It began with a simple poster in my doctor’s office.
Are you an Owl, a Turtle, or a Tiger? it asked.
That question sparked something, a curiosity that grew into a story. With thirteen grandchildren, each walking their own path through childhood and becoming, I wanted to offer them a tale. A love story of discovery. A gentle invitation to reflect, connect, and remember what matters most.
Keeper of the Clearing is written for a time like this. Where the world feels noisy, divided, and uncertain. It’s a woodland fable about listening deeply, acting wisely, and finding courage in unlikely places.
In a forest unraveling from confusion and conflict, three unexpected travelers, Owl, Turtle, and Tiger, are chosen to search for a new way forward. What they discover isn’t a map, it’s something far more enduring: the strength that comes from walking together, with kindness and care.
This is a story meant for the young and the not-so-young. A compass, not to lead you somewhere new, but to remind you where you are, and who you truly are, is enough.
Jan Wood
Keeper of the Clearing 