Before anyone could respond, a golden figure appeared in the main doorway. Cecily gasped, her hand fluttering to her chest. “Is that the Clearfall heir?” Eleanor snorted. “No, that’s Sebastian Gent.” Cecily turned wide eyes on her. “But you said he was awful. No one that beautiful could be awful.” She snorted again. “I’ll introduce …
Eleanor’s smile barely made it to the corners of her mouth. “I’m afraid I’m terribly busy. Master Fang is only in town for a few more days and Mistress Azimi sent word that I’m to resume my lessons on the Sun Empire with her tomorrow.” Sebastian bowed over her hand. “Such a clever little Ellie. …
Once upon a time (because that’s how these things start), there was a wealthy merchant, with a healthy wife and a single, beloved daughter. The daughter, Eleanor, wasn’t the prettiest girl in the town of Gandry, but she was pretty enough for mothers and fathers of local sons to paint over her fierce intelligence with …
Thrushbeard was the first full story I actually finished. It's a bit under 32,000 words, so novella length. When I went to write the second draft, I decided to turn it into a full-length novel. Which means draft two isn't a revision, it's a total re-write. Even the names of the main characters have changed. …
A little extra from Thrushbeard of Anaria telling the children in the village a story The children settled as Anaria took a seat at the front of the new school room. She arranged her skirts then looked over the eager faces and smiled. "Have you heard the legend of the Crown of Aragonia?" Eyes rounded …
The rest of the preparations were completed without drama, although the wound to Anaria’s heart still ached. Finally, she was pronounced ready, and her helpers led her from the room. She was escorted downstairs by the group of laughing, chattering women and felt warmed by their happiness on her behalf. Well, if her mother couldn’t …
As Sarah moved across the room to help with arranging Anaria’s hair, someone knocked at the door. Gwen went to answer it, standing to one side as her little brother slipped through the door, wide-eyed. “Mum, you look like a princess.” He flushed at the smiles and chuckles this brought and Sarah gave him a …
Anaria thought she’d never sleep the night before her wedding, but older heads conferred and had her busy enough in the days before that she fell straight into her bed in the lovely blue room and knew nothing more until the sun peeked in on her the next morning. She lay for a minute, simply …
A rich laugh came from the doorway, both Liam and Anaria looked around, startled. “You put him on the floor easily enough but he got back up again far too quickly.” Liam smiled, “Anaria, I know you’ve met her before, but I would like you to properly meet my mother, and that may even be …
Anaria woke to the sun shining into the room, and frowned. How much of what she remembered was real, and how much was fever dream? How could honest, caring, kind, humble Liam be the heir of Clearfall? That must have been her mind playing games. She sat up, then piled the pillows behind her to …
The DNA of Stories 