By Michelle M. Sharp, Founder and Content Creator of Meet the Minnesota Makers
“My inner ten year old is alive and well,” shares Amy Miller, author and illustrator of Under the Moonlight magazine. “I love being in my 
imagination. Painting and writing stories is my happy place.”
Each issue of Under the Moonlight is a fantastical journey. The amazing illustrations (my 12 year old’s choice of adjective) gently guide the reader on a journey through nature. The content is a nuanced balance between scientific facts and tales of fairies and gnomes who live in Firefly Hollow.
Sharing this magazine is a way of sending an experience gift for both the young people and young-at-heart in your life. This is the snail-friendly, fairy-finding and tree-climbing seasonal magazine you’ve been looking for.
The activities, stories, and observations embrace parallel themes of imagination and adventure. Through it all Amy sprinkles reminders that when you look closely at your surroundings, you’ll discover much more than you saw with your first glance. That tree in your yard? Does it look happy or sad? The icy puddle by the driveway? Might it also serve as a fairy skating rink?
The most current issue, Winter Memories, celebrates the Northern Lights and having fun in the snow. Issues typically include an easy-to-follow recipe, 
seasonal craft, inspiration for outdoor activities, suggested reading related to the issue’s themes, nature identification (can you spot the difference between a Red Pine and a Jack Pine?), and the adventures of the residents of Firefly Hollow.
Each issue also presents an opportunity for young readers to share their writing and artwork. “Publishing the kids’ art in the magazine is one of my favorite parts of the design process. I know what a thrill it is to see your work in print. I love being able to give them that opportunity,” explains Amy.
Before publishing her own magazine, Amy wrote essays for Taproot. Experience in both social work and art therapy made her wonder about the disconnection many people, especially growing kids, have with the natural world. “I know it’s an oversimplification, but if we all just fell in love with the earth, we would fix a lot of problems,” reflects Amy. “I myself am most moved to be the best caretaker of the earth when I feel connected to a piece of it. I want to share that sense of connection with my readers.”
Amy witnesses the impact of spending time outdoors with space to explore through homeschooling her own four children. “The questions my 
kids ask inspire my sense of wonder. I’ve observed how falling in love with a little piece of nature trickles down to be something good for the planet,” smiles Amy. “Their enthusiasm motivates me to get outside. I’ve seen how good it can be for all of our moods on a day when things just feel hard to have that literal change in scenery.”
From their Lake Elmo farmhouse, Amy’s family embraces the chaos of daily outdoor adventures with four kids, two cats, a dog and chickens, including the bold hen Midnight who sometimes wanders off for some alone time.
Amy writes stories and poems, creates her original artwork, and crafts the magazine in her red milk house studio on their farmstead. This corner of home away from home gives her space to 
dream of fairies’ adventures and draw out her paintbox with a fresh sense of wonder.
Under the Moonlight is published four times a year. Each issue is approximately 40 pages printed on 100% recycled paper in Chanhassen. The magazine is published in sync with our Midwestern four seasons.
Ideal audience is children between the ages of five to ten. Those on the younger end will need some help to enjoy the longer stories and sound out some vocabulary words. Older readers will enjoy taking the lead on the featured recipe and will likely find their own twists on the scavenger hunt.
Order the magazine through https://www.underthemoonlightmagazine.com/shop. Limited past issues also available.
Follow @underthemoonlightmagazine on Instagram to see where the fairies may lead Amy’s family today. 
Visit meettheminnesotamakers.com or follow @meettheminnesotamakers on Facebook and Instagram to discover the farmers and innovators working to strengthen Minnesota’s local food networks. Meet the Minnesota Makers is a news site that connects you to the local food, farms, artists and artisans that make Minnesota thrive.
