Willow Audiobooks

It's that time again - it's Fairy Tale Friday. This month I read Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's original version of Beauty and the Beast. It's quite a far cry from the Disney version we all know and love, but very interesting nonetheless! Just don't expect any singing candlesticks...

Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and can be downloaded from:

https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

Tracks:

"Fairytale Waltz"
"Parisian"
"Dark Times"
"Darkest Child"
"The Snow Queen"
"Gathering Darkness"
"Arcadia"
"Duet Musette"

It's another Fairy Tale Friday - this time, it's Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid", in honour of LGBT History Month (if you know, you know - if not, look it up!).

Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and can be downloaded from:

https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/


Tracks:

"Fairytale Waltz"
"Aquarium" by Camille Saint-Saëns (produced by Kevin McLeod)
"Arcadia"
"Frost Waltz"
"Some Amount of Evil"
"Tenebrous Brothers Carnival - Mermaid"
"Water Prelude"
"Gathering Darkness"

Happy New Year, and Happy #FairyTaleFriday! This month's fairy tale is Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper, as told by Charles Perrault and translated by Charles Welsh.

Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and can be downloaded from:
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

Tracks:
"Fairytale Waltz"
"Some Amount of Evil"
"Arcadia"
"Scheming Weasel"
"Sad Trio"
"Royal Coupling"
"Court of the Queen"

It's this month's #FairyTaleFriday! This time it's Snow-White, as told by the Brothers Grimm, and translated by Lucy Crane. Watch out for poisoned apples!

Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and can be downloaded from:
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

Tracks:
"Fairytale Waltz"
"Some Amount of Evil"
"Mysterioso March"
"Krampus Workshop"
"Arcadia"

Four legs good, two legs bad... Coming soon!

Introducing a new regular bonus episode... The first Friday of the month is #FairyTaleFriday! I'll be reading original versions of the fairy tales we all think we know... For this first one, I've chosen Hansel and Gretel, as told by the Brothers Grimm, and translated by Lucy Crane. I thought it was appropriately creepy since we're still in Halloween week!

Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and can be downloaded from:
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

Tracks:
"Fairytale Waltz"
"Darkest Child"

FULL AUDIOBOOK NOW AVAILABLE:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willowaudiobooks
The following is a sample from Episode 4 (the final part) of Peter Pan & Wendy. In order to gain access to the full episode, please visit the link above and make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
You will then be emailed a download link and access code.
In 1929, JM Barrie unexpectedly and generously gifted his copyright of Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital. In recognition of the unprecedented generosity and the exceptional work of the hospital itself, the House of Lords sprinkled more fairy dust over GOSH in 1988 by voting overwhelmingly for a special clause in the UK’s Copyright, Designs & Patents Act. This amendment gives the hospital the right to a royalty from Peter Pan in perpetuity in the UK. Thus, for over 80 years so far, the story of Peter Pan has benefitted the seriously ill children who come to GOSH for life-saving treatment every day, and will continue to do so in the future.

The following is a sample from Episode 3 of Peter Pan & Wendy. In order to gain access to the full episode, please visit the following link and make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willowaudiobooks
You will then be emailed a download link and access code.
In 1929, JM Barrie unexpectedly and generously gifted his copyright of Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital. In recognition of the unprecedented generosity and the exceptional work of the hospital itself, the House of Lords sprinkled more fairy dust over GOSH in 1988 by voting overwhelmingly for a special clause in the UK’s Copyright, Designs & Patents Act. This amendment gives the hospital the right to a royalty from Peter Pan in perpetuity in the UK. Thus, for over 80 years so far, the story of Peter Pan has benefitted the seriously ill children who come to GOSH for life-saving treatment every day, and will continue to do so in the future.

The following is a sample from Episode 2 of Peter Pan & Wendy. In order to gain access to the full episode, please visit the following link and make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willowaudiobooks
You will then be emailed a download link and access code.
In 1929, JM Barrie unexpectedly and generously gifted his copyright of Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital. In recognition of the unprecedented generosity and the exceptional work of the hospital itself, the House of Lords sprinkled more fairy dust over GOSH in 1988 by voting overwhelmingly for a special clause in the UK’s Copyright, Designs & Patents Act. This amendment gives the hospital the right to a royalty from Peter Pan in perpetuity in the UK. Thus, for over 80 years so far, the story of Peter Pan has benefitted the seriously ill children who come to GOSH for life-saving treatment every day, and will continue to do so in the future.

