The Flickerlings Collection

 Bee & Peacock Publishing is pleased to announce the release of a new middle-grade fantasy novel for children, the first installment in The Flickerlings series—adventure stories about four young boys whose emotions spring to life as sprite-like beings, transforming childhood into a wild, heartfelt, and unforgettable circus of feelings. 

The book, Rusty Ruins the Fort and Other Important Things, is written and illustrated by Anna Lenoir, a storyteller and artist whose work has been embraced by therapists, educators, and emotional-wellness professionals. Through her stories, Lenoir aims to reconnect literature with storytelling’s oldest and most meaningful purpose: helping people better understand themselves and one another through emotion, moral conflict, and human behavior. 

Lenoir believes that while modern literary education for students often emphasizes symbolism, structure, and literary devices, it can overlook the deeper reason stories have existed for thousands of years—to help us make sense of human emotions and the choices they inspire. With The Flickerlings, she invites children to explore those emotions in an empowering way that feels imaginative, accessible, and fun. 

Rusty Ruins the Fort and Other Important Things is packed with everything young readers love: muddy disasters, runaway dogs, treasure rituals, backyard adventures, and hilarious chaos. As four friends—Ethan, Theo, Owen, and Hank—set out to build the ultimate backyard fort alongside the catastrophe-prone Rusty the dog, they are unaware they are not alone. Joining them are their Flickerlings, tiny emotional sidekicks who leap into action with every scraped knee, argument, triumph, and panic attack—bragging, overthinking, cheering, joking, worrying, and occasionally completely freaking out. 

Filled with kid logic, muddy joy, and the oversized emotions of childhood, Lenoir’s story captures the intensity and wonder of being ten years old. Through a colorful cast of Flickerlings—including Accuser, Scout, Dash, Sniffle, Punster, Steady, and dozens more—the series gives children a playful language for understanding their inner emotional world. 

Blending laugh-out-loud fantasy with warmth, emotional intelligence, and relatable childhood adventures, The Flickerlings series offers families, educators, and middle-grade readers an entertaining and meaningful reading experience as well as a resourceful tool. Rusty Ruins the Fort and Other Important Things is available now wherever books are sold. 

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Book Details 

Publication date: June 19, 2026 

Title: Rusty Ruins the Fort and Other Important Things 

Series: The Flickerlings Audience: Ages 7 to 11 Category: Juvenile fantasy fiction 

Formats: Paperback, ebook 

For media inquiries, review copies, or interview requests, please contact: Anna Lenoir