Butterfly Dreams

This collection of three stories were influenced by the art of Chinese storytelling. The title comes from the ancient Taoist master - Zhuangzi, who wrote of dreaming he was a butterfly.The three tales: The Papermakers' Apprentice, Mountain and Moon, and Sunrise and the North Wind bring to life the elemental of fairy tales.My Chinese name is Bai DaozhuangThe three tales in Butterfly Dreams came about through reading numerous ancient and modern Chinese tales, including fairy tales and classic epics. Zhuangzi was a Taoist sage who once wrote, "Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly happily fluttering about joyously forgetting who he was. Suddenly Zhuangzi awoke, but he did not know if he was a butterfly dreaming he was a man, or a man who dreamed he was a butterfly."I have tried to emulate the rhythm and magical realism elements of Chinese tales in this three-story collection. The first tale "The Papermaker's Apprentice" begins in the modern world and proceeds to weave the magical tale of the ancient painting master Chen Hongshou and his supernatural apprentice. The second tale "Mountain and Moon" creates a mystical bond between the moon and a mighty mountain. It is a love story of deep longing and total devotion.The third tale "Sunrise and the North Wind" unites the demure Sunrise with the bold North Wind. This tale uses magical realism to craft a enduring love story.