The following is a sample from Episode 1 of Peter Pan & Wendy. In order to gain access to the full episode, please visit the following link and make a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willowaudiobooks
You will then be emailed a download link and access code.
In 1929, JM Barrie unexpectedly and generously gifted his copyright of Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital. In recognition of the unprecedented generosity and the exceptional work of the hospital itself, the House of Lords sprinkled more fairy dust over GOSH in 1988 by voting overwhelmingly for a special clause in the UK’s Copyright, Designs & Patents Act. This amendment gives the hospital the right to a royalty from Peter Pan in perpetuity in the UK. Thus, for over 80 years so far, the story of Peter Pan has benefitted the seriously ill children who come to GOSH for life-saving treatment every day, and will continue to do so in the future.

🧚Coming soon!🧚
By arrangement with and in support of Great Ormond Street Children’s Charity, Willow Audiobooks presents J M Barrie’s PETER PAN AND WENDY.
This immersive audiobook will be available to download in return for a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital, to whom J M Barrie left the rights to Peter Pan in perpetuity. Watch this space for more details!

This month I had the absolute pleasure of guesting on Down the Yellow Brick Pod with Tara Tagliaferro and Emily Kay Shrader as they jumped into the third Oz book, "Ozma of Oz". I did this as an audiobook last year and loved it, so revisiting it with two self-proclaimed Oz nerds was an absolute joy. If you aren't aware of Tara and EmKay's podcast but you love Oz, you really need to listen - go back to their first season where they went through the original novel in detail, or their second season where they dissected the 1939 MGM movie and 1978's The Wiz.
Down the Yellow Brick Pod: https://downtheybp.buzzsprout.com/

This month I had the absolute pleasure of guesting on Down the Yellow Brick Pod with Tara Tagliaferro and Emily Kay Shrader as they jumped into the third Oz book, "Ozma of Oz". I did this as an audiobook last year and loved it, so revisiting it with two self-proclaimed Oz nerds was an absolute joy. If you aren't aware of Tara and EmKay's podcast but you love Oz, you really need to listen - go back to their first season where they went through the original novel in detail, or their second season where they dissected the 1939 MGM movie and 1978's The Wiz.

Down the Yellow Brick Pod: https://downtheybp.buzzsprout.com/

Episode 100! I can't believe it. I apologise for being quiet for the last few months - I've had a lot of changes to get used to and my time has been eaten up with life commitments. Rest assured I am still working on Peter Pan & Wendy, coming to your feed as soon as possible! 
For now, to celebrate two years since I started Willow Audiobooks, here is a special trailer of highlights from the past two years. Thank you for listening!

Final part! Legend tells of the gigantic spectral hound that has haunted the Baskerville family for centuries. When Sir Henry, the last remaining heir, is due to move into the ancestral home on Dartmoor, Sherlock Holmes remains coolly sceptical that he could be in any supernatural danger. Nevertheless, he sends his faithful friend Dr Watson to investigate the matter, and it soon becomes clear that there is more to the tale than meets the eye... 
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and is available royalty free from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/.  
Tracks used: "Dark Times" "Distant Tension" "Gnarled Situation" "Mystery Bazaar" "Oppressive Gloom" "Redletter" "This House" "Vanishing" 
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts? Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks Twitter: @WillowAudiobook https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Apologies for the delay, with no episode last week! I unfortunately got ill so my recording plans got scuppered. I made the decision to split the intended third and final part of this book into two episodes, so here is the now penultimate part, with Part 4 coming next weekend to conclude the story.
Legend tells of the gigantic spectral hound that has haunted the Baskerville family for centuries. When Sir Henry, the last remaining heir, is due to move into the ancestral home on Dartmoor, Sherlock Holmes remains coolly sceptical that he could be in any supernatural danger. Nevertheless, he sends his faithful friend Dr Watson to investigate the matter, and it soon becomes clear that there is more to the tale than meets the eye...
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and is available royalty free from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/. 
Tracks used: 
"Dark Standoff"
"Distant Tension"
"Mystery Bazaar"
"Thinking Music"
"This House"
"Unlight"
"Vanishing"
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts? 
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook 
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Readings of three poems to mark Remembrance Day. 
"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae
"Dulce et Decorum est" by Wilfred Owen
"For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon
Recording of "The Last Post" sourced from Benboncan on Freesound.org and licensed under Creative Commons: https://freesound.org/people/Benboncan/sounds/62050/

