students gathered in Hartford, Connecticut for the opening of the very first school for the Deaf in the U.S. It was here, and at other subsequent Deaf schools across our nation, that students intermingled...
by T. A. Barron | Apr 11, 2018 | Blog, For Nature Lovers, On Nature & the Environment, Personal Writing
Death, Soft on the Snow In 2017, I wrote this poem to celebrate winter in Colorado. In sharing it with you here, I hope to encourage you to look around and find inspiration from your surroundings. The smallest thing – even a footprint in the snow – can lead to...
by T. A. Barron | Feb 2, 2018 | Blog, For Educators, For Young Heroes
Let’s Double Down on Goodness These are dark times. In our country and our world, we’re surrounded by divisiveness, greed, mean-spiritedness, hatred, cynicism, fear, and rage. So much so, the darkness sometimes threatens to cover us all in shadows. That’s why we...
by T. A. Barron | Oct 14, 2017 | Conservation, Featured, In the Media, Interviews, On Nature, On Writing
Supporter Profile: Redwoods Inspire Best-Selling Author SaveTheRedwoods.com T. A. Barron, a member of the Save the Redwoods League Council, grew up in rural Colorado, where his connection to nature was immersive and powerful. The lofty peaks, pristine streams, and...
by T. A. Barron | Sep 25, 2017 | Blog, For Young Heroes, News
Outstanding Young Leaders — Introducing the 2017 Barron Prize Winners Real heroes are those who overcome obstacles to make real, positive changes in the world. Their stories help to inspire us with evidence of the power of people just like ourselves who have worked to...
by T. A. Barron | Aug 30, 2017 | Articles, Conservation, Featured, In the Media, On Nature, The Merlin Saga
Merlin on the Wind National Geographic Traveler Aug 2017 PDF I am thrilled to share this article I wrote for the Aug/Sept 2017 edition of National Geographic Traveler magazine. The article is featured in a section titled “British Accents” and includes a...
