F.T. McKinstry

Eight stories of magical gardens,
lost temples, cosmic alignments,
immortal predators, shape-
shifters, wizards and gods, Tales of
Integration is told on a rich,
swords-and-sorcery backdrop of
tree and animal lore, romance,
dreams, visions and verse.

I spent the better part of my childhood with my head in fantasy and science
fiction novels. Early on, I began to think that more truth and "reality" could
be found in these stories than in what I saw around me. Things were not as
they seemed, it made me very suspicious, and so I embarked on a personal
quest to discover what was missing.

From the beginning of time, truth has found its home in stories, myths and
fairy tales as metaphor and symbolism. Fantasy is like gazing into the
primeval vastness of our potential. We dream of other worlds, we long for
the beauty and light of that which is beyond us and sets our hearts on fire.
Magic happens when we suspend our disbelief and let light shine from the
darkness.

So, somewhere along the line, I figured out that nothing is missing, it is all
inside, and my task is to honor the mystery and let it emerge. This is what
my work is all about, whether it happens through writing, painting, music,
gardening...or just being alive. Enjoy your visit!