Legend tells of the gigantic spectral hound that has haunted the Baskerville family for centuries. When Sir Henry, the last remaining heir, is due to move into the ancestral home on Dartmoor, Sherlock Holmes remains coolly sceptical that he could be in any supernatural danger. Nevertheless, he sends his faithful friend Dr Watson to investigate the matter, and it soon becomes clear that there is more to the tale than meets the eye...
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and is available royalty free from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/. 
Tracks used:
"Distant Tension"
"Mystery Bazaar"
"Oppressive Gloom"
"Relent"
"Sad Trio"
"The Other Side of the Door"
"Thinking Music"
"This House"
"Unlight"
"Vanishing"
"Western Streets"
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook 
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Something suitably chilling for the season! I'm thrilled to be bringing a full-length Sherlock Holmes novel to your ears, and this is widely regarded as the most popular! 
Content warning: Please be aware that this episode contains the use of outdated racial terms ("Negro" and "Eskimo"), as well as very briefly implied sexual assault. 
Legend tells of the gigantic spectral hound that has haunted the Baskerville family for centuries. When Sir Henry, the last remaining heir, is due to move into the ancestral home on Dartmoor, Sherlock Holmes remains coolly sceptical that he could be in any supernatural danger. Nevertheless, he sends his faithful friend Dr Watson to investigate the matter, and it soon becomes clear that there is more to the tale than meets the eye... 
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Music used is by Kevin MacLeod and is available royalty free from https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/. 
Tracks used: 
"Mystery Bazaar" 
"Reign Supreme" 
"Sneaky Snitch" 
"Virtutes Instrumenti" 
"The Chamber"
"Redletter" 
"Unlight" 
"Vanishing"  
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?  
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks 
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook 
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Anna Soden is an Actor-Musician and Theatre Maker, who in 2020 adapted E. Nesbit’s novel 'Five Children and It' into a one-person stage show. In this episode, we discuss what we think makes the novel so enduring and appealing, as well as Anna’s process in adapting it for the stage, especially in the time of COVID-19. I hope you enjoy!
Anna and her company, Strawberry Lion can be found on Twitter & Instagram at @annaamabel and @astrawberrylion.
Website: https://www.strawberrylion.com/
This is a Willow Branches discussion, a bonus episode of Willow Audiobooks produced by Stephen Alexander.  
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

A chance meeting brings Mr Carrisford's search to an end, and promises a brighter future for Sara - but will Miss Minchin let her go so easily?
(Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains some outdated stereotypes and views. I have made some very minor cuts to try to keep this to to a minimum, so as not to distract from the story, but the issues are still there, so please be aware.)
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Sitar performances by Bobby Lightfoot (Kaiho on Freesound) and Ashok Ayengar (uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by Arunasank).
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Starts 31 October. Sherlock Holmes returns, in a full-length novel and his most chilling adventure!

Continuing to be mistreated by Miss Minchin and the senior servants, poor Sara becomes hungrier than ever. She is amazed to discover, however, that even when things seem at their worst, hope can always be found - and sometimes, something almost like Magic...
(Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains some outdated stereotypes and views. I have made some very minor cuts to try to keep this to to a minimum, so as not to distract from the story, but the issues are still there, so please be aware.)
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Sitar performances by Bobby Lightfoot (Kaiho on Freesound) and Ashok Ayengar (uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by Arunasank).
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

The mysterious gentleman who has moved in next door proves a point of fascination for Sara, and even more so once she has met his Indian manservant and his pet monkey. Later, Sara's generosity is put to the test.
(Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains some outdated stereotypes and views. I have made some very minor cuts to try to keep this to to a minimum, so as not to distract from the story, but the issues are still there, so please be aware.)
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Sitar performances by Bobby Lightfoot (Kaiho on Freesound) and Ashok Ayengar (uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by Arunasank).
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Sara must adjust to her new life of poverty and grief, and finds herself relying on her vivid imagination more than ever. 
(Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains some outdated stereotypes and views. I have made some very minor cuts to try to keep this to to a minimum, so as not to distract from the story, but the issues are still there, so please be aware.)
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Sitar performances by Bobby Lightfoot (Kaiho on Freesound) and Ashok Ayengar (uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by Arunasank).
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

In Part 2, Sara continues to make friends, including with the nervous little scullery maid, Becky. On her 11th birthday, however, Sara receives some shocking news which is about to bring her life as she knows it to an abrupt end.
(Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains some outdated stereotypes and views. I have made some very minor cuts to try to keep this to to a minimum, so as not to distract from the story, but the issues are still there, so please be aware.)
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Sitar performances by Bobby Lightfoot (Kaiho on Freesound) and Ashok Ayengar (uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by Arunasank).
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

