The Little Girl Praying on the Hill" is the bittersweet, authentic story of a desperately deprived upbringing as seen through the eyes of a little girl, who manages to rise above her miserable situation at least for brief moments through her vivid imagination and tenacity. She spent a lot of time alone, or so it seemed to the people in her village. Every day she took the sheep to the top of the hill. In her mind, she wasn't alone. She filled her world with imaginary friends-the princess in her glorious cloud castle and her mercurial companion, the old wind, who sometimes teased, sometimes tormented her. Life was good-until her daydream was interrupted by someone who angrily reminded her of the sad reality: a life in the mud, surrounded by poverty and hopelessness. In a world where despair reigns supreme, a child's mind turns to prayer. But when help isn't immediate, faith must carry her through the diffi culties. This short story is a realistic cameo of post-WWII rural European life, and is filled with emotion, feelings, and heartache. Olga D'Agostino (aka Mrs. D.), an award-winning children's author, was born in western Ukraine. She lived in the historical city of Lviv, where she studied business in Lviv Business College. In 1992 she immigrated to the United States with her two small daughters and for years worked in her own business. In 2011 she began her career as a writer, focusing on writing children's books that have meaning and provide valuable lessons. Two of her children's books, The Trees Have Hearts and Good Morning, World, won Mom's Choice Awards in 2013, and three are winners in the 2014 Readers' Favorite contest. She is a member of SCBWI and speaks a few languages fl uently. She lives in the famous town of Smithville, N.J., with her husband Patrick and a meticulous old cat named Nyda. For updates on Mrs. D.'s books, please visit her website: www.mrsdbooks.net.