"Maressa gives the Little Mermaid a run for her money."
NPR Commentator Mary Sojourner
Author of: Delicate: Stories of Light and Desire

"Entertaining and thought provoking. A delightful experience."
Dr..Earl Mindell Author of: The Vitamin Bible

"Brilliantly written. A family fairy tale for all ages."
Sherry Bell, Ph.D. Author of: Visiting Mom

"It's wonderful to be reminded that entertainment can enlighten."
Stephan Schultze
Director of the Zaki Gordon Institute for Independent Filmmaking

"Children and adults alike will listen to this tale again and again."
Jane Dalton Author of: A Dragon's Tale

"Ms. Richards remarkable voice brings every character to life."
Mandy Metzger Flagstaff, AZ

"I liked the part with the creature. And when the frog talks, he's really funny."
Max Felsot , age 11 Sedona, AZ

"I can't wait to hear it again!"
Sophia Zeno, age 9 Sedona, AZ

"The cave with the monster was cool! I liked the sound effects."
Aiden Carr, age 10 Sedona, AZ

"I really liked the music. I could close my eyes and feel it."
Nahomy Uribe, age 10 Sedona, AZ

"A great story and fun songs.. So far my daughter has listened to the "Hello Princess" song seven times."
Karen Greenbaum Phoenix, AZ

"A delightful story with many interesting characters. Destined to become a children's classic."
Alan Kelso Flagstaff, AZ

"Maressa and Merlone is a magical fable. "
Robin Evans Sedona, AZ

Bookviews by: Alan Caruba October 2001

From Heartful Productions (PO Box 2563, Sedona, AZ 86339) comes Maressa and Merlone: A Musical Fairy Tale by Shaeri Richards ($16.95). This multi-talented lady has created an audiobook for kids in which the two characters of the title go looking for a healing flower, discovering that we all have both a masculine and feminine side to ourselves. The story features five finger-snapping songs. Learn more by visiting www.musicalfairytale.com.

Midwest Book Review / Children¹s Bookwatch November 2001

O1hr and 45 min. of pure listening enchantment for children of all ages (and their parents too!) Writer/Actress/ Musician Shaeri Richards¹ Maressa & Merlone: A Musical Fairy Tale is a superbly produced, two-cassette audio book featuring 1 hour and 45 minutes of pure listening enchantment for children of all ages (and their parents too!) Enhanced with original music, the story is one of a young princess being sent on a quest by a wise woman and meeting a delightful cast of characters along the way. Maressa & Merlone is an enthusiastically recommende work that is written, narrated and sung by Shaeri Richards and would prove to be an excellent and entertaining acquisition selection for family, school and community library collections.

ForeWord Magazine (Mid-Winter 2002)


Charming Maressa embodies the modern, enlightened princess in this pleasing audio production, which combines traditional fairy tale motifs with New Age themes. Bored by castle living and her elder¹s notions of ladylike behavior, Maressa embarks on a quest that requires her to believe in the power of her dreams and connect with her heart¹s voice in order to succeed. Along the way, she encounters the usual fairy tale characters--a talking frog, wise elders, and a handsome stranger, Merlone the form of a frightening beast, enemies of her father's kingdom and the imminent death of her brother.

The author¹s experience as an actress and radio broadcaster is apparent in the skillful narration of the story. Her animated, versatile voice brings each character to life. A Former host for a radio talk show on healing and matters of the spirit, Richards infuses this tale with her awareness of the powers of spirituality. Each step of Maressa¹s journey heightens her perceptions of herself and draws her more closely in tune with the consciousness of the world around her. Threatened by a hairy, aggressive creature, she doesn¹t fight or flee, but follows her heart¹s command to "feel what he feels." As she lets the creatures feelings wash over her, she senses a change. Instantly, the scary being is transformed back into his original state: the father of her love interest, Merlone. Later in the story, Maressa, Merlone and his father are frustrated in their attempt to locate a magical flower. When intense searching yields o result, they turn inward, inviting the plant to communicate with them and waiting for its location to be revealed. The success of this strategy is underscored by a lively song, "Wait," which reminds the listener that "the answer often comes through if you wait." There are five songs interspersed with the narration of the story on this recording. The music is catchy, and the lyrics tie loosely into the plot, but the songs themselves seem geared to a younger audience than is typical for this type of romantic coming-of-age tale. The songs make the production more attractive to younger listeners, and so families with children ages five to thirteen will find something for everyone in this audio production. It will satisfy listeners and provide a tantalizing glimpse of the powers of that result from a deeper listening to the human heart.