We return to the mind of Frances Hodgson Burnett (of "The Secret Garden"), with the tale of Sara Crewe in "A Little Princess." In this first part, Sara is relocated from India by her doting father, and taken to London where she is to enrol at Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies. Despite her wealth setting her apart from her peers, she soon begins to charm everyone with her grace and ability to tell stories - everyone, that is, except Miss Minchin.
(Please note that this text, as with most of the classics, contains some outdated stereotypes and views. I have made some very minor cuts to try to keep this to to a minimum, so as not to distract from the story, but the issues are still there, so please be aware.)
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Sitar performances by Bobby Lightfoot (Kaiho on Freesound) and Ashok Ayengar (uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by Arunasank).
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Coming soon... a tale of riches to rags!
A Little Princess
By Frances Hodgson Burnett
Little Sara Crewe is treated like a princess by her rich father, but she is far from spoilt. In fact, when she starts at Miss Minchin's boarding school she soon captivates all the pupils with her charm and grace, as well as her wonderful imagination and ability to tell stories. However, after her father becomes bankrupt and suddenly dies, Sara's world is turned upside down as she is changed from princess to pauper, and must work for her living under the cruel eye of Miss Minchin.

Hello! Very excited to start releasing the next audiobook soon, "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. In the meantime, this is just a very quick word about my approach to these classic texts when it comes to problematic views such as racism, sexism and so on. I try to deal with everthing sensitively, and use my best judgement as to whether to make changes/cuts or not, and I will continue to include content warnings for certain things when I judge it appropriate to do so. However, if you're listening to these books which were all written at least 70 years ago, I ask that you go into it with an awareness that of course views have changed over time, and not everything you hear will sit well with our more enlightened modern attitudes. There are arguments for sanitising the texts, and there are arguments for preserving them as they are, and my versions tend to go somewhere in between - I don't know what the answer is, but all I know is that I am enjoying creating these audiobooks and I continue to use my own judgement when working out how to present them for your listening pleasure. Thanks for your support!

When Hilton Cubitt married Elsie Patrick, she made him promise never to ask about her past. But when strange drawings of dancing stick men begin to appear around their house, filling Elsie with horror, Hilton is determined to enlist Sherlock Holmes to get to the bottom of the mystery.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander.
Music used is all by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/):
"Mystery Bazaar"
"Sneaky Snitch"
"Reign Supreme"
"Dark Times"
"Thinking Music"
"Sad Trio"
"Relent"
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

A client visits Holmes and Watson with a frankly bizarre tale which sounds like an elaborate hoax, but Holmes nevertheless sets off on the path to uncovering the mystery.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander.
Music used is by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/):
"Mystery Bazaar"
"Sneaky Snitch"
"Reign Supreme"
"Division"
Also used is "Violin Partita no. 2, BWV 1004 - 3. Sarabande" by J S Bach, sourced from https://musopen.org.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

When we last heard of Sherlock Holmes, all evidence pointed to his apparent demise along with Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. Meanwhile Dr Watson continues to live in London, sorely missing his dear friend but retaining a strong interest in crime - and he is about to discover that his account of “The Final Problem” was not quite as final as he had thought…
The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander.
Music used is all by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/):
"Mystery Bazaar"
"Sneaky Snitch"
"Reign Supreme""Dark Times"
"Black Vortex"
"Showdown""Gathering Darkness"
"Division"

To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Happy Alice's Day! On the 4th July 1862, Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) set off an a boat trip that would change the landscape of children's literature... 
For this Willow Branches episode, I was privileged to speak to Franziska Kohlt and Charlie Lovett, two Lewis Carroll experts and scholars, about his life and works.
You can find their websites here:
https://franziskakohlt.com/
https://charlielovett.com/ 
Judith, also mentioned in the episode, can be found on Instagram @carrollian_memes. You can read her full piece @WillowAudiobooks.

A Victorian scientist claims to have constructed a machine enabling him to travel into the future or the past. He then recounts for his dinner guests the impossible tale of his adventure to the year 802,701 AD, and of the creatures he encountered there, who, he theorises, must be the descendants of humankind.

The Time Machine by H G Wells is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?

Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

A Victorian scientist claims to have constructed a machine enabling him to travel into the future or the past. He then recounts for his dinner guests the impossible tale of his adventure to the year 802,701 AD, and of the creatures he encountered there, who, he theorises, must be the descendants of humankind.

The Time Machine by H G Wells is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?

Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

A Victorian scientist claims to have constructed a machine enabling him to travel into the future or the past. He then recounts for his dinner guests the impossible tale of his adventure to the year 802,701 AD, and of the creatures he encountered there, who, he theorises, must be the descendants of humankind.

The Time Machine by H G Wells is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?

Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Everyone is restored to their proper forms, to the Nome King's fury, but will leaving the underground dominion be as simple as they had hoped?
Ozma of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Main intro theme vocal performed by Rachel Adcock.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

The rescue party gradually dwindles, as one-by-one they are turned into ornaments for the Nome King's palace. With no clues to guide them in their guesses, it really does seem as though all is lost...
Ozma of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Main intro theme vocal performed by Rachel Adcock.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

⏳COMING SOON⌛️THE TIME MACHINEBy H G WellsHave you ever wondered what it’s like to be a wanderer in the fourth dimension? I’ll be bringing H G Wells’ groundbreaking science fiction novella to your ears very soon!

Learning of the imprisonment of the Royal Family of Ev, Dorothy and her friends join the rescue party and travel underground to the dominions of the Nome King, where they hope to reason with him and negotiate the release of the prisoners. But will it be that easy?
Ozma of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Main intro theme vocal performed by Rachel Adcock.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Dorothy, Billina and Tik-Tok pay a visit to the mysterious Princess Langwidere, but are soon held captive unless Dorothy agrees to pay a terrible price. Help may be on the way, however, in the form of some familiar friends...
Ozma of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Main intro theme vocal performed by Rachel Adcock.To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooksTwitter: @WillowAudiobookhttps://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

(Audiobook begins at 01:20​!)
Welcome back to another audiobook - the third in the Oz series by L Frank Baum.
In Part 1, we catch up with Dorothy and her Uncle Henry who are aboard a ship en route to Australia to visit some relatives. Dorothy soon finds herself blown overboard by a violent storm, and once again finds herself in a magical fairytale land where animals can talk, lunchboxes grow on trees and clockwork men can think!Ozma of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. Main intro theme vocal performed by Rachel Adcock.To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooksTwitter: @WillowAudiobookhttps://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Caught in a violent storm at sea, Dorothy Gale once again finds herself swept off to a fairytale land. She makes new friends, including Billina the talking hen, and Tik-Tok the machine man; she is reunited with old ones, like the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion; and she is invited to team up with Princess Ozma, ruler of the Land of Oz, on a dangerous but important rescue mission. 
OZMA OF OZ
By L Frank Baum 
Coming very soon from Willow Audiobooks!

Originally intended by Doyle to be the final story featuring Sherlock Holmes, this is the epic showdown between the Great Detective and his arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander.Music used is all by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/):"Mystery Bazaar""Sneaky Snitch""Dark Times""Black Vortex""Gathering Darkness""Relent""Showdown"To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooksTwitter: @WillowAudiobookhttps://www.stephenalexanderwillis.co.uk/willowaudiobooks

"To Sherlock Holmes, she is always *the* woman."The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander.Music used is all by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/):"Mystery Bazaar""Sneaky Snitch""Division""Dark Times"To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooksTwitter: @WillowAudiobookhttps://www.stephenalexanderwillis.co.uk/willowaudiobooks

One of the most popular Sherlock Holmes stories, and a personal favourite of mine!The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander.Music used is all by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/):"Mystery Bazaar""Sneaky Snitc h""Division""Reign Supreme""Virtutes Instrumenti""Gathering Darkness""Dark Times"To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooksTwitter: @WillowAudiobookwww.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

In this Willow Branches episode, I had the honour to speak with Keri Wilt, who is the great-great-granddaughter of Frances Hogdson Burnett. Burnett's book, The Secret Garden, is one of my most popular audiobooks that I've released, and it's easy to see why - it's a truly beautiful story. Keri told me some fascinating anecdotes about Burnett's life, as well as what inspired her. We also discuss the themes of The Secret Garden and why it's a book that means so much to each of us.
Thanks to Keri for coming on - you can find her on www.thewelltendedlife.com!

Please note: I have made the decision not to include Chapter 10 ("Scalps") in this audiobook, due to what I consider a racially insensitive storyline and portrayal of Native American indigenous people. You are welcome to read the text of the chapter here (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/17314/17314-h/17314-h.htm#Page_261) if you are curious, but I felt it would not be appropriate to include.
This is therefore the final part of this story, and the children find themselves in possibly more trouble than ever before... Will the Psammead be kind enough to help them one more time?
Five Children & It by E. Nesbit is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

The children's baby brother, the Lamb, is a sweet little thing most of the time - but he can also be a nuisance. When Cyril wishes that the Lamb would grow up, they find that a grown-up brother can be even more of a nuisance!
Five Children & It by E. Nesbit is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

In this episode, another truly enormous wish backfires, but will the children be able to turn it to their advantage?
Five Children & It by E. Nesbit is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

