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The DNA of Stories

Ideas and first drafts with a bit of analysis from time to time

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Author: Kat Redfern

wooden kitchen table in with mugs of tea and a lemon drizzle cake on it. AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 10

On November 27, 2024November 23, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

I was in the still room when the back door wards hummed at me. I checked the camera feed on my phone, Sarah and her new friends were coming to visit, this could be interesting. I opened the door before they knocked, and the Highsmith girl gasped. “She’s psychic.” The fake American one rolled her …

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built of spun glass and miracles and filled with beauty, and music AI Image

Delicate

On November 24, 2024November 8, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Glasslight Palace was the wonder of the most wondrous city in the known world, and Sera hated it. A prison was still a prison, even when it was built of spun glass and miracles and filled with beauty, and music, and the most vicious, snake-tongued court this side of the Cataclysm. Sera assumed the bland, …

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a basket full of homespun wool in natural-dyed shades of yellow and green, the basket sits in the corner of a cottage room with wooden floors and stone walls AI image

Spinning Tales

On November 20, 2024November 8, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

Sarah removed the bandages and paste after lunch. Eleanor’s hands were noticeably better, less swollen, less pink. Sarah said. “My burn paste is best applied overnight, but this will see you through to bedtime. Put some of that soothing salve on your palms and I’ll re-wrap them but we’ll leave your fingers free so you …

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Nestled on the edge of a bustling market square sits a quiet cafe, its facade weathered yet welcoming. It has a faded striped awning over the front, and sits in a row of other shops, selling things like clothes and leather goods. Through the window of the cafe, you can see people sitting in pairs and threes at small tables. AI image

Mill

On November 17, 2024October 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

They only made it as far as the old mill that first day. Not surprising. Sera couldn’t take any of the larger, faster transports, or any of the public rattletraps that clattered between the cities. They had to get away unnoticed, so she took Z down to the market – a frequent enough occurrence that …

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wellferns on a sunny windowsill AI image

Woods Cottage – Day 9

On November 13, 2024October 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn One Day at a Thyme, StoryLeave a comment

I was repotting young Ben's wellfern - he's growing like nobody's business just now, so naturally the plant assigned to monitoring his health is putting out new shoots, and roots, all but cracking its pot in response. I had it happily re-planted in a wide wooden tub on the windowsill of my still room, and …

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a six year old boy holding an ice cream cone with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. AI image

Lick

On November 10, 2024October 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Jana watched as Damon inspected the ice cream cone he’d been handed, a serious frown on his small features as he turned it this way and that, then leaned in to sniff. “He’s never had ice cream before?” Jana favoured Tyler with a pinched smile. “Grandmother doesn’t believe in indulging children. I didn’t have it …

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historical fantasy image of a large island, seen from the sea, with morning mist surrounding it. It has a small town with a dock area and a stone fort, with mansions with large, landscaped gardens dotting the hillside behind. AI image

Island

On November 3, 2024October 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

She’d never been to The Island. It had some official name, something to do with a ship that wrecked on it, or the captain who caused the wreck, but no one ever used it. The Island was simply The Island, and it was there, guarding the entrance to Harbour Bay, its buildings a funny mix …

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An illustration of a gryphon lying on a vegetable garden, squashing the cabbages AI image

Sore Hands

On October 30, 2024October 26, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn Story, ThrushbeardLeave a comment

She followed him out and found both Sarah and Matthew preparing for the day. Sarah smiled and said. “Can you get the bread?” Cadan made for the fire nook, grabbing a cloth on the way. “Not with your hands in that state, Nora.” “They’re fine.” She stalked over to the pantry, only to find the …

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a sink in stark white counter on one side of a scientific laboratory, the sink is piled high with dirty beakers AI image

Remark

On October 27, 2024October 5, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Myra stared back at the silent group in the common room, daring them to remark on her appearance. No one took up her silent challenge until Jaxon walked in. “What the hell are you wearing, Mys?” “A dress.” “That’s a little more than a dress. You planning on infiltrating the Ruler’s ball or something?” “Yes.” …

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A woman with long dark brown hair in a bun, working on a high tech computer in a medical lab. The computer screen shows a data table with 8 columns ai image

Pattern

On October 23, 2024October 5, 2024 By Kat RedfernIn 10 Minute Sprints, StoryLeave a comment

Giselle stared at the readout. There was a pattern here, she could feel it. Unfortunately, the head of the lab didn’t accept ‘feelings’ as valid data, even when they’d proven correct every other time. It was there, but she had no idea how to find it, what it was, what it meant. Even an inkling …

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Sackcloth and Sky by Kat Redfern
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