In possibly their most dangerous wish yet, the children find that their house has been transformed into a medieval castle, and it's under attack from a besieging army!
Five Children & It by E. Nesbit is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Who hasn't, at some point, wished they could fly? This week Anthea wishes that the children all had wings, which does seem like a truly wonderful wish - you just have to be careful where you land!
Five Children & It by E. Nesbit is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Content warning: Be advised that this chapter uses the term "gypsy" (which is considered by some to be a slur) as well as certain outdated stereotypes.
This week the children learn that they must watch what they say around the Psammead, as a careless "I wish..." can cause no end of trouble!
Five Children & It by E. Nesbit is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

This week the children wish to be rich beyond their wildest dreams, and the Psammead delivers. But is there a catch? There's always a catch, right?
Five Children & It by E. Nesbit is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

(Chapter begins at 01:00!)Welcome back to another audiobook - this time a magical tale of wishes gone wrong by classic children's author, E. Nesbit.In Part 1, we meet the five children (Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane and "the Lamb"), as well as the tricky Psammead - a mysterious sand-dwelling creature with the ability to grant wishes!Five Children & It by E. Nesbit is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander. To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooksTwitter: @WillowAudiobookhttps://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Another Willow Branches discussion, this time with the wonderful Tara & EmKay of Down the Yellow Brick Pod! We talk all about Oz, why it's so enduring, our personal connections to it, and its various interpretations and adaptations.
I was so delighted to be able to talk to them both and I hope you enjoy our conversation. 
You can find Down the Yellow Brick Pod wherever you listen to podcasts, as well as on Instagram and Patreon @DownTheYellowBrickPod!

Coming soon from Willow Audiobooks: Five Children & It, by E Nesbit!

Selfish, greedy Ebenezer Scrooge despises Christmas and treats those around him with contempt. But a visit from the ghost of his deceased partner Marley forewarns him of three further supernatural encounters, which may be his only chance to turn his life around and save his soul...
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts? Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks Twitter: @WillowAudiobook https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Selfish, greedy Ebenezer Scrooge despises Christmas and treats those around him with contempt. But a visit from the ghost of his deceased partner Marley forewarns him of three further supernatural encounters, which may be his only chance to turn his life around and save his soul...
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts? Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks Twitter: @WillowAudiobook https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

A second piece of Christmas bonus content - a reading of the much loved poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas", or "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore.

Selfish, greedy Ebenezer Scrooge despises Christmas and treats those around him with contempt. But a visit from the ghost of his deceased partner Marley forewarns him of three further supernatural encounters, which may be his only chance to turn his life around and save his soul...
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

A little festive bonus content - Sherlock Holmes at Christmas! Let me know if you enjoyed this short story and if you would like to hear more.The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander.
Music is "Mystery Bazaar", "Sneaky Snitch" and "Division", all by Kevin MacLeod. To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooksTwitter: @WillowAudiobook https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Selfish, greedy Ebenezer Scrooge despises Christmas and treats those around him with contempt. But a visit from the ghost of his deceased partner Marley forewarns him of three further supernatural encounters, which may be his only chance to turn his life around and save his soul...
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts? Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks Twitter: @WillowAudiobook https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Something a little different! I thought it would be nice to record a conversation with Benjamin Callery who does the beautiful illustrations for each Willow Audiobook (check them out on Instagram/Twitter and our website!). This is the first in a new bonus series called Willow Branches, in which I hope to talk to a variety of guests about the stories we love. Let me know what you think - feedback is always welcome!
You can find Ben's personal art page on Instagram @bearinsuits. 
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
https://www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks
https://www.patreon.com/willowaudiobooks

Coming this December from Willow Audiobooks - the classic festive tale by Charles Dickens! Episode 1 released on Sunday 6th December.

Alice has finally reached the Eighth Square - but she cannot be a Queen until she has passed the tests the other Queens have in store for her! There is also a dinner party to attend, which brings its own challenges...

Through the Looking-Glass (And What Alice Found There) by Lewis Carroll is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?

Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Want to support us? Visit our Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/willowaudiobooks

In Part 4, we come across the White King, and his two messengers who seem rather familiar. After watching a fight between the Lion and the Unicorn, Alice is rescued by the clumsiest Knight ever seen.

Through the Looking-Glass (And What Alice Found There) by Lewis Carroll is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?

Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Want to support us? Visit our Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/willowaudiobooks

In Part 3, Alice meets the scatter-brained White Queen, and takes a trip down the river on a boat. She is then amazed to meet the one and only Humpty Dumpty.

Through the Looking-Glass (And What Alice Found There) by Lewis Carroll is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?

Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Want to support us? Visit our Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/willowaudiobooks

In Part 2, Alice takes a disorientating railway journey and learns about the strange insects which live in this world. She then encounters the iconic duo of Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Through the Looking-Glass (And What Alice Found There) by Lewis Carroll is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?

Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Want to support us? Visit our Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/willowaudiobooks

The time has come! In Part 1, Alice discovers a way through a mirror into a delightfully backwards world, where forward means backward, flowers can talk and chess pieces are alive. Soon she finds herself playing in a gigantic game of chess which will take her all the way to the Eighth Square where, she is told, she will become a Queen.

Through the Looking-Glass (And What Alice Found There) by Lewis Carroll is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?

Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

Want to support us? Visit our Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/willowaudiobooks

Special spooky bonus content for Hallowe'en! Please enjoy these two readings of Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" and short story "The Tell-Tale Heart". I hope you find them suitably chilling!
Music is "The Chamber" and "Reign Supreme" by Kevin MacLeod.

Glinda the Good informs our travellers that in fact, neither the Scarecrow nor General Jinjur have a claim to the throne, and that the rightful air is a missing girl named Ozma. But how can she be found?

The Marvellous Land of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?

Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook
www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks

"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast..."
Alice returns in Lewis Carroll's popular sequel, "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There"- coming soon from Willow Audiobooks!

With the Emerald City under the rule of General Jinjur, the Scarecrow must rack his brains to find a way for him and his friends to avoid death. After devising a marvellous contraption to help them escape, they resolve to ask the most powerful sorceress in the Land of Oz, Glinda the Good, for her assistance.
The Marvellous Land of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook

The Scarecrow takes Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead to meet his old friend, the Tin Woodman, to help him to regain his throne. On their travels, they are beseiged by magical tricks sent by old Mombi, and they also meet a new, and thoroughly educated, friend.
The Marvellous Land of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook

In Part 2, Jack Pumpkinhead arrives at the Emerald City and meets His Majesty the Scarecrow, and despite their intellectual gulf, the two become friends. Meanwhile, Tip meets a girl by the name of General Jinjur, who has plans to capture the Emerald City and overthrow the king.
The Marvellous Land of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook

Welcome to the second book in the Oz series! In Part 1 we meet Tip, a young boy from the north of Oz, who lives in the custody of the evil witch Mombi. When his pumpkinheaded dummy is brought to life by a magical powder, Tip decides to run away, and thus his adventures begin!
The Marvellous Land of Oz by L Frank Baum is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.
To stay updated with Willow Audiobooks, you can follow us on social media. Just search for Willow Audiobooks on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can visit our webpage at www.stephenalexanderwillis.com/willowaudiobooks. If you’re enjoying this audiobook, why not leave a rating or a review on iTunes, or wherever you happen to get your podcasts?
Instagram/Facebook: @WillowAudiobooks
Twitter: @WillowAudiobook

"The Emerald City has been ruled by men long enough."
From author L. Frank Baum comes a yellow-brick sequel... The Marvellous Land of Oz, coming soon from Willow Audiobooks!

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read aloud, produced and with original music by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery.

Asking a quick favour! Please leave Willow Audiobooks a rating or a review wherever you get your podcasts. It will be so helpful! 
Also please follow us on social media. We are @willowaudiobooks on Instagram and @willowaudiobook (no S) on Twitter. See you soon for another audiobook!
Stephen

Final part! Colin and the others continue to work and play in the garden, and he feels himself getting stronger each day. Is it Magic, or something else?
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Colin's health begins to make some remarkable improvements, but he is anxious to keep this a secret from the adults. The children are surprised by an unexpected visitor to the garden. 
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Mary finally reveals her secret to Colin, and, with the help of Dickon, takes him outside to experience the garden for himself. 
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Mary and Dickon continue their work on the garden. Is Colin jealous, or is there something else troubling him? 
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Mary finally discovers the source of the mysterious crying... 
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Having found her way into the secret garden, Mary develops the urge to plant things and watch them grow. She meets Martha's brother, Dickon, who is just as wonderful as she expected. Archibald Craven, Mary's uncle, requests a meeting with her.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Mary is intrigued by the closed-off garden which seemingly has no door. She also begins to hear a strange sound within the house - the sound of someone crying. Who could it be? 
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Content warning: racism. See statement below and at start of episode for more info. Chapter 1 begins at 02:41. The explicitly racist dialogue takes place between 47:18 - 49:43. 
Mary Lennox, the daughter of a colonist in India, is sent back to England when her parents die to live with her uncle in a Yorkshire manor house. Used to being waited on by servants in India, Mary struggles to adjust to her new life. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.  
Full text of statement: 
Hello! I’m Stephen Alexander, the producer and narrator of Willow Audiobooks. Thank you for downloading this episode, the first part of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I’m very excited to share this book with you, but before we begin the story, I just wanted to address the fact that, although this book has rightly been loved by generations of children and adults alike, The Secret Garden is not without its problems. 
The novel was first published in 1911, and consequently reflects the attitudes of many people at the time. There is one particular moment in this first section of the book where characters briefly, but explicitly, express racist views, which are left unchallenged by the narrative or by other characters. Throughout the rest of the book, while the prejudices are less explicit, there are some unfortunate overtones of British colonialism, and arguably some issues around the portrayal of disability and illness, which, while open to interpretation, are still very much worth discussing, in my opinion. 
When I came across these issues in the text, particularly the more explicit racism in the early chapters, I will admit that I briefly considered abridging the text to simply remove those elements, and “clean up” the book. However, I believe that to do so would be akin to brushing these issues under the carpet and pretending that they don’t exist. Racism is a very real problem in our society, both historically and today, and it cannot and should not be ignored. Therefore, in listening to this audio version of The Secret Garden, which I still believe to be a beautiful and inspiring tale deserving of its place on our bookshelves (and on our audio devices), I would ask that you do so with sensitivity to the book’s issues, and that you take the time to think, research and discuss with those around you – of course many of us are taking the time at the moment to do this anyway. If you’re sharing this audiobook with children, perhaps it could provide a platform for some important conversations around race and our history. The current format of Willow Audiobooks necessarily revolves around texts which are old enough to be in the public domain, and I think one would be hard-pressed to find a classic novel which lives up to today’s ideals. Therefore I don’t propose to try and judge a book written over a hundred years ago by today’s standards. But I do think it’s important to put these problematic elements under a lens, acknowledge them, be critical of them and discuss them, rather than trying to ignore them. With that said, I really hope you enjoy this version of The Secret Garden, and that you find its themes of friendship and rejuvenation as charming as I did. Thank you.

A little bonus content! On Sunday I did a livestream on Instagram where I read the first three of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories. Here is the audio of those three stories: "How the Whale Got His Throat", "How the Camel Got His Hump" and "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin". Stay tuned for the next fully-fledged audiobook coming to your feeds very soon!

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read aloud, produced and with original music by Stephen Alexander.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read aloud, produced and with original music by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L Frank Baum, is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Chapter 18 - "Away to the South" * Chapter 19 - "Attacked by the Fighting Trees" * Chapter 20 - "The Dainty China Country" * Chapter 21 - "The Lion Becomes the King of the Beasts" * Chapter 22 - "The Country of the Quadlings" * Chapter 23 - "Glinda Grants Dorothy's Wish" * Chapter 24 - "Home Again" *

After the abrupt departure of the Wizard, Dorothy's only hope of getting home is now to ask Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, to help her. * The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L Frank Baum, is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Chapter 15 - "The Discovery of Oz, the Terrible" * Chapter 16 - "The Magic Art of the Great Humbug" * Chapter 17 - "How the Balloon was Launched" * Dorothy and her friends return to the Emerald City to claim their rewards from the Great Oz, only to discover that he is perhaps not all he seems. * The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L Frank Baum, is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Chapter 12 - "The Search for the Wicked Witch" * Chapter 13 - "The Rescue" * Chapter 14 - "The Winged Monkeys" * Embarking on what seems a hopeless quest to destroy the Wicked Witch of the West, the four friends come under attack from a range of foes. * The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L Frank Baum, is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Chapter 8 - "The Deadly Poppy Field" * Chapter 9 - "The Queen of the Field Mice" * Chapter 10 - "The Guardian of the Gates" * Chapter 11 - "The Wonderful Emerald City of Oz" * After another brush with fate, the four travellers finally arrive at the Emerald City and come face to face with the Great Oz. * The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L Frank Baum, is in the public domain worldwide. This is a Willow Audiobook read by Stephen Alexander. Cover illustration by Benjamin Callery. Original music by Stephen Alexander.

Mole leaves his underground home and explores the river, meeting Ratty in the process.

The Wind in the Willows 
by Kenneth Grahame

Read aloud, produced, and with music composed by Stephen Alexander. Please note that this audiobook is abridged from the original text (but is the only Willow Audiobook which is abridged - the rest are complete!)

Ratty introduces Mole to Toad, and the three of them head off on an adventure.

The Wind in the Willows 
by Kenneth Grahame

Read aloud, produced, and with music composed by Stephen Alexander.

Against advice, Mole ventures on his own to the Wild Wood in search of Badger.

The Wind in the Willows 
by Kenneth Grahame

Read aloud, produced, and with music composed by Stephen Alexander.